cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FDA censoring of manufacturers' postmarketing commitments in HIV/AIDS drug approval letters.

CONTEXT Changing evidentiary standards and partial shift of the investigational phase of drug approval process to the postmarketing phase. OBJECTIVE To determine the availability of information for independent researchers needed to examine accelerated drug approvals to determine how they differ from traditional drug approvals in the HIV/AIDS domain. DESIGN Identification of all approved HIV/AIDS and AIDS-related conditions drugs between 1987 and 1999. Follow-up of postmarketing study requirements in the approval letters addressed to the manufacturers. SETTING Accelerated approval has been expanded to other disease conditions in the past decade. INTERVENTION Request of approval letters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 76 regulatory actions including expanded access and accelerated and traditional approvals for 42 drugs under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) between September 1998 and October 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Obtainability of approval letters and uncensored postmarketing study requirements. RESULTS Fifty-five approval letters were received. Postmarketing study commitments of manufacturers were censored in 25 letters received. We were unable to obtain uncensored copies of those approval letters as of May 2000. Censoring was associated with whether (1) the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992 was applicable to the drug (odds ratio (OR) = 5.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4- 23.7) and (2) the new drug application was for a new molecular entity or new drug formulation (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.3 -13.6). CONCLUSIONS Continued secrecy may stifle independent research and hinder health care providers and patients in making informed decisions.
Shape Dynamics of Nearly Spherical Membrane Bounded Fluid Cells

Abstract This paper considers the hydrodynamics of low Reynolds number shape fluctuations of incompressible fluid cells with incompressible membrane boundaries. It is assumed that the membrane can be characterized by a shear modulus μ, a bending modulus kc , an intrinsic mean curvature Co , and a surface viscosity ηM. The problem is formulated for the general case, and is solved analytically in the spherical limit. The observable hydrodynamics is found to depend sensitively on membrane parameters, and in particular a marked difference between solid and fluid behaviour is apparent.
Improvements in Part-Load Efficiency by Reducing Pressure Ratio in Regenerative Gas-Turbine Engines

To obtain equal thermal efficiencies in gas-turbine engines, designers have the freedom (if space and mass constraints are not limiting) of exchanging compressor pressure ratio for heat-exchanger effectiveness. Because heat exchangers can have lower losses than compressors, a high-effectiveness heat-exchanger cycle can have a much higher thermal efficiency (theoretically 55–60%) than is possible with unregenerated cycles. What has not been known up to now is the effect of design-point pressure ratio on the part-load efficiency of gas-turbine engines. The work reported here shows that, for similar turbomachinery technology, design-point and part-load efficiencies improve as the design-point pressure ratio decreases and the heat-exchanger thermal ratio increases.Copyright © 1985 by ASME
Asymptotic distributions of functions of the eigenvalues of some random matrices for nonnormal populations

Abstract The authors investigated the asymptotic joint distributions of certain functions of the eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix, correlation matrix, and canonical correlation matrix in nonnull situations when the population eigenvalues have multiplicities. These results are derived without assuming that the underlying distribution is multivariate normal. In obtaining these expressions, Edgeworth type expansions were used.
Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the intestine: Intussusception of a rare neoplasm

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma, a tumor of mesenchymal tissue, is being reported with increased frequency. However, no cases of primary tumors involving the gastrointestinal tract have yet been described. This report documents a case in which the patient clinically manifested a colonic obstruction associated with intussusception. Following radical resection of the mass, close re-evaluation after one year has shown no evidence of tumor recurrence.
Corticosteroids in human brain

Abstract A recent report from this laboratory showed that human nerve tissues contained large quantities of cortisol (1). The present paper describes the characterization of cortisol, tetrahydrocortisol, (3α, 11β, 17α, 21-tetrahydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one; THF) and 11β, 17α, 20β, 21-tetrahydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3-one (20β-DHF) from whole human brain.
Strain-sensing concrete improved by carbon fiber surface treatment

Strain-sensing concrete is concrete capable of sensing its own strain, as provided by using short carbon fibers (as little as 0.2 vol.%) as an admixture. The sensing ability is related to the change in volume electrical resistivity of the concrete upon straining, as resulted from the change in contact electrical resistivity between fiber and matrix. The gage factor (fractional change in volume resistivity per unit strain) is up to 700. This paper reports that surface treatment of the carbon fibers by using ozone prior to incorporation in concrete improves the strain sensing ability, in addition to improving the mechanical properties. These effects are due to the increase in fiber-matrix bond strength, which is in turn due to the decrease in the contact angle between fiber and water to zero. The contact angle decrease indicates wetting of fiber by water and is due to the increase in fiber surface oxygen concentration and the change from C-O to C = O functional groups on the surface of the fiber. The improvement in strain sensing ability relates to the increase in gage factor and the absence of an irreversible resistivity decrease from cycle to cycle. The improvement in mechanical properties relates to increases in tensile strength, modulus and ductility. The ozone treatment has no effect on the tensile strength, volume electrical resistivity or morphology of the fiber itself.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Expired Nitric Oxide Levels during Treatment of Acute Asthma

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be present in measurable quantities in the exhaled air of normal subjects and at higher concentrations in asthmatic subjects not treated with glucocorticoids. We confirmed these findings by analyzing the mean mixed expired NO concentrations of 43 stable asthmatics and 90 normal subjects; NO levels were higher in the asthmatic population (13.9 parts per billion [ppb] versus 6.2 ppb, p < 0.001). Although the effects of glucocorticoids on the NO content of mixed expired air are known, it is not known if beginning systemic glucocorticoid therapy reduces exhaled NO levels in a given individual. To examine this question, seven patients needing emergency therapy for asthma underwent repeated measurements of mixed expired NO levels during their course of treatment with glucocorticoids. All patients had a reduction in mixed expired NO concentration (p = 0.002) and an accompanying improvement in airway obstruction. The decrease in exhaled NO was evident as early as 48 h after the initi...
Corrosion protection of AA 2024-T3 by bis-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide in neutral sodium chloride solution. Part 1: corrosion of AA 2024-T3

This study consists of two parts. In the first part, the corrosion of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy (AA 2024-T3) was studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that the anodic S phase (Al2CuMg) particles dealloyed Al and Mg during the 3.5 h of immersion in a neutral 0.6 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution; with the dealloying of Mg being the most severe. Simultaneously, a heavy dissolution was also observed for the surrounding Al matrix of the S phase particles. This Al dissolution is likely to be caused by a local alkalization resulting from the coupled cathodic reaction (water and/or oxygen reduction). Such corrosion in AA 2024-T3, however, can be inhibited efficiently after the treatment of bis-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide (bis-sulfur silane). The associated studies on bis-sulfur silane treated AA 2024-T3 will be presented in the second part.
Outcomes in Adolescent and Older-Child Adoptions

ABSTRACT This column reviews and comments on studies of the outcome of older-child and adolescent adoption. The research demonstrates that children adopted at older ages are more likely to exhibit higher levels of some problem behaviors than children adopted at younger ages. Gender, age and the placement of sibling groups are among the variables that seem to influence outcome.
Myocardial perfusion abnormalities during low-dose dobutamine after coronary reperfusion can be demonstrated with intravenous perfluorocarbon- exposed sonicated dextrose albumin ultrasound contrast

We measured background-subtracted peak myocardial videointensity (PMVI) in the left anterior descending and left circumflex perfusion zones in open-chest dogs after intravenous injection of perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin ultrasound contrast (PESDA) after reperfusion of a coronary occlusion. These measurements were repeated during low-dose dobutamine (LDD). The ratio of PMVI in the reperfused zone (RZ) compared with the adjacent normal zone (NZ) was measured at baseline and during LDD. Dogs with a >50% diameter residual stenosis were group I (n = 10), and those with 0.1 during LDD in 8 of 10 in group I compared with only 3 of 13 in group II dogs (p = 0.01). PMVI in the RZ increased by > or = 1.5 U in 12 of 13 group II dogs during LDD, but only in 3 of 10 group I dogs. Therefore, intravenous PESDA can be combined with WT responses to define both myocardial function and flow after reperfusion.
Postirradiation polymerization of vinyl monomers on poly(ethylene terephthalate)

A postirradiation process was evaluated in polymerizing vinyl monomers on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film, fiber, and fabric. The use of DMF, pyridine, and DMSO as swelling agents to facilitate monomer incorporation and effective polymerization were also investigated. The solvents were effective in promoting the incorporation of acrylic acid (AA) in PET film and that of n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VP) in Dacron 54. AA, a good swelling agent for PET, produced equivalent polymerization yield and moisture regain results with or without any solvent on Dacron 54 and 64. Polymerization yields on films increased with increasing total doses, but those on yarns and fabrics were independent of total dose. The different results obtained on film versus yarn and fabric from solvent treatment and total dose is thought to be due to the different surface-volume ratio of these substrates. The moisture properties of the substrates were dependent mainly upon the monomer type. Among the monomers studied, VP gave highest moisture regain values, followed by AA. The tensile properties of the modified Dacron 54 were not affected. However the breaking elongation of the modified Dacron 64 was slightly lowered by postirradiation polymerization without solvent treatment and was increased when solvent treatment was included.
Growth of Mouse Mammary Glands in vivo after Monolayer Culture

Mouse mammary tissue grown in primary cell culture did not display specialized characteristics of the parent tissue. When implanted into gland-free mammary fat pads, not only did some of these cultured cells grow and produce normal mammary outgrowths, but some of the outgrowths formed glands which displayed a variety of culture-induced abnormalities.
Racial and Ethnic Variations in Preventive Dental Care Utilization among Middle-Aged and Older Americans, 1999–2008

Objective: This study examined recent trends of preventive dental care utilization among Americans aged 50 and above, focusing on variations across racial and ethnic groups including Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and Asians. Methods: Self-reported information on oral health behaviors was collected from 644,635 participants in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) between 1999 and 2008. Results: Despite a significant upward trend of frequency of dental cleaning from 1999 to 2008 (OR=1.02), in 2008 still only 56 to 77% of any ethnic or racial group reported having had a dental cleaning in the previous 12 months. Relative to Whites, Blacks (OR=.64) were less likely to have a dental cleaning in the previous 12 months. These variations persisted even when SES, health conditions, health behaviors, and number of permanent teeth were controlled. In contrast, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives did not differ from Whites in dental cleanings. Discussion: This is the first study to provide national estimates of the frequency of dental cleaning and associated trends over time for five major ethnic groups aged 50 and above in the U.S. simultaneously. Our findings suggest that public health programs with an emphasis on educating middle-aged and older minority populations on the benefits of oral health could have a large impact, as there is much room for improvement. Given the importance of oral health and a population that is rapidly becoming older and more diverse, the need for improved dental care utilization is significant.
Corrigendum to “The Significance of Perineural Invasion in Early-stage Cervical Cancer” [Gynecologic Oncology 123 (2011) 561–564]

Corrigendum to “The Significance of Perineural Invasion in Early-stage Cervical Cancer” [Gynecologic Oncology 123 (2011) 561–564] Karim S. ElSahwi⁎, Emma Barber, Jessica Illuzzi , Natalia Buza, Elena Ratner, Dan-Arin Silasi , Alessandro D. Santin, Masoud Azodi, Peter E. Schwartz, Pei Hui, Thomas J. Rutherford a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, CT, USA b Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, CT, USA
Cancer therapeutics revisited; novel drugs targeting cell signalling pathways, genome wide association studies and other trials and tribulations.

In 2006 the Journal published a themed issue on cancer therapeutics [1]. Recognizing both the number and speed of advances in the scientific understanding of the molecular basis of cancer, we felt it timely to revisit and focus on anti-cancer therapy in a themed section of the Journal. Hanahan & Weinberg [2] have provided an elegant summary of our modern understanding of the complex cellular biology which differentiates cancer cells from normal cells. These differentiating characteristics provide druggable therapeutic targets including several kinase enzymes. Targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective in treating certain cancers and have been adopted into standard-of-care treatments (e.g. imatinib in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma). The clinical development of agents targeting some of the more recently defined cell signalling pathways, has the potential to expand further our anti-cancer therapeutic armamentarium.
Race and Incarceration in an Aging Cohort of Vietnam Veterans in Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Cross sectional studies have addressed the incarceration of Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but no studies have examined changes in incarceration as they age. This study examines patterns of incarceration among Vietnam veterans treated in specialized veterans affairs (VA) intensive PTSD programs over time. Data was drawn from admission data from the initial episode of treatment of Caucasian and African American Vietnam veterans entering VA specialized intensive PTSD programs between 1993 and 2011 (N = 31,707). Bivariate correlations and logistic regression were used to examine associations among race and incarceration over time and the potentially confounding influence of demographic and clinical covariates on this relationship. Rates of reported incarceration declined from 63 to 43 %. Over time, African American veterans were 34 % more likely than Caucasian veterans to have a lifetime history of incarceration while interaction analysis showed steeper declines for Caucasians than African Americans. Rates of incarceration among these Vietnam veterans declined as they aged. Furthermore, African American veterans were substantially more likely than Caucasian veterans to have been incarcerated and showed less decline as the cohort aged. While reduced, needs for clinical PTSD services remain among aging combat veterans.
Evolution of treatment regimens in multiple myeloma: a social network analysis.

Background Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard for assessing the efficacy of new treatments compared to standard treatments. However, the reasoning behind treatment selection in RCTs is often unclear. Here, we focus on a cohort of RCTs in multiple myeloma (MM) to understand the patterns of competing treatment selections. Methods We used social network analysis (SNA) to study relationships between treatment regimens in MM RCTs and to examine the topology of RCT treatment networks. All trials considering induction or autologous stem cell transplant among patients with MM were eligible for our analysis. Medline and abstracts from the annual proceedings of the American Society of Hematology and American Society for Clinical Oncology, as well as all references from relevant publications were searched. We extracted data on treatment regimens, year of publication, funding type, and number of patients enrolled. The SNA metrics used are related to node and network level centrality and to node positioning characterization. Results 135 RCTs enrolling a total of 36,869 patients were included. The density of the RCT network was low indicating little cohesion among treatments. Network Betweenness was also low signifying that the network does not facilitate exchange of information. The maximum geodesic distance was equal to 4, indicating that all connected treatments could reach each other in four “steps” within the same pathway of development. The distance between many important treatment regimens was greater than 1, indicating that no RCTs have compared these regimens. Conclusion Our findings show that research programs in myeloma, which is a relatively small field, are surprisingly decentralized with a lack of connectivity among various research pathways. As a result there is much crucial research left unexplored. Using SNA to visually and analytically examine treatment networks prior to designing a clinical trial can lead to better designed studies.
Crystal structure ofmer,trans-[Ru(NO2)(trpy) (PPh3) 2 + ][PF 6 − ]: a “problem structure”

The complexmer,trans-[Ru(NO2)(trpy)(PPh3) 2 + ][PF 6 − ] crystallizes in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space groupP21/n withZ=4; the ruthenium atom lies close toy=1/4 and all data withh+l=2n+1 are systematically weak. The trpy ligand is not strictly planar, but has a “dish-like” geometry. The nitro ligand is rotated from the plane of the Ru(trpy) moiety, the N3Ru/NO2 interplanar angle being 32.5o. Ruthenium-ligand distances are: Ru−PPh3=2.418(4) A and 2.429(4) A, Ru−NO2=2.063(12) A, Ru−N(trpy, outer)=2.100(12) A and 2.116(12) A and Ru−N(trpy, central)=2.004(11) A.
The maize gene empty pericarp‐2 is required for progression beyond early stages of embryogenesis

Summary The defective kernel mutation empty pericarp2-R (emp2-R) causes retardation and subsequent abortion of maize kernel development. Analyses of genetic aneuploid kernels indicate that the embryo phenotype is not dependent on the endosperm genotype; the mutation conditions embryo defects even in the presence of a normal endosperm. Embryos reach an abnormal coleoptilar stage before aborting and disintegrating. The mutants form primary embryonic organs only; the scutellum and coleoptile develop, but no leaves are formed. Immunohisto-localization studies utilized KNOX homeodomain proteins as markers of meristem formation and identity. These analyses indicate that the shoot meristem forms in emp2-R mutant embryos, but does not mature to a tunica-corpus shape. No evidence of leaf founder cell initialization was revealed in the mutant meristems. These data indicate that the emp2 gene may be required for embryogenic patterning beyond the coleoptilar stage of development.
Toxicity to Candida albicans mediated by human serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells

This study evaluates the conditions in which peripheral blood mononuclear cells mediate toxicity to Candida albicans opsonized with heat-inactivated human serum. Serum concentrations as low as 1% resulted in 50% inhibition of C. albicans metabolic activity after incubation with peripheral blood mononuclear cells at an effector to target ratio of 8. Measurable inhibition was also achieved at lower effector to target ratios and lower serum concentrations, and at least a portion of the metabolic inhibition reflected fungal cell death. Depletion of C. albicans-specific antibody decreased the toxic effect while opsonization with purified human IgG restored toxicity, and cell-cell contact between peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fungus was required. Depletion of or enrichment for monocytes from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells preparation diminished the toxic effect and the monocytic cell line, THP-1, was likewise incapable of toxicity. These studies provide evidence that antibody augments antifungal host defense and underscore the complex interrelationship between humoral and cellular immunity in these infections.
Alteration of basaltic glass: Mechanisms and significance for the oceanic crust-seawater budget

Abstract Alteration of basaltic glass to palagonite is characterized by a nearly isomolar exchange of SiO2, Al2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, P2O5, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Hf, Sc, Co and REE for H2O and K2O, whilst TiO2 and FeO are passively accumulated during removal of the remaining cations. The network forming cations Al and Si are removed from the glass in proportion to the gain in Ti and Fe, whilst the other cations do not show a significant relationship to the amount of Ti and Fe accumulation. Sr isotopic data show that during palagonite formation approximately 85% of the basaltic Sr is lost to the hydrous solutions and 40% of seawater Sr is added to the glass, yielding an average loss of the same order of magnitude as of the network forming cations. Losses and gains of oxides yield an average increase of +105% TiO2. K, Rb, and Cs show high increases, but K Rb and K Cs ratios indicate two different alteration processes: (1) formation of palagonite involves a drastic decrease in these ratios, indicating structural similarities between palagonite and smectite; (2) surface alteration of glass is characterized by an increase in K Rb and K Cs ratios, probably best interpreted as sorption of alkalies in ratios approximating those of seawater. The total fluxes involved in alteration of glass in the upper portion of the oceanic crust are estimated from the modal abundance of palagonite in the oceanic crust and the abundance of the vein materials smectite and carbonate. Smectite and carbonates act as a sink for a significant portion of the elements liberated up during alteration of basaltic glass except for Na and Al, which are probably taken up by zeolites and/or albite, possibly hidden in the macroscopic estimate of carbonate. Formation of the observed quantity of secondary phases requires additional sources for Si, Fe. Ca and K. K is provided in excess from the inflowing seawater at reasonable water/rock ratios. The remaining excess Ca, Si and Fe required may be derived by alteration of interstitial glass and breakdown of anorthite rich plagioclase and titano-magnetite, and/or by supply of deeper seated metamorphic reactions.
Improved retrievals of cloud boundaries from MODIS for use in air quality modeling

A new approach has been developed at the Center for Space Research (CSR) to determine cloud boundaries from satellite data for use in air quality modeling. The approach combines remotely sensed cloud thickness, obtained from the MODIS cloud optical property products, with cloud base height measurements made at surface weather observing facilities to determine cloud top height. When compared to cloud truth estimates, compiled from measurements made at the Southern Great Plains Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Site in Oklahoma, errors in cloud top height from this new method were found to be significantly smaller than those in the MODIS (MOD06) cloud product. It was also found that relatively small errors in MOD06 cloud top temperatures can be magnified in MOD06 cloud top pressures because the interpolation scheme appears to not adequately consider humidity profiles in the NCEP data used to make these conversions.
World War II Combat in American Juvenile and Paperback Series Books

SUMMARY American victories during World War II have long been a staple of popular fictional series books. From 1941 to 1946, boys in this country read works featuring always-triumphant American men in battle against enemy troops. Older adults, especially after the defeat of United States armed forces in Vietnam during the 1970s, have continued to do so, this time via a number of mass paperback series laced with “adult” themes. This essay surveys these two separate sets of books and examines their many comparisons and contrasts.
Subclavian vein obstruction without thrombosis

Background Unilateral arm swelling caused by subclavian vein obstruction without thrombosis is an uncommon form of venous thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). In 87 patients with venous TOS, only 21 patients had no thrombosis. We describe the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Material and methods Twenty-one patients with arm swelling, cyanosis, and venograms demonstrating partial subclavian vein obstruction were treated with transaxillary first rib resection and venolysis. Results Eighteen (86%) of 21 patients had good-to-excellent improvement of symptoms. There were two failures (9%). Conclusions Unilateral arm swelling without thrombosis, when not caused by lymphatic obstruction, may be due to subclavian vein compression at the costoclavicular ligament because of compression either by that ligament or the subclavius tendon most often because of congenital close proximity of the vein to the ligament. Arm symptoms of neurogenic TOS, pain, and paresthesia often accompany venous TOS while neck pain and headache, other common symptoms of neurogenic TOS, are infrequent. Diagnosis was made by dynamic venography. First rib resection, which included the anterior portion of rib and cartilage plus division of the costoclavicular ligament and subclavius tendon, proved to be effective treatment.
Kinetics of the aqueous decomposition of pentacyanocobaltate(II)

Abstract The kinetics of the decomposition of pentacyanocobaltate(II) ion in aqueous solutions at low ionic ionic strength has been investigated. The reaction is second order with respect to the pentacyanocobaltate(II) ion. The activation energy is 9·84±0·27 kcal/mole in the temperature region of 25–50°, and is more than twice as high as that previously reported[2].
On the modes and meaning of feedback to transaction designers

An analysis of database transactions in the presence of database integrity constraints can lead to several modes of feedback to transaction designers. The different kinds of feedback include tests and updates that could be added to the transaction to make it obey the integrity constraints, as well as predicates representing post-conditions guaranteed by a transaction's execution. We discuss the various modes, meanings, and uses of feedback. We also discuss methods of generating feedback from integrity constraints, transaction details and theorems constituting both generic knowledge of database systems and specific knowledge about a particular database. Our methods are based on a running system that generates tailored theories about database systems from their schemas and uses these theories to prove that transactions obey integrity constraints.
Muscarinic reduction of GABAergic synaptic potentials results in disinhibition of the AMPA/kainate-mediated EPSP in auditory cortex

Abstract The present study is concerned with the ability of muscarinic actions of acetylcholine (ACh) to modulate glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated synaptic transmission in the in vitrorat auditory cortex. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were obtained from layer II–III pyramidal neurons, and the fast-EPSP (AMPA/kainate), fast-IPSP (GABAA), and slow-IPSP (GABAB), were elicited following a stimulus to deep gray/white matter. Acetyl-β-methylcholine (MCh), a muscarinic receptor agonist, applied by either superfusion or iontophoresis, produced an atropine-sensitive increase or decrease in the amplitude of the fast-EPSP. The effect of MCh could be predicted by the response of the fast-EPSP to paired-pulse stimulation (i.e. a conditioning pulse followed 300 ms later by a test pulse). The fast-EPSP was decreased in amplitude by MCh in cases where the test-EPSP was suppressed in the pre-MCh condition, and increased in amplitude when the test-EPSP was facilitated. The fast- and slow-IPSPs were always reduced by MCh. In several experiments, the strength of synaptic inhibition was systematically modified by varying stimulus intensity. When the fast-EPSP was elicited in the absence of IPSPs, it was decreased in amplitude by MCh. However, when the fast-EPSP was elicited in conjunction with large IPSPs it was increased in amplitude during MCh. Because the magnitude of the fast-EPSP is influenced by the degree of temporal overlap with IPSPs, it was hypothesized that enhancement of the fast-EPSP was the result of disinhibition produced asa consequence of muscarinic reduction of GABAergic IPSPs. This view was supported by the finding that MCh could reduce the amplitude of pharmacologically isolated GABAergic IPSPs (i.e. elicited in the absence of glutamatergic transmission). Our results suggest that ACh at muscarinic receptors can modify fast glutamatergic neurotransmission differently as a function of strength of inhibition, to suppress that produced by ‘weak’ inputs and enhance that produced by ‘strong’ inputs.
Superradiance transition in a system with a single qubit and a single oscillator

We consider the phase-transition-like behavior in the Rabi model containing a single two-level system, or qubit, and a single harmonic oscillator. The system experiences a sudden transition from an uncorrelated state to an increasingly correlated one as the qubit-oscillator coupling strength is varied and increased past a critical point. This singular behavior occurs in the limit where the oscillator's frequency is much lower than the qubit's frequency; away from this limit one obtains a finite-width transition region. By analyzing the energy-level structure, the value of the oscillator field and its squeezing and the qubit-oscillator correlation, we gain insight into the nature of the transition and the associated critical behavior.
Fifth-Grade Children's Daily Experiences of Peer Victimization and Negative Emotions: Moderating Effects of Sex and Peer Rejection

This study examined the relations of fifth-grade children's (181 boys and girls) daily experiences of peer victimization with their daily negative emotions. Children completed daily reports of peer victimization and negative emotions (sadness, anger, embarrassment, and nervousness) on up to eight school days. The daily peer victimization checklist was best represented by five factors: physical victimization, verbal victimization, social manipulation, property attacks, and social rebuff. All five types were associated with increased negative daily emotions, and several types were independently linked to increased daily negative emotions, particularly physical victimization. Girls demonstrated greater emotional reactivity in sadness to social manipulation than did boys, and higher levels of peer rejection were linked to greater emotional reactivity to multiple types of victimization. Sex and peer rejection also interacted, such that greater rejection was a stronger indicator of emotional reactivity to victimization in boys than in girls.
The oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO over metal oxides: IV. Perovskite-type oxides

Abstract Several metal oxides of the perovskite structure have been prepared and used as catalyst for the oxidation of CO and C2H4. The oxides include LaCoO3, BaCoO3, LaxSr1−xMnO3 with x = 0 to 1, and La0.7Pb0.3MnO3. In general, CO and C2H4 are stoichiometrically converted to CO2 and H2O. The reaction rates are positive fractional order with respect to both oxygen and the oxidant, and are slightly inhibited by H2O. The specific reaction rates for the cobaltites are much lower than those over Co3O4, but higher than those over the manganites. The reaction over the pure compounds up to 500 °C are severely reduced by the presence of a few ppm of SO2 in the gaseous phase. For La0.7Pb0.3MnO3 prepared in Pt crucibles or doped with 100 ppm of Pt prior to final heating, an increase in activity was observed upon long-time exposure to a reaction mixture containing 10–30 ppm of SO2. The reaction kinetics over the SO2-treated Pt-contaminated catalysts are similar to the kinetics over the Pt metal. Details of the SO2 effect are reported.
Intranasal schwannoma: Magnetic resonance and computed tomography appearance☆

Most intranasal polyps are benign, wellcircumscribed masses that are probably secondary to allergy, and are usually removed casually in an outpatient settinge However, although intranasal schwannomas are rare and only comprise 4% of head and neck neural tumors, such lesions should be considered for unusual-appearing masses, especially in adults who do not have a long history of polyps or nasal allergy.lmg
In vitro analysis of prothoracicotropic hormone specificity and prothoracic gland sensitivity in Lepidoptera

The kinetics of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) activation of pupal prothoracic glands (PG) of the cabbage army worm,Mamestra brassicae, and silkworm,Bombyx mori, were determined in vitro. Activation was assessed by comparing the increase in the rate of ecdysone synthesis by one member of a PG pair incubated with a PTTH preparation from pupal brains with the basal rate of synthesis of the other PG incubated without PTTH. A time course of ecdysone synthesis revealed thatBombyx PTTH extract activatedBombyx PG, andMamestra PTTH extract activatedMamestra PG. Dose responses of activation ofBombyx andMamestra PG by their respective PTTH were saturable and were indicative of neurohormonal activation. TheBombyx PG were half-maximally activated (A50) by far less PTTH thanMamestra PG, 0.34 and 0.91 brain equivalents, respectively. Heterologous dose response of activation studies, in which PTTH and PG fromMamestra, Bombyx and the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta, were assayed for interspecific PG sensitivity and PTTH specificity, revealed cross-reactivity among the three PTTH-PG axes, withManduca PG being more sensitive to the PTTH of the other species andBombyx PTTH being the most effective in activating the PG of the other two species.
Plan to do it right: and plan for recovery

This paper presents research results and implications in the literature for the last 15 years, and suggests guidelines on how to make the best use of the information to develop strategies that “fit” a service operation. There are considerable benefits of customer satisfaction, loyalty and increased profits from developing strategies to prevent service failures and strategies to successfully implement service recovery.
Visualization of Nanoparticle Formation in Turbulent Flows

In this paper we offer methods for visualization of the formation of nanoparticles in turbulent flows. We present the use of pointillism as a technique to convey the distribution of nanoparticle sizes as texture in an area. We also demonstrate a method of producing and packing spot glyphs representative of the distribution of nanoparticle sizes at every point in the flow to produce an intuitive and extensible framework for the visualization.
Private Land Access and Deer Management in Three Pennsylvania Counties: Key Informants' Perspectives

Access to private land for hunting is critical for deer management. An understanding of current trends in private land access is important for deer management decisions. Key informant interviews were conducted in three Pennsylvania counties to determine current land access issues. This research focused on deer management issues, landowner concerns, recreational access issues, and proposed solutions for improving access to private lands. In each county, key informants acknowledged a deer overabundance problem. They also indicated that safety, liability, and concerns about hunter behavior often caused landowners to restrict access to their property. Key informants frequently proposed solutions that would educate landowners and hunters about the role they play in maintaining free access to private land for deer hunting. Additionally, key informants thought an increased presence of law enforcement, firearms restrictions, and financial incentives may also appeal to private landowners' concerns about allowing a...
The diet composition of immature loggerheads: Insights on trophic niche, growth rates, and fisheries interactions

article i nfo For immature animals, diet quality and composition influence expression of life history traits such as growth rates and ultimately life stage duration and age to maturity. Circumglobally distributed loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) exhibit a multi-decade immature stage that generally occupies neritic habitats and is characterized by slow growth and an omnivorous diet. Although adult nesting populations are geographically distinct, foraging areas for immature loggerheads show a high degree of mixing of individuals that originate from multiple nesting stocks. Furthermore, despite their generalist foraging ecology, immature loggerheads have been observed to supplement their natural diets with fish from fishery discards and/or caught in fishing gear. However, whether trophic opportunism results in variation in loggerhead growth rates within or among feeding areas has not been investigated. In Core Sound, North Carolina (NC), USA, immature loggerheads demonstrate highly variable size-specific growth rates, in contrast to other studies that report discernible somatic growth functions in immature marine turtles. To determine whether inter-individual variation in growth rates at this site was due to variation in diet composition, and specifically variation in consumption of fish, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of loggerhead blood plasma and of tissue samples of putative loggerhead prey, as well as commercially important fish species. Our results indicated that growth rates were not related to trophic levels at which individual turtles fed, but rather probably reflected inter- individual variation in overwintering or foraging behavior (i.e. nearshore vs. offshore). Furthermore, loggerhead diets were highly diverse, and comprised mainly blue crabs and/or whelks, as well as small proportions of cannonball jellies. Fish were unimportant dietary components for loggerheads. Although loggerheads in NC do not appear to feed on fish catch or discards, immature turtles showed dietary preferences for prey items that are also valuable to or are commonly taken as bycatch in commercial fisheries (e.g. blue crabs and whelks, respectively) in the region. Thus, the status of these prey items/fishery stocks as well as trends in loggerhead populations should be monitored to mitigate potential competitive interactions between fisheries activities and loggerhead turtles.
The Influence of Advisers and Decision Strategies on Foreign Policy Choices: President Clinton's Decision to Use Force in Kosovo

In the following paper, I analyze the influence of advisers and domestic political factors on President Clinton’s decision to use force against Slobodan Milosevic and the Serbs in Kosovo in March 1999. I present an analysis and examination of President Clinton’s decision-making process, using press reports, personal speeches, etc. In other words, I attempt to trace the process by which Clinton came to the decision to use force in Yugoslavia. Specifically, using the poliheuristic theory, I argue that President Clinton’s decision was influenced by noncompensatory domestic political calculations and the strong influence of his Secretary of State, Madeleine K. Albright. Examining how advisers interact with one another, their status in the advisory group, and the manner in which presidents solicit information from advisers will further our understanding of how, when, and under what conditions national security-level decision makers make decisions.
Male migration and inbreeding avoidance in wild rhesus monkeys

Genetic, demographic, and behavioral evidence from a population of wild rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were analyzed to test the widely held assumption that social subdivision of mammalian populations, as seen in the rhesus monkey, results in inbreeding. This assumption has been important in attempts to explain rapid rates of evolution among mammals. Demographic records were kept over a period of 42 months on a study population comprising 292 animals, subdivided into seven social groups. Blood was collected from about 80% of the animals in five of these groups. The ecology and behavior of one group was studied intensively. Groups were not found to be inbred. Rather, they were genetically similar and possessed an excess of heterozygotes at a number of loci, indicating high gene flow between groups and avoidance of consanguineous matings throughout the population. This is consonant with behavioral observations of male-limited natal group emigration, relatively short nonnatal group male tenure, and seemingly random distribution of male migration. These results, corroborated by genetic and behavioral data on other social mammals, raise questions about current theories that draw a direct causal link between social structure and inbreeding in mammals.
Exploring outdoor recreation conflict׳s role in evolving constraints models

Abstract Following recommendations to cross-fertilize leisure constraints and recreation conflict research, this project proposes contributions to the leisure literature in two areas: (1) it advances the study of outdoor recreation conflict by empirically testing the role of motivations in coping with outdoor recreation conflict and (2) it further develops the discussion of the relationships among motivations, constraints, coping, and participation. Analysis of data from hiker surveys in Minnesota, USA, revealed that: (1) constraints, coping, and motivations directly impacted outdoor recreation participation, and (2) coping did not mediate the relationship between constraints and participation. Whereas data do not elucidate the roles among these variables, they do empirically support the relationship between constraints and conflict. Hence, findings suggest the need for future constraint investigation to include motivation and coping indicators. Management implications In outdoor recreation settings, managers can expect conflict affiliated with visitor interactions resulting in visitor stress and constraints to participation. In response, managers can expect experienced hikers to use mostly cognitive strategies that will not impact participation days. However, displacement used in this sample positively and directly impacted visitor outdoor recreation participation days, as did the motives of challenge and viewing nature. Therefore, planning for displacement is prudent and monitoring the social, economic, and environmental impacts is important. Similarly, anticipating the impacts of this displacement on staffing and educational efforts should be attended to.
Repression of proinflammatory cytokine and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) gene expression in activated microglia by N‐acetyl‐O‐methyldopamine: Protein kinase a–dependent mechanism

Excessive proinflammatory cytokine and NO production by activated microglia play a role in neurodegenerative disorders. To investigate whether the neuroprotectant N-acetyl-O-methyldopamine (NAMDA) downregulates genes associated with microglial activation, we measured gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), and an associated cofactor synthesis gene, GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) in LPS-stimulated microglia cells in the presence or absence of NAMDA. The temporal pattern of cytokine gene expression showed that LPS (0.2 μg/ml) increased TNF-α and IL-1β gene expression at 1 and 3 h, which was repressed by cotreatment of NAMDA. Similarly, LPS also induced GTPCH and NOS2 gene expression at 3 and 6 h, and cotreatment of NAMDA repressed the induction with parallel reduction of nitrite, an oxidative metabolite of nitric oxide. Since transcription factor NF-κB is involved in regulating expression of these genes, the effects of NAMDA on NF-κB nuclear translocation and DNA binding in immunostimulated microglia were investigated. We found that neither LPS-induced NF-κB translocation nor DNA binding activity was affected by cotreatment with NAMDA in BV-2 microglia. On the other hand, NAMDA increased intracellular cAMP levels and potentiated LPS-induced phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (pCREB) expression. Treatment with adenosine 3′5′-cyclic monophosphothioate, a specific inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), reversed not only NAMDA-induced pCREB upregulation but also NAMDA-induced repression of TNF-α and IL-1β gene transcription. The data demonstrate that NAMDA represses LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines gene expression via a cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway. Thus, repressing proinflammatory cytokines and NOS2 gene expression in activated microglia by NAMDA may provide new therapeutic strategies for ischemic cerebral disease as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. GLIA 33:324–333, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Determination of Steroidal Estrogens in Flushed Dairy Manure Wastewater by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

There is a critical need to accurately measure the concentrations of natural steroidal estrogens in flushed dairy manure wastewater (FDMW) to assess any potential risk of waterway contamination resulting from land application. Estrogens are a concern because low concentrations (10-100 ng L-1) in water can adversely affect aquatic vertebrate species such as fish, turtles, and frogs by disrupting the normal function of their endocrine systems. The objective of this study was to develop a sample preparation method that permits the quantification of four natural steroidal estrogens (17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol) in FDMW by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Solid-phase extraction with graphitized carbon black was used for the bulk extraction of estrogens from FDMW and additional sample purification was accomplished with C-18. The sample preparation method allowed estrogens to be detected accurately by GC-MS in FDMW. Spiked recovery experiments indicated that the method is satisfactory for measuring the estrogens of interest in FDMW with average recovery of >90%. As expected in FDMW, characterization of the estrogen profile revealed a large abundance of 17alpha-estradiol relative to 17beta-estradiol and estrone. Estriol was not detected in FDMW. The methodology developed in this research helps provide an analytical foundation for the quantification of steroidal estrogens in FDMW by GC-MS.
A Random Field Approach to Reliability Analysis With Random and Interval Variables

Interval variables are commonly encountered in design, especially in the early design stages when data are limited. Thus, reliability analysis (RA) should deal with both interval and random variabl...