cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The northern Nevada rift: Regional tectono-magmatic relations and middle Miocene stress direction

As defined by the most recent aeromagnetic surveys, the north-northwest-trending northern Nevada rift zone extends for at least 500 km from southern Nevada to the Oregon Nevada border. At several places along the rift, the magnetic anomaly is clearly related to north-northwest-trending dikes and flows that, based on new radiometric dating, erupted between 17 and 14 Ma and probably during an even shorter time interval. The tectonic significance of the rift is dramatized by its length, its coincidence in time and space (at its northern terminus) with the oldest silicic caldera complex along the Yellowstone hot-spot trend, and its parallelism with the subduction zone along the North American coast prior to the establishment of the San Andreas fault. The northern Nevada rift is also equivalent in age, trend, and composition to feeder dikes that fed the main eruptive pulse (∼95% volumetrically) off the Columbia River flood basalts in northern Oregon ∼15.5-16.5 Ma. Because of these similarities, both regions are considered to be part of an enormous lithospheric rift that propagated rapidly south-southeast and north-northwest, respectively, from a central mantle plume. The site of the initial breaching of the North America plate by this plume is probably the McDermitt volcanic center at the north end off the rift near the Oregon-Nevada border. The present north-northwest trend of the rift and its internal elements, such as dikes and lava-filled grabens, record the orientation of the arc-normal extensional stress in this back-arc region at the time of emplacement. Paleomagnetic evidence presented by others and interpreted to indicate block rotations at three sample localities is not consistent with either a rotation of dikes within the rift or with a regional rotation of the entire rift. The present north-northwest trend of the rift reflects the state of stress in the Basin and Range during middle Miocene time and is consistent with stress indicators of similar age throughout the Basin and Range and Rio Grande rift provinces.
Nonvolatile organic acids produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in synthetic liquid media.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) D By. grew well and produced sclerotia on a glucose-salts liquid medium (pH 4.1-4.3 in stationary culture). Culture filtrates and mycelia + sclerotia were analyzed separately for organic acids by paper, silicic acid partition and thin-layer chromatography. Oxalic, succinic, malic, fumaric and glycolic acids were detected in the medium and cellular extracts. The pH of the filtrates reached a minimum of 3.4 and contained maximum amounts of the dicarboxylic acids after 2 weeks growth of S. sclerotiorum. The quantity of these acids decreased and glycolic acid increased with longer incubation. Increasing the pH of the medium increased the amount of oxalic acid produced. When S. sclerotiorum was grown on a mannitol-salts medium, growth of mycelia was depressed, no sclerotia were produced and the pH of culture filtrates increased. Only malic, oxalic and glycolic acids were found in culture filtrates. The maximum amount of malic acid was detected after 2 weeks of growth. Oxalic and glycolic acids increased slowly throughout the growth period. More total organic acid was produced on the glucose medium than on the mannitol medium.
CITIZEN REACTION TO A PROPOSED TIME ZONE BOUNDARY CHANGE IN KENTUCKY: JUXTAPOSING BOUNDARIES ON THE LAND / IN THE MIND

Changes in time zone boundaries are rare but are the result of initiatives at local levels where businesses and employees have stronger linkages to counties and cities in a time zone other than their own. I investigate the October 2000 change in Wayne County, a rural county in southcentral Kentucky that petitioned the U.S. Department ofTransportation to join the Eastern Time Zone. Public meetings, letters and petitions demonstrated the divided sentiment regarding the change. Almost 70% ofthe 2500 signatures supported the change. I investigate the content of660 individual letters to identify the major reasons supporting and opposing the change. Linkages to places ofemployment and shopping and visits to physicians were major reasons in support ofthe change. Objections were a dissatisfaction with no referendum, concerns about children's safety waiting for buses in the dark, "liking it the way it is," and inconveniences for farmers.
Extracellular thiol/disulfide redox state affects proliferation rate in a human colon carcinoma (Caco2) cell line

Redox mechanisms function in regulation of cell growth, and variation in redox state of plasma thiol/disulfide couples occurs in various physiologic conditions, including diabetes, chemotherapy, and aging. The present study was designed to determine whether a systematic variation in extracellular thiol/disulfide redox state (E(h)) over a range (0 mV to -150 mV) that occurs in human plasma altered proliferation of cultured cells. Experiments were performed with a human colon carcinoma cell line (Caco2), which grows slowly in the absence of serum and responds to peptide growth factors with increased rate of cell division. The extracellular redox states were established by varying concentrations of cysteine and cystine, maintaining constant pool size in terms of cysteine equivalents. Incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to measure DNA synthesis and was lowest at the most oxidized extracellular E(h) (0 mV). Incorporation increased as a function of redox state, attaining a 100% higher value at the most reduced condition (-150 mV). Addition of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased the rate of BrdU incorporation at more oxidizing redox conditions (0 to -80 mV) but had no effect at -150 mV. Cellular GSH was not significantly affected by variation in extracellular E(h). In the absence of growth factors, extracellular E(h) values were largely maintained for 24 h. However, IGF-1 or EGF stimulated a change in extracellular redox to values similar to that for cysteine/cystine redox in plasma of young, healthy individuals. The results show that extracellular thiol/disulfide redox state modulates cell proliferation rate and that this control interacts with growth factor signaling apparently independently of cellular glutathione.
Specialized Host Utilization of Macrosiphum euphorbiae on a Nonnative Weed Host, Solanum sarrachoides, and Competition with Myzus persicae

The potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), (Homoptera: Aphididae), is a polyphagous aphid known to feed on over 200 plant species across 20 families. Although this aphid is known as one of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) colonizing aphids, field observations for populations of M. euphorbiae in southern Idaho indicated that they preferentially settled and colonized hairy nightshade, Solanum sarrachoides (Sendtner), plants rather than potato plants. Laboratory investigations revealed that M. euphorbiae survived only on S. sarrachoides and not on potato. A series of subsequent laboratory experiments conducted using laboratory-reared and field-collected aphids confirmed that M. euphorbiae survived only on S. sarrachoides. Experiments also showed that M. euphorbiae produced more winged morphs (alatae) than Myzus persicae on S. sarrachoides when reared alone under similar conditions. Furthermore, we documented intraguild competition between M. euphorbiae and M. persicae on S. sarrachoides. Results suggested that M. euphorbiae can potentially suppress M. persicae on S. sarrachoides. Competition studies reiterated that M. euphorbiae produced more alatae than M. persicae. Results also indicated that M. euphorbiae may have specialized on S. sarrachoides. The loss of polyphagous abilities of this M. euphorbiae “biotype” is intriguing and the factors responsible for specialized host utilization pattern remain to be elucidated.
Thermochemical study of glasses in the system CaMgSi2O6-CaAl2SiO6

High temperature solution calorimetry of glasses in the system CaMgSi2O6 (Di)-CaAl2SiO6 (CaTs) show them to have negative enthalpies of mixing with a regular enthalpy parameter, WH, of -11.4 ± 0.7 kcal. Negative heats of mixing between alumina-rich and alumina-poor glasses seem to be a general phenomenon in aluminosilicates and are not confined only to glassy systems containing anorthite as a component. The thermodynamic behavior of glasses in the system SiO2-Ca0.5;AlO2-CaMgO2 appears to vary in a smooth fashion, with small positive heats of mixing near SiO2 and substantial negative heats of mixing for other compositions. The exothermic behavior with increasing A1(Al + Si) may be related to local charge balance of M2+ and Al3+. The negative heats of mixing in MgCaSi2O6-CaAl2SiO6, MgCaSi2O6-CaAl2Si2O8 and NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8 glasses are in contrast to the positive heats of mixing found in MgCaSi2O6-CaAl2SiO6 (pyroxene) and NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8 (high plagioclase) crystalline solid solutions.
Characterization of a B Cell Surface Antigen with Homology to the S100 Protein MRP8

Abstract The S100 proteins comprise a large sub-family of the EF-hand calcium-binding proteins. Here we describe a novel monoclonal antibody recognizing a B cell surface antigen. This monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitates three proteins in the 12–18 kDa range and the smallest of these proteins has a striking homology at its amino-terminus to human MRP8, a myeloid specific member of the S100 family. Similarly to MRP8 in myeloid cells, this antigen is expressed in the cytoplasm of B cells and is secreted by LPS-induced activated B cells. This surface antigen is not B cell specific. Since MRP8 is not expressed by lymphoid cells, however, this antibody appears to recognize a new member of the S100 family.
Optische Vorläufer nachgewiesen

Vor 90 Jahren entwickelten Sommerfeld und Brillouin die Theorie von Vorlauferwellen in dielektrischen Medien. Jetzt konnten zwei Physiker von der Thayer School of Engineering in New Hampshire, USA, diesen Effekt erstmals nachweisen [1].
A call for action: managing the emergence of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the acute care settings.

Purpose of reviewMultidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae are an emerging and a major concern for the medical community. Reported rates of MDR Enterobacteriaceae are increasing, and infections with these organisms are no longer limited to those associated with healthcare in the severely ill or i
Quantification of immunoglobulin in the serum and mucus of channel catfish at different ages and following infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to quantify immunoglobulin (Ig) in the serum and mucus of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The capture antibody (Ab) was a monoclonal Ab to channel catfish Ig and the detector was a polyclonal goat serum against channel catfish Ig. Detectable levels of channel catfish Ig were 0.1 microgram ml-1 and coefficients of intra- and interassay variations were 20% and 15%, respectively. Serum Ig concentration was found to increase from 0.36 +/- 0.25 to 0.49 +/- 0.26 mg ml-1 between 3 and 15 months of age. In contrast, mucus Ig concentration slightly decreased from 0.55 +/- 0.52 to 0.45 +/- 0.82 ng cm-2 of skin between 3 and 15 months of age. Mucus Ig concentrations were highest immediately caudal to gill covers and between pectoral to anal fins, at concentrations of 0.45 +/- 0.82 and 0.34 +/- 0.67 ng cm-2, respectively. The concentration of mucus Ig between anal and caudal fins and on the ventral skin between gill covers and pectoral fin was 0.18 +/- 0.42 and 0.09 +/- 0.14 ng cm-2, respectively. The kinetics of Ig production following infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri showed that serum Ig concentrations markedly increased (20.92 +/- 32.75 mg ml-1) at 13 days post-infection. The increase in mucus Ig concentrations occurred 14 days later (0.80 +/- 1.91 ng cm-2). Individual variation in both serum and mucus Ig production increased considerably during the course of infection (+/-0.23 to +/-32.75 mg ml-1 for serum Ig and +/-0.1 to +3.41 ng cm-2 for mucus Ig). The results suggest that E. ictaluri infection causes higher Ig production than that found in non-infected fish of the same age. Ab response to E. ictaluri was detected in the serum but not in the mucus of infected fish. Our results show differences in serum and mucus Ig concentrations with age and after infection with E. ictaluri.
Analysis of the thin-oxide growth kinetic equation

Detailed understanding of the atomic-level mechanisms of oxidation is required to achieve control of ultrathin oxide growth processes. Published models support the widely accepted empirical description of Massoud et al (Massoud H Z, Plummer J D and Irene E A 1985 J. Electrochem. Soc. 132 2685), in which the growth rate is the sum of two terms, a 'Deal–Grove' term that produces linear-parabolic behaviour and an exponential term that enhances the growth rate for thin oxides. We give accurate although approximate analytical solutions for the Massoud kinetic equation. These solutions reduce to the Deal–Grove form for large thickness, give a value for the otherwise ad hoc initial time parameter in that model, become exact for small oxide thickness and have known error bounds as a function of growth thickness and temperature. The solutions should be useful for design calculations and general presentation of an enhanced Deal–Grove growth model.
A SAS-IML program for implementing two-phase regression analysis of geophysical time series data

Abstract Two-phase regression analysis has been shown to have utility in geophysical time series analysis. Based on linear regression, the technique operates by locating a change point, if one exists, where a significant change in slope occurs. The timing of the break can then be associated with natural and anthropogenic variables which are thought to impact the behavior of the dependent variable. The technique is not widely available in commercial statistical packages. A SAS Interactive Matrix Language program is presented here to implement the technique.
P300 and allocation of attention in dual-tasks

Abstract P300 in dual-tasks has been reported to be distributed reciprocally across the tasks i.e. larger P300 associated with one task implies smaller P300 associated with the other (Wickens et al., 1983; Sirevaag et al., 1989). In these studies, however, the dual-task stimuli were either presented simultaneously, precluding a direct, within-trial assessment of relative magnitudes of P300, or they were separated by intervals of 1 s or more, thereby minimizing overlap of the ERP epochs, but at the cost of reduced competition for shared processing resources. The present experiment used an inter-stimulus interval of 400 ms between the auditory (tones) and visual (colored LEDs) stimuli that defined the dual-task and found that, when deviant tones elicited a prominent auditory P300, they were followed by a greatly reduced P300 for the deviant LED. The findings were interpreted from viewpoints that considered the effects of neural inhibition versus neural recovery cycles on the amplitude of P300.
Protein kinase C inhibition differentially affects 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced dopamine release in the striatum and prefrontal cortex of the rat

The acute administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) elevates extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in the rat striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The release of DA induced by MDMA is thought to involve both transporter and impulse-mediated processes. Furthermore, the impulse-dependent release of DA in the striatum elicited by MDMA appears to involve 5-HT2 receptor activation. Since 5-HT2 receptors are known to utilize protein kinase C (PKC) for intracellular signaling, we examined the effects of modulators of PKC activity on DA release stimulated by MDMA. Reverse dialysis of the PKC inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM; 30 μM) or chelerythrine chloride (100 μM) through a microdialysis probe significantly attenuated the MDMA (10 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of DA in the striatum. In contrast, BIM did not significantly alter the increase in the extracellular concentration of DA in the striatum elicited by amphetamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Reverse dialysis of a PKC activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) (0.5 μM), through the microdialysis probe into the striatum, significantly increased MDMA-induced DA release. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of the PKC inhibitors on MDMA-induced DA release in the striatum, intracortical infusion of BIM enhanced MDMA-induced release of DA in the mPFC. These data suggest that PKC-mediated signaling pathways differentially modulate MDMA-induced DA release from mesocorticolimbic and nigrostriatal neurons.
The Effect of Lithium Carbonate on the Granulocyte Phagocytic Index

Preincubation in lithium carbonate of granulocytes from normal human male volunteer subjects did not alter the ability of these cells to perform properly the ingestion phase of phagocytosis in vitro.
Universal principles transform national priorities: Bologna Process and Russian teacher education

Abstract In 2003, the Russian Federation joined the Bologna Process, which accompanied the introduction of global neoliberal reforms into the Russian post-socialist space. To examine these transformations, I juxtapose foreign language teacher education program documents before and after the introduction of neoliberal policies. Participation in the Bologna Process re-conceptualized the teacher's role from a public intellectual to a technocrat, contributed to a fragmentation of subject knowledge preparation, and began promoting the individualism of the new capitalism. I present responses to the Bologna Process by Russian academics and teacher educators and argue that neoliberal reforms may have long-lasting negative consequences.
2′-(2-bromohexadecanoyl)-paclitaxel conjugate nanoparticles for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model

A nanoparticle (NP) formulation with 2′-(2-bromohexadecanoyl)-paclitaxel (Br-16-PX) conjugate was developed in these studies for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The lipophilic paclitaxel conjugate Br-C16-PX was synthesized and incorporated into lipid NPs where the 16-carbon chain enhanced drug entrapment in the drug delivery system and improved in vivo pharmacokinetics. The electron-withdrawing bromine group was used to facilitate the conversion of Br-C16-PX to paclitaxel at the tumor site. The developed system was evaluated in luciferase-expressing A549 cells in vitro and in an orthotopic NSCLC mouse model. The results demonstrated that the Br-C16-PX NPs had a higher maximum tolerated dose (75 mg/kg) than Taxol® (19 mg/kg) and provided significantly longer median survival (88 days versus 70 days, P<0.05) in the orthotopic NSCLC model. An improved pharmacokinetic profile was observed for the Br-C16-PX NPs at 75 mg/kg compared to Taxol at 19 mg/kg. The area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC)0–96 h of Br-C16-PX from the NPs was 91.7-fold and 49.6-fold greater than Taxol in plasma and tumor-bearing lungs, respectively, which provided sustained drug exposure and higher antitumor efficacy in the NP-treated group.
Characterization of ice roughness from simulated icing encounters

Detailed measurements of the size of roughness elements on ice accreted on models in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) were made in a previous study. Only limited data from that study have been published, but included were the roughness element height, diameter and spacing. In the present study, the height and spacing data were found to correlate with the element diameter, and the diameter was found to be a function primarily of the non-dimensional parameters freezing fraction and accumulation parameter. The width of the smooth zone which forms at the leading edge of the model was found to decrease with increasing accumulation parameter. Although preliminary, the success of these correlations suggests that it may be possible to develop simple relationships between ice roughness and icing conditions for use in ice-accretion-prediction codes. These codes now require an ice-roughness estimate to determine convective heat transfer. Studies using a 7.6-cm-diameter cylinder and a 53.3-cm-chord NACA 0012 airfoil were also performed in which a 1/2-min icing spray at an initial set of conditions was followed by a 9-1/2-min spray at a second set of conditions. The resulting ice shape was compared with that from a full 10-min spray at the second set of conditions. The initial ice accumulation appeared to have no effect on the final ice shape. From this result, it would appear the accreting ice is affected very little by the initial roughness or shape features.
Low Yield of Routine Preoperative Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Patients Evaluated for Liver Transplantation

Although coronary revascularization prior to non-cardiac surgery has not been shown to reduce the risk of cardiac events, pre-operative noninvasive screening for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is commonly performed. Such testing is even more likely to be performed among patients who are candidates for organ transplantation. The rationale for such testing in candidates for organ transplantation include the need to determine (1) the peri-operative risk, and (2) if the patient's cardiovascular risk is high enough that organ transplantation would be futile and an inappropriate use of a scarce organ.1 While screening for obstructive CAD in patients with end stage renal disease evaluated for kidney transplantation seems reasonable given the high prevalence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in these patients, there is intense debate of whether such approach should also be considered among patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD) in whom there is a generally much lower frequency of CAD, at least based on relatively small retrospective reports.2-6
Photoionization and High Density Gas

We present results of calculations using the XSTAR version 2 computer code. This code is loosely based on the XSTAR v.1 code which has been available for public use for some time. However it represents an improvement and update in several major respects, including atomic data, code structure, user interface, and improved physical description of ionization/excitation. In particular, it now is applicable to high density situations in which significant excited atomic level populations are likely to occur. We describe the computational techniques and assumptions, and present sample runs with particular emphasis on high density situations.
Deposition versus photochemical removal of PBDEs from Lake Superior air.

Analysis of a sediment core collected from Siskiwit Lake, located on a remote island in Lake Superior, provides evidence that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are removed effectively from the atmosphere via deposition processes during long-range transport. A mass balance model based on photochemical rate constants and data from atmospheric samples was created to understand the relative importance of various photochemical and deposition processes in removing PBDEs from the atmosphere. Photolysis rate constants were derived from UV absorption spectra of 25 PBDEs recorded in isooctane over the range of 280−350 nm at 298 K. Photolysis decays measured for BDE-3 and -7 in the gas phase were substantial compared to a well-defined chemical actinometer, indicating that their photolysis quantum yields are significant. Dibenzofuran production was observed when PBDE congeners containing ortho-bromines were photolyzed in helium. From estimates of removal rates of PBDEs from the lower troposphere, we find that we...
Association of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism With Myocardial Ischemia and Patency of Infarct-Related Artery in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract Objectives. We determined the influence of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism on the extent of myocardial ischemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Background. The I/D polymorphism, which in part controls plasma and tissue expression of ACE, has been implicated in predisposition to myocardial infarction and ventricular remodeling. Methods. I/D genotyping, predischarge adenosine–thallium-201 perfusion tomography and radionuclide angiography were performed in 113 patients (72 men, 41 women) with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. A subgroup of 96 patients also underwent coronary angiography. Results. Genotypes DD, ID and II were present in 27, 56 and 30 patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics of patients, total creatine kinase, peak MB fraction, Killip class, mean ejection fraction or the number of diseased vessels in patients with the DD, ID or II genotype. However, the size of the total and the reversible perfusion defects was greater in those with DD than in those with ID or II genotype (total defect size [mean ± SD] 33.7 ± 22.5%, 29.5 ± 19.2% and 22.2 ± 16.0%, respectively [p = 0.022]; reversible defect size 18.0 ± 16.0%, 12.1 ± 11.6% and 8.2 ± 7.8%, respectively [p = 0.006]). Occlusion of the infarct-related artery was also more common in patients with DD genotype (odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 11.0). Multivariate analysis showed that the I/D genotype was an independent predictor of perfusion defect size and patency of the infarct-related artery (p = 0.001). Conclusions. DD genotype was associated with a larger ischemic defect and occlusion of the infarct-related artery. Patients with DD genotype, having a larger ischemic defect, are expected to be at a greater risk for subsequent cardiovascular events. (J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;29:1468–73)
Toward a Just and Sustainable Economic Order

The present global system aims at economic integration for the sake of maximizing “growth” as measured by the gross national product (GNP). This leads to sustained efforts to destroy all national barriers to trade and to make all people interdependent. The results are widespread injustice and unsustainable pressures on the environment. The Brundtland Commission's proposal of “sustainable development,” which involves expanding the entire economy five- to tenfold, will not work. Increasing the GNP does not correspond well with improving economic welfare, much less with social well-being. Realizing this noncorrespondence may make it possible to develop an economic order that is geared to meeting the needs of people rather than increasing production. Such an economy would be decentralized and organized from the bottom up.
Immunophenotypic features of uterine stromal cells. CD34 expression in endocervical stroma

CD34 is a myeloid progenitor cell antigen present in endothelial cells and some other mesenchymal cells, including perivascular and periadnexal dermal fibroblasts. It was evaluated immunohistochemically in uterine stromal tissue and in 4 aggressive angiomyxomas and 6 endometrial stromal sarcomas with potentially related and similar stromal tissues. The stromal cells in normal endocervix and endocervical polyps were strongly CD34 positive irrespective of the cycle phase, and negative for muscle actins. Ectocervical stroma was variably but generally less CD34 reactive. In the endometrium, the CD34 reactivity was limited to the stromal cells of the basal endometrium and was found only in 4 of 20 from proliferative endometria and 1 of 8 from secretory endometria. The uterine cervical and myometrial smooth muscle tissues showed CD34 positive cells only between the muscle bundles and around the vessels. In pelvic aggressive angiomyxomas and endometrial stromal sarcomas the tumour cells were CD34 negative and only the vascular endothelial cells were positive. Endothelial cell-specific antigen, CD31, was identified only in endothelial cells and was not present in the endocervical stroma. These results illustrate the particular immunohistochemical profile of endocervical stromal tissue, namely the strong CD34 expression. The CD34 reactivity of the endocervical tissues should be noted and not confused with neoplasms known to be strongly CD34 positive, such as angiosarcomas, Kaposi's sarcomas and some other spindle cell sarcomas.
Comment on the leptonic decay mode of the τ-lepton

Abstract The energy spectrum of the e-μ events from τ-decay is analyzed in an attempt to rule out the possibility that the ντ is spin- 3 2 independent of the observation of the pionic decay mode. While spin- 3 2 cannot be completely ruled out in this way, it is only viable for a fairly narrow range of values of a Michel parameter.
Evaluation of aortic stenosis by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound.

Twenty-four patients with suspected aortic stenosis (Group I) were evaluated noninvasively by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound before undergoing cardiac catheterization. Twenty normal subjects served as the control group (Group II). Maximal velocity measurements in the ascending aorta ranged from 3.0 to 5.8 m/s (mean 4.34 ± 0.65) in Group I versus 1.0 to 1.6 m/s (mean 1.28 ± 0.16) in Group II (p The results correlated well with the peak aortic valve gradient obtained at cardiac catheterization (r = 0.79). In 20 of these 24 patients, the peak Doppler gradient was within 25% of the gradient found at cardiac catheterization. In three patients, the Doppler study underestimated the gradient by slightly more than 25% but still detected the presence of significant aortic stenosis. The Doppler technique failed to detect critical aortic stenosis in only one patient. Significant overestimation of the gradient by Doppler measurement did not occur in any patient. The technique was particularly helpful in older patients in whom other noninvasive tests often yield inconclusive results. An important but infrequent limitation of the technique is underestimation of the gradient that occurs when the angle of incidence between the ultrasound beam and aortic blood flow is too large. The findings indicate that continuous wave Doppler ultrasound provides a reliable estimate of the valvular gradient in most patients with aortic stenosis.
Pregnancy with Essential Thrombocythemia: A Case Report

Summary Objective We describe a woman with essential thrombocythemia (ET) who experienced a successful pregnancy with no specific treatment. Case Report A 30-year-old primiparous female was incidentally found to have ET with no specific symptoms at a gestational age (GA) of 8 weeks. Initially, her platelet count was 1,100 × 10 9 /L, which declined to a median of 678 × 10 9 /L (range, 663–753 × 10 9 /L) during the second and third trimesters, without treatment. A healthy male baby weighing 3,330 g was born by cesarean delivery due to breech presentation at a GA of 38 weeks. The pre-delivery platelet count was 605 × 10 9 /L. No bleeding or major thromboembolic complications were encountered in the peripartum period. The maternal platelet count returned to 1,230 × 10 9 /L and 1,320 × 10 9 /L, respectively, at 2 months and 3 years after delivery. The child had normal physical and mental development at 2 years and 9 months old. Conclusion Management of ET during pregnancy is still controversial. Platelet count, either at diagnosis or at conception, fails to predict the pregnancy outcome. The treatment plan should be based on clinical judgment that weighs the risk of thrombohemorrhagic complications against related morbidity and side effects.
Hispanic Ethnicity and Unintentional Injury Mortality in the Elderly

Background Unintentional injury is a leading cause of preventable mortality in elderly populations and is most often related to accidental falls and motor vehicle accidents. Hispanic ethnicity has been previously associated with decreased risk of accidental fall death as well as improved outcomes in other health states, the “Hispanic paradox.” A timely analysis of national data with consideration for multiple injury types and age could provide insight into this epidemiologic phenomenon and help guide the use of prevention efforts. Materials and Methods Search of the Center for Disease Control's WISQARS database was performed to identify the number of fatalities in the U.S. between 2003 and 2006 by age group, gender, Hispanic ethnicity, and injury type. Total U.S. population and group populations for the years examined were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey for each year. Mortality was calculated as fatalities over the total group population for the years examined. Results Independent of gender and age group, elderly Hispanics were at decreased risk of death from accidental fall or as an occupant in a motor vehicle accident, but increased risk of pedestrian fatality compared with white-NH. Conclusions The reduced fall and occupant mortality seen in elderly Hispanic populations may come at the cost of increased pedestrian-related mortality. This is consistent with and likely reflects differences in culture, socioeconomic status, and geographic distribution for the U.S. Hispanic population. Effective targeting of injury prevention programs, especially community based, should consider the role of Hispanic ethnicity and its impact on lifestyle.
Risks and benefits associated with novel phase 1 oncology trial designs

BACKGROUND. Although aggressive dose escalation strategies were designed to improve the risk-benefit profile of phase 1 oncology trials, they have not been adequately studied. The prevalence of several novel trial designs and their association with a variety of clinical endpoints was evaluated. METHODS. A review of the literature was performed to identify phase 1 oncology studies of cytotoxic agents published from 2002 through 2004. RESULTS. Of 955 phase 1 oncology articles initially identified, 149 studies, comprising 4532 patients, were analyzed. Only 34% of studies utilized aggressive dose escalation schemes, 22% permitted intrapatient dose escalation, and only 28% enrolled fewer than 3 patients to any dose level. Studies that allowed intrapatient dose escalation or used fewer than 3 patients per dose were not associated with different rates of response or toxicity, nor did they increase the number of patients who received the recommended phase 2 dose. However, aggressive dose escalations were associated with increased rates of both hematologic (17% vs 10%) and nonhematologic (17% vs 13%) toxicity with similar response rates. Only studies that used conservative dose escalation designs and those that studied U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agents required fewer patients to complete a trial. Trials of FDA-approved agents were also associated with higher response rates than trials of non-FDA-approved agents (10% vs 2%), without an increased risk of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS. Several novel aggressive design strategies intended to improve the risk-benefit profile of phase 1 oncology trials are not associated with improved clinical outcome, and may be harmful in certain instances. Cancer 2007. Published 2007 American Cancer Society.
A multiple scale modeling system for coastal hurricane wind damage mitigation

Hurricane wind damage constitutes the largest percentage of catastrophic insured losses in the US. Yet the complicated wind structures and their changes are not fully understood and, thus, have not been considered in current risk catastrophic models. To obtain realistic landfall hurricane surface winds, a large eddy simulation (LES) framework in a weather forecasting mode has been developed from a multiple nested Weather Research & Forecasting (WRF) model to explicitly simulate a spectrum of scales from large-scale background flow, hurricane vortex, mesoscale organizations, down to fine-scale turbulent eddies in a unified system. The unique WRF-LES enables the high resolution data to be generated in a realistic environment as a hurricane evolves. In this paper, a simulation of the landfalling Hurricane Katrina is presented to demonstrate various features of the WRF-LES. It shows that the localized damaging winds are caused by the large eddy circulations generated in the hurricane boundary layer. With a sufficient computational power, WRF-LES has the potential to be developed into the next generation operational public wind-field model for hurricane wind damage mitigation.
Laparoscopic-assisted colon resection

The popularity and success of laparoscopic biliary tract surgery have persuaded surgeons to explore other applications for rigid endoscopic surgery. From July 1990 to February 1993 a total of 65 patients (mean age 57 years; range 41-82) underwent attempted laparoscopic colon resection. Indications for surgical intervention included cancer (39), adenomatous polyps (14), diverticulosis (10), stricture (1), and foreign-body perforation (1). A laparoscopic-assisted technique whereby the specimen was removed and the anastomosis was completed outside of the abdomen was used in all patients. A dilated umbilical opening was used for right-sided lesions and a left-lower-quadrant muscle-splitting incision for descending and sigmoid colon resections. Two patients required conversion to open laparotomy. There were no deaths and only four complications (pneumonia 1, urinary tract infection 1, prolonged ileus 1, and subfascial abscess 1). The mean postoperative stay was 4.4 days (range 3-8 days) and the average interval for return to normal activity was 8 days. Laparoscopic-assisted colon resection appears to be a safe and beneficial option for many patients with pathologic disorders of the large intestine. Future clinical trials are needed to fully determine the appropriateness of this procedure in patients with localized malignancies.
Binding of double-stranded DNA by Escherichia coli RecA protein monitored by a fluorescent dye displacement assay

We have developed a new assay to characterize the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) binding properties of RecA protein. This assay is based on measurement of changes in the fluorescence of a 44,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)‐dsDNA complex upon RecA protein binding. The binding of RecA protein to a complex of DAPI and dsDNA results in displacement of the bound DAPI, producing a decrease in the observed fluorescence. DAPI displacement is dependent on both RecA protein and ATP; dATP and, to a lesser extent, UTP and dCTP also support the DAPI displacement reaction, but dGTP, GTP, dITP and TTP do not. Binding stoichiometry for the RecA protein‐ dsDNA complex measured by DAPI displacement is 3 bp per RecA protein monomer in the presence of ATP. These results, taken together with data for mutant RecA proteins, suggest that this DAPI displacement assay monitors formation of the high affinity DNA binding state of RecA protein. Since this state of RecA protein defines the form of the nucleoprotein filament that is active in DNA strand exchange, these findings raise the possibility that the RecA protein‐dsDNA filament may possess a homologous pairing capacity.
Plasmodium Infection and Endotoxic Shock Induce the Expansion of Regulatory Dendritic Cells

During an acute Plasmodium infection, uncontrolled proinflammatory responses can cause morbidity and mortality. Regulation of this response is required to prevent immunopathology. We therefore decided to investigate a recently characterized subset of regulatory dendritic cells (DCs) that expresses low levels of CD11c and high levels of CD45RB. During a Plasmodium yoelii infection, these regulatory CD11clowCD45RBhigh DCs become the prevalent CD11c-expressing cells in the spleen, overtaking the conventional CD11chigh DCs. Furthermore, the regulatory CD11clowCD45RBhigh DCs induce IL-10-expressing CD4 T cells. A similar change in splenic DC subsets is seen when mice are injected with sublethal doses of LPS, suggesting that shifting the splenic DC subsets in favor of regulatory CD11clowCD45RBhigh DCs can be triggered solely by a high inflammatory stimulus. This is the first time regulatory DCs have been observed in a natural immune response to an infectious disease or endotoxic shock.
TASSEL: software for association mapping of complex traits in diverse samples

Summary: Association analyses that exploit the natural diversity of a genome to map at very high resolutions are becoming increasingly important. In most studies, however, researchers must contend with the confounding effects of both population and family structure. TASSEL (Trait Analysis by aSSociation, Evolution and Linkage) implements general linear model and mixed linear model approaches for controlling population and family structure. For result interpretation, the program allows for linkage disequilibrium statistics to be calculated and visualized graphically. Database browsing and data importation is facilitated by integrated middleware. Other features include analyzing insertions/deletions, calculating diversity statistics, integration of phenotypic and genotypic data, imputing missing data and calculating principal components. Availability: The TASSEL executable, user manual, example data sets and tutorial document are freely available at http://www. maizegenetics.net/tassel. The source code for TASSEL can be found at http://sourceforge.net/projects/tassel.
Experiences Teaching Physical Synthesis of FPGAs and ASICs

Interconnect delays dominate gate delays in integrated circuits fabricated using 180-nm feature sizes or below. Hence, no longer can designers separate the logic synthesis function from physical placement and routing but instead must perform physical synthesis to achieve timing closure with a minimum of design cycle iterations. Experiences teaching students to design competitive FPGAs and ASICs using physical synthesis are described in this paper.
Efficacy of portable filtration units in reducing aerosolized particles in the size range of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Objective:To evaluate engineering control measures to prevent nosocomial transmission of diseases such as tuberculosis, we studied four portable high-efficiency air filtration units, including three high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration units, for their ability to remove aerosolized particles.Design:Studies were conducted in either a non-ventilated aerosol chamber or in a hospital isolation room that met CDC guidelines for TB control (negative pressure, ≧6 air changes per hour, air exhausted directly to the outside). The rooms were challenged with aerosolized mineral oil in the size range of 0.3 to 5.0 μm at levels 10 to 20 times the normal airborne particle load in the room at baseline. Airborne particles were counted with a laser counter capable of simultaneously measuring sizes ≧ = 0.3, ≧ 0.5, ≧ 1.0, and ≧ 5.0 μm. Experimental runs were conducted with the filtration units in the center or comer of the chamber or room, and the particle counter in the center of the room or at the exhaust vent.Results:Portable filtration units were effective in accelerating the removal of aerosolized submicron particles. In the nonventilated room, time required by the various portable filtration units for removal of 90% of aerosolized particles (≧ 0.3 μm) ranged from a low of 5 to 6 minutes to a high of 18 to 31 minutes, compared to the control (no filtration unit), >171 minutes. In the hospital room, individual filtration units removed 90% of aerosolized particles ( ≧ 0.3 μm) in times ranging from 5 to 8 minutes to 9 to 12 minutes, compared to the control (no filtration unit), 12 to 16 minutes. The location of the portable filtration unit (center versus comer) did not affect the clearance rate of airborne particles.Conclusion:Our data indicate that portable filtration units can rapidly reduce levels of airborne particles similar in size to infectious droplet nuclei and, therefore, may aid in reducing the risk of tuberculosis exposure.
The higher time derivatives of the generalized liapunov function

Using the generalized N-body expression for a Liapunov functional developed by Prigogine and coworkers, a condition is obtained whereby the successive time derivatives of this function alternate in sign for weakly coupled systems. This generalized Liapunov function contains contributions from the diagonal as well as off-diagonal (correlation) components of the density matrix. The alternating sign condition is applied (and seen to hold true) for the cases of elastic phonon scattering in a lattice, three-phonon scattering (the anharmonic lattice), and the quantum electron gas. It is also proved simply for the Friedrichs model.
Effects of transport memory and nonlinear damping in a generalized Fisher's equation

Memory effects in transport require, for their incorporation into reaction-diffusion investigations, a generalization of traditional equations. The well-known Fisher's equation, which combines diffusion with a logistic nonlinearity, is generalized to include memory effects, and traveling wave solutions of the equation are found. Comparison is made with alternative generalization procedures.
Alternative tourism–timber dependencies and the development of forested rural regions

Abstract Tourism and wood processing (timber) present two primary business activities in rural forested regions and the manner in which they are combined, in part, determines the economic and socio-demographic vibrancy of the local community. In this paper, we focus attention on unique regional economic characteristics of a subset of rural counties in the northeastern United States that are both forested and variously dependent on wood products and tourism. Results suggest that dependence on joint forest resource outputs is clearly associated with unique attributes of regional socioeconomic structure.
Linguistic Masking Devices and Intergroup Behavior: Further Evidence of an Intergroup Linguistic Bias

This research extends growing work on the interplay between language and social cognition by examining the use of linguistic masking devices in an intergroup context. The authors conducted three studies to explore the use offour lower-level masking devices identified as influential in creating differing versions of reality. In Study 1, African American and Caucasian students read one news brief involving an encounter between Caucasian police officers and African American males and then were asked to generate headlines describing the event. These headlines were content analyzed according to permutation, truncation, generalization, and nominalization. Results were inconclusive, and a follow-up study (Study 2) examined the differential use of these masking devices in headlines written by Caucasian police officers and African American respondents. A final study was conducted (Study 3) to rule out the possibility that the differential use of linguistic masking devices was due to factors other than intergroup bias.
Psychological Distress in Family Members Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

This article describes the psychological distress experienced by family members living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Survey data were collected from 133 individuals, (47 parents, 53 siblings, 33 adult family members who have HIV/AIDS) representing 80 families. In-depth interview and observational data were collected from a subset of the sample. The physical and psychological health of individual family members was assessed by the 53-item Brief Symptom Inventory. Parents, siblings, and people living with AIDS (PWAs) reported higher levels of overall distress and scored higher on symptom dimensions and clinically discrete symptoms than normative comparison groups. Implications of these findings for research, clinical practice, and health and social service policy are identified and discussed.
Effects of pomegranate extract on blood flow and running time to exhaustion.

Recent research has shown that dietary nitrate has favorable effects on blood flow and exercise performance. The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was to ...