cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward Developing an Appropriate Math/Science Curriculum for Gifted Learners

This article reviews the current status of special curriculum for gifted learners and proposes a new perspective for the development of mathematics and science curriculum at grades 6–12. Fundamental to the development of such curriculum is a recognition of the needs of gifted learners for accelerated content within a conceptual framework that incorporates conceptually the current technology. Suggested scope and sequence charts are included that reflect the best curricular models from the 1960's with futuristic concepts and ideas to meet the needs of students today.
Pituitary-adrenal responsiveness after corticosteroid therapy in children with nephrosis

Ten children with nephrosis were given a single oral dose of a corticosteroid every48 hours. Side effects appeared less severe and pituitary-adrenal responses to methopyrapone stimulation remained more nearly normal than when comparable amounts of the corticosteroid were administered orally in divided daily doses.
Grade Inflation in the Internal Medicine Clerkship: A National Survey

Background: Grade inflation is a growing concern, but the degree to which it continues to exist in 3rd-year internal medicine (IM) clerkships is unknown. Purpose: The authors sought to determine the degree to which grade inflation is perceived to exist in IM clerkships in North American medical schools. Methods: A national survey of all Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine members was administered in 2009. The authors assessed key aspects of grading. Results: Response rate was 64%. Fifty-five percent of respondents agreed that grade inflation exists in the Internal Medicine clerkship at their school. Seventy-eight percent reported it as a serious/somewhat serious problem, and 38% noted students have passed the IM clerkship at their school who should have failed. Conclusions: A majority of clerkship directors report that grade inflation still exists. In addition, many note students who passed despite the clerkship director believing they should have failed. Interventions should be developed to address ...
Stochastic modulations of the pace and patterns of ageing: impacts on quasi-stochastic distributions of multiple geriatric pathologies.

Abstract All phenotypes result from interactions between Nature, Nurture and Chance. The constitutional genome is clearly the dominant factor in explaining the striking differences in the pace and patterns of ageing among species. We are now in a position to reveal salient features underlying these differential modulations, which are likely to be dominated by regulatory domains. By contrast, I shall argue that stochastic events are the major players underlying the surprisingly large intra-specific variations in lifespan and healthspan. I shall review well established as well as more speculative categories of chance events – somatic mutations, protein synthesis error catastrophe and variegations of gene expression (epigenetic drift), with special emphasis upon the latter. I shall argue that stochastic drifts in variegated gene expression are the major contributors to intra-specific differences in the pace and patterns of ageing within members of the same species. They may be responsible for the quasi-stochastic distributions of major types of geriatric pathologies, including the “big three” of Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis and, via the induction of hyperplasias, cancer. They may be responsible for altered stoichiometries of heteromultimeric mitochondrial complexes, potentially leading to such disorders as sarcopenia, nonischemic cardiomyopathy and Parkinson's disease.
Anonymous communication in MANET's, solutions and challenges

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is designed for small groups of people with same special interests who want to communicate through their available devices like laptops or cell phones to share their ideas easily, quickly, and with minimum requirements. However providing a secure communication platform for this kind of network is a challenge because of the shared wireless medium. In MANET there is no fixed infrastructure like routers in wired network or an access point in managed wireless network to relay packets between nodes. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes. MANET has become popular in several application areas, including when a group of soldiers in enemy territory need to communicate through their available devices to receive a command or report their situations. The content of messages can be secured with cryptography, but vital information like nodes' identities and their locations can be revealed by traffic analysis. Emergency operations like search and rescue, commando operations, security scenarios, and collaborative research group are other examples of applications using MANET. In most of these applications security is very important however each of them needs a different level of security.
Acute toxicity and antiesterase action of O-ethyl-S,S-diphenyl phosphorodithioate (Hinosan).

Abstract The acute toxicity of O-ethyl-S,S-diphenyl phosphorodithioate (Hinosan: Bay 78418) was studied in rats. By the ip route LD50 values were 25.5 ± 0.8 mg/kg and 66.5 ± 7.7 for adult female and male rats, respectively. An age difference in the susceptibility of male rats to the toxicity of Hinosan was noted, with young rats being more susceptible than adults. Hinosan was found to be an effective inhibitor of cholinesterase activity in vitro as evidenced by 50% inhibition of rat brain cholinesterase activity at a concentration of 1.05 × 10−6 m . Measurements of the anticholinesterase action of Hinosan in vivo demonstrated that the cholinesterase activity of the central and peripheral tissues was inhibited to an equal extent, and the inhibitory effect was rapid in onset and of long duration. Data obtained by feeding various levels of Hinosan showed that it is a potent aliesterase inhibitor. The toxicity of malathion to rats was markedly enhanced by prior administration. Pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital, DDT, 3-methylcholanthrene or testosterone markedly reduced the anticholinesterase action of Hinosan, suggesting that it is detoxified by an oxidative microsomal enzyme system.
Magnetic properties of amorphous GdAl and GdCu

Sputtered amoprhous films of Gd0.41Cu0.59 and those with higher concentration of Gd are found to be ferromagnetic with Curie temperatures 75 K and higher. In contrast Gd0.37Al0.63 is found to take a spin glass state with a transition temperature of 15.8 K as defined by a sharp asymmetric cusp in the static susceptibility when measured in low magnetic fields. Below 15.8 K relaxation and thermal hysteresis effects of the susceptibility are found, characteristics of a spin glass.
Understanding Mexican NGOs: Goals, Strategies, and the Local Context

Research on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) largely focuses on the actions taken towards contributing to social change in communities and has characterized them into a typology of resisters or cooperators. Using extensive qualitative data, I use this case study to illustrate that NGOs use multiple repertoires of strategies that range from low to high risk. In this article, I show how and why NGO leaders in Monterrey, Mexico, choose their strategies based on their interpretation of the local sociopolitical environment and their assessment of how politically challenging a goal is within that context. By setting aside the dichotomy of NGOs as cooperators or resisters, I demonstrate the connection between strategies, goals, and the local sociopolitical context that is largely missing in our theorizing of NGOs (and other forms of collective action). These findings have implications for understanding how NGOs, as social actors, participate in an increasingly complex and interconnected global space.
Microalgal Biomass for Greenhouse Gas Reductions: Potential for Replacement of Fossil Fuels and Animal Feeds

Microalgal biomass production offers a number of advantages over conventional biomass production, including higher productivities, use of otherwise nonproductive land, reuse and recovery of waste nutrients, use of saline or brackish waters, and reuse of CO2 from power-plant flue gas or similar sources. Microalgal biomass production and utilization offers potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) avoidance by providing biofuel replacement of fossil fuels and carbon-neutral animal feeds. This paper presents an initial analysis of the potential for GHG avoidance using a proposed algal biomass production system coupled to recovery of flue-gas CO2 combined with waste sludge and/or animal manure utilization. A model is constructed around a 50-MW natural gas-fired electrical generation plant operating at 50% capacity as a semibase-load facility. This facility is projected to produce 216 million k⋅Wh/240-day season while releasing 30.3 million kg-C/season of GHG- CO2 . An algal system designed to capture 70% of flue-gas...
Current Status and Future Trends in Psychedelic (LSD) Research

Since the discovery of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) in 1943, a voluminous literature has accumulated concerning its effects on a variety of animals, including man. Despite the mass of published reports, definitive evidence is generally lacking, particularly with regard to the subjective and behavioral effects both during and subsequent to the LSD induced state. It is well established that this powerful agent produces major alterations in cerebral processes and central autonomic functions. There is also ample evidence indicating a markedly lowered threshold for arousal (Key & Bradley, 1960) and an increased sensitivity to stimuli in all modalities (Klee, 1963). These psychopharmacological effects parallel the findings of clinical and behavioral studies at least on the molar descriptive level. Pronounced perceptual changes have been almost invariably demonstrated with concomitant alterations in affect, ideation, and the relationship between subject and environment (Hoffer, 1965). Beyond these rather global findings, results have been inconsistent and often contradictory, even within species far less complex than man (Cohen, 1964). The well-known methodological problems encountered in research with centrally acting drugs are at least partly responsible for the slow progress thus far (Zubin & Katz, 1964). This has been especially true with human subjects. Systematic study of human reactions to LSD poses unique problems associated with greater organic complexity, shortcomings of currently available measuring devices, the ubiquity of individual differences, lack of an adequate theoretical model, and the influence of non-drug variables such as set and setting. In addition to these experimental obstacles, LSD has until recently been the center of a complicated medico-legal-social controversy (Harman, 1964). This has tended to obscure the relevant empirical questions and inhibit investigations which are both imaginative and reasonably objective.
New values defining “low” and “deficient” hemoglobin levels for white children and adults

New statistically defined values for “deficient” and “low” hemoglobin levels have been calculated from a total of 12,320 white participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination of the United States (NHANES I). These values, corresponding to the 5th and 15th percentiles respectively, have been separately calculated both with and without low transferrin saturation levels (≤16 percent). The ability to quantify the proportion of individuals deemed at risk in nutrition surveys is afforded in these new tabulations.
Daclizumab (Zenapax) inhibits early interleukin-2 receptor signal transduction events.

Abstract Daclizumab, a humanized antibody against the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (R) α-chain, is a promising new immunosuppressant in transplantation. As its exact mechanism of action has remained unclear, we examined its short-term effects on primary human T lymphocytes expressing the high-affinity IL-2R. Daclizumab exposure for 20 min neither affected T cell viability nor their surface expression of the IL-2R α-, β-, or γ-chains. However, after IL-2 stimulation (200 U/ml, 20 min), immunoblots of cell lysates demonstrated attenuation of the IL-2-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 65–75 kDa proteins by Daclizumab, but not by isotype controls. Since this is the molecular weight of the IL-2R β- and γ-chains, which are both tyrosine-phosphorylated by IL-2, we next examined the effect of Daclizumab on their IL-2-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. In immunoblots of IL-2R β- and γ-chain-immunoprecipitates the tyrosine phosphorylation of both chains by IL-2, but not by IL-15, was attenuated in the presence of Daclizumab. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that Daclizumab inhibited the IL-2-induced association of these chains, a prerequisite for their mutual tyrosine phosphorylation. Lastly, we demonstrated that Daclizumab inhibits the receptor-downstream induction of the IL-2-activated DNA-binding protein STAT5 in gel shift assays. We conclude that Daclizumab directly and specifically interferes with IL-2 signaling at the receptor level by inhibiting the association and subsequent phosphorylation of the IL-2R β- and γ-chains induced by ligand binding. Under our experimental conditions, Daclizumab had no effects on cell viability, and it did not modulate the surface expression of the IL-2R α-, β-, or γ-chains.
Traction-induced foveal damage predisposes eyes with pre-existing posterior vitreous detachment to idiopathic macular hole formation

Traction-induced foveal damage predisposes eyes with pre-existing posterior vitreous detachment to idiopathic macular hole formation
Redistribution of 5-Lipoxygenase and Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 to the Nuclear Fraction upon Macrophage Activation

Both the cytosolic phospholipase A2 and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes redistribute from the high-speed supernatant to a particulate fraction upon cell activation with associated leukotriene synthesis, but the subcellular site to which these enzymes translocate is not known. In this study, we disrupted resting and ionophore A23187-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages by N2 cavitation and separated lysates into nuclear, cytosolic, and crude membrane fractions; these were then examined by immunoblot analysis for their contents of immunoreactive cytosolic phospholipase A2, 5-lipoxygenase, and 5-lipoxygenase activating protein. 5-Lipoxygenase activating protein was localized predominantly in the nuclear fraction of both resting and activated cells, while both cytosolic phospholipase A2 and 5-lipoxygenase redistributed from the cytosol fraction in resting cells to the nuclear fraction in activated cells. These data demonstrate for the first time coordinate subcellular localization of the key proteins involved in leukotriene synthesis from endogenous arachidonate.
Topics in B Physics

We discuss a few issues in the burgeoning field of physics of hadrons containing the b-quark. These include: A simple parameterization of the Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix featuring a triangle in the complex plane, a review of B/sub s/ and B/sub d/ mixing with special attention given to width-mixing and the CP-violating same-sign dilepton asymmetry, a discussion of the CP-violating decay B/sub d/ ..-->.. /psi/..pi../sup +/..pi../sup /minus//, and a discussion of Cp-violating rate asymmetries in the two-body decays ..lambda../sub b/ ..-->.. p..pi../sup /minus// and ..lambda../sub b/ ..-->.. pK/sup /minus//. The concluding discussion concerns generalizations beyond these specific topics. 22 refs., 6 figs.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio for Operating Window Using Unified Methodology:

Operating window is a particular case of multi-variate system in which the objective is to make the system robust with respect to one particular factor in the presence of others. The signal-to-noise ratio of an operating window is the addition of the signal-to-noise ratios at the lower and upper thresholds of the window. Linear transformation on the lower threshold and reciprocal transformation on the upper threshold tend to render different weights at these thresholds, which results in an imbalanced optimization of a nondynamic operating window. In this article, a new signal-to-noise ratio for an operating window based on the unified methodology is proposed to reduce or eliminate this bias. Advantages of this methodology are discussed and an example is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology and compare with an existing methodology.
What Drives Customer Loyalty with Complaint Resolution

Even though customer satisfaction and loyalty have been studied at length, few if any studies have focused on antecedents to customer loyalty for dissatisfied complaining customers. In this article...
Renaturation Kinetics and thermal stability of DNA in aqueous solutions of formamide and urea

This paper reports the results of a systematic study of the effects of formamide and urea on the thermal stability and renaturation kinetics of DNA. Increasing concentrations of urea in the range 0 to 8 molar lower the Tm by 2.25 degrees C per molar, and decreases the renaturation rate by approximately 8 percent per molar. Increasing concentrations of formamide in the range from 0 to 50 percent lowers the Tm by 0.60 degrees C per percent formamide for sodium chloride concentrations ranging from 0.035M to 0.88M. At higher salt concentrations the dependence of Tm on percent formamide was found to be slightly greater. Increasing formamide concentration decreases the renaturation rate linearly by 1.1% per percent formamide such that the optimal rate in 50% formamide is 0.45 the optimal rate in an identical solution with no formamide. The effects of urea and formamide on the renaturation rates of DNA are explained by consideration of the viscosities of the solutions at the renaturation temperatures.
CHARACTERIZATION OF LYMPHOCYTE TRANSFORMATION INDUCED BY ZINC IONS

Lymphocyte cultures from all normal human adults are stimulated by zinc ions to increase DNA and RNA synthesis and undergo blast transformation. Optimal stimulation occurs at 0.1 mM Zn++. Examination of the effects of other divalent cations reveals that 0.01 mM Hg++ also stimulates lymphocyte DNA synthesis. Ca++ and Mg++ do not affect DNA synthesis in this culture system, while Mn++, Co++, Cd++, Cu++, and Ni++ at concentrations of 10-7–10-3 M are inhibitory. DNA and RNA synthesis and blast transformation begin to increase after cultures are incubated for 2–3 days with Zn++ and these processes reach a maximum rate after 6 days. The increase in Zn++-stimulated lymphocyte DNA synthesis is prevented by rendering cells incapable of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis with actinomycin D or by blocking protein synthesis with cycloheximide or puromycin. Zn++-stimulated DNA synthesis is also partially inhibited by 5'-AMP and chloramphenicol. Zn++ must be present for the entire 6-day culture period to produce maximum stimulation of DNA synthesis. In contrast to its ability to independently stimulate DNA synthesis, 0.1 mM Zn++ inhibits DNA synthesis in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes and L1210 lymphoblasts.
Breast reconstruction with the Bostwick autoderm technique.

Background:In 1990, Bostwick presented a technique wherein excess skin in the ptotic breast provides a deepithelialized inferiorly based dermal flap at the time of mastectomy. This adjoins the inferior border of the pectoralis major muscle, creating a complete autologous vascularized pocket, which i
Efficient Implementation of a Shifting Algorithm

Abstract An efficient implementation of the shifting algorithm [2] for min-max tree partitioning is given. The complexity is reduced from ORk3 + kn) to O(Rk(k + log d) + n) where a tree of n vertices, radius, of R edges, and maximum degree d is partitioned into k + 1 subtrees. The improvement is mainly due to the new junction tree data structure which suggests a succinct representation for subsets of edges, of a given tree, that preserves the interrelation betqween the edges on the tree.
Adipocyte-secreted factors synergistically promote mammary tumorigenesis through induction of anti-apoptotic transcriptional programs and proto-oncogene stabilization

Mammary epithelial cells are embedded in a unique extracellular environment to which adipocytes and other stromal cells contribute. Mammary epithelial cells are critically dependent on this milieu for survival. However, it remains unknown which adipocyte-secreted factors are required for the survival of the mammary epithelia and what role these adipokines play in the process of ductal carcinoma tumorigenesis. Here, we take a systematic molecular approach to investigate the multiple ways adipocytes and adipokines can uniquely influence the characteristics and phenotypic behavior of malignant breast ductal epithelial cells. Microarray analysis and luciferase reporter assays indicate that adipokines specifically induce several transcriptional programs involved in promoting tumorigenesis, including increased cell proliferation (IGF2, FOS, JUN, cyclin D1), invasive potential (MMP1, ATF3), survival (A20, NFkappaB), and angiogenesis. One of the key changes in the transformed ductal epithelial cells associated with the cell cycle involves the induction of NFkappaB (five-fold) and cyclin D1 (three-fold). We show that by regulating the transcription of these molecules, the synergistic activity of adipocyte-derived factors can potentiate MCF-7 cell proliferation. Furthermore, compared to other stromal cell-secreted factors, the full complement of adipokines shows an unparalleled ability to promote increased cell motility, migration, and the capacity for angiogenesis. Adipocyte-secreted factors can affect tumorigenesis by increasing the stabilization of pro-oncogenic factors such as beta-catenin and CDK6 as a result of a reduction in the gene expression of their inhibitors (i.e. p18). An in vivo coinjection system using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and SUM159PT cells effectively recapitulates the host-tumor interactions in primary tumors. Type VI collagen, a soluble extracellular matrix protein abundantly expressed in adipocytes, is further upregulated in adipocytes during tumorigenesis. It promotes GSK3beta phosphorylation, beta-catenin stabilization, and increased beta-catenin activity in breast cancer cells and may critically contribute towards tumorigenesis when not counterbalanced by other factors.
SCD1 is required for cell cytokinesis and polarized cell expansion in Arabidopsis thaliana

In the leaf epidermis, guard mother cells undergo a stereotyped symmetric division to form the guard cells of stomata. We have identified a temperature-sensitive Arabidopsis mutant, stomatal cytokinesis-defective 1-1 ( scd1-1 ), which affects this specialized division. At the non-permissive temperature, 22°C, defective scd1-1 guard cells are binucleate, and the formation of their ventral cell walls is incomplete. Cytokinesis was also disrupted in other types of epidermal cells such as pavement cells. Further phenotypic analysis of scd1-1 indicated a role for SCD1 in seedling growth, root elongation and flower morphogenesis. More severe scd1 T-DNA insertion alleles ( scd1-2 and scd1-3 ) markedly affect polar cell expansion, most notably in trichomes and root hairs. SCD1 is a unique gene in Arabidopsis that encodes a protein related to animal proteins that regulate intracellular protein transport and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Consistent with a role for SCD1 in membrane trafficking, secretory vesicles were found to accumulate in cytokinesis-defective scd1 cells. In addition the scd1 mutant phenotype was enhanced by low doses of inhibitors of cell plate consolidation and vesicle secretion. We propose that SCD1 functions in polarized vesicle trafficking during plant cytokinesis and cell expansion.
A Comparison of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Between Combat Casualties and Civilians Treated at a Military Burn Center

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been identified in 12% to 20% of noninjured veterans and in 32% of combat casualties. Eight percent of the US general population experience PTSD symptoms, whereas 25.5% of civilians with major burns have PTSD. Known predictors of physical outcomes of patients with burn are age, total body surface area (TBSA) burned, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). The United States Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center provides burn care for combat casualties and civilians. We hypothesized that we would find no difference in PTSD incidence between these two populations and that age, TBSA, and ISS are associated with PTSD. METHOD: We retrospectively examined the clinical records of 1,792 patients admitted between October 2003 and May 2008. Records were stratified by PTSD, age, TBSA, and ISS. PTSD scores were compared. Descriptive analyses were used. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-nine patients (372 military [74.5%]; 127 civilians [25.5%]) were assessed for PTSD using PTSD checklist military and civilian versions. PTSD was defined as >or=44 on the PTSD checklist instruments. We found no significant difference in PTSD between combat casualties and civilians (25% vs. 17.32%, p = 0.761). TBSA and ISS were significantly associated with PTSD; however, no association between age and PTSD was found. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PTSD is not significantly different in burned combat casualties and civilians treated at the same burn unit. These findings suggest that PTSD is related to the burn trauma and not to the circumstances surrounding the injury. Language: en
A compact temperature-regulated micro drying oven

An electrically-heated micro drying oven is described. It consists of a hollow aluminum cylinder, heated by an external winding of resistance wire, and bored to accomodate a glass drying tube such as anAbderhalden pistol. The temperature may be regulated by an external Variac or rheostat, or by an electronic thermostat. With the latter type of control, temperatures between 25° and 300° C can be maintained with a precision of ± 2° C or better. Equilibrium is reached within about 5 minutes.
Effect of thickness anisotropy on degenerate modes in oxide micro-hemispherical shell resonators

The effect of thickness anisotropy on the degenerate elliptical resonance modes of micro-hemispherical shell resonators (μHSRs) created using the thermal oxidation process is investigated. This anisotropy arises from the variation in wet thermal oxide growth according to the exposed crystal planes of the single-crystal-silicon hemispherical mold used to generate the μHSRs. It is shown that, despite the presence of thickness anisotropy, the degenerate resonance modes of oxide μHSRs can exhibit zero intrinsic frequency split depending on the particular resonance mode and symmetry of the thickness anisotropy imparted from the underlying silicon wafer. Measured results verified by simultaneous electrical excitation on the 0° and 45° axes demonstrate less than 94 Hz intrinsic m=3 frequency split for a 1240 μm oxide μHSR (limited by measurement conditions), which is to the authors' knowledge the smallest as-fabricated frequency split reported to date for any μHSR.
Heating of coronal loops by fast mode MHD waves

A possible mechanism for the formation and heating of coronal loops through the propagation and damping of fast mode waves is proposed and studied in detail. Loop-like field structures are represented by a dipole field with the point dipole at a given distance below the solar surface. The density of the medium is determined by hydrostatic equilibrium along the field lines in an isothermal atmosphere. The fast mode waves propagating outward from the coronal base are refracted into regions with a low Alfven speed and suffer collisionless damping when the gas pressure becomes comparable to the magnetic pressure. The propagation and damping of these waves are studied for three different cases: a uniform density at the coronal base, a density depletion within a given flux tube, and a density enhancement within a given flux tube. The fast mode waves are found to be important in the formation and heating of the loops if the wave energy flux density is of the order 105 ergs cm-2 s-1 at the coronal base.
Physiologic FDG-PET three-dimensional brachytherapy treatment planning for cervical cancer ☆

Abstract Purpose: To compare conventional two-dimensional (2D) orthogonal radiography-based brachytherapy treatment planning for cervical cancer with a three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning technique based on 18 F-fluoro-deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Methods and Materials: Eleven cervical cancer patients were included in this prospective study that evaluated one tandem and ovoid brachytherapy procedure for each patient. The patient underwent FDG-PET of the pelvis to visualize the tumor followed by a second FDG-PET scan with the FDG isotope placed inside the tandem and ovoid applicators to visualize the treatment source positions for 3D treatment planning. The tumor volumes were delineated using a binary threshold technique in which the threshold FDG-PET image intensity was 40% of the peak tumor intensity. Results: FDG-PET provides a reliable estimate of the cervical cancer volume and 3D spatial relationship of the tumor to the tandem and ovoid applicators. The maximal bladder and rectal doses determined from the 3D FDG-PET dose-volume histograms were found to be higher than those obtained using 2D treatment planning. The minimal dose to the tumor volume defined by FDG-PET ranged from 50 to 475 cGy for treatment plans designed to deliver 650 cGy to Point A and exhibited an inverse correlation with tumor volume. Conclusion: Physiologic FDG-PET brachytherapy treatment planning is feasible and accurate relative to conventional 2D treatment planning. The use of FDG-PET offers a unique method for tumor visualization and identifies the limitations of conventional brachytherapy treatment planning for coverage of large tumors and estimation of the dose to normal structures. This technique has the potential for improving isodose tumor coverage for patients with cervical cancer while sparing critical structures.
Effects of 2-archidonylglycerol on left ventricular function, coronary resistance, and ischemic tolerance in the isolated rabbit heart

Study objectives: In response to myocardial ischemia, a variety of substances are released, including the endocannabinoid 2-archidonylglycerol (2-AG). Many of these substances have significant effects on myocardial function, including the ability to affect ischemic tolerance through a process referred to as ischemic preconditioning. In this investigation, we assessed the effects of various doses of 2-AG on left ventricular function, coronary resistance, and ischemic tolerance in the isolated rabbit heart. Methods: Isolated buffer-perfused rabbit hearts were randomized to receive treatment with 1 of 3 doses of 2-AG (50 nM, 250 nM, or 1.25 μM) in ethanol, vehicle (ethanol 0.02%, 0.0004%, and 0.00008%) or nothing (control) for 20 minutes. Coronary flow, systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure were measured before (baseline) and after treatments. Hearts then received a 10 minutes' normal flow washout period, followed by 25 minutes of no flow ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion. Postreperfusion infarct size was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Results: 2-AG caused a dose-dependent increase in diastolic pressure, coronary resistance, and, at high doses (1.25 μM), decreased ischemic tolerance, resulting in increased necrosis and decreased reperfusion function. At 50 nM, 2-AG had no effect on left ventricular function and actually increased ischemic tolerance, as evidenced by a smaller infarct size and improved reperfusion function. Conclusion: The endocannabinoid 2-AG has dose-dependent effects on left ventricular function and myocardial ischemic tolerance in the isolated rabbit heart and may participate in the regulation of ischemic myocardium.
958 MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS BORN UNDER CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT ASEPTIC (INFANTS CONTAMINATED AT BIRTH)

958 MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS BORN UNDER CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT ASEPTIC (INFANTS CONTAMINATED AT BIRTH)
Compressive strength of a B2 matrix NiAlNb intermetallic at 1200 and 1300 K

The B2 crystal structure intermetallic NiAl is of interest for use as an elevated temperature structural material because of its relatively low density ({approximately} 6 Mg/m{sup 3}), high melting point ({approximately} 1900 K), and potential for self protection in oxidizing/corrosive atmospheres. However a major drawback is the lack of elevated temperature strength. Alloying is a commonly used metallurgical technique to introduce strength through solid solution and/or precipitation hardening mechanisms, and several studies of third element additions have been described. This paper describes the effect of a large Nb addition ({approximately} 20 wt pct) to nickel aluminide on the 1200 and 1300 K compressive strength and presents a comparison of data from all known, strong solid solution and/or precipitation strengthened NiAl-based materials.
Myron Hofer's synthesis of evolution and development: A commentary

Myron Hofer's integration of research and theory into a synthesized view of evolution and development is a powerful and elegant achievement. He argues that the epigenetic revolution provides a way to integrate evolution and development, which were considered separate processes for most of the twentieth century. Moreover, Hofer argues that our understanding of the effects of early experience gleaned through animal models provides a new, rich biological underpinning to the psychoanalytic theory of the effects of early experience – a way to re-integrate biology and psychoanalysis. I comment on several topics which directly relate to my own work on mother-infant communication: the role of ethology; Hofer's “hidden maternal regulators” in attachment, and how they can be translated into my work on the origins of attachment; Hofer's use of animal models to conceptualize early human mental development and a similar argument for the origins of human infant procedural representations in the work of Daniel Stern, an...
Mobile options for online public access catalogs

As mobile devices continue to proliferate and become more tightly integrated with our daily activities, a number of libraries have begun deploying customized mobile Web portals and applications to promote accessibility for patrons. Despite rapid growth of these mobile solutions, their novelty has meant relatively little is known about the alternatives and tradeoffs in designing for mobile access to libraries. To investigate these issues, we describe three complementary approaches. First, we report on a content analysis comparing mobile solutions offered by 22 institutions. Next, we present a user survey of university students, staff, and faculty regarding their uses and needs for mobile catalog access. Based on these findings, we describe a prototype mobile application we built to provide mobile access to our own university's library catalog. Overall, we find that libraries have several tiered options that make it simple to provide basic functionality with relatively little effort and deliver a significantly improved user experience in comparison to relying on traditional browser-based solutions.
Relationship of Anterior and Posterior Subcutaneous Abdominal Fat to Insulin Sensitivity in Nondiabetic Men

Recent studies from our reveal that adipose tissue (AT) in the subcutaneous abdominal region is the most important determinant of peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity. Because of different anatomic and physiologic characteristics of anterior and posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT, we investigated the relationship of the masses of each compartment, as determined by magnetic resonance imaging, to insulin sensitivity (using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique), and other anthropometric variables. Thirty-four healthy men with varying ranges of obesity were recruited for the study. The mass of posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT was approximately 1.6 times more than that of the anterior compartment, and these masses accounted for 12.9% and 8.2% of the total body fat mass, respectively. All anthropometric variables, including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), skin-fold thicknesses, and intraperitoneal AT mass were more significantly related to the posterior than the anterior subcutaneous abdominal AT mass. Compared to the anterior compartment mass, the posterior compartment mass displayed stronger relationship with insulin-mediated glucose disposal (Rd) (r = -0.44, p = 0.009, and r = -0.76, p = 0.0001, respectively) as well as with residual hepatic glucose output during the 40 mU.m-2.min-1 insulin infusion (r = 0.39, p = 0.02, and r = 0.53, p = 0.001, respectively). After adjusting for total body fat, the Rd values showed a significant partial correlation with the posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT mass (r = 0.52, p = 0.002). To conclude, posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT mass is more important determinant of peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity than the anterior subcutaneous abdominal AT.
Effect of design on the operation of homogeneous azeotropic distillation

Abstract In homogeneous azeotropic distillation, the entrainer feed flowrate represents a design degree of freedom which does not exist in simple distillation. This degree of freedom has a significant impact on the control properties. For high ratios of entrainer feed to azeotrope feed and low internal flows, the stripping and rectifying sections dominate the extractive section, and the control properties we obtain are similar to those of simple distillation. In particular, internal flows have a positive impact on separation. When the ratio of entrainer to azeotrope feed is low and the internal flows are high, the extractive section dominates and we obtain control properties which have no equivalent in simple distillation. In this case, the internal flows have a negative impact on separation. Furthermore, it is shown that economical steady-state optimization of the column design and operation may lead to relatively complex control problems. However, a simpler control situation can be obtained by increasing the entrainer feed flow above its economically optimum value. Thus, integrating design and control is essential in the case of homogeneous azeotropic distillation. These properties are completely general and will be observed for any homogeneous separation of a minimum boiling azeotrope with a high boiling entrainer which does not introduce any new azeotrope in the mixture.
Late Cenozoic Deposits of Texas Coastal Plain between Brazos River and Rio Grande: ABSTRACT

This paper presents (1) a description of the deposits of the Coastal Plain between Brazos River and Rio Grande beginning with the Catahoula and extending upwards through the Recent, (2) a correlation of the up-dip terrace deposits with equivalent formations of the Gulf Coastal Plain, (3) a discussion of the age of these terrace deposits, (4) an outline of certain fault zones that are involved in the geologic history of the Coastal Plain deposits, and (5) a geologic history of sedimentation during late Cenozoic time. The geologic section involved is as follows. Recent Present Deposits, Sand Beach { Riverview { First Street { Beaumont or Sixty Street { Lissie or Capitol Pleistocene { Asylum { Uvalde { Bastrop Park { Gay Hill { Willis { Goliad Pliocene { Lagarto { Lapara { Fleming Miocene { Cuero { Oakville { Catahoula End_of_Article - Last_Page 932------------
Sampling Theory for Control Engineers

This paper is intended to serve as an introductory reading for practicing control engineers with little or no background in sampling theory. The topics are introduced in a non-rigorous manner utilizing many examples. Some important terminologies of sampling theory are explained. Basic statistical techniques important to control engineers are discussed in two parts. The first part involves the mean while the second part deals with the variance. Some ``quick and dirty'' methods together with some ``standard'' techniques are presented. An example of a particular application is also included.
The Relationship between Stigma and Other Treatment Concerns and Subsequent Treatment Engagement among Black Mental Health Clients

This study examined stigma (both the perception that mental illness is stigmatized and stigma concerns about entering treatment) and other treatment concerns along with subsequent treatment engagement within three months in a sample of 42 black adults referred to public-sector outpatient treatment. Contrary to expectation, perceived stigma of mental illness was unrelated to treatment engagement; however having stigma or other concerns about treatment was associated with increased odds of engagement. Findings indicate the importance of examining stigma as a multi-dimensional construct and raise questions about the utility of addressing stigma as a way of promoting service use in black adults. More work is clearly needed to understand the complex relationship between stigma and help-seeking in black populations and other underserved groups.
Vapor Pressures of Substituted and Unsubstituted Monocarboxylic and Dicarboxylic Acids Measured Using an Improved Thermal Desorption Particle Beam Mass Spectrometry Method

A temperature programmed thermal desorption method we developed previously for measuring vapor pressures and enthalpies of sublimation of low-volatility organic aerosol compounds has been improved and applied to a suite of unsubstituted and substituted carboxylic acids. The method employs a thermal desorption particle beam mass spectrometer to monitor the evaporation of a submonolayer of monodisperse, submicron particles in vacuum. The desorption profile is then analyzed using evaporation rate theory to obtain a Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Improvements to the original instrument design include a redesigned vaporizer that provides uniform temperatures (< 1°C spatial variation) and the addition of a low-stick vaporizer coating that significantly reduces adsorption of molecules to the vaporizer surface. Modifications have also been made to the theory previously used to extract vapor pressures from evaporation measurements. The modified instrument and theory were evaluated by analyzing homologous series of m...
Matrix Isolation and Cold Diffusion of Mass-Selected CS2•+ in Neon: Infrared Observation of the Asymmetric Stretch of CS2•+ and CS2•-

Vibrational spectroscopic characterization of neon matrices in which mass-selected CS2•+ and CS•+ were deposited reveals absorptions due to (ν3) CS2•+ (1207.1 cm-1) and (ν3) CS2•- (1159.4 cm-1). The results are compared to previous CO2•+ studies from this laboratory [Godbout et al. J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 2892]. We also report controlled annealing studies of the matrices in which clustering of ionic species with neutral molecules is observed.
Rheological properties of wheat flour doughs I.—Method for determining the large deformation and rupture properties in simple tension

A method and an apparatus are described for determining the large deformation and rupture properties of wheat flour doughs in simple tension. Dough rings are submerged in a liquid of matching density to prevent the dough from deforming under its own weight and are stretched at constant rates of extension until rupture occurs. Stress-strain curves obtained at different temperatures and extension rates on doughs prepared from a medium strength flour and a weak flour are presented, and the effects of rest period, mixing time, and mixing atmosphere on dough properties are discussed.
Experimental myocardial ischemic injury. I. A comparison of Stadie-Riggs and free-hand slicing techniques on tissue ultrastructure, water and electrolytes during in vitro incubation ☆

Abstract Slices were prepared from dog myocardium using either a Stadie-Riggs mechanical tissue slicer or a free hand slicing technique. Slice function and intactness was assessed by measuring the ability of the slices to maintain cell volume and extracellular spaces, and to maintain cell fine structure. Stadie-Riggs slices were capable of many functions during 60 min of in vitro incubation but evaluation of all parameters indicated that they were damaged significantly by the slicing technique. “Free-hand” slices, on the other hand, had smaller insulin and mannitol spaces than Stadie-Riggs slices, were able to regulate cell volume and to establish high intracellular concentrations of potassium. In addition, direct electron microscopic observations of free hand slices showed most cells retained a normal or near normal ultrastructure, even after 60 min of incubation. It is concluded that slices cut with the free hand technique are only slightly damaged during preparation and are suitable for in vitro studies of myocardial function.
Experimental search for current-driven plasma instabilities in superconducting layers

Abstract We have studied the low temperature(T〈 4.2 K) current-voltage characteristics of a c-axis-perpendicular epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7 thin-film microbridge, separated from a parallel Sn film by an insulating layer, to search for evidence of theoretically-predicted current-driven plasma instabilities. We have observed small induced voltages across the microbridge which are consistent with the predicted phenomenon. The assignment of the observed voltage to the plasma instability is not unambiguous, however, and possible future work is discussed.
Stochastic rearrangement rules for self-organizing data structures

We consider self-organizing data structures when the number of data accesses is unknown. We show that certain general rearrangement rules can be modified to reduce significantly the number of data moves, without affecting the asymptotic cost of a data access. As a special case, explicit formulae are given for the expected cost of a data access and the expected number of data moves for the modified move-to-front rules for linear lists and binary trees. Since a data move usually costs at least as much as a data access, the modified rule eventually leads to a savings in total cost (the sum of data accesses and moves).
Noisy compressive sampling limits in linear and sublinear regimes

The authors have recently established a set of results that characterize the number of measurements required to recover a sparse signal in CM with L non-zero coefficients from compressed samples in the presence of noise. These results indicate that for a number of different recovery criteria, O (L) (an asymptotically linear multiple of L) measurements are necessary and sufficient for signal recovery, whenever L grows linearly as a function of M. We review these results that improve on the existing literature, which are mostly derived for a specific recovery algorithm based on convex programming, where O(L log(M-L)) measurements are required. The results discussed here also show that O(L log(M-L)) measurements are required in the sublinear regime (L = o(M)).
Neural basis of action understanding: Evidence from sign language aphasia

Background: The neural basis of action understanding is a hotly debated issue. The mirror neuron account holds that motor simulation in fronto-parietal circuits is critical to action understanding including speech comprehension, while others emphasise the ventral stream in the temporal lobe. Evidence from speech strongly supports the ventral stream account, but on the other hand, evidence from manual gesture comprehension (e.g., in limb apraxia) has led to contradictory findings.Aims: Here we present a lesion analysis of sign language comprehension. Sign language is an excellent model for studying mirror system function in that it bridges the gap between the visual–manual system in which mirror neurons are best characterised and language systems which have represented a theoretical target of mirror neuron research.Methods & Procedures: Twenty-one life-long deaf signers with focal cortical lesions performed two tasks: one involving the comprehension of individual signs and the other involving comprehension...