cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for direct action of estradiol on growth hormone-releasing factor (Grf) in rat hypothalamus: Localization of [3h]estradiol in grf neurons

Sex steroids have been shown to influence the secretion of GH. There appears to be no good evidence of the effect of estradiol on the anterior pituitary, while the central site of estradiol action on the regulation of GH secretion is not known. The present investigation was carried out to determine whether some of the GH-releasing factor (GRF) neurons and somatostatin (SRIF) neurons in the hypothalamus and GH cells in the pituitary contain estradiol receptors. Colocalization of [3H]estradiol and antibodies to GRF or SRIF in brain and antibodies to GH in pituitary was studied to show interrelationships between estrogen target cells and peptidergic cells. Eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized, each rat was treated with colchicine, and 24–48 h later the animals were given an iv injection of [2,4,6,7,16)17-3H]estradiol (SA, 166 Ci/mM) at a dose of 0.5 μg/100 g BW. One hour after the injection, the rats were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The hypothalami fr...
Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Structure in Hypertension and the Impact on Clinical Outcomes

Hypertension (HTN) is present in nearly 50 million individuals, or approximately 29% of the adult US population. The prevalence of HTN is higher in men, increases with age, and varies among ethnic groups. Alterations of left ventricular structure and function can be present in patients with HTN and accurately characterized by echocardiography. The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy with increased left ventricular mass has prognostic implications in patients with HTN.
Development of a Physical Windkessel Module to Re-Create In Vivo Vascular Flow Impedance for In Vitro Experiments

To create and characterize a physical Windkessel module that can provide realistic and predictable vascular impedances for in vitro flow experiments used for computational fluid dynamics validation, and other investigations of the cardiovascular system and medical devices. We developed practical design and manufacturing methods for constructing flow resistance and capacitance units. Using these units we assembled a Windkessel impedance module and defined its corresponding analytical model incorporating an inductance to account for fluid momentum. We tested various resistance units and Windkessel modules using a flow system, and compared experimental measurements to analytical predictions of pressure, flow, and impedance. The resistance modules exhibited stable resistance values over wide ranges of flow rates. The resistance value variations of any particular resistor are typically within 5% across the range of flow that it is expected to accommodate under physiologic flow conditions. In the Windkessel impedance modules, the measured flow and pressure waveforms agreed very favorably with the analytical calculations for four different flow conditions used to test each module. The shapes and magnitudes of the impedance modulus and phase agree well between experiment and theoretical values, and also with those measured in vivo in previous studies. The Windkessel impedance module we developed can be used as a practical tool to provide realistic vascular impedance for in vitro cardiovascular studies. Upon proper characterization of the impedance module, its analytical model can accurately predict its measured behavior under different flow conditions.
A-Cadre: Advanced Family of Manikins for Workstation Design:

A-CADRE, an advanced cadre of 17 manikins, is delineated and shown to be valid for assuring population accommodation when applied to workstations. As with the earlier CADRE manikins (Bittner et al....
Impact and Force Control: Modeling and Experiments

Robot manipulators and drive systems can experience instability or poor control performance after impacting with an environment. This paper presents an analytical model for impact which is experimentally validated step-by-step. Extensive simulations and experiments are conducted to explain impact phenomena for the case of a force feedback control of a drive system. The results are based on an energy method and presented concisely in dimensionless form. To this end, a small number of dimensionless groups are used to characterize the impact behavior through simulations and tests. The study shows that an integral force compensation with a velocity feedback improves force tracking and reject impacts
Climate change: snow maker for the ice ages.

In the Northern Hemisphere, large-scale glaciation was initiated comparatively recently. Paradoxically, it seems that the trigger was a seasonal warming of the sea surface in an upwind oceanic region.
Controlled release of therapeutic agents: slow delivery and cell encapsulation.

Some of the most promising systems for the controlled release of bioactive agents, i.e., peptides or hormones, involve the encapsulation or entrapment of hormones or peptides in biocompatible polymeric devices that enable their continuous release over prolonged periods. In urology, two major pathologic conditions, androgen deficiency and prostate cancer, currently benefit from treatments based on controlled delivery. Leuprolide acetate depot (Lupron-depot) was one of the first controlled-delivery systems used for the treatment of prostate cancer. Clinical studies indicate that patients with prostate cancer who undergo therapy with leuprolide acetate depot can benefit from this treatment. Currently available androgen-replacement therapies include the oral administration of testosterone tablets or capsules, depot injections, sublingual treatment, and skin patches. However, side effects such as metabolic inactivation of testosterone on oral administration; fluctuations in levels of the hormone; and burning, rash, and skin necrosis during the use of skin patches may occur. These side effects may be avoided through the application of encapsulated Leydig cells, which produce testosterone. Studies in our laboratory have shown that Leydig cells encapsulated in alginate/poly-L-lysine/alginate microspheres are capable of secreting testosterone in culture and in vivo. Microencapsulated Leydig cells delivered intraperitoneally into castrated rats maintained a testosterone level of 0.51 ng/ml for more than 3 months without any human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation. Similar studies are also being conducted in our laboratory on encapsulation of ovarian cells for the secretion of progesterone and estrogen in culture and in vivo using microencapsulation techniques.
Confessions of a Diskette Junkie

Everyone knows that when you close a closet at night, the hangers multiply. Did you know that diskettes have the same property? They multiply in direct proportion to the number of programs you have. In the five years I've owned an IBM PC, I've accumulated over 800 diskettes, not including my blank diskettes. This number increases greatly when you add the 3 ½ in. disks I started collecting a year ago when vendors began including them in their packages.
Optimal Dynamic Scheduling of Aircraft Arrivals at Congested Airports

An optimal airport arrival scheduling algorithm, which works within a hierarchical scheduling structure, is presented. This structure consists of schedulers at multiple points along the arrival route. Schedulers are linked through acceptance rate constraints, which are passed up from downstream metering points. The innovation in this algorithm is that these constraints are computed by using an Eulerian model-based optimization scheme. In this scheme an aggregate airspace model is derived online. Optimization based on predictions of this model is used to compute the optimal acceptance rates at all metering points, so that the airport throughput is maximized while keeping sector counts within limits. This rate computation removes inefficiencies introduced in the schedule through ad hoc acceptance rate computations. The scheduling process at every metering point uses its optimal acceptance rate as a constraint and computes optimal arrival sequences by using a combinatorial search algorithm. We test this algorithm in a dynamic air-traffic environment, which can be customized to emulate different arrival scenarios. Results from Monte Carlo simulations show improved performance over first-come, first-served ordering for different values of key parameters such as arrival aircraft mix, average arrival rate, maximum position-shift constraint, and level of uncertainty in estimated time of arrival prediction.
Prolonged survival of composite facial allografts in non-human primates associated with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Background. Composite tissue allotransplantation may have different immunosuppressive requirements and manifest different complications compared with solid organ transplantation. We developed a non-human primate facial composite tissue allotransplantation model to investigate strategies to achieve prolonged graft survival and immunologic responses unique to these allografts. Methods. Composite facial subunits consisting of skin, muscle, and bone were heterotopically transplanted to mixed lymphocyte reaction-mismatched Cynomolgus macaques. Tacrolimus monotherapy was administered via continuous intravenous infusion for 28 days then tapered to daily intramuscular doses. Results. Five of the six animals treated with tacrolimus monotherapy demonstrated rejection-free graft survival up to 177 days (mean, 113 days). All animals with prolonged graft survival developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). Three animals converted to rapamycin after 28 days of rejection of their allografts, but did not develop PTLD. Genotypic analysis of PTLD tumors demonstrated donor origin in three of the five analyzed by short-tandem repeats. Sustained alloantibodies were detected in rejecting grafts and absent in nonrejecting grafts. Conclusions. Tacrolimus monotherapy provided prolonged rejection-free survival of composite facial allografts in a non-human primate model but was associated with the development of a high frequency of donor-derived PTLD tumors. The transplantation of a large volume of vascularized bone marrow in composite tissue allografts may be a risk factor for PTLD development.
Comparative analysis of energy storage media and techniques

Techniques for storing and converting energy from one form to another are examined. The parameters of interest are storage density (in terms of both energy and power), conversion efficiency, and number of steps in the conversion process. The techniques compared are electrostatic, magnetic, inertial, chemical, thermal, and nuclear. Each technique for storage is discussed in terms of the ease with which the energy can be converted to electricity for powering lightweight compact power systems for a variety of uses. The storage density associated with the various mechanisms spans an enormous range ( approximately 0.5 MJ/kg to approximately 10/sup 5/ MJ/kg). The impact upon time-to-refuel within the context of mobile tactical army applications is discussed. >
Genome Sequence of a Fish-Associated Polyomavirus, Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) Polyomavirus 1

All known polyomaviruses are associated with mammals or birds. Using virion enrichment, random-primed rolling circle amplification, and deep sequencing, we identified a polyomavirus associated with black sea bass (Centropristis striata). The virus has a variety of novel genetic features, suggesting a long evolutionary separation from polyomaviruses of terrestrial animals.
Studies on Stored Whole Blood

Blood stored at 10 C displayed no more evidence of cell destruction in vitro than did blood stored at 4 C. Agitation for one hour at weekly intervals of storage was also not obviously damaging, nor was warming blood to 22 C for up to 16 hours. Exposure to 22 C for 24 hours led to erythrocyte deterioration that was most evident when units were more than 21 days old, and agitation plus this warming increased these signs of damage. Units stored as packed cells were moderately affected by exposure to 22 C for 24 hours, and agitation reinforced this effect. Posttransfusion survival of blood warmed to 22 C for 24 hours tended to be lower than nonwarmed controls; the warmed group average was below 70 per cent survival at 28 days of storage. From these studies, the temperature variation commonly encountered in clinical blood banking (4 C to 10 C and short exposure to 22 C prior to transfusion) would not appear to contribute significantly to erythrocyte damage unless the units were in the oldest stages of storage or had been exposed to warm temperatures for longer than 24 hours. Mechanical stress had minimal adverse effect, but this became more evident when blood was stored as packed cells or when whole blood had been stored for 21 days.
The current programming language standards scene II: FORTRAN

Abstract Developments in the standardisation of the FORTRAN language during the period January 1980 to May 1983 are reviewed.
Theoretical determination of parameters for optimum surface specificity in overlayer attenuated-total-reflection infrared spectroscopy

We investigate the feasibility of overlayer attenuated-total-reflectance (O-ATR) infrared spectroscopy as a surface analytical tool for studying reactions and molecular properties of adsorbates at surfaces exposed to aqueous nonelectrolyte solutions. Through modeling an O-ATR system by assuming it to comprise three, four, or n phases of homogeneous refractive index, one can use an electric-field analysis to determine how the parameters of adsorption free energy, overlayer thickness, initial angle of incidence, and internal-reflection element refractive-index influence solvent-subtracted O-ATR infrared-absorption spectra. The theory behind such an analysis is explained, and the results of its application are presented for hypothetical O-ATR systems consisting of either a zinc selenide or a germanium internal-reflection element, an iron or hematite overlayer, an adsorbate layer, and a solution of methylene chloride in water.
Seasonal nutrient variation in trembling aspen.

Variation in concentrations of N, K, Mg, and Ca in vegetative-buds, leaves, twigs, and male catkins of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), determined throughout a growing season in central Minnesota, reflected the different physiological roles of the nutrients. Practical implications are discussed.
The impact of prospective pricing on the information system in the health care industry

The move from a retrospective payment system (value added) to a prospective payment system (diagnostic related) has not only influenced the health care business but also changed their information systems' requirements. The change in requirements can be attributed both to an increase in data processing tasks and also to an increase in the need for information to more effectively manage the organization. A survey was administered to capture the response of health care institutions, in the area of information systems, to the prospective payment system. The survey results indicate that the majority of health care institutions have responded by increasing their information resources, both in terms of hardware and software, and have moved to integrate the medical and financial data. In addition, the role of the information system has changed from a cost accounting system to one intended to provide a competitive edge in a highly competitive marketing environment.
Canine oral fibrosarcomas: a retrospective analysis of 65 cases (1998–2010)

The objective of this retrospective study was to report the outcome of treatment of canine oral fibrosarcomas (FSA) in relation to median survival and progression-free survival (PFS), and to report whether grade was prognostic in relation to median survival. Sixty-five dogs with oral FSA presented to the WSU VTH between June 1998 and March 2010. Significant predictors of median survival were location (P = 0.0099), tumour size or oral stage (P = 0.0312), type of surgery (P = 0.0182), margins (P = 0.0329) and grade (P = 0.0251). Significant predictors of PFS were location (P = 0.0177), and radiation protocol (P = 0.0343). A combination of surgery and radiation was the strongest predictor of prolonged median survival (P = 0.0183) and PFS (P = 0.0263) at 505 and 301 days, respectively. Treatment of canine oral FSA with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy provided the longest median survivals.
Organometallic wheels based on coinage metal ions and norbornene: syntheses and structural characterization of [M(norbornene)3][SbF6] (M = Au, Ag, Cu)

Three closely related organometallic "spoke-wheel" complexes featuring coinage metal ions, Au(I), Ag(I), and Cu(I), bonded to three norbornene molecules in trigonal planar fashion have been isolated and completely characterized using several methods including X-ray crystallography.
Text block geometric shape analysis

When graphic artist designs a page, they envision a set of text blocks of arbitrary shapes constrained by page size, image blocks and graphics blocks with wrap around properties. We call this the intended shape. What is seen on an actual page depends on the particular text content and typographical constrains such as natural text line breaking and justification. We call this the apparent shape. Our goal is to create document templates by extracting the text blocks' intended shapes from the apparent shapes. The main difficulty is when the line justification is jagged the intended block shape is obfuscated. We solve this problem by analyzing the layout relation of all blocks on a page and applying an iterative process to find the maximum likelihood of the intended shapes.
Distributed Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers

We consider a network of agents that are cooperatively solving a global unconstrained optimization problem, where the objective function is the sum of privately known local objective functions of the agents. Recent literature on distributed optimization methods for solving this problem focused on subgradient based methods, which typically converge at the rate equation, where k is the number of iterations. In this paper, we introduce a new distributed optimization algorithm based on Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM), which is a classical method for sequentially decomposing optimization problems with coupled constraints. We show that this algorithm converges at the rate equation.
Multicenter Study of Knowledge About Human Papilloma Virus and Attitudes Among Emergency Department Patients

Abstract Study Objective We sought to evaluate knowledge of human papilloma virus (HPV) and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine among emergency department (ED) patients. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Three Boston EDs. Participants We enrolled consecutive patients during two 24-hour periods at each site. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Knowledge of HPV and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine. Results We enrolled 387 patients (81% of eligible). Overall, 242 (63%) participants had heard of HPV and 203 (52%) supported state-mandated vaccination. In the multivariate model, characteristics associated with lower awareness of HPV were: (1) older age (compared to age18-26-years: OR 0.45 [95%CI, 0.20–0.99] for age 27–44 years, OR 0.26 [95%CI, 0.12–0.56] for age 45–64 years, and OR 0.10 [95%CI, 0.04–0.28] for age 65 year or older), (2) black race (compared to white: OR 0.31 [95%CI, 0.15–0.64]); and (3) lower annual household income (OR 0.39 [95%CI, 0.19–0.81] for $40,000 or less). Of those people who had heard of HPV, 82% knew of its relationship to cervical cancer, but only 61% thought it was a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Support for state-mandated vaccination was higher among participants who knew that HPV was an STD (OR 2.9 [95%CI 1.7–5.0]), but was not higher among those who had heard of HPV (OR 0.64 [95%CI 0.34–1.2]) or who knew that HPV causes cervical cancer (OR 0.85 [95%CI 0.45–1.6]). Conclusions Support for state-mandated HPV vaccination appears to be driven more by the knowledge that HPV is an STD than by its role in cervical cancer. Awareness that HPV is transmitted through sexual activity does not decrease support for vaccination and may actually enhance it.
Staging of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose of reviewStaging of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has historically mirrored that for hepatocellular carcinoma, largely due to the fact that ICC has been an uncommon disease. This review summarizes recent developments related to prognostication in ICC that have allowed the development
Vitamin E succinate protects hepatocytes against the toxic effect of reactive oxygen species generated at mitochondrial complexes I and III by alkylating agents

The mechanism of alpha-tocopheryl succinate (TS) cytoprotection against mitochondria-derived oxidative stress was investigated. Incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), a mitochondrial alkylating toxicant caused mitochondrial dysfunction and necrotic cell death that was dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Mitochondria isolated from these cells showed a 3-fold increase in lipid hydroperoxides and a selective depletion of alpha-tocopherol (T), which preceded cell death. The pretreatment of hepatocytes with TS dramatically enriched cells and mitochondria with alpha-tocopherol and provided these membranes with complete protection against EMS-induced oxidative damage. TS pretreatment suppressed EMS-induced cellular ROS production, generated from mitochondrial complex I and III sites. In addition, the treatment with either rotenone (ROT, a complex I inhibitor) or antimycin A (AA, a complex III inhibitor) potentiated EMS-induced lipid peroxidation and necrotic cell death which were again completely prevented by TS treatment. Surprisingly, TS did not protect hepatocytes against thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA), a complex II inhibitor-induced enhancement of EMS-induced toxic oxidative damage. We conclude that the inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production and lipid peroxidation by T released from TS, are the critical events responsible for TS-mediated cytoprotection against toxic oxidative stress derived from both mitochondrial complexes I and III. Our findings suggest that TS treatment may prove useful in combating diseases associated with mitochondrial-derived oxidative stress.
It's not about the money.

H.L. Mencken wrote that ‘‘When somebody says it’s not about money. It’s about the money.’’ Once again, the issue is about the money. Five years ago, I founded the Association for Medical Ethics (AME), calling for full disclosure of all money paid to researchers by manufacturers. Over those past 5 years, I have often heard ‘‘It’s the principle, not the money,’’ from defensive clinical researchers and industry folks. Would any reasonable person believe what I write when my article is about a product whose manufacturer is paying me? Well, if it is a little money say for implant expenses for testing you will probably have more confidence than if it is millions of dollarsdwith large sum comes large doubts. In those cases, you will probably reserve judgment on using the product and first perform the necessary due diligence to confirm the findings independently. This scenario may be a big problem for industries with marginal products who have a low expectation that initial company data will stand up to independent surveillance and analysis. Conversely, companies with substantial confidence in product performance have little to fear if surgeons choose conservative ‘‘wait and see’’ attitudes and do not jump right in there using the new product. Most prudent doctors will ‘‘wait and see’’ when they detect the influence of something other than independent unbiased literature from a historically trusted source in medicine. ‘‘Wait and see’’ can be very bad for launching new products because as industry folks say, ‘‘what ruins all those good papers is follow-up.’’ Unless practice patterns have already been changed to adopt the product in the absence of independent data, if complications and bad results surface in articles with generalized use, the battle to launch a new product with efficacy or safety problems is lost. It should not be surprising then that the solution for some company executives to prevent hindering profit making is to sweep these problems (complications) under the rug
Polarity of influenza and vesicular stomatitis virus maturation in MDCK cells: lack of a requirement for glycosylation of viral glycoproteins

We have investigated whether glycosylation of membrane glycoproteins is a determinant of the site of maturation of enveloped viruses in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. In MDCK cell monolayers, vesicular stomatitis virus buds exclusively from the basal or lateral plasma membranes and contains a sialylated glycoprotein, whereas influenza virus buds exclusively from the apical plasma membrane and lacks neuraminic acid. In order to study the possible relationship between glycosylation of viral glycoproteins and the budding site, infected MDCK cells were treated with tunicamycin at a concentration that completely inhibits glycosylation of viral glycoproteins and the site of virus maturation was examined by electron microscopy. When tunicamycin-treated monolayers were compared to controls, the polarity in the maturation sites of both viruses was maintained. These results indicate that glycosylation of viral glycoproteins is not required for the determination of the cellular maturation site of these enveloped viruses.
Comparative study of electrostatic models for the amide-I and -II modes: linear and two-dimensional infrared spectra.

We have carried out a comparative study of five ab initio electrostatic frequency maps and a semiempirical model for the amide-I and -II modes. Unrestrained molecular dynamics simulation of a 310-helical peptide, Z-Aib-l-Leu-(Aib)2-Gly-OtBu, in CDCl3 is performed using the AMBER ff99SB force field, and the linear and two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra are simulated on the basis of a vibrational exciton Hamiltonian model. A new electrostatic potential-based amide-I and -II frequency map for N-methylacetamide is developed in this study. This map and other maps developed by different research groups are applied to calculate the local mode frequencies of the amide linkages in the hexapeptide. The simulated amide-I line shape from all models agrees well with the previous experimental results on the same system, except for an overall frequency shift. In contrast, the simulated amide-II bands are more sensitive to the frequency maps. Essential features obtained in the electrostatic models are captured by t...
Programmed cell death mediated by ced-3 and ced-4 protects Caenorhabditis elegans from Salmonella typhimurium-mediated killing

Programmed cell death (PCD) in mammals has been implicated in several disease states including cancer, autoimmune disease, and neurodegenerative disease. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PCD is a normal component of development. We find that Salmonella typhimurium colonization of the C. elegans intestine leads to an increased level of cell death in the worm gonad. S. typhimurium-mediated germ-line cell death is not observed in C. elegans ced-3 and ced-4 mutants in which developmentally regulated cell death is blocked, and ced-3 and ced-4 mutants are hypersensitive to S. typhimurium-mediated killing. These results suggest that PCD may be involved in the C. elegans defense response to pathogen attack.
Stresses in and around slender elastic rods and platelets of different modulus in an infinite elastic medium under uniform

Abstract Approximate solutions for the stresses around slender elastic rods and platelets with moduli different from that of the infinite elastic matrix in which they are built-in have been obtained by the method of Eshelby, for the case of uniform distant axial strain in the matrix parallel to the rod or platelet. The results show that, as expected, the interface tractions are strongly concentrated at the ends of these heterogeneities.
Effect of meclofenamate on renal vascular resistance in early Goldblatt hypertension in conscious and anesthetized dog

Abstract Blood pressure and renal blood flow were monitored in conscious normotensive (N) and 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive (H) dogs. Plasma renin activity was significantly increased 4–8 days after partial renal artery occlusion. At this time intravenous administration of meclofenamate, 5 mg/kg, had no effect on blood pressure in the N or H or on renal vascular resistance in the N or in the H (contralateral kidney). The renal vasoconstrictor response to angiotensin II was increased in duration by meclofenamate in both the N and H. In contrast to the absence of an effect of meclofenamate on renal vascular resistance in the conscious dog, the synthesis inhibitor caused a consistent increase in RVR in the N and H when they were anesthetized in the terminal experiment. These results suggest the lack of an influence of prostaglandins on renal vascular resistance in the unaffected kidney in Goldblatt hypertension.
Phenobarbital and SKF-525A on vinblastine and vincristine toxicity in mice.

The effect of SKF-525A and phenobarbirtal on the LD50 values of vinblastine and vincristine suggests that the toxicity of these agents in mice does not arise from a toxic metabolite.
Arginine substitutions in the hinge region of antichymotrypsin affect serpin beta-sheet rearrangement.

A hallmark of serpin function is the massive β-sheet rearrangement involving the insertion of the cleaved reactive loop into β-sheet A as strand s4A. This structural transition is required for inhibitory activity. Small hydrophobic residues at P14 and P12 positions of the reactive loop facilitate this transition, since these residues must pack in the hydrophobic core of the cleaved serpin. Despite the radical substitution of arginine at the P12 position, the crystal structure of cleaved A347R antichymotrypsin reveals full strand s4A insertion with normal β-sheet A geometry; the R347 side chain is buried in the hydrophobic protein core. In contrast, the structure of cleaved P14 T345R antichymotrypsin reveals substantial yet incomplete strand s4A insertion, without burial of the R345 side chain.
Egalitarian versus traditional behavioral marital therapy: A test of preference*

Eighty introductory psychology students participated in a 2×2×2×2 experimental design viewing videotapes of two differing marital therapy treatments (egalitarian vs. traditional). In addition to the above manipulation, experimental factors also included therapist gender, order of presentation, and subject gender. A variety of dependent variables were utilized, all of which assessed either treatment acceptability or therapist characteristics. Results were highly consistent with all treatment acceptability measures generally indicating significantly higher acceptability ratings (all p's<.0001) for traditional as opposed to egalitarian behavioral marital therapy. Similarly, traditional therapists were rated as more likeable than egalitarian therapists. Results are briefly discussed with regard to treatment acceptability and the advocacy of particular values during the course of therapy.
Using Multivariate Capture-Recapture Techniques and Statewide Hospital Discharge Data to Assess the Validity of a Cancer Registry for Epidemiologic Use

Background: Cancer surveillance is essential for assessing patterns of cancer. State cancer registries do not capture all cases. We used a statewide hospital discharge file to estimate the capture rate and determine biases in capture by a state cancer registry. Methods: We merged the Virginia hospital discharge file and cancer registry for 1995, then used multivariate two- source capture-recapture techniques to control for heterogeneity and more accurately estimate the number and characteristics of missing breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer cases. Results: Results suggest heterogeneity of capture, with rates a function of demographics, surgery and being in a hospital with a cancer program certified by the American College of Surgeons(ACOS). Overall registry capture rates ranged from 66% (prostate)–79% (breast). Capture rates varied by subgroup, with differences larger according to surgery and ACOS certification status than for demographic subgroups. While the registry captured most cases who had surgery (85–89%), capture rates for those without surgery was much lower (37–71%). Conclusion: We conclude that hospital discharge data and multivariate capture-recapture techniques are useful to registries to estimate the number of missing cases and assess bias in capture. Epidemiologic research based on registry data alone would likely provide biased, misleading results.
Sex and beliefs about computer-based information systems: An examination of group support systems

Abstract Different beliefs about computer-based information systems (IS) have been found across sex for users and potential users of these systems. Since beliefs are known to influence system use decisions, knowledge of beliefs and the ability to influence beliefs are valuable to managers implementing new IS. Since sex is not subject to managerial influence, knowledge of attributes which (1) correlate with sex, (2) influence IS beliefs, (3) explain the belief variance ascribed to sex, and (4) are under management's influence would be valuable. This study proposes four sex-related attributes for group support system (GSS) use. The study found the attributes to meet three of the above criteria, but not to explain the belief variance ascribed to sex. This finding suggests that sex influences IS beliefs directly or that important sex-related attributes have not been identified in the IS literature. Since culture is a strong influence on social sex roles, this literature is proposed as a source of potentially important sex-related attributes. Therefore, attributes related to sex and to culture may be appropriate candidates to explain belief differences across sex for social technologies such as GSS. However, given the strength of cultural values which influence beliefs, managers may have to accommodate, not influence, culturally-related beliefs.
What is a “document”?

Ordinarily the word “document” denotes a textual record. Increasingly sophisticated attempts to provide access to the rapidly growing quantity of available documents raised questions about what should be considered a “document.” The answer is important for any definition of the scope of Information Science. Paul Otlet and others developed a functional view of “document” and discussed whether, for example, sculpture, museum objects, and live animals, could be considered “documents.” Suzanne Briet equated “document” with organized physical evidence. These ideas appear to resemble notions of “material culture” in cultural anthropology and “object-as-sign” in semiotics. Others, especially in the U.S.A. (e.g., Jesse Shera and Louis Shores) took a narrower view. New digital technology renews old questions and also old confusions between medium, message, and meaning. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Two-dimensional pump–probe imaging in reacting flows

We demonstrate that picosecond pump–probe spectroscopy can be used to acquire quantitative two-dimensional images of species in flames, using a loss-modulation-based two-dimensional phase-sensitive detection system mounted in front of a CCD camera. This system is currently limited to detection of 1% modulation depth, but it can be significantly improved. The instrument permits high data collection rates, and it provides a quenching-independent signal without the need for calibration. The signal is embedded in a coherent laser beam, making it possible to perform optical processing before the camera.
Lost, The Prisoner, and the End of the Story

Abstract This article compares Lost and The Prisoner as narratives that have similar places in television history, particularly with regard to narrative closure. Whereas The Prisoner's recursive ending suggests pessimism, Lost produces a new kind of narrative that provides resolution while maintaining ambiguity and offers hope rather than despair.
Altered vision near the hands

The present study explored the manner in which hand position may affect visual processing. We studied three classic visual attention tasks (visual search, inhibition of return, and attentional blink) during which the participants held their hands either near the stimulus display, or far from the display. Remarkably, the hands altered visual processing: people shifted their attention between items more slowly when their hands were near the display. The same results were observed for both visible and invisible hands. This enhancement in vision for objects near the hands reveals a mechanism that could facilitate the detailed evaluation of objects for potential manipulation, or the assessment of potentially dangerous objects for a defensive response.
Spectrophotometric determination of osmium with 1-naphthylamine-4,6,8-trisulfonic acid

This investigation was undertaken to determine if the naphthylamine sulfonic acid-osmate (OsVI) reaction is suitable for a spectrophotometric determination of osmium. The 1-naphthylamine- 4, 6,8-trisulfonic acid osmate complex is water-soluble and forms a stable violet-colored system at PH 1 to 1.5 that is independent of reagent concentration. At 555 mμ the colored complex obeys Beer's law over a concentration range of 0.1 to 6.5 p.p.m. osmium and remains stable with respect to time and temperature. The effects of pH, temperature, reagent concentration, and diverse ions were studied. The nature of the organo-osmate complex in solution was studied by three techniques and the effect of temperature and pH on the rate of complex formation was determined. A procedure for the removal of osmium from all interfering ions was developed based on well known distillation techniques. A convenient, sensitive, reproducible and accurate method for the spectrophotometric determination of osmium has been developed.
CONSERVATION AND SEX

Sex differences have often been compared incidentally in studies of Piagetian conservation. Most results showed no sex differences related to the acquisition of conservation (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9) and support Piaget's conclusions that sex differences are insignificant. Conversely, several studies have reported sex differences in favor of male Ss (4, 5. 8) . Goldschmid's (4) examination of the relation of sex to types of conservation indicated that boys performed on a higher level than girls on all tested tasks of conservation including conservation of substance, weight, quantity, discontinuous quantity, number, area, distance, length, twoand three-dimensional space. In the present study 46 boys, 35 girls in first grade in two public elementary schools in the Grand Forks, North Dakota area were given five conservation of number and substance tasks. Girls conserved more often on 4 of the 5 tasks and significantly ( p < .01) so on cwo conservation of substance tasks. The one task on which boys conserved more often (conservation of number) showed no significant differences. These results are in contradiction to earlier reported studies and indicate that sex differences are related to conservation of substance. These conservation tasks were administered by a young woman but in most studies E has been male. It seems sex of tester should be evaluated.
A Molecular Mechanism of Lipid Membrane Fusion

Membrane fusion is an essential molecular event involved in many cellular processes, such as exocytosis, endocytosis, intracellular vesicle trafficking, fertilization, and viral infection to target cells. In spite of extensive studies of membrane fusion, however, the basic molecular mechanisms in biological systems are not well understood. Probably, it is due to the complex nature of biological membranes and the variety of possible molecular pathways for membrane fusion. We have studied the membrane fusion process, particularly ion-induced membrane fusion. Biological membrane fusion seems to occur with either ion-induced or non-ion-induced membrane process, particularly the later case is for virus membrane fusion system. Dr. Chernomordik and his co-workers have studied on non-ion-induced lipid membrane fusion and developed the so-called “Stalk-intermediate model” before total membrane fusion. That fusion model has been well received by many membrane fusion investigators, particularly in the virus fusion field. Stalk formation between two lipid membranes may occur due to undulation of lipid molecules or local binding of the lipid bilayers, which results in the formation of a local region of outer monolayer fusion. The stalk hypothesis can be described by macroscopic models treating bilayers and monolayers as homogeneous elastic surfaces. We have also studied non-ion-induced bilayer membrane fusion. Our membrane fusion theory is based on the interaction energies between the two membranes due to alternation of the membrane surface properties, e.g., hydrophilicity and hydrohobicity of interacting membranes, and then lipid membrane close approach and due to membrane curvature. Although the membrane interaction processes are different between the two models, these membrane fusion properties are the same as those of our ion-induced lipid membrane fusion.
Exploring the Role of Knowledge Networks in Perceived e-Government A Comparative Case Study of two Local Governments in Korea

What are the knowledge network configurations associated with effective e-government? To answer this question, a social network perspective is applied to explore the connection between e-government...
Patterns for prediction of hydration around polar residues in proteins

Abstract The atomic co-ordinates of seven very high resolution (>1·4 A) proteins have been used to define a water-hydrogen bond template for five polar side-chains (arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine and glutamine). The average water molecule positions determined were consistent with the hydrogen bonding stereochemistry expected for each side-chain. Hydrogen bonding geometry around nitrogen atoms was significantly better localized than around oxygen atoms, perhaps because of the proton on nitrogen. A prediction algorithm written to locate water molecule sites around these side-chains from the protein co-ordinates only was tested for crambin as well as for two high resolution protein structures not included in the hydrogen bond data base. The root-mean-square deviation of the predicted positions from the crystallographically determined ones for these structures was better than the resolution of these structures. The method also successfully predicted water positions for X-ray refinement of two proteins, indicating that predicted water molecules are within the radius of convergence of refinement. This method has utility for X-ray models as well as for analysis of enzyme hydration and function.
In the absence of men: representing Andalusi women's sexuality in the context of military conflict

The impact of military conflict on representations of women in Andalusi texts, in the age of Las Navas de Tolosa or beforehand, has received little attention. Rejecting the idea of the battle per se as a turning point, this essay examines the implications of military conflict on the ways in which Muslim men imagined Andalusi women, in the early thirteenth century and beforehand.
Guiding Light in Electro-Optic Polymers

Electro-optic polymers have unique photonic, electro-optic and mechanical properties that make them attractive to use in a wide range of devices starting from ultra-high bandwidth light modulators for optical communications to miniature low power components for on-chip optical interconnects. The main building blocks of those devices are optical waveguides, that due to versatility of the polymers can be fabricated as either traditional multi-layer polymer structures, silicon nano-slots filled with the polymer, or dynamically created waveguides based on field-induced guiding. In this paper we cover various types of waveguides and analyze their optimum designs depending on application.
Studies of cellular proliferation in human leukemia. VI. The proliferative activity, generation time, and emergence time of neutrophilic granulocytes in chronic granulocytic leukemia.

The proliferative kinetics of neutrophilic granulocytes were studied in 3 patients with typical chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) by means of differential counts, mitotic indexes, and 3H-thymidine labeling using autoradio-graphic methods. The granulocyte precursors in CGL had lower mitotic and 3H-thymidine labeling indexes than the corresponding normal cells; their median grain count halving times were longer than normal in 2 patients and approximately normal in the third. The proliferative rates appeared similar in the marrow and spleen but the cells rarely divided in the blood. In one patient given a continuous intravenous 3H-thymidine infusion for 10 days, 100% of the granulocyte precursors were labeled. The minimum maturation time of CGL neutrophilics was approximately normal, but their average transit times through the myelocyte and later maturation compartments was prolonged. The overproduction of granulocytes appears mainly due to increased formation of myeloblasts; whether this is due to an increased rate of stem cell activation or whether the myeloblasts may themselves function to some extent as selfsustaining cells is unknown.
Self‐Efficacy Relationships With Affective and Exertion Responses to Exercise

This study examined the relationship of preexisting efficacy for exercise with perceptions of effort expenditure and in-task affect during exercise testing. Subjects comprised sedentary, middle-aged adults participating in a submaxi-mal cycle ergometer-graded exercise test. Perceptions of efficacy were assessed prior to and following exercise testing while perceptions of effort expenditure and in-task affect were assessed at 70% of predicted maxim heart rate. Highly efficacious subjects had lower perceptions of effort expenditure and reported more positive affect during exercise than did their less efficacious counterparts. Affective responses during exercise were in turn significant predictors of posttest self-efficacy. These results are discussed in regard to the importance of examining the role of personal efficacy in the formation of exercise-related affect and affective responses as sources of efficacy or competence information in exercise.
Improving product search with economic theory

With the growing pervasiveness of the Internet, online search for commercial goods and services is constantly increasing, as more and more people search and purchase goods from the Internet. Most of the current algorithms for product search are based on adaptations of theoretical models devised for “classic” information retrieval. However, the decision mechanism that underlies the process of buying a product is different than the process of judging a document as relevant or not. So, applying theories of relevance for the task of product search may not be the best approach. We propose a theory model for product search based on expected utility theory from economics. Specifically, we propose a ranking technique in which we rank highest the products that generate the highest consumer surplus after the purchase. In a sense, we rank highest the products that are the “best value for money” for a specific user. Our approach naturally builds on decades of research in the field of economics and presents a solid theoretical foundation in which further research can build on. We instantiate our research by building a search engine for hotels, and show how we can build algorithms that naturally take into account consumer demographics, heterogeneity of consumer preferences, and also account for the varying price of the hotel rooms. Our extensive user studies demonstrate an overwhelming preference for the rankings generated by our techniques, compared to a large number of existing strong baselines.