cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-Ray Photoelectron-Spectroscopic Studies of Carbon Fiber Surfaces. Part IX: The Effect of Microwave Plasma Treatment on Carbon Fiber Surfaces

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to monitor the surface chemical changes on DuPont high-modulus pitch-based carbon fiber surfaces brought about by microwave air-plasma treatments for different periods of time. The air-plasma treatment increased the fiber surface functionalities, but extended treatment caused fiber damage. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the bulk structure was not affected by the air-plasma treatment. XPS valence band spectra proved a more sensitive probe of the surface chemistry of the carbon fibers than XPS core studies. Air-plasma treatment of fibers promises to be an effective method of fiber treatment.
Amphotericin b fungizone enhancement of nitrogen mustard uptake by human tumor cells

Abstract In HT29 human colon carcinoma cells, amphotericin B at doses above 120μg/ml increased nitrogen mustard uptake, and this was due to an increase in the apparent V max without a change in the apparent K m . Longer incubations (24 to 48 hr) of ascites fluid human ovarian carcinoma cells or SKMES-1 human epidermoid carcinoma cells with amphotericin B 4μg/ml enhanced the uptake of nitrogen mustard to a greater degree than that observed when cells were incubated for only 30 min. Therefore, amphotericin B can enhance nitrogen mustard by human tumor cell lines and by fresh human tumor cells.
Evaluation of a Fault-Tolerant Scheme in a Six-Degree-of-Freedom Motion Flight Simulator

This paper discusses the evaluation of a neurally augmented fault-tolerant flight control scheme for a high-performance military aircraft featuring an adaptive actuator and sensor failure detection, isolation, and identification algorithm in a motion-based flight simulator. The design of the fault-tolerant control scheme is based on a nonlinear dynamic inversion schemewithaneuralnetwork-basedaugmentationforreducingthedynamicinversionerrors associated with the occurrence of an actuator failure while a set of online learning neural observers is used for dealing with specific sensor failures. The failure detection, isolation, and identification scheme is based on an adaptive threshold technique for estimating failure bounds associated with both actuator and sensor failures. Also, an ‘ad-hoc’ parameter is proposed here for the novel task of evaluating the pilot workload in compensating for both actuatorandsensorfailuresonboardtheaircraft.Ageneraloutcomeoftheeffortisademonstration of the importance of realistic motion-based simulation environments for evaluation of this specific class of flight control laws. The study also demonstrated the importance of the neural augmentation for failure accommodation purposes and the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive threshold technique for failure identification purposes.
Is VATS Lobectomy Better: Perioperatively, Biologically and Oncologically?

The current review focuses on a clinical comparison of lobectomy by means of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open lobectomy. The best available evidence strongly suggests that VATS lobectomy is less morbid than open lobectomy, and that VATS lobectomy is less immunosuppressive and elicits a milder inflammatory response than open lobectomy. Midterm to long-term oncologic results of patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer appear to be equivalent for VATS and open lobectomy. Because a large, prospective, randomized, multiinstitutional trial of open versus VATS lobectomy will likely never take place, we are dependent on the summarized information to draw practical conclusions.
Disagreements between plot-based prevalence indices and dominance ratios in evaluations of wetland vegetation

Methods for wetland identification and delineation require the investigator to determine whether vegetation is hydrophytic. Two widely used techniques for making hydrophytic vegetation decisions involve dominance ratios (i.e., the percentage of dominant species that are rated obligate (OBL), facultative wetland (FACW), and facultative (FAC) and prevalence indices (i.e., the weighfed-average wetland indicator status of all plants present). We sampled 338 vegetation plots on sites throughout the United States and calculated the dominance ratio and a plot-based prevalence index for each plot. We found that hydrophytic vegetation decisions based on the two methods disagreed on 16% of field plots. Analysis of simulated plot data (n=80,000) indicated that frequencies of disagreement increase as vegetation complexity (i.e., number of strata and number of species per stratum) increases. We conclude that the two methods for hydrophytic vegetation decisions disagree too often to be considered equivalent. Additional studies are needed in differnent biogeographic regions and plant community types to determine the conditions under which prevalence indices, dominance ratios, or some other treatment of vegetation data provide more reliable indicators of wetland vegetation.
Nursing Homes as a Clinical Site for Training Geriatric Health Care Professionals

Nursing homes can be ideal clinical teaching and learning environments for acquiring geriatric specialty and interdisciplinary team skills, particularly those regarding assessment, care planning, management, monitoring, and collaborating in an interdisciplinary milieu. Little is known as to how geriatric specialty training programs use nursing homes to meet expected specialty competencies, or the types of clinical experiences in nursing homes required by academic geriatric training programs. This article describes the expectations of 5 clinical health care disciplines (dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work) and nursing home administration regarding desirable nursing home characteristics that support gaining geriatric competencies. The issues involved in using nursing homes as supportive educational environments in geriatric education are discussed.
Delineation of the Regions of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) Receptor β Chain Important for Association of Jak1 and Jak3 Jak1-INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONAL RECRUITMENT OF Jak3 TO IL-2Rβ

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces heterodimerization of the IL-2 receptor β (IL-2Rβ) and γc chains of its receptor and activates the Janus family tyrosine kinases, Jak1 and Jak3. Whereas Jak1 associates with IL-2Rβ, Jak3 associates primarily with γc but also with IL-2Rβ. We analyzed four IL-2Rβ mutations that diminish IL-2-induced proliferation and found that each also decreased IL-2-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) activation. For this reason, and because the mutations were in the IL-2Rβ membrane-proximal region, we investigated and found that each mutation diminished IL-2Rβ association with both Jak1 and Jak3. This suggested that these Jaks might interact with the same region of IL-2Rβ; however, certain IL-2Rβ internal deletions and C-terminal truncations differentially affected the association of Jak1 and Jak3. Interestingly, just as Jak1-IL-2Rβ association is Jak3-independent and functionally important, we show that Jak3-IL-2Rβ association is Jak1-independent and implicate this association as being important for IL-2-induced Stat5 activation. Moreover, Jak1 and Jak3 could associate only in the presence of IL-2Rβ, suggesting that these kinases can simultaneously bind to IL-2Rβ. Thus, our data not only demonstrate that somewhat more distal as well as membrane-proximal cytoplasmic regions of a type I cytokine receptor are important for Jak kinase association but also suggest that two IL-2Rβ-Jak kinase interactions are important for IL-2 signaling.
Somatic hybrids between Brassica oleracea L. and Sinapis alba L. with resistance to Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc

Somatic Hybrids between Sinapis alba and rapid-cycling Brassica oleracea were generated for transferring of resistance to Alternaria brassicae to B. oleracea. A. brassicae causes the significant disease black spot in cruciferous crops. A total of 27 plants were regenerated from protoplast fusion using 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 krad γ-irradiation of the resistance donor and iodoacetate treatment of B. oleracea. All plants showed intermediate morphology with partially divided leaves and some trichomes on stems and leaves. Flow cytometry and banding patterns of the enzymes leucine amino peptidase (LAP) and phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) confirmed the hybrid status of the regenerated plants. Some of the plants obtained from cuttings from the somatic hybrids showed a resistance to A. brassicae that was similar to that found in S. alba. The flowers of the somatic hybrids had reduced anthers with little pollen production.
A Patient-Centered Decision-Support Tool Informed by History of Interpersonal Violence “Will This Treatment Work for Me?”

The Probability of Treatment Benefit (PTB) chart is a decision-support tool that quantifies, in absolute terms, the probability that an individual patient will benefit from a psychological treatment based on the individual's pre-treatment characteristics. The demand for such a tool has increased with the growing emphasis on personalized medicine and the need for selecting a treatment from an expanding list of evidence-based models. This method has the potential to provide clinicians and mental health consumers with a practical and interpretable means of comparing treatment options for individuals whose benefit from a particular treatment may differ substantially. We provide a practice update and demonstrate how to develop a PTB chart using data from a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of two approaches for treating posttraumatic stress disorder based on patients' pre-treatment exposure to multiple types of interpersonal violence. Step-by-step instructions for applying the PTB method are provided.
Phase determination and inversion in specular neutron reflectometry

Abstract We present results testing the experimental feasibility of recently discovered solutions of the dynamical phase problem for specular reflection. Using layers of Cu, Ni, and Mo as references, the real and imaginary parts of the complex reflection amplitude were measured from neutron reflectivities for an asymmetric composite film consisting of deuterated polystyrene and Si. The reflection amplitude was also measured from neutron reflectivity without references for a symmetric deuterated polystyrene film. These amplitudes were inverted using the Gel’fand–Levitan–Marchenko equation to produce scattering length density profiles for the films studied. The inverted profiles compared reasonably well to the expected potentials. We conclude that such methods are practical with current instrumentation.
Towards expressive exploratory search over entity-relationship data

In this paper we describe a novel approach for exploratory search over rich entity-relationship data that utilizes a unique combination of expressive, yet intuitive, query language, faceted search, and graph navigation. We describe an extended faceted search solution which allows to index, search, and browse rich entity-relationship data. We report experimental results of an evaluation study, using a benchmark of several of entity-relationship datasets, demonstrating that our exploratory approach is both effective and efficient compared to other existing approaches.
Differences in avidity and epitope recognition of CD8(+) T cells infiltrating the central nervous systems of SJL/J mice infected with BeAn and DA strains of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus.

Theiler9s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection induces immune-mediated demyelinating disease in susceptible mouse strains and serves as a relevant infectious model for human multiple sclerosis. To investigate the pathogenic mechanisms, two strains of TMEV (DA and BeAn), capable of inducing chronic demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS), have primarily been used. Here, we have compared the T-cell responses induced after infection with DA and BeAn strains in highly susceptible SJL/J mice. CD4 + T-cell responses to known epitopes induced by these two strains were virtually identical. However, the CD8 + T-cell response induced following DA infection in susceptible SJL/J mice was unable to recognize two of three H-2K s -restricted epitope regions of BeAn, due to single-amino-acid substitutions. Interestingly, T cells specific for the H-2K s -restricted epitope (VP1 11-20 ) recognized by both strains showed a drastic increase in frequency as well as avidity after infection with DA virus. These results strongly suggest that the level and avidity of virus-specific CD8 + T cells infiltrating the CNS could be drastically different after infection with these two strains of TMEV and may differentially influence the pathogenic and/or protective outcome.
Heidegger's Absolute Music, or What Are Poets for When the End of Metaphysics Is At Hand?

A poem telling the story of a man shooting a moose is a narrative poem. If the poem goes on for a long time and the moose turns out to be his daughter who got screwed by the lecherous, jealous gods and the man then founds a city, it is an epic. Many say the Age of the Epic is behind us, the rain falls upon the moose corpse and the murderous, capricious gods seem done with us, killed or wandered oV, and, unattended, unhouselled, we charge through the bracken with only the burning hoof print of human love upon us. —Dean Young, “The Decoration Committee,” lines 1–131
Spiny Keratoderma: A Common Under‐Reported Dermatosis

Abstract Spiny keratoderma is a dermatosis consisting of multiple projections located on the palms and soles, with a distinct histology characteristic of a parakeratotic column above a hypogranular epidermis. We report six cases discovered within a year and review the present literature on spiny keratoderma. The average age of the patients was 57 years. Fifty-seven percent of the patients were male and forty-three percent were female. The duration of lesions ranged from 4 months to 40 years. Symptoms were variable, however, lesions were often unnoticed by the patient. The location of the lesions involved the palms and soles or the palms alone. Past medical history was significant for hypertension and hyperlipidemia treated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Lesions often occurred in patients involved in manual labor. Spiny keratoderma is a relatively common under-reported dermatosis found most often in older patients with history of manual labor and is possibly related to treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
An experiment in non-conventional energy resource use acceptance and benefits to a village community

Presentation de l'experience realisee dans un village cotier du district Kakinada, Neman, en Andhra Pradesh (Inde) et qui a consiste a remplacer les foyers utilises pour faire la cuisine par des foyers beaucoup plus propres car n'emettant pas de fumee.
Estimation of the Surface Water Budget of the La Plata Basin

Abstract The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) land surface hydrology model forced by gridded observed precipitation and temperature for the period 1979–99 is used to simulate the land surface water balance of the La Plata basin (LPB). The modeled water balance is evaluated with streamflow observations from the major tributaries of the LPB. The spatiotemporal variability of the water balance terms of the LPB are then evaluated using offline VIC model simulations, the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA-40), and inferences obtained from a combination of these two. The seasonality and interannual variability of the water balance terms vary across the basin. Over the Uruguay River basin and the entire LPB, precipitation (P) exceeds evapotranspiration (E) and the basins act as a moisture sink. However, the Paraguay River basin acts as a net source of moisture in dry seasons (strong negative P − E). The annual means and monthly time series of ERA-40 P are in good agreem...
LIPIDS OF SUBCELLULAR PARTICLES.

Methods for isolation and characterization of subcellular particles as well as procedures for analysis of lipid class composition are discussed. The literature on distribution of lipids in subcellular particles is then reviewed. Pertinent new data from our laboratories are presented as well. The isolated particles are related to the organelles to which they correspond in the cell and are discussed with regard to heterogeneity and morphological integrity. Confusion can arise with regard to subcellular particles unless it is appreciated that: 1) preparation of particles of high purity generally requires more than the classical differential centrifugation scheme (both differential and gradient centrifugation may be required); 2) it is hazardous to apply exactly the same procedure for all tissues; 3) all subcellular fractions must be thoroughly characterized.
Photon Hanbury-Brown–Twiss interferometry for noncentral heavy-ion collisions

Currently, the only known way to obtain experimental information about the space-time structure of a heavy-ion collision is through two-particle momentum correlations. Azimuthally sensitive Hanbury-Brown-Twiss (HBT) intensity interferometry can complement elliptic flow measurements by constraining the spatial deformation of the source and its time evolution. Performing these measurements on photons allows us to access the fireball evolution at earlier times than with hadrons. Using ideal hydrodynamics to model the space-time evolution of the collision fireball, we explore theoretically various aspects of two-photon intensity interferometry with transverse momenta up to 2 GeV, in particular the azimuthal angle dependence of the HBT radii in noncentral collisions. We highlight the dual nature of thermal photon emission, in both central and noncentral collisions, resulting from the superposition of QGP and hadron resonance gas photon production. This signature is present in both the thermal photon source function and the HBT radii extracted from Gaussian fits of the two-photon correlation function.
Influence of forced vibrations on the static coefficient of friction — numerical modeling

Abstract Various experimental observations reveal that forced vibrations of a sliding system result in a reduction of the static coefficient of friction. In this paper this phenomenon is modeled numerically. A recently developed model of frictional interface, assuming the existence of non-linear normal compliance of the interface, is applied to the transient analysis of vibrations of the system. This analysis reveals that in the presence of vibrations the sliding occurs at a value of tangential force smaller than in the purely static case. However, the tangential motion of the slider consists of microscopic sticks and slips, which in the macroscopic scale are perceived as a “creep”-type motion. It was also observed that the presence of interface damping weakens the effect of reduction of the coefficient of friction, especially in the vicinity of a resonance zone. The formulation and numerical algorithm developed in this paper are applied to the analysis of a representative experimental apparatus. A good qualitative and quantitative agreement of results is obtained.
Dominant B cell epitope region of a vespid allergen antigen 5

Abstract Rationale Tests with a hybrid PV1-39, containing residues 1-39 of Vv5 from yellow jacket ( Vespula vulgaris ) and residues 40-204 of Pa5 from paper wasp ( Polistes annularis ), suggest the N-terminal region to be immunodominant. This region was studied further with hybrids PV1-18 and 18-39. Methods Hybrids were prepared by expression in yeast. Their antigenicity was tested by binding of Vv5-specific mouse monoclonal (mc) and polyclonal (pc) Abs, immunogencity by stimulation of Vv5-specific Ab responses in mice, and allergenicity by up-regulation of cell surface marker CD203c from basophils of yellow jacket-sensitive patients. Results Two Vv5-specific mcAbs showed binding of PV1-39 and 18-39 but not PV1-18, and a third mcAb showed the opposite. Hybrid antigenicity with pcAb, and hybrid immunogencity, were in the order of Vv5 > PV1-39 > PV1-18 ∼ 18–39. Allergenicity data from a single patient showed a similar order and tests with additional patients are being made. Conclusions The data with mcAbs suggest the presence of at least two adjacent epitope regions in PV-1-39. Each epitope region alone is less efficient than the bivalent PV1-39 to bind Vv5-specific pcAb as well as to stimulate such a response. The findings are relevant in the design of hybrids, with reduced allergenicity but retaining immnogenicity of natural allergen, for possible use as vaccines.
Relation between P300 and event-related theta-band synchronization: A single-trial analysis

Abstract Objective Recent reports show that theta-band (4–7 Hz) power is enhanced by target detection in the standard oddball paradigm, which, together with increased P300, is considered as providing complementary neural mechanisms supporting memory and attention processes. We hypothesize that the increased theta event-related synchronization (ERS) may stem largely from not accounting for the trial-to-trial variability of the P300 evoked component and may not reflect a separate mechanism for target detection and related cognitive processing. Methods EEG was recorded from healthy volunteers performing visual and auditory odd-ball tasks. Ongoing-activity was obtained using two methods: (a) subtracting the ASEO-estimated (analysis of single-trial event-related potentials and ongoing-activity) single-trial ERP from corresponding single-trial EEG time series and (b) subtracting the average event-related potential (AERP) from single-trial EEG time series. Event-related oscillatory activities obtained from the two methods were compared. Results The amount of power increase in the theta-band was greatly attenuated for the single-trial based method relative to the traditional AERP method. Conclusions Our results suggest that the theta-ERS arises largely from not modeling the trial-to-trial variability of the P300. Significance ERP components such as the P300 vary from trial-to-trial in both amplitude and latency. The traditional AERP method leaves traces of evoked responses in the residual data which can negatively impact the inference of ongoing oscillatory dynamics. Thus, caution should be exercised in interpreting such phenomena in basic and clinical contexts.
Sounds of the heart in diastole

Abstract Cardiac diastole usually is acoustically silent even though several hemodynamic events take place in this phase of the cardiac cycle. In some healthy subjects and in many patients with cardiovascular alterations one or more “extra” heart sounds may be heard in diastole, and in them the distinction between normal and abnormal heart sounds must be established. In general, diastolic sounds may be spontaneous in nature or iatrogenic, that is, a consequence of replacement of the atrioventricular (A-V) valve with a caged-poppet prosthesis or a result of pervenous pacemaker implantation. The majority of the sounds emanate from the chambers of the heart. This presentation discusses normal and abnormal ventricular filling sounds, opening snap, “tumor plop,” pericardial knock, prosthetic A-V valve click and pacemaker-induced sound.
Ximelagatran: An orally active direct thrombin inhibitor

Purpose. The chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, dosage and administration, contraindications, and adverse effects of ximelagatran are reviewed. Summary. Ximelagatran is the first orally active direct thrombin inhibitor to be tested in Phase III clinical trials. After oral administration, ximelagatran is rapidly converted to its active metabolite, melagatran. Melagatran (after oral ximelagatran administration) predictably inhibits thrombin function without need for routine anticoagulation monitoring. Melagatran effectively inhibits both free and clot-bound thrombin—a potential pharmacodynamic advantage over heparin products. Melagatran has a half-life of 2.4–4.6 hours, necessitating twice-daily administration. Melagatran is primarily eliminated by the kidneys and has not been studied clinically in patients with severe renal failure. Ximelagatran has undergone 10 Phase III trials (6 for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism [VTE] due to orthopedic surgery, 1 for initial treatment of VTE, 1 for long-term prevention of VTE recurrence, and 2 for stroke prophylaxis due to atrial fibrillation). Results were generally positive. AstraZeneca applied in December 2003 for marketing approval of ximelagatran for prevention of VTE after total knee replacement surgery, long-term prevention of VTE recurrence after standard therapy, and stroke prevention due to atrial fibrillation. FDA denied approval of ximelagatran for all indications, mainly because of increased rates of coronary artery disease events in ximelagatran recipients in some studies and the possibility of hepatic failure when the medication is used for long-term therapy. Conclusion. Ximelagatran has shown promise as a possible alternative to warfarin and other anticoagulants but will require further study to ensure its safety.
Fuzzy topology and fuzzy multifunctions

The fundamental concept of a fuzzy set was first introduced by Zadeh in his classical paper [ 141. Since then work has been done by many authors, in several directions, which has resulted in the formation of a new mathematical field called “Fuzzy Mathematics.” The theory of fuzzy topological spaces is a branch of such mathematics. Chang in [2] was the first to introduce the notion of fuzzy topology. Several others continued the work in this area (for example, see [ 12, 131). We remark that general point set topology can be regarded as a special case of fuzzy topology, where all membership functions are just characteristic functions. In this paper, we introduce several fuzzy topological concepts and examine their properties. Our basic tool in that process is the notion of the fuzzy neighborhood of a point introduced by Warren in [Ill. We also introduce the notion of fuzzy multifunctions, which we strongly believe will be useful in the study of fuzzy games and general fuzzy optimization problems. We study the continuity and measurability properties of these multifunctions. Also we introduce linear fuzzy multifunctions and study their properties in the light of the recent work of Katsaras [5], Katsaras and Liu [S], and Lowen [9] on fuzzy vector spaces.
RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IMMUNE HUMAN GLOBULIN, (RSVIg) AS TREATMENT OF RSV LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (LRI) IN CHILDREN. † 1085

RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IMMUNE HUMAN GLOBULIN, (RSVIg) AS TREATMENT OF RSV LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (LRI) IN CHILDREN. † 1085
Studies of a granular aluminum anode in an alkaline fuel cell

Abstract A granular aluminum anode was investigated for use in an alkaline aluminum/hydrogen peroxide fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes granules of aluminum (8–12 mm in diameter) as an anode, potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an anolyte and hydrogen peroxide as a catholyte. Granular anodes have a significantly higher surface area than planar surfaces, thereby resulting in higher utilization of the anode material. Polarization experiments were performed as well as closed circuit power production experiments. KOH concentrations were varied in the experiments. Polarization experiments achieved a current density of 10.02 mA/cm 2 using 2 M KOH and granular aluminum with a surface area of 205.6 cm 2 . Power production experiments sustained a current density of 0.05 mA/cm 2 using 1.5 M KOH and granular aluminum with a surface area of 59.8 cm 2 . Results indicate that granular metal anodes have potential for use in high energy density fuel cells.
Probing d-band superconductivity in XIr3 compounds

Abstract Gd and U were introduced as site-specific probes into the XIr3 (PuNi3 structure) superconductors where X = Y, La, Ce and Th. In all cases, superconductivity extends to at least 10 at% Gd or U substituted for X, indicating that the superconducting electrons only weakly interact with ions at the X sites. It is concluded that the XIr3 compounds, CeIr3 included, are Ir 5d-band superconductors.
Kolam: A Mathematical Treasure of South India

It is 5:00 a.m. in the morning in Thanjavur, India. Sita wakes up to the call of a rooster. As she gets up from her bed, her 2-year-old son and 3 1/2-year-old daughter follow her. After quickly bru...
Coherence of neutrino oscillations in vacuum and matter in the wave packet treatment

We present a geometrical representation of neutrino oscillations in vacuum and matter in which a propagating neutrino is described by a superposition of mass-eigenstate wave packets (energy-eigenstate wave packets in matter). The effect of the coherence length (that is the distance beyond which the wave packets separate) in the MSW effect is illustrated by using the solar neutrinos as an example. It is shown that, if the coherence length is shorter than the size of the resonance region, non-adiabatic MSW transitions become increasingly adiabatic as the coherence length is decreased.
Marked overproduction of low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B in a subject with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Effect of portacaval shunting.

Abstract Portacaval shunt has been shown to result in reduced plasma levels of cholesterol in subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia. To define better the effect of this procedure on lipoprotein metabolism, we measured the turnover of apolipoprotein B in very low density and low density lipoprotein in a subject with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia before and after a portacaval shunt. Pre-shunt, total plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were 495.7 ±22.5 and 383 ±11.6 mg/dl ( mean ± S . D .), respectively. Post-shunt, these levels fell to 286.0 ±8.3 and 226.0 ±23.4 mg/dl, respectively. Plasma triacylglycerol concentration was also reduced by surgery (279.8 ±49.3 vs. 55.2 ±8.4 mg/dl). The production of very low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B was dramatically reduced after surgery (27.9 vs. 7.8 mg/kg/day). The secretion of triacylglycerol in very low density lipoproteins was similarly affected. During baseline, production of low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B was markedly elevated (64.8 mg/kg/day) and 75% was secreted directly into plasma. Post-shunt, the production of low density lipoprotein decreased to a normal level (11.3 mg/kg per day). However, 31% of the LDL was still secreted directly into plasma. Pre-shunt, the fractional catabolic rate of low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B was normal (0.57/day) in this subject with less than 50% of normal apolipoprotein B receptor activity. After surgery, concomitant with reduced lipoprotein production and plasma concentrations, the fractional catabolic rate fell to 0.19/day, a level compatible with the presence of reduced receptors. The data indicate that portacaval shunt can significantly reduce the flux of lipoproteins in subjects with hyperlipoproteinemia and that the liver is a major site of both production and catabolism of those lipoproteins.
Fluxless Tin Bonding Process With Suppressed Intermetallic Growth

Soldering is a process that joins two metal parts with a low-melting-point metal or alloy, called solder. It is widely recognized that intermetallic compound (IMC) formation is essential for the solder to bond to metals. The IMC layer grows during soldering. It grows further during usage, in particular, at temperature near the solder melting temperature. Extensive IMC growth can result in reliability issues. A reason is that IMC is much less ductile than the solder and does not deform as much as the solder to manage the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the parts joined. In this paper, we looked into and developed a soldering process to fabricate IMC-less solder joints. The fundamental concept is to choose a barrier metal that can bond to solder without forming IMC with the solder. With our experience and Cr-Sn phase diagram, Cr is selected as the barrier metal. Several bonding experiments have been performed and the preliminary results show that high quality Sn joints could be produced with a little IMC formation before high-temperature aging. After aging at homologous temperature of 0.9 of Sn for 100-200 h, Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn IMCs are observed. They are caused by the penetration of molten Sn through microcracks or pinholes on the Cr layer to react with the underlying Cu. In production environment, the density of microcracks and pinholes can be greatly reduced to inhibit IMC growth, making the realization of solder joints without IMC a possibility.
Tenascin and microvessel stromal changes in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are isolated to the sites of disease and vary in correlation to disease activity.

This study investigated stromal changes in expression of tenascin and vasculogenesis in lymphoma. Documenting the dynamic nature of the stromal changes in lymphoma in relation to response to therapy is helpful in planning new therapies directed at these targets. Two hundred and sixty one samples from 111 patients with varying types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reviewed and examined using immunohistochemistry techniques. Samples were stained for factor VIII – related antigen for microvessel density (MVD) analysis and anti-tenascin antibody for qualitative assessment of the stromal expression. Multiple samples from the same patient were taken at the same point in time to assess whether stromal changes were limited to sites of disease. Multiple samples were examined over the course of a patient's illness to assess whether the stromal changes were modulated according to disease activity. There was a significant increase in tenascin expression and MVD in the sites of disease compared with uninvolved sites (p...
Fresnel-Fizeau effect in a rotating optical fiber ring interferometer

Measurements of the Fresnel-Fizeau effect in a fiber ring interferometer gyroscope are reported. The presence of the dispersion term in the Fresnel drag coefficient was discernable. The temperature dependence of the coefficient bears on the temperature sensitivity of the optical fiber gyroscope. An alternate approach to measuring fiber dispersion is an added benefit, leading to determination of maximum pulse rate transmitted through single-mode fibers.
Role of Organosulfur Compounds in the Growth and Final Surface Chemistry of PbS Quantum Dots

This paper describes the mechanism by which reaction of sulfur with 1-octadecene (ODE) induces a change in the shape of PbS quantum dots (QDs), synthesized from the S/ODE precursor and lead(II) oleate, from cubic to hexapodal by altering the ligand chemistry of the growing QDs. 1H NMR and optical spectroscopies indicate that extended heating of sulfur and ODE at 180 °C produces a series of organosulfur compounds with optical transitions in the visible region and that the binding of organosulfur ligands to the growing QD induces a preferential growth at the ⟨100⟩ faces (over the ⟨111⟩ faces) and, therefore, a hexapodal geometry for the particles. The study shows that S/ODE can be made a more reliable precursor by reducing the temperature and duration of the sulfur dissolution step and that any metal sulfide QD synthesis using elemental sulfur heated to high temperatures should take steps to reduce the in situ yield of organosulfur byproducts by avoiding olefinic solvents.
Variation and Hemolysin Production in Relation to Virulence of Leptospira pomona.

Summary1) An investigation was made of changes in virulence of L. pomona for hamsters following serial transfers in a fluid medium. L. pomona strain W, which did not initially kill hamsters, later produced a lethal effect. Both strain W and O of L. pomona decreased in virulence (increase in LD50 values) during first 4 medium passages. After 4 to 8 passages in media an increase in virulence was observed. Titrations of subsequent medium passages (12 to 24) of strain W indicated a gradual loss of virulence. 2) In vitro hemolysin production could not be correlated with virulence. An explanation for virulence alterations is proposed and the possible significance of hemolytic activity of leptospirae is discussed.
HIV Risk Among Low-Income African American Mothers of Elementary School Children

Abstract Data from 119 African American low-income mothers of school aged children in Oakland, California show that 38% engaged in behavior that might place them at risk of exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Risk behaviors that were investigated included having multiple partners and having a partner with an incarceration history. Of women studied, 23% were at risk because of multiple partners, while 15% were at risk as a result of having had an incarcerated partner. Women who were 36 years of age (22% vs. 6%) (X 2 = 5.59, P 2 = 3.73, P < .05). Although no significant relationships were found with respect to condom use, a larger proportion of women with an incarcerated partner reported never using condoms (71%) compared to wom...
Differentiation between isoproteins by derivative spectroscopy

Abstract 1. 1. A method extending the application of derivative spectroscopy by utilizing the second derivative spectra is presented. It is independent of protein concentration and may be used under denaturing or non-denaturing conditions. 2. 2. By using mixtures of the carboxyl- and amino-blocked derivatives of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan as model proteins, it may be shown that the method is sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between proteins differing by one or two aromatic amino acid residues. 3. 3. The procedure may be employed reliably in the differentiation between isoenzymes or isoproteins. and is simple, rapid and sensitive.
Intracellular Signaling and Phasic Myometrial Contractions

This article reviews recently reported observations regarding the intracellular signal transduction mechanisms involved in the generation of phasic contractions occurring in myometrial tissue. The presence of cell surface receptors for classic uterotonic agonists (including oxytocin, norepinephrine, vasopressin, acetylcholine, and prostaglandins [PGs]) has been well described; all are seven-membrane-spanning, G protein-coupled receptors. Occupancy of these receptors, coupled through members of the Gq and/or Gi families of heterotrimetric G proteins, results in stimulation of the phospholipase C-s (PCL-s) isoforms. Nonclassic uterotonic agonists, such as growth factors and cytokines, also activate the phosphatidylinositol (PI)-signaling pathway, in this case through tyrosine kinase receptor-mediated activation of the phospholipase C-γ (PCL-γ) isoforms. Several recent reports have demonstrated that activation of the PI-signaling pathway in uterine myocytes results in the development of cytosolic calcium oscillation-like phenomena. These cytosolic calcium oscillations appear to arise from receptive cycles of emptying and refill of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores along with the influx of extracellular calcium. Calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores appears to be mediated by the inositol trisphosphate-sensitive and the ryanodine-sensitive receptor/channels; isoforms for both of these receptor/channels have been shown to be expressed in myometrial tissue. In summary, receptor-mediated activation of the PI-signaling pathway and the generation of cytosolic calcium oscillations appear to produce intermitten calcium transients that result in the development and maintenance of phasic myometrial contractions.
Signatures of host/symbiont genome coevolution in insect nutritional endosymbioses

The role of symbiosis in bacterial symbiont genome evolution is well understood, yet the ways that symbiosis shapes host genomes or more particularly, host/symbiont genome coevolution in the holobiont is only now being revealed. Here, we identify three coevolutionary signatures that characterize holobiont genomes. The first signature, host/symbiont collaboration, arises when completion of essential pathways requires host/endosymbiont genome complementarity. Metabolic collaboration has evolved numerous times in the pathways of amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis. Here, we highlight collaboration in branched-chain amino acid and pantothenate (vitamin B5) biosynthesis. The second coevolutionary signature is acquisition, referring to the observation that holobiont genomes acquire novel genetic material through various means, including gene duplication, lateral gene transfer from bacteria that are not their current obligate symbionts, and full or partial endosymbiont replacement. The third signature, constraint, introduces the idea that holobiont genome evolution is constrained by the processes governing symbiont genome evolution. In addition, we propose that collaboration is constrained by the expression profile of the cell lineage from which endosymbiont-containing host cells, called bacteriocytes, are derived. In particular, we propose that such differences in bacteriocyte cell lineage may explain differences in patterns of host/endosymbiont metabolic collaboration between the sap-feeding suborders Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhynca. Finally, we review recent studies at the frontier of symbiosis research that are applying functional genomic approaches to characterization of the developmental and cellular mechanisms of host/endosymbiont integration, work that heralds a new era in symbiosis research.
McBlare: a robotic bagpipe player

McBlare is a robotic bagpipe player developed by the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. McBlare plays a standard set of bagpipes, using a custom air compressor to supply air and electromechanical "fingers" to control the chanter. McBlare is MIDI controlled, allowing for simple interfacing to a keyboard, computer, or hardware sequencer. The control mechanism exceeds the measured speed of expert human performers. On the other hand, human performers surpass McBlare in their ability to compensate for limitations and imperfections in reeds, and we discuss future enhancements to address these problems. McBlare has been used to perform traditional bagpipe music as well as experimental computer generated music.
Improving environmental performance through reverse logistics at IBM(R)

Environmental performance continues to be a focus item for many information technology companies. Regulations, laws, corporate and consumer awareness, as well as competitiveness, have companies initiating actions to reduce hazardous material, to take back their products, and to minimize product energy usage to name a few. To address these concerns and resultant performance measures, companies usually implement singular programs to address specific attributes within the spectrum of environmental activity. Sometimes even two or three programs are tied together, such as design for disassembly (DFD) and design for the environment (DFE). Rarely are multiple attributes addressed through one program. However, when examined closely, key aspects of the reverse logistics network can be linked and used to demonstrate how a company might use product end of life dispositioning to support its environmental activities and achieve financial success. This paper highlights how the Global Asset Recovery Services (GARS) organization of IBM's Global Financing division has integrated some of the key components of its reverse logistics network to support and enhance environmental performance. Industry challenges and practices associated with returning IT assets are examined. IBM's approach to these challenges as well as current and planned activities within the scope of resale, reuse, remanufacturing, demanufacturing, and disposal of returned computer and peripheral systems are discussed. Where applicable, data is used to indicate potential effectiveness, savings, or improvements.
Diet Selectivity of Introduced Flathead Catfish in Coastal Rivers

Abstract In two coastal North Carolina rivers (Contentnea Creek and the Northeast Cape Fear River), we found the food habits of introduced flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris to be primarily piscivorous, which could restructure or suppress native fish communities through direct predation. Fish or crayfish contributed more than 50% of the stomach contents by percent occurrence, percent by number, and percent by weight in both rivers during each of 2 years. Significant differences in diet composition (percent by number) were found between rivers and between years in the Northeast Cape Fear River but not between years within Contentnea Creek. Chesson's selectivity index values and trends in relative abundances of fish availability relative to those occurring in the diet suggest that flathead catfish feeding is generally random, indicating that these introduced flathead catfish do not selectively feed on prey species with which they did not coevolve. Our research represents the first assessment of prey selec...
Culture, Literacy, and Learning English: Voices from the Chinese Classroom

* This collection of 47 essays examines L1 (Chinese) and L2 (English) literacy among educated Chinese in the People's Republic of China. The articles were written by Chinese college teachers while they took part in a teacher education program at Nanjing University in 1994-1995. The formal essays and research reports were selected from papers submitted in academic reading-writing and research methods courses taught by book editor Parry. (Parry edited the papers for language and cut the length of some of them; Su assisted by checking Chinese characters and pinyin phonetic representations.) These courses aimed at improving the participants' academic reading and writing skills in English while helping them grow as English teachers. The participants read ethnographic studies about L1 literacy in homes and classrooms and pedagogical articles about L2 reading strategies and English teaching, and they wrote papers on these same themes, drawing on personal and family experiences, class observations, interviews, curriculum analysis, and action research.
Treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer in organ transplant recipients: review of responses to a survey.

Abstract There are approximately 100,000 US organ transplant recipients, many with nonmelanoma skin cancers. To better understand how clinicians treat them, we e-mailed a survey to the International Transplant–Skin Cancer Collaborative and the Association of Academic Dermatologic Surgeons. Twenty-five physicians responded. The majority use topical 5-fluorouracil, cryosurgery, electrodesiccation and curettage, and surgery. We review when these modalities are used.
Outcomes after decompressive craniectomy for severe traumatic brain injury in children

Object Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often accompanied by early death due to transtentorial herniation. Decompressive craniectomy, performed alone or in conjunction with evacuation of the mass lesion, can reduce the incidence of raised intracranial pressure (ICP). In this paper the authors evaluate mortality and morbidity and long-term outcomes in children who underwent decompressive craniectomy for severe TBI at a single institution. Methods Children with severe TBI who underwent decompressive craniectomy at the Primary Children’s Medical Center between 1996 and 2005 were identified retrospectively. Descriptive statistics were used to report postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. Long-term recovery in patients who survived was reported using the King’s Outcome Scale for Closed Head Injury (KOSCHI). Fifty-one children with a mean follow-up period of 18.6 months were identified. Nonaccidental trauma accounted for 23.5% of cases. The mean preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 4.6. S...