cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stim-Dependent and Independent Effects of 2-APB on Orai3 Crac Channels

The compound 2-aminoethyldiphenyl borate (2-APB) has received widespread attention for its ability to modulate store-operated CRAC channels. 2-APB elicits complex effects in native and ectopic CRAC channels arising from the over-expression of Orai1 (the pore subunit), causing a several-fold enhancement of ICRAC at low concentrations (20 μM). However, recent studies indicate that 2-APB produces strikingly different effects in the Orai3 variant. Here, high 2-APB concentrations activate (rather than inhibit) Orai3 channels. Moreover, the 2-APB activated Orai3 currents differ from store-operated Orai3 (and Orai1) currents in manifesting altered ion selectivity. The multiplicity of 2-APB effects in the different Orai isoforms has confounded efforts to understand its mode of action. Here, we find that 2-APB (50 μM) induces Orai3 current in two kinetically distinct phases: an initial increase in current with no change in ion selectivity is followed by secondary activation of Orai3 channels with altered ion selectivity. Lower concentrations of 2-APB (< 10 μM) potentiated Orai3 currents with no change in ion selectivity, resembling effects seen in Orai1. In contrast to the activation of Orai3 channels by high concentrations of 2-APB, the potentiation by low concentrations of 2-APB was entirely dependent on STIM1. High concentrations of 2-APB also eliminated fast Ca2+-dependent inactivation of Orai3 currents. Collectively, our results indicate that as seen with Orai1 and native CRAC channels, 2-APB causes dual effects on Orai3 channels: low concentrations potentiate Orai3 currents with no change in ion selectivity, whereas high concentrations activate Orai3 currents while also altering ion selectivity and removing fast inactivation. Our results suggest that the complex effects of 2-APB on Orai1 and Orai3 channels share common mechanisms.
EVOLUTIONARY STRATEGIES IN LIZARD REPRODUCTION.

Several investigators have dealt in a theoretical way with the evolution of reproductive rates and attendant life history phenomena (Cole, 1954; Lack, 1954, 1966, 1968; Murphy, 1968; Svardson, 1949; Williams, 1966a, 1966b). Tinkle (1969a) has applied evolutionary principles in an attempt to construct a general theory of the evolution of single-broodedness and iteroparity, of viviparity, and of clutch size and clutch number in lizards. Most of the data presented by him were qualitative. In this paper we pose a series of questions concerning reproductive strategies which have evolved among one group of vertebrates (the lizards), and provide quantitative data to answer them. We further present comparable data from birds, the vertebrate group most thoroughly studied in this respect. Finally, we suggest the weaknesses in studies of reptilian reproduction in the hope of stimulating future workers to collect data that are essential to answer these specific questions.
Interactions between epsilon, the proofreading subunit of DNA polymerase III, and proteins involved in the SOS response of Escherichia coli.

Epsilon, a fidelity subunit of Escherichia coli DNA Polymerase III, is encoded by dnaQ+. dnaQ49 is a recessive allele that confers temperature-sensitive and saltsuppressible phenotypes for both replication fidelity and viability. SOS mutagenesis in E. coli is regulated by LexA and requires activated RecA (RecA*) and the products of the umuDC operon. dnaQ49 strains with various recA, lexA and umuDC alleles were constructed to determine if activities induced as part of the SOS response influence epsilon activity. We found: (1) both UmuDC and RecA* independently enhance the dnaQ49 mutator phenotype, and (2) expression of RecA* activity in the absence of UmuDC function increases the temperature sensitivity for viability of dnaQ49. These results support the hypothesis that RecA and one or both of the UmuDC proteins interact with the replication complex during SOS mutagenesis.
The assessment of maternal characteristics for the study of mother—infant interactions

Five questionnaires designed to assess maternal characteristics were evaluated for short-term test-retest reliability and scale homogeneity. The questionnaires were administered twice at a short time interval to groups of 20 primiparous and 20 multiparous mothers either at the end of their eighth month of pregnancy, two days postpartum, or one month postpartum. Seven scales designed for use near the end of pregnancy and 12 scales used at one month postpartum met predetermined criteria for scale homogeneity and test-retest reliability. For these 19 scales, differences associated with mothers' parity, sex of the infant, and feeding method were reported. These differences in maternal characteristics were discussed in the context of other findings related to parity, sex of infant, and feeding method as preliminary evidence concerning the validity of some of the scales.
Seed cones of Pinus from the Late Cretaceous of New Jersey, U.S.A.

Abstract The new species is based on two specimens of semifusinized cones from the Magothy Formation exposed at the classic Cliffwood locality on Raritan Bay. The cones are ovoid-conical and are 3.0–4.5 cm long by 2.2–2.3 cm at their widest diameter. The ovuliferous scales are up to 9 mm wide and are 12 mm long. The scale apex is inflated and terminates in a rhombic apophysis that has a centrally located umbo. A short spine occurs on the umbo. Several anatomical features further support the assignment of the new species to Pinus. These are the union of the vascular traces to each bract and associated scale where they diverge from the vascular cylinder of the cone axis, the restriction of the resin canals of the scale base to tissue abaxial to the vascular strands, and strong adaxial curvature of the vascular strands in the scale. These anatomical features occur in combination with inflated scale apices only in cones of Pinus. The cones compare more closely with those produced by modern species of the subgenus Pinus than with those of the subgenus Strobus. The parenchymatous construction of the cortex of the cone axis in the new species suggests affinity with the subsections Australes or Ponderosae of the section Pinus or with the section Ternatae. This group of taxa is represented by three species of seed cones of Early Tertiary age, and the new species shows that this lineage extends from the Cretaceous.
Mechanisms of focal ventricular tachycardia in humans

In classifying ventricular arrhythmias, a fundamental distinction is made between focal and macroreentrant mechanisms. Focal arrhythmias demonstrate early activation at a particular site with centrifugal spread of the impulse from this site of origin. In contrast, macroreentrant rhythms involve contiguous but spatially distributed areas of activation. Despite advances in multielectrode and electroanatomical mapping, the distinction of a focal from a macroreentrant mechanism is sometimes problematic.
Nonclassical MHC class I-dependent invariant T cells are evolutionarily conserved and prominent from early development in amphibians

Human and murine MHC nonclassical class Ib-restricted invariant T (iT) cell subsets, such as invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT) and mucosal-associated invariant T cells, have specialized functions early in immune responses, especially in modulating subsequent adaptive immune responses. Here, we characterize a prominent iT population in the amphibian Xenopus laevis and show the requirement of the class Ib molecule, Xenopus nonclassical gene 10, in its differentiation and function. Using Xenopus nonclassical gene 10 tetramers and RNAi loss of function by transgenesis, we identified a large class Ib-dependent CD8−/CD4− iT subset in unmanipulated frogs and tadpoles. This population is critical for antiviral immunity during early larval stages when classical MHC class Ia function is suboptimal. Furthermore, in young tadpoles with low class Ia expression, deep sequencing revealed additional preponderant invariant T cell receptor (TCR)α rearrangements, implying other iT cell subsets and a predominant selection process mediated by other class Ib molecules. The restriction and requirement of class Ib molecules for development and antiviral immunity of a mammalian iNKT or mucosal-associated invariant T cell counterpart in the amphibian Xenopus show the importance of iT cells in the emergence and evolution of the adaptive immune system.
Emergence and Spread of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Rural Wisconsin, 1989 to 1999

We investigated the emergence and spread of community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in central and northern Wisconsin by determining the temporal and clonal relationships and geographic expansion among 581 of 956 clinical isolates of MRSA collected between 1989 and 1999. Based on EcoRI plasmid profiles (PP), two types, PP-11 and PP-13, were highly stable over time and were consistently associated with multidrug-sensitive strains recovered from outpatients treated at Native American community clinics. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) yielded six major clonal groups (MCGs) and 19 minor clonal groups. The six MCGs represented 82% of the isolates. All strains with either PP-11 or -13 were present in MCG-2. Eighty-nine percent of the isolates in MCG-2 originated from Native American clinics, and 90% belonged to two PFGE types (19 and 20), the types associated with an outbreak of MRSA in a Native American community in 1992. MCG-2 isolates were multidrug sensitive, harbored type IVa staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec, and were very closely related by PFGE to the Midwestern CA-MRSA strain MW2. MCG-2 strains were mostly obtained from skin infections and affected patients with a mean age of 24 (±18.0) years. MCG-2 strains spread to four additional Native American communities and 20 other communities. Our findings suggest that CA-MRSA in Wisconsin likely originated in Native American communities in the early 1990s and since has become widespread throughout the state. Two early CA-MRSA strains (WI-33 and WI-34) in Wisconsin represent progenitors of the MW2 strain, based on their almost indistinguishable genotypic characteristics.
Electrostriction in Lead Lanthanum Zirconate-Titanate Ceramics

Electric polarizations and elastic strain were measured simultaneously for several lead lanthanum zirconate-titanate (PLZT) compositions cycled around their high-field electric hysteresis loops. Using the accepted symbolism for compositions, where the first number gives the mole percent of La2O3 and the second two numbers give the ratio of PbZrO3 to PbTiO3 in the composition, data were taken for (7,7.5,8,8.8,9.5)/65/35 and 8/70/30 compositions. The results show that for all compositions in which the base state is macroscopically nonpolar, the strains are dominantly electro-strictive in nature. Both of the polarization-related constants, Q11 and Q12, are almost independent of temperature and of the same order as in other perovskites but decrease slightly in magnitude with increasing La2O3 content.
Effects of long-term high-altitude hypoxia and troponin I phosphorylation on cardiac myofilament calcium responses in fetal and nonpregnant sheep.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of long-term high-altitude hypoxia and protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation on calcium (Ca 2+ ) responses of skinned cardiac papillary muscles from fetal and adult sheep. METHODS: Fetal and nonpregnant adult sheep were exposed to high-altitude (3820 m), long-term (approximately 110 days) hypoxia. Papillary muscles were isolated and mounted in well-oxygenated, temperature-controlled baths. After the papillary muscles were stimulated electrically to establish the diastolic tension that produced the maximum active contraction, the electrical stimulation was stopped, and the muscles were skinned with 1% vol/vol Triton-X-100. In protocol 1, the skinned muscles were exposed to activating solutions containing different calcium concentrations (pCa; from pCa 8.0 to pCa 4. 0), which were prepared by varying the Ca-EGTA/EGTA ratio, and the steady-state tension was measured at each pCa. In protocol 2, the skinned muscles were contracted with activating solution containing a pCa of 5.0. After equilibration, the solution in some baths was changed to activating solution at the same pCa of 5. 0 but also containing the catalytic subunit of PKA. The other baths were exchanged with activating solution at a pCa of 5.0 containing no PKA. We then measured the degree of tension reduction caused by PKA until tension reached a new steady state. RESULTS: In the long-term hypoxic fetal heart, the maximum tension response of right, but not left, ventricular skinned papillary muscle to Ca 2+ was significantly less than that in control muscles. In the long-term hypoxic adult heart, the left ventricle, but not the right ventricle, displayed an increased maximum tension response to Ca 2+ compared with control. Phosphorylation of troponin I (TnI) with PKA reduced active tension in both fetal ventricles of the long-term hypoxic group more than in hearts from control fetuses. In the adult, phosphorylation with PKA resulted in a larger decrease in tension in the left ventricle and a smaller decrease in tension in the right ventricle in the long-term hypoxic group, although the differences were small. CONCLUSION: In the long-term hypoxic fetal right ventricle, the decreased maximum tension response to Ca 2+ is consistent with the decrease in myofibrillar magnesium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity observed previously. The larger decrease in tension after PKA phosphorylation of Tnl in the long-term hypoxic fetal left ventricle indicates a larger reduction in Ca 2+ binding to troponin C.
ANTHOCYANIN RECOVERY FROM CRANBERRY PULP WASTES BY MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY

Anthocyanins were recovered from commercial cranberry pulp wastes under optimum extraction conditions by a five-stage blending and solvent percolation procedure. Following solvent removal and filtration, the anthocyanin crude extract was partially purified by ultrafiltration, concentrated by reverse osmosis and vacuum evaporation. The final concentrate contained 0.11% anthocyanins on dry weight basis. The process developed can be continuous and be applied to other colorant production from plant materials.
Numerical simulation of stress evolution during electromigration in IC interconnect lines

A finite element simulation of stress evolution in thin metal film during electromigration is reported in this paper. The electromigration process is modeled by a coupled diffusion- mechanical partial differential equations (PDEs). The PDEs are implemented with a plane strain formulation and numerically solved with the finite element (FE) method. The evolutions of hydrostatic stress, each component of the deviatoric stress tensor, and Von Mises' stress were simulated for several cases with different line lengths and current densities. Two types of displacement boundary conditions are considered. The simulation results are compared with Korhonen's analytical model and Black and Blech's experimentalesults.
Robust maximum-likelihood estimation of structured covariance matrices

In many situations some information about the structure of the covariance matrix of a random process is known beyond the fact that it is symmetric and positive definite; for instance, the matrix is frequently Toeplitz. Many people have considered the structured covariance matrix estimation problem for Gaussian processes. However, in actual practice, random signals are seldom, if ever, Gaussian. By using a generalization to processes with known non-Gaussian densities, the authors demonstrate how to find the maximum-likelihood estimate of complex Toeplitz covariance matrices and then evaluate the use of this estimate in some passive array beamforming algorithms. There is substantial improvement in the performance of these bearing estimation algorithms when the authors' estimate is used, especially when non-Gaussian noise is present. >
Aortosonography — The Diagnostic Method of Choice

Ultrasonic aortography has been established in many institutions as the screening procedure of choice in patients suspected of having abdominal aortic aneurysms since it accurately displays the overall dimensions of the aneurysm. In several cases, a marked discrepancy has been observed between the internal lumen diameter as recorded by contrast aortography and by ultrasound. The ultrasonic measurements are generally larger and conform more closely to the actual overall dimensions than do those obtained by contrast aortography (roentgenographic or nuclear). It was hypothesized that this discrepancy was due to the presence of internal clot. Indocyanine green injections into the aortic lumen, while simultaneous ultrasonic scanning was performed, confirmed this hypothesis. By utilizing grey scale B-scan equipment, echoes were often recorded from the clot helping to differentiate it from the lumen. These clinical experiments suggest that aortosonography is a more accurate method of evaluating the overall dimensions of the abdominal aorta than either nuclear or roentgenographic aortography.
Isla Vista Heap Sizing: Using Feedback to Avoid Paging

Managed runtime environments (MREs) employ garbage collection (GC) for automatic memory manage- ment. However, GC induces pressure on the virtual memory (VM) manager, since it may touch pages that are not related to the working set of the application. Paging due to GC can significantly hurt performance, even when the application's working set fits into physical memory. We present a feedback-directed heap resizing mechanism to avoid GC-induced paging, using information from the operating system (OS). We avoid costly GCs when there is physical memory available, and trade off GC for pag- ing when memory is constrained Our mechanism is simple and uses allocation stall events during GC alone to trig- ger heap resizing, without user participation or OS kernel modification. Our system enables significant performance improvements when real memory is restricted and similar to, or better performance than, the current state-of-the-art MRE, when memory is unconstrained.
The Effect of Hafnium Content and Cycling under an Applied Axial Stress on the Creep and Martensite Strain of NiTi Based Shape Memory Alloy Wires

The effect of cycling under an applied axial stress of 206.8 MPa on the creep and martensite strain of a Ti rich NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) and two ternary SMAs, having the compositions Ni49Ti51-xHfx with 1 at.% and 3 at.% Hf, is investigated. The wires used in this investigation have approximately 40% cold work (reduction in area) and a heat treatment (HT) temperature ranging from 300°C to 600°C. The results show, that for a given HT and an applied axial stress of 206.8 MPa, creep decreases with increasing Hf content. For the three alloys evaluated, creep increases with increasing HT temperature. Stress induced martensite strain during the transformation of austenite to martensite is least when the HT temperature is lowest (300°C), and for the three alloys heat treated at 300°C, the martensite strain decreases with increasing Hf content. For the SMAs heat treated at the highest HT temperature (600°C), the martensite strain decreases with an increasing number of transformation cycles, and the martensite strain decreases least for the SMA with 3 at.% Hf. Although the martensite strain is stable from 1 to 100 transformation cycles for the three SMAs heat treated at 300°C, the SMA with 3 at.% Hf retains stress induced martensite strain stability the best as the HT temperature increases.
Field theory in noncommutative Minkowski superspace

There is much discussion of scenarios where the space-time coordinates ${x}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ are noncommutative. The discussion has been extended to include nontrivial anticommutation relations among spinor coordinates in superspace. A number of authors have studied field theoretical consequences of the deformation of $\mathcal{N}=1$ superspace arising from nonanticommutativity of coordinates $\ensuremath{\theta}$, while leaving $\overline{\ensuremath{\theta}}$'s anticommuting. This is possible in Euclidean superspace only. In this note we present a way to extend the discussion by making both $\ensuremath{\theta}$ and $\overline{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ coordinates nonanticommuting in Minkowski superspace. We present a consistent algebra for the supercoordinates, find a star-product, and give the Wess-Zumino Lagrangian ${\mathcal{L}}_{WZ}$ within our model. It has two extra terms due to non(anti)commutativity. The Lagrangian in Minkowski superspace is always manifestly Hermitian and for ${\mathcal{L}}_{WZ}$ it preserves Lorentz invariance.
Within-Subject Template Estimation for Unbiased Longitudinal Image Analysis

Longitudinal image analysis has become increasingly important in clinical studies of normal aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, there is a growing appreciation of the potential utility of longitudinally acquired structural images and reliable image processing to evaluate disease modifying therapies. Challenges have been related to the variability that is inherent in the available cross-sectional processing tools, to the introduction of bias in longitudinal processing and to potential over-regularization. In this paper we introduce a novel longitudinal image processing framework, based on unbiased, robust, within-subject template creation, for automatic surface reconstruction and segmentation of brain MRI of arbitrarily many time points. We demonstrate that it is essential to treat all input images exactly the same as removing only interpolation asymmetries is not sufficient to remove processing bias. We successfully reduce variability and avoid over-regularization by initializing the processing in each time point with common information from the subject template. The presented results show a significant increase in precision and discrimination power while preserving the ability to detect large anatomical deviations; as such they hold great potential in clinical applications, e.g. allowing for smaller sample sizes or shorter trials to establish disease specific biomarkers or to quantify drug effects.
Computation of interprocedural definition and use dependencies

The detection of various dependencies that exist among the definitions and uses of variables in a program is necessary in many language-processing tools. The computation of definition-use dependencies that reach across procedure boundaries is considered. In particular, efficient techniques for computing interprocedural definition-use and use-definition chains and for incrementally updating the chains when a change is made in a procedure are presented. Intraprocedural definition and use information for each procedure is first abstracted and used to construct an interprocedural flow graph. The intraprocedural information is then propagated in two phases throughout the interprocedural flow graph to obtain the complete set of interprocedural reaching definitions and reachable uses. Interprocedural definition-use and use-definition chains are computed from this reaching information. The technique handles the interprocedural effects of the flow of data caused by both reference parameters and global variables, as well as supports separate compilation even in the presence of recursion. The technique has been implemented using a Sun 3/50 workstation and incorporated into an interprocedural data flow tester. >
Design of differential QPSK modulator

A differential QPSK modulator operating at a centre frequency of 847.5 MHz and an input data rate of 25 Mbit/s is described. The modulator incorporates a simple differential encoder design that interfaces directly to the RF section without the need for special driver circuitry. The RF section uses modular ‘building block’ components that can be changed relatively easily to support a wide range of centre frequencies.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Body Weight

A patient with obstructive sleep apnea was monitored five times during three years while his weight fluctuated within a range of 26 kg. The number of apneas per hour of sleep varied from 59.6 at 111 kg of weight to 3.1 at 85 kg. The relation between apneas per hour of sleep and body weight was a logarithmic function. A modest decrease in weight was thus associated with a disproportionally larger decrease in the rate of apneas. Typical SaO2 levels during the apneic episodes also had a logarithmic relation with body weight. Apnea-related sinus bradycardia and sinus tachycardia were only present at the highest weight. The results suggested that dieting and weight loss lead to an improvement in sleep apnea and related sequelae.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria in Children

Malaria continues to be a problem for children returning or immigrating to industrialized countries from tropical regions. Proper diagnosis begins with clinical suspicion. In nonimmune children, malaria typically presents with high fever that might be accompanied by chills and headache. Symptoms and signs may be more subtle in partially immune children, and anemia and hepatosplenomegaly may also be present. Children may present with respiratory distress and/or rapidly progressing cerebral malaria that manifests as altered sensorium and, sometimes, seizures. Thick blood smears help to determine when infection is present, but a single smear without parasites is not sufficient to rule out malaria. Thin blood smears aid in identifying the species of parasite. Treatment must include careful supportive care, and intensive care measures should be available for treating children with complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Medical regimens can include mefloquine, atovaquone-proguanil, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, quinine or quinidine, clindamycin, doxycycline, chloroquine, and primaquine.
Transonic shocks and free boundary problems for the full Euler equations in infinite nozzles

Abstract We establish the existence, stability, and asymptotic behavior of transonic flows with a transonic shock for the steady, full Euler equations in two-dimensional infinite nozzles of slowly varying cross-sections. Given a smooth incoming flow that is close to a uniform supersonic state at the entrance, we prove that there exists a transonic flow whose infinite downstream smooth subsonic region is separated by a smooth transonic shock from the upstream supersonic flow. The solution is unique within the class of transonic solutions that are close to the background solution. This problem is approached by a free boundary problem in which the transonic shock is formulated as a free boundary. An iteration scheme for the free boundary is developed and its fixed point is shown to exist, which is a solution of the free boundary problem, by combining some delicate estimates for a second-order nonlinear elliptic equation on a Lipschitz domain.
A non-iterative and non-singular perturbation solution for transforming Cartesian to geodetic coordinates

The Cartesian-to-Geodetic coordinate transformation is re-cast as a minimization algorithm for the height of the Satellite above the reference Earth surface. Optimal necessary conditions are obtained that fix the satellite ground track vector components in the Earth surface. The introduction of an artificial perturbation variable yields a rapidly converging second order power series solution. The initial starting guess for the solution provides 3–4 digits of precision. Convergence of the perturbation series expansion is accelerated by replacing the series solution with a Pade approximation. For satellites with heights < 30,000 km the second-order expansions yields ~mm satellite geodetic height errors and ~10−12 rad errors for the geodetic latitude. No quartic or cubic solutions are required: the algorithm is both non-iterative and non-singular. Only two square root and two arc-tan calculations are required for the entire transformation. The proposed algorithm has been measured to be ~41% faster than the celebrated Bowring method. Several numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new algorithm.
“What makes Human Beings into Moral Beings?”1 The Significance of Ethics in the Process of Evolution

Just as animals in general are described as "feeling" nothing like "pain" but "stimuli responses" or "behaviours," scientific theorists once proposed to reduce the differences between socio-cultural expressions of pain to differences in general between the races: Black, White, Asian, and especially so-called aboriginal peoples and Nazi experiments on human pain extended the same test of pain thresholds from experiments performed on animals for centuries (the same experiments on animals unchecked to this day) to human beings designated as subhuman. Ethological studies by Franz de Waal suggest that animals share this capacity for sympathizing with the other. Schopenhauer's notion of compassion thus serves as the basis for a new understanding of becoming moral. This essay situates Schopenhauer with respect to Kant as well as Nietszche and develops connections with Levinas and Adorno as well as Isaac Bashevis Singer.
An Adaptive Learning Approach for Efficient Resource Provisioning in Cloud Services

The emerging cloud computing service market aims at delivering computing resources as a utility over the Internet with a high quality. It has evolving unknown demand that is typically highly uncertain. Traditional provisioning methods either make idealized assumption of the demand distribution or rely on extensive offline statistical analysis of historical data. In this paper, we present an online adaptive learning approach to address the optimal resource provisioning problem. Based on a stochastic loss model of the cloud services, we formulate the provisioning problem from a revenue management perspective, and present a stochastic gradient-based learning algorithm that adaptively adjusts the provisioning solution as observations of the demand are continuously made. We show that our adaptive learning algorithm guarantees optimality and demonstrate through simulation that they can adapt quickly to non-stationary demand.
A Review of the Literature and a Report of Nine New Cases

9 patients underwent vasovasostomy through upper scrotal incisions at various time intervals after vasectomy without the use of a postoperative splint. There were 7 successful bilateral anastomoses. A review of the 108 previously reported detailed reports of the procedure showed that splints were omitted in only 7 patients. The review also showed the outcome to be related to the suture material used in the anastomosis; 47% were satisfactory when catgut was used and 81% when silk was used. Sperm did not appear in the ejaculate for about 9 weeks postoperatively.
Comprehensive Water Efficiency Solutions

Energy performance contracts can be an effective way to integrate comprehensive water-efficient technologies and solutions into energy efficiency projects. Current practices often miss key opportunities to incorporate a full suite of water measures primarily because a comprehensive approach is not taken in the assessment. This article provides information on how to develop a comprehensive water project that leads to innovative solutions and potential for large water reduction.
Poultry litter and the environment: Physiochemical properties of litter and soil during successive flock rotations and after remote site deposition

The U.S. broiler meat market has grown over the past 16 years and destinations for U.S. broiler meat exports expanded to over 150 countries. This market opportunity has spurred a corresponding increase in industrialized poultry production, which due to the confined space in which high numbers of animals are housed, risks accumulating nutrients and pollutants. The purpose of this research was to determine the level of pollutants within poultry litter and the underlying soil within a production facility; and to explore the impact of spent litter deposition into the environment. The study follows a production facility for the first 2.5 years of production. It monitors the effects of successive flocks and management practices on 15 physiochemical parameters: Ca, Cu, electrical conductivity, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, moisture, Na, NO3(-)/N, organic matter, P, pH, S, and Zn. Litter samples were collected in-house, after clean-outs and during stockpiling. The soil before house placement, after the clean-outs and following litter stockpiling was monitored. Management practices markedly altered the physiochemical profiles of the litter in-house. A canonical discriminant analysis was used to describe the relationship between the parameters and sampling times. The litter profiles grouped into five clusters corresponding to time and management practices. The soil in-house exhibited mean increases in all physiochemical parameters (2-297 fold) except Fe, Mg, %M, and pH. The spent litter was followed after deposition onto a field for use as fertilizer. After 20 weeks, the soil beneath the litter exhibited increases in EC, Cu, K, Na, NO3(-)/N, %OM, P, S and Zn; while %M decreased. Understanding the impacts of industrialized poultry farms on the environment is vital as the cumulative ecological impact of this land usage could be substantial if not properly managed to reduce the risk of potential pollutant infiltration into the environment.
Silicon Nitride Coatings Prepared by Low Pressure Plasma CVD

Silicon nitride films (SiN films) were prepared by low pressure grow discharges of silane nitrogen mixtures in a capacitively coupled plasma CVD apparatus. The substrate was placed on the cathode of the apparatus. The process of film formation and film characteristics depending upon the effect of the experimental parameters, such as silane gas flow rate, cathode bias voltage and gas pressure, were investigated. In the case of the cathode bias voltage higher than 700 V, SiN films are not formed at the silane gas flow rate lower than the critical one. Atomic concentration ratio Nsi/NN varies extensively by changing the cathode bias voltage and the flow rate of silane gas. SiN films in which atomic concentration ratio is close to 0.75 are transparent. The surface of the films deposited on polished silicon wafers is flat, fine and bright. The experimental results show that ion bombardment at the stage of film formation considerably affects the process of film formation and the characteristics of the films.
PERCEIVED LEADER BEHAVIOR AS A FUNCTION OF THE LEADER'S INTERPERSONAL TRUST ORIENTATION

The article presents the results of a study designed to measure leadership behavior as a function of leaders' interpersonal trust orientation. According to the study, leader interpersonal trust is ...
Incorporation of Ultrasound Education Into Medical School Curricula: Survey of Directors of Medical Student Education in Radiology

Rationale and Objectives This study aimed to determine the degree of involvement of radiologists in ultrasound education in medical schools in the United States. Materials and Methods An online survey was sent to 129 directors of medical student education in radiology, identified by the Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology. Each survey recipient represented a unique medical school. Results There was a 31% survey completion rate. Radiology education was incorporated into the majority of respondents' medical school curricula (95%). Ultrasound images were used in preclinical education in the majority of schools (76%). Students were trained to perform hands-on ultrasound examinations in half of schools (49%), and a minority of schools offered a dedicated point-of-care ultrasound elective (14%). Radiology and emergency medicine were the most involved departments in teaching ultrasound to medical students (88% and 75% of medical schools, respectively). Conclusions Ultrasound imaging was incorporated into the curricula of most of the responding medical schools, although actual hands-on training was less widespread.
Open source data reveals connection between online and on-street protest activity.

There is enormous interest in inferring features of human behavior in the real world from potential digital footprints created online - particularly at the collective level, where the sheer volume of online activity may indicate some changing mood within the population regarding a particular topic. Civil unrest is a prime example, involving the spontaneous appearance of large crowds of otherwise unrelated people on the street on a certain day. While indicators of brewing protests might be gleaned from individual online communications or account content (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) societal concerns regarding privacy can make such probing a politically delicate issue. Here we show that instead, a simple low-level indicator of civil unrest can be obtained from online data at the aggregate level through Google Trends or similar tools. Our study covers countries across Latin America during 2011-2014 in which diverse civil unrest events took place. In each case, we find that the combination of the volume and momentum of searches from Google Trends surrounding pairs of simple keywords, tailored for the specific cultural setting, provide good indicators of periods of civil unrest. This proof-of-concept study motivates the search for more geographically specific indicators based on geo-located searches at the urban level.
Epidemiological survey of injuries among primary and middle school students of Jiangsu Province,2011

Objective To investigate the status of injury and its risk factors among primary and middle school students,and to provide evidence for further intervention.Methods A total of 5 540 students participated the investigation by stratified cluster sampling.A questionnaire survey was conducted for students' injury from March 2011 to August 2011.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of injuries.Results The incidence of injuries was 6.3%,and it had meaningful statistical differences on sex,different grade,parents' educational background and home mean income per capita monthly.Logistic regression analysis showed that the boys and well educated parents were the risk factors of the injuries,a higher grade was the protect factor of the injuries.Conclusion Health education should be strengthened to reduce the incidence of injury according to the characteristics and the risk factors of the injuries.
Production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 by porcine follicular and luteal cells.

The objectives of the first experiment were to characterize the pattern of protein secretion by 1) porcine follicles before and after the preovulatory gonadotropin surge and 2) corpora lutea on d 4 and 11 after estrus (d 0 = estrus). Gilts were ovariectomized 1) on d 20 after estrus and before the preovulatory gonadotropin surge (pre-estrus group; n = 3), 2) 18 to 36 h after the onset of estrus and after the preovulatory gonadotropin surge (estrus group; n = 3), 3) on d 4 after estrus (n = 3), and 4) on d 11 after estrus (n = 4). Changes in pattern of protein secretion were determined by densitometric scanning of fluorographs. In the pre-estrus group, the major proteins secreted by follicular shells (FS) and granulosa cells (GC) had relative molecular masses (M(r)) of approximately 40,000, 46,000, and 55,000. In the estrus group (FS and GC), secretion of a M(r) 40,000 protein was decreased (P < .05) and secretion of a M(r) 30,000 protein was increased (P < .05) relative to the pre-estrus group. A predominant M(r) 30,000 protein was also secreted by corpora lutea on d 4 and 11. The objective of Exp. 2 was to determine whether synthesis of the M(r) 30,000 protein could be increased during the follicular phase by treatment with hCG, suggesting a role for the preovulatory gonadotropin surge in altering the pattern of protein secretion. Gilts were injected (i.m.) with saline (n = 3) or 500 IU of hCG (n = 3) on d 18 of the estrous cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Biochemical Assessment of Vitamins and Trace Metals

The choice of nutritional assessment tests must be made with care, as the available tests may reflect recent dietary intakes or body tissue stores to different degrees. The interpretation of nutritional assessment tests is complicated by the dynamic nature and broad range of nutrient intake and metabolism and by a relative lack of age- and sex-specific reference ranges. The latter problem can be minimized by the use of function-based methods, such as the measurement of vitamin-dependent red cell enzyme activities to assess B vitamin status; however, few suitable function-based methods are now available, and more research in this area is needed. Because calibration standards and quality control materials may not be readily available, laboratory analysts planning nutritional assessment testing must be especially careful in establishing the credibility of assays and the quality control program. Recent advances in analytic methodology include the specificity offered by HPLC techniques and methodologies that provide simultaneous determination of more than one nutrient (or form of nutrient) in a single procedure. Examples of the latter include HPLC methods that provide B vitamin or fat-soluble vitamin profiles, and emission spectrometry techniques that provide trace metal profiles. Further work in providing useful nutritional assessment profiles and convenient automated methods is needed.
Prosthetic Bladder: In Vivo Studies on an Active Negative-Pressure-Driven Device

AbstractActive alloplastic bladders were implanted into four dogs after cystectomy and were well tolerated. The prosthesis created a vacuum of −90cm. H2O in the upper tracts, which gradually decreased until the bladder filled. Renal function was maintained as long as the prostheses worked effectively. Hydronephrosis developed and renal function deteriorated if the bladder was not emptied, even though the leak pressure was only 3 to 5cm. H2O. Both resolved when active bladder function was restored. Pressures in the ureter were measured percutaneously, at flow rates up to 15ml. per minute (900ml. per hour). At 15ml. per minute, the pressure only reached a maximum of 16cm. H2O. Encrustation did not occur even in the presence of infection.The results achieved with this negative pressure bladder prosthesis, which is emptied actively, are very promising and should provide the impetus for increased research in this field of urology.
Occurrence of Allatostatin in the Cockroach, DiplopteraPunctata, and its Effect InVitro on Corpora Allata from Females in Different Reproductive Stages

In most insects, factors from the brain inhibit juvenile hormone synthesis by corpora allata toward the end of larval development and between gonadotrophic cycles (see Tobe and Stay, 1985, for review). In adult females of the viviparous cockroach, Diploptera punctata, juvenile hormone synthesis is inhibited at the end of oocyte development and remains low during the 60 day gestation period which follows (Rankin and Stay, 1985). During pregnancy the corpora allata are inhibited by intact nerves from the brain and by factors from the brain effective through the hemolymph (Rankin and Stay, 1985). Extracts of protocerebrum of the brain were found to inhibit the corpora allata in vitro (Rankin et al., 1986). Since the extracted allatostatin was inactivated by trypsin, it is presumed to be a neuropeptide (Rankin et al., 1986). In those studies the source of the allatostatin was non-reproductive (virgin) females and it was tested on glands of low activity from similar animals.
Protein Condensation: Crystallins and cataracts

Introduction The crystallins are an important class of globular proteins whose functions are important in human vision. In particular, one member of this family, the γ-crystallins, has been extensively studied experimentally. The γ-crystallins, along with lysozyme and hemoglobin, are the most studied of the globular proteins. As is the case with lysozyme and hemoglobin, the γ-crystallins exhibit a metastable phase separation curve that has coexisting protein-poor and protein-rich phases. Indeed, when scaled with the appropriate variables, both lysozyme and γ-crystallin have very similar phase diagrams [16]. In this chapter we review what is known about the family of crystallins and their relationship to the formation of cataracts. Understanding the molecular basis of vision is obviously of great importance. Long ago, nearsightedness was corrected using refractive lenses; today, newer scientific advances allow surgical procedures to eliminate nearsightedness. Other disorders and diseases, however, can impair our vision. Cataract disease is one example; it is often associated with aging and usually manifests itself sometime in late adulthood in certain individuals. Other forms of the disease occur in individuals at a much earlier age, even afflicting young adults and infants, often called juvenile cataracts. In both types of cataracts, blindness can occur if the disease is left untreated.
Adaptation of Surrogate Tasks for Bipedal Walk Optimization

In many learning and optimization tasks, the sample cost of performing the task is prohibitively expensive or time consuming. Learning is instead often performed on a less expensive task that is believed to be a reasonable approximation or surrogate of the actual target task. This paper focuses on the challenging open problem of performing learning on an approximation of a true target task, while simultaneously adapting the surrogate task used for learning to be a better representation of the true target task. Our work is evaluated in the RoboCup 3D simulation environment where we attempt to learn configuration parameters for an omnidirectional walk engine used by humanoid soccer playing robots.
Larynx and Hypopharynx

This chapter will focus on the imaging evaluation of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. Although several other malignant neoplasms can occur in the larynx, these are uncommon and will not be addressed in detail. Imaging of traumatic and inflammatory processes and vocal cord paralysis is also briefly discussed.
Fluoride fibres yield blue-green lasers

A doped fibre laser, developed by a group from Southampton University and British Telecom, marks a new and stimulating development in the search for a compact blue light source. Richard Smart and colleagues report that their continuous wave (CW) laser, in fluorozirconate fibres doped with praseodymium (Pr3+) ions, operates at room temperature and emits, amongst others, light in the coveted blue-green region of the spectrum (Electronics Letters (1991) 27 1307).
Equine Models for the Investigation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapies in Orthopaedic Disease

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising treatment for orthopaedic disease. Well-established equine models of posttraumatic osteoarthritis, focal cartilage healing, and tendonitis provide a platform for testing safety and efficacy of biologic therapies such as MSCs in a species with naturally occurring disease. Horses routinely experience similar conditions that mirror human musculoskeletal injury, including osteoarthritis, meniscal injuries, and Achilles tendinopathy, which provide relevant clinical models for therapeutic interventions. The use of MSCs in equine models of osteoarthritis and focal cartilage healing has yielded encouraging results. When MSCs have been used in equine models of tendonitis or tendonosis, most clinical and experimental studies have been consistently positive. Currently, the relationship among MSC lifespan, persistence within the injured site, administration methods, and treatment efficacy remains unclear, resulting in widespread interest in cell tracking. We conclude that equine models of musculoskeletal disease can provide important preclinical insights into the likely efficacy and mechanisms of activity of MSCs for the treatment of human orthopaedic injuries.
Conversation, Being, and Trinity: Toward a Trinitarian Hermeneutical and Linguistic Ontology

Christopher C. Emerick unpacks the ubiquity of tradition in language and human understanding in Gadamer’s hermeneutics, further developed as conversation in the work of Santiago Zabala. Emerick then considers Christian hermeneutics in Trinitarian theology as conversation, in particular drawing on the work of Oliver Davies.