cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial forearm free flap pharyngoesophageal reconstruction.

Objectives: This study evaluates the outcome of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using radial forearm free flaps with regard to primary wound healing, speech, and swallowing in patients requiring laryngopharyngectomy. Study Design: Retrospective review in the setting of a tertiary, referral, and academic center. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients underwent reconstruction of the pharyngoesophageal segment using fasciocutaneous radial forearm free flaps. Results: All free flap transfers were successful. An oral diet was resumed in 85% of the patients after surgery. Postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistulas occurred in 4 patients (20%) with 3 resolving spontaneously. Distal strictures also occurred in 20% of the patients. Five patients who underwent tracheoesophageal puncture achieved useful speech. Conclusions: Advantages of radial forearm free flaps for microvascular pharyngoesophageal function include high flap reliability, limited donor site morbidity, larger vascular pedicle caliber, and the ability to achieve good quality tracheoesophageal speech. The swallowing outcome is similar to that achieved after jejunal flap pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. The main disadvantage of this technique relates to a moderately high incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistulas, which contributes to delayed oral intake in affected patients.
The Political Economy of School District Administration

The basic elements of the recently developed public choice model from economics are reviewed and applied to school districts. Using the goal- focused and goal-displaced types of districts, the behavioral differences between these "ideal" types are analyzed. Implications of the public choice approach for understanding organizational behavior in school districts and also for organizational theory are suggested by the author.
Basilar artery occlusion following C1 lateral mass fracture managed by mechanical and pharmacological thrombolysis

Vertebral artery injury following cervical spine trauma can be associated with stroke. We present a case of a C1 fracture resulting in vertebral artery dissection and neurological decline as a result of basilar artery occlusion treated with chemical and mechanical thrombolysis resulting in basilar artery patency and clinical improvement. The patient is a 43-year-old female who was involved in a motor vehicle collision where she sustained multiple cervical spine injuries including a comminuted fracture of the left lateral mass of C1 resulting in vertebral artery dissection which eventually led to a basilar artery embolus and occlusion. A total of 15 mg of intraarterial tissue plasminogen activator was infused throughout the clot, followed by mechanical clot embolectomy using an FDA-approved device. Her neurological exam improved post-procedurally and she was discharged with a left hemiparesis to a rehabilitation facility 3 weeks after admission. At 15 month follow up, she is neurologically intact with the exception of some subtle difficulty with fine motor movement in the right upper extremity and mild dysmetria on the right. With this case, we report a rare and potentially devastating complication of C1 fracture. To our knowledge there are only two previously reported cases where a C1 fracture has been associated with basilar artery occlusion resulting in death and locked-in syndrome respectively. In this case, chemical thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy resulted in recanalization of the basilar artery with excellent long-term neurological outcome.
Studies of fischer-Tropsch synthesis over a fused iron catalyst

Abstract A detailed investigation has been carried out of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over a fused iron catalyst. The principal products are observed to be linear 1-olefins, paraffins and aldehydes. Less than 20% of the products are branched. Olefin isomerization and hydrogenation occur to a very limited extent and the only secondary process of significance is the hydrogenation of aldehydes to the corresponding alcohol. Catalyst activity increases substantially with increasing extent of reduction, the increase being attributed to an increase in pore surface area. This change is not accompanied by a change in product distribution. The kinetics of formation of individual products can be described by an expression of the form RCn = R1αn−1. R1, the apparent synthesis rate for n = 1, and α, the probability for chain growth, are both functions of reactant partial pressures.
Strategies for Replication Research Exemplified by Replications of the Istomina Study

Abstract Motivations for replication research include, e.g., correcting perceived shortcomings in the original study, investigating the generality of previous results, and resolving inconsistencies of previous results with later results or theories. The original research method should be replicated as closely as possible to ensure that failure to replicate the previous results does not reflect the use of different methods. Hypotheses about relevant causes can then be tested in follow-up work with changes in methods as dictated by the hypotheses. Another motivation is to test the original theory. In this case, the theoretical meanings of the original tasks need to be replicated. These strategies are discussed in the present article and are exemplified by a review of replications of a study by Istomina. Istomina had found that preschool children's memory was better in a game than a lesson context, as expected on the basis of Leontyev's “theory of activity.” None of the replication studies closely replicated Istomina's methods, but some replicated her results.
Multivariate probability-based detection of drug-induced hepatic signals.

Clinical signal detection of drug-induced hepatic effects is a very inexact science. Ordinary clinical laboratory tests are the primary biomarkers for liver changes. Heuristic rules have been developed by clinicians for diagnosing liver disease and monitoring these changes. These are based on laboratory reference limits, which are also largely heuristic.
A Fixed-Path Markov Chain Algorithm for Conditional Simulation of Discrete Spatial Variables

The Markov chain random field (MCRF) theory provided the theoretical foundation for a nonlinear Markov chain geostatistics. In a MCRF, the single Markov chain is also called a “spatial Markov chain” (SMC). This paper introduces an efficient fixed-path SMC algorithm for conditional simulation of discrete spatial variables (i.e., multinomial classes) on point samples with incorporation of interclass dependencies. The algorithm considers four nearest known neighbors in orthogonal directions. Transiograms are estimated from samples and are model-fitted to provide parameter input to the simulation algorithm. Results from a simulation example show that this efficient method can effectively capture the spatial patterns of the target variable and fairly generate all classes. Because of the incorporation of interclass dependencies in the simulation algorithm, simulated realizations are relatively imitative of each other in patterns. Large-scale patterns are well produced in realizations. Spatial uncertainty is visualized as occurrence probability maps, and transition zones between classes are demonstrated by maximum occurrence probability maps. Transiogram analysis shows that the algorithm can reproduce the spatial structure of multinomial classes described by transiograms with some ergodic fluctuations. A special characteristic of the method is that when simulation is conditioned on a number of sample points, simulated transiograms have the tendency to follow the experimental ones, which implies that conditioning sample data play a crucial role in determining spatial patterns of multinomial classes. The efficient algorithm may provide a powerful tool for large-scale structure simulation and spatial uncertainty analysis of discrete spatial variables.
Transnational Perspectives on Women's Domestic Work: Experiences of Brazilian Immigrants in the United States

This article focuses on immigrant women's transnational experiences and perceptions of paid and unpaid domestic work. The dominance of work was an evident theme throughout the interviews with 26 Brazilian women who had been employed in domestic or food service work in the United States. Various intersections of gender, class, culture, and migration were evident in the women's changing definitions of work, measures of the quantity and quality of their paid and unpaid domestic work, and perceptions of their own fluid identities as Brazilian women, domestic workers, and immigrants. Through their daily lives and work experiences these immigrant women made concerted efforts to forge, maintain, or recreate contacts and connections with values and perspectives from both Brazilian and U.S. society. In the process they created dynamic transnational understandings and perspectives on women's domestic work.
Fracture stability, R-curves and strength variability

Abstract Variability in fracture strength is examined as a function of the increase in fracture resistance with crack length. The driving force for fracture is modelled generally as the sum of two components, one stabilizing and the other destabilizing crack propagation, leading to a crack extension force displaying a minimum as a function of crack length. The resistance to crack extension, the R-curve, is modelled as an increasing power law. By invoking the equilibrium and instability conditions for fracture, strength is thus shown to have a simple power law dependence on the magnitude of the stabilizing component of the crack driving force. The magnitude of this power law dependence is shown to be inversely related to the rate of increase of the R-curve. This latter result implies that although strengths will increase for a given flaw size in the presence of an R-curve, a more important ramification is that the related increased crack stabilization leads to diminished distributions of strengths for given ranges of flaw sizes. An expression is derived quantifying this conclusion, showing an increasing relation between the Weibull modulus of a strength distribution and the slope of the R-curve. The results substantiate the empirical finding that appropriate R-curve behavior is an effective means of achieving high, narrow strength distributions, independent of randomly introduced flaws.
Flexible and efficient access control in oracle

A single model for access control across the database and application server tiers is crucial to ensure consistent secure access to data in all the tiers. In this paper, we present the common model for access control within Oracle database and application tiers which is based on the standard WebDAV ACLs (Access Control Lists). Further, we discuss the flexible mechanisms for defining ACLs and associating them with data and various optimization techniques for efficiently evaluating ACLs in large scale enterprise applications.
Dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls, naphthalenes and dibenzo-p-dioxins by magnesium/palladium bimetallic particles.

The contamination of sediments with polychlorinated organics such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (Dioxins) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) remains a significant problem in many rivers, harbors, and estuarine areas in the US and around the world. In this work, rapid dechlorination of PCBs, PCNs, and Dioxins by palladium—coated magnesium (0.01% by weight Pd) has been demonstrated in pure solvent systems (10% methanol in distilled water). This reaction was investigated with the goal of developing it as a future sediment treatment method. More than 90% of the initial single PCB congeners BZ 3 and 170 were removed in 1 to 10 minutes and about 58% of the total initial Arochlor 1260 was removed in 4 minutes. The removal of single Dioxin and PCN congeners also occurred rapidly resulting in a 69 to 95% reduction in 30 minutes. Rapid removal of biphenyl, the expected degradation end product for PCBs, was also observed (80% removal in 5 minutes). Experiments conducted ...
Underlying defects in distal renal tubular acidosis: New understandings

T HE RENAL tubular acidosis (RTA) syndromes encompass a disparate group of disorders that have in common an inability to excrete acid that is out of proportion to any reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). 1"9 This failure to excrete the daily acid load results in a hyperchloremic type of metabolic acidosis. The initial classification of tubular defects in urinary acidification was aimed at separating those involving the distal nephron (type I RTA) from those affecting the proximal nephron (type II RTA). 2'8-~ The latter form is characterized by marked bicarbonate wastage and is often associated with some of the features of the Fanconi syndrome, reflecting generalized proximal tubular dysfunction. ~0.tt An isolated form of proximal bicarbonate wastage without any other evidence of proximal tubular dysfunction has been well described, t2 Infants in whom bicarbonate wastage coexisted with failure to lower urine pH despite severe acidemia (a feature of the classic form of type I RTA) were described, and the term type III RTA was used to designate this mixed pattern of renal dysfunction. 8 When aldosterone deficiency was later recognized as a cause of both hyperkalemia and renal tubular acidosis, the term type IV was coined by Sebastian et a113 to designate this type of hyperkalemic RTA. Unlike patients with type I RTA, patients with aldosterone deficiency can lower urine pH below 5.5 and, unlike those with type II RTA, patients with aldosterone deficiency do not have
Selective Targeting of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line by a Translationally-Controlled Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase Suicide Gene

5/41 (12.2%, local 2, neck 1, both 2). 8/10 cases of local recurrences of Stage II are salvaged, 6/11 cases of late lymph node metastasis are salvaged with neck dissection. All pN( ) rate are StageI 20.7% (12/58) and Stage II 21.2% (19/90). Conclusion: Cases of Stage II ( 3cm) and or endophytic type (deep tumor thickness) must be treated with pull-through operation with neck dissection and it is necessary to accomplish prophyractive neck dissection for level I, II, III.
Isotopes of Neon

IN one of his earlier papers, Aston (Phil. Mag., 39, 444; 1920) found three isotopes of neon, Ne20, Ne21, and Ne22. Distinct indications of Ne21 were obtained only on the clearest spectra, and he estimated that, if this constituent exists, its proportion was probably less than one per cent. In his more recent work (Proc. Roy. Soc., 115 A, 487; 1927) apparently no evidence of the isotope Ne21 was obtained.
Design considerations for the rotating electrostatic liquid-film radiator

Abstract A lightweight, fully modular radiator design for heat rejection in space is proposed, which is estimated to weigh less than 2 kg per square meter of the effective radiator area. The feature which makes this thin membrane radiator practical is the internal electrostatic field system, which can stop radiator leaks from punctures, sudden accelerations or accidental tears. Preliminary design calculations are presented for a rotating conical radiator, using liquid lithium at an inlet temperature of 800 K. Remarkably low weights of less than 1 kg kW −1 may be attained, with safety factors of two or more for stopping leaks. This is almost an order of magnitude less than the values for current heat pipe designs.
The Early Innovators of Today's Resurfacing Condylar Knees

The 1970s saw an explosion of ideas in the field of prosthetic knee arthroplasty. This paper is an effort to identify the innovators who contributed to the development of today's condylar total knee prostheses and the surgical techniques used to insert them. The 1970s were selected because most innovations occurred during those years. Two different design approaches were undertaken simultaneously. One was a functional approach whereas the other was a strictly anatomical approach. Initially, these 2 approaches led to very different designs. But the common goal of recreating human knee function eventually led to more similarities than differences. The author describes how, when, and why these dedicated individuals came to their ideas. The work is largely based on interviews and correspondence with those involved as well as on reviews of patents and papers pertaining to their work.
Response of Monkey Glabrous Skin Mechanoreceptors to Random-Noise Sequences: I. Temporal Response Characteristics

The response of slowly adapting (SA, Merkel cell), rapidly adapting (RA, Meissner), and Pacinian corpuscle (PC) mechanoreceptors in monkey glabrous skin were recorded while being activated with a vibrotactile indenting stimulus. For one set of experiments, the stimulator was driven by an 800-point (400-msec) pseudorandom-noise (PRN) sequence, repeated 40 times. For a second set of experiments, a non-repeating-noise (NRN) sequence was used. SA impulse patterns generated with the PRN sequence were highly regular and similar for all afferents tested. RA and PC response patterns were more varied, but exhibited basic intraclass similarities. SA and RA PRN stimulus impulse patterns were often nearly indistinguishable at low to medium discharge rates. At higher discharge rates, RA and SA discharge patterns differed, primarily because of the unambiguous suprathreshold velocity sensitivity and shorter recovery periods of RA afferents. PC impulse patterns were substantially different from SA and RA patterns, being ...
Particle formation in emulsifier-free aqueous-phase polymerization of styrene

Abstract Particle nucleation in emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene using potassium persulfate as initiator is thought to involve an in situ micellization mechanism. The particle nucleation period can be divided into two stages. Stage 1 is short (less than 10 min) and large amounts of oligomer micellar particle nuclei is produced during this stage, which consist mainly of oligomers of molecular weight ca. 1000 and are stable due to surface charge generated by the initiator end groups. As these particle nuclei capture free radicals from the aqueous phase and produce internal high molecular weight polymers, the surface charge density decreases dramatically. The particle nuclei then lose their stability and begin to undergo coagulation, which marks the beginning of Stage 2. The critical chain length for in situ micellization, n∗ , decreases during Stage 1 due to the increase of oligomer concentration through significant aqueous-phase termination of radicals. Particle size increases during Stage 2 through coagulation and polymerization. Radical capture by particles begins to be more significant than the aqueous-phase termination during Stage 2. The concentration of oligomer stops increasing and n∗ becomes constant. Particle number decreases toward a constant value with time in Stage 2 because of coagulation. A model has been developed and used to simulate particle nucleation during the transient period (both Stage 1 and Stage 2) described above. The criterion used to identify the beginning of Stage 2 was arbitrarily selected as that point when the ratio of the rate of radical capture by the particles to the rate of aqueous-phase termination becomes 2.
Molecular-dynamics studies of temperature-dependent structural transitions on fcc(111) metallic surfaces.

We present molecular-dynamics studies of structural transformations on metallic fcc(111) surfaces as a function of surface misfit and temperature. The particles interact through modified Lennard-Jones potentials. The studies focus on how the characteristic features of the surface-surface interatomic potential, specifically its repulsive core, determine the variation of surface misfit with temperature, and the stability of the ensuing structural phases and the nature of the observed phase transitions. The low-temperature phase consists of a striped phase of double-sine-Gordon domain walls oriented along one of the three equivalent 〈110〉 directions and stacked along the 〈112〉 direction. The temperature evolution of this phase was followed for two typical and distinct systems: in one system (system I), the surface-surface potential was chosen so as to make the effective surface misfit decrease with temperature, while in the other (system II), the misfit increased or remained constant with temperature. System I undergoes an incommensurate-commensurate phase transition which appears to be second order in nature while system II exhibits an incommensurate-incommensurate phase transition. The temperature evolution of system II closely parallels the behavior of the Au(111) surface with rise in temperature.
The tetrapod “DNA fingerprinting” M13 repeat probe reveals genetic diversity and clonal growth in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides, Salicaceae)

A recently developed class of DNA endonuclease fragment probes (variously termed “minisatellite,” “DNA fingerprinting,” or “variable number tandem repeat loci” probes) has detected extensive intraspecific genetic variation in tetrapods. Here we use one probe from this class, the M 13 repeat probe (shown previously to yield ”DNA fingerprints” in humans) to examine genetic diversity in the quaking aspen. Comparisons of endonuclease fragment profiles of individuals separated by at least 6km reveals that diversification of alleles in this species has occurred to such an extent that the likelihood of two randomly chosen individuals having indistinguishableHaeIII fragment profiles is c. 3.17 × 10−4. Based on this finding, members of interdigitating clones can be assigned to one or another clone with high statistical confidence. Interdigitating, morphologically cryptic clones were also identifiable. These results demonstrate that some minisatellite probes can be applied to very distant taxa to obtain useful information about genetic variation.
Consistent occupational preferences and academic adjustment

This study explored the differences in academic adjustment variables between students who made congruent, incongruent, and undecided college major choices. The academic adjustment variables were operationally defined by the College Inventory of Academic Adjustment. Congruent, incongruent, and undecided college major choice groups were defined operationally using the Vocational Preference Inventory. The analysis of variance revealed the main effect of groups (congruent, incongruent, and undecided) to be significant for two academic adjustment variables. The test for the main effect of sex was found to be significant for one adjustment variable. The test for interaction was found to be significant for one variable. The findings suggest that students in the congruent female and male groups tend to be more academically adjusted than students in the undecided male group.
Mothers' experiences raising young children with type 1 diabetes.

issues and purpose.To examine the day-to-day experiences of mothers raising children 4 years of age and younger with type 1 diabetes. design and methods.The descriptive design compared mothers of children with (n = 25) and without diabetes (n = 25). Mother-child observations were completed for children with diabetes. results.Mothers of children with diabetes are very skilled in reading their children's behavioral cues. Mothers'concerns included the fear of hypoglycemia and seizure activity, access to daycare centers, and babysitting services capable of caring for their children's condition. These responses significantly differed from the control group mothers. practice implications.Nurses can affirm that hypoglycemia-related fears are normal and help mothers identify community resources that might ease the burden of care required, especially during the early postdiagnosis period.
Central peak and narrow component in x-ray scattering measurements near the displacive phase transition in SrTiO 3

The second-order displacive phase transition in ${\text{SrTiO}}_{3}$ at ${T}_{C}\ensuremath{\sim}105\text{ }\text{K}$ has been the subject of much debate. For temperature $T$ above and near ${T}_{C}$, energy scans by neutron scattering have shown a central peak (CP) at the $R$ point in the Brillouin zone in addition to a pair of soft phonon peaks, while momentum scans by x-ray thermal diffuse scattering around the $R$ point have shown a narrow component (NC) atop a broad thermal peak caused by the soft mode. This work clarifies the relationship between the CP and NC by inelastic x-ray scattering with high energy and momentum resolutions. The CP and NC are derived from the same origin and can be attributed to defect-induced local transition above ${T}_{C}$.
Host support of Ty3 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ty3 is a Saccharomyces cereviae LTR retrotransposon. The structure of Ty3 is similar to that of a simple retrovirus. It is 5.4 kb in length and encodes overlapping GAG3 and POL3 reading frames flanked by 340 bp long terminal repeats. Expression of Ty3 results in production of Gag3 and Gag3-Pol3 polyproteins which assemble together with genomic RNA into in association with P-body proteins. VLPs are also associated with these clusters. The nucleo-capsid domain of Ty3 Gag3 is required in trans for recruitment of Ty3 RNA into P bodies. The untranslated regions of Ty3 RNA are sufficient in cis for recruitment of RNA to P bodies, but the GAG3-POL3 coding domain of the RNA can also confer association with P body proteins. In contrast, only the untranslated sequences confer packaging of a mini-Ty3 transcript. Upon assembly, Gag3 is processed into capsid, spacer, and nucleocapsid. Gag3-Pol3 is processed into those proteins and protease, junction, reverse transcriptase, and integrase. We propose that P-body proteins promote Ty3 VLP assembly and a mass spectrometry approach is being taken to further define the components of these dynamic complexes. However, in spite of genetic evidence that P-body proteins play a positive role in Ty3 production, these intracellular foci may also act as host traps to down-regulate transposition. Ty3-P body clusters become perinuclear over time and are physically associated with nuclear pores. A specific class of FG nucleoporins are required for Ty3 nuclear entry.
Understanding the Vulnerabilities of a SOA Platform - A Case Study

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a powerful distributed computing paradigm that provides high-level abstractions for developing, deploying, and executing distributed systems while hiding many platform-level details. SOA platforms host functionality as deployed services, support decoupled interaction between service providers and service consumers, and manage low-level plumbing and dispatching among various deployed components. As with any distributed computing platform, SOA presents challenges for security and survivability beyond those that exist in more static and local platforms. As SOA platforms become popular and more widely used in a variety of distributed systems, it is important to explore their security challenges and vulnerabilities, and to understand how well those are addressed by the current security features of SOA platforms. This paper reports on a case study that evaluated the vulnerability profile of a SOA platform based on the popular open source JBoss Application Server.
Proteomic analysis of germinating urediniospores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, causal agent of Asian soybean rust

Phakopsora pachyrhizi is an obligate pathogen that causes Asian soybean rust. Asian soybean rust has an unusually broad host range and infects by direct penetration through the leaf cuticle. In order to understand the early events in the infection process, it is important to identify and characterize proteins in P. pachyrhizi. Germination of the urediniospore is the first stage in the infection process and represents a critical life stage applicable to studies with this obligate pathogen. We have applied a 2-DE and MS approach to identify 117 proteins from the National Center of Biotechnology Information nonredundant protein database and a custom database of Basidiomycota EST sequences. Proteins with roles in primary metabolism, energy transduction, stress, cellular regulation and signaling were identified in this study. This data set is accessible at http://world-2dpage.expasy.org/repository/database=0018.
Subdiffraction limit nanophotonic waveguides by quantum dot array structure: modeling and simulation

Building photonic integrated circuits, which overcome the quantum limitation of the uncertainty principle, requires a new paradigm for optical waveguide design that is fundamentally different from the conventional approach. With recent advances in creating nanomaterials, quantum dots made of semiconductor compounds have enabled manipulation of electron and photon interaction in the presence of optical or electrical stimulus. In this paper, we explore the frontier of using quantum dots in new waveguide structures to pave the way for devices whose dimensions are below the diffraction limit of light. These components handle signals in the optical domain, and exploit the high-speed and transparency advantages of light. We first calculate the gain spectrum for pulsed optically-pumped quantum dots and derive the gain coefficient for waveguides. Then, a new model for a quantum dot waveguide is presented and optimum waveguide structure for propagation is determined. The results for two material systems, CdSe and CdTe quantum dots operating in free space, are given throughout. The model may be applied and extended to other compounds and establishes a foundation for quantum dot nano-scale photonic integrated circuits. By utilizing the non-linear properties of quantum dots, the proposed device forms a basis for applications in sensing, computing, and signal processing.
Peaceful purposes provisions of the United Nations convention on the law of the sea

This article provides a detailed analysis of the few clauses in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 that reserve the oceans for peaceful purposes. The antecedents of these so‐called res...
USCENTCOM CCJ6 Network Engineering Study

Over the last five years, the US and Coalition troop presence within the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) has increased in support of various operations, including Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). This buildup has resulted in the expansion of the satellite, ATM, fiber, and IP based networks within the CENTCOM AOR to support the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) capabilities of the deployed warfighters. However, the rapid expansion of the CENTCOM network coupled with inconsistent network policies between the US Military services has resulted in the deployment of a less than optimal network architecture. In 2005, the CENTCOM J6 proposed an end-to-end engineering study to assess the state of the USCENTCOM Joint Theater C4I enterprise network. This study was meant to encompass all aspects of network operations in the CENTCOM AOR including transmission media, voice switching, data network routing, NetOps, and bandwidth management at the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) Tier 0 and Tier 1 locations. As a result, three key areas of the CENTCOM network were analyzed: satellite and ATM transmission paths, Promina multi-service access platform utilization, and IP network topology including routing and switching protocols. Technology and policy enhancements were also analyzed to see how they could be used to improve the current CENTCOM network architecture.
Large-scale preparation and characterization of poly(ADP-ribose) and defined length polymers

Poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) is a large, structurally complex polymer of repeating ADP-ribose units. It is biosynthesized from NAD⁺ by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and degraded to ADP-ribose by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase. pADPr is involved in many cellular processes and exerts biological function through covalent modification and noncovalent binding to specific proteins. Very little is known about molecular recognition and structure-activity relationships for noncovalent interaction between pADPr and its binding proteins, in part because of lack of access to the polymer on a large scale and to units of defined lengths. We prepared polydisperse pADPr from PARP1 and tankyrase 1 at the hundreds of milligram scale by optimizing enzymatic synthesis and scaling up chromatographic purification methods. We developed and calibrated an anion exchange chromatography method to assign pADPr size and scaled it up to purify defined length polymers on the milligram scale. Furthermore, we present a pADPr profiling method to characterize the polydispersity of pADPr produced by PARPs under different reaction conditions and find that substrate proteins affect the pADPr size distribution. These methods will facilitate structural and biochemical studies of pADPr and its binding proteins.
Antioxidant phytochemical and fruit quality changes in mango (Mangifera indica L.) following hot water immersion and controlled atmosphere storage

Tropical fruits such as mangoes destined for import into the United States are commonly required to have a thermal treatment against invasive pests, which could be combined with controlled atmosphere (CA) storage to prolong shelf life and preserve fruit quality. Changes in antioxidant phytochemicals and resultant quality during storage and ripening were investigated in fresh mangoes, as influenced by application of CA in combination with a hot water immersion quarantine treatment (46 °C for 75 min). Mature-green mangoes with or without a hot water treatment, were held in air, 3% O2 + 97% N2, or 3% O2 + 10% CO2 + 87% N2 and evaluated for external quality and phytochemical differences after storage for 2 weeks at 10 °C and after subsequent ripening in air at 25 °C. Visible appearance of anthracnose during ripening was effectively inhibited by the hot water treatments combined with CA. Concentrations of gallic acid and numerous hydrolysable tannins and their resultant antioxidant capacity were unaffected by the hot water treatment, while total polyphenolics naturally decreased throughout fruit ripening, regardless of hot water treatment or storage atmosphere. However, the overall decline in polyphenolic concentration was inhibited by the CA treatments, as a result of delayed ripening. Quality parameters such as flesh colour and titratable acidity provided supporting evidence that the CA conditions helped to delay fruit ripening.
Quantitative influence of blood volume expansion on the osmotic threshold for vasopressin release.

ABSTRACT The level of plasma osmolality at which hydrated human subjects first respond to an intravenous infusion of 5% saline with a statistically significant fall in free water clearance (without a fall in osmolal clearance or creatinine excretion) has been called the osmotic threshold for vasopressin release. The mean osmotic threshold in 9 normal subjects was found to be 285.32 ±2.93 (sd) mOsm/kg. Expansion of the blood volume resulting from the infusion of 6% dextran in saline was found to increase the osmotic threshold to 288.12 ±4.44 mOsm/kg (p<.01). Blood volume expansion prolonged the duration of the 5% saline infusion from its onset until attainment of the osmotic threshold from 53.6 to 83.6 min (p <.005). The endogenous release of vasopressin at the time of the osmotic threshold reduced the free water clearance to an extent which was approximated by intravenous infusion of vasopressin at the rate of 12 mU/hr. The fall in free water clearance brought about by the infusion of 12 mU/hr of vasopres...
Troubleshooting pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to provide an update on stored diagnostic information furnished by new model pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). This information provides crucial information about both device function and arrhythmias discovered with device interrogation and is invaluable when troubleshooting problems with devices. RECENT FINDINGS The most recent generation of pacemakers and ICDs provides extensive diagnostic data regarding both device and lead function. Regular measurements of lead impedance and pacing thresholds allow for early detection of lead insulation break, fracture, dislodgement, or other problems. Analysis of stored intracardiac electrograms (EGMs) alerts the physician to oversensing and undersensing problems, which may manifest as abnormal device function, inappropriate arrhythmia detection, or inappropriate therapy. Simultaneous dual-chamber EGMs help the clinician diagnose the electrophysiologic mechanism of atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, whether they are sustained, nonsustained, symptomatic, or asymptomatic. Detection and specific diagnosis of arrhythmias with EGMs may determine the need for anticoagulation, institution or change of antiarrhythmic drug therapy, or reprogramming of device detection or therapy parameters. Some devices also have the ability to function as patient-activated monitors. SUMMARY Better diagnostic data by current pacemakers and ICDs allow for earlier and more accurate identification of device and lead malfunctions as well as better arrhythmia management. In addition, detection of asymptomatic clinically relevant arrhythmias may prompt actions by the physician that can alter clinical outcome.
Health and nutrition update on trans fatty acids

This article covers four topics related to current health and nutrition aspects of dietary trans fatty acids (TFA): (1) current dietary guidelines for TFA; (2) an updated exposure estimate to industrially-produced TFA; (3) a consideration of effects of TFA from ruminant sources; and (4) a discussion of effects of substituting stearic acid (STA) for TFA. Health professional organizations recommend that intake of TFA from industrial sources be as low as possible. Doell and coworkers [2] have reported a substantial reduction in exposure to industrially-produced TFA in the US from 4.6 g/person/day in 2003 to 1.0 g/person/day currently. Brouwer et al. [5] have concluded that all TFA, whether from animal or industrial sources, raise the ratio of plasma LDL- to HDL-cholesterol. Studies involving one-to-one substitution of STA for TFAs have shown a decrease or no effect on LDL-cholesterol concentration and an increase or no effect on HDL-cholesterol concentration. Overall, during the last 10 or more years, there has been a major reduction in TFA levels in the U.S. food supply, and efforts continue to reduce these levels further.
Compositions of Random Möbius Transformations

Abstract Let be a sequence of i.i.d. random variables taking values in the set of all Mobius transformations. Consider the sequence defined by where z belongs to the extended complex plane. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a.s. convergence of will be discussed. As an application we will see how a sequence of the form may be used to generalize a mathematical model of phyllotaxis. Some results concerning the convergence in distribution of will also be discussed.
Molecular Cloning of the Chromosomal Breakpoint of B-Cell Lymphomas and Leukemias with the t(11;14) Chromosome Translocation

The chromosomal breakpoint of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells of the B-cell type carrying the translocated long arms of chromosomes 11 and 14 [t(11;14) (q13;q32)] was cloned. The breakpoint was found to be within the joining segment of the human heavy chain locus on the translocated long arm of chromosome 14. A probe that is specific for chromosome 11 and that maps immediately 5' to the breakpoint on the 14q+ chromosome was isolated. The probe detected a rearrangement of the homologous genomic DNA segment in the parental CLL cells and also in DNA from a diffuse large cell lymphoma with the t(11;14) translocation. This rearranged DNA segment was not present in Burkitt lymphoma cells with the t(8;14) translocation or in nonneoplastic human lymphoblastoid cells. The probe can thus be used to identify and characterize a gene located on band q13 of chromosome 11 that appears to be involved in the malignant transformation of human B cells carrying the t(11;14) translocation. This gene, named bcl -1, appears to be unrelated to any of the known retrovirus oncogenes described to date.
Strange particle production in neutrino-neon charged current interactions

Neutral strange particle production in charged-current muon-neutrino interactions have been studied in the Fermilab 15-foot neon bubble chamber. Associated production is expected to be the major source of strange particles in charged-current neutrino interactions. sigma-neutral and xi-minus production by neutrinos was observed. The dependence on various leptonic and hadronic variables is investigated. A fit to single and associated production of s, s/anti-s, and c quarks is described based on the number of single and double strange particle production events. Inclusive neutral strange particle decays (V/sup 0/) production rates as a fraction of all charged-current events are measured and are tabulated. The lambda/K ratio is found to be 0.39 +- 0.04 and the fraction of lambda coming from sigma-neutral is (16 +- 5)%. The single- and double V/sup 0/ production was used to determine the associated s anti-s production rate and single s-quark production rate. 13 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs. (LEW)
Systemic dissemination and cutaneous damage in a mouse model of staphylococcal skin infections.

Serious staphylococcal infections frequently begin in the skin. The present study used a mouse model of such infections to evaluate the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to disseminate from the skin and to determine if cutaneous damage from the infections was required for dissemination. The mice were inoculated with S. aureus onto flank skin prepared by a tape-stripping method that caused minimal disruption of the epidermal keratinocyte layers. After these inoculations the staphylococci were found to disseminate to the spleen and kidneys of almost all animals within 6 h. Induction of leucopenia did not affect this process. Cutaneous damage was prominent in these experimental infections and included loss of the epidermis, neutrophil infiltration into the epidermis, and complete necrosis of the dermis. The latter also occurred in cyclophosphamide-treated animals, indicating that the organisms themselves and not the host inflammatory responses were responsible. Dermal necrosis did not develop until 48 h after inoculation, a time by which dissemination had already occurred. Therefore, in this mouse model system S. aureus is capable of penetrating the epidermal keratinocyte layers and disseminating rapidly after inoculation; the experimental infections do produce significant dermal damage, but the latter develops after dissemination has already taken place.
Strategic marketing planning, environmental uncertainty and performance

Abstract Collective wisdom in marketing suggests firms that engage in formal marketing planning have superior performance vis-a-vis those which do not. A paucity of empirical evidence makes this notion speculative. This study uses a sample of New Zealand organizations to examine the relationships between performance (objective and perceptual) and the levels of formalization and comprehensiveness in the planning process. The results indicate a significant association between objective criteria of performance (i.e., revenue and profit) and formalization and comprehensiveness. The positive relationships, although not strong, appear to hold in both stable and unstable environments.
Timing of salinity stress affects rice growth and yield components

Abstract Differential sensitivity during growth stages is one of the major issues in the management of saline water for irrigation. This study was designed to analyze the effects of salinity on plant growth and yield components of rice by composing 20-day periods of salinization at different growth stages. Plants were grown in sand tanks in a greenhouse and irrigated with nutrient solutions. Treatments were three levels of salinity with electrical conductivities at 1.8, 3.2 and 4.6 dS m−1 and five timing treatments. Plants were salinized on the day of seeding, 1-leaf, 3-leaf, panicle initiation (PI), and booting stages, respectively, and stress was relieved after 20 days in each timing treatment. Salinity-induced reductions in shoot dry weights of plants harvested before PI were significant, but there were no significant differences among timing treatments. Reduction in shoot dry weight of plants harvested at seed maturity was significant only when plants were salinized for a 20-day duration before booting, but not after booting. Reduction in tiller number per plant was significant only when plants were salinized for a 20-day duration before PI. The reductions in spikelets per panicle and seed weight per panicle were most pronounced when plants were stressed between the 3-leaf and PI stages or between PI and booting stages and minor when stressed at the other stages. A 20-day period between 3-leaf and PI stages was most sensitive to salinity in terms of seed yield. These results indicate that the differential sensitivity at growth stages can be clearly shown when stages are well defined in the timing treatments and the stress is quantified at growth stages based on the same duration of salinization. The interaction between cultivar and timing treatment was not significant. Uniform management options can be developed for irrigation using saline water for the cultivars with similar genetic backgrounds.
Rapid change in mouse mitochondrial DNA

Wild mice around Chicago may have switched genotype to keep pace with modern living. We have compared the sequences of mitochondrial DNA extracted from museum skins of white-footed mice caught in the Chicago area since 1855 and from modern mice trapped alive in the same locations. We found a consistently similar directional change of mouse genotype over this period at each of five collection sites that were separated by 10–70 km. The genotype most common 100 years ago is now extremely rare, indicating that the mammalian mitochondrial genome can undergo rapid evolution.
A Pilgrim People. Learning through the Church Year – John H. Westerhoff III

Book reviewed: A Pilgrim People. Learning through the Church Year, John H. Westerhoff III, Seabury Classics (Church Publishing Inc.) 2005 (1-59628-010-7), ix + 114 pp., pb $13.00
Endocrine dysregulation in anorexia nervosa update

Context: Anorexia nervosa is a primary psychiatric disorder with serious endocrine consequences, including dysregulation of the gonadal, adrenal, and GH axes, and severe bone loss. This Update reviews recent advances in the understanding of the endocrine dysregulation observed in this state of chronic starvation, as well as the mechanisms underlying the disease itself. Evidence Acquisition: Findings of this update are based on a PubMed search and the author's knowledge of this field. Evidence Synthesis: Recent studies have provided insights into the mechanisms underlying endocrine dysregulation in states of chronic starvation as well as the etiology of anorexia nervosa itself. This includes a more complex understanding of the pathophysiologic bases of hypogonadism, hypercortisolemia, GH resistance, appetite regulation, and bone loss. Nevertheless, the etiology of the disease remains largely unknown, and effective therapies for the endocrine complications and for the disease itself are lacking. Conclusions...