cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The biochemical basis of sickle cell anemia in Saudi Arabia: A model case of genetic and molecular disorders

2 THE BIOCHEMICAL BASIS OF SICKLE CELL ANEMIA IN SAUDI ARABIA: A MODEL CASE OF GENETIC AND MOLECULAR DISORDERS Introduction Fetal Hemoglobin A I ALAYASH AND J BONAVENTURA Duke University Marine Biomedical Center Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9721 USA Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder that appeared as an isolated mutation in equatorial Africa and spread to some parts of the Arabian peninsula, to Southern Europe and to North America as a result of population movement. 1 Its molecular basis is well understood and can be described as follows: When oxygen tension is reduced, the deoxygenated sickle cell hemoglobin (HbS) molecules undergo polymerization that leads to the formation of long fibers which cause the red blood cell to assume a sickle-like shape. 2 This polymerization is attributed to the replacement of a thymine nucleotide for the normal adenine nucleotide in the sixth codon of the 13 chain which results in substitution of valine for glutamic acid. 3 This amino acid residue lies on the outside of the molecule and does not participate in oxygen binding. Oxygenation and deoxygenation cause little tertiary change in the part of the molecule where this residue is located. In the deoxy form, however, the overall shape of the HbS molecule is such that the mutant valine is capable of forming new hydrophobic bonds with leucine and phenylalanine residues in positions 85 and 88 of an adjacent 13 chain of another HbS molecule. 4 Only the valine residue of one of the two 13 chains in each HbS molecule in the polymer is involved in such linkage. HbS now has a changed electrophoretic mobility and reduced solubility upon oxygenation. 5 Homozygotes for the HbS gene suffer from sickle cell disease and frequently have episodes of severe pain, part of which is caused by the inability of the sickle-shaped cells to be flexible enough to pass through the narrow capillaries. This rigidity causes the cells to block the capillaries thus preventing normal blood flow or causes the cells to break at normal blood pressure. 6 Homozygotes for the HbS gene of African origin have a reduced life expectancy] In contrast, those of non-African origin are known to survive to an advanced age. One such group is the Saudi Shiites who inhabit the Alqatif and Alhassa oases of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia where the HbS gene occurs in 20-30% of the population. Saudi Arabs who have sickle cell anemia exhibit a mild course for this disease. 8 HbS isolated from them has the identical 13-chain replacement of glutamic acid by valine at position six. 9 Possible ameliorating factors of the severity of this disease in the Saudi subjects include continued production of fetal hemoglobin into adult life and/or coexistence of o~- thalassemia. 10.n Deficiency of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is common in this area and has also been implicated as a possible modifier of sickle cell disease. 12 We have made an attempt to evaluate the biochemical and clinical basis of these interacting factors with sickle cell anemia. Fetal hemoglobin, HbF
Measurement of nonlinear elastic constants of rail steel

The paper presents a method for investigating the stress-induced changes in ultrasonic wave speeds at room temperature in rail steel. The pulse echo method is used to measure the wave speed accurately. All of the second-order and thirdorder elastic constants are calculated from the measured acoustoelastic data. A comparison of the strain-induced elastic constant at room temperature is also conducted with previous measurement results.
Ampullary carcinoma: Demonstration by current MR techniques

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the appearance of ampullary carcinoma using current MR techniques, including fat suppression, gadolinium enhancement, and MR cholangiography. Nine patients with ampullary carcinoma were examined by MRI at 1.5 T. MR examinations included T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo, T1-weighted fat-suppressed, and immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images for all patients and MR cholangiography for three patients. The imaging features of ampullary carcinomas, including tumor size and morphology, signal intensity, and enhancement characteristics, were determined. Ampullary carcinomas shown on MR images ranged in size from 1.5 to 5.5 cm. Tumors were low in signal intensity on precontrast T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo and T1-weighted fat-suppressed images relative to normal pancreatic tissue and enhanced less than normal pancreas on immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images. Tumor conspicuity was greatest on immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images. MR cholangiography demonstrated high grade obstruction of the common bile duct and mild dilatation of the pancreatic duct at the level of the ampulla with abrupt termination of the ducts in two untreated patients and moderate dilatation of the common bile duct in one patient who had a biliary stent. Ampullary carcinomas can be demonstrated on MR images as small masses arising at the ampulla. Tumors are well defined on immediate postgadolinium spoiled gradient echo images.
Lagrangian meteorology and measurements of acidic precipitation at Washington, DC

Abstract Measurements of pH from daily rainwater samples collected around the Washington, DC area during 1975 are compared to Lagrangian averages of temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and normalized concentration from a multiple source trajectory model. A linear regression procedure in which pH depends upon the previous four parameters was used to determine likely source regions during the year. The most consistent acidic rainfall occurred during an extended period from May to June when the flow as from the north. Some investigators have suggested that the rainfall at the receptor is a better predictor of pH than the Lagrangian precipitation. Tests of the four independent variables indicated that the most important predictor of pH during the summer was average rainfall along the trajectory (slope 0). The variability of the meteorological conditions along the pollutant trajectories was able to explain half of the variance of pH, suggesting that at least during summer complex chemical models may not be necessary to simulate acidic precipitation. During the winter, the results were more ambiguous, with the normalized concentration appearing to be the best predictor of pH.
The influence of histamine and other vasoactive substances on contractile responses of cat skeletal muscle to acetylcholine.

Summary 1 The effect of vasoactive substances, chiefly histamine, on contractions of cat skeletal muscle evoked by acetylcholine has been studied. For this purpose all of these agents were administered intra-arterially to anterior tibialis, chiefly, and also to soleus and external rectus muscles in vivo. 2 Under these conditions, histamine itself never altered the resting tension of the muscle, but always enhanced the increase in tension produced by acetylcholine injected shortly afterward. 3 On the anterior tibialis muscle, it was determined that the threshold potentiating dose of histamine was 0·001 μg/kg, and that maximal enhancement occurred when 0·1 μg/kg was injected 15 s before fixed, submaximal doses of acetylcholine. Injected 15 s before graded doses of acetylcholine, histamine 0·1 μg/kg shifted the acetylcholine dose-response curves approximately 1·5 log units to the left. 4 Under similar experimental conditions the vasodilator, bradykinin, 0·001–1 μg/kg, and procedures which produce a local increase in nutritive capillary blood flow also enhanced acetylcholine-evoked contractile responses of the anterior tibialis, whereas the vasoconstrictor, angiotensin, 0·001–1 μg/kg, inhibited them. 5 The potentiating effect of histamine was antagonized by mepyramine, but was undiminished by denervation of the muscle either acutely or for 4 days. 6 Histamine failed to enhance responses of the muscle to electrical stimulation of either the muscle, directly, or its motor nerve. 7 Histamine also had no effect upon acetylcholine-evoked responses of the isolated external rectus muscle in vitro. 8 It is suggested that the potentiating effect of histamine in vivo is due to its vasodilator action within the muscles which, by relaxing arterioles and precapillary sphincters, could allow more of the blood-borne acetylcholine to reach more of its receptors on the muscle fibres in a given time.
Successful reconstruction of scalp and skull defects: Lessons learned from a large series

Objective: To provide a framework for the management of scalp and skull defects. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Two tertiary care hospitals. Patients/Intervention: Fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent reconstruction of scalp and/or skull defects with free flaps, rotational skin/fascia flaps, skin grafts, and implants. Defects closed primarily and those of the lateral temporal bone and skull base were excluded. Results: Sixty-two reconstructions were performed. Treatment of skin cancers and intracranial tumors necessitated 31 (50%) and 22 (35%) of the reconstructions, respectively. Defects included partial-thickness soft tissue (9, 15%), full-thickness soft tissue (28, 45%), full-thickness soft tissue and skull (17, 27%), and full-thickness soft tissue, skull, and dura (8, 13%). Radiation or prereconstruction wound breakdown or infection was involved in 33 (53%) and 25 (40%) of cases, respectively. The most common method of reconstruction was free tissue transfer (27, 44%) followed by local skin (15, 24%) or fascia (9, 15%) flaps. There was a 15% (9/62) complication rate; 89% (8/9) of these occurred in radiated tissues and 44% (4/9) occurred in smokers. Seven of the nine patients with complications (78%) were managed with local wound care and/or removal of an implant, whereas 2 (22%) required a second reconstructive procedure. All patients ultimately achieved a safe outcome with no infection and no bone or dural exposure. Conclusions: In addition to defect location and extent, availability of surrounding tissue and wound healing characteristics direct reconstruction. Patients who receive radiation therapy are at increased risk of complications. Use of vascularized tissue is critical for successful management, making local flaps and free tissue transfer the mainstay of reconstruction. Laryngoscope, 121:2305-2312, 2011
FRENCH LANGUAGE WORK IN COLLEGE

Author's Summary.— Our language teaching requires two qualities, variety and surprise. We need less artificiality and rigidity, and a large liberty.)
Phase I-II study of concurrent irradiation and multi-drug chemotherapy in advanced carcinoma of the breast: a pilot study by the Southeastern Cancer Study Group.

Abstract A pilot study was begun by SECSG in October, 1976 for the treatment of patients with advanced inoperable carcinoma of the breast (stage T3–T4, N2–N3) without distant metastasis. Two courses of chemotherapy (5-FU, cytoxan, Adriamycin) are given on days 1 and 28, and after two weeks rest the radiation therapy begins. During the radiation therapy the Adriamycin is discontinued and the 5-FU and cytoxan are given at 60% of the initial dose. Two weeks after the completion of the radiotherapy, the three drugs are reinstated at the initial dose. Cycles are repeated every 28 days for a total of eight after radiotherapy (total one year therapy). The total maximum dose of Adriamycin allowable is 450 mm/m 2 . Radiation therapy in doses of 6500 rad TD to the primary tumor, 6000 rad to the palpable lymph nodes and 4500 rad to electively treated lymph node bearing areas is administered using 4 MeV photons and for the internal mammary nodes 13 MeV electrons. The daily tumor dose is 180 rad, five weekly fractions. A total of 14 patients were entered to the study, five with a diagnosis of inflammatory carcinoma of the breast, five patients with advanced inoperable ductal carcinoma and four with isolated recurrences in the chest wall following a modified radical mastectomy. The primary tumor showed partial regression (50% to 75%) in 65% of the patients following the two courses of chemotherapy. All but three of the patients had complete regression of their tumors three months following the completion of the radiotherapy. Of the ten patients treated for primary carcinoma of the breast, five are alive without evidence of tumor; only two patients have developed chest wall recurrence, one of them in the posterior chest wall, behind the radiation portals.
An 8Gb/s Transformer-Boosted Transmitter with >V/sub 00/ swing

An 8 Gb/s serial-link transmitter that achieves >VDD signal swing without stressing the voltage tolerance of the transistors is presented. The high-frequency signal is boosted to large swings above the supply rail through multiple transformer coupling. The design is implemented in 1.2V 0.13mum CMOS technology. The prototype TX achieves 1.42VPP output swing with 1.16V on-chip VDD and draws 136mA. The S11 is less than -10dB for frequencies <4GHz
A prospective randomized trial of colchicine in prevention of liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: The clinical course of chronic hepatitis B is variable. Patients with hepatic decompensation, bridging necrosis or an alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 100 ng/mL during an exacerbation of hepatitis have a high risk of developing cirrhosis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of colchicine in the prevention of cirrhosis in such patients. Methods: Patients with risk factor(s) were randomized to receive either colchicine 5 mg/week or no specific treatment, the end point being development of cirrhosis. Results: After a follow up period of 4 years, the treatment group had a marked reduction in exacerbations of acute hepatitis (32% vs. 63%/patient/year, P<0.005). Seven out of 38 patients in the treatment group and 10 out of 27 patients in the control group developed cirrhosis. The calculated cumulative incidence of cirrhosis by the end of first, second, third and fourth years in the treatment group was 8.7, 18.6, 32 and 32%, respectively. The corresponding figures in the control group were 30, 35.5, 46.3 and 73.2%, respectively, with a P-value of 0.057. Conclusions: The results suggest that colchicine may prevent cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with risk factor(s), possibly by suppressing exacerbations of hepatitis through an anti-inflammatory effect.
A development environment for large-scale multi-lingual parsing systems

We describe the development environment available to linguistic developers in our lab in writing large-scale grammars for multiple languages. The environment consists of the tools that assist writing linguistic rules and running regression testing against large corpora, both of which are indispensable for realistic development of large-scale parsing systems. We also emphasize the importance of parser efficiency as an integral part of efficient parser development. The tools and methods described in this paper are actively used in the daily development of broad-coverage natural language understanding systems in seven languages (Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish).
341 OXYGEN TENSION AND EGF AFFECT METABOLISM OF IN VITRO-MATURED CUMULUS-ENCLOSED MOUSE OOCYTES

In vitro maturation of immature oocytes results in limited success in both clinical and research laboratories. Although reduced oxygen concentration is beneficial to embryo development, the optimal concentration for oocyte maturation has yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to determine whether oxygen tension (20% or 5% O2) affects oocyte physiology. Additionally, the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in maturation medium on oocyte metabolic activity and subsequent embryo development was determined. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs; n = 231) were collected from 28-day-old unprimed F1 (C57BL/6 × CBA/ca) mice. COCs were individually matured in defined medium at 37°C in 6% CO2 in one of four groups (Table 1). For the metabolism study, COCs were further divided into two groups: individual maturation in a 2-µL drop of medium for 16 h (n = 131); or individual maturation in 5-μL for 12 h and then placed in a 0.5-μL drop of medium for 4 h (n = 100), the time of greatest metabolic activity of the COC. At 17 h of maturation, COCs were individually fertilized, and zygotes were individually cultured until 96 h, at which time blastocyst development was assessed. Metabolic profiles were analyzed by ANOVA, and blastocyst rates were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Maturation rates and blastocyst development were not different between groups. However, at 12–16 h of maturation, metabolism of COCs was affected by both oxygen tension and EGF (Table 1). Concerning metabolism over the entire course of maturation, glucose uptake and lactate production were higher in COCs in 5% O2 + 100 ng EGF (P < 0.05) than in the remaining three groups. There was no difference between 5% O2 and 20% O2 + 100 ng EGF, but 20% O2 caused less glucose uptake and lactate production than did the other three treatment groups (P < 0.05). Results of this study are the first to show that oxygen tension alters COC metabolism: COCs matured under 5% O2 were more active metabolically than COCs matured under 20% O2. The effect of oxygen tension is to some extent moderated by the presence of EGF, as metabolic activity of COCs matured under 20% O2 + 100 ng EGF was closer to that of COCs matured under 5% O2 conditions. Although blastocyst rates were similar across the four groups, embryos derived from oocytes matured in different oxygen tensions may exhibit different developmental potential. In conclusion, results of this study have implications for the improvement of maturation conditions in both clinical and research laboratories. Table 1. Carbohydrate metabolism of individual COCs at 12–16 h of maturation
Social comparison in social media: a look at facebook and twitter

Recent attention has focused on the tendency for social media, namely Facebook and its News Feed, to promote unfavorable social comparisons, or envy. We extend this work in a survey that looks at three main questions. First, are people who exhibit lower well-being more vulnerable to unfavorable social comparisons in social media? Second, how do Facebook and Twitter differ in their tendencies to promote unfavorable social comparisons? And third, what structural factors in each platform might explain differences? We find substantial evidence that, indeed, low well-being individuals are more vulnerable to unfavorable social comparisons in social media and that across the board, users are more prone to envy on Facebook than Twitter. Finally, we find suggestive evidence that greater references to the self on Facebook and a larger presence of public figures and organizations on Twitter help account for the difference.
Electrical properties of praseodymium phosphate glasses

Abstract The electrical properties of PrO x P 2 O 5 glasses with constant P 2 O 5 have been examined as a function of oxidation and reduction treatments. The electrical conductivity of this 4f series glass is markedly lower in magnitude from the 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metal glasses, but the Mott formalism successfully rationalizes the properties. The glass forming range is limited to approximately 40 mol% PrO x .
A Probability Model of Radiation Damage

IN developing the mathematical theory of radiobiological phenomena it is necessary to consider two separate, yet related, problems. The first problem is concerned with the probability of occurrence of effective ionizing radiations within a so-called sensitive volume (or mass) of a living organism. This probability depends on the geometry of the target and the absorption of radiation quanta. The quantum hit theory which has been advanced to explain this initial effect has been discussed by D. E. Lea1. The second problem, which is concerned with the probability that the initial damage to the system will cause a certain effect, has received very little theoretical consideration. In a paper to be published elsewhere I have considered a mathematical model of the transmission of primary radiation damage through a biological system2. This model is based on the theory of Markov chains3; It is the purpose of this communication to present the model developed and to suggest some possible biological interpretations of the results obtained. For the complete treatment of the problem the paper referred to above should be consulted.
The Nutritional Value of Autoclaved and Ammonia Treated Winged Beans [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) Dc.] for Japanese Quail.

Abstract Winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) contained 6.25% moisture, 35% crude protein, 19.13% lipid, and 4.45% ash. The amino acid profile was determined and methionine was found to be the most limiting. The nutritional value of autoclaved untreated and ammonia treated winged beans was evaluated for growth of Japanese quail or Tribolium castaneum larvae. Beans were ground and a portion was treated with ammonia. The remaining untreated beans and the ammonia-treated beans were autoclaved at 118 C for 30 min and incorporated into diets that supplied 24% protein for quail and 16% protein for tribolium. The quail and tribolium consuming the winged bean diet supplemented with an additional .5% methionine grew as well as on the soybean control. The winged beans treated with ammonia were growth depressing. No significant differences in apparent metabolizable energy, feed conversion, or apparent nitrogen retention were observed for any of the treatments. Quail consumed significantly less ammonia-treated winged bean diet and had significantly larger pancreati and livers.
Analysis of electrode shift effects on wavelet features embedded in a myoelectric pattern recognition system.

Myoelectric pattern recognition systems can translate muscle contractions into prosthesis commands; however, the lack of long-term robustness of such systems has resulted in low acceptability. Specifically, socket misalignment may cause disturbances related to electrodes shifting from their original recording location, which affects the myoelectric signals (MES) and produce degradation of the classification performance. In this work, the impact of such disturbances on wavelet features extracted from MES was evaluated in terms of classification accuracy. Additionally, two principal component analysis frameworks were studied to reduce the wavelet feature set. MES from seven able-body subjects and one subject with congenital transradial limb loss were studied. The electrode shifts were artificially introduced by recording signals during six sessions for each subject. A small drop in classification accuracy from 93.8% (no disturbances) to 88.3% (with disturbances) indicated that wavelet features were able to ...
Application of wavelet basis function neural networks to NDE

This paper presents a novel approach for training a multiresolution, hierarchical wavelet basis function neural network. Such a network can be employed for characterizing defects in gas pipelines which are inspected using the magnetic flux leakage method of nondestructive testing. The results indicate that significant advantages over other neural network based defect characterization schemes could be obtained, in that the accuracy of the predicted defect profile can be controlled by the resolution of the network. The centers of the basis functions are calculated using a dyadic expansion scheme and a hybrid learning method. The performance of the network is demonstrated by predicting defect profiles from experimental magnetic flux leakage signals.
Validation of raindrop size distribution retrieval from spaceborne radar using ground polarimetric radar observations

The cumulative attenuation (A) along TRMM PR path given by the surface reference technique (SRT) can be distributed along the radar range using a power law relation between the specific attenuation (k) and reflectivity factor (z) written as, k=aZbeta. A commonly used approximation is that beta is constant and alpha changes according to the raindrop size distribution (DSD). More recently physical interpretation of alpha has been provided with the normalized drop size distributions. This paper evaluates the method to estimate the DSD parameters from TRMM PR observations. Coincident data collected with polarimetric radar on the ground during the TRMM field campaigns was used to compare the estimates of DSD retrieved from TRMM PR. This paper also introduces a new methodology for comparing DSD estimates from widely varying sampling volumes. The cross validation shows fairly good agreement, thereby validating the DSD retrieval process
Antibacterial activities of dendritic amphiphiles against nontuberculous mycobacteria.

summary The anti-mycobacterial activities of nine series of dicarboxyl and tricarboxyl dendritic amphiphiles with one alkyl, two alkyl, and cholestanyl tails against Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium smegmatis have been measured. The dendritic amphiphiles overcame the limited aqueous solubility of natural long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, and amines to enable profiling the susceptibilities of the different mycobacterial species to the physicochemical properties of these amphiphiles. Several dendritic amphiphiles showed strong antimycobacterial activity with high critical micelle concentrations and low hemolytic activities thereby offering platforms for the development of antibiotics of higher activity against nontuberculous mycobacteria.
Aquaculture imports from Asia: an analysis of U.S. consumer demand for select food quality attributes

The increasing share of imported food in the United States, coupled with highly publicized incidents of food contamination and adulteration in Asia, particularly China, is posing new challenges for consumers and food safety regulators. In this study, we focus on imported shrimp and tilapia, to evaluate consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP) for enhanced food safety, use of antibiotics, and eco-friendly environmental practices. Results show that U.S. consumers were willing-to-pay more for enhanced food safety, followed by the use of no antibiotics and environmental friendly production practices. American consumers in our sample were found to have a higher WTP for domestic products and placed more trust on U.S. government verification of product attributes followed by third-party certification.
Overcoming Student Misconceptions about Photosynthesis: A Model- and Inquiry-Based Approach Using Aquatic Plants.

Even though photosynthesis is an obligatory part of the science curriculum, research has shown that students often have a poor understanding of it. The authors advocate that classroom coverage of the topic of photosynthesis should include not only its biochemical properties but also the role of photosynthesis or photosynthetic organisms in matter cycling and energy transfers in natural ecosystems. The authors discuss several activities on photosynthesis following the inquiry-based 5E (engage, explore, explain, extend, and evaluate) learning model. The activities, which incorporate different teaching styles to engage students with different interests and modalities, highlight the dynamic nature of photosynthesis, looking at the process across time scales ranging from minutes to days. The activities provide opportunities for hypothesis testing, use of experimental controls, and application of summary statistics and statistical analysis. They also incorporate locally available aquatic resources and provide o...
Cardiovascular disease in women--challenges deserving a comprehensive translational approach.

Heart disease in women is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Although many of the underlying causes are similar for both genders, cardiovascular disease among women has some unique features, including higher coronary heart disease mortality, higher frequency of sudden cardiac death without previous symptoms, and increased mortality among older women compared to men following a myocardial infarction. During recent years, increasing efforts have been placed on identifying preventive measures, but translation of knowledge from epidemiological studies and clinical trials remain incomplete, particularly in women. The recent launch of the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational Science Award program offers opportunities to address these gaps and represent a unique opportunity to foster a new generation of researchers familiar with important issues regarding women’s cardiovascular health.
Political Institutional Change, Obsolescing Legitimacy, and Multinational Corporations: The Case of the Central American Banana Industry

This paper studies the practice of integration of influential host country actors to a multinational corporation as a strategy to decrease problems of legitimacy to the foreign firm before the host country’s society. By developing the concept of obsolescing legitimacy, we argue that this strategy provides legitimacy to the foreign firm only in the absence of institutional changes at the macro-political level in the host country. Once these changes take place, an alliance by the multinational to an elite or a political system no longer ruling the host country will become a liability and will generate problems of legitimacy for the multinational. We illustrate our argument with the case of the US multinational United Fruit Company in Central America.
Views of elderly people concerning end-of-life decisions

The aim of this study was to determine elders' views regarding the acceptability of seven end-of-life decision options; existing research provides only partial information. A total of 447 Black and White elders ages 60 to 100 years responded to 17 decision situations depicting conditions with a low quality of life, rating acceptability of each decision option. Mean percentage (over 17 decision situations) of participants finding each decision option acceptable were: striving to live, 52%; refusing or withdrawing treatment, 47%; letting someone close decide, 36%; suicide, 7%; assisted suicide, 12%; voluntary euthanasia, 12%; and allowing the physician to decide to end life, 19%. Views were related to age, ethnicity, education, occupation, and religious affiliation using MANOVA analyses.
Methodology for modeling detailed imperfect mixing effects in complex reactors

A powerful new modeling technique is presented for exploring mixing effects in reactive flow systems. The technique combines the detailed mixing representation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with the simplicity and computational efficiency of stirred-tank compartment models. The method can be generally applied to many reactive systems, and requires only that appropriate criteria be specified to select compartment models from a single converged CFD simulation. A 1000-fold increase in computational speed is achieved by the new compartment model/CFD technique when modeling steady-state operation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) autoclave reactors, making broad studies of operating conditions and stability possible. Results from compartment models are shown to capture the accuracy and detail of CFD simulations over a wide range of LDPE reactor operation, and the new technique provides a combination of modeling detail and computational ease not previously available for this type of reactor. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Monotonic Change of the Mean Phenotype in Two-Locus Models

It is shown that the mean phenotype monotonically approaches the optimum in a class of symmetric, two-locus, two-allele models with stabilizing selection. In this model, mean fitness does not change monotonically. Thus, Fisher's fundamental theorem does not hold, even though another quantity of evolutionary interest, the mean phenotype, can be shown to change monotonically. Using this quantity, it is proven that global stability results for this model.
Lessons from genetically engineered animal models XI. Novel mouse models to study pathogenic mechanisms of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's Disease (CD) affects more than 500,000 individuals in the United States and represents the second most common chronic inflammatory disorder after rheumatoid arthritis. Although major advanc...
Actin in Axons: Stable Scaffolds and Dynamic Filaments

Actin filaments are thin polymers of the 42 kD protein actin. In mature axons a network of subaxolemmal actin filaments provide stability for membrane integrity and a substrate for short distance transport of cargos. In developing neurons dynamic regulation of actin polymerization and organization mediates axonal morphogenesis and axonal pathfinding to synaptic targets. Other changes in axonal shape, collateral branching, branch retraction, and axonal regeneration, also depend on actin filament dynamics. Actin filament organization is regulated by a diversity of actin-binding proteins (ABP). ABP are the focus of complex extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways, and many neurological pathologies and dysfunctions arise from defective regulation of ABP function.
THE IDEOLOGICAL ROOTS OF DEFICIT REDUCTION POLICY

This article identifies those members of Congress who have most often supported deficit reduction on floor roll-call votes since 1980. An examination of the reciprocal relationship between fiscal policy preference and the more holistic concept of ideology reveals that at an abstract level conservatives and Republicans continue to support fiscal restraint. When we examine specific issues, however, we find that more moderate legislators are generally the most supportive of deficit reduction in the contemporary policy process. This, in turn, suggests a bifurcation of fiscal policy as it relates to ideology. It seems that even though legislators do sometimes think of fiscal policy along the traditional lines of budgetary balance or deficits, the issue is now more often recognized as consisting of the two distinct and separate sub-issues of government expenditures and revenue policy.
5D Black Holes and Strings with Higher Derivatives

We find asymptotically flat black hole and string solutions to 5D supergravity in the presence of higher derivative terms. In some cases, including the fundamental heterotic string solution, the higher derivative terms smooth out naked singularities into regular geometries carrying zero entropy. We also compute corrections to the entropy of 5D Calabi-Yau black holes, and discuss the relation to previous results.
Optical Depth Effects on Aluminum Oxide Spectral Emissivity

Measurements of high-temperature spectral emissivities of aluminum oxide were made within a heterogeneous shock tube over the spectral range of 650–900 nm. The spectral emissivity of optically thin...
The meaning of quality

This paper presents a conceptual analysis of the notion of quality. The analysis concludes that quality is an abstract, relational attribute. Virtually anything can be assessed for quality, such assessments being made against accepted standards of merit or against the interests of relevant stakeholders. The analysis sheds light on prevailing definitions of quality, challenging and extending the conclusions of Garvin (1984). The conceptual analysis also suggests the possibility of expanding beyond the consumer-based view that dominates current quality thinking and practice. A broadened account of quality for organizational purposes is proposed. This account explicitly recognizes that quality can be assessed from a producer standpoint. The implications and advantages of this conceptualization are discussed.
Effect of leukopenia and leukocytosis on tumor growth and survival time. Part II. Leukocytosis

Experiments with the effects of leukocytosis on tumor growth and animal survival time using the V-2 carcinoma transplant in the rabbit failed to show any effect of the leukocytosis per se. However, the present study exploring the Leukocytosis-Inducing Factor (LIF) isolated in leukophoresed plasma found it to be present in the plasma of cancerous rabbits and present to a greater extent in the leukopenic plasma of normal leukophoresed animals. The target cell of the LIF appears to be neutrophil-forming tissue with production of neutrophilic band cells and metamyelocytes. The optimal injection volume and time interval following leukophoresis-leukopenia for achieving maximum leukocytosis suggest a “time-dose” relationship. There was a marked absolute increase in leukocyte response of the cancerous recipients over noncancerous recipients following the injection of cancerous and noncancerous leukopenic plasma as well as both relative and absolute increase with the injection of the former over the latter into both recipients. The interrelationship of chemotherapy, radiation, and leukophoresis is discussed in reference to their common denominator of leukopenia and consequent tumor suppression, immunosuppression, and LIF production which are probably motivated by the Host Resistance Factor (HRF).
Rossby Wave Ray Tracing in a Barotropic Divergent Atmosphere

The effects of divergence on low-frequency Rossby wave propagation are examined by using the twodimensional Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) method and ray tracing in the framework of a linear barotropic dynamic system. The WKB analysis shows that the divergent wind decreases Rossby wave frequency (for wave propagation northward in the Northern Hemisphere). Ray tracing shows that the divergent wind increases the zonal group velocity and thus accelerates the zonal propagation of Rossby waves. It also appears that divergence tends to feed energy into relatively high wavenumber waves, so that these waves can propagate farther downstream. The present theory also provides an estimate of a phase angle between the vorticity and divergence centers. In a fully developed Rossby wave, vorticity and divergence display a /2 phase difference, which is consistent with the observed upper-level structure of a mature extratropical cyclone. It is shown that these theoretical results compare well with observations.
The effects of two therapeutic patellofemoral taping techniques on strength, endurance, and pain responses.

Abstract Objective To compare the effects of taping techniques on clinical measures in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) patients. Design Crossover experimental design. Setting Controlled laboratory. Participants Twenty physically active PFPS patients. Main outcome measures Isokinetic strength and endurance, and perceived pain. Results Bilateral baseline differences existed for strength (involved = 1.8 ± 0.5 Nm/kg; uninvolved = 2.1 ± 0.5 Nm/kg; p = 0.001) and endurance (involved = 35.6 ± 14.0 J/kg; uninvolved = 40.2 ± 12.9 J/kg; p = 0.013). Strength (McConnell = 2.1 ± 0.6 Nm/kg, 95% SCI = (1.1, 4.2); Spider ® = 2.1 ± 0.5 Nm/kg, 95% SCI = (0.9, 4.0)) and endurance (McConnell = 42.9 ± 13.8 J/kg, 95% SCI = (2.9, 11.6); Spider ® = 42.5 ± 11.0 J/kg, 95% SCI = (2.6, −11.3)) increased when taped compared to baseline. Pain decreased during strength (baseline = 3.0 ± 2.2 cm; McConnell = 1.9 ± 1.7 cm, 95% SCI = (−1.8, −0.4); Spider ® = 1.6 ± 2.0 cm, 95% SCI = (−2.0, −0.5)) and endurance (baseline = 2.5 ± 2.0 cm; McConnell = 1.5 ± 1.8 cm, 95% SCI = (−1.6, −0.4); Spider ® = 1.1 ± 0.8 cm, 95% SCI = (−1.7, −0.5)) measurements when taped. Differences between taping techniques were insignificant. Conclusions Taping improved clinical measures in PFPS patients. No differences existed between Spider ® and McConnell techniques.
DISPERSION ANALYSIS OF STABILIZED FINITE ELEMENT METHODS FOR ACOUSTIC FLUID - STRUCTURE INTERACTION

The application of stabilized finite element methods to model the vibration of elastic plates coupled with an acoustic fluid medium is considered. New stabilized methods based on the Hellinger-Reissner variational principle with a generalized least-squares modification are developed which yield improvement in accuracy over the Galerkin and Galerkin Generalized Least Squares (GGLS) finite element methods for both in vacuo and acoustic fluid-loaded Reissner-Mindlin plates. Through judicious selection of design parameters this formulation provides a consistent framework for enhancing the accuracy of mixed Reissner-Mindlin plate elements. Combined with stabilization methods for the acoustic fluid, the method presents a new framework for accurate modeling of acoustic fluid-loaded structures. The technique of complex wave-number dispersion analysis is used to examine the accuracy of the discretized system in the representation of free-waves for fluid-loaded plates. The influence of different finite element approximations for the fluid-loaded plate system are examined and clarified. Improved methods are designed such that the finite element dispersion relations closely match each branch of the complex wavenumber loci for fluidloaded plates. Comparisons of finite element dispersion relations demonstrate the superiority of the hybrid least-squares (HLS) plate elements combined with stabilized methods for the fluid over standard Galerkin methods with mixed interpolation and shear projection (MITC4) and GGLS methods.
CYANIDE-SENSITIVE BACTERIAL RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS DIFFERENT FROM THE USUAL CYTOCHROME-CYTOCHROME OXIDASE SYSTEM

Aerobic respiration of Streptococcus pyogenes and pneumococcus Type 1 are strongly inhibited by KCN, NaN3, and Na2S. The anaerobic glycolysis of glucose by pneumococcus is also inhibited by KCN and NaN3. Streptococcus pyogenes, E. coli , pneumococcus Type 1, B. subtilis, B. proteus , and Staphylococcus aureus did not catalyze the oxygen uptake by p -phenylenediamine in the presence of added cytochrome c or in its absence. Yeast cells, B. subtilis , and B. pyocyaneus oxidized p -phenylenediamine to a dark purple meriquinoid substance in contrast to the other bacteria mentioned above. Streptococcus pyogenes in contrast to pneumococcus Type 1 catalyzed the oxygen uptake by cysteine. Neither of these bacteria catalyzed the oxygen uptake by tyrosine, adrenaline, pyrocatechin, xanthine, and hypoxanthine. Streptococcus pyogenes , pneumococcus Type 1, and E. coli , boiled and not boiled, gave positive peroxidative tests with benzidine showing the presence of hematin compounds. The results discussed in the light of the interpretations offered by Keilin and Harpley show that Streptococcus pyogenes and pneumococcus Type 1 contain cyanide-sensitive respiratory systems which are different from the cytochrome c -cytochrome oxidase system.
The Brooklyn traffic real-time ambient pollutant penetration and environmental dispersion (B-TRAPPED) field study methodology.

The Brooklyn Traffic Real-Time Ambient Pollutant Penetration and Environmental Dispersion (B-TRAPPED) field study examined indoor and outdoor exposure to traffic-generated air pollution by studying the individual processes of generation of traffic emissions, transport and dispersion of air contaminants along a roadway, and infiltration of the contaminants into a residence. Real-time instrumentation was used to obtain highly resolved time-series concentration profiles for a number of air pollutants. The B-TRAPPED field study was conducted in the residential Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, USA, in May 2005. The neighborhood contained the Gowanus Expressway (Interstate 278), a major arterial road (4th Avenue), and residential side streets running perpendicular to the Gowanus Expressway and 4th Avenue. Synchronized measurements were obtained inside a test house, just outside the test house facade, and along the urban residential street canyon on which the house was located. A trailer containing Federal Reference Method (FRM) and real-time monitors was located next to the Gowanus Expressway to assess the source. Ultrafine particulate matter (PM), PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction were monitored. Different sampling schemes were devised to focus on dispersion along the street canyon or infiltration into the test house. Results were obtained for ultrafine PM, PM2.5, criteria gases, and wind conditions from sampling schemes focused on street canyon dispersion and infiltration. For comparison, the ultrafine PM and PM2.5 results were compared with an existing data set from the Los Angeles area, and the criteria gas data were compared with measurements from a Vancouver epidemiologic study. Measured ultrafine PM and PM2.5 concentration levels along the residential urban street canyon and at the test house facade in Sunset Park were demonstrated to be comparable to traffic levels at an arterial road and slightly higher than those in a residential area of Los Angeles. Indoor ultrafine PM levels were roughly 3–10 times lower than outdoor levels, depending on the monitor location. CO, NO2, and SO2 levels were shown to be similar to values that produced increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalizations in the Vancouver studies.
The network behind spatio‐temporal patterns: building low‐complexity retinal models in CNN based on morphology, pharmacology and physiology

In this paper, a vertebrate retina model is described based on a cellular neural network (CNN) architecture. Though largely built on the experience of previous studies, the CNN computational framework is considerably simplified: first-order RC cells are used with space-invariant nearest-neighbour interactions only. All non-linear synaptic connections are monotonic continuous functions of the pre-synaptic voltage. Time delays in the interactions are continuous represented by additional first-order cells. The modelling approach is neuromorphic in its spirit relying on both morphological and pharmacological information. However, the primary motivation lies in fitting the spatio-temporal output of the model to the data recorded from biological cells (tiger salamander). In order to meet a low-complexity (VLSI) implementation framework some structural simplifications have been made. Large-neighbourhood interaction (neurons with large processes), furthermore inter-layer signal propagation are modelled through diffusion and wave phenomena. This work presents novel CNN models for the outer and some partial models for the inner (light adapted) retina. It describes an approach that focuses on efficient parameter tuning and also makes it possible to discuss adaptation, sensitivity and robustness issues on retinal ‘image processing’ from an engineering point of view. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combining multiple matchers for a high security fingerprint verification system

Abstract Integration of various fingerprint matching algorithms is a viable method to improve the performance of a fingerprint verification system. Different fingerprint matching algorithms are often based on different representations of the input fingerprints and hence complement each other. We use the logistic transform to integrate the output scores from three different fingerprint matching algorithms. Experiments conducted on a large fingerprint database confirm the effectiveness of the proposed integration scheme.
Noncombatant Immunity and War-Profiteering

The principle of noncombatant immunity prohibits warring parties from intentionally targeting noncombatants. I explicate the moral version of this view and its criticisms by reductive individualists; they argue that certain civilians on the unjust side are morally liable to be lethally targeted to forestall substantial contributions to that war. I then argue that reductivists are mistaken in thinking that causally contributing to an unjust war is a necessary condition for moral liability. Certain noncontributing civilians—notably, war-profiteers—can be morally liable to be lethally targeted. Thus, the principle of noncombatant immunity is mistaken as a moral (though not necessarily as a legal) doctrine, not just because some civilians contribute substantially, but because some unjustly enriched civilians culpably fail to discharge their restitutionary duties to those whose victimization made the unjust enrichment possible. Consequently, the moral criterion for lethal liability in war is even broader than reductive individualists have argued.