cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Let the Small Changes Begin: President Obama, Executive Power and Don't Ask Don't Tell

This article advocates that President Obama should act unilaterally to change how the Department of Defense (DoD) implements Don't Ask Don't Tell. It is a controversial position and not one generally supported even by those seeking to repeal the law. Given President Clinton's experience attempting to lift the ban on gays and lesbians openly serving in the armed forces, proponents of repeal are hesitant to suggest that President Obama act without first building consensus within the military and Congress. It is widely perceived that President Clinton's efforts to initiate change backfired, leading to the DoD's discriminatory policy being codified and slowing his legislative agenda. Conventional wisdom holds that to avoid the mistakes of the Clinton Administration, President Obama must not push Congress or the military too quickly. President Obama should not wait for Congress to act. He has both the constitutional and statutory authority to implement change immediately. In Part II, I discuss the historical context of Don't Ask Don't, specifically focusing on the lessons of the Clinton era and President Clinton's successful use of executive power to affect gay and lesbian service members. In Part III, I explain why President Obama must act pending congressional action, describing the status of repeal efforts in Congress and exploring potential barriers to success. I also explore the recent circuit court decisions on Don't Ask Don't Tell which interestingly set the stage for President Obama's first executive decision on the issue - whether to seek certiorari in Witt v. Air Force. Finally, Part IV provides examples of five amendments to the current DoD directives implementing the statute that would improve the lives of the estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian members serving under the shadow of the statute.
The effects of chronic administration of pyrimethamine on spermatogenesis and fertility in male rats.

: The present study examines whether the antifertility effects of pyrimethamine (PYR), an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, are mediated by a reduction in intratesticular testosterone (T) concentrations or whether PYR exerts its effect by a cytotoxic insult to spermatogenic cells that is independent of intratesticular testosterone. Adult male rats were treated daily with 100 mg/kg (n = 16) or 400 mg/kg (n = 16) of PYR in honey for 8 weeks. Control rats (n = 16) received honey without PYR. Eight weeks after treatment, five rats from each PYR-treated group and five control rats were mated with normal cycling female rats, and fertility was assessed. These rats were euthanized after the fertility trial; testis weight, testicular sperm, and epididymal sperm counts were determined, and serum levels of T, LH, FSH, and seminiferous tubule fluid T (STF-T) concentrations were measured by RIA. Testes from three rats per group were perfusion-fixed for histological evaluation. PYR was discontinued in the remaining rats for 8 weeks and similar parameters were evaluated after 8 weeks of recovery. PYR (100 mg/kg/day) treatment for 8 weeks did not have any effects on organ weights, testicular and epididymal sperm counts, and hormone levels when compared to controls. In contrast, PYR (400 mg/kg/day) treatment significantly reduced testis and epididymis weights, testicular and epididymal sperm counts, and fertility. Despite these effects, serum T, LH, FSH, and STF-T concentrations were not altered. In rats treated daily with 400 mg/kg PYR, qualitative analysis of the tubules in stage VII and VIII of spermatogenesis revealed a decline in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids as well as atrophy of approximately 30% of the seminiferous tubules. The effect was not seen in animals treated with 100 mg/kg. Eight weeks after cessation of treatment, the testis and epididymis weights, sperm counts, and fertility were restored to normal in all PYR-treated rats. These results indicate that: (1) PYR exerts a direct cytotoxic effect on the seminiferous epithelium, (2) PYR's effect is independent of pituitary LH, FSH, and intratesticular T concentrations; and (3) the effect is completely reversible upon cessation of treatment.
Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Cytochrome o Reductase Associated with Cytochrome o Purified from Vitreoscilla EVIDENCE FOR AN INTERMEDIATE OXYGENATED FORM OF CYTOCHROME o

Abstract Cytochrome o, purified from Vitreoscilla sp., Murray strain 389, has a carbon monoxide difference spectrum with absorption maxima at 569, 535, and 419 nm. This spectrum resembles closely the carbon monoxide difference spectrum of whole cell suspensions of Vitreoscilla. The reduction of cytochrome o by NADH is catalyzed by a component(s) present in purified preparations of the cytochrome, and this NADH-cytochrome o reductase activity could be assayed in these preparations aerobically by following the absorbancy increase at 420 nm on the addition of NADH. Aerobic difference spectra of cytochrome o solutions, (NADH) minus (untreated), have absorption maxima at 577, 544, and 420 nm, and this spectrum is believed to represent the formation of an "oxygenated" form of reduced cytochrome o. Difference spectra of cytochrome o, that has been chemically reduced by excess sodium dithionite, have absorption maxima at 560 and 435 nm, which presumably are the absorption maxima characteristic of the reduced, but not oxygenated, form of cytochrome o. Chromatography of cytochrome o on Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose resulted in purification of cytochrome o and NADH-cytochrome o reductase, but separation of the reductase activity from the cytochrome was not achieved. Reductase activity with cytochrome o as acceptor was separated chromatographically from reductase activity with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol as acceptor. Oxygen uptake of purified fractions on the addition of NADH was associated primarily with NADH-cytochrome o reductase activity.
Innovating to Meet the Demand for Streaming Video

NJVID, New Jerseyâs statewide digital video portal and repository, was created to provide a sustainable, flexible, and scalable digital video management and delivery infrastructure to serve all educational and cultural heritage institutions in New Jersey. This article describes its implementation and demonstrates the benefits of collaboration to make video more accessible.
The brain science interface.

The human brain consists of billions of neurons clustered into many different regions, each of which work together to give rise to complex human behaviour. But understanding how these regions are networked together – and the effect trauma and disease might have on network functions – requires greater statistical input. Sean L. Simpson, Jonathan H. Burdette and Paul J. Laurienti discuss neuroscience past and present, and how statistics can help its future
Electrophysiological correlates of cortical spreading depression.

Cortical steady potential shifts were recorded in both anesthetized and chronic rats during cortical spreading depression. Unilateral application of 12 or 25% KC1 evoked steady potential shifts not only in the hemisphere which received KC1 but also in the contralateral hemisphere. In some cases these steady potential shifts in the contralateral hemisphere resembled the shifts in the depressed hemisphere, while in other cases only part of the wave form of the depressed hemisphere was observed in the contralateral hemisphere. Application of saline by means of pledgets or by direct injection into chronically implanted cannulae did not terminate steady potential shifts. The application of these findings to behavioral research utilizing the technique of spreading depression is discussed.
Metal oxide nano-particles for improved electrochromic and lithium-ion battery technologies

Abstract Hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) has been employed as an economically scalable method for the deposition of crystalline tungsten oxide nano-rods and nano-particles. Under optimal synthesis conditions, only crystalline WO3 nano-structures with a smallest dimension of ∼10–50 nm are observed with extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The incorporation of these particles into porous films led to profound advancement in state-of-the-art electrochromic (EC) technologies. HWCVD has also been employed to produce crystalline molybdenum oxide nano-rods, particles and tubes at high density. TEM analyses show that the smallest dimension of these nano-structures is ∼5–30 nm. XRD and Raman analyses reveal that the materials are highly crystalline and consist of Mo, MoO2 and MoO3 phases. It is also possible to fabricate large-area porous films containing these MoOx nano-structures. Furthermore, these films have been tested as the negative electrode in lithium-ion batteries, and a surprisingly high, reversible capacity has been observed.
On the role of sepiapterin reductase in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin

Rat erythrocyte sepiapterin reductase can catalyze the NADPH-dependent reduction of tetrahydropterin substrates with relative velocities of sepiapterin greater than lactoyltetrahydropterin greater than or equal to pyruvoyltetrahydropterin greater than 1'-hydroxy-2'-oxopropyltetrahydropterin; L-erythrotetrahydrobiopterin is the product of the reduction of all three tetrahydropterins. The 1' position of the 1',2'-diketone, pyruvoyltetrahydropterin, is reduced first; the product of this first reduction is 1'-hydroxy-2'-oxopropyltetrahydropterin. Both steps are inhibited by N-acetylserotonin. An antibody to sepiapterin reductase purified from rat erythrocytes was produced in rabbits, and the purified antibody is highly specific for sepiapterin reductase. This antibody is an inhibitor of both sepiapterin reductase activity and tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis in crude extracts of rat adrenal and brain. The antibody inhibits the production of both the biosynthetic intermediate, 1'-hydroxy-2'-oxopropyltetrahydropterin, and tetrahydrobiopterin. The results indicate that sepiapterin reductase is on the biosynthetic pathway to tetrahydrobiopterin, and catalyzes the complete reduction of pyruvoyltetrahydropterin to tetrahydrobiopterin. In contrast, homogenates of whole rat adrenal also produce large quantities of lactoyltetrahydropterin which suggests that in some tissues this compound may also be an intermediate in tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis. The synthesis of lactoyltetrahydropterin is not inhibited by the antibody to sepiapterin reductase and therefore does not appear to be catalyzed by sepiapterin reductase. However, sepiapterin reductase is responsible for the conversion of lactoyltetrahydropterin to tetrahydrobiopterin. The source of sepiapterin in biosynthetic reactions was found to be oxidative decomposition of lactoyltetrahydropterin.
Counting yield calibration of NaI(Tl) detectors for complex geometry samples by use of californium-252

The counting yield for large volume, complex geometry samples such as solutions in Marinelli beakers as counted on a large NaI(Tl) detector can be calibrated using radionuclides activated by neutrons form a252Cf source. Calibration may be done by using either a known neutron flux facility or by cross calibration of the activated material as a point source vs. sealed gamma-standard sources. The point source of activated material is dissolved after cross calibration to produce the large volume distributed source.
Electrophysiological abnormalities produced by ammonium in isolated perfused brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, hearts

Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and arrhythmias have been observed in hyperammonemic patients and in animals injected with ammonium salts. Ammonium is excreted directly into the environment by fish, and it is a potent fish toxin, but the effects of ammonium on the cardiovascular system of fish are unknown. This study investigated the cardiotoxic effects of ammonium on isolated perfused fish hearts. These were compared with ammonium-induced cardiac electrophysiological abnormalities observed in humans and other experimental animals. Isolated perfused fish hearts exhibit ammonium-induced cardiac abnormalities similar to the ammonium-induced abnormalities seen in the hearts of higher vertebrates. Therefore, we conclude that the myocardium of ammonotelic species does not possess a specialized ammonium detoxification mechanism, and that ammonium is cardiotoxic to salmonid fish.
Do current antiemetic practices result in positive patient outcomes? Results of a new study.

Purpose. The problem of perioperative nausea and vomiting (including postoperative and postdischarge nausea and vomiting [PONV/PDNV]) among people undergoing general anesthesia is discussed. Summary. Nausea and vomiting are not limited to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) or the hospital, but can persist long after the patient has been discharged and has returned home. This underscores the need for new antiemetic agents that not only offer greater efficacy and proven safety, but also provide an extended duration of action. The Prospective Observational Study of Treatments, Outcomes and Patterns of Care (POSTOP), was designed to assess the impact that current antiemetic practices have on patient outcomes in the postoperative and postdischarge settings. The investigation assessed the treatments, outcomes, and patterns of care for PONV and PDNV in high-risk patients over the course of 72 hours following surgery. Based on this observational study, despite the availability of current guidelines there is no current standard of care for managing PONV and PDNV. Conclusion. Increasing the adherence to guidelines and the rational use of prophylaxis based on patient stratification will reduce the incidence of PONV, as will the development of new antiemetic agents with greater efficacies and longer durations of action that can provide extended protection from nausea and vomiting throughout the 72-hour postsurgical period.
MULĀZAMA OR HARASSMENT OF RECALCITRANT DEBTORS IN ISLAMIC LAW

The institution of mulāzama , or the harassment of the debtor through the constant pursuit of him, could obtain in three situations: (a) the pursuit of a penniless debtor who has been released from prison and declared bankrupt by a judge, (b) the pursuit of a debtor capable of paying his debt, and (c) the pursuit of a debtor before trial, lest he flee, pending the production of witnesses. Only Abū Hanīfa, and, following him, the dominant opinion of his school, supported the first. Some later Hanafīs as well as jurists of other schools supported the other two in varying degrees, until relatively modern times when the institution was declared inoperative or has been completely ignored. The harshness of the early Hanafī position suggests an origin in a preceding civilization: possibly the Roman, because of similarities in terminology; possibly the Indo-Iranian, because of the provenance of early Hanafīs in territories influenced by that civilization; or both.
Detection of Local-Moment Formation Using the Resonant Interaction between Coupled Quantum Wires

We study the influence of many-body interactions on the transport characteristics of a pair of quantum wires that are coupled to each other by means of a quantum dot. Under conditions where a local magnetic moment is formed in one of the wires, tunnel coupling to the other gives rise to an associated peak in its density of states, which can be detected directly in a conductance measurement. Our theory is therefore able to account for the key observations in the recent study of T. Morimoto et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 82, 3952 (2003)], and demonstrates that coupled quantum wires may be used as a system for the detection of local magnetic-moment formation.
A life fully lived, told in brief by his partner.

(2001). A Life Fully Lived, Told in Brief by his Partner. Journal of Personality Assessment: Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 203-209.
THE STIMULUS FOR CASE-BUILDING ACTIVITY IN CADDIS-WORMS (TRICHOPTERA).

In four species of caddis-worms,-Ptilostomis semifasciata (Say), Platycentropus radiatus (Say), Limnephilus indivisus Walker, and Pycnopsyche guttifer (Walker), —removal of the anal hooks and the posterior hair sensilla significantly prolonged case-building activity with a resulting increase in case production. The extensive building was of the rough provisional type, which is normally completed within a few hours. There were differences among the species with regard to the amount of excessive building and the relative importance of the hairs. Transection of the ventral nerve cord appeared to block the extensive building that normally followed hook removal. It is proposed that the stimulus for building is an endogenous process which causes excitatory impulses to be emitted from the several ganglia. The impulses go forward to the integrative areas controlling the animal's building apparatus and stimulate building. The emission of impulses from the ganglia is inhibited by sensory input from contact with the case.
Alteration of chicken heterophil and macrophage functions by the infectious bursal disease virus

The effects of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) on chicken heterophils and macrophages are reported. Short-term incubation of IBDV with heterophils causes an activation of cellular oxidative burst, a decrease in phagocytosis and cellular migration, and an increase in cellular adherence to the IBDV-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts. Under electron microscopic examination, heterophils show condensed chromatin and packets of intact granules, either free or being phagocytized by macrophages, indicating that the heterophils are undergoing apoptosis. The HD-11 cells, a virus-transformed macrophage cell, after 1-2 h of infection by IBDV in vitro, become less responsive of chemoattractant and less capable of performing phagocytosis. After a longer period of infection, IBDV is able to multiply in the HD-11 cells, and starts to cause cells to undergo apoptosis. This IBDV-induced alteration in heterophil and macrophage functions and the death of these phagocytic cells may play a role in the subsequent immunosuppression in the affected chickens.
Thymidine uptake and cell migration in cheek epithelium of zinc-deficient rats.

. Male weanling rats were fed a diet containing 1.3 mg zinc/kg diet and controls the same diet supplemented by 40 mg /zinc/kg diet. The rates of cell division and upward migration in the cheek epithelium were obtained from counts of labelled cells in animals sacrificed one hour and three days following intraperitoneal injection of 1 μCi tritiated thymidine/g body weight. A 3.4-fold increase over the number of labelled cells in controls was observed one hour after thymidine administration and a 2.7-fold increase three days later. Ratios of labelled cells at three days and one hour were 4.96 in controls and 3.99 in experimental animals. The percentage distribution of labelled cells in successive subdivisions of epithelium was identical in both groups. The number of labelled cells near the junction of granular and keratin layers was 2.9-fold greater in the experimental animals. It is suggested that the zinc-deficient cheek epithelium of the rat might be a useful model for the study of pathological conditions associated with increased rates of cell proliferation.
An Investigation of Cognitive Tempo and Its Effects on Evaluating Kindergarten Children's Academic and Social Competencies.

Success in kindergarten is primarily determined by one's end of the year achievement and social competence. Although achievement can be measured objectively, social competence is determined by teachers’ perceptions. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether kindergarteners with different cognitive tempos would exhibit differences in end of the year achievement and result in differences in teachers’ perceptions of their social competence. Two‐hundred twenty‐one kindergarten children (115 males; 106 females) participated in the study. The Matching Familiar Figures Test was administered to the children to determine whether they exhibited a reflective, impulsive, fast‐accurate (F/A) or slow‐inaccurate (S/l) cognitive tempo. End of the year achievement and teachers’ perceptions of children's social competence was assessed using the Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT) and the Hahnemann Elementary Behavior Rating Scale (HEBS), respectively. Controlling for developmental level, a 4(cognitive tempo)...
Integrating Competing Dimensional Models of Personality: Linking the SNAP, TCI, and NEO Using Item Response Theory

Mounting evidence suggests that several inventories assessing both normal personality and personality disorders measure common dimensional personality traits (i.e., Antagonism, Constraint, Emotional Instability, Extraversion, and Unconventionality), albeit providing unique information along the underlying trait continuum. We used Widiger and Simonsen's (2005) pantheoretical integrative model of dimensional personality assessment as a guide to create item pools. We then used Item Response Theory (IRT) to compare the assessment of these five personality traits across three established dimensional measures of personality: the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). We found that items from each inventory map onto these five common personality traits in predictable ways. The IRT analyses, however, documented considerable variability in the item and test information derived from each inventory. Our findings support the notion that the integration of multiple perspectives will provide greater information about personality while minimizing the weaknesses of any single instrument.
Vitamin E and platelet eicosanoids in diabetes mellitus.

Cette revue considere les donnees recentes concernant la relation entre la vitamine E et l'activite des thrombocytes au cours du diabete et de l'atherosclerose
Quantitative analysis of bacterial and mammalian proteomes using a combination of cysteine affinity tags and 15N-metabolic labeling.

We describe the combined use of 15N-metabolic labeling and a cysteine-reactive biotin affinity tag to isolate and quantitate cysteine-containing polypeptides (Cys-polypeptides) from Deinococcus radiodurans as well as from mouse B16 melanoma cells. D. radiodurans were cultured in both natural isotopic abundance and 15N-enriched media. Equal numbers of cells from both cultures were combined and the soluble proteins extracted. This mixture of isotopically distinct proteins was derivatized using a commercially available cysteine-reactive reagent that contains a biotin group. Following trypsin digestion, the resulting modified peptides were isolated using immobilized avidin. The mixture was analyzed by capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) on-line with ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) as well as Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) MS. The resulting spectra contain numerous pairs of Cys-polypeptides whose mass difference corresponds to the number of nitrogen atoms present in each of t...
Impact of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on the oxidative reactivity of diesel engine soot

This paper expands the consideration of the factors affecting the nanostructure and oxidative reactivity of diesel soot to include the impact of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Past work showed that soot derived from oxygenated fuels such as biodiesel carries some surface oxygen functionality and thereby possesses higher reactivity than soot from conventional diesel fuel. In this work, results show that EGR exerts a strong influence on the physical properties of the soot which leads to enhanced oxidation rate. HRTEM images showed a dramatic difference between the burning modes of the soot generated under 0 and 20% EGR. The soot produced under 0% EGR strictly followed an external burning mode with no evidence of internal burning. In contrast, soot generated under 20% EGR exhibited dual burning modes: slow external burning and rapid internal burning. The results demonstrate clearly that highly reactive soot can be achieved by manipulating the physical properties of the soot via EGR.
Large-Area Ordered Quantum-Dot Monolayers via Phase Separation During Spin-Casting†

We investigate a new method for forming large-area (> cm2) ordered monolayers of colloidal nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs). The QD thin films are formed in a single step by spin-casting a mixed solution of aromatic organic materials and aliphatically capped QDs. The two different materials phase separate during solvent drying, and for a predefined set of conditions the QDs can assemble into hexagonally close-packed crystalline domains. We demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of this phase-separation process, as well as how the properties of the resulting films can be controlled in a precise and repeatable manner. Solution concentration, solvent ratio, QD size distribution, and QD aspect ratio affect the morphology of the cast thin-film structure. Controlling all of these factors allows the creation of colloidal-crystal domains that are square micrometers in size, containing tens of thousands of individual nanocrystals per grain. Such fabrication of large-area, engineered layers of nanoscale materials brings the beneficial properties of inorganic QDs into the realm of nanotechnology. For example, this technique has already enabled significant improvements in the performance of QD light-emitting devices.
Screen-printed patterns to achieve optical confusion

Electrochromic materials are of great interest, owing to their potential application in large area displays, active camouflage and energy saving smart windows. The effectiveness of devices fabricated for most applications depends in part on the ability to tailor the observed color in a predictable manner. Several color-tailoring strategies such as polymer blends, copolymers, and layered composites have been investigated recently. Another technique utilizing patterns of electrochromes is currently under development in our labs and affords a false way to modify a device's observed color. The pattern is composed of materials that have different observed colors; at least one of which is an electrochrome. When the pattern is viewed at a distance, the observer perceives a different color than those of the materials comprising the pattern. This `confusion' is due to diffraction. By knowing the color of the patterning materials the observed color can be predicted in a straight forward manner by color subtraction theory. The patterns are produced by screen-printing the electrochrome and other materials onto a Mylar/ITO substrate that is then used as the working electrode in a device. Following this strategy, geometrical patterns composed of thick stripes, fine stripes, small dots, and checkerboards were studied using different materials as the foreground and background colors. We will report on the fabrication of these patterned devices and their characterization by spectrocolorimetry.
Detection of multiple cardiac papillary fibroelastomas using transtsesophageal echocardiography

Abstract Papillary fibroelastomas are rate, benign cardiac tumors that may be associated with embolization, angina, and sudden death. We report a case of multiple papillary fibroelastomas diagnosed during life by transesophageal echocardiography. Surgical resection during mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral stenosis prevented the development of any of the life-threatening complications sometimes associated with this tumor.
Radical prostatectomy for low risk carcinoma of the prostate

Objectives To review the role of radical prostatectomy in the management of patients with low risk carcinoma of the prostate.
Is Constituent Feedback Living Up to Its Promise? Provider Perceptions of Feedback Practices in Nonprofit Human Service Organizations

In recent years, leaders of nonprofit human service organizations and their funders have made a significant investment in systematic data collection and analysis to analyze program activities. Usin...
A wireless communication selection approach to minimize energy-per-bit for wearable computing applications

Body Sensor Networks (BSN) provide a way to gather continuous observations of human movements, which has a potential of improving medical care quality, and enabling continuous remote patient monitoring. Despite their potential, BSNs face serious werability constraints. Energy optimization is essential since werability is most affected by the battery size of the device. In this paper, we introduce a burst communication technique that takes advantage of data buffering to achieve lower energy-per-bit cost with a possibly higher packet size or more energy efficient communication scheme suited for higher data rates. Our energy model combines the knowledge of the signal processing required to complete a task with the deadline associated with that task to define the optimal burst transmission schedule. Based on the selected energy model, we formulate an optimization function that minimizes the overall energy cost of communication for a given signal processing task. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in sway monitoring BSN applications with a short, medium, and long deadlines. We further demonstrate the relationship between the task deadline extension and the energy cost of the system. Our results show that the proposed approach can improve the cost of communication 85–95% compared to streaming data to the basestation as it becomes available.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Vaccines: Current Status and Strategies to a Universal Vaccine

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the causative agent of PRRS, the most significant infectious disease currently affecting swine industry worldwide. In the United States alone, the economic losses caused by PRRS amount to more than 560 million US dollars every year. Due to immune evasion strategies and the antigenic heterogeneity of the virus, current commercial PRRSV vaccines (killed-virus and modified-live vaccines) are of unsatisfactory efficacy, especially against heterologous infection. Continuous efforts have been devoted to develop better PRRSV vaccines. Experimental PRRSV vaccines, including live attenuated vaccines, recombinant vectors expressing PRRSV viral proteins, DNA vaccines and plant-made subunit vaccines, have been developed. However, the genetic and antigenic heterogeneity of the virus limits the value of almost all of the PRRSV vaccines tested. Developing a universal vaccine that can provide broad protection against circulating PRRSV strains has become a major challenge for current vaccine development. This paper reviews current status of PRRSV vaccine development and discusses strategies to develop a universal PRRSV vaccine.
Toy Safety in Hospitals—Or Beware of Parents Bearing Gifts

Toys are an indispensable component of play therapy for hospitalized children. They can also be dangerous and may result in catastrophic accidents. Extreme care should be exercised in the purchase of "safe toys" for all infants and children in and out of the hospital. The guidelines of the Bureau of Product Safety of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) dealing with toy safety can be very helpful for child care professionals as well as parents who purchase toys.An explanation of the additional environmen tal hazards of toys in hospital settings should be an important part of the total in-service training of all personnel who care for infants and children in hospitals. In addition, it might be well for the Division of Product Safety of the FDA to consider criteria for toy safety in hospitals as a separate category in future Bulle tins dealing with this problem.
Effect of Dynamic Loading on Wear of Steel in Boundary Lubricated Sliding Contact

Influence d'une charge dynamique sur l'usure de l'acier dans un contact glissant en regime de lubrification limite
Combining electrical and optical techniques to develop a novel modality for neural activation

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) provides an artifact-free, contact-free and spatially selective alternative to electrical methods of neural activation. However, INS is limited by an approximately 2:1 ratio of radiant exposures (J/cm2) inducing damage to those required for stimulation. Current laser power requirements for stimulation also provide challenges to implanting INS-based technology. While characteristics of INS are desirable in both the clinical and research arenas, these challenges must be overcome for INS to see widespread application. Here we describe a novel nerve stimulation modality combining optical and electrical techniques of neural stimulation. Radiant exposures required for stimulation are reduced by as much as 3-fold when delivered concomitantly with a sub-threshold electrical stimulus, effectively increasing the aforementioned ratio from 2:1 to 6:1. Spatial selectivity attributed to INS is maintained with hybrid stimulation. These results will directly facilitate the applications and technology associated with INS.
Organization in the descending tracts of the dorsolateral funiculus in the cat.

Organization of the fibers in the descending tracts of the dorsolateral funiculus of the cervical spinal cord was investigated in cats. The spinal cord was penetrated with microelectrodes at 400 μm intervals in the medio-lateral direction at the c5/c6 and c6/c7 segmental borders. Silicon substrate microelectrodes with a linear arrangement of activated iridium contacts were used. The stimulus consisted of a 20 ms train of charge balanced biphasic current pulses at 330 Hz. The evoked activities from selected forelimb muscles were acquired into computer. Only the data points with an activation threshold of less than 35 μA were considered in the analysis. Muscle contractions were mostly in the form of short twitches. In both spinal segments, an area of high threshold was found in the middle of the dorsolateral funiculus. Majority of the muscles studied had a dorsal or ventral concentration of activation points. The distal muscles were mostly activated in the ventro-lateral aspect of the funiculus, while the elbow muscle maps spread to both dorsal and ventral sides. These results show a functional organization in both cervical segments studied, with overlapping regions between the areas dedicated for each forelimb muscle.
The perception of selected aspects of smile esthetics—smile arcs and buccal corridors

A primary goal of orthodontics is the attainment of ideal facial and dental esthetics. Recently, orthodontics has experienced a “paradigm shift” to focus more on esthetics, with specific emphasis on the soft tissues around the month. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of changes in smile arcs and buccal corridors and interactions on the perceptions of smile esthetics as it relates to orthodontists and laypersons. The specific aims were (1) to develop a digital model that can be manipulated in a quantifiable manner to present the variables of interest (ie, smile arcs and buccal corridors) to orthodontists and laypersons, (2) to quantitatively evaluate the effects of changes in smile arcs and buccal corridors and combinations thereof by using the digital model on the perceptions of smile esthetics as judged by orthodontists and laypersons via a web-based survey, (3) to assess the effects of changes in smile arcs and buccal corridors and combinations thereof on the perceptions of smile acceptability as judged by orthodontists and laypersons via a web-based survey, and (4) to determine the possible effects of characteristics of orthodontists and laypersons on the variables related to smile esthetics. The approach used was to present experienced orthodontists with digital images of male and female smiles so that they could manually adjust the smile arcs and buccal corridors to match criteria we requested. These data were used to create a group of standard images (9 male, 9 female) that demonstrate the medians or the categories of smile arc and buccal corridors for rating by a larger group of orthodontists and laypersons. All images were presented via interactive, web-based surveys. The results of the attractiveness study indicate that both laypersons and orthodontists prefer the smile arc parallel to the lower lip and minimal buccal corridors. Significantly lower attractiveness ratings were found for smiles with flat smile arcs and excessive buccal corridors. Flattening the smile arc overwhelms the deleterious effects of excessive buccal corridors on attractiveness ratings. Based on the results of this study, care should be taken not to produce an excessively flat smile arc during orthodontic treatment. Although the acceptability data follow trends in attractiveness, there is a broad range of acceptability that is not evident in the attractiveness data. Orthodontists and laypersons both found smiles with excessive buccal corridors to be less acceptable than those with ideal or absent buccal corridors, but they were still acceptable over 70% of the time. Flat smiles arcs were acceptable only 50%-60% of the time, whereas smiles with ideal and excessive smile arcs were acceptable 84%-95% of the time. When studying dental and facial esthetics, the clinician must realize that, although attractiveness scores might indicate a detrimental result, that result could still be acceptable to most people.
Roles of Estradiol and Progesterone in Eliciting the Midcycle Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Surges*

The positive feedback effects of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) on LH and FSH release were studied under novel experimental conditions in three women of reproductive age who had undergone oophorectomy and received uninterrupted E2 replacement by subdermal implants. Basal serum E2 levels were in the midfollicular phase range, while LH and FSH levels were normal or slightly elevated. Each volunteer underwent seven experiments at 2- to 4-week intervals, receiving im injections of increasing amounts of estradiol benzoate (E2B) alone and in combination with P. The time and dose of P (administered via P-impregnated polysiloxane intravaginal rings) were varied. In two of the seven experiments, P was given without E2B injections. In all three subjects, increasing serum E2 levels mimicking the preovulatory E2 peak were followed by a surge of LH but not of FSH. However, when serum P levels rose after an increase in serum E2 concentrations had occurred, the LH surge occurred earlier and was accompanied by an FS...
Epithelial cell cultures from the colon of the suckling rat.

Epithelial cells from the colon of suckling rats have been propagated in vitro. The colons were excised and cut longitudinally. The epithelial sheets were peeled off and dissociated in 0.1% trypsin solution at 25°C for 10 min. The first cell suspension was discarded and the remaining fragments trypsinized again for an additional 20 min. The dissociated cells were washed and cultured. Forty-eight hours later, several epithelial colonies consisting of closely packed polygonal cells were formed. Transmission and scanning electron microscope examination of the colonies showed numerous regularly spaced microvilli on the surface and tight junctions and desmosomes between adjacent cells. Immunocytochemical studies with antiserum prepared against the brush-border membrane of the colonic epithelium showed specific staining of the epithelial colonies. Epithelial colonies were subcultured by the penicylinder method. Although the subcultured cells retained their epithelial characteristics, the proliferative activity of the cells gradually decreased. Currently, efforts are being made to determine the optimum nutritional requirements of the primary and low-passage cultures.
The role of histamine and histamine receptors in the pathogenesis and treatment of erosive gastritis

Experiments have demonstrated the importance of histamine and intraluminal acid in the pathogenesis of gastric stress erosions. Histamine H2 receptor antagonists were found to protect against stress ulcers and bleeding in experimental animals and in patients at risk. The seriousness of this clinical problem has been almost eliminated by the use of antacids or histamine antagonists designed to reduce intraluminal gastric acidity.
QCD sum rules at low temperature.

We discuss finite-temperature QCD sum rules at low temperatures, including perturbative as well as nonperturbative thermal corrections. The electric and magnetic condensates of the thermalized QCD state are extracted from present lattice calculations of the energy density and pressure. Alternative parametrizations based on instanton calculations and string behavior at finite temperature are also discussed. Throughout, a particular emphasis is put on the nature and size of the temperature corrections. In the ${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ channel the temperature behavior of the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ parameters are investigated. In the range of applicability of the sum-rule procedure, the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ parameters are found to vary slowly with temperature.
The application of bone marrow transplantation to the treatment of genetic diseases

Genetic diseases can be treated by transplantation of either normal allogeneic bone marrow or, potentially, autologous bone marrow into which the normal gene has been inserted in vitro (gene therapy). Histocompatible allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is used for the treatment of genetic diseases whose clinical expression is restricted to lymphoid or hematopoietic cells. The therapeutic role of bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of generalized genetic diseases, especially those affecting the central nervous system, is under investigation. The response of a generalized genetic disease to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may be predicted by experiments in vitro. Gene therapy can be used only when the gene responsible for the disease has been characterized. Success of gene therapy for a specific genetic disease may be predicted by its clinical response to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Reassessing Export Diversification Strategies: A Cross-Country Comparison

This article uses a sample of 44 countries to assess their export performance over the period 1988-2012, using the single-index model, a part of the modern portfolio theory. The article builds four clusters of countries classified by the dominance of exports of 1) fuel products, 2) manufactured products, 3) food items and agricultural products and 4) ores and minerals. All countries in the sample obtain a dominant majority of their export earnings from these broad categories of products. The results are that the export portfolios comprised of manufactured products have a superior performance than export portfolios comprised of non-manufactured products. In particular, from a risk-return perspective the export portfolio of manufactured products dominates the export portfolio of food items and agricultural products which in turn dominates the export portfolio of fuel products and of ores and minerals. This domination validates a priori belief that manufacturing goods and exports is the best strategy for development of exports of a country. An important caveat is that this rosy scenario is unlikely to last. The implications for countries and firms are also discussed.
Soviet Nationality Policy, Urban Growth, and Identity Change in the Ukrainian SSR 1923-1934

In the early 1920s the Bolsheviks, who were overwhelmingly urban, proletarian, and Russian, believed that rapid industrialization would dissolve the non-Russian national identities and create a solid base of support for the new political order. By the end of the decade, however, the social changes initiated by rapid economic development strengthened national assertiveness. This book analyzes the precarious relationship between Soviet legitimacy-building and the consequences of rapid industrial development in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the most populous non-Russian republic in the USSR, during the 1920s and 1930s. The author shows how the interplay between industrialization, urbanization, and Soviet preferential policies produced a modern, urban Ukrainian identity. This, he argues, explains why the Stalinist leadership changed its course on the nationality question in the 1930s and gave precedence to the Russians in the USSR.
Comparison of interpolation methods in three-dimensional surface display

The three-dimensional (3-D) object data obtained from a scanner usually have unequal sampling frequencies in the x y and z directions. Generally the 3-D data is first interpolated between slices to obtain isotropic resolution reconstructed then operated on by object extraction and display algorithms. Several interpolation methods are available. Here three interpolation algorithms: hnear polynomial and shape methods are used for comparison. The performances of these three algorithms are compared based on the image quality and accuracy in volume measurement of the 3-D object. 1.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Range, light-cone dominance and scaling at low Q2 in electroproduction

Abstract The analysis of light cone singularities is used to connect the y · P, or range, dependence of the current correlation function with the Q2 dependence of the inelastic electroproduction structure functions. We study for what regions of the Q2, ν plane and for what y · P dependence the leading light-cone singularity dominates contributions from less singular terms with the same y · P dependence. When the leading singularity can be shown to dominate for a particular region of Q2 and ν, we study whether this implies scaling for νW2 in that kinematic region. It is shown that a division of the current correlation function into short and long range contributions is fundamentally ambiguous and not related to scaling at low Q2. Short range terms which are shown to be light-cone dominated for all Q2 so long as ν → ∞, are found but are shown not to scale at low Q2 and to be indistinguishable from corrections to long range terms which produce the leading Regge behavior. We show that leading Regge terms may receive contributions far away from the light cone for small virtual photon mass, but that light-cone dominance and scaling are recovered when the photon mass is taken very large.