cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Look at Information and Communication Technologies and Global Politics

The Information Revolution and World Politics. By Elizabeth C. Hanson. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2008. x+280 pp., $27.95 paper (ISBN: 9780742538535). Information technology and world politics has become an increasingly important subject in the field of international relations. Its related courses have been listed in the curricula of many programs of political science and international relations. However, there are very few books that attempt to draw the overall picture of the information revolution and how it influences world politics. When I took my course of “Information Technology, Globalization and Governance” as a graduate student at Rutgers, my professor listed Ronald J. Deibert's (1997) Parchment, Printing, and Hypermedia: Communication in World Order Transformation as one of the core readings. Afterwards, I also read James N. Rosenau and J.P. Singh's (2002) edited volume of Information Technologies and Global Politics: The Changing Scope of Power and Governance , and Robert Latham and Saskia Sassen's (2005) edited volume of Digital Formations: IT and New Architectures in the Global Realm among others. All of them are outstanding scholarly works and help readers understand such an important, but fast-changing topic in global affairs. From the perspective of serving as a textbook for students interested in this subject, Betty Hanson's Information Revolution and World Politics is the best textbook with a “big picture” of this subject so far. The development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has always been an important driving force behind our globalizing world. These new technologies have radically altered the methods of communication used within and among all kinds of communities, especially over interstate borders. This information revolution …
Emergence response of the pepper at low soil temperature

One-hundred and five cultivars representing s species of Capsicum were screened at constant 13, 16, 18°C and greenhouse temperatures. Daily observation on emergence were made for 60 days following seeding in flats. Using a calculated emergence index as the criterion for emergence at low temperatures, the various cultivars were classified by species. Within the C. annum group significant differences were found between cultivars for the lowest and highest index suggesting heritability of this trait. The fowest indexes for all temperatures was a cultivar from the C. baccatum v. pendulum group.
An algorithm for the unsupervised learning of morphology

This paper describes in detail an algorithm for the unsupervised learning of natural language morphology, with emphasis on challenges that are encountered in languages typologically similar to European languages. It utilizes the Minimum Description Length analysis described in Goldsmith (2001), and has been implemented in software that is available for downloading and testing.
Further evidene on the nature of microsomal metabolism of procarbazine and related alkyhydrazines.

Abstract Further characterization of the liver microsomal enzyme systems in rat which are capable of metabolizing alkylhydrazines is reported here. Two modes of metabolism had been previously noted: by alkylhydrazine oxidase (conversion of alkylhydrazines to the corresponding alkanes) and by N -methylhydrazine demethylase (formation of formaldehyde from the N -methyl group). Liver microsomes from several mammalian species were found to metabolize alkylhydrazines in the manner cited above. Trypsin digestion, carbon monoxide, and SKF 525-A effects, and oxygen requirement were used to determine the relationship of these enzymes to the microsomal redox constituents cytochromes b 5 and P-450. Alkylhydrazine oxidase activity does not appear to be dependent upon P-450. In addition, the activity of this enzyme is not induced by prior treatment of rats with either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholan-threne. N -Methylhydrazine demethylase activity in rats is inducible and the induced activity appears to be dependent upon the P-450 content of the microsomes. Non-induced rats possess N -methylhydrazine demethylase activity which does not appear to be P-450 dependent. Various experiments failed to demonstrate any correlation between N -methylhydrazine demethylase activity and cytochrome b 5 content of microsomes isolated from either induced or noninduced rats. The data support the possibility of two enzyme systems being present in rat liver microsomes capable of demethylating N -methylhydrazines.
Anatomy and physiology of the basal ganglia: implications for DBS in psychiatry.

Abstract The basal ganglia have been a target for neuromodulation surgery since Russell Meyers’ pioneering works in the late 1930s. Contemporary movement disorder surgery on the brain has evolved from empiric observations on movement behavior after neurological lesions. So too has the development of psychiatric surgical procedures followed the observation of lesions in the brain on cognitive and affective behavior. Just as deep brain stimulation (DBS) has revolutionized the practice of movement disorder surgery, its application to psychiatric illness has become the cutting edge of functional and restorative neurosurgery. The fundamental concept of the cortico-striatal-pallido-thalamocortical loop will be explored in the context of psychiatric disorders. DBS targeting this circuitry appears from initial evidence in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) to be a promising option for patients with neuropsychiatric illness resistant to conventional therapies. Further exploring the anatomic interconnectivity of the physiologically relevant cortical and subcortical areas will inevitably lead to better applications of DBS for the treatment of OCD, major depression (MD) and potentially for other psychiatric disorders. Implementing such therapies optimally will require the creation of treatment centers with specialized expertize in the psychiatric, neurosurgical, and ethical issues that arise with these populations.
Isolation of a stearoyl CoA Desaturase form Tetrahymena thermophila.

Cell free preparations of Tetrahymena thermophila contain an enzyme that catalyzes the direct desaturation of stearoyl CoA to octadecenoic acid. The enzyme is associated with the microsomal fraction of the ciliate. Substrate for the enzyme consists of either free stearic acid or stearoyl CoA. Both ATP and CoA are required when free stearate is the substrate and are also highly stimulatory when stearoyl CoA is the substrate. With stearoyl CoA as the substrate, either NADH or NADPH are required for desaturase activity. In the presence of ATP and CoA, either NAD or NADP can replace NADH and NADPH. Desaturase activity is optimal when the enzyme is incubated at a pH of 7.2 and a temperature of 30–35°C. Highest levels of the stearoyl CoA desaturase are found in stationary phase ciliates grown at 35°C.
Histochemical localization of desoxyhemigossypol, a phytoalexin in Verticillium dahliae‐infected cotton stems

SUMMARY The terpenoid phytoalexin desoxyhemigossypol (dHG) was detected histochemically in the stem xylem of Verticillium dahliae Kleb-infected, wilt-resistant Seabrook Sea Island cotton as a green product on V. dahliae mycelium within vessel lumens and in specialized, often solitary, paravascular parenchyma cells. The SbCl3-HCIO4 histochemical reagent yielded a green-coloured Sb-dHG product specific for dHG when used as a spray on chromatograms of extracts from Verticillium-infected stele tissue. Both dHG and related terpenoid aldehyde derivatives occurred together in parenchyma cells and on V. dahliae mycelium. The presence of dHG on Verticillium mycelium reinforces previous studies that identified dHG as the most toxic and possibly most important phytoalexin in the resistance of cotton to V. dahliae.
MICROSECOND TO SUBNANOSECOND MOLECULAR RELAXATION DYNAMICS OF THE INTERACTION OF CA2+ WITH SOME CARBOHYDRATES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Ultrasonic absorption spectra in the frequency range 1--500 MHz are reported for solutions of methyl-{beta}-D-arabinopyranoside and of 1,6-anhydro-{beta}-D-glucopyranoside, both with and without added Ca{sup 2+} and Ba{sup 2+} ions. These carbohydrates have been chosen because neither monosaccharide shows any relaxation process, over the same frequency range, in salt-free aqueous solutions. Spectra for both carbohydrates in aqueous solution with added Ca(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2}, CaCl{sub 2}, or Ba(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2} can be represented by an asymptotic high-frequency contribution and a Debye relaxation term centered between 50 and 200 MHz, corresponding to a process with a relaxation time of approximately 3--4 ns. Spectra for solutions of Ca(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2} + 1,6-anhydro-{beta}-D-glucopyranoside also exhibit a second relaxation process at lower frequencies, with a relaxation time of approximately 30 ns. These results clearly indicate cation-carbohydrate complex formation. The observed relaxation terms are interpreted as a modified Eigen-Winkler-type multistep process, associated with formation of monodentate cation-carbohydrate complexes and, where possible, subsequent rearrangement to tridentate complexes.
The Use and Efficacy of Handheld Computers for School-Based Data Collection: A Literature Review.

Given the increasing influence of technology and the explosion in data collection demands, the acceptance and assimilation of new paradigms and technologies require today's educators, researchers, and evaluators to consider alternative tools, and apply them effectively. One of these alternatives, handheld computers, also known as personal digital assistants (PDAs), makes the benefits of computerized data collection more accessible to field-based researchers. An evaluation of handheld computers as data collection tools in research settings requires an understanding of their use from different perspectives in existing research. This review examines the willingness of teachers to adopt handheld data collection systems by focusing on 5 main features: (a) ease of use, (b) usefulness, (c) subjective norms, (d) intention to use, and (e) dependability.
Investigation of the period of sawtooth events

[1] A sawtooth event is identified as a series of energetic particle flux variations, i.e., rapid increases following slow decreases, from geosynchronous satellites observations. The saw blade shape is prominent in the proton flux with energy range between 50 and 400 keV. Though sawtooth events are described as large-amplitude oscillations with periods between 2 and 4 h on the basis of case studies, their period has not been accurately determined by previous studies. In this study, we have identified 111 sawtooth event intervals, which include 438 individual teeth, from January 1998 to December 2007. We find the average period is 179.6 min. However, the period shows large variations from event to event, even from tooth to tooth in the same sawtooth interval. The variability is independent with the length of the period and the number of oscillations, so we conclude that sawtooth events are quasi-periodic events instead of periodic events.
Symptom frequency, severity, and quality of life among persons with three disease trajectories: cancer, ALS, and CHF

Purpose National reports on end-of-life symptom management reveal a gap in the evidence regarding symptoms other than pain and studies of diseases other than cancer. This study examines the frequency and severity of symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in persons with advanced cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and congestive heart failure (CHF).
Prediction of Coefficients of Thermal Expansion for Unidirectional Composites

Several analyses for predicting the longitudinal, alpha(1), and transverse, alpha(2), coefficients of thermal expansion of unidirectional composites were compared with each other, and with experimental data on different graphite fiber reinforced resin, metal, and ceramic matrix composites. Analytical and numerical analyses that accurately accounted for Poisson restraining effects in the transverse direction were in consistently better agreement with experimental data for alpha(2), than the less rigorous analyses. All of the analyses predicted similar values of alpha(1), and were in good agreement with the experimental data. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the relative influence of constituent properties on the predicted values of alpha(1), and alpha(2). As would be expected, the prediction of alpha(1) was most sensitive to longitudinal fiber properties and the prediction of alpha(2) was most sensitive to matrix properties.
The space environment of Mercury at the times of the second and third MESSENGER flybys

Abstract The second and third flybys of Mercury by the MESSENGER spacecraft occurred, respectively, on 6 October 2008 and on 29 September 2009. In order to provide contextual information about the solar wind properties and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) near the planet at those times, we have used an empirical modeling technique combined with a numerical physics-based solar wind model. The Wang–Sheeley–Arge (WSA) method uses solar photospheric magnetic field observations (from Earth-based instruments) in order to estimate the inner heliospheric radial flow speed and radial magnetic field out to 21.5 solar radii from the Sun. This information is then used as input to the global numerical magnetohydrodynamic model, ENLIL, which calculates solar wind velocity, density, temperature, and magnetic field strength and polarity throughout the inner heliosphere. WSA-ENLIL calculations are presented for the several-week period encompassing the second and third flybys. This information, in conjunction with available MESSENGER data, aid in understanding the Mercury flyby observations and provide a basis for global magnetospheric modeling. We find that during both flybys, the solar wind conditions were very quiescent and would have provided only modest dynamic driving forces for Mercury's magnetospheric system.
On the Flexibility of Monetary Policy: The Case of the Optimal Inflation Tax

This paper examines optimal monetary policy under uncertainty in a context in which policy makers are able to make credible policy commitments. We study an optimal taxation problem of minimizing the social cost of financing a stochastic and exogenous level of government transfers. Since, in the basic model, the welfare costs of inflation derive only from expected inflation, the optimal monetary policy is highly responsive to the state of nature. In a benchmark case in which all shocks are transitory, the optimal policy calls for loading all the variability of government transfers on the shoulders of the inflation tax.
Nonformal education and rural development in Ghana

Abstract This article describes and evaluates a nonformal education rural development project which evolved through a collaborative arrangement between a private voluntary organization in Ghana and a North American university. After extensive discussions a relationship developed between the University of Massachusetts' Center for International Education and Ghana's Peoples' Educational Association, a national adult education organization with links to the University of Ghana's Institute of Adult Education. The two organizations agreed to cooperate in the development and evaluation of several village facilitator models in which a much wider cross-section of the community would participate in a variety of development projects and educational activities. The models were to emphasize a shift from a leader-dominated perspective to more group participation with villagers taking responsibility for their actions, both in meetings and in development projects.
Penultimate effect in radical copolymerization of 2‐trifluoromethylacrylates

Electron-deficient 2-trifluoromethylacrylates (TFMA) undergo radical copolymerization with electron-rich norbornene derivatives, vinyl ethers, and styrene derivatives, which can be described by the penultimate model much better than by the commonly employed terminal model. In an attempt to directly observe the effect of the CF3 group in the penultimate unit on the radical reactivity, we employed the Giese's mercury method. 4,4,4-Trifluorobutyl and n-butyl radicals produced from respective alkylmercuric chlorides were competitively reacted with t-butyl 2-trifluoromethylacrylate (TBTFMA) and t-butyl methacrylate (TBMA) and the products analyzed with gas chromatography. While TBTFMA has been found to be about 24times more reactive than TBMA toward the n-butyl radical, the former is about 12 times more reactive than the latter toward the 4,4,4-trifluorobutyl radical. Thus, the reactivity of the propagating radical toward TBTFMA in comparison with TBMA is suppressed by a factor of two when the penultimate unit has the CF3 group. We observed a sextet electron spin resonance of the TFMA propagating radical with a coupling constant of ca. 25 gauss between the β-proton and β-fluorine. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1559–1565, 2008
Note on Finite-Memory Sequential Machines

One of the design problems of digital computers is in code conversion from analog form to its equivalent digital form, and vice versa. In data logging, reduction, and process control applications of digital computers, input data are frequently in analog or shaft position form. Conventionally weighted binary numbers are not used directly for analog readings because at certain positions these may be ambiguously expressed. Gray suggested a code in this application which eliminates the ambiguity of natural binary numbers. The basic rule in Gray code generation is to allow only one bit change between adjacent numbers.1 The Gray code, unfortunately, is difficult to use in computation. Hence, it is customary to perform code conversion before attempting computer arithmetic operations.
Angle constraint for nuclear-pumped X-ray laser weapons

Nuclear-pumped X-ray laser weapons are constrained to have an output beam divergence that is at least as great as a certain minimum value. Because this value is large, such weapons used for ballistic missile defence will require disturbingly high megatonnages in space: for example, a total of ≥ 73 megatons within range of 1,000 attacking missiles, with individual warheads up to 3.7 megatons or higher.
Characteristics of Elementary Teachers Related to Attitudes Toward Science.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain what personal and professional characteristics are related to elementary attitudes toward science and the scientific institution. The Schwirian Science Support Scale (TRI-S) was administered to 191 elementary teachers and analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. The personal characteristics examined are: (1) age; and (2) religious preference. The six professional characteristics explored are: (1) highest academic degree held; (2) semester hours of college science; (3) type of undergraduate institution attended; (4) years teaching experience; (5) grade level taught; and (6) the nature oj the teaching experience, i.e., continuous or interrupted. Of these eight independent variables, age is associated with the greatest attitudinal differences, the younger teachers expressing the more positive attitudes toward science. Teachers who graduated from state schools had more positive attitudes than those who came from private, liberal arts institutions. There was also a positive association found between number of hours in science and positive science attitudes.
Absolute C- and z-embeddings in functionally Hausdorff spaces

It is proved that a functionally Hausdorff space (X, T) is (a) C-embedded in every functionally Hausdorff space it is embedded as a dense (open) set, (b) z-embedded in any functionally Hausdorff space it is embedded in as an open set iff the weak topology (X, W) is almost compact. If (X, W) is locally compact then (X, T) is z-embedded in every functionally Hausdorff space it is densely embedded in iff (X, T) is Lindelof or almost compact.
Multiple single units and population responses during inhibitory gating of hippocampal auditory response in freely-moving rats.

Paired clicks were presented to awake, freely-moving rats to examine neuronal activity associated with inhibitory gating of responses to repeated auditory stimuli. The rats had bundles of eight microwires implanted into each of four different brain areas: CA3 region of the hippocampus, medial septal nucleus, brainstem reticular nucleus, and the auditory cortex. Single-unit recordings from each wire were made while the local auditory-evoked potential was also recorded. The response to a conditioning stimulus was compared to the response to a test stimulus delivered 500 ms later: the ratio of the test response to the conditioning response provided a measure of inhibitory gating. Auditory-evoked potentials were recorded at all sites. Overall, brainstem reticular nucleus neurons showed the greatest gating of local auditory-evoked potentials, while the auditory cortex showed the least. However, except for the auditory cortex, both gating and non-gating of the evoked response were recorded at various times in all brain regions. Gating of the hippocampal response was significantly correlated with gating in the medial septal nucleus and brainstem reticular nucleus, but not the auditory cortex. Single-unit neuron firing in response to the clicks was most pronounced in the brainstem reticular nucleus and the medial septal nucleus, while relatively few neurons responded in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and the auditory cortex. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that inhibitory gating of the auditory-evoked response originates in the non-lemniscal pathway and not in cortical areas of the rat brain.
Object-oriented programming: an objective sense of style

We introduce a simple, programming language independent rule (known in-house as the Law of Demeter™) which encodes the ideas of encapsulation and modularity in an easy to follow form for the object-oriented programmer. You tend to get the following related benefits when you follow the Law of Demeter while minimizing simultaneously code duplication, the number of method arguments and the number of methods per class: Easier software maintenance, less coupling between your methods, better information hiding, narrower interfaces, methods which are easier to reuse, and easier correctness proofs using structural induction. We discuss two important interpretations of the Law (strong and weak) and we prove that any object-oriented program can be transformed to satisfy the Law. We express the Law in several languages which support object-oriented programming, including Flavors, Smalltalk-80, CLOS, C++ and Eiffel.
Wavelet transform fast inverse light scattering analysis for size determination of spherical scatterers

We present a fast approach for size determination of spherical scatterers using the continuous wavelet transform of the angular light scattering profile to address the computational limitations of previously developed sizing techniques. The potential accuracy, speed, and robustness of the algorithm were determined in simulated models of scattering by polystyrene beads and cells. The algorithm was tested experimentally on angular light scattering data from polystyrene bead phantoms and MCF-7 breast cancer cells using a 2D a/LCI system. Theoretical sizing of simulated profiles of beads and cells produced strong fits between calculated and actual size (r2 = 0.9969 and r2 = 0.9979 respectively), and experimental size determinations were accurate to within one micron.
Is it possible to predict the past

On p. 343–354 of this issue [Engelder and Pelletier (2013)][1] argue that relatively long-term autogenic variation in the degree of channelization of gravel-transporting fluvial systems can result in cycles of aggradation and incision that can reduce the slopes needed for gravel transport and
An activity model for standards process for the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS)

Recent semi-annual Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Workshops, involving many volunteer participants, have been developing a family of improved Standards for the Interoperability of Defense Simulation. The newly approved Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IEEE Standard 1278, developed by DIS, results from a process of negotiated consensus achieved among a large body of participants. In this paper, an activity model documents the interactive procedures used by members of the DIS community to develop a family of standards. This effort was accomplished by following the Corporate Information Management (CIM) Functional Process Improvement (draft DoD 8020.1-M, January 1993). The "as-is" model provided the mechanism to clarify ambiguous areas and eliminate possible duplications. The "to-be" model was developed based upon the lessons learned and recommendations of the study.
Wind Stress Vector over Ocean Waves

Abstract Previous investigations of the wind stress in the marine surface layer have primarily focused on determining the stress magnitude (momentum flux) and other scalar variables (e.g., friction velocity, drag coefficient, roughness length). However, the stress vector is often aligned with a direction different from that of the mean wind flow. In this paper, the focus is on the study of the stress vector direction relative to the mean wind and surface-wave directions. Results based on measurements made during three field campaigns onboard the R/P Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP) in the Pacific are discussed. In general, the wind stress is a vector sum of the 1) pure shear stress (turbulent and viscous) aligned with the mean wind shear, 2) wind-wave-induced stress aligned with the direction of the pure wind-sea waves, and 3) swell-induced stress aligned with the swell direction. The direction of the wind-wave-induced stress and the swell-induced stress components may coincide with, or be opposite to,...
The effects of demographics and maternal behavior on the distribution of birth outcomes

This paper utilizes quantile-regression techniques in order to estimate the effects of demographics and maternal behavior during pregnancy at various quantiles of the birthweight distribution. Due to the high costs and long-term effects (both medical and economic) associated with low-birthweight babies, there is a great deal of interest in quantifying these effects, particularly at the lower end of the birthweight distribution. Using large samples of 1992 and 1996 births in the United States, the quantile-regression estimates indicate that several factors (including race, education, and prenatal care) have a significantly higher impact at lower quantiles and lower impact at higher quantiles. These effects at lower quantiles are underestimated by least-squares regression estimates. The inequality in birthweights implied by these results is quite significant, and there is little indication that the inequality has changed much in recent years.
Application of atom probe tomography to the investigation of atomic force microscope tips and interfacial phenomena

This dissertation demonstrates the research effort to extend the analytical capabilities of atomic force microscopy (AFM) by utilizing atom probe tomography (APT) to investigate AFM tips for the first time. Novel techniques were developed to enable successful analysis of various AFM tips and layers created on the tips. Initial investigations focused on comparing results obtained from as received Si AFM tips to a standard Si APT sample. It was found that by using careful alignment and stiffer cantilevers (>25N/m) AFM tips are readily analyzable by APT. The techniques were then applied to commercially available coated Si AFM tips and high aspect ratio metallic needle tips to demonstrate the broad applicability. A new method to calibrate the optical sensitivity of AFM cantilevers was developed to eliminate damage to the AFM tip. Finally the new calibration method was utilized in the investigation of transferred material from AFM sliding experiments. It was found that the transferred material was readily detected and characterized. The successful results demonstrate the ability of APT application to AFM tips enhancing the information from AFM experiments and opening new areas of investigation.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Shape Myeloid Cell Function within the Tumor Microenvironment through IFN-γ and GM-CSF

The infiltration of suppressive myeloid cells into the tumor microenvironment restrains anti-tumor immunity. However, cytokines may alter the function of myeloid lineage cells to support tumor rejection, regulating the balance between pro- and anti-tumor immunity. In this study, it is shown that effector cytokines secreted by adoptively transferred T cells expressing a chimeric Ag receptor (CAR) shape the function of myeloid cells to promote endogenous immunity and tumor destruction. Mice bearing the ovarian ID8 tumor were treated with T cells transduced with a chimeric NKG2D receptor. GM-CSF secreted by the adoptively transferred T cells recruited peripheral F4/80(lo)Ly-6C(+) myeloid cells to the tumor microenvironment in a CCR2-dependent fashion. T cell IFN-γ and GM-CSF activated local, tumor-associated macrophages, decreased expression of regulatory factors, increased IL-12p40 production, and augmented Ag processing and presentation by host macrophages to Ag-specific T cells. In addition, T cell-derived IFN-γ, but not GM-CSF, induced the production of NO by F4/80(hi) macrophages and enhanced their lysis of tumor cells. The ability of CAR T cell therapy to eliminate tumor was moderately impaired when inducible NO synthase was inhibited and greatly impaired in the absence of peritoneal macrophages after depletion with clodronate encapsulated liposomes. This study demonstrates that the activation of host macrophages by CAR T cell-derived cytokines transformed the tumor microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory and contributed to inhibition of ovarian tumor growth.
Pathologic quiz case: right lower quadrant pain in a 2-year-old boy.

2-year-old Latin American boy from Honduras visiting the United States with his mother presented with a 2-day history of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. He was febrile, with a temperature of 38.68C. He was appropriately developed for his age (weight 12.9 kg), and physical examination was unremarkable except for a diffusely tender abdomen. Hematology data collected included a white blood count of 12.3 3 10 3 cells/mL with 5% bands and 5% eosinophils, hematocrit of 35%, and normal serum electrolytes. Stool examination for ova and parasites was negative. Chest radiographs revealed no abnor
A standardized technique for efficient platelet and leukocyte collection using the model 30 blood processor

The Model 30 Blood Processor is a safe and simple means of harvesting blood cell components. Presently cell collection depends on a visual assessment by the operator of the indistinct boundaries of cell fractions. To determine when each cell component could best be harvested, serial samples were taken from the output port at fixed intervals anf the results of counts and differentials were graphed and tabulated. Studies in normal donors were done using acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD), 2 per cent sodium citrate in 6 per cent hydroxyethyl starch (HES), or heparin as anticoagulants. There was considerable overlap between the latter part of the platelet band, the leukocyte band and the rising hematocrit with all three anticoagulants. Normally functional lymphocytes could be harvested efficiently (approximately 80%) using ACD or heparin. Platelets could be harvested from ACD very efficiently (approximately 90%). Granulocytes could not be harvested from ACD (less than 10%) since they were dispersed in the red blood cell (RBC) layer. Using HES, granulocytes could be harvested efficiently (approximately 70%) by extending collection into the RBC layer. Based on these data, a standard technique for cell collection has been devised. The flow rate is slowed to 20 ml/min and collection is carried 30 ml (90 seconds at a rate of 20 ml/min) for platelets. The RBC loss is approximately 6 to 8 and 2 to 3 ml/pass respectively. These studies indicate that the Model 30 is a highly efficient apparatus for blood cell separation, but the volume of blood processed is limited by the intermittent blood flow.
The effects of targeted deletion of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 on intranasal sensitization and challenge with adjuvant-free ovalbumin.

The mechanisms by which cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 modulate immune function are not fully elucidated. Critical tools for the determination of the role of both receptors in the immune system are CB1/CB2 double null mice (CB1/CB2 null), and previous studies have shown that CB1/CB2 null mice exhibit exaggerated responses to various immunological stimuli. The objective of these studies was to determine the magnitude to which CB1/CB2 null mice responded to the respiratory allergen ovalbumin (OVA) as compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The authors determined that in the absence of adjuvant, both wild-type and CB1/CB2 null mice mounted a marked response to intranasally instilled OVA as assessed by inflammatory cell infiltrate in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), eosinophilia, induction of mucous cell metaplasia, and IgE production. Many of the endpoints measured in response to OVA were similar in wild-type versus CB1/CB2 null mice, with exceptions being modest reductions in OVA-induced IgE and attenuation of BALF neutrophilia in CB1/CB2 null mice as compared with wild-type mice. These results suggest that T-cell responses are not universally exaggerated in CB1/CB2 null mice.
Quality of life (QOL) in menopause

Quality of life (QOL) is generally not precisely defined or measured. This has resulted in confusing and often misleading conclusions in multiple publications, including those coming from both the HERS and the WHI writing groups. Health-related QOL and global QOL are accurately defined, and current instruments for measuring them are available. In the continuing effort to determine the true risks and benefits of postmenopausal hormone usage, it is critical that the full spectrum of effects be measured. There is no excuse for future studies on hormone use not to include well-validated instruments for measuring QOL and for not reporting those effects as part of the rest of the study. Questionnaire instruments can often provide more information than many of the invasive tests that are part of contemporary trials. They also add little cost, yet can be invaluable in the analysis of real cost-effectiveness of interventions in contemporary women's health care. Beyond safety and efficacy evaluation of drug therapies, there is an absolute need to know about the real impact of these therapies on overall quality of life.
Hemoglobins of baboons, Papio cynocephalus, P. gelada and P. hamadryas.

Major hemoglobins of adult Papio cynocephalus, P. gelada, and P. hamadryas and of newborn P. cynocephalus were purified; globins were prepared; and α and β or α and γ chains were separated. The amino acid compositions and aminoterminal groups were determined. These were compared with analogous data for human hemoglobins, other baboon hemoglobins and macaque hemoglobins.
Robustness of quadrature sampled complementary codes

Complementary codes, which use multiple binary sequences, exhibit the most desirable characteristics in that they achieve perfect sidelobe cancellation in radar signal design applications. In contrast, even in a noiseless situation, all other coding methods result in undesirable sidelobes. For a given number of chips, a variety of complementary code sets can be formed; this is a result of manipulating the number of subsequences and the number of chips in each subsequence. There are, however, no published results to judge the relative resolution performance of such code sets due to the errors introduced by quadrature sampling. The results provided in the present paper highlight the effect of quadrature sampling errors on the resolution properties of a variety of complementary coded waveforms. It is also concluded from the results that increasing the number of subsequences with a corresponding reduction in the number of chips per subsequence improves the resolution performance. >
Prognosis of Fractures of the Acetabulum

An end-result study of ninety-three acetabular fractures in ninety patients followed for from one to twenty-seven years, or for an average of six years, is presented. These fractures were classified as undisplaced, posterior, inner-wall, and superior or bursting fractures. The prognosis would be different in the different types of fracture, but, in general, the prognosis was found to be more favorable than would be anticipated from current reports in the literature. The more favorable outlook for this fracture derived from this study is perhaps due to the fact that the patients studied were all those whose initial treatment was in one hospital. This gave a more representative balance between the good and poor results. The outcome of the hip appeared to depend primarily on the condition of the dome or weight-bearing portion of the acetabulum, the condition of the femoral head, the adequacy of the reduction of the dislocation, and the stability of the joint after treatment. The clinical and roentgenographic findings in the affected hips one year after injury were found to be a most reliable guide to the ultimate prognosis of the hip, since definite changes were noted at one year in those hips that deteriorated.
Population variability complicates the accurate detection of climate change responses

The rush to assess species' responses to anthropogenic climate change (CC) has underestimated the importance of interannual population variability (PV). Researchers assume sampling rigor alone will lead to an accurate detection of response regardless of the underlying population fluctuations of the species under consideration. Using population simulations across a realistic, empirically based gradient in PV, we show that moderate to high PV can lead to opposite and biased conclusions about CC responses. Between pre- and post-CC sampling bouts of modeled populations as in resurvey studies, there is: (i) A 50% probability of erroneously detecting the opposite trend in population abundance change and nearly zero probability of detecting no change. (ii) Across multiple years of sampling, it is nearly impossible to accurately detect any directional shift in population sizes with even moderate PV. (iii) There is up to 50% probability of detecting a population extirpation when the species is present, but in very low natural abundances. (iv) Under scenarios of moderate to high PV across a species' range or at the range edges, there is a bias toward erroneous detection of range shifts or contractions. Essentially, the frequency and magnitude of population peaks and troughs greatly impact the accuracy of our CC response measurements. Species with moderate to high PV (many small vertebrates, invertebrates, and annual plants) may be inaccurate 'canaries in the coal mine' for CC without pertinent demographic analyses and additional repeat sampling. Variation in PV may explain some idiosyncrasies in CC responses detected so far and urgently needs more careful consideration in design and analysis of CC responses.
Nonspectroscopic imaging for quantitative chlorophyll sensing

Nondestructive imaging of physiological changes in plants has been intensively used as an invaluable tool for visualizing heterogeneous responses to various types of abiotic and biotic stress. However, conventional approaches often have intrinsic limitations for quantitative analyses, requiring bulky and expensive optical instruments for capturing full spectral information. We report a spectrometerless (or spectrometer-free) reflectance imaging method that allows for nondestructive and quantitative chlorophyll imaging in individual leaves in situ in a handheld device format. The combination of a handheld-type imaging system and a hyperspectral reconstruction algorithm from an RGB camera offers simple instrumentation and operation while avoiding the use of an imaging spectrograph or tunable color filter. This platform could potentially be integrated into a compact, inexpensive, and portable system, while being of great value in high-throughput phenotyping facilities and laboratory settings.
An update on the role of bariatric surgery in diabetes management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the current state of knowledge on the effects of weight loss (bariatric) surgical procedures in individuals with type 2 diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS Observational and randomized studies provide robust data on the efficacy of bariatric surgery for weight loss and improvement in hyperglycemia. Follow-up information up to 20 years is now available. Surgery offers similar benefits in individuals with BMI 30-35, compared with those with higher BMI. There is a better understanding of the role of gut hormones and nonhormonal factors on weight loss and glucose metabolism. Preoperative factors that predict favorable surgical outcomes have been identified. SUMMARY Of commonly performed procedures, adjustable gastric banding has the lowest efficacy for weight loss and diabetes remission and a higher complication rate. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are comparable in terms of efficacy and complications. Remission rates for diabetes range between 40 and 80%; randomized trials show slightly lower remission rates compared with observational studies. At 20 years, approximately 50% of remitters have relapse of diabetes. Complex gut hormonal changes, caloric restriction, and other intestinal factors form the basis for metabolic effects of surgery. Better preoperative β-cell function is the strongest predictor for remission. Long-term follow-up data is still sparse.
Differential Effects of Incentives among the Retarded1

AbstractNormals, Institutionalized retardates, and non-Institutionallzed retardates, matched on the basis of MA, were tested on a simple performance task under social and tangible reinforcement conditions. Differences in performance under the two reinforcement conditions were belle red to reflect differences In the motivational systems of the groups. The performances of the normals and institutionalized retardates were very similar, as these two groups did not perform significantly longer or faster than each other on the task. The non-institutionalized retardates performed significantly longer than either of the other two groups, and significantly faster than the Institutionalized retardate group. This result was explained In terms of the greater frustration and failure which these Ss may experience In their daily lives.
A finite element study of dynamic delamination growth in composite laminates

The problem of dynamic delamination growth in a composite beam is analyzed using finite element method. The beam finite element has its nodes offset either to the top or bottom side. The delaminated beam is modeled as two beams above and below the plane of delamination. Spring elements and rigid elements are used to connect the beams in the un-delaminated portion. The dynamic strain energy release rate is calculated using three different methods. The numerical results indicate that the rigid element model is superior to the foundation spring model. A virtual crack closure method is defined for cracked beam elements, and it is in good agreement with the zero-volume path integral method for evaluating the strain energy release rate.
Financial Centre Bias: Another Puzzling Anomaly in the IPO Market?

This paper shows that firms from financial centres are more likely to go public than their provincial counterparts. The financial centre bias is analysed for 32 countries, including the European Union, the USA and Japan. It is particularly strong in countries with underdeveloped stock markets and closed corporate governance regimes, but it is still present in countries with the most developed stock markets and most open corporate governance, such as the UK and the USA. Reasons for the bias include the benefits of issuers' proximity to IPO intermediaries and specialised labour markets, corporate governance incentives, and cultural factors.
Preventive effect of complicated infection of children with nephrotic syndrome on vaccine injection

Objective To observe the preventive effect of the complicated infection of children with simple nephrotic syndrome (SNS) on vaccine injection. Methods 38 children with SNS were randomly divided into 2 groups-vaccine treatment goup ( I group, n - 22) and prednison control group ( II group, n =16). The treatment protocol of prednison used for 6 months was administered in 2 groups, while 0. 5 mg (1 ml) vaccine injection by intramuscular injected on alternate days was added to I group for 3 to 6 months. The rates of remission within 8 weeks, complicated infection, and relapse within 3 months and the recovery time of infection were observed in I group and II group. The levels of serum and urinary soluble interleukin-2 receptro (sIL-2R) and plasma IgG, IgA, IgM were determined before and after vaccine having be used for 3 months in I group, II group and 25 cases as normal control group (III group), respectively . Results The rate of remission within 8 weeks was not different in I and II group. The rates of infection complicated and relapse within 3 months were all significantly lower in I group than those in II group. The recovery time of infection complicated was obviously shortened in I group comparing to II group. 6 cases in I group and 8 cases in II group were found proleinuria after infection, but the absence of proteinuria was immediate and did not need to increase prednison dosage in I group after controlling infection. However, II group could not so and need to recover the start dosage of prednison. The level of serum sIL-2R was significantly decreased more in I group than that in II group and did not different in I group comparing to III group, but was significantly higher in II group than that in III group after vaccine therapy.The change of urinary sIL-2R was same with serum sIL-2R.The plasma IgG was significantly increased more I group than that II group and not obviously different in I group comparing to III group but was much lower in II group than that in III group after vaccine therapy. The plasma IgA, IgM were not significantly different in three groups before and after vaccine therapy. Conclusion Vaccine therapy can be helpful for protecting from and decreasing infection, diminishing relapse and steroid dosage of children with SNS, which could be that vaccine declined the levels of serum and urinary sIL-2R and increased the level of IgG, and thus, improved their immune function.