cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanically activated combustion synthesis of molybdenum silicides and borosilicides for ultrahigh-temperature structural applications

Abstract Molybdenum silicides and borosilicides are promising structural materials for gas-turbine power plants. A major challenge, however, is to simultaneously achieve high oxidation resistance and acceptable mechanical properties at high temperatures. For example, molybdenum disilicide (MoSi 2 ) has excellent oxidation resistance and poor mechanical properties, while Mo-rich silicides such as Mo 5 Si 3 (called T 1 ) have much better mechanical properties but poor oxidation resistance. One approach is based on the fabrication of MoSi 2 −T 1 composites that combine high oxidation resistance of MoSi 2 and good mechanical properties of T 1 . Another approach involves the addition of boron to Mo-rich silicides for improving their oxidation resistance through the formation of a borosilicate surface layer. In particular, Mo 5 SiB 2 (called T 2 ) phase is considered as an attractive material. In the present paper, MoSi 2 −T 1 composites and materials based on T 2 phase are obtained by mechanically activated SHS. Use of SHS compaction (quasi-isostatic pressing) significantly improves oxidation resistance of the obtained MoSi 2 −T 1 composites. Combustion of Mo−Si−B mixtures for the formation of T 2 phase becomes possible if the composition is designed for the addition of more exothermic reactions leading to the formation of molybdenum boride. These mixtures exhibit spin combustion, the characteristics of which are in good agreement with the spin combustion theory. Oxidation resistance of the obtained Mo−Si−B materials is independent on the concentration of Mo phase in the products so that the materials with a higher Mo content are preferable because of better mechanical properties.
Increasing the Validity of Angoff Standards Through Analysis of Judge-Level Internal Consistency

The purpose of the present study was to extend past work with the Angoff method for setting standards by examining judgments at the judge level rather than the panel level. The focus was on investigating the relationship between observed Angoff standard setting judgments and empirical conditional probabilities. This relationship has been used as a measure of internal consistency by previous researchers. Results indicated that judges varied in the degree to which they were able to produce internally consistent ratings; some judges produced ratings that were highly correlated with empirical conditional probabilities and other judges’ ratings had essentially no correlation with the conditional probabilities. The results also showed that weighting procedures applied to individual judgments both increased panel-level internal consistency and produced convergence across panels.
Activated microglia in the human glaucomatous optic nerve head

To investigate the distribution and potential participation of microglia, the resident defense cells of the central nervous system, in the optic nerve head (ONH) in glaucoma, histological paraffin sections of optic nerves from normal and glaucoma patients with mild to advanced nerve damage were studied using double labeling immunohistofluorescence. A monoclonal antibody for HLA-DR, indicating activated microglia, was colocalized with antibodies for functional proteins. In normal ONHs, microglia do not contain TGF-β2, COX-2, or TNF-α and are not positive for PCNA; however, in glaucomatous ONHs, microglia contain abundant TGF-β2, TNF-α, and PCNA. In glaucomatous eyes, a few microglia are usually positive for COX-2. In normal ONHs, there are rarely microglia containing TGF-β1, NOS-2, TSP, TIMP-2, and CD68, but, in glaucomatous tissue, a few microglia are positive from the prelaminar to the postlaminar regions. MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-14 are constitutively present in the perivascular microglia in normal ONHs and appear to be more abundant in glaucomatous tissue. COX-1, TNF-R1, TIMP-1, and c-fms are constitutively present in normal tissues and appear to be increased in microglia in the glaucomatous ONHs. HSP27 is not present in microglia. In glaucomatous ONHs, microglia become activated and phagocytic and produce cytokines, mediators, and enzymes that can alter the extracellular matrix. Our findings suggest that activated microglia may participate in stabilizing the tissue early in the disease process, but, as the severity of the glaucomatous damage increases, the activities of microglia may have detrimental consequences for the pathological course of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:523–532, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Clinical Utility of Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibodies in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer represents an ideal target for radioimmunotherapy based on the pattern of spread, including bone marrow and lymph nodes, sites that typically receive high levels of circulating antibody, and the small volume of disease, ideally suited for antibody delivery and antigen access. This review explores possible antibody targets in prostate cancer and focuses on the potential role for radioimmunotherapy by highlighting several clinical trials involving radiolabeled anti–prostatespecific membrane antigen monoclonal antibody J591. Prostate-specific membrane antigen, a highly prostate-restricted transmembrane glycoprotein with increased expression in high-grade, metastatic, and hormone-refractory disease, represents an ideal target for monoclonal antibody therapy in prostate cancer. Radiolabeled anti–prostate-specific membrane antigen monoclonal antibody J591 trials using the radiometals yttrium-90 and lutetium-177 have demonstrated manageable myelotoxicity, no significant nonhematologic toxicity, excellent targeting of soft-tissue and bone metastases, and preliminary efficacy including prostate-specific antigen and measurable disease responses. Additional studies are under way to better define the activity of radiolabeled antibody therapy as well as the role for fractionated therapy and combination approaches with taxane-based chemotherapy.
Iron stimulation of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in Anabaena 7120 and Trichodesmium (Cyanophyceae)

Iron availability may limit carbon and nitrogen fixation in the oceans. The freshwater cyanobacterium, Anabaena, was used as a laboratory model for the biochemical and physiological effects of iron. Increased iron nutrition, in the range of 10−8 M to 10−6 M resulted in increases of approximately four fold in carbon and nitrogen fixation rates. Chlorophyll concentration increased, and the relative amount of in vivo fluorescence was reduced with more iron. Natural samples of Trichodesmium, collected off Barbados and incubated with increased iron for two days, showed similar effects. Trichodesmium responded to iron additions indicating that it may be Fe limited in its natural environment. These responses to iron are consistent with the biochemical roles of iron in photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. The results are discussed in the geochemical context of the sporadic total iron input to tropical oceans and possible implications to spatial and temporal patterns of productivity.
Flow-reversal injection analysis for improved stripping voltammetry

The use of repeated reversals of the flow direction offers significant improvements in the sensitivity of flow-injection stripping voltammetric measurements. The multiple passage of the same sample plug over the working electrode addresses the time restriction of conventional flow-injection stripping measurements. The plating efficiency and the resulting stripping peak currents are greatly enhanced. The flow-reversal stripping response of a mercury-coated carbon fiber electrode is evaluated with respect to delay time, number of flow reversals, sample volume, and other variables. The prolonged deposition period obtained with 10 flow oscillations gives a 13-fold enhancement of the response and a detection limit of 7 × 10−9 M (compared with 9 × 10−8 M for conventional flow-injection operation). The stripping measurements are supported by amperometric monitoring of the current during the passage of the sample plug.
Pattern and order: a mathematical lens for reflective writing

The events of September 11, 2001 provided the author with expanded ways to think about reflective journal writing in her graduate and undergraduate mathematics methods courses. Student journal entries are highlighted which illuminate the relationship among emotions and mathematics learning, the value of community in the learning environment, and the search for pattern and order outside of the mathematics classroom. These powerful reflections offer a view of mathematics learning that is intensely connected to the writers’ lives and provide a grounded linkage to the mathematics learning of the classroom.
Case report 731

The atypical appearance of a gas-containing, noninfected, popliteal synovial cyst has been presented. The case again demonstrates the value of plain radiographs, in this instance in distinguishing gas bubbles and calcification, which may not be apparent by MRI and ultrasound. The uniqueness of this case is stressed. The cause of the gas bubbles was not ascertained.
Pollen distribution in the northeast Pacific Ocean

Distributional patterns of palynomorphs in core tops from the continental margin of the northeast Pacific Ocean (30°–60°N lat 118°–150°W long) reflect the effects of fluvial and marine sedimentation as well as the distribution of terrestrial vegetation. Maximum pollen concentration (grains/cm3 of marine sediment) occurs off the mouth of the Columbia River and off San Francisco Bay (the outlet of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers) and appears to be coincident with areas of high terrigenous lutite deposition. The abundance of pollen and spores in shelf sediments is extremely variable with high concentrations typical only of the finest sediments. On the slope, rise and abyssal plain, pollen concentration shows a general decrease with distance from shore. This suggests that in the northeast Pacific pollen is transported into the marine environment primarily by rivers and that, in terms of sedimentation, pollen may be regarded as part of the organic component of fine-grained lutum. Pinus, the principal pollen component of marine sediment on the northeast Pacific margin, is concentrated adjacent to the major drainage systems of areas in which pine grows. Tsuga heterophylla, Picea, and Alnus, important components of the temperate conifer forest, are concentrated off the area of their optimal development, western Washington. Quercus, Sequoia, and Compositae concentrations are greater off the southern California coast where they are prominent in the vegetation. The relative (percent) abundance of most of these pollen taxa in marine sediments reflects a positive relationship to their distribution on land. Picea and Alnus are relatively more important north of 45°N, Tsuga heterophylla between 45°–50°N, and Quercus, Sequoia, and Compositae south of 40°N. Pine percentages increase seaward, from less than 10% of the pollen sum in shelf sediments to over 50% in sediments on the abyssal plain. This seems to indicate selective transport of pine pollen. Factor analysis of pollen data from the 61 core tops results in four pollen assemblages. Three of these assemblages (Quercus-Compositae-Sequoia, Tsuga heterophylla-Pinus, and Alnus-Picea) reflect the distribution of vegetation on the adjacent continent, one (Pinus) reflects primarily the effects of marine sedimentation.
Excitation–contraction coupling in ventricular myocytes is enhanced by paracrine signaling from mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract In clinical trials mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are transplanted into cardiac ischemic regions to decrease infarct size and improve contractility. However, the mechanism and time course of MSC-mediated cardioprotection are incompletely understood. We tested the hypothesis that paracrine signaling by MSCs promotes changes in cardiac excitation–contraction (EC) coupling that protects myocytes from cell death and enhances contractility. Isolated mouse ventricular myocytes (VMs) were treated with control tyrode, MSC conditioned-tyrode (ConT) or co-cultured with MSCs. The Ca handling properties of VMs were monitored by laser scanning confocal microscopy and whole cell voltage clamp. ConT superfusion of VMs resulted in a time dependent increase of the Ca transient amplitude (ConT 15min : ΔF/F 0 = 3.52 ± 0.38, n = 14; Ctrl 15min : ΔF/F 0 = 2.41 ± 0.35, n = 14) and acceleration of the Ca transient decay (τ: ConT: 269 ± 18 ms n = 14; vs. Ctrl: 315 ± 57 ms, n = 14). Voltage clamp recordings confirmed a ConT induced increase in I Ca,L (ConT: − 5.9 ± 0.5 pA/pF n = 11; vs. Ctrl: − 4.04 ± 0.3 pA/pF, n = 12). The change of τ resulted from increased SERCA activity. Changes in the Ca transient amplitude and τ were prevented by the PI3K inhibitors Wortmannin (100 nmol/L) and LY294002 (10 μmol/L) and the Akt inhibitor V (20 μmol/L) indicating regulation through PI3K signal transduction and Akt activation which was confirmed by western blotting. A change in τ was also prevented in eNOS −/− myocytes or by inhibition of eNOS suggesting an NO mediated regulation of SERCA activity. Since paracrine signaling further resulted in increased survival of VMs we propose that the Akt induced change in Ca signaling is also a mechanism by which MSCs mediate an anti-apoptotic effect.
Exports, economic growth and causality in Korea

Using recent developments in econometric techniques, this article re-examines the export-led growth (ELG) hypothesis for Korea over 1963–2001. The Granger-causality tests was based on two testing approaches: vector error correction modelling (VECM) approach outlined in Toda and Philips; and the augmented levels VAR modelling with integrated and cointegrated processes (of arbitrary orders) separately introduced by Toda and Yamamoto (1995) and Dolado and Lutkepohl (1996). Empirical evidence from causality tests based on the two alternative approaches indicates that the causal link between real exports and real GDP growth is bi-directional. Additional determinants of growth are also found to be significant.
Regulation of Chamber-Specific Gene Expression in the Developing Heart by Irx4

The vertebrate heart consists of two types of chambers, the atria and the ventricles, which differ in their contractile and electrophysiological properties. Little is known of the molecular mechanisms by which these chambers are specified during embryogenesis. Here a chicken iroquois-related homeobox gene, Irx4, was identified that has a ventricle-restricted expression pattern at all stages of heart development. Irx4 protein was shown to regulate the chamber-specific expression of myosin isoforms by activating the expression of the ventricle myosin heavy chain-1 (VMHC1) and suppressing the expression of the atrial myosin heavy chain-1 (AMHC1) in the ventricles. Thus, Irx4 may play a critical role in establishing chamber-specific gene expression in the developing heart.
The rhenium-oxygen system at high pressure: Structure and characterization of a new rhenium oxide

Abstract The rhenium-oxygen system has been studied under 65 kbar pressure. In addition to the known ReO 2 , ReO 3 , and Re 2 O 7 phases, a new, nonstoichiometric phase has been found. This phase can be represented as Re 1+ x O 3 where values of x from 0.14 to 0.21 have been observed. The structure of this new phase has been determined for x = 0.16. The space group is P 6 3 22, and the hexagonal cell dimensions are a = 4.8350 ± 0.0006 A and c = 4.5350 ± 0.001 A. The structure is based on hexagonally close-packed oxygens with rheniums in certain of the octahedral sites. Crystals of this new rhenium oxide show metallic conductivity. The relation of the Re 1+ x O 3 structure to other structures with hexagonal close-packed anions is discussed.
A recording, air‐bearing torsion pendulum

A recording torsion pendulum has been designed which allows the measurement of storage modulus and loss modulus for weak gels. The gel is held in a cone–plate geometry. The 5° cone, along with the inertial elements of the pendulum, is supported by an air-lubricated bearing. The decay of oscillations is sensed by a Proximeter which does not touch the moving apparatus and which converts the amplitude of oscillation into a de signal of several volts. Storage moduli as low as 40 dyn/cm2 and log decrements as low as 0.0054 have been measured.
Estimation of the Parameters Involved in a First-Order Autoregressive Process for Contemporary Groups

Abstract A methodology was developed for estimating the parameters involved in a first-order autoregressive process; these parameters comprise a variance component associated with the random effect, a correlation coefficient, ρ, and a residual variance. These parameters were estimated using REML with an expectation-maximization algorithm. For two single-trait analyses (milk and fat production being the dependent variable), the example chosen for the analyses was year-month—treated as random and following a first-order autoregressive process—within fixed herd. Initially, estimates failed to converge, possibly because of a time trend in the data, which was not accounted for by the model. After the random effect that follows the first-order autoregressive process was redefined as month within fixed herd-year, the parameters converged, and ρ was estimated as .8 for milk and fat yield. Results suggest that the estimation procedures may be useful for situations when a first-order autoregressive process seems appropriate.
Modeling the distribution of migratory bird stopovers to inform landscape-scale siting of wind development.

Conservation of migratory birds requires understanding the distribution of and potential threats to their migratory habitats. However, although migratory birds are protected under international treaties, few maps have been available to represent migration at a landscape scale useful to target conservation efforts or inform the siting of wind energy developments that may affect migratory birds. To fill this gap, we developed models that predict where four groups of birds concentrate or stopover during their migration through the state of Wyoming, USA: raptors, wetland, riparian and sparse grassland birds. The models were based on existing literature and expert knowledge concerning bird migration behavior and ecology and validated using expert ratings and known occurrences. There was significant agreement between migratory occurrence data and migration models for all groups except raptors, and all models ranked well with experts. We measured the overlap between the migration concentration models and a predictive model of wind energy development to assess the potential exposure of migratory birds to wind development and illustrate the utility of migratory concentration models for landscape-scale planning. Wind development potential is high across 15% of Wyoming, and 73% of this high potential area intersects important migration concentration areas. From 5.2% to 18.8% of each group’s important migration areas was represented within this high wind potential area, with the highest exposures for sparse grassland birds and the lowest for riparian birds. Our approach could be replicated elsewhere to fill critical data gaps and better inform conservation priorities and landscape-scale planning for migratory birds.
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF SCORES ON A MEASURE OF SIX ACADEMIC ORIENTATIONS IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

This article describes the development and score validation of a 36-item measure of six academic orientations in college students: structure dependence, creative expression, reading for pleasure, academic efficacy, academic apathy, and mistrust of instructors. Results from three studies indicate that the measuring instrument, the Survey of Academic Orientations (SAO), has six factorially distinct scales (Study 1) whose scores are stable across different semesters, yielding test-retest coefficients that range from .63 to .86 (Study 2). Also, each of the six scales relates in expected ways to basic personality traits, yielding validity coefficients of .30 to .69 (Study 3). Scores on the six scales are internally consistent, yielding coefficients alpha that range from .59 to .85 (Studies 1-3). Scale scores and a summative score of all 36 items, called the Adaptiveness index, are examined for their potential in predicting a variety of important student outcomes.
Leukemia-associated NOTCH1 alleles are weak tumor initiators but accelerate K-ras–initiated leukemia

Gain-of-function NOTCH1 mutations are found in 50%-70% of human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) cases. Gain-of-function NOTCH1 alleles that initiate strong downstream signals induce leukemia in mice, but it is unknown whether the gain-of-function NOTCH1 mutations most commonly found in individuals with T-ALL generate downstream signals of sufficient strength to induce leukemia. We addressed this question by expressing human gain-of-function NOTCH1 alleles of varying strength in mouse hematopoietic precursors. Uncommon gain-of-function NOTCH1 alleles that initiated strong downstream signals drove ectopic T cell development and induced leukemia efficiently. In contrast, although gain-of-function alleles that initiated only weak downstream signals also induced ectopic T cell development, these more common alleles failed to efficiently initiate leukemia development. However, weak gain-of-function NOTCH1 alleles accelerated the onset of leukemia initiated by constitutively active K-ras and gave rise to tumors that were sensitive to Notch signaling pathway inhibition. These data show that induction of leukemia requires doses of Notch1 greater than those needed for T cell development and that most NOTCH1 mutations found in T-ALL cells do not generate signals of sufficient strength to initiate leukemia development. Furthermore, low, nonleukemogenic levels of Notch1 can complement other leukemogenic events, such as activation of K-ras. Even when Notch1 participates secondarily, the resulting tumors show "addiction" to Notch, providing a further rationale for evaluating Notch signaling pathway inhibitors in leukemia.
Studies on Sulfate-Resistant Cement Stabilization Methods to Address Sulfate-Induced Soil Heave

Performance of pavements has been affected by heave distress problems caused by sulfate rich soils treated with calcium-based stabilizers. A research study was conducted to address the effectiveness of sulfate resistant cement stabilizers Types I/II and V, for providing better treatment of sulfate rich soils. Experiments were designed and conducted on both control and cement treated sulfate soils to investigate compaction relationships, Atterberg limits, linear shrinkage and free swell strain potentials, unconfined compressive strength, and low strain shear moduli properties. This paper presents a comprehensive summary and analysis of these test results. Test results were statistically analyzed to study the potentials of sulfate resistant cement stabilization methods for significant enhancements to the strength and stiffness properties as well as reductions in swell and shrinkage strain potentials of natural sulfate rich soils. Mineralogical studies were used to verify research findings observed from the macro test results.
Patients' and physicians' satisfaction with a pharmacist managed anticoagulation program in a family medicine clinic

Background A pharmacist managed anticoagulation service was initiated in a multi-physician family medicine clinic in December 2006. In order to determine the patient and physician satisfaction with the service, a study was designed to describe the patients’ satisfaction with the warfarin education and management they received from the pharmacist, and to describe the physicians’ satisfaction with the level of care provided by the pharmacist for patients taking warfarin. A self-administered survey was completed by both eligible patients receiving warfarin and physicians prescribing warfarin between December 2006 and May 2008. The patient survey collected information on patient demographics, satisfaction with warfarin education and daily warfarin management. The physician survey collected data about the satisfaction with patient education and daily anticoagulation management by the pharmacist.
Security Policy Implementation Strategies for Common Carrier Monitoring Service Providers

There are increasing capabilities and demands for the remote monitoring of homes and their occupants. There are a variety of options for the architecture of such monitoring systems entailing trade-offs between privacy, security, cost, manageability and other factors. This paper considers the virtues of building Monitoring Service Providers (MSPs) based on the concept of a common carrier. The goal is to provide policy to support monitoring with limited risk to the monitored parties, the users of their data, and the MSP. We argue that advances in distributed computing, cryptography, and trusted computing provide enabling contributions to building practical Common Carrier MSPs (CCMSPs). We illustrate this with discussions of applications in the areas of assisted living and electrical power metering.
New frontiers of terrorism research: An introduction

This article opens the special issue by identifying the main contributions to date of the empirical and theoretical literature on terrorism. Important past theoretical articles investigated the application of game theory to study interactions among adversaries (e.g. terrorists and governments) and allies (e.g. commonly targeted governments). Past empirical articles examined the effectiveness of counter-terrorism policies, the root causes of terrorism, the dynamics of terrorist attacks, and other topics. This introduction also indicates new areas of research emphasis – e.g. the study of suicide terrorism and foreign aid as a counter-terrorism tool. Next, the introduction highlights some key definitions – e.g. domestic and transnational terrorism – that are applied throughout the special issue. Each article of the special issue is then introduced and briefly discussed. These articles display a rich diversity of topics and methods; nevertheless, they enlighten the reader on the consequences of terrorism. Top...
Transconductance Degradation in Near-THz InP Double-Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors

We examine the relationship between transconductance gm and emitter current density JE for InP/InGaAs/InP abrupt emitter-base (EB) double-heterojunction bipolar transistors operating at high JE. High JE is needed to increase gm for reduced C/gm delays. We observe a significant degradation in measured gm below qIE/kT with increased JE. This degradation primarily results from the Fermi-Dirac statistics governing current injection at high current densities and from quantum-mechanical reflection at the EB junction arising from changes in the electron effective mass and in the conduction band potential. Transconductance is further reduced by gradients in the quasi-Fermi level in the EB space-charge region and by modulation of the heterointerface energy barrier by the applied bias.
User validation of information system requirements: some empirical results

While validation of user requirements has become an important goal for information system designers, little empirical research has been done in this area. Many methodologies have been presented as the best procedures for achieving user validation of design. An attempt is made to consider four of these methodologies in four different experimental settings. In the four experiments, the following treatments were examined: HIPO (hierarchy plus input, process, and output) vs. system flowcharts; DFD (data-flow diagram) narrative; DFD vs. Warnier-Orr diagrams; and DFD vs. HIPO. The main result of all four experiments was that choice of design methodology had no effect on the level of user understanding of system requirements. >
Are Thiazolidinediones Good or Bad for the Heart

Type 2 diabetes is a global epidemic contributing to significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease can largely be attributed to the metabolic syndrome with its multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including central obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance, chronic inflammation, and dyslipidemia. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a agonists, the thiazolidinediones, may potentially correct the inflammatory disarray, endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and plaque vulnerability associated with diabetic cardiovascular disease through their effects on insulin resistance and fat metabolism, yet they can also exacerbate congestive heart failure. This review summarizes basic science, animal, and human data on the effects of thiazolidinediones on cardiovascular disease.
The clustergram: A graph for visualizing hierarchical and nonhierarchical cluster analyses

In hierarchical cluster analysis, dendrograms are used to visualize how clusters are formed. I propose an alternative graph called a “clustergram” to examine how cluster members are assigned to clu...
Sexual selection drives speciation in an Amazonian frog.

One proposed mechanism of speciation is divergent sexual selection, whereby divergence in female preferences and male signals results in behavioural isolation. Despite the appeal of this hypothesis, evidence for it remains inconclusive. Here, we present several lines of evidence that sexual selection is driving behavioural isolation and speciation among populations of an Amazonian frog (Physalaemus petersi ). First, sexual selection has promoted divergence in male mating calls and female preferences for calls between neighbouring populations, resulting in strong behavioural isolation. Second, phylogenetic analysis indicates that populations have become fixed for alternative call types several times throughout the species’ range, and coalescent analysis rejects genetic drift as a cause for this pattern, suggesting that this divergence is due to selection. Finally, gene flow estimated with microsatellite loci is an average of 30 times lower between populations with different call types than between populations separated by a similar geographical distance with the same call type, demonstrating genetic divergence and incipient speciation. Taken together, these data provide strong evidence that sexual selection is driving behavioural isolation and speciation, supporting sexual selection as a cause for speciation in the wild.
P-44LEPTIN LEVELS ARE REDUCED BY INTRAVENOUS GHRELIN ADMINISTRATION AND CORRELATED WITH CUE INDUCED-ALCOHOL CRAVING

Increasing evidence supports the role of appetite-regulating pathways, including ghrelin and leptin, in alcoholism. This study tests the hypothesis that intravenous (IV) exogenous ghrelin administration acutely decreases endogenous serum leptin levels, and that changes in leptin levels negatively correlate with alcohol craving. The …
Evaluation of the bag--CO2-generating-tablet method for isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A bag—CO2-generating-tablet method (Gono-Pak) for the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was compared with the candle-jar extinction method. Simultaneous comparisons were made in three separate patient populations. The Gono-Pak method was found as effective as the candle-jar method for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae . The Gono-Pak, however, offered several advantages over the candle-jar method, such as: simpler and appealing professionally; greater facility of transportation to the laboratory; smaller requirement of incubator space; less handling needed.
Promise and Challenges: Interventions for the Prevention of Unintentional Injuries Among Young Children

Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Children under the age of 5 are at particularly high risk for death from injury. The evidence base for prevention programs in the area of unintentional injury is limited by a lack of rigorous research, inclusion of low-risk participants, and interventions that do not include behavioral skills training. The article presented here will discuss promising injury prevention programs for children below age 5 and will highlight program strengths and weaknesses. Interventions that prevent the leading causes of death among young children will be discussed, including car seat use, safe infant sleep, home hazard reduction, and caregiver supervision.
The role of preoperative imaging for cochlear implantation in postlingually deafened adults.

BACKGROUND Preoperative imaging is standard practice for cochlear implant candidacy. Postlingually deafened adults rarely have temporal bone abnormalities that alter management. OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To determine the role of preoperative imaging for cochlear implantation in postlingually deafened adults. We hypothesize that imaging does not alter management in the absence of history or physical examination findings suggestive of an anatomic abnormality. STUDY DESIGN Nested case-control study. METHODS We identified postlingually deafened adults with preoperative imaging and cochlear implantation at our institution from 1995 to 2008. Controls had a negative history and normal exam. Cases had suggestive history or exam. Imaging studies and operative records were reviewed. RESULTS Approximately 164 patients met inclusion criteria-59 cases and 109 controls. Mean age at onset of hearing loss was 30.4 years (range, 0-73 yr), mean age at onset of deafness was 54.1 years (range, 9-89 yr), and mean age at implantation was 61.5 years (range, 20.6-89.7 yr). Twenty cases (34%) and 17 controls (16%) had abnormal imaging (p = 0.001). Six cases (8.5%) and 2 controls (1.8%) had changes in their management as a result of the imaging findings (p = 0.023). Both control patients had incidentally detected acoustic neuromas, which altered the side of the cochlear implantation. There was a strong association between preoperative history and exam findings and abnormality on imaging (p = 0.007). Abnormalities were 3 times more likely in patients with a positive history or exam (OR = 2.98; 95% CI, 1.36-6.54). CONCLUSION In patients with a negative history and examination, imaging rarely alters management. MRI may detect incidental vestibular schwannomas in patients with asymmetric hearing losses. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3b, Individual case-control study.
Paediatric cervical lymphadenopathy: when to biopsy?

Purpose of review Cervical lymphadenopathy is common in the paediatric population and persistent lymphadenopathy of unknown cause is a frequent reason for otolaryngology referral. Diagnostic work-up is variable among physicians and deciding when excisional biopsy is necessary remains a challenge. This update reviews the recent literature on the work-up and diagnosis of paediatric cervical lymphadenopathy, with a focus on factors that may influence the need for excisional biopsy. Recent findings The majority of paediatric cervical lymphadenopathy cases are benign, with infection and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia being far more common than malignancy. Ultrasound is the initial imaging modality of choice for paediatric cervical lymphadenopathy and can provide critical information to aid in diagnosis. Clinical factors that may predict malignancy include lymph node size greater than 2 cm, multiple levels of adenopathy and supraclavicular location. Biopsy should be strongly considered in patients with a combination of these factors or other suspicious findings such as severe systemic symptoms. Summary Paediatric cervical lymphadenopathy is commonly encountered in general and paediatric otolaryngology practice; however, absolute guidelines for biopsy do not exist. Careful consideration of history, physical examination, laboratory work-up and diagnostic imaging must be used to guide the clinician in decision-making for biopsy.
Outsourcing Design to Asia: ODM Practices

During the last few decades, the growing demand of electronics and computer products has given rise to a new breed of manufacturing firms in Asia, the so-called original design manufacturers (ODMs), for example, Flextronics, Quanta, and Compal, etc. These companies provide design, manufacturing, and other value-added services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In this chapter, we provide an overview of this new outsourcing practice by analyzing its key characteristics, decision factors, and implementation challenges.
Application of Capillary Electrophoresis Detection with Fluorescent SSR Markers in Rice DNA Fingerprint Identification

With 16 hybrid rice male sterile lines,restorer lines and combinations as materials,a capillary electrophoresis detection method with fluorescent SSR markers in rice was primarily developed.The accurate size of DNA fragment could be detected by the capillary electrophoresis detection method with fluorescent SSR markers.The capillary electrophoresis detection has the advantages of data accuracy and efficiency compared with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis detection.It provides a feasible and reliable method for rice DNA fingerprint identification.
Mechanisms of stimulation of proximal tubule chloride transport by formate and oxalate

We have previously demonstrated that formate and oxalate stimulate volume absorption in the rat proximal tubule, consistent with Cl-/formate and Cl-/oxalate exchange process across the apical membr...
Developing a composite weighted quality metric to reflect the total benefit conferred by a health plan.

Objectives To improve individual health quality measures, which are associated with varying degrees of health benefit, and composite quality metrics, which weight individual measures identically. Study design We developed a health-weighted composite quality measure reflecting the total health benefit conferred by a health plan annually, using preventive care as a test case. Methods Using national disease prevalence, we simulated a hypothetical insurance panel of individuals aged 25 to 84 years. For each individual, we estimated the gain in life expectancy associated with 1 year of health system exposure to encourage adherence to major preventive care guidelines, controlling for patient characteristics (age, race, gender, comorbidity) and variation in individual adherence rates. This personalized gain in life expectancy was used to proxy for the amount of health benefit conferred by a health plan annually to its members, and formed weights in our health-weighted composite quality measure. We aggregated health benefits across the health insurance membership panel to analyze total health system performance. Results Our composite quality metric gave the highest weights to health plans that succeeded in implementing tobacco cessation and weight loss. One year of compliance with these goals was associated with 2 to 10 times as much health benefit as compliance with easier-to-follow preventive care services, such as mammography, aspirin, and antihypertensives. For example, for women aged 55 to 64 years, successful interventions to encourage weight loss were associated with 2.1 times the health benefit of blood pressure reduction and 3.9 times the health benefit of increasing adherence with screening mammography. Conclusions A single health-weighted quality metric may inform measurement of total health system performance.
The Political Economy of Intervention in the Conflict Against ISIS

Western elites and the general public agree that foreign intervention is needed to halt the dramatic rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Policymakers hope to both militarily defeat ISIS while also resolving the civil crises in Iraq and Syria that allowed the group to flourish. In the economics literature on foreign intervention there is an ongoing debate about whether approaches like those suggested for combating ISIS will be successful. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the conversation about Western intervention against ISIS by considering some of the major challenges to achieving this objective from an economic perspective. Adapting a framework used by economist Christopher Coyne and his co-authors for examining the constraints on foreign intervention, we identify three “problems” that policymakers face: (1) the knowledge problem, (2) the coordination problem, and (3) the problem of unintended consequences. Cases of recent foreign interventions in the Middle East provide evidence for why these problems should be taken seriously when formulating policy toward ISIS. We also explore alternative policy options to foreign intervention.
Clinically Significant Interactions with Anesthetic Agents

Induction and maintenance of anesthesia require multiple medications where drug-drug interactions form the basis of clinical practice. Drug-drug interactions with anesthetic agents can take place by pharmacokinetic mechanisms leading to enhanced or reduced pharmacodynamic effects or by only pharmacodynamic mechanism that promotes anesthetic outcomes such as pain and sedative actions. Ketamine, midazolam, and alfentanil are metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme system and various drug-drug interactions with agents that are well-known CYP3A4 inhibitors have been reported to alter their pharmacokinetic disposition. Antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin were found to significantly reduce ketamine and midazolam disposition. Grapefruit juice was reported to significantly increase ketamine and midazolam bioavailability. Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole and fluconazole were shown to significantly reduce alfentanil clearance and prolong its pharmacodynamic actions. Drug interactions with opioid anesthetics fentanyl and sufentanil may be less prone to due to their high extraction ratio. The opioid-propofol interactions have been described in various articles. Propofol interactions were also presented with midazolam and interestingly counteracted the effects of droperidol-induced prolonged QTc effects. Thiopental protein-binding displacement was shown to occur with a variety of agents, thereby increasing free drug concentrations. An enhanced pharmacodynamic effect with thiopental was found when combined with midazolam and other central nervous system depressants.
Selective Formic Acid Dehydrogenation on Pt-Cu Single-Atom Alloys

Formic acid is a potential hydrogen storage molecule which dehydrogenates to form CO2 and H2 on metal surfaces. However, it can also decompose via a competing dehydration reaction that forms CO and H2O, reducing the amount of H2 produced and poisoning the catalyst with CO. Formic acid re-formation to hydrogen is typically performed by Pt and Pd catalysts, which while highly active for dehydrogenation also catalyze dehydration. Cu is typically not utilized, as it requires prohibitively high temperatures, although Cu surfaces are very selective toward dehydrogenation. We studied the reaction of formic acid on single-atom alloys (SAAs), consisting of single Pt atoms substituted into a Cu lattice. Surface science studies allowed us to relate alloy structure to reactivity and selectivity and visualize reaction intermediates. These experiments revealed that SAAs are able to selectively dehydrogenate formic acid with a 6-fold increase in yield in comparison to Cu. This increase in conversion is due to a more fac...
Analysis of beam divergence and input bit rate for free space optical communication link

Free Space Optical (FSO) communication has emerged as a highly relevant technology to meet the growing demand for high bandwidth, low latency and cost effective installations applications for its advantages over RF communication. In this paper, we investigate the impact of beam divergence over input data rate using BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) and OOK (On Off Keying) modulation schemes. This study is motivated by the need to enhance the performance of adaptive data rate methods. The adaptive data rate method can further reduce the bit error rate (BER) and outage probability of FSO link. The impact of laser beam divergence and link distance is also investigated for BPSK and OOK modulation techniques to evaluate the FSO link performance in terms of BER. This study shows that the performance of free-space optical channel can be improved by controlling the internal parameters of FSO communication system, which are laser beam divergence, optical transmission power and receiver aperture area. Also, in case of non-stationary free-space optical network, if a flight control mechanism is available, the FSO link can be adjusted to achieve increased performance.
Intracranial pressure after the BEST TRIP trial: a call for more monitoring.

Purpose of reviewIncreased intracranial pressure (ICP) is associated with worse outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but whether its management improves the outcome is unclear. In this review, we will examine the implications of the Benchmark Evidence from South American Trials: Treatment of
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of related toxic substances that have been produced intentionally and unintentionally. Exposure occurs through food, water, the atmosphere, and accidental contact. Toxicities demonstrated in animal studies have not always been shown in humans due in part to the fact that occupational or environmental exposure in most cases do not result in body burdens sufficient to initiate the events necessary to produce overt toxicity. Biochemical and toxicological responses induced by PCBs include hepatic, endocrine, immunological, reproductive, neurological, and reproductive effects. Cancers produced in animals have not been confirmed in humans. The effects of PCBs are believed to be mediated through a common mechanism involving the binding to the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase receptor followed by the production of reactive oxygen species. The resulting oxidative stress results in oxidative tissue damage, loss of cellular function, and programmed cell death. Due to the ban on production of PCBs, environmental exposure is decreasing with time, and at present with few exceptions general populations are below the tolerable daily intake.
Megakaryocytopoiesis in experimentally induced immune thrombocytopenia.

The hypothesis that in immune thrombocytopenia, platelet antibody may not only cause destruction of the circulating platelets but also depress platelet production by injuring the megakaryocytes of the bone marrow, was tested experimentally. Sustained thrombocytopenia was produced in rats by titrated injections of a potent heteroimmune antiplatelet serum and megakaryocytopoiesis was then studied by the use of tritiated thymidine and bone marrow autoradiography. Rats in which the platelet count was maintained at a lower than normal level by repeated thrombocytophereses, and other rats injected with platelet antiserum previously absorbed with rat platelets, served as controls. Profoundly altered patterns of megakaryocytopoiesis were found in the rats in which thrombocytopenia was produced by the antiplatelet serum. The data indicated a severely impaired and depressed megakaryocyte maturation and, possibly, destruction of some of the megakaryocytes during their maturation process. In the rats in which the platelet level was maintained low by repeated thrombocytophereses, the pattern of megakaryocytopoiesis indicated accelerated maturation and there was also an increased megakaryocyte mass. No difference from normal was found in the rats receiving the platelet-adsorbed antiserum. It was concluded that the platelet antibody produced an injurious effect on the megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, thereby depressing platelet production, and that the immune thrombocytopenia was the result of both increased platelet destruction and defective platelet production.
The Exclusion Process

The exclusion process differs from the spin systems which are the subject of the previous five chapters in that two (rather than one) coordinates of η1 change at a time. In order to describe this process, let p(x, y) be the transition probabilities for a discrete time Markov chain on the countable set 5: $$ p(x,y) \geq 0,{\text{ }}and{\text{ }}\sum\limits_y {p(x,y) = 1.} $$