cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Commercialization of Children's Television in Postsocialist Europe

Abstract By the beginning of the twenty-first century, the children's television business had become one of the fastest growing sectors of the European media industries. The emerging postsocialist media markets have become a high priority for both transnational and regional media companies looking for new audience groups. In this article, the author provides a historical overview of the transformations that occurred in the arena of children's media culture in Eastern Europe during the last thirty years. Children's television, which attained a symbolic importance in national public debates throughout the region after 1989, can provide a unique lens to examine broader social, political, and cultural issues related to the transformations of postsocialist media systems. The author analyzes the emergence of a new conceptualization of the child media user, who is more influential than ever before, but whose power is given, expressed, and experienced primarily through consumption. Children's television in Hungar...
Reduced-Dose Rasburicase in the Treatment of Adults with Hyperuricemia Associated with Malignancy

Tumor lysis syndrome is a life-threatening complication of chemotherapy for patients with leukemia and large tumors with a high proliferative index, such as Burkitt's lymphoma. The syndrome is characterized by hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperuricemia. The standard of care for hyperuricemia consists of hydration with or without alkalinization and administration of allopurinol. When treated in this manner, patients often experience persistent hyperuricemia that lasts several days after the start of antineoplastic therapy; sometimes they develop uric acid nephropathy as a consequence. Rasburicase, a recombinant urate oxidase enzyme, quickly removes large amounts of uric acid from plasma. The drug is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for management of elevated plasma uric acid levels in pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or solid tumor malignancies who are receiving chemotherapy. We undertook a retrospective review of adult patients treated with a single dose of rasburicase 6 mg for hyperuricemia associated with malignancy. Ten patients received one 6-mg dose of rasburicase, and one patient received two 6-mg doses as an adjuvant therapy to normalize uric acid levels. In most of the patients, a single 6-mg dose of rasburicase was effective in correcting uric acid levels in the typical time between diagnosis and start of antineoplastic therapy.
Early variable-flow nasal continuous positive airway pressure in infants ⩽ 1000 grams at birth

To compare the incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW, ⩽1000 g) infants before and after the introduction of early, preferential application of nasal continuous airway pressure (NCPAP) utilizing a variable flow delivery system. A retrospective cohort study of ELBW infants 2 years prior to (Pre-early NCPAP, n=96) and 2 years following (Early NCPAP, n=75) the initiation of an early NCPAP policy. There were no significant changes (Pre-early NCPAP vs Early NCPAP) in the incidences of CLD (35 vs 33%, P=0.81) or CLD or death (50 vs 43%, P=0.34). Infants in the Early NCPAP group weaned off mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen more rapidly than infants in the Pre-early NCPAP group (hazard ratio (HR) 1.80, P=0.002 and HR 1.69, P=0.01). A policy of early NCPAP has not decreased the incidence of CLD despite a decrease in time to successful tracheal extubation.
Optimal placement and sizing of DER's with load models using a modified teaching learning based optimization algorithm

In this paper, a method which employs Modified Teaching-Learning Based Optimization (MTLBO) algorithm is proposed to determine the optimal placement and size of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) units in distribution systems. DERs are commonly connected near the load in electric power distribution systems and include renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, fossil-fuel-based generation such as micro turbines, and other distributed energy storage elements. Loss minimization and voltage profile improvement as objective function and for every combination of DERs, impact indices, active and reactive losses and voltage profiles is studied on different load models. For all cases current injection distribution load flow method is used and tested on 84-bus Taiwan Power Company distribution system using MTLBO algorithm.
Older adults' attitudes towards and perceptions of ‘smart home’ technologies: a pilot study

Primary objective: The study aim is to explore the perceptions and expectations of seniors in regard to 'smart home' technology installed and operated in their homes with the purpose of improving their quality of life and/or monitoring their health status. Research design and methods: Three focus group sessions were conducted within this pilot study to assess older adults' perceptions of the technology and ways they believe technology can improve their daily lives. Themes discussed in these groups included participants' perceptions of the usefulness of devices and sensors in health-related issues such as preventing or detecting falls, assisting with visual or hearing impairments, improving mobility, reducing isolation, managing medications, and monitoring of physiological parameters. The audiotapes were transcribed and a content analysis was performed. Results: A total of 15 older adults participated in three focus group sessions. Areas where advanced technologies would benefit older adult residents included emergency help, prevention and detection of falls, monitoring of physiological parameters, etc. Concerns were expressed about the user-friendliness of the devices, lack of human response and the need for training tailored to older learners. Conclusions: All participants had an overall positive attitude towards devices and sensors that can be installed in their homes in order to enhance their lives.
Volumetric Properties of Warm Rubberized Mixes Depending on Compaction Temperature

The hot mix asphalt (HMA) industry is commencing on a program to substantially decrease mix production temperatures. Reduced mix production and paving temperatures would decrease the energy required to make HMA, reduce emissions and odors from plants, and improve the working conditions at the plant and paving site. With regard to rubberized asphalt mixtures, they are produced and compacted at higher temperatures than conventional mixtures. If the technologies of warm mix asphalt are incorporated, it is expected to reduce the mixing and compaction temperatures of rubberized asphalt mixtures to those of conventional mixtures. This study was initiated to investigate the effect of compaction temperature on warm rubberized mixes. For this, two Superpave mix designs for two asphalt binders and one aggregate size (12.5mm) were conducted to determine the optimum asphalt contents (OAC). Warm rubberized mixes were produced using two of the available processes. A total of 96 specimens (4 mix types: control mix, rubberized mix, warm rubberized mix 1 and warm rubberized mix 2 * 4 compaction temperatures: 97, 116, 135, and 154°C * 6 repetitions) were fabricated using Superpave gyratory compactor. Volumetric properties of the specimens were evaluated. The results showed that the warm mix processes were effective to improve the volumetric properties of rubberized mixes at a certain range of compaction temperatures.
“Do Whatever You Want”: Audience(s) Created, Creating, Recreating

Drawing on the author’s witnessing 12 years of experimental presentations at cultural studies sessions in various venues, the account goes back and forth in time as a double-voiced text as (a) a narrative of the development and maturation of these presentations and (b) a reflexive account of the questions and problems the author faced in creating an experimental text. Underlying the voices is a problematic about the worth of sociology.
Expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant human pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 protein in Pichia pastoris

Pancreatic duodenal hemeobox-1 (PDX1) is essential for the development of the embryonic pancreas and plays a key role in pancreatic beta-cell differentiation, maturation, regeneration, and maintenance of normal pancreatic beta-cell insulin-producing function. Purified recombinant PDX1 (rPDX1) may be a useful tool for many research and clinical applications, however, using the Escherichia coli expression system has several drawbacks for producing quality PDX1 protein. To explore the yeast expression system for generating rPDX1 protein, the cDNA coding for the full-length human PDX1 gene was cloned into the secreting expression organism Pichia pastoris. SDS-PAGE and western blotting analysis of culture medium from methanol-induced expression yeast clones demonstrated that the rPDX1 was secreted into the culture medium, had a molecular weight by SDS-PAGE of 50kDa, and was glycosylated. The predicted size of the mature unmodified PDX1 polypeptide is 31kDa, suggesting that eukaryotic post-translational modifications are the result of the increased molecular weight. The recombinant protein was purified to greater than 95% purity using a combined ammonium sulfate precipitation with heparin-agarose chromatography. Finally, 120mug of the protein was obtained in high purity from 1L of the culture supernatant. Bioactivity of the rPDX1 was confirmed by the ability to penetrate cell membranes and activation of an insulin-luciferase reporter gene. Our results suggest that the P. pastoris expression system can be used to produce a fully functional human rPDX1 for both research and clinical application.
Adsorption Kinetics of Polyelectrolytes on Planar Surfaces in Flow Cell

Abstract A quantitative theory of kinetic-diffusive-convective adsorption in a flow cell for polyelectrolyte and mixtures of ions in solutions onto planar surfaces in the framework of the Nernst–Planck approach has been developed by using the new approaches: (a) The effect of the convective transport is estimated in the analytical form. The boundary condition for the rate of adsorption at the interface (y= 0) is derived for the kinetic-diffusive-convective-controlled adsorption in a flow cell, taking into account both the normal and the axial fluxes in the flow cell. (b) The total electrical potential in the double layer, ϕ(x,y,t), does not equal the electrical potential, ϕρ(x,y,t), due to the total electrical charge, ρ(x,y,t), in the double layer. It is shown that the total electrical potential in the double layer must be foundonlyfrom the integral form of the charge-balance equation in the double layer. Equations were derived to calculate the rate constant of the adsorption process in a flow cell for short and long times and the time needed to attain the equilibrium state for the adsorption processes. It is shown that the adsorption kinetics of polyelectrolyte over a wide range of times is governed by: (I) the adsorption kinetics of polyelectrolyte on a planar surface of the bare interface for short times, (II) the adsorption kinetics at the interface as well as simultaneous diffusion in the adsorbed and double layers for intermediate times, and (III) the adsorption kinetics at the interface for long times.
Does left side renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with renal vein/vena cava thrombus predict worse prognosis than equivalent right side RCC tumor thrombus?

To determine whether renal cell carcinoma (RCC) thrombi that reach the vena cava from the left kidney are associated with a greater risk of RCC death than equivalent thrombi from the right kidney. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients treated with radical nephrectomy (1970–2006) for unilateral, sporadic RCC with level 1–4 RCC tumor thrombus were identified. Clinicopathologic features between patients with right-sided (N = 183) and left-sided (N = 76) thrombus were compared utilizing Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher’s exact tests. Associations with RCC-specific death using hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) from Cox proportional hazards models were evaluated. Left-sided RCC patients with thrombus are less likely to be clear cell subtype (85 % vs. 93 %; p = 0.013) and more likely to have nodal involvement (28 % vs. 16 %; p = 0.018) compared to right side RCC patients with thrombus. Overall, there is little evidence that the risk of RCC death is higher for left versus right-sided RCC thrombus (HR = 1.11; 95 % CI 0.81–1.53; p = 0.52). However, among those patients with a thrombus that has reached the vena cava (level III/IV), we observe evidence after multivariate adjustment that the risk of RCC death is higher for left versus right side patients (HR = 2.02; 95 % CI 0.91–4.47; p = 0.08). Left side RCC with tumor thrombus is not associated with worse prognosis than right-sided tumors (all tumor thrombi levels). Our data suggest that among RCC patients with advanced tumor thrombi (level III/IV), a left side thrombus may be associated with worse prognosis compared to a right side thrombus.
Short-term use of umbilical artery catheters may not be associated with increased risk for thrombosis.

Objective. Umbilical arterial catheters (UACs) have rare but serious complications related to thrombus formation. Two specific serum markers of thrombogenesis—prothrombin fragment (F1.2) and thrombin-antithrombin (TAT)—can be assayed and correlated with abdominal ultrasound visualization of UAC thrombosis. Levels of these markers of thrombogenesis have not been studied in infants with UACs. The objective of this study was to determine F1.2 and TAT levels longitudinally and compare the levels with platelet counts and ultrasound evidence of thrombi during the first week of life in infants with UACs. Methods. This study was conducted as a prospective, nonblinded, observational study performed between June 2001 and January 2002 at Christiana Care Hospital, a level III neonatal intensive care unit. Infants with a UAC in place in the first 24 hours of life were studied. All received equal amounts of heparin in the UAC. F1.2, TAT, platelet counts, and abdominal aorta ultrasounds were examined every other day starting within 24 hours of life. Studies were not done when the UAC was removed within the 5-day study period. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for TAT and F1.2 was performed using a commercially available kit from Enzyngost. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance evaluating TAT, F1.2, and platelet count over time. Results. Thirty-three patients were investigated (mean ± standard deviation; gestational age: 27.4 ± 3.5 weeks; birth weight: 1139 ± 729 g). A total of 66 measurements of TAT, F1.2, and platelet counts were obtained. Sixty-one abdominal ultrasounds were performed; only 1 study was positive for UAC thrombus. There was no significant difference between F1.2 and TAT over time during the study period. Platelet counts seemed to fall over the 5-day study period, although this decrease did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion. Indwelling UACs in sick infants may not carry an increased risk of thrombosis during the first 5 days of use.
Noninvasive identification of acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion with contrast ultrasound using intravenous perfluoropropane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intravenous dextrose albumin sonicated with a commonly used gas of low blood solubility and diffusivity (perfluoropropane) could identify acute myocardial Ischemia and reperfusion. Background. Recently, it has been demonstrated that dextrose albumin sonicated with gases that have low blood solubility and diffusivity results in microbubbles capable of consistently producing myocardial ultrasound contrast after intravenous injection. It remains to be determined, however, whether this contrast agent can visually detect the myocardial blood flow abnormalities seen with acute Ischemia or stunned myocardium after reperfusion. Methods. We gave intravenous injections (0.06 ml/kg body weight) of perfluoropropane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin to 10 open chest dogs. The measured degree of myocardial contrast (0+ to 2+) and background-subtracted peak anterior myocardial videointensity produced from each injection were measured at three stages: 1) under baseline conditions, 2) during acute Ischemia produced by a proximal left anterior descending coronary artery ligation lasting 10 to 120 min, and 3) after reflow was established. Coronary blood flow was monitored during all injections by using an ultrasound flow probe placed around the left anterior descending artery. Results. Coronary blood flow ranged from 0 to 137 ml/min, and peak myocardial videointensity after intravenous administration of perfluoropropane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin ranged from 0 to 70 gray scale U. There was consistent visual myocardial opacification in all dogs during baseline conditions and a visually evident decrease in myocardial contrast in the left anterior descending artery distribution after ligation. A relative increase in contrast in this same distribution after intravenous contrast agent administration occurred in 7 of the 10 dogs during reflow. Quantitatively, there was an excellent correlation in individual dogs between peak myocardial videointensity and coronary flow at all stages (mean correlation coefficient 0.95 ± 0.04, range 0.87 to 0.99). Conclusions. Perfluoropropane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin is an ultrasound contrast agent that can visually identify myocardial perfusion abnormalities from a peripheral venous injection.
Critical Questions About the Metabolic Syndrome

In this issue of Circulation , Hanley et al1 show that the metabolic syndrome, whether defined according to criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program,2 the International Diabetes Federation,3 or the World Health Organization,4 predicts the development of diabetes. The new finding of Hanley et al is that the International Diabetes Federation criteria, including central obesity as a critical feature of the metabolic syndrome, predicts diabetes as well as the other definitions, at least in the cohort studied. Thus, clinicians could define metabolic syndrome in any of the above 3 ways and thereby identify many patients at heightened risk of diabetes. Although diabetes and its prediction are of interest to clinicians in a variety of medical specialties and this article provides useful and valid information on this topic, the report by Hanley et al1 leaves aside issues of cardiovascular disease (CVD) origin, pathogenesis, and risk that arguably have constituted the major impetus for heightened attention to the metabolic syndrome over the past 5 years. Article p 3713 Despite recognition of the presence of clustering of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors for many years,5 the term “metabolic syndrome” appeared relatively uncommonly in the medical literature until the 2001 report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), which described the syndrome as a means of identifying more patients as candidates for lipid-altering therapies and other CVD risk factor treatments.2 I conducted a PubMed search spanning from 1991 through August 2005 for articles containing the title phrase “metabolic syndrome” and found a total of 776 references cited. Before 2001, fewer than …
Invasion suppressor cystatin E/M (CST6): high-level cell type-specific expression in normal brain and epigenetic silencing in gliomas

DNA hypermethylation-mediated gene silencing is a frequent and early contributor to aberrant cell growth and invasion in cancer. Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults and the second most common tumor in children. Morbidity and mortality are high in glioma patients because tumors are resistant to treatment and are highly invasive into surrounding brain tissue rendering complete surgical resection impossible. Invasiveness is regulated by the interplay between secreted proteases (eg, cathepsins) and their endogenous inhibitors (cystatins). In our previous studies we identified cystatin E/M (CST6) as a frequent target of epigenetic silencing in glioma. Cystatin E/M is a potent inhibitor of cathepsin B, which is frequently overexpressed in glioma. Here, we study the expression of cystatin E/M in normal brain and show that it is highly and moderately expressed in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, respectively, but not in neurons. Consistent with this, the CST6 promoter is hypomethylated in all normal samples using methylation-specific PCR, bisulfite genomic sequencing, and pyrosequencing. In contrast, 78% of 28 primary brain tumors demonstrated reduced/absent cystatin E/M expression using a tissue microarray and this reduced expression correlated with CST6 promoter hypermethylation. Interestingly, CST6 was expressed in neural stem cells (NSC) and markedly induced upon differentiation, whereas a glioma tumor initiating cell (TIC) line was completely blocked for CST6 expression by promoter methylation. Analysis of primary pediatric brain tumor-derived lines also showed CST6 downregulation and methylation in nearly 100% of 12 cases. Finally, ectopic expression of cystatin E/M in glioma lines reduced cell motility and invasion. These results demonstrate that epigenetic silencing of CST6 is frequent in adult and pediatric brain tumors and occurs in TICs, which are thought to give rise to the tumor. CST6 methylation may therefore represent a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target specifically altered in TICs.
On the detection of jovian companions to white dwarfs

BRACEWELL1 has recently proposed detection of planetary companions to nearby stars by means of a spinning IR interferometer. In particular, he notes that at far IR wavelengths, the emissivity ratio of the planet to the star increases by five orders of magnitude over equivalent values in the visible. I point out here that more than another three orders of magnitude in sensitivity is gained by choosing white dwarfs as the observational objects, which may permit detection of jovian or black dwarf companions by direct photometry from a space telescope with photon-limited, far IR detectors.
Using the Compromise Decision Support Problem in Microsystem Design: A Formulation for a Miniature Parylene Gas Chromatographic Column

The concurrent consideration of design and manufacturing requirements at the early stages of design is one of the cited challenges in microsystem design. In this paper, we take the first steps, through an example, towards addressing these issues through the use of the compromise Decision Support Problem (cDSP). The cDSP is a domain-independent hybrid multiobjective decision support formulation utilized in engineering design. The design of a parylene microchannel for a microscale gas chromatography system is refined using the cDSP. The objective is to adjust the geometry of the microchannel to create a satisficing design for one fabrication goal and two performance goals. The cDSP is utilized for five scenarios, one in which all three goals are given equal priority, one for each of three goals when they are given first priority, and one in which the performance goals are given equal priority. We are more interested in demonstrating the method than the results per se. Our goal is to show how microsystem designers can use the cDSP to gain some insight into how these goals interact and how design decisions can be made with this insight.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Further remarks on the theory of three dimensional whirling

Abstract This is the last in a series of three papers by the authors dealing with the interaction among the effects of external damping, linear and non-linear material damping, linear and non-linear elastic restoring forces, and linear and non-linear inertia forces on the motion of a whirling elastic shaft-disc system. Using an energy technique a stronger stability theorem than any previously obtained for such systems is presented.
A theoretical application of selectable markers in bacterial episomes for a DNA cryptosystem.

Abstract A theoretical model utilizing the principle of selection for the purposes of DNA cryptography is proposed. A method to enhance the security of DNA cryptosystems that utilize polymerase chain reaction primer keys is presented. Double-encryption systems – encryption systems that have two keys – like the cryptosystem advanced in this paper, are generally more secure than systems that have one key. Two problems with this model are also discussed, and a hypothetical solution to the most major problem is proposed. The chief advantage of this DNA cryptosystem over other DNA cryptosystems is that it has, in theory, two equally secure keys an intruder must break through in order to access a secret message. No experimental analysis has been conducted by the author regarding any of the theoretical methods proposed in this paper.
Polarization of Lyman-α Radiation Produced in Charge-Transfer Collisions between Protons and the Inert Gases

The polarization of Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiation arising from charge-transfer collisions between protons and helium, argon, and neon has been measured for incident proton energies from 0.6 to 24 keV. A lithium fluoride crystal set at the Brewster's angle was used to measure the polarization of the radiation. Structure has been observed in the energy dependence of the polarization fraction for ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$-Ne and ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$-Ar collisions which reflects the structure in the total cross sections for electron capture into the $2P$ state of atomic hydrogen for these collisions. The present results are in poor agreement with those of Gaily et al.
Mechanical Properties of Shock-Damaged Rocks

Stress-strain tests were performed both on shock-damaged gabbro and limestone. The effective Young's modulus decreases with increasing initial damage parameter value, and an apparent work-softening process occurs prior to failure. To further characterize shock-induced microcracks, the longitudinal elastic wave velocity behavior of shock-damaged gabbro in the direction of compression up to failure was measured using an acoustic transmission technique under uniaxial loading. A dramatic increase in velocity was observed for the static compressive stress range of 0-50 MPa. Above that stress range, the velocity behavior of lightly damaged (D(sub 0) less than 0.1) gabbro is almost equal to unshocked gabbro. The failure strength of heavily-damaged (D(sub 0) greater than 0.1) gabbro is approx. 100-150 MPa, much lower than that of lightly damaged and unshocked gabbros (approx. 230-260 MPa). Following Nur's theory, the crack shape distribution was analyzed. The shock-induced cracks in gabbro appear to be largely thin penny-shaped cracks with c/a values below 5 x 10(exp -4). Moreover, the applicability of Ashby and Sammis's theory relating failure strength and damage parameter of shock-damaged rocks was examined and was found to yield a good estimate of the relation of shock-induced deficit in elastic modulus with the deficit in compressive strength.
Determination of transport parameters of permeant substrates of the vesicular amine transporter

Biological transport of moderately permeant compounds is obscured by diffusion of the compounds back across the membrane, so characterization of the transport of such compounds requires correction for permeability. A relatively simple method for determining kinetic parameters for moderately permeant compounds is presented here. After evaluating a compound's apparent permeability coefficient, its steady-state uptake is measured as a function of concentration. By comparing the concentration dependence of uptake measured both in the presence and in the absence of a complete inhibitor of the transporter, K(m) and Vmax for transport of that substrate may be calculated. When used to analyze transport of tyramine and hydroxyephedrine by the vesicular amine transporter, this method yields results consistent with other methods and with values for analogous impermeant substrates. In bovine adrenal chromaffin vesicles, tyramine and (-)erythro-hydroxyephedrine have apparent permeability coefficients of 4.7 +/- 1.0 x 10(-9) and 1.1 +/- 0.4 x 10(-8) cm/s, respectively. Values for K(m) are 15 +/- 9 and 34 +/- 14 microM and for Vmax are 1.3 +/- 0.2 and 1.4 +/- 0.9 nmol/min.mg of membrane protein, respectively.
Mesoscale air-sea interactions related to tropical and extratropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico

Observations of the lower atmosphere of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico from November 1982 to mid-February 1983 were studied in which seven significant cyclones were generated in the northwestern gulf. It was found that all seven storms occurred when the vorticity correlate of the horizontal air temperature difference was about 3-5 C above the climatological mean difference. It is shown that a maximum in the frequency of tropical storms within the Gulf of Mexico exists some 275 km south of the Mississippi delta at 27 deg N, 90 deg W. This maximum is a result of only those storms which originate within the gulf. Two plausible effects of the Loop Current and its rings on tropical storms are discussed. One is that these ocean features are large and consolidated heat and moisture sources from which a nearby slowly moving atmospheric disturbance can extract energy. The second is that of the cyclonic vorticity that can be generated in the lower atmosphere by such oceanographic features.
B-scan ultrasound in the evaluation of pediatric abdominal masses.

The use of B-mode ultrasound in the preoperative evaluation of abdominal masses in the pediatric age group is described. Using this technique it is possible to delineate the extent and site of origin of the mass. Cystic lesions can be distinguished from tumors by the degree of echo penetrance through the mass and the pattern of echoes within the mass. Lesions such as hydronephrosis and renal cysts were successfully distinguished from neuroblastomas and Wilms's tumors preoperatively. B-mode ultrasound was felt to be of as much value as arteriography, which was performed in many of the cases.
Classification and histopathologic specificity of systemic vasculitis

Vasculitis is a disease of antiquity, predating the description of arteriosclerosis [1, 2]. Vasculitis has a deceptively simple definition — inflammation, often with necrosis and occlusive changes of the blood vessels — but its clinical manifestations are diverse and complex. Vasculitis may be generalized or localized. It may occur de novo as an essential disorder of the blood vessels (primary vasculitis), or it may be associated with a variety of different underlying diseases (secondary vasculitis). The clinical spectrum of vasculitides therefore represents one of the most interesting and perplexing group of diseases in medicine. In the absence of pathognomonic clinical features and laboratory tests, the diagnosis of vasculitis still relies heavily on clinicopathologic correlation for the correct interpretation of biopsies because histologic changes may not be specific in any given case and they often overlap in different vasculitides [3–5].
A hierarchy of mendler style recursion combinators: taming inductive datatypes with negative occurrences

The Mendler style catamorphism (which corresponds to weak induction) always terminates even for negative inductive datatypes. The Mendler style histomorphism (which corresponds to strong induction) is known to terminate for positive inductive datatypes. To our knowledge, the literature is silent on its termination properties for negative datatypes. In this paper, we prove that histomorphisms do not always termintate by showing a counter-example. We also enrich the Mendler collection of recursion combinators by defining a new form of Mendler style catamorphism (msfcata), which terminates for all inductive datatypes, that is more expressive than the original. We organize the collection of combinators by placing them into a hierarchy of ever increasing generality, and describing the termination properties of each point on the hierarchy. We also provide many examples (including a case study on a negative inductive datatype), which illustrate both the expressive power and beauty of the Mendler style. One lesson we learn from this work is that weak induction applies to negative inductive datatypes but strong induction is problematic. We provide a proof of weak induction by exhibiting an embedding of our new combinator into Fω. We pose the open question: Is there a safe way to apply strong induction to negative inductive datatypes?
Particulate mixing in a turbulent serpentine duct

Direct numerical simulations of particles in a serpentine duct were conducted at bulk flow Stokes numbers between 0.125 and 6. The geometrical curvature causes particles to depart direction from the mean flow. Above a Stokes number of about unity, a reflection layer forms along the outer curve of the bend. Reflectional mixing creates regions of nearly uniform particle mean velocity and kinetic energy. Particles leave the inner bend in a plume that separates from the inner wall at low Stokes number. At higher Stokes number, the plume splits in two, adding an upper part consisting of ballistic particles, that do not follow the geometrical curvature. When the Stokes number is low, the instantaneous 3-D distribution of particles visualizes wall streaks. But at higher Stokes number, particles disperse out of the reflection layer and form large scale puffs in the central portion of the duct.
Managed Care: Jekyll or Hyde?

The topic most discussed by physicians today is the increasing percentage of US health care being taken over by managed care organizations. 1 While physicians in practice are struggling to interpret the requirements and implications of contracts with emerging or established health care systems, 2 many academic medical centers have also joined the "dance of vertical integration." 3,4 What has not emerged from the ofttimes emotional discussions is a cogent examination of the impact of the transformation of medical practice from a cottage industry to a corporate enterprise on how we deliver care, assess and improve the quality of care, and educate future physicians. It is an urgent matter, then, for the medical profession to address the ethical principles that will preserve a sound physician-patient relationship within this rapidly changing environment. See also pp 323 and 330. To address the ethics of the physician-patient relationship in managed care realistically and
Secreted meningeal chemokines, but not VEGFA, modulate the migratory properties of medulloblastoma cells

Leptomeningeal metastasis is a cause of morbidity and mortality in medulloblastoma, but the understanding of molecular mechanisms driving this process is nascent. In this study, we examined the secretory chemokine profile of medulloblastoma cells (DAOY) and a meningothelial cell line (BMEN1). Conditioned media (CM) of meningothelial cells increased adhesion, spreading and migration of medulloblastoma. VEGFA was identified at elevated levels in the CM from BMEN1 cells (as compared to DAOY CM); however, recombinant VEGFA alone was insufficient to enhance medulloblastoma cell migration. In addition, bevacizumab, the VEGFA scavenging monoclonal antibody, did not block the migratory phenotype induced by the CM. These results reveal that paracrine factors secreted by meningothelial cells can influence migration and adherence of medulloblastoma tumor cells, but VEGFA may not be a specific target for therapeutic intervention in this context.
Work in progress — Computing for middle-school students: The experience of teaching computers for 7 th grade students

Number of college students in computing has declined since 2000 by more than 70%. Women and minorities are highly underrepresented. Students are exposed to computing education late in high-school or in college. At that point, the population sampling is already geared towards students already interested in computers. This approach results in the small number of students and more importantly in the low demographics diversity. Exposure to computing principles needs to start at a much younger age in order to spark interest in a larger and more diverse student body. This work in progress paper describes the experience of a new computing course for 7th grade students. The novel component of the course consists in the robotics projects inspired by biological or artificial characters that seem to motivate students independent of gender.
New Industrial Energy and Resource Saving Structural Solutions for Public Buildings

The paper presents new structural solutions for industrial energy and resource saving structures of public buildings with predetermined level of structural safety. The basis of the solutions is pre-cast (with cast-in-place concrete) bearing structures of internal longitudinal and transverse bearing walls of panel members, interconnected floor slabs and exterior self-bearing walls supported on straight or curved L-girders with thermal insulation holes The stiffness of a building with proposed solutions is provided by all structural elements connected in a special way. The authors also present some results of experimental and theoretical studies, pilot design projects, real construction and feasibility assessment of public buildings with proposed solutions.
The salivary peroxidase system: thermodynamic, kinetic and antibacterial properties.

Pruitt KM. The salivary peroxidase system: thermodynamic, kinetic and antibacterial properties. J Oral Pathol 1987: 16: 417–420. Enzymes are specific catalysts which optimize the rates of reactions vital to living organisms. If the oxidation of thiocyanate (which occurs, in vivo, in human saliva and salivary glands) is a vital reaction for the maintenance of oral health, then the enzyme (salivary peroxidase), which catalyzes this reaction, should function optimally under in vivo conditions. Studies have shown that salivary peroxidase maintains the SCN- oxidation reaction in an apparent state of dynamic equilibrium, that the kinetic properties of the enzyme provide optimum rates of reaction under in vivo conditions, and that the antibacterial properties of the products of the reaction are optimum under those conditions where unlimited bacterial metabolism provides the greatest threat to host tissues. The evidence indicates that the salivary peroxidase enzyme has evolved in such a way as to maximize its protective value in the oral cavity.
Enhancement of hepatic detoxification enzyme activity by dietary mercuric acetate.

This report deals with stimulation of liver microsomal enzymes by dietary mercuric acetate (HgAc) and interactions of HgAc with phenobarbital sodium (PB). There is a diphasic response of microsomal enzymes in rats exposed to mercurials. Detoxication activity increased as the dietary dose of HgAc was increased. Liver weight was unaffected by ingestion of HgAc . Toxicity of HgAc increased with dosage. There were no deaths among animals fed diets of 2000 ppM HgAc or less but all five animals fed the diet of 5000 ppM died after five but before ten days on the experiment. The mercury-phenobarbital interactions support speculation that mercury in combination with other chemicals in the environment may have enzyme stimulatory capacity at low exposure levels. 25 references, 1 figure, 1 table.
Epibodies in autoimmunity: Antisera against autoantibodies to the renal glomerular basement membrane react with idiotypes as well as with autoantigens

The results reported here show that we have experimentally produced xenogeneic anti-idiotypic antibodies to rat autoantibodies specific for the renal GBM and one of its components, laminin. Cross-reactive idiotypes have been detected by anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) on autoantibodies to the GBM (anti-GBM) from rats of different strains, confirming the results obtained in other autoantibody systems. During the course of studies aimed at determining whether anti-Id were directed to the paratope of anti-GBM antibodies, we have observed the presence of anti-GBM (and anti-laminin) antibodies in rabbit sera with anti-Id. Affinity chromatography experiments suggest that anti-GBM reactions detected with our anti-Id sera may be caused by a heterogeneous combination of anti-Id. Thus, Ab2α (and/or Ab2γ, all reacting with Ab1), Ab2α (epibodies, that bind to both Ab1 and GBM) and Ab3 (similar to Abl and therefore, reacting with GBM) may be present in our anti-Id sera. It has been suggested that antibodies displa...
Luteinizing Hormone- and α-Subunit-Secreting Pituitary Tumor: Positive Feedback of Estrogen*

Gonadotropin-secreting pituitary tumors have rarely been reported in eugonadal patients. A 30-yr-old man, sexually potent, with normal-sized testes, but azoospermic, presented with a pituitary tumor documented by an enlarged sella turcica and an intrasellar mass by pneumoencephalography and computerized tomography. Testicular biopsy demonstrated marked Leydig cell hyperplasia and decreased spermatocyte maturation. The plasma LH level was elevated at 207 mlU/ml (normal, 6–26 mlU/ml), but the FSH level was low at 2 mlU/ml (normal, 5–25 mlU/ml). Plasma testosterone was elevated at 1500 ng/dl (normal, 300–1000 ng/dl); othergonadal steroids were also increased in the circulation, i.e. 5α-dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone. The α-subunit was markedly elevated at 72 ng/ml plasma (normal, <0.5 to 2.5 ng/ml). The molar plasma α-subunit to LH ratio was 2.8, whereas normal or hypogonadal subjects have ratios less than 1. After 100 μg LRH iv, there was an increase of plasma L...
Principles and applications of control in quantum systems

We describe in this article some key themes that emerged during a Caltech/AFOSR Workshop on ‘Principles and Applications of Control in Quantum Systems’ (PRACQSYS), held 21–24 August 2004 at the California Institute of Technology. This workshop brought together engineers, physicists and applied mathematicians to construct an overview of new challenges that arise when applying constitutive methods of control theory to nanoscale systems whose behaviour is manifestly quantum. Its primary conclusions were that the number of experimentally accessible quantum control systems is steadily growing (with a variety of motivating applications), that appropriate formal perspectives enable straightforward application of the essential ideas of classical control to quantum systems, and that quantum control motivates extensive study of model classes that have previously received scant consideration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The EUROTECH Module: A Curricular Innovation for German Instruction.

This paper presents the module course as an effective curricular innovation within the framework of a dual-degree program in German and engineering. Three modules, or one-credit courses, are offered in a series within the curriculum of EUROTECH: An International Program in Engineering at the University of Connecticut. By virtue of the structure of these modules, which feature multiple lectures by outside experts in fields of engineering and science, the module functions as a unique vehicle for content-based education. As such, the module is a creative response to the curricular demands of a dual-degree program. This paper discusses these curricular demands, examines the concept of a “module” course, presents the EUROTECH module series, and argues for its advantages. The authors see the module arrangement as an effective implementation that may well serve other dual-degree programs.
Jamming and sensing of encrypted wireless ad hoc networks

This paper considers the problem of an attacker disrupting an encrypted victim wireless ad hoc network through jamming. Jamming is broken down into layers and this paper focuses on jamming at the Transport/Network layer. Jamming at this layer exploits AODV and TCP protocols and is shown to be very effective in simulated and real networks when it can sense victim packet types, but the encryption is assumed to mask the entire header and contents of the packet so that only packet size, timing, and sequence is available to the attacker for sensing. A sensor is developed and tested on live data. The classification is found to be highly reliable for many packet types. The relative roles of size, timing, and sequence are discussed along with the implications for making networks more secure.
Organic-horizon lead, copper, and zinc contents of Mid-Atlantic forest soils, 1978-2004.

Organic soil horizona were important sinks for atmospherically delivered Pb, Cu, and Zn throughout the latter part of the 20th century. By measuring the organic matter content and the concentrations and amounts of Pb, Cu, and Zn at 28 sites that had not been disturbed by fire or human activity between 1978 and 2004, we repeated a previous study of forest floor metal content in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Organic matter mass increased (P < 0.05) at many sites, but when all sites are pooled, there was not a statistically significant change. Lead concentration and mass in the forest floor decreased (P < 0.05) at nearly all sites, with median changes of ―65 and -57%, respectively. The decrease in Pb amount was significantly correlated with O horizon thickness, suggesting that as litter, largely free of Pb, was added at the surface, the Pb added to the forest floor during the 20th century was migrating downward into the mineral soil. In 2004, Cu and Zn concentrations and amounts were dramatically lower at sites near point sources that had ceased operating in the 1970s or 1980s, and they decreased (P < 0.05) across the region. By 2004, nearly all of the sites had forest floor Pb, Cu, and Zn concentrations well below the levels associated with adverse effects on microbial respiration, suggesting that these metals are not altering forest floor decomposition or nutrient cycling rates.
Diffusion layer modeling for condensation in vertical tubes with noncondensable gases

Abstract Noncondensable gases significantly modify the mechanism of condensation for cocurrent downward flow in vertical tubes. Two-dimensional experimental measurements presented here show similarity between gas concentration distributions and the temperature distributions encountered in laminar and turbulent heat transfer. Thus the analogy between heat and mass transfer, coupled with a reasonable condensate film model, can provide predictions of the local condensation rate. This work presents a simple 9-step iterative calculation procedure for calculating the local heat flux. The empirical model, based on a modified Dittus-Boelter formulation and utilizing an effective condensation thermal conductivity, converges with 2 to 10 iterations at each axial location. Experimental results from several investigators are compared with the predictions of the model, with good agreement.
Diffusion behavior of Pt adatoms and clusters on the Rh(100) surface

Abstract The diffusion of individual Pt adatoms and clusters of two to six Pt atoms on the (100) surface of Rh has been investigated by field ion microscopy. The diffusion mode for adatoms and clusters is determined to be conventional site-to-site hopping. Single adatoms and dimers migrate in the temperature range from 314 to 346 K with an activation energy of 0.92 eV. Trimers and tetramers, which are more stable as one-dimensional chains than two-dimensional islands, as well as pentamers, which are equally stable as chains and islands, all diffuse with the same activation energy of 1.03 eV. Hexamers, which are more stable as islands than chains, migrate with a somewhat higher activation energy of 1.16 eV. The relative stabilities of the chain versus island configurations indicate the presence of long-range adatom-adatom interactions in the clusters. The implications of the unexpected activation barriers for cluster diffusion are discussed.
Parallelisation of suboptimal spectrum search

The purpose of the Letter is to suggest that effective algorithms for spectrum search, such as those used for detecting spread spectrum signals, may be derived by selecting sub-optimal algorithms and then recovering some of the lost efficacy through parallelisation methods. This thesis is motivated by considering a simple yet meaningful example of a spectrum search technique that exhibits what at first may seem to be counterintuitive behaviour.