cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using the CONSORT statement to evaluate the completeness of reporting of addiction randomised trials: a cross-sectional review

Objectives Evaluate the completeness of reporting of addiction randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement. Setting Not applicable. Participants RCTs identified using a PubMed search of 15 addiction journals and a 5-year cross-section. Outcome measures Completeness of reporting. Results Our analysis of 394 addiction RCTs found that the mean number of CONSORT items reported was 19.2 (SD 5.2), out of a possible 31. Twelve items were reported in 75% of RCTs. Journal endorsement of CONSORT was found to improve the number of CONSORT items reported. Conclusions Poor reporting quality may prohibit readers from critically appraising the methodological quality of addiction trials. We recommend journal endorsement of CONSORT since our study and those previous have shown that CONSORT endorsement improves the quality of reporting.
Methods Matter: Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury in the Form of Cutting is Uniquely Associated with Suicide Attempt Severity in Patients with Substance Use Disorders

Despite the robust relation between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors, there is considerable heterogeneity in NSSI characteristics that may have implications for the strength of the NSSI-suicide attempt relation. Past research highlights the relevance of both more severe NSSI methods and NSSI in the form of cutting in particular to suicide attempts. To further explore the relations of specific NSSI methods to suicide attempts, this study examined relations between different NSSI methods (i.e., those involving cutting, burning, blunt force, or resulting in minor tissue damage) and both overall suicide attempts and two indicators of suicide attempt severity (attempts requiring medical attention and non-ambivalent attempts) in 203 substance dependent patients in residential treatment. Participants were administered questionnaires and semi-structured interviews assessing the variables of interest. Cutting was the only NSSI method to demonstrate significant relations with overall suicide attempts, non-ambivalent suicide attempts, and suicide attempts requiring medical attention. Results remained when considering relevant covariates. Given the unique nature of our sample, results may not generalize to other clinical populations. Results highlight an important link between NSSI methods involving cutting and suicide attempts among patients with substance use disorders. Findings also highlight the importance of more fine-grained characterizations of NSSI subgroups.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement versus surgical aortic valve replacement in low-surgical-risk patients: An updated meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-surgical-risk patients. BACKGROUND TAVR is proven to be safe and effective in patients with high- and intermediate-risk aortic stenosis. However, there is limited data on the safety and efficacy of TAVR in patients with low surgical risk. METHODS We conducted an electronic database search of all published data for studies that compared TAVR to SAVR in low-surgical-risk patients (mean society for thoracic surgery [STS] score <4% and/or logistic EuroScore <10%) and reported on subsequent all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, stroke rates, and other outcomes of interest. Event rates were compared with a forest plot of odds ratio using a random-effects model assuming interstudy heterogeneity. RESULTS A total of seven studies (n = 6,293 patients; TAVR = 2,912; and SAVR = 3,381) were included in the final analysis. There was no significant difference between TAVR and SAVR in terms of all-cause mortality (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.50-1.36, I2 = 51%), cardiac mortality (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.32-1.02, I2 = 0%), new pacemaker implantation (OR = 3.11; 95% CI 0.58-16.60, I2 = 89%), moderate/severe paravalvular leak (PVL; OR 3.50; 95% CI 0.64-19.10, I2 = 54%) and rate of stroke (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.34-1.15, I2 = 39%) at 1-year follow-up. TAVR was found to have a significantly lower incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF; OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.10-0.24, I2 = 38%) as compared to SAVR. CONCLUSION The results of our meta-analysis demonstrate similar rates of all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and stroke at 1-year follow-up in patients undergoing TAVR and SAVR. TAVR is associated with a lower incidence of AF relative to SAVR. However, there was a significantly higher incidence of PVL with TAVR compared to SAVR.
Trends and mental health correlates of discrimination among Latin American and Asian immigrants in the United States

To examine the national trends and mental health correlates of discrimination among Latin American and Asian immigrants in the United States. We examine data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected between 2004 and 2013. Recurrent discrimination was measured by respondent reports of adverse experiences such as receiving poor treatment in restaurants or being called a racist name. Rates of perceived discrimination increased by more than 80 percent among immigrants from Latin America (from 14% in 2004 to 25% in 2013), but remained unchanged among Asian immigrants (20–22%). Large percentage point (pp) increases were observed among Latin American immigrants with less than a high school education (pp increase = 13.5) and residing in households earning $20-35,000 annually (pp increase = 14.0). Findings raise concern both because of the inherent iniquitousness of discrimination and because identity-based mistreatment is linked with mental health problems.
Disrupting Norms to Increase Diversity of Teacher Candidates: Restraining Forces for Junior Faculty

Research in teacher preparation programs in Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) suggests that diverse and non-traditional students face barriers and challenges within teacher preparation programs (Widiputers et al., 2017). Diverse students include non-traditional students, first-generation students, students who have work responsibilities, who may have family or other care-giving responsibilities, students with disabilities, students living in poverty, and may also include culturally and linguistically diverse students. Issues such as unpaid practicum hours (similar to an internship), conflicting course and work schedules, attendance policies, due dates/late work policies, course expectations that value verbal participation, office hours not available when students are available, and how often courses are offered (e.g., yearly vs every semester) negatively impact diverse student populations. Many of these decisions are made at the preference of administration and tenured and established faculty while others are left-over from a time when students did not have to balance the work and family requirements many students face today. As we attempt to increase representation of students in teacher prep programs, the policies and practices to meet their unique situations have not been equitably incorporated into the daily practices in higher education. This continues to maintain of the status quo rather than increasing the diversity of teachers in the workforce as the diversity of teacher candidates has not increased to represent the diversifying population despite efforts (United States Department of Education, 2016). Many junior faculty may engage or attempt to engage in disrupting the status quo to create and implement policies that respond to students' needs that result in increased support for students from backgrounds that are disproportionately impacted by traditional practices. Junior faculty can serve as change agents if IHE can recognize the tremendous time and effort that goes into making sustainable change within the college and surrounding educational systems. Recognizing the barriers to junior faculty and providing support to do this challenging work and remain on target for promotion and tenure is critical. Tenure protections ensure faculty can be leaders in sustained change and establishes them as leaders within IHE and in their professional fields and disciplines. Establishing support systems, especially from administration, within the university and community can support junior faculty and accelerate the timeline or target systems open and more responsive to change.
SEC Comment Letter Review and Analyst ETR Forecast Accuracy

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issues comment letters suggesting revisions to firms’ tax disclosures with the goal of improving the informativeness of these disclosures. I examine if SEC-prompted revisions to firms’ tax disclosures are associated with changes in the informativeness of the disclosures. I use the accuracy of analyst effective tax rate (ETR) forecasts as a proxy for tax disclosure informativeness. I find that SEC-prompted revisions are associated with a decrease in analyst ETR forecast accuracy, indicating a decrease in the informativeness of tax disclosures. However, I find that increased tabular presentation attenuates the decrease in analyst ETR forecast accuracy. Prior literature examines benefits of the SEC comment letter process on the information environment. I extend prior literature on the outcome of SEC comment letter review by identifying reduced tax disclosure informativeness as one potential cost.
Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents: Innovation in the Management of Pancreatic Fluid Collections

Pancreatic fluid collections complicate the course of 40% of patients with acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic ultrasound has become an essential tool to treat these lesions by guiding the placement of transluminal drainage devices. Lumen-apposing metal stents drain pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis safely and improve patient quality of life. These stents also allow performing repeated sessions of washing and debridement of the retroperitoneum (i.e., necrosectomy). We review here the indications, technique, and outcomes of endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections with lumen-apposing metal stents.
Attaining regularization length insensitivity in phase-field models of ductile failure

Abstract A cohesive phase-field model of ductile fracture in a finite-deformation setting is presented. The model is based on a free-energy function in which both elastic and plastic work contributions are coupled to damage. Using a strictly variational framework, the field evolution equations, damage kinetics, and flow rule are jointly derived from a scalar least-action principle. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of a rational function for the stress degradation that maintains a fixed effective strength with decreasing regularization length. The model is employed to examine crack growth in pure mode-I problems through the generation of crack growth resistance (J-R) curves. In contrast to alternative models, the current formulation gives rise to J-R curves that are insensitive to the regularization length. Numerical evidence suggests convergence of local fields with respect to diminishing regularization length as well.
Performance Pressure as a Double-Edged Sword: Enhancing Team Motivation While Undermining the Use of Team Knowledge

In this paper, I develop and empirically test the proposition that performance pressure acts as a double-edged sword for teams, providing positive effects by enhancing team motivation to achieve good results while simultaneously triggering process losses. I conducted a multi-method field study of 78 audit and consulting teams from two global professional firms, revealing an irony of team life: Even though motivated to perform well on a high-stakes project, pressured teams are more likely to engage in performance-detracting behaviors. Survey results show that, as performance pressure increases, team members begin to over-rely on general expertise while discounting domain-specific expertise, leading to suboptimal performance. I use longitudinal qualitative case studies to explore the underlying behavioral mechanisms that generate this outcome. Results also show that only domain-specific expertise — the kind that teams under-use when facing higher pressure — increases client-rated team performance. I thus find, paradoxically, that when teams need domain-specific expertise the most, they tend to use it the least, despite evidence suggesting they are highly motivated to do well on their task.
Cardiac Operations after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

ABSTRACT Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now frequently performed for severe aortic stenosis. Data regarding cardiac operations after TAVR are limited, however. Therefore, we investigated patient characteristics, operative timing and indications, and outcomes of these operations in a single-center experience. Methods From 1/2012–7/2020, 59 patients (median age 70) underwent cardiac operations after TAVR, 38 (64%) of the latter performed outside our center. Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS-PROM) was calculated at time of prior TAVRs and at applicable index cardiac operations. Results From 2012–2018, there were fewer than 10 operations after TAVR, but 18 in 2019. Interval between prior TAVR and cardiac surgery decreased exponentially from 7 to less than 1 year over the experience. In applicable cases (n=19; 32%), median STS-PROM was 5.5% (15th-85th percentiles, 3.1%-25%); 40 (68%) were complex operations with no calculable STS-PROM. The TAVR valve was explanted in 46 (78%); 5 were isolated surgical AVRs. TAVR valve stenosis/regurgitation (n=34; 58%) was the leading indication, followed by paravalvular leak (14; 24%) and endocarditis (n=10/17%). When the TAVR valve was not explanted, mitral regurgitation was the leading indication for operation. Operative mortality was 5 (8.5%), postoperative stroke 2 (3.4%), and postoperative dialysis 6 (10%). Conclusions Cardiac operations after TAVR are increasing and interval between TAVR and operation decreasing. Most cardiac operations are complex, high-risk reoperations and isolated AVR rare. These findings should be considered when TAVR is selected for low–intermediate risk patients, particularly with multiple cardiac pathologies not addressed by TAVR.
Routine Universal Observations, Background, Techniques and Findings

It might on first impression seem excessive to devote even a modest volume just to a single sector of one system over the course of a few days. Justification depends on the fact that routine inspection of the eyes in current neonatal practice is embarrassingly unrewarding, yet easily capable of major improvement. Up to the present, little time seems to have been devoted to teaching the baby’s physiological responses, yet nowhere is there more truth in the paediatric precept that success is founded in a thorough knowledge of the range of normal. If the eyes happened to be well open the aims of inspection, when expressed, may for instance have been pupil size, shape and reaction to light, cataract or coloboma. Such objections are unrealistic, relatively unrewarding and almost unachievable; for instance, to take but one item, coloboma ‘prevalence figures are not available’ (Suryey of Ophthalmology, 1981) … res ipsa loquitur.
NS35 and not vp7 is the soluble rotavirus protein which binds to target cells.

Recent studies using radiolabeled rotavirus lysates have demonstrated a 35-kilodalton viral protein that binds specifically to the surface of MA104 cells (N. Fukuhara, O. Yoshie, S. Kitakoa, and T. Konno, J. Virol. 62:2209-2218, 1988; M. Sabara, J. Gilchrist, G.R. Hudson, and L.A. Babiuk, J. Virol. 53:58-66, 1985). The binding protein was identified as vp7, an outer capsid glycoprotein and the product of rotavirus gene 9. These studies concluded that vp7 mediated viral attachment to MA104 cells and that the binding of a soluble viral protein to a cell monolayer mirrored the attachment of infectious rotavirus to permissive tissue culture cells. In the process of determining which viral protein adheres to the in vivo target cell in rotavirus infection, the mammalian enterocyte, we found that a similar 35-kilodalton rhesus rotavirus (RRV) protein bound to both MA104 cells and murine enterocytes. However, further analysis of this protein by immunoprecipitation, inhibition of glycosylation, and partial proteolysis showed that it was not the RRV gene 9 product, vp7, but the gene 8 product, NS35. Similar results were obtained by using porcine rotavirus (OSU) and bovine rotavirus (NCDV) strains. Binding studies using the in vitro-expressed products of RRV genes 8 and 9 confirmed these results. Since double-shelled virions inhibited the binding of NS35 to cells, we looked for the presence of this protein in preparations of purified virus. Examination of density gradient-purified virus preparations revealed biochemical and immunological evidence that NS35 copurifies in small amounts with double-shelled virions. Thus, these studies clearly demonstrated that when rotavirus proteins are prepared in a soluble form from infected cells, NS35, and not vp7, binds to the surfaces of MA104 cells and murine enterocytes. The observations do not confirm previous experimental results which supported the hypothesis that vp7 was the viral attachment protein. They are consistent with but do not prove the hypothesis that NS35 functions as the rotavirus attachment protein.
Microstructure and multifunctional properties of liquid + polymer bicomponent structural electrolytes: Epoxy gels and porous monoliths

Multifunctional structural batteries and supercapacitors have the potential to improve performance and efficiency in advanced lightweight systems. A critical requirement is a structural electrolyte with superior multifunctional performance. We present here structural electrolytes prepared by the integration of liquid electrolytes with structural epoxy networks. Two distinct approaches were investigated: direct blending of an epoxy resin with a poly(ethylene-glycol) (PEG)- or propylene carbonate (PC)-based liquid electrolyte followed by in-situ cure of the resin; and formation of a porous neat epoxy sample followed by backfill with a PC-based electrolyte. The results show that in situ cure of the electrolytes within the epoxy network does not lead to good multifunctional performance due to a combination of plasticization of the structural network and limited percolation of the liquid network. In contrast, addition of a liquid electrolyte to a porous monolith results in both good stiffness and high ionic conductivity that approach multifunctional goals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42681.
RNA polymerase II is a glycoprotein : modification of the cooh-terminal domain by O-GlcNAc

The largest subunit of mammalian RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) contains at its carboxyl terminus an unusual domain consisting of 52 tandem repeats of the consensus sequence Tyr-Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser. This domain, designated the COOH-terminal domain (CTD), is essential for viability and is extensively phosphorylated during the transition from preinitiation complex assembly to elongation (1). Indeed, phosphorylation of the CTD may play an important regulatory role in this transition. We show here that the CTD is also modified by a novel form of protein glycosylation, O-GlcNAc. This modification has been found on numerous transcription factors and other nuclear and cytosolic proteins (2). Glycopeptides obtained by proteolytic digestion of the CTD were purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and sequenced. Results from such experiments suggest that glycosylation occurs at multiple sites throughout the CTD, similar to the phosphorylation of this domain. The carbohydrate, however, is not detectable on the phosphorylated form of the enzyme. This observation is consistent with the idea that phosphorylation and glycosylation are mutually exclusive modifications. The CTD of RNAP II, therefore, appears to exist in three distinct conformational states: unmodified, phosphorylated, and glycosylated. The differential modification of the CTD may play an important role in the regulated expression of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II.
How to broadcast a secret

A single transmitter wishes to broadcast a secret to some subset of his listeners. He does not wish to perform, for each of the intended recipients, a separate encryption either of the secret or of a single key with which to protect the secret. A general method for such a secret broadcasting scheme is proposed. It is based on "k out of n" secret sharing. An example using polynomial interpolation is presented as well as a related vector formulation.
Public Procurement and Good Governance in Chinese and Polish Post-transition Experience

Many business practitioners and academic observers are in general consensus that during the recent transformation Poland and China emerged as the leading examples of successful, albeit distinctly different, economic reform paths. Both were painstakingly searching for an adequate set of policies (realizing soon that no simple, cookie-cutter approach, nor model, could be readily found). Both continued changing from a highly central, soviet-style, regulated economy to an open market economy. The transformation process quickly gained momentum and the spirit of entrepreneurship activity ensued. Thus China and Poland with their distinct reform policies provide a useful experience for comparative case study of transition economies.
STM study of Cu growth on the ZnO(1010) surface

Abstract The room temperature growth of Cu islands on the non-polar (1 0 1 0) surface of zinc oxide was studied using scanning tunneling microscopy. Images of the clean (1 0 1 0) surface prepared by sputtering and annealing at 550–700 °C exhibit flat terraces with a high density of steps, mostly running along [0 0 0 1] and [1 2 1 0] directions. For Cu coverages of 0.025–1 ML deposited on flat, freshly annealed surfaces, preferential nucleation occurs at the step edges oriented perpendicular to the [1 2 1 0] atomic row direction. Exclusively three-dimensional (3D) islands have been observed at all coverages. For comparison, the same Cu coverages were deposited onto the surface contaminated by adsorption from the residual gas in the ultrahigh vacuum chamber. Both 2D and 3D islands, randomly distributed across the terraces, were observed reproducibly on such slightly contaminated surfaces. The density of the islands, as well as their average diameter and height, increases with increasing Cu coverage for both surface preparations.
Elastic constants of yttria (Y2O3) monocrystals to high temperatures

The single-crystal elastic moduli of yttria have been measured by Brillouin spectroscopy up to 1200 °C. The room temperature values obtained are C11=223.7±0.6 GPa, C44=74.6±0.7 GPa, and C12=112.4±1.1 GPa. The resulting bulk and (Voigt–Reuss–Hill) shear moduli are K=149.5±1.0 GPa and GVRH=66.3±0.8 GPa, respectively. These agree much more closely with experimental values reported for polycrystalline samples than do previous single-crystal measurements. Linear least squares regressions to the variation of bulk and shear moduli with temperature result in derivatives of dK/dT=−17±2 MPa/°C and dGVRH/dT=−8±2 MPa/°C. Elastic anisotropy was found to remain essentially constant over the temperature range studied.
Effectiveness of communication strategies for deaf or hard of hearing workers in group settings.

BACKGROUND: In group settings, background noise and an obstructed view of the speaker are just a few of the issues that can make workplace communication difficult for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. Accommodation strategies such as amplification of the speaker’s voice or the use of text-based alternatives exist to address these issues. However, recent studies have shown that there are still unmet needs related to workplace communication in group settings for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. OBJECTIVE: Identify the most common strategies used by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to improve communication in group settings and gauge the perceived effectiveness of those strategies. METHOD: An online survey was conducted with individuals who self-identified as deaf or hard of hearing. The survey presented specific communication strategies based on three functional approaches (aural/oral, text, visual). The strategies applied to both receptive and expressive communication in five different meeting types ranging in size and purpose. PARTICIPANTS: 161 adults (age 22–90 yrs.) with limited hearing ability completed the survey. RESULTS: Text-based strategies were typically the least frequently used strategies in group settings, yet they ranked high in perceived effectiveness for receptive and expressive communication. Those who used an interpreter demonstrated a strong preference for having a qualified interpreter present in the meeting rather than an interpreter acting remotely. For expressive communication, participants in general preferred to use their own voice or signing abilities and ranked those strategies as highly effective. CONCLUSIONS: A more accessible workplace for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing would incorporate more ubiquitous text-based strategy options. Also, qualified interpreters, when used, should be present in the meeting for maximum effectiveness.
Nanoscale topography of the basement membrane underlying the corneal epithelium of the rhesus macaque.

This paper quantitatively defines the nanoscale topography of the basement membrane underlying the anterior corneal epithelium of the macaque. Excised corneal buttons from macaques were placed in 2.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) for 2.5 h, after which the epithelium was carefully removed to expose the underlying basement membrane. The integrity of the remaining basement membrane was verified using fluorescent microscopy in conjunction with antibody staining directed against laminin and collagen type IV as well as transmission electron microscopy. Characterization of the surface of the basement membrane was performed using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution, low-voltage scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Quantitative data were obtained with all three imaging techniques and compared. The basement membrane has a complex topography consisting of tightly cross-linked fibers intermingled with pores. The mean elevation of features measured by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy was 149±60 nm, 191±72 nm, and 147±73 nm, respectively. Mean fiber diameter as measured by SEM was 77±44 nm and pore diameter was 72±40 nm, with pores occupying approximately 15% of the total surface area. Similar feature types and dimensions were also found for Matrigel, a commercially available basement membrane-like complex, supporting that a minimum of artifact was introduced by corneal preparative procedures to remove the overlying epithelium. Topographic features amplified the surface area over which cell-substratum interactions occur by an estimated 400%. The three-dimensional structure of the basement membrane exhibits a rich complex topography of individual features, consisting of pores and fibers with dimensions ranging from 30 to 400 nm. These nanoscale substratum features may modulate fundamental cell behaviors such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation.
A New Subfamily of Tanyderid Flies (Diptera)

The family Tanyderidae, which includes the most generalized of the four recent families of crane-flies, has hitherto been represented by a single subfamily, the Tanyderinae. This group has been further subdivided into a number of genera, varying from about six, in the opinion of Dr. Anton Handlirsch and others, to three, in the opinion of the writer. It is with great pleasure that a remarkable new genus and species is here made known, differing so strikingly from all members of the Tanyderinae that a new group of co-ordinate value is required for its reception. The distribution of the known recent species of the family, thirteen in number, may be listed.
Sequence variation between alleles reveals two types of copy correction at the 27-kDa zein locus of maize.

Abstract In many inbred lines of maize, two 27-kDa storage protein (zein) genes are found within tandem duplications of 12 kb. Both genes of the duplicated allele from the maize inbred line A188 were sequenced and compared to a similar duplicated allele in another inbred line, W22, and to a single-copy allele in the inbred line W64A. The comparisons reveal interesting patterns in the distribution of sequence changes between these alleles. Differences between the two duplicated alleles that are conserved between the two genes of each allele are found exclusively in the 5′ region. In contrast, differences between the individual genes of each allele in the 3′ region are conserved between the two alleles. The first case is indicative of an intraallelic copy correction mechanism, whereas the second may result from interallelic copy correction. These may be mediated by gene conversion processes, as previously described for other multigene families.
Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization of aquatic vascular plants and algae in replicated ponds I. Initial response to fertilization

Populations of common submerged vascular plants were established in a series of 18 experimental ponds in 1967 and subjected to a replicated inorganic N-P fertilization program. The 18 ponds were fertilized as follows in 1968: 6 unfertilized controls, 6 low fertility (.75 mg. P/1) and 6 high fertility (75 mg. N/1., 7·5 mg. P/1.). The high fertility levels tended to eliminate the benthic plant populations and increase the phytoplankton standing crops. Elodea canadensis grew in the highest nutrient levels but Myriophyllum spicatum var. exalbescens and Ceratophyllum demersum appeared to be eliminated. Potamogeton crispus produced an abundance of winter buds under conditions of high fertility. There were no obvious differences in the benthic plant and phytoplankton populations among the control and low fertility ponds.
Self checking network protocols: a monitor based approach

The wide deployment of high-speed computer networks has made distributed systems ubiquitous in today's connected world. The machines on which the distributed applications are hosted are heterogeneous in nature, the applications often run legacy code without the availability of their source code, the systems are of very large scales, and often have soft real-time guarantees. In this paper, we target the problem of online detection of disruptions through a generic external entity called Monitor that is able to observe the exchanged messages between the protocol participants and deduce any ongoing disruption by matching against a rule base composed of combinatorial and temporal rules. The Monitor architecture is application neutral, with the rule base making it specific to a protocol. To make the detection infrastructure scalable and dependable, we extend it to a hierarchical Monitor structure. The infrastructure is applied to a streaming video application running on a reliable multicast protocol called TRAM installed on the campus wide network. The evaluation brings out the scalability of the monitor infrastructure and detection coverage under different kinds of faults for the single level and the hierarchical arrangements.
Babies and belonging: reproduction, citizenship, and undocumented nicaraguan labor migrant women in Costa Rica.

This article presents findings from an ethnographic study of 43 Nicaraguan labor migrant women in Costa Rica, among whom two thirds were undocumented. Drawing from more than a year of field research, this research explores how undocumented migrant women parlayed reproductive capacities in a context of a modernizing democratic host nation-state increasingly limited in its capacity to fulfill longstanding national ideals of “health for all.” Pregnancy and postpartum periods presented unique opportunities for achieving gains related to citizenship. As the third most common migrant destination context in the Western hemisphere, Costa Rica is grappling with its dual role as a nation of emigration and immigration and is attempting to maintain its “exceptional” national identity in the face of rapid globalization. Due to the jus soli citizenship model, the health care system has become a site for struggle over inclusion in the Costa Rican nation-state.
On the pricing and benefit structure of a private club or public utility

In this paper we have analyzed the pricing and benefit structure of a private club or public utility. By means of a simple two-period model, we have analyzed the relationship of the two-period charges and their responses to a change in the rate of interest. We have also analyzed the pricing schemes under various objectives which include the equal payment, the social gain and the public choice cases. The two-period pricing schemes under the special cases where no intertemporal borrowing or lending is allowed and where memberships are growing at an exogenous rate have also been analyzed. In addition, we have presented a multiperiod model with exogenous growth in memberships and with the consideration of inflation. A schedule of fair access charges for this model has been derived. It should be useful in many practical applications.
Primary hyperparathyroidism in a twin pregnancy and review of fetal/maternal calcium homeostasis.

Abstract Background: Hyperparathyroidism occurs rarely in pregnancy; this is the first reported case in a twin gestation. Management of this unusual case is described and an overview of fetal/maternal calcium homeostasis is discussed. Methods: The patient presented at 33 weeks' gestation with hypertension and premature labor. Serum calcium and phosphorus were 14.6 and 1.7 mgldL, respectively. An intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was 243 pglmL (normal, 10-65). Results: The patient was treated with parenteral saline hydration and oral phosphate supplementation that was continued through week 37. Although the calcium remained elevated between 12.6 and 13.3 mgldL, medical therapy was continued because of the risks of surgery in the third trimester. Alternative medical treatments (bisphosphonates, calcitonin) were considered ill advised in pregnancy. The patient remained asymptomatic without further labor, and at week37, fraternal twins were delivered by cesarean section. The infants were monitored closely and experienced no hypocalcemic symptoms after delivery. Postpartum, the mother's parathyroid scan and ultrasound were negative. She underwent neck exploration and a single 700-mg adenoma was removed. Transient asymptomatic hypocalcemia (7.5 mgldL) occurred postoperatively, and she was placed on oral calcium (1500 mglday) and calcitriol (0.25 mglday). These were stopped at 8 weeks, when both PTH and parathyroid hormone-related peptide levels were normal. Conclusion: Mother and infants continue to do well after 18 months. This case provides an interesting setting to consider the interrelationships between elevated maternal PTH and the fetal/placental factors that regulate calcium metabolism in pregnancy.
Ultrastructural observations on the germ line of Xenopus laevis.

The development of the male germ line in Xenopus laevis has been examined by electron microscopy. Findings have been compared to the parallel process in the female. Three structures unique to the germ line were found in both male and female cells: a fibrillar nuclear region free of DNA; largely proteinaceous masses of nuage material; and a chromatoid body. “Germ plasm” bodies of the egg and early embryo appear to represent a form of nuage material. The finding of a structure which can be identified as a chromatoid body in the female germ line is unique, as is its presence in sexually undifferentiated primordial germ cells. The chromatoid body in Xenopus, unlike that in mammals, does not persist in the spermatozoon. Instead, it dissociates into a series of coated vesicles during spermatogenesis. The chromosomal ultrastructure of meiotic prophase stages in Xenopus is similar in both sexes until diplotene, when male bivalents condense and enter meiotic metaphase instead of entering the extended lampbrush stage characteristic of the female. The multiple nucleoli present in gonia are lost at the onset of meiotic prophase, but no obvious mechanism for this process was observed.
Rapid recombination among transfected plasmids, chimeric episome formation and trans gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract Although recombination is known to be important to generating diversity in the human malaria parasite P. falciparum , the low efficiencies of transfection and the fact that integration of transfected DNA into chromosomes is observed only after long periods (typically 12 weeks or more) have made it difficult to genetically manipulate the blood stages of this major human pathogen. Here we show that co-transfection of a P. falciparum line with two plasmids, one expressing a green fluorescent protein ( gfp ) reporter and the other expressing a drug resistance marker ( Tgdhfr-ts M23), allowed selection of a population in which about ∼30% of the parasites produce GFP. In these GFP-producing parasites, the transfected plasmids had recombined into chimeric episomes as large as 20 kb and could be maintained under drug pressure for at least 16 weeks. Our data suggest that chimera formation occurs early (detected by 7–14 days) and that it involves homologous recombination favored by presence of the same P. falciparum 5′hrp3 UTR promoting transcription from each plasmid. This indicates the presence of high levels of homologous recombination activity in blood stage parasites that can be used to drive rapid recombination of newly introduced DNA, study mechanisms of recombination, and introduce genes for trans expression in P. falciparum .
OCCURRENCE AND SEASONAL TRANSMISSION OF HEMATOZOA IN WILD TURKEYS

The occurrence and seasonal patterns of transmission of the blood protozoa of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied at Tallahala Wildlife Management Area (TWMA) (Jasper County, Mississippi, USA). Blood smears obtained from wild turkeys in winter, spring and summer, and from sentinel domestic turkeys throughout the year were examined for Haemoproteus meleagridis and Leucocytozoon smithi. Whole blood from wild turkeys captured in summer was subinoculated into malaria-free domestic turkey poults and recipient birds were examined for Plasmodium spp. The prevalence of H. meleagridis and L. smithi were not different (P > 0.05) between adults and juveniles or between male and female turkeys in any season. Leucocytozoon smithi was not detected in poults in summer or in juveniles examined in winter. Sentinel studies and information from wild birds revealed that transmission of H. meleagridis and L. smithi did not overlap. Haemoproteus meleagridis was transmitted from May through November, whil...
Fractures and luxations of the vertebral column.

External fixation of the vertebral column is indicated to treat fractures of the caudal lumbar spine, open fractures where vertebral osteomyelitis is present or likely to occur, and vertebral fractures not easily stabilized by internal fixation alone (e.g., compression fractures, fractures including spinous processes, and articular facets). Advantages of external fixation of caudal lumbar fractures, especially in combination with dorsal fixation devices, include the following: Fracture fixation does not preclude dorsal decompression; fixation devices need not be applied directly to the fractured vertebrae; and the combined technique provides dorsal and ventral vertebral fixation, which is more stable than dorsal fixation alone. Although external fixation is not applicable to all vertebral fracture/luxations in small animals, it provides additional points of fixation for rigid stability. Animals with vertebral fracture/luxations treated with an external fixation device have tolerated the external portion well. Development of additional applications for this method of vertebral fracture repair seems warranted.
Multicomponent attractant for female screwworm flies,Cochliomyia hominivorax, in bovine blood.

An olfactometer bioassay was used to follow attractant for screwworm flies,Cochliomyia hominivorax, in steam distillates of bovine blood under different distillation and storage conditions and after HPLC separation of components in a water-methanol gradient. In addition, fly responsiveness was examined in relation to sex and ovarian stage. Gravid and vitellogenic nullipars were attracted to the blood, although the former predominated four to one. Males did not respond at a dose that attracted 76% of gravid females. Maximum attractiveness occurred when distillate was stored in sealed glass ampoules. An argon atmosphere made storage at ambient temperatures feasible, but offered no advantage during storage at ca. −60°C or during distillation. The HPLC separation produced four fractions that duplicated the attractiveness of the distillate when recombined but showed little activity when presented as two-fraction, and most three-fraction, mixtures. Availability of the HPLC fractions for combination with other samples will facilitate location via bioassay of attractant components in samples obtained from subsequent or alternate isolations that preserve only one or two elements of the multicomponent mixture.
Thermal inactivation characteristics of alkaline phosphatase in ultrafiltered milk

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine the heat inactivation kinetics of alkaline phosphatase in UF milk and to study the effect of concentration of UF milk on heat inactivation of alkaline phosphatase. Equal quantities of alkaline phosphatase were added as raw milk to pasteurized skim milk and UF skim milk retentates (10.01 and 16.61% protein). Residual alkaline phosphatase was measured in all milk samples heated to 60°C for 20, 30, and 40min and to 63°C for 10, 20, and 30min. Heat inactivation of phosphatase was more rapid in the 16.61% protein retentate than in non UF skim milk and 10.01% protein retentate at both 60 and 63°C and for all holding periods. The inactivation constant for the 16.61% protein retentate was higher than for skim milk and 10.01% protein retentate. Addition of lactose to 16.61% protein retentate increased the heat resistance of alkaline phosphatase. Results suggest that the removal of lactose during UF alters the heat inactivation characteristics of alkaline phosphatase; thus, the use of this enzyme to measure the efficiency of pasteurization of highly concentrated UF milk is questionable.
Evidence for the formation of heteromultimeric potassium channels in Xenopus oocytes.

POTASSIUM channels show a wide range of functional diversity1–3. Nerve cells typically express a number of K+. channels that differ in their kinetics, single-channel conductance, pharmacology, and sensitivity to voltage and second messengers. The cloning of the Shaker gene in Drosophila4–7, and of related genes8–14, has revealed that the encoded K+ channel polypeptides resemble one of the four internally homologous domains of the α-subunits of Na+ channels and Ca2+ channels15–18, indicating that K+ channels may form by the co-assembly of several polypeptides. In this report we provide evidence that the Shaker A-type K+ channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes contain several Shaker polypeptides, that heteromultimeric channels may form through assembly of different channel polypeptides, that the kinetics or pharmacology of some heteromultimeric channels differ from those of homomultimeric channels, and that channel polypeptides from the fruit fly can co-assemble with homologous polypeptides from the rat. We suggest that heteromultimer formation may increase K+ channel diversity beyond even the level expected from the large number of K+ channel genes and alternative splicing products4,5,19–25.
Measuring Self-Regulation in Computer-Based Learning Environments

I provide a summary of the four invited articles in this special issue and compare and contrast different methods for measuring self-regulation in computer-based learning environments (CBLEs). I present a taxonomy that distinguishes between offline and online measures and further distinguishes subcategories within each of these categories. I discuss four measurement challenges, including orchestrating a repertoire of automated assessments to capture these ongoing activities, developing scoring rubrics and scoring criteria, interpreting assessments, and aligning multiple outcome measures. I also discuss how measures of self-regulated learning in CBLEs can be used to assess important cognitive processes such as planning, strategy use, monitoring, and increased learning. I conclude with several suggestions for measurement practices that enhance and further strengthen the validity of research conclusions.
Strategies for the development of new antiarthritic agents.

Therapeutic advances in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have largely focused on the development of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with improved characteristics compared with aspirin [Brooks & Day, New Engl. J. Med., 324, 1716–1725 (1991)]. For example, greater potency, safety, improved tolerance in the elderly and reduced frequency of dosing have been achieved. However, these agents are generally considered to be palliative treating of the symptoms of the disease. The development of disease modifying drugs (DMD), also known as second line drugs, for RA has not been very successful. Most of the agents that are currently used in this category were originally used to treat other diseases such as malignancy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate), Wilson's disease (d-penicillamine) and tuberculosis (gold salts) [Pullar, Br. J. clin. Pharmac., 30, 501–510 (1990)]. Unfortunately, none of the agents is ideal and each has potentially serious side-effects. There have been several attempts to develop agents with new mechanisms of action that hopefully will greatly improve these current therapies.
Depth-profiles in compositionally-graded amorphous silicon alloy thin films analyzed by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry

Real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) has been applied to characterize composition depth-profiles in compositionally-graded amorphous silicon-carbon alloy (a-Si 1-x C x :H) thin films. prepared using continuous variations in the flow ratio z(t) = [CH 4 ]/{[SiH 4 ]+ [CH 4 ]) during r.f. plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). In order to calculate the dielectric functions of a-Si 1- x C x :H alloys for any value of x, a new parameterization of the measured dielectric functions was established using the recently-derived Tauc-Lorentz (T-L) model. This model is found to provide improved fitting of the measured dielectric functions of a-Si 1 -x C x :H over the analyzed energy region of 2.2 < E < 4.2 eV, in comparison to previous parameterization schemes. Applying the T-L parameterization, the depth-profiles in the C-content were then analyzed using a virtual interface approximation. For several a-Si 1-x C x :H graded layers having triangular variations in the C-content (0 <x <0.24) over 25-130 A thick layers, we found very good agreement between the analyzed depth-profiles and those predicted from z(t) based on individually-deposited samples. In the depth-profile of the thinnest C-graded layer (∼ 25 A). monolayer depth resolution was evident with an average compositional uncertainty of + 0.009.
Psychoanalysis and Humanism: A Review and Critical Examination of Integrationist Efforts With Some Proposed Resolutions

Psychoanalysis and psychological humanism are theories that provide ways of understanding the psychotherapeutic process. These orientations have somewhat incompatible assumptions, thereby making integration difficult. Efforts at theoretical integration of psychoanalysis and humanism are critically reviewed along the lines of F. Pine's (1990) 4 psychologies of psychoanalysis. The author concludes that psychoanalysis and humanism have certain compatible features, but that they generally represent opposing vantage points in the study of subjectivity. Each orientation is grounded in a particular epistemic value system that dictates the way knowledge about others should be acquired. Recommendations for integrating these orientations in the psychotherapeutic process are provided.