cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Preoperative Staging of Rectal Cancer

The effective evaluation of a newly diagnosed rectal cancer should result in a determination of the need for neoadjuvant therapy, the potential for sphincter preservation, and the expected quality of life following treatment. The currently used system proposed by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) for staging rectal cancer is listed in Table 40.1. The tumor-related factors of prognostic significance, which may be evaluated prior to the treatment of rectal cancer, include the depth of penetration of the tumor through the rectal wall, the presence or absence of metastases to the regional and pelvic lymph nodes, and the presence of distant metastases.
Expression of Green Fluorescent Protein in Aureobasidium pullulans and Quantification of the Fungus on Leaf Surfaces

A red-shifted, mutated form of the jelly-fish green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of a TEF promoter was expressed at high levels in the filamentous fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. In the three transformants studied, all morphotypes of the fungus, including pigmented chlamydospores, expressed GFP and fluoresced brightly. Confocal microscopy showed that the intra-cellular distribution of GFP was nonuniform. When applied to leaf surfaces, the transformants were readily visible and amenable to quantification by image analysis. Thus, GFP expression, together with quantitative image analysis, may provide a powerful method for ecological studies of plant-microbe relationships in nature.
Correct and Provably Efficient Methods for Rectilinear Steiner Spanning Tree Generation

Two rectilinear Steiner spanning tree algorithms are presented, proven to be correct, and examined with regard to their complexity. It is shown that their worst case efficiencies are merely 1.5 times the optimum solution. These algorithms, when experimentally compared to existing algorithms, excel. They in fact produce the best solutions over 80% of the time and are never more than 1% from the best solution found.
Quantal GABA release: noise or not?

The new finding that seizures can change the probability of action-potential-independent transmitter release in rats suggests that these events may carry synaptic information.
An Enriching Methodology Bakhtin’s “Dialogic Origin and Dialogic Pedagogy of Grammar” and the Teaching of Writing

In “Dialogic Origin,” Mikhail Bakhtin—as teacher-researcher and theorist—presents readers with a remarkable essay on teaching grammar and style to 7th-year students (roughly equivalent to 10thgrade...
Molecular evidence for induction of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in the viable border zone associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury of the dog heart.

BACKGROUNDAcute inflammation may play a role in injury during reperfusion following myocardial ischemia. Studies in vitro suggest that intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mediates neutrophil adherence to cardiac myocytes and neutrophil-mediated injury. We have shown cytokine activity in postischemic cardiac lymph sufficient to maximally express ICAM-1 on myocytes and that ICAM-1 mRNA is found in the previously ischemic myocardium early in reperfusion.METHODS AND RESULTSIn the present study, we used in situ hybridization techniques to detect ICAM-1 mRNA and examine the cells of origin, relation to cell injury, and relation to inflammatory infiltration after 1 hour of ischemia and varying times of reperfusion. By 1 hour of reperfusion, ICAM-1 mRNA was detected in much of the ischemic myocardium, except in areas of contraction band necrosis. At 2 and 3 hours, a clear demarcation of necrotic areas surrounding ischemic areas of viable myocardium with ICAM-1 mRNA staining was present, and ICAM-1 mRNA sta...
Efficacy, Emotions and the Habit of Participation

Political behavior is triggered by the presence of a variety of material and cognitive resources, including political efficacy. The dominant view conceptualizes efficacy as capital, used to overcome obstacles to participation. Our theory suggests that unlike other resources, efficacy aids in the development of habitual participation by activating a particular negative emotion, anger. Using the 1990–1992 NES Panel, we find that internal efficacy boosts participation in part by facilitating anger, but not fear, in response to policy threats. This partial mediating effect operates primarily among younger citizens who are in the process of developing the habit of participation. External efficacy, because it is not self-referential, is not causally linked to participation via emotions. Finally, internal efficacy is enhanced by successful participation in politics, closing a feedback loop that helps explain participatory habits.
Group Work vs. Casework in a Group: Principles and Implications for Teaching and Practice

SUMMARY This paper examines the differences between group work and casework in a group. Examples of both are used to illustrate the distinction. Steps that are essential to maximize the value and benefits of the small group and to ensure that group work takes place are described and discussed.
EARLY AFTERDEPOLARIZATIONS PRODUCED BY D, L-SOTALOL AND CLOFILIUM

EAD Formation by Class III Drugs. Introduction: The roles for L-type calcium current and Na-Ca exchange in early afterdepolarizations (EADs) attending d, l-sotalol and clofilium were examined in canine Purkinje fibers and in enzymatically dispersed myocytes from canine subepicardium. Methods and Results: Spontaneous EADs were compared to EAD formation potentiated by stimulation of Na-Ca exchange and facilitation of ICa-L (Bay K8644). Bay K8644 (10-8 M) and stimulation of Na-Ca exchange potentiated bradycardia-dependent EADs. Stimulation of Na-Ca exchange in Pnrkinje fibers pretreated with d, l-sotalol (10-5 M) and clofilium (10-7 M) induced EADs at takeoff potentials negative (-63 ± 4 and -62 ± 4 mV, respectively) to EADs potentiated by Bay K8644 (10-8 M) (-33 ± 2 and -34 ± 2 mV, respectively, P < 0.05), or EADs induced by Bay K8644 alone (10-6 M) (-31 ± 5 mV). In myocytes, Bay K8644 (10-8 M) potentiated EADs in d, l-sotalol- (10-6 to 10-4M) or clofilium-treated (10-9 to 10-7 M) cells at reduced potentials (-10 ± 3 and -10 ± 4 mV, respectively) compared to EADs elicited by clofilium or d, l-sotalol alone (-25 ± 3 and -24 ± 3 mV, respectively), or stimulation of Na-Ca exchange in the presence of d, l-sotalol or clofilium (-26 ± 4 and -26 ± 4 mV, respectively). Spontaneous EADs or EADs elicited by stimulation of Na-Ca exchange coincident with drug treatment were suppressed by increasing Cao2+ but were not suppressed by nifedipine (10-7 M). Conclusion: EADs elicited by d, l-sotalol and clolllium in canine Purkinje tissue and epicardial myocytes are dependent upon Na-Ca excbange rather than ICa-L“window current.”
The Pragmatics of Proverb Performances in New Mexican Spanish

Performances of proverbs by Mexicanos in northern New Mexico are characterized by seven features in addition to the proverb text. These are examined with respect for the role they play in connecting basic cultural and linguistic patterns with the minute details of an ongoing social interaction. The processes of presupposition and contextualization are identified as crucial determinants of the way each feature will be realized in a given performance.
Classification of a class of crossed product C⁎-algebras associated with residually finite groups

A residually finite group acts on a profinite completion by left translation. We consider the corresponding crossed product C⁎-algebra for discrete countable groups that are central extensions of finitely generated abelian groups by finitely generated abelian groups (these are automatically residually finite). We prove that all such crossed products are classifiable by K-theoretic invariants using techniques from the classification theory for nuclear C⁎-algebras.
Random living schedule: Psychological effects in man

Abstract In order to determine whether regularity of environmental and living schedules in man is necessary for normal psychological functioning, subjects lived on random schedules for 14 consecutive days. No impairment of cognitive or personality functions was detected. The results suggest that individual differences in subjects' ability to adjust their sleep to a random schedule may be determined in part by personality factors. High scores on California Psychological Inventory scales of Intellectual Efficiency, Sense of Well-being, Dominance, Self-acceptance, Sociability, Achievement via Conformance, and Psychological-mindedness, and low scores on Femininity predicted better ability to sleep at irregular times. Being a good sleeper may protect one against sleep loss on irregular schedules, but the psychological effects of sleep loss per se are not great.
AXL and MET crosstalk to promote gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal cell migration and survival.

The membrane tyrosine kinase receptors, AXL and MET, are implicated in GnRH neuron migration and/or survival. We hypothesized that the receptors with their ligands, GAS6 and HGF, respectively may cross-talk in GnRH neuronal function. In NLT GnRH neuronal cells, MET co-immunoprecipitated with AXL, although HGF or GAS6 did not transphosphorylate AXL or MET, respectively. Co-expression of a kinase dead AXL blocked HGF activation of MET and indirectly AKT and p38MAPK. Silencing of AXL decreased HGF’s ability to phosphorylate MET and activate AXL’s downstream effectors, p38MAPK and AKT. HGF/MET signaling modulated neuron migration dependent and independent of AXL co-expression and p38MAPK. Conversely, AXL’s control of GnRH neuronal survival was dependent on HGF/MET signaling. Together, these data support that the importance of membrane tyrosine kinase receptor crosstalk to regulate neuronal cell-specific developmental functions.
Electrochemical response of CoCrMo to high‐speed fracture of its metal oxide using an electrochemical scratch test method

A new test method was used to rapidly produce a controlled, repeatable scratch on the surface of CoCrMo (ASTM F75) samples, resulting in fracture of the surface oxide. Current transients resulting from ionic dissolution and repassivation of the exposed reactive alloy were measured with the samples potentiostatically held in phosphate-buffered saline. The effects of potential, contact load, pH, aeration, and proteins on the magnitude of the current transients and time constants for repassivation were determined. Using the scratch test apparatus, topographic images of scratched surfaces were constructed and used to measure scratch depth. Aeration had no significant effect on peak currents and time constants owing to the availability of oxygen from the hydrolysis of water. Peak current behavior reflected the transition regions observed in polarization curves. A decrease in peak currents in the presence of albumin may have been due to barrier effects of the adsorbed protein preventing water from reaching the sample surface, or lubrication resulting in less material removed from the surface during scratching. Peak currents and scratch depth increased with load. A model used to predict repassivation behavior was in agreement with experimental results.
Septic shock in a 31-year-old male with a superficial bladder tumor

A 32-year-old Hispanic male, with a 5-year history of transitional cell carcinoma in situ of the bladder, was admitted with rigors, fever of 4O”C, scleral icterus, and abdominal pain. Three days prior to admission he had received his first intravesical irrigation with bacille Calmette-Gubin (BCG) vaccine. The bladder irrigation proceeded uneventfully. However, at the time of his first voiding, approximately 2 hours after BCG instillation, chills, headache, and dizziness were noted. Symptoms persisted and worsened, and fever was noted. The patient presented to the emergency room for evaluation 72 hours after bladder irrigation and was admitted to hospital. The patient was born in the United States and had no history of foreign travel. He works in an office setting for an international auction house but does not handle auctioned items. He lives with his girlfriend who is in good health. His tuberculin status and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status were unknown on admission, but both were subsequently shown to be negative. His only previous hospitalizations were for diagnosis of the transitional cell carcinoma in situ of the bladder, which was diagnosed during his first evaluation of hematuria, and for ambulatory cystoscopic fulgurations of the bladder over the past 5 years; the latest, more than 6 months prior to BCG immunotherapy He had no other known underlying medical problems and took no chronic medications. On admission to hospital, the patient’s physical examination was significant for tachycardia, drenching sweats, blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg, a clear auscultatory chest examination, a hemic I-VI systolic ejection murmur, a benign abdominal examination, and a normal neurologic examination. A hemogram revealed a white blood cell count (WBC) of 6000, a hematocrit of 45%, and a platelet count of 155,000. The WBC comprised 72% neutrophils, 10% lymphocytes, 3% monocytes, and 15% bands. Blood
Variables Influencing Same-Sex Domestic Partner Benefits for College and University Faculty and Employees

The provision of health care benefits by American universities and colleges to employees and their families would seem to be a mundane administrative chore. Controversy arises, though, over the question of extending employee health benefits to other-sex partners of faculty and employees. Many American colleges and universities still do not make such a provision, despite its obvious advantages. These include, among others, both the attraction and the retention of valuable employees. We argue here that the administration of university affairs, including both public and private institutions, is not immune from the effects of state and national culture and politics. We find that region, religion, politics, and race all contribute to the explanation of why some institutions grant health care benefits to other-sex domestic partners of faculty and employees, and others do not.
On diagonal dominance arguments for bounding ‖A-1‖∞

Abstract In a recent paper by J.M. Varah, an upper bound for ‖ A -1 ‖ ∞ was determined, under the assumption that A is strictly diagonally dominant, and this bound was then used to obtain a lower bound for the smallest singular value for A . In this note, this upper bound for ‖ A -1 ‖ ∞ is sharpened, and extended to a wider class of matrices. This bound is then used to obtain an improved lower bound for the smallest singular value of a matrix.
Survey Of EM Effects And Public Policy Implications

Health effects from 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields have become a matter of public and industry concern in recent years. This article examines the scientific evidence briefly with a focus on the uncertainty, and discusses the public policy implications.
A simple phenomenological thermodynamic model for protein partitioning in reversed micellar systems

A simple thermodynamic model is developed for the partitioning of proteins between a bulk aqueous solution and a reversed micellar organic phase by assuming that a pseudo-chemical equilibrium is established when proteins in solution interact with a non-integral number of empty micelles to form the protein-micelle complex. From the equilibrium constant for this reaction, which is related to both the chemical and electrical free energy changes associated with the transfer of the proteins between the two phases, a simple expression is derived for the partition coefficient as a function of pH and surfactant concentration. Assumptions include a linear variation in protein net charge with pH, and a linear decrease in protein-micelle complex size with increasing protein charge. Results on the solubilization of ribonuclease-a and concanavalin-a in Aerosol-OT/isooctane organic solvents were well-correlated by the model equation, and the estimated parameters were of the expected order of magnitude as estimated based on the known physical properties of the system components.
Current transport mechanism of polysilicon-emitter transistor

Abstract The minority carrier transport mechanism in the arsenic-doped polysilicon-emitter transistor without an interfacial polysilicon-silicon oxide layer has been analysed. It has been shown that for arsenic peak impurity segregation at the polysilicon-monosilicon interface in the range of 10 19 −5 × 10 19 cm −3 , the carrier transport in the emitter is dominated by the thermionic emission mechanism. Some earlier work on temperature dependence of the current gain has been analysed for the polysilicon-emitter transistor and the conventional transistor, and inconsistencies in the results are explained using the thermionic emission-diffusion carrier transport model.
A new composite material for plate heat exchangers

Abstract A new fluoroplastic-bonded graphite is reported as impermeable with only 1 2 % maximum porosity. This key property together with developments in processing technology have enabled the introduction of “graphite” plate heat exchangers to the chemical process industries hither to the sole domain of metals. This note outlines the joint development by Alfa-Laval Thermal AB, Sweden and Sigri GmbH, Federal Republic of Germany, of the first composite material plate heat exchangers.
Cost-Effectiveness of Cytochrome P450 2C19 Genotype Screening for Selection of Antiplatelet Therapy with Clopidogrel or Prasugrel

Study Objective To estimate the cost-effectiveness of genotype-guided selection of antiplatelet therapy compared with selecting clopidogrel or prasugrel irrespective of genotype.
Sensitive liquid chromatography assay for the determination of amikacin in human plasma

Abstract A selective LC method with on-line post-column derivatization is described for the determination of amikacin in biological fluids. Chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase column, using pentane sulphonic acid as an ion-pairing reagent. For the analysis of biological fluids, amikacin and the internal standard tobramycin were extracted using an ion exchanger (Sephadex). Following complete removal of plasma proteins, the aminoglycosides were eluted with alkaline sodium sulphate solution and injected into the chromatograph. After chromatographic separation the eluent was mixed with the derivatization reagent (o-phthalaldehyde and mercaptoethanol in borate buffer pH 10.4) in a reaction coil at 50°C. Detection was performed by fluorescence (excitation: 340 nm, emission: 418 nm). The overall run time was 8 min, at a flow rate of 1.2 ml min−1. The limit of quantification was 25 ng ml−1 for amikacin in plasma.
Jupiter's obliquity and a long-lived circumplanetary disk

Abstract It has been claimed [Canup, R.M., Ward, W.R., 2002. Astron. J. 124, 3404–3423; Ward, W.R., 2003. In: AGU, Fall Meeting 2003] that a long-lived minimum mass circumplanetary gas disk is inconsistent with Jupiter's low obliquity. Here we find that while Jupiter's obliquity may constrain its characteristics it does not rule out a long-lived massive (compared to the mass of the Galilean satellites) disk. This is because the argument assumes a Solar System much like that of the present day with the one exception of a circumjovian disk which is then allowed to dissipate on a long timescale ( 10 6 – 10 7 yr ). Given that the sequence of events in Solar System history that fit known constraints is non-unique, we choose for the sake of clarity of exposition the orbital architecture framework of Tsiganis et al. [Tsiganis, K., Gomes, R., Morbidelli, A., Levison, H.F., 2005. Nature 435, 459–461], in which Jupiter and Saturn were once in compact, nearly coplanar orbits, and show that in this case Jupiter's low obliquity is consistent with the SEMM (solids-enhanced minimum mass) satellite formation model of Mosqueira and Estrada [Mosqueira, I., Estrada, P.R., 2003a. Icarus 163, 198–231; Mosqueira, I., Estrada, P.R., 2003b. Icarus 163, 232–255]. We suggest that a low inclination starting condition may apply, but stress that our SEMM satellite formation model could be compatible with Jupiter's obliquity even for mutually inclined giant planets.
Detection of Prostate Cancer in an Ethnically Diverse, Disadvantaged Population With Multiple Prostate Specific Antigen Measurements Before Biopsy

Purpose: We assessed the predictive effect of prostate specific antigen velocity for men with a minimum of 3 pre-biopsy prostate specific antigen measurements in a racially diverse population.Materials and Methods: We identified 795 patients who underwent 3 or more prostate specific antigen tests before prostate biopsy. Prostate specific antigen velocity was calculated by linear regression and used to assess associations with the risk of prostate cancer overall and of high grade prostate cancer (Gleason score 7–10). We created ROC curves and determined the AUC for several models, including only prostate specific antigen velocity or the last prostate specific antigen measurement before biopsy, to predict prostate cancer and high grade prostate cancer.Results: The risk of prostate cancer and high grade prostate cancer increased linearly with increasing prostate specific antigen velocity quartiles (each p trend <0.001). Older patients were more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, given the same pros...
The direct effects of circulating lidocaine on uterine blood flow and foetal well-being in the pregnant ewe

We infused lidocaine intravenously into 13 pregant ewes at a rate sufficient to maintain plasma levels between 2-4 μgm/ml, which are those commonly seen with regional anaesthesia. These levels did not change maternal blood pressure, pulse rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance, uterine blood flow or intra-amniotic pressure. Foetal blood pressure and pulse rate remained stable as did both maternal and foetal blood gases and acid-base values.
Diffusion-bonded CNT carpets for fundamental CDI studies

Uncertainty about future energy and water supplies suggests a pressing need to develop efficient technologies for water desalination. Capacitive deionization (CDI), a method that captures ions in the electrical double layer (EDL) of an electrochemical capacitor, is a promising technology that can potentially fulfill those requirements. Similar to supercapacitors, ideal CDI electrodes should have a large electrolyte-accessible specific surface area available for ion adsorption with rapid charging/discharging characteristics. Unlike supercapacitors, CDI electrodes are required to operate in aqueous electrolytes with low ionic concentrations in a non-linear charging regime. To explore this practically and theoretically important regime, we developed robust, electrochemically-compatible carbon nanotube (CNT) carpet electrodes that posses a well-defined and uniform pore structure that is more readily analyzed in comparison to the random and multi-scale pore structure of typical carbon electrodes. The fabricated electrodes were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic charging in aqueous NaCl solutions (no = 20 - 90 mM) using a three electrode setup. Examination of the CV and potentiostatically-measured capacitances were consistent with EDL behavior dictated by the Stern layer. However, some deviations from the expected behavior were observed with increasing salt concentration during potentiostatic testing.
On gate leakage current partition for MOSFET compact model

Abstract Aggressive scaling of the gate-oxide thickness has made gate-tunneling current an essential aspect of MOSFET modeling and this leakage current density continues to increase for every process generation. Accurate compact models for gate-tunneling current and its source/drain partition are extremely critical to valid circuit performance in the 90 nm technology or beyond. Gate current partition has been studied by several authors [Cao K, et al. “BSIM4 gate leakage model including source–drain partition,” in IEDM Tech. Dig., San Francisco, CA, Dec. 2000. p. 815–8; R. van Langevelde et al., Gate current: modeling, ΔL extraction and impact on RF performance, in IEDM Tech. Dig., Washington, DC, Dec. 2001. p. 289–92; Shih W-K, et al., “A general partition scheme for gate leakage current suitable for MOSFET compact models,” in IEDM Tech. Dig., Washington DC., Dec. 2001. p. 293–6]. In this paper, an insight on the common/difference of these different gate leakage current partition schemes into source/drain has been provided and the accuracy of BSIM4 [Cao K, et al. “BSIM4 gate leakage model including source–drain partition,” in IEDM Tech. Dig., San Francisco, CA, Dec. 2000. p. 815–8] partition scheme is confirmed with comparing to the new derived equation, which incorporates the gate current into the inhomogeneous term calculation.
Robust decentralized turbine/governor control using linear matrix inequalities

A new scheme is presented for the robust decentralized stabilization of multimachine power systems, based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI). The proposed method is computationally efficient and can easily incorporate additional design requirements. The efficiency of this control strategy is illustrated on the IEEE 39 bus system for a variety of large disturbances. Experimental results indicate that transient stability can be significantly improved with this approach.
The Fractal Nature of Dendrites Formed by the Collection of Particles on Fibers

Aerosols or particles suspended in air are often filtered by pads of fibers. The particles collect on the surface of the fibers in chain-like structures called dendrites. An example scanning electron micrograph of 4.1 μm diameter particles captured on a 25-mm fiber was analyzed by a Richardson plot. The Richardson plot is the measured perimeter of an image as a function of the length of measure or stride length. Three distinct regions were identified. For long and short stride lengths, the linear fiber and spherical particles were Euclidean. In the intermediate stride length region, the dendrite was fractal with a dimension of 1.36. The fractal nature of dendrites results from the random position of particles approaching the fiber and the shadowing effect of collected particles. Fractal geometry is potentially a useful approach for describing the morphology of the dendritic structures.
ION- AND PHOTON-ASSISTED p-TYPE DOPING OF CdTe DURING PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION

“Art jumps ahead – science plods ponderously on behind to consider, describe, and finally document what “;actually” happened in the chaos of the leap” (ALF) This paper reviews our recent research on ion- and photon-assisted doping and growth of homoepitaxial CdTe thin films. Our earlier work demonstrated doping to 2 × 1017 cm−3 with 60 eVP ions during growth by vacuum deposition, but gave low values of minority-carrier diffusion length Ld. To increase Ld, we (a) explored photon-assisted doping, (b) varied the Cd/Te ratio, and (c) used lower ion energies. Although illumination (≈512 nm, ≈100 mW-cm−2) during growth enhanced crystalline quality, there was no evidence for any increase in doping over that of the non-illuminated films. Increasing the Cd/Te ratio (1.00 < Cd/Te < 2.2), both with and without ions and/or light during deposition, had strong effects on the In/p-CdTe junction transport, but gave little useful alteration of the doping behavior. Decreasing the P ion energy to 20 eV and adding an electro...
Low-cost accelerometry-based posture monitoring system for stroke survivors

This paper reports a low-cost autonomous wearable accelerometry-based posture monitoring system for stroke survivors. The hardware part of the system consists of monitoring devices, each of which comprises of a three-axial accelerometer and a beeper, LED light and vibrator to provide redundant modes of inappropriate posture warnings that would hopefully trigger self-correction. The inappropriate posture data are stored in an EEPROM. The software part of the system downloads, analyzes and presents the data in graphical format to enable a carer or therapist to quickly glance at the durations, frequency and locations of inappropriate postures.
Differential effects of direct antagonism of AII compared to ACE inhibitors on serum potassium levels and azotemia in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Objectives. The present study was undertaken to determine if direct blockade of angiotensin II receptors by losartan potassium as compared to ACE inhibition might result in greater tolerability in patients with congestive heart failure in whom ACE inhibition resulted in hyperkalemia and azotemia. Background. Blockade of angiotensin II receptors by losartan potassium may produce similar benefits in congestive heart failure as ACE inhibition. However, some observations suggest losartan potassium may have different effects on renal function than ACE inhibition. Methods. Five consecutive patients with severe congestive heart failure were identified in whom treatment with ACE inhibition was complicated by hyperkalemia (K>5.7) and azotemia. In three of these patients losartan potassium was substituted for ACE inhibition while losartan potassium was added to treatment with ACE inhibition in the remaining two. The mean of four serial values of potassium, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were compared before and after change in treatment using a two tailed t test. Results. The addition or substitution of losartan potassium resulted in statistically insignificant reductions in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine and a significant reduction in potassium from 5.7±0.1 to 4.9±0.3, p<0.03. Two patients who had required kayexalate were withdrawn. In all patients, hyperkalemia resolved and did not reoccur. Conclusions. There appear to be fundamental differences between the effects of losartan potassium and ACE inhibitors on potassium excretion in congestive heart failure patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency. Losartan potassium may also be associated with less azotemia in such patients. These differences may have important clinical implications, particularly in the subset of patients in whom ACE inhibition is poorly tolerated as a result of hyperkalemia and azotemia.
Making Voting Easier Convenience Voting in the 2008 Presidential Election

The authors analyze the choice of voting mode in the 2008 presidential election using a large-sample survey with national coverage that allows a new perspective of convenience voting. Most importan...
Purification and characterization of L-amino acid oxidase from king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom and its effects on human platelet aggregation

Venoms of several snake species contain large amounts of L-amino acid oxidase but its effects on human plasma coagulation and platelet aggregation have not been explored. We have purified L-amino acid oxidase from king cobra venom through CM-Sephadex C-25, Sephadex G-100 and DEAE Sephadex A-50 chromatographies. The purified enzyme has a mol. wt of 135,000 as determined by gel filtration and 65,000 by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing and reducing conditions. Incubation of plasma with L-amino acid oxidase at 200 micrograms/ml did not affect prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, or thrombin time. Upon addition of L-amino acid oxidase, platelets in platelet-rich plasma were aggregated. The enzyme-induced aggregation was abolished by catalase. The aggregation was also inhibited by indomethacin, aspirin, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, sodium nitroprusside, prostaglandin E1, mepacrine and verapamil, but not by heparin, hirudin, creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase or antimycin/2-deoxy-D-glucose. These results suggest that L-amino acid oxidase induces human platelet aggregation through the formation of H2O2, and subsequent thromboxane A2 synthesis requiring Ca2+ but independent of ADP release. The platelet aggregation caused by L-amino acid oxidase is likely to contribute to toxicity inflicted by cobra venom.
Aerosol radiative corrections to the retrieval of sea surface temperatures from infrared radiances measured by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

Abstract The radiative effects of atmospheric aerosols on the retrieval of sea surface temperature from the infrared radiances measured in Channels 3(∼ 3·55−3·95µm), 4(∼ 10·30−11·30µm), and 5(∼ 11·50−12·50µm) of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) onboard the NOAA polar-orbiting operational environmental satellites have been simulated in realistic models of a turbid atmosphere above the sea surface at a given temperature. The LOWTRAN-7 radiative transfer code has been used to compute the upwelling radiances at the central wavenumbers of these three channels. Brightness temperatures computed from these radiances were used in the NOAA/ NESDIS Multichannel Sea Surface Temperature (MCSST) retrieval algorithms to calculate sea surface temperatures. It is observed that the calculated (retrieved) sea surface temperatures are always less than the prescribed value in the model atmosphere, with the depressions ranging up to 4°C, depending upon the type and total columnar abundance of aerosols, pres...
Building a topic-dependent maximum entropy model for very large corpora

Maximum entropy (ME) techniques have been successfully used to combine different sources of linguistically meaningful constraints in language models. However, most of the current ME models can only be used for small corpora, since the computational load in training ME models for large corpora is unbearable. This problem is especially severe when non-local dependencies are considered. In this paper, we show how to train and use topic-dependent ME models efficiently for a very large corpus, Broadcast News (BN). The training time is greatly reduced by hierarchical training and divide-and-conquer approaches. The computation in using the model is also simplified by pre-normalizing the denominators of the ME model. We report new speech recognition results showing improvement with the topic model relative to the standard N-gram model for the Broadcast News task.
Truncated hemoglobins in Frankia CcI3: effects of nitrogen source, oxygen concentration, and nitric oxide.

Frankia strain CcI3 produces 2 truncated hemoglobins, HbN and HbO. Using ion-exchange chromatography, we characterized the expression of the relative amounts of HbN and HbO in −N (nitrogen-fixing) cultures and +N (nitrogen-supplemented) cultures. The −N cultures maintained an approximately constant ratio of HbO to HbN throughout the life of the culture, with HbO constituting 80%–85% of the total hemoglobin produced. In contrast, in +N cultures, HbN was observed to increase over time and HbO decreased. Total hemoglobin as a fraction of total protein was approximately constant throughout the growth phase in −N cultures, while it decreased somewhat in +N cultures. Subjecting −N cultures to a NO generator resulted in increased production of HbN, relative to the controls. Nitrite accumulated in +N cultures, but not in −N cultures. This suggests that the greater amount of HbN in +N cultures might be due to NO produced by the reduction of nitrite. The effects of O2 concentration were determined in +N cultures. C...
Discovery of electrostatic sound wave modes in a plasma in klystron oscillators

During tests of two-cavity klystron CW oscillators which are spacecharge focused, unusual FM sidebands were discovered. These modulation sidebands could only be detected with a sensitive discriminator and were found to result from video frequency oscillations. The video signals have been shown to be electrostatic sound wave modes of a beam-generated plasma and are similar to those investigated by Crawford (1961). Although they were discovered in the RF spectrum, they were also observable in the collector current.
The Business Elites of Hamburg and Berlin

In many respects, Hamburg and Berlin represent two societal models at work in Wilhelmian Germany. Hamburg and the other Hanseatic cities, Lubeck and Bremen, have traditionally been thought to represent bourgeois society as it might have been in Germany as a whole: self-assured, liberal, and antiaristocratic. Historians are generally in agreement with Richard J. Evans in his assertion that “neither the economic activity nor the social world nor finally the political beliefs and actions of the Hamburg merchants corresponded to anything that has ever been defined, however remotely, as ‘feudal.’” Berlin, on the other hand, was dominated by the imperial court and the aristocracy, which, it is said, seduced and fatally weakened not only the business elite of the capital, but in fact the most influential segment of the German bourgeoisie as a whole.
Metabolic costs of load carriage with different container sizes.

Abstract Six well-trained male subjects carried boxes of varying box width and weight at varying speeds on a level treadmill until steady-state heart rates were obtained. Analysis of the steady-state data for heart rate and metabolic cost led to development of highly accurate predictor models for both factors. The metabolic-cost model accounted for over 94% of the variance (R2>0·94), and the heart-rate model accounted for over 81% of the variance present (R2>0·81). Evaluation of other models for predicting physiological response to carrying loads found their predictions to differ significantly from the data of the present study.
Screw Dislocation-Driven Growth of Two-Dimensional Nanoplates

We report the dislocation-driven growth of two-dimensional (2D) nanoplates. They are another type of dislocation-driven nanostructure and could find application in energy storage, catalysis, and nanoelectronics. We first focus on nanoplates of zinc hydroxy sulfate (3Zn(OH)2·ZnSO4·0.5H2O) synthesized from aqueous solutions. Both powder X-ray and electron diffraction confirm the zinc hydroxy sulfate (ZHS) crystal structure as well as their conversion to zinc oxide (ZnO). Scanning electron, atomic force, and transmission electron microscopy reveal the presence of screw dislocations in the ZHS nanoplates. We further demonstrate the generality of this mechanism through the growth of 2D nanoplates of α-Co(OH)2, Ni(OH)2, and gold that can also follow the dislocation-driven growth mechanism. Finally, we propose a unified scheme general to any crystalline material that explains the growth of nanoplates as well as different dislocation-driven nanomaterial morphologies previously observed through consideration of th...
Novel experimental techniques for investigating time resolved high speed friction

Abstract The paper presents some recent advances in experimental methods to investigate the phenomenon of high speed friction. In particular, two novel experimental methods are employed in the present study: (a) the plate impact pressure–shear friction experiment, and (b) the torsional Kolsky bar friction experiment. Using these experimental configurations, dynamic frictional characteristics of Carpentor Hampden tool-steel/Ti6Al4V and Carpenter Hampden tool-steel/7075-T6 Al are investigated under conditions of high interfacial normal pressures (100 MPa to 2 GPa), high slip speeds (1 to 60 m/s) and elevated temperatures. The results of these experiments provide some new insights into the role of the applied normal pressure, interfacial slip speeds, interfacial temperature, and the surface roughness in controlling the tribology of dry sliding interfaces.
Evidence of basolateral water permeability regulation in amphibian urinary bladder.

It is well known that arginine vasopressin (AVP) produces up to a 40-fold increase (0.1 to 4,0 μL/min·cm2) in net water flux across the amphibian urinary bladder under an osmotic gradient (mucosal side 10% hypotonic). No AVP effect is observed when the gradient is in the opposite direction (serosal hypotonic). Similar asymmetrical behavior to osmotic gradients occurs in the frog corneal epithelium. This rectification phenomenon has not been satisfactorily explained. We measured net water fluxes in bladder sacs and confirmed that AVP has no effect when the serosal bath is hypotonic. We reasoned that the ‘abnormal’ serosal osmolarity was inducing changes in membrane water permeability, the very parameter being measured. Thus, we studied the effect of solution osmolarity on diffusional water flow (Jdw) across the frog bladder using 3H2O. As expected, AVP doubled Jdw (in either direction from 12 to 21 μL/min·cm2) when the serosal solution was iso-osmolar regardless of mucosal osmolarity. However, in the AVP-stimulated bladders, hypo-osmolarity of the serosal solution reduced Jdw by 42%, an effect that was reversible when normal osmolarity was re-established. Amphotericin B (instead of AVP) was used to irreversibly increase the permeability to water of the apical membrane. Under these conditions, basolateral hypotonicity also reversibly decreased Jdw by 32%, suggesting the basolateral membrane as the site where permeability is reduced. SEM and TEM of the tissue shows extreme swelling when it was exposed to serosal hypotonicity with or without AVP and typical surface morphology changes following hormone stimulation. We conclude that this swelling may initiate a signaling mechanism that reduces basolateral water permeability. These findings constitute evidence of basolateral water channel permeability regulation, which can also contribute to cell volume regulation.
Calorimetric studies of the polynucleotide analog poly(-)2-[2-(thymin-1-yl)propanamido]propenoic acid.

analog, poly(-)-2-[2-(thymin-l-yl)propanamido]propenoic acid, P(-YTDHA, have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermogravmetric analysis (TGA). The differential scanning calorimetry curves obtained on solid P(-)TDHA samples exhibited five distinct transitions. The transition occurring at 50°C is attributed to a disruption of interactions involving thymine-thymine stacking. In contrast the transition observed at 83°C is attributed to a hydrogenbonding interaction involving the thymine residues, whereas the transition occurring at 110°C is assigned to hydrogen bonding of the carboxylic acid sidechain groups. The transitions observed at 50, 83, and 110°C are reversible if the heated and quenched sample is allowed to equilibrate in an atmosphere of high humidity. The transition occurring at 127°C is viewed as a structural rearrangement of the polymer backbone that does not involve the participation of water molecules. The transition observed at a temperature above 197°C is attributed to a structural modification of the polymer resulting from decomposition. Solutions of P(-)TDHA in 0.1M phosphate buffer at pH 7.05 showed only a single transition at 50"C, which is in accord with an observed transition in the solid state assigned to the disruption of base-stacking interactions. The average enthalpy for the transition at 50°C was 0.92 cal/g in the solid state and 1.08 cal/g for the solution, which provides additional support for the assignment.
Effect of salinity on survival and bioenergetics of juvenile lesser blue crabs, Callinectes similis

Juvenile lesser blue crabs, Callinectes similis Williams, were exposed to a range of salinities for measurement of survival and bioenergetics. Effects of salinity on survival were determined by exposing juvenile crabs to salinity treatments ranging from 0 to 74‰. All crabs survived 21 d of exposure to 5 and 45‰S. The 21 d LC50 values for salinity tolerance (calculated from survival data) were 2.6 and 60.8‰S at low and high salinities, respectively. Energy-budget components and scope for growth were determined for crabs exposed to 2.5, 10, 25, 35 and 50‰S. Energetic absorption rates were highest at 2.5 and 35‰S. Energetic expenditure rates (energy lost to respiration and excretion) were greatest at 2.5‰S, and decreased as salinity increased. Respiration constituted the majority of energetic expenditure at all salinities (92.3% average). Scope for growth was significantly affected by salinity and was highest in crabs exposed to 35‰S. Increased respiration at low salinity may indicate that C. similis incurs greater costs due to osmoregulation. The results of this study indicate that C. similis is capable of surviving and growing in waters with salinities as low as 10‰.
Plastic deformation of continuous-fiber reinforced composites subjected to changing temperature

Analyse du probleme de deformation axiale sous cycle de contrainte dans un domaine de temperature assez grand pour induire une deformation plastique dans l'un des composants avec certaines hypotheses
Modified catheter for prolonged central venous use

A modification of an existing Broviac type of central venous catheter is described. The catheter has two suture fixation rings distal to the Dacron cuff, which anchor the catheter to the patient and minimize the risk of displacement or migration until tissue-cuff adherence has taken place. The technique for using the catheter is described.
On the pressure dependence of Tc of the Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δsystem

Abstract It is shown that the crossover which occurs with increasing x near x ≃ 0.2 in the pressure dependence of the superconducting critical temperature Tc from positive to large negative values for the Y1-xPrxCu3O7-δ (δ ≃ 0.05) system can be be accounted for using a simple phenomenological model, generalized to include pressure. The model was developed to describe the dependence of Tc on the concentrations of Pr (x) and Ca (y) and Ca (y) in the Y1-x-yPrxBa2Cu3O7-gd system and incorporates (1) the counteracting effects of the generation and annihilation of holes in the conducting CuO2 planes by Ca2+ and Prn+ ions (where + n is the Pr valence), respectively, and (2) the deparing of superconducting electrons via exchange scattering of the mobile holes in the CuO2 planes by the Pr magnetic moments. New measurements of Tc(P) on higher quality Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ specimens are presented and analyzed in terms of the phenomenological model. The increase in the magnitude of the normal state electrical resistivity with pressure observed in an Y0.5Pr0.5Cu3O7-δ specimen is consistent with the decrease in the mobile hole concentrations with pressure inferred from the model.
Multiple Catches of Smallmouth Bass in a Special Regulation Fishery

Abstract Tag recoveries of angler-caught smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu were monitored in a 1.9-mi special regulation area of the Zumbro River where anglers were required to release fish greater than 9 in and in two areas where mandatory release was not required. For all areas combined, an average of 16% of the fish that were caught at least one time and released were recaught by anglers during the 2 years the fishery was studied. Estimates of numbers of fish recaught were affected by high tag loss (46%) and unknown angler nonresponse rates. Previously released smallmouth bass contributed to angler catch in all areas, including an area downstream of the primary survey site; however, the majority of the fish that were recaught were released by anglers in the special regulation area. Catch rates in the special regulation area averaged 1.1 fish/h and were greater than in standard regulation areas; however, they were influenced by numbers of smallmouth bass and angler skill and effort. Most fish within ...
The change in negation in middle English: A NEGP licensing account

Abstract During the Middle English period (1150–1500 AD), the sentential negator of English changed from the preverbal ne to the postverbal not. During the transition, there was frequent use of a bipartite ne … not negator. This paper presents a detailed quantitative study of the change. I show that as not changes from sentence adverb, with a distribution parallel to never, to sentential negator, ne is lost. However, the rates of change in the use of not and ne are significantly different, indicating that these two forms are not in direct, grammatical competition. An account of the indirect connection between ne and not is given using a licensing condition for the projection of negation, NEGP. I also show that the overlapping use of the two systems of negation, ne … not, does not constitute an independent system. The change in negators shows that both functional and structural considerations are relevant in properly modeling syntactic change, and thus that diachronic change reflects aspects of competence and performance.