cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene expression profiles associated with anaemia and ITPA genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C).

Summary. Anaemia is a common side effect of ribavirin (RBV) which is used for the treatment of hepatitis C. Inosine triphosphatase gene polymorphism (C to A) protects against RBV-induced anaemia. The aim of our study was to genotype patients for inosine triphosphatase gene polymorphism rs1127354 SNP (CC or CA) and associate treatment-induced anaemia with gene expression profile and genotypes. We used 67 hepatitis C patients with available gene expression, clinical, laboratory data and whole-blood samples. Whole blood was used to determine inosine triphosphatase gene polymorphism rs1127354 genotypes (CC or CA). The cohort with inosine triphosphatase gene polymorphism CA genotype revealed a distinct pattern of protection against anaemia and a lower drop in haemoglobin. A variation in the propensity of CC carriers to develop anaemia prompted us to look for additional predictors of anaemia during pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and RBV. Pretreatment blood samples of patients receiving a full course of PEG-IFN and RBV were used to assess expression of 153 genes previously implicated in host response to viral infections. The gene expression data were analysed according to presence of anaemia and inosine triphosphatase gene polymorphism genotypes. Thirty-six genes were associated with treatment-related anaemia, six of which are involved in the response to hypoxia pathway (HIF1A, AIF1, RHOC, PTEN, LCK and PDGFB). There was a substantial overlap between sustained virological response (SVR)-predicting and anaemia-related genes; however, of the nine JAK-STAT pathway-related genes associated with SVR, none were implicated in anaemia. These observations exclude the direct involvement of antiviral response in the development of anaemia associated with PEG-IFN and RBV treatment, whereas another, distinct component within the SVR-associated gene expression response may predict anaemia. We have identified baseline gene expression signatures associated with RBV-induced anaemia and identified its functional pathways. In particular, we identified the hypoxia response pathway and the apoptosis/survival-related gene network, as differentially expressed in chronic hepatitis C patients with anaemia.
The Archaeology of Global Encounters Viewed From Banda, Ghana

West African societies have long been enmeshed in interregional, subcontinental, and intercontinental relations. Documents tell us little about how local life was shaped by its intersection with global processes, especially in coastal hinterlands. In this paper I report on archaeological investigations into the changing contours of local life in the Banda area of west central Ghana over the past seven centuries. Excavations at three temporally distinct occupations on two sites—Makala Kataa and Kuulo Kataa—document changes in settlement, craft production, subsistence, and exchange, providing insights into the dynamics of local life during a period of expanding global networks. A concluding section addresses why this type of research is important for our understanding of ancient African societies.
Canada’s Voluntary Agreement on Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions: When the Details Matter

The 2005 voluntary agreement between the automobile industry and Canadian government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles is evaluated. We analyze the likely effect of the agreement on emissions, and on use of biofuels and advanced vehicle technologies. We conclude that the impact on emissions could be far less than suggested, possibly even zero, even if automobile companies fully comply. The pros and cons of the Canadian agreement are assessed and compared with other voluntary and mandatory greenhouse gas reduction programs. Some lessons learned include the importance of specific performance metrics to evaluate progress, use of precise baseline measurements and methods, and an appreciation of the asymmetry in information between most governments and the affected industries.
Receptor-mediated transport of heme by hemopexin regulates gene expression in mammalian cells.

Abstract Hemopexin (HPX) transports heme to liver parenchymal cells, undergoes receptor-mediated endocytosis, and recycles intact. Incubation of mouse hepatoma (Hepa) cells with heme-HPX causes a rapid dose- and time-dependent increase in the steady-state level of heme oxygenase (HO) mRNA. A maximum induction of 20-25-fold is achieved within 3 h after incubation with 10 microM heme-HPX. This accumulation of HO mRNA results primarily from increased transcription of the HO gene as judged by in vitro nuclear run-on assays. In addition, receptor-mediated transport of heme into Hepa cells significantly decreases the steady-state level of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA. While a 25-30-fold decrease in the amount of TfR mRNA is observed within 3 h of incubation of Hepa cells with 10 microM heme-HPX, no significant change in the rate of TfR gene transcription was detected. These regulatory effects of heme-HPX are not restricted to hepatic cells but are also observed in human promyelocytic HL-60 cells. This is the first direct demonstration of receptor-mediated transport of heme by hemopexin regulating gene expression in mammalian cells.
Sensitivities of eyewall replacement cycle to model physics, vortex structure, and background winds in numerical simulations of tropical cyclones

A series of sensitivity experiments by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to investigate the impact of model physics, vortex axisymmetric radial structure, and background wind on secondary eyewall formation (SEF) and eyewall replacement cycle (ERC) in three-dimensional full physics numerical simulations. It is found that the vertical turbulent mixing parameterization can substantially affect the concentric ring structure of tangential wind associated with SEF through a complicated interaction among eyewall and outer rainband heating, radial inflow in the boundary layer, surface layer processes, and shallow convection in the moat. Large snow terminal velocity can substantially change the vertical distribution of eyewall diabatic heating to result in a strong radial inflow in the boundary layer, and thus, favors the development of shallow convection in the moat allowing the outer rainband convection to move closer to the inner eyewall, which may leave little room both temporally and spatially for a full development of a secondary maximum of tangential wind. Small radius of maximum wind (RMW) of a vortex and small potential vorticity (PV) skirt outside the RMW tend to generate double-eyewall replacement and may lead to an ERC without a clean secondary concentric maximum of tangential wind. A sufficiently large background wind can smooth out an ERC that would otherwise occur without background wind for a vortex with a small or moderate PV skirt. However, background wind does not appear to have an impact on an ERC if the vortex has a sufficiently large PV skirt.
TNF: a key neuroinflammatory mediator of neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration in models of Parkinson's disease.

Microglia activation and overproduction of inflammatory mediators in the CNS have been implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) [1]. Epidemiological studies suggest that chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at lower doses is associated with lower incidence of idiopathic PD compared to non-NSAID users [2, 3, 4]. However, key molecular mediators of neurotoxicity that directly contribute to neurodegeneration have not been identified. A role for the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been implicated in PD (reviewed in [5]). Nigral midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons are extremely sensitive to TNF [6], and the CSF and post-mortem brains of patients with both diseases display elevated levels of TNF [7, 8]. Lastly, although no robust genetic association between TNF and development of PD has been demonstrated, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the TNF promoter gene has been associated with a rare form of early-onset idiopathic PD [9]. Using engineered dominant-negative TNF variants (DN-TNFs) [10] and the decoy TNF receptor etanercept, we investigated the extent to which TNF-dependent mechanisms are required for loss of DA neurons in vitro and in vivo in two different models of parkinsonism.
Pregnancy rates and birth outcomes among women on efavirenz-containing highly active antiretroviral therapy in Botswana.

Millions of HIV-infected women in developing countries are in need of safe and highly effective antiretroviral therapy. Pregnancy rates are usually high in developing countries and efavirenz (EFV) use in women of childbearing age is of concern because of its potential teratogenicity. As part of a prospective study comparing 6 initial highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens 3 of which contained EFV pregnancy and birth outcomes were evaluated among female participants enrolled in a randomized clinical trial in Botswana. Before enrollment all female participants indicated a willingness to avoid pregnancy for the 3-year duration of the study. Monthly urine pregnancy testing and regular contraceptive education and counseling were given to all women on study. Four hundred fifty-one (69.4%) of 650 enrolled study participants were female and experienced 71 pregnancies for a rate of 7.9 per 100 person-years during the study. The mean time from HAART initiation to time of first pregnancy was 385 days. The median birth weight of babies was 2950 g (interquartile range: 2700-3250 g); the gender of babies (24 female and 15 male) and occurrence of early pregnancy loss (42%) and stillbirths (3%) did not differ between EFV- and non-EFV-exposed pregnancies (P = 0.7). First-trimester EFV exposure occurred in 38 (53.5%) of the 71 pregnancies; 22 (57.9%) of these 38 pregnancies resulted in live births. One infant (4.5%) of the 22 EFV-exposed live births had a congenital abnormality with right limb shortening that was assessed to be unrelated to EFV exposure. The restoration of health and longevity in many HAART-treated women is often accompanied by childbearing as evidenced by the large fraction of women in our cohort who became pregnant despite their initial statements of intent to avoid pregnancy. Of 22 first-trimester EFV-exposed live births 1 neonate was found to have a major congenital abnormality; however this defect was unrelated to EFV exposure. The small sample size is insufficient to estimate accurately the underlying risk of congenital malformation after exposure to EFV in early pregnancy underscoring the importance of reporting to the existing international Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. In addition to accessing safe and effective HAART regimens HIV-infected women require access to comprehensive family planning services including contraception and procreation counseling. (authors)
Cardiorespiratory effects of pressure controlled ventilation in severe respiratory failure.

Cardiorespiratory values were measured in ten patients with severe respiratory failure on volume controlled and pressure controlled ventilation. Tidal volume, respiratory rate, PEEP, auto-PEEP, inspiratory:expiratory ratio (1:2) and FIo 2 were maintained at the same value for both ventilatory modalities. Changing from VCV to PCV was associated with significant improvements in PaO 2 , oxygen delivery, and tissue oxygen consumption. Peak inspiratory pressure fell. There were no significant changes in other cardiorespiratory values, such as arterial blood pressure, nor in ventilatory measurements, such as mean airway pressure, associated with the use of PCV. These results suggest that PCV may be a beneficial ventilatory modality in the treatment of severe respiratory failure since it results in improvement in arterial oxygenation, tissue oxygen delivery and utilization without any concomitant adverse effects on other hemodynamic or ventilatory factors.
Effect of Certain Drugs on Perfused Human Placenta IX: Mode of Action of Angiotensin

By the use of compounds that directly depress vascular smooth muscle, block α-adrenergic receptors, or block β-adrenergic receptors, it was shown that a triple mechanism is involved in the pressor action of angiotensin in isolated, perfused human placental blood vessels. Angiotensin directly stimulates vascular smooth muscle and α-adrenergic receptors while concomitantly stimulating β-adrenergic receptors, to offset the effect of the first two mechanisms. Thus, when the β-receptors are blocked, the pressor response to angiotensin is augmented.
Nomograms and Medicine

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in European men. In 2002, an estimated 225,000 men were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 83,000 died from this disease in Europe (http:// www-dep.iarc.fr) [1]. In the United States, this cancer is the most common solid malignancy in men, with an annual incidence rate of 180 cases/ 100,000, and growing at a 2.3% rate since 1992 [2]. The increase in prostate cancer incidence in the United States is reflected by the approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the use of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a screening test. Although the survival benefits of PSA screening remain the subject of prospective studies in Western nations [3], the consequent rate of metastatic prostate cancer began to decrease at a dramatic annual rate of 18% in 1991 and now represents <5% of newly diagnosed tumours. In 2006, a decrease in the cancer mortality rankings was observed in the United States. This phenomenon has been driven by a 4% yearly drop in prostate cancer mortality rates for 10 yr [2]. Today, prostate cancers are identified at an earlier stage, which allows effective treatment with surgical or nonsurgical approaches. These paradigmatic improvements in cancer prognosis are easily recognised by physicians and conveyed to patients by powerful instruments called nomograms. Strictly speaking, within the medical field, a nomogram is a graphic calculating device, a two-dimensional diagram designed to allow the approximate graphic computation of the likelihood of a clinical event. The origin of nomograms goes back to the mid-1770s in the statistical atlases of
Poly (ADP) ribose polymerase enzyme inhibitor, veliparib, potentiates chemotherapy and radiation in vitro and in vivo in small cell lung cancer

Poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) plays a key role in DNA repair and is highly expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We investigated the therapeutic impact of PARP inhibition in SCLC. In vitro cytotoxicity of veliparib, cisplatin, carboplatin, and etoposide singly and combined was determined by MTS in 9 SCLC cell lines (H69, H128, H146, H526, H187, H209, DMS53, DMS153, and DMS114). Subcutaneous xenografts in athymic nu/nu mice of H146 and H128 cells with relatively high and low platinum sensitivity, respectively, were employed for in vivo testing. Mechanisms of differential sensitivity of SCLC cell lines to PARP inhibition were investigated by comparing protein and gene expression profiles of the platinum sensitive and the less sensitive cell lines. Veliparib showed limited single-agent cytotoxicity but selectively potentiated (≥50% reduction in IC50) cisplatin, carboplatin, and etoposide in vitro in five of nine SCLC cell lines. Veliparib with cisplatin or etoposide or with both cisplatin and etoposide showed greater delay in tumor growth than chemotherapy alone in H146 but not H128 xenografts. The potentiating effect of veliparib was associated with in vitro cell line sensitivity to cisplatin (CC = 0.672; P = 0.048) and DNA-PKcs protein modulation. Gene expression profiling identified differential expression of a 5-gene panel (GLS, UBEC2, HACL1, MSI2, and LOC100129585) in cell lines with relatively greater sensitivity to platinum and veliparib combination. Veliparib potentiates standard cytotoxic agents against SCLC in a cell-specific manner. This potentiation correlates with platinum sensitivity, DNA-PKcs expression and a 5-gene expression profile.
Representation Over Time: The Effects of Temporal Distance on Similarity

Similarity is central in human cognition, playing a role in a wide range of cognitive processes. In three studies, we demonstrate that subjective similarity may change as a function of temporal distance, with some events seeming more similar when considered in the near future, while others increase in similarity as temporal distance increases. Given the ubiquity of inter-temporal thought, and the fundamental role of similarity, these results have important implications for cognition in general.
An optimal joint buyer-seller discount pricing model

Abstract Quantity discount models in the EOQ environment are a well-known means for a vendor to entice a buyer or buyers to purchase in larger quantities and less frequently, thus reducing annual inventory policy costs. The seller similarly benefits, although until fairly recently, the mechanism behind the discount structure created by the seller has been essentially ignored and the discount structure simply taken as a given. This paper provides the vendor with the means for optimally determining both the discount price and the replenishment interval under periodic review for any desired joint savings-sharing scheme between the seller and buyer(s). In the multiple-buyer case we provide an efficient algorithm for homogeneously grouping buyers, with common group order intervals, to the mutual satisfaction of all participants; that is, by further improving joint savings. Some numerical examples illustrate the techniques.
Principal Component Analysis of EBT2 Radiochromic Film for Multichannel Film Dosimetry

Radiochromic film with a dye incorporated into the radiation sensitive layer [Gafchromic EBT2, Ashland, Inc.] may be digitized by a color transparency scanner, digitally processed, and calibrated so that a digital image in units of radiation absorbed dose is obtained. A transformation from raw scanner values to dose values was developed based upon a principal component analysis of the optical densities of the red, green and blue channels of the color image of a dose of 0.942 Gy delivered by a Sr-90/Y-90 disk-shaped source. In the order of increasing eigenvalue, the three eigenimages of the principal component analysis contained, by visual inspection, 1) mainly noise; 2) mainly a pattern of irregular streaks; and 3) most of the expected dose information along with some of the same background streaking that predominated in the second eigenimage. The combination of the second and third eigenimages that minimized the background streaking was converted into a transformation of the red, green and blue channels’ optical densities and applied to films with a range of doses from 0 to 63.7 Gy. The curve of dose vs. processed optical density was fit by a two-phase association curve. This processing was applied to a film exposed from its edge by a different Y-90 source in a configuration that was modeled by Monte Carlo simulation. The depth-dose curves of the measurement and simulation agree closely, suggesting that this approach is a valid method of processing EBT2 radiochromic film into maps of radiation absorbed dose.
Sex education and adolescent sexual behavior: do community characteristics matter?

Background Studies point to variation in the effects of formal sex education on sexual behavior and contraceptive use by individual and community characteristics. Study design Using the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, we explored associations between receipt of sex education and intercourse by age 15, intercourse by the time of the interview and use of effective contraception at first sex among 15-19-year-olds, stratified by quartiles of three community characteristics and adjusted for demographics. Results Across all quartiles of community characteristics, sex education reduced the odds of having sex by age 15. Sex education resulted in reduced odds of having sex by the date of the interview and increased odds of using contraception in the middle quartiles of community characteristics. Conclusion Variation in the effects of sex education should be explored. Research might focus on programmatic differences by community type and programmatic needs in various types of communities.
Long Duration Exposure Facility−A unique mode of Shuttle utilization

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) is a Shuttle-transported, reusable, essentially passive facility with accommodations for a wide variety of experiments which require a free-flying carrier for exposure in space. Specifically, the LDEF is tailored to provide low-cost accommodations for experiments which have modest requirements for electrical power and data systems, and for experiments which benefit from postflight laboratory investigations with the retrieved experiment hardware. Each experiment for LDEF will be totally self-contained in a tray. As the interface with the facility has been minimized, the LDEF experimenters will be freed from many of the requirements which have complicated development of space experiments in the past.
Using developmental principles to assist preschoolers in developing numeracy and literacy

In a yoked control design, 4-yr.-olds (N = 39) in a Head Start program played numerous structured games involving either the oddity principle or letter identification and letter sounds. The children's mean age was 53.2 mo.; SD = 4.1 mo. Three were Middle Eastern, 14 were Latino, 7 were East African, and 15 were African American. Children showed better mastery of oddity after playing games directed at this concept, and numeracy scores on the Woodcock-Johnson III were better for children who had played this type of game. Woodcock-Johnson III Letter-Word scores for children who had played the oddity and seriation or letter games were equivalent. These results are consistent with other research indicating that the understanding of oddity relations may be a key transitional thinking which supports quantitative and verbal development at the preschool-kindergarten interface. The standardized test scores indicate that guided play directed at this aspect of cognitive growth or more narrowly directed at early literacy can produce equivalent knowledge of letters.
Development of quantitative estimates of uncertainty in environmental risk assessments when the scientific data base is inadequate

Abstract The reasons for developing quantitative estimates of uncertainty in environmental risk assessments are discussed along with a method for developing them which involves scientific judgement. In the situation considered here the regulatory needs are ahead of the science, which makes the development of the estimates on uncertainty more difficult, but not impossible. Quantitative estimates for all uncertainties involved in the estimation of risk resulting from exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water are developed and tabulated. By far the largest contribution to the uncertainty in the risk estimates for VOCs in drinking water are due to uncertainty in the extrapolation of the dose-response curve to low levels. The uncertainty due to extrapolation is on the order of 10 4 and 10 6 . Other components of the analysis may contribute uncertainties of a few orders of magnitude. In general the largest uncertainties are in the toxicological data base and the manipulation of it needed to estimate risk. The data base and manipulations needed to estimate exposure due to VOCs in drinking water were at the more an order to magnitudes in uncertainty.
Electroencephalographic findings in measles encephalitis.

Summary 1. All of the eight patients with measles encephalitis showed abnormal electroencephalographic findings soon after onset of their central nervous system disease. ( A ) In seven of these the electroencephalographic pattern became normal, and all of these children appear to have recovered without detectable evidence of permanent central nervous system injury. ( B ) In the case of the eighth child, the central nervous system damage did not improve, the electroencephalogram remained abnormal, and death resulted. 2. Six children who were convalescent from uncomplicated measles all showed normal electroencephalograms.
Resolution of lexical ambiguity by emotional tone of voice

In the present study, the effects of emotional tone of voice on the perception of word meaning were investigated. In two experiments, listeners were presented with emotional homophones that had one affective meaning (happy or sad) and one neutral meaning. In both experiments, the listeners were asked to transcribe the emotional homophones presented in three different affective tones—happy, neutral, and sad. In the first experiment, trials were blocked by tone of voice, and in the second experiment, tone of voice varied from trial to trial. The results showed that the listeners provided more affective than neutral transcriptions when the tone of voice was congruent with the emotional meaning of the homophone. These findings suggest that emotional tone of voice affects the processing of lexically ambiguous words by biasing the selection of word meaning.
Limits to inspiration imposed by the mechanics of time-cycled ventilators

Abstract Most analyses of pressure-limited, time-cycled ventilation stress the detrimental effects of incomplete exhalation on both minute volume delivered to the lung and on gas exchange. However, because these ventilators set a limit to inspiratory flow, the mechanics of the ventilator circuit may limit lung volume at end-inhalation. This phenomenon has important implications for the relationship between tidal volume or minute volume delivered to an infant and ventilator rate, and alters the relationship between tidal volume and duty cycle as well.
Nutritional characterization of Mucuna pruriens 4. Does replacing soybean meal with Mucuna pruriens in lamb diets affect ruminal, blood and tissue L-dopa concentrations?

Abstract The harmful effects of the 3,4-dihydroxy- l -phenylalanine ( l -dopa) in Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) seeds have limited its use as a protein supplement for monogastrics and humans. Little is known about the extent of metabolism of Mucuna l -dopa in ruminants or its accumulation in ruminant tissues consumed as food by humans. This study aimed to determine if replacing soybean meal (SB) with Mucuna increases concentrations of l -dopa in rumen fluid, blood and muscle tissue of lambs. Twenty-seven RM lambs (RM; initial body weight, BW = 33.8 ± 5.44 kg) and 12 Florida Native (FN; initial BW = 24.9 ± 8.63 kg) lambs were assigned to four treatments and fed a basal diet of coastal bermudagrass hay, corn grain, and liquid molasses for 42 (FN) or 49 days (RM) and then slaughtered. Dietary supplements were formulated by substituting 0 (SB), 330 (Lo), 670 (Med) or at least 1000 (Hi) g/kg of SB with rolled Mucuna seeds ( l -dopa, 24 g/kg dry matter, DM). Body weight was measured weekly and carcass characteristics and concentrations of l -dopa in rumen fluid, blood and the sterno-mandibularis muscle were measured at slaughter when concentrations of blood urea N, glucose, haptoglobin and cerruloplasmin were also measured. Lambs fed SB had higher (P Mucuna (0.20 versus 0.15 kg/day for RM; 0.21 versus 0.14 kg/day for FN). However, concentrate protein source did not affect dressing and concentrations of blood urea N, or blood glucose. Feeding the Hi diet versus the SB diet did not increase concentrations of blood cerruloplasmin, or l -dopa or concentrations of l -dopa metabolites in blood. No l -dopa was found in the ruminal fluid of the lambs and l -dopa concentrations in the sterno-mandibularis muscle were low ( i.e ., l -dopa/g), and unaffected (P>0.05) by diet. Ingested Mucuna l -dopa was extensively metabolized in lambs, and did not accumulate to toxic levels in muscle tissues.
A continuous variable representation of the traveling salesman problem

The classic traveling salesman problem is characterized in terms of continuous flows on a specially constructed non-conservative network, in 2n ź 1 linear constraints and a cardinality constraint. It is shown that every solution to the network problem is a hamiltonian circuit.
Metabolic Syndrome in China

To the Editor: The recent Mini-Review: Expert Opinions series of articles on the metabolic syndrome epidemic published in the September 30, 2003, issue of Circulation 1–3 prompted me to write this letter to the editor. Barely 15 years since the …
A Tabu-Search Heuristic for Deterministic Two-Mode Blockmodeling of Binary Network Matrices

Two-mode binary data matrices arise in a variety of social network contexts, such as the attendance or non-attendance of individuals at events, the participation or lack of participation of groups in projects, and the votes of judges on cases. A popular method for analyzing such data is two-mode blockmodeling based on structural equivalence, where the goal is to identify partitions for the row and column objects such that the clusters of the row and column objects form blocks that are either complete (all 1s) or null (all 0s) to the greatest extent possible. Multiple restarts of an object relocation heuristic that seeks to minimize the number of inconsistencies (i.e., 1s in null blocks and 0s in complete blocks) with ideal block structure is the predominant approach for tackling this problem. As an alternative, we propose a fast and effective implementation of tabu search. Computational comparisons across a set of 48 large network matrices revealed that the new tabu-search heuristic always provided objective function values that were better than those of the relocation heuristic when the two methods were constrained to the same amount of computation time.
Internal Consistency of the Warrington Recognition Memory Test

The Recognition Memory Test is frequently used to assess memory; however, one of the commonly cited limitations is a lack of data on reliability. The current study was undertaken to estimate the internal consistency reliability of the test with a sample of 72 persons with traumatic brain injury. Acceptable estimates of internal consistency for both subtests were obtained.
The HANOHANO Detector and Ongoing Research and Development

Abstract The Hanohano neutrino detector is a deep sea module that can be submerged to the ocean floor far away from surface radiation. Its Physics goals are the study of geo-neutrinos to probe the isotope source of the 45 TW of heat driving all of geodynamic processes in the earth, enhanced studies of neutrino oscillation from reactors through variable distance observations, and as an observatory for astro-physical neutrino sources. Nuclear surveillance of unknown nuclear reactors can be a key mission for a mobile neutrino detector that is also under consideration. The Hanohano detector details will be presented and a summary of the continuing research and development at the University of Hawaii for neutrino direction detection development will be reviewed.
Regulation of transcriptional activity during the first and second cell cycles in the preimplantation mouse embryo.

Transcription of endogenous genes in preimplantation 1- and 2-cell mouse embryos was determined by monitoring the incorporation of BrUTP by plasma membrane-permeabilized embryos. Incorporation is observed starting by mid-S phase in the 1-cell embryo and increases progressively; the amount of incorporation by the 1-cell embryo in G2 is about 20% that of the 2-cell embryo in G2. Incorporation by the male pronucleus is always about four to five times greater than that of the female pronucleus. Nevertheless, the amount of incorporation by the female pronucleus present in parthogenetically activated eggs is similar to the total amount of incorporation in inseminated eggs, i.e., the transcriptional capacity of the female pronucleus is not inherently less than that of the male pronucleus. Inhibiting the first round of DNA replication does not prevent the initiation of transcription in the 1-cell embryo, but does inhibit the extent of BrUTP incorporation by 35%. The transcriptional machinery of the 1-cell embryo appears to be rate-limiting, since the total amount of BrUTP incorporation by parthenogenetically activated and dispermic eggs is similar to that in monospermic eggs; trispermic eggs incorporate BrUTP to only about 60% the level of monospermic eggs. A transcriptionally repressive state may start to develop in the 2-cell embryo, since inhibiting the second round of DNA replication results in an 50% increase in BrUTP incorporation. Trapoxin treatment, which induces histone hyperacetylation, enhances incorporation by 2-cell embryos 1.8-fold and suggests that histone hyperacetylation can relieve this repression.
Establishing reliable good initial quantum efficiency and in-situ laser cleaning for the copper cathodes in the RF gun

Abstract Establishing good initial quantum efficiency (QE) and reliable in-situ cleaning for copper cathode in the RF gun is of critical importance for the RF gun operations. Recent studies on the SLAC RF gun test bed indicated that the pre-cleaning (plasma cleaning) in the test chamber followed by copper cathode exposure to air for cathode change leads to a very low initial QE in the RF gun, and also demonstrated that without the pre-cleaning good initial QE >4×10 −5 can be routinely achieved in the RF gun with the cathodes of QE −7 measured in the test chamber. QE can decay over the time in the RF gun. The in-situ laser cleaning technique for copper cathodes in the RF gun is established and refined in comparison to previous cleaning at the linac coherent light source, resulting in an improved QE and emittance evolutions. The physics of the laser cleaning process is discussed. It is believed that the reflectivity change is one of the major factors for the QE boost with the laser cleaning.
An embedding theorem for functional equations

Abstract The paper gives a general embedding theorem for functional equations containing holonomic operators. Special cases of these functional equations are difference equations and q-difference equations.
Duplex guided balloon angioplasty of failing infrainguinal bypass grafts.

Abstract Objective To assess the results of angioplasty and stent placement under duplex guidance for failing grafts. Methods Over 22 months, 25 patients (72% males) with a mean age of 74±10 years presented to our institution with a failing infrainguinal bypass. The site of the most significant stenotic lesion was in the inflow in four cases, conduit in 18 cases and at the outflow in 11 cases. All arterial (20) or graft (13) entry sites cannulations were performed under direct duplex visualization. Duplex scanning was the sole imaging modality used to manipulate the guide wire and directional catheters from the ipsilateral CFA to a site beyond the most distal stenotic lesion. Selection and placement of balloons and stents were also guided by duplex. In 11 cases (33%), the contralateral CFA was used as the entry site and a standard approach (fluoroscopy and contrast material) was employed. Completion duplex exams were obtained in all cases. Results The overall technical success was 97% (32/33 cases). In only one case, the outflow stenotic lesion in the plantar artery could not be traversed with the guidewire due to extreme tortuosity. Overall local complications rate was 6% (two cases). One vein bypass pseudoaneurysm caused by rupture with a cutting balloon was repaired by patch angioplasty and one SFA pseudoaneurysm at the puncture site required open repair. Overall 30-day survival rate was 100%. Overall 6-month limb salvage and primary patency rates were 100 and 69%, respectively. Conclusions Duplex guided endovascular therapy is an effective modality for the treatment of failing infrainguinal arterial bypasses.
Clinical Profiles, Complications, and Disability in Cocaine-Related Ischemic Stroke

Cocaine use is associated with ischemic stroke through unique mechanisms, including reversible vasospasm, drug-induced arteritis, enhanced platelet aggregation, cardioembolism, and hypertensive surges. To date, no study has described disability in patients with cocaine-related ischemic stroke. The present study compared risk factors, comorbidities, complications, laboratory findings, medications, and outcomes in patients with cocaine-related (n = 41) and non–cocaine-related (n = 221) ischemic stroke (n = 147) and transient ischemic attack (n = 115) in 3 academic hospitals. The patients with cocaine-related stroke were younger (mean age, 51.9 years vs 59.1 years; P = .0008) and more likely to be smokers (95% vs 62.9%; P
Large Bank Efficiency in Europe and the United States: Are There Economic Motivations for Geographic Expansion in Financial Services?

This paper employs stochastic frontier cost and profit models to estimate economies of scale as well as X-efficiency for multi-billion dollar European and U.S. banks in the period 1995-1999. Empirical results with respect to separate analyses of large European and U.S. banks are strikingly similar with decreasing (increasing) cost (profit) returns to scale. We find that large banks in Europe and the U.S. have cost and profit functions that are similar with increasing returns to scale and decreasing (increasing) scope economies for the cost (profit) model. Further analyses evaluate the reasonableness of estimating a combined cost or profit frontier for European and U.S. banks. We find that, while a single profit frontier may exist, separate cost frontiers are implied. Although profitability in absolute terms is equal, large U.S. banks tend to exhibit higher average profit efficiency than European banks on average. Moreover, banks in the U.S. are more profit efficient than banks in most individual European countries. We conclude that the empirical results tend to support the notion that potential efficiency gains are possible via geographic expansion of large European and U.S. banks.
Induction of microsomal mixed-function oxidase system components in striped mullet by short-term exposure to crude oil

Abstract Juvenile striped mullet were exposed to slicks of either Empire Mix (of American origin) or Saudi Arabian crude oils for 1 or 3 weeks. Microsomal protein was elevated. Cytochromes P-450 and b 5 and NADPH-cytochrome c and NADPH-dichlorophenolindophenol reductases were induced but NADH-cytochrome c and NADH-cytochrome b 5 reductases were not. Induction by Empire Mix oil increased with time of exposure but induction by Saudi Arabian oil remained about the same with time. The induction of microsomal components was greater for Saudi Arabian oil than for Empire Mix oil at one week of exposure, but the reverse was true at three weeks.
Measurement of proximity effects in Ag films by means of tunneling

Abstract The induced superconductivity energy gap,Δ Ag , of Ag films caused by the proximity of a Pb film was measured by tunneling. Δ Ag decreases exponentially with increased Ag thickness and is independent of applied magnetic field below a critical value.
q-Functions and extreme topological measures

Abstract q-Functions provide a method for constructing topological measures. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a composition of a q-function and a topological measure to be a topological measure. Regular and extreme step q-functions are characterized by certain regions in R n . Then extreme q-functions are used to study extreme topological measures. For example, we prove (under some assumptions on the underlying set) that given n, there are different types of extreme topological measures with values 0 , 1 / n , … , 1 . In contrast, in the case of measures the only extreme points are { 0 , 1 } -valued, i.e., point masses.
Uranium and thorium concentrations in wind-borne Saharan dust over the Western Equatorial North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The average uranium and thorium concentration in 15 samples of wind-borne Saharan dust collected at Barbados, West Indies, is 3.6 and 12.4 ppm, respectively; these values are approximately one-third greater than that of average crustal material. The thorium-uranium weight ratio of the dust is 3.5, about the same as that of the crust; the234U/238U activity ratio is 1.08 and the230Th/234U activity ratio, 0.97. We conclude that the presence of large amounts of African dust in Atlantic sediments would not significantly affect the validity of the assumptions inherent in the231Pa/230Th and230Th/232Th dating methods.
Infrared intensities of ν2 of isotopic water species in non-aqueous solvents

Abstract Absolute infrared intensities of ν 2 for the isotopic species of water have been measured in non-aqueous media. The experimental intensity of the isotopic species, HDO, is found to be anomalously high when compared to H 2 O and D 2 O. For this normal mode of HDO the actual molecular motion is described by the usual normal coordinate plus a compensating molecular rotation which oscillates the permanent dipole moment and contributes intensity to the vibrational spectrum. This rotational contribution was calculated for HDO in the gas phase and when applied to the measurements in solution is able to explain the observed intensity.
90. Methamphetamine addiction is associated with increased T-cell immunoreactivity and neuropsychiatric impairment

Approximately half of methamphetamine dependent adults experience mood, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders up to three years or longer into remission. These neuropsychiatric impairments contribute to relapse and poor treatment retention. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the persistence of neuropsychiatric impairments are poorly defined. We investigated the effects of methamphetamine dependence on immune cell function as measured by in vitro reactivity to neuroantigens and evaluated the relationship between methamphetamine-induced neuropsychiatric impairment and altered peripheral immunoreactivity. Seventy-three research participants (42 adults in recovery from methamphetamine dependence; 31 non-dependent controls) completed neuropsychiatric measures and a blood draw. Mononuclear cells were stimulated with 0 (medium only), 5, or 20 μg of pooled neuroantigen peptides (from myelin proteins) or ConA (non-specific mitogen) to evaluate T-cell surface markers, proliferation, and cytokine production. Compared with non-dependent controls, methamphetamine-dependent adults reported significantly higher levels of neuropsychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression, memory). Following stimulation with neuroantigens or medium alone, a general pattern of enhanced T-cell proliferation was observed in the methamphetamine-dependent group compared with the non-dependent control group. The significant increases in T-cell proliferation were accompanied by greater in vitro production of cytokines (TNF-alpha, MIP-1beta). These results support the theory that dysregulation of immune function plays a key role in the maintenance of neuropsychiatric impairments during abstinence and that within this delicate balance of immune factors lies potential for intervention through targeted immunotherapies.
More on occupational hazards for pathologists.

To the Editor George1 provides invaluable advice for all professional microscopists by discussing the hazards and some remedies of spending a lifetime fixed at a microscope. It is ironic that his first citation about the problem was from America in 1835, while the next, 145 years later, came from Sweden. Cited American papers were even more recent. I offer 2 …
Stylistic developments of ship figureheads of the United States East Coast

French Summary L'evolution du style des figures de proue sur la cote est des Etats—Unis CAROL OLSEN Le developpement des figures de proue, de bateaux construits au 18e et 19e siecle en Amerique du Nord, est compare avec d'autres formes de l'art populaire comme les decorations de certains meubles, les enseignes de magasins de tabac, etc.
Numbers and relations from ancient Andean quipus

In the history of mathematics not enough attention is devoted to developments in ancient America. Perhaps this is a consequence of trying to understand only a portion of the present. No one denies the importance of the ancient civilizations of the Near East in the line that leads up to the western European tradition, but to appreciate the background of human intellectual accomplishments it is necessary to pass beyond the restrictive frame and biases of western man. We (mankind) entered the Americas about 20,000 years before the present. By 10,000 B.P., man had spread into the Americas so that traces of activities such as hunting are found thinly scattered from the northern lands to the hemisphere's southern tip. The style of civilization that eventually developed was distinctive with one region in particular seeing the rise of monumental architecture, recorded numeration, dense settlements, centralized authority, and so forth. This so-called nuclear regionon elliptic area with the valley of Mexico at one focus and the Peruvian Andes at the othercontained configurations of cultures that changed often in the course of a thousand years. When Europeans first reached the Andes in the third decade of the sixteenth century they credited themselves with the "discovery" of an ancient civilization. This civilization known as the Incasthey destroyed almost without issue. Some Europeans wrote down their observations of Inca life. These observations, usually called chronicles, together with what can be salvaged with the archaeological shovel, form the basis of what we can know. One can hardly expect a fair and accurate appraisal of the intellectual attainments of the native Andeans by a group that rationalized its destructive acts on the grounds of cultural superiority. To get closer to the truth of the matter, the archaeological materials have to be analyzed for the most they can yield. We know, first of all, that in Inca times there were cities with quarters for thousands of inhabitants. A road network linked these places; the disused roads stand out sharply today on air photographs. To maintain a population that may have reached six million, knowledge of food production is indispensible. And in a land of steep mountains, knowing how to get enough food means discovering the altitudes where particular animals and plants flourish. We must postulate, and indeed have evidence for, thousands of years of experimentation and the accumulation of information about plants, animals, and vertical land-scapes as they relate to basic human requirements. The native Andeans dug irrigation canals, built bridges, and constructed community store houses. Clearly technical knowledge
Density dependence of the single-particle potential in nuclear matter

Abstract The single-particle potential in infinite nuclear matter is computed as a function of density and energy in a variety of relativistic mean-field models of nuclear matter. A comparison of this potential is made with that computed by Friedman and Pandharipande using the variational method. We also show that the self-consistent mean-field Hartree approximation satisfies the Hugenholtz-van Hove theorem. High-density behavior of the single-particle potential is considered.