cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periconceptional use of weight loss products including ephedra and the association with birth defects

Background: : Weight loss products are frequently used by reproductive-aged women and these products may be taken (inadvertently or intentionally) during pregnancy. This study assessed the association between periconceptional use of weight loss products and major structural birth defects. Methods: : Mothers of infants with birth defects (case infants) and a random sample of livebirths (control infants) born during the period 1998-2003 in 10 states participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Adjusted ORs (aORs) for the association between self-reported use of weight loss products and 23 categories of birth defects were calculated. Results: : Mothers of control infants (2.4%) and 2.6% of mothers of case infants reported periconceptional use of weight loss products; 1.2% of mothers of control infants and 1.3% of mothers of case infants reported using an ephedra-containing product. Use of any weight loss product was associated with anencephaly (aOR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3-5.3), dextro-transposition of the great arteries (aOR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1-4.3), and aortic stenosis (aOR 3.4; 95% CI: 1.5-7.9). Use of products containing ephedra showed an increased aOR with anencephaly (aOR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.0-7.3), while other weight loss products were associated with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (aOR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.7), and aortic stenosis (aOR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.5). Conclusions: : These results suggest an association between periconceptional use of weight loss products and certain birth defects but the possible mechanism is not clear. This is the first finding of such an association and, because we examined a large number of exposure-outcome associations in a hypothesis-generating analysis, these results might have been due to chance.
Electrostatic Capture of Airborne Nanoparticles in Swirling Flows for Bio-MEMS Applications

Motivated by capture and detection of airborne biological agents in real time, we present the electrostatic capture of 100nm diameter polystyrene nanoparticles as a model system under swirling gas flows in a homemade particle collector having the forward outlet. The particle collector has five small positive electrodes on the bottom and one large grounded electrode on the top. The particles coming into the collector are slowed down during their swirling and stay in the collector before leaving. Particles captured on the center electrode of this collector were much less than those on the surrounding four electrodes and 10 - 25% of the particles with negative charges entering this collector were captured on the bottom electrodes at a flow rate of 1.1 l/min and an applied potential of 2 kV. Using a commercial CFD code FLUENT, we simulated the effects of the different types of collector outlet configurations and flow rates on the particles' trajectories, velocities, and travel times inside the collector. We also present the highest particle capture position inside the collector in those different configurations. The forward outlet configuration is the most favorable to particle capture among the tested configurations in terms of particles' minimum achievable velocities and their travel times at a flow rate of 1.1 l/min. This collector is well adaptable to integration with micro resonator devices and can be used for real-time monitoring of bioaerosols.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Growth and doping properties of AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs structures on nonplanar substrates for applications to low threshold lasers

Abstract The growth behavior of AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs structures on non-planar (100) GaAs substrates has been studied. The structures were grown by atmospheric pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on substrates which have mesa stipes aligned along the ( 1 10) direction with (100) mesa tops and (111)A sidewalls. The growth rates and the doping of the AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs layers are shown to have a strong dependence on the crystallographic orientation as the sidewall approaches the (111)A plane. Growth temperature and III–V ratio also affect the relative growth rate and the doping of the layers. Using the above properties, we have grown and fabricated low threshold InGaAs/GaAs QW lasers by a single step MOCVD growth. Threshold current as low as 0.5 mA for uncoated DQW lasers has been achieved.
It's All about Variants: A Variant-Conscious Approach to New Testament Textual Criticism

The goal of New Testament textual criticism would appear to be simple enough: to restore the original text written by each author of the New Testament books. Upon examination, however, the notion of simplicity vanishes immediately and each of the key terms here—“restore,” “original,” “text,” and “author”—has its problematic aspects, but more importantly the simply stated goal itself turns out to be inadequate. Grist for the text-critical mill consists of textual readings or variants, which for the relatively small collection of writings called the New Testament are not merely in the hundreds or thousands, or even the tens of thousands, but run to perhaps a third of a million. They stem from the nearly 5,500 Greek manuscripts, some 10,000 versional manuscripts, and innumerable patristic citations of New Testament passages.
Effect of beraprost sodium, a stable prostacyclin analogue, on pulmonary thromboembolism in mice

Prostacyclin is the major metabolite generated during arachidonic acid infusion in the dog lung (1). Gryglewski et al. (2) demonstrated that prostacyclin is continuously generated and released from the cat lung in vivo. Thus it is considered that prostacyclin plays a key role in the modulation of vasomotor tone in lung (3), and may protect the pulmonary circulation against excessive vasoconstriction (4). Prostacyclin is less inactivated than prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) as it passes through pulmonary circulation (5). However, from a practical standpoint, its liability to metabolic degradation in vivo has limited its therapeutic application. Beraprost (sodium ((±)-1R * ,2R * ,3aS * ,8bS * )-2,3, 3a,8b-tetrahydro-2-hydroxyl-1-[(E)-(3S')-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-octen-6-ynyl]-1H-cyclopenta [b] benzofuran-5-butyrate) is a chemically stable prostacyclin analogue which can be administered orally and has been demonstrated to possess a similar pharmacological profile to prostacyclin, i.e., potent platelet aggregation inhibitory effect in vitro and ex vivo in various animal species (6,7), antithrombotic effect in the hamster cheek pouch (8) and vasodilating effects in the dog (9). In the present study, we have compared the effect of beraprost with some other antithrombotic agents and vasodilators on pulmonary thromboembolism in mice
Response of Si and InSb to ultrafast laser pulses

We present simulations of the response of Si and InSb to femtosecond-scale laser pulses of various intensities. In agreement with the experiments by various groups on various materials, there is a nonthermal phase transition for each of these semiconductors above a threshold intensity. Our simulations employ semiclassical electron-radiation-ion dynamics (SERID), a technique which is briefly described in the text. We also introduce a new addition to the technique, which provides a simple treatment of the correction due to motion of the atomic-orbital basis functions. We find that this correction is small in the present context, but it may be substantial in situations with more rapid atomic motion. Our expression for this correction is remarkably simple to employ because it amounts to nothing more than a generalized Peierls substitution.
Half-Life of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Hepam 1 Cells: Evidence for Ligand-Dependent Alterations in Cytosolic Receptor Levels

Abstract The rate of turnover of the Ah receptor (AhR) was determined using the density shift method in Hepa 1 and in a Hepa 1 mutant line, c 4 , which fails to accumulate AhR complexes in the nucleus. The half-life of the AhR was found to be 7.7 and 9.7 h in Hepa 1 and c 4 cells, respectively. The effect of AhR occupation with either an agonist, β-naphthoflavone (βNF), or a partial antagonist, α-naphthoflavone (αNF), on AhR half-life and concentration in the cytosolic fraction was examined. In Hepa 1 cells, a 12-h exposure to βNF resulted in a 62% decrease in AhR concentration. The same treatment, using αNF as the ligand, resulted in a 14% decrease. The half-life of the AhR increased from 7.7 to 9.3 h during βNF treatment and was essentially the same during αNF treatment in Hepa 1 cells. In c 4 cells, a 12-h exposure to βNF resulted in a 44% decrease in AhR concentrations, whereas exposure to αNF resulted in an 8% decrease. The half-life of the AhR in c 4 cells during βNF exposure increased from 9.7 to 14.6 h, and αNF exposure increased half-life to 17.6 h. These results indicate: (a) cytosolic AhR concentrations are modulated by ligand occupation, (b) exposure to AhR ligands, after an initial decrease in AhR levels, resulted in an increase in AhR half-life, and (c) similar results were obtained in Hepa 1 and c 4 cells, this would indicate that AhR occupation with ligand and subsequent AhR-ligand nuclear translocation does not appear to play a significant role in regulation of AhR half-life in Hepa 1 cells.
Biosynthesis of a sulfobromophthalein mercaptide with glutathione.

SummaryThe incorporation of glycine-U-C14, glutamic acid-U-C14, glutamine-U-C14, cystine-S35 and glutathione-S35 into the major mercaptide conjugate of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) was studied in bile from isolated perfused rat liver. Incorporation of label from each of the amino acids was demonstrable in the purified metabolite obtained after 3 serial chromatographic steps, whereas control fractions were negative. Acid hydrolysis of the metabolite and subsequent paper chromatography revealed that the amino acids had been incorporated intact, that 3 M of amino nitrogen were released for each M of BSP, and that glycine and glutamic acid were in equimolar ratio (cysteine was degraded during hydrolysis and could not be quantitatively recovered). High concentrations of cysteine in the perfusate did not compete with glutathione for the synthesis of BSP mercaptide. It was concluded that BSP is secreted into bile, at least in part, as a mercaptide conjugate with glutathione.
Bounds for Queue Lengths in a Contention Packet Broadcast System

A finite number of users communicating through a broadcast channel is considered. Each user has a buffer of infinite capacity, and a user randomly accesses the channel (ALOHA-type protocol). Moreover, only one packet per user might be sent in an access time. Both symmetric and asymmetric models are considered; that is, we assume either indistinguishable or distinguishable users. An exact analysis of the queue lengths in that type of system is not now available, and therefore, based on some algebraic studies, we shall present some lower and some upper bounds for the average queue lengths. These bounds are quite tight for a small number of users and acceptable for a wide range of input parameters in the symmetric case. In the asymmetric case the bounds are acceptable only for light input traffic and a small number of users.
Diophantine approximations and directional discrepancy of rotated lattices

In this paper we study the following question related to Diophantine approximations and geometric measure theory: for a given set Ω find α such that α−θ has bad Diophantine properties simultaneously for all θ ∈ Ω. How do the arising Diophantine inequalities depend on the geometry of the set Ω? We provide several methods which yield different answers in terms of the metric entropy of Ω and consider various examples. Furthermore, we apply these results to explore the asymptotic behavior of the directional discrepancy, i.e. the discrepancy with respect to rectangles rotated in certain sets of directions. It is well known that the extremal cases of this problem (fixed direction vs. all possible rotations) yield completely different bounds. We use rotated lattices to obtain directional discrepancy estimates for general rotation sets and investigate the sharpness of these methods.
Low power design challenges for the decade

Technology scaling will become difficult beyond 0.18 micron. For continued growth in performance, transistor density, and reduced energy per computation, circuit design will have to employ a new set of design techniques, with adequate design automation tools support. This paper discusses a few such techniques that reduce active and leakage power, and deliver higher performance. It concludes by pointing out some of the potential paradigm shifts.
The Cultural Production of the Educated Person: Critical Ethnographies of Schooling and Local Practice

The Cultural Production of the Educated Person: Critical Ethnographies of Schooling and Local Practice. Bradley A. Levinson, Douglas E. Foley, and Dorothy C. Holland, eds. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996. 338 pp.
Radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors: variability of lesion size using a single ablation device.

OBJECTIVE. In this study, we examined the variability of lesion sizes produced by a single radiofrequency ablation using the same device and algorithm in patients with small malignant hepatic tumors.MATERIALS AND METHODS. A review of the clinical records of 208 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation of malignant hepatic tumors during a 6-year period revealed 31 patients with small tumors that were treated with a single ablation. Clinical data were recorded using standardized work sheets. Tumor and lesion sizes after ablation were measured from CT scans. The influences of tumor size, tumor type, presence or absence of cirrhosis, and tissue temperature on the ablation size were analyzed.RESULTS. The size of tumor before treatment ranged from 0.8 to 4.0 cm (mean diameter [± SD] = 1.8 ± 0.9 cm) with corresponding volumes of 0.27–30.24 mL (mean volume = 27.1 ± 15.9 mL). The lesion sizes after ablation ranged from 1.7 to 5.3 cm (mean diameter = 3.6 ± 0.7 cm) with corresponding volumes of 2.29–75.87 mL (...
Attachment of the rectovaginal septum to the pelvic sidewall

Abstract Objective: To describe the lateral attachment of the rectovaginal fascia to the pelvic sidewall. Study Design: A descriptive study was performed with use of 10 embalmed female cadaveric pelves, each sectioned in the midsagittal plane. The lateral attachments of the pubocervical fascia and the rectovaginal fascia to the pelvic sidewall were examined. Results: The rectovaginal fascia attaches to the pelvic sidewall along a well-defined line. It extends from the perineal body toward the arcus tendineus fasciae pelvis with which it converges approximately midway between the pubis and the ischial spine to form a y configuration. This point of convergence occurs an average of 4.8 cm from the ischial spine, 3.75 cm from the pubic symphysis, and 4.15 cm from the posterior fourchette. Conclusion: The rectovaginal fascia supports the posterior compartment analogous to the pubocervical fascia in the anterior compartment. Moreover, landmarks are identified that will aid suture placement during repair of posterior compartment defects. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:41-3.)
Pathogenicity of an Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Hemolysin (hlyA) Mutant in Gnotobiotic Piglets

Pigs infected with hemolytic F4+ strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli often develop septicemia secondary to intestinal infection. We tested the hypothesis that inactivation of hemolysin would reduce the ability of F4+ enterotoxigenic E. coli to cause septicemia in swine following oral inoculation. Inactivation of the hemolysin structural gene (hlyA) did not decrease the incidence of septicemia in the gnotobiotic piglet model.
Open Empirical and Methodological Issues in the Individualism-Holism Debate

I briefly argue that some issues in the individualism-holism debate have been fairly clearly settled and other issues still plagued by unclarity. The main argument of the paper is that there are a set of clear empirical issues around the holism-individualism debate that are central problems in current social science research. Those include questions about when we can be holist and how individualist we can be in social explanation.
T-cell Tolerance and Autoimmune Diabetes

Herein we describe the major signaling events that occur in T-cells upon T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement, and the mechanisms responsible for the induction of T-cell anergy that may ultimately lead to the development of immunospecific therapies in T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases. A new type of antigen presenting molecule (dimeric MHC class-II/peptide, DEF) endowed with antigen-specific immunomodulatory effects such as induction of Th2 polarization and T-cell anergy is also described as a potential antidiabetogenic agent. According to our preliminary results, the MHC II/peptide-based approach may provide rational grounds for further development of antigen-specific immunotherapeutic agents such as human-like MHC II/peptide chimeras endowed with efficient down-regulatory effects in CD4 T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Differentiation of axon-related Schwann cells in vitro: II. Control of myelin formation by basal lamina

Several recent observations suggest that Schwann cell (SC) differentiation, including myelin formation, is dependent upon the development of basal lamina which characteristically surrounds each axon-SC unit in peripheral nerve. This dependence can be tested in a neuron-SC culture system developed in our laboratory in which SC differentiation, including basal lamina formation and myelination, is faithfully reproduced. The use of serum-free, defined medium (DM) with this culture system allows axon-driven SC proliferation but not basal lamina formation or myelination. We previously demonstrated that ascorbic acid, in the presence of a nondialyzable serum factor(s), stimulates basal lamina assembly and myelin formation with similar dose-response relationships (Eldridge et al., 1987). We hypothesized that ascorbic acid acts to promote SC myelination indirectly, by enabling the assembly of basal lamina. We now provide support for this hypothesis by demonstrating the following. (1) Pepsin-resistant triple-helical collagen molecules were produced only by SCs grown in the presence of ascorbic acid, suggesting that triple-helical type IV collagen may mediate the effect of ascorbic acid on basal lamina formation. (2) The formation of myelin by oligodendrocytes, which myelinate axons in the CNS without the concomitant deposition of basal lamina, was little affected by ascorbic acid, suggesting that the biosynthesis and assembly of myelin per se does not require ascorbic acid. (3) The provision of exogenous basal lamina matrix to SCs grown with neurons in DM without ascorbic acid promoted control levels of myelination (and basal lamina formation); the provision of exogenous fibrillar collagen matrix did not. (4) Purified laminin promoted control levels of myelination in the absence of ascorbic acid, but purified type IV collagen and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) did not. Laminin caused SCs to assemble basal lamina-like structures that contained not only laminin but also HSPG and non-triple-helical type IV collagen. Thus, several types of experiments demonstrate that SC myelin formation can be controlled by regulating the ability of the SC to assemble basal lamina, illustrating that acquisition of basal lamina is a crucial prefatory step for further SC differentiation.
An analytic model of convection in a system with layered viscosity and plates

SUMMARY We present an analytic boundary layer model for thermal convection with a finite-strength plate and depth-dependent viscosity. The model permits solutions in which convective flow rates in the mantle exceed the plate velocity. The energy balance equations for the lithosphere and convective cell are distinct and the model yields the plate velocity, plate thickness and heat flow, as well as the laterally averaged horizontal flow profile for a convective cell. We demonstrate, by inspection of the lithospheric energy balance, that the dominant plate driving force depends not only on the material properties of the mantle and lithosphere, but also on the velocity of the plate. Multiple solutions are possible with three solution branches for the plate velocity representing three distinct modes of thermal convection. The branch of solutions with the largest plate velocity corresponds to the classic boundary layer solution, with a plate velocity approximately equal to the maximum mantle velocity. This branch reproduces the classic convective scaling laws for an isoviscous fluid and its dynamics are controlled by the mantle material properties. The branch of solutions with intermediate plate velocity represents a convective cell with a sluggish-lid and a plate velocity that is less than the underlying mantle velocity. The dynamics for this solution branch depend on the material properties of both the mantle and the lithosphere. Finally, the lower branch of solutions for the plate velocity yields a convective solution in which the plate velocity is determined entirely by the local dynamics of a thick and strong (relative to the mantle) lithosphere. The dynamics of this solution branch are independent of the material properties of the mantle and depend entirely on the properties of the lithosphere. The introduction of an asthenosphere or low viscosity layer (LVL) beneath the plate can significantly alter the dynamics of the system by affecting plate–mantle coupling. Lowering the LVL viscosity, relative to the lower mantle, can promote plate motion by providing a lubricating layer. However, a very low viscosity LVL beneath a strong plate can decouple plate and mantle and inhibit plate motion, producing a solution with a slow moving plate and a channelized flow in the LVL. Thus, a LVL can sometimes inhibit rather than promote plate tectonics.
DISTRIBUTION AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF THE CRAYFISHES PROCAMBARUS ALLENI (FAXON) AND P. FALLAX (HAGEN) IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA

The Everglades crayfish (Procambarus alleni Faxon) is the only species reported from Everglades National Park (ENP) and Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). However, we identified a second species, Procambarus fallax (Hagen), from those locations. Reexamination of archived samples showed that P. fallax had been collected as early as 1985 but had been misidentified or overlooked; therefore, we provide methods for distinguishing live and preserved specimens of these morphologically similar species. Species relative abundance varied predictably with hydroperiod (length of inundation) both in recent collections and in archived samples. Procambarus fallax relative abundance was highest in sites characterized by long hydroperiod and prolonged inundation, whereas P. alleni was the lone species in short hydroperiod marshes.
A low cost, reusable, sustainable, batch water purification system

There is a well-known water crisis throughout the world. This crisis has serious health implications and is especially severe in developing countries. Even though water is available in many locations, it is often polluted by microorganisms. We describe a system that is made of copper screen or foil in a closed container, either polyethylene or glass bottles that are used for killing microorganisms in batches of water of volume approximately 800 ml. In this system, a volume of microbe contaminated water is exposed to the metal in a container with a head space of air so that a water–air–metal interface is visible. The bottle is capped and agitated, usually by shaking, for 20–30 minutes. Other means of agitation also worked, such as walking with the container as if it were a canteen. By this process a sufficient number of microbes are eradicated and the water is made potable. A particulate filter made of cloth on top of a small gage screen or the like is used to remove large particulates; however, the system works well in its absence.
Chronic Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Deficits. II. Relationship with Persistent Symptoms

Individuals who sustain a concussion may continue to experience problems long after their injury. However, it has been postulated in the literature that the relationship between a concussive injury and persistent complaints attributed to it is mediated largely by the development of symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. We sought to characterize cognitive deficits of adult patients who had persistent symptoms after a concussion and determine whether the original injury retains associations with these deficits after accounting for the developed symptoms that overlap with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. We compared the results of neurocognitive testing from 33 patients of both genders aged 18-55 at three months to five years post-injury with those from 140 control subjects. Statistical comparisons revealed that patients generally produced accurate responses on reaction time-based tests, but with reduced efficiency. On visual tracking, patients increased gaze position error variability following an attention demanding task, an effect that may reflect greater fatigability. When neurocognitive performance was examined in the context of demographic- and symptom-related variables, the original injury retained associations with reduced performance at a statistically significant level. For some patients, reduced cognitive efficiency and fatigability may represent key elements of interference when interacting with the environment, leading to varied paths of recovery after a concussion. Poor recovery may be better understood when these deficits are taken into consideration.
Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus Enters Cells Via the Endocytic Pathway

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a group III coronavirus that has a major economic impact in the poultry industry. Infected layers often have a large drop in egg production due to impaired ovary and oviduct functions. Clinical manifestations of IBVinfected chickens include respiratory, renal, and reproductive diseases and are often coupled with secondary infections such as airsaculitis and oviduct salpingitis. Although the etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis have been described since the 1930s, the molecular mechanism of viral entry remains elusive. Viruses utilize various mechanisms to gain entry into their host cells. Enveloped viruses need to shed the viral envelope in order to release their genomes into target cells and initiate further replication. The process of uncoating typically follows two distinct mechanisms: pH-dependent fusion in the endosome or pH-independent fusion at the cell surface. Many enveloped viruses (e.g., influenza viruses) utilize various endocytic pathways to travel deep into the cell cytoplasm in order to smoothly bypass the cortical cytoskeleton near the cell periphery. The endocytic pathway also provides a suitable acidic environment for the pH-dependent membrane fusion to deliver the viral genome into the cell. 6 In contrast, paramyxoviruses (e.g., Sendai viruses) are well established to enter target cells via pH-independent fusion with the plasma membrane. For coronaviruses, contrasting results have been reported regarding the role of endosomes and low pH activation, and consequently, there is no general consensus regarding the entry mechanism. A major characteristic of IBV infected cells is the formation of large syncytia, which has become a key piece of evidence supporting fusion with the cell plasma membrane at neutral pH during viral entry. In this model, pH-neutral syncytia formation is thought to be a representative model of coronavirus fusion during entry. However, electron microscopy from Patterson et al. clearly shows IBV entering chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and chick kidney cells via “viroplexis” through cellular engulfment into
Trophic transfer and effects of DDT in male hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) from Palos Verdes Superfund site, CA (USA) and comparisons to field monitoring

High concentrations of DDT and metabolites (ΣDDT) have been detected in sediment and the demersal flatfish hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichtys verticalis) collected from Palos Verdes (PV), California, USA, a site contaminated with over 100 metric tons of DDT throughout 1960s-70s. This study was conducted to assess the transfer of ΣDDT from PV-sediment into polychaetes (Neanthes arenaceodentata) and hornyhead turbot, and to investigate if the responses in turbots from two different laboratory exposures mimic those in turbots caught in PV (PV-turbot). Turbot fed PV-sediment-contaminated polychaete for 7 days had liver concentrations of ΣDDT similar to PV-turbot. After 28 days, ΣDDT also accumulated in livers of turbot gavaged with a ΣDDT mixture. In vitro cell bioassays indicated significant increases of 17β-estradiol equivalents (EEQ) in turbot bile extracts as compared to the control in the 7-day study. These responses corresponded to those measured in PV-fish. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR), anti-androgen receptor (anti-AR), estrogen receptor (ER) or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activities were also observed in extracts of PV-sediment, and PV-sediment-exposed worm. Anti-AR, AhR and GR activities were significantly higher in PV-sediment than reference sediment (San Diego, SD). Higher transcripts of hepatic VTG, ERα and ERβ were found in PV-turbot than SD-turbot, but were unaltered in fish exposed to sediment-contaminated worms for the 7-day study. In contrast, liver extracts from the 28-day treatment of ΣDDT showed lower EEQ but similar hepatic VTG and ERβ transcripts relative to those of PV-turbot. These data indicated that trophic transfer of sediment-associated DDT in 7-day exposures corresponded to field measurements of DDT residues and in vitro ER bioactivities, but failed to mimic in vivo biological effects observed in field fish. In contrast, treatment with ΣDDT alone for 28 days mimicked in vivo biological effects of DDTs in PV fish, but did not correspond to liver concentrations or in vitro bioactivities.
Carcinoma of the rectum: Profiles of intraoperative and early postoperative complications

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors that were significant in contributing the intraoperative and early postoperative complications for operations of carcinoma of the rectum. METHODS: Between 1984 and 1986 inclusive, 426 patients underwent surgery for primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Cases of local excision were excluded. The relationship between each complication and nominal risk factors were studied. The types of surgery included an abdominoperineal resection, low anterior resection, low anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis, anterior resection, colostomy, and Hartmann's procedure. RESULTS: There were two (0.5 percent) deaths. Intraoperative complications occurred in 34 (8 percent) patients. The most common intraoperative complication was presacral bleeding which occurred in 14 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 214 (50 percent) patients. The two most common complications were urinary retention and urinary tract infection. Abdominoperineal resection had the highest early postoperative complication rate (59 percent). There were 17 clinical anastomotic leaks (7 percent in 221 patients with unprotected anastomoses). The development of complications reached statistical significance with increasing age (P = 0.003), male sex (P = 0.003), increasing weight (P = 0.006), and types of operative procedure (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Operations for carcinoma of the rectum can be performed with low mortality. Although the overall early postoperative complications were high, the majority was not life-threatening and usually resolved with time and proper management.
Anesthetic management of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in infants

[Objective] To investigate the availability and safety of single-lumen bronchial intubation and CO2 pneumothorax in infants with Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). [Methods] 40 infant patients with diaphragmatic hernia were elective operated under single-lumen bronchial intubation and CO2 pneumothorax ECG, HR, MAP, SpO2, PETCO2, PIP were continuously monitored. [Results] All 43 infants obtained a steady maintenance of anesthesia. Compared with the data before operation, the changes of HR, MAP, SpO2 were not significant during the operation, PIP increased significantly (P 0.05) at 10 minutes after CO2 pneumothorax. PETCO2 increased significantly (P 0.05) at 30 minutes after CO2 pneumothorax. [Conclusions] The usage of single-lumen bronchial intubation and CO2 pneumothorax in infants with VATS have advantages of safety, reliability, simple operation and easy management.
The clinical effects of infliximab therapy in children with Crohn's disease

Objective To observe the clinical effects of infliximab therapy in children with Crohn's disease. Method The hospital treated 74 cases of children with Crohn's disease in accordance with the order of admission were divided into observation group and control group, 37 cases in each group. Control group were treated with corticosteroid hormone therapy, and observation group were taken infliximab therapy. Compared two groups of clinical curative effects, endoscopic improvement after treatment, the levels of serum interleukin(IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8 before and after the treatment and adverse reactions. Result The observation group with the effective rate of treatment was 89.19%(33/37), higher than control group [83.78%(31/37)], the observation group with endoscopic improvement rate was 91.89%(34/37), better than control group [86.48%(32/37)], but there were no significant differences(P 0.05). Two groups of children with inflammatory factor levels had no significant differences before treatment(P 0.05), the two groups compared with before treatment, the levels of inflammatory factors after treatment were improved, the improvement effect of observation group was significantly better than control group, the difference was significant(P 0.05). The incidence rate of adverse reactions in the control group was 10.81%(4/37), higher than observation group [2.70%(1/37)], but the difference had no significant(P 0.05). Conclusion Children with Crohn's disease taking infliximab treatment, can effectively adjust the level of inflammatory factors, worthy of clinical popularization and application.
Exploration in the Accounting Policy Choice

This paper inquires the accounting policy choice and causes,the relationship between the accounting policy choice and benefit related parties.It suggests the ways to secure the fairness and fitness.
Los afrodescendientes en los censos latinoamericanos, 1776-2011

Desde comienzos del siglo veintiuno, los censos de los paises latinoamericanos han prestado creciente atencion a la raza y la etnicidad, reuniendo informacion sobre afrodescendientes, indigenas y otras minorias etnicas. Este interes por cuantificar los grupos raciales y etnicos es un cambio radical en relacion con las practicas en la region durante el siglo XX, aunque no es una novedad en la historia de la region. Este ensayo considera la historia de larga duracion del levantamiento de censos en America Latina y las formas en las que los individuos de ascendencia africana fueron contados en diferentes paises y en diferentes momentos. Despues de un breve analisis de los censos de los siglos XVIII, XIX y XX, examina la reciente ronda de censos nacionales realizados en 2010 y algunas de las formas en las que actualmente ha sido conceptualizada y cuantificada la negritud.
Vacuum Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Since receiving FDA approval in 1982, vacuum erection devices (VEDs) have benefitted millions of men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED). Vacuum therapy has since been overshadowed by advances in pharmacologic and surgical therapies for ED; however, there has been a recent resurgence in the popularity of the VED. This is in large part due to its developing role in post-prostatectomy penile rehabilitation. As a treatment for erectile dysfunction, vacuum therapy remains notable as a noninvasive, nonpharmacologic, safe, cost-effective, and efficacious treatment option. This chapter will review the evolution of vacuum therapy as well as its mechanism of action, efficacy, safety profile, and expanding applications beyond the traditional realm of ED.
State and Society in the Hsün Tzu: A Philosophical Commentary

With an affectionate “萬旗” this study is dedicated to Hellmut Wilhelm, who contributed so persuasively to my appreciation of a grand philosophical tradition.
Social Cognitive Theory

This entry covers the evolution of social cognitive theory, one of the most influential theories on human behavior acquisition with an emphasis on learning through observation. Each of its four primary components is outlined, and the conditions under which behaviors are likely to be adopted are explained. Keywords: cognitive processes; decision-making; social influence
Forecasting vegetation index based on vegetation-meteorological factor interactions with artificial neural network

Vegetation index derived from remote sensing measurement servers as the significant reference for crop growing monitor and agricultural disaster forecasting. Vegetation index forecasting at long lead time and appropriate spatial scale is critical for decision making to mitigate the impacts from agricultural disaster. In previous studies, vegetation index forecasting has been studied and implemented through different methodologies. Nevertheless, either the accuracy or confidence of forecasting result was affected by model forecasting capability. Artificial neural network (brief as ANN) is capable to model highly complex non-linear patterns of ecological processes. Moreover, its implementation is less restricted by strict assumption regarding variable distribution and model specification. In this paper, an ANN-based forecasting model was proposed to predict the NDVI of grassland within the U.S Great Plains. The forecasting model finds its ground in the historical patterns of lagged correlations between vegetation index and meteorological factors. NDVI forecasting performance at different lead time (i.e., 16, 32, 48 and 64 days) and at different regions (i.e., four ecological zones) is evaluated through cross-validation and comparing with naive forecasting model. According to forecasting results, the forecasting performance is satisfied with high accuracy. Results of this study will contribute to the knowledge of vegetation stress monitoring and also serve as references for agricultural drought forecasting in the future study.
Lagrangian Tracer Dynamics

With the steady growth of the interest in ocean circulation systems and their impact on climate change, there has been a predictable increase in the number of tracer/drifter/buoy type ocean observing systems. There is a rich and growing literature on the development and testing of data assimilation technology to effectively utilize this new type of data set. This class of data assimilation has come to be known as Lagrangian data assimilation.
Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression and anxiety

IntroductionWhile increased time spent on social media (TSSM) has been associated with depression and anxiety, the independent role of using multiple social media (SM) platforms is unclear. MethodsWe surveyed a nationally-representative sample of 1787 U.S. young adults ages 1932. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). We assessed use of multiple SM platforms with an adapted Pew Internet Research scale. We used ordered logistic regression models to assess associations between use of multiple SM platforms and mental health outcomes while controlling for eight covariates, including overall TSSM. ResultsCompared to those who used 02 social media platforms, participants who used 711 social media platforms had substantially higher odds of having increased levels of both depression (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=3.0, 95% CI=1.94.8) and anxiety symptoms (AOR=3.2, 95% CI=2.05.1). Associations were linear (p<0.001 for all) and robust to all sensitivity analyses. ConclusionsUse of multiple SM platforms is independently associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, even when controlling for overall TSSM. These associations are strong enough that it may be valuable for clinicians to ask individuals with depression and anxiety about multiple platform use and to counsel regarding this potential contributing factor. We found a linear association between the number of platforms used and depression.We found a linear association between the number of platforms used and anxiety.Associations remained strong after controlling for total time of social media use.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor-3 Supports Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Residence Within the Bone Marrow Niche

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) egress from bone marrow (BM) during homeostasis and at increased rates during stress; however, the mechanisms regulating their trafficking remain incompletely understood. Here we describe a novel role for lipid receptor, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3), in HSPC residence within the BM niche. HSPCs expressed increased levels of S1PR3 compared to differentiated BM cells. Pharmacological antagonism or knockout (KO) of S1PR3 mobilized HSPCs into blood circulation, suggesting that S1PR3 influences niche localization. S1PR3 antagonism suppressed BM and plasma SDF-1, enabling HSPCs to migrate toward S1P-rich plasma. Mobilization synergized with AMD3100-mediated antagonism of CXCR4, which tethers HSPCs in the niche, and recovered homing deficits of AMD3100-treated grafts. S1PR3 antagonism combined with AMD3100 improved re-engraftment and survival in lethally irradiated recipients. Our studies indicate that S1PR3 and CXCR4 signaling cooperate to maintain HSPCs within the niche under homeostasis. These results highlight an important role for S1PR3 in HSPC niche occupancy and trafficking that can be harnessed for both rapid clinical stem cell mobilization and re-engraftment strategies, as well as the opportunity to design novel therapeutics for control of recruitment, homing, and localization through bioactive lipid signaling. Stem Cells 2017;35:1040-1052.
Comparison of Avidin, Neutravidin, and Streptavidin as Nanocarriers for Efficient siRNA Delivery

Protein-based drug delivery carrier has been one of the most employed modalities in biopharmaceuticals. In this study, we have compared avidin and its two analogues, neutravidin and streptavidin, as nanocarriers for the delivery of biotin-labeled siRNA with the help of biotinylated cholesterol (targeting ligand) and protamine (condensing agent). These proteins have similar binding affinity to biotin but substantial difference in their physical and chemical characteristics. Here, we have shown how these characteristics affect the size, cellular uptake, and activity of the avidin-based siRNA nanocomplex. In contrast to avidin and streptavidin nanocomplexes, neutravidin-based nanocomplex shows very low endosome entrapment and high cytoplasmic localization at extended times. High amount of the siRNA released in the cytoplasm by neutravidin-based nanocomplex at extended times (24 h) results in extensive and sustained PCBP2 gene silencing activity in HSC-T6 rat hepatic stellate cells. Neutravidin-based nanocomp...
The Coupling Scheme for Relaxations in Complex Correlated Systems

In this NATO Advanced Study Institute many different problems of large-scale molecular systems were discussed. The range of topics covered in this ASI is immensely broad. In view of the very nature of this ASI, what I addressed in lecture and elaborated further here is only a subset of all the large-scale molecular systems discussed in the Proceedings. I am primarily concerned with irreversible processes (relaxation) in correlated systems in which some identical constituents, molecules, ions, or their analogues, are interacting in either the quantum or classical mechanical sense, whichever is appropriate. Additional randomness caused by possible factors such as the presence of not identical constituents and fluctuations of local environments makes the problem even more complex. Correlated systems with additional complications such as distribution and randomness will be referred to as complex correlated systems. I am interested in the dynamics of irreversible processes in these systems which require solutions to these many body problems that give the time developments of either macroscopic (e.g. stress, strain, and electric polarization) or microscopic (e.g. orientation of tagged molecules, center-of-mass vector of a probe polymer chain in a polymer matrix) dynamical variables. When interactions between the constituents are strong, the system becomes highly correlated and solution is extremely difficult. In this paper I shall focus on three examples of such highly correlated systems. These are: (1) a glass forming viscous liquid that is made up of molecular units that are densely packed together and hence interacting strongly with each other (e.g. (O-terphenyl, 1,3,5 trinaphthalbenzene, and toulouene); (2) a vitreous ionic conductor (e.g. the alkali oxide trisilicate and triborate glasses, Na2O-3SiO2 and Li2O-3B2O3 respectively and also defect crystalline ionic conductors (e.g. Na β-alumina) that contain a propensity of interacting ions; and (3) polymer melts of long linear or star branched macromolecules that are fully entangled with each other and noncrossability of these densely packed macromolecules implies strong interaction.
See the Connections? Addressing Leadership and Supervision Challenges to Support Improved Student Achievement in a Small Rural School:

This case study was developed for educational leadership courses addressing supervision and school improvement. Various data are presented for students to analyze and identify key concerns at a low...
Managing Data Separation and Migration During a Divestiture

Although data separation and migration are among the most complex, riskiest, and critical activities involved in a divestiture, they are not typically considered during the initial planning and blueprinting phases. The quality of data migration and separation can significantly affect business operations and intelligence, as well as the overall transaction timeline. This chapter outlines key considerations and challenges encountered during data separation and migration and provides recommendations on how to manage these activities.
A Review of Predictive Software for the Design of Community Microgrids

This paper discusses adding a spatial dimension to the design of community microgrid projects in the interest of expanding the existing discourse related to energy performance optimization measures. A multidimensional vision for designing community microgrids with higher energy performance is considered, leveraging urban form (superstructure) to understand how it impacts the performance of the system’s distributed energy resources and loads (infrastructure). This vision engages the design sector in the technical conversation of developing community microgrids, leading to energy efficient designs of microgrid-connected communities well before their construction. A new generation of computational modeling and simulation tools that address this interaction are required. In order to position the research, this paper presents a survey of existing software packages, belonging to two distinct categories of modeling, simulation, and evaluation of community microgrids: the energy infrastructure modeling and the urban superstructure energy modeling. Results of this software survey identify a lack in software tools and simulation packages that simultaneously address the necessary interaction between the superstructure and infrastructure of community microgrids, given the importance of its study. Conclusions represent how a proposed experimental software prototype may fill an existing gap in current related software packages.