cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of statins on ischemia-reperfusion complications in breast free flaps.

Abstract Background Administration of statins or other cardiovascular medications (CVMs) could potentially protect against the development of ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in free flap reconstruction. The aim of this study was to examine whether the use of statins and other CVMs decreased the rate of I/R injury in autologous free flap breast reconstruction. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on women who had undergone mastectomy and autologous free flap breast reconstruction between 2004 and 2010. Patient characteristics, use of statin and/or CVMs, and I/R–related complications were ascertained. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between independent risk factors and specific complications. Results There were 702 free flap breast reconstructions included in this study; 45 performed in patients on statins, 70 in patients on CVMs, and 38 in patients on both. Overall complication rate in patients on statins and patients on CVMs was significantly higher than those not on any medication (46.7% versus 31.5%, P = 0.037 and 45.7% versus 31.5%, P = 0.017, respectively). When I/R complications were pooled, there were no significant differences between patients not on any medications and those on statins ( P = 0.26), CVMs ( P = 0.18), and both ( P = 0.83.) Conclusions Although there may be theoretical pharmacologic benefits of statins and/or CVMs to reduce the incidence of IR injury in autologous free flap breast reconstruction, the results of this study showed no clear advantages when these drugs were used.
Simplifying graphics-based data: applying the fisheye lens viewing strategy

Abstract This paper applies an information presentation technique known as the ‘fisheye lens’ viewing strategy to the electronic presentation of maintenance data. Previous research efforts have focused on implementing this particular technique as a tool to aid in data base navigation, more specifically, as a means of facilitating the access and comprehension of computer-based information. In this paper, however, the technique serves as a mechanism for reducing the complexity of graphics-based aircraft maintenance data. Our complexity reduction procedure is described, and example views demonstrating the procedure are provided. A brief tutorial describing the fisheye lens viewing strategy is also included.
Response of rat globus pallidus neurons to microiontophoretically applied μ and κ opioid receptor agonists

The effects of the microiontophoretic application of dynorphin A-(1-13) (DYN 13) and the benzomorphans ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), bremazocine and MRZ 2549, (kappa) opioid agonists, and of morphine and morphiceptin, (mu) opioid agonists, were compared on spontaneous or glutamate-evoked discharge of globus pallidus (GP) neurons in rat. Our results demonstrate that mu and kappa opioid agonists are able to depress the excitability of pallidal neurons, possibly by interacting with mu and kappa opioid receptor subtypes, respectively. In addition, the mu agonists and dynorphin A-(1-13), but not the benzomorphans, enhanced the excitability of a number of pallidal neurons. We have proposed a presynaptic site as the basis for this opioid-induced excitation, possibly also mediated by a mu opioid receptor. The selectivity of dynorphin A-(1-13) for benzomorphan kappa opioid receptors in the rat GP appears to be low and dynorphin A-(1-13) may elicit effects that are different from those produced by the benzomorphan kappa agonists by virtue of its ability to interact with other opioid receptor subtypes, for example mu opioid receptors.
β-Amyloid protein increases the vulnerability of cultured cortical neurons to excitotoxic damage

Glutamate neurotoxicity may be an underlying pathological mechanism contributing to neuronal cell loss in a variety of conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we examined whether the β-amyloid protein found in the neuritic plaques of AD alters the susceptibility of neurons to excitotoxic damage. While mature cortical neurons exposed to β-amyloid protein for 2–4 days did not appear to be damaged, their vulnerability to low-intesity exposure to glutamate,N-methyl-d-aspartate, and kainate increased, suggesting that this mechanism may contribute to the neurodegeneration seen in AD.
Capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry determination of inorganic ions using an ion spray-sheath flow interface.

The determination of inorganic cations and anions by capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry (CE/MS) is reported using an ion spray-sheath flow interface coupling. A twelve-component synthetic mixture of cations which included the positive ions of K, Ba, Ca, Mn, Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Ag, and Cu was loaded into the capillary column at levels ranging from 30 to 300 pg, separated by CE, and detected by indirect UV and in the full-scan (m/z 35–450) positive ion CE/MS mode using an aqueous buffer containing 30 mM creatinine and 8 mM α-hydroxyisobutyric acid, pH 4.8. Creatinine forms adducts with the cations which are observed in the gas phase and requires rather high (120 electron volts) declustering energy to dissociate. This produces a reduction in charge state to form the free, singly charged, inorganic cations which are observed in the mass spectra. CE/MS analysis of an aqueous acidic extract of used aircraft engine oil revealed high levels of lead as well as lower levels of chromium and nickel. CE-indirect UV analysis of a synthetic mixture containing 300 pg each of 11 inorganic ions, which included the anions of Br, Cl, NO2, NO3, S2O3, N3, SCN, SO4, SeO4, oxalate, and MoO4, is shown. The running buffer which affected this separation contained 5 mM ammonium dichromate, 10 mM ammonium acetate, and 20 mM diethylenetriamine at pH 9.3. Although indirect UV detection revealed good separation of these anions, CE/MS analysis of this mixture was complicated by interfering ion current signals from the cluster ions formed by the interaction between the additives and the analytes. Thus only three of these singly charged anions, e.g. Br, SCN, and HSeO4, could be satisfactorily detected in this mixture by CE/MS.
Issues in teaching terrorism as cultural artefact

From a humanities course on terrorism that focuses on how terrorist ideology and acts are transformed into cultural artefacts, several pedagogical–theoretical issues have emerged: the incongruity of viewing terrorist violence as art; 9/11 as an ahistorical event; the impossibility of defining terrorism; the infiltration (trivialisation?) of terrorism into popular culture; subgenres of terrorist works, each with its own paradigm; and the iconoclastic potential of many terrorist texts and films. These issues have implications for the curricular design of terrorism courses and for the role of instructors – in academia and in the larger community.
Cultural transmission and the diffusion of innovations: Adoption dynamics indicate that biased cultural transmission is the predominate force in behavioral change

In challenging the pervasive model of individual actors as cost-benefit analysts who adapt their behavior by learning from the environment, this article analyzes the temporal dynamics of both environmental (individual) learning and biased cultural transmission processes by comparing these dynamics with the robust “5-shaped” curves that emerge from the diffusion of innovations literature. The analysis shows three things: (1) that environmental learning alone never produces the 5-shaped adoption dynamics typically observed in the spread of novel practices, ideas, and technologies; (2) that biased cultural transmission always produces the S-shaped temporal dynamics; and (3) that a combination of environmental learning and biased cultural transmission can generate 5-dynamics but only when biased cultural transmission is the predominate force in the spread of new behaviors. These findings suggest that biased cultural transmission processes are much more important to understanding the diffusion of innovations and sociocultural evolution than is often assumed by most theorists. [diffusion of innovations, cultural transmission, learning, cultural evolution]
ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES IN SOYBEANS WITH GENETICALLY ALTERED LEVELS OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS

A B S T R A C T Soybeans displaying incomplete dominance for leaf pigmentation possess chloroplasts with characteristic shape and organization of photosynthetic membranes. The chloroplasts of light green plants lack grana typical of dark green or a field type (Beeson) but normally possess doubled thylakoids. Achlorophyllous lethal yellow plants have thylakoids reduced to single spiralled membranes. The yellow plants lack a waxy cuticle over the leaf surface which is characteristic of all other soybeans examined, and they lack catalase activity in microbodies. Photosynthetic rates in the light green plants are at least as high as in the fully pigmented ones and photorespiration levels are not significantly different. Thus, in light green plants greater efficiency of enzymatic processes in photosynthesis apparently offsets the inhibitory activities associated with photorespiration. Single allele alterations from dark green to light green and light green to lethal yellow appear to alter a variety of structures and functions.
Electronic structure and dielectric function of oxide superconductors via transmission EELS with a cold field emission TEM

Abstract Transmission high-energy electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS) with a cold field emission transmission electron microscope (TEM) is employed to analyze the evolution of electronic structure and dialectric function of oxide superconductors. The O-K core loss spectra of p-type doped oxide superconductors are analyzed in terms of formation of holes on oxygen sites while momentum-controlled EELS is utilized to identify their crystallographic confinement in YBa 2 Cu 4 O 8 (Y124). The semiconductor-to-metal transition in Ba 1- x K x BiO 3 (BKBO) is monitored via low-loss EELS. Emergence of free carrier plasmons for x > 0.35 is confirmed using momentum-resolved low-loss EELS. It is argued that transmission EELS with a cold field emission TEM very much complements soft X-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy, with added advantages of high spatial resolution and its compatibility with other analytical and high-resolution TEM techniques readily available in a TEM.
Developing referential communication: Transfer across novel tasks

Communication can be conceptualized as consisting of substantive knowledge, enabling skills, and procedural rule knowledge. Deficits in any of these components can cause communications to go awry. Much recent research has focused on developmental differences in procedural rule knowledge. This study examined the child’s acquisition of the difference rule (an informative message must distinguish referent from nonreferent). First graders evaluated the performance of a speaker doll and a listener doll engaged in a referential communication game (criticism task). Children received difference rule feedback on their evaluations on each trial. Training transferred to novel speaking, listening, and criticism tasks presented 1 week after training. Discussion focuses on applied and theoretical implications for the development of communication.
Elastic properties of reconstituted collagen hollow fibre membranes

Tensile stress-strain curves of reconstituted collagen hollow fibres were measured along the fibre axis as a function of relative humidity. At low strains the stress-strain curves show a small “toe”, a region of positive curvature at moderate relative humidity, which is expanded greatly when the fibre is immersed in water. The water-swollen fibre can be modelled as a cross-linked network of ∼60 A diameter collagen fibrils, which are distended and crimped on a microscale to accept water between them in ∼160 A diameter pores. The elastica analysis of Diamant et al. provides a good representation of the toe of the stress-strain curve as well as predicting crimped angles and fibril lengths between crosslinks in reasonable agreement with those inferred from small-angle X-ray scattering results. The fibril elastic modulus E, defined as the slope of the linear region of the stress-strain curve past the toe, decreases continuously as a function of relative humidity and the modulus of the wet fibrils increases with increasing ultraviolet irradiation dose used for cross-linking. These changes probably reflect the water-induced denaturation of portions of the triple helix of the tropocollagen molecules to constrained random coils, evidence for which is observed in the wide-angle X-ray scattering pattern of the wet fibre. Achieving better strength properties in the hollow fibres may hinge on preventing or minimizing this partial denaturation of the reconstituted tropocollagen molecules.
A tentative model of the equilibrium height distribution of nitric oxide in the high atmosphere and the resulting D-layer

Abstract An attempt is made to derive a tentative model for the equilibrium distribution of nitric oxide in the height range 50–100 km by considering some of the possible photochemical reactions involving ozone, nitrogen and oxygen (both molecular and atomic) and nitrous oxide. The distribution depends markedly on the types of O and N 2 O distributions assumed. In general, under the conditions of photochemical equilibrium, the maximum of NO concentration occurs within 85–95 km with a maximum concentration not exceeding a value of about 2 × 10 12 /cm 3 . The problem of the formation of the D -layer by photoionization of NO by L α is then discussed in some detail. With the NO distributions obtained in this work and the recombination coefficient model given by Mitra and Jones , the process is found to yield adequate ionization for the D -layer.
Yeast two-hybrid map of Arabidopsis TFIID

General transcription factor IID (TFIID) is a multisubunit protein complex involved in promoter recognition and is fundamental to the nucleation of the RNA polymerase II transcriptional preinitiation complex. TFIID is comprised of the TATA binding protein (TBP) and 12–15 TBP-associated factors (TAFs). While general transcription factors have been extensively studied in metazoans and yeast, little is known about the details of their structure and function in the plant kingdom. This work represents the first attempt to compare the structure of a plant TFIID complex with that determined for other organisms. While no TAF3 homolog has been observed in plants, at least one homolog has been identified for each of the remaining 14 TFIID subunits, including both TAF14 and TAF15 which have previously been shown to be unique to either yeast or humans. The presence of both TAFs 14 and 15 in plants suggests ancient roles for these proteins that were lost in metazoans and fungi, respectively. Yeast two-hybrid interaction assays resulted in a total of 65 binary interactions between putative subunits of Arabidopsis TFIID, including 26 contacts unique to plants. The interaction matrix of Arabidopsis TAFs is largely consistent with the three-lobed topological map for yeast TFIID, which suggests that the structure and composition of TFIID have been highly conserved among eukaryotes.
Selective adsorption of 3He and 4He on the basal plane surface of graphite

Abstract Atomic beam scattering was used to measure the binding energies of selectively adsorbed states of two isotopes of helium on the basal plane of graphite. The results are used to determine semi-empirical potential parameters, and the ground state energies are compared with values derived from adsorption studies for both isotopes.
Limiting survival functions of self‐similar structures

We show the existence of a unique analytic single parameter limiting survival function arising from the repeated composition of a coherent structure as the number of components tends to infinity. Examples include the repeated composition process of the bridge structure. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Snails, southern hake and sustainability: Neoliberalism and natural resource exports in Chile

Abstract This examination of the recent history of the fishing sector in Chile shows that in this sector, which has played an important role in Chile's export success, short-term growth was achieved at the cost of long-term sustainability, with negative implications for those involved in the industry. This case raises the more general issue of the importance of regulatory frameworks in the promotion of natural resource exports. “Neoliberal” policy frameworks, which generally assume that self-regulating markets produce better results than explicit efforts to modify market results, have been increasingly adopted by developing countries. Analyses of the implications of these policy frameworks for the long-term sustainability of growth based upon natural resource exports have not grown along with the popularity of the policies themselves. This article is an effort to redress the imbalance.
Redox kinetics of VOPO4 with butane and oxygen using the TAP reactor system

The reaction kinetics for the selective oxidation of n-butane (n-C 4 ) to maleic anhydride (MAN) over δ-VOPO 4 and γ-VOPO 4 catalysts were investigated by a transient response method using the Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) reactor system. These catalyst phases are contained in selective mixed-phase vanadium-phosphorus oxide (VPO) catalysts for n-C 4 to MAN processes that are based upon multi-tubular fixed-beds, fluidized-beds, or circulating-solids reactors. In the latter reactor type, the catalyst is exposed to alternating zones of hydrocarbon-rich and oxygen-rich reaction gases so the reactor operation can be classified as a type of forced unsteady-state process. Previous kinetic models for n-C 4 oxidation to MAN that are based upon steady-state experiments with oxygen-rich feeds are not directly applicable to this operating mode. TAP reactor step response experiments where n-C 4 and O 2 are cycled over 380-420°C and atmospheric pressure were used to generate transient responses for n-C 4 , O 2 , CO 2 , and MAN. It is shown that a kinetic model that combines surface kinetics and solid-state diffusion of oxygen in the lattice is able to predict the transient response data for oxidation and reduction of the VOPO 4 catalysts over a reasonable range of reaction temperature and inlet mole fractions of the reactants.
Low power gate resizing of combinational circuits by buffer-redistribution

Low power gate resizing can decrease the power dissipated in a technology mapped circuit while maintaining its critical path. Gate resizing operates as a post-mapping technique for power reduction by replacing some gates, which are faster than necessary, with smaller and slower gates from the underlying gate library. In this paper we propose a new transformation technique for combinational circuits referred to as buffer-redistribution. Buffer-redistribution is then used to model and solve the low-power discrete gate resizing problem in an exact manner in polynomial time and in a noniterative fashion for a complete gate library. Suboptimal solutions are obtained with incomplete gate libraries. In contrast past polynomial time techniques for gate resizing were either based on heuristics or based on much slower iterative exact algorithms. Simulation results on ISCAS85 benchmark circuits demonstrate 2.1%-54.1% power reduction based on the proposed buffer-redistribution based low-power gate resizing. Power savings from 0%-44.13% are demonstrated over the same circuits mapped for minimum area. The time required for resizing varies from 2.77s-1256.76s.
Emergence of a distinct pattern of viral mutations in chimpanzees infected with a homogeneous inoculum of hepatitis C virus

Abstract Background & Aims: Prospective, long-term study of viral evolution and immunologic responses in chimpanzees infected with a homogeneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) population is crucial in understanding the pathogenesis of HCV-host interactions. Methods: A molecular clone was constructed of HCV genotype 1b and RNA transcribed from this clone inoculated intrahepatically into chimpanzee X0142. Serum was taken from X0142 at week 2 and inoculated intravenously into a second chimpanzee (X0234). Detailed virologic, serologic, and immunologic analyses of these 2 chimpanzees were performed. Results: Both chimpanzees developed persistent viremia, with titers of 10 3 to 10 5 genomes/mL, for 80 weeks (X0142) and 55 weeks (X0234) of follow-up. A late antibody response against the nonstructural proteins and a weak, transient T-helper proliferative response were detected in both animals. In X0142, 25 mutations emerged in the virus population by week 78 and 15 in X0234 by week 35. A relatively large proportion of mutations affecting protein sequences appeared in the NS5A gene (33% in X0142 and X0234 combined), and 5 mutations were common to both chimpanzees. Conclusions: In this long-term study of the molecular evolution of HCV genotype 1b from a cloned source, the appearance of a distinct pattern of mutations is suggestive of an adaptive response of HCV in vivo. In addition, a limited virus-specific immunity may contribute to HCV persistence. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2001;121:1226-1233
National study of the emergency physician workforce, 2008.

Study objective We describe the characteristics of the US emergency physician workforce. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2008 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile, which includes data on all physicians who have ever obtained a medical license in at least 1 US state. We included all physicians who designated emergency medicine as their primary or secondary specialty. Results There were 39,061 clinically active emergency physicians, of which 57% were emergency medicine board certified and 69% were emergency medicine trained or emergency medicine board certified. Family medicine (31%) and internal medicine (23%) were the most common backgrounds for non-emergency medicine–trained/emergency medicine board certified emergency physicians, and most (75%) graduated from residency greater than or equal to 20 years ago. Nearly all (98%) emergency physicians who graduated within the past 5 years were emergency medicine trained or emergency medicine board certified. Rural emergency physicians were much less likely than urban emergency physicians to have emergency medicine training (31% versus 57%), emergency medicine board certified (43% versus 59%), and to have graduated in the past 5 years (8% versus 19%). The density of all emergency physicians per 100,000 population was highest in New England (16.0) and in urban areas (14.5). The lowest emergency physician densities were in West South Central (10.2) and rural areas (10.3). Density of emergency medicine–trained or emergency medicine board certified emergency physicians was 10.3 in urban, 5.3 in large rural, and 2.5 in small rural areas. Conclusion Although newer emergency physicians are almost all emergency medicine trained or emergency medicine board certified, many non-emergency medicine–trained/emergency medicine board certified emergency physicians still provide clinical coverage of EDs. Demand for all emergency physicians will likely continue for several decades and the shortage may even increase in rural areas.
Analysis of impacts of alternative policies aimed at increasing US energy independence and reducing GHG emissions

Abstract The primary objectives of recent energy initiatives have been: (1) lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and (2) increasing US energy security by reducing oil imports for the purposes of making the US less vulnerable to the actions of other countries. The concern is that relying on sometimes adversarial, sometimes unstable countries for a quarter of our oil carries certain risks. For that reason, reducing the external oil dependence has been of interest to policy makers. This paper examines the impacts and costs of transportation-based policies on light-duty vehicle fleet energy usage and emissions. Using the 2010 elastic version of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Market Allocation (MARKAL) model, recent increases in US Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards are compared to what some economists suggest would be a much more “efficient” alternative-asystem-wide oil tax internalizing a number of environmental externalities. We discover that our series of oil taxes produce larger and more cost-effective reductions in economy-wide emissions than CAFE. The same cannot be said in regards to net oil imports. Stricter fuel economy regulations result in much larger cutbacks in imports than the oil tax. In fact, we found that in 2040 import demands are roughly 250 million BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) higher with our oil tax regime than they are with CAFE. The additional import reductions achieved with stricter CAFE Standards do come, however, at a much larger cost to society. A great deal of these additional economic costs stems from greater usage of more energy-efficient automobiles and the higher initial capital costs associated with their adoption. In our supplementary analysis, we find that even if the costs of these types of vehicles are lowered by as much as 75%, oil taxes would still be able to maintain their competitive edge over CAFE standards in regards to cost-effectiveness.
Oceanic Turbulence Dissipation Measurements in SWADE

Abstract Recent experiments measuring turbulence dissipation rates in the upper ocean can be divided into two types: those supporting an analogy between the upper ocean and lower atmosphere, with dissipation rates following wall layer behavior, and those finding oceanic dissipation rates to be much higher than wall layer predictions. In an attempt to reconcile these two diverse acts of observations, Terray et al. proposed a wave-dependent scaling of the dissipation rate based on the significant wave height and the rate of energy input from the wind to the waves. Their parameterization was derived from observations of strongly forced, fetch-limited waves, although they conjectured that it would apply in typical oceanic conditions as well. This paper reports new measurements of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation made in the North Atlantic Ocean from a SWATH ship during the recent Surface Waves Dynamics Experiments (SWADE).These data support the scaling of Terray et al., verifying its validity when applied...
Systemic to pulmonary venous collaterals in adults with single ventricle physiology after cavopulmonary palliation

Abstract Objectives To assess the frequency, anatomic characteristics, and associations of systemic to pulmonary venous collaterals in adult patients undergoing cardiac catheterization after a Fontan operation. Additionally, the embryologic basis for the presence of venous collaterals is reviewed. Methods Cardiac catheterization data was reviewed for 66 adults with single ventricle physiology and a Fontan palliation. Results There were a total of 66 patients that underwent catheterization between 2004 and 2014 at the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center. There were 24 males and 42 females. Systemic venous to pulmonary venous collaterals were present in 38 patients (58%), most commonly originating from the right brachiocephalic vein (35%), azygous vein (20%) and superior vena cava (13%). Trans-catheter interventional closure was performed in 27/38 (71%) of patients with venous collaterals. At baseline these patients had lower oxygen saturation when compared to those not requiring intervention, 85.6%±6.1% vs 89.9%±5.4%, p Conclusion In adults with single ventricle physiology and prior Fontan surgery, systemic venous collaterals are common and can be percutaneously occluded at minimal risk with resultant improvement in systemic oxygen saturation on long term follow up. When evaluated from a developmental standpoint, 85% of collaterals are above the diaphragm and could be secondary to recanalization of the collateral veins, an embryological connection between systemic and pulmonary veins.
Hierarchical dynamic time-to-event models for post-treatment preventive care data on breast cancer survivors:

This paper considers modelling data arising in post-treatment preventive care settings, where cancer patients who have undergone disease-directed treatment discontinue seeking preventive care services. Clinicians and public health researchers are interested in explaining such behavioural patterns by modelling the time-to-receiving care while accounting for several patient and treatment attributes. A key feature of such data is that a noticeable number of patients would never return for screening, a concept subtly different from censoring, where an individual does not return for screening in the given time frame of the study. Models distinguishing between these two concepts are known as cure rate models and are often preferred for data where a significant part of the population never experienced the endpoint. Building upon recent work on hierarchical cure model framework we propose modelling a sequence of latent events with a piecewise exponential distribution that remedies oversmoothing encountered in exi...
Thermal treatments and their effects on the fumonisin B1 level in rice

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry and hydrothermal treatment on FB 1 level in polished, parboiled and whole grain rice collected in Brazilian market. The effect of thermal treatment on FB 1 level was carry out by applying conventional cooking, autoclaving and dry heat treatment. Conventional hydrothermal treatment (cooking) reduced the initial natural contamination by 80%. However, no significant reduction was obtained by autoclaving. Dry heat treatment produced the reduction (70%), at temperatures range from 150 to 200 °C.
Electrodiffusion of ions approaching the mouth of a conducting membrane channel

The movement of ions in the aqueous medium as they approach the mouth (radius a) of a conducting membrane channel is analyzed. Starting with the Nernst-Planck and Poisson equations, we derive a nonlinear integrodifferential equation for the electric potential, phi(r), a less than or equal to r less than infinity. The formulation allows deviations from charge neutrality and dependence of phi(r) on ion flux. A numerical solution is obtained by converting the equation to an integral equation that is solved by an iterative method for an assumed mouth potential, combined with a shooting method to adjust the mouth potential until the numerical solution agrees with an asymptotic expansion of the potential at r-a much greater than lambda (lambda = Debye length). Approximate analytic solutions are obtained by assuming charge neutrality (Lauger, 1976) and by linearizing. The linear approximation agrees with the exact solution under most physiological conditions, but the charge-neutrality solution is only valid for r much greater than lambda and thus cannot be used unless a much greater than lambda. Families of curves of ion flux vs. potential drop across the electrolyte, phi(infinity)-phi (a), and of permeant ion density at the channel mouth, n1(a), vs. flux are obtained for different values of a/lambda and S = a d phi/dr(a). If a much greater than lambda and S = O, the maximum flux (which is approached when n1(a)----0) is reduced by 50% compared to the value predicted by the charge-neutrality solution. Access resistance is shown to be a factor a/[2 (a + lambda)] times the published formula (Hille, 1968), which was derived without including deviations from charge neutrality and ion density gradients and hence does not apply when there is no counter-ion current. The results are applied to an idealized diffusion-limited channel with symmetric electrolytes. For S = O, the current/voltage curves saturate at a value dependent on a/lambda; for S greater than O, they increase linearly for large voltage.
Does the Positive Psychology Movement Have Legs

American psychology seems suddenly to be enmeshed in a new ideological movement that is being referred to as positive psychology. Its premise is that if individuals engage in positive thinking and feeling and abandon or minimize their preoccupation with the harsh and tragic-that is, the stressful side of lifethey will have found a magic elixir of health and well-being. It is an old idea that has usually been popular, though we still are uncertain about the conditions under which an emotion could have major effects if any. My generation enjoyed the Hoagy Carmichael song which states "You have to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch onto the affirmative, and don't mess with Mr. In-between." This is, I believe, a good general translation, not literal of course, of the main implication of the positive psychology outlook, at least as it is understood by many psychologists. I would be critical, too, if anyone was urging accentuating what is referred to as negative psychology, which would be equally unsatisfactory. As of now, the movement is, in my view, in danger of being just another one of the many fads that come and go in our field, which usually disappear in time, sometimes to return again in another form because the issues addressed are important but unresolved (Roskies & Lazarus, 1988). After a time, we will once again veer toward some other set of issues that are regarded as God's gift to advanced psychological understanding, but it too will ultimately disappear. My business here is not to speculate about why our field is like this; it just is.
Study of Rydberg-atom l-changing collisions using selective field ionization

The excited products of collisions between xenon atoms and $\mathrm{Na}(\mathrm{nd})$ atoms with $n=37$ and $n=42$ have been investigated by use of selective field ionization (SFI). It is observed that, at an ionizing-field slew rate of \ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{9}$ V/cm sec, most of the collision products follow predominantly diabatic paths to ionization which occurs at field strengths consistent with those predicted by quantum mechanical tunneling calculations. Detailed analysis of the SFI data indicates that the collision products have a wide (possibly complete) range of values of $l$ and ${m}_{j}$, although it is not clear whether the observed distribution results from single or multiple collisions. No evidence of $n$-changing collisions was seen. Similar data for collisions involving $\mathrm{Xe}(\mathrm{nf})$ atoms are briefly discussed.
Bias in surgical research

Objective:The aim is to discuss the various forms of bias in surgical research, including how it impacts validity and how to recognize and avoid it.Methods:The various factors affecting bias in surgical research's design, execution, and reporting were explored. The impact of these factors on interna
Intelligence, Achievement, and Visual-Motor Performance among Learning Disabled and Emotionally Impaired Children.

This study investigated the performance of Learning Disabled (LD) and Emotionally Impaired (EI) children on intelligence, achievement, and visual-motor tests. An attempt was made to find patterns of performance and/or specific variables that would aid in identification and differentiation of these two groups. Eighty elementary school children were selected on the basis of their placement within either a learning disability or emotionally impaired classroom, according to the specifications of Michigan Mandatory Special Education Guidelines. The LD group consisted of 38 subjects and the EI group of 42. All of the children were tested on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), and the Minnesota-Percepto-Diagnostic Test (MPD). In addition, age and sex were investigated. The data were analyzed by discriminant function analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. A cutoff score was established that significantly separated the LD and EI children. It was also established which of the test scoring variables used were the best predictors.
On representation of medical knowledge by a binary data model

Abstract A binary data model is shown to be most suitable for representation of medical knowledge, such as description of diseases, symptoms, drugs, drug interaction. The knowledge is represented by a lattice of categories of abstract objects (some of which are included in other categories or intersect them), binary relations among objects of these categories and non-total attributes of these objects. The representation is very flexible for changes both in particular knowledge and in general concepts of knowledge. The model accomodates for uncertainty, conditionality, and incompleteness of information.
Group 11 Metal Compounds with Tripodal Bis(imidazole) Thioether Ligands. Applications as Catalysts in the Oxidation of Alkenes and as Antimicrobial Agents.

New group 11 metal complexes have been prepared using the previously described tripodal bis(imidazole) thioether ligand (N-methyl-4,5-diphenyl-2-imidazolyl)2C(OMe)C(CH3)2S(tert-Bu) ({BITOMe,StBu}, 2). The pincer ligand offers a N2S donor atom set that can be used to coordinate the group 11 metals in different oxidation states [AuI, AuIII, AgI, CuI and CuII]. Thus the new compounds [Au{BITOMe,StBu}Cl][AuCl4]2 (3), [Au{BITOMe,StBu}Cl] (4), [Ag{BITOMe,StBu}X] (X = OSO2CF3- 5, PF6- 6) and [Cu{BITOMe,StBu}Cl2] (7) have been synthesized from reaction of 2 with the appropriate metal precursors, and characterized in solution. While attempting characterization in the solid state of 3, single crystals of the neutral dinuclear mixed AuIII-AuI species [Au2{BITOMe,S}Cl3] (8) were obtained and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The structure shows a AuIII center coordinated to the pincer ligand through one N and the S atom. The soft AuI center coordinates to the ligand through the same S atom that has lost the tert-butyl group, thus becoming a thiolate ligand. The short distance between the AuI-AuIII atoms (3.383 A) may indicate a weak metal-metal interaction. Complexes 2-7 and the previously described CuI compound [Cu{BITOMe,StBu}]PF6 (9) have been evaluated in the oxidation of biphenyl ethylene with tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. Results have shown that the AuI and AgI complexes 4 and 6 (at 10 mol % loading) are the more active catalysts in this oxidative cleavage. The antimicrobial activity of compounds 2-5, 7 and 9 against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeast has also been evaluated. The new gold and silver compounds display moderate to high antibacterial activity, while the copper derivatives are mostly inactive. The gold and silver complexes were also potent against fungi. Their cytotoxic properties have been analyzed in vitro utilizing HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells. The compounds displayed a very low cytotoxicity on this cell line (5 to 10 times lower than cisplatin) and on normal primary cells derived from C57B6 mouse muscle explants, which may make them promising candidates as potential antimicrobial agents and safer catalysts due to low toxicity in human and other mammalian tissues.
WS08-02Three-level view (TLV) of fetal brain imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a systematic stream-lined approach could be routinely used in the evaluation of the fetal intracranal anatomy, and which could be used to effectively and efficiently exclude all major intracranial malformation. Three planes were determined to be independent without overlay. Following the establishment of these three independent oblique planes across the intracranial anatomy, there were applied clinically to determine whether such planes would be sufficient to diagnose the major intracranial abnormalities. After retrospectively examining the various imaging levels taken, it was independently determined that three levels of intracranial imaging provided the greatest anatomic view of the entire fetal brain: the lateral ventricular level (Level I); the medial-thalamic level (Level II); and the inferior-posterior fossa view (Level III). We examined 131 cases of intracranial abnormalities that were prenatally diagnosed between 14 and 24 weeks gestation. One investigator was given the three-level view protocol to determine if the anomalies could be identified using this system. It was determined that, of the 131 abnormal cases, 126 (96.2%) were diagnosed using Levels I, II or III, independently or in combination. There were no false-positive test results. The present study investigated the efficacy of a three level view (TLV) imaging of the fetal brain representing a complete 2-D examination. We found this approach to be applicable throughout pregnancy and suitable for visualization of normal intracranial structures as well as the identification of abnormalities.
Issue Positions of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House, 1998: A Research Note

Students of Congress have devoted considerable effort to assessing the relative ideological and issue positions of Democratic and Republican legislators. The significance of these questions is self-evident, as effective representation requires both that representatives from competing parties offer distinct positions and that those differences be sufficiently transparent for voters to hold a party's elected officials accountable for their actions. Most research in this area has used measures derived from party platforms and legislators' roll-call votes. As a complement to these past studies, this research note reexamines the issue positions of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House with data from a preelection survey of legislative candidates, Project Vote Smart's 1998 Congressional National Political Awareness Test (CNPAT).
Probable nitrofurantoin-induced bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia

Purpose. A case of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) that developed after three years of nitrofurantoin therapy is described. Summary. An 89 year-old Caucasian woman weighing 60 kg with diastolic heart failure and a history of urosepsis, viral pericarditis, and atrial fibrillation arrived at the emergency department with worsening dyspnea, shortness of breath that had limited her activities of daily living for three days, and lower extremity edema. Over the previous six months the patient had experienced decreased appetite, abdominal bloating, and a 9.1-kg weight loss. Four months prior, the primary physician diagnosed her symptoms of worsening dyspnea at rest and with exertion as severe bronchitis. Imaging at the time of presentation revealed interstitial fibrosis consistent with nitrofurantoin-induced BOOP. A diagnosis of BOOP was made, nitrofurantoin was discontinued, and the patient was discharged home on oxygen. Prednisone 20 mg was started two weeks later, after no improvement in symptoms was seen. Seven weeks after nitrofurantoin discontinuation, the results of a chest radiograph and computed tomography scan were unchanged, but her symptoms had improved by 20%. The patient was readmitted three weeks later for worsening dyspnea, and it was determined that prednisone had resulted in fluid retention, complicating her diastolic congestive heart failure. Prednisone therapy was therefore tapered off after two months of treatment. No improvement in subjective symptoms, in chest radiograph results, or in BOOP symptoms was seen after three months of prednisone discontinuation and five months of nitrofurantoin discontinuation. Conclusion. An 89-year-old woman developed unresolving BOOP after three years of nitrofurantoin therapy.
VOICE THERAPY METHODS IN DYSPHONIA

Voice therapy, the behavioral approach to the treatment of disorders of voice, can take many forms. The intent of this article is to provide informative, useful, and usable information about a selected number of therapy techniques and methods. Some methods are all-inclusive and stand alone in the belief that they are adequate and appropriate for treatment of certain conditions or many conditions. The article presents a description, the rationale, key points in manner of use, concerns, and expectations for the methods and techniques described.
Cardiac-specific overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha causes lethal myocarditis in transgenic mice

Abstract Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine with negative inotropic effects, can be detected in myocardium with end-stage heart failure, after endotoxin administration, and during transplant rejection. Various studies suggest that TNF-alpha participates in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction. To test this hypothesis, transgenic mice were made that selectively overexpress TNF-alpha in cardiomyocytes. Methods and Results: A transgene construct was made containing the murine alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter and the coding sequence of murine TNF-alpha, followed by the simian virus 40 T-antigen intron and polyadenylation signals. Injection of this construct into fertilized eggs yielded three transgenic mice, all of which died spontaneously before the completion of weaning. Gross pathologic analysis of these mice demonstrated a decrease in body weight with markedly increased heart weight. Histologic examination of the heart revealed a substantial, diffuse lymphohistiocytic inflammatory infiltrate, associated with interstitial edema. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed that the transgene was expressed in the heart. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated a substantial amount of TNF-alpha protein in the transgenic heart. Conclusion: Overexpression of TNF-alpha in the heart leads to severe myocarditis and cardiomegaly. These results support the hypothesis that myocardial expression of TNF-alpha can contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction.
Predictors of older primary care patients' participation in a submaximal exercise test and a supervised, low-impact exercise class.

Abstract Objectives. This study is an investigation of physical activity promotion among a nonvolunteer sample of community-dwelling, older, urban primary care patients. Our primary interest was in the rates of exercise test and class participation. Of secondary interest were the medical record and baseline survey predictors of test and class participation. Methods. The first 500 nonterminally ill women ages 50 years or more with a visit at one of two predominantly African-American, inner-city primary care clinics received a physician screen, a referral to a submaximal exercise test, and, subsequently, a free, supervised exercise program located in a nearby community center. Results. Eighty-one percent were eligible for the exercise test per provider screen. Of these, 29% completed the exercise test and 28% attended at least one exercise class. After 1 year, 9.2% were attending the exercise classes. Higher exercise outcome expectations, not smoking, and clinic site were associated with exercise test and class participation. Conclusions. Providing free, traditional exercise classes and a primary care referral to the classes resulted in limited physical activity participation among older, urban primary care patients. More development and testing of physical activity promotion programs are needed in this population.
Unfamiliar listeners' evaluation of speech supplementation strategies for improving the effectiveness of severely dysarthric speech

This study examined listener attitudes toward three speech supplementation strategies (topic cues, alphabet cues, and combined topic and alphabet cues) associated with the speech of four individuals with severe dysarthria. Listeners saw experimentally imposed visual images of each strategy in conjunction with auditory presentation of the habitual speech of four individuals with dysarthria. Using a 7-point Likert scale, listeners rated how effective they thought the speakers were, how willing they would be to communicate with the speakers, and how persistent they were in trying to understand the speakers in each strategy condition and a control condition in which no cues were provided. The results revealed that ratings of communication effectiveness, willingness to communicate with the speakers, and listener persistence were each more favorable in the combined cues condition than in any other cue condition. The results suggest that augmentative and alternative communication strategies providing frequent an...