cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of two mammalian reductases involved in the two-carbon fatty acyl elongation cascade.

The de novo synthesis of fatty acids occurs in two distinct cellular compartments. Palmitate (16:0) is synthesized from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in the cytoplasm by the enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and fatty acid synthase. The synthesis of fatty acids longer than 16 carbons takes place in microsomes and utilizes malonyl-CoA as the carbon source. Each two-carbon addition requires four sequential reactions: condensation, reduction, dehydration, and a final reduction to form the elongated fatty acyl-CoA. The initial condensation reaction is the regulated and rate-controlling step in microsomal fatty acyl elongation. We previously reported the cDNA cloning and characterization of a murine long chain fatty acyl elongase (LCE) (1). Overexpression of LCE in cells resulted in the enhanced addition of two-carbon units to C12-C16 fatty acids, and evidence was provided that LCE catalyzed the initial condensation reaction of long chain fatty acid elongation. The remaining three enzymes in the elongation reaction have not been identified in mammals. Here, we report the identification and characterization of two mammalian enzymes that catalyze the 3-ketoacyl-CoA and trans-2,3-enoyl-CoA reduction reactions in long and very long chain fatty acid elongation, respectively.
“Life Style” As a Contact Lens Fitting Variable*

In one form or another, every problem patient file contains some developing clues to the lengthy chair time represented. But perhaps the most subtle are associated with patient “life style”, i.e., a series of unique or even predictable shifts in activities, environment, or lens care.
Contractile properties of the striated adductor muscle in the bay scallop Argopecten irradians at several temperatures.

The isometric and isotonic contractile properties of the cross-striated adductor muscle of the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) were measured in vitro at 10, 15 and 20 degrees C. The length at which twitch force was maximal as a function of the closed length in situ (L0/Lcl) averaged 1.38 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- S.E.M.) at 10 degrees C. This length is very close to the typical length at maximum gape during natural swimming at this temperature. Passive force was very low over the range of lengths measured here; at L0, passive force averaged approximately 0.08 N cm-2, or only 0.5% of the corresponding peak twitch force. The mean peak isometric twitch force (Ptw,max) at 10 degrees C was 21.43 +/- 0.68 N cm-2 (S.E.M.), and the ratio of peak twitch force to tetanic force (Ptw,max/P0) averaged 0.89 +/- 0.01. Temperature did not affect either twitch force (Ptw), once fatigue was taken into account, or Ptw,max/P0. In contrast, the time-related properties of twitch contractions (latent period, tL; time to peak tension, tPtw; and time from peak tension to half-relaxation, t50%R) were positively modified by temperature at all temperatures measured (Q10 > 1.8). All three properties were more temperature-sensitive over the range 10-15 degrees C than over the range 15-20 degrees C. The force-velocity relationships of the striated adductor muscle were fitted to the hyperbolic-linear (HYP-LIN) equation. The force-velocity curves of the striated adductor muscle of the scallop were strongly influenced by temperature. Maximal velocity at zero force (Vmax), and therefore maximal power output, increased significantly with temperature. The Q10 over the temperature range 10-15 degrees C (1.42) was significantly lower than that over the range 15-20 degrees C (2.41). The shape of the force-velocity relationship, assessed through comparisons of the power ratio (Wmax/VmaxP0), was not influenced by temperature.
Connecting ideas to practice: The development of an undergraduate student’s philosophy of music education:

This article considers the personal reflections of an undergraduate music education major on both the significance of his experience as a participant in the Seventh International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education, held at Michigan State University, in the United States, in June 2011, and on his place as a pre-service music teacher poised to enter the profession. The first author’s reflections regarding what the conference meant to him as a future music educator has implications for individuals who help prepare the next generation of music teachers, and scholars in all fields who desire for their work to reach a particular audience that could benefit from their work. The article takes the form of a personal narrative reflection, not generalizable to all populations of undergraduate music education majors, but certainly transferable to similar situations where undergraduates are considering waves of change in degree requirements and curricular expansion.
The Walt Disney Company: The Arrival of Eisner and Wells (B)

This case begins in mid-1984 with the arrival of the Eisner-Wells team to head Disney Productions. It lays out the specific actions taken by the new management team in each area of Disney's business, and contains excerpts from Eisner and Wells's first letter to shareholders. See also Disney Productions: The Walt Years (UVA-BP-0332).
Comparison of the Compositional Proclivities of the Complete Genomes of Plasmodium Falciparum and Human

Pathogens and hosts have a dynamic relationship, one that is ever changing at the molecular level - the pathogen influencing the evolutionary path of the host and the host influencing the evolutionary path of the pathogen. The pathogen's adaptation to a particular host could serve several purposes, e.g. to mimic the host to avoid detection, to take advantage of the host's cellular machinery, to increase virulence, etc. Recognizing these adaptations is far from trivial, particularly when the size of the pathogen's and host's genomes differ by orders of magnitudes. Novel algorithms and data structures have been developed in our laboratory that make it possible to quantify the "distance" (or number of mutations) separating pathogen and host sequences. Through the examination of these distances, we hypothesize that it is possible to monitor pathogen adaptations at the sequence level and further our understanding of the function of the pathogen machinery. Even though the genome of Plasmodium falciparum, the agent causing malaria in humans, is complete, the functions of many of the coding regions remain unknown. Herein we present the results of our exhaustive calculations for each of the annotated coding regions in P. falciparum and the human genome.
McKerrow’s Editorial Principles for Shakespeare Reconsidered

IFTEEN years ago, in 1939, appeared R. B. McKerrow's Prolegomena for the Oxford Shakespeare.' This slim book was intended to introduce the volumes of a critical old-spelling Shakespeare edition for which McKerrow then had in active preparation some fifteen plays; but unfortunately he died before any volume was ready. Two years later, in 1941, Sir Walter Greg wrote of it: "The volume of Prolegomena for the Oxford Shakespeare, in whicA McKerrow discussed tie editorial principles and methods fie proposed to follow in that work, was the last thing of importance that he published. It is the outcome of much thought and experiment and represents his mature conclusions formed at the height of his powers. Probably it is the most weighty thing he wrote, and so far as I am aware it is the fullest and best discussion of the subject, from the point of view of the Elizabethan editor, that has been written. It is bound to be widely studied and to have a deep influence on the work of other editors. All the more important, therefore, that the theory and practice laid down in this volume should be subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny and criticism with the object of ascertaining whether they are calculated to yield the best possible results." This quotation introduced a brief article of criticism of some of McKerrow's proposals.2 The article was followed in the next year, 1942, by a further study in the introduction to Greg's Editorial Problem in Shakespeare. Finally, in i949, Greg's modification of McKerrow's theory for the treatment of texts with multiple authority was read before The English Institute-his "Rationale of Copy-Text,"3 which has become a classic of textual criticism. Except for these studies I am not aware of other formal consideration of McKerrow's principles. Moreover, since no comparable work on editorial theory has appeared, there is every indication that the influence of these Prolegomena will continue until such time as someone offers a satisfactory substitute, a work which-so far as I know-is not being contemplated by any scholar at the moment. Hence good reason exists to continue the process of re-appraisal, especially in view of the fact that certain advances made in textual scholarship since McKerrow's death have brought us to the threshold, at least, of some over-all
Evaluation of Control Effect on Occupational Hazards of Construction Project of Color Mixing Development in an Industrial Coatings Company

[Objective]To detect and evaluate the occupational hazards in development places of color mixing in an industrial coatings company,ensure the occupational hazards protection facilities in accordance with relevant national standards after formally putting into operation,so as to protect the health of workers,and provide the scientific evidence for health administrative departments' completion acceptance of the construction project.[Methods]According to the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases,Hygienic standards for the Design of Industrial Enterprises,Standard of Evaluation of Occupational Hazards in Construction Project and Specifications of Air Sampling for Hazardous substances Monitoring in the Workplace,the field investigation of occupational health,surveillance of occupational hazard factors and occupational health examination were adopted to evaluate.[Results]The major occupational hazard factors were chemical poison and noise.The noise ranged from 75.4 dB(A) to 91.4 dB(A),16.7%(1/6)exceed standard.The concentration of chemical poison and dust met the national standards.[Conclusion]With high degree of mechanization and automation,complete ventilation and detoxification facilities,and strict implementation of occupational health management,the occupational hazards can be effectively controlled in this project.
Determination of Heavy Metal Pb in Paper Cups

To establish a determination method for heavy metal Pb in paper cups.Igniting and ashing the paper cup of a certain quantity,and dissolving the residue to a certain volume with water,making the solution with various volume react with thiacetamide and color gradient can be formed,comparing with which standard Pb’reaction,accordingly to determine the content interval of heavy metals.The method is simple,accurate and reliable.The limit of quantitation is 2 ppm.It can be used for the determination of heavy metal Pb in paper cups.The result of determination can be showed that heavy metal is excessive in paper cups.
137 P53-DEPENDENT PACLITAXEL SENSITIVITY IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER.

There are two major pathogenetic variants of endometrial carcinoma, namely type I and II endometrial carcinoma (EC). Type I is composed mostly of endometroid carcinoma and related to estrogen overexposure without progesterone differentiating effect. Type II is often nonendometroid including papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and clear cell EC. UPSC accounts for only 10% of all cases but is responsible for 50% of all treatment failures. These two groups seem to evolve via divergent pathways and contain distinct genetic abnormalities. P53 mutation is much more common in UPSC with about 90% of tumors containing the mutation. Such unique genetic backgrounds in these two tumors may also influence their response to chemotherapies. Paclitaxel9s cytotoxic effects were often enhanced in tumors carrying p53 mutations. Paclitaxel is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents, but its effect is modest in EC. We have characterized two EC cell lines, Ishikawa (H) and Hec50co (CO) cells, and used them to model type I and II EC. Genetic studies have shown that CO cells have a p53 mutation and are negative for estrogen and progesterone receptor. Tumors created from CO cells had features similar to UPSC. In contrast, H cells have wild-type p53, are positive for ER and PR, and developed into a more differentiated phenotype in vivo. Paclitaxel significantly inhibited CO xenograft growth in athymic mice by reducing tumor size and weight. The IC50 for paclitaxel was 14 nM in CO cells. However, H cells were more resistant to paclitaxel with and IC50 of 71 nM, which is significantly higher than CO cells. It has been reported that tumors with a p53 mutation are more sensitive to paclitaxel. Indeed, when p53 was knocked down by the RNA interference in H cells, its IC50 value was reduced to 8.2 nM, 8.5 times more sensitive than parental cells, suggesting that loss of p53 function may enhance cancer response to paclitaxel. H cells with p53 knockdown had a higher percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis than parental H cells. Our studies suggest that endometrial cancer may respond differently to paclitaxel and that UPSC may benefit more from paclitaxel-based therapy.
Anatomical Directional Dissimilarities in Tri-axial Swallowing Accelerometry Signals

Swallowing accelerometry is a noninvasive approach currently under consideration as an instrumental screening test for swallowing difficulties, with most current studies focusing on the swallowing vibrations in the anterior–posterior (A-P) and superior–inferior (S-I) directions. However, the displacement of the hyolaryngeal structure during the act of swallowing in patients with dysphagia involves declination of the medial–lateral (M-L), which suggests that the swallowing vibrations in the M-L direction have the ability to reveal additional details about the swallowing function. With this motivation, we performed a broad comparison of the swallowing vibrations in all three anatomical directions. Tri-axial swallowing accelerometry signals were concurrently collected from 72 dysphagic patients undergoing videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing (mean age: 63.94 ± 12.58 years period). Participants swallowed one or more thickened liquids with different consistencies including thin–thick liquids, nectar-thick liquids, and pudding-thick liquids with either a comfortable self-selected volume from a cup or a controlled volume by the examiner from a 5-ml spoon. Swallows were grouped based on the viscosity of swallows and the participant’s stroke history. Then, a comprehensive set of features was extracted in multiple signal domains from 881 swallows. The results highlighted inter-axis dissimilarities among tri-axial swallowing vibrations including the extent of variability in the amplitude of signals, the degree of predictability of signals, and the extent of disordered behavior of signals in time-frequency domain. First, the upward movement of the hyolaryngeal structure, representing the S-I signals, were actually more variable in amplitude and showed less predictable behavior than the sideways and forward movements, representing the A-P and M-L signals, during swallowing. Second, the S-I signals, which represent the upward movement of the hyolaryngeal structure, behaved more disordered in the time-frequency domain than the sideways movement, M-L signals, in all groups of study except for the pudding swallows in the stroke group. Third, considering the viscosity and the participant’s pathology, thin liquid swallows in the nonstroke group presented the most directional differences among all groups of study. In summary, despite some directional dissimilarities, M-L axis accelerometry characteristics are similar to those of the two other axes. This indicates that M-L axis characteristics, which cannot be observed in videofluoroscopic images, can be adequately derived from the A-P and S-I axes.
Unconditional Bases in Banach Spaces

A Schauder basis provides unique series representations of each vector in a Banach space. However, conditionally convergent series are delicate in many respects. For example, if converges conditionally and is a bounded sequence of scalars, P then the series may not converge. Unconditionality is an important property, and in many applications we greatly prefer a basis that is unconditional over one that is conditional. Therefore we study unconditional bases in more detail in this chapter.
Advice of manufacturers about effects of temperature on biologicals

Information was obtained from manufacturers on the stability of biologicals when exposed to higher-than-recommended temperatures, and procedures were developed for determining whether the quality of these products is compromised after such exposure. Questionnaires were sent to 24 manufacturers asking for product information regarding stability of frozen biologicals exposed to refrigeration or room temperature, stability of refrigerated biologicals exposed to room temperature, shelf life under optimal conditions, and recommended transport temperature. Information was provided by 20 of the manufacturers. Some manufacturers declined to make general recommendations; instead, they stated that the manufacturer should be contacted regarding the individual situation. The responses indicated that most products do not require freezing for storage and transport. Most must be stored refrigerated but can be transported at room temperature. Use of manufacturers' stability recommendations can help the pharmacist determine whether biologicals are of an acceptable quality for patient use.
The Emergence of Conflict, 1893–96

So far as southern African policy was concerned, the governmental reorganization of October 1894 was a landmark, for, as a consequence of it, the restraining hand of Caprivi’s anti-African views was entirely removed. With the presumption of Germany’s concentration on central Europe no longer at the heart of policy, other developments became possible. Much was made of this opportunity: as early as August 1893, while Caprivi was occupied with problems in the Prussian ministry of state, Marschall had already begun to flex Germany’s muscles in southern Africa. With Caprivi’s departure, such activities were able to start in earnest.
Spectral bisection tree guided Deep Adaptive Exemplar Autoencoder for unsupervised domain adaptation

Learning with limited labeled data is always a challenge in AI problems, and one of promising ways is transferring well-established source domain knowledge to the target domain, i.e., domain adaptation. In this paper, we extend the deep representation learning to domain adaptation scenario, and propose a novel deep model called "Deep Adaptive Exemplar AutoEncoder (DAE2)". Different from conventional de-noising autoencoders using corrupted inputs, we assign semantics to the input-output pairs of the autoencoders, which allow us to gradually extract discriminant features layer by layer. To this end, first, we build a spectral bisection tree to generate source-target data compositions as the training pairs fed to autoencoders. Second, a low-rank coding regularizer is imposed to ensure the transferability of the learned hidden layer. Finally, a supervised layer is added on top to transform learned representations into discriminant features. The problem above can be solved iteratively in an EM fashion of learning. Extensive experiments on domain adaptation tasks including object, handwritten digits, and text data classifications demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Energy Storage and Return (ESAR) Prosthesis

The engineering evolutionary process of the prosthesis for people with transtibial amputation is synergistically linked with relevant scientific discovery regarding the gait cycle. During the 1980s a major breakthrough was made in terms of the role of the ankle-foot complex during the gait cycle. During the terminal aspect of stance phase powered plantar flexion imparts a substantial level of mechanical energy to the gait cycle. In tandem with the decade of this discovery the concept of the Energy Storage and Return (ESAR) prosthesis progressively evolved. Preliminary energy storage and return prostheses incorporated an elastically deflectable keel in the prosthetic foot aspect. This design would store a portion of energy during the impact of stance initiation with a subsequent release during the terminal aspect of stance. Later versions of energy storage and return prostheses would incorporate the effective length from the foot assembly to the socket as energy storing and releasing medium. As the standard energy storage and return prosthesis lacks the capacity to temporally control the release of elastically stored potential energy, the incorporation of mechatronic subsystems facilitated the controlled release of stored energy. The Controlled Energy Storage and Return (CESR) incorporate a microelectronics package and clutch mechanism for controlling the timed release of stored mechanical energy. Prostheses that apply energy storage and return have been the subject of considerable testing and evaluation, which have demonstrated improvements both qualitative for the user and quantitative in terms of gait analysis techniques.
Pharmacology and Function of Melatonin Receptors in the Mammalian Central Nervous System

The hormone melatonin is synthesized in the pineal gland, retina and Harderian gland of the vertebrates from its precursor serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). Serotonin is N-acetylated by a relatively specific N-acetyltransferase to yield N-acetylserotonin, which in turn is methylated by hydroxyindole-o-methyltransferase to melatonin (5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine) (Axelrod, 1974).
Mapping and Ablation of Epicardial Idiopathic Ventricular Arrhythmias From Within the Coronary Venous System

Background— The prevalence of epicardial idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias that can be ablated from within the coronary venous system (CVS) has not been described. Methods and Results— In a consecutive group of 189 patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias referred for ablation, the site of origin (SOO) of ventricular tachycardia and/or premature ventricular contractions was determined by activation mapping and pace mapping. Mapping was performed within the CVS if endocardial mapping did not reveal an SOO. Venography of the CVS and coronary angiography were performed before ablation in the CVS. In 27 of 189 patients (14%±5%; 95% confidence interval), the SOO of the ventricular arrhythmia was identified from within the coronary venous system, either in the great cardiac vein (n=26) or the middle cardiac vein (n=1). The mean activation time at the SOO was −29±8 ms. Twenty of 27 patients (74%) underwent successful ablation within the CVS. Epicardial ventricular arrhythmias displayed a broader R wave in V1 compared with arrhythmias in the control group (85 ms [interquartile range, 40] versus 65 ms [interquartile range, 95]; P <0.01). Two patients had recurrent premature ventricular contractions within 2 weeks after ablation, and no recurrences occurred in the remaining patients during a median follow-up of 13 months (range, 25). In the 7 patients with unsuccessful ablation, failure was because the ablation catheter could not be advanced to the SOO within the great cardiac vein (n=4), inadequate power delivery at the SOO (n=1), proximity to the phrenic nerve (n=1), or proximity of the SOO to a major coronary artery (n=1). Transcutaneous epicardial ablation was effective in 1 of 2 patients in whom it was attempted. Conclusions— Almost 15% of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias have an epicardial origin. ECG characteristics help to differentiate epicardial arrhythmias from endocardial ventricular arrhythmias. The SOO of epicardial arrhythmias can be ablated from within the CVS in approximately 70% of patients.
Militarism and Dual-Conflict Capacity

ABSTRACTThis research note examines how domestic institutions can moderate the relationship between domestic and interstate conflict involvement. Previous work has found that military dictatorships are more likely to become involved in either domestic or international conflicts, compared to party-based autocracies. We argue that the same institutional explanations for why military autocracies are more conflict-prone also make them less capable of successfully carrying out multiple conflicts at the same time. Analyzing interstate and domestic conflict involvement on a sample of dictatorships over the period 1947–2004, we show that military autocracies dealing with internal armed conflict are less likely than their nonmilitary counterparts to become involved in an international conflict.
Beyond Broken Pumps and Promises: Rethinking Intent and Impact in Environmental Health

Abstract Global environmental health efforts are motivated by a sense of common responsibility. These programs take forms small and large, from community churches to the World Bank. The methods likewise take varying, and sometimes competing forms, from watershed restoration to road building to community engagement, with funding provided by charities, bilateral aid, loans, microfinance and big business. Once these projects are installed, typically the implementers are their own evaluators. Under the best of circumstances, sometimes funding is available to run a randomized controlled trial to rigorously evaluate if the projects are improving the intended environmental, economic, health or other metrics. But, usually sooner rather than later, the funding runs out for that particular project, and everyone moves on. This has resulted in sad statistics. For example, half of the water pumps installed in some African countries are broken a few years after they’re installed. In a recent volume, Broken Pumps and Promises – Incentivizing Impact in Environmental Health [1] my co-authors and I review alternatives. Instead of pushing money toward projects based on promises, pay interventions for successfully demonstrating impact that meets this intent. We propose moving from intent to impact via a combination of aligned standards, metrics and evidence.
Plasma Metabolomics in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis During a Pulmonary Exacerbation: A Pilot Randomized Study of High-Dose Vitamin D 3 Administration

Abstract Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic catabolic disease often requiring hospitalization for acute episodes of worsening pulmonary exacerbations. Limited data suggest that vitamin D may have beneficial clinical effects, but the impact of vitamin D on systemic metabolism in this setting is unknown. Objective We used high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to assess the impact of baseline vitamin D status and high-dose vitamin D3 administration on systemic metabolism in adults with CF with an acute pulmonary exacerbation. Design Twenty-five hospitalized adults with CF were enrolled in a randomized trial of high-dose vitamin D3 (250,000 IU vitamin D3 bolus) versus placebo. Age-matched healthy subjects served as a reference group for baseline comparisons. Plasma was analyzed with liquid chromatography/ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. Using recent HRM bioinformatics and metabolic pathway enrichment methods, we examined associations with baseline vitamin D status (sufficient vs. deficient per serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations) and the 7-day response to vitamin D3 supplementation. Results Several amino acids and lipid metabolites differed between CF and healthy control subjects, indicative of an overall catabolic state. In CF subjects, 343 metabolites differed (P Conclusions Numerous metabolic pathways detected by HRM varied in association with vitamin D status and high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in adults with CF experiencing a pulmonary exacerbation. Overall, these pilot data suggest an anti-catabolic effect of high-dose vitamin D3 in this clinical setting.
Breakdown of the Dipole-Dipole Approximation at Short Distances and Hot Spot Formation between a Pair of Silver Nanocubes

Ag or Au nanocubes are known to be plasmonic nanoparticles with strong plasmonic fields concentrated around their corners1. When these nanoparticles aggregate the individual plasmonic oscillations of each particle begin to couple. The coupling between the two plasmonic nanoparticles is assumed to be dipolar in nature which results in an exponential red shift dependence of their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) on the dimer separation2. Unfortunately, this exponential behavior is shown to fail as the separation distance between the two 42 nm nanocube dimer becomes 6nm or smaller3. Hooshmand et al4 have noted that these separation distances are marked by the formation of hot spots between the facets of the dimer. This dipolar exponential behavior results from a treatment of the coupling between the two excited nanocubes as a coupling between two oscillating dipole moments2. As a result, the vectorial addition of all the oscillating electronic dipoles is assumed to interact with the nearest nanoparticle as a single oscillating electronic dipole. Herein we suggest that as the separation distance becomes increasingly small, the coupling between the individual oscillating dipoles on the different nanocubes becomes significant. Thus, the dipolar exponential behavior fails to accurately predict the near field coupling between two nanoparticles with small separation distances. This leads to the realization that the interaction between the individual oscillating dipoles on the two nanocubes changes in a complicated manner as a function of separation distance. At 2nm, a good fraction of the oscillating dipoles are between the adjacent facets of the nanocubes as well as between the the corners. While at 3 nm less are in between the two facets of the nanocubes and a larger portion are localized at the corners. Thus, the coupling is not only dependent on the separation distance but also on what the separation does to the net interaction between the oscillating dipoles on each facet of the two coupled nanocubes. This results in the failure of the exponential behavior as the dipole moment on each nanocube is changing with distance in a complicated manner.
An Intelligent System for Planning Plant-wide Process Control Strategies

Abstract This paper describes the methodological and implementational aspects of an intelligent system which is being developed for the planning of plant-side process operations such as start-up, response to faults, optimization, etc. In particular, it shows how knowledge is modeled, how the planning methodology is structured, and how current developments in artificial intelligence and LISP computers are being used to provide the implementational framework.
Pre-Post Merger Financial Performance: An Analysis of ICICI Bank with Bank of Rajasthan Ltd.

The corporate sector, be it Services or Manufacturing globally is restructuring its operations through mergers and acquisitions in an unprecedented manner. This phenomenon is more predominant in hyper-competitive markets like India. Indian companies like HDFC Bank, ICICI bank, Airtel etc. are reckoned as global competitors in their sectors. These Indian firms have also learnt that inorganic growth is a faster mechanism. M&As are used by corporate sector to eye the units all around the operational region which, in-turn, will help them restructure financially. The driving force is restructuring the corporate entities financially through the medium of M&As. Since Mergers and Acquisitions have emerged as a natural process of business restructuring throughout the world and financial restructuring through mergers and acquisitions evokes a great deal of public interest and perhaps represent the most dynamic facet of corporate strategy and evolution, the researcher found it suitable to study the impact of mergers and acquisitions on financial performance vis Value Creation of Indian companies. For the purpose the researchers have taken the case of merger/acquisition from the Banking sector - ICICI Bank - Bank of Rajasthan Ltd.
Dynamic Roles of the Corneal Epithelium in Refractive Surgery

Purpose The purpose of this study was to review the role of the corneal epithelium in refractive surgery, with a focus on corneal epithelial thickness changes and corneal wound healing.
Glaucoma Risk Factors: Ocular Blood Flow

The prevalence of glaucoma is 0.7% among 40-49-year-olds and rises over subsequent decades to 7.7% amongst those over 80 years of age As the population of the United States ages, the number of patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) is expected to increase by 50% to 3.36 million in the year 2020. OAG represents an emerging disease with increasing costs and negative impacts.
Targeting Assessment for Learning within Pharmacy Education

Formative assessment is critical for deliberate improvement, development and growth. While not entirely synonymous, assessment for learning (AFL) is an approach using formative assessment to specifically improve students’ learning. While using formative assessments, AFL can also have summative programmatic-assessment implications. For each learning assessment, summative and formative uses can be leveraged; it can scaffold (formative), foster students’ growth (formative), and document students’ development in a competency/standard (summative). For example, using a developmental portfolio with iterative reflective-writings (formative), PharmD students showed qualitative development in the “professionalism” competency (summative; ACPE Standard 4.4). (In parallel, this development in professionalism was confirmed quantitatively.) An AFL approach can complement other assessments; it can be integrated with other summative assessments into a multi-method assessment program, wherein developmental portfolio sectio...
Two-Year Outcomes of Sacral Neuromodulation Versus OnabotulinumtoxinA for Refractory Urgency Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Trial.

Abstract Background Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) is a chronic condition for which sacral neuromodulation (SNM) (InterStim/Medtronic) and onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX) (BotoxA/Allergan) are utilized. These therapies have not been compared over extended time. Objective To compare UUI episodes (UUIE) over 24 mo following SNM or BTX. Design, setting, and participants Multicenter, open-label, randomized, extension trial (February 2012–July 2016) at nine US medical centers involving 386 women with ≥6 UUIE over 3 d inadequately managed by medications. Participants were clinical responders to treatment: ≥50% reduction in UUIEs after SNM placement or 1 mo post BTX. Intervention SNM ( n =194) versus 200 U BTX ( n =192). SNM reprogrammings occurred throughout the 24 mo. After 6 mo, two additional BTX injections were allowed. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Primary outcome: change in mean daily UUIE over 24 mo. Secondary outcomes: no UUIE, ≥75% and ≥50% UUIE reduction; Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form; Urinary Distress Inventory short form; Incontinence Impact Questionnaire; Patient Global Impression of Improvement; Overactive Bladder Satisfaction of Treatment Questionnaire; and adverse events (AEs). Primary analysis used a linear mixed model. Results and limitations Outcome data were available for 260/298 (87%) clinical responders. No difference in decreased mean UUIE was found over 24 mo (−3.88 vs −3.50 episodes/d,95% confidence interval [CI]=−0.14–0.89; p =0.15), with no differences in UUI resolution, ≥75% or ≥50% UUIE reduction. BTX group maintained higher satisfaction (mean difference=−9.14, 95% CI=−14.38–−3.90; p p p Conclusions Both treatments offered sustainable UUI improvement, and higher BTX dosing had low clean intermittent catheterization rates, but with UTI risk. SNM revision/removal rates were low due to standardized lead placement with strict treatment response definitions. Patient summary We compared a large group of US women with severe urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) who received sacral neuromodulation (InterStim) or onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox A) therapy during a 2-yr period. We found that both therapies had similar success in reducing UUI symptoms, and adverse events were low. However, women in the BotoxA group had higher satisfaction and endorsement with their treatment, but with a higher chance of a urinary tract infection. We conclude that both therapies offer sustained reduction in daily incontinence over 2 yr.
Radiation induces age-dependent deficits in cortical synaptic plasticity.

Background Radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction is a significant side effect of cranial irradiation for brain tumors. Clinically, pediatric patients are more vulnerable than adults. However, the underlying mechanisms of dysfunction, including reasons for age dependence, are still largely unknown. Previous studies have focused on the loss of hippocampal neuronal precursor cells and deficits in memory. However, survivors may also experience deficits in attention, executive function, or other non-hippocampal-dependent cognitive domains. We hypothesized that brain irradiation induces age-dependent deficits in cortical synaptic plasticity. Methods In vivo recordings were used to test neuronal plasticity along the direct pathway from the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1)/subicular region to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Specifically, long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1/subicular-PFC pathway was assessed after cranial irradiation of juvenile and adult Sprague Dawley rats. We further assessed a potential role for glutamate toxicity by evaluating the potential neuroprotective effects of memantine. Results LTP was greatly inhibited in both adult and juvenile animals at 3 days after radiation but returned to near-normal levels by 8 weeks-only in adult rats. Memantine given before, but not after, irradiation partially prevented LTP inhibition in juvenile and adult rats. Conclusion Cranial radiation impairs neuroplasticity along the hippocampal-PFC pathway; however, its effects vary by age. Pretreatment with memantine offered protection to both juvenile and adult animals. Deficits in cortical plasticity may contribute to radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction, including deficits in attention and age-dependent sensitivity of such pathways, which may underlie differences in clinical outcomes between juveniles and adults after cranial irradiation.
A comprehensive solution for electronic packages' reliability assessment with digital image correlation (DIC) method

Abstract The reliability assessment of electronic packages demands more accurate and efficient method for evaluating heterogeneous packages and their interconnects in various measurement conditions. The digital image correlation (DIC) method has been fully developed in the last decade. With proper improvement, this work demonstrates that DIC method has the ability to fulfill various experimental tasks and obtain the information for interconnect strain analysis, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) characterization, in-plane displacement and out-of-plane warpage quantification within one measurement. To some extent, it serves as a comprehensive tool for electronic packages' reliability assessment. Given that the DIC technique is new to the electronic packaging area, this work illustrates the principle of optical non-contact experiment method and presents several improvements to fit for the measurement on electronic packaging area. With these applications, it is foreseeable that the DIC method will play an important role in the reliability assessment of electronic packages.
Self-Monitoring and Monetary Reinforcement Increases Rate of Walking in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Physical inactivity is a widespread problem associated with numerous health problems and many individuals with intellectual disabilities are physically inactive. This study used an ABAB design to evaluate a session-based self-monitoring and monetary reinforcement intervention for increasing walking by adults with intellectual disabilities at a worksite. The intervention resulted in a noticeable increase in the rate of walking for all five participants, with consistent increases for four participants. This study also evaluated if staff could correctly implement the intervention. The staff member implemented the treatment with high fidelity, and the higher rates of walking observed when the researchers implemented the intervention were maintained when staff implemented the intervention. The participants and the staff member rated the intervention as effective and acceptable.
Shared Decision-making in Pediatric Practice: A Broad View

In 1982, the Presidential Commission published its seminal report, Making Health Care Decisions, advocating for informed medical decision-making shared between the patient and health care providers that is sensitive to patient values and goals. Over the past 2 decades, multiple professional organizations have officially supported shared decision-making (SDM); however, there remains no unified, well-accepted definition of the term. One reason for the lack of consensus is the wide array of clinical settings and patient populations. SDM in pediatric practice can be complicated because of the inclusion of the child in the decision-making team and the duties and limits of parental decision-making authority. The authors in this supplement provide a broad view of SDM in the pediatric setting. Many of the authors raise important questions and delineate some of the challenges that lie ahead. We hope that the articles foster further conversation and spur research to improve SDM and the care we provide to children and families.
Towards an electronic fāgogo: Lani Wendt Young’s Telesā series and social media

ABSTRACTThis article argues that Samoan author Lani Wendt Young’s Telesā series presents a complex way of thinking about the possible continuity between indigenous Samoan traditional forms and contemporary literatures. Her four-book fantasy romance series and its corresponding paratextual writings adapt and transform Samoan storytelling traditions and myths, as they operate within a popular idiom and mass medium. Young uses social media platforms to establish an interactive connection between storyteller and audience analogous to that of the Samoan live oral storytelling tradition of fāgogo, characterized by audience response that is considered an integral aspect of the performance. Young’s works shift the sense of literature in the Pacific, highlighting its function as a means of performing versions of communal rituals and taking steps towards revising the Eurocentric literary model that privileges the singular author, suggesting a Pacific vision for the way stories are produced and exchanged.
Boar semen improvement through sperm capacitation management, with emphasis on zinc ion homeostasis

Critical to fertilization success, sperm capacitation within the female oviductal sperm reservoir endows mammalian spermatozoa with hyperactivated motility and capacity to fertilize. An elaborate cascade of signaling events during capacitation guides the redistribution of sperm plasma membrane seminolipid and cholesterol, Ca-influx and increases tyrosine phosphorylation to promote hyperactivated motility. Such events result in the remodeling of the sperm acrosome, increased fluidity and fusability of the plasma membrane, shedding of surface-adsorbed seminal plasma proteins that glue sperm heads to the oviductal epithelium and ultimately the release of hyperactivated spermatozoa from the oviductal sperm reservoir. Discovered recently, the capacitation-induced sperm zinc ion efflux and resultant zinc signatures are reflective of sperm capacitation status and fertilizing ability, inspiring the retrospection of zinc ion functions in the physiology and fertility of boar sperm and that of other species. This review also highlights the merit of the domestic boar as a biomedical model for spermatology and fertilization research. Relevant to the quest for better fertility management in the livestock industries, the benefits of zinc ion supplementation through nutrition and direct addition to extended semen are discussed in the context of artificial insemination (AI). Ideas are shared on future technologies for zinc management in AI doses and research on the sperm zinc-interacting proteome.
ACM SIGGRAPH 2009 Art Gallery

SIGGRAPH 2009, in collaboration with Leonardo/ISAST, honors not only artists and artwork, but also the process of making art and its place in society. We are presenting papers that illuminate and explore these topics, helping people understand the changing roles of artists and art-making in our increasingly computerized, networked, multi-sensory, online world. Art Papers present excellent ideas in accessible ways. They inform artistic disciplines, set standards, and stimulate future trends. In addition to the core topics of the digital arts and interactive techniques, Art Papers explore the theme of SIGGRAPH 2009's juried art gallery, BioLogic Art.
Changes in Clinical Measures and Tissue Adaptations in Collegiate Swimmers Across a Competitive Season

Background Competitive swimmers incur shoulder pain and injury. Physical characteristics such as shoulder range of motion (ROM) and endurance and tissue adaptations such as posterior capsule thickness (PCT) may be risk factors in addition to high training volume. Hypothesis/Purpose 1) To identify the most provocative special test and prevalence of positive special tests for shoulder impingement tests in a group of collegiate swimmers, (2) to assess shoulder pain and disability, internal rotation (IR) and external rotation, and horizontal adduction (HADD) ROM and posterior shoulder endurance longitudinally over a competitive collegiate season, and (3) determine if there is a relationship between swimming yardage, supraspinatus tendon organization, and PCT. Methods Thirty Division III swimmers were tested poolside at the beginning (T1), middle (T2), and end (T3) of their season. Dependent variables included pain and disability, shoulder ROM, Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) value, and PCT. Analyses of variance with follow-up t tests compared measures over time, and Pearson correlation coefficients were performed. Results Despite increased swimming yardage, disability was reduced from T1 to T3 (P = .003). There was a reduction in bilateral IR and HADD ROM from T1 to T3. PSET values increased on the right from T1 to T3 (P = .014). There was a significant positive correlation between swimming yardage at T1 and T2 and PCT at T3 (P = .034, P = .028). Conclusion A loss of shoulder IR and HADD was observed across the season concurrent with less swimming-related disability, which may indicate a favorable adaptation. Improved PSET scores over the season is consistent with prior research linking endurance and less pain and disability.
Procedurally just organizational climates improve relations between corrections officers and incarcerated individuals

Correctional officers’ attitudes about the treatment of inmates can affect an inmate’s experience within a correctional institution. Previous research, largely outside correctional settings, sugges...
The Wine Industry & the COVID-19 Pandemic

When faced with extreme uncertainty and disruption, firms with superior knowledge and skills can not only identify more opportunities, but they can also envision how they will successfully exploit them. Firms that have developed the relevant knowledge, skills, and capabilities are more likely to act on perceived opportunities because they possess the expert schemas needed to focus on the most relevant information in the environment, process this information faster and more efficiently, and make decisions based on industry best practices. Despite the benefits of prior knowledge, deep expertise can also cause cognitive entrenchment leading experts to dismiss radically innovative and possibly disruptive ideas that fall outside the industry’s dominant paradigms.