cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Lifetime Estrogen Exposure on Breast Epigenetic Age

Background: Estrogens are thought to contribute to breast cancer risk through cell cycling and accelerated breast aging. We hypothesize that lifetime estrogen exposure drives early epigenetic breast aging observed in healthy women. In this study, we examined associations between hormonal factors and epigenetic aging measures in healthy breast tissues. Methods: We extracted DNA from breast tissue specimens from 192 healthy female donors to the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center. Methylation experiments were performed using the Illumina EPIC 850K array platform. Age-adjusted regression models were used to examine for associations between factors related to estrogen exposure and five DNA methylation–based estimates: Grim age, pan-tissue age, Hannum age, phenotypic age, and skin and blood clock age. Results: Women were aged 19–90 years, with 95 premenopausal, and 97 nulliparous women. The age difference (Grim age − chronologic age) was higher at earlier ages close to menarche. We found significant associations between earlier age at menarche and age-adjusted accelerations according to the Grim clock, the skin and blood clock, and between higher body mass index (BMI) and age-adjusted accelerations in the Grim clock, Hannum clock, phenotypic clock, and skin and blood clock. Conclusions: Earlier age at menarche and higher BMI are associated with elevations in DNA methylation–based age estimates in healthy breast tissues, suggesting that cumulative estrogen exposure drives breast epigenetic aging. Impact: Epigenetic clock measures may help advance inquiry into the relationship between accelerated breast tissue aging and an elevated incidence of breast cancer in younger women.
Effects of Acute High-Intensity Interval Training on Information Processing Speed.

ABSTRACT Kendall, BJ, Siekirk, NJ, and Lai, Q. Effects of acute high-intensity interval training on information processing speed. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-This study investigated the effects of acute exercise on reaction time (RT), premotor time (i.e., central processing), and motor time (i.e., peripheral processing) using surface electromyography to fractionate RT. Fifty-eight young adults (27 men, 31 women) between the age of 18 and 40 years participated in 2 testing sessions. During visit one, subjects performed a simple RT task under regular (i.e., consistent timing) and irregular (i.e., variable timing) foreperiods. Subjects were then randomized to either an aerobic-only high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group (HIIT-A), an aerobic/resistance HIIT group (HIIT-AR), or a resting control group (CG). Both exercise groups performed a 20-minute, digital video disc-delivered HIIT exercise protocol. After exercise or rest, when controlling for cardiovascular fitness, no statistical differences were observed for the regular foreperiod conditions (p > 0.05). For the irregular foreperiod conditions, the HIIT-A group (M = 219.8, SE = 6.5) and the HIIT-AR group (M = 218.2, SE = 5.8) had significantly faster mean RTs than the CG (M = 248.1, SE = 8.1). In addition, the HIIT-A (M = 172.1, SE = 4.6) and HIIT-AR exercise groups (M = 171.3, SE = 4.8) had significantly faster mean PMTs than the CG (M = 189.7, SE = 5.7). These findings suggest that tasks dependent on central processing may benefit from an acute bout of exercise.
A Decarceral Cadence: Neurologic Music Therapy as an Abolitionist Project

Because police and prison abolition must be approached while simultaneously improving quality of life, and thus reducing harm, abolitionist discourse should include health policies that regard the (de)regulation, use, and culture of addictive substances. This Essay calls for research into neurologic music therapy as a response to addiction, improving quality of life and paving the way for police and prison abolition.
Representations of \(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2, \mathbb{C})\)

Unless otherwise indicated, in this chapter a representation of a Lie group or Lie algebra is a complex representation. We remind the reader that if \(\mathfrak{g}\) is a complex Lie algebra [e.g. \(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2, \mathbb{C})\)], then a complex representation \(\pi: \mathfrak{g} \rightarrow \mathop{\rm End}\nolimits (V )\) is assumed to be complex linear, while if \(\mathfrak{g}\) is a real Lie algebra [e.g. \(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{u}(2)\) or \(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2, \mathbb{R})]\) then there is no such assumption.
A revised inventory of Adverse Childhood Experiences

This study examines whether the items from the original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale can be improved in their prediction of health outcomes by adding some additional widely recognized childhood adversities. The analyses come from the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence 2014, a telephone survey conducted from August 2013 through April 2014 with a nationally representative sample of 1,949 children and adolescents aged 10-17 and their caregivers who were asked about adversities, physical health conditions and mental health symptoms. The addition of measures of peer victimization, peer isolation/rejection, and community violence exposure added significantly to the prediction of mental health symptoms, and the addition of a measure of low socioeconomic status (SES) added significantly to the prediction of physical health problems. A revised version of the ACES scale is proposed.
Teacher personality and classroom climate

DESCRIPTORSBIBLIOGRAPHIES, *INTERACTION, LITERATURE REVIEWS, MALES, *PERSONALITY STUDIES, *PERSONALITY THEORIES, PHYSICS TEACHERS, QUESTIONNAIRES, SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, *STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS, TABLES (DATA), TEACHER ATTITUDES, *TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS, MINNESOTA TEACHER ATTITUDE INVENTORY (MTAI), CLASSROOM CLIMATE QUESTIONNAIRE (CCQ), EDWARDS PERSONAL PREFERENCE SCHEDULE (EPPS), ALLPORT VERNON LINDZEY STUDY OF.
Atom Manipulation in Optical Lattices

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses applications of optical lattices on the field of wavepacket preparation and manipulation. In all experimental schemes presented, the lattices are used two-fold, namely, as an initialization tool to prepare suitable initial states of the quantum system, and as a platform on which the actual wavepacket experiments are performed. Therefore, the utilized lattices provide fast and robust laser-cooling of cold atoms into the lowest few quantum states of the lattice, and the decoherence rate of the trapped atoms caused by the fluorescence of the atoms in the lattice light is sufficiently low that coherent wave-packet motion can be observed over a number of periods of the motion. The chapter also discusses with two types of wave-packet motion. In one type, referred to as sloshing-type motion, wave-packets oscillate back and forth in individual lattice wells. The sloshing-type motion occurs within the spatial range of a single lattice well, with vanishing coupling between neighboring wells, on a length scale of a few tenths of the laser wavelength used to form the lattice. The second type of wave-packet motion discussed is periodic well-to-well tunneling. Tunneling measurements is used to investigate gauge potentials that were predicted by Dum and Olshanii. The chapter presents measurements on the influence of magnetic-field-induced level shifts on the tunneling behavior.
Influence of crack density on geomechanical behavior of granular composites with porous grains and fluid‐saturated pores

SUMMARY The analysis of geomechanical behavior for granular systems including fluid-filled pores depends strongly on the crack density present within the system being studied. Effective overall bulk and shear moduli are both significantly influenced by these crack system parameters. Present effort concentrates on the geomechanical analyses needed to treat anisotropic (specifically orthotropic) poroelastic grains jumbled together to form an overall isotropic polycrystalline poroelastic material. As predicted, poroelastic effects induced by fluids in the cracks are observed to be significant for the effective bulk modulus, but simple pore fluids do not affect the magnitude of effective overall shear modulus. These results are also shown to depend in a quantitatively predictable way on crack density values. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Death risk factors in COPD patients in Italian general practices: The COMODHES study

Background : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents an important and increasing burden worldwide and can be an important cause of premature death. Aims : to evaluate the risk factors for a death event reported by general practitioners (GPs) in their COPD patients. Methods : prospective observational study in different Italian areas. 139 GPs enrolled 1874 patients with COPD diagnosis. Questionnaires were used to collect data on COPD management, health status and risk factors at baseline and after 12 months. Univariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between reported death events and demographic characteristics (age, sex), risk factors exposure, health services use and GPs education. Logistic regression analysis was used to confirm the relationships found through the univariate analyses. Results : After 12 months 7.3% of patients died. Univariate analyses showed a significantly higher frequency of death in males, older age, subjects with a higher number of exacerbations, ex-smokers, subjects with higher use of health services (GPs visits, emergency room and hospital admissions) and higher COPD severity level; a lower frequency was shown in subjects that received a GPs education on smoking reduction. The logistic regression analysis confirmed the associations between death and older age (OR 1.10), higher number of exacerbations (OR 1.12), male gender (OR 1.83), current smoking (OR 2.08), hospital admissions (OR 2.10) and very severe COPD (OR 3.63). Conclusions : beside the known demographic characteristics, a very severe COPD requiring hospitalisation and current smoking habits are closely related to a reduced life expectancy. Funded by the Italian Health Minister.
Regressing and Regressed Melanoma

Malignant melanoma frequently undergoes regression (10–35% of cases), and on occasion, this can be extensive. Regressed areas can vary from foci only a few rete ridges in breadth to being subtotal or even complete. Only about 40 cases of completely regressed primary melanoma are on record, but this is doubtless a huge underestimation. Metastatic melanoma in which no primary can be found (which constitutes approximately 2.5% of all metastatic melanoma in some series) is often attributed to complete regression (Emanuel et al. 2008).
Sinonasal anatomic variants and asthma are associated with faster development of chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with allergic rhinitis

Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are a major burden to the healthcare system. Although no causal relationship has been established, previous work has demonstrated a strong association of AR with CRS. In this study, we sought to identify risk factors that may influence speed of development of CRS in patients with AR. Methods Retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with AR without CRS presenting to an otolaryngology clinic at a tertiary medical center as part of a multidisciplinary allergy evaluation between March 2004 and November 2011. Medical records were evaluated for clinicodemographic factors including age, gender, smoking history, medical comorbidities, categories of AR based on formal allergy testing, the presence of sinonasal anatomic variants on computed tomography as well as subsequent development of CRS. Results Faster progression to CRS in patients with AR was associated with comorbid asthma (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.97) as well as sinonasal anatomic variants, such as infraorbital cells (HR = 7.39), and frontal intersinus cells (HR = 68.03), on multivariate survival analysis. A statistically significant but negative interaction between infraorbital cells and frontal intersinus cells suggests that concomitant presence of both leads to a less than additive increase in the rate of CRS progression. Conclusion Sinonasal anatomical variants, infraorbital cells, and frontal intersinus cells, as well as comorbid asthma are associated with faster development of CRS in patients with AR. The presence of these clinical risk factors identifies patients who should be counseled on compliance with medical therapy for AR.
Modeling TRPC1 mediated slow EPSPs in cerebellar Purkinje cells

Background Synaptic plasticity in granule cell (GC) inputs to Purkinje cells (PCs) has been a major and ongoing subject of experimental investigation ever since the publication of the Marr/Albus hypothesis of cerebellar learning. It is known that this synaptic plasticity may very well be associated with a slow EPSP through metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) which have been demonstrated to be central to mechanisms for synaptic change in the cerebellum. In PCs, mGluR1 has been studied more thoroughly than any other mGluRs. This excitatory action is through a mixed channel which has inward and outward components. This cation channel has also recently been identified as a transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1, [5]) which can apparently be involved in the prolonged PC responses known as slow EPSPs. This report describes the first effort to model the kenetic effects of these interactions at cellular, channel and subcellular biochemical levels in PCs. This effort is the first stage in constructing an eventual kinetic model of long term plasticity including LTD based on experimental data.
Structural Transitions in LiNbO3 and NaNbO3

Abstract The ilmenite form of NaNbO 3 was synthesized hydrothermally. The ilmenite form of LiNbO 3 was synthesized by ion exchanging the ilmenite form of NaNbO 3 . These transform irreversibly to the stable orthohombic form of NaNbO 3 and the lithium niobate form of LiNbO 3 at temperatures higher than 900 K. The energetics of the transformation was studied through differential scanning calorimetry and transposed temperature drop calorimetry. The calorimetric results show that the ilmenite form of NaNbO 3 is metastable by 5.5 (±1.3) kJ/mole and the ilmenite form of LiNbO 3 is metastable by 9.8 (±4.1) kJ/mole. Differential scanning calorimetry suggests that the LiNbO 3 transformation occurs in two steps. The enthalpy difference between the ilmenite and the lithium niobate structures for LiNbO 3 is compared with the difference in the lattice energies of the two structures predicted by H. J. Donnerberg, S. M. Tomlinson, C. R. A. Catlow, and O. F. Schirmer ( Phys . Rev . B 40 , 11909, 1989) on the basis of an ionic model and is in good agreement with the calculations. This small energy difference lends credence to the LiNbO 3 defect model proposed by D. M. Smyth ("ISAF '86—Proceedings of the Sixth IEEE International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics," p. 115, June 1986). The determination of the metastahility of the ilmenite form of NaNbO 3 puts a limit on the tolerance factor for the stability of the perovskite structure.
Interband emission and normal-incidence intraband absorption in (In,Ga)As quantum-dot nanostructures

Abstract This paper reports on interband emission and intraband absorption processes in doped InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot nanostructures as the measurement temperature is varied. An analysis of the data yields useful insight into the carrier redistribution mechanisms that occur as a result of dot-size variation. For the samples studied, the size distribution is bimodal; this is reflected in the results obtained from the interband emission, as well as in the intraband absorption data. The understanding gained from studies such as these is important in the design of quantum-dot optoelectronic devices intended for room-temperature operation.
Generation of a 'humanized' hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-)_Ahrd mouse line harboring the poor-affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Abstract Herein, we describe generation of the hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(−/−)_Ahrd mouse line, which carries human functional CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes in the absence of mouse Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 genes, in a (>99.8%) background of the C57BL/6J genome and harboring the poor-affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) from the DBA/2J mouse. We have characterized this line by comparing it to our previously created hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(−/−)_Ahrb1 line—which carries the same but has the high-affinity AHR of the C57BL/6J mouse. By quantifying CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNA in liver, lung and kidney of dioxin-treated mice, we show that dose–response curves in hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(−/−)_Ahrd mice are shifted to the right of those in hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(−/−)_Ahrb1 mice—similar to, but not as robust as, dose–response curves in DBA/2J versus C57BL/6J mice. This new mouse line is perhaps more relevant than the former to human risk assessment vis-a-vis human CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 substrates, because poor-affinity rather than high-affinity AHR occurs in the vast majority of the human population.
Abstract 5014: Identification and analysis of critical domains within the neuroblastoma tumor suppressor gene CASZ1

Neuroblastoma (NB) is an enigmatic pediatric cancer for which highly successful therapies have been developed for tumors displaying favorable characteristics, while poor prognoses persist for unfavorable tumors. Chromosome 1p36 is frequently lost in the tumors of many patients with unfavorable prognoses and harbors the locus of the zinc finger (ZF) transcription factor CASZ1. Low CASZ1 expression is significantly associated with lower overall patient survival in NB. Functionally, CASZ1 suppresses NB tumor cell growth and regulates a number of key genes important in neural development (e.g. TrkA, p75 and tyrosine hydoxylase [TH]). It has been shown that high expression of TrkA and p75 are both independently associated with good prognoses in NB patients. Despite the important role of CASZ1 in neural development and NB tumor suppression, the key domains that mediate the activation role of CASZ1 have never been elucidated. In order to address this question, we performed a detailed analysis of CASZ1 protein isoform A (CASZ1a), which contains five ZF9s. Abrogation of CASZ1a function was determined by loss of the ability to induce endogenous TrkA, p75 and TH mRNA transcription as well as by loss of the ability to activate a TH promoter-luciferase reporter construct. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we individually mutated each of the five ZF9s and discovered that loss of any one of ZF1-4 resulted in a 72-98% loss of function compared to wild-type CASZ1a (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5014.
Characterization of the latent transforming growth factor ß complex in Bone

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a 25 kD multifunctional polypeptide with pronounced effects on the proliferation and differentiation of a variety of cells in vitro. TGF-beta is a potent regulator of the activity of cells with the osteoblast phenotype and of isolated osteoclasts. It is released in increased amounts by bone cultures stimulated to resorb. Organ cultures of neonatal mouse calvaria produce TGF-beta as an inert large-molecular-weight complex that must be dissociated to release biologically active TGF-beta (5-8 ng/ml). We have shown recently that stimulated isolated avian osteoclasts release active TGF-beta from this bone-derived biologically latent form. In this report we have characterized this bone latent form of TGF-beta. Only small amounts of active TGF-beta (less than 0.5 ng/ml) and no free binding protein are detectable in conditioned medium from bone cultures. Active TGF-beta can be detected in acid-treated calvarial conditioned media in which none or only minute amounts could previously be detected. Following incubation at 37 degrees C, this activated TGF-beta gradually loses activity. Cross-linking studies using 125I-labeled TGF-beta show that this loss of activity is due to TGF-beta binding to a protein of approximately 300 kD. The TGF-beta latent complex accumulates in a linear manner and is stable in the presence of serum and the protease trypsin. Increases in temperature and pH extremes dissociate the complex to release active TGF-beta. Decreases in pH result in an exponential increase in TGF-beta activity. Significant activation of the latent TGF-beta was detectable at pH values as high as 4 and 5. Since the osteoclastic microenvironment is acidic during bone resorption, these data suggest that this acidic microenvironment may regulate TGF-beta activity by releasing active TGF-beta from its latent complex.
Immunodissection of the connective tissue matrix in human skin

Much of what has been learned of the components and structure of human skin over the past few years has been accomplished with the aid of antibody technology. Antibodies are used in techniques such as affinity chromatography to isolate individual molecules and by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy to identify each of those molecules as components of specific macromolecular assemblies present within the dermis. This manuscript is meant not as a review of technique but instead as a summary of recent progress made in the understanding of dermal matrix architecture. Microsc. Res. Tech. 38:394–406, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin levels in women with preeclampsia.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To estimate the mean levels of fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal secretions of women with preeclampsia and compare them with levels in normotensive controls. METHODS: Cervicovaginal swabs were obtained before digital examination from women who presented to labor and delivery for evaluation of preeclampsia and compared with fetal fibronectin levels from a group of control subjects with a similar gestational age. Fetal fibronectin was assayed by a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay. A concentration greater than 50 ng/mL was considered a positive result. RESULTS: Forty women with preeclampsia (17 mild and 23 severe) and 31 normotensive women were analyzed. The control group had 9.7% positive fetal fibronectins, whereas the preeclampsia group had 15% positive, P = .72, with 80% power to detect a 22% difference. The majority of the quantitative values in both groups were less than 20 ng/mL. There was not a significant difference between the two groups in quantitative cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin, P = .72, nor was there a difference between the women with severe preeclampsia and the controls, P = 1.0, or between the nulliparous women with preeclampsia versus the nulliparous controls, P = .3. CONCLUSION: Fetal fibronectin is not elevated in cervicovaginal secretions of women with preeclampsia.
Radiological impact of airborne effluents of coal and nuclear plants.

Radiation doses from airborne effluents of model coal-fired and nuclear power plants (1000 megawatts electric) are compared. Assuming a 1 percent ash release to the atmosphere (Environmental Protection Agency regulation) and 1 part per million of uranium and 2 parts per million of thorium in the coal (approximately the U.S. average), population doses from the coal plant are typically higher than those from pressurized-water or boiling-water reactors that meet government regulations. Higher radionuclide contents and ash releases are common and would result in increased doses from the coal plant. The study does not assess the impact of non-radiological pollutants or the total radiological impacts of a coal versus a nuclear economy.
Bifunctional Ligands Allow Deliberate Extrinsic Reprogramming of the Glucocorticoid Receptor

Therapies based on conventional nuclear receptor ligands are extremely powerful, yet their broad and long-term use is often hindered by undesired side effects that are often part of the receptor's biological function. Selective control of nuclear receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) using conventional ligands has proven particularly challenging. Because they act solely in an allosteric manner, conventional ligands are constrained to act via cofactors that can intrinsically partner with the receptor. Furthermore, effective means to rationally encode a bias for specific coregulators are generally lacking. Using the (GR) as a framework, we demonstrate here a versatile approach, based on bifunctional ligands, that extends the regulatory repertoire of GR in a deliberate and controlled manner. By linking the macrolide FK506 to a conventional agonist (dexamethasone) or antagonist (RU-486), we demonstrate that it is possible to bridge the intact receptor to either positively or negatively acting coregulatory proteins bearing an FK506 binding protein domain. Using this strategy, we show that extrinsic recruitment of a strong activation function can enhance the efficacy of the full agonist dexamethasone and reverse the antagonist character of RU-486 at an endogenous locus. Notably, the extrinsic recruitment of histone deacetylase-1 reduces the ability of GR to activate transcription from a canonical GR response element while preserving ligand-mediated repression of nuclear factor-κB. By providing novel ways for the receptor to engage specific coregulators, this unique ligand design approach has the potential to yield both novel tools for GR study and more selective therapeutics.
Love in some of Sor Juana's Sonnets

(1995). Love in some of Sor Juana's Sonnets. Colonial Latin American Review: Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 101-124.
Scattering of incident KrF laser radiation resulting from the laser-induced breakdown of H(2)O droplets.

The time history of elastically scattered incident radiation (ESIR) is presented for 60-µm-diameter water droplets irradiated by KrF (λ = 248 nm) laser pulses with power densities in the range of 1–200 GW/cm2. The ESIR shows a distinct two-peak structure that is dependent on the incident irradiance. The time delay between the arrival of the incident pulse and the first local minimum in the ESIR varied from 7 nsec at 200 GW/cm2 to 21 nsec at 5 GW/cm2. The time between incident pulse arrival and the first peak in the ESIR showed a similar irradiance dependence, with delays ranging from 4 to 12 nsec. Images of droplet breakup and the average velocities of ejected material are presented for times between 0 and 1000 nsec after the arrival of 3-GW/cm2 laser pulses.
Epidemiology of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection

Although it is difficult to estimate the overall prevalence of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, current figures suggest that visible genital warts are present in approximately 1% of sexually active adults in the United States and that at least 15% have subclinical infection, as detected by HPV DNA assays. Genital HPV infection is thus extremely common. The highest rates of genital HPV infection are found in adults 18-28 years of age. Although risk factors for infection are difficult to assess because of the high frequency of subclinical infection, it is clear that major risk factors for acquiring genital HPV infection involve sexual behavior, particularly multiple sex partners. Other possible risk factors for acquisition of genital HPV infection include oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, and impairment of cell-mediated immunity. Strong epidemiologic and molecular data link HPV infection to cervical and other anogenital cancers. The types of HPV most commonly detected in cancers are HPV-16 and HPV-18. In summary, genital HPV infection is common among sexually active populations and causes both benign and malignant neoplasms of the genital tract.
Cytotoxic effects of sulfuric acid mist, carbon particulates, and their mixtures on hamster tracheal epithelium.

Abstract Hamster tracheal tissue was used to study the effects of H 2 SO 4 mist, carbon particles, and mixtures of the two on cilia beating frequency and morphological alterations of respiratory epithelium. Hamsters were exposed for 3 hr to 1.1 mg/m 3 H 2 SO 4 (mean size, 0.12 μm) and 1.5 mg/m 3 carbon (mean size, 0.3 μm) particle aerosols alone or in combination. Trachea of animals exposed in vivo to the mixture and held in vivo showed cytotoxic effects in the epithelium that were greater than those produced by either the acid mist or carbon alone. In tracheas of hamsters exposed in vivo and maintained in vitro the damage produced by acid mist—carbon mixture did not differ significantly from that produced by acid mist per se but was greater than that observed after exposure to carbon. Organ cultures of tracheal rings exposed for 3 hr to a 1:10 6 dilution of concentrated H 2 SO 4 and 100 μg/ml carbon produced epithelial damage in vitro similar to that seen in in vivo exposures. The extent of recovery over a period of 72 hr was also studied following different combinations of in vivo and in vitro exposure and/or maintenance.
A low temperature bonding process using deposited gold-tin composites

Abstract Conventional bonding techniques using gold-tin preforms or paste usually require a process temperature near 320 °C to ensure complete melting of the preforms. However, a 320 °C process temperature is too high for many devices such as AlGaAs/GaAs and GaInAsP/InP laser diode chips. We report a technique which needs only 260 °C to produce nearly eutectic AuSn bonding. This technique utilizes the unique property of the gold-tin alloy system in that the 232°C tin melting point is significantly lower than the 280 °C eutectic point and solid state interdiffusion. The bonding medium consists of AuSn multilayer composite deposited directly on the object to be bonded. This technology eliminates the requirement of preforms, inhibits tin oxidation and provides good control of bonding layer thickness. Results of bonding of 3 mm x 5 mm GaAs dice show that high quality bondings are obtained as determined by a scanning acoustic microscope. The specimens underwent 40 cycles of thermal shock test between -196 °C and 160 °C without bonding degradation and die cracking. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray studies reveal interesting mechanisms of the bonding process. This new process is particularly useful for bonding electronic and optical devices which cannot take a temperature above 260 °C.
Retail scanner checkout system: How buying committees functioned

Abstract This study investigates the purchasing decision process of special buying committees (SBCs) in food retailing. The study examines a sample of grocery firms with SBCs in the context of a new task buying situation involving the purchase of the Universal Product Code scanner checkout system. The study examines the structure of SBC participants, the distribution of relative influence among SBC hierarchy of authority, and the effect of organizational contingency factors such as size, age and type on the relative influence structure of SBCs. The findings and managerial implications are discussed.
The variety of compounds from the interaction of 1,5-diynes with η5-cyclopentadienylcobalt: 1,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,5-hexadiyne, a complete product analysis

Abstract A complete product analysis of the reaction of η 5 -CpCo(CO) 2 with 1,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,5-hexadiyne is given. This process yields eighteen characterizable complexes formed by oligomerization of the diyne to mixed cyclobutadienes, cyclopentadienones, and biscarbyne clusters
Two Cheers for CSWEP

The achievements (or lack thereof) of the AEA's Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP) are compared to those of analogous committees in three of our sister disciplines. In psychology, sociology, and history, committees of women professionals advocated and facilitated radical changes in the disciplines' treatment of issues involving gender. They also fought effectively for a far bigger role for women professionals in their disciplines. In the economics profession, the treatment of women's issues and the marginalization of women professionals remain problematic, despite the quarter century of CSWEP's existence.
The development and use of a model to predict sustainability of change in healthcare settings

Innovations adopted through organisational change initiatives are often not sustained leading to diminished quality, productivity, and consumer satisfaction. Research explaining variance in the use of adopted innovations in healthcare settings is sparse, suggesting the need for a theoretical model to guide research and practice. In this article, we describe the development of a hybrid conjoint decision theoretic model designed to predict the sustainability of organisational change in healthcare settings. An initial test of the model's predictive validity using expert scored hypothetic profiles resulted in an r-squared value of.77. The test of this model offers a theoretical base for future research on the sustainability of change in healthcare settings.
Optimal policies for controlled markov chains with a constraint

Abstract The time average reward for a discrete-time controlled Markov process subject to a time-average cost constraint is maximized over the class of al causal policies. Each epoch, a reward depending on the state and action, is earned, and a similarly constituted cost is assessed; the time average of the former is maximized, subject to a hard limit on the time average of the latter. It is assumed that the state space is finite, and the action space compact metric. An accessibility hypothesis makes it possible to utilize a Lagrange multiplier formulation involving the dynamic programming equation, thus reducing the optimization problem to an unconstrained optimization parametrized by the multiplier. The parametrized dynamic programming equation possesses compactness and convergence properties that lead to the following: If the constraint can be satisfied by any causal policy, the supremum over time-average rewards respective to all causal policies is attained by either a simple or a mixed policy; the latter is equivalent to choosing independently at each epoch between two specified simple policies by the throw of a biased coin.
A preliminary study of acute responses to clamped alcohol concentration and family history of alcoholism.

Background: The clamping method of alcohol administration was combined with a battery of dependent measures of frontal lobe brain function, and a novel index of acute adaptation, in a preliminary study in order to explore the paradigm's sensitivity to a familial history of alcoholism (FHA). Methods: Ten family history-positive (FHP) and 10 family history-negative (FHN) adult social drinkers of both genders underwent alcohol clamping. Twenty minutes after the start of an intravenous infusion of alcohol, the breath alcohol concentration was clamped at a target of 60 ± 5 mg/dl for 150 min. Initial and adaptive responses to alcohol were assessed using scalar indices of change. One index assessed initial improvements or impairments in brain function after alcohol. The other index assessed acute adaptation (tolerance or sensitization) to alcohol while the brain's exposure to alcohol was held constant. The battery of dependent measures included subjective perceptions, neuropsychological tests, saccadic eye-movement tasks, and event-related potential (ERP) tasks. Effect sizes for FHA were estimated for 10 dependent variables that showed adequate baseline test-retest reliability (r>0.6). Results: FHP subjects showed less intense initial responses to alcohol in subjective perceptions, but greater changes in the latency of volitional saccades and ERP P3 components than did the FHN controls. FHP subjects generally showed greater acute tolerance to alcohol than did controls, who showed more instances of acute sensitization at this moderate breath alcohol concentration. Effect sizes for FHA exceeded 0.4 in more than half of the indices. Conclusions: The BrAC clamping paradigm assesses initial and adaptive responses of a battery of behavioral and electrophysiological measures of frontal lobe function to ethanol that appear both reliable and sensitive to FHA.
Static and dynamic characteristics of large deployable space reflectors

A linear numerical model of the structural characteristics of deployable reflectors was developed. Due to cyclic symmetry of the reflector structure about its axis, only one of many segments is modeled using finite elements. The succeeding segments satisfy continuity of displacement and slope at the interface between consecutive segments. This process leads to (N/2+1) static or dynamic problems of smaller order and bandwidth where N is the number of segments. The solution of each reduced problem leads to motions having a distinct circumferential wave number. The dynamic coupling to the feed support structure is studied adopting modal synthesis.
Acute mixed lineage leukemia and a t(6;14)(q25;q32) in two adults

Acute mixed lineage leukemia (AMLL) is a rare form of leukemia in which both myeloid and lymphoid markers are present. Few chromosome abnormalities have been identified associated with this form of leukemia. A translocation involving the long arms of chromosomes 6 and 14 was previously described in four young individuals with acute leukemia and in three of these cases the diagnosis was mixed lineage. We identified a translocation involving the same chromosomes in two additional cases of adults with AMLL. The q32 breakpoint on chromosome 14 is shared by all six cases and five out of six cases also share the q25 breakpoint on chromosome 6. The rarity of the t(6;14) and the AMLL suggests a non-random association between these two events. The near cryptic appearance of the translocation might indicate that its occurrence is underestimated.
A Successful Remediation Project

As part of a program to visit formerly licensed sites to determine if they meet current uncontrolled release conditions, a United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) inspection was conducted in the fall of 1993 at a site that had possessed a radioactive material license from about 1955 to 1970. While the license was in force, the plant processed magnesium scrap containing up to 4 percent thorium. The source of the scrap is believed to be the aircraft manufacturing industry. The scrap was placed in furnaces and heated to the melting point of magnesium, and the molten magnesium was drawn off, leaving the thorium with the residue (dross). Under the regulation in existence at that time, the thorium dross was buried on site in an approximate 14 acre field. In 1993 the inspector found readings up to 900uR/h. Early in 1994 an informal grid survey of most of the 14 acre site was conducted. Based on that survey, it was concluded that the thorium was widespread and extended beyond the property lines. The preliminary findings were reported to the USNRC, and in 1994 the site was designated as a Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SMPD) site. A remediation team was formed which included the following disciplines: remediation health physics, geology, hydrology, engineering, law, public relations, and project management. This remediation team planned, participated in selecting vendors, and provided project over site for all activities from site characterization through the final status survey. In 2006 the site was released for uncontrolled access. A chronology of activities with lessons learned will be presented.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Involvement of leucocytes and leukotrienes in ischaemic dysfunction of the coronary microcirculation

Recent evidence suggests that leucocytes may exert an important influence on microvessel flow during pathophysiologic conditions. This is particularly true in the case of coronary occlusive disorders. Diminution of coronary perfusion pressure favours trapping of the large, stiff leucocytes in capillaries. Perhaps more importantly, ischaemic changes in the endothelial lining of microvessels promote early sequestration of leucocytes within capillaries of ischaemic regions during underperfusion and, to a much greater degree, during reperfusion. If these trapped leucocytes are activated by the ischaemic environment, the mechanical plugging of microvessels can be significantly complicated by leucocyte release of a variety of materials affecting the function of blood vessels and myocytes. Leukotrienes are a potent group of inflammatory mediators released by activated leucocytes. A subgroup, the peptidoleukotrienes (C4, D4, and E4), has a profound vasoconstrictor influence on coronary microvessels. Members of this group can also cause platelet aggregation. Agents that block peptidoleukotriene synthesis, such as nafazatrom, have been reported to diminish the adverse effects of myocardial ischaemia. However, these agents often have non-specific actions that blur the interpretation of their anti-ischaemic efficacy. Our laboratory has made a number of observations that cast doubt--or at least stimulate further inquiry--on the role of peptidoleukotrienes on promotion of sustained microvessel constriction in ischaemic coronary beds. Most importantly, we found that continuous intracoronary administration of leukotriene C4 or D4 led initially to marked diminution of coronary flow and myocardial contractility. However, this was soon followed by a complete, dose-independent escape from these effects even though leukotrienes continued to be infused at a constant rate. The cause of this escape is unclear, but it may involve a specific product released when leukotrienes interact with platelets. In a second series of experiments, we found that the coronary constrictor efficacy of bolus leukotrienes (and also the stable thromboxane A2 analogue, U46619) was markedly reduced by concomitant myocardial ischaemia. Constrictor responses were rapidly restored with reperfusion, suggesting a transient metabolic blockade of constrictor responsiveness during myocardial ischaemia. Nevertheless, these data indicate that leukotrienes may not act simply as agents that exaggerate underperfusion due to proximal coronary occlusion. Finally, we have measured the leukotriene immunoreactivity in coronary venous blood exiting from beds made ischaemic (and dysfunctional) by partial occlusion of epicardial arteries. Although the occlusion was sufficient to cause release of lactate and other metabolic markers of ischaemia, we were unable to find measurable rises in release of any of the leukotrienes after occlusions lasting 3 h and reperfusions lasting up to 1 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Heat transfer in convective turbulence

We investigate the bulk scaling of the convective heat transport in the Boussinesq equations. An a priori bound on the scaling exponent is obtained without making any assumptions on the turbulent fluctuations. If horizontal gradients of temperature fluctuations are relatively small near the boundary then different scaling regimes are obtained. PACS classification scheme numbers: 4727T, 0340G, 4727C, 4727A
Healing in the History of Christianity presidential address, January 2002 American Society of Church History

In 1866, after a fall on the ice left her in despair of ever being able to walk again, Mary Baker Patterson (later Mary Baker Eddy) picked up her Bible and began reading stories of the healings performed by Jesus. As she lay in bed, picturing Jesus commanding the lame to rise and demons to be gone, her own sense of the power of Divine Love became so strong that she stood up and walked, knowing that she was completely healed. Free from the weakness, pain, and fear that had plagued her life for decades, Eddy became a forceful and successful leader, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist who devoted the rest of her life to teaching others to know the healing power of Divine Love.
Integrated carbon footprint and cost evaluation of a drinking water infrastructure system for screening expansion alternatives

Abstract Over the past decades, the cost-effectiveness principle or a cost–benefit analysis has typically been employed as an assessment tool for the expansion of drinking water utilities. With changing public awareness of the inherent linkages between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, the addition of this new consideration in the assessment regime has altered the landscape of the traditional evaluation matrix. This paper presents a comparative evaluation based on a suite of carbon footprint and cost data associated with 20 expansion alternatives for a systematic priority analysis of a drinking water infrastructure system in South Florida.
Laser safety at high profile projects

Laser Safety at high profile laser facilities tends to be more controlled than in the standard laser lab found at a research institution. The reason for this is the potential consequences for such facilities from incidents. This ranges from construction accidents, to equipment damage to personnel injuries. No laser user wants to sustain a laser eye injury. Unfortunately, many laser users, most commonly experienced researchers and inexperienced graduate students, do receive laser eye injuries during their careers. . More unforgiveable is the general acceptance of this scenario, as part of the research & development experience. How do senior researchers, safety personnel and management stop this trend? The answer lies in a cultural change that involves institutional training, user mentoring, hazard awareness by users and administrative controls. None of these would inhibit research activities. As a matter of fact, proper implementation of these controls would increase research productivity. This presentation will review and explain the steps needed to steer an institution, research division, group or individual lab towards a culture that should nearly eliminate laser accidents. As well as how high profile facilities try to avoid laser injuries. Using the definition of high profile facility as one who's funding in the million to billions of dollars or Euros and derives form government funding.
Indications for aortic replacement.

This monograph reviews currently accepted criteria for extirpation of the aneurysmal thoracic aorta. Presence of symptoms suffices to justify resection regardless of size. For asymptomatic patients, resection of the ascending aorta at 5 to 5.5 cm is warranted. The descending aorta can be watched until slightly larger sizes (ie, 5.5–6 cm). Marfan disease or bicuspid aortic valve encourages resection in the smaller region of these size ranges. A nomogram permits adjustment of intervention criteria for extremes of body size. A recently computerized aortic risk calculator automatically applies exponential equations for determination of yearly risk of rupture or dissection for individual patients (available at: http://aorta.yale.edu). Evolving modalities to enhance decision making include positron emission tomography imaging of aneurysm metabolic activity, measurement of mechanical properties of the aorta by echocardiography, and assessment of the biomolecular state of the aneurysm with the "RNA Signature" test.
Thermal and photochemical behavior of 2-sila- and germa-cyclopentanone

Abstract Pyrolysis and photolysis of the first examples of five-membered ring sila and germa ketones 2 is reported. The photolysis of 2a leading to a cyclic acetal via a siloxycarbene is contrasted to the behavior of the germa analog 2b which gives ring cleavage via a ketene intermediate.