cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of social and legal factors on sentence dispositions: A preliminary analysis of offender-based transaction statistics

Abstract This study utilizes offender-based transaction statistics (OBTS) to examine sentence outcome in twelve California counties for a three-year period, 1969–1971. Included are a description of the transactional data base and an analysis of the sentencing process as an example of the many possible uses to which these data may be put. The age, race, sex, and previous criminal histories of felony defendants are considered with regard to sentence outcome and the length of both jail and probation commitments. Analysis encompasses dispositions occurring at both the lower (municipal) and superior court levels. The utility of examining sentence practices at different court levels and employing alternative indicators of severity is given support while the advantages to be gained by compiling criminal justice data on a transactional format is empirically demonstrated.
Results of intracecal inoculation of germfree and conventional guinea pigs and germfree rats with axenically cultivated Entamoeba histolytica.

SYNOPSIS. Germfree and conventional guinea pigs and germfree rats were inoculated with large numbers of axenically cultivated Entamoeba histolytica. Amebic lesions were not found in any of the animals, and there was no indication that the ameba had established lumen infections in any instance. The axenic amebae appeared to have lost their pathogenicity. This loss was believed to depend, in part at least, upon the fact that they did not encyst and thus did not complete their life cycle in axenic culture.
Age and significance of ‘outboard’ high-grade metamorphics and intrusives of the Ross orogen, Antarctica

Abstract We present new U–Pb zircon and 40 Ar– 39 Ar hornblende isotopic data for gneisses and undeformed intrusions from three important and widely separated localities from the northern–eastern ‘outboard’ edge of the Ross orogen in the Queen Maud and Horlick mountains, Antarctica. U–Pb zircon analyses of gneisses that have long represented possible candidates for Precambrian cratonic crust have yielded latest Late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic ages. One paragneiss from the Fallone Nunataks, near Scott Glacier yields a 546 + 10.6/− 18.9 Ma age for its youngest zircon population, indicating a maximum latest Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic (Ross orogeny) age for deformation and fabric development. Two orthogneisses from the Bravo Hills near Shackleton Glacier yield igneous protolith crystallization ages of 535 + 8.5/− 8.9 Ma and 517 + 6.9/− 6.5 Ma, and one orthogneiss from Woodall Peak near Ramsey Glacier yields a protolith crystallization age of 503.8 + 6.9/− 6.5 Ma. Intrusion of the orthogneiss protoliths therefore occurred concomitant with other pretectonic (deformed) subduction-related magmatic rocks associated with the early Paleozoic Queen Maud batholith. The younger limit for deformation of the paragneiss and orthogneiss protoliths is constrained by U–Pb crystallization ages of post-tectonic (undeformed) intrusions of the batholith that intrude the gneisses. These intrusions yield U–Pb crystallization ages of 503.5 + 6.2/− 6.5 Ma (post-tectonic, Woodall Peak), 498.4 + 8.8/− 7.6 Ma (post-tectonic, Bravo Hills), and 484.7 ± 8.4 Ma (syntectonic to post-tectonic, Fallone Nunataks). The younger limit for deformation is further constrained in the Bravo Hills by 40 Ar– 39 Ar hornblende analyses that yield a metamorphic cooling age of 502 ± 7 Ma for an orthogneiss. On a regional scale, magmatism commenced by ~ 535 Ma within the Queen Maud batholith. Deformation locally extended into the Late Cambrian to Ordovician, with several areas transitioning to post tectonic magmatism and orogenic cooling by the late Middle Cambrian to Early Ordovician possibly concomitant with phases of slab roll back along the Gondwana margin.
Religion, Consumerism and Sustainability: Paradise Lost?

Religion, Consumerism and Sustainability: Paradise Lost? is a compendium of essays that explore the intersections between consumer culture and religious and spiritual practices and beliefs. The ess...
Evolution of material intelligence and survival strategies based on matter, energy, and geometry

An analysis of the evolution of intelligence and survival strategy of certain materials is presented in this paper. Materials have been further classified in this paper based on their smartness or intelligence. The criteria used in the analysis involve matter, energy, information, and geometry. Also, a novel perspective on the meaning of intelligence is proposed. Thus, a system is considered to be intelligent if it normally possesses a survival strategy with regards to its state of being. Essentially, new definitions for information and hierarchical structures have been added to the classical matter-energy dualism. The influence of geometry has proved to be very important in the evolution and properties of matter. Based on the characteristics of the living systems a correlation between living and non-living systems has been established. It has also been demonstrated that the geometrical shape of a material structure is determined by its survival strategy. Furthermore, hierarchical structures of intelligent materials have been analyzed from geometrical point of view. This has led to the conclusion that geometry represents a complementary factor in the intelligence of materials.
Calcium-isotope effects in mechanical spectra of cancellous bone.

An additional analysis of dynamic mechanical data previously reported for human cancellous bone is presented. This analysis indicates that preferential arrangements of the small numbers of Ca44 atoms (∼2%) within apatite structures of bone minerals may occur and have a disproportionate influence on the macroscopic response of bone to mechanical vibrations. Similar preferential or localised arrangements of particular atomic isotopes might have physiological as well as mechanical consequences in bone and other biomaterials.
Perceptions of Personnel System Constraints in Public, Private, and Hybrid Organizations

Public and private managers' perceptions of flexibility of personnel procedures, authority over personnel actions, and approval times for basic personnel tasks are compared. A phone survey of 78 top managers of Syracuse, New York area organizations followed by 210 responses from middle and upper managers to a mail survey constitutes the data source. Differences were studied using two approaches of organizational characterization: a category scheme dividing organizations into core public, hybrid, and core private groupings based on the nature of the primary product or service produced and Bozeman's (1987) publicness model. Results, in part, indicate private managers perceive more flexible personnel proce dures, greater authority over personnel actions, and shorter approval times for hiring and dis missing employees compared to public managers.
The price of virtue

: Aristotle famously held that there is a crucial difference between the person who merely acts rightly and the person who is wholehearted in what she does. He captures this contrast by insisting on a distinction between continence and full virtue. One way of accounting for the important difference here is to suppose that, for the genuinely virtuous person, the requirements of virtue “silence” competing reasons for action. I argue that the silencing interpretation is not compelling. As Aristotle rightly saw, virtue can have a cost, and a mark of the wise person is that she recognizes it.
General models for resource use or other compositional count data using the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution

Many ecological studies investigate how organisms use resources, such as habitats or foods, in relation to availability or other variables. Related statistical problems include analysis of proportions of species or genotypes in a community or population. These require statistical modeling of compositional count data: data on relative proportions of each category collected as counts. Common methods for analyzing compositional count data lack one or more important considerations. Some methods lack explicit accommodation of count data, dealing instead with proportions. Others do not handle between-sample heterogeneity for overdispersed data. Yet others do not allow general types of relationships between explanatory variables and resource use. All three components have been combined in a Bayesian framework, but for frequentist hypothesis tests and AIC model selection, maximum-likelihood estimation is needed. Here we propose the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution to accommodate overdispersed compositional count data. This approach can be used flexibly in combination with explanatory models, but the only correlations among compositional proportions that it can accommodate are the negative correlations due to the fact that proportions must sum to 1. Many existing models can be generalized to use the Dirichlet-multinomial distribution for residual variation, and the flexibility of the approach allows new hypotheses that have often not been considered in resource preference analysis, including that availability has no relation to use. We also highlight a new design for resource use studies, with multiple individual-use data sets from each of multiple sites, with different explanatory data for each site. We illustrate the approach with three examples. For two previously published habitat use data sets, we support the original conclusions and show that use is not unrelated to availability. For a data set of pollen collected by multiple bees from each of two sites, pollen use differs between the sites. Using bootstrap goodness-of-fit tests, we illustrate that the Dirichlet-multinomial is acceptable for two of the examples but unsuitable for one of the habitat use examples.
Foreign body of the heart.

For doctors practicing for 20 to 30 years, the chance of avoiding a malpractice suit is equivalent to a tadpole growing wings and becoming a monarch. For 29 years, I kept up with my changing specia...
Geochemical heterogeneity of a gasoline-contaminated aquifer

Abstract The scale of biogeochemical reactions was studied in a physically and chemically heterogeneous surficial Coastal Plain aquifer contaminated by a gasoline spill. The physical heterogeneity of the aquifer is manifested in two hydrologic units, a shallow local aquifer of perched water and a regional sandy aquifer. Over the studied vertical interval of 21.3 ft (6.5 m), concentrations of reactive species varied by orders of magnitude, and the impact of biodegradation was expressed to widely varying degrees. A thin (3 ft thick) section of the perched-water zone was the most contaminated; total aromatic hydrocarbons were as high as 19.4 mg/l. Hydrocarbons were degraded by microbially mediated reactions that varied over short vertical distances and time. Anaerobic processes dominated within the low-permeability clay unit, whereas in the more permeable sandy layers nitrate reduction and aerobic degradation occurred. Hydrocarbons were more persistent over time in the low-permeability layer due to the limited availability of electron acceptors for degradation. The microbial degradation of hydrocarbons was linked to sulfate and iron reduction in the clay unit and led to alterations in the aquifer solids; electron microscopy revealed the presence of FeS minerals encrusting primary aquifer grains. High concentrations of Fe 2+ in groundwater, up to 34.5 mg/l, persist in kinetic disequilibrium in the presence of elevated H 2 S levels of 1.0 mg/l. Assessment of aquifer heterogeneities and groundwater contamination was possible due to sample discrimination at a scale of approximately 2 ft (∼0.6 m), a much finer resolution than is attempted in many remedial investigations of polluted aquifers. The information obtained in this type of study is essential to the development of models capable of estimating the fate of hydrocarbons at a site scale.
Quantitative structure-activity relationships of beta-adrenergic agents. Application of the computer automated structure evaluation (CASE) technique of molecular fragment recognition.

A quantitative structure-activity analysis of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta -adrenergic receptor agonists and antagonists in the frog erythrocyte membrane was made. On the basis of molecular structural fragment descriptors, automatically generated by the CASE methodology, catecholamine derivatives were correctly classified as agonists or antagonists. The potency of these agents in each category, as well as their binding-affinity for the beta receptor was correlated through a multivariate regression analysis.
Barrier interaction time in tunneling

Over sixty years ago, it was suggested that there is a time associated with the passage of a particle under a tunneling barrier. The existence of such a time is now well accepted; in fact the time has been measured experimentally. There is no clear consensus, however, about the existence of a simple expression for this time, and the exact nature of that expression. The proposed expressions fall into three main classes. The authors argue that expressions based on following a feature of a wave packet through the barrier have little physical significance. A second class tries to identify a set of classical paths associated with the quantum-mechanical motion and then tries to average over these. This class is too diverse to permit assessment as a single entity. The third class invokes a physical clock involving degrees of freedom in addition to that involved in tunneling. This not only is a prescription for the derivation of expressions for the traversal time but also leads to a direct relationship to experiment.
An examination of the shrinking-core model of sub-micron aluminum combustion

We revisit the shrinking-core model of sub-micron aluminum combustion with particular attention to the mass flux balance at the reaction front which necessarily leads to a displacement velocity of the alumina shell surrounding the liquid aluminum. For the planar problem this displacement simply leads to an equal displacement of the entire alumina layer, and therefore a straightforward mathematical framework can be constructed. In this way we are able to construct a single curve which defines the burn time for arbitrary values of the diffusion coefficient of O atoms, the reaction rate, the characteristic length of the combustion field, and the O atom mass concentration within the alumina provided that it is much smaller than the aluminum density. This demonstrates a transition between a ‘d 2–t’ law for fast chemistry and a ‘d–t’ law for slow chemistry. For the spherical geometry, the one of physical interest, the outward displacement velocity creates not a simple displacement, but a stress field which, wh...
Risk stratification in gastroschisis: can prenatal evaluation or early postnatal factors predict outcome?

Purpose The prenatal or postnatal factors that predict complex gastroschisis in patients (atresia, volvulus, necrotic bowel and bowel perforation) remain controversial. We evaluated the prognostic value of prenatal ultrasonographic parameters and early postnatal factors in predicting clinical outcomes.
Use of semipermeable membrane devices for in situ monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic environments

Abstract A method is given for the recovery, cleanup, and analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that have been sequestered in SPMDs (semipermeable membrane devices). SPMDs are polymeric membranes enclosing lipids, and mimic the bioconcentration process of aquatic animals. SPMDs are used as passive, in situ monitors of contamination by organic pollutants of aquatic environments. The method reported here includes dialytic recovery of the PAHs, cleanup of the dialysates using size exclusion, adsorption, and argentation chromatographic modules in tandem, then analysis by gas chromatography with photoionization or mass spectrometric detection. The method is demonstrated to overcome the presence of a variety of environmental co-contaminants and other potential interferents in the dialysates. A field application is also demonstrated in which SPMDs are used to monitor PAH contamination in an urban creek. Approaches to the use of SPMD data to calculate aqueous concentrations of PAHs are discussed. The use of SPMDs in combination with the complementary, PAH-specific cleanup procedure provides a unique approach to the analysis of PAH residues in the aquatic environment.
Structure of germanium-selenium glasses : an x-ray-absorption fine-structure study

X-ray-absorption fine-structure (XAFS) data in the binary chalcogenide glass system Ge{sub {ital x}}Se{sub 100{minus}{ital x}} system are presented and discussed. Phase-corrected Fourier transforms in a curved-wave XAFS simulation formalism are employed in analysis of the data, and near-edge structures are compared for the various compositions studied. Analysis of the XAFS data confirms the presence of chemical ordering. Least-squares-fitting results show that short-range order in the first shell is well preserved throughout the composition range studied. The coordination numbers for germanium and selenium (4 and 2, respectively) are unchanged for the composition 20{le}{ital x}{le}40. For {ital x}{le}33, there exist stable tetrahedral Ge(Se{sub 1/2}){sub 4} units that are connected by either double or single selenium atoms. For {ital x}{gt}33, Ge-Ge bonds appear, and the structure becomes more disordered compared to that of glassy GeSe{sub 2}.
Overview: Conference on Early Cervical Neoplasia

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York, New York 10029 It is not clear to me that I am qualified to present the highlights of this interesting and important meeting, for as I listened to the discussion, it appeared to me that in some areas, I was underqualified and conversely in other areas, it would appear that I was overqualified. I stopped studying carcinoma of the cervix seriously 25 years ago because I came to the belief that the Pap smear would enable us to prevent death from this disease. I was almost right, but I was somewhat naive about the advancement of the behavioral sciences. In any case, we have not succeeded entirely, for we have not convinced a good segment of our population of the importance of periodic examination, nor have we succeeded nationwide in reaching the rural poor and the inner city high-risk patient. I believe this failure of total outreach to be a greater problem than that of frequency of screening. As in the case of cigarette smoking, we have not convinced the public of the virtue of our views about their health. The Chairman of the opening session offered some optimism in his suggestion that the newer technologies, including recombinant DNA methodology and hybridoma, would quicken the pace of the discovery of etiologic factors. Thereafter, we were warned by the next speaker against the unidimensional approach, considering the problems of tests for mutagenesis, tissue culture transformation, species specificity, and other genetic variation. The triad of host-agent-environment was invoked. We were cautioned against the interpretation of uncontrolled clinical studies, though some, such as those for cigarette smoking and lung cancer or analine dye and bladder cancer, pointed in the proper direction. In the case of cancer of the cervix the epidemiologic studies of coital factors led inexorably to herpes virus as the agent of choice, he stated. Following this introduction the next speaker stressed the importance of viral DNA in carcinogenesis with both Herpes Simplex virus and Papilloma virus related to genital diseases. The herpes virus was noted to be more complex with approximately 80 genes and known to be capable of causing chromosomal breaks, which incidentally, interferon could inhibit. The speaker informed us that Herpes Simplex virus II lodges in sacral root ganglia, S2-S4, and can be cyclically reactivated approximately four times yearly. It is known that this virus can transform cells in culture, and that these cells can cause tumors in animals.
The universality of warmth and competence: A response to brands as intentional agents

Abstract Considerable effort has been devoted towards the understanding of the ways in which people interact with brands. However, little attention has been paid to the personal differences that may impact these interactions. The framework for brands as intentional agents by Kervyn, Fiske, and Malone (this issue) is the groundbreaking application of almost three decades of research on warmth and competence as predictors of interpersonal stereotypes to the realm of brands. Our paper argues that demographic differences impact interactions with brands and offer additional explanatory power to the framework. Findings support conclusions of Kervyn et al., but they also suggest the importance of age, education, and income on warmth and competence evaluations.
Pilot study evaluating use of lymphotrophic nanoparticle-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for assessing lymph nodes in renal cell cancer.

Objective To assess lymphotrophic nanoparticle-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (LNMRI) in identifying malignant nodal involvement in patients with renal neoplasms. Methods MRI was performed in 9 patients with renal masses. All patients were imaged on a GE 1.5T system with phased array body coil. Protocols included T2 and T2* weighted imaging before and after administration of ferumoxtran-10 (Combidex) for the evaluation of lymph node (LN) involvement. All 9 patients underwent nephrectomy. Lymph node dissection (LND) was performed in patients with stage 2 renal cell cancer (RCC), or transitional cell cancer (TCC), per routine clinical practice. Data analysis was performed by 2 radiologists, who were blinded to pathologic results. Nodes that lacked contrast uptake were deemed malignant, and those with homogeneous uptake were deemed benign. Quantitative, retrospective analysis was performed on primary tumors by quantifying T2* with a monoexponential fitting algorithm (Osirix). T2* was quantified before, immediately after, and 24 hours after the administration of ferumoxtran-10. Results MRI demonstrated 26 lymph nodes within the 9 patients imaged (24 benign and 2 malignant). Pathologic results allowed comparison in 22 of the 26 lymph nodes and demonstrated high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (95.7%). Conclusions LNMRI demonstrated high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (95.7%) in patients with renal neoplasms. Although in a relatively small sample size, the results are encouraging and warrant a larger, prospective trial.
Cardiovascular risk among adults with chronic kidney disease, with or without prior myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular Risk Among Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease, With or Without Prior Myocardial InfarctionKeattiyoat Wattanakit, Josef Coresh, Paul Muntner, Jane Marsh, Aaron R. FolsomWe categorized...
Spectral analysis and mapping of palagonite tuffs of Pavant Butte, Millard County, Utah

The Pavant Butte tuff cone in Millard County, Utah was erupted into the waters of glacial Lake Bonneville. The basaltic tephras that compose Pavant Butte are in various states of alteration; from nearly pristine to fully palagonitized. Their level of alteration is detectable by visible and near infrared reflectance spectrometry. Unaltered sideromelane has a very low reflectance and is characterized by Fe2+ crystal-field bands near 1 and 2 μm. With hydration the reflectance of the tephra increases; water and hydroxyl absorption bands at 1.4 and 1.9 μm also become prominent. The most highly altered tephras are palagonite tuffs which are characterized by a relatively high reflectance, deep H2O and OH absorptions, and a steep Fe3+ absorption edge in the visible. Such altered basaltic tephras may also be good models for altered soils and dust on Mars, for which remote sensing is the primary source of data. The geologic origin of these near ubiquitous martian surface materials is still undetermined; hydrovolcanism is one possible source. The palagonite tuff deposits at Pavant Butte were remotely observed by two airborne imaging spectrometers, and the data used for compositional mapping. The palagonite tuff was used as an endmember in a linear spectral mixing model analysis. This method was also used to calibrate the remotely sensed data to reflectance. Reflectance spectra from the airborne systems validated the laboratory sample spectra and indicated the presence of both di- and trioctahedral clay minerals within the palagonite tuff.
Endoscopic ultrasound and endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of deep-seated lymphadenopathy: Analysis of 1338 cases.

Background: We retrospectively studied 1338 samples of lymph nodes obtained by endoscopic and endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS and EBUS-FNAB) with an objective of characterizing the utility of this diagnostic modality in the assessment of deep-seated lymphadenopathy. The secondary aims were to establish the utility in the diagnosis of lymphoma and to determine the number of passes required to obtain adequate cellularity for flow cytometric analysis. Materials and Methods: On-site assessment was performed by a cytopathologist using Diff-Quik (American Scientific Products, McGraw Park, IL) stain. In addition, Papanicolaou and immunohistochemical stains were performed and additional samples were sent for flow cytometric analyses (n = 145). The final cytologic diagnosis was correlated with surgical pathology diagnosis and/or clinical follow-up. In select cases, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with specific probes was performed on Diff-Quik smears. Results: Both morphology as well as ancillary studies (flow cytometry or immunohistochemical stain and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization) show that EUS and EBUS-FNA are effective techniques to detect and stage intrathoracic and intra-abdominal tumors. Operating characteristics show that these are highly sensitive (89%) and specific (100%) techniques for the diagnosis of lymphoma. At least two passes provided an average of 5.66 million cells (range, 0.12-62.32 million) for lymphoma cases. Conclusions: EUS and EBUS-FNA are powerful modalities to stage malignancies and at least two passes can provide adequate cells for flow cytometric analysis. We also demonstrate that fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis can be performed on Diff-Quik-stained and mounted smears.
Ion implantation damage recovery in GaN

We present a method of ion implantation doping of GaN, which permits reduced residual damage. The method consists of performing implantation in several steps with annealing between each step. Residual damage was analyzed by RBS/channeling and compared to a traditional implantation and annealing procedure. Better lattice recovery is clearly achieved using the alternating implantation and annealing approach. We attribute the efficient recovery to smaller damage amounts introduced during each implantation step, as well as to suppression of secondary defect formation.
Determination of tritium enrichment parameters of a commercially available PEM electrolyzer: a comparison with conventional enrichment electrolysis

Aqueous tritium enrichment parameters of a commercially available Iridium/Platinum (Ir/Pt) polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) cell were determined after electrolysis of tritium aqueous standards, and compared to those of a conventional Nickel/Iron (Ni/Fe) electrochemical cell. Lower aqueous enrichment is seen in the Ir/Pt PEM electrolyzer in comparison to the conventional Ni/Fe electrolytic cell. This is explained by the values found for the PEM cell fractionation factor β Ir/Pt and electrolytic fractionation factor β eIr/Pt values determined to be 4.7 ± 0.3 (β Ni/Fe = 26), and 6.6 ± 0.7 (β eNi/Fe = 37), respectively. A direct consequence of the Ir/Pt β e value is the richer tritium gas phase produced relative to the conventional cell, which is advantageous for direct reduction of HTO to HT gas.
Parent stress appears to be associated with child expressive language abilities and not affected by a parent-implemented communication intervention.

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Smith, A. L., Romski, M. A., Sevcik, R. A., Adamson, L. B., & Bakeman, R. (2011). Parent stress and its relation to parent perceptions of communication following parent-coached language intervention. Journal of Early Intervention, 33, 135–150. Source of funding and disclosure of interest: This study was supported by a grant from National Institutes of Health, DC-03799; the original authors of this research report no conflicts of interest.
Impairment of peroxisomal beta-oxidation system by endotoxin treatment.

It is now clear that peroxisomes play a crucial role in many cellular processes, including the β-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids. Recently, mammalian peroxisomes have been shown to contain the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, in addition to catalase. The presence of these enzymes in peroxisomes suggests that peroxisomes undergo oxidative stress in normal and disease states. As an indicator of the potential impact of an oxidative stress on peroxisomal functions, we evaluated the effect of endotoxin exposure on the β-oxidation enzyme system in rat liver. Peroxisomes were isolated from liver homogenates by differential and density gradient centrifugations. Endotoxin treatment decreased the β-oxidation of lignoceric acid to 56% of control values (p<0.01). The specific activity of the rate limiting enzyme in the system, acyl-CoA oxidase, was decreased to 73% of control values (p<0.05). Immunoblot analysis revealed a 25% decrease in the 21KD subunit of the acyl-CoA oxidase protein. In contrast, the protein levels of the other enzymes in the pathway, trifunctional protein and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, were increased by 10 and 15%, respectively. These findings suggest that impairment of β-oxidation of lignoceric acid by endotoxin treatment is due primarily to a reduction in the activity and protein level of the key enzyme, acyl-CoA oxidase. Oxidative stresses such as endotoxin exposure may have deleterious effects on important peroxisomal functions, such as β-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids.
Neck propagation in polyethylene

Intrinsic true stress-true strain response was evaluated at room temperature for three linear polyethylene samples deformed in conventional tensile tests. It was observed that high crystallinity is associated with a low rate of strain hardening that results in a sharp neck and a large drop in nominal stress. The maximum and minimum deformation loads are accounted for by Considere's analysis of neck initiation and stabilization, respectively. Following stabilization, neck propagation occurs at a load or nominal stress that is lower than the yield stress. The jump analysis of Ericksen and Hutchinson/Neale predicts steady state neck propagation stresses that are in very good (ca. 10%) agreement with experiment. Although the jump analysis is done in terms of uniaxial stress, the actual value of the propagation stress is established by the triaxial stress state in the neck shoulders.
Continuous, data-rich appraisal of surgical trainees' operative abilities: a novel approach for measuring performance and providing feedback.

Background We developed a convenient mechanism, Surgical Training and Assessment Tool (STAT), to accomplish detailed, continuous analysis of surgical trainees' operative abilities, and a simple method, Quality Based Surgical Training (QBST) for implementing it. Methods Using a web-accessed computer program, attending physicians and trainees independently assessed the trainee's operative performance after every operative (training) case. Global attributes of surgical knowledge, skill, and independence were assessed as well as the key technical maneuvers of each operation. A system of hierarchical, expandable menus specific to each of hundreds of different surgical procedures allowed the assessments to be made as detailed or as general as the users felt were necessary. In addition, freehand, unscripted commentary was recorded via an optional “remarks” box feature. Finally, an independently chosen, “overall” grade scaled F through A+ concluded each assessment. Results Over a 31 month period, 72 different users (52 trainees, 20 attending physicians) submitted 3849 performance assessments on 2424 cases, including 132 different case types and amassing 68,260 distinct data points. The mean number of data points per trainee was 1313; the median time spent per assessment was 60 seconds. Graphic displays allowed formative review of individual cases in real time, and summative review of long term trends. Appraisals of knowledge, skill, and independence were strongly correlated with and independently predictive of the overall competency grade (model r 2 = 0.68; test of predictive significance p 0.7) with one another. Conclusions QBST/STAT achieves detailed, continuous analysis of surgical trainees' operative abilities, and facilitates timely, specific, and thorough feedback regarding their performance in theater. QBST/STAT promotes trainee self-reflection and generation of continuous, transparent, iterative training goals.
Endycytosis and exocytosis: role of microfilaments and involvement of phospholipids in membrane fusion.

A brief description of endocytosis and exocytosis is followed by a discussion of the experimental approaches to the study of the initial events of endocytosis, the possible involvement of microfilaments, and in particular the possible role of membrane lipids in the events of membrane fusion. Recently developed model systems are also discussed.
Treatment decisions regarding hospitalization and surgery for nursing home residents with advanced dementia : the CareAD Study

Background: Dementia differs from other terminal illnesses both in its slow progression and the fact that patients and family members often do not perceive it as a cause of death. Furthermore, because decisional incapacity is almost universal in patients with advanced dementia, decisions must be made by surrogates. However, little is known about the factors that influence how surrogates make decisions for persons with late-stage dementia. Methods: The setting was the first wave of a study of patients with advanced dementia in three Maryland nursing homes (The Care of Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia Study). Of 125 consented participants, 123 residents and their surrogates provided adequate information and agreed to interviews and medical record reviews. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression models were used to explore whether variables related to demographics, illness, communication and surrogate background were associated with surrogate decisions to not provide aggressive treatments (i.e. hospitalization or surgery). Results: Treatment decisions regarding aggressive medical care had been made by 81 % of surrogates over the preceding 6 months. In bivariate analysis the following factors were significantly associated with not providing aggressive care: resident and surrogate of white race, older surrogate age, worse resident medical illness, worse surrogate perception of resident quality of life, presence of a 'do not hospitalize' order (DNH), and more contact with nurses. In the multivariate analysis, resident white race and presence of a DNH were significant predictors of surrogate decisions to not provide aggressive treatments. Treatment decisions were not associated with surrogate relationship or religiosity. Conclusions: Treatment decisions for individuals with advanced dementia are mostly strongly associated with the patient's race and presence ofDNH and less so with changeable features of illness or environment.
Older adults and functional decline: a cross-cultural comparison.

Background: The study was conducted to examine the relationships between functional decline, health risk factors, lifestyle practices, and demographic variables in two culturally diverse, community-based samples of White and Japanese American older adults. Design: The study was an analysis of data from two ongoing studies of aging and dementia in King County, Washington. Functional status at baseline was evaluated, and factors associated with functional decline over a 4-year follow-up period were identified. The sample included 1,083 Japanese American and 1,011 White cognitively intact, community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, who had no functional limitations at baseline and participated in at least one follow-up examination. Results: In 4 years of follow-up, 70% of the subjects reported no increase in functional limitation, and fewer than 5% of subjects declined in five or more activities. Risk factors associated with functional decline included increased age, female gender, medical comorbidity (particularly cerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and hypertension), elevated body mass index, poorer self-perceived health, and smoking. Depression and diabetes were also significant for persons with the greatest functional decline over the 4-year follow-up. Japanese speakers were significantly less likely to decline over the follow-up period than White or English-speaking Japanese American subjects. However, Japanese speakers were more likely to discontinue participation during the follow-up period, and may also have been more likely to underreport symptoms of functional decline. Conclusions: The present study provides further support that healthy lifestyle practices and prevention of chronic disease are important for maintaining functional independence in older adults. Japanese-speaking subjects were less likely to decline over time, although this could be due in part to differential dropout and reporting bias. These findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of longitudinal studies of older adults. Researchers interested in the effects of ethnicity on health and aging should be cognizant of differences in recruitment and enrollment strategies among studies, and the ways in which these affect study findings. This study also demonstrates the importance of devoting adequate resources to minimize dropouts, and of including measures of health and functioning that are culturally equivalent and less reliant on self-report data.
Computed tomography of mural thrombosis in the hypereosinophilic syndrome

The hypereosinophilic syndrome characteristically involves multiple organs. Its most severe debilities are associated with cardiac and central nervous system complications. Endothelial damage can result in intracardiac thrombosis, endocardial fibrosis, and progressive congestive failure. Computerized tomography is of value in making the diagnosis of an intracardiac mass. Simultaneous evaluation of the pericardiac and extracardiac structures may aide in the distinction of a thrombus from a neoplasm.
Risk Tolerance among National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Participants: The Effects of Age and Cognitive Skills

We analyse how age and cognitive skills are related to risk tolerance among respondents to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth between 1993 and 2006. Older individuals display lower risk tolerance than younger individuals, though as the panel ages from their early thirties to their mid-forties, differences in risk tolerance between the oldest and youngest individuals narrow, while panel-average risk tolerance declines. In contrast to other studies, we find that cognitive skill measured during respondents' teenage years is related to risk tolerance in a non-linear fashion, where respondents with the lowest and highest skills reveal the greatest risk tolerance.
Ramp acceleration and hydraulic conductivity (Lp) of living capillaries

Living mesenteric capillaries with either an intact or disrupted glycocalyx were challenged with ramp change in shear stress (Deltatau). Animals (Rana pipiens) were divided randomly into two experimental groups, and two true capillaries (TC) per animal were investigated. The modified Landis technique was combined with intravital microscopy to view individual TC and assess hydraulic conductivity (L(p)), an index of capillary function. Median L(p) was 3.2 x 10(-7) for control and 11.8 x 10(-7) cm s(-1) cm H(2)O(-1) after mild, brief (1 min) pronase treatment (P<0.0001). Analysis by stimulus component showed that L(p) for untreated capillaries was related negatively to ramp acceleration (R(2)=0.46, P<0.0001, n=38) and positively to Deltatau magnitude (R(2)=0.28, P=0.0006, n=38). Disrupting the capillary glycocalyx revealed a positive and previously unknown relationship between ramp acceleration and L(p) (R(2)=0.44, P=0.002, n=19) plus an upward shift (increased intercept) of the magnitude Deltatau-L(p) relationship compared to abrupt stimulation. These data suggest that bloodstream hemodynamics may impact capillary function. Further, an intact glycocalyx may protect capillaries when blood flow changes.
Predicting plane strain fracture toughness of AlLiCuMg alloys

Abstract The microstructural features that determine fracture, toughness, and the mathematical models that relate those features to the plane strain fracture toughness, K IC , for aluminium alloys are described. Particular attention is paid to the new class of AlLiCuMg alloys. Models that relate fracture toughness to strain localization in the matrix and precipitation-free zones (PFZs) are evaluated based on experimental results of 8090 fracture behavior as a function of aging treatment. Good correlation was observed between experimental fracture toughness measurements and values predicted by the models. When verified, these models aid in identifying microstructural features that control fracture toughness and help in developing methods to improve this mechanical property.
Dielectric spectroscopy of thin films by dual-channel impedance measurements on differential interdigitated electrode arrays

We report a new approach to measuring the dielectric behavior of thin films by means of differential interdigitated electrode (IDE) cells coupled with a dual-channel impedance measurement setup. The differential IDE cell consists of two identical IDE’s on a common substrate. With one IDE loaded with sample and the other one empty, the complex permittivities of both capacitors are measured simultaneously by means of a dual-channel impedance measurement setup. The net dielectric response of the material under study is then obtained by the difference of the two permittivities, which corrects for the substrate contribution. The applicability of this approach is examined with bulk glycerol and a 600 nm indomethacin film and is evidenced by the results being consistent with those measured by conventional methods. The main advantages of this new approach include a simplified preparation technique for thin film samples and a straightforward correction for the substrate contribution by subtracting the empty IDE signal obtained at the same temperature and thermal history.
Effect of Nicotinic Acid on Sterol Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

IN 1955, Altschul et al. reported1 that large doses of nicotinic acid, but not of its amide, decreased serum cholesterol-levels in man and rabbit. This finding has been confirmed by many workers2. Despite several investigations of mechanisms, however, the locus of the nicotinic acid effect remains unknown3,4. We wish to report an effect of high concentrations of nicotinic acid on sterol biosynthesis in yeast. This effect may account for the hypocholesteremic action of nicotinic acid.
Civil Aircraft Challenges in Engine/Airframe Integration

The demand for economic and efficient aircraft has focused more attention on the integrated design process. In addition, supersonic flight speeds pose unique design constraints on both propulsion and airframe technologies. This paper addresses some of the key features of engine/airframe integration in both the subsonic and supersonic flight regimes, and addresses both design and test implications.Copyright © 1992 by ASME
Effect of Actinomycin D on Estrogen-Induced Release of Luteinizing Hormone in Ovariectomized Rats

Ovariectomized rats were injected with 0.5 μg/day of estradiol benzoate (EB) for 6 days. On day 7, at 1100 hr, they were given 50 μg EB or oil. They were sacrificed at 1600 hr either on day 7 or 8, and LH levels in the serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. In animals killed on day 7, LH levels of EB and oil treated rats did not differ significantly, but in those killed on day 8, EB treated rats had significantly higher levels of LH than oil treated rats. Injection of 80 μg/100 g bw of actinomycin D (AD) at 0700 hr, 4 hr prior to 50 μg oil or EB, had no detectable effect on LH levels in animals killed on day 7, but blocked the effect of EB on LH levels in animals killed on day 8. When AD was given at 0700 on day 8, it did not alter the effect of EB on LH levels in animals killed 9 hr later. AD had no observable effect on LH levels in the oil treated controls. These results suggest that the induction of LH release by EB may require DNA dependent m-RNA synthesis within 0-20 hr after the injection of EB....
The relative influence of pitch and timbre on the apparent location of sound in the median sagittal plane

Listeners were requested to locate sounds originating in the median sagittal plane (MSP). The stimuli, 75-Msec pulses, were repeated at a rate of 200 times/sec and were filtered to transmit narrow bands centered about 0.63, 1.6, 2.5, or 6.3 kHz. Despite the sameness of pitch generated by all stimuli, Os perceived the 0.63-, 1.6-, and 2.5-kHz-centered sounds as originating low, middle, and high, respectively, in the MSP, regardless of their actual positions. The stimuli centered about 6.3 kHz, on the other hand, were located accurately by most Os. These findings were interpreted to mean that under conditions of inadequate auditory cues, timbre, not pitch, influences perceived elevation. The implication is that timbre also served as the cue for the apparent elevation of those sounds which, due to their high-frequency components, can be located accurately.
Factors influencing growth of individual brown trout in three streams of the upper Midwestern United States

Growth rate variation of three age groups of brown trout, Salmo trutta L. (age-0, 1 and 2, and 3+), was quantified from recaptured, individually tagged brown trout and related to season, stream reach, relative abundance, initial length and movement to examine factors influencing growth in length in three streams in the Midwestern United States. Total variation in growth was almost five times greater for age-0 than for age-3+ trout. Individual trout accounted for about 13% of total variation in age-0 growth, season about 57%, and trout initial length and relative abundance combined another 2%. The 2006 age-0 cohort had the fastest growth rates in their second spring and summer (2007) and slowest growth in their first winter (2006–2007). About 53% of total growth variation of age-1 and age-2 trout was accounted for by individual trout, season, initial length and stream reach. Predicted growth rates indicated strong effects of season and initial length. A significant interaction between these two factors indicated that, although smaller trout grew faster than larger trout, this length effect was most pronounced in spring and summer. About 35% of total growth variation of age-3+ trout was accounted for by individual trout and season. Together, season and individual trout characteristics were identified as the most important factors influencing brown trout growth in these streams.