cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endometrial thickness after ovarian stimulation with gonadotropin, clomiphene, or letrozole for unexplained infertility, and association with treatment outcomes.

Objective To study the association of endometrial thickness (EMT) with live birth rates (LBR) in ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination (OS-IUI) treatments for unexplained infertility. Design Prospective cohort analysis of the Reproductive Medicine Network’s Assessment of Multiple Intrauterine Gestations from Ovarian Stimulation (AMIGOS) randomized controlled trial. Setting Multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patients A total of 868 couples with unexplained infertility (n=2,459 cycles). Interventions OS-IUI treatment cycles (n = 2,459) as part of the AMIGOS clinical trial. Main Outcome Measures Live birth rates; unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RR) for live birth by EMT category, calculated using generalized estimating equations. Results The overall mean EMT on day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration in cycles with a live birth was significantly greater than in those without. Compared to the referent EMT group of 9 to 12 mm, the unadjusted RR for live birth for the EMT groups of ≤5 and 6-8 were 0.48 and 0.92, respectively. The test for trend indicated evidence of decreasing LBR with decreasing EMT. After adjustment for ovarian stimulation medication, a linear trend was no longer supported. Stratified analyses revealed no differences in associations by treatment group. Conclusions In OS-IUI for unexplained infertility, higher LBR are observed with increasing EMT; however, EMT is not significantly associated with LBR when adjusted for OS treatment type. Appreciable LBR are seen at all EMT, even those of ≤5 mm, suggesting that OS-IUI cycles should not be canceled for thin endometrium. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT01044862.
Models for mortality require tailoring in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amitava Banerjee and colleagues1Banerjee A Pasea L Harris S et al.Estimating excess 1-year mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic according to underlying conditions and age: a population-based cohort study.Lancet. 2020; 395: 1715-1725Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar present the estimated prevalence of serious underlying medical conditions indicative of susceptibility to severe COVID-19 and mortality in England.
Adjuvant Radiation in Older Patients With Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Single Institution Analysis.

Objectives Standard 6-week and hypofractionated 3-week courses of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) are both options for older patients with glioblastoma (GBM), but deciding the optimal regimen can be challenging. This analysis explores clinical factors associated with selection of RT course, completion of RT, and outcomes following RT. Materials and Methods This IRB-approved retrospective analysis identified patients ≥70 years old with GBM who initiated adjuvant RT at our institution between 2004 and 2016. We identified factors associated with standard or hypofractionated RT using the Cochran-Armitage trend test, estimated time-to-event endpoints using the Kaplan-Meier method, and found predictors of overall survival (OS) using Cox proportional hazards models. Results Sixty-two patients with a median age of 74 (range 70-90) initiated adjuvant RT, with 43 (69%) receiving standard RT and 19 (31%) receiving hypofractionated RT. Selection of short-course RT was associated with older age (p = 0.04) and poor KPS (p = 0.03). Eight (13%) patients did not complete RT, primarily for hospice care due to worsening symptoms. After a median follow-up of 37 months, median OS was 12.3 months (95% CI 9.0-15.1). Increased age (p < 0.05), poor KPS (p < 0.0001), lack of MGMT methylation (p < 0.05), and lack of RT completion (p < 0.0001) were associated with worse OS on multivariate analysis. In this small cohort, GTV size and receipt of standard or hypofractionated RT were not associated with OS. Conclusions In this cohort of older patients with GBM, age and KPS was associated with selection of short-course or standard RT. These regimens had similar OS, though a subset of patients experienced worsening symptoms during RT and discontinued treatment. Further investigation into predictors of RT completion and survival may help guide adjuvant therapies and supportive care for older patients.
In Vitro Release Tests of Ketoprofen from Pluronic Lecithin Organogel versus Lipoderm Using Immersion Cells and the Phoenix DB-6 Dry Heat Diffusion Tester

In vitro release tests are used to evaluate drug release of semisolid dosage forms for topical applications. We evaluated the capability of an in vitro release tests method to determine differences in drug release from three strengths of ketoprofen and from two different base formulations; a Pluronic lecithin organogel versus Lipoderm cream. Tests were conducted using two different apparatuses; the Phoenix DB-6 Dry Heat Diffusion Tester and immersion cells adapted to a USP 2 dissolution tester to compare their relative performance and test results. Our results demonstrate the ability of the method to discern differences in ketoprofen release rates proportional to drug concentration, differences in ketoprofen release rates between formulations with release from Pluronic lecithin organogel greater than that from Lipoderm at all concentrations, and comparability of results between apparatuses.
Residual Stress and Global Deflection Limits for Future Hot-Rolled Steel Asymmetric I-Beams

AbstractMedium-span to long-span floor systems in residential and commercial construction have commonly used steel–concrete composite construction. These composite floor systems have become more st...
MO-FG-204-04: How Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms Affect the NPS of CT Images

Purpose: To evaluate how the third generation model based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) compares with filtered back-projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR), and the second generation MBIR based on noise power spectrum (NPS) analysis over a wide range of clinically applicable dose levels. Methods: The Catphan 600 CTP515 module, surrounded by an oval, fat-equivalent ring to mimic patient size/shape, was scanned on a GE HD750 CT scanner at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 19mGy CTDIvol levels with typical patient scan parameters: 120kVp, 0.8s, 40mm beam width, large SFOV, 0.984 pitch and reconstructed thickness 2.5mm (VEO3.0: Abd/Pelvis with Texture and NR05). At each CTDIvol level, 10 repeated scans were acquired for achieving sufficient data sampling. The images were reconstructed using Standard kernel with FBP; 20%, 40% and 70% ASiR; and two versions of MBIR (VEO2.0 and 3.0). For evaluating the effect of the ROI spatial location to the Result of NPS, 4 ROI groups were categorized based on their distances from the center of the phantom. Results: VEO3.0 performed inferiorly comparing to VEO2.0 over all dose levels. On the other hand, at low dose levels (less than 3 mGy), it clearly outperformed ASiR and FBP, in NPS values. Therefore, the lower the dose level, the relative performance of MBIR improves. However, the shapes of the NPS show substantial differences in horizontal and vertical sampling dimensions. These differences may determine the characteristics of the noise/texture features in images, and hence, play an important role in image interpretation. Conclusion: The third generation MBIR did not improve over the second generation MBIR in term of NPS analysis. The overall performance of both versions of MBIR improved as compared to other reconstruction algorithms when dose was reduced. The shapes of the NPS curves provided additional value for future characterization of the image noise/texture features.
Collision Avoidance of a Redundant Manipulator Operating through a Window

The problem of colision-free operation of a redundant robot manipulator through a window is addressed. The window is modeled by a polygon with the sides representing the edges of the window. A performance criterion is defined to maximize the shortest distances between the arm link axes and the edges of the window. An efficient gradient projection optimization scheme for the kinematic control of manipulator with multiple degree of redundancy is developed and used. Effectiveness of this scheme and the validity of the performance criterion are verified through simulations of the seven-degree-of-freedom NASA laboratory Telerobotic Manipulator (LTM), where controlling only the position of the end-effector provides three degrees of redundancy.
Road Sediment Yields from Dispersed Versus Clustered Forest Harvesting Activity: A Case Study

Road sediment yields reaching streams over a twenty year period were modeled under two scenarios for a 4900 ha forest in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. In the "clustered" scenario all forest harvesting activity took place in the northern half of the forest. In the "dispersed" scenario the same level of forest harvesting activity was allocated to the full forest estate. Three spatial modeling packages were used: SPECTRUM was used to schedule the harvest settings over a 150 year period, NETWORK 2000 was used to determine which roads would be used during the first 20 years of harvest and how many truck loads would be transported over them, and SEDMODL2 was used to determine the road sediment yields likely to reach a stream. Concentrating the forest harvesting activity on half of the forest estate resulted in a 36% reduction in total road sediment yields when compared with dispersed forest harvesting activity. Fewer roads would generate sediment under the "clustered" scenario but traffic intensities on these roads would be greater, partially negating the sediment yield savings.
Parallel heuristic search: two approaches

We explore two approaches to parallel heuristic search: one based on tree decomposition, in which different processors search different parts of the tree, and the other based on parallel window search, in which each processor searches the whole tree but with different cost bounds. In the first, we present a generic distributed tree search algorithm that effectively searches irregular trees using an arbitrary number of processors without shared memory or centralized control. For brute-force search the algorithm achieves almost linear speedup. For alpha-beta search, the straightforward approach of allocating P processors in a breadth-first manner achieves an overall speedup with random node ordering of P .75 . Furthermore we present a novel processor allocation strategy, called Bound-and-Branch, for parallel alpha-beta search that achieves linear speedup in the case of perfect node ordering. In practice, we achieve a speedup of 12 with 32 processors on a 32-node Hypercube multiprocessor for the game of Othello.
Reverse Transcription-PCR Analysis of the Regulation of the Manganese Peroxidase Gene Family

Manganese peroxidase (MnP) gene expression in the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium is regulated by nutrient nitrogen levels and by Mn(II), the substrate for the enzyme, as well as by heat shock and other factors. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) of total RNA can distinguish the mRNAs of each of the three sequenced P. chrysosporium mnp genes, i.e., mnp1, mnp2, and mnp3. Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrates that each of the three transcripts is present at a similar low basal level in nitrogen-sufficient cultures, with or without Mn, and in nitrogen-limited cultures lacking Mn. However, in 5-day-old, nitrogen-limited, stationary cultures supplemented with 180 μM Mn, the levels of the mnp1 and mnp2 transcripts increased approximately 100- and 1,700-fold, respectively, over basal levels. In contrast, under these conditions, the level of the mnp3 transcript did not increase significantly over the basal level. Quantitative RT-PCR of total RNA extracted from nitrogen-deficient, Mn-supplemented cultures on days 2 through 7 demonstrates that whereas the mnp1 transcript was present at relatively low levels on days 3 through 7, the mnp2 transcript level peaked on day 5 and the mnp3 transcript level peaked on day 3. Comparison of total RNA extracted on day 5 from nitrogen-deficient, Mn-supplemented stationary and agitated cultures indicates that in stationary cultures, mnp2 was the major expressed mnp gene, whereas in large agitated cultures, mnp1 was the major expressed mnp gene.
Toll-like receptor 4 mediates intrauterine growth restriction after systemic Campylobacter rectus infection in mice.

Summary Campylobacter rectus is associated with fetal exposure and low birthweight in humans. C. rectus also invades placental tissues and induces fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in mice, along with overexpression of Toll-like receptors (TLR4), suggesting that TLR4 may mediate placental immunity and IUGR in mice. To test this hypothesis we examined the effect of in vitro TLR4 neutralization on trophoblastic proinflammatory activity and studied the IUGR phenotype in a congenic TLR4-mutant mouse strain after in vivo C. rectus infection. Human trophoblasts were pretreated with TLR4 neutralizing antibodies and infected with C. rectus; proinflammatory cytokine production was assessed by cytokine multiplex assays. Neutralizing TLR4 antibodies significantly impaired the production of proinflammatory cytokines in trophoblastic cells after infection in a dose-dependent manner. We used a subcutaneous chamber model to provide a C. rectus challenge in BALB/cAnPt (TLR4Lps-d) and wild-type (WT) females. Females were mated with WT or TLR4Lps-d males once/week; pregnant mice were infected at (E)7.5 and sacrificed at (E)16.5 to establish IUGR phenotypes. Maternal C. rectus infection significantly decreased fetal weight/length in infected WT when compared with sham WT controls (P 0.05). Furthermore, heterozygous TLR4Lps-d+/− fetuses showed IUGR phenotype rescue. We conclude that TLR4 is an important mediator of trophoblastic proinflammatory responses and TLR4-deficient fetuses do not develop IUGR phenotypes after C. rectus infection, suggesting that placental cytokine activation is likely to be mediated by TLR4 during low birthweight/preterm birth pathogenesis.
Heparin dose for thrombosis prophylaxis during peripheral vascular angioplasty

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To perform a review of the available literature to determine the optimal dosage of heparin to: prevent thrombosis and closure after angioplasty for PVD; avoid significant bleeding during peripheral vascular angioplasty.
Cell-mediated cytotoxicity to non-MHC alloantigens on mouse epidermal cells. VI. Influence of the MHC on the tissue specificity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses.

Mice of the C3H/He and A non-H-2 backgrounds are disparate from mice of the B10 background for the tissue-restricted, non-H-2 alloantigen of epidermal cells (EC), Epa-1, that is expressed by EC but not by lymphocytes (LC), as well as for a number of other alloantigens of the B10 background that are expressed by both EC and LC, generically referred to as “lymphocyte/epidermal alloantigens” (LEA). In this study, we compared the ability of various H-2 congenic strains on the C3H or A backgrounds to mount cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to EC from H-2 compatible mice of the B10 background. High responses to Epa-1 were detected only in the H-2aand H-2khaplotypes; H-2b, H-2o1, H-2s, H-2t1, and H-2t2 haplotypes were nonresponders to Epa-1. High responses to LEA were detected in H-2a, H-2b, H-2s, H-2t1, and H-2t2 haplotypes; H-2kand H-2o1 were nonresponsive to LEA. Analysis of the H-2K, I and D region alleles of responders indicates that H-2Kkis essential for anti-Epa CTL responses, whereas Dd, Db, or Kswere all permissive for strong anti-LEA responses. The ability to mount a given CTL response was not associated with differences in I-region alleles. These results are discussed in terms of K/D region products serving as Ir-gene products for CTL and in determining the apparent tissue-specificity of CTL.
Adolescent sibling narratives regarding contact in adoption

Abstract Although it is common for adoptive families to have multiple adopted children with varying levels of birthfamily contact, research has not studied the effects of differing levels of contact status on the sibling dynamics within the adoptive family. This study examines the experiences of 58 non-biologically related adopted siblings (ages 13–18) who have varying levels of birthfamily contact. Deductive the matic analysis was conducted on interviews from adopted siblings and corresponding birthmothers. For adopted siblings in which both siblings had birthfamily contact, results indicated that it was common for siblings to cross over in contact with both birthfamilies, and to view the respective birthmothers as friends. These adopted adolescents also saw conversations about adoption as a vehicle for closeness with their adopted sibling. When one sibling had contact with his or her birthfamily and the other did not, results indicated that the adolescent with no contact looked forward to contact with h...
Antifibrinolytics reduce blood loss in adult spinal deformity surgery: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Study Design.This is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded comparison of tranexamic acid (TXA), epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA), and placebo used intraoperatively in patients with adult spinal deformity.Objective.The purpose of this study was to provide high-quality evidence regarding the compa
Effects of secretion removal on bovine mammary gland function following an extended milk stasis.

The objective of this study was to determine whether lactation function could be reinitiated after a period of extended milk stasis. Involution was induced by milk stasis in lactating Holstein cows for a period of 11 d. On d 11, one side of the mammary gland was milked twice daily for 3 d. The contralateral side remained unmilked for the 14-d experimental period. Cows were slaughtered, and mammary tissue was collected from both udder halves for further analysis. Mammary secretion volume was partially restored in the milked udder half, but reestabished milk yields were variable among cows. A partial recovery of lactation function was further indicated by elevated levels of lactose and protein profiles resembling milk in mammary secretions from the milked glands. Lactose and protein profiles from the unmilked glands were similar to those of glands undergoing involution. Lactoferrin levels were elevated in secretions from the milked and unmilked udder halves. Casein and lactoferrin synthesis by mammary explants and β-casein and lactoferrin mRNA abundance in mammary tissues corresponded to protein profiles from milked and unmilked mammary secretions. α-Lactalbumin mRNA was variable but was more abundant in the milked glands compared with the unmilked glands. Lectin fluorescence microscopy for soybean agglutinin preferentially stained the apical surface of the mammary epithelial cells from the milked glands. Staining was absent in the unmilked glands and suggested resumption of lactation function in all such milked glands. These results suggest that mammary involution can be partially reversible after 11 d of milk stasis.
The pK of Schiff base deprotonation in bacteriorhodopsin.

Abstract Kinetic resonance Raman spectroscopy as a function of pH has been utilized to determine the pK of Schiff base deprotonation during the bacteriorhodopsin photochemical cycle. It is shown that the pK of Schiff base deprotonation is between 9.9 and 10.3, microseconds after light absorption and is >12 before photon initiation of photochemical cycling associated with proton pumping.
Financial reporting quality: is fair value a plus or a minus?

Recent deliberations by both the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) in the United States have focused on how fair values of assets and liabilities should be measured. The issue of when, rather than how, fair value measurement should be applied is still far from resolved, however. Fair values have been mandated for some assets and liabilities under both IASB and FASB standards, but it is fair to say that principles governing the applicability of fair values have yet to be articulated: when is fair value accounting appropriate and when is it not? Or, in terms of my charge for this paper, under what circumstances is fair value a plus or a minus? To prepare for my task, I made a survey of public statements made for and against fair value accounting by a variety of standard setters, regulators, analysts, and preparers. The stated ‘minuses’ typically point to the dangers of fair value estimates from marking to model rather than marking to market, concerns about introducing ‘excess volatility’ into earnings, and feedback effects (on banks’ lending practices, for example) that could damage a business and, indeed, heighten systematic risk. A few antagonists question whether fair values (for bank assets and liabilities, for example) really capture the economics of a business (in fostering core deposits and making loans). In counterpoint, the proponents of fair value argue that fair value is a superior economic measure to historical cost. Consider the following arguments, often advanced as ‘pluses’:
Radiometric measurements over bare and vegetated fields at 1.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequencies

Microwave emission from bare and vegetated fields was measured with dual polarized radiometers at 1.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. The measured brightness temperatures over bare fields are shown to compare favorably with those calculated from radiative transfer theory with two constant parameters characterizing surface roughness effect. The presence of vegetation cover is found to reduce the sensitivity to soil moisture variation. This sensitivity reduction is generally pronounced the denser, the vegetation cover and the higher the frequency of observation. The effect of vegetation cover is also examined with respect to the measured polarization factor at both frequencies. With the exception of dry corn fields, the measured polarization factor over vegetated fields is found appreciably reduced compared to that over bare fields. A much larger reduction in this factor is found at 5GHz than at 1.4GHz frequency.
Bourdieu's misrecognition: why educational leadership standards will not reform schools or leadership

This article examines the concept of misrecognition as advanced by Pierre Bourdieu in the development and implementation of educational leadership standards in the USA and in England. The line of argument advanced is that leadership standards were promulgated as an agenda to control and dominate a contested field in both countries by certain individuals and agencies. The analysis proffers that the steps involved in the creation of national leadership standards will not lead to reform since they are embedded in reified current roles and practices. The net result explains why a nation's educational leadership standards cannot become excellent via standardisation, and why significant educational reform is highly unlikely as a result of the processes employed to construct and impose them on practitioners, universities, schools, and school systems.
Implications of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks in the Soda Mountains, northeastern Mojave Desert, California, for late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Cordilleran orogenesis

Study of the Soda Mountains in the northeastern Mojave Desert revealed new stratigraphic and structural features of this area. A section of Cambrian to Jurassic rocks in the area displays various features of regional importance. Lower Permian rocks have depositional characteristics indicative of mass-flow deposition, contrasting with underlying shelf strata and platformal rocks exposed in areas to the east. These rocks are similar to deep-water rocks exposed to the north in eastern California. Lower Triassic rocks are named the "Silver Lake Formation" and consist of shallow-water siltstone and carbonate that contain conglomerate with volcanic and gneissic ciasts. These latter rocks record the possible presence of Permian-Triassic igneous and deformational activity in the area. A complicated deformational history is also evident from this study. We interpret several west-dipping, low-angle faults active during intrusion of middle Cretaceous granitoids to be normal faults rather than thrust faults, as they were originally considered. Structures in the Soda Mountains probably correlate with similar ones in surrounding areas. Collectively, the local structures imply a complicated stress regime during emplacement of the middle Cretaceous plutonic rocks. These new data imply that large thrusts faults placing Paleozoic rocks over Mesozoic rocks are not present in this area. Upper Paleozoic and lower Mesozoic rocks also tie this area to the western Mojave Desert, indicating that strike-slip faults with several hundred kilometers of displacement do not separate the two areas.
Nonlinear extrapolation and two-point boundary value problems

It is suggested that the convergence properties of the usual Picard successive approximation scheme may be improved through use of nonlinear extrapolation techniques. A numerical example is provided.
Acute Pulmonary Edema in the Absence of Left Ventricular Failure

Two patients have been observed to develop acute repetitive pulmonary edema in the absence of left ventricular failure as evidenced by a normal or near normal left atrial pressure recorded during these periods. Continuous monitoring of the left atrial pressure was made possible by a catheter inserted during open-heart surgery. Both patients suffered brain damage, presumably secondary to cerebral air embolism, and eventually succumbed. Although the authors think that a causal relationship between cerebral damage and pulmonary edema best explains the mechanism in these two patients, this must remain conjectural. Neurogenic pulmonary edema, however, has been assumed to be secondary to elevated left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures. If a specific relation exists in these patients, the findings herein described strongly suggest that this may not be the mechanism.
Verification of Precipitation Forecasts from NCEP’s Short-Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF) System with Reference to Ensemble Streamflow Prediction Using Lumped Hydrologic Models

AbstractPrecipitation forecasts from the Short-Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF) system of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are verified for the period April 2006–August 2010. Verification is conducted for 10–20 hydrologic basins in each of the following: the middle Atlantic, the southern plains, the windward slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and the foothills of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest. Mean areal precipitation is verified conditionally upon forecast lead time, amount of precipitation, season, forecast valid time, and accumulation period. The stationary block bootstrap is used to quantify the sampling uncertainties of the verification metrics. In general, the forecasts are more skillful for moderate precipitation amounts than either light or heavy precipitation. This originates from a threshold-dependent conditional bias in the ensemble mean forecast. Specifically, the forecasts overestimate low observed precipitation and underestimate high precipitation (a type-II cond...
Letter from the American Geological Institute

(1984). Letter from the American Geological Institute. International Geology Review: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 3-3.
The influence of the diffusional anisotropy on bimolecular reaction rate of neutrals in molecular crystals: Triplet—triplet annihilation in anthracene

Abstract The effect of anisotropic diffusion upon the geminate survival probability of a pair of neutral particles is discussed. A concise, if simple, expression for the bulk recombination rate coefficient is derived using an integral relationship between it and the geminate survival probability. The resultant equation is similar to that for isotropic media, but differs in detail. The bimolecular annihilation of triplet excitons in anthracene crystals is modelled using the present treatment and the predicted reaction ellipsoid suggests a diffusive picture for excitonic motion.
An Analysis of Legal Hearings and Cases Related to Individualized Education Programs for Children with Autism

Developing appropriate programs for students with autism has been an increasingly complex task for parents, schools, and other stakeholders. Parents of students with autism have challenged the appr...
Robust Wiener filters

Abstract The performance of minimum mean-square-error estimation filters for signals in additive noise can deteriorate considerably for deviations of the actual signal and noise power spectral densities (PSD's) from assumed, nominal densities. We consider two classes of PSD's which are useful models for the signal and noise when their PSD's are not precisely known. For these classes, robust filters which are saddlepoints for mean-square- error performance are derived. The robust filters achieve their worst performance for pairs of least-favorable signal and noise PSD's for which they are the optimum filters. It is shown by a numerical example that the robust filter can be very useful in maintaining a reasonable error performance over the whole of the classes of PSD's.
Analysis of dated sediment samples from the newark bay area for selected PCDD/Fs

Abstract To assess the magnitude and extent of 2,3,7,8-TCDD contamination, sediment cores from the Newark Bay estuary and contiguous waters were collected and dated by radiochemical methods. The core sections from two time horizons were analyzed for selected PCDD/Fs. The highest 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations were found in sediments from the sampling site nearest a chemical manufacturing facility on the Passaic River where 2,4,5-T had been synthesized. At this site and in Newark Bay sediments, 2,3,7,8-TCDD was the dominant TCDD isomer found, consistent with 2,4,5-T synthesis being a major source of the 2,3,7,8-TCDD.
The protective effect of lactose on lyophilization of CNK-20402

The goal of this research was to assess the feasibility of using lyophilization to stabilize an exploratory compound, CNK-20402, with a minimal amount of impurity (CNK-20193) formation. A mixed-level full factorial experimental design was used to screen excipients of glycine, mannitol, lactose monohydrate, and povidone K-12. Cryostage microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Karl Fischer titration, HPLC, and water vapor sorption were used to assess the formulations' physicochemical properties and stability. Initial physical characterization from powder X-ray diffraction revealed that the mannitol- and glycine-containing formulations were crystalline with the patterns of the pure excipient, whereas the remaining formulations were amorphous in structure. Chemically, the formulations stored at 50°C for 1 month had 2.36%, 1.05%, 0.81%, 0.79%, and 0.49% CNK-20193 for glycine, mannitol, drug alone, povidone K-12, and lactose formulations, respectively. The formulations containing drug-mannitol, drug alone, and druglactose were selected for accelerated stability study based on statistical analysis. Recovery of CNK-20193 in these formulations was 1.22%, 1.00%, and 0.55%, respectively, when stored at 40°C/75% relative humidity storage conditions for 3 months. Water vapor sorption analysis revealed weight gains of over 7%, 21%, and 24% for the mannitol, lactose, and drug alone formulations, respectively. Testing formulations with different concentrations of lactose by water vapor sorption indicated that CNK-20402 concentrations as low as 10% (wt/wt) could inhibit the recrystallization of lactose. The lactose-containing formulation exhibited the best stability among the formulations tested. The protective mechanism of lactose on the CNK-20402, based on water vapor sorption studies, is believed to be a result of (1) the drug-lactose interaction, and (2) competition between lactose and drug for the residual water in the formulation.
Periadolescent exposure to ethanol and diazepam alters the aversive properties of ethanol in adult mice

Evidence suggests that the developing adolescent brain may be especially vulnerable to long-term neurobehavioral consequences following ethanol exposure and withdrawal. In the present study, we examined the long-term effect of adolescent ethanol withdrawal on a subsequent EtOH-induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Periadolescent and adult C3H mice were exposed to 64 h of continuous (single withdrawal) or intermittent (multiple withdrawal) ethanol vapor. Following each ethanol exposure, animals received either 0, 1, 2, or 3 mg/kg diazepam (DZP) in an attempt to counteract the possible effect of ethanol withdrawal. About 6 weeks following ethanol and DZP treatment, animals were tested for an EtOH-induced CTA. As expected, exposure to EtOH during adolescence attenuated the EtOH-induced CTA as compared to controls. Unexpectedly, administration of DZP during withdrawal did not spare but rather mimicked the attenuation of the EtOH-induced CTA seen in animals exposed to ethanol in adolescence. This attenuation was not evident when EtOH and/or DZP was administered in adulthood. Given the similar mode of action of EtOH and DZP on the GABA system, the principal implication of the present findings is that the intoxicating effect of ethanol on the developing brain can result in long-term changes in the aversive properties of EtOH.
PROSPECTIVE NEURODEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES OF FOUR INFANTS TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY, TOTAL BODY IRRADIATION, AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

PROSPECTIVE NEURODEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES OF FOUR INFANTS TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY, TOTAL BODY IRRADIATION, AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION
Reduction of the {Bethe-Salpeter} Equation to an Equivalent Schrodinger Equation, With Applications

We propose a new relativistic two-body formalism which reduces to a nonrelativistic Schroedinger theory for a single effective particle. The formalism is equal in rigor to that of Bethe and Salpeter, and considerably simpler to apply. We illustrate its use by computing O (..cap alpha../sup 6/) terms in the ground-state splitting of muonium and positronium involving infinite Coulomb exchange.
Taphonomy and depositional dynamics of Devonian shell-rich mudstones

Abstract Fossil preservation (e.g. articulation of multi-element skeletons) provides important insights into depositional dynamics. Detailed taphonomic analysis of marine mudstones and associated shell beds from the Middle Devonian of western New York indicates that these beds record primarily episodic sediment deposition of short duration. We propose a storm winnowing, mud blanketing model to explain the variety of shell and mudstone beds observed, and to explain apparent onshore-offshore gradients of shell bed characteristics. Shell beds themselves appear to have accumulated during relatively long spans of time ranging up to perhaps thousands of years. Most are internally complex and exhibit evidence for multiple events of burial and exhumation by winnowing. Shell accumulation facilitated colonization of the seafloor by hard substrate-encrusting organisms; these contributed to increasingly complex communities that were ultimately destroyed and permanently blanketed by thick mud layers. The sparsely fossiliferous mudstones, which compose up to 85% of the Hamilton stratigraphic section, mainly record very abrupt inputs of sediment; in some instances taphonomy of enclosed fossils indicates deposition of layers up to several centimeters thick (prior to compaction) within hours to a few days. In turn, some sequences of shell and mudstone beds were deposited within the life span of single colonial organisms, and thus also record only relatively short spans of time overall. This reinforces our conclusions that most time in mudstone sequences must be represented by discontinuities at sharp surfaces or thin condensed beds that bound more or less continuous bundles of shell and mudstone beds. Again, these often subtle discontinuities can be recognized on the basis of taphonomic criteria. Many complex shell beds as well as simple shell beds can be traced along depositional strike for tens of kilometers. Condensed shell beds only a few centimeters thick can commonly be correlated for 100 to 200 km along and across depositional strike. The correlatable nature of shell beds apparently reflects the temporal contrast between these beds and enclosing muds; on a regional scale, shell beds represent integrated accumulations that were deposited over spans of tens to thousands of years. Conversely, the mud layers that blanketed and terminated shell bed accumulations may represent very rapid depositional events (spanning hours to days), which are locally isochronous. Thus, the study of taphonomy of shell beds reveals a good deal of detail about their depositional history; these studies imply that the stratigraphic record is even more episodic and discotinuous than commonly recognized. Episodic deposition implies that while the stratigraphic record of epeiric seas may be adequate for examining details of community succession and paleontology, it probably can not generally be used for microevolutionary studies other than examination of patterns of stasis.
Oviposition preference of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in caged choice experiments and the influence on risk assessment of F1 sterility

Abstract Releases of lepidopteran biological control agents have successfully controlled invasive weed species. However, issues with non-target effects of released exotic agents have resulted in stringent pre-release host specificity testing. Use of inherited (F1) sterility, a radiation induced genetic condition that can cause sterility in the F1 generation, could further assess the risk of non-target effects and negative ecological effects under field conditions. This technique may aid in approving potentially effective and safe biological control agents for release. The unintentional arrival of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum, into the United States provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the potential of F1 sterility. This study was conducted to assess host oviposition preferences of C. cactorum females mated with irradiated and non-irradiated males for cactus species from seven groups based on location, cactus growth characteristics (plant structure), spine densities, genera, and economic imp...
Bali's Tourism Interests: Local Responses To Suharto's Globalization Policies

During the Suharto regime many decisions were made unilaterally, and often profits from various endeavours outside of Java were redirected back to the capital. This article discusses how some Balinese political cartoonists reacted to the inequality and exploitation they felt characterized tourism related developments on their heavily visited island. Some of their work, which was done just as the New Order was coming to a close, is displayed and analysed here.
Potentially Lethal Ventricular Arrhythmias: From Mundane to Esoteric

Patients with potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) represent a heterogenous group with frequent and high grade ventricular arrhythmias (including couplets and runs of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia), structural heart disease and decreased left ventricular function. This is a group at intermediate risk of sudden death, with risks varying from 10% to 38%. The electrical and mechanical risks of patients with potentially lethal VA is discussed in relation to their ability of promoting sudden death. The studies reviewing the impact of antiarrhythmic treatment on survival of patients with potentially lethal VA is discussed.
Culture conditions and single growth factors affect fate determination of mouse spermatogonial stem cells

Cell fate determination between self-renewal or differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the testis is precisely regulated to maintain normal spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the process remain elusive. To address the problem, we developed a model SSC culture system, first, by establishing techniques to obtain enriched populations of stem cells, and second, by establishing a serum-free culture medium. Flow cytometric cell sorting and the SSC transplantation assay demonstrated that Thy-1 is a unique surface marker of SSCs in neonatal, pup, and adult testes of the mouse. Although the surface phenotype of SSCs is major histocompatibility complex class I(-) Thy-1(+) alpha 6-integrin(+) alpha v-integrin(-/dim) throughout postnatal life, the most enriched population of SSCs was obtained from cryptorchid adult testes by cell-sorting techniques based on Thy-1 expression. This enriched population of SSCs was used to develop a culture system that consisted of serum-free defined medium and STO (SIM mouse embryo-derived thioguanine and ouabain resistant) feeders, which routinely maintained stem cell activity for 1 wk. Combining the culture system and the transplantation assay provided a mechanism to study the effect of single growth factors. A negative effect was demonstrated for several concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor and leukemia inhibitory factor, whereas glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and stem cell factor appeared to have a positive effect on stem cell maintenance. The stem cell enrichment strategies and the culture methods described provide a reproducible and powerful assay system to establish the effect of various environmental factors on SSC survival and replication in vitro.
Method for electrostatic atomization of emulsions in an EHD system

Abstract In order to atomize oil in an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) system, the conductivity must be in the optimum range. The conductivity of pure oil is too low, requiring the addition of 3–20% surfactant to reach the correct conductivity. Adding water increases the conductivity too much, so emulsions cannot be atomized. In this study, a liposome-containing, water-in-oil emulsion was developed which allows water to be added to oil without greatly increasing the conductivity, and also allows oil to be atomized with minimal additives. Oil was emulsified with 0.01% lecithin and 0.3–50% water and atomized electrostatically. Extra virgin olive oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, butter and peanut oil with added aspartame, GDL, Folic acid, B12, Dijon flavor and Red 3 were sprayed onto six kinds of crackers and glass cover slides to demonstrate that reproducible, efficient coatings can be produced using this method. Emulsions up to 20% water produce good atomization. Over 25% water, the droplet-size increases and reproducibility decreases. A liquid crystal phase in the emulsion restricted the conductivity of the water phase to keep the overall conductivity low. Under high electric fields, elongation, chaining, coalescence or breaking of the droplets increases the conductivity enough to permit atomization.
In Vitro Studies in Microsomes from Rat and Human Liver, Kidney, and Intestine Suggest That Perfluorooctanoic Acid Is Not a Substrate for Microsomal UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a fluorinated fatty acid analogue used as a surfactant in the manufacture of fluoropolymers. Previous studies have indicated that PFOA was metabolically inert in mammals, but recent metabolism studies with related fluorochemicals suggested that PFOA might form a glucuronide conjugate. [(14)C(1)]-PFOA was incubated with male and female human and rat liver, kidney, and small intestine microsomes. Incubations were carried out in the presence of alamethicin and beta-saccharolactone to increase access of PFOA to the enzyme active site and to inhibit potential hydrolysis of PFOA-glucuronide by microsomal beta-glucuronidase, respectively. Although positive control experiments using p-nitrophenol demonstrated significant UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) activity in all of the tested microsomal preparations, no evidence for formation of a PFOA-glucuronide was obtained, either by high-sensitivity radiochromatography or by LC/MS. These data suggest that PFOA is not a substrate for human or rodent microsomal UDPGTs.
Mechanical and relaxation properties of polystyrene molded at high pressures

Atactic polystyrene glasses were molded at high pressures by cooling the polymer melt at pressures up to 5000 atm. Changes found in the properties of the samples included: a lower mechanical damping factor at temperatures from 50°K to 300°K; a higher compressive elastic modulus; a maximum in compressive yield stress at a molding pressure around 1000 atm; faster relaxation at yield; appearance of an exothermic dilational relaxation below Tg when the samples were heated; and faster relaxation in methyl ethyl ketone vapor. The observed behavior is interpreted in terms of a model based on pressure-induced heterogeneities in local order. The initial effect of increased molding pressure is to produce a more compact polymer which has less segmental mobility and more extensive interchain forces. Above molding pressures of about 1000 atm, a second effect develops due to the apparent formation of localized conformations which are stable under the high-pressure vitrification conditions, but not at room conditions. The spontaneous decay of these high-energy regions leads to subsequent formation of microvoid defects and more rapid structural relaxation effects. The existence of an optimum molding pressure somewhat below 1000 atm is indicated for polystyrene.
Youth Perspectives on Parental Career Influence

The role of parents in youth career development is generally acknowledged though, often, perfunctorily. This inquiry examines youth perceptions of parental influence on their career development. We ask young men and women about specific career development attitudes and behaviors that bear on their relations with their parents. The sample consists of survey data from 362 high school juniors. The results confirm the trend of recent studies that report compatibility between parent and youth values, aspirations, and plans. Of all the people to whom youth can turn for help with making career plans, most look to their mothers. The findings apply across gender, to young men as well as young women; and they apply across race, to minority youth as well as majority-culture youth. The results underscore the importance of parents as allies and resources for career counselors in facilitating youth career development.
NONPARALLEL WAVE INSTABILITY ANALYSIS OF BOUNDARY-LAYER FLOWS

An order-of-magnitude approach is employed to analyze the linear nonparallel wave instability of boundary-layer flows. This analysis removes the restriction imposed by previous investigators on the weak dependence of the streamwise variation of disturbance quantities. A superposition technique along with a modified Thomas trans-formation is employed to solve the resulting nonhomogeneous equation for the amplitude function of the disturbance without the use of an adjoint eigenfunction, which is needed in conventional approaches. All of the eigenfuncrions are treated in their general forms. The growing rate of the disturbance intensity is found to depend on both streamwise and transverse coordinates. At a local observation point × (or Re×), the growing rate of the disturbance intensity has a maximum value near y = Y = Ylpar;U∞/ vX)½ = 3 for Blasiusflow. The neutral stability curve can then be defined by letting the maximum growing rate of the disturbance intensity be zero. Excellent agreement is found betwe...
Superior olive in the alligator.

Summary1. When the entire facial nerve of the alligator was transected intracranially, there were chromatolytic changes in the facial nucleus, but none in either superior olive. 2. When both the facial and auditory nerves were sectioned, chromatolytic changes were particularly noticeable in the contralateral superior olive. This indicates that the olivocochlear bundle which Rasmussen has described in the cat is also present in the alligator.