cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Will preventive HIV vaccine efficacy trials be possible with female injection drug users

This article examines whether preventive HIV vaccines trials will be viable among female injection drug users (IDUs). Of the 137 women who completed baseline serologic and behavioral assessments, 121 (88%) were seronegative; all enrolled in Project Jumpstart in Philadelphia (PA, U.S.A.), a vaccine preparedness initiative cosponsored by NIAID and NIDA. Subjects were seen every 3 months for risk and vaccine opinion assessment, risk reduction counseling, and HIV antibody testing. The baseline prevalence rate of HIV infection was 12% (16 of 137) with an annual incidence rate of 3.5% (4 of 114) during the first year. Of the 121 baseline seronegative women, 28% shared needles and 52% engaged in unprotected intercourse. Sixty percent of the baseline seronegative women reported being willing to be one of the first people to try an HIV vaccine. According to logistic regression, needle sharers were 12.8 times more likely, women who engaged in sex for drugs or money 6.6 times more likely, out-of-treatment women 3.5 times more likely, and those who believed that vaccines can prevent disease acquisition 3 times more likely to report willingness to try an HIV vaccine than their respective counterparts. At 1-year postbaseline assessment, 98% of the women had behavioral data collected and 95% had serologic specimens collected. Given that seroconversions occur and that these women engage in risk behaviors, report willingness to try an HIV vaccine, and can be retained for longitudinal assessment, they appear to be suitable participants for preventive HIV vaccine efficacy trials. Nonetheless, work is required to insure that these women make informed and knowledgeable decisions regarding trial enrollment.
The geology, botany and chemistry of selected peat-forming environments from temperate and tropical latitudes

Abstract Peat has been studied in several geologic settings: (1) glaciated terrain in cold temperate Maine and Minnesota, U.S.A.; (2) an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine, where sea level is rising; (3) the warm temperate U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, where sea level has changed often; and (4) the tropical coast of Sarawak, Malaysia, and the tropical delta of the Batang Hari River, Sumatra, Indonesia. Most of these deposits are domed (ombrotrophic or partly ombrotrophic) bogs in which peat accumulation continued above the surface of the surrounding soil. However, the bogs of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains are comparatively not as domed, and many have almost level surfaces. In some bogs, aquatic or semi-aquatic plant materials accumulated, replaced water in the depressions, and formed a surface on which marsh or swamp vegetation could subsequently live, die, and accumulate. In others, the plant materials accumulated initially on level silt or sand surfaces supporting marshes or swamps. As the peat dome formed, plants growing on it changed from luxuriant ones near the base of the dome, where nutrients were brought into the bog by surface and ground water, to stunted ones at the top of the dome, where the raised bogs are fed by nutrient-poor precipitation. The physical and chemical changes that take place in the sequence of environments from the pond stage of deposit development, through the grassy marsh stage, through the forested swamp stage, and finally through the heath dome stage can be measured in terms of acidity and ash, volatile matter, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen contents, as well as in the kind and distribution of trace elements. The organic and inorganic contents of the deposits relate to geomorphology, and geomorphology relates to their settings. As models of coal formation, some domed peat deposits may help in solving problems of distribution and character of ancient coal beds. But clearly not all peat deposits are precursors of coal. Most Holocene peat deposits are subject to destruction by erosion, fire and decomposition through microbial and chemical oxidation before burial. The best environments for coal precursors have biomass accumulation, a continuously rising water table within the mass, and minimum influx of clay and silt until preservation by burial. The most suitable settings for future economic coal deposits are domed bogs that accumulate thick, widespread peat having low ash and low sulfur contents. The ombrotrophic peat deposits of tropical Sarawak and Sumatra are thick and extensive, contain low-ash and low-sulfur peat, and have high heating values. They are considered to be the best tropical coal analogs because of their extent and chances of preservation; the base of the peat is below adjacent river levels, and chemical and structural conditions are favorable for accumulation.
Assessing and Understanding Line Graph Interpretations Using a Scoring Rubric of Organized Cited Factors

This study examined how 12- and 13-year-old students’ mathematics and science background knowledge affected line graph interpretations and how interpretations were affected by graph question levels...
Post-mortem changes in male sex glands

Abstract In 28 of 37 cases, microscopic examination was made of male sex glands removed at autopsy and allowed to decay for up to 120 days. Special attention is drawn to the late changes caused by putrefaction. These changes are most important in forensic practice. Under the experimental conditions reported here, there are no great difficulties in the microscopic identification of male sex glands allowed to undergo putrefaction changes for up to 120 days.
Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1982

Abstract Five named tropical cyclones and one subtropical cyclone were tracked during 1982 in the Atlantic–Caribbean–Gulf of Mexico region. There were no landfalling hurricanes.
Isoionic point and minimum solubility of carbonate minerals

Abstract Mineral/aqueous solution equilibria on magnesite suspensions open to the atmosphere show that the pH of minimum solubility of carbonate minerals is not equivalent to the isoionic point of the mineral suspension. For magnesite suspensions, the isoionic point occurs at pH 8.4, whereas the minimum solubility of the mineral occurs at pH values higher than 10.4
Therapeutics of multiple sclerosis

The treatment of MS is far from satisfactory. Patients and their families should be provided with a chance to learn about the illness and their emotional and social needs should be addressed by knowledgeable and supportive staff (e.g., neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians). Patients who are in remission should be encouraged to enjoy an active life, and to seek prompt medical attention and rest if they develop symptoms of an infection. They should contact their physician at times of apparent disease activity so that intercurrent infections can be properly identified and treated and so that ACTH or corticosteroids can be started if warranted. Currently, there appears to be little evidence that immunosuppressive drugs significantly affect the natural history of the disease. These agents should be administered only in the setting of controlled clinical trials by physicians experienced with their use. Whenever possible, patients with progressive disease should be offered a chance to participate in controlled clinical trials. Failing this, corticosteroids can be tried and repeated in patients who seem to benefit but prolonged steroid use should be avoided. Most of the complications of MS can be managed with some success. While we await a better understanding of the factors that contribute to disease activity, both definitive treatment and treatment of complications will continue to be directed by the results of carefully designed and properly controlled, randomized clinical trials.
Oral voriconazole for empiric antifungal treatment in patients with uncomplicated febrile neutropenia

Study Objective. To determine the success rate and toxicity profile of oral voriconazole when used as empiric antifungal therapy in patients with uncomplicated persistent neutropenic fever. Design. Retrospective medical record review. Setting. University hospital. Patients. Twenty-seven patients who received oral voriconazole as empiric antifungal treatment during 31 episodes of persistent neutropenic fever between August 1, 2003, and April 1, 2006. Measurements and Main Results. Data were collected on patient demographics, diagnosis, cancer treatment plan, voriconazole regimen, dates of voriconazole treatment, other antibiotics administered during the episode of fever, and adverse events. Patient survival data from at least 3 months of follow-up were also collected. Treatment success, which was defined as survival to the resolution of fever without a need to change antibiotics and without new fungal infections, was also determined. Median duration of therapy was 11 days (range 2–54 days). No patient discontinued the drug because of toxicity. The success rate was 55% (95% confidence interval [CI] 36–73%). For all patients, 90-day survival from the start of voriconazole treatment was 81% (95% CI 63–93%). Neither treatment success nor 90-day survival rates differed significantly when they were compared by the route used for loading doses or by the presence of a possible invasive fungal infection at the start of voriconazole therapy. Conclusion. Oral voriconazole appears to be a safe empiric antifungal treatment with an encouraging rate of activity for patients with neutropenia and uncomplicated persistent fever. Further research, including randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of intravenous versus oral voriconazole, is needed.
Recommended Practices for Promoting Physical Activity in Early Childhood Education Settings

Although the importance of physical development as an integrated part of early childhood education is well understood, many early childhood teachers lack the specific background and training in this area. To fill this gap, this article presents a framework of recommended practices and a corresponding assessment tool. The Head Start Body Start (HSBS) Recommended Practices Scale comprises 30 discrete teaching strategies organized into five different categories. The framework and tool presented here, developed by a panel of experts and practitioners, have been field tested in hundreds of Head Start centers across the nation and have proven effective in promoting the recommended practices among early childhood teachers. It is suggested that this framework and the corresponding instrument be applied in preservice and inservice training programs and possibly, pending further testing, for research purposes.
Traumatic injury, early gene expression, and gram-negative bacteremia.

Objectives Bacteremic trauma victims have a higher risk of death than their nonbacteremic counterparts. The role that altered immunity plays in the development of bacteremia is unknown. Using an existing dataset, we sought to determine if differences in early postinjury immune-related gene expression are associated with subsequent Gram-negative bacteremia. Design Retrospective cohort study, a secondary analysis of the Glue Grant database. Setting Seven level I trauma centers across the United State. Subjects Severely injured blunt trauma patients. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Total leukocyte gene expression was compared between the subjects in whom Gram-negative bacteremia developed and those in whom it did not develop. We observed that Gram-negative bacteremia was an independent risk factor for death (odds ratio, 1.86; p = 0.015). We then compared gene expression at 12 and 96 hours after injury in 10 subjects in whom subsequently Gram-negative bacteremia developed matched to 26 subjects in whom it did not develop. At 12 hours, expression of 64 probes differed more than or equal to 1.5-fold; none represented genes related to innate or adaptive immunity. By 96 hours, 102 probes were differentially expressed with 20 representing 15 innate or adaptive immunity genes, including down-regulation of IL1B and up-regulation of IL1R2, reflecting suppression of innate immunity in Gram-negative bacteremia subjects. We also observed down-regulation of adaptive immune genes in the Gram-negative bacteremia subjects. Conclusions By 96 hours after injury, there are differences in leukocyte gene expression associated with the development of Gram-negative bacteremia, reflecting suppression of both innate and adaptive immunity. Gram-negative bacteremia after trauma is, in part, consequence of host immunity failure and may not be completely preventable by standard infection-control techniques.
The Werner syndrome gene: the molecular basis of RecQ helicase-deficiency diseases.

Abstract Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that is manifested by genetic instability and premature onset of age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer. The gene that is mutated in WS cells ( WRN ) has been identified recently. Characterizations of the WRN gene product indicate that WRN encodes both a 3′→5′ DNA helicase, belonging to the Escherichiacoli RecQ helicase family, and a 3′→5′ DNA exonuclease. Studies to define the molecular mechanism of WRN–DNA transactions are currently underway in many laboratories. Preliminary results indicate that WRN functions as a key factor in resolving aberrant DNA structures that arise from DNA metabolic processes such as replication, recombination and/or repair, to preserve the genetic integrity in cells.
The Cucumber King of Kėdainiai: Collected Fictions—Julija Šukys

Wendell Mayo has described the process of pulling together The Cucumber King of Kėdainiai as something “like coming to a creek dotted with stepping stones. You get a sense that there may be enough ...
Genital tumors: Their management by micrographic surgery

Genital tumors represent a special group requiring effective and curative treatment while functional and cosmetic demands require tissue sparing techniques. For these reasons, micrographic surgery is indicated. Over the past 5 years we have treated 24 such patients utilizing standard techniques for micrographic surgery. The patient population included twenty male and four female patients with ages ranging from 27 to 80 years. Histologically confirmed diagnoses included squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, verrucous carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, Paget's disease, and leiomyosarcoma. These were located on the penis, scrotum, perineum, and buttocks. Seven of these patients were considered to have recurrent tumors. Preexisting conditions existed in 6 patients, including balantis xerotica obliterans, trauma, decubitus ulcer, and hidradenitis suppurativa. All surgery was performed under local anesthesia in the cutaneous surgery unit. Average pretreatment tumor size was 2.0 × 1.9 cm. Average postoperative defect size was 4.5 × 3.7 cm. Tumors were excised with an average of three stages and 18 sections. Most defects (65%) were allowed to heal by secondary intention, five (21%) were closed primarily, and three were referred for closure. After surgery five patients developed metastases in their regional lymphatic system. No patients developed local recurrence. Micrographic surgery is a most useful treatment modality in patients with genital tumors for control of local disease. However, patients with squamous cell carcinoma should be considered for elective regional lymph node biopsy and/or dissection in conjunction with micrographically controlled excision of the primary tumor.
Moderate wine consumption is associated with decreased odds of developing age-related macular degeneration in NHANES-1.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between alcohol intake and the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Case control study. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 3072 adults 45 to 74 years of age with macular changes indicative of AMD who participated in a nationally representative sample of the first National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES-1) between 1971 and 1975: (a) the ophthalmology data set and (b) the medical history questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Alcohol intake and the risk of developing AMD were measured. AMD was determined by staff at the National Eye Institute by fundoscopy examination using standardized protocol. RESULTS: Overall, 184 individuals (6%) had AMD. We observed a statistically significant but negative association between AMD and the type of alcohol consumed in a bivariate model (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.73, 0.99). In the same model, age maintained a consistently strong association with AMD (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06–1.11; P < .001). Among the different types of alcohol consumed in NHANES-1 (beer, wine, and liquor), the effect of wine, either alone (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.55–0.79) or in combination with beer (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.55–0.79) or liquor (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.63–0.86), dominated the negative association observed between AMD and alcohol type. Additionally, a statistically significant and negative association between wine and AMD was noted after adjusting for the effect of age, gender, income, history of congestive heart failure, and hypertension (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.67–0.99). CONCLUSION: Moderate wine consumption is associated with decreased odds of developing AMD. Health promotion and disease prevention activities directed at cardiovascular disease may help reduce the rate of AMD-associated blindness among older people. The nature and pathophysiology of this association warrant further investigation.
Effect of scaffold material, construct length and mechanical stimulation on the in vitro stiffness of the engineered tendon construct

Introducing mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-seeded collagen constructs into load-protected wound sites in the rabbit patellar and Achilles tendons significantly improves their repair outcome compared to natural healing of the unfilled defect. However, these constructs would not be acceptable alternatives for repairing complete tendon ruptures because they lack the initial stiffness at the time of surgery to resist the expected peak in vivo forces thereafter. Since the stiffness of these constructs has also been shown to positively correlate with the stiffness of the subsequent repairs, improving initial stiffness by appropriate selection of in vitro culture conditions would seem crucial. In this study we examined the individual and combined effects of collagen scaffold type, construct length, and mechanical stimulation on in vitro implant stiffness. Two levels each of scaffold material (collagen gel vs. collagen sponge), construct length (short vs. long), and mechanical stimulation (stimulated vs. non-stimulated) were examined. Our results indicate that all three treatment factors influenced construct linear stiffness. Increasing the length of the construct had the greatest effect on the stiffness compared to introducing mechanical stimulation or changing the scaffold material. A significant interaction was also found between length and stimulation. Of the eight groups studied, longer, stimulated, cell-sponge constructs showed the highest in vitro linear stiffness. We now plan in vivo studies to determine if higher stiffness constructs generate higher stiffness repairs 12 weeks after surgery and if in vitro construct stiffness continues to correlate with in vivo repair parameters like linear stiffness.
Strained craters on Ganymede

High-resolution images of Jupiter's satellite Ganymede obtained by the Galileo spacecraft reveal several elliptical craters that are transected by sets of subparallel ridges and troughs oriented roughly orthogonal to the long axis of the crater, implying that these craters have been extensionally strained. We analyze five such craters, four in the ancient dark terrain and one in bright grooved terrain, inferring their strain histories by assuming each crater was originally circular. These strained craters have been elongated by amounts ranging from ∼5 to ∼50%. All are deformed by extension near perpendicular to subparallel ridges and troughs, and some are also deformed by distributed simple shear parallel to these tectonic structures. The rift zones that deform these craters show extensions of ∼5 up to ∼180% for a well-defined fault zone that rifts Saltu crater within dark terrain of Nicholson Regio. Extensional fault zones consisting of domino-style normal faults and representing strains of several tens of percent may be common on Ganymede, and strains of this order can alter pre-existing surface features beyond recognition through the process of tectonic resurfacing.
Phasic components of calcium binding and release by canine cardiac relaxing system (sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments).

Abstract Cardiac relaxing system (sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments) isolated from canine myocardium exhibit cyclic changes initiated by ATP. The addition of ATP results in rapid calcium binding followed by a slower spontaneous release. After release has occurred, restimulation of calcium binding can be effected by additional ATP provided the ATP which initiated the first binding is hydrolyzed to a low level. The evidence suggests that calcium binding and calcium release represent two independent phasic changes in a calcium binding site with different responses to temperature ( Q 10 1.5 and 2.6, respectively), pH, Mg 2+ and ATP. The ability of ATP to restimulate binding may represent still a third phasic change. Evidence is also presented that each site must go through each phase independently in order to proceed to the next. The first phase is initiated by ATP and results in calcium binding; the second phase requires calcium binding and results in calcium release; the third phase requires calcium release. The implications of these changes and the source of energy transduction are discussed.
Empirical Evaluation of an Integrated Supply Chain Model for Small and Medium Sized Firms

With increased global competitive pressures, companies operating in these competitive environments are not only looking to their distribution division to save money, but also to generate competitive advantages. One technique is the integrated supply chain. However, this process has not met with success for all companies, leading some managers to consider the appropriateness of an integrated supply chain. This dearth of success could be attributed to the lack of scholarship to guide managers in their efforts to formulate and then implement their integrated supply chain strategies. In an effort to fill this gap, our paper draws on resource dependency theory and the realities of ever-increasing information technology sophistication as enablers of successful supply chain integration, resulting in the creation of our model to guide managers throughout this process. Through a Web-based survey, 329 responses were collected and analyzed through a structural equation modeling technique using LISREL to confirm the relationships in the model.
The Dynamic Ebbinghaus: motion dynamics greatly enhance the classic contextual size illusion

The Ebbinghaus illusion is a classic example of the influence of a contextual surround on the perceived size of an object. Here, we introduce a novel variant of this illusion called the Dynamic Ebbinghaus illusion in which the size and eccentricity of the surrounding inducers modulates dynamically over time. Under these conditions, the size of the central circle is perceived to change in opposition with the size of the inducers. Interestingly, this illusory effect is relatively weak when participants are fixating a stationary central target, less than half the magnitude of the classic static illusion. However, when the entire stimulus translates in space requiring a smooth pursuit eye movement to track the target, the illusory effect is greatly enhanced, almost twice the magnitude of the classic static illusion. A variety of manipulations including target motion, peripheral viewing, and smooth pursuit eye movements all lead to dramatic illusory effects, with the largest effect nearly four times the strength of the classic static illusion. We interpret these results in light of the fact that motion-related manipulations lead to uncertainty in the image size representation of the target, specifically due to added noise at the level of the retinal input. We propose that the neural circuits integrating visual cues for size perception, such as retinal image size, perceived distance, and various contextual factors, weight each cue according to the level of noise or uncertainty in their neural representation. Thus, more weight is given to the influence of contextual information in deriving perceived size in the presence of stimulus and eye motion. Biologically plausible models of size perception should be able to account for the reweighting of different visual cues under varying levels of certainty.
Sizing and Positioning Algorithm for 1 µm to 10 µm Particles Using Shadowgraphy

Measuring flows of aerosol particles of less than 10 μm diameter has proven a challenge in the past. Previously, our work included a brief review of the current state-of-art for aerosol measurements where accurate sizing was limited to particles greater than 5 μm. We developed a sizing and positioning algorithm (SPA) to accurately calculate both the diameter of a spherical particle, and the relative position of that particle to the object plane of the imaging camera for particles down to 3 μm in diameter. Our current work further extends the measurement range down to 1 μm particles. This algorithm has great benefit for the scientific community interested in small-particle aerosol flows.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Racial variation in the cancer caregiving experience: a multisite study of colorectal and lung cancer caregivers.

Author(s): Martin, Michelle Y; Sanders, Sara; Griffin, Joan M; Oster, Robert A; Ritchie, Christine; Phelan, Sean M; Atienza, Audie A; Kahn, Katherine; van Ryn, Michelle | Abstract: BackgroundAs cancer care shifts from hospital to outpatient settings, the number of cancer caregivers continues to grow. However, little is known about the cancer caregiving experience. This gap in knowledge is especially evident for racially diverse caregivers.ObjectiveThis study, part of a multisite study of care recipients with either lung or colorectal cancer and their caregivers, examined the caregiving experiences of African American (AA) and white caregivers.MethodsCaregivers were identified by cancer patients in the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance consortium. Caregivers completed a self-administered, mailed questionnaire that assessed their characteristics and experiences. Analysis of covariance was used to compare racial groups by objective burden and caregiving resources while controlling for covariates.ResultsDespite greater preparedness for the caregiving role (P = .006), AA caregivers reported more weekly hours caregiving than whites did (26.5 ± 3.1 vs 18.0 ± 1.7; P = .01). In later phases of caregiving, AAs reported having more social support (P = .02), spending more hours caregiving (31.9 ± 3.5 vs 16.9 ± 1.9; P l .001), and performing more instrumental activities of daily living on behalf of their care recipient (P = .021).ConclusionRacial differences in the caregiving experience exist.Implications for practiceNurses play a key role in educating cancer patients and their caregivers on how to effectively cope with and manage cancer. Because AA caregivers seem to spend more time in the caregiving role and perform more caregiving tasks, AA caregivers may benefit from interventions tailored to their specific caregiving experience.
The current status of anastomotic devices for coronary artery bypass surgery.

The purpose of this article is to briefly review the history of proximal and distal anastomotic devices and to discuss presently available devices. Clinical outcome data from the EPIC Trial of the ...
The effect of synchronizing temperature shifts on the synthesis and translation of replication-supporting messengers in Tetrahymena pyriformis

Abstract The effects of synchronizing hot and cold shifts on DNA metabolism have been studied in Tetrahymena pyriformis GL. Both types of temperature shifts inhibit thymidine incorporation. Studies using Actinomycin D and cycloheximide suggest that the inhibition of replication caused by high temperature shifts is secondary to inhibition of protein synthesis. New protein synthesis is required in the G1 phase to initiate DNA synthesis and continuous protein synthesis is required during S phase to maintain DNA synthesis. The replication-initiating proteins synthesized in G1 and the replication-supporting proteins synthesized during S phase appear to be coded for by short-lived, temperature-sensitive templates. Inhibition of replication by reduction in the pool of replication-supporting messengers may lead to deficits in late-replicating DNA in a minor fraction of the population. The latter is briefly discussed in terms of life-cycle control in Tetrahymena .
SEQUENCES AND EFFICIENCIES OF PROPOSED mRNA TERMINATORS

THE base sequences at the 3′ end of the different messenger RNA molecules show a pattern of a GC-rich region followed by five to eight Us (refs 1,2). Gilbert's hypothesis1 that the stability of the template duplex DNA (or of the mRNA–DNA hybrid, or both) determines termination of transcription, implies that the DNA termination sequences, and thus the mRNA sequences at the 3′ end, are not unique. Rather, the DNA sequence of the template presumably expresses a certain structural stability, and this pattern of stabilities is responsible for the termination of transcription. Using these ideas we have found five (but only five) sequences in ΦX174 DNA which have a common pattern of stabilities with previous terminator sequences. These sequences are proposed to be responsible for termination of transcription in ΦX174. Three of the five sequences have five or six As following a GC region instead of the Ts present in known terminators. The lengths of mRNAs predicted on this basis are in excellent agreement with published observations; however, sequence determination of the messengers will be necessary to test our proposal rigorously.
Constraint-based design of parts

Abstract The key issues in design for machining are abstraction, classification, representation and checking of machining constraints. The paper proposes an object-oriented classification scheme for machining constraints. Design by machining features that are restricted by machining constraints are considered. The constraints considered in the paper are probably not original; however, their application at an early design stage to achieve a manufacturable design is novel. To date, these known constraints have not been transformed into a meaningful design paradigm. Thus, a mechanism for checking machining constraints at the early stage of design is presented on the basis of a part topology. Algorithms are developed to check related machining constraints for different cases of part topology. Therefore, for each feature, only a limited number of machining constraints need to be checked. The constraint classification scheme and a mechanism for checking constraints have been implemented as a prototype system, CBD, which is coded in C++ on an HP workstation.
Pituitary-adrenal responses to standard and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests in adult survivors of child abuse.

Abstract Background Previous studies indicate that adverse childhood events are associated with persistent changes in corticotropin-releasing factor neuronal systems. Our aim was to determine whether altered glucocorticoid feedback mediates the neuroendocrine sequelae of childhood trauma. Methods Standard and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests (DST) were performed in women with a history of child abuse ( n = 19), child abuse and major depression ( n = 16), major depression and no childhood trauma ( n = 10), and no history of mental illness or childhood trauma ( n = 19). Secondary analysis with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the organizing diagnosis was also conducted. Results In the low-dose DST, depressed women with a history of abuse exhibited greater cortisol suppression than any comparator group and greater corticotropin suppression than healthy volunteers or nondepressed abuse survivors. There were no differences between nondepressed abuse survivors and healthy volunteers in the low-dose DST or between any subject groups in the standard DST. The PTSD analysis produced similar results. Conclusions Cortisol supersuppression is evident in psychiatrically ill trauma survivors, but not in nondepressed abuse survivors, indicating that enhanced glucocorticoid feedback is not an invariable consequence of childhood trauma but is more related to the resultant psychiatric illness in traumatized individuals.
Pointwise convergence to shock waves for viscous conservation laws

We are interested in the pointwise behavior of the perturbations of shock waves for viscous conservation laws. It is shown that, besides a translation of the shock waves and of linear and nonlinear diffusion waves of heat and Burgers equations, a perturbation also gives rise to algebraically decaying terms, which measure the coupling of waves of different characteristic families. Our technique is a combination of time-asymptotic expansion, construction of approximate Green functions, and analysis of nonlinear wave interactions. The pointwise estimates yield optimal Lp convergence of the perturbation to the shock and diffusion waves, 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞. The new approach of obtaining pointwise estimates based on the Green functions for the linearized system and the analysis of nonlinear wave interactions is also useful for studying the stability of waves of distinct types and nonclassical shocks. These are being explored elsewhere. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
In Silico Characterization and Homology Modeling of a Cyanobacterial Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Enzyme

ATP-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is a key catabolic enzyme found in various species of bacteria, plants, and yeast. PEPCK may play a role in carbon fixation in aquatic ecosystems consisting of photosynthetic cyanobacteria. RuBisCO-based CO2 fixation is prevalent in cyanobacteria through C3 intermediates; however, a significant amount of carbon flows into C4 acids during cyanobacterial photosynthesis. This indicates that a C4 mechanism for inorganic carbon fixation is prevalent in cyanobacteria with PEPCK as an important β-carboxylation enzyme. Newly available genomic information has confirmed the existence of putative PEPCK genes in a number of cyanobacterial species. This project represents the first structural and physicochemical study of cyanobacterial PEPCKs. Biocomputational analyses of cyanobacterial PEPCKs were performed and a homology model of Cyanothece sp. PCC 7424 PEPCK was generated. The modeled enzyme consists of an N-terminal and C-terminal domains with a mixed α/β topology with the active site located in a deep cleft between the two domains. Active site residues and those involved in metal ion coordination were found to be conserved in the cyanobacterial enzymes. An active site lid which is known to close upon substrate binding was also predicted. Amino acid stretches that are unique to cyanobacterial PEPCKs were also identified.
Network management software usability test design and implementation

The approach used at one of IBM's development sites for usability testing is somewhat different from methods used elsewhere. The approach was developed specifically for testing of software communications products as one aspect of the System Usability Process. The test design and implementation are described.
Chemisorption, physisorption and hysteresis during hydrogen storage in carbon nanotubes

Abstract The question of chemisorption versus physisorption during hydrogen storage in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is addressed experimentally. We utilize a powerful measurement technique based on a magnetic suspension balance coupled with a residual gas analyzer, and report new data for hydrogen sorption at pressures of up to 100 bar at 25 °C. The measured sorption capacity is less than 0.2 wt.%, and there is hysteresis in the sorption isotherms when multi-walled CNTs are exposed to hydrogen after pretreatment at elevated temperatures. The cause of the hysteresis is then studied, and is shown to be due to a combination of weak sorption – physisorption – and strong sorption – chemisorption – in the CNTs. Analysis of the experimental data enables us to calculate separately the individual hydrogen physisorption and chemisorption isotherms in CNTs that, to our knowledge, are reported for the first time here. The maximum measured hydrogen physisorption and chemisorption are 0.13 wt.% and 0.058 wt.%, respectively.
Dopamine-acetylcholine interaction in the rat striatum: A dual-labeling immunocytochemical study

The relationship between cholinergic neurons and dopaminergic axons in the rat striatum was examined by a dual-labeling immunocytochemical method. Cholinergic neurons were identified by their immunoreactivity for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and dopaminergic axon terminals were identified by their positive immunoreactivity for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Electron microscopic analysis of dual-labeled sections revealed that while most TH-positive terminals formed synapses with unlabeled striatal neurons and dendrites, a number of TH-positive terminals formed close appositions, highly suggestive of synapses, with both large and small dendrites as well as somata of ChAT-positive neurons. Tight appositions were also found between TH-positive terminals and ChAT-positive terminals. Moreover, TH-positive terminals and ChAT-positive terminals were found to form synapses with common dendrites of unlabeled striatal neurons. These results indicated that 1) dopaminergic axon terminals could interact directly with striatal cholinergic interneurons via tight appositions with distances comparable to conventional synapses; and 2) there is a convergence of dopaminergic and cholinergic axon terminals on noncholinergic striatal neurons.
Serum hemolytic factor D values in children with steroid-responsive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Serum hemolytic factor D activity, an important component of the ACP, was measured in patients with SR-INS. The mean serum factor D hemolytic, activity of patients with SR-INS in relapse was significantly reduced compared to the mean of the control group. Twenty-one of 27 SR-INS patients in relapse (78%) had reduced serum factor D activity. In contrast, the mean serum factor D hemolytic activity of SR-INS patients in remission was not significantly different from that in the control group. Factor D hemolytic activity was also reduced in other types of renal disease with the nephrotic syndrome. Serum factor D values were highly correlated with the serum albumin concentration. Although hemolytic factor D activity could not be detected in the urine, the low molecular weight and the significant correlation with serum albumin concentration suggest that urinary loss is responsible for the low serum levels of factor D. Deficient serum values of factor D may contribute to the increased susceptibility of SR-INS patients in relapse to bacterial infections with organisms which activate the ACP.
Changes in human event related potentials with prolonged delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use

Abstract Auditory event related potentials and contingent negative variation (CNV) were recorded in a series of behavioral tasks from 27 hospitalized human volunteers before, early during (1–3 days), late during (10–14 days) and after chronic THC intoxication at two dose levels (70–90 mg/day or 180–210 mg/day in divided doses). Twelve additional hospitalized volunteers served as a control group. The N1 component of the auditory event related potential in all tasks was depressed when tested early during 180–210 mg/day THC administration. No N1 changes were seen for the subjects receiving 70–90 mg/day or the control subjects. Ten to 14 days during the chronic THC period the N1 continued to be depressed only on our more difficult tasks. The CNV was depressed in all tasks except the control task for both doses at the early THC testing. Only at the most difficult task at the higher of the doses was the CNV depressed at the test late in the THC period. The changes seen in the N1 and the CNV may be indicative of different aspects of a common attentional alteration during stimulus processing. The results on our more difficult tasks suggest the alteration may continue in complex stimulus processing tasks in heavy marijuana users.
The posterior mitral valve echo and the echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral stenosis.

Abstract The detection of mitral stenosis has been a classic application of echocardiography. The technique utilizes the recording of an echo from the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. A reduced diastolic slope is the principal criterion for the diagnosis of mitral stenosis. Several investigators have noted that a similar pattern of mitral valve motion can occur in patients without mitral stenosis. This study shows how the recording of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve can help alleviate this confusion. Anterior and posterior mitral valve echograms were obtained in normal subjects, patients with mitral stenosis proved at cardiac catheterization, and patients with abnormal anterior mitral valve motion but no evidence of mitral stenosis at catheterization. The results demonstrate that in normal persons the posterior and anterior leaflets move in virtually opposite directions. In patients with true mitral stenosis the leaflets move in essentially the same direction but to a different degree. In patients with an abnormal diastolic mitral valve motion, possibly due to reduced rates of left ventricular filling, the posterior leaflet moves in a direction opposite to that of the anterior leaflet. Thus, this study can clearly distinguish these patients from those with true mitral stenosis.
Combined solution of ketamine and chloral hydrate as an anesthetic.

Abstract The use of ketamine and chloral hydrate as anesthetics in rats is hampered by potentially deleterious side-effects. Ketamine in effective doses (50–90 mg/kg, IP) stimulates mucosal secretion from the nostrils and can interfere with breathing, while chloral hydrate in effective doses (200–400 mg/kg, IP) can cause intestinal distention and possibly death in rats. In order to reduce these side-effects, mixtures of the two drugs were tested in male and female rats to determine effectiveness of anesthesia with the mixed solutions without apparent side-effects. For females weighing 150–300 g, effective combinations of the drugs were found for mixtures with combined doses of 30 mg/kg ketamine-150 mg/kg chloral hydrate (IP); with females greater than 300 g the effective combined dose was 15 mg/kg ketamine-75 mg/kg chloral hydrate (IP). For males weighing 200–400 g, effective combinations of the drugs were found for mixtures with combined doses of 50 mg/kg ketamine-150 mg/kg chloral hydrate (IP); for males weighing more than 400 g, the effective combined dose was 30 mg/kg ketamine-150 mg/kg chloral hydrate (IP). All effective doses resulted in a loss of withdrawal reflexes within 5 minutes, and an absence of the reflexes continuing for 25 min. The combination of the anesthetics offers a safe and inexpensive alternative to the barbiturate anesthetics for use in rats.
Use of NOAA environmental satellites to remotely sense ocean phenomena

The Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) on board the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operational polar orbiting satellites has enabled the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) to operationally support oceanographic interest to a greater degree than ever before. The two channel (.6 - .7\mu m and 10.5 - 12.5\mu m) radiometer with a subpoint resolution of 1 km allows for greater detail of measurement of several oceanographic phenomenon. In addition to the polar orbiters NOAA/NESS operates two geostationary satellites each equipped with a Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR). This two channel instrument (.55 - .75\mu m and 10.5 - 12.6 \mu m) has opened up the exciting possibility of observing motion of the surface thermal features of the ocean. The future polar satellite system TIROS-N is discussed with reference to its capabilities to provide data and services to the oceanographic community.
Effect of hypothermia on doxorubicin-induced cardiac myoblast signaling and cell death.

Abstract Background Anthracyclines (AC) are useful chemotherapeutic agents whose principal limitation is cardiac toxicity, which may progress to heart failure, transplantation or even death. We have shown that this toxicity involves oxidative stress-induced activation of the DNA damage pathway. Hypothermia has been shown to be protective against other diseases involving oxidative stress but has not been studied in models of AC toxicity. Methods In the current experiments, H9C2 cardiac myoblasts were treated with varying concentrations of the AC doxorubicin (DOX) during normothermia (37°C) or mild hypothermia (35°C). Total cell death was assayed using trypan blue exclusion and apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Oxidative stress was assayed using the fluorescent indicator 2′7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. DNA damage pathway activation was assayed by immunostaining for H2AX and p53. Mitochondrial membrane potential was assayed by JC-1 staining. Results At all concentrations of DOX examined (1, 2.5 and 5 μM), hypothermia reduced oxidative stress, activation of H2AX and p53, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and total and apoptotic cell death ( P =.001–.03 for each observation). Conclusions The reduction of oxidative stress-induced activation of the DNA damage pathway and consequent cell death by mild hypothermia supports a possible protective role to reduce the clinical impact of DOX-induced cardiac toxicity. Such an approach may allow expanded use of these effective chemotherapeutic agents to increase cancer cure rates.
On Generating Vectors That Invoke High Circuit Delays - Delay Testing and Dynamic Timing Analysis

In this paper, we propose an approach to generate vectors that invoke high delays. We first identify properties of different types of paths, especially sticky paths, i.e., paths that are functionally sensitizable but not even non-robustly testable. In particular, we show that it is impossible to guarantee detection of sticky path-delay faults. We then identify logic and timing conditions that are necessary to cover a target path and develop a new logic-and-timing implication procedure to exploit these conditions. We incorporate this procedure in a new ATPG that also prioritizes the order in which these conditions are used to generate high quality vectors. We use this ATPG to identify paths that cannot or need not be tested and to generate high quality vectors for all other paths. Experimental results demonstrate that the vectors we generate invoke much higher delays than previously generated vector sets, especially for circuits with many sticky paths.
A temperature-dependent MOSFET inversion layer carrier mobility model for device and circuit simulation

A new semi-empirical model for electron and hole mobilities in MOSFET inversion layers is proposed. For the first time, the magnitude of the key parameter /spl eta/, which defines the effective transverse field, is found to be a continuous function of temperature for both electrons and holes. The effective transverse field dependences of the universal mobility curves are observed to differ between the electrons and holes, particularly at low temperatures. The proposed model is verified by comparison of experimental data and simulated MOSFET I-V characteristics over a temperature range from 77 K to 313 K.