cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinyl acetate inhibits mammary carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

THE use of pharmacological agents to prevent development of epithelial cancer is attracting increasing attention. Recent studies have shown the successful use of vitamin A and its synthetic analogues (together known as retinoids) for this purpose1,2. We have shown that both natural and synthetic retinoids (retinyl acetate and retinyl methyl ether, respectively) markedly inhibit mammary carcinogenesis induced in the Sprague-Dawley rat by 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) (refs 3, 4). Although the DMBA model has contributed significantly to the understanding of mammary carcinogenesis, particularly hormone responsiveness, the model is less than ideal in that the tumours only rarely invade surrounding tissues and do not metastasise. A new mammary carcinogenesis model, first described by Gullino et al.5, using intravenous injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) in the Buffalo rat, satisfies the deficiencies of the DMBA model in that cancers are exclusively localised in the mammary gland, are hormone dependent, show metastasis to other organs, are transplantable, and result in hypercalcaemia. NMU also causes a high incidence of mammary cancers in female Sprague–Dawley and Fischer-344 rats5, but the biological characteristics of the cancers in these strains have not been described in detail. But, our preliminary studies using Sprague–Dawley rats indicated that NMU-induced mammary cancers are highly aggresive and similar histologically to those induced in the Buffalo rat. The NMU model of mammary cancer thus resembles the human disease more closely than the DMBA model. We describe here a study of the effect of a retinyl acetate on mammary carcinogenesis induced by NMU, using a modification of the procedure reported by Gullino et al.5. We show that retinyl acetate inhibits carcinogenesis in this system.
Subfascial breast augmentation: theme and variations

Background Subfascial placement of breast implants for augmentation has been advocated as an option that has some of the advantages of both the subpectoral and subglandular approaches while minimizing the disadvantages of each. Objective The author reports on the use of the subfascial approach in athletic and thin individuals, including extension of the range of applications for this approach through the use of partial muscle flaps for upper pole coverage. Methods A periareolar approach was preferred, particularly when segmental muscular flaps were incorporated into the augmentation. Medially-based flaps supplied by the intercostal perforators were used to achieve greater upper-pole coverage, which can be particularly beneficial when using high-profile implants. Conversion from dual-plane submuscular to subfascial placement was used for correction of a “dynamic” breast (a breast that is distorted with muscle activity) or related contour deformity. Results Examples of the range of applications of the subfascial approach are presented, including use of small and larger segmented muscle flaps and correction of the dynamic breast or contour deformity. Conclusions Use of the subfascial approach, with selective application of segmented muscle flaps, can help reduce reoperation rates after breast augmentation.
Ontological Cross-Reducibility of Failure Theories for Composite Materials

Failure criteria have a significant role in the design of composite structural systems. Often the questions of “which criterion is more physical” and “which criterion is the best” create uncertainty in the design decision making process. To underline the ill-posed nature of both of these questions in the present paper we are describing the initial steps of an effort to address two ontological characteristics of failure criteria as they are applicable to composite materials applications. The first characteristic is the non-objective nature of failure criteria and an informal description is provided. The second characteristic is an ontologically based cross-reducibility between criteria. To underline more formally this characteristic we utilize an ontology-based framework to clarify “how a criterion relates with another” in terms of its main semantic attributes. The non-physical nature of a theory is exposed when it is evaluated from the semantic view of a systemic perspective. The human role on the formation of any failure criterion is shown to have a foundationally subjective character, thus rendering the corresponding criterion as non-objective. In the context of the second effort, the creation of classification ontology in terms of the semantic projections of failure criteria in their structural heritage and usage is created. The common attributes of failure criteria are utilized to identify the bases of the attribute space that they can be ontologically classified. Web ontology software is utilized to aid the ontological construction process and the visual interpretation of the ontological context. The derived cross-reducibility suggests that failure theories are special reductions of one another.
The country-of-orgin effect on Toyotas made in Japan, the USA and Mexico

Country of Origin (COO) effects refer to consumers' reliance on COO information in evaluating the quality of products from various countries and making their decisions on product purchases. This study examined the COO effect of Toyota Corolla, Camry and Avalon and further explored the relationship between consumers' purchase intentions and their perceived product images in conjunction with political images. The findings in this research support the assertion that COO influences consumers' product evaluation of automobiles made in different countries. This study also found that US consumers who prefer pressuring the Japanese government over improving US business competitiveness in dealing with the US-Japan trade issues tend to have less of an intention to purchase the Japanese automobiles.
Japanese Language Socialization: Indexing the Modes of Self.

From the perspective of language socialization, this article examines the use of addressee honorifics (the masu form) and their nonhonorific counterpart (the plain form) at home and in classroom interactions in elementary schools in Japan. Unlike the usual assumption that these forms are polite or nonpolite speech markers, this study finds that both at home and school the masu and plain forms are used as indexes of the modes of self, namely, “disciplined” and “spontaneous.” Children by the age of 3 understand these meanings and they continually participate in classroom activities that are regulated by the alternation of these forms. The study suggests that in this process children are socialized into the key cultural distinction in Japanese society, uchi and soto ‘inside and outside.’
Flavor changing neutral currents in the Lee Wick Standard Model

Recently an extension of the Standard Model (the Lee–Wick Standard Model) based on ideas of Lee and Wick (LW) was introduced. It does not contain quadratic divergences in the Higgs mass and hence solves the hierarchy puzzle. The LW Standard Model contains new heavy LW-resonances at the TeV scale that decay to ordinary particles. In this Letter we examine in more detail the flavor structure of the theory. We integrate out the heavy LW-fermions at tree level and find that this induces flavor changing Z-boson couplings. However, these flavor changing neutral currents are acceptably small since they are automatically suppressed by small Yukawa couplings. This is the case even though the theory does not satisfy the principle of minimal flavor violation. New couplings of the charged W-bosons to quarks and leptons are also induced. We also integrate out the LW–Higgs and examine the four-fermion operators induced.
The Effect of Mg2+ on the Stability of two RNA Loop-Loop Complexes

Mg2+ is particularly effective at stabilizing RNA tertiary structures. However, its mechanism of stabilization is not clearly understood. For instance, some tertiary structures do not form in the absence of Mg2+. In this work, we have studied two similar RNA complexes (“small complex” and “large complex”) in which two hairpin structures interact through their complementary loops. In both complexes, the loop sequences are identical but in the “small complex” the stems contain 5 base pairs while in the “large complex” the stems are larger. Previous studies have shown that the large complex does not form in the absence of Mg2+. The purpose of these experiments is to understand how the size of the stem affects the Mg2+ concentration required for complex formation.Specifically, we used a combination of Circular Dichroism, UV melts and titration experiments to analyze the conditions under which these complexes form. Based on the hyperchromicity of our UV melts and the enthalpy of the unfolding transitions, we can say that the small complex forms in the presence of 250 mM NaCl or 5 mM MgCl2. Our titration experiments indicate that the small complex forms at Na+ concentrations as low as ∼ 100 mM and Mg2+ concentrations of ∼ 0.15 mM. The large complex also forms at ∼0.15 mM Mg2+, consistent with their identical loops. However, the large complex does not form at low Na+ concentrations. Our CD experiments indicate that the large complex forms some structure at 400 mM NaCl but this structure is different than the Mg2+ induced loop-loop complex. The overall results suggest that the proximity of the phosphates in the loop-loop complex may create a specific site for Mg2+ while the presence of Na+ induces the formation of a slightly different complex.
Experimental study of the electrical double layer in very dilute aqueous solutions

Abstract : Two methods are described for the measurement of the double layer differential capacity in media of low conductivity, i.e. under conditions in which the conventional bridge method fails: (a) measurement of the change of potential caused by coulostatic charging with a small excursion of potential; (b) determination, under coulostatic conditions, of the time constant of the circuit comprising the double layer capacity in series with a large resistance. The first method is definitely the more convenient and slightly more accurate. Application is made to 0.001 to 0.00001 M sodium fluoride, and results agree with those calculated from the Gouy-Chapman theory for Grahame's capacities of the compact double layer. The coulostatic method is compared with the bridge method and some potential applications are mentioned. (Author)
Raynaud's phenomenon associated with the use of pneumatically powered surgical instruments☆

Abstract Five patients developed symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon and upper extremity paresthesias after 7–32 months of exposure to air-powered surgical instruments used for the harvest of bone for bone banks. Results of cold challenge plethysmography, nerve conduction studies, vibrotactile thresholds, and quantitative sensory testing were as follows: all patients had significant reproducible vasospasm with nondetectable finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP = 0) after local digital cooling; nerve conduction abnormalities included delayed median nerve sensory conduction (
Electroreduction of Nifedipine

At pH > 6, the nitro group of nifedipine is reduced in a four-electron step to a hydroxylamino group. At pH < 6, the hydroxylamino derivative undergoes an acid-catalyzed dehydration, and the rate of this reaction governs the limiting current. Resulting quinonemethide is further reduced, and a six-electron reduction step results. Formation and reducibility of the quinonemethide is favored by conjugation with the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring. Further reduction of the hydroxylamino derivative is confirmed by the absence of the anodic oxidation peak on the reverse scan at pH < 6.5. At potentials more negative than that of the nitro group, the protonated form of the hydroxylamino derivative is reduced between pH 4 and 8 in direct current (dc) polarography and between pH 6 and 11 in cyclic voltammetry, the difference resulting from the difference in the measurement time window. The yields and fate of the hydroxylamino derivative obtained in controlled potential electrolysis with a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) differ from those in dc polarography, indicating the presence of different competing reactions. For analyses, pH 2 and 11 are most suitable.
E-broidery: design and fabrication of textile-based computing

Highly durable, flexible, and even washable multilayer electronic circuitry can be constructed on textile substrates, using conductive yarns and suitably packaged components. In this paper we describe the development of e-broidery (electronic embroidery, i.e., the patterning of conductive textiles by numerically controlled sewing or weaving processes) as a means of creating computationally active textiles. We compare textiles to existing flexible circuit substrates with regard to durability, conformability, and wearability. We also report on: some unique applications enabled by our work; the construction of sensors and user interface elements in textiles; and a complete process for creating flexible multilayer circuits on fabric substrates. This process maintains close compatibility with existing electronic components and design tools, while optimizing design techniques and component packages for use in textiles.
Fictions of Fact and Value: The Erasure of Logical Positivism in American Literature, 1945–1975

In Fictions of Fact and Value: The Erasure of Logical Positivism in American Literature, 1945–1975, Michael LeMahieu bridges the supposedly estranged worlds of analytic philosophy (generally preocc...
Prevalence of significant peripheral artery disease in patients evaluated for percutaneous aortic valve insertion: Preprocedural assessment with multidetector computed tomography

Objectives Percutaneous aortic valve insertion is an emerging treatment option for selected patients with severe aortic stenosis and may be done from a transfemoral or transapical approach. Concomitant atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease limits transfemoral access. We evaluated the potential role of multidetector computed tomography in preoperative assessment of vascular anatomy. Methods Consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis were included. Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic angiography of the thoracic and abdominal aorta and iliofemoral arteries was performed. Criteria of unfavorable iliofemoral anatomy were defined as a minimal luminal diameter of the common iliac, external iliac, or common femoral arteries of less than 8 mm, presence of greater than 60% circumferential calcification at the external–internal iliac bifurcation, and severe angulation between the common and external iliac arteries ( Results One hundred patients (79 ± 9 years, 59% male) were included. A total of 35 (35%) patients had at least one criterion of unsuitable iliofemoral anatomy, including 27 patients with small minimal luminal diameter ( 60%), and 4 with severe angulation of the iliac arteries ( Conclusions Significant atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease is common in the high-risk patient population currently evaluated for percutaneous aortic valve insertion. Computed tomography allows identification of patients with iliofemoral anatomy unfavorable for the transfemoral approach to percutaneous aortic valve insertion.
The Dielectric Constant of Commercial Nitrogen at High Pressures

The dielectric constant of commercial nitrogen, 99 percent pure, was measured at pressures up to 167 atmospheres by the same electrometric method previously employed by the writer in the determination of $K$ for air. ($K\ensuremath{-}1$) was again found to vary directly with the pressure, at the rate of 556\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ per atmosphere at 16.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, with the exception of an apparent slight deviation from linearity in the sense of a smaller rate of increase of $K$ with $P$ at pressures above 150 atmospheres. The greatest departure from linearity was only of the order of the probable error, however, and is not considered to be definitely established.
The role of transcription factors cyclic-AMP responsive element modulator (CREM) and inducible cyclic-AMP early repressor (ICER) in epileptogenesis

Alterations in the brain that contribute to the development of epilepsy, also called epileptogenesis, are not well understood, which makes it difficult to develop strategies for preventing epilepsy. Here we have studied the role of the CRE binding transcription factors, cyclic-AMP responsive element modulator (CREM) and inducible cyclic-AMP early repressor (ICER), in the development of epilepsy following pilocarpine induced status epilepticus (SE) in mice. Following SE, ICER mRNA and protein are increased in neurons. The increase in ICER, however, is not necessary for neuronal injury following SE as pilocarpine treatment induces equivalent neuronal injury in pyramidal neurons of wild type and CREM/ICER null mice. Following SE, the CREM/ICER null mice develop a more severe epileptic phenotype experiencing ∼threefold more frequent spontaneous seizures. Together these data suggest that the increase in ICER mRNA following SE may have a role in suppressing the severity of epilepsy.
Cigarette Smoking, Familial Hematopoietic Cancer, Hair Dye Use, and Risk of t(14;18)-defined Subtypes of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Some evidence suggests that smoking, a family history of hematopoietic cancer, and use of hair dyes are associated with t(14;18)-defined subsets of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in men. To further evaluate these associations and to expand them to women, the authors determined t(14;18)(q32;q21) status by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 172 of 175 tumor blocks from a population-based case-control study conducted in Nebraska during 1983-1986. Exposures in 65 t(14;18)-positive cases and 107 t(14;18)-negative cases were compared with those among 1,432 controls. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using polytomous logistic regression. Among men, smoking was not associated with risk of t(14;18)-positive or -negative NHL. Among women who had ever smoked cigarettes, there was an association with risk of t(14;18)-negative NHL (odds ratio (OR) = 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 3.3) but not t(14;18)-positive NHL (p-difference = 0.01). The risks for t(14;18)-negative NHL among women increased with longer duration (>30 years: OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.1) and early initiation (age </=20 years: OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.4) of smoking. A family history of hematopoietic cancer was associated with a twofold higher risk for both t(14;18)-defined NHL subtypes among men and women. Hair dye use was not associated with either subtype. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample.
Epitaxial potassium niobate thin films prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Epitaxial potassium niobate thin films were deposited in situ by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at a growth temperature of 800 °C using niobium pentaethoxide and potassium tert‐butoxide as volatile metalorganic precursors. Growth on single crystal (100) lanthanum aluminate substrates produced [110]‐oriented potassium niobate films. The films have a smooth, featureless morphology. Atomic force microscopy of the MOCVD‐derived films surface indicates a root‐mean‐square roughness of less than 2 nm. Second‐harmonic generation of 1.064 μm incident light is observed from the potassium niobate thin films, and the effective second order nonlinear susceptibility d of the as‐deposited film is as high as 13 pm/V.
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin to Treat the Anemia of Prematurity

Summary Because plasma levels of erythropoietin are low in infants with the anemia of prematurity, it is logical to hypothesize that treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) would increase erythropoiesis and markedly diminish need for transfusions. Despite a large number of controlled clinical trials, the role of rHuEPO in neonatology practice is controversial. Clearly, it increases erythropoiesis in neonates and infants, but its efficacy in diminishing transfusions has been inconsistent, particularly in sick premature infants sustaining large phlebotomy loss for laboratory testing. Moreover, the ability to limit transfusions and donor exposures via modern transfusion practices coupled with concerns that the complete potential for adverse effects of rHuEPO is undefined have dissuaded widespread acceptance of rHuEPO as standard therapy to prevent or treat the anemia of prematurity.
Minimizing mask complexity for advanced optical lithography

The extension of optical lithography to ever deeper sub-wavelength feature sizes has led to an alarming increase in photo-mask complexity and associated cost. Changes in design philosophy can play a key role in mitigating this trend. We propose the introduction of a new optimization cycle early in the physical design process based on minimizing pattern complexity. We study the use of a pattern complexity metric based on Fourier coding to accomplish such an optimization. The ultimate goal is simplification of resolution enhancement technology (RET) methods required for a given design and the generation of a correspondingly simpler and more cost effective mask set.
Dynamic Light-Dark Adaptation in the Rabbit ERG

The early dynamics of light and dark adaptation in the rabbit retina are measured by the electroretinogram (ERG). The amplitudes and latencies of the a-wave and b-wave are shown in steady state and in transition between states. The results are used in a discussion of the retinal origins of the a-wave and b-wave.
Research in College Health 2: Designing the Study

Building upon an initial article, which described the processes of literature review and hypothesis development, the authors summarize issues of research design. General issues encountered by researchers in college health settings include the establishment of a clear research focus, selection of a representative and adequate study sample, use of reliable and valid measures, and adherence to professional ethics. Specific means of addressing these design concerns are summarized, using examples from college health research.
Efficient multipath communication for time-critical applications in underwater acoustic sensor networks

Due to the long propagation delay and high error rate of acoustic channels, it is very challenging to provide reliable data transfer for time-critical applications in an energy-efficient way. On the one hand, traditional retransmission upon failure usually introduces very large end-to-end delay and is thus not proper for time-critical services. On the other hand, common approaches without retransmission consume lots of energy. In this paper, we propose a new multipath power-control transmission (MPT) scheme, which can guarantee certain end-to-end packet error rate while achieving a good balance between the overall energy efficiency and the end-to-end packet delay. MPT smartly combines power control with multipath routing and packet combining at the destination. With carefully designed power-control strategies, MPT consumes much less energy than the conventional one-path transmission scheme without retransmission. Besides, since no hop-by-hop retransmission is allowed, MPT introduces much shorter delays than the traditional one-path scheme with retransmission. We conduct extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of MPT. Our results show that MPT is highly energy-efficient with low end-to-end packet delays.
SMALL-MOLECULE HSP90 INHIBITORS: APPLICATIONS IN CANCER AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Hsp90 is a pleiotropic cytoplasmic chaperone that regulates an ever-growing list of client proteins. Hsp90 clients include many, but not all, kinases, steroid receptors and a number of transcription factors. Many clients display heightened Hsp90 dependence when mutated and mutation can also create de novo Hsp90 dependence. A common factor that underlies the selective therapeutic activity of Hsp90 modulators in malignant and neurodegenerative disease is the presence of inherited or acquired mutant proteins at the core of disease pathophysiology that drives the progressive activation of the cellular Hsp90 pool, leading to increased drug sensitivity. The benzoquinoid ansamycin geldanamycin was identified as the first Hsp90 inhibitor in 1995, and its semi-synthetic analogue 17-AAG is currently in Phase II clinical trials. Several groups have synthesized sizeable libraries of ansamycin drugs, but all share the limitations of hepatotoxicity and challenging pharmaceutics, suggesting that the full potential of this drug target would only be realized through synthetic medicinal chemistry. In the last five years, a plethora of academic and industrial programs have been initiated and the most advanced small-molecule Hsp90 inhibitor drug is already in Phase I clinical trials. In this chapter we will review these efforts, focusing on the potential of small-molecule Hsp90 modulators in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases
Controversies in the Treatment of Local and Locally Advanced Gastric and Esophageal Cancers

Despite overall progress in the therapy of local and locally advanced esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric adenocarcinomas, death as a result of these tumors remains a common outcome. Most randomized phase III trials on which level-one evidence has been built have included the heterogeneous histologies and locations associated with these tumors. However, the different etiologies, molecular biology, and recurrence patterns associated with gastroesophageal malignancies suggest the need to split rather than lump. Biologic and response differences exist between squamous and adenocarcinomas, as well as diffuse and intestinal histologies. This may be a cause behind conflicting outcomes in similar trials. The accepted standard of chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers is based on a few positive trials, with the best chemotherapy and total dose of radiation remaining controversial. In the West, the staging evaluations of locally advanced gastric cancer are not uniform. Yet, these evaluations will inform the results of preoperative and perioperative treatments. Although postoperative chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer has been an accepted treatment option for the last decade, more recent studies have called into question the need for radiotherapy. In perioperative strategies, it has yet to be determined whether histologic or molecular changes in the operative specimen should inform postoperative treatment. An appropriate place for targeted therapy needs to be found in preoperative and postoperative treatment regimens. Finally, because so much is lost when trials are forced to close for lack of accrual, it is imperative to build multidisciplinary consensus before they are launched.
PLANT DENSITY DETERMINES SPECIES RICHNESS ALONG AN EXPERIMENTAL FERTILITY GRADIENT

A number of authors have suggested that, within areas a few square meters to many square kilometers in size, species diversity appears to peak at moderate levels of productivity, and this pattern is currently unexplained. Among the best examples of this pattern have been descriptions of vegetation in which species richness declines as soil fertility increases. We tested two hypotheses that have been proposed to explain this pattern. The interspecific competitive exclusion hypothesis proposes that dominant species suppress the growth of competitively subordinate species and exclude subordinate species as fertility rises. In contrast, the assemblage-level thinning hypothesis proposes that individuals of all species tend to become larger as fertility rises, and individuals of all species tend to exclude subordinate individuals of each species. Because total density declines, samples of finite numbers of individuals will result in fewer species by chance alone. To test these hypotheses, we established an experimental productivity gradient in a first- year old field using four levels of slow-release NPK fertilizer (0, 8, 16, and 32 g N/M2). At the end of the growing season, we sampled aboveground biomass and numbers of stems for each species in 72 20 X 20 cm subplots (18 reps X 4 levels), with an average sample size of 260 individual stems per plot. We observed an 80% decline in stem density with increasing fertility, and a 50% decline in species richness along this fertility gradient. A simulation of random thinning along a fertility gradient showed a nearly identical decline in species richness, supporting the assemblage-level thinning hypothesis. We also found that responses of individual species to the soil fertility gradient showed virtually no support for interspecific competitive exclusion. The overwhelming influence of density found in this study suggests that plant species richness along many productivity gradients may be strongly influenced by total stem density, and that differences in competitive ability among species, although generally important, are not necessary to create dramatic changes in species richness along fertility gradients.
An interactive program advising system

This paper describes components of an Interactive Program Advising System (IPAS) for beginning programming students. The system, being unaware of the algorithm being implemented by the student, is unable to direct the student toward writing a correct program. It instead comments on the programming constructs the student has used in the specific implementing language—in this case FORTRAN.Beginning programming students often write poorly structured programs (especially in a non-block-structured language like FORTRAN) with constructs which, while legal, indicate that the student doesn't really understand the operation being performed. Data is currently being collected on “conceptual errors” commonly made by beginning students. This paper describes some of these “errors” and what comments can be presented to the student to help him understand and correct his own “errors.” A subsequent paper will present statistics on frequency of errors and plausible student logic which would produce the errors.
Efficacy of a web-based intelligent tutoring system for communicating genetic risk of breast cancer: a fuzzy-trace theory approach.

Background. Many healthy women consider genetic testing for breast cancer risk, yet BRCA testing issues are complex. Objective. To determine whether an intelligent tutor, BRCA Gist, grounded in fuzzy-trace theory (FTT), increases gist comprehension and knowledge about genetic testing for breast cancer risk, improving decision making. Design .I n 2 experiments, 410 healthy undergraduate women were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: an online module using a Web-based tutoring system (BRCA Gist) that uses artificial intelligence technology, a second group read highly similar content from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Web site, and a third that completed an unrelated tutorial. Intervention. BRCA Gist applied FTT and was designed to help participants develop gist comprehension of topics relevant to decisions about BRCA genetic testing, including how breast cancer spreads, inherited genetic mutations, and base rates. Measures. We measured content knowledge, gist comprehension of decision-relevant information, interest in testing, and genetic risk and testing judgments. Results. Control knowledge scores ranged from 54% to 56%, NCI improved significantly to 65% and 70%, and BRCA Gist improved significantly more to 75% and 77%, P \ 0.0001. BRCA Gist scored higher on gist comprehension than NCI and control, P \ 0.0001. Control genetic riskassessment mean was 48% correct; BRCA Gist (61%) and NCI (56%) were significantly higher, P \ 0.0001. BRCA Gist participants recommended less testing for women without risk factors (not good candidates; 24% and 19%) than controls (50%, both experiments) and NCI (32%), experiment 2, P \ 0.0001. BRCA Gist testing interest was lower than in controls, P \ 0.0001. Limitations .B RCA Gist has not been tested with older women from diverse groups. Conclusions. Intelligent tutors, such as BRCA Gist, are scalable, cost-effective ways of helping people understand complex issues, improving decision making.
Physiological response of two soybean cultivars to simulated acid rain

summary Simulated acid rain has been reported to cause physiological changes in various plant species. Studies were conducted in 1983, 1984, and 1985 to determine the effect, of acid rain on physiological parameters in two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars. Simulated acid rain of pH 3.0, 4.2 and 5.6 was applied throughout the growing season to plots protected from ambient rain and grown on a Flanagan silt loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Aaquic Argiudoll). Individual plants were evaluated for CO2 fixation, leaf water potentials, and leaf chlorophyll content. Microplots were evaluated for flowering and podding patterns, and dry matter and N partitioning. Rain pH did not affect CO2 fixation, water potentials, chlorophyll content, seed yield, shoot dry weight, or N accumulation. At pH 4.2 Amsoy 71 produced fewer flowers and pods than at pH 3.0 or 5.6. Abscised leaf dry weight of Amsoy 71 was greater at pH 3.0 and 4.2 than at pH 5.6 pH effects were detected for N partitioning, but these responses were dependent on year and cultivar. No physiological basis for reported soybean yield responses to acid rain of pH 3.0 was identified.
Reflections on the Culture of Veterans

Veterans, as a cultural group, present unique challenges to health care providers. Veteran culture includes health inequalities and health disparities related to posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse that must be understood in context to provide the best care possible to this population. Veterans are not, however, frequently viewed in terms of culturally competent nursing care. Changes in the approach to this population are necessary to provide effective, comprehensive, and compassionate care.
Killing the Mook and Midriff

The Mook and Midriff are metaphors for young men and women typically portrayed in the media. They are shallow, self-absorbed characters inordinately focused on physical appearance and personal sati...
Liquid medication dosing errors in children: role of provider counseling strategies.

Abstract Objective To examine the degree to which recommended provider counseling strategies, including advanced communication techniques and dosing instrument provision, are associated with reductions in parent liquid medication dosing errors. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data on provider communication and dosing instrument provision from a study of a health literacy intervention to reduce medication errors. Parents whose children ( 20% deviation from prescribed). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, controlling for parent age, language, country, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, health literacy (Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults); child age, chronic disease status; and site. Results Of 287 parents, 41.1% made dosing errors. Advanced counseling and instrument provision in the ED were reported by 33.1% and 19.2%, respectively; 15.0% reported both. Advanced counseling and instrument provision in the ED were associated with decreased errors (30.5 vs 46.4%, P = .01; 21.8 vs 45.7%, P = .001). In adjusted analyses, ED advanced counseling in combination with instrument provision was associated with a decreased odds of error compared to receiving neither (adjusted odds ratio 0.3; 95% confidence interval 0.1–0.7); advanced counseling alone and instrument alone were not significantly associated with odds of error. Conclusions Provider use of advanced counseling strategies and dosing instrument provision may be especially effective in reducing errors when used together.
EARLY EFFECTS OF RODENT GRANIVORY ON EXPERIMENTAL FORB COMMUNITIES

Seed predation by rodents had major direct and indirect impacts on exper- imental plantings of 16 species of herbaceous dicots of the prairie/savanna interface in southwestern Wisconsin. We broadcast seeds in the autumn of 1997 on 18 2 x 2 m plots
Miniature DBR filters compatible with low cost substrates: Formulation

This paper describes and formulates a miniaturization approach for bandpass filters. Based on an illustrated miniaturizing principle of stubs, the general fundamental equations for a miniaturized narrow bandpass DBR filter are derived for the first time. Equations for the transmission zeros, the fundamental resonance frequency and the higher order resonance frequencies (poles) are, thus, provided. Then, starting from these design equations, a first-order DBR filter is designed, measured and validated. Measurement results, which are in good agreement with the simulated ones, show a high degree of miniaturization of 83%, better insertion loss and better filter out-of-band rejection.
Teaching engineering economy in the context of design

Engineering economy is a subset of engineering that involves the application of technical and economic analysis, with the goal of deciding which course of action best meets performance criteria and simultaneously uses scarce capital in a prudent manner. The impact of engineering economy principles on an organization is maximized when introduced early in the process of designing a product, process or system. Here, the authors describe how coursework is being developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (USA) to introduce students to fundamental engineering economy subjects (e.g. statics/dynamics, thermodynamics, electromechanical systems and engineering economy) through the framework of design. It is hoped that sophomores and juniors will be drawn to an increased understanding of these important topics because of the realistic and exciting challenges of engineering design.
The materiality of the corporation: Oil, gas, and corporate social technologies in the remaking of a Russian region

In the Perm Region of Russia, recent social and cultural projects sponsored by energy companies prominently reference certain material qualities of oil and gas. The depth associated with the region's oil deposits is evoked in cultural heritage celebrations funded by Lukoil-Perm, and the connectivity associated with natural gas pipelines figures in PermRegionGaz's efforts to foster new patterns of sociability. Attending to the larger material and semiotic shifts in which these projects are embedded points to a significant dimension of contemporary hydrocarbon politics and to specific ways in which corporations attempt to transform critiques of their operations. [oil, natural gas, corporations, materiality, infrastructure, corporate social responsibility, postsocialisms]
Adventures in Creating a Culture of Integrity: Developing and Implementing an Honor Code

Kathleen Crowley is currently Professor of Psychology at The College of Saint Rose. This interview focuses on her research.
Investigation of the radial uniformity of planar inductively coupled RF discharges using a self-consistent two-dimensional kinetic model

Summary form only given. High-density inductively coupled RF plasmas in planar geometry have attracted rapidly growing interest for applications in the semiconductor manufacturing in the last years. One main advantage of these discharges is the possible independent control of the plasma density and the ion impact energies on a substrate to be processed. In this contribution we concentrate on the discussion of the radial uniformity of the plasma density, the potential profiles and the radial variation of particle fluxes and impact energies along the walls (substrate). The investigations presented are based on a fast self-consistent two-dimensional kinetic model for planar inductive discharges. Since these discharges are usually operated at low pressures (/spl les/10 mTorr), a spatially resolved description of the electron kinetics in the discharge can be achieved by the solution of the electron Boltzmann equation in the nonlocal approximation. The ion dynamics is treated by a two-dimensional fluid model, the electrodynamics by the two-dimensional solution of the complex wave equation.
Gender and cognitive-emotional factors as predictors of pre-sleep arousal and trait hyperarousal in insomnia.

Abstract Objective Elevated pre-sleep arousal has been consistently associated with insomnia, yet the cognitive–emotional mechanisms involved in sleep-related arousal remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of pre-sleep arousal and trait hyperarousal from a set of variables that included self-reported affect, sleep-related cognitions, locus of control, and gender. Methods Cross-sectional data were analyzed for 128 participants (89 females) who met criteria for psychophysiological insomnia and completed a set of questionnaires that included the Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (BAS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Negative Subscale (nPANAS) and Positive Subscale (pPANAS)), Sleep Locus of Control (SLOC), Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS), Hyperarousal Scale (HAS) and demographic information. Step-wise regression was conducted with a set of independent variables, with PSAS and HAS serving as separate dependent variables. Results Trait hyperarousal was associated with higher levels of both negative and positive emotionality, as well as negative beliefs about sleep, in both genders. Pre-sleep arousal was associated with greater negative emotionality and internal sleep locus of control, varying by gender. Among women, high pre-sleep arousal was associated with negative emotionality, while in men greater pre-sleep arousal was associated with an internal sleep locus of control. Conclusion These findings have clinical implications, suggesting that men and women may require different cognitive targets when addressing pre-sleep arousal.
Adaptive Idle Speed Control for Internal Combustion Engines

The paper presents an application of a recently developed adaptive posicast controller for time-delay systems to the idle speed control (ISC) problem in internal combustion (IC) engines. The objective is to regulate the engine speed at a prescribed set-point in the presence of accessory load torque disturbances such as air conditioning and power steering. The adaptive controller, integrated with the existing proportional spark controller, is used to drive the electronic throttle as an actuator. We present both simulation and experimental results which demonstrate the potential of the adaptive controller to improve the performance. In addition, the reduction in calibration time and effort which can be achieved with our approach is discussed.
Chuar Group of the Grand Canyon: record of breakup of Rodinia, associated change in the global carbon cycle, and ecosystem expansion by 740 Ma

The Chuar Group (approximately 1600 m thick) preserves a record of extensional tectonism, ocean-chemistry fluctuations, and biological diversification during the late Neoproterozoic Era. An ash layer from the top of the section has a U-Pb zircon age of 742 +/- 6 Ma. The Chuar Group was deposited at low latitudes during extension on the north-trending Butte fault system and is inferred to record rifting during the breakup of Rodinia. Shallow-marine deposition is documented by tide- and wave-generated sedimentary structures, facies associations, and fossils. C isotopes in organic carbon show large stratigraphic variations, apparently recording incipient stages of the marked C isotopic fluctuations that characterize later Neoproterozoic time. Upper Chuar rocks preserve a rich biota that includes not only cyanobacteria and algae, but also heterotrophic protists that document increased food web complexity in Neoproterozoic ecosystems. The Chuar Group thus provides a well-dated, high-resolution record of early events in the sequence of linked tectonic, biogeochemical, environmental, and biological changes that collectively ushered in the Phanerozoic Eon.
Approximating a Three-Dimensional Fluidized Bed With Two-Dimensional Simulations

Fluidized beds can be used to gasify biomass in the production of producer gas, a flammable gas that can replace natural gas in process heating. Modeling these reactors with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations is advantageous when performing parametric studies for design and scale-up. From a computational resource point of view, two-dimensional simulations are easier to perform than three-dimensional simulations, but they may not capture the proper physics. This paper will compare two- and three-dimensional simulations in a 10.2 cm diameter fluidized bed with side air injection to determine when two-dimensional simulations are adequate to capture the bed hydrodynamics. Simulations will be completed in a glass bead fluidized bed operating at 1.5Umf and 3Umf , where Umf is the minimum fluidization velocity. Side air injection is also simulated to model biomass injection for gasification applications. The simulations are compared to experimentally obtained time-averaged local gas holdup values using X-ray computed tomography. Results indicate that for the conditions of this study, two-dimensional simulations qualitatively predict the correct hydrodynamics and gas holdup trends that are observed experimentally for a limited range of fluidization conditions.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Bias in jury selection: justifying prohibited peremptory challenges

The United States Supreme Court has restricted attorneys from considering the gender and race of potential jurors in their use of peremptory challenges—the practice by which jurors may be removed from a jury without explanation or evidence of potential bias. We propose that forbidding peremptories based on social category information not only fails to decrease biased jury selection, but also encourages attorneys to search—successfully—for neutral justifications for their biased decisions. In Study 1, participants who acted as prosecutors in a jury selection paradigm eliminated female jurors more often than male jurors, but then justified these biased choices by citing gender-neutral information. Troublingly, Study 2 showed that explicit instructions against the use of gender failed to eliminate selection bias, and in fact resulted in even more elaborate justifications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boundary Conditions for the Application of Three Theories of Computer-Mediated Communication to MySpace

This study examined how generally theories of taste performance, identity warranting, and social capital formation could be applied to behavior on MySpace. New MySpace members (N = 365) was tracked for 7 weeks to determine how frequently boundary conditions for these theories were satisfied. Most new members rarely visited their profiles, did little to personalize them, and did not list friends or receive comments from others during the 7-week study period. Therefore theories of taste performance, identity warranting, and social capital formation apply only to a minority of MySpace users. These findings limit the application of theories, but also point to new areas for research on social network sites and to a revised view of the interpersonal character of MySpace.
Matrix metalloproteinase-induced fibrosis and malignancy in breast and lung.

Fibrosis is a pathological condition in which tissue structure is disrupted by production of excess extracellular matrix (ECM), and chronic tissue fibrosis is associated with tumor development. Myofibroblasts are the principal mediators of fibrosis, producing abundant ECM as well as inflammatory and angiogenic factors. Myofibroblasts are also abundant in tumor stroma, where they facilitate tumor growth and progression. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that degrade and remodel the ECM, are believed to play a critical role in the development of fibrotic tissue, though the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Expression of MMP-3 in mammary epithelial cells of transgenic mice stimulates development of fibrosis and subsequent tumor formation. We have recently determined that exposure of mammary epithelial cells to MMP-3 induces a specialized form of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in which the cells acquire myofibroblast-like characteristics and that this process is dependent upon the generati...