cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The psychosocial transition associated with spontaneous 46,XX primary ovarian insufficiency: illness uncertainty, stigma, goal flexibility, and purpose in life as factors in emotional health

Objective To examine factors associated with emotional well-being in women with spontaneous primary ovarian insufficiency. Design Cross-sectional and case–control study. Setting Clinical research center, national U.S. health research facility. Patient(s) Women diagnosed with spontaneous 46,XX primary ovarian insufficiency (n = 100) at a mean age of 32.4 years and healthy control women of similar age (n = 60). Intervention(s) Administration of validated self-reporting instruments. Main Outcome Measure(s) Illness uncertainty, stigma, goal disengagement/re-engagement, purpose in life, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Result(s) Compared with controls, women with spontaneous primary ovarian insufficiency scored adversely on all measures of affect. Illness uncertainty and purpose in life were significant independent factors associated with anxiety ( R 2 = 0.47), stigma and purpose in life were the significant independent factors associated with depression ( R 2 = 0.51), and goal re-engagement and purpose in life were significantly and independently associated with positive affect ( R 2 = 0.43). Conclusion(s) This evidence supports the need for prospective studies. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that clinicians could improve the emotional well-being of their patients with primary ovarian insufficiency by [1] informing them better about their condition, [2] helping them to feel less stigmatized by the disorder, and [3] assisting them in developing alternative goals with regard to family planning as well as other goals.
Efficient Approximation of Kalman Filter for Target Tracking

A Kalman filter in the Cartesian coordinates is described for a maneuvering target when the radar sensor measures range, bearing, and elevation angles in the polar coordinates at high data rates. An approximate gain computation algorithm is developed to determine the filter gains for on-line microprocessor implementation. In this approach, gains are computed for three uncoupled filters and multiplied by a Jacobian transformation determined from the measured target position and orientation. The algorithm is compared with the extended Kalman filter for a typical target trajectory in a naval gun fire control system. The filter gains and the tracking errors for the proposed algorithm are nearly identical to the extended Kalman filter, while the computation requirements are reduced by a factor of four.
Electron microscopy and optical characterization of cadmium sulphide nanocrystals deposited on the patterned surface of diatom biosilica

Intricately patterned biosilica obtained from the shell of unicellular algae called diatoms serve as novel templates for fabrication of optoelectronic nanostructures. In this study, the surface of diatom frustules that possessed hierarchical architecture ordered at the micro and nanoscale was coated with a nanostructured polycrystalline cadmium sulphide (CdS) thin film using a chemical bath deposition technique. The CdS thin film was composed of spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of about 75 nm. The CdS nanoparticle thin film imparted new photoluminescent properties to the intricately patterned diatom nanostructure. The imparted photoluminescent properties were dependent on the CdS coverage onto the frustules surface. The intrinsic photoluminescent properties of the frustules were strongly quenched by the deposited CdS. The origin of PL spectra was discussed on the basis of the band theory and native defects.
Barium enema following incomplete colonoscopy

The purpose of this article is to describe our findings on barium enema in patients who have had incomplete colonoscopy. For patients undergoing colonoscopy and barium enema within 6-months of each other between 1991 and 1997, barium enemas were reevaluated for redundant anatomy as well as lesions. Seventy-seven women and 30 men underwent 108 barium enemas. The most common finding was a redundant colon in 68% (55/81) of study patients, but only 33% (9/27) of control (complete colonoscopy) patients.
Neuropsychological Assessment of Children with Hearing Impairment on Trail Making, Tactual Performance, and Category Tests.

The performance of 42 children with hearing impairment and a matched sample of 42 hearing peers was examined on the Category, Tactual Performance, and Trail Making tests. No quantitative differences were found on Trail Making Part A or total number of Category Test errors. Deaf subjects did have significantly greater response times to individual Category Test items, regardless of correctness of answer. Children with hearing impairment were also found to take longer on Trail Making Part B, although they performed well within normal limits. On the Tactual Performance Test, deaf children did slightly better than their matched hearing peers on total time and location. Notwithstanding, over-interpretation of statistical differences was cautioned against from a clinician's standpoint. The major finding of this research was that the performance of deaf children who have no additional handicapping conditions or impairments was similar to that of matched hearing controls.
Conversion of typical to "atypical" atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia after radiofrequency catheter modification of the atrioventricular junction

Typical atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is characterized by anterograde activation over a slowly conducting pathway and by retrograde activation through a rapidly conducting pathway. Preliminary reports suggest that radiofrequency catheter modification can eliminate typical AVNRT while preserving anterograde conduction. Radiofrequency catheter modification was used to treat 88 patients with typical AVNRT. After baseline electrophysiologic evaluation, the ablation catheter was positioned proximal and superior to the site of maximal His deflection. Radiofrequency energy was applied until there was significant attenuation of retrograde conduction, and elimination of AVNRT inducibility. Eighty-one patients were successfully treated and form the basis of this report. A new paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with RP greater than PR interval was induced at electrophysiologic testing after successful ablation in 9 patients (11%). Mean atrial-His activation time was 140 +/- 31 ms, and the ventriculoatrial activation time was 170 +/- 46 ms. This arrhythmia was induced only with ventricular pacing during isoproterenol infusion and appeared to be mediated by AV nodal reentry. New retrograde dual AV nodal physiology after modification was more frequent in patients with atypical tachycardia than in those without (4 of 9 vs 2 of 72; p less than 0.0001). Although none of the patients were treated, only 1 of 9 had an episode of spontaneous atypical tachycardia during a mean follow-up of 12 months. Results of this study confirm that typical AVNRT can be rendered noninducible without the complete destruction of reentrant pathways. Because induction of "atypical" AVNRT was not predictive of spontaneous arrhythmia recurrence, it should not be an indication for additional ablation sessions or long-term drug therapy.
Effect of M4+ (Ce, Sn, Ti) B-site substitutions on the cation ordering in Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3

The effect of different tetravalent octahedral site substitutions on the cation ordering in Ba(Mg{sub 1/3}Ta{sub 2/3})O{sub 3} perovskites were explored by investigating the phase stabilities and structures of their solid solutions with BaTiO{sub 3}, BaSnO{sub 3}, and BaCeO{sub 3}. In the cerate system, the 1:2 ordered form of Ba(Mg{sub 1/3}Ta{sub 2/3})O{sub 3} has very limited stability and transforms to a cubic, 1:1 ordered structure with a doubled perovskite repeat between 7 and 25 mol% BaCeO{sub 3}. Structure refinements of the Ba({beta}{prime}{sub 1/2}{beta}{double_prime}{sub 1/2})O{sub 3} phases indicate that the 1:1 order can be described by a random site model. In this model, the {beta}{double_prime} sites are occupied by Ta, the {beta}{prime} sites are occupied by a random distribution of Mg, Ce, and the remaining Ta cations, and the stoichiometry of the structure can be represented by Ba[Mg{sub 2(1{minus}x)/3}Ta{sub (1{minus}4x)/3}Ce{sub 2x}]{sub 1/2}[Ta]{sub 1/2}O{sub 3}. Although the formation of this phase in the cerate system is similar to the results reported previously for BaZrO{sub 3} substitutions, no evidence of 1:1 order was found in the BaTiO{sub 3} solid solutions, which adopt a disordered perovskite structure for >10 mol% Ti. The correlation between the size of the tetravalent cation and the formation of themore » random site structure extended to the BaSnO{sub 3} system, which also showed no evidence of an extended region of stable 1:1 order.« less
PREDICTABILITY IN DISCRETE-EVENT SYSTEMS UNDER PARTIAL OBSERVATION 1

Abstract This paper studies the problem of predicting occurrences of a significant event in a discrete-event system. The predictability of occurrences of an event in a system is defined in the context of formal languages. The predictability of a language is a stronger condition than the diagnosability of the language. An implementable necessary and sufficient condition for predictability of occurrences of an event in systems modeled by regular languages is presented.
Microsimulation analysis of highway-rail grade crossings: A case study in Lincoln, Nebraska

This paper examines the usefulness of supplementing railroad preemption operations at highway-rail grade crossings with variable message signs. Using the microscopic traffic simulation model, VISSIM, the effects on grade crossing operations of different train dwell times as well as different levels of driver response to a variable message sign in the vicinity of the crossing are assessed. The results affirm the potential usefulness of variable message signs for preventing lengthy queues and illustrate the importance of explicitly considering the delay experienced by vehicles on the blocked roadway in developing a traffic control strategy for highway-rail grade crossings.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Proterozoic and early Cambrian protists: evidence for accelerating evolutionary tempo

In rocks of late Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic age (ca. 1700-1000 million years ago), probable eukaryotic microfossils are widespread and well preserved, but assemblage and global diversities are low and turnover is slow. Near the Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic boundary (1000 million years ago), red, green, and chromophytic algae diversified; molecular phylogenies suggest that this was part of a broader radiation of "higher" eukaryotic phyla. Observed diversity levels for protistan microfossils increased significantly at this time, as did turnover rates. Coincident with the Cambrian radiation of marine invertebrates, protistan microfossils again doubled in diversity and rates of turnover increased by an order of magnitude. Evidently, the Cambrian diversification of animals strongly influenced evolutionary rates, within clades already present in marine communities, implying an important role for ecology in fueling a Cambrian explosion that extends across kingdoms.
TNF-α down-regulates CXCR4 expression in primary murine astrocytes

Abstract CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated neurologic disorders and brain tumors. The physiological roles of CXCR4 in developmental patterning of the nervous and hematopoietic system; gastrointestinal angiogenesis; and cardiac organogenesis were established by studies in gene-targeted mice. Studies on CXCR4 expression and regulation in neuroepithelial cells are fundamental for understanding its physiopathologic roles in the central nervous system (CNS). We show here that CXCR4 expression by primary mouse astrocytes is suppressed by exposure to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). TNF-α caused a pronounced down-regulation of CXCR4 mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner. TNF-α-mediated decrease of CXCR4 mRNA accumulation resulted in decreased CXCR4 protein expression. As a result, the ability of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) to induce activation of MAP kinases, Erk1/2 was impaired. The half life of CXCR4 mRNA in the presence and absence of TNF-α stimulation was comparable, suggesting that TNF-α down-regulated CXCR4 mRNA at the transcriptional level. These results suggest that TNF-α could modulate HIV and brain tumor pathogenesis and immune-mediated inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) by regulation of CXCR4 expression.
Differential effects of cigarette price changes on adult smoking behaviours

Background Raising cigarette prices through taxation is an important policy approach to reduce smoking. Yet, cigarette price increases may not be equally effective in all subpopulations of smokers. Purpose To examine differing effects of state cigarette price changes with individual changes in smoking among smokers of different intensity levels. Methods Data were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a nationally representative sample of US adults originally interviewed in 2001–2002 (Wave 1) and re-interviewed in 2004–2005 (Wave 2): 34 653 were re-interviewed in Wave 2, and 7068 smokers defined at Wave 1 were included in our study. Mixed effects linear regression models were used to assess whether the effects of changes in state cigarette prices on changes in daily smoking behaviour differed by level of daily smoking. Results In the multivariable model, there was a significant interaction between change in price per pack of cigarettes from Wave 1 to Wave 2 and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (p=0.044). The more cigarettes smoked per day at baseline, the more responsive the smokers were to increases in price per pack of cigarettes (ie, number of cigarettes smoked per day was reduced in response to price increases). Conclusions Our findings that heavier smokers successfully and substantially reduced their cigarette smoking behaviours in response to state cigarette price increases provide fresh insight to the evidence on the effectiveness of higher cigarette prices in reducing smoking.
C-reactive protein induces M-CSF release and macrophage proliferation.

Inflammation is pivotal in atherosclerosis. M-CSF regulates macrophage growth and differentiation and plays a role in atherogenesis. C-reactive protein (CRP), a cardiovascular risk marker, may promote atherogenesis. However, the effects of CRP on M-CSF release and subsequent macrophage proliferation have not been examined previously. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were incubated with boiled CRP or native CRP 12.5, 25, and 50 μg/mL for 12–15 h, and M-CSF release was examined by flow cytometry and ELISA. CRP resulted in a significant and dose-dependent increase in M-CSF mRNA and secretion from HAEC as well as human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM; P<0.01). Furthermore, conditioned medium (5%) from HAEC pretreated with CRP, when incubated with HMDM, increased macrophage proliferation significantly. This was blocked with M-CSF antibody but not irrelevant antibody. Inhibition of NF-κB resulted in significant abrogation of CRP-induced M-CSF release and subsequent macrophage proliferation. Antibodies to CD32 and CD64 but not CD16 abrogated CRP-induced M-CSF release. Thus, CRP up-regulates M-CSF release from HMDM and HAEC and increased macrophage proliferation. These effects appear to be mediated via activation of NF-κB via CD32 and CD64. These studies provide further evidence for a proatherogenic role for CRP.
cis-acting regulatory regions in the long terminal repeat of simian foamy virus type 1.

Abstract Simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1), a member of the Spumavirinae subfamily of retroviruses, encodes a transcriptional transactivator (taf) that strongly augments gene expression directed by the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) (A. Mergia, K. E. S. Shaw, E. Pratt-Lowe, P. A. Barry, and P. A. Luciw, J. Virol. 65:2903-2909, 1991). This report describes cis-acting regulatory elements in the LTR that control viral gene expression. A series of LTR mutants and hybrid promoter constructs have been analyzed in transient expression assays for responsiveness to Taf. The targets for transactivation have been mapped to two regions of the U3 domain of the LTR, between positions -1196 and -880 and between positions -403 and -125 (+1 represents the transcription initiation site). No significant nucleotide sequence homology between these two regions is noted; thus, the SFV-1 taf gene acts through at least two distinct sequence elements in the LTR. The target contained between positions -403 and -125 acts independently of orientation, in different cell types and species, and in the context of a heterologous promoter. Thus, the target element between positions -403 and -125 has properties of a transcriptional enhancer. The observation that two distinct elements in the SFV-1 LTR are targets for transcriptional transactivation is novel with respect to observations for other retroviral systems. The R-U5 region of the SFV-1 LTR down-regulates transactivation by severalfold. Computer analysis of the R-U5 region revealed a secondary structure with a free-energy level of -74 kcal (ca. -310,000 J); this structural feature may account for the inhibitory effect on gene expression directed by the LTR. Taf of SFV-1 had no effect on gene expression directed by the LTR of the related human foamy virus, whereas Taf transactivates gene expression directed by the LTRs of the human and simian immunodeficiency viruses. Comparative functional analysis of Taf on homologous and heterologous LTRs may facilitate elucidation of the mechanism of transactivation of foamy viruses.
Reformation in Chinese Healthcare: Lessons to be Learned from US Best Practices in Consulting, Education and Development of Health System Change

Since the early 1990s there has been strong interest by the Chinese healthcare establishment to engage US healthcare leaders on a variety of educational and consultative services. This exchange has occurred on both sides of the Pacific, with Chinese delegations visiting US health systems, government agencies, and university programmes in health administration. US scholars and practitioners have also travelled to China for consultative and management services. Despite heavy dialogue between officials and industry experts from both countries, little is written on best practices for dealing with this work. This paper explores this question using the authors' experiences as consultants and educators with Chinese healthcare administrators and officials in the greater Shanghai area.
Cellular defenses against damage from reactive oxygen species

Pages 139–162: Yu. “Cellular Defenses Against Damage From Reactive Oxygen Species.” Page 150: The section 2. Ceruloplasmin should appear as follows: [See PDF]
Animal models of HIV peripheral neuropathy

The use of animal models in the study of HIV and AIDS has advanced our understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of infection. Of the multitude of HIV disease manifestations, peripheral neuropathy remains one of the most common long-term side effects. Several of the most important causes of peripheral neuropathy in AIDS patients include direct association with HIV infection with or without antiretroviral medication and infection with opportunistic agents. Because the pathogeneses of these diseases are difficult to study in human patients, animal models have allowed for significant advancement in the understanding of the role of viral infection and the immune system in disease genesis. This review focuses on rodent, rabbit, feline and rhesus models used to study HIV-associated peripheral neuropathies, focusing specifically on sensory neuropathy and antiretroviral-associated neuropathies.
Post-acute dispositions of older adults hospitalized for depression

This study addressed factors associated with six-month post-acute dispositions (continuous community stay, medical hospitalization, psychiatric rehospitalization, nursing home placement, death) for older adults hospitalized for depression and discharged to the community. The sample included 199 older adults; and data were collected via medical records, interviews with discharge planners, patients, and family members. Over half of the sample remained in the community throughout the observation period; 23% experienced psychiatric re-admission and 10% entered a nursing home. Several factors associated with nursing home placement were identified: less improvement in depression during the hospitalization, lower Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores at discharge; and less mental health service use in the post-acute period. Those at higher risk of psychiatric re-admission had more previous psychiatric hospitalizations and were marginally more likely to be married and have lower Brief Psychiatric Rating S...
Breaking the Deadlock: Simultaneously Discovering Attribute Matching and Cluster Matching with Multi-Objective Metaheuristics

In this paper, we present a data mining approach to address challenges in the matching of heterogeneous datasets. In particular, we propose solutions to two problems that arise in integrating information from different results of scientific research. The first problem, attribute matching, involves discovery of correspondences among distinct numeric features (attributes) that are used to characterize datasets that have been collected and analyzed in different research labs. The second problem, cluster matching, involves discovery of matchings between patterns (clusters) across datasets. We treat both of these problems together as a multi-objective optimization problem. A multi-objective metaheuristics algorithm is described to find the optimal solution and compared with the genetic algorithm. The utility of this approach is demonstrated in a series of experiments using synthetic and realistic datasets that are designed to simulate heterogeneous data from different sources.
Psychological Factors in Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: Relevance and Application of the Fear-Avoidance Model of Pain

Chronic pelvic pain in women is a debilitating, costly condition often treated by physical therapists. The etiology of this condition is multifactorial and poorly understood, given the complex interplay of muscles, bones, and soft tissue that comprise the pelvis. There are few guidelines directing treatment interventions for this condition. In the last decade, several investigators have highlighted the role of psychological variables in conditions such as vulvodynia and painful bladder syndrome. Pain-related fear is the focus of the fear-avoidance model (FAM) of pain, which theorizes that some people are more likely to develop and maintain pain after an injury because of their emotional and behavioral responses to pain. The FAM groups people into 2 classes on the basis of how they respond to pain: people who have low fear, confront pain, and recover from injury and people who catastrophize pain—a response that leads to avoidance/escape behaviors, disuse, and disability. Given the presence of pain-related cognitions in women with chronic pelvic pain, including hypervigilance, catastrophizing, and anxiety, research directed toward the application of the FAM to guide therapeutic interventions is warranted. Isolated segments of the FAM have been studied to theorize why traditional approaches (ie, medications and surgery) may not lead to successful outcomes. However, the explicit application of the FAM to guide physical therapy interventions for women with chronic pelvic pain is not routine. Integrating the FAM might direct physical therapists' clinical decision making on the basis of the pain-related cognitions and behaviors of patients. The aims of this article are to provide information about the FAM of musculoskeletal pain and to provide evidence for the relevance of the FAM to chronic pelvic pain in women.
Biomechanical risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome: a pooled study of 2474 workers

Background Between 2001 and 2010, five research groups conducted coordinated prospective studies of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) incidence among US workers from various industries and collected detailed subject-level exposure information with follow-up of symptoms, electrophysiological measures and job changes. Objective This analysis examined the associations between workplace biomechanical factors and incidence of dominant-hand CTS, adjusting for personal risk factors. Methods 2474 participants, without CTS or possible polyneuropathy at enrolment, were followed up to 6.5 years (5102 person-years). Individual workplace exposure measures of the dominant hand were collected for each task and included force, repetition, duty cycle and posture. Task exposures were combined across the workweek using time-weighted averaging to estimate job-level exposures. CTS case-criteria were based on symptoms and results of electrophysiological testing. HRs were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. Results After adjustment for covariates, analyst (HR=2.17; 95% CI 1.38 to 3.43) and worker (HR=2.08; 95% CI 1.31 to 3.39) estimated peak hand force, forceful repetition rate (HR=1.84; 95% CI 1.19 to 2.86) and per cent time spent (eg, duty cycle) in forceful hand exertions (HR=2.05; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.15) were associated with increased risk of incident CTS. Associations were not observed between total hand repetition rate, per cent duration of all hand exertions, or wrist posture and incident CTS. Conclusions In this prospective multicentre study of production and service workers, measures of exposure to forceful hand exertion were associated with incident CTS after controlling for important covariates. These findings may influence the design of workplace safety programmes for preventing work-related CTS.
Dispatch tooling for global service delivery

Tool development to support service management is a problem in optimizing service quality and reducing redundant work subject to competing constraints, both technical requirements and political realities. However, many of the constraints only become clear over time, and often only after a series of iterations as tooling exposes new or previously discounted constraints. We present a case study: the evolution of tooling for global dispatch of work orders supporting incident tickets. We discuss different approaches, how they highlighted different constraints, and even how they competed with each other, and conclude with a discussion of approaches to balancing constraints, many of which are not initially apparent and some of which shift over time.
Prognostic implications of the lymph node count after neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on the lymph node yield of rectal cancer surgery. Methods Data for patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for resectable rectal cancer from June 1992 to June 2009 were reviewed. The primary outcomes measured were the number of lymph nodes retrieved, their status, and patient survival. Results In total, 345 patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, and 95 patients had surgery alone. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy decreased both the median (range) number of lymph nodes retrieved (7 (1–33) versus 12·5 (0–44) respectively; P < 0·001) and the number of positive lymph nodes (0 (0–11) versus 0 (0–16); P = 0·001). After neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, the number of retrieved lymph nodes was inversely correlated with tumour regression, and with the interval between treatment and surgery. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 86·5 and 79·1 per cent respectively. After neoadjuvant therapy, lymph node status was found to be an independent predictor of survival, whereas the number of retrieved lymph nodes did not represent a prognostic factor for either overall or disease-free survival. Conclusion Low lymph node count after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer does not signify an inadequate resection or understaging, but represents an increased sensitivity to the treatment.
Exploiting dynamic querying like flooding techniques in unstructured peer-to-peer networks

In unstructured peer-to-peer networks, controlled flooding aims at locating an item at the minimum message cost. Dynamic querying is a new controlled flooding technique. While it is implemented in some peer-to-peer networks, little is known about its undesirable behavior and little is known about its general usefulness in unstructured peer-to-peer networks. This paper describes the first evaluation and analysis of such techniques, and proposes novel techniques to improve them. We make three contributions. First, we find the current dynamic querying design is flawed. Although it is advantageous over the expanding ring algorithm in terms of search cost, it is much less attractive in terms of peer perceived latency, and its strict constraints on network connectivity prevent it from being widely adopted. Second, we propose an enhanced flooding technique which requires the search cost close to the minimum, reduces the search latency by more than four times, and loosens the constraints on the network connectivity. Thus, we make such techniques useful for the general unstructured peer-to-peer networks. Third, we show that our proposal requires only minor modifications to the existing search mechanisms and can be incrementally deployed in peer-to-peer networks.
Electronic Publishing: A Boon or a Bugbear

An abruptly imposed technological change is almost always both liberating and unsettling. Invariably, it is accompanied by the emergence of at least four stereotypical mindsets that inform positions taken during public debates about the value of the innovation. Inevitably, such discussions are characterized by confusion, discord and disagreement, often displayed with rancor. In essence, the impress of rapid and profound technological initiatives frequently induces the same roiling controversy that Thomas Kuhn described in his analysis of scientific revolutions. When the presumption of “normal” is disrupted by a major discovery, uncertainty and discontent emerge until a new paradigm is established. That paradigm in turn holds sway until the next revolution.
Modeling deformation in microelectronics BGA solder joints under high current density. Part I. Simulation and testing

In this paper, Moire interferometry technique is used to measure the in-situ displacement evolution of lead-free solder joint under electric current stressing. Large deformation was observed in solder joint under high density (10/sup 4/A/cm/sup 2/) current stressing. The deformation was found to be due to electromigration in the solder joint. An electromigration constitutive model is developed to simulate deformation of lead-free solder joint under current stressing. The simulation predicts reasonably close displacements results to Moire interferometry experimental results in both spatial distribution and time history evolution, which indicates that the electromigration model is reasonably good for predicting the mechanical behavior of lead-free solder alloy under electric current stressing. This is the first part of the papers reporting the deformation of solder joint under current stressing. More experimental results are reported in the second paper.
Comparison of two automated nephelometers.

The intercalibration precision and linearity were determined for two representative analytes, apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), on the Beckman Array® and the Behring Nephelometer 100® (BN-100). For two of nine samples analyzed, poor precision was observed for IgG with the Array. The poor precision for these two samples is attributed to large systematic shifts. A statistical non-linearity was observed for apo A1 with the BN-100, but this non-linearity does not exclude use of this assay for clinical diagnosis. Method comparisons were done for 12 analytes: apo A1, apo B, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, C3, C4, albumin, C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and ceruloplasmin. Thjese comparisons showed proportional biases of >10% for seven of 12 analytes. Furthermore, correlation coefficients were <0.96 for seven of 12 analytes. We conclude that comparing results obtained from th two different nephelometers is of only limited value for the individual patient. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Collaboration in Small Groups: Theory and Technique for the Study of Small-Group Processes:

The authors consider the necessary conditions for group members and their consultants to study group processes together. They consider how the collaborative working relationship is achieved in other social fields, in the psychoanalytic "therapeutic alliance, " in the seminars of Balint (1954) for general practitioners and in the educational-political work of Freire (1970). They discuss the phenomena of noncollaborative small study groups (Bion, 1961) and how these might be understood in depth-psychological and social-political terms: as the consequence of errors of abandonment and intrusion, and as continuations of average social oppression. They illustrate both the success and failure of neophyte consultants in securing collaboration in these terms, and, finally, summarize what they consider to be essential: How consultants pass tests of the meaning and strength of their collabora-tive intentions.
The aesthetics of digital representation: realism, abstraction and kitsch

Aesthetics of representation are influenced by landscape architects' ethical obligations to place, client, society and their peers. Historically, landscape design representations mimicked the media and techniques of their popular and fine art contemporaries; in today's culture, the ultra-realism of synthetic landscapes as used in film and game media influences design representation. With affordable access to digital landscape modelling programmes, landscape architects find themselves at an aesthetic and ethical crossroads. When ultra-realistic renderings are accepted as the ultimate design graphic, the result can be kitsch; designers have an ethical obligation to avoid the pitfalls of such easily-accepted landscape kitsch. If unthinking realism leads to kitsch, how can landscape architects reintegrate abstraction into digital representation? Examining representation within an art historical framework, we focus upon three major pictorial expressions of landscape identified by Kenneth Clark: landscape of sy...
Multiple factors limit use of local sites by Elliot's short-tailed shrews (Blarina hylophaga) in tallgrass prairie

Spatial variation in abundance has been attributed to habitat heterogeneity and patchiness. Our goal in this re- search was to understand what factors were associated with spatial patterns of habitat use by Elliot's short-tailed shrews (Blarina hylophaga Elliot, 1899) in tallgrass prairie. Our modeling efforts were based on 20 years (1981-2000) of pres- ence-absence data for shrews at each of 20 stations (local site) along 14 permanent traplines on Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas, USA. A logistic model accurately predicted the presence of short-tailed shrews at a local site. Probability of shrew occurrence decreased as amount of precipitation decreased, slope steepness increased, grazing increased, or burned area within 500 m of a local site increased. However, when amount of precipitation was low, area burned was high, or graz- ing occurred, shrews were uncommon and responded little to the other variables. Numbers of shrews were negatively related only to numbers of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)), a mouse that selects burned and grazed habitats that shrews avoid. Our observations suggest that multiple environmental factors limit use of local sites, whereas competition with other species does not. Our results can inform decisions related to conservation of biodiversity given management prac- tices in this endangered ecosystem. Resume : La variation spatiale de l'abondance a ete expliquee par l'heterogeneite et la repartition contagieuse de l'habitat. L'objectif de notre etude est de comprendre les facteurs associes aux patrons spatiaux d'utilisation de l'habitat chez la musa- raigne a queue courte d'Elliot (Blarina hylophaga Elliot, 1899) dans une prairie a herbes hautes. Nos essais de modelisation sont bases sur des donnees de presence-absence de musaraignes accumulees pendant 20 ans (1981-2000) dans chacune de 20 stations (site local) et le long de 14 lignes permanentes de trappage a la station biologique de Konza Prairie, Kansas, E.-U. Un modele logistique predit avec precision la presence des musaraignes a queue courte a un site local. La probabilite
Gauge-invariant proper self-energies and vertices in gauge theories with broken symmetry.

Using the pinch technique, we show how to recover, from the {ital S} matrix of a spontaneously broken non-Abelian gauge theory, proper self-energies and vertices which are fully gauge invariant when one or more momenta are off shell. Explicit calculations are carried out at the one-loop level for gauge-boson self-energies and fermion--gauge-boson vertices in a simple SU(2) gauge theory with a Higgs boson. The same technique allows us to calculate, at one-loop order, a neutrino electromagnetic form factor which is gauge invariant at all photon momenta, thus resolving a long-standing problem. We show how massless Goldstone bosons, not present in the {ital S} matrix, must be introduced into Green's functions in order to reconcile gauge invariance and renormalizability.
Hemorrhage from the Colon and Rectum

Bleeding from the rectum is recognized by the public as a very serious symptom. Consequently the surgeon will be required to examine many patients with this particular problem. Diagnosis and therapy must go hand in hand, particularly as the bleeding becomes more massive. In most instances a standard approach may be used.
The Israel-Palestine Conflict: The Land and Its Lure

The British short story writer Saki (H. H. Munro) once described the island of Crete as a place that has produced more history than could be consumed locally. The same might be said of Palestine, the region that includes the contemporary State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The area in question is quite small. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Jordan River in the east and from Lebanon in the north to the Gulf of Aqaba and the Sinai Peninsula in the south. Israel in its commonly recognized borders is roughly the size of the state of New Jersey. And Israel comprises almost 80 percent of the territory designated “Palestine” after World War I. (As with most everything else pertaining to Palestine, there are those who would challenge even these simple assertions. According to right-wing Revisionist Zionists, whom we shall meet again later in our story, and [ironically] the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which we shall also meet again, Palestine includes the territory of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as well. Hence, the slogan of the latter group: “The road to Jerusalem begins in Amman.”) The population of Palestine is also small. Israel's population is about 7.8 million, smaller than the population of London or New York City. There are approximately 4.3 million Palestinians in the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip) – a population a little larger than that of Los Angeles. (Although the exact figure is unknown, estimates for the total number of Palestinians in the world run as high as 9 million.) Since 1948, wars between Israel and its neighbors have claimed upwards of 150,000 casualties. These wars were certainly tragic, but they just as certainly pale in horror when compared with the most grievous squandering of lives in the region during its recent history. In the Iran-Iraq War, which lasted from 1980 to 1988, there were 500,000 to 1 million dead and 1 million to 2 million wounded. Outside the region, there was the Bosnian war of 1992–5 (upwards of 250,000 dead), the 1994–5 genocide in Rwanda (500,000 to 850,000 dead), and the ongoing civil war in the Sudan (approximately 1.5 million dead from war and war-created famine).
Cannabis and Harm Reduction: A Nursing Perspective

SUMMARY The goal of nursing care is to promote health and reduce harm caused by injury, disease, or poor self-care. Harm reduction is a public health model, which is gaining popularity as an effective modality to help persons reduce the negative consequences associated with their drug use. The harm reduction model blends well with the core principles of nursing. When viewed from a nursing perspective, cannabis could be an effective harm reduction agent based on its high benefit-low risk ratio when compared to other standard medications/drugs. As a medicine, cannabis has demonstrated a high therapeutic potential with relatively few side effects or adverse reactions. As a social/recreational drug, cannabis has a wide margin of safety with relatively few risks. The greatest risks from cannabis use are the legal consequences, which are the result of the cannabis prohibition rather than the drug itself. The therapeutic relationship between individuals and their health care providers is severely compromised by ...
Microworlds as Representations

This paper examines in detail the category of open-ended exploratory computer environments which have been labeled “microworlds.” One goal of the paper is to review the various ways in which the term “microworld” has been used within the mathematics and science education communities, and to analyze a number of examples of computer microworlds. Two definitions or ways of describing microworlds are proposed: a “structural” definition which focuses on design elements shared by the environments, and a “functional” definition which highlights commonalities in how students learn with microworlds. In the final section of the paper, the notion that computer microworlds, or symbol systems in general, can be said to “embody” mathematical or scientific ideas is examined within a broader consideration of ideas about representation.
Inactivation of the Fanconi Anemia Group C Gene Augments Interferon-γ–Induced Apoptotic Responses in Hematopoietic Cells

Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) from mice nullizygous at the Fanconi anemia (FA) group C locus (FAC -/-) are hypersensitive to the mitotic inhibitory effects of interferon (IFN-gamma). We tested the hypothesis that HPC from the bone marrow of Fanconi group C children are similarly hypersensitive and that the fas pathway is involved in affecting programmed cell death in response to low doses of IFN-gamma. In normal human and murine HPC, IFN-gamma primed the fas pathway and induced both fas and interferon response factor-1 (IRF-1) gene expression. These IFN-gamma-induced apoptotic responses in HPC from the marrow of a child with FA of the C group (FA-C) and in FAC -/- mice occurred at significantly lower IFN doses (by an order of magnitude) than did the apoptotic responses of normal HPC. Treatment of FA-C CD34+ cells with low doses of recombinant IFN-gamma, inhibited growth of colony forming unit granulocyte-macrophage and burst-forming unit erythroid, while treatment with blocking antibodies to fas augmented clonal growth and abrogated the clonal inhibitory effect of IFN-gamma. Transfer of the normal FAC gene into FA-C B-cell lines prevented mitomycin C-induced apoptosis, but did not suppress fas expression or inhibit the primed fas pathway. However, the kinetics of Stat1-phosphate decay in IFN-gamma-treated cells was prolonged in mutant cells and was normalized by transduction of the normal FAC gene. Therefore, the normal FAC protein serves, in part, to modulate IFN-gamma signals. HPC bearing inactivating mutations of FAC fail to normally modulate IFN-gamma signals and, as a result, undergo apoptosis executed through the fas pathway.
Development of a Single-Cell Migration and Extravasation Platform through Selective Surface Modification

Cell migration through three-dimensional (3D) tissue spaces is integral to many biological and pathological processes, including metastasis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are phenotypically heterogeneous, and in vitro analysis of their extravasation behavior is often impeded by the inability to establish complex tissue-like extracellular matrix (ECM) environments and chemotactic gradients within microfluidic devices. We have developed a novel microfluidic strategy to manipulate surface properties of enclosed microchannels and create 3D ECM structures for real-time observation of individual migrating cells. The wettability of selective interconnected channels is controlled by a plasma pulse, enabling the incorporation of ECM exclusively within the transmigration regions. We applied this approach to collectively analyze CTC–endothelial adhesion, trans-endothelial migration, and subsequent motility of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) through a 3D ECM under artificial gradients of SDF-1α. We observed migrati...
On Minority Rights and Majority Accommodations

An Indian, a Jew, and Newt Gingrich are driving in the countryside one evening and have engine trouble. They seek help in a nearby farmhouse. The farmer assures them that nothing can be done until the following morning but offers to let them spend the night. Unfortunately, there are only two spare beds inside the house, but the third person is welcome to sleep in the barn. The Jew goes off to sleep in the barn. A few minutes later there's a knock on the door, and it's the Jew. He says that there's a pig in the barn, and because of his religion, he's uncomfortable sleeping there. The Indian offers to go. A few minutes later there's a knock on the door, and it's the Indian. He says that there's a cow in the barn, and for religious reasons he would prefer not to sleep there. Newt Gingrich offers to go. A few minutes later there's a knock on the door … and it's the pig and the cow.