cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gasification of silicone fluids under external thermal radiation. part 2. Gasification products - characterization and quantitation

The gasification behavior for a wide range of polydimethylsiloxane fluids in a nitrogen atmosphere was investigated. Part 1 of this study addressed the measurement of the energy (global heat of gasification) required for the gasification of a wide range of dimenthylsiloxanes. Several significant corrections were required to reconcile measured gasification energy(s) with calculated heat(s) of gasification based on fundamental thermochemical data. The identification of the dominant mode(s) of gasification via the characterization of pyrolysis products provided a firm basis and rationale for understanding and directing efforts at quantifying these correction factors. In Part 2, the gasification products were identified and quantified at various stages of the gasification process corresponding to ignition, fire growth, and steady-state burning. Pyrolysis of methylated siloxanes occurs via two modes: (1) the volatilization of short chain and intermediate chain length species native to the polymer, and (2) the volatilization of short chain and intermediate chain length species resulting from thermal degradation via siloxane rearrangement. The former process is the dominant gasification mechanism for short chain oligomers and low viscosity fluids (η 100 cS). Both gasification mechanisms are evident in all polymers (η > 20 cS); the dominant mechanism is dependent upon polymer size and distribution thereof, the gasification stage, and the presence of trace catalysts in the polymer. Because of their structural similarity, the combustion of all gasification products emanating from PDMS regardless of the stage of the pyrolysis process or the dominant mode of gasification will result in virtually identical combustion products, i.e. SiO 2 , CO 2 , and H 2 O. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper was written under the auspices of the US Government and is therefore not subject to copyright in the US.
Differentiation of Types of Presbycusis Using the Masking-Level Difference

Masking-level differences in quiet at 500 Hz were used to demonstrate evidence of elevated noise levels within the auditory systems of subjects with assumed neural presbycusis. The following five g...
Neurons and networks in daily rhythms.

Many neurons show daily rhythms in gene expression and electrical activity. Erik Herzog discusses the molecular and cellular events that underlie this rhythmicity, and shows how the robustness and plasticity of the circadian system allow the brain to adapt to environmental conditions. Biological pacemakers dictate our daily schedules in physiology and behaviour. The molecules, cells and networks that underlie these circadian rhythms can now be monitored using long-term cellular imaging and electrophysiological tools, and initial studies have already suggested a theme — circadian clocks may be crucial for widespread changes in brain activity and plasticity. These daily changes can modify the amount or activity of available genes, transcripts, proteins, ions and other biologically active molecules, ultimately determining cellular properties such as excitability and connectivity. Recently discovered circadian molecules and cells provide preliminary insights into a network that adapts to predictable daily and seasonal changes while remaining robust in the face of other perturbations.
Receptive field dynamics in adult primary visual cortex

THE adult brain has a remarkable ability to adjust to changes in sensory input. Removal of afferent input to the somatosensory, auditory, motor or visual cortex results in a marked change of cortical topography1–10. Changes in sensory activity can, over a period of months, alter receptive field size and cortical topography11. Here we remove visual input by focal binocular retinal lesions and record from the same cortical sites before and within minutes after making the lesion and find immediate striking increases in receptive field size for cortical cells with receptive fields near the edge of the retinal scotoma. After a few months even the cortical areas that were initially silenced by the lesion recover visual activity, representing retinotopic loci surrounding the lesion. At the level of the lateral geniculate nucleus, which provides the visual input to the striate cortex, a large silent region remains. Furthermore, anatomical studies show that the spread of geniculocortical afferents is insufficient to account for the cortical recovery. The results indicate that the topographic reorganization within the cortex was largely due to synaptic changes intrinsic to the cortex, perhaps through the plexus of long-range horizontal connections.
The Use of Short-Term Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Differing Forms of Hypertension

Single blood pressure readings represent the conventional approach for determining the presence and severity of hypertension. However, the relationship between single (casual) readings and the whole-day blood pressure average is weak, especially in patients with borderline hypertension and in the elderly. In this study we have compared casual blood pressures with the averages of blood pressures obtained during short-term (two-hour) and long-term (24-hour) ambulatory monitoring in patients with mild (n=19), moderate (n=11), or predominant systolic (n=11) essential hypertension. The blood pressure averages obtained during long-term monitoring were significantly lower than the casual blood pressure in all three subgroups. The averages of short-term monitoring in the morning were in between the other two blood pressure levels. The correlation coefficients between two-hour morning averages of pressure and whole-day averages were highly significant (p<0.01 or better), and stronger than those between casual and ...
Exopolygalacturonase in tomato fruit

Abstract A low level of polygalacturonase has been found in unripe tomato fruit. The enzyme was extracted with 0.5 M NaCl containing 0.05 M CaCl 2 , concentrated by ultrafiltration and purified 150-fold by ion-exchange chromatography. The M , of the enzyme was 47 000. It was optimally active at pH 5 and required Ca 2+ for activity, with an optimum concentration of 0.42 mM Ca 2+ . The enzyme has been characterized as an exopolygalacturonase that cleaves monomer units from the non-reducing ends of the substrate molecules. The optimum substrate size for the enzyme was that with a degree of polymerization of ca 13. The amount of exopolygalacturonase activity remained essentially constant during development and ripening of the fruit.
Effects of repeated daily injections of prostaglandin F2α on ovaries in mares

Abstract In experiment 1, seven groups of pony mares (2 or 3/group) were given either no injections (controls), or 5(5X) or 10(10X) daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of 1.25 mg PGF 2α beginning on days 1, 7 or 13 post-ovulation. Compared to controls (24.5 days), the interovulatory interval was longer (P 2α beginning on day 2 of estrus or on days 1, 7 or 13 post-ovulation. Compared to controls (25.0 days), the interovulatory interval was longer (P .05) from that for controls. In day 13 post-ovulation, 10X mares, the longer interovulatory interval did not appear to be related to a depression in either peripheral LH concentration (no effect of treatment on LH) or on follicular development (no effect of treatment on diameter of largest follicle). This suggests that circulating levels of gonadotropins were adequate for ovarian follicular development and ovulation and the effect of repeated daily injections of PGF 2α in preventing ovulation was likely exerted at the ovarian level directly on the follicle.
Sociodemographic differences in fast food price sensitivity.

Importance Fiscal food policies (eg, taxation) are increasingly proposed to improve population-level health, but their impact on health disparities is unknown. Objective To estimate subgroup-specific effects of fast food price changes on fast food consumption and cardiometabolic outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants Twenty-year follow-up (5 examinations) in a biracial US prospective cohort: Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) (1985/1986-2005/2006, baseline N = 5115). Participants were aged 18 to 30 years at baseline; design indicated equal recruitment by race (black vs white), educational attainment, age, and sex. Community-level price data from the Council for Community and Economic Research were temporally and geographically linked to study participants’ home address at each examination. Main Outcomes and Measures Participant-reported number of fast food eating occasions per week, body mass index (BMI), and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) from fasting glucose and insulin concentrations. Covariates included individual-level and community-level social and demographic factors. Results In repeated measures regression analysis, multivariable-adjusted associations between fast food price and consumption were nonlinear (quadratic, P P = .04), income ( P = .07), and education ( P = .03). At the 10th percentile of price ($1.25/serving), blacks and whites had mean fast food consumption frequency of 2.20 (95% CI, 2.07-2.33) and 1.55 (1.45-1.65) times/wk, respectively, whereas at the 90th percentile of price ($1.53/serving), respective mean consumption estimates were 1.86 (1.75-1.97) and 1.50 (1.41-1.59) times/wk. We observed differential price effects on HOMA-IR (inverse for lower educational status only [interaction P = .005] and at middle income only [interaction P = .02]) and BMI (inverse for blacks, less education, and middle income; positive for whites, more education, and high income [all interaction P Conclusions and Relevance We found greater fast food price sensitivity on fast food consumption and insulin resistance among sociodemographic groups that have a disproportionate burden of chronic disease. Our findings have implications for fiscal policy, particularly with respect to possible effects of fast food taxes among populations with diet-related health disparities.
A new method of determining the effective hydrophobicity of surfactants and chelating agents by HPLC

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatography technique has been developed to determine the relative hydrophobicity of surfactants (sulfonates, ethoxylates, alcohols), surfactant mixtures, and chelating agents. The elution time of the individual chemicals obtained here is a direct measure of the hydrophobicity of the organic compound. This approach is superior to the conventional HLB method which cannot distinguish the differences in the hydrophobicity of isomeric organic compounds. The technique is powerful for analyzing the effect of complex structural modifications on the hydrophobicity of surfactants. Both branching and ethoxylation of phenols were found to make them less hydrophobic. Sulfonation also caused a decrease in hydrophobicity, but it was much more marked when the sulfonate was attached to the benzene ring and close to the alkyl chain compared to when it was attached to the ethoxy groups and away from the chain. The combined effect in the latter case of these hydrophilic modifications, ethoxylation, branching, and sulfonation, was in fact less than that of sulfonation in the former case.
N- and C-terminal regions of the quorum-sensing activator TraR cooperate in interactions with the alpha and sigma-70 components of RNA polymerase.

Summary Positive control (PC) mutants defining 20 residues of the quorum-sensing activator TraR were isolated that bind DNA but show defects in activating transcription from class I, class II or both types of promoters. These PC residues, located in both the N- and C-terminal regions, combine to form three patches, one on the top (II) and two near the DNA binding domain on both lateral faces of the dimer (I and III). Patches I and II, but not patch III, involve residues from both protomers and are essential for activation. TraR-mediated activation in Escherichia coli requires expression of the α-subunit of Agrobacterium (αAt). We report that TraR also activates a class II promoter in E. coli when coexpressed with σ70At. Analyses in E. coli expressing αAt, σ70At or both subunits indicate that most of the PC residues are important for interactions with αAt and that these interactions are predominant for activation of class II promoters. Using the E. coli system we identified nine residues in the C-terminal domain of αAt that are required for stimulating TraR-mediated activation. We conclude that N- and C-terminal residues of TraR from both protomers cooperate to define regions of the protein important for interactions with RNAP.
Beta-thromboglobulin release within coronary circulation--a potential role of platelets in ergonovine-induced coronary vasospasm.

Abstract The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial ischemia is not yet agreed upon. In this study, the gradient of plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentration between coronary sinus and aorta was used as an indicator of platelet activation within the coronary circulation. Blood samples were drawn before and after injection of ergonovine maleate in patients without fixed coronary stenosis in whom significant coronary spasm was induced by ergonovine ( n = 8, Group 1), patients with significant stenosis (≥ 75%) of the left anterior descending artery and positive ergonovine test ( n = 7, Group 2) and patients with significant stenosis of left anterior descending coronary artery and negative ergonovine test ( n = 11, Group 3). Fifteen patients with normal coronary arteries who were negative in the ergonovine test served as controls (Group 4). After the ergonovine test, all Group 1 patients revealed a significant increase of beta-thromboglobulin gradient ( P P These results suggest that platelet activation within the cornary circulation has some pathogenic role, probablyas an aggravating factor, in coronary artery spasm.
Long wavelength VCSELs with InP/air-gap DBRs

ABSTRACT We demonstrate novel electrically pumped 1300 nm and 1550 nm VCSELs with two InP/air-gap DBRs. The activeregions comprise conventional InGaAsP multiple quantum wells. A tunnel junction is placed between the active regionand top DBR to convert electrons into holes, thus minimizing the use of p-type material in the structure to reduce thefree-carrier loss and achieve current confinement. The whole structure was grown in a single growth run by lowpressure MOCVD. For both 1300 and 1550 nm emission wavelengths, air-gap DBR VCSELs exhibit room-temperature, CW threshold current density as low as 1.1 kA/cm 2 , differential quantum efficiency greater than 30%, andCW operation up to 85°C. The single-mode output power was 1.6 mW from a 1300 nm VCSEL with a 6.3 µ maperture; and 1.1 mW from a 1550 nm VCSEL with a 5.7 µ m aperture under room temperature CW operationKeywords: long wavelength VCSELs, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, InP/Air-gap DBRs, tunnel junctions,distributed Bragg reflector, quantum well lasers, semiconductor lasers.
Error processes in syllogistic reasoning

In recent years, a number of proposals have been advanced to account for the errors that subjects make in deductive inferences from invalid syllogisms. Principles such as erroneous conversion of premises, probabilistic inference, feature selection, and various other interpretation and combination processes have been suggested. The present paper focuses on the 32 invalid categorical syllogisms for which conversion of premises does not provide an explanation of subject error. An explanation is presented in terms of three error processes: the erroneous conversion of conclusions resulting from backward processing, the erroneous integration of information from the two premises, and the failure to consider hypothetical possibilities. Empirical predictions regarding the differential difficulty of the various premise combinations as well as the pattern of correlations between premise combinations are derived from this formulation, and data are presented that support these predictions.
Airborne measurements of reflected solar radiation

Airborne measurement of directional variation in reflected solar radiation over soil surface and vegetation, using scanning radiometer
Alternative Solutions for Continuous K Nearest Neighbor Queries in Spatial Network Databases

Continuous K nearest neighbor queries (C-KNN) are defined as finding the nearest points of interest along an enitre path (e.g., finding the three nearest gas stations to a moving car on any point of a pre-specified path). The result of this type of query is a set of intervals (or split points) and their corresponding KNNs, such that the KNNs of all points within each interval are the same. The current studies on C-KNN focus on vector spaces where the distance between two objects is a function of their spatial attributes (e.g., Euclidean distance metric). These studies are not applicable to spatial network databases (SNDB) where the distance between two objects is a function of the network connectivity (e.g., shortest path between two objects). In this paper, we propose two techniques to address C-KNN queries in SNDB: Intersection Examination (IE) and Upper Bound Algorithm (UBA). With IE, we first find the KNNs of all nodes on a path and then, for those adjacent nodes whose nearest neighbors are different, we find the intermediate split points. Finally, we compute the KNNs of the split points using the KNNs of the surrounding nodes. The intuition behind UBA is that the performance of IE can be improved by determining the adjacent nodes that cannot have any split points in between, and consequently eliminating the computation of KNN queries for those nodes. Our empirical experiments show that the UBA approach outperforms IE, specially when the points of interest are sparsely distributed in the network.
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Sequence Variations and Vascular Disease

Genes contribute significantly to interpopulation differences in vascular disease. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-a key regulator of vascular nitric oxide production-has been investigated extensively to determine the relevance of DNA variants in the eNOS gene and vascular diseases. Variants in the promoter region, introns, and exons have been explored in a large number of populations but findings have been inconsistent. This paper reviews the current status of functional significance for reported sequence variations in the eNOS gene and the relevance of these variants to different forms of vascular diseases.
Particle Deposition on Semiconductor Wafers

The deposition of aerosol particles on semiconductor wafers in the typical manufacturing environment of the clean room has been calculated using the equations of convective diffusion and sedimentation. The result shows that the deposition velocity decreases with increasing particle size in the diffusion regime and increases with increasing particle size in the sedimentation regime, with a minimum deposition velocity occurring in the vicinity of 0.2 μm. The minimum deposition velocity varies from approximately 0.2 × 10−3 to 0.7 × 10−3 cm/s, depending on the size of the wafer, the airflow velocity, and whether the wafer is freestanding or placed on top of a workbench.
Effect of Damage on the Creep Response of a Chopped Fiber Composite Material

Damage is often developed in a composite material even if it is under a small fraction of ultimate strength. Such a damage state consequently will introduce a change in mechanical responses. In this paper, the effect of different levels of damage on the creep response of a chopped fiber composite material (SMC-R50) is presented. The damage state of the composite specimens was introduced and stabilized using a mechanical conditioning procedure. The mechanical conditioning procedure is a repeated loading and unloading process at selected stress and temperature levels. A creep experiment was then conducted using the damaged specimens at various stress levels. In general, for the same testing condition, different creep responses were obtained at different damage conditions. Creep strain data was modeled into two components (instantaneous strain and time depen dent strain) using the Findley equation. It was found that at the same stress level, the in stantaneous strain increases while the time dependent strain...
Reduction of bicarbonate and carbonate to formate in molecular zinc complexes

The tris(2-pyridylthio)methylzinc bicarbonate complex, [κ4-Tptm]ZnOCO2H, is reduced by PhSiH3 to give the formate derivative, [κ4-Tptm]ZnO2CH. Isotopic labeling studies demonstrate that the generation of the formate moiety occurs via a sequence that involves release of CO2 followed by insertion into a zinc–hydride bond.
Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Diazotroph Assemblage Composition in Vegetated Salt Marsh Sediments Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Analysis.

Diazotroph assemblage compositions were assessed in rhizosphere sediments from the tall and short form Spartina alterniflora growth zones over an annual cycle. Sediment cores were collected for DNA extraction and nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity assays, and porewater samples were analyzed for several chemical parameters in March, June, September, and December 1997. These data were collected to determine if within- or between-zone differences in the diazotroph assemblage composition correlated with differences in key environmental variables or acetylene reduction activity. Acetylene reduction rates differed between zones and within a zone over an annual period. Soluble sulfide concentrations were higher in the short form S. alterniflora zone on all dates except those in June and differed within both zones on different sample dates. nifH sequences were recovered from rhizosphere sediment DNA by PCR amplification using nifH specific primers. These amplimers were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and the resulting patterns were compared by neural network and linear discriminant analyses. Ten prominent amplimers, four of which were apparent heteroduplexes, were observed. DGGE banding profiles showed minor differences among sampling dates and between sample zones, but the overall banding pattern was remarkably consistent. This reflects overall similarity between the amplifiable diazotroph assemblages in the tall and short S. alterniflora growth zones and substantial seasonal stability in assemblage composition.
Immigrant home gardens: Places of religion, culture, ecology, and family

This paper focuses on the role of home gardens in the lives of immigrants. An ethnographic research was conducted which included observations of 16 home gardens and unstructured open-ended interviews with 28 immigrants from India, Vietnam; Indonesia, Philippines, Iran, China and Taiwan, to Southern California, USA. The lessons from this study are that for immigrants home gardens can be: (a) religious space enabling everyday practice of religion as well as meditation and socialization; (b) culture space through plants, fruits and flowers that enable cultural cuisine, ethnomedicine, and identity continuity; (c) ecological space that assists with environmental/ecological nostalgia, reconnecting people with landscapes left behind as well as forging new connections to place; (d) family memorial space where gardens honor and memorialize family members and provide opportunities for intergenerational linkages. These enable immigrants to engage with, personalize, and experience their new environment in deeply meaningful
Stability Estimates for the Lowest Eigenvalue of a Schrödinger Operator

There is a family of potentials that minimize the lowest eigenvalue of a Schrodinger operator under the constraint of a given Lp norm of the potential. We give effective estimates for the amount by which the eigenvalue increases when the potential is not one of these optimal potentials. Our results are analogous to those for the isoperimetric problem and the Sobolev inequality. We also prove a stability estimate for Holder’s inequality, which we believe to be new.
A validation study of four scales measuring severity of alcohol dependence.

Summary The present study examined the validity of four scales which attempt to systematically characterize alcoholic patients on a continuum of dependence severity: the Rand Dependence scale, the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), the Last Month of Drinking Withdrawal scale, and the Last Six Months of Drinking Impaired Control and Dependence scale. Forty patients in an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation program were administered these four scales in addition to two separate assessments of alcohol consumption and two measures of psychological problems. In a factor analysis of all eight scales, the four dependence scales loaded on one factor, indicating that the dependence measures were highly intercorrelated. This was interpreted as evidence for the high convergent validity of the dependence measures. The dependence scales also showed good discrimenant validity, since the alcohol consumption and psychosocial problem scales did not load on the dependence factor but load on the two other factors. Predictive validity of the dependence scores was then examined. The SADQ and the Rand scores showed a significant positive correlation with amount of detoxification medication consumed in the hospital. The dependence scores did not precdict 6 month post-treatment abstinence or rapidity of reinstatement of heavy drinking after a post-treatment slip. Further refinement of the construct of dependence and/or better assessment methods may be necessary to improve the predictive utility of dependence questionnaires.
Multi-party collaborative debug service for Java application

Along with collaborative development in Java development, collaborative remote debug without sharing all the source code becomes a new requirement. Current approach wastes too much time in network communication and is also constrained by network port. This paper proposes a system and method to support multiple-party collaborative remote debug without sharing all the source code and without port constraint. A centralized Server Agent manages the registration of each organization and breakpoints in the source code, which localizes the debug by serializing related context object and flexible user control interface. We also discuss a centralized debug system for multiple-party Java application/program debug with a server agent in charging of session registration, control and scheduling, and Client agents in charging of context providing/consuming, communicate with local development environment and JPDA. With the method, debug process can be totally localized to the source code owner thus the debug efficiency can be greatly improved.
Daily Hassles of Married Women With Children: An Empirical Foundation For a Preventive Program:

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to design an empirically based, preventative intervention program for married women with school-age children. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of an existing data set was first conducted. The daily hassles of 78 mostly Caucasian, middle-class, suburban, married women with children between 8 and 11 years old were explored. RESULTS: Hassles related to time pressures were most often reported. The results of the analysis were then used to plan a three phase clinical intervention: hassle identification, hassle management, and integration of adaptive skills. (J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc [2000]. 6, 107-111.)
Important aspects of end-of-life care among veterans: implications for measurement and quality improvement.

To identify aspects of end-of-life care in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system that are not assessed by existing survey instruments and to identify issues that may be unique to veterans, telephone interviews using open-ended questions were conducted with family members of veterans who had received care from a VA facility in the last month of life. Responses were compared to validated end-of-life care assessment instruments in common use. The study took place in four VA medical centers and one family member per patient was invited to participate, selected from medical records using predefined eligibility criteria. These family members were asked to describe positive and negative aspects of the care the veteran received in the last month of life. Interview questions elicited perceptions of care both at VA sites and at non-VA sites. Family reports were coded and compared with items in five existing prospective and retrospective instruments that assess the quality of care that patients receive near the end of life. Interviews were completed with 66 family members and revealed 384 codes describing both positive and negative aspects of care during the last month of life. Almost half of these codes were not represented in any of the five reference instruments (n = 174; 45%). These codes, some of which are unique to the veteran population, were grouped into eight categories: information about VA benefits (n = 36; 55%), inpatient care (n = 36; 55%), access to care (n = 33; 50%), transitions in care (n = 32; 48%), care that the veteran received at the time of death (n = 31; 47%), home care (n = 26; 40%), health care facilities (n = 12; 18%), and mistakes and complications (n = 18; 27%). Although most of the reference instruments assessed some aspect of these categories, they did not fully capture the experiences described by our respondents. These data suggest that many aspects of veterans' end-of-life care that are important to their families are not assessed by existing survey instruments. VA efforts to evaluate end-of-life care for veterans should not only measure common aspects of care (e.g., pain management), but also examine performance in areas that are more specific to the veteran population.
The evolution of histones.

The amino acid sequences of bovine histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 and the first 107 residues of rabbit thymus histone H1 were examined using newly developed procedures designed to detect and evaluate weak similarities (de Haen et al., 1976). Using the McLachlan scoring system, regions of statistically significant similarity were found between several pairs of the four smallest histones. The probability that this set of similarities could result simply from chance was estimated to be less than 10−5. No similarity was found between the H1 sequence and the other histones. The results are interpreted to indicate that at least the C-terminal portions of the core histones evolved from a common ancestral protein.
A brief-duration combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with poor-prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Curative combination chemotherapy is available for many patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL); however, treatment of elderly patients with these regimens is difficult due to excessive toxicity. From 1983 to 1988 the authors treated 26 patients 65 years and older with aggressive NHL with a novel 8-week chemotherapy regimen containing bleomycin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate with leucovorin, and prednisone (BECALM), designed to preserve dose intensity and minimize toxicity. Median age was 75 years. Histologic types included the following: 20 intermediate grade (16 large noncleaved cell; two large cleaved cell; one intermediate grade, unspecified); six high grade (four small noncleaved cell; one immunoblastic sarcoma B-cell; one high grade, unspecified). Twenty-one patients were Stage III or IV. Twenty-two of 26 patients had one or more of the following: tumor greater than 10 cm; multiple extranodal sites; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 400 IU/l or greater; small noncleaved cell histologic type. Chemotherapy consisted of bleomycin 20 U intravenously (IV) weeks 1 and 7; etoposide 75 mg/m2 IV every day x 3 days on week 4; cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 IV weeks 1, 4, 7; doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 IV weeks 1, 7; methotrexate 50 mg/m2 IV weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 with oral leucovorin rescue; prednisone 60 mg orally for 10 days on weeks 1, 4, 7. Eighteen patients completed the 8-week treatment course. There were 13 complete responses (CR); seven patients remain in continuous CR at a median follow-up of 37.5 months. There have been five relapses, including one late relapse; and one patient died of an intercurrent illness in CR. Overall and actual event-free survivals are 38% and 27%, respectively. The major toxicities were neutropenic fever and mucositis. There were four treatment-related deaths. The authors conclude that BECALM chemotherapy can be administered to elderly patients with aggressive NHL. Although neurotoxicity and cumulative toxicity from bleomycin and anthracycline are avoided, the regimen remains moderately toxic, particularly with respect to myelosuppression. Treatment results compare favorably with other reported regimens in this group of patients with multiple poor prognostic features.
Unprecedented Head-to-Head Right-Handed Cross-Links between the Antitumor Bis(μ-N,N‘-di-p-tolylformamidinate) Dirhodium(II,II) Core and the Dinucleotide d(ApA) with the Adenine Bases in the Rare Imino Form

Reactions of the anticancer active compound cis-[Rh2(DTolF)2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 with 9-ethyladenine (9-EtAdeH) or the dinucleotide d(ApA) proceed with bridging adenine bases in the rare imino form (A*)...
STEP (Solar Thermal Electrochemical Photo) Generation of Energetic Molecules: A Solar Chemical Process to End Anthropogenic Global Warming

In this study, a solar hybrid theory is derived for the electrosynthesis of energetic molecules at efficiency greater than that for the solar energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaics. The theory distinguishes radiation that drives photovoltaic charge transfer and applies all excess energy to heat and decrease the energy of endothermic electrolysis reactions. The theory for this original process is derived for the solar generation of energetically rich chemicals, including chlorine, iron, aluminum, magnesium, lithium, and sodium, and to proactively convert anthropogenic CO2 generated in burning fossil fuels. The process directs energy sufficient (super-bandgap) sunlight to drive photovoltaic charge transfer, and all remaining (sub-bandgap and excess super-bandgap energy) sunlight to heat and decrease the energy of an electrolysis reaction. In a 650 °C molten carbonate electrolysis configuration, from the STEP (solar thermal electrochemical photo) conversion theory, sunlight will recycle and remove CO2...
Electronic band structure of quaternary alloy ZnyCd1−ySexTe1−x

Abstract A tight binding formalism within virtual crystal approximation in which, the effects of composition disorder and bonds relaxation are involved, is applied to the quaternary system Zn y Cd 1− y Se x Te 1− x so as to compute its energy band gap and predict the ionic character. A new model, calculating the relaxation of bonds for the quaternary alloys is presented. The electronic parameters of the quaternary alloy considered are calculated as function of x composition. Very good agreement is obtained between the available experimental data and our results.
Retrospective cohort study of the efficacy of caprylic triglyceride in patients with mild-to-moderate alzheimer’s disease

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of caprylic triglyceride (CT) in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in routine clinical practice via review of medical records and caregiver questionnaires. METHODS Participants were outpatients aged ≥50 years with a diagnosis of probable mild-to-moderate AD who had received CT for ≥6 months. The primary outcome was change from baseline in the patient's condition as rated by the treating physician using a physician's overall assessment. RESULTS A total of 55 patients were included. The physician's overall assessment indicated that ~80% of patients who had CT added to ongoing pharmacotherapy were stable or improved. Mini-Mental State Examination scores also remained stable over 15 months of therapy (20.6 ± 3.0 at baseline and 20.1 ± 5.6 at follow-up, P = 0.5233, n = 27). Caregiver assessments indicated that most patients were stable or improved with respect to memory and ability to carry out activities of daily living. The most frequent adverse events with CT involved the gastrointestinal system. CONCLUSION Results from this chart review indicate that addition of CT to pharmacotherapy was associated with stable disease or improvement over a follow-up period of 18.8 months.
Sialendoscopy for recurrent parotitis associated with Sjogren syndrome: A case report

Abstract Objectives To describe the sialendoscopic findings for a pediatric patient with recurrent bilateral parotitis associated with Sjogren syndrome and to assess the therapeutic potential of sialendoscopy in this patient population. Study design Illustrative case report and literature review. Results A 13-year-old female presented with recurrent bilateral parotitis which was increasing in frequency and affecting her overall health and quality of life. Preoperative imaging demonstrated microcalcifications of her bilateral parotid glands. She was found to have a positive SS-A antibody and was diagnosed with Sjogren syndrome. Sialendoscopy was then performed and findings included thick sludge in Stenson's duct with no salivary stones or duct anomalies identified. The ducts were flushed with saline and steroids. Follow-up has demonstrated no further episodes of recurrent parotitis after 6 months. Conclusions Sjogren syndrome should be considered in all patients with recurrent bilateral parotitis. Sialendoscopy appears to be a potentially valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool for pediatric patients with Sjogren syndrome.
On element-by-element preconditioning for general elliptic problems

Abstract Iterative solution procedures for finite element equations become competitive with widely used direct techniques particularly for large three-dimensional problems when computer storage and time are limited. The conjugate gradient method has attractive theoretical properties and is especially efficient when a good preconditioner is used. The efficiency of element-by-element preconditioning has previously been investigated by the second author on model constant coefficient problems on regular grids in two and three dimensions. In this paper we extend that analysis to problems with discontinuous variable coefficients on regular grids in two and three dimensions and to constant coefficient two-dimensional problems on elements with variable aspect ratio.
The effect of low concentrations of tetrachloroethylene on H2 adsorption and activation on Pt in a fuel cell catalyst

Abstract The poisoning effect of tetrachloroethylene (TTCE) on the activity of a Pt fuel cell catalyst for the adsorption and activation of H 2 was investigated at 60 °C and 2 atm using hydrogen surface concentration measurements. The impurity was chosen as a model compound for chlorinated cleaning and degreasing agents that may be introduced into a fuel cell as a contaminant at a fueling station and/or during vehicle maintenance. In the presence of only H 2 , introduction of up to 540 ppm TTCE in H 2 to Pt/C resulted in a reduction of available Pt surface atoms (measured by H 2 uptake) by ca. 30%, which was not enough to shift the H 2 –D 2 exchange reaction away from being equilibrium limited. Exposure of TTCE to Pt/C in a mixed redox environment (hydrogen + oxygen), similar to that at the cathode of a fuel cell, resulted in a much more significant loss of Pt surface atom availability, suggesting a role in TTCE decomposition and/or Cl poisoning. Regeneration of catalyst activity of poisoned Pt/C showed the highest level of recovery when regenerated in only H 2 , with much less recovery in H 2 + O 2 or O 2 . The results from this study are in good agreement with those found in a fuel cell study by Martinez-Rodriguez et al. [2] and confirm that the majority of the poisoning from TTCE on fuel cell performance is most likely at the cathode, rather than the anode.
SNP characteristics predict replication success in association studies

Successful independent replication is the most direct approach for distinguishing real genotype–disease associations from false discoveries in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Selecting SNPs for replication has been primarily based on P values from the discovery stage, although additional characteristics of SNPs may be used to improve replication success. We used disease-associated SNPs from more than 2,000 published GWASs to identify predictors of SNP reproducibility. SNP reproducibility was defined as a proportion of successful replications among all replication attempts. The study reporting association for the first time was considered to be discovery and all consequent studies targeting the same phenotype replications. We found that −Log(P), where P is a P value from the discovery study, is the strongest predictor of the SNP reproducibility. Other significant predictors include type of the SNP (e.g., missense vs intronic SNPs) and minor allele frequency. Features of the genes linked to the disease-associated SNP also predict SNP reproducibility. Based on empirically defined rules, we developed a reproducibility score (RS) to predict SNP reproducibility independently of −Log(P). We used data from two lung cancer GWAS studies as well as recently reported disease-associated SNPs to validate RS. Minus Log(P) outperforms RS when the very top SNPs are selected, while RS works better with relaxed selection criteria. In conclusion, we propose an empirical model to predict SNP reproducibility, which can be used to select SNPs for validation and prioritization.
Electrical Resistance of Nickel and Permalloy Wires as Affected by Longitudinal Magnetization and Tension

The changes in the electrical resistance of ferromagnetic metals in magnetic fields and under mechanical stresses are abnormal in comparison with such changes in non-ferromagnetic metals. Published results for nickel and nickel-rich alloys, reviewed in detail, show wider diversity than can be ascribed to accident. A full bibliography is included.Simple cases of these magneto-resistance and elasto-resistance effects have been studied in permalloys containing from 45 to 90 percent nickel. The results of two series of experiments, in 1923 and 1929, are presented, and show that both effects have, in these ferromagnetic alloys, the same origin. This common origin can be considered as the orientation, by one means or the other, of atomic magnetic axes associated in each atom with mechanical asymmetry.The connection between these resistance effects and magnetostriction is emphasized. Conclusions are drawn as to the kinds of re-orientation involved in magnetizing and as to the relative importance in the observable effects of intra-atomic and interatomic magnetic fields. Questions for further experiment are raised.
Breast‐Specific Gamma Imaging Influences Surgical Management in Patients with Breast Cancer

Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) is a physiologic breast imaging modality that provides more sensitive detection of breast lesions than mammography or ultrasound, and appears to have greater specificity than breast MRI. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how often BSGI changed surgical management in patients with breast cancer. Charts were reviewed from 218 consecutive eligible patients who had preoperative evaluation with BSGI or MRI before surgery for breast cancer from January 2008 to May 2010. Patients who were initially considered eligible for breast-conserving therapy (BCT) were evaluated to determine how many ultimately had mastectomies. Patients who underwent mastectomy because of personal choice or ineligibility for BCT were excluded. Management was changed to mastectomy in 11.9% of those who had BSGI and 28.9% of those who had MRI. Review of pathology demonstrated that all patients who underwent mastectomies were not candidates for breast conservation. 15.4% of patients who underwent BCT based on BSGI findings required a single re-excision due to positive surgical margins. 14.4% required mastectomy. In the MRI group, 18.8% required a single re-excision, and 6.3% required mastectomy. Evaluation with BSGI changed management to mastectomy in a substantial proportion of patients believed to be eligible for BCT following standard imaging. BSGI is effective in evaluation of extent of disease in patients with breast cancer, and is comparable to MRI in terms of its influence on surgical management.
Corrigendum to “Lactational transfer of the soy isoflavone, genistein, in Sprague–Dawley rats consuming dietary genistein” [Reprod Toxicol 21 (2006) 307–312]

The authors’ regret that some values in Table 2 of the above paperwas published incorrectly. The corrected table is reproduced as below. As a result of the corrections required to Table 2, some values and text needed to be corrected in the last paragraph of the Results section, which is corrected as below also. Body weight gain over the PND7–10 period was significantly lower for male and female pups suckling on genistein-fed dams than for pups on control diet dams (1.26±0.20 vs. 1.46±0.13g/d, p=0.02, Table 2). This observation is consistent with the significant depression of pup bodyweight gains by genistein that was observed during themulti-generation studies [1]. The litter average daily body weight gain was used to approximate an ingested dose of genistein in each litter by assuming that 50% of the daily body weight gain was produced by milk consumption. The mean estimated dose of genistein delivered to the pups via milk, which was 0.016±0.007mg/kgbw/d (Table 2), is approximately 3100-fold lower than the mean dose delivered to dams in the feed (Table 1).
Conspecific individual recognition between starlings after toxicant-induced sickness

After feeding in the presence of a cagemate (Group S, n = 16), food-deprived starlings were intubated with the toxicant methiocarb (Group E, n = 8) or its nontoxic carrier, propylene glycol (Group C, n = 8). During the 4 days after intubation, the birds in Groups E and C were presented on 2 days with the Group S bird that was present during gavage (S+ bird) and on the other 2 days with another Group S bird (S− bird). Group E (but not Group C) birds were more agonistic toward S+ birds than S− birds, fed less in their presence, and were less likely to enter and perch in the same cage quadrant with them. A second experiment suggested that such differential behavior was probably not the result of behaviors exhibited by the S+ birds. Few calls were recorded in either experiment. Although acoustic signals might have been involved, we suggest that the starlings might have used visual cues to recognize individual conspecifics that were present during aversion learning.