cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Common root rot of pea (Pisum sativum L.): Oat pre-crop and traffic compaction effects in fine-textured mollisols

Common root rot of pea caused by Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs. is widespread and difficult to control. In many production areas, yearly losses have been estimated at 10% because of the disease. Cultural control is needed even when disease tolerant cultivars are planted. Soil compaction due to traffic is known to aggravate the disease. In a series of research studies in a heavily infested nursery and adjacent farm fields, it was shown that compaction aggravates the disease by decreasing drainage and thus providing more favourable soil water conditions for early infection of pea roots. Traffic compaction has also provided an adverse abiotic environment for plant stress due to poor aeration. A precrop of oat (Avena sativum L.), as a full-season or late-summer crop, suppressed the disease only if the oat residue was incorporated at a shallow depth late in the fall using a chisel. Incorporated oat residue reduced inoculum potential of A. euteiches above 10 cm when incorporated with a chisel and below 10 cm when incorporated with a moldboard plow. A rolled towel bioassay using a susceptible pea cultivar successfully estimated inoculum potential when the test soil was placed near the epicotyl of 7-day-old seedlings. Although A. euteiches is an aggressive disease, all of these findings focus on vulnerability during the infection process. These investigations were required to examine carefully the soil ecology pertaining to the host crop, the pathogen when in the saprophytic mode, and the host crop interaction with the pathogen.
An In-Depth Investigation of Communication Mode Choices in Distributed Teams

Advances in information technologies facilitate new organizational forms and new ways of structuring work, such as the use of distributed teams. In distributed environments, individuals have many choices of communication modes for use with colleagues. Previous research has primarily addressed the need for richness of a medium to “fit” the characteristics of the communication task being performed. There has been little research on when and how different communication technologies are used in the performance of specific communication-based work processes (e.g., information gathering, relationship development). Using an interpretive case study approach, and guided by a hermeneutic perspective, texts from interviews of 40 individuals working in distributed teams in two organizations were analyzed. Analysis was conducted in three stages: (1) key patterns of meanings expressed by each employee, (2) key patterns of meaning that emerge across organizations, and (3) broader conceptual and managerial implications from the analysis. Some initial individual patterns include the relationship between media choice and the specific communication-based work process performed, and the influence of the type of team structure in which the communication-based work process is embedded on the choice. Findings at all stages of analysis will be discussed.
Delivering a superior customer experience in solutions delivery processes: Seven factors for success

Abstract In marketing complex solutions to customers, business-to-business firms face significant challenges in managing the customer experience effectively in solutions delivery processes—due primarily to the use of ad hoc teams. To learn more about these challenges, we interviewed executives from a Fortune 100 high-technology company. We identify seven factors ad hoc teams can employ to address this problem, focusing on delivery team composition, delivery processes, and organization-level changes that can be made to optimize the success of the team. In solutions selling, the delivery phase is particularly critical to success. The factors identified enable firms to better manage the customer experience and enhance performance.
Blanket Bans on Therapeutic Abortion and the Responsibilities of Hospitals as Moral Communities.

Larry Nelson’s target article “Provider Conscientious Refusal of Abortion, Obstetrical Emergencies, and Criminal Homicide Law” (Nelson 2018) makes two primary claims. The first is that physicians a...
Engineering of Large Diameter Vessels

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality in developed nations despite advance in comprehensive treatments. Vascular grafts are commonly used to treat cardiovascular disease during vascular surgical procedures. Nondegradable synthetic grafts are used to treat aortic and peripheral artery diseases whereas autologous grafts are used for coronary artery disease. However, vascular grafts have limitations such as a lack of growth capacity and risks for thrombosis, stenosis, and infection. To address these limitations, various tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) have been developed. The ideal TEVG should be easily handled, cost-effective, thrombus-free, biocompatible, and durable, and remodel into a neovessel. In this chapter, we will review the status of large-diameter TEVGs, focusing on biological-based and biodegradable synthetic-based scaffolds materials in large-animal models and clinical studies. Although several clinical studies investigating state-of-the-art TEVGs have shown favorable long-term results, TEVGs are still not widely employed clinically. To increase TEVG use clinically, more multidisciplinary approaches, collaboration, and technologies will be required.
Sex- and region-specific differences in microglia phenotype and characterization of the peripheral immune response following early-life infection in neonatal male and female rats.

Abstract Early-life infection has been shown to have profound effects on the brain and behavior across the lifespan, a phenomenon termed “early-life programming”. Indeed, many neuropsychiatric disorders begin or have their origins early in life and have been linked to early-life immune activation (e.g. autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia). Furthermore, many of these disorders show a robust sex bias, with males having a higher risk of developing early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders. The concept of early-life programming is now well established, however, it is still unclear how such effects are initiated and then maintained across time to produce such a phenomenon. To begin to address this question, we examined changes in microglia, the immune cells of the brain, and peripheral immune cells in the hours immediately following early-life infection in male and female rats. We found that males showed a significant decrease in BDNF expression and females showed a significant increase in IL-6 expression in the cerebellum following E.coli infection on postnatal day 4; however, for most cytokines examined in the brain and in the periphery we were unable to identify any sex differences in the immune response, at least at the time points examined. Instead, neonatal infection with E.coli increased the expression of a number of cytokines in the brain of both males and females similarly including TNF-α, IL-1β, and CD11b (a marker of microglia activation) in the hippocampus and, in the spleen, TNF-α and IL-1β. We also found that protein levels of GRO-KC, MIP-1a, MCP1, IP-10, TNF-α, and IL-10 were elevated 8-hours postinfection, but this response was resolved by 24-hours. Lastly, we found that males have more thin microglia than females on P5, however, neonatal infection had no effect on any of the microglia morphologies we examined. These data show that sex differences in the acute immune response to neonatal infection are likely gene, region, and even time dependent. Future research should consider these factors in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the immune response in males and females as these changes are likely the initiating agents that lead to the long-term, and often sex-specific, effects of early-life infection.
Four Months of a School-Based Exercise Program Improved Aerobic Fitness and Clinical Outcomes in a Low-SES Population of Normal Weight and Overweight/Obese Children With Asthma.

Introduction: Fitness can improve asthma management. However, children from disadvantaged and minority communities generally engage less in physical activity, and have increased obesity and asthma disease burden. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate 1) the feasibility of an exercise intervention program in a school-based setting and 2) the effect of the intervention on fitness, asthma, and clinical outcomes in normal weight and overweight/obese children with asthma from low-SES population. Materials and methods: Nineteen children, ages 6–13 years, from two elementary schools in Santa Ana, CA, a population with high percentage of Hispanic and low socioeconomic status, participated in the study. Training sessions occurred at the schools during afterschool hours (3 sessions per week x 4 months). Before and after the intervention, evaluations included pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (peak VO2), assessments of habitual physical activity, body composition (DXA), and asthma questionnaires. Blood was obtained at baseline and post- training program to assess cardiometabolic risk factors. Results: Seventeen of 19 participants completed the study. Adherence to the program was 85%. Based on BMI %ile, 11 of the participants were overweight/obese and 8 were normal weight. Ten participants had persistent asthma. Training was effective as peak VO2 improved significantly (8.1%, SD ± 10.4) at the end of the program. There was a significant improvement in lean body mass (1%, SD ± 2.0) and decrease in body fat (1.9%, SD ± 4.6). Asthma quality of life outcomes improved following the intervention in symptoms, emotional function, and overall. Five of 10 participants with persistent asthma were able to decrease their maintenance medications. HDL levels increased significantly from (46.1 ± 8.4 mg/dL to 49.5 ± 10.4 mg/dL, p = 0.04). Discussion: A school-based exercise intervention program designed specifically for children with asthma for a predominantly economically disadvantaged and minority population revealed substantial engagement from the local schools, families and participants. The exercise intervention was effective with improvement in aerobic fitness, body composition, asthma, and lipid outcomes, setting the stage for a larger multicenter trial designed to study exercise as an adjunct medicine in children with asthma.
Some Aspects of Statistics, Sampling, and Randomization

In this essay the general nature of conventional mathematical statistics is discussed. It is suggested that Neyman–Pearson–Wald decision theory is ineffective and that the making of terminal decisions must involve some sort of Bayesian process. Bayesian theory is, however, deficient with respect to obtaining of a prior distribution which seems to be a data analysis problem and to be the basic inference problem in a decision context. The relevance of parametric theory to the finite population inference problem is questioned. It is considered that intrinsic aspects of the logic of inference are given by the cases of populations of size one and two, and these are discussed. The role of labeling is considered, and some work of Hartley and Rao discussed. It is suggested that there are difficulties in unequal probability sampling with respect to the ultimate inferences, that is, beyond the matters of estimation and variance of estimators. It is suggested that admissibility theory is ineffective. Absence of attention to pivotality is deplored.
Papillary Renal Neoplasm With Reverse Polarity: A Morphologic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Study.

We evaluated the clinicopathologic and chromosomal characteristics of a distinct subset of papillary renal tumors and compared them to a control series of papillary renal cell carcinoma types 1 and 2. Of the 18 patients, 9 were women and 9 were men, ranging in age from 46 to 80 years (mean, 64 y; me
The Influence of Moduli Slope of a Linearly Graded Matrix on the Bulk Moduli of Some Particle- and Fiber-Reinforced Composites

In the context of a functionally-graded composite whose matrix property varies linearly from the interface, exact analytical solutions are derived for the dependence of the effective bulk moduli of some particle- and fiber-reinforced composites on the moduli slope of the matrix phase. Specifically four types of property variation in the matrix are considered. In the particle case: In the fiber case it is the plane-strain bulk modulus of the matrix instead of the ordinary 3-dimensional bulk modulus that varies. Unlike the series representations or numerical solutions, a novel feature of the results here is that they are given in simple analytical forms, rendering them useful for future applications. Some calculations are presented to illustrate the influence of the slope of the modulus variation on the overall properties of the composites, and a step is also offered to construct such linearly graded matrix properties.
Brief History of the FDA

This book is intended to inform doctors about today’s FDA and yet, as with a patient’s disease state or current health, the history contributes enormously to our understanding of the current status. With that in mind, a brief history of the FDA including some of the major lessons from that history will help in understanding the current organization and its outlook and biases. Broadly speaking, FDA was created and exists today because of commercial abuse and misbehavior, especially as regards food processing, food additives and patent medicines. Many, if not most, of the major revisions of FDA’s role, including expansions of its authority, have been in response to various public health disasters and the desire to prevent recurrences or similar problems.
Multinomial pattern matching revisited

Multinomial pattern matching (MPM) is an automatic target recognition algorithm developed for specifically radar data at Sandia National Laboratories. The algorithm is in a family of algorithms that first quantizes pixel value into N q bins based on pixel amplitude before training and classification. This quantization step reduces the sensitivity of algorithm performance to absolute intensity variation in the data, typical of radar data where signatures exhibit high variation for even small changes in aspect angle. Our previous work has focused on performance analysis of peaky template matching, a special case of MPM where binary quantization is used (N q = 2). Unfortunately references on these algorithms are generally difficult to locate and here we revisit the MPM algorithm and illustrate the underlying statistical model and decision rules for two algorithm interpretations: the 1-of-K vector form and the scalar. MPM can also be used as a detector and specific attention is given to algorithm tuning where "peak pixels" are chosen based on their underlying empirical probabilities according to a reward minimization strategy aimed at reducing false alarms in the detection scenario and false positives in a classification capacity. The algorithms are demonstrated using Monte Carlo simulations on the AFRL civilian vehicle dataset for variety of choices of N q .
Risk factors affecting length of stay in patients with deep neck space infection

OBJECTIVES Analyze risk factors affecting length of stay (LOS) for patients presenting with deep neck space infections including care by medical versus surgical team. METHODS This is a retrospective chart review from January 2005 through May 2018 at the University of Kentucky analyzing factors related to deep neck space abscesses. Patients included adults >18 years old admitted for deep neck space infections undergoing surgical intervention. This study compared effects of treatment on a medical versus surgical service on LOS while accounting for patient confounders. Independent variables included age, gender, tobacco use, medical comorbidities, Charlson comorbidity index, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification, presence of drain, readmissions, and repeat surgical interventions. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS One hundred sixty-three patients were included in the analysis. LOS was significantly longer for those on medicine services (P < .001). Patients on medicine services had a higher incidence of diabetes (P = .011), higher Charlson comorbidity score (P = .001), and higher incidence of repeat interventions (P = .005). Postoperative LOS remained lower for patients on a surgical service (P = .009) after adjusting for Charlson comorbidity scores. Presence of a drain or tobacco use was not significant between service management (P = .89; P = .63) or LOS (P = .366; P = .225). CONCLUSION Increased postoperative LOS was associated with age, diabetes, ASA class, Charlson comorbidity index, and repeat procedures. Patients on a medicine service had longer LOS and higher comorbidity indices. Patients had shorter hospital stays on surgical services after adjusting for comorbidity indices. Use of a drain or presence of tobacco use did not affect LOS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 130:2133-2137, 2020.
Duration of natalizumab therapy and reasons for discontinuation in a multiple sclerosis population.

ObjectiveTo determine multiple sclerosis patient characteristics that predict a shorter duration of natalizumab treatment.MethodsThe Tysabri Outreach: Unified Commitment to Health database was revi...
Endoscopic resection of large pedunculated colon polyps using only a scissor-type knife: a case series

Background and aims All pedunculated colon polyps (PCPs) should ideally be resected en bloc for accurate histopathological evaluation. However, maneuvering a snare around the large head of a pedunculated polyp with a long, wide stalk can be technically challenging. In addition, clinically significant bleeding after snare polypectomy remains a legitimate concern. Small case series from Asia have supported the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the removal of these challenging large PCPs. However, ESD is not widely performed in the West because of its technical complexity, steep learning curve, and higher risk of adverse events when compared with conventional endoscopic mucosal resection. Our aim was to demonstrate the feasibility of performing en bloc resection of large PCPs using a scissor-type electrocautery ESD knife when conventional snare polypectomy is not feasible. Methods Two patients were found to have large PCPs with wide stalks. Attempts to maneuver a snare around the head of the PCP were unsuccessful, and the decision was to proceed with ESD using the scissor-type knife. Results Both polyps were successfully resected en bloc using only the scissor-type knife. Both procedures were completed in under 20 minutes with no adverse events. Histopathology results of both polyps were consistent with tubulovillous adenoma with resection margins free of dysplasia, consistent with curative R0 resection. Conclusion En bloc resection of large PCPs can be challenging when it is difficult to maneuver the snare around the head of the polyp. In this video, we demonstrate how a dedicated scissor-type ESD knife can facilitate the resection of these lesions. The insulated rotatable blades of the scissor-type knife allow safe and precise dissection of the stalk under direct visualization, which further permits targeted hemostasis when needed. Future studies are needed to corroborate the efficacy and safety of this device for the resection of selected colorectal lesions.
Intrastromal injection of hyaluronidase alters the structural and biomechanical properties of the corneal stroma

Purpose Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are important components of the corneal stroma, and their spatiotemporal arrangement regulates the organization of collagen fibrils and maintains corneal transparency. This study was undertaken to determine the consequences of hyaluronidase (HAse) injected into the corneal stroma on stromal stiffness and ultrastructure. Methods Equal volumes of HAse or balanced salt solution (vehicle) were injected intrastromally into the corneas of New Zealand white rabbits. Ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging techniques, including Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), were performed at multiple time points to evaluate the impact of HAse treatment in vivo. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to measure corneal stiffness and collagen's interfibrillar spacing, respectively. Results Central corneal thickness progressively decreased after HAse injection, reaching its lowest value at day 7, and then returned to normal by day 42. The HAse did not impact the corneal endothelium but transiently altered keratocyte morphology at days 1 and 7, as measured by IVCM. HAse-injected corneas became stiffer by day 1 postinjection, were stiffest at day 7, and returned to preinjection values by day 90. Changes in stromal stiffness correlated with decreased interfibrillar spacing as measured by TEM. Conclusions Degradation of GAGs by HAse decreases the corneal thickness and increases stromal stiffness through increased packing of the collagen fibrils in a time-dependent manner. Translational relevance Intrastromal HAse injection appears relatively safe in the normal cornea, but its impact on corneal biomechanics and structure under pathologic conditions requires further study.
Analysis on intervention effect of community health care measures for postpartum women

Objective To explore and analyze the application value of community health care measures in nursing intervention for puerperal women.Methods 300 cases of puerperal women in a community survey from October 2012 to October 2013 were chosen as the research objects,they were divided into the observation group and the control group,150 cases in each group,the observation group was given maternal nursing intervention and the community health care measures,the control group used conventional nursing measures,the maternal complications of two groups were observed and compared.Results After the nursing intervention the incidence of obstetric complications in observation group was 3.3％,while in the control group it was 20.0％,showing statistical significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Community health care nursing intervention is helpful to promote physical recovery after the puerpera labors,reduce the incidence of maternal postpartum complications,so as to improve the quality of life of women,which is worthy of clinical application. Key words: Community health care measures; Puerperium; Postpartum complications; Nursing intervention
Mechanism and Kinetics of Ethane Aromatization According to the Chemical Transient Analysis

The need for on-purpose techniques for the conversion of cheaper and abundant light alkanes to petrochemical products has revitalized research interests on light alkanes aromatization. Here ethane/propane aromatization and ethylene oligomerization over the representative Zn-HZSM-5 and Pt/HZSM-5 catalysts have been studied by the step-perturbation transients to provide insight into the kinetics and mechanisms leading to higher olefins and aromatics formation from ethane aromatization. The time-dependent catalytic behavior during the build-up and back-transient between ethane and inert, ethane and propane, as well as ethylene and inert, has been extensively discussed. We suggested that the hydrocarbon-pool mechanism be involved once ethylene was produced from the dehydrogenation of ethane. The oligomerization/cracking, cyclization, and dehydrogenation/hydride transfer reactions involved with the hydrocarbon-pool species reach the thermodynamic equilibrium quickly. The initial ethane dehydrogenation and the final formation of aromatics from their corresponding intermediates are slow surface-reactions. The rate constants k for benzene, toluene, and xylene formation from the “lumped hydrocarbon-pool” have been evaluated based on the first-order kinetic model of the back-transient. The rate constants k for aromatics over the Pt0 clusters/particles in the Pt/HZSM-5 are ⁓ 20–30% higher than that over the Zn (II) cations in the Zn-HZSM-5 catalyst.
The use of VX as a terrorist agent: action by Aum Shinrikyo of Japan and the death of Kim Jong-Nam in Malaysia: four case studies

VX is a strong nerve-gas agent. In this paper, murder or injury of human made by VX is reported. First use of VX against human was made by Aum Shimrikyo in 1994 and 1995. More recently, VX was used...
Introduction to the Special Collection on Biomedical Education

Abstract The recent COVID-19 crisis has posed a severe challenge to the educational system worldwide Hearing from many of our colleagues, how they together with their students approached and overcame these hurdles, is inspiring Educators in many biomedical fields, who thought that they require in-person teacher to learner contacts to carry out their teaching missions, found ways to continue That is not to say that these new, mainly remote ways of teaching are always better or equivalent to traditional approaches, but they are providing an alternative that gets the job done
A Generic Truthful Mechanism for Combinatorial Auctions

We study combinatorial auctions with n agents and m items, where the goal is to allocate the items to the agents such that the social welfare is maximized. We present a universally truthful mechanism with polynomially many queries for combinatorial auctions. Our mechanism and analysis work adaptively for all classes of valuation functions, guaranteeing \(\widetilde{O}(\min (d, \sqrt{m}))\)-approximation (where \(\widetilde{O}\) hides a polylogarithmic factor in m) of the optimal social welfare, where d is the degree of complementarity of the valuation functions. To our knowledge, this is the first mechanism that achieves an approximation guarantee better than \(\varOmega (\sqrt{m})\), when the valuations exhibit any kind of complementarity.
Teacher and school staff perspectives on their role in school-based vision programs.

Abstract Objective School-based vision programs (SBVPs) are one approach to increase access to vision care by providing vision screenings, eye examinations, and eyeglasses directly in schools. Few studies report on the perspectives of teachers and staff, who are important stakeholders, on SBVPs. We examined teacher and staff perspectives on their involvement in SBVPs. Design Qualitative study using focus groups. Participants Teachers and staff at Baltimore and Chicago public schools served by SBVPs between 2016 and 2018. Methods We conducted 21 semistructured focus groups with 117 teachers and staff in 10 Baltimore and 11 Chicago public preK–12 schools that participated in SBVPs. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and coded using inductive thematic analysis. Results Participants identified 2 main themes regarding teacher and staff involvement in SBVPs: (i) program outreach, including using multiple communication modalities to engage parents, explaining program details to families, and helping with program consent form return and (ii) promoting vision health, including identifying vision problems in the classroom, encouraging eyeglasses wear, and supporting eyeglasses maintenance. Participants also discussed limitations in capacity to partake in these activities. Conclusion Teachers interact with parents and students throughout the SBVP process, undertaking important roles in outreach and health promotion to ensure uptake of SBVP services. SBVPs and other school-based health programs should explore strategies to support teachers in the roles they fill to optimize program impact.
The Picard Variety of an Arbitrary Variety

We are going to see in this chapter how one can prove the existence of the Picard variety of a variety V, complete and non-singular in codimension 1 in a simple manner, once one knows the existence of the Picard variety of an abelian variety. The Picard variety of V is derived functiorially from that of its Albanese variety, and we shall use this fact to get the theory of divisiorial correspondences on a product U x V. As a special case, we obtain the theory of correspondences on a curves, which gives us the Lefschetz fixed point formula. The group of cor- respondence classes of the curve is isomorphic to the group of an endomorphism corresponds to the characteristic polynomial of the representation of the endomorphism on the first homology group (in the classical case), and its trace is the trace of this representation. Combining the Lefschetz fixed point formula with the results of Chapter V, we obtain in a natural way the Riemann hypothesis for curves.
Uncanny Love: Schelling’s Meditations on the Spirit World

Abstract (E): This essay analyses a little-known fragment which Schelling wrote shortly after his wife Caroline’s death, entitled Clara: Or, on Nature's Connection to the Spirit World (1810-1811), in which Schelling deploys several themes that Freud will identify as uncanny, including animism, omnipotence of thoughts and man’s attitude toward death. Although it nominally participates in a contemporary discussion about clairvoyance and immortality, the fragment focuses far more on the commemoration and representation of the dead, and the uncanny re-insertion of the dead into the everyday of the living. The hypothesis maintained here is that Clara can be read as a legitimate part of Schelling’s philosophy rather than as only an ode to Caroline, and hence also as a meaningful contribution to Romantic thought and to the historical trajectory of the uncanny. Abstract (F): Le present article analyse un fragment peu connu de Schelling ecrit juste apres la mort de sa femme Caroline. Intitule « Clara ou le rattachement de la Nature au Monde de l’Esprit » (1810-1811), ce texte explore un certain nombre de themes que Freud va interpreter comme typiques de l’inquietante etrangete : l’animisme, la toute-puissance de la pensee et l’attitude l’homme face a la mort. Alors que ce texte ne semble pas s’eloigner de discussions contemporaines sur la voyance et l’immortalite, ses veritables themes sont la commemoration et la representation des morts, puis l’insertion des morts dans le quotidien des vivants. L’article defend l’hypothese que « Clara » ne doit pas etre lu comme une ode a Caroline mais comme un veritable fragment de la philosophie de Schelling, c’est-a-dire comme une contribution significative de la pensee romantique a l’histoire du concept d’inquietante etrangete.
A molecular approach to fertilization. II. Viability and artificial fertilization of Xenopus laevis gemetes.

Abstract Conditions necessary for procuring, handling, and storing Xenopus laevis gametes have been investigated in order to develop a simple and reliable method for artificial fertilization. Temperature, sperm concentration, and ionic strength influence sperm and/or egg viability. Extension of the fertilizing capacity of sperm suspensions could be correlated with reversible repression of sperm motility. In the case of various salt solutions used for testes maceration, inhibition of sperm motility was primarily a function of the ionic strength. However, there was some specificity in the salt employed as KCl and CaCl 2 solutions gave anomalous results in comparison with those obtained with other salt solutions. The fertilizability of Xenopus laevis eggs could be extended by shedding the eggs in DeBoers solution. Using this information a simple reliable method for artificial fertilization of Xenopus laevis gametes has been described.
Biochemical Characterization of Lysine Auxotrophs of Staphylococcus aureus

Lysine biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus has been studied by use of a series of lysine auxotrophs. The strains were isolated after chemical mutagenesis. The majority of these mutant strains were classified according to the enzymatic step found to be deficient. Specific enzyme assays as well as nutritional tests were used to group the organisms. The enzymes included were dihydrodipicolinate synthetase, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, diaminopimelate epimerase, and diaminopimelate decarboxylase. The accumulation of diaminopimelate in certain mutants and the demonstration of dihydrodipicolinate synthetase and reductase provide the first detailed evidence that S. aureus utilizes the diaminopimelate pathway for lysine biosynthesis. A cell-free system was used to study the regulation of these enzymes with the exception of diaminopimelate epimerase. Lysine repressed all of the enzymes tested. The repression appeared to be coordinate in nature. The data presented provide suggestive evidence that the lysine biosynthetic region in S. aureus constitutes an operon.
Adaptive response surface modeling-based method for analog circuit sizing

In this paper we propose a simulation-based analog circuit sizing method which is capable of significantly reducing the computational cost via adaptive response surface modeling. The proposed algorithm is based on the selective evaluation of a response surface model coupled with numerical circuit simulation and the adaptive update of the model for accuracy. An effective sampling scheme for modeling using two related criteria that are crucial for speedup and convergence towards an optimal solution is presented. One provides sufficient samples for model accuracy and convergence, whereas the other prevents oversampling of the design space after the model is saturated. Multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) are used to construct a model of the selected cost function. Results for several test functions and two test cases are discussed.
Absorption-Line Spectra of Elliptical Galaxies and Their Relation to Elliptical Formation

Recent spectral data strongly suggest that elliptical galaxies represent at least a two- and probably a three-parameter sequence: light-element abundance, iron-peak abundance, and probably age. These data are discussed in the context of new ideas about elliptical formation, including hierarchical clustering, merger-caused starbursts, and a variable IMF. Non-solar abundance ratios set important constraints on elliptical formation.
Utility of the Community Integration Questionnaire in a sample of adults with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders receiving prevocational training

AbstractPurpose: To investigate utility of the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) in a mixed sample of adults with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Method: Cross-sectional, interview-based study. Participants were community-dwelling adults with disabilities resulting from neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders (N = 54), who participated in a pre-vocational readiness and social skills training program. Psychometric properties of the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) were assessed and validated against Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI) and The Problem Checklist from the New York University Head Injury Family Interview (PCL). Results: Based on the revised scoring procedures, psychometric properties of the CIQ Home Competency scale were excellent, followed by the Total score and Social Integration scale. Productive Activity scale had low content validity and a weak association with the total score. Convergent and discriminant validity of the CIQ were demonstrated by c...
Binding of Butylated Hydroxyanisole to Human Albumin Using a Novel Dynamic Method

To study the interaction of butylated hydroxyanisole with various body tissues, a fully automated dynamic method was developed for the determination of plasma protein binding constants at 37°, using membrane filtration equipment designed for dissolution rate studies. Appropriate equations were derived for the calculation of the free drug concentration from comparative diffusion rates across sealed dialysis sacs. A monoexponential equation described the diffusion in the absence of proteins, and a biexponential equation was fitted to diffusion from the drug-protein complex. The Scatchard and double-reciprocal plots were developed for butylated hydroxyanisole. A high degree of reproducibility was obtained for the calculation of protein binding constants (K = 2.4 − 2.9 × 104 and n = 1.4 − 1.32). The magnitude of these binding-constants suggests that any change in protein binding can have a significant effect on the distribution of butylated hydroxyanisole throughout the body, such as may be brought about by the common variations in the amount ingested.
A theoretical study of stability in water flow through heated passages

Abstract Criteria defining the stability of forced water circulation through heated passages are introduced. A general method is derived for predicting stability criteria for a system with any form of variation of heat input with respect to passage length. A convenient method for calculating pressure loss is developed. Criteria and integrated functions are presented for the forms of heat-input distribution commonly encountered in reactor design, and their application is demonstrated in a worked example.
Thermal-electrical modeling of absolute cryogenic radiometers

Abstract This study employs finite-element (FE) software to model the nonlinear thermal-electrical dynamic response of absolute cryogenic radiometers (ACRs). The high-accuracy cryogenic radiometer (HACR) and laser-optimized cryogenic radiometer (LOCR) have been analyzed to determine the input geometric and thermal parameters. Comparisons between the FE model and experimental results for the HACR and LOCR show an agreement in temperature within 2%. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) temperature-control algorithm has been developed for both the receiver and the heat sink. The optimized control parameters are related to the thermal conductances and time constants of the radiometers. The LOCR receiver has the advantage of a reduction in measurement time over the HACR receiver; whereas the HACR heat sink offers the advantage of better temperature stability over the LOCR heat sink. The time constant of the HACR receiver can be significantly reduced without degrading the performance. The temperature stability of the LOCR heat sink can be improved by a factor of two by using a larger heat-sink heat capacity, C HS ≥80 mJ/K. This research will help improve future design of ACRs.
Eco's Poetics of “The Model Reader”:

In this essay the author argues that despite Eco's claims of ceding authority over his fictions to the reader, his poetics of the Model Reader serves to guide and condition reception. This is accomplished when the call for reader collaboration encourages the creation of a Model Author — a projection of reader desire for narrative closure and metaphysical certainty — who supplants the empirical writer as the ‘true’ author of the text. When the empirical author is granted this creative and ideological invisibility, Model Readers find reassurance in novels in which the writer re-creates and re-orders the past according to both conscious and unconscious desires. His kindred spirits, or Model Readers, endorse his condensing of the past into the here-and-now of the writing subject. This effacement time creates a semblance of realism that is re-enforced by the empirical author's use of pastiche, the incorporation into the literary text of what is already known, that is to say what has already been read. Such tau...
Mixed convective flow and heat transfer in a vertical helicoidal pipe with finite pitch

Fully developed laminar mixed convective flow and heat transfer in a vertical helicoidal pipe with finite pitch is studied numerically in this paper. The centrifugal, buoyancy, and torsion forces created by the pitch of the helix are considered. The thermal boundary conditions are uniform heat flux axially and uniform wall temperature peripherally. The velocity, the temperature profiles, the friction factor, and the Nusselt number are obtained. The results indicate that torsion can significantly change the axial and secondary flow patterns and temperature distributions in the helicoidal pipe with a fixed pressure gradient. Torsion can also remarkably affect the flow rate, the friction factor, and the Nusselt number. However, at a fixed Dean number, there is only slight difference in the Nusselt numbers of the upward and downward flow.
Calcium-sensitive phospholipid binding properties of normal and mutant ferlin C2 domains

Mutations in dysferlin, a novel membrane protein of unknown function, lead to muscular dystrophy. Myoferlin is highly homologous to dysferlin and like dysferlin is a plasma membrane protein with six C2 domains highly expressed in muscle. C2 domains are found in a variety of membrane-associated proteins where they have been implicated in calcium, phospholipid, and protein-binding. We investigated the pattern of dysferlin and myoferlin expression in a cell culture model of muscle development and found that dysferlin is expressed in mature myotubes. In contrast, myoferlin is highly expressed in elongated "prefusion" myoblasts and is decreased in mature myotubes where dysferlin expression is greatest. We tested ferlin C2 domains for their ability to bind phospholipid in a calcium-sensitive manner. We found that C2A, the first C2 domain of dysferlin and myoferlin, bound 50% phosphatidylserine and that phospholipid binding was regulated by calcium concentration. A dysferlin point mutation responsible for muscular dystrophy was engineered into the dysferlin C2A domain and demonstrated reduced calcium-sensitive phospholipid binding. Based on these data, we propose a mechanism for muscular dystrophy in which calcium-regulated phospholipid binding is abnormal, leading to defective maintenance and repair of muscle membranes.
Correlation of NO and CO2 adsorption sites with aldehyde hydrogenation performance of sulfided NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts

Hydrogenation of aldehydes over sulfided NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts was studied using hexanal and propanal as model feed compounds. NO adsorption and CO2 adsorption measurements, which are used to probe the coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) and the hydroxyl groups on the alumina surface of sulfided Mo catalysts, were found to correlate well with alcohol and heavy product formation rates, respectively. Static chemisorption measurements as well as diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis were used in the quantification of the CUS and OH sites on the surface. The anion vacancies associated with Ni sites were found to have a higher intrinsic activity for hydrogenation of aldehyde to alcohol. Although CO2 can provide some measure of the exposed alumina surface, it tends to overestimate the surface coverage since it adsorbs preferentially on more basic OH sites. Therefore, quantification of the OH groups relative to the bare alumina surface appears to provide a more accurate measure of the surface coverage, and to correlate better with the heavy product formation in aldehyde hydrogenation.
Fluid therapy in small ruminants and camelids

Body water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance are important considerations in the evaluation and treatment of small ruminants and camelids with any disease process, with restoration of these a priority as adjunctive therapy. The goals of fluid therapy should be to maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion, and to correct acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities. Hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia, and acidosis are the most life-threatening abnormalities, and require most immediate correction.
Determination of cabergoline by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry : Picogram detection via column focusing sample introduction

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for low-picogram detection of an ergot alkaloid, cabergoline, in coyote plasma extracts. Cabergoline is under investigation as an abortifacient in canid species. Central to the successful development of this method was the ability to introduce relatively large sample volumes into the mass spectrometer. This was achieved by focusing the analyte on a conventional high-performance liquid chromatography guard column prior to elution into the spectrometer. Volumes up to at least 900 μL could be injected onto the guard column using a 100% aqueous mobile phase. Cabergoline retained on the column was eluted as a discreet band into the mass spectrometer by the rapid addition of methanol (30%) to the mobile phase. As compared to flow injection sample introduction, the ability to inject larger sample volumes led to a greatly lowered detection limit. Using this technique and a modification of a previously reported extraction procedure, cabergol...
Fiber optic backbone for a submarine combat system

ABSTRACT This paper describes the design and development of a fiber-optic backbone being examined for data transport in asubmarine combat system. Generalized network requirements were determined from functional necessities and thesubmarin&s geometry and environment. Both commercial and research fiber-optic networks were then assessed todetermine the state of the art and selection of candidate structures. The performance of these structures was analyzedand compared, and a candidate architecture was designed and developed. 1. SUBMARINE COMBAT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Because this network is being designed for the next generation submarine combat system, the exact requirements areboth classified and company proprietary. Consequently, most of the requirements cannot be discussed in openliterature. However, the network must be capable of transporting reconfigurable video, audio, digital and analogsensor data, and housekeeping signals. Further, the structure of the network must be both highly reliable andsurvivable. Finally, the network should occupy minimal volume and be resistant to EMI/RFI.
Influences on the appropriateness of confidence in judgment: Practice, effort, information, and decision-making

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to examine several potential influences on the appropriateness of confidence in judgment. Specifically, confidence in judgment was expected to increase with practice, effort, decision-making, and the availability of relevant information. Accuracy in judgment was not expected to increase as much as confidence. College men (n = 287) used various measures of baseball performance to predict the overall performance of professional baseball players. Feedback on judgments was not provided. The judgment task was designed to simulate activities commonly performed by practitioners in applicant selection settings. These activities included assessing ability, predicting performance, and selecting/rejecting applicants. Consistent with predictions, results showed that confidence in judgment increased with both practice and effort, whereas accuracy sometimes increased and under other conditions remained the same. Changes over trials in the amount of information for making judgments influenced the relation between confidence and practice. Contrary to expectations, confidence in judgment was lowest when decisions based on judgment had already been made. Implications for judgment and decision-making in applied settings are discussed.
Combined effects of adrenalectomy and noise exposure on compound action potentials, endocochlear potentials and endolymphatic potassium concentrations

Abstract The effects of removal of endogenous corticosteroids via bilateral adrenalectomy in combination with noise exposure (30 min at 100 dB) were determined by recording compound action potentials (CAP) and endocochlear potentials EP), and by measuring potassium concentrations (Ke+) within the endolymph. Thirty-eight Long-Evans rats were divided into groups according to experimental treatments: adrenalectomy (ADX) or non-ADX and noise exposure or non-noise exposure. CAP thresholds, EP and Ke+ values were subjected to repeated-measures analysis of variance with group and time as factors classifying the measurements. Noise exposure resulted in significant elevations of CAP thresholds in both the ADX and non-ADX animals, but had no effect on either EP or endolymphatic Ke+. Recovery was noted during all post-exposure measurement periods and was significantly faster to ADX animals. EP and K3+ did not change during or after noise exposure. ADX animals showed a non-significant reduction of EP and a statistically significant increase of Ke+ during all measurement periods as compared to non-ADX animals.