cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BAPS prize-1999: Lung growth induced by prenatal tracheal occlusion and its modifying factors: a study in the rat model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Prenatal tracheal occlusion (TO) has been shown to accelerate lung growth in animal models and models of pulmonary hypoplasia. However, these models may not mimic early events in human congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The authors previously have developed a model of TO in the rat. The purpose of this study was to apply this technique to characterize TO-induced lung growth in the early onset nitrofen-induced model of CDH, and to address the clinically important questions of the effect of timing of TO and maternal infusion of terbutaline on TO-induced lung growth. Methods: Left-sided CDH was induced in the fetuses of time-dated pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats by feeding 100 mg of nitrofen on day 9 of gestation. TO was performed via maternal laparotomy and hysterotomy at 19 days' gestation. At harvest (21.5 days' gestation), lungs from nitrofen-exposed fetuses without CDH (non-CDH), with CDH (CDH), and with CDH and TO (CDH-TO) were compared by analysis of wet and dry weight, DNA and protein content, and stereologic morphometry. A second study was performed to assess relative lung growth achieved by equal intervals of TO after "early" (19 days) versus "late" (20 days) gestational TO. Finally, the effect of maternal infusion of terbutaline, a commonly used tocolytic for fetal surgery, on TO-induced lung growth was analyzed. Results: Analysis of lung growth showed consistent and significant lung growth in CDH-TO lungs. Lung growth after TO was proliferative and characterized by an increase in parenchymal volume as manifest by increased total saccular number and surface area and radial saccular count. Although visceral reduction was partially achieved, herniated liver was reduced incompletely. The majority of lung growth occurred during the latter half of the TO period. Early gestational age at TO and maternal terbutaline administration adversely influenced lung growth in CDH-TO fetuses. Conclusions: Prenatal TO induces dramatic lung growth in the early onset, nitrofen-induced rat model of CDH. TO is more effective later in gestation presumably because of the advanced stage of lung development and lung fluid production. This effect could be counterbalanced by the use of β-mimetic tocolytic, which inhibits fetal lung fluid production late in gestation. Multiple factors including fetal lung fluid production and absorption, pharmacologic agents, space-occupying herniated viscera, and timing and duration of TO may be important clinical variables. The development of the rat model should facilitate further studies into the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for TO-induced lung growth. J Pediatr Surg 36:251-259. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Chymotrypsin-reactive antibodies in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In a previous study (Frazieret al., 1990), it was demonstrated that two patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus had antibodies in their serum which reacted with four 29 kDa pancreas-specific proteins on two-dimensional immunoblots. This paper reports on the purification and identification of these pancreatic proteins. The protein with the pI closest to pH7 was purified through the use of ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography. Gel filtration chromatography established that the protein's molecular weight was closer to 25 kDa. Amino acid composition and sequence analyses demonstrated homology between the protein and chymotrypsin. It is suggested that an abnormal regulation of chymotrypsin activity might be related to antibodies formed in some diabetic patients.
Ontogeny of Glucocorticoid Receptors in the Hyperstriatum‐Hippocampus‐Parahippocampal Area and Optic Tectumof the Embryonic Chicken (Gallus domesticus) Brain

The importance of glucocorticoids and their perturbation during development is an active research area. Developmental insults, including direct and indirect consequences of exposure to drugs of abuse or withdrawal from them, may act upon or via the neuroendocrine axis of the pregnant experimental subject (e.g. rat) and/or directly upon the neuroendocrine axis of the embryo or fetus. The use of the domestic chicken embryo may constitute a good experimental subject for studying these effects in the absence of maternal influences. Thus, the pattern of brain glucocorticoid cytosolic receptors were characterized in an early developing brain region, the optic tectum (OT) and a later developing region with a different function, the hyperstriatum-hippocampus-parahippocampal (HHP) area, on embryonic days (E) 11, 15, 18 and on the day of hatching (HD). The influence of the glucocorticoid synthesis inhibitor metyrapone, injected into eggs on E14 and on E17, upon glucocorticoid receptors (on E15 and E18) was also studied to determine effects of a 'chemical adrenalectomy'. Receptors for this steroid are high on E11 and E15, decreasing as they approach the time of hatching, with the HHP generally showing greater numbers of specific binding sites for [3H]-corticosterone (CORT). Although metyrapone treatment did not alter the apparent number of receptors on E15, on E18 it unmasked receptors otherwise occupied by endogenous ligand(s) and/or induced their synthesis, resulting in significantly more receptors identified with [3H]-CORT. Nevertheless, the HHP continued to display more of these receptors than the OT on E15 and E18 after injection of metyrapone. These observations are consistent with the hypotheses that the HHP of embryos of this species contains a higher density of glucocorticoid receptors than does the OT; that glucocorticoid receptor quantification is related to steroid synthesis inhibition in late embryonic development; and that neuroendocrine feedback control of serum glucocorticoids may become functional between E15 and E18. The results also suggest the use of this experimental approach for assessing the effects of developmental insults with drugs, other than metyrapone, as a marker for altered neuroendocrine development and/or function.
Experimental determination and analysis of the solubility of corundum in 0.1-molal CaCl2 solutions between 400 and 600°C at 0.6 to 2.0 kbar

Abstract Corundum (α-Al2O3) solubility was measured in 0.1-molal CaCl2 solutions from 400 to 600°C between 0.6 and 2.0 kbar. The Al molality at 2 kbar increases from 3.1 × 10−4 at 400°C to 12.7 × 10−4 at 600°C. At 1 kbar, the solubility increases from 1.5 × 10−4 m at 400°C to 3.4 × 10−4 m at 600°C. These molalities are somewhat less than corundum solubility in pure H2O (Walther, 1997) at 400°C but somewhat greater at 600°C. The distribution of species was computed considering the Al species Al(OH)30 and Al(OH)4−, consistent with the solubility of corundum in pure H2O of Walther (1997) and association constants reported in the literature. The calculated solubility was greater than that measured except at 600°C and 2.0 kbar, indicating that neutral-charged species interactions are probably important. A Setchenow model for neutral species resulted in poor fitting of the measured values at 1.0 kbar. This suggests that Al(OH)30 has a greater stability relative to Al(OH)4− than given by the models of Pokrovskii and Helgeson (1995) or Diakonov et al. (1996) . The significantly lower Al molalities in CaCl2 relative to those in NaCl solutions at the same concentration confirm the suggestions of Walther (2001) and others that NaAl(OH)40 rather than an Al-Cl complex must be significant in supercritical NaCl solutions to give the observed increase in corundum solubility with increasing NaCl concentrations.
PGAT: a multistrain analysis resource for microbial genomes

Motivation: The Prokaryotic-genome Analysis Tool (PGAT) is a web-based database application for comparing gene content and sequence across multiple microbial genomes facilitating the discovery of genetic differences that may explain observed phenotypes. PGAT supports database queries to identify genes that are present or absent in user-selected genomes, comparison of sequence polymorphisms in sets of orthologous genes, multigenome display of regions surrounding a query gene, comparison of the distribution of genes in metabolic pathways and manual community annotation. Availability and Implementation: The PGAT website may be accessed at http://nwrce.org/pgat.
Interdisciplinary and Distance Education in the Delta: The Delta Health Education Partnership

The purpose of this article is to describe the activities and outcomes of the Delta Health Education Partnership (DHEP), an interdisciplinary and distance education program developed to promote 'anytime, anywhere' education. The goal of the project is to recruit, educate, and retain interdisciplinary groups of primary care health practitioners to increase access to health care in medically underserved and health professional shortage areas of the lower Mississippi Delta. The targeted health providers are certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, and family nurse practitioners. The DHEP program spans six universities across four primarily rural states. Primary health care students in the lower Mississippi Delta region are taught using asynchronous technology strategies including Internet-based coursework. Opportunities to expand educational options for distance learners and geographically bound students are explained. In addition, methods of building community partnerships in an effort to recruit and...
Transformation electromagnetic design of beam polarization rotators

Based on the transformation electromagnetics technique, a 3D reflectionless polarization rotator design for beams has been presented. The design was obtained by twisting a cylindrical volume in the azimuth plane by the desired angle. The function of polarization rotation and the reflection-free properties were verified using full-wave numerical simulations.
Office Personnel Differ in Assessing Management Strategies

Dentists’ personnel management strategies—job descriptions, performance reviews and staff meetings—are key factors in maintaining a stable, productive office team, but our research shows dentists do not adopt the strategies in the office.
Computational Engineering and Science Program at the University of Utah

We describe a new graduate program at the Univesity of Utah that we consider a first step towards the modernization of the University's curriculum in what we call "Computational Engineering and Science" (CES). Our goal is to provide a mechanism by which a graduate student can obtain integrated expertise and skills in all areas that are required for the solution of a particular computational problem.
Effects of cyclic feeding on compensatory growth of hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops×M. saxitilis) foodfish and water quality in production ponds

An 18-week study was conducted in 12, 0.1ha ponds to evaluate the impacts of cyclic feeding regimes on hybrid striped bass (HSB) food¢sh production and pond water quality. Approximately 840 HSB [mean weight (std.); 91.08 g (8.18)] were stocked into each pond (8400 ¢sh ha � 1 ;3 360 ¢sh acre � 1 ) and fed according to one of three feeding regimes. The three feeding regimes included a control (fed twice daily to apparent satiation), and cycles of 3 weeks feed deprivation followed by 3 or 6 weeks of feeding to apparent satiation (3/3 and 3/6 respectively). Compensatory growth (CG) was observed in both cyclic feeding treatments; however, the response was insuf¢cient for the ¢sh to completely regain lost weight. Final mean weight of control ¢sh (477.9 g) exceeded (Po0.05) that of ¢sh receiving the two cyclic treatments: 3/6 (404.7 g) and 3/3 (353.8 g). Speci¢c growth rate (SGR) of ¢sh in the 3/3 treatment increased during all three refeeding periods, and was signi¢cantly greater than controls during weeks 9^12 and weeks 15^18, which represent the refeeding phase of the second and third feeding cycles. Speci¢c growth rate for ¢sh in the 3/6 treatment was signi¢cantly higher than controls only during the ¢rst 3 weeks of the ¢rst feeding cycle. Hepatosomatic index and condition factor were highly responsive measures that closely followed the metabolic state of ¢sh on the feeding cycle. Of the water quality variables measured, total phosphorus was 32% lower in ponds receiving cyclic feeding versus control ponds. Soluble reactive phosphorus was 41% and 24% lower in ponds oiered the 3/3 and 3/6 cyclic feeding treatments, respectively, although, signi¢cant diierences (Po0.10) were only observed between control and 3/3 treatment ponds. Overall, CG was observed in HSB food¢sh grown in ponds, although 3 weeks of feed deprivation was excessive and did not allow for complete growth compensation. Weight loss during feed deprivation was in£uenced by pond water temperatures. Early season feed deprivation did not cause as much weight loss as during the second cycle later in the season. Further studies on shorter deprivation periods applied during moderate to low water temperatures are needed to identify feeding regimes that minimize weight loss and result in a complete CG response.
Solid-State Radiation Chemistry of DNA: The Bases1

Publisher Summary The goal of the nucleic acid radiation chemist is to predict the quality and quantity of chemical alterations induced in DNA exposed to ionizing radiation. To accomplish this, problems of identifying a small number of alterations in a polymer of high molecular weight must be overcome. One approach has been to study model compounds, usually constituents of DNA. Model compounds have been studied primarily by end-product analysis, pulsed radiolysis of liquid systems, and trapping of unstable intermediates in the solid state. Most solid-state studies have centered on electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) techniques. This chapter reviews the information obtained by only ESR and ENDOR of solid samples, and discusses free-radical products and reactions. The chapter presents an update on the possible events in irradiated DNA and the schemes. It also discusses the ESR characteristics and reliability of free-radical assignments. The chapter further presents some equations and notations to provide some assistance to the non-ESR specialist and to point out some considerations that are sometimes overlooked but are necessary for a correct analysis of ESR data.
Antimicrobial effect of fluorides on Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus

This study was undertaken to determine whether the suspected periodontopathogens Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss melaninogenicus and intermedius and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus are killed by clinically used topical fluorides. The viability of each organism was examined after exposure to three fluoride compounds, stannous (SnF2), acidulated phosphate (APF), and neutral sodium (NaF), for 1 and 8 h. Stannous fluoride was found to be effective at lowest fluoride concentrations with APF next in effectiveness. NaF required the highest concentrations of fluoride to kill test organisms. Longer exposure times were found to be more effective at lower concentrations. Data obtained in this study with gram-negative organisms support and extend previous information regarding the antibacterial effect of fluorides against gram-positive periodontopathogens.
Interfacial effects in the entrapment and displacement of residual oil

Qualitiative theories are developed to explain the roles of surface tension and the two surface viscosities during the entrapment of residual oil by water and during the subsequent displacement of residual oil by surfactant solutions. The results are in agreement with available experimental data concerning the effects to be observed as the oil-water surface tension is reduced. Limited data suggest an order of magnitude criterion for the critical surface tension above which no residual oil can be recovered. The two surface viscosities do not affect the entrapment of residual oil, but they are predicted to play a major role in the displacement of residual oil by surfactant solutions.
Constructing Transnational Identities without Leaving Home: Korean Immigrant Women’s Cognitive Border‐crossing

Literature on contemporary immigrants suggests that increasing volume of transnational practices foster identity construction across borders, thereby disjoining geographical space and social space in which identities are constructed and negotiated. While studies pay increasing attention to the linkage between transnational organizing of economic and political activities and that of identities, relatively less attention has been given to transnational identity construction of immigrant groups without high level of transnationalism. This essay documents the identity dynamics among less mobile immigrants, who, albeit their immobility, negotiate their identities transnationally by way of various identity practices to imagine themselves as members of multiple communities across national and cultural boundaries. Based on thirty in-depth interviews with first generation Korean immigrant women, the author examines mechanisms of identity organizing which simultaneously indicate a gradual adaptation to the U.S. society and resistance to assimilation.
Anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis: why we still ‘need’ the kidney biopsy

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis is a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) due to autoantibodies directed against the noncollagenous 1 domain of type IV collagen in the GBM. The eponym ‘Goodpasture's syndrome’ is used in cases of renal and pulmonary involvement, typically in the form of pulmonary hemorrhage. The disease can be diagnosed clinically in a patient with a RPGN––defined as at least 50% decline in renal function in <3 months with evidence of glomerular injury via hematuria and proteinuria [1]––if circulating anti-GBM antibodies are detectable by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, a firm diagnosis can only be made by a renal biopsy demonstrating a crescentic glomerulonephritis on light microscopy and diffuse, linear localization of IgG along the GBM on immunofluorescence (IF).
Reviews Without a Purchase: Low Ratings, Loyal Customers, and Deception

The authors document that approximately 5% of product reviews on a large private label retailer's website are submitted by customers with no record of ever purchasing the product they are reviewing. These reviews are significantly more negative than other reviews. They are also less likely to contain expressions describing the fit or feel of the items and more likely to contain linguistic cues associated with deception. More than 12,000 of the firm's best customers have written reviews without confirmed transactions. On average, these customers have each made more than 150 purchases from the firm. This makes it unlikely that the reviews were written by the employees or agents of a competitor and suggests that deceptive reviews may not be limited to the strategic actions of firms. Instead, the phenomenon may be far more prevalent, extending to individual customers who have no financial incentive to influence product ratings.
Globalization and policy choice: television and audiovisual services policies in India

Policies shaping the production and distribution of electronic broadcasting or audiovisual services in India have undergone tremendous changes from the 1980s to the 1990s. The number of channels and programming carried by Doordarshan, the state broadcaster, has grown. Private companies both from within and outside India now produce television programming and distribute it through direct broadcast satellites or cable television systems. The dominant account of the liberalization of audiovisual services policies in India focuses almost solely on the role of global economic forces and technical change. While policy choices have been constrained, many of these limitations arose from Indian decisions made about the role of broadcasting in the 1970 and 1980s, and from social and economic developments within India in the 1990s.
Comment on "Steady-state tracking with LFM waveforms"

The purpose of this note is to point out that, if appropriate normalizations are applied, the numerical data presented by W. Wong & W.D. Blair [ibid. vol.36, pp.701-709 (2000)] has much broader applicability than is implied there.
Alcohol Abuse and Depression in Children and Adolescents

ABSTRACT This study examines gender differences in patterns of the co-occurrence of alcohol abuse and depression in youth. Data were from 1,458 youth (ages 9–17) randomly selected from the community. The child and one parent/guardian in each household were interviewed regarding childhood psychopathology, alcohol and drug use, and a wide array of risk factors. The findings showed that: (1) alcohol abuse/dependence was associated with elevated rates of depression in youth; (2) comorbidity between depression and alcohol use/abuse could be partially explained by shared risk factors; and (3) gender differences were found in the patterns of comorbidity. After controlling for other factors, the relationship between depression and alcohol abuse/dependence was no longer significant for girls, but it remained significant for boys. Among girls, however, cigarette smoking emerged as significantly related to depression. In the prevention of substance abuse and the treatment of depressive and addictive disorders, comor...
Epidermal adrenergic signaling contributes to inflammation and pain sensitization in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome

In many patients, the sympathetic nervous system supports pain and other features of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Accumulating evidence suggests that interleukin (IL)-6 also plays a role in CRPS, and that catecholamines stimulate production of IL-6 in several tissues. We hypothesized that norepinephrine acting through specific adrenergic receptors expressed on keratinocytes stimulates the production of IL-6 and leads to nociceptive sensitization in a rat tibial fracture/cast model of CRPS. Our approach involved catecholamine depletion using 6-hydroxydopamine or, alternatively, guanethidine, to explore sympathetic contributions. Both agents substantially reduced nociceptive sensitization and selectively reduced the production of IL-6 in skin. Antagonism of IL-6 signaling using TB-2-081 also reduced sensitization in this model. Experiments using a rat keratinocyte cell line demonstrated relatively high levels of b2-adrenergic receptor (b2-AR) expression. Stimulation of this receptor greatly enhanced IL-6 expression when compared to the expression of IL-1b, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, or nerve growth factor. Stimulation of the cells also promoted phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases P38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase. Based on these in vitro results, we returned to animal testing and observed that the selective b2-AR antagonist butoxamine reduced nociceptive sensitization in the CRPS model, and that local injection of the selective b2-AR agonist terbutaline resulted in mechanical allodynia and the production of IL-6 in the cells of the skin. No increases in IL-1b, TNF-a, or nerve growth factor levels were seen, however. These data suggest that in CRPS, norepinephrine released from sympathetic nerve terminals stimulates b2-ARs expressed on epidermal keratinocytes, resulting in local IL-6 production, and ultimately, pain sensitization. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of International Association for the Study of Pain.
Bridging the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide: Best Practices in the Development of Historically Oriented Replication Databases

The proliferation of historically oriented replication data has provided great opportunities for political scientists to develop and to test theories relevant to a range of macrohistorical phenomena. But what is the quality of such data? Are the codings or quantitative mappings of historical events, processes, and unit characteristics based on sufficiently solid foundations equivalent to those found in detailed case studies? This article evaluates a set of the most transparently disseminated replication datasets across a variety of research domains from the perspective of best-practice qualitative-historical research. It identifies a wide range of practices, highlighting both fundamental and innovative standards that might be adopted in future research.
Surface sensitivity of impurity incorporation: Mg at GaN (0001) surfaces

The interplay of surface termination, reconstruction patterns, and availability of species involved determines the incorporation of impurities during growth. We study ab initio this interplay for Mg at the GaN (0001) surfaces and find that optimal incorporation conditions strongly depend upon surface orientation and cannot be predicted using bulk stoichiometric arguments. With reasonable assumptions on the kinetics, high densities of Mg can be achieved in the absence of hydrogen and the Ga surface displays superior incorporation characteristics to that of the N surface.
DOES THEISM NEED MIDDLE KNOWLEDGE

David Basinger, in ‘Middle Knowledge and Classical Christian Thought’, has claimed that whether the concept of God's middle knowledgeis coherent ‘cannot be dismissed lightly or ignored by those interested in classical Christian thought. For what is at stake is the very coherence of Christian theism itself’ (p. 422).
Toxicity and recovery in the pregnant mouse after gestational exposure to the cyanobacterial toxin, cylindrospermopsin

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a tricyclic alkaloid toxin produced by fresh water cyanobacterial species worldwide. CYN has been responsible for both livestock and human poisoning after oral exposure to CYN. This study investigated the toxicity of CYN to pregnant mice exposed during different segments of gestation. The course of recovery and individual responses to the toxin were evaluated. Adverse effects of CYN were monitored up to four weeks post dosing by clinical examination, histopathology, biochemistry, and gene expression. Exposure on gestational days (GD) 8–12 induced significantly more lethality than GD13–17 exposure. Periorbital, gastrointestinal and distal tail hemorrhages were seen in both groups. Serum markers indicative of hepatic injury (alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase) were increased in both groups; markers of renal dysfunction (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) were elevated in the GD8–12 animals. Histopathology was observed in the liver (centrilobular necrosis) and kidney (interstitial inflammation) in groups exhibiting abnormal serum markers. The expression profiles of genes involved in ribosomal biogenesis, xenobiotic and lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and oxidative stress were altered 24 hours after the final dose. One week after dosing, gross, histological and serum parameters had returned to normal although increased liver/body weight ratio and one instance of gastrointestinal bleeding was found in the GD13–17 group. Gene expression changes persisted up to two weeks post dosing and returned to normal by four weeks. Responses of individual animals to CYN exposure indicated highly significant inter-animal variability within the treated groups.
Syndromes of Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone

Abstract Thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis and release is under feedback regulation by the hypothalamic input to the pituitary via thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH) resulting in pituitary secretion of TSH. Clinicians generally diagnose thyroid disease based on the serum levels of the THs [ l -3,3’,5-triiodothyronine (T3) and l -3,3’,5,5-tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine or T4)] in conjunction with the measurement of serum TSH. Patients with hypothyroidism have low serum T4 and high serum TSH concentrations. This is usually a result of reduced production of TH due to gland destruction (such as in autoimmune thyroid disease) or impaired biosynthesis of thyroid hormone (such as in organification defects). On the other hand, hyperthyroidism is usually diagnosed when the T4 and T3 are high and the TSH is suppressed. The latter is commonly seen in autoimmune hyperthyroidism or autonomous TH secreting adenomas of the thyroid gland. When there is loss of the inverse relationship between TH levels and TSH concentrations (e.g., high serum T3 and/or T4 but normal TSH as in TH resistance) or when T4 and T3 levels are markedly different (e.g., high T3 and low T4 in a TH transporter defect, or low T3 and high T4 as seen in TH metabolism defects), the clinician must consider a genetic defect in the differential diagnosis. Correct diagnosis can be made from clinical observations and confirmed by appropriate genetic testing, as discussed in this chapter. The correct diagnosis will lead to a rational therapy avoiding inappropriate thyroid gland ablation or hormone supplementation.
A Preliminary Study of Argiope argentata as Indicators of Southern California Metal Contamination

Summary This study describes a novel test for 16 metals using Argiope argentata as indicators of environmental pollution. Our results suggest that A. argentata from a relatively isolated California island suffer a more diverse metal burden than those from the California mainland. Metal burdens of Cd, Cs, Ni, Sr, Tl, and U were greater in Santa Catalina specimens. Only the metal burdens of As and V were greater in the mainland Encinitas specimens. The metal burdens of Be, Bi, Co, Cr, Ga, In, Li, and Pb were not different between the sites. Soil samples taken later from the same sampling locations confirm higher concentrations of Cd, Ni and Sr on Santa Catalina, while cactus plants from the sites had a different pattern of metal accumulation. The effect of metal burden on spider body weight was examined, and Santa Catalina A. argentata had significantly increased mass compared to Encinitas spiders. This indicates that, despite a more diverse burden of metals, A. argentata spiders from Santa Catalina may hav...
Reforming Sovereign Lending Practices: Modern Initiatives in Historical Context

The sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone has prompted a number of policy responses. Among the most significant is an initiative by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to identify what it has termed “Principles of Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing.” The Principles aim to transform sovereign debt contracts – to set “a global standard...against which to assess” their terms. Principle 15, for example, seeks to ensure that debt restructurings, such as that presently underway in Greece, occur “promptly, efficiently, and fairly,” and it envisions the use of collective action clauses (CACs) to achieve this end. Public officials agree with this goal; Eurozone leaders have stated their intent to mandate the use of standardized CACs in all euro area sovereign bonds. This article explores, and questions, whether the Principles are likely to have a significant impact on bond contracts. Over the past century, a number of other initiatives have pursued the same goal, with varying degrees of success. Using a dataset of bonds issued in New York and London, the article demonstrates how contracts responded (or failed to respond) to these initiatives, often in ways reformers did not anticipate. Several lessons emerge. First, initiatives designed to encourage changes to entrenched contracting practices may require significant and coordinated leadership by states and other international actors. Without such leadership, these initiatives may fail. One reasons for this is that reformers often misread market sentiment or fail to appreciate the diverse preferences of market actors. Second, even successful initiatives can have unexpected results. In particular, efforts to encourage the use of uniform contract terms may have the paradoxical effect of provoking greater contract variation. The third lesson, then, is that standardization – assuming that is a desirable and feasible goal – may have to be mandated. The paper concludes by exploring other ways in which initiatives like the Principles can influence sovereign lending markets.
Pempheris gasparinii, a new species of sweeper fish from Trindade Island, southwestern Atlantic (Teleostei, Pempheridae)

Pempheris gasparinii sp. n. is described from five specimens, 59.1-68.0 mm in standard length. It is only known to occur in the shallow reefs of Trindade Island, 1200 km east of the Brazilian coast, in the southwestern Atlantic. Pempheris gasparinii is the third recognized species of Pempheris in the Atlantic Ocean. This new species is morphologically similar to its close relative, Pempheris poeyi, differing by the number of lateral-line scales (51-54 in Pempheris gasparinii vs. 47-49 in Pempheris poeyi), scales below lateral line (10-11 vs. 9), circumpeduncular scales (11-12 vs. 13), head and caudal peduncle lengths (2.7-3.3 vs 3.5-4.0 in head length). Moreover, Pempheris gasparinii shows a 4% genetic divergence from Pempheris poeyi at the cytochrome oxidase I locus (COI), consistent with a lineage split at the beginning of the Pleistocene. This new species represents the 12(th) endemic fish species from Trindade Island.
Crowd Guidance in Building Emergencies: Using Virtual Reality Experiments to Confirm Macroscopic Mathematical Modeling of Psychological Variables

A general challenge during a building emergency evacuation is guiding crowd to the best exits, given potential hazards and blockages due to high density use. Although computer simulation programs such as FDS+Evac allow researchers to evaluate various guidance policies under different circumstances, computational complexity limits their use during an actual emergency. A second limitation of such programs currently available is that they can only model certain psychological variables that affect evacuation. We suggest two innovations to address these difficulties. First, using macroscopic models, mathematical techniques can allow for rapid optimization of guidance that could eventually be used to provide real-time use during emergencies. Second, we conduct virtual reality experiments using human participants to provide confirmation of our models, and offer insights into how psychological factors not yet available in FDS+Evac will affect evacuation outcomes. Results of an initial VR experiment are presented.
Optimized High-Aspect-Ratio Diffusional Micromixers

This part of our work has been aimed at designing, manufacturing and characterizing effective micro-mixers which are cheap, durable and easily integrated on a variety of bio-chips with emphasis on those performing Polymerese Chain Reactions (PCR) and Ligase Detection Reactions (LDR). A key contribution is the development of an optimization procedure for the design of passive micro-mixers utilizing high-aspect-ratio micro-channels (HARMC). The optimization procedure identifies the optimum type of mixer on the basis of the flow rate proportions of the mixture constituents and provides for two optimum designs of the selected mixer type for an aspect ratio of choice in two ways: (a) for specified mixture volume and mixer pressure drop the optimum mixer dimensions and operating condition minimize the total production time and (b) for specified mixture volume and a total production time the optimum mixer dimensions and operating condition minimize the mixer pressure drop. The simplest and easiest to manufacture layout of an optimized mixer configuration (X2JC) with two inlet ports and three layers is shown in Figure 1. The injection of compound 1 into the compound 2 main stream is performed through two side-jets in a wider channel to further reduce the pressure loss overhead followed by a contraction into the main mixing channel.© 2008 ASME
Inherited and acquired disorders of myelin: The underlying myelin pathology

Remyelination is a major therapeutic goal in human myelin disorders, serving to restore function to demyelinated axons and providing neuroprotection. The target disorders that might be amenable to the promotion of this repair process are diverse and increasing in number. They range primarily from those of genetic, inflammatory to toxic origin. In order to apply remyelinating strategies to these disorders, it is essential to know whether the myelin damage results from a primary attack on myelin or the oligodendrocyte or both, and whether indeed these lead to myelin breakdown and demyelination. In some disorders, myelin sheath abnormalities are prominent but demyelination does not occur. This review explores the range of human and animal disorders where myelin pathology exists and focusses on defining the myelin changes in each and their cause, to help define whether they are targets for myelin repair therapy.
Cooperative Education by the University of Cincinnati and GE

The Advanced Course in Engineering (ACE) was started in 1923 at the Alternating Current Engineering Department of the General Electric Company by Dr. Robert E. Doherty. The purpose of this program was, and still is, to teach advanced technology, to solve real engineering problems and to learn how to write good engineering reports. The 61-year-old Advanced Course is less than half as old as the University of Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati was founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College. In addition to its excellent research programs, the University of Cincinnati is also recognized for its leadership in cooperative education. “The academic climate was set early in this century by Dean Herman Schneider, the originator of the cooperative plan of education. The objective of that plan was to join theory and practice by linking education and industry through knowledge and experience.” The educational objectives of the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the General Electric Company (GE) have been joined through the Advanced Course in Engineering in the university’s College of Engineering.Copyright © 1985 by ASME
The continuing significance of race revisited : A study of race, class, and quality of life in America, 1972 to 1996

More than a decade ago, we (Thomas and Hughes 1986) demonstrated that the subjective well-being of African Americans in the United States was significantly and consistently lower than that for whites over the 14-year period from 1972 to 1985. Since then, evidence has accumulated on several important dimensions of well-being that African Americans fare as well as or better than whites, suggesting a change in the pattern observed for nearly 40 years. Using data from the General Social Survey (GSS) for the period 1972 to 1996, we show that quality of life continues to be worse for African Americans than it is for whites, although anomia and mistrust have increased a little more rapidly in recent years for whites than for blacks. Racial disparities in quality of life do not vary by and are not explained by socioeconomic status. Although racial inequality appears to be the primary cause of these differences, the exact processes producing them are as yet unknown.
Enzymatic elimination of collagen in the Alcian blue staining of connective tissue ground substance.

Collagenase pretreatment of frozen-dried sections permits Alcian blue staining of mucopolysaccharides of connective tissue ground substance without the interference of collagen staining. Hyaluronidase elimination of Alcian blue staining confirms mucopolysaccharide as a substrate of the staining reaction.
Rater fairness in music performance assessment: Evaluating model-data fit and differential rater functioning:

The purpose of this study was to investigate model-data fit and differential rater functioning in the context of large group music performance assessment using the Many-Facet Rasch Partial Credit M...
Leadership Developing Partnerships to Address the Social Determinants of Health

The story of nonprofit innovations at the Sierra Health Foundation (SHF) over the past three years addresses access to health care and the social detenninants of health. As a regionally focused foundation, Sierra Health Foundation's Chief Executive Officer, Chet Hewitt, and Board of Directors have developed structural and strategic innovations to expand the geographic reach and impact of the foundation. In the years from 2008 through 2014, the leadership of SHF, driven by an underlying belief in the research on the social determinants of health, discussed and developed a range of public and non­profit partners, along with diversified funding to address a wide range of health access, equity, and outcomes issues. The leadership at SHF created a new structure to expand their service region, to attract additional public funding, and to develop new partnerships with other grant making organizations. The innovations in this case study offer insight into the Great Recession as a catalyst for change, as opposed to retrenchment, as well as new strategy driving new structures.
Kinetics of DIDS inhibition of HL-60 cell anion exchange rules out ping-pong model with slippage.

According to the ping-pong model of band 3-mediated anion exchange, the transport protein has a single transport site, which can exist in either an inward-facing or an outward-facing conformation. Anions bind to these unloaded forms of the carrier, and translocation takes place only when a suitable anion is bound to the transport site. In a previous paper [Am. J. Physiol. 257 (Cell Physiol. 26): C520-C527, 1989], we had shown that the substrate kinetics of Cl-Cl exchange in the promyelocytic HL-60 cell cannot be explained by this simple ping-pong model of anion exchange but is consistent with a simultaneous model according to which both extracellular and intracellular anions must bind before simultaneous translocation can take place. In the present paper we show that external 4,49-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,29-disulfonic acid (DIDS) inhibits anion exchange in HL-60 cells by competing with Cl- for binding to the outward-facing transport site. Furthermore, there is a linear dependence of the slope of the Dixon plot for inhibition by DIDS on the reciprocal of the intracellular Cl- concentration. This result clearly rules out a simple ping-pong scheme. In addition, the data also rule out a ping-pong model in which some translocation of the unloaded carrier is allowed (ping-pong model with slippage). The observed inhibition kinetics can be modeled by a simultaneous model of Cl-Cl exchange with competitive inhibition by DIDS.
Anisotropic microstructure and superelasticity of additive manufactured NiTi alloy bulk builds using laser directed energy deposition

Abstract The microstructure and superelasticity in additive manufactured NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) were investigated. Using elementally blended Ni and Ti powder feedstock, Ni-rich build coupons were fabricated via the laser-based directed energy deposition (LDED) technique. The build volumes were large enough to extract tensile and compressive test specimens from selected locations for spatially resolving microconstituents and the underlying stress-induced martensitic phase transformation (SIMT) morphology. In the as-deposited condition, X-ray diffraction identified the B2 atomic crystal structure of the austenitic parent phase in NiTi SMAs, and Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitates were the predominant microconstituent identified through scanning electron microscopy. The microstructure exhibited anisotropy, which was characterized by the Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitate morphology being coarsest nearest the substrate, while a finer morphology was observed farthest from the substrate. In-situ full-field deformation measurements calculated using digital image correlation confirmed that the SIMT predominately occurred in the finer precipitate morphology. Heat treatment reduced the degree of anisotropy, and DIC analysis revealed localized SIMT strains increased compared to the as-deposited condition.
Lipase Activation and Stability Enhancement in Ionic Liquids

This chapter discusses various factors that influence the lipase activity and stability in ionic liquids, as well as different methods that improve the lipase activity and stability in ionic liquids. This chapter further reviews recent applications of deep eutectic solvents in lipase activation.
Impact of Sustainable Cool Roof Technology on Building Energy Consumption

i List of Tables iv List of Figures v Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1) Overview of Roofing Technologies 3 1.2) Purpose of Study 7 Chapter 2: Methods 9 2.1) Field Experiment 9 2.2) Building Simulation 13 Chapter 3: Results 16 3.1) Field Experiment 16 3.2) Building Simulation 20 Chapter 4: Discussion 42 Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations 48 Chapter 6: References 50
An Empirical Study on Feature Extraction for the Classification of Textural and Natural Images

Most image classification algorithms consist of feature extraction and image classification. Hence, feature extraction is a critical step for obtaining an accurate classification result. In this study, we perform the classification experiments based on the image features extracted using Local Binary Pattern operator (LBP), Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT) and Color Features (CF) for image classification. A comparison is made using the different combination of features; 1) LBP features only, 2) LBP and DWT features, and 3) LBP, DWT and CF features with a slight modification. Our goal is to determine what types of features are useful for improving the classification results. The Linear Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm is used to classify each pixel into a class based on the features used to obtain a classified image. Preliminary experimental results show that the hybrid of DWT, LBP, and CF gives the highest accuracy.
Recreational Exercise in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, defined as unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy, has an estimated prevalence of at least 1 in 500 and is among the most common forms of inherited heart disease.1 The pathophysiology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is complex and involves the interplay between diastolic dysfunction, myocardial ischemia, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve resulting in outflow tract obstruction, and arrhythmia.2 Clinical presentations are heterogeneous and range from asymptomatic to palpitations, dyspnea, exercise intolerance, chest pain, syncope, and sudden death. Although the absolute risk of cardiac mortality is less than 1% per year,3 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains a common cause of sudden cardiac death in the young, especially in competitive athletes.4,5 Since hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has autosomal dominant inheritance, relatives of affected individuals have substantial risk of disease. Clinical evaluation of family members and cascade screening with genetic testing can identify those affected, many of whom are asymptomatic. When properly treated, the majority of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will have a normal life span.3
When and How to use Multiple Informants to Improve Clinical Assessments

Multiple informants - compared to single informants - better inform the clinical assessment and the diagnosis of psychopathology. The Operations Triad Model (OTM; De Los Reyes et al. 2013a) provides researchers with a conceptual framework for integrating information from multiple informants into research settings. We simplified this model by: 1) identifying context and insight as the critical factors necessary for determining if multiple informants improve diagnostic accuracy and 2) providing decision-making heuristics for determining when and how to use multiple informants in clinical research and practice. We focused on how symptoms can vary across situations (i.e., context) and how individuals can lack the awareness to accurately report symptoms (i.e., insight) to improve interpretations of informant discrepancies.