cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of mibefradil and derivative NNC 55-0396 effects on behavior, cytochrome P450 activity, and tremor in mouse models of essential tremor

Abstract NNC 55-0396 [(1S,2S)-2-(2-(N-[(3-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl]-N-methylamino)ethyl)-6-fluoro-1,2, 3,4-tetrahydro-1-isopropyl-2-naphtyl cyclopropanecarboxylate dihydrochloride], is a mibefradil derivative that retains potent in vitro T-type calcium channel antagonist efficacy. We compared the two compounds for behavioral toxicity, effects on cytochrome P450 activity, and efficacy against tremor in the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor subunit α1-null mouse, and the harmaline tremor model of essential tremor in wild-type mice. NNC 55-0396 was better tolerated than mibefradil in the horizontal wire test of sedation/motor function, with 3/6 failing at 300 and 30 mg/kg respectively. To assess for a potential interaction with harmaline, mice were given the drugs, followed by harmaline or vehicle, and tested 30 min later in the inverted wire grid test. Mibefradil exacerbated, whereas NNC 55-0396 ameliorated harmaline-induced test deficits. In mouse liver microsomes, NNC 55-0396 was a less potent inhibitor of harmaline O-demethylation than mibefradil (Ki: 0.95 and 0.29 μM respectively), and also less potent at inhibiting testosterone 6-β-hydroxylation (Ki: 0.71 and 0.12 μM respectively). In the GABAA α1-null model, NNC 55-0396 but not mibefradil, (each at 20 mg/kg), suppressed tremor while NNC 55-0396 at 12.5 mg/kg suppressed harmaline-induced tremor by half by 20–100 min, whereas mibefradil at the same dose did not significantly affect tremor. In contrast to mibefradil, NNC 55-0396 is well tolerated and suppresses tremor, and exerts less cytochrome P450 inhibition. These results suggest potential clinical utility for NNC 55-0396 or similar derivatives as a T-type calcium antagonist.
Strategies to Avert Electrochemical Shock and Their Demonstration in Spinels

United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering (Award DE-SC0002633)
Statistical Models of Summer Rainshowers Derived from Fine-Scale Radar Observations

A statistical modeling of rain cell characteristics is presented; the modeling is based on high-resolution radar measurements of the cell structure. The analysis of the fine-scale three-dimensional structure of summer rainshowers in the mid-Atlantic region leads to statistical descriptions of the rain cells in terms of a variety of physical cell parameters. Core reflectivity profiles, contour area, and altitude extent of the cells have been determined along with the frequency of occurrence for various storm classes and categories. The statistical descriptions of the rain cells for the mid-Atlantic region were compared to descriptions for other areas, and the similarities and differences are described. Simplified models of rain cells based on the statistical descriptions are developed for the different rain categories as a function of frequency of occurrence.
Polyphenylene ethers and their alloys

Poly(phenylene ether)s (PPE) are a class of polymers which contain phenolic monomers attached via an ether linkage. Depending upon the monomer types used in the polymerization, a variety of homopolymers and copolymers can be produced. When compounded with polystyrene, these poly(phenylene ether)s combine to form single phase alloys in contrast to the separate phases obtained with most other polymer blends. Since polyphenylene ether and polystyrene are completely miscible, the alloy also has only one glass transition temperature (Tg) and behaves in a manner that is typical of single polymeric materials. By blending poly(phenylene ether)s with impact modified polystyrene at different ratios, opaque thermoplastic resins having a wide range of chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties can be manufactured. Commercially available material grades have thus been developed to meet special product requirements for flame retardancy, high impact, increased flexural and tensile strength, low creep, and good resistance to certain chemical environments. In comparison to other types of unfilled thermoplastics, poly(phenylene ether)s have a balance of properties which can overlap those of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, nylon, and other high performance polymers.
The structure of linear polyethylene crystals formed in dilute solution

Raman LAM and internal mode studies have been made on crystals of linear polyethylene formed in dilute solution. The molecular weight range, 5×104−1.5×106, was much greater than has been studied heretofore. The crystallite core thickness and degree of crystallinity was found to be independent of molecular weight for a given crystallization mode. The internal mode analysis indicates a substantial disordered overlayer, which is primarily isotropic in character.
Efficiency, Planning, and Economic Interactions in China: A Visitor's Report

Having carried out studies on Chinese economic development and organization for some time before visiting China in August 1972, I was concerned with clarifying a number of issues concerning how the economy functioned. Traveling with the first group of American Radical Political Economists, I had ample opportunity to visit production and distribution organizations — factories of various types, communes, a coal mine, a department store, a produce and meat market, cooperative workshops, and so forth. Besides engaging in lengthy discussions with responsible personnel at each of these places, the members of our group were also able to talk at length with academic economists from Peking and Futan (Shanghai) Universities, and with officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the People's Bank of China. In talking with the Chinese and in making observations, I was particularly concerned with grasping principal relationships and interactions within the economy, and with understanding the rationale for the patterns ...
The Center for Engineering Education at the Colorado School of Mines: using Boyer's four types of scholarship

The Center for Engineering Education (CEE) at the Colorado School of Mines promotes both educational research and improvements in teaching. In order to connect the potentially competing activities of research and teaching, CEE has used Ernest Boyer's model of the four forms of scholarship to describe the Center's activities. According to Boyer, the word "scholarship" should not only describe the activities of those conducting original research (which he called the scholarship of discovery) but should also be extended to include the scholarships of integration, application, and teaching. This paper describes Boyer's model and provides examples of how these four forms of scholarship display themselves in CEE-sponsored projects.
A proposed snow-survey system for the Yakima basin

The title of this paper is to some extent a misnomer, as the proposal of a “Snow-survey system” should certainly depend to a considerable extent on a field-study of the drainage-area and such study or even a cursory inspection has not been my privilege. However some analysis of precipitation- and runoff-data for the Easin (see Fig. 1) snows that comprehensive snow-surveys should be an aid to forecasting probable water-supply during the irrigating season.
A two-zone hybrid routing protocol for mobile ad hoc networks

Recently, an elegant routing protocol, the zone routing protocol (ZRP), was proposed to provide a hybrid routing framework that is locally proactive and globally reactive, with the goal of minimizing the sum of the proactive and reactive control overhead. The key idea of ZRP is that each node proactively advertises its link state over a fixed number of hops, called the zone radius. These local advertisements provide each node with an updated view of its routing zone - the collection of all nodes and links that are reachable within the zone radius. The nodes on the boundary of the routing zone are called peripheral nodes and play an important role in the reactive zone-based route discovery. The main contribution of this work is to propose a novel hybrid routing protocol - the two-zone routing protocol (TZRP) - as a nontrivial extension of ZRP. In contrast with the original ZRP where a single zone serves a dual purpose, TZRP aims to decouple the protocol's ability to adapt to traffic characteristics from its ability to adapt to mobility. In support of this goal, in TZRP each node maintains two zones: a crisp zone and a fuzzy zone. By adjusting the sizes of these two zones independently, a lower total routing control overhead can be achieved. Extensive simulation results show that TZRP is a general MANET routing framework that can balance the trade offs between various routing control overheads more effectively than ZRP in a wide range of network conditions.
The effects of error augmentation on learning to walk on a narrow balance beam.

Error augmentation during training has been proposed as a means to facilitate motor learning due to the human nervous system’s reliance on performance errors to shape motor commands. We studied the effects of error augmentation on short-term learning of walking on a balance beam to determine whether it had beneficial effects on motor performance. Four groups of able-bodied subjects walked on a treadmill-mounted balance beam (2.5-cm wide) before and after 30 min of training. During training, two groups walked on the beam with a destabilization device that augmented error (Medium and High Destabilization groups). A third group walked on a narrower beam (1.27-cm) to augment error (Narrow). The fourth group practiced walking on the 2.5-cm balance beam (Wide). Subjects in the Wide group had significantly greater improvements after training than the error augmentation groups. The High Destabilization group had significantly less performance gains than the Narrow group in spite of similar failures per minute during training. In a follow-up experiment, a fifth group of subjects (Assisted) practiced with a device that greatly reduced catastrophic errors (i.e., stepping off the beam) but maintained similar pelvic movement variability. Performance gains were significantly greater in the Wide group than the Assisted group, indicating that catastrophic errors were important for short-term learning. We conclude that increasing errors during practice via destabilization and a narrower balance beam did not improve short-term learning of beam walking. In addition, the presence of qualitatively catastrophic errors seems to improve short-term learning of walking balance.
Constrained Variance Control Design - A Multiobjective Control Theory

Most engineering systems have multiple performance objectives. Often these objectives are expressed explicitly in terms of the root-mena-squared (rms) values of the closed loop system states or outputs. This paper introduces a theory for designing linear state feedback controllers to directly accommodate these rms design constraints. The design procedure is multiobjective but requires only linear computations. Additionally, a measure of system robustness is offered. This measure is used to define a set of allowable perturbations to the system matrices such that the rms design objectives are still satisfied. A design example is included.
The PRC2-associated factor C17orf96 is a novel CpG island regulator in mouse ES cells.

CpG islands (CGIs) are key DNA regulatory elements in the vertebrate genome and are often found at gene promoters. In mammalian embryonic stem (ES) cells, CGIs are decorated by either the active or repressive histone marks, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, respectively, or by both modifications (‘bivalent domains’), but their precise regulation is incompletely understood. Remarkably, we find that the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-associated protein C17orf96 (a.k.a. esPRC2p48 and E130012A19Rik) is present at most CGIs in mouse ES cells. At PRC2-rich CGIs, loss of C17orf96 results in an increased chromatin binding of Suz12 and elevated H3K27me3 levels concomitant with gene repression. In contrast, at PRC2-poor CGIs, located at actively transcribed genes, C17orf96 colocalizes with RNA polymerase II and its depletion leads to a focusing of H3K4me3 in the core of CGIs. Our findings thus identify C17orf96 as a novel context-dependent CGI regulator.
The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility

The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility. By David Vogel. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institute, 2005. 222p. $28.95.Is there a “market for virtue”? If so, what can it do, and what can it not do to improve our world? In his incisive new book, David Vogel takes aim at these questions and the now-fashionable claim that there is a business case for corporate social responsibility (CSR). He concludes that there is no business case that can be generalized to all firms per se, but there is a political case for broadening what we mean by that much-used term.
Structure-Activity Studies on Antihyperlipidemic N-Benzoylsulfamates, N-Benzylsulfamates, and Benzylsulfonamides

A series of aryl substituted N-benzoyl- and N-benzylsul-famic acid sodium salts and benzylsulfonamide sodium salts have been prepared and examined for antihyperlipidemic activity in male CF1 mice at a dose level of 20 mg/kg/d ip for 16 d. These substances were also subjected to toxicological evaluation and chemical stability studies. In general, both series of sulfamates and sulfonamides significantly lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in mice. The compounds were nonmutagenic, showed no acute toxicity or impaired liver or kidney function in male mice, and were chemically stable both as the monohydrates and in aqueous solution over a pH range of 3.5–7.4. While both series of sulfamates and sulfonamides lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the sulfamates were relatively more potent with regard to decreasing cholesterol levels, while the sulfonamides were more effective in lowering serum triglyceride levels in mice.
Design and analysis of an ultrawide-band distributed CMOS mixer

This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel distributed CMOS mixer for ultrawide-band (UWB) receivers. To achieve the UWB RF frequency range required for the UWB communications, the proposed mixer incorporates artificial inductance-capacitance (LC) delay lines in radio frequency (RF), local oscillator (LO), and intermediate frequency signal paths, and single-balanced mixer cells that are distributed along these LC circuits. Closed-form analytical model for the conversion gain of the mixer is presented. Furthermore, a comprehensive noise analysis of the proposed distributed mixer is carried out, which includes calculation of the mixer noise figure (NF) and derivation of the optimum number of stages, n, minimizing the NF. The designed mixer is capable of covering the RF and LO frequencies over a wide range of frequencies from 3.1-8.72 GHz. A two-stage distributed mixer has been fabricated in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process. Experiments show a conversion gain of more than 2.5 dB for the entire range of the frequencies. The dc power consumption is 10.4 mW.
The Sex-Stereotyping of Musical Instruments:

This series of studies was undertaken to examine musical instrument gender associations. Study 1, which investigated adult musical instrument preferences for children, indicated significant differences (<.05) in instrument selections due to the sex of the child. Study 2 employed a paired-comparison strategy to place eight instruments under investigation on a masculine-feminine continuum. Study 3 investigated children's (K-5) instrumental preferences. Results showed a significant sex by grade interaction. Study 4 examined three procedures for presenting the instruments to preschool children. The results showed a significant sex by method of presentation interaction.
SPIRITUAL BEHAVIORS AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF PRAYER

Three studies examine the role of spirituality, specifically prayer for the partner, in the development of young adult relationships. In Study 1 (N = 302) we examine longitudinal relationships to establish ordering over time; prayer for the partner predicted later relationship satisfaction but not vice versa. In Study 2 (N = 191) we examine whether it is prayer for the partner or simply prayer in general that accounts for effects on satisfaction. We also establish that prayer for the partner accounts for unique variance in satisfaction beyond that contributed by positive and negative dyadic behavior. Finally, in Study 3 (N = 360) we examine three plausible mediators of the impact of prayer for the partner on young adult relationships and find that increased commitment mediates the effect of prayer for the partner on relationship satisfaction. Results are interpreted as consistent with the view that prayer for the partner influences commitment by priming a longer–term perspective, a key developmental task in young adult relationships. Potential negative impacts of prayer and the need for experimental investigation are also discussed. Survey research reveals that around 90% of Americans pray at least occasionally (McCullough & Larson, 1999) and many people use prayer spontaneously to cope with their problems (Barnes et. al., 2004; McCaffrey et al., 2004). Given the obvious similarity of prayer
Exploring the differences in perceptions of satisfaction across lifestyle segments.

This research examines whether satisfaction difers across consumers of a vacation experience. By segmenting consumers of an all-inclusive upscale health andfitness resort by lifestyle characteristi...
RECENT RESEARCH ON THE GROWTH PLATE: Recent insights into the regulation of the growth plate

For most bones, elongation is driven primarily by chondrogenesis at the growth plates. This process results from chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, and extracellular matrix secretion, and it is carefully orchestrated by complex networks of local paracrine factors and modulated by endocrine factors. We review here recent advances in the understanding of growth plate physiology. These advances include new approaches to study expression patterns of large numbers of genes in the growth plate, using microdissection followed by microarray. This approach has been combined with genome-wide association studies to provide insights into the regulation of the human growth plate. We also review recent studies elucidating the roles of bone morphogenetic proteins, fibroblast growth factors, C-type natriuretic peptide, and suppressor of cytokine signaling in the local regulation of growth plate chondrogenesis and longitudinal bone growth.
Parvovirus B19 infection of brain: possible role of gender in determining mental illness and autoimmune thyroid disorders

Major theories about the etiologies of chronic mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia include genetic and environmental factors such as famine and infection. It is likely that multiple genes play a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders, but no single gene has been identified as causative. Several viruses have been investigated as potential candidates, but conflicting reports exist. Although a relationship between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with autoimmune disorders has also been documented for many years, reports are often conflicting. We hypothesize that parvovirus B19 (B19), a common human pathogen, due to its ability to infect the brain and induce autoimmunity, is a strong candidate that may unite prevailing theories. In particular, our preliminary data suggest that B19 may be most likely involved in co-morbid bipolar and autoimmune thyroid disorders in females. In schizophrenics, the gender trend may be reversed. We propose that there is a complex interaction between immuno-genetics, autoimmunity, gender, and B19 infection that leads to at least some forms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Future studies that investigate this hypothesis are warranted and outlined.
MOISTENED SEEDS INCREASE RODENT TRAP SUCCESS

Abstract Seed moisture has been shown to influence the rates of seed cache removal by rodents. Although the precise mechanism is not known, this knowledge might prove useful in field applications. We examined whether moistened bait would increase trap success in desert rodent populations. We placed traps 15 m apart in grids within a 500-ha study area and randomly baited traps with either dry or moistened seeds. We found that traps baited with moistened seeds had 34.9% higher success than traps baited with dry seeds (n = 190, χ2 = 5.389, df = 1, P = 0.020). Our results suggest that application of water to dry seed bait can lead to increased trap success for desert rodents.
Abstract 19822: Arterial Calcification Can Be Inhibited via Stress Protein Induction Through a PPAR-dependent Pathway

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease occurs prematurely in chronic inflammatory conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and unfortunately, remains the leading cause of death in these patients. Vascular calcification (VC) is a significant contributor to cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients with the sequela of arterial hardening, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death. We recently reported that heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) when inducted, can inhibit the development of VC. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that HSP72 exerts its vasculo-protective effects by functioning as a molecular chaperon for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Methods: We developed an in vitro long-term calcification model using HA-SMCs treated with calcification medium (CM) containing 5mM CaCl2 and 5mM β-glycerophosphate for 21 days. Cells were subjected to heat shock treatment at 43°C for 30 minutes daily to induce HSP72. Calcification was assessed qualitatively by alizarin red staining and quantitatively by the arsenazo III method. Results: Our results show that inducible HSP72 is significantly expressed following heat shock treatment in HA-SMCs. Induction of HSP72 inhibited the development of VC in our long-term calcification model and these effects were abolished by HSP72 siRNA, in vitro. We next showed that HSP72 formed a protein-protein complex with PPARγ by co-immunoprecipitation. Expression of both these proteins was down-regulated in calcific HA-SMCs and their gene expression was down regulated in atherosclerotic human arteries. Furthermore, we found that the PPARγ inhibitor, FABP4 (fatty acid binding protein-4) which function as an atherosclerosis promoter was up-regulated in calcified human arteries. Lastly, induction of HSP72 restored expression of the HSP72-PPARγ complex and inhibited upregulation of FABP4 with reduction in calcification in our in vitro calcification model. These vasculo-protective effects were abolished by HSP72 siRNA. Conclusion: HSP72 is a powerful inhibitor of VC and exerts its vasculo-protective effects by functioning as a molecular chaperon to stabilize PPARγ and regulate the PPARγ-FABP4 pathway. We suggest treatment strategies involving induction of HSP72 as a new approach to inhibit VC.
Civic Education and Compliance with Laws

This article proposes a conceptual and normative framework within which to analyze and answer the question: in what senses and to what extent should future citizens be educated to comply with the laws of their society? Civic education that promotes compliance by shaping children’s beliefs, values, and preferences should be analyzed to reveal the extent to which it cultivates moral or prudential, content-dependent or content-independent, and in se or prohibitum reasons for compliance. Cultivation of such reasons and/or habits of compliance should be evaluated with due attention not only to the familiar goal of reducing unjustified noncompliance but also to the various ways in which compliance can be suboptimal. In particular, I highlight acts of compliance that, although morally permissible, are suboptimal because they are not morally required and either fail to express the agent’s own judgment or express a judgment that reflects inauthentic preferences or false moral beliefs.
Experimental and Computational Analysis of a Wind Turbine Airfoil with Active Microtabs

This study aims to provide experimental and computation data to fully characterize the dynamic effects of deploying microtabs for active load control on wind turbine blades. A wind turbine airfoil model with linearly actuated microtabs has been tested in the UC Davis Aeronautical Wind Tunnel. Initial tests were conducted under static conditions at a Reynolds number of one million, followed by measurements of deploying microtabs under steady conditions and during simulated wind gusts. Wind tunnel results are compared with computational results generated using OVERFLOW2. Microtabs are deployed perpendicular to the surface of the airfoil, reaching a height 1% of the chord length. A microtab located at 95% chord on the pressure surface increases lift when deployed, while a tab at 90% chord on the suction surface decreases lift. Dynamic tests of microtabs on an airfoil subjected to rapid changes in airspeed demonstrated the ability of the tabs to control load excursions.
Effect of In-Situ Formation of Nanoscale γ-Al2O3 and AlN on Thermal Stability of Cryomilled Nanocrystalline Fe

Cryogenic attritor milling (cryomilling) is used to synthesize nanocrystalline Fe-10wt.%Al powders. Following consolidation in a rigid die at 823 K and heat treatment for 1 hour at 1223 K, an average grain size of 16±7 nm is maintained. This level of thermal stability is shown to exceed that of pure Fe processed under identical conditions. The significant increase in thermal stability is attributed primarily to the presence of nanometer-scale γ-Al2O3 and AIN dispersoids formed during cryomilling and subsequent heat treatment.
A Clash of ‘Mass Movements’? Christian Missions and the Gandhian Nationalist Movement in India

In the modern history of India, the term ‘mass movement’ has been used to refer to two entirely different things. One is the Gandhian nationalist movement from the second to the middle, and the oth...
Recovery of N2 Fixation in Soybean Following Insect-Induced Defoliation

Recovery of N2-fixing ability (measured by C2H2-C2H4 assay) of greenhouse grown soybean following defoliation by soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was examined in two experiments. Experiment 1 examined nodulation, N2 fixation, and dry weight of plant parts of ‘Forrest’ soybean at 0, 2, and 4 wk post defoliation (WPD) (70% defoliation). Experiment 2 examined these same variables in ‘Davis’ soybean at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 WPD (73%defoliation). In both experiments, leaf area, stem dry weight, and root dry weight of defoliated plants were greatly reduced at 0 WPD; they never recovered to the level of control plants. Although N2-fixing ability of defoliated plants was reduced 4.9-fold in Experiment 1 and 8.7-fold in Experiment 2 at 0 WPD, there was no significant difference in N2-fixing ability of defoliated and control plants in either experiment at 4 WPD. Recovery of N2-fixing ability was due to partial recovery of total nodule dry weight, combined with complete recovery of nodule specific activity.
Intelligent agent characterization and uncertainty management with fuzzy set theory: a tool to support early supplier integration

This research performed an analysis of the existing categories for agent classification and characterization. The methodology developed fuzzy set theory based intelligent agents designed to promote integration of suppliers into the early stages of product development. The first stage in the project personified the anticipated agents by giving them roles that correlated with humanistic tendencies or professions. The project produced a multidimensional profile for agents by providing an analysis of three personality traits: aggressiveness, attractiveness, and vulnerability. The value associated with each of these traits is obtained through different functions which consider the degree of anticipated interaction between the agent, other agents, and the external environment. Further, the types of uncertainty associated with decision making are identified and assigned. The personality traits are used to describe the expected behavior of the agent and are assigned at the initiation o f a given task. Conversely, the measures of uncertainty are invoked at the completion of the task to provide a series of metrics related to the quality of information or task performed. The developed generic fuzzy intelligent agent model was programmed into two of the types of agents using JAVA. The agents successfully communicated with each other while permitting examination of the uncertainty. The result of the methodology is the creation of a frame that can be used to develop multiple fuzzy agents. Further, this research presents one of the first instantiations of a fuzzy agent. Finally, a hypothetical application of these agents is proposed to support architectural innovation in product development. This example promotes early supplier integration into the product development phase through the use of electronic communication and management of the interactions through intelligent agents. The details of computer programming are left for presentation in a succeeding article.
Oxytocin challenge test for antepartum fetal assessment: Report of a clinical experience

OCT's were performed 1,209 times on 533 fetuses at risk for UPI. OCT interpretation was negative for 72% of tests, and there were were no fetal deaths within a week following a negative test. Our data thus support the concept that the use of the OCT for fetal surveillance most frequently justifies a course of nonintervention. Of 69 fetuses with positive test, 47 were subjected to the stresses of labor with maternal hyperoxygenation and lateral poisoning. Twenty of these 47 (43%) tolerated labor without biophysical evidence of distress. Reactivity of the FHR, when present during a positive test, significantly increased the likelihood that a fetus would tolerate labor. The fetal and perinatal mortality rates in the patients identified as a risk for UPI and studied with OCT's were no greater than in a comparable group of pregnancies without identifiable risk for UPI and not studied with OCT's.
Hydraulic and morphologic study of fibrous intimal hyperplasia in autogenous saphenous vein bypass grafts.

In certain patients who have had aorto-coronary bypass, the grafts are found to have concentric stenosis at the time of reinvestigation. Subsequent morphologic examination of the excised vein has shown marked intimal fibrous hyperplasia. A simplified aorto-coronary bypass system was simulated by a mathematical computer model, through which the entrance effect of various angles by the anastomosis on the flow in the side branch was studied. By matching the coronary impedance to the aortic pressure wave over a cardiac cycle, the model predicted that the optimal angle to obtain the maximum efficiency is 90 degrees. The pathological findings in a group of 108 patients who underwent aorto-coronary bypass grafting with the saphenous vein were correlated with the clinical course, angiographic findings, and hydraulic features. All four categories of data were available in 8. In all but 1 of the 8 patients who underwent reoperation, there was clinical recurrence of angina an average of 10.6 months after the first operation. Repeat angiography revealed severe narrowing of the vein graft in 6 patients and complete occlusion in 2. The angle 0*** subtended by the vein graft with the aorta was estimated at an average of 45.8 degrees.
Growth inhibitory signals and liver regeneration: the TGFβ superfamily

The liver is a key organ for the metabolism of drugs and endogenous substrates. When the liver sustains serious injury, many different parameters are affected, such as blood clotting, glucose metabolism, drug metabolism and brain function. To help maintain these life-sustaining functions, the liver has a remarkable capacity to regenerate following injury or loss of tissue mass. It has long been hypothesized that the liver changes its functional mass in response to changing metabolic demands. The regenerative capacity of the liver has been recognized and studied for decades (Bucher, 1963; Alison, 1986; Michalopoulos, 1990; Fausto, 1991), but only recently have we been able to gain more insight into the molecular basis for this process. Several growth factors have been identified which modulate hepatocyte proliferation. Using differential cloning techniques, a number of genes have been isolated that are rapidly activated after stimulation of hepatic regeneration (Nathans et al., 1988; Mohn et al., 1990, 1991; Haber et al., 1993; Weir et al., 1994). At present, we lack an understanding of the precise role of growth factors and ‘regeneration response’ genes in the regulation of liver regeneration, but pieces of this puzzle are rapidly being collected. This chapter focuses on factors that inhibit growth and/or stimulate programmed cell death of hepatocytes. Growth inhibition is an extremely important component of the regenerative response because once regeneration is initiated, hepatocyte proliferation must be turned off in order to prevent uncontrolled liver growth.
The Summing Up

Saint Joan (1923) makes a magnificent coda to the major phase of Shaw’s career, gathering together the several versions of the comic sublime. The youthful Warrior Saint, who dares and dares again in God’s name, is a perfect emblem of idealised self-sufficiency. Or almost perfect, because it involves the idealisation of a warrior, though this is softened by feminine charm. Shaw senses the difficulty enough to try to compensate for it in the preface. There, Joan is carefully compared to Christ, Socrates and Mahomet, and carefully contrasted to Napoleon who was ‘neither frank nor disinterested’ (B 6: 18). We are told explicitly that ‘it is far more dangerous to be a saint than a conqueror’ (17–18), as in the preface to Blanco Posnet we were told that ‘Great religious leaders are more interesting and more important subjects for the dramatist than great conquerors’ (B 3: 714). The play itself cannot, of course, ignore the business of military conquest, but it does attempt to make Joan’s victories represent, however unconsciously on her part, a spiritual advance in the march of civilisation.
Nachhaltigkeitsreporting im internationalen Kontext

Corporate Social Responsibility beschreibt die Verantwortung der Wirtschaft gegenuber der Gesellschaft und umfasst das freiwillige unternehmerische Handeln zur Verbesserung der Bereiche Soziales und Umwelt (Aguilera et al., Academy of management review 32:836–863, 2007). Die unternommenen Aktivitaten bezeichnen Crane und Matten (Business ethics: A European perspective, Oxford University Press, 2004) als Corporate Social Performance, die sich in sozialpolitischen Masnahmen, in Sozialprogrammen und in den sozialen Auswirkungen widerspiegeln. Das CSR- oder Nachhaltigkeitsreporting beschreibt die unternehmerische Berichterstattung der Nachhaltigkeitsaktivitaten, ausgedruckt durch nicht-finanzielle Kennzahlen, mit dem Ziel der Deckung des Informationsbedarfs der Interessengruppen, die in der gangigen Literatur auch als Stakeholder bezeichnet werden. Gray et al. (Corporate social reporting: Accounting and accountability, prentice-Hall, 1987) definieren Nachhaltigkeitsreporting als eine an die Gesellschaft und an bestimmte Interessengruppen gerichtete Berichterstattung uber die sozialen und okologischen Auswirkungen unternehmerischen Handelns (Gallego, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management 13:78–97, 2006).
Set Up to Fail: Explaining When Women-Led Businesses Are More Likely to Fail

Drawing on role congruity theory, we examine whether and when women-led ventures are more likely to fail than men-led ventures. We investigate the relationship between the gender of the leading entrepreneur and business failure and three important moderators of this relationship: whether the leadership assignment is consistent with merit, whether the venture operates in a female-dominated industry, and whether the venture is operated by a spousal team. Drawing on a unique, nationally representative data set of entrepreneurial firms sampled from the U.S. population in 2005 and followed yearly until 2011, we demonstrate that female entrepreneurs’ businesses are more likely to fail than those of their male counterparts. Regarding the moderating effects, our results show that female entrepreneurs’ businesses are more likely to fail when their merit-based competence is inferior to that of their cofounders. However, in the same scenario, male entrepreneurs are still able to lead their businesses successfully. W...
Provider-Offered Medicare Advantage Plans: Recent Growth And Care Quality

Hospitals and health systems are increasingly offering their own insurance products, a type of consolidation known as “vertical integration.” The relationship between plan-provider vertical integra...
Human anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibodies are capable of activating primate platelets: towards the development of a HIT model in primates.

Abstract In the first step to establish an animal model of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) that is physiologically relevant to humans, studies were undertaken to determine the similarities or differences between human and non-human primate ( Macaca mulatta ) platelets in HIT assay systems. The collagen-, ADP-, and TRAP-induced platelet aggregation, and flow cytometric analysis of P-selectin expression and microparticle formation were similar for both species platelets ( p >0.1, n =18 each). The classical HIT assays using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as well as a flow cytometric assay revealed the activation/aggregation and serotonin release assay (SRA) profiles for both primate and human platelets were similar in response to human HIT positive sera r2=0.81. All assays were heparin concentration-dependent; heparin, at 0.1 U/mL, produced maximum and similar platelet activation/aggregation and SRA responses with both primate (76±7%, n =18) and human (68±11%, n =20; p >0.1) platelets. At concentrations ⩾10 U/mL, heparin suppressed the platelet aggregation and SRA responses in both systems. Primate and human platelets displayed similar behavior to low molecular weight heparin and pentasaccahride in HIT assay systems. Immunoglobulins isolated from serum of patients with HIT n=6 caused activation/aggregation of human (65±18%, n =10 donors) and primate (79±12%, n =6 monkeys, p >0.08) platelets. Unlike human platelets, the primate platelets exhibited a more consistent aggregation/release response (15 out of 18 primate platelets reactive). In contrast, human donors showed wide variations in the activation/release response (4 out of 10 reactive). These observations suggest that primate platelets are activatable by anti-H-PF4 antibodies, and support the hypothesis that primates can be used to develop an animal model to study the pathogenesis of HIT.
Closing the gap: A learning algorithm for lost-sales inventory systems with lead times

We consider a periodic-review, single-product inventory system with lost sales and positive lead times under censored demand. In contrast to the classical inventory literature, we assume the firm d...
A referential Montage selector for intraoperative localization of sensorimotor cortex

A device is described for the rapid intraoperative selection of referential electrode arrangements during localization of sensorimotor cortex by somatosensory evoked potentials recorded on a four-c...
Continuous sheath‐free separation of drug‐treated human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans by morphology in biocompatible polymer solutions

Cryptococcal meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans is the leading cause of fungal central nervous system infections. Current antifungal treatments for cryptococcal infections are inadequate partly due to the occurrence of drug resistance. Recent studies indicate that the treatment of the azole drug fluconazole changes the morphology of C. neoformans to form enlarged "multimeras" that consist of three or more connected cells/buds. To analyze if these multimeric cells are a prerequisite for C. neoformans to acquire drug resistance, a tool capable of separating them from normal cells is critical. We extend our recently demonstrated sheath-free elasto-inertial particle separation technique to fractionate drug-treated C. neoformans cells by morphology in biocompatible polymer solutions. The separation performance is evaluated for both multimeric and normal cells in terms of three dimensionless metrics: efficiency, purity, and enrichment ratio. The effects of flow rate, polymer concentration, and microchannel height on cell separation are studied.
Patterns and Trends of Hookah Use among New Jersey Youth: New Jersey Youth Tobacco Survey 2008-2014.

OBJECTIVES In this study, the aim was to document trends of ever, past 30-day, and frequent (use on > 10 days/month) hookah use among New Jersey (NJ) high school students. METHODS Data were analyzed from the 2008-2014 waves of the NJ Youth Tobacco Survey, a biennial survey of public high school students in grades 9-12 with a mean age of 15 years. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed trends and correlates of hookah use. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the use of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and other tobacco products (including cigars, smokeless tobacco, and bidis). RESULTS In 2014, past 30-day hookah use (11.8%) was as high as e-cigarette use (12.1%) and higher than other tobacco products. The adjusted odds of ever, past 30-day, and frequent hookah use were significantly higher in 2014 than 2008. Past 30-day hookah use was more common among users of other tobacco products. CONCLUSIONS Effective strategies have been used in cigarette tobacco control, and cigarette consumption has decreased as a result. Similar strategies should be employed to encompass emerging tobacco products, with necessary modifications to reduce the prevalence of all tobacco use among youth.
Study on the compatibility of azo-tetrazolate high-energy materials using DSC

Compatibility is the ability of materials to resist chemical changes when they interact with other materials. Both the compatibility and interaction between energetic materials or between energetic and non-energetic materials are of great importance. Differential scanning calorimetry was performed to investigate the compatibility and the interaction between the energetic materials. The thermal characterization of energetic materials is important to indicate their stability as propellants, revealing necessary information regarding their thermal decomposition mechanisms during combustion and storage. The energetic materials include guanidinium azo-tetrazolate (GAT), aminoguanidinium azo-tetrazolate (AGAT), aminoguanidinium azo-tetrazolate monohydrate (AGATH), diaminoguanidinium azo-tetrazolate (DAGAT), triaminoguanidinium azo-tetrazolate (TAGAT), and ammonium azo-tetrazolate (AZT). Azo-tetrazolate salts and their derivatives were synthesized and fully characterized by multinuclear spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results present good compatibility between GAT–AGATH, GAT–DAGAT, GAT–TAGAT, GAT–AZT, AGAT–DAGAT, and DAGAT–TAGAT. The decomposition of AGATH and DAGAT was increased by adding GAT and TAGAT, respectively. There were poor compatibility between GAT and AGAT and fair compatibility between AGAT and TAGAT, and the mixtures of AGAT–AZT, DAGAT–AZT, and TAGAT–AZT might be hazardous. Adding any other energetic material to GAT accelerates the decomposition temperature of GAT, which may be useful in some applications.
Coarse-to-Fine Minimization of Some Common Nonconvexities

The continuation method is a popular heuristic in computer vision for nonconvex optimization. The idea is to start from a simplified problem and gradually deform it to the actual problem while tracking the solution. There are many choices for how to map the nonconvex objective to some convex task. One popular principle for such construction is Gaussian smoothing of the objective function. This involves an integration which may be expensive to compute numerically. We argue that often simple tricks at the problem formulation plus some mild approximations can make the resulted task amenable to closed form integral.
Computerized Respiratory Care Charting

Respiratory care charting at LDS Hospital is done through the computer system. Respiratory therapists enter patient treatment data into the HELP system through a series of menu-driven screens. From these data, a variety of reports for medical, administrative, and QA purposes are generated. Billing is calculated directly from the computerized charting and accurately reflects services rendered. The therapists’ notes are printed by the computer and become part of the permanent medical record.
Quantitative epigenetics and evolution.

Epigenetics refers to chemical modifications of chromatin or transcribed DNA that can influence gene activity and expression without changes in DNA sequence. The last 20 years have yielded breakthroughs in our understanding of epigenetic processes that impact many fields of biology. In this review, we discuss how epigenetics relates to quantitative genetics and evolution. We argue that epigenetics is important for quantitative genetics because: (1) quantitative genetics is increasingly being combined with genomics, and therefore we should expand our thinking to include cellular-level mechanisms that can account for phenotypic variance and heritability besides just those that are hard-coded in the DNA sequence; and (2) epigenetic mechanisms change how phenotypic variance is partitioned, and can thereby change the heritability of traits and how those traits are inherited. To explicate these points, we show that epigenetics can influence all aspects of the phenotypic variance formula: VP (total phenotypic variance) = VG (genetic variance) + VE (environmental variance) + VGxE (genotype-by-environment interaction) + 2COVGE (the genotype–environment covariance) + Vɛ (residual variance), requiring new strategies to account for different potential sources of epigenetic effects on phenotypic variance. We also demonstrate how each of the components of phenotypic variance not only can be influenced by epigenetics, but can also have evolutionary consequences. We argue that no sources of epigenetic effects on phenotypic variance can be easily cast aside in a quantitative genetic research program that seeks to understand evolutionary processes.
Effects of water molecules on material removal behavior in Vibration Assisted Nano Impact-machining by Loose Abrasives - A molecular dynamics simulation study

Abstract Vibration Assisted Nano Impact-machining by Loose Abrasives (VANILA) is a novel nanomachining process that performs target specific nano abrasive machining of hard and brittle materials. An atomic force microscope (AFM) is used as a platform in this process wherein, nano abrasives, injected in slurry between the workpiece and the vibrating AFM probe, impact the workpiece and cause nanoscale material removal. Liquid medium is required in this process to confine the abrasives within the machining zone. However, the presence of liquid medium could significantly influence the abrasive dynamics as well as the substrate deformation behavior during the VANILA process. This study focuses on understanding the effect of liquid medium on the material removal behavior during the VANILA process. A Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MDS) based study is conducted under different initial conditions with and without the presence of liquid medium (water). The results obtained from the study showed that while the water absorbs some energy from the abrasive grain, it also provides a lubricating layer to the grain preventing adhesion on the workpiece surface. Visualizations of the atomic configurations of the workpiece showed that the presence of water molecules could significantly affect the material dislocations during the impact process.