cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antithrombin III prophylaxis of venous thromboembolic disease after total hip or total knee replacement

The use of antithrombin III (ATIII) replacement in combination with low-dose heparin therapy in prevention of postoperative venous thrombosis in patients following total hip replacement or total knee replacement was evaluated. A randomized prospective venographically controlled trial in hip replacement compared treatment with dextran 40 with a regimen of ATIII (1,500 units preoperatively and 1,000 units daily for five days) and low-dose heparin. Patients receiving ATIII/heparin had significantly higher postoperative ATIII concentrations than dextran-treated patients and also had a low incidence of venous thromboembolic disease (7 percent). The ATIII/heparin regimen was well tolerated with no increase in bleeding or significant prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time. Two cohorts of patients undergoing total knee replacement were studied using different doses of ATIII in combination with heparin. An initial 10 patients were treated with the same ATIII dose used for patients undergoing total hip replacement, with a 50 percent incidence of venous thrombosis. A second group of 11 patients was treated with twice the dose of ATIII, and an incidence of venous thrombosis of 27 percent was found. The higher ATIII dose resulted in significantly higher ATIII concentrations and maintained the postoperative ATIII concentration above normal. Among patients receiving prophylaxis with either warfarin. dextran, or ATIII/heparin, no clear association was found between reduced ATIII concentrations and occurrence of venous thrombosis. It is concluded that ATIII replacement following total hip or knee replacement corrects the postoperative ATIII deficiency and that the combination of ATIII and low-dose heparin is an effective prophylactic regimen following total hip replacement.
Enhancement of Electric Field-Mediated Gene Delivery Through Pretreatment of Tumors With a Hyperosmotic Mannitol Solution

Pulsed electric fields can enhance interstitial transport of plasmid DNA (pDNA) in solid tumors. However, the extent of enhancement is still limited. To this end, the effects of cellular resistance to electric field-mediated gene delivery were investigated. The investigation used two tumor cell lines (4T1 (a murine mammary carcinoma) and B16.F10 (a metastatic subline of B16 murine melanoma)) either in suspensions or implanted in two in vivo models (dorsal skin-fold chamber (DSC) and hind leg). The volume fraction of cells was altered by pretreatment with a hyperosmotic mannitol solution (1 M). It was observed that the pretreatment reduced the volumes of 4T1 and B16.F10 cells, suspended in an agarose gel, by 50 and 46%, respectively, over a 20-min period, but did not cause significant changes ex vivo in volumes of hind-leg tumor tissues grown from the same cells in mice. The mannitol pretreatment in vivo improved electric field-mediated gene delivery in the hind-leg tumor models, in terms of reporter gene expression, but resulted in minimal enhancement in pDNA electrophoresis over a few microns distance in the DSC tumor models. These data demonstrated that hyperosmotic mannitol solution could effectively improve electric field-mediated gene delivery around individual cells in vivo by increasing the extracellular space.
The Thrifty Food Plan and low-income households in the United States: What food groups are being neglected?

Food assistance programs in the United States provide low-income households with the resources to purchase a healthy, nutritious, and palatable diet, if they buy the market baskets of food outlined in the Thrifty Food Plan. This study compares the cost of these baskets with actual spending on food at home by low-income households. Simulations reveal at-home food spending by low-income households to represent only 86% of what is needed to follow the Thrifty Food Plan. Married couples with children and female-headed households with children spend only 73% and 82%, respectively, and just 43% and 50% for at-home fruits and vegetables.
The structure of the turbulent mixing layer

Abstract Recent experimental results describing the vortical structure of the mixing layer are reviewed. The largest turbulent features are quasi two-dimensional vortices aligned along the span of the flow. As a result of interactions, the vortices rapidly develop an invariant space-time geometry. Superimposed on this vortex structure are smaller scales which include longitudinal vortices of size comparable to the Taylor microscale, and still smaller scales which considerably enhance molecular mixing. These smaller scales coexist with the quasi 2-D structure. At present, no theoretcal framework is available to describe the geometrical features of these complex shear flows.
An efficient algorithm for multi-layer obstacle-avoiding rectilinear Steiner tree construction

We consider the multi-layer obstacle-avoiding rectilinear Steiner minimal tree (OARSMT) problem and propose a reduction to transform a multi-layer instance into a 3D instance. Based on the reduction we apply computational geometry techniques to develop an efficient algorithm, utilizing existing OARSMT heuristics. Experimental results show that our algorithm provides a solution with excellent quality and has a significant speed-up compared to previously known results.
Seasonality and community structure of the backswamp invertebrates in a Louisiana cypress-tupelo wetland

Core and floating “scoop” samples were taken monthly for two years in a Louisiana hardwood swamp for the characterization and identification of the benthic habitats far removed from waterways and bayous. Most backswamp macroinvertebrates have physiological and behavorial adaptations to withstand both desiccation and anoxia. The most ubiquitous taxa included amphipods, oligochaetes, diptera larvae, isopods, and fingernail clams. The biomass and density of backswamp benthic communities were some of the highest recorded for any “unpolluted” freshwater or estuarine soft-bottom habitat. The average number of invertebrates living in the sediments (5,690/m2) was significantly less than the numbers living in the floating mats ofLemna spp. (10,508/m2). The biomass distribution was just the opposite. There was a significantly greater invertebrate biomass in the sediments (8.4 g AFDW/m2) than in the floating vegetation (4.2 g AFDW/m2). Diversity (H) was relatively low, averaging only 1.8 in the floating vegetation and 1.4 in the sediments. Seasonal changes in density, biomass, and diversity were bimodal with peaks occuring during spring and fall, and were a function of the seasonality of wetland flooding and temperature.
The effect of interspecific mating on sex ratios in the twospotted spider mite and the banks grass mite (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

Mixed populations of the twospotted spider mite (TSM),Tetranychus urticae (Koch), and the Banks grass mite (BGM),Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), occur on corn and sorghum plants in late summer in the Great Plains. Interspecific matings between these arrhenotokous species occur readily in the laboratory but yield no female offspring. The effect of interspecific mating on female: male sex ratios was measured by examining the F1 progeny of females that mated with both heterospecific and conspecific males in no-choice situations. TSM females that mated first with BGM males and then with TSM males produced a smaller percentage of female offspring than TSM females that mated only with TSM males (43.1±5.8 and 78.9±2.8% females, respectively). Similarly, BGM females mated with heterospecific males and then with conspecific males produced fewer female offspring than females mated only with BGM males (55.7±5.2 and 77.5±2.5%, respectively). Lower female: male sex ratios were produced also by BGM females that mated with TSM males after first mating with conspecifics (62.4±3.4%). In mixed populations containing males of both species, females also produced lower female: male sex ratios, but these ratios were not as low as expected based on mating propensities and progeny sex ratios observed in no-choice tests. These data suggest that interspecific mating may substantially reduce female fitness in both mite species by reducing the output of female offspring, but in mixed populations this effect is mitigated by unidentified behavioral mechanisms.
Burn performance of inertial confinement fusion targets

The effect of the slowing-down rate of fusion products on the burn wave propagation velocity and the inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target yield has been studied. The results indicate that the yield of strongly burning targets is relatively insensitive to the fusion product slowing-down expression. Marginally burning targets are much more sensitive to the fusion product slowing-down rate.
Reduction of Acoustic Noise in ICP Emission by the Addition of a Chimney

Noise-amplitude spectra were measured for inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry. These spectra indicate that a significant reduction of noise in the emission signal can be obtained by positioning a chimney over the ICP discharge. In this fashion, noise was reduced in the 200–500 Hz region of the frequency spectrum. The chimney had little effect on flicker (1/f) noise.
Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin induces complex changes in sympathetic nerve discharge regulation

Abstract Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LeTx) alters blood pressure and visceral sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) regulation (Garcia et al., 2012). The present results indicate that LeTx infusions produce similar response profiles in peripheral (lumbar) and visceral (renal) SND; an initial widespread activation of sympathetic nerve outflow, followed by a generalized reduction in lumbar and renal SND from peak levels, although the sympathoinhibition tended to be attenuated in lumbar SND. Combined hypoxia + hypercapnia during the hypotensive phase of LeTx infusions increased lumbar and renal SND, indicating that sympathetic neural circuits can be activated during the circulatory shock phase of B. anthracis septicemia.
Location of the electron acceleration region in solar flares.

Observations of impulsive solar flare X rays (energy greater than 10 keV) by the OGO-5 satellite and the measurements of energetic solar electrons made with the Explorer-35 and Explorer-41 (IMP-5) satellites during the period March 1968-September 1969 have been analyzed in order to determine the ion density in the X-ray source region as well as the location of the electron acceleration region in the solar atmosphere. The ion density in the X-ray source region varies from event to event and lies between 1 and 100 billion ions per cu cm for those events in which the impulsive X-ray emission could be detected; for those events in which no impulsive emission was detected above threshold, the ion density in the X-ray source was less than one billion ions per cu cm. At least in some small solar flares, the region where the electrons are accelerated during the flash phase is located in the lower corona.
Isolation of Strains with Increased Penicillin Yield after Hybridization in Aspergillus nidulans

THE choice of the imperfect mould Penicillium chrysogenum to produce penicillin on an industrial scale1 restricted a genetical approach to increasing penicillin yield, and only methods involving mutation and selection could be used because of the absence of sexuality. Later, the discovery of parasexuality2 and its demonstration in Penicillium chrysogenum3,4 led to several investigations5–8, but none indicated that this genetical recombination process could readily be exploited to produce strains of use to industry.
Understanding Gender through Disney’s Marriages: A Study of Young Korean Immigrant Girls

Much American popular culture has often been criticized for its negative portrayals of females and its potentially harmful influence on young children. However, there are insufficient studies about American young girls’ actual understanding of these female representations. Specifically, the perspectives of young immigrant girls have hardly been addressed in the existing research, even though their perspectives can be derived from what they learn about the social values associated with gender through their exposure to popular culture. This paper thus focuses on young Korean immigrant girls as a significant American immigrant group, and examines their ideas about gender in American popular culture—particularly, Disney films. Since their perceptions of gender were often derived from their discussions of marriage in the films, it closely investigates their understanding of gender roles, as considered through the marriages of Disney protagonists. It then discusses their perceptions of Disney by tracing these ideas to their beliefs about how these same themes become manifested in realistic situations. Finally, this paper provides implications and suggestions for researchers and early childhood educators.
Experimental and Computational Studies of Charge-Transfer and Reduction Products of 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11-Hexaazatriphenylene-Hexacarbonitrile: HAT-(CN) 6

The compounds HAT-(CN)6 · C7H8 · CH3CN, 1, {[(Cp)2Co][PF6]}3HAT-(CN)6, 2, {([n-Bu4N][I])3HAT-(CN)6]2} · 3C6H6, 3, were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography (HAT-CN6 = hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile). The bonding in the neutral form of HAT-CN6, (1), is compared to the co-crystallized examples of (HAT-CN6) with [Cp2Co][PF6] (2) and [n-Bu4N][I] (3). In the case of (3), the structure consists of layers of HAT-CN6 molecules and four positions of three partially occupied I- anions, one of which participates in a columnar stacking arrangement with HAT-CN6. The nearly black color of crystals of (3) as compared to the light green color of (1) and the dark green color of (2) indicates that significant charge-transfer is occurring between the I- ion and the HAT-CN6 molecules. In addition to investigating the structures of various HAT-CN6 containing samples, the one- and two-electron reduction products K[HAT-(CN)6] and K6[HAT-CN6] were prepared by treatment of HAT-CN6 with appropriate equivalents of K metal and EPR studies were undertaken. The results support the conclusion that the mono-radical is a typical S = 1/2 species and that the doubly-reduced species is a di-radical with a triplet ground state. Density functional theory calculations were carried out on the neutral, mono-anionic, and di-anionic forms of HAT-CN6 to deduce the ground state geometry and spin state of each molecule. The theoretical results are in accord with the lowest energy ground state of [HAT-CN6]2- being a triplet state.
Usability Studies and User-Centered Design in Digital Libraries

ABSTRACT Digital libraries continue to flourish. At the same time, the principles of user-centered design and the practice of usability testing have been growing in popularity, spreading their influence into the library sphere. This article explores the confluence of these two trends by surveying the current literature on usability studies of digital libraries. This article focuses on the methodology of studies of multimedia digital libraries.
Direct observation of the etching of damaged surface layers from natural diamond by low‐energy oxygen ion bombardment

The interaction of oxygen ions with diamond surfaces is reported. Using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), we found that 200 eV oxygen ion bombardment removed surface damaged layers (non‐sp3 bonded), recovering diamond EELS features in the surface region, Higher‐energy oxygen ion bombardment does not produce surfaces as ideal as the 200 eV case. The oxygen surface concentration after the 200 eV oxygen ion irradiation, examined using Auger electron spectroscopy, was determined to be ∼1×1015 cm−2.
IMPACTS OF RECREATION ON RIPARIAN SOILS AND VEGETATION

The seemingly magnetic attraction of water resources for recreation has direct implications for proximate land resources which are needed to provide access and support facili- ties. This paper reviews and synthesizes the literature dealing with the impacts of recreation use on riparian soils and vegetation. Part one of the paper sets forth the major negative impacts of recreation use on soils and vegetation. A seven-step soil impact cycle is identified, beginning with the scuffing away of leaf litter and other organic material and working through the soil erosion and sedimentation process. Four major kinds of impacts of recreation use onvegetation are then outlined, and the "vicious circle" relationship between impacts on soil and vegetation is demonstrated through a Soil/Vegetation Impact Diagram. Part two identifies several spatial and temporal patterns of environmental impact caused by recreation use. The node and linkage pattern of recreation use, campground and trail expansion, ground cover response and succes- sion, rates of soil compaction, and resource response to various intensities of recreation use are important aspects. The final part of the paper deals with measuring environmental impacts caused by recreation use. Management implications of the research findings are considered throughout the paper. (KEY TERMS : water recreation; recreation impacts; riparian soils and vegetation; recreation management .)
Multifocal brain MRI artifacts secondary to embolic metal fragments

We report a patient with unusual MRI abnormalities that had the physical characteristics of ferromagnetic artifact. We believe that the MRI artifacts were due to microscopic embolic metal fragments, most likely from a mechanical heart valve prosthesis. Potential sources of metal emboli should be considered in patients with MRI abnormalities compatible with ferromagnetic artifact.
The Health Care Crisis: Impact on Surgery From a Chief Executive Officer's Perspective

Kaiser Permanente, in conjunction with the surrounding academic institutions, trains 64 surgical residents annually in Northern California. Although the current health care crisis has made resident education increasingly difficult, we are committed to maintaining and expanding our programs. The current health care crisis reflects the effect that for-profit health plans, hospitals, and pharmaceutical groups have had on medicine. Their negative impact has not been simply the extraction of resources from the delivery system to their equity shareholders, but the implementation of an authorization process designed to frustrate and deny. As executive director and chief executive officer of the Permanente Medical Group, I believe that resident training allows us to attract outstanding clinicians, train the physicians of the future, and improve the clinical care of our patients. The multispecialty nature of our medical group and our size allows us to work collaboratively, offer evidence-based approaches, preserve professional independence, and implement innovative programs to increase quality and service. Although it is uncertain how health care will evolve in the future, we at Kaiser Permanente are committed to maintaining and expanding our involvement in the education of the next generation of surgeons.
Nanoparticle and Nanoporous Carbon Adsorbents for Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants from Water

Removal of a wide range of trace organic contaminants from water to concentrations below USEPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) remains an important goal for the water industry. Design of advanced carbon based adsorption systems represents a unique approach to solving these problems. A number of successful examples are cited in this paper and are briefly summarized in the following section. (1) Removal of foulants such as humic acid using nanoparticle carbon blacks and chemically activated nanoporous fibers; (2) Removal of trace organic contaminants such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and p-xylene (BTEX) to levels below USEPA MCL using nanoporous carbon fibers; (3) Removal of trace chemical warfare simulants such as diisopropylmethyl phosponate and chloroethylethylsulfide using enlarged nanoporous carbon fibers; (4) Removal of trace chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and chloroform using tailored nanoporous carbon fibers; (5) Removal of the trace herbicide, atrazine, to below USEPA MCL level using nanoporous chemically activated fibers. In this paper the enormous improvement of the above systems over commercially available products in static and dynamic adsorption evaluation is described.
Chromosome pattern of bone marrow fibroblasts in patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia.

GRANULOCYTES, erythroblasts and megakaryocytes from patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia contain the Ph1 chromosome1–3 in contrast to lymphocytes, which do not3. Skin fibroblasts from at least one case of chronic granulocytic leukaemia did not, however, have the Ph1 chromosome4. Because myelofibrosis occurs in association with chronic granulocytic leukaemia5–7 and because it is also considered to be a myeloproliferative disorder, the question has arisen7 of the presence of a Ph1 chromosome in marrow fibroblasts.
Regulatory options under the U.S. Clean Air Act: The federal view

This paper documents the evolution of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy concerning the relative roles that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions play in ozone nonattainment planning for State implementation plans (SIPs). It further discusses possible new control requirements, including NOx measures, that may be required as a result of pending Clean Air Act Amendments. In the early 1970's EPA guidance emphasized the use of VOC control measures to attain the ozone (formerly oxidant) ambient air quality standard. Little if any, control requirements applied to NOx emissions. EPA continued to focus guidance requirements upon the control of VOCs during the planning efforts associated with the 1977 Clean Air Act amendments... 1979 SIPs, 1982 plans for long-term problem areas (extension areas), and other revisions to SIPs. Preliminary air quality modeling work to support these later planning efforts revealed that, in certain cases, there were potential benefits of NOx control in addition to VOC. With this new insight, EPA's post-1987 policy proposal required states to look at the potential benefits of NOx controls in areas with a nonmethane organic compound to NOx ratio of 10∶1 or greater. In Clean Air Act Amendments currently being debated in the House and Senate, there is an uncertainty with regard to the role of NOx controls. Possibilities under consideration range from the application of reasonably available control technology for 100 ton sources of NOx to a clean fuel motor vehicle program within 42 months of enactment.
The Third Way: Scientific Realism and Communication Theory

Several commentators have distinguished between two general philosophies of science, “logical empiricism” and “perspectivism,” and implied that communication theorists who use quantitative social scientific methods are, as a consequence, logical empiricists. This dichotomy ignores a third position, “scientific realism,” which is dominant in current philosophy of science. This essay distinguishes these three major philosophic movements and advances the argument that communication theorizing is realist when it presumes the reality and causal efficacy of critical theoretical concepts. An acceptance of the scientific realist approach implies a set of three commitments for the communication theorist: to the reality of one's theoretical concepts, to scientific explanation as causal process, and to the “reliability of meaning.” Relevant communication theorizing is discussed in light of these commitments.
Electrochemical oxidation of tetramethylhydrazine, 1,1-dimethyl-2,2-dibenzylhydrazine and tetrabenzyl-hydrazine

Abstract Cyclic voltammetric studies of the title hydrazines have shown that the first step of oxidation yields stable radical cations. Though the electron transfer reaction is somewhat slow and very dependent on surface condition when solid electrodes are used, the process is quite reversible at mercury electrodes. Chemical analyses of electrolysis solutions were used to supplement rotating ring-disk voltammetric studies of the second stage of oxidation. The initially formed dication undergoes rapid deprotonation and the protons so formed can react with incoming starting material reducing the currents observed below the two-electron level. Deprotonation of the dication at an α-carbon gives a postulated cationic intermediate which can undergo two reactions whose products were observed: dealkylation to form a hydrazone and deprotonation with N-N cleavage giving an imine.
Cholesterol Deficiency, Statins and Rhabdomyolysis

Cholesterol's (CH) function cannot be to stiffen membranes because: 1) We synthesize CH but cannot burn it for energy; 2) Mankind has over 100 genes devoted to CH management, regulation, trucking, biosynthesis, degradation, etc. 3) Unlike CH plant sterols have branches on their sidechains. 4) Most cultured animal cells die without CH. 5) We have >2 ABC intestinal transporters that selectively block phytosterol uptake. 6) The lipid mole fraction of CH rises and falls with the [Na+] that faces the membrane. Literature evidence is here gathered that shows cells in vivo leak Na+ due to the ΔΨ and the blood [Na+] which is 0.1M. Although the Na+ leakage is slow (10−12 cm/sec) compared to H+ leakage (10−5 cm/sec), the high [Na+] makes them equivalent. Furthermore the presence of 1/3 mole% CH, as typically found in membranes facing blood, reduces the Na+ leakage to 1/3 that found in bilayers lacking CH. FDA data suggest excess statins taken by ∼200 patients in the last 8 years resulted in lethal rhabdomyolysis (RH). If cholesterol's function is to limit Na+ leakage (Prog. Lipid Res. 40 (2001) 299), then 3 times as much ATP is needed to compensate for leaked Na+. Muscle cells, lacking a pentose shunt cannot make much NADPH, which is essential for CH synthesis. Such a CH deficiency in muscle would provoke Na+ leakage into cells that may burst because of osmotic swelling. A common feature of RH in autopsies is that salt is found in the muscle cells. Due to the branches on their side chains, plant sterols appear to be designed to inhibit H+ leakage (op cit.). They are only found where the plasma membrane has a H+ gradient. CH is only found in cells where the plasma membranes facing Na+.
Influence of Basement Membrane Proteins and Endothelial Cell-Derived Factors on the Morphology of Human Fetal-Derived Astrocytes in 2D

Astrocytes are the most prevalent type of glial cell in the brain, participating in a variety of diverse functions from regulating cerebral blood flow to controlling synapse formation. Astrocytes and astrocyte-conditioned media are widely used in models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), however, very little is known about astrocyte culture in 2D. To test the hypothesis that surface coating and soluble factors influence astrocyte morphology in 2D, we quantitatively analyzed the morphology of human fetal derived astrocytes on glass, matrigel, fibronectin, collagen IV, and collagen I, and after the addition soluble factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), laminin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Matrigel surface coatings, as well as addition of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to the media, were found to have the strongest effects on 2D astrocyte morphology, and may be important in improving existing BBB models. In addition, the novel set of quantitative parameters proposed in this paper provide a test for determining the influence of compounds on astrocyte morphology, both to screen for new endothelial cell-secreted factors that influence astrocytes, and to determine in a high-throughput way which factors are important for translation to more complex, 3D BBB models.
No Clear Winner: Effects of The Biggest Loser on the Stigmatization of Obese Persons

Previous research has largely ignored the question of whether watching reality weight-loss TV shows influences viewers to form a negative obesity stereotype. This study examines antecedents and outcomes of watching The Biggest Loser with the Orientation1-Stimulus-Orientation2-Response (O-S-O-R) model. The study found that individuals who are more concerned with their weight (O1) watch more episodes of The Biggest Loser (S). Meanwhile, consumption of The Biggest Loser leads to greater perceived locus of weight control (O2), indicating that body weight is under personal control. Perceived locus of weight control, in turn, significantly predicts the attribution of obesity to personal responsibility (R). Ultimately, attributing obesity to personal responsibility leads to the formation of anti-fat attitudes (R). This study offers an integrative theoretical framework to investigate media effects on the formation of an obesity stigma by using the O-S-O-R model. The results imply that certain lifestyle transformation media, such as The Biggest Loser, might reinforce the notion that individuals control their own weight and thus further amplify the obesity stigma.
Microarray expression profiling in adhesion and normal peritoneal tissues.

Objective To identify molecular markers associated with adhesion and normal peritoneal tissue using microarray expression profiling. Design Comparative study. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Five premenopausal women. Intervention(s) Adhesion and normal peritoneal tissue samples were obtained from premenopausal women. Ribonucleic acid was extracted using standard protocols and processed for hybridization to Affymetrix Whole Transcript Human Gene Expression Chips. Microarray data were obtained from five different patients, each with adhesion tissue and normal peritoneal samples. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for confirmation using standard protocols. Main Outcome Measure(s) Gene expression in postoperative adhesion and normal peritoneal tissues. Result(s) A total of 1,263 genes were differentially expressed between adhesion and normal tissues. One hundred seventy-three genes were found to be up-regulated and 56 genes were down-regulated in the adhesion tissues compared with normal peritoneal tissues. The genes were sorted into functional categories according to Gene Ontology annotations. Twenty-six up-regulated genes and 11 down-regulated genes were identified with functions potentially relevant to the pathophysiology of postoperative adhesions. We evaluated and confirmed expression of 12 of these specific genes via polymerase chain reaction. Conclusion(s) The pathogenesis, natural history, and optimal treatment of postoperative adhesive disease remains unanswered. Microarray analysis of adhesions identified specific genes with increased and decreased expression when compared with normal peritoneum. Knowledge of these genes and ontologic pathways with altered expression provide targets for new therapies to treat patients who have or are at risk for postoperative adhesions.
Determinants of abnormal blood pressure response to exercise in coronary artery disease

Abstract This study assessed the determinants of exercise-induced abnormal systolic blood pressure (BP) response in 127 patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent exercise thallium-201 scintigraphy. Three types of systolic BP response to exercise were identified: an increase by more than 20 mm Hg (group I, n = 74); an increase by 20 mm Hg or less (group II, n = 36); and a decrease of at least 10 mm Hg (group III, n = 17). The 3 groups were not significantly different in age, gender or medications. The number of segments with perfusion defects was significantly higher in groups II and III than group I (group III, 2.9 ± 1.5; group II, 2.9 ± 2.1; and group I, 1.8 ± 1.4, p = 0.009). Prior myocardial infarction, abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction, and multivessel CAD were more common in group III than in groups I and II. Stepwise discriminant analysis of 15 relevant clinical, angiographic and exercise scintigraphic descriptors showed that the number of thallium perfusion defects, abnormal LV ejection fraction at rest and multivessel CAD to be important predictors of hypotensive BP response. Multivariate analysis, however, showed that the number of thallium perfusion defects was the only important predictor of the hypotensive response. Thus, it is the functional significance of CAD assessed by the extent of thallium perfusion abnormalities rather than the extent of CAD or left ventricular dysfunction at rest that determines the systolic BP response to exercise.
ON THE STABILITY OF CONTINUOUS-TIME SYSTEMS WITH STOCHASTIC DELAY: APPLICATIONS TO GENE REGULATORY CIRCUITS

In this paper the dynamics and stability of a linear system with stochastic delay are investigated. We assume that the delay may take finitely many different values and its dynamics are modeled by a continuous-time Markov chain. Semi-discretization is used to derive the dynamics of the second moment which leads to necessary and sufficient stability conditions for the trivial solution. We apply these results to investigate the stability of the steady state of an auto-regulatory gene-protein network. We demonstrate that stochastic delay may stabilize the system when the corresponding deterministic system with average delay is unstable.
A quantitative and qualitative comparison of fibrin glue, albumin, and blood as agents to pretreat porous vascular grafts.

Recent reports suggest that fibrin glue can be used to seal porous vascular grafts prior to insertion, but this ability has not been quantitatively compared to existing methods. We compared blood loss from and handling characteristics of grafts pretreated with either fibrin glue (FG) (Te AA segments were soaked in 25% human albumin and autoclaved for 10 min; FG segments were treated with a topical application of Tisseel (0.5 ml/graft) followed by treatment with topical thrombin + CACl(0.5 ml/graft). Graft ends were sealed and attached to a transducer/syringe pump mechanism which pumped heparinized human blood into the graft at 100 mm Hg intraluminal pressure. All blood that leaked through the grafts over 2 min was collected and the amount was averaged for the five grafts in each group. Graft handling was characterized as either pliable or stiff. Blood pretreatment caused 2 1 + 2 and 13 f 4 cc/2 min of leak in knitted and woven grafts, respectively. Albumin autoclaving resulted in 9 + 2 and 1 f 0.5 cc of leak (P < 0.0 1 compared to blood), while fibrin glue produced 2 f 2 and 0.4 f 0.5 cc leaks (P < 0.01 compared to blood). Both blood and fibrin glue produced soft pliable grafts, while albumin pretreatment resulted in stiff grafts. We conclude that fibrin glue or albumin is superior to blood for pretreatment of woven grafts in limiting blood loss, but that fibrin glue is superior to either albumin or blood in knitted grafts. Fibrin glue imparts superior handling characteristics.
Arid and Semi-Arid Regions and Ecosystems of the World

The Saharo-Sindian region extends westwards from the Atlantic Ocean of northern Africa to the Red Sea in the east, and extends eastwards through the Arabian Desert to the north-east of the Indian subcontinent. To the north lies the cold arid and semi-arid regions of central Asia and northern China.
Cellular levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in mammary epithelial cells and liver from virgin, pregnant and pituitary grafted mice

O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (O6-MT) is a DNA repair protein that reverses alkylation damage at the O6 position of guanine. In the process, O6-MT undergoes suicide inactivation. To determine if this enzyme might be regulated by pregnancy-associated hormones we measured changes in the level of O6-MT in isolated mouse mammary epithelial cell homogenates during different reproductive states. These were pregnancy, ectopic pituitary transplantation, proestrus/estrus and diestrus. O6-MT levels were found to be similar in mice in proestrus/estrus (0.95 fmol/micrograms DNA) as compared to diestrus (0.94 fmol/micrograms DNA) and also mixed populations of virgin mice (1.09 fmol/micrograms DNA). A mean for all virgin mice (0.97 fmol/micrograms DNA) was used as a comparative index. O6-MT decreased 2-fold during pregnancy in mammary epithelial cells to a mean value of 0.45 fmol/micrograms DNA (P less than 0.05). A smaller decrease (0.65 fmol/micrograms DNA; P less than 0.01) in mammary epithelial cells was found at 3 weeks following pituitary isograft. The repair capacity of mammary epithelial cells to liver was compared by measurements made in liver homogenates from the same mice and are approximately 3-fold higher in liver from virgin mice (3.2 fmol/micrograms DNA) than mammary gland. Liver levels of O6-MT increased in pregnant (5.3 fmol/micrograms DNA) and pituitary transplanted (3.9 fmol/micrograms DNA) mice, and were 5- and 4-fold higher than the concentration in virgin mammary epithelial cells respectively.
Planning During Post-Socialism

This article analyzes the state of public sector planning in countries that subscribed to a Marxist, state-socialist ideology during some part of the twentieth century, and especially those countries that comprise the former Eastern Bloc (today often referred to as the ‘transitional countries’). Central economic planning was a defining feature of state socialism. With its collapse, this type of planning was abandoned. During the early years of postsocialism, all types of public sector planning, including urban spatial planning, were severely weakened as well. A tentative revival of urban planning can be only recently observed.
The Justification for the Academy Track in mBio

The views expressed in this Editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of ASM . Through its academy track, mBio allows members of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM) to submit for consideration for publication one paper per year accompanied by at least two reviews solicited by the corresponding member. This track, referred to here as the AAM track, was modeled on that used for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), which allows members of the National Academy of Sciences to contribute papers directly for publication. The major difference between the AAM track and mBio regular submission track is that the latter uses blinded review. Hence, all mBio papers are peer reviewed but differ in the mechanism of peer review. AAM track papers are labeled as such, with the following footnote: “This article is a direct contribution from a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.” When mBio was planned in 2009, the AAM track was conceived with two goals in mind. First, we hoped that it would serve as a mechanism for greater integration between the AAM and the ASM Journals program. Second, it provided a perk to AAM members in the form of a rapid publication mechanism to encourage them to submit outstanding papers to mBio . Both goals were accomplished, and the result has been a beneficial synergy for both the AAM and mBio . In the early years the AAM track was extremely helpful for mBio to establish itself. Since the launching of mBio in 2010, the AAM has increasingly identified with mBio , with many AAM Fellows serving as editors, invited editors, and reviewers, and the direct submission …
Bench Marking for Strategic Planning Based on Faculty Productivity

The purpose of this study was to obtain and analyze data about teaching and research in textiles and clothing programs and to complete the first steps in a benchmarking process. TAPPI data from Doctoral/Research I and II institutions were analyzed using frontier analysis. The input variable in assessing productivity was textiles and clothing faculty full-time equivalents (FTE); the output variables were teaching (weighted enrolled students) and research (scientific, refereed journal articles published). Units can use productivity data in two ways: should the unit’s efforts address maximizing the outputs given a certain level of inputs; or should the unit’s efforts be directed to minimizing inputs given a certain level of outputs?
Sexual Behaviors and Condom Use at Last Vaginal Intercourse: A National Sample of Adolescents Ages 14 to 17 Years

ABSTRACT Introduction Data on adolescents' sexual and condom use behaviors provides an empirical basis for a range of social, educational, clinical, and public health endeavors. Aims This study has two purposes: to describe the recent and lifetime prevalence of a variety of sexual behaviors; and, to describe factors associated with condom use at last penile–vaginal intercourse. Methods Data included those from male (N = 414) and female (N = 406) adolescents (ages 14–17 years) from a nationally representative probability sample. Survey items addressed occurrence (past 90 days, past year, lifetime) of solo masturbation, partnered masturbation, oral sex given to a partner, oral sex received from a partner, vaginal intercourse, and anal intercourse. Participants reporting partnered sexual behaviors in the past year completed additional items about condom use, location of sex, partner characteristics, other sexual behaviors, and alcohol or marijuana use at the most recent sexual event. Main Outcome Measures Adjusted rates (by gender) of sexual behaviors, and characteristics of most recent vaginal sex event as a function of condom use/non-use. Results Lifetime prevalence of solo masturbation was common for males (80%) and females (48%). Lifetime prevalence of penile–vaginal sex increased with each year of age for both adolescent men and women; however, penile–vaginal sex within the previous 90 days was much less frequently reported. Rates of condom use for penile–vaginal sex were 80% for males and 69% for females. Lifetime anal sex rates were 4.7% for males and 5.5% for females. Conclusion Sexual behavior among adolescents was more prevalent and diverse in older adolescent cohorts. Condom use for penile–vaginal intercourse was reported for a majority of events. Fortenberry JD, Schick V, Herbenick D, Sanders SA, Dodge B, and Reece M. Sexual behaviors and condom use at last vaginal intercourse: A national sample of adolescents ages 14 to 17 years. J Sex Med 2010;7(suppl 5):305–314.
Locating a Circular Biochemical Source: Modeling and Control

This paper applies the modified Fisher information matrix (FIM) motion algorithm previously proposed by the authors to the task of locating a circular biochemical source. We develop the diffusion model for a circular source and perform control theoretic analysis of the resulting FIM motion algorithm. While in our previous work we established that the source location is an equilibrium point of the system, in the present paper we show that due to the consistency of the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator, the equilibrium point is unique. Simulations are presented that compare our motion algorithm to conventional concentration gradient motion algorithms. The simulations confirm that by using our motion algorithm, the circular biochemical source is located with a high degree of accuracy.
Register-transfer level estimation techniques for switching activity and power consumption

We present techniques for estimating switching activity and power consumption in register-transfer level (RTL) circuits. Previous work on this topic has ignored the presence of glitching activity at various data path and control signals, which can lead to significant underestimation of switching activity. For data path blocks that operate on word-level data, we construct piecewise linear models that capture the variation of output glitching activity and power consumption with various word-level parameters like mean, standard deviation, spatial and temporal correlations, and glitching activity at the block's inputs. For RTL blocks that operate on data that need not have an associated word-level value, we present accurate bit-level modeling techniques for glitching activity as well as power consumption. This allows us to perform accurate power estimation for control-flow intensive circuits, where most of the power consumed is dissipated in non-arithmetic components like multiplexers, registers, vector logic operators, etc. Since the final implementation of the controller is not available during high-level design iterations, we develop techniques that estimate glitching activity at control signals using control expressions and partial delay information. Experiments on example RTL designs resulted in power estimates that were within 7% of those produced by an inhouse power analysis tool on the final gate-level implementation.
Introduction of a Xenogeneic Gene via Hematopoietic Stem Cells Leads to Specific Tolerance in a Rhesus Monkey Model

Host immune responses against foreign transgenes may be a major obstacle to successful gene therapy. To clarify the impact of an immune response to foreign transgene products on the survival of genetically modified cells, we studied the in vivo persistence of cells transduced with a vector expressing a foreign transgene compared to cells transduced with a nonexpressing vector in the clinically predictive rhesus macaque model. We constructed retroviral vectors containing the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo) sequences modified to prevent protein expression (nonexpressing vectors). Rhesus monkey lymphocytes or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were transduced with nonexpressing and neo-expressing vectors followed by reinfusion, and their in vivo persistence was studied. While lymphocytes transduced with a nonexpressing vector could be detected for more than 1 year, lymphocytes transduced with a neo-expressing vector were no longer detectable within several weeks of infusion. However, five of six animals transplanted with HSCs transduced with nonexpression or neo-expression vectors, and progeny lymphocytes marked with either vector persisted for more than 2 years. Furthermore, in recipients of transduced HSCs, infusion of mature lymphocytes transduced with a second neo-expressing vector did not result in elimination of the transduced lymphocytes. Our data show that introduction of a xenogeneic gene via HSCs induces tolerance to the foreign gene products. HSC gene therapy is therefore suitable for clinical applications where long-term expression of a therapeutic or foreign gene is required.
“I Can Take Care of Myself”: The Impact of Self-Defense Training on Women’s Lives

Feminist self-defense classes teach skills for preventing and responding to violence. However, self-defense training has many other positive effects on women’s lives—effects that themselvesmay reduce women’s risk of assault. In this article the author offers evidence of these effects drawn from a longitudinal study of self-defense training. In addition to increased confidence in potentially dangerous situations, self-defense students reported more comfortable interactions with strangers, acquaintances, and intimates; more positive feelings about their bodies; increased self-confidence; and transformed beliefs about women, men, and gender. The author suggests that self-defense classes are life transforming because they address three issues central to women’s lives: fear of sexual assault, self, and gender.
Methods to Determine Drain Volume for Peritoneal Dialysis Clearances

ObjectiveTo compare the accuracy and convenience of 3 methods for measuring drain volume for peritoneal dialysis (PD) clearance studies.DesignProspective comparison of both automated PD (APD) and c...
THERE IS ONE HADAMARD MATRIX OF ORDER 24 AND BOTH CHARACTERS 1

Summary This paper is a part of the joint effort of N. Ito, J. Leon, and the author to determine the number of Hadamard matrices of order 24 which are inequivalent under transposition, row, or column permutation and row or column negation. The matrices of character at least 2 in either the plain or transpose have been discussed earlier. Here we show there is a unique matrix with both characters one.