cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of Medaka (Oryzias latipes) as an Animal Model to Study Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Alcohol is recognized as a classic teratogen capable of inducing a wide range of developmental abnormalities. Alcohol abuse during pregnancy produces permanent brain damage in the fetus and is associated with the development of a life-long behavioral, social, and cognitive disorder now known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The most clinically recognizable form of FASD is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) which is characterized by a set of characteristics including facial dysmorphogenesis, mental dysfunction, growth retardation, and cardiovascular and limb defects. Due to ethical constraints, human studies of FASD are very limited; however, our current understanding of FASD is mainly based on studies on several model vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. The fish embryo, especially zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) and Japanese medaka ( Oryzias latipes ), have proven utility for studying ethanol's damaging effects during morphogenesis. These two fish are long-established models for research in developmental biology and have been used to explore ethanol's effect on neurogenesis, cardiogenesis, intracellular signaling, neurobehavioral aspects, and apoptosis. Zebrafish are the center of attraction as a fish model of FASD; however, we have demonstrated that medaka embryos exposed to ethanol during development have several phenotypic features in craniofacial, cardiovascular structures and many biochemical parameters which are comparable to FASD phenotypes observed in human. In this chapter, we reviewed our findings and propose that medaka embryogenesis, like zebrafish, may be a very useful model for investigating the molecular endpoints of FASD.
Codesign Finite State Machines

This chapter describes in detail Codesign Finite State Machines (CFSMs), the formal model used in POLIS for specification, simulation, analysis, synthesis, and optimization. It is also the model of computation that we used to demonstrate our formal verification methodology and equivalence analysis algorithms.
Health care worker follow-up compliance after occupational bloodborne pathogens exposure: A brief report

A retrospective cohort study was conducted examining health care worker (HCW) compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations following occupational bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposure. HCWs with a BBP exposure from a known HIV- or hepatitis C virus-seropositive individual were less likely to complete recommended follow-up compared with HCWs with seronegative source patient exposures (adjusted odds ratio, 0.02 and 0.09, respectively). Continued targeted education and extra vigilance in performing postexposure surveillance are warranted in this higher-risk population.
Compositional and selected functional properties of whey protein concentrates and lactose-hydrolyzed whey protein concentrates.

Commercial whey protein concentrate (WPC) products, manufactured by ultrafiltration with and without lactose hydrolysis, were compared for proximate composition, mineral and trace mineral composition and for protein solubility and viscosity parameters. Protein concentration ranged from 30.5 to 52.7%, while ash content ranged from 5.9 to 12.0%. Extent of lactose hydrolysis in lactose-hydrolyzed WPCs was estimated at 60 to 75% of the initial lactose level. Protein solubility of 10% protein dispersions of the WPC samples ranged from 90 to 100% and was not affected by heating WPC dispersions at 65°C for 30 min or by increased centrifugation force in solubility determination from 40,000 × g to 100,000 × g. All WPC dispersions exhibited pseudoplastic flow behavior as indicated by flow behavior indices (n) of less than 1.0. WPC dispersions possessed a low viscosity as indicated by consistency index (k) data, and k values decreased slightly after heating. Lactose hydrolysis had no apparent effect on solubility or viscosity properties of the WPC dispersions. Alteration of electrophoretic mobility of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was observed for α-lactalbumin in lactose-hydrolyzed WPC samples.
Hemorrhagic complications of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring needle electrodes

Abstract Background Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring is a commonly used adjunct during many neurointerventional procedures. Objective Here we describe the rare occurrence of a hemorrhagic complication secondary to a subdermal needle electrode. Methods A 67 year old male with a left-sided fusiform vertebrobasilar aneurysm was scheduled to undergo placement of a pipeline embolization device. The patient had been administered aspirin 325 mg and Plavix 75 mg daily for greater than one week preoperatively. After successfully undergoing endotracheal intubation, 7 mm length and 0.4 mm diameter subdermal needle electrode intraoperative monitoring leads were placed in the scalp, mastoid and bilateral Erb's points Following successful completion of the procedure, but prior to extubation and closure of the femoral arterial site, the patient was noted to have a significant amount of swelling in the left neck and supraclavicular region in the immediate vicinity of the left Erb's point subdermal needle electrode. Review of the last angiographic run in the region noted active extravasation from a muscular branch of the suprascapular artery immediately subjacent to the aforementioned subdermal electrode. The literature has been reviewed and recommendations for management and surveillance are made. Results This case underscores the importance of monitoring and risk minimization in regards to hemorrhagic complications, especially in patients who are anticoagulated and receiving dual antiplatelet therapy, during neurointerventional procedures. Conclusion Hemorrhagic complications associated with subdermal needle electrodes, though rare, can have significant consequences in patients.
The Languages of the Body: Becoming Unreadable in Postmodernity

This chapter extends the book’s analysis of how queer experimental literature refashions deconstructive reading, focusing on how deconstructive aesthetics—and their use by the avant-garde—became gentrified by neoliberalism. I trace Kathy Acker’s turn from deconstructive aesthetics toward a sensuous “language of the body,” which she hoped would make her texts “unreadable” within the established hermeneutics frameworks of postmodernism. Through Bodies of Work and In Memoriam to Identity, I reveal how Acker’s conception of bad reading—in which literature stimulates a masturbatory encounter with queer becoming—recovers the political agency of queer aesthetics.
The influence of land cover on surface energy partitioning and evaporative fraction regimes in the U.S. Southern Great Plains

Land-atmosphere interactions are important to climate prediction, but the underlying effects of surface forcing of the atmosphere are not well understood. In the U.S. Southern Great Plains, grassland/pasture and winter wheat are the dominant land covers but have distinct growing periods that may differently influence land-atmosphere coupling during spring and summer. Variables that influence surface flux partitioning can change seasonally, depending on the state of local vegetation. Here we use surface observations from multiple sites in the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains Climate Research Facility and statistical modeling at a paired grassland/agricultural site within this facility to quantify land cover influence on surface energy balance and variables controlling evaporative fraction (latent heat flux normalized by the sum of sensible and latent heat fluxes). We demonstrate that the radiative balance and evaporative fraction are closely related to green leaf area at both winter wheat and grassland/pasture sites and that the early summer harvest of winter wheat abruptly shifts the relationship between evaporative fraction and surface state variables. Prior to harvest, evaporative fraction of winter wheat is strongly influenced by leaf area and soil-atmosphere temperature differences. After harvest, variations in soil moisture have a stronger effect on evaporative fraction. This is in contrast with grassland/pasture sites, where variation in green leaf area has a large influence on evaporative fraction throughout spring and summer, and changes in soil-atmosphere temperature difference and soil moisture are of relatively minor importance.
The Developmental Stage of Adult Human Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Influences Transplant Efficacy for Vision Rescue.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of central visual loss in the elderly. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell loss occurs early in the course of AMD and RPE cell transplantation holds promise to slow disease progression. We report that subretinal transplantation of RPE stem cell (RPESC)-derived RPE cells (RPESC-RPE) preserved vision in a rat model of RPE cell dysfunction. Importantly, the stage of differentiation that RPESC-RPE acquired prior to transplantation influenced the efficacy of vision rescue. Whereas cells at all stages of differentiation tested rescued photoreceptor layer morphology, an intermediate stage of RPESC-RPE differentiation obtained after 4 weeks of culture was more consistent at vision rescue than progeny that were differentiated for 2 weeks or 8 weeks of culture. Our results indicate that the developmental stage of RPESC-RPE significantly influences the efficacy of RPE cell replacement, which affects the therapeutic application of these cells for AMD.
Incorporating tube-to-tube clearances in the kinematics of concentric tube robots

Mechanics-based formulations of concentric tube robots incorporate tube bending and twisting, but do not include other phenomena that could model observed hysteretic behavior in which tube configurations reached by rotating tubes in different directions achieve different tip positions. As a step toward incorporating hysteretic tube-on-tube friction, this paper derives a model that enables computation of the contact forces applied by the tubes on each other along their lengths. To do so, it is necessary to include the small, but finite clearances between the tubes. Recasting the constrained energy minimization problem as its dual problem enables numerically efficient solution for the clearance-constrained centerlines of each tube as well as their contact forces. These variables are investigated through numerical examples and it is shown that, even without considering friction, the assumption of zero clearance can introduce tip position errors of several millimeters for clinically relevant robot lengths.
Ethnic disparity in skin complications following bone-anchored hearing aid implantation.

Objectives: Sound processor loading after implantation of a bone-anchored hearing aid is often delayed by skin-site complications. This study examined the frequency of skin-site complications in various ethnic groups and determined factors that may lead to higher rates of skin-site complications resulting in delayed processor loading. Methods: Adult, English-speaking patients who underwent implantation of a bone-anchored hearing aid between 2007 and 2010 were reviewed. Demographic data including ethnicity, tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, and long-term steroid use were determined. Major and minor skin-site complications and the time to processor loading were reduced. Results: The mean time to processor loading was 9.5 weeks, and the mean follow-up time was 23 months. There were no cases of osseointegration failure. African American patients had a significantly higher rate of major skin-site complications (p < 0.005) and a longer time to processor loading (mean, 17.6 weeks; p < 0.05) than the other ethnic groups. There was no significant difference in minor skin complication rates. There was no correlation between diabetes mellitus, long-term immunosuppression, or tobacco use and skin-site complications. Conclusions: Skin complications can delay processor loading following implantation of a bone-anchored hearing aid. There is a higher rate of major skin-site complications in African American patients, and these often delay processor loading. The risk of skin-site complications is not correlated with smoking, diabetes mellitus, or immunosuppression. An increased risk of skin-site complications is an important consideration for preoperative counseling.
Domain Adaptation Approach for Credit Risk Analysis

Credit risk analysis is a crucial task for financial institutions, banks, firms, etc. when conducting financial activities. Data mining techniques have exhibited effectiveness in improving the accuracy and efficiency of credit risk analysis, due to its capability of processing tremendous scale data sets over a short time and its independence of human preconceptions. In this paper, we study a domain adaptation approach based data mining strategy in credit risk analysis tasks. Such a method allows the algorithm to be trained on one source domain with plenty of samples, and then applied to the target domain with relatively limited number of samples available, without requiring the two domains follow the same distribution. Detailed data analysis has been done to verify the effectiveness of such a method. It is shown that the domain adaptation approach can significantly improve the accuracy of credit risk analysis.
Intraoperative Onabotulinumtoxin-A Reduces Postoperative Narcotic and Anticholinergic Requirements After Continent Bladder Reconstruction.

Objective To determine if intradetrusor injection of onabotulinumtoxin-A (BTX-A) would reduce postoperative narcotic and anticholinergic requirements in children undergoing open continent bladder reconstruction. Materials and Methods After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively reviewed all bladder reconstructions performed. Bladder reconstruction was defined as the following procedures in any combination: bladder neck reconstruction and sling, bladder neck closure, Mitrofanoff, Monti, or bladder augmentation. We identified 15 children who underwent reconstruction with BTX-A injection and compared these with 15 children who did not receive BTX-A. Postoperative narcotic and anticholinergic requirements were recorded as well as length of stay, time to diet, time to return of bowel function, and complications. All medications were converted to morphine mEq/kg per day or mg/kg per day to standardize for patient size and length of stay. Results Thirty patients who underwent open bladder reconstruction were included. Fifteen received BTX-A injection and 15 did not. The BTX-A group required significantly less narcotic medication postoperatively compared with the no-BTX-A group (0.32 vs 0.85 morphine mEq/kg per day; P = .0002). The BTX-A group also required significantly less anticholinergic medication compared with the no-BTX-A group (0.22 vs 0.88 mg/kg per day; P = .024). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to length of stay (98.27 vs 9.287 days; P = .34) or return of bowel function (5.53 vs 4.93 days; P = .994). Complication rate between the groups was similar ( P >.99). Conclusion Intraoperative injection of BTX-A significantly reduced postoperative narcotic and anticholinergic requirements in patients who underwent open continent bladder reconstruction. This is an encouraging alternative treatment to manage postoperative pain with no associated risk of significant complications.
Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNAs encoding the α1, α2 and α3 chains of mouse collagen VI

Abstract cDNA clones encoding the alpha 1, alpha 2 and alpha 3 chains of mouse collagen VI have been isolated by screening cDNA libraries with the corresponding human probes. The composite cDNAs for the alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3 chains are 2.5, 1.6 and 2.9 kb in size respectively. The alpha 1 and alpha 2 cDNAs encode the C-terminal portions of the chains as well as the entire 3'-untranslated regions, while the alpha 3 cDNAs encode a central segment of 959 amino acids flanking the triple-helical domain. The deduced amino acid sequences share 86-88% identity with the human counterparts and 67-73% identity with the chicken equivalents. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of mouse, human and chicken collagens reveal that the key features of the protein, including the cysteine residues, imperfections in the Gly-Xaa-Xaa regions, Arg-Gly-Asp sequences and potential N-glycosylation sites, are mostly conserved.
Mammalian Female Sexual Behavior and Hormones

Female sexual behavior is an active process comprising copulation as well as critical noncopulatory behaviors that precede and facilitate mating. In many mammals, female sexual behavior only occurs at a specific stage of a female’s estrous cycle, in synchrony with the timing of ovulation. Because of the temporal (and adaptive) link between female mating and ovulation, it is not surprising that these two processes are usually regulated by the same factors, namely ovarian sex steroids (estradiol and progesterone). The mechanisms and receptor pathways by which these hormones govern female sexual behavior are an important area of study, and the recent development of transgenic and knockout mouse models has benefitted the scientific dissection of specific receptor signaling pathways. In rodents, the neural circuits and brain regions involved in female receptive behaviors (namely, lordosis) have been well characterized, though it remains to be determined how well the lordosis circuits generalize to other mammalian species.
Very Long Baseline Array Observations of the Zeeman Effect in H2O Masers in W3 IRS 5

We present Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of the Zeeman effect in H2O masers in W3 IRS 5. These observations have yielded the first ultrahigh spatial resolution maps of the magnetic field in a star-forming region measured via the Zeeman effect—masers for which we can independently measure the magnetic field are separated by ≤25 mas (60 AU). This is the first VLBA detection of the Zeeman effect in H2O masers in a star-forming region. These observations also remove the confusion in observed magnetic fields from closely spaced masers. We shall explicitly demonstrate that observations at lower resolution can yield lower magnetic fields than with the VLBA, even though there are no field reversals within the larger beam.
Design and implementation of real-time EP80579 based embedded system

With the advances in integration of different units such as I/O controllers and network interfaces in a single chip, Intel introduced the low power EP80579 embedded processor. This processor is the first IA based system-on-chip (SoC) with an IA-32 processor core, North and South Bridges, and integrated Accelerator and network interface. In this paper we will show main steps to design a real-time embedded system along with identifying the hardware and software requirements to implement such system. The embedded system introduced in this work will perform several tasks regarding road surface conditions based on multiple sensor readings. The sensor data will be processed in real-time to reconstruct the road profile and provide an estimate for the texture contents of the road surface. The EP80579 SoC will be used in the design of such a system. Modeling will be done with the aid of UML profile for modeling and analysis of real-time and embedded (MARTE) systems.
Characteristics Associated with Adherence to Annual Dilated Eye Examinations among US Patients with Diagnosed Diabetes.

Purpose To identify the characteristics that are associated with adherence to annual diabetic eye exams and patient awareness of retinopathy using a nationally representative sample from the United States. Design Cross-sectional, secondary analysis. Participants National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants from 2005 to 2016 aged 20 years and older with diabetes mellitus. Methods The NHANES collected surveys every 2 years from 2005 to 2016, which contained demographic information, clinical information, and time to last dilated eye exam. From 2005 to 2008, retinal photographs were taken of all participants older than 40 years of age. We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression to determine the demographic and clinical factors associated with adherence to annual diabetic eye examinations and those associated with correctly reporting their retinopathy status. Main Outcome Measure Factors associated with adherence defined as having an eye exam within the preceding 12 or 24 months. Results From 2005 to 2016, NHANES surveyed 4072 individuals who represent 20 million Americans aged 20 years and older with self-report of diabetes. By using the adherence definitions of 12 and 24 months, 63.4% and 78.7%, respectively, were adherent to diabetic eye examinations. The nonadherence rates of 36.6% and 21.3% for this national estimate did not change from 2005 to 2016 (P = 0.7, logistic regression). Insurance status, age, education, income, cholesterol levels, duration of diabetes, and self-reported retinopathy were all significantly associated with adherence with both definitions (all P Conclusions Multiple variables were associated with nonadherence to eye exams, with insurance status having the strongest association. Adherence with annual eye exams has not improved over the past decade. The majority of patients with retinopathy are unaware of this diagnosis, including the majority of those with a dilated funduscopic examination in the past year. Further improvements in education and adherence may reduce the visual morbidity caused by diabetes.
The Time Is Now to End the HIV Epidemic.

In his State of the Union Address on February 5, 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his administration’s goal to end the domestic HIV epidemic. Following the announcement of the Ending the H...
Anisothermal densification kinetics of the cold sintering process below 150 °C

Cold sintering is an emerging non-equilibrium process methodology that densifies ceramic powders at significantly reduced temperatures. This study proposes a fundamental framework to investigate its densification kinetics. By controlling four densification process variables including the transient chemistry, sintering temperature, uniaxial pressure and dwell time, the anisothermal sintering kinetics of highly densified ZnO is identified and phenomenologically modeled for its relative activation energetics.
Intellectual humility and perceptions of political opponents

Objective Intellectual humility (IH) refers to the recognition that personal beliefs might be wrong. We investigate possible interpersonal implications of IH for how people perceive the intellectual capabilities and moral character of their sociopolitical opponents and for their willingness to associate with those opponents. Method In four initial studies (N = 1,926, Mage = 38, 880 females, 1,035 males), we measured IH, intellectual and moral derogation of opponents, and willingness to befriend opponents. In two additional studies (N = 568, Mage = 40, 252 females, 314 males), we presented participants with a specific opponent on certain sociopolitical issues and several social media posts from that opponent in which he expressed his views on the issue. We then measured IH, intellectual, and moral derogation of the opponent, participants' willingness to befriend the opponent, participants' willingness to "friend" the opponent on social media, and participants' willingness to "follow" the opponent on social media. Results Low-IH relative to high-IH participants were more likely to derogate the intellectual capabilities and moral character of their opponents, less willing to befriend their opponents, and less willing to "friend" and "follow" an opponent on social media. Conclusions IH may have important interpersonal implications for person perception, and for understanding social extremism and polarization.
Assembly of shape-tunable colloidal dimers in a dielectrophoretic field

The shape of colloid particles plays an important role in directing the structure of their assemblies. Anisotropic colloids can adopt more complex structures than can their spherical counterparts, ...
Epidemiology of Concussion in the National Football League, 2015-2019

Background:Concussion in American football, and specifically the National Football League (NFL) is a major area of interest and key focus for injury prevention. Complete and accurate characterizati...
Population genomic consequences of novel life history and mating system adaptation to a geothermal soil mosaic in yellow monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus)

Local selection can promote phenotypic divergence despite gene flow across habitat mosaics, but adaptation itself may generate substantial barriers to genetic exchange. In plants, life-history, phenology, and mating system divergence have been particularly proposed to promote genetic differentiation in sympatry. In this study, we investigate phenotypic and genetic variation in Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflowers) across a geothermal soil mosaic in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Plants from thermal annual and nonthermal perennial habitats were heritably differentiated for life history and mating system traits, consistent with local adaptation to the ephemeral thermal-soil growing season. However, genome-wide genetic variation primarily clustered plants by geographic region, with little variation sorting by habitat. The one exception was an extreme thermal population also isolated by a 200m geographical gap. Individual inbreeding coefficients (FIS) were higher (and predicted by trait variation) in annual plants and annual pairs showed greater isolation by distance at local (<1km) scales. Finally, YNP adaptation does not re-use a widespread inversion polymorphism diagnostic of annual vs. perennial M. guttatus range-wide, suggesting a novel genetic mechanism. Overall, this work suggests that life history and mating system adaptation strong enough to shape individual mating patterns does not necessarily generate incipient speciation without geographical barriers.
Involvement of protein kinase C in platelet-activating factor-stimulated diacylglycerol accumulation in murine peritoneal macrophages.

Abstract Incubation of murine peritoneal macrophages with platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-O-alkyl(C16 + C18)-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine) results in the rapid accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) and mobilization of intracellular calcium (Prpic, V., Uhing, R. J., Weiel, J. E., Jakoi, L., Gawdi, G., Herman, B., and Adams, D. O. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 107, 363-372). We have further investigated the relationship of phosphoinositide metabolism to accumulation of DAG and the possible involvement of protein kinase C in the accumulation of DAG in response to PAF. DAG accumulation proceeds at a slower rate than the accumulation of either [3H] inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or total [3H]inositol phosphates. Accumulation of DAG from additional precursors is suggested from both an estimation of the mass of total inositol phosphates produced and the accumulation of [3H]choline in response in PAF. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged pretreatment with phorbol ester or inhibition of the enzyme with sphingosine inhibited the PAF-generated accumulation of DAG at 10 min by approximately 80%. Under the same conditions, no inhibition of PAF-stimulated generation of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was observed. Similar inhibition was observed when 10 microM ionomycin or 0.1 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate were used to stimulate accumulation of DAG. The results suggest that PAF stimulates the accumulation of DAG from source other than phosphatidylinositol metabolism in peritoneal macrophages and that this occurs subsequent to the activation of protein kinase C.
Public Perception of Program Effectiveness and Worth: A Review.

Abstract Most studies of the impact of program evaluations have focused on the utilization of evaluations by program administrators and staff. Very little attention has been paid to other important issues: (1) What differences are there between objective and perceived effectiveness of public programs? (2) What role does the media play in the formation of these perceptions? (3) How do other factors such as elites and program characteristics affect the way in which programs are perceived? In conclusion, a conceptual framework of the major factors which influence public perceptions of program effectiveness is presented.
L2-norm approximation based learning in recurrent neural networks for expression invariant face recognition

A new learning algorithm based on L2-norm approximation to define the relationship between two neurons in a recurrent neural network is proposed in this paper. The learning process utilizes the statistical relationship between each component of the input pattern with respect to every other component. The activation function of a neuron is a rectangular function whose position changes adaptively with respect to the input pattern and its left and right wings are decided by the mean of maximum variations of the training signals to that neuron. The new training algorithm is applied for recognition of faces images with varying expressions. 975 face images of 13 persons from the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) face expression variant database are used for evaluating the performance of the network. The network has been trained with 5 images and tested with the remaining 70 images of each person. The recurrent neural network with the new learning algorithm recognized all the 13 persons in this database without error.
Chapter 65 Local density supercell theory of photoemission and inverse photoemission spectra

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the local density supercell theory of photoemission and inverse photoemission spectra. The advent of highly sophisticated spectroscopic methods, especially photoemission spectroscopy (PES), bremsstrahlung isochromat spectroscopy (BIS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) are now recognized as powerful tools to investigate various properties such as the 4f-energy position, the localized or delocalized nature of the f-band, valence configurations, the magnitude of the intraatomic Coulomb correlation interactions, etc. PES experiments have given rise to interesting controversies about their origin. There appears to be only a small difference (in shape and peak position) between the spectra of y-Ce and ct-Ce. In contrast, the total density of states from band structure calculations show only one peak of f-character near EF and another of s–d character 1.3 eV below EF for both materials. Many theoretical models have been proposed to interpret this anomalous two-peak structure in relation to the γ-α transition in Ce metal.
Crepe Papers and Crepe-Paper Cables [includes discussion]

Varnished cambric tape has been used as electric insulation very extensively in the past because of its high dielectric strength, stretchability to fit irregular surfaces, and relatively high resistance to humidity. However, this material is relatively expensive, and seriously contaminates the Askarels. Two new high-density crepe papers have now been developed to replace the varnished cambric. For the same thickness and width, the tear strength of one of these new crepe papers is equal to that of the varnished cambric, while its lengthwise tensile strength is almost three times as high. The dielectric strength of this crepe paper at both 60 cycles and impulse tests compares very favorably with the varnished cambric. The second of these new crepe papers is characterized with 2-way stretch and is suitable for producing cables with great flexibility. The electrical, physical, and chemical characteristics of this new paper are also comparable to those of varnished cambric. Cables insulated with this new crepe paper can be advantageously used for both oil and Askarel transformers.
Thin-film wavelength demultiplexer based on photonic crystal and group velocity effects

We experimentally observe the "superprism effect" in a periodic thin-film structure acting as a one-dimensional photonic crystal. The design of non-periodic structures exhibiting a linear shift with wavelength in the EDFA C-band is discussed. 2002 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (260.2030) Dispersion; (060.4230) Multiplexing; (230.4170) Multilayers WDM systems create a strong need for compact wavelength splitting devices that can be easily manufactured. Here we demonstrate the capability of group velocity effects in multilayer dielectric structures to provide wavelength splitting. In contrast to typical dielectric interference filters, in this approach, one multilayer structure can separate multiple beams of different wavelengths. We demonstrate beam shifts with wavelength in a periodic multilayer stack; such a structure can also be viewed as a one- dimensional photonic crystal. We also extend the analysis to design non-periodic structures with superior wavelength splitting properties. One-dimensional (1,2), two-dimensional (1), and three-dimensional (3) photonic crystals exhibit strong dispersion at wavelengths close to the stop band (i.e., the reflection band in such a structure when used as a mirror). This "superprism effect" can be used to spatially separate beams of different wavelength. We focus on one-dimensional structures, as they are easy to fabricate with well-known technology allowing for compact, cost-effective WDM devices. Fig. 1 shows a schematic of our periodic thin-film device. Light is incident onto the dielectric stack from the substrate side. Close to the stop band, different wavelengths propagate at different angles within the periodic stack. Thus, beams of different wavelength are spatially separated along the x-direction. In order to achieve a higher separation, multiple bounces can be performed in the stack.
Aluminum toxicity following intravesical alum irrigation for hemorrhagic cystitis.

Mental status changes in an immunosuppressed child can be due to a variety of causes; aluminum toxicity is rarely considered. We report a teenage girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed mental status changes, speech disturbance, coarse tremor, and abnormal EEG findings following intravesical 1% alum irrigation and administration of aluminum-containing antacids. Her serum aluminum levels were mildly elevated (14–22 μg/L, normal 0–6 μ g/L), and bone marrow biopsy specimens demonstrated aluminum deposition on special staining (Krueger's method). All abnormalities resolved after a nine-week course of intravenous deferoxamine. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evidence of two subaggregations of humpback whales on the Kodiak, Alaska, feeding ground revealed from stable isotope analysis

Knowledge of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) foraging on feeding grounds is becoming increasingly important as the growing North Pacific population recovers from commercial whaling and consumes more prey, including economically important fishes. We explored spatial and temporal (interannual, within-season) variability in summer foraging by humpback whales along the eastern side of the Kodiak Archipelago as described by stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios of humpback whale skin (n = 118; 2004–2013). The trophic level (TL) of individual whales was calculated using basal food web δ15N values collected within the study area. We found evidence for the existence of two subaggregations of humpback whales (“North,” “South”) on the feeding ground that fed at different TLs throughout the study period. Linear mixed models suggest that within an average year, Kodiak humpback whales forage at a consistent TL during the feeding season. TL estimates support mixed consumption of fish and zooplankton species in the “North” (mean ± SE; 3.3 ± 0.1) and predominant foraging on zooplankton in the “South” (3.0 ± 0.1). This trend appears to reflect spatial differences in prey availability, and thus, our results suggest North Pacific humpback whales may segregate on feeding aggregations and target discrete prey species.
Higher colon cancer tumor proliferative index and lower tumor cell death rate in mice undergoing laparotomy versus insufflation.

Background: Our laboratory has previously shown that tumors are established more easily and grow larger after laparotomy than after laparoscopy. To characterize these differences in tumor growth further, the tumor cell death rates and tumor proliferation rates were compared in vivo after full sham laparotomy versus carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) insufflation. Methods: Female Balb/C mice (n = 36) were inoculated intradermally in the dorsal skin with 10 6 C-26 colon adenocarcinoma cells in 0.1 ml of culture media no more than 1 h before interventions. The mice then were randomized to one of three groups: anesthesia control, CO 2 insufflation, or sham laparotomy. The anesthesia control group underwent no procedure. The insufflation group underwent CO 2 pneumoperitoneum (4-6 mmHg) for 20 min via a 20-gauge angiocatheter. The laparotomy group underwent a midline incision from xiphoid to pubis, which was closed after 20 min. Tumors were excised from half the mice in each group on postoperative day 7, and from the remaining mice on post-operative day 14. Sections of tumors were made then stained separately for free 3' hydroxyl ends of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) using fluorescein-deoxyunidine triphosphate (dUTP), and immunohistochemically for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Apoptosis was measured by quantitating DNA strand breaks in individual cells using fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescein-positive cells in five random high-power fields (x200) were counted in a blinded fashion. The proliferative index of each tumor was determined by averaging PCNA positive cells in five high-power fields (x450) counted in a blinded fashion with the aid of an optical grid. Results: On postoperative day 7, there was no significant difference in the proliferative index or apoptotic rates among the three groups. On postoperative day 14, the proliferative index in the laparotomy group was significantly higher than in either the insufflation or control group (p < 0.001). The proliferative index in the insufflation group also was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Inverse differences in apoptotic rates were found. The apoptotic rate in the laparotomy group was significantly lower than in either the insufflation (p < 0.05) or control group (p < 0.001). The apoptotic rate in the insufflation group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: We have demonstrated that there is a significantly higher rate of tumor cell proliferation and a significantly lower rate of tumor cell death with the C-26 colon adenocarcinoma tumor line after laparotomy than after insufflation or anesthesia alone on post-operative day 14. The mechanisms of these phenomena are unclear. It appears that certain factors postoperatively stimulate tumors to proliferate at a higher rate, causing tumor cells to die at a lower rate in the laparotomy group than in the insufflation group.
Venus Radar Mapper orbit accuracy analysis

Spacecraft orbital accuracies during the mapping phase of the Venus Radar Mapper Mission are the subject of this paper. The analysis presented describes the navigational strategy for the prime mission in support of mapping the planet Venus using a spacecraft deployed Synthetic Aperture Radar. Achievable orbital accuracies are shown to be limited by accuracy of interferometric data to be used. Implications of tracking system configurations and of expected degradation in data accuracy towards the end of the mission in the proximity of superior solar conjunction are examined.
Confronting the “Good Death”: Nazi Euthanasia on Trial, 1945–1953 – By Michael S. Bryant

The first National Socialist killing program consumed Germany's long‐term institutionalized mentally ill and handicapped. After the war, perpetrators of the euthanasia program were tried in America...
Chelating agents for the binding of metal ions to antibodies

The development and applications of bifunctional chelating agents are reviewed, with emphasis on the preparation of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies suitable for use in vivo. Major principles and practical aspects of the chemical procedures are outlined, and new results of interest for future work are described.
Symmetric and Asymmetric Dynamic Buckling of Laminated Thin Shells with the Effect of Imperfection and Damping

The emphasis of this paper is to use a thin shell finite element to study the dynamic buckling behavior of a class of thin shell problems due to the effects of three parameters with design significance: (1) axisymmetric and asymmetric imperfections; (2) orthotropic and anisotropic material properties; and (3) Rayleigh viscous damping. Five types of thin shells were considered: (1) an orthotropic annular spherical cap; (2) an ortho tropic, axisymmetrically imperfect, whole spherical shell; (3) an axially compressed, laminated, asymmetrically imperfect, cylindrical shell; (4) an orthotropic, axisym metrically imperfect, spherical cap; and (5) an orthotropic, asymmetrically imperfect, spherical cap. While some basic results are compared with available solutions, extensive new results are also presented. The results quantify the effect of amplitude of imperfec tions, which can significantly reduce the dynamic buckling load. The results also quantify the effects of orthotropic material parameter and viscous da...
Eigenfunction estimates for Neumann Laplacian and applications to multiplier problems

On compact Riemannian manifolds with boundary, the L∞ estimates and gradient estimates for the eigenfunctions of the Neumann Laplacian are proved. Applying the Lp estimates and gradient estimates to multiplier problems on eigenfunction expansions for the Neumann Laplacian, some new estimates for Bochner Riesz means and the sharp Hormander Multiplier Theorem are obtained.
An Appreciation of Industrial Dynamics

Industrial Dynamics is a recently developed and fast moving area of management analysis. Since its inception it has gained both staunch opponents and severe critics. This paper is an attempt at an impartial appreciation of Industrial Dynamics. The model-building process employed in ID is briefly described. The ID is discussed as a simulation approach to problem solving. The strengths, the apparent shortcomings and areas of applicability are discussed. Next a question is raised regarding ID's claim to the status of a “general systems theory.” It is suggested that little evidence to date qualifies ID to be viewed as a distinctive body of theory about behavior of firms.
Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in Adults Less Than 45 Years of Age With Premature Lower Extremity Atherosclerosis

Despite poor results reported with conventional vascular bypasses in young adults with ischemia from premature lower extremity atherosclerosis (PLEA), little attention has been given to alternative revascularization techniques. This study evaluated 32 patients (21 males and 11 females) <45 years of age with PLEA who underwent 53 primary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures for treatment of 46 ischemic limbs. A residual arterial stenosis <30% was achieved in 83% of PTA sites. Mean degree of stenosis decreased from 79.9% to 24.1% (p <0.0001).Clinical improvement in ischemic symptoms was obtained in 39 (85%) limbs. Hemodynamic improvement was achieved in 31 (70%) of 40 limbs as documented by ankle/brachial indices. All criteria for early clinical success were met in 70%. Another 13% met all criteria except that the residual stenosis was <50%. Hematoma and early restenosis were reported in two patients each. Mean follow-up was 27.3 months (range 1 to 84 months). Cumulative patency by life-table analysis was 81% at 1 year, 77% at 2 years, and 71% at 3 years. Thirteen (41%) patients required secondary PTA or bypass; 85% were performed within 1 year. Two patients had adjunctive bypasses; six (19%) were performed after PTA failure. Only one (3%) patient required major amputation. Neither cardiovascular risk factors, treatment indication, location of the diseased arterial segment, nor quality of distal runoff vessels predicted the need for secondary PTA or surgical procedures. PTA of the proximal arteries in young patients with PLEA is an effective primary revascularization technique with results comparable to those of conventional operative revascularization procedures.
Effect of iron depletion on serum markers of fibrogenesis, oxidative stress and serum liver enzymes in chronic hepatitis C: results of a pilot study.

Background: Hepatic iron deposition has been associated with decreased response to interferon-α monotherapy, and has been speculated to contribute to disease progression in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We performed this study to evaluate the effect of iron depletion on biochemical and virologic markers, and markers of lipid peroxidation and fibrogenesis. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients with CHC who did not have a virologic response to interferon monotherapy underwent weekly phlebotomies until iron depletion (serum ferritin <50 ng/ml). Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), hepatitis C virus-RNA, transferrin saturation, ferritin, 8-isoprostane, hylauronic acid, amino-terminal procollagen III peptide and YKL-40 were measured before and after iron depletion. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction of serum ALT, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin after iron depletion (range 4–11 phlebotomies). Serum ALT returned to normal after iron depletion in four (22%) patients. There was a significant reduction in serum procollagen III peptide level among patients who achieved biochemical response. No significant reduction was noted in serum levels of other markers. Conclusions: Iron depletion was associated with a biochemical response in 22% of patients who did not respond to interferon monotherapy. There was a significant reduction in a key marker of fibrogenesis among patients with biochemical response. These data support longer-term studies of iron depletion in CHC.
Envisioning the Infinite by Projecting Finite Properties.

Abstract We analyze interviews with 24 post-secondary students as they reason about infinite processes in the context of the tricky Tennis Ball Problem. By metaphorically projecting various properties from the finite states such as counting and indexing, participants envisioned widely varying final states for the infinite process. Depending on which properties they attended to, some participants recognized contradictions arising from these infinite projections and sought to resolve the contradictions in non-dismissive ways. The findings indicate that increasing their meta-level awareness of the features of their mental constructions may help students overcome common difficulties with the infinite.
Optically active catecholimidazolines: a study of steric interactions at .alpha.-adrenoreceptors

The optical isomers and deoxy form of 2-(3,4, alpha-trihydroxybenzyl)imidazoline hydrochloride were examined for their alpha-adrenergic activity on rat aorta. The rank order of stimulant activity was deoxy (2) congruent to (R)-(-)-1 greater than (S)-(+)-1. This is in contrast to catecholamines in which the order of activity is (R)-(-)-epinephrine greater than (S)-(+)-epinephrine = epinine (deoxyepinephrine). The relative order of potency for the isomers of 2-(3,4, alpha-trihydroxybenzyl)imidazoline is different than that predicted by the Easson--Stedman theory for stereoisomers of catecholamines. Also, substitution of the deoxy compound 2 with substituents, methyl or benzyl, in the 4-position lowers the alpha-adrenergic agonist activity, and differences observed between optical isomers were small.