cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The freeze-fractured structure of spermatocyte dictyosome-like structures

Guinea pig spermatocytes were fixed in glutaraldehyde, frozen in freon 22 cooled by liquid nitrogen, and then fractured to show the subcellular component previously identified as lddictyosome-like structure” (DLS). The DLS membranes had fewer particles than those of the Golgi apparatus. Moreover, the DLS saccules were without fenestrae which were common to Golgi apparatus cisternae. These results further confirm that the DLS are unique subcellular components of mammalian testes, and may prove useful in determining the etiology and function of DLS.
The Tyranny of the P-value: Effect Size Matters

Istatistiksel onemlilik mutlaka klinik onemlilik anlamina gelmez. P-degerinin 0.05′ten az olmasi sonucun onemli olacagini garanti etmez. Kliniksel iliskinin degerlendirebilmesi icin etki buyuklugu ...
Molecular evolution modeled as a fractal statistical process

Abstract Modeling the rate of nucleotide substitutions in DNA as a dichotomous stochastic process with an inverse power-law correlation function describes evolution by a fractal stochastic process (FSP). This FSP model agrees with recent findings on the relationship between the variance and mean number of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions in 49 different genes in mammals, that being a power-law increase in the ratio of the variance to the mean, the index of dispersion, with the number of substitutions in a protein. The probability of a given number of substitutions occuring in a time t is determined by a fractional diffusion equation whose solution is a truncated Levy distribution implying that evolution is a Levy process in time and yields the same functional behavior for the variance in the number of substitutions as does the FSP model. In addition to obtaining these relationships, the FSP model implies lognormal statistics for the index of dispersion as a function of the mean number of substitutions in a protein, which is confirmed in the regression of the FSP model to data. Lognormal statistics suggest that molecular evolution can be viewed as a multiplicative stochastic process, rather than the linear additive processes of Darwinian selection and drift.
Surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy on nanoshell aggregate substrates

Abstract Aggregates of Au nanoshells on silicon substrates with plasmon resonances tuned to the infrared region of the spectrum provide a remarkably high-quality substrate for surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy. SEIRA spectra spanning the chemical fingerprint region of 700–3300 cm −1 with strong enhancement across this entire spectral range are obtained. SEIRA enhancement factors obtained for para- mercaptoaniline on these substrates are evaluated to be in the 10 4 range, based on a statistical evaluation of aggregate geometries combined with finite difference time domain modeling of the infrared ‘hot spots’ characteristic of the constituent structures.
Synthesis of high-purity few-walled carbon nanotubes from ethanol/methanol mixture

Few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWNTs) can be synthesized in a simple chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system using ethanol as the carbon source. However, the raw materials always contain a significant...
H2 Solubility in Pd/Cr2O3 Composites Prepared by Internal Oxidation of Pd−Cr Alloys. Calorimetric Determination of Enthalpies

Internal oxidation of Pd−Cr alloys results in composites containing nanosized oxide precipitates within a Pd matrix. The Pd/chromia interfacial areas are appreciable. The Pd matrix is essentially p...
Chronic intrauterine infection and inflammation in the preterm rabbit, despite antibiotic therapy

Abstract Objective: In a pregnant rabbit model using intracervical inoculation of Escherichia coli with delayed antibiotic therapy, we investigated the rate of positive cultures and histologic inflammation of maternal and fetal compartments and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α in the amniotic fluid for up to 5 days. Study Design: New Zealand White rabbits at 70% gestation were inoculated intracervically with 10 3,4 colony-forming units of E coli per uterine horn. At varying intervals after inoculation (0.5-4.0 hours), antibiotic therapy was initiated with ampicillin-sulbactam. Primary outcomes were positive cultures and histologic inflammation score. Tumor necrosis factor–α levels in the amniotic fluid were determined by bioassay. Results: A total of 60 animals were inoculated with E coli . At the endpoint, uterine cultures were positive more commonly than in the fetus or amniotic fluid (41.8% vs 27.5% vs 17.3%, respectively), which was consistent with an ascending pathway of infection. Inflammation scores were similar in uterus and placenta but lower in fetal lung and absent in fetal brain (2.8 vs 3.1 vs 0.84 vs 0.0, respectively). Comparing the durations of delay in antibiotic administration, we found a significant increase in positive uterine cultures and a significant increase in histologic inflammation score with increasing delay. The proportion of dead pups within a litter was significantly associated with the log of the tumor necrosis factor–α concentration in amniotic fluid and the degree of histologic inflammation in the uterus, but not with amniotic fluid or other culture positivity. Conclusion: The administration of therapeutic doses of antibiotic does not consistently eradicate bacteria from the rabbit uterus nor, more importantly, from the fetus and the amniotic fluid. Obtaining a negative amniotic fluid culture does not exclude either infection in the decidua or the fetus or histologic inflammation with tumor necrosis factor–α elaboration. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:234-9.)
Retinal tumor imaging and volume quantification in mouse model using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

We have successfully imaged the retinal tumor in a mouse model using an ultra-high resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) designed for small animal retinal imaging. For segmentation of the tumor boundaries and calculation of the tumor volume, we developed a novel segmentation algorithm. The algorithm is based on parametric deformable models (active contours) and is driven by machine learning-based region classification, namely a Conditional Random Field. With this algorithm we are able to obtain the tumor boundaries automatically, while the user can specify additional constraints (points on the boundary) to correct the segmentation result, if needed. The system and algorithm were successfully applied to studies on retinal tumor progression and monitoring treatment effects quantitatively in a mouse model of retinoblastoma.
Providing good memory cues for people with episodic memory impairment

Alzheimer's disease impairs episodic memory and subtly and progressively robs people of their ability to remember their recent experiences. In this paper, we describe two studies that lead to a better understanding of how caregivers use cues to support episodic memory impairment and what types of cues are best for supporting recollection. We also show how good memory cues differ between people with and without episodic memory impairment. We discuss how this improved understanding impacts the design of lifelogging technologies for automatically capturing and extracting the best memory cues to assist overburdened caregivers and people with episodic memory impairment in supporting recollection of episodic memory.
Parallel Solution of the Time-Dependent Ginzburg-Landau Equations and other Experiences using BlockComm-Chameleon and PCN on the IBM SP, Intel iPSC/860, and Clusters of Workstations

Time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations are considered for modeling a thin-film finite size superconductor placed under magnetic field. The problem then leads to the use of so-called natural boundary conditions. Computational domain is partitioned into subdomains and bond variables are used in obtaining the corresponding discrete system of equations. An efficient time-differencing method based on the Forward Euler method is developed. Finally, a variable strength magnetic field resulting in a vortex motion in Type II High-critical-temperature superconducting films is introduced. The authors tackled the problem using two different state-of-the-art parallel computing tools: BlockComm/Chameleon and PCN. They had access to two high-performance distributed memory supercomputers: the Intel iPSC/860 and IBM SP1. They also tested the codes using, as a parallel computing environment, a cluster of Sun Sparc workstations.
Rewiring the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) transcription circuit: Engineering a recombination-resistant genome

Live virus vaccines provide significant protection against many detrimental human and animal diseases, but reversion to virulence by mutation and recombination has reduced appeal. Using severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus as a model, we engineered a different transcription regulatory circuit and isolated recombinant viruses. The transcription network allowed for efficient expression of the viral transcripts and proteins, and the recombinant viruses replicated to WT levels. Recombinant genomes were then constructed that contained mixtures of the WT and mutant regulatory circuits, reflecting recombinant viruses that might occur in nature. Although viable viruses could readily be isolated from WT and recombinant genomes containing homogeneous transcription circuits, chimeras that contained mixed regulatory networks were invariantly lethal, because viable chimeric viruses were not isolated. Mechanistically, mixed regulatory circuits promoted inefficient subgenomic transcription from inappropriate start sites, resulting in truncated ORFs and effectively minimize viral structural protein expression. Engineering regulatory transcription circuits of intercommunicating alleles successfully introduces genetic traps into a viral genome that are lethal in RNA recombinant progeny viruses.
ωB97X-V: A 10-parameter, range-separated hybrid, generalized gradient approximation density functional with nonlocal correlation, designed by a survival-of-the-fittest strategy

A 10-parameter, range-separated hybrid (RSH), generalized gradient approximation (GGA) density functional with nonlocal correlation (VV10) is presented. Instead of truncating the B97-type power series inhomogeneity correction factors (ICF) for the exchange, same-spin correlation, and opposite-spin correlation functionals uniformly, all 16,383 combinations of the linear parameters up to fourth order (m = 4) are considered. These functionals are individually fit to a training set and the resulting parameters are validated on a primary test set in order to identify the 3 optimal ICF expansions. Through this procedure, it is discovered that the functional that performs best on the training and primary test sets has 7 linear parameters, with 3 additional nonlinear parameters from range-separation and nonlocal correlation. The resulting density functional, ωB97X-V, is further assessed on a secondary test set, the parallel-displaced coronene dimer, as well as several geometry datasets. Furthermore, the basis set dependence and integration grid sensitivity of ωB97X-V are analyzed and documented in order to facilitate the use of the functional.
Glutamate release inhibition ineffective in Levodopa‐induced motor complications

Reported benefits of various glutamatergic receptor antagonists in Parkinson's disease (PD) prompted an evaluation of the antidyskinetic effect of a putative glutamate release inhibitor in 15 moderately advanced patients. In a 3-week, double-blind, proof-of-concept study, riluzole (200 mg/day) failed to alter parkinsonian or levodopa-induced motor complication severity. Opposing effects of a generalized inhibition of glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission may limit the usefulness of this approach to treat PD.
Rising interdisciplinary collaborations refine our understanding of autisms and give hope to more personalized solutions

Autism is heterogeneous, complex and arguably a condition of many conditions. Both the number of researchers and the number of research collaborations in the field of autism have been growing at unprecedented rates. Interdisciplinary collaborations have increased more than eightfold since the year 2000. In fact, most – if not all – areas of autism research are starting to converge, and these convergences are leading not only to a richer research network but also to a causal network for autism. This network can, and likely will, decode the many forms of autism into its various subcomponents, enabling increasingly more personalized approaches for both the detection and treatment of those different forms of autism.
STDAS: Sensing task and data aggregation scheduling for astronaut health monitoring using wireless mesh networks

Astronaut health monitoring (AHM) during long durations of space missions will play a significant role in mission success. Designing networked healthcare systems for aerospace exploration that will enable continual surveillance and timely notification of astronaut health information to terrestrial healthcare providers at minimal deployment and operation cost is an extremely challenging problem. However, such capabilities will enhance the opportunities for remote medical assistance during space missions. In this paper, we extend our task and data aggregation scheduling from single-hop and multi-hop network to mesh network. The algorithm aims to optimize the network performance with respect to response time and network delay. The upper and lower bounds are derived to provide certain guarantee on data delivery time. The performance of a wireless mesh network with 25 sensor nodes is examined by varying network bandwidth and sensing power of sensor nodes. Basic recursive equations for sensing and data reporting are developed for the case of homogeneous and heterogeneous mesh networks and the performance results of two representative data sensing and reporting strategies are presented.
Assessment of the state of order of hydroxyl groups and of molecular segments in hydrocellulose

Through a study of the selective distribution of substituents introduced into hydrocellulose from reaction with N,N-diethylaziridinium chloride, the change in selective availability of hydroxy groups at C-2, C-3, and C-6 has been followed as a function of duration of hydrolysis to form the hydrocellulose. The hydrocellulose formed at a particular duration of hydrolysis showed maximum selective availability of hydroxyl groups; this was found to coincide with minimum moisture regain and minimum breadth at half height for 101, 101, and 002 peaks in x-ray diffractograms. These points are discussed in terms of the structures of the hydrocelluloses at various stages of hydrolysis and in terms of the sequence of changes which is now associated with the conversion of fibrous cotton to “exemplar hydrocellulose,” i.e., the hydrocellulose having the highest degree of crystalline order, and subsequently, to less highly ordered hydrocelluloses.
The design, implementation, and evaluation of adaptive code unloading for resource-constrained devices

Java Virtual Machines (JVMs) for resource-constrained devices, e.g., hand-helds and cell phones, commonly employ interpretation for program translation. However, compilers are able to produce significantly better code quality, and, hence, use device resources more efficiently than interpreters, since compilers can consider large sections of code concurrently and exploit optimization opportunities. Moreover, compilation-based systems store code for reuse by future invocations obviating the redundant computation required for reinterpretation of repeatedly executed code.However, code storage required for compilation can increase the memory footprint of the virtual machine (VM) significantly. As a result, for devices with limited memory resources, this additional code storage may preclude some programs from executing, significantly increase memory management overhead, and substantially reduce the amount of memory available for use by the application.To address the limitations of native code storage, we present the design, implementation, and empirical evaluation of a compiled-code management system that can be integrated into any compilation-based JVM. The system unloads compiled code to reduce the memory footprint of the VM. It does so by dynamically identifying and unloading dead or infrequently used code; if the code is later reused, it is recompiled by the system. As such, our system adaptively trades off memory footprint and its associated memory management costs, with recompilation overhead. Our empirical evaluation shows that our code management system significantly reduces the memory requirements of a compile-only JVM, while maintaining the performance benefits enabled by compilation.We investigate a number of implementation alternatives that use dynamic program behavior and system resource availability to determine when to unload as well as what code to unload. From our empirical evaluation of these alternatives, we identify a set of strategies that enable significant reductions in the memory overhead required for application code. Our system reduces code size by 36--62p, on average, which translates into significant execution-time benefits for the benchmarks and JVM configurations that we studied.
Seating system solution for the very light car

Capstone Applied Research, CAR, an interdisciplinary student research and design group at Sweet Briar College was tasked to design the seating system in Edison2 Incorporated's The Very Light Car Version 4.0 (VLC v4.0). The VLC v4.0 is a commercially viable prototype based on the winning Progressive Auto Insurance X Prize High Mileage Competition version that seeks to create a cost effective and environmentally sound alternative to main stream vehicles. The seating system design had to meet the needs of a family vehicle while still maintaining the constraints imposed by the car's overall design goals which included, but were not limited to, weight, size, orientation, and cost. Other relevant considerations included functionality, consumer appeal, structural integrity, federal safety regulation adherence, mass production feasibility, economical practicability, and ergononmical considerations. Given the wide array of possible solution variants in the final design an evaluation process modeled after the Pahl & Beitz evaluation method was used to determine which combination of these variants would meet all design constraints and best fulfill the design goals.
Violações de direitos humanos, lei e memória coletiva

Institutional responses to gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law may affect future human rights records, partly by contributing to the collective memory of the dark chapters in a nation's history. This article begins with an exploration of various theoretical ideas concerning the impact of legal responses on collective memory and cultural trauma. It examines ways of empirically measuring the effects of law trials on collective memory, systematically analyzing the procedures adopted in recent studies into the collective memory of atrocities. Here it takes as examples the Vietnam and Balkan wars as reported in the New York Times and described in textbooks on the History of the United States. Some of the findings from these studies are explored, indicating the conditional and selective effects of criminal trials on collective memory. Finally, the article draws some conclusions for future research in Latin America and elsewhere.
Another proof of Jakobson's Theorem and related results

The author shows that any family C 2-close to f a (x) = 1 − ax 2 (2 − e ≤ a ≤ 2) satisfies Jakobson’s theorem: For a positive measure set of a the transformation f a has an absolutely continuous invariant measure. He also indicates some generalizations.
Race and the Politics of Institutional Violence

During Hurricane Katrina, as the citizens of low-lying neighborhoods flooded by failing dykes struggled to survive, we were regularly offered news reports in which white residents entering stores were presented as marshaling resources in that difficult moment, while similar acts by black residents were presented in the newspapers as looters or worse. The print media and 24-hr news networks were consistent in presenting the dangers of the moment, discussing lawlessness even as they glossed over the images of desperate people on rooftops or crammed into the stadium (and reports of violence and assault inside the stadium ended up not being supported by facts). Your favorite team lost an important game, or even if it won (Madison, WI or Lexington, KY), what do you do? According to newspapers you ‘let off some steam’ or engaged in understandable rowdy and destructive behavior as cars were burned, windows smashed, and crowds of young mainly white men roamed with little police action other than to contain the direction and scope of the mayhem. And when it does get totally out of control – say after a surfing contest in California, yet another momentous social calamity – the police are called in to calm things down, but the language used in reports, if these events are even covered by the news media, refrains from any sort of socio-pathological explanations of these participants, or discussions about broken homes, missing parents, or cultures of poverty and despair. The same cannot be said when the demonstrations start out peacefully by outraged citizens protesting police brutality, as was the case of the fatal shooting of a young black man in Ferguson, MO, or the escalating reaction to the killing in custody of another young black man, this time in Baltimore, a reaction fueled by decades of neglect and systematic destruction of that community and the residential housing. We were not given explanations of enthusiastic reactions gone awry. Rather, words like ‘thug’ and worse were used to describe a community rife with all the worst ills generated by decades of single parenthood, of mothers with many illegitimate children, of residents that pathologically did not respect the places where they lived or the businesses in their own communities. One might be tempted to say Malcolm X was prophetic in his pronouncements above half a century earlier. But that would ignore the almost 300-year history of representation that preceded his comments, a history in which blacks, first as slaves then as sharecroppers indentured to a postCivil War plantation system, through Jim Crow and post-Reconstruction imagery in the South, and finally during the migrations out of the South to cities in the west and north, were routinely vilified. Young and old, black men were presented as predators assaulting the honor of white women, of challenging property, or otherwise as less-than-human, ending up victims of the ‘understandable’ 594764 CRS0010.1177/0896920515594764Critical SociologyEditorial research-article2015
Potential regulation of nicotine and ethanol actions by α4-containing nicotinic receptors

A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) associated with a major nicotinic receptor subunit (i.e., α4) has been identified in two mouse lines that were selectively bred for differences in sensitivity to ethanol. These mice, referred to as Long-Sleep (LS) and Short-Sleep (SS) mice, also differ in sensitivity to several effects of nicotine. The potential role of the α4 RFLP in regulating several responses to nicotine and ethanol was evaluated by using the LSxSS-derived recombinant inbred (RI) strains. Those RI strains that carried the LS-like α4 RFLP were more sensitive to the depressant effects of nicotine on Y-maze crossing and rearing activities and ethanol-induced increases in Y-maze crossing activity than were those RI strains that carry the SS-like α4 RFLP. The LS-like RI strains were also more sensitive to nicotine-induced hypothermia. The RFLP was not associated with strain differences in ethanol-induced body temperature or sleep time. The potential role of the RFLP in regulating ethanol and nicotine consumption was evaluated in heterogeneous stock (HS) mice. An association was found between the α4 RFLP and variation in ethanol consumption, but not in nicotine consumption, as measured in a four-bottle choice test. Recent studies of ethanol and tobacco abuse by human beings suggest that common genes may influence these two forms of substance abuse. The results of the studies reported here suggest that the α4 nicotinic receptor gene should be evaluated for its potential role in regulating ethanol and tobacco abuse in human beings.
Defining vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: what is the most clinically relevant definition?

Background and Purpose— Vasospasm is an important complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage, but is variably defined in the literature. Methods— We studied 580 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and identified those with: (1) symptomatic vasospasm, defined as clinical deterioration deemed secondary to vasospasm after other causes were eliminated; (2) delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), defined as symptomatic vasospasm, or infarction on CT attributable to vasospasm; (3) angiographic spasm, as seen on digital subtraction angiography; and (4) transcranial Doppler (TCD) spasm, defined as any mean flow velocity >120 cm/sec. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association of each definition of vasospasm with various hospital complications, and 3-month quality of life (sickness impact profile), cognitive status (telephone interview of cognitive status), instrumental activities of daily living (Lawton score), and death or severe disability at 3 months (modified Rankin scale score 4–6), after adju...
Adaptive Thermogenesis in White Adipose Tissue: Is Lactate the New Brown(ing)?

The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes has become a major economic and medical burden worldwide. Increased food intake and reduced physical activity have contributed to a shift in energy balance, resulting in excess energy storage in the white adipose tissue (WAT) depots. In contrast to WAT, brown adipose tissue (BAT) converts excess energy into heat via uncoupled respiration, which is dependent, in part, on expression by brown adipocytes of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Thus, an attractive strategy to reduce energy storage is to increase the levels of brown adipocyte activity. Although WAT does not normally express UCP1 or exhibit uncoupled respiration, WAT depots are capable of great plasticity. In response to cold exposure or genetic modifications, mouse white adipocytes can be induced to exhibit brown adipocyte–like character. These cells are known as “brite” (for brown-in-white) or “beige” adipocytes. Factors that are known to increase “browning” in mouse WAT include the transcription factors PGC1α, PRDM16, and members of the PPAR family (1). Additionally, treatment with metabolites, such as bile acids, prostaglandins, and retinoids, promotes the browning of WAT (2). Beige adipocytes express UCP1 and accumulate multilocular lipid droplets similar to genuine brown adipocytes but exhibit a gene expression signature that is distinct from classic brown adipocytes (3,4 …
The Future of Technology Commercialization

Why does our healthcare system favor, for example, artificial heart valves (which address a narrowly specific medical problem at great expense) over changes in diet, which can provide inexpensive, systemic improvement in health? The easy answers are that venture capital will flow to the higher-technology, higher-expense medical regime, and doctors will prefer the heart valve because its installation is highly billable, and reimburseable by insurance. We consumers have been conditioned to take a passive role in the healthcare marketplace, and don’t have the “discipline” to eat what’s good for us. Finally, the patient that is already hospitalized feels a sense of urgency that he/she did not feel while healthy. These answers are true but superficial.
Impact of Spot Size and Beam-Shaping Devices on the Treatment Plan Quality for Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy.

Purpose This study aimed to assess the clinical impact of spot size and the addition of apertures and range compensators on the treatment quality of pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy and to define when PBS could improve on passive scattering proton therapy (PSPT). Methods and Materials The patient cohort included 14 pediatric patients treated with PSPT. Six PBS plans were created and optimized for each patient using 3 spot sizes (∼12-, 5.4-, and 2.5-mm median sigma at isocenter for 90- to 230-MeV range) and adding apertures and compensators to plans with the 2 larger spots. Conformity and homogeneity indices, dose-volume histogram parameters, equivalent uniform dose (EUD), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), and integral dose were quantified and compared with the respective PSPT plans. Results The results clearly indicated that PBS with the largest spots does not necessarily offer a dosimetric or clinical advantage over PSPT. With comparable target coverage, the mean dose (D mean ) to healthy organs was on average 6.3% larger than PSPT when using this spot size. However, adding apertures to plans with large spots improved the treatment quality by decreasing the average D mean and EUD by up to 8.6% and 3.2% of the prescribed dose, respectively. Decreasing the spot size further improved all plans, lowering the average D mean and EUD by up to 11.6% and 10.9% compared with PSPT, respectively, and eliminated the need for beam-shaping devices. The NTCP decreased with spot size and addition of apertures, with maximum reduction of 5.4% relative to PSPT. Conclusions The added benefit of using PBS strongly depends on the delivery configurations. Facilities limited to large spot sizes (>∼8 mm median sigma at isocenter) are recommended to use apertures to reduce treatment-related toxicities, at least for complex and/or small tumors.
Transnational Litigation in the United States: The Emergence of a New Field of Law

In this essay, I review the fourth edition of Gary Born's International Litigation in United States Courts (ICL), now co-authored by Peter Rutledge. This is a well-established case book/treatise that has influenced the thinking of many lawyers, both in the United States and abroad. In reviewing ICL, I explore some of the recent changes in cross-border litigation in the United States reflected in the fourth edition. Those changes demonstrate that transnational litigation has become a separate field of law in the sense that its independent study has acquired considerable practical importance. But there is more. The changes I review also support my argument that transnational litigation is different from domestic litigation in four distinct ways: (1) it involves widely different laws of other nations; (2) most attorneys, judges, and law reformers lack (adequate) knowledge about differences in those laws; (3) a limited number of transnational actors do possess such knowledge and thus have effective access to foreign litigation systems, legislatures, and executives; and (4) transnational litigation involves foreign nations and thus issues of sovereignty and relative state power. At the same time, there is considerable transnational interconnectedness in the enterprise of making and applying law in this area. Practicing lawyers, judges, and law reformers disregard these features at their peril. That in itself, I suggest, is sufficient reason to subject the distinct problems posed by cross-border proceedings to learned study. Thus, viewed properly, transnational litigation is emerging as a separate field of research. In this new field of research, scholarship in comparative law and international and comparative politics, both theoretical and empirical, will play a central role.
Toward Gender Integration in the Workplace: Issues at Multiple Levels:

True gender integration in the workplace faces barriers at several levels: societal, organizational, interactional, and individual. Recognition of the problems specific to each level greatly enhances our understanding of gender inequality in the workplace, and suggests new approaches to change. In this introduction I review articles in this special issue of Sociological Perspectives in the context of these four levels, and relate the themes of the issue to other research on gender integration in the workplace.
Hexose monophosphate shunt activity and oxygen consumption during phagocytosis: temporal sequence. 1.

SummaryUnder conditions in which ingestion of labeled bacteria by PMN is accomplished within 10 min, oxygen consumption continues to increase in a linear fashion up to 20 min, while the HMS increase continues for at least 30 min. These results support a mechanism in which the O2 increase precedes the HMS activation.The authors thank Mrs. Pam Shirley and Mrs. Cindy Shannon for their excellent technical assistance.
Fabrication of microfluidic devices containing patterned microwell arrays.

A rapid fabrication and prototyping technique to incorporate microwell arrays with sub-10 μm features within a single layer of microfluidic circuitry is presented. Typically, the construction of devices that incorporate very small architecture within larger components has required the assembly of multiple elements to form a working device. Rapid, facile production of a working device using only a single layer of molded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a glass support substrate is achieved with the reported fabrication technique. A combination of conventional wet-chemical etching for larger (≥20 μm) microchannel features and focused ion beam (FIB) milling for smaller (≤10 μm) microwell features was used to fabricate a monolithic glass master mold. PDMS/glass hybrid chips were then produced using simple molding and oxygen plasma bonding methods. Microwell structures were loaded with 3 μm antibody-functionalized dye-encoded polystyrene spheres, and a sandwich immunoassay for common cytokines was performed to ...
Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic determination of cromolyn sodium in drug substance and select dosage forms

This study, presented as a technical communication, describes a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for select commercial formulations, namely, inhalation solution, nasal solution, capsule and inhalation aerosol. Miscellaneous validation parameters are also discussed.
Home monitoring of the high-risk infant.

While interest in and availability of home monitors for infant apnea have grown to great proportions, no definitive guidelines are available for indications for or duration of home monitoring, and its effectiveness is based only on empirical and anecdotal data. This article provides rational guidelines for the interested clinician and a starting point for investigators and hopes to reach a more fundamental understanding of infant apnea and susceptibility to SIDS.
Evaluation of the child with idiopathic mental retardation.

A review of the advances in diagnostic techniques for evaluation of children with idiopathic mental retardation is presented. The current status of the use of clinical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and neuroimaging in evaluating children with mental retardation is emphasized. Special attention is given to the evaluation of children with mental retardation and "autism" or "cerebral palsy."
Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the relative efficacy of single and serial chorionic gonadotropin determinations in the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

A study was undertaken of 36 patients with viable intrauterine pregnancies who presented in the first trimester with abdominal pain and/or vaginal bleeding, and of 15 patients with ectopic pregnancies, all of whom had at least two human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) determinations in the same gestation. The mean and lower 25%, 20%, 15%, 5%, and 1% limits of the rate of hCG increase in serum and of the serum hCG at different periods of gestation were determined for intrauterine pregnancy with the use of linear regression analysis, and each was used as a basis for identifying ectopic gestation. It was found that for any given false-positive rate, subnormal rates of hCG increase were more sensitive in identifying ectopic gestations than single "low for date" hCG values. It is suggested that the explanation for this may be that hCG production in many patients with ectopic pregnancies is normal until symptoms develop and falls thereafter as the functional trophoblastic mass is reduced by the shearing off of the trophoblast from the tubal wall, which takes place with the development of the pregnancy and of symptoms.
Serial Dependence in Contingency Tables

SUMMARY A simple and useful representation is given for the asymptotic behaviour of the Pearson X2 test of independence in two-way contingency tables. This is used to analyse the statistic when the data are generated by Markov chains. A robustness result, showing when the Markov dependence has no effect on the usual limiting x2 distribution, is also given.
The Influence of Career Stage on Police Officer Work Behavior

Career stage theory suggested that workers progress through career stages, each marked by unique work attitudes. Little evidence exists, however, about the influence career stages have on the work ...
40 Gestational choline supplementation prevents inflammatory responses of lipopolysaccharide-induced preeclampsia in pregnant rats

Introduction Pre-eclampsia (PE) exerts more intense systemic inflammatory response than normal pregnancy. We have demonstrated that the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway may contribute to the relief of Pre-eclampsia through α 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ( α 7 nAChR). Furthermore, choline, an essential nutrient that is meanwhile a selective α 7 nAChR agonist, has been proved to prevent LPS-induced preeclampsia symptoms in rats. Objectives The objective of the study was to examine the effects of choline, an essential nutrient that is meanwhile a selective α 7 nAChR agonist, on the prevention of symptoms and inflammatory responses of preeclampsia in rats. Methods Preeclampsia model was induced by lipopolysaccharide (1.0 μ g/kg) via tail vein injection on gestational day (GD) 14. Pregnant SD rats were placed on a supplemented (5.0 g/kg diet) or normal (1.1 g/kg diet) choline diet throughout gestation. All the rats were divided into 4 groups (P = normal pregnant +1.1 g/kg choline diet; P-CHOLINE = normal pregnant +5.0 g/kg choline diet; PE = LPS +1.1 g/kg choline diet; PE-CHOLINE = LPS +5.0 g/kg choline diet). Maternal blood and placentas were collected on GD20 and assayed for pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α , IL-1 β , IL-6, IL-2, IL-17, IFN- γ , GM-CSF) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). Results LPS treatment significantly elevates maternal blood levels of TNF- α , IL-1 β , IL-6, IL-17, IFN- γ , GM-CSF and reduced the levels of IL-4. The blood levels of IL-2 and IL-10 show no significant differences between the P and PE group. Of interest, choline supplementation during pregnancy significantly inhibited LPS-induced release of TNF-a, IL-1 β , IL-6, IL-17, IFN- γ , except for GM-CSF , and increased the level of IL-4. Correspondingly, in placenta, the levels of TNF- α , IL-1 β , IL-6, IL-17, GM-CSF and IL-2 were significantly increased after LPS administration, while the level of IL-4 was significantly decreased. The placenta levels of IFN- γ and IL-10 show no significant differences between the P and PE group. Similarly, choline supplementation during pregnancy significantly attenuated LPS-induced TNF- α , IL-1 β , IL-6 and IL-17 concentrations, except for IL-2, meanwhile, increased the level of IL-4. Conclusions Choline supplementation during pregnancy prevents the LPS-induced symptoms and inflammatory responses of preeclampsia in rats. These observations have important implications for prevention of inflammatory responses in preeclampsia.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Aeromonas hydrophila Isolates from Catfish and Tilapia.

ABSTRACT Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gram-negative bacterium that is particularly adapted to freshwater environments and can cause severe infections in fish and humans. Here, we report the draft genomes of three A. hydrophila catfish and tilapia isolates.
Patient Reactions to Surgeon Recommendations About Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy for Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Importance Guidelines assert that contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) should be discouraged in patients without an elevated risk for a second primary breast cancer. However, little is known about the impact of surgeons discouraging CPM on patient care satisfaction or decisions to seek treatment from another clinician. Objective To examine the association between patient report of first-surgeon recommendation against CPM and the extent of discussion about it with 3 outcomes: patient satisfaction with surgery decisions, receipt of a second opinion, and receipt of surgery by a second surgeon. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based survey study was conducted in Georgia and California. We identified 3880 women with stages 0 to II breast cancer treated in 2013-2014 through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries of Georgia and Los Angeles County. Surveys were sent approximately 2 months after surgery (71% response rate, n = 2578). In this analysis conducted from February to May 2016, we included patients with unilateral breast cancer who considered CPM (n = 1140). Patients were selected between July 2013 and September 2014. Main Outcomes and Measures We examined report of surgeon recommendations, level of discussion about CPM, satisfaction with surgical decision making, receipt of second surgical opinion, and surgery from a second surgeon. Results The mean (SD) age of patients included in this study was 56 (10.6) years. About one-quarter of patients (26.7%; n = 304) reported that their first surgeon recommended against CPM and 30.1% (n = 343) reported no substantial discussion about CPM. Dissatisfaction with surgery decision was uncommon (7.6%; n = 130), controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics. One-fifth of patients (20.6%; n = 304) had a second opinion about surgical options and 9.8% (n = 158) had surgery performed by a second surgeon. Dissatisfaction was very low (3.9%; n = 42) among patients who reported that their surgeon did not recommend against CPM but discussed it. Dissatisfaction was substantively higher for those whose surgeon recommended against CPM with no substantive discussion (14.5%; n = 37). Women who received a recommendation against CPM were not more likely to seek a second opinion (17.1% among patients with recommendation against CPM vs 15.1% of others; P = .52) nor to receive surgery by a second surgeon (7.9% among patients with recommendation against CPM vs 8.3% of others; P = .88). Conclusions and Relevance Most patients are satisfied with surgical decision making. First-surgeon recommendation against CPM does not appear to substantively increase patient dissatisfaction, use of second opinions, or loss of the patient to a second surgeon.
Veterans Adjustment to College: Construction and Validation of a Scale

The adjustment of veterans to college is a transition period which involves individual, social, and environmental facets. This article reports on the construction and validation of the Veterans Adjustment to College (VAC) scale. This scale was developed to assist student affairs and veteran-serving professionals in understanding how their veterans are adjusting to the college environment. The data were collected from 391 student veterans from three four-year colleges through an internet survey. In addition to the VAC scale, PTSD, depression, and student stress instruments were also included in the survey. Findings from the bi-variate correlation revealed a moderately strong and negative correlation between the VAC scale and PTSD (-.53), depression (-.37), and student stress (-.44). The construct validation through exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor model: belonging, social support and student stress. These factors point to some of the determinants of adjustment of veterans to college. Implications for use of the VAC scale in the college setting are also discussed.
Limits of Private Law: Enriching Legal Dogmatics

textabstractIn 2005 the Dutch Supreme Court decided a wrongful life case.2 This case concerned a woman who consulted her midwife during her pregnancy because there had been two cases of handicaps in her husband’s family, due to chromosomal disorder. The midwife did not think it necessary to investigate the matter any further. This was later considered a professional failure with dramatic effects. When born, baby Kelly turned out to have serious mental and physical handicaps from which she suffered severely. The parents claimed damage – both on their own accord and in Kelly’s name – and their claims were sustained by both the court of appeal and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court not only considered the strictly legal issues but also considered moral and pragmatic arguments that had been put forward against such so-called ‘wrongful life claims’. Firstly, there is the moral opposition that sustaining these claims violates the principle regarding the dignity of human life, since it acknowledges that not being born is preferable to living in a condition like hers. Secondly, there is the pragmatic argument that sustaining claims like this will tempt doctors to practice ‘defensive medicine’ to avoid serious risk. Both arguments were carefully examined by the court and subsequently rejected. What does the Supreme Court in fact do here? Does it call out or explain the law to us? Or does it exceed its limits by elaborating on principles and policies, taking into account the moral grounds and the possible consequences of the ruling itself? In both directions the question arises: what constitutes the limits of private law?
Problem Solving Using Visual Support for Young Children With Autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder may experience different levels of social and behavior deficits in the early elementary years. Behavioral deficits may impact the development of appropriate interpersonal problem-solving skills and peer acceptance, supporting the need for instructional support. This column discusses the implementation of a visual support poster to facilitate the development of problem-solving skills during social and academic instruction for young children with autism.
Efficient storage and temporal query evaluation in hierarchical data archiving systems

Data archiving has been commonly used in many fields for data backup and analysis purposes. Although comprehensive application software, new computing and storage technologies, and the Internet have made it easier to create, collect and store all types of data, the meaningful storing, accessing, and managing of database archives in a cost-effective way remains extremely challenging. In this paper, we focus on hierarchical data archiving that has been popularly used in the scientific field and web data management. First, we propose a novel compaction scheme for archiving hierarchical data. By compacting both data and timestamps, our scheme substantially reduces not only the amount of needed storage, but also the incremental archiving time. Second, we design a temporal query language to support data retrieval from the compact data archives. Third, as compaction on data and timestamps may bring significant overhead to query evaluation, we investigate how to optimize such overhead by exploiting the characteristics of the queries and of the archived hierarchical data. Finally, we conduct an extensive experimentation to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of both our efficient storage and query optimization techniques.