cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE SNOWMAN COMETH

The following is an analysis of primarily the cocaine trade in New York from 1910 to 1917. The data used come from the investigative files of the Bureau of Social Morals, part of the New York Kehillah. The Kehillah itself was a broadly based communal agency which functioned in part as a counter to accusations of Jewish criminality current in the press. The analysis deals with the social backgrounds of cocaine dealers. and then looks at the manner in which cocaine was distributed especially by criminal collectives known as combinations. It concludes that the structure of drug syndicates was exceptionally loose, fluid, and often kin-centered. Finally, the essay strongly suggests the need to integrate urban history with studies of organized crime in general.
Measurement of Surface Exchange Coefficient on Porous La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 − δ Samples by Conductivity Relaxation

A technique using conductivity relaxation on porous bodies was used to determine the oxygen surface exchange coefficient, k c h e m , of mixed conducting La 0 . 6 Sr 0 . 4 CoO 3 - δ (LSC40). The results from the porous bodies were compared with values of k c h e m obtained on dense samples of LSC40 using the same technique. Conductivity relaxation experiments were conducted over a temperature range from 600 to 800°C for small step changes in partial pressure of oxygen, po 2 , both decreasing and increasing, from 0.02 to 0.21 atm. The k c h e m obtained on a porous body at a given temperature was found to increase in the range from 10 - 6 to 10 - 5 cm/s over the po 2 range from 0.02 to 0.21 atm, with leveling off occurring at the higher po 2 values close to 0.21 atm. Over the temperature range investigated, k c h e m was found to increase with decreasing temperature, with the dependence described by an enthalpy of -23 RJ/mol. This contrasted sharply with the results obtained on dense samples in which k c h e m was found to increase with increasing temperature, with the corresponding activation energy of 220 kJ/mol. This discrepancy was rationalized on the premise that in dense samples of the thickness used, transport may have been predominantly controlled by chemical diffusion, which made accurate determination of k c h e m difficult. The increasing k c h e m with decreasing temperature in porous samples may indicate that the adsorption reaction is at equilibrium and the temperature dependence reflects the temperature dependence of surface coverage.
Partial least-squares regression neural network (PLSNET) with supervised adaptive modular learning

We present in this paper an adaptive linear neural network architecture called PLSNET. This network is based on partial least-squares (PLS) regression. The architecture is a modular network with stages that are associated with the desired number of PLS factors that are to be retained. PLSNET actually consists of two separate but coupled architectures, PLSNET-C for PLS calibration, and PLSNET-P for prediction (or estimation). We show that PLSNET-C can be trained by supervised learning with three standard Hebbian learning rules that extracts the PLS weight loading vectors, the regression coefficients, and the loading vectors for the univariate output component case (single target values). The PLS information that is extracted by PLSNET-C after training, i.e., three sets of synaptic weights, is used by the PLSNET-P as fixed weights (through the coupling) in its architecture. PLSNET-C can then yield predictions of the output variable given test measurements as its input. Two examples are presented, the first illustrates the typical improved predictive capability of PLSNET compared to classical least-squares, and the second shows how PLSNET can be used for parametric system identification.
Mothers' Awareness of their Early Adolescents' Stressors Relation between Awareness and Adolescent Adjustment

The goal of this study was to examine relations among mothers'awareness of their early adolescents' stressors, mother/adolescent communication, and adolescent problem behaviors. Ninth-graders and t...
Phosphors’ lifetime measurement employing the Time Between Photons method

The Time Between Photons theory (hereafter TBP) is applied to the evaluation of the lifetime of phosphors employed in the Ion Photon Emission Microscope (IPEM). IPEM allows Radiation Effects Microscopy (REM) without focused ion beams and appears to be the best tool for the radiation hardness assessment of modern integrated circuit at cyclotron energies. IPEM determines the impact point of a single ion onto the sample by measuring the light spot produced on a thin phosphor layer placed on the sample surface. The spot is imaged by an optical microscope and projected at high magnification onto a Position Sensitive Detector (PSD). Phosphors, when excited by an ion, emit photons with a particular lifetime, which is important to evaluate. We measured the statistical distribution of the Time Between consecutive detected Photons (TBP) for several phosphors and have been able to link it to their lifetime employing a theory that is derived in this paper. The single-photon signals are provided by the IPEM-PSD, or faster photomultipliers when high-speed materials had to be assessed.
Experiences with 100Gbps network applications

100Gbps networking has finally arrived, and many research and educational institutions have begun to deploy 100Gbps routers and services. ESnet and Internet2 worked together to make 100Gbps networks available to researchers at the Supercomputing 2011 conference in Seattle Washington. In this paper, we describe two of the first applications to take advantage of this network. We demonstrate a visualization application that enables remotely located scientists to gain insights from large datasets. We also demonstrate climate data movement and analysis over the 100Gbps network. We describe a number of application design issues and host tuning strategies necessary for enabling applications to scale to 100Gbps rates.
Study of various fittings used on bulk chemical supply system

When selecting a fluoropolymer fitting design to be used in ultra high-purity chemical applications, decision makers must consider different performance characteristics. A recent study was conducted that measured key fitting attributes, such as fitting pull-out force, cleanliness and assembly time. The study compared commercially available nonwetted insert, flare, and wetted insert style fittings. The methodologies employed and the test results are detailed in this paper.
Balancing dose and image registration accuracy for cone beam tomosynthesis (CBTS) for breast patient setup.

PURPOSE To balance dose reduction and image registration accuracy in breast setup imaging. In particular, the authors demonstrate the relationship between scan angle and dose delivery for cone beam tomosynthesis (CBTS) when employed for setup verification of breast cancer patients with surgical clips. METHODS The dose measurements were performed in a female torso phantom for varying scan angles of CBTS. Setup accuracy was measured using three registration methods: Clip centroid localization accuracy and the accuracy of two semiautomatic registration algorithms. The dose to the organs outside of the ipsilateral breast and registration accuracy information were compared to determine the optimal scan angle for CBTS for breast patient setup verification. Isocenter positions at the center of the patient and at the breast-chest wall interface were considered. RESULTS Image registration accuracy was within 1 mm for the CBTS scan angles theta above 20 degrees for some scenarios and as large as 80 degrees for the worst case, depending on the imaged breast and registration algorithm. Registration accuracy was highest based on clip centroid localization. For left and right breast imaging with the isocenter at the chest wall, the dose to the contralateral side of the patient was very low (<0.5 cGy) for all scan angles considered. For central isocenter location, the optimal scan angles were 30 degrees - 50 degrees for the left breast imaging and 40 degrees - 50 degrees for the right breast imaging, with the difference due to the geometric asymmetry of the current clinical imaging system. CONCLUSIONS The optimal scan angles for CBTS imaging were found to be between 10 degrees and 50 degrees, depending on the isocenter location and ipsilateral breast. Use of the isocenter at the breast-chest wall locations always resulted in greater accuracy of image registration (<1 mm) at smaller angles (10 degrees - 20 degrees) and at lower doses (<0.1 cGy) to the contralateral organs. For chest wall isocenters, doses delivered to organs outside of the target breast were much smaller than the scattered and leakage doses of the treatment beams. The complete volumetric information of all clips in the region of interest, combined with the small dose to the contralateral organs and the small scan angle, could result in an advantage for small angle CBTS with off center isocenters over simple orthogonal pairs.
Stimulation of PC cell-derived growth factor (epithelin/granulin precursor) expression by estradiol in human breast cancer cells

PC cell-derived growth factor (PCDGF) is an 88 kDa glycosylated protein isolated from a highly tumorigenic mouse teratoma derived cell line which is similar to the epithelin/granulin precursor. Using Northern blot and western blot analyses, we detect the expression of PCDGF mRNA and protein in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. We show that 17-beta-estradiol stimulates PCDGF mRNA and protein expression in a time and dose-dependent manner. The stimulation of PCDGF expression by 17-beta-estradiol was observed as early as 4 hours and reached a maximum at 12 hours. Maximal stimulation of PCDGF mRNA and protein expression by 17-beta-estradiol was observed at a concentration of 10(-8) M. The stimulation of PCDGF expression by 17-beta-estradiol was completely inhibited by treatment with actinomycin D and with the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen. The stimulation of PCDGF expression was also demonstrated in another human estrogen-responsive cell line T47D. The results presented here provide evidence of a novel estradiol responsive gene product in human breast cancer cell lines and give information about the hormonal control of epithelin/granulin (PCDGF) expression in these cells.
Confidence Intervals for Scale

Summary This paper explains the approach to parameter estimation based on the idea of simultaneous models. Instead of using a single shape—as for example the normal distribution—a simultaneous model uses a finite number of distinct shapes F, G, etc. Such simultaneous systems are tools in gauging the finite sample behavior of estimators. And they can be applied in the design of an estimator with prescribed desirable properties. The problem considered in this paper is interval estimation for a scale parameter. We discuss among other things the computation of optimal estimators in simultaneous models and study more closely the case of protecting against heavy-tailed error distributions.
Classification and Representation of Semi-Simple Jordan Algebras

In the present paper we use the term special Jordan algebra to denote a (non-associative) algebra \( \mathfrak{K} \) over a field of characteristic not two for which there exists a 1–1 correspondence a→a R of \( \mathfrak{K} \) into an associative algebra \( \mathfrak{A} \) such that $$ {\left( {a + b} \right)^R} = {a^R} + {b^R},\;{\left( {\alpha a} \right)^R} = \alpha {a^R} $$ (1) for α in the underlying field and $$ {\left( {a \cdot b} \right)^R} = \left( {{a^R}{b^R} + {b^R}{a^R}} \right)/2 $$ (2) In the last equation the • denotes the product defined in the algebra \( \mathfrak{K} \). When there is no risk of confusion we shall also use the · to denote the Jordan product (xy+yx)/2 in an associative algebra. Jordan multiplication is in general non-associative but it is easy to verify that the following special rules hold: $$ a \cdot b = b \cdot a,\;\left( {a \cdot b} \right) \cdot {a^2} = a \cdot \left( {b \cdot {a^2}} \right) $$ (3) Hence these rules hold for the product in a special Jordan algebra.
A Coherence Model of Cognitive Consistency: Dynamics of Attitude Change During the Persian Gulf War

We describe Co3 (Coherence Model of Cognitive Consistency), a computational model that we used to simulate attitudinal shifts toward various factors related to the Persian Gulf War. Co3 is based on “parallel constraint satisfaction,” a mechanism that revises a set of attitudes so as to maximize overall coherence, with each attitude simultaneously influencing every other related attitude. The Gulf War provided a naturalistic case study for examining the dynamics of attitude change. A survey of attitudes toward U.S. military involvement was administered to 129 students at the University of California, Los Angeles, first during the initial two days of the war, and again two weeks later. At each time, support for U.S. military action was highly correlated (either positively or negatively) with factors indicative of attitudes toward pacifism, the legitimacy of U.S. intervention, isolationism, and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. A within-subject analysis revealed that shifts in support for the war were correlated with consistent shifts in all four of the major predictors, including those (e.g., pacifism) that would not seem to have been directly affected by events over the intervening time period. This pattern of attitude change demonstrates cognitive consistency. Co3 was used to model how a shift in one attitude due to external inputs (e.g., media reports) can trigger correlated shifts in related attitudes. Computational methods of the sort exemplified by Co3 may be useful in modeling various social psychological phenomena.
XML Metadata Services

As the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles have gained importance, an emerging need has appeared for methodologies to locate desired services that provide access to their capability descriptions. These services must typically be assembled into short-term service collections that, together with code execution services, are combined into a meta-application to perform a particular task. To address metadata requirements of these problems, we introduce XML Metadata Services to manage both stateless and stateful (transient) metadata. We leverage the two widely used web service standards: Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) and Web Services Context (WS-Context) in our design. We describe our approach and experiences when designing semantics"" for XML Metadata Services. We report results from a prototype of the system that is applied to mobile environment for optimizing Web Service communications.""
Tissue transplantation immunity in the adult newt, Diemictylus viridescens. II. The rejection phase: first- and second-set allograft reactions and lack of sexual dimorphism.

Rejection of first-set allografts in field collected Diemictylus viridescens is manifested by: (1) secondary vessel dilation (about 17 days), (2) hemostasis (about 20 days), (3) hemorrhage (about 23 days), and (4) eventual melanophore death (from 28 to 40 days). All these events were somewhat variable with respect to the time of onset, intensity, and duration. Histologically, these changes that distinguished allografts from autografts were paralleled by: (1) an increasing infiltration of small lymphocytes without graft destruction (secondary vasodilation), and (2) a stronger infiltration of lymphocytes concomitant with glandular death (hemostasis, hemorrhaging, and melanophore death). Although this pattern of rejection was the norm, several examples of long-term graft survival were encountered. When 28 days separated the transplantation of single first- and second-set grafts, a clear anamnestic response was elicited although circulation was re-established in 58% of the secondary transplants. Specificity of the second-set response was demonstrated. Single second-set transplants grafted ten days after single first-set grafts were not rejected in an accelerated fashion; rather such grafts often survived for a few days longer than the first-set grafts transplanted to the same host. The rejection of allografts from donors of different sexes transplanted to hosts of both sexes did not reveal any sexual dimorphic response. The site of transplantation (flank or throat) did not alter the timing or sequence of the rejection pattern.
Flame Retarding Polycarbonate/ ABS Blends with a Brominated Phosphate:

Triphenyl phosphate and a brominated phosphate were compared as flame retardant additives for polycarbonate/ABS blends. The concentration of the flame retardant was varied from 6 to 14% and the polycarbonate/ABS ratio was varied from 3/1 to 1/1. A commercial polycarbonate/ABS blend is 3/1 with about 14% triphenyl phosphate for a UL-94 V-0/5V rating. Reducing the polycarbonate or the flame retardant level gives products which do not pass UL-94 V-0/5V. Compositions containing the brominated phosphate with UL-94 V-0/5V ratings include use of 6% flame retardant or 14% flame retardant with polymer ratios down to 1/1. Cone calorimetry data show significantly longer time to ignition, lower total heat release and lower peak heat release rate for the brominated phosphate-containing resin. Mechanical properties are also given.
Capillary gel electrophoresis with sinusoidal voltammetric detection: a strategy to allow four-"color" DNA sequencing.

A novel detection strategy for DNA sequencing applications that utilizes a frequency-based electrochemical method is reported. Sinusoidal voltammetry is used to selectively identify four unique redox molecules that are covalently attached to the 5‘-end of a 20-base sequencing primer. The tags used in this work are ferrocene derivatives with different substituents attached to the ferrocene ring, where the electron-donating or -withdrawing character of the substituent alters the half-wave potential of the modified ferrocene. Therefore, each tag has a unique SV frequency spectrum that can be easily identified in the frequency domain. In this work, the discrimination of one tag versus all others is accomplished through a “phase-nulling” technique. The signal for each tag is selectively eliminated while the other three responses remain virtually unchanged. This analysis scheme allows for the selective identification of each tagged oligonucleotide eluting in sieving polymer capillary gel electrophoresis with a ...
Pancreatic B-cell defects in gestational diabetes: implications for the pathogenesis and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia that results from tissue resistance to the glucoselowering effects of insulin and inadequate pancreatic B-cell compensation for that resistance (1). Longitudinal studies of people at risk for T2DM reveal that insulin resistance is often present years before the onset of hyperglycemia (2–4). Studies of the evolution of diabetes during a relatively short period (i.e. 5–7 yr) before the diagnosis in Mexican Americans and Pima Indians have revealed that: 1) poor B-cell function and insulin resistance precede and predict the development of diabetes (4, 6); and 2) the progression from normal glucose tolerance to diabetes is attended by a decline in B-cell function and an increase in insulin resistance (6). These findings indicate that insulin resistance and B-cell dysfunction both occur in people who develop T2DM. They do not reveal whether declining B-cell function is an independent event that is simply coincident with insulin resistance in some members of the population or whether the two abnormalities are causally linked. Here, I will develop the theme that insulin resistance causes B-cell dysfunction in susceptible individuals, using information from women who are at increased risk for T2DM by virtue of a clinical diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
BENCHMARKS AFFECT PERCEPTIONS OF PRIOR DISABILITY IN A STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

Though covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, job candidates with a record of a disability may be adversely evaluated. Two experiments demonstrate that subtle knowledge of a prior disability creates a bias that can be removed by a structured interview. A job candidate was labeled as having once suffered from depression, substance abuse, cancer, or no disability. The candidate who once suffered from depression or substance abuse was judged more negatively than a control candidate, while a cancer survivor was not. Though disabilities are not perceived equally, benchmarked rating scales can enhance attention to relevant behaviors, thus controlling the potential for bias.
IL-10 DEFICIT CORRELATES WITH CHRONIC, HYPERSPLENOMEGALY SYNDROME IN MALE CBA/J MICE INFECTED WITH SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI

Twenty weeks after moderate level infections with Schistosoma mansoni, approximately 20% of male CBA/J mice develop hypersplenomegaly syndrome (HSS) while the rest present with moderate splenomegaly syndrome (MSS). HSS and MSS mice differ pathophysiologically (degree of splenomegaly, anaemia, ascites, periportal fibrosis, portal hypertension) and immunologically with regard to antibodies (idiotypic expression, isotype levels) to schistosome soluble egg antigens (SEA), and spleen cell phenotypic profiles. This study compared in vitro proliferative responses and IL-2, IFN gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 production by spleen cells from uninfected mice and mice with acute (8 wk), MSS or HSS schistosomiasis mansoni, upon exposure to anti-CD3 epsilon or SEA, Spleen cells from uninfected mice produce Il-2 to anti-CD3 epsilon but exposure of cells from all three groups of infected mice to anti-CD3 epsilon or SEA led to only very low levels of supernatant IL-2. Anti-CD3 epsilon- or SEA-stimulated production of IFN gamma or Il-4, and anti-CD3 epsilon-stimulated production of IL-10, displayed similar patterns: highest cytokine production by cells from mice with acute infections and lower levels of production that did not differ between the two chronic groups. In contrast, while SEA-stimulated IL-10 production was again highest with cells from mice with acute infections, spleen cells from mice with MSS produced significantly more IL-10 than did those from mice with HSS. This association of low levels of antigen-induced IL-10 with severe pathology is consistent with the theory that IL-10 plays a role in the immunoregulation that occurs in chronic schistosomiasis.
METABOLIC EFFECTS OF SOME HALOGENATED ACRYLIC ACID ANALOGUES OF THYROXINE1

IN THE literature of the study of the portions of the thyroxine molecule structure which are required for physiological activity, three general points of attack are prominent: (1) the specific type as well as number of atoms of halogen, (2) the diphenyl ether skeleton, (3) the alanine sidechain. The work has recently been summarized by Frieden and Winzler (1948), who concluded that thyroxine-like activity was dependent upon the following combination of features: with R a wide variety of active groups. Because of the recent report by Harington (1948) concerning activity shown by the thio-ether analogue, this modification should also be included. It is the purpose of this paper to report work bearing principally upon the number and type of halogens and influence of the R side-chain. The animals used were young adult male albino rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain, 300–350 grams in weight.
Interannual variations of the thermal regime of the active layer and near‐surface permafrost in northern Alaska

Air, ground surface, active layer and permafrost temperature measurements were made every four hours from 1986 through 1992 near Prudhoe Bay West Dock (WD), Deadhorse Airport (DH) and Franklin Bluffs (FB). Mean annual air temperatures (MAAT) were nearly identical (−12.6 °C at WD, −12.9°C at DH, −12.5°C at FB) while the amplitudes increased from the coast inland (17.2°C at WD, 18.4°C at DH, 20.8°C at FB). Interannual variations were similar (3.2°C at WD, 2.9°C at DH and FB). Mean annual ground surface temperatures (MAGST) were similar at FB (−5.8°C) and DH (−6.2°C) and much colder at WD (−8.8°C) with amplitudes of 14.5°C at WD, 13.5°C at DH and 15.2°C at FB. Interannual variations were about the same at WD (3.8°C) and DH (3.9°C) and much smaller at FB (1.4°C). Differences between MAGST and MAAT were about the same at FB (6.8°C) and DH (6.7°C) and much smaller at WD (3.9°C). The results suggest that the snow cover was thinner at WD and/or its properties were significantly different compared with the inland sites. Mean annual permafrost surface temperatures (MAPST) were the same at FB and DH (−6.8°C) and much colder at WD (−9.1°C) with interannual variations of 2.7°C at WD, 3.0°C at DH and 1.8°C at FB. Thermal offset (MAPST − MAGST) was about the same at WD (−0.7°C) and DH (−0.67°C) and larger at FB (−1.03°C). Generally, thawing at the ground surface began earlier at FB than at DH and WD. Average duration of thawing (99 days at WD, 104 days at DH, 107 days at FB) and dates of the start of ground freezing (16 September at WD, 18 September at DH, 17 September at FB) were similar at all three sites. Average durations for freezing the active layer were similar at FB (62.5 days) and DH (68 days) and much less at WD (42 days). Active layer thicknesses increased from the coast inland (range of 0.21 m to 0.46 m at WD, 0.42 m to 0.69 m at DH, 0.57 m to 0.72 m at FB) and showed systematic temporal variations. These variations in active layer thicknesses may have significant temporal and spatial effects on the carbon balance of the tundra. Des mesures des temperatures de l'air, de la surface du sol, de la couche active et du pergelisol ont ete enregistrees toutes les quatre heures de 1986 a 1992 pres du dock ouest de Prudhoe Bay (WD), a l'aeroport Deadhorse (DH) et a Franklin Bluffs (FB). Les temperatures moyennes annuelles de l'air (MAAT) ont ete presqu'identiques (−12.6°C a WD, −12.9°C a DH, −12.5°C a FB) tandis que les amplitudes augmentent depuis la cǒte vers l'interieur (17.2°C a WD, 18.4°C a DH, 20.8°C a FB). Les variations interannuelles ont ete semblables (3.2°C WD, 2.9°C a DH et FB). Les temperatures moyennes annuelles a la surface du sol (MAGST) ont ete semblables a FB (−5.8°C) et DH (−6.2°C) et beaucoup plus froides a WD (−8.8°C) avec des amplitudes de 14.5°C a WD, 13.5°C a DH, et 15.2°C a FB. Les vari.
Immunogenicity and efficacy of DNA vaccines encoding influenza A proteins in aged mice

Influenza is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older persons. The current influenza vaccine is only modestly successful, in part because of an age-related decline in immunogenicity and also because it induces only type-specified immunity. To overcome this, we evaluated DNA vaccines encoding A/PR8/34 haemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) in young and aged BALB/c mice. Control mice were given formalin-inactivated A/PR8/34, control DNA, or a non-lethal dose of PR8. Aged mice given HA DNA developed slightly lower anti-HA serum antibodies than young mice; however, both young and aged mice were protected from a homotypic PR8 challenge. Following vaccination with NP DNA, both young and aged mice developed anti-NP bulk cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity and pCTL frequency similar to control animals. When challenged with a low dose of A/HK/68 (H3N2) influenza virus, both young mice and aged mice showed significant protection as measured by inhibition of weight loss. When challenged with a relatively high dose of A/HR/68 (H3N2) influenza virus, however, the anti-NP vaccine only partially protected young mice and failed to protect aged mice. These data demonstrate that DNA-based vaccines are immunogenic in aged animals, but suggest that factors other than the age-related decline in CTL activity also contribute to the increased morbidity and mortality of influenza in the elderly.
A Delay-Lock Loop for Tracking Pulsed-Envelope Signals

A sampled-data delay-lock loop (SDDLL) which tracks the arrival time of a biphase modulated, pulsed-envelope RF signal is described. A pseudo-noise (PN) code generator is used as the modulation source as in conventional delay-lock loop tracking devices. Time base shifting of the loop's local clock is performed by digital means. The technique permits the use of a stable-frequency clock to maintain accurate timing between timing correction instants. An expression is derived for the standard deviation of the timing error due to additive Gaussian noise at the SDDLL input. Experimental results are then given which include the effects of control-system quantization error on timing jitter. Assuming that the errors due to input noise and quantized timing corrections are independent and additive, the theoretical and experimental results agree to within approximately one decibel.
On Finite Groups Satisfying the Permutizer Condition

Abstract A group G satisfies the permutizer condition P if each proper subgroup H of G permutes with some cyclic subgroup not contained in H . The structure of finite groups with P is studied, the main result being that such groups are soluble with chief factors of order 4 or a prime. The classification of finite simple groups is used, as is detailed information about maximal factorizations of almost simple groups.
The Role of Clobetasol Propionate Emollient 0.05% in the Treatment of Patients with Dry, Scaly, Corticosteroid- Responsive Dermatoses

The use of topical corticosteroids has significantly enhanced the treatment of patients with dermatoses such as psoriasis and eczema. In particular, group I high-potency corticosteroids such as clobetasol propionate have proved safe and effective for limited-course treatment of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of moderate-to-severe corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. At the same time, much effort has gone into devising more effective strategies for addressing the dry skin conditions associated with various dermatologic disorders. An emollient added to a steroid, although not itself an active ingredient, can help restore the normal moisturizing process of the skin; this may be particularly important in soothing the discomfort of the dry skin conditions often encountered in moderate-to-severe dermatoses. In addition, the degree of epidermal hydration can affect the penetration of steroids into the skin. Therefore, successful outcomes in the treatment of patients with corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses may involve more than use of an effective topical steroid. This article examines a currently available cream formulation of 0.05% clobetasol propionate containing moisturizers--emollients, dimethicone, and a humectant--that may contribute to improved moisture content in treated skin. A review of recent studies shows that clobetasol propionate emollient cream is well tolerated and effective in courses of up to 4 weeks for the treatment of patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.
A Novel Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 (FGF1) Mutant that Acts as an FGF Antagonist

Background Crosstalk between integrins and FGF receptors has been implicated in FGF signaling, but the specifics of the crosstalk are unclear. We recently discovered that 1) FGF1 directly binds to integrin αvβ3, 2) the integrin-binding site and FGF receptor (FGFR) binding site are distinct, and 3) the integrin-binding-defective FGF1 mutant (R50E) is defective in inducing FGF signaling although R50E still binds to FGFR and heparin and induces transient ERK1/2 activation.
Thinking About Quality and Its Links with Strategic Management

Abstract This article by Mark Pruett and Howard Thomas highlights the fact that there is a variety of perspectives on quality, but that each of those perspectives contributes to an integrative, systemic view of what it means to manage for quality. That systemic view raises certain key issues about the way we think of the strategic management process, issues which merit renewed scrutiny in the light of quality management.
Physiological and biomechanical differences between wheelchair-dependent and able-bodied subjects during wheelchair ergometry.

The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological and biomechanical responses of wheelchair-dependent persons (WCD) to able-bodied persons (AB) during manual wheelchair ergometry. Five WCD and five AB performed a discontinuous wheelchair ergometer test starting at 12.8 W at 30 rev·min−1 (57 m·min−1) with increments of 7.0 W at 6-min intervals. Biomechanical data were collected 3.5 min into each stage followed by the collection of physiological data. After the fifth stage, peak oxygen consumption was determined by having the subject work against a resistance of 14.7–19.6 N at 30 rev · min−1. The WCD had significantly higher net mechanical efficiency at 26.7, 33.6 and 40.6 W in comparison to the AB. The WCD had significantly greater shoulder extension at the point of initial wheel contact as measured by the shoulder angle, while the AB had significantly greater shoulder range of motion at all work rates in comparison to the WCD. The results demonstrate that a significant physiological difference exists in the manner by which WCD and AB accomplish wheelchair ergometry. The biomechanical differences between AB and WCD were found to be a prominent factor contributing to the higher mechanical efficiency of WCD over AB. It was concluded that basic physiological and biomechanical differences exist between WCD and AB in manual wheelchair locomotion and that these differences are important considerations to the interpretation of data in wheelchair ergometry studies.
Market Structure and Cyclical Fluctuations in U.S. Manufacturing

The relevance of imperfect competition for models of aggregate economic fluctuations has received increased attention from researchers in both macroeconomics and industrial organization. Measuring properly the size of industry markups of price over marginal cost is important both for assessing the role of market structure and for determining the extent to which excess capacity is a significant feature accompanying imperfect competition in American industry. Using a panel data set on four-digit Census manufacturing industries, this paper expands recent work by Robert Hall on the importance of market structure for understanding cyclical fluctuations. We outline a methodology for estimating industry markups of price over cost and the influence of market structure on cyclical movements in total factor productivity. While we find evidence to support the proposition that price exceeds marginal cost in U.S. manufacturing, our results offer only limited support for the notion that markups are importantly related to differences in industry concentration, though the effect of unionization is important. Concentration effects are important only in industries producing durable goods or differentiated consumer goods. In addition, much of the estimated markup of price over marginal cost is accounted for by fixed costs related to overhead labor, advertising, and central office expenses; we do not find compelling evidence of substantial evidence of excess capacity in most industries.
Design and construction of a precision cartilage reshaping device

This manuscript describes the design and construction of device which controls the laser reshaping of cartilage specimens using dynamic measurements of changes in tissue optical properties and surface temperature as feedback control variables. Diffusely transmitted light from an amplitude modulated diode laser ((lambda) equals670 nm, 5 mW) was collected using a multimode optical fiber and measured with a silicon photoreceiver using lock in detection method. Surface temperature was measured with a thermopile. A jig was constructed to maintain porcine nasal septal cartilage specimens (25.0 x 10.0 x 2.0 mm) in deformation during photothermal heating. The jig and specimen were translated relative to a fixed laser spot using two motors controlled using LabView software and a motion control card. Software allowed implementation of several different modes of operation including closed-loop feedback control or open- loop (user defined) conditions. This device has allowed the systematic evaluation of the effect of laser dosimetry on the reshaping process. Design considerations are discussed along with suggestions for clinical device development.
A sensitive and convenient method for measurement of corticosterone in rat serum

Abstract Although competitive protein-binding assays for corticosterone have been in use for several years, most employ cumbersome methods for the separation of bound and. free steroid. This paper describes conditions under which dextran-coated charcoal can be successfully used for this purpose. When the time of exposure to suspended charcoal was carefully controlled, approximately 90% of free steroid was adsorbed and neglible dissociation of bound steroid occurred. The assay was highly sensitive, having a standard curve ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 ng corticosterone. When known amounts of corticosterone were added to serum, 89–95% recoveries were achieved. Other steroids showed negligible cross-reactivity.
Rôle of eyes, optic lobes, and pars intercerebralis in locomotory and stridulatory circadian rhythms of Teleogryllus commodus.

Abstract Locomotory and stridulatory activity rhythms of male crickets ( Teleogryllus commodus ) were assayed simultaneously following various experimental procedures. These included (a) severing the pathways between the ocelli and the brain, between the ommatidia and the optic lobes, or between the optic lobes and the brain, and (b) RF cauterization of the pars intercerebralis. The results indicate that (1) light-dark cycles which entrain both rhythms are perceived by the compound eyes and not by the ocelli; (2) loss of connexion between the brain and the optic lobes leads to arrhythmicity in both behaviours, but a single optic lobe can maintain rhythmicity; (3) absence of neurosecretory cells in the pars intercerebralis is correlated with loss of stridulatory activity and arrhythmicity in locomotory behaviour. It is suggested that the pars intercerebralis serves as a site of coupling between a circadian pacemaker and various overt behaviours. However, intermediate control by the pars intercerebralis is assumed to be exerted via channels that can be either hormonal or purely neuronal in nature.
Ventricular Defibrillation in Canines with Chronic Infarction, and Effects of Lidocaine and Procainamide

Prior studies in dogs with normal hearts have demonstrated that lidocaine increases but procainamide does not change the energy required for successful defibrillation. Because many postinfarct patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillator devices require adjunctive antiarrhythmic therapy, we have studied the effects of lidocaine and procainamide on the relationship between delivered voltage and defibrillation success in mongrel dogs 21 +/- 3 days following ligation of the left anterior descending and first diagonal coronary arteries. Internal defibrillation testing using a patch-patch electrode configuration was performed before and during the administration of saline controls (n = 10), lidocaine (n = 10) and procainamide (n = 10). The mean infarct size as determined by staining with tetrazolium was 13.4% +/- 8.3% of right and left ventricles, and did not differ significantly between groups. The 50% effective defibrillation (ED50) voltage increased with infusions of saline (16% +/- 15%), lidocaine (40% +/- 22%), and procainamide (13% +/- 15%) and the ED50 energy increased 41% +/- 44%, 104% +/- 62%, and 35% +/- 36%, respectively. However, the increase in ED50 voltages and energies were significantly greater in animals receiving lidocaine compared to those receiving either saline control or procainamide (P < 0.01). There were trends toward change of hemodynamic parameters in all animals following baseline defibrillation testing; stroke volume declined 21% +/- 16%; and mean pulmonary artery and aortic pressure increased by 22% +/- 25% and 11% +/- 15%, respectively. In conclusion, unlike our previous studies in dogs with normal hearts, in this model hemodynamic deterioration occurred with repeated fibrillation and defibrillation, and defibrillation voltage requirements increased in the control series. Taking into consideration the increase in defibrillation voltage requirements over the duration of the experiments, lidocaine increases and procainamide does not change ED50; thus, their effects are similar in normal and infarcted canine hearts.
“Mother nature doesn’t have a bullet with your name on it”: Coding with reference to one’s name or object location?

Abstract When movements of a joystick toward/away from the self are made in response to positive/negative words, performance is better with the positive-toward/negative-away mapping than with the alternative mapping, consistent with an approach-avoidance motivational account. Markman and Brendl (2005) instructed participants to move a positive or negative word toward or away from their name, located on a bar at the center of a three-dimensional display. The positive-toward/negative-away mapping relative to the name’s location was preferred, which means that relative to the body the preferred mapping reversed to positive-away/negative-toward when the word was in front of the name. This finding was interpreted as demonstrating that “the compatibility effect depends on people’s representation of their selves in space rather than on their physical location” (p. 6). Alternatively, this effect may arise from the bar providing a salient referent object for coding relative location. We report an experiment that replicates these findings but shows similar results when there is no name on the bar and/or no three-dimensional perspective. An account in terms of action effects involving implied movement of the word toward or away from a referent object rather than a representation of self provides the simplest explanation of the compatibility effect.
Evolutionary principles for polynomial models of frequency-dependent selection.

A one-locus two-allele deterministic model of frequency-dependent selection is analyzed, where genotypic fitnesses [w(i)(q)] are assumed to be nth-degree polynomial functions of allelic frequency (q). The model encompasses many modes of selection, including intraspecies competitive interaction, brood selection, meiotic drive, cyclical selection, and mixed models. Allelic frequencies converge monotonically to locally stable equilibria provided that dw(i)(q)/dq is not large. There exists a function T(q) that is nondecreasing and locally maximized at locally stable equilibria. The rate of change of T(q) per generation is approximately equal to the additive genetic variance in fitness. T(q) is a simple function of the average effect of an allelic substitution and is closely related to Wright's "fitness function." These results define "evolutionary landscapes" for some complex selection processes and enlarge the scope of the classical methods embodied in Wright's "mean fitness principle" and Fisher's "fundamental theorem."
Progress in the initial management of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoid malignancy composed of two distinct disease entities; the more commonly diagnosed classical HL and the rare nodular lymphocyte predominant HL. Nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depletion, and lymphocyte-rich HL are subgroups under the designation of classical HL. An accurate assessment of the stage of disease in patients with HL is critical for the selection of appropriate therapy. Prognostic models that identify patients at low or high risk for recurrence are used to optimize therapy for patients with limited or advanced stage disease and predict their outcomes while reducing the toxicities. Initial therapy for HL patients is based on the histology, anatomical stage and the presence of poor prognostic features. Management of localized HL has shifted from radiation alone to combined modality strategies with brief courses of combination chemotherapy followed by involved-field radiation therapy. Patients with advanced stage disease receive a longer course of chemotherapy commonly without radiation therapy. Clinical trials are being conducted using the early interim response or response at the end of therapy as measured by PET scan to determine treatment.
Optimization of Arithmetic Datapaths with Finite Word-Length Operands

This paper presents an approach to area optimization of arithmetic datapaths that perform polynomial computations over bit-vectors with finite widths. Examples of such designs abound in DSP for audio, video and multimedia computations where the input and output bit-vector sizes are dictated by the desired precision. A bit-vector of size m represents integer values reduced modulo 2m(%2m). Therefore, finite word-length bit-vector arithmetic can be modeled as algebra over finite integer rings, where the bit-vector size dictates the ring cardinality. This paper demonstrates how the number-theoretic properties of finite integer rings can be exploited for optimization of bit-vector arithmetic. Along with an analytical model to estimate the implementation cost at RTL, two algorithms are presented to optimize bit-vector arithmetic. Experimental results, conducted within practical CAD settings, demonstrate significant area savings due to our approach.
Sex hormone regulation of tear lipocalin in the rabbit lacrimal gland

Tear lipocalin (TL) (approximately 18 kDa), a member of the lipocalin superfamily, has been identified as one of the major proteins present in rabbit lacrimal fluid. The concentration of TL has been found to be decreased in the tears of patients with dry eye disease. Lacrimal gland insufficiency, one of the major causes of dry eye disease, is known to affect mainly postmenopausal women, where there is a significant decrease in the production of androgen and estrogen. These observations suggest that sex hormones might influence dry eye indirectly by regulating the expression of TL. The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) the effect of sexual maturation on the expression of TL; and (2) if the expression of TL is regulated by the estrogen, 17beta-estradiol, and/or the androgen, dihydrotestosterone, in sexually mature female rabbits. Lacrimal fluid (LF) and lacrimal gland soluble fraction (Si) was collected from juvenile (2 kg) and sexually mature (4 kg) male and female New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits. In addition, LF and Si were collected from 4 kg rabbits, 7 days after being either sham operated (control), ovariectomized (OVX), ovariectomized treated with estrogen (OVX+E) or ovariectomized treated with dihydrotestosterone (OVX+DHT). Samples were analyzed for protein levels of TL by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting using a polyclonal rat anti-rabbit TL antibody. Densitometry analysis showed that TL protein levels in both LF and Si increased with age in male and female rabbits. In addition, TL protein levels were significantly higher in the sexually mature 4 kg male compared with the 4 kg female, while no significant difference in TL protein levels were seen among the juvenile male and female rabbits. Furthermore, ovariectomy decreased the protein levels of TL in LF and Si fraction by 50% and 20% respectively, compared with control values. Estrogen treatment increased TL protein levels by 30% and 50% in the LF and Si fraction respectively, compared with the sham operated group. DHT treatment also increased TL protein levels by approximately 150% in both LF and Si fraction compared with control values. These results support the hypothesis that sex hormones influence TL protein levels in rabbit lacrimal glands. The possibility of a role of TL in dry eye needs to be further investigated.
The Structural Design of Electrode Materials for High Energy Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries are used to power a diverse range of applications from small compact devices, such as smart cards and cellular telephones to large heavy duty devices such as uninterrupted power supply units and electric- and hybrid-electric vehicles. This paper briefly reviews the approaches to design advanced materials to replace the lithiated graphite and LiCoO{sub 2} electrodes that dominate today's lithium-ion batteries in order to increase their energy and safety. The technological advantages of lithium batteries are placed in the context of water-based- and high-temperature battery systems.