cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Providing Quantitative Scalability Improvement of Consistency Control for Large-Scale, Replication-Based Grid Systems

Consistency control is important in replicationbased Grid systems because it provides QoS guarantee. However, conventional consistency control mechanisms incur high communication overhead and are ill suited for large-scale dynamic Grid systems. In this paper, we propose CVRetrieval (Consistency View Retrieval) to provide quantitative scalability improvement of consistency control for large-scale, replication-based Grid systems. Based on the observation that not all participants are equally active or engaged in distributed online collaboration, CVRetrieval differentiates the notions of consistency maintenance and consistency retrieval. Here, consistency maintenance implies a protocol that periodically communicates with all participants to maintain a certain consistency level; and consistency retrieval means that passive participants explicitly request consistent views from the system when the need arises in stead of joining the expensive consistency maintenance protocol all the time. The rationale is that it is much more cost-effective to satisfy a passive participant’s need on-demand. The evaluation of CVRetrieval is done in two parts. First, we analyze its scalability and the result shows that CVRetrieval can greatly reduce communication cost and hence make consistency control more scalable. Second, a prototype of CVRetrieval is deployed on the Planet-Lab test-bed and the results show that the active participants experience a short response time at expense of the passive participants that may encounter a longer response time.
Creating Accessible Introductory Geology Field Trips

Introductory geology courses comprise an important part of a complete undergraduate education, and federal law stipulates that they must be accessible to all students. Mobility-impaired students, unfortunately, tend to avoid courses with required field trips because of real and perceived barriers to physical accessibility. Inexpensive evaluation, revision, and creation of accessible laboratories are pragmatic approaches that satisfy federal laws and open earth-science careers to talented students with mobility impairments. We have developed three new accessible field exercises for Stanford University's introductory geology course that improved the course rather than compromising its academic merit. In developing two new field trips, we set the following goals: 1) to locate potential sites relevant to material; 2) to eliminate obviously inaccessible locations; 3) to evaluate the remaining sites with, regard to accessibility criteria developed with advice of mobility-impaired students; 4) to test site acces...
Individualized risk prediction of outcomes for oral cavity cancer patients

Abstract Background Optimal management of oral cancer relies upon accurate and individualized risk prediction of relevant clinical outcomes. Individualized prognostic calculators have been developed to guide patient–physician communication and treatment-related decision-making. However it is critical to scrutinize their accuracy prior to integrating into clinical care. Aim To compare and evaluate oral cavity cancer prognostic calculators using an independent dataset. Methods Five prognostic calculators incorporating patient and tumor characteristics were identified that evaluated five-year overall survival. A total of 505 patients with previously untreated oral cancer diagnosed between 2003 and 2014 were analyzed. Calculators were applied to each patient to generate individual predicted survival probabilities. Predictions were compared among prognostic tools and with observed outcomes using Kaplan-Meier plots, ROC curves and calibration plots. Results Correlation between the five calculators varied from 0.59 to 0.86. There were considerable differences between individual predictions from pairs of calculators, with as many as 64% of patients having predictions that differed by more than 10%. Four of five calculators were well calibrated. For all calculators the predictions were associated with survival outcomes. The area under the ROC curve ranged from 0.65 to 0.71, with C-indices ranging from 0.63 to 0.67. An average of the 5 predictions had slightly better performance than any individual calculator. Conclusion Five prognostic calculators designed to predict individual outcomes of oral cancer differed significantly in their assessments of risk. Most were well calibrated and had modest discriminatory ability. Given the increasing importance of individualized risk prediction, more robust models are needed.
Siberia: A History of the People. By Janet M. Hartley. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2014. Pp. xx, 312. $38.00.)

When people hear the word “Siberia,” they commonly imagine a vast space of ice and snow devoid of human life—a place where the Russian government sends its criminals and political dissidents agains...
Medication management in the older adult: A narrative exploration

Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the meaning nurse practitioners (NPs) ascribed to personal experiences providing care to older adults who take multiple medications to manage complex conditions. The study illuminated the NP experience in caring for the older adult while addressing the complexities of medication management through narrative stories in practice. Methods NPs self-identifying as caring for older adults were interviewed (N=15). Narrative inquiry and the three-dimensional narrative inquiry space were used to guide the researcher during data collection and analysis. Conclusions Three common themes emerged from the narratives. These themes illuminated the complexities NPs face in managing patients with multiple comorbidities, taking multiple medications, and seeing multiple providers. Identified themes were “mastering the art of the puzzle,” “it takes a village,” and “power in knowledge.” Tools to assist NPs identify and manage polypharmacy were identified including the 2015 updated Beers Criteria, ARMOR (Assess, Review, Minimize, Optimize, and Reassess), STOPP (screening tool of older people's potentially inappropriate prescriptions), and START (screening tool to alert providers to the right treatment) tools.
An implantable multimodal sensor for oxygen, neurotransmitters, and electrophysiology during spreading depolarization in the deep brain

Brain tissue injury is often accompanied by spreading depolarization (SD) events, marked by widespread cellular depolarization and cessation of neuronal firing. SD recruits viable tissue into the lesion, making it a focus for intervention. During SD, drastic fluctuations occur in ion gradients, extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations, cellular metabolism, and cerebral blood flow. Measuring SD requires a multimodal approach to capture the array of changes. However, the use of multiple sensors can inflict tissue damage. Here, we use carbon-fiber microelectrodes to characterize several aspects of SD with a single, minimally invasive sensor in the deep brain region of the nucleus accumbens. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry detects large changes in oxygen, which reflect the balance between cerebral blood flow and energy consumption, and also supraphysiological release of electroactive neurotransmitters (i.e., dopamine). We verify waves of SD with concurrent single-unit or DC potential electrophysiological recordings. The single-unit recordings reveal bursts of action potentials followed by inactivity. The DC potentials exhibit a slow negative voltage shift in the extracellular space indicative of wide-spread cellular depolarization. Here, we characterize the multiple modalities of our sensor and demonstrate its utility for improved SD recordings.
Writing Dalit assertion: early Dalit Panther politics and legal advocacy in 1980s Tamil Nadu

This article examines the development and early politics of the Dalit Panther Iyakkam (DPI), or Dalit Panther Movement, of Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1982, the DPI advanced a political programme that petitioned state authorities qua democratic citizens. By submitting written appeals through formal institutional channels, DPI organisers lobbied officials to perform their professional duties and advocated the delivery of rights, impartial administration of law, and equitable access to social and economic development. This article explores the initial phase of Dalit Panther politics in Tamil Nadu through its own documentary evidence, drawing upon DPI Chairman A. Malaichamy’s personal letters, written appeals, and received correspondence, as well as original pamphlets and handbills distributed at political rallies. Countering interpretations of Dalit assertion that accentuate ‘illiberal’ techniques as its natural form and state welfare as its principle target, the article shows that legal advocacy serv...
Abstract P078: Dysregulated Calcium Handling in a Conditional Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Knockout Model of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Heritable cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people, affecting 1 in 500 individuals. HCM is chiefly caused by mutations in myofibrillar proteins of the cardiac sarcomere, and cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) is one of the most commonly affected. cMyBP-C, an accessory protein that binds tightly to myosin, has an important role in thick filament regulation. Mice with genetic ablation of MYBPC3 exhibit cardiac hypertrophy, reduced ejection fraction, and increased relaxation times in vivo . Experiments with explanted hearts from these mice exhibit greater susceptibility to arrhythmias compared to WT, suggesting derangement of Ca 2+ handling. The molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of HCM are poorly understood, and are difficult to tease apart in constitutive knock out models due to potential compensatory changes that can mask important aspects of the disease phenotype. We used a tamoxifen-induced conditional MYBPC3 knock out mouse to investigate the onset and progression of the disease before development of overt hypertrophy. We recorded Ca 2+ transients in enzymatically isolated cardiomyocytes at several pacing frequencies using a META LSM 510 confocal microscope. We found that cell shortening in conditional CMs (con-CMs) was reduced by as much as 54% (e.g., 5.46% ± 0.869 in con-CMs, vs. 11.91% ± 0.423 shortening in WT-CMs). Ca 2+ release was often dissynchronous, possibly indicating remodeling at the diads. Ca 2+ transient amplitude was significantly lower in con-CMs across all pacing frequencies (reduced by at least 22%; e.g., fluorescence intensity ratios of 7.983 ± 0.537 in con-CMs vs. 10.332 ± 0.502 in WT CMs). Further, the time constant of transient decay (tau) was dramatically increased in con-CMs (mean 217.27 ± 18.052 msec for con-CMs vs. 107.44 ± 4.045 msec in WT CMs). In some cells (∼5%), this prolongation of transient decay was so profound (e.g., up to 600 milliseconds) that a second Ca 2+ release occurred before [Ca 2+ ] i could return to baseline. These data suggest that conditional knock out of cMyBP-C produces not only contractile dysfunction, but also pro-arrhythmic alterations in Ca 2+ handling.
Breeding biology during the nestling period at a Black-crowned Pitta Erythropitta ussheri nest

Summary. The natural history of most Pittidae is understudied, but the breeding biology of the genus Erythropitta, a recently recognised grouping of red-bellied pittas, is especially poorly known. We monitored and video-recorded a Blackcrowned Pitta E. ussheri nest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, during the nestling period and found that the male had a higher visitation rate and the female was the sole adult that brooded. We clarify this species' nestling development and describe two vocalisations: (1) the first instance of a fledgling-specific song in Pittidae and (2) a soft grunt-like sound given by adults arriving at the nest early in the nestling period. We analysed the structure of each visit, finding that the longest segment of most parental visits was the period between food delivery and parental departure. We hypothesise that adults linger to await the production of faecal sacs and aid nestlings to process food.
Patent term extension strategies in the pharmaceutical industry

The purpose of this paper is to discuss patent term extension strategies for pharmaceutical companies in the United States. Market exclusivity acquired through patents can yield higher prices and profits for pharmaceutical products. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies use a variety of strategies to increase market exclusivity of their products. Some of the strategies discussed in this paper include one-year extension of time to file for patent under the Paris convention, patent term restoration allowed by the Waxman-Hatch Act, orphan drug exclusivity, pediatric exclusivity, the 30-month stay provision and so on. Even though, the strategies discussed in this paper are for the United States, they may be applicable to most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Canada with minor modifications as similar pharmaceutical regulations exist in these countries.
Comparing Race and Sex in Child Custody Decisionmaking

In her article Prof. Bartlett focuses on race and sex, not where they cross, but what they look like side by side using child custody as a starting point for a more detailed assessment of the similarities and differences between sex and race discrimination. The author focuses on the operation of, and attempts to eliminate, race and sex discrimination in child custody law, using a methodology of moving back and forth between examples of race discrimination and sex discrimination, showing how looking at one in relation to the other contributes to a better understanding of both.
Sedation of Pediatric Patients for Dental Procedures

The challenges of sedating a child for dental procedures are multifactorial [1]: The patient’s age, health, temperament and emotional status, parental concerns, clinician philosophy on patient management, extent and quality of clinician training and experiences with sedation, state dental board regulation of sedation, issues of third party coverage or parental reimbursement, knowledge of and adherence by clinicians to sedation guidelines, facility preparedness, and support staff experiences are but a few of many important considerations. Equally important and challenging are the extent of the dental disease and the inherent requisites of those dental procedures which require complete patient cooperation, good manual dexterity, and dental materials whose outcomes are technically sensitive to and dependent on local factors in the operative field (e.g., salivary contamination). Probably the most disconcerting issue is that dental disease, more specifically dental caries or cavities, is the single most common chronic disease of childhood and it is preventable [2].
Good things for those who wait: Predictive modeling highlights importance of delay discounting for income attainment

Income is a primary determinant of social mobility, career progression, and personal happiness. It has been shown to vary with demographic variables like age and education, with more oblique variables such as height, and with behaviors such as delay discounting, i.e., the propensity to devalue future rewards. However, the relative contribution of each these salary-linked variables to income is not known. Further, much of past research has often been underpowered, drawn from populations of convenience, and produced findings that have not always been replicated. Here we tested a large (n = 2,564), heterogeneous sample, and employed a novel analytic approach: using three machine learning algorithms to model the relationship between income and age, gender, height, race, zip code, education, occupation, and discounting. We found that delay discounting is more predictive of income than age, ethnicity, or height. We then used a holdout data set to test the robustness of our findings. We discuss the benefits of our methodological approach, as well as possible explanations and implications for the prominent relationship between delay discounting and income.
Techno-economic analysis of DC power distribution in commercial buildings

Abstract Improvements in building end-use efficiency have significantly reduced the energy intensity of new buildings, but diminishing returns make it a challenge to build very-low energy buildings cost-effectively. A largely untapped efficiency strategy is to improve the efficiency of power distribution within buildings. Direct current (DC) distribution with modern power electronics has the potential to eliminate much of the power conversion loss in alternating current (AC) building distribution networks that include photovoltaics and DC end uses. Previous literature suggests up to 15% energy savings from DC power distribution in very energy efficient buildings with onsite generation and battery storage. This paper extends prior energy modeling of DC versus AC distribution in buildings, to consider the cost of implementing DC systems on a life-cycle basis. A techno-economic analysis framework based on commercially available products that evaluates the cost-effectiveness of DC systems is presented. The analysis is conducted for three commercial building types in two California climate zones and for various PV and battery storage capacities. Monte Carlo simulation is used to compute the payback period and lifecycle cost savings of DC versus AC distribution systems. A future-market scenario is also examined, which evaluates how future efficiency improvements in power converters and changes in electricity tariffs may affect cost savings. This analysis shows that DC systems can be cost-effective in all scenarios that include large capacities of battery storage and onsite solar, whereas for systems without storage, DC distribution is generally not cost-effective.
Education influences knowledge about environmental issues in Washington, DC, USA

ABSTRACT We predicted that demographic differences in Washington, DC’s population would influence people’s knowledge and perceptions about the interconnectedness of natural resources, climate change, economics, and socio-cultural well-being, so we conducted surveys over three years to test that prediction. We collected demographic data from 455 participants and asked them 26 questions/statements related to natural resources, climate change, economics, and health. We selected education as the focal demographic category and participants were categorized based on their level of educational attainment: 1) completion of high school or less (hereafter “high school”); 2) some trade school or university education beyond high school up to and including completion of a trade school, two-, or four-year degree (hereafter “post-high school”); and 3) completion of a Master’s, professional, or doctoral degree (hereafter “advanced education”). Answers to 14 of the 26 survey questions were dissimilar across educational groups. People with advanced education reported the highest connection with the natural community and were more likely to report that their personal welfare depended on the natural community. Participants in the high school group were more likely to believe that humans do not have much influence on natural resources and placed more trust in technology and human achievements to control nature and ensure that earth will not become unlivable. Compared to those with education beyond high school, those with a high school education were more likely to express an interest in local environmental concerns over global, jobs over natural resources, and effects of degraded local natural resources on income, health, and the environment instead of on cultural/social practices, neighborhood aesthetics, and recreation. The results suggest ways in which educational information and engagement in environmental issues should be targeted for stakeholders of different educational background in order to increase knowledge and build effective partnerships that find solutions for environmental problems.
Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium (SCC) at NSLS-II: Dedicated Beamline Facilities for In Situ and Operando Characterization of Catalysts

The Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium (SCC) was funded and established in September 2005 at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). For more than a deca...
Thermal Comfort of Chemical Protective Clothing: Effect of Body Movement on Thermal Resistance

Chemical protective clothing (CPC) is designed to protect wearers against any potential chemical hazards they might be exposed to. To achieve that, different approaches and materials have been applied to CPC. The major issue associated with wearing CPC is the heat stress to wearers: normally the better the protection, the higher the heat stress. To evaluate and/or redesign CPC to reduce heat stress, its thermal property—thermal resistance (Rct) should be well informed. However, the measurement of Rct per the standard ASTM F1291 is on a standing still manikin, which doesn’t represent the real situation where users are usually constantly moving. In addition, only the whole-body Rct of clothing is reported, which may neglect the variance across different local body parts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of body movement on the whole-body Rct as well as localized Rct of typical CPC made from different materials.
Have Private Equity Owned Nursing Homes Fared Worse Under COVID-19?

Over 40% of U.S. COVID-19 deaths occurred in nursing homes. Given increasing private equity (PE) ownership in healthcare and long-standing concerns that PE investors focus on profits to the detriment of patients, it is important to understand the impact of PE ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluates how PE acquisitions impacted the readiness and outcomes of nursing facilities during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We relate PE ownership to COVID-19 cases, deaths, and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, controlling for facility characteristics, resident composition, local characteristics, and the severity of COVID-19 outbreak near the facility. PE ownership was associated with a mean decrease in the probability of confirmed resident cases by 7.1 percentage points ("pp") (p<0.01) and confirmed staff cases by 5.4 pp (p=0.01). PE was also associated with decreased probability of PPE shortages—including N95s (6.4 pp; p<0.01), surgical masks (7.6 pp; p<0.01), eyewear (4.8 pp; p<0.01), gowns (7.0 pp; p<0.01), gloves (3.3 pp; p=0.02), and hand sanitizer (2.3 pp; p=0.12). Facilities previously (but not presently) owned by PE firms did not fare similarly well. Prior PE ownership was associated with increased PPE shortages and, if anything, higher probability of resident outbreaks. Our results indicate that—contrary to a common media narrative—PE-owned facilities have actually fared better under the COVID-19 pandemic. They also suggest that the long-run consequences of PE ownership warrant further research.
Getting a Grip on the Saddle: Chasms or Cycles

The saddle is a sudden, sustained, and deep drop in sales of a new product, after a period of rapid growth following takeoff, followed by a gradual recovery to the former peak. This paper tests for the generalizability of the saddle across products and countries and for three rival explanations: chasms in adopter segments, business cycles, and technological cycles. The authors model both boundary points of the saddle: start of the sales drop and recovery to the initial peak, using split-population models. Empirical analysis of historical sales data from 10 products across 19 countries shows that the saddle is fairly pervasive. The onset of the saddle occurs in 148 product-country combinations. On average, the saddle occurs 9 years post-takeoff, at a mean penetration of 30%, lasting for 8 years with a 29% drop in sales at its depth. Results support explanations of chasms and technological cycles for information/entertainment products and business cycles and technological cycles for kitchen/laundry products. The authors discuss findings, contributions, and implications.
A review of recent reports on the applications of optical technologies to detect SARS-CoV-2

Enabling technologies capable of rapid detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is the key for the rapid and effective control of the outbreaks. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is widely used technique for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, but it requires a time-consuming and labor-intensive platform, limiting its availability in some regions. Applications of optical detection technologies involving sensors and sensitive imaging modalities to the fast and low-cost detection of various types of viruses have been demonstrated. This paper will present a review of recent research reports involving such optical technologies for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
Psychological Assessment Report Example

This section provides a very brief foundation of demographic information. This information anchors the data to follow, specifically in relation to chronological time, the patient’s age, and their academic grade level.
DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF SMARTPHONE BASED DICOM VIEWERS FOR EVALUATION OF CBCT SCANS

BACKGROUND Viewing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans at multiple locations and on multiple devices continues to present challenges. Several clinicians use smartphones to look at specific images for reference, especially intraoperatively. Currently, smartphone use is limited to viewing selected images or small videos at best. No applications were available until recently to view DICOM files on smartphones. The evolution of DICOM viewer apps for smartphones is a new feature. No studies currently exist that have tested the diagnostic efficacy of such platforms or their ease of use. OBJECTIVE(S) The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of 2 smartphone-based DICOM viewers in their ability to depict anatomy and pathology of the maxillofacial region. STUDY DESIGN An Android-compliant DICOM viewer app was used on an Honor 6X smartphone and an IOS-compliant app was used on an iPhone 11 to evaluate 7 CBCT scans. Scans were evaluated for anatomy and pathology. Five anatomic landmarks were identified in each plane and scored. The scoring criteria were as follows: (1) cannot be visualized, (2) visualized but not of diagnostic quality, and (3) well visualized and of diagnostic quality. The same scale was used to evaluate pathology. These scans were also evaluated on a PACS monitor that served as the gold standard for comparative evaluation. Two oral radiology residents evaluated the images on all 3 modalities and a comparative evaluation was done using Cohen's kappa analysis. RESULTS The quality of the scan was comparable on both devices. Both apps demonstrated scans in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes and were of diagnostic quality. However, the IOS app had features that improved the ease of use and allowed simultaneous visualization and navigation including measurement capability. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Smartphone-based DICOM viewers can facilitate visualization of anatomy and pathology in the maxillofacial region and can serve as valuable adjuncts for viewing CBCT scans.
Windsor, Federalism, and Family Equality

In a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Kennedy, the Court held in Windsor v. United States that section 3 of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. Advocates had attacked section 3 on two primary grounds. The principal argument leveled at section 3 was that it violated principles of equal protection by denying one class of married spouses — lesbian and gay spouses — all federal marital benefits. Section 3 was also attacked on a number of federalism-based grounds. Some advocates pushed a particularly strong federalism variant, arguing that DOMA was unconstitutional because Congress lacked the authority to define or determine family status. I call this the categorical family status federalism argument. Others endorsed a more moderated claim. Under this theory, the fact that a law — here section 3 of DOMA — deviated from the historic allocation of power as between the federal government and the states was simply a basis for applying a more careful level of equal protection scrutiny. Under this theory, the federalism-based concerns were not an independent basis for striking down the law. This Essay argues that civil rights advocates dodged a bullet when the Windsor Court declined to embrace the categorical family status federalism theory. While its acceptance would have brought along the short-term gain of providing a basis for invalidating DOMA, it also would have curtailed the ability of federal officials to protect same-sex couples and other families.
Examination of highly purified transfer RNAs from Escherichia coli. Differences in amount of minor components and presence of a cytidine-thiouridine photoproduct in "normal" tRNAs; a comparison of two analytical methods.

Abstract To answer the question of whether or not the nucleoside composition of a highly purified tRNA preparation agrees with the primary structure of its major component and, if so, to what extent, the nucleoside composition of 80–100 % pure arginine, formylmethionine, glutamate, phenylalanine, and valine tRNA preparations from Escherichia coli in wide use were assayed by two sensitive analytical methods: ion-exclusion column chromatography of nucleosides and thin-layer separation of in vitro -labeled nucleoside derivatives. The low amounts of certain of the rare, modified nucleosides in some of the preparations indicate that these preparations may be mixtures of completely and partially modified (mature and immature) tRNAs, possibly reflecting different stages of growth cycles at which they were harvested, and adding incomplete maturation to the known causes of chemical heterogeneity. Thus, a 100 % pure tRNA preparation is not absolute with regard to its assigned structure. Roughly 35 % of the tRNAs containing 4-thiouridine appear to have been modified by a photochemical cross-linkage of cytidine and thiouridine in the tRNAs during the course of their isolation. The formation of the photoproduct can be accounted for by equivalent losses in cytidine and thiouridine. These observations must be taken into account in interpreting work with these widely used preparations. While neither of the two analytical systems employed can be used alone to detect and quantitate every one of the many nucleoside species present in tRNAs, the column procedures have the practical advantages of speed, scale, and range of chromatographic conditions (pH, temperature) without loss of versatility. Positions of several modified nucleosides ( e.g. 2-methyladenosine, 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, uridin-5-oxyacetate) in the two separation methods are described.
Observations on the placentae of eight Thoroughbred foals born with flexural limb deformities

Summary Congenital flexural deformities are relatively common in newborn Thoroughbred foals. This paper reports on the physical and morphological examination of 8 placentae from foals with varying degrees of the condition. All the placentae showed one or more of the following characteristics: a reduction in their linear dimensions; folding of the allantochorion over the course of major blood vessels; oedema. Although the changes observed in the placentae were indicative of uterine narrowing, it remains unclear if they are the cause of, an effect of or unrelated to the deformities.
Comparing gifts to purchased materials

AbstractThe aim of the study was to compare the value of gift materials added to the general collection of a small to medium-sized academic library with materials selected and purchased by the library. The measure employed to determine the relative value of the gifts vs. non-gifts was how often the materials were used within a 12-month period. Two groups of 77 books (gifts and purchased items) were tracked over the course of 1 year to determine if the gifts were used significantly less. Results indicate that donated books were used on average 0.87 times whereas non-gifts were used 1.38 times. A t-test was also applied demonstrating that the two groups were significantly different at the 0.05 level. This provides empirical data libraries can use to re-evaluate existing policies and procedures for handling gifts.
STABILITY AND TELLER'S THEOREM : FULLERENES IN THE MARCH MODEL

We study C${}_{60}$ with the use of the March model [N. H. March, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 48, 665 (1952)]. A spherical shell model is invoked to treat the nuclear potential, where the nuclear and core charges are smeared out into a shell of constant surface charge density. The valence electron distribution and the electrostatic potential are efficiently computed by integration of the Thomas-Fermi equation, subject to the shell boundary conditions. Total energy is numerically calculated over a range of shell radii, and the mechanical stability of the model is explored with attention to the constraints of Teller's theorem [E. Teller, Rev. Mod. Phys. 34, 627 (1962)]. The calculated equilibrium radius of the shell is in fair agreement with experiment.
Effect of Enzyme Treatment and Ultrafiltration on the Quality of Lowfat Cheddar Cheese

Abstract Lowfat Cheddar cheese was manufactured by conventional cheese making procedures using lowfat milk (1.8% fat), lowfat milk concentrated to five times by UF, lowfat milk plus a flavor-enhancing enzyme, or UF lowfat milk concentrated to five times plus a flavor-enhancing enzyme. A full fat (3.5%) control cheese was also manufactured. Concentration was by a commercially available hollow fiber UF unit after preacidification to pH 6.25 and diafiltration to 65% of original milk volume. The cheese was analyzed during 6 mo of storage at 8°C for microbiological changes (plating) and organic acid levels (HPLC). Expert sensory evaluation was also performed. Results showed that lowfat Cheddar cheese manufactured from UF lowfat milk contained significantly higher moisture, salt, total protein, and significantly lower lactic acid than Cheddar cheese from lowfat milk. The enzyme treatment appeared to stimulate the production of organic acids in lowfat Cheddar cheese by yielding higher mean levels of citric, orotic, pyruvic, acetic, and propionic acids. Neither UF nor enzyme treatment significantly improved the flavor or body and texture of the treated cheese types.
Description and analysis of existing knowledge management frameworks

There is a growing recognition in the business community about the importance of managing knowledge. Some organizations have taken initiatives to understand and manage this critical resource. Major organizations have appointed chief knowledge officers (CKOs) and chief learning officers to formally initiate and cultivate KM activities in their organizations. In spite of these initiatives, the bulk of organizations still have not approached knowledge management (KM) activity formally or deliberately. The cause for this lack of effective management of knowledge could be that most organizations are still struggling to comprehend the KM concept. The reason for this confusion and lack of clarity can be attributed to a gap between the emerging KM phenomena and the current lack of understanding about this phenomena by researchers and practitioners. To bridge the gap, the fundamental issue of identifying salient characteristics of KM phenomena needs to be addressed. This is a prerequisite for systematic research into the nature and possibilities of KM, as well as for easing the emergence of KM into practice. Researchers have proposed a variety of KM framework models and perspectives to help understand this emerging phenomenon. Each of them addresses certain KM elements. However, none of them appears to subsume all of the others. The major contribution of this paper is that it presents a summary and comparative analysis of these frameworks.
Strategic Analysis of Terrorism

Two areas that are increasingly studied in the game-theoretic literature on terrorism and counterterrorism are collective action and asymmetric information. One contribution of this chapter is a survey and extension of continuous policy models with differentiable payoff functions. In this way, policies can be characterized as strategic substitutes (e. g., proactive measures), or strategic complements (e. g., defensive measures). Mixed substitute–complement models are also introduced. We show that the efficiency of counterterror policy depends upon (i) the strategic substitutes-complements characterization, and (ii) who initiates the action. Surprisingly, in mixed-models the dichotomy between individual and collective action may disappear. A second contribution is the consideration of a signaling model where indiscriminant spectacular terrorist attacks may erode terrorists’ support among its constituency, and proactive government responses can create a backlash effect in favor of terrorists. A novel equilibrium of this model reflects the well-documented ineffectiveness of terrorism in achieving its stated goals.
Effectiveness of complete versus partial androgen withdrawal therapy for the treatment of prostatic cancer as studied in the Dunning R-3327 system of rat prostatic adenocarcinomas.

Standard initial therapy for metastatic prostatic cancer involves surgical or chemically induced castration. Castration lowers the serum testosterone level by over 90% but does not completely eliminate all potential serum androgens (i.e., it induces a partial androgen withdrawal). This has led some investigators to suggest that a more complete form of androgen withdrawal in which the very low levels of serum androgens remaining after castration are neutralized by the simultaneous treatment with a direct acting antiandrogen (i.e., complete androgen withdrawal) might be more effective than simply castration alone. To determine whether complete androgen withdrawal is any more effective than partial androgen withdrawal therapy, the slow growing, well differentiated H and the fast growing, poorly differentiated G sublines of the serially transplantable Dunning R-3327 system of rat prostatic adenocarcinomas were used as a test system since both of these cancers are androgen responsive. These studies demonstrated that: (a) complete androgen withdrawal consisting of surgical castration in combination with daily treatment with the potent antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate, was no more effective in terms of tumor growth retardation or overall host survival than was partial androgen withdrawal induced by castration alone; (b) serum testosterone levels must be maintained below 0.5 ng/ml but do not have to be completely eliminated to produce the maximum therapeutic response; and (c) prostatic cancers are more sensitive than is the normal prostate to growth stimulation by serum testosterone.
Effects of L-arginine-derived nitric oxide synthesis on neuronal activity in nucleus tractus solitarius

The purpose of these studies was to determine the effects of L-arginine-derived nitric oxide (NO) synthesis on neuronal activity in solitary tract nucleus (NTS) neurons. Single unit activity was recorded extracellularly from medial NTS neurons in Fischer-344 rats in vivo and in vitro. In anesthetized rats with arterial pressure maintained constant, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg iv), an inhibitor of NO synthesis, decreased the discharge rate in 12 of 14 neurons and increased the discharge rate in two. After injection of L-NAME, the slowing of neuronal activity began within 2-5 min, and maximal responses were observed 12-15 min after injection. The decreases in activity were reversed within 12-15 min with L-arginine (30 mg/kg iv) or immediately with nitroglycerin (NTG, 10-30 micrograms/kg iv). In superfused rat brain slices, the discharge rate was reduced by 1 mM L-NAME in seven neurons, increased in two, and unchanged in one. The decreases in discharge rate were reversed by 2 mM L-arginine (4 of 6 neurons) and by 10-30 microM NTG (6 of 7 neurons). The results show that L-arginine-derived NO can affect the spontaneous discharge rate of NTS neurons. We conclude that NO may influence the excitability of NTS neurons involved in central autonomic control.
Practical estimate of gradient nonlinearity for implementation of apparent diffusion coefficient bias correction

Purpose To describe an efficient procedure to empirically characterize gradient nonlinearity and correct for the corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bias on a clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Materials and Methods Spatial nonlinearity scalars for individual gradient coils along superior and right directions were estimated via diffusion measurements of an isotropic ice-water phantom. Digital nonlinearity model from an independent scanner, described in the literature, was rescaled by system-specific scalars to approximate 3D bias correction maps. Correction efficacy was assessed by comparison to unbiased ADC values measured at isocenter. Results Empirically estimated nonlinearity scalars were confirmed by geometric distortion measurements of a regular grid phantom. The applied nonlinearity correction for arbitrarily oriented diffusion gradients reduced ADC bias from ∼20% down to ∼2% at clinically relevant offsets both for isotropic and anisotropic media. Identical performance was achieved using either corrected diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) intensities or corrected b-values for each direction in brain and ice-water. Direction-average trace image correction was adequate only for isotropic medium. Conclusion Empiric scalar adjustment of an independent gradient nonlinearity model adequately described DWI bias for a clinical scanner. Observed efficiency of implemented ADC bias correction quantitatively agreed with previous theoretical predictions and numerical simulations. The described procedure provides an independent benchmark for nonlinearity bias correction of clinical MRI scanners. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1487–1495. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Circuit-based preprocessing of ILP and its applications in leakage minimization and power estimation

In this paper, we discuss the application of circuit-based logical reasoning to simplify optimization problems expressed as integer linear programs (ILP) over circuit states. We demonstrate that a targeted restructuring of the problem formulation based on the circuit topology can significantly improve the performance and capacity of the overall optimization procedure. We further review two distinct application classes, one requiring a feasible, the other an infeasible bound of an ILP solution that cannot be computed optimally within resource limits and present algorithmic approaches to handle them. We use the problems of computing a minimal leakage state and finding the state transition with maximal peak current to exemplify these two unique classes and present results comparing our methods with alternative techniques.
Abstract 13299: Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-1) Reduces Chemokines and Recruitment of Monocytes Into Atherosclerotic Plaque: Potential Mechanism Mediating IGF-1-induced Atheroprotection

We have shown that IGF-1 infusion decreased atherosclerotic plaque burden and macrophage content in Apoe-/- mice. We hypothesized that IGF-1 suppressed recruitment of circulating monocytes (MN) into plaque. Apoe-/- mice on a Western diet for 8 wks received IGF-1 (25 ug i.p. daily, 1 wk) and red latex beads (2.5% wt/vol in PBS, i.v., specifically taken up by MN). IGF-1 reduced Mac3 (macrophage marker)-positive/red-labeled cells in plaque (1.05±0.3, IGF-1 vs.1.8±0.2 cells/plaque, control) without changes in labeled splenic MN. Similarly, chronic IGF-1 delivery (1.5 mg/kg/d, 4 wks, mini-pumps) decreased labeled plaque MN (1.3±0.3, IGF-1 vs. 2.6±0.4 cells/plaque, control). Conversely, mice with MN/macrophage-specific IGF-1 receptor deficiency (LCFIR) had increased labeled plaque MN (5.73±0.8, LCFIR vs. 2.33±0.4 cells/plaque, control). MN chemotaxis is mediated by multiple chemokines/chemokine receptors. 6T/E mice are congenic mice on Apoe-/- background that have a 20% decline in circulating IGF-I and increase...
The impact of user attitudes toward microcomputer usage on system usage and user satisfaction

The study developed tested a path model of attitudes toward microcomputer usage, system usage and user satisfaction among microcomputer users. Results of path analysis of survey data gathered from 187 microcomputer users provided a moderate support for the proposed model. It was shown that attitudes toward microcomputer usage will enhance both system usage and user's satisfaction with the system. Further, the results confirmed the hypothesized model that user satisfaction influences system usage, and system usage also has an influence on user satisfaction, satisfaction.
Conservative forecasting with the damped trend

Abstract The “Golden Rule” checklist by Armstrong, Green, and Graefe, in this issue (referred to as AGG below), is a systematic procedure for implementing conservative forecasting principles, and it should help close the long-standing gap between theory and practice. The checklist is both a practical tool and an empirical research agenda. Trend damping is an important part of the checklist, and AGG rely on subjective judgment about when and how damping should be done. I recommend a more objective approach based on the damped trend method of exponential smoothing, which has a long record of success in empirical research.
Iron homeostasis: casting new roles.

In this issue of Blood, Folgueras and colleagues show that the transmembrane serine protease matriptase-2 plays an essential role in the regulation of systemic iron homeostasis.
Changes in rat liver transfer RNA following growth hormone administration and in regenerating liver.

Abstract 1. 1. tRNA isolated from livers of hypophysectomized rats and hypophysectomized rats treated with growth hormone for 5 days (1 mg/day) was charged with [ 14 C]- or [ 3 H]amino acids and fractionated by reversed-phase column chromatography. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases were prepared from normal rat liver. 2. 2. Each of the five amino acids studied (leucine, valine, lysine, arginine and aspartic acid) was separated into multiple species of isoaccepting tRNA's on the reversed-phase columns. No significant differences were observed in elution profiles of leucyl-, valyl-, lysyl- and arginyl-tRNA's following growth hormone administration. 3. 3. Two additional species of aspartyl-tRNA were found in livers of growth hormone-treated animals which were not present in control hypophysectomized rats. That the difference was in the tRNA and not due to contaminations in the amino acid was shown by switching the [ 14 C]- and [ 3 H]amino acids and obtaining similar results. 4. 4. Changes in aspartyl-tRNA's similar to those observed following growth hormone administration in hypophysectomized animals were found to occur in regenerating liver when compared to normal animals. This was interpreted as an indication that the changes in aspartyl-tRNA's were due to growth initiation rather than growth hormone administration per se .