cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Professional Consumer Perceptions about Thermally Modified Wood

Thermal modification of wood is a chemical-free treatment that results in improved durability, enhanced dimensional stability, and a change in color throughout the entire thickness of the wood. Thermally Modified Wood (TMW) provides an opportunity for sustainable and value-added uses for timber resources that are underutilized or affected by disease or pests. TMW has commercial success in Europe, but it is in the early stages of market adoption in the United States. The main goal of this research was to identify the challenges and opportunities for TMW in the U.S. by investigating professional adopters’ perceptions of various decking materials, including thermally modified wood. In-person and online surveys were conducted for this purpose. Participants perceived that the most favorable attributes of TMW are Durability, Environmental Performance, and Aesthetics. Professional users of decking materials also considered the Cost of TMW to be relatively high, but competitive with that of tropical hardwoods and wood-plastic composites. A block of conjoint analysis questions helped to uncover the target audience’s priorities and tradeoffs that they are willing to make between the different product attributes. Results from this research are useful to inform the formulation of effective marketing strategies.
Barbital Overdose and Abuse: A New Problem

Bailey, David N., and Jatlow, Peter I.: Barbital overdose and abuse. A new problem. Am J Clin Pathol 64:291-296, 1975. The unusual epidemiology and toxicology of barbital overdose and abuse are demonstrated by eight recent cases. Since barbital is used primarily in laboratory buffers and is not available as a prescription or over-the-counter drug in the United States, barbital overdose and abuse have until recently been rare. In several instances the barbital was stolen from a clinical or research laboratory. Serum concentrations were often "astronomically" high compared with those of other barbiturates, including phenobarbital. Concentrations severalfold greater than would be considered lethal for other barbiturates were consistent with survival, and all patients, including one with a serum concentration of 120.2 mg per dl. (higher than any previously reported), recovered with only conservative therapy (no peritoneal or hemodialysis). Patients could be awakened when the concentration was less than 16.0 mg per dl. Serum barbiturate concentrations greater than 20.0 mg. per dl. in a living patient should warrant serious consideration of barbital ingestion. In addition to the eight overdoses, 16 abusers of barbital were detected during 1974 by drug-abuse screening of urine.
Hyaluronic acid injections for osteoarthritis of the knee: predictors of successful treatment.

This study aimed to identify patient and treatment factors that predict a favourable response to intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) treatment to better guide patient and treatment selection. This prospective, observational study evaluated patients with mild-to-moderate (Kellgren–Lawrence grades 1–3) primary knee osteoarthritis treated between March 2013 and May 2016. Patient function and pain scores were assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index/Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (WOMAC/KOOS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) surveys, with response to treatment defined according to the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) 2004 criteria. Surveys were completed at each injection and three months post-treatment. Patients were followed an average of 27 months. Of 102 patients, 57% had a positive response. Those at least twice as likely to respond were patients with grades 1–2 osteoarthritis or a positive response to the first injection and those who were ≥60 years. Gender, race, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, HA brand, and initial VAS and WOMAC/KOOS scores were not significant predictors of success. Mean time to arthroplasty following injection series was 11 months (30% of nonresponders, 12% of responders). The VAS strongly correlated with KOOS pain scores and successful outcomes. Patients with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis (grades 1–2) and those responding positively to the first injection were twice as likely to respond positively to the injection series, as were patients ≥60 years. Patients who did not respond positively were more likely to proceed to arthroplasty. The VAS appears to be a reliable method of defining and monitoring treatment success. Judicious patient selection and counseling may improve outcomes associated with intra-articular HA injections.
Interview: The Importance of Investigation: An Interview With Jack Sava, MD

An interview with Jack Sava, MD, general surgery residency program director and chief of trauma surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Usage of a Digital Health Workplace Intervention Based on Socioeconomic Environment and Race: Retrospective Secondary Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Digital health tools have been associated with improvement of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and outcomes; however, the differential use of these technologies among various ethnic and economic classes is not well known. Objective: To identify the effect of socioeconomic environment on usage of a digital health intervention. Methods: A retrospective secondary cross-sectional analysis of a workplace digital health tool use, in association with a change in intermediate markers of CVD, was undertaken over the course of one year in 26,188 participants in a work health program across 81 organizations in 42 American states between 2011 and 2014. Baseline demographic data for participants included age, sex, race, home zip code, weight, height, blood pressure, glucose, lipids, and hemoglobin A1c. Follow-up data was then obtained in 90-day increments for up to one year. Using publicly available data from the American Community Survey, we obtained the median income for each zip code as a marker for socioeconomic status via median household income. Digital health intervention usage was analyzed based on socioeconomic status as well as age, gender, and race. Results: The cohort was found to represent a wide sample of socioeconomic environments from a median income of US $11,000 to $171,000. As a whole, doubling of income was associated with 7.6% increase in log-in frequency. However, there were marked differences between races. Black participants showed a 40.5% increase and Hispanic participants showed a 57.8% increase in use with a doubling of income, compared to 3% for Caucasian participants. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that socioeconomic data confirms no relevant relationship between socioeconomic environment and digital health intervention usage for Caucasian users. However, a strong relationship is present for black and Hispanic users. Thus, socioeconomic environment plays a prominent role only in minority groups that represent a high-risk group for CVD. This finding identifies a need for digital health apps that are effective in these high-risk groups. [J Med Internet Res 2018;20(4):e145]
Clinical Management of Children with Brain Disorders

Children with organic brain disorders are at risk of developing behavioral problems, being especially vulnerable in their personal, social, and educational lives. While a typical pattern of associated behavior problems in the brain-damaged child cannot be described, certain behaviors in combination are highly suggestive of brain damage.
Negotiating a Contract

The purpose of the clinical trial agreement (CTA) or contract is to set forth and manage the responsibilities and relationships between the sponsor, site, and/or the institution for the conduct of the clinical research trial. Responsibilities of the site include maintaining staff certifications and documentation, agreeing to follow the details of the protocol, obtaining appropriate subject consent, and providing all needed documents to the institutional review boards (IRB). The contract sets out the specifics of the compensation and schedule of payments. Other clauses address the investigational product, use of equipment, and audit procedures.
Anger: Scary Good

AbstractI argue that recent attempts to vindicate blame have failed to fully face the vengeful feelings and angry outbursts that have led to scepticism about blame’s ethical status. This paper ende...
Visible-light optical coherence tomography-based multimodal system for quantitative fundus autofluorescence imaging.

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging is commonly used in ophthalmic clinics for diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases. Lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), with A2E as its mo...
Muslim Womanhood, Education, and Empowerment: Ethnographic Reflections from Pakistan and India.

In contemporary times, the status of Muslim women has become a lens to approach and engage with Muslim societies. Embedded in these narratives is an image of Muslim women as oppressed victims of th...
Guided Cognition: A New Approach to Designing Effective Homework

Abstract Chapter 2 defines Guided Cognition design. We explain the Guided Cognition experimental paradigm and tell how we identified learning behaviors, which we are calling “cognitive events,” to use in homework questions and tasks. We show how some of the cognitive events can enrich homework questions (or other forms of unsupervised individual learning) so that the homework has some of the qualities of supervised group learning. We give examples of cognitive events that were identified in supervised group learning, and we show examples of how they can be incorporated into unsupervised individual learning (including homework). We define content-focused cognitive events and also define process-focused cognitive events, and we relate them to research literature.
Conch Fritters Through Time: Human Predation and Population Demographics of Lobatus Gigas on San Salvador Island, the Bahamas

Lobatus gigas, the queen conch, is a central component of Caribbean cuisine but over-fishing of juveniles has threatened the stability of wild populations. Strombid gastropods, upon reaching sexual maturity, cease growing along the shell length axis and continue growing in width via a flared and thickened shell lip. This morphology serves as a useful indicator of an individual's sexual maturity. Here we examine temporal trends in population demographics, size, and morphology of harvested L. gigas individuals over the last ∼1 ky from San Salvador Island, the Bahamas to quantify the dynamics of human-induced stress on the local queen conch fishery. We collected 284 human-harvested individuals from shell middens at seven localities, measured seven morphological variables, and classified the specimens as either adult or juvenile. We randomly selected 64 of these shells for rapid AMS radiocarbon dating in order to establish three geochronological bins: Lucayan (Pre-European invasion, 1492 CE), Modern (∼102 y), and Global (∼101 y). The proportion of juveniles harvested increased significantly from 47% (Lucayan) to 61% (Modern) to 68% (Global) suggesting increasing pressure on the fishery through time. Patterns in body size and morphology diverge between adults and juveniles and are likely the result of an increase in the proportion of harvested juveniles, the selection of smaller juveniles through time, and possibly changes in fishing methods. This size selective predation did not result in the suppression of adult body size as found in other studies. Geohistorical data, such as these, are vital for providing long term ecological context for addressing anthropogenic ecological degradation and are central to the conservation paleobiology approach.
Super-Resolution PET Using A Very Deep Convolutional Neural Network

The quantitative accuracy of PET is degraded by partial volume effects caused by the limited spatial resolution capabilities of PET scanners. In this paper, we present a resolution recovery technique for PET based on a very deep super-resolution convolutional neural network (VDSRCNN). Our network incorporates high-resolution anatomical information to assist the deblurring process. It introduces the spatial location information of the input image patches to accommodate the spatially-variant nature of the blur kernels in PET. To validate this method, we have performed realistic simulations using the BrainWeb digital phantom. We compared our results with existing PET image deblurring approaches based on a total variation penalty function and an anatomical joint entropy prior function. Our results show that VDSRCNN leads to superior performance relative to the two reference approaches both qualitatively (e.g. edge recovery) and quantitatively (as indicated by two metrics: peak signal-to-noise-ratio and structural similarity index).
Comparing Ideologies: Al Muhajiroun, Al Qaeda, and Islamic State

There is often conflation and misinformation regarding the ideologies of extremist groups. All of the major groups call for the reestablishment of the Khilafah (Caliphate) and implementation of the Shari’ah (Islamic law), but the groups differ considerably in their origins, beliefs, scope, methods, and even end point. The discussion in this chapter outlines juxtaposes the core beliefs and practices of al Muhajiroun/Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah, al Qaeda, and the Islamic State. The discussion begins with a basic understanding of key Islamic principles such as the six articles of faith, the five pillars, tawhid (the oneness of God), al wala wal bara (to enjoin what is pleasing to God and distance oneself from things that are displeasing to God) which all the groups share but then demonstrates how those beliefs lead to their key differences. The chapter ends with a discussion on the debates ASWJ leaders and followers were having on whether hijra (immigration) to the Islamic State was appropriate.
Mandatory Arbitration and the Boundaries of Corporate Law

A storm is brewing on the corporate law horizon. Several recent judicial developments, which this Article ties together for the first time, present the most refined opportunity yet for mandatory arbitration—today prevalent in consumer and employment contracts—to enter the corporate law sphere, shutting the courthouse doors before corporate entities and shareholders precisely where legal remedy is most needed. Yet, for this scenario to unfold, the Supreme Court would have to declare that corporate charters and bylaws are "contracts." Otherwise, restrictions on arbitration (including those recently enacted by Delaware) cannot be preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act. As this Article innovatively explains, scholars have long resorted to inaccurate metaphors, such as "nexus of contracts," in the corporate context. If, however, we move away from legal realist conventions, embrace the idea that corporate law is a self-standing category within private law, and examine its distinctive properties—most importantly, its principled reliance on ex post judicial supervision over open-ended factual scenarios—we find that corporate law is nearly the structural opposite of contract law. This legal distinction also generates a set of powerful economic benefits. Existing scholarship has focused on procedural and doctrinal aspects, such as directors' power to amend corporate documents without shareholders' consent. This Article ties the arguments into an overarching theoretical framework, originally bringing together the literature on private law theory, law and economics, and corporate litigation. Similar to the 1980s takeover wave, and recent debates surrounding corporations' constitutional rights and corporate purpose, the specter of mandatory arbitration offers an opportunity to take a fresh look at corporate law's theoretical foundations. The economic benefits and non-contractual, equity-based structure of corporate law are two sides of the same coin. To avoid both inefficiency and injustice, courts and scholars must recognize the implications of corporate law's distinct nature.
Randomized Clinical Trial of 14-French (14F) Pigtail Catheters versus 28–32F Chest Tubes in the Management of Patients with Traumatic Hemothorax and Hemopneumothorax

Traditional management of traumatic hemothorax/hemopneumothorax (HTX/HPTX) has been insertion of large-bore 32–40 French (Fr) chest tubes (CTs). Retrospective studies have shown 14Fr percutaneous pigtail catheters (PCs) are equally effective as CTs. Our aim was to compare effectiveness between PCs and CTs by performing the first randomized controlled trial (RCT). We hypothesize PCs work equally as well as CTs in management of traumatic HTX/HPTX. Prospective RCT comparing 14Fr PCs to 28–32Fr CTs for management of traumatic HTX/HPTX from 07/2015 to 01/2018. We excluded patients requiring emergency tube placement or who refused. Primary outcome was failure rate defined as retained HTX or recurrent PTX requiring additional intervention. Secondary outcomes included initial output (IO), tube days and insertion perception experience (IPE) score on a scale of 1–5 (1 = tolerable experience, 5 = worst experience). Unpaired Student’s t-test, chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were utilized with significance set at P < 0.05. Forty-three patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics between PC patients (N = 20) and CT patients (N = 23) were similar. Failure rates (10% PCs vs. 17% CTs, P = 0.49) between cohorts were similar. IO (median, 650 milliliters[ml]; interquartile range[IR], 375–1087; for PCs vs. 400 ml; IR, 240–700; for CTs, P = 0.06), and tube duration was similar, but PC patients reported lower IPE scores (median, 1, “I can tolerate it”; IR, 1–2) than CT patients (median, 3, “It was a bad experience”; IR, 3–4, P = 0.001). In patients with traumatic HTX/HPTX, 14Fr PCs were equally as effective as 28–32Fr CTs with no significant difference in failure rates. PC patients, however, reported a better insertion experience. www.ClinicalTrials.gov Registration ID: NCT02553434
tiny-HD: Ultra-Efficient Hyperdimensional Computing Engine for IoT Applications

Hyperdimensional computing (HD) is a new brain-inspired algorithm that mimics the human brain for cognitive tasks. Despite its inherent potential, the practical efficiency of HD is tied to the underlying hardware, which throttles the efficiency of HD in conventional microprocessors. In this paper, we propose tiny-HD, a light-weight dedicated HD platform that targets low power, high energy efficiency, and low latency, while being configurable to support various applications. We leverage an enhanced HD encoding that alleviates the memory requirements and also simplifies the dataflow to make tiny-HD flexible with an efficient architecture. We further augment tiny-HD by pipelining the stages and resource sharing, as well as a data layout that enables opportunistic power reduction. We compared tiny-HD in terms of area, performance, power, and energy consumption with the state-of-the-art HD platforms. tiny-HD occupies ~0.5 mm2, consumes 1.6mW standby and 9.6mW runtime power (at 400 MHz), with a 0.016ms latency on a set of IoT benchmarks. tiny-HD consumes average per-query energy of 160 nJ, which outperforms the state-of-the-art FPGA and ASIC implementations by 95.5× and 11.2×, respectively.
Pre- and post-test changes in the factors that influence computed body density changes.

Abstract Individual changes in the body density of 62 young men who participated in a 10-week physical conditioning program were found to be more closely related to changes in residual lung volume (r = .49), than to changes in body weight (r = .31) or underwater weight (r = .26). Thus, the computed changes in body density for individual subjects were related as much to individual changes in residual lung volume as to changes in underwater weight or body weight. There was a mean decrease in body weight (1.3%) and residual lung volume (4.5%), while underwater weight increased 1.2% and the resulting body density increased .0008 density units. It was concluded that if an assumed constant value of residual volume is used to compute density, then observed changes in body density for an individual subject due to an experimental treatment such as physical conditioning may be masked by large changes in residual lung volume.
Differences in cognitive ability and apparent sex differences in corpus callosum size

Gender differences in brain structure and function have long been an interest to neuroscientists. One region where these differences have been reported is in the band of white matter that connects the two cerebral hemisphere, the corpus callosum. The current study explores the possibility that differences in cognitive ability contribute to the observed gender effects. The focus here is on visuo-spatial processing as measured by mental rotation which has also been found to have significant gender differences. The results reported show that two segments of the corpus callosum revealed gender differences, the rostrum and the anterior midbody. Both segments connect cortical regions that have been implicated in mental rotation. Additionally, the gender effect found in the rostrum appears to be due to visuo-spatial processing while the anterior midbody appears to be affected by both visuo-spatial processing and gender. These results suggest that because neural structure and cognition are intimately intertwined, cognition should be accounted for when making group comparisons of neural structure.
Dissents and Disagreement on the Fed's FOMC: Understanding Regional Affiliations and Limits to Transparency

This paper addresses two important, but distinct, issues in monetary policy. The first issue concerns regional influences on voting within a monetary policy committee. In a committee that includes representatives from different regions or countries, is there a regional element to the monetary policy decision or to the votes cast by monetary policymakers? The second issue concerns possible limits to transparency. In an independent central bank that strives to be accountable and to communicate its policy effectively, are there circumstances under which increasing transparency could be harmful? The answer to both of these questions with respect to the Federal Reserve is "maybe".
The Protections Offered to Non-Pregnant Plaintiffs by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act

This paper examines the application of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (hereafter, "the Act") to a plaintiff who is not pregnant when the adverse action occurs. The results vary greatly and depend on the circuit in which she files her claim. Many courts recognize the rights of non-pregnant plaintiffs in a number of situations. In general, however, the courts likely interpret the Act more narrowly than the drafters intended. This paper will explain the burden faced by a plaintiff suing under the Act and explore a range of situations in which non-pregnant women have sued under the Act, as well as the challenges faced by these plaintiffs.The first section of this paper explains the purpose of the Act and the stereotypes that it was designed to combat. The second section explains the evidentiary burden of a plaintiff bringing a lawsuit under the Act. The final section examines several scenarios in which a plaintiff who is not pregnant at the time that she faces an adverse employment action might consider bringing a suit.
Mobile microblogging: Using Twitter and mobile devices in an online course to promote learning in authentic contexts

This research applied a mixed-method design to explore how best to promote learning in authentic contexts in an online graduate course in instructional message design. The students used Twitter apps on their mobile devices to collect, share, and comment on authentic design examples found in their daily lives. The data sources included tweets (i.e., postings on Twitter), students’ perceptions about mobile microblogging activities, and self-reported Twitter usage. Based on the tweet analysis, we found that the students appropriately applied the design principles and design terms in their critique of design examples. While the students were mainly engaged in assignment-relevant activities, they spontaneously generated social tweets as they related peers’ authentic design examples to their own life experiences. Overall, they had positive perceptions toward the mobile microblogging activities. The students also indicated that the design examples shared by peers through mobile microblogging inspired their own message design work. We synthesized instructional design suggestions and challenges for educators interested in incorporating mobile microblogging in their instructional settings.
Technological innovation in the semiconductor industry: A case study of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS)

This paper summarizes a dissertation that explores the Semiconductor Industry Association's (SIA) Technology Roadmap, now referred to as the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS). It is a study of its origin, evolution, and future role in influencing industry strategies and public policies. The overall thesis is that the Roadmap is one important element of a broader industrial arrangement that has evolved from the convergence of technological, economic, institutional, and cultural factors, all hinged on the goal of sustaining historical industrial productivity-also referred to as "Moore's Law".
The Visual Culture of Japanese Buddhism from the Early Modern Period to the Present

Following the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the sixth century, the faith quickly became a defining feature of Japanese civilization, in large part because of the diverse and abundant visual culture it engendered that both reflected and shaped its religious practice. Although Japanese Buddhism remains a vital living tradition, until the last twenty years, its visual culture created after the 16th century has received little attention by scholars. Since then, Japanese and Western language studies on focused aspects of Buddhist paintings, sculpture, and architecture, with most addressing the early modern period (ca. 1600–1868), have proliferated but until the publication of Patricia Graham’s Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art, 1600–2005 (2007), no survey of materials spanning this long time period had been attempted. This brief essay does not summarize Graham’s broad analysis of the thread of change over time and the plurality of later Buddhist practice in Japan manifest in its abundant visual culture. Instead, drawing on the examples presented in Graham’s study, it introduces significant and representative sites of worship from the 17th century to the present to highlight the ways the faith became transformed in tandem with changes in Japanese society, manifested in the convergence of patronage, image production, and religious devotion at these sites. Discussion is presented chronologically in four parts beginning with an overview of studies on Japanese Buddhism’s recent visual culture. This is followed by three sections on the sites and related imagery: Buddhist sites of worship in the early modern period, Buddhist sites of worship in the modern period before World War II, and Buddhist sites of worship in the modern period after World War II.
Under-representation of women on dental journal editorial boards.

Introduction Each journal’s editorial and advisory board plays a critical role in resolving gender bias in the peer-review and publication process. Thus, this study aimed to quantify women’s participation in editorial and advisory boards of major dental journals. Gender data on editorial and advisory boards were extracted from major dental journals, which were then categorized by journal specialty focus. The gender of the editor-in-chief and associate editor-in-chief was noted to assess the effect of journal leadership on women’s participation in journal boards. For comparison purposes, data were also obtained regarding the percentage of women faculty for each dental specialty. Results Overall, in the major 69 dental journals, 14.8% of editorial board members were women. An one-way ANOVA analysis revealed statistically significant gender differences between journal specialty categories (p = 0.003) with some dental specialties’ journals demonstrating a relatively high participation of women as editorial board members. There was a significant positive correlation for various dental specialties between women’s representation in editorial and advisory boards and women in similar dental academic specialties (p = 0.02, r2 = 0.55). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the presence of women in journal editorial leadership and the percentage of women serving as advisory board members (p = 0.03). Our results confirmed that the under-representation of women on dental journal editorial boards was significantly different between dental science specialties. When there were more women in journal editorial leadership positions, there was a higher participation of women as editorial and advisory board members. Journals should increase the numbers of women on editorial boards in order to secure diversity, improve publication quality and recognize women’s contribution to dental science.
Direct use of mixing data for modeling high-viscosity, melt-phase, condensation polymer reactors

Mathematical models for simultaneous reaction and mass transfer occurring in the manufacture of high-viscosity condensation polymers are considered. Particle tracking experiments are used to estimate convective flow rates and mixing volumes in a disc-ring reactor configuration. These results are incorporated directly into a mixing-cell model without resorting to the use of restrictive assumptions regarding the convective mixing. Both a penetration theory model and a flash evaporation model are used to simulate the transport at the liquid–vapor interface. Although widely used in previous studies, the penetration theory model is ultimately rejected because it underpredicts the overall reactivity. Model results predict interactions between agitation rate, residence time, and the overall reaction rate for commercial-scale systems producing poly(ethylene terephthalate). The model is partially verified by comparison with degassing data. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lactic Acid Metabolism in Hypertensive Patients.

In patients (93) with either essential or renal hypertension the concentration of lactic acid in both venous and arterial blood was significantly (p .001) elevated, whereas there was no significant increase (p .127) in the concentration of blood pyruvate. Neither renal insufficiency nor various modes of therapy could be correlated with this increase in lactic acid.
Maternal Uterine Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy

Remodeling of the maternal uterine vasculature during pregnancy is a unique cardiovascular process that occurs in the adult and results in significant structural and functional changes in large and small arteries and veins, and in the creation of the placenta--a new fetomaternal vascular organ. This expansive, hypertrophic process results in increases in both lumen circumference and length, and is effected through a combination of tissue and cellular hypertrophy, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle hyperplasia, and matrix remodeling. This review summarizes what is currently known about the time course and extent of the remodeling process, and how local vs. systemic factors influence its genesis. The main focus is on upstream maternal vessels rather than spiral artery changes, although the latter are considered from the overall hemodynamic perspective. We also consider some of the underlying mechanisms and provide a hypothetical scenario that integrates our current knowledge. Abrogation of this adaptive vascular process is associated with several human gestational pathologies such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which not only raise the risk of infant mortality and morbidity but are also a significant source of maternal mortality and susceptibility to cardiovascular and other diseases for both mother and neonate later in life.
A Microprocessor-Based System for the Monitoring and Control of a Solar Installation

This paper describes the microcomputer hardware and software used to instrument and control a flat plate solar energy collection system. The procured data is transferred to a minicomputer for further signal processing and analysis. The system utilizes micro-electronic circuits to digitize and store data on magnetic tape as well as use that data for control decisions. The scheme described was found to be inexpensive yet effective.
Distribution of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex in rat brain.

The α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC) is a key enzyme in mitochondrial oxidation that appears critical to neurodegenerative diseases. Its activity in the brain declines in thiamine-deficient animals, Alzheimer's disease, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Since selective cell populations are affected in these disorders, understanding the cellular distribution of KGDHC is important in order to define its role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. We used antisera against both bovine KGDHC and its Elk component to determine the immunocytochemical distribution of the enzyme and compare it with that of another mitochondrial enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) and a cholinergic neuronal marker, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat brain. Although low levels of immunoreactivity occurred in neurons, glia, and neuropil throughout the brain, some regions displayed relatively high perikaryal KGDHC enrichment. In the cerebral cortex, high immunoreactivity occurred mostly in layers III, V, and VI. The hippocampal pyramidal layer in CAl and CA2 exhibited more intense staining thah CA3. In the mammillary body, intensely labeled cells occurred in the supramammillary and lateral nuclei, while moderately stained cells predominated in the medial nucleus. The basal forebrain, basal ganglia, reticular and midline thalamic nuclei, red nucleus, pons, cranial nerve nuclei, inferior and superior colliculi, and cerebellar nuclei also contained highly immunoreactive neurons. The distribution of KGDHC overlapped with that of PDHC and colocalized to a limited extent with ChAT. These data are the first to demonstrate KGDHC immunoreactivity in discrete areas of rat brain and are vital to our understanding of selective vulnerability to metabolic insults and disease. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is the disruption of an N-myristoyltransferase (NMT2) associated with hypoplastic testes?

Fabiola Quintero-Rivera, Natalia T. Leach, Albert de la Chapelle, James F. Gusella, Cynthia C. Morton, and David J. Harris* Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Human Genetic Research, Boston, Massachusetts Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproductive Biology and Pathology, Boston, Massachusetts Human Cancer Genetics Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Division of Genetics, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Pathology, Los Angeles, California
ACCELERATED DRY CURING OF PORK LEGS (HAMS): A REVIEW

Dry curing of pork legs produces a product with unique flavor. However, the process is labor intensive and time consuming and is partially responsible for dry cured ham being less competitive in the marketing arena. Dry curing can be accelerated through production techniques such as tumbling, blade tenderizing, microbial inoculation, use of nitric oxide and processing as skinned and/or boneless legs. These techniques are discussed and the major benefits and limitations are noted. Although these processes can accelerate dry curing, more research is needed to determine the optimal conditions needed to expedite the dry curing process and ensure color uniformity and stability, aged ham flavor and sufficient weight loss to conform to regulatory requirements.
Compression of oceanic lithosphere: An analysis of intraplate deformation in the Central Indian Basin

The development of intraplate structure in the Central Indian Basin is examined using models in which deformation is due to flexural buckling and the hydrodynamic growth of instabilities. Comparison of the models reveal that in a strong viscous lithosphere, deformation of the layer occurs by flexural folding at a wavelength which corresponds to the flexural buckling theory; in a lithosphere of intermediate strength, the layer deforms by folding characterized by thickening which localizes beneath topographic heights; and in a relatively weak lithosphere, the layer incurs an even greater amount of localized thickening and deforms in the symmetric or pinch-and-swell mode by inverse boudinage. It is noted that the models in which the layer folds either flexurally or with periodic thickening correspond with observed depth distribution of seismicity in the Central Indian Basin and with experimental rock rheological data.
Muscid Fly Predation by Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Vespid wasp predation of muscid flies on livestock is reported. Vespula germanica (Fabricius) was the dominant predator, representing 80% of wasps captured with fly prey in August and September, 1975. Stable flies and face flies were the primary prey. The possible significance of this relationship is discussed.
Vertical Distribution of Profundal Benthos in Lake Superior Sediments

Layers of sediment in box cores from 10 Lake Superior open lake sites were sieved at 250 μm to retain benthos. The average density of benthic organisms, 3,055/m2, was higher than has previously been reported for profundal regions of the lake, suggesting that biological mixing is important in the sediments. Bottom fauna were distributed from the water-sediment interface to a depth of 1.7 cm in firm glacial till and to a depth of 15 cm in soft clay. There was variability between sampling sites: oligochaetes and nematodes penetrated further into loose sediments than into compacted sand or clay. Ninety-six percent of the profundal benthos was found within the first four centimeters of sediment, with 47% between 0 and 0.5 cm (mostly Pontoporeia hoyi, naidids, sphaeriids, copepods, ostracods, and neorhabdocoels); 49% between 0.5 and 4 cm (mostly nematodes and oligochaetes); and 4% below 4 cm. The location of oligochaete cocoons containing embryos indicated that enchytraeid positions in the cores often represented their in situ vertical distribution, whereas some of the lumbriculids and tubificids migrated downward during the sampling procedures. The density and vertical distribution of Pontoporeia indicated that the potential depth and rate of biological mixing of sediment may exceed the sediment accumulation rate in Lake Superior.
Immunogenicity testing strategy and bioanalytical assays for antibody–drug conjugates

Background: Immunogenicity testing is an important component of clinical development for large-molecule biotherapeutics. New complex types of large molecules, such as antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), require careful evaluation of the testing strategy and bioanalytical assays used to monitor the development of antitherapeutic antibodies. Results: An electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay for the detection and epitope characterization of anti-ADC antibodies was validated. Using this assay format, antibodies directed against the monoclonal antibody and linker–drug components of the ADC were successfully detected in a multiple-dose rat toxicity study. Conclusion: Immunogenicity assays incorporating epitope determination may provide additional information about the characteristics of induced antitherapeutic antibodies, including the magnitude and timing of the various types of antibody responses.
Recent applications of nuclear tracks in solids

Abstract With partial support from an NSF US–China exchange program, five Chinese scientists collaborated with me for one or more years during the 1980s and 1990s. This review begins with a discussion of some of the research they did while at Berkeley. That is followed by brief reviews of recent applications of the nuclear track technique to nuclear fusion; molecular identification with nanopores; ion track filters for imaging X-ray astronomy; magnetic studies with nanowires; polymeric nanowires; microbiology with Nuclepore filters; radon and neutron dosimetry; and thermochronology with 238 U and 244 Pu fission tracks. My review provides a small sample of the interesting topics to which nuclear track techniques are now being applied.
Amiloride in ouabain-induced acidification, inotropy and arrhythmia: 23Na & 31P NMR in perfused hearts.

The increase in intracellular sodium (Nai), resulting from inhibition of the Na/K ATPase by cardiac glycosides, is known to increase calcium influx via Na+Ca2+ exchange, and thereby increase contractility. This increase in intracellular Ca2+ has been related to the development of intracellular acidification and enhanced activity of the Na+H+ exchanger as a measure by the cell to prevent further acidification. Thus, the efflux of the H+ ions results in an additional increase in Nai. This may subsequently lead to an increased rate of Ca2+ influx and therefore to the potentiation of the effects of cardiac glycosides. To assess the role of Na+H+ exchange in the mechanism of ouabain action in the beating heart we used amiloride, a known inhibitor of Na+H+ exchange. Isolated rat hearts were perfused with either ouabain (50 μm) alone (n = 8, Group I), amiloride (1.0 mm) + ouabain (50 μm) (n = 8, Group II), or amiloride (1.0 mm) alone as a control group (n = 4, Group III). 23Na and 31P NMR spectroscopy were used to assess the changes in Nai and intracellular pH (pHi), respectively, while simultaneous and continuous monitoring of left ventricular pressure was carried out. Perfusion with both ouabain alone (Group I) or ouabain + amiloride (Group II), resulted in a time dependent increase in Nai levels, reaching (within 25 mins) a maximum of 200 ± 7% of control in Group I, and 170 ± 10% of control in Group II. Concurrently, a mild but significant decrease in pHi was observed in both groups. This decrease, however, was significantly higher in Group II compared to Group I (0.34 pH units vs. 0.19 pH units, respectively; P < 0.05), suggesting that inhibition of Na+H+ exchange by amiloride limits the recovery from ouabain-induced intracellular acidification. While developed pressure gradually increased in Group I to a maximum of 268 ± 52% of control, the addition of amiloride in Group II substantially reduced the positive inotropic effect. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) developed in three of the eight hearts in Group I within 10–13 mins after the addition of ouabain. Interstingly, the rate of Nai increase in hearts that sustained VF was significantly higher compared to those without VF (mean slope 10.1 ± 2.11 vs. 3.9 ± 1.0, respectively; P < 0.0001). Ventricular fibrillation did not develop in Group II or III. These results in the beating heart suggest that Na+H+ exchange plays a role in the cellular control of ouabain-induced intracellular acidification, and that the arrhythmogenic effects of cardiac glycosides might be related to the rate of Nai rise, possibly via increased rate of Ca2+ influx.
Unbiased Screening for Transcriptional Targets of ZKSCAN3 Identifies Integrin β4 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as Downstream Targets

We previously described the novel zinc finger protein ZKSCAN3 as a new "driver" of colon cancer progression. To investigate the underlying mechanism and because the predicted structural features (tandem zinc fingers) are often present in transcription factors, we hypothesized that ZKSCAN3 regulates the expression of a gene(s) favoring tumor progression. We employed unbiased screening to identify a DNA binding motif and candidate downstream genes. Cyclic amplification and selection of targets using a random oligonucleotide library and ZKSCAN3 protein identified KRDGGG as the DNA recognition motif. In expression profiling, 204 genes were induced 2-29-fold, and 76 genes reduced 2-5-fold by ZKSCAN3. To enrich for direct targets, we eliminated genes under-represented (<3) for the ZKSCAN3 binding motif (identified by CAST-ing) in 2 kilobases of regulatory sequence. Up-regulated putative downstream targets included genes contributing to growth (c-Met-related tyrosine kinase (MST1R), MEK2; the guanine nucleotide exchanger RasGRP2, insulin-like growth factor-2, integrin beta 4), cell migration (MST1R), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor), and proteolysis (MMP26; cathepsin D; PRSS3 (protease serine 3)). We pursued integrin beta 4 (induced up to 6-fold) as a candidate target because it promotes breast cancer tumorigenicity and stimulates phosphatidyl 3-kinase implicated in colorectal cancer progression. ZKSCAN3 overexpression/silencing modulated integrin beta 4 expression, confirming the array analysis. Moreover, ZKSCAN3 bound to the integrin beta 4 promoter in vitro and in vivo, and the integrin beta 4-derived ZKSCAN3 motif fused upstream of a tk-Luc reporter conferred ZKSCAN3 sensitivity. Integrin beta 4 knockdown by short hairpin RNA countered ZKSCAN3-augmented anchorage-independent colony formation. We also demonstrate vascular endothelial growth factor as a direct ZKSCAN3 target. Thus, ZKSCAN3 regulates the expression of several genes favoring tumor progression including integrin beta 4.
Tomorrow's child

Abstract This paper reviews the life of Mary Breckinridge, her commitment to mothers and children, and her contributions to nurse-midwifery. An optomistic outlook for tomorrow's child is envisioned with humanism in childbirth superseding technology as the first priority.
COMPLETE BYPASS OF THE RIGHT HEART.

Abstract The right ventricle is generally considered to be an organ that is indispensible to the circulation and essential in maintaining normal venous pressure and adequate pulmonary blood flow. This concept has been recently challenged by several investigators. These observations, even though very valuable, are still not adequate to prove that circulation could exist without any participation of the right ventricle. Such a proof could be obtained only by completely bypassing the right heart. We have presented our experiments in which the right heart was completely bypassed by an anastomosis of the superior vena cava to the right pulmonary artery and transplantation of the inferior vena cava into the left atrium. It is demonstrated that the entire right heart could be excluded from the circulation for a period as long as 7 days without significant changes in the arterial and venous pressure. However, the concept that a compensated circulation can be maintained for more prolonged periods without any participation of the right heart still awaits further experimental and clinical proof.
Knothole, a new side-well gamma ray detector

Abstract Knothole is a cylindrical crystal of NaI(TI) 8.9 cm in dia. and 7.6 cm long. Piercing the curved side along a central diameter is a well 2.1 cm in dia. and 7.3 cm deep. Optically coupled to each of its two plane surfaces is a RCA 8054 photomultiplier tube. Resolution for the 662 keV gamma-ray of 137 Cs was measured to be 8.3%. The intrinsic peak efficiencies (counts in “photo-peak” per emitted gamma-ray) are about 61% at 88 keV, 47% at 513 keV, 37% at 662 keV, 19% at 1120 keV and 15% at 1460 keV. Limits of detection in pCi (3 standard deviations of background) using 60-min counting periods are: 137 Cs, 4; 131 I, 5; 226 Ra via 214 Bi, 11 (at 1760 keV); and 40 K, 58 (0.068 g K).