cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the internal structure of alpine talus deposits using different geophysical methods (Lechtaler Alps, Austria)

Abstract The total thickness and structure of alpine talus accumulations were investigated in a study area in the Northern Alps using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) completed by 2D-geoelectric (ERT) and seismic refraction soundings. The loose, steep talus cones of the Parzinn cirque are situated at an elevation of 2100–2300 m a.s.l. and end downslope at late-Glacial protalus ramparts. The surrounding rockwalls consist of “Hauptdolomit”, a brittle dolostone. In most of the GPR profiles, the bedrock surface was clearly recognizable from the radargrams. Total talus thicknesses of up to 45 m were estimated. The uppermost talus layer is characterized by surface-parallel radar reflection patterns, intermediate resistivities (4–10 kΩ m) and low seismic velocities (400–500 m/s). These deposits are interpreted as stratified debris, built up during the Holocene by rockfall deposits occasionally resorted by debris flows. Below this unit, a zone of more irregular radar reflection patterns and enhanced electrical resistivities follows. The combined results lead to the assumption of very coarse grained, paraglacial rockfall deposits, or to a core of basal moraine beneath the talus. Some zones of especially high resistivity (> 25 kΩ m) may be related to sporadic permafrost occurrence in the depressions between the talus and the moraine ridges. Striped radar structures are also recognizable in the moraine bodies. The stratified sediments give evidence for glaciofluvial transport or debris flows as an agent of protalus rampart formation. However, these features probably result from a combination of different processes including periglacial creep. GPR turned out to be a powerful tool for the determination of debris volumes and internal structures. However, supporting geoelectric and seismic investigations are advisable to validate the results and to facilitate and improve the interpretation. The results point to an average Holocene rockwall retreat of 500 to 800 mm/ka, which is roughly three times higher than recent backweathering rates.
Accessing sci‐tech literature: commercial document delivery services and online full‐text databases

Commercial document supply and full‐text online databases play significant roles in the shift from “ownership” to “access”. The escalating costs of science and technology journals, budgetary constraints, and availability of sci‐tech literature via non‐traditional sources, such as commercial document supply and full‐text online databases, are reshaping academic libraries’ sci‐tech collections, as well as the modes of accessing and delivering scientific information. Examines the value and the effectiveness of commercial document supply services and full‐text online databases in accessing sci‐tech information and discusses the impacts of budgetary limits and technology on academic libraries acquiring sci‐tech literature.
EYESEE tm : A Computer Vision System For Inspection Of Integrated Circuits

A completely automated vision system for inspection of in-process and fully patterned integrated circuits (ICs) has been demonstrated. Applied to the inspection of a Darlington IC, the EYESEE system is shown to effectively replace an operator in performing inspections such as those called for in MIL-STD-883B, method 2010. EYESEE has been extended to inspection of certain LSI and VLSI devices for characterization and measurement of line widths and critical dimensions, mask and reticle registration accuracy, and gross and fine defects. EYESEE general video image processing technology has reached the point where technical feasibility has been established for automating many semiconductor inspection tasks. A comprehensive review of other relevant computer vision techniques used within the semiconductor manufacturing industry is presented.
A computational analysis of the percolation threshold and the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes filled polymeric materials

Percolation of individual single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and of SWCNT bundles dispersed in a non-interacting polymeric matrix has been analyzed computationally using an analytical model and a numerical simulation method. While the analytical model used is strictly valid only in the limit of an infinite length-to-diameter aspect ratio of the dispersed phase, good agreement is found between its predictions and the ones obtained using a computationally-intensive numerical method for the aspect ratios as small as 350. Since the aspect ratio of the individual SWCNTs is on the order of 1,000–10,000, this finding suggests that the analytical model can be used to study SWCNT percolation phenomena.
What is necromedia

Cet article aborde la collusion entre mort et technologie en explorant l’adoption par l’industrie militaire des nouvelles technologies a des fins de destruction humaine; mais aussi les superstitions et les industries fantomes invoquees par l’afflux massif des nouvelles technologies, l’utilisation qui est faite de la technologie pour nous pousser vers une ere post-humaine qui prone et celebre la fin d’un certain humanisme liberal, les promesses d’immortalite dont sont garantes les technologies et qui nous font oublier notre finitude. Cette exploration se trouve encadree par diverses scenes mediatiques, extraites de deux recents films hollywoodiens, Vanilla Sky (Crowe, 2001) et American Beauty (Mendes, 1999). Cet article ne traite pas directement de ces films, il les emploie, plutot, comme des etudes de cas, des recits induisant cette incorporation de la technologie dans la culture americaine. En definissant ce nouveau champ d’etude, et en creant ce nouveau concept, l’auteur espere susciter un interet pour une theorie necromediatique (Necromedia Theory), qui s’offre comme un antidote aux incorporations non critique des nouvelles technologies dans la vie quotidienne, et au developpement incessant de la technologie pour elle-meme.
HPLC of individual site glycoforms in serum orosomucoid

The glycoforms contained within each glycosylation site of orosomucoid can be separated by reverse-phase HPLC without removal of the associated peptide or chemical derivatization. The chromatographic properties of the glycopeptides are dominated by the peptide portion but modified by the hydrophilicity of the glycan in a regular manner depending on its size. Assignments for known structures are readily made, permitting quantitative assessment of changes in glycoform concentration at individual glycosylation sites.
Developmental regulation of an Eimeria bovis mRNA encoding refractile body-associated proteins

Eimeria bovis antigens defined by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2.4 are associated with the refractile bodies of sporozoites and are found in the parasitophorous vacuole and host cell cytoplasm during schizogony. Screening of an E. bovis oocyst cDNA library with mAb 2.4 resulted in the identification of a single unique cDNA sequence (Eb-25/50). Comparison of the predicted protein sequence of Eb-25/50 revealed a high degree of identity to an Eimeria tenella refractile body protein and mAb 2.4 was found to cross-react with refractile bodies from Eimeria acervulina, demonstrating that these proteins are highly conserved among eimerian species. Measurements of Eb-25/50 mRNA showed that the multiple proteins recognized by mAb 2.4 are encoded by a single mRNA species whose kinetics of expression during sporulation and schizogony closely correlated with protein expression. Consistent with multiple Eb-25/50 proteins arising from a single polypeptide, results from a Southern analysis of E. bovis genomic DNA indicated that Eb-25/50 mRNA is derived from a single copy gene. The presence of Eb-25/50 proteins in the host cytoplasm during schizogony, the high degree of conservation of these proteins, and the apparent complex post-translational modification raises interesting questions about the biochemistry of these proteins during eimerian development.
Transposase makes critical contacts with, and is stimulated by, single‐stranded DNA at the P element termini in vitro

P elements transpose by a cut-and-paste mechanism. Donor DNA cleavage mediated by transposase generates 17 nucleotide (nt) 3' single-strand extensions at the P element termini which, when present on oligonucleotide substrates, stimulate both the strand-transfer and disintegration reactions in vitro. A significant amount of the strand-transfer products are the result of double-ended integration. Chemical DNA modification-interference experiments indicate that during the strand-transfer reaction, P element transposase contacts regions of the substrate DNA that include the transposase binding site and the duplex portion of the 31 bp inverted repeat, as well as regions of the terminal 17 nt single-stranded DNA. Together these data suggest that the P element transposase protein contains two DNA-binding sites and that the active oligomeric form of the transposase protein is at least a dimer.
Role of postsynaptic α-adrenergic receptors in the β-adrenergic stimulation of melatonin production in the syrian hamster pineal gland in organ culture

The role played by postsynaptic alpha-adrenergic receptors in the stimulation of pineal melatonin production was investigated in the Syrian hamster. The studies were conducted using organ cultured pineal glands collected from both anatomically intact and superior cervical ganglionectomized hamsters. Results obtained indicate that phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist, by itself has no effect in promoting melatonin production; however, it potentiates the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, on pineal melatonin production in nonoperated hamsters. Similar observations were obtained with pineal glands whose presynaptic terminals were removed by prior superior cervical ganglionectomy. However, a longer incubation time was required (4-6 hours vs. 2 hours) with pineal glands taken from ganglionectomized animals. Apparently, beta-adrenergic activation is an absolute requirement to stimulate pineal melatonin production, and an alpha-adrenergic receptor mechanism potentiates beta-adrenergic activation. In addition, the findings obtained with denervated pineal glands suggest that the regulation of pineal melatonin production by both alpha- and beta-adrenergic mechanisms is through receptors located on postsynaptic structures.
Alveolar epithelial differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells in a rotating bioreactor

Traditional stem cell differentiation protocols make use of a variety of cytokines including growth factors (GFs) and inhibitors in an effort to provide appropriate signals for tissue specific differentiation. In this study, iPSC-derived type II pneumocytes (iPSC-ATII) as well as native isolated human type II pneumocytes (hATII) were differentiated toward a type I phenotype using a unique air–liquid interface (ALI) system that relies on a rotating apparatus that mimics in vivo respiratory conditions. A relatively homogenous population of alveolar type II-like cells from iPSC was first generated (iPSC-ATII cells), which had phenotypic properties similar to mature human alveolar type II cells. iPSC-ATII cells were then cultured in a specially designed rotating culture apparatus. The effectiveness of the ALI bioreactor was compared with the effectiveness of small molecule-based differentiation of type II pneumocytes toward type 1 pneumocytes. The dynamics of differentiation were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. iPSC-ATII and hATII cells cultured in the ALI bioreactor had higher levels of type I markers, including aquaporin-5(AQ5), caveolin-1, and T1α, at both the RNA and protein levels as compared with the flask-grown iPSC-ATII and hATII that had been treated with small molecules to induce differentiation. In summary, this study demonstrates that a rotating bioreactor culture system that provides an air–liquid interface is a potent inducer of type I epithelial differentiation for both iPS-ATII cells and hATII cells, and provides a method for large-scale production of alveolar epithelium for tissue engineering and drug discovery.
Local Excision: Is It an Adequate Substitute for Radical Resection in T1/T2 Patients?

Local excision (LE) was historically developed to palliate patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who either are medically unfit or have adamantly refused to undergo transabdominal standard resection (SR) procedures. Over the years, the tradeoffs between the oncologic benefit and adverse functional sequelae associated with SR procedures have been increasingly recognized. In parallel, there has been growing interest in considering LE as an alternative to SR in select patients with early-stage disease. However, concerns regarding its oncologic adequacy remain. These concerns relate to the adequacy of tumor resection, the removal of mesorectal disease, the accuracy of preoperative selection, and the use of adjunctive treatment modalities. Evolving strategies that aim at improving the oncologic outcomes of LE for stage I T1/T2 rectal cancers include adoption of transanal endoscopic microsurgery and the addition of non-surgical modalities. Current evidence surrounding these approaches is examined to provide a basis for an informed discussion with patients. Key factors to be considered in formulating the treatment plan for an individual patient with T1/T2 rectal cancer are summarized.
A facile synthesis of oxazines by indium-induced reduction-rearrangement of the nitro β-lactams

An indium-induced reduction-rearrangement reaction of nitro-substituted β-lactams has been used for facile synthesis of oxazines in aqueous ethanol.
The hands of God: spiritual values for coping with technology in the 21st century

Abstract Technology is not just hardware but is constituted by a social system that focuses increasingly powerful means on social goals. Such technology defines the future, and demands extraordinary steering proficiency to match the driving forces of technology itself. Three sets of steering mechanisms are examined: the invisible hand of the economic free market, public policy and its generation by democratic government, and Judeo-Christian and Islamic spiritual values that mold conduct and ignite moral vision. The argument is that major decisions about technology are made by public policy rather than the free market. But there is also a key role for religious teachings to play in technological delivery systems. The paper concludes with speculations on possible relations between religious faith and technology.
Developmental changes in agonist-mediated colonic smooth muscle contraction in the rabbit.

ABSTRACT: We studied smooth muscle strips from rabbit distal colon to determine age-related changes in length-tension properties and agonist-mediated contraction. Strips from newborn (1-d-old) and weanling (11-wk-old) rabbits were oriented to measure isometric tension in longitudinal muscle. Active tension comprised 47 ± 4 and 75 ± 5% of the total tension in the newborn and weanling, respectively. Total and active tensions in the weanling were greater than in the newborn (p < 0.001). Although the potencies for bethanechol were similar, the maximal response was nearly 9-fold greater in weanlings (6900 ± 292 mN/cm2) versus newborns (753 ± 112 mN/cm2) p < 0.001. Maximal stress increased with age for bethanechol, high extracellular potassium, substance P, neurokinin A, cholecystokinin octa-peptide, bombesin, and serotonin. ED50 for bethanechol, substance P, neurokinin A, and bombesin did not change with age. Serotonin was 12 times more potent in newborns versus weanlings (p < 0.05). In contrast, cholecystokinin octapeptide was five times less potent in newborns (18.6 nM versus 3.4 nM, respectively, p < 0.05). Substance P-induced contractions were inhibited partially by atropine. We conclude that length-tension properties of longitudinal colonic smooth muscle differ, and responses to agonists increase with age.
AIDS-related BL and CD4 count: a clue?

Although the precise etiology of most non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) is unknown, the relationship between depressed immune function and increased risk of lymphoma is well-established. One of the clearest examples is HIV, where lymphomas are AIDS-defining illnesses. However, in this issue of Blood , Guech-Ongey and colleagues present provocative and detailed data showing that the risk of Burkitt lymphoma (BL), in contrast to all other lymphomas, actually declines at the lowest CD4 counts. 1
Non-contact, fibre optic rotation monitor, using optical autocorrelation techniques

Abstract An optical fibre-based optoelectronic autocorrelation rotation monitoring scheme has been developed and demonstrated for a shaft with varying degrees of surface smoothness, to obtain its rotation rate.
Effect of underlying heart disease on the frequency content of ventricular fibrillation in the dog heart.

Although prior studies have examined the frequency content of heal electro-gram characteristics during fibrillation, little is know about the effects of underlying heart disease on these parameters. This study was designed to compare the frequency content of local electrograms during VF in canine models of acute ischemia, subacute infarction, and chronic myocardial infarction (MI) to those in control animals to test the hypothesis that underlying heart disease can alter the basic characteristics of VF. VF was induced using burst pacing in three groups of mongrel dogs. Five dogs were evaluated 8 weeks after LAD occlusion MI, five were evaluated 5 days after experimental MI, and 5 had VF induced before (control) and immediately after LAD occlusion (ischemia). During VF, unipolar electrograms were recorded from 112 sites on the anterior LV and electrograms were evaluated 15 and 30 seconds after VF initiation in each group. Electrograms were analyzed by fast Fourier transform. No significant time dependent changes in VF characteristics were noted. The peak frequency was highest in control animals and 8-week MI, intermediate in 5-day MI, and lowest in acute ischemia (P < 0.01 for pairwise comparisons). In contrast, the fractional of energy within a bandwidth of 25% peak amplitude was highest in acute ischemia, (P < 0.001) and similar in the other three groups. Infarction decreased total energy by approximately 50%. In conclusion, the pressure of ischemia or infarction alters the frequency content of VF in a complex fashion. In addition to decreasing the peak frequency, the shape of the power spectral curve is altered in models of structural heart disease. These results suggest that the electrophysiological changes produced by infarction or ischemia alter the structural organization of ventricular fibrillation.
Antisense therapy directed to protein kinase C-alpha (Affinitak, LY900003/ISIS 3521): potential role in breast cancer.

As our understanding of the biology of cancer increases, the attempts to target specific molecules associated with the promotion of cancer are accelerating. One of the targets currently being studied as an important tumor-promoting factor is protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha). To specifically block PKC-alpha, antisense oligonucleotides have been developed, including LY900003 (Affinitak, ISIS-3521; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN), which is currently in clinical development. Although its single-agent activity in breast cancer is modest, its potential role may be in concert with traditional chemotherapy. This is a review of the pharmacology and current status of the clinical development of LY900003 and its potential role in treating patients with breast cancer.
What Is the Evidence for Changes in Cognition and Functioning Over the Lifespan in Patients With Schizophrenia

Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are important predictors of impairment in most functional domains and are a critical therapeutic target. These deficits appear at or before the onset of illness, are stable across time in most patients, and can be improved by cognitive remediation treatments. Recent evidence, however, suggests that cognitive function does not necessarily follow a pattern of age-related decline. Several studies evaluated this pattern of decline in schizophrenia patients compared to both natural aging and degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Age-related differences were not comparable to either normal aging or Alzheimer's disease. Older patients with an extensive history of illness and protracted institutionalization have shown a greater progressive decline. These deficits were also observed in older patients who were no longer institutionalized, with these patients demonstrating decline in functional capacity across time compared to healthy controls and patients with no lengthy institutional stay. There were 2 clear conclusions from this body of data. First, there appear to be 2 separate periods of deterioration in schizophrenia patients. These patients appear to decline the most at 2 key time points; the first occurs some time prior to the first psychotic episode and the second begins at approximately 65 years of age. The second important conclusion is that these 2 important periods of time may be the time point at which an aggressive intervention may have the greatest impact.
Impact of intracoronary radiation on in-stent restenosis involving ostial lesions

The aim of this study was to compare 6-month clinical outcomes of patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) involving the ostium treated with intracoronary radiation therapy (IRT) compared to placebo therapy, and also to nonostial lesions treated with IRT. Coronary interventions in ostial lesions have a high rate of recurrence of restenosis. The impact of IRT on ostial ISR has been inadequately characterized. We assessed patients enrolled in gamma (192-iridium) and beta (90-yttrium, 32-phosphorus) radiation trials for ISR at the Washington Hospital Center. Of patients receiving IRT, 105 (8%) patients had ostial ISR and 1,289 (92%) patients had nonostial ISR. Twenty-seven patients had ostial ISR and received placebo therapy. Baseline demographic and angiographic and procedural details were similar, except ostial IRT patients had a trend toward shorter lesions (15.4 +/- 10.8 vs. 24.1 +/- 12.2 mm; P < 0.001) and had a higher rate of saphenous vein graft disease (46% vs. 19%; P < 0.001) compared to nonostial IRT patients. At 6 months, ostial lesions treated with IRT for ISR had a reduced rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) compared to ostial lesions treated with placebo (15% vs. 43%; P = 0.004). Outcomes at 6 months were similar for the ostial and nonostial IRT groups including TLR (15% vs. 14%; P = 0.80) and composite major adverse cardiac events (18% vs. 15%; P = 0.46). Intracoronary radiation therapy is effective for ostial in-stent restenotic lesions and should be comfortably used for this challenging anatomic location.
Thermal infrared lines of methane broadened by nitrogen at low temperatures

Measurements of spectral transmittance in the nu4-fundamental band of (C-12)H4 have been performed at low temperatures using a Fourier transform spectrometer with apodized spectral resolution of 0.06 per cm. With applications to lines formed in the atmospheres of Titan and earth in mind, N2 has been used as the broadening gas. Comparisons of observed and computed spectral transmittances on a line-by-line basis have yielded line strengths, N2-broadened half-widths and their variation with temperature. Best agreement between measured and computed spectra was obtained when the absolute intensity of the band was taken as 128 per (sq cm-atm) at 296 K. Line widths were found to vary as T to the n power with n = -1.0 for lines of the F-species and 0.63 for the A-species. The measured line widths are considerably larger than those used in the AFGL compilation.
Conformation Changes, Complexation, and Phase Transition in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption

Using molecular dynamics simulations we have demonstrated that the guest species in matrix-assisted laserdesorption exhibits significantly different conformations in the gas phase, on the crystal surface, and embeddedinto the matrix. Our model fully accounted for the internal structure of matrix and guest molecules; thus, wewere able to follow the details of conformational changes in the guest molecule within the crystal and throughoutthe desorption. During the embedding process, simulated by sinapinic acid crystal growth around the substanceP guest species, changes in the guest species conformation were investigated. While the guest species placedon the surface of the host crystal exhibited two hydrogen bonds on the backbone and one turn, the conformationof the embedded species contained three hydrogen bonds and two turns. Independent of the burial depth, theconformation of the guest species within the crystal remained the same. After laser heating and during thedesorption process, no preferred gas-phase conformation was observed. Investigation of the radius-of-gyrationof the guest species originating from different layers of the crystal revealed that, upon desorption, the guestspecies did not sustain a stable conformation in the gas phase. Liftoff velocities of the guest species embeddedin various layers of the host crystal and on the surface were similar to the liftoff velocities of the matrixmolecules around them. This is an indication of the entrainment of guest species by the matrix plume.Investigation of the energy histories of the matrix and guest species showed lower internal and kinetictemperatures for the latter, which could explain the absence of fragmentation in MALDI. Results also showedthat maximum energy transfer occurred during the phase transition of the host crystal at which time the guestspecies were released from the crystal. Examining the noncovalent complex of the guest species and sinapinicacid anions showed that the complex remained intact throughout the desorption process. A similar phenomenonis often reflected in MALDI mass spectra, in the form of guest-matrix adduct peaks.
Population subdivision in marine environments: the contributions of biogeography, geographical distance and discontinuous habitat to genetic differentiation in a blennioid fish, Axoclinus nigricaudus

The relative importance of factors that may promote genetic differentiation in marine organisms is largely unknown. Here, contributions to population structure from a biogeographic boundary, geographical distance and the distribution of suitable habitat were investigated in Axoclinus nigricaudus, a small subtidal rock-reef fish, throughout its range in the Gulf of California. A 408-bp fragment of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced from 105 individuals. Variation was significantly partitioned between 28 of 36 possible combinations of population pairs. Phylogenetic analyses, hierarchical analyses of variance and a modified Mantel test substantiated a major break between two putative biogeographic regions. This genetic discontinuity coincides with an abrupt change in ecological characteristics, including temperature and salinity, but does not coincide with known oceanographic circulation patterns or any known historic barriers. There was an overall relationship of increasing genetic distance with increasing geographical distance between population pairs, in a manner consistent with isolation-by-distance. A significant habitat-by-geographical-distance interaction term indicated that, for a given geographical distance, populations separated by discontinuous habitat (sand) are more distinct genetically than are populations separated by continuous habitat (rock). In addition, populations separated by deep open waters were more genetically distinct than populations separated by continuous habitat (rock). These results indicate that levels of genetic differentiation among populations of A. nigricaudus cannot be explained by a single factor, but are due to the combined influences of biogeography, geographical distance and availability of suitable habitat.
Interspecies Variability in Expression of Hepatobiliary Transporters across Human, Dog, Monkey, and Rat as Determined by Quantitative Proteomics

We quantified, by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, transporter protein expression of BSEP, MATE1, MRP3, MRP4, NTCP, and OCT1 in our human liver bank (n = 55) and determined the relationship between protein expression and sex, age and genotype. These data complement our previous work in the same liver bank where we quantified the protein expression of OATPs, BCRP, MDR1, and MRP2. In addition, we quantified and compared the interspecies differences in expression of the hepatobiliary transporters, corresponding to the above human transporters, in liver tissue and hepatocytes of male beagle dogs, cynomolgus monkeys, Sprague-Dawley rats, and Wistar rats. In all the species, the sinusoidal OATPs/Oatps were the most abundant hepatic transporters. However, there were notable interspecies differences in the relative abundance of the remaining transporters. For example, the next most abundant transporter in humans and monkeys was OCT1/Oct1, whereas it was Mrp2 and Ntcp in dogs/Wistar rats and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. In contrast, the protein expression of the efflux transporters BCRP/Bcrp, MDR1/Mdr1, MRP3/Mrp3, MRP4/Mrp4, and MATE1/Mate1 was much lower across all the species. For most transporters, the expression in the liver tissues was comparable to that in the unplated cryopreserved hepatocytes. These data on human liver transporter protein expression complete the picture of the expression of major human hepatobiliary transporters important in drug disposition and toxicity. In addition, the data on expression of the corresponding hepatobiliary transporters in preclinical species will be helpful in interpreting and extrapolating pharmacokinetic, pharmacological, and toxicological results from preclinical studies to humans.
Survey of the Professional Needs of Division 17's Ethnic and Racial Minority Psychologists

Members of Division 17's Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee surveyed ethnic and racial minority psychologists in the Division of Counseling Psychology to solicit their perceptions about their professional needs and experiences. Survey results revealed three important professional needs related to multicultural issues: increased sensitivity to multicultural concerns by colleagues and training programs, inclusion of a greater number of ethnic and racial minority psychologists in leadership positions, and more visibility of ethnic and racial minority psychologists in the profession. Some respondents reported that although their involvement in multicultural issues was personally and professionally rewarding, they had some concerns about their colleagues' tendency to see their work in this area as less valuable. Lastly, many respondents expressed their desire for Division 17 to increase the representation of ethnic and racial minorities in its general membership and in its leadership positions and to prov...
Cerebral hemispheric blood flow: clinical correlation.

Abstract 101 patients received bolus injections of pertechnetate intravenously. Passage of radioactivity through the cerebral circulation was recorded by the digital autofluoroscope. Data is recorded on magnetic tape. Different methods of curve evaluation are reported. Results are correlated with the clinical discharge diagnosis for each patient. It is concluded that for routine clinical purposes, a 1-sec accumulation time interval is preferred. Inspection of the shape of the curve offers clinically useful information. Measurement of the maximum height is also useful. Calculation of the first dirivative and mean transit time are both useful but time consuming for routine clinical application.
Nurse-conducted smoking cessation in patients with COPD, using nicotine sublingual tablets and behavioral support.

Context Few studies have examined the effect of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in COPD patients. Study objective To evaluate the efficacy of nicotine sublingual tablets and two levels of support for smoking cessation in COPD patients. Design Double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial. Setting Pulmonary outpatient clinics. Patients Three hundred seventy COPD patients who smoked a mean of 19.6 cigarettes per day (mean, 42.7 pack-years; mean FEV 1 , 56% of predicted). Interventions Nicotine sublingual tablet or placebo for 12 weeks combined with either low support (four visits plus six telephone calls) or high support (seven visits plus five telephone calls) provided by nurses. Measurements Carbon monoxide-verified abstinence rates and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) assessed at 6 months and 12 months. Results Two hundred eighty-eight of 370 patients were evaluable for the final study end points. Smoking cessation rates were statistically significantly superior with sublingual nicotine vs placebo for all measures of abstinence: 6-month point prevalence, 23% vs 10%; 12-month point prevalence, 17% vs 10%. There was no significant difference in effect between low vs high behavioral support. The SGRQ score improved significantly in abstainers vs nonabstainers; the changes in mean scores were –10.9 vs – 2.9 for total score, and – 28.6 vs − 2.3 for symptom score, respectively. Conclusions This trial demonstrated the long-term efficacy of NRT for cessation for the general population of COPD smokers, regardless of daily cigarette consumption. Cessation success rates were in the same range as in healthy smokers, and abstinence improved SGRQ scores. NRT should be used to aid cessation in all smokers with COPD, regardless of disease severity and number of cigarettes smoked.
Vaccines with Enhanced Costimulation Maintain High Avidity Memory CTL

The avidity of Ag-specific CTL is a critical determinant for clearing viral infection and eliminating tumor. Although previous studies have demonstrated that vaccines using enhanced costimulation will enhance the level and avidity of Ag-specific T cells from naive mice, there are conflicting data about the effects of vaccines using enhanced costimulation (vector or dendritic cell based) on the survival of memory T cells. In this study we have first extended previous observations that primary vaccination with a recombinant vaccinia virus (rV-) expressing a model Ag (LacZ) and a triad of T cell costimulatory molecules (B7-1, ICAM-1, and LFA-3 (designated TRICOM)) enhances the level and avidity of T cells from naive vaccinated C57BL/6 (Thy1.2) mice. Adoptive transfer of Thy1.1 memory CD8 + T cells into naive Thy1.2 C57BL/6 mice was followed by booster vaccinations with a recombinant fowlpox (rF-)-expressing LacZ (rF-LacZ) or booster vaccinations with rF-LacZ/TRICOM. Analysis of levels of β-galactosidase tetramer-positive T cells and functional assays (IFN-γ expression and lytic activity) determined that booster vaccinations with rF-LacZ/TRICOM were superior to booster vaccinations with rF-LacZ in terms of both maintenance and enhanced avidity of memory CD8 + T cells. Antitumor experiments using a self-Ag (carcinoembryonic Ag (CEA) vaccines in CEA transgenic mice bearing CEA-expressing tumors) also demonstrated that the use of booster vaccinations with vaccines bearing enhanced costimulatory capacity had superior antitumor effects. These studies thus have implications in the design of more effective vaccine strategies.
The modified nodal approach to network analysis

The nodal method has been widely used for formulating circuit equations in computer-aided network analysis and design programs. However, several limitations exist in this method including the inability to process voltage sources and current-dependent circuit elements in a simple and efficient manner. A modified nodal analysis (MNA) method is proposed here which retains the simplicity and other advantages of nodal analysis while removing its limitations. A simple and effective pivoting scheme is also given. Numerical examples are used to compare the MNA method with the tableau method. Favorable results are observed for the MNA method in terms of the dimension, number of nonzeros, and fill-ins for comparable circuit matrices.
Response to Eplerenone in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Heart Failure

Ramaraj1 raises concerns regarding our recommendation to use eplerenone in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure postmyocardial infarction (MI)2 based on the increase in the incidence of serious hyperkalemia noted by Juurlink et al3 and others when an aldosterone blocker was administered to patients with chronic heart failure. We agree with him that an estimated glomerular filtration rate should be calculated, especially in the elderly, …
3-Dimensional Neuroanatomy of the Human Fetal Pelvis: Anatomical Support for Partial Urogenital Mobilization in the Treatment of Urogenital Sinus

Purpose: Retrospective reviews suggest that the functional outcomes of surgery of the urogenital sinus have often been unsatisfactory and to our knowledge the long-term results of newer surgical techniques have yet to be evaluated. A precise understanding of pelvic fetal neuroanatomy is germane for optimizing surgical correction of the urogenital sinus.Materials and Methods: The pelves of 10 human female fetuses were serially sectioned. Masson's trichrome staining and immunochemistry for the neuronal marker S100 (Dako Corp., Carpinteria, California) along with anatomical computer reconstruction allowed 3-dimensional analysis of the nerves in relation to the pelvic structures as an animated motion picture.Results: Two types of neuronal structures were identified. 1) A dense perivisceral foil of branching nerves closely surrounded the pelvic organs. The localization of most nerves was on the external faces of the viscera with a limited fraction in the rectovaginal and urethrovaginal septa. This innervation ...
Effects of Forest Roads on Macroinvertebrate Soil Fauna of the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Many forested landscapes are fragmented by roads, but our understanding of the effects of these roads on the function and diversity of the surrounding forest is in its infancy. I investigated the effect of roads in otherwise continuous forests on the macroinvertebrate fauna of the soil. I took soil samples along transects leading away from the edges of unpaved roads in the Cherokee National Forest in the Southern Appalachian mountains of the United States. Roads significantly depressed both the abundance and the richness of the macroinvertebrate soil fauna. Roads also significantly reduced the depth of the leaf-litter layer. These effects persisted up to 100 m into the forest. Wider roads and roads with more open canopies tended to produce steeper declines in abundance, richness, and leaf-litter depth, but these effects were significant only for canopy cover and litter depth. The macroinvertebrate fauna of the leaf litter plays a pivotal role in the ability of the soil to process energy and nutrients. These macroinvertebrates also provide prey for vertebrate species such as salamanders and ground-foraging birds. The effect of roads on the surrounding forest is compounded by the sprawling nature of the road system in this and many other forests. My data suggest that even relatively narrow roads through forests can produce marked edge effects that may have negative consequences for the function and diversity of the forest ecosystem.
Inhaled corticosteroids in COPD: a controversy

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are now very widely used in high doses in the management of COPD patients. In sharp contrast to the situation in asthma, ICS provide little or no benefit in COPD patients and may have long-term detrimental effects. High doses of ICS fail to reduce disease progression or mortality, even when combined with a long-acting beta(2)-agonist (LABA). Several trials have demonstrated that ICS reduce exacerbations by 20-25%, particularly in patients with more severe disease, but these studies are confounded by poor trial design and more appropriate analysis shows no benefit. Indeed, the benefit of combination inhalers seems to be largely due to the effect of the LABA, and long-acting bronchodilators--including tiotropium--provide similar benefits in reducing exacerbations. However, there may be some COPD patients, for example those with concomitant asthma, who benefit from ICS. Yet it has not been possible to identify any clinical factors that predict corticosteroid responsiveness in COPD patients in the large clinical trials. There is increasing evidence that high doses of ICS may have detrimental effects on bones and may increase the risk of pneumonia. ICS fail to suppress inflammation in COPD patients because there is a marked reduction in histone deacetylase-2, the nuclear enzyme that corticosteroids require to switch off activated inflammatory genes. In the future, alternative anti-inflammatory treatments will be needed for COPD or therapeutic strategies which reverse the molecular pathways that causes corticosteroid resistance.
Low-Power Low-Voltage Hot-Spot Tolerant Clocking with Suppressed Skew

A methodology based on supply voltage optimization for lowering the power consumption and temperature fluctuations induced skew of clock distribution networks is proposed in this paper. The clock signal is distributed globally at a lower optimum supply voltage. To maintain the speed of the system, a dual supply voltage (dual-VDD) clock distribution network is presented. Level converters are utilized to restore the standard full swing clock signal at the leaves of the low voltage clock distribution network. A novel level converter with low skew, propagation delay, and power consumption characteristics is presented. The optimum supply voltage that minimizes clock skew is 44% lower than the nominal supply voltage in a 0.18mum CMOS technology. The temperature fluctuations induced skew and power consumption of the proposed dual-VDD clock distribution network are 74% and 50.8% lower, respectively, as compared to a standard clock distribution network operating at the nominal supply voltage.
Complications after CT-guided needle biopsy through aerated versus nonaerated lung.

Findings in patients who underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (n = 131) of lung are described. In those in whom the needle traversed aerated lung, complications developed in 51% (40 of 79). The rate of pneumothorax was 46% (36 of 79). In those in whom the needle did not traverse aerated lung (n = 52), minor hemoptysis in one patient (2%) was the only complication (P less than .0001). When a percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy needle does not traverse aerated lung, the likelihood of complication appears to be slight.
Miller factor for gate-level coupling delay calculation

In coupling delay computation, a Miller factor of more than 2/spl times/ may be necessary to account for active coupling capacitance when modeling the delay of deep submicron circuitry in the presence of active coupling capacitance. We propose an efficient method to estimate this factor such that the delay response of a decoupling circuit model can emulate the original coupling circuit. Under the assumptions of zero initial voltage, equal charge transfer, and 0.5V/sub DD/ as the switching threshold voltage, an upper bound of 3/spl times/ for maximum delay and a lower bound of -1/spl times/ for minimum delay can be proven. Efficient Newton-Raphson iteration is also proposed as a technique for computing the Miller factor or effective capacitance. This result is highly applicable to crosstalk coupling delay calculation in deep submicron gate-level static timing analysis. Detailed analysis and approximation are presented. SPICE simulations are demonstrated to show high correlation with these approximations.
Of mice and men: novel insights regarding constitutive and recruitable brown adipocytes

Recently, there has been great attention given to the possibility of combating obesity by targeting brown fat activity or increasing differentiation of brown adipocytes in white fat depots through a process termed 'browning'. Sympathetic innervation of brown and white adipose tissues provides adrenergic input that drives thermogenesis and regulates fatty acid metabolism, as well as stimulating adipogenesis of recruitable brown adipocyte tissue (rBAT, also known as beige or brite) in white fat. Other factors acting in an endocrine or autocrine/paracrine manner in adipose tissue may also stimulate browning. There have been significant recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of increasing adipose tissue energy expenditure, as well as how brown adipocytes appear in white fat depots, including via de novo adipogenesis from tissue precursor cells. In this article, we integrate this new knowledge with a historical perspective on the discovery of 'browning'. We also provide an overview of constitutive BAT vs rBAT in mouse and human.
Coining a new term-Urovesicology: advancing towards a mechanistic understanding of bladder symptoms.

When patients present with lower urinary tract symptoms (urgency, frequency, nocturia, slow stream, hesitancy, sense of incomplete emptying, post-void dribbling), urinary incontinence (stress and urge), urinary retention, dysuria, and/or bladder pain, the urologist would be the most appropriate specialist to evaluate and treat these patients. These symptoms will be collectively labeled as "urovesicologic" symptoms, the reason which will become apparent. Because these symptoms usually have no known cause, empiric (trial-and-error) treatments directed at ameliorating symptoms, but not at the underlying pathophysiology, are the usual recourse.
Three‐dimensional printing of orbital and peri‐orbital masses in three dogs and its potential applications in veterinary ophthalmology

Objective To describe the technique and utility of three-dimensional (3D) printing for orbital and peri-orbital masses and discuss other potential applications for 3D printing. Animals studied Three dogs with a chronic history of nonpainful exophthalmos. Procedures Computed tomography (CT) and subsequent 3D printing of the head was performed on each case. CT confirmed a confined mass, and an ultrasound-guided biopsy was obtained in each circumstance. An orbitotomy was tentatively planned for each case, and a 3D print of each head with the associated globe and mass was created to assist in surgical planning. Results In case 1, the mass was located in the cranioventral aspect of the right orbit, and the histopathologic diagnosis was adenoma. In case 2, the mass was located within the lateral masseter muscle, ventral to the right orbit between the zygomatic arch and the ramus of the mandible. The histopathologic diagnosis in case 2 was consistent with a lipoma. In case 3, the mass was located in the ventral orbit, and the histopathologic diagnosis was histiocytic cellular infiltrate. Conclusions Three-dimensional printing in cases with orbital and peri-orbital masses has exceptional potential for improved surgical planning and provides another modality for visualization to help veterinarians, students, and owners understand distribution of disease. Additionally, as the techniques of 3D printing continue to evolve, the potential exists to revolutionize ocular surgery and drug delivery.
Social well-being among adolescents and young adults with cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND A cancer diagnosis during adolescence or young adulthood may negatively influence social well-being. The existing literature concerning the social well-being of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer was reviewed to identify gaps in current research and highlight priority areas for future research.