cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated observers, canonical quantization and the role of event horizons☆

Abstract We find that the particle detector and canonical quantization approaches to quantum field theory for non-inertial observers must necessarily yield consistent answers and that claims otherwise originate in an incorrect choice of rest frame coordinates. Event horizons in the coordinate system are thus a sufficient but not a necessary condition for the Fulling-Davies-Unruh effect of inequivalent vacua and particle detection.
The spectrum and the law of large numbers for infinite-dimensional nonstationary stochastic processes

Abstract Helley's 1st and 2nd theorems for trace class-valued distributions are established. Using these theorems the concept of spectrum for an infinite dimensional nonstationary stochastic process is introduced, and a law of large numbers for processes which admit a spectrum is obtained.
Meso mechanics for fiber reinforced composites with nano fiber reinforced matrix

Abstract A simulation is investigated to obtain properly enhanced matrices reinforced with nano fibers with different volume ratios of 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.6. Results from this investigation show that matrices reinforced with nano fiber volume ratios of less than 0.1 have useful properties and can be used for conventional fiber reinforced composites. Results, from matrices reinforced with nano fiber volume ratios greater than 0.1, are not as conclusive. This may be because the nano fiber reinforcement in the matrix interferes with the larger diameter fibers.
Mechano-electrical feedback.

See article by Nanthakumar et al. [6] (pages 303–309) in this issue. During the last two decades, there has been growing interest in the effect that mechanical heart disorders have on the heart's electrophysiological properties. It has been shown in numerous animal experiments that myocardial stretch produced by volume or pressure overload or direct distension of a muscle strip leads to significant electrophysiological changes [1,2]. This interaction, which has been termed mechano-electrical feedback (MEF), is a concept that undoubtedly has evolved into an accepted mechanism today. MEF describes electrophysiological changes caused by changes in myocardial segment length. These changes most notably include: (1) a shortening of the action potential duration (APD), (2) a decrease in the resting diastolic potential, (3) a decrease in the maximum systolic action potential amplitude, (4) development of early afterdepolarizations, (5) ectopic beats originating from afterdepolarization in myocardium sustaining the greatest stretch (reaching threshold for depolarization first), (6) and other contour changes of the cardiac action potential. Most prior studies on MEF have examined the effect of in creases in mechanical load (stretch) on the cardiac action potential duration and configuration while fewer studies have investigated the effect of ventricular un loading. In most studies, the monophasic action potential (MAP) recording method was used to evaluate alterations in local action potential characteristics subsequent to changes in myocardial loading or segment length. Also, in the majority of these studies, MEF has been measured under conditions of excessive, unphysiologic loading or stretch of myocardium in experimental animals. Human studies addressing MEF also have focussed on unphysiological conditions, such as compression/decompression of the left ventricle during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery [3], transient aortic occlusions [4] or aortic balloon angioplasty [5]. To date, direct evidence for mechano-electrical feedback in the human heart under conditions that may mimic real-life … * Tel.: +1-202-745-8398; fax: +1-202-745-8184 mfranz{at}washington.va.gov
Conditionality and the EU–ACP Partnership: A Misguided Approach to Development?

The Cotonou Partnership between the states of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) and the European Union (EU) provides a case in which the human rights approach to development is being put into practice. This article uses the partnership to address broader questions regarding the effectiveness of the new approach to development. The EU–ACP partnership is innovative because it reflects the changing international consensus on development, but it is not clear if the norms used in the Cotonou Agreement have achieved the consensus needed to comprise any real shift in development policy. Moreover, it can be argued that what diminishes the efficacy of the human rights approach in the EU–ACP relationship is political conditionality as this mechanism may lead to interventions that are counterproductive to the establishment of stable democracy.
Short- and long-term issues regarding urethral management in male radical-cystectomy patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Radical cystectomy remains the gold-standard therapy for invasive bladder cancer. Management of the urethra before, during, and after cystectomy, however, is still not standardized. Herein, the rationale for different management algorithms is given. RECENT FINDINGS: The literature remains inconsistent regarding the best diagnostic and therapeutic management of the urethra before and during cystectomy as well as afterwards. The risk of urethral recurrence may in fact be lower after orthotopic urinary diversion, but the evidence for this and other recommendations comes from retrospective series. Urethral recurrence, although uncommon, continues to have a poor prognosis, and the optimal follow-up regimen is unclear. The importance of lifelong follow-up is unquestioned. SUMMARY: Risk factors for urethral involvement/recurrence can be determined before, during, and after radical cystectomy. The best way to diagnose and predict who will recur, however, is still unknown, as is the optimal follow-up regimen and treatment for the remnant urethra. The type of urinary diversion may in fact influence disease recurrence, as it also affects possible therapy for patients with recurrence.
Neighborhood Disadvantage, Social Capital, Street Context, and Youth Violence

This article integrates arguments from three perspectives on the relationship between communities and crime—constrained residential choices, social capital, and street context perspectives—to speci...
An upper limb robot model of children limb for cerebral palsy neurorehabilitation

Robot therapy has emerged in the last few decades as a tool to help patients with neurological injuries relearn motor tasks and improve their quality of life. The main goal of this study was to develop a simple model of the human arm for children affected with cerebral palsy (CP). The Simulink based model presented here shows a comparison for children with and without disabilities (ages 6–15) with normal and reduced range of motion in the upper limb. The model incorporates kinematic and dynamic considerations required for activities of daily living. The simulation was conducted using Matlab/Simulink and will eventually be integrated with a robotic counterpart to develop a physical robot that will provide assistance in activities of daily life (ADLs) to children with CP while also aiming to improve motor recovery.
Structurally integrated organic light-emitting device (OLED)-based sensors for industrial and environmental security: sensors for hydrazine and anthrax

The application of the new compact platform of structurally integrated, photoluminescent (bio)chemical sensors, where the photoluminescence (PL) excitation source is an OLED, to the detection of hydrazine and anthrax, is described. The hydrazine sensor is based on the reaction between nonluminescent anthracene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde and hydrazine or hydrazine sulfate, which generates a luminescent product. The anthrax sensor is based on a Foerster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay, where the anthrax-secreted lethal factor enzyme cleaves certain labeled peptides at a specific site. The cleaving separates the FRET donor-acceptor pair, resulting in an increase in the PL of the donor, which was previously absorbed by the acceptor.
On the Role of Mathematics in Explaining the Material World: Mental Models for Proportional Reasoning

Contemporary psychological research that studies how people apply mathematics has largely viewed mathematics as a computational tool for deriving an answer. The tacit assumption has been that people first understand a situation, and then choose which computations to apply. We examine an alternative assumption that mathematics can also serve as a tool that helps one to construct an understanding of a situation in the first place. Three studies were conducted with 6th-grade children in the context of proportional situations because early proportional reasoning is a premier example of where mathematics may provide new understanding of the world. The children predicted whether two differently-sized glasses of orange juice would taste the same when they were filled from a single carton of juice made from concentrate and water. To examine the relative contributions and interactions of situational and mathematical knowledge, we manipulated the formal features of the problem display (e.g., diagram vs. photograph) and the numerical complexity (e.g., divisibility) of the containers and the ingredient ratios. When the problem was presented as a diagram with complex numbers, or “realistically” with easy numbers, the children predicted the glasses would taste different because one glass had more juice than the other. But, when the problem was presented realistically with complex numbers, the children predicted the glasses would taste the same on the basis of empirical knowledge (e.g., “Juice can't change by itself”). And finally, when the problem was presented as a diagram with easy numbers, the children predicted the glasses would taste the same on the basis of proportional relations. These complex interactions illuminate how mathematical and empirical knowledge can jointly constrain the construction of a new understanding of the world. We propose that mathematics helped in the case of successful proportional reasoning because it made a complex empirical situation cognitively tractable, and thereby helped the children construct mental models of that situation. We sketch one aspect of the mental models that are constructed in the domain of quantity—a preference for specificity—that helps explain the current findings.
Development and evaluation of a brief questionnaire to assess dietary fat quality in low-income overweight women in the southern United States.

Abstract Objective To develop a brief questionnaire to assess dietary fat quality, the Dietary Fat Quality Assessment (DFQA), for use in dietary counseling to reduce heart disease risk. Methods A subsample of 120 underserved, midlife women enrolled in a randomized, controlled weight loss trial completed baseline and follow-up telephone surveys. Main outcome measures included dietary fat components (total fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acids, and cholesterol). Results Assessments of major dietary fat components using the DFQA and a food frequency questionnaire were significantly correlated, with correlation coefficients of 0.54–0.66 ( P Conclusions and Implications The DFQA provides a reasonable assessment of dietary fat quality associated with coronary heart disease risk and may prove useful as a brief assessment tool to guide dietary counseling given to reduce heart disease risk.
Lysosomal enzyme defects and Parkinson disease.

The pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD) remains elusive. In the 1960s, the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra was linked to the etiology of PD.1 This finding paved the way for the development of dopaminergic therapy to alleviate some of the symptoms of PD. Despite intensive research, however, the cellular mechanisms that lead to degeneration of dopaminergic cells in PD remain poorly understood.
On the possible role of crystals in the origins of life IV. The phosphorylation of nucleotides

Abstract This is the fourth paper of a series dealing with possible participation of apatites and silicates in the origin of life. The previous paper dealt with the phosphorylation of adenosine to AMP by apatite crystals. The present investigation is concerned with the further phosphorylation of AMP.
Some New Cobbettiana

T HE outstanding Cobbett collection of the Rutgers University Library has recently been fortified by some letters written by Cobbett as well as a few miscellaneous writings relating to the Rural Rider.! The latter mainly concern efforts to secure funds for a monument to Cobbett after his death in June, 1835. The letters written by Cobbett are more interesting. Most of them were sent to John Fielden, member of parliament from Oldham and Cobbett's partner in representing that Lancashire industrial town in the House of Commons. None of the letters were dated earlier than June, 1832 and they reveal something of Cobbett's activities during the last few years of his life. Cobbett was always brisk in a letter. He was never fond of circumlocution or verbosity and, like his articles in the Political Register, he made his point effectively in correspondence. One letter from Dublin written in September, 1834 describes the misery in Ireland which Cobbett saw at first hand during a visit. Another, written in July of the same year, asked Fielden for a loan of £150 for "housekeeping expenses"-the nearest this collection of Cobbett's correspondence gets to his unhappy family situation during the last few years of his life. Cobbett scholars eagerly await each new discovery of papers relevant to Cobbett's life and career for information on tihis subject for, alas, it is clear that some previous correspondence which shed light on the situation has been destroyed. Perhaps the most interesting .letters to Fielden are those which refer to Cobbett's health. For several years prior to his death, Cobbett suffered from hoarseness and inflammation in his throat which was either caused or aggravated by the unhealthy House of Commons chamber where he sat. Now we find him writing in April, 1834 that "My cough goes on in its old way" and in the following month he told Fielden that he expected to return to t1he House of Commons on May 25 if his health permitted. But ill or not, Cobbett
A CONSISTENT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS OF DIVERSE RATE-PROCESSES

Experimental evidence from a variety of disciplines has shown an empirical correlation between the pre-exponent and activation energy for the rate constant describing the transformation between sta...
Enhancing retail services: an empirical investigation

Researchers have shown that there is a relationship between the retail environment and revenue in retail and service outlet stores, satisfaction, and product selections and evaluations. A consumer's retail experience is affected by their emotional states, retail store attributes, and parking facilities. The purpose of the present study is to identify those factors likely to negatively affect retail patronage. Focus group interviews identified eleven attributes likely to evoke negative patronage. A survey instrument was developed and randomly administered via mall intercept. Three consumer clusters were produced; respondents comprising the first cluster appear to be more sensitive to personnel related issues while respondents comprising the second and third clusters appear to have diminishing levels of sensitivity to product related issues. The results of the study suggest the areas of potential concern to which retail management should develop proactive strategies. Finally, implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Designer macrocyclic organo-peptide hybrids inhibit the interaction between p53 and HDM2/X by accommodating a functional α-helix

We report the design of side-chain-to-tail linked organo-peptide hybrids incorporating an α-helical protein-binding motif. Using this strategy, macrocyclic inhibitors of the p53:HDM2 interaction displaying dual specificity against the HDMX homolog as well as increased proteolytic stability could be obtained.
A performance study of buffered pseudorandomly interleaved memories with multiple sections

In vector supercomputers, bank conflicts are often the dominant factor that determines the effective memory bandwidth and may lead to drastic reduction in the system performance. Primarily because of bank conflicts, users of the more recent CRAY-2 have difficulty in attaining performance comparable to that of the CRAY X-MP. Pseudorandom interleaving reduces the frequency of bank conflicts by ''scrambling'' the constant-stride reference string produced by the processor in vector mode. We develop a performance model for a memory system whose primary characteristics are, as in the CRAY-2, that the memory banks are organized into several sections and rejected memory requests are buffered in each processor. Unlike in the CRAY-2, we assume that the assignment of addresses to banks is done in a pseudorandom manner. This model is then used to report performance results as a function of several memory system parameters. We have obtained similar performance figures using Monte Carlo simulation.
Growth rebound after termination of stimulant drugs.

To explore further the report 1 of an accelerated weight gain following termination of treatment with a stimulant drug, 66 biannual growth measurements were obtained from 1970 to 1973 on hyperactive schoolchildren who were receiving medication. All received either dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate during the school year; some also received it during the summer. The data revealed that those whose stimulant medication was terminated at the start of summer subsequently grew in weight and height at a significantly greater rate than those who continued to receive medication from June to September. In fact, discontinuance of the medication resulted in a growth rebound for this period which was 15–68% above the age-expected increment.
Air-side data interpretation and performance analysis for heat exchangers with simultaneous heat and mass transfer: Wet and frosted surfaces

Abstract Data reduction methods for wet- and frosted-surface heat exchangers are reviewed, and logarithmic-mean temperature difference (LMTD) and logarithmic-mean enthalpy difference (LMED) methods for data interpretation are formulated, including fin efficiency expressions for flat-tube heat exchangers with constant-area fins. With these improved formulations for data interpretation in place, the two methods are compared using a numerical simulation of a flat-plate heat exchanger. For all conditions considered—spanning wet and frosted surfaces—the new UA-LMTD method provides the air-side convective heat transfer coefficient to within 3% and is more accurate than the HA-LMED method, which results in large errors under some conditions.
Intraluminal Pulsed Doppler Evaluation of the Pulmonary Artery Velocity Time Curve in a Canine Model of Acute Pulmonary Hypertension

The velocity pattern of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery was investigated in an animal model of acute pulmonary hypertension. Nine anesthetized, open-chest dogs were embolized with polystyrene microspheres, and the velocity pattern of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery was studied with use of an invasive pulsed Doppler technique. Phasic intraluminal velocity was recorded with use of a miniature piezoelectric crystal activated by 20-MHz Doppler pulses and mounted on the tip of a needle probe introduced into the pulmonary artery. The recorded Doppler quadrature signals were processed by spectral analysis. Significant increases occurred in mean, systolic, and diastolic pulmonary arterial pressures (p (Chest 1991; 100:474-79)
Description of phosphate hydrolysis reactions with the Self-Consistent-Charge Density-Functional-Tight-Binding (SCC-DFTB) theory. 1. Parameterization

Phosphate chemistry is involved in many key biological processes, yet the underlying mechanism often remains unclear. For theoretical analysis to effectively complement experimental mechanistic analysis, it is essential to develop computational methods that can capture the complexity of the underlying potential energy surface and allow for sufficient sampling of the configurational space. To this end, we report the parametrization of an approximate density functional theory, the Self-Consistent-Charge Density-Functional Tight-Binding (SCC-DFTB) method for systems containing phosphorus. Compared to high-level density functional theory and ab initio (MP2 and G3B3) results, the standard second-order parametrization is shown to give reliable structures for a diverse set of phosphate compounds but inaccurate energetics. With the on-site third-order terms included, referred to as SCC-DFTBPA, calculated proton affinities of phosphate compounds are substantially improved, although it remains difficult to obtain r...
Transmission electron microscopy study of diamond nucleation and growth on smooth silicon surfaces coated with a thin amorphous carbon film

Abstract Amorphous carbon (a-C) films with high contents of tetrahedral carbon bonding (sp3) were synthesized on smooth Si(100) surfaces by cathodic arc deposition. Before diamond growth, the a-C films were pretreated with a low-temperature methane-rich hydrogen plasma in a microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system. The evolution of the morphology and microstructure of the a-C films during the pretreatment and subsequent diamond nucleation and initial growth stages was investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Carbon-rich clusters with a density of ∼1010 cm−2 were found on pretreated a-C film surfaces. The clusters comprised an a-C phase rich in sp3 carbon bonds with a high density of randomly oriented nanocrystallites and exhibited a high etching resistance to hydrogen plasma. Selected area diffraction patterns and associated dark-field TEM images of the residual clusters revealed diamond fingerprints in the nanocrystallites, which played the role of diamond nucleation sites. The presence of non-diamond fingerprints indicated the formation of Si–C-rich species at C/Si interfaces. The predominantly spherulitic growth of the clusters without apparent changes in density yielded numerous high surface free energy diamond nucleation sites. The rapid evolution of crystallographic facets in the clusters observed under diamond growth conditions suggested that the enhancement of diamond nucleation and growth resulted from the existing nanocrystallites and the crystallization of the a-C phase caused by the stabilization of sp3 carbon bonds by atomic hydrogen. The significant increase of the diamond nucleation density and growth is interpreted in terms of a simple three-step process which is in accord with the experimental observations.
Methods for the analysis of ternary free-diffusion processes by the Rayleigh optical interferometric method

Equations are presented for the analysis of ternary free-diffusion processes in liquid systems by the Rayleigh optical interferometric method. Four different analytical derivations are given and two numerical methods of analysis are discussed.
Two types of gamma-1A-globulin in sera from normals and patients with multiple myeloma.

THE γ1A(β2A)-globulins of normal human serum and the γ1A-myeloma proteins are structurally related to the other immune globulins and Bence Jones proteins1,2. This communication presents evidence for the existence of two antigenically distinguishable types of γ1A-myeloma proteins. Each of these is closely related to one of the major immunologically defined types of Bence Jones proteins3 and each of them appears to have an antigenically distinct counterpart in the normal γ1A-globulin fraction.
Arsenic exposure exacerbates atherosclerotic plaque formation and increases nitrotyrosine and leukotriene biosynthesis

A correlation between arsenic and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been established through epidemiological studies, although the mechanisms are unknown. Using a mouse model that develops atherosclerotic lesions on a normal chow diet, we have confirmed a connection between long-term arsenic intake and CVD. Our results reveal a significant increase in the degree of atherosclerotic plaque stenosis within the innominate artery of ApoE-/-/LDLr-/- mice treated with 10 ppm sodium arsenite (133 microM) in drinking water for 18 weeks compared to controls. Immunohistochemistry shows nitrotyrosine formation, a marker of reactive nitrogen species generation, is significantly higher within the atherosclerotic plaque of arsenic-treated mice. In addition, there is a significant increase in the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) product, leukotriene E4 (LTE4), in the serum of arsenic-treated mice. This is supported by induction of the 5-LO protein and subsequent increases in LTE4 synthesis in bovine aortic endothelial cells. This increase in LTE4 is partially inhibited by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, suggesting a link between reactive nitrogen species and arsenic-induced inflammation. Furthermore, there is a significant increase in prostacyclin (PGI2) in the serum of arsenic-treated mice. We conclude that changes in specific inflammatory mediators such as LTE4 and PGI2 are related to arsenic-induced atherosclerosis. In addition, amplified synthesis of reactive species such as peroxynitrite results in increased protein nitration in response to arsenic exposure. This finding is consistent with the pathology seen in human atherosclerotic plaques.
Medical Management of Cerebral Vasospasm following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Review of Current and Emerging Therapeutic Interventions

Cerebral vasospasm is a major source of morbidity and mortality in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Evidence suggests a multifactorial etiology and this concept remains supported by the assortment of therapeutic modalities under investigation. The authors provide an updated review of the literature for previous and recent clinical trials evaluating medical treatments in patients with cerebral vasospasm secondary to aSAH. Currently, the strongest evidence supports use of prophylactic oral nimodipine and initiation of triple-H therapy for patients in cerebral vasospasm. Other agents presented in this report include magnesium, statins, endothelin receptor antagonists, nitric oxide promoters, free radical scavengers, thromboxane inhibitors, thrombolysis, anti-inflammatory agents and neuroprotectants. Although promising data is beginning to emerge for several treatments, few prospective randomized clinical trials are presently available. Additionally, future investigational efforts will need to resolve discrepant definitions and outcome measures for cerebral vasospasm in order to permit adequate study comparisons. Until then, definitive recommendations cannot be made regarding the safety and efficacy for each of these therapeutic strategies and medical management practices will continue to be implemented in a wide-ranging manner.
Tuberculosis in American Colleges and Universities

Tuberculosis is still one of the important health problems of the college student and is so recognized by more and more colleges and universities. The number of institutions of higher education with tuberculosis case-finding programs has increased from 6 to over 300 in the past 13 years. This increasing interest in the control of tuberculosis in college students is due in large part to the coperative efforts of the Tuberculosis Committee of the American Student Health Association and the National Tuberculosis Association. The incidence of tuberculous infection in college students as shown by the tuberculin reaction has decreased from 35 per cent to approximately 20 per cent since 1931. The highest percentage of reactors was found in schools on the east and west coasts. As a result of routine case-finding programs in the colleges, between 500 and 900 new cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed annually during the past three years. In institutions with no organized tuberculosis programs in 1942–43 only 2.21 new cases per 100,000 students were found, compared to 128.3 in those schools making an organized effort to find tuberculosis. The experience of the colleges in tuberculosis control provides further evidence that tuberculosis can be controlled in institutions by the application of known methods of diagnosis.
Gap junctions between lateral spinal motoneurons in the rat

Ultrastructural examination reveals gap junctional plaques between motoneurons in the dorsolateral nucleus (DLN), an androgen-sensitive motor nucleus in the lumbar spinal cord of rats. This nucleus contains motoneurons innervating the ischiocavernosus muscle and urethral sphincter. Gap junctional plaques were found along the somatic and proximal dendritic membranes of DLN motoneurons, and between membranes of bundled dendrites in the neuropil of this nucleus. Castration and androgen treatment had no significant effect on the size or frequency of gap junctions.
Modulation of E.Coli Dihydrofolate Reductase (DHFR) Activity by Site-Directed Chemical Cross-Linking (SDXL) of the M20 and FG Loops

Generally, proteins are comprised of highly complex structures and fluctuations of local or global character are believed to play critical roles in protein function. In the case of E.Coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), previous structural studies have already revealed some aspects of DHFR's conformational flexibility. Among the most prominent displays of flexibility are motions between loops M20 and FG. We have employed site-directed chemical cross-linking (SDXL) to modulate loop motions and by extension modulate activity, flexibility, stability and substrate affinity. Toward this end, we have utilized both computational and experimental approaches. Target residues were identified by average distance matrices and principle component analysis calculated through molecular dynamic (MD) simulations at various temperatures. Activity measurements for a mirrored pair of cross-linked residues resulted in reduced activity for shorter cross-links, while longer cross-links returned the activity to near unmodified protein levels. Mass spectrometry was used to determine the effects on stability against thermal and chaotropic denaturation by observing changes in the charge state envelope associated with protein unfolding. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) combined with mass spectrometry was used to probe local conformational changes both proximal and distal to the cross-link site. Finally with the ability to observe both free and bound species, mass spectrometry was able to monitor changes in substrate affinity as correlated with cross-link length. With this work we have shown that SDXL is able to modulate enzymatic activity and stability by controlling motions associated with thermal fluctuations.
A new chiral alkylation methodology for the synthesis of 2-alkyl-4-ketoacids in high optical purity using 2-triflyloxy esters

Abstract Optical active 2-triflyloxy esters are excellent alkylating agents for β-ketoester enolates. Decarboxylation of the alkylation products gives 2-substituted-4-ketoacid derivatives in high optical purities.
Comparative Analysis of Smoking as a Risk Factor among Renal Cell Carcinoma Histological Subtypes.

Purpose: Smoking is the best established modifiable risk factor for renal cell carcinoma. However, the risks of individual renal cell carcinoma histological subtypes are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between smoking and renal cell carcinoma subtype.Materials and Methods: Cigarette smoking data were prospectively collected from 816 consecutive patients with nonfamilial renal cell carcinoma (705) or benign pathology (111) undergoing nephrectomy at a single National Comprehensive Cancer Network® cancer center, and were retrospectively tested for an association with histological diagnosis on univariable and propensity adjusted analyses.Results: Smoking was reported by 51% of patients, including 21% active smokers and 30% former smokers. Active smoking was more common with clear cell (23%) or papillary (26%) renal cell carcinoma than benign histology (14%, p <0.05 each), yet strikingly less common with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (6%, p <0.05 vs clear cell or papillary). Any smoking...
The radio nebula produced by the 27 December 2004 giant flare from SGR 1806-20

On 27 December 2004, just the third giant flare was observed from a magnetar, in this case SGR 1806-20. This giant flare was the most energetic of the three, and analysis of a Very Large Array observation of SGR 1806-20 after the giant flare revealed the existence of a new, bright, transient radio source at its position. Follow-up radio observations of this source determined that initially, this source underwent a mildly relativistic one-sided expansion which ceased at the same time as a temporary rebrightening of the radio source. These observational results imply that the radio emission is powered by ∼1024 g of baryonic material which was ejected off the surface on the neutron star during the giant flare.
Critical Race Counterstories Along the Chicana/Chicano Educational Pipeline. Tara J. Yosso, New York: Routledge, 2006, 208 pages, $24.95 (paperback), $85.00 (hardcover)

The premise of this valuable book is to reveal the experiences of Chicana/o students throughout the educational pipeline. At the same time, it responds to the “majoritarian stories” (p. 10) of cult...
F-box Only Protein 2 (Fbxo2) Regulates Amyloid Precursor Protein Levels and Processing

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is an integral membrane glycoprotein whose cleavage products, particularly amyloid-β, accumulate in Alzheimer disease (AD). APP is present at synapses and is thought to play a role in both the formation and plasticity of these critical neuronal structures. Despite the central role suggested for APP in AD pathogenesis, the mechanisms regulating APP in neurons and its processing into cleavage products remain incompletely understood. F-box only protein 2 (Fbxo2), a neuron-enriched ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor that preferentially binds high-mannose glycans on glycoproteins, was previously implicated in APP processing by facilitating the degradation of the APP-cleaving β-secretase, β-site APP-cleaving enzyme. Here, we sought to determine whether Fbxo2 plays a similar role for other glycoproteins in the amyloid processing pathway. We present in vitro and in vivo evidence that APP is itself a substrate for Fbxo2. APP levels were decreased in the presence of Fbxo2 in non-neuronal cells, and increased in both cultured hippocampal neurons and brain tissue from Fbxo2 knock-out mice. The processing of APP into its cleavage products was also increased in hippocampi and cultured hippocampal neurons lacking Fbxo2. In hippocampal slices, this increase in cleavage products was accompanied by a significant reduction in APP at the cell surface. Taken together, these results suggest that Fbxo2 regulates APP levels and processing in the brain and may play a role in modulating AD pathogenesis.
Beating the fascists? The German communists and political violence, 1929–1933

(1984). Beating the fascists? The German communists and political violence, 1929–1933. History of European Ideas: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 339-340.
Mitochondrial granule distribution in tooth germ cells

Incisor and molar tooth germs of albino rats sacrificed at the eighteenth and twentieth days in utero and one to seven days after birth were studied with light and electron microscopy. Observations of the various stages of tooth development in molars established that intramitochondrial granules in odontoblasts were comparable to the intramitochondrial granules of other hard tissue cells. These electron-dense deposits appeared in mitochondria in an appreciable number only when odontoblasts become engaged in dentin mineralization. When dentin mineralization was advanced the odontoblast mitochondria appeared devoid of these deposits. Mesenchymal cells and preodontoblasts of the pulp were not involved in this activity.
Estimating willingness to accept using paired comparison choice experiments: tests of robustness

Paired comparison (PC) choice experiments offer researchers and policy-makers an alternative nonmarket valuation method particularly apt when a ranking of the public's priorities across policy alternatives is paramount. Similar to contingent valuation, PC choice experiments estimate the total value associated with a specific environmental good or service. Similar to choice experiments, the questions posed to respondents are choices between alternatives. In contrast to both methods, respondents in PC choice experiments make choices between pairs of dissimilar alternatives including private goods, public goods, and monetary amounts. The alternatives may include competing policy alternatives, thus providing a ranking of the public's priorities among those alternatives. We investigate the robustness of estimated welfare measures to econometric modelling and choice set composition across two PC choice experiments. Results suggest that accounting for repeated observations increases the efficiency of welfare est...
New Approach for Including Traffic Volumes in Crash Rate Analysis and Forecasting

A critical part of any risk assessment is identifying the appropriate measure of exposure to the risk in question. Incorporating vehicle miles traveled per year into highway crash analysis was an important step forward for identifying truly hazardous locations, as opposed to locations with high volumes but a low number of crashes per vehicle. This exposure measure is now ubiquitous in highway crash reporting, although it has not been proved to be the most accurate representation of highway crash risk. Research results demonstrate that the relationship between traffic volume and crash count is more complex than this and that it relates to quantities such as the distribution of traffic through the day and the types of crashes experienced. A proposed specification for models of crash count incorporates all these considerations in a form that is accessible to most highway crash analysts and permits comparison of crash rates between various highway locations in a way that accounts for the nonlinearity of the c...
The influence of latex blend composition on crosslinking and mechanical properties

Model reactive latices were synthesized by semicontinuous emulsion copolymerization of n-butyl methacrylate and acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate or dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. The two functional latices were then blended in various ratios to study the influence of blend composition on crosslinking and mechanical properties of the resulting films. Crosslinking was quantified through swelling measurements. It was found that the crosslink density increased with increasing amounts of acetoacetoxy-functional polymer. In addition, the crosslink density exhibited two maxima, at 30/70 and 70/30 (acetoacetoxy-functional latex/amino-functional latex) blend compositions. The mechanical properties of the films were quantified by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It was shown that optimal mechanical properties occurred when the particles packed most efficiently at the 30/70 and 70/30 blend compositions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3774–3779, 2007
Simulation in education and training

Simulation is gaining recognition as an academic discipline with a core body of knowledge being developed. It is being taught to students from high school through graduate school. Simulation is also increasingly being used for education and training in many applications, e.g., medicine and the military. The use of simulation games is increasing for students of all ages and educational levels. This chapter describes the emerging academic field of modeling and simulation (M&S) including the need for simulation specialists, professional recognition of simulation professionals, academic programs in M&S, the economics of simulation, and the use of simulation-based games for education.
Adaptive noise cancellation using fast optimum block algorithms

The application of block frequency domain (FFT-based) adaptive algorithms to noise cancellation is considered. Two classes of FFT-based algorithms are examined, namely those associated with periodic convolution and those associated with linear convolution. In both cases normalized optimum convergence factors are considered. Experimental noise cancellation results are given using speech corrupted by white, colored, and harmonically structured noise (simulated engine noise). Quantitative and subjective evaluations are given for all the results, and trade-offs of performance versus computational complexity are established. >
Consultation with the Specialist: Contact Dermatitis

1. Sheila Fallon Friedlander, MD* 1. 2. *Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine; Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA. Some physicians believe that contact dermatitis is a rather esoteric topic with little relevance to the daily practice of general pediatrics. In reality, contact dermatitis is an extremely common occurrence in the pediatric age group. Some authors estimate that it accounts for approximately 20% of all dermatitis seen in childhood. Although many forms, such as Rhus dermatitis (poison ivy/oak) and diaper dermatitis, are easily recognized and treated, even “diaper rash” occasionally can present a therapeutic challenge and cause significant discomfort to the infant. Other forms of contact dermatitis may be more difficult to diagnose. A photocontact reaction from the juice or rind of lemons and limes termed phytophotodermatitis causes an eruption that often is misdiagnosed as a burn or occasionally even as child abuse. This can lead to inappropriate and costly evaluations. Of greater concern, contact reactions sometimes can lead to life-threatening situations. Latex, a product of the rubber tree, can cause reactions ranging from mild contact dermatitis to anaphylaxis. Children who have spina bifida or congenital urologic anomalies are at increased risk for this allergy because of increased exposure to latex in catheters or gloves. Therefore, primary care clinicians must be familiar with the basic concepts relating to contact dermatitis. Reasonable queries that might arise, which are addressed in the following discussion, include: The exact incidence of contact dermatitis is unknown. However, two studies evaluating healthy children showed a 20% incidence of positive reactions to one or more patch tests. Almost 50% of infants develop diaper dermatitis, most …
Excited states of 134Ba

Abstract The radiations accompanying the decay of 6.5 min 134 La have been studied with a Gerholm magnetic lens type beta-ray spectrometer and with a 3 mm thick Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometer. Scintillation spectrometers were used for beta-gamma and gamma-gamma coincidence experiments. For the gamma rays from 134 La the energies in keV and relative intensities in percent of decays are 563 (0.5%), 605 (7.4%), 1167 (0.2%), 1424 (0.3%), 1554 (0.7%), 1730 (0.4%), 1957 (0.1%), 1991 (0.1%), and 2081 (0.08%). The following levels of 134 Ba are populated (energies in keV given together with estimated log ft values for feeding in the decay of 1 + 134 La): ground state (4.8), 605 (5.7), 1168 (6.5), 2159 (5.7), 2335 (5.9), [2562] (6.3), 2594 (5.7), 2686 (6.3). No evidence is found for the existence of a 0 + member of a possible second excited state vibrational triplet.
Latino Mental Health: Acculturation Challenges in Service Provision

Acculturation and assimilation—terms used to describe the complex pro- ce sses that immigrants go through as they incorporate into a host society's culture—are important considerations for mental health providers. Acculturation and assimilation include a range of contextual and individual-level factors that interact in ways unique to each immigrant. Hence, a "one-size-fits-all" approach for access to and provision of mental health services is inadequate for Latino immigrants. This chapter focuses on explaining the complexity of the acculturation and assimilation processes as they relate to mental health, particularly in terms of macro-level structural and micro-level individual effects. The chapter illustrates the influence of acculturation and assimila- tion on mental health and how these processes complicate the provision of services. According to classical assimilation theory, immigrants become fully incorporated into US life—in the sense that they completely adopt the host culture and leave behind their culture of origin—in the first generation. This theory, however, does not seem to describe the incorporation of Latino immigrants. The standard used to evaluate whether immigrants to the United States are assimilating often refers to the ability of a group to achieve economic prosperity, learn English, and lose native cultural values and norms. Arguments about how today's Latinos are assimilating are often framed as comparisons with earlier waves of European immigrants; the popular belief is that Latinos are not assimilating (Huntington 2004a, b). However, concerns about the ability of the latest group of newcomers to assimilate are similar to those of earlier times. Invidious comparisons between different waves of immi- grants over the course of this nation's history resonate with ongoing issues of inclu- sion and exclusion in a diverse society (Engstrom and Piedra 2006). Compared to earlier waves of immigrants, Latino newcomers have similarly low- skill levels. However, because Latinos today enter into a far more technologically advanced and globally driven labor market than did immigrants of the nineteenth
The Utility of Controlled-Release Norgestomet Implants in Synchronizing Estrus and Diagnosing Pregnancy in Ewes, and Factors Affecting the Diffusion Rate of Norgestomet from Silicone Implants

One hundred Suffolk and cross-bred ewes were implanted with norgestomet/silicone implants to assess efficacy and utility, and to determine factors affecting norgestomet diffusion. The overall estrus and lambing responses were 90% and 67%, respectively. Administration of the implant for 14 days during pregnancy, in conjunction with progesterone determination on the 14th day, permitted the diagnosis of pregnancy status with 100% accuracy. Norgestomet implantation had no adverse effects on established pregnancy. Implants that were movable in situ on the 14th day had less connective tissue encapsulation and a higher (p < 0.05) norgestomet diffusion rate than implants that had rigid subcutaneous placement and more connective tissue encapsulation.
Molecular Imaging of Conscious, Unrestrained Mice with AwakeSPECT

We have developed a SPECT imaging system, AwakeSPECT, to enable molecular brain imaging of untrained mice that are conscious, unanesthetized, and unrestrained. We accomplished this with head tracking and motion correction techniques. Methods: The capability of the system for motion-corrected imaging was demonstrated with a 99mTc-pertechnetate phantom, 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate bone imaging, and measurement of the binding potential of the dopamine transporter radioligand 123I-ioflupane in mouse brain in the awake and anesthetized (isoflurane) states. Stress induced by imaging in the awake state was assessed through measurement of plasma corticosterone levels. Results: AwakeSPECT provided high-resolution bone images reminiscent of those obtained from CT. The binding potential of 123I-ioflupane in the awake state was on the order of 50% of that obtained with the animal under anesthesia, consistent with previous studies in nonhuman primates. Levels of stress induced were on the order of those seen in other behavioral tasks and imaging studies of awake animals. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the feasibility of SPECT molecular brain imaging of mice in the conscious, unrestrained state and demonstrate the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on radiotracer uptake.
On the implementation of mceliece with CCA2 indeterminacy by SHA-3

This paper deals with the design and implementation of the post-quantum public-key algorithm McEliece. Seamless incorporation of a new error generator and new SHA-3 module provides higher indeterminacy and more randomization of the original McEliece algorithm and achieves CCA2 security standard. Due to the lightweight and high-speed implementation of SHA-3 module the proposed 128-bit secure McEliece architecture provides 6% higher performance in only 0.78 times area of the best known existing design.