cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical behavior of 2-thiouracil on silver electrodes

Abstract The reactions of 2-thiouracil with a silver electrode during anodic deposition and cathodic stripping were investigated using a rotating silver disk electrode and linear potential scan voltammetry. The formation of two different insoluble silver salts with 2-thiouracil and its dimerization product (2-thiouracil disulfide) and the dependence of the stripping peak current on the concentration of 2-thiouracil and the potential range are discussed. It has been found that these sparingly soluble silver compounds of 2-thiouracil formed during anodic deposition can be stripped by scanning the potential in a negative direction. The influence of parameters on the shape and the height of the stripping peaks has been determined. For concentrations of 2-thiouracil less than 6×10−6 mol dm−3, one stripping peak was observed. Two stripping peaks are observed in the intermediate concentration range 1×10−5–5×10−5 mol dm−3. A random stripping process with repulsive lateral interactions in the film was observed at concentrations of 2-thiouracil ∼ 10−7 mol dm−3. Experimental data were found to fit a Frumkin isotherm with a Temkin coefficient, g, of 5.
Influence of synoptic and mesoscale meteorology on ozone pollution potential for San Joaquin Valley of California

Abstract The distribution of historical ozone levels for a region is tabulated as a function of its prevailing synoptic and mesoscale influences. Meteorological patterns are determined sequentially from extended records of hourly surface wind measurements sampling relevant low-level flows. A visualization method is presented to readily indicate the likelihoods for exceedances to occur under a variety of meteorological conditions. The study domain is San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California, which is divided into three subregions (North, Central, and South). Each day from May–October of 1996–2004 is labeled using synoptic (single-day) and mesoscale (intra-day) patterns. Emissions levels are assumed roughly constant for this period following the introduction of reformulated gasoline to California. Synoptic motions largely control the regional SJV ozone pollution potential; the same single-day patterns are identified for all three SJV subregions. Additionally, a unique mesoscale flow feature is identified in each subregion that strongly affects its ozone levels: flows through minor Coast Range gaps for N-SJV, the Fresno Eddy for C-SJV, and flows through Mojave Pass for S-SJV. The strength of each mesoscale feature is characterized using 1-h surface u or v wind components that explain local ozone pollution potentials.
A Tale of two Career Paths: The Process of Status Acquisition by a New Organizational Unit

Cette etude examine le processus d'acquisition des statuts au sein d'une nouvelle unite organisationnelle (Telemarketing Assistance Group) d'un departement de ventes et de service de la General Motors. Grâce a des methodes de collecte de donnees qualitatives, les AA. ont obtenu les points de vue des employes sur le classement des unites organisationnelles, l'identification des facteurs organisationnels clefs qui entrent en jeu pour l'acquisition des statuts. La relation entre le statut de l'unite organisationnelle et la mobilite professionnelle est demontree. Le role joue par la culture americaine et la culture d'entreprise de la GM est egalement souligne dans le processus d'acquisition des statuts
Customer Satisfaction and Price Tolerance

This study investigates the association between customer satisfaction and willingness-to-pay or price tolerance. The goal is not only to determine whether the association between customer satisfaction and price tolerance is positive or negative but also to gauge the degree of association. The Swedish Customer Satisfaction Barometer provides the data. The empirical analysis indicates a negative association between the level of customer satisfaction provided by the firm and the degree of price tolerance exhibited by its customers. However, a positive association is found between year-to-year changes in the levels of customer satisfaction and price tolerance.
False Lives, False Martyrs: “Pseudo-Pionius” and the Redating of the Martyrdom of Polycarp

AbstractThe final form of the Martyrdom of Polycarp has often been dated to the late fourth century on the basis of an alleged link between the “Pionius” who edited its final colophon and the anonymous author of a clearly apocryphal Life of Polycarp. In this article, I argue that the correlation between these two texts is problematic at best and should be discarded in light of recent scholarship. To replace this outdated construct, I submit that the variant Moscow colophon manuscript tradition, generally considered the latest edition of the text, betrays traces of an earlier polemical milieu that may allow us to redate the colophon to the third or early fourth century.
Teaching with Social Media: Disrupting Present Day Public Education

Because social technologies present illuminating educational, ethical, economic, and structural challenges to existing constructions of public education, they catalyze a fundamental examination of what public education should look like and be like in a democracy. Given their performances in other arenas, mobile and electronic technologies have the potential to further critical pedagogical praxis by enabling more democratic and participatory discursive practices. At the same time, they are significant vectors for market infiltration. They intensify surveillance, reproduce existing structures, and constrain conceptions of the possible. To examine what emerges regarding the construction of teacher as a subject when these latest technologies are incorporated, this article reports on findings from a multiple case study of five secondary school teachers using social media in their teaching.
Intersubjectivity and Death: Heidegger and the Iroquois

AbstractHeidegger's representation of Dasein's death relation in Division Two of Being and Time remains a singularly prominent reflection on death in the canon of twentieth century continental philosophy. At the same time, though, it is a representation whose limitations have been established by commitments made in Division One, specifically in Heideggers's account of being-with. My interests in this paper are in the intimate relation between intersubectivity and death, and I engage in a comparative phenomenology in order to free things up. More specifically, I provide a critique of certain key aspects of Heidegger's account of Dasein, and then I contrast this with the radically different way that the Iroquois practice and experience the connection between intersubjecivity and death. The Iroquois tribe establish their connection between themselves through formal condolences rituals. As I articulate in the paper, for the Iroquois, the relationship to the dead is the source of my relations with those who ar...
The Unpaved Road to Development: An Example From Nepal

Development, or bikash in Nepali terms, is highly sought in the tourist village of Sirubari and across Nepal not only because of the promise of material benefits but also for the social status it confers by association. Roads into villages previously inaccessible by motor vehicles are critical developmental accomplishments, especially for villages involved in tourism, and are central to the furthering of yet other infrastructural and lifestyle modifications. Roads convey goods, people and their ideas into these once-remote areas. They also require investment. As one might expect, those segments of a community with the resources to invest are also those most likely to reap the benefits of such development.
Location API 2.0 for J2ME - A new standard in location for Java-enabled mobile phones

Key aspects in realizing the maximum potential of advanced Location-Based Services (LBS) are the standardization and cross-platform availability of an Application Programming Interface (API) for mobile phones that allows access to real-time location information. To shorten the development time of advanced LBS, such an API should also provide essential features such as map user interfaces, geocoding, and navigation to be used as building blocks in the context of larger mobile applications. Using these available services, application developers can focus on building innovative location-aware applications rather than re-creating existing services. This article's main goals are to emphasize the importance of such an API and to describe the Location API for Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME). This description includes the main features of the current ''JSR179-Location API v1.0'' as well as the significant enhancements and new services included in the development of ''JSR293-Location API v2.0.'' These new features, illustrated using coding examples, will help software developers create next-generation location-aware J2ME applications.
Strain behavior of the distal achilles tendon: implications for insertional achilles tendinopathy.

Background: The changes associated with Achilles insertional tendinopathy (AIT) are seen in the anterior portion of the Achilles tendon near its calcaneal insertion. Strain behavior of this portion of the tendon was evaluated.Hypothesis: The highest strains are in the anterior portion of the tendon.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: Six cadaveric legs were tested. While moving through a functional range of ankle motion, strains in five different regions of the tendon insertion were tested. First, the load on the tendon was increased from 30 to 170 N in the starting, plantar flexed position. Then, the ankle was moved from a plantar flexed position into dorsiflexion.Results: Strains in the posterior sites increased significantly (P < 0.001) as the movement into dorsiflexion occurred. This was significantly (P < 0.01) different than the anterior sites, which showed a trend toward decreasing strain.Conclusions: Although the anterior portion of the Achilles tendon is generally affected in AIT, ...
What do the young (old) people think of me? Content and accuracy of age-based metastereotypes

Increasing age diversity in the workforce points to the need to understand the dynamics of interpersonal relations across age groups. An important element of these interactions involves interpersonal perceptions, including both what an individual believes about members of other age groups (stereotypes) and what individuals believe other age groups think of their own group (metastereotypes). We explore the content and accuracy of the stereotypes and metastereotypes in a sample of 247 younger, middle-aged, and older workers. We compare the stereotypes and metastereotypes of and by different groups in terms of their affective valence (positive/negative) and compare the results produced by open-ended and closed-ended methods. We map out the usefulness of these data for future work towards enhancing cross-aged interactions in the workplace.
Isolation of the chicken β-globin gene and a linked embryonic β-like globin gene from a chicken DNA recombinant library

Abstract A library of random chicken DNA fragments, 15–22 kb long, has been prepared in the vector λ Charon 4A. This library was screened with combined adult and embryonic globin cDNA, and several independent globin gene-containing recombinants were isolated. One of these recombinants, λ Chicken β-globin 1 (λCβG1), contains the adult chicken β-globin gene and a closely linked embryonic β-like globin gene. Both genes are transcribed in the same direction with the adult gene located 5′ to the embryonic gene. Electron microscopic visualization of R loop structures generated by hybridization of globin RNA to λCβG1 demonstrates that both globin genes contain major intervening sequences about 800 bp long, similar to those present in mammalian β-globin genes. The adult β-globin gene also contains a minor (approximately 100 bp long) intervening sequence analogous to the one observed in mammalian β-globin genes. Restriction enzyme analysis of the adult β-globin gene on λCβG1 is consistent with the hypothesis that its two intervening sequences occur in the same positions with respect to the β-globin amino acid sequence as do the corresponding mammalian intervening sequences.
Repair of the Superior Sulcus Deformity Using Autogenous Costal Cartilage

Superior sulcus deformity is a late sequela of surgical anophthalmos. Many methods have been proposed to treat this difficult problem. A technique using autogenous costal cartilage that has resulted in satisfactory repair is presented. In addition to standard photographs and exophthalmometry measurements to follow these patients, a specific device to accurately measure orbital volume gain after operation was fashioned.
Coarse grain modeling of polyimide copolymers

Abstract Addressing the wide span of timescales, where various important phenomena takes place in a polymer system, is inconceivable through a typical molecular dynamics simulation. Coarsening of simpler polymer systems has demonstrated significant potential in computationally characterizing and simulating systems at larger timescales. Addressing the need to extend existing coarsening methodologies on multifunctional materials to help design future generation materials is both promising and challenging. In this paper we present development of an atomistically informed coarse grain bead model of piezoelectric polyimide copolymers for large-scale simulations of thermal, mechanical and especially electrical properties. The coarsening approach generated a gain of two and a half orders of magnitude in terms of computational time and an order of magnitude gain in system size (equivalent to ∼ 360,000 atomistic model) while retaining the physical characteristics specific to the piezoelectric polymer. Reasonable agreement was observed between simulation results of the coarse grained and the atomistic model. Specifically mechanical moduli, density, dielectric constant, yield behavior, work hardening, response under dynamic loading and glass transition behavior were analyzed and compared.
Repulsive potentials for Ne*(3P)—He and Ar*(3P)—He from differential scattering

Abstract Crossed beam measurements of differential scattering of metastable Ne and Ar by He are used to derive the repulsive parts of the respective interatomic potentials. The potentials are similar to one obtained for Li—He. They show non-exponential behavior at small r suggestive of a core-interaction effect.
Alkyl vinyl esters of brassylic (tridecanedioic) acid

Brassylic acid was partially esterified at 77°C. in toluene solution with ethyl, 2-methylpentyl, or nonyl alcohol and with p-toluenesulfonic acid used as catalyst. Half-esters were isolated from the respective reaction mixtures in yields of 28, 34, and 32% after reaction times of 2,6, and 8 hr. Both recovered brassylic acid and byproduct dialkyl ester were successfully used as starting materials in subsequent esterifications. Consequently, conversion of starting materials to half-ester would be increased in a process that involved continuous recycling of byproducts. Alkyl hydrogen brassylates were vinylated at 165°C. for 8 hr. with acetylene at 360 psig. The zinc salt generated in situ from zinc oxide served as catalyst and toluene as solvent. Yields were 80–88% and purities of products were 94–95%. Samples of 2-methylpentyl vinyl brassylate and nonyl vinyl brassylate of much higher purity were obtained by preparative gas–liquid chromatography or molecular distillation. Physical properties and experimental conditions for gas–liquid chromatographic analyses of both the alkyl hydrogen and alkyl vinyl brassylates are reported.
Modified bottle plate for the cultivation of strict anaerobes

Abstract A modified agar bottle plate is described for the cultivation and isolation of strict anaerobes. The design, which has an additional port for gas intake, permits easier streaking as well as picking of colonies, since no gassing probe is required. With this design, water condensation can be quickly removed and the gas atmosphere can be easily exchanged.
Appearance of strand breaks in the nuclear DNA of terminally differentiating vaginal epithelium.

Abstract Calf-thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-catalyzed reaction was applied to sections of ethanol-fixed mouse vaginal epithelia. As terminally differentiating epithelial cell-nuclei undergo pycnosis, they show increasing amounts of initiator activity for this enzyme indicative of the appearance and accumulation of strand breaks in the nuclear DNA.
Dibutyryl cyclic AMP and inflammatory cytokines mediate C3 expression in schwann cells

Schwann cells (SchC), the myelinating glia of the peripheral nervous system, are immunocompetent cells and secrete a variety of immune and inflammatory mediators. In this report, we show that rat SchC in vitro express both C3 mRNA and protein in response to dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) and the cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β. SchC in culture constitutively expressed low levels of C3 which were significantly upregulated upon stimulation with 1mM dbcAMP by 24 hours, and persisted up to 120 hours. This response was minimally enhanced by costimulation with 100 U/ml IFN-γ, whereas costimulation with 100 U/ml IFN-γ together with 150–450 ng/ml TNF-α induced a greatly increased C3 response. TNF-α alone did not induce C3 expression in SchC. Cycloheximide inhibited this dbcAMP-dependent delayed C3 production, thus implying an intermediary signal in the induction pathway requiring protein synthesis. Treatment with 0.1–10 ng/ml IL-1β for 0–72 hours induced C3 mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. C3 mRNA was detectable at 1 hour and mRNA and protein peaked by 6–12 hours on stimulation with 10 ng/ml IL-1β, or at 48 hours with 1.0 ng/ml IL-1β. Furthermore, IL-1β mRNA was detected at 6 hours in dbcAMP-treated SchC, preceding the dbcAMP-induced C3 expression by 18 hours. Induction of C3 mRNA and protein by dbcAMP at 24 hours was inhibited >85% by a neutralizing anti-IL-1β antibody and 76% with an IL-1 receptor antagonist. This suggests that dbcAMP-induced synthesis of IL-1β mediates the C3 production by SchC in an autocrine/paracrine fashion by binding to a functional IL-1 receptor expressed on the surface of SchC. Endoneurial IL-1 and C3 production by SchC may therefore contribute to the inflammatory events associated with peripheral nerve demyelination. GLIA 20:308–321, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Flow shaping and thrust enhancement of sidewall bounded oscillating cantilevers

Abstract An oscillating cantilever is employed in a vast number of applications ranging from electronics cooling to propulsion. The motion can be driven at resonance by piezoelectrics which make it an energy efficient source of flow generation from a robust solid state device. Commonly known as piezoelectric fans, they have been the topic of numerous studies, and although many applications ultimately require mounting the cantilever within an enclosure of some form, much of the literature only considers idealized conditions, with walls far removed from the beam. Although it is commonly understood that, in general, sidewalls will help direct the flow in a desired direction, there is little knowledge into what impact this has on key performance characteristics such as power consumption, thrust, or convection enhancement. In this paper, in order to develop a strategic design approach for the enclosure, the thrust produced by a cantilever operating at resonance is quantified with two sidewalls present for a range of beam to wall spacings. Additionally, the sensitivity of the thrust on the relative location of the downstream edge of the sidewalls to the free end of the cantilever (fan tip) is experimentally investigated. It is found that the sidewall gap has little effect on thrust enhancement, except for very small gaps, and that the tip location plays a very large and interesting role in power consumption. In effect, there are cantilever tip locations where one can obtain substantial thrust enhancement with little or no extra power consumption, suggesting that flow shaping has the potential to positively impact the performance. The findings in the paper provide not only a relevant basis for further study, but also a very meaningful indication of the most effective orientation when considering the enclosure design around the oscillating cantilever.
Decorrelation scales of chlorophyll as observed from bio-optical drifters in the California Current

Abstract The California Current System is characterized by intense mesoscale variability, with meandering jets that can create small regions of strong vertical motion. To study physical and biological scales of variability, 24 near-surface drifters were released in this system, each equipped with a spectroradiometer to measure upwelling radiance. Sensors also measured downwelling irradiance as well as sea surface temperature (SST). Data were relayed to shore via satellite and processed into biological quantities, such as chlorophyll. Several drifters were trapped by mesoscale eddies, and the cross-correlation functions were calculated for SST and chlorophyll. In general, changes in chlorophyll lagged changes in SST by one to two days. This was observed for both cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies and supports the hypothesis that the phytoplankton response to changes in the physical environment (and presumably the light/nutrient regime) may be governed by a “shift-up” response. Decorrelation time scales were calculated based on the first zero-crossing of the autocorrelation function, and the biological scales were compared with the physical scales. Decorrelation time scales for most variables increased as the drifters moved from nearshore to offshore. Nearshore (defined as the region within 200 km of the coast) decorrelation time scales were two days for both sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll. In the region between 200 and 400 km offshore, the decorrelation scales were six days for SST and four days for chlorophyll. In the region more than 400 km offshore, the SST decorrelation scale was seven days and decreased to 2.5 days for chlorophyll. This pattern of decorrelation time scales suggests that the processes regulating the distribution of temperature and chlorophyll are similar in the nearshore region and significantly different offshore. Similar calculations were made for solarinduced fluorescence/chlorophyll, and the corresponding decorrelation time scale increased steadily from less than one day nearshore to two days offshore. The rapid change of fluorescence nearshore, relative to changes in pigment concentration, supports the notion that phytoplankton have adopted different strategies for growth in the nearshore versus the offshore region.
Motorcycle Helmet Design

Extensive research and operational data have shown that a motorcycle helmet is very effective in reducing injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident. However, less than 50 percent of all motorcycle riders wear a helmet. Therefore, to encourage helmet wear and, thus, decrease critical injuries, the helmet must be designed with the wearer in mind.A sample survey of 94 motorcycle riders was taken to rank various features of design. The data were compiled and statistically analyzed to determine the features that helmet wearers and non-wearers deem to be most critical.With these features in mind, several helmets from a local motorcycle shop were carefully examined. Ergonomic parameters (padding thickness, field of view, etc.) of each helmet were recorded.Utilizing the survey information and the measurements of current helmet design, an optimum helmet was developed.
Computational identification of transcription frameworks of early committed spermatogenic cells

It is known that transcription factors (TFs) work in cooperation with each other to govern gene expression and thus single TF studies may not always reflect the underlying biology. Using microarray data obtained from two independent studies of the first wave of spermatogenesis, we tested the hypothesis that co-expressed spermatogenic genes in cells committed to differentiation are regulated by a set of distinct combinations of TF modules. A computational approach was designed to identify over-represented module combinations in the promoter regions of genes associated with transcripts that either increase or decrease in abundance between the first two major spermatogenic cell types: spermatogonia and spermatocytes. We identified five TFs constituting four module combinations that were correlated with expression and repression of similarly regulated genes. These modules were biologically assessed in the context that they represent the key transcriptional mediators in the developmental transition from the spermatogonia to spermatocyte.
Role of Fine Structure States in a Chemical Reaction: Na* + KBr → NaBr + K*

Product fine structure distributions are measured for the reaction KBr + Na*(3 2P3/2 or 3 2P1/2) → NaBr + K*(4 2P3/2 or 4 2P1/2). Sodium atoms are excited to either the 2P3/2 or 2P1/2 state and reacted with KBr, producing excited potassium atoms in both fine structure states. The resulting potassium emission is observed through two narrow band interference filters, allowing separate measurement of each potassium fine structure state population. The product distributions are found to be nonstatistical; these results are interpreted in terms of a simple model incorporating spin−orbit interaction and nonadiabatic interaction in more than one region along the reaction path on the potential energy surfaces. This information complements and provides further explanation of results from previous studies of the transition state region species, [KBrNa].
The relative contribution of selected carpal bones to global wrist motion during simulated planar and out-of-plane wrist motion

The relative contribution of the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and capitate to wrist motion was examined in 6 fresh cadaver forearms. A wrist-joint motion simulator was used to dynamically move each wrist through planar and nonplanar motions. During wrist flexion-extension, the motion of the capitate closely followed the motion of the third metacarpal, while the lunate motion was approximately 50% of the total motion; the triquetrum, 65%, and the scaphoid, 90%. Similar differences in motion for these carpal bones occurred during radioulnar deviation and circumduction and dart-throw motions. This suggests that the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum do not normally function as a single unit, but that each bone has an unique arc of motion during global wrist motion.
Laplace Variational Approximation for Semiparametric Regression in the Presence of Heteroscedastic Errors

Variational approximations provide fast, deterministic alternatives to Markov chain Monte Carlo for Bayesian inference on the parameters of complex, hierarchical models. Variational approximations are often limited in practicality in the absence of conjugate posterior distributions. Recent work has focused on the application of variational methods to models with only partial conjugacy, such as in semiparametric regression with heteroscedastic errors. Here, both the mean and log variance functions are modeled as smooth functions of covariates. For this problem, we derive a mean field variational approximation with an embedded Laplace approximation to account for the nonconjugate structure. Empirical results with simulated and real data show that our approximate method has significant computational advantages over traditional Markov chain Monte Carlo; in this case, a delayed rejection adaptive Metropolis algorithm. The variational approximation is much faster and eliminates the need for tuning parameter sel...
Neutrophil-Endothelial Cell Interaction in Critical Illness

Sepsis syndrome frequently results in endothelial injury in many organ systems. To evaluate neutrophil-pulmonary endothelial cell interaction in the sepsis syndrome, we studied 39 critically ill patients prospectively and 20 normal volunteers. Thirteen patients with sepsis (mean age, 71.4 years), 14 patients in an intensive care unit control group (mean age 65.4 years), and 12 patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (mean age, 66.8 years) were evaluated. Blood samples were drawn from septic patients within 24 hours and from ICU and MI patients within 72 hours of admission. All sepsis patients were culture positive, 6 of 13 from the blood. Both renal failure and ARDS developed in 54 percent of septic patients. 51 Cr-labelled neutrophils were prepared and added to bovine pulmonary endothelial cell monolayers with and without added phorbol myristate acetate. Endothelial cells with adherent PMA and nonadherent PMN's, were harvested and radioactivity in each fraction measured with a gamma scintillation counter. Baseline and maximally stimulated (PMA, 3.0 ng/ml) neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells were similar in all patient groups. However, in septic patients, PMA-stimulated PMN adherence was reduced at lower doses, most significantly in those who developed ARDS within 24 to 48 hours of admission (p
Internationalizing and Industrializing Fashion: Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival (SIFCF) Review

(2009). Internationalizing and Industrializing Fashion: Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival (SIFCF) Review. Fashion Practice: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 259-265.
Polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin-resistant hyperinsulinemia.

Abstract In a broad sense, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be considered to be synonymous with chronic unexplained hyperandrogenemia, which accounts for approximately 95% of hyperandrogenism in women. PCOS comprises a mosaic of classic and nonclassic forms, which may ultimately prove to have distinct genetic determinants. The hyperandrogenism appears to arise from generalized abnormal regulation (dysregulation) of steroidogenesis. This dysregulation seems to result from imbalance among the various extrinsic and intrinsic factors involved in the modulation of trophic hormone action. Hyperinsulinemia seems to be an important extrinsic factor in many cases of PCOS; it results from resistance to the effects of insulin on glucose metabolism. The elevation in insulin levels may precipitate hyperandrogenemia in genetically vulnerable individuals by unmasking latent abnormalities in the regulation of steroidogenesis. One of these may be a polycystic ovary gene that is expressed in the male as pattern baldness. Insulin also seems to be one of many factors that interact with androgen to regulate pilosebaceous unit development. Treatment of PCOS with antidiabetic insulin-lowering agents may improve ovarian function and androgen levels; it remains to be determined whether it will benefit the pilosebaceous unit manifestations of the disorder. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:S95-104.)
The Effects of Intrapleural Polyclonal Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) Fab Fragments on Pleurodesis in Rabbits

The mechanism by which various agents produce a pleurodesis is unknown. The purpose of this project was to determine whether the pleurodesis that results from the intrapleural administration of talc or doxycycline depends on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). In a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study, 34 New Zealand white rabbits were given 400 mg talc or 10 mg/kg doxycycline intrapleurally as a sclerosant through a chest tube. Half the rabbits in each group were also given 2,000 units of ovine, polyclonal affinity purified anti-TNF alpha Fab, or saline as placebo immediately after and 12 h after the injection of the sclerosant. Chest tubes were aspirated at 12-h intervals until their removal at 4 days. Rabbits were killed at 28 days. The pleural fluid volume, cell counts, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pleurodesis scores were compared among groups. Both talc and doxycycline produced an exudative pleural effusion. The pleural fluid volume and the pleural fluid LDH levels were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in the group given doxycycline. The administration of anti-TNF alpha Fab had no significant effect on pleural fluid volume or leukocyte count in either group. However, the administration of anti-TNF alpha Fab resulted in a significant decrease (p = 0.004) in the pleurodesis score for the animals given talc (3.2 +/- 0.8 without Fab and 1.8 +/- 0.9 with Fab). In contrast, the pleurodesis score was virtually identical in the doxycycline group with (3.5 +/- 0.5) and without (3.4 +/- 0.7) Fab. The administration of anti-TNF alpha Fab diminishes the pleurodesis induced by talc but not that resulting from doxycycline. These findings suggest that different mechanisms are involved with the two different sclerosants.
THE WATERSHED LITERATURE OF YESTERYEAR

: Scientific communication may be impaired because portions of today's watershed literature are unimaginative, uninspiring, and unread. The literature of the last century, however, abounds with prose of great beauty and clarity. Selections taken from the works of Powell, Gilbert, Muir, Ruskin, and Marsh set a literary standard for all 20th Century scientists.
Photolithography illumination needs

Abstract Industrial photolithographic exposures are now performed almost entirely with the high pressure mercury arc, using one or more of the spectral lines at 365, 408 and 436 nm. It would be difficult for the free electron laser to replace the entrenched and reliable arc unless it could offer a significant improvement, for instance, in brightness. Lithography is currently being extended to shorter wavelengths, as far as the X-ray regime. At present, the excimer laser is the principal source in the UV. Since the excimer is comparatively new, the FEL might find a niche more easily in this domain. To compete with current sources in the near and far UV, the FEL should provide at least 4 W of useable power. Since lithographic illumination must be uniform, the coherence of the FEL output must be sufficiently low to avoid “noise” due to interference. In addition, a light source for industrial use must be reliable and maintainable by plant personnel.
Concealed conduction due to potassium

Abstract 1. 1. Concealed conduction (incomplete penetration of the atrioventricular node) was observed in 27 of 79 instances of potassium-induced atrioventricular block in dogs. 2. 2. This phenomenon can be explained by the known effects of potassium on the resting membrane potential and on the speed of the rise and the amplitude of action potential.
Unified terminology for cestode microtriches: a proposal from the International Workshops on Cestode Systematics in 2002-2008.

Terminology for microtriches, the surface features both unique to and ubiquitous among cestodes, is standardised based on discussions that occurred at the International Workshops on Cestode Systematics in Storrs, Connecticut, USA in 2002, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic in 2005 and in Smolenice, Slovakia in 2008. The following terms were endorsed for the components of individual microtriches: The distal, electron-dense portion is the cap, the proximal more electron-lucent region is the base. These two elements are separated from one another by the baseplate. The base is composed of, among other elements, microfilaments. The cap is composed of cap tubules. The electron-lucent central portion of the base is referred to as the core. The core may be surrounded by an electron-dense tunic. The entire microthrix is bounded by a plasma membrane, the external layer of which is referred to as the glycocalyx. Two distinct sizes of microtriches are recognised: those 200 nm in basal width, termed spinitriches. Filitriches are considered to occur in three lengths: papilliform ( 6 times as long as wide). In instances in which filitriches appear to be doubled at their base, the modifier duplicated is used. Spinitriches are much more variable in form. At present a total of 25 spinithrix shapes are recognised. These consist of 13 in which the width greatly exceeds the thickness (i.e., bifid, bifurcate, cordate, gladiate, hamulate, lanceolate, lineate, lingulate, palmate, pectinate, spathulate, trifid, and trifurcate), and 12 in which width and thickness are approximately equal (i.e., chelate, clavate, columnar, coniform, costate, cyrillionate, hastate, rostrate, scolopate, stellate, trullate, and uncinate). Spiniform microtriches can bear marginal (serrate) and/or dorsoventral (gongylate) elaborations; they can also bear apical features (aristate). The latter two modifiers should be used only if the features are present. The terminology to describe the overall form of a spinithrix should be used in the following order: tip, margins, shape. Each type of microthrix variation is defined and illustrated with one or more scanning electron micrographs. An indication of the taxa in which each of the microthrix forms is found is also provided.
Focused beam powder diffraction with polycapillary and curved crystal optics

Focusing x-ray optics can be used to increase the intensity onto small samples, greatly reducing the data collection time for powder diffraction. Typically, the beam convergence is restricted to avoid loss of resolution since the focused beams broaden the resulting powder diffraction rings. However, the resolution, as defined by the uncertainty in peak location, can be much less than the peak width. Two types of x-ray optics, polycapillary and doubly curved crystals, were used to focus x rays onto standard inorganic powder diffraction samples. Comparisons were made of system resolution and diffracted beam intensity using low power microfocus sources.
Lack of platelet effect with the aspirin analog, salsalate

Platelet function as determined by platelet aggregation and the release reaction was found to be normal in 8 patients receiving a nonacetylated analog of aspirin, salsalate, while all 5 aspirin controls had abnormal platelet function. Mean bleeding time in patients taking salsalate was less than that in aspirin controls. This study demonstrates that salsalate, which has anti-inflammatory activity and reduces prostaglandin synthesis, does not interfere with normal platelet function.
Prediction of web page accessibility based on structural and textual features

In this paper we present an approach to assessing the accessibility of Web pages, based on machine learning techniques. We are interested in the question of whether there are structural and textual features of Web pages, independent of explicit accessibility concerns, that nevertheless influence their usability for people with vision impairment. We describe three datasets, each containing a set of features corresponding to Web pages that are "Accessible" or "Inaccessible". Three classifiers are used to predict the category of these Web pages. Preliminary results are promising; they suggest the possibility of automated classification of Web pages with respect to accessibility.
Rao's score test with nonparametric density estimators

Traditionally, Rao's score (RS) tests are constructed under a parametric specification of the probability density function. We estimate the density function by a non-parametric estimator and consider a semi-parametric Rao's score (SPRS) test for a set of hypotheses concerning the parametric model. The asymptotic distribution of the SPRS test is analyzed. Further, for the regression model, we carry out a set of Monte Carlo experiments to analyze the size and power of the SPRS test in small samples. The robustness of SPRS test to the choice of the density estimator is also analyzed.
Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology of the Olfactory Epithelium and Central Olfactory Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease and Schizophreniaa

Specific deficits in odor detection threshold, identification, and memory have been recognized in a variety of disorders including the neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the psychiatric illness, schizophrenia, which is likely due to abnormalities in neurodevelopment. Neuropathological abnormalities in peripheral and central olfactory systems have been described in both disorder. In the olfactory, epithelium, dystrophic neurites that are immunoreactive for tau, neurofilaments and other polypeptides, as well as deposits of beta-amyloid have been observed, and these findings have been thought to contribute to the olfactory dysfunction of these disorders. However, similar findings also occur in the olfactory epithelium of many normal individuals and those with various other neurodegenerative diseases. In contrast, neuropathological studies have reported selective vulnerability of central olfactory pathways for the accumulation of neurofibrillary pathology in AD, and for cytoarchitectural, neuronal morphometric, and cytoskeletal protein abnormalities suggestive of abnormal neurodevelopment in schizophrenia. Thus, it is likely that the olfactory impairments associated with these diseases are due to damage within central olfactory pathways, and that they are further amplified by the less specific impairments associated with age-related sensory neuroepithelial abnormalities. Finally, both the olfactory epithelium and central olfactory pathways represent model systems in which to study the neurobiology of these disorders, which ultimately may yield clues with diagnostic and therapeutic utility.
A large coronary artery saphenous vein bypass graft aneurysm with a fistula: case report and review of the literature.

We describe a patient who developed a large aneurysm of saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery with a fistulous communication to the right atrium. The presence of a fistulous communication of a saphenous vein graft aneurysm after coronary bypass surgery to one of the heart chambers is extremely rare. The diagnosis was made by coronary angiography and confirmed by CT and MRI. At surgery the aneurysm was ligated and excised. The fistula to the right atrium was closed. Repeat coronary artery bypass surgery with aortic valve replacement was performed at the same time without complications. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:214–216, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The generalized van der Waals partition function. II. Application to the square-well fluid

Abstract A formulation of the generalized van der Waals partition function derived earlier is used here, together with insights obtained from computer simulation, to develop two new equations of state for the square-well fluid. One of these equations is remarkably simple in form, and leads to compressibility factor, vapor pressure and orthobaric density predictions which are as good as, or better than, those obtained with the much more complicated equations of state which have been proposed in the past for the square-well fluid. Further, using this equation, with square-well parameters obtained from second virial coefficient data, and only one adjustable parameter, remarkably good predictions are obtained for the P-V-T and saturation properties of argon and methane.
Mediastinal tumors in children: experience with 196 cases.

Background: Mediastinal masses are relatively common in infants and children. These lesions are often neoplastic in origin and have a high risk of malignancy. Methods: This report concerns 196 infants and children with mediastinal tumors. Fifty-five cases (28%) were benign, and 141 (72%) were malignant. Diagnosis included Hodgkin's disease (47), neuroblastoma (46), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (37), teratoma (18), ganglioneuroma (14), cystic hygroma (11), Schwannoma (five), germ-cell tumors (three), lipoma (three), thymic tumor (three), malignant histiocytosis (two), neurofibroma (two), mesenchymal sarcoma (one), rhabdomyosarcoma (one), peripheral neuroectodermal tumor (one), hamartoma (one), and hemangioma (one). Diagnoses were usually made by assessing the patient's age, radiologic evidence of tumor location, the presence of calcium in the tumor, and the presence of tumor markers (α-fetoprotein, vanillmandelic acid, human chorionic gonadotropin). Diagnoses were verified by histologic evaluation. Resection was the only treatment for benign tumors. Biopsy and chemotherapy (and/or radiation) were employed for lymphoid tumors, and resection and adjuvant therapy were used for other solid malignancies. Results: Survival was achieved in 53 of 55 (96.3%) patients with benign tumors and 105 of 141 (74.4%) patients with malignant tumors. Conclusions: Seventy-two percent of mediastinal tumors in this study were malignant. Early diagnosis followed by biopsy and chemotherapy for lymphoid tumors or resection of nonlymphoid tumors along with aggressive adjuvant therapy result in high survival rates (74.4%). Children with benign tumors almost always survive (96.3%) after resection.
Recurrent asymptomatic demyelinating disease following 13-cis-retinoic acid exposure

We report a case of multifocal demyelination within the central nervous system in a patient being treated for a left hemispheric gemnistocytic astrocytoma with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, comprising temozolomide (360 mg/day—days 1–5 every 28 days) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (100 mg/m2/day—separated into two doses administered every 12 h on days 1 through 21 every 28 days). Five months into her first round of chemotherapy, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multifocal regions of T2 prolongation with associated gadolinium enhancement within the right cerebral hemisphere. Spectroscopic data were consistent with demyelination rather than neoplasia. Despite the incidentally identified radiological progression, new neurological symptoms were not described. Interval resolution of the demyelinating lesions was observed in the years following the discontinuance of her chemotherapy regimen with reactivation of the previously observed lesions and the development of new T2 foci 6 months into her second round of re-treatment for tumour progression 5 years later.
Rapid Assessment of Relative Density in Mixed-Species Stands of the Northeastern United States

Basal area has shortcomings as a measure of stand density, but it is often preferred for operational assessments because it is easy to measure. Previous work has demonstrated that an additive version of Reineke's stand density index can be estimated by a simple tree count using a modified horizontal point sampling technique. We show that this technique can be extended further to estimate a mixed-species density measure that has been developed for complex stands in the northeastern United States, using wood specific gravity to harmonize the density contributions of different species. The sampling technique provides design-unbiased estimates of stand density from a weighted tree count, where the weights depend on specific gravity but not on diameter. Rounding the specific gravity values for different species in the calculation of estimates introduces a trivial amount of bias but streamlines the procedure for rapid use in the field.
Cutaneous metastases from internal carcinoma

A series of 36 patients having cutaneous metastases, including 32 necropsied cases in necropsy series of approximately 2,300 cases of internal carcinoma derived from the Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital. The lung was the primary site in 17 of the 36 cases, the gastro-intestinal tract in 8 and the genito-urinary tract in 10; the primary site of one was uncertain. The tumors of the lung most commonly metastasized to the skin of the chest and those of the gastro-intestinal tract and genitourinary tract to the abdominal wall. The skin metastases were multiple except for 4 cases, usually widespread in location and occasionally appeared in small crops. The tumors were most commonly solid painless elevated nodules, ranging from one to 3 cm in diameter, having an intact overlying epidermis. The microscopic appearance had features of adenocarcinoma in 26 of the 36 cases. The skin tumors were indicative of progression of the primary tumor and early fatal termination, the duration of life averaging about 3 months after the appearance of the skin tumors. The necropsies revealed widespread metastases.
Ultrasonic vacuum extraction of gases from water for chemical and isotopic analysis

A method is described for ultrasonic vacuum extraction of gases from groundwater samples. Ultrasonic vacuum extraction provides near-quantitative gas yields within 30 min, and allows on-line preparation of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen for isotopic analyses. This method eliminates uncertainties involved in correcting headspace gas analyses for solubilities and liquid-vapor isotopic fractionation. In addition to developmental data, some field results are given to demonstrate the applicability of the method to geochemical studies.