cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thrombin-antithrombin appearance in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective. Intravascular thrombosis induced during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) may contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest andcomplicate resuscitation. We characterized the prevalence of thrombogenesis during OOHCA by measuring plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT). Methods. An observational cohort study of medical OOHCA patients in an urban emergency medical services (EMS) system. Subjects were patients ≥18 years suffering medical OOHCA. Citrated blood samples were drawn in the prehospital setting either directly from venous blood or during the placement of a central venous catheter andfrozen (−70°C). The EMS physician documented age, gender, time intervals, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), therapies administered andtime of blood draw. TAT assays were performed by commercial ELISA. Results. Eighty-eight patients (58% male) aged 63.4 ± 15.9 years were enrolled in the study. Median [interquartile range IQR] TAT values in 80 samples (8 samples were grossly cl...
Ways That Engineers Can Get Involved In Recruiting Future Materials Scientists and Engineers

For materials science and engineering departments across the country, recruitment of students is a critical concern. To increase enrollment, students' interest in materials science needs to be sparked early, preferably before they begin college. However, many entering college students have never heard of the major and/or are unsure of what a career in materials science would be like. There are many excellent resources that have been developed to target this problem directly including comprehensive career resources on the web, videos describing careers in materials engineering, and teaching materials developed for middle and high school teachers.
Morphological features in films of CdS prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis

CdS films prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) can display a variety of morphologies from tenths of microns to hundreds of microns in size. In this work, we analyze the source and composition of these features as well as the composition of the CdS film. As these features can affect the operation efficiency of solar cells using this material, it is important to understand their nature and means for controlling or eliminating them.
Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on a timing behavior in rats

Effects of several doses (0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol were tested on the response and reinforcement (food) in a schedule of differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) in rats. The response frequency showed a trend to increase with the dose to its peak at 5 mg/kg and to decrease to below normal level at 10 mg/kg. The majority of the increases in response occurred during the first quadrant of the required time (40 sec), although distribution in other quadrants also occurred. The reinforcement decreased gradually with the increase of dose up to 10 mg/kg.
Wavelet Based Solution to Time-Dependent Higher Order Non-Linear Two-Point Initial Boundary Value Problems With Non-Periodic Boundary Conditions: KdV, Boussinesq Equations

The Wavelet solution for boundary-value problems is relatively new and has been mainly restricted to the solutions in data compression, image processing and recently to the solution of differential equations with periodic boundary conditions. This paper is concerned with the wavelet-based Galerkin’s solution to time dependent higher order non-linear two-point initial-boundary-value problems with non-periodic boundary conditions. The wavelet method can offer several advantages in solving the initial-boundary-value problems than the traditional methods such as Fourier series, Finite Differences and Finite Elements by reducing the computational time near singularities because of its multi-resolution character. In order to demonstrate the wavelet, we extend our prior research of solution to parabolic equations and problems with non-linear boundary conditions to non-linear problems involving KdV Equation and Boussinesq Equation. The results of the wavelet solutions are examined and they are found to compare favorably to the known solution. This paper on the whole indicates that the wavelet technique is a strong contender for solving partial differential equations with non-periodic conditions.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
NF-κB mediates amyloid β peptide-stimulated activity of the human apolipoprotein E gene promoter in human astroglial cells

Abstract The apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyloid plaque comprised mostly of the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) is one of the major hallmarks of AD. However, the relationship between these two important molecules is poorly understood. We examined how Aβ treatment affects APOE expression in cultured cells and tested the role of the transcription factor NF-κB in APOE gene regulation. To delineate NF-κB's role, we have characterized a 1098 nucleotide (nt) segment containing the 5′-flanking region of the human APOE gene (−1054/+44, +1 transcription start site). Sequence analysis of this region suggests the presence of two potential NF-κB elements. To demonstrate promoter activity, the region was cloned upstream of a promoterless luciferase (reporter) gene. This segment was able to drive expression of luciferase in transient transfections of human fetal glial cells. Promoter activity was stimulated twofold by Aβ1–40 (25 μM, 24 h) treatment. Pretreatment with double-stranded DNA decoy oligonucleotides against NF-κB (2 μM) reduced Aβ stimulation. Deletion and mutagenetic analyses demonstrated that the distal NF-κB element was functional and showed a strong DNA–protein complex band in gel shift analysis, similar to that from control NF-κB consensus element. An anti-inflammatory and anti-NF-κB drug, sodium salicylate, significantly blocked Aβ-induced APOE promoter function. Our data provide evidence that upregulation of APOE by Aβ in astroglial cells is mediated by an NF-κB-element present in the 5′-flanking region of the APOE gene.
Kin KeeperSM: Design and baseline characteristics of a community-based randomized controlled trial promoting cancer screening in Black, Latina, and Arab women

Abstract Background Although breast and cervical cancer deaths have declined due to early screening, detection, and more effective treatment, racial and ethnic disparities persist. This paper describes the study design and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of the Kin KeeperSM Cancer Prevention Intervention, a family-focused educational intervention for underserved women applied in a community-based setting to promote health literacy and screening adherence to address cancer disparities. Methods Female public health community health workers (CHWs) were trained to administer the intervention. They recruited female clients from their public health program caseload and asked each to assemble two to four adult female family members for the breast and cervical cancer home-based education sessions the CHWs would deliver in English, Spanish or Arabic. We randomized the clients into the kin keeper group (treatment) or the participant client group (control). Results Complete data were obtained on 514 Black, Latina, and Arab women. Close to half were unemployed and had yearly family income below $20,000. Thirty-four percent had no medical insurance, and 21% had diabetes. Almost 40% had no mammography in the last year. Treatment and control groups were similar on most sociodemographics but showed differences in breast and cervical screening history. Conclusions This innovative study demonstrates the implementation of an RCT using community-based participatory research, while delivering cancer prevention education across woman's life span with women not connected to the health care system.
A Critical View on the Role of Migraine Triggers in the Genesis of Migraine Pain

A number of distinct endogenous and exogenous factors have been implicated in migraine precipitation but the exact nature of the triggering process itself and its relationship to the genesis of the headache remains largely speculative. In this article, we examine the potential sites and downstream cascades through which migraine triggers might exert their action to promote the activation of the migraine pain pathway. We further look at the laterality of the headache as a potential indicator for the site of migraine pain initiation and examine the question of triggering factor specificity in relation to the current understanding of migraine pathophysiology.
On sluggish output adjustment and exchange rate dynamics

Abstract This paper develops a model of exchange rate dynamics which incorporates sluggish output adjustment into the Dornbusch variable output model. In this more complex system monetary expansion initially lowers interest rates because of sluggish output adjustment but quite surprisingly still can produce either overshooting or undershooting of the exchange rate, as in the basic model. However, if undershooting occurs, the exchange rate subsequently moves away from its new long-run equilibrium level. Furthermore, the perfect foresight exchange rate expectations scheme now contains a perversely signed parameter. Thus, variable output does not appear to be a reasonable basis for exchange rate undershooting. (JEL F31).
Nonlinear dynamics of a three-beam structure with attached mass and three-mode interactions

Nonlinear dynamics of elastic structures with two-mode interactions have been extensively studied in the literature. In this work, nonlinear forced response of elastic structures with essential inertial nonlinearities undergoing three-mode interactions is studied. More specifically, a three-beam structural system with attached mass is considered, and its multidegree-of-freedom discretized model for the structure undergoing planar motions is carefully studied. Linear modal characteristics of the structure with uniform beams depend on the length ratios of the three beams, the mass of the particle relative to that of the structure, and the location of the mass particle along the beams. The discretized model is studied for both external and parametric resonances for parameter combinations resulting in three-mode interactions. For the external excitation case, focus is on the system with 1:2:3 internal resonances with the external excitation frequency near the middle natural frequency. For the case of the structure with 1:2:5 internal resonances, the problem involving simultaneous principal parametric resonance of the middle mode and a combination resonance between the lowest and the highest modal frequencies is investigated. This case requires a higher-order approximation in the method of multiple time scales. For both cases, equilibrium and bifurcating solutions of the slow-flow equations are studied in detail. Many pitchfork, saddle-node, and Hopf bifurcations appear in the amplitude response of the three-beam structure, thus resulting in complex multimode responses in different parameter regions.
Using multispectral information to decrease the spectral artifacts in sparse-aperture imagery

Optical sparse-aperture telescopes represent a promising new technology to increase the effective diameter of an optical system while reducing its weight and stowable size. The sub-apertures of a sparse-aperture system are phased to synthesize a telescope system that has a larger effective aperture than any of the independent sub-apertures. Sparse-apertures have mostly been modeled to date using a "gray-world" approximation where the input is a grayscale image. The gray-world model makes use of a "polychromatic" optical transfer function (OTF) where the spectral OTFs are averaged to form a single OTF. This OTF is then convolved with the grayscale image to create the resultant sparse-aperture image. The model proposed here uses a spectral image-cube as the input to create a panchromatic or multispectral result. These outputs better approximate an actual system because there is a higher spectral fidelity present than a gray-world model. Unlike its Cassegrain counterpart that has a well behaved OTF, the majority of sparse-aperture OTFs have very oscillatory and attenuated natures. When a spectral sparse-aperture model is used, spectral artifacts become apparent when the phasing errors increase beyond a certain threshold. This threshold can be based in part on the type of phasing error (i.e. piston, tip/tilt, and the amount present in each sub-aperture), as well as the collection conditions, including configuration, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and fill factor. This research addresses whether integrating a restored multispectral sparse-aperture image into a panchromatic image will decrease the amount of spectral artifacts present. The restored panchromatic image created from integrating multispectral images is compared to a conventional panchromatic sparse-aperture image. Conclusions are drawn through image quality analysis and the change in spectral artifacts.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The surgical management of multiple lung metastases.

Abstract From 1970 to June, 1976, 56 patients who had multiple metastatic tumors of the lung were treated by lung resection. Most of the bilateral lung lesions were removed through a median sternotomy so as to avoid staged bilateral thoracotomy. The surgical mortality was 1.8%. A total of 26 patients are alive at 7 to 69 months (estimated median survival, 20.7 months). Patients with tumor doubling time of less than 40 days had lower survival results (median, 9.5 months), compared to patients with tumor doubling time of more than 40 days (median not yet reached). The type of primary tumor, tumor-free interval, number of lesions removed, and presence of unilateral as opposed to bilateral lung metastases did not seem to affect the therapeutic results.
Effects of the class III Antiarrhythmic, Dofetilide (UK‐68,798) on the heart rate of midgestation rat embryos, in vitro

Gestation day 11 (GD11) and 14 (GD14) embryos were cultured for up to 4 hours in the presence of Dofetilide (0.01–0.50μg/ml), a potent Class III Antiarrhythmic which selectively inhibits the rapid component of the time dependent outward potassium current (IKr). Significant (P < 0.05) reductions in heart rate (HR) as measured over a 4 hour period were dose dependent and reversible. The sensitivity of the GD11 embryos was greater than GD14 embryos (14–64% decrease in HR vs. an 11–43% decrease in HR, respectively) at the same concentrations tested. These in vitro results support the hypothesis that the embryo-lethality of Class III Antiarrhythmics observed in vivo may be a class effect of the IKr subtype potassium channel blockers. The data suggest a possible mechanism of embryotoxicity is to lower embryonic HR resulting in subsequent hypoxia and death. Dofetilide's effects on GD11 HR were partially reversible by the sequential addition of Isoproterenol or Theophylline. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Application of derivative-free methodologies to generally constrained oil production optimization problems

Oil production optimisation involves the determination of optimum well controls (well pressures, injection rates) to maximise an objective function such as net present value. These problems typically include physical and economic restrictions, which introduce general constraints into the optimisations. Cost function and constraint evaluations entail calls to a reservoir flow simulator. In many situations, gradient information is not available, so derivative-free (non-invasive, black-box) optimisation methods are of interest. This work entails a comparative study of several derivative-free methods applied to generally constrained production optimisation problems. The methods considered include generalised pattern search, Hooke-Jeeves direct search, and a genetic algorithm. Penalty function and filter-based methods are applied for constraint handling. Numerical results for optimisation problems of varying complexity highlight the relative advantages and disadvantages of these procedures. Several combinations of approaches are shown to perform well for the generally constrained cases considered.
Biogeochemical processes affecting total arsenic and arsenic species distributions in an intermittently anoxic fjord

Abstract Total arsenic, arsenate and arsenite concentration profiles for the water column of Saanich Inlet, an intermittently anoxic fjord located on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada, were measured using independent analytical techniques for total arsenic and arsenic speciation to evaluate the accuracy of the speciation technique in both oxic and anoxic marine environments. Total arsenic profiles indicate a mid-depth minimum of about 1.0 ppb above the oxic—anoxic interface and an enrichment in the anoxic zone to about 2.0 ppb. This minimum may be due to either advection of arsenic-poor water into Saanich Inlet at mid-depth or arsenic incorporation onto solid phases within a bacteria- and manganese-rich particulate layer located immediately above the oxic—anoxic interface and subsequent removal via sinking particulate material. Ratios of total arsenic to phosphorus in the deep, anoxic waters of the basin are similar to those reported for marine algae, suggesting that the enrichment of total arsenic within the anoxic bottom layer may be due to its release upon organic matter decomposition. Arsenate and arsenite concentration versus depth profiles indicate a rapid (but incomplete in a thermodynamic sense) response to the oxic—anoxic interface. The arsenate/ arsenite concentration ratio is 15/1 in the oxic region of the water column and 1/12 in the anoxic zone. Arsenate—arsenite interconversion occurs at a depth shallower than ferric-ferrous but deeper than MnO2 —Mn2+ interconversions. Measurements of arsenite oxidation rates at near-ambient arsenite concentrations and temperatures using an 74As3+ radioactive tracer technique indicate that arsenite oxidation is initially ten times faster in seawater taken from the manganese-rich particulate layer at 165 m depth than in seawater collected near the surface at 50 m depth. Addition of antibiotics to seawater from 165 m depth initially suppressed the rate of arsenite oxidation, indicating that it may be partially microbially mediated.
Palatability and Quantity of Pork as Influenced by Breed and Fatness

SUMMARY The influence of breed, sex, and fatness on the quantity and eating quality of loins from 119 Duroc and 111 Yorkshire pigs was studied. Duroc pigs had significantly more intramuscular fat, smaller longissimus dorsi area, more tender, juicier loins, and less separable lean in the ham than Yorkshire pigs. Among Durocs, barrows had more desirable lean flavor than gilts. Among Yorkshires, barrows had more desirable fat flavor than gilts. In both breeds, an increase in backfat thickness was accompanied by a significant linear decrease in separable lean and increase in separable fat of the ham. Correlations among quantity indices and eating quality indicated that indices of quantity were not related to eating quality.
The Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids of Marine and Freshwater Cryptomonads1

SYNOPSIS Fatty acids were examined of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic marine and freshwater cryptomonads cultured as photoauxotrophs, photoheterotrophs and heterotrophs at various incubation temperatures and constant light intensity. Photo-synthetic marine and freshwater forms contained octadecatrienoic, octadecatetraenoic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic (all-cis, ω3 acids) as the major polyunsaturates, and a freshwater heterotroph contained mostly the octadecatrienoic acid. The polar lipids of a marine, photosynthetic form, Cryptomonas sp., included the usual thylakoid membrane lipids of the chloroplasts of eukaryotic, photosynthetic cells: galactosyl diglycerides, phosphatidyl glycerol and a sulfolipid. Also present were 2 choline-containing phospholipids: phosphatidyl choline and an unknown. Ninhydrin-positive and inositol-containing lipids were not detected. Octadecatetraenoic acid comprised 75% of the total fatty acids of the monogalactosyl diglyceride fraction. The phosphatidyl glycerol was acylated mostly by ω13 trans-hexadecaenoic acid and the eicosapentaenoic acid. Evolutionary relationships of cryptomonads as mirrored in lipid composition are discussed.
DoD Design Cloud Analysis: Securing the Integrated Circuit Design Process

The use of unsecure foundries has allowed and is still providing a pathway for counterfeit microelectronics into U.S. defense systems. As a result, the Warfighter has been put at risk and a solution is needed. To counter this dilemma, this study looks into the feasibility of creating a Department of Defense (DoD) - wide design cloud that would provide circuit designers with a more secure and economical way of designing and fabricating circuits. The design cloud would include secure communication to trusted foundries along with needed circuit design software. Factors such as security, costs, benefits, and issues are taken into consideration in determining whether the use of the cloud would actually aid the integrated circuit design process.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Inference engine for process diagnostics and functional correlation in surface metrology

Abstract The practice of surface metrology in the industry today has not advanced beyond simple parameter computation and tolerance verification. While surface texture measurements are intended to aid in process diagnostics or functional prediction, it is currently mostly used only as a go–no go gage for specification compliance. A primary reason for this is the lack of availability of tools and techniques for correlating surface texture parameters with functional measures. Current analysis systems are not geared towards analysis of multiple profiles or for correlating parameters with function. Thus, there is a need for the development of an advanced surface texture analysis system that can analyze multiple profiles and develop cause–effect models for process diagnostics and functional prediction. This paper presents the features of this analysis system and illustrates their use with a variety of case studies.
A novel approach for depth extraction from single 2D image

Many methods on extracting 3D information from 2D images have been studied since 1990s, especially the depth information extraction. A novel approach for depth extraction is proposed and implemented in this paper. About 30 images are taken especially for this case study and experiments are conducted on the Stanford Range Image Data. Results show that this approach is generally suitable for most of the images; and performs even better on images with darker background.
Egg yolk conjugated linoleic acid alters phospholipid molecular species in chick tissues.

The effects of egg conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on chick yolk sac and liver phospholipid composition and molecular species were determined. Fertile eggs with no (control), low (CLA 1 ) or high (CLA2) levels of CLA were incubated. Upon hatching, total lipid in the remnant yolk sac constituted 11.5, 18.9 and 15.3% in control, CLA1 and CLA2, respectively (p <0.05). Maternal CLA led to a decrease in phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and an increase in lysophosphatidylcholine (LPtdCho) in the yolk sac and liver tissues of CLA1 and CLA2 when compared to control (p <0.05). The effect of maternal dietary CLA was very prominent in yolk sac PtdCho (34: 1) where 13 and 38% reductions were observed in CLA1 and CLA2, respectively, when compared to control. Among different liver PtdCho species, the highest difference was found in 36:2, where a 41% increase was observed in CLA2 when compared with control chicks. The liver LPtdCho of CLA1 and CLA2 chicks had a 92% increase in 16:0 and 18:0 when compared to control. Over 80% increase was observed for 18:2 and 20:4 in the liver LPtdCho of CLA2 chicks compared to control. These results suggest that the yolk CLA content alters the proportions of phospholipids in the progeny during avian embryogenesis.
A class of rank-two ellipsoid algorithms for convex programming

In this paper, we develop a method for constructing minimum volume ellipsoids containing a wedge-shaped subset of a given ellipsoid. This construction yields a class of ellipsoid algorithms for convex programming that use rank-two update formulae.
Statistical Modelling in Hydrology

Some applications of statistical models in hydrology fitting distributions linear relationships standardized residuals non-linear statistical models multivariate models some possible future developments in statistical modelling.
Introducing solution-focused approaches to staff in inpatient psychiatric settings

The authors describe several approaches to introducing solution-focused ideas to inpatient psychiatric nursing staff and psychiatric nursing students. The approach is intended to show the basic values of this approach in the process of helping participants become acquainted with concepts central to newer models of brief psychotherapy. The format uses humor, small group experiential case examples along with didactic approaches to facilitate new ways of thinking congruent with new models of therapy.
Optimal buffer allocation in a multicell system

Motivated by a layout design problem in the electronics industry, we study in this article the allocation of buffer space among a set of cells. Each cell processes a given part family and has its own revenue-cost structure. The objective of the optimal allocation is to maximize the net profit function (total production profits minus total buffer allocation costs). According to the flow pattern of jobs, the cells are categorized into two types. A type 1 cell is modeled as a Jackson network; a type 2 cell is modeled as an ordered-entry system with heterogeneous servers. Both models have finite waiting room, due to the buffer capacity allocated to the cells. We show that under quite general conditions, the production rate of each cell of either type is an incresing and concave function of its buffer allocation. Exploiting this property, a marginal allocation scheme efficiently solves the optimal buffer allocation problem under increasing concave production profits and convex buffer space costs.
Pharmacotherapy of Focal Epilepsy in Children: A Systematic Review of Approved Agents

Background Partial-onset seizures contribute the bulk of seizure burden in childhood epilepsy. The therapeutic decision making involves consideration of factors specific to drug, patient and socioeconomic situation.
Evolution: From Autosomes to Sex Chromosomes — and Back

Heteromorphic sex chromosomes are thought to represent a terminal evolutionary endpoint due to their specialized gene content and chromosome-specific regulation. New findings, however, show that an ancient X chromosome reverted to an autosome in the lineage leading to Drosophila.
Evidence for a functional sidedness to the αβTCR

The T cell receptor (TCR) and associated CD3γe, δe, and ζζ signaling dimers allow T cells to discriminate between different antigens and respond accordingly, but our knowledge of how these parts fit and work together is incomplete. In this study, we provide additional evidence that the CD3 heterodimers congregate on one side of the TCR in both the αβ and γδTCR-CD3 complexes. We also report that the other side of the αβTCR mediates homotypic αβTCR interactions and signaling. Specifically, an erythropoietin receptor-based dimerization assay was used to show that, upon complex assembly, the CD3e chains of two CD3 heterodimers are arranged side-by-side in both the αβ and γδTCR-CD3 complexes. This system was also used to show that αβTCRs can dimerize in the cell membrane and that mutating the unusual outer strands of the Cα domain impairs this dimerization. Finally, we present data showing that, for CD4 T cells, the mutations that impair αβTCR dimerization also alter ligand-induced calcium mobilization, TCR accumulation at the site of pMHC contact, and polarization toward the site of antigen contact. These data reveal a “functional-sidedness” to the αβTCR constant region, with dimerization occurring on the side of the TCR opposite from where the CD3 heterodimers are located.
Quasi-static analysis of fringe capacitances for horizontal and vertical annular frills†

A succinct method is proposed for deriving spectral representation of the fringe capacitances of horizontal and vertical frills. The approach enables fast and accurate calculation of the input admittances of coaxial-fed antennas. The importance of the fringe capacitance calculation for magnetic frill sources is demonstrated by a variational formulation. Simple formulas are also provided for extracting fringe capacitances of frills with different wire radii and frill widths. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 33: 61–64, 2002; DOI 10.1002/mop.10232
Sedative, Hypnotic, and Antianxiety Medication Use in an Aging Cohort over Ten Years: A Racial Comparison

OBJECTIVES: Prescriptions of sedatives, hypnotics, and antianxiety medications have decreased over the past 15 years. However, racial differences have not been well investigated in controlled analyses. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: The authors analyzed data from a community-based, biracial cohort of older adults (n = 4000 at baseline) followed for 10 years to determine sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with the use of these medications between 1986 and 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Information about sedative, hypnotic, and antianxiety medication use and demographic and health characteristics was obtained from a race-stratified, probability-based sample of black and white community-dwelling older adults in the Piedmont region of North Carolina during four in-person interviews spanning 10 years. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Logistic regression was used for the final models. RESULTS: A total of 13.3% of the subjects were taking these medications in 1986, with the frequency of use declining only to 11.8% in 1996 despite the cohort aging 10 years. Correlates of use at baseline were female gender, white race, depressive symptoms, poor self-rated health, impaired physical function, and health services use. These correlates persisted for each of the three follow-up waves of the survey. In 1996, the odds for being white and using these medications was 4.70 in controlled analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the overall decline in the use of sedative, hypnotics, and antianxiety agents in the general population in recent years, over the 10 years of this survey, an aging cohort continued to use these medications at a frequency greater than the general population and did not demonstrate a significant decline in use. Factors unrelated to health status, specifically being white, were among the strongest correlates of use throughout the years of follow-up.
Systematic Trellis-coded Modulation on Multipath Fading ISI Channels

The concept of systematic trellis-coded modu- lation (STCM) is presented as an effective means of performing coded modulation on multipath fading IS1 channels. Due to the special construction of STCM codes, a dual mode receiver can be employed; conventional sequence estimation is used when the channel is satisfactory, and systematic decoding is used when the channel exhibits a deep fade. Because the bit error rate is dominated by the code performance during a deep fade, STCM codes with even a modest asymptotic coding gain have an over- all performance that is better than previously reported trellis- codes with large asymptotic coding gain. I Introduction
Crystallization of a Liquid (or a Glass) Contained within a Nanotube

The liquid-to-crystal phase transformation within a nanotube includes a mechanical energy penalty if the phase change is accompanied by a change in volume. This factor introduces an additional term in the free energy equation for nucleation and growth. The mechanical term opposes phase change and varies as + r 12 , where r is the radius of the nucleus. When combined with the volume free energy term (which varies as -r 3 ) and the surface energy term (+r 2 ) it causes the total free energy to reach a minimum and then assume a sharply positive slope as r is increased, implying partial crystallization of the liquid phase. However, circumferential buckling of the nanotube can relax the strain energy, allowing crystallization to continue to completion. Both conditions are derived in the paper. The buckling condition predicts that nanotubes will permit crystallization if the ratio of wall thickness to tube radius is below a critical value. The predictions are apparently consistent with experimental observations.
Optimum fault isolation by statistical inference

Fault Isolation is always based on a statistical model of fault occurrence and measurement error. Usually the statistical assumptions are impilcit and unstated. Making them explicit and systematically exploring their consequences proves to be an extremely powerful method of developing optimum fault isolation techniques. A criterion is developed here for optimum isolation of catastrophic faults. The technique evolved serves, in fact, to determine the actual probability of each fault based on the observed values of the measured quantities. These probabilities provide ambiguity statistics for the degree of isolation attained. A method is also developed for optimally employing the measurements to detect and isolate noncatastrophic faults when catastrophic faults are absent. Information theoretic criteria are derived for the optimum selection and sequencing of candidate tests. These can be applied at test time in a refined version of branched "go-no go" logic, and also at test-development time to screen a large set of candidate tests down to a small efficient subset.
Structuring basic programs for managing overlays in a small computer system

In a small computer system, it is not unusual to write a BASIC program which is too large to fit into main memory. Such a program must be replaced by a collection of overlay modules together with inter-module sequencing logic. A sophisticated BASIC interpreter allows this sequencing to be done under program control. Unless carefully managed, a decomposition can produce an environment where programs exhibit undesirable characteristics. A structuring and design strategy is presented, discussed, and illustrated by a typical business application. Attention is given to program production, efficiency, reliability, maintainability, and modifiability using this strategy.
Role of ATP binding and hydrolysis in assembly of MacAB–TolC macrolide transporter

MacB is a founding member of the Macrolide Exporter family of transporters belonging to the ATP-Binding Cassette superfamily. These proteins are broadly represented in genomes of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and are implicated in virulence and protection against antibiotics and peptide toxins. MacB transporter functions together with MacA, a periplasmic membrane fusion protein, which stimulates MacB ATPase. In Gram-negative bacteria, MacA is believed to couple ATP hydrolysis to transport of substrates across the outer membrane through a TolC-like channel. In this study, we report a real-time analysis of concurrent ATP hydrolysis and assembly of MacAB-TolC complex. MacB binds nucleotides with a low millimolar affinity and fast on- and off-rates. In contrast, MacA-MacB complex is formed with a nanomolar affinity, which further increases in the presence of ATP. Our results strongly suggest that association between MacA and MacB is stimulated by ATP binding to MacB but remains unchanged during ATP hydrolysis cycle. We also found that the large periplasmic loop of MacB plays the major role in coupling reactions separated in two different membranes. This loop is required for MacA-dependent stimulation of MacB ATPase and at the same time, contributes to recruitment of TolC into a trans-envelope complex.
Characterization of Ceramic Foams through Fourier Analysis of Digital Images

There is an industrial need to accurately characterize the structure of complex materials. Current techniques often rely on a subjective visual examination of the material surface. In this study, a digital camera was used to image ceramic foams having similar structure, but different pore sizes. The structures of the foams were quantified by taking one-dimensional Fourier transforms of digital images of the surfaces of each sample. The Fourier analysis was used to determine the distribution of spatial frequencies representative of the materials. The goal was to develop a technique to quantify the average pore size and pore spacing of complex porous materials.
Serologically reactive material in spinal fluid, blood, and urine from a human case of cryptococcosis (torulosis).

SummarySerologically reactive substances (“soluble antigens”) which were readily detectable by precipitation and by complement fixation with Cryptococcus antiserum were found in the spinal fluid, blood serum? and urine of a patient with cryptococcal meningitis. Absorption of the antiserum with solutions of purified Cryptococcus polysaccharide removed its capacity to react with the fluids of the patient. The reactive substances in the patient's fluids were relatively heat stable and it is probable that they represent capsular polysaccharides of the fungus with which the patient was infected.Serological reactions of the Quellung type were obtained with the capsules of Cryptococcus cells from the centrifuged sediment of the spinal fluid.
Characterization of texture in hexagonal materials using a line focus acoustic microscope

A line focus acoustic microscope (LFAM) was used to measure the angular distribution of longitudinal surface skimming waves in Zr-2.5% wt. Nb samples exhibiting orthorhombic macroscopic symmetry. Using the information from longitudinal wave scans obtained on three principal planes, the authors attempt to determine as much information as possible about the five independent texture coefficients, W/sub lmn/, without any prior knowledge of the single-crystal elastic constants. In general, it is found that only ratios of the texture coefficients and the isotropic longitudinal velocity component can be determined from the ultrasonic measurements, when performed on hexagonal materials with orthorhombic macroscopic symmetry. The results are averaging method independent and do not require any information about the density of the material. >
Guideline Principles to Govern the Importation of Hoofed Animals

Imported species of plants or animals tend either to fail or to flourish in a new environment, and it is nearly inevitable that ranch-fenced exotic ungulates will escape to the wild. Successful introduced species tend to spread into all suitable areas, and the likelihood that exotic species will be damaging is great. Prior study of prospective imported species cannot insure either a successful importation or a beneficial result. Yet a thorough preceding review by qualified ecologists and the effective regulation of ungulate importations by national and international agencies, are the only present safeguards against serious economic and environmental damage. Some general truths are proposed to serve as guiding principles for the future.
Transfer of Steroids Across the Hamster Blood Testis and Blood Epididymal Barriers

Hamsters were administered i.v. infusions of solutions containing either l3HI testosterone (T), [3 H) dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or [3 H) progesterone (P). Micropuncture of seminiferous and epididymal tubules and scintillation spectrophotometry of samples was used to determine the concentration of isotope in blood and intraluminal fluid from both types of reproductive tubules. After equilibration, mean isotope concentrations appearing in seminiferous tubule fluid (SNF) were 31%, 24%, and 14% of blood isotope concentrations for 1� HI P, (3 HI T, and l31-IIDHT, respectively. The same figures for cauda epididymidal fluid (CDF) were 33%, 31%, and 20% for (3 HI P, (3 HIT, and (3 HI DHT, respectively. Isotope from [3 Hi T and (3 HI DHT appeared in CDF in significantly greater (P<0.01) concentrations than in SNF. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of SNF and CDF after systemic infusion of (3 HIP, [3 HIT, and [3 HI DHT was also performed. Isotope collected in SNF during �3 H) T infusion chromatographed primarily with T; in the CDF the isotope (73% of total extractable radioactivity) was associated neither with T nor DHT but with an unidentified highly polar compound(s). Similar conversion occurred in CDF when �3 HI DHT was the infused steroid. 5o Androstane-3a, 17j3 diol was the apparent major metabolite of DHT in SNF. Isotope from [3 HI P appeared mostly as unidentified highly polar compound in
Multipath delay measurement using parallel processing

An efficient model has been developed to estimate the parameters of a slowly fading multipath channel. A spread-spectrum direct sequence signal is used to resolve the path delays and despread the noise. The multipath parameters, including number of paths, path delays, and fading factors, are estimated by finding the approximated eigenvalues of the covariance matrix of the received signal. The multipath estimator is fully implemented by a parallel processing scheme and two fast and high-resolution algorithms, HSNR and LSNR, are developed for this scheme. The computer simulation results show that reliable multipath estimation can be achieved even when multipath time delays are very close in low signal-to-noise ratio. The resolution of multipath time delays can be improved by using a long direct sequence, and the estimation accuracy of fading factors can be achieved by a long-term observation. >
Functionality of native tetraploid wheat starches: Effects of waxy loci alleles and amylose concentration in blends

Partial waxy (reduced amylose) and fully waxy (amylose-free) tetraploid durum wheats (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) were used to investigate the relationships between both intra- and inter-granular variation in amylose concentration and starch functionality. Starches isolated from each genotype (intra-granular amylose variants) were compared to those of commercially available hexaploid wild-type and waxy starches, and functionalities compared to blends (inter-granular variants) of durum waxy and wild-type starches of 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, & 30% amylose content. Starch particle size distributions were not significantly different amongst partial waxy and wild-type genotypes; waxy samples had significantly smaller mean starch granule size. Few significant differences for crystallite melting and related intrinsic heat as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were observed. The detected differences in starch gel color or gel strength generally were observed for the waxy samples relative to wild-type. Numerous significant differences were observed via Rapid-Visco Analysis (RVA). Pasting peak viscosity and breakdown were inversely proportional to % amylose. Wx-B1 null final viscosity differed significantly from that of all other blends and genotypes, demonstrating that genotypic differences exist amongst the partial waxy types, independent of amylose concentration per se.
Carcinosarcoma of the ovary—a case series

Abstract Objective. To evaluate our experience with ovarian carcinosarcoma and identify prognostic factors. Methods. Thirty-one cases of ovarian carcinosarcoma were identified over a 6-year time period through tumor registry and pathology records. Fisher exact test and log rank using Kaplan–Meier method ( P Results. All 31 patients underwent initial surgical treatment with an appropriate staging procedure. Stage distribution: 1 stage I, 6 stage II, 23 stage III, and 1 stage IV. The median follow-up was 28 months. The median survival for the entire group was 21 months. Early vs. advanced stage significantly influenced progression-free interval, P = 0.05. Nineteen patients were found to have stage IIIC disease and required debulking procedures. In patients with stage IIIC disease, presence of residual disease was associated with decreased overall survival, P = 0.03. 29 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with 11 patients receiving ifosfamide/cisplatin and 16 patients receiving carboplatin/taxol. Progression-free interval was improved with the use of ifosfamide/cisplatin vs. carboplatin/taxol. The median PFI was 12 months in the carbo/taxol group and has not been reached in the ifos/cisplatin group ( P = 0.005). The overall survival was also significantly improved with the use of ifosfamide/cisplatin, P = 0.03. In advanced stage patients, overall survival was not significantly influenced by type of adjuvant chemotherapy administered, P = 0.13. Conclusions. Ovarian carcinosarcoma has a poor overall prognosis with median survival rates reported in the literature ranging from 7–10 months. Our series, although limited by a small number of patients, exhibits a more encouraging median survival of 21 months for the overall group. Aggressive debulking to eliminate residual disease and the use of ifosfamide/cisplatin chemotherapy seem to be factors in this improved outcome.
Invariant correlations in simplicial gravity.

Some first results are presented regarding the behavior of invariant correlations in simplicial gravity, with an action containing both a bare cosmological term and a lattice higher derivative term. The determination of invariant correlations as a function of geodesic distance by numerical methods is a difficult task, since the geodesic distance between any two points is a function of the fluctuating background geometry, and correlation effects become rather small for large distances. Still, a strikingly different behavior is found for the volume and curvature correlation functions. While the first one is found to be negative definite at large geodesic distances, the second one is always positive for large distances. For both correlations the results are consistent in the smooth phase with an exponential decay, turning into a power law close to the critical point at ${\mathit{G}}_{\mathit{c}}$. Such behavior is not completely unexpected, if the model is to reproduce the classical Einstein theory at distances much larger than the ultraviolet cutoff scale.
Modulation of insulin secretion from beta-cells by phosphoinositide-derived second-messenger molecules.

In isolated islets, the hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositides (PI) participates in the transduction of both extracellular and intracellular signals into an effective insulin secretory response. A wide variety of potential second-messenger molecules are generated during the phospholipase C-mediated cleavage of these strategically situated membrane phospholipids. Several distinct but interrelated issues are addressed in this perspective. These include 1 ) methodological approaches utilized to assess PI turnover, 2 ) the synergistic relationship between PI-derived second messengers and cAMP, 3 ) the contribution of changing PI turnover rates to the biphasic pattern of insulin output induced by 20 mM glucose, and 4 ) the role played by PI turnover in the phenomenon of “memory” displayed by islets after prior stimulation with various agonists. The concept that events unique to PI turnover contribute to β-cell activation is well founded. Because of uncertainty regarding the exact nature of all PI-derived messengers, however, it is not yet possible to mold the available information into a comprehensive theory of β-cell activation. Future studies will have to address various important unresolved issues.