cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of renal transplantation among patients with end-stage renal disease caused by lupus nephritis

Outcomes of renal transplantation among patients with end-stage renal disease caused by lupus nephritis. Background Although the outcomes of renal transplantation among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) caused by lupus nephritis have generally been found to be comparable to those of patients with other causes of ESRD, some studies indicate that cadaveric graft failure is more common among these patients. However, most previous studies examined small numbers of patients and did not adjust for important confounding factors. Methods Graft failure and patient mortality after the first cadaveric renal transplantation were compared between 772 adults with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis and 32,644 adults with ESRD caused by other causes who received a transplant between 1987 and 1994 and were included in the United States Renal Data System. The median follow-up times were 4.9 and 5.0 years in the two groups, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to adjust the risks of graft failure and mortality for group differences in recipient and donor characteristics. Similar comparisons were performed between 390 adults with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis and 10,512 adults with ESRD caused by other causes after first living-related renal transplantation. Results In an unadjusted analysis, the risk of graft failure after first cadaveric transplant was slightly but significantly greater among patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis than among those with ESRD caused by other causes [hazard ratio (HR), 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.26, P = 0.04]. However, after adjustment for potential confounding factors, the risk of graft failure was not increased in patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.23, P = 0.28). Mortality after the first cadaveric transplantation did not differ between groups. The adjusted risks of graft failure (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.32, P = 0.62) and patient mortality (HR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.05, P = 0.09) after the first living-related renal transplant were also not significantly higher among patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis. Conclusions Graft and patient survival after first cadaveric and first living-related renal transplants are similar in patients with ESRD caused by lupus nephritis and patients with ESRD from other causes.
Black—white differences in a goal—setting program

Abstract The issue of the composition of a sample on external validity is an important factor in most areas of organizational research. While knowledge about goal setting derived from white samples may be applicable to black samples, there are virtually no studies available to support such an assertion. The present study of 190 skilled technicians, 40 of whom are black, examines the moderating impact of race on the relationship between six-factor analytically derived task-goal. attributes and task-effort and performance measures. It was found that the black technicians report that different goal attributes are associated with task-effort and performance in an assigned goal-setting program than their white counterparts.
Ozone variations observed during the International Ozone Rocket Sonde Intercomparison

The International Ozone Rocket Sonde Intercomparison (IORI) conducted at Wallops Island during October 1979 provided a unique opportunity to observe ozone variations in great detail from several observing systems. The measurement period lasted 15 days during which time ozone observations were taken by ground-based, balloon, rocket, and satellite instruments. These data provided a unique opportunity for diagnosing regional stratospheric variability over a 2 week period. Examination of NMC analyses indicated that during this period the stratospheric polar vortex moved southeastward bringing air form high latitudes to Wallops Island above 10 mb. A concurrent change was observed in the upper stratosphere ozone fields observed by Nimbus-7 SBUV and in the ozone vertical distribution measured by the rocket soundings. In this study the satellite and rocket measurements are compared. The agreement is good, certainly within the errors of the measurements.
The Convoluted and Diminished Lebanese Democracy

Transforming and modernizing the Lebanese Army, a national institution with broad popular support, is key for Lebanon to overcome the serious challenges to its democratic form of government, including the system of allocating and sharing of power on the basis of religious sects, the practice of political leaders distributing favors to constituents and protecting them from the central government, dependency on foreign patrons, and pervasive corruption. In making these points, the essay briefly describes major events in the recent political history of Lebanon from the country's founding in 1920 to the present. It argues that in its present form, Lebanese political system, despite open elections, a free press, functioning parliament, and so on, is not a real democracy.
ONE-STAGE LOGIST1

Applications of item response theory frequently require estimates of only the item parameters. In this paper, a reparameterization of the logistic model is developed which involves substituting an implicit function of the number-right true score for ability. The number-right true score needs only to be computed once since the observed number-right score is a good estimator of it. This reparameterization avoids estimating each examinee's ability in every stage of the estimation procedure. An estimation method containing this reparameterization was devised and incorporated into a modified version of the LOGIST computer program. The procedure, called One-Stage, was tried out on artificial and real data. The results on the artificial data were compared to the true values and to the estimates from the operational LOGIST program. The results on the real data were compared to the estimates from the operational LOGIST program. In the comparisons of the parameter estimates from One-Stage and LOGIST to the true values for the artificial data, One-Stage did not estimate the item parameters as well as LOGIST. One potential benefit of this procedure, the reduction in computer costs due to not estimating an ability for each examinee in each stage, was not realized when the procedure was applied to real data with a lot of not reached items.
Economic Burden of not Recognizing Panic Disorder in the Emergency Department

The objective of this cohort study was to examine the diagnostic patterns and resource utilization of patients presenting to the Emergency Department with chest pain of unknown origin who may be experiencing a panic attack. Patients were excluded if they had coronary artery disease. In the 155 patients meeting study criteria, unspecified chest pain (78%) was the most common diagnostic code assigned. Total charges for the index hospitalization were $1,263,391 (median/visit = $7340). During the 1-year follow-up, 41% of patients had at least one repeat hospital visit and generated $1.6 million in charges. Patients on Medicare or Medicaid were more likely to have multiple hospital visits during the follow-up (odds ratio = 11.7). In conclusion, Emergency Department patients admitted with non-cardiac chest pain account for a significant amount of hospital resource use.
The relationship between cognitive preoccupation with alcohol and alcohol use in male and female college students

This research examined the relationship between self-reported cognitive preoccupation with drinking and self-reported and ad lib measures of alcohol consumption in male and female college students. Fifty undergraduates rated their degree of preoccupation with drinking using the Cognitive and Emotional Preoccupation scale and then participated in an individualized taste-rating task, an unobtrusive laboratory measure for determining ad lib alcohol consumption. Regression results showed that individual differences in emotional preoccupation with alcohol predicted self-reported consumption and actual laboratory alcohol consumption, only for women and not for men. This research shows that emotional preoccupation with alcohol appears to be an important factor in determining rates of drinking in college-age women and may be an important factor in identifying those individuals at risk of future problems with alcohol.
Phantom Track Generation in 3D through Cooperative Control of Multiple ECAVs Based on Geometry

Radar deception through phantom track generation using multiple Electronic Combat Air Vehicles (ECAVs) is addressed which serves as a motivating example for cooperative control of autonomous multi-agent systems. The ECAV trajectories are represented by parameterized differentiable space curves in R3 and necessary and sufficient conditions are derived to satisfy their state, speed and curvature constraints. Based on this geometric analysis, an algorithm capable of generating trajectories online and in real-time is developed. Results on local asymptotic straightening of trajectories and controls ensuring the existence of feasible trajectories satisfying all system and actuator constraints are presented. The basic algorithm based on the results developed in here is given along with simulation results, validating the proposed approach.
Laparoscopic excision of ovarian remnants: retrospective cohort study with long-term follow-up.

Abstract Study Objective To review the clinical presentation, surgical and pathologic findings, and long-term outcomes after excision of ovarian remnants using a predominantly laparoscopic approach. Design Retrospective medical record review and long-term follow-up via telephone interview (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). Setting Large academic medical institution. Patients Thirty women who underwent excision of pathologically confirmed ovarian remnants by a single surgeon between 2001 and 2009. Intervention Excision of ovarian remnants, 29 at laparoscopy and 1 at laparotomy. Measurements and Main Results Of the 30 patients, 29 had pain and 1 had a persistent adnexal mass. Of the 29 patients who underwent preoperative ultrasonography, 26 (89.6%) had an adnexal mass on the side of previous salpingo-oophorectomy. Masses ranged in size from 0.8 to 7.4 cm in greatest diameter and most commonly contained debris-filled cysts. Intraoperatively, 29 excisions (96.7%) required retroperitoneal dissection, 27 (90.0%) required enterolysis, 28 (93.3%) required ureterolysis, and 20 (66.7%) required ligation of the uterine artery at its origin. All pathology reports confirmed ovarian tissue, often associated with endometriosis, corpus luteal cysts, and simple cysts. Four bowel injuries and 2 bladder injuries were laparoscopically repaired by the primary surgeon. Three patients required bowel resections by a general surgeon. Records from postoperative visits were available for 28 patients, of whom 17 (60.7%) reported resolution of pain, 9 (32.1%) reported improvement, and 2 (7.1%) reported persistent pain. Of the 18 women who returned written consent for the telephone interview, 11 (61.1%) reported resolution of pain, 5 (27.8%) reported improvement, and 2 (11.1%) reported persistent pain. Conclusion While laparoscopic excision of ovarian remnants is feasible, the procedure almost always requires a retroperitoneal dissection and is associated with high risk of complications. Careful surgical planning and preparation are essential.
The role of microsomal enzymes in the activation and inactivation of modaline sulfate

Abstract The incubation of modaline sulfate (5 × 10 −5 M) with NADPH and rat liver microsomes results in the rapid formation of a highly active monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Prolonged incubation under these conditions leads to a subsequent decrease in inhibitor concentration. The use of various manipulations and microsomal enzyme antagonists indicates that both the bioactivation and inactivation of the inhibitor are carried out by the drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver microsomes. When modaline is exposed to microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rat, the rate of activation to the inhibitor intermediate increases markedly. However, the rate of inactivation of the inhibitor by liver microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats is only slightly increased above controls. Assay of MAO activity of rat livers after administration of modaline in controls and in rats pretreated with drugs that alter microsomal activity yielded information essentially the same as that in the experiments in vitro .
Crossing the finish line of development: regulated secretion of Dictyostelium proteins

The genesis of the spore coat of Dictyostelium represents an exquisite example of developmentally regulated protein secretion. The proteins that are destined to be assembled into the extracellular matrix of the spore coat are stored in unique prespore vesicles that are triggered to secrete their contents at terminal differentiation. The regulation of this process is being revealed by the identification of the individual proteins in these vesicles.
Benchmarked comparison of terminal support systems for IBM 360 computers

A set of terminal scripts and benchmarks were derived for comparing the performance of time sharing and batch computer operating systems. Some of the problems encountered in designing valid benchmarks for comparing computer operating systems under both terminal and batch loads are discussed.The results of comparing TSS/360, CP/67 and MTS time sharing systems for the IBM 360/67 over a wide range of load conditions are presented. The results of comparing TSS, MTS and OS/MVT under batch loads are also presented. The tests were conducted with Simplex and Dual processor configurations with 256K bytes to 768K bytes of main memory.The conclusions were quite surprizing in that CP/67 running on a minimal system performed competitively with TSS/360 on a much larger dual processor system. With equal configurations CP/67 out performed TSS/360 by a wide margin. Furthermore, MTS providing both batch and terminal support produced performance that was 5 percent to 25 percent better than the split configuration with CP/67 providing the terminal support and OS/MVT providing the batch processing support.Serious performance degradation of the time sharing computer systems from overloading was experienced and a simple solution is suggested to prevent such degradation. The degradation was so severe as to render the performance less than that of a sequential job processor system.
The One‐Disk Approach to Many SAVEKEY.DATs

Over a year ago the technical services staff at Brandeis University began to experiment with the user‐defined function keys on our OCLC M300 Workstations. Like other M300 users across the country, we quickly found many uses for these time‐saving keys. For example, we programmed one set of user‐defined function keys to download bibliographic records to our local Geac library system through an online interface using the computer's serial port. Another set saves labels to diskette while PRODUCing or UPDATing; still others input the repetitive elements of records for dissertations and special collections materials.
Endocannabinoid Signaling in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Recovery Following Stress: Effects of Indirect Agonists and Comparison of Male and Female Mice

Studies in male rodents have shown that stress-induced increases in circulating corticosterone are increased by both CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonist treatment and genetic deletion. The purposes of the current study were to determine whether female mice respond in the same manner as males, and whether indirect CB1R agonists accelerate the return of corticosterone to baseline. In agreement with earlier studies, CB1R null and rimonabant-treated male mice had significantly increased circulating corticosterone 30 min following the end of a restraint episode compared to wild type and vehicle-treated, respectively. Females treated with rimonabant had significantly higher circulating corticosterone compared to vehicle. However, corticosterone concentrations were not different between CB1R null and wild type females at 30 min recovery, although CB1R null mice had higher corticosterone concentrations at 90 min of recovery. Female CB1R null mice exhibited greater serum binding capacity for corticosterone than wild type. The monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, JZL184, attenuated corticosterone concentrations at restraint offset in male, and at 30 min recovery in female mice compared to vehicle. Male mice treated with JZL184 exhibited greater concentrations of circulating corticosterone at 120 min recovery, even in the absence of restraint. JZL184 had no effect on corticosterone concentrations in CB1R null mice. The fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor, URB597, did not affect corticosterone responses to restraint in male or female, wild type or CB1R null mice. These data suggest that 2-arachidonoylglycerol is the primary endocannabinoid involved in CB1R regulation of the recovery of the HPA axis from restraint stress. These data support a role for endocannabinoid-CB1R signaling in the regulation of the corticosterone response to restraint stress and suggest that female mice with life-long loss of the CB1R undergo compensatory changes that minimize the impact of loss of endocannabinoid signaling on circulating corticosterone.
Polylysine activates and alters the divalent cation requirements of the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase.

Protamine and poly(Lys) activate the protein tyrosine kinase of both the human placental insulin receptor and its purified recombinant cytoplasmic domain. Spermidine, poly(Arg) (average molecular mass 15 kDa), poly(Glu), Arg or Lys are not effective. Activation is stable, reversible, and optimal when the enzyme is preincubated with activator, divalent cation and ATP prior to the addition of exogenous protein substrates. The most striking feature of the activation is that it results in 20–30-fold stimulation of the kinase in the presence of 0.2–0.4 mM Mn2+ and induces equivalent activity in the presence of Mg2+ alone (0.4–4.0 mM). The activated protein tyrosine kinase has a specific activity (0.25–0.5 μmol/mg protein) that approaches that of well characterized protein serine kinases.
Protecting the Integrity of Computerized Testing Item Pools

What are the issues and techniques involved in protecting the integrity of item pools in computerized testing? How can item exposure be limited? How do security issues differ in computerized testing and paper-and-pencil testing?
Population biology of monkfish Lophius americanus

Richards, R. A., Nitschke, P. C., and Sosebee, K. A. 2008. Population biology of monkfish Lophius americanus. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1291-1305.This paper provides an overview of the biology of monkfish in US waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean using data from resource surveys spanning the period 1948-2007. Monkfish exhibited seasonal onshore-offshore shifts in distribution, migrated out of the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) in mid-spring, and re-appeared there in autumn. Sex ratios at length for fish 40-65-cm long were skewed towards males in the southern MAB, but approximated unity elsewhere, suggesting that a portion of the population resides outside sampled areas. Growth was linear at 9.9 cm year −1 and did not differ by region or sex. Maximum observed size was 138 cm for females and 85 cm for males. Length at 50% maturity for males was 35.6 cm (4.1 years old) in the north and 37.9 cm (4.3 years old) in the south; for females 38.8 cm (4.6 years old) in the north and 43.8 cm (4.9 years old) in the south. Ripe females were found in shallow ( 200 m) water in the south, and in shallow water (<50 m) in the north.
The process of friendship formation

This paper poses two questions about the process of friendship formation: what is the relative stability of asymmetric and mutual friendship dyads and what is the nature of change in asymmetric dyads over time? These questions are examined in longitudinal sociometric data from five elementary classes. Change in friendship choices is shown to be at least partially embeddable as a continuous time, stationary Markov process and the unique Q matrices governing the process are determined. The findings show that unreciprocated friendship choices of the children in the sample are less stable than reciprocated choices and that their unreciprocated choices tend to be withdrawn rather than reciprocated over time.
Dynamic mechanical properties of polymethyl acrylate

Abstract The real and imaginary components of the complex compliance have been measured between 30 and 3000 cycles/sec. in the temperature range 25° to 89°C. for a sample of polymethyl acrylate of weight-average molecular weight 2.2 × 106. Results at all temperatures and frequencies superpose by the method of reduced variables to give the components at 25°C. over 7.5 decades of frequency, corresponding to the transition from rubberlike to glasslike consistency as a function of frequency at this temperature. Relaxation and retardation distribution functions have been calculated, and the friction coefficient per monomer unit has been estimated from an extension of the Rouse theory. The temperature dependence of the relaxation processes agrees with that derived from dielectric measurements, and it has been analyzed in terms of the free volume and its thermal expansion coefficient.
Getting the message to the farmer.

The farm worker has been a difficult person to reach with information on the health hazards present in his/her work environment, even though the typical farm is a potentially dangerous place to work. The University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service has used OSHA ‘New Directions’ funding to develop a program specifically designed to increase the farmers' awareness of occupational health and safety hazards. The information has been packaged in units which can be used effectively by those people such as county agents, Vo-Ag teachers, and chemical dealers who have regular contact with the farmer. Each unit focuses on a single hazard such as noise, airborne substances and farm machinery repair. Slides and an audio cassette are provided along with background information for the instructor, a “pre” and “post” test, and discussion questions. Workshops providing instruction on the use of the materials are held through out the state at regular intervals.
Socio-demographic profile of substance users seeking treatment.

This study was conducted to obtain a personality profile and a descriptive analysis of a typical substance user who is presently enrolled in a treatment center and is receiving professional help for his or her substance use at one of four participating treatment centers in a southwestern city in the United States. According to the findings, a typical substance abuser is a thirty-one year old male who is third born and has parents who are more frequently non-professional. Most respondents became involved with substance use because of peer influence and reported feeling bored/unhappy. First substance use experiences were more frequently with marijuana, although at the time of enrollment at the treatment center, alcohol, cocaine/crack, heroine, marijuana, and a combination of substances were typically used. When ranking the major problems they perceive having in their lives, respondents reported most frequently, substance use and being bored/unhappy in life. When assessing respondent's family type, a differe...
The Processing of Misdemeanor Drinking Drivers: The Bureaucratization of the Arrest, Prosecution, and Plea Bargaining Situations

Analysis of police and court procedures in San Diego reveals a strain toward bureaucratization in dealing with drunken drivers. Role-linked tensions between policemen and prosecuting attorneys are muted through a routinized system of observation, testing, arresting and adjudicating. These procedures promote equity and efficiency in disposing of large numbers of misdemeanors. Although all of the members of the criminal justice system are subject to the constraints of procedural due process, the police and courts are also constrained by a system of bureaucratic procedures. Unlike the defense attorney, who is relatively free from direct supervision by any large organization, the police and prosecution have become immersed in large bureaucratic structures that emphasize standardized procedures, specialization of activities, hierarchical decision-making, and the sanctity of written reports and records. The degree to which these bureaucratic contingencies affect the practical activities of the police and prosecution varies, due to the nature of their respective functions. Police work involves apprehension of suspected criminals in problematic and potentially dangerous situations. The prosecuting attorney, on the other hand, is involved in less immediately dangerous, but often more intellectually demanding, work of processing these cases according to substantive and procedural laws. Thus, the degree of organizational constraint on the former is significantly less; police argue that routinized or bureaucratic procedures are often ineffective and dangerous in their area. This paper is concerned with delineating a theoretical model to describe the divergent modes of organization of the police and courts,
SPECTRAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE COPPER(II) COMPLEXES OF TWO MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS

Abstract Copper(II) complexes of the types Cu(CR)(ClO4)2-.H2O, [Cu(CR)X](ClO4).nH2O (where X = Cl, Br, I and n = 1; X = NCS, n = 0), [Cu(CRH)](ClO4)2.H2O and [Cu(CRH)X](ClO4) (where X = Cl, Br, I) have been prepared. The ligands CR and CRH are the related four nitrogen-donor macrocycles 2,12-dimethyl-3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo [11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17), 2, 11, 13, 15-pentaene and meso-2, 12-dimethyl-3,7,11,17-tetraazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17), 13,15-triene, respectively. All the compounds have the normal magnetic moments expected for Cu(II) complexes with S = ½. Conductance studies in methanol show that the halo-perchlorate complexes are formally five coordinate. The probable structures of the complexes in both the solid and solution are discussed in terms of their visible, infrared and e.s.r. spectra, as well as on the basis of data obtained from conventional polarography and cyclic voltammetry.
Buffered electrochemical polishing of niobium

The standard preparation of superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities made of pure niobium include the removal of a “damaged” surface layer, by buffered chemical polishing (BCP) or electropolishing (EP), after the cavities are formed. The performance of the cavities is characterized by a sharp degradation of the quality factor at high surface magnetic field, a phenomenon referred to as “Q-drop”. In some cases, the Q-drop can be significantly reduced by a low-temperature (~120 °C) “in situ” baking of the cavity. As part of the effort to understand this phenomenon, the effect of introducing a polarization potential during BCP, creating a process which is between the standard BCP and EP, was investigated. The focus of this contribution is on the characterization of this novel electrochemical process by measuring polarization curves, etching rates, surface finish, and electrochemical impedance. In particular, it is shown that the anodic potential of Nb during BCP has a plateau region in the polarization curve and the impedance diagrams on the plateau can be described with a “surface charge” model found in the literature. By applying an anodic potential to Nb, a lower etching rate and better the surface finish than by standard BCP process have been obtained.
Alcohol-related battering: Developing treatment strategies

There is a strong association between alcohol and battering. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between alcohol and battering in order to develop appropriate intervention strategies. First,studies demonstrating a correlation between alcohol and battering are reviewed. This is followed by a summary of the intoxicated aggression literature using Graham's (1980) conceptual system. It is tentatively concluded that the role of physiological and cognitive changes brought on by alcohol, the interaction of alcohol and frustration in producing aggression, and needs for personal power in men who drink and then aggress are all promising explanations for the alcohol-battering link. With this in mind, the applicability of disease model-based treatment for alcoholism, cognitive-behavioral-based treatments for alcoholism and battering, and feminist-based treatment for battering are each considered. Finally, a model for incorporating an alcohol component to a batterer treatment program is introduced.
Illite equilibria in solutions: I. Phase relationships in the system K2OAl2O3SiO2H2O between 25 and 250°C

Natural illite from Marblehead, Wisconsin (MH), USA, has been equilibrated with 0.2 and 2.0M KCl/KOH and KCl/HCl solutions in the presence of excess kaolinite or microcline and quartz or amorphous silica at temperatures between 25 and 250°C and Pv = PH2O- Reversibility of univariant equilibria was demonstrated by approach from high and low aK+aH+ and from silica under- and super-saturation. Solutions were separated after experiments using immiscible displacement techniques. Isothermal, isobaric log ak+/aH+ vs. log aSiO2,aq diagrams have been constructed denning possible stability fields for kaolinite, microcline, gibbsite (or boehmite or diaspore), muscovite, and four illitic phases. Assuming an R+2-free stoichiometry, K-content per half cell, estimated from the slopes of univariant lines, are 0.29, 0.50, 0.69, and 0.85 K; these phases are compositional analogs of smectite (S), mixed-layer illite I/S (i.e., IS, ISII) and illite (I), respectively. Illitization reactions are strongly affected by temperature and porewater chemistry. At quartz saturation, direct conversion of smectite or kaolinite to endmember illite can occur at high pH; at low pH, these reactions are unlikely inasmuch as K+ requirements exceed concentrations observed in most natural pore waters. In silica-supersaturated solutions, illitization reactions proceed through crystallization of intermediate phases with compositions between smectite and endmember illite (I).
Calculation of excited state bonding changes and electronic spectra from pre-resonance raman spectra

Abstract Excited state distortions of W(CO) 5 pyridine, W(CO) 5 piperidine, Mo 2 (CF 3 CO 2 ) 4 , and K 3 Cr(CN) 5 NO are calculated from emission spectra and pre-resonance Raman spectra by using the time-dependent theory of molecular spectroscopy. The time-dependent theory is described and the connections between electronic spectra and pre-resonance Raman spectra are discussed. Electronic emission and/or absorption spectra of the above compounds at 10°K are reported. The electronic spectra are calculated from the pre-resonance Raman determined intensities and frequencies. The connections between the excited state bond length distortions and the photochemical reactivity of the molecules is discussed. The “Missing Mode Effect” or MIME effect is explained.
Path integral for Coulomb system with magnetic charges

Abstract We calculate the path integral for the lagrangian L = 1 2 m x 2 + e x · A − e e r − υ 2 2mr 2 , where A i = g ϵ ij x j x 3 r(x 1 2 + x 2 2 ) is the vector potential of a magnetic monopole, e e its charge, and e the charge of the particle in orbit. In addition, we allow for an arbitrary centrifugal barrier 1 r 2 potential. After the replacement e e → e e + g g , e g → e g − g e , the results apply to dyonium, the bound state between two electrically and magnetically charged particles.
Excitation of neutral atomic nitrogen in a helium afterglow

Abstract A light source of neutral atomic nitrogen has been developed by mixing traces of molecular nitrogen with a flowing helium afterglow at pressures near one torr. This source produces radiation from energy levels near the ionization limit of the neutral atom but none from excited states of the nitrogen ion. The excited nitrogen is produced by recombination of electrons with ionized nitrogen atoms formed in dissociative charge transfer reactions of ionized helium with molecular nitrogen. Approximately 400 new atomic nitrogen lines were found. In addition, a second mechanism for exciting atomic nitrogen was isolated. It consists of a two step collisional process in which N 2 is dissociated by metastable molecular helium and the excitation is produced by collisions with energetic electrons. The characteristic temperature associated with this level population distribution was about 10 4 K.
Monitoring early age mortar using a pulse-echo ultrasonic guided wave approach

A pulse-echo ultrasonic guided wave approach that characterizes the setting and hardening of early age mortar during the first twenty-four hours of hydration is presented. The method invokes the fundamental torsional mode on the free end of a cylindrical steel rod partially embedded in mortar and monitors the reflected signals. Both the reflection from the end of the rod and the reflection from the point where the waveguide enters the mortar are monitored. The evolution of the mortar properties is related to both the energy leaked into the surrounding mortar and the energy reflected at the entry point. Results show that the technique is useful for monitoring the development of the mechanical properties of varying water-cement ratios (w/c = 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60). In addition, the effects of chemical (accelerant and retardant) and mineral (silica fume and fly ash) admixtures on the guided wave behavior were also studied. Time of setting and compressive strength measurements have been performed on the various mortar mixtures. The change in signal strength of the end- and entry-reflection of the guided wave appears to be correlated to the mortar setting times and compressive strength, respectively. The ability of this method to only require access to one side of the specimen makes it attractive for the development of a system that monitors in-situ cementitious materials.
Maximum androgen blockade in advanced prostate cancer: A meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials using nonsteroidal antiandrogens

Abstract Objectives To assess the survival benefit of maximum androgen blockade (MAB) using nonsteroidal antiandrogens (NSAAs) through meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods. All RCTs comparing treatment with NSAA plus either luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) or orchiectomy versus treatment with LHRH or orchiectomy alone were included if the necessary statistical summaries were present in the publication. Estimates and standard errors of log hazard ratio for overall survival and progression-free survival were derived from published studies using two methods: (1) reconstructing an annual life table from graphical presentations of survival distributions and fitting discrete proportional hazard models, and (2) reconstructing the log hazard ratio from reported P values and numbers of deaths. An alternative set of log hazard ratios was derived from figures presented in a summary report by the Prostate Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (PCTCG). Comparative meta-analyses were performed using the random effects approach of DerSimonian and Laird. Additionally, published studies were used in a random-effects-based meta-analysis of objective tumor response. Results Nine studies provided enough information to perform a meta-analysis for survival using one of the two methods. Estimates of relative risks (RR) comparing treatment with NSAA plus either LHRH or orchiectomy versus treatment with LHRH or orchiectomy alone with respect to overall survival were 0.78 (95% confidence intervals [Cls]0.67 to 0.90) using method 1, and 0.84 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.93) using method 2. Sensitivity analyses based on PCTCG data showed that a favorable survival result for MAB was associated with NSAAs but not with steroidal antiandrogens and depended on randomization blinding and overall trial quality. Additionally, random-effects-based meta-analysis of published studies showed a significant increase in time-to-progression (RR = 0.74; 95% Cl 0.63 to 0.86) and an increase in objective tumor responses for MAB using NSAAs compared with castration alone (odds ratio = 0.65; 95% Cl 0.51 to 0.81; P = 0.00022). Conclusions Inconsistent results have been published about the benefit of MAB in advanced prostate cancer. This meta-analysis supports a beneficial effect for MAB using NSAAs compared with castration alone, and sensitivity analyses suggest that the design of future trials should carefully address issues of patient characterization, randomization blinding, and other study quality issues.
Situation and Social Network in Cities

Un probleme significatif dans l'elaboration et l'utilisation de reseaux sociaux en recherche urbaine se rapporte a la specification du contenu des relations de reseau. Dans une etude sur le terrain chez les Danois americains de la Californie, certains facteurs furent de grande utilite dans la definition des liens de reseau. Ce sont: le cadre institutionnel a l'interieur duquel s'elaborent les liens de reseau; les situations qui leur permettent d'etre operants et la nature affective de ces liens de reseau. En plus de leur valeur operatoire, ces facteurs permettent au chercheur d'evaluer la qualite et la diversite de la vie urbaine. A significant problem in the construction and use of social networks in urban research is that of specifying the content of network relationships. In fieldwork among Danish-Americans in California, the institutional framework in which network ties were recruited, the situations in which such ties were activated, and the affective nature of network links were useful in defining network bonds. In addition to their operational utility, these factors allow the investigator to assess the quality and diversity of urban life.
An Analysis of Visual Acuity, Visual Fields, and Disk Cupping in Childhood Glaucoma

We analyzed the long-term functional results in 102 eyes of 59 patients with childhood glaucoma with specific reference to the pattern of optic nerve damage. Optic disk photography and quantitative perimetry were used to judge the degree of damage that had been sustained. There was a predilection for initial visual field damage in the arcuate area, followed by further arcuate and nasal field loss, similar to the pattern of visual field loss seen in adult glaucoma. In children, as in adults, neural tissue appeared to be lost preferentially at the vertical disk poles. The selective pattern of glaucomatous optic nerve damage seemed not to depend upon the age of the optic nerve structures. In contrast to adult eyes, the scleral canal in children apparently enlarges with high IOP. Thus, disk cup size increase in children could occur from neural tissue loss, from scleral canal enlargement, or from a combination of the two processes.
Volar Versus Dorsal Fixed-Angle Fixation of Dorsally Unstable Extra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures: A Biomechanic Study

Purpose To evaluate and compare the biomechanic rigidity and strength of 3 fixed-angle plates used to treat extra-articular distal radius fractures that are dorsally unstable. Volar fixed-angle plates were compared with a dorsal fixed-angle nail plate. Methods Three plate constructs were tested: the dorsal nail plate (DNP), distal volar radius (DVR) plate, and locking compression plate (LCP) volar distal radius plate. With anatomic, third-generation, artificial composite radii, dorsally unstable extra-articular distal radius fracture models were made by cutting a wedge osteotomy with an 8-mm dorsal gap 1 cm from the articular surface. These models were then fixed with the 3 implants by the method recommended by the manufacturer. The proximal radii of each specimen were attached to the base of a materials testing machine with a probe centered at the radial side of the lunate fossa. The specimens were loaded at a constant rate to failure under axial compression. Load and displacement were plotted graphically, and the resulting rigidities and strengths of each plate were assessed statistically. Results The DVR group had significantly greater stiffness than the LCP group. The DVR group had significantly higher maximum loads than both the DNP and LCP groups. There were no significant differences in yield loads. Both the DNP and DVR groups had significantly less displacement at yield than the LCP group. Conclusions These 3 groups had similar yield loads. However, the LCP was less stiff than the DVR and had more displacement at yield than both the DVR and DNP. The yield load of all 3 implants was much higher than previously described loads for active wrist and finger motion.
Absence of interaction between photo-reactivation and temperature-dependent dark recovery of ultraviolet irradiated yeasts

Yeast cells possess a temperature-dependent mechanism for dark recovery from ultraviolet irradiation. Evidence is presented that this recovery mechanism affects a different kind of ultraviolet damage than that repaired through photoreactivation. Since photoreactivation is due specifically to removal of the cardinal ultraviolet induced DNA lesions contributing to cellular inactivation, the findings are consistent with previous evidence that temperature-dependent dark recovery of irradiated yeasts occurs through the repair or by-passing of non-genetic inactivational damage.
Concurrent lobular neoplasia increases the risk of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving therapy.

BACKGROUND: Multiple clinicopathologic factors have been analyzed for their association with an increased risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after women receive breast-conserving treatment (BCT) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The reported incidence of proliferative lesions, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), columnar cell changes (CCC), and lobular neoplasia associated with breast cancer, has been as high as 23%; however, the relevance of these lesions on the natural history of DCIS and the risk of IBTR remains unknown. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-four patients with DCIS who received BCT between 1991 and 1995 were identified from the authors' institutional database. Slides were reviewed by a dedicated breast pathologist with particular attention to the presence of lobular neoplasia, ADH, and CCC. The actuarial 5-, 10-, and 15-year IBTR rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Concurrent lobular neoplasia was present in 41 of 294 patients (14%), ADH was present in 37 of 294 patients (13%), and CCC was present in 71 of 294 patients (24%). The median follow-up was 11 years. IBTR occurred in 40 of 227 patients without lobular neoplasia (18%) versus 15 of 41 patients with lobular neoplasia (37%; P=.005; hazard ratio [HR], 2.49). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year cumulative incidence rates of IBTR were twice as high in women who had DCIS and lobular neoplasia compared with women who had DCIS alone (P=.002). Concomitant ADH (HR, 1.53) and CCC (HR, 1.24) were not associated significantly with IBTR (P=.20 and P=.44, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent lobular neoplasia is associated with a significantly higher risk of IBTR in women with DCIS who received BCT. Women with coexisting DCIS and lobular neoplasia who receive BCT should consider using additional risk-reducing strategies. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Abstract B4: Calorie restriction prevents the development of pancreatic cancer in Kras; Pdx-1Cre mice

Pancreatic cancer progresses over many years, which offers the opportunity for early detection and prevention. Studies have identified elevated body mass index as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Lowering body weight by calorie restriction has long been associated with extended life expectancy and reduced tumor incidence in laboratory animals. Chronic and intermittent calorie restriction has a powerful protective effect against tumor development. This proposal addresses the hypothesis that intermittent calorie restriction will prevent the development and delay the progression of preneoplastic to neoplastic pancreatic lesions. The Kras; Pdx-1Cre mouse model provides an opportunity to study the efficacy of calorie restriction during the preinvasive state. At 8 weeks of age Kras; Pdx-1Cre mice were (1) fed ad libitum a purified diet based on the AIN93M recommendations (control), or (2) a modified AIN 93M diet in which mice were fed in one-week intervals at 50% of ad libitum intake followed by one week of feeding at 100% of ad libitum intake (intermittent group), or fed a modified AIN 93M diet at 75% of ad libitum intake. Food intake was measured daily and body weights were recorded weekly. At 44 weeks of age, mice were sacrificed and blood was obtained to measure serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and adiponectin; the pancreases were evaluated histologically for PanIn lesions and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Control mice gained more weight than restricted groups (p Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B4.
Motility Revertants of opgGH Mutants of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Remain Defective in Mice Virulence

We recently demonstrated that osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs) of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are required for optimal mouse virulence. However, lack of OPGs also generated pleiotropic phenotypes such as reduced motility and slower growth rate under hypoosmotic growth conditions. Whether the observed suboptimal virulence of opg mutants was due to reduced motility was investigated by isolating fully motile revertants of opgGH mutants. Motility revertants remained defective in OPGs synthesis and restitution of motility did not restore mouse virulence. In Escherichia coli, inactivation of rcsB, rcsD, and rcsF lead to restoration of motility in opg mutants, while in Salmonella strains, inactivation of the Rcs pathway is known to attenuate virulence. DNA sequence analysis revealed that except for two silent mutations no other changes in the DNA sequences of Rcs pathway genes were detected in the motility-revertant strain. Moreover, transcripts of all the Rcs phosphorelay pathway genes were detected in opgGH mutants and revertant strain. The data suggest that Salmonella may have distinctive regulatory elements in addition to Rcs phosphorelay genes to rescue motility of opg mutants and affecting also mouse virulence.