cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of a Toll-Like Receptor Antagonist on Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Macrophage Responses

We previously showed that viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) bacilli contain distinct ligands that activate cells via the mammalian Toll-like receptor (TLR) proteins TLR2 and TLR4. We now demonstrate that expression of a dominant negative TLR2 or TLR4 proteins in RAW 264.7 macrophages partially blocked Mtb-induced NF-kappa B activation. Coexpression of both dominant negative proteins blocked virtually all Mtb-induced NF-kappa B activation. The role of the TLR4 coreceptor MD-2 was also examined. Unlike LPS, Mtb-induced macrophage activation was not augmented by overexpression of ectopic MD-2. Moreover, cells expressing an LPS-unresponsive MD-2 mutant responded normally to Mtb. We also observed that the lipid A-like antagonist E5531 specifically inhibited TLR4-dependent Mtb-induced cellular responses. E5531 could substantially block LPS- and Mtb-induced TNF-alpha production in both RAW 264.7 cells and primary human alveolar macrophages (AM phi). E5531 inhibited Mtb-induced AM phi apoptosis in vitro, an effect that was a consequence of the inhibition of TNF-alpha production by E5531. In contrast, E5531 did not inhibit Mtb-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells and AM phi. Mtb-stimulated peritoneal macrophages from TLR2- and TLR4-deficient animals produced similar amounts of NO compared with control animals, demonstrating that these TLR proteins are not required for Mtb-induced NO production. Lastly, we demonstrated that a dominant negative MyD88 mutant could block Mtb-induced activation of the TNF-alpha promoter, but not the inducible NO synthase promoter, in murine macrophages. Together, these data suggest that Mtb-induced TNF-alpha production is largely dependent on TLR signaling. In contrast, Mtb-induced NO production may be either TLR independent or mediated by TLR proteins in a MyD88-independent manner.
Rural Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

Abstract An attempt was made to develop a diagnostic tool that communities could use to determine what type of naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) they are or could most likely become. Census data were obtained for 64 cities, townships, and villages in rural Wisconsin. These communities were classified as either Amenity, Bi-Focal, or Convenience NORCs on the basis of a previous survey of 907 residents. A stepwise discriminant analysis was then conducted on the Census variables using NORC type as the criterion variable. The resultant function used four Census variables and was successful in classifying 59.68% of Amenity, Bi-Focal, and Convenience NORCs. When Bi-Focal NORCs were eliminated from the analysis, one variable dropped out as a discriminator. However, three additional variables were significant discriminators. The resultant function classified 100% of Amenity and Convenience NORCs successfully. Implications for community planning are discussed.
Glyoxylate Bypass of Escherichia Coli, Regulation

The glyocylate bypass of E. coli has served as a model system for the regulation of metabolism. This pathway, which is essential for growth on acetate, is regulated my multiple mechanism, including protein phosphorylation, allosteric interactions and transcriptional regulation. By studying this system, the fundamental principles of metabolic regulation can be elucidated. Keywords: glyoxylate bypass; aceBAK; isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH); multistep effect; zero-order ultrasensitivity; branch point effect
Intraoperative Molecular Diagnostic Imaging Can Identify Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: Margin status can often be difficult to assess intraoperatively, particularly during partial nephrectomy given the time constraints related to renal hilar clamping. We hypothesized that a targeted molecular imaging approach could be used during surgery to identify tumor margins and confirm disease clearance.Materials and Methods: EC17, a novel tracer targeting FRα, was used in murine models of renal cell carcinoma to identify positive margins after surgery. Positive margins were detected due to elevated tumor-to-background ratios of the tumor compared to surrounding normal tissues. We performed a pilot study in 4 patients using EC17 preoperatively with intraoperative imaging during the operation.Results: FRα was highly expressed in 65% of clear cell renal cell carcinomas harvested from the operating room. In the murine model intraoperative imaging of renal cell carcinoma revealed a mean ± SD tumor-to-background ratio of 8.2 ± 1.1 in the RCC10, 11.2 ± 1.1 in the 786-0 and 4.3 ± 1.1 in the UMRC2 ce...
Fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight: cross-sectional and prospective associations in a community sample of working adults.

Objective To examine the association between fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight in a community sample of working adults. Design Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of anthropometric, survey and dietary data from adults recruited to participate in a worksite nutrition intervention. Participants self-reported frequency of fast-food consumption per week. Nutrient intakes and diet quality, using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), were computed from dietary recalls collected at baseline and 6 months. Setting Metropolitan medical complex, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Subjects Two hundred adults, aged 18–60 years. Results Cross-sectionally, fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher daily total energy intake (β=72·5, P=0·005), empty calories (β=0·40, P=0·006) and BMI (β=0·73, P=0·011), and lower HEI-2010 score (β=−1·23, P=0·012), total vegetables (β=−0·14, P=0·004), whole grains (β=−0·39, P=0·005), fibre (β=−0·83, P=0·002), Mg (β=−6·99, P=0·019) and K (β=−57·5, P=0·016). Over 6 months, change in fast-food consumption was not significantly associated with changes in energy intake or BMI, but was significantly inversely associated with total intake of vegetables (β=−0·14, P=0·034). Conclusions Frequency of fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher energy intake and poorer diet quality cross-sectionally. Six-month change in fast-food intake was small, and not significantly associated with overall diet quality or BMI.
Thermal Conductivity of Hard Anodized Coatings on Aluminum

Abstract : Thermal conductivities of several commercial hard anodic coatings are measured using a transient heat-flow technique. These coatings were found to be effective heat insulators with thermal conductivities of the commercial coatings averaging 0.7 W/m/K. A laboratory anodization facility was assembled and the variation of thermal conductivity of the anodic coatings measured as a function of the anodization parameters. Preliminary results show that thermal conductivities as high as 1.3 W/m/K can be obtained in thick anodic coatings by optimizing the anodization parameters. Keywords: Aluminum oxide, Electrochemical method, Thermal conductivity, Anodization parameters.
Follow-up colonoscopy in patients with colorectal adenomatous polyps.

Forty-four asymptomatic patients with adenomatous colorectal polyps were followed by repeated colonoscopies and subsequent removal of new polyps. The median follow-up time was 34 months (range, 4 to 131 months). Twenty-six patients (59 percent) developed new adenomatous polyps. Therecurrence rate was 69 percent in patients with multiple polyps compared with 54 percent in patients with a single polyp. The location of new polyps was in the same colonic segment in 81 percent of the patients, but not at the same site in the colon where a previous polyp had been removed. The histopathology and size of new polyps compared with the initial polyps showed a significant improvement in histopathology toward more benign polyps (P<0.02) and smaller polyps (P<0.001). In patients who initially had single adenomatous polyps, new polyp(s) were diagnosed after a mean time of 23 months compared initially. Patients with atypia in initial polyp(s) developed new polyp(s) after a mean time of 11 months compared with 23 months in patients without atypia. The mean time from a colon with no polyps to the diagnosis of a new adenomatous polyp less than 5 mm in size was 11.5 months, which was a statistically significant shorter time than the 19.4 months observed for the development of polyps 5 mm or larger.
Copurification of kinesin polypeptides with microtubule‐stimulated Mg‐ATPase activity and kinetic analysis of enzymatic properties

Determination of kinetic properties for kinesin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), a proposed motor for transport of membranous organelles, requires adequate amounts of kinesin with a consistent level of enzymatic activity. A purification procedure is detailed that produces approximately 2 mg of kinesin at up to 96% purity from 800 g of bovine brain. This protocol consists of a microtubule affinity step using 5’-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP); followed by gel filtration, ion exchange, and hydroxylapatite chromatography; and then sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The microtubule-activated ATPase activity of kinesin coeluted with kinesin polypeptides throughout the purification. Highly purified kinesin had a V,,, of 0.31 Fmol/min/mg in the presence of microtubules, with a K, for ATP of 0.20 mM. The kinetic constants obtained in these studies compare favorably with physiological levels of ATP and microtubules. Variations in buffer conditions for the assay were found to affect ATPase activity significantly. A study of the ability of kinesin to utilize a variety of cation-ATP complexes indicated that kinesin is a microtubule-stimulated MgATPase, but kinesin is able to hydrolyze Ca-ATP, Mn-ATP, and Co-ATP as well as Mg-ATP in the presence of microtubules. In the absence of microtubules, Ca-ATP appears to be the best substrate. Studies with several inhibitors of ATPases determined that vanadate inhibited kinesin ATPase at the lowest concentrations of inhibitor, but significant inhibition of the ATPase also occurred with submillimolar concentrations of AMP-PNP. Other inhibitors of kinesin include N-ethylmaleimide, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), pyrophosphate, and tripolyphosphate. Further characterization of the kinetic properties of the kinesin ATPase is important for understanding the molecular mechanisms for transport of membranous organelles along microtubules.
The National Children's Study (NCS): Establishment and protection of the inferential base

The National Children's Study (NCS) is a unique study of environment and health that will follow a cohort of 100 000 women from prior to or early in pregnancy and then their children until 21 years of age. The NCS cohort will be a national multi-stage probability sample, using a U.S. Census Bureau geographic sampling frame unrelated to factors that might influence selection into the sample (e.g. access to health care). I present the case for the use of a national probability sample as the design base for the NCS, arguing that selection of the original cohort should be as free from selection bias as possible. The dangers of using a selected or nonprobability sample approach are demonstrated by an example of its use in outlining the clinical management of children with febrile seizures, an infrequent disorder, which was so wrong for decades. In addition, I stress the importance of and the NCS approach to avoiding selection bias that might occur after the initial selection of the cohort. The selection of and maintenance of an unselected cohort is an important element for the validity of inferences in this major undertaking.
Method for the determination of pregnenolone in biological samples using gas-phase chromatography.

Abstract A method for the quantification of pregnenolone is reported. In this method the steroid is purified by paper and thin-layer chromatography and final quantification is by electron capture detection of 20β-hydroxy-pregnenolone-3,20-chloroacetate following gas chromatography. The method can be used for the accurate estimation of pregnenolone in biological samples when present in concentrations higher than 50 nanograms.
Phase behavior for blends of styrene containing triblock copolymers with poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)

The extent to which the styrene end-blocks of three commercially available triblock copolymers can mix with a particular poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (Mn = 22,600 and Mw = 34,000) or PPO has been examined by investigation of the glass transition behavior of the PPO and polystyrene (PS) portions of the blends using differential scanning calorimetry. Each block copolymer has a butadiene-based mid-block which was hydrogenated for two of these materials, but not the third. The three copolymers differ substantially in overall molecular weight and in molecula weight of the blocks. However, in analogy with the literature on blends of homopolymer polystyrene with styrene-based block copolymers, the molecular weight of the PS block should be the principal factor affecting the phase behavior in the present blends. Mixtures of the PPO with the block copolymers having PS blocks with M = 14,500 (nonhydrogenated midblock) and with M = 29,000 (hydrogenated mid-block) exhibited single composition-dependent Tgs for the hard phase, indicating complete mixing of PS segments with the PPO, for all proportions. On the other hand, the block copolymer having a PS block with M = 7,500 and a hydrogenated mid-block exhibited two separate hard phase Tgs corresponding to an essentially pure PPO phase and a PS-rich phase. For blends of homopolymer PS with styrene-based block copolymers, the similar two-phase behavior of the glassy portion can be readily explained by entropic considerations. For the present case, the favorable enthalpic contribution for mixing PPO and PS is an additional factor which seems to influence the restrictions on molecular weight for complete mixing; however, additional work is needed to develop a more quantitative assessment of this new issue.
Data envelopment analysis with stochastic variations in data

Abstract The mathematical programming-based technique data envelopment analysis (DEA) has often treated data as being deterministic. In response to the criticism that in most applications there is error and random noise in the data, a number of mathematically elegant solutions to incorporating stochastic variations in data have been proposed. In this paper, we propose a chance-constrained formulation of DEA that allows random variations in the data. We study properties of the ensuing efficiency measure using a small sample in which multiple inputs and a single output are correlated, and are the result of a stochastic process. We replicate the analysis using Monte Carlo simulations and conclude that using simulations provides a more flexible and computationally less cumbersome approach to studying the effects of noise in the data. We suggest that, in keeping with the tradition of DEA, the simulation approach allows users to explicitly consider different data generating processes and allows for greater flexibility in implementing DEA under stochastic variations in data.
Leadership in radiology

The futures of both individual radiology departments and the specialty of radiology as a whole hinge on the quality of leadership they enjoy. Despite the immense importance of leadership to the prosperity of every radiology organization, relatively little formal attention has been paid to the subject of leadership in radiology research, education, and practice (1). For example, most radiology residency programs devote thousands of hours of training to many facets of the diagnostic process, yet little or no time is explicitly devoted to the development of the next generation of leaders in diagnostic imaging. The dearth of leadership education in radiology is especially lamentable in view of the fact that over the past several decades social science research has shed considerable light on the subject of leadership (2). In this era of rapid and sweeping health care system change, radiology can continue to neglect such insights only at its own peril. The goal of this article is to explore some of the more important findings of research on leadership over the past 50 years and to extrapolate some of their potential applications in radiology. It should be noted that this discussion touches only lightly on the direction of leadership--that is, the goals that leaders within radiology are or should be pursuing--and focuses instead on the formal characteristics of effective leadership. In that respect, this discussion could be criticized as excessively formalistic, overemphasizing the style of leadership at the expense of substance. However, this approach comports with the focus of most recent research, which tends to define leadership as a pro-
Aerosol-Precipitation Interactions in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Aerosols directly and indirectly influence the surface energy balance and therefore have an important impact on weather and climate. The indirect effects of aerosols, associated with changes in cloud properties and lifetimes, remain poorly understood. Likewise, there are many uncertainties associated with aerosol-precipitation interactions, particularly in mountain regions where a variety of processes at different spatial scales influence precipitation patterns. Aerosol-precipitation linkages were examined in the southern Appalachian Mountains, guided by the following research questions: 1) How do aerosol properties observed during precipitation events vary by season (e.g., summer vs. winter) and synoptic event type (e.g., frontal vs. orographic); 2) how do they compare between summer (June, July, August) 2009 and 2010, and 3) what influence does air mass source region have on aerosol properties? Precipitation events were identified based on data from the Boone Automated Weather Observing System Station, Boone Environmental and Climate Observing Network station, regional National Weather Service cooperative observer stations, and observations from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network. Events were classified using a synoptic classification scheme created for this thesis. Hourly aerosol data were collected by the Appalachian Atmospheric Interdisciplinary Research facility at Appalachian State University. Backward air trajectories provided information on upstream atmospheric characteristics and source regions. Warm season precipitation events were characterized by much higher aerosol optical properties, including both natural and anthropogenic aerosols. The presence of larger, hygroscopic organic particles acting as effective cloud condensation nuclei enhanced warm season precipitation. Cool season precipitation events exhibited overall lower aerosol optical properties dominated my small organic particles. The change in aerosol values from event beginning to event maturation suggests that AppalAIR is impacted by hygroscopic particles from regional sources including local biogenic emissions and biomass burning. The methodology employed in this thesis will be useful in aerosol-precipitation studies in other mountainous regions. The synoptic classification scheme created for this thesis characterized precipitation events in the southern Appalachian Mountains and will be important to climate researchers and weather forecasters in understanding orographic processes of precipitation. Aerosol properties associated with precipitation events were investigated and described in terms of seasonal and synoptic patterns. These findings will contribute to the parameterization of aerosols in weather and climate models and will enhance our understanding of future climate change in the southern Appalachian Mountains and other mountainous regions.
Robust display of arbitrary rational parametric surfaces

A well-known strength of the parametric representation of a curve or surface is the ease by which a piecewise-linear approximation is generated. This is often true in geometric design, where only smooth segments or patches are considered over a well-chosen polynomial basis. Visualizing an arbitrary and possibly discontinuous parametric surface is useful but non-trivial for algebraic surfaces defined by rational parameter functions. Such surfaces have pole curves in their domain, where the denominators of the parameter functions vanish, domain base points that correspond to entire curves on the surface, and other features that cause display algorithms to fail. These are ubiquitous problems occurring even among the natural quadrics. Sophisticated but unsuspecting display techniques (e.g. those implemented in Maple V, Mathmatica) produce completely unintelligible results. We provide a general solution and discuss our implementation. First, projective domain transformations are applied that map the entire surface from a finite domain region. Then, domain pole curves are identified and numerically approximated. Using Delaunay triangulation, a special decomposition of the domain is constructed that avoids discontinuities. This is then mapped onto the surface and clipped against a 3D box. The implementation can display very complicated surfaces, as we shall illustrate. Our techniques generalize in a straightforward way to rational varieties of any dimension.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The strategic and operational characteristics of a distributed phased archive for a multivendor incremental implementation of picture archiving and communications systems

The long-term (10 years) multimodality distributed phased archive for the Medical Information, Communication and Archive System (MICAS) is being implemented in three phases. The selection process took approximately 10 months. Based on the mandatory archive attributes and desirable features, Cemax-Icon (Fremont, CA) was selected as the vendor. The archive provides for an open-solution allowing incorporation of leading edge, “best of breed” hardware and software and provides maximum flexibility and automation of workflow both within and outside of radiology. The solution selected is media-independent, provides expandable storage capacity, and will provide redundancy and fault tolerance in phase II at minimum cost. Other attributes of the archive include scalable archive strategy, virtual image database with global query, and an object-oriented database. The archive is seamlessly integrated with the radiology information system (RIS) and provides automated fetching and routing, automated study reconciliation using modality worklist manager, clinical reports available at any Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) workstation, and studies available for interpretation whether validated or not. Within 24 hours after a new study is acquired, four copies will reside within different components of the archive including a copy that can be stored off-site. Phase II of the archive will be installed during 1999 and will include a second Cemax-Icon archive and database using archive manager (AM) Version 4.0 in a second computer room.
512: A new model of placental insufficiency in mice

PARVADIA, FOONG.YEN LIM, TIMOTHY CROMBLEHOLME, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio OBJECTIVE: Mouse model that mimics human fetal growth restriction (FGR) secondary to placental insufficiency (PI) is not reported in the literature. Our objective is to develop a mouse model of FGR/PI induced by ligation of the mesenteric branch of the uterine artery. This will allow us to use transgenic mice to study the short and long term sequel of FGR. STUDY DESIGN: Timed pregnant C57BL/6 mice (n 19) were used. Surgery was performed on day 19 of a21 gestation. We divided these mice into two groups. 8 mice underwent sham operation which involved laparotomy only. 11 mice underwent laparotomy and ligation of the mesenteric branch of the uterine artery in one of the two horns (ligated group). The contralateral horn was left intact and used as internal control (unligated control). Ligation of the mesenteric branch of the uterine artery was performed using 3-0 silk suture (Fig 1).The first and furthest fetuses in each ligated horn were excluded. One mesenteric artery was ligated per fetus. Pups were delivered by cesarean section on day 20 of gestation. Live birth weight of the pups were compared among the sham (n 8), ligated (n 8), and unligated control(n 8) by T-test. RESULTS: Birth weight of ligated fetuses were significantly decreased compared to sham (1.32 0.11 vs.1.16 0.15, p 0.007) as well as control (1.32 0.15 vs.1.16 0.14, p 0.03) respectively(Fig 2). CONCLUSION: Ligation of the mesenteric branch of the uterine artery is an effective way to induce FGR in mice. The model may allow further studies for better understanding of the mechanism of PI.
Local-density-derived semiempirical nonlocal pseudopotentials for InP with applications to large quantum dots

In the same way that atomic calculations have been used previously to extract bare ionic pseudopotentials, self-consistent bulk calculations can be used to construct screened atomic pseudopotentials. We use such a method to construct screened nonlocal atomic pseudopotentials for InP. A series of bulk, local-density-approximation (LDA) calculations are performed on a few InP crystal structures, covering a range of unit-cell volumes, to produce bulk potentials {${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{LDA}}$ (G)}. By solving a set of linear equations, we extract from these crystalline potentials the corresponding screened atomic 'spherical LDA' (SLDA) potentials ${\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{SLDA}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}g}$(|q|) for sites \ensuremath{\alpha}=In or P. In combination with the nonlocal part of the usual LDA pseudopotentials, these SLDA potentials give band structures and wave functions that are virtually indistinguishable from the self-consistent LDA results for bulk InP. In the next step, we apply linear changes to the local SLDA potentials (while keeping the nonlocal potentials at their LDA values), to fit the band structures to experiment. Interestingly, this removal of LDA eigenvalue errors requires only small and subtle changes in the potential---mostly an upshift in the region near the cation core, with nearly no change at the bond center. Furthermore, the linear changes to the SLDA potentials result mostly in an upshift of the conduction bands with little effect on the valence bands. Because only small changes in the potential suffice to fit the bands to experimental results, the wave functions remain virtually unchanged relative to those in the original LDA calculation. Hence, we obtain semiempirical pseudopotentials which can produce ab initio LDA-quality wave functions with experimentally measured band structures, effective masses, and deformation potentials. The potentials obtained here were deposited on an FTP site and can be used by interested readers. Since the resulting pseudopotentials are 'soft' (with small high-momentum components), they can be applied within a plane-wave basis in combination with a Gaussian correction to large systems for which LDA calculations are prohibitively expensive. As an illustration, we apply our InP screened atomic pseudopotentials to calculate quantum size effects on the band gaps of InP dots with sizes up to 700 atoms. Good agreement is found between the theoretical and the experimental band gaps. Fitting the calculated band gaps ${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{g}}$ (in unit of eV) versus the effective dot sizes D (in unit of \AA{}) gives ${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{g}}$ =1.45+37.295/${\mathrm{D}}^{1.16}$ . This prediction differs significantly from the quadratic size dependence ${\mathrm{D}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2.0}$ expected from simple effective-mass theory.
An objective structured clinical examination to assess problem-based learning.

Objectives. To compare pharmacy students’ performance on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) to their performance on a written examination for the assessment of problem-based learni...
Treatment of unstable angina pectoris

Abstract Unstable angina pectoris may be manifested as new-onset angina, a change in the anginal pattern, pain at rest with associated electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, or postinfarction angina. Of these, pain at rest with ischemic ECG changes is known to be associated with the poorest prognosis. The pathogenesis of unstable angina pectoris involves a combination of a fixed atherosclerotic obstruction and a dynamic component related to coronary vasoconstriction, thrombus formation, or both. Long-acting nitrates, inhibitors of platelet aggregation, β blockers, and calcium antagonists are among the agents that have been shown to be effective in the medical management of unstable angina. A study now in progress is evaluating the routine use of thrombolytic therapy for this indication. Although alleviation of symptoms and prevention of death and myocardial infarction are important therapeutic goals, the overall efficacy of a particular medical therapy can best be assessed by objective evaluation of its ability to control ischemia, using such techniques as exercise scintigraphy and ambulatory ECG monitoring. Cardiac catheterization and revascularization are indicated for patients with unstable angina who continue to experience symptoms or who show evidence of silent ischemia despite medical therapy. A study is under way to determine the advisability of routine revascularization of such patients. Revascularization will provide symptomatic relief in most patients wtth unstable angina and may prolong survival and improve left ventricular function in certain subsets.
Performance of a cognitive radio network with tolerable service degradation

We analyze the performance of a cognitive radio wireless network, where secondary users opportunistically share the radio spectrum with primary users through spectrum sensing and may cause service degradation to the primary users due to unreliable spectrum sensing. When a secondary user occupying a channel detects the presence of a primary call arriving to the channel, it switches from its current channel to another channel, if one is available, to continue its service; however, if the secondary user fails to detect the presence of the primary call, it remains on the channel and both calls will receive degraded service. Based on a queueing network model, we derive closed-form solutions for the equilibrium system state in terms of generating functions, and derive several performance metrics of interest. In particular, we introduce the system supportability metric to evaluate the extent to which the system can support secondary users and the interference factor to evaluate the degree of service degradation imposed on primary users by the secondary users. Numerical results are presented to show the impact of system parameters on the derived performance metrics.
Interactions of ouabain and vanadate with (Na+,K+)ATPase and isolated cardiac muscle.

Abstract The interactions of ouabain and vanadate with (Na + ,K + )ATPase were investigated at different potassium concentrations. Also, the contractile effects of a mixture of these two inhibitors were compared to those produced by ouabain or vanadate alone. The results from the enzyme and contractile studies suggested that inhibition of sarcolemmal (Na + ,K + )ATPase was involved in mediating the positive inotropic effect of vanadate.
Reliability of psychophysical measures of gustatory function

Test-retest reliabilities of five measures of sucrose taste perception were evaluated in 25 individuals over a 29-day period. Both water and complex beverages were used as diluents. Group mean values did not differ significantly over the study period, although they were consistently characterized by a high level of variability. The stability of individual test-retest values differed depending upon whether ordinal rankings or absolute values of responses were considered. The magnitude of noted test-retest discrepancies varied across sensory measures. No training effect or influence of the diluent was observed on group reliability estimates, although individual responses were differentially modified by both factors. These observations suggest that the selection of gustatory test measures and tastants for a particular purpose should be based, in part upon reliability criteria.
REPRODUCTIVE TRACT ANOMALY IN A BOX TURTLE

A box turtle, Terrapene Carolina, was found to have 3 coelomic, extra-oviducal shelled eggs. Two of these were attached to the liver by overgrowth of its connective tissue, presumably in response to inflammation induced by the eggs. Yolk material from the third (unattached) egg yielded pure cultures of the bacterium, Micrococcus tetragenus. Cultures of albumen and yolk were sterile from one of the four shelled oviducal eggs present.
Study of sol–gel transition in calcium alginate system by population balance model

Abstract The growth of calcium alginate (Ca-alginate) clusters and its sol–gel transition phenomena were simulated with a population balance model. The classical statistical concept proposed by Flory–Stockmayer has been adopted and incorporated by the factor of cyclic structures formation into the model. Ca-alginate gelation was described as a random cross-linking of multifunctional monochains. The resulting discretized kinetic equations were solved numerically by parallel computation. After demonstrating the accuracy of this model, the effect of the cyclic structure, the reaction rate constants and the physical properties of the reactants (i.e., alginate and gelling agent of Ca2+ ions) were examined. The present work clarifies the mechanisms for forming ionotropic Ca-alginate gels and presents the concentration ranges where the transition between the sol state and the gel state occurs. The model allows for the estimation of the relative magnitude of stepwise reaction rate constants and the prediction of the sol–gel transition boundary. Finally, a reasonable agreement was obtained between the experimental results and model predictions.
Synthesis, characterization, and steric hindrance comparisons of selected transition and main group metal β-ketoiminato complexes

Abstract The coordination preference of the ketoiminato ligand, RN(H)(C(Me))2C(Me) O, (R = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, (Dipp)), L1, and RN(H)C(Me)CHC(Me) O, R = C2H4NEt2, L2, have been investigated with a range of d and p block metal halides, (or alkyls), to compare and contrast products obtained from the bulky ketoiminato ligand, L1, versus the less bulky, but multidentate ligand, L2. The products have been characterized by X-ray crystallography along with other spectroscopic techniques and show how the preferred metal geometry remains constant for products with either ligand, but the steric protection offered by the individual ligands governs the nuclearity of the products, affording monomers, dimers and tetramers.
Do alkanethiols adsorb onto the surfaces of TI-Ba-Ca-Cu-O-based high-temperature superconductors? The critical role of H2O content on the adsorption process

The reactivity of Tl1.4Ba2CaCu2O7.0, a high-temperature superconductor (HTSC), toward a redox-active adsorbate molecule with thiol functionality has been investigated as a function of solvent type and H2O content. Previously it had been reported that alkanethiols do not stably chemisorb onto the surface of Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8/Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 phases, bringing into question the generality of alkanethiol adsorption onto cuprate-based HTSCs. Herein, we show that under rigorously dry conditions, 11-mercaptoundecanoylferrocene (1) adsorbs cleanly onto the surface of Tl1.4Ba2CaCu2O7.0 to form moderately stable, redox-active monolayer films. The redox activity of 1 was used to estimate adsorbate surface coverage, and it is shown that the addition of H2O to the modifying solutions of 1 adversely affects the monolayer adsorption process. No redox activity associated with 1 could be detected for electrodes soaked in 0.1 M solutions of 1 with 5% H2O in ethanol, which was attributed to the formation of a BaCO3 corrosion lay...
Mixed-time representation for state-task network models

A new mixed-time representation for STN-based scheduling models is proposed: the time grid is fixed, but processing times are allowed to be variable and span an unknown number of time periods. The proposed representation handles batch and continuous processes, and it accounts linearly for holding, backlog, and utility costs. It handles release and due dates at no additional computational cost, and it accounts for variable processing times. Computational improvements for the solution of the proposed mixed-integer programming formulation are also developed.
Standardized Reporting for Mammography: BI‐RADS™

: Lack of uniformity in mammography reporting has sometimes led to confusion as to the interpretation and management recommendations. The American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADSTM) provides a standardized reporting system for mammography. Using this system, the report is organized into the reason for the examination, breast tissue composition, description of findings, and overall impression. A standardized lexicon was developed to bring uniformity to the description of findings, such as masses and calcifications. The overall impression includes a summary of the findings, a final assessment, and management recommendations. If further imaging studies are needed prior to determining the final assessment, the nature of the additional procedures is spelled out. Once the imaging workup is complete, the examination is assigned to one of the five final assessment categories. Each final assessment category is associated with a specific management recommendation. In addition to eliminating any equivocation regarding the interpretation and management recommendations, BI-RADS facilitates patient tracking and outcomes analysis.
Thermal periodicities in the Venus atmosphere

Evidence of periodic fluctuations was sought in the Pioneer Venus orbiter's IR radiometer data by averaging it in 10 X 10 deg latitude-longitude bins for each of the 72 days during which the instrument was in operation. The thermal brightness temperature time series obtained was then analyzed to determine the amplitude of fluctuations at periods ranging from two to 64 days, for cloud-top, 70, 80 and 90 km levels in the atmosphere. It is found that fluctuation amplitudes, which are small at equatorial latitudes, increase to a maximum at 60-70 deg latitude and reach a maximum at the cloud-top level, decreasing to a minimum at the 80 km channel before increasing again toward the 90 km channel. The period of the highest amplitude fluctuation is found to be 5.3 + or - 0.4 days, at all altitudes except at 70-80 deg latitude, where a 2.9-day period which may correspond to the polar dipole dominates the cloud-top channel.
Does horseback riding therapy or therapist‐directed hippotherapy rehabilitate children with cerebral palsy?

Quantitative (not qualitative) studies were sought investigating whether horseback riding used as therapy improves gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Eleven published studies on instructor-directed, recreational horseback riding therapy (HBRT) and licensed-therapist-directed hippotherapy were identified, reviewed, and summarized for research design, methodological quality, therapy regimen, internal/external validity, results, and authors'conclusions. Methodological quality was moderate to good for all studies; some studies were limited by small sample size or lack of non-riding controls. HBRT improved gross motor function in five of six studies (one study was inconclusive); hippotherapy improved gross motor function in all five studies. The studies found that during HBRT and hippotherapy: (1) the three-dimensional, reciprocal movement of the walking horse produced normalized pelvic movement in the rider, closely resembling pelvic movement during ambulation in individuals without disability; (2) the sensation of smooth, rhythmical movements made by the horse improved co-contraction, joint stability, and weight shift, as well as postural and equilibrium responses; and (3) that HBRT and hippotherapy improved dynamic postural stabilization, recovery from perturbations, and anticipatory and feedback postural control. The evidence suggests that HBRT and hippotherapy are individually efficacious, and are both medically indicated as therapy for gross motor rehabilitation in children with CP. Recommendations for future research are discussed.
Positive law as the ethic of our time

As the amount of positive law increases, our businesses and society both gain and lose. ~ . _ ~ he number of I businesspersons, political leaders, TV ministers, sports personalities, educators, and other role models for American society who in recent years have . been fined, imprisoned, left private or public office in disgrace, or been denied Olympic medals startles many. Others not only are alarmed by the rash of apparently unethical conduct by society's leaders, but also wonder if there is some character flaw in the present generation of achievers that dooms their ultimate success and threatens the commitment of the average member of society to the ethics of work and integrity. It is not unusual to read of self-studies by leading business firms that question the propriety of basic organizational values and ask hard questions about the institution. Certainly it makes institutions such as businesses and governments appear ridiculous to line personnel, who are micro-managed to death by institutional guidelines covering the minutest aspects of their work yet see leaders who appear to violate laws governing major phases of their business. This article advances the notion that the "law on the books"-pos i t ive law has become the basic ethic of our business and social culture today. That is, people have come to accept the notion that if they have followed the law on the books in a democratic society, that is probably all that society can and should expect of them. This is the ethic of legal positivism. The remainder of this article is devoted to exploring why positive law has assumed such a dominant ethical position in the United States, examining some situations supporting the thesis that positive law is our basic ethic, discussing possible problems with this notion, and evaluating the likelihood that this ethic will prove long-lasting.
A VME-based software trigger system using UNIX processors

Abstract We have constructed a distributed computing platform with eight processors to assemble and filter data from digitization crates. The filtered data were transported to a tape-writing UNIX computer via ethernet. Each processor ran a UNIX operating system and was installed in its own VME crate. Each VME crate contained dual-port memories which interfaced with the digitizers. Using standard hardware and software (VME and UNIX) allows us to select from a wide variety of non-proprietary products and makes upgrades simpler, if they are necessary.
The effect of chloride and water vapor on the PtIr interaction and IrO2 agglomeration in bimetallic PtIr reforming catalysts

In addition to the air calcination temperature, the catalyst chloride level has been found to be one of the major factors affecting iridium agglomeration in PtIr bimetallic catalysts. At a given air calcination temperature, there is a threshold chloride level below which agglomeration of iridium, which occurs in the form of large IrO2 particles, increases with decreasing chloride level. The presence of water vapor during air calcination promotes IrO2 agglomeration. The main function of water during calcination is to remove chloride from the surface of the catalyst. As the water vapor concentration in the calcination gas mixture is increased, more chloride is stripped from the catalyst, which leads to more IrO2 agglomeration.
The regulation of taste thresholds for sugars in the blowfly

Abstract The feeding of glucose, fucose, mannose, and lactose to Phormia elevates its tarsal thresholds to glucose, fucose, fructose, and sucrose even though two of the fed sugars are tasteless (mannose and lactose) and two are completely nonnutritious (lactose and fucose). No action of sugars on external chemoreceptors can account for a prolonged threshold elevation. The time course of blood-sugar changes after feeding cannot be related to that of taste threshold change. Injection of several sugars into the blood does not affect sugar thresholds. Ligation of the crop duct before or after feeding sugar solutions does not prevent elevation of sugar thresholds. The period of elevation is shortened, however, as a result of the smaller quantities ingested. By elimination of other possibilities, it is concluded that the locus of sugar action in elevating sugar threshold is some region of the gut other than the crop. The normal blood sugar of adult Phormia is trehalose, which has been found in concentrations from 1·25 to 30 g/l. Larval stages appear to lack this sugar or else contain it in very low concentrations. Small concentrations of glucose have consistently been found in both larval and adult blood. Flight rapidly decreases blood trehalose to a small fraction of its normal value. The taste thresholds of the honeybee are altered by feeding, starvation, and flight in a manner similar to the alterations in Phormia.
Feasibility and acceptability of a computer-based tool to improve contraceptive counseling.

Abstract Objective The objective was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a computerized tool, Smart Choices , designed to enhance the quality of contraceptive counseling in family planning clinics. The tool includes (a) a questionnaire completed by patients and summarized in a printout for providers and (b) a birth control guide patients explore to learn about various contraceptive methods. Study design In 2 family planning clinics, we conducted interviews with 125 women who used the Smart Choices computerized tool and 7 providers. Results Smart Choices integrated into clinic flow well in one clinic, but less well in the other, which had very short waiting times. Patients were generally enthusiastic about Smart Choices , including its helpfulness in preparing them and their providers for the counseling session and increasing their knowledge of contraceptive methods. Providers varied in how much they used the printout and in their opinions about its usefulness. Some felt its usefulness was limited because it overlapped with the clinic's intake forms or because it did not match with their concept of counseling needs. Others felt it provided valuable information not collected by intake forms and more honest information. Some found Smart Choices to be most helpful with patients who were unsure what method they wanted. Conclusions Smart Choices is feasible to implement and well received by patients, but modifications are needed to increase provider enthusiasm for this tool. Implications The Smart Choices tool requires refinement before widespread dissemination.
A generalized Blahut-Arimoto algorithm

Kavcic proposed in (A. Kavcic, 2001) an algorithm that apparently finds the mutual-information-rate-maximizing parameters of a Markov source at the input to an indecomposable finite-state channel. In this paper we prove that the stationary points of this algorithm indeed correspond one-to-one to the critical points of the information-rate curve. Kavcic's algorithm can be considered as a generalized Blahut-Arimoto algorithm, as it includes as special cases the classical Blahut-Arimoto algorithm for discrete memoryless channels (DMCs) and the solution to finding the capacity-achieving input distribution for finite-state channels with no noise (C.E. Shannon, 1948).