cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the stability of plane parallel viscoelastic shear flows in the limit of infinite Weissenberg and Reynolds numbers

Abstract Elastic effects on the hydrodynamic instability of inviscid parallel shear flows are investigated through a linear stability analysis. We focus on the upper convected Maxwell model in the limit of infinite Weissenberg and Reynolds numbers. We study the effects of elasticity on the instability of a few classes of simple parallel flows, specifically plane Poiseuille and Couette flows, the hyperbolic-tangent shear layer and the Bickley jet. The equation for stability is derived and solved numerically using the spectral Chebyshev collocation method. This algorithm is computationally efficient and accurate in reproducing the eigenvalues. We consider flows bounded by walls as well as flows bounded by free surfaces. In the inviscid, nonelastic case all the flows we study are unstable for free surfaces. In the case of wall bounded flow, there are instabilities in the shear layer and Bickley jet flows. In all cases, the effect of elasticity is to reduce and ultimately suppress the inviscid instability.
Comparison of 17-ketosteroid and uropepsin data on 69 healthy adult males.

Summary24-hour uropepsin excretion levels were found to show a low positive correlation with 24-hour 17-ketosteroid excretion levels in healthy young men. To an even greater degree this is true of the day to night excretion ratios of these two biochemical measures. Since 17-ketosteroid excretion is believed to reflect adrenal cortical activity, the findings point to the possibility that adrenal cortical activity may exert a controlling effect on uropepsin excretion in young men. Older men were found to show a negative correlation in the 24-hour excretion levels of these two measures with a trend toward a similar relationship between the day to night ratios.
Attentional control settings modulate susceptibility to the induced Roelofs effect.

When a visible frame is offset laterally from an observer’s objective midline, the subjective midline is pulled toward the frame’s center, causing the frame and any enclosed targets to be misperceived as being shifted somewhat in the opposite direction. This illusion, the Roelofs effect, is driven by environmental (bottom-up) visual cues, but whether it can be modulated by top-down (e.g., task-relevant) information is unknown. Here, we used an attentional manipulation (i.e., the color-contingency effect) to test whether attentional filtering can modulate the magnitude of the illusion. When observers were required to report the location of a colored target, presented within an array of differently colored distractors, there was a greater effect of the illusion when the Roelofs-inducing frame was the same color as the target. These results indicate that feature-based attentional processes can modulate the impact of contextual information on an observer’s perception of space.
Complementary therapies and healing practices: faculty/student beliefs and attitudes and the implications for nursing education

The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes of nursing faculty and students (BSN and MS) regarding complementary/alternative therapies (C/AT) and their integration into nursing practice. Implications for curricular and faculty development were also identified. A cross-sectional survey (n = 170) of graduating BSN students (n = 73) and MS and PhD students (n = 47) and faculty (n = 50) was conducted in a university-based nursing program. The self-administered questionnaire contained 134 forced choice items. Questions assessed attitudes and knowledge about training in, personal use of, perceived barriers to, and intent to integrate C/AT into clinical practice. Over 95 percent of the students and faculty agreed that clinical care should integrate the best of conventional and C/AT practices. Few had received formal C/AT education; the highest number had received some education about massage, music, prayer/spiritual healing, and therapeutic/healing touch. They desired more education but not necessarily the skills to perform these therapies themselves. Faculty and students expressed positive attitudes about incorporating C/AT into curricula and nursing practice. Current knowledge lags behind interest, however, suggesting a situation ripe for change. The most important perceived barrier to incorporation was lack of evidence. Curricular change is needed to fully integrate C/AT in nursing programs at all levels; faculty development and nursing research is needed to facilitate these changes.
Inheritance of structural alleles for goat hemoglobins: site duplication and limited structural divergence for the alpha-chain locus.

Four hemoglobin phenotypes have been detected among domestic goats by zonal electrophoresis. Breeding data indicate that two of these phenotypes represent animals homozygous at relevant structural loci and two represent heterozygotes. Electrophoresis of hemoglobin chains reveals both α- and β-chain variation. The phenotypes are interpreted in terms of genotypes which require a postulated duplication and subsequent divergence for the original α-chain structural locus (see Fig. 5).
SU‐FF‐T‐203: In Vivo Dosimetry Using Disposable MOSFET Dosimeters for Total Body Irradiation

Purpose: The “OneDose” MOSFET dosimeter, manufactured by Sicel Technologies, is used for individualized patient dosimetry measurements for radiation therapy. These dosimeters, which are pre-calibrated by the manufacturer, are designed for single use for conventional radiation therapy treatments. We tested the usefulness, reliability and applicability of these dosimeters for use in total body irradiation procedures, where the field sizes, distances, and irradiation conditions differ substantially from the standard conditions used for factory calibration Method and Materials: We have compared the response of OneDose dosimeters with that of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs) calibrated “in-house”. OneDose dosimeters were paired with two TLDs and were placed beneath bolus to provide adequate build-up. The detectors with build-up were then taped to the skin of the patient at various sites of interest, including the head, neck, umbilicus and lungs. In most cases, cerrobend lung blocks were used. Readings of the OneDose were taken immediately following irradiation. The TLDs were read 2 – 4 days later. Results: Of the four patients studied thus far, the doses measured at the head, neck, and umbilicus fell between 105 and 210 cGy. For these sites agreement with the TLDs was generally within ±5%. Measured doses for the regions of the lung showed greater variability. This may be due to placement errors or the lower doses (< 20 cGy) and steeper dose gradients that occurred when the lungs were shielded with cerrobend blocks. Conclusion: The dose measured by the OneDose detector shows relatively good agreement with that measured by TLDs in total body irradiation. Our research plan includes study of another six patients, with the intent of being more precise in the placement of the dosimeters in the region of the lung. Conflict of Interest Information: ASB has a sponsored research agreement with Sicel Technologies, Inc. for the study of implantable sensors.
The Expectation of Sample Central Moments

A compact generating function and explicit formulas are derived for expressing the expectation of sample central moments in terms of population central moments.
Real-time computer control of highway traffic

The growing traffic congestion on national highways requires an increase in utilizing automarion in traffic control. One of the possibilities of improving the efficiency of controlling large stretches of highways is by using real-time computer control. Monitoring and sensing devices would be introduced and placed along a highway at selected places. One of the possible values to be measured is the cumulative count of vehicles at a certain place. This cumulative count should be recorded along with the appropriate real time. With this information on record, the flow rate and vehicle density at specific locations of the highway and at specific times, could be readily calculated. The data measured along the highway are transmitted to a central computer system and recorded in memory along with the appropriate times and places. The computations of flow rates, densities and other items that may be required, are performed by the same computer. A model representing the dynamics of the traffic flow will be adopted. Several possible models have already been proposed in the past. In the adopted model the vehicle flow rates, densities and velocities, will be connected by linearized difference equations which will serve as constraints in the optimization problems that will evolve. The equations representing the model (or several models available optionally) will be programmed and stored in the central computer. The equations will include the on- and off- ramp flow rates, which will constitute the control variables in many cases.
Immunization with killed influenza virus in children with chronic asthma.

The risk posed by immunization against influenza in asthmatic children is unclear, as is the risk posed by actual infection with influenza virus. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured twice daily in 79 asthmatic children following immunization with bivalent (A/Port Chalmers/1/73 and B/Hong Kong/5/72) vaccine containing killed influenza virus. A transient decrease in PEFR was most apparent at 48 hours (P
The origins of the vertebrate hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) endocrine systems: new insights from lampreys.

Abstract The acquisition of a hypothalamic–pituitary axis was a seminal event in vertebrate evolution leading to the neuroendocrine control of many complex functions including growth, reproduction, osmoregulation, stress and metabolism. Lampreys as basal vertebrates are the earliest evolved vertebrates for which there are demonstrated functional roles for two gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs) that act via the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis controlling reproductive processes. With the availability of the lamprey genome, we have identified a novel GnRH form (lamprey GnRH-II) and a novel glycoprotein hormone receptor, lGpH-R II (thyroid-stimulating hormone-like receptor). Based on functional studies, in situ hybridization and phylogenetic analysis, we hypothesize that the newly identified lamprey GnRH-II is an ancestral GnRH to the vertebrate GnRHs. This finding opens a new understanding of the GnRH family and can help to delineate the evolution of the complex neuro/endocrine axis of reproduction. A second glycoprotein hormone receptor (lGpH-R II) was also identified in the sea lamprey. The existing data suggest the existence of a primitive, overlapping yet functional HPG and HPT endocrine systems in this organism, involving one possibly two pituitary glycoprotein hormones and two glycoprotein hormone receptors as opposed to three or four glycoprotein hormones interacting specifically with three receptors in gnathostomes. We hypothesize that the glycoprotein hormone/glycoprotein hormone receptor systems emerged as a link between the neuro-hormonal and peripheral control levels during the early stages of gnathostome divergence. The significance of the results obtained by analysis of the HPG/T axes in sea lamprey may transcend the limited scope of the corresponding physiological compartments by providing important clues in respect to the interplay between genome-wide events (duplications), coding sequence (mutation) and expression control level evolutionary mechanisms in definition of the chemical control pathways in vertebrates.
The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis and Early Close Followup in Patients With Suspected Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney

AbstractPurpose: Conservative management of children who have unequivocal multicystic dysplastic kidney with a stable or regressive pattern of disease during close followup is well established. However, a clear diagnosis may prove difficult. We report 3 cases in which the diagnosis was particularly difficult to increase awareness of the importance of applying strict criteria for the diagnosis of multicystic dysplastic kidney.Materials and Methods: Three children in whom a diagnosis of multicystic dysplastic kidney was suspected underwent surgical exploration. One patient who did not comply with followup presented with a large retroperitoneal mass suspicious for neuroblastoma 8 months later. In another patient a growing renal cystic mass was suspicious for a multilocular cyst at 3 months of followup. At 2 months of followup a cystic nephroma was suspected in the remaining patient.Results: All patients underwent surgical exploration. The patient with suspected neuroblastoma had extensive stage 3 Wilms tumor...
Perceived need for treatment among pregnant and nonpregnant women arrestees

Abstract Previous research has noted a high rate of drug use by women arrestees. Not only are women arrestees more likely to be found drug positive by urinalysis than are men arrestces, but in recent years, in part because of drug use, women have constituted the fastest growing population segment involved with the criminal justice system. One small hut important subgroup of women arrestees are those who are pregnant and, thus, who particularly need intervention. This article utilizes Drug Use Fore casting (DUF) data from Los Angeles jails to examine whether or not pregnant drugabusing women arrestees differ from nonpregnant drug-abusing women arrestees in terms of perceived need for treatment. Bivariate an alyses and multivariate logistic regression show that pregnant drug-using women are not more likely than nonpregnant women to perceive a need for treatment. Although pregnancy status is not related to perceived need, a number of other factors are related, including being single. Euro-American ethnicity,...
The effects of chronic gamma irradiation on the growth of kalanchoë cv. “brilliant star”

Abstract Kalanchoe seedlings were exposed chronically to 330 r/20-hr day from a Co60 source. Samples were harvested weekly. No new leaves were produced after initial exposure to irradiation, with mitosis in the apical meristems apparently suppressed, but the axillary meristems and the cambium continued their activity. This resulted in a much broadened stem tip with enlarged cells, supported by a stout internode in which cell size had remained relatively normal but cell number had increased. After about 26 days of exposure, meristematic activity in the shoot apex region resumed and resulted in the formation of growth centers which gave rise to leaves or malformed structures. The original phyllotaxy was not recovered. It is suggested that the resumption of growth may be an instance of adaptation to irradiation. In a second investigation the effect of chronic irradiation at various dose rates and on plants of different ages was tested. The dose rates used were 10, 25, 50, 100 and 250 r/20-hr day. Plants were in leaf stage 6, 8, 11 and 16 at the beginning of the experiment. No obvious age effect could be determined over this range of leaf stages. At 10 and 25 r/day the rate of leaf production did not appear to be affected. At 50 r/day about five more leaf pairs were formed before normal activity of the apical meristem ceased. In heavily irradiated plants leaves tended to be larger, broader and heavier. Much of this increase resulted from the production of more cells rather than larger cells. Internodes which were formed during irradiation showed a reduction in length, largely because in these fewer cells were formed. The degree of reduction was dependent upon dose.
The effects of exogenous melatonin and melatonin receptor blockade on aggression and estrogen-dependent gene expression in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Photoperiodic regulation of aggression has been well established in several vertebrate species, with rodents demonstrating increased aggression in short day photoperiods as compared to long day photoperiods. Previous work suggests that estrogens regulate aggression via rapid nongenomic pathways in short days and act more slowly in long days, most likely via genomic pathways. The current study therefore examines the role of melatonin in mediating aggression and estrogen-dependent gene transcription. In Experiment 1, male California mice were housed under long day photoperiods and were treated with either 0.3 μg/g of melatonin, 40 mg/kg of the melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole, or vehicle for 10 days. We found that melatonin administration significantly increased aggression as compared to mice receiving vehicle, but this phenotype was not completely ameliorated by luzindole. In Experiment 2, male California mice were injected with either 1mg/kg of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole or vehicle, and oxytocin receptor (OTR), estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), and c-fos gene expression was examined in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and medial preoptic area (MPOA). In the BNST, but not MPOA, OTR mRNA was significantly downregulated following letrozole administration, indicating that OTR is an estrogen-dependent gene in the BNST. In contrast, ERα was not estrogen dependent in either brain region. In the MPOA, OTR mRNA was inhibited by melatonin, and luzindole suppressed this effect. C-fos and ERα did not differ between treatments in any brain region examined. These results suggest that it is unlikely that melatonin facilitates aggression via broad spectrum regulation of estrogen-dependent gene expression. Instead, melatonin may act via regulation of other transcription factors such as extracellular signal regulated kinase.
Distribution and regulation by estrogen of progesterone receptor in the hypothalamus of the cat.

The diencephalon is critically involved in the estrogen-dependent receptor-mediated stimulation of respiration by progesterone in cats. To identify a neuroanatomic basis for this effect of progesterone, the diencephalon of the ovariectomized cat was examined immunohistochemically with an antiprogesterone receptor (anti-PR) monoclonal antibody. No immunostaining was found in ovariectomized animals pretreated with sesame oil alone. In contrast, numerous cells in the ventromedial aspect of the hypothalamus from cats pretreated with estradiol benzoate were PR immunoreactive. Thus, PR is induced by estrogen in hypothalamic neurons of cats. In animals pretreated with estradiol benzoate, the highest density of immunostained neurons was found throughout the infundibular nucleus, especially in the region of the mammillary recess of the third ventricle. PR-immunoreactive cells were also distributed throughout the periventricular nucleus, with the highest density located rostrally and immediately above the suprachia...
A relativistically corrected total absorption coefficient and a corrected upper bound for Rosseland opacities

Abstract First order relativistic effects in the Schrodinger Hamiltonian modify the Thomas-Kuhn sum rule such that ⩞ c ƒ ac = Z-δ , where Z is the nuclear charge, ƒac is the oscillator strength for a dipole transition between states a and c, and δ results from relativistic effects. With this modification in the sum rule, the Bernstein-Dyson limit for the Rosseland opacity is lowered as is also the total integrated mass absorption coefficient.
Influence of ethanol consumption on natural killer cell activity in mice

Alcohol is a known suppressant to the immune system, and alcoholics frequently have impaired humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Several studies indicate that alcohol modulates natural killer (NK) cell activity. NK cells provide important defense against certain infectious diseases, spontaneously arising tumors and, in particular, to blood-borne metastasizing tumor cells. Evaluation of the effects of alcohol on NK cells is complicated by many factors including: the level and duration of alcohol abuse, polydrug use, the subject's age, and nutritional and health status. This study examined the effects of 1 and 2 weeks of alcohol consumption on baseline and interleukin 2 (IL-2) stimulated murine NK cell activity. Well nourished female C57BL/6 mice were given continuous access to 20% w/v ethanol as the sole fluid source and consumed about 40% of their total caloric intake as ethanol. Splenic baseline and IL-2 stimulated NK cell activity were significantly lower in ethanol-consuming groups compared to control groups after the 1- and 2-week test periods. The average daily intake of ethanol, blood alcohol concentration, and the percentage of ethanol-derived calories were not associated with the decreased NK cell activity of the experimental animals; nor did any other measured parameter appear to serve as an indicator of ethanol modulation of splenic NK cell activity. Whether this immunosuppression results from the "direct" modulation of ethanol or from indirect factors is presently unknown.
Do the colours of parents, companions and self influence assortative mating in the polychromatic Midas cichlid?

Most of the polychromatic Midas cichlids, Cichlasoma citrinellum, in Nicaragua are normally coloured (normal) but about 8% lack melanophores and are thus gold coloured (gold). Previous work in the field and laboratory has shown that when fish are free to interact they mate assortatively by colour; how this is achieved is unknown. Female choice of mate by colour when only visual information is available could result from previous experience with colour of parents, companions or self. Alternatively, choice could reflect an inherent bias: females might select normal males because they bear the ‘primitive’ colour pattern, or females that have genes for a particular colour morph might choose males of that colour. The females fell into nine different groups according to colour of their parents, companions (siblings, after parental care had ceased) and their own colour. Females visited males of either colour morph, normal or gold, viewing them through one-way mirrors. Females responded significantly more to normal males than to gold ones, but not consistently so; we argue that this bias was due to the ‘primitive’ colour effect. Colour of parents and of companions had weaker but neverthless significant effects on female responses whereas the female's own colour did not. Assortative matings may result from an indirect effect of gold on aggressiveness.
Carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in magnesium deficient rats

Magnesium (Mg) deficient rats show biochemical signs of mild inflammation. Conceivably, this could prime rats for enhanced stress-induced inflammation, or inhibit such injury by raising body contents of protective proteins such as the acute phase reactants. Mg deficient rats showed normal acute paw inflammation due to carrageenan treatment, despite high levels of ceruloplasmin, an acute phase protein. Thus, Mg deficiency, though it produced a moderate acute phase response, did not exert a general effect on susceptibility to inflammation.
Comparison of Fog Scattered Laser and Monochromatic Incoherent Light

Scattering and transmission experiments have been performed with fogs of varying densities. The sources used were cocollimated, polarized, equal intensity beams from a He–Ne laser and a filtered xenon lamp. Comparisons reveal no significant difference. The results agree with Mie theory.
Understanding the adolescent reader

Excluding racial and ethnic minorities, teenagers are probably the most stereotyped group in our society. Adults tend to portray adolescents as disoriented and confused, as subject to every conceivable stress and strain. Despite contrary evidence, teenagers in this view are fraught with overwhelming emotional anxiety. The opposite stereotype depicts adolescents as pampered, vapid products of permissive parents and institutions-willful child-people who have become laws unto themselves. Like most stereotypes, both these views perhaps contain minimal truths, but these monolithic approaches are more normative and political than descriptive. In our society, adolescence involves various new experiences, biological and cultural, that are part of the transition to emotional and physical maturity. Stone and Church (1968, p. 270) observe:
Structural assignment of a molybdenum‐containing silsesquioxane which catalyzes the metathesis of olefins: DPFGSE‐NOE and x‐ray diffraction studies

The reaction of [(c-C6H11)7Si7O9(OSiMe3)(OTl)2] with [Mo(CHCMe2Ph)(NAr)(OSO2CF3)2(dme)] (Ar=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) affords 4a as the predominant (>99%) molybdenum-containing product. Assignment of 4a as the syn-isomer with juxtaposed arylimido and Me3Si groups was made on the basis of double pulsed field gradient spin echo (DPFGSE) NOE experiments and confirmed by a single-crystal x-ray diffraction study. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence-Based Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes for Scholarly Writing Development Across all Levels of Nursing Education

Because nursing care in health care settings becomes more complex, nurses are called upon to work effectively with other health care providers to deliver high-quality evidence-based care. To do so in a cost effective and efficient manner requires the development of effective oral and written communication skills in nurses. One form of written communication is scholarly writing. Scholarly writing is defined by the authors as writing that is specialized in nursing, communicates original thought, includes support from a body of literature, contains formal language consistent with the discipline of nursing, and is formatted in a manner consistent with peer-review publications. Faculty who facilitate the development of these skills face inconsistencies in students' writing ability and development across programs and levels of education. Nurse educators need to understand how to develop these communication skills for students enrolled at various educational levels and to teach students how to share information in a scholarly way.
Rate of Wear of Pharmaceutical Tablets

AbstractSeveral methods are presented to quantitatively measure the wear of compressed tablets. The natural logarithm of the weight fraction, W/Wo, decreases linearly with increasing wear time. Thus, the wearability of a tablet may be described by a first-order rate constant or its half life. As the wear process continues there may be more than a single rate constant depending on the geometry and structural homogeneity of the tablet.
Lithium batteries for aerospace applications: 2003 Mars Exploration Rover

This paper describes the selection criteria, design and performance of three battery systems on 2003 MER mission.
Clinical experience with vena caval filters in high-risk cancer patients

Our experience with the placement of intracaval filter devices in patients with malignancies, is reviewed. Seventy patients had either a Mobin Uddin or Greenfield Umbrella Filter placed since 1971. The indications for caval interruption in our series included contraindications to anticoagulant therapy, bleeding with anticoagulant therapy, and recurrent pulmonary embolism with anticoagulant therapy. Of the 70 patients, 47 had a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, 15 had the diagnosis of pulmonary embolus, and eight had the diagnosis of both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. The types of malignancies that were present in our patients included breast carcinoma, gynecologic tumors, colon tumors, pancreatic carcinoma, and hematologic malignancies. We report no operative mortality and a low operative morbidity of 7% utilizing this method of caval interruption. The late morbidity of stasis sequelae following caval interruption was present in 14% of the patients. Based on a favorable experience with this method of vena cava interruption in high-risk patients with advanced malignancies, the authors suggest a more liberal indication for caval interruption in this group of patients.
Observation of Vortex Phase Singularities in Bose-Einstein Condensates

We have observed phase singularities due to vortex excitation in Bose-Einstein condensates. Vortices were created by moving a laser beam through a condensate. They were observed as dislocations in the interference fringes formed by the stirred condensate and a second unperturbed condensate. The velocity dependence for vortex excitation and the time scale for re-establishing a uniform phase across the condensate were determined.
The First Spatially Resolved Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of β Pictoris

Long-slit spectra probe the southwest side of the disk in the 8-13 μm region. Dust within 08 of the star shows silicate emission features, including amorphous and crystalline species. Farther out, the disk spectra are featureless and are entirely dominated by dust thermal continuum emission. Mid-infrared imaging of β Pictoris reveals spatial asymmetries in its dusty circumstellar disk at a spatial resolution of 05. Visible for the first time is an inner (r < 20 AU) warp in the disk that is aligned differently from a larger scale warp observed in scattered light by the Hubble Space Telescope. At 12 μm, as has been observed before, the southwest extension of the disk is brighter than the northeast side. This asymmetry appears to be not as significant at 18 μm. The spatially resolved spectra show that this asymmetry cannot be accounted for by small dust grains that have a spectral feature.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Timely Adjuvant Therapy for Older Women with Breast Cancer: Are Delays Influenced by the Hospitals Where Patients Obtain Surgical Care?

Racial disparities in the receipt of breast cancer care are well documented and likely contribute to the worse outcomes of minority women (Bickell et al. 2006; Griggs et al. 2007; Gross et al. 2008; Freedman et al. 2009, 2010). In addition to differences in treatment receipt, black and Hispanic women are more likely to have delays in treatment initiation (Gwyn et al. 2004; Gorin et al. 2006; Lund et al. 2007; Fedewa et al. 2010), which have been associated with poorer outcomes and increased mortality (Richards et al. 1999a,b; Hershman et al. 2006a,b). Although patient factors such as treatment preferences and provider mistrust (Bickell et al. 2009) may lead to racial disparities in treatment, provider and institutional factors likely also play an important role. Growing evidence suggests that the hospitals where patients receive care may influence racial disparities in rates of surgery and outcomes for cardiovascular disease and other conditions (Barnato et al. 2005; Jha et al. 2005; Skinner et al. 2005; Liu et al. 2006; Lucas et al. 2006; Lathan, Neville, and Earle 2008; Regenbogen et al. 2009). Data also suggest that the hospital factors are important contributors to racial disparities in receipt of definitive local therapy for breast cancer (Keating et al. 2009) and in mortality for breast cancer and other cancers (Morris et al. 2006; Zhang, Ayanian, and Zaslavsky 2007; Breslin et al. 2009). In this analysis, we assessed adjuvant treatment delays by race/ethnicity for older women with breast cancer and further assessed whether hospitals where women receive care explained such disparities.
Use of hand diagrams in screening for ulnar neuropathy: comparison with electrodiagnostic studies.

Accepted 1 May 2012 ABSTRACT: Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine whether a hand diagram could be used to predict ul- nar mononeuropathy. Methods: This was a prospective study of 117 consecutive patients referred for hand symptoms. Each subject filled out a hand diagram of symptoms and had median and ulnar sensory and motor nerve conduction studies, includ- ing ulnar conduction across the elbow. Results: The best model for predicting an ulnar mononeuropathy included hand diagram scores of definite or possible. The model had a sensi- tivity of 50% and specificity of 93% with an ROC area of 0.90. Conclusions: The ulnar hand diagram scoring system can be useful as a screening tool in the electrodiagnostic laboratory or for epidemiologic studies. cal presentation and confirmed by electrodiagnos- tic testing. Clinically, an affected patient complains of numbness and tingling in an ulnar distribution. In more severe cases there is weakness and atrophy of ulnar innervated hand intrinsic muscles. There is a self-administered questionnaire that can be used to evaluate symptom severity (similar to the Boston questionnaire for CTS), but it has not been used to assess the prevalence of UN in the general population. 7
Optical coherence tomographic patterns of diabetic macular edema.

Purpose To describe various morphologic patterns of diabetic macular edema (DME) demonstrated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and correlate them with visual acuity. Design Retrospective, observational, case series. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with DME who underwent OCT evaluation and met the study inclusion criteria between May 1998 and December 2002 at the Cole Eye Institute was performed. The OCT scans were evaluated for the presence of diffuse retinal thickening (DRT), cystoid macular edema (CME), posterior hyaloidal traction (PHT), serous retinal detachment (SRD), and traction retinal detachment (TRD). Additionally, the retinal thickness was measured and visual acuity evaluated. Results Two hundred seventy-six OCT scans of 164 eyes of 119 patients were identified. OCT revealed five morphologic patterns of DME: DRT (269, 97%), CME (152, 55%), SRD without PHT (19, 7.0%), PHT without TRD (35, 12.7%), and PHT with TRD (8, 2.9%). Mean retinal thickness varied depending on the morphologic pattern. The mean visual acuities (Snellen equivalent) also varied between groups. Increasing retinal thickness in all patterns was significantly correlated with worse visual acuity ( P P = .01) and PHT without TRD ( P = .02) were also significantly associated with worse vision. Conclusions DME exhibits at least five different morphologic patterns on OCT. There is a significant correlation between retinal thickness and visual acuity.
Quantum probability distributions in the early Universe. I. Equilibrium properties of the Wigner equation

This is the first in a series of papers dealing with quantum or Wigner probability distributions and the dynamics of early-Universe phase transitions. In this paper we argue that the inflaton field (a real gauge-singlet scalar field) when spatially averaged over a causal horizon behaves as if it were a dissipative quantum-mechanical system in one dimension. Realizing that the mathematical phase-space or stochastic description of Wigner is the only consistent way to describe these systems and still preserve the canonical commutation relations we devote this paper to investigating various properties of the Wigner formalism. This framework rests on the quasiprobability distribution and its evolution equation: a generalized Fokker-Planck equation. We first show that this generalized Fokker-Planck equation is equivalent to Schroedinger's equation for nondissipative pure states. We then show how one computes ground-state energies within this formalism (for nondissipative systems) by calculating ground-state energy levels for a variety of anharmonic potentials. Finally we compute the quantum-mechanical effective potential in one dimension to order g(h/2..pi..).
On a Linear-Programming, Combinatorial Approach to the Traveling-Salesman Problem

This paper elaborates a method of attack on traveling-salesman problems, proposed by the authors in an earlier paper, in which linear programming is used to reduce the combinatorial magnitude of such problems. To illustrate the method, a step-by-step solution of Barachet's ten-city example is presented.
Direct three-dimensional localization and positive identification of RNA helices within the ribosome by means of genetic tagging and cyro-electron microscopy

Abstract Background: Ribosomes are complex macromolecular machines that perform the translation of the genetic message. Cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) maps of the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome are approaching a resolution of 10 A and X-ray maps of the 30S and 50S subunits are now available at 5 A. These maps show a lot of details about the inner architecture of the ribosome and ribosomal RNA helices are clearly visible. However, in the absence of further biological information, even at the higher resolution of the X-ray maps many rRNA helices can be placed only tentatively. Here we show that genetic tagging in combination with cryo-EM can place and orient double-stranded RNA helices with high accuracy. Results: A tRNA sequence inserted into the E. coli 23S ribosomal RNA gene, at one of the points of sequence expansion in eukaryotic ribosomes, is visible in the cryo-EM map as a peripheral ‘foot' structure. By tracing its acceptor-stem end, the location of helix 63 in domain IV and helix 98 in domain VI of the 50S subunit could be precisely determined. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates for the first time that features of a three-dimensional cryo-EM map of an asymmetric macromolecular complex can be interpreted in terms of secondary and primary structure. Using the identified helices as a starting point, it is possible to model and interpret, in molecular terms, a larger portion of the ribosome. Our results might be also useful in interpreting and refining the current X-ray maps.
New runaway-replication-plasmid cloning vectors and suppression of runaway replication by novobiocin.

Abstract Two new cloning vectors (pBEU28 and pBEU50) with temperature-controlled runaway-replication properties are described. pBEU28 is similar to aphA + (Kan R ) plasmid pBEU2 but lacks a 1.8-kb duplication which is responsible for plasmid instability. pBEU50 is an analog of pBR313 and pBR322 in that it carries bla + (Amp R ), which can be used for selection, and tet + (Tet R ) which can be inactivated by cloning at Hin dIII and Bam HI restriction sites. Sublethal concentrations of novobiocin were exploited to suppress runaway replication and to restore the viability of the plasmid carriers. By this method copB deletion mutants of two temperature-controlled, conditional runaway-replication plasmids were detected and isolated. The unconditional runaway-replication property of these plasmids leads us to hypothesize that there are at least two controls of plasmid R1 copy number and that the copB -dependent control is temperature-sensitive in the conditional runaway replication mutants. The novobiocin suppression of the runaway replication permitted us to clone dnaN + on pBEU28 and to identify its presence at 42°C with a dna N59 transformation recipient which was temperature-sensitive due to a defect in the dnaN gene.
Liability for institutional review boards: from regulation to litigation.

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) have been placed under intense scrutiny since 1998, when the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued its re...
An endo-acting proline-specific oligopeptidase from Treponema denticola ATCC 35405: evidence of hydrolysis of human bioactive peptides.

Abstract An endo-acting proline-specific oligopeptidase (prolyl oligopeptidase [POPase], EC 3.4.21.26) was purified to homogeneity from the Triton X-100 extracts of cells of Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 (a human oral spirochete) by a procedure that comprised five successive fast protein liquid chromatography steps. The POPase is a cell-associated 75- to 77-kDa protein with an isoelectric point of ca. 6.5. The enzyme hydrolyzed (optimum pH 6.5) the Pro-pNA bond in carbobenzoxy-Gly-Pro-p-nitroanilide (Z-Gly-Pro-pNA) and bonds at the carboxyl side of proline in several human bioactive peptides, such as bradykinin, substance P, neurotensin, angiotensins, oxytocin, vasopressin, and human endothelin fragment 22-38. The minimum hydrolyzable peptide size was tetrapeptide P3P2P1P'1, while the maximum substrate size was ca. 3 kDa. An imino acid residue in position P1 was absolutely necessary. The hydrolysis of Z-Gly-Pro-pNA was potently inhibited by the following, with the Ki(app) (in micromolar) in parentheses: insulin B-chain (0.7), human endothelin-1 (0.5), neuropeptide Y (1.7), substance P (32.0), T-kinin (4.0), neurotensin (5.0), and bradykinin (16.0). Chemical modification and inhibition studies suggest that the POPase is a serine endopeptidase whose activity depends on the catalytic triad of COOH ... Ser ... His but not on a metal. The amino acid sequence around the putative active-site serine is Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn-Pro-Gly. The enzyme is suggested to contain a reactive cysteinyl residue near the active site. Amino acid residues 4 to 24 of the first 24 N-terminal residues showed a homology of 71% with the POPase precursor from Flavobacterium meningosepticum and considerable homology with the Aeromonas hydrophila POPase. The ready hydrolysis of human bioactive peptides at bonds involving an imino acid residue suggests that enzymes like POPase may contribute to the chronicity of periodontal infections by participating in the peptidolytic processing of those peptides.
IBM's PIQUANT in TREC2003

Summary Our analysis of the contribution of Cyc this year showed that the major limiting factor is still in the area of coverage. Major manual effort is required both to generate appropriate semantic forms and to map to Cyc’s predicates, and also to add instance information into Cyc. With the current state of the system, Cyc helps more to improve our answer confidences (not a part of the evaluation this year) than to get answers right. The major novelty in our system this year was the implementation of QA-by-Dossier to answer Definition questions. Here, a collection of predetermined factoid questions are asked about the subject in order to gather facts that seem to be typically mentioned in definitional articles in newspapers and reference works. An advantage of this method over others which locate definitional syntactic constructs is that our system “knows” the nature of the relationship of the retrieved item to the subject. In the evaluation, we felt that our system had performed relatively well according to our expectations of what was required, but we were very disappointed to find that the NIST assessors had different opinions regarding acceptable answers.
Axillary Staging in the Neoadjuvant Setting

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is increasingly being used in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer as well as for early breast cancer. Axillary lymph node dissection has been the standard method of staging the axilla in the neoadjuvant setting. Since the sentinel lymph node biopsy was introduced in the early 1990s, less invasive approaches to axillary staging in patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy have been proposed. In this review, we discuss the effects of NAC, the imaging modalities that have been used to evaluate the axillary lymph nodes, and the role and timing of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the neoadjuvant setting. Finally, we propose a treatment algorithm for patients undergoing NAC on the basis of the current data.
Modeling Fractal-Like Branching Microchannel Heat Exchangers

A one-dimensional model for single-phase flow in a fractal-like branching microchannel heat exchanger was developed to estimate bulk fluid temperature and pressure distributions in co-flow and counter-flow configurations. The model assumes incompressible flow with thermally and hydrodynamically developing boundary layers. An existing correlation for the heat transfer coefficient in the simultaneously developing boundary layer region was found to adequately describe results from a three-dimensional computational analysis of conjugate heat transfer and fluid flow using the commercial software package Star-CCM+. Additionally, the fin efficiency was found to be an important descriptor of the difference in performance between a heat exchanger made of low and high thermal conductivity material. A parametric study was performed with the one-dimensional model to assess the influence of flow conditions and flow network characteristics on performance measures, including the benefit-to-cost ratio, which is defined as the heat transfer divided by flow power. Results of heat transfer versus log-mean temperature difference and effectiveness versus number of transfer units are compared between branching and straight microchannel heat exchangers.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Mobilizing the low-avidity T cell repertoire to kill tumors

Optimally, T cells destroy infected and transformed cells of the host. To be effective the T cell repertoire must have a sufficiently diverse number of T cell receptors (TCRs) to recognize the abundance of foreign and tumor antigens presented by MHC molecules. The T cell repertoire must also not be reactive toward self-antigens on healthy cells to prevent autoimmunity. Unlike antigens derived from pathogens, most tumor-associated antigens (TAA) are also self-antigens. Therefore, central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms delete or inhibit tumor-reactive T cells. Although there are T cells within the peripheral repertoire that recognize TAA, these T cells are not sufficient to prevent growth of clinically relevant tumors. We will discuss how this dysfunction results, in part, from the low functional avidity of T cells for tumor, or antigen presenting cells (APC) displaying TAA. We discuss the limitations of these low-avidity tumor-reactive T cells and review current immunotherapies aimed at enhancing the avidity and antitumor activity of the tumor-specific T cell repertoire.
Computer Monitor Supervision: A Clinical Note

Live supervision requires communication while the supervisor is guiding the trainee therapist through the one-way mirror. With the use of computer technology, additional communication procedures that have been developed are briefly presented adding new possibilities to live supervision. Using the computer as a supervision tool, therapy can be influenced by the supervisor while minimizing disruption. Successes and pitfalls in a masters level practicum course in family therapy are presented.
Surgical Management of Depression Fractures of the Equine Skull

Three cases of depression fractures of the equine facial bones are described. Treatment consisted of operative exposure using large skin flaps and elevation of the fragments with and without transosseous wiring. In all cases, cosmetic and functional results were considered excellent.
The Victoria Schuck Award: A Sonata for Gender Politics Scholarship

Even as this issue of Politics & Gender appears in print, a committee of scholars (Kimberly Morgan, Vanita Seth, and Wendy Gunther-Canada in 2011) is serving the discipline by undertaking the fascinating and painful task of choosing a book (or books) upon which to bestow the American Political Science Association's Victoria Schuck Award for Best Book on Gender Politics. Twenty three committees have given the award to 32 books since the first awards were made in 1988. The Schuck Award is one of only four association-wide book awards (the others, of course, are the Ralph Bunche Award for ethnic and cultural pluralism; the Gladys Kammerer Award for best book in U.S. national policy; and the Woodrow Wilson Award for Best Book as chosen by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation on government, politics, or international relations). How did the young field of gender politics reach such heights of scholarly recognition so soon?
Further choices for molar theory

The target article extends molar behaviorism in two positive ways: beyond average aggregates and beyond restricted laws of “conditioning.” Although a molar framework based on purely overt events shows promise for advancing behavior theory, Rachlin's specific form of teleological behaviorism is in need of clarification.