cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correction of Reflux at the Saphenofemoral Junction by Clipping-in-Continuity: A 6 Year Follow Up in 476 Patients

The controversy of preserving the incompetent greater saphenous vein (GSV) is far from being resolved. The newer, less-traumatic stripping methods have renewed interest in ablative approaches for the correction of reflux at the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ). However phlebologists agree that there are many GSVs which do not need to be sacrificed for proper control of truncal varicosities. As is always the case in this kind of situation the problem is one of selection and individualization of treatment.
Glutamate and dopamine in the VTA participate differently in the acute and chronic effect of methylphenidate.

Abstract Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (MPD) have long been the treatment of choice in behavioral disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy in both children and adults. However, its abuse by healthy children and adults for academic enhancement or recreation is on the rise. This raises concern for brain chemistry alteration leading to dependence during a period of neuroplasticity and brain development. Psychostimulants such as MPD are indirect dopamine antagonists and are known to act on the dopaminergic system of the brain to produce their effects. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one of the primary sources of dopamine in the CNS and is a part of the reward circuits affected by MPD. In order to elucidate the role of the VTA in MPD exposure, five groups of rats were used: VTA intact control, sham VTA surgery, nonspecific electrolytic VTA lesion, glutamatergic specific VTA chemical lesion, and dopaminergic specific VTA chemical lesion. Baseline locomotor activity was established, then the surgeries were performed followed by several days of recovery and establishment of post-surgical baseline. Following the recovery period, the rats were challenged with 6 days of MPD exposure, followed by 3 washout days, then a re-challenge of MPD to assess chronic MPD exposure on animals behavior. Locomotive activity was recorded for 120 min after each injection by a computerized animal activity monitor system. The results indicate that glutamatergic synapses in the ventral tegmental area are critical for acute and chronic MPD response, while dopaminergic synapses contribute to tonic inhibition of the ventral tegmental area on rat locomotor excitation.
Examination of time series through randomly broken windows

The study of many astronomical problems involves a consideration of time series. The present investigation was prompted by a problem related to the determination of normal modes of oscillation of the sun. It is desirable to have an approach for obtaining an estimate of the accuracy with which oscillation modes may be determined when it appears possible to observe the sun over a long interval of time losing some blocks of time because of cloud cover. The present investigation has the objective to develop a model for addressing problems of this type. After presentation of a few general formulae, the problem is considerably simplified by supposing that observations are made over a large number N of equal time intervals, each of length t, so that the total time interval T is given by T = Nt. With certain additional simplifying assumptions, attention is given to the statistical properties of two functions which are representative of 'randomly broken' window functions.
Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities: Exploring Perceptions of Health-Promoting Self-Care

Primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities encounter unique challenges that can affect their overall health and well-being. This pilot study sought to explore the definitions of and experiences with health-promoting self-care in primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Thirteen primary caregivers of children with developmental disabilities ranging in age from 3 to 21 years participated in a semi-structured interview to explore their health-promoting self-care, their current and future goals for health and wellness, and their interest in use of technology to facilitate self-care. Across participant responses, 10 themes emerged overall. The following number of themes emerged within each general topic area: general assessment of health and well-being (n = 2); personal assessment of self-care behaviors (n = 3); defining features of health and well-being categories (n = 2); top endorsed health-promoting needs (n = 1); and technologies to support self-care (n = 2). Findings demonstrated commonalities across the experiences of caregivers in some domains. However, caregivers also endorsed differing barriers and needs for support across areas affecting personal health and well-being. Results provide support for further investigation into the utility of interventions to promote caregiver self-care for their health and well-being, particularly in the area of social support.
Blue radiation signals and saturates photoperiodic flowering of several long-day plants at crop-specific photon flux densities

Abstract When the natural photoperiod is short, electric lighting can be used to promote flowering of a wide range of ornamental long-day plants (LDP) grown inside greenhouses. A combination of red (R; 600–700 nm) and far-red (FR; 700–800 nm) radiation is effective when delivered at a low intensity (1–2 μmol m−2 s−1), but recent research shows blue (B; 400–500 nm) radiation can also be effective. We performed an experiment, replicated in time, that identified the B photon flux density that controlled flowering of four LDPs when delivered as a 4-h night interruption (NI) or 7-hour day extension (DE) during an otherwise 15-h night. Seedlings of four annual bedding plants were initially grown under a 9-h day, and then were transferred to one of seven lighting treatments, where subscripts indicate their photon flux densities: R+FR2–3 NI; B5, B15, or B30 NI; and B5, B15, or B30 DE. At a sufficiently high photon flux density, B radiation delivered as a 4-h NI or 7-h DE promoted flowering of all four LDPs. All species exhibited a dose-response relationship between B photon flux density and flowering time. The threshold B photon flux density above which flowering was promoted varied among the four LDPs, and was 5 μmol m−2 s−1 for coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and 15 μmol m−2 s−1 for petunia (Petunia × hybrida) and rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta). A B photon flux density of 15 or 30 μmol m−2 s−1 delivered as an NI or DE was usually as effective as 2–3 μmol m−2 s−1 of R + FR radiation for all LDPs tested. We conclude that while flowering of LDPs is more sensitive to R + FR than B radiation, relatively low B photon flux densities are perceived as a long day when delivered as a DE or NI.
Postoperative Opioid Use in Rhinoplasty Procedures: A Standardized Regimen.

The objective of this study was to create a standardized regimen for preoperative and postoperative analgesic prescribing patterns in rhinoplasty. A prospective study including patients (n = 35) undergoing rhinoplasty by a single surgeon at a tertiary hospital was conducted. Patients were enrolled in this study from August 2018 to November 2019. Patients then completed a diary documenting pain scores and analgesic use for 14 days postoperatively. Patient demographics, complications, rhinoplasty technique performed, and medical history were noted. At the second postoperative clinic visit, the diaries were submitted and pill counts were conducted to ensure accuracy. A total of 23 patients completed this study. The average age of the cohort was 39.07 ± 15.01 years, and 48% were females. The mean number of opioids consumed was 6.15 ± 4.85 pills (range: 0-18). Females consumed an average of 7.2 ± 5.2 pills and males consumed 4.5 ± 3.96 pills. The mean number of acetaminophen and ibuprofen tablets consumed were 7.48 ± 8.52 pills (range: 0-36) and 10.83 ± 10.99 pills (range 0-39), respectively. No postoperative nosebleeds were reported. Males had significantly higher pain scores than females on postoperative days 1 to 8. The mean pain score for postoperative days 8 to 14 was less than 1. Linear regression analysis showed that there was no association between the rhinoplasty technique used and the number of opioids consumed. Rhinoplasty is typically associated with mild pain even when osteotomies are included with the procedure. Our results suggest that surgeons can limit rhinoplasty opioid prescriptions to around seven pills and achieve sufficient pain control in most patients. Preoperative counseling suggesting a low postoperative pain level and the encouragement of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use will help reduce the risk and misuse of opioid prescriptions.
Cancer immunotherapy via targeted TGF-β signalling blockade in T H cells

Cancer arises from malignant cells that exist in dynamic multilevel interactions with the host tissue. Cancer therapies aiming to directly kill cancer cells, including oncogene-targeted therapy and immune-checkpoint therapy that revives tumour-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes, are effective in some patients1,2, but acquired resistance frequently develops3,4. An alternative therapeutic strategy aims to rectify the host tissue pathology, including abnormalities in the vasculature that foster cancer progression5,6; however, neutralization of proangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) has had limited clinical benefits7,8. Here, following the finding that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) suppresses T helper 2 (TH2)-cell-mediated cancer immunity9, we show that blocking TGF-β signalling in CD4+ T cells remodels the tumour microenvironment and restrains cancer progression. In a mouse model of breast cancer resistant to immune-checkpoint or anti-VEGF therapies10,11, inducible genetic deletion of the TGF-β receptor II (TGFBR2) in CD4+ T cells suppressed tumour growth. For pharmacological blockade, we engineered a bispecific receptor decoy by attaching the TGF-β-neutralizing TGFBR2 extracellular domain to ibalizumab, a non-immunosuppressive CD4 antibody12,13, and named it CD4 TGF-β Trap (4T-Trap). Compared with a non-targeted TGF-β-Trap, 4T-Trap selectively inhibited TH cell TGF-β signalling in tumour-draining lymph nodes, causing reorganization of tumour vasculature and cancer cell death, a process dependent on the TH2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4). Notably, the 4T-Trap-induced tumour tissue hypoxia led to increased VEGFA expression. VEGF inhibition enhanced the starvation-triggered cancer cell death and amplified the antitumour effect of 4T-Trap. Thus, targeted TGF-β signalling blockade in helper T cells elicits an effective tissue-level cancer defence response that can provide a basis for therapies directed towards the cancer environment. 4T-Trap, a bispecific molecule designed to recognize CD4 and bind TGF-β, blocks TGF-β signalling in T helper cells, causing interleukin-4-dependent vascular reorganization and cancer cell death in a mouse model of breast cancer.
Psychopathology, disordered eating, and impulsivity in patients seeking bariatric surgery

Abstract Background Most patients who undergo bariatric surgery experience significant weight loss and improvements in obesity-related co-morbidities in the first 6–18 months after surgery. However, 20%–30% of patients experience suboptimal weight loss or significant weight regain within the first few postoperative years. Psychosocial functioning may contribute to suboptimal weight loss and/or postoperative psychosocial distress. Objective Assess psychosocial functioning, eating behavior, and impulsivity in patients seeking bariatric surgery. Setting Two university hospitals. Methods Validated interviews and questionnaires. Impulsivity assessed via computer program. Results The present study included a larger (n = 300) and more racially diverse (70% non-White) sample than previous studies of these relationships. Forty-eight percent of participants had a current psychiatric diagnosis and 78% had at least 1 lifetime diagnosis. Anxiety disorders were the most common current diagnosis (25%); major depressive disorder was the most common lifetime diagnosis (44%). Approximately 6% of participants had a current alcohol or substance use disorder; 7% had a positive drug screen before surgery. A current psychiatric diagnosis was associated with greater symptoms of food addiction and night eating. Current diagnosis of alcohol use disorder or a lifetime diagnosis of anxiety disorders was associated with higher delay discounting. Conclusion The study identified high rates of psychopathology and related symptoms among a large, diverse sample of bariatric surgery candidates. Psychopathology was associated with symptoms of disordered eating and higher rates of delay discounting, suggesting impulse control issues.
Public Attitudes About COVID-19 in Response to President Trump's Social Media Posts.

This cross-sectional study examines public beliefs about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in response to President Trump’s social media posts during and after his infection with the virus.
The Strategic Use of Alibi Defenses

In this chapter we discuss the strategic use of the alibi defense in U.S. criminal courtrooms. While the alibi defense appears to be the holy grail for defendants, in reality it shelters only a relative handful of defendants who face charges in our criminal courts. True alibi evidence is hard to come by, and convincing a jury of its trustworthiness is a further challenge still. Moreover, alibi notice rules in every jurisdiction require the defense to share key facts of the alibi with the prosecutor up front, thereby allowing the prosecutor to re-craft the suggested timeline or to marshal rebuttal evidence to refute the claims of alibi witnesses well before trial. We first explain the nuts and bolts of how alibis work in criminal cases, paying particular attention to influence of time: the precision with which police and prosecutors articulate the timeline for the alleged crime, the defense attorney’s assessment of the right time to present alibi evidence to law enforcement or the tribunal, the defendant’s ability to positively establish his alternate location at the time the crime allegedly occurred, and the amount of time that passes between the crime and the arrest of the defendant. We next provide a guide to alibi notice rules in federal court as well as in the 50 state jurisdictions in the United States. We examine the history and variety of rules about when notice must be provided, the constitutionality of those rules, and the impact of a defendant changing her mind after previously notifying the court and prosecution of her intention to rely on alibi. In the final section of the chapter, we discuss two specific risks that face defense attorneys who are considering whether to litigate an alibi defense at trial: procuring a false alibi, and failing to present an alibi defense when there is evidence to support it. Throughout the essay we offer evidence from an original survey of practicing and retired defense attorneys about how they investigate and deploy alibi defenses on behalf of their clients.
Mitochondrial N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activation enhances bioenergetics by calcium-dependent and -Independent mechanisms.

Abstract Our laboratory has demonstrated that functional N-methyl- d -aspartate-like receptors are present on neuronal mitochondria (NMDAm). This novel site gates the influx of Ca2+ and causes a several-fold increase in ATP levels. Although elevations in ATP in other cell types have been linked to increases in mitochondrial Ca2+, it has not been established whether the same holds true for calcium uptake via NMDAm. In this study, we have investigated the effect of NMDAm activation on a variety of bioenergetic parameters. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial bioenergetics are not only modulated by NMDAm activation in a Ca2+-dependent but also in a Ca2+-independent manner.
Integrating boron arsenide into power devices

Boron arsenide could be used as a high-thermal-conductivity cooling substrate in gallium nitride power devices.
“It Doesn’t Matter Who Sees Them”: A Case Study of an Effective White Educator Working in a Multicultural Urban High School:

This instrumental case study research identifies the beliefs and behaviors of a highly effective white educator working in a multicultural urban school. By triangulating interviews, classroom obser...
On-Chip Si 3 N 4 Spatial Heterodyne Fourier Transform Spectrometer for the Optical Window in Biological Tissue

We designed and demonstrated an on-chip Fourier transform spectrometer on Si 3 N 4 -on-SiO 2 using an array of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) for λ = 600~1000 nm. The retrieval of an input spectrum is demonstrated by the interconnect simulation.
How Writing Can Sharpen Personal Decision Making

Professor Abrams authors a column, Writing it Right in the Journal of the Missouri Bar. In a variety of contexts, the column stresses the fundamentals of quality legal writing - conciseness, precision, simplicity, and clarity.
“It has to be designed in a way that really challenges people’s assumptions”: preparing scholars to build equitable community research partnerships

Introduction: Clinical and Translational Award (CTSA) programs are developing relevant training for researchers and community stakeholders participating in community-engaged research (CEnR). However, there is limited research exploring the ways community stakeholders and partners with key CEnR experiences can inform and shape training priorities for prospective CEnR scholars to build meaningful and equitable partnerships. Methods: This study conducted and analyzed online individual semi-structured in-depth interviews with community stakeholders (n = 13) engaged in CEnR to identify training priorities for graduate students and emerging scholars. Findings: Thematic analysis of 13 interview transcripts revealed four major training priorities for prospective scholars interested in engaging in CEnR: 1) researcher’s positionality, 2) equitable power sharing, 3) funding, and 4) ethics. Conclusion: Building equitable research partnerships was a central theme woven across all four training priorities. Further research should focus on examining the development, implementation, and evaluation of CEnR training in partnership with community stakeholders and partners with relevant CEnR experience. Adopting a collaborative approach to incorporate both community stakeholders and researchers’ priorities can align training competencies to better prepare scholars to engage in building research partnerships.
Imaging anisotropy with vectorial Fourier ptychography

Microscopic imaging of anisotropic samples has many important applications in cytopathology. The endogenous contrast from the polarization properties of a specimen, such as its birefringence, provides valuable diagnostic information for several deadly diseases, including cardiac amyloidosis and squamous cell carcinoma, for example. In the past, polarized light microscopy (PLM) has been widely used as a diagnostic tool during the clinical review. However, in analogy with the standard microscope, the PLM typically has a restricted spatial-bandwidth product (SBP). As a consequence, one can either image a large area with low resolution or see the details of a very small area of the sample at the resolutions required for accurate analysis. To address the SBP issue of the PLM, we propose a computational microscopy method, termed vectorial Fourier ptychography, to illuminate the specimen with polarized light from different angles and detects different polarization states of the diffracted light. By illuminating a specimen with plane waves from different angles, our vectorial Fourier ptychography method effectively modulates the high-spatial-frequency components of the specimen into lower frequencies that can be detected by the optical system. With a Jones calculus-based forward model and a second-order phase retrieval method, we can reconstruct high-resolution, wide field-of-view(FOV) amplitude, phase, birefringence, retardance, and diattenuation of the specimen. To assess the reconstruction accuracy of our method, we imaged polystyrene beads submerged in immersion oils of different refractive index, as well as monosodium urate crystals. Further, To validate the diattenuation reconstruction accuracy, we reconstruct a USAF resolution test chart with a half blocked by a linear polarizer. These experiments confirm quantitatively accurate reconstruction results with a 1.25 um full-pitch resolution over a FOV of 6.6 x 4.4 mm^2, which is 5 times higher than the native (brightfield) resolution of the non-computational optical system. Finally, we demonstrate our technique by producing high SBP polarization images of several anisotropic biologic samples, includes collagen tissue, congo red stained cardiac tissue, and a bean root sample.
Clinical outcomes for pediatric patients receiving radiotherapy for solid tumor central nervous system metastases.

Central nervous system (CNS) metastases are rare, but devastating complications of pediatric solid tumors. Radiotherapy alone or postresection serves as an important treatment; however, data on the use of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) versus focal radiotherapy, including stereotactic radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy, for these indications are limited. We report a single institution experience of 26 pediatric patients treated with radiotherapy for solid tumor CNS metastases without leptomeningeal disease. Focal radiotherapy (n = 10) was well tolerated and survival outcomes did not differ between patients treated with WBRT (n = 16) versus focal radiation, suggesting that focal radiotherapy may be considered for patients with limited CNS metastases.
Aza-heterocycles via copper-catalyzed, remote C–H desaturation of amines

Summary A majority of medicines contain a nitrogen atom within a five- or six-membered ring. To rapidly access both such aza-heterocycles, we sought to develop a remote C–H desaturation of amines. Inspired by the Hofmann-Loffler-Freytag (HLF) synthesis of five-membered pyrrolidines, we tackled the century-old challenge of synthesizing six-membered piperidines by H-atom transfer. Herein, we present a double, vicinal C–H oxidation by dual catalysis, entailing Ir photocatalytic initiation of 1,5-HAT by an N-centered radical and Cu-catalyzed interception of the C-centered radical to facilitate desaturation. By this mechanism, two C–H bonds (δ and e to N) are regioselectively removed from unbiased, remote positions of an alkyl chain. Over 50 examples illustrate the efficiency, selectivity, functional group tolerance, and medicinal utility of the synthesis of both internal and terminal δ vinylic amines and aza-heterocycles. Mechanistic experiments probe the alkylcopper intermediate, as well as the kinetics and regioselectivity of the HAT and elimination steps.
Fiber Optics in Local Area Network Applications

Publisher Summary The chapter explains the the gap between system requirements and technology in order to arrive at a reasonable understanding of the cost-performance trade-offs for fiber optics in local data communication (LDC) and local area networks (LANs). This chapter discusses that LDC refer to performance, cost, and technology issues for individual links and provide a direct comparison with point-to-point digital telecommunications (DT) links; LAN discussions are related to the interconnection of links to form a network configuration. The chapter presents the ultimate impact of fiber optics on the evolving communication equipment standards; however, trends are becoming apparent. The chapter explores the parameters of the optical medium that are relevant to LDC in some detail. Of the particular importance to overall system performance, is the optical source and the interface between the optical source, and the fiber. This includes such considerations as operating wavelength, optical linewidth, response time, and coupling efficiency. The significance of each of the factors is examined in the chapter.
Dangers, Diversions, and Decisions: The Process of Criminal Desistance Among Formerly Incarcerated Young Men

Young adult men (ages 18-24) who exit the juvenile justice system are at high risk for repeat offending. However, little is known qualitatively about the strategies that they use to navigate criminal influences, crime temptations, and the possibility of getting “caught.” To address this gap, the authors used narrative methods involving 30 in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 formerly incarcerated young men between the ages of 19 and 24. Coding and memoing were used to identify major themes and data patterns. Results indicated two distinct groups; one group engaged in a series of micro-level decision-making processes to navigate challenges in their everyday living environments, which helped to facilitate their gradual abstinence from crime. The second group was equally tested by contextual challenges, but they made decisions to minimize their criminal involvement to avoid the risk of repeat incarceration, which negatively influenced their desistance patterns. The results lend themselves to better unders...
HUMAN REQUIREMENTS FOR VITAMIN B6.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the estimation of the vitamin B 6 requirement of the human body. Therapeutic use of pyridoxine in clinical syndromes associated with a deficiency in this vitamin, although exceedingly limited, have usually been associated with rather massive doses and have, therefore, yielded little information that may be applicable to the estimation of the vitamin B 6 requirement of the normal human. Present knowledge would indicate that the normal young adult human requires a minimum of 1.5-1.75 mg of vitamin B 6 per day. Individuals consuming protein in excess of 100 gm per day may require slightly more, while with low intakes of protein, somewhat less of the vitamin appears to be required. The requirement for infants is approximately 0.40 mg per day based on the limited information available. The influence of various other factors, including physical stresses and stresses of pregnancy and lactation, sex, age groups, and diet on vitamin B 6 requirements await further studies. In rare instances, patients are encountered who have metabolic defects that result in a marked increase in their requirement for vitamin B 6 .
Assigning Sensors to Competing Missions

When a sensor network is deployed in the field, it is typically required to support multiple simultaneous missions, which may start and finish at different times. Schemes that match sensor resources to mission demands thus become necessary. In this paper, we propose centralized and distributed schemes to assign sensors to missions. We also adapt our distributed scheme to make it energy-aware to extend network lifetime. Finally, we show simulation results comparing these solutions. We find that our greedy algorithm frequently performs near-optimally and that the distributed schemes usually perform nearly as well.
Effect of Flow Depth and Velocity on Nitrate Loss Rates in Natural Channels1

Carleton, James N. and Yusuf M. Mohamoud, 2012. Effect of Flow Depth and Velocity on Nitrate Loss Rates in Natural Channels. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1-12. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12007 Abstract: Loss rates of nitrate from streams and rivers are governed by movement of the ion from water column to anoxic bed sediments. Quantitative representations of nitrate in streams and rivers have often treated such losses as governed by first-order mechanisms that are invariant with respect to potential modulating factors other than temperature. Results of studies in recent years, however, suggest that rates of water column-sediment mass transfer are influenced by stream geometry and associated hydraulics. We develop expressions for the instream nitrate loss rate coefficient, k, as a function of water velocity and depth, using hydraulic geometry to empirically relate velocity to depth for two cases: (1) variability in mean conditions among reaches; and (2) temporal variability in conditions at a single reach, under changing flow. The result is expressions for k as functions of water column depth. Measured stream k values reported in the literature are shown to be well represented by expressions developed for the first case, and the potential for application to probabilistic analysis is briefly examined. We explore the latter case using the Hydrologic Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF) model, modified to incorporate the dependence of k on instantaneous stream depth. In example simulations of two nitrate-exporting watersheds, the incorporation of depth-dependence of k produces improvement in the model’s ability to match observed stream nitrate concentrations.
Supersymmetry, Q-Balls, and Dark Matter

Supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model predict the existence of Q-balls, some of which can be entirely stable. Both stable and unstable Q-balls can play an important role in cosmology. In particular, Affleck-Dine baryogenesis can result in a copious production of stable baryonic Q-balls, which can presently exist as a form of dark matter. Formation and decay of unstable Q-balls can also have some important effects on baryogenesis and phase transitions.
An evaluation of intravenous Pituitrin

Abstract We must stress over and over again that Pituitrin by intravenous drip is not advocated for general use by untrained individuals. It is only for trained and experienced obstetrical specialists that the horizon has broadened. This agent is not a pancea for all obstetrical difficulties in labor but another invaluable and controllable agent which serves to decrease operative deliveries, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and maternal morbidity in indicated cases. However, if its effectiveness is not evident quite clearly and distinctly after a few hours, another method of delivery should be promptly instituted. Persistence in its administration may lead to disaster and result in an unjust condemnation of the agent which was improperly employed.
Characterization of Senescence in Lemna gibba G3: A Determinate Growth System

The present work was undertaken to characterize frond senescence in Lemna gibba G3, and to investigate its control by light, ABA and kinetin, all of which are known to affect leaf senescence one way or the other in many systems (Thimann 1987)
Sport and Masculinity: The Promise and Limits of Title IX

This paper uses the lens of masculinities theory to examine the connections between sport and masculinity and considers how law both reinforces and intervenes in sport’s production of masculinity. The paper urges moving beyond a "women vs. men" framework for examining gender equality in sport to include critical study of sport’s relationship to masculinities. The primary law examined in this chapter is Title IX of the Education Amendments in 1972, which is widely (and properly) credited with the explosive growth of women’s sports in the intervening decades. While Title IX has greatly expanded the range of culturally valued femininities for women, and broadened the social category of "woman" in the process, it has not broadened the masculinities that sport constructs for male athletes, nor has it made significant inroads into the hyper-masculine ethos that pervades the most-valued men’s sports. The paper draws out several themes that characterize sport’s relationship to masculinity, including: the historic purpose of adding sport to schools in order to produce more masculine boys; the multi-dimensional nature of the masculinities sport constructs; the hierarchies of masculinity within men’s sports; and the costs to even the beneficiaries of a hegemonic masculinity produced through sport. The paper then turns to consider why it is that, despite the massive entry of women into sport in the past four decades, sport’s relationship to masculinity has not significantly changed. The paper examines how several aspects of Title IX reinforce this relationship, including Title IX’s default rules approving of sex-segregated teams and its limited integration rights, and an equal treatment standard that accepts as a baseline the hierarchies within men’s sports that privilege the most masculine sports, football and basketball. The paper then turns to a more promising development in the potential for law to intervene in the production of masculinity, examining recent cases in which Title IX has held educational institutions accountable for the harms caused by extreme performances of hyper-masculinity, including sexual assaults by male athletes of women and of other male athletes. The article notes some reasons for caution, but views this development as a potentially useful intervention into the worst excesses of hegemonic masculinity in sport. Finally, the article urges an examination of the costs of hegemonic masculinity to even those men who benefit from it. Exposing the costs to men of hegemonic masculinity is a critical part of beginning to think about how we might change sport’s relationship to masculinity so as to develop alternative, more democratic masculinities through sport.
Evaluating the use of ram and suction during prey capture by cichlid fishes

We characterized prey-capture strategies in seven species of cichlid fishes representing diverse trophic habits and anticipated feeding abilities. The species examined were Petenia splendida , Cichla ocellaris , Cichlasoma minckleyi , Astronotus ocellatus , Crenicichla geayi , Heros severus (formerly Cichlasoma severum ) and Cyprichromis leptosoma . Three individuals per species were filmed with video at 500Hz as they captured live adult Artemia sp. and Poecilia reticulata . For each feeding sequence, we measured the contribution of predator movement towards the prey (i.e. ram) and the movement of prey towards the predator due to suction. The use of ram differed significantly among prey types and predator species, varying as much as sixfold across predator species. High values of ram resulted in high attack velocities. Jaw protrusion contributed as much as 50% to overall ram values in some species, verifying its role in enhancing attack velocity. Suction distance did not vary significantly among species. Diversity in prey-capture behavior was therefore found to reflect differences among species in the strategy used to approach prey. Limited variation in the distance from which prey were sucked into the mouth is interpreted as the result of an expected exponential decline in water velocity with distance from the mouth of the suction-feeding predator. We propose that this relationship represents a major constraint on the distance over which suction feeding is effective for all aquatic-feeding predators.
Experimental examination of factors that affect dust generation by using Heubach and MRI testers.

Four factors that affect dust generation were investigated—type of test material, particle size distribution of the test material, moisture content of the test material, and apparatus used to generate dust. Dust generated from silicon carbide and aluminum oxide was measured by using MRI and Heubach dustiness testers modified to allow the measurement of dust particle size distribution with an Andersen impactor. The two materials investigated generated similar dusts. The size distribution of the test material slightly influenced the amount but strongly influenced the size distribution of the dust generated. Increased moisture content decreased the amount of dust generated; moisture content had little influence on dust size distribution. The two testers generated different amounts of dust; however, the dust particle size distributions generated were similar. These results help explain factors that affect dust generation and the relative importance of alternative methods for dust control.
Kinetic and spectroscopic investigations of the covalent binding of benzidine to quinones

Model studies of the covalent binding of benzidine (4,4′‒diaminobiphenyl), a hazardous biphenyl amine, to humic acid have been carried out through kinetic and spectroscopic investigation of the reaction of benzidine with substituted quinones in aqueous solution. Benzidine reacts with quinones through a single‒phase second‒order mechanism involving addition of the amino group of benzidine to the C=O group of the quinone (imine formation) and the C=C bond in the quinone ring (1,4‒nucleophilic addition), respectively. The products do not show reversibility in water. Reactivity decreases with increase in substitution on the quinone rings. The results provide more understanding of the pathway by which aromatic amines could couple with quinonoid groups present in humic acids.
Soot formation in flames of model biodiesel fuels

Abstract The sooting propensities of non-premixed flames of a class of model biodiesel fuels, namely fatty acid esters, were studied systematically. Soot volume fractions were measured using the laser extinction method in the counter-flow configuration, for different fuel/N 2 molar ratios and atmospheric pressure. The experimental data were compared against those obtained in flames of n -alkanes with similar carbon numbers and a flame of a surrogate diesel fuel. For all cases considered, it was determined that the soot volume fraction increases with the fuel concentration, as expected. Furthermore, the model biodiesel fuels were shown to produce significantly less soot compared to the corresponding n -alkanes. Additional experimental studies were carried as well, in order to assess the effects of carbon number, type of ester group (methyl or ethyl), and extent of saturation on the sooting propensity of flames of these model biodiesel fuels. Three recently developed chemical kinetic models were utilized to model the flames and thus investigate the kinetic pathways controlling the formation of C 2 H 4 and two key soot precursors, namely C 2 H 2 and C 3 H 3 , aiming to provide insight into the experimentally observed differences in the sooting propensity among the flames of the various fuels that were considered.
The western North Atlantic record of MIS 13 to 10: Changes in primary productivity, organic carbon accumulation and benthic foraminiferal assemblages in sediments from the Blake Outer Ridge (ODP Site 1058)

Abstract We used multiple paleoceanographic proxies to examine sediments from the Blake Outer Ridge (ODP Site 1058, 2996 m water depth) that span the MIS 13–10 time interval. Benthic foraminiferal δ 13 C, organic δ 13 C, and total δ 15 N values are lower in MIS 12 and 10 than in MS 11, and indicate glacial–interglacial changes in both thermohaline circulation and ocean-wide biogeochemical processes that affect deep and surface waters. Three time intervals of higher productivity, as evidenced by higher organic carbon accumulation rates (1.6–4.5 g m − 2 yr − 1 ), occur at the end of MIS 13 and during the early and late parts of MIS 11, in association with the transition from obliquity minima to obliquity maxima. Benthic faunas in these intervals show a distinct increase in opportunistic species that feed on phytodetritus ( Epistominella exigua ) or are adapted to elevated but intermittent organic carbon fluxes ( Bulimina aculeata and Bulimina marginata ) and that imply episodes of recurrent phytoplankton blooms at the surface and consequent export of labile organic matter to the seafloor. Late interglacial MIS 11.3 is a time of low organic carbon fluxes ( − 2 yr − 1 ) and is characterized by higher abundances of epifaunal benthic foraminiferal taxa ( Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi , Gyroidina spp., Gyroidinoides spp. and Nuttallides umbonifera ) that are typical of modern oligotrophic environments. In contrast, during glacial MIS 12 and 10 higher organic carbon fluxes (> 0.5 g m − 2 yr − 1 ) and benthic assemblages dominated by infaunal taxa ( Uvigerina spp . and Bulimina alazanensis ) indicate sustained organic carbon delivery and diminished pore water oxygenation.
Characteistics of Multiwire Proportional Chambers for Positron Imaging

We describe multivire proportional chambers (MWPC) designed for use in a positron camera for Nuclear Medicine applications. The coordinates of the two annihilation gamma rays are detected in the chamber by their interaction with thin lead converters placed on both faces of each chamber. In order to obtain reasonable efficiencies (10%) the lead converters have been made in a square honeycomb-like structure, which increases the effective surface area and also permits the application of a drift field to extract the electrons into the active area of the MWPC.
The biosynthesis of metallothionein in rat liver and kidney after administration of cadmium

The biosynthesis of the cadmium-binding protein, metallothionein, was studied in rat liver and kidney after injection of cadmium chloride. A simplified procedure for the isolation of metallothionein from liver and kidney tissues was devised. It was found that the concentration of a subcutaneously injected dose of 30 mumoles of 109CdCl2/kg in the liver reached the maximum within 36 h. Thereafter, a slow decrease in the concentration of the isotope was noted during the 3 week period. In the kidney, the isotope was taken up in two phases. During the first phase the uptake was faster and lasted for about 4 days. The second phase of 109Cd accumulation showed a slower increase in the concentration oe 109Cd was associated with metallothionein. Amino acid incorporation studies revealed that active biosynthesis of metallothionein took place in the kidney as well as in the liver of cadmium-exposed rats. The turnover of 35S-labeled metallothionein was also investigated and the half-lives of the hepatic and the renal metallothionein were found to be 2.8 and 5 days, respectively.
The effect of digital cervical examination on group B streptococcal culture

Objective We sought to evaluate whether group B streptococcus (GBS) detection is altered by the digital cervical examination. Study Design A total of 302 women undergoing the clinical GBS culture had a digital cervical examination and a repeated GBS culture. Statistical comparison of pre–post culture results were performed with kappa and McNemar tests. Results The clinical prevalence of GBS was 19.5%. Discordant results were seen in 30/302 (9.9%) paired cultures (κ = 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.568–0.783). An initially negative GBS culture result was positive on repeated testing in 13/243 (5.3%) pairs. Initially positive cultures were negative on repeated testing in 17/59 (28.8%) pairs. Patients with discordant results had similar characteristics as the remainder of the study group. Given the observed proportion of discordant results (9.9%), the study had 80% power to detect a 5% difference between discordant pairs. Conclusion Paired GBS cultures showed a good level of agreement. The 28.8% rate of positive cultures becoming negative is clinically concerning and warrants further study.
Barotropic Rossby Wave Dynamics of Zonally Varying Upper-Level Flows during Northern Winter

Abstract The evolution of linear Rossby waves on representative zonally varying upper-tropospheric flows is examined. Structures associated with maximum perturbation energy growth over both short and long time intervals are obtained. Sensitivity is determined with respect to the background flow, the manner in which the background flow is maintained, and vertical level. The background flows considered are a 26 winter 250-mb climatology obtained from the National Meteorological Center, 13-winter 300-, 250-, and 150-mb climatologies obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, flows representative of warm and cold ENSO events, and nearby free steady solutions of the nonlinear barotropic vorticity equation. The principal finding is that no matter which of the above background flows is used, no matter how the perturbation problem is formulated, no matter whether modal or nonmodal evolution is considered, the growth of free perturbations in a linear barotropic model is too weak to expla...
In Pursuit of a Singular Text: New Testament Textual Criticism and the Desire for the True Original

‘In Pursuit of a Singular Text’ surveys developments in the field of New Testament textual criticism, exploring the underlying desire for a transcendent text that informs this work. In the nineteenth century, New Testament text critics and their rivals, defenders of a traditional or Byzantine Greek text, set out to restore the original and, therefore, true text of the New Testament. Identifying the original with long-lost autograph copies and assuming that a fixed, standardized text must form the basis of Christian faith, these scholars reinforced culturally specific notions of true text in order to restore the link between diverse, particular manifestations of text and the sacred, abstracted text of the New Testament. Yet, worries about textual corruption and claims about the necessity of correction are not exceptional or new, they are fundamental to the maintenance of a belief in a stable textual ground upon which interpretive claims can be legitimately based.
Post-anesthesia vomiting: Impact of isoflurane and morphine on ferrets and musk shrews

Although partially controlled with antiemetic drugs, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continues to be a problem for many patients. Clinical research suggests that opioid analgesics and volatile anesthetics are the main triggers of PONV. The aim of this study was to develop an animal model for post-anesthesia vomiting for future studies to further determine mechanisms and preclinical drug efficacy. Ferrets (N=34) were initially used because they have served as a gold standard for emesis research. Ferrets were tested with several doses of morphine, inhaled isoflurane, and a positive control injection of cisplatin (a chemotherapy agent) to induce emesis. Musk shrews (a small animal model; N=36) were also tested for emesis with isoflurane exposure. A control injection of cisplatin produced emesis in ferrets (ip, 129.8±22.0 retches; 13.7±2.3 vomits; mean ± SEM). Morphine produced a dose-response on emesis in ferrets, with maximal responses at 0.9 mg/kg (sc, 29.6±12.6 retches; 1.8±0.9, vomits). Isoflurane exposure (2–4% for 10 min to 6 h exposure) failed to induce vomiting, was not associated with an increased frequency in emesis when combined with a low dose of morphine (0.1 mg/kg, sc), and failed to produced consistent effects on food and water intake. In contrast to ferrets, musk shrews were very sensitive to isoflurane-induced emesis (0.5 to 3%, 10 min exposure; up to 11.8±2.4 emetic episodes). Overall, these results indicate that ferrets will not be useful for delineating mechanisms responsible for isoflurane-induced emesis; however, musk shrews may prove to be a model for vomiting after inhalation of volatile agents.
An Improved Algorithm Based on Optimized PTS in MIMO-OFDM System

The fourth generation mobile communication system is a high-speed broadband wireless communication system, it needs MIMO and OFDM technology which have high spectral efficiency and suitable for a multi-path fading channel. Because the MIMO-OFDM system is still an multi-carrier modulation system, the main drawback is the high PAPR value. This paper proposed an improved algorithm based on optimized PTS to reduce PAPR in STBC MIMO-OFDM system. The simulation results show that the improved algorithm can effectively reduce the PAPR value and do not increase the amount of computation in STBC MIMO-OFDM system.