cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protection of commercial turkeys following inactivated or recombinant H5 vaccine application against the 2015U.S. H5N2 clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

Abstract Between December 2014 and June 2015, North America experienced the largest recorded foreign animal disease outbreak with over 47 million poultry dead or euthanized from viral exposure to a clade 2.3.4.4 H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epizootic. Soon after the epizootic began, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began testing the efficacy of different vaccines as a possible future control strategy. The aim of these studies were to evaluate the efficacy three H5 vaccines to aid in control of HPAI in commercial turkeys. Three different vaccine technologies were evaluated for efficacy: 1) inactivated reverse genetic laboratory-generated virus encoding a clade 2.3.4.4 H5 hemagglutinin (HA) gene (rgH5), 2) recombinant turkey herpesvirus encoding a clade 2.2. H5 HA (rHVT-AI), and 3) recombinant replication-deficient alphavirus RNA particle vaccine encoding a clade 2.3.4.4 H5 HA (RP-H5). All vaccines tested significantly (P Results of these studies led to USDA conditional approval of commercially available recombinant vaccines for use in turkeys as a control measure for clade 2.3.4.4 H5 HPAI epizootics.
Analysis of hop acids by thin-layer chromatography and the Molecular Ionization Desorption Analysis Source (MIDAS) for mass spectrometry

Abstract A thin-layer chromatography ambient mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantitative analysis of hop acids. Hop acids were extracted from three varieties of hop pellets, Apollo, Cluster and Czech Saaz. Reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography provided the optimum stationary phase for separation and ionization. Using standards, a method was developed to separate α-, iso-α- and β-acids by thin-layer chromatography. Each thin-layer chromatography plate was analyzed directly by the Molecular Ionization Desorption Analysis Source (MIDAS). MIDAS is an atmospheric pressure ambient ionization source for mass spectrometry. Quantitative analysis of the hop extracts was made by successive analysis of known amounts of standards and the determination of a response factor. The expected trend of total α-acid content with Apollo > Cluster > Czech Saaz was observed. Variation in the results was attributed to manual TLC plate spotting and not to the ionization source.
Wheat bran decreases prostate cancer in Tramp mice

3932 Dietary antioxidants have potential for preventing or reducing the incidence of several types of cancer. This dietary intervention study investigated a high-antioxidant variety of wheat bran fed to Tramp mice, an animal model of prostate cancer, for 20 weeks. The diets were isocaloric, contained equal amounts of fiber and equal amounts of nitrogen, with the vitamin and mineral mix comparable to the AIN 93G diet. Wheat bran was incorporated in dietary concentrations of 0, 8, 16, and 32%. The control (0%) group included 24 mice and each of the wheat bran groups was composed of 25 mice. There were no differences in terminal body weights or the weights of the entire male reproductive tract, prostate gland, kidneys, liver, brain, testes or testicular fat pad. Prostate tissue was graded on a scale from 1 to 6 (1=normal, 2=low grade prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia, 3=high grade prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia, 4=well-differentiated carcinoma, 5=moderately differentiated carcinoma, 6=poorly differentiated carcinoma). Cumulative tissue (tumor) scores ranged from 3.6 to 4.6, with the 16% wheat bran group having the lowest cumulative tumor score. The percentage of animals in each group with prostatic carcinomas ranged from 40 to 60%, with the 16% wheat bran group having the lowest percentage. In conclusion, the results of this study may lead to the development of wheat-containing products for human consumption which may contribute to a reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer. In subsequent investigations we plan to identify specific wheat bran antioxidants responsible for these results.
Suspended Matter and the Stability of the Water Column: Central Caribbean Sea

Total suspended matter, TSM, was measured in the water column at 4 stations in the central Caribbean Sea in relationship to the vertical profile of static stability. It is postulated that the several TSM maxima at depth are associated with zones of low turbulence, and the near-bottom nepheloid layer observed in many areas of the world ocean is a function of a near-bottom density increase coupled with a bottom shear capable of suspending fine sediment. The absence of one or both of these criteria explains the reported lack of a nepheloid layer in the Caribbean.
Analysis of Nrf2-Mediated Transcriptional Induction of Antioxidant Response in Early Embryos

Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates the induction of an expansive set of antioxidant proteins that act in synergy to remove reactive oxygen species (ROS). We have recently discovered that Nrf2 signaling is involved in the induction of antioxidant response in ethanol-exposed embryos. We have also demonstrated that chemically induced transcriptional activation of Nrf2 and subsequent induction of a broad spectrum of antioxidant proteins can act as an endogenous protective system against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in early mouse embryos. This chapter describes the methods used to analyze Nrf2-mediated transcriptional induction of antioxidant response in mouse embryos. Data which have been generated by using these methods have also been included to provide examples of their usefulness in evaluating Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response in early embryos.
Quasi-Diabatic Representation for Nonadiabatic Dynamics Propagation

We develop a nonadiabatic dynamics propagation scheme that allows interfacing diabatic quantum dynamics methods with commonly used adiabatic electronic structure calculations. This scheme uses adiabatic states as the quasi-diabatic (QD) states during a short-time quantum dynamics propagation. At every dynamical propagation step, these QD states are updated based on a new set of adiabatic basis. Using the partial linearized density matrix (PLDM) path-integral method as one specific example for diabatic dynamics approaches, we demonstrate the accuracy of the QD scheme with a wide range of model nonadiabatic systems as well as the on-the-fly propagations with density functional tight-binding (DFTB) calculations. This study opens the possibility to combine accurate diabatic quantum dynamics methods with adiabatic electronic structure calculations for nonadiabatic dynamics propagations.
Getting to the Point: Integrating Fast-Presentation Design in Kinesiology and Sport Management

ABSTRACTFast-presentation formats such as Ignite Talks, Data Blitzes, PechaKucha, and Speed Geeking can be an efficient and effective alternative to standard presentations given by students within a class. The limitations put on these style presentations, such as time or number of slides, can actually encourage creativity and getting students to focus on the important elements because of the restrictions. Motivating factors that led to the decision to integrate fast-presentation design into the curriculum were time efficiency along with student creativity with an authentic learning experience. By implementing fast-paced, succinct presentation formats, classes are able to provide a valuable learning process presented in a “concentrated” form, while meeting program goals and accreditation standards.There is a recognized pedagogical need for classes that have student presentations to provide opportunities for students to deliver professional presentations in a concise, impactful format. By doing presentation...
Effectiveness of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer in the Current Real World Setting in the USA.

Abstract Background The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before radical cystectomy (RC) is supported by results from several randomized control trials, including SWOG-8710. Objective To look at the effectiveness of NAC before RC in current real world practice in the USA. Design, setting, and participants We used the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to identify patients with nonmetastatic muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who underwent RC between 2004 and 2012. Intervention Receipt of NAC before RC. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were rates of complete pathologic response (pT0), positive pathologic lymph nodes (pN+), and margin status. Using a landmark analysis to adjust for an immortal-time bias, OS comparison was performed using Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, logistic regression models examining secondary outcomes were fitted. To adjust for potential selection bias, propensity score–weighted analyses were performed. Results and limitations Of 8732 patients who underwent RC, 1619 (19%) received NAC. Following propensity score adjustment, receipt of NAC was not associated with an OS benefit (hazard ratio 0.97; p = 0.591). On secondary outcome analysis, higher pT0 rates (odds ratio 5.03; p Conclusions Important baseline differences between patients from the SWOG-8710 trial and those in general urologic practice exist. After adjusting for immortal-time bias, we did not find a clear survival advantage of NAC before RC when compared to RC alone in current general urology practice in the USA. Patient summary The benefit of chemotherapy before radical cystectomy is supported by few randomized control trials. In this study, using a large national data set from the USA we found that preoperative chemotherapy is not associated with a survival benefit in all patients in general urology practice. Hence, better selection criteria are needed to determine who will benefit the most from chemotherapy before radical cystectomy.
Variability in Japanese (Discourse)

Despite the common stereotype of Japan being a homogenous country, considerable social and linguistic diversity exists. This article focuses on diversity in (spoken) Japanese. Extensive research has been conducted on Japanese linguistic diversity, although scholars often vary in their approaches (e.g., traditional dialectology, quantitative sociolinguistic study, and discourse analysis). This article reviews representative studies and discusses issues concerning Japanese linguistic variation as it relates to the following three aspects: (1) regional variation and standardization; (2) social identity (e.g., gender, age, class) and interspeaker variation; and (3) conversational context (e.g., interpersonal relationship, setting, speech act, genre) and intraspeaker variation.
Corneal function during normal and high serum glucose levels in diabetes.

PURPOSE. TO assess corneal structure and the effects of acute hyperglycemia on corneal function in subjects with type 1 diabetes. METHODS. Twenty-one diabetic and 21 nondiabetic volunteers of similar age were recruited. Baseline measurements of intraocular pressure GOP), corneal thickness (CT), corneal autofluorescence (CAF), corneal sensitivity (CST), central and temporal endothelial cell density (DenC and DenT), and coefficient of variation in cell area (CVC and CVT) were taken. Corneal edema was induced, and the percent recovery per hour (PRPH) from hypoxic edema and endothelial permeability to fluorescein were determined. These procedures were done twice in the diabetic subjects under controlled euglycemic (EG) and hyperglycemic (HG) conditions, and once in control subjects while they were fasting. RESULTS. Substantial differences in baseline measurements were found for IOP, CT, CAF, CST, DenC, and CVT. The mean ± SE corneal swelling in the HG diabetic subjects (51.6 ± 2.3 /u,m) was less when compared to the swelling in the EG diabetic subjects (56.2 ± 1.87 fim, P = 0.05) and the control subjects (58.9 ± 1.56 jam, P = 0.011). During euglycemia, the mean ± SE PRPH was less in diabetic subjects than in control subjects (65.0 ± 3.20 versus 73.8 ± 1.81%/hour, P = 0.02) but did not differ in diabetic subjects under EG and HG conditions (65.0 ± 3.20 versus 67.7 ± 3.1%/hour, P = 0.56). No significant differences were noted between groups in endothelial permeability. CONCLUSIONS. In addition to differences in baseline corneal structure, diabetic subjects showed less corneal swelling and reduced corneal recover)' from hypoxia than did control subjects. During acute hyperglycemia, corneal swelling was less than during euglycemia in diabetic subjects, which suggests that hyperglycemia affected corneal hydration control. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Set. 1998; 39:3-17)
Settlement and Communities

The daily lives of Hopewell people in the Scioto-Paint Creek area were spent largely individually or in small groups close to nature. Away from the great earthworks and burial mounds, in the deep forests on the terraces and bottomlands of the Scioto and Paint Creek valleys, small groups of one or two extended families built their homes and made their gardens in dispersed locations. Smaller portions of such a residential group hunted, gathered, grew crops, collected shellfish, and fished together in the main valleys and, at particular times of the year, made trips to the valley edges and up secondary streams to gather and hunt wild foods. Sometimes, a part or all of a residential group might move to these more remote settings for a harvesting period.
Spatial Stochastic Processes: Terminology and General Properties

In this chapter I discuss in general terms the formal mathematical and statistical background for the estimation and testing of spatial econometric models. Even though this material is highly abstract, I will keep the treatment rather informal. An in-depth discussion of the various definitions, theorems and proofs would clearly be beyond the scope of this book. Since the relevant theoretical literature is extensive, a main motivation for this chapter is to bring together some important results that have been presented in a variety of sources.
Lipid Peroxidation: The Role of Hepatic FAD-Monooxygenase

Lipid peroxidation is a process which occurs in biological membranes, and which has been implicated in many instances of in vitro and in vivo damage.1 The hepatic microsomal fraction is known to readily undergo lipid peroxidation. Extensive research has been conducted to attempt to clarify this process which has been shown to involve the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 mixed function oxidase system. In this review we will discuss the properties of another hepatic microsomal enzyme, FAD*-containing monooxygenase. In addition we will summarize the peroxidative mechanism as it is currently understood and present evidence that FAD-containing monooxygenase is involved in the lipid peroxidation of hepatic microsomes.
En Face Imaging of Geographic Atrophy Using Different Swept-Source OCT Scan Patterns.

Purpose Different swept-source (SS) OCT scan patterns were used to image geographic atrophy (GA) to determine if they provided similar area and enlargement measurements in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Prospective, observational case series. Participants Patients with GA secondary to nonexudative AMD. Methods Patients were imaged using SS OCT (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), with follow-up imaging performed after 6 months and 1 year. Both the 6×6 mm and 12×12 mm scan patterns were obtained at each visit. Area measurements of GA were obtained from the en face images generated from a slab with boundaries extending 64 to 400 μm beneath Bruch’s membrane. Main Outcome Measures Comparison of area measurements and enlargement rates (ERs) measurements between the 6×6 mm and 12×12 mm scan patterns. Results Thirty-two eyes of 25 patients with GA secondary to nonexudative AMD were enrolled. The mean lesion area measurements at baseline were 3.81 mm2 for the 6×6 mm scan and 3.75 mm2 for the 12×12 mm scan. At baseline and over 1 year, the lesion area measurements between the 6×6 mm and the 12×12 mm scan patterns were comparable for all eyes (0.04 mm2; P Conclusions Both the 6×6 mm and the 12×12 mm scan patterns resulted in similar area and ER measurements for GA when visualized using the en face images. With the 12×12 mm scan pattern, which represents a 40° field of view (FOV), the measurement of GA using OCT en face imaging is no longer limited by the 6×6 mm FOV. Since macular GA can extend beyond the 6×6 mm FOV, the 12×12 mm FOV can now image all macular GA. With a FOV now similar to autofluorescence and color fundus imaging, SS OCT imaging can be used as the sole imaging method for the detection, measurement, and ER assessment of all GA associated with AMD in clinical practice and in clinical trials.
Blowing in the wind: Increasing social presence with a virtual human via environmental airflow interaction in mixed reality

Abstract In this paper, we describe two human-subject studies in which we explored and investigated the effects of subtle multimodal interaction on social presence with a virtual human (VH) in mixed reality (MR). In the studies, participants interacted with a VH, which was co-located with them across a table, with two different platforms: a projection based MR environment and an optical see-through head-mounted display (OST-HMD) based MR environment. While the two studies were not intended to be directly comparable, the second study with an OST-HMD was carefully designed based on the insights and lessons learned from the first projection-based study. For both studies, we compared two levels of gradually increased multimodal interaction: (i) virtual objects being affected by real airflow (e.g., as commonly experienced with fans during warm weather), and (ii) a VH showing awareness of this airflow. We hypothesized that our two levels of treatment would increase the sense of being together with the VH gradually, i.e., participants would report higher social presence with airflow influence than without it, and the social presence would be even higher when the VH showed awareness of the airflow. We observed an increased social presence in the second study when both physical–virtual interaction via airflow and VH awareness behaviors were present, but we observed no clear difference in participant-reported social presence with the VH in the first study. As the considered environmental factors are incidental to the direct interaction with the real human, i.e., they are not significant or necessary for the interaction task, they can provide a reasonably generalizable approach to increase social presence in HMD-based MR environments beyond the specific scenario and environment described here.
Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Social Upheaval, by Saidiya Hartman

The title of the final chapter of Saidiya Hartman’s newest book declares “The chorus opens the way” (Wayward 345). The chorus is Hartman’s name for the collective voice of the black, female, queer ...
Restoring Culture and History in Outdoor Education Research: Dewey's Theory of Experience as a Methodology.

Dewey’s (1938) theory of experience involved the use of history as “a potent agent in appreciation of the living present” (p. 23). Dewey meant his statement as an educational prescription, but it also has significant research implications. These implications can be understood in terms of studying the history of a topic versus using history in research on outdoor education (Weatherbee, 2012). The article first uses the example of experiential learning to illustrate the importance of using history in research for understanding core concepts. The article then discusses Dewey’s principles of continuity and interaction to show how time functions in a more expansive way in experience than commonly recognized and how it might guide research design. Experience therefore provides a set of historically reflexive guidelines for researchers concerned with the relationships between cultural and psychological processes in outdoor education. Subscribe to JOREL
The effect of sleep quality, sleep components, and environmental sleep factors on core curriculum exam scores among pharmacy students

Abstract Introduction Sleep deprivation is associated with poor academic performance, although the impact on pharmacy students has been minimally reported. This study examined sleep quality in pharmacy students in the first (P1), second (P2), and third (P3) professional years during perceived low and high stress periods in a course. Individual sleep and environmental factors were also explored. Methods This prospective cohort study used an 18-item survey adapted from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) that included demographics, individual sleep components, and factors affecting sleep. Surveys were administered at the beginning of the quarter (low stress) and the week before final exams (high stress). Chi-square tests compared categorical variables; ANOVA/ANCOVA tests compared continuous variables. Results During high stress, PSQI scores worsened among all classes and was significant for the P3s. Average sleep duration was 6.64 (SD 1.18) and 6.8 (SD 1.18) hours per night for P1s and P3s, respectively, at the beginning of the quarter; both groups had significant reduction in sleep duration at the end of the quarter. There were no significant correlations between PSQI and exam scores. Factors impacting sleep such as exercise, use of technology at bedtime, and work hours outside of school decreased during high times of stress, for P1s, P2s, and P3, respectively. Conclusions Students demonstrated worsening sleep quality during high stress periods and less sleep than recommended. Academic performance was not adversely affected. Future research should use sleep logs and other performance measures to determine the impact of sleep quality on academic success and wellbeing.
Fundamental Issues in Strategy: Time to Reassess?

The field of strategic management has developed with an implicit assumption that market economies are structurally more or less similar. In the past 30 years, though, the global economy has evolved. The Soviet Union collapsed, market-based orthodoxy spread, and now China is ascendant. These developments require changing our mental models from the Cold War era, in which two economic blocs were quite distinct, to a bifurcated global economy of two engaged but incompatible systems: one side favoring transparency and the rule of law and the other side favoring opaqueness and strategic direction of the economy by government. China's government uses a wide range of policies to support the development of domestic firms while hindering the activities of competitors from abroad and, directly or indirectly, misappropriating their technology when they can do so, which is often. To cope with this situation â€” as well as with political uncertainty elsewhere in the world â€” firms need to develop strong dynamic capabilities for formulating viable strategies to create and capture value under potentially adverse and volatile conditions, and to shape the business environment in more favorable ways through market and non-market activity.
Use of electron microscopy to study platelets and thrombi.

Electron microscopy has been a valuable tool for the study of platelet biology and thrombosis for more than 70 years. Early studies using conventional transmission and scanning electron microscopy ...
Rethinking Counterplans: A Reconciliation with Debate Theory

This article attempts to integrate thinking about counterplans with general debate theory. Issues in counterplan debates are examined by extending analysis of the affirmative's obligations, leading...
Optimal Power Flow Models With Probabilistic Guarantees: A Boolean Approach

The legacy Optimal Power Flow (OPF) dispatch in electric power grids with high proliferation of renewables can be at risk due to the lack of awareness on major uncertainties, and sudden changes in renewable outputs. This may, in turn, result in conditions where transmission line power flows are significantly exceeded, and subsequent automatic protective actions take place. This letter presents a new generalized joint chance-constrained model for the OPF problem that effectively captures the stochasticity in renewable power generation in the system. In dealing with the complexity, and non-convexity of the proposed optimization model with probabilistic guarantees, we propose a novel tractable Boolean method to transform the model into an equivalent deterministic mixed-integer linear problem, which can be solved quickly, and efficiently by off-the-shelf solvers. Numerical results verify the effectiveness of the proposed model, and the suggested Boolean methodology.
Comment on "Recent global decline of CO2 fertilization effects on vegetation photosynthesis".

Wang et al. (Science 370, 1295–1300, 2020) report a significant decline in CO$_2$ fertilization effects using photosynthesis proxies from long-term satellite records. We find that small systematic biases in AVHRR data impact their analysis to the degree that the key finding is not robust.
Queerness, sounded: autoethnographic aurality

Grounded in queer/quare autoethnography, this essay examines the value of sound that points to the social, the cultural, the political, and the historical through the subjectivities of the coauthor...
Prediction of Survival in Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a highly aggressive endocrine malignancy, very rare, with an overall low incidence rate of 1-2 per million and poor prognosis [1]. Unfortunately, by the time most ...
Cation Exchange in Blood, Brain and CSF

Publisher Summary In the presence of marked changes in serum and body electrolytes the constancy of brain and CSF cations, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg), has been repeatedly confirmed. In the case of these cations, one factor in maintenance of the brain level may be the slowness of exchange across the blood-brain barrier. The paper mentions about flux coefficient, transport coefficient plasma to ventricle, Isotopic fluxes, flux of parent species. The chapter thus set down in a formal way the simple equations describing isotopic flux during ventriculocisternal perfusion experiments and to relate these equations to the measurement of flux of the parent cation. The effect of variation in cation concentration upon cation flux has been measured. The present evidence suggests that K, Ca, and Mg are cleared from the ventriculocisternal system by a concentration dependent system consistent with simple diffusion. In contrast, the flux from plasma to ventricle is largely concentration independent, presumably involving a carrier-mediated transport system. This asymmetry indicates that the blood-CSF barrier is not a single membrane system. Instead, there may be membranes with different properties which are in series. Alternatively, influx and efflux of cations may occur at separate sites.
p38? MAP kinase protects rat mesangial cells from TNF-?-induced apoptosis

p38 MAP kinases (p38) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNK) have been associated with TNF-α-induced apoptosis. However, recent studies indicate that an early but brief activation of JNK and/or p38 may actually protect some cells from TNF-α-induced apoptosis. Whether the activation of JNK and p38 provides a pro- or anti-apoptotic signal for TNF-α has been controversial. In this study, we investigated the role of p38 in the regulation of TNF-α cytotoxicity in rat mesangial cells. Treatment of the cells with TNF-α alone had little effect on their viability, but they became very sensitive to apoptosis when treated with TNF-α in the presence of the p38 inhibitor SB 203580. These results suggested that the p38 pathway is critical for mesangial cells to survive the toxic effect of TNF-α. Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer technique, we further demonstrated that p38β, but not p38α, is essential to protect the cells from TNF-α toxicity. It has been speculated that there is a synergetic interaction between the p38 and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways in protecting certain cells from apoptosis. However, expression of neither p38β nor its dominant negative mutant in mesangial cells interfered with TNF-α-induced translocation of NF-κB, the initial step of NF-κB activation. While it is unclear whether p38β regulates NF-κB transcription activity at other steps, it is apparent that p38β does not affect TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation at the stage of nuclear translocation. J. Cell. Biochem. 82: 556–565, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An overlapping Yee finite-difference time-domain method for material interfaces between anisotropic dielectrics and general dispersive or perfect electric conductor media

SUMMARY A novel stable anisotropic finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm based on the overlapping cells is developed for solving Maxwell's equations of electrodynamics in anisotropic media with interfaces between different types of materials, such as the interface between anisotropic dielectrics and dispersive medium or perfect electric conductor (PEC). The previous proposed conventional anisotropic FDTD methods suffer from the late-time instability due to the extrapolation of the field components near the material interface. The proposed anisotropic overlapping Yee FDTD method is stable, as it relies on the overlapping cells to provide the collocated field values without any interpolation or extrapolation. Our method has been applied to simulate electromagnetic invisibility cloaking devices with both anisotropic dielectrics and PEC included in the computational domain. Numerical results and eigenvalue analysis confirm that the conventional anisotropic FDTD method is weakly unstable, whereas our method is stable. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Health Care Reform, 2015

It's five years from now. Health-care reform has been fully implemented (and no, not repealed). What will be working? What won't be? What will the next debates entail? If you thought this health-care debate was ferocious, wait until you see the next one, when Congress will have to deal with some of the tough questions it put off this time.
Combustion Analysis of Esters of Soybean Oil in a Diesel Engine

The alkyl esters of plant oils and animal fats are receiving increasing attention as renewable fuels for diesel engines. These esters have come to be known as biodiesel. One objection to the use of the methyl and ethyl esters of soybean oil as a fuel in diesel engines is their high crystallization temperature. One solution to this problem is to use the isopropyl esters of soybean oil which have significantly lower crystallization temperatures. Another method to improve the cold flow properties of esters is to winterize them to subambient temperature. This is accomplished by cooling the esters and filtering out the components that crystallize most readily. Previous work has shown that when methyl, isopropyl and winterized ester blends were compared with No. 2 diesel fuel, the isopropyl and winterized methyl esters had at least the same emission reduction potential as the methyl esters, with similar engine performance. This paper discusses those results using heat release analysis that shows all of the blends have shorter ignition delays, and lower premixed burn fractions than No. 2 diesel fuel. All tested fuels except the isopropyl ester blends had similar combustion behavior. However, blends with isopropyl ester showed some abnormal combustion behavior, possibly duemore » to high levels of monoglycerides.« less
BSDEs, c\`adl\`ag martingale problems and mean-variance hedging under basis risk

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new formalism for the deterministic analysis associated with backward stochastic differential equations driven by general c{\`a}dl{\`a}g martingales. When the martingale is a standard Brownian motion, the natural deterministic analysis is provided by the solution of a semilinear PDE of parabolic type. A significant application concerns the hedging problem under basis risk of a contingent claim $g(X\_T,S\_T)$, where $S$ (resp. $X$) is an underlying price of a traded (resp. non-traded but observable) asset, via the celebrated F{\"o}llmer-Schweizer decomposition. We revisit the case when the couple of price processes $(X,S)$ is a diffusion and we provide explicit expressions when $(X,S)$ is an exponential of additive processes.
Specificities of Prostaglandins B1, F1α, and F2α Antigen-Antibody Reactions

Antibodies to prostaglandins B1, F1α, and F2α recognize structural changes on the cyclopentane ring and, in part, the degree of saturation of the C5—C6 bond. Structural modifications in these two parts of the molecule are also known to be responsible for the varying physiological functions of the prostaglandins. The antiprostaglandins F1α and F2α distinguish the homologous prostaglandins from prostaglandins F1β and F2β in which the hydroxyl group on C11 is trans to the hydroxyl group on C9. The position of the double bond in the cyclopentane ring is also recognized by antibodies, suggesting that prostaglandins E and A in biological fluids may be estimated in terms of generated prostaglandin B by assay before and after base-catalyzed conversion of prostaglandin E, or prostaglandin A to prostaglandin B, or both.
DITERMINAL OXIDATION OF LONG-CHAIN ALKANES BY BACTERIA

Kester, A. S. (The University of Texas, Austin) and J. W. Foster. Diterminal oxidation of long-chain alkanes by bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 85:859–869. 1963.—A corynebacterial organism capable of growing in mineral salts with individual pure alkanes as carbon sources produces a series of acids from the C10-C14 alkanes. They have been isolated in pure form and identified as monoic, ω-hydroxy monoic, and dioic acids containing the same number of carbon atoms as the substrate alkane. Oxidation took place at both terminal methyl groups—“diterminal oxidation.” Appropriate labeling experiments indicate that omega oxidation of fatty acids occurs in this organism and that an oxygenation with O2 occurs. Images
Modelling of Structure Formation and Mechanical Stresses during Growth of Vapor Deposited Amorphous Thin Films

Independent of the details of the applied materials system, the growth of amorphous thin films can be characterized in dependence of the film thickness by the presence of a strong structure formation and intrinsic mechanical growth stresses. After substrate dependent early stages, film growth in the medium film thickness regime (typ. 100nm) is smooth under continuous evolution of compressive stresses. In the late stages of growth, the films roughen markedly, accompanied by strong tensile stresses. Using systematically varied film preparation parameters, it is possible to identify the main atomic processes for the mesoscopic structure formation and the macroscopic growth stresses, and to correlate both ascpects. In the framework of continuum growth models, assuming surface diffusion, self shadowing and hill coalescence as main processes on an atomic level, even a quantitative understanding of structure formation and tensile stresses in the high film thickness regime is possible. A surface reconstruction mechanism is able to explain compressive stresses in the medium film thickness regime.
Doing Life Is That Which We Must Think

Declaration of belief: Performance Philosophers seek to think anew, not only for the fun of it but also to destroy (or at least artfully ignore) the well-tended perception that thinking must unfold in a certain way, through specific channels, and with the legitimacy bequeathed to thought (i.e., commodified thought; a kind of thought that might be trademarked) through validated keywords and slogans. For these reasons, Performance Philosophers seek to think the doing of life, with the expectation that to do so would mean to live a life worthy of the name. This manifesto elaborates on these claims and calls for the creation of an Invisible College through which we might express the potential of performance philosophy.
Discovery of Novel Targets for Aberrant Methylation in Pancreatic Carcinoma Using High-Throughput Microarrays

To identify potential targets for aberrant methylation in pancreatic cancer, we analyzed global changes in gene expression profiles of four pancreatic cancer cell lines after treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5Aza-dC) and/or the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. A substantial number of genes were induced 5-fold or greater by 5Aza-dC alone (631 transcripts), trichostatin A alone (1196 transcripts), and by treatment with both agents (857 transcripts). Four hundred and seventy-five genes were markedly (>5-fold) induced after 5Aza-dC treatment in pancreatic cancer cell lines but not in a nonneoplastic pancreatic epithelial cell line. The methylation status of 11 of these 475 genes was examined in a panel of 42 pancreatic cancers, and all 11 of these genes were aberrantly methylated in pancreatic cancer but rarely, if any, methylated in 10 normal pancreatic ductal epithelia. These genes include UCHL1 (methylated in 100% of 42 pancreatic cancers), NPTX2 (98%), SARP2 (95%), CLDN5 (93%), reprimo (86%), LHX1 (76%), WNT7A (71%), FOXE1 (69%), TJP2 (64%), CDH3 (19%), and ST14 (10%). Three of these 11 genes (NPTX2, SARP2, and CLDN5) were selected for further analysis in a larger panel of specimens, and aberrant methylation of at least one of these three genes was detectable in 100% of 43 primary pancreatic cancers and in 18 of 24 (75%) pancreatic juice samples obtained from patients with pancreatic cancer. Thus, a substantial number of genes are induced by 5Aza-dC treatment of pancreatic cancer cells, and many of them may represent novel targets for aberrant methylation in pancreatic carcinoma.
Heat Transfer Enhancement of Steam Reformation by Passive Flow Disturbance Inside the Catalyst Bed

Because of the potential for high efficiency and low emissions, hydrogen powered systems are considered to be the next generation power source for both stationary and transportation applications. Providing a hydrogen source is a critical challenge. Steam reforming processes are demonstrated for producing hydrogen for fuel cell and other applications. Generating hydrogen via steam reformation requires that heat energy be transferred to the reactants to support the endothermic reaction. For a cylindrical steam-reforming reactor, large thermal gradients between the heat source (reactor wall) and reactor centerline create a nonideal condition for complete conversion. This gradient is caused by insufficient heat transfer inside the catalyst bed. Passive flow disturbance inside the catalyst bed is a potential method to enhance the heat and mass transfer in the steam-reforming process. This paper presents experimental research that investigates the effect of changing the flow pathway inside the reactor to improve the heat and mass transfer and thus enhance fuel conversion. Based on the experimental results, a 14% increase of methanol fuel conversion was achieved via the passive flow disturbance enhancement. The tradeoff was an extra pressure drop of 2.5 kPa across the reactor. A 30 h experimental run does not show a significant change in degradation rate for the passive flow disturbance. The results of this study contribute to the improvement of reformer design for better fuel processing system performance.
The First Annual Conference for In Vitro Fertilization Nurse Coordinators

The First Annual Conference for in Vitro Fertilizat ion ( IVF) N u r s e C o o r d i n a t o r s , s p o n s o r e d by Serono Symposia USA and Baylor College of Medicine, was held March 21-23 , 1986, in Hous ton , Texas. The objectives of this program were to update the nurses ' knowledge of IVF technology, to provide utilization tools that maximize the administ ra t ive ro le o f the IVF nur se c o o r d i n a t o r , to broaden the nurses" understanding of the problems of the infertile couple, to improve counseling skills, and to form a ne twork of communica t ion among IVF nurse coordinators. Approximately 150 people at tended the conference. The group consisted primarily of IVF nurses.
Stress differentially modulates mRNA expression for corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptors in hypothalamus, hippocampus and pituitary of prairie voles.

This study compares the effect of an acute stressor (restraint for 1 h) versus a chronic stressor (social isolation for 4 weeks) on the expression of mRNAs for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptor type 1 (CRH-R1) and type 2 (CRH-R2) in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and pituitary of socially monogamous female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Animals were studied immediately following a stressor or as a function of repairing with a familiar sibling. Despite elevated expression of CRH mRNA, no alteration of CRH-R1 mRNA in the hypothalamus was observed following restraint stress or 4 weeks of social isolation. Hypothalamic CRH-R2 mRNA was significantly lower in voles exposed to restraint or isolation. CRH-R2 mRNA also remained down-regulated in isolated animals when these animals were re-paired with their sibling for one day following 28 days of isolation. Restraint, but not isolation, significantly increased CRH-R1 mRNA and decreased CRH-R2 mRNA in the pituitary. However, these differences were no longer observed when these animals were re-paired with their sibling for one day. Despite elevated CRH mRNA expression, CRH-R1 mRNA did not increase in the hippocampus following restraint or social isolation. Social isolation, but not restraint stress, increased CRH-R2 mRNA in the hippocampus, when these animals were re-paired with their sibling for one day the modulation of CRH mRNA remained up-regulated. Plasma corticosterone was elevated only following restraint, and not in animals that were handled, isolated or re-paired. The results of the present study reveal that acute restraint as well as social isolation can have significant consequences for the modulation of gene expression for the CRH receptors in brain and pituitary of prairie voles.
Age-related differences in the sensitivity of rats to a selective sigma ligand

Abstract Differences in sigma binding parameters and behavioral responses to injections of a selective sigma ligand were found in adult rats of different ages. Middle-aged rats (5–6 months old) had fewer sigma binding sites and sites with lower affinity for [ 3 H ]di-o- tolylguanidine than young adult animals (2–3 months old). The older animals also exhibited a decreased behavioral response to the selective sigma ligand, di- o -tolyguanidine (DTG). Unilateral microinjection of DTG into the substantia nigra of rats produced fewer net contralateral turns in middle-aged animals, compared to younger rats. Likewise, the postural changes produced by unilateral microinjection of DTG into the red nucleus were less pronounced in the older animals. These data suggest that changes in the number and affinity of sigma binding sites may affect movement and posture as an organism ages.
Characteristics of luciferases from a variety of firefly species: Evidence for the presence of luciferase isozymes

Abstract The properties of luciferases from five species of adult fireflies have been compared. The pI values as determined by isoelectric focusing are essentially the same for all five enzymes. All of the enzymes are inhibited to a comparable extent by antibody raised against the enzyme from Photinus pyralis . These experiments suggest that the enzyme found in various adult species is similar. An isozyme of luciferase, distinct from the adult form, exists in the larval stage of the firefly, Photuris pennsylvanica . Michaelis constants, pH profiles, and molecular weights are similar for larval and adult luciferases. However, the isoelectric points and the antigenicity of the larval and adult luciferases are significantly different.
Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage secondary to haptic-induced chafing.

Abstract Case report: After cataract extraction and placement of a posterior chamber intraocular lens, a 70-year-old man had 5 vitreous hemorrhages over 3 years. Iris transillumination defects and apposition of the nasal haptic and ciliary body were found. Comments: Iris chafing is a rare complication of cataract extraction. Vitreous hemorrhage presumably resulted from iris erosion caused by the IOL haptic.
REBL nanowriter: Reflective Electron Beam Lithography

REBL (Reflective Electron Beam Lithography) is being developed for high throughput electron beam direct write maskless lithography. The system is specifically targeting 5 to 7 wafer levels per hour throughput on average at the 45 nm node, with extendibility to the 32 nm node and beyond. REBL incorporates a number of novel technologies to generate and expose lithographic patterns at estimated throughputs considerably higher than electron beam lithography has been able to achieve as yet. A patented reflective electron optic concept enables the unique approach utilized for the Digital Pattern Generator (DPG). The DPG is a CMOS ASIC chip with an array of small, independently controllable cells or pixels, which act as an array of electron mirrors. In this way, the system is capable of generating the pattern to be written using massively parallel exposure by ~1 million beams at extremely high data rates (~ 1Tbps). A rotary stage concept using a rotating platen carrying multiple wafers optimizes the writing strategy of the DPG to achieve the capability of high throughput for sparse pattern wafer levels. The exposure method utilized by the DPG was emulated on a Vistec VB-6 in order to validate the gray level exposure method used in REBL. Results of these exposure tests are discussed.
Paramagnetic resonances of Cu++:MgO at 1.2°K

Abstract Experimental data show that the ground state of Cu ++ : MgO at 1.2°K is a Kramers quarter of states, which are believed to arise from inversion between equivalent Jahn-Teller distortions.
Unmade in China: Reassembling the Ethnic on the Gansu–Tibetan Border

AbstractThis essay articulates an actor–network theory (ANT) inspired approach to the analysis of emergent arrangements of human difference in contemporary northwest China. Drawing inspiration from Law's work on method and Latour's program for reassembling the social, it enacts human difference as a fluid object in which every element is potentially situationally inessential. Moving beyond the focus on ‘ethnic’ (minzu) categories of much recent work on minority areas of China, it employs an inductive associographic method in order to provisionally disarticulate and reassemble the ‘units of common participation’ in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Ultimately, it both makes a case for the usefulness of after-ANT modes of description for work on classical (i.e. non-Science, Technology, and Society-derived) anthropological topics and pushes anthropologists of human difference in China and beyond to pay attention to the ways in which the shapes of their tools may affect the shapes of their projects.
The biblio-profile—a two-in-one package of information: Its preparation, production, marketing, uses

This paper describes the Biblio-Profile, which is a brief state-of-the-art report on a specific topic followed by a comprehensive bibliography. The Biblio-Profile was devised as a combination package to meet varying information needs. The profile part of the package provides a brief introduction to a field, a brief assessment of the state of research on a specific topic, and an indication where gaps in knowledge exist; the comprehensive bibliography may contain both current and older, classic citations. An information package of this type has other features as well. For example, with small modification, the profile can be recorded on audio-tape for use in a dial-access information system where message length is brief. The companion bibliography can be mailed to any-one who requests this supplementary information. Biblio-Profiles also have the added advantage of being separates so that they can be published quickly; they do not require page charges; and they provide recognition for authors. However, they require marketing and promotion since no encompassing medium, such as a journal, carries them. Publication of Biblio-Profiles in a journal is, however, certainly possible. The preparation, production, marketing and potential uses of this multi-purpose document are described in this article. The Information Center's experience in user acceptance and sales of this kind of document is discussed and compared with the Center's bibliographies.