cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tamsulosin: current clinical experience.

Abstract During the past decade, our understanding of the epidemiology and natural history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has improved considerably. Population-based studies confirm that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common among aging men. These studies have confirmed that men with moderate-to-severe symptoms have 4 to 6 times more trouble and interference with activities of daily living and twice the level of worry as those with mild symptoms. The realization by patients and their physicians that most men >50 years of age will develop LUTS, has resulted in increased awareness of pharmacologic agents, principally α-adrenergic antagonists, as a first line of therapy for this condition. Alpha blockers were introduced >30 years ago to treat LUTS and today are the mainstay in pharmacologic therapy. Among the α blockers, tamsulosin more selectively targets the α 1A -adrenergic receptor subtype and is as effective as conventional α 1 blockers in treating LUTS caused by BPH. Its subselectivity and pharmacodynamic properties may provide advantages in safety, tolerability, and administration compared with other α blockers, such as terazosin and doxazosin. Unlike other α blockers, tamsulosin does not require titration to be efficacious. Because of its rapid onset of action and lack of clinically significant effect on blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive patients, a therapeutic dose is delivered at the onset of treatment. Studies have documented that tamsulosin produces rapid improvements in LUTS and peak urinary flow rates, and these responses have been found to be durable.
Vibrational spectroscopic studies of newly developed synthetic biopolymers

Vibrational spectroscopic techniques such as near-infrared (NIR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy are valuable diagnostic tools that can be used to elucidate comprehensive structural information of numerous biological samples. In this review article, we have highlighted the advantages of nanotechnology and biophotonics in conjunction with vibrational spectroscopic techniques in order to understand the various aspects of new kind of synthetic biopolymers termed as polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated lipids. In contrast to conventional phospholipids, these novel lipids spontaneously form liposomes or nanovesicles upon hydration, without the supply of external activation energy. The amphiphiles considered in this study differ in their hydrophobic acyl chain length and contain different units of PEG hydrophilic headgroups. We have further explored the thermotropic phase behaviors and associated changes in the conformational order/disorder of such lipids by using variable-temperature FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Phase transition temperature profiles and correlation between various spectral indicators have been identified by either monitoring the shifts in the vibrational peak positions or plotting vibrational peak intensity ratios in the C--H stretching region as a function of temperature. To supplement our observations of phase transformations, a thermodynamic approach known as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been applied and revealed a good agreement with the infrared and Raman spectroscopic data. Finally, the investigation of thermal properties of lipids is extremely crucial for numerous purposes, thus the results obtained in this work may find application in a wide variety of studies including the development of PEGylated lipid based drug and substances delivery vehicles.
Comparison of Airborne Vertical Magnetic Gradient And Total Field Products For Mapping And Detection of UXO And Ferrous Wastes

Summary Recently-developed boom-mounted airborne magnetometer systems are designed to operate at altitudes of 1.5-2.0m. The ORAGS-VG system was developed to evaluate benefits of a measured vertical gradient system over total field systems, for which vertical gradient can be derived computationally. Our results demonstrate the superiority of measured vertical gradient over calculated gradient for data acquired at these low altitudes. The effectiveness is related, we believe, to reduction of secondary gridding effects associated with several types of positioning errors, and reduction of correlated rotor and compensation noise.
Differentiation of an identified sensory neuron (SR) and associated structures (CTO) in grasshopper embryos

The differentiation of an identified sensory neuron, the grasshopper wing hinge Stretch Receptor (SR), is examined throughout embryogenesis. The morphological features of the SR axon, as it finds its path from the peripheral cell body to the CNS, and the timing of this peripheral growth were determined by intracellular injection of Lucifer yellow. The course of growth of the SR axon within the CNS and the sequence of formation of the identified branches in its characteristic central arborization were investigated by silver intensification of cobalt-stained axons. In addition, intracellular recording from the cell body of SR was used to determine the onset of electrical excitability and the characteristics of the somal action potential. A brief account of the differentiation of the closely associated wing hinge Chordotonal Organ is also given. During differentiation, the cell bodies of SR and the first wing hinge Chordotonal Organ neuron (CTN1) extended processes and migrate posteriorly along a peripheral epithelial ridge. The cell bodies migrate up to 150 micrometers with a group of undifferentiated cells to a specific site at the posterior edge of the segment. As the SR and CTN1 cell bodies migrate, their trailing axons stretch across the epithelial ridge. These axons from the medial body wall nerve (1D2) that the axons of subsequent sensory neurons follow.
Kurunta of Tarḫuntašša and the Imperial Hittite Mausoleum: A New Interpretation of §10 of the Bronze Tablet

In 1986 the world of Hittitology was excited on hearing of the discovery of a well preserved bronze tablet. Inscribed on this tablet was a treaty between Hittite Great-King Tudḫaliya IV and his cousin Kurunta, appanage king of Tarḫuntassa, son of Tudḫaliya's father Ḫattusili III's elder brother Muwattalli II. An editio princeps of this treaty was published promptly, thoroughly, and, as always, extremely competently by H. Otten.The tenth paragraph of this treaty reads:ANA AWATNA4ḫekur SAG.US=ya=kan ABUYAmMarassantas KA×U-za karptam.dLAMMA-as=wa ANANA4ḫekur SAG.US lē manninkuwannu ABUYA ANAmMarassanta ṬUPPU iyatn=atmMarassantas ḫarzieni=ma ABUYA UL saktaAWATNA4ḫekur SAG.US=kan maḫḫan SAd10 kuntarra andan gulsanzaNA4ḫekur SAG.US=kan maḫḫan zilatiya ANAm.dLAMMA parkiyauwanzi UL kisariuit=ma maḫḫan ABUYA memian ISME nu memiyan ABUYA=pat ḫullasmaḫḫann=a ūkmTutḫaliyas LUGAL.GAL LUGAL-izziaḫḫatnu antuḫsan uiyanunnu=kan AWATNA4ḫekur SAG.US maḫḫan SAd10 kuntarra andan gulsanzan=an austanu=kanNA4ḫekur SAG.US zilatiya ANAm.dLAMMA parkiyauwanzi UL kisarimMarassantas=ma kuit ṬUPPU ḫarzi n=at uizzi mān udai n=at lē dattari
Familial predisposition to renal disease in two generations of Pima Indians with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

We studied the occurrence of renal disease by measuring serum creatinine and urine protein concentrations in the diabetic members of 316 Pima Indian families with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes in two successive generations to determine if diabetic renal disease aggregates in families. After adjustment for sex and other risk factors, proteinuria occurred among 14.3% of the diabetic offspring if neither parent had proteinuria, 22.9% if at least one diabetic parent had proteinuria, and 45.9% if both parents had diabetes and proteinuria. Among male offspring, an elevated serum creatinine concentration (≥177 μmol/l) was present in 11.7% if the parent had an elevated creatinine and in 1.5% if the parent did not. Thus, proteinuria and high serum creatinine aggregated in diabetic families, suggesting that susceptibility to renal disease is inherited independently of diabetes.
The Nature of the Deep Hole Trap in MOS Oxides

We have investigated hole and electron trapping events at E' deep hole traps in metal-oxide-semiconductor oxides. Using a sequence of ultraviolet irradiations, electron spin resonance measurements, and capacitance versus voltage measurements, we have obtained results which are completely consistent with a simple oxygen vacancy model for the hole trap. However, our results are inconsistent with the bond strain gradient model proposed by Grunthaner et al.
The distance matrix eigensystem of an equally spaced row of points

Abstract The distance matrix of an equally spaced row of points can be taken to be the matrix with ij th entry | i − j |. Denote the characteristic polynomial of this matrix by ch( n , x ). Because this matrix is symmetric and centrosymmetric, it is similar to a 2 by 2 block diagonal matrix. This corresponds to a factorization of ch( n , x ) into two characteristic polynomials, sym( n , x ) and ant( n , x ). The eigenvalues from sym have symmetric eigenvectors and those from ant have antisymmetric eigenvectors. Expansion by minors gives recursions for sym and ant. A rich system of relations between sym( n , x ), ant( n , x ) and a third set din( n , x ) is derived. These relations allow the simple recursive calculation of the polynomials. They are used to show that the eigenvalues are simple and to determine when eigenvalues for different n can be the same. Eigenvectors built by repeating smaller eigenvectors cause eigenvalues for one n to be repeated for multiples of n . An unexpected result following from this is that the ant and din polynomials have factorizations that are parallel to the factorization of x n −1 into cyclotomic polynomials.
Pulses and lipaemia, short- and long-term effect: Potential in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in most developed countries. Most CVD deaths are preventable through life-style measures such as diet, exercise and avoidance of cigarette smoking. Decreased intake of saturated fat and cholesterol and increased intake of cholesterol-reducing foods, such as pulses, deserve a high priority for activities designed to prevent CVD. Epidemiological and observational studies indicate that habitual intakes of large amounts of dietary fibre or of vegetables are associated with significantly lower rates of CVD. Studies over four decades document the hypocholesterolaemic effect of pulses and soyabeans. We performed a meta-analysis of eleven clinical trials that examined the effects of pulses (not including soyabeans) on serum lipoproteins. Intake of non-soya pulses was associated with these changes: fasting serum cholesterol, -7.2 %, 95 % CI -5.8, -8.6 %; LDL-cholesterol, -6.2 %, 95 % CI -2.8, -9.5 %; HDL-cholesterol, +2.6 %, 95 % CI +6.3, -1.0 %; triacylglycerols, -16.6 %, 95 % CI -11.8 %, -21.5 %; and body weight, -0.9 %, 95 % CI +2.2 %, -4.1 %. The hypocholesterolaemic effects of pulses appear related, in estimated order of importance, to these factors: soluble dietary fibre, vegetable protein, oligosaccharides, isoflavones, phospholipids and fatty acids, saponins and other factors. Intake of pulses may also reduce risk for CVD by favourable effects on blood pressure, glycaemia and risk for diabetes, and risk for obesity. Overall, the available evidence indicates that regular consumption of pulses may have important protective effects on risk for CVD.
Pressure shift of the hydrogen hyperfine frequency by krypton and xenon

Abstract Hyperfine pressure shifts for hydrogen atoms in krypton and xenon were measured by optical pumping. Expressed as fractions of the hyperfine frequency, the shifts are (-10.4 ± 0.2) × 10 -9 / Torr (0° C ) and (-20 ± 2) × 10 -9 / Torr (0° C ). These shifts are not consistent with theory.
Visual Realism for the Visualization of Software Metrics

The visualization techniques used in current software visualization frameworks make use of a limited set of graphical elements to highlight relevant aspects of a software system. Typical examples of such elements are text, simple geometric shapes and uniform color fills. Although human visual perception enables rapid processing of additional visual cues like shading and texture, they are not used. We contend that such 2D and 3D computer graphics techniques for achieving visual realism can be used to increase the information throughput of software visualization techniques. Visualization results are presented to show how treemaps, cushions, color, texture, and bump mapping can be used to visualize software metrics of hierarchically organized elements of a software system
Cultural problems in minority education: Their interpretations and consequences—Part one: Theoretical background

Culture has featured prominently in minority educational research, policies, and intervention since the early 1960s. It is receiving even more attention today in minority education discourse due to the emergence of cultural diversity and multicultural education as popular national issues. A careful analysis of the new discourse suggests, however, that the issue has shifted from how cultural differences enhance or deter the school adjustment and academic performance of minority children to the problem of cultural hegemony and representation in school curriculum and other domains of education. But cultural diversity and multicultural education are only a partial solution to the problems of culture in minority education. This essay is in two parts. In part one I argue for a reconsideration of the earlier question about how culture affects minority school adjustment and academic performance. I also proposecultural frame of reference as a new level of analysis of the cultural problems that confront minority students at school. In part two I illustrate my points with two case studies from Minority Education Project in Oakland, California.
Alzheimer Disease and Cellular Mechanisms of Memory Storage

Most ongoing efforts to combat Alzheimer disease (AD) are focused on treating its clinical symptoms, but the neuropathologic changes underlying AD appear decades earlier and become essentially irreversible by the time the disease reaches its clinical stages. This necessitates treating AD at preclinical stages, which requires a better understanding of the primary mechanisms leading to AD pathology. Here I argue that such an understanding calls for addressing perhaps the most puzzling question in AD—why the underlying pathology selectively impairs neurons that are involved in memory formation and storage. Memory formation is associated with epige-netic chromatin modifications and may, therefore, be accompanied by the synthesis of proteins unique to neurons involved in memory. These proteins could be recognized by the immune system as “nonself” antigens. This does not happen in the healthy brain because of its isolation from the immune system by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). All risk factors for AD impair the BBB, which may allow the immune system to attack memory-involved neurons and make them vulnerable to AD-associated pathology. This hypothesis is testable and, if confirmed, could redirect therapeutic efforts toward maintaining BBB integrity people belonging to AD risk groups rather than treating them when it is too late.
Course and outcome of acute cerebellar ataxia

We report a study of 73 consecutive children with acute cerebellar ataxia, representing all of the children evaluated at St. Louis Children's Hospital during a 23-year-period to whom this diagnosis could appropriately be assigned. Twenty-six percent had chickenpox, 52% had other illnesses that were presumed to be viral, and in 3% the ataxia was related to immunization. Nineteen percent had no definite prodrome. Sixty children were followed for 4 months or longer after onset of their ataxia (mean, 7.4 +/- 6.0 years). Ninety-one percent (55/60) of these, including all children with chickenpox, recovered completely from ataxia. Eighty-nine percent (39/44) of the children with non-varicella-related ataxia recovered completely from the ataxia, a much better rate of recovery than what was found in prior large studies. One fifth of the children followed for more than 4 months experienced transient behavioral or intellectual difficulties, but only 5 of the 60 children demonstrated sustained learning problems. This study represents the largest reported series of acute cerebellar ataxia and the most complete characterization of the clinical features and outcome of this illness.
Low-dose, dynamic, expiratory thin-section CT of the lungs using a spiral CT scanner

Seventeen patients with lung transplants were evaluated with inspiratory, postexpiratory, and low-dose, dynamic expiratory thin-section computed tomography (CT). Region of interest measurements were performed on inspiration and expiration images with both techniques, and mean lung attenuation changes between inspiration and expiration images were calculated and compared. Dynamic expiratory thin-section CT resulted in a significantly greater increase in lung attenuation than postexpiratory thin-section CT. Dynamic expiratory thin-section CT may prove useful in the evaluation of patients with lung diseases characterized by air flow obstruction with little increase in patient radiation dose.
Cardiac Troponin I C-Terminal Mutations (K178E and K179E) Cause Severe Heart Failure and Early Mortality in Transgenic Mice

The C-terminal region of cardiac troponin I (cTnI164-210) plays an important role in cardiac muscle contraction. Most genetic cardiomyopathies in human are associated with the mutations in cTnI C-terminus. Among them, K178E mutation was reported to cause restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) in human. Deletion of K177 is related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Since the amino acids numbered 173-181 bind to actin, which increases the inhibitory effect of TnI, we hypothesize that K177 and K178 are both critical for normal cardiac function. We modeled the RCM mutation of lysine 178→glutamate (K178E) in human cTnI by cardiac specific expression of the mutated protein (cTnI179Glu in mouse sequence) in transgenic mice. In addition, we created cTnI178Glu transgenic mice expressing cTnI K178E as a comparison. The RCM cTnI179Glu transgenic mice showed a dramatic phenotype of a high rate of early death. Some survived TG mice were infertile. Interestingly, the mutation of cTnI K178E (cTnI K177E in human sequence) had a similar phenotype as shown in RCM cTnI179Glu mice. The replacement of the mutant cTnI K178E in cTnI178Glu mouse lines was about 20-40%. Bi-atrial enlargement was a dramatic sign observed in most of the cTnI178Glu TG mice, and was developed early at age of 2 weeks. Severe cardiac dysfunction and early death were observed in these TG mice as well. The data from transgenic mouse studies indicate that like RCM cTnI K179E mutation, the cTnI K178E mutation in mouse hearts can also cause severe cardiomyopathy with heart failure and early death, suggesting that cTnI C-terminus is critical in maintaining normal cardiac function.(Supported by NIH GM073621 and AHA09GRNT2400138)
Endogenous Oxygen Consumption Rates of Bovine Alveolar Mucosa

Oxygen consumption rates were determined for bovine whole alveolar mucosa, alveolar mucosal connective tissue, and alveolar mucosal epithelium. The mean oxygen quotients were 0.88, 0.39, and 2.08, respectively. Because inclusion of connective tissue in epithelial slices was unavoidable, a histometric technique for estimating the connective tissue volume for correcting the raw QO2of the epithelium was used. Of the fibers in alveolar mucosal connective tissue, 27.7% were collagenous and 72.3% were elastic. Those of attached gingiva were completely collagenous. The QO20.39 for alveolar mucosal connective tissue is lower than the previously reported QO20.69 for attached gingival connective tissue because of the additional oxygen required for hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis.
Electrochemically Guided Photovoltaic Devices: A Photocurrent Study of the Charge Transfer Directionality between CdTe and CdSe Nanoparticles

This work reports on the energy level alignment and charge transfer in organized assemblies of CdTe and CdSe nanoparticles (NPs), for both electrochemical systems and in solid-state photovoltaic devices. This work shows how control over the energy level alignment, by manipulation of the size and surface ligands of the CdTe and CdSe NPs, can be combined with control over the NPs spatial arrangement, either by sequential self-assembly onto a Au working electrode of an electrochemical cell or spin-coating onto an ITO substrate of a photovoltaic device, to facilitate photoinduced charge separation (photocurrent). By properly arranging the spatial and energetic hierarchy of the assemblies, the charge transfer direction and its efficiency can be optimized.
ERG reconstruction: The entrada sandstone (Jurassic) of northern Utah and Colorado

Abstract To a large extent, the Jurassic Entrada erg (sand sea) of northern Utah and Colorado can be reconstructed by the coupling of field relationships with current hypothesis and observations from modern ergs. Stratigraphic relationships show that the Entrada erg occupied a cratonic basin characterized by sabkha, continental and shallow-marine deposits. Paleopole positions indicate that the erg was situated between 15 and 25°N latitude, a position conducive for erg development as a trade wind feature in a hot, arid climate. Storm deposits suggest that this setting may have been conducive to events such as typhoons. Entrada paleowind directions suggest an overall erg circulation pattern formed by the trade winds, sea breeze effects, and frictional drag of wind over land. Four erg facies occur largely with respect to position within the basin. A central erg facies, characterized by the vertical repetition of cosets of large-scale cross-strata and thin horizontal deposits, represents downwind migrating and climbing, large dunes and interdune areas. Interdune deposits show a wide variety of sedimentary structures reflecting deposition on wet, damp, and dry surfaces. A coastal erg facies shows a less well-developed erg with smaller, more irregular dunes. An inland-margin erg facies consists of deposits of wind ripples, small dunes, and wadis that flowed into the erg basin. Locally, a sheet sand facies is present. The geometric relationships of the hierarchy of bounding surfaces indicate that dunes of the central erg facies were compound crescentic (draas), and interdune areas were generally enclosed. The distribution of stratification types, and foreset dips dispersion similarly suggest crescentic dunes. Direct estimates of draa wavelength, angle of climb, and some interdune and dune dimensions can also be made. Correlation of these field measurements with relationships found in modern ergs yield additional bedform dimensions. These estimates suggest erg bedforms similar to those of the Rub'al Khali, Saudi Arabia, but of smaller scale such as those of the Peski Karakumy, U.S.S.R.
Alpha-thalassaemia and response to hydroxyurea in sickle cell anaemia

Background Hydroxyurea (HU) reduces vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) and other complications of sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Alpha-thalassaemia is a known modifier of SCA. Studies on the efficacy of HU in SCA patients with α-thalassaemia have yielded varying results. Objective To determine the effect of α-thalassaemia in response to HU therapy in the Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea (MSH) cohort. Methods We compared the laboratory parameters and VOC incidence in the MSH cohort stratified by the presence or the absence of α-thalassaemia. Results Hydroxyurea showed significant (P = 0.001 for all baseline vs. follow-up comparisons) treatment effect on red cell indices irrespective of α-globin gene deletion. The magnitude of the HU-related changes was similar for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (no α-thalassaemia 13 fl and α-thalassaemia 13 fl) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) (no α-thalassaemia 4 pg and α-thalassaemia 4 pg) in both groups. Foetal haemoglobin (HbF) and F-cells also increased significantly with HU treatment in both groups. Total haemoglobin increased after HU treatment in both groups, but the increase was smaller and not statistically significant in patients with α-thalassaemia. In contrast, HU-related reduction in VOCs was more pronounced in patients with α-thalassaemia (VOC incidence rate ratio HU/placebo: 0.63 for α-thalassaemia and 0.54 for no α-thalassaemia (P for interaction 0.003). Conclusion Hydroxyurea decreases VOCs in SCA patients with and without α-thalassaemia, and the degree of VOC reduction was more pronounced in the patients with alpha-thalassaemia. Despite the lower baseline values, changes in standard laboratory parameters such as MCV and HbF percent remain useful in monitoring HU therapy in the presence of α-thalassaemia.
The Role of Induction Therapy for Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the US. Surgical resection is potentially curative; however, even after complete resection many patients experience systemic recurrence and subsequently die of their disease. As a means of reducing the chances of recurrence there has been significant interest in combining chemotherapy with surgical resection. Recently, several large phase III clinical trials have demonstrated a significant survival benefit with adjuvant or postoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Use of preoperative or induction chemotherapy has also been an area of active investigation; however, the trials that have demonstrated a survival benefit were small in size, and there has not been widespread acceptance of this treatment approach. The trials of induction chemoradiotherapy have generally been performed in patients with locally advanced disease, frequently in patients with involvement of the level 2 mediastinal lymph nodes (N2). The results of the recent US Intergroup trial, 0139, which compared induction chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection versus nonsurgical therapy with chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable stage IIIA-N2 disease, revealed equivalent overall survival between the two treatment approaches. The results of an unplanned subset analysis of patients who were treated with lobectomy in the surgical arm have generated significant interest and debate. When the strategy of induction therapy is used, pathological clearance of the mediastinal lymph nodes is a significant prognostic factor for overall survival. Current investigations are attempting to determine the optimal method of assessing this critical prognostic factor. The toxicity, efficacy and proper selection of patients for induction therapy, particularly induction chemoradiotherapy, will be assessed in ongoing and future clinical trials.
Identification of a disease resistance locus in Arabidopsis that is functionally homologous to the RPG1 locus of soybean

A new disease resistance locus in Arabidopsis, RPS3, was identified using a previously cloned avirulence gene from a non-Arabidopsis pathogen. The avrB avirulence gene from the soybean pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea was transferred into a P. syringae pv. tomato strain that is virulent on Arabidopsis, and conversion to avirulence was assayed on Arabidopsis plants. The avrB gene had avirulence activity on most, but not all, Arabidopsis ecotypes. Of 53 ecotypes examined, 45 were resistant to a P. syringae pv. tomato strain carrying avrB, and eight were susceptible. The inheritance of this resistance was examined using crosses between the resistant ecotype Col-0 and the susceptible ecotype Bla-2. In F2 plants from this cross, the ratio of resistant:susceptible plants was approximately 3:1, indicating that resistance to P. syringae expressing avrB is determined by a single dominant locus in ecotype Col-0, which we have designated RPS3. Using RFLP analysis, RPS3 was mapped to chromosome 3, adjacent to markers M583 and G4523, and < or = 1 cM from another disease resistance locus, RPM1. In soybean, resistance to P. syringae strains that carry avrB is controlled by the locus RPG1. Thus, RPG1 and RPS3 both confer avrB-specific disease resistance, suggesting that these genes may be homologs.
Designing a Flexible and Supportive Direct-Manipulation Programming Environment

An important part of helping learners detect, repair and avoid software errors is providing semantic support for learners while they manipulate their code. Unfortunately, usability aspects of both textual and direct-manipulation environments limit their ability to provide such support. Preliminary findings from exploratory studies are discussed, and several design requirements for a more flexible and supportive programming environment are identified
From eye spots to eye shine.

In the marginalia of Darwin's On the Origin of Species , the author's spouse wondered if, indeed, an eye could possibly “evolve” since it is so complex. Others, more recently, have asked the same question. Fortunately, similar doubt did not afflict Darwin. A review of the evolutionary evidence reveals ample evidence that eyes can and do evolve. For example, there are creatures that have multiple and very specific eyes, suggesting that eyes are not only rather easy to evolve, but, in some creatures, ocular evolution can be quite rapid. The process of organism photoreception probably started shortly after life began on this planet, stimulated by the sun. Ocular evolution responded to the sun's energy by producing phototaxis leading to crude eye spots, then ascending to the complex and elegant ocular structure of certain birds having two foveae and asymmetric lenses for precise focusing. Fantastic adaptations, often beyond imagination, have occurred and are with us today, including irregularly shaped eyes and special photopigments to view ultraviolet, infrared, and bioluminescence. The extension of the interpretation of electromagnetic waves into realms we cannot understand must create a fantastic panoply of colours and stimulations. And, yet, as ophthalmologists, we rarely consider that any visual system is significantly better than or even that different from our own. This is folly for many species have evolved spectacular and stunning adaptations to the visual imperatives of their world. The crepuscular aerial drama of a swallow on the wing hunting for a small erratic insect illustrates the profoundly complex visual processing necessary to provide identification, tracking, pursuit, and eventual capture in a dimly lit and almost clueless three dimensional environment. Yet, a swallow does this hundreds of times a day. Similarly, a bathypelagic piscine predator, living at a depth of 1500 metres, must face staggering problems merely identifying …
On the Genetics of Altruism and the Counter-Hedonic Components in Human Culture1

Man is more similar to the social insects than to the wolf and chimpanzee in complex social coordination, division of labor, and self-sacrificial altruism. In the social insects, the behavioral dispositions involved are genetically determined, an evolution made possible by the absence of genetic competition among the cooperators. In man, genetic competition precludes the evolution of such genetic altruism. The behavioral dispositions which produce complex social interdependence and self-sacrificial altruism must instead be products of culturally evolved indoctrination, which has had to counter self-serving genetic tendencies. Thus unlike the social insect, man — as Freud noted — is profoundly ambivalent in his social role.
Plausible mechanisms of the rapid conversion of ST-segment elevation to T-wave inversion in Takotsubo syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by electrocardiogram (ECG) diffuse ST-segment elevations (+ST), and T-wave inversions with prolongation of the QTc interval. Thus ECG-wise, TTS is not different from acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). However unlike acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, one type of ACS, a rapid conversion of+ST to T-wave inversion with prolongation of the QTc interval is seen in TTS. The author hypothesizes that this conversion is paralleled by a change of segmental myocardial dyskinesis to akinesis, development of myocardial edema, and reversion of the cardioinhibitory s-2 adrenergic receptor function, to its cardiostimulatory normal status. This hypothesis does not negate the plausibility that the ECG changes in TTS are due to myocardial ischemia/injury as traditionally perceived in ACSs. The reasons of the counterintuitive concurrence of the cardiac contractility to normal, or previous baseline status, while myocardial edema and T-wave inversions persist for several weeks in patients with TTS, are still elusive.
790 CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN VALUES IN INFANTS WITH ELEVATED NEUTROPHIL COUNTS

Infants with jaundice have been reported to have elevated poly morphonuclear cell (PMN) counts, thus reducing the utility of white blood cell counts in detecting infants with sepsis. We have evaluated the relationship of white cell count to the presence of hemolysis using carboxyhemoglobin as an index of red cell destruction. Twenty-eight infants, 2-28 days of age, with elevated total PMN counts (as defined by the Manroe reference range, J. of Ped. 95:89 ′79) had carboxyhemoglobin (HbCo%) determinations performed. All infants were screened for other causes of increased total PMN counts and none were septic or had a previously diagnosed hemolytic process. Fourteen (50%) of these infants had evidence of hemolysis with an elevated HbCo%(>0.9%). The mean total PMN count in the group with hemolysis was 14,670±7,000 and in the group without hemolysis it was 8,900±4,600. All infants with total PMN counts greater than 15,000 had elevated HbCo% values. Repeat HbCo% determinations were done in the hemolytic group when the total PMN counts returned to normal. All repeat HbCo% values were within the normal range. Increased total PMN counts can be used to identify some infants with previously undiagnosed hemolytic disease. Infants with jaundice and elevated white cell count should be suspected of having an associated hemolytic anemia particularly when the total PMN count is greater than 15,000/mm3.
The effect of sodium sulfate on solidification/stabilization of a synthetic electroplating sludge in cementitious binders

Abstract The effect of sodium sulfate on the solidification/stabilization of a large quantity of a synthetic electroplating sludge in cementitious binders was s
A method to measure the 1090 MHz interference environment

The 1090 MHz aviation surveillance frequency band is being used by a growing number of aircraft, applications and equipment types. The band is expected to soon reach critical interference levels. The frequency is used by aircraft transponders responding to interrogations from ground radar and from other aircraft. It is also shared by aircraft transmitting Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) information, and by ground stations transmitting traffic information and cross-link ADS-B rebroadcasts. In the current protocols, information is transmitted asynchronously. Loss of information due to overlapping messages or garbling is acceptable in all protocols to a certain degree, but there is concern that this performance loss will soon become unacceptable as message densities increase. In order to quantify the problem, analyses and simulations are used, and they must make assumptions about the details of the interference environment. Therefore there is a strong need for measurements in the field to verify the models. This paper presents a new approach to measuring the 1090 MHz interference environment.
Human Rights: The Gap Between Principle and Practice

Protecting Human Rights: A Comparative Study. By Todd Landman. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2005. 246 pp., $54.95 cloth (ISBN: 1-5890-1064-7), $29.95 paper (ISBN: 1-5890-1063-9). It is difficult to imagine a more rigorous, systematic examination of the growth of the international human rights regime and its effect on human rights practice than Todd Landman's Protecting Human Rights: A Comparative Study . In the last two decades we have seen almost three-quarters of the world's nation-states make formal commitments to international and regional human rights regimes. Concomitantly, we have observed increasing numbers of nation-states promulgating constitutions that formally promise democratic institutions and the protection of human rights. Yet, as Landman notes, juxtaposed against this apparent flourishing of the human rights regime are more cautious assessments of a “significant and persistent gap between practice and principle” (p. 5). This dilemma leads Landman to ask a broad set of fundamental questions: What explains the growth of the international law of human rights? What is the nature of the relationship between the international law of human rights and the actual protection of human rights? Does the international law of human rights make a difference for their protection? What other important factors help account for the global variation in rights protection? His subsequent analysis integrates the theories and methodologies of three related fields: international law, international relations, and comparative politics. Landman draws upon the strengths of each field with a degree of sophistication that should make a significant contribution to scholarship in all three, even though they have historically tended to operate in isolation from each other, uninformed of the others' theoretical development and empirical discoveries. Theoretically, Landman seeks to find the convergence among the relevant theories in these three fields. As he sees it, international law typically examines …
A Qualitative Study Exploring Mothers’ Perceptions of Child Neglect

This research explores the experiences and perceptions of mothers receiving services for child neglect. Incidents of child neglect are reaching alarming rates in the United States, now representing 78% of all child maltreatment reports. Although risks factors associated with child neglect are well known, there continues to be uncertainty about how to proceed in assessing and intervening with families. The epistemological stance of constructivism and the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism guided the qualitative methods of this research. Four overarching themes emerged focused on daily struggles, protecting my child, feeling trapped, and mutual trust. Implications for practice are discussed.
Implications of the variability of the solar neutrino flux

Analyses of the Cl and Ga solar neutrino data yield statistically compelling evidence for rotational (and related) modulations of the solar neutrino flux. While a neutrino transition magnetic moment and the Resonant-Spin-Flavor-Precession (RSFP) process have given at least as good a fit to time-averaged solar data as any other solution, the observed variability fits no present solution. The Cl data show mainly a synodic rotation frequency of 12.88 y−1 (period 28.4 d) which display a latitudinal effect, just as does exactly the same frequency seen by SXT in coronal X-rays. While each data set has some of the other's dominant frequency, that of Ga is mainly 13.59 y−1, but it is equatorial, just as are the SXT coronal X-rays of that same frequency. The Ca data in narrow bins show one peak of nearly non-oscillational flux value and the other of about half that, with bimodality at the 99.99% CL. Convolution with SOHO/MDI helioseismology data shows the Ca effect is on the solar equator in the convection zone at 0.8 R⊙, yielding exactly the EΔm2 value used for RSFP solutions to suppress 7Be neutrinos; hence Δm2 ∼ 10−8 eV2. The data can be explained by two rotating solar fields, the higher latitude one being anchored in the radiative zone, the tilt of the solar axis, and the Ga data being nearly all pp neutrinos produced at ∼ 0.2 R⊙, whereas the others come from the solar center (∼ 0.05 R⊙) .
Transport of volatile compounds in porous media in the presence of a trapped gas phase

The presence of an immobile gaseous phase in an otherwise-saturated porous medium affects the transport of volatile compounds. The linear theory of partitioning tracers suggests that a volatile tracer introduced into such a system should be retarded with a constant retardation factor. Using high concentrations, however, the saturation of the gaseous phase will change as an effect of the tracer test itself. Competitive gas transfer among all volatile compounds and the change of saturation may lead to tracer concentrations that are temporarily higher than those injected. We analyze the system in the framework of the coherence theory by Helfferich [Soc. Pet. Eng. J. 21 (1) (1981) 51]. The governing equations are formulated as functions of total concentration, i.e., the mass of solutes in all phases per pore volume. Neglecting dispersion and mass-transfer kinetics, we derive the characteristic form of the resulting system of hyperbolic equations. In a system with N volatile compounds, a variation of the concentrations splits up into N waves, each traveling with its own characteristic velocity. If the presence of a gaseous phase is sustained, one wave will be a standing one. We perform numerical model calculations for tracers with various Henry's law coefficients and show that the results agree with the semi-analytical solution obtained by coherence theory.
Albumin impacts the effects of tonicity on microvascular hydraulic permeability1

Background An increase in tonicity shrinks endothelial cells. This cell shrinkage may open inter-endothelial gaps and allow more fluid to escape from the microvasculature. This increase in microvascular permeability is not supported by clinical studies suggesting that water is pulled into the vascular space, not lost into the interstitium. We hypothesized that albumin influences the change in trans-endothelial water movement caused by alterations in tonicity by a mechanism other than oncotic pressure. Materials and methods Hydraulic permeability (Lp) was measured in rat mesenteric venules using the Landis micro-occlusion model. Measures of Lp were obtained after successive perfusions with 1% albumin solution (BSA) of varying sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (85, 135, 185, and 235 m m ) (n = 6). Additional venules were perfused with 7% NaCl followed by 7% NaCl + BSA and Lp measured (n = 6). Units for Lp are ×10−7 cm/sec−1 cm/H2O−1. Results As the NaCl concentration in BSA increased from 85 m m to 235 m m , Lp decreased from 1.93 ± 0.41 to 0.97 ± 0.11. Compared to results without albumin, BSA with 185 m m NaCl decreased Lp from 3.93 ± 0.08 to 1.25 ± 0.18 (P = 0.04), and BSA with 235 m m NaCl decreased Lp from 6.14 ± 0.05 to 0.96 ± 0.11 (P = 0.002). There was a three-fold decrease in Lp when BSA was added to the 7% NaCl solution (P = 0.02). Conclusions Albumin attenuated the increase in Lp that is associated with higher NaCl concentrations. Because this model controls for oncotic pressure, albumin may impact Lp by a mechanism other than oncotic force. Albumin appears to stabilize the endothelial barrier during HS perfusion and prevents the loss of intravascular fluid. Appropriate albumin levels may play an important clinical role in modulating trans-endothelial fluid efflux during HS administration.
Droplet sizing in high pressure high density sprays

Evolving ideas of how high pressure atomization occurs, why it occurs, and what parameters might have a significant influence on atomization present some new and interesting challenges for measurement system. Of particular interest for transient fuel sprays is the region near the fuel injector tip itself, where the spray seems to begin the atomization process. This region of a spray is generally optically dense, has a large number of ligaments and non- spherical liquid elements, and probably has a large number of droplets as well. The high number density of liquid elements as well as absorption in the liquid makes optical probing of this region difficult. Reliable data in this region of the spray would be very useful for better understanding of the atomization process in these systems, as well as providing data for model validation for computer models being developed to approximate this behavior. This paper will try to briefly review the most common droplet sizing methods currently used with an emphasis on their performance in dense spray regions.
Development of X-TOOLSS: Preliminary Design of Space Systems Using Evolutionary Computation

Evolutionary computational (EC) techniques such as genetic algorithms (GA) have been identified as promising methods to explore the design space of mechanical and electrical systems at the earliest stages of design. In this paper the authors summarize their research in the use of evolutionary computation to develop preliminary designs for various space systems. An evolutionary computational solver developed over the course of the research, X-TOOLSS (Exploration Toolset for the Optimization of Launch and Space Systems) is discussed. With the success of early, low-fidelity example problems, an outline of work involving more computationally complex models is discussed.
Alienation or empowerment? Reading, writing, and orature in God's Bits of Wood

The article presents the significance of reading, writing, and orature in Ousmane Sembene’s classic novel, “God’s Bits of Wood” in light of theories regarding education and foreign language reading particularly in the context of a decolonizing West Africa. A close reading of the text reveals Sembene’s preoccupations with the politics and utility of literature and orature. Ultimately, Sembene can be seen to allow for a hybrid text and culture where written and oral language are both used to serve the interests of a community.
COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE HIGH LITHOTOMY POSITION DURING URETHRAL RECONSTRUCTION

Purpose: We identified risk factors for complications of the lower extremities related to high lithotomy positioning during specific urethral reconstruction procedures in male patients.Materials and Methods: Records from 185 open urethroplasties were evaluated for position related complications of the lower extremities (the compartmental syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, neurapraxia). Morphometric data (patient height, weight) and surgical details (duration of surgery and lithotomy positioning, types of repair and stirrups, stricture length and location) were assessed.Results: In the 185 patients 18 position related complications (10%) were identified, 4 of which were severe. Univariate analysis showed length of stricture, and duration of surgery and lithotomy positioning to be statistically significant risk factors (p <0.05). Height, weight, body mass index and type of stirrups did not increase risk. Anterior end-to-end anastomosis and straightforward buccal mucosa patch grafts entailed negligible risk. Longer p...
The Sensitivity of the Northeast Colorado Thunderstorm Environment to Upstream Surface Conditions

Abstract Statistical evidence supports a relationship between the warm-season thermodynamic environment in northeastern Colorado and the antecedent snow conditions in the upstream higher elevations. Above-normal snow storage and longevity reduces the sensible heating of the elevated terrain by increasing the albedo and exerting a stabilizing influence upon the surface layer. It follows that the residual spring snowpack of the Colorado Rockies represents an energy sink to the prevailing west to southwesterly winds of the free atmosphere, which traverse the uplift of the Western Plateau. The abrupt drop in elevation along the Front Range provides for a setting in which a thermal perturbation induced by mountain snow may be communicated to the downstream plains by cooling and perhaps stratifying the mobile elevated residual layer. Statistical and observational evidence suggest that the May and June months that follow a robust and extended snowmelt season are characterized by cooler 700-mb temperatures over D...