cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genistein-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells is preceded by a specific decrease in focal adhesion kinase activity.

Genistein (5,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone), an isoflavinoid found in soy beans, has been identified as potentially causal for the low incidence of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) in certain countries. Although genistein-induced PCa cell adhesion has been identified as a possible causative mechanism, direct growth inhibition by genistein has been reported and also could be causal. If in vivo growth inhibition was significant, then growth inhibition should occur at concentrations attained with dietary consumption, the mechanism of growth inhibition should be relevant to PCa, and genistein (a broad-spectrum in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor) should have relatively specific kinase inhibitory effectsin vivo. These considerations were investigated by measuring growth inhibitory activity in a variety of PCa cell lines. Growth inhibitory effects were shown not to occur with concentrations below the low micromolar range (i.e., 3 logs above that attained in serum). In-depth mechanistic studies with the PC3-M metastatic variant cell line demonstrated that growth inhibition was independent of genistein’s estrogenic effects. Genistein was shown to decrease the viability of nonadherent cells, suggesting a lack of dependence on cell adhesion for growth inhibition. However, important molecular and kinetic differences between genistein’s effects on growth in adherent versus nonadherent cells were identified. Specific suppression of focal adhesion kinase activity (without global decreases in phosphotyrosine) was shown to precede induction of apoptosis, which was responsible for growth inhibition in adherent cells. These findings do not support anin vivo growth inhibitory role by genistein consumed in quantities associated with a soy-based diet. They do, however, identify genistein as a potential therapeutic agent for PCa and as a tool with which to study the control of apoptosis in PCa.
Ghosts in the Machine: Narratives of Disappearance in French Fiction from the 1990's

This article examines narratives of disappearance in two French novels from the late 1990’s, J.B. Pontalis’s Un homme disparait and Marie Darrieussecq’s Naissance des fantomes , which are reflective of a general trend towards ghostliness in French fiction towards the end of the twentieth century. The article argues that these novels are emblematic of a fin de siecle malaise that Marc Auge termed surmodernite and that Paul Virilio has identified in terms of an era characterized by so much speed (as a result of an overabundance of technological innovations in communication such as email and faxes) that individuals have become less and less centered or inter-connected rather than the other way around. Pontalis and Darrieussecq’s novels are particularly good examples of a certain need for some to “vanish” within hyper-developed, contemporary spaces. Through an exploration of Pontalis and Darrieussecq’s characters’ attempts at remembering their own personal narratives, the article will also examine the notion of fleeting “traces of memory” that linger within the unconscious of many despite constant barrages of memory-numbing stimuli.
Factors Affecting Catches of Male Coneworms, Dioryctria spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Pheromone Traps in Southern Pine Seed Orchards

Four variables affecting pheromone-trap catches of pine coneworms, Dioryctria spp., were studied. These variables were trap design, trap density, trap location within tree crowns, and tree clone. Pherocon lC traps were most effective for capturing male D. amatella (Hulst) moths at low population densities. Traps placed near the tops of loblolly pines, Pinus taeda L., caught twice as many Dioryctria spp. males as traps at midcrown; those at the base of the crowns had very low catches. Also, there were positive correlations between D. amatella and D. disclusa Heinrich catches and trap height, i.e., traps placed in the tops of taller trees caught more moths. Placing traps in ramets of certain clones had some effect on trap catches of D. amatella and D. disclusa . Clonal differences were apparently the result of differences in the height at which traps could be placed in the ramets of each clone. Evidence of competition among traps was found at a trap density of 8 per 0.1 ha but not at 4 per 0.1 ha or lower densities.
On aliasing Rossby waves induced by asynchronous time stepping

Abstract The errors introduced by asynchronous time stepping are analyzed. It is shown that asynchronous time stepping distorts the structure and the speed of the lowest mode. For typical time step ratios used in climate simulations, the lowest mode is no longer a strictly barotropic mode, and the associated wave is much slower than the barotropic Rossby waves in the oceans. As a result, seasonal cycles simulated in model runs based on asynchronous time stepping are severely contaminated.
Psychometric properties of an instrument for assessing treatment satisfaction associated with pramlintide use

Background The clinical benefits of any new treatment depend substantially on patient acceptance and treatment satisfaction, because only well-accepted treatments will be widely used. Thus, it is important to understand how patients experience a new treatment.Objective This study assessed the psychometric properties of a questionnaire (PRAM-TSQ) designed to measure treatment satisfaction in patients using pramlintide (an analog of amylin, a glucoregulatory hormone co-secreted with insulin), which is designed to improve glucose control.Methods Patients with diabetes completed the 14-item PRAM-TSQ at the end of 2 separate placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trials in which they added active or placebo pramlintide to their established insulin regimen. Factor analysis was used to assess item clustering for the PRAM-TSQ, and the Cronbach's α measure of inter-item agreement was used to assess scale reliability. PRAM-TSQ validity was assessed by comparing scores between treatment arms, and effe...
Hypomagnesemia: a multifactorial complication of treatment of patients with severe burn trauma

Hypomagnesemia is reportly a common complication of care during the early period of recovery from major trauma. Aminoglycoside treatment, by provoking inappropriate renal magnesium wasting, may contribute to the frequency of hypomagnesemia. We examined the magnesium (Mg) status of six severely burned adolescents during the early phase of recovery. Although provision of Mg met recommended levels, hypomagnesemia occurred in every patient. Two of five of our patients were hypomagnesemic during gentamycin treatment, and five of five during subsequent tobramycin therapy (including the three not affected by gentamycin). Additional episodes occurred in five patients in the absence of aminoglycosides. An interrelationship between Mg status and efficacy of potassium repletion is detailed for one patient. Hypomagnesemia during tobramycin treatment was associated with refractoriness to potassium repletion. Recurrence of hypokalemia during a subsequent diuresis-induced hypomagnesemia was prevented by Mg supplementati...
[1,2,4]Triazines. 4. Regiospecific ring closure reactions involving 6-amino-5-hydrazino[1,2,4]triazin-3(2H)-ones and orthoesters

6-Amino-5-hydrazino[1,2,4]triazin-3(2H)-one, 3, was treated with a variety of orthoesters and concentrated acid forming mixtures of ring-closed and open-chain derivatives. These mixtures were converted in warm aqueous acid to the Mriazolo[5,1-d][1,2,4]triazin-3(2H)-ones, 11b, 14b, and 15b by a regiospecific ring closure at N-4 of the [1,2,4]triazine ring and subsequent Dimroth-like rearrangement of the initially formed s-triazolo[4,3-d][1,2,4]triazin-3(2H)-ones (11a, 14a, 15a).
Implicit Theories of Relationships and Close Relationship Violence Does Believing Your Relationship Can Grow Relate to Lower Perpetration of Violence

People differ in what they think makes for a successful relationship, but it is unclear how these beliefs relate to the perpetration of violence. Four studies (N = 2,591) examined the relationship between growth beliefs and the perpetration of violence in close relationships. Specifically, the current work tested the hypothesis that growth beliefs mitigate against close relationship violence, possibly due to increased satisfaction with sacrificing one’s own self-interest for the betterment of the relationship. Studies 1 and 2 provided cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence that growth beliefs predicted less perpetration of close relationship violence. Studies 3 and 4 showed that the relationship between growth beliefs and lower perpetration of violence was mediated by satisfaction with sacrifice within one’s relationship. All effects of growth beliefs remained significant after controlling for destiny beliefs. Discussion centers on the importance of implicit theories of relationships for understanding ...
Selective transamidation of 3-oxo-N-acyl homoserine lactones by hydrazine derivatives

A method for the selective transamidation of the 3-oxo sub-family of N-acyl homoserine lactones (3-oxo-AHLs) under physiologically relevant conditions has been developed. The reaction has the potential to serve as a strategy for selective knockdown of key autoinducers in a multicellular environment.
Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials in Transplantation: Principles and Pitfalls

The contributions of prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to the advancement of solid organ transplantation are well appreciated. However, some misconception exists that results deriving from RCTs uniformly provide clinically relevant, definitive and generalized evidence. While there is little doubt that RCTs are the gold standard to test cause-and-effect relationships, the quality and subsequent utility of trials carried out in this field vary substantially. As with all other disciplines, our ability to interpret and implement the findings of RCTs into practice is strongly dependent on the study design and statistical rigor of the analysis. Failure to conduct trials with appropriate standards or interpret trials with the appropriate limitations may place patients at risk or waste valuable healthcare resources. The purpose of this review is to delineate important principles of study design and analysis of RCTs that are commonly overlooked. This review will discuss possible limitations of trials with specific applications in the field of transplantation. Progress in the field of transplantation is highly dependent on critical examination of existing clinical trials and vigilance regarding the optimal development of future trials.
Further remarks on estimating the parameter of a noncentral chi-square distribution

Perlman and Rasmussen (1975) have found estimators of the non-centrality parameter of a noncentral chi-square distribution which have lower mean square error than the maximum likelihood estimator. This paper studies some extensions of their estimators and some related problems.
Individualizing combination of two antiproliferative immunosuppressants with pharmacodynamic modeling of stimulated lymphocyte responses.

Background Unpredictable serious adverse events (SAE) of immunosuppression, e.g. nephrotoxicity, with the nephrotoxic immunosuppressants have fostered interest in alternative regimens, which contain two antiproliferative agents, and individualized therapy. However, titration of such combinations to individual needs is not understood. Specific Aim To determine concentration (C) mixtures of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and sirolimus (SRL), which produce half-maximal inhibitory effect (EC50) on human lymphocytes from individual subjects. Methods Concentration mixtures of MMF (0–5 μg/ml) and SRL (0–30 ng/ml) were incubated with whole blood from each of five healthy human subjects. The intracellular cytokines IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were measured in PMA-ionomycin-stimulated T-cells (CD4+), while CD54, CD95, CD86, CD25, CD69, and CD71 were measured in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated B-cells, by flow cytometry. Pharmacodynamic (PD) relationships were evaluated using Hill equations modified for single and multidrug regimens, and expressed as EC50 for each target receptor. Results No change was seen in the expression of the T-cell cytokines with either MMF or SRL. Each B-cell receptor was inhibited with increasing concentrations of either MMF or SRL. Each B-cell receptor was also inhibited half-maximally at lower concentrations of MMF in the presence of SRL, than with either agent alone, for the test population of five subjects together, and for each of five individual subjects. However, each subject showed distinctly different amounts of MMF and SRL that needed to be present together, in order to produce an identical inhibitory effect on lymphocyte function. Conclusions PD analysis of biological effect can potentially predict optimal concentration mixtures of two immunosuppressants for individual recipients, and enhance rejection prophylaxis and safety. While this holds promise for drug development efforts, clinical application must await correlation of lymphocyte markers with post-transplant clinical outcomes. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Approaches to the problem of venereal disease prevention

Abstract The oldest, most popular, and effective method of preventing venereal infections is to avoid sexual exposures with persons who are infected. Since it is difficult to determine who is infected, condoms should be employed with each exposure to each person who might be infected. If condoms are not used, chemical prophylaxis immediately before or soon after sexual exposures should be attempted. Systemic prophylaxis is also highly effective, but the potential side effects are more serious; therefore, antimicrobials should be used judiciously. These four approaches are perfect in theory, but imperfect in practice. In the absence of vaccines and in the midst of a venereal disease epidemic, attempts should be made to increase the acceptance and use—effectiveness of available venereal disease prophylactics. Based on the findings of a recent behavioral study, several strategies for increasing acceptance and use—effectiveness are offered for implementation and further testing.
Human hybrid endoscopic and laparoscopic management of mass lesions of the foregut (with video).

s a I t a c a a s c o l d g t w c J p Endoscopically unresectable mass lesions of the foregut are managed with surgical techniques that vary in complexity and postoperative morbidity. Lesions in the body of the stomach may be amenable to wedge resection; however, antral lesions may require antrectomy with gastroduodenostomy or gastrojejunostomy, and lesions of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction may require total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy. Although a wedge resection may have little impact on long-term quality of life, a total gastrectomy is a major resection with morbidity rates of 10% to 50% in the immediate postoperative period, in-hospital mortality of 1% to 11%,1-6 and prolonged postoperative hospital stay of 10 to 20 ays.1-4,7 After discharge, patients with a subtotal or otal gastrectomy may have a significant decrease in uality of life, with nausea, reflux, vomiting, bowel and ladder complaints, fatigue, and dumping syndrome. atients often report that work, financial stability, home ife, and recreation are affected.8-12 Patients with lesions in the second portion of the duodenum may require a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), a major operation with significant in-hospital morbidity and long-term quality-of-life implications.
Approximating a bandlimited function using very coarsely quantized data: A family of stable sigma-delta modulators of arbitrary order

Digital signal processing has revolutionized the storage and transmission of audio and video signals as well as still images, in consumer electronics and in more scientific settings (such as medical imaging). The main advantage of digital signal processing is its robustness: although all the operations have to be implemented with, of necessity, not quite ideal hardware, the a priori knowledge that all correct outcomes must lie in a very restricted set of well-separated numbers makes it possible to recover them by rounding off appropriately. Bursty errors can compromise this scenario (as is the case in many communication channels, as well as in memory storage devices), making the “perfect” data unrecoverable by rounding off. In this case, knowledge of the type of expected contamination can be used to protect the data, prior to transmission or storage, by encoding them with error correcting codes; this is done entirely in the digital domain. These advantages have contributed to the present widespread use of digital signal processing. Many signals, however, are not digital but analog in nature; audio signals, for instance, correspond to functions f(t), modeling rapid pressure oscillations, which depend on the “continuous” time t (i.e. t ranges over or an interval in , and not over a discrete set), and the range of f typically also fills an interval in .F or this reason, the first step in any digital processing of such signals must consist in a conversion of the analog signal to the digital world, usually abbreviated as A/D conversion. For different types of signals, different A/D schemes are used; in this paper, we restrict our attention to a particular class of A/D conversion schemes adapted to audio signals. Note that at the end of the chain, after the signal has been processed, stored, retrieved, transmitted, ..., all in digital form, it needs to be reconverted to an analog signal that can be understood by a human hearing system; we thus need a D/A conversion there.
The Kensey catheter: Preliminary results with a transluminal atherectomy tool

The Kensey dynamic angioplasty instrument is an atherectomy device approved by the Food and Drug Administration that uses a rotating cam tip housed within a flexible polyurethane catheter to recanalize obstructed and stenotic arteries. Twenty patients with significant femoral arteriosclerotic occlusive disease underwent attempted transluminal endarterectomy of 23 extremities with the Kensey catheter. Significant improvements of superficial femoral artery luminal diameter was achieved in 10 of 13 patients with stenosis and passage of the spinning catheter tip at 60,000 to 90,000 rpm through areas of complete occlusion was successful in 4 of 10 cases. Balloon dilatation was used as an adjunct to increase the diameter of the superficial femoral artery lumen in 11 of 14 successful cases. This preliminary report provides technical data and short-term follow-up of this new innovative vascular tool.
Induction of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 by mirex and Kepone☆☆☆

Abstract The chlorinated insecticides, mirex and Kepone, pose a threat to human health as a consequence of their pollution of the environment. We investigated their potential to affect synergistically the toxicity of other xenobiotics and the pharmacological function of drugs by induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes. Male rats were induced by ip injection of mirex (50 or 5 mg/kg/day for 5 days) or Kepone (10 or 1 mg/kg/day for 5 days). Metabolic activity was tested with warfarin and biphenyl using high-performance liquid chromatographic assays. The high doses of both compounds induced cytochrome P-450 with absorbance bands (reduced, CO complex) at 449 nm. Cytochrome concentrations were enhanced twofold relative to controls. Mirex resembled 3-methylcholanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene by inducing formation of 6-hydroxywarfarin but differed in not inducing 8-hydroxywarfarin. Kepone resembled phenobarbital in inducing 7-hydroxywarfarin but differed in its effects on the other metabolites. The low dose of mirex induced higher amounts of 4′-hydroxywarfarin than did the high dose. The metabolite profiles with high and low doses of Kepone also showed marked variations from one another. Mirex and Kepone are carcinogenic in rats and mice but, in contrast to the polycyclic aromatic carcinogens, do not markedly enhance the activity of microsomal biphenyl 2-hydroxylase relative to biphenyl 4-hydroxylase. We conclude that mirex and Kepone induce hepatic mixed-function oxidase profiles which differ from one another and from the classical inducers, phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene. Mirex apparently only induces one of the enzymes induced by 3-methylcholanthrene. The enzyme profiles arising from the insecticides are dose dependent and will thus potentiate qualitatively differing effects depending on the level of ingestion.
Occurrence of the glyoxylate cycle in basidiospores of homobasidiomycetes

(1991). Occurrence of the Glyoxylate Cycle in Basidiospores of Homobasidiomycetes. Mycologia: Vol. 83, No. 6, pp. 821-825.
Two-dimensional velocity inversion and synthetic seismogram computation

A traveltime inversion scheme has been developed to estimate velocity and interface geometries of two-dimensional media from deep reflection data. The velocity structure is represented by finite elements, and the inversion is formulated as an iterative, constrained, linear least-squares problem which can be solved by either the singular value truncation method or the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The damping factor of the Levenberg-Marquardt method is chosen by the model-trust region approach. The traveltimes and derivative matrix required to solve the least-squares problem are computed by ray tracing. To aid seismic interpretation, we also include in the inversion scheme a fast algorithm based on asymptotic ray theory for calculating synthetic seismograms from the derived velocity model. Numerical tests indicate that the inversion scheme is effective, and that the accuracy of inversion results depends upon both noise in the data and the aperture of recording used in data acquisition. Two real examples demonstrate that the new inversion scheme produces velocity models fitting the data better than those estimated by other approaches.
Compact Models and the Physics of Nanoscale FETs

The device physics of nanoscale MOSFETs is related to traditional compact models. Beginning with the virtual source model, a model for nanoscale MOSFETs expressed in traditional form, we show how the Landauer approach gives a clear physical interpretation to the parameters in the model. The analysis shows that transport in the channel is limited by diffusion near the virtual source both below and above threshold, that the current saturation is determined by velocity saturation near the source, not by the maximum velocity in the channel, and that the channel resistance approaches a finite value as the channel length approaches zero. These results help explain why traditional models continue to work well at the nanoscale, even though carrier transport is distinctly different from that at the microscale, and they identify the essential physics that physics-based compact models for nanoscale MOSFETs should comprehend.
The Ability of Young and Old Hens to Change Shell Deposition with Sudden Natural Drastic Changes in Egg Size

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine if it is physiologically possible for the hen to deposit more shell on the egg than is currently deposited, and if so, what the hen's maximum ability is to change shell deposition as egg size is drastically increased or decreased under natural conditions. In Experiment 1, the first 10 eggs laid by each of 560 pullets were used. In Experiment 2, eggs were collected for 18 days from 560 hens approximately 14 months in lay. Egg weight, shell weight, and specific gravity were determined on all eggs in both experiments. Eggs from hens laying an occasional abnormally large egg (usually double yolked) or abnormally small egg were selected along with a normal size egg laid by the same individual hen on the adjoining day and various comparisons made. The results indicate that when a drastic decrease in egg size occurred in young or old hens, shell weight also decreased in about the same proportion resulting in no significant change in shell quality (specific gravity). When a drastic increase in egg size occurred in young and old hens, shell deposition increased but not enough to prevent a decline in shell quality. These results indicate that hens can significantly increase shell deposition with sudden drastic changes in egg size. The increase was approximately 7.5%. This suggests that it is possible for hens to deposit more shell on the egg than is currently being deposited if the proper stimulus is applied.
WEAK-LOCALIZATION EFFECT IN SINGLE CRYSTAL TaN(001) FILMS

We here report the manifestation of weak localization effects in the electrical resistivity of TaN(001) films grown on MgO(001) substrates by a pulsed laser deposition technique. These films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Rutherford backscattering. High precision electrical resistivity measurements were performed on these films in the temperature range 12–300 K. A careful analysis of data showed these films to lie in the weakly localized regime with negative temperature coefficient of resistivity throughout the whole temperature range of study. A crossover from 2D localization at lower temperatures to 3D localization at higher temperatures was observed.
Determination of lead by hydride generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG-ICP-MS): On-line generation of plumbane using potassium hexacyanomanganate(III)

A hydride generation (HG) procedure has been described for determination of Pb by ICP-MS using potassium hexacyanomanganate(III), K(3)Mn(CN)(6), as an additive to facilitate the generation of plumbane (PbH(4)). Potassium hexacyanomanganate(III) was prepared in acidic medium as it was unstable in water. The stability of hexacyanomanganate(III) was examined in dilute solutions of HCl, HNO(3) and H(2)SO(4). The solutions prepared in 1% v/v H(2)SO(4) were found to be stable for over a period of 24h. The least suitable medium was 1% v/v HNO(3). For generation of plumbane, acidic hexacyanomanganate(III) and sample solutions were mixed on-line along a 5-cm long tygon tubing (1.14 mm i.d.) and then reacted with 2% m/v sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)). A concentration of 0.5% m/v K(3)Mn(CN)(6) facilitated the generation of PbH(4) remarkably. In comparison to H(2)SO(4), HCl provided broader working range for which optimum concentration was 1% v/v. No significant interferences were noted from transition metals and hydride forming elements, up to 0.5 μg mL(-1) levels, except Cu which depressed the signals severely. The depressive effects in the presence of 0.1 μg mL(-1) Cu were alleviated by increasing the concentration of K(3)Mn(CN)(6) to 2% m/v. Under these conditions, the sensitivity was enhanced by a factor of at least 42 to 48. The detection limit (3s) was 0.008 μg L(-1) for (208)Pb isotope. Average signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) ranged between 18 and 20 for 1.0 μg mL(-1) Pb solution. The accuracy of the method was verified by analysis of several certified reference materials, including Nearshore seawater (CASS-4), Bone ash (SRM 1400), and Mussel tissue (SRM 2976). The procedure was also successfully applied to the determination of Pb in coastal seawater samples by ICP-MS.
The Chebyshev center: a multidimensional estimate of location

Abstract In this paper the center of the smallest k-dimensional sphere enclosing a data set, hereinafter called the Chebyshev center, is introduced as a multidimensional measure of location. The distribution of this estimator, which is a multidimensional generalization of the univariate midrange, is derived in the general case and its properties investigated for a host of distributions. The Chebyshev center is shown to be a maximum likelihood estimator for the center of a uniform distribution over a k-sphere and both unbiased and consistent for the multivariate spherical normal distribution and any spherical finite range distribution.
The effects of behavioral skills training on instructor and learner behavior across responses and skill sets

Behavioral skills training (BST) is effective to train staff to provide intervention to people with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to assess whether: (a) prior studies demonstrating the effectiveness of BST could be systematically replicated while teaching multiple teaching instructors to implement discrete trial teaching, incidental teaching and activity schedules; (b) instructional skills that staff acquired during training on one response generalized to a variety of instructional programs, (c) positive changes in staff performance produced positive behavior change in learners; and (d) positive changes in learner behavior generalized to novel programs. BST resulted in positive behavior change across staff, learners, instructional programs, and various teaching skills. Further, staff generalized teaching skills to novel responses and learners displayed increases in correct responding for all three instructional procedures. Social validity data indicated they these staff training procedures were highly acceptable and effective. Thus, BST is an effective and acceptable staff training procedure.
SU-FF-T-201: Effect of Mini-Phantom Material On In-Air Dosimetry Quantities

Purpose: Recent studies suggest that miniphantom material and thickness affect the measured values of in‐air output ratio. These results prompt us to investigate the effect of mini‐phantom depth and material on several in‐air quantities. Method and Materials: Beam data for two photon beams (6x and 15x) were compared for several in‐air quantities: off‐axis ratio (OAR); central axis wedge factor (CAX WF); distance factor (DF) dependence and off‐axis wedge factor (OAX WF). Several miniphantom materials (Lucite, copper,lead and graphite) were used with a radiological depth ranging from 2 to 25g/cm2. Results: OAR decreases with increasing miniphantom thickness and off‐ axis distance x, for the same mini‐phantom material. For open field, the maximum difference is 5% and 8% for 6x and 15x, respectively. CAX for WF were measured for 15°, 45° and 60° wedge angles, for both virtual and solid wedges. WF increases up to 11% with mini‐phantom thickness, when solid wedges are used. Virtual wedges have an effect of less than 1% on WF. Maximum errors were found for 450 solid wedge. DF dependence was measured for several SAD's for 6 and 15x, open and 60° virtual and solid wedges. DF agreed within 3% regardless of beam energy, material and SAD. OAX WF were measured at a few off‐axis points along both wedge and non‐wedge gradient directions for 6x. WF varies by up to 2.6% in the toe direction, by up to 1.1% in the heel direction and by up to 3.3% in the non‐wedge direction. Conclusion: Mini‐phantom material has an effect on measured in‐air dosimetric quantities. Ideally, a water‐equivalent miniphantom should be used. When the miniphantom thickness increases (even for water equivalent material), the value of WF, OAR, DF increase by 11%, 8%, 3%, respectively. The error also increases with Z value of mini‐phantom and photon energy.
Inhibitors for E3 ubiquitin ligases

Two studies show that specific cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases can be targeted with small molecules.
Remote access to CAD databases using an information sharing system

Abstract This paper describes the access to a database of prosthetic parts using an information sharing system (ISS). The prosthetic parts modeled are made of ceramic materials. The prosthetic parts modeled are a formal head, a cup, and a cup and head device. The information about the prosthetic parts is based on a feature based model and is stored in a relational database which is a part of a CAD system. The model for the information sharing system is object-oriented. The relational database is accessed remotely from the object-oriented model of the ISS using a gateway to the CAD system. This implementation illustrates two key concepts: the ISS approach to distributed, heterogeneous database integration and the ISS methodology for building gateways. It also shows some of the problems and solutions in databases that do not support sql type queries.
Prevention of aluminium toxicity with supplemental boron. I. Maintenance of root elongation and cellular structure

Aluminium toxicity is an important factor limiting plant growth on acid soils. Symptoms of B deficiency and Al toxicity are very similar and generally associated with impaired membrane function and root growth. Thus the objective of this study was to determine whether supplemental B prevents Al inhibition of root growth and development. Squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Sunbar) was grown in hydroponic nutrient media with 44 mmol m -3 free Al and B concentrations extending from 5 to 100 mmol m -3 . Our results establish that B protects against Al inhibition of root growth. Protection was apparent at all levels of organization examined : primary root and lateral root lengths ; primary root cell elongation, cell production rate, tissue organization and cell structure ; primary root morphology and maturation. Protection against Al inhibition was also apparent for shoot growth. These studies were undertaken in solution culture to limit the variables examined ; however, the underlying motivation for this study is the problem of worldwide Al toxicity in soils. Therefore, the effect of adding additional B to a high-Al soil was also investigated and is the subject of the companion paper (Le Noble, Blevins & Miles 1996, Plant, Cell and Environment 19, 1143-1148).
Discourses of separation: The relation between rhetoric and poetics in the work of Hoyt Hudson and Herbert Wichelns

In his 1925 article "The Literary Criticism of Oratory," Herbert Wichelns, a scholar of rhetoric at Cornell, observed that, with respect to literary study, oratory had become "either an outcast or a poor relation" (181). Oratory's falling out of favor indicated to Wichelns that perceptions of discourse had been radically transformed. Intimating what the change might consist of, he wrote, "[i]nvolved in it is some shift in the conception of oratory or of literature, or of both; nor can these conceptions have changed except in response to the life of which oratory, as well as literature, is part" (181). Scholars writing after Wichelns have frequently reported on the ill fate of oratory-and, more broadly, of rhetoric as the practice and study of some kinds of written as well as oral discourse-in American colleges. How had colleges by 1925 come to demote rhetoric to a position beneath literary critical study and literary works of fiction, drama, and poetry? As Wichelns suggested, rhetoric and literature shared some "life," and our elaboration of their common history and context can help us account for rhetoric's condition. Some scholars have argued that the study and status of rhetoric in the college curriculum diminished as a strong interest in literature emerged (e.g., Stewart 119-21; Connors, Ede, and Lunsford 5-7; Halloran 176). Exploring the role of the belletristic tradition in rhetoric and of representative individuals such as C. S. Baldwin and the men who held the position of Boylston Professor of Rhetoric at Harvard, the work of these scholars offers insight into the interrelations among rhetoric and literature during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Historians neither of English nor of speech as academic disciplines, however, have traced the relation between rhetoric and literature as it was construed by scholars who were active during this time. The concomitant rise of literary study and fall of rhetoric suggest that historical perceptions of the relation between literary and rhetorical discourse figure in the story of rhetoric's demise. Part of what we might call the "life" of rhetoric and of literature is the relation that members of the profession perceived between them. As with contemporary discussions on the issue in such texts as Jane Tompkins' "The Reader in History" and Steven Mailloux's Rhetorical Power, we might guess that turn-of-the-century scholars posited rela-
Normal compositional models: generalizations and applications

The normal compositional model (NCM) is a descriptive model that explicitly accounts for sub-pixel mixing and random variation of the spectrum of a material. In this paper the normal compositional model, defined in an earlier work, is extended to include an additive term that may represent path radiance and additive sensor noise. If the covariance matrix of the additive term is non-singular, as may be assumed since it includes the covariance matrix of the additive noise, the covariance matrix of the other classes need not be non-singular. Thus the current model synthesizes the linear unmixing and Gaussian clustering algorithms. Anomaly and matched target detection algorithms based on these three models are compared using ocean hyperspectral imagery, and for these data the NCM approach reduces the false alarm probability by more than an order of magnitude. The linear mixture and normal compositional models separate surface reflections and upwelling light more effectively than the Gaussian clustering algorithm. Furthermore, greater inter-band correlation is estimated using the subpixel covariance estimation methodology than using the pure pixel modeling approach.
A long-term global energy- economic model of carbon dioxide release from fossil fuel use

Abstract In this paper the authors develop a long-term global energy-economic model which is capable of assessing alternative energy evolutions over periods of up to 100 years. The authors have sought to construct the model so that it can perform its assigned task with as simple a modelling system as possible. The model structure is fully documented and a brief summary of results is given.
Cuba—Is the “Special Period” Really Over?

Since 1989, Cuba has struggled to recover from the loss of Soviet trade and subsidies. The Cuban government dubbed the period between 1990 and 1994 “A Special Period in Peacetime” in recognition of the 35% decline in GDP. Instead of restructuring its economy, the Cuban government used a bandaid approach that permitted self-employment, raised prices, legalized the dollar, and decreased government subsidies of state enterprises. Although growth resumed in 1994, the Cuban economy never fully recovered to pre-1989 levels of GDP. This paper discusses the investment, trade, and production problems that continue to plague the Cuban economy.
Rewards for “Openness”

Although in general both supervisors and subordinates favored accepting and reciprocating responses in work situations, there was some disparity in their perceptions of intended meaning.
Electronic structure of single crystalline Bi2(Sr,Ca,La)3Cu2O8

Abstract Angle-resolved photoemission experiments on single crystals of Bi 2 (Sr,Ca,La) 3 Cu 2 O 8 are reported. The data show a dispersionless behaviour of the valence band states as a function of the perpendicular component of the wave vector (along the c-axis), while as a function of the parallel component (in the a-b plane) clear dispersion occurs. Furthermore, polarization-dependent excitations reveal information on the symmetry of the unoccupied states.
Atmospheric pressure MALDI Fourier transform mass spectrometry of labile oligosaccharides.

An atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP MALDI) source coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT ICR MS) under UV laser and solid matrix conditions has been demonstrated to analyze a variety of labile oligosaccharides including O-linked and N-linked complex glycans released from glycoproteins. Spectra were acquired by both AP MALDI and vacuum MALDI and directly compared. The results presented here confirm that AP MALDI can generate significantly less energetic ions than vacuum MALDI and is able to produce the intact molecular ions with little or no fragmentation in both positive and negative ion mode analyses. Under certain conditions, noncovalent complexes of sialylated oligosaccharides were observed. The sensitivity attainable by AP MALDI was found to be comparable to conventional MALDI, and tandem mass spectrometry of oligosaccharides ionized by AP MALDI was shown to allow detailed structural analysis. Analysis of N-glycan mixtures derived...
The Twentieth Century as Detour

Frank Ninkovich. Modernity and Power: A History of the Domino Theory in the Twentieth Century
Fluorescence digital microscopy of interstitial macromolecular diffusion in burn injury.

Abstract Computer vision techniques implemented on an IBM PC AT have been applied to the study of microvascular permeability and interstitial diffusion in dorsal skin flap chamber preparations of hamsters. Experimental data was obtained for the leakage of fluorescent labelled dextran (70,000 daltons) after a precisely controlled mild degree of localized thermal trauma and compared with control data acquired prior to burn injury. Computer vision analysis techniques were applied to convert the fluorescent images into two-dimensional concentration maps. Interstitial diffusion coefficient values were computed from measured extravascular concentration profiles around a vessel of interest, assuming cylindrical or rectangular geometry, and optimally fitting a diffusion model to the data. An increase in the apparent diffusivity after mild thermal trauma was observed. Novel techniques were applied to solve hardware problems related to data acquisition and analysis, and a new library of software was developed to handle specific image processing requirements.
THE IMPACT OF BUSINESS CLIMATE, FOREIGN POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT ON NEW VENTURE CREATION

This paper seeks to add to the literature on regional factors that drive development of new ventures. In particular, it investigates the effects of business climate, foreign population and unemployment on new venture creation. Using state level data from the time period 2003–2007, we find that while business climate and foreign population are positively related to new venture creation, unemployment is negatively related. Implications of this study for fostering entrepreneurship are discussed.
Real and nominal exchange rates in the long run: An empirical investigation

Abstract This paper reports on econometric tests of the hypothesis that purchasing power parity holds as a long-run relationship using data on eight industrialized countries during the flexible exchange rate period. The empirical work proceeds by (i) testing whether nominal exchange rates and relative price levels are co-integrated and (ii) conducting impulse response analysis of long-run exchange rate and relative price level changes. To explain the data, Keynesian models suggest that shocks during the estimation period were due principally to exogenous shifts in aggregate demand, while equilibrium models suggest that monetary factors have been relatively more important.
Respondent-Driven Sampling in the Recruitment of Illicit Stimulant Drug Users in a Rural Setting: Findings and Technical Issues

Abstract Increasingly, respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is being applied to study not-in-treatment users of illicit drugs. Although RDS has been successfully applied in recruiting active users in densely-populated, metropolitan areas, its utility with hidden populations in rural areas has yet to be determined. This study critically evaluates the sample of not-in-treatment, illicit stimulant drug users ( n = 249) recruited from the application of RDS in three rural counties in west-central Ohio. The findings of this study largely support the results of earlier studies in urban areas and suggest that RDS is a useful method of sampling hidden drug using populations in less densely populated rural areas. Some limitations of RDS are also discussed.
Optical tailoring of solar absorbers by ion implantation

Abstract The absorbance and hence the efficiency of solar absorbing materials has been significantly improved by ion implantation of a surface coating. Samples of vanadium and zirconium were irradiated with 8 keV N 2 + ions at doses of ∼10 18 ions/cm 2 . The implantation resulted in a solar adsorbance increase Δα s ≅ + 0.3 and the realization of spectral selectivity through the formation of surface localized nitrides and the generation of surface roughness.
Robust detection of plant species distribution shifts under biased sampling regimes

The great diversity of terrestrial plants testifies to a wide variety of life-history strategies for dealing with the problem of surviving to reproduce in a stressful environment while competing with other biota. It is essential to develop an understanding of how global environmental changes are perturbing the distribution of species throughout the globe. However, the most abundant collections of historic data on species distributions, i.e., museums and herbaria, are affected by sample biases that strongly compromise our ability to use these data for change detection studies. Here, we present a simulation study to find robust methods for rejecting spurious shifts in the geographic range or the environmental niche occupied by species, under a variety of sampling biases. We present two methods for addressing bias. The first method is a Bayesian weighting method from machine learning theory, in which each specimen is reweighted to achieve uniform sampling intensity in time, based on sampling intensity for all specimens. An alternative method uses binomial probabilities of selecting the observed number of samples of a target relative to all specimens, and estimates the likelihood associated with the binomial probabilities using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). We find that without dealing with sampling bias, using raw data is almost certain to provide inaccurate results, under even the mildest perturbations to idealized sampling. Among the two methods for addressing bias, the empirical estimate of the probability density of a change provided by MCMC was essential for accurately rejecting false changes. The performance of the weighting method, while an improvement over the use of raw data, was limited to cases in which the bias was weak. We conclude that species distribution changes are most robustly estimated using binomial probabilities, in which the probability space is explored empirically by MCMC.
Application of NMR cross‐polarization/modulus correlations to a series of polyurethane elastomers

A structure/property relationship is developed between the dynamic storage modulus, E′, and the cross-polarization time constant TCH for a series of polyurethane elastomers. The correlations made are based on the standard linear solids model (SLSM) and on the concept that TCH is modulated by near static molecular motions. The use of the SLSM to describe the main viscoelastic range of these polyurethanes is contrasted to previous models used to develop similar correlations. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Calcium channel blockers and atherogenesis

The events involved in atherogenesis include platelet deposition on damaged endothelial surfaces; migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells; the formation of elastin, collagen, and glycosaminoglycans, followed by the penetration and complexing of lipoproteins; and, calcification. Since calcium is involved in these and other events, considerable data exist on the effects of altering calcium influx in experimental atherosclerosis. Interventions that increase calcium deposition tend to increase the severity of experimental atherosclerosis, whereas interventions that reduce calcium entry into cells tend to reduce its progression. Using rabbits, researchers have recently focused on the ability of calcium channel blockers, such as nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem, to attenuate the development of experimental atherosclerosis. Studies also suggest that although calcium channel blockers may protect against the development of experimental atherosclerosis, they are less effective in inducing its regression. Further, studies with calcium channel blockers in rabbits deficient in low-density lipoprotein receptors did not show protection against the development of atherosclerosis. However, no clinical studies are yet available to judge the potential protective effects of calcium channel blockers in humans. Since many patients are now receiving long-term calcium blocker therapy for hypertension, these findings may be relevant in the selection of antihypertensive therapy, provided that protective effects can be demonstrated.