cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impossibility of global consistency.

IT APPEARS THAT THE ISSUE OF MUTUAL GLOBAL CONSISTENCY is becoming a major research challenge for biological data management. Problems due to inconsistencies arise whenever we try to move from proven solutions in local or delimited information systems to larger scale systems. Our science depends on words to express our ideas. Even when we replace words by codes, as in clinical diagnoses, words remain the medium in which we share the meaning, the semantics, of the concepts being discussed. Words derive their power in science from identifying conceptual abstractions. When we are working in a narrow context, we have a very clear mapping of a concept to its instances, say a set of patients that have been diagnosed with a specific disease. We link the specific disease with a set of symptoms and signs. Higher level abstractions group diseases into categories, at ever higher levels. Now the mappings to actual instances, the metric of consistency, become hard to follow. Furthermore, there will not be a single hierarchy. Each finding and observation is described by many attributes. All these attributes define concepts in distinct hierarchies at multiple hierarchical levels. Still, within one domain consistency will be high.
Collective communication: theory, practice, and experience: Research Articles

We discuss the design and high-performance implementation of collective communications operations on distributed-memory computer architectures. Using a combination of known techniques (many of which were first proposed in the 1980s and early 1990s) along with careful exploitation of communication modes supported by MPI, we have developed implementations that have improved performance in most situations compared to those currently supported by public domain implementations of MPI such as MPICH. Performance results from a large Intel Xeon/Pentium 4 (R) processor cluster are included. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impoverished stimulus input does not simulate the slowed visual kinetics of retinal damage.

In the rat with normal sight, the acoustic startle reflex to a sound burst is suppressed when the sound is preceded by a brief light pulse. This effect of light in the rat with retinal damage is reduced and peak suppression is seen at a greater delay. Both observations are expected consequences of the loss of visual sensitivity that should accompany photoreceptor loss. However, in an early stage of retinal damage, the peak of the suppressive effect is so delayed that at long lead times the light flash is a more effective stimulus in the rat with the damaged retina than in the normal rat. Two experiments tested the hypothesis that this crossing over of the two groups is a secondary consequence of a nonspecific loss of visual sensitivity in the visually impaired rat. If the hypothesis is correct, reductions in the intensity or duration of the light flash and the degree of dark adaptation should model the effect in normal rats. The overall amount of reflex suppression was diminished with these manipulations, but none diminished the temporal development of reflex suppression to a degree sufficient to produce the paradoxical crossover effect characteristic of retinal damage. These data indicate that decrements in the speed of visual processing are not secondary to the changes in sensitivity that accompany retinal damage, but should be viewed as a separate and independent form of visual impairment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33:31143120,1992 Behavioral, electroretinographic, andelectrophysiologic data agree in showing that visual sensitivity is reduced by retinal damage in rats. These same data often reveal that animals with retinal damage process visual input more slowly. The question raised in the series of experiments reported here is whether this temporal deficit is secondary to the loss of sensitivity, or whether the speed of the visual response is a separable dimension of visual function that is independently diminished by retinal insult. The approach taken in this work was to attempt to simulate in the normal rat the temporal course of behavioral functions characteristic of retinal damage by varying the effective intensity of the visual stimulus. The two common exemplars of retinal damage in animals are the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, which exhibits a hereditary pattern of progressive photoreceptor degeneration, 1 and the light-damaged
X-ray Structure of a Pokeweed Antiviral Protein, Coded by a New Genomic Clone, at 0.23 nm Resolution: A Model Structure Provides a Suitable Electrostatic Field for Substrate Binding

We have determined the crystal structure of α-pokeweed antiviral protein, a member of ribosome-inactivating proteins, at 0.23 nm resolution, by the molecular-replacement method. The crystals belong to the space group P21212 with unit-cell dimensions a= 4.71, b = 11.63 and c= 4.96 nm, and contain one protein molecule/asymmetric unit based on a crystal volume/unit protein molecular mass of 2.1×10−3nm3/Da. The crystallographic residual value was reduced to 17.2% (0.6–0.23 nm resolution) with root-mean-square deviations in bond lengths of 1.9 pm and bond angles of 2.2°. The Cα-Cα distance map shows that α-pokeweed antiviral protein is composed of three modules, the N-terminal (Ala1–Leu76), the central (Tyr77–Lys185) and the C-terminal (Tyr186–Thr266) modules. The substrate-binding site is formed as a cleft between the central and C-terminal modules and all the active residues exist on the central module. The electrostatic potential around the substrate-binding site shows that the central and C-terminal module sides of this cleft have a negatively and a positively charged region, respectively. This charge distribution in the protein seems to provide a suitable interaction with the substrate rRNA.
A COMPARISON OF ATRIO-VENTRICULAR CONDUCTION IN NORMAL CHILDREN AND IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER, GLOMERULONEPHRITIS, AND ACUTE FEBRILE ILLNESSES A Quantitative Study with Determination of the P-R Index

1. Atrio-ventricular conduction was studied in 50 normal children, 25 children with acute febrile illnesses, 50 patients with an initial episode of active rheumatic carditis, 46 patients with acute rheumatic fever without clinical evidence of carditis, and 39 children with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. 2. Quantitative measurements of A-V conduction were obtained by calculating the P-R index, the ratio between the recorded P-R interval (numerator) and the upper limit of normal for the age and heart rate as given in standard tables (denominator). 3. The mean P-R indices were similar in patients with acute rheumatic fever without clinical evidence of myocardial involvement and in children with overt carditis, and were significantly higher than in normal children, children with acute febrile illnesses of patients with acute glomerulonephritis. 4. The frequency with which high P-R indices were found in patients with acute rheumatic fever suggests that disturbances in A-V conduction are even more common than has been previously recognized from conventional P-R interval determinations. 5. The data suggest also that A-V conduction abnormalities in acute rheumatic fever occur independent of other signs of myocardial involvement and are not related to the ultimate prognosis.
Micro/macro fatigue crack growth rate model for 2024-T3 aluminum panel

Purpose – Fatigue crack growth rate data for 2024-T3 aluminum are found using three parameters d*, σ* and μ* for short and long cracks for Regions I-III in conventional fatigue. Asymptotic solution of a line crack with a micro-tip is found to yield a singular stress behavior of order 0.75 in contrast to the 0.50 order known for the macrocrack. The difference is due to the micro-macro interaction effects. The three parameters account for the combined effects of load, material and geometry via the tip region. Data for short and long cracks lie on a straight with a slope of about 3.9-4.8 for R values of 0.286-0.565. The results were based on an initial crack a1 mm where a is the half length for a central crack panel. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The belief that specimen fatigue data could assist the design of structural components was upended when FAA discovered that the NASGRO FCGD are not valid for short cracks that are tight and may even be closed. The regular ΔK ...
The Diagnosis of HPV-Related HNSCC: Recognition of Its Microscopic Appearance and the Use of Ancillary Detection Assays

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck (HNSCC) has long been regarded as a homogeneous disease entity. Important distinctions between anatomical sites and natural histories have, in large part, been ignored, given the uniformity of histopathology and response to treatment. Recent work suggests considerable differences between some HNSCCs that go beyond variations related to tumour site and stage. In particular, a subset of HNSCC is now known to be associated with HPV [1, 2]. These HPV-related HNSCCs (HPV-HNSCCs) occur more frequently in younger, male patients. They occur most frequently in the oropharynx, and are associated with improved clinical outcomes [3, 4]. In effect, recognition of this HPV association has amounted to the identification of a new and distinct disease entity.
Acanthosis nigricans and the sign of Leser-Trélat associated with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder.

A case of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder associated with acanthosis nigricans and the sign of Leser-Trelat is presented. The significant underrepresentation of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder in association with malignant acanthosis nigricans is noted. If malignant acanthosis nigricans is caused by an ectopic peptide, a relative lack of production of the postulated substance by gallbladder adenocarcinoma cells could account for this finding.
Significance of the EEG and epileptiform abnormalities in antiepileptic drug discontinuance.

Abstract: The question of the advisability of antiepileptic drug (AED) discontinuance is common in epilepsy care. With currently available therapies, prolonged periods of seizure remission are not uncommon. After a prolonged period of seizure freedom, patients and clinicians often begin to wonder whether therapy can be discontinued. The AED discontinuance literature shows relapse rates ranging from 20% to 60%. Factors with prognostic significance have been recognized, including several findings identified on the routine EEG. This article reviews the role of EEG in the setting of AED discontinuance and summarizes the literature describing the prognostic value of EEG.
Usefulness of a Complete Blood Count-Derived Risk Score to Predict Incident Mortality in Patients With Suspected Cardiovascular Disease

The complete blood cell (CBC) count is an inexpensive, frequently obtained blood test whose information content is potentially underused. We examined the predictive ability of the CBC count for incident death in 29,526 consecutive consenting patients who underwent coronary angiography. Subjects were randomly assigned to training (60%) and test (40%) groups and were followed for an average of 4.9 years. Computed and integer risk score models for all-cause death were developed for 30 days and 1, 5, and 10 years using multivariable logistic regressions applied to CBC metrics, age, and gender. The study cohort was an average age of 61 years, 62% were men, and had a 3.3% annual risk of mortality. An integer (scalar) risk score (range 0 to 18) successfully separated patient cohorts into subgroups at markedly different mortality risks ( 14% at 30 days). Predictive fractions (area under risk curve) at 30 days for the CBC-only model and the age- and gender-adjusted CBC model were 0.76 and 0.78, respectively, in the training set and 0.71 and 0.75, respectively, in the test set (all p values <<0.001). The CBC model was markedly more informative than models based only on hematocrit, white blood cell count, or age and gender and was superior to models with all 7 traditional risk factors. In conclusion, in a large, prospectively assembled database, a CBC risk model had high predictive ability for risk of incident mortality. A total CBC score is an important new addition to risk prediction, and it can be easily generated by computer for clinical use at negligible incremental cost.
Effects of surface charge on the second harmonic generation from a Cu electrode

Abstract The charge density of a polycrystalline Cu surface is electrochemically varied in the absence and in the presence of adsorbed halide ions. The surface is optically probed with second harmonic generation at a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm. The second harmonic intensity shows a deviation from the charge dependence expected from the free electron polarization of the surface. Furthermore, the adsorption of halide ions shows no significant effects in the optical data. These results for Cu are different from previous findings of similar experiments on Ag and Pt. The observed second harmonic response of the Cu electrode fits appropriately with a mechanism involving the bound electrons of the metal surface. This mechanism is described in terms of a charge induced Stark effect on an interband (d-p) transition in Cu.
A chemically modified electrode for the catalytic oxidation of chloride to chlorine

Mise au point d'electrodes a activite catalytique dans l'oxydation de Cl − en Cl 2 , obtenues par modification d'une electrode de carbone vitreux par le complexe [(bpy) 2 Ru(H 2 O) 2 O 4+ avec bpy=bipyridyle dans du sulfonate de polystyrene ou du Nafion
Oral papillomatosis in Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis).

We observed 11 cases of oral papillomatosis among 48 free-ranging Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) that had been shipped to Colorado for translocation purposes. Lesions were 1–3 mm, multifocal, nonpigmented sessile masses and occurred on the ventral lingual surface. Adverse clinical signs were not observed. Six of the 11 cases resolved and the remainder appeared to be self-limiting when affected animals were examined ≤4 mo later. New cases did not develop in previously unaffected lynx while in captivity. Histopathologic lesions included marked hyperplasia of the mucosal epithelium causing thickening of the stratum spinosum and corneum. Ballooning degeneration of epithelial cells with intracytoplasmic inclusions were observed. Papilloma virus was found on negative contrast electron microscopy. Papillomatosis was seen in lynx from three geographically distant sources (British Columbia, five of 21 individuals; Quebec, five of 17; Yukon, one of four) suggesting the causative virus may be widespread among North A...
A useful resource for parallel and distributed computing

Tools and environments for parallel and distributed computing is a good collection of distributed computing articles by various authors, including the editors themselves. It covers approaches to parallel computing, the art of constructing hardware and software to let multiple processors function together. It presents a survey of the most effective tools in use and case studies of particularly successful implementations.
Preferential utilization of glutamine for amination of xanthosine 5′-phosphate to guanosine 5′-phosphate by purified enzymes from Escherichia coli☆

Abstract GMP synthetase was purified 180-fold from E. coli B and 18-fold from the derepressed purine auxotroph, E. coli B-96. The enzymes from both sources show the same preference for glutamine over ammonia as amino donor. Each is dimeric, consisting of subunits of molecular weight about 60,000. Thus the two are apparently identical. The similarities between GMP synthetase and xanthosine 5′-phosphate aminase of E. coli B-96 (N. Sakamoto, G.W. Hatfield, and H.S. Moyed, J. Biol. Chem. (1972) 247 , 5880–5887) in respect to structure, state of derepression, and behavior during purification, lead us to the conclusion that the synthetase and the aminase are a single entity. We observe no loss or separation of glutamine-dependent activity upon purification of GMP synthetase and we suggest that such loss, reported by other workers, results artifactually by inactivation of an intrinsic glutamine-binding site. GMP synthetase appears not to contain a glutamine-binding subunit which is separable from the xanthosine 5′-phosphate-aminating component.
Lifting map automorphisms and MacBeath's theorem

Abstract The purpose of the present note is essentially twofold. First we indicate how coverings of maps can be obtained easily and in a direct way by using a cohomological construction. Second, we apply this construction to obtain in an explicit way infinitely many examples of finite maps which are extremal in the sense of having 84( g − 1) automorphisms, where g is the genus of the map. This latter result is MacBeath's theorem of the title.
The IPV-GBM Scale: A New Scale to Measure Intimate Partner Violence among Gay and Bisexual Men

Objectives The paper describes the creation of a new scale to measure intimate partner violence (IPV) among gay and bisexual men. Methods Seven focus group discussions were held with gay and bisexual men, focusing on defining intimate partner violence: 30 forms of IPV were identified. A venue-recruited sample of 912 gay and bisexual men was surveyed, examining definitional understanding and recent experiences of each of the 30 forms of IPV. Participants were also asked questions from the CDC definition of intimate partner violence and the short-form of the Conflicts Tactics Scale (CTS2S). Factor analysis of responses to the definitional questions was used to create the IPV-GBM scale, and the prevalence of intimate partner violence was compared with that identified by the CDC and CTS2S measures of intimate partner violence. Results A 23-item scale, with 5 unique domains, was created, with strong internal reliability (Cronbach Alpha >.90). The IPV-GBM scale mirrored both the CDC and CTS2S definitions of intimate partner violence, but contained additional domains such as controlling violence, monitoring behaviors, emotional violence, and HIV-related violence. The new scale identified a significantly higher prevalence of IPV than either of the more commonly used measures. Conclusions The results presented here provide encouraging evidence for a new, more accurate measure of intimate partner violence among gay and bisexual men in the U.S.
Effect of long-range forces on wetting near bulk critical temperatures: An Ising-model study.

Numerical and analytic studies of the effect of long-range (i.e., algebraic) potentials on wetting transitions near bulk critical temperatures are presented within mean-field theory on an Ising lattice gas. The ordinary, special, and extraordinary points of the short-ranged-potential theory of Nakanishi and Fisher remain. However, for a long-ranged potential favoring wetting, certain transitions at coexistence are considerably altered: Critical wetting transitions become first order, critical drying transitions vanish, first-order drying transitions become partial drying transitions, and drying occurs only at the bulk critical temperature, in contradiction to the Cahn theory. Exponents, for the most part, remain the same as for the short-ranged case. Phase diagrams and density profiles are given, and a relevant experiment is discussed.
The iceberg of health care utilization in women with urinary incontinence.

Introduction and hypothesis The objective of the study was to estimate prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) health care utilization in women from the population up to specialty care.
Risk of cardiopulmonary arrest after acute respiratory compromise in hospitalized patients

Summary Background Hospitalized patients with serious medical conditions such as shock, aspiration, pulmonary edema or stroke may develop acute respiratory compromise (ARC) requiring rescue treatment by medical emergency teams. We determined the characteristics and clinical course of hospitalized patients experiencing ARC as well as their risk of developing subsequent CPA. Methods We examined data from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (NRCPR). We identified patients experiencing ARC, defined as medical crisis requiring emergency assisted ventilation and triggering hospital-wide or unit-based emergency response. We excluded those found initially in CPA. We identified the proportion of patients subsequently progressing to CPA, the elapsed time from ARC recognition to CPA, the clinical factors associated with developing CPA, and subsequent survival to hospital discharge. Results Of 4358 ARC events, CPA occurred in 726 (16.7%; 95% CI: 15.6, 17.8%). One-fourth occurred in general inpatient units. Median time from ARC recognition to CPA was 7 min (IQR: 3, 12 min); CPA occurred within 10 min in 65.3% of these cases. Factors associated with CPA included pulmonary embolism, hypotension or hypoperfusion, or failed invasive airway efforts. Survival to discharge was lower for CPA patients (14.3%) than non-CPA patients (58.4%) (OR 0.12; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.15). Conclusions Approximately one in six patients experiencing initial ARC deteriorates to CPA. Most CPA occur within 10 min of ARC recognition. Improved ARC recognition, hospital emergency team response and airway management may potentially enhance care and outcomes for these critically ill patients.
High dose rate (HDR) cervical ring applicator to control bleeding from cervical carcinoma

Abstract. Grigsby PW, Portelance L, Williamson JF. High dose rate (HDR) cervical ring applicator to control bleeding from cervical carcinoma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the high dose rate (HDR) cervical ring applicator to control acute cervical bleeding from carcinoma of the uterine cervix. This study consists of 15 patients presenting with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix with acute vaginal bleeding requiring transfusion. Initial irradiation, delivered emergently because of vaginal bleeding, consisted of two fractions (5 Gy each fraction to the surface of the cervix) utilizing the HDR intracavitary vaginal ring applicator. Two fractions were administered at one week intervals for a total of 10 Gy to the surface of the cervix. Irradiation doses from the HDR ring applications were not considered into the composite total dose to point A. Diagnostic imaging evaluation and initiation of external irradiation were commenced during this initial weekly interval between fractions. Vaginal bleeding requiring no additional transfusions was achieved in 93% (14/15) of patients. No acute or long-term Grades 3, 4, or 5 bowel or bladder sequelae were noted. In conclusion, HDR cervical ring brachytherapy is effective in controlling acute vaginal bleeding and can be delivered without undue acute or long-term toxicity.
Additive formulae of theta functions and modular equations of degree five

Abstract Ramanujan recorded additive formulae of theta functions that are related to modular equations of degree five. We present elementary and simple proofs.
Is migraine a neuropathic pain syndrome

The understanding of migraine pathophysiology has evolved from the belief that migraine is a vascular disorder, to evidence that better defines migraine as a neurogenic disorder associated with secondary changes in brain perfusion. There is evidence to suggest that the early phase of migraine pain results from neurogenic inflammation affecting cranial blood vessels and dura. Allodynia, hyperalgesia, and expansion of nociceptive fields occur during most well-established migraine attacks. These clinical features of migraine are evocative of those traditionally associated with neuropathic pain. A hypothesis that defines migraine pain as a unique neuropathic pain disorder can imply the potential for neural plasticity and may provide insight into the mechanisms that underlie the transformation of episodic to chronic forms of migraine. The neuropathic pain model of migraine pathophysiology not only paves the way for mechanism-based treatment strategies that can improve the acute and preventive management of migraine attacks, but also opens the door for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. It also lends momentum to an understanding of clinically intriguing topics such as opiate-induced hyperalgesia and medication-overuse headache (rebound headache), opioid resistance in the treatment of chronic headache, and disease modification in defending against the potential for migraine transformation.
Episodic ejection of relativistic jets by the X-ray transient GRO J1655 - 40

GRO J1655-40, a recently discovered black-hole candidate, is an ideal system for studying jets of material from the accretion disk around a black hole. Observations of the radio emission show two highly collimated relativistic jets, one on each side of the source, which expand and decay over a few days. The jet ejection, at 92% of the speed of light, appears episodic and asymmetric; the alternate brightening and fading of the jets cannot be explained by relativistic beaming.
Shining a New Light on RNA-Protein Interactions

PAR-CLIP is a new technique for transcriptome-wide mapping of binding sites for RNA-binding proteins. In this technique, a photoactivatable nucleoside is incorporated into RNA and crosslinked to proteins in vivo with UV light. The crosslinked nucleoside causes a specific base change during processing for deep sequencing, allowing the precise identification of binding sites.
A High Precision Telescope Pointing System

A novel method of telescope pointing has been developed based on He-Ne laser interferometric measurements of mirror position. We have applied this technique to a Pfund-type telescope, which consists of a fixed parabolic mirror illuminated by a flat mirror which rotates in altitude and azimuth. If the parabolic mirror is stationary the angle of pointing depends only on the change of orientation of the flat mirror with respect to the parabolic mirror. The relative angles of mirrors with radius of 1 meter are measured to a precision of ~.05 arcsec. Fluctuations in the index of refraction of the atmosphere between the mirrors are the primary source of this limit; however, changes in pointing position involving only a gradient in the index of refraction perpendicular to the optic axis are largely compensated by this pointing technique. Conversion of interference fringe counts to precise angle of pointing involves solutions of equations of modest complexity, but is easily handled by a small computer.
Texture in hot-worked B2-structure aluminides

Abstract Three B2 structure aluminide sheet materials produced by hot-rolling of alloys from compacted powders were evaluated for crystallographic texture. Two essentially binary NiAl alloys showed strong components in the plane of the sheet. A NiFeAl alloy had dramatically different texture which consisted of a strong components in the plane of the sheet. In addition to microstructures, measured pole figures and the orientation distribution function are reported and compared with textures produced in similar materials via extrusion.
Xenograft survival in two species combinations using total-lymphoid irradiation and cyclosporine.

Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) has profound immunosuppressive actions and has been applied successfully to allotransplantation but not xenotransplantation. Cyclosporine (CsA) has not generally permitted successful xenotransplantation of organs but has not been used in combination with TLI. TLI and CsA were given alone and in combination to rats that were recipients of hamster or rabbit cardiac xenografts. Combined TLI and CsA prolonged survival of hamster-to-rat cardiac xenografts from three days in untreated controls to greater than 100 days in most recipients. TLI alone significantly prolonged rabbit to rat xenograft survival with doubling of survival time. However, combined treatment did not significantly prolong rabbit-to-rat cardiac xenograft survival compared with TLI alone. The hamster and rat are phylogenetically closely related. Transplants from hamsters to rat are concordant xenografts since the time course of unmodified rejection is similar to first-set rejection of allografts. Although the rabbit-to-rat transplant is also between concordant species (average survival of untreated controls: 3.2 days) the rabbit and rat are more distantly related. These results suggest that TLI is an effective immunosuppressant when applied to cardiac xenotransplants in these animal models; that the choice of species critically affects xenograft survival when TLI and/or CsA are used for immunosuppression; andmore » that the closely related species combination tested has markedly prolonged (greater than 100 days) survival using combined TLI and CsA.« less
The Activity of Ribulose Diphosphate Carboxylase in Extracts of Gonyaulax polyedra in the Day and the Night Phases of the Circadian Rhythm of Photosynthesis

The ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from Gonyaulax polyedra Stein. has a half-life of about four hours in buffer, but can be stabilized by the addition of 50% glycerol. The optimum pH is 7.8 to 8.0 and the optimum Mg(2+) concentration is 3 mm. Heavy metal ions (Cu(2+), Hg(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+)), EDTA, pyrophosphate, and adenosine triphosphate were strongly inhibitory. Ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from Gonyaulax was not cold-sensitive or activated by light activation factor from tomato or Gonyaulax. No difference in the activity of this enzyme was detected when extracts prepared at the maximum and the minimum of the circadian rhythm of photosynthesis were compared. The Km of HCO(3) (-) was also the same (16 to 19 mm).
Trans-ACPD and L-APB presynaptically inhibit excitatory glutamatergic transmission in the basolateral amygdala (BLA).

Abstract Intracellular recordings were obtained from neurones of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) and glutamate-mediated EPSPs evoked by stimulation of the stria terminalis (ST). The conformationally restricted analogue of glutamate trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) caused a dose-dependent reduction in EPSP amplitude, EC50≈50 μM. This effect was mimicked by the glutamate autoreceptor agonist. l -aminophosphonobutyric acid ( l -APB, 50 μM). Furthermore, the effects of submaximal concentrations (50 μM) of trans-ACPD and l -APB were additive. The reduction in EPSP amplitude is observed with concentrations of both drugs that have no effect on either the resting membrane potential or the input resistance of BLA neurones. In addition, these compounds can reduce EPSP amplitude but not the response to exogenous application of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-proprionate (AMPA) suggesting activation of presynaptic receptors. These findings suggest that both trans-ACPD and l -APB act at presynaptic glutamate receptors on glutamatergic afferents to reduce excitatory transmission in the BLA.
Performance of a tilted solar cell under various atmospheric conditions

Abstract Representative results of the numerical simulation of the response (viz. photocurrent, optimum power output, and optimum efficiency) of a Ga1−xAlxAsGaAs cell are presented as a function of its tilt angle for five different models of the terrestrial atmosphere, and for several elevations of the sun. The outward normal to the cell is in the sun's meridian plane. These atmospheric models represent average, cloudfree, midlatitude summer conditions. The first model is free of aerosols and absorbing gases. Absorption by average amounts of carbon dioxide, oxygen, ozone, and water vapor is included in the remaining four models. The second model is also free of aerosols, but the last three models contain aerosols in the form of a spherical polydispersion made from a substance with a wavelength independent refractive index of 1.5-0.01i. Models 3 and 4 are expected to represent, respectively, the average, and strong turbid conditions encountered over large continental areas. Models 3 and 5 contain aerosols with different size distribution characteristics, but have the same amount of aerosol mass loading per unit horizontal area. Values of the direct solar radiation, and of the diffuse sky radiation incident upon the cell were calculated at 77 unequally spaced wavelengths in the spectral region 0.305-2.5 μm. This spectral resolution provides acceptable values of various wavelength integrals in the presence of absorption by the aforementioned gases. Furthermore, the field of the diffuse radiation was evaluated at sufficient number of points in the zenith and azimuth angles for obtaining reliable integrations over the respective parameters under various conditions. The diffuse radiation was evaluated after taking into account all orders of scattering. This study illustrates the manner in which the aforementioned solar-cell characteristics are affected by the atmospheric conditions, solar position, orientation of the cell, and reflectivity of the ground.
Meshless analysis of plasticity with application to crack growth problems

Abstract The governing equations for classical rate-independent plasticity are formulated in the framework of meshless method. The special J 2 flow theory for three-dimensional, two-dimensional plane strain and plane stress problems are presented. The numerical procedures, including return mapping algorithm, to obtain the solutions of boundary-value problems in computational plasticity are outlined. For meshless analysis the special treatment of the presence of barriers and mirror symmetries is formulated. The crack growth process in elastic–plastic solid under plane strain and plane stress conditions is analyzed. Numerical results are presented and discussed.
Delayed hypersensitivity and transplantation immunity elicited by soluble antigens of chemically induced tumours in inbred guinea-pigs.

IT has been shown repeatedly that tumours induced in mice and rats at the site of subcutaneous injection of polycyclic hydrocarbons such as methylcholanthrene possess antigens capable of eliciting transplantation resistance in isogenic and autochthonous hosts1–4. A remarkable antigenic individuality characterizes these tumours; immunization with any one tumour induces resistance to that tumour and usually to no other. Resistance to transplants can be transferred to normal recipients by means of viable cells from the spleen, lymph nodes or peritoneal cavity of actively immunized donors. The serum of immune animals is ineffective in conveying resistance and may induce enhanced growth of the tumour transplant5,6. Antibody to surface components of the tumour cell has been demonstrated in the serum of immunized animals by a variety of serological techniques5–9. It is not clear, however, whether the antigens being detected by these techniques are the specific transplantation antigens or are unrelated cellular antigens, such as the G (Gross) cellular antigen (associated with infection by Gross leukaemia virus) which occurs commonly in tumours induced by methylcholanthrene in mice10,11.
Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of a tri-substituted cyclopropyl chiral synthon: a practical method for preparation of chiral 1-alkoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane

Abstract An efficient method for the preparation of optically active enantiomers of 1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 1 has been developed. Treatment of 1 with lipase Amano PS gave (1S,5R)-1-carboxy-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 4a which was converted to (1S,5R)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 1a with high enantiomeric purity (98.0% ee, 75% yield), while the (1R,5S)-lactone ester 1b remained intact. A simple procedure for the recovery of 4a from the reaction mixture was also established.
Genome expression on the World Wide Web

We thank Fran Lewitter for helpful comments. E.G.J. is a predoctoral fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Accelerated Nitrogen Loss After Traumatic Injury Is Not Attenuated by Achievement of Energy Balance

Background: We wanted to determine if achievement of energy balance decreases myofibrillar protein catabolism and nitrogen loss during posttraumatic catabolic illness. Methods: Surgical intensive care unit of a level I trauma center in a university medical center. Trauma patients expected to be mechanically ventilated for at least 4 days were randomly assigned to one of three parenteral feeding groups: (1) nonprotein calorie group: dextrose and lipid intake equal to measured energy expenditure ; (2) total calorie group: dextrose, lipid, and protein intake equal to measured energy expenditure; and (3) hypocaloric group: dextrose and lipid intake equal to 50% of measured energy expenditure. Target protein intake for all groups was 1.7 g/kg body wt. On day 4 of nutrition support, a 24-hour balance study was conducted. Urine urea and total nitrogen production, 3-methylhistidine excretion, energy expenditure, and substrate utilization were measured. Results: Despite significant differences in nonprotein and to...
SU‐GG‐J‐22: Comparison of Gold, Carbon, and Polymer Fiducial Markers Using different Imaging Modalities to Determine Optimal Marker Material for Image Guided Radiotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the visibility and artifact created by gold,carbon, and polymer fiducial markers across standard imaging modalities, including computed tomography(CT), kilovoltage (kV) and megavoltage (MV) linear acceleratorimaging, Tomotherapy imaging, and ultrasound.Method and Materials: A 30×31×15 cm phantom was constructed using Superflab bolus. Three of each type, gold (0.9×3 mm), carbon (1×3 mm), and polymer (1×5 mm) markers, were inserted into the center layer of bolus. The phantom was imaged with CT,linac based kilovoltage and megavoltage x‐ray imaging systems, normal and fine Tomotherapy imaging, and ultrasound using various imaging parameters. The visibility and artifacts produced by each marker were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively; quantitative evaluations included analysis of contrast produced by each marker to assess visibility, and histograms and the standard deviation of the pixel values of a ring of increasing radius around each marker to evaluate artifacts. Results: All tested markers could be seen clearly under CT, kV, and ultrasound imaging, with the gold markers demonstrating the highest contrast. Under CTimaging,gold produced significant artifacts, while no artifacts were observed around polymer markers. Only the gold markers were visible when using linac based MV and Tomotherapy imaging. For linac based kV images, the contrast increased with kV and mA values for all the markers with the gold being the most pronounced. On CTimages, the contrast increased with kV for the gold markers while decreasing for the polymer and carbon marker. We observed that the contrast significantly increased with slice thickness for the gold markers while the impact on the carbon and polymer markers was minimal. Conclusion: For kV based treatment verification, polymer and carbon markers are the preferred choice in CT simulation. For MV based treatment verification, gold markers should be used despite the artifacts they create on the simulation CTimages.
Vapour-liquid frequency shifts in some substituted methanes

Abstract The frequency shifts which occur in going from the vapor phase to the pure liquid have been observed for methyl chloride, methyl bromide, methyl iodide, methyl cyanide, methylene chloride and methylene bromide. In addition, vapor to carbon tetrachloride solution frequency shifts were observed for the three methyl halides. The observed shifts were independent of the symmetry of the vibrational mode and assume a wide range of values within an individual molecule. A comparison of shifts between related molecules shows well-defined patterns. For example, the ν 6 ( e ) fundamental in the methyl halide exhibits a small positive shift in all three molecules, whereas ν 3 ( a 1 ), the C-X stretching mode, is characterized by rather large negative shifts. Finally, a good correlation between ∂μ/∂ S , the dipole moment derivative with respect to symmetry coordinate, and the vapor-liquid frequency shifts is observed for the methyl halide fundamentals.
Unusual cytogenetics in a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The cytogenetics in the study of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are presented. Initially, a large proportion of both unstimulated and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated blood mitoses showed an abnormal karyo-type with a 7;12 translocation and a trisomy 19. At the time of relapse, a PHA-stimulated culture showed the clonal abnormality as well as dicentric chromosomes in normal cells, the latter possibly resulting from treatment.
Noise reduction in three‐dimensional phase‐contrast MR velocity measurementsl

The authors have developed a method to reduce noise in three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) velocity measurements by exploiting the property that blood is incompressible and, therefore, the velocity field describing its flow must be divergence-free. The divergence-free condition is incorporated by a projection operation in Hilbert space. The velocity field obtained with 3D phase-contrast MR imaging is projected onto the space of divergence-free velocity fields. The reduction of noise is achieved because the projection operation eliminates the noise component that is not divergence-free. Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) gains on the order of 15%-25% were observed. The immediate effect of this noise reduction manifests itself in higher-quality phase-contrast MR angiograms. Alternatively, the S/N gain can be traded for a reduction in imaging time and/or improved spatial resolution.
Disparate effects of representative dithiocarbamates on selected immunological parameters in vivo and cell survival in vitro in female B6C3F1 mice.

Recent studies indicate that sodium methyldithiocarbamate is immunotoxic. Major effects of this compound in female B6C3F1 mice include decreased thymus weight, increased spleen weight, and decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity. The effects of other dithiocarbamates on these parameters are not known, and the immunotoxic potential of this important class of compounds is uncertain. In the present study, the effects of sodium methyldithiocarbamate (SMD), sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC), and disodium ethylene‐bis(dithiocarbamate)(EBD) on thymus weight, spleen weight, and NK cell activity were compared in female B6C3F1 mice. SMD caused significant loss of thymic weight following oral administration at 200, 225, or 300 mg/kg/d for 7 d and caused significant suppression of splenic NK cell activity at doses of 150, 225, or 300 mg/kg/d for 7 d. In contrast, a dose of 1000 mg/kg/d of DEDTC was required to decrease significantly thymus weight or increase spleen weight, and the only significant change prod...
Spin-orbit splitting in crystalline and compositionally disordered semiconductors

The electronic structures of C, Si, Ge, $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Sn}$, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InP, InAs, InSb, and ZnSe are studied using a tight-binding approach which includes spin-orbit interactions. The spin-orbit splittings ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{0}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{1}$ are related to atomic spin-orbit splittings and optical gaps. The variation of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{0}$ as a function of chemical composition is studied for a number of alloy systems. It is shown that the nonlinear dependence of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{0}$ on alloy composition is a disorder-induced effect. The bowing parameter is calculated in terms of tight-binding parameters and band gaps.
1999 Malinowski Award Lecture: The Emerging Global Crisis and Development Anthropology: Can We Have an Impact?

Scenarios for the 21st century range from technology and business-oriented visions of a global boom to more pessimistic ones based on increasing environmental degradation, poverty with a rising gap between rich and poor, and societal breakdown. Drawing on his own views and those of 53 other anthropologists, the author discusses the likelihood of the more pessimistic vision prevailing if present trends continue.
Influenza Immunization in Nursing Homes: Who Does Not Get Immunized and Whose Status Is Unknown?

OBJECTIVE. To identify nursing home resident and facility characteristics associated with patients not receiving influenza immunization and having unknown immunization status. DESIGN. Secondary data analysis using multinomial logistic regression of data from the National Nursing Home Survey, a nationally representative establishment-based survey. SETTING. A total of 1,423 nursing facilities of all ownerships and certifications systematically sampled with probability proportional to number of beds. PATIENTS. A total of 7,350 randomly sampled people aged 65 years or older residing in nursing homes between July and December 1999 (approximately 6 per facility). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE. Immunization status of residents. RESULTS. Fifteen percent of residents were not immunized and 19% had unknown immunization status. In multivariate analysis, lack of Immunization and unknown immunization status were each separately associated with being newly admitted, with no or unknown pneumococcal immunization, and with facility failures to screen for immunization and to record inoculation in the medical record. High-risk status and staff immunization requirements had no effect. Separate analyses showed that residents with unknown immunization status are statistically significantly different from both those vaccinated and those not vaccinated. CONCLUSION. This study indicates that both resident and facility characteristics are associated with failure to be immunized for influenza. Facilities should consider targeting younger, newly admitted, and residential care residents for influenza immunization, since they are more likely to be missed. Further research into the barriers to immunization specific to nursing home resident choice or opportunity may be warranted.
Using multiple-input transconductors to reduce number of components in OTA-C filter design

Depending on the structure of the OTA and the topology of an OTA-C filter, the use of multiple-input OTAs can reduce the number of components, silicon area, and power dissipation by approximately a factor k, where k is the number of inputs of the OTA. A suitable bipolar OTA is presented, together with an example of ladder synthesis.
The use of electron beams in treating local recurrence of breast cancer in previously irradiated fields

A retrospective study was performed to assess the efficacy of using electron beam therapy to treat locally recurrent breast cancer in previously-irradiated fields. In a group of patients who received postmastectomy nodal and chest wall megavoltage photon therapy to doses of 4000-5000 rads, an additional 4000-5000 rads were delivered to chest wall recurrences with 7-10 MeV electrons. Good tumor responses were obtained without unacceptable concomitant normal tissue damage. With a follow-up time of 9 months to 5 years, 62% (8 of 13) are alive and clinically free of disease in the irradiated volume. Two patients died at respective times of 5 and 6 months after retreatment, with only one showing evidence of chest wall recurrence. One patient showed no response to therapy and the remaining two patients recurred in the treated volume at 10 and 59 months. Morbidity was limited to dry and/or moist desquamation with no evidence of soft tissue necrosis. These results demonstrate that the first course of irradiation did not select for a subset of radioresistant tumor cells, and indicate that a second course of radiation therapy may have much to offer in controlling locally recurrent breast cancer.
Automatic mobile photo tagging using context

The market of smartphones has been exploding, and taking pictures is a basic, maybe one of the most important functions of a smartphone. In this paper we address the problem of managing a large amount of mobile photos by automatically tagging the photos, so they can be easily browsed or searched later. Unlike other content-based photo tagging approaches, this paper's main contribution is to explore an alternative opportunity of automatic photo tagging using contextual information. Both clustering and similarity-based approaches were studied for photo tagging using context such as date, time, location, environment noise, and human faces. The results show that there are intrinsic connections between contextual information and photo tags, and similarity-based approach outperforms clustering-based tagging significantly.