cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel pharmacokinetics with a low-dose transdermal contraceptive delivery system, AG200-15: a randomized controlled trial ☆

Abstract Background This study evaluated the ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LNG) pharmacokinetic profiles of AG200-15, a transdermal contraceptive delivery system, compared with a combination oral contraceptive (COC) containing EE 35 mcg and norgestimate 250 mcg. Study design A Phase 1, open-label, single-center study in 36 healthy women was conducted over three cycles with a randomized crossover design. After a run-in cycle of 21 days on and 7 days off with AG200-15, participants were randomized to receive one of two treatments: a 21/7-day cycle of AG200-15 either followed or preceded by one cycle of the COC. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT01243580. Results During the third week of AG200-15 use, mean (��standard deviation) maximum serum concentration ( C max ), area under the curve 0���168 h and steady-state concentration ( C ss48���168 h ) for EE were 51.3��17.3 pg/mL, 6.26��2.46 ng h/mL and 35.7��14.5 pg/mL, respectively; for LNG, the corresponding values were 2400��1140 pg/mL, 317��159 ng h/mL and 1847��930 pg/mL, respectively. The AG200-15 EE C max was approximately 60% lower and the EE C ss was 15%���20% lower than those obtained with the COC. The calculated daily dose of AG200-15 was equivalent to a 30-mcg EE COC. The most common adverse events (AEs; >10%) in the AG200-15 group were headache, nausea and application-site irritation. All drug-related AEs were mild, and no serious AEs were reported. Conclusions EE and LNG daily exposure during AG200-15 treatment was within the range reported for a low-dose COC. The daily EE dose with AG 200-15 was equivalent to a 30-mcg COC and was safe and well tolerated.
Adventures in analysis I: The Cauchy Caper

[Once upon a time after a party the author fell into a profound sleep, wherein he dreamt he met Cauchy at a par ty in Paris and asked h im for helpful hints in teaching complex analysis. Cauchy embarked upon a conducted tour of his p o s t h u m o u s Cours d'Analyse (Olympus Press, no date) and held the author spellb o u n d for hours . Upon a w a k e n i n g the au tho r instantly wrote down the lines that are here preserved for use in class that afternoon. At this moment he was unfor tunate ly interrupted by a persistent person at the door from Porlock [~], and on his return to his s tudy found to his mortification that Michael Douglas' elementary settling of the Riemann Hypothesis and other non-trivial topics had faded from his memory beyond r e c a l l . . . ] Let C = set of complex numbers , D = closed uni t disk = {z: Izl <= 1}, and F = uni t circle = {z: Izl = 1}. BROUWER FIXED POINT THEOREM (n = 2). Let
Automaton models of performance

Abstract This work illustrates the use of a stochastic automaton model for describing the temporal steps taken by a student in solving simple arithmetic prolems. The method provides a hierarchial classification of problems by difficulty expressed in terms of the structural features of the problems. The model parameters represent the error rates due to these features.
Cyberchondria and Intolerance of Uncertainty: Examining When Individuals Experience Health Anxiety in Response to Internet Searches for Medical Information

Abstract Individuals frequently use the Internet to search for medical information. However, for some individuals, searching for medical information on the Internet is associated with an exacerbation of health anxiety. Researchers have termed this phenomenon as cyberchondria. The present research sought to shed further light onto the phenomenology of cyberchondria. In particular, the moderating effect of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) on the relationship between the frequency of Internet searches for medical information and health anxiety was examined using a large sample of medically healthy community adults located in the United States (N=512). The purported moderating effect of IU was supported. More specifically, the relationship between the frequency of Internet searches for medical information and health anxiety grew increasingly stronger as IU increased. This moderating effect of IU was not attributable to general distress. These results suggest that IU is important for better understanding the ex...
AGRICULTURAL FINANCE AND INFLATION: AN EXAMINATION OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS WITH REFERENCE TO BRITISH EXPERIENCE

Increased inflation has the effect of increasing nominal interest rates which in turn cause problems in servicing debts in the form of conventional loans. Price-level-adjusted mortgages (PLAMs) have been recommended as a means of avoiding debt servicing difficulties associated with inflation. Bank overdrafts can act as effective substitutes for PLAMs and have some tax advantages. Leasing also provides an alternative way of avoiding cash flow problems associated with conventional term loans. Experience in the 1970s demonstrated that the provision of external finance to agriculture was maintained during a period of inflation although the balance of borrowing shifted from term loans to overdrafts.
The Results of a Phase II Randomized Trial Comparing 5-Fluorouracil and 5-Fluorouracil Plus alpha-Interferon: Observations on the Design of Clinical Trials for Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer

AbstractThe therapeutic benefit of chemotherapy in androgen independent prostatate cancer is limited. 5-Fluorouracil has been reported to have modest antitumor activity in androgen independent prostate cancer. Although alpha-interferon is inactive as a single agent in prostate cancer, preclinical data indicate that it increases the in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil against a variety of malignant cells.We evaluated the relative antitumor activity and tolerance of 5-fluorouracil versus 5-fluorouracil plus alpha-interferon in 50 patients with histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate. These patients had progressive disease in the presence of castrate levels of testosterone. A prospective randomized phase II open labeled trial was performed because of the difficulty in measuring responses in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Of 23 patients treated with 5-fluorouracil alone and 28 treated with 5-fluorouracil plus alpha-interferon 17 and 23, respectively, were evaluable fo...
6—STAPLE-LENGTH VARIATION IN GREASY WOOL

Estimates are reported for the variance of staple length within bales for each of 33 bales taken from separate sale lots of skirted classed merino wool. These variances range from 0.59 to 2.90 cm2, with an average of 1.53 cm2. Variances between bales, within sale lots of merino wool, were small and not significant. Within-bale variances for comeback and crossbred fleece ranged from 0.61 to 4.62 cm2, with an average of 2.64 cm2. The highest variances occurred within lots of broken and pieces, these ranging from 1.83 to 6.33, with an average of 3.44 cm2. Evidence is presented which suggests that the removal of short wool during skirting makes the largest contribution to staple-length uniformity, classing having a secondary effect. Of the variation occurring within a bale, about half is found within fleeces and half between fleeces.
Ion absorption effects in high-harmonic fast wave ray tracing theory

Effects of finite ion temperature on the propagation and absorption characteristics of high-harmonic fast waves (HHFW) are investigated theoretically using a hot electron (cold ion) ray tracing code in combination with solutions of the full hot plasma dispersion relation. Ray tracing is performed on numerical solutions of the Grad-Shafranov equation and the hot plasma dispersion relation is solved along the resultant ray trajectory using the cold ion n∥. As was observed previously (see Ref. [1]), for typical expected plasma parameters in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) [2], ion absorption begins to appear between 0.5 and 1.0 keV local ion temperature at high deuterium cyclotron harmonics. Further, the ion power absorption rate is predicted to depend strongly on the launched parallel wavenumber [3,4]. Ray tracing on the full hot plasma dispersion relation has been attempted, but generally fails at high ion temperature near cyclotron harmonics primarily because the group velocity is ill-behav...
Comparing film and videotape

This review compares videotape and film to help the researcher choose the one most suited to the specific research problem. The review treats initial costs, running costs, resolution, required light levels, sound, color, processing, and data viewing. Half-inch videotape is the most versatile equipment, especially indoors. A motor-driven 35-mm camera is necessary when extreme resolution is required.
Structure of dislocations in tantalum and tantalum-nitrogen alloys

Abstract Weak-beam electron microscopy of Ta and Ta-N crystals deformed at 77 K shows that the image widths of 1 2 〈111〉 screw dislocations are approx. 10–20 A, regardless of the nitrogen concentration between ~ 5 and 15,000 at.ppm. Annealing treatments designed to decorate screw dislocations with nitrogen atmospheres have no effect on the widths. Furthermore, no dissociations are observed at the nodes of the dislocation reactions 1 2 〈111〉 + 1 2 〈1 1 1 〉 = 〈100〉 . It is concluded that the splitting of screw dislocation cores of ~50 A observed by field ion microscopy is enhanced by the local electric field; actual dissociations must be much smaller. Models of interstitial hardening in b.c.c. metals which rely on interstitial-enhanced core expansion of screw dislocations are also not supported by the present results.
A STATIC CONDENSATION REDUCED BASIS ELEMENT APPROXIMATION: APPLICATION TO THREE-DIMENSIONAL ACOUSTIC MUFFLER ANALYSIS

We apply the static condensation reduced basis element (scRBE) method to treat the class of parametrized complex Helmholtz partial differential equation. We construct a set of components of interoperable parametrized reference components in a Library to model a family of target models relevant to acoustic devices. The components in the Library are built upon the scRBE method by using reduced basis (RB) formulation, and are compatible to each other by a set of common interfaces, or port. We apply an offline–online computational strategy to achieve rapid and accurate prediction of any parametric systems formed from a set of components in a Library. We demonstrate that the approach can handle large scale models with many parameters and/or topology variations efficiency in several numerical examples. We show that significant computational savings can be obtained by the scRBE method.
Double Quantum Dots in Carbon Nanotubes

We study the two-electron eigenspectrum of a carbon-nanotube double quantum dot with spin-orbit coupling. Exact calculations are combined with a simple model to provide an intuitive and accurate description of single-particle and interaction effects. For symmetric dots and weak magnetic fields, the two-electron ground state is antisymmetric in the spin-valley degree of freedom and is not a pure spin-singlet state. When double occupation of one dot is favored by increasing the detuning between the dots, the Coulomb interaction causes strong correlation effects realized by higher orbital-level mixing. Changes in the double-dot configuration affect the relative strength of the electron-electron interactions and can lead to different ground-state transitions. In particular, they can favor a ferromagnetic ground state both in spin and valley degrees of freedom. The strong suppression of the energy gap can cause the disappearance of the Pauli blockade in transport experiments and thereby can also limit the stability of spin qubits in quantum information proposals. Our analysis is generalized to an array of coupled dots which is expected to exhibit rich many-body behavior.
Sequences within the early and late promoters of archetype JC virus restrict viral DNA replication and infectivity.

Abstract Two forms of JC virus (JCV) have been isolated from its human host, an archetype found in kidney tissue and urine of nonimmunocompromised individuals and a rearranged type detected in lymphocytes and brain tissue of patients with and without progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. To investigate the hypothesis that alterations to the archetype transcriptional control region yield rearranged forms of the virus exhibiting new tissue tropic and pathogenic potentials, attempts were made to propagate archetype JCV in human renal and glial cell cultures. Although rearranged forms of JCV multiplied in these cells, archetype JCV failed to do so. Through the use of chimeric and mutant viral genomes, and a cell line that constitutively expresses viral T protein, we demonstrated that archetype's inactivity relative to that of rearranged forms was due to differences in the promoter–enhancer and not in the protein coding regions or origin of DNA replication. Additional analyses revealed that the absence of a large tandem duplication and the presence of a 23- and a 66-base pair sequence in the archetype transcriptional control region were responsible for this restricted lytic behavior. We discuss the possibility that deletion and duplication events within the archetype promoter–enhancer might yield more active viral variants via the loss of a negative, or the creation of a positive, transcriptional control signal(s).
Etiology of Lipid-Related Metabolic Disorders in Periparturient Dairy Cows

Plasma NEFA concentrations increase prior to and at parturition, resulting in increased fatty acid uptake by the liver, fatty acid esterification, and triglyceride storage. Liver triglyceride concentration increases four- to fivefold between d 17 prior to calving and d 1 following calving. Increases in liver triglyceride following calving do not appear to be dramatic. Severity of fatty liver 1 d postpartum is correlated negatively with feed intake 1 d prepartum. Export of newly synthesized triglyceride as very low density lipoprotein occurs slowly in ruminants and is a major factor in the development of fatty liver. Nutritional strategies to minimize the elevation in plasma NEFA prior to calving results in lower liver triglyceride at calving. Fatty liver probably precedes clinical spontaneous ketosis. Liver triglyceride to glycogen ratio may be used to predict susceptibility of cows to ketosis. Consequently, strategies to reduce liver triglyceride at calving may decrease incidence of ketosis. Research to determine methods to reduce fatty acid delivery to the liver or to enhance hepatic export of very low density lipoprotein near calving is warranted. Identification of the cause for the slow rate of assembly and secretion of hepatic very low density lipoprotein in ruminants will be required to assess the feasibility of increasing export of very low density lipoprotein.
Manufacturing supply chain applications 2: development of distributed simulation model for the transporter entity in a supply chain process

Transporter is a critical part of Supply Chain integration. An international transporter process involves multiple ground pickup and delivery operations, package sorting and palletizing, airport operations and air transport. This paper describes a successful two-machine implementation of a distributed simulation model for an international transportation system in a supply chain network operation using Run Time Infrastructure of High Level Architecture software developed by the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office, the Distributed Manufacturing Simulation Adapter developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and ARENA simulation tool. By incorporating the capabilities provided by these tools, it was successful to establish the information flow exchange between the machines where one machine houses transporter while the other has suppliers, customers, and distribution centers located in different parts of world. This research tool attempts to facilitate the development of distributed simulations so they can be used to analyze and solve manufacturing related problems.
Mobilization of boron in convergent margins: Implications for the boron geochemical cycle

Analysis of total dissolved boron and boron isotopes for interstitial waters from recent Ocean Drilling Program drill cores in two accretionary prisms indicates an efficient return to the ocean of exchangeable boron of subducted sediments via pore-fluid expulsion. This source of boron helps to balance the ocean sinks, but a complete balance of the ocean budget requires deeply subducted boron to be returned efficiently to the oceans via explosive arc volcanism.
Effects of Superhyperfine Interactions on Photon-Echo Behavior in Dilute Ruby

A detailed analysis of the photon-echo decay in dilute ruby is presented. The experimental results are in quantitative agreement with an echo-decay theory based on the magnetic interaction between the Cr electronic spin and neighboring Al nuclear magnetic moments. Specifically, the following photon-echo properties are explained by the Cr-Al interaction: (i) modulation of the echo as a function of pulse separation time, (ii) the rapid decay of the echo from the $^{4}A({m}_{s}=\frac{3}{2})$ to $^{2}E({m}_{s}=\frac{1}{2})$ transition, (iii) the dependence of the echo on the direction and magnitude of an external magnetic field, (iv) the echo behavior at the 2.06- and 4.12-kG level crossings, and (v) the photon-echo decay in low magnetic fields. In addition, the experiments presented here show that the Cr-Al magnetic interactions in the $^{2}E$ excited state are roughly the same as the corresponding interactions in the $^{4}A_{2}$ ground state. The relationship of the photon-echo results to recent fluorescence-linewidth measurements is discussed.
SCH-23390 antagonism of a D-2 dopamine agonist depends upon catecholaminergic neurons.

SCH-23390, a selective D-1 dopamine antagonist, was found to antagonize the locomotor stimulation induced by LY-171555, an action similar to that for haloperidol in control animals. However, this action of SCH-23390 was prevented in rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or with reserpine plus α-methyl-tyrosine pretreatment. These results indicate that the action of SCH-23390 to antagonize D-2 dopamine receptor actions is dependent upon functional catecholamine-containing neurons. In contrast to the lack of action of SCH-23390 to antagonize LY-171555 in 6-OHDA-treated rats, SCH-23390 blocked the locomotor stimulation induced by SKF-39393, a D-1 dopamine agonist, after this treatment. Thus, D-1 dopamine receptors are distinct from D-2 receptor sites and can exhibit a behavior similar to that observed when D-2 receptors are stimulated. These data suggest that D-1 receptor sites modulate D-2 dopamine receptor function through a mechanism dependent upon functionally intact catecholamine-containing neurons.
The GaOH–HGaO potential energy hypersurface and the necessity of correlating the 3d electrons

The ground state potential energy hypersurface of the GaOH–HGaO system has been investigated using high level ab initio molecular electronic structure theory. The geometries and physical properties of two equilibrium structures, one isomerization transition state and one inversion transition state were determined at the self‐consistent field (SCF), configuration interaction with single and double excitations (CISD), coupled cluster with single and double excitations (CCSD), and CCSD with perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] levels of theory with four sets of basis functions. It has been found that freezing the 3d electrons of the Ga atom in the correlation procedures is not appropriate for this system. For the energy difference ΔE (GaOH–HGaO) the freezing of the 3d electrons results in an error of 25 kcal/mol! The dipole moments, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and infrared (IR) intensities are predicted for the four stationary points. At the highest level of theory employed in this study, CCSD(T) using triple zeta plus double polarization with higher angular momentum and diffuse functions [TZ2P(f,d)+diff] basis set, the bent GaOH was found to be 41.9 kcal/mol more stable than the linear HGaO species; with the zero‐point vibrational energy (ZPVE) correction, the energy separation becomes 40.4 kcal/mol. The classical barrier height for the exothermic isomerization (1,2 hydrogen shift) reaction HGaO→GaOH is determined to be 44.5 kcal/mol and the barrier height with the ZPVE correction 42.3 kcal/mol. The classical barrier to linearity for the bent GaOH molecule is determined to be 1.7 kcal/mol and the barrier height with the ZPVE correction to be 1.2 kcal/mol. The predicted dipole moments of GaOH and HGaO are 1.41 and 4.45 Debye, respectively. The effects of electron correlation reduce the dipole moment of HGaO by the sizable amount of 1.2 Debye. The two equilibrium species may be suitable for microwave spectroscopic investigation. Furthermore, they may also be detectable by IR techniques due to the relatively large intensities of their vibrational modes. The geometrical and energetic features are compared with those of the valence isoelectronic HXO–XOH systems, where X is a group IIIA atom and the HXO+–XOH+ systems, where X is a group IVA atom.
Community Development Practice: Theory in Action

What are the guides to community development praetiee? Thirty-three practitioners from five different countries participated in a grounded-theory qualitative study to investigate what guides their practice. From the interviews, observations, and materials, it was evident that practitioners held strong values and beliefs about involving people in the process of community change. They developed practice-based, theories-in-action that guided their day-to-day work. They also shared ideas and learned from colleagues, as well from the literature, about community development and related issues, such as culture, history, environment, group process, and reflection. A framework for examining the practice of community development is posed for further discussion and study.
Mapping ecosystem services in New York City: Applying a social–ecological approach in urban vacant land

As urbanization expands city planners and policymakers need to consider how ecological resources can be strategically developed and managed sustainably to meet the needs of urban populations. The ecosystem services (ES) approach provides a useful framework for assessing the status quo, setting goals, identifying benchmarks and prioritizing approaches to improving ecological functioning for urban sustainability and resilience. However, new tools are required for comprehensively evaluating urban ES for ecosystem management and to understand how local and regional trends and plans may affect ES provisioning. We develop an ES assessment methodology that can be used to assess multiple ES of urban green space and integrate them with social conditions in urban neighborhoods. Our approach considers social–ecological conditions and their spatial patterns across the urban landscape. Our analysis focuses on vacant land in New York City. Results suggest that a combined social–ecological approach to ES assessment yields new tools for monitoring and stacking ES. We find that clusters of vacant lots in areas with overlapping low ecological value (e.g. low concentration of green space) and high social need for ES (e.g. high population density) are primarily concentrated in three areas of the city – East Harlem, South Bronx and Central Brooklyn.
Clean-air catalyst system for on-road applications: I. Evaluation of potential catalysts

Abstract The removal of ozone and other gaseous criteria pollutants from ambient air by a wide variety of catalysts coated on vehicle radiators has been studied utilizing a laboratory reactor and a synthetic feedstream. The experimental conditions simulated driving a vehicle at a low speed through polluted urban air with the radiator temperature varying from 25 to 105°C. The results showed that the ozone removal efficiency was high for all of the catalysts (Pt, Pd, Pd/Ni and Ni) under conditions characteristic of fully warmed-up radiators. The addition of water vapor into the feedstream significantly suppressed the O 3 conversion efficiency at low temperatures for Pt, Pd/Ni and Ni. The Pd-only catalyst demonstrated not only the highest O 3 conversion efficiency among the catalysts tested, but also showed a strong resistance to the inhibition of the O 3 conversion reaction by water vapor at low temperatures. The NO conversion efficiency was significant for all of the catalysts and was suppressed for most of the catalysts by water vapor at low temperatures. The NO 2 formation varied with catalyst formulation over the 25–105°C range and was affected by water vapor. The CO (or C 3 H 6 as hydrocarbon) removal, while dependent on catalyst formulation, was a strong function of catalyst temperature, and suppressed by H 2 O. The Pt catalyst exhibited the highest CO (or C 3 H 6 ) removal efficiency at elevated temperatures under the dry or wet conditions among the catalysts tested.
Islamic courts and corrections

This paper explores Islamic Criminal Law and Procedure. There are some differences among Islamic states but these differences are relatively minor. Muslims are tried in Sharia Courts for offenses found in the Quran. Non‐Muslims can not be held to the same standard (Apostasy). All people are subject to the jurisdiction of Mazalim Courts which handle taxation, traffic, and other administrative functions. Islamic Law has three major divisions of crime: 1. Hadith Crimes (most serious); 2. Quesa Crimes and Diya (restitution); and 3. Tazir Crimes (least serious). Islamic Law has many similar “defenses to crime” as the Common Law nations. They use puberty of a juvenile as the age of accountability. Police must obtain a search warrant for property. The punishment philosophies are similar to western views in theory, but they do apply these ideas in much different ways. Many punishments are public and done as a deterrent for others. Islamic judges have more freedom for sentencing options than western judges. They h...
The Effects of Holothurin on Trypanosoma musculi Infection in FN (Fawn) Female Mice

Summary The effect of holothurin on Trypanosoma musculi infection in FN mice indicated that the drug administered prior to, simultaneously with and after inoculation of trypanosomes affected the parasitemic level during the course of infection. The infection was measured by the numbers of trypanosomes at the peak and throughout the course of infection. In the present study, the untreated controls receiving trypanosomes had higher parasitemias 7 to 15 days post inoculation in one experiment and throughout the entire duration of second experiment as compared to the treated experimental groups. The mechanism of action of the steroid saponin (holothurin) was not determined.
Probing the stability and mechanism for folding of the GrpE1-112 tetrameric deletion mutant of the GrpE protein from E. coli

Abstract Insight into the stability and folding of oligomeric proteins is essential to the understanding of protein folding, especially since the majority of proteins found in nature are oligomeric. A deletion mutant of the GrpE protein from Escherichia coli , that contains the first 112 residues (GrpE1-112) of 197 total, is an oligomeric protein forming a tetrameric structure. A four-helix bundle structure is formed via the interaction of an α-helix (22 amino acids in length) from each monomer. Using both thermal and chemical (urea) denaturation studies, the GrpE1-112 protein has rather low stability with a T m of unfolding of 37 °C, a C m (urea) of 1.3 M, and a Δ G unfolding of 8.4 kJ mol −1 . Investigation into the folding pathway using circular dichroism (CD) stopped-flow revealed a two step process with a fast first phase ( k refolding = 8.0 × 10 6 s −1 M −1 ) forming a multimeric intermediate that possesses significant α-helical content followed by a slow, first order, step forming the folded tetramer.
Correlation of Pectolytic Enzyme Activity with the Programmed Release of Cells from Root Caps of Pea (Pisum sativum)

In many plant species, the daily release of hundreds to thousands of healthy cells from the root cap into the soil is a normal process, whose function is unknown. We studied the separation of the cells in pea (Pisum sativum) using an aeroponic system in which separated cells were retained on the root until they were washed off for counting. We found that cell separation is a developmentally regulated, temperature-sensitive process that appears to be regulated independently of root growth. No cells were released from very young roots. When plants were grown aeroponically, cell numbers increased with increasing root length to a mean of 3400 cells per root, at which point the release of new cells ceased. The process could be reset and synchronized by washing the root in water to remove shed cells. Cell separation from the root cap was correlated with pectolytic enzyme activity in root cap tissue. Because these cells that separate from the root cap ensheath the root as it grows and thus provide a cellular interface between the root surface and the soil, we propose to call the cells "root border cells."
Risk factors for twinning in dairy cows

Records for 52,362 lactations over a 10-yr period from 260 dairy farms in North America that used a common commercial software for record keeping were evaluated for potential risk factors for twinning. Records were evaluated for the associations of reproductive disease, parity, production, drug therapy, and the occurrence of subsequent twins. The rate of twinning on these farms steadily increased over the observation period from 1.4% in 1983 to 2.4% in 1993. The rate of twinning also increased as parity of the cow increased, from 1.0% for cows in their first lactation to > 4.1% for cows in their fifth or higher lactation. No association between twinning and season of year was detected. A multivariate logistical regression analysis found that the rate of twinning increased with increases in milk production, incidence of cystic ovarian disease, and the use of common pharmaceuticals, including GnRH, PGF2 alpha, and antibiotics. Results of the regression model also indicated that the single most important reason for the recent increase in the rate of twinning was a concurrent increase in milk production.
StepFit: a novel fitness evaluation system

Fitness advancement has been shown to be one of the most effective interventions against disease and critical to the promotion of general health and wellness. At the same time, fitness evaluation and development of appropriate intervention techniques traditionally requires participation of experienced trainers or physician, expensive equipment and dedicated instrumented exercise facilities. Furthermore, while critically important in maintenance of health, fitness evaluation is not available to most individuals due to cost and facility access. This paper presents StepFit - the first of its kind automated low cost system for fitness evaluation and promotion. The system consists of heart rate and motion sensors, and a computation platform for data aggregation, processing and subject feedback. StepFit automates well known and well validated fitness evaluation protocols, referred to as step tests, by capturing the measurements of the heart rate for fitness evaluation, and motion for ensuring that the exercise intensity is maintained according to the required protocol. The system provides guidance, determines test completion and provides assurance of protocol compliance. Finally, StepFit provides feedback in the form of fitness evaluation based on the acquired data and standard validated models, while at the same time archiving the model relating heart rate response of the individual to the selected step test. The heart rate model is based on clinically validated protocols and is used for physiological response analysis and prediction. This paper presents a successful proof of concept validation of StepFit in evaluation of fitness for multiple subjects and demonstrates applicability to a broad class of related assessment protocols as well as support by many mobile platform choices.
Exit Times, Moment Problems and Comparison Theorems

We establish comparison theorems involving exit time moments for Brownian motion and eigenvalues for the Dirichlet problem for domains in a complete Riemannian manifold. These theorems are closely related to isoperimetric properties of the ambient manifold.
Neuroimaging Acupuncture Effects in the Human Brain

Acupuncture is an ancient East Asian healing modality that has been in use for more than 2000 years. Unfortunately, its mechanisms of action are not well understood, and controversy regarding its clinical efficacy remains. Importantly, acupuncture needling often evokes complex somatosensory sensations and may modulate the cognitive/affective perception of pain, suggesting that many effects are supported by the brain and extending central nervous system (CNS) networks. Modern neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography provide a means to safely monitor brain activity in humans and may be used to help map the neurophysiological correlates of acupuncture. In this review, we will summarize data from acupuncture neuroimaging research and discuss how these findings contribute to current hypotheses of acupuncture action.
Detection of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic prostate disease by MADI profiling of urine

The heterogeneous progression to the development of prostate cancer (PCa) has precluded effective early detection screens. Existing prostate cancer screening paradigms have relatively poor specificity for cancer relative to other prostate diseases, commonly benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A method for discrimination of BPH, HGPIN, and PCa urine proteome was developed through testing 407 patient samples using matrix assisted laser desorption-mass spectrometry time of flight (MALDI-TOF). Urine samples were adsorbed to reverse phase resin, washed, and the eluant spotted directly for MALDI-TOF analysis of peptides. The processing resolved over 130 verifiable signals of a mass range of 1000-5000 m/z to suggest 71.2% specificity and 67.4% sensitivity in discriminating PCa vs. BPH. Comparing BPH and HGPIN resulted in 73.6% specificity and 69.2% sensitivity. Comparing PCa and HGPIN resulted in 80.8% specificity and 81.0% sensitivity. The high throughput, low-cost assay method developed is amenable for large patient numbers required for supporting biomarker identification.
Thought cubes: exploring the use of an inexpensive brain-computer interface on a mental rotation task

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) allow users to relay information to a computer by capturing reactions to their thoughts via brain waves (or similar measurements). This "new" type of interaction allows users with limited motor control to interact with a computer without a mouse/keyboard or other physically manipulated interaction device. While this technology is in its infancy, there have been major strides in the area allowing researchers to investigate potential uses. One of the first such interfaces that has broached the commercial market at an affordable price is the Emotiv "EPOC" headset. This paper reports on results of a study exploring usage of the EPOC headset.
Correlation Effects in Complex Spectra. II. Transition Probabilities for the Magnesium Isoelectronic Sequence

Absolute multiplet strengths have been calculated for electric dipole transitions involving the ground state and/or several lower‐lying excited‐state configurations of Mg I, Al II, Si III, P IV and Ca IX. Configuration mixing is taken into account by using linear combinations of Hartree—Fock—Slater (HFS) determinantal wavefunctions. Dipole length and dipole velocity expressions for the transition probability are evaluated, and in most cases these alternative formulations agree to within 25% of each other. Three modifications of the ``universal'' exchange potential used in the HFS self‐consistent field method are investigated, and the differences in the calculated transition probabilities are found to be quite small, with perhaps a slight preference for the variational adjustment proposed by Lindgren. Calculated absolute multiplet strengths are compared with the available experimental measurements, and with other calculations.
Materials science: Fast-track solar cells

The ultimate goal of the solar-cell industry is to make inexpensive devices that are highly efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. The advent of perovskite semiconductors could be the key to reaching this goal. See Letter p.395 Nanostructured solid-state solar cells that incorporate organometallic halide perovskites as the light-absorbing material have recently attained levels of power conversion efficiency that are attractive for practical applications. Now Mingzhen Liu et al. show that, when using vapour deposition rather than the usual solution processing to deposit the perovskite, high efficiencies can be achieved with these materials in even simpler device structures. By removing the need for complex nanostructures altogether, the prospects for large-scale manufacture are potentially enhanced.
Cardiac sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of chlorpromazine, imipramine and amitriptyline upon formation of flavins

Chlorpromazine, imipramine and amitriptyline, drugs structurally related to riboflavin, each inhibited the formation in vivo of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) from riboflavin in rat heart at 2-5 mg/kg body weight, doses comparable on a weight basis to those used clinically. All three drugs inhibited FAD formation in heart within 5 hr after a single dose of 25 mg/kg. Chlorpromazine under these conditions also inhibited FAD formation in liver, cerebrum and cerebellum. A series of psychoactive agents structurally unrelated to riboflavin did not inhibit flavin formation in the organs tested. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of the drugs studied have organ specificity with respect to FAD formation.
Epinephrine inhibits lipoprotein lipase gene expression in rat adipocytes through multiple steps in posttranscriptional processing.

Previous studies have demonstrated that in vitro treatment of adipocytes with catecholamines results in a decrease in the activity of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL). To examine the mechanism of this effect, primary cultures of rat adipocytes were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of epinephrine (10(-9)-10(-5) M). Epinephrine yielded a dose-dependent decrease in LPL activity; heparin-releasable LPL activity was reduced to 66% of control values after exposure to 10(-5) M epinephrine for 2 h. However, there was no effect of epinephrine on LPL immunoreactive mass, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. When cells were pulse labeled with [35S]methionine, there was a rapid and dose-dependent decrease in immunoprecipitable LPL. In spite of the decrease in LPL translation, neither epinephrine nor other catecholamines altered the level of LPL mRNA or the rate of LPL transcription. To further examine LPL posttranslational processing, cells were pulse labeled with [35S]methionine in ...
Defense allomones of some marine mollusks

Abstract Certain marine mollusks that lack obvious physical protection have evolved various biological and chemical defense strategies. One type of chemical defense involves accumulation of small organic molecules, largely from the diet, which afford protection from common predators. Our work and research by others has shown that the animals can utilize different structural types. Interestingly several of the defense allomones which have been defined are structurally related to the drimane sesquiterpenoids which have been shown to be antifeedants against terrestrial insects.
Modeling opinion dynamics in social networks

Our opinions and judgments are increasingly shaped by what we read on social media -- whether they be tweets and posts in social networks, blog posts, or review boards. These opinions could be about topics such as consumer products, politics, life style, or celebrities. Understanding how users in a network update opinions based on their neighbor's opinions, as well as what global opinion structure is implied when users iteratively update opinions, is important in the context of viral marketing and information dissemination, as well as targeting messages to users in the network. In this paper, we consider the problem of modeling how users update opinions based on their neighbors' opinions. We perform a set of online user studies based on the celebrated conformity experiments of Asch [1]. Our experiments are carefully crafted to derive quantitative insights into developing a model for opinion updates (as opposed to deriving psychological insights). We show that existing and widely studied theoretical models do not explain the entire gamut of experimental observations we make. This leads us to posit a new, nuanced model that we term the BVM. We present preliminary theoretical and simulation results on the convergence and structure of opinions in the entire network when users iteratively update their respective opinions according to the BVM. We show that consensus and polarization of opinions arise naturally in this model under easy to interpret initial conditions on the network.
Connection and power in centralized exchange networks

The distribution and structural determinants of power are central concerns of network exchange theory. In this paper, using formulations from elementary theory, we present an exhaustive typology of network connections: exclusion, inclusion and null. This typology is compared to the typology of positive and negative connection of power‐dependence theory. Inclusion which has not been previously recognized is investigated. Experimental results supportive of our formulations for inclusion are offered. Some implications of the formulations for inclusion outside the laboratory are discussed. Also discussed is the possibility of using exclusion and inclusion as opposed principles in the analysis of empirical structures.
“The String of This One Story”: Erotica, HIV, and the Construction of Safe Sex in Gay Male Popular Memory

Recalibrating the critical consideration of popular memory, this essay rehabilitates the erotic narrative as an object of critical study and as a political practice via an examination of John Prest...
SPECIES DIFFERENTIATION AND BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS FOR TOXIGENICITY IN FECAL AEROMONAS ISOLATES FROM CHILDREN

The role of Aeromonas (Aer) in the etiology of pediatric diarrhea is incompletely defined. It is unclear whether identification of isolates at the species level or performance of toxigenicity studies help distinguish pathogenic from non-pathogenic strains. We isolated Aer from 33 of 704(children whose fecal specimens were submitted to the Microbiology Laboratory of Children's Medical Center, Dalls, over a I-year period. Isolates were identified as Aer using the API 20E system. Additional tests performed on 29 strains included gas from glucose, salicin fermentation, growth in KCN, esculin hydrolysis, and elastase production. A. caviae was the predominant species (n = 19, 66%). A. sobria and A. hydrophila accounted for 3 each and 4 (14%) strains could not be speciated. Toxin production by Aer was studied using CHO cell, adrenal Y1 cell, suckling mouse, and rabbit ileal loop assays. Twelve (39%) of 31 strains were positive in at least one of these assays including 3 (17%) of 18 A. caviae and all 9 non-caviae strains tested. Two toxigenic strains were from asymptomatic older children. Toxigenic strains were significantly more likely to be positive for arginine dihydrolase (p <0.05), lysine decarboxylase (p <0.001), and Voges-Proskauer reaction (p <0.01), produce gas from glucose (p <0.001), and not ferment arabinose (p <0.005) compared with non-toxigenic strains. We conclude that Aer differentiation at the species level is of limited clinical value and that several biochemical reactions can serve as markers for toxin production.
Raman scattering and electrical characterizations studies of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-germanium alloys prepared by 40 MHz plasma-enhanced CVD

Abstract This paper presents results on Raman scattering and electrical characterizations in a-SiGe:H films prepared by 40 MHz very-high frequency plasma-enhance chemical vapor deposition (VHF-PECVD) technique from various gas mixtures of silane and germane. We found that when GeH4/SiH4 + GeH4 ratio increases, Raman spectrum results observed that the Si–Si peaks intensity decreases and the Ge–Ge peaks intensity increase, respectively. This can be attributed to incorporation of Ge, an increase disorder in a-SiGe:H film. The conductivity characterizations were shown that when GeH4/SiH4 + GeH4 ratio increases, the deterioration of a-SiGe:H films also increases, which is in agreement with Raman spectrum analysis results.
Construction of complete sets of mutually equiorthogonal frequency hypercubes

Abstract Equiorthogonal frequency hypercubes are one particular generalization of orthogonal latin squares. It has been shown previously that a set of mutually equiorthogonal frequency hypercubes (MEFH) of order n and dimension d , using m distinct symbols, can have at most ( n − 1) d /( m − 1) hypercubes. In this article, we show that this upper bound is sharp in certain cases by constructing complete sets of ( n − 1) d /( m − 1) MEFH for two classes of parameters. In one of these classes, m is a prime power and n is a power of m . In the other, m = 2 and n = 4 t , provided that there exists a Hadamard matrix of order 4 t . In both classes, the dimension d is arbitrary. We also provide a Kronecker product construction which can be used to yield sets of MEFH in which the order is not a prime power.
Two New Subgenera of Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) from Pocket Gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae), with a Key to All Included Taxa

The new subgenera Thaelerius and Jamespattonius are described, respectively, for the eight species of Geomydoecus in the thomomyus complex of lice and the four species of Thomomydoecus in the wardi complex. Except for T. byersi Hellenthal & Price from Thomomys bottae (Eydoux & Gervais), these lice are restricted to the Thomomys talpoides (Richardson) complex of pocket gophers and are the only lice found on these hosts. A key is given for the identification of the currently recognized 122 taxa of pocket gopher lice.