cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic polychlorinated biphenyls exposure on three generations of oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus): effects on reproduction, growth, and body residues.

Effects of chronic dietary exposure to low levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) on reproduction, growth and whole body burdens were investigated in three generations of Peromyscus polionotus. Mated pairs were maintained on a diet containing 5 mg/kg PCBs (Aroclor 1254®) for 12 months, beginning exposure as young adults; matched controls received a similar diet without PCBs. Offspring were maintained on the parental regime and paired at maturity with non-siblings in the same group. In first and second generation offspring, birth and weaning weights were significantly lower in PCB-exposed animals; in the second generation, there were also significantly fewer mice born/month, longer intervals prior to birth of the first litter, and decreased survival to weaning (25 days) among exposed mice. Whole body residue of PCBs increased significantly with each generation of exposure. This study clearly shows that chronic exposure to PCBs at a dosage of 5 mg/kg depressed fertility, growth and survival in Peromyscus, and that these effects were amplified through multigenerational exposure.
Transnational Terrorism, U.S. Military Aid, and the Incentive to Misrepresent

This study develops a game theoretic model to explain why the U.S. continues to supply military aid to ght transnational terrorist groups, given its poor empirical record. The model demonstrates that since U.S. military aid is contingent on ghting terrorists, and U.S. aid is likely to cease once terrorist groups are defeated, U.S. military aid can create a moral hazard problem by giving host states little incentive to fully disarm their terrorist groups. However, military aid does e¤ectively prevent host states from negotiating with their terrorists, thereby allowing host states to continue supporting U.S. foreign policy. These hypotheses are tested using the Jones and Libicki (2008) data on terrorism from 1997-2006.
Excimer laser coronary angioplasty of aorto-ostial stenoses. Results of the excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) registry in the first 200 patients.

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of aorto-ostial stenosis has been associated with a lower rate of acute success, a high risk of vessel closure, and late restenosis. The purpose of this report is to document a prospective multicenter trial of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) of aorto-ostial stenosis involving the coronary arteries and saphenous vein grafts.METHODS AND RESULTSBetween December 1989 and May 1992, 206 aorto-ostial ELCA procedures were performed on 209 stenoses in 200 patients. Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III or IV angina was present in 76%. The distribution of stenosis locations was left main coronary (LM) in 26 (12%), right coronary (RCA) in 124 (59%), and vein grafts (VG) in 59 (28%). Adjunctive PTCA was performed in 72%. Procedure success defined as < or = 50% diameter stenosis without major complications was achieved in 90% (LM, 92%; RCA, 89%, VG, 90%). Quantitative angiographic analysis documented an improvement in stenosis diameter from ...
Comparative Study on the Interaction of Scandium and Copper Atoms with Small Silicon Clusters

A comparative study of the interaction of M (M = Sc, Cu) atoms with small Sin (n = 1−6) clusters is performed by means of a hybrid density functional technique (B3LYP) in conjunction with a 6-311+G...
Unlearning in recognition memory

Subjects learned two lists of paired nonsense syllables and adjectives in the unlearning paradigm (A-B, A-C). Following A-C learning Ss were instructed to indicate appropriate A-B and A-C pairings in a recognition matching task. Significantly fewer A-B matchings were made relative to A-C matchings and relative to A-B matchings made in a control condition where Ss learned only A-B and rested for the amount of time the other group used for A-C learning. Decrement in A-B pairings with response competition minimized through the use of the recognition task indicates that A-B pairings are unlearned during A-C learning.
Social Cartography: a new methodology for comparative studies

(1994). Social Cartography: a new methodology for comparative studies. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 233-245.
Allergic to Generics

A 69-year-old woman with several medical problems believes that she is allergic to generic medications. She frequently conflicts with her long-time primary care physician, who, as required by the patient's insurance coverage, refuses to prescribe brand-name drugs when generic alternatives are available. This conflict intensifies to a crisis when the patient develops life-threatening problems and still will not take prescribed generic medications. The presentation of this real case is accompanied by a discussion of the ethical dilemmas of the patient's physician, who must weigh the interests of a patient who clings to beliefs that the physician thinks are unfounded against the interests of a just rationing program and the broader population it serves.
Physisorption and Chemisorption of Alkanethiols and Alkyl Sulfides on Au(111)

The energetics and kinetics of the adsorption of a variety of sulfur-containing hydrocarbons onto Au(111) have been explored using helium beam reflectivity and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) techniques. Simple alkanethiols as well as dialkyl sulfides, dialkyl disulfides, and other sulfur-containing organics were found to adsorb with a low coverage physisorption enthalpy about 20% greater than the heat of vaporization in the bulk. In contrast to the dialkyl sulfides that only physisorb, alkanethiols and dialkyl disulfides also interact chemically with the gold with a chemisorption enthalpy of 126 kJ/mol that is independent of alkyl chain length. The presence of sterically hindering substituent groups on the carbon atom adjacent to the sulfur atom produces, however, a reduction in the chemisorption enthalpy of up to 15%. Temperature-programmed desorption of nonequilibrated, high exposure layers of alkanethiols with eight carbon atoms or longer displayed a second, higher energy, chemisorption peak a...
The genesis and differentiation of neurons in a frog parasympathetic ganglion

Abstract The cellular mechanisms that underlie formation of an autonomic ganglion have been investigated by studying the formation of the cardiac ganglion of the frog. Analysis of the genesis of neurons with [3H]thymidine autoradiography revealed that neuronal precursors do not divide via a “stem cell lineage” but rather divide exponentially, such that both daughter cells either re-enter the mitotic cycle or differentiate. Neurogenesis in this autonomic ganglion is prolonged, beginning during the second day after fertilization and continuing for at least 2 weeks. The use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as a neuronal marker showed that differentiated neurons start condensing in their target 1.5 days after the first neurons are born. Neurons accumulate, concomitant with neurogenesis, at a constant rate of approximately six neurons per day. Transplantation and organ culture demonstrated that immature neurons are present well before definitive expression of the mature phenotype and that their initial expression does not depend upon maintained contact by preganglionic axons.
The role of rapport in professional services: antecedents and outcomes

Purpose – This research seeks to test a model examining the antecedents and outcomes of interpersonal rapport in a professional service context. The four antecedents examined are familiarity, mutual self‐disclosure, extras, and common grounding, and the outcomes examined are trust, satisfaction, and word‐of‐mouth communication.Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a survey methodology to obtain the opinions of 121 dental patients regarding their relationships with dental professionals. The hypothesized relationships in the model were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).Findings – The research findings indicated that all four antecedents were positively related to rapport. Rapport was also found to be related to customer satisfaction and word‐of‐mouth communication, but rapport was not found to be related to trust. Post hoc analysis suggests that rapport appears to be related to trust early in relationships, then becomes less important, but re‐emerges as a driver of trust in very matu...
Identification of genes differentially expressed in cisplatin-sensitive versus resistant tumour cells

Identification of genes differentially expressed in cisplatin-sensitive versus resistant tumour cells
Auditory perception following hair cell regeneration in European starling (Sturnus vulgaris): Frequency and temporal resolution

Behavioral detection thresholds, auditory filter widths, and temporal modulation transfer functions were obtained from four starlings before, during, and after 11 days of subcutaneous injections of kanamycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Birds were operantly conditioned to respond to pure tones and amplitude modulated noises ranging in frequency from 0.25 to 7 kHz using adaptive staircase procedures and were tested daily for 92 days after the first injection of aminoglycoside. All birds had threshold shifts of at least −60 dB at frequencies above 4 kHz. Lower frequencies were affected in some birds, although none of the birds had hearing loss below 3 kHz. All four birds had wider auditory filters at 5 kHz immediately after the aminoglycoside series. Any changes in frequency resolution at frequencies below 5 kHz were slight, transitory, and rarely observed. Two of the four birds had permanently wider auditory filters at 5 kHz. Temporal modulation transfer functions were briefly affected in two birds during the time of greatest threshold shift. Recovery of detection thresholds began soon after the injections ceased and continued for approximately 60 days. Recovery in frequency resolution lagged behind auditory threshold by about 10 days. Normal temporal resolution was observed in the context of impaired intensity and frequency resolution. Changes in auditory threshold and frequency resolution were closely associated for all birds at 5 kHz, but were correlated with statistical significance in only two birds. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on all four birds after 90 days of recovery and confirmed that the extent of initial damage was consistent with the pattern of observed hearing loss.
Islam, modernization and crime: A test of the religious ecology thesis

Using a United Nations (United Nations, 1977) cross-national data set on offender and offense rates for a variety of crimes, this article qualifies recent research into religiosity by investigating the relationship between Islamic religion, economic development, and crime rates. Considerable research has demonstrated a positive correlation between economic development (often defined as modernization) and crime. Other research has suggested that religion is an impedence to crime, although the results are a little less clear. No previous studies have examined the relationship between the Islamic religion and crime. Results suggest that, when level of economic development is held constant, Islamic countries do not differ significantly in crime rates compared to nonIslamic countries.
Response to Letter by Culp and Culp

Response: We greatly appreciate the thoughtful comments by Drs Culp and Culp. First, we would like to acknowledge the excellent work the authors have done describing the angiographic cerebral vascular anatomy of the rabbit.1 The first draft of our paper was submitted in November 2006 with several revisions before final acceptance.2 On resubmission, we failed to cite the article by Culp et al, which had appeared in the interim. Concern is raised about the extent of MCA occlusion in our model and that infusion of thrombin may lead to a greater degree of vascular occlusion compared to that seen in the typical human stroke where there is only segmental occlusion …
Measurement of left ventricular mean circumferential fiber shortening velocity and systolic ejection rate by computerized radionuclide angiocardiography

Abstract Recently attention has focused on ejection phase indexes as clinically relevant measures of left ventricular contractility. Using an Anger camera interfaced to a dedicated computer with injection of radionuclide (technetium 99m) into a wedged pulmonary arterial catheter we have developed a method for measuring left ventricular mean circumferential fiber shortening velocity and mean systolic ejection rate. For determination of mean fiber shortening velocity an area of interest coincident with the left ventricular minor axis is constructed and a time-activity curve obtained. In 31 patients radionuclide-determined values for mean fiber shortening velocity and mean systolic ejection rate correlated ( r = 0.90, P r = 0.98, P r = 0.60, P r = 0.92, P
Selective Attentiveness and Cortical Evoked Responses to Visual and Auditory Stimuli

Cortical evoked responses to flashes and clicks were recorded from human subjects performing visual or auditory tasks under three conditions of selective attentiveness. The subjects were required to attend to the flashes and to ignore alternating clicks, or vice versa. Responses to flashes recorded from the occipital area were larger when attention was directed toward visual stimuli, and responses to click stimuli recorded from the temporal area were larger when attention was directed toward auditory stimuli.
SOME PROBLEMS OF CENTRAL BANKING IN UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES

DURING THE PAST DECADE there has been a marked proliferation and development of central banking facilities in the underdeveloped countries of the world, along with an increasing resort to the use of monetary policy as an instrument of economic control.1 Since 1945 central banks have been newly established, and pre-existing ones thoroughly reorganized, in no less than some twenty-five underdeveloped countries2 In other cases the powers of pre-existing central banks have been broadened. If exception is made for the nonself-governing territories, which for the most part are serviced by currency boards or their equivalents operating in the main on the basis of 100 per cent exchange reserve systems, nearly all underdeveloped countries today have central banks, most of which are equipped with the full panoply of central banking powers. This rapid rate of development of central banking facilities has in part reflected the achievement since World War II of political independence by a substantial number of underdeveloped countries, especially in Asia and the Far East. The attainment of national political sovereignty has carried with it the right, which nearly all of the countries concerned have quickly exercised, to have and to manage national currency systems. But in large part the recent growth of central banking in the economically backward areas has also reflected a desire on the part of the governments concerned to be able to pursue a monetary policy designed to promote more rapid economic development and to mitigate undue swings in national money incomes.
Transrectal ultrasound assessment of murine aorta and iliac arteries.

Recent research in arterial aneurysm formation has focused on animal model development. Mice are an ideal experimental organism due to their short life cycle, prolific progeny, and extensively studied genome. Most experiments require the sacrifice of the mice to observe and assess any morphological changes. Noninvasive or minimally invasive imaging is limited due to the relatively small size of the structures. The development of such a technique, therefore, is especially useful for allowing repeated measurement without sacrificing the mice. We introduce a novel technique of imaging and measuring the aorta, the aorta/inferior vena cava complex, and the right and the left common iliac artery/vein complex by the use of an intravascular ultrasound catheter. The catheter is inserted through the anus and rectum and into the sigmoid and left colon, where the aorta can be observed to fluctuate at approximately 500 beats/min. The aortic bifurcation can also be observed. The diameters of the aorta and the inferior vena cava were measured first with the transrectal ultrasound technique and then with direct visualization upon laparotomy for 10 mice. This revealed a percentage error between 13.7 and 14.2% for this novel technique. Fifteen more sets of vessel measurements were also made with 8 male and 7 female mice. The results demonstrated a correlation between vessel size and body weight in male but not female mice and suggested an intersex difference in vessel growth rate. We conclude that transrectal ultrasound is a useful tool in imaging and measuring the murine aorta and its bifurcation.
Binding of antimorphine anti-idiotypic antibodies to opiate receptors.

Abstract Antibodies that specifically recognize and bind opiate receptors were developed by the anti-idiotypic method. Antimorphine antibodies were generated in rabbits and showed selective binding to various opiate ligands. Guinea pigs were immunized with antimorphine antibodies to produce anti-idiotypic antibodies that cross-reacted with opiate receptors. Guinea pig antiserum inhibited binding of naloxone (0.6 nmol) to mouse brain homogenate. In isolated mouse was deferens, contraction of electrically stimulated tissue was inhibited by the antiserum. The results indicate that anti-idiotypic antibodies which interact with opiate receptors were developed without isolating receptors.
Diversity: the research and the lack of progress

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the profession's focus on diversity, including the original research, and analyze the research beyond the profession to understand better the bases for the limited progress in fulfilling diversity goals. The paper focuses on the fact that diversity has been equated with race and the potential implications of that relationship.Design/methodology/approach – An overview and analysis of diversity research, including factors associated with the success of diversity programs, is presented, focusing on research regarding the relationship between diversity and race. The article also considers how perceptions of race and racism have been manifested across sectors and in various countries. Based upon the fact that diversity and race have been equated, the discussion focuses on the extent to which this relationship is connected to the limited progress associated with diversity goals.Findings – Research related to race, diversity, and affirmative action indicate both ...
Origins and Applications of Political Policing in Argentina

The military coup that ousted President Hipolito Yrigoyen from power in September 1930 had profound implications for Argentine society and politics. After 1930, military power was consolidated and used in a more overt and violent fashion and political initiatives came to count on the armed forces to provide with force what was lacking in majoritarian support. Repressive politics were institutionalized, enshrining the armed forces as the final arbiter of the nation's political destiny (Halperin Donghi, 1961; White, 1991). The period of reaction that followed the 1930 military coup has been dubbed "the infamous decade" (Rock, 1993: 173). Oligarchic dominance in the political system went hand in hand with what many observers and social scientists characterized as a conspicuous dependence on Britain epitomized by the Roca-Runciman pact of 1933 (Rock, 1987: 214-223; Pla, 1969: 105; Galasso, 1969).1 Curiously, analysts who reject the indictment of this decade and view Argentina as successful in overcoming the crisis of the 1930s draw more attention to another aspect of this period: the systematization of a surveillance machine. Fraga (1991) and Aguinaga and Azaretto (1991) convey respect rather than criticism when they point to the extensive information service established after 1932 by President Agustin P. Justo to monitor the military, political parties, and society.2 The military coup that deposed the middle-class Union Civica Radical party government of Hipolito Yrigoyen and established General Jose Felix Uriburu as president was profoundly repressive, and censorship, tortures, and purges within the army and the police became rampant. But after a major setback in the April 1931 elections, in which the Radicals succeeded despite the revolutionaries' aim of eradicating Yrigoyenism from politics, Uriburu had to withdraw from power. In
Acoustic phonon dynamics in exciton self-trapping

We probe the vibrational dynamics associated with the formation of self-trapped excitons at low temperature. The early-time oscillatory response provides evidence for acoustic phonon dynamics as an integral part of the localization process.
Exciton—LO-Phonon Interaction and the Anti-Stokes Emission Line in CdS

Phonon interaction with the ${I}_{1}$ (4888-\AA{}) emission line in CdS (exciton bound to a neutral acceptor site) has often been observed. For the first time the optical frequency anti-Stokes transition, involving the collapse of a bound exciton, has been observed in the emission from selected platelets at 1.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Since the thermally excited phonon field at this temperature is negligible, the observation of anti-Stokes emission directly supports the conclusion that LO phonons are generated to a nonthermal level of distribution as the excitons decay.
Radiocarbon as a Tool To Apportion the Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Black Carbon in Environmental Samples

To determine the relative inputs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and black carbon (BC) in environmental samples from the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, we have developed two independent analytical methods for determining the 14C abundance of PAHs and BC. The 5730 yr half-life of 14C makes it an ideal tracer for identifying combustion products derived from fossil fuels (14C-free) versus those stemming from modern biomass (contemporary 14C). The 14C abundance of PAHs in several environmental Standard Reference Materials was measured by accelerator mass spectrometry after extraction and then purification by high-performance liquid chromatography and preparative capillary gas chromatography. This method yields pure compounds that allow for a high degree of confidence in the 14C results. The PAHs data were then used to compare and evaluate results from an operationally defined thermal oxidation method used to isolate a BC fraction. The 14C compositions of PAHs and BC were very similar and s...
Multiplexed multicolor Raman imaging of live cells with isotopically modified single walled carbon nanotubes.

We show that single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with different isotope compositions exhibit distinct Raman G-band peaks and can be used for multiplexed multicolor Raman imaging of biological systems. Cancer cells with specific receptors are selectively labeled with three differently “colored” SWNTs conjugated with various targeting ligands including Herceptin (anti-Her2), Erbitux (anti-Her1), and RGD peptide, allowing for multicolor Raman imaging of cells in a multiplexed manner. SWNT Raman signals are highly robust against photobleaching, allowing long-term imaging and tracking. With narrow peak features, SWNT Raman signals are easily differentiated from the autofluorescence background. The SWNT Raman excitation and scattering photons are in the near-infrared region, which is the most transparent optical window for biological systems in vitro and in vivo. Thus, SWNTs are novel Raman tags promising for multiplexed biological detection and imaging.
Did you call in Mexican? The racial politics of Jay Leno immigrant jokes

This article analyzes a set of anti-immigrant jokes with which Jay Leno entertained his national television audience in 2006, when the U.S. public was focused on unprecedented demonstrations urging justice for immigrants. Leno adroitly mocks immigrants and their cause to give his audience emotional release by distancing them from immigrants. It is argued that political comedy can be an insidious discursive practice that reduces its audience’s critical judgment as it signifies social boundaries. It should be carefully scrutinized because, with a few laughs, Leno can steer sentiment about public policy and instantiate divisiveness for an audience of 6 million who, in the words of Leno’s official website, “are drifting off to dreamland.” (Humor, political comedy, late-night television, immigrant rights marches)*
The management of self-inflicted burn injuries and disruptive behavior for patients with borderline personality disorder.

One of the greatest behavioral and ethical challenges faced by a burn team is the treatment of a patient whose burn injury is the result of parasuicidal behavior. Parasuicidal behavior is defined as intentional self-injurious behavior that, although not fatal, may result in tissue damage or risk of death, There are a number of reasons, usually psychiatric, that patients engage in parasuicidal behavior; however, our contention is that the majority of these patients have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis II diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. We describe the nature of borderline personality disorder and how it leads to disruptive behavior, including self-harm behavior, on the burn unit. We also argue that if staff members fail to recognize the borderline personality disorder diagnosis, it will lead to responses from staff that can heighten disruptive behavior. We present a series of recommendations for treating such patients with burns and an illustrative case report.
Word on the Street Engaging Local Leaders in a Dialogue About Prostate Cancer Among African Americans

African American men face the highest rates of prostate cancer, yet with no consensus for screening and treatment, making informed health care decisions is difficult. This study aimed to identify approaches to empowering African American men as proactive participants in prostate cancer decision making using an established community-campus partnership employing elements of community-based participatory research methods. Community stakeholders with an interest in, and knowledge about, health care in two local African American communities were recruited and completed key informant interviews (N = 39). Grounded theory coding identified common themes related to prostate cancer knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and responses to them. Common barriers such as gender roles, fear, and fatalism were identified as barriers to work-up and treatment, and both communities' inadequate and inaccurate prostate cancer information described as the key problem. To build on community strengths, participants said the change must come from inside these communities, not be imposed from the outside. To accomplish this, they suggested reaching men through women, connecting men to doctors they can trust, making men's cancer education part of broader health education initiatives designed as fun and inexpensive family entertainment events, and having churches bring community members in to speak on their experiences with cancer. This study demonstrated the success of community engagement to identify not only barriers but also local strengths and facilitators to prostate cancer care in two suburban/rural African American communities. Building collaboratively on community strengths may improve prostate cancer care specifically and health care in general.
Behavior of a Bose System

It is shown that a weakly interacting system of Bose particles undergoes a second-order transition both under conditions of constant volume and under conditions of constant pressure. This type of behavior is qualitatively identical with that exhibited by liquid helium.
The closure problem for two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media

Abstract In a previous study of two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media, the closure problem was presented in terms of a pair of boundary value problems involving four integro-differential equations for second-order tensor fields. In this paper we show how the original closure problem is transformed to one containing Stoke's-like equations that can be solved to determine the two permeability tensors and the two viscous drag tensors. The permeability tensors, K β and K γ , are symmetric, exhibit a clear dependence on the volume fractions of the two phases, and may depend on the ratio of viscosities. On the basis of order of magnitude analysis, the coupling, or viscous drag tensors, K βγ and K γβ , are found to be constrained by K βγ K γβ = O (1).
Psychometric evaluation of the children's impact of traumatic events scale-revised.

Abstract Objective: To measure the internal consistency and construct validity of the Children’s Impact of Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CITES-R). Method: 158 sexually abused children, ages 7–12, and a nonabusive parent or primary caretaker completed a series of measures, including the CITES-R. A subsample of 17 repeated the assessment after 1 to 2 months with intervening treatment. Results: Internal consistency for the CITES-R scales averaged .69. Associations with other measures were in predicted directions, although most were modest in size. Parent-report measures were virtually unrelated to any child-report measure, including the CITES-R. Change over time during treatment was noted on most symptom scales. Conclusions: The psychometric adequacy of the CITES-R was moderately supported. The main symptom scales of the instrument performed well. The performance of other scales was more variable.
Hypertension Guidelines: Political Correctness Trumping Expertise?

Guidelines are traditionally scripted by a panel of experts who are intimately familiar with the topic in question. Webster’s dictionary defines an expert as someone who is “having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.” A straightforward way to estimate such expertise is to scrutinize the publication list of an expert to assess how often he or she has been involved with the guideline topic. Additionally, one may consider an expert’s membership in professional organizations pertaining to the subject matter, which demonstrates an interest in the disease. Not uncommonly also, true …
Frequency of adjustments and weight loss after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is an effective procedure for weight loss. Long-term follow-up and band adjustments are crucial to achieve sustained weight loss, but the optimal frequency is unknown. We compare the weight loss of two patient groups adjusted at different frequencies. A 24-month analysis was conducted to 280 patients (156 from an academic center and 124 from an outpatient surgery center). Each center’s patients were stratified into 6-month groups according to the length of follow-up. These groups were compared between the settings for average adjustments per month and percent excess weight loss (%EWL). Patient subgroup 0–6 months had 0.6 adjustments/month (adj/mo) and 18.3 % EWL at AC compared to 0.7 adj/mo and 19.1 % EWL at OC. Subgroup 6–12 months had 0.4 adj/mo and 27.2 % EWL at AC compared to 0.5 adj/mo and 33.4 % EWL at OC. Subgroup 12–18 months had 0.3 adj/mo and 25.3 % EWL at AC compared to 0.5 adj/mo and 45.6 % EWL at OC. Subgroup 18–24 months had 0.3 adj/mo and 30.9 % EWL at AC compared to 0.3 adj/mo and 42.2 % EWL at OC. Analysis of variance crossing 6-month groups with facility produced significant effects for groups (F = 15.52, df = 4.290, p < 0.001), center (F = 14.28, df = 1.290, p < 0.001), and the center-by-group interaction (F = 3.01, df = 4.290, p < 0.02). Our data suggest that more frequent adjustments result in increased EWL, but optimal frequency remains unknown. We believe that the difference noted between the clinics stems from accessibility to adjustments. Additional data, such as %EWL at smaller monthly intervals and the point of diminishing results, should be investigated in future studies.
Parental feeding practices in Mexican American families: initial test of an expanded measure

Although obesity rates are high among Latino children, relatively few studies of parental feeding practices have examined Latino families as a separate group. Culturally-based approaches to measurement development can begin to identify parental feeding practices in specific cultural groups. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and test the Parental Feeding Practices (PFP) Questionnaire for use with Mexican American parents. Items reflected both parent’s use of control over child eating and child-centered feeding practices. In the qualitative phase of the research, 35 Latino parents participated in focus groups. Items for the PFP were developed from focus group discussions, as well as adapted from existing parent feeding practice measures. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 37 adults to evaluate items. In the quantitative phase, mothers and fathers of 174 Mexican American children ages 8–10 completed the PFP and provided demographic information. Anthropometric measures were obtained on family members. Confirmatory factor analyses identified four parental feeding practice dimensions: positive involvement in child eating, pressure to eat, use of food to control behavior, and restriction of amount of food. Factorial invariance modeling suggested equivalent factor meaning and item response scaling across mothers and fathers. Mothers and fathers differed somewhat in their use of feeding practices. All four feeding practices were related to child body mass index (BMI) percentiles, for one or both parents. Mothers reporting more positive involvement had children with lower BMI percentiles. Parents using more pressure to eat had children with lower BMI percentiles, while parents using more restriction had children with higher BMI percentiles. Fathers using food to control behavior had children with lower BMI percentiles. Results indicate good initial validity and reliability for the PFP. It can be used to increase understanding of parental feeding practices, children’s eating, and obesity among Mexican Americans, a population at high risk of obesity.
Tailoring Silicalite-1 Crystal Morphology with Molecular Modifiers

Modified point of view: a bio-inspired approach was used to tailor silicalite-1 crystallization. Growth modifiers (ZGMs) with molecular recognition for binding to specific crystal faces produced drastic changes in zeolite crystal morphology. This facile approach offers an efficient method for tuning zeolite properties.
Image enhancement and noise reduction using wavelet transform

In this paper, we present a method for simultaneous enhancement and noise reduction in images using a wavelet transform. The method relies on the manipulation of wavelet coefficients using a filter that takes into account the local regularity of the coefficients in the transform domain. The results of experimental simulation on images with additive white Gaussian noise are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed technique.
Use of 3D metaphor in programming

The use of metaphor in programming can be a powerful aid to the programmer, inasmuch as it provides concrete properties to abstract ideas. In turn, these concrete properties can aid recognition of, and reasoning about, programming problems. Another potential benefit of the use of metaphor in programming is the improvement of mental retention of facts and solutions to programming problems. Traditionally, programs have been produced in a textual medium. However, a textual medium may be inferior to a 3D medium in the development and use of metaphor, as the concrete properties that metaphors provide are real-world phenomena, which are naturally 3D. An example of the use of 3D metaphors in programming was created. This consisted of a mock operating system task scheduler, along with some associated hardware devices, developed in a VRML environment using VRML PROTO nodes. These nodes were designed as objects based on real- world metaphors. The issues, problems, and novelties involved in programming in this manner were explored.
The gain and carrier density in semiconductor lasers under steady-state and transient conditions

The carrier distribution functions in a semiconductor crystal in the presence of a strong optical field are obtained. These are used to derive expressions for the gain dependence on the carrier density and on the optical intensity-the gain suppression effect. A general expression for high-order nonlinear gain coefficients is obtained. This formalism is used to describe the carrier and power dynamics in semiconductor lasers above and below threshold in the static and transient regimes. >
Managing Black Swan Information Technology Projects

Radically innovative information technology projects are considered one of the most challenging and difficult types of software projects to oversee and manage. The unique nature of such projects relegates them into a unique class of projects that we characterize as "Black Swans." Highly innovative/radical IT projects reflect a "black swan" situation, where knowledge from previous projects do not provide significant insight into how they can be managed. While such "Black Swans" are a unique sub-set within the area of project management, understanding the techniques employed in the development and management of such efforts should enlighten and improve traditional project-management processes employed for most software development efforts. This paper presents and discusses key results of an exploratory field-study that examines eight unique "black swan" projects.
Explicating the Emotion Spillover Effect At the Intersection of Motivational Activation, Resource Allocation, and Consolidation

Abstract. This study proposed and tested the idea that the processing of advertisements following emotionally arousing stimuli is a function of the interaction between motivational system activation and consolidation of the preceding message content in memory. To explain this phenomenon, two competing hypotheses were posed: the motivational decay hypothesis and the consolidation interference hypothesis. Physiological, behavioral, and self-reported data were used to test the predictions. The results demonstrated higher levels of physiological arousal and higher levels of physiological and self-reported positivity and negativity when processing advertisements preceded by arousing positive and negative movie clips. The heart rate data showed that the appetitive motivational system facilitated higher cognitive effort (slower heart rate), and the aversive motivational system facilitated lower cognitive effort (faster heart rate). The state of cognitive overload was reached during the first 10 s of the ads foll...
Abstract: Estimation of the 4-Parameter Model with Marginal Maximum Likelihood

Although Barton and Lord proposed a 4-parameter, unidimensional item response model (4PM) in 1981, implementation of their model was hindered by difficulties in parameter estimation and a lack of c...
Reducing variability in chip-multiprocessors with adaptive body biasing

Body biasing has been demonstrated to be effective in addressing process variability in a variety of simple chip designs. Modern microprocessors implement dynamic voltage/frequency scaling, with significant implications for the use of body biasing. For a 16-core chip-multiprocessor implemented in a high-performance 22 nm technology, the body biases required to meet the frequency target at the lowest and highest voltage/frequency levels differ by an average of 0.7 V, implying that per-level biases are required to fully leverage body biasing. The need to make abrupt changes in the bias voltages when the voltage/frequency level changes affects the cost/benefit analysis of body biasing schemes. It is demonstrated that computing unique body biases for each voltage/frequency level at chip power-on offers the best tradeoff among a variety of methods in terms of area, performance, and power.
Further Notes on the Nature of Non-Random Disjunction in Drosophila Melanogaster.

ception to this rule in Drosophila melanogaster has been termed non-random disjunction (NOVITSKI 1951). Here it has been found that homologs are recovered unequally frequently from females when they are heteromorphic, or of unequal size. When this is the case, the smaller of the two homologs is recovered about twice as frequently as the larger. The genetic analysis has suggested, as the basis for this phenomenon, the formation of an asymmetric dyad as a consequence of crossing over, followed by the preferential inclusion into the egg nucleus of the smaller of the two chromatids making up the dyad. I t was suggested, a t the time the phenomenon was first described, that one might imagine this result to be brought about by the dragging of the longer chromatid of the dyad a t first anaphase, leading to an orientation of the centromere region a t second metaphase of such a nature that the shorter chromatid would tend to become included in an egg nucleus. Such a sequence of events is purely hypothetical and was proposed primarily as an aid in understanding the genetic results. The following two points will be considered below. 1. A hypothesis to explain non-random disjunction in mechanical terms is discussed and discarded. The experimental results, however, reveal a deficiency of newly generated single ring X chromosomes from females carrying tandem metacentric compound X chromosomes (for a description of the compound chromosomes, see NOVITSKI 1954) with no homolog. I t is shown that this same phenomenon extends to the single rings generated by tandem compound ring X chromosomes, and also to the single rod chromosomes generated by tandem acrocentric compound X chromosomes. 2. Non-random disjunction in the tandem acrocentric compound X chromosome is now demonstrated to occur; its extent being considerably greater than in any previously analyzed case. THE chromosomes are usually present in gametes with equal frequencies. One ex-
Clinical aspects of the management of elderly women diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies: Treatment decisions and choices

Abstract The number of elderly women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer is increasing. This paper reviews the current trends in the management of elderly gynecologic cancer patients. Our goal is to identify critical issues that must be weighed when selecting treatment for elderly gynecologic oncology patients. As individuals continue to achieve longer lifespans, and the population of elderly women continues to grow, gynecologic oncologists will face new challenges regarding treatment. Due to minimal inclusion in randomized controlled trials and the influence of selection bias in many of the current studies, little evidence-based data is available regarding the most effective treatment options for this population. It is therefore unclear whether treatment should differ from that offered to younger populations, and if so under what circumstances. As of yet, there are no validated measures by which to determine tolerability and success of aggressive therapies for this population. Ultimately, each patient must be evaluated individually with regards to risk factors and prognosis, and therapy should not be withheld from elderly individuals solely on the basis of age alone.
Immune responses during human schistosomiasis mansoni. XIII. Immunological status of spleen cells from hospital patients with hepatosplenic disease.

Splenocytes from 25 patients with severe hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni were obtained after therapeutic splenectomy, Spleen cells were phenotyped and analysed for responsiveness to mitogens or heterogeneous schistosome-derived antigenic preparations (eggs. SEA; adult worms, SWAP; cercariae. CERC) in blastogenesis assays and lymphokine production systems, and were compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMN). Splenic lymphocytes were 55% T lymphocytes (sheep erythrocyte rosette-positive) and 37% surface immunoglobulin-positive B lymphocytes. The mean T4+:T8+ ratio of these splenocytes was 1.0. Phytohaemagglutinin stimulated spleen cell production of the lymphokine mitogenic factor, but exposure to SEA or SWAP did not. Spleen cell and PBMN blastogenic responses to SEA and SWAP were sometimes, but not always in accord. Removal of plastic adherent cells allowed the non-adherent spleen cells of 30–40% of the patients to respond substantially more vigorously to SEA, SWAP and CERC. Spleen cells from a subgroup or 20–30% of the patients failed to respond to the schistosomal antigens regardless of removal of adherent cells. Spleen cell responses to gram-negative lipopolysaccharide peaked on day 5 or 6 of culture, and were augmented by adherent cell removal. Pokeweed mitogen-stimulaled responses were optimal on day 5 of culture. Spleen cells from most severe, hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni patients do not respond well to schistosomal antigens or B-cell mitogens. The splenic responses of many of these patients were elevated by the removal of adherent spleen cells.
Efficacy of Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate to Reduce the Individual and Combined Toxicity of Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A

A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of dietary aflatoxin (3.5 micrograms/g), ochratoxin A (2.0 micrograms/g), and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS, .5%) was used to evaluate the individual and combined effects of these treatments. There were six replicate pens of 10 broilers per pen for each of the eight treatments. The broilers were maintained on these treatments from 1 day to 3 wk of age with feed and water available for ad libitum intake. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A each significantly decreased body weight, serum protein, albumin, and cholesterol and increased the relative weight of the liver, kidney, and proventriculus. Aflatoxin increased the relative weight of the heart and decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase activity and ochratoxin A increased serum uric acid. The toxicity resulting from the combination of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A was more severe than when either of these mycotoxins were present alone. Addition of HSCAS alone did not alter any of the parameters evaluated. The HSCAS reduced the toxicity of aflatoxin, but had little effect on either the toxicity of ochratoxin A alone or the toxicity resulting from the combination of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A.
Inhomogeneous Voter Models in One Dimension

We establish conditions for survival and extinction of types of one-dimensional voter models, and show that increasing the flip rates at a finite number of sites typically does not affect survival, unless the flipping mechanism is altered. We provide an example of a modified voter model that does not survive but can be made to survive simply by altering the flip mechanism at one site. We also show that a rather general class of such models have clustering behavior.
Analysis of workload influence on dependability

The authors consider a general, analytic approach to the study of workload effects on computer system dependability, where the faults considered are transient and the dependability measure in question is the time to failure, T/sub f/. Under these conditions, workload plays two roles with opposing effects: it can help detect/correct a correctable fault, or it can cause the system to fail by activating an uncorrectable fault. As a consequence, the overall influence of workload on T/sub f/ is difficult to evaluate intuitively. To examine this in more formal terms, the authors establish a Markov renewal process model that represents the interaction among workload and fault accumulation ins systems for which fault tolerance can be characterized by fault margins. Using this model, they consider some specific examples and show how the probabilistic nature of T/sub f/ can be formulated directly in terms of parameters regarding workload, fault arrivals, and fault margins. >