cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Financial Crisis and Stock Market Integration: Revisiting Fama-French Model

Using data from G5 developed countries, this paper investigates the impact of the financial crises on the integration of the financial markets. To this end, a modified version of the Fama and French two-factor model (1998) so that the currency risk is incorporated as an additional economic risk factor in the excess return equation, and the model is incorporated as the mean equation of the GARCH model. The results show that the financial markets of the developed markets become more integrated after the financial crises which mean that the diversification benefits are reduced after the financial crises.
EU Expansion, Brexit, and Near-Term Prospects for European Car Plants

This chapter concludes the book by asking how Europe’s car production footprint will change during the next decade of EU integration (or disintegration)? Will it continue to shift to Central-Eastern Europe or more south-eastward? Then, drawing upon the author’s research for this book and other works over the past 25 years, the chapter offers three possible answers to this query (Hard Brexit, Soft Brexit, and No Brexit). In the process, it offers 2025 and 2030 projections for passenger car plant openings and closing within each nation in a possible 34-member ‘Expanded EU’.
Don't Mess with Texas: Uniform Internet Sales Tax after Wayfair?

Johnson urges the Texas legislature, following the Supreme Court's Wayfair decision, to make internet sales into Texas subject to Texas sales tax, without adopting a multi-state uniform sales tax or otherwise modifying its sales tax. Equity between the states requires that Texas not impose higher tax burdens on out-of-state Americans than it imposes on its own residents, but does not require exemption or other favoritism for out-of-state vendors.
Clinical Applications of Robotics in General Surgery

Abstract The clinical applications of robotics in general surgery are broad, spanning from bariatrics, hernias, foregut, colorectal, and solid organs. All the clinical studies and published literature identify that the minimally invasive approach provided by robotics is not inferior to that of laparoscopic surgery. However, considerations such as the learning curve, operative time, and cost are significant. This chapter provides a background on the utilization of robotics in general surgery, and in-depth evaluations of the clinical applications of robotics in bariatric surgery, hernia surgery, colorectal surgery, foregut surgery, and solid organ surgery.
Evaluation of Patient-Level Retrieval from Electronic Health Record Data for a Cohort Discovery Task

ABSTRACT Objective Growing numbers of academic medical centers offer patient cohort discovery tools to their researchers, yet the performance of systems for this use case is not well-understood. The objective of this research was to assess patient-level information retrieval (IR) methods using electronic health records (EHR) for different types of cohort definition retrieval. Materials and Methods We developed a test collection consisting of about 100,000 patient records and 56 test topics that characterized patient cohort requests for various clinical studies. Automated IR tasks using word-based approaches were performed, varying four different parameters for a total of 48 permutations, with performance measured using B-Pref. We subsequently created structured Boolean queries for the 56 topics for performance comparisons. In addition, we performed a more detailed analysis of 10 topics. Results The best-performing word-based automated query parameter settings achieved a mean B-Pref of 0.167 across all 56 topics. The way a topic was structured (topic representation) had the largest impact on performance. Performance not only varied widely across topics, but there was also a large variance in sensitivity to parameter settings across the topics. Structured queries generally performed better than automated queries on measures of recall and precision, but were still not able to recall all relevant patients found by the automated queries. Conclusion While word-based automated methods of cohort retrieval offer an attractive solution to the labor-intensive nature of this task currently used at many medical centers, we generally found suboptimal performance in those approaches, with better performance obtained from structured Boolean queries. Insights gained in this preliminary analysis will help guide future work to develop new methods for patient-level cohort discovery with EHR data.
Zhu Xi’s Hermeneutics

Penning an essay on Zhu Xi’s thoughts in terms of hermeneutics implies a comparative agenda and perspective. While constructing the rationale and practice of Zhu’s exegesis of the classics by appealing to Western philosophies of reading, touching on such hermeneutic issues as original meaning, contemporary appropriation, authorial intent, and readerly contingency, I hope to throw into relief the cross-cultural consonance and dissonance discernible in the acts of interpretation. The aim is to shed some light on the attendant counterpoint engendered by divergent cultural assumptions, contrasting religio-philosophical values, varying epistemological stances, and different ontological conceptions of canonicity, authorship, and readership. To address comparatively reading matters East and West via Zhu Xi’s commentarial efforts, and to claim that reading is a universal imperative, is to posit that between commensurability and contravention, common paths of reading toward a deeper understanding of our diverse textual testaments may be paved. At the same time, I affirm the deeply ingrained contextual variances that inform our very own presentist hermeneutics of the projects of reading and interpreting. In studying Zhu’s readings of the Chinese classic, I am entering, as it were, an interpretive war zone between empirically recovering what he says and theoretically creating from it a twenty-first century account of his hermeneutic moves. The zone begins with the comparative and Confucian contexts in which we may properly locate Zhu’s exegetical endeavor and lucubration, followed by the lineaments of his hermeneutics as regards fundamental assumptions, strategies, and processes, while offering a few examples of his exegesis as illustrations. In the end, I argue that Zhu sees the reading of the classics as a charismatic and religious act, wherein the reader penetrates the minds of their sagely authors, thereby apprehending the universal truths vouchsafed by them. It is charismatic because the sagacious reader is endowed with the special gift to divine the minds of the sages; it is religious because the act of reading is entirely and ultimately committed to apprehending eternal truths that transcend the confines of time and space.
THE DYNAMICS OF HERDSMEN AND FARMERS CONFLICT IN ABRAKA, DELTA STATE

The recent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Abraka community heightened the sufferings of inhabitants as lives and properties worth millions were destroyed. Cause of the conflict centre on water and grazing rights between pastoral Fulani herdsmen and agrarian farmers. The conflict has become fatal as herdsmen defend themselves from farmers who obstruct their grazing activities. Generally, insecurity and stagnation deepened as reprisal attacks threatened lives and social order. While past researches focus on causes and economic cost of the crisis, little attention has been given to its physiological effects on the level of insecurity and disunity among the different ethnic groups in Abraka. Thus, this study explored its psychological effects on security and unity. Explanation core variables anchored on dialectic materialism and social conflict theory. Qualitatively, a total of 425 questionnaires were used to generate quantitative data among respondents. Qualitatively, in-depth interview and snow ball method was used to generate more information that complements that of the questionnaire. While 95% of the respondents were randomly sampled, 5% were carefully snowballed. Data was analyzed with the use of percentages, tables and chi-square statistical tool. Qualitative data was content analysed. A total of (25.1%) revealed that destruction of crops and other properties situated in the farm are the major reason why farmers barricade herdsmen and their cattle. On the other hand, burning of rangelands and blockage of stock routes and water points to avoid encroachment on farm lands and destruction of crops herald attacks against farmers by herdsmen who force their way to graze their animals (24.9%). The farmers (86%) reported wide range of cattle rustling, armed assaults and killing whenever there is disagreement. Community members suffered varying degree of destruction in the midst of the conflict. X 2 =10.52>0.05 significant level shows that, the effects on both parties ranged from physical, economic, to socio-psychological damage.
James Coleman, Social Capital, and Economic Sociology

This chapter surveys James Coleman’s writings about social capital, situating them within the wider project he pursued in Foundations of Social Theory: to develop social science theory resting on rational choice postulates that takes into account the social settings that shape individual actions, which in turn combine to produce macro-level phenomena. After examining Coleman’s definition of the concept, the chapter recounts forms that social capital takes, including trust, information flow, norms, and formal organizations. It then considers conditions that affect the production of social capital, and how he employed the social capital concept in his educational research.
Contingent Capital Trigger Effects: Evidence from Liability Management Exercises

This paper investigates the so called liability management exercises by European banks, which bear comparable effects to triggering contingent capital. I first explore the determinants of these exercises. I then study market reactions to these operations, and banks’ economic performance following them. Debtors positively receive these exercises, while stockholders discriminate according to the terms of the operation. Moreover, banks implementing liability management exercises exhibit higher economic performance than the ones that do not. These findings point towards contingent capital offering an effective solution to the dilemma of bank capital regulation.
Association of Ongoing Cerebral Oxygen Extraction During Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest With Postoperative Brain Injury.

Cardiac surgery utilizing circulatory arrest is most commonly performed under deep hypothermia (∼18°C) to suppress tissue oxygen demand and provide neuroprotection during operative circulatory arrest. Studies investigating the effects of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) on neurodevelopmental outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease give conflicting results. Here, we address these issues by quantifying changes in cerebral oxygen saturation, blood flow, and oxygen metabolism in neonates during DHCA and investigating the association of these changes with postoperative brain injury. Neonates with critical congenital heart disease undergoing DHCA were recruited for continuous intraoperative monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2) and an index of cerebral blood flow (CBFi) using 2 noninvasive optical techniques, diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). Pre- and postoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to detect white matter injury (WMI). Fifteen neonates were studied, and 11/15 underwent brain MRI. During DHCA, ScO2 decreased exponentially in time with a median decay rate of -0.04 min−1. This decay rate was highly variable between subjects. Subjects who had larger decreases in ScO2 during DHCA were more likely to have postoperative WMI (P = 0.02). Cerebral oxygen extraction persists during DHCA and varies widely from patient-to-patient. Patients with a higher degree of oxygen extraction during DHCA were more likely to show new WMI in postoperative MRI. These findings suggest cerebral oxygen extraction should be monitored during DHCA to identify patients at risk for hypoxic-ischemic injury, and that current commercial cerebral oximeters may underestimate cerebral oxygen extraction.
Neuroprotection and Neurocognitive Augmentation by Photobiomodulation

This chapter describes our animal and human studies using red to near-infrared lasers and LEDs, a noninvasive and relatively inexpensive intervention, which we are investigating for neuroprotection and for the augmentation of cognitive brain functions. The first part deals with animal studies on the prevention of neurodegeneration and behavioral deficits by photobiomodulation. We describe light parameters that prevent optic neuropathy in vivo. These include fractionated exposure to light wavelengths that correspond to the absorption spectrum of the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme cytochrome oxidase. We show that such light stimulates cell respiration and upregulates cytochrome oxidase activity and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. The human studies in the second part of the chapter demonstrate that photobiomodulation may be translated from animals to humans as a noninvasive, safe, nonpharmacological, and cost-effective method for augmentation of brain functions. The translation to human studies shows that transcranial infrared laser stimulation of the forehead causes cognitive enhancement associated with cerebrovascular oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex. Noninvasive methods such as near-infrared spectroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalography were able to monitor metabolic, hemodynamic, and electrophysiological effects on human brains in real time. Combining photobiomodulation with such neurophysiological monitoring allows for calibration of the laser dose for individuals based on their own particular cerebrovascular response. This approach might also permit identifying potential candidates for photobiomodulation before clinical presentation of neurodegenerative effects. This research may have a broad impact, not only relevant for cognitive enhancement in healthy people but also potential for the noninvasive treatment of neurodegenerative and neurocognitive disorders.
Deliberate renal ischemia. A valuable and safe adjunct during operations upon the abdominal aorta.

Abstract Eleven patients are reported in whom operative suprarenal aortic occlusion was employed. Periods of bilateral renal ischemia ranged from 10 to 120 minutes. Postoperative renal function was excellent in all patients undergoing ischemic periods of 34 minutes or less. Renal hypothermia, accomplished by perfusing the kidneys with cold Ringer's solution, was used in 1 patient in whom blood flow to both kidneys was interrupted for 50 minutes. Renal function after operation in this patient was also excellent. Anuria resulted in the death of 1 patient following 120 minutes of bilateral normothermic renal ischemia. The advantages of suprarenal aortic occlusion and deliberate renal ischemia during operation upon the abdominal aorta are discussed.
Proteomic Analysis of Microglia-Derived Exosomes: Metabolic Role of the Aminopeptidase CD13 in Neuropeptide Catabolism

Vesicle transport is a fundamental mechanism of communication in the CNS. In this study we characterized a novel type of vesicle released by murine brain microglial cells: microglial exosomes. Analysis of their protein content identified several enzymes, chaperones, tetraspanins, and membrane receptors previously reported in B cells and dendritic cell-derived exosomes. Additionally, microglia-derived exosomes expressed the aminopeptidase CD13 and the lactate transporter MCT-1. Exosomal CD13 was metabolically active in cleaving leucine- and methionine-enkephalins peptides by releasing the N-terminal tyrosine. Cleaved neuropeptides were unable to bind to the neuronal opioid receptor as assessed by cAMP response. Microglial exosomal vesicles may represent an important, previously unrecognized, cellular communication system in an organ in which cell motility is highly restricted.
Insights into the role of conformational transitions and metal ion binding in RNA catalysis from molecular simulations

Abstract We present a summary of recent advances in the application of molecular simulation methods to study the mechanisms of RNA catalysis. The focus of this chapter is on the nature of conformational transitions and metal ion binding on structure and activity. Two RNA enzyme systems are considered: the hammerhead ribozyme and the L1 ligase. The hammerhead ribozyme is a small archetype ribozyme that undergoes a conformational transition into a catalytically active conformation in a step that is concerted with changes in metal ion binding in the active site. The L1 ligase ribozyme is an in vitro selected ribozyme that uses a noncanonically base-paired ligation site to catalyze regioselectively and regiospecifically the 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester bond ligation. The L1 ligase presumably undergoes a large-scale conformational change from an inactive to an active form that involves reorientation of one of the stems by around 80 A, making it a novel catalytic riboswitch. Analysis of the simulation results and comparison with experimental measurements provide important new insight into the conformational and chemical steps of catalysis of the hammerhead and L1 ligase ribozymes.
DYNAMIC LINKAGES AMONG LONG -TERM INTEREST RATES: IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL MONETARY POLICY*

This paper examines the implications from the greater integration of major capital markets using long-term interest rates. The empirical approach is a Vector Autoregression which examines the nature of the monetary spillover mechanism across eight markets namely, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. Proof that globalization has seriously affected the behavior of interest rates and made them more synchronized across countries is provided from the way disturbances in a market transmit to other markets. These are usually fast and persistent and affect the conduct of monetary policy in all involved parties. Further, the empirical results confirm greater convergence among countries in the European Union as Germany still retains its hegemonic status. The implications for monetary policy are that countries may now have to deal with more shocks coming from abroad and these shocks will be diverse, intense and persistent. Thus, global monetary policy, at least among the major capital markets, will have to be played interactively from now on which may suggest that greater financial supervision and regulation might be needed in order to ensure continued world stability and prosperity.
Diode pumped solid state mid-IR lasers for medical applications

The spectral region between 2 and 3 microns is of particular interest for medical applications because of the water absorption bands near 2 and 3 microns which lead to strong laser-tissue interactions. Recently we have tuned the tripositive thulium rare earth ion so that it can generate laser wavelengths over the spectral regions between 1.85 to 2.15 microns and between 2.20 to 2.37 microns continuously. Both laser systems, which operate CW, can be resonantly pumped with AlGaAs laser diodes operating at 785 nm. There has also been some interest in employing the 2 micron laser in a Q-switched mode. The thulium ion, however, has a low cross-section for the 2 micron transition so that efficient Q-switched operation has not been achieved in this ion. The traditional approach to the diode-pumped 2 micron laser has been to utilize crystals doped with both thulium and holmium ions. The thulium ion absorbs the pump radiation from AlGaAs diode lasers, while the laser transition takes place on the holmium transition at 2.1 microns which has a higher stimulated emission cross-section. >
Impact of the adoption of BMPs on social welfare: A case study of commercial floating feeds for pond culture of tilapia in Ghana

AbstractBest management practices (BMPs) are the most cost-effective means of mitigating negative impacts of pond aquaculture on the environment. The impacts of BMPs and other innovations on fish farm profits have been studied widely. This study estimates impacts of BMP adoption on social welfare. We employed the economic surplus model to determine net present value (NPV) of adopting the more expensive but less polluting commercial floating fish feed in the pond culture of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Ghana. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis to determine which variables had the greatest influence on mean NPV. Our results indicate an NPV of US$ 11 million from the adoption of commercial floating feed in pond farming alone in Ghana. The variables with the biggest impacts on NPV were level of change in tilapia yield, and level of change in production costs, with the adoption of the new feed type. We conclude that adoption of yield-enhancing BMPs and innovations in Ghana will result in signi...
Transplantation of embryonic organs - kidney and pancreas.

One novel solution to the shortage of human organs available for transplantation envisions ‘growing’ new organs in situ via xenotransplantation of developing anlagen from animal embryos. We and others have shown that renal anlagen (metanephroi) transplanted into animal hosts undergo differentiation and growth, become vascularized by blood vessels of host origin and exhibit excretory function. Metanephroi can be stored for up to 3 days in vitro prior to transplantation with no impairment in growth or function post-implantation. Metanephroi can be transplanted across both concordant (rat to mouse) and highly disparate (pig to rodent) xenogeneic barriers. Similarly, pancreatic anlagen undergo growth, differentiation and secrete insulin in a physiological manner following intraperitoneal placement. Implantation of the embryonic pancreas, is followed by selective differentiation of islet as compared to acinar components. Here we review studies exploring the potential therapeutic use of embryonic kidney or pancreas transplantation.
Design and implementation of a DC line-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with load leveling

In this paper a novel DC line-interactive uninterruptable power supply (UPS) with load leveling feature is proposed. The new UPS replaces the common AC three phase UPS and can be used for systems with pulse loads, and has superiority in performance and efficiency. The DC UPS utilizes Li-ion battery module in the DC link to perform the load leveling feature and UPS functionality. A Li-ion LFP based battery module is developed and tested along with associated management system. The proposed system operates in four operating modes. Performance of the system in one of the modes is discussed. A dual-loop control scheme is used to manage the performance of the system in various modes. Simulation results are provided to verify the performance of the proposed system.
Management of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms in the elderly: “The geriatric abdominal aortic aneurysm”

Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) replacement was performed in 97 patients aged 79 or greater over a 14-year period. Sixty-eight patients had intact aneurysms and 29 had ruptured aneurysms. In the intact aneurysm group, the 30-day mortality rate from 1980 to 1986 was 11.5% and decreased to 2.3% from 1987 to 1994. In the ruptured aneurysm group, the 30-day mortality rate was 73% in the earlier period from 1980 to 1986 and 43% in the later period from 1987 to 1994. In the intact aneurysm group, the median hospital stay was 11 days for the transabdominal approach and 8 days with a retroperitoneal approach. In the ruptured aneurysm group, the median hospital stay was 26 days. The occurrence of a ruptured AAA in a patient over 79 years of age is still associated with a high mortality rate, despite the many advances in aneurysm surgery during the past few decades. Hence, in appropriately selected elderly patients, infrarenal aortic aneurysm replacement should be performed electively as the perioperative mortality is low and late survival is similar to that of agematched controls. Age alone should not be a contraindication for infrarenal aortic aneurysm replacement.
The relationship of dental caries and root resorption of deciduous molars

Abstract White, Ohio-born children were studied, using half-yearly lateral jaw radiographs. The 106 boys and 101 girls were grouped in samples with sound teeth and with untreated and treated carious lesions of their deciduous mandibular first and second molars. Root resorption of the deciduous molars in boys was accelerated in the presence of dental caries. This acceleration was less pronounced if the lesion was treated and it was reduced when caries involved a crown surface on the opposite side of the molar root. The same trends were found in girls, but the differences observed were smaller than in boys and not statistically significant, except in one instance. The findings of the present study indicate that root resorption is accelerated in teeth with carious lesions when compared to sound teeth.
Human organ transplantation: background and consequences

The story of the renal transplant program of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now the Brigham and Women's Hospital) in Boston weaves together three distinct threads: the study of renal disease, the phenomenon of skin grafting in twins, and the development of surgical procedures ultimately leading to the use of chemical immunosuppression. The common leitmotiv is one of a single event or report proving to be decisive. Unanticipated consequences of successful human organ transplantation include the reorganization of clinical and nonclinical disciplines, national and international cooperation in organ preservation and distribution, tissue-typing as a marker for disease, redefinition of death in terms of brain function, better understanding of disease processes, and new health care quandaries that result from the scarcity of organ donors.
Sensitivity of urinary enzymes as indicators of renal toxicity of the anticancer drug cis-platin.

Rats were intravenously injected with cis-platin in order to evaluate the sensitivity of noninvasive means of detecting renal toxicity. Doses of 8 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg were used and 7 urinary parameters (osmolality, glucose, protein, and 4 enzymes) were compared with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and histology. Urinary enzymes usually were elevated by Day 2 posttreatment and in two cases by Day 1. Protein and glucose were elevated by Day 3 and demonstrated a greater quantitative change (10-12× control) than did urinary enzymes (2-3× controls). Enzymes, protein, and glucose all returned to control levels by Day 7 or 8, and most parameters were re-elevated again by Day 10 or 12. BUN was unaltered at the lowest dose and was increased to three times control by Day 3 after the highest dose. Cis-platin induced a mild nephrosis at the lowest dose and a proximal tubular necrosis at the highest dose. The lesion occurred at the corticomedullary junction. Biochemical changes did not correspond to the times of greatest morp...
Spatiotemporally inhomogeneous plastic flow of a bulk-metallic glass

With geometrically-constrained specimens, the spatiotemporally inhomogeneous deformation of a Zr-based bulk-metallic glass in uniaxial, quasistatic, compression was investigated. Decreasing the height/width ratio of specimens from 2 to 0.5 significantly increases the plastic strain from 2% to about 80%. Using an infrared camera, we first observe in situ dynamic shear-banding operations during compression at various strain rates. The shear banding is highly dependent on strain rates, either intermittent at the lower strain rate or successive at the higher strain rate. Scanning electron microscopy observations show the spatiality of the rate-dependent shear banding. The serrated plastic flow is a result of the shear-banding operations. At the lower strain rate, more simultaneous shear-banding operations result in more obvious serrations, while at the higher strain rate, fewer simultaneous shear-banding operations cause less obvious serrations.
Weight-bearing versus nonweight-bearing exercise for persons with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective To determine the effects of weight-bearing (WB) versus nonweight-bearing (NWB) exercise for persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN).
Sesquiterpene lactones from Gaillardia pulchella

Abstract The isolation of one guaianolide and eleven pseudoguaianolides as well as two seco-pseudoguaianolides including five new sesquiterpene lactones from above-ground parts of Gaillardia pulchella are described. The five new lactones are 4- O -acetyl-4,5-seco-neopulchell-5-ene, 6β-acetoxypulchellin-4- O -angelate, 6α-hydroxypulchellin, 6α-hydroxypulchellin-4- O -angelate, 2α,4α-dihydroxy-1α,10βH-guaia-5,11(13)-diene-8α, 12-olide. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and the stereochemistry of one compound, 6α-hydroxyneopulchellin-4- O -angelate, was established by X-ray analysis.
Ablation of recurrent and metastatic lntraabdominal tumor with the CO2 laser

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the usefulness of the CO2, laser in the management of patients with recurrent and metastatic intraabdominal tumors. Twenty-six intraabdominal procedures utilizing the laser were carried out on 24 patients at The Ohio State University between 1984 and 1988. This included 11 patients with recurrent adenocarcinoma of colonic origin, 3 patients with malignant carcinoid tumors, 3 patients with ovarian carcinomas, and one patient each with metastatic pheochromocytoma, appendix, breast, stomach, and lung carcinoma. In addition, there was one patient with pseudomyxoma peritoneii and one patient with both colonic and ovarian carcinoma. Tumors were located in the retroperitoneum (3), pelvis (2), liver (11), bowel serosa (5), diaphragm (4), mesentery (31), and peritoneal implants (3). The laser was used as an adjunct to standard surgical techniques and in most instances was combined with other operative procedures. Its use was greatest in cases where en bloc resection was impossible, as with hepatic lesions located near the hepatic veins or vena cava. Additional benefit was derived in cases where cytoreductive or debulking surgery was useful as in ovarian carcinoma and metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. All four patients with neuroendocrine tumors are still alive 3, 7, 12, and 56 months after surgery. In addition, symptom relief was apparent in all after surgery. All patients with ovarian carcinoma are also alive 9–29 months after surgery. Six of the 11 patients with recurrent colon carcinoma are alive 3–21 months after surgery, and those who died survived an average of 10 months after surgery. Most showed a lowering of the serum CEA level after surgery. The patients with appendiceal primary and the one with pseudomyxoma peritoneii are both alive 12 and 15 months after surgery. The carbon dioxide laser is a valuable tool for the ablation of metastatic and recurrent intraabdominal tumors and may be used in conjunction with standard techniques in the overall management of these patients.
Review of respiratory morbidity from occupational exposure to oil mists.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) has recommended that the threshold limit value (TLV®) for mineral oil mists be dramatically lowered, based on epidemiological evidence of respiratory health effects among machinists exposed to various metalworking fluid mists. A review of the literature regarding respiratory health effects from either metalworking or non-metalworking fluids suggest that machinists may have experienced slightly higher prevalence of common respiratory symptoms and mild and reversible cross-shift changes in some measures of pulmonary function. However, the inconsistency and potential for both random and systematic error in this body of literature argue against drawing definitive conclusions. There is also no substantive evidence that any of these effects led to permanent disease or impairment. The most likely causal agents for respiratory effects in these workers are microbial contaminants in water-based metalworking fluids, not straight mineral oils. Thi...
Population Inversion and Gain Calculations for 4p54d–4p55p and 4p55s–4p55p Kr-like transitions in Y IV, Zr V, Nb VI and Mo VII

We present calculations of the quasi-steady state gain coefficient for the 4p54d 1P–4p55p 1/2[1/2]0 transition in Kr-like Y IV, Zr V, Nb VI and Mo VII ions. Gain coefficients which can lead to FUV-VUV (~260 to 60 nm) lasing are found in all ions. Large gain coefficients are found for each ion at temperatures in excess of the ion's equilibrium temperature; realizing lasing in these systems will require a transient excitation mechanism. The density at which the maximal gain coefficient obtains increases for increasing ionization state. The 4p55s 1/2[1/2]1–4p55p 1/2[1/2]0 and 4p55s 3/2[3/2]1– 4p55p 1/2[1/2]0 transitions also show population inversion and modest gain coefficients. Attractive features of these ions as potential lasents are the large ratio between the energy of the lasing transition and the excitation energy of the upper level of the lasing transition as well as the ease with which they are produced in a low temperature, table-top scale plasma source.
Laser direct writing of volume modified Fresnel zone plates

Volume zone plates consisting of a number of Fresnel zone plate layers are designed and fabricated inside a fused silica by the femtosecond laser direct writing method. Light diffracted from different layers of a volume zone plate constructively interfere at the focal spot to increase diffraction efficiency. The technique is experimentally verified to be effective for both low-numerical-aperture (NA) and high-NA zone plates, resulting in a significant increase in overall diffraction efficiency. The spatial resolution of a high NA volume zone plate is 500 nm.
Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and the Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults

Objective: We examined the associations among physical activity, sedentary behavior, and metabolic syndrome in a representative sample of U.S. adults. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 1626 men and women ≥20 years old from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2000 who attended the morning examination were evaluated. The metabolic syndrome was defined by using the definition from the National Cholesterol Education Program. Results: In unadjusted analysis, participants who did not engage in any moderate or vigorous physical activity during leisure time had almost twice the odds of having metabolic syndrome [odds ratio (OR), 1.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.22 to 2.97] as those who reportedly engaged in ≥150 min/wk of such activity. Adjustment for age, sex, race or ethnicity, educational status, smoking status, and alcohol use attenuated the OR (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.87 to 2.45). Compared with participants who watched television or videos or used a computer <1 h/d outside of work, the adjusted ORs for having metabolic syndrome were 1.41 (95% CI 0.80 to 2.51) for 1 h/d, 1.37 (95% CI 0.85 to 2.20) for 2 h/d, 1.70 (95% CI 0.92 to 3.14) for 3 h/d, and 2.10 (95% CI 1.27 to 3.47) for ≥4 h/d. Additional adjustment for physical activity or sedentary behavior minimally affected the ORs. Discussion: Sedentary behavior is an important potential determinant of the prevalence of the syndrome. Efforts to lessen the amount of time that U.S. adults spend watching television or videos or using a computer, especially if coupled to increases in physical activity, could result in substantial decreases in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
Atrial Infarction of the Heart

Six cases of atrial infarction associated with ventricular infarction are presented. All cases were diagnosed during life and were confirmed by autopsy. A clinical diagnosis of atrial infarction should be suspected in patients with ventricular myocardial infarction having any form of atrial arrhythmia. Frequent electrocardiograms should be obtained, especially if sinus rhythm has just been re-established after episodes of supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation. The major electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of atrial infarction are as follows: elevation of the P-Ta segment of over 0.5 mm. in V5; and V6 with reciprocal depression of the same segment in V1 and V2; elevation of the P-Ta segment of over 0.5 mm. in lead I and its depression in leads II or III; depression of the P-Ta segment of more than 1.5 mm. in precordial leads and 1.2 mm. in leads I, II, and III in the presence of any form of atrial arrhythmia. The minor electrocardiographic criteria in making the diagnosis of atria...
The effect of nanoparticle properties, detection method, delivery route and animal model on poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles biodistribution in mice and rats

A review of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) biodistribution was conducted with the intent of identifying particle behavior for drug delivery applications. Databases such as Science Direct and Web of Science were used to locate papers on biodistribution of intravenous (i.v.) and orally delivered PLGA NPs in mice and rats. The papers included in the review were limited to those that report biodistribution data in terms of % dose particles/g tissue in the liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart and brain. Noted trends involved particle behavior based on individual organ, particle size, animal model, type of indicator (entrapped versus covalently linked) and method of delivery (oral or i.v.). The liver showed the highest uptake of particles in mice, and the lung showed the highest uptake in rats. Minimal amounts of particles were detected in both the heart and brain of rats and mice. In rats, the concentration of particles approached 0% dose/g or decreased significantly over 24 h after administration of a single dose of particles. Higher concentrations of smaller particles were evident in the liver, kidney and spleen. Orally delivered drugs showed little to no uptake within the 24 h analysis when compared with i.v. delivered NPs. Differences in particle concentrations between rats and mice were also observed as expected when expressed as % dose/g organ. Particles with covalently linked indicators showed lower concentrations in tissues than particles with physically entrapped indicators. Further research on oral delivery of PLGA NPs as well as distribution beyond 24 h is needed to fully understand particle behavior in vivo for successful application of NPs in drug delivery.
A Counter-Culture Explanation of Student Activism

This paper develops the concept of a counter-culture—a semi-organized culture which examines and challenges many political and non-political features of the dominant culture. According to survey data gathered by both UCLA and Berkeley, “membership” in the counter-culture may partly explain student activism; and the differential growth of the counter-cultures at UCLA and Berkeley may partly explain the differential growth of activism at the two campuses. This paper briefly discusses the limitations of a counter-culture explanation of activism and the implications of such an explanation for methodology. It is suggested that interaction patterns of activists and non-activists should be examined and that other methodological techniques of social movement theory should be applied.
Mass transport in the free-surface boundary layers

Abstract The mass-transport gradient inside the free-surface boundary layer of three-dimensional oscillatory flows is examined. The Lagrangian description is utilized in the present paper. In terms of the first-order inviscid velocity field, general formulae of the wave-induced Lagrangian vorticity at the outer edge of the boundary layer are obtained. It is found that the wave-induced vorticity vanishes for three-dimensional non-propagating waves.
Solid-State Maser Amplifier

The operation of a solid-state maser amplifier at 2800 Mc/sec is described. A dual-frequency cavity containing paramagnetic potassium chromicyanide in an isomorphous cobalt diluent is used at 1.25°K. The experimental observations of the maser both as an amplifier and as an oscillator are compared with theory.
Learning faces with the BIAS model: On the importance of the sizes and locations of fixation regions

During perception of complex objects, the highest density of fixations occurs on the regions that are most salient. For example, when looking at a face, the regions that receive the largest density of fixations are the eyes, the nose, and the mouth. The fact that some regions within an object are more informative than other regions means that a learning system that can acquire this information from a teacher rather than from random fixations can learn faster and likewise recognize faster. An important question, from both the theoretical and practical points of view is: How important are the properties of the fixation regions for the learning system? In this work we consider one such system, the Bayesian integrate and shift (BIAS) model for learning object categories, and investigate its sensitivity to changes in the sizes and locations of fixation regions. We test the model using a face category and show that the learning algorithm is robust to large variations of the regions' sizes and locations. Specifically, we show that the performance is inversely proportional to the sizes of the fixation regions and that the preferred locations are those that are closer to the center of the object.
Developmental Mode in Opisthobranch Molluscs from the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Additional Species from Southern California and Supplemental Data

Abstract We document development type for 33 species of benthic opisthobranch gastropods – 15 for the first time – collected mainly from the Southern California Bight. Fourteen of the newly examined species had planktotrophic development, while the dorid nudibranch Atagema alba had capsular metamorphic development, the first example of direct development in a non-dendrodoridid nudibranch known from the northeast Pacific Ocean. For the remaining 18 species our new data are either consistent with earlier determinations of development type, or confirm previous inferences. The new data also broaden geographic coverage for some species, and for the sacoglossan Stiliger fuscovittatus and the nudibranch Melibe leonina, suggest that egg size is inversely related to temperature. We correct the previous erroneous identification of nephrocysts as eyespots in the hatching planktotrophic larvae of the nudibranchs Tritonia festiva and Janolus fuscus. These results further highlight the predominance of planktotrophic de...
Reduced kainic acid binding in rat hippocampal formation after limbic kindling

The specific binding of [3H]kainic acid to hippocampal membranes was examined autoradiographically in rats kindled by tetanic stimulation of the amygdala or angular bundle. One day after the last of 3 class 4–5 kindled seizures, the specific binding of [3H]kainic acid in stratum lucidum of area CA3 was 47–61% less than in electrode-implanted unstimulated controls. Specific binding in the inner third of the dentate molecular layer was reduced to a lesser degree. These observations demonstrate that kainic acid receptors are down-regulated by kindling stimulation.
“Pick and choose our battles” – Understanding organizational capacity in a sport for development and peace organization

• Practical evidence of challenges in implementing critical SDP model.• Limited ability of SDP organization to secure local community funding.• Strong perceived need for more help and addition of p...
The anchoring of nematocysts and nematocytes in the tentacles of hydra.

The ultrastructure of nematocyte junctions in hydra tentacles was examined by electron microscopy using thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas. The apical region of a nematocyte is joined to the battery cell by septate junctions. A second basal junctional relationship simultaneously anchors a nematocyte to a surrounding battery cell and the underlying mesoglea. We term this basal junction the NBM complex. Each nematocyte contains 10- to 14-nm cytoplasmic filaments basally; these do not bind NBD-phallacidin, an actin-specific probe. A tongue of battery cell cytoplasm containing microtubules intervenes between a nematocyte and the mesoglea. A condensation of extracellular filaments extends from the battery cell into the underlying mesoglea. We interpret the NBM complex as a tandem arrangement of a fascial desmosome and a fascial hemidesmosome. Nematocyte-free hydra possess epidermal cell-mesogleal junctions resembling the NBM complex, suggesting that sites for nematocyte positioning may be predetermined.
Migration to electronic distribution through OCLC'S electronic journals online

Abstract In the previous installment of this column, Donnice Cochenour wrote about Project Muse, Johns Hopkins University Press's project to provide electronic access to its journals. This column will explore OCLC's collaboration with publishers who are making traditional print publications available electronically. Serials Review interviewed Andrea Keyhani, Manager of Electronic Publishing at OCLC, about traditional print publishers' interests in electronic distribution of journals, OCLC's solution to publishers' migration to electronic distribution, enhancements to their Guidon software, and libraries' costs and archive concerns.
Ion implicated in blood pact.

Nitric oxide has achieved fame as a regulator of numerous physiological processes, far outshining its humbler cousins, nitrate and nitrite. Now, nitrite steps into the spotlight. It appears that this ion may provide a source of NO during the regulation of blood flow under stressful conditions ( pages 1498–1505 ).
Controlled Synthesis of CdS Nanoparticles inside Ordered Mesoporous Silica Using Ion-Exchange Reaction

A new method of preparing CdS nanoparticles inside MCM-41 is described. This method makes uses of the unique interfacial properties of selectively functionalized ordered mesoporous materials to deliver cadmium ions inside the mesopores of MCM-41 via an ion-exchange reaction, thereby minimizing uncontrolled precipitation reactions of cadmium ions outside the mesopores. The general methodology can also be used to prepare other sulfide, telluride, and oxide nanoparticles.
Conservation of RNA polymerase during maturation of the Rana pipiens oocyte.

Abstract DNA-dependent RNA polymerase was extracted from oocytes of the frog, Rana pipiens. The bulk of the enzyme activity was present in the germinal vesicle and the amounts of each major form of such activity did not significantly change during oocyte maturation. Therefore, either nuclear polymerase activity is conserved after breakdown of the oocyte nucleus during maturation or, alternatively, de novo synthesis of the enzymes must occur during oocyte maturation concomitant with degradation. We have measured rates of protein synthesis in oocytes and determined a maximum rate of synthesis for RNA polymerases. Our kinetic studies show that no more than 20, 10, and 5% of RNA polymerases type I, IIa, and IIb, respectively, could be synthesized during steroid-induced oocyte maturation. These results thus show that the bulk of RNA polymerase accumulates in the germinal vesicle during oogenesis, is dispersed into the cytoplasm during maturation, and, since only limited synthesis seems to be occurring, the polymerase is available during embryogenesis.
Prehospital Care of the Injured: What's New

Emergency medical services (EMS) play a critical role in the trauma system as the point of initial patient care and stabilization and in determining the regional flow of patients and the commitment of resources to the critically injured. Trauma surgeons and emergency physicians need to be involved in the organizational planning of EMS systems to ensure that uniform patient care protocols are developed for triage and treatment. Ongoing efforts should focus on addressing national variability in care provided after injury to ensure optimal outcome for patients in all regions. Through additional research, the best practice and optimal EMS system design will continue to be defined.