cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abortion barriers and perceptions of gestational age among women seeking abortion care in the latter half of the second trimester.

Abstract Objective Later second-trimester abortion (gestational age ≥ 19 weeks) is higher risk, more expensive and more difficult to access than abortion earlier in pregnancy. We sought to enumerate barriers to care described by women seeking abortion in the latter half of the second trimester. We also assessed the accuracy of later second-trimester abortion patients’ perceptions of their pregnancies’ gestational ages. Study Design A retrospective analysis of data from 232 women served by a referral program for women seeking abortion care between 19 and 24 weeks of gestational age was performed. Data collected included demographics, pregnancy history, gestational age by ultrasound, perceived gestational age, barriers to abortion care experienced and time lapsed from pregnancy recognition to presentation for care. Results Difficulty deciding whether to terminate (44.8%), financial barriers to care (22.0%) and the patient having recently realized she was pregnant (21.6%) were the most common delaying barriers cited. Nearly half (46.6%) of women underestimated their own gestational ages by greater than 4 weeks. Risk factors for experiencing at least 3 months time lapsed from pregnancy recognition to program referral included difficulty deciding whether to terminate [odds ratio (OR) 4.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.51–8.70] and nonwhite race/ethnicity (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.16–3.57). Conclusions Women seeking abortion care in the latter half of the second trimester encounter many of the same barriers previously identified among other abortion patient populations. Because many risk factors for delayed presentation for care are not amenable to intervention, abortion must remain available later in the second trimester. Implications Women presenting for abortion in the later second trimester are delayed by structural and individual-level barriers, and many substantially underestimate their own gestational age. Removing financial barriers may help reduce abortion delay; however, many risk factors are nonmodifiable, underscoring the need to ensure access to later second-trimester abortion.
Improving completion of advance directives in the primary care setting: A randomized controlled trial

Background Since 1991, hospitals have asked patients whether they have advance directives, but few patients complete these documents. We assessed two simple interventions to improve completion of advance directives among elderly or chronically ill outpatients. Methods We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 1079 patients from five general medicine clinics that were affiliated with an academic medical center. Patients were either ≥70 years of age or ≥50 years old with a chronic illness. The study comprised three arms: physician reminders recommending documentation of advance directives, physician reminders plus mailing advance directives to patients together with educational literature, or neither intervention (control). The main outcome measure was completion of an advance directive. Results After 28 weeks, 1.5% (5/332) of patients in the physician reminder group, 14% (38/277) in the physician reminder plus patient mailing group, and 1.8% (5/286) in the control group had completed advance directives. In multivariate analyses, patients in the physician reminder plus patient mailing group were much more likely than controls to have completed advance directives (odds ratio [OR] = 5.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5 to 22), whereas patients in the physician reminder–only group were no more likely than controls to have completed advance directives (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.21 to 3.7). Conclusion Mailing health care proxy and living will forms and literature to patients before an appointment at which their physicians received a reminder about advance directives yielded a small but significant improvement in completion of these documents. A physician reminder alone did not have an effect.
Viscous nozzle flow as a Sturm-Liouville problem*

Abstract In a slender nozzle the mean stationary flow is one dimensional. I analyse this one dimensional flow introducing a small artificial viscosity into the conservation equations, and considering the coefficient of viscosity and the size of the constriction of first and second order smallness respectively. The so resulting approximation scheme leads to a Sturm-Liouville problem with the quadratically not integrable solutions playing a significant role; they describe subsonic flows. The summary at the end of this note enumerates one by one the different results obtained.
Quantile Comparison Functions in Two-Sample Problems, with Application to Comparisons of Diagnostic Markers

Abstract In this article a control percentile test, a chi-squared test, and a Kolmogorov-type test are proposed for comparing two distributions from incomplete survival data. These tests are obtained by examining a vertical shift comparison function at a single point, a finite number of points, and an entire set of points on an interval. The proposed methods also have applications in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, which has been widely used in such diverse fields as signal detection theory, psychology, epidemiology, and medicine. The results are derived under very general conditions that hold for the well-known random censorship and random truncation models. The performances of the proposed procedures are studied using Monte Carlo simulation. The methods are applied to analyze Mayo Clinic ovarian carcinoma data.
Characteristics and Effects of Integrated Academic and Occupational Curricula for Students with Disabilities: A Literature Review

Current legislation and education reforms suggest that all students would benefit from participation in curricula that integrate academic and occupational learning. Evidence of the effectiveness of integrating academic and occupational curricula for students with disabilities is examined through a review of research. Best practice reviews, case studies, and program evaluations offer only indirect evidence of effects for students with disabilities. Some evaluations suggest that programs incorporating integrated curricula increased academic achievement and persistence. Methodological and conceptual issues must be addressed in future research to promote a better understanding of benefits for students with disabilities.
Elastic Scattering Processes in Scalar Electrodynamics at High Energies. I

In this paper we study all elastic scattering amplitudes in scalar electrodynamics at high energies. The impact factors for the scalar meson and for the vector meson in this theory are explicitly calculated in the lowest order. We also show that the elastic amplitudes still satisfy an impact-factor representation after all vector-meson exchanges are summed, and an exponentiation, similar to that in quantum electrodynamics, is obtained.
Performance Evaluation of WDM Fiber Optic Frequency Distribution Systems

In this paper we evaluate the phase stability of an externally modulated 8.8 km analog wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) fiber optic frequency distribution link. The analysis of additive radio frequency (RF) phase noise with and without erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) in the fiber optic link is the main objective of this work. RF phase noise is mainly investigated with power amplifier configuration for 1540, 1545, 1550, 1555, and 1560 nm wavelengths and for different gains of EDFA.
An analysis of spectral discrimination between corn and soybeans using a row crop reflectance model

Reflectance calculations of soybeans and corn crops at two times during the growing season indicate that the high sensitivity of the thematic mapper mid-infrared band to exposed bare soil between soybean rows is most likely responsible for early season spectral discrimination of corn and soybean crops by this band.
La sfida nucleare: La politica estera italiana e le armi atomiche 1945–1991, by Leopoldo Nuti

La sfida nucleare: La politica estera italiana e le armi atomiche 1945–1991, by Leopoldo Nuti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007, 425 pp., [euro]32.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-88-15-11942-1 La sfida nucleare i...
Hyperarithmetical relations in expansions of recursive structures

Let A be a model of a theory T. Depending on wether Ais decidable or recursive, and on whether T is strongly minimal or O-minimal, we find conditions on A which guarantee that every infinite independent subset of A is not recursively enumerable. For each of the same four cases we also find conditions on A which guarantee that every infinite independent subset of A has Turing degree ⩾ 0'. More generally, let A be a recursive L-structure, R a relation symbol not in L, ψ a recursive infiniatary Π2 sentence in the language L⋃{R}, and let 0<α<ωCK1. We discuss conditions under which we can construct a recursive L-structure B≃B such that 〈B,RB〉⊬ψ for every Δ0α relation RB on B.
Empathy, Expectations, and Situational Preferences: Personality Influences on the Decision to Participate in Volunteer Helping Behaviors

Although considerable evidence indicates that dispositional empathy is associated with the degree of help that observers will offer needy targets, little is known about the effect of empathy on one's initial willingness to enter situations in which such needy targets might be found. Three studies were conducted to evaluate two related propositions: (1) that dispositional empathy influences such situational preferences, and (2) that this influence is mediated by the expectancies one holds regarding the emotions likely to occur in those situations. Using hypothetical judgments, Study 1 found support for both propositions. Study 2, in which participants believed that their responses actually committed them to encountering needy targets, provided further support for the model, as did Study 3, which examined the experiences of actual community volunteers. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Growth equations and rotation ages of ten native tree species in mixed and pure plantations in the humid neotropics

Abstract Ten percent of the world’s forest consists of plantations, yet these plantations supply 37% of the world’s timber. While plantations proliferate, local communities are looking for suitable native species to cultivate in plantations. This paper is a component of a larger project—trying to restore degraded areas with native plantations in ways that would financially benefit the surrounding communities. Growth equations have been constructed for ten native tree species, using 12 years of growth data from research plots in La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Interpolative growth equations for Terminalia amazonia (J. Gmell) Exell., Virola koschnyi Warb., Dipteryx panamensis (Pittier) Record & Mell, and Hieronyma alchorneoides Allemao were constructed. A maximum sustained yield approach was used to determine the other six species’ rotation age and the merchantable volume produced per hectare at time of harvest. In single-species plantations, Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D. Don., Vochysia guatemalensis Donn. Sm., and Vochysia ferruginea Mart. were the most productive species and, thus, are the recommended plantation species for the humid lowlands of Costa Rica. The data for this experiment suggest J. copaia has an ideal rotation age of 6.5 years, at which time the yield will be 255 m3/ha. V. guatemalensis has a rotation age of 13.5 years producing 417 m3/ha, and V. ferruginea has a rotation age of 13.3 years producing 363 m3/ha. J. copaia and V. guatemalensis grew significantly faster in mixed plantations than in pure plantations. A mixed-species plantation comprised of J. copaia, V. guatemalensis, and Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess produces 21% more total volume of merchantable timber than a pure plantation of J. copaia, which grows the fastest of the three species. Restoring abandoned agricultural sites with V. guatemalensis will yield the most timber to landowners after one rotation.
2D time-of-flight MR angiography using concatenated saturation bands for determining direction of flow in the intracranial vessels

We prospectively studied 15 patients to assess 2D time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with concatenated saturation bands for determining the direction of intracranial blood flow. This MRA sequence was compared to T2-weighted spin-echo MRI, 3D-TOF MRA, and intra-arterial angiography (IAA) as regards demonstration of vessels and determination of the direction of flow in the circle of Willis and its branches. The 2D-TOF MRA sequence demonstrated flow in 98.5% vessel segments identified on IAA, 3D-TOF demonstrating 92% and spin-echo images 77%. The direction of flow shown on the 2D-TOF sequence was correct in 94% when compared to conventional angiography, the remaining six segments not demonstrating flow. In ten patients, the flow abnormalities demonstrated by this MRA technique provided clinical information similar to that of conventional angiography in nine, but it was incomplete in three, and misleading in one. Slow retrograde flow in ophthalmic artery collaterals and differentiation of arteries and veins presented some problems. 2D-TOF MRA with concatenated saturation bands provides flow direction information using widely available, easily applicable TOF techniques, and can be a useful adjunct to MRI and MRA if information on flow direction is needed.
Bicarbonate inhibits Fe‐stress response and Fe uptake‐translocation of chlorosis‐susceptible soybean cultivars

Abstract Effects of HCO‐ 3 on three chlorosis‐resistant (A2, Clark, Hawkeye) and three chlorosis‐susceptible (Anoka, Wayne, Hark) soybean cultivars (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were tested to determine how HCO‐ 3 induces differential Fe‐chlorosis. Effects on regulation of Fe‐stress response were measured by conditioning the plants 8 days with low Fe and 0 or 10 mM HCO‐ 3 before a 24 hour assay of 59Fe uptake‐trans location from 20 μM 59feddhA; the assay solution contained CaCO3 but no added HCO‐ 3. Conditioning with added HCO‐ 3 caused increased 59Fe movement to shoots of resistant cultivars, but decreased it for susceptible cultivars. Direct effects of HCO‐ 3 on 59Fe uptake‐trans location were tested using plants conditioned with 0 Fe and 0 HCO‐ 3. Iron uptake (59Fe) assays were conducted for 72 hour with 0 and 10 mM HCO‐ 3 treatments. HCO‐ 3 reduced 59Fe movement to shoots to 31% of the control for resistant cultivars, and 17% for susceptible cultivars. Translocation of 59Fe (shoots & whole plant) was signi...
Therapeutic Effects of Systemic Administration of Chaperone αB-Crystallin Associated with Binding Proinflammatory Plasma Proteins

The therapeutic benefit of the small heat shock protein αB-crystallin (HspB5) in animal models of multiple sclerosis and ischemia is proposed to arise from its increased capacity to bind proinflammatory proteins at the elevated temperatures within inflammatory foci. By mass spectral analysis, a common set of ∼70 ligands was precipitated by HspB5 from plasma from patients with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and amyloidosis and mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. These proteins were distinguished from other precipitated molecules because they were enriched in the precipitate as compared with their plasma concentrations, and they exhibited temperature-dependent binding. More than half of these ligands were acute phase proteins or members of the complement or coagulation cascades. Consistent with this proposal, plasma levels of HspB5 were increased in patients with multiple sclerosis as compared with normal individuals. The combination of the thermal sensitivity of the HspB5 combined with the high local concentration of these ligands at the site of inflammation is proposed to explain the paradox of how a protein believed to exhibit nonspecific binding can bind with some relative apparent selectivity to proinflammatory proteins and thereby modulate inflammation.
Estimating the Health Effects of Retirement

We estimate the magnitude of any direct effect of retirement on health. Since retirement is endogenous to heath, it is not possible to estimate this effect by comparing the health of individuals before and after they retire. As an alternative we use institutional features of the pension system in the United Kingdom that are exogenous to the individual to isolate exogenous variation in retirement behavior. Data used will include both vital statistics and survey data that include both "objective" physical measurements and respondent self-reports. We find no evidence of negative health effects of retirement and some evidence that there may be a positive effect, at least for men.
Chemical reactions and transport of alkanes and their products in the troposphere

The product distributions have been calculated for more abundant alkanes contributing most of the carbon atoms in the alkane fraction of an ambient air hydrocarbon mixture reasonably representative of U.S. emissions. The effects of ambient temperatures on product yields has been calculated for a range of temperatures from 250 to 330 K. The sensitivity of product yields to uncertainties in alkoxy radical process rate constants has been examined with emphasis on uncertainties in decomposition reactions. Chemical lifetimes are estimated at 300 K under summertime conditions for hydrocarbons and for products of alkane photooxidation in the atmosphere. The atmospheric distribution of alkanes and products is evaluated in terms of the extent to which reaction processes are likely to occur in the planetary boundary layer compared to the free troposphere.
Mitigating IPMC back relaxation through feedforward and feedback control of patterned electrodes

With low driving voltage ( < 5 V) and the ability to be operated in aqueous environments, ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) materials are quickly gaining attention for use in many applications including soft bio-inspired actuators and sensors. There are, however, drawbacks to IPMC actuators, including the ‘back relaxation’ effect. Specifically, when subjected to an excessively slow input, the IPMC actuator will slowly relax back toward its original position. There is debate over the physical mechanism of back relaxation, although one prevalent theory describes an initial current, caused by the electrostatic forces of the charging electrodes, which drives water molecules across the ion exchange membrane and deforms the IPMC. Once the electrodes are fully charged, however, the dominant element of the motion is the osmotic pressure, driving the water molecules back to equilibrium, thus causing back relaxation. A new method to mitigate back relaxation is proposed, taking advantage of controlled activation of patterned (sectored) electrodes on the IPMC. By actuating sectors in opposing directions, back relaxation can be effectively canceled out. An integrated feedforward and feedback controller is employed based on this concept, and is shown to minimize back relaxation, while reducing the input voltage required, as compared to the case of the non-sectored IPMC. Experimental results show nearly an order of magnitude reduction in the tracking error compared to the uncompensated case, and that the IPMC’s position can be maintained over a period of 60 and 1200 s with minimal evidence of back relaxation.
Democracia, Eleições e Responsabilidade Política

O objetivo do artigo e examinar a validade empirica de duas proposicoes, que se relacionam em virtude da definicao da democracia como regimes nos quais os governantes sao selecionados por meio de eleicoes regulares e competitivas: primeiro, que os regimes democraticos se caracterizam pela responsabilidade dos governantes perante os governados e, segundo, que as eleicoes funcionam como o mecanismo que produz esta responsabilidade. Para efeitos da analise, os autores consideram que os governantes sao politicamente responsaveis quando sua sobrevivencia no poder depende do desempenho economico. Utilizando dados para 135 paises observados, com algumas excecoes, entre 1950 e 1990, estimam, entao, a probabilidade de sobrevivencia no poder de lideres democraticos e autoritarios dada a duracao de seus governos e os resultados economicos produzidos. Com base nesta analise os autores concluem que a afirmacao de que a democracia induz a responsabilidade politica e, no minimo, ampla demais; que as eleicoes nao geram resultados economicos nos regimes democraticos; e que a relacao entre democracia e eleicoes e menos do que definicional. Concluimos o artigo com consideracoes mais gerais que sugerem explicacoes plausiveis para os resultados encontrados e suas implicacoes para a teoria democratica.
Evapotranspiration from the margin and moist playa of a closed desert valley

Two long term microclimate measurement stations with Bowen ratio capability have been used to study water cycling in a closed desert basin. Microclimate variables including the temperature and vapor pressure gradients were monitored continuously and were used to estimate the Bowen ratio, sensible and latent heat fluxes during 1986 and 1987. Despite having a water table that varied between the surface and 30 cm below the surface, the playa had little evaporation except after rainfall events. The very high osmotic pressure of the soil and salt crust caused most of the absorbed radiation to be partitioned to sensible heat. In contrast, along the margin the thin grass and brush cover transpired water freely, with the latent heat flux exceeding 60% of available energy for much of the season. The higher air temperatures above the playa raised potential evapotranspiration (ET) significantly higher than along the margin throughout the summer. The annual average actual ET of the playa was only 36% of the margin. During the drier summer period (May–October), this ratio decreased to 638 mm were lost from the margin groundwater supply. The 24-h solar and net radiation correlations were 0.80 and 0.94 for the playa and margin, respectively. The lower correlation for the playa resulted from the wide variation of albedo with surface moisture changes. The annual average albedo values for the playa and margin were 0.64 and 0.46, respectively.
Crosslinking chemistry for high-performance polymer networks

Abstract A new thermally reactive monomer has been designed and synthesized that brings novel crosslinking chemistry to high-performance polymers. This monomer (XTA) is a derivative of terephthalic acid and was based on the thermal chemistry of benzocyclobutene. Various model compounds have been synthesized to investigate substituent effects on benzocyclobutene reactivity. Irreversible reaction exotherms around 350°C were observed in these model compounds using differential scanning calorimetry. Based on these studies, polyaramid and poly(aryl ether ketone) XTA copolymers were synthesized. The formation of an insoluble network resulted after heat treatment of these polymers.
Juvenile hormone and the induction of larval polymorphism and diapause of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella

Abstract The southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella , enters diapause as an immaculate mature larva which is a polymorphic variant of the spotted non-diapause larva. Because dormant immaculate larvae could be obtained by treating last stage non-diapause larvae with a juvenile hormone mimic (JHM), experiments were conducted to determine whether these hormonally induced immaculate larvae (HIL) were physiologically comparable to the normal environmentally induced immaculate diapause larvae (EIL). Comparative data obtained about pupation rates, response to JHM, metabolic reserves, oxygen consumption, and the state of spermatogenesis of HIL and EIL led to the conclusion that the HIL were physiologically similar to the EIL. The results demonstrate that the developmental programme of non-diapause larvae could be switched and ‘diapause’ induced solely by the topical application of JHM. We believe that the data further support our hypothesis that the larval diapause of D. grandiosella is initiated and maintained by the juvenile hormone.
Recurrent inhibition: Its influence upon transduction and afferent discharges in slowly-adapting stretch receptor organs

The crayfish stretch receptor organs provide the opportunity to study recurrent inhibition (RI) in pure experimental conditions. The slowly adapting organ (SAO) from the cephalothoraxabdomen joint of Procambarus darkii was isolated and its length set by anchoring one end and clamping the other with a movable forceps. Each impulse from the SAO triggered a shock to the common inhibitory fiber, after an adjustable delay called "phase". Thus, RI acted upon the SAO. Under steady length conditions, the discharge rate with RI was proportional to the spontaneous discharge rate (i.e. to that without RI), and negatively correlated to the ratio of the phase to the spontaneous interspike interval. Under dynamic conditions, with the SAO submitted to under 0.3 mm length variations, sine-like with or without "white" noise, and periodic at 0.2, 1.0, or 3.0 cps, the effect of RI was basically the same in all conditions. While the lower rates of discharge were unchanged, the higher rates were reduced: thus the overall sensitivity of the SAO was decreased. The RI also decreased the discharge variability at the low rates; variability remained unaffected at the high rates. The general form of the response of the SAO was unaffected by RI, as indicated by displays of rate versus length, of rate versus velocity, or of change in rate versus velocity: only the widness of the loops changed. The effects of RI were compared to those of randomly arriving, Poisson-like IPSP's at the same overall rate: the latter did not exhibit the same dependence on the SAO firing rate.
Diet Influences the Oral Microbiota of Infants during the First Six Months of Life

Oral bacteria and fungi contribute to oral health and establishment of the distal gastrointestinal tract microbiota; however, the impact of diet on the oral microbiota of infants is under-investigated. We aimed to characterize the influence of feeding method (exclusive human milk [HM], formula [FF], HM + FF [mixed], and solid foods) on oral bacterial and fungal communities in vaginally delivered infants during the first 6 mo of life. Infant (N=12) feeding records and tongue and cheek swabs were collected within 24 hr of birth, and at 2, 4, and 6 mo of age. DNA was extracted, sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq, and analyzed with QIIME 1.8 and SAS. Bacterial diversity was lowest in HM and highest in FF and solid food fed infants (p<0.01). Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) of UniFrac distances between samples based on their 97% OTU composition and abundances indicated that bacterial communities were impacted by feeding method (p<0.005). Infants fed HM or mixed diets had reduced relative abundances of Bactero...
REACTION BETWEEN METALS AND MOLTEN GLASS

A series of melts of soda-lime-silica glass cullet in contact with various chemical elements was made to determine by observation the extent of the reaction between metal and glass. The heat treatment consisted of a period of two hours at about 1250°C. An atmosphere of hydrogen gas was used to protect the element from oxidation during the the test period. Various colors were produced by Cu, Ag, Au, Se, C, S, and Zr. Black fogs resulted from melts containing Ba, Cr, or V; gray or black fogs with reddish zones resulted from Mg, Ca, Ti, Mn, Si, and Al. A faint blue with large reddish zones was produced by Co. Only slight attack was shown by Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Bi, Sn, Pb, Mo, and W.
Ultrafast Optical Spectroscopy of Photosystem I

Summary This review discusses energy and electron transfer in Photosystem I (PS I) complexes by means of ultrafast timeresolved optical techniques. In particular, this article addresses directly observable initial (sub)picosecond electronic excitation equilibration among different antenna chlorophyll forms and energy trapping by the charge separation process followed by picosecond electron transfer to the secondary electron acceptor A1. There is still no general agreement on the energy trapping classification in PS I; the validity of diffusion-limited, trap-limited, and mixedenergy trapping models is tested against the available experimental data. Ultrafast experiments on branch-specific complementary mutants of the reaction center open the unique possibility of differentiating between the two highly symmetrical branches of the reaction center, revealing the directionality of electron transfer in PS I. Finally, the most recent optical data questions the conventional sequence of electron transfer steps, and suggests the intriguing possibility that one additional intermediate radical pair may exist that was not previously observed.
Modeling the selectivity of activated carbons for efficient separation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide

Abstract Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations (GCMC) are carried out to investigate the separation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide via adsorption in activated carbons. In the simulations, both hydrogen and carbon dioxide molecules are modeled as Lennard-Jones spheres, and the activated carbons are represented by a slit-pore model. At elevated temperatures (T = 505 and 923 K), the activated carbons exhibit essentially no preference over the two gases and the selectivity of carbon dioxide relative to hydrogen falls monotonically as the pore size increases. At room temperature, however, the selectivity of carbon dioxide relative to hydrogen reaches up to 90, indicating that hydrogen and carbon dioxide can be efficiently separated. Furthermore, the optimized pore sizes, of width H = 1.48 nm for the bulk mole fraction ratio of x CO 2 / x H 2 = 1 : 2 and H = 1.18 nm for x CO 2 / x H 2 = 1 : 8 , are identified in which the activated carbons show the highest selectivity for the separation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Immunohistochemistry of ultimobranchial thyroid carcinomas in seven slaughtered cows and one bull

Eight thyroid gland epithelial tumors were found in 7 cows and 1 bull in a retrospective study of thyroid gland lesions in slaughtered cattle. All tumors were classified as ultimobranchial thyroid carcinomas based on morphology and immunohistochemistry. All tumors consisted of solid sheets and nests of polygonal to oval epithelial cells, with more sparsely dispersed colloid-filled follicles. Connective tissue separating nests of epithelial cells varied from delicate fibrovascular stroma to dense collagenous stroma. Fusiform epithelial cells with rare neural fibers and ganglion cells were present in 1 tumor. Cells within solid areas of these tumors were immunoreactive for calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuron-specific enolase, and synaptophysin. Colloid and follicle cells were immunoreactive for thyroglobulin. Few follicle cells also were reactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide. Neoplastic cells invaded the fibrous capsules in all 8 cattle. These tumors represented proliferation of a mixed population of undifferentiated cells, C cells, and thyroid follicular epithelial cells, presumably derived from the thyroid ultimobranchial bodies. These ultimobranchial carcinomas in slaughtered cattle are comparable to ultimobranchial tumors described in dairy bulls and the intermediate type of thyroid gland carcinomas (mixed thyroid medullary carcinomas) described in human beings.
Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese from Whole Milk Retentates of Ultrafiltration

Abstract Whole milk retentates, prepared by ultrafiltration of pasteurized milk to volume concentration ratios of 1.5:1, 1.75:1, and 2:1, were made into low moisture Mozzarella cheese using thermophilic bacterial cultures. Good melting properties, increased output per vat, and higher yield efficiency based on total solids were observed in retentate over control cheese. Optimum retentate volume concentration ratio was 1.75:1. Cheese from 2:1volume concentration ratio retentates had desirable qualities but were firmer with greater whey fat losses than cheese from non-retentate controls or 1.5:1, and 1.75:1volume concentration ratio retentates. Composition of cheese made from whole milk retentates using thermophilic starters complied with US federal standards of identity for low moisture Mozzarella cheese.
Highly Reliable and Scalable Tungsten Polymetal Gate Process for Memory Devices Using Low-Temperature Plasma Selective Gate Reoxidation

We applied a very low-temperature plasma-type selective gate reoxidation process to W/poly-Si gate for suppression of abnormal oxidation of a low contact resistive WSix/WN diffusion barrier. The device with the plasma selective gate reoxidation showed superior gate oxide reliability and improved stress immunity of transistor compared to the thermally selective gate reoxidized devices
Sentimental Stereotypes: Emotional Expectations for High-and Low-Status Group Members:

Three vignette studies examined stereotypes of the emotions associated with high-and low-status group members. In Study 1a, participants believed that in negative situations, high-status people feel more angry than sad or guilty and that low-status people feel more sad and guilty than angry. Study 1b showed that in response to positive outcomes, high-status people are expected to feel more pride and low-status people are expected to feel more appreciation. Study 2 showed that people also infer status from emotions: Angry and proud people are thought of as high status, whereas sad, guilty, and appreciative people are considered low status. The authors argue that these emotion stereotypes are due to differences in the inferred abilities of people in high and low positions. These perceptions lead to expectations about agency appraisals and emotions related to agency appraisals. In Study 3, the authors found support for this process by manipulating perceptions of skill and finding the same differences in emot...
Ecological performance of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae exposed to environmental levels of the insecticide malathion.

Malathion is a highly soluble or ganophosphate insecticide that is widely used in agriculture and mosquito eradication campaigns. Fish species, such as red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), that use seagrass beds as nursery areas could be affected by runoff waters contaminated with malathion. We exposed red drum larvae at the size they reach in estuarine nursery areas to environmentally realistic and sublethal levels of malathion (0, 1, and 10 μg/L). We evaluated the effects of such exposure on ecologically significant behaviors (routine swimming and predator evasion), growth, and resting metabolism. Malathion exposure to relatively low but ecologically realistic concentrations did not affect routine behavior, escape behavior, resting metabolic rate, or growth, indicating that reported environmental levels may be safe for young fishes. However, a recent substantial increase in the use of malathion may elevate surface-water concentrations to levels above those tested in the present study.
Adherence and glycemic control among Hispanic youth with type 1 diabetes: role of family involvement and acculturation.

Objective To assess whether family involvement and acculturation were related to adherence and glycemic control among Hispanic youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods Hispanic youth with T1D (n ¼ 111; M age ¼ 13.33; 53% female) and parents completed questionnaires that assessed diabetes-related family involvement (distribution of responsibility for diabetes, family support for diabetes), acculturation (linguistic acculturation, generational status), and adherence. HbA1c levels indexed glycemic control. Results Better adherence was associated with less adolescent independent responsibility, more family support for diabetes, and more recent immigration (fewer generations of the family living in US). Family support mediated the relationship between responsibility and adherence. Better glycemic control was associated with higher levels of parental education and adherence. Conclusions Family support for diabetes is important for adherence among Hispanic youth with T1D. Research should examine aspects of recent immigration that contribute to better adherence and the impact of supportive interventions on diabetes care.
Architectures and Idioms: Making Progress in Agent Design

This chapter addresses the problem of producing and maintaining progress in agent design. New architectures often hold important insights into the problems of designing intelligence. Unfortunately, these ideas can be difficult to harness, because on established projects switching between architectures and languages carries high cost. We propose a solution whereby the research community takes responsibility for re-expressing innovations as idioms or extensions of one or more standard architectures. We describe the process and provide an example -- the concept of a Basic Reactive Plan. This idiom occurs in several influential agent architectures, yet in others is difficult to express. We also discuss our proposal's relation to the the roles of architectures, methodologies and toolkits in the design of agents.
Inhibition of matrix degrading enzymes and invasion in human glioblastoma (U87MG) Cells by isoflavones

Glioblastoma multiforme is a primary brain tumor associated with extensive invasion into surrounding brain tissue. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and urokinase plasminogen activation (uPA) system are shown to be involved in tumor invasion as they help in degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and thus assist in the movement of cells. MMP-2 and 9 were shown to be upregulated in gliomas, suggesting their involvement in invasion. Genistein and biochanin A are isoflavones commonly known as phytoestrogens and have some anticancer properties. We hypothesize that these two isoflavones can induce a lowering of tumor invasion by decreasing the activity of matrix degrading enzymes. In this study we investigated the effects of genistein and biochanin A on invasive activity of U87MG cells using the Calbiochem in vitro invasion assay system. Our results suggest that genistein and biochanin A induced a decrease in invasive activity of U87MG cells in a dose-related manner. Genistein also induced a decrease in EGF-stimulated invasion thereby implicating an involvement of EGF-mediated signaling in invasion. Our results also show that treatment of U87MG cells with the two isoflavones induced decreases in the enzymatic activity of MMP-9 and the protein levels of MT1-MMP and uPAR.
Effect of Glucocorticoid-Induced Insulin Resistance on Follicle Development and Ovulation

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenemia, polycystic ovaries, and menstrual disturbance and a clear association with insulin resistance. This research evaluated whether induction of insulin resistance, using dexamethasone (DEX), in a monovular animal model, the cow, could produce an ovarian phenotype similar to PCOS. In all of these experiments, DEX induced insulin resistance in cows as shown by increased glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance). Experiment 1: DEX induced anovulation (zero of five DEX vs. four of four control cows ovulated) and decreased circulating estradiol (E2). Experiment 2: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was administered to determine pituitary and follicular responses during insulin resistance. GnRH induced a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and ovulation in both DEX (seven of seven) and control (seven of seven) cows. Experiment 3: E2 was administered to determine hypothalamic responsiveness after induction of an E2 surge in DEX (eight of eight) and control (eight of eight) cows. An LH surge was induced in control (eight of eight) but not DEX (zero of eight) cows. All control (eight of eight) but only two of eight DEX cows ovulated within 60 h of E2 administration. Experiment 4: Short-term DEX was initiated 24 h after induced luteal regression to determine if DEX could acutely block ovulation before peak insulin resistance was induced, similar to progesterone (P4). All control (five of five), no P4-treated (zero of six), and 50% of DEX-treated (three of six) cows ovulated by 96 h after luteal regression. All anovular cows had reduced circulating E2. These data are consistent with DEX creating a lesion in hypothalamic positive feedback to E2 without altering pituitary responsiveness to GnRH or ovulatory responsiveness of follicles to LH. It remains to be determined if the considerable insulin resistance and the reduced follicular E2 production induced by DEX had any physiological importance in the induction of anovulation.
Al saber la verdad Edipo se arrancó los ojos: Bioética de la revelación del diagnóstico

En su XV Conferencia SONEPSYN del 59° Congreso Chileno de Neurologia, Psiquiatria y Neurocirugia que tuvo lugar el 22 de Octubre de 2004 en Iquique, el autor trata del rol moral de los medicos en la revelacion del diagnostico de enfermedades graves. Se analiza la historia medica del cancer de Freud que comenzo en 1923 en relacion al respeto al paciente segun las eticas de beneficencia y autonomia. Pero la etica psiquiatrica es competente para entregar un marco analitico por medio del cual se pueden evaluar los problemas medicos de la revelacion del diagnostico. La psiquiatria como tal se preocupa de desenmascarar las falsificaciones del deseo que habitan la vida moral. El unico valor moral que esta en juego es el de la veracidad. El movimiento de la mala comprension al reconocimiento es el itinerario estandar de la experiencia psiquiatrica, y designa lo que se puede llamar el umbral de veracidad de la verdad en psiquiatria. No se puede esperar nada mas de esta iniciativa de la etica de la veracidad que una critica de la autenticidad
Curtailment of the uterotrophic action of estrogen by impaired histamine liberation in the alloxan-diabetic rat: reversal by insulin and by adrenalectomy.

The action of estrogen, as measured by indicators of early uterine growth including hyperemia and edema, has been demonstrated to be profoundly depressed in the alloxan-diabetic rat. Hyperglycemia induced by intravenous infusion of glucose to the unanesthetized, ovariectomized, otherwise intact rat throughout the 4-hr period between estrogen administration and sacrifice failed to inhibit estrogen function. Similarly, estrogen responsiveness was undiminished in diabetes following subtotal pancreatectomy. The release of intrinsic uterine histamine, upon which estrogenic function appears dependent, was shown to be defective in alloxandiabetic rats. Both insulin and adrenalectomy repaired the liberation mechanism. The estrogen responsiveness of this preparation was restored in large measure by insulin pretreatment; full restitution was achieved, however, only on removal of the anti-inflammatory influence of the adrenal cortices, which are hypersecretory in severe, uncompensated diabetes. These findings lend s...
Influence of a Large Late Summer Precipitation Event on Food Limitation and Grasshopper Population Dynamics in a Northern Great Plains Grassland

The complex interplay between grasshoppers, weather conditions, and plants that cause fluctuations in grasshopper populations remains poorly understood, and little is known about the ecological processes that generate grasshopper outbreaks. Grasshopper populations respond to interacting extrinsic and intrinsic factors, with yearly and decadal weather patterns and the timing of precipitation all potentially important. The effects of initial and increasing grasshopper densities on grasshopper survival and reproductive correlates were examined at a northern mixed-grass prairie site through manipulations of grasshopper densities inside 10-m2 cages. High-quality grass growth occurred after a 9.1-cm mid-August rain. Reduced proportional survival was apparent in the two higher density treatments before the rain, indicative of food-limited density-dependent mortality. However, the large late summer rainfall event mediated the effects of exploitative competition on demographic characteristics because of the high-quality vegetation growth. This led to weaker effects of food limitation on survival and reproduction at the end of the experiment. The results indicate a direct link between weather variation, resource quality and grasshopper population dynamics led to a severe grasshopper outbreak and show that infrequent large precipitation events can have significant effects on population dynamics. Additional research is needed to examine the importance of infrequent large precipitation events on grasshopper population dynamics in grassland ecosystems.
Improving The Oral Presentation Skills Of Accounting Students: An Experiment

Numerous surveys of accounting professionals have established the importance of communication skills for newly-hired accounting graduates, and challenge business schools to revise curricula accordingly. To determine if the oral skills of accounting students can be improved, two oral presentation assignments were given to students in six accounting classes at a small western university. The oral presentations were evaluated on ten oral communication skills recently judged by accounting professionals to be most important for new hires to possess. Feedback was provided after the first presentation. Results showed that oral presentation skills improved significantly after the first presentation. Accounting students can improve their oral presentation skills if the accounting faculty is committed to providing timely feedback.
Neuron and Network Modeling

Computer technology constitutes a formidable asset in the acquisition, manipulation, analysis, and modeling of neuroanatomical data. Single-cell arborizations can be digitally represented as a large number of connected cylinders. In this form, neuronal structure is amenable to three-dimensional (3D) rendering, extensive quantitative characterization, and computational modeling of biophysics, electrophysiology, outgrowth, network connectivity, and dynamics. This chapter describes the state of the art in neuron and network modeling, with particular emphasis on the methods to acquire, analyze, and synthesize neuroanatomical data. Several commercial and freeware systems are available to reconstruct neuronal morphology in digital format, from a variety of preparations, either directly from the microscope or off-line from captured images. The resulting, increasing amount of digital data (and meta-data) can be archived and publicly distributed to maximize scientific impact. This database enables continuing efforts in modeling dendritic branching of neurons throughout the central nervous system, including cortex, cerebellum, and spinal cord. The experimental acquisition of complete axonal projections from single neurons poses additional challenges, which are only recently being overcome. The combination of dendritic and axonal reconstructions (or models), together with the surface and volumetric representation of the surrounding tissue, allows the computational derivation of synaptic connectivity. Taken together, such models constitute a powerful substrate for the implementation of large-scale, anatomically realistic neural networks. These advances can be instrumental for the cross-scale elucidation of the relationship between structure, activity, and function in the brain.