cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agronomic Evaluation of Sugarcane Lines Transformed for Resistance to Sugarcane mosaic virus Strain E

Genetic transformation of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) holds promise for increasing yields and disease resistance. However, the tissue culture and transformation process may produce undesirable field characteristics in transgenic sugarcane. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate variability in agronomic characteristics and field disease resistance of sugarcane transformed for resistance to Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) strain E. One hundred plants derived from cultivars CP 84-1198 (n = 82) and CP 80-1827 (n = 18), consisting of independent virus resistant lines VR 1 (n = 14), VR 4 (n = 24), VR 14 (n = 4), and VR 18 (n = 58) were evaluated in Exp. 1. Transgenics derived from CP 84-1198 had significantly greater tonnes of sucrose per hectare (TSH) and significantly lower SCMV disease incidence than those from CP 80-1827 in the plant-cane (PC), first-ratoon (1R), and second-ratoon (2R) crops. Plants from the VR 18 line had significantly greater economic indices and lower SCMV disease incidence than the VR 4 line in all three crops. Phenotypic variation was high in Exp. 1, with tonnes of cane per hectare (TCH) ranging from 26 to 211 and TSH from 3.2 to 28.9 in the PC crop. Agronomic trait variation decreased with increased selection pressure in Exp. 2, evaluating 30 VR 18 lines, with TCH ranging from 70 to 149 and TSH from 8.5 to 19.0 in PC. The large variability in yield characteristics and disease resistance encountered in this study demonstrates the necessity of thorough field evaluation of transgenic sugarcane while selecting genetically stable and agronomically acceptable material for commercial use.
Rethinking a Typology of Watershed Partnerships A Governance Perspective

As the paradigm shift from command-and-control statutes to collaborative partnerships increases, public administrators, policy makers, and watershed stakeholders will become more dependent on colla...
Differential rates of percutaneous absorption through the eczematous and normal skin of a monkey

A monkey (Macaca fascicularis), diagnosed as having eczematous dermatitis on the basis of histopathology of a skin biopsy, was used to study the percutaneous absorption of 2 anti-inflammatory steroids. Absorption was measured through involved and uninvolved skin by using in vitro diffusion cell techniques. Hydrocortisone (0.5%) and triamcinolone acetonide (0.1%) were applied to the skin in a petrolatum vehicle. After application for 24 h, the permeation of hydrocortisone was approximately doubled (from 2.6 to 5.5% of the applied dose) when diseased skin was used. The absorption of triamcinolone acetonide was enhanced through the eczematous skin during the initial 12 h. At 24 h, however, no significant difference in total absorption was obtained.
Nature of Modeling Boundary Pedestrian Crashes at Zones

Traffic analysis zones are often delineated by the existing street network. This practice may result in a considerable number of crashes on or near zonal boundaries. Although the traditional macrolevel approach to crash modeling assigns zonal attributes to all crashes that occur within the zonal boundary, this paper acknowledges the inaccuracy resulting from relating crashes on or near the boundary of the zone to merely the attributes of that zone. This paper proposes a novel approach to account for the spatial influence of neighboring zones on crashes that occur specifically on or near the zonal boundaries. Predictive models for pedestrian crashes per zone were developed with a hierarchical Bayesian framework and with separate predictor sets for boundary and interior (nonboundary) crashes. The hierarchical Bayesian model that accounted for spatial autocorrelation was found to have better goodness-of-fit measures than did models that had no specific consideration for crashes located on or near the boundar...
Fructose and erythrose metabolism in Alcaligenes faecalis

Abstract A role for fructokinase and transketolase is suggested for the metabolism of erythrose in Alcaligenes faecalis. Erythrose is rapidly oxidized by fructose-grown cell in contrast to its poor oxidation in glucose-grown cells, and fructose-grown cells contain an inducible fructokinase which cannot be detected in glucose-grown cells. Fructokinase purified from extracts of A. faecalis catalyzes the phosphorylation of both fructose and glucose; the product of the reaction with the former substrate has been identified as fructose 6-phosphate. Transketolase purified from extracts of A. faecalis shows a much higher rate of activity per unit of enzyme with erythrose 4-phosphate than the corresponding enzyme isolated from spinach. These results support the earlier hypothesis that erythrose is not phosphorylated directly, but by way of fructose 6-phosphate and the C2 transfer from this substrate to erythrose catalyzed by transketolase.
The effect of escape possibility on aversively stimulated aggression

Abstract In order to examine the possibility that the inability to escape from aversive stimulation heightens the instigation to aggression, 68 university men were exposed to a cold stressor situation in which the subjects immersed one hand in water that was either 6 or 18°C. Half of the participants were given permission to take their hand from the water whenever they wanted, so that they could easily escape from the painful situation, whereas pressure was placed on the others not to escape. All of the subjects then had to administer rewards and punishments to a peer, supposedly as they directed that person's “shots” at a “target.” Questionnaire ratings indicated that the people who could readily escape were not as angry as the others, suggesting that they were less frustrated than their counterparts not given permission to escape. The former were evidently also less bothered by the painfully cold water, apparently because they believed they had some control over this aversive stimulation. Nevertheless, the men in the cold water condition who were relatively free to escape from this unpleasant situation were most punitive to their partner. The aversive stimulation apparently evoked an inclination to strike at an available target even when it was possible to terminate the painful event.
Photoconductors as dynamic memory elements

Industrial photoconductors are doped for large quantum yields. The resulting improvement in resistive dynamic range is accompanied by photocarrier traps. These traps enhance device hysterisis (or memory). The reduction in response speed mimics electrical reactance effects. This light history may be exploited in the construction of low-frequency filters and oscillators.
Undergraduate research in computer forensics

We describe a research program in cybercrime and computer forensics which relies heavily on research by undergraduates. The goals of this program are to complete projects as defined by clients, but also to allow students to experience the frustrations and enjoyment of solving real-world problems. Furthermore, this experiential approach builds a rich educational environment for students where they must "work for a boss" (faculty member) and with "coworkers" (other students) in a group effort. Overall, students have found the experiences to be beneficial, and we typically have more applicants for the positions than are possible to fill. We describe three of the actual projects used and illustrate our lessons learned.
Artificial Rearing of Mouse Pups with a Milk Substitute Containing Glucose Oligomers Enhances Oxidation of Dietary Glucose But Not Starch and Does Not Induce Maltase-Glucoamylase

Artificial Rearing of Mouse Pups with a Milk Substitute Containing Glucose Oligomers Enhances Oxidation of Dietary Glucose But Not Starch and Does Not Induce Maltase-Glucoamylase
SHOCK SOLUTIONS FOR HIGH CONCENTRATION PARTICLE-LADEN THIN FILMS ∗

We study the shock dynamics for a recently proposed system of conservation laws (Murisic et al. [J. Fluid Mech., 17 (2013), pp. 203--231]) describing gravity-driven thin-film flow of a suspension of negatively buoyant particles down an incline. When the particle concentration is above a critical value, singular shock solutions can occur. We analyze the Hugoniot topology associated with the Riemann problem for this system, describing in detail how the transition from a double shock to a singular shock happens. We also derive the singular shock speed based on a key observation that the particles pile up at the maximum packing fraction near the contact line.
An Ecological Review of Literature on Factors Influencing Working Mothers’ Child Care Arrangements

As more mothers with young children enter the workplace, there is an increased need for non-maternal child care services. Prior research indicates that the type of child care utilized for children under age six not only affects maternal labor force participation, but is a critical factor in later developmental outcomes for children. Within this context, understanding how working mothers choose child care for their young children is important. A growing body of research has examined influences on mothers’ child care choice behaviors. Based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this article proposes a theoretical model that examines maternal child care selection under the influence of a range of environmental context variables (including neighborhood and state policy factors), family characteristics, and child factors. This article organizes and reviews the related literature within the context of the proposed model. The purpose is to provide an empirical knowledge base that can inform the development of quality child care services and policies. The article then concludes with suggestions for social welfare policy and practice on how to improve access to high quality child care for working mothers.
Automated cell counting method for microgroove based microfluidic device

Microfluidic grooves and channels enable the control of cell positioning and capturing of cells in cell-based biosensor applications. Microfluidic devices also provide a platform for cell-based biological assays. Microfluidic channels have been used to capture cells for various cell-based diagnostics and screening applications. The number of cells and cell locations are important factors which will affect the flow pattern in the microfluidic device and consequently induced shear stresses. Moreover, manual cell counting and cell information extraction is a time consuming and tedious task. Automated techniques reduce human errors and expedite the process. Furthermore, it facilitates extraction of information from obtained images for further fluidic analysis.
Growth studies of (Al,Ga,In)As on InP by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract We have investigated the influence of growth temperature and growth interruptions on the optical properties of (Al,In)As, (Ga,In)As and (Al,Ga,In)As lattice-matched to InP substrates. Heterostructures and bulk material samples were analyzed by photoluminescence, X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The best optical properties are achieved at different growth temperatures, depending on the material composition. This temperature varies between 460°C for (Ga,In)As and 530°C for (Al,In)As. Photoluminescence studies of quantum well (QW) samples show that heterointerfaces grown from (Ga,In)As to (Al,In)As are very sensitive to growth stops, while there is no significant influence if the growth stop is made after growth of (Al,In)As. Laser structures with three QWs made from that material system reach threshold current densities for infinitely long cavities as low as 120 A/cm2 per QW for an emission wavelength of 1.7 μm and 260 A/cm2 per QW for 1.3 μm.
TGF-β1 down-regulates induced expression of both class II MHC and B7-1 on primary murine renal tubular epithelial cells

TGF-β1 down-regulates induced expression of both class II MHC and B7-1 on primary murine renal tubular epithelial cells. Background We examined the immunomodulatory effects of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on the regulation of class II MHC and costimulatory molecule expression in a primary renal tubular epithelial cell line, called F1K. Methods Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC), class II transactivator, B7-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) receptor β chain were evaluated in untreated and cytokine-treated F1K by Northern hybridization analysis and flow cytometry. T cell activation studies were performed to assess TGF-β1-mediated effects on antigen presenting cell function of F1K. Results Pretreatment of F1K with TGF-β1 markedly inhibited IFN-γ-induced class II MHC expression, by both FACS and Northern analysis. Total class II transactivator mRNA levels were also diminished by TGF-β1, indicating that class II MHC modulation in F1K results from inhibition of this intermediate protein. As previous studies demonstrated that cotreatment of F1K cells with IFN-γ+ lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces B7-1, we evaluated the potential regulatory effects of TGF-β1 exposure on B7-1 expression. Our studies revealed that B7-1 mRNA and cell-surface expression in IFN-γ+ LPS-treated F1K were decreased by TGF-β1 pretreatment. Functional studies evaluating TGF-β1-mediated effects were performed with IFN-γ+ LPS-treated F1K and MR1.3, a nephritogenic CD4+ Th2 clone derived from kidneys of animals with autoimmune glomerulonephritis. Interleukin (IL)-4 production assays demonstrated activation of MR1.3 by IFN-γ+ LPS-treated cells, but not by IFN-γ+ LPS-treated cells previously exposed to TGF-β1, indicating that TGF-β1-mediated inhibition of class II MHC and B7-1 expression alters the antigen presenting cell function of F1K. Conclusions These studies describe the proscriptive influence of TGF-β1 on class II MHC and B7-1 expression in renal tubular epithelial cells. Such findings indicate that TGF-β1 alters the antigen presenting cell function of renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro, and suggest a potential mechanism for immunosuppression of T cell-mediated renal immune responses in vivo.
Particulate sulfate in Lexington, Kentucky and its relation to major surrounding SO2 sources

An experimental study was conducted during 1979 and 1980 to establish the chemical composition and size distribution of the atmospheric aerosol in Lexington, Kentucky. The sulfate, nitrate, metal and acid contents of the total suspended paniculate captured on Hi-Vol filters were measured. The daily average particulate sulfate concentration was relatively high (10–40 μg m−3), even though there are no substantial sources of either SO2 or sulfate in the immediate Lexington area. Eighty per cent or more of the sulfate was contained in particles having an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of less than 1 μm. The results of air trajectory calculations were empirically correlated to relate the measured sulfate and total sulfur to the emissions from the twenty-three largest coal burning power plants in Kentucky, distance and time of transport, and relative humidity. The sulfate levels were proportional to the SO2 emissions from these sources and showed a strong inverse dependence on the plume travel distance. These factors are consistent with the formation of SO42− in the atmosphere during transport.
Reaction of Al(tBu)3 with Ethylene Glycol: Intermediates to Aluminum Alkoxide (Alucone) Preceramic Polymers

The reaction of Al(tBu)3 with ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH) in hexane yields “alucone” polymers, [Al(tBu)2x(OCH2CH2O)1.5-x]n (0.3 ≤ 2x ≤ 0.8), with the concurrent formation of [Al2(tBu)3(OCH2CH2O)(OCH2CH2OH)] (1). If the reaction is carried out in Et2O solution, then [Al3(tBu)5(OCH2CH2O)2] (2) may be isolated. The molecular structure of compound 1 consists of a dimer formed by the alkoxide termini of two ligands bridging the Al(tBu) and Al(tBu)2 units. The Al(tBu) moiety is chelated by the nonbridging oxygens of the glycolate ligands, one of which remains protonated. Compound 2 consists of two Al(tBu)2 units and two glycolate ligands forming a cryptand-like 10-membered heterocycle; the Al(tBu) unit is positioned capping the four oxygen atoms. As with the previously reported ethoxy-substituted alucone polymers, [Al(OR)2x(OCH2CH2O)1.5-x]n, thermolysis of [Al(tBu)2x(OCH2CH2O)1.5-x]n, results in the formation of η-alumina (η-Al2O3) as determined by XRD. This is in contrast to the formation of γ-Al2O3 from the ...
Classification of retinopathic injury using image cytometry and vasculature complexity

Retinopathic injuries are a common symptom of many diseases. However, if detected early, much of the damage caused by these injuries can be prevented, or in some cases reversed. In this study, images of retinas were classified as normal or injured using the vascular cell count, vasculature coverage, and vessel caliber. To model retinal vasculopathies, retinal vasculature from mice with the BCL-2 gene either partially or completely knocked out were compared. The bcl-2 gene is a critical regulator of apoptosis and angiogenesis, and therefore its absence has a significant impact on the number of vascular cells and vasculature complexity. When the aforementioned features were extracted from the images, classification was performed using a majority vote between a linear classifier, k-nearest-neighbors classification, and a support vector machine. This resulted in a classification accuracy of 81% using the "leave one out" error determination method.
Toward a contextual theory of leadership

We propose moving leadership theory and research to another level—one that recognizes that current leadership scholarship is not invalid but incomplete. Such scholarship needs to be looked at in different ways and with various approaches relevant for different circumstances. Macro views need increasing recognition, but to supplement rather than replace currently emphasized meso/micro perspectives. Also, human agency is not to be replaced with mechanistic prescription, but leadership scholars are in a position to contribute to the strategy and organization theory research that currently minimizes leader influence. This philosophy is illustrated through the interplay of leadership with the four contexts of: stability, crisis, dynamic equilibrium, and edge of chaos; the latter operationalized through a complexity theory/dynamic systems perspective. We discuss each context and leadership, in terms of patterning of attention and network leadership, and conclude with a brief measurement treatment. These contexts encourage researchers to reconsider temporality, causal relations, units of analysis, and dependent variables consistent with the social construction of human agency within the given context, to develop more robust models and leadership understanding.
Psychoanalysis as Innovative Technology

Although the early psychoanalysts tended to be protective of information about their personal lives, new work shows how their characters and relationships influenced the evolution of their profession. Yet, this personal element, significant and often overlooked as it is, offers only one approach to explicating this history. Psychoanalysis can also be understood as a technological innovation—in this case, a novel means of gathering data that completely disrupted traditional methods of analyzing human subjective experience. This view of psychoanalysis is a particularly effective way to show how events shaped practitioners' behavior, even as their behavior shaped events. Thus does it offer a complementary explanation for why the adherents of psychoanalysis so often assumed the contradictory roles of avant-garde revolutionaries and protectors of the true faith.
Controlled switching of the wetting behavior of biomimetic surfaces with hydrogel-supported nanostructures

An important feature of biological systems is their response to external stimuli with subsequent changes in properties and function. The ability to “engineer” adaptiveness into next-generation materials is becoming a key requirement and challenge in chemistry, materials science and engineering. Recently we have described new hybrid nano/microstructures capable of dynamic actuation by a hydrogel “muscle”. Here we demonstrate the application of a variation of such biomimetic surfaces in controlled reversible switching of the surface wetting behavior. Arrays of rigid nanostructures were integrated with responsive hydrogel films by performing in situ polymerization in microscopic confinement of two surfaces. The attachment of hydrogel was achieved through a multifunctional polymeric anchoring layer. Using two different attachment strategies, several designs involving an array of either attached or free-standing nanocolumns embedded in the hydrogel film are described. We demonstrate a superhydrophobic–hydrophilic transition (so-called “direct response”) or a hydrophilic–superhydrophobic transition (“reverse response”), respectively, upon the exposure of these two structures to water. We show that all the changes in the wetting behavior are reversible and the structures return to their original superhydrophobic or hydrophilic state upon drying. The ability to design surfaces with reversible changes in their wetting behavior may have exciting applications as “smart,” responsive materials with tunable water-repelling or water-attracting properties.
Study of the Role of Silane-treated Filler on the Compatibility of Polypropylene/Polystyrene Blends at Different Ratios

A systematic study of the effect of the filler on the immiscible blend properties is presented as a function of the blend composition. As a representative of semicrystalline polymer/amorphous polymer blends, a polypropylene/polystyrene system was chosen. The presence of filler in the blends has induced significant changes in the rheological properties. This behavior is a function not only of filler surface treatment but also of blend composition. Solid state dynamic mechanical analysis is performed and the relaxation behavior is correlated with the morphology of the blends. The increase in tensile strength of the blends filled with surface-treated glass beads is related to the enhancement of the adhesion and polymer/polymer interactions.
Some rigorous results on the ground states of the Falicov-Kimball model

The Falicov-Kimball model consists of nuclei which are not allowed to hop and spinless electrons which can hop between nearest neighbor sites. There is an on-site interaction between electrons and nuclei. We consider the model in two dimensions with a large attractive potential. For the neutral model with densities between 1/4 and 1/2 we prove that the configuration of the nuclei in the ground state must consist of parallel lines of lattice sites which are either completely occupied by nuclei or completely free of nuclei. (The angle of the lines with respect to the lattice depends on the density. Some mild assumptions on the ground state are needed for this result.) For densities 1/3, 1/4 and 1/5 we prove that the ground state configuration of the nuclei is indeed that which had been conjectured [8]. For the nonneutral model we show that if the model is close to neutrality in the sense that both the electron and nuclear densities are close to 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 or 1/5 then the configuration of the nuclei in the ground state is close to the nuclear ground state for the neutral model with density 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 or 1/5.
Differences in DNA-binding proteins isolated from normal and transformed human cells☆

Abstract When the DNA-binding proteins (DBPs) of WI38 normal human fibroblasts and their SV40-transformed counterpart were compared, two DBPs were present in greater amounts in the transformed cells. These two DBPs, P5a and P6b, were also present in greater amounts in HeLa cells versus WI38 cells and in chemically transformed human liver cells versus normal liver cells. Therefore, these DBP differences do not appear to be specific for transformation by SV40. Increased amounts of P5a were present in 7 of 9 transformed cell lines examined. The two tumor cell lines lacking the P5a change were sensitive to density-dependent inhibition of replication, whereas the other seven cell lines were not. This correlation suggests that the increase in P5a may play a role in the release from density-dependent inhibition of replication observed in most transformed cells.
Cytoskeleton Disruption in J774 Macrophages: Consequences for Lipid Droplet Formation and Cholesterol Flux

Macrophages store excess unesterified cholesterol (free, FC) in the form of cholesteryl ester (CE) in cytoplasmic lipid droplets. The hydrolysis of droplet-CE in peripheral foam cells is critical to HDL-promoted reverse cholesterol transport because it represents the first step in cellular cholesterol clearance, as only FC is effluxed from cells to HDL. Cytoplasmic lipid droplets move within the cell utilizing the cytoskeletal network, but, little is known about the influence of the cytoskeleton on lipid droplet formation. To understand this role we employed cytochalasin D (cyt.D) to promote actin depolymerization in J774 macrophages. Incubating J774 with acetylated LDL creates foam cells having a 4-fold increase in cellular cholesterol content (30-40% cholesterol present as cholesteryl ester (CE)) in cytoplasmic droplets. Lipid droplets formed in the presence of cyt.D are smaller in diameter. CE-deposition and -hydrolysis are decreased when cells are cholesterol-enriched in the presence of cyt.D or latrunculin A, another cytoskeleton disrupting agent. However, when lipid droplets formed in the presence of cyt.D are isolated and incubated with an exogenous CE hydrolase, the CE is more rapidly metabolized compared to droplets from control cells. This is apparently due to the smaller size and altered lipid composition of the droplets formed in the presence of cyt.D. Cytoskeletal proteins found on CE droplets influence droplet lipid composition and maturation in model foam cells. In J774 macrophages, cytoskeletal proteins are apparently involved in facilitating the interaction of lipid droplets and a cytosolic neutral CE hydrolase and may play a role in foam cell formation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in High Density Lipoprotein Formation and Metabolism: A Tribute to John F. Oram (1945-2010).
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Inhibition Promotes Cell Death and Limits Endothelial Cell Proliferation in a Neonatal Rodent Model of Stroke

Background and Purpose—Recent studies in neonatal rodent stroke models suggest that recovery is due in part to upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1-a and its downstream target, vascular endothelial growth factor. Vascular endothelial growth factor is upregulated after a hypoxic insult and is involved in neuronal survival, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis during the recovery process. Methods—We performed a 1.5-hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in 10-day-old rats with injury verified by diffusion-weighted MRI during occlusion to determine the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) inhibition on injury, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Two days after reperfusion, the pups received either the VEGFR inhibitor, SU5416 (10 mg/kg per dose) or vehicle (1% dimethyl sulfoxide) for 3 days. Results—VEGFR2 inhibition worsened injury 7 days after injury when compared with the vehicle-treated and injury-alone groups (P<0.01). Furthermore, receptor inhibition was associated with in...
Air to undersea communication with magnetic dipoles

Simplified expressions are derived for the electromagnetic fields produced by a vertical or horizontal magnetic dipole (loop antenna) located in air above the sea. The expressions hold over the quasi-near range in both media subject to certain mild restrictions. The solutions are obtained by first applying the boundary conditions to determine the magnetic Hertz potential \bar{\pi}^{\ast} in the form of Sommerfeld integrals, and then relating these to two auxiliary integrals U, V and their derivatives, asymptotic series for which are obtained by extending the work of Banos and Wesley. The horizontal magnetic dipole (loop in the vertical plane) is found to be superior to the vertically-oriented dipole of the same size and excitation from the point of view of field strength induced in the sea at large distances from the source. A comparison with previously published results for the electric dipole shows the magnetic dipole to be better, provided the number of turns in the loop exceeds a certain minimum. An approximate analysis on the basis of equal powers also shows the magnetic dipole to be better except for points near the outer rim of the quasi-near range, where the two types of dipoles are equivalent.
Modeling coronary heart disease prevalence in regional and sociodemographic contexts

The mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) have been documented extensively in the United States and substantial disparities in CHD mortality rates exist by age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. The prevalence of people living with CHD, however, is relatively unexplored in part due to the lack of data. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2005-2007, this study develops a logistic regression model to estimate the probability of CHD prevalence while incorporating key factors associated with CHD mortality rates. The findings highlight that older white males with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be diagnosed with CHD, compared to their black counterparts. Areas of higher probability of CHD prevalence coincide with areas of higher CHD mortality rates. The lower probability of CHD prevalence among blacks, however, may be directly influenced by their higher CHD mortality rates.
Barriers to informed consent.

Objectives : To provide oncology nurses with a review of barriers that may limit the ability of adults to provide informed consent. Data Sources : Published articles, research studies, and review articles pertaining to informed consent and clinical research. Conclusions : Patient-centered barriers to informed consent (such as age, education, and illness) and process-centered barriers (such as content and readability of the consent form, timing of discussion, and amount of time allotted to the process) can affect an individual's ability to provide substantial informed consent. Implications for Nursing Practice : Oncology nurses must be aware and knowledgeable of the various barriers to informed consent to minimize these barriers and to improve and facilitate the informed consent process.
LIGHT-CONE LIMITS, REGGE LIMITS, AND MASSIVE LEPTON-PAIR PRODUCTION.

Abstract We investigate the connection between the deep Regge limit and the deep light cone limit for electro-production and massive lepton-pair production. We assess triple-Regge and annihilation contributions to massive muon-pair production.
Nuclear spallation as a mechanism for radioisotope production: Cross sections for selected nuclides

Proton spallation is a relatively recent method for significant radioisotope production. A detailed discussion of the activation equation for charged-particle reactions is given, and measured values of spallation cross sections for reactions of 800-MeV protons with three target materials are reported.
The equivalence of bayes and causal rationality in games

In a seminal paper, Aumann (1987, Econometrica 55, 1–18) showed how the choices of rational players could be analyzed in a unified state space framework. His innovation was to include the choices of the players in the description of the states, thus abolishing Savage’s (1954, The Foundations of Statistics. Wiley, New York) distinction between acts and consequences. But this simplification comes at a price: Aumann’s notion of Bayes rationality does not allow players to evaluate what would happen were they to deviate from their actual choices. We show how the addition of a causal structure to the framework enables us to analyze such counterfactual statements, and use it to introduce a notion of causal rationality. Under a plausible causal independence condition, the two notions are shown to be equivalent. If we are prepared to accept this condition we can dispense with the causal apparatus and retain Aumann’s original framework.
Making the Transition from ASL to English: Deaf Students, Computers, and the Writing Center.

Abstract Twenty years after leaving Galloudet University with its American Sign Language (ASL) curriculum, a deaf student entered The College of Staten Island, City University of New York. Intensely anxious about writing in English, he is referred to The English Learning Center in Spring, 1993. This study shows the impact of five 2-hour tutoring sessions exclusively in English, exclusively in writing, exclusively on a computer. His fluency expanded significantly, as did his conversation about his writing: He progressed from refusing to write a grocery list to writing 7 pages in 4 hours. In the process, the student became more deeply involved in critical awareness of text, carefulness, and correctness.
Sonographic Findings of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Leading to Diagnosis of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a during Pregnancy.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2a (Sipple's syndrome) is characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma, and in a smaller percentage of cases, multiglandular parathyroid hyperplasia. This autosomal-dominant syndrome is due to a mutation in the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene located on chromosome 10cen–10q11.2 and rarely complicates pregnancy. We present an unusual case in a patient with an enlarged thyroid with sonographic findings characteristic of thyroid cancer, which led to diagnosis and subsequent management of RET proto-oncogene-positive MEN type 2a complicating pregnancy.
Prediction of interference loading on aircraft stores at supersonic speeds

A method for theoretically predicting forces and moments on aircraft stores in supersonic flow is investigated. Linear theory is used to predict the flowfield due to a jet fighter-bomber type aircraft, representing aircraft wing, nose, pylons, and inlets. The interference loading is integrated over the store length by considering crossflow effects and buoyancy effects. The method is computerized. Theoretical pitching and yawing moment calculations for a store under an F-4C aircraft at Mach 1.2 are compared with wind-tunnel data. The results show reasonably good agreement, with the exception that finite shock effects shift the experimental data axially forward of the linear theory prediction.
Charles Brenner: a practitioner's theorist.

To avoid certain errors in practice, Charles Brenner offered an holistic substitute for the Freudian structural model of the mind. He used the term compromise formation ambiguously to refer to both...
Unexpected strain-stiffening in crystalline solids

Strain-stiffening--an increase in material stiffness at large strains--is a vital mechanism by which many soft biological materials thwart excessive deformation to protect tissue integrity. Understanding the fundamental science of strain-stiffening and incorporating this concept into the design of metals and ceramics for advanced applications is an attractive prospect. Using cementite (Fe3C) and aluminium borocarbide (Al3BC3) as prototypes, here we show via quantum-mechanical calculations that strain-stiffening also occurs, surprisingly, in simple inorganic crystalline solids and confers exceptionally high strengths to these two solids, which have anomalously low resistance to deformation near equilibrium. For Fe3C and Al3BC3, their ideal shear strength to shear modulus ratios attain remarkably high values of 1.14 and 1.34 along the (010)[001] and slip systems, respectively. These values are more than seven times larger than the original Frenkel value of 1/2π (refs 4, 5) and are the highest yet reported for crystalline solids. The extraordinary stiffening of Fe3C arises from the strain-induced reversible 'cross-linking' between weakly coupled edge- and corner-sharing Fe6C slabs. This new bond formation creates a strong, three-dimensional covalent bond network that resists large shear deformation. Unlike Fe3C, no new bond forms in Al3BC3 but stiffening still occurs because strong repulsion between Al and B in a compressed Al-B bond unsettles the existing covalent bond network. These discoveries challenge the conventional wisdom that large shear modulus is a reliable predictor of hardness and strength of materials, and provide new lessons for materials selection and design.
A high-impedance ground plane applied to a cellphone handset geometry

A high-impedance electromagnetic surface is a new type of metallic structure exhibiting high surface impedance and the suppression of propagating surface currents at a particular frequency band. We experimentally characterize such a high-impedance surface designed near 2.4 GHz. We describe an antenna built on such a surface, integrated into a printed circuit board that was designed for the form factor of a portable handset. Measurement shows high radiation efficiency near 2.4 GHz.
Simultaneous examination of age related differences in the ability to maintain and reorient auditory selective attention.

Abstract The present investigation simultaneously examined age-related differences in the ability to maintain and reorient auditory selective attention. The maintenance and reorientation components of attention were assessed by means of an auditory listening task involving 24 dichotic trials. The trials were counter-balanced for right-ear and left-ear relevance, with each trial involving two parts. The first part required maintenance of attention and the second part required a reorientation of attention. The participants for the study were 90 community- living women recruited to represent ah age continuum of young adult, adult, and older adult. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant decrement in both maintenance and reorientation of attention with increasing age, and that reorientation of attention would be more difficult than maintenance of attention, particularly for older adults. The results of multivariate and univariate analyses confirmed the hypotheses and suggested that an inability ...
Ancylostoma caninum: intestinal pigment granules.

Abstract Electron microscopy, histochemical, and autoradiographic techniques were employed to study the nature and possible function of the intestinal pigment granules of Ancylostoma caninum. Each pigment granule normally consists of two parts: a core and an outer shell. The core material is extractable by sodium hydroxide, while the shell is resistant. Starvation of the worm resulted in changes of pigment granules. These changes include diffusion of the core material through the porous shell, lamellar formation of the core, and finally degeneration of the core into small particles of 100 to 200 A in diameter. Histochemical studies indicate the presence of a specific protein with incorporated iron. The latter is derived from host hemoglobin, as evidenced by autoradiography.
Postmenopausal hormones and incontinence: the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether postmenopausal hormone therapy improves the severity of urinary incontinence. Methods: We included measures of incontinence and voiding frequency in the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study, a randomized, blinded trial of the effect of hormone therapy among 2763 postmenopausal women younger than 80 years with coronary disease and intact uteri. This report includes 1525 participants who reported at least one episode of incontinence per week at baseline. Participants were randomly assigned to 0.625 mg of conjugated estrogens plus 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate in one tablet daily (n = 768) or placebo (n = 757) and were followed for a mean of 4.1 years. Severity of incontinence was classified as improved (decrease of at least two episodes per week), unchanged (change of at most one episode per week), or worsened (increase of at least two episodes per week). Results: Incontinence improved in 26% of the women assigned to placebo compared with 21% assigned to hormones, while 27% of the placebo group worsened compared with 39% of the hormone group (P = .001). This difference was evident by 4 months of treatment and was observed for both urge and stress incontinence. The number of incontinent episodes per week increased an average of 0.7 in the hormone group and decreased by 0.1 in the placebo group (P Conclusion: Daily oral estrogen plus progestin therapy was associated with worsening urinary incontinence in older postmenopausal women with weekly incontinence. We do not recommend this therapy for the treatment of incontinence.
14C-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake in vitamin B-6-deficient rats: effect of growth hormone and vitamin B-6.

Studies of the relative effects of growth hormone ( GH ) and vitamin B-6 on the in vivo uptake of Â«-"C-aminoisobutyric acid ( AIB ) in liver, diaphragm and heart of vitamin B-6-deficient rats were conducted. Generally, greater cellular uptake of AIB was observed in deficient than control rats. This increased uptake was particularly marked in liver. GH or vitamin B-6 injected with AIB 3 hours prior to sacrifice had little effect on uptake. In rats given AIB 24 hours prior to sacrifice, acute GH treatment (2 hours) resulted in stimulated uptake in deficient liver, diaphragm and heart and control liver, whereas control heart uptake was depressed. In contrast, chronic GH treatment of deficient rats depressed heart uptake and had little effect in liver and diaphragm, whereas vitamin B-6 administration depressed uptake in all three tissues. The results are compatible with reports of altered growth hormone metabolism in vitamin B-6-deficient rats. J. Nutr. 103: 1352-1358, 1973.
The hippo pathway in human upper gastrointestinal dysplasia and carcinoma: a novel oncogenic pathway.

Background The Hippo (Hpo) pathway is highly conserved in humans and was originally uncovered in Drosophila as a potent regulator of inhibiting cell growth and promoting apoptosis. The Hippo pathway consists of a tumor suppressor kinase cascade that negatively regulates growth and results in inactivation of a transcriptional co-activator, Yorkie (yki). The human ortholog of Yki, the yes-associated protein (YAP), has a 31% sequence identity and similar biologic activity. The potential role of YAP in tumorigenesis was also reported in a murine genetic screen which identified a genomic amplification of YAP in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Calculation of the Sensitivity Image in List-Mode Reconstruction for PET

List-mode image reconstruction is attracting renewed interest in emission tomography as the number of possible lines of response (LORs) in modern scanners becomes more than the number of detected events in one data set. One advantage of list-mode processing is that it eliminates the storage of empty sinogram bins. However, a single back projection of all LORs is still necessary for calculating the sensitivity image. Since the detection sensitivity is dependent on the object attenuation and detector efficiency, the sensitivity image must be computed for each study. Exact computation of the sensitivity image can be a daunting task for modern scanners with a huge number of LORs. Thus, some fast approximate calculation is desirable. Here we use theoretical results that we have derived to analyze a Monte Carlo based backprojection approach for calculating the sensitivity image. We derive expressions for the total number of LORs required in the backprojection and the sampling distribution. Computer simulations show that the nonuniform sampling schemes can reduce reconstruction artifact compared to the uniform sampling approach with the same computation cost
Field stimulation of cardiac fibers with random spatial structure

Polarization of individual cells ("sawtooth") has been proposed as a mechanism for field stimulation and defibrillation. To date, the modeling work has concentrated on the myocardium with periodic spatial structure; this paper investigates potentials arising in cardiac fibers with random spatial structure. Ten different random fibers consisting of cells with varying length (l/sub c/=100/spl plusmn/50 /spl mu/m), diameter (d/sub c/ 20 /spl plusmn/ 10 /spl mu/m), thickness of extracellular space (t/sub e/=1.18/spl plusmn/0.59 /spl mu/m), and junctional resistance (R/sub j/=2/spl plusmn/1 M/spl Omega/) are studied. Simulations demonstrate that randomizing spatial structure introduces to the field-induced potential (V/sub m/) a randomly varying baseline, which arises due to polarization of groups of cells. This polarization appears primarily in response to randomizing t/sub e/; R/sub j/, l/sub c/, and d/sub c/ have less influence. The maximum V/sub m/ increases from 3.5 mV in a periodic fiber to 20.5/spl plusmn/4.7 mV in random fibers (1 V/cm field applied for 5 ms). Field stimulation threshold E/sub th/ decreases from 6.9 to 1.59/spl plusmn/0.43 V/cm, which is within the range of experimental measurements. Thresholds for normal and reversed field polarities are statistically equivalent: 1.59/spl plusmn/0.43 versus 1.44/spl plusmn/0.41 V/cm, (p value = 0.453). Thus, V/sub m/ arising due to random structure of the myocardium may play an important role in field stimulation and defibrillation.
Stability assessment for cautious iterative controller tuning

This document presents a model-free test for stability assessment in iterative controller tuning. The information required for the test is obtained from the currently available stable closed-loop system, and does not include a model of the plant. All controllers that satisfy the test are guaranteed to stabilize the actual plant.
Fluid-structure interaction in abdominal aortic aneurysms: effects of asymmetry and wall thickness

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a prevalent disease which is of significant concern because of the morbidity associated with the continuing expansion of the abdominal aorta and its ultimate rupture. The transient interaction between blood flow and the wall contributes to wall stress which, if it exceeds the failure strength of the dilated arterial wall, will lead to aneurysm rupture. Utilizing a computational approach, the biomechanical environment of virtual AAAs can be evaluated to study the affects of asymmetry and wall thickness on this stress, two parameters that contribute to increased risk of aneurysm rupture. Ten virtual aneurysm models were created with five different asymmetry parameters ranging from β = 0.2 to 1.0 and either a uniform or variable wall thickness to study the flow and wall dynamics by means of fully coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analyses. The AAA wall was designed to have a (i) uniform 1.5 mm thickness or (ii) variable thickness ranging from 0.5 – 1.5 mm extruded normally from the boundary surface of the lumen. These models were meshed with linear hexahedral elements, imported into a commercial finite element code and analyzed under transient flow conditions. The method proposed was then compared with traditional computational solid stress techniques on the basis of peak wall stress predictions and cost of computational effort. The results provide quantitative predictions of flow patterns and wall mechanics as well as the effects of aneurysm asymmetry and wall thickness heterogeneity on the estimation of peak wall stress. These parameters affect the magnitude and distribution of Von Mises stresses; varying wall thickness increases the maximum Von Mises stress by 4 times its uniform thickness counterpart. A pre-peak systole retrograde flow was observed in the AAA sac for all models, which is due to the elastic energy stored in the compliant arterial wall and the expansion force of the artery during systole. Both wall thickness and geometry asymmetry affect the stress exhibited by a virtual AAA. Our results suggest that an asymmetric AAA with regional variations in wall thickness would be exposed to higher mechanical stresses and an increased risk of rupture than a more fusiform AAA with uniform wall thickness. Therefore, it is important to accurately reproduce vessel geometry and wall thickness in computational predictions of AAA biomechanics.