cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using a Treatment Satisfaction Measure in an Early Trial to Inform the Evaluation of a New Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract Objective This article describes the results of an exploratory analysis of treatment satisfaction data from a phase 2 study to inform the evaluation of a new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial comparing three doses (low, medium, and high) of a new uro-selective alpha-blocker with an active comparator. A total of 536 men aged 40 years and older with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) resulting from BPH were randomized into the study. Patients' perceptions of satisfaction with efficacy, dosing, and side effects were explored using a validated disease-specific instrument, the Treatment Satisfaction Scale—Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (TSS-BPH). The TSS-BPH was administered at the end of the study or at withdrawal. Results Compared with placebo, the medium and high doses showed the greatest efficacy on the primary endpoint, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Patient satisfaction with efficacy at these doses was significantly better than that for placebo. Nevertheless, adverse events were most frequent in the high dose group. Satisfaction with side effects was significantly worse than placebo for this group, and this was reflected in the total scores on the TSS-BPH, with patients being most satisfied overall with the medium dose. Conclusions Exploring patients' treatment satisfaction with medication in early trials using multidimensional measures provides an overall evaluation of efficacy and side effects, and can be used to inform the selection of doses for later trials. This is especially useful for products that require adherence with medication over long periods of time.
Differential increase of hepatic peroxisomal, mitochondrial and microsomal carnitine acyltransferases in clofibrate-fed rats.

Abstract Hepatic peroxisomes, mitochondria and microsomes from control and clofibrate-treated animals were separated by isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation and the carnitine acyltransferase system studied in each of these organelles. Clofibrate treatment produced a 13-fold increase in the total activity of carnitine acetyltransferase and a 5-fold increase in carnitine octanoyl- and palmitoyl-transferase activities. The specific activities of the transferases in all three subcellular locations increased, but to different extents. Peroxisomal and microsomal carnitine acetyltransferases doubled in specific activity; the mitochondrial enzyme increased 10-fold. Peroxisomal, mitochondrial and microsomal carnitine octanoyltransferases all increased 3-fold in specific activity. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase, which is found only in mitochondria, increased 3-fold in specific activity. These differential increases changed the per cent distribution of total carnitine acetyltransferase from 50 per cent in the mitochondria of control livers to 90 per cent in treated livers. Peroxisomes from clofibrate-treated livers had a consistently greater isopycnic density in sucrose gradients. Total catalase activity increased 2-fold upon treatment and a greater percentage of it was found in the paniculate fractions. The specific activity of peroxisomal catalase and urate oxidase remained the same as in controls. Carnitine acetyl- and octanoyltransferases are the first reported enzymes whose peroxisomal specific activity increases with clofibrate treatment. Preliminary results of treatment with another membrane-inducing drug, phenobarbital, indicated no change in peroxisomal density, catalase distribution and activity, and no effect on the specific activities of the peroxisomal, mitochondrial and microsomal carnitine acyltransferases.
Farm Households and Land Use in a Core Conservation Zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala

This paper employs cross-tabular analysis, and multivariate and logistic regression to explore demographic, political-economic, socioeconomic, and ecological patterns of farm households and land use outcomes in an emergent agricultural frontier: the Sierra de Lacandon National Park (SLNP)-a core conservation zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), Peten, Guatemala. Data were obtained from a 1998 probability sample of 241 farm households, the first large detailed household land use survey in Guatemala’s Selva Maya-the largest lowland tropical forest in Central America. Virtually all settler households were poor maize farmers who colonized the SLNP in search of land for subsistence. While they faced similar ecological and economic conditions, land use strategies and patterns of forest clearing varied with demographic, household, and farm characteristics. Findings support and refute elements from previous frontier land use theory and offer policy implications for conservation and development initiatives in the Maya Forest specifically, and in tropical agricultural frontiers in general.
Self selection in a dynamic credit model

Abstract We analyze a two-period competitive credit market with private information of loan applicants about their productivity. We show that the dynamics reduces the effectiveness of the static sorting devices because if a separating equilibrium is obtained in period 1, full information occurs in period 2. We might have no period 1 set of separating contracts and we might have pooling in period 1 and seperation in period 2. We extend the analysis of ratcheting to a competitive environment. Commitment of banks and firms becomes necessary condition to eliminate ratcheting but is not sufficient if the parties may engage in Pareto improving renegotiations.
Dynamic electron arc radiotherapy (DEAR): a feasibility study.

Compared to other radiation therapy modalities, clinical electron beam therapy has remained practically unchanged for the past few decades even though electron beams with multiple energies are widely available on most linacs. In this paper, we present the concept of dynamic electron arc radiotherapy (DEAR), a new conformal electron therapy technique with synchronized couch motion. DEAR utilizes combination of gantry rotation, couch motion, and dose rate modulation to achieve desirable dose distributions in patient. The electron applicator is kept to minimize scatter and maintain narrow penumbra. The couch motion is synchronized with the gantry rotation to avoid collision between patient and the electron cone. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of DEAR delivery and demonstrate the potential of DEAR to improve dose distributions on simple cylindrical phantoms. DEAR was delivered on Varian's TrueBeam linac in Research Mode. In conjunction with the recorded trajectory log files, mechanical motion accuracies and dose rate modulation precision were analyzed. Experimental and calculated dose distributions were investigated for different energies (6 and 9 MeV) and cut-out sizes (1?10?cm2?and 3?10?cm2?for a 15?15?cm2?applicator). Our findings show that DEAR delivery is feasible and has the potential to deliver radiation dose with high accuracy (root mean square error, or RMSE of <0.1 MU, <0.1? gantry, and <0.1?cm couch positions) and good dose rate precision (1.6 MU min?1). Dose homogeneity within ?2% in large and curved targets can be achieved while maintaining penumbra comparable to a standard electron beam on a flat surface. Further, DEAR does not require fabrication of patient-specific shields. These benefits make DEAR a promising technique for conformal radiotherapy of superficial tumors.
The United States, Japan, and the European Union: comparing political economy approaches to China

Abstract This paper examines US, Japanese, and European political economy approaches to China, and their effect on US–Japan and US–EU relationships. Great powers with a greater security concern in dealing with another major country care more about power while those with less of a concern are preoccupied with calculations for wealth. China's rise and its actions have posed a far greater security challenge to the United States and Japan and are driving the two countries closer together. The political economy game involving China reveals a dominant welfare motive among the advanced market economies. The ambition to transform China politically has diminished. China's integration into the global market makes a relative gains approach difficult to implement. Globalization simply limits the ability of a state to follow a politics-in-command approach in the absence of actual military conflict, which explains why the political economy approaches of the United States, Europe, and Japan are not that different in the...
Difference frequency generation spectrometer for simultaneous multispecies detection.

A difference-frequency generation based spectrometer system for simultaneous ultra-sensitive measurements of formaldehyde (CH2O) and Methane (CH4) is presented. A new multiplexing approach using collinear quasi-phase-matching in a single grating period of periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) is discussed and demonstrated for two pairs of pump and signal lasers to generate mid-infrared frequencies at 2831.64 cm−1 and 2916.32 cm−1, respectively. The corresponding absorption signals are discriminated by modulating the DFB diode lasers at modulation frequencies of 40 kHz and 50 kHz, respectively, and using a computer based modulation and de-modulation scheme. In addition, simultaneous measurements of CH2O, CH4 and H2O are demonstrated utilizing both collinear and non-collinear quasi-phase-matching.
Novel pseudo-Hamiltonian for quantum Monte Carlo simulations

Nonlocal potentials based on angular-momentum projection operators can be transformed into local, yet angular-momentum dependent, pseudo-Hamiltonians by modifying the kinetic energy operator. Ionic pseudo-Hamiltonians of this type can replace core electrons in atomic calculations. Their use in Green's-Function Monte Carlo simulations gives accurate electron affinities, ionization, and binding energies for second-row atoms and diatomics. This opens the way to quantum simulations of many condensed-matter systems.
Modulation of major histocompatibility complex class I genes by interferon-γ and ganglioside GT1b in astrocytes : Involvement of protein tyrosine phosphatases

We have previously reported that the polysialoganglioside GT1b suppresses the induction of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules by interferon-gamma in astrocytes. Suppression by GT1b depended on the presence of sialic acid moieties because asialo-GM1 was not suppressive. In the present report, GT1b was found to act transcriptionally to suppress class I genes because both the interferon-gamma induction of RNA and the activity of class I promoter constructs were inhibited. Furthermore, GT1b suppressed promoter activity through interferon regulatory factor elements, indicating an effect on the transcription activation factor, interferon regulatory factor 1. Interferon-gamma induced interferon regulatory factor 1 within 8 h, and GT1b suppressed this induction. The suppression of interferon regulatory factor 1 by GT1b correlated with the suppression of gamma-activated factor binding at the promoter of the interferon regulatory factor 1 gene. The suppression of gamma-activated factor by GT1b appeared to involve increased protein tyrosine phosphatase activity because treatment of the cells with pervanadate reversed the effect of GT1b on the gamma-activated factor and, correspondingly, phosphotyrosine content. In sum, GT1b displays specific effects on interferon-gamma signaling and negative feedback regulatory molecules in astrocytes.
Diagnosis of Recent Myocardial Infarction With Quantitative Backscatter Imaging: Preliminary Studies

Acute myocardial ischemia and chronic myocardial infarction may be recognized with ultrasound tissue characterization techniques because of myocardial acoustic changes caused by reduced perfusion and/or collagen deposition. Our purpose was to study the acoustic properties of recent myocardial infarction when the predominating pathologic finding was myocardial edema and leukocytic infiltration. We used a new quantitative backscatter imaging system to study 18 patients 9 ± 5 days after myocardial infarction (eight patients with anteroseptal myocardial infarction and 10 with inferior myocardial infarction) and 20 normal subjects. The cyclic variation of relative integrated backscatter (end-diastolic minus end-systolic) was calculated from on-line measurements. Standard parasternal long- and short-axis and apical four- and two-chamber views were obtained. In the anteroseptal myocardial infarction group, the cyclic variation of relative integrated backscatter was lower in the septum (1.5 ± 1.6 dB) than in the posteroinferior wall (3.2 ± 1.2 dB); however, the sample size of only three patients (of eight patients imaged) in the latter group prevented statistical comparison. The cyclic variation of relative integrated backscatter in the infarcted septum was less than the measurement obtained in the septum of the control group (4.3 ± 2.4 dB, p p
Drive cycle generation for stochastic optimization of energy management controller for hybrid vehicles

A methodology to generate drive cycles based on probabilistic driving profiles is presented in this paper. The described approach can be utilized for the stochastic optimization of an energy management controller (EMC) for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). It enables for an optimal design towards a probabilistic driving portfolio such as individual driving characteristics of the vehicle operator, location, traffic conditions, topography and environment. Hence, maximum fuel efficiency for the individual driver can be achieved. The introduced method is implemented in a drive cycle generation tool. The approach is validated using a model of a parallel HEV powered by fuel cells. Simulation results are presented and the advantage of the proposed method over conventional approaches is proven.
A ontologia discursiva de Os sertões

Este artigo discute atributos de Os sertoes, analisando sua ontologia discursiva, em particular os aspectos ligados as narrativas imaginarias e literarias. Mostra que a principal obra de Euclides conjuga pelo menos dois modos discursivos: o das ciencias e um outro que caracteriza as narrativas sobre realidades imaginarias e literarias. Trechos sao destacados com o objetivo de demonstrar que na sua construcao hibrida participam elementos que poderiam pertencer tanto a ficcao como a historiografia. Apoiando-se em Hayden White, o autor contempla tres modos interpretativos da historia de Canudos em Os sertoes: o argumentativo, o explicativo e o ideologico. Finalmente, realiza breve comparacao com A guerra do fim do mundo, de Vargas Llosa, quanto ao modo e a sequencia como sao narrados os fatos.
Oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol catalyzed by macrocyclic tetracopper(II) complexes

The macrocyclic ligand of 3,6,9,16,19,22-hexaazatricyclo[22.2.2.2 11,14 ]-triaconta-1(26),11(12),13,24,27,29-hexaene(L, BP) was synthesized by [2+2] condensation of p -phthaldehyde and diethylenetriamine. This ligand was used to synthesize dicopper(II) complex [BPCu 2 (II)](ClO 4 ) 4 ( 1 ) and the bis-μ-X bridged tetracopper(II) complexes [BP 2 Cu 4 (II)(μ-X) 2 ] (X=PhCOO − ( 2 ), CO 3 2− ( 3 ) and CH 3 O − ( 4 )). Complex 3 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1, with cell constants a =9.9965(10), b =13.5887(14), c =14.0262(7) A, α =90.317(2), β =96.902(2), γ =92.691(2)°, V =1889.3(3) A 3 and Z =2. Complexes 3 and 4 proved to be effective homogeneous catalysts for oxidative coupling of 2,6-dimethylphenol (DMP) to polyphenylene ether (PPE) by dioxygen. These complexes transform DMP to PPE under mild conditions of atmospheric pressure of O 2 and 298 K. The effectiveness of the catalytic reaction depends upon the type of the μ-X ligand and the concentration of the auxiliary NaOEt. Crystallographic and mechanistic investigation indicated that the catalytic center is the ‘dimer-to-dimer’ tetranuclear structure, and a novel mechanism for this polymerization reaction was proposed.
Analyzing drawings of children who are physically ill and hospitalized, using the ipsative method.

Children use drawings and pictorial representations as a way of expressing their feelings about themselves and their world The ipsative method for analyzing drawings is an excellent way for a child health professional to assess and monitor a child s emotional and developmental progress during a physical illness or hospitalization Case examples illustrate the ipsative method Specific guidelines for the clinical use of children s drawings are given.
Computer condensation of modular representations

Condensation replaces an explicit matrix representation of a group by a related but much smaller representation of a Hecke algebra. We give a general account of condensation and show how condensation is used to obtain the structure of large matrix representations. We include a detailed description of a new implementation of condensation. As an example of condensation, we work through the stages of the computation of the 2-modular character table of G"2(3).
Results of a US and Canada community garden survey: shared challenges in garden management amid diverse geographical and organizational contexts

Community gardens are of increasing interest to scholars, policymakers, and community organizations but there has been little systematic study of community garden management at a broad scale. This study complements case study research by revealing shared experiences of community garden management across different contexts. In partnership with the American Community Gardening Association, we developed an online questionnaire. Results from 445 community garden organizations across the US and Canada reveal common themes as well as differences that are particularly significant across different organizational sizes. The findings suggest that organizers see multiple benefits, and respondents confirmed recent expansion of gardening efforts. Analysis then focuses on challenges, which are closely related to garden management. We address garden losses as well as challenges to routine operation. Key challenges included funding, participation, land, and materials. We developed a typology based on organization size, to reveal distinctions between small organizations (serving 1 garden), medium-sized organizations (2–3 gardens), large organizations (4–30 gardens) and very large organizations (31 or more gardens). These categories shed light on different needs for funding, land, material, and participation. Together, this analysis suggests that community gardens can be linked through the work it takes to sustain them rather than specific causes or outcomes. Community gardens can be better integrated into local food systems through analysis of how people involved with this work navigate these shared processes.
The role of released ATP in killing Candida albicans and other extracellular microbial pathogens by cationic peptides

A unifying theme common to the action of many cationic peptides that display lethal activities against microbial pathogens is their specific action at microbial membranes that results in selective loss of ions and small nucleotides chiefly ATP. One model cationic peptide that induces non-lytic release of ATP from the fungal pathogen Candida albicans is salivary histatin 5 (Hst 5). The major characteristic of Hst 5-induced ATP release is that it occurs rapidly while cells are still metabolically active and have polarized membranes, thus precluding cell lysis as the means of release of ATP. Other cationic peptides that induce selective release of ATP from target microbes are lactoferricin, human neutrophil defensins, bactenecin, and cathelicidin peptides. The role of released extracellular ATP induced by cationic peptides is not known, but localized increases in extracellular ATP concentration may serve to potentiate cell killing, facilitate further peptide uptake, or function as an additional signal to activate the host innate immune system at the site of infection.
Seizures During Recovery After Asphyxic Cardiac Arrest In Piglets Are Associated With Increased Neocortical Injury † 1875

The effect of seizures on the evolution of brain damage following hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in newborns is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that increased severity of seizures during recovery after asphyxic cardiac arrest in piglets is associated with worse neocortical injury. 1-wk old piglets (N=12) were subjected to 30 min hypoxia (10%FiO2), 5 min room air, then 7 min asphyxia, producing asphyxic cardiac arrest. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation and restoration of spontaneous circulation, animals were survived 24-96 hr for electroencephalographic (EEG) and neuropathologic evaluation. 2 bipolar channels of EEG were recorded via scalp electrodes for 5-30 min epochs at 8-24 hr intervals throughout recovery. EEGs were analyzed visually for seizure discharges (SD), and for background activity. SD were assessed for mean duration (DUR), and percent of time a given record demonstrated SD(%T). Severity of SD in a given record was expressed as a Seizure Severity Index (SSI), based on the sum of subscores for DUR and%T. Background abnormalities were graded (GR) at 24 & 48 hrs from 0(normal) to 5 (isoelectric) for increasing severity of slowing and voltage loss. Severity of neocortical injury in each animal was graded from 0(none) to 3(worst) for increased%damaged neurons in somatosensory cortex by light microscopy. Severity of neuropathologic injury at 24-96 hrs correlated with GR at 24 & 48 hrs, and with highest SSI at any time point (r2=0.74, p=.01), whereas DUR or%T alone did not. SD occurred in animals with moderate or severe background abnormalities. GR worsened from 24 to 48 hrs in animals with high SSI. We conclude that severity of post-hypoxic-ischemic neocortical damage is predicted by EEG recovery at 24 hrs, and is progressive after 24 hrs in animals in proportion to severity of seizure activity. The time course of EEG recovery and appearance of seizures in this model closely resemble human neonatal ischemic encephalopathy.
Kinetics and Reductive Degradation of Surfactant-Solublized CCl4 in Water Using Bimetallic Particles

Degradation of high concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) solubilized using surfactants were investigated in this study. Iron−nickel particles have been studied as a reagent for the dehalogenation of CCl4. Surfactants such as anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)), nonionic (Triton X-100), cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) Rhaminolipid, and a biosurfactant (UH—biosurfactant) were used in solubilization studies at room temperature in continuously stirred batch reactors. The solubility of CCl4 (800 mg/L in water) in the surfactant solutions increased with increase in surfactant concentrations. Of the surfactants studied, Triton X-100 had the highest CCl4 solubilized per gram of surfactant. Bimetallic iron−nickel (Fe−Ni) particles were used in continuously stirred batch reactors for degradation study. The bimetallic particles were synthesized using the solution method and the particles were characterized using the SEM, EDS, and XRD. The CCl4 solubilized up to 8000 mg/L (around 10 times...
Discrimination of facial expression by 5-month-old infants of nondepressed and clinically depressed mothers

Five-month-old infants of nondepressed and clinically depressed mothers were habituated to either a face with a neutral expression or the same face with a smile. Infants of nondepressed mothers subsequently discriminated between neutral and smiling facial expressions, whereas infants of clinically depressed mothers failed to make the same discrimination.
Nutrient concentrations of turfgrass and soil test levels as affected by soil media and fertilizer rate and placement

Abstract There has been a trend toward using sandier growing media on highly trafficked turf areas to combat the detrimental effects of compaction on soil physical properties. Use of sand to modify, or even replace, existing soil also affects the nutrient status of these turf areas and could lead to both macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of natural organic fertilizer (Milorganite) or micronutrient supplement (Esmigran) applied to the surface or incorporated at several rates on the nutrient concentration of ‘Pennfine’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown on quartz sand, a sand‐peat topdressing mix, and a silt loam soil. Effects of Milorganite rate were most apparent on sand and topdressing, and, with at least one soil for one harvest period, increased rates of Milorganite resulted in increased tissue concentration for phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Z...
Patient participation in a clinic-based community pharmacy medication take-back program.

Abstract Objectives To describe patient interest and involvement in participating in a clinic-based community pharmacy drug take-back program to dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired (UUE) medications and to identify patients’ reasons for participating in the program. Methods A convenience sample of patients at the University of Oklahoma Family Medicine Pharmacy was recruited to complete a needs assessment survey regarding interest in drug take-back programs and current practices for handling UUE medications. Participants who purchased a postage-paid drug disposal envelope were asked to complete a program survey identifying sources of UUE medications, experience with drug take-back programs, and reasons for participation. These participants were later contacted for a follow-up telephone survey regarding their experience with the program and medications sent back. Results 62 needs assessment surveys were collected. 61% of patients reported interest in a drug take-back program. 57% reported having no UUE medications at home. Commonly reported UUE handling practices included disposal in the garbage (53.2%) or sewer (29.0%) and home storage (17.7%). 15 disposal envelopes were sold to 10 participants whose most common reasons for participation included concern about the safety of household members, accidental or intentional ingestion, and environmental impact. For 4 patients who returned a median of 9.5 prescriptions, the most common class of returned drugs was antibiotics (19.0%). Conclusion Interest in drug take-back programs exists, but awareness and availability of continuous programs is limited. Programs may be more successful if offered at no cost to patients. Future studies are needed on the types of medications sent back and specific reasons for accumulation.
Cost-efficient high-radix division

Digital signal processing implementations require fast and efficient arithmetic units. This paper proposes a fast, cost-efficient enhancement to high-radix, recursive dividers. Recursive dividers are commonly implemented using a subtractor and/or a multiplier, and hardware to determine an estimate of the quotient. Traditionally, these dividers have required an off-chip ROM or a large programmable logic array (PLA) to store a truncated quotient estimate. An interesting alternative is to simplify the hardware realization with a less accurate estimate of the quotient. This paper introduces an algorithm of this type called the expanded redundancy method which is based on Renato Stefanelli's algorithm and a further enhancement by David Mandelbaum.
Toward a multidimensional understanding of residential neighborhood: A latent profile analysis of Los Angeles neighborhoods and longitudinal adult excess weight

Abstract People are embedded in a complex socio-spatial context that may affect their weight status through multiple mechanisms, including food and physical activity opportunities and chronic stress exposure. However, research to date has been unable to resolve what features of neighborhoods are causally related to weight status. We used latent profile analysis to identify three “types” of neighborhoods (based on five dimensions of neighborhood social status) in Los Angeles, CA. Our neighborhood types were both substantively interpretable and predictive of excess weight in both cross-sectional and longitudinal models. Our results are promising for a research community attempting to operationalize neighborhoods as multidimensional, complex systems.
Natural history of severe atheromatous disease of the thoracic aorta: A transesophageal echocardiographic study

Objectives. This study sought to prospectively observe the morphologic and clinical natural history of severe atherosclerotic disease of the thoracic aorta as defined by transesophageal echocardiography. Background. Atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta has been shown to be highly associated with risk for embolic events in transesophageal studies, but the natural history of the disease under clinical conditions has not been reported. Methods. During a 20-month period, 191 of 264 patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography had adequate visualization of the aorta to allow atherosclerotic severity to be graded as follows: grade I = normal (44 patients); grade II = intimal thickening (52 patients); grade III = atheroma grade IV = atheroma ≥5 mm (19 patients); grade V = mobile lesion (14 patients). All available patients with grades IV (8 patients) and V (10 patients) disease as well as a subgroup of 12 patients with grade III disease had follow-up transesophageal echocardiographic studies (mean [±SD] 11.7 ± 0.9 months, range 6 to 22). Results. Of 30 patients undergoing follow-up transesophageal echocardiographic studies, 20 (66%) had no change in atherosclerotic severity grade. Of the remaining 10 patients, atherosclerotic severity progressed one grade in 7 and decreased in 3 with resolved mobile lesions. Of 18 patients with grade IV or V disease of the aorta who underwent a follow-up study, 11 (61%) demonstrated formation of new mobile lesions. Of 10 patients with grade V disease on initial study who underwent follow-up study, 7 (70%) demonstrated resolution of a specific previously documented mobile lesion. However, seven patients (70%) with grade V disease also demonstrated development of a new mobile lesion. Of 33 patients with grade IV or V disease, 8 (24%) died during the study period, and 1 (3%) had a clinical embolic event. Conclusions. The presence of severe atherosclerotic disease of the thoracic aorta as defined by transesophageal echocardiography is associated with a high mortality rate. Although the morphologic natural history of the disease process itself is marked by stability over a 1-year period, individual lesion morphology is dynamic, with formation and resolution of mobile components occurring frequently over the same period. The dynamic nature of individual lesion morphology potentially enhances the possibility of developing a successful therapeutic strategy.
In situ high-pressure, high-temperature spectrophotometric studies of the chlorocarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I) hydroformylation catalyst activated by hydroperoxides

Abstract The rate of hydroformylation of olefins catalyzed by RhCICO(Ph3P)2 (I) is accelerated by the addition of a small amount of cyclohexenyl hydroperoxide which converts I into cis-RhCl(CO)2Ph3P (II), a very active olefin-hydroformylation and -isomerization catalyst.
Pollen Morphology of Rapateaceae: ABSTRACT

Rapateaceae is a family of monocots restricted to End_Page 133------------------------------ northern South America and Liberia. Although pollen is basically of a monsulcate type common in monocots, specializations occur: (1) lengthening of the furrow into an aperture widened at both ends, providing two germ pores instead of one; (2) lengthening of the furrow to form a continuous aperture around the equator of the grain; (3) presence of two identical furrows; and (4) variations in coarseness of exine patterning. Evolutionary and taxonomic correlations of these features are discussed. Pollen of Rapateaceae is an excellent example of the fact that no one method of preparation is sufficient, and reasons are given for use of several methods to provide (1) complete descriptions and (2) accurate descriptions. Current literature on pollen of the family is deficient in these respects End_of_Article - Last_Page 134------------
Work Satisfaction among Women in Nontraditional Occupations

This article describes sources of work satisfaction and dissatisfaction among a sample of 86 California women entering “nontraditional” (i.e., male-dominated) skilled and semiskilled occupations in 1975. Respondents were interviewed at that time, and again in 1976-1977. The data indicate that the challenge of surviving and succeeding in a nontraditional job—mastering skills, increasing self-confidence, and getting along with (often troublesome) male coworkers and supervisors—was the predominant concern of the respondents in the first year, and was their primary source of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction in their work. In contrast, those women who remained in a nontraditional job one year later had become less concerned with these aspects of the job, and more concerned with the traditional sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction common to blue-collar workers, e.g., the nature of the work itself, working conditions, and relations with management. The findings also suggest that by the second year th...
Shadowfax: scaling in heterogeneous cluster systems via GPGPU assemblies

Systems with specialized processors such as those used for accel- erating computations (like NVIDIA's graphics processors or IBM's Cell) have proven their utility in terms of higher performance and lower power consumption. They have also been shown to outperform general purpose processors in case of graphics intensive or high performance applications and for enterprise applications like modern financial codes or web hosts that require scalable image processing. These facts are causing tremendous growth in accelerator-based platforms in the high performance domain with systems like Keeneland, supercomputers like Tianhe-1, RoadRunner and even in data center systems like Amazon's EC2.The physical hardware in these systems, once purchased and assembled, is not reconfigurable and is expensive to modify or upgrade. This can eventually limit applications' performance and scalability unless they are rewritten to match specific versions of hardware and compositions of components, both for single nodes and for clusters of machines. To address this problem and to support increased flexibility in usage models for CUDA-based GPGPU applications, our research proposes GPGPU assemblies, where each assembly combines a desired number of CPUs and CUDA-supported GPGPUs to form a 'virtual execution platform' for an application. System-level software, then, creates and manages assemblies, including mapping them seamlessly to the actual cluster- and node- level hardware resources present in the system. Experimental evaluations of the initial implementation of GPGPU assemblies demonstrates their feasibility and advantages derived from their use.
Symmetry properties of chiral carbon nanotubes.

The method of zone folding is applied to the calculation of the phonon mode frequencies in carbon nanotubules. The Raman and infrared-active mode frequencies are determined for nanotubules of different diameters and chiralities.
Medulloblastomas overexpress the p53-inactivating oncogene WIP1/PPM1D

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Despite numerous advances, clinical challenges range from recurrent and progressive disease to long-term toxicities in survivors. The lack of more effective, less toxic therapies results from our limited understanding of medulloblastoma growth. Although TP53 is the most commonly altered gene in cancers, it is rarely mutated in medulloblastoma. Accumulating evidence, however, indicates that TP53 pathways are disrupted in medulloblastoma. Wild-typep53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1 or PPM1D) encodes a negative regulator of p53. WIP1 amplification (17q22-q23) and its overexpression have been reported in diverse cancer types. We examined primary medulloblastoma specimens and cell lines, and detected WIP1 copy gain and amplification prevalent among but not exclusively in the tumors with 17q gain and isochromosome 17q (i17q), which are among the most common cytogenetic lesions in medulloblastoma. WIP1 RNA levels were significantly higher in the tumors with 17q gain or i17q. Immunoblots confirmed significant WIP1 protein in primary tumors, generally higher in those with 17q gain or i17q. Under basal growth conditions and in response to the chemotherapeutic agent, etoposide, WIP1 antagonized p53-mediated apoptosis in medulloblastoma cell lines. These results indicate that medulloblastoma express significant levels of WIP1 that modulate genotoxic responsiveness by negatively regulating p53.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the short form Beck Depression Inventory in elderly community samples.

The factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory short form (BDI-SF) was investigated in two elderly samples, with the method of confirmatory factor analysis. Four models previously reported for the BDI-SF in the general adult population were compared for goodness of fit to the data for elderly respondents, and the best-fitting model was adjusted further for these data. Each step in the analyses of the BDI-SF responses of 199 elderly subjects from Tampa, Florida, was cross-validated with data from a second sample of 113 elderly subjects from Houston, Texas. The results confirmed that the three-factor model reported by Reynolds and Gould (1981) adequately fit the data from both elderly samples. The three identified factors were termed Negative Self-Esteem, Anergy, and Dysphoria and were considered to correspond with the cognitive, behavioral, and affective components that generally are thought to be part of the depressive syndrome. The internal consistency of the overall BDI-SF was .74 and .80 in the Tampa and Houston samples, respectively. These findings provide evidence for the construct validity of the BDI-SF by confirming that it displays a factor structure in the aged similar to that observed in the general adult population.
Diagnosis and management of isolated angiitis of the central nervous system

Isolated angiitis of the central nervous system (IAC) is usually a fatal inflammatory disease with a predilection for small blood vessels. Recurrent cerebral infarction leading to death within a few years is the usual course, but this may be significantly altered by aggressive immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Other diseases may, however, present with similar clinical and angiographic features. Because antemortem diagnosis suggests a therapy, establishing the criteria for diagnosis is important. This report describes clinical, angiographic, and biopsy features, and therapy of five successfully treated patients with IAC. The following specific criteria are recommended for establishing an antemortem diagnosis of IAC: (1) clinical pattern of headaches and multifocal neurologic deficits present for at least 6 months, unless the deficits are severe at onset or rapidly progressive; (2) cerebral angiography demonstrating segmental arterial narrowing; (3) exclusion of systemic inflammation or infection; and (4) leptomeningeal/parenchymal biopsy demonstrating vascular inflammation or exclusion of alternate diagnoses. Based upon the successful management of these five previously unreported patients, as well as others in the literature, the following treatment regimens are recommended for the initial 6 weeks of therapy: (1) prednisone 40 to 60 mg/day, and (2) cyclophosphamide 100 mg/day.
SEX DIFFERENCES ON EXERCISE DEPENDENCE FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN A MARATHON ROAD RACE

Considerable research has documented a tendency towards exercise dependence among habitual exercisers; however, little research on possible differences in exercise dependence among men and women has been done. This question seems worthy of study given associations between exercise dependence and eating behavior problems and a greater incidence of eating disorders among women than men. Subjects, 18 men and 14 women competing in a marathon road race, completed an exercise dependence survey developed by Hailey and Bailey in 1982. There are 14 equally weighted items which focus exclusively on psychological rather than physiological aspects of exercise dependence. Analysis of variance indicated the women reported significantly higher scores (3.9 +/- 1.7) than men (3.7 +/- 1.2, p < .05). While the design does not allow assessment of mechanisms underlying the result, one may express concern about the motives for participation in athletic competition.
Effects of neutral gas collisions on the power transmission factor at the divertor sheath

We show that charge-exchange and other ion-neutral collisions can reduce the power transmission factor of the plasma sheath, thereby lowering the ion impact energy and target plate sputtering. The power transmission factor relates the heat flux reaching the divertor target to the plasma density and temperature just in front of the surface: δ=Qsurf/Jewk Te. Experimental data from the DIII-D tokamak suggests that δ could be as low as 2–3 near the region of peak divertor particle flux, instead of the 7–8 expected from usual sheath theory. Several effects combine to allow ion-neutral interactions to be important in the divertor plasma sheath. The shallow angle of incidence of the magnetic field (1–3° in DIII-D) leads to the spatial extension of the sheath from approximately ρi∼1 mm normal to the plate [R. Chodura, Phys. Fluids 25 (1982) 1628] to several centimeters along the field lines. Ionization reduces the sheath potential, and collisions reduce the ion impact energy.
Actin filaments are severed by both native and recombinant dictyostelium cofilin but to different extents.

Cofilin has been reported to depolymerize F-actin alternately by either severing filaments to increase the number of depolymerizing ends or by increasing the off-rate of monomers from F-actin without increasing the number of filament ends. We have compared directly the ability of native and recombinant cofilins from Dictyostelium to sever F-actin. Our results demonstrate that native cofilin has a higher level of severing activity than recombinant cofilin. Significantly, the measurement of cofilin's severing activity by two independent methods, direct visualization with an improved light microscope assay and by scoring of the number of pointed ends by DNase I binding, clearly shows that both native and recombinant cofilins sever F-actin but to different extents. The severing activity in preparations of recombinant cofilin is variable depending on the method of preparation and, in some cases, is difficult to detect by microscopy assays. This latter point is particularly significant because it may lead to the conclusion that cofilin severs weakly or not at all depending on its method of isolation. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 45:293–306, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In Vitro Evaluation of the Antibiotic Activity of Combinations of Ophthalmic Drugs Against Common Equine Ocular Pathogens

Abstract A subpalpebral lavage catheter is commonly used to administer medications in the treatment of infectious keratitis in horses. Drugs may mix in the subpalpebral lavage catheter, potentially affecting antimicrobial efficacy. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of combinations of commonly used ophthalmic preparations. An agar gel diffusion bioassay was used to determine the antibiotic activity of a number of antimicrobial, antifungal, mydriatic, and antiproteinase drug combinations. Drug mixtures were allowed to sit in a syringe at ambient temperatures and room lighting, for 1 (T1) and 6 hours (T2). The antibacterial efficacy was determined by measuring the zone of inhibition around wells containing the drug combinations after overnight incubation at 37°C and comparing them with the zone of inhibition around the antimicrobial alone. Combinations were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. There was no significant decrease in the zone of inhibition, compared with controls, for the majority of combinations tested. Significantly smaller zones of inhibition were identified for the following combinations: (1) tobramycin, cefazolin, natamycin, and serum (T1) and (2) tobramycin, cefazolin, natamycin, serum, and atropine (T1) compared with tobramycin alone; (3) ciprofloxacin, cefazolin, natamycin (T1) compared with ciprofloxacin alone; (4) triple antibiotic ophthalmic solution (TAB) and natamycin (T6); (5) TAB, natamycin, and serum (T6); and (6) TAB, natamycin, serum, and atropine (T6) compared with TAB alone. Admixture does not affect in vitro antibacterial efficacy for the majority of ophthalmic preparations, although efficacy of TAB may be decreased compared with the drug alone.
Excitotoxic injury of the neostriatum: a model for Huntington's disease

Intrastriatal lesions with excitatory amino acids mimic some of the neurochemical and neuropathological characteristics of Huntington's disease (HD); this has led to the hypothesis that an endogenous excitotoxin may be involved in the disease. Recent advances in understanding the metabolic pathways of endogenous excitotoxins and the distribution and function of excitatory amino acid receptors have helped to refine the excitotoxin hypothesis, which is still inadequate to explain some aspects of the disease. However, as an experimental model for producing neuronal depletion in the neostriatum, excitotoxic injury has allowed the study of other neuronal characteristics of HD such as progressive atrophy and regeneration; it has also permitted extensive exploration of the anatomical and functional recovery induced by intrastriatal grafts. Moreover, adaptation of the rodent model to the non-human primate has enabled investigators to examine lesion-induced motor dysfunctions that are more comparable to those in HD. Thus, beyond its potential importance in the pathogenesis of HD, excitotoxic injury as an experimental tool promises to help further elucidate the pathological and functional alterations characteristic of the disease.
Stability of microstructures for some martensitic transformations

We analyze the stability of laminated microstructure for martensitic crystals that undergo cubic to trigonal, orthorhombic to triclinic, and trigonal to monoclinic transformations. We show that the microstructure is unique and stable for all laminates except when the lattice parameters satisfy certain identities.
Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin Binds to Subunit I of Cytochrome bo Ubiquinol Oxidases

The bacterium, Vitreoscilla, can induce the synthesis of a homodimeric hemoglobin under hypoxic conditions. Expression of VHb in heterologous bacteria often enhances growth and increases yields of recombinant proteins and production of antibiotics, especially under oxygen-limiting conditions. There is evidence that VHb interacts with bacterial respiratory membranes and cytochrome bo proteoliposomes. We have examined whether there are binding sites for VHb on the cytochrome, using the yeast two-hybrid system with VHb as the bait and testing every Vitreoscilla cytochrome bo subunit as well as the soluble domains of subunits I and II. A significant interaction was observed only between VHb and intact subunit I. We further examined whether there are binding sites for VHb on cytochrome bo from Escherichia coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa, two organisms in which stimulatory effects of VHb have been observed. Again, in both cases a significant interaction was observed only between VHb and subunit I. Because subunit I contains the binuclear center where oxygen is reduced to water, these data support the function proposed for VHb of providing oxygen directly to the terminal oxidase; it may also explain its positive effects in Vitreoscilla as well as in heterologous organisms.
Toward a code of conduct for the presidency

College and university presidents serve clients who are internal and external to their institution. This chapter describes eight tenets toward a code of conduct for college and university presidents that safeguards the welfare of the clients served.