cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychomotor stimulant effects of β-phenylethylamine in monkeys treated with MAO-B inhibitors

Rationale and objective: Sufficiently high doses of β-phenylethylamine (β-PEA), a trace amine that is rapidly metabolized by monoamine oxidase-type B (MAO-B), can produce effects comparable to those of cocaine or methamphetamine (MA). The present experiments were conducted to study how the discriminative-stimulus (SD) and reinforcing-stimulus (SR) effects of β-PEA in monkeys are modified by treatment with inhibitors of MAO-B [R-(–)-deprenyl and MDL 72974]. Methods and results: In studies of its SD effects, doses of β-PEA up to 30 mg/kg engendered only sporadic responding on the drug-associated lever in squirrel monkeys that discriminated intramuscular injections of 0.3 mg/kg MA from vehicle whereas lower doses of 0.3–1.0 mg/kg β-PEA produced full substitution when administered after either R-(–)-deprenyl or MDL 72974 (0.3 mg/kg). The MA-like SD effects of β-PEA were attenuated by either dopamine D1 or D2 receptor blockers. In studies of its SR effects, high doses of β-PEA maintained responding in two of three monkeys under a second-order fixed-interval schedule (3.0 or 10 mg/kg per injection) and two of three monkeys under a simple fixed ratio (FR) schedule (0.3–1.0 mg/kg per injection) of intravenous (i.v.) self-administration. MAO-B inhibition by R-(–)-deprenyl or MDL 72974 enhanced the SR effects of β-PEA in all monkeys and, under the FR schedule, induced a 30-fold or greater leftward shift in the dose-response function for its i.v. self-administration. Based on time-course determinations, the enhanced SR effects of β-PEA under the FR schedule were long-lasting and dissipated gradually over 3–7 days. Conclusions: These results show that inhibition of MAO-B enhances SD and SR effects of β-PEA in monkeys, presumably by delaying its inactivation. MAO-B inhibition leading to increased levels of β-PEA may be useful, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, in the pharmacological management of selected aspects of drug dependence.
Quality Characteristics of Eggs Further Processed by Pickling as Influenced by Packaging Material and Storage Temperature

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of flexible laminate pouch packaging (polyester/polyethylene) on the quality characteristics of pickled chicken eggs. Eggs were pickled in three different pickling solutions (Dilled, Kansas Spicy, Sweet & Sour) and stored at two different temperatures, 2 or 25 C. Pickled eggs were analyzed for percent moisture, weight loss, shear force (tenderness), acid value 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and physical appearance. The pH of the pickling solution was monitored throughout the study. Regardless of the packaging material, long-term storage of egg resulted in higher TBA values, higher shear force for egg white, lower shear force for egg yolk, and lower egg moisture content. Better overall acceptability scores were observed for pickled eggs packaged in flexible pouches when compared to those eggs packaged in conventional glass jars. Long-term storage of pickled eggs at 2 C, regardless of the packaging material, prevented yolk swelling and splitting of the egg white, both of which were observed in pickled eggs stored at 25 C. Pickled eggs stored for 1 year at 2 C had a lower moisture loss (7.88%) as compared to those pickled eggs stored at 25 C (10.19%). Data collected in this study indicated that polyester/polyethylene laminate pouches could be utilized more conveniently and economically than the conventional glass jars without any adverse effect on the product quality.
Beam current monitor calibrator for the Spallation Neutron Source

The beam current monitor (BCM) system for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) to be installed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) requires an on-line calibrator to assure the system is appropriately scaling current. The calibration system must be able to handle the current range expected in the MEBT, Linac, HEBT, Ring and RTBT. This covers a dynamic range of 35ma to 50 amps. A 10-turn calibration winding has been included in all current transformers. This calibrator must provide adequate flexibility to assure the current transformers are not damaged by failures in the calibrator drive amplifier, and provide better than 1% accuracy with a capability to provide calibrated currents covering the dynamic range. This paper will address the design considerations and resulting design of a suitable calibrator for this system.
Alcohol taxes and birth outcomes.

This study examines the relationships between alcohol taxation, drinking during pregnancy, and infant health. Merged data from the US Natality Detailed Files, as well as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (1985–2002), data regarding state taxes on beer, wine, and liquor, a state- and year-fixed-effect reduced-form regression were used. Results indicate that a one-cent ($0.01) increase in beer taxes decreased the incidence of low-birth-weight by about 1–2 percentage points. The binge drinking participation tax elasticity is −2.5 for beer and wine taxes and −9 for liquor taxes. These results demonstrate the potential intergenerational impact of increasing alcohol taxes.
Burning Properties of Electrodes for DC Arc Analysis

A series of tests have been made using two spectrographic electrode materials to evaluate differences in response to the dc arc over a wide variation in current (6 to 38 amp). Carbon anodes burn at a faster rate than graphite, but carbon is overloaded at a lower current density. At high currents both materials approach the same burning rate. The burning rates are dependent on the arc current, the cross sectional area, and the properties of the grade used. Any one of the three variables can be partially compensated for by an equivalent change in the other two. The effects of burning rates on analytical results are discussed.
The effect of volatile absorption by packaging polymers on flavor, microorganisms and ascorbic acid in reconstituted orange juice

Abstract The effect of volatile absorption on flavor of reconstituted orange juice concentrates was examined for moderately high (0.23 mL/L), normal (0.16 mL/L) and low oil (0.09 mL/L) orange juices in contact with low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide and ethylene (co)vinyl alcohol. For all oil and treatment variables, triangle tests were unable to distinguish flavor differences between juice samples in contact with polymers and untreated controls. High levels of d-limonene or its chemical derivatives reduced microbial populations and destabilized ascorbic acid. Absorption of d-limonene or its derivatives by low density polyethylene was sufficient to affect microbial populations.
Organizational Assimilation of Vertical Standards: An Integrative Model

Vertical standards are complex networked technologies whose assimilation is subject to extensive interorganizational dependence and network effects. Classical theories of diffusion of technological innovation cannot sufficiently explain their assimilation without taking community-level effects into account. This paper introduces a two-level model of organizational assimilation of vertical standards which extends diffusion of innovations theory by including network effects. It combines the most consistently significant firm-level variables from diffusion of innovations with community-level variables subject to network effects. Results of a large-scale empirical test of the model in the insurance, reinsurance, and related financial services industries are presented. The test is the first of its kind in the growing vertical standards literature. The model is strongly supported and confirms the value of integrative approaches employing variables at both the firm and community levels
Resynchronization and Strain Recovery Following Reimplantation of Anomalous Coronary Artery: A Tissue Doppler and Three‐dimensional Echocardiographic Study

Resynchronization may play a significant role in recovery following surgical reimplantation of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Three-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler may quantify this recovery. A 6-week-old infant presented with signs of congestive heart failure due to ALCAPA. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed a severely dilated left ventricular (LV) cardiomyopathy and the presence of ALCAPA was confirmed by catheterization. Three-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging showed severe abnormalities of systolic and diastolic synchrony and decreased contractility with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 13%. The infant underwent surgical coronary reimplantation and was discharged 5 weeks later with an LVEF of 54%. Serial quantitative assessment showed resynchronization and normalization of global LV function following reimplantation. However, segmental contractility improved significantly but remained depressed at discharge. The immediate recovery observed following reimplantation of anomalous coronary may be largely due to resynchronization.
The economic effects of reusability on distributed simulations

This paper examines whether the ability to reuse a simulation, in whole or in part, results in tangible cost savings on the overall economics of the original simulation. Specific target simulations are those created for the US Army using the mandated High Level Architecture framework for reusability. A hypothetical model was developed to determine if a simulation created for the High Level Architecture could produce quantitative cost savings due to its reusability while keeping other cost parameters constant. It was discovered that actual cost data and percentages of reusability for existing Army simulations were difficult to assess. Further, it was discovered that the economics of reusability had never been addressed from a consistent viewpoint. From a purely hypothetical, economic standpoint, reusability proves itself to be a strong economic argument for the use of the High Level Architecture framework or some similar architecture.
Identification of an amino‐terminal substrate‐binding domain in the Yersinia tyrosine phosphatase that is required for efficient recognition of focal adhesion targets

YopH is a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) that is delivered into host mammalian cells via a type III secretion pathway in pathogenic Yersinia species. Although YopH is a highly active PTP, it preferentially targets a subset of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in host cells, including p130Cas. Previous in vitro studies have indicated that the carboxy-terminal PTP domain contributes specificity to the interaction of YopH with substrates. However, it is not known if the PTP domain is sufficient for substrate recognition by YopH. Here, we have identified paxillin as an additional substrate of YopH in HeLa cells. In addition, we have identified a domain in the amino-terminal region of YopH that binds to both p130Cas and paxillin and is required for the efficient recognition of substrates by the wild-type enzyme. This ‘substrate-binding’ domain exhibits a ligand specificity that is similar to that of the Crk Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, and it binds substrates directly in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner. The substrate-binding domain of YopH may represent a novel type of protein–protein interaction module, as it lacks significant sequence similarity with any known SH2 or phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain.
Transdiaphragmatic liver hernia in adults.

Right sided transdiaphragmatic liver herniation is a rare type of diaphragmatic hernia. Three such cases in adults are reported. A localized hepatic herniation (type III) masquerading as pulmonary neoplasm was revealed in one, while in the other two cases liver herniation was accompanied by herniation of bowel (type III). A history of trauma was present in all three patients with a latent period between injury and discovery of diaphragmatic hernia ranging from 10–20 years. The role of current imaging modalities in arriving at the correct diagnosis is emphasized.
Science to Practice: Can Hyperpolarized Water Be Used to Enhance MR Angiography and Flow Measurement?

The method described by Lingwood et al is a continuously flowing system rather than the discrete batch approach of the dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization method, which means the hyperpolarized molecule can be continuously available for injection on demand.
Anamnesis: Platonic Doctrine or Sophistic Absurdity?

There are two basic ways in which the phenomenon of learning is explicated in the Platonic dialogues: First, by means of an analogy with vision, and second, by arguing that the acquisition of knowledge is really anamnesis (recollection). The analogy with vision is the more common of the two and occurs throughout the dialogues. The passage in the Republic comparing the sun and the good (508c-509b) is the best known instance of this approach to the clarification of learning. The basic point of this explication is that the mind, like the eye, in order to discover truth must be turned in the right direction and be trained to apprehend and distinguish the characters of the objects it beholds. In this context, the acquisition of knowledge is clearly a discovery of that which was not previously known, just as the man who escapes from the cave sees what he had not previously seen (Republic, 514a-516c), and at the end of the ascent of the heavenly ladder one “begins to see” what he has not seen before (Symposium, 211b 8).
Quantitative analysis of perchlorate in extracts of whole fish homogenates by ion chromatography: comparison of suppressed conductivity detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The perchlorate anion (ClO4 ) ) is an anthro- pogenic contaminant of increasing concern in water supplies, and has been shown to disrupt thyroid activity. Most perchlorate analyses are currently carried out by ion chromatography (IC) with suppressed conductivity detection (SCD). While this procedure has been dem- onstrated to provide acceptable performance for analy- sis of water samples, the determination of perchlorate in high-conductivity aqueous extracts of plant or animal material is not readily accomplished by IC-SCD unless lengthy cleanup protocols are applied. With the addition of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to IC, it was hypothesized that the interference imposed by various ionic species could be significantly reduced without the need for purification; however, the analysis of perchlorate in relatively unpurified extracts of bio- logically derived homogenates by IC-ESI-MS has not previously been described in the literature. The research presented here represents a comparison of the capabili- ties of IC-SCD and IC-ESI-MS to detect perchlorate in reagent water and in crude extracts of perchlorate-ex- posed fish (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculea- tus). ESI-MS was found to compare favorably to SCD for the detection of perchlorate in deionized water, and to exceed SCD performance in perchlorate analysis of fish-derived extracts.
BaO–1/2Y2O3–CuOx Eutectic Melting in Air

Eutectic melting in the BaO-[1/2]Y[sub 2]O[sub 3]-CuO[sub x] system has been investigated, using three different compositions. Thermal events up to 1,100 C were studied by means of differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TGA). Phase formation and compositions of melts were examined using powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) of quenched experiments. The eutectic occurs at 923 [+-] 10 C in CO[sub 2]-, and H[sub 2]O-scrubbed air, and the eutectic melt has a Ba:Y:Cu cation ratio of 23.2([+-]0.5):0.5([+-]0.1):76.3(1.0). The oxygen content of the quenched eutectic melt, as determined by hydrogen reduction, indicated that nearly all of the copper in the melt was present as Cu[sup +]. A topological sequence, based on the X-ray results, is presented which describes the events immediately following melting.
Insensitive is a corepressor for Suppressor of Hairless and regulates Notch signalling during neural development

The Notch intracellular domain functions as a co-activator for the DNA-binding protein Suppressor of Hairless (Su(H)) to mediate myriad cell fate decisions. Notch pathway activity is balanced by transcriptional repression, mediated by Su(H) in concert with its Drosophila corepressor Hairless. We demonstrate that the Drosophila neural BEN-solo protein Insensitive (Insv) is a nuclear factor that inhibits Notch signalling during multiple peripheral nervous system cell fate decisions. Endogenous Insv was particularly critical when repressor activity of Su(H) was compromised. Reciprocally, ectopic Insv generated several Notch loss-of-function phenotypes, repressed most Notch targets in the E(spl)-C, and opposed Notch-mediated activation of an E(spl)m3-luc reporter. A direct role for Insv in transcriptional repression was indicated by binding of Insv to Su(H), and by strong chromatin immunoprecipitation of endogenous Insv to most E(spl)-C loci. Strikingly, ectopic Insv fully rescued sensory organ precursors in Hairless null clones, indicating that Insv can antagonize Notch independently of Hairless. These data shed first light on the in vivo function for a BEN-solo protein as an Su(H) corepressor in the Notch pathway regulating neural development.
Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine Interactions in Turkey Poults

In four experiments, the interactions of leucine, isoleucine and valine in turkey poults were studied. The additon of 1.50% excess leucine to a 22% protein starter diet, marginal in isoleucine and valine, depressed growth. This growth depression was corrected by the addition of valine and isoleucine. The addition of the excess leucine caused a decrease in plasma valine and isileucine concentrations in experiments 3 and 4, and plasma valine concentration in experiment 1. The addition of valine caused a marked linear increase in plasma valine with little or no effect on plasma isoleucine. The addition of isoleucine to the diet caused an increase in plasma isoleucine. Plasma valine, however, was decreased by the addition of isoleucine to a high-leucine diet. It is concluded that interactions exist in turkey poults between leucine-valine, leucine-isoleucine and isoleucine-valine and that the growth reduction caused by added leucine can be partly alleviated by addition of valine or by valine plus isoleucine, but not be isoleucine alone.
Fast IR imaging with sub-wavelength resolution using a transient near-field probe

Abstract We present a method for the remote generation of a transient near-field probe using conventional IR microscopy optics. Photo-induced reflectivity generated by picosecond pulses of visible light incident on the surface of a semiconductor substrate is used to create transient mirrors with dimensions determined by the spot size of the visible light. The IR light scattered by such sub-wavelength-size mirror is collected after propagating through the sample. As the sample is located on the semiconductor substrate, no near-field distance control is required, and the image can be taken at the speed of typical laser scanning microscope. And since the near-field probe is generated remotely – using light – the sample to be imaged can be covered by, or encased in, a transparent liquid or solid. The resolution of such an IR microscope is determined by the dimensions of the transient mirror, i.e., by the spot size of the visible light and its penetration depth into the substrate. To prevent resolution degradation due to diffusion of the photo-excited carriers in the substrate, the probe (IR) pulse duration should not exceed a few tens of picoseconds.
Genetic Components in Life History Traits Contribute to Population Structure

The most important salmonid genetic resource is genetic variation. That variation is observed among populations throughout the range of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus sp.) as well as among the individuals within each population. Numerous electrophoretic studies of allozyme variation document the existence of both inter- and intra- populational genetic variation in Pacific salmon (e.g., Gharrett et al., 1987; Gharrett et al., 1988; Beacham et al., 1988). Much of the phenotypic variation observed also has a genetic basis (e.g., Ricker, 1972; Beacham et al., 1988); however, because the phenotype expressed is a result of both genetic and environmental influences, it is usually not straightforward to identify the genetic component. In addition, multiple genetic loci are often involved in expression of interesting and important life history traits such as morphology, development, and behavior.
A Research Agenda for the Comparative Law and Economics of Patent Remedies

Over the past two decades, a small but growing number of law-and-economics scholars have begun to apply the standard tools of economic analysis to a field that long had evaded scrutiny by the law-and-economics community, namely the field of comparative law. To date, however, comparative law and economics scholars have devoted relatively little attention to the law of intellectual property - a gap that is in some ways surprising, given the professedly instrumental character of (much of) intellectual property law and policy. This essay, which will appear as a chapter in a forthcoming edited volume titled Global Perspectives on Patent Law (Ruth Okediji & Margo Bagley eds., Oxford Univ. Press), presents a modest effort at remedying this state of affairs, by presenting a proposed research agenda for a comparative law and economics analysis of one specific set of issues within the law of intellectual property: the law of patent remedies. Part I lays out a proposed protocol for the use of economic analysis to better understand, evaluate, and critique the law of patent remedies as it exists both in the United States and abroad. Part II focuses on the two principal remedies for patent infringement, permanent injunctions and monetary damages. In particular, Part II outlines the similarities and differences among various nations’ approaches to injunctions and damages for patent infringement; suggests some possible explanations for, and consequences of, the perceived differences; and proposes some areas which I plan to explore in greater depth in connection with my own pending book project on the topic.
Effect of Turbulence Modeling on Hovering Rotor Flows

The effect of turbulence models in the off-body grids on the accuracy of solutions for rotor flows in hover has been investigated. Results from the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes and Laminar Off-Body models are compared. Advection of turbulent eddy viscosity has been studied to find the mechanism leading to inaccurate solutions. A coaxial rotor result is also included.
Isotopically enriched 13C diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy: analysis of methyllithium.

We report the development of isotopic-labeled 13C diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR with diffusion coefficient-formula weight (D-FW) analysis and its application in characterizing the aggregation state of methyllithium aggregates and complexes with several widely used diamines. Commercially available 13C-labeled benzene and several easily synthesized 13C-labeled compounds using 13C-labeled iodomethane as the isotopic source are developed as internal references for diffusion-formula weight analysis (D-FW). The technique greatly expands the applicability of DOSY D-FW analysis to a much wider variety of compounds because of isotopic labeling. These results reveal that methyllithium exists as a tetrasolvated tetramer in diethyl ether and exclusively as bis-solvated dimers with chelating diamines.
Competitiveness of Irradiated Adults of the Indian Meal Moth

When unmated 24-h-old males of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) were irradiated with 25 or 35 krad and confined with normal females, 80.2 and 96.5% of the eggs, respectively, did not hatch compared with 11.4% infertility of the control eggs. Increasing the dose to 50 or 75 krad induced complete sterility in the irradiated (I) males. Untreated (U) females mated with I males (25 krad) produced only 8.1 adults/100 eggs. When males treated with 25, 35 or 50 krad were confined with U males and U females (1:1:1 ratio), infertility of eggs was 41.2, 50.4, and 63.9, respectively. Thus, males treated with substerilizing doses (25 and 35 krad) competed favorably with U males, and males treated with the sterilizing dose (50 krad) were also fully competitive with U males, but 75 krad reduced ♂ competitiveness (30.8% egg infertility). Males and females both treated with a sterilizing dose (50 krad) and confined with U males and U females at a I ♂:I ♀:U ♂:U ♀ ratio caused 67.85% infertility in the resulting eggs. When the ratio of sterile males and females was increased to 5:5:1:1, 10:10:1:1 or 15:15:1:1 (I ♂:I ♀:U ♂:U ♀), the percentage infertility reached 91.05, 97.65, and 99.75, respectively. The percentage of Actual infertility was less than the expected infertility for the ratios 1:1:1:1, 5:5:1:1, and 10:10:1:1, but it was exceeded with the highest ratio used (15:15:1:1). The competitiveness value for this flooding ratio was 1.00 (i.e., the sterile adults were fully competitive with the normal ones). These results indicated that irradiation with 50 krad, a sterilizing dose, did not decrease sexual competitiveness of adults. Also, the release of I males only or of I females together with I males could give good results in controlling a population of the Indian meal moth in an autocidal control program; and, therefore, separation of the sexes prior to release is probably unnecessary.
Is Entrepreneurship a Teachable Profession? An Examination of the Effects of Entrepreneurship Education and Experience

We examined the conflicting claims of Schumpeter, who stated that entrepreneurship is not a profession, and Drucker, who wrote that entrepreneurship is a discipline that can be learned (and presumably taught). We studied the effects of an entrepreneur’s education and experience on the startup and subsequent operating performance of a new venture. Taking entrepreneurship courses enhanced the amount of startup capital raised, but real-world experience enhanced it more. However, neither taking entrepreneurship courses nor learning how to write a business plan had any effect on the subsequent operating performance of the business. Previous entrepreneurship experience enhanced the amount of startup capital raised but did not improve the operating performance. In contrast, professional experience in general — rather than entrepreneurship-specific — gained after graduation before starting a business improved operating performance.
EFFECT OF TOTAL EXCLUSION OF THE EXOCRINE PANCREAS IN THE RAT UPON IN VITRO ESTERIFICATION OF C14-LABELED CHOLESTEROL BY THE INTESTINE AND UPON LYMPHATIC ABSORPTION OF C14-LABELED CHOLESTEROL.

The esterification of free cholesterol-4-C14 by extracts of acetone powders prepared from the small intestines was measured in normal rats and in rats in which all of the pancreas, except for a small portion along the splenic vessels, was removed. The acinar cells of the pancreatic remnant degenerated, thus providing a nondiabetic rat containing no functioning exocrine pancreatic tissue. Depriving the rat of its external secretions of the pancreas in this manner resulted in a reduction—but not in complete loss—of the intestine's capacity to esterify free cholesterol. The absorption of tube-fed cholesterol-4-C14 into thoracic duct lymph of the rats totally deprived of functioning exocrine pancreatic tissue was depressed, but the proportion of sterol-C14 recovered in the esterified form in the thoracic duct lymph of the operated rats was normal. It is concluded that an enzyme capable of esterifying free cholesterol, not derived from the pancreas, is present in the small intestines of the rat, The fact that the pancreatic juice enzyme that esterifies cholesterol was absent from the intestines of our operated rats could account for the reduction in esterification of the sterol and in its absorption. However, other mechanisms that could just as well explain these observations have also been considered.
Controlling the Editor: The Many Roles of RNA-Binding Proteins in Regulating A-to-I RNA Editing

RNA editing is a cellular process used to expand and diversify the RNA transcripts produced from a generally immutable genome. In animals, the most prevalent type of RNA editing is adenosine (A) to inosine (I) deamination catalyzed by the ADAR family. Throughout development, A-to-I editing levels increase while ADAR expression is constant, suggesting cellular mechanisms to regulate A-to-I editing exist. Furthermore, in several disease states, ADAR expression levels are similar to the normal state, but A-to-I editing levels are altered. Therefore, understanding how these enzymes are regulated in normal tissues and misregulated in disease states is of profound importance. This chapter will both discuss how to identify A-to-I editing sites across the transcriptome and explore the mechanisms that regulate ADAR editing activity, with particular focus on the diverse types of RNA-binding proteins implicated in regulating A-to-I editing in vivo.
ON COUNTABLY COMPACT EXTENSIONS OF NORMAL LOCALLY COMPACT M-SPACES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the compact extensions of normal locally compact M-spaces. All spaces are assumed to be completely regular and T1. A space X is an M-space [Mo1] if there exists a metrizable space T and a mapping f: X → T, where f is a quasi-perfect map. A space Z is a countably-compactification of a space X if Z is countably compact, X is a dense subset of Z, and every closed countably compact subset of X is also closed in Z. If a space X is countably-compactifiable, then X has a countably-compactification Z such that X ⊂ Z ⊂ βX.
Angiosperms — the Culmination of Plant Evolution

The precursors of angiosperms are still unknown. All we know is that angiosperms appeared in Lower Cretaceous strata (see Fig. 2-2, page 19), became abundant and varied by Late Cretaceous time and evolved by Eocene time many modern genera. Reports of pre-Cretaceous angiosperms are usually based on fragmentary evidence such as a leaf, a pollen grain, or a bit of secondary wood. None of these specimens can be unequivocally called an angiosperm rather than a gymnosperm, and paleobotanists generally remain skeptical of them. Morphologists, on the other hand, are inclined to view the complexity of the flower and the embryo sac as well as the wide variety of early angiosperms in the Cretaceous Period, as evidence that the group must have had a long period of evolution prior to Cretaceous time. Axelrod suggested that the first angiosperms arose on highlands far back from the coastal plains and so were not preserved as fossils. But unless someone makes the fortunate discovery of an unequivocal pre-Cretaceous angiosperm we must use the available evidence to learn what we can of the first angiosperms and their subsequent evolution.
Using Enhanced Patent Data for Future-Oriented Technology Analysis

Patents represent one of the most complete sources of information related to technological change, and they also contain much detailed information not available anywhere else. Thus, patents are the ‘big data’ source most closely related to future-oriented technology analysis (FTA). Not surprisingly, therefore, there is very significant practical and academic use of the patent database for understanding past technical change and attempting to forecast future change. This paper summarizes several new methods and demonstrates their combined effectiveness in establishing a cutting-edge capability for patent study not previously available. This capability can be stated as a link between the information in patents and the dynamics of technological change. The demonstrated capability relies upon the use of a database containing the rates of improvement for various technologies. We also specify the term we use for the analysed units of technology: a technological domain is a set of artefacts that meets a specific generic function while utilizing a specific set of engineering and scientific knowledge. This definition is unambiguous enough so technological domains can be linked with progress rates and are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the large scale and complexity of the patent database. The existence of an improvement rate database and its quality is a critical foundation for this paper. Establishing the overall capability also involves relating the rate of improvement of a technological domain to the patents in that domain. We show that a recently developed method called the classification overlap method (COM) provides a reliable and largely automated way to break the patent database into understandable technological domains where progress can be measured. In this paper, we show how this method overcomes the third limitation of the patent database. The major conclusion of the paper is that there is now an overall objective method named Patent Technology Rate Indicator (PTRI) for using just patent data to reliably estimate the rate of technological progress in a technological domain. Thus, the first link between the patent database information and the dynamics of technological change is now firmly established; robustness and back-casting tests have shown that the assertion of reliability is meaningful and that the estimate has predictive value. We demonstrate the key methodology of new elements (use of COM and rate estimation from the selected patent sets) for 15 technologies that some have thought have possible future importance. The 15 cases also demonstrate the usefulness of the overall method by estimating technological improvement rates that are significantly different for this group of technologies.
How radiologic/clinicopathologic features relate to compressive symptoms in benign thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To identify compressive symptomatology in a patient cohort with benign thyroid disease who underwent thyroidectomy. To determine radiographic/clinicopathologic features related to and predictive of a compressive outcome. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Medical records of 232 patients with benign thyroid disease on fine needle aspiration who underwent thyroidectomy from 2009 to 2012 at an academic medical center were reviewed. Data collection and analyses involved subjects' demographics, compressive symptoms, preoperative airway encroachment, intubation complications, specimen weight, and final pathologic diagnosis. RESULTS Subjects were ages 14 to 86 years (mean: 52.4 years). Ninety-six subjects (41.4%) reported compressive symptomatology of dysphagia (n =74; 32%), dyspnea (n = 39; 17%), and hoarseness (n = 24; 10%). Ninety-seven (42.2%) had preoperative airway encroachment. Dyspnea was significantly related to tracheal compression, tracheal deviation, and substernal extension. Dysphagia was related to tracheal compression and tracheal deviation. Compressive symptoms and preoperative airway encroachment were not related to intubation complications. Final pathologic diagnosis was not related to compressive symptoms, whereas specimen weight was significantly related to dyspnea and dysphagia. Final pathology revealed 74 subjects (32%) with malignant lesions. Malignant and benign nodular subject groups differed significantly in substernal extension, gland weight, tracheal deviation, and dyspnea. Logit modeling for dyspnea was significant for tracheal compression as a predictor for the likelihood of dyspnea. CONCLUSION Dyspnea was closely related to preoperative airway encroachment and most indicative of a clinically relevant thyroid in our cohort with benign thyroid disease. Tracheal compression was found to have predictive value for the likelihood of a dyspneic outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 127:993-997, 2017.
Managed Wildfire Effects on Forest Resilience and Water in the Sierra Nevada

Fire suppression in many dry forest types has left a legacy of dense, homogeneous forests. Such landscapes have high water demands and fuel loads, and when burned can result in catastrophically large fires. These characteristics are undesirable in the face of projected warming and drying in the western US. Alternative forest and fire treatments based on managed wildfire—a regime in which fires are allowed to burn naturally and only suppressed under defined management conditions—offer a potential strategy to ameliorate the effects of fire suppression. Understanding the long-term effects of this strategy on vegetation, water, and forest resilience is increasingly important as the use of managed wildfire becomes more widely accepted. The Illilouette Creek Basin in Yosemite National Park has experienced 40 years of managed wildfire, reducing forest cover by 22%, and increasing meadow areas by 200% and shrublands by 24%. Statistical upscaling of 3300 soil moisture observations made since 2013 suggests that large increases in wetness occurred in sites where fire caused transitions from forests to dense meadows. The runoff ratio (ratio of annual runoff to precipitation) from the basin appears to be increasing or stable since 1973, compared to declines in runoff ratio for nearby, unburned watersheds. Managed wildfire appears to increase landscape heterogeneity, and likely improves resilience to disturbances, such as fire and drought, although more detailed analysis of fire effects on basin-scale hydrology is needed.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Autonomic Neuropathy Due to AL Amyloidosis

Aim: The autonomic nervous system plays an essential role in homeostasis and the response to stress. The peri-transplant period can be a challenging time for homeostatic responses due to the fluid shifts, sepsis and cardiac dysrhythmias that can occur. Patients with AL amyloidosis may have significant autonomic neuropathy (AN) that renders the peri-transplant care problematic. The purpose of this study was to compare a cohort of patients with AL amyloidosis complicated by AN with a matched cohort without AN to determine the outcome of patients with AN during and after stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Methods: We performed a nested case-control study by searching the Mayo Clinic dysproteinemia transplant database for all patients with AL amyloidosis who underwent autologous PBSCT. Patients with proven AN were identified and compared to a large cohort of matched controls. We have complete follow-up on all the patients. The main outcome variables were overall survival (OS), the duration of hospitalization, incidence of sepsis, peri-transplant atrial fibrillation (AF) and engraftment kinetics. Comparisons between groups were performed with the Mann Whitney U test for continuous variables and the chi squared test for nominal variables. Overall survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. A stepwise Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the impact of various parameters on OS. Results: We identified 13 patients with AN who underwent PBSCT and compared them to a control group of 94 patients. The two cohorts were well matched for many of the relevant clinical and laboratory characteristics prior to PBSCT. Notable differences included (i) patients with AN tended to have more organs involved (2.5 versus 1, p 6 /kg, p=0.99) between the two cohorts. The median hospital duration was 10 (1 – 78) and 8 (0 – 78) days (p=0.99) respectively. Engraftment kinetics, as measured by the time to reach a neutrophil count > 500/ml (p=0.85), a platelet count > 20,000/ml (p=0.99) and a platelet count > 50,000/ml (p=0.99) were similar in the two cohorts. Culture positive sepsis was more common in patients with AN (75% versus 47%, p=0.014). Atrial fibrillation occurred in all patients with AN but in only 1 patient from the control group (p Conclusion: Patients with autonomic neuropathy secondary to AL amyloidosis can undergo PBSCT safely with similar engraftment kinetics. They are at a higher risk of peri-transplant atrial fibrillation and sepsis although their hospitalizations are not longer compared to controls. Patients with AN generally have more organ involvement by AL amyloidosis. However, AN is an independent, adverse determinant of OS in AL amyloidosis.
L-Glutamine Therapy Improves Minute Ventilation of Sickle Cell Anemia Patients.

We have demonstrated previously that oral L-glutamine administration can improve NAD redox potential in sickle red blood cells (RBC) and decrease the endothelial adhesion rate of sickle RBC. Additionally, preliminary results showed that L-glutamine therapy improved the exercise endurance of sickle cell anemia patients. Following up on this study, minute ventilation and work rate were evaluated. After proper consent, 6 homozygous sickle cell anemia volunteers participated in this two-part study. The first part was incremental work rate testing where the work rate was increased incrementally. The second part was the constant work rate test, in which 80% of the maximum work rate of the incremental test was utilized. Patients were observed for changes in ventilation. These tests were conducted at baseline and after 8 to 12 weeks of therapy with oral L-glutamine at 30 grams a day. There were 6 patients who completed the incremental work rate test and 4 patients who completed the constant work rate test, respectively, at baseline and after treatment. Two of the patients withdrew prior to the completion of the follow-up testing. The results were as follows: On the incremental test, there was an upward trend in peak work rate with an average of 3.5 ± 8.7 watts/min (88.7 ± 25.6 vs. 91.5 ± 21.7; ρ> 0.05). Minute ventilation (VE) showed an average improvement of −4.8 ± 3.9 liters/min (61.2 ± 9.8 vs. 56.4 ± 9.9; ρ value of 0.05). The improved ventilation may be secondary to increased pulmonary blood flow inferring an increased cardiovascular oxygen delivery. On the constant work rate test, there was significant increase in exercise duration with an average of 1.4 ± 0.8 minutes (5.9 ± 1.6 vs. 7.3 ± 1.1; ρ 0.05). This could be indicative of improved oxygen delivery to the exercising musculature despite the absence of a preparatory exercise training program. The data confirm our preliminary report suggesting that L-glutamine therapy improves the exercise endurance of sickle cell anemia patients.
Bridging locoregional therapy: Longitudinal trends and outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ☆

The purpose of this article is to analyze longitudinal trends in locoregional therapy (LRT) use and review locoregional therapy's role in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma prior to orthotropic liver transplantation Porrett et al. (2006) . LRT has a role in both bridge to transplantation and downstaging of patients not initially meeting Milan or UCSF Criteria. Due to the lack of randomized controlled trials, no specific bridging LRT modality is recommended over another for treating patients on the waiting list, however each modality has unique and patient-specific advantages. Pre-transplant LRT use in the United States has increased dramatically over the last two decades with more than 50% of the currently listed patients receiving LRT Freeman et al. (2008) . Despite these national trends, significant differences in LRT utilization, referral patterns, recurrence rates and survival have been observed among UNOS regions, socioeconomic levels and races. The use of LRT as a biologic selection tool based on response to treatment has shown promising results in its ability to predict successful post-transplant outcomes.
Neutron Pulses Slowing Down in Heavy Media Analysis with Applications of the Lead Spectrometer

Methods for the analysis of neutron pulses slowing down in heavy media are presented. The Green’s function coupling method is reviewed and the application of a prompt-jump approximation to pulses s...
Prognostic significance of sites of extrathoracic metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to have a poor prognosis despite recent advances in both targeted radiotherapy methodologies such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and im-munotherapies. The impact of location of metastatic disease in patients with NSCLC has not been investigated; we aimed to investigate this using the Surveillance, Epide-miology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods: We included 39,910 patients from the SEER da-tabase treated for M1b NSCLC from 2010–2013. We identified patients with meta-static disease in the brain, lung, liver, and bone. We used Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models to assess the impact of varying sites of metastatic disease on overall survival (OS). Results: Patients with disease coded as in the brain without other disease in the lung, liver, or bone had improved OS relative to all other comers with M1b disease (HR =0.84, 95% CI, 0.84–0.90, P Conclusions: This hypothesis-generating analysis suggests that patients with limited metastatic NSCLC to the bone or brain may particularly benefit from aggressive upfront therapies.
Pre-simulation orientation for medical trainees: An approach to decrease anxiety and improve confidence and performance.

Abstract Background We assessed the effect of basic orientation to the simulation environment on anxiety, confidence, and clinical decision making. Methods Twenty-four graduating medical students participated in a two-week surgery preparatory curriculum, including three simulations. Baseline anxiety was assessed pre-course. Scenarios were completed on day 2 and day 9. Prior to the first simulation, participants were randomly divided into two groups. Only one group received a pre-simulation orientation. Before the second simulation, all students received the same orientation. Learner anxiety was reported immediately preceding and following each simulation. Confidence was assessed post-simulation. Performance was evaluated by surgical faculty. Results The oriented group experienced decreased anxiety following the first simulation (p = 0.003); the control group did not. Compared to the control group, the oriented group reported less anxiety and greater confidence and received higher performance scores following all three simulations (all p Conclusions Pre-simulation orientation reduces anxiety while increasing confidence and improving performance.
Combining Astigmatism Correction with Cataract Surgery: A Personal Crusade

This chapter dealing with the birth of astigmatic keratotomy with cataract surgery is a reasonable way to begin a book devoted to this surgical correction of astigmatism. Although it has some scientific merit and historical accuracy, the most invaluable lesson that can be gained is to understand human emotional response to change.
Prevalence and Impact of Left-Handedness in Neurosurgery.

Background Approximately 10%–13% of the population is left-handed (LH), and certain professions have varied representation of LH individuals. LH surgeons must overcome unique difficulties owing to the right-handed (RH) operative environment. This study assesses prevalence and impact of left-handedness on training and operative experience of neurosurgeons. Methods An e-mail survey was designed and sent to 5109 U.S. neurosurgeons and neurosurgical trainees. The survey was completed by 1482 responders (29.0% response rate). Results Of respondents, 252 (17.0%) reported being LH. LH neurosurgeons were more likely than RH neurosurgeons to report ambidexterity in the operating room (36.5% vs. 13.3%, P Conclusions LH neurosurgeons may be overrepresented in neurosurgery, yet handedness is rarely addressed in neurosurgical training. Despite this, there is evidence of some degree of adaptation through training. There may be some benefit from recognizing differences in handedness in the operating room and attempting to give access for LH-specific mentorship during training.