cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Elevated Temperature on the Epididymis and Testis: Experimental Studies

The testis has been the natural focus of attention in considering the effects of elevated temperatures on male reproduction. In all mammals studied, including man, the germinal epithelium of the scrotal testis is acutely sensitive to an increase of only a very few degrees, and much effort has been devoted to analysis of this response (Waites and Setchell, 1969; Vandemark and Free, 1970; Harrison, 1975; Kandeel and Swerdloff, 1988). Considerable attention has been given also to the broader biological question as to why the testes of a majority of mammals should need to function at temperatures somewhat below that of the body. However, a focus on the physiology of the testis per se has produced no satisfactory explanation of this phenomenon.
Long-term tillage effects on soil carbon storage and carbon dioxide emissions in continuous corn cropping system from an alfisol in Ohio.

The experiment designed to quantify the effects of long-term tillage practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and CO2 emissions, was conducted on long-term tillage and continuous corn (Zea mays L.). The experimental plots were established in 1962 on a Crosby silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Aeric Ochraqualf) in Ohio. It consisted of moldboard plow till (MT) chisel till (CT), and no-till (NT) laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. After 43 yrs of continuous corn, the pool of SOC in the top 30 cm depth was significantly greater under NT (80.0 ± 3.7 Mg C ha−1) than under CT (45.3 ± 1.7 Mg C ha−1) and MT (44.8 ± 3.7 Mg C ha−1). A large proportion (68–74%) of SOC, in the 0–30 cm depth originated from corn residues (C4-C). On average, MT, CT and NT treatments sequestered C4-C in the top 30 cm at a rate of 0.73, 0.71 and 1.37 Mg ha−1 yr−1. The average daily CO2 fluxes (g CO2-C m−2 d−1) were greater under MT (2.14) and CT (2.07) than under NT (1.61). In addition, the daily CO2 fluxes were highest in summer (2.62–3.77 g CO2-C m−2 d−1), the lowest in winter (0.75–0.87 g CO2-C m−2 d−1), and were positively correlated with air (R2 = 0.78, P < 0.01) and soil temperatures in the top 20 cm (R2 = 0.76, P < 0.01) and negatively with soil water content (R2 = 0.57, P < 0.05). Tillage management had a significant influence on average daily CO2 fluxes during summer and autumn but not during winter and spring. Annual CO2 emissions calculated by extrapolating daily CO2 fluxes were significantly higher under MT (6.6 ± 0.3 Mg CO2-C ha−1 yr−1) and CT (6.2 ± 0.4 Mg CO2-C ha−1 yr−1) than under NT (5.5 ± 0.5 Mg CO2-C ha−1 yr−1; LSD = 0.25 Mg CO2-C ha−1 yr−1). These results indicated that, during the growing season, NT reduced CO2 emissions by an average of 0.7 and 0.6 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 compared to MT and CT, respectively.
Carcinogenic Metals Induce Hypoxia-inducible Factor-stimulated Transcription by Reactive Oxygen Species-independent Mechanism

Nickel (Ni2+) and cobalt (Co2+) mimic hypoxia and were used as a tool to study the role of oxygen sensing and signaling cascades in the regulation of hypoxia-inducible gene expression. These metals can produce oxidative stress; therefore, it was conceivable that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may trigger signaling pathways resulting in the activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 transcription factor and up-regulation of hypoxia-related genes. We found that the exposure of A549 cells to Co2+ or Ni2+ produced oxidative stress, and although Co2+ was a more potent producer of ROS than Ni2+, both metals equally increased the expression of Cap43, a hypoxia-regulated gene. The coadministration of hydrogen peroxide with metals induced more ROS; however, this did not further increase the expression of Cap43 mRNA. The free radical scavenger 2-mercaptoethanol completely suppressed ROS generation by CoCl2 and NiCl2 but did not diminish the induced Cap43 gene expression. The activity of the HIF-1 transcription factor as assessed in transient transfection assays was stimulated by Ni2+, hypoxia, and desferrioxamine, but this activation was not diminished when oxidative stress was attenuated nor was HIF-dependent transcription enhanced by hydrogen peroxide. We conclude that ROS are produced during the exposure of cells to metals that mimic hypoxia, but the formation of ROS was not involved in the activation of HIF-1-dependent genes.
Integrating Global Games in the Elementary Physical Education Curriculum

(2011). Integrating Global Games in the Elementary Physical Education Curriculum. Strategies: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 8-12.
Three Conceptions of Democratic Control

The idea of control or power is central to the notion of democracy, since the ideal is one of giving kratos to the demos: giving maximal or at least significant control over government to the people. But it turns out that the notion of kratos or control is definable in various ways and that as the notion is differently understood, so the ideal of democracy is differently interpreted. In this little reflection, I distinguish between three different notions of popular control, arguing that only one is really suitable in democratic theory. Under the first conception of popular control, it means that the people have a causal influence on government; under the second, it implies that the people exercise intentional direction over government; and under the third, it requires that the people enjoy an intermediate degree of power: I describe this as institutional control over government. I argue that popular control as causal influence is not demanding enough for the ideal of democracy, that popular control as intentional direction is too demanding, and that the only plausible candidate for interpreting the ideal is that of institutional control. I discuss two ways in which this sort of popular control may be realized, arguing against what I call a ‘market’ model and presenting the rival, ‘condominium’ model in a rather more favorable light.
Crystal structure of conserved hypothetical protein Aq1575 from Aquifex aeolicus

The crystal structure of a conserved hypothetical protein, Aq1575, from Aquifex aeolicus has been determined by using x-ray crystallography. The protein belongs to the domain of unknown function DUF28 in the Pfam and PALI databases for which there was no structural information available until now. A structural homology search with the DALI algorithm indicates that this protein has a new fold with no obvious similarity to those of other proteins of known three-dimensional structure. The protein reveals a monomer consisting of three domains arranged along a pseudo threefold symmetry axis. There is a large cleft with approximate dimensions of 10 Å × 10 Å × 20 Å in the center of the three domains along the symmetry axis. Two possible active sites are suggested based on the structure and multiple sequence alignment. There are several highly conserved residues in these putative active sites. The structure based molecular properties and thermostability of the protein are discussed.
Sitting oral-tracheal intubation

Sitting oral-tracheal intubation is a useful technique for rapid airway control in the patient for whom maintenance of the upright posture is desirable. The technique consists of introducing the endotracheal tube with the patient in the sitting or semi-sitting position. Specific positioning of both patient and operator is required.
Plant Cells Contain Two Functionally Distinct Vacuolar Compartments

The plant cell vacuole has multiple functions, including storage of proteins and maintenance of an acidic pH where proteases will have maximal activity. It has been assumed that these diverse functions occur in the same compartment. Here, we demonstrate that antibodies to two different tonoplast intrinsic proteins, alpha-TIP and TIP-Ma27, label vacuole membranes of two different compartments within the same cell. These compartments are functionally distinct, because barley lectin, a protein stored in root tips, is exclusively contained within the alpha-TIP compartment, while aleurain, a protease that serves as a marker for an acidified vacuolar environment, is exclusively contained within the TIP-Ma27 compartment. As cells develop large vacuoles, the two compartments merge; this may represent a process by which storage products in the alpha-TIP compartment are exposed to the acidic lytic TIP-Ma27 compartment for degradation.
“A New View of Women's Sexual Problems”—A Family Physician's Response

Abstract Sexual problems arise frequently in women's lives and are intertwined with all aspects of their social, family, personal, and psychological situations. In the past, physicians have under-recognized or medicalized patients' sexual problems. Moreover, family physicians have been limited to the DSM-IV taxonomy of sexual dysfunction to describe patients' sexual problems. This classification system does not address the need for a patient-centered model, nor does it fit with the biopsychosocial approach of family medicine. In contrast, “The New View of Women's Sexual Problems” is compatible with the biopsychosocial approach because it places the woman and her experience at the center of interest. The “New View” would be strengthened by explicit recognition of the influence of the clinician's own perspective and experience on the process of diagnosis and treatment.
An open-loop cyclostationarity-based timing recovery algorithm for accelerated timing acquisition in frequency-selective channels

We propose an open-loop symbol period estimation algorithm that can be used alone or to speed up symbol timing recovery loops. The proposed algorithm is effective in frequency selective channels, does not require the resampling of the digital received signal while estimating the symbol period, and does not require estimation of the transmitted symbols. The algorithm is performed in a computationally efficient manner. Included is a simple method of finding a DFT value for subsequent overlapping blocks of data using only one complex multiply. Simulations of the proposed algorithm show significant improvements in estimation time and reduction of jitter when compared to a Gardner timing recovery loop.
Alterations in blood and urine parameters in two florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) from simulated conditions of release following rehabilitation

In an effort to manage the existing population of the endangered Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), as many individuals as possible are rehabilitated from illness or injury and released back into the waters of the state of Florida. It is not uncommon, however, for manatees recaptured for health assessment following release from rehabilitation to have elevated concentrations of serum creatinine. Although such elevated levels would be indicative of kidney failure in most other mammals, problems associated with renal function have not been evident in these recaptured manatees. To determine the possible cause(s) of the serum creatinine increase, two captive Florida manatees were manipulated to simulate many of the environmental and physical changes that occur during and shortly after release. Routine chemical analyses of serum and urine, complete blood counts, serum cortisol concentrations, and lymphocyte proliferation responses were measured. Serum creatinine concentrations increased significantly in response to decreased food intake and changes in food type. The increases differed depending on the salinity of the water in which the animals were maintained. It was found that significant changes in urinary creatinine and serum creatine kinase occurred as well, but serum cortisol concentrations were elevated only during simulated transport. Lymphocyte proliferation assays indicated that immune function was potentially impaired by extreme levels of dietary restriction and by changes in salinity. These results suggest that serum creatinine elevations and subsequent effects on the immune system might be minimized by adapting manatees undergoing rehabilitation to the diet and salinity they would encounter following release. Zoo Biol 22:103–120, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ADRs, Analysts, and Accuracy: Does Cross Listing in the U.S. Improve a Firm's Information Environment and Increase Market Value?

This paper investigates the relation between cross listing in the U.S., with its resulting commitment to increased disclosure, and the information environment of non-U.S. firms. We find that firms that cross-list on U.S. exchanges have greater analyst coverage and increased forecast accuracy relative to firms that are not cross listed. A time-series analysis shows that the change in analyst coverage and forecast accuracy occurs around cross listing. We also document that firms that have more analyst coverage and higher forecast accuracy have a higher valuation. Further, the change in firm value around cross listing is correlated with changes in the firm's information environment. Our findings support the hypothesis that cross-listed firms have better information environments, which are associated with higher market valuations.
ATP-driven rotation of the γ subunit in F1-ATPase

Abstract We present a mechanism for F 1 -ATPase in which hydrolysis of MgATP in the high-affinity catalytic site at the α/β interface drives rotation of the γ subunit via conformational changes in the α subunit. During hydrolysis, transition state formation and separation of P i from MgADP causes movement of portions of α, transmitted via two Arg residues which are hydrogen-bonded to the γ-phosphate of MgATP, αArg376 and βArg182; the latter is also hydrogen-bonded to interfacial α residues between α346 and α349. Changes in α conformation then push on γ, resulting in rotation. Supporting evidence from the literature and from new data is discussed.
LAND REFORM VERSUS AGRICULTURAL REFORM: TURKISH MIRACLE OR CATASTROPHE DELAYED?

The change from an agriculturally based economy to one based primarily on industrial and services sectors requires a complex transformation in technology of productions, physical and human capital structure, social and political institutions, and cultural attitudes. Although broad similarities exist, no two countries have traced an identical path. One major economic and ideological concern in such a transformation is the fate of private property in general and land ownership in particular. Furthermore, the degree of redistribution of political power and material wealth of existing or emerging groups constitutes an important characteristic of the transformation itself. Thus, an important and interesting link in the chain of probable events is the occurrence or non-occurrence of land reform. The nature and degree of land reform, if it happens, or the variety of its substitutes, if it does not, provide vital clues to the specificity of the political economy of development.
Assessment and extension of the MODIS FPAR products in temperate forests of the eastern United States

Spatial and temporal variability in the quality of the collection 4 and 5 MODIS FPAR products were examined over a 1.1 million km2 region dominated by temperate forests. The MODIS FPAR products were parsed into different quality levels based on the retrieval method of the FPAR estimates, and the spatial coverage of the different quality MODIS subsets was examined through time and by land cover. The spatial extent of good quality FPAR estimates, derived from the main radiative transfer algorithm without saturation, was found to be quite limited, particularly during the growing season. The majority of the MODIS C4 FPAR retrievals were derived from the back-up, empirically based algorithm. The C5 products available to date showed greater data quality but still had limitations in forested areas. As an alternative to using the lower-quality MODIS FPAR data, we explored the utility of estimating FPAR from the more spatially extensive (and higher resolution) MODIS NDVI product using a simple, regionally based linear regression. A strong linear relationship between high quality MODIS NDVI and FPAR products within our study site was found, indicating its utility for estimating FPAR at regional scales where good quality retrievals from the MODIS algorithm are not available and where higher resolution FPAR maps are desired. We discuss these results and their significance for down-stream MODIS users.
Impact Isolation Through the Use of Compliant Interconnects for Microelectronic Packages

First-level and second-level compliant interconnect structures are being pursued in universities and industries to accommodate the differential displacement induced by the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the die and the substrate or between the substrate and the board. The compliant interconnects mechanically decouple the die from the substrate or the substrate from the board, and thus reduce the thermally induced stresses in the assembly. This paper presents drop-test experimental and simulation data for scaled-up prototype of compliant interconnects. The simulations were based on Input-G method and performed using ANSYS® finite element software for varying drop heights. In parallel to the simulations, scaled-up compliant polymer interconnects sandwiched between a polymer die and a polymer substrate were fabricated using three-dimensional (3D) printing, and this fabrication provides a quick low-cost alternative to cleanroom fabrication. The prototype of the assembly was subjected to drop tests from varying drop heights. The response of the assembly during drop testing was captured using strain gauges and an accelerometer mounted on the prototype. The data from the experiments were compared with the predictions from the simulations. Based on such simulations, significant insight into the behavior of compliant interconnects under impact loading was obtained, which could be used for reliable design of compliant interconnect under impact loading. Both the experimental and simulation data reveal that the compliant interconnects are able to reduce the strains that transfer from substrate to die by one-order.
Traqueros: Mexican Railroad Workers in the United States 1870–1930

Jeffrey Marcos Garcilazo, a PhD from UC-Santa Barbara who died tragically in 2001, sets forth a simple purpose for his work: to add Mexican American railroad workers to the robust literature on Ang...
Comparison of lipid metabolism of chicken embryo organs and cells in culture.

SummaryA study was made of the relative incorporation of acetate-1-C14 into lipids of chicken embryo tissues in ovo and in tissue culture. Embryonic heart, thigh, and stomach incorporated C14 mainly into phospholipids in ovo, and into neutral fat in vitro. Relative C14 content of the cholesterol esters was higher when the cells were grown in medium containing calf serum as compared with chicken serum, an effect not correlated with serum fatty acid composition or fatty acid and cholesterol content. Acetate incorporation by established cell lines (HeLa and Chang liver) resembled more closely that of chick embryo organs in ovo rather than that of chick embryo tissues in vitro.
What can i do here? IoT service discovery in smart cities

The vision of smart cities and IoT is an environment blanketed with interconnected, software-enabled devices. Unlike software installed on personal devices, however, people may not know about services in the environment, or may not even be the intended users. People lack a unified way to discover software services in a smart city infrastructure, and the current device-centric approach to IoT is inconsistent with the growing network and software services associated with these devices. In this paper we outline changes needed in the current IoT framework to shift to a service model for IoT. We describe how, similar to users of a personal computing device, users can define their preferences, install services, and manage the data that is generated and consumed by services. In this framework, service preferences provide a basis for proper service discovery. As an illustration of the proposed model, we provide modifications to the well established Auto-ID Object Name Service and Physical Markup Language architecture to demonstrate how a practical system can support the concept of IoT services and discovery.
Prepubertal tamoxifen treatment affects development of heifer reproductive tissues and related signaling pathways

Prepubertal exposure of the developing ovaries and reproductive tract (RT) to estrogen or xenoestrogens can have acute and long-term consequences that compromise the reproductive performance of cattle. This research examined effects of the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen (TAM) on gene and protein abundance in prepubertal ovaries and RT, with a particular focus on signaling pathways that affect morphology. Tamoxifen was administered to Holstein heifer calves (n=8) daily (0.3mg/kg subcutaneously) from 28 to 120 d of age, when tissues were collected. Control calves (n=7) received an equal volume of excipient. Weight, gross measurements, and samples of reproductive tissues were collected, and protein and mRNA were extracted from snap-frozen samples of vagina, cervix, uterus, oviduct, ovary, and liver. Neither estradiol nor insulin-like growth factor I (IGFI) concentrations in the serum were affected by TAM treatment. Tamoxifen treatment reduced ovarian weight independently from effects on antral follicle populations, as there was no difference in visible antral follicle numbers on the day of collection. Estrogen receptor α (ESR1) and β (ESR2) mRNA, ESR1 protein, IGFI, progesterone receptor, total growth hormone receptor, WNT4, WNT5A, and WNT7A mRNA, in addition to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphorylated MAPK proteins were affected differently depending on the tissue examined. However, neither IGFI receptor mRNA nor protein abundance were affected by TAM treatment. Results indicate that reproductive development in prepubertal Holstein heifer calves is TAM-sensitive, and that bovine RT and ovarian development are supported, in part, by estrogen receptor-dependent mechanisms during the period studied here. Potential long-term consequences of such developmental disruption remain to be defined.
Accomplishing Place in Public Space: Autoethnographic Accounts of Homelessness:

Recognizing the deep-seated need many people share for a sense of home, we employ autoethnography to illustrate how those who are homeless can make homelike places within public spaces. By revisiting and reflexively analyzing various accounts of homelessness as experienced by one of the authors, we show that home can be made through (a) re-appropriating public spaces, (b) harnessing feelings of safety, and (c) interacting with others. We conclude by discussing how this homemaking process not only reinforces the claim that many people desire home, but also motivates us to think about the ways in which public spaces might cater to this desire in an era of urban renewal.
The Mirror and Ballet Training: Do You Know How Much the Mirror’s Presence Is Really Affecting You?

Why are there mirrors in dance studios? Some might answer this by looking to history and tradition, whereas others might highlight the mirror as a useful tool for self-correction and learning movem...
Iron Metabolism and Its Disorders

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the basic concepts related to metabolism of iron and disorders associated with it. Iron is an essential nutrient required in a wide variety of metabolic processes. In solution, iron exists in two oxidation states. Iron is absorbed from the diet in the small intestine and transferred to plasma, where it is bound to transferrin for transport to cells within the body. Once inside the body, iron cycles in a nearly closed system because little iron is lost in domestic animals unless hemorrhage occurs. About 75% of the iron present in plasma is transported to the bone marrow for incorporation into hemoglobin in developing erythroid cells. The remaining plasma iron is taken up by nonerythroid tissues, primarily the liver. Erythrocytes containing hemoglobin normally circulate for several months before being phagocytized by macrophages when senescent. After phagocytosis, erythrocytes are lysed, hemoglobin is degraded, and iron is released.This chapter explains in detail iron distribution, iron absorption, and plasma iron transport. The chapter also discusses regulation of iron metabolism, iron metabolism in cells, and tests for evaluating iron metabolism.
Particle Therapy in the Third Millennium: Current Status and Future Outlook

Robert Wilson’s recognition of the therapeutic potential of the physical characteristics of protons formed the foundation of particle therapy. He proposed the use of charged particles for the radiotherapy of cancers in 1946 [1]. Although the clinical promise of particle therapy was considered undisputable, there were only intermittent developments and limited adoption of this modality until the end of the twentieth century, presumably because of the high cost of establishing and operating clinical particle therapy facilities. Most of the particle treatments during that period were carried out at facilities designed for physics experiments. Notable among these facilities were Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) (1955–1992, protons); MGH-Harvard Cyclotron (1961–2001, protons); LBNL (1975–1992, heavy ions); HIMAC, NIRS, Japan (1994–, Carbon ions); Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland (1996–, protons); and GSI, Germany (1997–, Carbon ions). Of these, PSI is the only facility that has employed scanning beams and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) from the inception. Loma Linda University was the first to establish a hospital-based proton therapy facility in 1990, followed by NCC, Japan, in 1998.
Elko or San Pedro? A Quantitative Analysis of Late Archaic Projectile Points from White Tanks, Yuma County, Arizona

ABSTRACTStudies in Late Archaic contexts in western Arizona indicate the presence of two morphologically distinct projectile points: Elko Corner-notched and San Pedro. Quantitative analyses of these forms substantiate the morphological distinction and suggest that more rigorous empirical studies of Archaic projectile points in Arizona and the Southwest may help identify ethnic group boundaries as well as increase analytic reliability and validity.
Fisher discriminant analysis and the T/sup 2/ statistic for process fault detection and classification

This paper describes the application of Fisher discriminant analysis and the hotelling T/sup 2/ statistic to the detection and classification of major failures that can occur in underwater vehicles. Simulation results are presented that demonstrate that rapid detection and reliable classification can be obtained with these methods.
The Role of Standards in the Archival Management of Electronic Records

Technical standards developed by national and international standards-setting organizations to facilitate the exchange of data among computer systems could provide archivists with mechanisms for ensuring long-term access and use of information stored in electronic form. Staff at the Canadian and United States national archives and the United Nations have conducted several valuable studies in this area as well as contracting for additional investigations by outside experts. The author digests the findings of several of these studies, describing the organization of and processes followed by the principal national and international standards developers and summarizing the elements of thirteen standards identified as having the greatest potential for archival use.
A Phase II Trial of Busulfan, Melphalan, and Fludarabine followed by Allogeneic T-Cell Depleted Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants from HLA-Identical, or HLA-Non Identical Related or Unrelated Donors for the Treatment of Advanced Hematopoietic Malignancies.

Twenty five patients have been enrolled on this trial to date. There were 14 males and 11 females aged 0.6–54 years. Patients’ diagnoses and stage included: NHL in CR2 or refractory (n=2), AML (n=7), including 5 pts with secondary AML, ALL > CR3 (n=4), CML in CP2 (N=1) and high risk MDS (n=11) including 5 pts with secondary MDS. Eight pts had a matched related donor, 14 pts an unrelated donor and 3 pts a mismatched related donor. Cytoreduction consisted of busulfan (Bu) (0.8–1 mg/Kg/dose x 10 doses), melphalan (Mel) (70 mg/Kg/day x 2) and fludarabine (Flu) (25 mg/m2/day x 5). Graft rejection prophylaxis included rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin) (2.5 mg/Kg/day x 2). Four pts tolerated only one of two doses of the ATG, 2 pts received equine ATG and one pt Alemtuzumab. Twenty one pts received G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood stem cell transplants that were T-cell depleted by CD34 selection and E-rosetting while the other four pts received Soybean agglutinin E-rosette depleted marrow grafts. Cell doses were 1.3–20.5 x 10 6 CD34 cells/Kg. and 0 -100 x 10 3 CD3 cells/Kg. Engraftment occurred in 24 pts. One pt suffered a graft failure; This pt had initial low busulfan levels, and received bone marrow derived stem cells with a low cell dose from a 5/6 HLA-matched unrelated donor. Acute graft-versus-host disease occurred in four pts: grade 1 (n=2) and grade 2 (n=2) and no pts developed any grade 3-4 severe GvHD. Two patients were diagnosed with chronic GvHD: localized (n=1) and extensive (n=1). Two patients developed sepsis early post BMT, with secondary multi organ failure and early mortality, while for the rest of the patients, regimen-related toxicity was acceptable. Relapse occurred in 9 pts. Mortality included 7 pts from relapse, two pts from sepsis and multi-organ failure, 3 pts from infections, and one pt from unknown causes. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 yrs for the entire patient cohort were respectively 44% and 42 %; The DFS was 50% for patients with secondary MDS or AML. In summary, the cytoreduction with Bu Mel and Flu allowed consistent engraftment of T-cell depleted grafts and was associated with acceptable outcome for patients with secondary MDS or AML.
Development of a field torque test to evaluate in-situ tack coat performance

Abstract Tack coats are bituminous materials applied between pavement lifts to provide adequate bonding between the two surfaces. The absence, inadequacy or failure of this bond result in a significant reduction in the shear strength resistance of the pavement structure, making the system more vulnerable to distress types such as rutting, cracking and potholes. For this reason, monitoring the performance of the interlayer shear strength (ISS) during the pavement use phase and identifying bond failures are critical to improving pavement management systems and develop more efficient pavement design strategies. However, testing cores taken from roadways in the laboratory is not economical and practical. In addition, removal of full depth cores can affect the structural integrity of the pavement and can create localized failures. In this study, a low cost, practical, and less destructive prototype field test device, the Oregon Field Torque Tester (OFTT), is developed to evaluate the long-term post-construction tack coat performance of pavement sections. Correlations between OFTT field test results and the results of laboratory shear tests conducted with cores taken from the field were investigated to determine the effectiveness of the OFTT. The peak torque values measured by the OFTT were observed to be highly correlated with the measured laboratory shear strengths. The OFTT shear strength values calculated by using the torque test results and a theoretical equation were determined to be close to the measured laboratory shear strengths.
Larger size extracellular vesicle as early biomarker in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

234Background: Current research suggests that tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in tumor progression especially with regard to metastasis. Atypically large EVs have been reported to have the ability to transport bioactive molecules through the blood stream. Therefore, EV physical properties such as diameters and concentrations may have a biological impact on tumor progression. However, it has not been described which characteristics are clinically relevant in the longitudinal assessment of tumor progression and chemo-response. Methods: Plasma from 19 metastatic PDAC patients was collected at treatment-naive baseline and in more than 2 consecutive assessments during chemotherapy between May 2015 and July 2016. EVs from plasma were isolated using a sequential centrifugation protocol, confirmed as described previously and analyzed using the Particle Metrix (Zetaview, Diessen, Germany) and proprietary software. The clinical variables along with concentration and size distributi...
TORPEDO: Prospective, double blind, randomized clinical trial comparing the use of Ketorolac verse placebo during live donor nephrectomy for kidney transplant☆

Abstract The aim of this pilot study was to determine if the use of Ketorolac for donor nephrectomies could decrease the use of narcotics. Methods: This is a prospective, double blind, randomized trial involving patients undergoing nephrectomy for live donor kidney transplantation. Three arms: 1. Ketorolac 30 mg IV×1 in the OR, then ketorolac 15 mg IV every 6 h for 7 doses. 2. Ketorolac 30 mg IV×1 in the OR, then placebo IV every 6 h for 7 doses. 3. Placebo IV×1 in the OR, then placebo IV every 6 h for 7 doses. Outcomes: blood loss, mortality, renal function, cumulative narcotic use, length of hospital stay (LOS), and urinary retention. Results: There were no patient deaths, blood transfusions or renal dysfunction in any study arm. Arm 1 had less narcotic use, reduced length of stay, and reduced urinary retention than Arm 3. Conclusion: There was reduced LOS, less narcotic use and less urinary retention in the Ketorolac group (Arm 1) versus the placebo group (Arm 3). Based on these results we will proceed with a larger study to compare the use of non-opioid analgesics in donor nephrectomies.
University Reform: The Founding of the American Association of University Professors

Tiede has written a fascinating account of the years he describes as the “prehistory of the founding of the AAUP, its organizational phase, founding, and the first years of its existence” (p. 2), c...
Expert Assistants for Design

Christopher Alexander [2] describes architectural design as a process whose objective is to produce a form that has no serious mismatches with the environment defined by its use. Often the environment is incompletely defined and is almost certain to change over time. A similar description applies to nuclear weapon design because specification details vary with refinement of the scenario for using the weapon and with design changes in related equipment such as the delivery vehicle. The form of a weapon might mismatch the delivery vehicle geometry or carrying capacity, the conditions under which it is delivered, or even the effects it is intended to create.
Corporate borrowing and debt maturity : the effects of market access and crises

This paper studies how access to different markets and crises impact debt financing and maturity. Using data on worldwide corporate issuance activity in domestic and international bond and syndicated loan markets during 1991-2014, the paper shows that these markets are affected differently by crises, while providing financing to different firms at distinct maturities. During the global financial crisis and domestic banking crises, large firms moved away from the crisis-hit markets toward less affected, longer-term ones, switching their financing sources. Hence, firms that switched markets compensated for the financing shocks and maintained, or increased, their borrowing maturity. Country-level maturities also remained stable or even lengthened. However, firms that did not move across markets typically experienced declining financing and shorter borrowing maturities. Firm movements across markets are consistent with credit tightening during crises due to supply-side shocks, significantly affecting debt composition, borrowing maturity, and credit redistribution across firms of different sizes.
Anomaly Discovery and Resolution in MySQL Access Control Policies

Managing hierarchical and fine grained DBMS policies for a large number of users is a challenging task and it increases the probability of introducing misconfigurations and anomalies. In this paper, we present a formal approach to discover anomalies in database policies using Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) which allow finer grain analysis and scalability. We present and formalize intra-table and inter-table redundancy anomalies using the popular MySQL database server as a case study. We also provide a mechanism for improving the performance of policy evaluation by upgrading rules from one grant table to another grant table. We implemented our proposed approach as a tool called MySQLChecker. The experimental results show the efficiency of MySQLChecker in finding and resolving policy anomalies.
Introduction to Fungal Lipids

To adequately define the term lipid is a difficult task. It has been used to include a large group of compounds that differ widely in their chemical and physical properties. Lipids have been defined on the basis of their relative solubility properties, that is, they include substances which may be partitioned into water-immiscible solvents from water. However, the solubility properties of lipids vary too much for this to be an adequate definition and nonlipid substances may possess similar properties. The definition adopted in this text follows closely that of Davenport and Johnson.(1) Lipids are substances that have as part of their structure a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon chain which confers hydrophobic properties to at least part of the molecule. This definition is extended to include the lipophilic cyclic terpenoid compounds which do not fall into the above category, such as the carotenes, sterols, and steroid hormones. Lipids may be subdivided into smaller groups called lipid classes, each of which includes compounds that have certain aspects of their molecular structure in common and possess similar chemical and physical properties. The classification system used in this text for the lipid classes is shown in Table 1.1.
Defect Detection in Concrete Members

A rock pocket is a deficient volume within hardened concrete consisting of coarse aggregate and voids that reduce the overall stiffness of the concrete members. The leakage of wet concrete from the form, segregation, or insufficient consolidation during concrete placement may leave rock pockets in concrete construction. This study is concerned with the detection, location and quantification of internal defects, particularly rock pockets, in reinforced concrete members. This is achieved by coupling in situ vibration testing with finite element analysis through Bayesian inference. First, the importance of providing sufficient physical evidence while calibrating the finite element models is illustrated using simulated experiments. With simulated experiments, model calibration successfully detected not only the locations but also the severity of rock pocket defects. Then, the results of impact hammer tests, completed on a concrete beam defected with rock pockets are presented. The finite element model of the test beam is segmented, and the stiffness properties of these segments are independently calibrated with the help of Bayesian calibration techniques using varying amounts of experimental information. The success in detecting defects obtained using simulated experiments, was not observed when the procedure is applied to the scaled concrete beams tested under laboratory conditions. However, the cause(s) of the poor performance with real experiments can be attributed to several factors, each of which requires further evaluation. (Publication approved for unlimited, public release on November-4- 2009, Unclassified.)
Cultural Formation and Appropriation in the Era of Merchant Capitalism

Discussions of ‘cultural appropriation’ in popular culture suffer from an inherited politics of authenticity and ownership originating in a liberal legal–ethical framework. Here, I use Raymond Williams’s and Stuart Hall’s cultural theory to pinpoint the place at which cultural-appropriation discourse goes wrong – an essentialist and anti- historical notion of colonial encounters. We can overcome these limits through Marxist cultural and historical analysis. Outrage about colonial violence which most often roots appropriation discourse is better understood within the context of an account of the transition to capitalism beginning with the Low Countries and their eastern colonies. Furthermore, the Marxist idea of the cosmopolitan cultures of both capital and labour offers a productive path for the history of culture rooted in the same colonial encounter.
Three-stage Evolution Mechanism of Multiple Stability Problems and Control Strategies of AC/DC Power System with Large-scale Wind Turbine Generators

Abstract There exists interactive evolution process of multiple stability problems of AC/DC power system with large-scale HVDC and wind power, such as voltage or frequency fluctuation and power oscillation, which can be caused by HVDC commutation failure. Further research is required on the evolution mechanism and control strategies of this kind of power system. In this paper, firstly three-stage evolution mechanism is proposed, including large-scale wind turbine generators tripping off caused by transient overvoltage, transient angle instability caused by power flow transferring in weak transmission section, and out-of-step separation caused by cross-regional power oscillation. Secondly, evolution processes and typical models of different stability problems are studied deeply. The prevention and control strategies are proposed. Finally, simulation results and analysis based on real-sized power grid in China prove the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed three-stage evolution mechanism and control strategies.
Machine Learning Optimization of Surface-Normal Optical Modulators for SWIR Time-of-Flight 3-D Camera

Surface-normal optical modulators based on multiple quantum wells are attractive for an increasing number of applications, including photonic links such as on-chip optical interconnects. The design of such structures however is still based on intuition and experience rather than on a quantitative assessment of the device and system performance, due to the extreme complexity of the device behavior and the large number of design parameters involved. We developed a method for the systematic optimization of the modulator design, using a combination of analytical modeling and supervised machine learning. The global optimization is driven by an evolutionary algorithm, and the robustness of the final results is evaluated using variance-based sensitivity analysis. The optimization algorithm was tested on the case of time-of-flight three-dimensional camera (ranging) application, yielding two novel optimized designs which allow for a considerable improvement of the depth resolution of the system. Finally, we propose a figure of merit for comparing the modulation efficiency of surface-normal modulators.
Role of full-thickness cartilage defects in knee osteoarthritis (OA) incidence and progression: Data from the OA Initiative.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether full-thickness tibiofemoral cartilage defects are predictive of incident radiographic OA, progression of radiographic OA, and progression to severe radiographic OA. Participants in the OA Initiative (n = 1317, 38.1% male, mean age 60.9 years SD 9.2) with baseline MRIs and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) OA grade 0-3 (none to moderate OA) were included. All participants had follow-up radiographs at mean 4.9 years (max 8.0). The effect of full-thickness defect presence, size, and location on risk of incident OA (KL grade 2+), overall progression of OA (increase in KL grade 1+ points), or compartment-specific OA progression was assessed with Cox proportional hazards modeling with adjustment for demographic factors, weight, and knee alignment. The yearly incidence of tibiofemoral OA was 0.3% (CI 0.2-0.4%); defect presence, size, and location were not associated with incident OA risk. The yearly rate of OA progression was 3.8% in participants without tibiofemoral full-thickness defects, 6.7% with medial defects, and 6.3% with lateral defects. Medial bipolar (kissing) lesions were an independent risk factor for OA progression as well as medial compartment progression. Lateral tibial-sided full-thickness defects increased risk of lateral progression (increase in lateral OARSI grade). In older adults, isolated full-thickness cartilage defects do not increase short-term risk of incident OA. However, in the setting of preexisting mild or moderate OA, medial bipolar (kissing) defects increase risk of overall OA progression (KL grade) as well as progression of medial compartment OA. Lateral tibial defects increase risk of lateral compartment OA progression. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res.
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Decade of Experience: State of the Art

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) delivers targeted radiofrequency energy to bronchial airway walls and results in the partial ablation of the airway smooth muscle that is responsible for bronchoconstriction. It is approved for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. Multiple, large clinical trials including a recent "real-world" study demonstrate significant improvements in asthma-related quality of life, reduction in asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations after BT that is sustained out to 5 years. In this article, we review the state of the art of BT treatment in severe persistent asthma and share a decade of BT research and clinical experience. We share our personal experience and introduce the three "I"s (identification, implementation, and intense follow-up) that we believe promote successful patient outcomes and help build a successful BT program.
Sequences of toddler negative emotion and parent–toddler verbal communication during a waking day

Although the second year of life is characterized by dramatic changes in expressive language and by increases in negative emotion expression, verbal communication and emotional communication are often studied separately. With a sample of twenty-five one-year-olds (12-23 months), we used Language Environment Analysis (LENA; Xu, Yapanel, & Gray, 2009, Reliability of the LENA™ language environment analysis system in young children's natural home environment. LENA Foundation) to audio-record and quantify parent-toddler communication, including toddlers' vocal negative emotion expressions, across a full waking day. Using a multilevel extension of lag-sequential analysis, we investigated whether parents are differentially responsive to toddlers' negative emotion expressions compared to their verbal or preverbal vocalizations, and we examined the effects of parents' verbal responses on toddlers' subsequent communicative behavior. Toddlers' negative emotions were less likely than their vocalizations to be followed by parent speech. However, when negative emotions were followed by parent speech, toddlers were most likely to vocalize next. Post hoc analyses suggest that older toddlers and toddlers with higher language abilities were more likely to shift from negative emotion to verbal or preverbal vocalization following parent response. Implications of the results for understanding the parent-toddler communication processes that support both emotional development and verbal development are discussed.
Making America #1 in Education with Three Reforms

Many prominent researchers have published articles and books to raise awareness about the inequalities students from low-income families experience in public schools. Their efforts may lead to new ...