cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Natural Mating Stimuli on Serum Luteinizing Hormone, Testosterone and Estradiol-17β in Yearling Beef Bulls

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of natural mating stimuli on serum concentrations of LH, testosterone (T) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) in beef bulls. Twenty sexually experienced, yearling beef bulls were bled every 15 min during a 9-h period, 4 h before and 5 h after exposure to estrual females. For exposure, each bull was placed individually in an isolated pen with two restrained estrual heifers for 10 min or until one service was achieved. Timing and number of all behavioral events, including flehmen responses, abortive mounts and services, were recorded for each bull by two independent observers. Of the 20 bulls, 9 bulls mounted and were removed immediately after achieving a service, 8 bulls mounted without achieving a service and 3 bulls exhibited no interest during exposure. Twelve bulls achieved fewer than three and eight bulls achieved three or more flehmen responses during exposure. Postexposure responses in LH, T and E2 were not consistently correlated with number of mounts or presence or absence of a service. However, postexposure LH and T, but not E2, responses were highly correlated with number of flehmen responses achieved (r = .40 to .66; P = .08 to .001). In bulls that achieved three or more flehmen responses, serum LH increased within 30 min after exposure (P = .02) and serum T was increased dramatically within 1 h after exposure (P less than .01), compared with preexposure hormone concentrations, regardless of the number of mounts and regardless of the presence or absence of a service. Natural mating stimuli had no effect on serum E2, and mounting activity alone and mounting that culminated in a service did not necessarily result in increased LH or T in beef bulls. However, number of flehmen responses achieved during exposure to females dramatically influenced postexposure serum LH and T concentrations in beef bulls.
Oscillations in Flowing and Heated Subcritical Hydrogen

This experiment extends the range of earlier work[1–3] to pressures as low as 30 psia. Earlier work was for pressures above 110 psia. In the previous experiments, the oscillations were characterized as Helmholtz modes and the harmonics of a resonant pipe open at both ends. In this work, the downstream plenum which was basic to the Heimholtz mode has been eliminated, Nevertheless, a threshold phenomenon quite similar to that previously developed [2,3] was found to exist, and a meaningful interpretation in terms of Zuber’s [4] recent density variation theory has been developed, The work of Zuber is based upon the combustion instability theory of Crocco and Cheng [5] and the more recent developments of Wallis and Heasley [6] and Boure [7]. The derivation of Zuber closely parallels the definitive work of Crocco and Cheng and is extended to consider the supercritical state, The mechanism of oscillation is in terms of density variation, with “lags” in time and space related to the transition from a heavy fluid to a light fluid and is not dissimilar to the treatment of Boure, Zuber also presents threshold criteria for two limiting conditions, small and large subcooling. The former is used in this work.
Functional dissection of glycoconjugates during development: Lessons from the fruitfly

複合糖質研究は今、新しい時代に入った。これらの分子の、組織中における機能解析が特に重要になってきたのである。この情報は、これらの分子がどのように病気に関与するのか、そしてこれらの分子をどのように操作し人々の健康に役立てるのか、といったことを考える上で欠くことができない。複合糖質機能に関する洞察は、意外な生き物、特にキイロショウジョウバエから得られている。ショウジョウバエは、きちんとひとそろいの複合糖質を持ち、これらは脊椎動物のものと保存されている。また、この生き物の研究には様々な発生遺伝学的手法を用いることができる。このような条件によりショウジョウバエは、複合糖質という多岐にわたる、そして機能的に興味深い分子の役割を理解する上で、極めて優れたモデル系となっているのである。発生遺伝学は、生化学、構造生物学、分子生物学と組み合わせることにより、複合糖質の完全な理解を助けるだろう。そしてその情報はそのまま、ヒトを含む、他のシステムや生物へ応用することが可能なのである。どのようにして複合糖質がこれにリンクするタンパク質や脂質の活性を変え、シグナル伝達や発生過程のパターン形成に影響を及ぼしているのか、という点を理解することが現在の大きな課題である。また、糖鎖により制御される細胞の活性も、やっと解析が始まったところにすぎない。例えば、プロテオグリカンはどのようにしてマトリックス中のモルフォゲンのレベルに影響を与えるのだろうか? この、パターン形成に欠くことのできない分子の、安定性に影響するのであろうか。もしくは、そのエンドサイトーシスや拡散を調節するのか。ショウジョウバエ研究の様々な技術によって、これらの疑問の答えが得られるであろう。そして、ショウジョウバエは複合糖質の機能を生体レベルで理解する上で、今後も役に立つに違いない。
Ecological and Evolutionary Importance of Host Plant Chemistry

In the last two decades, there has been an increasing interest in the inter-disciplinary subject of the chemical ecology of insects. A large part of this subject concerns the chemistry of the interactions between insects and their host plants. The cactus-microorganism-Drosophila model system of the Sonoran Desert provides an excellent opportunity to pursue the subject of chemical ecology in a system which is also amenable to the study of evolutionary and ecological genetics. By examining the chemical interactions between the desert Drosophila and their cactus host plants, insights into aspects of the habitat that impact on the fitness of the flies can be gained. The cactophilic Drosophila in this model system feed and breed in necrotic stems of columnar cacti. In order to do this, the flies must be able to locate suitable rot pockets, assimilate required nutrients, and be able to tolerate whatever toxic compounds might be present in the cactus tissue. Microorganisms which grow in the developing rot serve as a food source for the Drosophila as well as modify the cactus tissue both physically and chemically.
Genome-wide analysis of HIF-1 binding with chromatin immunoprecipitation and tiled microarray

2444 Hypoxia is a hallmark of tumors, and adaptation is mostly mediated by the transcription factors Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) and HIF-2. Hypoxia results in accumulation of HIFs, which bind to the cognate Hypoxia-Response Element (HRE) and transactivate target genes that contribute to many aspects of cancer progression. To better understand the mechanisms of HIF-mediated transactivation, we have mapped HIF-1 binding sites on a genome-wide scale using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by analysis on tiled genomic arrays (ChIP-on-chip). Triplicate HIF-1 ChIP’ed DNA from both normoxic and hypoxic HepG2 cells are hybridized onto Affymetrix Human Tiling Arrays 2.0R, which contain probes across the whole genome with a 35 base resolution. Using model-based analysis tiling array algorithm, MAT, we have identified both known and novel HIF-1 binding sites and target genes. In contrast to estrogen receptor (ER), most HIF-1 binding sites are found in promoter regions. Integration of ChIP-on-chip with gene expression profiling and motif scanning data has revealed new details of HIF-1 mediated gene transactivation, as well as mechanisms of suppression of gene activation.
A Versatile Approach to Noncanonical, Dynamic Covalent Single- and Multi-Loop Peptide Macrocycles for Enhancing Antimicrobial Activity.

Peptide oligomers offer versatile scaffolds for the formation of potent antimicrobial agents due to their high sequence versatility, inherent biocompatibility, and chemical tunability. Though many methods exist for the formation of peptide-based macrocycles (MCs), increasingly pervasive in commercial antimicrobial therapeutics, the introduction of multiple looped structures into a single peptide oligomer remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report the utilization of dynamic hydrazone condensation for the versatile formation of single-, double-, and triple-loop peptide MCs using simple dialdehyde or dihydrazide small-molecule cross-linkers, as confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS, HPLC, and SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, incorporation of aldehyde-containing side chains onto peptides synthesized from hydrazide C-terminal resins resulted in tunable peptide MC assemblies formed directly upon resin cleavage post solid-phase peptide synthesis. Both of these types of dynamic covalent assemblies produced significant enhancem...
Influence of β-Glucanase Activity on Malt Modification12

The relation between malt modification and malted barley extracts able to hydrolyze the β-glucosidic linkages of barley β-glucan and laminarin was examined to develop a more rapid procedure for est...
Born that Way? Not a Choice?: Problems with Biological and Psychological Arguments for Gay Rights

Many people, especially legal and political advocates for gay rights, believe that it would be good for gay rights if sexual orientations were innate, inborn, or not chosen. The central legal context for the "born that way" and "not a choice" arguments for gay rights is the immutability factor in equal protection jurisprudence. Although many in the legal academy have argued against the significance of immutability, recently two state supreme courts, as part of denying claims for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships, invoked immutability as a condition for heightened scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause and held that the gay plaintiffs had failed to satisfy this condition. This Article argues that there are serious problems with legal, ethical, and political arguments for gay rights that make use of scientific theories of how sexual orientations develop. On this basis and others, this Article concludes that advocates should avoid biological, psychological, and other scientific arguments for gay rights.
War, Strategy, and Military Effectiveness: Thoughts on British Intelligence in World War II and the Implications for Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century

The Greek Thucydides, the greatest of all historians, suggested in the early passages of his work on the Peloponnesian War that it “will be enough for me, however, if these words of mine are judged useful by those who want to understand clearly the events which happened in the past and which (human nature being what it is) will, at some time or other and in much the same ways, be repeated in the future.” The problem with Thucydides’ claim is that history rarely suggests exact patterns. At best, it can provide illumination to help in understanding the complex problems that confront today's policy makers and military leaders. The best one can hope for from history is that it will suggest the right questions, or how to think more coherently and intelligently about current problems. This chapter examines the development of British intelligence over the course of the Second World War for insights into how America's present-day intelligence organizations might consider and address their own problems. Admittedly considerable differences exist between the challenges the British faced and those confronting Americans today. Yet, there are also similarities that may help address the complex and intractable problems of the twenty-first century. At the least, the success of British intelligence in the Second World War would seem to suggest lessons adaptable to today's conditions.
Family history and risk of breast cancer in hispanic and non-hispanic women: the New Mexico Women's Health Study.

Objectives: Many epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that an increased risk of breast cancer is associated with positive family history of this disease. Little information had been available on the relationship of breast cancer risk with family history in Hispanic women. To investigate the association of family history of breast cancer on the risk of breast cancer, we examined the data from the New Mexico Women's Health Study (NMWHS), a statewide case–control study.
The (New?) Right of Making Available to the Public

The Berne Convention 1971 Paris Act covered the right of communication to the public incompletely and imperfectly through a tangle of occasionally redundant or self-contradictory provisions on "public performance," "communication to the public," "public communication," "broadcasting," and other forms of transmission. Worse, the scope of rights depended on the nature of the work, with musical and dramatic works receiving the broadest protection, and images the least; literary works, especially those adapted into cinematographic works, lying somewhere in between. The 1996 WIPO Copyright Treaty rationalized and synthesized protection by establishing full coverage of the communication right for all protected works of authorship. The WCT also introduced a new designation, the "right of making available to the public." This right corresponds to much communication of works over the Internet, whose users "access these works from a place and at a time individually chosen by them" (WCT art. 8). As the drafters of the WCT (and its companion "Internet treaty" the WIPO Performers' and Phonograms Treaty, arts. 10 and 14) sought to modernize the Berne Convention to address new exploitations by means of new technologies, one might infer that the "right of making available" is something new and different, not previously within the Berne Convention minimum rights protected. If so, then Berne Convention members who have not yet ratified the WCT are not obliged to enforce foreign Berne Union authors' rights of making available (unless that country's own authors enjoy such a right, in which case the principle of national treatment would require extending the same protection to Unionist authors). The WCT has entered into force, but many Berne Member States have yet to ratify the treaty. As a result, the determination whether the "right of making available" is a substantive enlargement of Berne Convention rights, rather than a reaffirmation of the scope of the rights already mandated by Berne, carries practical consequences. Another practical consequence of the characterization of the "making available" right concerns its amenability to compulsory licensing. To the extent the right was comprehended within the Berne Convention art. 11bis broadcasting and retransmissions rights, Member States may subject it to compulsory licensing. Were the right either outside the Berne Convention altogether, or included only within the "communication to the public" rights set out in other articles of the Berne Convention, then Member States must treat the making available right as an exclusive right.
Variable Selection for Classification and Regression in Large p, Small n Problems

Classification and regression problems in which the number of predictor variables is larger than the number of observations are increasingly common with rapid technological advances in data collection. Because some of these variables may have little or no influence on the response, methods that can identify the unimportant variables are needed. Two methods that have been proposed for this purpose are EARTH and Random forest (RF). This article presents an alternative method, derived from the GUIDE classification and regression tree algorithm, that employs recursive partitioning to determine the degree of importance of the variables. Simulation experiments show that the new method improves the prediction accuracy of several nonparametric regression models more than Random forest and EARTH. The results indicate that it is not essential to correctly identify all the important variables in every situation. Conditions for which this occurs are obtained for the linear model. The article concludes with an application of the new method to identify rare molecules in a large genomic data set.
Towards extending super-conducting nanowire single-photon detectors into the infrared wavelength range

We characterize the long-wavelength transmission of coiled and uncoiled SMF-28 and SM2000 fibers, which is important for extending the range of super-conducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) to infrared wavelengths beyond 1550 nm.
Recent Advances in AERI Data Processing: Real-time Quality Control and Real-time Thermodynamic Retrievals

The Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) measures downwelling thermal infrared radiance from the atmosphere. Recent development of real-time quality control and thermodynamic retrievals transform the AERI into a vastly more valuable tool for atmospheric science.
Innovating the Check-In, Check-Out Intervention: A Process for Creating Adaptations:

Check-in, check-out (CICO), an intervention implemented with students at risk for behavioral disorders, addresses minor misbehaviors by providing students with a structured means of receiving posit...
Using Radiachromic Films for Soft X-Ray Dosimetry

The soft x-ray contact microscopy station at LBL images wet, living biological specimens with a resolution better than 1000 A. High doses of soft x-rays are required to record a latent image onto a polymer resist which is then developed and examined by electron microscopy. In order to interpret the resulting image, it is necessary to determine whether the structure of the cell has changed during the exposure. We would therefore like to know which components of the cell change, how much radiation is necessary to produce the change, and whether the structural changes affect the soft x-ray micrograph. Before these questions may be answered, we must establish a dosimetric standard for soft x-ray microscopy. The soft x-ray contact microscopy station was calibrated by using radiachromic nylon film which in turn was standardized with a known source at our laboratory.
A Monte Carlo Tree Search Player for Birds of a Feather Solitaire.

Artificial intelligence in games serves as an excellent platform for facilitating collaborative research with undergraduates. This paper explores several aspects of a research challenge proposed for a newly-developed variant of a solitaire game. We present multiple classes of game states that can be identified as solvable or unsolvable. We present a heuristic for quickly finding goal states in a game state search tree. Finally, we introduce a Monte Carlo Tree Search-based player for the solitaire variant that can win almost any solvable starting deal efficiently.
Bilateral optic disc pits in a pediatric patient with Cobb syndrome

Abstract Purpose To describe a patient with Cobb Syndrome, a rare congenital disorder characterized by cutaneous and spinal arteriovenous malformations, who was found to have bilateral optic nerve pits. Observations A 15-year-old boy diagnosed with Cobb Syndrome, manifesting as a large cutaneous port-wine stain associated with an underlying left paraspinous arteriovenous malformation resulting in severe scoliosis, presented for a screening ophthalmological exam. The patient had no visual symptoms. On examination, his visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye; however, bilateral optic disc pits were discovered on biomicroscopy and confirmed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Conclusion and importance The unusual finding of bilateral optic disc pits in this rare congenital neurocutaneous disorder represents the first report of ophthalmic abnormalities in association with Cobb syndrome. Patients with Cobb Syndrome may be considered for screening ophthalmological exam for the detection of subclinical optic nerve abnormalities.
Analysis of bleeding risk with concurrent treatment of VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and factor Xa inhibitors.

e19305Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) may interfere with the coagulation system making patients susceptible to both hemorrhage a...
Deep Ensemble Models for 16S Ribosomal Gene Classification

In bioinformatics analysis, the correct identification of an unknown sequence by subsequent matching with a known sequence is a crucial and critical initial step. One of the constantly evolving open and challenging areas of research is understanding the adaptation of microbiome communities derived from different environment as well as human gut. The critical component of such studies is to analyze 16s rRNA gene sequence and classify it to a corresponding taxonomy. Thus far recent literature discusses such sequence classification tasks being solved using many algorithms such as early methods of k-mer frequency matching, and assembly-based clustering or advanced methods of machine learning algorithms– for instance, random forests, naive Bayesian techniques, and recently deep learning architectures. Our previous work focused on a comprehensive study of 16s rRNA gene classification by implementing simplistic singular neural models of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The outcome of this study demonstrated very promising classification results for family, genus and species taxonomic levels, prompting an immediate investigation into deep ensemble models for problem at hand. In this study, we attempt to classify 16s rRNA gene using deep ensemble models along with a hybrid model that emulates an ensemble in its early convolutional layers followed by a recurrent layer.
Blood Flow Restriction Training in Athletes

This paper aims to review the available literature regarding blood flow restriction training (BFRT), summarize its mechanisms of action, address safety concerns, and help direct protocol development and practical implementation, particularly in athletes. Recent literature, in both athletic and clinical cohorts, has explored the safety and efficacy of BFRT; however, rigorous randomized controlled trials with consistent protocols are lacking. BFRT is a promising clinical and athletic training tool; however, it should be used in a controlled setting with an individualized approach. Implementation as an adjunct to traditional resistance training appears useful, with particular benefit to individuals unable to tolerate high-load training. Evidence suggests consistent muscle hypertrophy and strength responses; however, more research is needed regarding its use in athlete-specific training and rehabilitation.
A Fully Automatic Method for Rapidly Mapping Impacted Area by Natural Disaster

Deep learning based change detection methods have achieved the state-of-the-art performance in several recent studies. However, such methods usually are supervised, and therefore a large number of training samples is often a requisite. Manually preparing those training samples is not only expensive but also time-consuming, which does not fit the need of rapidly mapping the impacted area caused by nature disaster for further rescue mission and damage assessment. In this study, a fully automatic method was proposed to address the issue by automating training sample generation for mapping the impacted area caused by nature disaster. We used the 2011 tornado event in Joplin, Missouri, US, as an example of its application. The generated impacted area map was both visually and quantitatively evaluated against the ground truth data collected by US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The results show that the map matches well with the FEMA ground truth data with 86% of major-damaged and destroyed buildings identified by FEMA on the ground also detected by this fully automatic framework using very high resolution (VHR) satellite images.
Book Review - Draft No. 4 (by John McPhee)

"Draft No. 4" is an essay collection by John McPhee about his long career as a journalist for The New Yorker. This book review uses the essay collection as a jumping-off point to discuss the similarities and differences between legal writing and long-form journalism, and what legal writers can learn about the writing process from journalists like McPhee.
Polizei und Gewalt auf der Straße. Konfliktmuster und ihre Folgen im Berlin des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts

Berlin war seit dem fruhen 19. Jahrhundert eine Stadt, in der immer wieder gewalttatige Strasenkampfe ausgetragen wurden. Dazu gehorten Konfl ikte zwischen Polizisten und der zivilen Bevolkerung der Stadt. Die enormen Veranderungen von Rolle wie Bedeutung der Stadt zementierten die Muster dieser Konfl ikte. Auch die „Modernisierung“ von Staat und Staatlichkeit in Deutschland veranderte dies nicht; ebenso wenig wie die Vielfalt der Akteure, die an diesen Auseinandersetzungen beteiligt waren. Gewalttatige Auseinandersetzungen auf den Strasen kennzeichneten freilich auch weitere deutsche Stadte – aber auch andere europaische Metropolen, insbesondere die Hauptstadte.
A Pumping Lemma for Two-Way Finite Transducers

A two-way nondeterministic finite transducer (2-NFT) is a finite automaton with a two-way input tape and a one-way output tape. The generated language of a 2-NFT is the set of all strings it can output (across all inputs). Whereas two-way nondeterministic finite acceptors (2-NFAs) accept only regular languages, 2-NFTs can generate languages which are not even context-free, e.g. \(\{\texttt{a}^n \texttt{b}^n \texttt{c}^n \mid n \geq 0\}\). We prove a pumping lemma for 2-NFT languages which strengthens and generalizes previous results. Our pumping lemma states that every 2-NFT language L is k-iterative for some k ≥ 1. That is, every string in L above a certain length can be expressed in the form x 1 y 1 x 2 y 2 ⋯ x k y k x k + 1, where the ys can be “pumped” to produce new strings in L of the form \(x_1 y_1^i x_2 y_2^i \dotsm x_k y_k^i x_{k+1}\).
The L1 Family of Repetitive Sequences in Mammals

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the L1 family of repetitive sequences in mammals. All mammals that have been tested carry a family of large dispersed repetitive sequences in their genomes called “L1.” This element is a transposon that encodes proteins important for L1. The L1 family is different from other characterized transposons in a number of ways. L1 has no long terminal repeats. Most members of the family carry 5´ polar truncations of various lengths. These differences clearly suggest that L1 must replicate in a novel fashion. Arguments can be made both for and against a selfish mode of replication. The element transposes at a very high rate in the mouse and must generate a substantial genetic load for the species. This raises the possibility that Ll may play a noticeable role in the extinction of species.
Design and fabrication of sinusoidal spectral filters for multispectral imaging

Multispectral imaging beyond the three RGB colors still remains a challenge, especially in portable inexpensive systems. In this paper, we describe the design and fabrication of broadband multichroic filters that have a sinusoidal transmission spectra to utilize a novel methodology based on the Fourier spectral reconstruction in the frequency domain. Since the spectral filters are posed as an optimal sampling of hyperspectral images, they also allow for the reconstruction of the full spectrum from subsequent demosaicking algorithms. Unlike conventional Color Filter Arrays (CFA) which utilizes absorption dyes embedded in a polymeric material, the sinusoidal multichroic filters require an all-dielectric interference filter design. However, the goal of most dielectric filter designs is to achieve sharp transitions with high-contrast. A smoothly varying sinusoidal transition is more difficult with conventional approaches. However, this can be achieved by trading off the contrast. Following the principles of a simple Fabry-Perot cavity, we have designed and built interference filters from 0.5 sinusoidal periods to 3 sinusoidal periods from 450nm to 900nm spectral range. Also, in order to maintain a uniform period across the entire spectrum, the material must have a very low dispersion. In this design, we have used ZnS as the cavity material. The six filters have been used in a multispectral imaging test bed.
Reading Annotations: An Alternative Approach to the Reception of Qu You’s New Tales for the Trimmed Lampwick in Tokugawa Japan

Qu You’s (1347-1433) New tales for the trimmed lampwick( Jiandeng xinhua) was one of the most popular Chinese texts in early modern Japan. By scrutinizing how this collection of ghost tales was referenced within Zen Buddhist commentary, this article sheds light on the significant role of annotations in popularizing New talesin Tokugawa society. Japanese Zen scholar-monks cited Qu You’s collection for the Zen dialogue called ‘The Disembodied Soul of Qiannu’ from a Song-dynasty kōancollection entitled The gateless barrier( Wumen guan) because they considered New talesas the origin for the story of Qiannu and thus the renowned Qiannu kōan. The incorrect but intriguing tie that developed between New talesand this famous kōan illustrates the way in which Japanese Buddhist monks incorporated a Korean annotated edition of New talesand how the reading practice of annotations came to give religious authority to Qu You’s ghost tales.
Syntheses of DNA Duplexes That Contain a N4C-alkyl-N4C Interstrand Cross-Link

This unit describes a simple procedure for preparing short DNA duplexes that contain a single N(4)C-alkyl-N(4)C interstrand cross-link. The synthesis is carried out on an automated DNA synthesizer using standard phosphoramidite chemistry. The cross-link is introduced during the synthesis of the duplex. The method can be used to prepare milligram quantities of cross-linked duplexes suitable for physical studies and for the preparation of larger DNA molecules that can be used as substrates to study DNA repair in whole cell extracts and in living cells in culture.
Gas-Bubble Growth Mechanisms in the Analysis of Metal Fuel Swelling

Under steady state conditions, irradiation resorption of fission gas from bubbles limits the swelling rates of metallic fast-reactor fuels to relatively small values. During transient thermal excursions, however, resorption effects diminish relative to thermal kinetics. Various bubble-growth mechanisms then become important components of the swelling These mechanisms include growth by diffusion, for bubbles within grains and on grain boundaries; dislocation nucleation at the bubble surface, or "punchout"; and bubble growth by creep. Analyses of these mechanisms are presented and applied to provide information on the conditions and the relative time scales for which the various processes should dominate fuel swelling. The results are compared to a series of experiments in which the swelling of irradiated metal fuel was determined after annealing at various temperatures and pressures. The diffusive growth of bubbles on grain boundaries is concluded to be dominant in these experiments.
Toward a theory of situational support: A model for exploring fundraising, advocacy and organizational support

Abstract Through replication with three national survey datasets (N = 658, N = 673, N = 208), this study extends research aimed at developing a new model that combines variables from the situational theory of problem solving and the theory of reasoned action to explain communication and participation related to fundraising events. Findings from the three studies provide empirical evidence for a new model and an emerging theory of situational support, which may help explain how and why individuals come to support certain causes, events or organizations.
CT findings after uncomplicated and complicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecytectomy (LC) is quickly becoming the standard procedure for gallbladder removal. Recent studies indicate that this new procedure compares favorably with open cholecystectomy in mortality and overall morbidity. Imaging has assumed an important role in the diagnosis and management of postoperative complications. This report reviews the CT findings after uncomplicated LC as well as the spectrum of CT findings seen with various postoperative complications.
Validation of the Radiometric Stability of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder

It has been widely accepted that an infrared sounder in low polar orbit is capable of producing climate quality data, if the spectral brightness temperatures have instrumental trends of less than 10 mK/yr. Achieving measurement stability at this level is not only very demanding of the design of the instrument, it is also pushes the state of art of measuring on orbit what stability is actually achieved. We discuss this using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) L1B data collected between 2002 and 2011. We compare the L1B brightness temperature observed in cloud filtered night tropical ocean spectra (obs) to the brightness temperature calculated based on the known surface emissivity, temperature and water vapor profiles from the ECMWF ReAnalysis (ERA) and the growth rates of CO2, N2O and Ozone. The trend in (obs-calc) is a powerful tool for the evaluation of the stability of the 2378 AIRS channels. We divided the channels into seven classes: All channels which sound in the stratosphere (at pressure levels below 150 hPa), 14 micron CO2 sounding, 4 micron CO2 P-branch sounding, 4 micron CO2 R-branch sounding, water vapor sounding, shortwave surface sounding and longwave surface sounding. The peak in the weighting function at 1050 hPa separates sounding and surface channels. The boundary between shortwave and longwave is 5 microns. Except for the stratosphere sounding channels, the remaining six groups have (obs-calc) trends of less than 20 mK/yr. The longwave surface channels have trends of 2 mK/yr, significantly less than the 8 mK/yr trend seem in the shortwave window channels. Based on the design of the instrument, trends within a group of channels should be the same. While the longwave and shortwave trends are less than the canonical 10 mK/yr, the larger trend in the shortwave channels could be an artifact of using the pre-launch determined calibration coefficients. This is currently under evaluation. The trend in (obs-calc) for the non-surface sounding channels, in particular for stratosphere sounding and upper tropospheric water channels, is dominated by artifacts created in calc, most likely due to changes in the ERA Ozone and water vapor. Based on this argument the best estimate of the trend for the channels within a channel group is given by the surface sensitive channels within the group. Based on this consideration we estimated the trend of all AIRS longwave channels as 2 mK/yr, while the shortwave channels have a trend of 8 mK/yr.
Pathogenesis and Treatment of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

In contrast to women who experience infrequent episodes of candidal vaginitis, patients with chronic and recurrent candidal vaginitis rarely have recognizable precipitating or causal factors. Analysis of vaginal yeast isolated from women with recurrent candidal vaginitis uncommonly reveals a higher percentage of non-albicans Candida species. There is no indication that resistance to azoles is a causal factor, and no other fungal virulence factors have been identified to explain the repeated attacks. Strain typing of sequential clinical isolates by means of molecular techniques indicate a pattern of relapse due to persistent yeast in the vagina rather than frequent vaginal reinfection. Attempts to reduce the number of attacks by treating sexual partners and suppressing a gastrointestinal tract focus have failed. Recent immunological studies suggest the possibility that an acquired Candida antigen-specific immunological deficiency results in uncontrolled vaginal Candida proliferation and hence repeated clinically evident attacks. Although no definitive cure for recurrent candidal vaginitis exists, numerous therapeutic maintenance regimens with azoles are available that effectively control symptomatic infection.
[14C]cyanate labeling of sheep red cells: covalent binding to hemoglobin continues in vivo for a day.

The sheep is a useful model to study fetal and newborn physiology including perinatal erythropoiesis and red cell kinetics. A practical, economical method for measuring red cell survival (RCS) in sheep would be very valuable. However, 51Cr is unsatisfactory, and suitable alternatives have not been published. In the course of investigating [14C]cyanate as a label for sheep red cells, we observed continued covalent labeling over 24 h in vivo that was great enough to introduce a substantial artifact into two commonly used parameters of RCS: posttransfusion recovery(PTR24) and time to 50% decrease (T50) when referenced to time zero. In a simulation of in vivo conditions, the amount of14 C bound to Hb increased 26 ± 6% (mean ± 1 SD,n = 11) over 24 h. To investigate the mechanism of the increasing14 C bound, acid-acetone extraction, molecular sieve chromatography, and density gradient separation were used separately or in combination to quantitate intracellular free 14C and 14C covalently bound to intracellular proteins. Free 14C decreased as protein-bound[14C]cyanate increased. These studies provide evidence that covalent binding of [14C]cyanate to intracellular Hb continues in vivo for the first 24 h and that the source of the increase is intracellular free[14C]cyanate. We conclude that 1) PTR24 cannot be accurately determined by [14C]cyanate unless labeled red cells are incubated before infusion to allow the cyanate reaction to approach completion and 2) RCS by [14C]cyanate should be referenced to blood concentrations at 24 h.
The failure of ventricular sodium to control sodium appetite in the rat

Dilution of CSF sodium by infusion of hyperosmotic mannitol into the cerebral ventricles of the rat does not evoke a salt appetite, nor does the addition of sodium to the CSF of the rat suppress the preexisting salt appetites produced by the hormones of sodium conservation or by adrenalectomy. CSF sodium concentration does not control sodium appetite in the rat. The proposal that it does so in sheep should not be generalized to other species without caution.
Systems engineering processes for agile software development

As more defense systems are dependent on software, there has been increased interest in applying agile software development and delivery in Department of Defense (DoD) programs which are managed under DoD acquisition policy and guidance. Systems engineering guidance in the “Defense Acquisition Guidebook” [1] defines 16 systems engineering technical and technical management processes, which align to the systems engineering processes in ISO 15288 [2]. These processes are applied across DoD acquisition programs. This paper discusses how programs using an agile software development approach can tailor these processes to provide discipline and rigor to their acquisition program.
Observations on Twinning in the Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus) in the Laboratory

Abstract Forty-five sets of separate, normal twins were produced from four portions of the eggs from one female sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) each fertilized by a different male. The percentage of twinning in the different groups of embryos ranged from 1.0 to 1.7. Although the development of some of the twins was slightly slower than average, that of most was within the normal range for sea lamprey embryos. The twins were smaller than non-twins, and one twin was usually smaller than the other. Although the discovery of Siamese twins in fish is not uncommon, separate, normal twins have seldom been reported.
New concepts in the etiology of bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection worldwide. It has been linked to serious public health consequences including preterm birth, postoperative infections, and the acquisition and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. The etiology of BV remains unknown. In this article, controversies about sexual transmission, microbial pathogens, and heterogeneity of BV as a disease entity are discussed.
Non-linear least squares analysis of phase diagrams for non-ideal binary mixtures of phospholipids

A computer program for non-linear least squares minimization has been applied to construct temperature-composition phase diagrams for several binary systems of different phospholipids based on their calorimetric data. The calculated phase diagram is guided to fit the calorimetric data with two adjustable parameters that describe the non-ideal mixing of lipid components in the gel and liquid-crystalline phases. The parameter estimation procedure is presented to show that the computer program can be used not only to generate phase diagrams with characteristic shapes but also to numerically estimate the lipid-lipid pair interactions between the mixed and the like pairs in the two-dimensional plane of the bilayer in both the gel and liquid-crystalline states. The binary lipid systems examined include dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine/1-palmitoyl-2-stearoylphosphatidylchol ine, 1-capryl-2-behenoylphosphatidylcholine/1-behenoyl-2-lauro ylphosphatidylcholine, and 1-stearoyl-2-caprylphosphatidylcholine/dimyristoylphosphatidylchol ine.
Modeling the fatigue crack growth and propagation life of a joint of two elastic materials using interface elements

In this study, a new approach for the simulation of fatigue crack growth in two dissimilar elastic materials has been developed and specifically, the concept has been applied to a butt-welded joint. The phenomena of crack propagation and interface debonding can be regarded as the formation of new surface. Thus, it is possible to model these problems by introducing the mechanism of surface formation. In the proposed method, the formation of new surface is represented by an interface element based on the interface potential energy. The properties of this interface element represent the bonding strength of the material. As the cyclic load continues, the bonding strength decreases between the interacting surfaces and the crack propagates slowly. Based on this concept, an ANSYS code has been written for the simulation of crack propagation. Using this code, the fatigue crack growth rate and fatigue crack propagation life of a 2D Finite Element Method (FEM) model of a butt-welded joint for different stress ratios have been analyzed and presented in this paper. The variation of the crack opening displacement (COD) over crack lengths and crack tip stress and strain over crack tip stress have also been presented. The trend of fatigue crack growth rate is similar to results found in the literature. For validation, the predictions are compared with experimental results and reasonably good comparisons are found. The method is relatively simple compared to other conventional FEM methods and it eliminates the limitation of crack propagation of one element length per cycle and saves computer time significantly.
Mechanisms of Failure in the Repair of Large Retinal Tears

An analysis of large tears treated over a decade revealed that while dialyses responded well to circumferential buckling, horseshoe tears responded poorly. A circumferential intrusion of the globe augmented the redundancy of the posterior edge of long tears and predisposed to leaking radical folds. Tears up to 70 degrees responded favorably to radical buckles, often without drainage of subretinal fluid. Beyond 70 degrees and initial procedure with cryopexy and a gas tamponade without buckling reattached the retina occasionally, and if not, would at least reduce the problem to one manageable by local buckling techniques with a more favorable prognosis.
Industrial product managers: Authority and responsibility

Abstract This exporatory study concentrated on large industrial firms. The data indicate the IPM is well accepted, and has a very bright future. Their authority and responsibilities are similar to consumer goods PM's with technical aspects being the exceptions.
Intellectual Property and Access to ART: Authors' Reply

We would like to thank Richard Stallman [1] for emphasizing the distinction between intellectual property law and patent law, which was not fully elucidated in our article (“How Do Intellectual Property Law and International Trade Agreements Affect Access to Antiretroviral Therapy?”) [2]. However, we don't feel that this distinction detracts from our overall argument that restrictions placed on medicines in the name of protecting “intellectual property” hurt efforts to expand access to essential medicines throughout the world. It is not so much the specific distinctions between patenting and intellectual property that interest us, but general acceptance of the principle that life-saving medicines can be “owned” and kept from those most afflicted by disease—often living in poverty—based on this concept of ownership.
Review article: Anxiety, depression and stress in pregnancy: a multivariate model of intra-partum risks and pregnancy outcomes

This study evaluated a multivariate model in which the influence of maternal anxiety, depression and stress on infant postnatal status are seen as mediated by attitudes toward pregnancy, internal vs. external locus of control and perception of available social supports. Ante-partum and intra-partum complications are also included since they are associated with anxiety, depression and stress and have been shown to influence infant postnatal status.A total of 133 pregnant women completed: Beck Depression Inventory; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; PERI Life Events Scale; Rotter I-E Scale, Maternal Attitude Toward Pregnancy; Perceived Social Support Inventory. Composite Perinatal Risk Scales, Outcome-Specific Scales, the Nesbitt-Aubry Maternal-Child Health Care Index and Aubry-Pennington Labor Index were scored from medical records.Anxiety, depression and stress in pregnancy, while weakly correlated with outcome, showed expected relationships with mediating factors predicting gestational age, 5-min Apgar and N...
Management of poor postictal suppression during electroconvulsive therapy with propofol anesthesia: a report of two cases

There is increasing evidence that a greater degree of postictal suppression (the abruptness and magnitude of the EEG voltage drop at the end of the seizure) may be associated with better clinical response to electroconvulsive therapy. Retrospective studies have shown better postictal suppression when propofol is used for induction rather than the more commonly used methohexital. We report two patients in whom poor postictal suppression was rectified by switching from methohexital to propofol. The clinical significance of this improvement in postictal suppression is unclear, and prospective studies will be needed to clarify any clinical benefits.
Design and analysis of an adaptive policy for secure real-time locking protocol

Abstract A secure concurrency control algorithm must, in addition to maintaining consistency of the database, be free from covert channels arising due to data conflicts between transactions. Since the property of noninterference must be satisfied to ensure security, most existing secure concurrency control algorithms are unfair to transactions at higher access classes. In this paper, a secure two-phase locking protocol is presented, which is shown to be free from covert channels. The protocol provides reasonably fair execution of all transactions, regardless of their access class. Since many applications of advanced database systems need to support timeliness while managing sensitive information, integration of real-time transaction processing techniques with security protocols is necessary. In this paper, we discuss the difficulties for supporting both security and timeliness, and present an adaptive scheme to support necessary tradeoffs to be made between security and timeliness requirements. An algorithm-independent simulation framework is explained, and the results of a performance evaluation of Secure 2PL is provided, comparing it with secure optimistic concurrency and secure multiversion timestamp ordering. The performance of the adaptive scheme is also evaluated for a spectrum of security-factor values ranging from fully secure (1.0) right up to fully real-time (0.0).
Chemiluminescent nucleic acid detection with digoxigenin-labeled probes: A model system with probes for angiotensin converting enzyme which detect less than one attomole of target DNA

Abstract Digoxigenin-labeled nucleic acid probes for angiotensin-converting enzyme were prepared by the polymerase chain reaction. In a model system, these probes were used to optimize conditions for target detection by direct chemiluminescence after dot-blot, Southern, or Northern hybridizations. Digoxigenin-labeled probes detected 23 fg (1.6 × 10 −19 mol or 9 × 10 4 copies) of target consistently.
Real-time synchronization control for standalone distribution networks in islanded power systems

Traditional synchronizer cannot control multiple generators in distribution networks in coordination. In this paper, a real-time synchronization control (RTSC) is designed to keep all generators in different standalone distribution networks in synchronization at all times, which realizes a fast and reliable reconnection of disconnected power network. The frequency control and phase control in RTSC are investigated and low-pass filters are properly designed to avoid interference between these two controls. The simulation results in an isolated power system is verified the effectiveness of RTSC and have proved that the transient stability during reconfiguration process can be greatly enhanced by applying RTSC into system-level supervisory control of isolated power system.