cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximizing pond biodiversity across the landscape: a case study of larval ambystomatid salamanders

Loss or alteration of natural wetland habitats is a near ubiquitous global phenomenon. In the US, legislation mandates that all lost wetland habitats be replaced; manmade wetland habitats rarely have the same structural form or ecological function as natural wetlands. In the eastern US, these manmade pond habitats often serve as water sources for wildlife, but many are also utilized by amphibians for reproduction. Understanding the features that maximize species’ abundance and diversity is critical to effective management. In this study, we surveyed for ambystomatid salamander larvae at 169 manmade ponds in a military training installation. Three species were present: Ambystoma maculatum, A. opacum and the regionally endemic A. annulatum. We estimated larval densities in each pond in relation to landscape- and pond-level covariates. Important factors relating to larval density were forest habitat surrounding each pond, canopy cover over a pond, the number of ponds within 300 m of the focal pond, presence of fish, slope of the pond basin, hydroperiod and amount of vegetation within the pond. Density estimates for each species were best predicted by different combinations of these factors, underscoring the need to provide a range of pond habitats to promote species diversity on the landscape. Our results indicate that manmade ponds are providing a valuable reproductive resource, but that future construction of ponds on the landscape will best serve the salamander and broader amphibian community if different combinations of hydroperiod and slope are utilized.
Treatment of Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer: Is Chemotherapy the Next Step?

PURPOSE: Management of locally advanced prostate cancer remains controversial. Various single and combination modality approaches have been advocated, but an accepted standard of care remains undefined. The purpose of this review is to define the current knowledge in managing locally advanced prostate cancer and to propose new treatment approaches based on current knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A MEDLINE search to detect all relevant articles on the management of locally advanced prostate cancer was performed. A review of the staging, natural history, and prognosis of this disease was also performed. RESULTS: The lack of a clearly defined treatment approach to patients with locally advanced prostate cancer stems from multiple factors, including ambiguities in clinical staging, inadequate knowledge of the natural history of the cancer, and a dearth of comparative randomized trials evaluating efficacy of different therapies. Single modality treatment, including radical prostatectomy (RP) or external-beam...
Inhibitory effect of Citrus unshu peel on anaerobic digestion

A significant inhibition of methane fermentation was observed in anaerobic digestion of Citrus unshu peel at loadings above 2 g/litre per day. This inhibitory effect was mainly due to peel oil, but in part to other substances present in the peel. The limiting load of peel oil to anaerobic digestion was about 65 /gml/litre per day. Addition of peel oil below this limit load resulted in a change in the microbial flora and in gas production greater than that of digestion with no peel oil. Citrus unshu peel did not inhibit methane fermentation after removal of peel oil by steam distillation or aeration.
On metric spaces with uniform normal structure

In this work, we prove that metric spaces with uniform normal structure have a kind of intersection property, which is equivalent to reflexivity in Banach spaces.
Minimally invasive mechanical cardiac support without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children awaiting heart transplantation

Abstract Background . Mechanical cardiac assist for small children ( Methods . Two cases are used to illustrate two methods of avoiding sternotomy during mechanical assist in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. One of these approaches avoids the need for extracorporeal oxygenation. Results . Decompression of the left-sided chambers with a left atrial cannula decreased pulmonary edema and improved pulmonary function. Conclusions . Pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy may benefit from a left ventricular assist technique using a centrifugal pump, which avoids the neck vessels and sternotomy, as well as ECMO.
Noninvasive high resolving power entangled photon quantum microscope

A noninvasive high resolving power quantum microscope would facilitate progress in the areas of research and development in biosciences as well as in the area of biomedical technology. Longer-wavelength microscopes, i.e., visible or near-infrared, can provide noninvasive features. On the other hand, shorter wavelengths, i.e., in the ultraviolet, can provide better resolving power. We propose the development of both a noninvasive and high resolving power quantum microscope by using two-color entangled photon ghost imaging technology.
Cardiac sodium-calcium exchange research New directions.

Abstract The sarcolemmal Na + -Ca 2+ exchanger is the dominant myocardial Ca 2+ efflux mechanism and has a central role in the regulation of contractility. Physiologic and molecular advances in Na + -Ca 2+ exchange research have led a resurgence of interest in this system. Molecular cloning of the exchanger has recently been accomplished, and information on the molecular structure and reaction mechanism is forthcoming.
Continuity of a Model with a Nested CES Utility Function and Bertrand Competition

In recent years models with a nested constant elasticity of substitution utility function and heterogeneous firms involved in some form of competition have become popular in the international trade literature. This paper considers one particular model of this class — with firms competing in prices — and shows continuity of the model as the elasticity of substitution between goods goes to infinity. This result contrasts with the conjecture of prior literature. Continuity of the model ensures consistency of its outcomes when the elasticity of substitution approaches infinity. Therefore, researchers who were reluctant to use this model because of the lack of proof of continuity can now rely on this paper’s result to employ the model in their research.
Phase behavior of synthetic N-acylethanolamine phospholipids.

Both saturated and unsaturated N-acylethanolamine phospholipids form lamellar structures when dispersed in buffer. The addition of excess Ca2+ (Ca2+/N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine > 0.5) results in precipitation. Freeze-fracture replicas indicate that the addition of Ca2+ to the unsaturated lipid results in a non-bilayer structure while the Ca2+-complex of the saturated lipid is lamellar. Since unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is a non-bilayer lipid, its N-acylation with a saturated fatty acid converts a non-bilayer lipid into an acidic bilayer lipid capable of interacting with Ca2+ to return to a non-bilayer structure. Ca2+ may thereby exert an influence on membrane phenomena by regulating phase behavior within certain membrane domains. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicates that N-acylation of unsaturated PE with a saturated fatty acid also results in changes in thermotropic phase behavior. Therefore, N-acylation may affect fluidity within certain membrane domains.
MAKING ALL EXPERIENCE RELIGIOUS: THE HEGEMONY OF RITUAL AT QUMRAN

This study provides a preliminary inventory of the evidence for ritual density and change at Qumran. Then insights from ritual studies and the study of oral-literate cultures are used to formulate a hypothesis regarding the meaning of Qumran ritual intensity and relate it to the group's religious experience. We learn that ritual exercised measurable hegemony over the people at Qumran, making large portions of their experience "religious" in a certain sense, and that some of their ritual practices set them apart from other Jews. The study also indicates the basis for the group's ritual practices, their interpretation of Jewish scriptures.
Acute toxicity of an in situ shale oil process wastewater and its major components to Daphnia magna.

An assessment of the potential environmental hazard of an in situ shale oil process wastewater to aquatic organisms is presented. The study determined the acute toxicity (48 hours) of the wastewater to Daphnia magma, a microcrustacean commonly found in lakes in northern and western North American and a sensitive test organism for many toxicity studies. The effluent under study was obtained from the Laramie Energy Technology Center's experimental in situ shale oil site near Rock Springs, Wyoming. In addition, a synthetic effluent was prepared by mixing each of the major inorganic components identified in the waste water at the concentrations found. The acute toxicity of the synthetic mixture was compared with that of the waste water and it was found that the waste water was approximately 1.5 times as toxic as the synthetic mixture. Because of the differences in toxicity, it was determined that not all of the chemicals present in the original effluent at acutely toxic concentrations have been identified.
Quasidirect products of quasigroups

(1975). Quasidirect products of quasigroups. Communications in Algebra: Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 835-850.
Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging measures of neural activity to positive social stimuli in pre- and post-treatment depression.

Background Relationships between aberrant social functioning and depression have been explored via behavioral, clinical, and survey methodologies, highlighting their importance in the etiology of depression. The neural underpinnings of these relationships, however, have not been explored. Methods Nine depressed participants and 14 never-depressed control subjects viewed emotional and neutral pictures at two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning sessions approximately 22 weeks apart. In the interim, depressed patients received the antidepressant Venlafaxine. Positively rated images were parsed into three separate comparisons: social interaction, human faces, and sexual images; across scanning session, activation to these images was compared with other positively rated images. Results For each of the three social stimulus types (social interaction, faces, sexual images), a distinguishable circuitry was activated equally in non-depressed control subjects and post-treatment depressed subjects but showed a hypo-response in the depressed group pre-treatment. These structures include regions of prefrontal, temporal, and parietal cortices, insula, basal ganglia, and the hippocampus. Conclusions The neural hypo-response to positively valenced social stimuli that is observed in depression remits as response to antidepressant medication occurs, suggesting a state-dependent deficiency in response to positive social incentives. These findings underscore the importance of addressing social dysfunction in research and treatment of depression.
Behavior of Tunnel Diode Amplitude Discriminators

The dependence of the output of a tunnel diode amplitude discriminator on the excess over threshold is analyzed; the input pulse is assumed to be from a scintillation counter. An approximate formula for the maximum delay introduced is given. The results of numerical integration are summarized in a diagram, allowing the calculation of the delay introduced for various values of excess over threshold and of circuit time constants.
Miniaturization of a class of ultra-wideband antennas using dual-mode radiating structures

Antennas are essential components in all communication and radar systems. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in ultra-wideband antennas, which find applications in high data rate communication systems [1]. Antennas used in such applications are required to be impedance matched and have good radiation and polarization characteristics over a large frequency span. Traditional ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas such as frequency-independent antennas and travelling-wave antennas can be very large in size particularly if they have to operate low frequencies. As the current trends in electronics technology continue to push for more miniaturized and integrated systems, the requirements on the size, weight, and power consumption (SWAP) of wireless systems has become more stringent. This prohibits the use of traditional ultra-wideband antennas in low-frequency (e.g. VHF) applications, where size and weight are of prime importance. Different miniaturization techniques such as inductive and capacitive loading [2] have been used to realize compact ultra-wideband antennas.
School Failure and Cultural Mismatch: Another View.

Recently, the school failure of minority students has been explained in terms of incompatibilities in the ways that language is used at home and in school. This theory has stimulated numerous studies. The research shows in detail how teachers and minority students often misinterpret each other due to different assumptions about the appropriate ways of using language in the classroom. This paper reviews the literature dealing with home-school disjunctures in language use, and examines the theory critically. It argues that the approach to school failure prevalent throughout the research in this area is seriously flawed. By narrowing the focus of analysis to home-school connections, this line of investigation diverts attention away from existing social inequalities that sustain the widespread academic failure of minority students. Attention is given to the relationship between school and society—a missing link in much of the sociolinguistic literature. The paper further argues that culturally sensitive solutions to the school problems of minority students that ignore the political link between school and society are doomed to failure.
Relationship of Problem Solving to other Cognitive Variables

The present investigation was designed to determine interrelationships between a measure of problem-solving ability and measures of several other cognitive skills. The Purdue Elementary Problem-sol...
Blending In: Collaborating with an Instructor in an Online Course

Blended and embedded librarianship describe efforts by librarians to integrate information literacy more closely into courses, especially online. In this case study, online tutorials replace a librarian-taught research skills session for a course that has moved from face to face to online. Issues discussed include ways to integrate research skills in an online course, collaboration with faculty, and assessment of that instruction. Though successful, more research is needed to understand how students respond to online tutorials, and instructional design is affirmed as necessary to make online tutorials effective and engaging.
Studies of the toxicity of Alternaria mali

Abstract An isolate of Alternaria mali taken from an apple was tested for toxicity in mice, tissue culture, bacteria, and fungi. Female mice fed the killed mycelium mixed with a commercial food ad libitum lost considerable weight and died within 5–10 weeks. The males lost no weight, but were adversely affected. The most common histopathologic finding was hyperkeratosis of the forestomach. Pulmonary hemorrhage and vacuolated liver cord cells were frequently encountered. Mice injected, ip, with a crude extract of the fungus and medium also had slight hyperkeratosis of the forestomach. At concentrations of 5–20 μg/ml, the crude extract was extremely toxic to HeLa S3 cells growing in tissue culture. Extracts from mycelium and from the culture medium were almost equal in cytotoxicity. The extract inhibited the growth of gram-positive cocci, such as Staphylococcus aureus, S. albus, Sarcina lutea, and Gaffkya sp. It had no effect on the genera Bacillus, Streptococcus, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Serratia, or Mima. The fungi Helminthosporium, Leucostoma, and Saprolegnia were strongly inhibited by the extract, whereas Botryosphaeria, Coniella, Physalospora, and Monoclina were only slightly inhibited. Other isolates of Alternaria were not affected by the extract at the concentrations tested.
The Chilean "Economic Miracle": An Empirical Critique

The Pinochet regime in Chile has claimed numerous economic achievments, including vigorous growth, intelligent and innovative management of debt and poverty, and an exemplary approach to privatization. This paper examines empirically the historical record of the Pinochet regime in each of these areas. It concludes that the claims of the regime cannot be sustained. The neo-liberal policies of the post-Pinochet Aylwin government are described, together with the institutional context in which these policies are being carried out. Aylwin neo-liberalism is likely to produce economic and social outcomes similar to those of the Pinochet regime. The political consequences of this course are briefly explored.
“Africa, My Teacher!”: An Expatriate's Perspectives on Teaching Mathematics in Zimbabwe

Dans cet article, les histoires narrees par l'auteur a propos de ses experiences au Zimbabwe se recentrent autour de deux principaux themes qui sont intimement lies. Le premier montre tous les avantages de l'immersion culturelle en tant qu'experience d'apprentissage unique et valorisante. Le second demontre que l'enseignement dans une autre culture peut etre extremement benefique dans le cadre d'une reflexion introspective sur ses propres pratiques pedagogiques et sa philosophie.
Digital Link: High Functional Digital Monitor Interface

We discuss a high-functional digital monitor interface, called Digital Link, which can support very high resolution monitors, high-level control of monitor functions, and flexible monitor connections. This interface is essentially an upper layer protocol and takes advantages of the physical layer of existing digital interfaces. This paper also describes a prototype system that we have developed to evaluate various aspects of the protocol.
Linking microscopic and macroscopic data for heterogeneous reactions illustrated by the oxidation of manganese (II) at mineral surfaces

Previously published microscopic observations of the heterogeneous oxidation of Mn(II) at hematite and albite surfaces were used to develop rate expressions that model the changes in solution composition during oxidation experiments. A geometric approach, which approximates the evolution of reactive surface area over the course of an experiment, was used to expand the right side of the following equation: rhet=d[Mn(II)]dt=−d[β−MnOOH]dt such that a theoretical link between macroscopic (d[Mn(II)]/dt) and microscopic observations (d[β − MnOOH]/dt) was created. Through this analysis, macroscopic rate constants, which are most commonly determined through measurements of the changes in solution composition, are broken down into smaller components that represent a microscopically measured rate constant and the reactive surface area present during an oxidation experiment. These microscopic rate constants can be used to directly compare the reactivities of minerals used in Mn(H) oxidation experiments. The new kinetic models, based on two cases of precipitate development, provide good fits of published solution data (Davies and Morgan, 1989), suggesting that these models successfully scale the microscopic processes to the macroscopic observations. However, it was also found that very different microscopic mechanisms (e.g., adsorption vs. precipitation) can produce equally good fits of the same macroscopic data. This situation demonstrates the importance of upgrading kinetic models to include more detailed microscopic observations that were not possible to collect just a few years ago.
Diffusion-Weighted and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI of Prostate Cancer: Correlation of Quantitative MR Parameters With Gleason Score and Tumor Angiogenesis

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to investigate whether quantitative parameters derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) correlate with Gleason score and angiogenesis of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Seventy-three patients who underwent preoperative MRI and radical prostatectomy were included in our study. A radiologist and pathologist located the dominant tumor on the MR images based on histopathologic correlation. For each dominant tumor, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and quantitative DCE-MRI parameters (i.e., contrast agent transfer rate between blood and tissue [Ktrans], extravascular extracellular fractional volume [ve], contrast agent backflux rate constant [kep], and blood plasma fractional volume on a voxel-by-voxel basis [vp]) were calculated and the Gleason score was recorded. The mean blood vessel count, mean vessel area fraction, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of the dominant tumor we...
Outcome of endovascular repair of small and large abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background To evaluate the outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with small (≤5.4 cm) and large (≥5.5 cm) abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Method Data for this study were obtained from the prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter Talent enhanced Low Profile Stent trial that enrolled patients between February 2002 and April 2003. A total of 156 patients with adequate preoperative imaging were identified for this study. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with small (≤5.4 cm) and large (≥5.5 cm) AAAs. Demographics, aneurysm morphology, and perioperative endpoints were assessed. Safety and effectiveness endpoints were evaluated at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years postprocedure. Results Patients with small AAAs ( n = 85) had similar age, gender, and medical risk profile compared with those for larger AAAs ( n = 71). The proximal aortic necks in small AAAs were longer (24.7 mm vs. 20.7 mm, p = 0.05), less angulated (27.2° vs. 34.2°, p = 0.01), and smaller (24.6 mm vs. 26.1 mm, p = 0.01). Patients with small AAAs spent less time in intensive care (8.1 hour vs. 26.3 hour, p = 0.03); however, other perioperative endpoints were similar. Although the group with small AAAs had a statistically significant higher rate of successful aneurysm treatment (96.8% vs. 84.9%, p = 0.04), no difference was observed in all other effectiveness endpoints at 12 months. No differences in freedom from major adverse events at 30 days and 365 days were reported. At 5 years, no differences in rates of migration, endoleaks, change in aneurysm diameter, or freedom from aneurysm-related mortality were found. Further subgroup analyses segregating patients with very small (≤5.0 cm, n = 55), small (5.1-5.4 cm, n = 30), and larger (≥5.5 cm) AAAs also showed no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes. Conclusions In a prospective clinical trial setting with long-term follow-up, patients with small (≤5.4 cm) AAAs had aortic neck characteristics which were more favorable for EVAR. Despite these anatomic differences, clinical outcomes were similar to patients with large AAAs. Thus, we conclude that EVAR for small AAA should not be routinely recommended for patients on the basis of the assumption of improved outcomes.
Renin inhibition: A novel therapy for cardiovascular disease

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a major contributor in the regulation of blood pressure, and pharmacologic manipulation of this system has resulted in a beneficial class of therapeutic agents, which include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. However, ACE inhibitors are not specific for RAS, and in addition, they can affect bradykinin and prostaglandin, which can also cause changes in vascular tone. Under development are renin inhibitors that are specific for angiotensinogen and act at the initial, rate-determining step of the RAS cascade. The various pharmacologic approaches to renin inhibition include specific renin antibodies, synthetic derivatives of the prosegment of renin precursor, pepstatin analogs, and angiotensinogen analogs. The last approach is the most promising for patient therapy. Multiple studies have shown the effectiveness of the renin inhibitors in both primates and human beings. Further research is now directed toward the development of an agent with good oral bioavailability for patient treatment and as a biologic probe for helping to understand the role of the RAS in control of blood pressure and blood volume.
“Let's go star fishing”: reflections on the contexts of language learning for children who use aided AAC

A full account of language development must consider not only the child's characteristics and skills but also the environment for language learning. The language learning environment can be conceptualized as a complex network of interrelated contexts including the physical, functional, language, social, and cultural contexts. The physical context is defined by the people, objects, and events within the physical environment; the child's access to the physical context impacts conceptual development and forms the foundation for lexical development. The functional context refers to the structure and function of daily activities; it is the functional context that determines the time and place accorded to language learning within the child's daily life. The language context refers to the actual language code(s) within the child's environment, the “tools” of communication. For the child with severe physical and speech impairments, these tools include receptive skills and as many expressive skills as possible in ...
Measurement of Thrombocytopoiesis in W/Wv Mice with Evidence for an Abnormality of Sulfate Metabolism

Mice of the W/W/sup v/ genotype have an hereditary macrocytic anemia resulting from a diminished proliferative capacity of hemopoietic precursor cells. Platelet production was studied because W/W/sup v/ mice maintain a normal number of circulating platelets that are of methionine and calculating the percentage of the injected dose incorporated by platelets, the platelet production rate of W/W/sup v/ mice was found to be equivalent to the production rate of their +/+ littermates. Using NA/sub 2//sup 35/SO/sub 4/, however, the platelet production rate, as measured by the same isotope incorporation method, was nearly twice the rate of the normal littermates. The increase in /sup 35/S incorporation appeared to be explained by a greater availability of isotope in the W/W/sup v/ as evidenced by the higher plasma levels of /sup 35/S that were concurrently found. This suggests that the W/W/sup v/ mouse has an aberrant metabolism of inorganic sulfate probably unrelated to platelet production. These results also demonstrate how failure to take plasma radioactivity levels into account can lead to conflicting and probably erroneous conclusions in animals with an inherent or induced metabolic abnormality.
Connecting the Dots: Nuclear Arms Control and Proliferation After Bush and Putin

Russia and the United States have opportunities for significant accomplishments in nuclear arms control during the denouement of the George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin Presidencies and in the early stages of the new American and Russian administrations. Both states should establish momentum that carries forward toward meaningful post-START and post-SORT strategic nuclear arms reductions. In addition, those reductions should provide a basis for Russian and American leadership in supporting the nuclear nonproliferation regime, including the rollback of North Korea's nascent nuclear capability and the prevention of Iran's nuclear weaponization. The costs of failure in either of these endeavors, let alone both, should be unacceptable to Russian, U.S. and allied NATO leaders.
Amphetamine Infused Into the Ventrolateral Striatum Produces Oral Stereotypies and Conditioned Place Preference

The effects of amphetamine infused into the ventrolateral striatum (VLS) on locomotion, stereotypies, and conditioned place preference (CPP) were investigated. Five 2-day conditioning trials were conducted over 10 consecutive days. On 1 day of each trial, animals received an infusion of amphetamine (0, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg/0.5 ml/side) and were placed into a distinct compartment for 30 min. On the other day, animals received sham intracranial infusions and were placed into a different compartment for 30 min. Locomotion and stereotypies were assessed following the first and last amphetamine infusions. CPP was assessed the day following the last conditioning trial. Intra-VLS infusions of amphetamine did not alter sniffing or locomotion. Acute administration of amphetamine into the VLS dose dependently produced oral stereotypies, however, tolerance developed to this effect following repeated administrations. Also, intra-VLS infusions of amphetamine dose dependently produced CPP. These results suggest that the VLS is involved in amphetamine-induced oral stereotypies and reward.
Müllerian inhibiting substance and disrupted folliculogenesis in polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective This study determines whether pretreatment levels of mullerian inhibiting substance/antimullerian hormone (MIS/AMH) would reflect ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovulatory controls matched by age and weight. Study design Case-control study of 20 women with PCOS and 10 normoovulatory women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) at an academic medical center. Results Baseline serum MIS/AMH levels in PCOS were higher than those of normoovulatory women ( P P = .12) and 0.7 ng/mL in controls ( P P Conclusion Baseline MIS/AMH is a good predictor of the ovarian response to COH in normoovulatory women but not in PCOS.
Separation of chemical shift and quadrupole splittings in ordered systems using two-dimensional NMR methods

Abstract Two methods for the two-dimensional separation of quadrupole splitting and chemical shift information in deuterium NMR spectra of perdeuterated molecules in magnetic field ordered liquid crystals are presented and assessed. One method is based on observation of multiple quantum coherence for which evolution depends on chemical shift and not quadrupole splitting. The other method is based on quadrupole echo spectroscopy in which quadrupole splittings can be eliminated by refocusing magnetization. The methods are applied to a sample of perdeuterated D -mannose in a potassium laurate liquid crystal. Results indicate that there is a substantial chemical shift resolution advantage in the multiple quantum method.
Hydrolytic stability of saccharin.

The influence of pH and temperature on the hydrolysis of saccharin was studied. An ultraviolet absorption method was used to determine the amount of saccharin decomposed. The limit of accuracy of the determination represents 1 per cent decomposition. It was found that for all practical purposes saccharin in aqueous buffered solutions of pH 3.3, 7.0, and 8.0 is unaffected by heating at temperatures of 100, 125, and 150° for one hour.
Analysis of the Thermochemistry of NOx Decomposition over CuZSM-5 Based on Quantum Chemical and Statistical Mechanical Calculations

CuZSM-5 is the most active catalyst known for the direct decomposition of NOx. We have performed first-principles quantum mechanical calculations to evaluate the electronic and structural properties of species adsorbed to Cu sites that might be involved in NOx decomposition. Using statistical mechanics, we have calculated ΔU°, ΔH°, and ΔG° of possible elementary reactions in order to evaluate the stability of adsorbates on Cu sites and the ease of their interconversion. On the basis of these calculations, we propose a reaction pathway for NOx decomposition. This scheme involves only single, isolated copper sites, is internally consistent, and is consistent with experimental observations.
Air pollution measurements at the boulder atmospheric observatory

Pollution episodes of three distinct types were detected at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory, which is a 300 m instrumented tower located in a rural area 25 km north of Denver and 20 km east of Boulder. Under stably stratified atmospheric conditions, usually at night or early morning, both power-plant-derived and general urban plumes were sampled. The powerplant plumes were characterized by SO2 concentrations of 30 to 50 ppb in the plume centers, NO2 maxima of 20 to 40 ppb on the plume edges, NO maxima of as much as 50 ppb in the plume centers, and the absence of O3 from the plume centers. Light scattering (bscat), principally due to coarse particles, was typically enhanced by 20 to 40%, relative to nominally clean air. The urban plumes typically contained NO2 uniformly distributed throughout the affected air mass at 20 to 30 ppb, no detectable NO or SO2, and O3 present at concentrations less than half that in background air; bscat was typically increased by a factor of 2 to 3. A third type of pollution episode, containing greatly increased concentrations of condensation nuclei, was observed during days when surface heating had apparently stimulated biological particle production. At these times the usual indicators of anthropogenic pollution were absent.
Recruiters' and Applicants' Reactions to Campus Interviews and Employment Decisions

The relationship between college placement interviews and subsequent employment decisions by organizations and applicants has received scant research attention. In a longitudinal field study, we fo...
Higgs-Boson Production in Association with Bottom Quarks at Next-to-Leading Order

We argue that the leading-order subprocess for Higgs-boson production in association with bottom quarks is b{bar b}{r_arrow}H. This process is an important source of Higgs bosons with enhanced Yukawa coupling to bottom quarks. We calculate the corrections to this cross section at next-to-leading-order in 1/ln(m{sub H}/m{sub b}) and {alpha}{sub s} and at next-to-next-to-leading order in 1/ln(m{sub H}/m{sub b}). {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Marine biogenic and anthropogenic contributions to non‐sea‐salt sulfate in the marine boundary layer over the North Atlantic Ocean

throughout the year and comparable to those at American Samoa in the tropical South Pacific (18.1 ± 0.9). At Mace Head (based on 1 year of data), this ratio was about 3.01 (±0.53). An analysis of the residuals and an assessment of the root mean square deviations indicate that the ratio at Mace Head can also be reasonably applied throughout the year. However, there is enough uncertainty during the winter that we cannot rule out a significant increase (to about 20) during periods with low concentrations of both MSA and NO3 � . The results from 4 years indicate that the marine contribution is too low to permit a reasonable
Demand for rural tourism: An exploratory study

benefits in a system framework. Presentations by Egon Smeral “Why We Discuss the Environmental Impact of Tourism? Reasons and Strategies for Reducing”, Stephan Wanhill, “Tourism and The Environment: A National Tourist Board Perspective”, and finally “The Concept of Compatibility in Determining Recreation Carrying Capacity” were quite novel in their approach. In conclusion, the Envisotour Vienna ‘92 was quite a success, and the organizers should be congratulated for this tine conference. The proceedings, Stratqies for Reducing the Environmental Impact vf Tourism (edited by W. Pillmann and S. Predl, in English and German) is over 760 pages long. Copies of the proceedings can be obtained from International Society for Environmental Protection, Marxergasse 3120, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. A report on ISEP is published in this issue of Annals. 0 0
Evolutionary theory, kinship, and childbirth in cross-cultural perspective

The authors combine evolutionary theory with the anthropological study of kinship to account for cross-cultural diversity in birth-related investments by kin. Four hypotheses are formulated using paternal certainty, gender, and kinship laterality as independent variables. They test these hypotheses with data from the 60-culture Probability Sample of the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF). Their hypotheses are generally confirmed. For example, grandmothers and aunts provide more direct birth care than grandfathers and uncles. However, they did have some unanticipated results. Fathers provide as much direct birth care as grandmothers and aunts. In addition, they found paternal certainty to be a better predictor of direct birth care than kinship laterality, and kinship laterality to be a better predictor of indirect care. They explain this difference by arguing that direct birth care is the most important kind of investment kin make to ensure the survival and reproduction of mothers and newborns.
Hyperfine structure of quarkonium states

Relativistic corrections to the hyperfine interaction between a heavy QQ-bar pair are estimated by treating the quarks as color-magnetic-moment distributions with a size of the order of their Compton wavelength. The value of the QCD scale parameter ..lambda.. extracted from experiment is considerably altered by this procedure.
Presumed early-stage lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy in a medically inoperable patient with multiple connective tissue disorders.

Patients with medically inoperable early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer are now routinely offered definitive treatment with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which achieves excellent local control and provides a 3-year survival on the order of 60%, with less than 5% chance of severe toxicity. 1,2 However, the same medical comorbidities that make patients inoperable, such as diabetes and hypertension, are also thought to increase the risk of toxicity from radiation therapy.3 In general the comorbidities that may predispose patients to greater toxicity involve microvascular pathology. Connective tissue disorders (CTDs), including scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), dermatomyositis, polymyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and mixed CTDs, have traditionally been considered a relative contraindication to radiation therapy since the effects on normal tissues could possibly be severe.4,5 SBRT generally involves a tightly focused, ablativeintent dose of radiation to a small target, with rapid dose
Cooling and Cooling-Down $\hbox{MgB}_{2}$ and HTS Magnets Using a Hydrogen Thermal Siphon Loop and Coolers Operating From 15 K to 28 K

MgB2 and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets might be better cooled using a cooler if they operate in the temperature range from 15 to 40 K. Liquid neon has been considered as a fluid for cooling such magnets. Neon can only be used in the upper part of the temperature range; neon is scarce and has poor thermal properties when compared to hydrogen or helium. For many MgB2 and HTS magnet applications, liquid hydrogen is an ideal working fluid. Liquid hydrogen has a high heat of vaporization, a high specific heat, and excellent heat transfer properties. This paper describes the kind of thermal siphon cooling loop that can be used for cooling-down a superconducting magnet and keeping it cold in the range from 15 to 28 K. This report will present a method for using hydrogen gas to cool-down and cool a magnet that is relatively safe.
MicroRNA signature in wound healing following excimer laser ablation: role of miR-133b on TGFβ1, CTGF, SMA, and COL1A1 expression levels in rabbit corneal fibroblasts.

PURPOSE The role of microRNA (miRNA) regulation in corneal wound healing and scar formation has yet to be elucidated. This study analyzed the miRNA expression pattern involved in corneal wound healing and focused on the effect of miR-133b on expression of several profibrotic genes. METHODS Laser-ablated mouse corneas were collected at 0 and 30 minutes and 2 days. Ribonucleic acid was collected from corneas and analyzed using cell differentiation and development miRNA PCR arrays. Luciferase assay was used to determine whether miR-133b targeted the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in rabbit corneal fibroblasts (RbCF). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blots were used to determine the effect of miR-133b on CTGF, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and collagen (COL1A1) in RbCF. Migration assay was used to determine the effect of miR-133b on RbCF migration. RESULTS At day 2, 37 of 86 miRNAs had substantial expression fold changes. miR-133b had the greatest fold decrease at -14.33. Pre-miR-133b targeted the 3' UTR of CTGF and caused a significant decrease of 38% (P < 0.01). Transforming growth factor β1-treated RbCF had a significant decrease of miR-133b of 49% (P < 0.01), whereas CTGF, SMA, and COL1A1 had significant increases of 20%, 54%, and 37% (P < 0.01), respectively. The RbCF treated with TGFβ1 and pre-miR133b showed significant decreases in expression of CTGF, SMA, and COL1A1 of 30%, 37%, and 28% (P < 0.01), respectively. Finally, there was significant decrease in migration of miR-133b-treated RbCF. CONCLUSIONS Significant changes occur in key miRNAs during early corneal wound healing, suggesting novel miRNA targets to reduce scar formation.
Consumer-Directed Personal Care: Comparing Aged and Non-Aged Adult Recipient Health-Related Outcomes Among Those With Paid Family Versus Non-Relative Providers

Risk factors associated with the incidence of recipient injuries, bedsores and contractures, and health care use (i.e., emergency department and hospital use) among aged and non-aged adult personal care recipients are investigated. Data are from a statewide survey of aged and non-aged adult personal assistance service (PAS) recipients (n = 913) in California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. This is a consumer-directed PAS program. Outcomes among recipients using relatives (other than spouses or parents) as paid providers are compared with those of recipients having non-relatives as providers. No differences were found by provider-recipient relationships. Non-aged recipients, those in poorer health, those with more than three activities of daily living (ADL) limitations, and those changing providers during the year were all at greater risk for adverse health outcomes. African American, Hispanic, and Asian recipients were at lower risk for injuries and hospital stays than were White recipients.
The conditional probability of survival of patients with primary malignant brain tumors: surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) data.

BACKGROUND Five-year survival estimates in standard cancer reports provide a general description of disease outcome that is useful for surveillance and comparison purposes. However, for cancer survivors these overall survival rates may be discouraging, and the relevant question regarding an individual is this: Once he or she has survived for a specified period of time, what is the probability of survival over the next period of time? METHODS To address this, conditional survival rates by histology for malignant brain tumor survivors were estimated using the SEER public use data and the Portable Survival System, with 19,105 brain and other nervous system patients diagnosed between 1979 and 1993. Given that the survival curve declines more rapidly in the first 2 years than in subsequent years, conditional probabilities of surviving 5 years given survival to 2 years and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)were calculated. As age is a strong prognostic factor for these tumors, conditional probabilities were also estimated by categories of age. RESULTS Estimated 2- and 5-year relative survival rates for patients with malignant brain and other CNS tumors were 36.2% and 27.6%; however, the conditional probability of surviving to 5 years, given survival to 2 years, reaches 76.2% (95% CI: 74.8–77.6). Conditional probabilities varied by histology and age at diagnosis. The conditional probability of surviving 5 years after surviving 2 years was 67.8% (95% CI: 62.6–73.1) for patients with anaplastic astrocytomas, 36.4% (95% CI: 31.9–41.6) for patients with glioblastomas, and 79.8% (95% CI:75.3–84.1) for patients with medulloblastomas. CONCLUSIONS Conditional probabilities provide important and encouraging information for those who are brain tumor survivors. The utility of these estimates for other time intervals and other cancers or diseases should be considered. Cancer 1999;85:485–91. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
The effect of cortisone treatment on the in vitro release of histamine from serum and blood of sensitized rabbits

Abstract 1.1. When the blood of sensitized rabbits treated with large doses of cortisone was exposed to antigen, histamine was released in vitro in amounts comparable to that released under similar conditions from the blood of sensitized rabbits not treated with cortisone. 2.2. From the blood of rabbits, normal except for treatment with cortisone, histamine was released in the presence of rabbit antiserum and antigen to the same degree as from the blood of normal rabbits not treated with cortisone.
A general suite of fungal endophytes dominate the roots of two dominant grasses in a semiarid grassland

Although research has shown that root associated fungi (RAF) are necessary for plant success in harsh environments, few studies have examined RAF community variability between different plant species coexisting in arid habitats. We compared the diversity and composition of the fungal communities colonizing dominant and important forage grasses, Bouteloua gracilis and Sporobolus cryptandrus, inhabiting the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, a semiarid grassland in New Mexico. A third sympatric plant, Yucca glauca (Agavaceae), also was analyzed. ITS rDNA from roots, collected and amplified in 2007, yielded 447 fungal sequences. Sequences obtained from all three species suggest that grasses share a core group of RAF (90% of sequences representing the orders Pleosporales, Agaricales, and Sordariales). Conversely, 57% of the fungal community within Y. glauca was dominated by a different RAF cohort. The two most common OTUs within the grasses are related to Paraphaeospheria sp. and Moniliophthora sp. (91 and 85 of 331 sequences, respectively). These same two species accounted for 58% of isolates in culture-based analysis of the same grass root tissue. The presence of these RAF in several grass species, over several years, and at several sites suggests that grasses in semiarid landscapes share a similar cohort of fungal dominants.
PTSD: A Search for "Active Ingredients"

Family counselors working with individuals suffering the effects of trauma are encouraged to consider the "active ingredients" found by Charles Figley and Joyce Carbonell at Florida State University and reported in the two articles reviewed here.
Reflections on My PSA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Experiences

This essay reflects upon the author’s Pacific Sociological Association (PSA)-related experiences with regards to the scholarship of teaching and learning over the past 28 years. Labeling this time period the “Golden Age of Scholarship on Teaching and learning,” the author proposes that the PSA has promoted and encouraged scholarship in this area in three ways: 1) by providing access to best practices, 2) by facilitating members networking with scholars who share similar interests, and 3) by exposing graduate students to best practices of teaching and learning. The author then supports this contention with examples of the increase in the number of sessions at the annual PSA meetings on both Service-Learning and On-Line Teaching during this time period. The author concludes this essay by noting how his research on supporting first-generation college students greatly benefited from PSA-facilitated networking with other scholars working in this area.
Insurance for mental health care

It appears that demand from such employee groups as the United Auto Workers, the United Steel Workers, and the Federal Employees, as well as the increasing acceptance and availability of Community Mental Health Centers is leading to a sizeable increase in the populations covered by psychiatric insurance and the scope of services offered. This is true of commercial insurance companies as well as Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Whether this increase will greatly affect utilization, or out-of-pocket expenditures for psychiatric care, cannot be determined; however, the trend toward collective financing of psychiatric insurance under labor, employer, and other group auspices is clearly established.