cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Land Tenure System and Class in Southern Italy

THE prevailing influence of idealistic thought is partially responsible for the scarce attention given by historians in Italy to problems of economic and social development in the south. Disregarded by the historians, these problems have been analyzed mainly by politicians and economists, and they frequently become more an object of political controversy than a subject of methodical research. Those acquainted with Italian political literature know how widely some general and very ambiguous slogans are used regarding the south and the evolution of its agriculture. It is common to hear of the Risorgimento as a "missed" agrarian revolution, of the feudalistic character of the new land tenure system, of immobility as the dominant feature of economic and social life. To this sterile controversy a new stimulus was brought, after the Second World War, by a group of young Marxist historians. Their work, undoubtedly important and stimulating in many aspects, has been so involved in the schemes of a forced Marxist interpretation of history as to make nonsense of what otherwise could have been an important revival and a new approach in the field of historical studies.1 An outsider to the field, I nevertheless have the impression that a critical point has finally been reached. Abstract controversy has run its course, and the way is open to scientific research. The progress of similar studies in other countries points more and more in this direction. I hope, therefore, that in a few years the theme of this paper will no longer be discussed by a precarious, inductive method, as here, but by the comparison, interpretation, and measurement of facts and documents. One of the first jobs of the historians should consist in finding and presenting an integrated interpretation of the numerous existing documents,2
Complementary local and extended views of bonding in the ThCr2Si2 and CaAl2Si2 structures

Abstract Local and extended constructions of the bonding in transition metal AB 2 X 2 compounds of ThCr 2 Si 2 and CaAl 2 Si 2 types are contrasted. From the local perspective, in the “inverted” XB 4 tetrahedral coordination observed in the CaAl 2 Si 2 structure, the greater topological flexibility of the transition metal ( B ) d orbitals allow for better adjustment to the strain. Thus the difference between the strength of the 1-fold and the 3-fold B - X bonds is small compared to the main group analogs. From the extended structure point of view, the metal sublattice in the CaAl 2 Si 2 structure is less “dispersive” than in the ThCr 2 Si 2 alternative. Hence, the metals interact better with the ligand sublattice at low (∼ d 0 ) and high (∼ d 10 ) electron counts. This may be one of the reasons the CaAl 2 Si 2 structure occurs only for d 0 , d 5 , and d 10 configurations at the transition metal.
Structure of Palytoxin

Palytoxin (1) is an extremely poisonous substance associated with marine coelenterates (zoanthids) of the genus Palythoa(7). Its intravenous lethality (LD50), which ranges from 0.025 µg/kg in the rabbit to 0.45 µg/kg in the mouse (2), is exceeded only by certain proteins and polypeptides (3). The toxicity of Palythoa, was probably noticed for the first time by the Hawaiians who used exudates of a rare, but very toxic species, P. toxica(4), to poison spear tips for warfare. Investigators at the University of Hawaii were led to P. toxicawhen they followed up the lead provided by the entry limu-make-o-Hana(the deadly seaweed of Hana) in the Hawaiian-English Dictionary (5). Japanese researchers, on the other hand, were led to P. tuberculosawhen they traced the dietary origin of a water-soluble toxin that had been found in the digestive tract of some toxic filefish, Alutera scripta(6,7).
Anxiety and Substance Use During Adolescence

ABSTRACT. Background: The primary goal of this study was to examine the relationship between anxiety symptomatology and substance use (alcohol use and drug use) during adolescence, systematically by gender and race/ethnicity. Methods: Self-report surveys were administered to 905 15–17-year-old adolescents (54% girls) in the spring of 2007. Results: Results from multiple group analyses indicated that the relationship between anxiety and substance use differs by gender and race/ethnicity. For Caucasian and African American boys, higher levels of social anxiety and separation anxiety were related to less substance use. In contrast, higher levels of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder were associated with more substance use for African American boys. The pattern was much less striking for girls. For Caucasian girls, higher levels of significant school avoidance were linked to more substance use, and consistent with the results for boys, higher levels of separation anxiety were associated with less...
Progress in developing GeoSTAR: a microwave sounder for GOES-R

The Geostationary Synthetic Thinned Aperture Radiometer (GeoSTAR) is a new concept for a microwave sounder, intended to be deployed on NOAA's next generation of geostationary weather satellites, GOES-R. A ground based prototype has been developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, under NASA Instrument Incubator Program sponsorship, and is currently undergoing tests and performance characterization. The initial space version of GeoSTAR will have performance characteristics equal to those of the AMSU system currently operating on polar orbiting environmental satellites, but subsequent versions will significantly outperform AMSU. In addition to all-weather temperature and humidity soundings, GeoSTAR will also provide continuous rain mapping, tropospheric wind profiling and real time storm tracking. In particular, with the aperture synthesis approach used by GeoSTAR it is possible to achieve very high spatial resolutions without having to deploy the impractically large parabolic reflector antenna that is required with the conventional approach. GeoSTAR therefore offers both a feasible way of getting a microwave sounder in GEO as well as a clear upgrade path to meet future requirements. GeoSTAR offers a number of other advantages relative to real-aperture systems as well, such as 2D spatial coverage without mechanical scanning, system robustness and fault tolerance, operational flexibility, high quality beam formation, and open ended performance expandability. The technology and system design required for GeoSTAR are rapidly maturing, and it is expected that a space demonstration mission can be developed before the first GOES-R launch. GeoSTAR will be ready for operational deployment 2-3 years after that.
Parallel methods for solving equations

Abstract Two classes of algorithms for equation solving are presented and analyzed. These algorithms have been devised in recent years because of the computational facility of the multiprocessor. The first class consists of parallel search methods while the second class consists of asynchronous methods. The first class of methods are fail safe. That is they always provide an approximation to the root as well as the smallest possible interval (for the work done) guaranteed to contain the root. The second class frees the intrinsically interlocked nature of the more complicated forms of algorithms designed for multiprocessors by omitting the synchrony usually demanded in computation.
Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government

A study of political and social issues posed by the rise of CIDs (common interest housing developments) in the US. The work explores the consequences of CIDs on government and argues that private, residential government has serious implications for civil liberties.
Thidiazuron: a potent cytokinin for woody plant tissue culture

Thidizuron (TDZ) is among the most active cytokinin-like substances for woody plant tissue culture. It facilitates efficient micropropagation of many recalcitrant woody species. Low concentrations (<1 µM) can induce greater axillary proliferation than many other cytokinins; however, TDZ may inhibit shoot elongation. In some cases it is necessary to transfer shoots to an elongation medium containing a lower level of TDZ and/or a less active cytokinin. At concentrations higher than 1 µM, TDZ can stimulate the formation of callus, adventitious shoots or somatic embryos. Subsequent rooting of microshoots may be unaffected or slightly inhibited by prior exposure to TDZ. The main undesirable side effect of TDZ is that cultures of some species occasionally form fasciated shoots. The high cytokinin activity and positive response of woody species to TDZ have established it as among the most active cytokinins forin vitro manipulation of many woody species.
Correlation between fission neutrons and the calculation of stochastics descriptors application to the 252Cf ratio method

Abstract Stochastics descriptors are calculated using the method of the equivalent source of correlated noise. The results are then applied to analyze the 252 Cf ratio method to measure subcriticalities from the point of view of the total specification of the source of noise in phase space (r, v). After using several hypotheses it is shown that this ratio method is sensitive to the specification of the equivalent source of noise, so available experimental data are used to choose the best hypothesis. It was found that the source of noise has to include explicitly the correlations between two fission neutrons coming from the same fission which is an experimental fact overlooked until now in the applications of the stochastic theory of neutron transport.
Regeneration and growth of quantitatively transplanted mammary glands of normal female mice

One hundred twenty-two of 225 accurately located and measured mammary segments were transplanted successfully into the isologous female mice, and intact or castrated male host mice treated with estrogen and progesterone pellets. Five of 42 segments that had ligatures placed to determine the orientation of the segment were also recovered. Fewer grafts were recovered from intact male hosts than from castrated male or intact female hosts. The lengths of transplants ranged from less than 0.2 mm to 3.0 mm. Transplants that were 0.6 mm long grew most frequently. Transplants obtained from different portions of any one mammary gland or from any mammary glands were recovered at comparable rates. The fourth mammary gland-free fat pads, the pararenal fat pads, the mesometrial fat layers and subcutaneous areas were used as transplantation sites. The ultimate size of the regenerated transplants was determined by the amount of adipose tissue in the transplantation site and the hormonal environment, but not by the original size of the transplant. Mammary transplants obtained from all portions of ducts, even from quiescent glands of a 734-day-old mouse, or grafts which had been ligated with silk or hair, showed equal capability of regeneration. All successful transplants responded to either endogenous or exogenous hormones in a manner comparable to the hosts' own mammary glands, and lactated at parturition.
Improved imaging of soft materials with modified AFM tips

Herein, we report a simple method for making silicon nitride tips hydrophobic without significantly changing their shape. Specifically, we show that atomic force microscope (AFM) tips coated with physisorbed multilayers of 1-dodecylamine, when used in air, offer enhanced resolution for both organic and inorganic materials. The reason for this is due to a significant reduction in the capillary effect associated with water condensation between the tip and substrate.
Reduced free‐methionine in methionine‐dependent SV40‐transformed human fibroblasts synthesizing apparently normal amounts of methionine

Many different types of cancer cells have been shown to be methionine-dependent. These cells, unlike normal cells, grow poorly or not at all when methionine is replaced by its immediate precursor homocysteine in the growth medium (Met- Hcy+ medium). We have previously shown that apparently normal total amounts of methionine are synthesized by methionine-dependent SV40-transformed human fibroblasts. However, methionine-dependent cells in Met- Hcy+ medium accumulate reduced amounts of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) and elevated amounts of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) that together probably limit growth. In this report, we demonstrate that the amount of free methionine is low in methionine-dependent SV40-transformed human fibroblasts in Met- Hcy+ medium compared to normal human diploid fibroblasts. In contrast, in Met+ Hcy- medium, the amount of free methionine is comparable in both cell types. The deficient pool of free methionine in methionine-dependent cells in Met- Hcy+ medium allows only low amounts of AdoMet to be formed. However, large amounts of the biosynthesized methionine are channeled into protein synthesis. Possible mechanisms are discussed to explain this cancer-associated metabolic defect.
The fungal microcosm of the internodes of Spartina alterniflora

The internodal area of growing cord grass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel) is a microcosm colonized by the mycelium and heretofore unreported hyphopodial appendages of the fungus Sphaerulina pedicellata. As the plant matures and this area senesces during the late summer and fall, sexual stages of this and other fungi develop. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that this biomass supports bacterial growth and is grazed by nematodes and mites.
Reconsidering the “Acculturation Gap” Narrative Through an Analysis of Parent–Adolescent Acculturation Differences in Mexican American Families

Using a sample of 193 Mexican American adolescents (M age at Wave 1 = 14) and three waves of data over two years, this study longitudinally examined the effects of parent-youth acculturation differences, relative to no differences, on parent-adolescent relationship quality and youth problem behavior. We examined parent-youth differences in overall acculturation, Mexican acculturation, and American acculturation. We differentiated between cases in which the adolescent was more acculturated than the parent and cases in which the parent was more acculturated than the adolescent. Adolescents were more commonly similar to their parents than different. Where differences existed, adolescents were not uniformly more American than their parents, no type of difference was associated with parent-adolescent relationship quality, and no type of difference in overall acculturation was associated with youth problem behavior. One type of difference by dimension (adolescent had less Mexican acculturation than mother) was associated with less risk of problem behavior.
The budding region as source of diffusible inhibitors of head and foot regeneration inHydra viridis

An implication of Crick's (1970, 1971) “source-sink” model of diffusion gradients is that the addition of sources along the length of a gradient would cause it to bulge away from linearity in the direction of the source. The activity of the budding region ofHydra viridis as a source of the diffusible inhibitors of head and of foot regeneration is investigated in this light, by placing multiple series of budding regions along the length of the inhibitory gradients of head and of foot regeneration previously described (Shostak, 1972, 1973). Samples of 30–50 animals were used to determine the frequencies of head and of foot regeneration at each graft border formed by grafting 2 to 5 gastric-plus budding regions in tandem, the distal one having a terminal apical head, and the proximal one part of a host animal having terminal basal peduncle and foot. These frequencies were compared to the corresponding frequencies at appropriate distances along the lengths of the inhibitory gradients, as computed from the linear equations for these gradients based on earlier work. The curves for the regeneration of heads and feet for animals with three or fewer additional budding regions deviate in the direction of greater inhibition, but do not differ significantly from the gradients on animals having only grafted gastric regions. The curves for animals with four additional budding regions, however, bulge out toward greater inhibition, and differ with statistical significance from the linear inhibitory gradients at the fourth graft border. The results show, therefore, that the budding region is a source of both the inhibitors of head and of foot regeneration also produced by the head and foot, respectively. The suggestion arises that the diffusible inhibitors produced by the morphogenetically active regions ofHydra have no effect on the normal homeostatic processes and budding occurring in these regions, but normally prevent regeneration that might otherwise occur during cellular turnover.
The determination of americium in Plutonium Alloy fuels for fast reactors

Summary For the determination of americium in fast-reactor plutonium fuels, a method is required which is quantitative and which gives a product free of either alpha or gamma contaminants, since either alpha or gamma counting may be used for the detection of Am241. In the present method, americium, plutonium, and the rare-earth fission products are precipitated as hydroxides from an HCl solution of the fuel sample, after the addition of lanthanum as a carrier. Ceric sulfate is added to the acidified hydroxide precipitate to oxidize plutonium to the hexavalent state. The hexavalent plutonium remains in solution when americium and the rare-earth fluorides are precipitated. After the fluoride precipitate is dissolved in HNO3 and H3BO3, a second hydroxide precipitation is performed to remove fluoride. This precipitate is dissolved in a small quantity of HNO3 and transferred to an ion-exchange column packed with Dowex 50-X4, 200- to 400-mesh resin. Americium and the rare-earth elements are eluted with 5 % NH4NO3 saturated with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid at a pH of 2.3. The americium is eluted after the yttrium and just prior to the elution of the europium fractions. In fresh samples (less than 2 days old), the americium may be contaminated with Eu156, but it is free of all other rare-earth elements, permitting alpha counting in a sample with low beta activity. Recovery of americium is better than 98 %, with less than 2 % plutonium alpha activity and with a gamma decontamination factor of 2 × 104. If the sample has aged sufficiently to allow the short-half-lived rare-earth elements to disappear, the americium may be determined by counting the gamma activity.
La función estética de la rima consecutiva en el Libro de Buen Amor

Dans le «Libro de Buen Amor» de Juan Ruiz, on trouve 18 cas de rime consecutive, c'est-a-dire des passages ou deux strophes ou plus qui se suivent ont la meme rime. En etudiant ce phenomene, l'A. apporte sa contribution a la connaissance des principes poetiques des poetes des 13 e et 14 e siecles chez qui le changement (mouvement) et la repetition (pause) etaient utilises pour obtenir les effets esthetiques prises a cette epoque
Method For Measuring Modulation Transfer Function Of Charge-Coupled Devices Using Laser Speckle

A new method has been developed to measure the modulation transfer function (MTF) of an array out to the Nyquist frequency without high quality optical or mechanical components, without precision alignment, and with only one moving part. Test results for an infrared staring array of PtSi Schottky barrier construction show that this technique is a viable MTF measurement approach in the 3 to 5 µm spectral region.
Demographics of and diagnoses in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom personnel who were psychiatrically evacuated from the theater of operations

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to characterize the demographic and clinical information of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) military personnel who were psychiatrically evacuated from the theater of operations. Method Records of 1264 consecutive OEF/OIF patients who were medically evacuated for primarily psychiatric reasons between November 4, 2001, and July 30, 2004, were reviewed to collect demographic information and psychiatric diagnoses. Results When compared with all returned OEF/OIF veterans (N=213,150), psychiatric evacuees were more likely to be: female, under the age of 31 years, African-American or Hispanic, enlisted and National Guard/Reserve. Over 80% of patients were evacuated during the first 6 months, compared with 17% during the second 6 months of deployment. The most common diagnostic categories were adjustment disorders (37.6%), mood disorders (22.1%), personality disorders (15.7%) and anxiety disorders (15.4%); 16.5% received no psychiatric diagnosis. Only 5% of evacuees were returned to OEF/OIF duty. Conclusion Almost half of evacuated patients received no diagnosis or no adjustment disorder diagnosis, suggesting clinical improvement since a decision for evacuation was made. Potential areas of focus for preventing psychiatric evacuations are identifying service members who are at risk during early stages of deployment and studying whether there are gender-specific deployment stressors.
Current Status of Hemofiltration

Hemofiltration is reviewed from the standpoint of the technical and clinical state of the art. It is a new technique and, at present, commercially available equipment is limited. Clinical experience suggests that hemofiltration results in easier attainment of salt and water balance and that control of hypertension is improved. The nomenclature used to describe convective solute and water removal alone and in conjunction with dialysis is outlined.
Bladder polyp and heavy proteinuria in a patient with Hodgkin's disease in remission

A 21-year-old man who developed heavy proteinuria 8 years after remission of Hodgkin's disease treated with MOPP chemotherapy and radiation therapy is reported. Evidence of Hodgkin's disease could not be documented, and minimal changes were revealed by renal biopsy. Proteinuria persisted for 20 months and was followed by dysuria and the discovery of an inflammatory polyp of the bladder. The proteinuria decreased 1 month after excision of the polyp, and disappeared during the following year. Rather than indicating relapse of lymphoma, proteinuria in this patient resulted from a lesion not previously associated with Hodgkin's disease, but possibly resulting from long-term effects of therapy.
Citrus limonin and its glucoside inhibit colon adenocarcinoma cell proliferation through apoptosis.

The current study was an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of human colon cancer cell proliferation inhibition by limonin and limonin glucoside (LG) isolated from seeds of Citrus reticulata. The structures of purified compounds were confirmed by NMR and quantified using HPLC. These compounds of more than 95% purity were subjected to proliferation inhibition assay using human colon adenocarcinoma (SW480) cells. The IC50 value of 54.74 and 37.39 μM was observed for limonin and LG, respectively at 72 h. Following confirmation of proliferation inhibition, pattern of DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 of the cells treated with limonoids suggest involvement of apoptosis. Furthermore, reduction in the transcription ratio of bcl2/bax and induction of cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol with treatment of limonoids confirm the activation of intrinsic apoptosis pathway. The activity of Bax and Bcl2 was confirmed through analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular calcium ...
The Behavior of the 4930A Absorption Band of Uranine Solutions Under High Pressure

The object of this investigation was to test experimentally the assumption of electromagnetic dispersion theory that the natural period of vibration of the resonators of a medium remains constant with variations in pressure. Two dilute aqueous solutions of uranine of slightly different concentrations were studied in the high pressure spectrometer. Refractive indices for the three principal lines of the mercury arc, and for the wave-length corresponding to the absorption band maximum (4390A) were determined for pressures ranging up to 915 kg per cm2 in one solution, and up to 1823 kg per cm2 in the other. It was found that the absorption band retained its position relative to the rest of the spectrum formed by the liquid prism under various pressures. It is concluded that the natural frequency of vibration of the resonators is affected to no measurable extent by the pressure or density of a medium.
Resources For and About Lesbian and Gay Youth: An Annotated Survey

Within the past few years, responsible educators, librarians, parents, counselors, social workers, therapists, and religious groups of all sexual persuasions and lifestyles have recognized the need for readily available reading material for lesbian and gay youth. Unfortunately, this material is often buried, because it is embedded in larger works. To meet this need, I have compiled and annotated 100 of the best works for young homosexuals, bisexuals, and heterosexuals. I have also included a few of the best works currently available on heterosexuality as a much needed source of knowledge for all young adults whether they are gay or straight, whether they remain childless or eventually become parents.
The Hierarchical Influence of Visitor Characteristics on Tourism Destination Images

Abstract Empirical studies have analyzed the destination image formation of potential tourists. This study examined visitor characteristics in order to predict destination images of on-site visitors. Factors influencing destination images and visitor characteristics were selected based on information from existing empirical studies. The method of this study used to search for the best subset of predictors by calculating all possible regression equations. Using the hierarchical solution, variables were entered into regression on the basis of predetermined logical scheme. According to the results, it was possible to determine post-visit images of a destination by classifying into three destination images. Age, frequency of visitation, information use, and familiarity were statistically significant variables in predicting tourism destination images. Advanced study is needed to improve destination images of the most significant predictor, information use.
Bounds for the fundamental solution of degenerate parabolic equations

(1988). Bounds for the fundamental solution of degenerate parabolic equations. Communications in Partial Differential Equations: Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 635-649.
Monospermy and polyspermy after partial zona dissection of reinseminated human oocytes

Partial zona dissection (PZD), a zona drilling method that uses mechanical force to open the zona pellucida while the oocyte is shrunken in a sucrose solution, was applied to 121 unfertilized 1-day-old mature human oocytes prior to reinsemination. The 115 surviving oocytes were divided into three groups in which the duration between sucrose addition and reinsemination was varied: I) Less than 20 minutes, II) 21 to 45 minutes, and III) longer than 45 minutes. There was a trend toward a reduced fertilization and polyspermy rate as the time between sucrose exposure and insemination in sucrose-free medium increased. Moreover, there was a statistically significant reduction in the number of oocytes penetrated by more than four sperm in group III (0/41) versus group I (7/34), and in group III, parthenogenetic development was observed. The incidence of polyspermy was also increased in oocytes manipulated more than 25 hours after retrieval compared with those manipulated 21-24 hours after recovery, supporting the idea that aged oocytes have a reduced ability to block polyspermy. Oocyte contraction in sucrose occurred in three different patterns: spherical, pear-shaped, and crenated. Both the fertilization and polyspermy rates were significantly higher in the crenated group. These results indicate that changes resembling activation occur following sucrose exposure and that sucrose activation can be used to reduce the risk of polyspermic fertilization in zona drilling procedures. In addition, the pattern of shrinkage in sucrose can be used as an indicator of oocyte receptivity to sperm penetration.
Ab initio nuclear structure – the large sparse matrix eigenvalue problem

The structure and reactions of light nuclei represent fundamental and formidable challenges for microscopic theory based on realistic strong interaction potentials. Several ab initio methods have now emerged that provide nearly exact solutions for some nuclear properties. The ab initio no core shell model (NCSM) and the no core full configuration (NCFC) method, frame this quantum many-particle problem as a large sparse matrix eigenvalue problem where one evaluates the Hamiltonian matrix in a basis space consisting of many-fermion Slater determinants and then solves for a set of the lowest eigenvalues and their associated eigenvectors. The resulting eigenvectors are employed to evaluate a set of experimental quantities to test the underlying potential. For fundamental problems of interest, the matrix dimension often exceeds 1010 and the number of nonzero matrix elements may saturate available storage on present-day leadership class facilities. We survey recent results and advances in solving this large sparse matrix eigenvalue problem. We also outline the challenges that lie ahead for achieving further breakthroughs in fundamental nuclear theory using these ab initio approaches.
Genitourinary symptoms in urban China: A population based study.

Analysis of the first population-based sexual health survey in China found a prevalence of self-reported genitourinary (GU) symptoms among 2999 urban respondents for men and women as follows: burning (12.5% and 15.7%), discharge (2.6% and 20.1%), ulcer (1.3% and 3.6%) and warts (1.2% and 2.0%). Risk factors among men were unprotected commercial sex, short-term and other secondary partners, and living elsewhere than a coastal area or a major city. Among women, risk factors were her main partner's having other concurrent partners or socializing often, and her absence of condom use with her main partner, prior forced sex, low education and living elsewhere than a coastal area or a major city. These findings were consistent with many GU symptoms being concentrated in paths that led from commercial sex workers or short-term partners to husband/steady partner to wife/steady partner. The results also reveal factors other than sexual behaviour as predictors for GU symptoms.
THE ISOPROSTANES: UNIQUE PROSTAGLANDIN-LIKE PRODUCTS OF FREE-RADICAL-INITIATED LIPID PEROXIDATION*

The discovery of IsoPs as products of nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation has opened up new areas of investigation regarding the role of free radicals in human physiology and pathophysiology. The quantification of IsoPs as markers of oxidative stress status appears to be an important advance in our ability to explore the role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of human disease. An important need in the field of free-radical medicine is information regarding the clinical pharmacology of antioxidant agents. Because of the evidence implicating free radicals in the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases, large clinical trials are planned or underway to assess whether antioxidants can either prevent the development or ameliorate the pathology of certain human disorders. However, data regarding the most effective doses and combination of antioxidant agents to use in these clinical trials is lacking. As mentioned previously, administration of antioxidants suppresses the formation of IsoPs, even in normal individuals. Thus, measurement of IsoPs may provide a valuable approach to define the clinical pharmacology of antioxidants. In addition to being markers of oxidative stress, several IsoPs possess potent biological activity. The availability of additional IsoPs in synthetic form should broaden our knowledge concerning the role of these molecules as mediators of oxidant stress. Despite the fact that considerable information has been obtained since the initial report of the discovery of IsoPs [6], much remains to be understood about these molecules. With continued research in this area, we believe that much new information will emerge that will open up additional important new areas for future investigation.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of single-balloon enteroscopy–assisted ERCP in patients with surgically altered GI anatomy

Background Surgically altered pancreaticobiliary anatomy increases the difficulty of performing ERCP. Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is a relatively new technique that can be used for ERCP in patients with surgically altered anatomy. Objective To evaluate the therapeutic and diagnostic success of SBE-ERCP among patients with surgically altered anatomy. Design/Setting Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving SBE-ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, hepaticojejunostomy, or Whipple procedure. Enteroscopy success was defined as success in reaching the papilla and/or biliary anastomosis by using SBE. Diagnostic success was defined as obtaining a cholangiogram. Procedural success was defined as the ability to provide successful intervention, if appropriate. A random-effects model was used. Results A total of 461 patients underwent SBE-ERCP from 15 trials. The pooled enteroscopy, diagnostic, and procedural success rates were 80.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.3%-86.4%), 69.4% (95% CI, 61.0%-77.9%), and 61.7% (95% CI, 52.9%-70.5%), respectively. There was statistical large heterogeneity for enteroscopy, diagnostic, and therapeutic success ( P Limitations Our findings and interpretations are limited by the quantity and heterogeneity of the studies included in the analysis. Conclusion SBE-ERCP has high diagnostic and procedural success rates in this challenging patient population. It should be considered a first-line intervention when biliary access is required after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, hepaticojejunostomy, or Whipple procedure.
Estimating Systematic Risk With Long‐Term Growth Forecasts and Analyst Following

According to the capital asset pricing model, a stock’s required rate of return is determined by systematic risk, otherwise known as beta. Usually betas are estimated using historic data. It is shown here that future betas have a stronger relationship to analysts’ long‐term growth forecast than to historic betas.
Drop-size measurement techniques for sprays: comparison of Malvern laser-diffraction and Aerometrics phase/Doppler

The purpose of this paper is to compare the drop sizing results of an Aerometrics phase/Doppler particle analyzer with those of a Malvern laser-diffraction instrument. Measurements were performed on a small pressure-swirl atomizer. Since the laser-diffraction instrument measures a line-of-sight average through different regions of the spray while the phase/Doppler instrument characterizes the spray in a small volume, a conversion procedure was necessary prior to comparison. After conversion to equivalent forms, the point-measured average drop sizes exhibited similar trends throughout the spray, but the phase/Doppler values were generally larger. The total volume flow rate measured by the phase/Doppler instrument was inconsistent at different axial locations but significantly larger than the actual value at most locations.
Small bowel imaging-- a rapidly changing field and a challenge to radiology.

There was a time when the small bowel follow-through (SBFT) was the primary method of diagnosing diseases of the small intestine. Enteroclysis was reinvented in the 70's and with the SBFT remained the dominant methods of investigating the mesenteric small intestine to the late 90's. Since the introduction of the first commercial computed tomography (CT) scanner in 1973, the ability of monoslice CT to diagnose different causes of intestinal obstruction and inflammatory bowel diseases emerged. The introduction of helical CT technology in 1989 and subsequently multichannel CT further changed small bowel imaging. Faster asquisition of a large volume of data with thinner collimation allowed multiplanar reformatting a distinct advantage in evaluating an organ which is longer than wide. The introduction of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with its increased soft tissue contrast, lack of ionizing radiation, and the ability to acquire ultrafast sequences has made MR imaging an important tool in small bowel imaging (1).
Abstract 466: Does body weight influence tumor-infiltrating B cells in murine pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background: We have developed a murine model of pancreatic cancer in congenitally obese (LepOb and LepDb) mice where tumors grow larger, metastasize, and decrease survival. Obese mice also had altered splenic T and B cells as well as downregulation of B cell and immunoglobulin genes and reduced numbers of B cells in the tumors. The question remained, however, whether alterations in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were a reflection of body weight or leptin metabolism. Therefore, we designed an experiment to determine whether diet-induced weight gain would alter systemic and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Methods: Thirty lean C57 female mice were fed either a control 10% fat (n=10) or a 60% fat diet (n=20) starting at 6 weeks of age. At 11 weeks, all mice were inoculated with 2.5x105 PAN02 murine pancreatic cancer cells. After 6 weeks tumors that developed in 18 mice, the spleen (n=12), and the sera were harvested. Mice were categorized as Lean or Overweight if they weighed less or more than the mean final weight of the 60% fat animals (23.1g). Tumors in Lean (n=10) and Overweight (n=8) mice were sectioned and stained for B and T cells. Two observers blinded to animal weight graded cell density on a scale of 0-4 in 10 high-powered fields. Flow cytometry was performed on the spleen from Lean and Overweight mice for B, T, activated T and B (ACT), natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages (MACRO). Serum leptin was measured. ANOVA and Student's t-test were applied. Results: Tumors were larger (1.33 vs. 0.54g, p=0.03) and leptin levels were higher (3.1 vs. 1.4ng/ml, p=0.05) in Overweight mice. Mean tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) scores and spleen lymphocyte data are presented in the table. Conclusion: The data suggest that 1) both B and T cells are present in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment and 2) TIL and splenic lymphocyte populations do not differ between lean and overweight mice. We conclude that obesity, as opposed to overweight, is required to alter systemic and tumor microenvironment lymphocyte populations. View this table: Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 466.
Individual differences in the scope of speech planning: evidence from eye-movements*

Previous research has demonstrated that the scope of speakers’ planning in language production varies in response to external forces such as time pressure. This susceptibility to external pressures indicates a flexibly incremental production system: speakers plan utterances piece by piece, but external pressures affect the size of the pieces speakers buffer. In the current study, we explore internal constraints on speech planning. Specifically, we examine whether individual differences in working memory predict the scope and efficiency of advance planning. In our task, speakers described picture arrays to partners in a matching game. The arrays sometimes required speakers to note a contrast between a sentence-initial object (e.g., a four-legged cat) and a sentence-final object (e.g., a three-legged cat). Based on prior screening, we selected participants who differed on verbal working memory span. Eye-movement measures revealed that high-span speakers were more likely to gaze at the contrasting pictures prior to articulation than were low-span speakers. As a result, high-span speakers were also more likely to reference the contrast early in speech. We conclude that working memory plays a substantial role in the flexibility of incremental speech planning.
Diagnosis of axisymmetric cracks in orthotropic cylindrical shells by vibration measurement

Abstract The influence of a circumferential crack upon the vibration characteristics of a thin laminated anisotropic cylindrical shell is investigated. The local compliance matrix due to the presence of a crack in an anisotropic medium is formulated as a function of the crack length and anisotropic material properties. It is revealed that the introduction of a crack results in lower natural frequencies because of the added flexibility and this variation is enhanced in an anisotropic medium. This phenomenon, together with the couplings of the rotational displacements in bending and those due to longitudinal extension and transverse shear, provide a reasonable tool to diagnose the crack. The simplified solution for the case of symmetrical vibrations demonstrates the extent and limitations of the modal frequency technique to estimate the position and depth of the crack on the composite shell.
Induction of Interleukin-8 Messenger RNA in Heart and Skeletal Muscle During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Background Interleukin-8 (IL-8), the major neutrophil chemoattractant factor, contributes to inflammatory tissue injury by activating neutrophils and promoting their migration into tissue. IL-8 levels increase in serum of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The purpose of this study was to determine if IL-8 gene expression is activated in tissues subjected to CPB with or without hypothermic arrest. Methods and Results IL-8 transcript levels were measured by ribonuclease protection in samples of human atrium and skeletal muscle from children before and after CPB for repair of congenital heart defects. Results were quantified by PhosphorImager. Atrial IL-8 mRNA levels increased during CPB in 14 of 16 patients tested (median increase, 2.9-fold; P =.0029). In skeletal muscle, IL-8 mRNA increased in 11 of 12 patients (median, 12-fold; P =.012). Degree of IL-8 induction in atrium and muscle was not directly associated with total support time or cross-clamp time. Transcript increase in skeletal muscle occurred with or without a period of circulatory arrest, suggesting that the stimulus of CPB alone was sufficient to induce message production. Baseline values for IL-8 mRNA varied widely among patients in atrium and skeletal muscle. In situ hybridization analysis revealed diffuse increase in IL-8 mRNA throughout the tissue after CPB, with striking increase in some small veins. Conclusions We conclude that production of IL-8 mRNA occurs in most patients during CPB in both myocardium and skeletal muscle. This may result in high local IL-8 concentrations, contributing to the tissue injury after CPB.
Production of biologically active Bacillus anthracis edema factor in Escherichia coli.

Anthrax is caused by the Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The anthrax toxin consists of three proteins, protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). PA facilitates the translocation of LF and EF into the cytosol of mammalian cells. LF is thought to be a zinc-dependent metalloprotease that results in death. EF is a calmodulin- and calcium-dependent adenylate cyclase that causes edema upon entrance into the cytosol by elevating the cAMP levels in cells. Previous efforts to produce recombinant EF (rEF) in Escherichia coli yielded only 2.5 mg of rEF per liter of culture. In this work, we produced soluble rEF in large quantities in both the periplasm and cytoplasm of E. coli from shake flasks and fermentors. The rEF protein was purified by standard chromatography and yielded >97% pure, biologically active rEF. Yields of purified rEF from medium cell density fermentations resulted in up to 2.38 g/L of highly pure, biologically active rEF protein. These results exhibit the ability to generate gram quantities of active rEF from E. coli.
Carbon Monoxide Balance in Nature

Consideration of the steady-state equations for stable carbon monoxide and for radioactive carbon monoxide in the troposphere leads to the conclusion that carbon monoxide is produced at a rate of 5x10(15) grams per year, a value some 25 times greater than the rate of carbon monoxide production from combustion. The concomitant residence time for carbon monoxide is 0.1 year, in agreement with a previous estimate of Weinstock. Hydroxyl radicals are shown to account for both the production of this large amount of carbon monoxide by methane oxidation and for its removal by carbon monoxide oxidation. The average concentration of hydroxyl radicals in the troposphere required to achieve this effect is 2.3x10(6) molecules per cubic centimeter, with a daytime concentration of twice that. Levy and McConnell, McElroy, and Wofsy have deduced concentrations of hydroxyl radicals in the troposphere of the same magnitude from purely photochemical considerations, in support of this model.
Medical and social factors associated with cognitive outcome in individuals with myelomeningocele

The interrelationship between biological and social risk factors and cognitive outcome in individuals with myelomeningocele was examined. The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) was administered to 65 children and young adults, age range 4 to 29 during a recent clinic visit. Unshunted individuals had scores in the average range and individuals with uncomplicated hydrocephalus in the low-average range. Although the level of lesion was found to be most strongly associated with total K-BIT score, examination of subscores indicated that socioeconomic status was the factor most strongly associated with Vocabulary score. The importance of both social and biological factors in predicting cognitive outcome in this population is useful in planning intervention strategies.
The Stimulus in Information Processing

It is argued that the nature of the stimulus must be understood before we can ask meaningful questions about human information processing since it is the stimulus that determines the nature of the information to be processed. As one example, it is shown that redundant stimulus dimensions provide an improvement in information processing only if the dimensions combine to produce in effect a new dimension; and such dimensions are termed integral. And as a second example, inadequate performance may occur because stimuli are process-limited in that inadequate differentiation of stimuli occurs, or they may be state-limited in that inadequate energy is available for the stimulus to be represented in the organism.
The exterior sphere condition for the Ventcel-Freidlin quasi-potential function

This paper is essentially an addendum to a previous paper [3] on the regularity properties of the Ventcel-Freidlin quasipotential function. We give here a proof of our conjecture regarding an exterior sphere condition for level sets.
Density gradient analysis of secretions produced in vitro by human and canine airway mucosa: identification of lipids and proteoglycans in such secretions.

Human and canine airway mucosal explants synthesize and secrete high molecular weight glycoconjugates, incorporating 14C-glucosamine, a radioactive precursor to epithelial glycoprotein. Our examination of secretions produced by several individual specimens, however, did not reveal epithelial glycoprotein of typical buoyant density (1.5 g/ml in CsBr); only a high-density component with features of glycoprotein and proteoglycan. To provide sufficient material for characterization, secretions from several specimens of human and canine explants were separately pooled and subjected to DGU in CsBr. After removal of lipids and proteins, the glycoconjugates were recovered into five fractions of different density. 14C-glucosamine had been incorporated in all five fractions. Fractions 1–4 together accounted for 88% of the radiolabel but gas chromatography indicated that none of these contained epithelial glycoprotein. Their amino acid compositions were similar to those of proteoglycans and electrophoresis confirmed...