cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximal voluntary isometric force production characteristics of six muscle groups in women aged 25 to 74 years

The age-related force production characteristics of six muscle groups in 143 women aged 25-74 years were examined. Measures of maximal force (MFR) were obtained on the finger flexors (FF), thumb extensors (TE), forearm flexors (FAF), forearm extensors (FAE), dorsi flexors (DF), and plantar flexors (PF) utilizing a linear voltage differential transducer. The subjects were categorized by age into ten 5-year groups. The magnitude of decline across age in MFR ranged from 36.2% (FAE) to 45.1% (PF). There were differences among muscle groups in the age at which a significant decline in MFR was first detected. The earliest drop off in MFR was observed in FF and FAF (45-49 years), while the latest significant decline across age was noted in FAE (65-69 years). Since the magnitude of maximal force decreases with age, and because these characteristics can not be entirely explained by age-related decrements in fat-free mass, it appears that the quality in addition to the quantity of senescent muscle tissue may be compromised. However, the magnitude of decline in maximal force is dependent upon the muscle group considered. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Endogenous hormones, participant characteristics, and symptoms among midlife women.

Abstract Objectives The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations between endogenous hormone levels and symptoms other than hot flashes in a sample of midlife women. Methods Data from a community-based sample of 603 women aged 45–54 years who had never used hormone therapy were analyzed. Each participant completed a questionnaire to obtain data on demographic and lifestyle characteristics as well as symptoms, including headache, insomnia, vision problems, vaginal discharge and dryness, irritability, and incontinence. In addition, each participant provided a blood sample that was used to measure estrogen, androgen, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Prevalence rates of symptoms ranged from 51.4% (irritability) to 18.6% (vision problems). In adjusted analyses, the free estradiol index (FEI) was significantly and positively associated with the reporting of insomnia (odds ratio (OR) 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.61). Further, higher SHBG levels were significantly associated with lower odds of reporting vision problems (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.23–0.81). Conclusions This study provides evidence that hormones are associated with insomnia and visual problems during midlife. However, some of these results conflict with previous findings. Given the overall paucity of literature on these issues, more investigation is warranted.
Theoretical studies of carbocations in ion pairs. Part 7. Formation of ion pairs from 2-fluoropropane and Lewis acids , ,

Abstract High level ab initio MO calculations have identified two complexes of borane with 2-fluoropropane. In the first, the boron atom is above the small C1,C2,C3 angle (in complex); in the other, the boron atom is outside that angle (out complex). The ionization to form the 2-propyl cation and the trihydrofluoroborate ion A was followed by lengthening the C–F bond, d, in each complex and reoptimizing all other geometrical parameters. It was concluded that ionization occurred at d=1.8–2.0 A . The out ionization pathway was of lower energy (1–2 kcal/mol at MP2(FC)/6-31G∗∗) at al values of d. A third pathway (top), in which the F–B bond was held perpendicular to the C1,C2,C3 plane, rather than allowed to tilt, was 8–9 kcal/mol higher in energy throughout. Ionization to the tight ion pair did not require a large energy expenditure (19.0 kcal/mol over the isolated reactants at d=2.00 A , 30.3 kcal/mol at d=2.20 A ). A medium of dielectric constant 8.93, in SCRF(IPCM)-MP2(FC)/6-31G∗∗MP2/6-31G∗∗ calculations, reduced the ionization energy to 14.2 kcal/mol at d=2.20 A . The dielectric medium also reorders the relative energy of the three orientations to out d=2.20 A . Changes in bond lengths and angles show hyperconjugative assistance to the ionization by the methyl hydrogens anti to the fluorine along all pathways. As the ions separate, this effect decreases and. the interaction with the anion of one of the hydrogens initially syn to the fluorine becomes important. Along the in pathway, rotation of one of the methyl groups occurred along the in pathway at 2.20 A and elimination at 2.30 A; along the top pathway, it occurred at 2.30 and 2.40 A, respectively. Along the out pathway, methyl group rotation brought a hydrogen in each close to the anion at d=2.50 A and elimination followed at 2.70 A. The top orientation had not eliminated at distances about 2.6 A and higher in our previous work. Both the in and out forms were optimized without elimination at d=2.80 A with tetrafluoroborate (C) as anion. The calculations predict features of solvolyses, such as transfer of a nucleophile from the backside of the anion (retentive solvolysis), elimination to olefin within the ion pair, and recombination at the backside of the anion (oxygen scrambling faster than racemization of tosylates and carboxylates).
Use of Synthetic Modes in Hybrid Coordinate Dynamic Analysis

The purpose of this paper is the introduction of the concept of "synthetic modes" and the development of the mathematical framework in which they may be used in the dynamic analysis of mechanical systems that can be idealized as a combination of rigid bodies and flexible appendages. (A typical mechanical system is a spacecraft composed of a semirigid primary structure to which very flexible deployed antennas or solar panels are attached.) For reasons noted in the paper, it may be desirable in the construction of equations of motion of such mechanical systems to employ a "hybrid" coordinate system, i.e., to employ position and attitude coordinates for the rigid bodies of the system and modal deformation coordinates for the elastic appendages. Synthetic modes are introduced in the process of truncating the modal coordinates without destroying the simulation of nonvibratory response of the flexible appendages. Although this can be accomplished also without the use of synthetic modes, the result is a heavily encumbered inertia matrix, which is explicitly time dependent for a vehicle of varying nominal configuration (e.g., a spacecraft with scanning antenna). With the use of as many as six synthetic modes each properly defined in terms of six "dead load coefficients," the equations of motion for the composite system may be constructed with a constant diagonal inertia matrix, even if the vehicle nominal geometry and attitude are slowly changing with time. The resulting efficiency in numerical integration provides the incentive for utilizing the synthetic modes.
Fusion ballots as a candidate-centered reform: Evidence from Oregon☆

Abstract This article argues that fusion balloting, or the ability of multiple parties to nominate a single candidate for office, can be viewed as a candidate-centered and incumbent-oriented reform. Using the recent passage of fusion legislation in Oregon in 2009 and its subsequent use in 2010 state legislative elections as a test case, I study the factors behind supporting fusion legislation in both chambers of the state legislature and how these same factors affected, or did not affect, the incumbents that received cross-nominations in the 2010 elections. Overall, I find that party did not play a direct role in determining which legislators supported fusion, though female legislators were less supportive. When it came to obtaining nominations, the main finding is that incumbent candidates who voted yes to fusion were generally more likely to receive nominations. Still, legislators from the group that most opposed fusion, Democratic women, attempted to win cross-nominations once the 2010 elections approached. These findings suggest that candidate factors, more than party dictates, affected support for fusion and the ability of incumbents to receive cross-endorsements. Thus, the willingness of major-party candidates to adopt fusion can be understood through theories of candidate-centered elections and political parties.
Cognition-Enhancing Doses of Methylphenidate Preferentially Increase Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Responsiveness

Background Despite widespread use of low-dose psychostimulants for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the neural basis for the therapeutic actions of these drugs are not well understood. We recently demonstrated that low-dose methylphenidate (MPH) increases catecholamine efflux preferentially within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), suggesting that the PFC is a principal site of action in the behavioral-calming and cognition-enhancing effects of low-dose psychostimulants. To understand better the neural mechanisms involved in the behavioral actions of low-dose stimulants, this study examined the effects of low-dose MPH on the discharge properties of individual and ensembles of PFC neurons. Methods Extracellular activity of multiple individual PFC neurons was recorded in freely moving rats using multichannel recording techniques. Behavioral studies identified optimal, working memory-enhancing doses of intraperitoneal MPH. The effects of these low-doses of MPH on PFC neuronal discharge properties were compared with 1) the effects of high-dose MPH on PFC neuronal discharge and 2) the effects of low-dose MPH on neuronal discharge within the somatosensory cortex. Results Only working memory–enhancing doses of MPH increased the responsivity of individual PFC neurons and altered neuronal ensemble responses within the PFC. These effects were not observed outside the PFC (i.e., within somatosensory cortex). In contrast, high-dose MPH profoundly suppressed evoked discharge of PFC neurons. Conclusions These observations suggest that preferential enhancement of signal processing within the PFC, including alterations in the discharge properties of individual PFC neurons and PFC neuronal ensembles, underlie the behavioral/cognitive actions of low-dose psychostimulants.
Amplification of 1 ps pulses at 1.053 μm in a Ti:Al2O3 regenerative amplifier

Abstract We demonstrate the operation of a Ti:Al2O3 regenerative amplifier tunable around 1 μm. Gains up to 108 at 1.053 μm without any spectral narrowing are obtained. This amplifier is designed for use in terawatt picosecond lasers.
The Ethical Implications of Corporate Records Management Practices and Some Suggested Ethical Values for Decisions

While the ethical implications of corporate actions have received increasing attention, one important area overlooked by both researchers and corporate codes of ethics is the significant ethical implications of corporate records management practices. This article discusses the operational and strategic purposes of modern corporate records management programs—including “scorched earth” programs which seek to reduce exposure to potential liability by eliminating documentary evidence from corporate files that could be used to establish culpability in future governmental investigations or in litigation by persons injured by corporate actions. As a first step toward developing relevant ethical guidelines and decision criteria for socially-responsible records management practices, the ethical values of freedom of choice and avoidance of harm are applied to various corporate decisions as to (1) which information should be retained as records and for how long, (2) subsequent disclosure or non-disclosure of that information and to whom, and (3) decisions as to when information in corporate records may properly be destroyed.
Attractive interaction and pairing in fermion systems with strong on-site repulsion.

It is shown that an effective attractive interaction between nearest-neighbor antiparallel spins a-rises in the Hubbard and Anderson lattice models in the limit of large on-site electron-electron repulsion. Results of Monte Carlo simulations of the Hubbard model show enhancement of anisotropic single-pairing correlations and suppression of triplet-pairing correlations. It is proposed that this interaction leads to an anisotropic singlet superconducting state in the heavy-fermion superconductors.
Purpura in disseminated strongyloidiasis

ABSTRACT Purpuric lesions have been described previously in 10 patients with disseminated strongyloidiasis. We identified three additional patients in whom purpura developed as a manifestation of disseminated strongyloidiasis. Nine (69%) of the 13 patients were men, and the median age of patients was 61 years (range, 32–75 years). Six patients were from the southeastern United States. Six patients had underlying malignancy and four patients had chronic lung disease. All patients had received prior corticosteroids. The parasite was identified in 11 (92%) of 12 patients where stool or sputum examination was performed. Skin biopsies of purpuric lesions were obtained in 12 patients, in 10 (83%) of which larvae were found. Despite recommended treatment with thiabendazole in 12 of 13 patients, 11 (85%) of the patients died, and at least 6 died within 16 days of onset of purpura. Physicians, particularly those in the southeastern United States, should strongly consider the diagnosis of disseminated strongyloidiasis in patients receiving corticosteroids and in whom purpura and systemic toxicity develops.
DNA triplexes and Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia, the most common inherited ataxia, is caused by the transcriptional silencing of the FXN gene, which codes for the 210 amino acid frataxin, a mitochondrial protein involved in iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis. The expansion of the GAA x TTC tract in intron 1 to as many as 1700 repeats elicits the transcriptional silencing by the formation of non-B DNA structures (triplexes or sticky DNA), the formation of a persistent DNA x RNA hybrid, or heterochromatin formation. The triplex (sticky DNA) adopted by the long repeat sequence also elicits profound mutagenic, genetic instability, and recombination behaviors. Early stage therapeutic investigations involving polyamides or histone deacetylase inhibitors are being pursued. Friedreich ataxia may be one of the most thoroughly studied hereditary neurological disease from a pathophysiological standpoint.
Intra-articular and soft tissue injections, a systematic review of relative efficacy of various corticosteroids

The comparative efficacy of various Corticosteroid (CS) injections commonly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions has not been systematically studied. Our objective is to synthesize data about comparative efficacy of various CS used for intra-articular and periarticular soft tissue injections. Online databases were searched including MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, and bibliographies of studies till November 2013. We included all randomized controlled trials comparing two CS for intra-articular and periarticular injections, selected according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. Seven good quality trials were selected for qualitative data synthesis. Two trials comparing triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) and methylprednisolone (MP) for knee arthritis suggested faster pain relief with TH for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at day 7 (p < 0.05) and osteoarthritis (OA) at week 3 (visual analogue scale, 33 mm vs 14 mm, p < 0.01) but a similar long-term efficacy. One trial suggested faster pain relief with MP compared to triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for rotator cuff tendonitis at 2 weeks (percentage of patients improving 92 % vs. 50 %; p = 0.02) but similar long-term efficacy, while another trial suggested no difference between TA and MP for knee OA. Two trials for knee arthritis suggested a substantially better efficacy for TH than TA (response rate at 24 months 77 % vs 39 %; p = 0.001) and betamethasone (BM) at day 42 (p < 0.01). There is paucity of data regarding comparative efficacy of various CS injections. Limited number of studies favored TH over other CS (TA, MP, BM).
Building a Science of Partnership-Focused Research: Forging and Sustaining Partnerships to Support Child Mental Health Prevention and Services Research

Building on growing interest in translational research, this paper provides an overview of a special issue of Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Service Research, which is focused on the process of forging and sustaining partnerships to support child mental health prevention and services research. We propose that partnership-focused research is a subdiscipline of translational research which requires additional research to better refine the theoretical framework and the core principles that will guide future research and training efforts. We summarize some of the major themes across the eight original articles and three commentaries included in the special issue. By advancing the science of partnership-focused research we will be able to bridge the gap between child mental health prevention and services research and practice.
Spectroscopic analysis of jet‐cooled AlCu

Diatomic AlCu has been interrogated using resonant two‐photon ionization spectroscopy in a supersonic expansion of helium. The ground state is shown to be X 1Σ+, deriving from the 3sAl23dCu10σ2 configuration, in agreement with theoretical predictions. The closed‐shell nature of this molecule results in a low density of electronic states, allowing the chemical bonding and electronic structure to be investigated in detail. Five excited electronic states have been observed and characterized, leading to a potential energy diagram based solely on experimental results. Constants experimentally determined for AlCu include a ground state bond length (r0) of 2.3389±0.0004 A, a dissociation energy, D0○, of 2.315±0.012 eV, and an ionization potential of 7.065±0.014 eV.
Segmenting Intersecting And Incomplete Boundaries

This paper describes general purpose algorithms for segmenting boundary images. Intersecting and incomplete boundaries commonly occur in line-art images, and also in natural images depicting translucent objects. Humans have little difficulty in segmenting such boundaries into sets corresponding to the perceptually significant regions in the image. Many existing machine vision algorithms, however, have difficulty in processing images which contain intersecting or incomplete boundaries. However, Walters' segmentation algorithm based on the p-space representation of oriented edges will correctly segment images with non-acutely intersecting lines and boundaries. This paper suggests a non-iterative, parallel algorithm which will fill large gaps and segment acutely intersecting boundaries. These algorithms are useful in a variety of applications including fake color separation, character recognition, and also in segmenting images depicting translucent objects.
The Emergence of the ERC

As someone who has been awarded funding in multiple projects in both sides of the Atlantic, I see the emergence of an European Research Council (ERC) (“Decisive day for European research,” W. Krull, H. Nowotny, Editorial, 5 Nov. 2004, p. 941) as an opportunity to improve on existing models. I would like to offer my two cents. First, it may not be that important that an ERC is well funded to the point that it could replace national granting agencies—recent reports suggest that this is most likely too tall an order. I see it as more critical that it should be funded and configured to provide unbiased supranational evaluation of research proposals. The rankings could then be used for awarding EU funding or could instead, or jointly, be carried by national agencies with a mandate to fund the best proposals in a given area. Second, U.S. granting agencies appear to be shifting from a paradigm that mostly targeted individual-initiated research to one that more likely rewards collective initiatives. In my experience, this actually better promotes young researchers and provides more protection to fundamental work under the umbrella of longer-term goals. This is particularly clear in the NIH roadmap. There may be a precious lesson here the ERC may want to consider: Micromanaging the progress of 3-year research programs falls significantly short of objectively evaluating the achievements of 5- or even 7-year larger initiatives. # Response {#article-title-2} I am glad to see that the establishment of an ERC elicits comparisions and advice as offered by Almeida. It was never intended that an ERC would replace national granting agencies. Apart from being legally impossible, this would have meant political suicide and is indeed too tall an order to finance from the EU budget. But the proposal to use the unbiased supranational evaluation of research proposals, in case they are not funded, as a recommendation especially for national funding is an interesting one. The paradigm shift observed among U.S. granting agencies from targeting individual research to collective initiatives has long been preceded by EU funding practice, however. This has been the standard rule in all Framework Programmes since the beginning. In setting up only two criteria—attracting the best of the best in terms of scientific excellence, and a rigorous competition by supranational peer review—funding for basic research at EU level through an ERC should be open to individuals as well as to research groups across the European Research Area without any further strings attached. This is the truly innovative feature of an ERC—if and when it comes about.
Scintillator efficiency calculations in a high-energy transport-code framework

Abstract We have incorporated some additions and modifications to LAHET (the Los-Alamos High-Energy Transport code) which enable it to be used for hydrocarbon scintillator pulse-height and efficiency calculations.
Pathology of borderline (low malignant potential) ovarian tumours

Abstract Recent studies suggest that the borderline group of ovarian tumours can be subclassified into benign and malignant neoplasms. The survival for patients with serous borderline tumours confined to the ovaries is virtually 100%. Patients with serous borderline tumours with invasive peritoneal implants, and with micropapillary serous carcinomas (a distinctive neoplasm previously included in the borderline category), have a 30–40% mortality rate and therefore these tumours are classified as carcinomas. After these neoplasms are excluded, the remaining advanced stage serous borderline tumours (those with non-invasive implants) have a survival rate of nearly 100% and should be considered benign. Similarly, nearly all mucinous borderline tumours reported to display aggressive behaviour have been associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a condition now known to be of appendiceal origin. The remaining mucinous borderline tumours are always confined to the ovaries and have a benign behaviour. Since borderline tumours can now be classified into benign and malignant types, the category has no further utility.
Editing the Fihrist of Ibn al-Nadīm

Arabic and Islamic studies, whether of the Abbasid or later periods, suffer from the lack of reliable editions of fundamental resources such as al-Ṭabarī’s Tārīkh al-rusul wa-l-mulūk, al-Masʿūdī’s Murūj al-dhahab wa-maʿādin al-jawhar, Abū l-Faraj al-Iṣbahānī’s Kitāb al-Aghānī, and others, despite a long history of scholarly interest in, and intensive use of these particular texts. The appearance in 2009 of the new edition of the Fihrist of Ibn al-Nadīm (d. 380/990) by Ayman Fuʾād Sayyid (hereafter afs) provides an opportunity to reflect on this general problem by considering the historical progress made in the editing and contextualization of this text that is central to the understanding of Abbasid history and letters and to nearly all the intellectual traditions that had arisen in the Islamic world by the fourth/tenth century. As will become clear, the complex history of scholarship on the Fihrist is an object lesson on the problem of failing adequately to take into account the work of earlier editors and scholars, made particularly difficult in this case by linguistic barriers and limited access to widely scattered publications. The following remarks attempt to review afs’s edition of the Fihrist, to compare the views of afs, the Russian scholar Valeriy V. Polosin, and others regarding the context and background of the Fihrist, and to give an overview of the current state of knowledge about Ibn al-Nadīm and the Fihrist. It will be argued that, beyond reliably publishing the contents of the earliest extant manuscript of the Fihrist, substantial emendations to the text are required to produce a reliable edition of the work. An evaluation of afs’s emendations to the text is followed by a number of additional proposed emendations.
Study of integrated heterogeneous data reveals prognostic power of gene expression for breast cancer survival.

BACKGROUND: Studies show that thousands of genes are associated with prognosis of breast cancer. Towards utilizing available genetic data, efforts have been made to predict outcomes using gene expression data, and a number of commercial products have been developed. These products have the following shortcomings: 1) They use the Cox model for prediction. However, the RSF model has been shown to significantly outperform the Cox model. 2) Testing was not done to see if a complete set of clinical predictors could predict as well as the gene expression signatures. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: We address these shortcomings. The METABRIC data set concerns 1981 breast cancer tumors. Features include 21 clinical features, expression levels for 16,384 genes, and survival. We compare the survival prediction performance of the Cox model and the RSF model using the clinical data and the gene expression data to their performance using only the clinical data. We obtain significantly better results when we used both clinical data and gene expression data for 5 year, 10 year, and 15 year survival prediction. When we replace the gene expression data by PAM50 subtype, our results are significant only for 5 year and 15 year prediction. We obtain significantly better results using the RSF model over the Cox model. Finally, our results indicate that gene expression data alone may predict long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that we can obtain improved survival prediction using clinical data and gene expression data compared to prediction using only clinical data. We further conclude that we can obtain improved survival prediction using the RSF model instead of the Cox model. These results are significant because by incorporating more gene expression data with clinical features and using the RSF model, we could develop decision support systems that better utilize heterogeneous information to improve outcome prediction and decision making.
Teaching Well Matters: Tips for Becoming a Successful Medical Teacher

a Iwas recently notified that the second-year Gastrointestinal (GI) Pathophysiology Course that I have directed for 18 years has taken over the number 1 ranking spot among all preclinical courses at Harvard Medical School. Our overall course score based n student evaluations was 1.17 on a Likert scale, where 1 is xcellent and 5 is poor. The average second-year course score or 2012 was 1.71. I had accomplished my long time goal of aking the Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology Course the est rated course in the first 2 years at Harvard Medical chool. This was also the goal of the 80 teachers who aught with me during the 2.5-week course in March 2012. he course teachers’ professional ranking and specialties ange from medical residents, hospitalists, and pathologists, o fellows and faculty in gastroenterology. Each is thrilled hat our tremendous team effort and excellent teaching has aid off. I have thought a great deal about how to achieve his kind of success in teaching and would like to share ome of my tips.1
Transplantation for SLE

Comment on Statkute et al, page [2700][1] Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can now be performed safely even in most difficult SLE patients when conducted by highly experienced teams. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease ranging from a
In vitro formation of chromium complex from higher plants

Abstract Chromium as either chromate or chromic ion reacts with expressed alfalfa liquid to form two complexes. The larger complex may be assembled from the smaller complex and the formation of the larger complex requires a heat labile factor.
An extension of A-stability to alternating direction implicit methods

Completely implicit, noniterative, finite-difference schemes have recently been developed by several authors for nonlinear, multidimensional systems of hyperbolic and mixed hyperbolic-parabolic partial differential equations. The method of Douglas and Gunn or the method of approximate factorization can be used to reduce the computational problem to a sequence of one-dimensional or alternating direction implicit (ADI) steps. Since the eigenvalues of partial differential equations (for example, the equations of compressible fluid dynamics) are often widely distributed with large imaginary parts,A-stable integration formulas provide ideal time-differencing approximations. In this paper it is shown that if anA-stable linear multistep method is used to integrate a model two-dimensional hyperbolic-parabolic partial differential equation, then one can always construct an ADI scheme by the method of approximate factorization which is alsoA-stable, i.e., unconditionally stable. A more restrictive result is given for three spatial dimensions. Since necessary and sufficient conditions forA-stability can easily be determined by using the theory of positive real functions, the stability analysis of the factored partial difference equations is reduced to a simple algebraic test.
Stabilizing self-assembled Fmoc-F5-Phe hydrogels by co-assembly with PEG-functionalized monomers.

Hydrogels derived from self-assembled Fmoc–F5–Phe fibrils are stabilized with respect to shear-response by co-assembly with C-terminal PEG-functionalized Fmoc–F5–Phe.
HLA-G and immune tolerance in pregnancy

Multiple mechanisms underlie the surprising willingness of mothers to tolerate genetically different fetal tissues during pregnancy. Chief among these is the choice of HLA-G, a gene with few alleles, rather than the highly polymorphic HLA-A and -B genes, for expression by the placental cells that interface directly with maternal blood and tissues. Novel aspects of this major histocompatibility complex class Ib gene include alternative splicing to permit production of membrane and soluble isoforms, deletions that dampen responses to interferons, and a shortened cytoplasmic tail that affects expression at the cell surface. Placental cells migrating into the maternal uterus synthesize both membrane and soluble isoforms, which interact with inhibitory receptors on leukocytes such as ILT2 and ILT4. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes either die or reduce production of one of their major coreceptor/activator cell surface molecules, CD8; natural killer cells are immobilized and mononuclear phagocytes are programmed into suppressive modes characterized by high production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The idea that placental HLA-G proteins facilitate semiallogeneic pregnancy by inhibiting maternal immune responses to foreign (paternal) antigens via these actions on immune cells is now well established, and the postulate that the recombinant counterparts of these proteins may be used as powerful tools for preventing immune rejection of transplanted organs is gaining in popularity.
Molecular-beam sampling study of extinguishment of methane-air flames by dry chemicals

The use of Al2O3, NaHCO3, KHCO3, NH4H2PO4 and KCl powders for the inhibition of a methane/oxygen diffusion flame is studied through measurement of composition and temperature profiles, using a molecular beam mass spectrometer sampling system. In order to obtain significant inhibition without extinguishing the flame, a powder feeding rate of 2 mg/liter of gas was used for KCl and Al2O3, and of 3 mg/liter of gas for the remaining powders. CH4, O2, N2, H2O and CO2 concentrations were measured by the mass spectrometer, while temperature was measured by the time-of-flight technique. For the powder feeding rates used, Al2O3 was the least and KCl and NH2H4PO2 the most effective in reducing temperature; in reaction-inhibition effectiveness, Al2O3 was again lowest while KCl was superior to all others. Because the KCl concentration was only 2/3 that of NH4H2PO4, it is recommended as the most effective temperature reducer and reaction inhibitor.
Validity of local density kinetic energy expressions for electronic structure calculations

Abstract Local density expressions provide a simple and flexible means of calculating kinetic energies. Recently it has been ascertained that such expressions can be quite accurate (to within 1%) in obtaining the total kinetic energy of an atomic system. However, we shall demonstrate that local density kinetic energy expressions, as presently formulated, are not appropriate for molecular or solid state calculations. In particular, these expressions do not properly describe trends appropriate for valence electron charge density configurations.
Ground states of infinite-range spin-(1/2 quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnets.

We study a class of infinite-range spin-(1/2 quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnets. We show that, in addition to ground states with macroscopic net spin in one or several sublattices (``N\'eel states''), there are valence-bond (VB) states that are local spin singlets. We show that there is a class of perturbations that stabilizes the VB state. We characterize the excitation spectrum and find an order parameter for the VB states. Finally, we extend our method to find perturbations that stabilize microscopic as well as macroscopic chiral states.
Biological Implications of Change in Pacific-influenced Arctic Marine Ecosystems

Summary This lecture provides an overview of climate and biological changes in Pacific-influenced Arctic marine ecosystems. It reviews and examines the major contributing factors to these changes, including changing conditions of sea ice, freshwater input, and the alteration of marine ecosystems. Examples of these factors are provided to illustrate the potential impacts that will have broad-reaching implications for long-term ecosystem structures. This lecture also reviews the progress of various programs undertaken during recent years (i.e. Bering Sea Research Program, Canada's Three Oceans, the Russian/US Long-term Census of the Arctic Ocean, and the Western Arctic Shelf-Basin Interactions) which have provided insights into the key processes influencing ecosystem function and change in the northern Bering and Chukchi shelf regions. Data sets from these programs are included in this L&O e-Lecture, in the context of biological response to sea ice changes in the Pacific Arctic region, with accompanying discussion by the L&O e-Lecture author.
Steroid receptor coactivator-3 as a potential molecular target for cancer therapy.

Introduction: Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3), also called amplified-in-breast cancer-1 (AIB1), is an oncogenic coactivator in endocrine and non-endocrine cancers. Functional studies demonstrate SRC-3 promotes numerous aspects of cancer, through its capacity as a coactivator for nuclear hormone receptors and other transcription factors, and via its ability to control multiple growth pathways simultaneously. Targeting SRC-3 with specific inhibitors therefore holds future promise for clinical cancer therapy. Areas covered: We discuss critical advances in understanding SRC-3 as a cancer mediator and prospective drug target. We review SRC-3 structure and function and its role in distinct aspects of cancer. In addition, we discuss SRC-3 regulation and degradation. Finally, we comment on a recently discovered SRC-3 small molecular inhibitor. Expert opinion: Most targeted chemotherapeutic drugs block only a single cellular pathway. In response, cancers frequently acquire resistance by upregulating alterna...
Fiber humidity sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity based on interior nanofilm-coated photonic crystal fiber long-period gratings

Abstract A photonic crystal fiber (PCF) long-period grating (LPG) humidity sensor has been developed with high sensitivity and selectivity for nondestructive detection of moisture ingression into structures that can potentially lead to corrosion. We have proposed two types of nanofilms to be coated on the surface of air channels in the grating region by electrostatic self-assembly deposition processing. The primary nanofilm does not affect LPG properties such as resonance wavelength or transmission intensity which can impact sensing characteristics; however it increases the sensitivity by changing the refractive index of the surrounding material. The secondary nanofilm is used for selectively adsorbing analyte molecules of interest. The experimental results reveal that, compared to the conventional fiber LPGs and exterior nanofilm-coated PCF-LPG, the interior nanofilm-coated PCF-LPG humidity sensors have both the most sensitive resonance intensity change of 0.00022%/10 −3 dBm from relative humidity (RH) of 38% to 39% and average wavelength shift of 0.0007%/pm for a relative humidity variation from 22% to 29%. The proposed sensor shows excellent thermal stability as well.
Comparison of Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR to Viral Culture for Assessment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Shedding

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has recently been recognized as a serious pathogen in elderly and immunocompromised adults. Diagnosis of acute infection in adults is often difficult due to the insensitivity of viral culture, and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) is a more sensitive alternative. The relationship of quantitative RT-PCR to viable virus has never been studied for RSV. Therefore, we compared a quantitative real-time RT-PCR with viral culture to assess viral load in adult volunteers challenged with the RSV A2 strain. Twelve of 13 volunteers were infected, and there was a high correlation (r = 0.84) between quantitative RT-PCR and viral titer by cell culture. However, RT-PCR was more sensitive, with 73 of 169 (43%) samples positive compared to 58 (34%) samples positive by culture. The correlation between the two tests was highest early in the course of viral shedding (r = 0.91, days 0 to 6), whereas during days 7 to 13, there was more variability (r = 0.70). All subjects were culture negative by day 11, whereas one subject remained RT-PCR positive on day 12. All subjects were RT-PCR negative at day 28 postinfection. Quantitative RT-PCR has an excellent correlation with viral titers, as measured by culture, and should be a useful tool for future studies addressing viral load and disease pathogenesis.
THE DISSIPATIVE STRUCTURE OF SHOCK WAVES IN DENSE GASES

The present study provides a detailed description of the dissipative structure of shock waves propagating in dense gases which have relatively large specific heats. The flows of interest are governed by the usual Navier–Stokes equations supplemented by realistic equations of state and realistic models for the density dependence of the viscosity and thermal conductivity. New results include the first computation of the structure of finite-amplitude expansion shocks and examples of shock waves in which the thickness increases, rather than decreases, with strength. A new phenomenon, referred to as impending shock splitting, is also reported.
Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Intensity and ENSO

The influence of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on tropical cyclone intensity in the western North Pacific basin is examined. Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), constructed from the best-track dataset for the region for the period 1950–2002, and other related variables are analyzed. ACE is positively correlated with ENSO indices. This and other statistics of the interannually varying tropical cyclone distribution are used to show that there is a tendency in El Nino years toward tropical cyclones that are both more intense and longer-lived than in La Nina years. ACE leads ENSO indices: during the peak season (northern summer and fall), ACE is correlated approximately as strongly with ENSO indices up to six months later (northern winter), as well as simultaneously. It appears that not all of this lead–lag relationship is easily explained by the autocorrelation of the ENSO indices, though much of it is. Interannual variations in the annual mean lifetime, intensity, and number of tropical cyclones all contribute to the ENSO signal in ACE, though the lifetime effect appears to be the most important of the three.
The effect of fluticasone propionate on functional status and sleep in children with asthma and on the quality of life of their parents

Abstract Background: Although in the past drug interventions were measured primarily on the basis of their efficacy and safety, today we are increasingly interested in what impact treatments have on the patient's day-to-day activities and quality of life. Objectives: We sought to assess the effect of treatment with fluticasone propionate (FP) on functional status and sleep disturbances in children with asthma and to evaluate possible changes in the quality of life of the parents of these children after treatment. Methods: As part of a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter study on the effects of FP powder (50 or 100 μg twice daily) on growth in children aged 4 to 11 years with mild-to-moderate asthma ( n = 325), parents/caregivers completed the following questionnaires at baseline and at weeks 24 and 52 of treatment: Functional Status IIR (FSII), Sleep Scale-Children (SLP-C), and Quality of Life of Parents of Asthmatic Children (QOL-PAC). Change from baseline to weeks 24 and 52 within each treatment group was analyzed by using paired t tests, and differences between treatment groups were analyzed by using analysis of covariance. Results: Mean FSII and SLP-C scores improved significantly over baseline values with either 50 or 100 μg FP at weeks 24 and 52 ( p p p Conclusions: The results of this study show that FP (either 50 or 100 μg twice a day) was associated with significant improvements in functional status and decreased sleep disturbances in children with asthma. In addition, treatment of children with FP was associated with a decreased burden on the parents of these children with asthma. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;102:19-23.)
The Ethics of Food, Fuel & Feed

As the collective impact of human activity approaches Earth's biophysical limits, the ethics of food become increasingly important. Hundreds of millions of people remain undernourished, yet only 60 percent of the global harvest is consumed by humans, while 35 percent is fed to livestock and 5 percent is used for biofuels and other industrial products. This essay considers the ethics of such use of edible nutrition for feedstock and biofuel. How humanity uses Earth's land is a reflection of its values. The current land-use arrangements, which divert 40 percent of all food to feed animals or create fuels, suggest that dietary and transportation preferences of wealthier individuals are considered more important than feeding undernourished people, or the stability of the wider biotic community.
Bidirectional conversion between DCT coefficients of blocks and their subblocks

In the context of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and the discrete cosine transform (DCT), we present efficient methods for bidirectional conversion between transform coefficients of a signal block (one- or two-dimensional) and transform coefficients of the signal's subblocks. The DFT case is used to exemplify the underlying theoretical issues while the DCT case is considered for its practical importance. For typical DCT block sizes, our algorithms result in a 20% savings in multiplications over the fastest existing methods and have no penalty in reordering operations.
Evaluation of muscle size and fatty infiltration with MRI nine to eleven years following hamstring harvest for ACL reconstruction.

Background: The long-term effect of hamstring tendon harvest for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on muscle morphology is not well documented. Our hypothesis was that harvest of the hamstring tendons for ACL reconstruction would result in persistent loss of volume and cross-sectional area of the gracilis and semitendinosus muscles. Methods: Magnetic resonance images were made of both limbs of ten patients nine to eleven years after they had ACL reconstruction with ipsilateral hamstring autograft. The volume of the individual thigh muscles bilaterally was calculated. The peak cross-sectional area and the cross-sectional area 7 cm proximal to the joint line was measured for the gracilis and semitendinosus muscles. Data were evaluated with use of the paired t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The gracilis and semitendinosus muscles on the operatively treated side were evaluated for fatty infiltration and tendon regeneration. Results: The mean volume on the operatively treated side was 54.2% of that on the noninvolved side for the gracilis muscle and 58.5% for the semitendinosus muscle. A 7% decrease in quadriceps volume and an 8% increase in the volume of the long head of the biceps on the operatively treated extremity were noted. The semimembranosus muscle and short head of the biceps muscle showed no difference in volume. The gracilis and semitendinosus muscles also showed a decrease in peak cross-sectional area, a decrease in the cross-sectional area 7 cm proximal to the joint line, and evidence of fatty infiltration. There was variable evidence of tendon or scar formation within the tendon bed, with most patients having some tissue that blended into either the sartorius muscle or medial gastrocnemius fascia at a level proximal to the joint line. Conclusions: At nine to eleven years after ACL reconstruction with ipsilateral hamstring autograft, the gracilis and semitendinosus muscles showed persistent atrophy on the operatively treated side with evidence of fatty infiltration and variability in tendon regeneration. There was also persistent atrophy of the quadriceps muscles and compensatory hypertrophy of the long head of the biceps. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Volcano reactions in oxide vias between tungsten CVD and bias sputtered TiN/Ti films

Tungsten chemical vapor deposition (CVD) remains the preferred method to make vertical metal interconnects in oxide vias on silicon integrated circuits. Vias are lined with thin titanium films, protected by a TiN diffusion barrier deposited on top followed by tungsten CVD. "Volcano" reactions, which result in rupture of the TiN barrier and electrical failure of the interconnect, remains an integration difficulty of great interest. Four parameters are found to strongly influence volcano reactions: the mixture of and gases during tungsten nucleation film deposition, TiN barrier thickness, use of plasma preclean before Ti/TiN deposition, and a rapid thermal anneal after Ti/TiN deposition and before tungsten CVD. We describe process methods to avoid volcano reactions with thin TiN barrier films, maintaining low resistivity in the via. The influence of varying these parameters on overall step coverage is also discussed. © 2000 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.