cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigate the Chronic Neurotoxic Effects of Diquat

Chronic exposure to agricultural chemicals (pesticides/herbicides) has been shown to induce neurotoxic effects or results in accumulation of various toxic metabolic by-products. These substances have the relevant ability to cause or increase the risk for neurodegeneration. Diquat is an herbicide that has been extensively used in the United States of America and other parts of the world. Diquat is constantly released into the environment during its use as a contact herbicide. Diquat structurally resembles 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and paraquat. Rotenone, paraquat, maneb and MPTP reproduce features of movement disorders in experimental animal models. Based on the structural similarity to other neurotoxins, chronic exposure of diquat can induce behavioral and neurochemical alterations associated with dopaminergic neurotoxicity. However, in the present study, diquat unlike other neurotoxins (rotenone, 6-hydroxydopamine, MPTP, paraquat and maneb) did not induce dopamine depletion in the mouse striatum. Although, notable exacerbation in motor impairment (swimming score, akinesia and open field) were evident that may be due to the decreased dopamine turnover and mild nigrostriatal neurodegeneration. These data indicate that, despite the apparent structural similarity to other dopaminergic neurotoxins, diquat did not exert severe deleterious effects on dopamine neurons in a manner that is unique to rotenone and MPTP.
Cardiotoxicity studies with diazoxide, reserpine, guanethidine, and combinations of diazoxide and propranolol in dogs

Abstract Diazoxide, a vasodilating antihypertensive drug, caused tachycardia when given to dogs as iv doses of 10–40 mg/kg. Doses of 20–40 mg/kg, given on 2 or 3 consecutive days, caused myocardial necroses similar to that produced by hydralazine. The papillary muscles were the primary sites of the lesion. The lesion is considered to be of ischemic origin, brought about by the exaggerated pharmacological effects. Reserpine and guanethidine, given orally in sublethal doses for 2 or 3 days, did not cause such a lesion. Propranolol, given orally in doses of 3 mg/kg two or three times daily concurrently with diazoxide, decreased the cardiotoxic effect of diazoxide but did not diminish the hypotensive effect.
Preparation and Maintenance of SCID-hu Mice for HIV Research

Abstract The SCID-hu mouse bearing a functional human thymic implant can be easily infected with HIV. Infection results in virus replication and relatively rapid depletion of CD4 + human thymocytes, resulting in a pathologic profile similar to that seen in the thymus of HIV-infected humans. The use of the SCID-hu model for HIV research requires protection of the animals from opportunistic infections and protection of the operators from human pathogens. This discussion describes reliable methods of animal care and surgical procedures to meet these needs.
Sandstone water sensitivity: Existence of a critical rate of salinity decrease for particle capture

Ahsbaet-A critical rate of salinity decrease (CRSD) was found to exist in the water sensitivity of Berea sandstone. The CRSD was determined by conducting core. flood experiments in which the salinity was dmreased exponentially by placing mixers of various volumes in the inlet stream. Above the CRSD, drastic reductions in core permeability occur due to a log jam, or bridging effect, at the pore constriction. Below the CRSD, the released clay particles pass through the constriction without being captured and therfore very little reduction in core permeability occurs. A critical particle concentration was also identified above which brideina occurs. Based on the exoerimental observations. a mathematical model was develoued to delineate &e &kms of high and lo& permeability agreement with experimental measurements. reductiohs. The model predictions are in- good
Effect of a major histocompatibility complex class I peptide on insulin-like growth factor-I receptor internalization and biological signaling

Previous studies have shown that a peptide derived from the murine major histocompatibility complex class 1 (MHC-1) antigen inhibits insulin receptor internalization and enhances insulin action. Consequently, we have studied the effect of this peptide [Dk-(62-85)] derived from the MHC-1 antigen on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) internalization and action. When Chinese hamster ovary cells that overexpress human IGF-I receptors were incubated in the presence or absence of 30 microM Dk-(62-85), IGF-I internalization was inhibited by 43.9 +/- 1.7% (P < 0.005). This inhibitory effect was dose responsive, with a half-maximal effect at 8 microM and a maximal effect at 30 microM. The peptide did not affect IGF-I receptor autophosphorylation or ligand-induced phosphorylation of an endogenous substrate, pp185, in vivo. When added alone, the peptide increased glucose transport into Chinese hamster ovary cells by 66.3 +/- 16.0%, whereas when the peptide was added together with IGF-I, ligand-stimulated glucose transport was inhibited. In conclusion, 1) the MHC-1-derived peptide Dk-(62-85) inhibits IGF-I internalization in a dose-responsive fashion; 2) Dk-(62-85) does not affect receptor kinase activity, as IGF-I receptor autophosphorylation and endogenous substrate phosphorylation are unaltered; and 3) Dk-(62-85) stimulates glucose transport by itself, but inhibits IGF-I stimulated transport.
Changes in milk composition during lactation in three species of insectivorous bats.

Changes in milk composition are described for three species of free-ranging insectivorous bats (Myotis lucifugus, M. velifer, and Tadarida brasiliensis) from early to mid (peak) lactation. Dry matter and energy concentrations in milk increased from early to mid-lactation. In M. lucifugus and T. brasiliensis, but not M. velifer, these increases were due largely to a rise in fat concentration, since protein and carbohydrate remained relatively constant. Energy content of milk (kJ·g-1) for each species from early through mid-lactation was related to dry matter (DM) as follows: M. lucifugus (y=0.31 DM-0.32, r 2=0.68), M. velifer (y=0.48 DM-5.08, r 2=0.99), and T. brasiliensis (y=0.37 DM-1.51, r 2=0.61). Comparison of the effect of sampling method on milk composition of T. brasiliensis indicated that fat, dry matter, and energy concentrations increased significantly from pre-dawn to prenoon samples. Relatively high fat and low water levels in T. brasiliensis milk may reflect the limited access that lactating females have to free water, as well as need to minimize mass of stored milk during long foraging trips. Conversely, lower fat concentrations and higher water levels in milk in M. lucifugus and M. velifer may relate to the propensity for colonies of these two species to roost and forage near bodies of water. In addition, differences in milk fat concentrations observed among the three species may correlate to daily suckling schedules. Females of T. brasiliensis, for example, roost apart from and suckle their young on a regular daily schedule, whereas both species of Myotis roost with their pups and appear to suckle them on demand.
Numerical simulations of thin film thermal flow

Abstract The thin film thermal flow process in long trenches is analyzed using a simulator which solves the equations which govern viscous, incompressible fluid flow. The total thermal baking process is divided into small time steps. At each time step, we solve the governing equations using the penalty function formulation and the Galerkin finite element method to obtain local velocity vectors. The free surface of the flowing film is updated according to these local velocity vectors. As an example application, we simulate the flow of boron and phosphorus doped silicon dioxide glass films in 2 μm high by 2 μm wide, infinitely long trenches, for which two-dimensional profile evolution is appropriate. The simulated film profiles show that the local levelling rate of a film is a sensitive function of surface curvature. The simulation program predicts that lower viscosity and thicker films have superior planarization properties compared with higher viscosity and thinner films. These trends are in agreement with empirical observations and previous modelling and simulation work on glass film planarization processes.
Performance Assessment of High-speed Flux-switching Permanent Magnet Machine Using Ferrite and Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Materials

AbstractThis article presents the investigation and comparison of the capabilities and characteristics of high-speed flux-switching permanent magnet machines using ferrite and rare earth permanent magnet materials. Special design considerations for ferrite flux-switching permanent magnet machines under high-speed operation are proposed. Two ferrite and one NdFeB flux-switching permanent magnet machines, rated at 10 kW and 15 krpm, were designed for performance assessment. Various machine performances, including torque characteristics and loss distribution, are compared. In addition, the risk of partial demagnetization and the performance degradation due to partial demagnetization are also investigated. This research reveals several promising characteristics of the ferrite flux-switching permanent magnet machine, such as lower total loss, negligible magnet eddy current loss, and better cooling potential. The results also show the possibility of designing a high torque density ferrite flux-switching permane...
Cervical conization to radical hysterectomy interval: does it matter?

Objective: To determine whether a difference in perioperative morbidity exists for different waiting periods between cervical conization and radical hysterectomy. Study design: Between January 1992 and September 1999, 225 type II or type III radical hysterectomies were performed at Parkland Memorial Hospital for stage IA2, stage IB, or stage IIA cervical carcinoma. Thirty women underwent radical hysterectomy after having a loop electrical excision procedure or cold knife conization. Estimated blood loss, intraoperative complication, blood transfusion, febrile morbidity, hospital re-admission, and postoperative complications were ascertained. These data were stratified according to the time interval between cervical conization and radical hysterectomy: 1–7 days, 8–28 days, and greater than 28 days. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results: Our study population included 30 women, 7 of which underwent loop electrical procedure, and 23 underwent cold knife conization prior to radical hysterectomy. Fifteen percent, 25%, and 60% underwent cervical procedure prior to radical hysterectomy at less than 1 week, 1–4 weeks, and greater than 4 weeks, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in estimated blood loss, intraoperative complication, operative time, blood transfusion, febrile morbidity, hospital re-admission, or postoperative complication. There was a statistically significantly longer hospital stay between the 1–4 weeks interval group and the others (P = 0.0008). Conclusions: Our data suggest that it is safe to perform radical hysterectomy at any point in time after a cervical conization; however, the operative interval of 1–4 weeks appears to lengthen the duration of hospital stay.
Thoughts and ideas

Consider this proposition: Walruses are clumsy on land. You’re not to affirm it or deny it or otherwise judge it. Just consider it. ‘‘Merely’’ entertain the thought. Wayne Davis believes that many of our current theories of meaning and communication, and large class of theories in cognitive psychology, have neglected a crucial aspect of human psychology. By focusing so much on the cognitive attitudes of beliefs and desires, theorists have not attended enough to what he calls pure cogitative thinking. Such thinking is just what you did a moment ago— entertained or considered a proposition, without necessarily entering any judgment or having any belief about that proposition. Why be so invested in and concerned with such ‘‘pure’’ attitudinally neutral thought? Davis thinks that, by and large, Grice was right about how to best understand meaning. The familiar story is that words mean what thinkers make them mean. And thinkers make words mean what they mean by their intentions. Thinkers mean what they do when they intend to produce a certain response in their audience, in particular to produce certain beliefs. So meaning is ultimately accounted for in terms of audience-directed intentions. Davis thinks that this analysis is roughly correct as an account of informing and communicating, but it is not an analysis of meaning. For, according to Davis, we should not regard meaning as the attempt to communicate. We sometimes express ourselves even though we have no intentions to inform or communicate. To correct for this defect, Davis proposes that we supplant intentions to produce audience’s beliefs with intentions to produce an indication that one has certain mental states. And so, for Davis, instead of beliefs, thoughts and their constituent concepts come to be primitives within his theory of meaning.
Enhancement of Aluminum, Titanium, and Iron in Glass Using Pre-ablation Spark Dual-Pulse LIBS

In this paper, we report the first enhanced emission for elements in a nonmetal or nonconducting matrix, glass, with the use of a preablation spark. The glass samples used in this work are prototypes of samples used to immobilize inorganic waste at the Savannah River Site Vitrification Facility. We have found that using a pre-ablation spark results in larger signal enhancements, 11- to 20-fold for titanium, aluminum, and iron in glass compared to the metal under the same experimental conditions. We also demonstrate that this method is more sensitive than single-pulse LIBS experiments for the direct solid sampling of vitrified waste glass.
Organocatalysis In a Synthetic Receptor with an Inwardly Directed Carboxylic Acid

A cavitand functionalized with a Kemp’s triacid derivative was used to catalyze the epoxide ring-opening cyclizations of 1,5-epoxyalcohols. A deep, cylindrical cavity containing electron-rich aromatic walls and an inwardly directed carboxylic acid displayed the necessary characteristics to bind different 1,5-epoxyalcohols and initiate their cyclization reactions. The reactions inside this synthetic receptor occurred in a catalytic and regioselective manner. These results highlight that the arrangement of functionality and unique solvation provided by the structured interiors of natural enzymes can be incorporated into synthetic systems having useful physical and chemical properties.
High initial tidal volumes in emergency department patients at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract Purpose Emergency department (ED) patients are at high risk for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Settings only 1 mL/kg above recommended tidal volumes confers harm for these patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ED physicians routinely initiate mechanical ventilation with low tidal volumes in patients at risk for ARDS. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all adult patients who were intubated in an urban, academic ED. The charts were analyzed to identify patients in whom ARDS developed within 48 hours after ED admission. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had bilateral infiltrates on imaging, had a Pa o 2 /F io 2 ratio less than 300 mm Hg and did not have heart failure contributing to their presentation. The tidal volumes set in the ED were then compared with the recommended tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight. Results The initial tidal volumes set in the ED were higher than recommended by an average of 80 mL (95% confidence interval, 60-110, P Conclusions In an academic, tertiary hospital, newly intubated ED patients in whom ARDS developed within 48 hours after intubation were ventilated with tidal volumes that exceeded recommendations by an average of 1.5 mL/kg.
Clouds and Circulation on Neptune: Implications of 1991 HST Observations

Abstract Images of Neptune recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Fields/Planetary Camera in late 1991 provide a basis for the first significant comparison with the circulation results obtained from Voyager 2 observations 2 years earlier. The HST images using red (F675W) and methane band (F889N) filters contain isolated bright cloud features suitable for tracking atmospheric motions near planetocentric latitudes of 67°S, 57.5°S, 50°S, 5°N, and 27°N. Wind speeds inferred from the feature rotational periods are consistent with the latitudinal wind profile established by the 1989 Voyager observations. The latitudinal distribution of clouds also matches the Voyager distribution reasonably well, except for a notable lack of clouds between the equator and 40°S, a region where the Great Dark Spot (GDS) and its companion cloud were observed in 1989. The 1991 HST images contain no cloud feature at any latitude with an integrated brightness comparable to the GDS companion, suggesting that the GDS itself may not have survived its projected November 1990 arrival at Neptune's equator.
Two pathways for cyclooxygenase-2 protein degradation in vivo.

COX-2, formally known as prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase-2 (PGHS-2), catalyzes the committed step in prostaglandin biosynthesis. COX-2 is induced during inflammation and is overexpressed in colon cancer. In vitro, an 18-amino acid segment, residues 595–612, immediately upstream of the C-terminal endoplasmic reticulum targeting sequence is required for N-glycosylation of Asn594, which permits COX-2 protein to enter the endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation system. To determine the importance of this COX-2 degradation pathway in vivo, we engineered a del595–612 PGHS-2 (Δ18 COX-2) knock-in mouse lacking this 18-amino acid segment. Δ18 COX-2 knock-in mice do not exhibit the renal or reproductive abnormalities of COX-2 null mice. Δ18 COX-2 mice do have elevated urinary prostaglandin E2 metabolite levels and display a more pronounced and prolonged bacterial endotoxin-induced febrile response than wild type (WT) mice. Normal brain tissue, cultured resident peritoneal macrophages, and cultured skin fibroblasts from Δ18 COX-2 mice overexpress Δ18 COX-2 relative to WT COX-2 expression in control mice. These results indicate that COX-2 can be degraded via the endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation pathway in vivo. Treatment of cultured cells from WT or Δ18 COX-2 mice with flurbiprofen, which blocks substrate-dependent degradation, attenuates COX-2 degradation, and treatment of normal mice with ibuprofen increases the levels of COX-2 in brain tissue. Thus, substrate turnover-dependent COX-2 degradation appears to contribute to COX-2 degradation in vivo. Curiously, WT and Δ18 COX-2 protein levels are similar in kidneys and spleens from WT and Δ18 COX-2 mice. There must be compensatory mechanisms to maintain constant COX-2 levels in these tissues.
Performance of Density Functionals with Small Split Valence Basis Sets

Though there have been many studies of density functional theory and various density functionals for large basis sets, there have been extremely limited studies of DFT with smaller basis sets. This paper discusses the ability of a series of density functionals to reproduce experimental heats of formation at the 3-21G*, 3-21+G*, and MIDI ! basis sets. Also included are G3, G3MP2, MNDO, and PM3 calculations for comparison purposes. Good results for 3-21G* were obtained using mPW exchange with gradient-corrected correlation functionals LYP, PBEc, and PW91c, and 3-21+G* performed well with PBEx and PW91x exchange functionals when coupled with these same gradient-corrected correlation functionals. Unexpectedly good results were also obtained with G96P86/3-21G*, given each individual functionals performance in other functional pairings. MIDI! was outperformed, in general, by both 3-21G* and 3-21+G*.
Predicting business failure using cash flow statement based measures

Purpose – Business failures during the economic recession of 2008‐2010 years were unusually high in the USA. The purpose of this paper is to build a new model to predict business failure, using mostly cash flow statement based measures as predictor variables and discriminant analysis technique.Design/methodology/approach – The authors' data matrix consisted of 100 firms and seven predictor variables. A total of 50 “failed” firms were matched with 50 non‐failed firms according to Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and size. Financial statement data for the year prior to failed year were pulled from COMPUSTAT database. Seven predictor variables were selected, namely Operating cash flow divided by current liabilities, Cash flow coverage of interest, Operating cash flow margin, Operating cash flow return on total assets, Earning quality, Quick ratio and Three‐year sales growth. The SPSS‐19 software was used to perform discriminant analysis (DA).Findings – The DA model classified 83.3 percent of ori...
Mechanism of the bradycardia during coronary angiography

Abstract Bradycardia occurring during coronary angiography may be due to the direct effect of dye or to reflex vagal effects on pacemaker centers. Fifteen patients were classified according to the origin of the sinus nodal and atrioventricular nodal arteries. In patients with type A anatomy, both the sinus and the atrioventricular nodal arteries arose from the right coronary artery. In those with type B anatomy, only the atrioventricular nodal artery arose from the right coronary artery. Heart rate recordings were made during coronary angiography before and after selective infusion of atropine (0.2 mg) into the right coronary artery. In type A patients, the sinus bradycardia observed during right coronary dye injection was caused by a combination of both direct and reflex effects on pacemaker tissue. Sinus bradycardia occurring with left coronary dye injections was entirely reflex in nature and was completely blocked with right coronary arterial injection of atropine. In type B patients, sinus bradycardia with right coronary dye injections was produced by reflex suppression of the sinus pacemaker. A junctional rhythm was consistently produced after administration of atropine. Junctional bradycardia in type B patients was caused by direct suppression of the junctional pacemaker. Thus, angiographic dye appears to decrease heart rate both by a direct effect on pacemaker tissue and by reflex vagal suppression of the sinus pacemaker.
Effects of continuous nitroglycerin infusion on acute myocardial ischemia in dogs

Abstract The effects of a continuous infusion of nitroglycerin (NTG) were evaluated by hemodynamic measurements and measurements of regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) in dogs on right heart bypass with left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. NTG infusion which decreased afterload, mean aortic pressure (MAP) decreased from 100 to 85 mm Hg, thus also decreasing coronary perfusion pressure) resulted in an 11.8% increase in total coronary blood flow (CBF), a 19.1% decrease in coronary vascular resistance index (CVRI), and a 21.7% decrease in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO 2 ). When MAP was returned to the control level (100 mm Hg) with continuing infusion of NTG, CBF increased 49.1%, and CVRI decreased by 23.4% compared to the pre-NTG ischemic state. Regional myocardial blood flow (microsphere technique) to ischemic tissue at the border of the infarct remained stable with NTG infusion despite decreased MAP, in contrast to the significant fall in RMBF in this region with decreased MAP in the control group without NTG. When MAP was elevated back to pre-NTG levels, an 18.6% increase in RMBF to the border of the infarct was seen compared to an insignificant change in RMBF in untreated (control) animals. These data are consistent with the concept that under conditions of regional myocardial ischemia, coronary blood flow to the “border zone” (ischemic myocardium) is maintained or enhanced by NTG, even when coronary perfusion pressure is modestly reduced.
Imaging derivative spectroscopy for vegetation dysfunction assessments

The practical application of current airborne and future satellite or space station based high spectral resolution (hyperspectral) imagery to vegetative canopies (sparse or dense) and resulting derived bio-physical variables will depend upon our ability to rapidly apply scientifically based algorithms. Key to these rapid assessments is the selection of the best or optimal channels or bands for detection of plant stress or dysfunction. Previous work has demonstrated the potential of utilizing high spectral resolution optical signatures for detecting plant stress related to the vegetation's moisture within the leaf structure. Future algorithms and techniques need to discriminate plant species as well as any plant dysfunction or stresses in terms of leaf chemistry or other canopy bio-physical variables in order to improve operational advances in the use of hyperspectral imagery for environmental surveillance, agriculture and earth system science management. Second derivative imagery based upon derivative algorithms and selected bands are presented for AVIRIS imagery of Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral and the Satellite Beach region of central Florida. The algorithms show potential for being used as the basis for firmware or 'silicon strategy' based algorithms in the future.
Increased sensitivity of the enzymatic isotopic assay of histamine: measurement of histamine in plasma and serum.

Abstract The use of rat kidney instead of guinea pig brain as the source of histamine- N -methyltransferase for the enzymatic assay of histamine was found to improve the sensitivity of the assay. A partially purified preparation (ammonium sulfate fractionation) of the kidney enzyme was 20- to 50-fold more active than the guinea pig preparation, and sufficient enzyme for 14,000 assays could be prepared from six rats. The kidney enzyme, unlike the guinea pig brain enzyme, was free of interfering enzyme activities and gave low values for assay blanks. The two enzymes otherwise had similar properties. The low blank values permitted direct measurement of histamine in normal plasma without the need to isolate and concentrate histamine from the sample. Plasma histamine levels in normal individuals ranged from 0.2-1.4 (mean 0.6, n = 19) ng/ml.
Generation of U- and D-quark masses

Abstract The generation of quark masses from weak interactions is investigated. Finite realistic values for the u- and d-quark masses are obtained in an SU L (4) × SU R (4) × U(1) gauge model.
The relative and complementary performance of analyst and security-price-based measures of expected earnings

Abstract This paper evaluates the relative performance of IBES consensus financial analyst forecasts and forecasts based upon the anticipatory behaviour of security prices, according to two criteria: (a) the accuracy of earnings growth predictions and (b) the contemporaneous association between unexpected earnings and security returns during the forecast year. Results are presented for firms in differing size groups, measured here by market capitalization. The results indicate that neither forecast source is superior to the other in terms of either criterion. There is, however, significant complementarity of financial analyst and price-based forecasts.
Hadronization in Heavy-Ion Collisions: Recombination and Fragmentation of Partons

We argue that the emission of hadrons with transverse momentum up to about 5 GeV/c in central relativistic heavy ion collisions is dominated by recombination, rather than fragmentation of partons. This mechanism provides a natural explanation for the observed constant baryon-to-meson ratio of about one and the apparent lack of a nuclear suppression of the baryon yield in this momentum range. Fragmentation becomes dominant at higher transverse momentum, but the transition point is delayed by the energy loss of fast partons in dense matter.
DNA damage in mammalian cells by non-thermal atmospheric pressure microsecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma is not mediated by ozone

Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is now being widely developed for various medical applications ranging from wound healing to cancer therapy but the physical and biological mechanisms of interaction of such plasmas with mammalian cells are still not well understood. Non-thermal DBD plasma is known to generate significant amounts of ozone [1] and it is possible that ozone may have a major role to play in mediating the interactions of non-thermal plasma with mammalian cells. Although typically requiring much higher treatment time than the typical times reported here, ozonation is, in fact, widely employed to kill micro-organisms in water [2]. Ozone therapy is also being studied and developed for wound healing, healing of diabetic ulcers and is known to have various medical and physiological effects in mammalian tissue [3, 4]
EFFECTS OF LATE CASTRATION AND FEEDING TIME ON BOVINE MUSCLE QUALITY

Hereford bulls were late castrated by emasculation at approximately 1 year old or left intact, and fed for 0, 60 or 90 days before slaughter to evaluate various traits of the M. longissimus. More days on feed resulted in increased carcass weight, fat thickness, USDA quality grade, ribeye area and percentage kidney, pelvic and heart fat, with no difference from late castration. Percentage of soluble collagen was highest for M. longissimus steaks from the 60 day feeding group, and lowest among those fed 90 days. Steaks from the controls were lighter colored while those from steers fed 60 days were the most red. No sensory differences occurred except for off-flavor.
Multiple Myeloma: An Overview in 1996

Multiple myeloma (MM) has an incidence of approximately four per 100,000 per year. Ninety-nine percent of patients with MM have a monoclonal (M-) protein in the serum or urine during the course of their disease. MM must be differentiated from smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), which has an Mprotein value of more than 30 g/l and more than 10% plasma cells in the bone marrow, but no other features of MM. The plasma cell labeling index (PCLI) and the presence of circulating plasma cells in the peripheral blood help to differentiate monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and SMM from MM. The current median duration of survival with chemotherapy is about three years. Patients with low PCLI and low β 2-microglobulin values have a median duration of survival of approximately six years. Melphalan and prednisone produce an objective response in 50% to 60% of patients. Combinations of chemotherapy produce a higher response rate, but the survival rate is not different. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is associated with a mortality rate of 25% within six months and an actuarial survival rate of 28% at seven years. Autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation is applicable to more patients and is reported to produce a higher response rate and longer survival than chemotherapy, but most patients will eventually have relapse. The Oncologist 1996;1:315-323
Analysis of Air Toxics Emission Inventory: Inhalation Toxicity-Based Ranking

Air toxics emission inventories play an important role in air quality regulatory activities. Recently, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff compiled a comprehensive air toxics emission inventory for 1996. While acquiring data on the mass of emissions is a necessary first step, equally important is developing information on the potential toxicity of the emitted pollutants. To account for the toxicity of the pollutants in the emission inventory, inhalation health benchmarks for acute effects, chronic effects, and cancer were used to weight the mass of emissions. The 1996 Minnesota emissions inventory results were ranked by mass of emissions and by an index comprised of emissions divided by health benchmarks. The results show that six of eight pollutants ranked highest by toxicity were also the pollutants of concern indicated in environmental monitoring data and modeling data. Monitoring data and modeling results did not show high impacts of the other two pollutants that were identified by the toxicity-based emission ranking method. The biggest limitation in this method is the lack of health benchmark values for many pollutants. Despite uncertainties and limited information, this analysis provides useful information for further targeting pollutants and source categories for control.
The principal – agent problem between the Pope and God: how the printing press saved the papacy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss a unique principal–agent dilemma, one that is very much off the beaten track. The relationship of the Popes pre-1500 and God was one full of emptiness and strain. The Catholic Church was saved by a positive externality of the printing press (technology) that guided the Papacy to act more ethically and, thus, we presume in the best interest of God. Design/methodology/approach – We utilize a historical and an economic analysis to probe the phenomenon that the goals of the principal and the agent are not always congruent. How the former entices the latter to do his bidding is an issue on which economists have long focused. We apply it to an unusual historical episode. Findings – There were numerous corrupt popes during the medieval times of the Catholic Church and the number seemed to lessen and then even approach zero asymptotically after the printing press was invented. The Protestant reformation was a driving force, and this too, we argue, would have been ...
Psychotherapy supervision: What lies beneath

This article presents a discussion of the critical incidents involved in the author's development as a psychotherapy researcher with the aim of sharing his biases and expectations. The author then addresses how his research program attempts to answer 4 questions about psychotherapy supervision: If nothing else, what should a supervisor do? What are some of the worst things a supervisor can do? What secrets do supervisors and trainees keep from one another? What about sex? The article concludes with a series of propositions for psychotherapy supervision research.
The Turbellaria of Plymouth Sound and the neighbourhood.

I propose in this paper to furnish a list of the marine Turbellaria of Plymouth Sound and the neighbourhood, including all species that have hitherto been recorded from this locality. That such an attempt is in some respects premature I am only too well aware, but I have written it for the convenience of those who are working at, or are interested in, the fauna of Plymouth, and it may serve as a starting-point in our knowledge of the Turbellaria of the Sound. The synonymy and descriptions of the species are given by v. Graff, Lang, Jensen, and recently, together with figures of the new species and the literature, by myself.
Extending WLAN coverage via utility pipes

In this paper, we propose an inexpensive solution to the extension of wireless local area networks (WLAN) coverage. Our work shows that one can use antennas connected to the utility pipes (e.g., natural gas pipes, drinking water pipes, etc.) to extend the coverage of WLAN. Furthermore, this approach eliminates handovers from high to low data rate networks; e.g., handovers that occur from WLAN to a general packet radio service (GPRS) network. Therefore, the proposed approach avoids the drastic drop in the data rate when handovers occur from high to low data rate wireless networks. We also develop an analytical framework to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach.
Epigenetic changes in BRCA1-mutated familial breast cancer

Familial breast cancer occurs in about 10% of breast cancer cases. Germline mutation in BRCA1 is the most penetrant predisposition for the disease. Mutated BRCA1 leads to disease by causing genome instability via multiple mechanisms including epigenetic changes. This review summarizes recent progress in studying the correlation between BRCA1 predisposition and epigenetic alterations in BRCA1 -type familial breast cancer.
Building Cyclic Schedules for Emergency Department Physicians

Physicians at a branch of the emergency department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center complained that their schedules were too erratic because of the multitude of operating requirements, regulatory constraints, physician preferences, and holiday requests. We addressed this issue by using integer programming to build cyclic schedules that can be repeated throughout the year. These schedules are flexible enough to handle incorporating holidays, work assignments, and vacation requests ex post. After we rolled out the calendar-year-based cyclic schedule, we captured statistics to assess the viability and the quality of the yearly schedule generated. Surveys of the physicians and the scheduler after implementation showed that the new schedule provides predictability and well-balanced work patterns.
What is Presupposition Accommodation, Again?

Presupposition accommodation is the process by which the context is adjusted quietly and without fuss to accept the utterance of a sentence that puts certain requirements on the context in which it is processed. In this paper, I explore some questions about accommodation that are still often asked. There are complaints that the putative process involves mysterious magic and that it is posited only to save a superfluous or wrong theory of presupposition. I hope to do my part in clarifying what presupposition accommodation is. As will become obvious, the paper is a kind of opinionated survey of questions about presupposition accommodation together with my favored answers. In each case, there is much more thought and research that should be done – and more likely than not, much thought and research has been done that I have not adequately digested. What follows is thus a temporary status report about where I am.1
A Kalman filter for robust outlier detection

In this paper, we introduce a modified Kalman filter that can perform robust, real-time outlier detection in the observations, without the need for manual parameter tuning by the user. Robotic systems that rely on high quality sensory data can be sensitive to data containing outliers. Since the standard Kalman filter is not robust to outliers, other variations of the Kalman filter have been proposed to overcome this issue, but these methods may require manual parameter tuning, use of heuristics or complicated parameter estimation. Our Kalman filter uses a weighted least squares-like approach by introducing weights for each data sample. A data sample with a smaller weight has a weaker contribution when estimating the current time step's state. We learn the weights and system dynamics using a variational Expectation-Maximization framework. We evaluate our Kalman filter algorithm on data from a robotic dog.
The Quai Branly Museum Political Transition, Memory and Globalisation in Contemporary France

The Parisian landscape was repeatedly altered during the second half of the twentieth century by various presidential `grands projets' or `grands travaux', most notably the Grande Arche of La Defense, the Bastille Opera, and the Institut du Monde Arabe. In June 2006, during Jacques Chirac's final months in office, the latest of these projects (and the first of the twenty-first century) was inaugurated, namely the Musee Quai Branly. This museum, dedicated to the arts and civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, has triggered discussion in a broad interdisciplinary context. This essay endeavours to contextualise these debates and accordingly to provide a more nuanced understanding of contemporary France as it confronts its position, status and role according to the coordinates of an increasingly globalised world.
Progress on the MET ( microwave electrothermal) thruster with water propellant

Summary form only given. Progress on the MET thruster using water vapor propellant is reported. The MET heats gas in a vortex stabilized, electrodeless, microwave discharge for propulsion. In this research the start-up and asymptotic behavior of the MET specific impulse with increasing run time is investigated. It is found that after a run time of approximately thirty seconds, that the MET thruster running on water vapor achieved a specific impulse of approximately 900 seconds, in agreement with previous research. Chemical physics code runs with, have confirmed the high specific impulse numbers for water as being due to rapid hydrogen-oxygen recombination in the nozzle during expansion and the high source temperature in the electrodeless microwave discharge of approximately 8000 K. Models and diagnostics for this high performance on water vapor will be discussed
Active sonar processing for shallow water

This paper describes a method of improving active sonar performance in shallow water through specialized processing of the reverberation energy. A novel display is described which gives the sonar operator visual clues to help separate clutter from desired detections. Results of sea trials are also presented. >
Very Low Drive Voltage Substrate Removed GaAs/AlGaAs Electro-Optic Modulators

Mach-Zehnder intensity modulators with 0.3 V drive voltage were realized using very strongly confined GaAs/AlGaAs submicron waveguides based on substrate removal techniques. The device uses doped quantum wells as buried electrodes and its electrode is only 7 mm long. The modulation is due to very efficient use of linear electro-optic and carrier depletion effects and has high speed potential.
Moving Toward Inclusive Practices

In this article, the authors describe a change model that was developed and implemented over 3 years in 2 southern California school districts to promote inclusive practices. A study documented the change process and the impact of related district and site activities through interviews with general and special educators, administrators, and parents. Findings from the study indicate that all sites moved toward inclusive practices, with the participants reporting benefits for students with disabilities, the general education student population, and educational practices of general and special educators. Approaches in implementing inclusive practices differed, however, resulting in significant variability among schools in services provided to students with special needs. Implications in moving toward inclusive practices are discussed, including factors perceived as contributing to the change process, the configuration of services provided, and issues related to sustaining inclusive efforts. The data suggest ...
Design for Transformation: Theory, Method and Application

Products which transform to reveal new functionality have been a source of fascination and utility for ages. Such products — transformers — have been previously designed employing ad hoc creativity rather than by pursuing any formal design methodology. By incorporating a design methodology and a concept generation tool for transformers, this research not only unearths further utility for these innovative and revolutionary products, but also aids engineers in the design of these devices with dexterity. The success and advantages of transformers result from added functionality while simultaneously using fewer resources and occupying less space. This paper elucidates the foundation of a methodology for the design of such transforming devices. Our basic research on transforming systems involves a combined inductive and deductive approach, uncovering transformation design principles and a novel method for designing transforming products. In the early stages of design, this method employs a unique process to extract customer needs by examining the requirement hierarchy of product usage scenarios. Such an approach broadens the scope of design and aids in identifying opportunities for transforming products while developing process level insights and solutions catering to these needs. During the concept generation phase of design, the method exploits the transformation design principles as a novel tool to complement and expand contemporary concept generation techniques. A unique bicycle accessory which transforms from a lock to a pump and vice versa is provided as an example of the transformational design process.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Detection of Explosive Materials: Review of Considerations and Methods

AbstractWith increasing terrorist threats of different types, explosives detection for various types and forms of explosives is of growing interest. This paper reviews the broad array of possible methods of explosives detection, using both nuclear- and nonnuclear-based instruments, with their advantages and disadvantages for different scenarios. An explanation of the fundamental physics for each approach is accompanied by its general applicability and citations to the relevant scientific literature.
Multiple Roles and potential Role Conflict of a School Resource Officer: A Case Study of the Midwest Police Department's School Resource Officer Program in the United States

Schools must be a safe environment, not just owing to the commonsensical discourse of wanting children and school employees to be out of harm's way, but also because it produces a better learning environment for students. Having safe schools should thus be a priority for students, parents, educators, policymakers, and the community. The implementation of school resource officers, who theoretically carry out various roles such as counselor, teacher, and law enforcer, is one approach that is becoming increasingly popular to make schools safer. However, some argue that deploying police officers in schools negatively influences students, especially ethnic minority ones. Based on the inconclusive evidence in the literature, this case study examines the Midwest Police Department's School Resource Officer Program implemented in Midwest City Schools (four Grade Schools and one Junior High School). The findings of the presented case study show that these various roles of the school resource officer conflict with one another. Further, of these three roles, law enforcer is the primary role; however, the dominance of this role contributes to the racist practices that already exist in society.
Ultra-early hemostatic therapy for primary intracerebral hemorrhage: a review.

L'accident vasculaire cerebral (AVC) est un probleme de sante majeur a travers le monde et cette pathologie entraine une morbidite et une mortalite elevees. Aux Etats-Unis et en Europe, dix pour cent des cas d'AVC sont dus a une hemorragie cerebrale (HC) et ce taux est d'environ 30% dans les populations asiatiques. L'hemorragie cerebrale est moins traitable que les autres formes d'AVC et cause une morbidite et une invalidite plus elevees. Selon certaines donnees, l'expansion de l'hematome est la principale cause de la deterioration neurologique en phase precoce de l'HC. Des etudes prospectives et retrospectives indiquent qu'une expansion de l'hematome survient chez 18 a 38% des patients chez qui on obtient un scan dans les trois premieres heures de l'evenement et que le volume de l'hematome est un facteur important pour predire la mortalite a trente jours. Le facteur VII recombinant sous forme activee (rFVIIa, NovoSeven®), un declencheur puissant de l'hemostase, est approuve pour le traitement de saignements chez les patients hemophiles et chez les patients recevant des inhibiteurs de la coagulation. Il peut egalement promouvoir l'hemostase chez les patients dont la coagulation est normale. Un essai therapeutique de phase IIb, randomise, en double aveugle, controle par placebo et etude de dose chez 399 patients atteints d'HC a ete realise pour evaluer si le rFVIIa avait un potentiel therapeutique comme agent hemostatique tres precoce. Une diminution de l'expansion de l'hematome a ete observee chez les patients sans coagulopathie atteints d'HC, ainsi qu'une diminution de la mortalite et une amelioration de l'issue clinique a trois mois. Nous discutons de la signification de ces observations dans l'optique de la reanimation neurologique.