cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Column technology for capillary electrochromatography

Abstract Column technologies for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) are reviewed. To achieve high efficiency, the inner diameters of open-tubular and packed columns should be less than 25 and 200 μm, respectively. To obtain acceptable separation speed under typical CEC conditions (e.g. 30 kV, 1 mm s−1 electroosmotic flow velocity, and 2–4×10−8 m2 V−1 s−1 electroosmotic mobility) the column lengths for open-tubular and packed columns should be less than 120 and 60 cm, respectively. Capillary CEC columns are generally classified into three types: packed, open-tubular, and continuous-bed or monolithic. The various column preparation procedures and the advantages and disadvantages of each column type are discussed in detail.
Optimal search strategies using simultaneous generalized hill climbing algorithms

Optimal search strategies for conducting reconnaissance, surveillance or search and rescue operations with limited assets are of significant interest to military decision makers. Multiple search platforms with varying capabilities can be deployed individually or simultaneously for these operations (e.g., helicopters, fixed wing or satellite). Due to the timeliness required in these operations, efficient use of available search platforms is critical to the success of such missions. Designing optimal search strategies over multiple search platforms can be modeled and solved as a multiple traveling salesman problem (MTSP). This paper demonstrates how simultaneous generalized hill climbing algorithms (SGHC) can be used to determine optimal search strategies over multiple search platforms for the MTSP. Computational results with SGHC algorithms applied to the MTSP are reported. These results demonstrate that when limited computing budgets are available, optimal/near-optimal search strategies over multiple search platforms can be obtained more efficiently using SGHC algorithms compared to other generalized hill climbing algorithms. Applications and extensions of this research to other military applications are also discussed.
Molecular genotyping shows that ataxia-telangiectasia heterozygotes are predisposed to breast cancer

About 1.4% of the general population are heterozygous carriers of the gene for ataxiatelangiectasia (A-T), an autosomal recessive progressive neurologic syndrome in which cancer incidence of homozygotes is approximately 100-fold greater than the general population's rates. The hypothesis that A-T heterozygotes are predisposed to breast cancer was tested by the unbiased statistically powerful index-test method based on molecular genotyping. The A-T gene carrier status of 775 blood relatives in 99 A-T families was determined by tracing the A-T gene in each family through tightly linked flanking DNA markers. There were 33 women with breast cancer who could be genotyped; 25 of these were A-T heterozygotes, compared to an expected 14.9 (odds ratio 3.8, 95% confidence limits 1.7-8.4, one-sided p = .0001). This demonstrates that the A-T gene predisposes heterozygotes to breast cancer. For the 21 breast cancers with onset before age 60, the odds ratio was 2.9 (1.1-7.6, p = .009) and for the 12 cases with onset at age 60 or older, the odds ratio was 6.4 (1.4-28.8, p = .002). Thus the breast cancer risk for A-T heterozygous women is not limited to young women but appears even higher at older ages. Of all breast cancers in the United States, 6.6% may occur in women who are A-T heterozygotes. This proportion is several fold greater than the estimated proportion of carriers of BRCA1 mutations in breast cancer cases with onset at any age.
Neural correlates of the use of psychological distancing to regulate responses to negative social cues: a study of patients with borderline personality disorder.

Background Emotional instability is a defining feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD); yet, little is understood about its underlying neural correlates. One possible contributing factor to emotional instability is a failure to adequately employ adaptive cognitive regulatory strategies such as psychological distancing. Methods To determine whether there are differences in neural dynamics underlying this control strategy between BPD patients and healthy control (HC) subjects, blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging signals were acquired as 18 BPD and 16 HC subjects distanced from or simply looked at pictures depicting social interactions. Contrasts in signal between distance and look conditions were compared between groups. Results Borderline personality disorder patients showed a different pattern of activation compared with HC subjects when looking at negative versus neutral pictures. When distancing versus looking at negative pictures, both groups showed decreased negative affect ratings and increased activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, areas near/along the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate/precuneus regions. However, the BPD group showed less BOLD signal change in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and IPS, less deactivation in the amygdala, and greater activation in the superior temporal sulcus and superior frontal gyrus. Conclusions Borderline personality disorder and HC subjects display different neural dynamics while passively viewing social emotional stimuli. In addition, BPD patients do not engage the cognitive control regions to the extent that HCs do when employing a distancing strategy to regulate emotional reactions, which may be a factor contributing to the affective instability of BPD.
Bridge to ß Blockade in Severe Heart Failure: The Use of Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

The authors describe the use of milrinone as a bridge to β blockade in a patient with severe heart failure. This case is clinically important because in patients with severe heart failure phosphodiesterase inhibitors, unlike β agonists, will retain their positive inotropic and vasodilator effects in the presence of β blockade and, in addition, these agents will attenuate the negative inotropic side effects of β blockers. Conversely, a β blocker associated with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor will protect against myocyte loss and arrhythmias, may prevent sudden death, and will improve long term symptoms and exercise tolerance. This combination is being investigated in a large, multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial of intravenous milrinone vs. placebo as a therapeutic tool to allow the initiation of carvedilol orally in patients hospitalized with Class III/IV heart failure.
Methicillin-Resistant Strains of Staphylococcus aureus Phage Type 92

Methicillin-resistant (Mec(r)) strains of Staphylococcus aureus received for phage typing from several hospitals in New York City were resistant to the international set of typing phages but susceptible to experimental phage 92. Subsequently, strains of type 92 were detected in two outbreaks with Mec(r) strains in two other locations in the United States. In all instances, type 92 was predominant among the Mec(r) strains isolated in each hospital. With the exception of one strain, the methicillin resistance of the Mec(r) strains investigated was homogeneous. In most instances, isolates from the same hospital were closely similar in their antibiotic resistance patterns. The strains isolated in New York City could be divided into three groups by the host range of their lysogenic phages and by antigenic structure. Transduction experiments indicated that the transfer of chromosomal tetracycline resistance from Mec(r) strains into a strain susceptible to several international typing phages renders the latter nontypable. However, the acceptor strain remains susceptible to experimental phages 92 and 88. Transduction of methicillin resistance had no effect on the phage susceptibility of the acceptor strain. It is possible that the presence of chromosomal tetracycline resistance is a determining factor in the phage susceptibility of Mec(r) strains isolated in New York City.
Potential Demand for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Criminal Justice System

This article considers the challenges in evaluating the potential for partnership between the treatment and criminal justice systems, and suggests an agenda for further research. Deep conceptual ambiguities and limitations of survey methods make general population estimates of need for treatment highly questionable. In criminal justice populations, we must make use ofuniquely available data to improve need estimates. For the purposes of policy analysis, it is essential to move beyond binary classification of the population as in need or not in need andattempt to estimate treatment needs by level of care. It is also essential to consider actual demand for level-appropriate treatment, because even in the criminal justice system, where patients may be subject to coercion, demand may be radically less than need. Initial studies mustbuild better knowledge of criminal offenders’choices between incarceration and longer community regimes.
Mediators of physical activity behavior change: findings from a 12-month randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To examine putative mediators of a 12-month motivationally tailored physical activity (PA) promotion intervention. DESIGN We randomly assigned 239 healthy, underactive adults (moderate-vigorous physical activity <90 min/week; mean age = 47.5 years; 82% women) to receive (a) print-based feedback, (b) phone-based feedback, or (c) contact control. PRIMARY OUTCOME PA at baseline, 6, and 12 months, as measured by the 7-day physical activity recall interview. MEDIATORS: Four TransTheoretical Model constructs explicitly targeted by the intervention (i.e., self-efficacy, decisional balance, cognitive and behavioral processes of change), as well as four additional constructs linked to PA behavior change (i.e., social support, outcome expectancy, PA enjoyment, exercise-induced feelings). RESULTS Multivariate mediation analyses were used to analyze longitudinal PA outcomes. Changes in behavioral processes and one aspect of exercise-induced feelings (revitalization) satisfied both action theory (i.e., treatment effects on mediators) and conceptual theory (i.e., mediator effects on PA) tests at 6 and 12 months and emerged as statistically significant mediators of treatment effects on PA across delivery channels (ps <.014). Cognitive processes, self-efficacy, decisional balance, and social support for PA participation satisfied Action Theory tests at both 6 and 12 months, but failed conceptual theory tests. Delayed intervention effects were observed on other aspects of exercise-induced feelings, PA enjoyment, and outcome expectancies, but these variables failed mediation testing at 12 months. CONCLUSION Findings are consistent with previous research illustrating the importance of behavioral processes of change, but also indicate that affective response to PA may warrant more attention as a potential target of behavior change programs.
Policy for science

Science in Government: A Review of the Principles and Practice of Science Policy. By J. Ronayne. Edward Arnold: 1984. Pp.250. Pbk 9.95, 19.95.
Gente Sana en Comunidades Saludables: la visión de Salud para Todos en los Estados Unidos de América

For the first decade of the new millennium, "Healthy People 2010" will be the official designation of the health promotion and disease prevention policy of the United States of America. The policy's work plan carries on the vision of Health for All that is promoted by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization and whose attainment will be the responsibility of each and every person on earth. Healthy People in Healthy Communities, as the approach to Healthy People 2010 will be called, will have two general objectives for the United States as a whole. One is to increase the years of healthy life, incorporating the concept of quality of life into that of healthy life expectancy. The second objective is to eliminate health disparities. Twenty-eight priority areas and more than 400 goals will be consolidated through community initiatives and close communication among the public, health authorities, and community leaders. The experience of the United States is particularly interesting because it is participatory, as shown by the creation and consolidation of alliances between numerous sectors, bipartisan political support, use of scientific tests to support decisions, and efforts to strengthen data collection processes. The broad acceptance and adoption of the objectives of Healthy People by practically all fifty states reaffirms the initiative's validity in various socioeconomic and cultural contexts. Healthy People 2010 will be launched publicly during a conference that will be held in Washington, D.C., from 24 to 28 January 2000, with support from the Healthy People Consortium and the Partnerships for Networked Consumer Health Information.
Reduction in endothelial tip cell filopodia corresponds to reduced intravitreous but not intraretinal vascularization in a model of ROP

Abstract To determine the effect of a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase (VEGFR2) inhibitor on intravitreous neovascularization (IVNV), endothelial tip cell filopodia, and intraretinal vascularization in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Within 4 h of birth, newborn Sprague–Dawley rat pups and their mothers were cycled between 50% and 10% oxygen daily until postnatal day (p)12. Pups were given intravitreous injections of VEGFR2 inhibitor, SU5416, or control (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO) and returned to oxygen cycling until p14, then placed into room air. Intravitreous neovascularization (IVNV), avascular/total retinal areas, and endothelial tip cell filopodial number and length were determined in lectin-labeled neurosensory retinal flat mounts. Cryosections or fresh tissue were analyzed for phospho-VEGFR1, phospho-VEGFR2, activated caspase-3, or phospho-β3 integrin. Human umbilical venous (HUVECs) and human choroidal endothelial cells (ECs) were treated with VEGFR2 inhibitor to determine effect on VEGFR2 phosphorylation and on directed EC migration toward a VEGF gradient. Filopodial length and number of migrated ECs were also measured. Compared to control, the VEGFR2 inhibitor reduced VEGFR2 phosphorylation in HUVECs in vitro and clock hours and areas of IVNV but not percent avascular retina in vivo. Filopodial length and number of filopodia/EC tip cell were reduced in retinal flat mounts at doses that inhibited IVNV, whereas at lower doses, only a reduction in filopodial length/EC tip cell was found. There was no difference in phosphorylated β3 integrin and cleaved caspase-3 labeling in VEGFR2 inhibitor-treated compared to control in vivo. Doses of the VEGFR2 inhibitor that reduced filopodial length and number of filopodia/migrating EC corresponded to reduced EC migration in in vitro models. VEGFR2 inhibitor reduced IVNV and filopodial number and length/EC tip cell without interfering with intraretinal vascularization. Reducing the number and length of filopodia/endothelial tip cell may reduce guidance cues for endothelial cells to migrate into the vitreous without interfering with migration into the retina toward a VEGF gradient.
Photonic Band Gap Structures for Terahertz Photonics

The generation and control of terahertz (THz) waves is attracting a lot of interest due to its potential applications in many fields. In this talk we present the control of THz waves using Photonic Band Gap devices.
Monitoring and Modeling of Syringodium filiforme (Manatee Grass) in Southern Indian River Lagoon

Decreased salinity and submarine light associated with hurricanes of 2004–2005 impacted seagrass habitats in the Florida coastal zone. A combination of salinities ≤20 and light attenuation ≥1.5 m−1 resulting from the freshwater discharge in 2005 were among the drivers for a widespread decrease in the coverage and biomass of Syringodium filiforme (manatee grass) in 2006. These observations provided an opportunity to develop and apply a modeling framework to simulate responses of S. filiforme to variable water quality. The framework connects water column variables to field monitoring of seagrass abundance and salinity growth response experiments. The base model was calibrated with macrophyte abundance observed in southern Indian River Lagoon (IRL) from 2002 to 2007 and tested against shoot data from a different time (1997–2002) and nearby location in the IRL. Model shoot biomass (gC m−2) was similar to field observations (r2 = 0.70) while responding to monthly seasonal fluctuations in salinity and light throughout the 6-year simulations. Field and model results indicated that S. filiforme growth and survival were sensitive to, and increased with, rising salinity throughout 2007. This modeling study emphasizes that discharge, salinity, and submarine light are inter-dependent variables affecting South Florida seagrass habitats on seasonal to inter-annual time scales.
Proteomics to Identify Proteins Interacting with P2X2 Ligand-Gated Cation Channels

Ligand-gated ion channels underlie synaptic communication in the nervous system(1). In mammals there are three families of ligand-gated channels: the cys loop, the glutamate-gated and the P2X receptor channel family(2). In each case binding of transmitter leads to the opening of a pore through which ions flow down their electrochemical gradients. Many ligand-gated channels are also permeable to calcium ions(3, 4), which have downstream signaling roles(5) (e.g. gene regulation) that may exceed the duration of channel opening. Thus ligand-gated channels can signal over broad time scales ranging from a few milliseconds to days. Given these important roles it is necessary to understand how ligand-gated ion channels themselves are regulated by proteins, and how these proteins may tune signaling. Recent studies suggest that many, if not all, channels may be part of protein signaling complexes(6). In this article we explain how to identify the proteins that bind to the C-terminal aspects of the P2X2 receptor cytosolic domain. P2X receptors are ATP-gated cation channels and consist of seven subunits (P2X1-P2X7). P2X receptors are widely expressed in the brain, where they mediate excitatory synaptic transmission and presynaptic facilitation of neurotransmitter release(7). P2X receptors are found in excitable and non-excitable cells and mediate key roles in neuronal signaling, inflammation and cardiovascular function(8). P2X2 receptors are abundant in the nervous system(9) and are the focus of this study. Each P2X subunit is thought to possess two membrane spanning segments (TM1 & TM2) separated by an extracellular region(7) and intracellular N and C termini (Fig 1a)(7). P2X subunits(10) (P2X1-P2X7) show 30 50% sequence homology at the amino acid level(11). P2X receptors contain only three subunits, which is the simplest stoichiometry among ionotropic receptors. The P2X2 C-terminus consists of 120 amino acids (Fig 1b) and contains several protein docking consensus sites, supporting the hypothesis that P2X2 receptor may be part of signaling complexes. However, although several functions have been attributed to the C-terminus of P2X2 receptors(9) no study has described the molecular partners that couple to the intracellular side of this protein via the full length C-terminus. In this methods paper we describe a proteomic approach to identify the proteins which interact with the full length C terminus of P2X2 receptors.
Stochastic Analysis of a 1-D System With Fractional Damping of Order 1/2

This paper presents an analytical technique for the analysis of a stochastic dynamic system whose damping behavior is described by a fractional derivative of order 1/2. In this approach, an eigen-vector expansion method is used to obtain the response of the system. The properties of Laplace transforms of convolution integrals are used to write a set of general Duhamel integral type expressions for the response of the system. The general response contains two parts, namely zero state and zero input. For a stochastic analysis, the input force is treated as a random process with specified mean and correlation functions. An expectation operator is applied on a set of expressions to obtain the stochastic characteristics, namely the variance and covariance responses of the system. Closed form stochastic response expressions are obtained for white noise. Numerical results are presented to show the stochastic response of a fractionally damped system subjected to white noise. Results show that stochastic response of the fractionally damped system oscillates even when the damping ratio is greater than its critical value.
A model for using time out as an intervention technique with families

Using time out to interrupt escalating conflict is an important first step in treating couples and families where physical and emotional abuse is present. Since a time out failure can jeopardize further treatment, developing effective methods for using time out is a therapeutic priority. By interpreting the family's failed attempts as skill deficits, their efforts can be reframed to facilitate their acceptance of new time out methods. These methods are integrated into a model which outlines six hierarchical levels of supplemental control needed to inhibit destructive behavior. The model provides guidelines and establishes incentives for developing a time out strategy appropriate to the family's current level of control. It is designed to guide therapists in helping families strengthen their skills and choose an alternative time out strategy when an initial method fails.
The Dupal anomaly as a trace of the upwelling lower mantle

It is now widely accepted that the Earth's mantle is isotopically heterogeneous, but the scale and distribution of this heterogeneity and the structure and evolution of the mantle as a whole are poorly understood. The 'Dupal anomaly'1,2 has an important bearing on this problem because it is the largest isotopic domain yet delineated on the Earth's surface and it is suggested2 to have been formed early in the Earth's history. Here I show that the two Dupal anomaly maxima appear to be closely associated with the two large-scale regions of low seismic velocity in the lower mantle3, which in turn are correlated with the loci of active hotspots. This correlation raises the possibility that large-scale structural features in the lower mantle produce geochemical imprints on the Earth's surface. Thus, the correlation may place severe constraints on the chemical structure of the mantle and the nature of mantle convection.
Antecedents to Organizational Issue Interpretation: The Roles of Single-Level, Cross-Level, and Content Cues

This study examined the relationship between individual, group, and organizational antecedent variables and strategic and political interpretations of key organizational issues. Results showed that...
Coexistence and interference in two submersed freshwater perennial plants.

Interactions between two codominant submersed freshwater perennial plants, Eleocharis acicularis (L.) R. and S. and Juncus pelocarpus forma submersus Fassett, were studied in a softwater lake. Analysis of segregation indicated a nonrandon arrangement of individual rosettes of each species with respect to rosettes of the other species. Factors influencing growth of the species were examined using de Wit replacement series replicated four times at five ratios, under three environmental treatments: Sphagnum peat, double field density, and shading, and a control.Plants grown in pure culture showed no significant different in yield between the two species. When plants were grown in mixture, there were significant differences between species. Yields of both species were significantly different among environmental treatments. A significant effect of Eleocharis: Juncus ratio in the double density treatment resulted from interference among conspecific neighbors. Relative Yield Totals ranged from 0.84 to 1.0 for all four treatments, and ratio diagrams indicate stable coexistence through the growing season under all four environmental regimes. Interspecific interference was less important than environmental factors and intraspecific interference in determining growth in these experiments. Eleocharis and Juncus are nonrandomly intermingled, and can coexist under a variety of environmental manipulations. This outcome is consistent with their reported distributions in nature. The mechanism that permits this stable coexistence awaits explanation.
Effect of pyridoxine and pantothenic acid deficiency on conditional reflexes.

T HIAMINE AND NIACIN in the diet have been recognized for many years as being necessary for life and normal mental function ; their absence results in disease-e.g., beriberi, pellagra. However, the literature contains little direct evidence of such an effect of pantothenic acid or pyridoxine. Our curiosity was aroused in regard to the I)ossible effect on mental function of the deficiency of pantothenic acid and pyridoxine in 194() when we became acquainted with the work of Wintrobe, who was then at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Depriving young pigs under one year of age of these two vitamins, he noted various neurologic abnormalities-ataxia, degeneration in the spinal motor cells, as well as in the sensory neurons.9’3 Anemia and blood alterations also occurred. These nervous symptoms and blood changes did not appear, however, until the deprivation had lasted for several months. Would there be a corresponding impairment of higher nervous activity (at the basis of mental function)? How soon would it follow complete deprivation? Would it be reversible? The conditional reflex measures, being quantitative, seemed well suited to give answers to these questions.
Diagnostic value of liquid-based (Thinprep) preparations in nongynecologic cases.

Most studies utilizing the liquid-based ThinPrep® method for the preparation of nongynecological specimens report a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of over 90%. ThinPrep®-processed slides in 162 cases sent to us from outside laboratories were assessed for their diagnostic value. These included fine-needle aspiration (FNA) (128) and other nongynecological specimens (34), representing bronchopulmomary washings, body cavity fluids, and urine samples. Slides were examined independently for adequacy and diagnostic value. These results were compared with the final diagnosis rendered upon examination of the entire submitted cytologic specimens, including direct smears, cytospins, and cell blocks. Based on review of the ThinPrep®-processed slides alone, diagnosis of malignancy or neoplasia was made in 54 of 86 cases (63%), while 18/86 (21%) were less than optimal and 14/86 (16%) were unsatisfactory. Pulmonary specimens, body cavity fluids, and urine were generally satisfactory, while thyroid and breast FNA were more often less than optimal or unsatisfactory. This limited study suggests that utilization of ThinPrep® processing alone may have reduced diagnostic value in the fine-needle aspiration cases studied here. Diagn. Cytopathol. 24:137–141, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Multiband antenna-receiver integration using an RF multiplexer with sensitivity-constrained design

In this paper we consider an alternative approach which exploits the fact that the single-chip transceivers from which practical multiband radios are likely to be built consist of multiple receivers operating in parallel, each of which can be directly connected to a dedicated off-chip filter. In this case an RF multiplexer can be used to segment the tuning range into multiple bands. Once partitioned in this manner, the interface for lower frequency bands - the most troublesome as noted above - can be separately optimized not for match efficiency, but rather for effective sensitivity, exploiting the high levels of environmental noise known to exist at these frequencies [4]. We demonstrate the technique by designing an antenna interface which yields acceptable performance for operation in four bands - 138-174 MHz, 220-222 MHz, 406-512 MHz, and 764-862 MHz - when used with a monopole just 20 cm long with 5 mm radius, assuming front end noise figure in the range 1-2 dB. Such noise figures are well within the capabilities of existing low-cost electronics.
HomPPI: a class of sequence homology based protein-protein interface prediction methods

Although homology-based methods are among the most widely used methods for predicting the structure and function of proteins, the question as to whether interface sequence conservation can be effectively exploited in predicting protein-protein interfaces has been a subject of debate. We studied more than 300,000 pair-wise alignments of protein sequences from structurally characterized protein complexes, including both obligate and transient complexes. We identified sequence similarity criteria required for accurate homology-based inference of interface residues in a query protein sequence. Based on these analyses, we developed HomPPI, a class of sequence homology-based methods for predicting protein-protein interface residues. We present two variants of HomPPI: (i) NPS-HomPPI (Non partner-specific HomPPI), which can be used to predict interface residues of a query protein in the absence of knowledge of the interaction partner; and (ii) PS-HomPPI (Partner-specific HomPPI), which can be used to predict the interface residues of a query protein with a specific target protein. Our experiments on a benchmark dataset of obligate homodimeric complexes show that NPS-HomPPI can reliably predict protein-protein interface residues in a given protein, with an average correlation coefficient (CC) of 0.76, sensitivity of 0.83, and specificity of 0.78, when sequence homologs of the query protein can be reliably identified. NPS-HomPPI also reliably predicts the interface residues of intrinsically disordered proteins. Our experiments suggest that NPS-HomPPI is competitive with several state-of-the-art interface prediction servers including those that exploit the structure of the query proteins. The partner-specific classifier, PS-HomPPI can, on a large dataset of transient complexes, predict the interface residues of a query protein with a specific target, with a CC of 0.65, sensitivity of 0.69, and specificity of 0.70, when homologs of both the query and the target can be reliably identified. The HomPPI web server is available at http://homppi.cs.iastate.edu/ . Sequence homology-based methods offer a class of computationally efficient and reliable approaches for predicting the protein-protein interface residues that participate in either obligate or transient interactions. For query proteins involved in transient interactions, the reliability of interface residue prediction can be improved by exploiting knowledge of putative interaction partners.
Harold Lasswell; Policy Scientist for a Democratic Society

In recent years the social sciences have come under attack from an increasing number of directions. Laymen have been perennially sceptical of their utility. In fact the social sciences have made so little impact on the public that to label oneself a political scientist, sociologist, or anthropologist to all but a small segment of the population is to invite further questions for clarification of meaning. Numerous philosophers, on the other hand, have increasingly ingi5tcd that an enduring system of generalizations, comparable to those that prevail in the physical or biological sciences, will never be discovered and accordingly a science of man can never really exist. What is new in the nature of the attack today is that many who are themselves social scientists and their patrons, the foundations upon whose largesse the social sciences to a considerable degree depend, have begun if not to doubt, at least to question, whether the social sciences can measure up to commonly held expectations. Two questions pressing upon the social sciences have played a significant part in bringing about this self-scrutiny. The first is simple in its formulation but vexing in its solution. Can the social sciences pass beyond the relativism of the Weberian tradition?1 Can they say whether the goals of a democratic society are superior to those of dictatorial communism? To this question the social scientist has of course traditionally replied that the testing of the relative merits of ends lies beyond his competence.2 For him the desire of each man is a datum with which the social scientist must work. And while he has tolerated the notion that perhaps other disciplines, such as philosophy, might be able to suggest a universal system of values,
Growth-induced water potentials may mobilize internal water for growth

Abstract. Wphen there is no external source of water, plants can grow by mobilizing internal water from nongrowing tissues. We investigated how this internal water moves by measuring continuously and simultaneously the water potential (ψw) of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seedlings in the upper, growing stem tissues and the lower, non-growing stem tissues. When external water was available to the roots, the stems grew rapidly and the ψw of the growing tissue was continually below that of the nongrowing tissue and the medium around the roots. This indicated that a growth-induced gradient in ψw favoured water movement from the external source to the growing cells. When the external source was removed, the ψw of the growing tissue remained constant for a time and the ψw of the nongrowing tissue decreased somewhat. Growth took place slowly as water was withdrawn from the nongrowing tissue but ψw gradients continued to favour water transport to the growing cells. On the other hand, if this internal source was removed by excision, growth ceased abruptly. In this case, the cell walls relaxed and the ψw of the growing tissue decreased by about 0.1 MPa instead of remaining constant. The ψw of the detached nongrowing tissues remained constant instead of decreasing. This indicates not only that water mobilization required attached nongrowing or slowly growing tissues but also that mobilization affected wall relaxation. Thus, ψw differences may mobilize internal water, may explain the continued growth of plants and plant parts removed from external sources of water, and may account for discrepancies in measurements of cell wall properties in growing tissues.
Studies of the loss of viability of stored bacterial aerosols. II. Death rates of several non-pathogenic organisms in relation to biological and structural characteristics.

This paper presents the results of quantitative experiments with aerosols conducted by the author and his collaborators over a period of about 5 years. Studies of several different species of organisms suggest consistent relationships between the viability of a given micro-organism and certain controllable experimental conditions. In earlier studies of Micrococcus candidus aerosols, Ferry, Farr, Rose & .Blau (1951) and Ferry & Maple (1954) estimated the concentration of viable organisms, as number per litre of aerosol, from colony counts made on plate cultures of impinged samples taken from aerosols stored 0-300 min. These values, divided by the total particulate concentration, directly measured by a photo-electronic counter (Gucker, O'Konski, Pickard & Pitts, 1947), yielded the proportion of viable organisms. Comparison of the proportion viable at any time, t, with that in the freshly generated aerosol (t=0) yielded relative viability (subsequently indicated as R.v.) readily expressed as percentage. Relative viability was thus independent of settling or other effects which diminished total concentration. When logarithmic values of R.v. were plotted as a function of time, it appeared that attrition of viable organisms occurred in two stages, the first rapid, the second slow, characterized, respectively, by rate constants, kc and k2, as already suggested by Dunklin & Puck (1948). Although the method employed had certain experimental limitations, it seemed that the study of aerosols containing other bacteria might be relevant to an understanding of airborne infection. We first selected Escherichia coli, primarily * This work was supported by a contract with the Chemical Corps, Fort Detrick, Frederick,
Measuring and Monitoring General Health Status in Elderly Persons: Practical and Methodological Issues in Using the SF-36 Health Survey

In the last eight years, there has been a notable increase in the number of gerontological studies that use traditional measures of functional status in tandem with generic health status measures. This article describes practical and methodological issues in using generic measures of health status with elderly persons. One of the generic instruments used to illustrate these issues is the SF-36 Health Survey. Selection of generic measures for use in gerontological research or cross-age life-course studies involves choosing the right horse for the right course, and multiple considerations must be weighed. Of equal importance to practical and psychometric considerations is the correspondence between the conceptual framework of the investigation and the conceptualization of health embodied in candidate measurement tools.
Alpha interferon in the treatment of hematologic malignancies.

Abstract The interferons are an important first member of a family of biologic response-modifiers used in treating human malignancies. Activities associated with the interferons include inhibition of viral replication, influence on cellular protein production, direct antiproliferative effects, and a variety of modulatory effects on the immune response. These regulatory functions of interferon underlie the interest in its use as an anticancer agent. Alpha interferon is the most extensively studied interferon species. Although antitumor activity has been seen both in vitro and in vivo in some solid malignancies, the most impressive responses have occurrred in the hematologic malignancies. More than 90 percent of patients with hairy cell leukemia have a sustained recovery of their peripheral blood cell counts with alpha interferon therapy. Approximately 50 percent of patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and cutaneous T cell lymphoma demonstrate a response to alpha interferon. More than 80 percent of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia have a response to alpha interferon, and in one study, nearly half of the patients with response had complete suppression of the Philadelphia chromosome clone on at least one examination. Ongoing clinical trials are addressing such issues as optimal dosage, duration of alpha interferon therapy, and combinations of alpha interferon with other biologic agents, chemotherapy drugs, and radiation.
Constraints on Spin State and Hapke Parameters of Asteroid 4769 Castalia Using Lightcurves and a Radar-Derived Shape Model

Abstract A 167-parameter, 3-D shape model of the Earth-crossing asteroid Castalia, obtained from inversion of delay-Doppler images (Hudson and Ostro, 1994, Science 263, 940–943) constrained the object's pole to lie on a cone of half angle 55 ± 10° centered on the radar line of sight (right ascension 0.3 hr, declination 25.4°) at the time of observations (Aug. 22, 1989) but could not constrain the pole's azimuthal orientation or the sense of rotation. Here we fit lightcurves obtained at Table Mountain Observatory on Aug. 23–25 with lightcurves calculated from Castalia's shape and Hapke's photometric model (Hapke 1981, J. Geophys. Res. 86, 3039–3054; 1984, Icarus 59, 41–59; 1986, Icarus 67, 264–280). The fits strongly constrain Castalia's spin state to one of two possibilities. One has a north pole within ∼13° of λ = 253°, β = 56° and a sidereal spin period P = 4.089 ± 0.001 hr. The other has a south pole within ∼13° of λ = 242°, β = 7° and a sidereal spin period P = 4.094 ± 0.001 hr. The north-pole solution has global-average Hapke photometric parameters w = 0.38 ± 0.07, g = −0.11 ± 0.09, θ = 46° ± 10° while the south-pole solution has w = 0.24 ± 0.07, g = −0.30 ± 0.09, θ = 25° ± 10°. Due to the large solar phase angles (60°–90°) the fits are not sensitive to the opposition surge parameters h and B 0 . At a more subtle level, the least-bifurcated shape (“lower-bound model”) allowed by the radar data (Hudson and Ostro, 1994, Science 263, 940–943) consistently gives statistically better fits than the more bifurcated possibilities. However, the differences are small enough that the possibility that they are due to unmodeled photometric effects cannot be discounted. The fits are improved by allowing the macroscopic roughness parameter θ to be a function of surface position. Statistically, this process improves the north-pole solution more than the south-pole solution suggesting that the radar observations viewed a northern latitude, thereby indicating a resolution of the “mirror ambiguity” inherent in the single-date radar data set.
Trends in clinical features, postoperative outcomes, and long-term survival for gastric cancer: a Western experience with 1,278 patients over 30 years

The aim of the present study was to identify temporal trends in long-term survival and postoperative outcomes and to analyze prognostic factors influencing the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC) treated in a 30-year interval in a tertiary referral Western institution. Between January 1980 and December 2010, 1,278 patients who were diagnosed with GC at the Digestive Surgery Department, Catholic University of Rome, Italy, were identified. Among them, 936 patients underwent surgical resection and were included in the analysis. Over time there was a significant improvement in postoperative outcomes. Morbidity and mortality rates decreased to 19.4% and 1.6%, respectively, in the last decade. By contrast, the multivisceral resection rate steadily increased from 12.7% to 29.6%. The overall five-year survival rate steadily increased over time, reaching 51% in the last decade, and 64.5% for R0 resections. Multivariate analysis showed a higher probability of overall survival for early stages (I and II), extended lymphadenectomy, and R0 resections. Over three decades there was a significant improvement in perioperative and postoperative care and a steady increase in overall survival.
Shifting Paradigms of Religion and the State: Implications of the 1997 Supreme Court Decision for Social, Religious and Political Change

The image of the apex of the Japanese legal system, as portrayed by file video clips on NHK evening news, has remained amazingly consistent over the years: poker-faced judges sit motionless in highbacked chairs, as if waiting to be taken to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. With such a stodgy and foreboding appearance, it is hard for us to imagine that exciting events might transpire within those solemn chambers. And yet occasionally a specific case does demand our attention, especially when the controversy at hand is thought to embody, represent, or challenge some of the most fundamental principles ordering the way society goes about its business. Recently, a lawsuit has brought attention to one of the most enduring relationships in Japanese society: that of the Japanese state and its calculated use of religious traditions to enhance or maintain its control over social change. From broadly social and deeply historical perspectives, any reexamination of the relation between the Japanese state and religion has, as a subtext, over 1500 years of cooperation, affiliation, and exploitation. But on April 3rd 1997, the Japanese Supreme Court broke with this long tradition. It ruled for the first time that specific 1946 constitutional guidelines meant to govern the separation of religion from political influence must be more strictly interpreted and upheld. This is especially significant from a contemporary perspective because it challenges nearly forty years of complicity between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and specific Shinto shrines where spirits of the military dead are venerated. I hardly need mention that the most noted of these institutions is Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, where the memorialization of military war dead goes back to the early Meiji period (1869 to be exact). That this problematic relationship has now come under scrutiny in the courts-both in its contemporary practices and historical underpinnings-raises profound questions about the legality of
Survivors of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at school age: unusual findings on intelligence testing

Data are presented on 17 children who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the neonatal period for persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). These children are being followed as part of a larger program of follow-up research on children who have been treated for PPHN with several treatment methods. On intelligence testing at ages 5 to 8 years, these 17 children had unusual patterns of results. A higher-than-predicted percentage of the ECMO survivors had discrepancies between their Verbal and Performance IQ and a much-higher-than-predicted percentage had areas of unusual strength or weakness on their IQ subtest scores. Also, there was a significant correlation between the amount of time a child received ECMO and the child's Performance IQ: the longer the child received ECMO, the higher the Performance IQ. While findings of unusual weaknesses or deficits on intelligence testing at school age in children who have been severely ill in the neonatal period are not unusual, findings of high scores and areas of strength are not easily explained, particularly when these findings seem to relate to an invasive treatment like ECMO. Similar findings have been reported in two other small studies, which suggest that the impact of ECMO on the developing infant brain may not be purely detrimental.
OVERLAP STIMULATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY B CELLS BY CROSS-REACTING DETERMINANTS

Experiments were carried out to test the validity of the hypothesis that postulated differences in the nature of the antigen receptors of primary and secondary B cells should be reflected in a greater specificity in primary B-cell stimulation (2). Enumeration of clonal precursors stimulated by either DNP-Hy, TNP-Hy, or a mixture of both antigens confirmed this hypothesis. Since the sum of primary B cells stimulated by DNP-Hy and TNP-Hy is approximately equal to the number stimulated by a mixture of both, overlap stimulation of primary B cells by these antigens could be considered negligible. In contrast, the stimulation of B cells from mice previously immunized with DNP-Hy showed extensive overlap of stimulation by DNP-Hy and TNP-Hy. Thus secondary B cells appear less fastidious in their affinity requirements for stimulation than primary B cells.
Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Failed Ablation Procedures for Ventricular Tachycardia.

VT and MRI Background Ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with cardiomyopathy originates in scar tissue. Intramural or epicardial scar may result in ineffective ablation if mapping and ablation are limited to the endocardium. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preprocedural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is beneficial in patients with failed endocardial VT ablations in determining an appropriate ablation strategy. Methods and Results A cardiac MRI was performed in 20 patients with a failed ablation procedure and cardiomyopathy (nonischemic n = 12, ischemic n = 8). A subsequent ablation strategy was determined by a delayed enhanced MRI (DE-MRI) and an epicardial subxyphoid access was planned only in patients with epicardial or intramural free-wall scar. MRIs were performed in all patients with or without an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The location of scar tissue in the MRI predicted the origin of VT in all patients. In 9/20 patients an epicardial procedure was performed based on the result of the MRI. An endocardial procedure was performed in the remaining 11 patients who had either endocardial or septal scarring and one patient in whom the MRI only showed artifact. Five patients remained inducible postablation and four patients had VT recurrence within a follow-up period of 17 ± 22 months. All of the latter patients had an intramural scar pattern. Conclusions Imaging with DE-MRI prior to VT ablation in patients with previously failed endocardial ablation procedures is beneficial in identifying an ablation strategy, helps to focus on an area of interest intraprocedurally, and provides valuable outcomes information.