cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Significance of Amylose Content of Wheat Starch on Processing and Textural Properties of Instant Noodles

ABSTRACT The effect of amylose content of starch on processing and textural properties of instant noodles was determined using waxy, partial waxy, and regular wheat flours and reconstituted flours with starches of various amylose content (3.0–26.5). Optimum water absorption of instant noodle dough increased with the decrease of amylose content. Instant noodles prepared from waxy and reconstituted wheat flours with ≤12.4% amylose content exhibited thicker strands and higher free lipids content than wheat flours with ≥17.1% amylose content. Instant noodles of ≤12.4% amylose content of starch exhibited numerous bubbles on the surface and stuck together during frying. Lightness of instant noodles increased from 77.3 to 81.4 with the increase of amylose content of starch in reconstituted flours. Cooking time of instant noodles was 4.0–8.0 min in wheat flours and 6.0–12.0 min in reconstituted flours, and constantly increased with the increase in amylose content of starch. Hardness of cooked instant noodles posi...
Brain and cerebrospinal fluid uptake of zidovudine (AZT) in rats after intravenous injection.

Abstract Uptake kinetics of zidovudine into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue were determined in adult Sprague Dawley male rats after single intravenous injection of 6.7 mg/kg (25 μmol/kg). The drug kinetics in plasma followed biexponential disposition with an initial distribution half-life of approximately 11 minutes and an elimination half-life of 40 minutes. Over the plasma concentration range of 0.2 to 10 μg/ml, the cerebrospinal fluid to plasma ratio averaged 14.8±1.9% whereas the mean brain tissue to plasma ratio was 8.2±1.2% (uncorrected) or 2.3±1.8% (corrected) for the brain vascular space contribution. Simultaneous nonlinear regression analysis of brain, CSF and plasma concentration data indicate that the overall rate constant for efflux of drug from brain is ∼75-fold higher and from CSF is 8-fold higher than the respective rate constants for influx. Thus, the ratio of the efflux to influx appears to be the predominant factor in determining the net accumulation of drug into CSF and brain parenchymal tissue.
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) root response to aluminium and calcium

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triancanthos L.) root growth response to varying levels of Al and Ca in soil solutions was examined in two horizons each of two forest soils. With results from all four horizons combined, multiple regression analysis indicated that both Ca and Al were significant (p<0.01) factors affecting root elongation, branching and biomass production. Over a wide range of Al and Ca concentrations in soil solutions from four different soil horizons, the Ca:Al ratio was a significantly better predictor of honeylocust root response to acid soils than Al or Ca alone.
Summons and Outline in Mark: The Three-Step Progression

La structure ternaire du recit marcien, evidente dans la triple annonce de la Passion, s'etend a tous les niveaux de l'Evangile. C'est ce que montre l'A. en relevant des series ternaires de mots et d'episodes| un processus ternaire a l'interieur de toute une section| une succession ternaire d'interludes entre les sections. Cette analyse conduit a distinguer six grandes sections placees entre une introduction et une conclusion: (1) 1:14 a 3:6| (2)3:7 a 5:43| (3)6:1 a 8:26| (4)8:27 a 10:45| (5)10:46 a 12:44| (6)13:1 a 15:47.
Degradation and mineralization of petroleum in sea water: limitation by nitrogen and phosphorous.

Biodegradation and mineralization of petroleum, added at 1% (v/v) to freshly collected sea water, were measured using gas–liquid chromatographic, residual weight, and CO2-evolution techniques. Only 3% of the added petroleum was biodegraded and 1% was mineralized in unamended sea water after 18 days of incubation. Added individually, nitrate (10−2M) or phosphate (3.5 × 10−4M) supplements caused little improvement, but when added in combination, they increased petroleum biodegradation and mineralization to 70% and 42%, respectively. Attempts to clean up oil spills with the aid of microorganisms should take into consideration the nutritional deficiencies of sea water.
American Medicine as Religious Practice: Care of the Sick as a Sacred Obligation and the Unholy Descent into Secularization

Modern medicine serves a religious function for modern Americans as a conduit through which science can be applied directly to the human body. The first half of this paper will focus on the theoretical foundations for viewing medicine as a religious practice arguing that just as a hierarchical structured authoritarian church historically mediated access to God, contemporary Western medicine provides a conduit by which the universalizable truths of science can be applied to the human being thereby functioning as a new established religion. I will then illustrate the many parallels between medicine and religion through an analysis of rituals and symbols surrounding and embedded within the modern practice of medicine. This analysis will pay special attention to the primacy placed on secret interior knowledge of the human body. I will end by responding to the hope for a “secularization of American medicine,” exploring some of the negative consequences of secularization, and arguing that, rather than seeking to secularize, American medicine should strive to use its religious features to offer hope and healing to the sick, in keeping with its historically religious legacy.
Influence of Apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I Structure on Nascent High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Particle Size Distribution

The principal protein of high density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, in the lipid-free state contains two tertiary structure domains comprising an N-terminal helix bundle and a less organized C-terminal domain. It is not known how the properties of these domains modulate the formation and size distribution of apoA-I-containing nascent HDL particles created by ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-mediated efflux of cellular phospholipid and cholesterol. To address this issue, proteins corresponding to the two domains of human apoA-I (residues 1–189 and 190–243) and mouse apoA-I (residues 1–186 and 187–240) together with some human/mouse domain hybrids were examined for their abilities to form HDL particles when incubated with either ABCA1-expressing cells or phospholipid multilamellar vesicles. Incubation of human apoA-I with cells gave rise to two sizes of HDL particles (hydrodynamic diameter, 8 and 10 nm), and removal or disruption of the C-terminal domain eliminated the formation of the smaller particle. Variations in apoA-I domain structure and physical properties exerted similar effects on the rates of formation and sizes of HDL particles created by either spontaneous solubilization of phospholipid multilamellar vesicles or the ABCA1-mediated efflux of cellular lipids. It follows that the sizes of nascent HDL particles are determined at the point at which cellular phospholipid and cholesterol are solubilized by apoA-I; apparently, this is the rate-determining step in the overall ABCA1-mediated cellular lipid efflux process. The stability of the apoA-I N-terminal helix bundle domain and the hydrophobicity of the C-terminal domain are important determinants of both nascent HDL particle size and their rate of formation.
Aging in the rat medial nucleus of the trapezoid body I. Light microscopy

The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MTB), a cell group in the superior olivary complex, was examined in an age-graded series of rats for neuron loss, changes in the giant synaptic endings (chalices of Held) on MTB neurons, and accumulation of age pigment. Neuron counts were done on protargol-stained paraffin sections of MTBs from a series of 17 rats aged 2-3, 6, 18, and 24 months. Between 2-3 and 24 months a 34% decrease in the mean number of MTB neurons was observed. Significant loss (p less than 0.05) was first evident in the early portion of the life span, between 2-3 and 6 months. In thionin-stained sections, there was no change with aging in the proportions of three MTB neuron types: principal cells (approximately 82%), elongate cells (approximately 15%), and stellate cells (approximately 3%). In young adult rats, 25-26% of all MTB neurons were associated with identifiable chalices of Held in protargol stained sections. This ratio did not vary significantly with aging. Age pigment accumulation in the MTB was examined in 2 micrometers Araldite sections stained with toluidine blue. Age pigment deposits were larger and more numerous in the MTBs of old animals, but not as extensive as has been described previously in many other parts of the nervous system. This study is the first to report neuron loss in an animal brainstem nucleus.
Nonclinical panic and suicidality: prevalence and psychopathology.

Recent epidemiological studies have reported an increased risk of suicide in patients with panic disorder, raising the possibility that there may be a unique relationship between panic and suicide. However, other studies, such as large chart reviews, have not found a meaningful increase in suicidal behavior among panic patients, except in those patients with comorbid borderline personality diagnoses. The present study examined nonclinical panickers to explore the specificity of the relationship between panic and suicide. Six hundred and twenty-seven undergraduates were surveyed to assess experiences of panic, suicidal behavior in relation to panic and general levels of pathology. Forty-two percent of the sample had experienced at least one panic attack in the past year, and of those 18% had considered suicide and 2.65% had made a suicide attempt in relation to their panic attacks. In comparison to nonclinical panickers who did not consider suicide, ideating nonclinical panickers had more frequent attacks, considered their attacks to be more severe, and viewed themselves as more fearful and in less control of their attacks. They also endorsed significantly higher levels of pathology across every dimension assessed. Results are discussed in terms of the prevalence of suicidal ideation among nonclinical samples, associated psychopathology, and extrapolation of the findings to clinical samples allowing development of models to understand the relationship between panic and suicide.
An Interprofessional Model for Serving Youth at Risk for Substance Abuse: The Team Case Study:

Three models of interprofessional education appropriate for serving youth at risk for substance abuse are described. One of the models, the team case study, was evaluated by school personnel trained in its use. Results indicated that participants were more sensitive to the multiple needs of youth at risk, experienced increased comfort in seeking consultation from other agents working with such youth, and were more confident of their abilities to select and implement appropriate interventions for youth at risk for substance abuse following their training.
Gravitational effects of cosmic strings

Abstract We find the metric of a special class of string trajectories, namely, travelling waves on a string, in the weak field approximation. One outcome of this solution is that such string trajectories exert a 1 r force on surrounding particles. We also find the temperature discontinuity across arbitrary cosmic strings. Our result generalizes the result of Kaiser and Stebbins and includes Lorentz and angular factors.
Systems approach to materials policy

A comprehensive systems framework for materials policy analysis, the Reference Materials System (RMS), has been developed and is described in this paper. Specifically, the RMS provides a systematic approach to organizing engineering processtype information regarding material flows, energy requirements, costs, and environmental impacts corresponding to various materials on all processes ranging from extraction of resources through their refinement, transportation, fabrication, installation, and maintenance at the point of end use, as well as recycling. This system can be used for the assessment of material technologies, substitutions and policies, and has been applied to assess the role of renewable materials as substitutes for energy-intensive nonrenewables.
International students' reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress

This study explored age, gender, reported English fluency, social support satisfaction and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress among a sample of 359 international students. Results indicate that international students from Europe experienced less acculturative stress than their counterparts from Asia, Central/Latin America, and Africa. Moreover, English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness were all predictors of acculturative stress. Implications for counselling and research are discussed.
Optical filters enabled by the Rayleigh anomaly: Theory and experiment

We present experimental evidence of the rapid exchange of diffracted power between the reflected zero-order wave and a substrate wave across a small angular range. This effect enables resonant devices we call Rayleigh reflectors.
On the Kolbe-Schmitt synthesis of pharmacologically useful salicylates: carboxylation of 2,4-di-t-butylphenol and identification and reduction of the formation of 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butylbiphenyl in the synthesis of 3,5-di-t-butylsalicylic acid.

Abstract The initial yield of 3,5-di-f-butylsalicylic acid obtained via Kolbe-Schmitt carboxylation of the potassium salt of 2,4-di-f-butylphenol was
Differential Absorption, Translocation and Metabolism of Metribuzin [4‐amino‐6‐tert‐butyl‐3‐(methylthio)‐as‐triazine‐5(4H)one] by Soybean Cultivars

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars have been reported to range in tolerance to injury by 4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazine-5(4H)one (metribuzin), from tolerant (e.g.‘Bragg’) to susceptible (e.g.‘Coker 102’ and ‘Semmes’). ‘Bragg,’‘Coker 102’, and ‘Semmes’ soybeans were grown in sand subirrigated with nutrient solution containing labelled (14C-carbonyl metribuzin) and nonlabelled metribuzin to determine cultivar variability in absorption, translocation, and metabolism of metribuzin. Plants were periodically harvested, autoradiographed, and radioactivity in tissue extracts quantified. Data indicated that all 3 cultivars readily absorbed and translocated metribuzin. However, ‘Bragg’ tissues accumulated greater quantities of metribuzin metabolites than the other two cultivars. The major 14C-containing metabolite in ‘Semmes’ and ‘Coker’ roots and stems was 6-tert-butyl-as-triazine-3-5-(2H,4H)-dione, whereas the major 14C-metabolite isolated from‘Bragg’ roots and stems was a glucose conjugate. Results indicated that differential-intraspecific responses to metribuzin may result from differential capacities for herbicide detoxification by conjugation.
Testing additive separability

Abstract We develop a revealed preference procedure to test if violations of additivity are due to measurement error. It detects additivity for simulated data and has power to reject nonseparable data. For interwar data, additivity is detected for two “super” groups.
Male factor infertility: innovations in varicocele surgery.

Recent meta-analyses suggest that surgical correction of varicoceles can improve the semen parameters and natural pregnancy rates of infertile men, prompting renewed interest in varicocelectomy methods. New developments, such as the use of Doppler ultrasonography during surgery, can aid the accurate identification of spermatic cord arteries during this technically challenging procedure.
Reexamination of tests of the Wannier threshold law for two-electron escape

Recent experimentalstudies of the spin dependence in electron-impact ionization of atomic hydrogen revealed the presence of deviations from the predictions of the conventional Wannier threshold theory of two-electron escape. We provide some insight into the possible origin of these deviations and reexamine the results of previous work that had claimed consistency with the Wannier theory but, with added statistical analysis, also seem to show deviations
The effect of nonprotein amino acid administration on the lysozyme activity of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta [Sphingidae]

Abstract A group of seven naturally-occurring, potentially toxic nonprotein amino acid antimetabolites, namely l -azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, l -homoarginine, l -canavanine, 5-hydroxy- l -lysine, l -albizzine, seleno- l -methionine, or 2-aminoethyl- l -cysteine were administered to terminal instar larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta [Sphingidae]. These potentially toxic secondary metabolites were provided concurrently with bacterial cell wall fragments that induce de novo -synthesis of lysozyme. Analysis of hemolymph lysozyme activity revealed that some of these compounds, such as 5-hydroxylysine, homoarginine, and albizzine, had no discernible effect on the activity of the induced lysozyme. On the other hand, providing canavanine, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, selenomethionine, or 2-aminoethylcysteine, at the time of bacterial challenge, resulted in a significant loss of lysozyme activity. Concurrent administration of canavanine and 2-aminoethylcysteine markedly intensified their individual capacity to inhibit enzyme activity. Selenomethionine had a dramatic sparing effect on canavanine-mediated disruption of lysozyme activity. The individual deleterious effect of azetidine-2-carboxylic acid and canavanine were not exacerbated when these two toxicants were co-administered.
Bilateral pulmonary artery banding for resuscitation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome

We report a case of a hypoplastic left heart syndrome with a nearly intact atrial septum and an obstructed anomalous pulmonary to systemic venous connection. Surgical atrial septectomy followed by bilateral pulmonary artery banding provided an optimal condition for the Norwood operation.
Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate in human blood platelets.

ALTERATIONS in the intracellular concentration of cyclic 3′,5′-AMP have been implicated in the action of many hormones and pharmacological agents in a variety of tissues1. In many cases, drugs, the action of which in liver, myocardium, adrenal and other tissues has been attributed to their effects on cyclic AMP concentrations, are known to influence aggregation of blood platelets, for example, platelet aggregation is inhibited by methyl xanthines2 and reserpine3, which inhibit cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase4,5, and is augmented by epinephrine6, which stimulates adenyl cyclase in liver, fat cells and myocardium7. 5-Hydroxytryptamine induces platelet aggregation8; it stimulates adenyl cyclase in the liver fluke9. Prostaglandin PGE1 is a potent inhibitor of platelet clumping10; it increases the level of cyclic AMP in adipose tissue11 but in some circumstances may lower its concentration in isolated fat cells1.
Primary Screening with Liquid-Based Cytology in an Unscreened Population in Rural China, with an Emphasis on Reprocessing Unsatisfactory Samples

Objective To determine the sensitivity and specificity of liquid-based cytology in a high-risk, unscreened population. Study design A cross-sectional comparative trial of multiple screening techniques. This report focuses on the performance of liquid-based cytology using biopsy as the standard. Results In total, 1,997 women were screened. All subjects had a minimum of five cervical biopsies. Of the subjects, 4.3% had CIN 2 on biopsy. The ThinPrep Pap with ASCUS as positive had a sensitivity for CIN 2 of 94% and specificity of 78%; the sensitivity for CIN 3 was 98% and for cancer, 100%. The unsatisfactory rate due to bloody specimens was 7.9% (158/1,997). After reprocessing, the unsatisfactory rate was 0.15% (3/1,997). Conclusion Reprocessing effectively recovers ThinPrep samples otherwise unsatisfactory due to blood and mucus. The ThinPrep Pap test is a highly sensitive screening test when used in a high-risk, unscreened population.
Actin isoform utilization during differentiation and remodeling of BC3H1 myogenic cells

Mouse BC3H1 myogenic cells and a bi-functional chemical cross linking reagent were utilized to investigate the polymerization of newly-synthesized vascular smooth muscle (alpha-actin) and non-muscle (beta- and gamma-actin) actin monomers into native F-actin filament structures during myogenesis. Two actin dimer species were identified by SDS-PAGE analysis of phenylenebismaleimide-cross linked fractions of BC3H1 myoblasts and myocytes. P-dimer was derived from the F-actin-enriched, detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton. Pulse-chase analysis revealed that D-dimer initially was associated with the cytoskeleton but then accumulated in the soluble fraction of lysed muscle cells that contained a non-filamentous or aggregated actin pool. Immunoblot analysis indicated that non-muscle and smooth muscle actins were capable of forming both types of dimer. However, induction of smooth muscle alpha-actin in developing myoblasts coincided with an increase in D-dimer level which may facilitate actin stress fiber assembly. Smooth muscle alpha-actin was rapidly utilized in differentiating myoblasts to assemble extraction-resistant F-actin filaments in the cytoskeleton whereas non-muscle beta- and gamma-actin filaments were more readily dissociated from the cytoskeleton by an extraction buffer containing ATP and EGTA. The data indicate that cytoarchitectural remodeling in developing BC3H1 myogenic cells is accompanied by selective actin isoform utilization that effectively segregates multiple isoactins into different sub-cellular domains and/or supramolecular entities.
Phenmetrazine in the management of obesity.

A group of patients were studied while taking phenmetrazine and a placebo, the dietary prescription having been kept constant, using the double blind procedure. The same patients were observed while taking each preparation, thus allowing each one to serve as her own control. The rate of loss of weight while taking phenmetrazine was more than twice that observed when a placebo was used. No significant effects upon the blood pressure, pulse rate, hemoglobin, white blood count, urinalysis, or basal metabolic rate were noted. Side effects while taking phenmetrazine were only slightly more frequent than during placebo medication.
Muscle cholinesterase: Effect of phencyclidine and ketamine on rat and human muscle cholinesterase activity

Abstract Phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine were found to weakly inhibit rat skeletal muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. PCP was a slightly more effective inhibitor of AChE than ketamine in vitro . PCP inhibited AChE activity in a noncompetitive manner which suggests the interaction of PCP at the secondary anionic site(s) of AChE whereas ketamine inhibited in a competitive manner, suggesting the interaction at the active site(s) of the enzyme. Both drugs also inhibited human muscle AChE activity in vitro . In vivo , both drugs stimulated rat skeletal muscle AChE activity whereas no effect was observed on rat brain AChE activity. When combined with restraints for 30 min following PCP and ketamine, the stimulation of AChE activity was greater than that produced by drug alone or restraint alone.
Improving the Recognition and Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread pain disorder often seen in primary care practices. Advances in the understanding of FM pathophysiology and clinical presentation have improved the recognition and diagnosis of FM in clinical practice. Fibromyalgia is a clinical diagnosis based on signs and symptoms and is appropriate for primary care practitioners to make. The hallmark symptoms used to identify FM are chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Awareness of common mimics of FM and comorbid disorders will increase confidence in establishing a diagnosis of FM.
Bullet Emboli to the Pulmonary Artery: A Report of 2 Patients and Review of the Literature

Abstract Bullet embolization to the pulmonary artery is a rare event. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with 2 patients and to review the 15 patients reported in the literature, with special emphasis on a rather peculiar complication that has occurred in 4 of the 9 patients who underwent bullet embolectomy: dislodgment of the missile during the surgical procedure and migration to the down-side lung, for which a second thoracotomy was required in 3 of those patients. The usual untoward effects of foreign bodies in the vascular system were seen in this series: embolization with thrombosis, sepsis, erosion and hemorrhage, and vascular occlusion with infarction. This review suggests that operative removal of a bullet in the pulmonary artery is necessary. The operation is safe and uncomplicated if precautions are taken to prevent the missile from migrating during manipulation of the lung.
Postcolposcopy management strategies for women referred with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or human papillomavirus DNA-positive atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance: a two-year prospective study.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to compare postcolposcopy management strategies for women referred for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) or oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA–positive atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 or less found at initial colposcopy. Study Design: A 2-year prospective follow-up of 1539 women was designed to assess the percentage sensitivity of different postcolposcopy management strategies to detect subsequent CIN grade 2 or 3 and percentage referral to repeat colposcopy. Results: HPV testing at 12 months was sensitive (92.2%) for detection of CIN grade 2 or 3 with a referral rate to repeat colposcopy of 55.0%. Repeat semiannual cytology with referral to colposcopy at an ASCUS threshold demonstrated similar sensitivity (88.0%) but with a higher rate of referral to colposcopy (63.6%). Combining cytology and HPV testing did not increase sensitivity and hurt specificity. Baseline viral load and colposcopic impression were not helpful. Conclusion: The most efficient test for identifying women with CIN grade 2 or 3 after colposcopy might be an HPV test alone at 12 months. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1401-5.)
Extended Skyrmion phase in epitaxial FeGe(111) thin films.

The Skyrmion state in epitaxial B20 FeGe(111) thin films, determined by the topological Hall effect, is greatly extended in the phase diagram to cover all temperatures up to the Curie temperature ${T}_{C}\ensuremath{\approx}271\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$ and over a wide magnetic field range that includes a zero magnetic field. The properties of the Skyrmion phase can be controlled and manipulated by the film thickness, which has a strong effect on the stabilization of Skyrmions.
Diagnosis of polycystic ovaries by three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound

Objective To study diagnostic thresholds for polycystic ovary (PCO). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic hospital. Patient(s) Normoandrogenic ovulatory women and patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Intervention(s) Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transvaginal ultrasound. Main Outcome Measure(s) The mean follicle number per ovary (FNPO) of both ovaries and the maximum number follicles in a single sonographic plane (FSSP) of either ovary were determined using 3D transvaginal ultrasound. Ovarian volume was determined using 2D transvaginal ultrasound. Result(s) Twenty-nine normoandrogenic ovulatory women were compared with 10 patients with PCOS. Diagnostic thresholds for PCO with 100% specificity as determined by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were ≥20 for mean FNPO, ≥10 for maximum FSSP, and ≥13 cm 3 for ovarian volume. Both 2D and 3D transvaginal ultrasound were highly accurate in the diagnosis of PCO as determined by areas under the curve (AUC) that were >90% for all three measures. Conclusion(s) Mean FNPO and maximum FSSP by 3D transvaginal ultrasound have comparable high accuracy for diagnosis of PCO. The diagnostic threshold with 100% specificity for mean FNPO is ≥20, which is greater than suggested by the Rotterdam Consensus Workshop in 2003. Use of the consensus standard, consequently, may result in overdiagnosis of PCO. A threshold of ≥20 mean FNPO using 3D transvaginal ultrasound may be appropriate to minimize false-positive diagnoses of PCO.
Distribution of heterotopic neurons in normal hemispheric white matter: a morphometric analysis.

One of the frequent abnormalities described in the context of surgically resected temporal lobe (TL) specimens is the presence of heterotopic neurons within white matter (WM). We have attempted to morphometrically define the distribution of the heterotopic neurons in normal subjects, comparing the incidence of heterotopic neurons in TL WM with that in occipital (OL) and frontal lobe (FL) sections. Using a a combination of routine and special stains combined with immunohistochemical confirmation 20 adult autopsy cases were examined. WM from TL, FL, and Ol sections was outlined and the area measured by image analysis. Using defined criteria, heterotopic neurons within these areas were counted. Results confirm our hypothesis that normal adult TL WM contains a significantly higher population of residual/heterotopic neurons than OL and FL WM groups. It is felt that these neurons represent interstitial remnants of the subplate which have failed to undergo programmed cell death. The significance of these findings with regard to assessment of similar findings in temporal lobectomy specimens is addressed. A second intriguing association of this TL WM heterotopia concerns its possible relationship to the more frequent occurrence of ?malformative neoplasms? with neuronal elements (such as ganglioglioma and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor) in the temporal lobe.
Design automation of analog circuit considering the process variations

An automatic design method for analog circuit is proposed in this paper. The proposed method is based on a multi-start point optimization (MSP) strategy with an embedded spice-level simulator. An optimal design point can be found automatically with spice-level accuracy. Moreover, impact of process variation is considered in this method such that the optimized result can satisfy the requirement of process corners. The proposed method can serve as a tool for analog circuit automatic design and optimization in practice.
The vitamin D receptor is required for activation of cWnt and hedgehog signaling in keratinocytes.

Alopecia (hair loss) in vitamin D receptor (VDR)-null mice is due to absence of ligand-independent actions of the VDR that are required for initiation of postmorphogenic hair cycles. Investigations were undertaken to determine whether the VDR is required for the induction of signaling pathways that play an important role in this process. The induction of cWnt and hedgehog target genes that characterizes early anagen was found to be dramatically attenuated in VDR−/− mice, relative to wild-type (WT) mice. To determine whether this reflects impaired responsiveness to cWnt ligands, in vitro studies were performed in primary keratinocytes. These studies demonstrated impaired induction of cWnt target genes in response to Wnt3a in VDR−/− keratinocytes, relative to wild-type keratinocytes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that the VDR was recruited to the regulatory regions of cWnt and hedgehog target genes in WT keratinocytes but not in VDR−/− or Lef1−/− keratinocytes. Lef1 was enriched on these same regulatory regions in WT keratinocytes but not in VDR−/− keratinocytes. In vivo studies were performed to determine whether activation of the hedgehog pathway could bypass the defect in cWnt signaling observed in the absence of the unliganded VDR. In WT, but not VDR−/−, mice, hedgehog agonist treatment resulted in an induction of cWnt and hedgehog target genes and the generation of mature anagen hair follicles. Thus, these studies demonstrate that the unliganded VDR interacts with regulatory regions in the cWnt and hedgehog target genes and is required for the induction of these pathways during the postnatal hair cycle.
QUANTIFIER SLOPING IN THE SRI CORE LANGUAGE ENGINE

An algorithm for generating the possible quantifier scopings for a sentence, in order of preference, is outlined. The scoping assigned to a quantifier is determined by its interactions with other quantifiers, modals, negation, and certain syntactic-constituent boundaries. When a potential scoping is logically equivalent to another, the less preferred one is discarded.The relative scoping preferences of the individual quantifiers are not embedded in the algorithm, but are specified by a set of rules. Many of the rules presented here have appeared in the linguistics literature and have been used in various natural language processing systems. However, the co-ordination of these rules and the resulting coverage represents a significant contribution. Because experimental data on human quantifier-scoping preferences are still fragmentary, we chose to design a system in which the set of preference rules could be easily modified and expanded.The algorithm described has been implemented in Prolog as part of a larger natural language processing system. Extensions of this algorithm are in progress.
A high voltage CCD Sensor Control Chip for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)

A Sensor Control Chip (SCC) that can drive a 20 V adjustable output voltage swing and a maximum output current of 100 mA has been developed to provide the required clock and bias signals for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescopepsilas CCD imagers. The prototype chip has been fabricated in a 0.8-mum BCD-SOI process, and is designed to operate down to 150 K. The circuit consists of current steering DACs followed by transimpedence operational amplifiers to control the rail voltages of the clock signals and bias voltages. The clocks are input to the SCC through LVDS receivers and converted internally to the required amplitude for driving the CCD. Design techniques will be presented along with room temperature and operational temperature test results obtained from prototype chips.
Aspects of cuticle formation in Drosophila melanogaster

The molting process and some aspects of puparium formation in Drosophila melanogaster have been examined by electron microscopy and autoradiography. Results indicate clearly alternate phases of production of enzymes involved in cuticle synthesis and enzymes involved in cuticle degradation, in epithelial cells. The synthesis phase begins about four hours before each molt and appears to continue about three hours after puparium formation. Protein which is involved in cuticle structure appears to remain where deposited. On the other hand, metabolic products of tyrosine that are involved in sclerotization and tanning diffuse outward through the cuticle from their origin in the epithelial cells. Channels or canals for transport of materials from cells toward epicuticle have not been observed in larval or prepupal material.
The Literary Emancipation of Juan Rodríguez del Padrón: From the Fictional “Cartas” to the Siervo libre de amor

In the fifty years that followed their publication, the Spanish sentimental romances enjoyed great popularity in the literary world of sixteenth-century Europe. Diego de San Pedro's Carcel de arnor (1492) and Tratado de arnores de Arnalte e Lucenda (1491) were translated into Italian (1513, 1539), French (1525, 1539), and English (1549, 1543). In England, the Tratado de amores was considered not only agreeable reading but also a useful handbook of rhetoric. The Italian (1521) and French (1535) versions of Juan de Flores's romances, Grisel y Mirabella (1495) and Grimalte y Gradissa (1495), left their mark on the writings of Ariosto, Madame de Scudery, and Maurice Sceve.1 Ironically, however, the principal work of Juan Rodriguez del Padron, the creator of the genre and a dominant influence on its evolution in Spain,2 was completely ignored elsewhere in Europe. That his romance, Siervo libre de arnor (c. 1438), and his poetry became better known in Spain was due in part to the erotic legend which associated his name with that of Queen Maria de Aragon, the wife of Juan II. Juan Rodriguez was born in Galicia at the end of the fourteenth century. As a hidalgo, he was very attached to traditional medieval values. As a poet, he was bound to the Galician lyrical legacy of Macias's poetry, and to the European tradition of courtly love. It is impossible to determine whether the Siervo libre de amor, which begins with the story of Siervo's love for an unidentified lady, was inspired by a real love affair. Juan Rodriguez's romance may well be entirely fictional, and the legend linking him with Queen Maria de Aragon may have grown from his book rather than from his life. In fact there are two love stories in the Siervo libre, giving it an interlaced, bipartite design that has puzzled critics. The account of Siervo's love is interrupted by the tragic story of Ardanlier and Liessa, which has traditionally been regarded as chivalresque rather than
Melt viscosity of polycarbonate–polyolefin blends

The flow behavior of polycarbonate (PC) blended with three kinds of polyolefins (LDPE, HDPE, PP) was studied at 260°C using an Instron Capillary Rheometer. Flow behavior of the blends was found to be very different from that of the individual components, and significant viscosity reductions were observed for blends consisting of 5% and 15% polyolefins. In particular, the viscosity of PC/HDPE was found to be much lower than that of the parent viscosity at a shear rate below 100 1/s. For pure components, a crossover of PC viscosity was observed at high shear rate for HDPE and PP. Interfacial slippage in the blends has been suggested as the flow mechanism by which a substantial reduction in the melt viscosities of either component takes place upon the addition of a small amount of the other. A new method was proposed to evaluate the relationship between the characteristic slip factor of the blend and the viscosity of the mixture. A single master curve was obtained, i.e., σm/αAB = a · p±b, where σm is the shear stress at the matrix, αAB the slip factor, p the viscosity ratio, and a, b the constants. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Why Measure Performance? Different Purposes Require Different Measures

Performance measurement is not an end in itself. So why should public managers measure performance? Because they may find such measures helpful in achieving eight specific managerial purposes. As part of their overall management strategy, public managers can use performance measures to evaluate, control, budget, motivate, promote, celebrate, learn, and improve. Unfortunately, no single performance measure is appropriate for all eight purposes. Consequently, public managers should not seek the one magic performance measure. Instead, they need to think seriously about the managerial purposes to which performance measurement might contribute and how they might deploy these measures. Only then can they select measures with the characteristics necessary to help achieve each purpose. Without at least a tentative theory about how performance measures can be employed to foster improvement (which is the core purpose behind the other seven), public managers will be unable to decide what should be measured. Everyone is measuring performance. 1 Public managers are measuring the performance of their organizations, their contractors, and the collaboratives in which they participate. Congress, state legislatures, and city councils are insisting that executive-branch agencies periodically report measures of performance. Stakeholder organizations want performance measures so they can hold government accountable. Journalists like nothing better than a front-page bar chart that compares performance measures for various jurisdictions—whether they are average test scores for the city’s schools or FBI uniform crime statistics for the state’s cities. Moreover, public agencies are taking the initiative to publish compilations of their own performance mea
Energy Efficiency of Industrial Oils

Lubricants influence energy efficiency mainly through reducing energy losses, which include churning losses and friction losses in hydrodynamic, elastohydrodynamic and boundary lubrication regimes. The total energy loss depends on lubricant viscosity and chemical composition. Different sources of lubricant-related power losses in industrial systems are described. The dependence of churning and friction losses on oil properties is analyzed. Viscosity shear-thinning and pressure-thickening effects and their dependence on base oil and viscosity index improver chemical composition are examined. The role of pressure-viscosity relationships is emphasized. Some aspects of oil compressibility and viscoelasticity are discussed in regard to oil energy efficiency. The mechanism and role of friction modifiers in industrial oil formulations are described. Significant savings in machinery energy consumption can be achieved by using energy-efficient lubricants. Methods for improving industrial lubricant energy efficienc...
Treatment of recurrent gynecologic malignancies with iodine-125 permanent interstitial irradiation

Abstract Purpose : To analyze the outcome of permanent 125 I interstitial radiotherapy for unresectable retroperitoneal recurrences of gynecologic malignancies. Methods and Materials : A retrospective review of 20 patients treated between 1979 and 1993 was performed to evaluate survival and morbidity associated with the interstitial 125 I technique. Results : Nineteen tumors were located on the lateral pelvic wall and one in the para-aortic region. Eight patients, not previously irradiated, received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) along with 125 I interstitial implants placed at the time of celiotomy. Nineteen (95%) are dead of disease at 1–69 months of follow-up. The median survival was 7.7 months for patients treated with 125 I alone and 25.4 months for those treated with both 125 I and EBRT. One patient is alive without evidence of disease 69 months after 125 I implantation. Fistulas, bowel obstructions, and fatal complications occurred only among patients previously irradiated. Conclusions : When used in a previously irradiated field, 125 I interstitial radiotherapy has major morbidity and is unlikely to be associated with cure or long-term survival. In radiotherapy-naive patients with unresectable isolated recurrent gynecologic malignancies, 125 I implants and EBRT are feasible and occasionally may contribute to long-term disease-free survival.
Electronic or Print: Are Scholarly Journals Still Important?

The author's work in collaboration with Donald King has encompassed many studies over a 25-year period that have provided a wealth of data on the usage of scholarly journal articles by scientists. She uses the data to arrive at some major conclusions about scientists' behaviour: they read a lot, the material from journals is essential to them, they use different ways to get hold of the material, they use electronic sources when convenient, and journals in many fields divide into core and peripheral titles - core titles obtained on subscription and peripheral material as separates.
Remembering the contributions of Kenneth I. Howard: An introduction

This special issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology recognizes the contributions of Kenneth I. Howard, one of the most influential and productive contemporary scholars in the domain of psychotherapy process and outcome. The articles address some of the major contributions by Dr. Howard and extend their implications to contemporary clinical practice and research. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
A hybrid framework for 3D medical image segmentation.

Abstract In this paper we propose a novel hybrid 3D segmentation framework which combines Gibbs models, marching cubes and deformable models. In the framework, first we construct a new Gibbs model whose energy function is defined on a high order clique system. The new model includes both region and boundary information during segmentation. Next we improve the original marching cubes method to construct 3D meshes from Gibbs models’ output. The 3D mesh serves as the initial geometry of the deformable model. Then we deform the deformable model using external image forces so that the model converges to the object surface. We run the Gibbs model and the deformable model recursively by updating the Gibbs model’s parameters using the region and boundary information in the deformable model segmentation result. In our approach, the hybrid combination of region-based methods and boundary-based methods results in improved segmentations of complex structures. The benefit of the methodology is that it produces high quality segmentations of 3D structures using little prior information and minimal user intervention. The modules in this segmentation methodology are developed within the context of the Insight ToolKit (ITK). We present experimental segmentation results of brain tumors and evaluate our method by comparing experimental results with expert manual segmentations. The evaluation results show that the methodology achieves high quality segmentation results with computational efficiency. We also present segmentation results of other clinical objects to illustrate the strength of the methodology as a generic segmentation framework.
Detecting, studying, and treating autism early: the one-year well-baby check-up approach

Objectives To determine the feasibility of implementing a broadband screen at the 1-year check-up to detect cases of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), language delay (LD), and developmental delay (DD). Study design The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist was distributed at every 1-year pediatric check-up; 137 pediatricians and 225 infants participated. Screens were scored immediately, and failures referred for further evaluation. Results Pediatricians screened 10 479 infants at the 1-year check-up; 184 infants who failed the screen were evaluated and tracked. To date, 32 infants received a provisional or final diagnosis of ASD, 56 of LD, nine of DD, and 36 of "other." Five infants who initially tested positive for ASD no longer met criteria at follow-up. The remainder of the sample was false positive results. Positive predictive value was estimated to be .75. Conclusions The 1-Year Well-Baby Check-Up Approach shows promise as a simple mechanism to detect cases of ASD, LD, and DD at 1 year. This procedure offers an alternative to the baby sibling design as a mechanism to study autism prospectively, the results of which will enrich our understanding of autism at an early age.
Role of genetic modifiers in an orthologous rat model of ARPKD.

Human data and animal models of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) suggest that genetic factors modulate the onset and severity of the disease. We report here for the first time ...