cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Descripción del dolor en pacientes con cáncer avanzado atendidos en los hospitales Carlos Van Buren y Eduardo Pereira, 2003-2004

Es un estudio de cohortes historico de 400 pacientes del Programa de Alivio del Dolor, controlados en los policlinicos de los hospitales Carlos van Buren y Eduardo Pereira de Valparaiso entre enero 2003 y diciembre del 2004. Se busco la informacion en los tarjetones de control, hojas de ingreso y egreso de los pacientes del programa. Con la informacion disponible, se confecciono una base de datos con todas las variables a estudiar, las cuales se analizaron con el programa estadistico G-Stat. Busca conocer las caracteristicas epidemiologicas y la variacion de la intensidad del dolor de los pacientes del programa de alivio del dolor por cancer avanzado del Servicio de salud Valparaiso - San Antonio. La mayoria de los pacientes tiene entre 45 a 64 anos; el cancer mas frecuente fue el gastrico (14.75%); los EVA mas bajos se encontraron en etapa I (71,42%) y en etapa II (66.6%); el 33% permanecio entre 0-30 dias y el 6.75% supero el ano. El 62% de la poblacion estudiada en tratamiento analgesico percibio una disminucion del dolor, el 14.25% advirtio aumento en su EVA y el 17.75% no experimento cambio en su nivel del dolor. El perfil epidemiologico es similar al de paises en desarrollo, y los valores de EVA muestran un porcentaje de pacientes donde el dolor no se controlo.
Polaron zeeman effect of shallow donors in CdTe

Abstract Far infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy has been employed to study the Zeeman splitting of the 1 s to 2 p shallow donor impurity transition in CdTe. Polaron effects are observed and are quite well accounted for by Wigner-Brillouin perturbation theory.
Charge penetration and the origin of large O-H vibrational red-shifts in hydrated-electron clusters, (H2O)n-.

The origin of O−H vibrational red-shifts observed experimentally in (H2 clusters is analyzed using electronic structure calculations, including natural bond orbital analysis. The red-shifts are shown to arise from significant charge transfer and strong donor−acceptor stabilization between the unpaired electron and O−H σ* orbitals on a nearby water molecule in a double hydrogen-bond-acceptor (“AA”) configuration. The extent of e- → σ* charge transfer is comparable to the n → σ* charge transfer in the most strongly hydrogen-bonded X-(H2O) complexes (e.g., X = F, O, OH), even though the latter systems exhibit much larger vibrational red-shifts. In X-(H2O), the proton affinity of X- induces a low-energy XH···-OH diabatic state that becomes accessible in v = 1 of the shared-proton stretch, leading to substantial anharmonicity in this mode. In contrast, the H + -OH(H2O)n-1 diabat of (H2 is not energetically accessible; thus, the O−H stretching modes of the AA water are reasonably harmonic, and their red-shifts ...
Occurrence of Post-Acute Recanalization and Collateral Formation in Patients with Cerebral Venous and Sinus Thrombosis. A Serial Venographic Study

Background The underlying mechanism for symptomatic recovery in patients with cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) is not clear, although post-acute recanalization and collateral formation have been proposed as possible mechanisms. To identify the occurrence of recanalization and collateral formation among survivors of CVST and explore its association with symptomatic recovery.
The pebbles project: using PCs and hand-held computers together

Increasingly, people will be in situations where they have multiple communicating computing devices available at the same time. The Pebbles research project is investigating many ways that a hand-held computer such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) can serve as a useful adjunct to the PC in those situations. We have created a large set of applications to support group work in meetings and individual work at the desktop. These run on both Palm Pilots and Windows CE devices, along with a PC. As an example, each hand-held computer can control the main PC's cursor and keyboard to support collaboration. For an individual giving a slide show, the notes and controls for the show can be on the hand-held, while the main computer is running the show. This demonstration will show the large variety of Pebbles applications.
The Relation of Sex Role Identity to Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy.

Abstract This investigation examined the effects of sex-role identity on career decision-making self-efficacy, expanding theoretical premises of self-efficacy to include career behaviors and preferred career outcomes. For androgynous and undifferentiated persons, sex-role identity was related to levels of career decision-making self-efficacy, the number of career exploration behaviors completed, and the valuation of particular outcomes in which rewards are contingent on workers′ abilities. For masculine and feminine persons, the results suggest sex-typing may influence the type of career activities undertaken and the valuation of particular career outcomes. Implications for future research and career guidance are discussed.
Initial ECG in Q wave and non-Q wave myocardial infarction

The initial ECGs in 440 patients admitted for suspected acute myocardial infarction were retrospectively analyzed to determine predictive values of these ECGs for acute myocardial infarction and to determine differences in the initial ECG for Q wave and non-Q wave myocardial infarction. One hundred (23%) of the study patients were diagnosed as having an acute myocardial infarction. Acute injury was seen in 47% of these patients (positive predictive value [PPV], 84%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 72% to 92%), ischemia in 15% (PPV, 39%; 95% CI, 24% to 57%), and left ventricular hypertrophy with strain in 11% (PPV, 19%; 95% CI, 4% to 29%). Forty-three patients were diagnosed as having a Q wave infarction and 50 patients as having a non-Q wave infarction. Seventy-two percent of the patients with a Q wave infarction had acute injury as the initial ECG interpretation compared with 38% in the non-Q wave infarction group (P less than .001). In contrast, only 17% of patients with Q wave infarction had an initial ECG interpretation of ischemia or strain as compared with 36% of patients with non-Q wave infarction (P = .03). Because of the relatively high incidence of acute myocardial infarction in patients admitted with an initial ECG interpretation of ischemia or left ventricular hypertrophy with strain, prospective studies must be performed to determine if selective patients with acute ST segment depression or ischemic T wave inversion in the setting of suspected acute myocardial infarction may benefit from early thrombolytic therapy.
Some Thoughts on Clinical Trials, Especially Problems of Multiplicity.

Problems of statistical and conceptual design of experiments are exacerberated by ethical issues in many, if not most, clinical trials. Statutory requirements of demonstrated effectiveness are far from being clearly resolved--either qualitatively or quantitatively. Ethics, bolstered by informed consent, are likely to keep us from ever learning the answer to many questions. Unbalanced boundaries, focusing-down designs, historical controls, and not-very-sequential designs are among the possible consequences.
Topological defects and differential structures

Abstract Topological defects arising from nontrivial differential structures on space-time are considered. Methods of classifying and distinguishing exotic differential structures are discussed, as are possible physical manifestations.
Thermal Shock Behavior of Silicon Nitride Flexure Beam Specimens with Indentation Cracks

The experimental results of thermal shock testing of silicon nitride flexure beam specimens containing indentation cracks are presented. The thermal stress induced by water quenching is much greater in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction, resulting in an insensitivity of residual bend strength to temperature differences up to 580 C. This result indicates that a flexure beam configuration is not an appropriate geometry for thermal shock testing when thermal shock behavior is to be evaluated from residual bend strength data.
Disruption of the innate immune system by mifepristone and lethal toxin of Clostridium sordellii

The innate immune system is an immediate host response system for combating invading bacteria by initiating a protective local tissue inflammatory response. Pattern recognition molecules that are uniquely expressed in bacteria activate the host's Toll-like receptors to produce cytokines in the form of the pro-inflammatory chemokines and interleukins. If the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines is not properly controlled by cortisol, pro-inflammatory cytokines gain access to the systemic circulation and result in a systemic cytokine storm that is responsible for initiating septic shock and multiple organ dysfunctions. Cortisol-activated glucocorticoid receptors result in the synthesis and release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, which prevents the further synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. During a mifepristone-induced abortion, the blockade of glucocorticoid receptors by mifepristone results in the disruption of the innate immune system. The combination of ischemic decidua, necro...
FRAP-Dependent Serine Phosphorylation of IRS-1 Inhibits IRS-1 Tyrosine Phosphorylation☆☆☆

We have previously shown that interferon-α (IFNα)-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is impaired by serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 due to the reduced ability of serine phosphorylated IRS-1 to serve as a substrate for Janus kinase 1 (JAK1). Here we report that FKBP12–rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP) is a physiologic IRS-1 kinase that blocks IFNα signaling by serine phosphorylating IRS-1. We found that both FRAP and insulin-activated p70 S6 kinase (p70s6k) serine phosphorylated IRS-1 between residues 511 and 772 (IRS-1511–772). Importantly, only FRAP-dependent IRS-1511–772 serine phosphorylation inhibited by 50% subsequent JAK1-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1. Furthermore, treatment of U266 cells with the FRAP inhibitor rapamycin increased IFNα-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation by twofold while reducing constitutive IRS-1 serine phosphorylation within S/T-P motifs by 80%. Taken together, these data indicate that FRAP, but not p70s6k, is a likely physiologic IRS-1 serine kinase that negatively regulates JAK1-dependent IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and suggests that FRAP may modulate IRS-dependent cytokine signaling.
Modern and late Quaternary pollen spectra of fiord sediments, eastern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada

Abstract Pollen spectra of thirty surface samples from Baffin Island fiords are dominated by aBetula/Filicales/Cyperaceae/Gramineae association that is somewhat representative of local or regional vegetation. However,Betula and Filicales are over-represented andSalix, Cyperaceae and Ericales are under-represented compared to their importance in the present vegetation. Two possible causes for this disparity, related to the fluvial processes that furnish most pollen to fiords, are: (1) fluvial reworking of older sediment that contains abundantBetula and Filicales; and (2) greater resistance of these taxa to corrosion and degradation during fluvial transport. The pollen stratigraphy of five piston cores from fiords contains two types of pollen assemblages. In the lower portions of the cores, exotic pollen types and pre-Quaternary palynomorphs are abundant. The upper portions of the cores contain an assemblage roughly representative of the present vegetation, in which Cyperaceae and Gramineae are abundant and exotic and pre-Quaternary types are reduced or absent. The lower assemblage was deposited during the late glacial/deglacial transition and deglaciation ca. 12,000 to 6000 B.P., when eastern Baffin Island had little vegetation cover and long-distance transport and reworking were virtually the only pollen sources. A feature of several cores is a major peak in Dinoflagellates about 5000 B.P. This event may be related to the postglacial marine climatic optimum in the eastern Canadian Arctic between 5000 and 3000 B.P.
Radiofrequency catheter ablation and nerve growth factor concentration in humans

Background In animal models, expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) is increased after necrotic myocardial injury. Whether radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation increases NGF expression in humans is unclear. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine NGF concentrations in the aorta, coronary sinus, and peripheral veins before and after RF ablation in patients. Methods We sampled blood from aorta and either great cardiac vein (group 1, N=18) or proximal (group 2, N=20) coronary sinus before and after RF ablation. In group 3 (N = 21), peripheral venous blood was sampled before and after RF ablation and then up to postoperative day 7. In group 4 (N = 10), we sampled peripheral venous blood during diagnostic electrophysiologic study. The NGF concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transcardiac NGF concentration was the difference in NGF concentrations between coronary sinus and aorta. Results There was no change in transcardiac NGF concentrations in groups 1 and 2. In group 3, the NGF level did not change significantly from before the procedure (17.10 ± 15.80 ng/mL) to immediately after the procedure (14.46 ± 10.36 ng/mL). However, NGF levels increased significantly to 31.24 ± 19.82 ng/mL (N = 21, P P P = .003) on postoperative day 3. NGF concentrations did not change significantly in group 4. Conclusion RF ablation did not result in a detectable increase of transcardiac NGF concentration immediately after the procedure. However, the systemic NGF concentration increased significantly on postoperative days 1 to 3, suggesting that RF ablation resulted in increased NGF expression.
Continuous conjunctival and transcutaneous oxygen tension monitoring during resuscitation in a patient

Abstract Conjunctival ( P cjO 2 ) and transcutaneous ( P tcO 2 ) oxygen tensions were serially measured in a patient with multiple stab wounds. Even though blood pressure was normal, severe hypovolemia due to hemorrhage was detected in the emergency department by abnormally low P cjO 2 P aO 2 and P tcO 2 P aO 2 ratios. The adequacy of resuscitation was established by return of these ratios to normal values. The conjunctival sensor stabilized more rapidly than the transcutaneous sensor and is of greater utility in the emergency setting. It was found that conjunctival and transcutaneous oxygen sensors can play an important role in monitoring clinical state and resuscitation of trauma patients.
{Mo2(O2C ? Ph)2[Ph ? C(NSiMe3)2]2}, ein Benzoato‐Amidinato‐Komplex von Molybdän(II)

Die Titelverbindung wird in Form gelboranger Kristalle bei der Reaktion von Mo2(O2CPh)4 mit N,N,N′-Tris(trimethylsilyl)benzamidin in siedendem Dichlormethan erhalten und durch eine rontgenographische Strukturanalyse charakterisiert. Raumgruppe C2/m, Z = 4, 1886 beobachtete unabhangige Reflexe, R = 5,3%. Gitterabmessungen bei 20°C: a = 2 011,4; b = 1 115,5; c = 1 183,0 pm, β = 114,19°. Die Verbindung hat eine Molekulstruktur, in der die MoMo-Hantel (Bindungslange 208,3 pm) von den O-Atomen zweier Benzoatoliganden und von den N-Atomen zweier Amidinatoliganden chelatartig umgeben ist.
Using negative voting to diversify answers in non-factoid question answering

We propose a ranking model to diversify answers of non-factoid questions based on an inverse notion of graph connectivity. By representing a collection of candidate answers as a graph, we posit that novelty, a measure of diversity, is inversely proportional to answer vertices' connectivity. Hence, unlike the typical graph ranking models, which score vertices based on the degree of connectedness, our method assigns a penalty score for a candidate answer if it is strongly connected to other answers. That is, any redundant answers, indicated by a higher inter-sentence similarity, will be ranked lower than those with lower inter-sentence similarity. At the end of the ranking iterations, many redundant answers will be moved toward the bottom on the ranked list. The experimental results show that our method helps diversify answer coverage of non-factoid questions according to F-scores from nugget pyramid evaluation.
Measurement of nitrous acid in motor vehicle exhaust

Nitrous acid (HONO) is an important tropospheric air pollutant. Photolysis of HONO produces hydroxyl radicals that promote ozone formation. HONO may also adversely affect human health. Sources of HONO include both direct emission from combustion processes and secondary atmospheric formation from nitrogen oxides (NOx). The relative contribution of these sources to ambient HONO concentrations is not well known. In this study, HONO and NOx emissions from on-road vehicles were measured at the Caldecott Tunnel during summer 1995. The Caldecott Tunnel is located on a heavily used highway in the San Francisco Bay area. The mean and median model years of vehicles observed during this study were 1989.3 and 1990, respectively. Nitrous acid was collected on sodium carbonate-coated glass annular denuders; NOx concentrations were measured using chemiluminescent analyzers. Average HONO concentrations in the tunnel exhaust and background air were 6.9 ± 1.4 and 0.7 ± 0.3 ppb, respectively. The average HONO/NOx ratio in m...
Comet showers and the steady-state infall of comets from the Oort cloud

The theoretically-determined location of the boundary between semimajor axes of those comets entering the planetary system only in bursts or showers, and those which arrive in a steady stream, is abrupt and falls at the observed inner edge of the Oort cloud. It is proposed that the comets were formed in the outer parts of the collapsing protosun, which had a radius of less than 5000 AU. If so, then: (1) a first-generation comet cloud may have been produced, with a radius of more than 1000 AU, and the coupled dynamical perturbations of passing stars and Jupiter would lead to the formation of a comet cloud similar to the Oort; while (2) if the Oort cloud comets originated in this inner cloud, and were later ejected into their present orbits by the perturbations of passing stars and Jupiter, the total inner cloud mass is two orders of magnitude greater than that of the Oort cloud.
Glycal Assembly by the in Situ Generation of Glycosyl Dithiocarbamates

Glycal assembly offers an expedient entry into β-linked oligosaccharides, but epoxyglycal donors can be capricious in their reactivities. Treatment with Et2NH and CS2 enables their in situ conversion into glycosyl dithiocarbamates, which can be activated by copper triflate for coupling with complex or sterically congested acceptors. The coupling efficiency can be further enhanced by in situ benzoylation, as illustrated in an 11-step synthesis of a branched hexasaccharide from glucals in 28% isolated yield and just four chromatographic purifications.
Jejunal schwannoma in neurofibromatosis: an unusual cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding

Small intestinal schwannomas are exceedingly rare tumors arising mainly from Schwann cells of Auerbach's plexus, and are usually solitary and asymptomatic. We report the first case of a jejunal schwannoma causing life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with neurofibromatosis.
Theoretical predictions for side-chain liquid-crystal polymers and comparison to experiment

This paper presents results from a new unique microscopic molecular theory for side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers (LCPs) in the nematic (N) and multiple smectic-A (SA) LC phases and the isotropic (I) liquid phase. There are no ad hoc or arbitrarily adjustable parameters in this theory. The agreement between the theoretical and experimental values for various properties (including transition temperatures and quadratic characteristic radii) is very good (relative deviations between 0% and less than 6.2%). The theoretical results also show--for the first time--that the N and I phases for these LCPs involve the packing of plate-like sections of backbones and side chains and that the local bilayer SA phase involves packing of side-chains within a plate-like section. This type of packing is predicted to be typical for side-chain LCPs. This theory can predict--for the first time--whether the side chains of a molecule pack on the same or alternating opposite sides of the backbone and whether side chains on different molecules interdigitate (overlap) with each other. 13 refs., 1 fig., 4 tabs.
Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatuh swartz) seminal root response to calcium (45ca2+) absorption modifiers

Abstract Seminal root‐tips (1‐cm) of Paspalum vaginatum Swartz cv Sea Island I were evaluated for the influence of PCMBS (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mM), nifedipine (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 μM), verapamil (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mM), diltiazem (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mM) orthovanadate (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mM), nitrate (NO3‐) (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mM), and ammonium, (NH4+) (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 mM) on calcium (45Ca2+) absorption. Calcium absorption was inhibited by the Ca2+‐channel blockers (i.e., nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem) and the H+‐ATPase or Ca2+‐ATPase inactivator, PCMBS. Sea Island I seminal root‐tips were vanadate‐insensitive and NO3‐sensitive, indicating the presence of tonoplast‐type ATPases and very little (or none) activity of PM‐type ATPases on the PM. Ammonium did not influence 45Ca2+ absorption by Sea Island I seminal root‐tips.
Development of a tissue culture model for gonococcal invasion

Neisseria gonorrhoeae invasion of the human endometrial cell line HecIB was monitored by electron microscopy. Within six hours postinfection, the gonococci have attached to the surface of some HecIB cells and are embraced by microvilli. Gonococci subsequently enter the HecIB cells in membrane bound vessicles but by eight hours, gonococci can be seen free in the cytoplasm. At twelve hours post-infection some HecIB cells are observed containing hundreds of internalized bacteria. At twentyfour hours gonococci appear in large clusters embedded in a matrix of cellular debris, which are possibly the remains of lysed infected cells. In contrast, N. lactamica is adherent to the monolayer but noninvasive.
AB INITIO CALCULATIONS OF THE 13C NMR SPECTRUM OF 2-PROPYL CATIONS IN ION PAIRS

NMR chemical shift calculations (DFT-GIAO-B3LYP) on the 2-propyl cation in ion pairs were conducted for the Cs conformation (2) found earlier to be the energy minimum of the cation in the ion pair, as well as for the C2 conformation (1), which is the energy minimum of the isolated cation. The level of the agreement between the isotropic chemical shift calculated with the dzvp basis set and the experiment increased with the increase in the calculated negative charge of the anion in the series HLiH-, H3BF -, BF4-, AsF6-, and SbF6-. The calculated charge and the agreeement with experiment also increased with the basis set to tzp for HBF3-, tzp and tz2p for BF4-, and to tzp, tz2p, qz2p, and pz3d for HF2-. The value calculated for the isolated ion was off by 20 ppm and did not improve from the dzvp to the pz3d level, which indicates that even in solution the cations are mostly ion-paired or, even more likely, move in aggegates of varying sizes. From the two conformations of the cation in the ion pair, 2·X- gav...
Decline in polar stratospheric ozone as observed by NOAA infrared sounders

The impact of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) release on the earth's ozone shield is becoming more evident with every passing year. It is imperative that the long term continuous monitoring of this environmental global experiment proceeds by every means possible. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has 14 years of TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) earth radiation data that includes ozone sensitive 9.7 micrometer information. The current 14 year sequence of daily TOVS ozone maps from February 1979 to May 1993 covers a period of unprecedented decline of the earth's ozone shield. Recent Antarctic ozone holes are developing earlier, growing larger and lasting longer than ever before. While there is no evidence as yet of persistent Arctic `sub-250 Dobson Unit' ozone values, the robust Arctic spring ozone peaks of earlier decades have shrunk by a third. Worst of all, 1993 Northern mid-latitude TOVS ozone values dropped to levels 11% below normal. TOVS ozone data is essential for understanding the recent polar ozone declines and their relationship to ozone declines in populous temperate zone regions.
CloudInsight: Shedding Light on the Cloud

Cloud computing provides a revolutionary new computing paradigm for deploying enterprise applications and Internet services. Rather than operating their own data centers, today cloud users run their applications on the remote cloud infrastructures that are owned and managed by cloud providers. However, the cloud computing paradigm also introduces some new challenges in system management. Cloud users create virtual machine instances to run their specific application logic without knowing the underlying physical infrastructure. On the other side, cloud providers manage and operate their cloud infrastructures without knowing their customers' applications. Due to the decoupled ownership of applications and infrastructures, if a problem occurs, there is no visibility for either cloud users or providers to understand the whole context of the incident and solve it quickly. To this end, we propose a software solution, Cloud Insight, to provide some visibility through the middle virtualization layer for both cloud users and providers to address their problems quickly. Cloud Insight automatically tracks each VM instance's configuration status and maintains their life-cycle configuration records in a configuration management database (CMDB). When a user reports a problem, our algorithms automatically analyze CMDB to probabilistically determine the root cause and invoke a recovery process by interacting with the cloud user. Experimental results over data from Amazon EC2 online support forum and NEC Labs' research cloud infrastructures demonstrate that our approach can effectively automate the problem troubleshooting process in cloud environments.
Dual-pump CARS thermometry in sooting acetylene-fueled flames.

We investigate the utility of dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) for investigations of fuel-rich flames with soot volume loadings up to 2.2 ppm. Our initial characterization of a gas-phase propellant simulating burner is presented. The burner investigated consists of alternating fuel and oxidizer tubes with the option for injection of aluminum particles into the flame. We focus on a C2H2-N2-O2 flame, in which no aluminum particles are yet added. For the required flow rates, this burner provides an array of heavily sooting and highly luminous diffusion flames whose temperature is measured by dual-pump CARS. The nature of the observed soot-induced interference in the CARS spectra for several different pump 2 frequencies is documented and CARS temperatures obtained from data in a spectrally “quiet” region, with the CARS signal beam near 483 nm, are presented. Soot volume fractions are imaged by absorption-calibrated laser-induced incandescence (LII) to quantify the soot loadings at which our dual-pump CARS facility provides reliable measurements.
Inter-hemispheric transfer of meaningful visual information in normal human subjects.

IN an earlier study1, normal human subjects made fewer recognition responses to complex random shapes2 successively exposed in opposite visual fields than to those exposed twice in the same visual field. Subjects demonstrated superior recognition of shapes exposed twice in the same visual field even though vision was allowed in one eye during initial exposure and in the other during the recognition test. As each visual field projects to the contralateral cerebral hemisphere, the results were interpreted as indicating that lateralized complex visual input does not automatically traverse the corpus callosum.
Anova for repeated ordinal data with small sample size? a comparison of anova, manova, wls and gee methods by simulation

Repeated ordinal outcomes are common in behavioral and medical sciences. Due to the familiarity, simplicity and robustness of ANOVA methodology, this approach has been frequently used for repeated ordinal data. Weighted least squares (WLS) and generalized estimating equations (GEE) are usually the procedures of choice for repeated ordinal data since, unlike ANOVA, they generally make no or few untenable assumptions. However, these methods are based on asymptotic results and their properties are not well understood for small samples. Moreover, few software packages have procedures for implementing these methods. This paper investigates the performance of ANOVA, MANOVA, WLS, and GEE for repeated ordinal data with small sample sizes. For a design with two groups and four time points, our simulation results indicated that ANOVA with the Huynh‐Feldt adjustment performed matrix, known as sphericity, or the H‐F condition, is a sufficient condition for the usual F tests to be valid. The sphericity condition is me...
Pressure−Volume−Temperature Dependence of Polypropylene/Organoclay Nanocomposites

The pressure−volume−temperature (PVT) dependencies of commercial polypropylene melt (PP) and its nanocomposites containing X wt % of organoclay (Cloisite-15A, or C15) and 2X wt % of a compatibilizer were determined at T = 450−530 K and P = 0.1−190 MPa. C15 was used at concentrations: X = 0, 2, and 4 wt %. Three functionalized PP's were used as compatibilizers: two maleated and one grafted with glycidyl methacrylate. Incorporation of X = 2 wt % C15 into PP resulted in reduction of specific volume by ΔV ≈ 1%, but that of free volume (hole) fraction by Δh ≈ 5%. The latter quantity was computed from the Simha−Somcynsky lattice−hole equation of state. Furthermore, at constant T and P the hole fraction was found to be linearly related to the bulk-average energetic interaction parameter and to be a sensitive indicator of structural changes. In binary (polymer + organoclay) systems Δh is linearly related to the interlayer spacing, d001. So, where statements from the previous paper are repeated or there are simi...
Effects of a novel anti-aggressive agent upon two types of brain stimulated emotional behavior

The effects of anti-agressive agent Sch 12679 were evaluated upon stable baselines of rage and predation elicited by electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus in cats. Sch 12679 depressed approach and terminal aspects of both forms of attack. This is consistent with previous reports, and suggests the drug is effective in reducing many forms of aggression including brain stimulated emotional behavior.
Precancerous model of human breast epithelial cells induced by NNK for prevention

Epidemiological investigations have suggested that exposure to tobacco and environmental carcinogens increase the risk of developing human breast cancer. In light of the chronic exposure of human breast tissues to tobacco and environmental carcinogens, we have taken an approach of analyzing cellular changes of immortalized non-cancerous human breast epithelial MCF10A cells during the acquisition of cancerous properties induced by repeated exposure to the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) at a low concentration of 100 pM. We found that accumulated exposures of MCF10A cells to NNK result in progressive development of cellular carcinogenesis from a stage of immortalization to precancerous sub-stages of acquiring a reduced dependence on growth factors and acquiring anchorage-independent growth. Using Matrigel for MCF10A cells to form size-restricted acini, we detected that exposures to NNK resulted in altered acinar conformation. Analysis of gene expression profiles by cDNA microarrays revealed up- and down-regulated genes associated with NNK-induced carcinogenesis. Using this cellular carcinogenesis model as a target system to identify anticancer agents, we detected that grape seed proanthocyanadin extract significantly suppressed NNK-induced carcinogenesis of MCF10A cells. Our studies provide a carcinogenesis-cellular model mimicking the accumulative exposure to carcinogens in the progression of human breast epithelial cells to increasingly acquire cancerous properties, as likely occurs in the development of precancerous human breast cells. Our cellular model also serves as a cost-efficient, in vitro system to identify preventive agents that inhibit human breast cell carcinogenesis induced by chronic exposures to carcinogens.
Temporal Expression of Bacterial Proteins Instructs Host CD4 T Cell Expansion and Th17 Development

Pathogens can substantially alter gene expression within an infected host depending on metabolic or virulence requirements in different tissues, however, the effect of these alterations on host immunity are unclear. Here we visualized multiple CD4 T cell responses to temporally expressed proteins in Salmonella-infected mice. Flagellin-specific CD4 T cells expanded and contracted early, differentiated into Th1 and Th17 lineages, and were enriched in mucosal tissues after oral infection. In contrast, CD4 T cells responding to Salmonella Type-III Secretion System (TTSS) effectors steadily accumulated until bacterial clearance was achieved, primarily differentiated into Th1 cells, and were predominantly detected in systemic tissues. Thus, pathogen regulation of antigen expression plays a major role in orchestrating the expansion, differentiation, and location of antigen-specific CD4 T cells in vivo.
Multidimensional processing of dynamic sounds: more than meets the ear

Strong cross-modal interactions exist between visual and auditory processing. The relative contributions of perceptual versus decision-related processes to such interactions are only beginning to be understood. We used methodological and statistical approaches to control for potential decision-related contributions such as response interference, decisional criterion shift, and strategy selection. Participants were presented with rising-, falling-, and constant-amplitude sounds and were asked to detect change (increase or decrease) in sound amplitude while ignoring an irrelevant visual cue of a disk that grew, shrank, or stayed constant in size. Across two experiments, testing context was manipulated by varying the grouping of visual cues during testing, and cross-modal congruency showed independent perceptual and decision-related effects. Whereas a change in testing context greatly affected criterion shifts, cross-modal effects on perceptual sensitivity remained relatively consistent. In general, participants were more sensitive to increases in sound amplitude and less sensitive to sounds paired with dynamic visual cues. As compared with incongruent visual cues, congruent cues enhanced detection of amplitude decreases, but not increases. These findings suggest that the relative contributions of perceptual and decisional processing and the impacts of these processes on cross-modal interactions can vary significantly depending on asymmetries in within-modal processing, as well as consistencies in cross-modal dynamics.
The influence of prior knowledge in intentional versus incidental concept learning.

Previous research has demonstrated that background knowledge has a clear influence on concept learning. This influence, however, has been observed with a narrow range of intentional learning tasks. In the present experiments, the role of background knowledge was examined as a function of a variety of incidental learning tasks as well as with intentional learning tasks. The influence of prior knowledge was investigated by comparing the encoding of conceptually related co-occurrences with the encoding of conceptually unrelated co-occurrences. A clear influence of prior knowledge was observed with incidental encoding, and conceptual relatedness was found to have at least as powerful an influence with incidental as with intentional learning tasks. The results indicate that many types of knowledgebased influences will not vary as a function of encoding strategy. The pervasiveness and strength of the influence of background knowledge on concept learning are discussed.
Non-linear relation between oxygen-binding and structural changes of hemoglobin.

Abstract Intermediary structures between oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobins in solution were studied by the heme-spin-label method at room temperature. The optical and oxygen binding properties of the spin-labeled hemoglobin, in which one of the propionic acid groups of the heme was spin-labeled with 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-amino-pyrrolidine-1-oxyl, were identical to those of native hemoglobin. The spinlabeled hemoglobin exhibited an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of a moderately immobilized label. Upon deoxygenation, the resonance amplitude decreased to less than a half of the original intensity, and there was a small change in the line-shape. The fractions of the EPR changes were found to be non-proportional to the optical changes, indicating a non-linear relation between oxygen binding and structural changes of hemoglobin.
Integration of Commercial CAD/CAM System With Custom CAPP Using Orbix Middleware and CORBA Standard

This paper discusses the issues of integrating the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) programs in commercial software. Integration was achieved through implementation of a computer-aided process planning (CAPP) system within the commercial software. The part model was imported into, or designed in, the commercial CAD system. Manufacturing information was then extracted from the part model by the CAPP system using commercial Application Programming Interfacing (API) methods. The CAPP system then uses the extracted information to produce a process plan consistent with the requirements of the commercial CAM module to produce Numerical Control (NC) code. The internal integration was accomplished using commercial API methods that dynamically bind the CAD, CAPP, and CAM into a single continuous application. These APIs are implemented using the Orbix middleware following the CORBA standard. A case study demonstrating the integration is presented. Strengths and weaknesses of integrating the CAD and CAM domains using APIs and middleware are discussed.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The interaction of carbon and sulfur with iron-base alloys in predominantly carburizing environments

Abstract Carburization is a major mode of corrosive degradation of alloys in many high temperature processes. Under conditions where the environmental chemistry and alloy chemistry are such that a Cr2O3 scale can form on the alloy surface, such a scale can resist the entry of carbon into the material. However, when such a scale does not form, carbon is transferred from the gas phase onto the alloy surface and diffuses to the alloy interior with concurrent precipitation of chromium-rich carbide phases. The kinetics of this overall process have been determined by thermogravimetry in the temperature range 1173–1373 K using Fe-20Cr (where the composition is given in approximate weight per cent) as a model alloy and H2-Ch4 gas mixtures to provide the carburizing medium. Mathematical expressions for the carburization kinetics have been developed in terms of surface reaction and diffusion steps. Both processes contribute to carburization, the influence of the surface reaction step increasing with an increase in temperature. Additions of sulfur as H2S to the gas phase slow down the surface reaction step sufficiently that the whole carburization process can become surface reaction controlled.
Effects of probucol on renal function in rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction

Effects of probucol on renal function in rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction. To ascertain the potential role of reactive oxygen metabolites in the pathophysiology of obstructive uropathy, we examined the effect of probucol, an antioxidant agent, on renal function in normal rats and rats with unilateral release of bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) of 24 hours duration. Rats were fed either a standard diet or a standard diet containing one percent probucol for two weeks prior to study. Probucol lowered serum cholesterol in both normal and BUO rats. Probucol did not significantly affect renal function in normal rats. BUO rats given probucol had greater inulin and PAH clearances at three to five hours and three days following release of BUO than rats with BUO not given probucol. Kidneys from obstructed rats had higher levels of malondialdehyde, an index of lipid peroxidation, a greater number of leukocytes in the cortex, decreased levels of reduced glutathione and increased levels of oxidized glutathione. Renal cortex from obstructed rats treated with probucol had significantly higher levels of reduced glutathione than kidneys of obstructed rats not given probucol. A decrease in cholesterol, using another lipid-lowering agent, lovastatin, did not modify renal function in rats with BUO. The data can be interpreted to indicate a role for reactive oxygen species in the pathophysiology of obstructive nephropathy. The improved renal function seen in probucol-treated rats with BUO may be due to an effect of this agent in affecting accumulation of reactive oxygen metabolites and/or decreasing the number of leukocytes infiltrating the renal cortex.
Molecular adsorption onto metallic quantum wires.

We have studied the adsorption of mercaptopropionic acid, 2,2‘-bipyridine, and dopamine onto electrochemically fabricated Cu nanowires. The nanowires are atomically thin with conductance quantized ...
Minor anomalies: diagnostic clues to aberrant human morphogenesis

Assessment of the degree of fluctuating asymmetry has been used in a variety of organisms as a measure of genetic and/or environmental stresses encountered during embryonic development. However, fluctuating asymmetry has not been widely used in humans in the diagnosis of congenital anomalies. Rather, assessment of patterns of minor anomalies has been utilized to infer the degree of embryonic developmental instability accompanying either genetic or teratogenic insults.
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate does not preserve ATP in hypoxic-ischemic neonatal cerebrocortical slices.

Abstract Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), an endogenous intracellular metabolite in glycolysis, was found in many preclinical studies to be neuroprotective during hypoxia–ischemia (HI) when administered exogenously. We looked for HI neuroprotection from FBP in a neonatal rat brain slice model, using 14.1 T 1H/31P/13C NMR spectroscopy of perchloric acid slice extracts to ask: 1) if FBP preserves high energy phosphates during HI; and 2) if exogenous [1-13C]FBP enters cells and is glycolytically metabolized to [3-13C]lactate. We also asked: 3) if substantial superoxide production occurs during and after HI, thinking such might be treatable by exogenous FBP's antioxidant effects. Superfused P7 rat cerebrocortical slices (350 μm) were treated with 2 mM FBP before and during 30 min of HI, and then given 4 h of recovery with an FBP-free oxygenated superfusate. Slices were removed before HI, at the end of HI, and at 1 and 4 h after HI. FBP did not improve high energy phosphate levels or change 1H metabolite profiles. Large increases in [3-13C]lactate were seen with 13C NMR, but the lactate fractional enrichment was always (1.1 ± 0.5)%, implying that all of lactate's 13C was natural abundance 13C, that none was from metabolism of 13C-FBP. FBP had no effect on the fluorescence of ethidium produced from superoxide oxidation of hydroethidine. Compared to control slices, ethidium fluorescence was 25% higher during HI and 50% higher at the end of recovery. Exogenous FBP did not provide protection or enter glycolysis. Its use as an antioxidant might be worth studying at higher FBP concentrations.
Support vector machines and the electoral college

The decision process of the electoral college can be seen as a machine learning problem where the input consists of a vector of length 51 describing the election outcome in 50 states and the District of Columbia and where the final result is given as an output scalar equal to either +1 or -1. Support vector machines are applied in this context to a set of simulated and historic US presidential elections. The decision surface can best be modelled by a separating hyperplane where the weights of the hyperplane represent a scaled level of importance for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. For 100 simulations of 100 elections, in which Democrats and Republicans had a 50% probability of winning each state, support vector machines appear to retrieve a large-state bias. For a historic dataset covering the last 22 U.S. presidential elections no large-state bias could be detected.
Tumor-derived Osteopontin Is Soluble, Not Matrix Associated

The secreted phosphoprotein osteopontin (OPN), when immobilized on a surface, supports cell adhesion, prevents apoptosis of endothelial cells, and is a ligand for the αvβ3 integrin, which is important in endothelial cell biology and neovascularization. OPN synthesized by tumor cells stimulates tumor growth, but the mechanism by which the protein acts remains unclear. One possibility, therefore, is that OPN may exert its effects on tumor growth by enhancing angiogenesis. While OPN is found at high levels in bone, where it is a component of the mineralized matrix, we have asked here whether OPN present in tumors is similarly extracellular matrix associated. We have shown that OPN is detectable in tumor extracts and in serum of tumor-bearing mice, and that the protein in tumors and in serum can be synthesized by both tumor and the host cells. Biochemical fractionation of tumor tissue confirmed that there is little if any association of OPN with the insoluble fraction. Immunochemical analysis of murine mammary tumors shows no co-localization of OPN with the extracellular matrix, identified by laminin staining. Ras-transformed cells in culture produce abundant OPN, however, the protein was found to be associated with the cell fraction but not with the matrix fraction. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to demonstrate that OPN in conditioned medium from these cells fails to associate with extracellular matrix components, including laminin and fibronectin,in vitro. Recombinant OPN (GST-OPN) when coated onto a plastic surface can support human umbilical vein endothelial cell adhesion, suppressing apoptosis and allowing cell cycle progression, at concentrations from 1 to 50 μg/ml. Soluble GST-OPN in the same concentration range has no effect on HUVECs held in suspension. Thus, we conclude that OPN associated with tumors is primarily soluble, and that soluble OPN can neither support endothelial cell proliferation nor prevent apoptosis of these cells in the absence of adhesion.
THE FABRIC OF SHALE—AN ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDY

Summary Scanning and transmission electron micrographs of various shales establish the close correlation between clay-flake orientation and fissility. The shales with the best fissility have the highest degree of preferred orientation. Randomness of clay flakes prevails in non-fissile claystones. The results suggest that the fabric of shales may result either from the deposition of dispersed clay or by the collapse of clay floccules after deposition.
Improving stability and invariance of Cartesian Zernike moments

Zernike moments are widely used in shape retrieval, recognition and classification. The rotational invariance property of Zernike moments is very simple to achieve, due to their separable magnitude-phase property. However, Zernike moments are not directly invariant to scale and translation. Recently Cartesian Zernike moments invariants (CZMI) were introduced to directly make Zernike moments invariant under translation and scale. Although CZMI reduced scale error considerably, they are inconsistent and scale error increases for high aspect ratio images. In this paper, we propose a new scale invariance parameter, which reduces scale errors, improves the stability of scale invariance and is more consistent and stable for processing all images including the ones with large aspect ratios.