cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapporteur’s summary

This meeting marks a milestone for Bio-medical Computing. It announces a readiness to be recognized as an entity in the bioscience community and perhaps in the political arena as well. In 1965, when Bruce Waxman left the Biomedical Computer Study Section at the NIH, he said to the committee, in effect, “It’s been great, fellows, starting to fund biomedical computer research and facilities, and getting a new field going, but in all honesty I can’t think of a single major contribution biomedical computing has made to the advancement of biomedical research.” Just 9 years later, at this conference, it has taken the better part of a week for our speakers to skim lightly over a wide range of scientific advances in which the computer has played an absolutely critical role. From another perspective, it may be observed that NIH now supports research in which the computer plays a major role at a rate close to $100 million per year. Although this figure represents the total costs of the identified research, not just the computer costs, it commands attention. It emphasizes a point made by the substance of most of the papers presented at this conference—hat the computer is no mere alternative tool in today’s bioscience effort, it has become an integral component of the scientific process itself in many areas of investigation. The ramifications of these observations are many, but they are not my privilege to explore here. I must turn to my assigned role which is to summarize the first session of this conference.
Treadmill walking exercise training and brain function in multiple sclerosis: Preliminary evidence setting the stage for a network-based approach to rehabilitation.

Exercise training has been identified as a highly promising approach for managing the cognitive consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study represents a secondary analysis of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) magnetic resonance imaging data from a pilot treadmill walking exercise training intervention for improving cognitive processing speed (CPS) in MS. There were large intervention effects on RSFC between the thalamus and right superior frontal gyrus (d = 1.92) and left medial frontal gyrus (d = 1.70). There further were moderate-to-large intervention effects on CPS (d = 0.72). Such preliminary data highlight FC within thalamocortical circuitry as a potential target for rehabilitation interventions for improving CPS in cognitively impaired individuals with MS.
Femtosecond tracking of carrier relaxation in germanium with extreme ultraviolet transient reflectivity

Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient reflectivity around the germanium M_(4,5) edge (3d core-level to valence transition) at 30 eV is advanced to obtain the transient dielectric function of crystalline germanium [100] on femtosecond to picosecond time scales following photoexcitation by broadband visible-to-infrared (VIS/NIR) pulses. By fitting the transient dielectric function, carrier-phonon induced relaxations are extracted for the excited carrier distribution. The measurements reveal a hot electron relaxation rate of 3.2 ± 0.2 ps attributed to the X−L intervalley scattering and a hot hole relaxation rate of 600 ± 300 fs ascribed to intravalley scattering within the heavy hole (HH) band, both in good agreement with previous work. An overall energy shift of the XUV dielectric function is assigned to a thermally induced band gap shrinkage by formation of acoustic phonons, which is observed to be on a timescale of 4–5 ps, in agreement with previously measured optical phonon lifetimes. The results reveal that the transient reflectivity signal at an angle of 66° with respect to the surface normal is dominated by changes to the real part of the dielectric function, due to the near critical angle of incidence of the experiment (66°–70°) for the range of XUV energies used. This work provides a methodology for interpreting XUV transient reflectivity near core-level transitions, and it demonstrates the power of the XUV spectral region for measuring ultrafast excitation dynamics in solids.
Chemistry Takes Center Stage for Identifying Cancer Targetability

Matching genetically defined cancer states to drugs that specifically target these states is a principal goal of personalized oncology medicine. In this issue, McMillan et al. show how large-scale chemical screening coupled to deep molecular profiling can identify mechanistically diverse druggable vulnerabilities for genetic subtypes of lung cancers.
Mobile interfaces for better living: supporting awareness in a smart home environment

This paper describes efforts toward creating an integrated living space to support heightened awareness of a user's environment. The work seeks to balance the needs and desires of an individual with those of other people within the locality, community, and world, to include basic comforts like temperature and humidity of a living environment as well as use of resources like power and water. The use of mobile technologies--already prominent among many populations--can be used to raise awareness of the needs and responsibilities of the individual and can highlight opportunities to live in ways that are friendlier to others. Mobile technologies have great promise in connecting users to their environment, and a smart environment enhanced with technology that supports better living can improve the lives of individuals, groups, and the broader community. The goals of this work are toward encouraging: 1) increased awareness of information in the user's surroundings; 2) integrated control over factors in one's surrounding and home environments; and 3) increased ability to support sustainable living for both individuals and groups. This work builds on the many smart, green, and sustainable living environment initiatives that have emerged in recent years.
Biological correlates of antagonism

Abstract This chapter reviewed prominent biological correlates (genes, neurohormones, autonomic nervous system activity, regional brain activity) of antagonism and its facets, showing evidence of specific alterations in processes involved in bonding and attachment, social and emotional processing, and responding to threat cues. Distinct patterns of underlying physiology were observed across the different facets of antagonism. For instance, while the self-centered and callous traits of antagonism relate to a general insensitivity to social cues (resulting in lower social cooperation/bonding), the distrustful and oppositional traits are linked to increased reactivity to perceived threat (resulting in a hostile and suspicious orientation toward others). These differences in underlying physiology likely account for some of the heterogeneity observed among the behavioral manifestations of the antagonistic phenotype. Future research would benefit from targeting the factors that interact with antagonistic traits to produce distinct but interrelated behavioral phenotypes.
The development of an imaging informatics-based platform and data viewer interface to support sports performance and injury prevention in track and field athletes

Research in the area of sports science and performance enhancement revolves around collecting multimedia data (eg, Video, images, and waveforms), processing them, and quantifying the results, which gives insight to help athletes improve their technique. For example, in long jump in track and field, the processed output of video with force vector overlays and force calculations allow coaches to view specific stages of the hop, step, and jump, and identify how each stage can be improved to increase jump distance. Outputs also provide insight into how athletes can better maneuver to prevent injury. Currently, each data collection site collects and stores data with their own methods without a standard. Different research groups store multimedia files and quantified results in different kinds of formats, structures, and locations. Imaging informatics-based principles were adopted to develop a platform for multiple institutions that promotes the standardization of sports performance data. The system will provide user authentication and privacy as in clinical trials, with specific user access rights. Data collected from different field sites will be standardized into specified formats before database storage similar to field sites in clinical imaging-based trials. Quantified results from image-processing algorithms are stored similar to CAD algorithm results. The system will streamline the current sports performance data workflow and provide a user interface for different users including researchers, athletes, coaches to view results of individual collections and longitudinally across different collections. The developed data viewer will allow for easy access and review of data to improve sports performance and prevent injury.
Parallelizing the Murp Verifier

With the use of state and memory reduction techniques in verification by explicit state enumeration, runtime becomes a major limiting factor. We describe a parallel version of the explicit state enumeration verifier Murp for distributed memory multiprocessors and networks of workstations using the message passing paradigm. In experiments with three complex cache coherence protocols on an Sp2 multiprocessor and on a network of workstations at UC Berkeley, parallel Murp shows close to linear speedups, which are largely insensitive to communication latency and bandwidth. There is some slowdown with increasing communication overhead, for which a simple yet relatively accurate approximation formula is given. Techniques to reduce overhead and required bandwidth and to allow heterogeneity and dynamically changing load in the parallel machine are discussed, which we expect will allow good speedups when using conventional networks of workstations.
Teaching Laboratory Stewardship in the Medical Student Core Clerkships Pathology-Teaches.

Context.— Current health care spending is unsustainable, and there is a need to teach high-value care principles to future physicians. Pathology-Teaches is an educational intervention designed to t...
Age, Race, and Income Are Associated With Lower Screening Rates at a Safety Net Hospital.

Background While lung cancer screening improves cancer-specific mortality and is recommended for high-risk patients, barriers to screening still exist. We sought to determine our institution’s (an urban safety net hospital) screening rate and to identify socioeconomic barriers to lung cancer screening. Methods We identified 8935 smokers 55 to 80 years of age evaluated by a primary care physician between March 2015 and March 2017 at our institution. We randomly selected one-third of these (n = 2978) to review for eligibility using the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria for lung cancer screening. Using our institution’s Lung Cancer Screening Program clinical tracking database, we identified patients who were screened from March 2015 to March 2017. We collected demographic information (race, primary language, education status, and median income) and evaluated possible associations with screening. Results Among our institution population, 99 patients meeting U.S. Preventive Services Task Force screening criteria underwent screening computed tomography, whereas 516 eligible patients were not screened, making our institution’s estimated screening rate 16.1%. Comparing the unscreened population with those who received screening at our institution, the unscreened population was significantly older (median age of screened patients was 63 years, of unscreened patients was 66 years; P Conclusions The lung cancer screening rate at our hospital is 16.1%. Unscreened patients were older, were more likely to be African American, and had a lower median income. These findings highlight possible screening barriers and potential areas for targeted strategies to decrease disparities in lung cancer screening.
Research on the Development Strategy of Shaanxi Historical Theme Opera "Dahan Suwu" Combining Original Chinese Opera Elements

Opera is a musical expression of the original element system of Western opera. The structure, context, national character of original opera elements and other factors directly affect the overall style of the opera. In the localization process of Shaanxi historical theme operas, the musical elements, cultural heritage and national forms gradually showed a distinct "Chinese style". However, the sound of Shaanxi historical theme opera "Dahan Suwu" in the process of world positioning is evident in the development stage of Shaanxi historical theme opera "Dahan Suwu". It is more conducive to analyzing the origin of the original European opera elements and original opera elements of the local opera during the localization of the opera. Through the analysis and research of music creation techniques, it is concluded that the composer Hao Wei absorbed Western composing techniques in the opera creation for the understanding and re-creation of Chinese national music.
"Quick" MRIs without contrast in the setting of pediatric abscess drainage: A comparative analysis of clinical outcomes.

Abstract Background/Purpose To assess the use of “quick” MRI without contrast in the setting of percutaneous drain management in pediatric patients. Methods A retrospective medical record review was conducted to compare “quick” MRI without contrast to CT in the pediatric percutaneous drain placement setting. The study included 111 patients under 18-years-old having undergone percutaneous drain placement between January 2014 and January 2019. The “quick” MRI protocol consists of axial single-shot-fast-spin-echo (SSFSE) and fat-saturated SSFSE coronal sequences. Primary clinical outcomes included number of additional drain placement procedures, complications, length of hospitalization, and repeat drainage within 6 months following drain-free interval. The use of “quick” MRI post-procedurally was also investigated. Results Patients with pre-drain “quick” MRIs instead of CTs had no significant difference in the need for additional drain placement (p = 1), length of hospitalization (p = 0.275), or drainage complications (p = 0.728). Patients receiving “quick” MRI for follow-up imaging post-drain placement had no greater rate of repeat drainage within 6 months of initial drain discontinuation (p = 0.90) when compared to patients having CT. Conclusions Pre and post-drainage procedure “quick” MRIs were found to be equivalent to CT in regard to several key clinical outcomes.
Catalytic transfer hydrogenation for stabilization of bio-oil oxygenates: Reduction of p-cresol and furfural over bimetallic Ni–Cu catalysts using isopropanol

article i nfo γ-Alumina and carbon supported mono and bimetallic Ni and Cu catalysts were synthesized and applied to the reduction of p-cresol and furfural via transfer hydrogenation. The developed reaction system was applied to alkyl phenol rich pyrolysis oils produced from the ARS tail gas reactive pyrolysis (TGRP) of switchgrass and oak wood. The catalysts used were characterized pre- and post-reactions using XRD, TPR, TEM and TGA. When isopropanol was used as the hydrogen donor solvent, yields of N95% of a mixture of products from the reduction of p-cresol were achieved using the Ni-Cu/Al2O3 catalyst. This product mixture includes ring hydro- genation products (4-methylcyclohexanol and 4-methylcyclohexanone) as well as deoxygenated products (methylcyclohexane and toluene), with 4-methylcyclohexanol being the major product. The activity remained high in the presence of water with very high levels of water concentration resulting in a higher selectivity towards the ketone product. The system was also effective for the reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, although lower temperatures were required to prevent polymerization of the furfural. When applied to bio-oil, although increases in H/C and C/O ratios and energy content were realized, effective reduction of the alkyl phe- nols in the bio-oils was below expectation. Rather, solid formation, a result of the polymerization of bio-oil com- pounds was also observed. Our effort to extend the successes encountered with the model compounds to improve the application of transfer hydrogenation to real bio-oils is the subject of ongoing research. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Efficiency corrections for factorial moments and cumulants of overlapping sets of particles

Abstract In this note we discuss subtleties associated with the efficiency corrections for measurements of off-diagonal cumulants and factorial moments for a situation when one deals with overlapping sets of particles, such as correlations between numbers of protons and positively charged particles. In particular, we discuss the situation commonly encountered in heavy-ion experiments, where first all charges are reconstructed and then protons are selected from these charges by an additional particle identification procedure. We present the efficiency correction formulas for the case when the detection efficiencies follow a binomial distribution.
Preface to the Fourth Edition

The period of time between the third and fourth editions constitutes the longest period between any of the editions of this book published thus far. Much of the discussion of the National Labor Relations Act relates to decisions and policy changes instituted by the National Labor Relations Board when I was its Chairman, appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton on June 28, 1993, and confirmed by the Senate on March 2, 1994. As noted in this fourth edition, perhaps the most important development during my tenure was a sharp and unprecedented upsurge in cases brought under the Board’s injunctive authority set forth in Section 10(j). The focus on the NLRA in this edition is also upon a number of important policy decisions issued during my tenure as well as those submitted to the Board while I was Chairman, but decided only subsequent to my departure. Similarly, there is discussion of Supreme Court decisions involving the National Labor Relations Act both prior and subsequent to my tenure. I have chronicled the events preceding my appointment, between appointment and confirmation, and during my four and a half years as Chairman in Labored Relations: Law, Politics, and the NLRB – A Memoir . Insofar as relevant to the work of the National Labor Relations Act, this fourth edition attempts to chronicle only the decisions and policy changes without reference to much of the political drama surrounding them. For the latter, the reader can consult Labored Relations . For the same basic reasons alluded to in earlier editions, union representation during these past eleven years has continued to decline to 13.5 percent, 9 percent in the private sector and 37.4 percent in the public sector. As was the case in previous editions, courts of general jurisdiction at the state level have continued to establish job security rights as an exception to the principle that the contract of employment is terminable at will. In the 1990s and at the turn of the century, however, the courts have begun to address employer-devised arbitration procedures designed to substitute that forum for individual claims involving unfair dismissals for courts and jury trials. This constitutes one of the new frontiers of not only judicial decision making but also the policy debate in the political arena.
Comparison of injectable trace minerals vs. adjuvant on measures of innate and humoral immune responses of beef heifers

ABSTRACT Previous studies reported heightened innate and humoral immune responses among cattle administered injectable trace minerals (ITM) concurrent to immunogen challenge, thus suggesting a potential adjuvant-like activity of ITM. To pursue this concept further, a two-year study was conducted at the Mountain Research Station (North Carolina State University, Waynesville) to evaluate immunological responses of Angus heifers (n = 22, 235 ± 18 kg of BW and 225 ± 4 d of age in yr 1; n = 36, 237 ± 6 kg of BW and 247 ± 5 d of age in yr 2). On d 0 (30 days after weaning), heifers were administered two 5-mL i.m. injections of porcine red blood cells (PRBC; Lampire Biological Laboratories, Pipersville, PA) solution (25% PRBC and 75% sterile PBS; Amresco, Solon, OH), concurrent to either a single 2.5-mL s.c. injection of sterile saline (SAL; 0.9% NaCl), a squalene-based oil-in-water adjuvant (ADJ; AddaVax; InvivoGen, Inc. San Diego, CA) that specifically induces a humoral immune response, or injectable trace minerals (ITM; MultiMin 90; MultiMin USA, Inc. Fort Collins, CO; 60, 10, 15 and 5 mg/mL of Zn, Mn, Cu and Se). During the 28-d study, heifers were offered tall fescue hay (Lolium arundinacea) and concentrate at 1.2 and 1.0% of BW (DM basis), respectively, blended with 114 g daily of a complete mineral mix. Shrunk BW was recorded on d 0 and 28 following 12 h of feed and water withdrawal. Blood samples were collected on d 0, 2, 7, 15, and 21 for determination of antibody titers against PRBC and plasma concentrations of ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin. Liver biopsy samples were collected 1 mo prior to weaning and on d 15 after weaning for determination of trace mineral status. No differences were detected (P ≥ 0.13) for BW change, ADG, G:F, or DMI. Liver Se concentrations on d 15 were greater (P ≤ 0.01) for heifers receiving ITM compared to SAL and ADJ treatments. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations on d 2 were greatest for ADJ (P
Vascular Surgeons as Expert Witnesses in Malpractice Litigation

BACKGROUND This study investigates the role of vascular surgeons as expert witnesses in United States' malpractice claims. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the Westlaw database from 1999 through 2014 using the search terms "vascular" and "surgeon". Case defendant, plaintiff, allegation, and verdict were compiled. Surgeon expert witness demographic data including age, practice duration, scholarly impact (H-index) and practice setting were reviewed using faculty websites, state licensing boards, and Scopus database. RESULTS A total of 785 cases were identified, Three-hundred seventy-seven with a vascular surgeon as the plaintiff or defense expert witness. Vascular surgeons were defense experts in One-hundred thirty one (34.75%) cases, plaintiff experts in One-hundred eighteen (31.3%), both plaintiff and defense experts in Ninty six (25.46%), or unspecified in Thiry two cases (8.29%). Two-hunder eighty three individual expert witnesses were identified. Vascular surgeon experts who testified 4 or more times were likely to be plaintiff experts (32.5% versus 18.7%, P <0.05). Mean years of practice (23.5 versus 24.2, P = 0.10) between plaintiff and defense experts was comparable. Plaintiff experts were more likely in non-academic practice (64.4% versus 52.5%, P <0.05) with lower scholarly impact (H-index 12.8 versus 16.7, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS A small percentage of vascular surgeons were experts in multiple cases, especially as plaintiff witnesses. Vascular surgeons as plaintiff's witnesses have similar years of age, work less in an academics, and have lower scholarly impact than defense witnesses. While national organizations provide guidelines defining expert witness qualifications, the required credentials vary by State. Development of minimum qualifications nationally may improve consistency in expert credentialing and lead to more ethical trial representation.
HIGHER ORDER MODES AS INDICATORS OF SURFACE CRACKS UNDER STRATIFIED DIELECTRIC COATINGS USING AN OPEN-ENDED WAVEGUIDE

The penetration depth of microwave signals in a medium is a function of its dielectric properties and the operating frequency [1]. For highly conducting materials such as metals the skin depth is very small. Hence, microwaves can only interrogate the surface features in metals. Surface crack detection and sizing is a significant part of nondestructive evaluation (NDE). In many cases it is an important part of in-service examination of some facilities, such as aircraft fuselage, turbine blades and nuclear power plant steam generator tubings. Since 1991 several new approaches of applying microwaves to surface crack detection have been considered, and experiments have been conducted at the Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing Laboratory. It has been shown that an open-ended waveguide probe operating at a certain frequency range, polarization and excitation mode can be effectively used for crack detection [2].
Empire, Authority, and Autonomy in Achaemenid Anatolia

The Achaemenid Persian Empire (550–330 BCE) was a vast and complex sociopolitical structure that encompassed much of modern-day Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and included two dozen distinct peoples who spoke different languages, worshipped different deities, lived in different environments and had widely differing social customs. This book offers a radical new approach to understanding the Achaemenid Persian Empire and imperialism more generally. Through a wide array of textual, visual and archaeological material, Elspeth R. M. Dusinberre shows how the rulers of the Empire constructed a system flexible enough to provide for the needs of different peoples within the confines of a single imperial authority and highlights the variability in response. This book examines the dynamic tensions between authority and autonomy across the Empire, providing a valuable new way of considering imperial structure and development.
Galago crassicaudatus (Thick-tailed bushbaby)

The karyotype of the male was kindly donated by Drs. Mary Lucas and Christine Hawkey, London, England. It came from lymphocyte cultures of an animal at London Zoo and captured in the Eastern Nsambara Mountains, 30 miles NW of Tanga, Tangania. The female karyotype came from skin cultures of an animal at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA, and was supplied by Dr. D.A. Meritt.
Stress Cracking of Plastics by Gasoline

Abstract : The susceptibility of polycarbonate, poly (methyl methacrylate), and cellulose acetate butyrate to gasoline-induced stress cracking was evaluated by measuring the critical strains of specimens exposed to a variety of commercial gasolines and gasoline components. In general, the critical strain decreased and the severity of cracking of molded parts increased as the aromatic content of the gasolines increased. However, low molecular weight aliphatics as well as specific aromatic components did also markedly reduce critical strain. The effects of sample geometry, temperature, and weathering on critical strain were determined. The capability to predict the critical strain of polymers in the presence of complex liquid mixtures on the basis of physical constants of pure liquid components was examined.
Detection and Avoidance of Elaboration-Time Problems for Multi-Unit Real-Time Ada Applications

This paper describes three significant problems that may occur due to the elaboration order of the compilation units of a large Ada program. One concern is the possibility of access-before-elaboration errors. A second issue is priority inversion amongst library tasks—a possibly serious problem for real-time systems, for example, in the implementation of the Priority Ceiling Protocol. A third problem is elaboration-time deadlock—the situation where elaboration cannot be completed because a non-task entity calls a task entry before the activation of the task. In this paper we outline a set of coding practices which, if rigorously followed, eliminate most elaboration-time problems. Also, we briefly describe a scheme to determine a proper elaboration order on the basis of source code analysis and show how such a scheme can be used, if our coding practices are followed, to detect potential elaboration-time deadlock situations.
Development and Evaluation of a Parent-Employee Interrole Conflict Scale

We took a deductive (theoretically-based) approach to develop scales to measure a specific aspect of work-family conflict: interrole conflict between individuals' roles as parents and as employees, or parent-employee conflict (P-E conflict). Results supported (a) three empirically distinct aspects of P-E conflict: parenting interfering with work (PIW), work interfering with parenting (WIP) and general P-E conflict (G), (b) the discriminant validity of PIW, WIP, and G as compared to general work-family conflict (W-FC) and work role conflict (WRC), and (c) the nomological validity of P-E conflict scales in terms of predicted relationships with measures of other related constructs. Scale items are presented, and recommendations for scale use and future research directions are offered.
The Impact of Subjective and Objective Hearing Loss on Cognition and Memory in Older Adults

For this exploratory cross-disciplinary study, a speech-language pathologist and an audiologist collaborated to investigate the effects of objective and subjective hearing loss on cognition and mem...
High Dose Therapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Follicular non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Indolent follicular lymphomas are diseases which are generally incurable with conventional therapy. Although patients can survival for prolonged periods, the median duration of first remissions is about 2.5 years, and subsequent remissions progressively shorten with time. High dose therapy with hematopoietic stem cell support leads to prolonged disease-free and overall survival in a subset of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mounting evidence suggests similar findings for selected patients with indolent follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Presently it remains unclear as to when this approach should be used, however inferior results have been seen in heavily pretreated patients. In contrast, encouraging results are being reported in patients undergoing such treatment early in the course of their disease. Despite these data, many patients continue to relapse and future investigations now focus on eradication of minimal residual disease.
ETHYL ALCOHOL REDUCTION OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM IN POULTRY FEED

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ethyl alcohol as a potential treatment for reduction of Salmonella populations in poultry feed. Growth rate of S. typhimurium in tryptic soy broth was significantly reduced by addition of greater than 0.3% volume/volume of ethyl alcohol and growth was completely inhibited by addition of 5% ethyl alcohol. Ethyl alcohol concentrations of 20% volume/weight and greater significantly reduced initial S.typhimurium populations in poultry feed (for 20% treated, 2.31 ± 0.31 vs 3.39 ± 0.29 for untreated; P < 0.05). When feed treatment was administered either before or after inoculation of S. typhimurium with 60% ethyl alcohol or 0.04% buffered propionic acid, populations in feeds treated after inoculation were decreased to a nondetection level (< 1.0 log10 CFU/g) by ethyl alcohol treatment but not by other treatments. Ethyl alcohol treatment may have the potential for reducing Salmonella spp. contamination in poultry feed.
Lack of effect of prostaglandin F2α on the fertilizing ability of rabbit sperm

Abstract Caput and cauda sperm incubated with prostaglandin F2α were inseminated into the oviduct of recipient does which were given 75 I.U. of HCG (APL, Ayerst) at the same time. None of the 18 eggs exposed to caput sperm and all of 13 eggs exposed to cauda sperm were fertilized. Capacitated ejaculate sperm incubated with prostaglandin F2α were inseminated into the oviduct of recipient does given 75 I.U. HCG 12–13 hours earlier. Of 74 eggs recovered, 53 were fertilized. The results are consistent with those found utilizing sperm without prostaglandin treatment.
Afterword: rates of exchange: neoliberalism and the value of higher education

Neoliberal discourse, having deeply pervaded contemporary political and economic practices, has moved increasingly into education in determining the value of knowledge, information, and the pursuit and production of them. The modern university has long served as the space where questions of value are debated and critiqued, but increasingly neoliberalism's encroachment into educational policy and practice has established market fundamentalism as the dominant and often governing logic by which the value of knowledge is determined. This conclusion to a special two-volume issue focusing on neoliberalism as the new common sense in higher education examines this encroachment as well as the spaces of resistance left within education to determine value outside of market-based logic.
Differential effect of interferon on ornithine decarboxylase activation in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells

Summary Ornithine decarboxylase activity was enhanced in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells by the addition of either a combination of polypeptide hormones or L-asparagine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. However, only the polypeptide hormones stimulated enzymatic activity was inhibited by interferon.
Catheterizing modified Blalock-Taussig shunts and ascending aorta to pulmonary artery shunts

Abstract Assessing the anatomy, pressure and resistance of the pulmonary vascular bed is an essential part of the preoperative evaluation of patients with congenital heart disease. In patients with pulmonary atresia or other complex defects when anterograde passage of a catheter into the pulmonary artery is not possible, pulmonary venous wedge pressures have been used to assess the pulmonary arterial pressure, and angiograms recorded close to systemic to pulmonary artery shunts have been used to assess the anatomy of the pulmonary vascular bed. These techniques often do not provide accurate information. It is preferable to directly measure pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, and perform angiography in the pulmonary artery. White 1 previously described a technique for catheterizing Blalock-Taussig (B-T) shunts (subclavian artery to pulmonary artery anastomosis) using specially preformed catheters. In this report we describe a method of retrograde catheterization of the pulmonary artery via modified B-T shunts and ascending aorta to pulmonary artery shunts. A number of catheters, Gensini (USCI, Billerica, Massachusetts), pigtail (Cordis, Miami, Florida), GL (Goodale-Lubin, USCI, Tewksbury, Massachusetts), have been used at our institution to enter such shunts. We have found that the shunts may be most easily catheterized using a Cordis Judkins 5Fr right coronary artery catheter with a 4-cm curve.
A universal classification for removable partial denture situations.

Abstract The need for a universal classification for removable partial denture situations is cited, and the basic requirements are stated. A classification based on the anterior and posterior segments of the dental arch is suggested.
Vertebral compression fractures sustained during golfing: report of three cases

Considerable concern has been expressed about the type and level of exercise that are safe for women with osteopenia and osteoporosis; however, published information on the effect of golfing on the osteoporotic spine is meager. We describe three postmenopausal patients with acute compression fractures of the vertebrae that occurred during midswing while golfing. These healthy, active women were long-term golfers; their ages at the time of the trauma were 63, 58, and 66 years. In one patient (case 1), osteoporosis was diagnosed before the golf-related injury. The two other patients (cases 2 and 3) sought medical attention after the trauma and were found to have osteoporosis. The bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae (L2-4) in the three patients at the time of or shortly after the trauma was as follows: case 1, 0.77 g/cm2 (3rd percentile of normal, corrected for age); case 2, 0.63 g/cm2 (less than 1st percentile of normal, corrected for age); and case 3, 0.69 g/cm2 (2nd percentile of normal, corrected for age). These findings raise the issue of the safety of golfing for women with previously diagnosed osteoporosis and for those with predisposing risk factors for the disease. Research studies of the kinematics and kinetics of the spine during the golf swing should be conducted. In the interim, a rigid back support for golfers with osteoporosis may be helpful until more conclusive evidence is available from controlled trials.
Preferential uptake of d-α-aminoadipate from a racemic mixture by an Alcaligenes denitrificans

Abstract During growth on racemic α-aminoadipate as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen an Alcaligenes denitrificans displayed a two-phase (diauxic) growth not shown by a Pseudomonas putida . Oxidation studies in the presence of chloramphenicol showed that in both growth phases whole cells of A. denitrificans had the ability to oxidize either isomer of α-aminoadipate. These data negated as the physiological basis for diauxic growth a proposal that one isomer was repressing the synthesis of enzymes which transport or degrade the other enantiomer. Growth studies with various ratios of the d - and l -isomers of α-aminoadipate, differentiating one isomer from the other by radioactivity, indicated that diauxic growth resulted from a preferential uptake of d -α-aminoadipate over the l -isomer.
Evaluation of sophorolipid biosurfactant production by Candida bombicola using animal fat

Abstract The meat processing industry is seeking new applications for abundantly available, inexpensive animal fats. Sophorolipid production by Candida bombicola was studied as a model for fat utilization for biosurfactant production. Inoculum medium components (glucose, animal fat, ammonium sulfate, corn steep liquor, urea and potassium phosphate) were optimized for rapid growth. Similar components were chosen to design a production medium for sophorolipid production. Corn steep liquor provided vitamins and minerals, and fat plus glucose were used as carbon sources. Maximum growth was obtained at 30°C but greater sophorolipid production occurred at 27°C. In a pH-controlled fermenter (maintained at pH 3·4 after the first 24 hours) 120 g l −1 of sophorolipid was obtained in 68 h. Silica gel column chromatography of the extracted sophorolipid revealed the presence of at least six components, including a major component comprising 45% of the total sophorolipids. Cells at the end of fermentation contained 37% protein and 14% lipids. Amino acid analysis indicated a high quality of protein, although with a lower than desired tryptophan level. A reduction in production time with high volumetric productivity and inexpensive raw materials make sophorolipid competitive against surfactants used in the food and cosmetics industries.
Foreign political risk assessment: government instability and nontariff barriers to trade

While many political risk assessments depict government instability as a key variable in estimating foreign business risk, evidence linking government instability and change in policies affecting international businesses is limited and mixed. Is the focus on government instability misplaced? Using a pooled cross-sectional time series design, this study examines the relationship between two measures of government instability (turnover in the head of government and turnover among relevant cabinet ministers) and the use of hard-core non-tariff barriers to imports on a quarterly basis for the countries of South America from 1981 to 1985. Though cabinet turnover appears to bear no relationship with policy change, the findings indicate that turnover in the head of government has a strong positive association with both protectionism and liberalization. This suggests that this kind of government instability is an important element in assessing foreign political risk.
Class III crowding: the extraction dilemma.

The patient was a healthy 1 l-year-old boy with what appeared to be a Class I malocclusion with severe crowding (Figs. 1 through 3). Examination of the dentition disclosed the presence of several deciduous teeth and significant crowding in both maxillary and mandibular arches. The maxillary arch length discrepancy was measured at 8 mm. The mandibular discrepancy approached 8 to 9 mm, but efficient use of E-space could reduce that to approximately 3 to 4 mm. The arch length discrepancies encountered most often would lead to the extraction of premolars. The facial esthetics in this case introduced second thoughts. Frontal and profile photographs show a facial flatness in the lips and maxillary/suborbital area. Extractions no doubt would worsen or certainly not improve this deficiency. Cephalometric evaluation demonstrated a Class I skeletal pattern although Class III tendencies were present (ANB 1; Wits -4) (Fig. 4). Both the maxillary and mandibular incisors were retrusive. Vertical relationships appeared to be within normal limits (Table I). Family history indicated no previous prognathism. The patient’s father was not prognathic and his mother was edentulous but demonstrated the same midfacial flatness.
Negative Practice in Acquisition and Retention of Programmed Instruction

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects on achievement and retention in spelling of the practice of errors contrasted with the practice of correct spellings. The findings fail to support the beta hypothesis. All group means on a posttest and on a retention test reflected higher achievement for the initial treatment experienced rather than for treatment per se.
Is the Marathon likely to kill you?: Fraught with danger or fraught with fear?

Inspired by the Olympics, more and more people are taking up longdistance running. But reports of people suddenly dying of cardiac arrest during marathons spark fears. How dangerous is a marathon for an amateur?Benjamin Cheah, statistician and occasional half-marathon runner, seeks reassurance.
Low-dose methotrexate to treat erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: Results in twenty-nine patients

Background: Most patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) have intense, generalized, refractory pruritus. In some large series the median survival was approximately 3 years. Objective: Our purpose was to review our experience with methotrexate in the treatment of 29 patients with erythrodermic CTCL observed for up to 129 months. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Data are presented in terms of response rates, freedom from treatment failure, and overall survival. Results: Twelve patients (41%) achieved complete remission, and five (17%) achieved partial remission for a total response rate of 58%. The median freedom from treatment failure was 31 months, and the median survival was 8.4 years. Side effects caused treatment failure in only two patients. Conclusion: Low-dose methotrexate is a valuable first-line treatment for the majority of patients with early to intermediate-stage erythrodermic CTCL.
A Brownian Motion on the Diffeomorphism Group of the Circle

Let Diff(S 1) be the group of orientation preserving C ∞ diffeomorphisms of S 1. In 1999, P. Malliavin and then in 2002, S. Fang constructed a canonical Brownian motion associated with the H 3/2 metric on the Lie algebra diff(S 1). The canonical Brownian motion they constructed lives in the group Homeo(S 1) of Holderian homeomorphisms of S 1, which is larger than the group Diff(S 1). In this paper, we present another way to construct a Brownian motion that lives in the group Diff(S 1), rather than in the larger group Homeo(S 1).
MICA intron 1 sequences of conserved extended HLA haplotypes: implications for sequencing-based typing

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) has a high degree of genetic diversity. Several methods have been used in MICA typing. Recent studies reported different results for the same reference cell lines typed by different methods. By searching the GenBank, we found an indel polymorphism in MICA intron 1 corresponding to the area where one of the sequencing-based typing primers used by others is located. We investigated this polymorphism in 43 reference samples by primer cycle sequencing. This approach revealed three haplotype-specific patterns of polymorphisms in intron 1. This study provided evidence that one of the primers commonly used in MICA typing may fail to amplify both alleles in certain heterozygous combinations. Our data showed a correlation between the three patterns in MICA intron 1 and exon 5 short tandem repeat (STR) alleles. Being neutral ones, the intron 1 and STR polymorphisms appeared to mark the ancestral lineages better than the coding region polymorphisms.
A simple method for characterizing and predicting temperature behavior of ternary cementitious systems

Abstract The present study is aimed at developing a simple method for characterizing and predicting temperature behavior of ternary cementitious system. Mortar mixes produced with different combinations of various cement and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) were investigated. The temperature rises of these mortars were measured using a thermocouple. The slopes of the major temperature peak, maximum temperature, time to the maximum temperature, and area under the curve were used to characterize the heat generation behavior of the mortars. The initial and final set time of the mortars were measured according to ASTM C403. The results indicate that the mortar temperature curves can be well characterized. The parameters and the mortar set time can be well predicted.
Policy Conflict and the Structure of Interest Communities A Comparative State Analysis

Drawing on data from a survey of 595 state interest representatives this article asks: Is policy conflict widespread in state interest communities or is it rare due to the isolation of interest organizations in relatively placid niches? Two contending perspectives frame the current debate on this issue. Whereas Browne maintains that balkanization characterizes interest communities, Salisbury and his colleagues suggest that many policy domains feature substantial intergroup interaction, conflict, and cooperation. In all, the data witness relatively high levels of conflict among groups and between groups and other political actors and thus confound the expectations of Browne's niche theory. Nevertheless, the data do not invalidate niche theory. Rather, they suggest that some policy domains are more likely to be characterized by niche politics than others and that the federal government provides more incentives than state governments for groups to seek niches.
Outsourcing reverse logistics and remanufacturing functions: a conceptual strategic model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a tool for decision makers to make more informed decisions regarding their outsourcing policies.Design/methodology/approach – In this study it is assumed that recycling or remanufacturing of these returns will soon be a must for original equipment manufacturers. The paper presents a multi‐phased decision model for strategic analysis of outsourcing such activities.Findings – The proposed decision model provides a comprehensive tool for effective decision making by considering economic as well as strategic factors.Practical implications – The procedure proposed here can help practitioners with their outsourcing decisions. The model presented is conceptual. Application and validation is still required.Originality/value – The paper describes a new decision model that considers both strategic and economic issues of outsourcing reverse logistics activities.
Origin of Heart Sounds as Elucidated by Analysis of the Sequence of Cardiodynamic Events

Evidence for the valvular origin of the first heart sound was obtained by simultaneous phonocardiograms and pressure pulses from the left atrium and left ventricle in patients with mitral stenosis. It was consistently observed that the first heart sound begins at the time of mitral valve closure, significantly after the onset of left ventricular contraction. Hemodynamic observations which explain the splitting of heart sounds in the normal and in diseased states were briefly reviewed.