cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Images in Cardiovascular Interventions Optimizing stent expansion and apposition using intravascular ultrasound.

(1999). Images in Cardiovascular Interventions Optimizing stent expansion and apposition using intravascular ultrasound. International Journal of Cardiovascular Interventions: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 195-195.
Modal Analysis and Optimal Design of High-Speed Turning Center’s Spindle Box

This article is to provide a method to make the structure of machine tools lightened and improve its anti-vibration capacity. Modal analysis with pre-stress of High-speed Turning Center’s spindle box was performed using ANSYS Workbench; based on the above results, we optimized the spindle box using topological optimization and dimensional optimization methods. Finally, we make the spindle box’s weight reduce by 4.44%, its first order frequency increase by 15.82%, its first mode maximum amplitude decrease by 9.18%.
Analysis of silver solders by anion exchange and edta titration

Abstract The separation of nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium by anion-exchange chrornatography has been found to be particularly suitable for the analysis of most commercial silver solders. After solution of the sample, the silver is separated by precipitation as the chloride. The components in the filtrate arc separated as .their chloro complexes by passage through an anion-exchange column and titrated in the cluates with EDTA . Results compare favorably 'with those obtained by the more conventional ASTM methods.
Eating in the absence of hunger: A genetic marker for childhood obesity in prepubertal boys?

FAITH, MYLES S., ROBERT I. BERKOWITZ, VIRGINIA A. STALLINGS, JULIA KERNS, MEGAN STOREY, AND ALBERT J. STUNKARD. Eating in the absence of hunger: a genetic marker for childhood obesity in prepubertal boys? Obesity. 2006;14:131-138. Objective: Eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) may be a behavioral trait through which obesity-promoting genes promote positive energy balance. The primary aim of this study was to compare children bom at high vs. low risk for obesity with respect to EAH at 5 years of age. Research Methods and Procedures: This was an observational investigation of families enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Infant Growth Study. Five-year-old children bom at high (N = 28) or low (N = 25) risk for obesity on the basis of maternal prepregnancy body weight were evaluated at a hospital-based laboratory. Children consumed 11 snack foods ad libitum after consuming an ad libitum dinner and reporting fullness. Parents reported on snack foods at home and their own eating styles. Nutritive sucking at 3 months of age was evaluated by computerized apparatus. Results: EAH in high-risk boys (mean ± standard error = 326 ± 66 kJ] was more than twice that of low-risk boys (mean ± standard error = 151 ± 39 kJ), p = 0.03. Among girls, there was a trend for EAH to be associated with increased parental limitations on daughter snack food consumption at home (p = 0.06). EAH was unrelated to 3-month sucking behavior. Discussion: Genes that promote childhood obesity may partially exert their influence through EAH, an effect that was limited to boys born at risk for obesity. The unique influences of genes and home environment on this trait should be disaggregated in subsequent studies.
Multipoint measurements of magnetotail dynamics

The role of multipoint spacecraft measurements in revealing the morphology of magnetospheric substorm is described. Information has been provided on the storage of energy in the tail during the growth phase, the thinning of the plasma sheet relative to onset, reconfiguration and energy loss after onset, and how these phenomena are controlled by the IMF. Smaller-scale phenomena that need to be observed on finer time scales and detected in more limited spatial regions were studied by ISEE 1 and 2 and a number of spacecraft near geosyncronous orbit.
Organizational correlates of the risk-adjusted pressure ulcer prevalence and subsequent survey deficiency citation in California nursing homes†‡

Organizational correlates of the risk-adjusted pressure ulcer prevalence and subsequent deficiency citation in nursing homes are not known. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between these two outcomes and selected organizational variables, including total nurse staffing levels, specialization, centralization, nursing wages, and facility ownership. Secondary data analysis was conducted on a sample of 897 California nursing homes included in the 1996 On-line Survey Certification and Reporting system and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development financial disclosure reports of individual California nursing homes. Organizational variables explained a small amount of the variation (adjusted R2 = .04, p < .01). A higher PU prevalence was associated with lower licensed nurse centralization and facilities participating exclusively in the Medicaid program. Receipt of a deficiency was less likely in facilities having a higher total nurse staffing level (OR = .49, p < .001). It was more likely in facilities having a higher risk-adjusted PU prevalence (OR = 1.05, p < .001), more licensed nurses (OR = 2.74, p < .05), a size of 160 beds or more (OR = 1.93, p < .01), and survey teams from specific counties (OR ranging from 2.3 to 6.8, p < .05). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 29: 345–358, 2006
Surface roughness effect on ultracold neutron interaction with a wall and implications for computer simulations

We review the diffuse scattering and the loss coefficient in ultracold neutron reflection from slightly rough surfaces, report a surprising reduction in loss coefficient due to roughness, and discuss the possibility of transition from quantum treatment to ray optics. The results are used in a computer simulation of neutron storage in a recent neutron lifetime experiment that reported a large discrepancy of neutron lifetime with the current particle data value. Our partial reanalysis suggests the possibility of systematic effects that were not included in this publication.
Decay Dynamics and Quenching of Photoluminescence from Silicon Nanocrystals by Aromatic Nitro Compounds

The decay dynamics and the quenching of the photoluminescence (PL) from Si nanocrystals are investigated. Electron acceptors whose reduction potentials lie below the conduction band (CB) edge of the Si nanocrystals quench the red emission from the Si nanocrystals. The quenching rate constants obtained from Stern−Volmer analyses for 3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile, 4-nitrophthalonitrile, 1,4-dinitrobenzene, 4-nitrobenzonitrile, 2,3-dinitrotoluene, 3,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and 2,6-dinitrotoluene are in the range of 106−107 M-1 s-1. The quenching mechanism occurs via an electron transfer from the CB band of the Si nanocrystals to the vacant orbitals of the quenchers. The PL decay profiles of the Si nanocrystals, in the presence and absence of the quencher, are well described by the stretched exponential decay law. The band gap of the Si nanocrystals estimated from the present study is larger than the PL peak energy. The results are consistent with a quantum-confinement model, where recombination of el...
From Big Shoulders to Big Macs

Chicago's economy changed over the 20th century from one known for its physical prowess to one known for its mental prowess, from a manufacturing center to a service center. It remained the home of multinational corporations, but in many cases, their production was moved elsewhere. The meatpacking industry is representative of the Chicago economy at the start of the 20th century, whereas McDonald's is consistent with what it had become by the end of the century. It is shown that many of the elements of the McDonaldization hypothesis were present a century ago, particularly in the problems faced by the meatpacking industry.
Nucleation of Freezing by Cavitation in Supercooled Liquids

I HAVE proposed1 that the nucleation of freezing by cavitation is caused, in all supercooled liquids, by the high compressions generated near the surfaces of collapsing cavitation bubbles. I have assumed1 that the compression is isentropic. Recently, Hunt and Jackson suggested that this assumption is erroneous and that the Rankine–Hugoniot relations across a shock wave front are a more realistic representation of the thermodynamic behaviour of the liquid during cavity collapse2. Because the theory of nucleation that I propose is apparently2 dependent on the validity of the isentropic assumption it is necessary to decide which of the two thermodynamic states is more appropriate.
Time resolved kinetics of direct G(β1γ2) interactions with the carboxyl terminus of Kir3.4 inward rectifier K+ channel subunits

Abstract The direct interaction of recombinant G β1γ2 proteins with the carboxyl terminal domain of a G protein-gated inward rectifier K channel subunit, Kir3.4 (GIRK4), was measured in real time using biosensor chip technology. The carboxyl terminus of Kir3.4 (a.a. 186–419) was expressed in bacteria as a glutathione- S -transferase (GST) fusion protein, GST-Kir3.4ct. GST-Kir3.4ct was immobilized to the surface of a biosensor chip by high affinity binding of the GST domain to a covalently attached anti-GST antibody. The association and dissociation rates of G β1γ2 dimers with the immobilized Kir3.4ct domain were temporally resolved as a change in refractive index detected by surface plasmon resonance. Specific binding of G β1γ dimers to Kir3.4ct was characterized by a dissociation rate ( k d ) of ∼0.003 s −1 . Association kinetics were dominated by a concentration-independent component (time constant ∼50 s) which complicates models of binding and may indicate conformational changes during binding of G β1γ2 to Kir3.4ct. The estimated equilibrium dissociation binding constant (K D ) was ∼800 nM. These studies demonstrate that G βγ dimers interact directly with the Kir3.4 channel subunit, and suggest interesting details in the interaction with the major cytosolic carboxyl terminal domain. The slow G β1γ2 dissociation rate measured on the sensor chip is similar in magnitude to a slow component of channel deactivation measured electrophysiologically in Xenopus oocytes expressing Kir3.1/3.4 multimeric channels and a G protein-coupled receptor. Biosensor-based experiments such as those described here will complement electrophysiological studies on the molecular basis of G protein interactions with Kir channels and other ion channel proteins. Copyright © 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd
The gap junction uncoupler heptanol abrogates infarct size reduction with preconditioning in mouse hearts

Abstract Background: Emerging evidence suggests that gap junction-mediated intercellular transmission of ions, metabolites and/or second messengers may serve as important determinants of myocyte viability. Our aim was to determine, using isolated buffer-perfused mouse hearts, whether the cardioprotection achieved with ischemic preconditioning (PC) is due in part to: (i) disruption of cell–cell coupling (manifest as a loss in the primary gap junction protein, connexin 43 [Cx43]) and resultant impaired transmission of a ‘death' messenger, or conversely, (ii) transfer of a humoral ‘survival' factor via existing gap junctions. Methods: To explore the first possibility, we employed immunostaining to visualize and quantify Cx43 in hearts subjected to 212 min of PC ischemia or a matched control period. To test the converse corollary, we assessed the effect of heptanol—an agent well recognized to rapidly and reversibly uncouple gap junctions—on the reduction of infarct size (delineated by tetrazolium staining) achieved with PC. Results: We found no evidence of a deficit in Cx43 immunoreactive signal in response to the PC stimulus. Area of necrosis (AN) was, as expected, reduced in hearts that received PC ischemia vs. controls (31±3% vs. 40±3% of the left ventricle [LV]; P Conclusions: Our results suggest that gap junction-mediated transfer of an as-yet unknown ‘survival' factor—rather than disrupted transfer of a ‘death messenger'—may play a role in the increased resistance to infarction conferred by antecedent PC ischemia in mouse heart.
UNICEF, syphilis and the state: negotiating female citizenship in the post-Second World War world.

Few charitable organizations have achieved the status of global recognition enjoyed by UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, which embodies the international effort to provide for needy children the world over. Created because of its synchronicity with the United Nations’ stated purpose—to maintain peace in the world—UNICEF launched its operations in 1946. Its founding, early operations and eventual restructuring reveal a great deal about concurrent political and economic events, but also provide keen insight into international ideas about who qualified for full citizenship in the post‐war world. The consequences of UNICEF’s policies, procedures and practices posed challenges to notions of citizenship for both women and children. It challenged citizenship not by questioning sex‐specific gender roles, but by judiciously adhering to the United Nations’ promise to create equality for men and women alike. UNICEF found itself in the unique position to be able to globalize definitions of what constituted ...
The Impact of Ethical Ideologies, Moral Intensity, and Social Context on Sales-Based Ethical Reasoning

Previous research indicates that ethical ideologies, issue-contingencies, and social context can impact ethical reasoning in different business situations. However, the manner in which these constructs work together to shape different steps of the ethical decision-making process is not always clear. The purpose of this study was to address these issues by exploring the influence of idealism and relativism, perceived moral intensity in a decision-making situation, and social context on the recognition of an ethical issue and ethical intention. Utilizing a sales-based scenario and multiple ethics measures included on a self-report questionnaire, data were collected from a regional sample of business students, most of whom had modest work experience. The results indicated that perceived moral intensity was associated with increased ethical issue recognition and ethical intention. Idealism was also associated with increased ethical issue recognition, and relativism was associated with decreased ethical intention. Social consensus was positively related to ethical issue recognition and intention, while competitive context was inversely related to ethical intention. Finally, ethical issue recognition was associated with increased ethical intention. Idealism, moral intensity, social consensus, and work experience worked together as predictors of ethical issue recognition, whereas recognition of an ethical issue, relativism, moral intensity, social consensus, and competitive context worked together to predict ethical intention.
Broadband cost-effective nonlinear Raman microscopy

We report on a very cost-effective (<$50,000) nonlinear Raman microscopy system utilizing coherent anit-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). By using narrowband picosecond radiation at 1064 nm and a synchronized broadband continuum radiation in the range of 1150-1400 nm both the broadband spectral imaging and high spectral resolution are achievable in a microscopic set-up. We also suggest and experimentally demonstrate a novel scheme to selective Raman imaging of cellular structures, such as collagen and cellular membranes.
Snapshots of the Future: Darfur, Katrina, and Maple Sugar (Climate Change, the Less Well-Off and Business Ethics)

Climate change represents a significant challenge to the entire planet and its inhabitants. While few, if any, will be able to escape totally the effects of climate change, it will fall most heavily, at least initially, on the poor, regardless of where they reside. We may observe already possible scenarios. The tragic situation in Darfur may be less an ethnic conflict and more a clash between marginal farmers and herdsmen in an increasingly more arid local climate. More powerful storms on the scale of hurricane Katrina, which affected the poor more than other economic groups, may become commonplace. The alteration of the maple sugar cycle may be a harbinger of stress on the world’s flora and fauna that humanity depends upon. Mainstream climatologists have concluded that human behavior, primarily the effects of industrialization, causes human-induced climate change. Left unchecked climate change will have serious consequences for humanity, especially the poor. Business, the primary agent of industrialization, is both the problem and the solution. This paper will apply the ethics of philosophers John Rawls (the difference principle), Robert Nozick (the Lockean Proviso, climate is a natural resource), and Aristotle, along with the work of strategist Michael Porter. Understanding how climate change management fits into a firm’s strategic opportunity will contribute to the ability of business to develop the technologies and business processes necessary to cope with climate change. The paper will conclude with a brief discussion of GE’s Ecomagination program as an example of a promising moral response to climate change.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-3 blocks IGF-I-induced receptor down-regulation and cell desensitization in cultured bovine fibroblasts.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) initiates its diverse biological effects by binding to type I IGF receptors on cells. In addition, IGF-I associates with distinct proteins that can modulate its actions. One of these IGF-binding proteins, IGFBP-3, is the major circulating form in adults and is produced by many cells in culture. We investigated the effect of purified bovine IGFBP-3 on IGF-I binding and IGF-I stimulation of amino acid uptake and DNA synthesis in cultured bovine fibroblasts, a cell culture system highly suitable for these types of studies. Incubation of cells with IGF-I resulted in time- and dose-dependent decreases in [125I]IGF-I binding and IGF-I stimulated [3H]aminoisobutyric acid uptake and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Preincubation with 4 nM IGF-I resulted in a 50–60% decrease in IGF-I receptor binding, accompanied by marked decreases in IGF-I-stimulated [3H]aminoisobutyric acid uptake (50–60%) and [3H]thymidine incorporation (80–90%). Preincubation with the IGF-I analog [QAYL]IGF-I ...
Surveys of complementary and alternative medicine usage: a review of general population trends and specific patient populations

Abstract There is now a substantial body of survey literature regarding various facets of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This review addresses the development of CAM surveys in United States primarily during the past decade, changing terminology in the field, and common methodologic shortcomings. The search strategy is provided for the 80 surveys and presented and summarized in 10 tables: 9 national, 4 regional, 27 cancer, 15 HIV/AIDS, 9 rheumatology, 4 neurological, 4 psychiatric, 8 other diseases.
Abscisic Acid Response of Corn ( Zea mays L.) Roots and Protoplasts to Lanthanum

Lanthanum ions antagonize calcium and are used as a Ca2+ channel blocker but their direct effects are unknown. We investigated lanthanum effects on endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) levels in protoplasts and intact primary roots of Zea mays L. Application of 1 mM La3+ reduced primary root elongation, caused swelling of root tips, and essentially doubled the ABA content in intact roots but decreased ABA in root protoplasts in a concentration-dependent manner. Osmotic stress increased ABA level in protoplasts more than in intact roots. Temporal ABA changes in response to La3+ treatment indicate that La3+ affects root growth at least partially via ABA pathway.
New species of ceratocystis from conifers

Five new species ofCeratocystis wood staining fungi are described. The speciesCeratocystis abiocarpa is common in recently killed subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook)Nutt.), trees or felled logs in the Central Rocky Mountain area from Wyoming to Northern Arizona and New Mexico. It also occurs commonly in Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanniiPerry) logs infested withIps sp. bark beetles in this same area.
Albumin use in neurosurgical critical care.

Study Objective. To examine the use of albumin in patients receiving neurosurgical intensive care. Design. Survey and chart review of albumin use in neurosurgical intensive care units. Setting. University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and American Brain Injury Consortium (ABIC). Subjects. Thirty-eight patients who underwent neurosurgery at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center; members of the ABIC. Interventions. Chart review with attention to administration of albumin; mailed survey to 200 ABIC members. Measurements and Main Results. Patients admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center over a 6-month interval were evaluated. Albumin, either 5% or 25%, was prescribed for approximately 25% of patients. The indications for use were vasospasm and maintenance of cerebral perfusion pressure. The response rate for the ABIC survey was 39%. Respondents stated that normal saline and albumin were both primary fluid choices for the treatment of vasospasm. Twenty-two percent reported a reduction in albumin prescribing following a formal warning statement issued by the Food and Drug Administration regarding the use of albumin in critically ill patients. Conclusions. Chart review revealed the primary indications for albumin in the neurosurgical intensive care unit, and our survey data demonstrated the lack of consensus among neurosurgeons regarding their fluid of choice for neurosurgery indications. Prospective, randomized investigations comparing colloids to crystalloids in patients receiving neurosurgical intensive care are required to help define the role of albumin in neurosurgery patients.
Natural Capital: From Metaphor to Measurement

AbstractCurrent efforts to value ecosystem services have contributed little to the valuation of natural capital, suggesting that in practice “nature is capital” primarily serves as a metaphor. We provide a theoretically motivated approach for recovering natural capital prices that expands beyond idealized management to encompass current, likely inefficient, management institutions. Theoretically consistent capital valuation requires adjusting for the net marginal productivity of the natural capital asset and price appreciation. We develop a numerical approach for approximating the value of capital that integrates estimates from ecology and economics. We employ the method to recover credible accounting prices for a pound of Gulf of Mexico reef fish as a capital asset under real-world management conditions. Our approach reveals the interdisciplinarity of natural capital valuation and the importance of understanding the feedbacks between the state of natural capital stocks, human behavior affecting these sto...
The formation and stability of the solid electrolyte interface on the graphite anode

Abstract The solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer plays a critical role in the cycle life of Li-ion batteries. The potential difference across the SEI during charging results in the potential for Li + intercalation at the graphite-SEI interface to be lower than the potential at the SEI-electrolyte interface, which can prevent electrolyte reduction and decomposition. The stability of the SEI layer at certain critical battery operating conditions remains a challenge in the performance of lithium ion batteries. Electrolyte additives and surface modification of the anode electrode have been shown to improve the formation of an effective SEI layer. However, there is still a need for improving the robustness of the SEI to withstand extreme battery operating conditions. In this paper, the formation and stability of the SEI layer for lithium ion batteries is reviewed. This review includes discussion of the formation, growth and stability of the SEI on graphite anode materials.
Accurate decoding of sub-TR timing differences in stimulations of sub-voxel regions from multi-voxel response patterns

Abstract We investigated the decoding of ocular dominance stimulations with millisecond-order timing difference from the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal in human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In our experiment, ocular dominance columns were activated by monocular visual stimulation with 500- or 100- ms onset differences. We observed that the event-related hemodynamic response (HDR) in the human visual cortex was sensitive to the subtle onset difference. The HDR shapes were related to the stimulus timings in various manners: the timing difference was represented in either the amplitude of positive peak, amplitude of negative peak, delay of peak time, or response duration of HDR. These complex relationships were different across voxels and subjects. To find an informative feature of HDR for discriminating the subtle timing difference of ocular dominance stimulations, we examined various characteristics of HDR including response amplitude, time to peak, full width at half-maximum response, as inputs for decoding analysis. Using a canonical HDR function for estimating the voxel's response did not yield good decoding scores, suggesting that information may reside in the variability of HDR shapes. Using all the values from the deconvolved HDR also showed low performance, which could be due to an over-fitting problem with the large data dimensionality. When using either positive or negative peak amplitude of the deconvolved HDR, high decoding performance could be achieved for both the 500 ms and the 100 ms onset differences. The high accuracy even for the 100 ms difference, given that the signal was sampled at a TR of 250 ms and 2 × 2 × 3-mm voxels, implies a possibility of spatiotemporally hyper-resolution decoding. Furthermore, both down-sampling and smoothing did not affect the decoding accuracies very much. These results suggest a complex spatiotemporal relationship between the multi-voxel pattern of the BOLD response and the population activation of neuronal columns. The demonstrated possibility of decoding stimulations for columnar-level organization with 100-ms onset difference using lower resolution imaging data may broaden the scope of application of the BOLD fMRI.
A Laboratory To Demonstrate the Effect of Thermal History on Semicrystalline Polymers Using Rapid Scanning Rate Differential Scanning Calorimetry

A detailed understanding of the effect of thermal history on the thermal properties of semicrystalline polymers is essential for materials scientists and engineers. In this article, we describe a materials science laboratory to demonstrate the effect of parameters such as heating rate and isothermal annealing conditions on the thermal behavior of poly(ethylene terphthalate) (PET) using a rapid heat−cool differential scanning calorimeter (RHC-DSC). The students observe the transformation of semicrystalline PET into an amorphous polymer and the occurrence of multiple melting endotherms upon subjecting the polymer to various thermal conditions. The rapid scanning rates achieved by the RHC-DSC simulate polymer-processing conditions and also facilitate the execution of more experiments in the two-hour laboratory compared to a conventional DSC.
Placebos and paradoxes in psychiatric research: an ethics perspective

Abstract The use of placebos in clinical trials, particularly in research with mentally ill people, has emerged as a subject of considerable controversy. We first outline ethical aspects of the primary scientific arguments for and against placebo use in research. Three examples of paradoxical aspects of the ethical use of placebos are discussed: involvement of relatively more vulnerable populations, use of apparently “less than standard” therapy, and the omission of information in placebo comparisons. In the current scientific and regulatory context, placebo use in psychiatric research may be necessary for scientific reasons, and when certain conditions are present, it may be justified on ethical grounds. Four key recommendations to facilitate the ethical use of placebos in research trials are presented. We conclude that placebo trials should be undertaken only after careful evaluation of alternative scientific strategies and, as with all human research, with great respect and genuine consideration for the individuals who choose to participate in these protocols.
THE CHURCH-STATE CONFLICT IN ZAIRE: 1969-1974

"There is no conflict between the Church and the State in Zaire," President Mobutu Sese Seko stated recently in a Kinshasa daily newspaper (Salongo, 28 Oct. 1973: 5). Despite the President's claim, the events of the last several years indicate a situation of high tension, if not of conflict. Zaire's only Cardinal was expelled from the country; the state banned all religious broadcasts, publications, youth groups, and Bishops' meetings, and a Bishops' Committee wrote that the government is moving towards totalitarianism and dictatorship-not exactly the kinds of actions which reveal close harmony.1 This article discusses the steady deterioration and final stabilization of church-state relations in Zaire over the last five years. In an attempt to give both viewpoints, President Mobutu's public pronouncements and the state's concrete actions are presented, as well as the Bishops' statements and the Church's responses. This conflict has been an important one to both sides. On the one hand, the Zairian Church is certainly the largest and most powerful Catholic Church in Africa, and thus one in which the Vatican takes a keen interest. On the other hand, the government is preoccupied with the Church, which has constituted the greatest threat to Mobutu's drive for absolute power. With its 3,900 Belgian priests and sisters and its close ties to the Vatican it represents both the colonial past and foreign domination. Worst of all, the Church professes a system of beliefs and practices which are different from those of the Zairian political party. Certainly one of the fascinating aspects of this topic is the contradiction between the President's public statements, which imply that he objects to the large foreign involvement in the Zairian Church, and the state's concrete actions, which are clearly directed against spreading the Catholic system of beliefs and practices.
Tetrahedral and Trigonal Carbon Atom Hybridization in Thin Amorphous Carbon Films Synthesized by Radio-Frequency Sputtering

Ultrathin amorphous carbon (a-C) films were synthesized on Si(100) substrates by low-pressure, radio-frequency sputtering under different plasma discharge conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed different contents of C, Ar, Si, O, and N in the a-C films. The percentages of tetrahedral (sp3) and trigonal (sp2) carbon hybridizations in the films were determined from an analysis of the C1s core level spectra obtained by XPS narrow scanning. It is shown that the concentrations of surface chemisorbed O and N atoms from the ambient depend on the real surface area of the film (roughness effect). The binding energy shifts of the sp2 and sp3 hybridizations (observed after the decomposition of the C1s spectra) due to the Ar+ ion bombardment are interpreted in terms of the residual compressive stress in the deposited a-C films. The mechanisms of sp3 carbon hybridization are discussed in the context of XPS results. For negligible Ar+ ion bombardment (zero substrate bias), sp3 carbon hybridization ...
The treatment and outcomes of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: have we made any progress?

The objective of this study is to determine the progress and trends in the treatment and survival of women with early-stage (I–II) epithelial ovarian cancer. Data were obtained from the SEER database between 1988 and 2001. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regressions methods were employed for statistical analyses. Of the 8372 patients, the median age was 57 years (range: 12–99 years). A total of 6152 patients (73.4%) presented with stage I and 2220 (26.5%) with stage II disease. Over the periods 1988–1992, 1993–1997, and 1998–2001, 3-year disease-specific survivals increased from 86.1 to 87.2 to 88.8% (P=0.076). The number of patients that underwent lymphadenectomy has increased significantly from 26.2 to 38.7 to 54.2% over the study period (P<0.001). Of those patients who underwent staging procedures with lymphadenectomy, there was no improvement in survival over the three study periods (from 93.2 to 93.5 to 93.1%; P=0.978). On multivariate analysis, younger age, nonclear cell histology, earlier stage, lower grade, surgery, and lymphadenectomy were significant independent prognostic factors for improved survival. After adjusting for surgical staging with lymphadenectomy, the year of diagnosis was no longer an important prognostic factor. In conclusion, the use of lymphadenectomy during surgery for early-stage ovarian cancer has doubled over the last 14 years. The marginal improvement in survival demonstrated over time is potentially attributed to the increased use of staging procedures with lymphadenectomy.
A stochastic multi-scale model of HIV-1 transmission for decision-making: application to a MSM population.

Author(s): Yeghiazarian, Lilit; Cumberland, William G; Yang, Otto O | Abstract: BackgroundIn the absence of an effective vaccine against HIV-1, the scientific community is presented with the challenge of developing alternative methods to curb its spread. Due to the complexity of the disease, however, our ability to predict the impact of various prevention and treatment strategies is limited. While ART has been widely accepted as the gold standard of modern care, its timing is debated.ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of medical interventions at the level of individuals on the spread of infection across the whole population. Specifically, we investigate the impact of ART initiation timing on HIV-1 spread in an MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) population.Design and methodsA stochastic multi-scale model of HIV-1 transmission that integrates within a single framework the in-host cellular dynamics and their outcomes, patient health states, and sexual contact networks. The model captures disease state and progression within individuals, and allows for simulation of therapeutic strategies.ResultsEarly ART initiation may substantially affect disease spread through a population.ConclusionsOur model provides a multi-scale, systems-based approach to evaluate the broader implications of therapeutic strategies.
Design and synthesis of functionalized cyclopentadienyl tricarbonylmetal complexes for technetium-94m PET imaging of estrogen receptors.

Cyclopentadienyl tricarbonylmetal (CpTM, M = Re, 94mTc) complexes, some based on a typical nonsteroidal estrogen, were prepared with the aim of developing technetium- and rhenium-labeled imaging ag...
τ-complexity of cluster tilted algebras

We study the τ-complexity of modules over cluster tilted algebras where τ is the Auslander–Reiten translate. We prove that modules over the cluster tilted algebra C of type H all have complexities either 0, 1, 2 or infinity, depending on the representation type of the hereditary algebra H.
Integrating an enterprise's engineering processes

Abstract A case study is reported on the integration of engineering practices which had been separately prepared into a seamless system development process. The approach taken in the study should be usable by any enterprise which is attempting to effect a closer integration of the engineering skills in its systems developments. In the particular case, the engineering practices had been defined and institutionalized over the past several decades by the individual engineering disciplines to define their roles and responsibilities within the development life-cycle. At a macro process level, there was apparent integration between these practices but, as the study revealed, additional definition was generally required to ensure integration at the working level. A reasonably seamless development process to the working level was defined and documented through a combination of work flows and tabular descriptions of engineering activities and work products. The roles of multidisciplined and/or concurrent engineering teams in accomplishing key parts of the system development were emphasized to ensure close skill integration at the working level. The opportunities for collecting measurements on the integrated effort and for considering the reuse of process materials were also stressed in the process elaboration. Further integration of additional project disciplines within this integrated process is an ongoing research effort.
Persistent current in a rotating mesoscopic ring

Abstract We investigate the behavior of electrons in a small thin metallic ring that is set in rotation. Using Larmor's theorem, it is shown that persistent currents are expected to occur in rotating mesoscopic rings, even in the absence of a magnetic field. The properties of these currents are briefly discussed. The non-classical behavior of the rotational inertia of the electrons is elucidated.
Clever cancer strategies with FoxO transcription factors

Given that cancer and related disorders affect a wide spectrum of the world's population, and in most cases are progressive in nature, it is essential that future care must overcome the present limitations of existing therapies in the absence of toxic side effects. Mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the O class (FoxOs) may fill this niche since these proteins are increasingly considered to represent unique cellular targets directed against human cancer in light of their pro-apoptotic effects and ability to lead to cell cycle arrest. Yet, FoxOs also can significantly affect normal cell survival and longevity, requiring new treatments for neoplastic growth to modulate novel pathways that integrate cell proliferation, metabolism, inflammation and survival. In this respect, members of the FoxO family are extremely compelling to consider since these transcription factors have emerged as versatile proteins that can control angiogenesis, stem cell proliferation, cell adhesion and autoimmune disease. Further elucidation of FoxO protein function during neoplastic growth should continue to lay the foundation for the successful translation of these transcription factors into novel and robust clinical therapies for cancer.
The Accidental Environmentalist: Elliott on Anthropocentric Indirect Arguments

As Kevin Elliott notes in his introduction, his piece emerges from and contributes to a debate in the literature concerning the role of public philosophy. Should environmental philosophers carry on...
A probabilistic approach for representation of interval uncertainty

In this paper, we propose a probabilistic approach to represent interval data for input variables in reliability and uncertainty analysis problems, using flexible families of continuous Johnson distributions. Such a probabilistic representation of interval data facilitates a unified framework for handling aleatory and epistemic uncertainty. For fitting probability distributions, methods such as moment matching are commonly used in the literature. However, unlike point data where single estimates for the moments of data can be calculated, moments of interval data can only be computed in terms of upper and lower bounds. Finding bounds on the moments of interval data has been generally considered an NP-hard problem because it includes a search among the combinations of multiple values of the variables, including interval endpoints. In this paper, we present efficient algorithms based on continuous optimization to find the bounds on second and higher moments of interval data. With numerical examples, we show that the proposed bounding algorithms are scalable in polynomial time with respect to increasing number of intervals. Using the bounds on moments computed using the proposed approach, we fit a family of Johnson distributions to interval data. Furthermore, using an optimization approach based on percentiles, we find the bounding envelopes of the family of distributions, termed as a Johnson p-box. The idea of bounding envelopes for the family of Johnson distributions is analogous to the notion of empirical p-box in the literature. Several sets of interval data with different numbers of intervals and type of overlap are presented to demonstrate the proposed methods. As against the computationally expensive nested analysis that is typically required in the presence of interval variables, the proposed probabilistic representation enables inexpensive optimization-based strategies to estimate bounds on an output quantity of interest.
Opening hemichannels in nonjunctional membrane stimulates gap junction formation

We studied gap junction formation in pairs of Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing connexins that form functional hemichannels and found no correlation between junctional conductance (Gj) and whole-cell hemichannel conductances (Ghemi) within the first few hours of pairing. However, opening hemichannels to a threshold current stimulated a rapid Gj increase. Moreover, cx46 hemichannel current stimulated cx40 Gj even though cx40 and cx46 do not form heteromeric or heterotypic gap junctions. Initial growth rate and final steady-state level of stimulated Gj were proportional to the product of hemichannel conductances. External calcium affected the growth rate of stimulated Gj but not the final steady-state value. Time constants of formation were short in low [Ca2+]out (3 min in 200 μM Ca2+) and long in high [Ca2+]out (15 min in 1 mM Ca2+), but in oocyte pairs pretreated with lectins to reduce steric hindrance imposed by large membrane glycoproteins the time constant was short and Ca2+-independent. We suggest that hemichannel activity stimulates Gj by collapsing the extracellular volume between membranes to allow the end-to-end binding between hemichannels. These studies suggest the possibility that functional hemichannels could trigger or enhance junctional formation in vivo in response to appropriate stimuli.
Plotting the planners place

Defining the appropriate role of the corporate planning manager can be critical to the effectiveness of planning systems. Depending on the nature of the organization and the purposes of the planning system, different roles and responsibilities can be assumed by the manager of the system.
Screening of polymer coatings for surface plasmon resonance sensing of ammonia vapor

Several polymeric membranes were evaluated for their potential to improve the sensitivity and impart chemical selectivity to surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based sensors. The membranes tested encompass a variety of deposition methods, providing an insight of the contact requirements between polymers and the plasmon supporting metal. Among the membranes evaluated, preliminary results utilizing polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes displayed reliable detection of vapor-phase ammonia at ~40 ppm levels. Chemically synthesized polyaniline also presented encouraging results, responding to ammonia gas at 48 ppm. This is in sharp contrast to the electropolymerized counterpart, which showed minor wavelength shifts even at elevated ammonia levels (4 %). SPR has been adopted by the bioanalytical community to probe biomolecular interactions and obtain information relating to binding kinetics. Similarly, modifying plasmon-supporting surfaces with bioreceptors enables access to biosensing applications. Gas-phase sensing with SPR has largely remained unexplored primarily due to the small changes in refractive index from low molecular weight molecules. Coating SPR sensors with tailored polymers has been discussed as a viable approach to amplifying refractive index changes related to low molecular weight analytes. Ammonia is a low molecular weight analyte that is ubiquitously present in the gas phase. Industrial and medical interest in ammonia at low ppm level yielded numerous scientific contributions describing diverse sensing approaches. Hence, ammonia is a good candidate to provide a baseline for immediate comparison with other approaches for evaluation of the polymers with regards to their susceptibility to undergo changes in dielectric properties and chemical affinity for the analyte.
Teratogenic potential of the mycotoxin, citreoviridin, in rats.

Citreoviridin produced by the fungus Penicillium citreo-viride was administered by gavage to groups of 9–16 pregnant Fisher 344 rats either on days 8–11 (group A) or on days 12–15 (group B) of gestation. Doses of 0, 5, 10 or 15 mg/kg body weight were given daily in a constant volume of 1 ml/kg body weight in dimethylsulphoxide. Six rats in each high-dose group died during the dosing period. Compared with control groups, mean daily feed consumption was significantly reduced in the 10- and 15-mg/kg animals in both groups A and B. Weight gain during pregnancy in both groups was reduced with increasing dosage; dams in control groups gained an average of 75 g/rat compared with 30 g overall gain in group A, or 9 g overall gain in group B, both at a dose of 15 mg/kg. Male and female pup weights were reduced with increasing dosage for both groups A and B. The post-implantation foetal loss rate was significantly increased to 33% in group A high-dose animals. The main effect of citreoviridin on skeletal development in both groups A and B was one of retardation. No internal abnormalities were observed in group A pups. Some smaller than average pups from dams in group B that were treated with the high dose of citreoviridin had slightly dilated lateral ventricles of the brain and, in some cases, a palate defect. The foetotoxicity induced by citreoviridin was observed only at doses that also induced maternal toxicity.
Fine structural studies of rat adrenal cortices following prostaglandin administration.

Histological and fine structural studies of adrenal cortices were performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats which had been given intravenous injections of prostaglandin E1 or E2. It was found that there were increased numbers of intracellular lipid droplets, free ribonucleoprotein particles, cholesterol ester clefts and coated vesicles of both the small and large varieties. A reorganization of the internal mitochondrial membranes and the appearance of protrusions of parenchymal cytoplasm into the sinusoidal lumina accompanied by vasodilation were also observed. These alterations are not typical of those observed following exogenous ACTH administration and are therefore considered to be prostaglandin-induced.
Analysis of manufacturing-scale MEMS reliability testing

Long-term reliability of MEMS devices is increasingly important for large scale manufactured products. Traditional reliability testing used for microelectronic devices has been applied to integrated MEMS devices with the expectation that acceleration of MEMS-specific failure mechanisms would not be substantial. Rather, traditional package and circuit related failures would be accelerated. In addition, reliability tests that impart mechanical stresses on parts were expected to accelerate failures more so than traditional tests. It was found that while mechanical stresses were more effective in inducing MEMS related failures some traditional reliability tests did accelerate MEMS-related failures.
DISTRIBUTION AND METABOLISM OF BARBITAL-14C IN TOLERANT AND NONTOLERANT RATS.

Abstract Tolerance to barbital, as evidenced by a significant decrease in sleeping time, was induced in rats by chronic barbital administration. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism of tolerance, barbital- 14 C distribution and metabolism were compared between tolerant and nontolerant rats. Levels of radioactivity in brain, plasma, and urine did not significantly differ between the two groups. This indicated that tolerance to barbital cannot be ascribed to decreased drug absorption, to increased excretion of the drug, or to a decreased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Tolerant rats metabolize barbital in a manner qualitatively similar to that of nontolerant rats, as indicated by the recovery of the same three barbital metabolites from urine of either tolerant or control animals. The quantity of barbital metabolites excreted by the tolerant rats was not significantly higher than control values.