cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of alcohol and drug use in a highly educated workforce

This study examined alcohol and licit and illicit drug use in a highly educated workforce. A comprehensive health survey of a 10% random sample of a workforce (n=8,567) yielded a 60% response rate (n=504) after accounting for 15 undeliverable surveys. Many respondents reported past-year use of alcohol (87%). Thirteen percent of respondents consumed three or more drinks daily; 15% were binge drinkers. Twelve percent of the workforce was assessed as having a high likelihood of lifetime alcohol dependence; 5% of respondents met criteria for current problem drinking. Overall, 42% reported using mood-altering prescription drugs (analgesics, antidepressants, sedatives, or tranquilizers). Eleven percent reported using illicit drugs (cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, or marijuana) in the past year. Significant relationships were found between gender, age, ethnicity, and occupation with some measures of alcohol consumption and use of mood-altering drugs. These results indicate prevention and early intervention programs need to address use of mood-altering substances (including alcohol) in highly educated workforces.
Underwater image quality degradation by scattering

Image quality assessment is a challenging task. Numerous metrics and algorithms have been developed, with a fair share of these efforts focused on referenced targets. For applications associated with most civilian and military needs in the field of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance such that automatic target recognition is required, an objective, no reference metric is needed. The task becomes even more challenging when the signals obtained from the imaging sensor are time-varying, including those introduced by the turbulence induced index of refraction fluctuations along the imaging path. This study is aimed to develop an objective metric, tuned to be used for underwater imaging applications where the scattering degradations from particulates, as well as optical turbulence are present. Following recent research outcome, that spatial coherence length is a direct proxy to optical turbulence strength, we developed a metric based on this principle, while including the static scattering contributions with previous developed underwater image quality metric. The results show very good agreement with referenced metric such as the structure similarity image metric, as well as visual, subjective validation, using images obtained from both lab and field experiments.
Nitrogen release from coated urea fertilizers in different soils.

The nitrogen (N) release from coated urea fertilizers (Arborite and ESN), traditional N fertilizers [urea, (NH2)2CO], and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) [(NH2)2CO, NH4NO3] in three North Carolina (USA) soils was measured throughout a 12-week laboratory incubation. Treatments were N source and moisture level (60% and 80% of field capacity). In both the Candor and Cecil soils, 40% of the Arborite N had released by day 2 after addition to the soil. Maximum Arborite N release was achieved by week 6 for both soils. The ESN N release began between weeks 1 and 2, and maximum release was attained by week 6 for the Candor and by week 8 for the Cecil soil. The ESN reached 70% release on Portsmouth by week 8 and Arborite had an immediate release. Field studies of these coated ureas would be needed to determine if they are economically viable over more traditional N fertilizers in North Carolina.
On the Radiation Chemical Kinetics of the Precursor to the Hydrated Electron

Comparisons of the predictions of stochastic diffusion kinetic calculations using electron track structures with experimental scavenger data show that the precursor to the hydrated electron, epre-,...
Superovulation in the Mare: A Work in Progress

Abstract During the primary follicular wave of the mare's estrous cycle, it is typical for one follicle to become dominant and several subordinate follicles to regress. During estrus the dominant follicle becomes a pre-ovulatory follicle and under the control of a well-defined hormonal milieu goes on to ovulate. The percentage of double ovulations in mares is low. The success of advanced reproductive technologies in the mare would be enhanced by effective superovulation to provide multiple oocytes and multiple embryos for such techniques as embryo transfer (ET), gamete intra-fallopian tube transfer (GIFT) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Superovulation would increase pregnancy rates in normal and subfertile mares as well as when using semen from subfertile stallions. Over the past 35 years, many investigators have used various hormones regimens such as equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), immunization against inhibin, equine pituitary extracts, (EPE) and a partially purified preparation of equine follicle stimulating hormone (eFSH) to induce superovulation in cycling mares, but the success rate has been limited or inconsistent. It is not the intent of this review to go into a detailed description of each of the hormone regimens previously studied, but to use the knowledge gained by the many studies on follicular dynamics in the mare during follicular emergence, deviation, dominance and the periovulatory surge to propose why certain hormone regimens used for superovulation appear to be more successful than others. In addition, this review will focus on the success of the more recent studies on the use of the recombinant equine gonadotropins: recombinant equine luteinizing hormone (reLH) and recombinant equine follicle stimulating hormone (reFSH) to superovulate mares.
Confirmation of Corticosterone and Progesterone Binding Activity in Candida albicans

NOTE. Yeasts were harvested after two days of growth at 37 C in Sabouraud's dextrose broth medium in a controlled-environment incubator shaker. Cell pellets were resuspended in TESHMo buffer (10 mM Tris [pH 7.4 at 4 C], 1.5 mM EDTA, 0.25 M sucrose, 12 mM monothioglycerol, and 5 mM sodium molybdate) and disrupted in a homogenizer; the crude homogenate was centrifuged at 100,000 g for 60 min. Separated cytosol was incubated with various steroid hormones for 3 hr as described elsewhere.' Separation of bound and free steroid was accomplished by addition of a dextran-coated charcoal suspension. All operations were carried out at 0-4 C. Saturation data were analyzed according to the method of Scatchard [1]. * Kd is defined as the rate of dissociation of the hormone-receptor complex. t Mean x SD. IB. L. Powell, D. J. Drutz, M. Huppert, and S. H. Sun, "Progesterone and Estradiol Binding Proteins in Coccidioides immitis: Relationship to Coccidioidal Dissemination in Pregnancy," manuscript submitted for publication.
Relationship Between Bird Abundances and Landscape Characteristics: The Influence of Scale

Scale is important to consider when investigating effects of the environment on a species. Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data and landscape metrics derived from aerial photographs were evaluated to determine how relationships of bird abundances with landscape variables changed over a continuous range of 16 spatial scales. We analyzed the average number of birds per stop (1985–1994) for five songbird species (family Cardinalidae) for each of 50 stops on 198 BBS transects throughout six states in the Central Plains, USA. Land along each transect was categorized into six cover types, and landscape metrics of fractal dimension (a measure of shape complexity of habitat patches), edge density, patch density, and percent area were calculated, with principal components used to construct composite environmental variables. Associations of bird abundances and landscape variables changed in accordance with small scale changes. Abundances of three species were correlated with edge density and one with component I, which subsumes initial variables of patch density for urban, closed forest, open forest, and open country. Fractal dimension and component II (summarizing amount of closed forest versus open country) were associated with the most species. Correlation patterns of fractal dimension with northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and painted bunting (Passerina ciris) abundances were similar, with highest correlations at intermediate to small scales, suggesting indirectly that these species thrive in areas where local habitat conditions are most important. Multiscale analysis can provide insight into the spatial scale(s) at which species respond, a topic of intrinsic scientific interest with applied implications for researchers establishing protocols to assess and monitor avian populations.
Scalable fabrication of high-power graphene micro-supercapacitors for flexible and on-chip energy storage

Microscale supercapacitors are promising alternative energy-storage devices; however, their use has been limited by the need for complicated fabrication techniques. This work reports the scalable fabrication of graphene supercapacitors with planar geometry that achieve power densities of up to 200 W cm−3.
Dealing With Death in the Jewish Legal Tradition

The main theme of the article is the tension between the obligation to preserve life, and the value of timely death. This tension is resolved by distinguishing between precipitating death, which is prohibited, and merely removing an impediment to it, which is permitted. In contemporary Jewish law, a distinction is made between therapy, which may be discontinued, and life-support, which must be maintained until the establishment of death. Another theme is that of “soft” patient autonomy, and its role in dealing with the dying in both traditional Jewish law and Israel’s Terminal Patient Law, 2005. Preventing suffering in relation to a dying person, and praying for his or her death are also discussed in the article.
Bridging the gap between experimental measurements and atomistic predictions of the elastic properties of silicon nanowires using multiscale modeling

In the present work, we have applied recently developed nonlinear multiscale finite element techniques which account for nanoscale surface stress and surface elastic effects to investigate the elastic properties of silicon nanowires as obtained through bending deformation. The numerical results are used to clarify the factors underlying the current disconnect between atomistic simulations and experiments as to the nanowire sizes at which deviation from bulk elastic properties due to surface effects are observed. In particular, we demonstrate that when nanowires with aspect ratios (defined as the axial length divided by the square cross sectional length) larger than about 15 are considered, the elastic softening that has been observed experimentally for larger (i.e. >20nm diameter) nanowires is observed. In contrast, when smaller aspect ratios are considered, very little deviation from the bulk elastic properties are observed, in agreement with existing atomistic calculations. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the elastic softening is strongly boundary condition dependent, where fixed/fixed silicon nanowires exhibit a strong aspect ratio-dependent softening, while little variation in the elastic properties of fixed/free nanowires are observed. Comparisons are made with existing surface elastic theories and experiments to bring further insights into the boundary condition dependence in elastic properties.
Microteaching: development from 1968 to 1978 1

This article identifies and reviews three historical phases of research and development on microteaching and the technical skills of teaching. Development of concepts at Stanford University from the early 1960s is traced, with the focus on the need for further research on the validity of technical skills and on possible research paradigms which would permit more useful research efforts to be planned. Such research may provide a more integrated and comprehensive repertoire of teaching skills. Suggestions for specific research topics are discussed, including research on the role of the supervisor and on the development of learner skills which would complement the technical skills of teaching. 1Revision of a paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Association, San Francisco, 1979.
A possible role for glass bead immobilized enzymes as therapeutic agents (immobilized uricase as enzyme therapy for hyperuricemia).

Abstract Glass bead immobilized glucose oxidase is shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels both in vitro and in vivo . While immobilized this enzyme is extremely stable and serves as a good model enzyme for further studies of immobilized enzyme therapy. This study also demonstrates the effectiveness of glass bead immobilized uricase in lowering blood urate levels in vitro and in vivo using dogs with an extracorporeal shunt system. These hypouricemic effects have been shown to be due to a conversion of urate to allantoin. The glass bead immobilized uricase appears to be most stable when coupled to the glass via an azo linkage. Antibodies formed in the rabbit to native uricase do not inhibit the glass bead immobilized uricase activity in concentrations that completely inhibit native uricase activity.
Improving Nutrition through Community Growth Promotion: Longitudinal Study of the Nutrition and Early Child Development Program in Uganda

This brief summarizes the results of a gender impact evaluation study, entitled Improving nutrition through community growth promotion : longitudinal study of the nutrition and early child development (ECD) program in Uganda, conducted in 1998, but many communities did not begin to receive the program until late 2001 in Uganda. The study observed the impact of nutrition and ECD program in Uganda, on the nutritional status of children less than one year of age in the treatment group using a longitudinal comparison of treatment and control communities on the household level. The program had a significant positive, but modest, impact on per capita income. The program had no significant impact on sanitation. On average, girls have better nutrition than boys. The project had a greater effect on younger children. Treatment communities also had a significant increase in self-reported diet diversification. The number of times that growth promoting food was consumed was 20 percent higher in treated communities.
Extended phase-matching conditions for improved entanglement generation

Extended phase-matching conditions for spontaneous parametric down-conversion are examined. By augmenting the conventional phase-matching conditions, they permit the creation of a class of frequency-entangled states that generalizes the usual twin-beam biphoton state. An experimental characterization of these states is possible through interferometric coincidence counting.
Absolute rate parameters for the reaction of atomic hydrogen with hydrazine

Absolute rate parameters for the reaction of atomic hydrogen with hydrazine H + N2H4 yields H2 + N2H3 have been determined in a direct manner using flash photolysis of dilute mixtures of hydrazine in helium and time dependent observation of H via resonance fluorescence. By measuring the H-atom decay under pseudo-first-order conditions, the bimolecular rate constant K sub 1 was obtained over the temperature range 228-400 K. The data were fitted with good linearity to the Arrhenius expression K sub 1 = (9.87 plus or minus 1.17) x 10 to the -12th exp(-2380 plus or minus 100/RT) cu cm/molecule/s. The data were shown to be free of any contributions from secondary reactions involving H as a reactant or product.
Nutrient Flux, Uptake, and Autotrophic Limitation in Streams and Rivers

AbstractAssessments of biotic nutrient limitation in aquatic ecosystems typically rely on concentrations and ratios of potentially limiting nutrients. While successful in lakes, this approach has been less effective in streams, which often are dominated by benthic autotrophs (e.g., algae and vascular plants). We compared water-column nutrient concentration (C) to 3 alternative metrics and assessed their ability to predict autotrophic nutrient limitation in streams. One metric, nutrient flux (F) is the product of nutrient concentration and stream discharge. The other 2 metrics, autotrophic uptake length (Sw,a) and autotrophic uptake velocity (Vf,a), are derived from nutrient-spiraling theory and incorporate nutrient uptake. To evaluate the ability of each metric to predict nutrient limitation, we analyzed nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) data from the Lotic Intersite Nitrogen eXperiment (LINX) (phases I and II; n = 80 streams across North America). We calculated NDS response ratios (RRs) to quantify the ...
Coffee Grounds Emesis: Not Just an Upper GI Bleed

Abstract Background: Acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding manifests as hematemesis, melena, or hematochezia. Initial management is identical, irrespective of nasogastric (NG) aspirate results. Current practice includes early upper endoscopy. Significantly fewer high-risk bleeding lesions are found on endoscopy in patients with coffee grounds vs. bloody NG aspirates. Objective: We present a case series to illustrate that patients with coffee grounds emesis (CGE) often have other unsuspected illnesses that may be overlooked due to preoccupation with the GI bleed. Case Reports: A retrospective chart review of a series of 6 patients presenting with CGE and admitted for upper GI bleeding was performed. All 6 patients were hemodynamically stable at admission. NG lavage showed coffee grounds that cleared easily. None of the patients required blood transfusions during their hospital stay. Endoscopy in 3 of 6 patients failed to find any significant UGI lesions or stigmata of recent bleed. Conclusion: Although patients were admitted for UGI bleeding, the more significant associated diagnoses included acute myocardial infarction, urosepsis, small bowel obstruction, bilateral pulmonary emboli, and acute renal failure. Hemodynamically stable patients presenting with coffee grounds NG aspirate and no fall in hemoglobin/hematocrit should be evaluated for other non-GI bleeding-related conditions even as the GI bleed is being managed.
Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants Beyond the Second Week of Life

Persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus (PDA), common in premature infants, is associated with severe respiratory distress. The likelihood and significance of finding PDA in premature infants beyond the second week of life is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed all echocardiograms obtained between 1987 and 1992 on infants /=14 days. Of the 77 infants, 17 (22%) were found to have PDA (group 1) and the remainder did not (group 2). Forty-eight infants had been diagnosed as having PDA prior to 14 days of age. Of these infants, 16 were from group 1. Thus only 1/17 (6%) infants diagnosed as having PDA after 2 weeks did not have a history of PDA. The presence of PDA after 2 weeks did not relate to duration of oxygen therapy, ventilator therapy, or hospital stay. Furthermore, late closure of PDA in a subgroup of 11 infants did not appear to affect these parameters. It was concluded that premature infants beyond the second week of life are unlikely to have PDA if PDA had not been diagnosed during the first 14 days. Closure of PDA beyond the second week may not improve the infant's respiratory status.
The pentacyclopropylethyl carbocation

Abstract The synthesis of pentacyclopropylethanol and nmr of the corresponding cation is desbribed.
Discriminative validity of parent report of hypomanic and depressive symptoms on the General Behavior Inventory.

It often is difficult clinically to differentiate bipolar disorder from other mental health conditions in young people. This study evaluated a parent report measure of depressive and hypomanic/biphasic symptoms. Parents of 196 youths, who were 5 to 17 years old and presented at an outpatient research center, completed an adapted General Behavior Inventory (GBI). Factor analyses suggested two dimensions, depression (alpha = .97) and biphasic/hypomania (alpha = .95). Logistic regressions using these scales discriminated mood disorder versus disruptive behavior disorder or no diagnosis, unipolar versus bipolar disorder, and bipolar versus disruptive behavior disorder based on structured interviews. Classification rates exceeded 80%, and receiver operating characteristic analyses showed good diagnostic efficiency for the scales, with areas under the curve greater than .80. Results indicate that clinicians can use the parent-completed GBI to derive clinically meaningful information about mood disorders in youths.
Semiparametric space–time survival modeling of chronic wasting disease in deer

In this paper, we propose a semiparametric survival model to investigate the pattern of spatial and temporal variation in disease prevalence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild deer in Wisconsin over the years 2002 and 2006. The semiparametric survival model we suggested allows to build a more flexible model than the parametric model with fewer parametric assumptions by modeling the baseline hazard using a Gamma process prior. Based on the proposed model, we investigate the geographical distribution of CWD, and assess the effect of sex on disease prevalence. We use a Bayesian hierarchical framework where latent parameters capture temporal and spatial trends in disease incidence, incorporating sex and spatially correlated random effects. We also propose bivariate baseline hazard which change over age and time simultaneously to adopt different effects of age and time on the baseline hazard. Inference is carried out by using MCMC simulation techniques in a fully Bayesian framework. Our results suggest that disease has been spreaded mainly in the disease eradication zone and male deer show a significantly higher infection probability than female deer.
Wage comparisons with similar and dissimilar others

Considerable research has been completed on the link between social comparisons and employee satisfaction. Surprisingly, however, few of those studies contrast the effects of various comparisons with others on pay satisfaction. Based on social comparison theory, we expected that comparisons with similar others would be more important predictors of pay satisfaction than comparisons with dissimilar others. Across four studies, the degree of similarity of the comparison other was varied. In Studies 1 and 2, respondents made pay comparisons inside or outside the organization. In Studies 3 and 4, respondents made pay comparisons with referents in the same and different occupations. In all four studies we found that while similar others did provide employees with important information that affected their satisfaction, so did information about dissimilar others. We suggest that the importance of a job in our self-definitions, with pay level being among the most overt markers, may account for our findings. Using pay as a yardstick may lead us all to widen our search for information about others, including ordinarily discrepant others. Alternative explanations and directions for research are discussed.
Capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of aza-arenes isolated from crude coal tar

The basic fraction of crude coal tar was isolated in a two-step partition process. Its constituents, mostly azaarenes up to four-ring structures, were resolved on a Superox-coated glass capillary column and tentatively identified by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
The role of defect size on the fracture toughness of powder processed Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

Abstract In powder-processed Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, the inherent microstructural defects of large pores and small chloride inclusions strongly affected fracture toughness. However, comparison of the fracture surface and sample inclusion size distributions showed that the smaller inclusions did not participate in the fracture process. In addition, the average size of the inclusions that did participate increased as the volume fraction of defects increased. When only the inclusions and pores that participated in the fracture process were combined into one defect distribution, ductile fracture toughness theory indicated that all theses defects were primary void nucleation sites. Fracture toughness was controlled by the spacing between the defects.
Electronic structure of SiCTiC interfaces

Abstract A theoretical study of the atomic and electronic structure of the SiC TiC {101} interface was carried out using the linear muffin-tin orbital method in the atomic-sphere approximation. Out of eight ideal structures, the configuration with Ti directly on top of Si atoms of the Si-terminated SiC was found to have the lowest energy. The very high energies of the other configurations indicate that they would require large atomic relaxations if they were to be realized. The layer-projected densities of states were used to analyse the electronic structure associated with the above defined configuration. It is shown to exhibit interface-localized states which are remnants of the surface states. One of these surface states occurs in the bandgap of SiC and is proposed to play an important role in the Schottky-barrier height determination.
Intrapulmonary artery infusion of urokinase for treatment of massive pulmonary embolism: a review of 26 patients with and without contraindications to systemic thrombolytic therapy.

Background: Pulmonary emboli (PE) are a common event seen in over 600,000 patients a year. Occurring suddenly, PE often result in a high rate of mortality. To combat the high rate of mortality, more aggressive therapies including the use of thrombolytics are often indicated. The use of intrapulmonary artery infusion of urokinase has been shown to promote rapid resolution of emboli and restoration of normal pulmonary hemodynamics. Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to review the effectiveness and safety of pulmonary artery infusion of urokinase in 26 patients with and without contraindications to the use of systemic thrombolytic therapy. Methods: We reviewed the outcomes of 26 patients who received infusion of urokinase, using a usual loading dose of 4,000 U/kg body weight given as a bolus, followed by 4,000 U/kg/h for 12 to 24 h, using either/or unilateral or bilateral infusions. Pulmonary angiograms were obtained prior to and following the urokinase infusions. Results: Intrapulmonary artery infusion of urokinase was given to 26 patients, 9 of whom had contraindications to the use of systemic thrombolytic therapy. Six patients were recent post operative, one was receiving oral anticoagulants, one was receiving chemotherapy with bleeding complications, and one had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Twenty of the patients returned to their baseline state (normal heart rate, blood pressure, and p02), one was minimally improved, and five deaths occurred. Of the five deaths, three occurred within 1 h of starting urokinase infusion, the remaining two died more than 36 h after treatment with urokinase as a result of their basic underlying disease. Minor bleeding occurred from puncture sites, two hematomas occurred at the puncture site, and there were two gastrointestinal bleeds, one of which occurred a week post urokinase therapy while the patient was receiving heparin and coumadin. No central nervous system bleeds occurred and no transfusions were required as a result of urokinase intrapulmonary artery infusions. The overall mortality rate in this series was 11.5%. Conclusions: Intrapulmonary artery infusion of urokinase in extensive pulmonary embolism is a safe and efficient treatment in patients with and without contraindication to the use of systemic thrombolytic therapy. With a usual loading dose of 4,000 U/kg body weight, followed by an infusion of 4,000 U/kg/h for 12 to 24 h, it produces significant and rapid resolution of pulmonary emboli with a low morbidity and mortality rate. In our series, the mortality rate was 11.5%, and none of the deaths was the direct result of urokinase therapy.
Dynamics of progesterone binding in nuclei and cytosol of estrogen-induced adenocarcinoma cells in primary culture.

Abstract Short-term primary cell culture has been used to characterize the regulation of progesterone binding sites in cells from a renal adenocarcinoma induced by estrogen in Syrian hamsters. At low cell density, the cells divide in culture with a population doubling time of 24 h. The cells are predominantly epithelial, bear motile cilia, and contain specific estrogen binding sites. The addition of estrogen (10 −8 M) to the growth medium results in a significant increase in progesterone binding sites in the cytosol of cultured cells. The affinity constant for the cytosol binding reaction at 0°C is 10 9 M −1 , similar to that of the progesterone receptor in other estrogen target tissues. Binding of labeled progesterone to nuclei is maximal one-half hour after the hormone is added to cells in culture. The affinity constant for the nuclear binding reaction at 37°C is also 10 9 M −1 . The amount of labeled progesterone bound to cytosol binding sites at 37°C is about one-fifth of that bound to nuclear sites. No change in progesterone binding sites was found upon reincubation of the cytosol at 0°C. These data are not consistent with appreciable translocation of cytoplasmic binding sites to nuclei.
Risk factors and prognosis for corneal ectasia after LASIK

Abstract Purpose To review cases of corneal ectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), identify preoperative risk factors, and evaluate methods and success rates of visual rehabilitation for these cases. Design Retrospective nonrandomized comparative trial. Participants Ten eyes from seven patients identified as developing corneal ectasia after LASIK, 33 previously reported ectasia cases, and two control groups with uneventful LASIK and normal postoperative courses: 100 consecutive cases (first control group), and 100 consecutive cases with high myopia (> 8 diopters [D]) preoperatively (second control group). Methods Retrospective review of preoperative and postoperative data for each case compared with that of previously reported cases and cases with uneventful postoperative courses. Main outcome measures Preoperative refraction, topographic features, residual stromal bed thickness (RSB), time to the development of ectasia, number of enhancements, final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and method of final correction. Results Length of follow-up averaged 23.4 months (range, 6–48 months) after LASIK. Mean time to the development of ectasia averaged 16.3 months (range, 1–45 months). Preoperative refraction averaged −8.69 D compared with −5.37 D for the first control group ( P = 0.005). Preoperatively, 88% of ectasia cases met criteria for forme fruste keratoconus, compared with 2% of the first control group ( P P = 0.0000001). Seven eyes (70%) had RSB P = 0.0004) and the second control group (256.5 μm; P = 0.04). Seven eyes (70%) had enhancements. Only 10% of eyes lost more than one line of BCVA, and all patients eventually achieved corrected vision of 20/30 or better. One case required penetrating keratoplasty (10%), while all others required rigid gas-permeable contact lenses for correction. Conclusions Significant risk factors for the development of ectasia after LASIK include high myopia, forme fruste keratoconus, and low RSB. All patients had at least one risk factor other than high myopia, and significant differences remained even when controlling for myopia. Multiple enhancements were common among affected cases, but their causative role remains unknown. We did not identify any patients who developed ectasia without recognizable preoperative risk factors.
Curing Temperature Effects on Network Structure and Chemistry of Silane Coupling Agent Layers and Their Influence on Water-Assisted Crack Growth

Interfaces between ∼10 nm thick 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPS) layers on silicon oxide-coated silicon wafers and amine cured epoxy were investigated. Before applying the epoxy the direct effect of the precuring temperature, Tpre, on the chemistry of the GPS layers was probed using Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Swelling of the GPS layers when exposed to water or solvent vapor was measured by X-ray reflectometry. As expected, higher curing temperatures promote the siloxane formation process leading to near-completion of cross-linking around 250°C. On the other hand, the epoxy groups of the GPS layer already disappear at a precuring temperature of 90°C. Both the fracture energy (Gc) of dry Si/SiOx/GPS/epoxy interfaces at room temperature and the threshold (wet) fracture energy (Gth) of the interface in water at 80°C were found to decrease progressively as the GPS layer was precured at increasing Tpre above 90°C. At Tpre below 90°C, Gc increased with decreasing Tpre while the Gth...
Receptor tyrosine kinases in cancer escape from BRAF inhibitors.

The BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) induce anti-tumor responses in nearly 60% of patients with advanced V600BRAF-mutant melanomas but only 5% of patients with V600BRAF-mutant colorectal carcinomas. Earlier studies of how a subset of melanoma that initially responds to BRAFi but later acquires drug resistance pointed to the importance of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in drug escape. In a pair of recent reports, this RTK-mediated mechanism of acquired BRAFi resistance in melanoma is re-surfacing in the context of innate or primary BRAFi resistance in V600BRAF-mutant colorectal carcinomas, suggesting potential upfront therapeutic strategies to prevent BRAFi resistance.
Differential Effect of Growth Factors on Intestinal Wall Components

Abstract Both the mucosal and muscle layers respond to surgical manipulation of the small intestine. Various growth factors influence the mucosal response but less is known about changes in the muscle layers. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and octreotide (OCT) on changes in the intestinal wall induced by serosal patching. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits (3–4 kg) were studied. Group I (n= 6) were unoperated controls. Group II (n= 6) underwent creation of a 2 × 5-cm serosal patch in the ileum. Group III (n= 6) and Group IV (n= 6) received EGF (1.5 μm/kg/hr SQ) or OCT (1000 μg/d SQ) after serosal patching. Wall composition, collagen content, and mucosal proliferation and enzyme activity of normal adjacent ileum were studied after 7 days. Serosal patching resulted in thickening of the mucosa and muscle layers (circular muscle: 189 ± 54 vs 86 ± 33 μm longitudinal muscle: 105 ± 17 vs 55 ± 12 μmP
The effects of therapist turnover in a training clinic: the core group phenomenon

Group psychotherapy conducted in training settings presents the membership with a unique opportunity to experience and work through loss. This paper describes the potentially problematic influence of predictable therapist turnover in these clinical settings. The core group phenomenon which emerges as a function of this anticipatory grief is described, as are the dynamics of core group members who are particularly vulnerable to the comings and goings of therapists in training. Finally, the importance of therapist attention to the impact of the turnover process in group psychotherapy training programs is underscored.
Plant bZIP Protein DNA Binding Specificity

Plant bZIP proteins exhibit a relaxed DNA-binding specificity for DNA sequence motifs containing an ACGT core. Gel mobility shift experiments employing ten different recombinant plant bZIP proteins demonstrated that nucleotides flanking the ACGT core affected binding specificity and identified three different types of ACGT elements: G-box, CACGTG; C-box, GACGTC; and A-box, TACGTA, motifs. These ten different bZIP proteins could be categorized into three groups according to their qualitative and quantitative specificity for G-box and C-box elements. Dissociation constant values (Kd values) of these bZIP proteins for high affinity G-box and C-box elements and reciprocal competition gel mobility shift assays confirmed our classification scheme. Group 1 proteins exhibit a stronger binding affinity for G-box elements, group 2 proteins bind both G-box and C-box motifs with comparable binding affinity, whereas the group 3 proteins display a stronger binding affinity for C-box oligonucleotides. Studies using a panel of G-box and C-box oligonucleotides differing in their flanking sequences identified high affinity binding sites. All ten plant bZIP proteins examined, except TGA1a, exhibited type A G-box binding activity preferring class I G-box elements. In contrast to the situation observed for G-box elements, C-box motifs displayed a very much more stringent flanking nucleotide requirement for binding activity. Protein/DNA binding experiments using scanning mutants of a high affinity G-box element and G-box/C-box hybrid elements demonstrated that bZIP protein binding activity depends upon the affinity of protein dimer subunits for ACGT half-sites. Information provided by our systematic analysis of plant bZIP DNA binding specificity can be used to identify high affinity binding sites for the plant bZIP proteins studied here. Assuming that only high affinity bZIP binding sites are likely to function in vivo, identification of these sites will allow us to predict which genes are activated by a particular bZIP protein.
A simple method for accurate determination of porosity using ideal gas law

We suggest a simple method for experimental determination of porosity of a material. This technique, which is similar to the variable-volume gas pycnometry, is very inexpensive and extremely simple yet produces accuracies that are comparable to the existing methods. Some of the advantages of the technique as well as the effect of material compressibility are also discussed.
Lack of effect of dopamine receptor blockade on the TSH response to TRH in borderline personality disorder

We recently reported that some patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) exhibit a blunted thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Because it is known that dopamine can inhibit the TSH response to TRH and that some patients with BPD show improvement with antipsychotic (dopamine-blocking) medication, we investigated whether haloperidol could reverse the blunted TSH response in BPD. Of 12 patients with BPD, three showed a blunted TSH response that did not normalize with haloperidol. Furthermore, there were no overall group changes in TSH response with haloperidol. The present study suggests that reductions in TSH response in BPD are not secondary to dopamine.
Lactose biosynthesis: a sensitive radiochemical assay.

Abstract A method is presented for the determination of lactose biosynthesis from labeled glucose, galactose, or other precursors based upon the addition of samples of the reaction mixture (after removal of the tissue or biosynthetic enzymes) to each of two strains of Escherichia coli. While both strains can metabolize glucose and galactose, only one is able to hydrolyze lactose. The sugars are converted by the bacteria largely to cell material and carbon dioxide. The difference between the residual, nonvolatile, soluble radioactivity in the medium from the two bacterial cultures represents the lactose unused by the strain unable to hydrolyze it.
The Design, Synthesis and Validation of Recoverable and Readily Reusable Siloxane Transfer Agents for Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

The development of competent, recoverable and reusable 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentene (siloxane) transfer agents for Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions (CCRs) of organolithium reagents with aryl and alkenyl iodides has been achieved. Drawbacks of the first-generation siloxane-transfer agent (1), relating to facile recovery for potential recycling, have been addressed.
Deer density effects on vegetation in aspen forest understories over site productivity and stand age gradients

Abstract Studies examining the interacting effects of ungulate herbivore pressure and site productivity on vegetation are mostly on grassland–grazing systems and have shown conflicting patterns. Here we examine the effects of deer density (>30 years differences in density between two landowners), site productivity (site index, SI) and stand age on subcanopy vegetation characteristics in 60 closed canopy, clear-cut origin Populus tremuloides dominated stands, Michigan, USA. Stand age effects were included because age varied among stands and can affect subcanopy vegetation patterns. Compared with fewer deer, stands with more deer had greater total forest floor vegetation mass, and its major components bracken fern ( Pteridium aquilinum ), sedge (mostly Carex pensylvanica ) and trees/shrubs Populus stands (1) strongly limits the recruitment of woody stems to larger (>0.9 m tall) size classes, which could affect long-term successional trajectories, and (2) diminishes forb density and species richness, especially at higher site productivity, but increases total forest floor vegetation mass (mostly bracken fern and sedge), especially at lower site productivity. Given associations of bracken fern and sedge with poorer and/or more open sites and assuming high palatability of forbs, this pattern may result from the combination of selective herbivory and higher light availability caused by limited recruitment of trees and shrubs to taller strata.
Implementation of a transparent etch stop layer for an improved alternating PSM

Alternating phase shift masks (alt. PSM) are emerging as an attractive resolution enhancement technique. Although alt. PSM is a technique that clearly improves resolution, there are some inherent disadvantages that are induced by the manufacturing process. Intensity imbalance, phase non-uniformity and quartz defects diminish the performance of an alternating PSM. Many of these disadvantages can be a result of imprecise quartz etching. By implementing a transparent etch stop layer, these deficiencies can be minimized. The etch stop layer ensures that all of the quartz is etched and that over-etching will not induce a phase-shift error. This produces improved phase uniformity and eliminates quartz defects. The etch stop layer also has the ability to improve the image intensity balancing by reducing the intensity through the zero degree region. This paper discusses the advantages and manufacturability of alt. PSM using a transparent etch stop layer.
A transformation-based model of malware derivation

Since most malware is derived from prior code, understanding malware derivation and evolution is essential for many types of malware analysis. However prior models of malware relationships are insufficiently precise or fail to capture important relationships. A framework is proposed that treats both production and evolution uniformly as compositions of code transformations, and distinguishes disjoint but interleaved evolution of production code and malware code. Evolution relations are defined in terms of path patterns on derivation graphs; this generalizes and formalizes the relationship between phylogenies and provenance graphs. The comprehensiveness of the modeling framework is demonstrated using examples from the literature; implications for future work in relationship reconstruction are drawn.
Ultraviolet Light-Induced Hydrophilicity Effect on TiO2(110)(1×1). Dominant Role of the Photooxidation of Adsorbed Hydrocarbons Causing Wetting by Water Droplets

The UV photoproduction of a hydrophilic TiO2(110)(1×1) surface has been investigated in a pressurized ultrahigh vacuum apparatus under controlled conditions of hydrocarbon concentration in oxygen gas at 1 atm pressure. Water droplet contact angles have been measured continuously as the droplet is exposed to UV irradiation, yielding the first observations of a sudden wetting process during irradiation. Using hexane as a model hydrocarbon, it is found that when low partial pressures of hexane are present, the sudden onset of surface wetting occurs during UV irradiation after an induction period under photooxidation conditions. The induction period to reach the critical condition for sudden wetting increases when the partial pressure (and equilibrium surface coverage) of hexane is increased. These results indicate that the removal of adsorbed hydrocarbons by photooxidation is the critical factor leading to the UV-induced hydrophilicity phenomenon on TiO2. The phenomenon does not occur in the absence of O2 ga...
Positional specificity oftrans fatty acids in fetal lecithin

Differences in the positional incorporation of 9-trans[1-(14)C] octadecenoic (elaidic) and 9-trans,12-trans[1-(14)C] octadecadienoic (linoelaidic) acids in fetal lecithin of rats were demonstrated. On the 20th day of gestation, a 14C-labeled albumin complex of elaidic or linoelaidic acid was injected into the jugular vein of pregnant rats. For comparative purposes, 9-cis[1-(14)C] octadecenoic (oleic) or 9-cis,12-cis[1-(14)C] octadecadienoic (linoleic acid) was injected into the maternal circulation of rats. Animals were killed 6 hr later. Distribution of label in total lipids and phospholipids (PL) of fetal issue was measured by TLC. Irrespective of the label, the highest percentage of total radioactivity was associated with PL-59 to 67%. Within PL, the major portion of radioactivity was found in choline phosphoglycerides (CPG)-53 to 67%, and in ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG)-18 to 33%. While linoelaidic acid was predominantly esterified in the 2-position of CPG, elaidic acid was nearly equally distributed between positions 1 and 2 of lecithin. Distribution of radioactivity within fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of CPG measured by radio-GLC suggested that oleic and possibly linoleic acids may be converted to nervonic and arachidonic acid, respectively, in the rat by the 20th day of gestation. Following injection of elaidate, radioacivity of FAME was distributed between palmitate and elaidic acid indicating that rat fetal tissue may metabolize elaidic acid via beta-oxidation. In contrast, following injection of linoelaidate, radioactivity of FAME was primarily associated with tt-18:2, suggesting little biotransformation to other fatty acids by fetal tissues.
Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) after traumatic brain injury in the rat.

Abstract The induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the 32 kDa heat shock protein, was examined in the traumatized rat brain. At 24 h after either mild of severe brain injury or sham surgery, HO-1 was immunolocalized in fixed sections on brain. After mild brain injury, hemorrhage was apparent in the subarachnoid space, external capsule and cerebellum. HO-1 was induced in similar areas in macrophages in the subrachnoid space and in glia in the cortex adjacent to the site of impact, the ipsilateral hippocampus, external capsule and cerebellum. After severe brain injury, extensive hemorrhage occurred in the external capsule, hippocampus and cerebellum. HO-1 was induced in glia in these areas of hemorrhage but was more extensive than that seen after mild injury and included the contralateral external capsule and hippocampus. These findings demonstrate remarkable induction of HO-1 in glia in the injured brain. Since heme is a potent inducer of HO-1, it is likely that the subrachnoid and/or intraparenchymal blood induced HO-1 in the glia where the heme was metabolized to biliverdin, iron, and carbon monoxide.
Draw-A-Person Test: implications for gender identification.

Human figure drawings were collected from 50 gender dysphoric adults and compared with the drawings of 84 adult evening-school students and college sophomores. The gender dysphoric males drew a person of the opposite sex first more often than the control group males (p< 0.001). The gender dysphoric females drew a person of the opposite sex first more often than the control group females (p< 0.05). Results are discussed in light of existing literature on the DAP and gender identity formation.
The cash flow and informational effects of employee stock ownership plans

Abstract The tax, employee benefit, capital structure, and corporate control effects of ESOPs are examined by estimating the stock market reaction to ESOP announcements. This is the first empirical examination of the relationship between computed firm-specific tax savings and firm value, and therefore provides evidence that helps resolve the theoretical dispute over ESOP tax savings. The results show that investors expect ESOPs to increase cash flows through tax savings, and to reduce the likelihood of takeover for companies subject to takeover attempts when ESOPs are announced.