cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-Circulating Therapies for Cancer Treatment

Abstract In the emerging field of nanotechnology, nanoparticles hold promise for overcoming challenges associated with many cancer drug delivery systems. They possess enormous potential by providing a means of modifying the fate of an active substance in vivo and of increasing drug concentration in the target tissue, thereby improving pharmacological efficacy and reducing side-effects related to systemic toxicity. However, their applications are limited by rapid clearance from circulation by the reticuloendothelial system. Characteristics that prolong circulation must be taken into account in the design of an optimized cancer delivery system. Considerable progress has been made over the past several decades to address this problem with surface treatment (alteration/modification) strategies in the development of nanoparticles with an acceptable blood circulation time. The objective of this chapter is to outline the current research investigating long-circulating nanoparticles and to discuss the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (mainly liposomes) that have a significant impact on the fate of nanocarriers. We highlight how manipulation of these parameters influences the pharmacokinetics of the delivery system, focus on PEG modification of nanoparticle as the current gold standard in the field of so-called stealth nanoparticles, and address advantages and disadvantages of PEG-modified nanoparticles. Finally, other biomaterials and methods that have been introduced as alternatives in designing drug delivery systems that can be disguised as “self” and remain unrecognizable to immune system are discussed.
Volatiles in silicate melts at high pressure and temperature: 2. Water in melts along the join NaAlO2SiO2 and a comparison of solubility mechanisms of water and fluorine

The solubility mechanisms of water have been determined in melts along the anhydrous composition join SiO2NaAlO2 in the Al(Al + Si) range between 0 and 0.333 as a function of water content. Raman spectroscopy of melts quenched from 1550°C at 15 kbar have led to the following principal conclusions in regard to solubility mechanisms. Water dissolves by forming OH complexes with Si4+, Al3+ and Na+. Water also occurs in molecular form. SiOH bonds dominate in water-bearing silica melt, but SiOH bonds cannot be identified in melts with Al(Al + Si) ≧ 0.125 where, however, AlOH and NaOH complexes exist. The proportion of AlOH relative to NaOH in the hydroxyl complexes (XOHAl3+) in aluminosilicate melts increases with increasing bulk melt Al(Al + Si). With Al(Al + Si) = 0.125 XOHAl3+) is near 0, but for melts with Al(Al + Si) = 0.333XOHAl3+ exceeds 0.8. The proportion of Na-complexed hydroxyl is positively correlated with water content. The structural role of OH resembles that of F in melts along the join SiO2NaAlO2 where NaF and AlF complexes are formed. SiF bonds have not been observed in aluminosilicate melts. In both F- and H2O-bearing systems, nonbridging oxygens are formed in the melts, but F is a more efficient depolymerizer than water. This difference in polymerization reflects the relative stabilities of Al- and Na-bearing fluoride as compared with hydroxyl complexes. An empirical model from which the viscosity of hydrous aluminosilicate melts can be calculated is proposed. In the case of both F and H2O, the calculated viscosities reproduce the experimentally-determined viscosities within experimental and analytical uncertainty.
The protective effect of intercostal artery reconstruction for spinal cord in thoracoabdominal aorta replacement

Objective To retrospectively analysis the role of intercostal artery reconstruction in spinal cord protection for patients with extent thoracoabdominal aotic aneurysm (TAAA) repair.Methods From August 2003 to August 2010,extent Crawford Ⅱ TAAA repair were performed in 81 consecutive patients with mean age (39.4 ± 10.3) years and 61 (75.3％)were males.All the procedures were performed under profound hypothermia with interval cardiac arrest.Patientswere opened with a thoracoabdominal incision.Extracorporeal circulation was instituted with two arterial cannulae and a single venous cannula in the right atrium.T6 to T12 intercostal arteries and L1,2 lumbar arteries were formed to a neo-intercostal artery in place and were connected to an 8mm branch for keeping spinal cord blood perfusion.Visceral arteries were joined into a patch and anastomosed to the end of the main graft.Left renal artery was anastomosed to an 8mm branch or joined to the patch.The other 10mm branches were anastomosed to iliac arteries.Results With 100％ follow-up,early mortality was 7.4％ (6/81),one patient was dead result from cerebral hemorrhage,three from renal failure,one from heart failure because of myocardial infarction and one from rupture of cliac artery dissection.Postoperative spinal cord deficits was 3.7％ (3/81),temporary paraplegia were observed in 2 patients and paraparesis occurred in 1 patient,but all of them were without bladder or rectum deficits.Neo- intercostal arteries were clogged in 12 patients within follow-up,and two of those patients with Marfan syndrome underwent pseudoaneurysm after intercostal arteries reconstruction.The mean survival time in this group is (54.22 ± 3.03 )months (95％ CI:44.37 months,59.90 months)with survival rate 92.37％ after 1 year,89.02％ after 2 years,85.54％ after 5 years.Three patient were dead with long term follow-up,one were resulted from cerebral hemorrhage at 20th month,one from rupture of ascending aorta at 23rd month and the last from rupture of aorta ulcer.Conclusion Intercostal artery reconstruction is a reliable method in spinal cord protection for patients with TAAA repair.It is a feasible method with acceptable surgical risks and satisfactory results.It can achieve long term result with less risk of spinal cord deficits and good quality of daily life. Key words: Thoracoabdominal aorta replacement; intercostal artery reconstruction; Spinal cord protection
Contextualizing Life Context: Discrimination, Structural Competency, and Evaluation in the Treatment of Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Disorder

We respond to four commentaries (Beatty, 2020; Knight, 2020; Premkumar, 2020; Roberts, 2020) on our article (Preis et al., 2020). These commentaries extended our focus on life context and prenatal ...
Are Juries More Likely to Second-Guess Auditors under Imprecise Accounting Standards?

SUMMARY: U.S. auditors are concerned that less precise accounting standards will cause more second-guessing of their judgments and thus greater legal liability. We report the results of an experiment that tests the validity of this concern. We manipulate the aggressiveness of the client's reporting decision and the precision of the accounting guidance related to the reporting decision. When the client's reporting is conservative, we observe more second-guessing of auditor judgments under the imprecise standard than the precise standard. However, when the auditor allows aggressive client reporting, we observe less tendency toward second-guessing under the imprecise standard. Indeed, rather than being overly harsh, juries appear to be overly lenient when auditors allow aggressive accounting under an imprecise standard. Our results suggest a need for tools to help jurors evaluate auditor judgments under imprecise standards.
Multi-Omics Profiling Establishes the Polypharmacology of FDA Approved CSK4/6 Inhibitors and Its Impact on Drug Response

The target profiles of many drugs are established early in their development and are not systematically revisited at the time of approval, raising the question whether human therapeutics with the same nominal targets but different chemical structures are functionally equivalent. In this paper we use five distinct phenotypic and biochemical assays to compare approved inhibitors of the cyclindependent kinases CDK4/6 (palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) that are promising therapies for hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. We find that transcriptional, proteomic and phenotypic changes induced by the three drugs differ significantly and that abemaciclib has activates overlapping those of the older generation CDK inhibitor alvocidib. Abemaciclib’s activities arise from inhibition of kinases other than CDK4/6 including CDK2/Cyclin A/E and CDK1/Cyclin B. Our data suggest the potential for differential use in the clinic and argue that a multi-faceted experimental and computational approach is necessary to obtain a reliable picture of kinase inhibitor target spectrum.
Quantitative Measurements of Protein Volume and Concentration using Hydrogel-Backed Nanopores

Accurate identification and quantification of proteins in solution using nanopores is technically challenging in part because of the large fraction of missed translocation events due to short event times and limitations of conventional current amplifiers. Previously, we have shown that a nanopore interfaced with a poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethacrylate hydrogel with an average mesh size of 3.1 nm significantly enhances the protein residence time within the pore, reducing the number of missed events. We used hydrogel-backed nanopores to sense unlabeled proteins as small as 5.5 kDa in size and 10 fM in concentration. We show that the frequency of protein translocation events linearly scales with bulk concentration over a wide range of concentrations and that unknown protein concentrations can be determined from an interpolation of the frequency-concentration curve with less than 10% error. Further, we show an iterative method to determine a protein volume accurately from measurement data for proteins with a diameter comparable to a nanopore diameter. Our measurements and analysis also suggest several competing mechanisms for the detection enhancement enabled by the presence of the hydrogel.
Evidence for Revising the Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening Tool: a Scoping Review

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and risky behavior, chronic illness, and premature mortality is well documented. Despite this evidence, screening for ACEs in primary care settings remains limited. Objections to widespread screening include concerns that the original ACE screening tool limited childhood adversities to family and household dysfunction. The purpose of this scoping review is to describe current knowledge for expanding ACEs categories and revising the formatting and scoring of the screening tool. With the assistance of a medical librarian, we used a two-step process to conduct a systematic search in three databases (CINAHL, OVID Medline, PsycINFO). Our aim was to focus on articles that expanded ACE categories and/or revised the scoring or formatting of the ACE tool. Eighteen articles (reporting 19 studies) met criteria. A minimum of two authors extracted the relevant characteristics of the studies independently and conferred to reach agreement. The majority of studies broadened ACEs to include community and systemic categories; three studies revised the formatting or scoring of the ACE tool. Exposure to community violence (ECV) was the most frequently added category (15), followed by economic hardship in childhood (EHC) (13); bullying (10); absence/death of parent or significant others (9); and discrimination (7). This evidence supports the expansion of ACE screening tools for assessment of childhood trauma and timely treatment.
InSight Mission: Prime Mission Operation

The InSight Mission has been conducting science operations on Mars since successfully landing on November 26, 2018. The Deployment Phase included evaluation of the Lander health, surveying the area around the Lander for instrument placement, and deployment of the instruments to the Martian surface. Deployment of instruments directly to the Martian surface has never been done before, and allows the instruments direct contact with Mars. Science data collection started during the Deployment Phase, and the Science Monitoring Phase started immediately after instrument deployment completed. InSight has uncovered the geophysical characteristics of Mars. This allows for a better understanding of formation and evolution of Mars (and other terrestrial planets by comparison). Several instruments and sensors, a subset of which were from international partners, are used to gather the science data. Although operations of the lander and instruments have been very successful, there have been challenges along the way. The challenges involved the lander, instruments, and Mars itself. The largest of these challenges was the Heat Probe and Physical Properties (HP3) mole's difficulty in penetrating the Martian surface. The Project/NASA has invested in an extensive almost two-year Mole Recovery effort that itself posed more challenges. The mole recovery involved performing operations never envisioned and went beyond the original designs of the HP3 and the Instrument Deployment System (IDS). This paper will give a background of the mission describe the surface mission operations, describe overcoming operational challenge, and results of the mission so far.
Polymer based Acoustic Wave Sensor Using Hot Embossing Technique

The objective of this research is to develop a highly sensitive acoustic wave sensor using a tunneling current. The tunneling current device is fabricated with the hot embossing technology. Since polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is less expensive, has little stiffness, and is easier to work with micro-machining process compared to traditional silicon-based tunneling sensors, we fabricate the tip structure on the material using the hot embossing process. First, the frequency response of the tunneling device is measured by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) and laser vibrometer to find the resonance frequency. Then the performance of the device is characterized by measuring the acoustic wave, which has the resonance frequency.
Nutrition Therapy in Non-intubated Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure.

A challenging aspect of the care for patients with acute respiratory failure is their nutrition management. This manuscript consists of a literature review on nutrition therapy in non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure receiving high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. Studies show that non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure either on non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula are largely underfed in the initial phase of their hospitalization. Although data is limited, the available evidence suggests the feasibility of initiating oral diet in the majority of these patients in the early phase. Initial evaluation includes mental status evaluation, the Yale swallowing screening protocol, and an assessment of severity of illness. The goal should be to initiate oral diet within 24 h. If patient cannot initiate oral diet, the reason for not initiating oral diet should dictate the next step. For instance, if the reason is failure of the swallow screening, further evaluation with fiberoptic endoscopy is warranted. The inability to provide oral diet for a patient in respiratory distress may a harbinger of failure of non-invasive oxygen therapy and should prompt consideration for endotracheal intubation. We suggest placement of a small-bore feeding tube for enteral nutrition if patient is unable receive oral diet after 48 h. The nutrition management of these patients is better provided by a multidisciplinary team in a protocolized manner.
Language, gender, and citizenship in American literature, 1789-1919

Introduction: "A Band of National Union": Literature, Gender, and American Language Ideologies 1. Hope Leslie, Women's Petitions, and Political Discourse in Jacksonian America 2. Vocal (Im)propriety and the Management of Sociopolitical Mobility in The Wide, Wide World and Ragged Dick 3. The (Re)Construction of Dialect and African American (Dis)Enfranchisement in Charles W. Chesnutt's Writings 4. Henry James and the Linguistic Domestication of Women and Immigrants at the Turn of the Century. Coda: Herland and "The Future of English": Considering Language, Gender, and National Identity in Early 20th-Century America
Hyperuricemia as a Risk Factor in Coronary Heart Disease

The subjects of this study were 290 hospital patients who were divided into 4 groups: acute myocardial infarction (100), cardiac ischaemia with angina but no infarction (50), white patients without evidence of coronary heart disease (70), and a group of South African black patients without detectable coronary heart disease (70). Mean serum uric acid (SUA) levels were 8,08 ± 0,32 in the ischaemic group, 7,09 ± 0,23 in the acute infarction group, 5,78 ± 0,21 in normal black patients, and 5,75 ± 0,21 in normal white controls. The differences in SUA levels between the ischaemic and infarction groups as compared with both control groups was highly significant (p < 0,00l). These differences were most striking in the females aged 60 years and over.
Message strip-mining heuristics for high speed networks

In this work we investigate how the compiler technique of message strip-mining performs in practice on contemporary high performance networks. Message strip-mining attempts to reduce the overall cost of communication in parallel programs by breaking up large message transfers into smaller ones that can be overlapped with computation. In practice, however, network resource constraints may negate the expected performance gains. By deriving a performance model and synthetic benchmarks we determine how network and application characteristics in.uence the applicability of this optimization. We use these .ndings to determine heuristics to follow when performing this optimization on parallel programs. We propose strip-mining with variable block size as an alternative strategy that performs almost as well as a highly tuned .xed block strategy and has the advantage of being performance portable across systems and application input sets. We evaluate both techniques using synthetic benchmarks and an application from the NAS Parallel Benchmark suite.
Synthetic and thermochemical studies of reactions of the 16-electron ruthenium complex [(Ph2PNMeNMePPh2)2RuCl]BF4 with H2, CH3CN and CO

Abstract The 16-electron ruthenium complex [(Ph2PNMeNMePPh2)2RuCl]BF4 (2) has been prepared by chloride abstraction from (Ph2PNMeNMePPh2)2RuCl2 (1) with AgBF4. The enthalpies of reaction of [(Ph2PNMeNMePPh2)2RuCl]BF4 (2) with H2, CH3CN and CO, leading to the formation of complexes [(Ph2PNMeNMePPh2)2RuCl(L)]BF4 (L=H2 (3); CH3CN, (4); CO (5)), have been measured by anaerobic calorimetry in CH2Cl2 at 30°C. These reactions are rapid and quantitative. The relative order of stability established for these complexes is 5>4>3. Reactivity and thermochemistry of one alkyne, HCCnBu, has also been investigated.
The Future of Economics

This public lecture discusses the criticisms of rational choice theory that have emerged within the recent literature on experimental and behavioral economics, and speculates about the possible impact on the discipline of economics.
The Diffuse X-Ray Emission from the LMC

We discuss several aspects of the properties of diffuse X-ray emission from the vicinity of the LMC. The comparison of the diffuse X-ray intensity with the HI column density distribution in the LMC shows some signatures of the ‘shadowing’ effect of the ISM on the cosmic X-ray background and the interaction of the LMC with the galactic halo. The substantial diffuse X-ray emission detected from the LMC most likely has its origin in a hot ISM component energized by supernovae and stellar winds from massive stars.
Assessment and quantification of psoriasis disease activity using FDG-PET/CT: A novel concept

1959 Objectives As is the case with many skin diseases, psoriasis requires an objective biomarker. Although several clinical measures of psoriasis disease activity exist, they are all clinician dependent and subjective in nature. In the Vascular Inflammation in Psoriasis (VIP), multicenter trial that was designed to compare the effects of different treatment regimens (12 weeks of adalimumab vs. phototherapy vs. placebo) on vascular inflammation as measured by FDG-PET/CT, we also aim to determine the role of FDG-PET/CT in measuring and assessing psoriasis activity in the skin. Methods Six FDG-PET/CT studies of 4 subjects (4 pre-treatment and 2 post-treatment studies) who participated in the trial were analyzed. All skin lesions on the lower extremities were segmented automatically (3Dviewnix, in-house software) and FDG uptake values at baseline prior to treatment and after 12 weeks of treatment were measured quantitatively. Partial volume corrected SUVmax (PVC-SUVmax) and SUVmean (PVC-SUVmean), volume and PVC-MVPmean (PVC-SUVmean*volume) and PVC-MVPmax (PVC-SUVmax*volume) were calculated. Results In these 6 studies, PVC-MVPmean ranged from 11.6 to 234.4, PVC-SUVmax from 3.7 to 6.5, and PVC-SUVmean from 1.8 to 4.3. Three-dimensional reconstructed images of automatically segmented lesions were comparable with the clinical distribution of skin lesions in all patients. In the patient randomized to phototherapy (open label arm) changes in PVC-MVPmean paralleled clinical changes. Conclusions The preliminary data generated from this proof-of-concept study suggest FDG-PET/CT can be used to objectively measure psoriasis skin activity, where PVC-MVPmean of skin lesions may provide an objective biomarker of psoriasis activity.
Using 2/sup nd/-order information to reduce average coefficient length in IIR filters

Developments in ASIC and FPGA technology have increased interest in area- and power-efficient implementations of digital filters. We propose a method of obtaining reduced space and power IIR implementations using variable length coefficients. Our method uses the Fisher information matrix to include 2/sup nd/-order effects in the determination of coefficient wordlengths. For Hwang's filter, our algorithm yields designs with more than 16% improvement in the average coefficient length, compared to uniform length coefficient design for the same performance. The resulting coefficients can be implemented using different implementation approaches, including multiplierless designs and lookup table methods.
Inhibition of naloxone-induced withdrawal in morphine dependent mice by 1-trans-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

The effects of various doses of 1-trans-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) on naloxone-induced withdrawal were studied in mice rendered dependent on morphine by the pellet implantation procedure. When administered i.p., 30 min prior to naloxone, delta9-THC, inhibited the naloxone-induced withdrawal jumping response. Two other signs of morphine withdrawal (defecation and rearing behavior) were also suppressed by deltapTHC. It is suggested that delta9-THC or some of its derivatives may have potential use in narcotic detoxification.
Membranes, Phase Interfaces, and Separations: Novel Techniques and Membranes—An Overview

Membranes and bulk phase interfaces share a close relation in separations. The bulk phase interface may be a fluid−fluid, fluid−solid, or solid−solid interface; it may be immobilized or mobile. In conventional membrane separations, two-phase interfaces exist on two sides of the membrane, two solid−fluid interfaces for solid membranes. Conventional equilibrium separations, however, have only one bulk phase interface. Such an interface in gas−liquid, vapor−liquid, liquid−liquid, and subcritical/supercritical fluid−liquid separation systems may be created by phase-interface immobilization at a membrane pore mouth as in membrane contactor-based nondispersive equilibrium separations. Membrane emulsification/sparging/degassing leads to dispersion-based creation of mobile phase interfaces and phase contacting. Convective transport through membrane pores provides efficient solid−liquid contacting as in membrane chromatography. Antisolvent crystallization via dispersion/mixing through membrane pores creates new mo...
Fabrication and Characterization of Flexible and Tunable Plasmonic Nanostructures

We present a novel method to fabricate flexible and tunable plasmonic nanostructures based on combination of soft lithography and nanosphere lithography and perform a comprehensive structural and optical characterization of these structures. Spherical latex particles are uniformly deposited on glass slides and used as molds for polydimethylsiloxane to obtain nanovoid structures. The diameter and depth of the nanostructures are controlled by the size of the latex particles. These surfaces are coated with a thin Ag layer for fabrication of uniform plasmonic nanostructures. Structural characterization of these surfaces is performed by SEM and AFM. Optical properties of these plasmonic nanostructures are evaluated via UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, dark field microscopy and surface–enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Position of the surface plasmon absorption depends on the diameter and depth of the nanostructures. SERS enhancement factor (measured up to 1.4 × 106) is dependent on the plasmon absorption wavelength and laser wavelength used in these experiments.
Evidence that the leucine zipper is a coiled coil

Recently, a hypothetical structure called a leucine zipper was proposed that defines a new class of DNA binding proteins. The common feature of these proteins is a region spanning approximately 30 amino acids that contains a periodic repeat of leucines every seven residues. A peptide corresponding to the leucine zipper region of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 was synthesized and characterized. This peptide associates in the micromolar concentration range to form a very stable dimer of alpha helices with a parallel orientation. Although some features of the leucine zipper model are supported by our experimental data, the peptide has the characteristics of a coiled coil.
A low complexity multi-threshold centralized detection strategy for cooperative spectrum sensing

In this paper, we propose a low complexity multi-bit multi-user combining strategy for cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks. We consider the optimal detector where the fusion center receives multi-bit sensing information from several nodes and combine them to make a final decision on the status of the channel. Each node employs a linear quantization technique to generate its multi-bit decision before sending it to the fusion center. Our goal is to optimize this quantization to have the minimum error in sensing. To do so, we use the central limit theorem to get an analytical expression to approximate the performance of the optimal detector at the fusion center. Then, we use this expression to find optimal parameter which is used for quantizing the information in each node. Simulation results are provided to show that the performance evaluation expression is very close to the actual values. Furthermore, we show that using the optimized quantization in each node, the sensing accuracy improves significantly by using 2 or 3 quantization bits compared to the single bit hard decision.
The crystal structures of phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase with bound substrates reveal the enzyme's catalytic mechanism.

Abstract Phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (PPAT) is an essential enzyme in the coenzyme A pathway that catalyzes the reversible transfer of an adenylyl group from ATP to 4′-phosphopantetheine (Ppant) in the presence of magnesium. To investigate the reaction mechanism, the high-resolution crystal structures of the Escherichia coli PPAT have been determined in the presence of either ATP or Ppant. Structural details of the catalytic center revealed specific roles for individual amino acid residues involved in substrate binding and catalysis. The side-chain of His18 stabilizes the expected pentacovalent intermediate, whereas the side-chains of Thr10 and Lys42 orient the nucleophile for an in-line displacement mechanism. The binding site for the manganese ion that interacts with the phosphate groups of the nucleotide has also been identified. Within the PPAT hexamer, one trimer is in its substrate-free state, whereas the other is in a substrate-bound state.
Biologic effects of calcium-containing crystals

Purpose of reviewCalcium-containing crystals can cause the degeneration of articular tissues in two separate pathways. In the direct pathway, crystals directly induce synoviocytes to proliferate and produce metalloproteinases and prostaglandins. The other pathway, the paracrine pathway, involves the
Modulation of carbohydrate response element-binding protein gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rat adipose tissue

Carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a rat homolog of human Williams-Beuren syndrome region 14 and a member of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor fa...
Stanislas Breton's Use of Neoplatonism to Interpret the Cross in a Postmodern Setting

In the aftermath of the debate between Derrida and Levinas on Hebraism and Hellenism, Christian thought that retains a place for philosophy is often regarded as “Graeco-Christian”, a monolithic system with an unfortunate history. The work of the French philosopher Stansilas Breton suggests that the reality is more complex. In Le Verbe et la croix (Paris, Desclee, 1981), he examines the function of the term logos staurou in Paul, arguing that this untranslatable term stands as a question mark in a world of language that could only speak “Jew” or “Greek”. Far from being a sign of Christian superiority, the cross signals an imperative for dispossession intrinsic to Christian language. In its “nothingness” the cross functions as a principle of critique that makes innovation and engagement possible. Thus while the cross involves negation it moves beyond negative theology. Drawing upon neoplatonist philosophy, Breton delineates the way in which the cross makes possible “the writing of the self in the world”. This paper draws upon Breton's understanding of the function of the cross to argue that the heritage of Athens endures and must be re-thought, always recognizing the limits of all human language. After examining Breton's understanding of the logos staurou, it relates this notion to his broader understanding of revelation as “writing”. Finally it shows how Breton appeals to neoplatonist meonotology to speak in more universal terms of the need for a principle of dispossession at the heart of all religious language. For Christians the cross is this principle, enabling human beings to be causes of themselves who engender new being.
Efficient current expansion modes for the triarm frequency-selective surface

An isolated symmetric triarm element is analyzed using the singularity expansion method (SEM). SEM poles, modes, and coupling coefficients yield considerable insight into the fundamental scattering characteristics of this element. It is shown that a simple sinusoidal approximation of the SEM current modes represents a highly efficient entire domain current expansion set when used in the usual Floquet moment method description of the triarm frequency-selective surface array. >
Interaction of high-density and low-density lipoproteins to solid surfaces coated with cholesterol as determined by an optical fiber-based biosensor

In recent years, the use of fiber optics has become an important tool in biomedicine and biotechnology. We are involved in developing and employing a new system which, through the use of fiber optics, may be capable of measuring the content of cholesterol and lipoproteins in blood samples in real time. In the optical fiber-based biosensor, a laser beam having a wavelength of 512 nm (green light) is launched into an optical fiber, which transmits the light to its distal end. An evanescent wave (travelling just outside the fiber core) is used to excite rhodamine-labelled HDL or LDL which become bound to the fiber or to fiber-bound molecules. The fluorescence (red light) is coupled back into the fiber and detected with a photodiode. Preliminary work has involved testing of high density lipoprotein (HDL) binding to a cholesterol-coated fiber and to a bare fiber and low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding to a cholesterol-coated fiber. A significant difference was observed in the binding rate of HDL (5 (mu) g/mL and lower) to a bare fiber as opposed to a cholesterol-coated fiber. The binding rate of HDL (5 (mu) g/mL) to a bare fiber was 7.5 (mu) V/sec and to a cholesterol-coated fiber was 3.5 (mu) V/sec. We have calculated the binding affinity of LDL to a cholesterol- coated fiber as 1.4 (mu) M -1 . These preliminary results suggest that the optical fiber-based biosensor can provide a unique and promising approach to the analysis of lipoprotein interaction with solid surfaces and with cholesterol. More importantly, the results suggest that this technique may be used to assess the binding of blood proteins to artificial organs/tissues, and to measure the amount of cholesterol, HDL and LDL in less than a minute.
A note on effective ultrapowers: Uniform failure of bounded collection

By suitably adapting an argument of Hirschfeld (see [2, Chapter 9]), we show that there is a single Δ1 formula that defeats “bounded collection” for any model of II2 Arithmetic that is either a recursive ultrapower or an existentially complete model. Some related facts are noted. MSC: 03F30, 03C62.
Rate of Stannous Fluoride Reaction with Hydroxyapatite

Solutions of stannous fluoride are reacted with hydroxyapatite and the progress of the reaction is monitored by calcium analysis. The formation of Sn3F3PO4 proceeds faster with an increase in SnF2 concentration and can be further increased by adding Sn++ to the stannous fluoride solution.
PREVENTION OF ALCOHOL ABUSE-RELATED BIRTH EFFECTS — II. TARGETING AND PRICING

Current public health measures to reduce the occurrence of fetal alcohol abuse syndrome (FAAS) and alcohol abuse-related birth effects (AARBEs) have been ineffective, because they target alcohol consumption, rather than alcohol abuse. The present discussion contends that the most effective public health strategy for reducing FAAS and AARBEs is a combination of more specific public health messages that target alcohol abuse, coupled with higher taxes on alcohol beverages. Although alcohol consumption by alcohol abusers has been thought to be inelastic to price changes, recent studies have found that both heavy drinking and binge drinking are sensitive to alcohol price changes, and price elasticities are relatively high for heavy drinkers who are aware of the consequences of their drinking. Although price increases may have a disproportionate impact on lower socioeconomic groups, this article concludes that they are justifiable from both a utilitarian and a categorical imperative perspective.
Understanding the cultural health belief model influencing health behaviors and health-related quality of life between Latina and Asian-American breast cancer survivors

Purpose The purpose of this study was to (1) describe health behaviors and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Latina and Asian-American breast cancer survivors (BCS), (2) estimate possible culturally driven predictors of health behaviors and HRQOL, and (3) compare pathways for predicting health behaviors and HRQOL between the two groups.
Regional wave propagation in Tanzania, East Africa

[1] Crust and upper mantle structure under Tanzania, East Africa, is investigated using broadband waveforms and phase travel times collected from regional events recorded by the 1994–1995 Tanzania Broadband Seismic Experiment. Broadband displacement waveforms from the mL 5.9 Rukwa graben earthquake (18 August 1994) are modeled using a wave number integration algorithm and a new “phase time” inversion technique to infer a very simple crustal and upper mantle model that can be used for waveform studies of other regional earthquakes in the area. Displacement amplitudes for all phases in the data are predicted quite well using source parameters determined from a previous study of teleseismic waveforms. The crust is parameterized by a linear gradient in velocity defined by surface and Moho P velocities, Poisson's ratio, and crustal thickness. This simple parameterization is sufficient to explain arrival times and waveshapes of the three-component waveforms recorded between 200 and 800 km at stations located on the craton and Mozambique belt. The S wave train consists of Sn, multiple Sn, and critically reflected S wave multiples in the crustal waveguide, in addition to the fundamental mode Rayleigh wave. High phase velocity, critical S wave reflections are seen to form the low group velocity Lg phase. Prominent sP depth phases are seen in the regional waveform data which can be used to infer accurate source depths for events in the region. The Tanzania craton and adjacent Mozambique belt crustal structure is simple and laterally homogeneous, showing few effects of rift disruption. High wave velocities in the uppermost mantle suggest little thermal modification from rifting processes of the East African Rift.
Improved upper and lower bounds for deflections of orthotropic cantilever beams

Abstract Formulas for upper and lower deflection bounds, in terms of appropriately applied approximations to potential and complementary energy expressions, are evaluated on the basis of variational problems which involve fourth-order ordinary Euler differential equations, with associated Euler and constraint boundary conditions. The paper obtains new information on the order of magnitude of effects which modify the results of elementary beam theory through the influence of transverse shear and normal strain deformations, including the delineation of boundary layer effects, with one or two such layers, depending on the degree of orthotropy of the material of the beam.
Abdominal adiposity in U.S. adults: prevalence and trends, 1960-2000.

Abstract Background. There is a large body of epidemiologic evidence linking abdominal obesity to cardiovascular diseases. Abdominal adiposity is an important component of insulin resistance syndrome. Objective. To investigate prevalence and trends in abdominal obesity in U.S. adult population. Design, setting/participants. Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys with an in-person interview and measurement of waist circumference; 23,654 adults aged 20–79 years were examined using data from U.S. National Surveys of 1960–1962 [the first National Health Examination Survey (NHES I)], 1988–1994 [the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)] and 1999–2000 [National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999–2000)]. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥102 cm (>40 in.) in men and ≥88 cm (>35 in.) in women. Results. There was a gradient of increasing waist circumference over the three periods of 1960–1962, 1988–1994 and 1999–2000 in both men and women. In men, the mean waist circumferences were 89, 95 and 99 cm for 1960–1962, 1988–1994 and 1999–2000, respectively. The corresponding values in women were 77, 92 and 94 cm, respectively. A gradient of increasing prevalence of abdominal obesity from 1960 to 2000 was also observed in men and women. In men, the overall age-adjusted prevalences of abdominal obesity were 12.7%, 29% and 38.3% in 1960–1962, 1988–1994 and 1999–2000, respectively. In women, the analogous values were 19.4%, 38.8% and 59.9%, respectively. Similar trends of increasing waist circumference and abdominal obesity were observed in normal weight, underweight and obese subjects defined using body mass index (BMI). Trends of increasing abdominal obesity with increasing BMI over the three time periods were also observed. Conclusions. The increase in the prevalence of abdominal obesity in the United States between 1960–1962 and 1999–2000 has ominous public health implications across entire population, particularly among normal weight subjects. There is an urgent need to describe a public health strategy for early identification of abdominal obesity. Primary prevention of obesity, including abdominal obesity, should be a major public health priority in the United States.
A Strategy for Rapid Thermal Cycling of Molds in Thermoplastic Processing

Thermal cycling of molds is frequently desired in thermoplastic processing. Thermal cycling of the entire mold with a large mass, however, requires an exceedingly long cycle time. A processing strategy for mold rapid heating and cooling, involving a thin-shell mold and two thermal stations (one hot and one cold), was investigated. Because of its low thermal mass, the shell mold can be rapidly heated and cooled through heat conduction hy selectively contacting with the two stations. Numerical simulations were performed to study the effect of different design parameters, including thermal contact resistance, shell material, and shell thickness, on the thermal response at the mold surface. Experimental studies showed aluminum shell molds with a thickness of 1.4 mm can be rapidly heated from room temperature to 200 °C in about 3 s using a hot station at 250 °C. The method was used for thermal cycling of embossing tools Surface microfeatures can he rapidly transferred from thin metallic stamps to polymer substrates with cycle times less than 10 s.
Decoding scheme for constant weight codes for optical and spread spectrum applications

The major problem associated with the use of constant weight codes in high speed optical networks and frequency hopped (FH) spread spectrum applications can be solved through the use of artificial neural networks for encoding and decoding. This Letter presents the training procedures, encoding/decoding schemes and performance evaluation of (8, 3) constant weight code.
Multiple bottlenecks in overlapping task performance

A dual-bottleneck model for overlapping-task performance is proposed. A central bottleneck prevents central processes in overlapping tasks from operating in parallel. A response-initiation bottleneck prevents 2 responses from being initiated in close succession. Response requirements of the overlapping tasks were manipulated in order to demonstrate the existence of the latter bottleneck and to assess its role in delimiting overlapping-task performance. In several experiments, elimination of this bottleneck resulted in a strong reduction of underadditive interactions that serve as key indicators of parallel processing in overlapping-task performance. Results indicate that these interactions were caused primarily by the response initiation bottleneck instead of the central bottleneck and suggest that perceptual identification and categorization require the central bottleneck.
Leadership training in medical education

The authors describe a new leadership development program at the Texas A & M University College of Medicine. Newly graduating physicians should possess leadership skills and the ability to work cooperatively with other services and agencies toward the individual's and the community's health. They should see themselves as guardians of the public good and as citizens and servants of the wider human community. Program components are woven throughout the 4-year curriculum. The first year course consists of weekly small group discussion sessions generated by selected readings, films, invited speakers, and visits to local health and social service agencies. In the second year, students choose a mentor from another college in the University, the purpose being to broaden the students' perspectives. Throughout their studies, students are encouraged, through workshops and other exercises, to engage in introspection and self-analysis. During the fourth year, students are offered an externship with a recognized leade...
Endogenous technical change and intra- and inter-industry quality competition

Abstract This paper considers a non-symmetric quality competition that is occurring not only within the same industry, but also across industries. Both intra- and inter-industry quality competition explain why some industries attract higher R&D expenditures in the R&D race. We find that in equilibrium, higher profits in more advanced industries induce greater efforts in R&D, and consequently a shorter duration of the monopoly position of quality leaders.
Redox regulation of DNA repair: implications for human health and cancer therapeutic development.

Abstract Redox reactions are known to regulate many important cellular processes. In this review, we focus on the role of redox regulation in DNA repair both in direct regulation of specific DNA repair proteins as well as indirect transcriptional regulation. A key player in the redox regulation of DNA repair is the base excision repair enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) in its role as a redox factor. APE1 is reduced by the general redox factor thioredoxin, and in turn reduces several important transcription factors that regulate expression of DNA repair proteins. Finally, we consider the potential for chemotherapeutic development through the modulation of APE1's redox activity and its impact on DNA repair. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 12, 1247–1269.
Perceiving patterns in random series: dynamic processing of sequence in prefrontal cortex

We demonstrate that regions within human prefrontal cortex develop moment-to-moment models for patterns of events occurring in the sensory environment. Subjects viewed a random binary sequence of images, each presented singly and each requiring a different button press response. Patterns occurred by chance within the presented series of images. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we identified activity evoked by viewing a stimulus that interrupted a pattern. Prefrontal activation was evoked by violations of both repeating and alternating patterns, and the amplitude of this activation increased with increasing pattern length. Violations of repeating patterns, but not of alternating patterns, activated the basal ganglia.
Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America

The McCarthy Era was a bad time for freedom in America. Encompassing far more than the brief career of Senator Joseph McCarthy, it was the most widespread episode of political repression in the history of the United States. In the name of national security, most Americans - liberal and conservative alike - supported the anticommunist crusade that ruined so many careers, marriages, even lives. However, despite the unfairness of their methods, the nation's most powerful anti-Communists in the FBI, the House Un-American Activities Committee, and elsewhere were generally accurate in their accusations. Most of the men and women who were charged in the McCarthy-era purges had been involved with the American Communist party. Now, in Many Are the Crimes, Ellen Schrecker gives us the first complete post-Cold War account of McCarthyism. Drawing on newly released FBI files, private papers, and interviews, Schrecker explains why McCarthyism happened and how it worked. She also assesses its long-term impact. From the dumbing-down of Hollywood and the decline of the labor movement to the war in Vietnam and the post-Watergate sleaziness of contemporary politics, McCarthyism has cast a heavy shadow over America's political and cultural life.
Effect of oscillatory shear on the fluid–solid phase transition of supercooled water

The present study aims at the methodological improvement of the electrofreezing of supercooled water by applying oscillatory shear along with a homogeneous electric field in non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of simple water models (such as TIP4P and SPC/E). The application of a planar Couette flow field accounts for a moderate speedup in the phase transition. Since the system goes through a nonergodic glassy state in the course of the process, it is not surprising that a macroscopic manifestation of the Lyapunov instability inherent in the equations of motion is observed. The formation of a conjectured high-density ice polymorph (ice XII) has been studied in terms of the applied electric and oscillatory flow fields. The threshold value of the electric field for the crystallization has been determined. The method of applying the oscillatory flow field was also investigated in detail.