cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Piracy, Price, and Word of Mouth: An Equity Theory Examination of Consumer Digital Piracy Rates—An Abstract

Online piracy of digital content including that of music, movies, software, games, and other products continues to be a huge issue for businesses and public policy makers for a number of reasons. First, online piracy takes up significant amounts of Internet bandwidth—24 % globally, and 17.5 % in the USA. Additionally, a study from the Institute for Policy Innovation concluded that global music piracy causes $12.5 billion of economic losses every year, 71,060 lost American jobs, and a loss of $422 million in tax revenues (RIAA 2014). Given the economic and social impact of digital piracy, it is important to study what factors influence the piracy rate and especially whether key marketing mix elements, such as price, affect consumers’ decisions to engage in online piracy. This study uses equity theory as a framework in order to analyze the impact of price-, product-, and purchase-related experiences, as well as word of mouth, on digital piracy rates. Equity theory was created and popularized by Adams (1963) and is especially used in social exchange within organizations. We use equity theory in order to analyze how perceived inputs, such as price and information search, as well as outputs, including product quality and popularity, affect the rate of piracy for copyrighted products. This represents a different perspective compared to studies that focus only on the ethical side of consumers’ decisions and brings attention to product-related factors such as price and product quality. In order to measure the piracy rate for digital content, we downloaded the number of “leechers” (users downloading pirated content at a certain time) for the top 120 most downloaded games from Pirate Bay during a 10-day period. In order to test our model, we also downloaded data regarding the price for each game from Amazon, as well as the quality rating assigned in its reviews from Metacritic. We measured consumer interest in the digital product by using Google Insights and the search index provided for the exact name of the product. We performed a multiple regression procedure using SPSS, with piracy rate on a proxy showing the content from Pirate Bay as the dependent variable, with product price, review rating, search rating, and popularity index as independent variables.
Influence of Vapor Deposition on Structural and Charge Transport Properties of Ethylbenzene Films.

Organic glass films formed by physical vapor deposition exhibit enhanced stability relative to those formed by conventional liquid cooling and aging techniques. Recently, experimental and computational evidence has emerged indicating that the average molecular orientation can be tuned by controlling the substrate temperature at which these “stable glasses” are grown. In this work, we present a comprehensive all-atom simulation study of ethylbenzene, a canonical stable-glass former, using a computational film formation procedure that closely mimics the vapor deposition process. Atomistic studies of experimentally formed vapor-deposited glasses have not been performed before, and this study therefore begins by verifying that the model and method utilized here reproduces key structural features observed experimentally. Having established agreement between several simulated and experimental macroscopic observables, simulations are used to examine the substrate temperature dependence of molecular orientation. ...
Neodymium-YAG laser vitreomembranectomy

Thirteen eyes with vitreoretinal membranes from postretinal detachment surgery, diabetic proliferative retinopathy, trauma, inflammation, and postoperative extracapsular cataract extraction have been treated with the mode lock 3.5-4 millijoule meditech laser from October of 1981 to March of 1984. The taut membranes appeared to respond best to laser treatment. There was no pain or discomfort associated with the treatment.Thirteen eyes with vitreoretinal membranes from postretinal detachment surgery, diabetic proliferative retinopathy, trauma, inflammation, and postoperative extracapsular cataract extraction have been treated with the mode lock 3.5-4 millijoule meditech laser from October of 1981 to March of 1984. The taut membranes appeared to respond best to laser treatment. There was no pain or discomfort associated with the treatment.
Lymph node yield in right colectomy for cancer: a comparison of open, laparoscopic and robotic approaches.

Aim Studies have demonstrated a relationship between lymph node (LN) yield and survival after colectomy for cancer. The impact of surgical technique on lymph node yield has not been well explored. Method This is a retrospective study of right colectomies (RC) for cancer at a single institution from 2012-2014. Exclusion criteria were previous colectomy, emergent and palliative operations. All data were collected by chart review. Primary outcomes were LN yield and the lymph node to length of surgical specimen (LN-LSS) ratio. Multivariable mixed models were created with surgeon and pathologist as random effects. Sensitivity analyses were performed to exclude stage IV cancers and to analyze groups on an “as-treated” basis. Results We identified 181 open (O-RC), 163 laparoscopic (L-RC) and 119 robotic (R-RC) cases. Open RC was more commonly performed in females with metastatic disease. Mean LN yield was 28, 29, and 34 in O-RC, L-RC, and R-RC, respectively; mean LN-LSS ratios were 0.83, 0.91 and 1.0. The R-RC approach produced a higher LN yield compared to other approaches (p <0.01) and a higher LN-LSS ratio compared to O-RC (p < 0.01). These findings were unchanged in sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Robotic RC improves LN yield and LN-LSS ratio, which may reflect a better mesocolic excision. The effect of these findings on survival requires further investigation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Menopause, Estrogens, and Glucose Homeostasis in Women

Randomized trials suggest that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) prevents type 2 diabetes. Still, the mechanisms of these antidiabetic effects are a matter of controversy. This chapter provides an analysis of epidemiological and clinical evidence and proposes a mechanism for the effect of menopause and MHT on type 2 diabetes development and prevention. It discusses the beneficial role of estradiol on glucose homeostasis that is lost at menopause and improved by MHT, which delays type 2 diabetes. This chapter aims to reconcile differences among studies of the effect of menopause and MHT formulations on type 2 diabetes and argues that discrepancies arise from physiological differences in methods used to assess glucose homeostasis.
When is it Appropriate for Children to Participate in the Lord's Supper? A Perspective from Developmental Theory:

After the Fourth Lateran Council (A.D. 1215), the church, with the exception of the Eastern Orthodox Church, restricted the participation of children in eucharistic celebrations based on the exeges...
Genomic perspectives of spider silk genes through target capture sequencing: Conservation of stabilization mechanisms and homology-based structural models of spidroin terminal regions.

Abstract A powerful system for studying protein aggregation, particularly rapid self-assembly, is spider silk. Spider silks are proteinaceous and silk proteins are synthesized and stored within silk glands as liquid dope. As needed, liquid dope is near-instantaneously transformed into solid fibers or viscous adhesives. The dominant constituents of silks are spidroins (spider fibroins) and their terminal domains are vital for the tight control of silk self-assembly. To better understand spidroin termini, we used target capture and deep sequencing to identify spidroin gene sequences from six species representing the araneoid families of Araneidae, Nephilidae, and Theridiidae. We obtained 145 terminal regions, of which 103 are newly annotated here, as well as novel variants within nine diverse spidroin types. Our comparative analyses demonstrated the conservation of acidic, basic, and cysteine amino acid residues across spidroin types that had been proposed to be important for monomer stability, dimer formation, and self-assembly from a limited sampling of spidroins. Computational, protein homology modeling revealed areas of spidroin terminal regions that are highly conserved in three-dimensions despite sequence divergence across spidroin types. Analyses of our dense sampling of terminal regions suggest that most spidroins share stabilization mechanisms, dimer formation, and tertiary structure, despite producing functionally distinct materials.
Simulation-based approach for fabrication of micro-shell resonators with controllable stiffness and mass distribution

This paper presents a precision shell integrating (PSI) gyroscope design and fabrication based on an upfront simulation of a modified micro-blowtorching technique. The PSI resonator is designed to achieve low frequency n = 2 wine-glass mode and high parasitic mode frequencies to improve shock and vibration tolerance. The resonator has also larger effective mass than other MEMS gyroscope resonator designs. A non-isothermal model is developed to simulate reflow molding dynamics and solve the key challenge of PSI resonator fabrication, which is designing a patterned substrate geometry whose various regions stretch to the desired final thickness and land at the appropriate locations along a graphite mold. Our upfront process simulation model saves significant cost and time by eliminating the trial-and-error approach to fabricating PSI resonators with the desired mass and stiffness distribution.
Biotechnology, communication and the public: Keys to delve into the social perception of science

The latest biotechnology applications allow for faster and cheaper gene editing than ever before. Many people are calling for a public debate on these issues, including the social, cultural and ethical implications of these applications. On the other hand, the information available to citizens is sometimes contradictory and communication that takes all these aspects into account is important and increasingly necessary. Therefore, understanding public attitudes towards biotechnology should be a priority for the work ahead.
Toward a feminist modernist digital humanities

Though the digital humanities (DH) has offered feminist scholars new opportunities for publishing neglected authors, the rhetoric of science and quantification that accompanies it runs counter to c...
Angiopoietin Level Trajectories in Toddlers With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock and Their Effect on Capillary Endothelium.

OBJECTIVE Angiopoietins are postulated diagnostic biomarkers in children and adults with severe sepsis and septic shock. The diagnostic value of angiopoietins in children less than 5 years old has not been established, nor has their effect on permeability in the capillary microvasculature. We aim to determine if levels of angiopoietin-1 or -2 (angpt-1, -2) are diagnostic for severe sepsis/shock in young children and whether they affect the permeability of cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC). DESIGN Prospective observational study of children < 5 years old. Patients were classified as non-systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), SIRS/sepsis and severe sepsis/septic shock. SETTING Tertiary care pediatric hospitals. PATIENTS Critically ill children. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS Plasma angpt-1 and -2 levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunoassays. Expression of angpt-2 in endothelial cells was assessed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Permeability changes in cultured HDMECs were assessed with transendothelial electrical resistance measurements. RESULTS Angpt-1 levels were significantly higher in younger children compared with levels found in previous study of older children across disease severity (all P < 0.001). Angpt-2 was significantly higher in this cohort with severe sepsis/septic shock compared with children without SIRS and SIRS/sepsis (all P < 0.003). Angpt-2/1 ratio was also elevated in children with severe sepsis/septic shock but an order of magnitude less than older children (P < 0.02, P = 0.002). Angpt-1 and -2 did not affect basal HDMEC permeability or modulate leak in isolation or in the presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). CONCLUSIONS Angpt-2 levels and the angpt-2/1 ratio are appropriate diagnostic biomarkers of severe sepsis/septic shock in children less than 5 years old. Neither angpt-1 nor -2 affects basal HDMEC permeability alone or modulates TNF induced capillary leak.
The chemokine receptor CXCR3 contributes to breast cancer metastasis

2487 Several chemokine receptors have now been described in malignancy. The purpose of the current study is to determine if the chemokine receptor CXCR3, which binds the ligands CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11, is expressed in breast cancer and if this receptor contributes to more aggressive disease. By immunohistochemistry, early stage breast cancers express CXCR3 in malignant epithelium and expression levels are associated with significantly poorer survival. To examine the functional role of CXCR3 in breast tumor metastasis, we employed a syngeneic model of metastatic breast cancer. Like human breast cancer cells, metastatic murine mammary tumor cells express CXCR3 on the surface and, abundantly, in the cytoplasm. Using shRNA, we stably inhibited CXCR3 protein and mRNA in line 66.1 murine mammary tumor cells. When 66.1-shCXCR3 cells were implanted into the mammary fat pad of syngeneic Balb/cByJ mice, spontaneous metastasis to the lung was markedly reduced (by 72-94%) in comparison to vector control tumor cells. In contrast, growth of the mammary gland-injected tumors was not compromised by CXCR3 gene silencing. Lung colony formation by intravenously injected tumor cells was also significantly reduced by CXCR3 gene silencing. These data confirm our previous findings that a pharmacologic CXCR3 antagonist inhibits metastatic but not local mammary tumor growth. When CXCR3 expression and function on immortalized normal mammary epithelial (EpH4) and malignant breast cells are compared, levels of CXCR3 receptor protein are not different, however, quantitative and qualitative differences in receptor function are observed. CXCR3 ligands stimulate migration of tumor cells but EpH4 cells have a negligible chemotactic response to these ligands. Proliferation of EpH4 cells is inhibited by CXCR3 ligands in a dose-dependent manner, whereas growth of malignant cells is largely unaffected by the presence of CXCR3 ligands. Signal transduction pathway activation also differs between malignant and normal cells. Thus, CXCR3 activation alters the behavior of both malignant and normal cells, but in contrasting directions. Taken together, these studies indicate that CXCR3 contributes to metastatic potential in a model of metastatic breast cancer. The positive association of CXCR3 and poor longterm survival in women with breast cancer supports the further examination of this receptor as a therapeutic target.
Chapter 32 – The Mucolipidoses

The mucolipidoses emerged as a unique group of inherited disorders that originally were considered to be part of the mucopolysaccharidoses. The storage material within tissues or cultured skin fibroblasts includes lipids and glycosaminoglycans. These disorders are not characterized by mucopolysacchariduria.
Incidental Serous Cystadenoma Presenting as a Photopenic Pancreatic Defect on 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT.

ABSTRACT: 18F-fluciclovine (Axumin) PET/CT has been widely used for the evaluation of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer following prior treatment. While lymph node and visceral organ metastases typically show increased radiotracer uptake, altered patterns of normal physiologic activity may also provide insight into other disease processes. We present a case of an incidental pancreatic head mass presenting as a photopenic defect on a staging 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT, which was subsequently confirmed to be a benign serous cystadenoma using multisequence MRI.
Targeting ITK signaling for T cell-mediated diseases.

The focus of this review is to examine the role of ITK signaling in multiple diseases and investigate the clinical potential of ITK inhibition. The diseases and potential interventions reviewed include T cell-derived malignancies as well as other neoplastic diseases, allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, certain infectious diseases, several autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, and finally the use of ITK inhibition in both solid organ and bone marrow transplantation recipients.
Reliability of Virtual Physical Performance Assessments in Veterans during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Objective To determine the reliability of 3 physical performance tests performed via a telehealth visit (30-s arm curls test, 30-s chair stand test, 2-min step test) among community-dwelling older veterans. Design Cross sectional study. Setting Virtual. Participants Veterans (N=55; mean age 75y) who enrolled in Gerofit, a virtual group exercise program. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Participants were tested by 2 different assessors at 1 time point. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals and Bland-Altman plots were used as measures of reliability. To assess generalizability, ICCs were further evaluated by health conditions (type 2 diabetes, arthritis, obesity, depression). Results Assessments were conducted among 55 participants. The ICC was above 0.98 for all 3 tests across health conditions and Bland-Altman plots indicated that there were no significant systematic errors in the measurement. Conclusions The virtual physical performance measures appear to have high reliability and the findings are generalizable across health conditions among veterans. Thus, they are reliable for evaluating physical performance in older veterans in virtual settings.
Collaborative Governance in a Developing Non-Democracy: Uganda's Organizational Success Fighting HIV/AIDS:

Organization and management scholars seek theory-grounded and theory-building research regarding establishing and structuring organization forms to tackle large, intractable problems, especially gr...
Removal of focal atheromatous lesions by angioscopically guided high-speed rotary atherectomy. Preliminary experimental observations

Abstract A new high-speed rotary atherectomy device, inserted over a guide wire and directed with an angioscope, offers the potential of restoring patency of outflow vessels by "boring out" the atheromatous lesion of the orifices of runoff vessels. This device was tested on 68 cadaver arteries with atheromatous lesions involving the superficial femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries. This was performed with either free segments or in situ with the device placed through a popliteal arteriotomy. The gross results of rotary atherectomy were assessed by angioscopy, angiography, or both. The luminal surfaces were studied with scanning electron microscopy and transverse sections of vessels were studied with light microscopy. The pulverized atheroma, in colloidal suspension, was analyzed for particle size by Coulter counter. The effect of a colloidal suspension of atheromatous particles on distal capillary circulation was measured in animal experiments. Obstructive lesions were successfully removed in 36 of 37 stenotic arteries (97%) and 18 of 31 completely occluded arteries (58%), an overall efficacy of 54 of 68 (79%). In successfully atherectomized arteries, angioscopy and angiography demonstrated a widely patent, smooth, polished surface. Light microscopy demonstrated removal of the diseased intima with maintenance of the outer media and adventitia. The pulverized atheroma particles were generally smaller than red blood cells and injection of the colloidal atheroma into canine femoral arteries failed to produce local tissue injury. We concluded that in the human cadaver this atherectomy device effectively enlarges and recanalizes obstructed superficial femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries. It is highly effective for stenotic lesions but less effective for totally occluding lesions, especially those occluded by chronic thrombus. Improved guide wire manipulation and better selection of burr size should improve results in completely occluded arteries. The potential for thromboembolic complications appears small. Clinical trials are in progress. (J VASC SURG 1988;7:292-300.)
Suppression of amber and ochre rII Mutants of Bacteriophage T4 by Streptomycin

Orias, E. (University of California, Santa Barbara), and T. K. Gartner. Suppression of amber and ochre rII mutants of bacteriophage T4 by streptomycin. J. Bacteriol. 91:2210–2215. 1966.—Streptomycin-induced suppression of amber and ochre rII mutants of phage T4 was studied in a streptomycin-sensitive strain of Escherichia coli and four nearly isogenic streptomycin-resistant derivatives of this strain, in the presence and in the absence of an ochre suppressor. Most of the 12 rII mutants tested were suppressed by streptomycin in the streptomycin-sensitive su− strain. This streptomycin-induced suppression in the su− strain was eliminated by the independent action of at least two of the four nonidentical mutations to streptomycin resistance. In two of the su+str-r strains, streptomycin markedly augmented the suppression caused by the ochre suppressor. In those su−str-r hosts in which significant streptomycin-induced suppression could be measured, the amber mutants were more suppressible than the ochre mutants.
The Basic Loop

This chapter contains sections titled: Steady-State Conditions Classical Analysis Mathematical Block Diagram Bode Plot Note on Phase Reversals Summary of Transient Responses of the First-Order Loop ]]>
Legislative Investigation of Un-American Activities Exhibit A: The Tenney Committee

CHARGES and countercharges fill the air and cover the pages of the press. Senator Benton presents sworn charges against Senator McCarthy and the subcommittee votes to hear them. An article in Time, which few if any suspect of communistic leanings, presents data concerning forged pictures, innuendos and half truths which give rise to little confidence in "McCarthyism." Yet we know that Alger Hiss wai convicted of perjuring himself, that Fuchs and others have confessed to betraying our atomic secrets. What is a conscientious American to believe? How should he act?
Physiology and pharmacology of alcohol: the imidazobenzodiazepine alcohol antagonist site on subtypes of GABAA receptors as an opportunity for drug development?

Alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) has pleiotropic actions and induces a number of acute and long-term effects due to direct actions on alcohol targets, and effects of alcohol metabolites and metabolism. Many detrimental health consequences are due to EtOH metabolism and metabolites, in particular acetaldehyde, whose high reactivity leads to nonspecific chemical modifications of proteins and nucleic acids. Like acetaldehyde, alcohol has been widely considered a nonspecific drug, despite rather persuasive evidence implicating inhibitory GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in acute alcohol actions, for example, a GABAAR ligand, the imidazobenzodiazepine Ro15-4513 antagonizes many low-to-moderate dose alcohol actions in mammals. It was therefore rather surprising that abundant types of synaptic GABAARs are generally not responsive to relevant low concentrations of EtOH. In contrast, δ-subunit-containing GABAARs and extrasynaptic tonic GABA currents mediated by these receptors are sensitive to alcohol concentrations that are reached in blood and tissues during low-to-moderate alcohol consumption. We recently showed that low-dose alcohol enhancement on highly alcohol-sensitive GABAAR subtypes is antagonized by Ro15-4513 in an apparently competitive manner, providing a molecular explanation for behavioural Ro15-4513 alcohol antagonism. The identification of a Ro15-4513/EtOH binding site on unique GABAAR subtypes opens the possibility to characterize this alcohol site(s) and screen for compounds that modulate the function of EtOH/Ro15-4513-sensitive GABAARs. The utility of such drugs might range from novel alcohol antagonists that might be useful in the emergency room, to drugs for the treatment of alcoholism, as well as alcohol-mimetic drugs to harness acute positive effects of alcohol.
Amphiphilic tobramycin analogues as antibacterial and antifungal agents

In this study, we investigated the in vitro antifungal activities, cytotoxicities, and membrane-disruptive actions of amphiphilic tobramycin (TOB) analogues. The antifungal activities were established by determination of MIC values and in time-kill studies. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in mammalian cell lines. The fungal membrane-disruptive action of these analogues was studied by using the membrane-impermeable dye propidium iodide. TOB analogues bearing a linear alkyl chain at their 6″-position in a thioether linkage exhibited chain length-dependent antifungal activities. Analogues with C12 and C14 chains showed promising antifungal activities against tested fungal strains, with MIC values ranging from 1.95 to 62.5 mg/liter and 1.95 to 7.8 mg/liter, respectively. However, C4, C6, and C8 TOB analogues and TOB itself exhibited little to no antifungal activity. Fifty percent inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) for the most potent TOB analogues (C12 and C14) against A549 and Beas 2B cells were 4- to 64-fold and 32- to 64-fold higher, respectively, than their antifungal MIC values against various fungi. Unlike conventional aminoglycoside antibiotics, TOB analogues with alkyl chain lengths of C12 and C14 appear to inhibit fungi by inducing apoptosis and disrupting the fungal membrane as a novel mechanism of action. Amphiphilic TOB analogues showed broad-spectrum antifungal activities with minimal mammalian cell cytotoxicity. This study provides novel lead compounds for the development of antifungal drugs.
Spatio-Temporal Evolutionary Dynamics in Natural Butterfly Populations (2012 Field Season)

The study of evolution in natural populations has advanced our understanding of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity. For example, long term studies of wild populations indicate that natural selection can cause rapid and dramatic changes in traits, but that in some cases these evolutionary changes are quickly reversed when periodic variation in weather patterns or the biotic environment cause the optimal trait value to change (e.g., Reznick et al. 1997; Grant and Grant 2002). In fact, spatial and temporal variation in the strength and nature of natural selection could explain the high levels of genetic variation found in many natural populations (Gillespie 1994; Siepielski et al. 2009). Long term studies of evolution in the wild could also be informative for biodiversity conservation and resource management, because, for example, data on short term evolutionary responses to annual fluctuations in temperature or rainfall could be used to predict longer term evolution in response to directional climate change. Most previous research on evolution in the wild has considered one or a few observable traits or genes (Kapan 2001; Grant and Grant 2002; Barrett et al. 2008). We believe that more general conclusions regarding the rate and causes of evolutionary change in the wild and selectionâs contribution to the maintenance of genetic variation could be obtained by studying genome-wide molecular evolution in a suite of natural populations. Thus, we have begun a long term study of genome-wide molecular evolution in a series of natural butterfly populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). This study will allow us to quantify the contribution of environment-dependent natural selection to evolution in these butterfly populations and determine whether selection consistently favors the same alleles across space and through time.
[3H]Inositol Hexaphosphate (Phytic Acid) is Rapidly Absorbed and Metabolized by Murine and Human Malignant Cells in Vitro

To test the hypothesis that the antineoplastic activity of phytic acid [inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6)] is a result of rapid intake by the cells and its conversion to lower inositol phosphates (InsP1-5), thereby affecting the intracellular inositol phosphate pool, YAC-1 (mouse T cell leukemia), K562 (human erythroleukemia) and HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cell lines were incubated at 37 degrees C with [3H]InsP6. After 1 h, 31.3 +/- 3.1% of administered radio-activity was taken up by YAC-1 cells, 6.2 +/- 0.9% by K562 cells and 6.6 +/- 3.8% by HT-29 cells. Differential centrifugation and high resolution subcellular fractionation of cell homogenates demonstrated that within the various cellular compartments, 80% (HT-29) to 97% (YAC-1) of the total radioactivity was in the cytosol. Kinetic study showed that the peak of the total absorption was obtained after 30 min of cell exposure to radiolabeled InsP6, after with a plateau was reached. Analysis of the radioactivity accumulated within the cells showed variable proportions of myo-inositol and InsP1-6, with a preponderance of InsP1 and InsP2. The presence of [3H]myo-inositol and [3H]InsP1-6 suggests that InsP6 may, in some cells at least, be absorbed as such and that a variable degree of dephosphorylation of InsP6 takes place both extra- and intracellularly.
Are There Differences in Ice Hockey Injuries Between Sexes?: A Systematic Review.

Background:Men’s ice hockey allows for body checking, and women’s ice hockey prohibits it. Studies have reported injury data on both sexes, but no systematic reviews have compared the injury patterns between male and female ice hockey players.Hypothesis:Men’s and women’s ice hockey would have different types of injuries, and this difference would extend across the different age groups and levels of play.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Three databases, 3 scientific journals, and selected bibliographies were searched to identify articles relevant to this study. Articles were further screened by the use of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies met these criteria and were subsequently reviewed.Results:Men sustained higher rates of injuries than women at all age levels, and both sexes sustained at least twice as many injuries in games than practices. Both sexes sustained most of their injuries from player contact. Men and women in college sustained most...
An improved method of testing for evolutionary homology.

A more sensitive method of searching for a homologous relation between two proteins is presented. The method depends on determining the minimum number of nucleotides which must be altered to permit tho conversion of one sequence into the other. Results for α - and β -hemoglobin, for which the homology is already known, are presented and shown to be consistent.
The thermal plasma processing of fine powders

Interest in the thermal plasma processing of fine powders has increased in recent years. Its potential for the production of advanced materials is highly recognized. This paper discusses research carried out in the plasma-processing laboratory at the University of Alabama to produce fine powders using transferred and non-transferred arc plasma systems. Fine powders of metal, ceramics, and composites were synthesized using plasma technology.
The role of benzodiazepine receptors in the induction of differentiation of HL‐60 leukemia cells by benzodiazepines and purines

A series of benzodiazepines was evaluated for their capacity to induce the differentiation of HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Benzodiazepines were effective initiators of maturation in the concentration range of 50 to 150 microM. The possible involvement of benzodiazepine receptors in mediating the differentiation induced by these agents was investigated. The presence of high affinity, peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites (KD = 7.3 nM, TB = 14.5 pmol/mg protein with Ro5-4864) was demonstrated in HL-60 membranes. The occupancy of peripheral type high affinity benzodiazepine receptors by various benzodiazepines showed some correlation (r = 0.76) with their differentiation-inducing capabilities, but binding potencies were 1,000-fold higher than the concentrations required to produce differentiation. A class of benzodiazepine receptors with lower binding affinity was also detected in HL-60 membranes (KD = 28.6 microM; TB = 199 pmol/mg protein with diazepam). A higher level of correlation (r = 0.88) was demonstrated between benzodiazepine occupancy of these lower affinity receptors and the capacity to induce maturation. Significantly, benzodiazepine concentrations needed for low affinity binding and induction of differentiation were the same (25-200 microM), suggesting that low affinity benzodiazepine receptors may be involved in the induction process. We have shown that the molecular form responsible for the induction of the differentiation of HL-60 cells to mature forms by 6-thioguanine (TGua) is the free base, TGua, itself [Ishiguro, Schwartz, and Sartorelli (1984) J. Cell. Physiol., 121:383-390]. Since hypoxanthine (Hyp) and inosine (Ino) have been identified as putative endogenous ligands for high affinity benzodiazepine receptors in brain tissue, the potential involvement of benzodiazepine receptors in the differentiation of HL-60 cells by the purines was investigated. Physiological purines such as Hyp and Ino were inactive in displacing the benzodiazepines from their high and low affinity binding sites in HL-60 membranes. In contrast, TGua caused inhibition of benzodiazepine binding to high and low affinity sites. The inhibition of Ro5-4864 binding to high affinity binding sites by TGua appeared to be due to the binding of TGua to membranes through the formation of a mixed disulfide between the 6-thiopurine and protein thiols, since the inhibition was reversed by the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The findings suggest a possible relationship between the occupancy of benzodiazepine receptors by TGua and the induction of leukemic cell differentiation.
Approach of yield response curves to steady state

Abstract Field studies on response of forage grasses to management factors (such as applied N) are generally conducted over multiple years to insure reliability of treatment responses measured. The increased number of observations enhances statistical analysis and separation of means. The question of system behavior over time naturally occurs. Data from a three year study at Watkinsville, GA with coastal and common bermuda ‐grass [Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.] were analyzed with the logistic model to estimate approach to steady state. Model parameters (A, b, c) showed an exponential shift with time, approaching 90 % of steady state in the third year. The model provided high correlation ( R > 0.98 ) between dry matter yield and applied N.
Two-electron absorption in a biased quantum well

Linear light absorption of 2D electrons confined within a biased quantum well is studied theoretically. We demonstrate that for light polarization perpendicular to the 2D plane, in addition to conventional absorption peak at frequency ħω ≈ A, where A is the intersubband energy distance, there exists a peak around a double frequency ħω ≈ 2Δ. This additional peak is entirely due to electron-electron interactions, and corresponds to excitation of two electrons by one photon. The magnitude of two-electron absorption is proportional to U 2 , where U is the applied bias.
Chemical Degradation of a Multiply Alkylated Cyclopentane (MAC) Oil During Wear: Implications for Spacecraft Attitude Control System Bearings

The wear-induced chemical degradation process was examined using deliberately under-lubricated thrust ball bearings to create wear in a reasonable time frame. The liquid-phase products were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy and gel-permeation chromatography. Our results indicate that oil molecules react with the freshly created clean Fe surface produced during wear, and fragment into radicals by breaking C–C bonds. These free radicals produce alkenes, which can then be further attacked by radicals, leading to the formation of larger molecules (oligomers and eventually polymers). A side reaction, production of iron carboxylate salts, also occurred during wear. Additional experiments indicate that organic acids can be produced by radical reaction with the oxidized areas of the bearing surfaces and wear particles, and these acids can then attack the clean Fe surfaces created by wear to form iron carboxylate salts. We used our experimental results to estimate the amount of degradation likely to be produced in attitude control system bearing tests under conditions that produce wear and poor performance. We find that multiply alkylated cyclopentane (MAC) oil chemical degradation is an effect of wear, and is insufficient to be a cause of failure itself. Life predictions for MAC-lubricated attitude control system bearings must be based on predictions of oil transport and wear since failures are due to the failure of the lubrication system, not of the lubricant itself.
Hydroxyapatite effect on photopolymerization of self-etching adhesives with different aggressiveness.

Abstract Objective To understand the correlation of the acidic monomer/hydroxyapatite (HAp) reaction with the photopolymerization behaviour of self-etching adhesives with different aggressiveness. Methods Two commercial self-etching adhesives the strong Adper Prompt L-Pop (APLP, pH ∼ 0.8) and the mild Adper Easy Bond (AEB, pH ∼ 2.5) were used. HAp powders were incorporated into both adhesives to acquire solutions with concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 wt%. The attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FT-IR) technique was employed to collect the in situ spectra during light-curing, from which the degree of conversion (DC) and polymerization rate (PR) were calculated. The pH of each tested solution was also measured. Results Without HAp incorporation, the DC and PR of the strong APLP (7.8% and 0.12%/s, respectively) were much lower than those of the mild AEB (85.5% and 5.7%/s, respectively). The DC and PR of APLP displayed an apparent increasing trend with the HAp content. For example, the DC increased from 7.8% to 58.4% and the PR increased from 0.12 to 3.8%/s when the HAp content increased from 0 to 7 wt%. In contrast, the DC and PR of AEB were much less affected by the HAp content. The observations were correlated well with the spectral and pH changes, which indicated that APLP underwent a higher extent of chemical reaction with HAp than AEB. Conclusions The results disclosed the important role of the acidic monomer/HAp chemical reaction in improving the photopolymerization of the strong (low-pH) self-etching adhesives such as APLP. The phenomenon of polymerization improvement strongly depended on the adhesive aggressiveness.
Red cell aplasia and osteoblastic metastases in a patient with thymoma

A case is reported of transient red cell aplasia in a patient with metastatic thymoma. A 32-year-old Caucasian man who was treated with x-ray therapy to the thymus in childhood had a thymoma removed at age 28. Two years later, metastatic nodules were found in the lungs. He was started on therapy with monthly injections of nitrogen mustard. Eleven months later, and one month after his last dose of nitrogen mustard, he developed severe anemia associated with absent red cell precursors in the marrow. Concomitantly, he was discovered to have scattered osteoblastic bone lesions proven by biopsy to be secondary to metastatic uiymoma. The additional findings of lymphopenia, transient anergy, and a basal cell carcinoma of the skin support the contention that impairment of the thymus-dependent immune system was present.
Generalized chord transformation for distortion-invariant optical pattern recognition.

An optical processor that realizes a generalized chord transformation is described. The wedge-ring detector samples of an autocorrelation are shown to be the histograms of the chord distributions. This dimensionality reduced set of features is used as the feature vector inputs for a Fisher linear classifier to determine the class of the input object independent of geometrical distortions. Initial discussions on the use of different classifiers, the polarity of the classifier’s output, and selection of the image training set are also advanced.
Learning sustainability: families, learning, and next-generation eco-feedback technology

Eco-feedback technology is a growing area of interest in interaction design research. From smart meters to ambient feedback displays, well-designed technology has the potential to help families cut costs, reduce waste, and increase environmental sustainability. In this paper, we reflect on this trend and pose two interrelated design challenges that we believe are important for the development and evaluation of next-generation eco-feedback technology. First, how can we design technology to encourage entire families, children as well as adults, to become meaningful and active participants in the management of household resource consumption? And second, how can we design interactive systems to engage families in inquiry-based learning around concepts of consumption and sustainability?
Menstrual Hygiene and Reproductive Morbidity in Adolescent Girls in Dehradun, India

Context: In India, adolescent girls face serious health problem due to socio-economic, environmental and cultural conditions as well as gender discrimination. A vast majority of girls in India are suffering from either general or reproductive morbidities. Unhygienic practices during menstruation expose them for Reproductive Tract Infections (RTI). If not treated early, it could lead to various disabilities and consequently affect their valuable lives. This study was done with the aim of estimating the magnitude of gynaecological morbidities among unmarried adolescent girls as well as to find out the relation between menstrual hygiene and RTI. Settings and Design: Cross-Sectional Observational study conducted in two randomly selected Inter colleges (one rural and one urban) of district Dehradun, Uttarakhand state. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in school going unmarried adolescent girls to know their menstrual hygiene practices as well as reproductive morbidity. Data was collected by interview method using a pretested, prestructured questionnaire after taking consent. Statistical analysis used: percentages and Chi-square test. Results: Approximately 65 % of the girls reported having dysmenorrhoea and 19 % of the girls had given the history of excessive vaginal discharge with or without low backache/lower abdominal pain. Strong association was found between Reproductive Tract Infections and poor menstrual hygiene. Conclusions: Girls should be made aware of the process of menstruation and importance of maintaining its hygiene before attaining menarche. They should also be made aware about its linkages with their forthcoming reproductive health. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i2.14257 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(2) 2014 p.170-174
Finding our inner scientist

Popper had a fateful meeting with the philosopher of language Ludwig Wittgenstein at the Cambridge Philosophy Club. In a talk to the Club, with Wittgenstein in the audience, Popper described several “philosophical problems”– important, dif1⁄2cult questions that he thought would one day be answered. Here Popper was issuing a direct challenge to Wittgenstein, who had argued that philosophy could only analyze linguistic puzzles–not solve any real problems. The visit has become most famous for the subsequent controversy among eyewitnesses over whether or not Wittgenstein’s response to this challenge was to angrily brandish a 1⁄2replace poker at Popper. But there is a more interesting aspect to the story. One of the problems Popper described was the problem of causal induction: How is it possible for us to correctly infer the causal structure of the world from our limited and fragmentary experience? Popper claimed that this problem would one day be solved, and he turned out to be right. Surprisingly, at least part of the solution to the problem comes from a source about as far removed from the chilly Cambridge seminar room of 1⁄2fty years ago as possible–it comes from babies and young children. The past thirty years have been a golden age for the study of cognitive development. We’ve learned more about what babies and young children know, and when they know it, than we did in the preceding two thousand years. And this new science has completely overturned traditional ideas about what children are like. The conventional wisdom, from Locke to Freud and Piaget, had been that babies and young children are irrational, egocentric, pre-causal, and solipsistic, governed by sensation rather than reason, and impulse rather than intention. In contrast, the last thirty years of research have taught us that even the youngest infants–literally newborns –already know a great deal about a wide range of subjects. Moreover, we have been able to chart consistent changes
Opine content of unorganised and teratomatous tobacco crown gall tissues

Crown gall tissue cultures were obtained from tumours induced on tobacco by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain B6. The initially unorganised crown gall tissue could give rise spontaneously to teratomatous tissues of two types. Octopine, octopinic acid, lysopine and histopine were present in each tissue irrespective of morphology, but agropine, which was present in huge quantities (7% of the tissue dry weight) in the unorganised tissue and a teratoma which produced abnormal leaf-like structures, was not detected in a teratoma which produced well-developed leafy shoots.
Gangliosides in developing mouse brain myelin.

— Gangliosides were isolated from myelin prepared from mouse brains of different ages (23 to 490 days). Quantitative estimation of lipid-bound sialic acid levels indicated a gradual increase from 560 μg/g of myelin at 23 days to about 1200 μg/g of myelin at older ages. The major ganglioside in all myelin preparations was the monosialoganglioside G4 (GM1). However, considerable amounts of di- and trisialo species also were found in myelin from young animals. In contrast to human myelin in which the monosialoganglioside, sialosylgalactosylceramide (G7) was highly enriched (Ledeenet al., 1973), a much smaller enrichment of this ganglioside was noticed in mouse brain myelin. Ganglioside G7 was not detectable in myelin until the animals were 35 days old, and showed a slight increase with increasing age after that. The results strongly indicated that the concentration of G7 in myelin is species specific and age dependent. The study also demonstrated that the ganglioside accretion in developing mouse brain myelin was attributable to the enrichment of monosialogangliosides G4 (GM1), G5 (GM2) and G7 at the expense of polysialogangliosides.
A10 somatodendritic dopamine autoreceptor sensitivity following withdrawal from repeated cocaine treatment

The mesoaccumbens dopamine (DA) pathway is known to be involved in both the rewarding properties of cocaine and in behavioral sensitization to its locomotor-stimulating effects. We investigated changes in DA neurons in this pathway following withdrawal from repeated cocaine treatment. Rats were injected with 10 mg/kg cocaine or 1 ml/kg saline twice daily for 14 days. One day, 4 days and 8 days after treatment, inhibition of cell firing by the DA agonist apomorphine was measured in DA neurons using in vivo single cell recording techniques. As previously reported, the somatodendritic autoreceptor appeared subsensitive one day after treatment. This autoreceptor subsensitivity persisted four days, but not eight days, after treatment. Although not a persistent alteration, autoreceptor subsensitivity may be necessary to trigger other permanent changes involved in behavioral sensitization.