cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment with luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone antagonist sb-75 decreases levels of epidermal growth-factor receptor and its messenger-RNA in ov-1063 human epithelial ovarian-cancer xenografts in nude-mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of administration of LH-RH antagonist SB-75 and agonist [D-Trp(6)]LH-RH on receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in OV-1063 human epithelial ovarian cancer. Female athymic nude mice bearing xenografts of OV-1063 human epithelial ovarian cancer were treated for 3 weeks with the modern LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) antagonist [Ac-DNal(2)(1), D-Phe(4Cl)(2), D-Pal(3)(3), D-Cit(6), D-Ala(10)] LH-RH (SB-75, Cetrorelix), the agonist [D-Trp(6)]LH-RH, or bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonist RC-3095. SB-75 and [D-Trp(6)] LH-RH were injected s.c. at doses of 100 mu g/day, and RC-3095 was injected at a dose of 40 mu g/day. Tumor growth, as measured by percentage change in tumor volume, was significantly inhibited by the treatment with SB-75, but not by [D-Trp(6)] LH-RH or RC-3095. Treatment with SB-75 greatly decreased the levels of mRNA for EGF receptor and reduced the number of EGF binding sites on tumor membranes. Effects of SB-75 on EGF receptors might be related to inhibition of tumor growth. Our findings support the view that LH-RH antagonists such as SB-75 could be considered for possible hormonal therapy of epithelial ovarian cancer.
Genetic Alteration of Adenylic Pyrophosphorylase in Salmonella

A mutant of Salmonella typhimurium, resistant to inhibition by 2, 6-diaminopurine, differs from its sensitive wild-type parent by an altered adenylic acid pyrophosphorylase. The altered enzyme, though still active with adenine as substrate, is inactive in the conversion of diaminopurine to its nucleotide. It also differs from the wildtype enzyme in a number of physical and chemical properties.
Physical activity exercise coping and depression in a 10-year cohort study of depressed patients

Abstract Background Epidemiological research examining the relationship between physical activity and depression has been conducted almost exclusively with community samples. We examined associations between physical activity, exercise coping, and depression in a sample of initially depressed patients, using four waves of data spanning 10 years. Methods A cohort (n = 424) of depressed adults completed measures of physical activity, exercise coping, depression, and other demographic and psychosocial constructs at baseline, 1-year, 4-years, and 10-years, with a 90% wave-to-wave retention rate. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze individual depression trajectories. Results More physical activity was associated with less concurrent depression, even after controlling for gender, age, medical problems, and negative life events. Physical activity counteracted the effects of medical conditions and negative life events on depression. However, physical activity was not associated with subsequent depression. The findings for exercise coping were comparable. Limitations Measures of physical activity and exercise coping encompassed a limited set of activities and did not include information about duration or intensity. Conclusion Our results suggest that more physical activity is associated with reduced concurrent depression. In addition, it appears that physical activity may be especially helpful in the context of medical problems and major life stressors. Clinically, encouraging depressed patients to engage in physical activity is likely to have potential benefits with few obvious risks.
The Osseo variety

The Osseo is an early, puick maturing variety with a distinct upright compact habit of growth. Yields are comparable to Waseca and Red Warba with an exceptionally high per cent composed of tubers above 2I/4'' in diameter. Tubers are white, smooth, round, blocky and uniform in size. It should prove useful wherever an extra whrly white variety is desired.
Cache considerations for multiprocessor programmers

Although caches in most computers are invisible to programmers, they significantly affect program performance. This is particularly true for cache-coherent, shared-memory multiprocessors. This article presents recent research into the performance of parallel programs and its implications for programmers who may know little about caches.
Economic policies of the Habibie presidency: a retrospective

Abstract B.J. Habibie ascended to the presidency in the midst of a severe economic crisis, and with a reputation as an economic nationalist rather than reformer. Nevertheless, Habibie had the mantle of reformer thrust upon him, and important steps toward economic reform were taken during his 1998–99 presidency. Among these were reforms of domestic and foreign trade policies, the development of anti-monopoly and consumer protection laws, and the decentralisation of fiscal and regulatory authority. Through strict adherence to monetary discipline, moreover, Habibie accomplished a macroeconomic stabilisation that had eluded Soeharto in his last months as president. Other changes in economic policies and practices under Habibie, notably a populist program to distribute government largesse to cooperatives and small business and the extraction of election campaign funds from banks dependent on state authority, were steps in the wrong direction, if economic efficiency and good governance were among the goals.
Two Reforms of Charlemagne? Weights and Measures in the Middle Ages

W l rITHIN a few generations of the death of Charlemagne the organizational and political structure of his 'empire was destroyed. The geographical ties which had held together the empire, always a patchwork of conquests, were dissolved in the fratricidal struggles among the successors of the great Charles. His era of relative peace, intellectual consolidation, and economic prosperity, however modest, remained for centuries a memory of better times, a golden age, to European populations constantly harassed by Saracen, Norman, and Hungarian invaders. Hard times, however, could not eradicate those features of the Carolingian empire whose preservation was assured by their utility. The court hand, Carolingian minuscule, survived in manuscripts and scriptoria for centuries; the system of weights and measures decreed by Charlemagne remained to influence standards even into modern times. What were the metrological reforms introduced into Europe by Charlemagne ? There is at present no consensus among historians regarding this, one of the two most lasting vestiges of the Carolingian empire. We know that the monetary account pound was fixed by Charlemagne at 20 shillings and 240 pence; we know that the pound weight was divided into i2 ounces; we know also that a pound weight was often measured in shillings so that 2o shillings equalled a pound weight and an ounce equalled 2o pence. Such archetypal numerical relationships are clear and in their proper sphere useful, but unfortunately they do not reveal the basic unit of weight to which the divisions themselves apply, and without knowledge of these basic measures and weights, economic history is mute, condemned to statistical silence. It is the purpose of this paper to attempt to provide a new method of solving this problem, but first I must apologize to the reader for inflicting upon him a highly abstract and at times, perhaps, tedious argument, offering nothing more than the importance of the subject as my excuse. In the interest of clarity, however, a precis of the argument may be helpful: the documentation will be presented subsequently. First, we shall make an investigation of numismatic frequency tables of coin weights to determine the range of possible weights for the Carolingian pound, given the evidence of the surviving coins. Secondly, on the bases of historical convenience, logic, and internal consistency, we will postulate that the weight of a grain, the smallest subdivision of the pound, was once the same in France, Flanders, and England, but was subsequently altered. Then, employing a slight variant of the present English grain weight, the numerical grain content of the heavy Flemish gold mark' will be rendered in grams; this produces a
Solubilization in microemulsions and application to separations

Abstract Microemulsions possess distinct advantages in terms of phase behavior and droplet size over coarse emulsions as liquid membranes for separations. In order to achieve an efficient separation, the phase behavior of the microemulsion must fulfill several constraints. In an attempt to formulate microemulsions with the desired phase behavior, a solubilization study of a nonionic water-in-oil microemulsion system was conducted. One of the key attributes of the microemulsion system studied is the absence of a cosolvent. A simple geometric model is proposed to explain the observed effects of hydrocarbon chain length and electrolyte concentration on solubilization. This model is useful for optimization of microemulsion formulation. The microemulsion system developed was used to separate acetic acid from a dilute aqueous solution. The effect of mixing speed as well as treat ratio on separation rate and leakage were also investigated. Demulsification of the microemulsion to recover the separated acetic acid was successfully achieved.
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For: Suggestions for Next Generation Search User Interfaces

The fundamental nature of how people engage with online information is changing with the move from desktop to mobile, from web pages to social, and from text to video. How should all of this affect search user interfaces and research into these topics? I'll discuss these questions as well as argue for researchers to consider some less popular, "orphan" search problems.
Competence and challenges of emergency medicine training as reported by emergency medicine residents.

Abstract Background The American Board of Emergency Medicine conducts an annual survey of residents in Emergency Medicine, the Longitudinal Study of Residents in Emergency Medicine survey. Objective: This study was undertaken to describe self-reported competence and challenges facing Emergency Medicine (EM) residents. Methods In this descriptive, observational analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Residents in Emergency Medicine survey, survey data from 1996–2008 were compared for 70 survey items. Responses were analyzed with means and 95% confidence intervals by post-graduate year (PGY) and over time. Results A total of 496 residents were included in this study. Most participated for 3 years, for a total of 1320 total responses. The most serious day-to-day challenges reported by residents (overall median scores of 3 or more) included knowing enough, keeping up with the medical literature, having enough time for personal life, ancillary support, and having enough time for family. Current level of competence in areas deemed weakest by residents included grant writing, contract negotiation, academic writing, disaster planning, research, and financial management. Residents reported improved competence in most (15 out of 16) areas from PGY-1 to PGY-3 year of training. Resident reports of competence did not change significantly over time from 1998–2008 (15 out of 16 items). Conclusions Emergency Medicine residents identified several important day-to-day problems, including knowing enough, keeping up with the medical literature, and having enough time for a personal life. PGY-3 residents reported improved competence in almost all aspects of EM work and clinical EM as compared to PGY-1 residents. Knowledge of perceived competence and problems among EM residents is crucial to the development of improved educational approaches to address these issues.
Ashwiwo Hada-Feeling the Want of Something More

As a fledgling anthropologist, I went into the "field" in 2002 with guidebooks, hopes, and memories of coursework that I hoped would help me along my path to doing fieldwork with Amerasians in South Korea. The conception of "Amerasian" as a politically termed and charged identity was coined by Pearl S. Buck, the famous novelist who won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Nobel Prize in Literature. In the 1980s it became a legal definition with the passage of Public Law 97-359,1 also known as the Amerasian Act of 1982, which gave certain mixed Asians born in Asia of "American" paternal descent the ability to immigrate to the United States. With the substantial size of the United States military presence in Asia, which can be dated back as far as the late 1880s with the annexation of the Philippines, there are a large number of "Amerasian" populations throughout Asia, but only a few have the ability to be "almost" American, let alone "almost" Korean or otherwise.
Surface composition and electrical and electrochemical properties of freshly deposited and acid-etched indium tin oxide electrodes.

We compare the near-surface composition and electroactivity of commercial indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films, activated by plasma cleaning or etching with strong haloacids, with ITO films that have been freshly deposited in high vacuum, before and after exposure to the atmosphere or water vapor. Conductive-tip AFM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the electrochemistry of probe molecules in solution were used to compare the relative degrees of electroactivity and the near-surface composition of these materials. Brief etching of commercial ITO samples with concentrated HCl or HI significantly enhances the electrical activity of these oxides as revealed by C-AFM. XPS was used to compare the composition of these activated surfaces, focusing on the intrinsically asymmetric O 1s line shape. Energy-loss processes associated with photoemission from the tin-doped, oxygen-deficient oxides complicate the interpretation of the O 1s spectra. O 1s spectra from the stoichiometric indium oxide lattice are accom...
The Extraordinary Cataclysmic Binary RU Pegasi: The Hottest White Dwarf in a Dwarf Nova?

We present the results of the first multicomponent synthetic spectral analysis of International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) archival spectra of the long-period dwarf nova RU Peg during quiescence. The best-fit, high-gravity, solar composition photosphere models yield Teff = 50,000-53,000 K with scale factor distances of 250 pc. Optically thick accretion disk models imply accretion rates between 1 × 10-9 and 1 × 10-10 M☉ yr-1 in order to match the steeply sloping far-UV continuum. However, the best-fit accretion disk models yield distances from 600 to 1300 pc, well beyond the estimated distance range of 130-300 pc. Using rough theoretical flux arguments and the distance estimates, we find better agreement between the observed far-UV luminosity and the predicted far-UV luminosity of a hot, massive, white dwarf model than with an accretion disk model. RU Peg appears to contain the hottest white dwarf yet found in a dwarf nova. We cannot rule out that the far-UV energy distribution is due to a multitemperature white dwarf with cooler, more slowly rotating higher latitudes and a rapidly spinning, hotter equatorial belt. We discuss implications of our analysis for theoretical predictions of the disk instability theory of dwarf nova outbursts. We discuss a comparison between RU Peg's white dwarf and the observed properties of other analyzed white dwarfs in dwarf novae.
Casting off from shore: Recent nonpastoral books for venturesome pastoral theologians

Not all of us pastoral theologians, ! fear, are venturesome. By "venturesome" I mean willing to cast off from shore and head for deeper waters of theory and reflection, beyond what is safely "pastoral ," in order to return to the immediate concerns of our field with enlarged experience and understanding. So I have picked out a few books for this essay that call us to venture into some deeper waters. These are nonpastoral books having, I think, something significant to say about human existence that those who reflect seriously on pastoral care and counseling may find worthwhile. Regular readers of this journal are aware that periodically I come up with an essay of this kind surveying books we have not otherwise been able to review for lack of space.1 The books in this essay fall into this category, which means that they tend to be somewhat tangential to pastoral concerns though they may be no less important in their own right and may offer perspectives on the human situation or on human caring of deep importance for pastoral reflection. Since this is my last contribution as Book Editor for this journal, and thus a kind of swan song, I am taking the liberty to focus this year 's review very broadly around a theme that I feel holds considerable importance for contemporary pastoral theology, the theme of spirituality and human existence.
Development and application of software for the analysis of magnetically induced subsequent fault (MISFault)

As an initial electric fault occurs, the fault current would result in a strong magnetic force and torque exerted on the power line conductors. The rotational magnetic torque, in turn, would make the power lines with sags swing and may bring them to close proximity or in contact with one another, causing a subsequent fault. For the analysis of the magnetically induced subsequent fault (MISFault), software has been developed as the end product of a multi-year research project sponsored by Duke Energy Company. The software is capable of predicting the smallest distance between the power line conductors during their swing procedure, from which one can predict the probability of the magnetically induced subsequent fault; and determine the allowed span length range from consideration of eliminating the subsequent fault, which is anticipated to be useful for a utility in long span design. The software has been tested and the accuracy of its computation results has been validated by verifying that the energy conservation law requirement is well satisfied. The MISFault software is being used by Duke Energy Company. It is user friendly and is expected to be useful to a utility for eliminating the magnetically induced subsequent fault.
Mentoring and Protégé Narcissistic Entitlement

The relationship between protege narcissistic entitlement and protege mentoring outcomes is examined among a total sample of 132 proteges employed in a variety of settings. Narcissistic entitlement (NE) refers to a dispositional variable that reflects preoccupation with the expectation of special and preferential treatment from others. Results indicate that proteges with greater NE report relationships of shorter duration, less career mentoring support, lower relationship quality, and greater negative mentoring experiences than do proteges with lesser NE. Additionally, protege NE moderated the relationship between mentor commitment and relationship quality such that the relationship was stronger for proteges higher in NE than for proteges lower in NE. NE was not related to whether participants had experience as a protege. Implications include the need for expanded education regarding mentoring relationships that take into account the role the individual plays in the relationship.
Conditions for Correct Sensor Network Localization Using SDP Relaxation

A Semidefinite Programming (SDP) relaxation is an effective computational method to solve a Sensor Network Localization problem, which attempts to determine the locations of a group of sensors given the distances between some of them. In this paper, we analyze and determine new sufficient conditions and formulations that guarantee that the SDP relaxation is exact, i.e., gives the correct solution. These conditions can be useful for designing sensor networks and managing connectivities in practice. Our main contribution is threefold: First, we present the first non-asymptotic bound on the connectivity (or radio) range requirement of randomly distributed sensors in order to ensure the network is uniquely localizable with high probability. Determining this range is a key component in the design of sensor networks, and we provide a result that leads to a correct localization of each sensor, for any number of sensors. Second, we introduce a new class of graphs that can always be correctly localized by an SDP relaxation. Specifically, we show that adding a simple objective function to the SDP relaxation model will ensure that the solution is correct when applied to a triangulation graph. Since triangulation graphs are very sparse, this is informationally efficient, requiring an almost minimal amount of distance information. Finally, we analyze a number of objective functions for the SDP relaxation to solve the localization problem for a general graph.
Power Semiconductor Device Figure of Merit for High-Power-Density Converter Design Applications

In order to help device selection and optimal application in high-power-density converter designs, a new power semiconductor device figure of merit (FOM)-power density FOM-is proposed, with consideration of power device conduction and switching losses, thermal characteristics, and package. The FOM is derived based on the device theory, and its validity and usefulness are demonstrated with a practical design example.
INCORPORATING BIOMECHANICAL RESEARCH TOPICS INTO K-12 CLASSROOM DESIGN PROJECTS TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION AND INCREASE ENGINEERING INTEREST

This paper describes a successful new biomechanical engineering curriculum created and implemented in two highly diverse local high schools by two graduate TEAMS (Tomorrow’s Engineers[[ellipsis]] creAte. iMagine. Succeed.) Fellows. In the semester-long curriculum, students create robotic surgical devices to diagnose and biopsy endometriosis, a pathology that afflicts roughly 5% of the adult female population. Curriculum focusing on anatomy, physiology, and tissue mechanics was also included to enhance the students’ understanding of the human body and its response to engineering materials. Focusing this course on cutting-edge, biomechanical research that explicitly and authentically illustrates how engineering benefits society resulted in increased enrollment in engineering by underrepresented populations. This paper also discusses personal reflections by the two graduate Fellows of the benefits gained and lessons learned during the design and implementation of this innovative high school curriculum.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A novel non‐CB1/TRPV1 endocannabinoid‐mediated mechanism depresses excitatory synapses on hippocampal CA1 interneurons

Endocannabinoids (eCBs) mediate various forms of synaptic plasticity at excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the brain. The eCB anandamide binds to several receptors including the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). We recently identified that TRPV1 is required for long-term depression at excitatory synapses on CA1 hippocampal stratum radiatum interneurons. Here we performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings from CA1 stratum radiatum interneurons in rat brain slices to investigate the effect of the eCB anandamide on excitatory synapses as well as the involvement of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which have been reported to produce eCBs endogenously. Application of the nonhydrolysable anandamide analog R-methanandamide depressed excitatory transmission to CA1 stratum radiatum interneurons by ∼50%. The Group I mGluR agonist DHPG also depressed excitatory glutamatergic transmission onto interneurons to a similar degree, and this depression was blocked by the mGluR5 antagonist MPEP (10 μM) but not by the mGluR1 antagonist CPCCOEt (50 μM). Interestingly, however, neither DHPG-mediated nor R-methanandamide-mediated depression was blocked by the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine (10 μM), the CB1 antagonist AM-251 (2 μM) or a combination of both, suggesting the presence of a novel eCB receptor or anandamide target at excitatory hippocampal synapses. DHPG also occluded R-methanandamide depression, suggesting the possibility that the two drugs elicit synaptic depression via a shared signaling mechanism. Collectively, this study illustrates a novel CB1/TRPV1-independent eCB pathway present in the hippocampus that mediates depression at excitatory synapses on CA1 stratum radiatum interneurons.
Analysis of call centre arrival data using singular value decomposition

SUMMARY We consider the general problem of analysing and modelling call centre arrival data. A method is described for analysing such data using singular value decomposition (SVD). We illustrate that the outcome from the SVD can be used for data visualization, detection of anomalies (outliers), and extraction of significant features from noisy data. The SVD can also be employed as a data reduction tool. Its application usually results in a parsimonious representation of the original data without losing much information. We describe how one can use the reduced data for some further, more formal statistical analysis. For example, a shortterm forecasting model for call volumes is developed, which is multiplicative with a time series component that depends on day of the week. We report empirical results from applying the proposed method to some real data collected at a call centre of a large-scale U.S. financial organization. Some issues about forecasting call volumes are also discussed. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leon Rappoport, Punchlines: The case for racial, ethnic, and gender humor

Leon Rappoport, Punchlines: The case for racial, ethnic, and gender humor. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2005. Pp. xv, 181. Hb $44.95.Written in a student-friendly style, Punchlines examines the state and development of racial, ethnic, and gender humor in the contemporary United States. The social psychologist Leon Rappoport's main objective is to save the reputation of this kind of humor from its “politically correct” critics. Specifically, Rappoport sets out to debunk two pieces of criticism: that this type of humor is inherently prejudiced against minorities, and that it contributes to anti-minority prejudice in society. The author argues that humor cannot be the automatic vehicle of prejudice because its reception is inevitably context-dependent. Different audiences react differently to the same words at different points in history. Also, racial, ethnic, and gender humor is widely performed and enjoyed by members of minorities. As to the second piece of criticism, Rappoport hypothesizes that this kind of humor, the often outrageous comedy of performers like Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor, renders intergroup hatred ludicrous and thus contributes to the destruction of prejudice and the decline of the significance of ethnicity in America. Ethnic humor immerses increasingly sophisticated mass audiences in the risky but entertaining and cathartic mud bath of human folly (racism, homophobia, misogyny) and then has them emerge cured from their own prejudices and hypocrisy.
A comprehensive analysis of adiponectin QTLs using SNP association, SNP cis-effects on peripheral blood gene expression and gene expression correlation identified novel metabolic syndrome (MetS) genes with potential role in carcinogenesis and systemic inflammation.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an aberration associated with increased risk for cancer and inflammation. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-produced abundant protein hormone, has countering effect on the diabetogenic and atherogenic components of MetS. Plasma levels of adiponectin are negatively correlated with onset of cancer and cancer patient mortality. We previously performed microsatellite linkage analyses using adiponectin as a surrogate marker and revealed two QTLs on chr5 (5p14) and chr14 (14q13). Using individuals from 85 extended families that contributed to the linkage and who were measured for 42 clinical and biologic MetS phenotypes, we tested QTL-based SNP associations, peripheral white blood cell (PWBC) gene expression, and the effects of cis-acting SNPs on gene expression to discover genomic elements that could affect the pathophysiology and complications of MetS. Adiponectin levels were found to be highly intercorrelated phenotypically with the majority of MetS traits. QTL-specific haplotype-tagging SNPs associated with MetS phenotypes were annotated to 14 genes whose function could influence MetS biology as well as oncogenesis or inflammation. These were mechanistically categorized into four groups: cell-cell adhesion and mobility, signal transduction, transcription and protein sorting. Four genes were highly prioritized: cadherin 18 (CDH18), myosin X (MYO10), anchor protein 6 of AMPK (AKAP6), and neuronal PAS domain protein 3 (NPAS3). PWBC expression was detectable only for the following genes with multi-organ or with multi-function properties: NPAS3, MARCH6, MYO10 and FBXL7. Strong evidence of cis-effects on the expression of MYO10 in PWBC was found with SNPs clustered near the gene’s transcription start site. MYO10 expression in PWBC was marginally correlated with body composition (p= 0.065) and adipokine levels in the periphery (p = 0.064). Variants of genes AKAP6, NPAS3, MARCH6 and FBXL7 have been previously reported to be associated with insulin resistance, inflammatory markers or adiposity studies using genome-wide approaches whereas associations of CDH18 and MYO10 with MetS traits have not been reported before. Adiponectin QTLs-based SNP association and mRNA expression identified genes that could mediate the association between MetS and cancer or inflammation.
Sampled-data output feedback control of uncertain nonholonomic systems in chained forms with applications to mobile robots

It is imperative to find a sampled-data controller for nonholonomic systems due to their implementation within digital computers. Nonholonomic systems in chained form are sufficiently important to research via the numerous real world applications, mobile robots being one of the biggest. Moreover, due to the presence of uncertain nonlinearities, most of the existing design methods are inapplicable to these systems. It has been proven that under a lower-triangular growth condition, a class of uncertain nonlinear systems can be globally stabilized by a sampled-data output feedback controller whose observer and control laws are discrete-time and linear. In this paper, using a change of coordinates and combining the recently developed sampled-data output feedback control method, we first design a sampled-data output feedback controller to stabilize the nonholonomic system with a single z-state. For nonholonomic systems with two-dimensional z-states, the output feedback control problem becomes much more challenging since the boundedness of the change of coordinates is not proved; we shall consider this in future works. Examples and computer simulations were conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed controllers for a single z-state.
Use of enzyme-developed immunoblots scanned by densitometry to compare lot-to-lot variability of Russian-thistle extracts

Two different lots of Russian-thistle extracts from five commercial sources were evaluated by isoelectric focusing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunoblots of Immobilon transfers from these separations. The immunoblots were developed by an enzyme-linked method and scanned with a densitometer. The two lots of a standardized extracts produced scans that suggested uniformity in allergenic components. Several of the nonstandarized extract lots also appeared quite comparable. With further refinement, immunoblotting with densitometric analysis appears to offer an attractive way to standardize allergen extracts.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Part I: Sensorimotor Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy, defined as objective evidence of neural im pairment accompanied by discern ible symptoms, is a common complication of diabetes. Pathologically it is considered a "dying back " neuropathy in which the distal portions of the neurons are first and more severely affected. Both vascular and metabolic hypotheses have been advanced for its patho genesis. Diabetic sensorimotor neuropathy has two subclasses: focal and distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. Signs and symp toms, complications, and guide lines for treatment are listed for the different syndromes. Current research includes investigations of the possible preventive and therapeutic roles of glycemic control and specific therapeutic agents.
The Impact of Military Spending on the Likelihood of Democratic Transition Failure: Testing Two Competing Theories

Many countries complete tenuous transitions to democracy and must work to prevent an authoritarian reversal, which is often at the hands of the military. One of the most important tools the new government has in dealing with the military is the amount of money allocated to the military. This leads to the question, how does government military spending in post-transition democratic countries affect the chances of democratic transition failure? The extant literature provides two answers. The first is to increase military spending to placate the military; the second is to decrease military spending to weaken the military and address social welfare needs. The article tests these two hypotheses by examining democratic transitions from 1967 to 1999 using both logit and survival analysis methods. The results of the study provide robust support for the hypothesis that decreasing military spending decreases the likelihood of a democratic transition failure.
The Structure and Function of Roots

In the latter part of the 17th century, Robert Hooke was one of the most influential scientists in the world. This versatile genius, who was adept in all areas of science known at that time, was Curator of Experiments, and also for a time served as Secretary, to the Royal Society in London. Among his many duties he was required, on occasion, to comment on the scientific papers presented by members at the weekly meetings of the Society. One such paper described studies of the translocation of substances within trees. It contained some interesting experiments and observations, but it was not a particularly distinguished investigation. Hooke’s comments following the presentation, however, are, when seen with the perspective of time, truly remarkable. He said: “To me it seems very probable, that the bodies of plants, as well as those of moving animals, are nourished and increased by a double food, the one an impregnated water, and the other an impregnated air, and that without a convenient supply of these two, the vegetable cannot subsist, at least not increase; these do mutually mix, and coalesce, and parts of the air convert to water, and parts of water to air, as some of these latter are rarify’d and freed from their chains, and become spiritual and airy, so others of the forementioned are clogged, and fettered and become debased. To this purpose all plants, as well as animals, have a two-fold kind of root, one that branches, and spreads into the earth, and other that spreads and shoots into the air, both kinds of roots serve to receive and carry their proper nourishment to the body of the plant, and both serve also to convey and carry off the useless recrements; useless I mean any farther, within the body of the plant, though useful to it when they are separated, and without it, the one for seasoning the earth and water, wherein it is planted, and the other for seasoning the air.”
Developing Oncology Biosimilars: An Essential Approach for the Future

The treatment of many diseases, particularly cancer, has been profoundly impacted by the introduction of biologic therapies (biologics), which are incorporated into the treatment algorithms of most oncology clinical practice guidelines. Biologics are large molecular weight, structurally complex proteins that are produced via complex manufacturing processes. With the patents of key biologics, including many widely used in oncology, set to expire in the near future, a number of pharmaceutical companies have focused on developing biosimilars. While the goal of development is to demonstrate that the biosimilar product is highly similar to the reference biologic product, biosimilars should not be viewed as "generic" biologics. Generic drugs are small chemical moieties that are identical to the patent-expired "reference" small-molecule drugs. It is not possible to produce an identical copy of a biologic, so the term "biosimilar" was chosen to define an appropriately similar biologic product. Improving patient access to cancer therapies such as biologics and reducing healthcare costs are key initiatives of the US Government; the integration of approved biosimilars into clinical practice will be instrumental in accomplishing these goals.
Free Wave Propagation in Plates of General Anisotropic Media

The propagation of Lamb waves in plates has been the subject of numerous investigations since their postulation by Lamb in 1916 [1,2]. Most of the work in existence deals with various aspects of these guided waves in plates of isotropic materials. Comparatively speaking a limited number of results has appeared in which Lamb or horizontaly polarized SH wave propagation in anisotropic plates has been considered in any detail. For Lamb waves, theoretical analyses have been reported in plates of cubic [3,4], transversely isotropic [5,6], and orthotropic [7,9] media.
Evaluation of Permethrin-Impregnated Cotton Balls as Potential Nesting Material To Control Ectoparasites of Woodrats in California

The dusky-footed woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes Baird is a natural reservoir of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner, in California. To investigate the potential of host-targeted insecticide to control the tick vectors of B. burgdorferi, permethrin-impregnated or untreated cotton balls were distributed in metal cylinders as potential nesting material adjacent to 95 woodrat houses in chaparral-covered rangeland. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that adult woodrats would enter the cylinders and construct nests from permethrin-treated or untreated cotton. The residual concentration of permethrin did not vary significantly during an 11-mo period and remained > 60% of the registered insecticidal formulation (7.5% [AI] by cotton weight). The abundance of 4 species of ticks (Ixodes neotomae Cooley; the western blacklegged tick I. pacificus Cooley & Kohls; I. woodi Bishopp; and the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis Marx) infesting woodrats was similar in the treatment and control areas. Although > 90% of the cotton disappeared from the metal cylinders in both areas, examination of 8 active woodrat houses revealed that small amounts of cotton had been incorporated into the nest cups of only 25%. In contrast, the abundance of the flea Orchopeas sexdentatus (Baker) decreased significantly in the treatment area only. Spirochetes were not detected in 168 adult O. sexdentatus fleas that had fed on spirochetemic woodrats, which demonstrates that this flea is an inefficient host of B. burgdorferi. We conclude that the use of permethrin-impregnated cotton as potential nesting material is ineffective for controlling ticks associated with the dusky-footed woodrat in brushlands, but this methodology may be useful for reducing populations of sylvatic fleas.
A biologically inspired neural network model for 3-D motion detection

Proposes a biologically inspired neural network model that computes three-dimensional motion based on monocular cues. In the approach, instead of computing a 2D optical flow field and extracting motion information from it, the 3D motion is computed directly. Motion in the z-axis is detected and localized by a network of dilation-sensitive neurons, and the z-motion is parsed with an x-y component. The correspondence problem is resolved by the inherent neuronal characteristic of temporal and spatial locality. Temporal locality refers to the smooth decay of neuronal activity within a small time interval after a stimulus is removed. This property provides a temporal signal bridging consecutive image frames. Spatial locality refers to the localized receptive field of a neuron. This property ensures that the correspondence between consecutive frames is restricted to a small neighborhood. Together, they provide the temporal and spatial continuity in the sequence of time-varying frames as the basis for computing 3D motion. >
Long fiber-optic perimeter sensor: Signature analysis

A phase-sensitive OTDR provides a cost-effective and highly sensitive solution for monitoring of long perimeters. Signature analysis of the phi-OTDR signal allows the identification of intruders on foot as well as vehicles.
Technology and institutions: what can research on information technology and research on organizations learn from each other?

We argue that because of important epistemological differences between the fields of information technology and organization studies, much can be gained from greater interaction between them. In particular, we argue that information technology research can benefit from incorporating institutional analysis from organization studies, while organization studies can benefit even more by following the lead of information technology research in taking the material properties of technologies into account. We further suggest that the transformations currently occurring in the nature of work and organizing cannot be understood without considering both the technological changes and the institutional contexts that are reshaping economic and organizational activity. Thus, greater interaction between the fields of information technology and organization studies should be viewed as more than a matter of enrichment. In the intellectual engagement of these two fields lies the potential for an important fusion of perspectives, a fusion more carefully attuned to explaining the nature and consequences of the techno-social phenomena that increasingly pervade our lives.
Technomyrmex difficilis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in thE West Indies

Abstract Technomyrmex difficilis Forel is an Old World ant often misidentified as the white-footed ant, Technomyrmex albipes (Smith). The earliest New World records of T. difficilis are from Miami-Dade County, Florida, collected beginning in 1986. Since then, it has been found in at least 22 Florida counties. Here, I report T. difficilis from 5 West Indian islands: Antigua, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. Colonies were widespread only on St. Croix. It is probable that over the next few years T. difficilis will become increasingly important as a pest in Florida and the West Indies.
New results in the design and analysis of nonblocking switching networks

Switching networks are the core component of modern switching devices for voice and data communications. The evolution of switching networks dates back to the early days of telephony. Advances in communication technologies, such as broadband communications and optical transmissions, as well as the explosion of demand on switching capacity have made switching network design an ever-more challenging task. Switching speed is the bottleneck at the core of the Internet and communication-intensive data centers. Consequently, characterizing the complexity of switching networks and constructing cost-effective switching networks under modern requirements are important problems both theoretically and practically. In switching network theory, the first important class of questions needed to be addressed is of the type: "how complex is it to design a switching network satisfying such and such requirements?" In order to answer this type of questions, we first need to formulate a complexity model for the switching networks in the desired switching environment. This class of questions has been studied extensively in the classical environment of telephone (or circuit) switching for the past 60 years. Results and techniques obtained for circuit switching have proved to be very useful, with deep connections to other areas of Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science. Under the newer switching environments such as broadband switching and optical switching, much less is known, however. This dissertation partly fills the gap by addressing two important complexity problems in broadband switching and optical switching. Briefly, we resolve a 20-year old open question regarding the optimal complexity of a multirate distributor, which is the complexity model representing rearrangable multicast switching network under the broadband environment. We also provide several complexity models for optical switching networks and show how to construct optical switching networks of optimal sizes. The second class of questions in switching network studies is to design practical switching networks using commodity switching elements. This type of questions certainly has also been studied extensively in circuit switching. Many good constructions are known, such as the Clos network, Cantor network, Benes network, and so on, which have been widely used in practice. This dissertation continues the tradition by introducing combinatorial optimization techniques for analyzing the class of multi-log networks. Our maxflow-mincut and linear programming based techniques prove to be simpler and more effective than known ones in analyzing multi-log networks. New constraints such as crosstalk and fanout in optical switching can be incorporated into the combinatorial problem formulation and handled effectively by our techniques.
Free Riding Under Threat of Litigation in Network Sharing Groups

This paper analyzes the effects of litigation by a seller of a copiable good when the group of consumers sharing the original good faces a public good problem in making optimal contributions to obtain the shared product. We show that when the seller can observe contributions with sufficient accuracy, a litigation strategy that targets contributors exacerbates free-riding behavior in the sharing group and thus effectively reduces incentives to use the shared good even at low overall threats of litigation. When this is the case, the seller can maintain a high price for the legal good in spite of facing competition from the shared good.
Development of an image-based multi-scale finite-element approach to predict mechanical response of asphalt mixtures

Image-based simulation of complex materials is a very important tool for understanding their mechanical behaviour and an effective tool for successful design of composite materials. Asphalt concrete (AC) as one of these multi-phase complex materials is a composite of asphalt binder, air voids, and mineral aggregate particles. Simulation of AC with numerical methods is not a new topic but is faced with many challenges. In addition to requiring tremendous computational cost, it is not clear yet how to effectively model the aggregate-to-aggregate contact behaviour during loading and deformation. In this paper, an image-based multi-scale modelling is introduced to reduce the computational cost significantly by reducing the amount of elements in the numerical model. In this approach, the “up-scaling” and homogenisation of each scale to the next is critically designed to improve accuracy. In addition to this multi-scale efficiency, this study introduces an approach for consideration of particle contacts at each...
Folie a deux and the courts.

Folie a deux is a condition that presents distinct challenges in the legal system. The authors searched the LexisNexis database for cases involving folie a deux and provide a review of criminal and civil case law involving individuals with the diagnosis. The case surrounding Elizabeth Smart's abduction from her Utah home is highlighted. Folie a deux is a formally recognized mental disorder, although it is intrinsically different from most other primary psychiatric conditions. It can cause considerable confusion among mental health experts and legal professionals alike. It is difficult to make a reliable diagnosis of a condition that is, to date, not well validated. The authors discuss possible directions for future research and suggest methods for examining evaluees with suspected folie a deux.