cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of progestin-only long-acting contraception on metabolic markers in obese women

Abstract Background The metabolic effects of progestin-only long-acting reversible contraception [levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and etonogestrel implant (ENG-I)] have been studied in normal-weight women but not in obese [body mass index≥30kg/m2] women. Study Design A nonrandomized open-label prospective trial of healthy obese, reproductive-age women desiring to use long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) or nonhormonal contraception (NHC). At baseline, 3 months and 6 months, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistant (HOMA-IR) score, insulin sensitivity (HOMA-%S) and β-cell function (HOMA-%B) were calculated based on fasting insulin and glucose values. In addition, components of metabolic syndrome [fasting glucose (FG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, abdominal circumference] were measured. Twenty-four subjects total (8 in each arm) were needed to detect a 1.0 difference in HOMA-IR with 80% power and a two-sided alpha of 0.05. Results We present data on eight NHC, eight ENG-I and nine levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) users. FG increased, and insulin sensitivity decreased over time among ENG-I users to a greater extent than among LNG-IUS users when compared to women using a nonhormonal method [FG change over 6 months=9.4mg/dL, 4.6mg/dL and − 2.1mg/dL, respectively; p=.01); (HOMA-%S change over 6 months=−29.9%, − 14.8% and 19.3%, respectively; p=.02)], while β-cell function and insulin resistance did not change significantly (p>.05). Conclusion While changes in FG and insulin sensitivity were seen in the present study among obese progestin-only contraceptive users, either progestin-only LARC method may be safely used clinically.
Automated variance reduction of Monte Carlo shielding calculations using the discrete ordinates adjoint function

Although the Monte Carlo method is considered to be the most accurate method available for solving radiation transport problems, its applicability is limited by its computational expense. Thus, bia...
Some Blood Constituents of Dairy Cattle: Influence of Thyroxine and High Environmental Temperature

Abstract Studies of alterations in the blood composition of dairy cattle due to thyroxine injection and environmental heat exposure were made to evaluate metabolic changes associated with hormonal changes in warm climatic environments. This report indicates that at 18 and 32C l-thyroxine increased significantly the following blood parameters—hematocrit ( 131 disappearance rate ( 131 disappearance, and sodium. These results indicate that both thyroxine and heat significantly alter several blood constituents and these factors may aid in determining what mechanisms are essential for acclimation of lactating cattle to tropic and semitropic regions. The fact that there is an alteration in blood constituents due directly and indirectly to a significant elevation of body temperature from effects of heat, indicates that the cow's thermogenesis may be controlled by some of the hormones and enzymes which remarkably maintain blood constancy.
Commentary: How the debate about comparative effectiveness research should impact the future of clinical trials

Comparative effectiveness research represents the kind of research that arguably more directly affects clinical practice and policy. It includes observational studies, clinical trials, and systematic syntheses of existing literature. In this commentary, I argue for the ongoing and critical role of randomization in comparative effectiveness, noting the key differences between practical and explanatory trials.
Semi-automatic ground truth generation for license plate recognition system

License plate recognition (LPR) system is to help alert relevant personnel of any passing vehicle in the surveillance area. In order to test algorithms for license plate recognition, it is necessary to have input frames in which the ground truth is determined. The purpose of ground truth data is here to provide an absolute reference for performance evaluation or training purposes. However, annotating ground truth data for real-life inputs is very disturbing task because of timeconsuming manual. In this paper, we proposed a method of semi-automatic ground truth generation for license plate recognition in video sequences. The method started from region of interesting detection to rapidly extract characters lines followed by a license plate recognition system to verify the license plate regions and recognized the numbers. On the top of the LPR system, we incorporated a tracking-validation mechanism to detect the time interval of passing vehicles in input sequences. The tracking mechanism is initialized by a single license plate region in one frame. Moreover, in order to tolerate the variation of the license plate appearances in the input sequences, the validator would be updated by capturing positive and negatives samples during tracking. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve promising results.
Should I open this email?: inbox-level cues, curiosity and attention to email

The quantity of email people receive each day can be overwhelming. Previous research suggests that when handling email, individuals prioritize certain messages for attention over others. Since people generally make this decision about which message to read before opening the email, the question largely unanswered in the email literature is: what surface features of an email draw attention to it? In this research, we examined how top-level cues about an email's content influence attention to email. We describe results from a think-aloud study examining people's stated rationale for prioritizing certain emails over others. Based on these results and theory on curiosity, we conducted an experiment examining how message importance, subject line specificity, workload and personal utility influence attention to email. Results suggest that uncertainty about message content at the inbox level increases the likelihood of attention to a message. The influence of uncertainty diminishes, however, in the face of enhanced task and personal utility cues and increased demand, suggesting that curiosity operates in an intrinsic way in the email context. Our results have implications for intelligent email system design, email client interfaces, and reducing email strain.
A Layout Sensitivity Model for Estimating Electromigration-vulnerable Narrow Interconnects

During back-end manufacturing process of IC, intervention of spot defects induces extra and missing material of interconnects causing circuit failures. Interconnect narrowing occurs when spot defects induce interconnects missing material without resulting in a complete cut. The narrow sites of defective interconnects favor electromigration that makes narrow interconnects more likely to induce a chip failure than regular interconnects. In this paper, an innovative layout sensitivity model accounting for "narrow" defects is derived. The paper also pioneers estimation of the probability of narrow interconnects in the die. The layout sensitivity model for narrow interconnects is tested and compared to actual and simulated data. Our layout sensitivity model predicts the probability of narrowing with 3.1% error, on average. The model is then combined with electromigration constraints to predict mean-time-to-failure of chips manufactured in future technologies down to 32 nm node. The paper concludes with some other possible applications of the narrow interconnect predictive model.
C-MYC PROTEIN DISTRIBUTION - MAMMARY ADENOCARCINOMAS OF MTV/MYC TRANSGENIC MICE

Transgenic mice have been used to demonstrate that the myc transgene, fused to the murine mammary tumor virus LTR promoter, leads to development of mammary tumors. To study the role of the Myc protein in these tumors, a sensitive immunohistochemical method was used to compare the Myc protein expression in mammary tumors and normal mammary gland from two independent MTV/myc transgenic lines. The highest levels of staining for Myc were found in the epithelial cell nuclei of mammary tumors and foci of mammary hyperplasia. Normal transgenic epithelium had only scattered foci of low intensity staining nuclei. The nuclei of transgenic mesenchyme and of non-transgenic mammary glands of control FVB mice did not contain detectable antigen. This work supports the hypothesis that the Myc protein can play a role in mammary tumorigenesis and suggests a correlation between high levels of Myc and the development of histopathology.
Trophic roles of particle feeders and detritus in a mangrove island prop root ecosystem

Swarms of Dioithona oculata, shoals of Mysidium columbiae, and schools of planktivorous fish were observed among mangrove prop roots on a lagoonal island. Detritus covering epiphytic and benthic macroalgae and invertebrates was a probable food source for pelagic mysids, and copepods, as well as benthic oysters and sponges. Open water blooms of dinoflagellate Amphidinium klebsii were probably only accessible to the swarming dioithonans which spend the night away from the mangrove prop roots. Dominant species were analyzed for stable carbon isotopic composition (expressed as δ 13C‰) to elucidate the origin and fate of detritus. Detrital components (−23.6 to −19.1‰), which included floating detritus, marine snow, prop root detritus, and detritus below prop roots, probably originated from the dominant subtidal macroalgal species (−24.2 to −14.6‰) and A. klebsii (−25.8 to −21.2‰), although other sources which are end-members could theoretically contribute since detrital isotopic ratios are half way between end-members. These other sources include the intertidal red algal Bostrychia spp. (−30.9 to −29.6‰), red mangrove Rhizophora mangle leaves (−28.2 to −27.0‰), and turtle grass Thalassia testudinum (−12.3 to −11.1‰). Particle feeders such as mangrove oysters, sponges, mysids, and dioithonans were usually enriched with 13C (−21.0 to −16.2‰) compared to their probable food sources, detritus and A. klebsii. At Anchovy Bay, adult mysids and planktivorous fish were more 13C enriched (1–3‰) than their probable prey, the dioithonans. Turtle grass may have a minor role in food webs, since dioithonans and mysids from Outer Twin and Anchovy Bays where turtle grass beds were abundant were consistently more 13C enriched (2–7‰) than in the Lair Channel where turtle grass beds were sparse.
Impact of the Ethanol Boom on Livestock and Dairy Industries: What Are They Going to Eat?

Increased demand for corn for ethanol production has helped push grain prices to record levels. This has increased livestock production costs, and producers have responded with changes to production systems. This paper explores the degree to which costs can be mitigated with alternative feeds, the effect this might have on physical performance, and the impact of alternative feeds on the competitive position of different species.
PRETERM BIRTH AND FUTURE MATERNAL BLOOD PRESSURE, INFLAMMATION AND INTIMAL MEDIAL THICKNESS: THE CARDIA STUDY

Preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks) may be a marker of endothelial dysfunction and a proinflammatory phenotype; both are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We studied 916 women (46% black) with 1181 live births between enrollment in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (age 18-30 years) and 20 years later. C-reactive protein was measured at years 7, 15, and 20. Interleukin-6 and carotid intima-media thickness, which incorporated the common carotid arteries, bifurcations, and internal carotid arteries, were measured at year 20. Blood pressure, lipids, anthropometrics, and pregnancy events were assessed at all visits. Change in risk factors and differences in inflammatory markers and intima-media thickness according to PTB were evaluated. Women with PTBs (n=226) had higher mean systolic blood pressures before pregnancy (106 versus 105 mm Hg, respectively; P=0.03). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased more rapidly over 20 years compared with women with term births (P<0.01 time interaction), even after removing women with self-reported hypertension in pregnancy. Women with PTB versus term births had similar mean intima-media thickness adjusted for age, body mass index, race, lifestyle, and cardiovascular risk factors. C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 did not differ according to PTB. Women with PTB, regardless of hypertension during pregnancy, had higher blood pressure after pregnancy compared with women with term births. In the United States, where rates of PTB are high and race disparities persist, PTB may identify women with higher blood pressure in the years after pregnancy.
Transcriptome profiles link environmental variation and physiological response of Mytilus californianus between Pacific tides

SUMMARY: The marine intertidal zone is characterized by large variation in temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and the supply of nutrients and food on seasonal and daily time scales. These oceanic fluctuations drive of ecological processes such as recruitment, competition and consumer-prey interactions largely via physiological mehcanisms. Thus, to understand coastal ecosystem dynamics and responses to climate change, it is crucial to understand these mechanisms.Here we utilize transcriptome analysis of the physiological response of the mussel Mytilus californianus at different spatial scales to gain insight into these mechanisms. We used mussels inhabiting different vertical locations within Strawberry Hill on Cape Perpetua, OR and Boiler Bay on Cape Foulweather, OR to study inter- and intra-site variation of gene expression.The results highlight two distinct gene expression signatures related to the cycling of metabolic activity and perturbations to cellular homeostasis. Intermediate spatial scales show a strong influence of oceanographic differences in food and stress environments between sites separated by ~65 km.Together, these new insights into environmental control of gene expression may allow understanding of important physiological drivers within and across populations.
This I believe in genetics: discovery can be a nuisance, replication is science, implementation matters

For several years now, accumulation of genetic information has accelerated at a pace that exceeds the acceleration of computer capacity (Moore's law) and there is no discernible limit to prospects of further growth. As the cost per unit of obtained genetic information is plummeting (Niedringhaus et al., 2011), genetics has become a frontrunner and a catalyst of the informatics revolution that is affecting very diverse biomedical scientific fields. In non-biomedical science, somewhat equivalent roles to genetics have been assumed by other disciplines that are also driven by big data, e.g., observational astrophysics and high-energy and particle physics. This evolving big data paradigm offers the opportunity to re-think about priorities surrounding different steps in the scientific process.
Stimulation of Prolactin Secretion by Testosterone in Juvenile Male Rhesus Monkeys

Fifteen juvenile male rhesus monkeys were used to study the effect of testosterone propionate (TP) on serum and pituitary prolactin (PRL). Five animals were given corn oil alone, 5 received 8 mg/day of TP and 5 received 80 mg/day of the steroid for 28 consecutive days. The concentration of serum PRL was essentially unchanged in the control animals (7.51 ± 0.62 ng/ml) throughout the entire experimental period. In those animals given the lower dose (8 mg) of TP, serum PRL increased from 12.36 ± 1.10 ng/mI to 21.49 ± 1.99 ng/ml in the first week and remained elevated for the duration of the experiment. A similar rise in serum PRL was noted after 1 week of steroid treatment (12.70 ± 0.53 vs. 21.75 ± 1.77 ng/ml) in those animals given 80mg/day of TP. Pituitary PRL levels were also significantly higher in the TP-treated monkeys, with approximately 2.5-3.3 times more PRL being present in the pituitary glands of these animals than in the controls. Light microscopic examination of a portion of the pituitary gland from each animal revealed a marked increase in the number of PRL cells in all monkeys treated with TP. These results indicate that testosterone or a metabolite of TP can effectively stimulate PRL secretion in the male rhesus monkey.
Multiple Promoter Inversions Generate Surface Antigenic Variation in Mycoplasma penetrans

Mycoplasma penetrans is a newly identified species of the genus Mycoplasma. It was first isolated from a urine sample from a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient. M. penetrans changes its surface antigen profile with high frequency. The changes originate from ON↔OFF phase variations of the P35 family of surface membrane lipoproteins. The P35 family lipoproteins are major antigens recognized by the human immune system during M. penetrans infection and are encoded by the mpl genes. Phase variations of P35 family lipoproteins occur at the transcriptional level of mpl genes; however, the precise genetic mechanisms are unknown. In this study, the molecular mechanisms of surface antigen profile change in M. penetrans were investigated. The focus was on the 46-kDa protein that is present in M. penetrans strain HF-2 but not in the type strain, GTU. The 46-kDa protein was the product of a previously reported mpl gene, pepIMP13, with an amino-terminal sequence identical to that of the P35 family lipoproteins. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the pepIMP13 gene region revealed that the promoter-containing 135-bp DNA of this gene had the structure of an invertible element that functioned as a switch for gene expression. In addition, all of the mpl genes of M. penetrans HF-2 were identified using the whole-genome sequence data that has recently become available for this bacterium. There are at least 38 mpl genes in the M. penetrans HF-2 genome. Interestingly, most of these mpl genes possess invertible promoter-like sequences, similar to those of the pepIMP13 gene promoter. A model for the generation of surface antigenic variation by multiple promoter inversions is proposed.
Genotype-Dependent Effects of TGF-β1 on Mast Cell Function: Targeting the Stat5 Pathway

We previously demonstrated that TGF-β1 suppresses IgE-mediated signaling in human and mouse mast cells in vitro, an effect that correlated with decreased expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor, FceRI. The in vivo effects of TGF-β1 and the means by which it suppresses mast cells have been less clear. This study shows that TGF-β1 suppresses FceRI and c-Kit expression in vivo. By examining changes in cytokine production concurrent with FceRI expression, we found that TGF-β1 suppresses TNF production independent of FceRI levels. Rather, IgE-mediated signaling was altered. TGF-β1 significantly reduced expression of Fyn and Stat5, proteins critical for cytokine induction. These changes may partly explain the effects of TGF-β1, because Stat5B overexpression blocked TGF-mediated suppression of IgE-induced cytokine production. We also found that Stat5B is required for mast cell migration toward stem cell factor, and that TGF-β1 reduced this migration. We found evidence that genetic background may alter TGF responses. TGF-β1 greatly reduced mast cell numbers in Th1-prone C57BL/6, but not Th2-prone 129/Sv mice. Furthermore, TGF-β1 did not suppress IgE-induced cytokine release and did increase c-Kit–mediated migration in 129/Sv mast cells. These data correlated with high basal Fyn and Stat5 expression in 129/Sv cells, which was not reduced by TGF-β1 treatment. Finally, primary human mast cell populations also showed variable sensitivity to TGF-β1–mediated changes in Stat5 and IgE-mediated IL-6 secretion. We propose that TGF-β1 regulates mast cell homeostasis, and that this feedback suppression may be dependent on genetic context, predisposing some individuals to atopic disease.
Intestinal Malabsorption of Vitamin E in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

We studied intestinal absorption of vitamin E in 26 adults with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 6 control subjects. Seven (27%) PBC patients were vitamin E-deficient based on the ratio of serum vitamin E to serum total lipid concentrations. An oral vitamin E tolerance test was performed in all patients and control subjects using a loading dose of 2000 IU α-tocopheryl acetate with measurement of serial serum vitamin E concentrations over 24 h. Vitamin E absorption was expressed as the maximal rise in serum vitamin E above baseline, the area under the oral tolerance test curve, and these two values divided by the fasting total serum lipid concentration. Absorption of vitamin E was significantly impaired in all PBC patients vs. control subjects (p
Concerns regarding the financial aspects of kidney transplantation: perspectives of pre-transplant patients and their family members

Kidney transplantation is the optimal therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the cost of kidney transplantation can be a significant financial burden. Ethnic/race minorities and those of low socioeconomic status may be particularly sensitive to the influence of finances on access to kidney transplantation. Studies suggest that these groups, particularly those with limited financial means, are less to likely to receive live donor transplants and/or preemptive transplants, which are each associated with improved patient and graft survival (1). Transplantation is withheld from patients with limited finances or insurance due to fear of certain organ rejection as a result of inability to pay for transplant-related costs integral to transplant survival (2). Research shows that patients who receive transplants tend to have a higher income and fewer concerns about transplant-related costs, including medication co-payments compared with non-recipients (3). Among insured individuals, insurance type (government sponsored vs. private insurance) has also been found to influence rate and duration of transplant wait-listing (4–6). Patients with private insurance have higher transplant survival rates compared to those with Medicare or Medicaid (7). Medicare recipients are still responsible for 20% of costs related to transplant. Those who lose coverage after 36 months are at a considerable disadvantage, particularly due to immunosuppressant medication costs. The estimated annual average cost of medications alone is greater than $12 000 (8), potentially enhancing the risk of recipients’ medication non-compliance and graft failure (9, 10). In addition, low income, unemployment, and low education have all been linked to poor health outcomes among transplanted patients (11). Programs to assist patients with low incomes with transplant-related costs, such as the National Living Donor Assistance Program (12) and pharmaceutical manufacturer-based medication assistance programs, may be underutilized (13). The extent to which patients and their families receive information to make them aware of these programs or transplant health insurance policies is unclear. It is also unclear whether information needs among African Americans, who are less likely to undergo transplantation, differ from the information needs of non-African Americans. Studies identifying African American and non-African American patients’ and their families’ perceived needs for information regarding the financial costs of transplantation during the transplant evaluation process could help transplant programs better serve potential transplant recipients and donors.
β2 Microglobulin Knockout Mice Are Resistant to Lethal Intraabdominal Sepsis

β2 microglobulin knockout (β2M−/−) mice lack CD8+ T and natural killer T cells. We hypothesized that β2M−/− mice are resistant to lethal intraabdominal sepsis. To test this hypothesis, mortality, cytokine production, and physiologic function were assessed in β2M−/− mice during sepsis caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). β2M−/− mice survived significantly longer than wild-type mice after CLP but ultimately exhibited 100% mortality. Treatment of β2M−/− mice with anti-asialoGM1 to deplete natural killer cells conferred greater than 70% long-term survival. Compared with wild-type mice, β2M−/− mice treated with anti-asialoGM1 produced decreased amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and did not exhibit hypothermia or metabolic acidosis after CLP. Adoptive transfer of CD8+ T and natural killer cells into β2M−/− mice treated with anti-asialoGM1 re-established CLP-induced mortality. CD8 knockout mice treated with anti-asialoGM1, which are specifically deficient in CD8+ T and natural killer cells, exhibited ...
Simplified Preparation of Dimethyldioxirane (DMDO)

Acetone Oxone Dimethyldioxirane Keywords: Dimethyldioxirane; Hazardous chemical disposals; Reactive epoxide
Longitudinal Predictors of Women’s Experiences of Social Reactions Following Intimate Partner Abuse:

Researchers using the Social Reactions Questionnaire (SRQ; Ullman, 2000) have documented links between women’s perceptions of social reactions following sexual assault and trauma-related distress (e.g., self-blame, problem drinking, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms). The SRQ has been used primarily with female sexual assault victims with instructions to think about reactions from other people told about the assault. Research has generally relied on cross-sectional methods and assumed that social reactions lead to trauma-related outcomes. Reliance on cross-sectional methods has impeded testing assumptions about directionality (e.g., trauma-related distress might increase negative social reactions from others). Furthermore, links between victims’ reports of negative social reactions and distress might reflect an overall negative reporting bias. The current study examined women’s perceptions of social reactions for an incident of intimate partner abuse (IPA) reported to law enforcement. At a...
Using movement and intentions to understand simple events

In order to understand ongoing activity, observers segment it into meaningful temporal parts. Segmentation can be based on bottom-up processing of distinctive sensory characteristics, such as movement features. Segmentation may also be affected by top-down effects of knowledge structures, including information about actors' intentions. Three experiments investigated the role of movement features and intentions in perceptual event segmentation, using simple animations. In all conditions, movement features significantly predicted where participants segmented. This relationship was stronger when participants identified larger units than when they identified smaller units, and stronger when the animations were generated randomly than when they were generated by goal-directed human activity. This pattern suggests that bottom-up processing played an important role in segmentation of these stimuli, but that this was modulated by top-down influence of knowledge structures. To describe accurately how observers perceive ongoing activity, one must account for the effects of distinctive sensory characteristics, the effects of knowledge structures, and their interactions.
Intrapulse Radar-Embedded Communications

The embedding of a covert communication signal amongst the ambient scattering from an incident radar pulse has previously been achieved by modulating a Doppler-like phase shift sequence over numerous pulses (i.e., on an inter-pulse basis). In contrast, this paper considers radar-embedded communications on an intrapulse basis whereby an incident radar waveform is converted into one of K communication waveforms, each of which acts as a communication symbol representing some predetermined information (e.g., a bit sequence). To preserve a low intercept probability, this manner of radar-embedded communications necessitates prudent selection of the set of communication waveforms as well as interference cancellation on receive. A general mathematical model and subsequent optimization problem is established for the design of the communication waveforms, from which three design strategies are developed. Also, receiver design issues are discussed, and an interference-canceling maximum likelihood receiver is presented. Performance results are presented in terms of the communication symbol error rate as well as a correlation-based metric from which intercept probability can be inferred. It is demonstrated that, given persistent radar illumination with a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 1-2 kHz, intrapulse radar-embedded communications can theoretically achieve data-rates commensurate with speech coding (for the interval of the radar dwell time) with the potential for even higher data-rates if additional diversity is appropriately incorporated.
Statisticians and the History of Economics

Over twenty years ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Royal Statistical Society about the life and work in statistics of Francis Ysidro Edgeworth. In a preamble to that talk, I commented upon some similarities between Edgeworth and an even earlier scientist, Daniel Bernoulli, who lived from 1700 to 1782. One similarity I mentioned would be so well-known to this audience that it scarcely bears repetition: Both Edgeworth and Bernoulli were important in the histories of both economics and statistics. Of Edgeworth's work in economics I need not comment—I expect that his work on taxation, price theory, international trade, and index numbers is familiar to many in this audience. Edgeworth's work in statistics was no less important in at least four ways: (1) He was an astute and original philosopher of the application of probability and quantitative thinking in social science; (2) he had sufficient mathematical genius to situate Galton's concept of correlation in the framework of the multivariate normal distribution, thereby pointing the way for Karl Pearson to develop correlational analysis—Edgeworth even has a claim on being the inventor of the product moment correlation coefficient; (3) he pioneered the exploration of many topics, such as variance component estimation, the theory of maximum likelihood, and series expansions for sampling distributions; and (4) he had an amazing ability to explore the limits of statistical concepts by constructing subtle and surprising counterexamples to widely accepted truths.
An ultrastructural comparison of the uptake and transport of horseradish peroxidase by the rat visceral yolk‐sac placenta during mid‐ and late gestation

Horseradish peroxidase was used to explore electron microscopically the uptake and transport of protein by the rat visceral yolk sac at 2 minutes, 6 hours, and 12 hours following a single intravenous injection into pregnant rats on day 12 and day 21.5 of gestation. On both days, the visceral endoderm absorbed peroxidase via micropinocytosis at 2 min postinjection, but not at the 6 and 12 hr intervals. At the latter two postinjection intervals on day 12, peroxidase was localized mainly at two sites, i.e., within intraepithelial supranuclear storage vacuoles, and within the vitelline endothelium deep to the visceral endoderm. On day 21.5 at 6 and 12 hr postinjection, peroxidase was localized in supranuclear storage vacuoles, though most of it was within tubular structures and small vacuoles in the paranuclear and infranuclear cytoplasm of the endoderm. Many dense vacuoles were in close anatomical relationship with the basal cell membrane. Deep to the endoderm a few macrophages were actively engulfing peroxidase, but reaction product was rarely found in the fenestrated vitelline endothelium. The results presented differ from the previous physiological and anatomical transport studies of the visceral yolk sac in that protein (peroxidase) transport was observed deep to the endoderm during both mid- and late gestation.
Capacity, Delay, and Schedule Reliability at Major Airports in Europe and the United States:

Runway system capacity, air traffic delay, scheduling practices, and flight schedule reliability at major airports in Europe and the United States are compared. The comparisons are based on the study of operations at the 34 busiest airports in the United States and at the 34 busiest airports in Europe with the use of extensive data from 2007 and 2008. Major differences were found in several critical respects with important implications for aviation policy makers in both areas. U.S. airports achieve significantly higher capacities, in terms of aircraft movements, than their European counterparts with similar runway system layouts, primarily through the use of visual separation procedures when weather permits. They also achieve higher use of any available airside capacity by not placing constraints on the number of movements that can be scheduled at airports. One of the negative consequences of such policies is a high variability of delays with weather. European airports, however, limit air traffic delay by...
The combination of ceftaroline plus daptomycin allows for therapeutic de-escalation and daptomycin sparing against MRSA

Objectives We previously demonstrated that ceftaroline enhances daptomycin against MRSA in vitro. However, prolonged combination therapy is clinically undesirable and possibly unnecessary. The purpose of this study was to determine if this combination could be de-escalated to a single agent without compromising efficacy.
Achieving Multiple Project Objectives through Contingency Management

Project managers use budgets to satisfy multiple objectives such as cost control, short durations, and high quality. Contin- gency funds are included in project budgets to manage risk and achieve project goals. Understanding how managers use budget contin- gencies requires a dynamic information processing model of how managers bridge the gap between high project complexity and limited managerial capacity. The results of collecting contingency management practices of real estate development project managers is reported and a dynamic simulation model of contingency management described. The model is used to test hypotheses of the effectiveness of aggressive and passive management strategies on cost, timeliness, and facility value. Managers were found to pursue general project objectives in their management of contingency. An aggressive strategy was found to be more robust but performed poorer than a passive strategy. Conclusions include the prevalence of trade-offs between robust and high-performance contingency management policies in construction projects and the importance of incorporating uncertainty into project planning and management.
Neuroimaging and Depression Current Status and Unresolved Issues

Major depression is among the most debilitating, prevalent, and recurrent of all psychiatric disorders. Over the past decade, investigators have examined the neural mechanisms associated with this disorder. In this article we present an overview of neuroimaging research that has assessed the structure and functioning of the amygdala, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression. We then describe results of studies that have attempted to elucidate the nature of the relations among these brain structures. The picture that emerges from these investigations is one in which heightened activity in limbic structures that underlie the experience and expression of emotion dampens activation in dorsal cortical structures that are involved in affect regulation, reducing their ability to influence limbic activation. We conclude by highlighting unresolved issues concerning the roles of these structures in depression and their relation to specific symptoms of this disorder.
Marian Pilgrimage and the Performance of Male Privilege in Eighteenth-Century Augsburg

Popular Marian devotion played a vital role in the Catholic Church of Germany during the early modern period, especially during the “golden age of religious revival” experienced by post-Tridentine, baroque popular Catholicism. For example, at least ninety-seven local Marian shrines scattered throughout the diocese of Augsburg attracted pilgrims in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The most famous was certainly Andechs, which drew half a million visitors each year in the seventeenth century from all over the Holy Roman Empire. In turn, Catholics from the diocese of Augsburg traveled beyond the bishopric's borders to major and minor shrines near and far, such as Altotting in Bavaria. Yet while major sites dedicated to the Virgin Mary such as Andechs and Altotting reflected the intensity of ongoing popular Marian devotions, the breadth of the Virgin Mary's cultural significance is signaled by the large number of Marian shrines within the diocese itself, such as Kobel or Violau, which were mostly small, local affairs that attracted primarily nearby populations as pilgrims and supplicants.
Multiple mechanisms of Erbb2 action after ultraviolet irradiation of the skin.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation causes multiple pathologic changes in the skin including inflammation, immune suppression, photoaging, and cancer. Effects of UV irradiation include the activation of numerous signal transduction pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and the activation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). These responses alter gene expression in a manner that resembles the response to growth factors known as the “UV response”. The UV response alters the kinetics of cell division and cell death allowing the skin to recover from the DNA damage caused by UV exposure. UV irradiation also rapidly activates epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members, including Erbb2 (human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu), through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Erbb2, a protooncogene that is activated in many types of cancer and associated with aggressive and chemotherapeutic-resistant disease, is expressed in both follicular and epidermal keratinocytes within the skin. However, the physiological functions of Erbb2 in the skin and its role in the UV response are largely unknown. In this review, evidence that Erbb2 is influential in modulating the response of the skin to UV will be presented. Erbb2 alters the expression of regulatory genes controlling inflammation, angiogenesis, cell division, apoptosis, cell adhesion, and migration following UV irradiation. In addition, Erbb2 dampens UV-induced S-phase arrest, augments inflammation in response to UV irradiation, and suppresses UV-induced apoptosis. In summary, the evidence presented herein links UV-induced Erbb2 activation to many of the effects of UV and implicates Erbb2 in UV-induced carcinogenesis. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Detection of PO, Cl and P from the photodissociation of POCl3 at 193 nm

Abstract The photodissociation of POCl3 has been investigated using the unfocused radiation of an excimer operating at 193 nm. PO, P and Cl radicals were probed by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization, and signal intensities were studied as a function of excimer laser power. The probe laser was found to produce a non-resonant PO+ background signal in addition to the resonant ionization signal of neutral PO. A set of possible dissociation pathways has been postulated.
Guardians of the Word: Russell Kirk, William F. Buckley, and the Conservative Struggle with Academic Freedom

This paper examines the differences between two founders of the modern conservative movement, William F. Buckley and Russell Kirk, in terms of their views of academic freedom and how their differing perspectives are derived from their fundamental understanding of religion, truth and the human person at the heart of their respective philosophies. Buckley understands academic freedom as a superstition, a dissembling rhetorical device to cover for indoctrination in subversive ideas. Kirk believes that academic freedom is a necessary condition of the search for truth in which true scholars and teachers are engaged.
Acoustic Sensors for Biobotic Search and Rescue

Advances in neural engineering have enabled direct control of insect locomotion. Insect biobots, with a natural ability to crawl through small spaces, offer unique advantages over traditional synthetic robots. A cyberphysical network of such biobots could prove useful for search and rescue applications in uncertain disaster environments. Our previous work has demonstrated control of Madagascar hissing cockroaches using a Kinect-based computer vision platform. We now demonstrate lowpower insect-mounted acoustic sensors for future use in both environmental mapping and localization of trapped survivors. Our experimentation has shown the capability of an insect mounted array of microphones to localize a sound source. Keywords—sound localization, microphone array, biobot, search and rescue, neural engineering, cyberphysical network
Photoperiod and reproductive diapause in the predatory bugs Anthocoris tomentosus, A. antevolens, and Deraeocoris brevis (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae, Miridae) with information on overwintering sex ratios

The effect of photoperiod on induction of reproductive diapause was determined for 3 species of predatory bugs inhabiting the pear and apple growing regions of the Pacific Northwest. Females of Anthocoris tomentosus Pericart, A. antevolens White (Anthocoridae), and Deraeocoris brevis (Uhler) (Miridae) were more likely to enter reproductive diapause (characterized by undeveloped ovaries and well-developed fat body) under short-day conditions than under long-day conditions. Critical photoperiods were between 16:8 and 15:9 (L:D) h in D. brevis, and between 15:9 and 14:10 [L:D] h in A. tomentosus . Results for A. antevolens were less clear because females in this species often failed to reproduce even under long-day conditions (18:6 and 16:8 (L:D) h). A small number of A. tomentosus and A. antevolens that failed to mature ovaries also failed to accumulate large fat reserves. Duration of the preoviposition period in nondiapausing insects was shortest in A. tomentosus (9 d), of intermediate duration in D. brevis (10–11 d), and longest in A. antevolens (12–13 d). Overwintering sex ratios were highly biased in the 2 anthocorids (79–95% female), and were moderately biased in D. brevis (60% female). Overwintering samples of 2 other anthocorid species, Orius tristicolor (White) and A. whitei Reuter, also were female-biased (100% female for both species). Dissections of females indicated that insects having undeveloped ovaries and well-developed fat body could be collected from the field most of the summer. Numbers of teneral adults in the dissections showed peaks in late July ( A. tomentosus and A. antevolens ) and in early August ( D. brevis ).
Immunomicroscopy on Polypeptide Hormone Tumors in Spurr by the ABC Method

High-resolution immunolight microscopy was performed on a series of polypeptide hormone-producing tumors embedded in Spurr plastic. This work revealed that selected antigenic determinants were not destroyed in epoxy and that they could be reexposed by chemical etching and combined with appropriate antisera. It was also clearly demonstrated that the location of the labeled antisera was highly resolved; there was low background staining and the image information was well defined in Spurr sections. Immunocytochemical reactions employing the avidin-biotin conjugated peroxidase method in Spurr correlated with corresponding paraffin-embedded tissues.
Hemodynamic changes in hypertension.

In this essay, Freis discussed the physiological impact on the heart and arteries due to hypertension. He also discussed the effect of diuretics, which reduce plasma volume.
Research on Occupation Skill Competition Leading the Diffusion Mathematical Model Based on the Bass Model

Based on the diffusion of technological innovation Bass model,the article establishes occupation skill competition of innovation diffusion mathematical model,and analyzes model and the parameter estimation method.On the basis of the data in the fourth national occupation skill competition,a model instance is offered.And the article points out that the cellular automata and complex network methods can also build innovation diffusion path for skills competition models.
Next-Generation Sequencing of the Human Olfactory Receptors

Humans have approximately 400 intact olfactory receptors (ORs). Among this set there are a large number of variations between individuals, a subset of which affects receptor function and can lead to interindividual variation in olfactory perception. Technological progress and cost erosion in next-generation sequencing have given us the opportunity to determine the sequence of the entire OR gene set with high fidelity and to measure the extent of variation in this functional module across many individuals. Given that whole genome sequencing remains prohibitively expensive for this purpose, especially since the OR sub-genome represents only ~0.0125 % of the human genome, we have designed a targeted capture method to enrich the OR for next-generation sequencing, which we describe here. Using this method we have been able to sequence an individual's OR sub-genome with high coverage, enabling us to identify variation with high sensitivity and specificity. This method can be used to accurate assess the amount of variability in this module and to identify the functional role of individual ORs in olfactory perception.
CARDS: An Experimental System for Detecting Distributed Attacks

We have developed a proof-of-concept system named Coordinated Attack Response and Detection Systems (CARDS) to explore the feasibility of the approaches we have proposed. In this chapter, we report the design and the implementation issues as well as our experience of CARDS.
Gordon Tullock as a teacher and mentor

Gordon Tullock was involved in this former graduate student’s life as a dissertation advisor, writing instructor, mentor, and person offering lifelong encouragement. Although my direction was not in public choice, Gordon Tullock has remained a positive influence on everything I have done.
Social support and digital inequality: Does Internet use magnify or mitigate traditional inequities in support availability?

ABSTRACTThis study tested competing predictions about the implications of Internet use for traditional inequities in social support availability. Using survey data collected as part of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, inequities in social support availability stemming from demographic and network-related factors were examined among non-users, Internet users, and Internet users who also participated in a social network site (SNS). The results offered evidence consistent with the social compensation perspective. Traditional inequities in support availability related to age, race, and total network size persisted among respondents who did not use the Internet, but were less evident or absent among Internet users and/or Internet users who participated in an SNS. Using the Internet to connect with others appeared to be an important mechanism through which inequality in support availability was mitigated.
Low Power Reconfigurable Devices

Advancements in VLSI technology have enabled the development of large reconfigurable platforms, which are being increasingly used in a wide variety of applications. Among the various reconfigurable devices currently in use, FPGAs have emerged as the most popular reconfigurable devices. While power optimization has been only of secondary importance in many FPGA applications, growing importance of leakage in FPGAs designed in 90nm and below makes it imperative to treat power optimization as a first class citizen.
What's wrong with HAL?

While playing against Deep Blue, Kasparov reported feeling an ’alien intelligence’ across the board: something that was undoubtedly thinking, but not in the way that any human thinker would. Kasparov feels he is defending the honor of the human race. If cloning a single sheep can put the leaders of the Western world into such a tizzy, one wonders how will they react to the prospect of inhuman mechanical intelligences in our midst.