cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of intradermal botulinum toxin to reduce sebum production and facial pore size.

OBJECTIVE: Review the safety profile and subjective efficacy of intradermal botulinum toxin type A in facial pore size and sebum production. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 20 patients. RESULTS: Twenty consecutive patients with a single application of intradermal botulinum toxin type A were examined: Patients (17/20) noted an improvement in sebum production and a decrease in pores size at 1 month after injection. No complications were observed, and 17/20 patients were satisfied with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data suggests that intradermal botulinum toxin may play a role in decreasing sebum production. Further quantitive study may be necessary to determine effects of intradermal botulinum toxin on pore size.
Site-specific factor involved in the editing of the psbL mRNA in tobacco plastids.

Abstract In tobacco plastids, functional psbL mRNA is created by editing an ACG codon to an AUG translation initiation codon. To determine if editing may occur in a chimeric mRNA, the N-terminal part of psbL containing the editing site was translationally fused with the aadA and kan bacterial genes. The chimeric constructs were introduced into the tobacco plastid genome by targeted gene insertion. Editing of the chimeric mRNAs indicated that the 98 nt fragment spanning the psbL editing site contains all cis information required for editing. Expression of the chimeric gene transcripts led to a significant decrease in the editing efficiency of the endogenous psbL mRNA. However, the efficiency of editing in the transplastomic lines was unchanged for four sites in the rpoB and ndhB mRNAs. Reduced efficiency of psbL editing, but not of the other four sites, in the transplastomic lines indicates depletion of psbL-specific editing factor(s). This finding implicates the involvement of site-specific factors in editing of plastid mRNAs in higher plants.
EFFECTS OF ADDITION OF COAL TAR AND PETROLEUM PITCHES ON THE THERMOPLASTIC PROPERTIES OF COALS

Publisher Summary It is well established that the coking process and thermoplasticity, can be markedly modified by the addition of organic and inorganic materials to coals. This chapter discusses a study to elaborate the influences of adding various organic compounds, and organic materials, on the thermoplastic properties of a noncaking bituminous coal over a range of pressure and at two heating rates. A high-pressure microdilatometer (HPMD) was used to follow the thermoplastic properties at the heating rates just given and pressures varying from atmospheric to 2 MPa. Increasing pressure from atmospheric to about 0.5 MPa causes a modest increase in the maximum swelling parameter. It is interesting to note that the addition of only 5 wt% A240 causes significant swelling at pressures in the range of 0.5–1 MPa. Results for the SRC/coal blend clearly show that the high content of benzene insolubles in the short contact-time material inhibits the development of swelling.
Absolutely, Positively Hearing the Voice of the Customer: Exploring Overnight Delivery in Survey Research

Recently, marketers have increased their research budgets and used many methods to capture the “voice of the customer”. Yet surveys, which are used regularly in marketing research, are still tainted by nonresponse rates despite efforts to reduce them. We study overnight delivery (OD) as a survey method for reducing nonresponse. Precontact, a commonly used survey practice, is also considered. Three primary results emerge: (1) overall, OD increases response rates, but increases response times; (2) similarly, precontact increases response rates, although it generates increased response times; and (3) OD combined with precontact provides the greatest rate of response.
Opportunity Hoarding in School Choice Contexts: The Role of Policy Design in Promoting Middle-Class Parents' Exclusionary Behaviors.

Multiple studies have shown the potential for school choice policies to benefit middle-class families, often to the detriment of lower income students in the same district. Yet, there is limited re...
Long-Term Stability of the Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measure (ASCQ-Me)

Abstract Aim: The Adult Sickle Cell Quality of life Measure (ASCQ-Me) is a relatively new tool with increasing frequency of use, but no published reports of its long-term stability. The aim of this study was to examine reliability of ASCQ-Me in a sample of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Evidence of reliability of this new tool is important for credible use in longitudinal studies of SCD, especially those with interventions intended to improve quality of life (QOL) for patients with SCD. Methods: In a comparative study, 141 adults with SCD (mean age 37±11 years [ranged from 19 to 74 years]; 100% African ancestry; 60% female; 74% SS, 20% SC and 6% Other) provided demographic information and completed the ASCQ-Me questionnaire twice, separated by 1 year so that data were collected in the same season. The 30-item ASCQ-Me has 6 subscales focused on: pain episodes (frequency and severity), pain impact, emotional impact, sleep impact, social functioning impact, and stiffness impact. Its scores range from (0 low QOL) to 100 (high QOL) and are normed at a mean of 50 and SD of 10. Because the scores are reversed for pain episodes (frequency, severity), higher scores indicate more suffering. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analysis were conducted using the R statistical software package. Results: Table 1 presents the complete findings for the ASCQ-Me subscale domains, mean (SD) scores at baseline and one-year, intra-class coefficients (ICC), and Cronbach's alphas at baseline and one-year. Generally in this sample, the subscale scores across time did not differ by more than 2.4 points (Table 1). The internal consistency alphas at baseline ranged from 0.64 to 0.93 and at one-year ranged from 0.62 to 0.93. The long-term stability (ICC) ranged from 0.43 to 0.64. Conclusions: Over a one-year time span, the stability of the ASCQ-Me subscale scores was fair to good, with pain severity being less stable as would be expected for a condition known for recurrent pain episodes as well as chronic pain. Mean scores in this sample are similar to published scores associated with moderate to high severity SCD. Several domains showed ICC of 0.53 and higher, suggesting adequate stability for use of ASCQ-Me as a treatment outcome measure. While worsening disease has been associated with an increased number of pain episodes, in this sample, over the one-year period, the quality of life remained relatively stable. ASCQ-Me may be used to help describe chronic pain phenotypes in patients with SCD and as a longitudinal measure of treatment outcomes. Download : Download high-res image (222KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Soil Organic Matter Temperature Sensitivity Cannot be Directly Inferred From Spatial Gradients

Author(s): Abramoff, RZ; Torn, MS; Georgiou, K; Tang, J; Riley, WJ | Abstract: Developing and testing decadal-scale predictions of soil response to climate change is difficult because there are few long-term warming experiments or other direct observations of temperature response. As a result, spatial variation in temperature is often used to characterize the influence of temperature on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks under current and warmer temperatures. This approach assumes that the decadal-scale response of SOC to warming is similar to the relationship between temperature and SOC stocks across sites that are at quasi steady state; however, this assumption is poorly tested. We developed four variants of a Reaction-network-based model of soil organic matter and microbes using measured SOC stocks from a 4,000-km latitudinal transect. Each variant reflects different assumptions about the temperature sensitivities of microbial activity and mineral sorption. All four model variants predicted the same response of SOC to temperature at steady state, but different projections of transient warming responses. The relative importance of Qmax, mean annual temperature, and net primary production, assessed using a machine-learning algorithm, changed depending on warming duration. When mineral sorption was temperature sensitive, the predicted average change in SOC after 100 years of 5 °C warming was −18% if warming decreased sorption or +9% if warming increased sorption. When microbial activity was temperature sensitive but mineral sorption was not, average site-level SOC loss was 5%. We conclude that spatial climate gradients of SOC stocks are insufficient to constrain the transient response; measurements that distinguish process controls and/or observations from long-term warming experiments, especially mineral fractions, are needed.
A compact solution for estimation of physiological parameters from ultrafast prostate dynamic contrast enhanced MRI

The Tofts pharmacokinetic model requires multiple calculations for analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI. In addition, the Tofts model may not be appropriate for the prostate. This can result in error propagation that reduces the accuracy of pharmacokinetic measurements. In this study, we present a compact solution allowing estimation of physiological parameters K trans and v e from ultrafast DCE acquisitions, without fitting DCE-MRI data to the standard Tofts pharmacokinetic model. Since the standard Tofts model can be simplified to the Patlak model at early times when contrast efflux from the extravascular extracellular space back to plasma is negligible, K trans can be solved explicitly for a specific time. Further, v e can be estimated directly from the late steady-state signal using the derivative form of Tofts model. Ultrafast DCE-MRI data were acquired from 18 prostate cancer patients on a Philips Achieva 3T-TX scanner. Regions-of-interest (ROIs) for prostate cancer, normal tissue, gluteal muscle, and iliac artery were manually traced. The contrast media concentration as function of time was calculated over each ROI using gradient echo signal equation with pre-contrast tissue T1 values, and using the 'reference tissue' model with a linear approximation. There was strong correlation (r = 0.88-0.91, p < 0.0001) between K trans extracted from the Tofts model and K trans estimated from the compact solution for prostate cancer and normal tissue. Additionally, there was moderate correlation (r = 0.65-0.73, p < 0.0001) between extracted versus estimated v e. Bland-Altman analysis showed moderate to good agreement between physiological parameters extracted from the Tofts model and those estimated from the compact solution with absolute bias less than 0.20 min-1 and 0.10 for K trans and v e, respectively. The compact solution may decrease systematic errors and error propagation, and could increase the efficiency of clinical workflow. The compact solution requires high temporal resolution DCE-MRI due to the need to adequately sample the early phase of contrast media uptake.
Timberlake’s theories dissolve anomalies

Two of Timberlake's major contributions, amongst numerous other good notes, are Behavior Regulation Theory (BRT), and Behavior Systems Theory (BST). BRT was a refinement of the Premack Principle. What both got right was that reinforcers are responses, not stimuli. For BRT, they were responses that were occurring below the rate at which they otherwise would given free access to them. BST was a larger ethological framework for our science of behavior. We have always needed it, as it opens an important window on our field. With that window closed, it is easy to stumble over a half-dozen anomalies in the dark, ones that we say humph to, scratch our heads, and then move on. When illuminated by BST, however, such anomalies become keys to a deeper understanding of our subject. This paper reviews numerous anomalies that make sense within the joint framework of BST and BRT, and Dickinson's Dual-Process theory of learned behavior. No longer anomalous in that context, all that is now left to do is test the validity and productivity of this general framework for those many strange cases.
Surface hardening of metals at room temperature by nanoparticle-laden cavitating waterjets

Abstract Reported in this paper is a novel and facile room-temperature surface-hardening technique, capable of providing five-fold increase in the hardness of an aluminum alloy, by utilizing a cavitating waterjet laden with hard nanoparticles. Microstructural and composition analyses reveal several mechanisms responsible for surface hardening: strain hardening, grain refinement, and dispersion strengthening. The hardened alloy surface also exhibits about 50% reduction in friction in a series of microscale friction measurements. Without the need to treat the alloy at elevated temperatures, this technique obviates such problems as additional energy usage, part distortion, microstructural and composition changes, and thermal shock-induced cracking. Equally important, this new method could be further tailored to impart metals, polymers, composites, etc. with different surface functional properties.
Individual Representation in a Community of Knowledge

An individual's knowledge is collective in at least two senses: it often comes from other people's testimony, and its deployment in reasoning and action requires accuracy underwritten by other people's knowledge. What must one know to participate in a collective knowledge system? Here, we marshal evidence that individuals retain detailed causal information for a few domains and coarse causal models embedding markers indicating that these details are available elsewhere (others' heads or the physical world) for most domains. This framework yields further questions about metacognition, source credibility, and individual computation that are theoretically and practically important. Belief polarization depends on the web of epistemic dependence and is greatest for those who know the least, plausibly due to extreme conflation of others' knowledge with one's own.
Outcomes of endoscopic discectomy compared with open microdiscectomy and tubular microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniations: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Endoscopic discectomy (ED) has been advocated as a less-invasive alternative to open microdiscectomy (OM) and tubular microdiscectomy (TM) for lumbar disc herniations, with the potential to decrease postoperative pain and shorten recovery times. Large-scale, objective comparisons of outcomes between ED, OM, and TM, however, are lacking. The authors' objective in this study was to conduct a meta-analysis comparing outcomes of ED, OM, and TM. METHODS The PubMed database was searched for articles published as of February 1, 2019, for comparative studies reporting outcomes of some combination of ED, OM, and TM. A meta-analysis of outcome parameters was performed assuming random effects. RESULTS Twenty-six studies describing the outcomes of 2577 patients were included. Estimated blood loss was significantly higher with OM than with both TM (p = 0.01) and ED (p < 0.00001). Length of stay was significantly longer with OM than with ED (p < 0.00001). Return to work time was significantly longer in OM than with ED (p = 0.001). Postoperative leg (p = 0.02) and back (p = 0.01) VAS scores, and Oswestry Disability Index scores (p = 0.006) at latest follow-up were significantly higher for OM than for ED. Serum creatine phosphokinase (p = 0.02) and C-reactive protein (p < 0.00001) levels on postoperative day 1 were significantly higher with OM than with ED. CONCLUSIONS Outcomes of TM and OM for lumbar disc herniations are largely equivalent. While this analysis demonstrated that several clinical variables were significantly improved in patients undergoing ED when compared with OM, the magnitude of many of these differences was small and of uncertain clinical relevance, and several of the included studies were retrospective and subject to a high risk of bias. Further high-quality prospective studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the comparative efficacy of the various surgical treatments for lumbar disc herniations.
Parameter Estimation for Lévy-Driven Continuous-Time Linear Models with Tapered Data

The paper is concerned with the statistical parametric estimation of a vector spectral parameter for Levy-driven continuous-time stationary linear models with tapered data. As an estimator for unknown parameter we consider the Whittle estimator based on tapered data. Consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimator are established.
Bundled Three-Dimensional Human Axon Tracts Derived from Brain Organoids

Summary Reestablishing cerebral connectivity is a critical part of restoring neuronal network integrity and brain function after trauma, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. Creating transplantable axon tracts in the laboratory is an unexplored strategy for overcoming the common barriers limiting axon regeneration in vivo, including growth-inhibiting factors and the limited outgrowth capacity of mature neurons in the brain. We describe the generation, phenotype, and connectivity of constrained three-dimensional human axon tracts derived from brain organoids. These centimeter-long constructs are encased in an agarose shell that permits physical manipulation and are composed of discrete cellular regions spanned by axon tracts, mirroring the separation of cerebral gray and white matter. Features of cerebral cortex also are emulated, as evidenced by the presence of neurons with different cortical layer phenotypes. This engineered neural tissue represents a first step toward potentially reconstructing brain circuits by physically replacing neuronal populations and long-range axon tracts in the brain.
Comparing Health Care Financing in Indonesia and Thailand from 1995-2010: What Lessons Could Be Learned?

**Purpose:** In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its report about health system financing and identified universal coverage as the best way to attain the right of every human being to enjoy “the highest attainable standard of health”. Over the past decade, Thailand has successfully implemented a universal health coverage scheme for its population, while its neighbor country, Indonesia, is still struggling to achieve the same goal. The purpose of this paper is to compare the health financing systems between Thailand and Indonesia. Both countries almost have similar socioeconomic conditions and suffered from severe financial crisis during the late 1990s. The objective of this study is to examine health systems in each country and to determine lessons on how health care financing can affect the health status of a population. **Methods:** The study is based on statistical data from various publicly available resources. For analysis, the authors followed The Health Systems Assessment Approach: A How-To Manual Version 1.0 issued by Health Systems 20/20 supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The countries were compared using three groups of indicators in health systems performance and functioning: 1. Health Insurance System, 2. Amount and Sources of Financial Resources, and 3. Health Outcomes and Health Workforce Density. **Results:** In comparing the health financing of the two countries, we found that Thailand initiated much earlier health systems reforms in order to achieve universal health coverage. Indonesia, while on the right track, has moved at a slower pace than Thailand. Thailand and Indonesia have shown improving trends over time in all indicators, but Thailand outperformed Indonesia, especially in the groups of indicators regarding the amount and sources of financial resources. **Conclusions:** One important lesson identified in this study is that health care reform is unlikely to succeed without strong political support and constant pressure from the nation as a whole, which can be represented by local organizations or professional associations. However, the mere increase of available resources devoted to the health sector does not guarantee significant improvements of health outcomes of a population.
Chi-Square Type Goodness-of-Fit Test for Hazard Rate

Parametric hazard rate functions play a central role in Pharmacokinetic (PK) and Pharmacodynamic (PD) studies. In the context of assessing hazard rate functions, Huh and Hutmacher showed that hazard-based visual predictive checks are quite useful in practice. However, by its nature, visual procedures are subjective. Therefore, here we complement the work of Huh and Hutmacher by providing an objective procedure, e.g., the goodness-of-fit test. We propose a chi-square type test for hazard rate functions and show that its asymptotic properties are similar to those of the usual Pearson chi-square test. The proposed test statistic is not only simple and easy to implement but it is also consistent against local alternatives.
Mapping Monthly Precipitation in New Zealand by Using Different Interpolation Methods

Spatial interpolation of rainfall data is an issue particularly significant for hydrological modelling and watershed management. The success of spatial interpolation varies according to the type of model chosen, its mode of geographical management and the resolution used. The aim of this paper was to develop different algorithms of spatial interpolation of rainfall in New Zealand and to compare the results of geostatistical and deterministic approaches in order to choose the method that best reproduces the actual surface. In particular, inverse distance weighting, ordinary kriging, kriging with an external drift and ordinary cokriging were applied to produce the monthly rainfall maps of New Zealand. The prediction performance of each method was evaluated through cross-validation and visual examination of the precipitation maps produced. Results clearly indicate that geostatistical methods outperform inverse distance. Moreover, among these methods, the ordinary cokriging and the kriging with an external drift showed the smallest error of prediction.
Study of MEM Relay Contact Design and Body-Bias Effects on on-State Resistance Stability

Body-biased micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) relays previously have been demonstrated to be a promising alternative to transistors for ultra-low voltage digital logic applications. A basic requirement for reliable relay-based circuit operation is suitably low and stable relay ON-state resistance ( $R_{\mathbf {ON}}$ ). In this work, the effect of body biasing on $\text{R}_{\mathbf {ON}}$ is investigated for relays of different contact designs. It is found that a single direct contact design not only provides for the smallest hysteresis voltage but also the smallest $R_{\mathbf {ON}}$ , making it the most suitable for low voltage applications. Body-biased operation is found to degrade $R_{\mathbf {ON}}$ stability over many ON/OFF switching cycles, however, due to a reduction in contact velocity. [2020-0297]
A Good Question Won’t Go Away: An Example of Mathematical Research

The story of the question “must commuting maps of the unit interval have a common fixed point” is used to illustrate strategies that advance mathematical research.
Current Therapy and Emerging Intravesical Agents to Treat Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor remains the cornerstone of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer management, proper risk stratification, and appropriate selection of adjuvant therapy. A single, postoperative dose of intravesical chemotherapy is used for low-risk patients; patients with high-grade, high-risk disease should receive intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) induction and maintenance therapy. For patients who develop BCG-unresponsive disease, cystectomy remains the standard of care. Pembrolizumab and valrubicin are approved in the BCG failure setting and as alternative treatments to cystectomy. Nadofaragene firadenovec, vicinium, hyperthermic chemotherapy, and various combination therapies are under investigation as treatment options for patients in the salvage setting.
Arterial stiffness is not acutely modified by consumption of a caffeinated soft drink sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in young healthy adults.

We tested the hypothesis that ingestion of a caffeinated soft drink sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup acutely increases arterial stiffness. In a randomized counterbalanced, crossover design, fourteen healthy adults (25 ± 3 years, 6 women) reported to the laboratory for two experimental visits where 500 ml of tap water (H2 O) or 500 ml of Mountain Dew® (a caffeinated soft drink sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)) were consumed. Arterial stiffness (carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)), peripheral and central blood pressures were measured pre-consumption, 30 min post-consumption, and 120 min post-consumption. Prior to each measurement period, beat-to-beat hemodynamic measures were collected. Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output from pre-consumption did not differ between trials at any timepoint (p ≥ 0.06). Moreover, changes in peripheral or central blood pressures from pre-consumption did not differ between trials (p ≥ 0.84). Likewise, changes in cfPWV from pre-consumption to 30 min post-consumption (HFCS: 0.2 ± 0.3 m/s, H2 O: 0.0 ± 0.3 m/s, p = 0.34) and 120 min post-consumption (HFCS: 0.3 ± 0.4 m/s, H2 O: 0.2 ± 0.3 m/s, p = 0.77) did not differ. Changes in aortic augmentation pressure, augmentation index, augmentation index corrected to a heart rate of 75 bpm, and reflection magnitude did not differ between conditions at 30 min post- (p ≥ 0.55) or 120 min post- (p ≥ 0.18) consumption. In healthy young adults, ingesting 500 ml of a commercially available caffeinated soft drink sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup does not acutely change indices of arterial stiffness and wave reflection.
First Passage with Restart in Discrete Time: with applications to biased random walks on the half-line

In recent years, it has been well-established that adding a restart mechanism can alter the firstpassage statistics of a stochastic processes in useful and interesting ways. Though different mecha-nisms have been investigated, we derive a probability generating function for a discrete-time FirstPassage process Under Restart and use it to examine two examples, including a biased random walkon the non-negative integers.
Understanding STEM PhD Production: The Interplay Among Institutional Selectivity, Race/Ethnicity, and Field of Study

Abstract: Focusing on census data of U.S. doctoral recipients during the last 10 years, we examined PhD production and undergraduate origins with a particular emphasis on institutional selectivity. Specifically, this study had three overarching goals: (1) examining STEM PhD production with an emphasis on the selectivity of doctoral programs; (2) examining the selectivity of undergraduate origins among STEM PhDs from highly selective doctoral programs; and (3) examining whether the patterns of STEM PhD production and undergraduate origins differ by race/ethnicity. This study found significantly different patterns in PhD production overall versus PhDs from top 10 doctoral programs and in the selectivity of undergraduate institutions that produce the number of PhDs overall versus PhDs from the top 10 doctoral programs. We further found that PhD production across varied selectivity of doctoral program and its association with the undergraduate origins differ significantly across different racial/ethnic groups. Implications for policy, programs, and future research are discussed.
Der Einfluß der Größe bewegter Felder auf den optokinetischen Augenstielnystagmus der Winkerkrabbe

Bisher liegen nur wenig quantitative Untersuchungen daruber vor, wie die raumliche Lage und die Ausdehnung von Bewegungsreizen die Reaktionen von Arthropoden auf gesehene Bewegung beeinflussen. Crustaceen: Bei Carcinus mus etwa die Halfte des horizontalen Gesichtsfeldes frei sein, damit ein optokinetischer Nystagmus ausgelost werden kann; die lateralen Sehraume scheinen fur das Bewegungssehen bedeutsamer zu sein als der frontale und caudale (v. Buddenbrock und Friedrich, 1933). Ahnliches scheint fur Goniopsis zu gelten (Waterman, 1961). Insekten: Die Schwelle der optomotorischen Reaktion der Biene wird in bezug auf Sehscharfe und Lichtintensitat erhoht, wenn Teile des Facettenauges durch Ubermalen geblendet werden (Hecht und Wolf, 1929). Der Kafer Chlorophanus verrechnet Bewegungsreize, die verschiedene Augenbereiche treffen, zentralnervos summativ miteinander (Hassenstein, 1957); daraus und aus anderen Versuchen schlos Hassen-Stein, das bei konstantem Bewegungsreiz die Starke der optomotorischen Reaktion proportional der Zahl der beteiligten Ommatidien ist. Die vom rechten und linken Auge empfangenen Bewegungsreize wirken sich bei der Biene ebenfalls in summativer Weise auf die Reaktion aus (Schaller, 1960).
Mass Loss by Cool Stars

Mass loss by cool giant stars is very likely the most important mechanism for returning processed stellar material to the interstellar medium. This mass loss has profound effects on the evolution of individual intermediate mass stars and the chemical evolution of the Milky Way. The IRAS point source catalog is ideally suited for identifying those stars with large mass loss rates in dust grains. These stars, in turn, become prime targets for radio and infrared studies of outflowing gas. The total rate of return of processed material to the interstellar medium can then be obtained.
A Recent Advance in Estrogenic Therapy. II.

Abstract 1.1. The clinical effectiveness of piperazine estrone sulfate (Sulestrex-Abbott) was studied in reference to subjective relief and response of the vaginal epithelium. Twenty-five patients with various symptoms of the menopause, both of the natural and artificial type, were followed. 2.2. In twenty-four women, this medication gave complete relief on dosages varying from 1.5 mg. to 6.0 mg. daily. Cyclic therapy was initiated when control of the symptoms was obtained. Maintenance dosage varied from 0.75 mg. to 3.0 mg. daily. 3.3. No symptoms of intolerance to the drug were encountered regardless of dosage. The annoying urinary taste and odor sometimes found in natural conjugated estrogen were not present. 4.4. Withdrawal bleeding, the chief untoward effect of estrogenic administration, was noted in one patient, but was of such nature as not to require discontinuance of the medication. 5.5. Piperazine estrone sulfate evoked moderate epithelial cornification of the vaginal mucosa. The subjective improvement closely paralleled the change in cornification. 6.6. It is concluded that piperazine estrone sulfate (Sulestrex-Abbott) is an extremely useful estrogenic substance and is indicated wherever oral administration is preferred.
Managerial discretion, organizational structure, and corporate performance

Abstract We examine the impact of highly leveraged transactions on managerial discretion over investment policy using a sample of 39 proposed leveraged recapitalizations. We find significant decreases in undistributed cash flow, capital expenditures, and total assets following completed recapitalizations. The reductions in investment are significantly correlated with the cumulative abnormal returns earned by the shareholders of the recapitalizing firms. Moreover, we find evidence of poor investment decisions on the part of the sample firms in the years leading up to the recapitalizations. The overall results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased debt plays a valuable role in limiting managerial discretion.
Hikâye: Turkish Folk Romance as Performance Art

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Ilhan Basgoz Year: 2008 Pages: 330 Publisher: Indiana University Press ISBN: 978-0-253-38016-6 (hard cover). Prices: $55.00 USD(hard cover).
Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and hypogammaglobulinaemia.

Keywords: monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis; B cell lymphocytosis; hypogammaglobulinaemia; infection
Optimal linear receivers for synchronizing pseudo random sequences

Much research work has been done in finding sequences with good autocorrelation properties. The conventional receiver structure for synchronizing with such a sequence transmitted periodically is a matched filter matched to the sequence. However, the synchronization performance of the receiver can be further improved if the receiver tries to match to the sequence and dematch the circular shifts of the sequence. In the problem at hand the data preceding the synchronization sequence is known. We derive the optimal linear receiver to synchronize with a given sequence and demonstrate the synchronization gain achieved by employing such a receiver over the conventional receiver. This gain is obtained by simply changing the receiver coefficients, leaving the receiver structure unchanged.
Endoparasites of Eleven Species of Ranid Frogs (Anura: Ranidae) from Papua New Guinea

Two hundred eighty-eight ranid frogs from Papua New Guinea collected from 2002 to 2005 were examined for endoparasites: Platymantis adiastolus, P. boulengeri, P. browni, P. gilliardi, P. papuensis, P. schmidti, Rana daemeli, R. garritor, R. jimiensis, R. milneana, and R. papua. Found were one species of Cestoda (as cysticerci), three species of Digenea (Opisthioglyphe cophixali, Diplodiscus amphichrus, and Mesocoelium monas), 18 species of Nematoda (adults of Abbreviata oligopapillata, Aplectana krausi, Aplectana macintoshii, Aplectana zweifeli, Cosmocerca novaeguineae, C. tyleri, Desmognathinema papuensis, Falcaustra papuensis, Icosiella papuensis, Meteterakis crombiei, Ochoterenella papuensis, Paracapillaria spratti, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Rhabdias australiensis, Seuratascaris numidica, larvae of Abbreviata sp., and Ascaridae gen. sp.), two species of Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalus bufonis and cystacanths of a second species), and one species of Pentastomida (nymphs of Kiricephalus sp.). Sixty-seven new host records, one new country record, and several new island records are reported. Nematodes composed 18/24 (75%) of the species present. Thirteen of the 24 endoparasite species found currently appear to be endemic to Papua New Guinea.
The Judicial Adjunct and Public Law Remedies

Increasingly, courts faced with the problems of providing effective remedies to complex social problems are turning to specialized adjunct personnel for assistance. In the article which follows, Professor Weinberg examines the expanding role of such "judicial adjuncts. " She then goes on to propose the creation of a more coherent structure for efficient training and evaluation of these important judicial officers. -Ed
Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of the Combination of Orally Administered Docetaxel and Cyclosporin A in Tumor‐Bearing Cats

Intravenously administered docetaxel (DT) is problematic in cats because of the requirement for premedication to ameliorate acute vehicle-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Previously we have revealed that therapeutic plasma concentrations of DT can be achieved in normal and tumor-bearing dogs when DT is administered PO in combination with oral cyclosporin A (CSA). The purpose of this study was to identify the maximally tolerated dosage and characterize the pharmacokinetic disposition of oral DT combined with CSA in cats with tumors. Eighteen tumor-bearing cats were enrolled in this phase I dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study. DT was administered by gavage with CSA (5 mg/kg) twice over a 3-week period. The starting dose of DT was 1.0 mg/kg. Based on the clinical toxicity profile, with gastrointestinal adverse effects and hematologic toxicity the maximal tolerated dose of oral DT was 1.75 mg/kg in combination with 5 mg/kg CSA. Additional studies are necessary to determine the efficacy of DT/CSA in cats with epithelial tumors.
Application of the mizus endotracheal obturator in tracheostomy and tentative extubation

A variety of catheters, stylets, and obturators have been used to assist with problems in airway management. Obturators specifically designed for airway use are now available in different sizes. The pediatric-size obturators (2.2 mm diameter) can be placed into the airways of most patients without apparent respiratory impairment. Use of these obturators to preserve a path to the airway is described in cases of tracheostomy and tentative extubation. The advantages and disadvantages inherent in the use of such obturators are described.
The Effect of Social Conformity on Collective Voting Behavior

This article investigates the effect of social conformity on voting behavior. Past research shows that many people vote to conform with the social norm that voting is a civic duty. The hypothesis here is that when conformity motivates people to vote, it also stimulates conformist behavior among some voters when they decide which party to vote for. This produces a distinctive relationship between voter turnout and the distribution of votes among parties?a relationship not anticipated by rational choice theory. I test a mathematical model of this behavior with linear and nonlinear regression analyses of state-level data for presidential elections in the United States from 1904 to 1996, longitudinal data on parliamentary elections in Western Europe over most of the twentieth century, and cross-sectional data for recent elections in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Russia. The results generally validate the model.
Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes in grasslands in western Puerto Rico

Abstract Changes in land use and agricultural practices in tropical soils are thought to make major contributions to the global soil source of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and sink for atmospheric methane (CH 4 ). The variety of measurements of these gas fluxes in tropical systems are, however, limited. From November 1992 until February 1995 we conducted weekly CH 4 and N 2 O flux measurements within three grassland locations in western Puerto Rico that had not been cultivated for at least 25 years. Sites were located in either Vertisol, Ultisol or Oxisol soils that are typical of soils in the tropics. Plots within each site included non-fertilized controls and plots where fertilizer was applied at recommended rates (300 kg N ha −1 y −1 quarterly) for forage production in the region. During the measurement period, CH 4 uptake rates averaged 5.8 μg CH 4 -C m −2 hr −1 with no significant differences across sites. These uptake rates were generally 10-fold lower than those reported for tropical forests. Fertilizer addition had a small negative affect on CH 4 uptake in the Vertisol, tended to enhance CH 4 uptake in the Ultisol and significantly decreased CH 4 uptake in the Oxisol. Nitrous oxide fluxes averaged 16.9 μg N m −2 hr −1 from unfertilized sites, with no significant differences across sites. These background emission rates were typically higher than those in temperate grasslands. In fertilized soils, N 2 O emissions averaged about 46 μg N m −2 hr −1 in the Ultisol and Oxisol and 130 μg N m −2 hr −1 from the Vertisol, about 0.8 and 3.3% of the N applied. Fluxes from fertilized sites were within the range of emission rates observed for fertilized temperate grasslands.
MBE HgCdTe heterostructure p-on-n planar infrared photodiodes

We recently succeeded in fabricating planar Hg1−yCdyTe/Hg1−xCdxTe (x<y) heterostructure photodiodes with the p-on-n configuration. Here we discuss early results in detail and present new results on an expanded range of infrared operation. The material used for this demonstration was grown by molecular beam epitaxy on lattice-matched CdZnTe substrates. The p-on-n planar devices consist of an arsenic-doped p-type epilayer (y∼0.28) atop a long wavelength infrared n-type epilayer (x=0.22–0.23). The planar junctions were formed by selective pocket diffusion of arsenic deposited on the surface by ion implantation. Detailed analysis of the current-voltage characteristics of these diodes as a function of temperature shows that they have high performance and that their dark currents are diffusion-limited down to 52K. Low frequency noise measurements at a reverse bias voltage of 50 mV resulted in noise current values (at 1 Hz) as low as 1×10−14 amps/Hz0.5 at 77K. Average RoA values greater than 106 Ω-cm2 at 40K were obtained for these devices with cut-off wavelength values in the 10.6 to 12 μm range. Seventy percent of these devices have RoA values greater than 105 Ω-cm2 at 40K; further studies are needed to improve device uniformity. These results represent the first demonstration that high performance long wavelength infrared devices operating at 40K can be made using HgCdTe material grown by a vapor phase epitaxy growth technique.
A study of synthetic creativity: behavior modeling and simulation of an ant colony

Our civilization has long recognized the significance of creativity in every discipline and field of human endeavor. The authors model synthetic creativity in an ant colony. They introduce two new creative types of foraging behavior and then, through computer simulation, measure their impact on performance through innovative metric design.
The Influence of Peer and Educational Variables on Arrest Status Among At-Risk Males

In this article, we examine the predictive power of selected social and academic variables regarding arrest frequency for 11th-grade boys who 7 years earlier had been judged to be at risk for developing antisocial behavior patterns. Multiple regression analyses indicated that (a) measures of academic and social skills that reflected more skilled and positive profiles were associated with participants' exhibiting less frequent and less severe forms of antisocial behavior, as shown by arrest records at 11th grade, and (b) antisocial measures on which participants scored higher were associated with more frequent arrests for more serious offenses in Grade 11. We also conducted an analysis of the residuals to study those persons and their characteristics who were misclassified by the predictive model. Implications of these results for future research and intervention, particularly within the context of schooling, are discussed.
Space Warfare: a Maritime-Inspired Space Strategy

In an attempt to formulate a spacepower strategy, various strategists have noted the similarities of space operations to those of air and naval operations. Consequently, many have attempted to derive a space theory through analogy and comparison to either airpower or sea control strategic models. Both air and naval models fail, however, to capture the breadth of issues regarding space operations and strategy; yet, by expanding the purview of naval operations to include those of maritime operations, which includes the interaction of land and sea, the nature and scope of space operations can be fully encompassed. By using Sir Julian Corbett's maritime model, a space theory and associated principles can be subsequently derived to predict concerns and develop ideas not currently recognized.
Pattern of lateral geniculate synapses on neuron somata in layer IV of the cat striate cortex.

The distribution of geniculate synapses on neuron cell bodies in layers IVab and IVc of cat area 17 was studied. Electron microscope autoradiography was used to identify geniculate terminals that were labeled by antero-grade transport of radioactivity injected into the A-laminae of the lateral geniculate nucleus. Thirty-eight cell bodies (19 in layer PVab and 19 in layer IVc) were examined in a series of 138 consecutive sections. Two pyramidal somas were studied and had no geniculate contacts. All of the other somas studied were nonpyramidal, and of these, 85% received geniculate contacts. The proportion of somas receiving somatic geniculate input differed in layers IVab and IVc. In layer IVab, 70% of the nonpyramidal somas received geniculate contacts; in IVc, 100%. Such high percentages indicate that geniculate afferents synapse with more types of layer IV neuron than the aspinous neurons that synthesize gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (Freund et al., '85b). The pattern of input to somas was so diverse that it was impossible to form groups of neurons based on only this criterion. We wondered if it would be possible to form groups of neurons based on a range of characteristics among which would be pattern of synaptic input. To this end, pyramidal neurons and neurons that contained, a cytoplasmic laminated body (CLB) (Winfield, '79; Einstein et al., '84) were treated as two separate classes. We found fair agreement among the features of these neurons within their own classes, with the CLB-cells in layer IVab and IVc forming separate groups. Among the remaining neurons there was too little agreement within the range of features to enable us to treat them in this manner. Geniculate somatic contacts in both sublayers were of 2 forms, those with round vesicles and asymmetric thickenings (RA) and those with pleomorphic vesicles and symmetric thickenings (PS) (Einstein et al., '87). The distribution of these forms varied: some cells received contacts exclusively from one form or the other; other cells received contacts from both. On one cell that bore 33 somatic geniculate terminals, 61% were RA and 39% were PS. Such substantial numbers of geniculate contacts located near the site of impulse initiation are likely to contribute significantly to the receptive field properties of this neuron, and the possible effects are discussed.
Relationship Awareness: Crossing the Bridge Between Cognition and Communication

Theories are often born out of puzzlement. Sometimes the puzzles are intellectual and sometimes they are practical. Juxtaposing the theoretical with the practical, the author describes the processes whereby the concept of relationship awareness was developed and expanded. Relationship awareness involves attending to relationships. Such attention can take the form of thinking or talking about relationships. The concept of relationship awareness began to form during the process of fulfilling an assignment in graduate school. The concept was later expanded to include the situational contexts and the individual factors that modify the association between relationship awareness and relationship satisfaction. The next phase of the theory broadened the contexts in which relationship awareness is examined. Theorizing on relationship awareness has begun to incorporate sociocultural contexts. By examining the role of cultural beliefs on thinking and talking about relationships, this new development also has the potential to extend our understanding of the underlying factors that determine whether the effects of relationship awareness are positive or negative. Applications of the theory to other domains are also discussed.
22q11 deletions and cardiac disease

Abstract Chromosome 22q11 deletions constitute one of the most frequent genetic mutations associated with congenital heart disease. The finding of abnormalities within this locus in patients with DiGeorge syndrome provided the first evidence linking conotruncal and aortic arch anomalies with 22q11.2 mutations. Once non-syndromic patients with identical cardiac defects were also found to exhibit deletions within 22q11.2, strong support was generated for the concept that either a single gene defect, or a group of genes operating together, account for isolated cases of congenital heart disease. Recent advances in the characterization of the genes which comprise this region has brought us closer to the ultimate goal of isolating candidate disease genes. The understanding of how these genes (and those genes soon to be identified) regulate biological processes will hasten progress towards insight into the mechanisms leading to specific congenital heart lesions. This knowledge will bring us closer to comprehension of the genetic basis of normal cardiovascular development.