cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genistein chemoprevention of prostate cancer in TRAMP mice

Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse association between soy intake and prostate cancer risk. Genistein, the predominant phytoestrogen in soy food, has been proposed as a potential chemopreventive agent due to its anti-estrogen and tyrosine kinase inhibitory effects. To determine the most effective period for genistein chemoprevention, the Transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model was used. The treatments were 250 mg genistein/kg AIN-76A diet 1) prepubertally only, 2) in adulthood only or 3) through out life. Controls received AIN-76A diet. By 28 weeks of age, 100% TRAMP mice fed control diet developed prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) or adenocarcinomas with 6%, 16%, 44% and 34% developing high grade PIN, well differentiated, moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated prostatic adenocarcinomas, respectively. Prepubertal only (1–35 days postpartum) and adult only genistein treatments (12 – 28 weeks) resulted in 6% and 29% decreases in poorly-differentiated cancerous lesions compared with controls, respectively. The most significant effect was seen in the TRAMP mice exposed to genistein throughout life (1–28 weeks) with a 50% decrease in poorly-differentiated cancerous lesions. In a separate experiment in castrated TRAMP mice, dietary genistein suppressed the development of advanced prostate cancer by 35% compared with controls. Of the tumors that developed in castrated TRAMP mice, 100% were poorly-differentiated in contrast to the 37% of noncastrated TRAMP mice that developed poorly-differentiated tumors. ICI 182,780 (ICI), genistein and estrogen down-regulated androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the prostates of C57BL/6 mice, and act independently of ER. Our data obtained in intact and castrated transgenic mice suggest that genistein may be a promising chemopreventive agent against androgen-dependent and independent prostate cancers.
Role of pancreozymin-cholecystokinin and structurally related compounds as calcitonin secretogogues.

Surgically isolated pig thyroid glands were perfused in situ under controlled conditions with blood, or modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, to which individual gastrointestinal hormones or related compounds were added at a constant rate. The thyroid venous effluent was collected quantitatively and the calcitonin (CT) concentration measured by either bioassay or radioimmunoassay so that the CT secretion rate could be calculated. Porcine secretin (50 pM to 145 nM) did not stimulate CT secretion, in contrast to a significant effect with porcine pancreozymin (1.3–25 nM). Stimulation of CT secretion was also produced by the Cterminal octapeptide of pancreozymin (1.8–17 nM), whereas the N-terminal hexapeptide (70 nM) was inactive. This stimulatory action was reduced by mild oxidation. Cerulein (1–14 nM) and pentagastrin (0.5 μM), which share with pancreozymin the same C-terminal tetrapeptide, also stimulated CT release. (Endocrinology 89: 262,1971)
Identification of extracellular miRNA in human cerebrospinal fluid by next-generation sequencing.

There has been a growing interest in using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to profile extracellular small RNAs from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with neurological diseases, CNS tumors, or traumatic brain injury for biomarker discovery. Small sample volumes and samples with low RNA abundance create challenges for downstream small RNA sequencing assays. Plasma, serum, and CSF contain low amounts of total RNA, of which small RNAs make up a fraction. The purpose of this study was to maximize RNA isolation from RNA-limited samples and apply these methods to profile the miRNA in human CSF by small RNA deep sequencing. We systematically tested RNA isolation efficiency using ten commercially available kits and compared their performance on human plasma samples. We used RiboGreen to quantify total RNA yield and custom TaqMan assays to determine the efficiency of small RNA isolation for each of the kits. We significantly increased the recovery of small RNA by repeating the aqueous extraction during the phenol-chloroform purification in the top performing kits. We subsequently used the methods with the highest small RNA yield to purify RNA from CSF and serum samples from the same individual. We then prepared small RNA sequencing libraries using Illumina’s TruSeq sample preparation kit and sequenced the samples on the HiSeq 2000. Not surprisingly, we found that the miRNA expression profile of CSF is substantially different from that of serum. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the small RNA fraction from CSF has been profiled using next-generation sequencing.
Increase in myocardial oxygenation with propranolol.

Intravenous propranolol, 0·25 mg/kg, significantly increased intramyocardial oxygen tension by 3 mm Hg (from 9 to 12 mm Hg) at a time when there was no change in coronary venous pO2. Propranolol appears to augment myocardial oxygen availability by decreasing the metabolic oxygen requirement of the heart in association with a reduction in cardiac work. It is concluded that propranolol has a rational physiological basis for use in the treatment of angina pectoris.
Tension development length and lap splice design for reinforced concrete members

The key factors that govern development (anchorage) and splice performance of reinforcing bars in tension are described. The bond design provisions of the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design) Bridge Design Specifications, the American Concrete Institute Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-05), ACI Committee 408, CEB-FIP Model Code 1990, and Eurocode 2 are summarized and compared with test results. In terms of the key factors, the bond strength of bars not confined by transverse reinforcement is proportional to the concrete compressive strength to the ¼ power. The contribution of transverse reinforcement to bond strength increases with the area of the transverse reinforcement per bar and the relative rib area and diameter of the bar being developed or spliced and has been found to be proportional to the concrete compressive strength to a power between ¾ and 1.0. For deep members or for high-slump (conventional and superplasticized) concrete, the effect of bar placement may be greater than accounted for in current design provisions. Of the five design procedures compared in this paper, those developed by ACI Committee 408 provide the best match with test results for both developed and spliced bars. For developed bars, the other four design procedures result in a high percentage of tests for which the test to calculated strength ratios (T/C) are less than 1.0, with the greatest percentage of low T/C values resulting from the AASHTO requirements. The relative safety of the latter four design procedures improves for lap splices. A provision in ACI 318-05 that allows a 20% reduction in development and lap splice length for bars smaller than 19 mm appears to be unsafe and should be removed or modified.
Mobile Learning in Nursing Education: Lessons Learned

This chapter provides an overview with related case study research of three programs at the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri that are implementing mobile technologies. The programs include the (1) design of an On-Demand Video-Assisted Competencies to implement a training protocol for increasing the effectiveness of training and performance of operating room nurses using mobile technologies, (2) the integration of mobile devices in the Sinclair School of Nursing simulation center to develop both advanced cognitive processes and skills, and (3) the integration of mobile technologies into a Missouri Quality Improvement grant to train advanced practice registered nurses to decrease the rehospitalization of elderly patients in nursing homes. Results of the research identified variances in the effectiveness of the integration of mobile technologies related to (1) the alignment of the characteristics of the technology and the goals for integration, (2) the influence of attitudes and previous experiences of users on the purposefulness of the mobile technologies, (3) the contradictory characteristics of the contexts for the implementation of the mobile technologies, and (4) effect of the change agents driving the design and implementation of the mobile learning technologies.
Clinical Evaluation of Kinetic Enzymatic Fixed-Time and Integral Analysis of Serum Triglycerides

Serum triglycerides can be enzymatically determined by hydrolysis of triglycerides to glycerol and free fatty acids [ Clin. Chem. 19, 476 (1973)]. Enzyme integral (end-point) and fixed-time rate analyses of serum triglycerides by this procedure have been investigated with a centrifugal analyzer. We determined the precision of blank determinations, the contribution of normal serum alkaline phosphatase to total values, and the amount of endogenous glycerol in fasting serum samples and blood collection tubes. We also made a statistical analysis of enzymatic triglyceride values obtained for a healthy, fasting (12-16 h) population of men and women. The relative merits of both procedures are discussed.
An Evaluation of the Remarriage and Stepfamily Self-Help Literature.

The purpose of this study was to critique in-print, post-1990 copyrighted stepfamily self-help books in order to provide guidance to helping professionals who work with these complex families. Of the 63 books reviewed, trained coders were able to strongly recommend 13 books for being well organized, for relying on clinical or empirical sources of information, and for offering practical and concrete advice specific enough for stepfamily members to implement.
Prognostic Value and Targeted Inhibition of Survivin Expression in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Cancer-Adjacent Squamous Epithelium

Background: Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis and its over expression is associated with poor prognosis in several malignancies. While several studies have analyzed survivin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, few have focused on esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and/or cancer-adjacent squamous epithelium (CASE). The purpose of this study was 1) to determine the degree of survivin up regulation in samples of EAC and CASE, 2) to evaluate if survivin expression in EAC and CASE correlates with recurrence and/or death, and 3) to examine the effect of survivin inhibition on apoptosis in EAC cells. Methods: Fresh frozen samples of EAC and CASE from the same patient were used for qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue was used for immunohistochemistry. EAC cell lines, OE19 and OE33, were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to knockdown survivin expression. This was confirmed by qRT-PCR for survivin expression and Western blot analysis of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase 3 and survivin. Survivin expression data was correlated with clinical outcome. Results: Survivin expression was significantly higher in EAC tumor samples compared to the CASE from the same patient. Patients with high expression of survivin in EAC tumor had an increased risk of death. Survivin expression was also noted in CASE and correlated with increased risk of distant recurrence. Cell line evaluation demonstrated that inhibition of survivin resulted in an increase in apoptosis. Conclusion: Higher expression of survivin in tumor tissue was associated with increased risk of death; while survivin expression in CASE was a superior predictor of recurrence. Inhibition of survivin in EAC cell lines further showed increased apoptosis, supporting the potential benefits of therapeutic strategies targeted to this marker.
Clinical Decision Making in Physical Therapy: A Practitioner's Perspective

The purposes of this presentation are to describe and categorize the diverse clinical decisions currently made by physical therapists and to discuss the factors influencing those decisions. My views on the subject of clinical decision making are deeply rooted in the soils and toils of clinical practice and are not influenced by the mathematical and statistical models of decision making (eg, medical decision analysis). I have spent almost every day of my 38 years of professional life involved in direct care of patients. This experience has allowed me to participate in and be a witness to the expanding role of the physical therapist in clinical decision making. The expansion of practice into more independent modes presents numerous challenges. A substantial challenge, for example, will be to successfully educate current and future generations of practitioners in the methods and intricacies of clinical decision making.…
Criteria for Crack Deflection-Penetration in EBC Coated Ceramics: A Parametric Study

This article discusses results obtained from a parametric study to analytically evaluate the impingement of a crack at the interface of an environmental barrier coating (EBC) and a monolithic Silicon nitride (Si3N4) layered ceramics substrate. The study establishes a correlation that leads to determine if the crack is arrested or advanced by either penetrating or deflecting along the EBC/substrate interface. A finite-element-based fracture mechanics methodology is utilized to perform these calculations. Critical parameters determining penetration-deflection conditions in relation to EBC's physical characteristics, such as porosity level, voids, and mini cracks, are determined for a single layer and multi-layered coating system coordinating the interactions between the EBCs (Mullite, Mullite mixture, Silicon nitride, etc.) and the substrate structure. Results showing thermo-mechanical stresses and stress/strain energy release relations with respect to crack penetration-deflection are presented and discusse...
Effect of a Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor, Acetazoleamide, Upon Gastric Secretion in Man: Report of its Use Separately and in Conjunction with Anticholinergic Drugs

Summary 1.Diamox in dosage of 1 gram per 24 hours exerts a significant inhibitory effect upon gastric hydrochloric acid production without influencing the volume of gastric secretion. 2.Inhibitory effects on gastric hydrochloric acid were noted with ProBanthine, 15 mg. four times a day, and with Pathilon, 25 mg. and 50 mg. four times a day. 3.Statistically significant conclusions cannot be drawn from the preliminary observations on Diamox in combination with anticholinergic drugs. 4.These studies support the concept that carbonic anhydrase in the parietal cell has an important role in the process of acid secretion of the stomach.
Pressurized Water Reactor Environment Effect on 316 Stainless Steel Stress Hardening/Softening: An Experimental Study

In USA there are approximately 100 operating light water reactors (LWR) consisting fleet of both pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors (BWR). Most of these reactors were built before 1970 and the design lives of most of these reactors are 40 years. It is expected that by 2030, even those reactors that have received 20 year life extension license from the US nuclear regulatory commission (NRC) will begin to reach the end of their licensed periods of operation. For economical reason it is be beneficial to extend the license beyond 60 to perhaps 80 years that would enable existing plants to continue providing safe, clean and economic electricity without significant green house gas emissions. However, environmental fatigue is one of the major aging related issues for these reactors, and may create hurdles in long term sustainability of these reactors. To address some of the environmental fatigue related issues, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) with the sponsorship of Department of Energy’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program trying to develop mechanistic approach for more accurate life estimation of LWR components. In this context ANL conducted many fatigue experiments under different test and environment conditions on 316 stainless steel (316SS) material that is or similar grade steels are widely used in US reactors. Contrary to the conventional S∼N curve based empirical fatigue life estimation approach, the aim of the present DOE sponsored work is to understand material ageing more mechanistically (e.g. time dependent hardening and softening) under different test and environmental conditions. Better mechanistic understanding will help to develop computer based advanced modeling tools to better extrapolate stress-strain evolution of reactor component under multi-axial stress states and hence to help predicting their fatigue life more accurately. In this paper (part-I) the fatigue experiments under different test and environment conditions and related stress-strain results for 316 SS are discussed. In another paper (part-II) the related evolutionary cyclic plasticity material modeling techniques and results are discussed.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Twinsters the Movie: Reared Apart Twins in Real Time.

The 2015 documentary film Twinsters, tells the story of reared-apart MZ female twins, Samantha (Sam) Futerman and Anais Bordier. Born in South Korea, the twins were adopted separately as babies by couples living in the United States (Sam) and France (Anais). Their chance discovery of one another and their subsequent reunion and relationship are beautifully captured in the 2015 documentary film, Twinsters. Recent interviews with some of their family members are presented in Twin Research and Human Genetics for the first time. This is followed by brief reviews of recent twin research on a heteropagus twin, schizophrenia liability, epigenetics and homosexuality, and transgender-discordant twins. Finally, some newsworthy items are summarized, including the passing of reared-apart MZ twin Jack Yufe, an unusual twin father; identical twin models I; identical twin models II; and a pair of twin marines.
Abstract 13247: Premature Closure in Need of Percutaneous Closure: An Elusive Case of Recurrent Liver Failure

A 54-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis and a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was hospitalized for hepatic encephalopathy. During evaluation, a bicuspid aortic valve without stenosis or regurgitation and thoracic aortic aneurysm of 5.3cm were identified. Surgical repair of the aorta was deferred given his end-stage liver disease (ESLD). He underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) but suffered primary graft non-function and failure. He was re-listed emergently and underwent repeat OLT. 4 weeks later he developed volume overload and recurrent liver failure. The liver failure was initially attributed to acute rejection. Liver biopsy revealed centrilobular necrosis and sinusoidal dilation. The patient was re-listed and received a third deceased cadaveric liver transplantation. The lack of a unifying diagnosis at this time required re-evaluation of prior testing. On repeat examination, the jugular venous pulse was elevated and notable for a v-wave; however, there was no significant tricuspid regurgitation on physical exam or echocardiography. Invasive hemodynamic testing confirmed tall right atrial v-waves, a high cardiac output, and elevated pulmonary arterial saturation of 88%. The aggregate data suggested the possibility of an intracardiac shunt as the culprit of high-output heart failure and liver failure. 3D transesophageal echocardiography was performed and revealed an aorto-atrial fistula with left-to-right shunting, possibly due to iatrogenic injury during his TIPS procedure. As the patient was deemed at prohibitively high risk for open repair, percutaneous closure was performed with a 10-mm Amplatzer device with immediate reduction in right-sided filling pressures and normalization of v-waves. This case illustrates (1) the problem of “premature closure”, acceptance of a diagnosis (and failure to consider alternatives) before sufficient verification has occurred; and (2) the critical importance of re-examining the primary cardiac data to eliminate bias in the clinical reasoning process. Percutaneous closure led to successful resolution of the aorto-atrial shunt with complete recovery and reversal of decompensated liver failure in this patient who continues to do well 2 years later.
The influence of nasal airflow on respiratory and olfactory epithelial distribution in felids

ABSTRACT The surface area of the maxilloturbinals and fronto-ethmoturbinals is commonly used as an osteological proxy for the respiratory and the olfactory epithelium, respectively. However, this assumption does not fully account for animals with short snouts in which these two turbinal structures significantly overlap, potentially placing fronto-ethmoturbinals in the path of respiratory airflow. In these species, it is possible that anterior fronto-ethmoturbinals are covered with non-sensory (respiratory) epithelium instead of olfactory epithelium. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of olfactory and non-sensory, respiratory epithelia on the turbinals of two domestic cats (Felis catus) and a bobcat (Lynx rufus). We also conducted a computational fluid dynamics simulation of nasal airflow in the bobcat to explore the relationship between epithelial distribution and airflow patterns. The results showed that a substantial amount of respiratory airflow passes over the anterior fronto-ethmoturbinals, and that contrary to what has been observed in caniform carnivorans, much of the anterior ethmoturbinals are covered by non-sensory epithelium. This confirms that in short-snouted felids, portions of the fronto-ethmoturbinals have been recruited for respiration, and that estimates of olfactory epithelial coverage based purely on fronto-ethmoturbinal surface area will be exaggerated. The correlation between the shape of the anterior fronto-ethmoturbinals and the direction of respiratory airflow suggests that in short-snouted species, CT data alone are useful in assessing airflow patterns and epithelium distribution on the turbinals.
Multidisciplinary model transformation through simplified intermediate representations

There has long been a challenge of making engineering tools from multiple disciplines interoperate. This problem extends to system modeling practices. This challenge has been confronted with a wide variety of techniques. These techniques include attempting to interface tools together into combined suites, attempting to find underlying commonalities in mathematics, supporting connections through semantic encoding, various graph mappings and transformations, and code wrappers. All of these approaches have strengths and weaknesses. These are measured in multiple areas: relative freedom of action of individual domain engineers in developing their own tools, speed of execution, ease of creation, traceability, fidelity of information transfer, and degree of alignment between the concepts of different domains. This paper presents an approach to this interoperation problem currently being used in the World-Wide Web. The approach is to develop easy-to-parse formats that allow flexibility to both the file author and file interpreter. Many of the formats that are currently deployed sacrifice runtime performance for the ability of third parties to easily understand what to do with the data. XML became popular earlier as a de-facto standard format for many web applications, but is now being replaced by JSON to enhance human readability and provide a simpler data model. This is the basis for work in this paper. Our approach, which provides the key to interoperation, is a simplified “shrapnel” intermediate collection of objects an d relationships that is the result of a breakdown of the system model into minimal pieces. It is then reassembled on the destination side, forming a two-step transformation. Previous efforts with single-step transformations have proven too difficult to create efficiently. In contrast, the use of this approach leads to an almost automatic procedure for transformation development. The Europa project is a large engineering project that must coordinate the efforts of many different teams with different specialties. The traditional form of exchanging engineering information has been documentation. The vision of model-based systems engineering is to make this information exchange much more digital. This paper presents the application of our simplified format to connecting two different engineering tools to the system model, with a focus on a dynamic mission simulation encoded in Modelica.
Social Aspects of Water Management

Water resources and services are parts of social systems that extend beyond the technical world and the IWRM requires a balance between competing views of social and political issues. Social issues are not well defined, but they create many connections between people and water. A starting point to define them is the hierarchy of human needs, where access to water and services is about social justice. Although access seems to be a human right, paying for services is also essential. Empowering women is also high on the global water agenda. It is difficult to harmonize differing worldviews about social issues, but IWRM offers a forum for it, especially with its focus on collective action.
Characterization of Class III Peroxidases from Switchgrass

Class III peroxidases (CIIIPRX) catalyze the oxidation of monolignols, generate radicals, and ultimately lead to the formation of lignin. In general, CIIIPRX genes encode a large number of isozymes with ranges of in vitro substrate specificities. In order to elucidate the mode of substrate specificity of these enzymes, we characterized one of the CIIIPRXs (PviPRX9) from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a strategic plant for second-generation biofuels. The crystal structure, kinetic experiments, molecular docking, as well as expression patterns of PviPRX9 across multiple tissues and treatments, along with its levels of coexpression with the majority of genes in the monolignol biosynthesis pathway, revealed the function of PviPRX9 in lignification. Significantly, our study suggested that PviPRX9 has the ability to oxidize a broad range of phenylpropanoids with rather similar efficiencies, which reflects its role in the fortification of cell walls during normal growth and root development and in response to insect feeding. Based on the observed interactions of phenylpropanoids in the active site and analysis of kinetics, a catalytic mechanism involving two water molecules and residues histidine-42, arginine-38, and serine-71 was proposed. In addition, proline-138 and gluntamine-140 at the 137P-X-P-X140 motif, leucine-66, proline-67, and asparagine-176 may account for the broad substrate specificity of PviPRX9. Taken together, these observations shed new light on the function and catalysis of PviPRX9 and potentially benefit efforts to improve biomass conservation properties in bioenergy and forage crops.
Bi-Directional Notch Signaling Via Signal-Sending and Signal-Receiving Microdomains of the Partnered Immunological Synapses during Th:DC Interaction.

Abstract The Notch pathway regulates adaptive immune responses, yet the temporal development of a specific molecular anatomy underlying the directionality of Notch signaling, central to cell-fate decisions, remains unknown. Using the development of the functional immune synapse (IS) of the human physiological T-helper lymphocyte (Th): Dendritic cell (DC) interaction as our model, we followed the temporal accumulation of Notch signaling components, unprocessed and processed, in the developing ThIS and the apposed DCIS of these cells by 2D and 3D immunofluorescense microscopy. Downstream Notch targets in both cell types were followed, as well. We demonstrate that Th-Notch1 receptor and DC-Notch ligands (Delta-like1, Jagged-1) cluster in their apposed central-supramolecular-activation-clusters (cSMAC), whereas DC-Notch1 receptor and Th-Notch ligands cluster in their apposed peripheral-SMAC in an anti-parallel arrangement to that seen in the cSMAC. The resultant accumulation in both cell types of processed nuclear Notch receptor, its ligands, as well as HES-1 and phosphorylated-STAT3, supports antiparallel, reciprocal Notch signal propagation in the DC-to-Th direction via the cSMAC and Th-to-DC direction via the pSMAC. The imposed asymmetric recruitment of the components of Notch pathway, therefore, provides a novel bi-directional route by which the partnered ThIS and DCIS regulate Notch-mediated immune responses. Our data indicate that terminally differentiated immune cells communicate bidirectionally using unidirectional Notch signaling platforms that are spatially segregated into reciprocally signaling microdomains. Significantly, our observations of bidirectional Notch signaling indicate that the heterologous Th:DC interaction is cooperative, requiring reciprocal information transfer across both cell types to mount an appropriate immune response.
REDSPY: Exploring Value Locality in Software

Complex code bases with several layers of abstractions have abundant inefficiencies that affect the execution time. Value redundancy is a kind of inefficiency where the same values are repeatedly computed, stored, or retrieved over the course of execution. Not all redundancies can be easily detected or eliminated with compiler optimization passes due to the inherent limitations of the static analysis.Microscopic observation of whole executions at instruction- and operand-level granularity breaks down abstractions and helps recognize redundancies that masquerade in complex programs. We have developed REDSPY---a fine-grained profiler to pinpoint and quantify redundant operations in program executions. Value redundancy may happen over time at same locations or in adjacent locations, and thus it has temporal and spatial locality. REDSPY identifies both temporal and spatial value locality. Furthermore, REDSPY is capable of identifying values that are approximately the same, enabling optimization opportunities in HPC codes that often use floating point computations. REDSPY provides intuitive optimization guidance by apportioning redundancies to their provenance---source lines and execution calling contexts. REDSPY pinpointed dramatically high volume of redundancies in programs that were optimization targets for decades, such as SPEC CPU2006 suite, Rodinia benchmark, and NWChem---a production computational chemistry code. Guided by REDSPY, we were able to eliminate redundancies that resulted in significant speedups.
Absolute Intensities and Classification of Transitions in Electron Impact Spectroscopy

If we define Electron Impact Spectroscopy as that phase of inelastic electron scattering which deals with resolved (electron) spectra, then the subject is still far too large to be surveyed in a one-hour speech. If, however, attention is confined to the study of absolute (in contrast to relative) intensities, the scope is reduced to the point where a survey of recent research is possible. A brief discussion of selection rules, which identify transitions of low intensity, can also be included. The similarity between electron impact and ultraviolet spectroscopy is most pronounced for electrons of high initial kinetic energy and this survey will be primarily, but not exclusively, devoted to investigations of this type. It will not be possible to survey the subject of resonances, first discovered by G. J. Schulz.1 Resonances have, however, been the subject of many excellent reviews the latest of which are due to Schulz.2,3
Static and Dynamic Magnetic Properties of Sputtered Fe–Ga Thin Films

We present the measurements of the static and dynamic properties of polycrystalline iron–gallium films, ranging from 20 to 80 nm and sputtered from an Fe0.8Ga0.2 target. Using a broadband ferromagnetic resonance setup in a wide frequency range, perpendicular standing spin-wave resonances were observed with the external static magnetic field applied in-plane. The field corresponding to the strongest resonance peak at each frequency is used to determine the effective magnetization, the $g$ -factor, and the Gilbert damping. Furthermore, the dependence of spin-wave mode on field-position is observed for several frequencies. The analysis of broadband dynamic properties allows determination of the exchange stiffness $A = (18 \pm 4)$ pJ/m and Gilbert damping $\alpha = 0.042 \pm 0.005$ for 40 and 80 nm thick films. These values are approximately consistent with values seen in epitaxially grown films, indicating the potential for the industrial fabrication of magnetostrictive FeGa films for microwave applications.
Going beyond monetary constitutions: The congruence of money and finance

Abstract We extend the literature on ‘monetary constitutions’ by arguing that binding rules must go beyond specifying the behavior of the monetary authority. Instead, a genuine monetary constitution must also be a financial constitution: it must take into account the natural and evolved links between money and banking, treating them as a single institution. We present a unified conception of money and banking, show how modern monetary institutions have severed the traditional links between money and banking, and discuss how macroeconomic stability is an unintended result of a self-enforcing constitution for the money-and-banking system. Finally, we conclude by discussing the implications of our argument for re-orienting the conversation on post-financial crisis stability towards genuinely institutional solutions.
Valuing Reprogenetic Technologies: Bringing Insights from the Philosophy of Technology to Bioethics

Reprogenetic technologies have been enthusiastically embraced by well-known authors who argue that these technologies increase reproductive choice, contribute to a reduction of suffering by eliminating genetic diseases and disabilities, and offer the opportunity to improve the human condition by creating beings who will live much longer and healthier lives, have better intellectual capacities, and enjoy more refined emotional experiences. Indeed, some take reprogenetic technologies to be so valuable to human beings that they believe their use is not only morally permissible but morally required. More often than not, however, proponents of reprogenetic technologies treats these technologies as mere value-neutral tools, limiting their assessments to risk and benefit considerations. In this chapter I bring insights from philosophy of technology regarding the value-laden nature of technologies to bear on bioethical analyses of reprogenetics. I challenge proponents’ assumption that an evaluation of risk and benefits is all is needed to determine the moral permissibility or impermissibility of developing and using reprogenetic technologies. I argue that a robust ethical analysis requires attention to the relationship between contextual values and technological development and implementation, as well as to the ways in which technologies reinforce or transform human values by mediating our perceptions of the world and our reasons for action. Ignoring the value-laden nature of reprogenetic technologies results not just in incomplete ethical evaluations but in distorted ones.
Changes to Extender, Cryoprotective Medium, and In Vitro Fertilization Improve Zebrafish Sperm Cryopreservation.

Abstract Sperm cryopreservation is a highly efficient method for preserving genetic resources. It extends the reproductive period of males and significantly reduces costs normally associated with m...
Legal Ethics, Business Ethics and International Trade: Some Neglected Issues

The issue of ethics seldom arises in discussions involving international trade. Talks generally revolve around a particular policy or how a particular policy affects this or that sector of the economy, industry, country or region. When ethical issues are discussed, it is usually from a utilitarian perspective, since the vast majority of economists and policymakers subscribe to some form of the utilitarian ethical philosophy. They would assert that a policy is good if it results in the greatest good for the greatest number or if the good outweighs the bad. However, the utilitarian philosophy suffers from several major defects. Thus, it is also necessary to look at trade issues from nonutilitarian perspectives. This article is one of the few that attempts to do just that. This article begins with a discussion of what ethics is, which is necessary before ethical theory can be applied to trade policy. Unfortunately, not everyone can agree on how to approach ethics, so several prevailing views are discussed and analyzed. Economic sanctions are examined next, with emphasis being placed on ethical aspects of present U.S. and U.N. sanctions policy. Part IV addresses the ethics of various protectionist practices. Part V provides a thorough overview of antidumping laws, which are being used with increasing frequency to restrict or block trade rather than facilitate it. Several issues relating to the structure and implementation of antidumping laws are examined from an ethical perspective. Ethical issues involved in the subsidization of exports are examined next, followed by a discussion of other non-tariff trade barriers. Part VIII addresses what might be termed institutional immorality. This section looks at the policies and rules of various international organizations and institutions from an ethical perspective. Part IX looks at the Takings Clause of the United States Constitution in an attempt to determine whether applying the Takings doctrine to international trade might reduce some injustices. Part X offers concluding comments.
The Legacy of Populism Defeated

The mortgage system is a gigantic evil which is crushing the very life blood out of the hearts of the toiling sons of soil shedding its withering and blighting influences over every nook and comer of our land.
The G20 Since 2008: Some Reflections on the Experience and the Road Ahead

Four years after the financial crisis of 2008, the global economy is still in a state of fragility. The early signs of recovery, which were seen as a vindication of the coordinated global policy response in late 2008 and early 2009, have not developed into a sustained revival of the growth momentum that the global economy experienced in the years before the crisis. While the global economy grew by about 4.8 % per year during the 5 years, between 2003 and 2007, it slowed to about 2.8 % in the subsequent 4 years. Further, the post-crisis growth pattern was quite skewed, as emerging market economies (EMEs) initially showed relatively greater responsiveness to the policy stimulus. Recently, however, even these economies have slowed, as perhaps might have been expected in a scenario in which the world’s major advanced economies simply failed to sustain whatever early momentum they had generated.
STUDIES ON THE ROLE OF PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR IN OVULATION AND EARLY EMBRYOGENESIS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the studies on the role of plasminogen activator in ovulation and early embryogenesis. Much of the recent interest in the production of plasminogen activator by cultured cells stems from the observation that transformed cells produce much larger amounts of this enzyme than their normal counterparts. The importance of these results was that they suggested a function other than blood clot homeostasis for the plasminogen activator, plasminogen system. As with all seminal observations, the experimental results were significant not only in themselves, but also for the insight they provided into the earlier literature on proteolysis. The first cell type to differentiate in mammalian embryos is the trophoblast, which is derived from the outer cell layer of the preimplantation blastocyst. Throphoblast cells invade the uterine wall or ectopic sites during embryo implantation, and they provide one classic example of normal cells that are responsible for gross tissue disruption.
Building Assets in Real-World Communities

For more than a decade, scientists at Search Institute have committed themselves to identifying, assessing, and documenting the developmental implications of human “assets” (Leffert et al., 1998). As Peter Benson explains in chapter 2, assets represent psychosocial resources that have been linked conceptually and empirically to optimal development in youth. The resources identified thus far include environmental qualities (i.e., the 20 external assets) and individual characteristics (i.e., the 20 internal assets; see Chapter 2, Table 1). These 40 assets have been identified through a systematically scientific investigatory sequence. A reasonably comprehensive analysis of relevant developmental, psychological, and social science literature (Scales & Leffert, 1998) informed the construction of a paper-and-pencil survey measure that, over the past decade, has been administered across a relatively wide range of ages and grade levels (grades 6–12) across economic and cultural subgroups. Aggregating survey responses across hundreds of settings with hundreds of thousands of children, Search Institute investigators have produced an encouraging and heuristically exciting body of evidence linking measured asset levels with selected developmental outcomes.
Use of the CES-D in an American Indian village

In this paper, we examine the performance of a pencil-and-paper screening questionnaire on depressive symptoms (the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, or CES-D) in a sample of 120 adult American Indians belonging to a single Northwest Coast tribe. Results of factor analyses suggest that somatic complaints and emotional distress are not well differentiated from each other in this population. CES-D scores (which have shown good sensitivity and specifity for depressive disorders in this sample) also show weak and apparently nonsignificant trends to be elevated in the presence of other psychiatric diagnoses (including alcoholism) or general impairment. However, because of the use of a convenience sample (rather than a probability sample), analyses of associations between study factors - including comorbidity - are liable to produce spurious results due to selection bias (including Berkson bias). On this basis, we suggest that the use of probability samples should assume a high priority in cross-cultural studies. The study of the entire population of interest is another solution to the sampling problem, particularly in small communities.
WNR, a Neutron Time-of-Flight Facility at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

The Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) is an 800-MeV proton linear accelerator designed to accelerate both positive and negative hydrogen ions simultaneously. The duty cycle of the LAMPF accelerator is 6%; proton pulses lasting 500 µsec will be produced with a peak current of 17 mA at a repetition rate of 120 Hz. The negative hydrogen ion beam will have similar characteristics, except that the peak design current is 2 mA, roughly a factor of ten lower. The first 800-MeV proton beam was produced at LAMPF on June 9, 1972, about one month ahead of schedule. Following a six-month period devoted to beam diagnostic work, the first serious experiments will be under way in January 1973.
A Traceless Tether Strategy for Achieving Formal Intermolecular Hexadehydro-Diels–Alder Reactions

A synthetic strategy formally equivalent to an intermolecular hexadehydro-Diels-Alder (HDDA) reaction is described. Sulfur-based linkers were designed and constructed by joining terminal alkynes or diynes using alkyne thiolate chemistry. The resulting tetraynes and triynes successfully underwent HDDA cyclization and benzyne trapping. Linker removal by reductive desulfurization was uneventful. The strategy was also found suitable for the tetradehydro-Diels-Alder (TDDA) reaction.
Evaluation of Lateral Resolution of Light Field Cameras

Light field cameras are an emerging imaging device for acquiring 3-D information of a scene by capturing a field of light rays traveling in space. As light field cameras become portable, hand-held, and affordable, their potential as a 3-D measurement instrument is growing in many applications, including 3-D evidence imaging in crime scene investigations. We evaluated the lateral resolution of commercially available light field cameras, which is one of the fundamental specifications of imaging instruments. For the evaluation of the camera’s lateral resolution, we imaged Siemens stars under various imaging configurations and experimental conditions, including changes in distance between the camera and the resolution target plate, illumination, zoom level, location of the Siemens star in the camera’s field-of-view, and cameras of the same model. The analysis results from a full factorial experiment showed that (i) when a lower zoom level of the camera was used, the lateral resolution tended not to be affected by distance; however, when a higher zoom level was used, it tended to decrease significantly with respect to the distance, (ii) the center region of the camera’s field-of-view provided a better lateral resolution than the peripheral regions, (iii) a higher zoom level yielded a higher lateral resolution, (iv) the two cameras of the same model used in the study did not show a significant difference in the lateral resolution, and (v) changes in illumination did not affect the lateral resolution of the cameras.
International Military Education and Training: Promoting Democratic Values to Militaries and Countries throughout the World

The International Military Education and Training program is the United States security assistance program that provides professional military education to officers from foreign militaries. As a to...
Endoscopic versus percutaneous drainage of post-operative peripancreatic fluid collections following pancreatic resection.

Abstract Background Post-operative peripancreatic fluid collection (PFC) is a common complication following pancreatic resection which can be managed with endoscopic or percutaneous drainage. Methods Patients who underwent either endoscopic or percutaneous drainage of post-operative PFC were extracted from a prospectively-maintained database. The two groups were matched for surgery type, presence of a surgical drain and timing of drainage. Results Thirty-nine matched patients were identified in each group with a median age of 62 years. For primary drainage, technical success was achieved in almost all patients in both endoscopic and percutaneous groups (100% and 97%, p = NS); clinical success was achieved in 67% and 59%, respectively (p = 0.63). At least one “salvage” drainage procedure was required in 13 endoscopic patients versus 16 in the percutaneous group. Clinical success was achieved following the first salvage. Procedure in 85% of the endoscopic patients and 88% of the percutaneous patients (p = 0.62). Stent/drain duration (59 vs 33 days, p Conclusion Endoscopic drainage of post-operative PFC appears to be safe and effective with comparable success rates and outcomes to percutaneous drainage.