cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The crystal and molecular structure of bicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-en-5,6-dinitrosocobalt-η5-cyclopentadienide. Evidence for a nitroxyl diradical bidentate ligand

Abstract An accurate X-ray crystallographic structural study of a metal complex having a nitroxyl diradical as a bidentate ligand has been carried out. Bicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-en-5,6-dinitrosocobalt-η 5 -cyclopentadienide crystallizes in space group P 1 with Z 2, a 8.245 ± 0.007, b 10.285 ± 0.016, c 7.888 ± 0.008 A and α 59.276 ± 0.073, β 101.099 ± 0.053, γ 108.802 ± 0.067°. Intensities of 1831 independent reflections were used in the refinement of the structure to an R ( F ) of 4.6%. The bonding of the Co atom to the cyclopentadienyl ligand appears to be a normal pentahapto linkage. The lone double bond and the CC single bonds adjacent to the endo hydrogens of the norbornene fragment of the molecule are shorter than have previously been reported for this moiety. This study represents the first structural report of NO groups bridging to Co. The CoNO angles (129.4(3) and 128.9(3)°) and the NO stretching frequency (1357 cm −1 ) of the title compound resemble values found in nitroxyl free radical compounds more closely than values found in bridging NO group compounds.
A molecular orbital model for the electronic structure of transition metal atoms in silcate and aluminate alloys

Applied to transition metal oxides and silicate and aluminate alloys, a classification scheme that separates non-crystalline dielectrics into three groups with different amorphous morphologies, demonstrates a direct correlation between stability against crystallization and oxygen atom coordination. It also provides a local bonding model for molecular orbital (MO), calculations that are based on the coordination and symmetry of transition metal atoms and the orbital energies of their oxygen neighbors. These calculations provide important insights into the electronic structure of transition metal dielectrics, e.g. the role of anti-bonding d-states in determining conduction band offset energies with respect to Si.
Bone studies in patients on prolonged systemic corticosteroid therapy for asthma

Summary Cortical thickness of the second metacarpal bone and lumbar spine fractures were determined radiographically in twenty-one Caucasian corticosteroid-dependent asthmatics (mean age, 61-2 years; range 47-73 years). The mean number of prednisone years per patient of continuous corticosteroid treatment averages 9.7 (range 5.0-21.5 years), and the mean accumulated dose of prednisone was 46.7 g (range 10.7-160 g). Thirteen of twenty-one (61.9%) patients had cortical thickness between 1 and 2 standard deviations (s.d.) below the age- and sex-specific mean for normals, but only four (19%) patients fell below 2 s.d. Although the study indicated decreased cortical thickness in the prednisone-treated group, in only one (4.8%) patient were vertebral fractures present, an incidence not unexpected in this age group. In serious chronic asthma, concern for bone structure should not prohibit the cautious use of appropriate corticosteroid regimens at the lowest possible maintenance dose.
Electrical Properties of Background-Limited Membrane-Isolation Transition-Edge Sensing Bolometers for Far-IR/Submillimeter Direct-Detection Spectroscopy

We built and measured the electrical properties of membrane-isolation transition-edge sensing bolometers (TESs) suitable for background-limited far-IR/submillimeter direct-detection spectroscopy. Each TES consists of a Mo/Au bilayer patterned onto a suspended, thermally isolated absorber that is connected to the substrate through four SixNy beams deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). We fabricated TESs with straight and meander support beams. The dimensions of the meander (straight) support beams are 700 μm (700 μm) long by 0.25 μm (0.5 μm) thick by 0.35 μm (0.5 μm) wide. We measured I–V characteristics for these TESs and determined that the thermal conductance G equals 72 fW/K (straight) and 19 fW/K (meander) for our best devices. The thermal conductance exhibits a T1/2 dependence with temperature which is evidence of effective elastic scattering of the acoustic phonon modes. The transition temperatures Tc for the same TESs are Tc=137 mK (straight) and Tc=71 mK (meander). If we assume the TESs are temperature-fluctuation noise limited, then the derived noise equivalent power (NEP) equals 1.9×10−19 W/Hz1/2 (straight) and 6.1×10−20 W/Hz1/2 (meander), using our measured values for G and Tc. The meander-beam TES has a derived NEP that is close to two orders of magnitude lower than the state-of-the-art. Finally, we measured an effective time constant τ of about 300 ms (straight) and 400 ms (meander) using electrical and optical pulses. These values for the NEP and τ for the meander-beam TES meet the requirements for the Background-Limited far-IR/Submillimeter Spectrograph (BLISS), a proposed NASA instrument.
Gonadotropin Suppression in Normal Males and Males with 1° Hypogonadism: Evaluation of Four Androgens

Serum concentrations of FSH and LH have been evaluated during treatment with four commonly prescribed androgens. In the first study, five adult males with primary gonadal failure were treated for four weeks with each of four regimens: 17α-methyl testosterone [MT] (40 mg/day or 50 mg/day), fluoxymesterone [F] (50 mg/day), and testosterone cypionate [TC] (200 mg). LH was not suppressed by either dose of MT but was suppressed by F (P < 0.02). Both FSH and LH were suppressed for up to 3 weeks (P < 0.05) after a single injection of TC. In the second study, testosterone enanthate [TE] was evaluated as a contraceptive in 20 normal men. After two weeks (200 mg/week), the concentration of testosterone increased from 661 ± 29 ng/dl to approximately 1050 ng dl (P < 0.001) and serum gonadotropins had fallen to very low or undetectable levels. After 12 weeks of this regimen, 11 men had ≤ 1 million sperm/ml of semen, but 3 had ≥ 10 million sperm/ml. When 200 mg of TE was given every 3 weeks, serum levels of FSH and LH normalized and sperm density increased. These studies indicate that exogenous androgens can be used to suppress gonadotropins and spermatogenesis; however, each of these four available androgens has limitations. A more potent, longer acting androgen with low toxicity is needed if this approach to the development of a male contraceptive is to be pursued.
Effect of renal medullary H2O2 on salt-induced hypertension and renal injury

Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) and consomic, salt-resistant SS-13BN rats possess substantial differences in blood pressure salt-sensitivity even with highly similar genetic backgrounds. The present study...
Large population speaker recognition using wideband and telephone speech

The two largest factors affecting automatic speaker identification performance are the size of the population to be distinguished among and the degradations introduced by noisy communication channels (e.g., telephone transmission). To experimentally examine these two factors, this paper presents text-independent speaker identification results for varying speaker population sizes up to 630 speakers for both clean, wideband speech and telephone speech. A system based on Gaussian mixture speaker models is used for speaker identification and experiments are conducted on the TIMIT and NTIMIT databases. The aims of this study are to (1) establish how well text-independent speaker identification can perform under near ideal conditions for very large populations (using the TIMIT database), (2) gauge the performance loss incurred by transmitting the speech over the telephone network (using the NTIMIT database), and (3) examine the validity of current models of telephone degradations commonly used in developing compensation techniques (using the NTIMIT calibration signals). This is believed to be the first speaker identification experiments on the complete 630 speaker TIMIT and NTIMIT databases and the largest text-independent speaker identification task reported to date. Identification accuracies of 99.5% and 60.7% are achieved on the TIMIT and NTIMIT databases, respectively.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Measurements of cross sections relevant to γ-ray line astronomy

Gamma-ray production cross sections have been measured for the γ-ray lines which are most strongly excited in the proton bombardment of C, O, Mg, Si, and Fe targets of natural isotopic composition. High resolution germanium detectors were used to collect γ-ray spectra at proton bombarding energies of 20, 30, 33, 40 and 50 MeV.
The reactions of substituted acyclic 1,3-butadienes on photoexcited TiO2 in acetonitrile

Abstract The reactivities of 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene, and isomeric 2,4-hexadienes in irradiated TiO 2 /acetonitrile suspensions were studied. The sterically hindered and conformational restricted dienes appear to be adsorbed at the surface to a lesser extent and/or in a less reactive conformation. The formation of the reaction products is rationalized in terms of hole catalyzed reaction pathways leading to the formation of resonance stabilized radical cations which react with surface adsorbed superoxide anion to yield peroxy radical adducts. Based on the major products it does not appear hydroxyl radicals, even with the addition of water to solvent, can compete with the radical cation reaction pathways under these experimental conditions.
Metal particle size effects in the dielectric response of metal-insulator composites

Abstract Metal-insulator composites consisting of nanometer-sized Au particles in a Si0 2 matrix were prepared by a novel technique which, for the first time, allows for control of metal particle size independent of metal volume fraction. Electron energy loss and optical studies show that the effective dielectric function (EDF) of these composites depends not only on metal volume fraction, but also on metal particle size. These results can not be explained by current effective dielectric function theories with size-independent metal dielectric function. However, quantum size effects partly account for the size-dependent properties of these composites.
Ca2+ Modulation of ANF-RGC: New Signaling Paradigm Interlocked with Blood Pressure Regulation

ANF-RGC is the prototype receptor membrane guanylate cyclase that is both the receptor and the signal transducer of the most hypotensive hormones, ANF and BNP. It is a single-transmembrane protein. After binding these hormones at the extracellular domain, ANF-RGC at its intracellular domain signals the activation of the C-terminal catalytic module and accelerates the production of the second messenger, cyclic GMP, which controls blood pressure, cardiac vasculature, and fluid secretion. At present, this is the sole transduction mechanism and the physiological function of ANF-RGC. Through comprehensive studies involving biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and blood pressure measurements in mice with targeted gene deletions, this study demonstrates a new signaling model of ANF-RGC that also controls blood pressure. In this model, (1) ANF-RGC is not the transducer of ANF and BNP, (2) its extracellular domain is not used for signaling, and (3) the signal flow is not downstream from the extracellular domain to ...
Fan-shaped coma, orientation of rotation axis, and surface structure of a cometary nucleus. I - Test of a model on four comets

Pronounced anisotropy in the outgassing from comets, especially from short-period ones, appears to be a factor responsible for the frequent occurrence of a fan-shaped coma, extending in the general direction of the sun. It is suggested that the pattern of deviations from the sunward direction contains information on the orientation of the spin axis and on the time lag in the sublimation process, which in turn provides insight into the nature of the nuclear surface. A simple model of a spherical rotating nucleus is formulated and a trial-and-error technique is devised to determine the axis-orientation constants and a lag angle, a measure of the time lag in units of the rotation period. The method is applied to the comets Encke, Tempel 2, Borrelly, and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3.
TRANSPORT IN THE HIGHLY POLARIZED FERMI SYSTEM - A MIXTURE OF DEGENERATE AND CLASSICAL FLUIDS

It is shown that, at low temperature and high polarization, a spin-1/2 Fermi system becomes a mixture of a degenerate fluid (up spins) and a fluid described by Boltzmann statistics (down spins). The down spins become classical when the polarization is so high that their Fermi energy becomes much less thankT. For weakly interacting systems the coefficients of thermal conductivity, viscosity, and spin diffusion are computed by kinetic theory arguments and from the Boltzmann equation. Comparisons are made with coefficients of the fully degenerate systems at zero and high polarization; altered temperature and magnetic field dependences result.
The Romantic Lecture in an Age of Paper (Money): Jean Paul’s Literary Aesthetics across Print and Orality

This article examines Jean Paul's partially fictionalized "Leipzig" lectures at the end of his Vorschule der Aesthetik, asking as to how Jean Paul reflects on literary criticism’s movement across print and oral forms of presentation. Situating the Vorschule against the backdrop of Romantic cultures of scholarly lecturing, I argue that Jean Paul expressly highlights the mediality of literary and critical language, and I discuss the applicability of recent media theoretical concepts of remediation and intermediality to the phenomenon of the Romantic lecture.
General selection of lattice shape in ductile-reinforced brittle structures for increased stiffness

Abstract Ductile reinforcements are used in brittle structures to increase the overall stiffness and strength. However, the optimum lattice shape geometry according to which the ductile reinforcements must be laid down, has not been generally established. In this work, a ductile isotropic lattice structure is constructed from a unit cell and the brittle matrix is “filled” in the empty spaces thereafter. In homogeneous stress conditions, the brittle part will experience the same applied remote stress as is felt by the ductile lattice. The statistical theory of brittle failure is invoked to bring home the point that the unit cell area of the lattice is arbitrary (for a given total area) and hence the lattice shape geometry does not influence the probability of survival of the structure. Therefore, a suitable geometry shape (triangle or square) maybe chosen to further enhance the overall stiffness at a given probability of survival. It has been concluded that an (equilateral) triangular lattice is better suited compared to a square lattice if the ductile reinforcement lattice bars have the same stiffness. The technique and conclusion is generally true for any choice of brittle and ductile materials. Also, the conclusion holds true for both compressive and tensile loading.
Discontinuous Galerkin time domain method for diode modeling

Discontinuous Galerkin time-domain (DGTD) methods provide an accurate high-order solution of Maxwell's eqations. In general, DG methods decompose the computational domain into a number of disjoint polyhedral elements. For each polyhedron, electromagnetic (EM) fields are evaluated as the linear combination of the set of local basis functions. Across element interfaces, the tangential continuity of fields are weakly enforced through the so-called numerical flux. Being discontinuous, DG methods support various types and shapes of elements, non-conformal meshes and local choice of basis function type and order. Further, the resultant mass matrix is a block diagonal matrix, thus it can lead to a fully explicit time-marching scheme in time-domain solution. And this leads to high efficiency in parallelization. Compared with frequency-domain method, time-domain method can characterize the broadband properties through a single simulationl thus it is suitable for modeling and capturing non-linear phenomenon.
Automatic extraction of biomolecular interactions: an empirical approach.

Background We describe a method for extracting data about how biomolecule pairs interact from texts. This method relies on empirically determined characteristics of sentences. The characteristics are efficient to compute, making this approach to extraction of biomolecular interactions scalable. The results of such interaction mining can support interaction network annotation, question answering, database construction, and other applications.
Schwann Cell Surface Proteins and Glycoproteins

: To identify surface sialoglycoproteins of rat Schwann cells and to compare molecular weights of these sialoglycoproteins with those present in rat peripheral nervous system myelin, we prepared Schwann cells from sciatic nerves of 1–3-day-old rats and cultured them in monolayer. Surface sialoglycoproteins of the cultured cells were tritium-labeled by the periodateborohydride procedure and compared with sialoglycoproteins of adult rat peripheral nervous system myelin by fluorography following polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Three radioactive bands with apparent molecular weights of 114,000–132,000, 105,000–115,000, and 44,000–56,000 were observed in both the Schwann cell and myelin preparations. Bands of similar apparent molecular weights were noted in Schwann cells metabolically radiolabeled with d-[1,6-3H]glucosamine. A band co-migrating with myelin P0 glycoprotein was the most intensely radiolabeled of all peptides in periodate-B3H4−treated myelin, but was present in only trace amounts in periodate-B3H4− or d-[1,6-3H]glucosamine radiolabeled Schwann cells. Many presumably non-myelin glycoproteins were identified in the cultured Schwann cells by the periodate-borohydride procedure and by incubation of the cells with d-[1,6-3H]glucosamine. An immunoprecipitation technique was used to detect radiolabeled peptides in a nonionic detergent extract of freshly prepared, surface-radioiodinated Schwann cells that were bound by a rabbit anti-Schwann cell serum preabsorbed with rat fibroblasts. Many radioactive peptides were detected in the immunoprecipitate, but the two most intensely radiolabeled had apparent molecular weights of 105,000–115,000 and 95,000–106,000. This study has identified a number of glycoproteins synthesized by cultured rat Schwann cells which resemble in apparent molecular weight the glycoproteins expressed in rat peripheral nervous system myelin and has defined Schwann cell surface proteins recognized by a specific anti-rat Schwann cell antiserum.
Poisoning Parent-Child Relationships Through the Manipulation of Names

Manipulating names can change the way children relate to and identify with their parents. Some parents use pejorative labels to refer to the target of alienation, encourage the children to refer to a parent by first name, or refer to the children by new names that mask their relationship to the other parent. This article describes how such practices influence children to align with one parent against the other, how parents' responses mediate the harmful impact of such practices, and how professionals can assist parents to help prevent name manipulation from contributing to the entrenchment of parental alienation.
Widespread intratumoral virus distribution with fractionated injection enables local control of large human rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts by oncolytic herpes simplex viruses

Novel methods of local control for sarcomas are needed. We investigated the antitumor effect of two related herpes simplex virus (HSV) mutants, NV1020 and NV1066, on human rhabdomyosracoma cells and xenografts. Cell death correlated with virus replication and apoptosis in cultured cells and tumors. Complete regression was seen in all tumors 250 mm3 showed a complete response. Fractionation of the virus dose into five injection sites did not increase transduction efficiency, transgene expression, or virus production, but did yield more widespread intratumoral distribution. Despite the same total dose of virus, improved control of large tumors was seen using fractionated injections as all large tumors (500–700 mm3) had durable, complete regression. Our data suggest that oncolytic HSVs may be useful for local control of bulky rhabdomyosarcoma tumors and that fractionated virus administration results in a more widespread virus infection and better tumor control. Therefore, strategies to maximize intratumoral virus distribution at initial delivery should be sought.
The Cerebellum and Sleep

The importance of the cerebellum in sleep disorders, and vice versa, is only beginning to be understood. Advanced neuroimaging modalities have revealed cerebellar changes in both common and rare sleep disorders. Sleep disorders in those with genetic cerebellar disease, such as spinocerebellar ataxia, Friedreich ataxia, Joubert syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia, include excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements of sleep, obstructive apnea, central apnea, and rapid eye movement behavior disorder. Sleep medicine is an important and under-recognized part of the neurologic evaluation in those with cerebellar disease.
Large scale simulations of two-dimensional nonpremixed methane jet flames

Abstract Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) of two-dimensional nonpremixed methane jet flames are conducted to assess the performance of subgrid-scale LES models and reduced kinetics mechanisms in transitional and turbulent flows. The LES is via the recently developed “filtered mass density function” (FMDF) method of Jaberi et al. [1] . The FMDF represents the single-point joint probability density function (PDF) of the mass weighted subgrid-scale scalar quantities, and is obtained by solving its transport equation via a Lagrangian Monte Carlo scheme. In the FMDF transport equation, the effects of chemistry appear in a closed form, allowing reliable LES of turbulent flames with complex chemistry models. The LES/FMDF results are appraised by detailed comparisons with DNS data for various reduced and skeletal mechanisms. It is shown that the filtered values of the major and minor species and the compositional structure of the methane flames are accurately predicted by FMDF for all the tested chemistry models. However, the DNS and LES results as obtained by the reduced mechanisms are found to be substantially different than those calculated by the skeletal mechanism in some flow conditions. This is consistent with our laminar coflow and counterflow jet results, and indicates the importance of kinetics models in the numerical simulation of transitional/turbulent hydrocarbon flames.
The thermoelastic behavior of isolated aortic strips of the dog.

A detailed thermodynamic study of isolated strips of dog aorta is basic to the interpretation of the nonlinear and apparently rubber-like elastic behavior of such specimens. Experimental data indicate that the retractile force in isolated aortic strips of the dog is entropic. Volume changes with elongation in such strips are negligible. However, a large negative internal energy contribution to the total force is present at small elongations. Studies of aortic strips extracted with alkali suggest that the latter force arises from the elastic tissue itself.
Interleukin-17 inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Interleukin 17(A) (IL-17) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that acts as a central regulator of inflammatory response within the brain, but its physiological roles under non-inflammatory conditions remain elusive. Here we report that endogenous IL-17 ablates neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus. Genetic deletion of IL-17 increased the number of adult-born neurons in the DG. Further, we found that IL-17 deletion altered cytokine network, facilitated basal excitatory synaptic transmission, enhanced intrinsic neuronal excitability, and increased expression of proneuronal genes in neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs). Our findings suggest a profound role of IL-17 in the negative regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis under physiology conditions.
AVAS Best Clinical Resident Award (Tied): fate of non-designated preliminary general surgery residents seeking a categorical residency position.

Abstract Background As pyramidal programs in general surgery were eliminated in recent decades, nondesignated preliminary surgery (NDPS) positions were introduced to fill vacant positions. Graduating medical students can pursue NDPS positions with the goal of obtaining categorical positions in either general surgery residencies or other fields altogether. The fate of residents who complete 2 years as NDPS residents remains ill defined. Methods From 1997 to 2007, data concerning NDPS residents were prospectively collected from 2 general surgery training programs. Trainees were followed by prospectively gathered data, Internet identification, and internal records of hospital privileging. Results One hundred ten graduating medical students initiated postgraduate training as NDPS residents. Seventy-four (67%) were men, and 98 (89%) were international medical graduates. Among all 110 subjects, 95 (86%) were hired as postgraduate year 1 NDPS residents, and 15 (14%) were hired as postgraduate year 2 NDPS residents. Fifteen (14%) left postgraduate medical education. Fifty-two NDPS residents (47%) pursued nonsurgical specialties after their internships. Forty-three (39%) eventually matriculated as categorical general surgical residents. Of these, 20 (47%) became categorical residents in their initial training programs. Nearly all NDPS residents who proceed to categorical positions obtained board certification. Conclusions More than one third of NDPS residents successfully obtained categorical general surgery positions. Only a small fraction (14%) failed to continue in postgraduate medical education. NDPS positions allow most candidates successful career paths. The persistent rate of attrition among categorical surgical residents allows NDPS residents to join categorical training programs and become eligible for board certification in general surgery.
Political Science: Coalitions, Motives, and Payoffs: A Classroom Simulation of Mixed-Motive Negotiations

The classroom simulation laid out in this article is designed to provide the social science instructor with an active learning method for teaching a variety of abstract concepts found in various social science fields. It also is a way for students to understand the concepts of mixed-motive negotiations without necessarily having to decipher the often heavily formal theoretical constructs found in much of the literature on negotiation and bargaining. The simulation is assisted by a spreadsheet model used to generate payoffs for the student negotiators. Many of the substantive applications discussed are taken from international relations because of the author’s disciplinary background, but others include issues regarding the stability of coalitions in legislative bargaining environments, the mix of conflictual and cooperative motives existing across parties in labor negotiations, and considerations of fairness and justice in negotiated settlements.
Small-dollar accounts, children's college outcomes, and wilt

Abstract This is paper four of four in the Small-Dollar Children's Savings Account series, which studies the relationship between children's small-dollar savings accounts and college enrollment and graduation. This series of papers examines three important research questions using different subsamples: (a) Are children with savings of their own more likely to attend or graduate from college? (b) Does dosage (i.e., having no account, only basic savings, savings designated for school [of less than $1, $1 to $499, or $500 or more]) matte? And (c) is having savings designated for school more predictive than having basic savings alone? In this study we use a sample of children who expect to graduate college prior to leaving high school as a way of looking at wilt. In this study “wilt” occurs when a child who expects to graduate from college while in high school does not graduate college by 2009. Using propensity score weighted data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and its supplements we created multi-treatment dosages of savings accounts and amounts to answer the previous questions. We find that in the aggregate children who expect to graduate college prior to leaving high school (high-expectation children) and who designate savings for school of $500 or more are about two times more likely to graduate college than high-expectation children with no account. High-expectation low- and moderate-income (LMI) children who designate school savings of $1 to $499 and $500 or more are about three times more likely to graduate college than LMI children with no account. Further, high-expectation black children who have school savings of $500 or more are about two and half times more likely to graduate from college than their counterparts with no savings account.
Inflammatory breast carcinoma: A distinct entity?

Sixty-four patients with the diagnosis of either inflammatory or locally advanced breast cancer were analyzed with respect to age, menopausal status, estrogen receptor protein (ERP) measurements, characteristics on clinical presentation, disease-free interval (DFI), and overall survival. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the patients' clinical presentation, DFI, or overall survival time. Patients with inflammatory carcinoma were significantly younger as well as more likely to be pre- or perimenopausal than patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Of those patients who had ERP measurements performed, patients with inflammatory breast cancer had a significantly decreased incidence of ERP(+) tumors in comparison to patients with locally advanced breast cancer. These results suggest that inflammatory carcinoma of the breast behaves as an ERP(-) subtype of locally advanced breast carcinoma rather than a truly distinct entity.
Exploration of the effects of predictive testing for Huntington disease on intimate relationships

The focus in predictive testing for Hunting-ton disease is beginning to shift from individuals at risk to an examination of the effects on other relatives, particularly on spouses and partners. We examine the effects of participating in a predictive testing program for 25 couples. When assessed prior to testing, spouses were significantly more depressed than their at-risk partners. After pretest counseling, 6 (24%) of the couples chose not to pursue testing. At baseline, these 6 couples had significantly higher levels of psychological distress and marital dysfunction than couples who did choose to complete testing. Of the 19 couples completing testing, 5 received an increased risk result and 14 received a decreased risk result. Prior to testing, the partners of individuals who later received an increased risk result exhibited higher levels of marital distress. At 3- and 6-month follow-ups, high-risk couples were significantly more distressed than low-risk couples. These levels of distress improved somewhat at 9 months after testing, but began to climb again at 12 months. Individuals at increased risk were significantly more distressed at all points during follow-up as compared to individuals at low risk. No significant differences were found between the partners of high- and low-risk individuals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after disclosure. The significance of these findings and the need to include partners in pretest counseling prior to genetic testing are discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
spirits and voices in Tamil songs

In the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, women agricultural laborers belonging to untouchable castes sing many songs giving voice to their complex feelings concerning the nature of human relations. Not directly, but by means of stylistic variations in the lyrics of their songs, the singers considered here contrast hierarchical and exclusionary social relations with relations of love between equals, in which the boundaries between lovers dissolve. In this paper, a few such love songs are viewed through the analytic framework developed by M. M. Bakhtin, with whom, it is suggested, South Indian untouchables may have some feelings and values in common.
Spike threshold dynamics shape the response of subthalamic neurons to cortical input

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a population of autonomously active glutamatergic neurons within the basal ganglia (BG) that innervates BG output nuclei and is reciprocally connected with the globus pallidus (GP). The STN receives cortical input and so forms a direct bridge to BG output nuclei that bypasses the striatum. The STN's response to cortical stimulation in vivo begins at very short latency (2-5 ms) and consists of two excitatory peaks divided by a brief period of inhibition. The brief inhibition is generally ascribed to disynaptic inhibition from the GP, but signs of cortically-evoked inhibition persist in some STN recordings made in rats with GP lesions. We investigated the contribution of intrinsic properties to the STN's response to cortical excitation by studying their response to cortical fiber stimulation in brain slices in the presence of GABAergic antagonists. Responses to relatively strong stimulation often exhibited two distinct excitatory peaks in the PSTH separated by a gap that resembles inhibition. The distribution of latencies to the first poststimulus spike could also exhibit this gap, so this effect cannot be attributed to the AHP of the first spike. We found that spikes fired shortly after the onset of large EPSPs were triggered at a substantially lowered threshold (2-7 mV). The threshold dropped rapidly (within 1-2 ms of EPSP onset) and rose quickly back to the baseline level (or to a slightly elevated threshold). This drop in threshold can explain the two peaks seen in PSTHs and latency distributions: the cell fires immediately when above the lowered threshold but must otherwise wait until reaching the higher baseline threshold if it misses the narrow low-threshold window. Thus, EPSP-evoked changes in spike threshold can both facilitate a rapid, short-latency response in the STN to strong cortical input and change the firing pattern evoked by that input. Smaller EPSPs advance the time of the next spike but evoke smaller changes in spike threshold that do not produce the appearance of an excitation-inhibition sequence. The change in firing pattern associated with large EPSPs could allow targets of STN projections to distinguish activity driven by sharp increases in cortical drive from autonomous or tonically-driven activity. A model of the STN's response to cortical input suggests that two modes of operation--a coincidence-detecting short latency response to sharp increases in excitation and a more subtle response to smaller fluctuations in synaptic drive--can coexist and operate in parallel.
Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Fractionation during Biodegradation of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether

Carbon and hydrogen isotopic fractionation during aerobic biodegradation of MTBE by a bacterial pure culture (PM1) and a mixed consortia from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) were studied in order to assess the relative merits of stable carbon versus hydrogen isotopic analysis as an indicator of biodegradation. Carbon isotopic enrichment in residual MTBE of up to 8.1‰ was observed at 99.7% biodegradation. Carbon fractionation was reproducible in the PM1 and VAFB experiments, yielding similar enrichment factors (e) of −2.0‰ ± 0.1‰ to −2.4‰ ± 0.3‰ for replicates in the PM1 experiment and −1.5‰ ± 0.1‰ to −1.8‰ ± 0.1‰ for replicates in the VAFB experiment. Hydrogen isotopic fractionation was highly reproducible for the PM1 pure cultures, with e values of −33‰ ± 5‰ to −37‰ ± 4‰ for replicate samples. In the VAFB microcosms, there was considerably more variability in e values, with values of −29‰ ± 4‰ and −66‰ ± 3‰ measured for duplicate sample bottles. Despite this variability, hydrogen isotopic fractionation ...
State-to-state differential cross sections for the reaction Cl (2P32) + CH4 (ν3 = 1, J = 1) → HCl (v′ = 1, J′) + CH3

A mixture of methane and chlorine molecules in a helium carrier is expanded into a vacuum chamber using a pulsed valve. Polarized laser photolysis of Cl2 at 355 nm is used to produce Cl (2P32) with a sharply peaked speed distribution and a known angular distribution. Methane molecules are excited in the asymmetric stretch mode by infrared absorption to the ν3 = 1, J = 1 state. Following a 100 ns time delay to allow for reaction, Hcl (v′ = 1, J′) product molecules are probed by (2 + 1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. The resulting photoions are detected with both mass and velocity resolution using a linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Application of the methods described by Shafer , allows determination of the differential cross section for the specific rovibrational state ionized at a center-of-mass collision energy of 0.159 eV. The time-of-flight data show a change in the product angular distribution with J′ and thus demonstrate the importance of measuring quantum-state-resolved differential cross sections for elucidating the dynamics of this reaction system.
Acute Bacterial Meningitis at Boston City Hospital during 12 Selected Years, 1935–1972

Data are presented on the occurrence of and mortality rate from acute bacterial meningitis at Boston City Hospital during 12 years between 1935 and 1972 selected in relation to the introduction of potent antibacterial agents. The most frequent causative organisms were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae, but large proportions were caused by other gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli. The greatest reduction in mortality rate after antibiotics became widely used was in patients with meningococcal and influenzal meningitis who were A 19 years old. Less striking reductions occurred in cases of other etiologies in patients a 59 years old, but in those - 60 years old, the mortality rate remained high, and the proportion of cases of meningitis in that age group more than doubled. Comparisons with similar data on all bacteremic infections are presented.
State regulation, payment policies, and nurse-midwife services

State regulatory and reimbursement policies continue to exert a strong influence on health workforce policy. Surveys conducted in 1991 and 1995 for the purpose of examining the impact of state regulation on the supply and practice of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) showed that the single best predictor of the distribution and practice activities of CNMs was the degree to which state policies facilitated or restricted CNM practice.
Causes for the Persistence of Impact Factor Mania

ABSTRACT Numerous essays have addressed the misuse of the journal impact factor for judging the value of science, but the practice continues, primarily as a result of the actions of scientists themselves. This seemingly irrational behavior is referred to as "impact factor mania." Although the literature on the impact factor is extensive, little has been written on the underlying causes of impact factor mania. In this perspective, we consider the reasons for the persistence of impact factor mania and its pernicious effects on science. We conclude that impact factor mania persists because it confers significant benefits to individual scientists and journals. Impact factor mania is a variation of the economic theory known as the "tragedy of the commons," in which scientists act rationally in their own self-interests despite the detrimental consequences of their actions on the overall scientific enterprise. Various measures to reduce the influence of the impact factor are considered. IMPORTANCE Science and scientists are currently afflicted by an epidemic of mania manifested by associating the value of research with the journal where the work is published rather than the content of the work itself. The mania is causing profound distortions in the way science is done that are deleterious to the overall scientific enterprise. In this essay, we consider the forces responsible for the persistence of the mania and conclude that it is maintained because it disproportionately benefits elements of the scientific enterprise, including certain well-established scientists, journals, and administrative interests. Our essay suggests steps that can be taken to deal with this debilitating and destructive epidemic.
Stress ulcer prophylaxis in trauma patients

Introduction A number of issues concerning stress ulcer prophylaxis remain unresolved despite numerous randomized, controlled trials and several meta-analyses. The role of stress ulcer prophylaxis, particularly in trauma patients, is further complicated by the lack of trials utilizing clinically important bleeding as an endpoint. Given the lack of consensus regarding stress ulcer prophylaxis in trauma patients, prescribing practices at Level I trauma centers in the United States were assessed.
Acrosclerosis associated with vibration: an electron microscopic study

A case of typical vibration-induced acrosclerosis was studied with the electron microscope. In addition to increased collagenization of the dermis, vascular wall and perivascular spaces, a severe vacuolization and an increased number of lysosomes in the vascular endothelia cells were observed. In many peripheral nerves, axonal degeneration, demyelination and an extensive collagenization of peri- and endoneurium were observed. These changes appeared to be the organic basis for sclerosis and neuropathies of this condition.
Ultrafast tunable light in the deep UV

Summary form only given. We demonstrate the generation of ultrafast, tunable, VUV light using wave mixing and harmonic generation processes within gas-filled hollow-core fibers. Four- and six-wave mixing processes, as well as 3-15th order harmonic generation processes, are used to generate the VUV light. We demonstrate the generation of macroscopic conversion efficiencies, as well as the role of nonlinear and cascaded processes, at wavelengths between 50 and 300 nm for the first time.
Biological sensitivity to context: II. Empirical explorations of an evolutionary–developmental theory

In two studies comprising 249 children and their families, the authors utilized secondary, exploratory data analyses to examine Boyce and Ellis’ ~this issue! evolutionary‐developmental theory of biological sensitivity to context. The theory proposes that individual differences in stress reactivity constitute variation in susceptibility to environmental influence, both positive and negative, and that early childhood exposures to either highly protective or acutely stressful environments result in heightened reactivity. In Study 1, 127 3- to 5-year old children were concurrently assessed on levels of support0adversity in home and preschool environments and on cardiovascular reactivity to laboratory challenges. In Study 2, 122 children were prospectively assessed on familial stress in both infancy and preschool and on autonomic and adrenocortical reactivity to laboratory challenges at age 7. In both studies, a disproportionate number of children in supportive, low stress environments displayed high autonomic reactivity. Conversely, in Study 2, a relatively high proportion of children in very stressful environments showed evidence of heightened sympathetic and adrenocortical reactivity. Consistent with the evolutionary‐developmental theory, the exploratory analyses also generated the testable hypothesis that relations between levels of childhood support0adversity and the magnitude of stress reactivity are curvilinear, with children from moderately stressful environments displaying the lowest reactivity levels in both studies.
The statistical performance of the MUSIC and the minimum-norm algorithms in resolving plane waves in noise

This paper presents an asymptotic statistical analysis of the null-spectra of two eigen-assisted methods, MUSIC [1] and Minimum-Norm [2], for resolving independent closely spaced plane waves in noise. Particular attention is paid to the average deviation of the null-spectra from zero at the true angles of arrival for the plane waves. These deviations are expressed as functions of signal-to-noise ratios, number of array elements, angular separation of emitters, and the number of snapshots. In the case of MUSIC. an approximate expression is derived for the resolution threshold of two plane waves with equal power in noise. This result is validated by Monte Carlo simulations.
The resistive wall mode and feedback control physics design in NSTX

One of the goals of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is to investigate the physics of global mode stabilization in a low aspect ratio device. NSTX has a major radius R0 = 0.86 m, a midplane half-width of 0.7 m, and an on-axis vacuum toroidal field B0 0.6 T and has reached a plasma current Ip = 1.5 MA. Experiments have established the wall-stabilized MHD operating space of the machine. The maximum βt and βN have reached 35% and 6.5%, respectively, with βN reaching 9.5li. Collapses in plasma toroidal rotation and βt have been correlated with violation of the n = 1 ideal MHD beta limit, β Nn o-wall, computed by the DCON stability code using timeevolving EFIT reconstructions of experimental discharges. The resistive wall mode (RWM) was observed over a wide range of βN when β Nn o-wall was exceeded. Plasma toroidal rotation damping during the RWM was rapid and global. Damping rates were more than five times larger than caused by low toroidal mode number rotating modes alone, which displayed a slower, diffusive rotation damping away from the rational surface. The rotation damping rate and dynamics depend on the applied toroidal field and the computed minimum value of the safety factor. The computed RWM perturbed field structure from experimental plasma reconstructions has been input to the VALEN feedback analysis code for quantitative comparison of experimental and theoretical RWM growth rates and to analyse the effectiveness of various active feedback stabilization designs. The computed RWM n = 1 mode growth rate, which depends on plasma equilibrium parameters such as βN and pressure profile peaking, agrees well with experimental growth rates in different operating regimes. Increasing βN in the ST initially improves mode coupling to the stabilizing wall; however, at the highest βN values reached, the ideal with-wall beta limit, βN wall, is approached, the effectiveness of the passive stabilizing plates is reduced, and the computed RWM growth rate approaches ideal MHD growth rates. Several active mode control designs were considered and evaluated. The most effective configuration is computed to provide stabilization at βN up to 94% of the ideal with-wall limit.
The Effect of Transient Dopamine Antagonism on Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone-Induced Prolactin Release in Ovariectomized Rats Treated with Estradiol and/or Progesterone

PRL release was studied in ovariectomized (OVX) rats pretreated with estradiol benzoate (EB), progesterone (P), or a combination of both steroids using a protocol that was selected to mimic ovarian steroid changes that have been observed during the female rat 4-day estrous cycle and early pregnancy. On the morning of the experiment, the animals received injections of either the dopamine (DA) antagonist dom-peridone (0.01 mg/rat iv) or vehicle (acetic acid in saline). Five minutes later, all animals received injections of the DA agonist 2-bromo-α-ergocryptine (CB-154; 0.5 mg/rat, iv), followed 60 min later by the administration of TRH (1.0 μg/rat, iv). Plasma obtained from blood samples taken during the experiment was assayed for PRL by RIA. In OVX or P-treated OVX rats, a transient blockade of DA by domperidone did not alter the sensitivity of the pituitary to TRH administration, as measured by an increase in plasma PRL. However, such an effect of DA blockade was induced by 2 days of EB treatment and was ...