cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of in situ and in vitro techniques for measuring ruminal degradation of animal by-product proteins

Ruminally undegraded protein (RUP) values of blood meal (n = 2), hydrolyzed feather meal (n = 2), fish meal (n = 2), meat and bone meal, and soybean meal were estimated using an in situ method, an inhibitor in vitro method, and an inhibitor in vitro technique applying Michaelis-Menten saturation kinetics. Degradation rates for in situ and inhibitor in vitro methods were calculated by regression of the natural log of the proportion of crude protein (CP) remaining undegraded versus time. Nonlinear regression analysis of the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation was used to determine maximum velocity, the Michaelis constant, and degradation rate (the ratio of maximum velocity to the Michaelis constant). A ruminal passage rate of 0.06/h was assumed in the calculation of RUP. The in situ and inhibitor in vitro techniques yielded similar estimates of ruminal degradation. Mean RUP estimated for soybean meal, blood meal, hydrolyzed feather meal, fish meal, and meat and bone meal were, respectively, 28.6, 86.0, 77.4, 52.9, and 52.6% of CP by the in situ method and 26.4, 86.1, 76.0, 59.6, and 49.5% of CP by the inhibitor in vitro technique. The Michaelis-Menten inhibitor in vitro technique yielded more rapid CP degradation rates and decreased estimates of RUP. The inhibitor in vitro method required less time and labor than did the other two techniques to estimate the RUP values of animal by-product proteins. Results from in vitro incubations with pepsin-HCl suggested that low postruminal digestibility of hydrolyzed feather meal may impair its value as a source of RUP.
Asymmetry of Velocity Increments in Fully Developed Turbulence and the Scaling of Low-Order Moments

A study is made of the scaling of the positive part (PP) and the negative part (NP) of velocity increments in turbulent pipe flow and in simulated homogeneous turbulence in a box. For moment orders above unity, the moments of NP are larger than those of PP for all separation distances, and the scaling exponents for PP are larger than those for NP. For moment orders below unity, the absolute value of the velocity increment and of NP, as well as PP, possess scaling exponents which vary linearly with the moment order q, though apparently greater than qy3. [S0031-9007(96)00976-3] PACS numbers: 47.27.Ak, 47.27.Jv The velocity fluctuation usx; td in a turbulent flow is a large scale feature and nonuniversal. Kolmogorov [1] introduced the so-called structure functions to study universal properties. Specializing to the velocity component u in the direction x, one defines (for integer q) the structure functions as Sqsr d; k D u q l;k f u s x 1 r d 2 u s xdg q l . (1) It is expected that the structure functions in the inertial range [2] scale as some power of the separation distance r; that is, Sq , r z
Sleep, but not other daily routines, mediates the association between maternal employment and BMI for preschool children

Abstract Background It has been established that the more time mothers spend working outside of the home, the more likely their preschool-aged children are to be overweight. However, the mechanisms explaining this relationship are not well understood. Our objective was to explore child sleep, dietary habits, TV time, and family mealtime routines as mediators of the relationship between maternal employment status (full-time, part-time, and no or minimal employment) and child body mass index (BMI) percentile. Methods Data were drawn from waves 1 and 2 of STRONG Kids, a prospective panel study examining childhood obesity among parent–preschooler dyads ( n = 247). Mothers reported their own work hours, their child's hours of nighttime sleep, dietary habits, TV time, and mealtime routines. Trained staff measured child height and weight. Results Compared to working 0–19 h/week, both full-time (>35 h/week) and part-time (20–34 h/week) employment predicted higher child BMI percentile 1 year later. Hours of child nighttime sleep partially mediated the association between maternal full-time employment and child BMI percentile. Adjusting for individual and family characteristics, children whose mothers were employed full time were less likely to sleep longer hours than children whose mothers were employed 0–19 h/week ( b = −0.49, p b = −7.31, p Conclusions These findings add to the growing literature on the importance of adequate sleep for young children's health.
The genetics of sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD), a sudden pulseless condition due to cardiac arrhythmia, remains a major public health problem despite recent progress in the treatment and prevention of overall coronary heart disease. In this review, we examine the evidence for genetic susceptibility to SCD in order to provide biological insight into the pathogenesis of this devastating disease and to explore the potential for genetics to impact clinical management of SCD risk. Both candidate gene approaches and unbiased genome-wide scans have identified novel biological pathways contributing to SCD risk. Although risk stratification in the general population remains an elusive goal, several studies point to the potential utility of these common genetic variants in high-risk individuals. Finally, we highlight novel methodological approaches to deciphering the molecular mechanisms involved in arrhythmogenesis. Although further epidemiological and clinical applications research is needed, it is increasingly clear that genetic approaches are yielding important insights into SCD that may impact the public health burden imposed by SCD and its associated outcomes.
Combinatorial regulation of endothelial gene expression by ets and forkhead transcription factors

Vascular development begins when mesodermal cells differentiate into endothelial cells, which then form primitive vessels. It has been hypothesized that endothelial-specific gene expression may be regulated combinatorially, but the transcriptional mechanisms governing specificity in vascular gene expression remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify a 44 bp transcriptional enhancer that is sufficient to direct expression specifically and exclusively to the developing vascular endothelium. This enhancer is regulated by a composite cis-acting element, the FOX:ETS motif, which is bound and synergistically activated by Forkhead and Ets transcription factors. We demonstrate that coexpression of the Forkhead protein FoxC2 and the Ets protein Etv2 induces ectopic expression of vascular genes in Xenopus embryos, and that combinatorial knockdown of the orthologous genes in zebrafish embryos disrupts vascular development. Finally, we show that FOX:ETS motifs are present in many known endothelial-specific enhancers and that this motif is an efficient predictor of endothelial enhancers in the human genome.
A Primate Model for Chancroid

Adult pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were evaluated for their usefulness as a primate model for chancroid. To initiate infection, 10(7)-10(8) cfu of Haemophilus ducreyi were inoculated into the foreskins of 5 adult males and into the vaginal labia of 4 adult females. Lesions developed in the male macaques that were similar in appearance, histopathologic changes, and progression to those of human disease, including the development of ulcers 6-12 days after infection. In addition, H. ducreyi could be recovered from the lesions up to 20 days after inoculation, humoral antibodies were induced beginning 1 week after inoculation, and inguinal lymphadenopathy was noted in 4 of the 5 males. None of the 4 female macaques inoculated with the same preparation of live H. ducreyi developed comparable lesions. Thus, experimental chancroid in adult male macaques closely resembles human disease and should be useful for future studies of the pathogenesis of chancroid.
Introductory remarks to the second session

It is challenging indeed to be invited to introduce this broad-ranging session, for it encompasses virtually all levels of the effects of pressure and its antagonism by narcotics from the molecule to man. The papers will take us from the talk of Dr A. MacDonald on the reversible effects of pressure on molecules, and thereby cell structure and function, (MacDonald I982) to Dr K. Miller and his co-workers, who will discuss the action of pressure on membranes and mammals such as mice to produce the high pressure nervous syndrome. Dr Miller will also discuss the protective action against these effects of pressure afforded by five anaesthetic gases, which led to his introduction of the controversial 'Critical volume hypothesis' for the mechanism of general anaesthesia (Miller et al. I973). Dr M. Halsey, like Dr Miller, an ex-student from the Oxford group, will show us that the effects of pressure and anaesthetics are not as simple as we would wish. Disagreeing with his Oxford colleagues in regard to the critical volume concept, he has generated his 'multisite expansion hypothesis' (Halsey et al. I978). He will lead us also into measurements of the electrical activity of the brain in conjunction with research on synaptic transmitters in rodents and baboons; an area of increasing focus for many of us. In the final paper of this session, my French colleague, Dr Naquet, whose study of the effects of pressure in man has closely paralleled my own research in England and the U.S.A., will discuss his French colleagues' difficult and stressful human research on the clinical, psychometric and electrophysiological aspects of the effects of pressure to depth equivalents of 300-610 m (Naquet & Rostain I980; Rostain et al. I982; Bennett i982). This will bring into focus in man the molecular, cellular and membrane effects of pressure and identify how these come together in the total man to produce h.p.n.s and how anaesthetics are antagonistic. At the end of this session we should have a broad overview of some of the more important aspects of how man's neurological system reacts to exposure to high pressures. We should also quickly be aware that the problems are far from simple and that pressure per se is both a formidable limitation to the ability of man to function effectively deep in the ocean, but also a golden key to assist our understanding of the mechanism of general anaesthesia. Unfortunately, pressure remains largely unrecognized except perhaps by a few zealots, such as our speakers today, as a unique physiological research tool equally as important as the common fundamental parameters, temperature and volume; this is rather surprising. Indeed, if we look at the fundamental basis for the reactions of any physico-chemical system, including living cells, the simplest-equation applicable at ordinary pressures, and known surely to all scientists, is PV= nRT
A Plant DJ-1 Homolog Is Essential for Arabidopsis thaliana Chloroplast Development

Protein superfamilies can exhibit considerable diversification of function among their members in various organisms. The DJ-1 superfamily is composed of proteins that are principally involved in stress response and are widely distributed in all kingdoms of life. The model flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana contains three close homologs of animal DJ-1, all of which are tandem duplications of the DJ-1 domain. Consequently, the plant DJ-1 homologs are likely pseudo-dimeric proteins composed of a single polypeptide chain. We report that one A. thaliana DJ-1 homolog (AtDJ1C) is the first DJ-1 homolog in any organism that is required for viability. Homozygous disruption of the AtDJ1C gene results in non-viable, albino seedlings that can be complemented by expression of wild-type or epitope-tagged AtDJ1C. The plastids from these dj1c plants lack thylakoid membranes and granal stacks, indicating that AtDJ1C is required for proper chloroplast development. AtDJ1C is expressed early in leaf development when chloroplasts mature, but is downregulated in older tissue, consistent with a proposed role in plastid development. In addition to its plant-specific function, AtDJ1C is an atypical member of the DJ-1 superfamily that lacks a conserved cysteine residue that is required for the functions of most other superfamily members. The essential role for AtDJ1C in chloroplast maturation expands the known functional diversity of the DJ-1 superfamily and provides the first evidence of a role for specialized DJ-1-like proteins in eukaryotic development.
Relation between changes in severity of coronary artery stenosis and anginal patterns.

Although myocardial ischemia causes angina pectoris, angina and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in individuals do not correlate. However, changes in anginal status over time correlated with changes in the severity of coronary artery stenosis as determined by repeated coronary arteriograms has not been previously studied. Coronary arteriograms, done both at entry into the Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH) and 3 years later, were blindly graded for changes in overall severity of coronary artery stenosis according to protocol by the POSCH Arteriography Review Committee. Arteriographic and clinical data from 376 control subjects (347 men, 29 women) were analyzed. There was no statistically significant relation over a long-term (3 year) period between the absence, presence, development, or disappearance of angina pectoris and changes in coronary artery stenosis severity as determined by coronary arteriography. © 1994 Wiley-Liss,Inc
Claiming peaceful embodiment through yoga in the aftermath of trauma

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of practicing yoga and its role within processes of healing for adult women with complex trauma histories. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological method, data were analyzed from interviews with 39 women. Results showed that the core meaning of participants' experience of healing through yoga is claiming peaceful embodiment. This is an ongoing process occurring on a continuum whereby women experienced improved connections with and sense of ownership and control over their bodies, emotions and thoughts, and a greater sense of well-being, calmness, and wholeness in their bodies and minds. A number of interconnected essential themes related to this core meaning were also identified, illuminating processes that supported claiming peaceful embodiment and capabilities that were enabled by being more peacefully embodied. Additional themes were identified highlighting factors that facilitated or impeded participants' engagement with yoga and their experiences of healing through yoga.
Buffer Standards for pH Measurement of N -(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine- N ′-2-ethanesulfonic Acid (HEPES) for I =0.16 mol⋅kg −1 from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK 2, of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) have been reported at twelve temperatures over the temperature range 5 to 55 °C, including 37 °C. This paper reports the results for the pa H of eight isotonic saline buffer solutions with an I=0.16 mol⋅kg−1 including compositions: (a) HEPES (0.01 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.01 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.15 mol⋅kg−1); (b) HEPES (0.02 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.02 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.14 mol⋅kg−1); (c) HEPES (0.03 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.03 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.13 mol⋅kg−1); (d) HEPES (0.04 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.04 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.12 mol⋅kg−1); (e) HEPES (0.05 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.05 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.11 mol⋅kg−1); (f) HEPES (0.06 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.06 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.10 mol⋅kg−1); (g) HEPES (0.07 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.07 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.09 mol⋅kg−1); and (h) HEPES (0.08 mol⋅kg−1) + NaHEPES (0.08 mol⋅kg−1) + NaCl (0.08 mol⋅kg−1). Conventional pa H values, for all eight buffer solutions from 5 to 55 °C, have been calculated. The operational pH values with liquid junction corrections, at 25 and 37 °C have been determined based on the NBS/NIST standard between the physiological phosphate standard and four buffer solutions. These are recommended as pH standards for physiological fluids in the range of pH = 7.3 to 7.5 at I=0.16 mol⋅kg−1.
A New Species of Anevrina from Baltic Amber (Diptera: Phoridae)

A new fossil species of the genus Anevrina Lioy is described from 40 million-year-old Baltic amber. It differs from the only other described fossil species of this genus, Anevrina oligocoenica Brues, by the setation of the tibiae and the structure of the male genitalia. The new species is most similar to the extant Anevrina olympiae (Aldrich), from which it differs by the darker color and details of the male genitalia.
Chaotic streamlines in a translating drop with a uniform electric field

A drop translating in the presence of a uniform electric field is studied both theoretically and experimentally to determine qualitative properties of three-dimensional chaotic particle trajectories and mixing in bounded Stokes flows. The flow is a combination of a Hadamard-Rybczynski and a Taylor circulation due to the translation and electric field respectively. The three-dimensional trajectories are generated by tilting the electric field relative to the drop translational motion by an angle a. The numerical analysis includes qualitative analysis of the degree of mixing by Poincare mapping, quantitative estimates of the largest mixed volume fraction and the rate of mixing characterized by the largest Lyapunov exponent. Experiments are performed using a castor oil/silicone oil system for the continuous and dispersed phases respectively. Single trajectories are studied by visualizing small neutrally buoyant glass particles inside the dispersed phase using a stereoscopic particle tracking technique. Drops are approximately 5mm in diameter, settling velocities are O(0,1 mm s -1 ) and the electric fields are O(10V mm -1 )
Effects of Cigarette Smoke Condensate and Nicotine on Human Gingival Fibroblast-Mediated Collagen Degradation

Background: Members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family have been shown to be involved in periodontal disease. Risk factors for periodontal disease include tobacco smoking. Cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) is comprised of thousands of chemicals. Nicotine is one of the active components in tobacco. This study compares the effects of CSC and nicotine at the level in CSC on the collagen-degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and the expression of selected MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs).Methods: HGFs were seeded in six-well collagen-coated plates, exposed to 100 μg/mL (2.4 μg/mL nicotine) of CSC or 2.4 μg/mL nicotine for 3 days, and then collagen degradation was analyzed. After 3 days exposure to CSC or nicotine, the conditioned media from HGFs was collected and the membrane proteins were extracted for gelatin zymography and Western blot analyses. The mRNA levels of MMP-2, MMP-14, and TIMP-2 were measured by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.Res...
Invited tutorial: Noise in amplifiers, mixers and oscillators

This tutorial begins with an examination of noise models of devices and then considers the noise of representative blocks such as amplifiers, mixers and oscillators. The presentation will highlight the different consequences of stationary and cyclostationary noise processes. Throughout the emphasis will be on the acquisition of useful design insight. Many of these insights prove to be broadly useful for digital circuits as well, thanks to relentless supply voltage reductions that are driving a convergence between analog and digital circuits as lithographic scaling continues.
Concurrent Sensitivities of an Idealized Deep Convective Storm to Parameterization of Microphysics, Horizontal Grid Resolution, and Environmental Static Stability

AbstractThis study investigated the sensitivity of idealized deep convective storm simulations to microphysics parameterization, horizontal grid spacing (Δx), and environmental static stability. Three different bulk microphysics schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model were tested for Δx between 0.125 and 2 km and three different environmental soundings, modified by altering static stability above 5 km. Horizontally and temporally averaged condensation and surface precipitation rates and convective updraft mass flux were sensitive to microphysics scheme and Δx for all environmental soundings. Microphysical sensitivities were similar for 0.125 < Δx < 1 km, but they varied for different soundings. Sensitivities of these quantities to Δx were less robust and varied with microphysics scheme. Other statistical convective characteristics, such as the mean updraft width and strength, exhibited similar sensitivities to Δx for all of the microphysics schemes. Microphysical sensitivities were primarily...
Phase I Study of Intravenous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Trap, Aflibercept, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Purpose Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Trap (aflibercept) is an angiogenesis inhibitor comprising portions of the extracellular domains of human VEGF receptors 1 and 2 fused to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G. This phase I study was designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of VEGF Trap administered intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks. Patients and Methods Patients with refractory solid tumors or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with adequate organ function were eligible. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic markers included measurement of plasma VEGF bound to VEGF Trap and free VEGF Trap. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was incorporated to measure the biologic effects of the drug on tumor vascularity and permeability. Results The study enrolled 47 patients at doses ranging from 0.3 to 7.0 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks. Dose-limiting toxicities were rectal ulceration and proteinuria at the 7.0 mg/kg dose. Other mechanism-specific toxicities included ...
The Fire Within: Cardiac Inflammatory Signaling in Health and Disease

Inflammatory mediators are operative in the pathogenesis of the most common forms of heart disease. Although in most cases the induction of these pathways is maladaptive and deleterious, there are notable exceptions when inflammatory pathways participate in healing or limiting the extent of injury. The appreciation of the role of these mechanisms in myocardial homeostasis and pathophysiology has led to increased efforts to elucidate the specific signaling pathways most relevant to the heart. Our goal in this introductory overview is to provide context for the five detailed reviews that follow by introducing the major relevant stimuli, the receptors, and pathways that mediate inflammatory signaling in the heart. We try to impart a sense of the scope and complexity of these pathways, as well as their interactions with signaling pathways regulating cell survival and metabolism. These complexities underscore the potential challenges of therapeutically targeting inflammatory mechanisms in heart disease and may help explain the mostly disappointing results of this approach to date.
Discrete-Event Simulation in the Design of Textile Finishing Processes

The General Purpose Simulation System (GPSS) was used to model and perform a discrete-event simulation of a large textile finishing mill, producing a variety of woven and knit fabrics for sheeting and men's and women's apparel. This model was validated with actual mill operating data. Simulations were made to determine the effects of market demands, maintenance practices, quality control policies, and total production on equipment and manpower utilization, work-in-process, inventory, and total processing time. For this particular mill, the numbers of dye machines represented the primary bottleneck in increasing mill capacity, and the effect of adding more such machines on capacity was studied in further simulations.
Optical amplification characteristics of Cr:LiSAF and Cr:LiCAF under flashlamp-pumping

Small-signal gain measurements of flashlamp-pumped Cr-doped LiSAF and LiCAF are summarized for a range of material parameters. Flashlamp pumping allows efficient energy storage for both materials in the order 1.6 to 2.6% of the electrical pump energy. Small-signal gain values of up to 0.16 cm/sup -1/ are measured for Cr:LiSAF and 0.09 cm/sup -1/ for Cr:LiCAF. The gain of both materials is found to be affected by excited state absorption and upconversion. In addition the implications of these results for the design of laser/amplifier systems are discussed. >
A Simple Protocol Whose Proof Isn't

Aho, Ullman, and Yannakakis have proposed a set of protocols that ensure reliable transmission of data across an error-prone channel. They have obtained lower bounds on the complexity required of the protocols to assure reliability for different classes of errors. They specify these protocols with finite-state machines. Although the protocol machines have only a small number of states, they are nontrivial to prove correct. In this paper we present proofs of one of these protocols using the finite-state-machine approach and the abstract-program approach. We also show that the abstract-program approach gives special insight into the operation of the protocol.
Synthesis and X-Ray Powder Diffraction Analysis of a New Metallic (but not Superconducting) Copper Oxide: La1.67Sr0.33Cu2O5

An ordered oxygen-deficient tetragonal perovskite compound La1.67Sr0.33Cu205 has been synthesized by solid state reaction. X-ray powder diffraction was used to characterize the material. Unit cell parameters least-squares refined from non-overlapping diffraction peaks are a = 10.8696(9)A, c = 3.8612(6)A and V = 456.2(1)A3. X-ray powder data have been obtained for the experimentally observed peak positions corrected for systematic errors, the relative intensities, values of dexp and the Miller indices of both resolved and overlapping reflections. The experimental diffraction pattern was compared to computer simulated patterns calculated from the neutron crystal structure parameters and the non-oxygen-deficient LaCuO3 compound. The figure of merit is F30 = 33.8 (0.018, 48).
Small and Medium-sized Firms' First Interaction with Government: An Exploratory Study

It is well known that, by either incentives or constraints, government has a substantial impact on business (Marcus. Kaufman. & Beam. 1987; Buchholtz. 1988; Scarborough & Zimmerer, 1993; Preston, 1990; Epstein, 1980). Over time, this impact has increased to where the political success of firm is considered by some to be vital to marketplace success (Marcus et al., 1987). As a result, firms often found that they needed to become involved in the public policy process if they were to gain influence with policymakers. As Irving Shapiro, former CEO of Dupont and former chairman of the Business Roundtable, put it, "..you have zero chance of scoring points unless you get into the game" (1980,p. 30). Historically, large firms were the first to get 'into the game,' often by investing in a Washington office, hiring one or more representatives to monitor issue areas of primary concern, and engaging a law or public relations firm to pursue company interests with relevant bureaucrats (Levitan & Cooper, 1984).
Modeling the Physiological Factors Affecting Glucose Sensor Function in Vivo.

For implantable sensors to become a more viable option for continuous glucose monitoring strategies, they must be able to persist in vivo for periods longer than the 3- to 7-day window that is the ...
Consideration of an International Prohibition on the Cloning of Human Beings at the United Nations

At the turn of the twenty-first century rapid advances in the life sciences had culminated in the successful cloning of mammals, with the potential for the development of cures to major diseases. It also raised the spectre of the cloning of human beings – a possibility declared repugnant to human dignity by UNESCO in 1997. In 2001, France and Germany initiated a process in the UN General Assembly to negotiate an international treaty banning the reproductive cloning of human beings. What started as a seemingly straightforward proposal soon ran into the cross-winds of the broader debate on the ethical and legal appropriateness of human embryonic stem-cell research. A major confrontation ensued at the United Nations between those states favouring a narrow ban limited to cloning for reproductive purposes, and those insisting on prohibiting all forms of human cloning, including for ‘therapeutic’ purposes. At play was not only a difference in worldview as to the meaning of human dignity in the twenty-first century (and the boundaries on scientific research), but also considerations relating to respect for cultural diversity, the economic consequences of finding cures to major diseases, and the ability of the technological ‘have-nots’ to limit the activities of the technological ‘haves’.
Scientific Note: Chromosome Number of Clethra alexandri Griseb. (Clethraceae)

Clethra alexandri Griseb. is a shrub or low tree endemic to high montane forests of the Blue Mountains, St. Andrews and St. Thomas Parishes, Jamaica. Material in flower and bud was collected at Blue Mountain Peak, St. Thomas Parish (i.e., Judd 659 [A]), and buds of various sizes were fixed in modified Carnoy’s solution (4 parts chloroform, 3 parts absolute alcohol). Young stamens were squashed and stained in 1% acetocarmine and examined using a light microscope, resulting in five countable cells in diakinensis or metaphase I. All clearly showed eight bivalents, indicating a diploid number of 16 for this species (Figure 1). Clethra alexandri is a member of section Cuellaria (Sleumer 1967, Thomas 1961), a clade (Fior et al. 2003) including ca. 39 species, which is widely distributed in the Neotropics, and characterized by winged seeds and flowers with an included, non-trifid style. In contrast, the members of the Asiantemperate North American-Macaronesian section Clethra characteristically have unwinged seeds and exserted, usually trifid styles. Both sections share a basic chromosome number of x58 (Schneider and Bayer 2004, Tanaka and Oginuma 1980), as seen in the chromosome counts for C. arborea Ait. (n58; sect. Clethra, as circumscribed by Fior et al. 2003), C. alnifolia L. (n516, a tetraploid; sect. Clethra), C. lanata Martens & Gal. (n58; sect. Cuellaria), and C. pringlei S. Wats. (n58; sect. Cuellaria) (Hagerup 1928, Kyhos 1965, Reed 2005). The highest reported number for the group is in Clethra barbinervis Sieb. & Zucc. (of sect. Clethra), which is a decaploid (i.e., n540) (Tanaka and Oginuma 1980). This report increases the evidence for x58 as the basic number in Clethra, and it is noteworthy that all species of sect. Cuellaria for which chromosome counts are known are diploid (2n516). Funds for field work in Jamaica were provided by a National Science Foundation Grant (BMS 75-21656) and by the Anderson Fund, the Arnold Arboretum, and the Atkins Fund, the Gray Herbarium.
Weight Fluctuation and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study

Objective. The aim of this study is to investigate if weight fluctuation is an independent risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer (PBC) among women who gained weight in adult years. Methods. NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study (NHEFS) database was used in the study. Women that were cancers-free at enrollment and diagnosed for the first time with breast cancer at age 50 or greater were considered cases. Controls were chosen from the subset of cancers-free women and matched to cases by years of follow-up and status of body mass index (BMI) at 25 years of age. Weight fluctuation was measured by the root-mean-square-error (RMSE) from a simple linear regression model for each woman with their body mass index (BMI) regressed on age (started at 25 years) while women with the positive slope from this regression were defined as weight gainers. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression models. Results. A total of 158 women were included into the study. The conditional logistic regression adjusted for weight gain demonstrated positive association between weight fluctuation in adult years and postmenopausal breast cancers (odds ratio/OR = 1.67; 95% confidence interval/CI: 1.06–2.66). Conclusions. The data suggested that long-term weight fluctuation was significant risk factor for PBC among women who gained weight in adult years. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining lost weight and avoiding weight fluctuation.
Study on variations in vertical profile for CDA descents

*To improve fuel and environmental efficiency, continuous descent approaches (CDAs) at idle thrust are being studied and instituted at a number of airports. Current practice typically restricts these approaches to times of relatively light traffic due to the lack of predictability of the trajectory and the difficulty of controlling relative spacing in a busy traffic environment. The intent of this paper is a study to compare vertical profile differences in idle descent for a variety of commercial aircraft. Simulations are performed using the Eurocontrol BADA database, and compared to some actual CDA trajectories. Additional comments on how to reduce variability and ultimate prediction accuracy should be helpful in extending CDA operations to operations in high-density traffic.
Some things haven’t changed: Lidcombe program for the treatment of early childhood stuttering is effective, and more research is still needed

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Nye, C., Vanryckeghem, M., Schwartz, J.B., Herder, C., Turner III, H.M., and Howard, C. (2013). Behavioral stuttering interventions for children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 56, 921–932.Source of funding and declarations of conflicts of interest: not reported
A Study of the Mechanism of the Schultz-Dale Reaction.

SummaryA study has been made of the effects of a number of substances upon the Schultz-Dale reaction. For the most part, results in the literature concerning the effects of these substances were confirmed. The Schultz-Dale reaction, but not the responses due to histamine and acetylcholine, was blocked by urethane, Nupercaine, lower aliphatic alcohols, and type D botulinum toxin. The results are interpreted to indicate that the Schultz-Dale reaction involves postgan-glionic cholinergic nerve.
Two-photon rayleigh scattering from isolated and aggregated hollow gold nanospheres

We report the optical quadratic nonlinearity of hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs). The two-photon Rayleigh scattering (TPRS) technique has been used to measure the first hyperpolarizabilities (β) of t...
Game Analysis about SEO Regulatory Policies of Listed Companies

The SEO regulatory policies are an important factor influencing the SEO decision-making of listed companies in China. The paper analyzes SEO regulatory policies with the gap model of game theory, and finds that the policies of addissuance will bring issuance of additional qualification line, while the regulatory policy limits theoretically produce the huge gap of expected income, and when the companies fail to qualify additional lines, they will have the motivation to manipulate performance. The paper argues that regulatory department can use ROE as assessment indicator to qualify listed companies, while considering additional assessment of financial indicators; at the same time audit supervision should be strengthened in order to ensure the high quality of information disclosure.
Private Prisons and the New Marketplace for Crime

A saner and safer prison policy in the United States begins by ending the scourge of the private prison corporation and returning crime and punishment to public function. We continue by radically reimagining our sentencing policies and reducing them significantly for non-violent crimes. We end the War on Drugs, once and for all, and completely reconfigure our drug and prison policy by legalizing and regulating marijuana use and providing health services to addicts of harder drugs and using prison for only violent drug kingpins and cartel bosses. We stop the current criminalization of immigration in its tracks and block the private prison lobby from influencing legislation in our current immigration policy debates. We provide prisoners a fair wage for work done in prison, allowing them a re-entry account upon release filled with the money they earned while working in prison. We provide humane and habitable prison cells populated by one inmate, as saner and safer crime and punishment policies will imprison far fewer American citizens. At their core, private prisons reflect a continuation of policies that have tainted the criminal justice system with perceptions of arbitrariness, unfairness, and injustice. As this article has shown, the continued proliferation of private prisons does not save taxpayers money, increase prison safety, or elevate the conditions of the prison environment. Conversely, they do the opposite. Inmates are being physically abused, denied medical care, and forced to endure inhumane living conditions, as corporations like CCA and GEO Group realize higher profits from a marketplace in which prisoners are in high demand. Indeed, CCA is a textbook example of the grave injustices that can occur when profit maximization clashes with human dignity. The time has arrived for private prisons to be eliminated and for legislators and courts to realize that this experiment is one that has failed. Until that time comes, Congress should implement purpose-driven reforms to ensure that private prisons can no longer be institutions where inmates have rights but no remedies.
Parameter Estimation and a Series of Nonlinear Observers for the System Dynamics of a Linear Vapor Compressor

Linear compressors are becoming more widely utilized in refrigeration for their high efficiency in comparison with traditional rotary devices. The nature of the free piston in a linear compressor requires additional control which necessitates knowledge of the mechanical dynamics of the system. Sensorless control of the system is preferred for cost effectiveness. To this end, a pair of nonlinear observers have been developed to observe signals within the system dynamics and reduce the need for costly sensors. The first utilizes a current and voltage measurements to arrive at an observed velocity. The second utilizes a velocity measurement to arrive at observations of piston acceleration as well as a lumped uncertainty term in the mechanical dynamics. A stability analysis is presented to prove boundedness and convergence for these nonlinear observers with experimental results providing further validation. As these observers rely on accurate knowledge of the model parameters, to this end, an estimator has been designed to estimate the electrical parameters of the system. Experimental results validate this method as well.
Late results after orthodontic extraction therapy

durfte auf Grund der vorliegenden Untersuchung die generelle Schlusfolgerung berechtigt sein, das ein Dauererfolg weitgehend von dem Ergebnis der Behandlung zum Zeitpunkt ihres Abschlusses abhangt. Zugestandnisse an den Behandlungsabschlus in der Hoffnung auf eine Verbesserung des Ergebnisses im Sinne der funktionellen Anpassung wirken sich meist nachteilig aus. Dies betrifft hauptsachlich die Bislagen und die Bishohe, wahrend mit einer Verkleinerung der Lucken auch noch nach Abschlus der Behandlung zu rechnen ist. Beim frontalen Engstand mus immer mit einer Zunahme, sowohl der Haufigkeit als auch der Intensitat gerechnet werden, wobei der Unterkiefer haufiger als der Oberkiefer betroffen wird.
Attention-based Multimodal Neural Machine Translation

We present a novel neural machine translation (NMT) architecture associating visual and textual features for translation tasks with multiple modalities. Transformed global and regional visual features are concatenated with text to form attendable sequences which are dissipated over parallel long short-term memory (LSTM) threads to assist the encoder generating a representation for attention-based decoding. Experiments show that the proposed NMT outperform the text-only baseline.
Five-membered Rings with Three Oxygen or Sulfur Atoms in 1,2,3-Positions

There are six possible five-membered monocycles containing three oxygen or sulfur atoms in the 1,2,3-positions: 1,2,3-trioxolane, 1,2,3-trithiolane, 1,2,3-dioxathiolane, 1,3,2-dioxathiolane, 1,2,3-oxadithiolane, and 1,2,5-oxadithiolane. However, they have not been studied equally well. During the last decade, the theoretical studies have been mostly focused on the derivatives of 1,2,3-trioxolane, the so-called primary ozonides, the primary reaction products in the reaction of alkenes with ozone. Synthetic and structural studies have been mostly devoted to 1,3,2-dioxathiolane S-oxides (cyclic sulfites) and 1,3,2-dioxathiolane S,S-dioxides (cyclic sulfates), the synthetic equivalents of epoxides, which are able to perform a variety of useful transformations.
Abstract B32: Oncogenic role of snoRD93 in breast cancer cells

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play key roles in many essential processes of human diseases through regulating gene expression. Small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) is a relatively large group of ncRNAs with diversified functions in mammalian cells, although many of them have not been well-characterized. Recent studies have revealed the alterations of different snoRNAs in prostate, breast, and lung malignancies; however, their mechanistic roles in tumorigenesis and progression have not been well-studied yet. In this study, we compared the transcriptome profiles of human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, by using the next generation sequencing (NGS). MCF-7 cells were derived from the primary breast tumor, while MDA-MB-231 cells are highly metastatic. Our sequencing results showed that 13 snoRNAs was significantly overexpressed in MDA-MB-231 cells versus MCF-7 cells. In particular, we are interested in snoRD93, given its expression showing 27-time higher in MDA-MB-231 cells than MCF-7 cells. We further studied the oncogenic role of snoRD93 in MDA-MB-231 cells by using loss-of-function strategy. By employing cell viability assay, we found that the repression of snoRD93 by transfection of the antisense inhibitors could significantly inhibit the tumor cell growth. In addition, downregulation of snoRD93 could result in relatively low motility of MDA-MB-231 cells as shown in the matrigel invasion assay. Therefore, our data support the oncogenic role of snoRD93 in breast cancer cells and suggest that snoRD93 can be triggered a potential target for development of new anticancer drugs. Citation Format: Ruixia Ma, Hongyou Zhao, Dillon Patterson, Glen Borchert, Yaguang Xi. Oncogenic role of snoRD93 in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Cancer Cell Cycle - Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Response; Feb 28-Mar 2, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(11_Suppl):Abstract nr B32.
The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and oral contraceptives: Regulation and function

This chapter provides an overview of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis, otherwise known as the female reproductive axis. The HPO axis is the major regulator of the female reproductive hormones: estrogen and progesterone. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is released from the hypothalamus at the onset of puberty in young women, and induces the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary. These two hormones bind to ovarian receptors and signal the release of estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone are released in fluctuating concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle, resulting in the follicular (low estrogen) phase and the luteal (high estrogen) phase. These phases are separated by ovulation and end with either fertilization or menstruation in a eumenorrheic woman.
Tables of dielectric constants, dipole moments, and dielectric relaxation times

The tables contain data reported in publications abstracted by Chemical Abstracts for 1970. In most cases the values cited have been taken from the original literature. In cases where the original literature was unavailable, the Chemical Abstracts citation follows the reference. The tables cover measurements on pure materials and dilute solutions but do not include work on mixtures or poorly characterized substances. The following tables are given: 1. Static Dielectric Constants of Pure Liquids 2. Static Dielectric Constants of Pure Solids 3. Dipole Moments 4. Unresolved Relaxation Times 5. Resolved Relaxation Times.
Practice trends over time in the care of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: A report from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative.

Objective The National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) was established in 2008 to improve outcomes of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) during the interstage period. They evaluated changes in patient variables and practice variation between early and late eras. Design Data including demographic, operative, discharge, and follow-up variables from the first 100 patients (6/2008–1/2010) representing 18 centers were compared with the most recent 100 patients (1/2014–11/2014) from these same centers. Results Prenatal diagnosis increased from 69% to 82% (P = .05). There were no differences in gestational age or weight at Norwood. A composite of any preoperative risk factor occurred more frequently in the early era (59% vs. 34%, P < .01). While mean age at Norwood was similar (8.3 vs. 6.6 days, P = .2), the standard deviation was significantly lower in the recent era (10.4–6.4 days, P = .04). Use of RV-PA conduit increased (67%–84%, P < .01). Rates of complete discharge communication with both the primary care physician (31%–97%, P < .01) and primary cardiologist (44%–97%, P < .01) increased substantially. There were limited changes in feeding strategies. Use of home monitoring program increased (76%–99%, P < .01) with all participants in the late era monitoring both oxygen saturation and weight. Conclusions Among NPC-QIC centers contributing patients to both eras, there were significant changes in preoperative risk factors, surgical strategy, discharge communication, and interstage care. Further study is required to determine an association between these changes and decreased mortality.
General Framework and Notational Conventions

Throughout this chapter, and throughout the whole book unless otherwise stated, G is a countable discrete group. Its identity element will always be denoted by e.
The impact of sleep on novel concept learning

Abstract Prior research demonstrates that sleep benefits memory consolidation. But beyond its role in memory retention, sleep may also facilitate the reorganization and flexible use of new information. In the present study, we investigated the effect of sleep on conceptual knowledge. Participants classified abstract dot patterns into novel categories, and were later tested on both previously seen dot patterns as well as on new patterns. A Wake group (n = 17) trained at 9 AM, continued with their daily activities, and then tested at 9 PM that evening. A Sleep group (n = 20) trained at 9 PM, went home to sleep, and was tested the following morning at 9 AM. Two Immediate Test control groups completed testing immediately following training in either the morning (n = 18) or evening (n = 18). Post-training sleep led to superior classification of all stimulus types, including the specific exemplars learned during training, novel patterns that had not previously been seen, and “prototype” patterns from which the exemplars were derived. However, performance did not improve significantly above baseline after a night of sleep. Instead, sleep appeared to maintain performance, relative to a performance decline across a day of wakefulness. There was additionally evidence of a time of day effect on performance. Together with prior observations, these data support the notion that sleep may be involved in an important process whereby we extract commonalities from our experiences to construct useful mental models of the world around us.
Masters of Empire: Great Lakes Indians and the Making of America

Review of: "Masters of Empire: Great Lakes Indians and the Making of America," by Michael A. McDonnell.