cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The significance of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in cell growth and carcinogenesis (review)

Cholesterol is widely distributed in the animal kingdom and occurs in all cell membranes. Even though the majority of body cholesterol is synthesized by the liver and secreted as circulating lipoproteins, all cells in the body have genomic information for cholesterol biosynthesis. Cholesterol biosynthesis is under feedback regulation, and the cellular and circulating cholesterol levels are tightly regulated at several points, such as the rate limiting enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase and at the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. The cholesterol content and the rate of cholesterol biosynthesis are elevated in proliferating normal tissues and tumors. Cholesterol biosynthesis happens much before DNA synthesis, and inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis inhibits cell growth, suggesting a linkage between the cholesterol and DNA synthetic pathways. The exact nature of this linkage is not known. However, recent evidence that the farnesyl moiety in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway is necessary for the activation of G-proteins, and of the ras oncoprotein P21 has provided a probable basis for understanding this linkage, through signal transduction pathways. Thus, farnesylation of G proteins and ras oncoprotein P21 underscores the importance of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in cell growth and carcinogenesis. During normal cell growth and differentiation, LDL acts as a negative growth regulator and growth factors as positive signals, the neoplastic cell achieving autocrine growth due to the activation of protooncogens. It is interesting to note that in several types of cancer, the ras gene is mutated; these mutations could increase GTP binding, and lead to an activated p21. The activation of p21 would then be aided by continuous farnesylation due to stimulation of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in tumors. The cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, and ras p21 could therefore be used as targets for chemoprevention of cancer.
Does public insurance coverage for pregnant women affect prenatal health behaviors

Despite plausible mechanisms, little research has evaluated potential changes in health behaviors in response to expansions in public insurance coverage of the 1980s and 1990s targeted at low-income families. In this paper, we provide the first national study of the effects of Medicaid expansions on health behaviors for pregnant women, which is a group of particular interest given evidence of the importance of prenatal health to later life outcomes. In doing so, we also add to the sparse literature on ex ante moral hazard, which is nearly always mentioned as a theoretical consequence of health insurance, though relatively few empirical studies have assessed its importance. We exploit exogenous variation from the Medicaid income eligibility expansions for pregnant women during late-1980s through mid-1990s to examine the effects of these policy changes on smoking, weight gain, and other maternal health indicators. We find that the 13 percentage point increase in Medicaid eligibility during the study period was associated with approximately a 3% increase in smoking and a small increase in pregnancy weight gain for most of the sample. The increase in smoking, which is a significant cause of poor infant health, may partly explain why Medicaid expansions have not been associated with substantial improvement in infant health.
Acaricidal effects of fresh garlic juice on adult ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank)

Abstract Ham mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), are a common pest of dry cured meat products and cause devastating effects on product quality. Methyl bromide, a chemical fumigant used to control mite populations, is no longer be available due to regulatory action. Therefore, it is essential to identify potential alternatives. Garlic (Allium sativum) extracts or chemical components show toxicity to the northern fowl mite, mosquitoes, nematodes, and aphids. Thus, we explored the efficacy of garlic juice in controlling T. putrescentiae. Using a choice test experimental design, approximately 50% of inoculated mites colonized control ham cubes, while no mites remained on cubes dipped in fresh garlic juice. Garlic was ineffective when examined for volatile efficacy, but was toxic in direct contact assays, showing time- and concentration-dependent lethality. Fresh garlic juice at 50–100% strength showed ≥95% mortality in 24 h bioassays, well within the range for acceptable commercial efficacy. However, as fresh garlic juice aged up to 72 h, efficacy was significantly reduced, particularly when diluted with water. Thus, garlic juice acted as a short-term repellent and toxicant in contact models, but application is time sensitive. Nonetheless, it shows potential utility for control of the ham mite.
Examining Variability in Language Minority Students’ Reading Achievement: The Influence of School and Ethnic Background Macro Contexts:

The steady increase in immigration in the United States over the past few decades has focused attention on the necessity for school districts to provide English language services in order for child...
Teaching Technology Design: Practicing Teachers Designing Serious Educational Games

This chapter operationally defines the term design thinking and gives the historical and theoretical basis of design thinking. We further review current practices of design thinking in education. In a study of practicing K-12 science and instructional technology teachers designing Serious Educational Games (SEGs) (Annetta, 2008), this chapter illustrates how teaching and learning design changes how teachers think. It is the ultimate goal that this change in teachers’ design thinking will enable teachers to transfer their approach to their students so their students learn to design using technologies beyond just Serious Educational Games.
Development and Application of an Isolated Perfused Rat Liver Model to Study the Stimulation and Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production ex Vivo

Purpose. To develop an isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) model with low baseline levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the outlet perfusate to study the effects of immunostimulants and immunosuppressants on the release of TNF-α from this organ.
Laparoscopic Sigmoid/Left Colectomy

This chapter reviews the potential indications, preoperative planning, and fundamental steps in performing a laparoscopic sigmoidectomy or left colectomy. The chapter describes the medial-to-lateral approach with a focus on surgical anatomy and the recognition of critical structures. The importance of understanding anatomy prior to initiating surgical dissection cannot be understated. A fundamental understanding of the surgical anatomy and various approaches allows the surgeon the ability to proceed in a safe manner and perform an appropriate oncological resection when essential. The critical structures for each operation should be immediately considered. If the anatomy is unclear, then one should reestablish the anatomy to a familiar orientation without compromising one’s technique.
Towards Variability-Aware Legal-GRL Framework for Modeling Compliance Requirements

The increasing adoption of cloud computing is making operating environments highly dynamic and changing. Once an operating environment condition (e.g., geographical location of data) changes, the compliance requirements might alsochange. To ensure that compliance requirements are continuouslymet, there is a need for frameworks that not only support modeling regulations, but also capture the potential environment variabilities and conditions in a systematic way. This paper introduces Variability-Aware Legal-GRL (Goal-oriented Requirements Language) framework for modeling compliance requirements in the presence of runtime changes. We extend the Goal-oriented Requirements Language (GRL) with new elements and model construction rules to model context-aware privacy policies for dynamic multi-jurisdictional domains as well as features for monitoring changes that trigger adaptation. We motivate and illustrate the proposed framework using Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) statements. The proposed modeling framework allows software engineers to automatically quantify and analyze satisfaction level of security and privacy related top level goals for multiple software design alternatives and thus, choose the best set of privacy measures.
Comparison of Shadowgraphy and X-Ray Phase Contrast Methods for Characterizing a DT Ice Layer in an Inertial Confinement Fusion Target

Shadowgraphy and X-ray phase contrast (XPC) imaging are two techniques that are used for characterizing the deuterium-tritium ice layer in inertial confinement fusion targets. Each technique has li...
Contracts In Brief

The contract is the very foundation of business law. Contracts define our everyday lives, whether we rent a car, buy or sell a home, hire someone to paint our house, or enter into an employment relationship. What situations are governed by application of the relevant state’s version of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)? And, what contracts are governed by common law? In the most basic of terms, the necessary requirements for a valid, enforceable contract under common law are: agreement, consideration, capacity and legality. Our purpose in writing this brief article is to acquaint students with a twenty minute or less read about basic concepts in contract law. First, we discuss governing law considerations; when the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) applies and when to employ common law. Second, is a description of consideration and related issues. Third, we talk about capacity. Fourth, is the requirement for a legal purpose. Fifth, we provide samples of some common contracts. Sixth, we focus on developing contemporary issues in contract law. And last, we conclude. We believe this summary is helpful to contract pedagogy and offers students a useful overview.
What Can Be Done to Further Dance in American Education

(1948). What Can Be Done to Further Dance in American Education? The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 83-135.
On the Weak Convergence of Monge-Ampère Measures for Discrete Convex Mesh Functions

To a mesh function we associate the natural analogue of the Monge-Ampere measure. The latter is shown to be equivalent to the Monge-Ampere measure of the convex envelope. We prove that the uniform convergence to a bounded convex function of mesh functions implies the uniform convergence on compact subsets of their convex envelopes and hence the weak convergence of the associated Monge-Ampere measures. We also give conditions for mesh functions to have a subsequence which converges uniformly to a convex function. Our result can be used to give alternate proofs of the convergence of some discretizations for the second boundary value problem for the Monge-Ampere equation and was used for a recently proposed discretization of the latter. For mesh functions which are uniformly bounded and satisfy a convexity condition at the discrete level, we show that there is a subsequence which converges uniformly on compact subsets to a convex function. The convex envelopes of the mesh functions of the subsequence also converge uniformly on compact subsets. If in addition they agree with a continuous convex function on the boundary, the limit function is shown to satisfy the boundary condition strongly.
afiks derivasi dan afik infleksi pada verba dan nomina bahasa Arab dalam buku al-arabiyah baina yadaik

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis Afiks derivasi dan afiks infleksi yang digunakan sebagai pembentuk nominaÂ bahasa Arab serta menganalisis fungsi dan makna afiks derivasi dan afiks infleksi pada nomina bahasa Arab. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif deskriptif. Data penelitian ini berupa kata bahasa Arab yang diambil dari buku al-arabiyah baina yadaik. Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah metode simak dengan teknik catat, kemudian data dianalisis menggunakan metode agih dengan teknik dasar berupa teknik bagi unsur langsung dan teknik lanjutan berupa teknik oposisi dan teknik lesap. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa di dalam buku buku al-arabiyah baina yadaik, terdapat afiks derivasi pembentuk nomina berjumlah sembilan, yaitu: prefiks (as-SA¢biq), diantaranya: /mu-/, /ma-/ dan /a-/. Infiks (dA¢khilah), diantaranya: /-A¢-/,Â /-A©-/ dan /-A«-/. Konfiks (as-sA¢biq wa al-lA¢hiq) , diantaranya: /mi-A¢/, /ma-A«/ dan /mi-tun/. Afiksâ€“afiks ini membentuk makna gramatikal â€˜nomina pelaku (ism fA¢â€Ÿil) â€™; â€˜nomina verba (isim maa¹£dar) â€™; â€˜nomina penderita (ism mafâ€™A»l)â€™ ; â€˜nomina instrumental (isim alat) â€™, â€˜nomina temporer (isim zaman) â€™; â€˜nomina qualiti (syifatu al-musyabbahah bi al-ismi fA¢il)â€™ dan â€˜nomina loci (isim makan)â€™ serta berfungsi membentuk nomina deverba. Afiks infleksi pembentuk nomina berjumlah sepuluh, yaitu: sufiks (al-LA¢hiq), diantaranya: /-A¢ni/, /aini/, /-A«na/, /-A©na/, /-A¢tun/, /-A©/, /-tun/, /-ka/, /-hu/ dan /-him/. Afiks-afiks ini memiliki makna gramatikal yaitu: nomina dual, nomina plural maskulin, nomina plural feminim dan nomina gender.
The future of aging research.

Usually the task of a Rapporteur is to summarize the ideas presented by various speakers and to provide, predict or speculate about the future directions of research. However numerous ideas about the nature of the aging process were presented at this Symposium and they do not fit within neat categories. Nor could I catalogue or even recall all of them. Furthermore, it would be very presumptious on my part, and perhaps inherently unfair to some people, to say that these particular ideas are worthy of notice while others can be igndred. I will let you be the judge of the relative appeal of the various points of view that have been expressed.
Schizophrenia, Childhood and Adolescent

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that usually has its onset in early adulthood, with a typical age at onset between ages 20 and 25 (Goldner, Hsu, Waraich, & Somers, 2002). Although much less common, the illness can also occur in children and adolescents. These early-onset cases are often characterized by more severe symptoms with a worse prognosis, and the patients are more likely to be male (Rapoport & Inoff-Germain, 2000). However, the results of genetic and neurobiological studies generally suggest that childhood-onset schizophrenia and adult-onset schizophrenia are the same disorder and have common etiologic factors. Thus, the same diagnostic criteria are used to diagnose children and adults (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). Keywords: schizophrenia; childhood-onset; symptoms
HYDROCORTISONE AND/OR DESICCATED THYROID IN PHYSIOLOGIC DOSAGE. XI. EFFECTS OF THYROID HORMONE EXCESSES ON LIPIDS AND OTHER BLOOD AND SERUM SOLUTES.

Abstract The ingestion of a preparation of desiccated thyroid (Proloid) during a 12-week period in dosages increasing progressively at 2-week intervals from 3 to 25 grains per day was accompanied by a 20 to 30 per cent decrease in the serum total and the alpha and beta lipoprotein cholesterol. These decreases were first noted at the 10 grains per day level and, except for transient escape in the case of the beta lipoprotein cholesterol, persisted as the dosage was further increased. Cessation of the desiccated thyroid therapy was followed by rebound increases in these lipid fractions to values above the pretherapy levels. Alpha lipoprotein triglycerides decreased during thyroid therapy, while the total and beta lipoprotein triglycerides remained unchanged or increased sporadically. Serum levels of NEFA did not increase. Serum sodium definitely decreased during the ingestion of 20 or 25 grains of thyroid per day, reflecting perhaps a decrease in cellular osmolarity. Relative hyperkalemia appeared during the ingestion of desiccated thyroid in large amounts. Serum albumin decreased by about 0.5 Gm. per cent in the course of thyroid feeding; a concomitant rise in the globulin levels during the ingestion of 20 grains per day did not persist when the dosage was further increased. A transient rise was recorded in serum calcium, reminiscent of the hypercalcemia which may appear in spontaneous thyrotoxicosis; also, a nonsustained lowering of the serum inorganic phosphorus occurred at the 10 grain dosage level. Whole blood NPN and levels of uric acid and of creatinine in serum decreased during therapy with large dosages of desiccated thyroid per day; serum creatine increased. Levels of the fasting blood sugar and the serum carbon dioxide and chloride did not change during the ingestion of desiccated thyroid. Alkaline phosphatase and creatine phosphokinase activity decreased during thyroid feeding; the levels of acid phosphatase and of lactic and malic acid dehydrogenase were not altered.
Expandable venous stents for treatment of the Budd-Chiari syndrome

The goals of treatment of the Budd-Chiari syndrome are relief of portal hypertension, relief of inferior vena cava syndrome, if present, and preservation of hepatic function. This study presents a patient with clinical resolution of the Budd-Chiari syndrome after placement of expandable metallic stents in the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins. A 26-year-old man with severe ascites and lower extremity edema but with relatively preserved hepatic function had a small gradient across a suprahepatic caval web, large gradients across an intrahepatic caval stenosis and the left hepatic vein, and an occluded right hepatic vein. Under angiographic control, web and caval stenosis were balloon-dilated, and modified Gianturco expandable metallic stents were placed in the intrahepatic vena cava. The left hepatic vein was dilated twice and a stent was placed. All gradients were completely eliminated. There were no complications and after 1 year, the stents have fully expanded without migration, edema and ascites have resolved, hepatic function has normalized, and the patient has returned to work. This new technique provides a simple, safe, effective, relatively inexpensive, and potentially long-lasting treatment for selected patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Thermal emissivity of 3D photonic band-gap materials

Summary form only given. We will review some of the theory related to the calculation of thermal power spectrum. Then we will discuss how a finite 3D inverted opal PBG structure can be qualitatively studied using a numerical, 3D, matrix-transfer formalism, following the work of Pendry and collaborators. In the context of this model, we compute the thermal power spectrum of a 3D PBG filter in front of an emitting hot surface, as well as that of a heated PBG structure.
Cosmopolitan Literacies, Social Networks, and “Proper Distance”: Striving to Understand in a Global World

AbstractHow are identities as cosmopolitan citizens realized in practice, and how can dialogue be fostered across differences in culture, language, ideology, and geography? More particularly, how might young people be positioned to develop effective and ethical responses, in our digital age, to local and global concerns? Such are the questions we addressed in a design‐based research project that linked young people around the world via a private social network. In effect, we studied cosmopolitanism “on the ground,” as youth on the cusp of adulthood came to think and act reflexively about the opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges of intercultural, cross‐geographic communication in a global, digital world. To analyze the conversations and creative artifacts exchanged by groups of youth in New York City and in India, we invoked the cosmopolitan construct of “proper distance,” asking how participants gauged their relationship to their readers. We identified three stances that composers adopted in th...
Frameshift suppressors: II. Genetic mapping and dominance studies☆☆☆

Abstract Suppressors specific for frameshift mutations have been studied. Six distinct suppressor loci have been identified on the genetic map of Salmonella typhimurium . These suppressor genes have been designated sufA through suf F . Suppressor mutations sufA, B, D and E are dominant, while sufF mutations are recessive to the wild-type allele. All dominant suppressor types are induced by the mutagen ICR-191. The recessive sufF mutations are induced by nitrosoguanidine. One dominant suppressor, sufD , coincides in map position to a glycyl-transfer RNA gene in Escherichia coli .
Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits the agonist-induced increase in extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation in aortic smooth muscle

The effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on angiotensin II- and histamine-induced contraction and muscle light chain phosphorylation was examined in strips of rabbit aorta smooth muscle. Preincubation of strips with 10(-7) M ANP prior to addition of either agonist inhibits both the increase in extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation and the contractile response to either 5 x 10(-8) M angiotensin II or 10(-5) M histamine without inhibiting the agonist-induced increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, in muscle strips precontracted with either angiotensin II or histamine, addition of ANP leads to a prompt relaxation and a prompt decrease in the extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation. These data argue that ANP uncouples the initial agonist-induced Ca2+ transient from the increase in extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation either by inhibiting the Ca2+-dependent activation of myosin light chain kinase or stimulating the activity of a phosphoprotein phosphatase capable of bringing about the rapid dephosphorylation of phosphorylated myosin light chains.
The Sin of Omission

The contributions of African-Americans have been omitted from social work. This paper notes selected pioneer black women who can be ranked with such white pioneers as Dorothea Dix or Mary Richmond. Katy Ferguson and Cynthia Lugenia Burns Hope were exciting contributors in meeting the health, education, and welfare needs of African-Americans and others. they were innovative in their approach-spanning the free and slave communities of the black experience. Black women were movers, shakers, and ground breakers in developing the dual system of social welfare. They shoudl be included in courses of history/policy, methods, human behavior, and research, and there should be courses on African-American women. They have been on the leading edge in individual and institutional responses to human needs. Ignoring their myriad contributions is indeed a sin.
Phenobarbital Side Effects: Hyperactivity with Speech Delay

To the Editor.— The suggestion of Nordin1 that there may be a need to re-evaluate the current recommended prophylaxis for children with rheumatic fever is valid, particularly if carefully planned and controlled studies could be carried out. However, the author9s contention that "It has been assumed that the levels of penicillin [following monthly intramuscular injection of 1.2 million units of benzathine penicillin G] are adequate to prevent reinfection with group A streptococcus, and hence to prevent recurrences of rheumatic fever" has always been qualified by others.
An exploratory study on the leadership style preferences of male and female managers: Implications on team performance

Despite the fact that women earn almost half of degrees awarded in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), these fields are still perceived to be male-dominated. In efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion, an increasing number of companies are implementing programs such as Northrup Grumman's STEM Connector program, and Intel's Women Principal Engineers and Fellows Forum. These gender diversity and inclusion initiatives raise several debates on gender and leadership - are there key differences between the leadership styles of male managers versus women managers in STEM fields? What contributions do women's leadership styles bring to strategic decision making positions in the engineering and scientific workplace? Using Bass and Avolio's transformational leadership style model, this exploratory study aims to revisit the on-going debate on gender and leadership styles in STEM fields. The implications of the study offer insights for current and future technology leaders in managing an increasingly diverse workforce.
Nonlinear Operation in a Locked Loop

This chapter contains sections titled: Notation Phase-Detector Output u 1 Changes in the Output Spectrum Gain Suppression, Quasi-Linear Approximation Appendix: Additional Offset Simulation Data
The Welfare Effects of Forbidding Discriminatory Discounts: A Secondary Line Analysis of Robinson-Patman

We examine the welfare effects of forbidding price discrimination in intermediate goods markets when firms can bargain over terms of their nonlinear supply contracts. In particular, our focus is on secondary line injury to competition under three interpretations of what it means to forbid price discrimination. We find that in each case, forbidding discriminatory discounts renders retailer bargaining power useless in mitigating manufacturer market power. As a result, all retailers end up paying higher input prices, and all retail prices rise. We show by example that the welfare loss can be substantial. Copyright 1994 by Oxford University Press.
Case report 826

A case of focal resorption in a limb salvage/bone allograft is presented, illustrating that roentgenological differentiation from other causes for graft resorption may be very difficult. The possibilities of infection and tumor recurrence, as well as "physiologic" graft resorption, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a lytic process in an allograft for limb salvage. To date, early biopsy remains mandatory for accurate diagnosis.
Finding frequent itemsets by transaction mapping

In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for mining complete frequent itemsets. This algorithm is referred to as the TM algorithm from hereon. In this algorithm, we employ the vertical representation of a database. Transaction ids of each itemset are mapped and compressed to continuous transaction intervals in a different space thus reducing the number of intersections. When the compression coefficient becomes smaller than the average number of comparisons for intervals intersection, the algorithm switches to transaction id intersection. We have evaluated the algorithm against two popular frequent itemset mining algorithms -- FP-growth and dEclat using a variety of data sets with short and long frequent patterns. Experimental data show that the TM algorithm outperforms these two algorithms.
Regulation of flagellar length in Chlamydomonas

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has two apically localized flagella that are maintained at an equal and appropriate length. Assembly and maintenance of flagella requires a microtubule-based transport system known as intraflagellar transport (IFT). During IFT, proteins destined for incorporation into or removal from a flagellum are carried along doublet microtubules via IFT particles. Regulation of IFT activity therefore is pivotal in determining the length of a flagellum. Reviewed is our current understanding of the role of IFT and signal transduction pathways in the regulation of flagellar length.
Variation in oxygen consumption of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox): implications for sexual size dimorphism

Variation in metabolism affects energy budgets of individuals and may serve as a mechanism that influences variation at whole organism or population levels. For example, sex differences in metabolic expenditure may contribute to bioenergetic sources of sexual size dimorphism. We measured oxygen consumption rates of 48 western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) from a sexually dimorphic population and tested the effects of body mass, body temperature and time of day, in three groups of snakes: males, non-reproductive females, and vitellogenic females. Metabolic rates of male and non-reproductive female C. atrox were similar to rates reported for other rattlesnakes (mass exponents ranging from 0.645–0.670). Oxygen consumption was affected by body mass, body temperature and time of day, and was approximately 1.4 times greater in vitellogenic females than in non-reproductive females. No differences were found between males and non-reproductive females. Accordingly, differences in metabolic rate apparently do not contribute directly to sexual dimorphism in this population. Nevertheless, estimates of size-dependent maintenance expenditure lead us to hypothesize that adult female body size may represent a compromise between selection for increased litter size (accomplished by increasing body size), and selection for increased reproductive frequency (accomplished by decreasing body size, and, therefore inactive maintenance expenditure); this is a mechanistic scenario suggested previously for some endotherms.
Altered Expression of Bladder Mast Cell Growth Factor Receptor (c-kit) in Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract Objectives. To investigate the presence of mast cell growth factor receptors (c-kit) on bladder mast cells in interstitial cystitis (IC), a bladder condition occurring primarily in women. IC is characterized by pain, urgency, frequency, and mucosal microhemorrhages discernible with cystoscopy under general anesthesia. One of the prevailing theories to explain IC pathophysiology is the increased number of bladder mast cells, many of which are activated in at least a subgroup of IC patients. Stem cell factor (SCF), also known as c-kit ligand, is now recognized as the key molecule responsible for mast cell proliferation and is known to exert its action through specific surface receptors. Methods. Bladder specimens from patients with IC, identified by the criteria established by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and control patients were obtained during diagnostic cystoscopy and were immediately fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. They were then examined by immunohistochemistry for the unique proteolytic mast cell enzyme tryptase or the presence of c-kit, or both. Results. Bladders of IC patients contained a higher number of mast cells than control patients. However, mast cells in IC patients expressed fewer c-kit on their surface than those in control patients. These results could be explained if the c-kit were occupied by endogenous SCF or were downregulated, possibly by internalization after ligand-receptor interactions, making them inaccessible to immunocytochemical detection. Conclusions. Bladder mastocytosis and/or activation of mast cells, in at least a subpopulation of IC patients, may be explained by increased stimulation of mast cells by SCF. These results could be explained either by a mutation leading to constitutive activation of c-kit or overproduction of c-kit ligand leading to bladder mast cell proliferation in IC.
Selection of single, mode-locked CO2 laser pulses by semiconductor reflection switching

Abstract Reflection switching of high power, 10 μm radiation by optically induced carriers in a semiconductor has been achieved by irradiating germanium with 3 ns pulses of 1.06 μm radiation. This has permitted the selection of single mode-locked pulses of 10 μm radiation with energies in the 1–2 joule range.
Atomic Layer Deposition, Characterization, and Dielectric Properties of HfO2/SiO2 Nanolaminates and Comparisons with Their Homogeneous Mixtures

Nanolaminates of HfO 2 and SiO 2 were prepared using atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods. Successive exposure of substrates maintained at 120 or 160 °C to nitrogen flows containing Hf(NO 3 ) 4 and ( t BuO) 3 SiOH led to typical bilayer spacings of 2.1 nm, with the majority of each bilayer being SiO 2 . The density of the SiO 2 layers (measured using X-ray reflectometry (XRR)) was slightly higher than expected for amorphous silica, suggesting that as much as 10 % HfO 2 was incorporated into the silica layers. Based on cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XRR, oxidation of the silicon substrate was observed during its first exposure to Hf(NO 3 ) 4 , leading to a SiO 2 interfacial layer and the first HfO 2 layer. Combining the ALD of Hf(NO 3 ) 4 /( t BuO) 3 SiOH with ALD cycles involving Hf(NO 3 ) 4 and H 2 O allowed the systematic variation of the HfO 2 thickness within the nanolaminate structure. This provided an approach towards controlling the dielectric constant of the films. The dielectric constant was modeled by treating the nanolaminate as a stack of capacitors wired in series. The nanolaminate structure inhibited the crystallization of the HfO 2 in post-deposition annealing treatments. As the HfO 2 thickness decreased, the preference for the tetragonal HfO 2 phase increased.
Pulse shaping for reducing photodamage in multiphoton microscopy

We formulate a simple strategy for mitigation of laser-induced damage through pulse shaping and demonstrate experimentally the effect of laser pulse duration on the degree of optically induced damage for two-photon microscopy imaging. We use a broadband Ti:Sapphire laser source, aided with a shaper, and adjust both the laser pulse duration and energy to maintain constant two-photon excitation efficiency. The damage is assessed by the dynamics of two-photon excited autofluorescence intensity and sample morphology during prolonged laser exposure. We observe that for a 5-μm layer of skin tissue the damage rate is independent of the pulse shape, which suggests that the primary damage (bleaching) mechanism stems from the two-photon excitation itself. For optically thick dried blood samples, taken as another example, the data suggests that the damage is driven by one-photon absorption. In the later case, it is favorable to use shorter laser pulses to mitigate photodamage while maintaining adequate intensity of two-photon excited autofluorescence.
Managing quality: the transition from reactive to proactive strategies

Product quality constitutes a highly crucial component of product design, directly affecting consumer loyalty and company profitability. Historically, manufacturing enterprises have relied on the reactive approach of 'inspecting quality' into a product so it may 'conform' to design specifications. While this approach has its own advantages, its principal limitation lies in the manufacturers' implicit resignation to the fact that quality needs to be inspected since it cannot be built into product design at the design stage. However, there has been a gradual, yet definite transition from a reactive to a proactive strategy to managing quality by incorporating design techniques that do away with the largely unproductive inspection process. Several leading manufacturing enterprises have been successful in entirely eliminating the need to inspect by adopting a proactive approach to product design. This paper examines and reviews the need and strategic importance of this transition.
Pyrolytic graphite cup as both vessel and electrode for micro redox and acid-base potentiometric titrations

Abstract A potentiometric titration vessel of pyrolytic graphite is described for use in microtitrations, which are usually performed with colored indicators. The vessel also serves simultaneously as the indicator electrode, the reference electrode being an in-burette platinum wire. Thus, the need for internal electrodes is eliminated. The vessel has been used satisfactorily in both manual and automatic titrations.
Design patterns for ubiquitous computing

Design patterns offer a solution to the difficult problem of reusing prior design knowledge. We propose that such patterns also offer an effective way to communicate solutions to ubiquitous computing design problems. Some of the ubicomp design patterns include context-sensitive I/O, physical-virtual associations, global data, proxies for devices, follow-me display, appropriate levels of attention, and anticipation. Design patterns range in scale from a city to a room and, together, form a pattern language that designers can adapt to a project's particular level of complexity or detail.
THE DEMISE OF THE DISPARATE IMPACT THEORY

Books reviewed in this article: Book Reviewed in this article: Shortly after this article was completed and accepted for publication, Congress passed the 1991 Civil Rights Act. In order to understand and appreciate the significant implications of the new legislation, it is first necessary to review the legislative and litigation history of disparate impact discussed here. Immediately following is a legislative update entitled “The Resurrection of the Disparate Impact Theory?”
Acute renal failure due to indinavir crystalluria and nephrolithiasis: Report of two cases

Two patients with oliguric acute renal failure (ARF) attributed to crystalluria and nephrolithiasis with obstructive uropathy caused by the human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor indinavir are described. In both patients, ARF resolved with administration of intravenous fluids. One patient required urologic intervention to relieve bilateral ureteral obstruction.
Multifactorial analysis of the survival of patients with distant metastasis arising from primary extremity sarcoma

BACKGROUND Despite optimal multimodality limb-sparing therapy for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS), a significant number of patients develop distant metastasis. The objective of this study was to analyze patterns of metastatic disease and define prognostic factors for survival in a large group of patients followed prospectively at a single institution. METHODS Between July 1, 1982, and June 30, 1996, all adult patients admitted to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with primary extremity sarcoma were treated and prospectively followed. Patients who developed distant metastases constituted the study group. Prognostic factors were analyzed for postmetastasis survival. These included both factors related to the primary tumor and factors related to the pattern of metastasis. Postmetastasis survival was modeled using the Kaplan–Meier method. Statistical significance was evaluated using the log rank test for univariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model for multivariate analysis. RESULTS During the study period, the authors admitted and treated 994 patients with primary extremity STS. The median follow-up was 33 months. Distant metastasis developed in 230 patients (23%). Median survival after distant metastasis was 11.6 months. The lungs were the first metastatic site in 169 patients (73%). Other first sites of metastasis included the skin and soft tissues of the head and neck, trunk, and extremities. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients with pulmonary and those with nonpulmonary metastatic disease. In multivariate analysis, resection of metastatic disease, the length of the disease free interval, the presence of a preceding local recurrence, and patient age > 50 years all were significant predictors of postmetastasis survival. Other factors that defined the primary tumor, including histologic grade, depth, and microscopic margins, were not associated with postmetastasis survival. CONCLUSIONS Despite optimal multimodality therapy, 23% of the patients in this series with primary extremity sarcoma developed distant metastasis. Median survival after metastasis was approximately 1 year. After metastasis, the independent favorable factors that are associated with patient survival include resection of the metastases, a long disease free interval, the absence of preceding local recurrence, and patient age < 50 years. Although a definitive conclusion regarding the benefit of resection can be made only with a randomized clinical trial, these data suggest that resection of metastatic STS may contribute to patient survival, which in some cases may be long term. Cancer 1999;85:389–95. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Reducing and Basic Nature of Metallic Hydride Surfaces

IN the past, the physical properties of transition metal hydrides have been studied almost exclusively, because the chemical properties appeared to be very similar to those of the parent metals. No clear picture of the nature of the hydrogen species in these compounds has emerged, as there is evidence from the physical properties to support protonic, covalent and anionic models1. This communication describes the reactions of a number of transition metals and their hydrides with organic acid–base and oxidation–reduction indicators.
A simple noninvasive index can predict both significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Information on the stage of liver fibrosis is essential in managing chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, most models for predicting liver fibrosis are complicated and separate formulas are needed to predict significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. The aim of our study was to construct one simple model consisting of routine laboratory data to predict both significant fibrosis and cirrhosis among patients with CHC. Consecutive treatment-naive CHC patients who underwent liver biopsy over a 25-month period were divided into 2 sequential cohorts: training set (n = 192) and validation set (n = 78). The best model for predicting both significant fibrosis (Ishak score > or = 3) and cirrhosis in the training set included platelets, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase with an area under ROC curves (AUC) of 0.82 and 0.92, respectively. A novel index, AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), was developed to amplify the opposing effects of liver fibrosis on AST and platelet count. The AUC of APRI for predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis were 0.80 and 0.89, respectively, in the training set. Using optimized cut-off values, significant fibrosis could be predicted accurately in 51% and cirrhosis in 81% of patients. The AUC of APRI for predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in the validation set were 0.88 and 0.94, respectively. In conclusion, our study showed that a simple index using readily available laboratory results can identify CHC patients with significant fibrosis and cirrhosis with a high degree of accuracy. Application of this index may decrease the need for staging liver biopsy specimens among CHC patients.
Structure of Ice-VII and Ice-VIII: A Quantum Mechanical Study†

Ab initio quantum mechanical methods have been used to investigate the structures of Ice-VII and Ice-VIII. In the case of proton-ordered Ice-VIII, accurate structural data enable us to benchmark the methodology. The disorder in H-bond orientations of Ice-VII causes difficulties in understanding its structure from either an experimental or a theoretical viewpoint. In this work, we explore the consequence of randomness of H-bond arrangements in Ice-VII by examining all ice-rule-allowed configurations in a unit cell of 16 water molecules. Noticeable relative displacement (e) between the two sublattices, previously thought to exist only in Ice-VIII, was found in many of these configurations. We find a correlation between the energy of a particular configuration of Ice-VII and e, an energy gap of 1.5 mhartree that separates a unique ground state from all the others. Our results have proven that ab initio calculations can be used to resolve ambiguities in interpreting neutron diffraction data of Ice-VII.
Load imbalance in DASD dynamic reconnection

Etude de la representation des systemes de reconnexion dynamique des entrees sorties sur disque en vue de l'obtention d'un temps d'attente minimum
A Comparison of Three Teacher Preparation Programs in Terms of Their Impact on Teacher Competencies.

Abstract This study compared the effectiveness of three teacher education programs in terms of their impact on teacher competencies. The programs include a traditional 4-year teacher certification program, an alternative certification-based master of arts in teaching program, and an alternative certification program without the master degree option. The teachers held positive views of the impact of the programs on their teaching competencies, with no significant difference found among the programs or between program candidates and completers. The teachers' employers favorably rated their teachers' competencies. The highest ratings were given to alternative certification completers, and the lowest, to alternative certification candidates. Implications of the study are discussed.
Toward a Theology That Includes the Human Experience of Disability

SUMMARY This article offers an informed call for including the human experience of disability within theological reflection. Concerns related to theological education and practical ministry are noted. Embodiment is examined as revealing important discursive elements for theological method. The author draws from her experience as minister, theologian and person with a disability.
Introduction to the Special Section on Engineering and Technology Management

The special section on engineering and technology management is dedicated to identifying and describing the state of the art in engineering and technology management as it pertains to semiconductor manufacturing. Each of the five papers in this special section proposes a detailed technical solution to a real-business problem germane to today's semiconductor manufacturers, and identifies business results through proof-of-concept or final implementation.
Tridiagonal C 1 -collocation

Abstract It is shown that one-dimensional C 1 -collocation at the Gauss points may be viewed as a member of a family of 3-point finite difference schemes. This new formulation of the method leads to a simple practical technique for the elimination of the derivative degrees of freedom. In contrast to what is known about standard collocation matrices, the new matrix has all the desirable features, exactly as the matrices of other popular methods do: it is tridiagonal and, depending on the nature of the differential operator, it can be Toeplitz, (strictly) diagonally dominant, symmetric or positive definite.
Article 98(2) of the Rome Statute: America's Original Intent

The author argues that Article 98(2) only covers those agreements of bilateral or multilateral character between or among nations (whether party or non-party to the Rome Statute) and/or international organizations (such as the ICC or the UN) that provide for non-surrender to the ICC of a nation’s military or official personnel and related civilian component sent abroad on official mission by such nation. The agreements were not intended to cover individuals acting abroad in a private capacity or independently for foreign government or international organization purposes. Indeed, in contributing to the drafting of that provision of the Statute, the US delegation did not seek to protect the entire body of US nationals, such as the many US nationals who are engaged outside the United States as humanitarian aid workers, as journalists, as staff of the UN or intergovernmental relief agencies, as representatives of NGOs, as expatriate employees of private companies, or as tourists. In contrast, the bilateral non-surrender agreements negotiated by the current US Administration are intended to cover not only current or former government officials, government employees (including contractors), and military personnel, but also all US nationals, including those acting in a strictly private capacity. To find a solution to the inconsistency between Article 98(2) and these agreements, the author suggests that existing bilateral US non-surrender agreements should be rectified with a US public declaration confirming that the reference to ‘nationals’ in such agreements is interpreted by the US Government to mean the US civilian component of a military deployment. New or amended agreements negotiated by the United States with foreign governments or international organizations should limit the scope of application to official and military personnel of the ‘sending State,’ covering them for actions they undertook in their official capacity.