cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cocaine induces state-dependent learning of sexual conditioning in male Japanese quail

State dependent learning effects have been widely studied in a variety of drugs of abuse. However, they have yet to be studied in relation to sexual motivation. The current study investigated state-dependent learning effects of cocaine in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) using a sexual conditioning paradigm. Cocaine-induced state-dependent learning effects were investigated using a 2×2 factorial design with training state as one factor and test state as the other factor. During a 14-day training phase, male quail were injected once daily with 10mg/kg cocaine or saline and then placed in a test chamber after 15min. In the test chamber, sexual conditioning trials consisted of presentation of a light conditioned stimulus (CS) followed by sexual reinforcement. During the state dependent test, half of the birds received a shift in drug state from training to testing (Coc→Sal or Sal→Coc) while the other half remained in the same drug state (Coc→Coc or Sal→Sal). Results showed that male quail that were trained and tested in the same state (Coc→Coc or Sal→Sal) showed greater sexual conditioning than male quail that were trained and tested in different states (Sal→Coc) except when cocaine was administered chronically prior to the test (Coc→Sal). For the latter condition, sexual conditioning persisted from cocaine training to the saline test. The findings suggest that state dependent effects may alter sexual motivation and that repeated exposure to cocaine during sexual activity may increase sexual motivation which, in turn, may lead to high risk sexual activities. An alternative explanation for the findings is also discussed.
1092 ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

Twelve normal and sixteen malnourished (total calorie). children (6 with <3%, 5 with <10% and 5 with <25% malnourishment) over 2 years of age were vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine containing 14 types of purified capsular polysaccharides. Pre and 2 to 3 weeks post-vaccination sera were obtained and assayed for antibody production against 12 capsular types by means of radioimmunoassay. Geometric mean antibody titers (GMT's) before immunization were comparable between the control subjects and children with various degrees of malnourishment. Control subjects responded well to all capsular types (with the exception of type 6A and 19F known to be nonimmunogenic in the particular lot). Similarly malnourished children, irrespective of the degree of malnourishment showed a comparable level of antibody response to the same capsular polysaccharide types. Thus total calorie malnutrition - up to 25% - does not impair antibody production to pneumococcal polysaccharides and can be safely and effectively used in the protection of these children.
The Effects on Carbohydrate Metabolism of a 21-day Monophasic Oral Contraceptive Containing Levonorgestrel 100 mcg and Ethinyl Estradiol 20 mcg

After treatment with high dose oral contraceptives, alterations in carbohydrate metabolism including decreased glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance have been described. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a monophase oral contraceptive preparation of levonorgestrel 100 mcg and ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg (LNG/EE 100/20) on carbohydrate metabolism. LNG/EE 100/20 was administered orally once daily for 21 days followed by placebo for 7 days. Glucose tolerance was evaluated with the use of a standard 3-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT after administration of a 75-g loading dose of glucose. The GTT was performed dUring the prestudy period between menstrual cycle days 17 and 26. Testing was repeated during the third and sixth treatment cycles between tablet days 15 and 21. Mean changes from baseline values in glucose and insulin were calculated for each collection time. Forty healthy women were enrolled at a single university outpatient center. Data were available for analysis for 15 subjects who had complete data through 6 cycles. Two subjects with abnormally high pretreatment insulin values were excluded from the analysis. Except for a small mean increase in the 30-minute glucose value at cycle 6, there were no statistically significant changes from baseline in glucose or insulin values for the remaining 13 subjects. These changes were not believed to be clinically important because all individual values remained within the normal range. The results of this study show that this preparation of LNG/EE 100/20 has no clinically important effects on carbohydrate metabolism.
Interval mapping and congenic strains for a blood pressure QTL on rat Chromosome 13

The rerun locus (Ren) on rat Chromosome (Chr) 13 had previously been shown to cosegregate with blood pressure in crosses involving Dahl salt-sensitive (S) and Dahl salt-resistant (R) rats. In the present work, interval mapping of blood pressure on Chr 13 with a large F2 (S x R), n = 233, population yielded a maximum LOD = 4.2 for linkage to blood pressure, but the quantitative trait locus (QTL) was only poorly localized to a large 35-centiMorgan (cM) segment of Chr 13. In the linkage analysis, the S-rat QTL allele (S) was associated with higher, and the R-rat QTL allele (R) with lower blood pressure, the difference between homozygotes being about 20 mm Hg. A congenic strain was made by introgressing the R-rat Ren allele into the recipient S strain. This congenic strain showed a 24 mm Hg reduction (P = 0.004) in blood pressure compared with S rats for rats fed 2% NaCl diet for 24 days; this difference was confirmed by two other independent tests. Two congenic substrains were derived from the first congenic strain with shorter R Chr 13 segments on the S background. Comparisons among these congenic strains showed that a blood pressure QTL was in the 24-cM chromosomal segment between Syt2 and D13M1Mit108. This segment does not include the renin locus, which is thus excluded from being the gene on rat Chr 13 responsible for genetic differences in blood pressure detected by linkage analysis.
The quantization of a classically ergodic system

Abstract The motion of a charged particle with an anisotropic mass tensor is completely ergodic in two dimensions. Its periodic orbits can be mapped 1-to-1 into the binary sequences of even length. Their action integral is approximated very closely by a quadratic function of the binaries with only one empirical parameter and one scale factor. The trace of the semiclassical Green's function is a sum over all periodic orbits, and can be evaluated by a transformation which Kac used in the discussion of an Ising lattice with long range interaction. The poles of the trace as a function of the energy can be segregated by their discrete symmetry. The real parts agree very well with the quantum mechanical energy levels, while most of the imaginary parts are small, indicating sharp resonances. This is the first calculation of energy levels on the basis of classically ergodic trajectories.
Defective production of interleukin-6 by monocytes: a possible mechanism underlying several host defense deficiencies of neonates.

ABSTRACT: Several deficiencies in antibacterial defense have been described in neonates. Among those best characterized are delayed maturation of B cells into antibody producing cells, deficient T-cell maturation, and delayed cycling of hematopoietic progenitor cells after an infectious challenge. No unifying theory has been forwarded, however, to explain the concomitance of these three developmental deficiencies. IL-6, a cytokine produced primarily by monocytes and macrophages in response to stimulation by IL-1, is involved in the regulation of these three processes. Thus, we postulated that defective production of IL-6 could be a mechanism underlying these immune deficiencies of neonates. Indeed, we observed that at peak production, cells of five term neonates produced only one half as much IL-6 (14 120 ± 2590 pg IL-6/108 monocytes) as those of five adults (28 940 ± 1680 pg, p < 0.001). Peak production was lower still by monocytes of six preterm neonates (7190 ± 1400 pg, p < 0.001 versus term). Production of IL-6 protein was inhibited by actinomycin D and the IL-6 mRNA content of monocytes from neonates, as assessed by competitive polymerase chain reaction, was less than that of adult monocytes. We speculate that defective IL-6 transcription might underlie some of the defects in immune regulation observed in neonates.
Internal-tide deposits in an Ordovician submarine channel: Previously unrecognized facies?

A Middle Ordovician submarine-channel deposit in the southern Appalachians is capped by an interval of fine-grained, predominantly cross-laminated sandstones that are interpreted as internal-tide deposits. Two facies are recognized: (1) bidirectional cross-laminated, very fine grained sandstones, and (2) unidirectional cross-bedded and cross-laminated, medium- to fine grained sandstones. Facies 1 is dominated by bidirectional cross-laminations that dip both landward and seaward parallel to the paleochannel axis. This facies is related to up-channel and down-channel currents caused by internal tides. Facies 2 has both low-angle, tabular cross-beds and cross-laminations that dip landward. The formative up-channel currents are attributed to superimposition of internal waves on internal tides. The vertical transition from high-concentration gravity-flow deposits to intercalated low-concentration turbidites and internal-tide deposits is related to a rise in sea level that resulted in storage of coarse debris landward of the submarine channel.
A Role for RKIP in Cell Motility

The target of locostatin, a small-molecule inhibitor of cell movement, has been identified as RKIP, a Raf-1 kinase modulator [1]. In addition to advancing our understanding of cell locomotion, this work represents a major landmark in the development of chemical genetics.
Script Training and Generalization for People With Aphasia

Purpose To examine the effects and generalization of a modified script training intervention, delivered partly via videoconferencing, on dialogue scripts that were produced by 2 individuals with aphasia. Method Each participant was trained on 2 personally relevant scripts. Intervention sessions occurred 3 times per week, with a combination of in-person meetings and videoconferencing, and lasted for 3 weeks per script. This study followed a multiple baseline design across scripts. Measures of accuracy, grammatical productivity, speaking rate, and articulatory fluency were obtained during baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases. Generalization probes were administered by challenging participants to engage in a conversation about their script topic with conversation partners who did not follow the script. Results Both participants showed improvement on all dependent variables for both scripts during and after the intervention phase. Generalization samples showed improved grammatical morpheme use and i...
Angiotensin II and sympathoactivation in heart failure

Excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) contributes to the development and progression of the syndrome of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients with decreased left ventricular function. The factors underlying chronic sympathoactivation are poorly understood, particularly in stable patients. This review summarizes both clinical and experimental data regarding the effects of angiotensin II (A-II) on the activity of the SNS. The focus is on both the direct effects of A-II on the SNS and an indirect effect medicated through alteration in function of the baroreflex. Available evidence is consistent with a potentially important effect of A-II on SNS activity, perhaps most likely via the baroreflex. Important issues regarding the direct effect of A-II on regional SNS activity, and on the physiological relevance of effects seen only at high plasma concentration of A-II remain to be fully elucidated.
Organization of proximal signal initiation at the TCR:CD3 complex

The series of events leading to T-cell activation following antigen recognition has been extensively investigated. Although the exact mechanisms of ligand binding and transmission of this extracellular interaction into a productive intracellular signaling sequence remains incomplete, it has been known for many years that the immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motifs (ITAMs) of the T-cell receptor (TCR):CD3 complex are required for initiation of this signaling cascade because of the recruitment and activation of multiple protein tyrosine kinases, signaling intermediates, and adapter molecules. It however remains unclear why the TCR:CD3 complex requires 10 ITAMs, while many other ITAM-containing immune receptors, such as Fc receptors (FcRs) and the B cell receptor (BCR), contain far fewer ITAMs. We have recently demonstrated that various parameters of T cell development and activation are influenced by the number, as well as location and type, of ITAMs within the TCR:CD3 complex and hence propose that the TCR is capable of 'scalable signaling' that facilitates the initiation and orchestration of diverse T-cell functions. While many of the underlying mechanisms remain hypothetical, this review intends to amalgamate what we have learned from conventional biochemical analyses regarding initiation and diversification of T-cell signaling, with more recent evidence from molecular and fluorescent microscopic analyses, to propose a broader purpose for the TCR:CD3 ITAMs. Rather than simply signal initiation, individual ITAMs may also be responsible for the differential recruitment of signaling and regulatory molecules which ultimately affects T-cell development, activation and differentiation.
Maternal-fetal transport of vitamin K1 and its effects on coagulation in premature infants

We conducted a prospective study to determine (1) the maternal-fetal vitamin K 1 transport in premature infants after vitamin K 1 was given to the mothers antenatally and (2) the vitamin K 1 effects on blood coagulation in the babies. Women in labor at 1 , 5 mg given intramuscularly (vitamin K 1 group), or no vitamin K 1 (control group). Eight infants, including one set of twins, were in the vitamin K 1 group and six in the control group. Vitamin K 1 concentrations were higher in the vitamin K 1 group than in the control group ( p =0.06). Activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged, and factor II coagulation activity and factor II antigen were proportionately decreased in cord plasma in both groups. The average ratio of factor II coagulation activity to antigen was not decreased in either group. Protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) was not detectable in any cord plasma sample in either group. These findings support previous reports that the decreased vitamin K-dependent coagulation activity in premature infants is the result of reduced synthesis of precursor proteins, rather than the result of vitamin K deficiency, and suggest that additional vitamin K 1 is not likely to improve coagulation activity. Among those infants who underwent cranial ultrasonography, all four in the vitamin K 1 group and one of five in the control group had mild intraventricular hemorrhage. Studies of a larger number of patients are necessary before it can be established that maternal antenatal administration of vitamin K 1 results in improvement of coagulation and the prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants.
Married women's situational use of last names : An empirical study

Situational last name use was examined in a sample of 600 married women who responded to a mail survey. The sample was selected from the faculty and staff of a state university in the Midwest with over-sampling of women whose last name differed from their husband’s last name. Overall, 12% of married women reported situational last name use. Women from all last name choices (e.g., changed to husband’s, kept birth surname) reported situational surname use, but the most common occurrence of this practice was among hyphenators. Situational users were most likely to use their husband’s last name in family situations and their birth surname in professional situations. Factors that increase situational last name use included full-time employment, higher levels of educational attainment, and an older age at marriage. Situational last name use by married women can be seen as a manifestation of ambiguity over identity with family and non-family roles.
Preliminary performance analysis of an interplanetary navigation system using asteroid based beacons

A futuristic interplanetary navigation system using transmitters placed on selected asteroids is introduced. This network of space beacons is seen as a needed alternative to the overly burdened Deep Space Network. Covariance analyses on the potential performance of these space beacons located on a candidate constellation of eight real asteroids are initiated. Simplified analytic calculations are performed to determine limiting accuracies attainable with the network for geometric positioning. More sophisticated computer simulations are also performed to determine potential accuracies using long arcs of range and Doppler data from the beacons. The results from these computations show promise for this navigation system.
Recoil studies of nuclear reactions induced by high-energy particles. II. Production of $sup 149$Tb by 1- to 300-GeV protons on $sup 197$Au

The fraction of $^{149}\mathrm{Tb}$ activity recoiling out of a gold target into the forward ($F$) and backward ($B$) directions was determined in irradiations with protons of 1, 3, 11.5, and 300 GeV. The values of $\frac{F}{B}$ decreased from 9.6 at 1 GeV to 2.4 at 300 GeV. The values of $2W(F+B)$ decreased from 1.24 mg of Au per ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at 1 GeV to 0.89 mg of Au per ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at 300 GeV, where $W$ is the thickness of the gold target. These results were analyzed in terms of the standard two-step model for the reaction. The momentum transfer, which occurs in the first step, decreases with the energy of the incident protons. The average kinetic energy of the $^{149}\mathrm{Tb}$ nuclei in the second step is 3.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 MeV for protons in the energy range from 0.7 GeV (earlier work) to 300 GeV. The constancy of this value indicates that the reaction mechanism is essentially unchanged over this range of bombarding energies.
Isolation and Identification of Rhamnose from Rabbit Skin

THE presence of neutral sugars such as galactose, mannose and L-fucose in several animal sources such as glycoproteins or blood group substances is well known1 but L-rhamnose has not been previously reported as a constituent of mammalian tissues.
Diagnostic procedures to image atherosclerosis

Most cardiovascular events are pathogenically linked to atherosclerosis and they are one of the leading public health threat in most countries. Atherosclerotic plaques begin early in life and prevention of their progression toward clinical symptoms and signs require an early detection. Several different diagnostic strategies are available to identify direct and indirect signs of atherosclerosis. Among others, magnetic resonance imaging has the ability to image any body components at an almost molecular level. But it is costly and the level of its current resolution still poses limitations to its full application in vascular medicine. Ultrafast computed tomography has lately been used to screen high risk subjects by detecting coronary artery calcifications. However, available data are not sufficient to draw any realistic conclusion about its applicability and diagnostic value. Arteriography can provide information on the lumen characteristics of any artery independently from its size, location or morphological status. Its main application rests in the study of the coronary circulation, and the main advantage is the close relationship between coronary status and coronary ischemia. Quantitative Coronary Angiography (QCA) protocols are available and used for clinical and research applications. QCA provides accurate and precise estimates of lumen stenosis at discrete points of the coronary tree by using sophisticated imaging work stations. However, arteriography is invasive, therefore it cannot be used to study high risk, but still asymptomatic subjects. Furthermore, while providing well defined images of the arterial lumen, the arterial wall is not imaged, and it has been shown that arteriography may underestimate the severity of small lesions. B-mode ultrasound imaging overcomes some of the limitations carried by angiography. It is non-invasive, and can be used to examine repeatedly asymptomatic subjects. It provides multiple views of the lumen and the wall. However, B-mode can be used only to image large and superficial arteries (carotid and femoral), and it may underestimate large and/or complicated plaques. B-mode is a valid and reproducible method to image the arterial wall and to measure the arterial intima-media thickness. Based on experimental work, B-mode protocols have been used to study the arterial wall morphology both in epidemiological investigations and interventional clinical trials.
Fine structure of dendrites in the superficial neocortical neuropil.

Abstract Electron microscope observations have been made on neuron cell bodies, axosomatic and axodendritic synapses, and dendrites in the superficial (0.4–0.5 mm) neocortex of adult cat middle suprasylvian gyrus. Particular attention is focused on the fine structure of dendrites in this region of neocortex. The overt characteristics of neuron cell bodies are similar to those described by others. The present study emphasizes the presence of granular inclusion bodies and regions of apparent membrane thickenings in the cytoplasm. The latter are attributable to lamination of cisternal membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. Dendrites in the superficial neuropil contain characteristic tubules and mitochondria which may occasionally be of extraordinary length (over 9 μ). Multivesicular bodies are found in relatively large numbers of dendrites, often intimately associated with synaptic complexes. Sectors of the limiting membrane of these bodies exhibit thickenings similar to those found at postsynaptic axodendritic sites. Numerous axosomatic synapses on dendritic spines are observed, but the spine apparatus described by Gray has rarely been encountered. Processes as small as 0.03 μ in diameter are found in continuity with larger dendritic elements containing tubules and multivesicular bodies. These processes, with characteristic tubules cut transversely, are found interposed between virtually all elements of the neuropil, sometimes in synaptic relation with axonal terminals. Criteria for identifying them as dendritic terminals are presented and the role of these processes in the functional activity of the neuropil is briefly discussed.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FINE STRUCTURE AND DIRECTION OF BEAT IN GILL CILIA OF A LAMELLIBRANCH MOLLUSC

This paper describes the fine structure and its relationship to the direction of beat in four types of cilia on the gill of the fresh-water mussel Anodonta cataracta. The cilia contain nine outer, nine secondary, and two central fibers, such as have been described previously in other material. Each outer fiber is a doublet with one subfiber bearing arms. One particular pair of outer fibers (numbers 5 and 6) are joined together by a bridge. The two central fibers are enclosed by a central sheath; also present in this region is a single, small mid-fiber. The different groups of fibers are connected together by radial links that extend from the outer to the secondary fibers, and from the secondary fibers to the central sheath. The basal body consists of a cylinder of nine triplet fibers. Projecting from it on one side is a dense conical structure called the basal foot. The cylinder of outer fibers continues from the basal body into the cilium, passing through a complex transitional region in which five distinct changes of structure occur at different levels. There are two sets of fibers associated with the basal bodies: a pair of striated rootlets that extends from each basal body down into the cell, and a system of fine tubular fibers that runs parallel to the cell surface. The relationship between fine structure and direction of beat is the same in all four types of cilia examined. The plane of beat is perpendicular to the plane of the central fibers, with the effective stroke toward the bridge between outer fibers 5 and 6, and toward the foot on the basal body.
Design of Highly Stabilized β-Hairpin Peptides through Cation−π Interactions of Lysine and N-Methyllysine with an Aromatic Pocket†

Two tryptophan residues were incorporated on one face of a beta-hairpin peptide to form an aromatic pocket that interacts with a lysine or N-methylated lysine via cation-pi interactions. The two tryptophan residues were found to pack against the lysine side chain forming an aromatic pocket similar to those observed in trimethylated lysine receptor proteins. Thermal analysis of methylated lysine variant hairpin peptides revealed an increase in thermal stability as the degree of methylation was increased, resulting in the most thermally stable beta-hairpin reported to date.
Synthesis and characterization of thallium-based 1212 films with high critical current density on LaAlO3 substrates

Growth of epitaxial Cr-doped (Tl,Bi)-1212 films on LaAlO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and post-deposition annealing in static air has been achieved. The films exhibit a high transport Jc of over 1.5 × 106 A cm-2 at 77 K and self-field. Tc values measured by the four-probe method are in the range 94-100 K. ICP emission spectroscopy measurement shows a thallium deficiency, with about 0.15 atom bismuth per formula in the film. XRD -2 , and scans show that the dominant phase is 1212, with excellent epitaxy. The film surface has typical PLD morphology as analysed by SEM. TEM analysis found some inclusions in the film, and HREM found that three 1201 layers exist between the interface of 1212 phase and substrate.
The ethical basis of psychiatric research: Conceptual issues and empirical findings

The study objective was to clarify the ethical basis of psychiatric research by outlining conceptual issues and empirical findings related to the ethics of human experimentation. A systematic review of scholarly and empirical literature covering three decades was performed. The ethics of human research has come to be understood in relation to the principles of respect for persons, beneficence, justice, and the ideal of informed consent. Subjects who cannot fully participate in informed-consent processes are especially vulnerable to exploitation. Current dilemmas stem from insufficient attention to the vulnerabilities of mentally ill research participants, problems in applying ethical concepts and guidelines to psychiatric research, and claims of research misconduct. Empirical studies indicate that (1) psychiatric symptoms significantly affect informed consent, (2) psychiatric patients may possess certain strengths with respect to research involvement, (3) proxy decision-making is problematic, (4) informed consent is also difficult to attain with the medically ill and others, (5) patients are motivated to participate in research by the hope of personal benefit, (6) ethical aspects of research are poorly documented, and (7) institutional review processes may not be adequate to protect vulnerable subjects. Psychiatric research can be performed ethically, according to standards set throughout the biomedical and behavioral sciences, so long as researchers and institutions are respectful of special ethical issues in human experimentation and strive to include vulnerable study participants fully in research decisions. However, many gaps in the empirical literature exist regarding the specific nature and implementation of ethics principles in psychiatric research. Efforts to advance both science and ethics, including the study of ethical dimensions of human research itself, are essential for the future of psychiatry.
Vibrational Relaxation of Anharmonic Oscillators with Vibration–Vibration and Vibration–Translation Energy Exchanges

The vibrational relaxation of a system of anharmonic oscillators with high initial vibrational energy into a low‐temperature heat bath was studied. It was assumed that the vibration–vibration quasisteady population distribution was instantly established, and during the longer time scale the level population distribution was controlled by a continuous equilibrium vibration–vibration exchange‐dominated process or by a vibration–translation exchange‐dominated process. Although large differences occurred in upper level populations of the two processes, no significant difference was found in the de‐excitation rate. The effect of an‐harmonicity did enhance the de‐excitation rate in the early stage of the relaxation process. This rate fell off quickly to a value close to the excitation rate obtained for the harmonic oscillator. No large order of magnitude differences in the de‐excitation rates of this investigation and previously established excitation rates were found.
Three-dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Simulationsof the Interaction of Magnetic Flux Tubes

We use a three-dimensional Cartesian resistive MHD code to investigate three-dimensional aspects of the interaction of magnetic flux tubes as observed in the solar atmosphere and studied in laboratory experiments. We present here the first results from modeling the reconnection of two Gold-Hoyle magnetic flux tubes that follow the system evolution to a final steady state. The energy evolution and reconnection rate for flux tubes with both parallel and antiparallel axial fields and with equal and nonequal strengths are studied. For the first time, we calculate a gauge-invariant relative magnetic helicity of the system and compare its evolution for all the above cases. We observed that the rate at which helicity is dissipated may vary significantly for different cases, and it may be comparable with the energy dissipation rate. The footpoints of the interacting flux tubes were held fixed or allowed to move to simulate different conditions in the solar photosphere. The cases with fixed footpoints had lower magnetic energy release and reached a steady state faster than cases with moving footpoints. For all computed cases the magnetic energy was released mostly through work done on the plasma by the electromagnetic forces rather than through resistive dissipation. The reconnection rate of the poloidal magnetic field is faster for the case with antiparallel flux tubes than for the case with parallel flux tubes, consistent with laboratory experiments. We find that during reconnection supersonic (but sub-Alfvenic) flows develop, and it may take a considerably longer time for the system to reach a steady state than for magnetic flux to reconnect. It is necessary to retain the pressure gradient in the momentum equation; the plasma pressure may be significant for the final equilibrium steady state even with low-β initial conditions, and the work done on the plasma by compression is important in energy exchange.
Photopolarimeter using two modulated optical rotators

The basic compensator-analyzer-polarimeter is automated by inserting two modulated optical rotators, one in front of the compensator and the other between the compensator and the analyzer. The modulated optical rotators (e.g., two series-connected Faraday cells) are excited by the same ac source to produce sinusoidal optical rotations of the same frequency, generally of different amplitudes, that are mutally in or 180 degrees out of phase. We show that, when the radiation leaving this generalized polarimeter (which is of constant polarization) is linearly detected, limited Fourier analysis of the resulting signal yields the four Stokes parameters of the incident radiation.
Synthesis of poly(trioctylammonium p-styrenesulfonate) homopolymers and block copolymers by RAFT polymerization

Abstract A method to prepare sulfonated polystyrene-containing block copolymers has been investigated by neutralizing styrene sulfonic acid with trioctylamine to produce the hydrophobic monomer trioctylammonium p-styrenesulfonate (SS–TOA). This monomer was polymerized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to produce PSS–TOA homopolymers. A PSS–TOA homopolymer was then used as a macro-RAFT agent for the polymerization of styrene to prepare poly(trioctylammonium p-styrenesulfonate)-block-poly(styrene) (PSS-TOA-b-PS). These block copolymers could be ion-exchanged to produce either the hydrophilic sodium salt form of PSS or a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium salt. This approach will be useful for preparing PSS-containing block copolymers with a range of hydrophobic blocks for applications such as ion-exchange membranes.
An algorithm for conjunct identification in a natural language processing system

This paper presents an approach taken by the author to identify the parts of the sentence that get conjoined by the co-ordinate conjunctions in English sentences. This identification is important for a natural language processing system for it to properly understand the sentence. The test domain being used for the algorithm presented here is a 10,000 word chapter of the Merck Veterinary Manual, which contains over 700,000 words. The primary features of the algorithm are that it is domain independent in nature and that it is being tested on such a large real-life domain.
A single-center experience with ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus in lung transplant recipients: treatment and outcome.

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation despite ganciclovir prophylaxis. The emergence of ganciclovir-resistant CMV in lung transplant patients has been reported, although the optimal strategy for the management of these infections remains uncertain. A review of the results of glanciclovir susceptibility testing in lung transplant recipients was performed. Methods We found 54% (113 of 210) of lung transplant patients developed CMV infection over a 4-year study period with ganciclovir-resistant CMV infection occurring in >5% of patients (6 of 113). The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who developed ganciclovir-resistant vs -sensitive CMV infection were similar, although 50% (3 of 6) patients who developed resistance were CMV mismatched (D + /R − serology). All patients’ CMV isolates had mutations in the UL97 gene. In addition, the 3 mismatch patients also had CMV with mutations in the UL54 gene. Results Treatment with a combination of foscarnet and ganciclovir or foscarnet alone for ganciclovir-resistant infection led to a significant reduction in virologic load in all patients ( p = 0.03), although transient increases in viremia were observed in some patients early after treatment. Renal function worsened after treatment, but overall it was not significantly different from pre-treatment values ( p = 0.07). Conclusions Single or combination therapy with foscarnet is effective for treatment of ganciclovir-resistant isolates and excessive concern regarding toxicity should not preclude consideration of these treatments when clinically indicated.
Should we treat all primary prevention patients with statins

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutary coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors have been shown to reduce cardiac events in different high-risk and medium-risk patient groups. Although there are other medications to lower cholesterol, evidence that these agents will provide protection from initial cardiac events is limited or does not exist. Also, although many physicians advocate combining second agents with statins to improve certain lipid fractions, evidence of improved reduction of initial cardiac events from these combinations is also lacking. Therefore, aggressive use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors remains the proven treatment to treat lipid abnormalities in primary patients.
Intracranial Hemangiopericytomas in Children

Hemangiopericytomas (HPs) are rare tumors, about 10% of which occur in children. Since 1988, 2 children with intracranial HP have been seen at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The
Graduate education in public administration: the introductory course

This article analyzes the content of MPA programs' introductory courses and the implications of such content for normative debates on MPA education. Among the topics explored are the role of “classic” works in the introductory course and the comparative neglect of an international focus.
Extreme boyhood femininity: isolated behavior or pervasive disorder?

Twenty-five extremely feminine boys with DSM-III diagnosis of gender identity disorder of childhood were evaluated for the presence of behavioral disturbances, social competence and separation anxiety. Using the Child Behavior Checklist created by Achenbach and Edelbrock in 1983, 84% of feminine boys were reported to display behavioral disturbances usually seen in clinic-referred children. Sixty-four percent of the sample had difficulties with peers that were comparable to those of psychiatric-referred boys. Sixty percent of the sample met the criteria for diagnosis of DSM-III separation anxiety disorder. Only one child in sample fell within the normal range on all three of these parameters. Results suggest extreme boyhood femininity is not an isolated finding, but part of a more pervasive psychological disturbance. Additional clinical findings support this contentione.
Measuring the Projected Public Health Impact of Lung Cancer Through Lifetime and Age-Conditional Risk Estimates

Abstract PURPOSE: Lifetime and age-conditional probability (risk) estimates of developing lung cancer in the United States are presented by age, race, and gender. Effects on the risk estimates of an aging population and changing tobacco use are identified. METHODS: Risk estimates were derived by applying cross-sectional, population-based incidence rates of malignant lung cancer and mortality rates from other causes to a hypothetical cohort. The cohort was aged through a double-decrement life table to determine the expected proportion of the population that would develop the disease across age intervals. Incidence and mortality data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and the National Centers for Health Statistics, respectively. RESULTS: Among all cancers, risk estimates of developing lung cancer within 10 years, conditioned on being free of the disease at age 50, 60, or 70, ranked second to prostate cancer for men and second to breast cancer for women. For men, despite higher incidence rates of lung cancer for blacks than whites across most age groups, the risk of developing this disease over the life-span becomes similar, because white men are more likely to live to older ages where lung cancer is common. For women, lung cancer incidence rates are similar between Whites and Blacks, but an older age distribution among white women explains their greater lifetime risk of being diagnosed with the disease. Changes in the age distribution between the mid 1970s and the mid 1990s had little impact on the short-term risk estimates of developing lung cancer for younger ages but had a large influence on long-term risk estimates, particularly for the older age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Declining lung cancer among younger age groups may be attributed to declining tobacco use among the cohorts, but several more years may be required before the trends begin to fall in older age groups, particularly in women. In the meantime, an aging population is contributing to more people being diagnosed with lung cancer. Consequently, the projected risk of developing lung cancer will remain high for several years to come.
Adaptive directional local search strategy for hybrid evolutionary multiobjective optimization

Abstract A novel adaptive local search method is developed for hybrid evolutionary multiobjective algorithms (EMOA) to improve convergence to the Pareto front in multiobjective optimization. The concepts of local and global effectiveness of a local search operator are suggested for dynamic adjustment of adaptation parameters. Local effectiveness is measured by quantitative comparison of improvements in convergence made by local and genetic operators based on a composite objective. Global effectiveness is determined by the ratio of number of local search solutions to genetic search solutions in the nondominated solution set. To be consistent with the adaptation strategy, a new directional local search operator, eLS (efficient Local Search), minimizing the composite objective function is designed. The search direction is determined using a centroid solution of existing neighbor solutions without making explicit calculations of gradient information. The search distance of eLS decreases adaptively as the optimization process converges. Performances of hybrid methods NSGA-II + eLS are compared with the baseline NSGA-II and NSGA-II + HCS1 for multiobjective test problems, such as ZDT and DTLZ functions. The neighborhood radius and local search probability are selected as adaptation parameters. Results show that the present adaptive local search strategy can provide significant convergence enhancement from the baseline EMOA by dynamic adjustment of adaptation parameters monitoring the properties of multiobjective problems on the fly.
A multidisciplinary information management and systems program: pearl or peril?

Computer information management is a dynamic academic discipline that offers numerous economic opportunities for students. During the "Y2K era", job opportunities in information management and computer science exceeded qualified individuals. Many universities responded to the imbalances in the job market by creating new information technology programs. Some of these programs were based on traditional concepts and others on innovative ideas. The University of South Carolina Spartanburg introduced an innovative information technology (IMS) curriculum during the fall semester of 2000. It was a multidisciplinary program, integrating computer science, information technology, telecommunications, and a discipline-specific concentration in health care, business, education, or communications.The committee that created the new curriculum specified that it had to satisfy several major goals. One goal was to attract students into IMS who would not have considered this type of major in the past, thereby increasing the number of professionals in the field. Another goal was to prepare students to become agents of interaction between computer specialists, information resources, and end-users. The third goal was to increase enrollments and associated revenues.An examination of the IMS program's evolution reveals interesting results for administrators and faculty who participate in the creation of new information technology programs. Enrollments have exceeded original estimates and soared to more than 200 majors. Students who had limited interest in becoming computer science programmers have become IMS majors. Many of these students are women and minorities. Although administrators and faculty are delighted with the results, unexpected consequences have occurred that are not entirely positive. An extremely successful computer science program has lost at least twenty percent of its majors to IMS. The rapid growth of the new program has created staffing, facilities, curriculum, and administrative problems. These factors coupled with declining economic opportunities have generated an uncertain future for the first graduating class.
The Impact Imperative: A Space Infrastructure Enabling a Multi-Tiered Earth Defense

Impacting at hypervelocity, an asteroid struck the Earth approximately 65 million years ago in the Yucatan Peninsula a m . This triggered the extinction of almost 70% of the species of life on Earth including the dinosaurs. Other impacts prior to this one have caused even greater extinctions. Preventing collisions with the Earth by hypervelocity asteroids, meteoroids, and comets is the most important immediate space challenge facing human civilization. This is the Impact Imperative. We now believe that while there are about 2000 earth orbit crossing rocks greater than 1 kilometer in diameter, there may be as many as 200,000 or more objects in the 100 m size range. Can anything be done about this fundamental existence question facing our civilization? The answer is a resounding yes! By using an intelligent combination of Earth and space based sensors coupled with an infrastructure of high-energy laser stations and other secondary mitigation options, we can deflect inbound asteroids, meteoroids, and comets and prevent them &om striking the Earth. This can be accomplished by irradiating the surface of an inbound rock with sufficiently intense pulses so that ablation occurs. This ablation acts as a small rocket incrementally changing the shape of the rock's orbit around the Sun. One-kilometer size rocks can be moved sufficiently in about a month while smaller rocks may be moved in a shorter time span. We recommend that space objectives be immediately reprioritized to start us moving quickly towards an infrastructure that will support a multiple option defense capability. Planning and development for a lunar laser facility should be initiated immediately in parallel with other options. All mitigation options are greatly enhanced by robust early warning, detection, and tracking resources to find objects sufficiently prior to Earth orbit passage in time to allow significant intervention. Infrastructure options should include ground, LEO, GEO, Lunar, and libration point laser and sensor stations for providing early warning, tracking, and deflection. Other options should include space interceptors that will carry both laser and nuclear ablators for close range work. Response options must be developed to deal with the consequences of an impact should we move too slowly.
Purification and identification of an Escherichia coli β-keto ester reductase as 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate reductase YqhE

An NADPH-dependent enzyme that reduces ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate stereoselectively to ethyl (2R)-methyl-(3S)-hydroxybutanoate was purified 730-fold from Escherichia coli. The N-terminal amino acid sequence data obtained from the purified reductase were used to search the E. coli genome, and a single match was found at the start of the yqhE open reading frame. The YqhE protein had been identified previously by Yum et al. as a 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate reductase on the basis of sequence similarity to other bacterial homologues [Yum, D.-Y.; Lee, B.-Y.; Pan, J.-G. Appl.Environ. Microbiol. 1999, 65, 3341-3346]; however, it had not been examined for beta-keto ester reductions. Our results thus link a key enzyme in the microbial production of ascorbate with stereoselective beta-keto ester reductions, two important fields in biocatalysis. The purified YqhE reductase accepts ethyl acetoacetate and a variety of 2-substituted derivatives, and its sequence is similar to other aldose reductase superfamily members that also reduce alpha-substituted beta-keto esters to syn-(2R,3S) alcohols.