cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin 12 is associated with reduced relapse without increased incidence of graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Abstract Interleukin (IL)–12 has antitumor effects in murine studies. To evaluate this clinically, we investigated whether high levels of circulating IL-12 in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are associated with improved relapse-free survival. We prospectively studied 134 patients undergoing HSCT. Median follow-up was 1158 days (range, 70-1792 days). Plasma IL-12 levels were measured before transplantation and on days 0, +4, +7, and +14 after transplantation. The highest levels were seen on days +4 and +7 and were categorized by a cluster analysis of the logarithmically transformed IL-12 concentrations, which were then correlated with relapse-free survival. Forty-six patients had low levels of IL-12 (median, 2 pg/mL; range, 0-6.5 pg/mL), 49 patients had medium levels (median, 20.5 pg/mL; range, 7-75.5 pg/mL), and 25 patients had high levels (median, 181 pg/mL; range, 84-623 pg/mL). Patients with high IL-12 levels before transplantation had the highest increase after transplantation. With a multivariate Cox model for relapse onset, with the low IL-12 level as the reference, patients in the high–IL-12 group had an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.27 (95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.79), and medium group patients had a hazard ratio of 0.65 (95% confidence interval, 0.31-1.36). The incidences of relapse at 500 days by Kaplan-Meier analysis by IL-12 group were 23.0% (high group), 40.3% (medium group), and 48.8% (low group). There was no association between IL-12 levels and the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; P = .51) or chronic GVHD (P = .28). In conclusion, high IL-12 levels after HSCT are associated with improved relapse-free survival without increasing the risk for GVHD. Patients with high pretransplantation IL-12 levels have an increased likelihood of higher posttransplantation IL-12 levels, possibly because of a host-graft interaction, and this may predispose to better clinical outcomes.
Primary mirror manufacturing considerations for a space-based coherent lidar

The measurement of winds from a space borne platform is of significant scientific importance to both weather prediction and climate research. One of the key technologies embodied in coherent detection of winds from space is the use of large aperture, compact, lightweight, high-quality wavefront, photon-efficiency optics. This paper discusses the optical design, the mechanical design, material preference, diamond turning issues, polishing requirements, and coating selections for the primary mirror of a 25X afocal beam expander intended for use in space-based coherent lidar systems.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Job Stress and Satisfaction Among Special Education Teachers: Effects of gender and social role orientation

Eighty-nine female and 43 male special education teachers completed a battery of instruments dealing with job stress and satisfaction and social role characteristics. Social role orientation (expressive, instrumental, balanced, and undifferentiated) was determined for each of the teachers both on- and off-the-job using the Bem Sex Role Inventory, and then analysed in relation to six indices of work-related stress and satisfaction. For female special educators, a balanced social role orientation was associated with higher levels of satisfaction and lower levels of stress, while an undifferentiated orientation was associated with lower levels of satisfaction and higher levels of stress. Implications for teacher preparation programs are discussed, and suggestions for future research are included.
Modeling pesticide leaching from golf courses using artificial neural networks.

Abstract The objective of this work was to develop a computer model that accurately predicted pesticide leaching of pesticides applied to turfgrass areas. After much investigation, the number of inputs used to train the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) was reduced to pesticide solubility, pesticide soikwater partitioning coefficient (Koc), time after application, and the irrigation application practice. For comparison reasons, 1st and 2nd order polynomial regression models were developed. An artificial neural network is a form of artificial intelligence enabling the program to learn relationships instead of the relationships being defined by the programmer. The ANN proved to be a feasible modeling technique for pesticide leaching. The ANN predictions for the test cases had much less error than the 1st or 2nd order regression equations (sum of the squared error between measured and predicted values were 17.4, 528.4, and 522.3, respectively). An interactive World Wide Web (www) site has been developed where...
A Critique of Two Studies Considering the Continuing Professional Education of Accountants

(1992). A Critique of Two Studies Considering the Continuing Professional Education of Accountants. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education: Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 9-12.
Proton--antiproton annihilations into four kaons just above threshold

Cross-section limits are presented for proton-antiproton annihilation into all possible four-kaon final states in the region from threshold to 1.1 GeV/ c lab momentum. Comparisons are made with cross sections for other four-body final states. It is shown that, based on phase-space considerations, the four-- neutral-kaon final state manifests an anomalously high relative rate, suggesting the possible influence of a threshold enhancement.
494 ATTITUDES TOWARD PERINATAL CARE IN COMMUNITY HOSPITALS

Top of pageAbstract At the time of on-site observations of the perinatal services of 9 community hospitals, interviews and discussions were held with nursing personnel. Unexpectedly, these interviews suggested that hospital personnel held fatalistic attitudes that could potentially interfere with optimal perinatal care. From these interviews, 51 statements regarding perinatal attitudes were written. The items were condensed to 32 statements through a pilot study and the resulting attitude survey was administered to 435 perinatal physicians, nurses, and support personnel from community hospitals. The data from the survey were subjected to a principle components factor analysis with squared multiple correlations in the diagonal and a Varimax rotation. The factors to be rotated were selected by Kaiser's criterion and the following were identified as general attitudes: (1) it does little good to anticipate perinatal problems; (2) some babies are predestined to be unhealthy; (3) some sick babies survive only because they have a “will to live”. These respective attitudes were expressed by 12.1%, 9.4% and 38.2% of the individuals. The survey was readministered after a 4 month educational program. Preliminary results show a statistically significant shift toward less fatalistic attitudes following the program. We conclude that (1) non-facilitating attitudes toward perinatal care exist in community hospitals and (2) these attitudes can be favorably influenced by an educational program.
Perceptions of Proportionality in Young Children: Matching Spatial Ratios.

Three experiments examined the ability of young children (4- and 5-year-olds) and adults to identify correspondences in spatial ratios. In all three experiments, children as young as 4 and 5 years of age made accurate spatial proportionality judgments. Moreover, their judgments were no less accurate when both response alternatives differed in spatial configuration from the sample than when all the configurations were alike, indicating that those judgments were based on relational information and not on the exact form of the stimuli. The findings, which suggest that the concept of ratio may have important foundations in the ways young children perceive relations within and between objects, have implications for theories of mathematical development and for methods of mathematics instruction.
A CMOS frequency synthesizer with an injection-locked frequency divider for a 5-GHz wireless LAN receiver

A fully integrated 5-GHz phase-locked loop (PLL) based frequency synthesizer is designed in a 0.24 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The power consumption of the synthesizer is significantly reduced by using a tracking injection-locked frequency divider (ILFD) as the first frequency divider in the PLL feedback loop. On-chip spiral inductors with patterned ground shields are also optimized to reduce the VCO and ILFD power consumption and to maximize the locking range of the ILFD. The synthesizer consumes 25 mW of power of which only 3.8 mW is consumed by the VCO and the ILFD combined. The PLL has a bandwidth of 280 kHz and a phase noise of -101 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency. The spurious sidebands at the center of adjacent channels are less than -54 dBc.
Uterine contractility in women whose fetus is delivered in the occipitoposterior position

Abstract Objective: Most fetuses in the occipitoposterior position rotate spontaneously after striking the pelvic floor. The increased prevalence of prolonged labor, operative delivery, and oxytocin augmentation in women with an occipitoposterior fetal position seems consistent with decreased uterine contractility. We sought to test the hypothesis that women with a persistent occipitoposterior fetal position have inadequate intrauterine pressure. Study Design: Intrauterine pressure was measured prospectively electronically in 94 women whose labor pain was controlled by patient-requested epidural analgesia. Eleven women (12%) were delivered as a persistent occipitoposterior fetal position. In a nested case-control study, these women were compared with 22 women who were delivered as an occipitoanterior fetal position who were matched for age, parity, gestational age, cervical examination at study enrollment, and body mass index. The intrauterine pressure measurements were initiated during the first stage of labor and continued throughout the entire labor process. Women were encouraged in the second stage of labor, after a period of recording baseline contractility, to push using a standardized Valsalva maneuver once the vertex reached the +2 station. The area under the intrauterine pressure curve (integral) was used to estimate uterine contractility and expulsive performances. Results: Five women (45%) in the occipitoposterior group required operative delivery. The average duration of the second stage of labor in the occipitoposterior group was 91.4 ± 23.2 minutes compared with 51.7 ± 6.6 minutes in the occipitoanterior fetal position ( P =.04). Ninety percent of women in the occipitoposterior group required oxytocin, compared with 59% of the women in the occipitoanterior group ( P =.11). There were no differences in uterine contractility between occipitoposterior and occipitoanterior groups during either the first stage of labor (integral mean ± SEM: occipitoposterior [1685.3 ± 194.6 mm Hg · s] vs occipitoanterior fetal position [1700.8 ± 128.9 mm Hg · s, P =.98]) or second stages of labor (occipitoposterior [1952.6 ± 186.5 mm Hg · s] vs occipitoanterior fetal position [1740.8 ± 104.3 mm Hg · s, P =.46]). Further, there were no significant differences in pushing performances between the occipitoposterior and occipitoanterior groups (Valsalva maneuver: occipitoposterior 2864.9 ± 328.8 mm Hg · s] vs occipitoanterior [2898.6 ± 222.2 mm Hg · s, P =.90]). Conclusion: Women who were delivered as a persistent occipitoposterior fetal position do not have lower intrauterine pressure levels immediately before or during the second stage of labor. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:734-9.)
A note on an “inverse Weber” location model

Abstract The convexity of a minimum sum “inverse Weber” objective functional is demonstrated. Newton's method is then applied using symbolic computation to determine thesolution point of the functional.
Two-body random ensembles: from nuclear spectra to random polynomials

The two-body random ensemble for a many-body bosonic theory is mapped to a problem of random polynomials on the unit interval. In this way one can understand the predominance of 0{sup +} ground states, and analytic expressions can be derived for distributions of lowest eigenvalues, energy gaps, density of states, and so forth. Recently studied nuclear spectroscopic properties are addressed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Postdisaster Distress: A Community Based Treatment Program for Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Many disaster survivors suffer from postdisaster distress regardless of whether or not they meet criteria for specific psychiatric diagnoses. Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Postdisaster Distress (CBT-PD), a ten-session manualized intervention, was developed to address a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to disaster. Trained community-based therapists provided CBT-PD to adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina as part of InCourage, a program sponsored by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Participants (n = 88) who were assessed at referral, pretreatment, intermediate treatment, and posttreatment showed significant and large improvements. The overall pre-post effect size was 1.4 in intention-to-treat analyses. Improvements were comparable for persons with more severe distress and persons with moderate distress at referral. Benefits were maintained at follow-up for the 66 adults who have been assessed.
Ultrasound in Neurologic Diagnosis

Ultrasound echoing using a pulse transmitted transversely across the head can determine quickly and safely the symmetry of position of the brain within the cranial cavity. A brief pulse at about 2 Mc is transmitted into the head, and the reflections from the walls of the third ventricle and the septum pellucidum are picked up by the transducer which serves alternately as transmitter and receiver. Although most of the incident energy is reflected by skull, a sufficient portion of the pulse enters the head to be detected after reflection by smooth internal discontinuities properly oriented to reflect the pulse back to the transducer. Positioning of the transducer is highly critical and requires some practice. The lateral displacement of the third ventricle and septum pellucidum generally is a sensitive indicator of an increase of volume of the contents of one half of the cranial cavity relative to the other. These structures lie within the opening in the falx cerebri through which brain tissue must herniate when displaced from one compartment to the other. The technique is totally atraumatic and in most cases easily performed.
Effect of CPTA and cycocel on the biosynthesis of carotenoids by Phycomyces blakesleeanus mutants

CPTA and cycocel cause accumulation of lycopene and γ-carotene, simultaneously inhibiting the formation of β-carotene and β-zeacarotene in Phycomyces blakesleeanus mutant strain C115. Phytoene synthesis is enhanced. CPTA is more effective than cycocel. Kinetic studies show that with increasing concentrations of CPTA, lycopene and γ-carotene increase with the concomitant decrease in β-carotene, the total of these three carotenes being almost equal to β-carotene present in the control. When CPTA-treated mycelium is washed free of the chemical and resuspended in phosphate buffer solution containing 2·5% glucose (pH 5·6), β-carotene is formed at the expense of both γ-carotene and lycopene. β-Zeacarotene, which is not present in the mycelium, reappears upon resuspension. These results indicate that CPTA is inhibiting the enzymes causing cyclization both at neurosporene and lycopene levels. Studies on the effect of CPTA on the high lycopene mutant strain C9 reveal that with increasing concentrations of the compound, lycopene increases slightly and both β-carotene and γ-carotene decrease. Phytoene synthesis is stimulated up to a certain level of CPTA and then becomes steady. In the albino mutant strain C5, there is a slight increase in phytoene formation on the addition of CPTA to the medium. No other carotenoid is formed, suggesting that CPTA cannot remove the block caused by genetic mutation and exerts its influence in an already existing biosynthetic pathway.
Phase I study of liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) and cyclophosphamide in solid tumors.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the recommended phase II dose (RPTD) of the combination of cyclophosphamide and liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil). Patients and methods: Eligibility criteria included: a diagnosis of non-hematologic cancer with no conventional effective therapy, normal renal, liver and bone marrow function, and ECOG performance status of 0-2. Both drugs were administered intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. The following doses (mg/m2) of Doxil and cyclophosphamide were tested: 30/500, 40/600, and 48/600. Results: Thirty-seven patients with a median age of 62 years (male:female 21:16) received 119 cycles of Doxil and cyclophosphamide. Hand-foot syndrome and mucositis were the dose limiting toxicities for this combination. Other major toxicities included neutropenia. The side effects to the combination were cumulative. The RPTD of Doxil and cyclophosphamide was 48 mg/m2 and 600 mg/m2, respectively. Three patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach, fibrosarcoma of the stomach and renal cell carcinoma showed objective antitumor responses. Conclusion: The toxicity profile of the combination of Doxil/cyclophosphamide differs significantly from that of non-liposomal doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide. Major toxicities of the combination include the hand-foot syndrome, stomatitis and neutropenia.
Chemokine Receptors: Keys to AIDS Pathogenesis?

Despite the important advances made in studies of chemokine receptor family members in HIV and SIV entry, much remains to be learned of the potential roles of these receptors in transmission and disease progression. It will be important to learn if pathogenesis directly involves the known receptors or perhaps even additional receptors yet to be identified. The normal functions of such receptors will need to be fully understood, and this will likely require studies in gene-targeted mice. It is also unclear if individual receptors have signal-transducing properties that can be exploited by different viruses. A combination of studies on the biology of virus replication in different primary cells and on animal model systems will be required to address these questions.
Influence of nitrate and molybdenum on sulfur utilization by rumen microorganisms.

Abstract Twenty-four hours in vitro incubations were used to study the effect of nitrate and molybdenum on sulfur utilization by rumen microorganisms. Sulfur was added as sodium sulfate or sulfide at .1, .2, .3, or .4% of the substrate dry matter. Cellulose digestion was an indicator of microbial growth. The addition of .1 to .4% sulfate or sulfide sulfur increased cellulose digestion over the control, the two sulfur sources being equal in promoting cellulose digestion. No differences in cellulose digestion were found between .1 and .4% added sulfur. However, the addition of .4 or .8% nitrate-nitrogen depressed cellulose digestion and increased the requir;ement for both sulfate and sulfide. Depression was greater with .8% nitrate-nitrogen. In the presence of nitrate, sulfide was superior to sulfate in promoting cellulose digestion. When 4 or 8 ppm molybdenum were added to the incubations, increasing concentrations of both sulfate and sulfide were required to obtain maximum cellulose digestion. Molybdenum additions increased both the sulfate and sulfide requirement for maximum cellulose digestion.
Differentiation-specific demethylation of myelin associated glycoprotein gene in cultured oligodendrocytes.

The methylation status of a 4.4-kb 5′ end of the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) gene was assessed in cells with different levels of transcriptional activity of the gene, i.e., liver, brain, O-2A oligodendrocyte precursors cells, mature oligodendrocytes, and glioma C6 cells. Purified DNA was digested with methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes, and the cuts were mapped by the indirect end-labeling technique. The restriction sites within the 4.4-kb fragment revealed a highly heterogenous methylation pattern among cells and tissues, and liver DNA was the most heavily methylated. Most of the restriction sites were partly demethylated in the nervous system cells. Notably, two adjacent Hha1 sites at +94 and +96 were fully methylated in liver, but partially demethylated in the brain, OL, and O2A. Two Hpa2 site located at −1836 and at −39 were progressively demethylated in oligodendrocyte lineage cells, indicating specific hypomethylation associated with the oligodendrocytic differentiation. Most of the restriction sites were weakly methylated in the DNA from neoplastic C6 cells, although the Hha1 sites were fully methylated. No clear-cut correlation between the extent of CpG dinucleotide methylation and the chromatin conformation was found. For example, out of four heavily methylated sites only two comapped with MNase hypersensitive sites. Also, the −1836 Hpa2 site whose demethylation is concomitant with oligodendrocytic differentiation seems to be localized within precisely positioned nucleosomal arrays of the MAG gene chromatin. The results indicate that the MAG gene undergoes progressive demethylation concomitant with the oligodendrocyte differentiation/maturation. However, certain CpG dinucleotides remain heavily methylated even in the fully active gene in mature oligodendrocytes, indicating that they may be essential in maintaining proper chromatin structure. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Decompressive craniectomy in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury with intractable elevated intracranial pressure

Abstract Background Care of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) has placed emphasis on maximizing cerebral perfusion to prevent ischemia and reperfusion injury. A subset of patients with TBI will continue to have refractory intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation despite aggressive therapy including ventriculostomy, pentobarbital coma, hypertonic saline, and diuretics. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a controversial treatment of severe TBI. It is our hypothesis that DC can enhance survival and minimize secondary brain injury in this patient subset. Methods Patients younger than 20 years treated at a level I regional trauma center between November 2001 and November 2004, who met inclusion criteria for the Brain Trauma Foundation TBI-trac clinical database were included. All patients with a mechanism of injury consistent with TBI and Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 9 for at least 6 hours after resuscitation and who did not die in the emergency department are entered into a clinical database. Patients who arrived at the study hospital more than 24 hours after injury are excluded. Results There were 30 patients with TBI identified. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale score at presentation was 8 with a range of 3 to 13. Six patients underwent DC for intractable elevated ICP. Of 6 patient's postoperative ICP, 5 were less than 20 mm Hg. One patient required a return to the operating room where further debridement of brain was performed. All patients who received a DC survived and were discharged to a TBI rehabilitation facility. Conclusion Although this is a small sample, DC should be considered in patients with TBI with refractory elevated ICP. Long-term follow-up of this patient population should consist of neuropsychiatric evaluation in conjunction with measurement of social function.
HORMONES—WHENCE AND WHITHER: Presidential Address*

FELLOW Members of The Endocrine Society and Guests: The entire group here this evening can be divided into two parts: 1) those who are interested in endocrinology, and 2) those who are more interested in endocrinologists. This being so, I shall offer, not heavy scientific data with which many of you are already overstuffed, but some thoughts along a lighter vein. First of all, I should like to take you with me on a flight of fancy. THE ORIGIN OF HORMONES On this flight we shall talk first about life without hormones or, how hormones began. Let us think of life in the most general terms. As Krutch has said in his book, The Great Chain of Life, life can be divided into three parts: protein, love and death. We could begin with a protein, or we could even go back to a time preceding protein—by making an amino acid—but the evening is very short.
Imagining the Western Husband: Thai Women's Desires for Matrimony, Status and Beauty

This article examines a group of Thai women's perceptions of western Caucasian men as ideal marriage partners and its impact on their sexual practices and relationship decisions. Based on conversations with women living in a ‘slum’ community in Bangkok, I argue that women who do not fit local ideals of light skin color, economic success and urban origins face obstacles among potential Thai suitors. Some of these women strategically prefer western suitors to local men. Through their relationship choices, these women upset local hierarchies of desire as they attempt to subvert skin color-bias and pose challenges to Thai marital traditions. At the same time, their relationship pursuits conform to gender expectations of the male breadwinner and female caretaker and may unintentionally reproduce skin color and status hierarchies. Although Thai women's sexual relationships with western men are not a new phenomena, they underscore the transnational nature of sexual desire and contemporary social change.
Tissue fluid pressure, lymph pressure, and fluid transport in rat intestinal villi

Abstract Tissue fluid pressure ( P t ) and lymph pressure ( P l ) as well as fluid transport between initial lymphatics and tissue matrix were determined in the villi of the jejunum in vivo and in vitro . When the intestine was absorbing fluid, free tissue fluid as a micro pool appeared in the villi. P t and P l were 2.4 ± 0.7 and 2.9 ± 0.8 mm Hg (mean ± SE), respectively, in the villi in vivo (26 villi of 5 rats) or 0.8 ± 0.4 and 1.2 ± 0.5 mm Hg, respectively, in the villi in vitro (30 villi of 5 rats). P l was significantly ( P P t . When Evans blue in saline was continuously infused into an initial lymphatic, dye rapidly leaked out into the tissue matrix, but when it was infused into the free tissue fluid, dye did not enter the lymphatics but leaked out of the epithelial layer, apparently due to low hydraulic conductance of the tissue matrix to fluid transport in this direction. Furthermore, in the villi with fat absorption, a retrograde flow of chylous lymph out of the villous tips always occurred, indicating that there are large pores at the villous tips to allow free passage of fluid and chylomicrons. From these findings and other evidences, it is inferred that during fluid absorption a fraction of the lymph may be formed by the transport of the luminal fluid directly into the terminal end of the initial lymphatics via large pores at the villous tips presumably by imbibition of the tissue matrix or by lymphatic suction or both.
Transformation and decomposition of lignin-related compounds by microbial isolates from mine soils

Spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and ion-exchange procedures were used to follow microbial transformation and degradation of lignin-related compounds during incubation in liquid culture. Analyses of solvent extracts from fermentation media showed that selected mine soil microorganisms were able to modify one or more of the structural components of vanillic and ferulic acids, including methoxyl groups, carbon side-chains, and aromatic rings.
The PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway as Therapeutic Target in Neuroblastoma

The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is one of the most potent prosurvival signaling cascades that is aberrantly activated in a variety of human cancers. Recent evidence demonstrates that pathological activation of Akt also frequently occurs in neuroblastoma and correlates with poor prognosis. Thus, therapeutic targeting of PI3K/Akt/mTOR may present a promising approach for the design of molecular targeted therapies in neuroblastoma. Several strategies have in recent years been developed to interfere with distinct components of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling at different levels of the cascade. It will be subject to future studies to evaluate which of these compounds are most suitable for the treatment of neuroblastoma. Eventually, PI3K/Akt/mTOR targeting agents may open novel perspectives to improve the poor prognosis of patients with neuroblastoma especially in advanced stages of the disease.
Performance analysis of anisotropic scattering center detection

We consider the problem of detecting anisotropic scattering of targets from wideband SAR measurements. We first develop a scattering model for the response of an ideal dihedral when interrogated by a wideband radar. We formulate a stochastic detection problem based on this model and Gaussian clutter models. We investigate the performance of three detectors, the conventional imaging detector, a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detector based on the dihedral anisotropic scattering model, and a sum-of- squares detector motivated as a computationally attractive alternative to the GLRT test. We also investigate the performance degradation of the GLRT detector when using truncated angle response filters, and analyze detector sensitivity to changes in target length. Finally, we present initial results of angular matched filter detection applied to UWB radar measurements collected by the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Optical and electrical energy gaps in amorphous semiconductors

Abstract The experiments are analyzed which yield information about the density of localized gap states g l (E) in amorphous semiconductors. A conflict is found between optical absorption data which reveal only a very small g l (E) and electrical measurements, which predict orders of magnitude larger g l (E) . A model proposed resolves this conflict by assuming that because of spatial potential fluctuations electrons and holes are trapped in different regions and that near the mobility edge the extended electron wavefunctions are somewhat excluded from regions in which electrons are localized. The consequences of this model regarding the interpretation of the optical and the electrical gap are discussed.
Adolescent sibling relationships in mexican american families : Exploring the role of familism

To address a significant gap in the literature on normative processes in minority families, the authors studied adolescents' sibling relationships in two-parent Mexican American families and explored connections between sibling relationship characteristics and familism. Participants were 246 adolescent Mexican American sibling pairs who participated in (a) home interviews during which adolescents described their sibling relationships and familism values and (b) a series of 7 nightly phone calls during which adolescents reported their daily activities, including time spent with siblings and family members. Siblings described their relationships as both intimate and conflictual, and daily activity data revealed that they spent an average of 17.2 hr per 7 days in shared activities. Sibling relationship qualities were linked to familism values and practices, and stronger patterns of association emerged for sisters than brothers. Discussion highlights the significance of studying the processes that underlie within-group variations among families of different cultural backgrounds.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of a library of resveratrol analogues as inhibitors of COX-1, COX-2 and NF-κB

Abstract Resveratrol (4,3′,5′-trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring antioxidant that inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the transcription factor NF-κB. A 78-membered library of resveratrol analogues in which the substituents on the two aryl rings and alkene were varied was synthesized using a solid-phase Wittig olefination reaction. The library contains inhibitors against all three proteins that were more potent than resveratrol itself. Preliminary structure–activity relationships were also obtained from these data that permitted the derivation of pharmacophore models for each of the three targets.
Specificity of adhesion between cloned neural cell lines

Abstract We have investigated the phenomenon of intercellular adhesion using cloned cell lines derived from the rat central nervous system. Adhesion is assayed by measuring the rate at which a suspension of labeled (probe) cells of one type adheres to monolayers of other cell types. In general a given probe cell such as the nerve line B50 will adhere rapidly to most other cell lines, providing little information about the specificity of the interactions. However, we discovered several methods of pretreating the B50 cells which specifically alter their rate of adhesion to various types of monolayers. Treating the B50 cells with trypsin, coating them with an antinerve antiserum, or simply lowering the assay temperature from 20°C to 0°C were 3 separate procedures which resulted in slower rates of adhesion of the B50 probe cells to 3 distinct subclasses of monolayers. These data suggest that different mechanisms are involved in the adhesion of B50 cells to the various other cell lines. To account for the differences, we postulate the existence of pairs of interlocking or complementary surface components on the cell lines, a concept that has also been valuable in understanding interactions in other systems. We discuss the characterization of these proposed components and outline their usefulness in categorizing the cell lines.
Growth of Si1−xGex by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition and application to heterojunction bipolar transistors

Rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition has been applied towards the growth of Si and Si1−xGex structures on a 100 A scale. In this paper the relative merits of gas switching versus temperature switching for the growth of such structures are discussed. Active temperature control in the 600–700 °C range using infrared transmission for temperature measurement is demonstrated. The growth technique is applied to 45 A period superlattices with individual layer temperature control, and to heterojunction bipolar transistors with near‐ideal electrical characteristics.
The superconductivity and magnetic susceptibility of some zirconium-transition-metal compounds; evidence for an anticorrelation

The properties of the superconducting transition temperatureT cof the CuAl 2 -type compounds of Zr 2 Co, Zr 2 Ni, Zr 2 Rh, Zr 2 Fe, and Zr 2 Ir are discussed with respect to effects due to alloying and heat treatment. Dilute pseudobinary alloys of transition-metal elements with Zr 2 Rh (T c=11.3 K) produced lower transition temperatures suggesting that the valence-electron concentration of 5.67 electrons/atom gives a maximum inT c for this crystal type. Results for Zr 2 Co (T c=5.0 K) and Zr 2 Ir (T c=7.3 K) show that their transition temperatures are raised somewhat when the electron concentration is increased by alloying. A peak is seen near 5.72 electrons/atom. A peak in the room-temperature magnetic susceptibility in the Zr 2 Co-Zr 2 Ni system occurs near the same electron concentration as the peak inT c. Similar susceptibility behavior takes place in the Zr 2 Rh-Zr 2 Ni system, however, with no peak inT c. Results of susceptibility measurements on Zr 2 Ir and its isomorphic alloys indicate correlation betweenT c and susceptibility. An anticorrelation occurs for Zr 2 Co alloys suggesting the presence of Coulomb interactions. A sharp symmetric drop inT c near the stoichiometric composition as well as a marked decrease of the transition temperature with a low-temperature (600 C) anneal indicate that the coulomb interactions are sensitive to crystalline order. The lattice parameters of Zr 2 Ir are reported as a=6.508 A andc=5.721 A. The superconductivity of Zr 3 Co (T c=3.9 K) and Zr 3 Ir (T c=2.13 K) is reported.
Transport and toxicity of sulphur dioxide in Saccharomyces cerevisiae var ellipsoideus.

The kinetics of radioactive SO2 uptake by S. cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus, the effect of temperature on the uptake, the irreversible thermal inactivation of the uptake and the specificity for the molecular form of SO2 in the process indicate that mediated transport is operative in this uptake. Both the transport and toxicity of SO2 in this yeast are strongly pH-dependent and the dependence is based on the determining effect pH exerts on the distribution of the forms which SO2 assumes in solution.
An improved multi-purpose teaching attachment

A new rigid teaching attachment has been developed that fits all endoscopes, flexible as well as rigid. Its optical performance is reported to be superior to that of flexible fiberoptic attachments in general use.
The Effects of Self-Monitoring on Teachers’ Use of Specific Praise:

Teachers typically enter the field with limited training in classroom management, and research demonstrates that training alone does not result in improved practice. Typically, researchers have rel...
Experiments in text file compression

A system for the compression of data files, viewed as strings of characters, is presented. The method is general, and applies equally well to English, to PL/I, or to digital data. The system consists of an encoder, an analysis program, and a decoder. Two algorithms for encoding a string differ slightly from earlier proposals. The analysis program attempts to find an optimal set of codes for representing substrings of the file. Four new algorithms for this operation are described and compared. Various parameters in the algorithms are optimized to obtain a high degree of compression for sample texts.
Considerations for forward active mode reliability in an advanced hetero-junction bipolar transistor

The implementation of safe operating area (SOA) is discussed in this paper to quantify electrical, thermal, and Hot Carrier (HC) limits for a SiGe hetero-junction bipolar transistor (HBT) in a forward active mode. An electrical limit should be constructed to prevent an unexpected catastrophic failure at a circuit level considering impedance to the base node of HBTs simultaneously affected by current and voltage, unlike an individual HBT measured by parameter analyzers. Also, an investigation of the critical parameter degradation such as Beta is observed in a full range of active mode, calculating the maximum tolerable current, bias, and power relative to the performance of a HBT. We demonstrate the unique behavior of current dependence of Beta degradation by a simulation of impact ionization location and rate, accompanied by Kirk effect. In addition, we associate a 1/V BC model for time-to-fail (TTF) extrapolated into the use condition compared to a conventional V BC model.
Adaptive Control of Truss Structures for Gossamer Spacecraft

Neural network-based adaptive control is considered for active control of a highly flexible truss structure which may be used to support solar sail membranes. The objective is to suppress unwanted vibrations in SAFE (Solar Array Flight Experiment) boom, a test-bed located at NASA. Compared to previous tests that restrained truss structures in planar motion, full three dimensional motions are tested. Experimental results illustrate the potential of adaptive control in compensating for nonlinear actuation and modeling error, and in rejecting external disturbances.
IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: TIME-DEPENDENT RISK PROFILE

Predictors of in-hospital mortality after myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported as a dichotomy: survival versus death. Predictors of time from admission to death have not been reported. 7,337 patients were enrolled in a prospective multi-center registry of acute MI. In-hospital mortality
Spark-processing — A novel technique to prepare light-emitting, nanocrystalline silicon

The properties of spark-processed Si appear quite promising for applications like optically active components. Spark-processed Si photoluminesces strongly in the violet and in the green spectral range (dependent on processing). The response is fast (nanoseconds), and its stability against HF etching, intense laser irradiation, and annealing is remarkable. The microstructure reveals nanocrystalline Si particles which are imbedded in an amorphous matrix. An unambiguous link between these nanocrystals and photoluminescence has not been established. However, several other proposed mechanisms can be excluded based on experimental evidence.
Persistently high loads of human papillomavirus 16 over time were associated with an increased risk for cervical cancer

Source Citation Ylitalo N, Sorensen P, Josefsson AM, et al. Consistent high viral load of human papillomavirus 16 and risk of cervical carcinoma in situ: a nested case-control study. Lancet. 2000 J...
Hepatotoxic and cellular uptake interactions among surface active components of erythromycin preparations

Abstract Rat hepatoma cell cultures and Chang cell cultures derived from human liver were exposed to erythromycin estolate, erythromycin cetyl sulfate or to the individual components of these preparations, erythromycin propionate and sodium lauryl sulfate or erythromycin base and sodium cetyl sulfate respectively. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by leakage of cytoplasmic and lysosomal enzymes into the media. The uptake of the drugs by the cells was measured with radiolabeled compounds. The surface activity of the drugs was determined in vitro with a surface tension balance. Those drugs with the greatest surface activity were found to have the greatest cytotoxic effects on both cell culture lines. The cytotoxic effects of erythromycin cetyl sulfate were exclusively from the cetyl sulfate. With the erythromycin estolate combination, both lauryl sulfate and erythromycin propionate were cytotoxic. The presence of the latter increased the uptake of lauryl sulfate by the cells and resulted in a potentiation of the cytotoxic effect. Thus, the detergent ingredients used to enhance the gastrointestinal absorption of the drugs may also enhance their cell penetration and determine their hepatotoxicity in vitro ; this form of cytotoxic drug interaction mechanism at the cellular level may explain the hepatotoxicity of some of these drugs in man.
Familial Purposes: An Argument Against the Promotion of Family Uniformity

William Galston (1996) and Jean Bethke Elshtain (1991) argue that law and policy should be used to promote the intact two-parent married heterosexual fondly. Galston advocates divorce reform to discourage single-parent families and Elshtain opposes extending the right to marry to same-sex couples. In response, I defend a multipurpose definition of family, oppose making divorce more difficult, and support same-sex marriage.
The Roles of Genetics and Epigenetics in the Diagnosis of Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders

Abstract The diagnosis of the chronic myeloproliferative disorders, polycythemia vera, idiopathic myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocytosis is confounded by their low frequency of occurrence, phenotypic variability over time, phenotypic mimicry among themselves, and phenotypic mimicry between them and other malignant and benign disorders of the blood. Recent discoveries of epigenetic and genetic abnormalities shared by these disorders have not only provided insight into their pathogenesis but also an opportunity to reassess the diagnostic approaches to these disorders. The purpose of this review is to integrate the information provided by these new genetic and epigenetic markers into the diagnostic strategies for polycythemia vera, idiopathic myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocytosis.
Inertial microfluidics for sheath-less high-throughput flow cytometry

Flow cytometer is a powerful single cell analysis tool that allows multi-parametric study of suspended cells. Most commercial flow cytometers available today are bulky, expensive instruments requiring high maintenance costs and specially trained personnel for operation. Hence, there is a need to develop a low cost, portable alternative that will aid in making this powerful research tool more accessible. In this paper we describe a sheath-less, on-chip flow cytometry system based on the principle of Dean coupled inertial microfluidics. The design takes advantage of the Dean drag and inertial lift forces acting on particles flowing through a spiral microchannel to focus them in 3-D at a single position across the microchannel cross-section. Unlike the previously reported micro-flow cytometers, the developed system relies entirely on the microchannel geometry for particle focusing, eliminating the need for complex microchannel designs and additional microfluidic plumbing associated with sheath-based techniques. In this work, a 10-loop spiral microchannel 100 µm wide and 50 µm high was used to focus 6 µm particles in 3-D. The focused particle stream was detected with a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) setup. The microfluidic system was shown to have a high throughput of 2,100 particles/sec. Finally, the viability of the developed technique for cell counting was demonstrated using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The passive focusing principle and the planar nature of the described design will permit easy integration with existing lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems.
Electrical Water Level Control and Recording Equipment for Model of Cape Cod Canal

Control of water level according to a predetermined cycle and its automatic recording in a model of the Cape Cod Canal have been accomplished by electrical means which depend for operation upon the capacitances between the surface of the water and metal plates suspended above the water. The theory of operation and the apparatus are described in this paper.
Homology of Serum Proteins of Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and Man

Abstract Comparing properties of electrophoretically-separated proteins of the golden shiner with those of man permitted an evaluation of the suitability of traditional terminology for naming the proteins of fishes. Collectively, electrophoretic mobility, percentage composition, solubility properties, and distribution of lipoproteins of six golden shiner serum proteins differed sufficiently from the classical definitions of serum proteins to prevent homologizing the proteins of the golden shiner with those of man. Although certain properties of some proteins compare favorably between species, the particular combination of physiochemical properties of serum proteins are species-specific. To have comparative value, a functional description of the serum proteins is recommended as well as physiochemical data for establishing homology of fish serum proteins.
Effect of swirl on strained premixed flames for mixtures with lewis number distinct from unity

Abstract The behavior of strained premixed flames in the presence of swirl has been examined for mixtures, such as lean butane/air and propane/air, for which the Lewis number is significantly larger than one. Solutions are sought using the asymptotic limits of high activation energy and large Reynolds number without restricting the Lewis number to be near one. In this formulation the flame is not necessarily embedded in the viscous layer at the stagnation plane and extinction may occur with the flame located in the upstream inviscid flow. The structure of the viscous layer however is essential in locating the additional stagnation planes that arise at high rate of rotation and hence the flame standoff distance. A detailed description of the flow field is given and the extinction characteristics are determined showing qualitative agreement with experimental observations.