cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pneumatic dilatation in patients with symptomatic diffuse esophageal spasm and lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction.

Nine patients with severe symptoms of diffuse esophageal spasm and lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction who were unresponsive to medical therapy and bougienage dilatation were treated by forceful pneumatic dilatation. Treatment with pneumatic dilatation in eight of the nine patients produced a marked improvement in dysphagia and regurgitation (average follow-up of 37.4 months). Esophageal motility performed up to three years (average 12.4 months) after clinically successful pneumatic dilatation revealed a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure from 34.0±4.0 mmHg (mean ± standard error) to 19.2±2.7 mm Hg (P<0.01). There were no significant changes in either the percentage of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation or the type of esophageal motor pattern. We conclude from this study that pneumatic dilatation is an effective form of therapy for a select group of patients with severe symptomatic diffuse esophageal spasm with lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction who are unresponsive to conventional medical therapy.
SDS removal from protein by polystyrene beads

Abstract The applications of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to molecular weight determination (1,2) and for the separation of protein subunits (3) have been of immense value in biochemical studies [see Waehneldt (4) for a general review]. The tight stoichiometric binding of SDS to polypeptide chains has proven to be a nuisance if one desires to recover the activity of the isolated polypeptides. Removal of the SDS has been affected by the use of anion exchangers in the presence (5,6) and absence of urea (6). However, the residual levels of SDS or urea are often quite unsatisfactory for further protein studies. We have attempted to adapt the procedure of Holloway for the removal of Triton X-100 by Bio-Beads to the removal of SDS. We chose bovine serum albumin as a test protein since it has well-established strong binding properties for linear-chain fatty acids (7).
Three-dimensional characterization of non-gaussian water diffusion in humans using diffusion kurtosis imaging

Conventional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures water diffusion parameters based on the assumption that the spin displacement distribution is a Gaussian function. However, water movement in biological tissue is often non-Gaussian and this non-Gaussian behavior may contain useful information related to tissue structure and pathophysiology. Here we propose an approach to directly measure the non-Gaussian property of water diffusion, characterized by a four-dimensional matrix referred to as the diffusion kurtosis tensor. This approach does not require the complete measurement of the displacement distribution function and, therefore, is more time efficient compared with the q-space imaging technique. A theoretical framework of the DK calculation is established, and experimental results are presented for humans obtained within a clinically feasible time of about 10 min. The resulting kurtosis maps are shown to be robust and reproducible. Directionally-averaged apparent kurtosis coefficients (AKC, a unitless parameter) are 0.74 +/- 0.03, 1.09 +/- 0.01 and 0.84 +/- 0.02 for gray matter, white matter and thalamus, respectively. The three-dimensional kurtosis angular plots show tissue-specific geometry for different brain regions and demonstrate the potential of identifying multiple fiber structures in a single voxel. Diffusion kurtosis imaging is a useful method to study non-Gaussian diffusion behavior and can provide complementary information to that of DTI.
Enhanced Antigen-Specific Responses in Bovine Mammary Glands Following Administration of Interleukin-2

This study examined the feasibility of using interleukin-2 as a vaccine adjuvant to enhance specific immunity in the bovine mammary gland. In trial 1, cows were immunized by intramammary infusion of keyhole limpet hemocyanin with either saline (n = 3) or interleukin-2 (n = 3) as adjuvants. In trial 2, cows were immunized by intramuscular injection near the supramammary lymph node with keyhole limpet hemocyanin in conjunction with saline (n = 4). Freund's incomplete adjuvant (n = 4), or interleukin-2 (n = 4). Local immunization with interleukin-2 as an adjuvant significantly increased antibody titers in milk over preimmunization levels and levels in saline-treated cows. The use of Freund's incomplete adjuvant and interleukin-2 as adjuvants in cows that were immunized systemically enhanced both sera and lacteal antibodies to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. However, cows that were administered interleukin-2 responded more quickly than those given Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Only those cows that received interleukin-2 as an adjuvant demonstrated significant increases in blood lymphocyte proliferation to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, pokeweed mitogen, and interleukin-2. The results of these two trials suggest that immunization with interleukin-2 as an adjuvant may be more effective than Freund's incomplete adjuvant in enhancing specific immunity in the bovine mammary gland and may possibly be an effective adjuvant in mastitis immunization protocols.
GaN Photonic Crystal-Based, Enhanced Fluorescence Biomolecule Detection System

The need for small form factor, portable biosensing platforms is prevalent across a wide range of medical, environmental, and defense applications. This paper presents the design of a novel, integrated optofluidic photonic crystal biosensor architecture that shows potential for meeting the single molecule detection requirements of these application areas. GaN is being targeted as the photonic crystal slab material due to its transparency in the visible spectral range and also the potential for creating high aspect ratio photonic crystal lattices via polarity inverted MBE growth. Results of optical modeling efforts indicating 10-15x resonant enhancement of fluorescent emission and polarity inversion GaN growth techniques will be discussed.
Hopf bifurcations and nonlinear studies of gain margins in path control of marine vehicles

Abstract The problem of loss of stability of marine vehicles under cross-track error control in the presence of a mathematical model versus actual system mismatch is analyzed. Emphasis is placed on studying the response of the system after the initial loss of stability of straight line motion. Center manifold reduction and integral averaging methods are used in order to study bifurcations to periodic solutions and stability of the resulting limit cycles. Numerical integrations are used to confirm the theoretical results and to establish regions of asymptotic stability. The methods used in this work demonstrate the significance of nonlinear terms in assessing the response of the system.
Metallothionein induction in islets of Langerhans and insulinoma cells.

Abstract Isolated pancreatic islets from rat and mouse and the insulinoma cell lines, βHC9 and RINm5F, were investigated to determine the regulation of metallothionein (MT). Dexamethasone (DEX) increased rat and mouse islet and insulinoma cell MT levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Rat islet MT expression was increased with interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but not tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). However, MT induction by IL-1β and TNF was synergistic with DEX in rat islets and insulinoma cells. Mouse islet MT failed to respond to IL-1β alone, although IL-1β and TNF were synergistic. IL-1β and TNF did not synergize with DEX for mouse islet MT induction. Zinc sulfate induced MT in rat islets but not mouse islets. MT messenger RNA levels were significantly increased in rat islets in response to DEX and IL-1β plus DEX. The inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-monomethyl- l -arginine and aminoguanidine failed to inhibit IL-1β induced MT levels in insulinoma cells, and the nitric oxide generating agent sodium nitroprusside failed to significantly affect MT levels. Phorbol dibutyrate increased MT levels in rat islets and βHC9 cells, but phorbol dibutyrate and IL-1β effects were not additive. Transgenic MT-null and wild-type mouse islets had similar insulin contents, but basal and glucose-stimulated insulin release from MT-null islets were significantly lower than in wild-type islets. Blood glucose levels in MT-null mice were, however, slightly lower than those in wild-type mice. Thus, MT induction in pancreatic islets and β-cells is regulated by cytokines and DEX, and protein kinase C activation may play a role. However, regulation of MT induction in mouse and rat islets differs. MT also appears to modulate insulin release from pancreatic islets.
Mining for class-specific motifs in protein sequence classification

Background In protein sequence classification, identification of the sequence motifs or n-grams that can precisely discriminate between classes is a more interesting scientific question than the classification itself. A number of classification methods aim at accurate classification but fail to explain which sequence features indeed contribute to the accuracy. We hypothesize that sequences in lower denominations (n-grams) can be used to explore the sequence landscape and to identify class-specific motifs that discriminate between classes during classification. Discriminative n-grams are short peptide sequences that are highly frequent in one class but are either minimally present or absent in other classes. In this study, we present a new substitution-based scoring function for identifying discriminative n-grams that are highly specific to a class.
Ternary non-noble metal chalcogenide (W-Co-Se) as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract In this study, a catalyst based on a novel ternary non-noble metal chalcogenide, W–Co–Se, was synthesized for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic medium. The non-noble metal chalcogenide catalyst was electrochemically stable in the potential range of 0.05–0.8 V versus NHE in 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution. This catalyst demonstrated significant catalytic activity towards the ORR, showing the ORR onset potential at 0.755 V versus NHE in 0.5 M H2SO4 at 25 °C. Such high activity might be attributed to the electronic structure of non-noble metals modified by chalcogen.
Strategies to read and learn: overcoming learning by consumption

Medical Education 2010: 44: 340–346 Objectives This article discusses the need for, and value of, providing students with instruction in how to use comprehension strategies as well as the effectiveness of inducing strategy use through cognitive disequilibrium. The leading assumption that guides this article is that learning facts and figures is not enough. Students need to build deep knowledge that is interconnected, coherent and includes understanding of potential causal mechanisms. Doing so requires going beyond the printed page by generating inferences and developing coherent explanations. Inferences and explanations allow the student to make links between concepts in the material and, importantly, to make connections to prior knowledge. These connections render students’ understanding of new material more coherent and, in consequence, deeper and more stable. Discussion This article describes two means of inducing students to construct a deeper understanding of new material. One means of challenging students is through cohesion gaps in a text (or a lecture) that require the student to generate inferences to understand the relationships between concepts. Although low-knowledge readers are not able to generate these inferences, relatively high-knowledge readers (e.g. medical students) are more likely to successfully generate inferences to bridge conceptual gaps, and doing so results in a deeper understanding of the material. A second means of inducing active processing is to provide students with instruction and practice in how to use comprehension strategies. This article describes methods of providing such instruction, including the intelligent tutoring system, iSTART. Conclusions The overarching goal of the research described in this article is to scaffold students towards ideal learning strategies. This cannot happen simply by telling students about good strategies. It is ineffective to inform a student that the content will be better understood if it is explained or evaluated. Such an approach is a victim of learning by consumption attitudes towards education.
A review of the role of GERD-induced aspiration after lung transplantation

The increased prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in lung transplantation patients has been established; however, many questions persist regarding the relationship of GERD to aspiration and its potential to induce pulmonary allograft failure. Moreover, the biological implications of aspiration in lung transplantation have yet to be fully elucidated. The goal of this review was to assess the relationship between GERD and aspiration, focusing on the role of these events in the development of allograft injury after lung transplantation.
Quality and the financial service sector

Analyses the changes which have taken place in the financial services industry in recent years. Shows how customer expectations have changed and how customer power has increased with competition. Suggests that most of the industry at present fails to meet the new challenges, but identifies some notable exceptions.
Cliques, Rumors, and Gossip by the Water Cooler: Female Bullying in the Workplace

Aggression in the workplace has developed as a topic of interest to many in the past decade. Although aggression has been traditionally distinguished in the theoretical and empirical literature as sexual aggression (harassment) and nonsexual aggression, in this manuscript the authors will argue that there are also unique characteristics as well as effects upon recipients of a particular kind of nonsexual aggression: workplace bullying. In particular, a specific type of bullying primarily used by women, relational aggression, will be reviewed and recommendations for managers in addressing relational aggression and bullying in the workplace will be offered.
Reclaiming Electrolysis Reject Water With a Solar Still

Electrolysis is one sustainable pathway to hydrogen production. During this process, however, it is common to reject a large portion of the water during the pretreatment process to carry away impurities. We have been examining water-conserving approaches to this problem with low energy devices. One such approach is to couple the water purification step with a solar still, thus allowing some of the wastewater to be recycled and utilized in the hydrogen production. This paper reports on a study of a weir type solar still. A weir type solar still is an inclined solar still with the absorber plate formed to make weirs, as well as a top basin and a bottom basin. Raw water flows from the top basin through the weirs and to the bottom basin that is circulated back to the top basin by a small pump. Purified water is collected from condensate on the glass cover. The weir type solar still with 0.61 m width and 1.82 m length (net aperture area 0.97 m2 ) was constructed and tested for the Las Vegas weather conditions. A data acquisition system with temperature and flow rate sensors was also installed to record the transient variation of temperature and flow rate. The distillate productivity of the still with double-pane and single-pane glass covers is compared. The average distillate productivities for double-pane and single-pane glass covers were approximately 1.9 l/m2/day and 5.5 l/m2/day in the months of August and September in Las Vegas respectively. A double-pane glass reduced the productivity of a solar still significantly due to the reduced temperature difference between the raw water and the glass inner surface. The productivity of the weir type still is also compared with the basin type still tested at the same location side by side and is found that the weir type still productivity was approximately 20% higher. The quality of distillate from the still was also analyzed to verify the product will meet the purity required by electrolyzers.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Verification in Arms Control: beyond NTM

Arms control risk calculations are not made in accordance with a rational actor model. Judgements about the verification risks entailed in participation in an arms control agreement are made within the framework of Cold War anxieties and influenced by political and bureaucratic considerations. In approaching the strategic and theater nuclear arms control agenda of the 1980s, it will be necessary to devise verification regimes which not only provide reliable security guarantees against 'strategic breakout', but which also promote confidence among arms control policy-influential groups and strengthen coalitions in favor of participation in the agreements. At the same time it will be necessary to avoid inordinately intrusive inspection and verification procedures which hinder progress in arms control. This study explores the utility of a broad range of verification regimes which may be appropriate for future SALT, TNF and MBFR agreements in terms of their technical efficiency, contribution to confidence-buil...
Studies On Amerindian Dogs, 3: Prehistoric Wolf / Dog Hybrids from the Northwestern Plains

Abstract Discriminant function analysis is an invaluable statistical tool for the taxonomic identification of hybrids between various extant species of Canis in the eastern United States. This technique has recently been applied to the taxonomic identification of canid skulls from several Wyoming archaeological sites. Analysis indicates most canid remains, originally identified as wolf ( Canis lupus ), to be wolf/dog hybrids exhibiting constant and continual backbreeding to the local wolf populations. The spatial and temporal extent of the form is discussed.
Erring with high‐level nuclear waste disposal: a case study of the precautionary principle

Increasingly, the “Precautionary Principle” is being discussed as a basis for decision‐making to protect environmental and human health where there are risks of serious or irreversible damage but where there are gaps in knowledge and uncertainties to demonstrate conclusively either the existence of the risks or their levels. Many analyses of the precautionary principle focus on the abstract or philosophical theories of the principle. Here, I provide a more practical case study to demonstrate some of the prospects and problems of the principle. While the case study focuses specifically on the disposal of high‐level radioactive waste at a potential repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, it also provides insight to other problems of complex technologies and the protection of health.
Estimation of Spectra After Hard Clipping of Gaussian Processes

Certain types of non-linear transformations of stochastic signal processes have proven useful in engineering applications. A form of processing called hard clipping (or hard limiting) has frequently been used in electronic systems which work in “real time” in order to reduce the number of information bits which the system has to process. With hard clipping only one binary digit is used per sample value of an input signal X(t). However, information is lost about X(t) and the spectrum which is calculated from the clipped signal is a distorted form of the original signal spectrum. By a sine transformation of the sample covariance of the clipped process, a consistent estimator is derived for the spectral density of X(t). The asymptotic variance-covariance function is calculated for this estimator.
Nitrogen-vacancy centers: Physics and applications

Much of the motivation for exploring nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond in the past decade has been for their potential as a solid-state alternative to trapped ions for quantum computing. In this area, the NV center has exceeded expectations and even shown an unprecedented capability to perform certain quantum processing and storage operations at room temperature. The ability to operate in ambient conditions, combined with the atom-like magnetic Zeeman sensitivity, has also led to intensive investigation of NV centers as nanoscale magnetometers. Thus, aside from room-temperature solid-state quantum computers, the NV could also be used to image individual spins in biological systems, eventually leading to a new level of understanding of biomolecular interactions in living cells.
Information extraction and semantic constraints

We consider the problem of extracting specified types of information from natural language text. To properly analyze the text, we wish to apply semantic (selectional) constraints whenever possible; however, we cannot expect to have semantic patterns for all the input we may encounter in real texts. We therefore use preference semantics: selecting the analysis which maximizes the number of semantic patterns matched. We describe a specific information extraction task, and report on the benefits of using preference semantics for this task.
Direct and Indirect Effects of the Synthetic-Auxin Herbicide Dicamba on Two Lepidopteran Species

Herbicides are the most commonly applied pesticides in agroecosystems, and therefore pose potentially significant ecotoxicological risks to plants and insects. Glyphosate is the most common herbicide worldwide, and glyphosate-resistant weeds are quickly becoming serious challenges in some agroecosystems. Because of this resistance epidemic and the recent development of crops with resistance to dicamba or 2,4-D, herbicide-use patterns are likely to change. Presently, dicamba and 2,4-D cause most herbicide-drift damage to nontarget plants despite limited agricultural usage, but the effects of these synthetic auxin herbicides on insects have been poorly explored. To understand the influence of dicamba on insects, we applied several sublethal, drift-level rates of dicamba to soybean, Glycine max L., and Carduus thistle, and measured growth and survival of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Vanessa cardui (L.) larvae, respectively. For thistle, we measured percent nitrogen content before and after dicamba application. We also performed direct toxicity bioassays on the two caterpillar species with several rates of dicamba. Dicamba was not directly toxic to larvae of either species, and H. zea showed no negative effects when feeding on soybeans dosed with dicamba. We did, however, detect significant negative, indirect effects of higher rates of dicamba on V. cardui larval and pupal mass, total nitrogen of thistles post application, and thistle biomass in the presence of V. cardui larvae. Notably, thistle biomass was not related to dicamba dose in absence of larvae. Our results indicate that dicamba can indirectly influence the performance of some caterpillar species, possibly by altering plant nutritional content.
Liquid metal antennas for implantable and on-body systems

Recent advancements in the development of novel liquid metal antenna structures offer unique advantages for implantable and on-body communication systems. With fluidic radiating elements encapsulated in a polymer substrate, these antennas offer improved stretchability, tunability, and flexibility over conventional, solid antennas. These antenna structures can stretch and flex without fatiguing or breaking.
Procedure for Assessing Verbal Working Memory in Normal School-Age Children: Some Preliminary Data

A procedure for assessing children's recall of lexical items in the presence of a competing language task is described. The Competing Language Processing Task was designed to reflect the dynamic processes carried out in working memory during language comprehension and production by requiring that the subject hold words in temporary storage while analyzing and responding as true or false to statements. The development of the procedure is described and results of testing of 68 normal children ages 6, 8, 10, and 12 years are presented.
CD40 Restrains In Vivo Growth of Toxoplasma gondii Independently of Gamma Interferon

CD40-CD154 interaction is pivotal for resistance against numerous pathogens. However, it is not known if this pathway can also enhance in vivo resistance in gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-deficient hosts. This is an important question because patients and mice with defects in type 1 cytokine response can control a variety of pathogens. While blockade of endogenous CD154 resulted in a remarkable increase in parasite load in IFN-γ−/− mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii, in vivo administration of a stimulatory anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody markedly reduced parasite load. This latter effect took place even in T-cell-depleted mice and was accompanied by induction of macrophage toxoplasmacidal activity. CD40 stimulation restricted T. gondii replication independently of STAT1, p47 GTPases, and nitric oxide. In vivo CD40 ligation enhanced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production by T. gondii-infected macrophages. In addition, CD40 stimulation required the presence of TNF receptor 2 to reduce parasite load in vivo. These results suggest that CD40-CD154 interaction regulates IFN-γ-independent mechanisms of host protection through induction of macrophage antimicrobial activity and modulation of TNF-α signaling.
Overcoming managerial bias in employment interviewing

Abstract The efficacy of using the employment interview to predict employee effectiveness and retention has been subject to intense scrutiny. Yet research has failed to provide conclusive evidence that the employment interview significantly aids in the matching of employers with applicants. Studies reveal that employment interviewing has significant shortcomings and that modest reforms of the process are of limited value. Thus, a thorough reexamination of the fundamental premises which underlie interviewing research and practice is warranted. The most important premise which merits reconsideration is the belief that interviews should be considered primarily as an instrument of managerial interests. We argue in this paper that the conduct of employment interviews should weigh equally the interests of all parties involved. In so doing, participants can meet the ethical obligation to balance the interests of all parties, while at the same time enhancing the practical utility of the interaction. The present e...
Out of plane motion of assembled microstructures using a single-mask SOI process

We demonstrate out-of-plane motion of microstructures assembled from parts fabricated in a single-mask silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process. Compliant microgrippers used during assembly, in-plane electrostatic actuators, sockets and rotation mechanisms are all defined in the same mask. Advantages of this process include high fabrication yield and very quick fabrication time. We further report on three accomplishments: (1) new rigid sockets, (2) compliant, nonelectrically-actuated microgrippers that pick up parts and automatically rotate them 90/spl deg/ out-of-plane, and (3) out-of-plane rotation of assembled structures using in-plane electrostatic actuators, demonstrating 17/spl deg/ of static mechanical rotation to date.
Implementing Search-And-Retrieve Tasks by Multiple Heterogeneous Robots

Behavior coordination among a team of heterogeneous robots to perform a search-and-retrieve task is investigated. In our initial implementation, two robots with different sensing and actuation abilities are commanded to navigate into an unknown environment, to search for different types of plastic bottles, and then to retrieve the bottles. These two robots communicate and coordinate to pick up a lying bottle from the floor, which cannot by be accomplish by either robot. Four different visual servoing behaviors were employed to implement the search-and-retrieve task.
Seismic imaging of subducted slabs: Trade‐offs with deep path and near‐receiver effects

The most promising procedures for determining detailed velocity structure of subducting lithosphere (seismic tomography and residual sphere analysis) require isolation of near-source contributions to total travel-time anomalies of seismic waves from earthquakes in the slab. Effects of heterogeneous structure along the raypaths through the deep mantle, lithosphere and crust beneath the recording stations must be removed from the data, using either empirical procedures or aspherical models. Comparisons of observed S wave travel-time anomalies for earthquakes in the Kurile slab with both empirical path corrections and corrections computed for a high resolution tomographic' shear velocity model beneath North America indicate that near-source contributions are significantly smaller than suggested by recent slab modeling efforts that fail to fully remove the distant path effects. Imaging deep slab velocity structure and depth of penetration is likely to prove more difficult than originally expected, given that slab velocity heterogeneity may be relatively weak at depths greater than 300 km.
Absence of an association between axotomy-induced changes in sodium currents and excitability in DRG neurons from the adult rat.

Abstract It is generally believed that nerve injury results in neuronal hyperexcitability that reflects in part a change in Na+ currents. However, there are conflicting data on the nature of Na+ current changes and the association between alterations in Na+ currents and increases in excitability. One potential source of conflicting data is that injured and spared neurons may respond differently to nerve injury; these subpopulations of neurons have not been distinguished in previous studies with the axotomy model of nerve injury (complete transection of the sciatic nerve). The present study was performed to determine the relationship between changes in Na+ channels and changes in neuronal excitability in identified injured dorsal root ganglion neurons post-axotomy. Small (
A Model Of Information Technology Impacts: An Invariance Analysis By Executive Position

The invariance, by executive position in the organization, of an information technology impacts model is examined. The theoretical model links computer training, end-user previous computer experience, information (provided by the system) quality, ease of system use, customer knowledge in the firm’s industry, and the tasks performed using the system to individual and firm performance impacts through system use and satisfaction. The empirical examination uses data from a national mail survey. The respondents are business executives at four different organizational levels (i.e., owners, senior executives, marketing executives, and middle/operational executives). The quantitative technique used is invariance analysis based on structural equation modeling. The results indicate that the interrelationships among the theoretical constructs in the model are generally invariant across these different organizational positions. The one difference identified is the path from information quality to system use. Examining each executive group individually shows that this path is significant for marketing executives, but no other executive group. Thus, the identified difference appears to be produced by the importance of information quality on marketing executives’ use of computer systems. Managerial implications, conclusions, and suggestions for future research are discussed based upon these results.
Hearing on: The Impact of China's Antitrust Law and Other Competition Policies on U.S. Companies

This testimony was presented as part of the hearings on “The Impact of China’s Antitrust Law and Other Competition Policies On U.S. Companies,” held by the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy on July 13, 2010. It describes developments in the enforcement and application of the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law, interpretation and enforcement during the two years since the AML came into effect, with particular attention to merger review. It comments on the organization and staffing of the enforcement agencies and the publication of numerous procedures, guidelines and regulations, which suggests that capacity building is important and ongoing. Legal developments indicate consideration of international best practices and a trend towards the consumer welfare model of antitrust thought, mediated by domestic approaches to national policy and governance. Finally, it points out that the AML and regulations include certain non-economic considerations and other provisions, such as treatment of SOEs and administrative monopolies, that are specific to the national history and development of the Chinese market economy.
Not Your 1848, Again

The year 1848, an important year in Europe, is commonly styled a turning point in history when history failed to turn. Will 2011 amount to the same? Noteworthy global events are analyzed, and much of this Article concerns the Occupy Wall Street movement. An historical approach is taken — one that emphasizes differences in theories of anarchism, technology, the effects of Marxism now discredited, the harsher current effects of a similar elite political and economic domination, and attitudes towards law and other potential solutions. In both 1848 and 2011, democracy and concerns about equality and justice are fragile. Are all current solutions to be small, halting, and mostly diffused among like-minded people?
Radioluminescence and scintillation results of horizontal gradient freeze grown aliovalently-doped CeBr 3

Strengthening the crystal lattice of lanthanide halides, which are brittle, anisotropic, ionic crystals, may prove to increase the availability and ruggedness of these scintillators for room-temperature gamma-ray spectroscopy applications. Eight aliovalent dopants for CeBr 3 were explored in an effort to find the optimal aliovalent strengthening agent. Eight dopants, CaBr 2 , SrBr 2 , BaBr 2 , ZrBr 4 , HfBr 4 , ZnBr 2 , CdBr 2 , and PbBr 2 , were explored at two levels of doping, 500 and 1000 ppm. From each ingot, samples were harvested for radioluminescence spectrum measurement and scintillation testing. Of the eight dopants explored, only BaBr 2 and PbBr 2 were found to clearly decrease total light yield. ZnBr 2 and CdBr 2 dopants both affected the radioluminescence emission spectrum very little as compared to undoped CeBr 3 . HfBr 4 - and ZnBr 2 -doped CeBr 3 exhibited the highest light yields.
It’s a bear market: evolutionary and ecological effects of predation on two wild sockeye salmon populations

Predation can affect both phenotypic variation and population productivity in the wild, but quantifying evolutionary and demographic effects of predation in natural environments is challenging. The aim of this study was to estimate selection differentials and coefficients associated with brown bear (Ursus arctos) predation in wild sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) populations spawning in pristine habitat that is often subject to intense predation pressure. Using reconstructed genetic pedigrees, individual reproductive success (RS) was estimated in two sockeye salmon populations for two consecutive brood years with very different predation intensities across brood years. Phenotypic data on individual adult body length, body depth, stream entry timing and reproductive lifespan were used to calculate selection coefficients based on RS, and genetic variance components were estimated using animal models. Bears consistently killed larger and more recently arrived adults, although selection differentials were small. In both populations, mean RS was higher in the brood year experiencing lower predation intensity. Selection coefficients were similar across brood years with different levels of predation, often indicating stabilizing selection on reproductive lifespan as well as directional selection for longer reproductive lifespan. Despite these selection pressures, genetic covariation of morphology, phenology and lifespan appears to have maintained variation in spawner body size and stream entry timing in both populations. Our results therefore suggest considerable demographic but limited evolutionary effects of bear predation in the two study populations.
Ambient particulate matter and microRNAs in extracellular vesicles: a pilot study of older individuals

Air pollution from particulate matter (PM) has been linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however the underlying biological mechanisms remain to be uncovered. Gene regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) that are transferred between cells by extracellular vesicles (EVs) may play an important role in PM-induced cardiovascular risk. This study sought to determine if ambient PM2.5 levels are associated with expression of EV-encapsulated miRNAs (evmiRNAs), and to investigate the participation of such evmiRNAs in pathways related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). We estimated the short- (1-day), intermediate- (1-week and 1-month) and long-term (3-month, 6-month, and 1-year) moving averages of ambient PM2.5 levels at participants’ addresses using a validated hybrid spatio-temporal land-use regression model. We collected 42 serum samples from 22 randomly selected participants in the Normative Aging Study cohort and screened for 800 miRNAs using the NanoString nCounter® platform. Mixed effects regression models, adjusted for potential confounders were used to assess the association between ambient PM2.5 levels and evmiRNAs. All p-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons. In-silico Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was performed to identify biological pathways that are regulated by PM-associated evmiRNAs. We found a significant association between long-term ambient PM2.5 exposures and levels of multiple evmiRNAs circulating in serum. In the 6-month window, ambient PM2.5 exposures were associated with increased levels of miR-126-3p (0.74 ± 0.21; p = 0.02), miR-19b-3p (0.52 ± 0.15; p = 0.02), miR-93-5p (0.78 ± 0.22; p = 0.02), miR-223-3p (0.74 ± 0.22; p = 0.02), and miR-142-3p (0.81 ± 0.21; p = 0.03). Similarly, in the 1-year window, ambient PM2.5 levels were associated with increased levels of miR-23a-3p (0.83 ± 0.23; p = 0.02), miR-150-5p (0.90 ± 0.24; p = 0.02), miR-15a-5p (0.70 ± 0.21; p = 0.02), miR-191-5p (1.20 ± 0.35; p = 0.02), and let-7a-5p (1.42 ± 0.39; p = 0.02). In silico pathway analysis on PM2.5-associated evmiRNAs identified several key CVD-related pathways including oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. We found an association between long-term ambient PM2.5 levels and increased levels of evmiRNAs circulating in serum. Further observational studies are warranted to confirm and extend these important findings in larger and more diverse populations, and experimental studies are needed to elucidate the exact roles of evmiRNAs in PM-induced CVD.
Successful Immunoglobulin Desensitization after Anaphylactic Shock in a Patient with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (P02.229)

Objective: A case report of a successful desensitization protocol in a patient with immunoglobulin induced severe anaphylactic reaction. Background Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is an accepted mainstay of treatment in patients with progressive chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Anaphylactic reactions to IVIG therapy are relatively rare, and usually related to low immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels. Though a successful desensitization protocol for anaphylactic reactions is well known, to our knowledge successful application in a patient receiving IVIG without immunoglobulin deficiency has not previously been reported. Design/Methods: Case report from a tertiary medical center. Results: We present a 69 year old male treated with IVIG for progressive CIDP who experienced an anaphylactic reaction during the IVIG test dose. Serum IgA level prior to test dose was normal. After failing alternate treatments and continued symptomatic progression, we rechallenged the patient with IVIG after desensitization under supervision in the neurological intensive care unit. The patient was premedicated with prednisone; and his required IVIG dose was calculated according to body weight. Desensitized protocol consisted of an initial IVIG dose of 1/10,000 of the required total dose with subsequent doubling of the dose every 30 minutes over a 24 hour period. The desensitization was well tolerated up to the completion of the IVIG dose without significant complication. Subsequently, the patient was able to tolerate multiple sessions of IVIG with symptomatic improvement of his CIDP. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first reported case of IVIG desensitization for an anaphylactic reaction in a patient with continued progression of CIDP refractory to alternate treatment modalities. Disclosure: Dr. Malaiyandi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gupta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pandya has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barboi has nothing to disclose.
The Kenyan Consumer-Reader: Gender, Consumption, and Grace Ogot's Crisis of Authorship

Grace Ogot has been lauded for advancing equality for African women in her writing. However her contributions to crucial debates about African authorship and readership have not yet been acknowledged. In her English-language fiction, Ogot addressed her readers as consumers, which in turn helped her conceptualize her work's social role in post-independence Kenya. This article examines two of Ogot's short stories, “Karantina” (1968) and “The Middle Door” (1972), as reflections on the social aspects of Kenyan fiction. By analyzing Ogot's engagement with elite consumption in these stories, in particular how she responded to consumption as a political concern, this article draws attention to Ogot's ambivalence about her writing's social function and, in doing so, contributes to recent discussions about the commodity status of African literature by acknowledging African readers as consumers.
Teaching Evaluation Based on Data Mining System

With the improvement of teaching quality standard requirements, the school teachers need a more in-depth and detailed evaluation. The article amount of teaching evaluation data designed teaching evaluation system, Bing Jiang of data mining technology into the system, to which you Teaching Level, find methods and measures, but also in teaching management department is put forward.
The Shamanic Renaissance What Is Going On

A surprising development over the past half-century has been the revival of the ancient tradition of shamanism. Evidence for the renaissance is everywhere. But what is going on? I offer a structural view, suggesting that a global–historical conjuncture is responsible. The most important structures of civilization—governments, religions, sciences—have all suffered from popular alienation, most recently failing to adequately address global crises, prompting many in developed and developing countries, facilitated by global infrastructure, to reach back to their ancient spiritual roots. At the same time, in response to popular alienation, currents within these very structures have converged to buoy the movement. Traditional shamans, for their part, in spite of criticism at home for teaching modern peoples, say that the spirits have played a key role in rekindling shamanic practices.
Species diversity of Calyptratae in Songshan Shaolin Temple scenic spots of Henan Province

Objective To determine the number of species and species diversity of Calyptratae in Songshan Shaolin Temple scenic spots of Henan Province.Methods The fly-trap method was employed to collect flies.Species identification and biological diversity reserch method were used to analysis the result of investigation.Results Totally 28 species,17 genus,11subfamilies and 5 families of Calyptratae were investigated in Songshan Shaolin Temple of Henan Province.Calliphoridae showed the highest dominance of 43.48% with 13 species,6 genus and 3 subfamilies of flies.The diversity indices had obvious differences on the three investigated results in August,September and October.Conclusion The Calyptratae had relative rich species dominance in Songshan Shaolin Temple scenic spots of Henan Province.The results provided fundamental data for preventing from damage of the flies in the scenic spots.
A structural phylogeny for understanding 2-oxoacid oxidoreductase function.

2-Oxoacid:ferredoxin oxidoreductases (OFORs) are essential enzymes in microbial one-carbon metabolism. They use thiamine pyrophosphate to reversibly cleave carbon–carbon bonds, generating low potential (∼−500 mV) electrons. Crystallographic analysis of a recently discovered OFOR, an oxalate oxidoreductase (OOR), has provided a second view of OFOR architecture and active site composition. Using these recent structural data along with the previously determined structures of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, structure–function relationships in this superfamily have been expanded and re-evaluated. Additionally, structural motifs have been defined that better serve to distinguish one OFOR subfamily from another and potentially uncover novel OFORs.
Astrology as a Culturally Transmitted Heuristic Scheme for Understanding Seasonality Effects: A Response to Genovese (2014),1:

Astrology is a popular and resilient heuristic scheme for making sense of complex patterns in nature. Astrological heuristics are conveyed through communication in print and online media. Recent re...
Damage Detection in Pavement Structures Using Self-powered Sensors

This paper presents a new approach for the continuous health monitoring of asphalt concrete pavements using self-powered wireless sensors. Numerical and experimental studies were carried out to evaluate the damage detection performance of the proposed self-sustained sensing system. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was performed to obtain the pavement responses under moving tire loading. Damage was introduced as bottom-up fatigue cracks at the bottom of the asphalt layer. Thereafter, features extracted from the simulated dynamic strain data for a number of sensing nodes were used to detect damage. Laboratory tests were carried out on an asphalt concrete specimen in three point bending mode to verify the sensor response. The results indicate that the proposed method is effective in detecting different damage states including crack propagation.
Cost effectiveness and outcome assessment of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing cord compression.

Background. This study was designed to investigate the costs associated with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the workup of spinal cord compression caused by metastatic disease, an area in which it has proven to be diagnostically useful. Methods. The study was divided into two parts. Part 1 consisted of a retrospective review of the hospital charts of 46 patients, half of whom were diagnosed with cord compression in the pre-MRI era and the other half diagnosed after MRI availability ; costs for these two groups were compared. Part 2 consisted of a review of several major studies comparing the sensitivities and specificities of MRI with alternative imaging techniques, usually myelography. Cost effectiveness and cost/cost ratios were derived for diagnostic usefulness using prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, and cost estimates of MRI and its alternatives, including costs of false-negative and false-positive testing. Results. Our hospital-based experience yielded an average cost of $3664 per patient without MRI and $2283 per patient when MRI was available (1991 dollar amounts). The cost of diagnosis was 65% more expensive without MRI. Use of the literature-based experience demonstrated that the cost of diagnosis was at least 82% more costly without MRI than when it was available. However, when key variables were altered during sensitivity analysis, this difference of increased cost of diagnosis without MRI ranged from 25% to 98%. Conclusion. This work suggests that MRI may result in significant economic benefits in diagnosing metastatic cord compression, but further work is needed on physician behavior and referral patterns with MRI versus myelography as is long term follow-up for potential reductions in patient debility using MRI. Cancer 1995 ;75 :2579-86.
5,7-Dimethyl-1H-indole-2,3-dione

The title compound, C10H9NO2, crystallizes with four mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The mol­ecules are all near planar, with the non-H atoms possessing mean deviations from planarity of 0.017, 0.026, 0.020 and 0.007 A. In the crystal, the mol­ecules form two dimers, each linked by a pair of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.