cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mindfulness based stress reduction improves psychological well-being and restores immune function in women with breast cancer, from diagnosis through 6-months post-cancer treatment

We previously demonstrated that women diagnosed with breast cancer who completed a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program exhibited improved coping, better quality of life, and more rapid restoration of immune function, compared to a non-attention control group. The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological and immunological benefits of MBSR in a randomized study of women with breast cancer compared to women completing a Health Education Program (HEP). After confirmation of breast cancer staging, women were randomized to either an 8-week MBSR program or an 8-week HEP. Women completed psychometric instruments and provided blood for Natural Killer Cell Activity (NKCA) and cytokine levels at pre-, mid-, and completion of program, as well as at 1- and 6-months post-program. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze trajectories of outcomes over time and between groups. Findings revealed that compared to the HEP group, women in the MBSR group exhibited decreasing trajectories of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Further, compared to women randomized to HEP, women in the MBSR group exhibited significantly more rapid restoration of NKCA, accompanied by higher post-MBSR intracellular IFN-gamma levels, as well as lower circulating TNF-alpha levels, lower IL-6 production, and greater IFN-gamma production. These results demonstrate early provision of MBSR during the cancer diagnostic/treatment phase provides not only psychological benefit, but also optimizes immune function important for cancer control.
Effects of ethanol on visual evoked responses in monkeys performing a memory task

The effects of ethanol on behavior and visual evoked potentials were investigated in monkeys performing a visual short-term memory task. Ethanol induced a dose-dependent deficit in performance and a prolongation of visuo-motor reaction time. The normal patterns of ocular motility were concomitantly altered. The potentials elicited in the lateral geniculate nucleus, the striate cortex, the inferotemporal cortex, the amygdala, and the mesencephalic reticular formation by a colored stimulus used by the animal in the task were attenuated by the alcohol in dose-related manner. In contrast, potentials elicited in the striate cortex and reticular formation by a brief and diffuse flash were augmented under the influence of the substance. It is inferred that ethanol can increase the reactivity of reticular and cortical structures to undifferentiated stimuli, while at the same time interfering with the basic mechanisms of visual attention and perception.
Floating versus Fixed-Rate Loans in Agriculture: Effects on Borrowers, Lenders, and the Agriculture Sector

Deregulation, changes in monetary policy, and rapidly fluctuating inflation rates have significantly altered the financial market environment in which agricultural lenders and borrowers must function. Market interest rates have become highly variable. Rural lenders are no longer insulated from these market forces. The unexpected fluctuation in interest rates, particularly the large and rapid rise in rates that occurred during 1980-81, inflicted losses on fixed rate lenders, encouraging them to look for ways to modify their interest rate exposure. The method chosen by many lenders was a shift to floating or variable interest rates.
Translocation of cytidine 5'-monophosphosialic acid across Golgi apparatus membranes.

Abstract Golgi apparatus, isolated from rat liver, incorporate [14C]sialic acid from CMP[14C]sialic acid into endogenous glycolipid and glycoprotein acceptors. Incorporation of [14C]sialic acid into endogenous glycoprotein acceptors was stimulated an average of 3-fold by Triton X-100 at an optimal concentration of 0.05% and was inhibited at higher concentrations. Incorporation of [14C]sialic acid into endogenous glycolipid acceptors was not stimulated by detergent. The major glycolipid product was identified by thin-layer chromatography as the ganglioside G d3 . SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the glycoprotein products demonstrated incorporation of [14C]sialic acid into 6–7 major bands. Neuraminidase studies determined that approximately 60% of the [14C]sialic acid incorporated into endogenous acceptors in the absence of detergent had a luminal orientation. Furthermore, electron microscopy studies showed that the isolated Golgi apparatus fraction consisted of intact membrane cisternae. Our results demonstrate that sialylation of cisternal acceptors located on the inside of the membrane occurs in the absence of detergent. They are consistent with carrier-mediated transport as a mechanism to allow CMPsialic acid to traverse the Golgi apparatus membrane and to be used to glycosylate endogenous glycoprotein and glycolipid acceptors.
Mechanism of diamond film growth by hot-filament CVD: Carbon-13 studies

Mixed carbon-12/carbon-13 diamond films were synthesized by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition, using mixtures of 13CH4 and 12CH4 or 12C2H2 in H2. The first-order Raman peak at 1332 cm–1 for 12C-diamond was found to shift by 50 cm–1 to 1282 cm–1 for pure 13C-diamond. For mixed-isotope films, the Raman peak frequency shifts linearly between these values as a function of the 13C mole fraction. The mechanism of diamond film growth by hot-filament CVD has been investigated by growth from mixtures of 13CH4 and 12C2H2, using the shifted Raman frequency to determine the relative incorporation rates of 13C and 12C into the film. The 13C mole fraction in the film agrees closely with the 13C mole fraction inferred for the methyl radical but differs substantially from that of acetylene, indicating that the methyl radical is the dominant growth precursor under the conditions studied.
Allyl-functionalized hybrid silica monoliths

A hybrid organosilica monolith was synthesized containing an allyl functionality. This provided a viable platform for producing silica-based, chromatographic, monolithic columns with the stationary phase bonded through a surface silicon–carbon bond rather than a conventional siloxane bond.
Spatial aspects of the electric fields generated by weakly electric fish

1. The electric fields of four species of wave type, gymnotid fishes were measured and mapped using a technique that allowed accurate assessment of small electric fields, free of unknown field compression and distortion artifacts. 2. Dipole moment values were calculated for each fish's electric field from measurements made at a sufficient distance (Table 1). A dipole moment is an absolute evaluation of the electric fish's field strength that can be used for quantitative, intraspecific and interspecific comparisons. 3. The electric fish, as a field source, represents a distributed rostral pole and a point-like caudal pole (Fig. 2). Deviations of a fish's electric field from that of a dipole field increase with fish size, decreasing water resistivity, and decreasing distance from the fish. 4. Apteronotid species maintain a constant current electric organ output (dropping less than 5%) in water of resistivity up to 15 kOhm · cm, whereas rhamphichthyid species maintain a constant current output only in water up to 10 kOhm · cm (Fig. 6). Within each family, the larger fish maintained their current output level in higher water resistivities than did smaller fish. 5. Electrocommunication distances for the individual fishes are predicted based upon their measured electric field magnitudes and the known electrosensitivities of these species (Table 2); consequences of the geometry of the fishes' electric fields on object detection and object resolution are discussed.
Does perceived unfairness exacerbate or mitigate interpersonal counterproductive work behaviors related to envy

The authors examined how the interaction between perceived unfairness and episodic envy predicts interpersonal counterproductive work behaviors toward the envied other. In 2 studies using different samples and methods to elicit envy, predictions were compared based on the social exchange and attribution models of fairness. The results support the social exchange model of fairness, showing that higher levels of envy and perceived unfairness result in higher levels of interpersonal counterproductive work behavior (Study 1), especially among high self-esteem individuals (Study 2).
Envisaging palladium chemical transport mechanism from fuel kernel pellet to SiC cladding by bromination

Abstract The SiC cladding corrosion in pellets by direct palladium chemical transport from fuel kernel through gap to SiC cladding by direct bromination is envisaged as feasible mechanism in corrosion of SiC pellets.
How chemists are really finding and using information in our digital environment

The quantity of information available to scientists continues to increase alarmingly with the top 418 journals having published more than 110,000 articles in 2002. Chemists are particularly prone to this information overload because they have more personal journal subscriptions (Noble & Coughlin 1997), read more articles (Tenopir et al. 2003), and access more journals than other scientists (Davis & Solla 2003). This quantity of information makes it difficult to stay current as well as explore new connections between articles. To ensure the provision and improvement of access to this essential element of scientific productivity and innovation it is critical that information scientists understand how the print and digital information explosion is influencing the information behavior of scientists. To elucidate the information sources chemists are using, two studies employing citation analysis of American Chemical Society (ACS) journals will be discussed. The third study employs interviews to describe the role of the literature in chemists' discovery processes. The goal is to provide a realistic snapshot of the current information behavior of chemists in order to assist in the creation, design, and delivery of information products and services for the support of the research, teaching, and creative activities of chemists and scientists in general.
Longitudinal volumetric computed tomographic analysis of regional brain changes in normal aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Objective: This study used a semiautomated image analysis technique to quantify the rate and regional pattern of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume changes in the computed tomographic brain examinations of healthy adults and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Design: Longitudinal, within-subject design, with statistical correction for longitudinal method error (eg, head repositioning effects). Setting: Palo Alto (Calif) Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients and Other Participants: The 41 patients with AD were recruited from the Geriatric Psychiatry Research Unit and the National Institute of Mental Health Clinical Research Center of the Palo Alto Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The 35 healthy control subjects were recruited from the local community. Main Outcome Measures: Cerebrospinal fluid volumes estimated from computed tomographic scans. Results: Even after accounting for an estimate of method error (eg, head positioning effects) across computed tomographic examinations, the patients with AD showed greater annual CSF volume increases than did the control group. This CSF volume enlargement was not uniform across brain regions of interest; rather, the patients with AD showed disproportionate volume increases in the ventricular system and the sylvian fissures. Greater CSF volume changes in the patients with AD were significantly associated with greater cognitive decline on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Furthermore, younger patients with AD showed more rapid progression on computed tomographic scans than did older patients. Conclusions: The rate of CSF volume enlargement is region specific, with the most marked annual rate of change occurring in the ventricular system and the sylvian fissures. In addition, younger patients show more rapid progression in the ventricular and frontal sulcal brain regions of interest than do older patients.
Synthesis and Metalation of Dimethoxybenziporphyrins, Thiabenziporphyrins, and Dibenziporphyrins

Dimethoxybenzitripyrranes were prepared in excellent yields by reacting benzene dicarbinols with BF3·Et2O and excess pyrrole in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane. Reaction with a pyrrole dialdehyde in the presence of TFA, followed by oxidation with DDQ, afforded good yields of meso-diphenyldimethoxybenziporphyrins. These dimethoxyporphyrinoids exhibited weakly diatropic properties that were enhanced upon protonation. The dimethoxybenzitripyrranes also reacted with a thiophene dicarbinol to give dimethoxythiabenziporphyrins, and the nonplanar nature of this system was demonstrated by X-ray crystallography. The dimethoxybenziporphyrins reacted with palladium(II) acetate to give the related organometallic derivatives, but the thiabenziporphyrins underwent a demethylation to afford palladium(II) thiaoxybenziporphyrins. Related palladium(II) complexes were also prepared from previously reported thiacarbaporphyrinoids. The X-ray structure for one of the complexes showed that the six-membered ring is very distorted a...
Managing and evaluating students in a directed project course

Evaluating individual students is especially difficult in a Directed Project course because the content is dictated by the projects rather than by a fixed syllabus. By merging the evaluation process with the project management tasks, and by using prepared checklists for peer, task, and meeting evaluations, students working in a group may be evaluated as individuals and the same grading criteria may be applied to all students even though they are working on different projects.
Retention of tumour-inducing capacity by adenovirus DNA after cleavage by restriction endonucleases.

WE have previously reported that fragments of Simian adenovirus SA7 DNA produced by physical breakage are oncogenic1. These fragments had an average molecular weight corresponding to half-molecules (11.4× 106). After separation of the heavy and light molecular halves by density gradient centrifugation, we demonstrated that both half-molecule preparations retain the ability to initiate tumours in newborn hamsters. We suggested that this may be caused by the presence of one or more “oncogenic regions” in both molecular halves, or by random breaks near the centre of the DNA which could result in a single small oncogenic region, residing near the centre and occurring with equal probability in either the heavy or light half-molecule preparation. To clarify these results we have studied the effect of several restriction endonucleases on the oncogenic activity of SA7 DNA. These enzymes produce defined fragments of the SA7 genome rather than the heterogeneous populations produced by physical shear.
On the Decoding of Cyclic Codes Using Gröbner Bases

In this paper we revisit an algorithm presented by Chen, Reed, Helleseth, and Troung in [5] for decoding cyclic codes up to their true minimum distance using Grobner basis techniques. We give a geometric characterization of the number of errors, and we analyze the corresponding algebraic characterization. We give a characterization for the error locator polynomial as well. We make these ideas effective using the theory of Grobner bases. We then present an algorithm for computing the reduced Grobner basis over ?2 for the syndrome ideal of cyclic codes, with respect to a lexicographic term ordering. This algorithm does not use Buchberger’s algorithm or the multivariable polynomial division algorithm, but instead uses the form of the generators of the syndrome ideal and an adaptation of the algorithm introduced in [11]. As an application of this algorithm, we present the reduced Grobner basis for the syndrome ideal of the [23, 12, 7] Golay code, and a decoding algorithm.
Language, Culture & Education: Proceedings of the Colston Research Society, Bristol

Language, Culture & Education: Proceedings of the Colston Research Society, Bristol. Michael C. Beveridge and Gordon Reddiford. eds. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 1993. 184 pp.
On the Grammar of Code-Switching.

: This paper explores an Optimality-Theoretic approach (Prince and Smolensky, 1994) to account for the observed cross-linguistic patterns of code-switching. The proposal is premised on the simple assumption that code-switching strives for well-formedness. I assume that when the embedding constituents are mixed into the matrix language, the syntax operates to optimize well-formedness. I show that optimization of well-formedness in code-switching follows from the (violable) ranked constraints. I will argue that the patterns of code-switching emerge from the interactions among the ranked constraints.
Bicycle safety behavior in Paris and Boston

Concerns about bicycle-related deaths and injuries have led to extensive injury prevention efforts in the United States, yet these concerns are not universal. For instance, in France attitudes toward bicycle safety are quite different. To understand more about variation in urban bicycle safety behavior, we observed passing bicyclists in Paris and Boston. In addition to helmet use, we looked at use of lights at night. Among 5,808 passing bicyclists, there were large differences in helmet and light use: only 2.2% of Paris bicyclists wore helmets compared to 31.5% in Boston. In contrast, 46.8% of nighttime Paris bicyclists had working head or tail lights compared to only 14.8% in Boston. These large and seemingly contradictory percentages are the result of different laws and public health priorities, types of bicycle riding, and perceived risks. Suggestions for further research and practical ways to improve U.S. bicycle safety behavior are discussed.
Thermal entrainment and melting in mantle plumes

Abstract Thermal plumes from the core-mantle boundary (CMB) are thought to cause volcanic hotspots, and starting plumes, or plume ‘heds’, are thought to cause voluminous flood basalt events at the beginning of some hotspot tracks. It has been proposed that starting plumes entrain a large volume fraction of surrounding mantle material as they rise from the CMB to the base of the lithosphere, and that this process of thermal entrainment can explain some aspects of isotope and trace element heterogeneity in hotspot and flood basalt lavas. We examine this hypothesis using numerical models of mantle plumes generated by a thermal boundary layer at the base of the mantle. Our numerical experiments are designed to simulate plumes with characteristics appropriate to explain major hotspots such as Hawaii. The flow trajectory of original plume source (boundary layer) material is mapped using a neutral buoyancy chemical tracer field. We incorporate a simple parameterized batch melting model in order to examine in detail the proportion of different mantle components (‘enriched’ boundary layer vs. ‘depleted’ ambient mantle) which undergo partial melting as starting plumes spread beneath the lithosphere. The effects of a variety of physical model parameters are explored, including temperature and depth-dependent viscosity, and phase changes in the mantle transition zone. In all cases, we find little entrainment of surrounding mantle into the region of the plume head that undergoes a significant degree of partial melting, so that the primary plume magmas represent > 90% original plume source material. These results suggest that hotspot lavas do not sample a large volume fraction of the mantle through which plumes rise, in apparent disagreement with previous interpretations of laboratory experiments on thermal entrainment in plumes. The differences arise because: (1) we examine entrainment in the melting region, rather than the entire plume head; (2) our plumes arise naturally from a boundary layer, which imposes an initial thermal gradient from plume center to periphery; (3) starting plumes in the mantle rise only about 3 plume head diameters before spreading (‘unwrapping’) and melting beneath the lithosphere; and (4) we have modeled cases in which plumes melt at sublithospheric depths, without large-scale lithospheric extension. We suggest that geochemical heterogeneity in hotspot and flood basalt lavas is mainly a reflection of either inherent plume source heterogeneity or contamination from the crust and lithosphere through which primary magmas rise.
A comparison of aromatase, 5α‐, and 5β‐ reductase activities in the brain and pituitary of male and female quail (C. c. japonica)

In numerous vertebrate species including Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), actions of testosterone (T) on neuroendocrine target tissues are mediated in part by conversion to estrogenic and androgenic metabolites. In order to assess which pathways were favored in each identified androgen target area in quail brain and whether there were discernible sex differences, we developed an assay for simultaneously quantifying aromatase, 5 alpha-, and 5 beta-reductase. In addition, we made the first definitive identification of aromatase in quail pituitary and compared all three enzyme activities in the pituitary of males and females. Enzymes were measured in tissue homogenates by the conversion of [3H]androstenedione to [3H]estrone, [3H]5 alpha-androstanedione, and 5 beta-androstanedione. Aromatase activity was restricted to limbic tissues (anterior hypothalamus greater than posterior hypothalamus greater than septum greater than archistriatum containing nucleus taenia) while hyperstriatum, cerebellum, and midbrain containing nucleus intercollicularis were aromatase-negative. Quail pituitary aromatized androgen at rates equivalent to anterior hypothalamus/pre-optic area (aHPOA). 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reductase were present in all tissues tested. Aromatase was significantly higher in aHPOA and pituitary of males, whereas 5 alpha-reductase was significantly higher in female pituitary. These data suggest that a complex of androgen-metabolizing enzymes controls the neuroanatomic (spatial) distribution of active hormone in neuroendocrine tissues and that quantitative differences between males and females may account for sex differences in behavior.
Another genetically promiscuous ‘polygynous’ mammal: mating system variation in Neotoma fuscipes

Polygyny is widely thought to be the dominant mating system in mammals. However, more recent genetic work casts doubt on this view. Variation in mating systems has been found in both males and females within and across mammalian species. The causes and consequences of mating system variation have important implications for understanding the population and evolutionary dynamics of species. To better understand mating system variation, both in mammals and more generally, this study analyses genetic mating system variation in dusky-footed woodrats, Neotoma fuscipes. Contrary to expectation, there was little support for polygyny at the genetic level. Instead, the study populations were characterized by promiscuity and monogamy, in both males and females. At higher densities, variance in the numbers of mates and offspring were higher in breeding males than in females, as is often observed. However, this trend was reversed in low-density, coniferous forest habitat. Model selection revealed that the best model of successfully mated pairs includes population density, operational sex ratio and individual pairwise distances as predictors. Higher densities coupled with male-biased sex ratios appear to decrease the probability of mating and decrease opportunities for polygamy, particularly in females. Although woodrats display sexual size dimorphism, male body size had no detectable effect on mating success. This study questions the prevalence of polygyny in mammals and demonstrates the need for more detailed, genetic investigations of mating systems. Future studies are needed to explore the complex interactions among mating system determinants and test hypotheses of sex-specific mating system variation.
The role of attribute knowledge and overall evaluations in comparative judgment

Abstract Comparisons are often characterized by a directional feature-matching process in which individuals examine the extent to which the features of one alternative—the “subject”—are present or absent in a second alternative—the “referent.” Previous research cf. ( Tversky, 1977 ; Houston, Sherman, & Baker, 1989 ) has found that individuals exhibit a pervasive tendency to focus upon the unique features of the subject and to neglect the unique features of the referent during the comparison process (the direction-of-comparison effect). Experiment 1 examined how the availability of overall evaluations in memory influences the direction-of-comparison effect and comparison strategy selection. When overall evaluations toward the choice alternatives were available, respondents were less likely to show a directional bias and neglect the unique features of the referent in making a preference judgment. The findings suggest that the availability of overall evaluations decreases the likelihood of a feature-based comparison. Experiment 2 examined the robustness of the direction-of-comparison effect when feature-based comparisons are performed. The direction-of-comparison effect was found when the features of two alternatives were from different dimensions, but not when the features occupied different points on the same dimension. The results suggest that directional effects in preference judgments depend on the availability of overall evaluations and on the nature of the features involved in the comparison process.
Estimating cycle pregnancy probability with incomplete data in contraceptive studies.

In studies on the effectiveness of barrier method contraceptives, researchers need to estimate the risk of pregnancy during consistent use of these methods. However, participants may not use assigned methods consistently, and only consistent-use cycles are included in the estimates. Inconsistent-use cycles are considered missing intervals, and a subject's early discontinuation from the study or pregnancy during inconsistent use is censored from the analysis. In this article, we consider a semiparametric maximum likelihood approach to estimate survival probability for grouped survival data with missing and censored data. The method is flexible in that it is nonparametric with respect to the underlying survival function, yet it can be easily extended to accommodate the covariates in a parametric way. Results from our simulation study show that the proposed method works well in practical sample sizes. Our findings support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) sample size requirements for contraceptiv...
Surface Treated PDMS by UV-Vis Light for Microfluidic Device

Hydrophobic property of PDMS surface was improved by the 400 W UV-Vis lamp light irradiation in the atmospheric condition for several ten minutes. As a result of this surface treatment, the surface became to hydrophilic character for one month long. This surface treatment technique applied to PDMS micro-fluidic device and verified valve-less switching. The UV-Vis light irradiated to PDMS micro fluidic pattern with partly covered by aluminum foil. Finally inlet and outlets were connected 0.5 mm diameter tubes. The syringe pumps injected the distilled water into the inlet of the PDMS micro channel at the flow rates of 0.5, 5.0, and 50 μl/min for the both width channel. As results of water injection water flowed only the UV-Vis treated channel at the flow rates of 0.5 and 5.0 μl/min. On the other hand, the water flowed for all channels at the flow rate of 50 μl/min. This result was observed from 5.0 μl/min flow again for both width devices which dried by air. These results were occurred by the difference of the flow conductance and wettability. The mechanism of this hyrophilicity of PDMS was reported to form Si-O in the surface by means of glassy surface. From the IR spectra, the Si-O-Si peak shifted to higher wave number for UV-Vis irradiated PDMS than the untreated PDMS comparing with the other IR peaks. This result showed that the Si-O-Si network bonding of PDMS changed to the O-Si-O bonding around the surface.
Characterization of two crystal forms of neutrophil cationic protein NP2, a naturally occurring broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent from leukocytes.

Abstract A hexagonal crystal form (P6322, a = b = 34.0 A , c = 113.5 A ) and a monoclinic form (P21, a = 37.1 A , b = 32.2 A , c = 32.4 A , β = 110 ° ) of neutrophil cationic protein NP2, isolated from rabbit leukocytes, have been characterized. The monoclinic form, containing two promoters (Mr = 3844) per asymmetric unit, diffracts to at least 1.8 A and is suitable for high-resolution structural studies.
Mechanism of ischemic mitral regurgitation with segmental left ventricular dysfunction: three-dimensional echocardiographic studies in models of acute and chronic progressive regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to separate proposed mechanisms for segmental ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR), including left ventricular (LV) dysfunction versus geometric distortion by LV dilation, using models of acute and chronic segmental ischemic LV dysfunction evaluated by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. BACKGROUND Dysfunction and dilation—both mechanisms with practical therapeutic implications—are difficult to separate in patients. METHODS In seven dogs with acute left circumflex (LCX) coronary ligation, LV expansion was initially restricted and then permitted to occur. In seven sheep with LCX branch ligation, LV expansion was also initially limited but became prominent with remodeling over eight weeks. Three-dimensional echo reconstruction quantified mitral apparatus geometry and MR volume. RESULTS In the acute model, despite LV dysfunction with ejection fraction = 23 ± 8%, MR was initially trace with limited LV dilation, but it became moderate with subsequent prominent dilation. In the chronic model, MR was also initially trace, but it became moderate over eight weeks as the LV dilated and changed shape. In both models, the only independent predictor of MR volume was increased tethering distance from the papillary muscles (PMs) to the anterior annulus, especially medial and posterior shift of the ischemic medial PM, measured by 3D reconstruction (r2= 0.75 and 0.86, respectively). Mitral regurgitation volume did not correlate with LV ejection fraction or dP/dt. CONCLUSIONS Segmental ischemic LV contractile dysfunction without dilation, even in the PM territory, fails to produce important MR. The development of MR relates strongly to changes in the 3D geometry of the mitral apparatus, with implications for approaches to restore a more favorable configuration.
Using willingness to pay to investigate regressiveness of user fees in health facilities in Tanzania

The study uses data from the Tanzania Human Resources Development Survey (1994) on willingness to pay (WTP) for desired quality of health care at lower-level health facilities to assess potential regressiveness of user fees - a disproportionately higher negative effect of user fees on utilization of health services among the poor compared with the rich. Despite reports of extensive bypassing of the lower-level health facilities in Tanzania, the WTP for quality health care at these health facilities is surprisingly large. WTP was lower among the poor, female and elderly respondents. Almost one-quarter of the poorest 40% of the population was not willing to pay even when the quality of services met their expectations. The results suggest that: the utilization of health services at lower-level health facilities can be increased by improving the quality of care; and the implementation of uniform user charges in the public facilities may be regressive, adversely affecting utilization among the poor, women and the elderly. An effective system of exemptions and waivers will be required for the very poor who may not be able to pay even when quality of services is improved. The findings of the study have policy implications for the Tanzanian government's recent attempts to expand cost-sharing through community health funds at lower-level health facilities, being introduced since 1998.
Transitional Pre-Desert Phase in San Diego County, California

Excavations at site U.C.L.J.-M-15 at Agua Hedionda Lagoon in southern California have provided a radiocarbon date of 7070 B.C. for a transitional phase between the San Dieguito and the La Jolla complex. The many radiocarbon dates taken from sites in San Diego County demonstrate a somewhat greater age than was hitherto generally expected for the three cultures in the area. The age of the most recent culture, the Yuman-Diegueno, has been extended to about 1000 B.C. The La Jolla shows an extremely long period of occupation spanning roughly 1000 B.C. to 7070 B.C. The third group, the San Dieguito, a pre-Desert culture, is still undated. Samples are now in process and should, judged from the new La Jolla dates, give a date earlier than 7000 B.C. for the earliest phases of the San Dieguito.
Modulation of native T-type calcium channels by ω-3 fatty acids

Low voltage-activated, rapidly inactivating T-type Ca(2+) channels are found in a variety of cells where they regulate electrical activity and Ca(2+) entry. In whole-cell patch clamp recordings from bovine adrenal zona fasciculata cells, cis-polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid inhibited T-type Ca(2+) current (I(T-Ca)) with IC(50)s of 2.4, 6.1, and 14.4microM, respectively. Inhibition of I(T-Ca) by DHA was partially use-dependent. In the absence of stimulation, DHA (5microM) inhibited I(T-Ca) by 59.7+/-8.1% (n=5). When voltage steps to -10mV were applied at 12s intervals, block increased to 80.5+/-7.2%. Inhibition of I(T-Ca) by DHA was accompanied by a shift of -11.7mV in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation, and a smaller -3.3mV shift in the voltage dependence of activation. omega-3 fatty acids also selectively altered the gating kinetics of T-type Ca(2+) channels. DHA accelerated T channel recovery from inactivation by approximately 3-fold, but did not affect the kinetics of T channel activation or deactivation. Arachidonic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, also inhibited T-type Ca(2+) current at micromolar concentrations, while the trans polyunsaturated fatty acid linolelaidic acid was ineffective. These results identify cis polyunsaturated fatty acids as relatively potent, new T-type Ca(2+) channel antagonists. omega-3 fatty acids are essential dietary components that have been shown to possess remarkable neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties that are likely mediated through suppression of electrical activity and associated Ca(2+) entry. Inhibition of T-type Ca(2+) channels in neurons and cardiac myocytes could contribute significantly to their protective actions.
Normal and anomalous responses of the Fermi liquid in the charge and spin channels

By means of the perturbative diagram approach the effects of vertex corrections on the charge and spin responses of the Fermi liquid are considered. It is shown that the interaction in the particle-hole channel induces the multipair excitations in both the charge and spin channels. Such excitations lead to the appearance of the anomalous Fermi liquid term Im(chi) approximately - (omega) /T in the charge and spin responses of the Fermi liquid in addition to the normal response approximately - (omega) /vFk. Such a contribution of the anomalous term to the charge and spin responses is in agreement with the marginal Fermi-liquid hypothesis proposed by Varma et al. to explain the universal anomalies in the normal state of the cuprate high-Tc superconductors.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Protein-DNA interactions in extended and condensed chromatin.

Summary Protein — DNA interactions in condensed and extended chromatin fractions obtained by ECTHAM-cellulose chromatography have been studied by nuclease susceptibility, polylysine titration and availability of histone lysyl residues for modification with acetic anhydride. For both calf thymus and rabbit liver chromatins, extended chromatin contains more accessible DNA than the condensed nucleoprotein. Similarly, extended chromatin fractions are characterized by less firm binding of histones to the nucleic acid, more lysyl residues being available for chemical modification. The results are consistent with models for eukaryotic gene regulation which envisage a protein-maintained supercoiling of DNA as a general mechanism of repression of transcription.
Reenactment, Fantasy, and the Paranoia of History: Oliver Stone's Docudramas

In the late 1980s and 1990s, American popular culture has been increasingly rife with conspiracy narratives of recent historical events. Among cultural producers, filmmaker Oliver Stone has had a significant impact on popular understanding of American culture in the late twentieth century through a series of docudramas which reread American history through the lens of conspiracy theory and paranoia. This paper examines the films of Oliver Stone-in particular Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, and Nixon-asking why they have achieved popularity and brought about catharsis, why they are the subject of attack, and why it is useful to look beyond the debate about truth and falsehood that has surrounded them. It analyzes the ways in which Stone's status as a Vietnam veteran allowed Platoon to be accorded the authenticity of survivor discourse, whereas JFK and Nixon were subject to almost hysterical attack, not only because of Stone's assertions of conspiracy, but also because of his cinematic style of tampering with famous images. Taking these films as its point of departure, this paper examines the role of images in the construction of history, the form of the docudrama, the reenactment of historical images, fantasies of history, and ways in which paranoia is part of the practice of citizenship.
Response to Drs. Sutherland, Callen, and Gardner

We understand Sutherland, Callen and Gardner`s concern of our reporting of an increased risk associated with paracentric inversions for abnormal recombinant outcomes. This finding was and continues to be disturbing. Despite bias of ascertainment, which was noted, the facts remain that there was a fairly significant number of recombinants with deletions and/or duplications (n = 15) and a few dicentrics (n = 2) that resulted from reported cytogenetically identified paracentric inversion heterozygotes. 9 refs.
46 EFFECTS OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE (NIC) ON MATERNAL ATTITUDES, ANXIETY, AND PERCEPTIONS OF INFANT TEMPERAMENT

51 mothers of one year old infants were interviewed by a social worker and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Toddler Temperament Scale (TTS). 34 of the infants had received NIC. 17 of these babies had below average development (Bayley Scale scores < 84); 17 had Bayley scores ≥ 84. 17 infants had no neonatal problems and Bayley scores ≥ 84. All 3 groups were matched for maternal race, education level, and parity. There were no significant differences in response to questions about maternal attachment, depression, concerns about future infant development or death, or need for special precautions to protect their infants' health. Group mean scores for state and trait anxiety levels were not significantly different. However, there was a significant inverse relationship between motor development and state anxiety in mothers whose babies showed below average development (r = −.34). Maternal responses to the TTS showed that delayed NIC babies react more negatively to strange situations than control infants (p < .05). Similar but nonsignificant trends were seen for other variables on the TTS. At one year, there is little evidence that NIC or developmental delay have a significant effect on maternal attitudes and anxiety levels. There is suggestive evidence that infants with below average development are more likely to exhibit negative temperamental characteristics than control infants.
Seasonal patterns of asthma: A clue to etiology

An extensive data set of daily hospital emergency room visits for asthma for two geographic areas (1953-77 in New Orleans and 1969-77 in New York City) was examined for seasonality. Previous studies using smaller data bases have reported an autumn increase (principally during October and November) in the number of emergency room visits for asthma in many locations in this country (including New Orleans and New York City). The results of this study indicated that for every hospital and every year of observation in New York City the number of asthma emergency room visits increased in September, reached a peak in October and November and declined in December. In contrast, in New Orleans an autumn increase in the number of asthma emergency room visits was not consistently observed, being absent or reduced during many years. The distribution of asthma epidemic days (days on which the number of asthma emergency room visits was greatly elevated) by month was also examined. In New York City, there was a tendency for these days to occur during September, October, and November while in New Orleans there was an equal likelihood of epidemic days occurring in April, May, and June as well as during September, October, and November. The observations tend to suggest different etiologies for asthma attacks in the two geographic areas.
Endotoxin-induced behavioural fever in the Madagascar cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa

Abstract Injections of a suspension of E. coli into the haemocoel of Gromphadorhina portentosa induced dose-dependent behavioural fevers. Cockroaches injected with bacteria and placed in a thermal gradient preferred temperatures significantly elevated over those chosen by control cockroaches. The fever response could also be induced by the injection of bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide-W. This is the first indication that insects are capable of febrogenesis.
Zebrafish calsyntenins mediate homophilic adhesion through their amino-terminal cadherin repeats.

Abstract The calsyntenins are atypical members of the cadherin superfamily that have been implicated in learning in Caenorhabditis elegans and memory formation in humans. As members of the cadherin superfamily, they could mediate cell–cell adhesion, although their adhesive properties have not been investigated. As an initial step in characterizing the calsyntenins, we have cloned clstn1 , clstn2 and clstn3 from the zebrafish and determined their expression in the developing zebrafish nervous system. The three genes each have broad, yet distinct, expression patterns in the zebrafish brain. Each of the ectodomains mediates homophilic interactions through two, amino-terminal cadherin repeats. In bead sorting assays, the calsyntenin ectodomains do not exhibit homophilic preferences. These data support the idea that calsyntenins could either act as adhesion molecules or as diffusible, homophilic or heterophilic ligands in the vertebrate nervous system.
Gender and functional outcome after coronary artery bypass.

Abstract Background: Female gender is an established risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, the impact of gender on functional outcome after CABG is not well established. Methods: Functional status was assessed at baseline and at 6 months with the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) in 196 consecutive patients undergoing isolated primary CABG. Follow-up data were complete in 158 (81%) patients. The functional status of the 54 (34%) female and the 104 (66%) male patients was compared. Results: The mean DASI score was significantly lower in women at baseline (19.3 ± 13.8 vs 28.3 ± 16.8, P = .001) and at 6 months (22.7 ± 16.3 vs 32.8 ± 18.2, P = .0007); however, the 6-month change in DASI score (3.3 ± 16.9 vs 4.5 ± 20.0, P = .7) was comparable. A similar proportion of women and men (54% vs 53%) had improved above their baseline functional level at 6 months. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that women undergo CABG at a significantly lower functional level than men; however, the functional improvement after CABG is similar across genders. (Surgery 1999;126:184-90.)
Factors Affecting Arc Extinction on a Petersen-Coil System

THE effectiveness of the Petersen coil in extinguishing line-to-ground arcs on a transmission system is ordinarily attributed to the fact that the current in the arc is kept at a low value. Another factor of perhaps greater importance is that characteristic of the Petersen-coil system which results in a very low rate of rise of recovery voltage across the arc terminals. Although this characteristic has long been recognized,1,2 the engineering literature would seem to indicate that its importance has not been thoroughly considered. This paper calls attention to the importance of the rate of rise of recovery voltage, presents the circuit theory pertaining to the voltage recovery rate, points out some practical aspects of the Petersen-coil system design, and compares the theory with published records of operation. It is hoped that this analysis will lead to a better understanding of Petersen-coil systems which will permit their more effective use. With continued study of system operating records, it may become possible to predict the effectiveness of a system even before it is built.
Leisure-time physical activity among US adults. Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: The prevalence of no leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among US adults is estimated to be between 24% and 30%. Such information, however, usually does not include prevalence estimates for non-Hispanic blacks, Mexican Americans, and the elderly. Objective: To assess the prevalence of participation in leisure-time physical activity among US adults. Methods: Between 1988 and 1991, 9488 adults aged 20 years and older were interviewed in their home as part of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A clinic examination in a mobile center was also included. Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic blacks, and the elderly were oversampled to produce reliable estimates for these groups. Questions were asked about the type and frequency of physically active hobbies, sports, and exercises. Results: The prevalence of no LTPA for US adults aged 20 years or older from 1988 through 1991 was 22%. The rate was higher in women (27%) than in men (17%). Mexican-American men (33%) and women (46%) and non-Hispanic black women (40%) had the highest rates of no LTPA. Participation in moderate to vigorous LTPA five or more times per week decreased with age, with the largest decreases observed among non-Hispanic black men and women. In almost all subpopulations, gardening and/or yard work and walking were stated as the two top LTPAs of choice. Conclusions: Many Americans are inactive or irregularly active during their leisure time. Rates of inactivity are greater for women, older persons, non-Hispanic blacks, and Mexican Americans. Intervention strategies meant to promote lifetime physical activities among all Americans represents a major health priority. (Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:93-98)