cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taking a hard look at formal mentoring programs

Research indicates that although women have achieved virtual parity with men when entering organizations, within five to six years their careers begin to lag behind those of their male counterparts. This lag is often attributed to the glass ceiling and mentoring has been suggested as one tool to assist women in breaking through. We still have very little empirical research that informs our understanding of the effectiveness of formal mentoring in comparison to informal mentoring relationships. The purpose of this article is to take a hard look at formal mentoring programs and the implications for women participating in them. It compares formal mentoring to informal mentoring. It focuses on the practice of formal mentoring relationships and the unique challenges that women may face as they negotiate these planned relationships as well as some suggested strategies to deal with these challenges. It concludes by discussing the implications of this work as well as alternative sources of support for women.
Tissue distribution and regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in obese mice.

Although elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is associated with obesity and may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the mechanism(s) that lead to this elevation, and the tissue/cellular origins of this increase, remain to be defined. In this report, we have addressed these questions using genetically obese mice (ob/ob) and their lean counterparts (+/?). PAI-1 activity and antigen levels were determined using a tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) binding assay and Western blotting. The concentration of PAI-1 mRNA in tissues was determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the cellular localization of PAI-1 was evaluated using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and cell fractionation. PAI-1 activity was approximately 4-fold higher in plasma from ob/ob mice than in that obtained from their lean counterparts, and this difference increased further with age (i.e., 6-fold at 3 months). PAI-1 mRNA levels were elevated 4- to 5-fold in the adipose tissues of obese mice, and these differences in mRNA also increased with age. The elevated PAI-1 mRNA in the adipose tissues of obese mice was localized to mature adipocytes as well as to vascular smooth muscle cells and occasional endothelial cells. Obesity is often associated with hyperinsulinemia, and acute injection of insulin into lean mice increased PAI-1 mRNA 6- to 8-fold in the epididymal fat in cells that morphologically resembled adipocytes. Insulin did not increase PAI-1 in large vessel endothelial or smooth muscle cells. The adipocyte response to insulin was confirmed in cell culture studies where PAI-1 synthesis by mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes was increased 5- to 6-fold by insulin. Our results suggest that elevated PAI-1 associated with obesity may result in part from insulin-induced induction of PAI-1 specifically by adipocytes within the fat itself.
Abstract 15572: Trans Fat Consumption is Adversely Linked to Memory in Working-Age Adults

Background: Dietary industrial trans fatty acids ( dTFA ) have pro oxidant and cell energy harms . Food with anti oxidant and cell energy benefits has been favorably linked to word memory in younger adults, prior to major age-induced variance. Goal: We assessed the cross-sectional relation of dTFA to word-memory. Participants: 1018 adult men age ≥20 and post-menopausal women without CAD, with LDL 115-190mg/dL, fasting glucose ≤142mg/dL, assessed in 1999-2004 (before dTFA regulation). Primary analyses focused on men, as only men (N=694) were represented in younger adult ages. Measurements: “Recurrent words” ( RecWd ) assessed word memory. A Food Frequency Questionnaire ( FFQ ) estimated TFA (gms/day). An age-by-dTFA interaction was assessed. Regression, stratified at age 45, assessed the relation between RecWd and dTFA across models adjusting for potential confounders (see Table). Potential mediators were examined. Results: An age-by-dTFA interaction was significant (P=0.025), supporting stratification. dTFA adversely predicted memory in age Conclusion: Greater dTFA was significantly associated with worse word memory in adults aged 20-45 years, often critical years for career building. dTFA findings remain relevant because US regulations do not extend worldwide, and presumed dTFA mechanisms have relevance to other exposures. Prooxidant and energetic detriments of dTFA and triangulation with other evidence offer prospects for causality.
Reaction π + p → ρ + p at 2.67 GeV/ c : A Study of Isoscalar Exchanges

Results are presented of a study of the reaction ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{+}p$ at 2.67 GeV/c incident ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ momentum. The contributions due to given spin-parity exchanges are isolated; and, by combining these results with those of a similar ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ experiment, the ${I}_{t}=0$ component of each series is separated. The $\ensuremath{\omega}$ ($I=0$, ${J}^{\mathrm{PG}}={1}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{-}}$) exchange contribution shows a pronounced dip at $\ensuremath{-}t=0.4$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$. Evidence is presented for the exchange of a state of minimum quantum numbers, $H$ ($I=0$, ${J}^{\mathrm{PG}}={1}^{+\ensuremath{-}}$).
Unrecognized glucose intolerance is common in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background Animal and human data suggest insulin resistance is common in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although routine assessment of insulin resistance is difficult, hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) is a sensitive test to detect diabetes mellitus (DM) and those at high risk for DM. We aimed to define the prevalence of elevated HbA 1c in PAH patients and to correlate HbA 1c levels with functional assessment. Methods HbA 1c was measured in 41 PAH patients without a diagnosis of DM, along with demographic, functional, and hemodynamic data. Using published criteria, HbA 1c ≤ 5.9% defined normal, 6.0% to 6.4% was glucose intolerance, and ≥ 6.5% was DM. Results Twenty-three patients (56%) had HbA 1c ≥ 6.0%, and 6 (15%) had unrecognized DM (HbA 1c ≥ 6.5%). Age and body mass index were similar in patients with HbA 1c ≥ 6.0% vs 1c (331.0 ± 126.6 vs 413.6 ± 74.9 meters, p = 0.07). The 6-month event-free survival was not significantly different in patients with elevated HbA 1c . Conclusions Unrecognized glucose intolerance as assessed by HbA 1c is common in PAH. Further studies are needed to discern if glucose or insulin dysregulation mediates PAH pathogenesis or is secondary to advanced PAH.
Children's meta-perceptions and meta-accuracy of acceptance and rejection by same-sex and other-sex peers

The goals of this study were to examine children's meta-perceptions and meta-accuracy of acceptance and rejection in the peer group, the degree to which these perceptions vary by perceiver sex and sex of the reference group, and the association between these perceptions and children's actual functioning in the peer group. Participants were 644 fourth-grade children. Meta-perceptions and meta-accuracy were derived from sociometric nominations of actual and perceived acceptance and rejection. Children more accurately perceived how they were seen by same-sex peers than how they were seen by other-sex peers. They also perceived more rejection than acceptance from other-sex peers. Meta-accuracy for rejection was low regardless of the sex of the reference group. Sex of the reference group significantly moderated the association between meta-perceptions and meta-accuracy of acceptance and rejection and children's actual peer relationships. These findings indicate the importance of examining these relatively understudied social cognitions in research with children and the importance of taking the sex of the reference group into account in future peer relations studies using peer nomination methods.
Cacophonies of Aid, Failed State Building and NGOs in Haiti: setting the stage for disaster, envisioning the future

The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti was a catastrophe not only for the loss of life it caused, but also because it destroyed the very thin layer of state administrative capacity that was in place in the country. This article argues that the fragility of the Haitian state institutions was exacerbated by international strategies that promoted NGOs as substitutes for the state. These strategies have generated a vicious circle that, while solving immediate logistical problems, ended up weakening Haiti's institutions. However, the article does not call for an overarching condemnation of NGOs. Instead, it explores two cases of community-based NGOs, Partners In Health and Fonkoze, that have contributed to creating durable social capital, generated employment and provided functioning services to the communities where they operated. The article shows that organisations that are financially independent and internationally connected, embrace a needs-based approach to their activities and share a long-term commitment to the communities within which they operate can contribute to bringing about substantial improvement for people living in situations of extreme poverty. It concludes that in the aftermath of a crisis of the dimension of the January earthquake it is crucial to channel support towards organisations that show this type of commitment.
Photoreceptor degeneration and dysfunction in aging and age-related maculopathy

The relative rate of rod and cone degeneration is a fundamental characteristic of any disorder affecting photoreceptors, including aging and age-related maculopathy (ARM). The human macula consists of a small cone-dominated fovea surrounded by a rod-dominated parafovea. In aging and early ARM, rods degenerate before cones, a decline in scotopic (rod-mediated) sensitivity is more prominent than a decline in photopic (cone-mediated) sensitivity, and the time course of dark adaptation of rods slows dramatically. The topography of rod dysfunction and loss in early ARM matches the location of pathology in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/Bruch's membrane complex visible in the ocular fundus. Rod dysfunction and loss in aging and ARM may be due to retinoid deficiency at the level of the photoreceptors cause by impaired retinoid translocation across the RPE/Bruch's membrane complex, a hypothesis deserving of further investigation.
A satellite observation system simulation experiment for carbon monoxide in the lowermost troposphere

[1] We demonstrate the feasibility of using observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) studies to help define quantitative trace gas measurement requirements for satellite missions and to evaluate the expected performance of proposed observing strategies. The 2007 U.S. National Research Council Decadal Survey calls for a geostationary (GEO) satellite mission for atmospheric composition and air quality applications (Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events Mission (GEO-CAPE)). The requirement includes a multispectral (near-infrared and thermal infrared) measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) at high spatiotemporal resolution with information on lowermost troposphere concentration. We present an OSSE to assess the improvement in surface CO characterization that would result from the addition of a GEO-CAPE CO measurement to current low Earth orbit (LEO) thermal infrared-only measurements. We construct instrument simulators for these two measurement scenarios and study the case of July 2004 when wildfires in Alaska and Canada led to significant CO pollution over the contiguous United States. Compared to a control experiment, an ensemble-based data assimilation of simulated satellite observations in a global model leads to improvements in both the surface CO distributions and the time evolution of CO profiles at locations affected by wildfire plumes and by urban emissions. In all cases, an experiment with the GEO-CAPE CO measurement scenario (overall model skill of 0.84) performed considerably better than the experiment with the current LEO/thermal infrared measurement (skill of 0.58) and the control (skill of 0.07). This demonstrates the advantages of increased sampling from GEO and enhanced measurement sensitivity to the lowermost troposphere with a multispectral retrieval.
Oncological and renal medical importance of kidney-sparing surgery.

Despite accumulating evidence that partial nephrectomy provides equivalent oncological outcomes to radical surgery while also preserving renal function and preventing the adverse cardiovascular effects of chronic kidney disease, the technique remains underused. In this Review, Russo discusses the evolution of the partial nephrectomy technique and the importance of kidney-sparing surgery for small renal masses.
Effects of malathion, diazinon, and parathion on mallard embryo development and cholinesterase activity.

Abstract The effects of external exposure of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) eggs to malathion, diazinon, and parathion were examined using formulations and concentrations similar to field applications. Treatment with aqueous emulsion simulated exposure at the rate of 100 gal per acre (153 liters/hectare) with three to six different doses per compound with treatment at 3 and 8 days of embryonic development. Treatment with a nontoxic oil vehicle simulated exposure at the rate of 11 gal per acre (16.8 liters/hectare) with three to six different doses per compound. The order of embryotoxicity on a pounds-per-acre basis was parathion > diazinon > malathion with either vehicle. However, the potential hazard under conditions of up to five times the maximum field level of application was greater for malathion because of the high permissible level of application for malathion on certain crops. Parathion, the most embryotoxic of the three, had the most pronounced effects when an oil vehicle was used, as reflected by an LC50 of about 2 lb of active ingredient per acre, stunted growth, and a high frequency of malformations involving distortion of the axial skeleton, particularly in the cervical region. All three compounds resulted in significant depression of plasma and brain cholinesterase activity, but parathion caused the most depression throughout development, which was still apparent in hatchlings. Treatment with either distilled water or oil vehicle alone did not result in any of these effects seen with organophosphorous insecticides.
Finding the most fault-tolerant flat XOR-based erasure codes for storage systems

We describe the techniques we developed to efficiently find the most fault-tolerant flat XOR-based erasure codes for storage systems. These techniques substantially reduce the search space for finding fault-tolerant codes (e.g., by a factor of over 52 trillion in one case). This reduction in the search space has allowed us to find the most fault-tolerant codes for larger codes than was previously thought feasible. The result of our effort to find the most fault-tolerant flat XOR-based erasure codes for storage systems has yielded a corpus of 49,215 erasure codes that we are making public.
Formally modeling a gender-segregated economy: A reply to Campbell and Warner

Abstract Campbell and Warner contend that there are two major problems with my presentation of a formal structure for analysis of a gender-segregated low-income economy in an earlier issue of this journal. Their first argument that there is no explicit treatment of women negotiating their wage is unimportant. Their second argument is correct; my construction of the male's decision-making process is underspecified, precluding an internal maximization solution. Two options for formalization are advanced that make an internal maximization solution feasible.
“Under Erasure” The Absent Ill Body in Doctor—Patient Dialogue

This autoethnographic article argues that the ill body exists as a site of scholarship and the wounded body, survives as a corporeal site for understanding the liminal space between health and illn...
Three-dimensional thermocapillary convection in a cavity

Abstract Three dimensional thermocapillary convection in a cubical cavity is considered. The governing equations are cast in primitive variable form. The resulting Neuman problem for pressure needs an integral constraint to be satisfied before a converged solution can be obtained. A consistent finite differencing procedure which enables this integral constraint to be satisfied to machine accuracy is outlined. Solutions are presented for Marangoni numbers 1, 100 and 300 and compared with the corresponding two-dimensional solutions.
Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Fifty Years Later, The Questions Remain the Same

Almost 50 years after it was first described, neonatal hypoglycemia remains a commonly encountered clinical problem, particularly among high-risk populations such as preterm infants and infants who experience intrauterine growth restriction. As the articles in this issue demonstrate, our understanding of the metabolic disturbances and genetic defects underlying alterations in neonatal glucose homeostasis has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. However, the growth of knowledge has, if anything, led us farther from an answer to the burning question regarding blood glucose concentrations in the newborn: “How low is too low?” It is clear from all three articles that there is no single answer to this question. The glucose concentration at which physiologic disturbances occur differ between the healthy breastfed term infant who has significant levels of circulating ketone bodies and the infant who has hyperinsulinemia and cannot produce ketones or release stored glycogen from the liver. Unfortunately, our ability to monitor levels of alternate fuels and metabolic demand has not progressed as rapidly as our …
Sources of calcium and phosphorus during embryogenesis in bullsnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus)

The yolk of eggs of bullsnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) contains an average of 88 mg of calcium and 23 mg of phosphorus at oviposition. Calcium and phosphorus in yolk decline dramatically during the growth phase of development, and residual yolk removed from hatchlings contains only 3 mg of calcium and 1 mg of phosphorus. Thus, bullsnake embryos deplete the yolk of virtually all of its calcium and phosphorus, and residual yolk does not contain sufficient quantities of these ions to support significant posthatching growth. Calcium and phosphorus in embryos increase during incubation, and carcasses of hatchlings contain an average of 113 mg of calcium and 21 mg of phosphorus. Total calcium content (calcium in yolk plus calcium in carcass) of eggs increases significantly from 88 mg at oviposition to 116 mg at the end of incubation, but total phosphorus content of eggs does not vary significantly. Embryonic bullsnakes obtain about 24% of their calcium from the eggshell but rely on the yolk for all of their phosphorus. Bullsnake embryos seemingly mobilize considerably more calcium than is required for skeletogenesis. This excess calcium may be stored in endolymphatic sacs, but the functional significance of such deposits is unknown.
Near-infrared fluorescence imaging and tomography to assess lymphovascular disorders

Currently there are no methods available with the sensitivity, spatial or temporal resolution to image the lymphatics non-invasively. Herein, we present NIR fluorescence imaging of human lymphatic function and describe lymphangiography using NIR fluorescence tomography.
MULTIPHOTON IONIZATION OF ATOMIC HYDROGEN.

This is a comment on a recent publication by Gontier and Trahin. A comparison of our previously unpublished calculation with their result for the two-photon ionization of atomic hydrogen in the ground state shows significant numerical discrepancies.
Elastic constants of osmium between 5 and 300 K

Using two measurement methods, pulse-echo ultrasound and resonance ultrasound spectroscopy, we measured the elastic constants of both monocrystal and polycrystal osmium between 5 and 300 K. Our measurements help to resolve the current measurement-and-theory controversy concerning whether osmium's bulk modulus exceeds diamond's. It does not at any temperature (for osmium, we find a zero-temperature bulk modulus of 410 GPa and a 300 K value of 405 GPa, while diamond's value being 442 GPa). From the zero-temperature elastic constants, we extract a Debye temperature of 477 K. From Gr\"uneisen's first rule, we extract a Gr\"uneisen parameter of 2.1, agreeing well with handbook values. Osmium shows near elastic anisotropy and small elastic constant changes with temperature (for example, the bulk modulus increases only about 1.2% upon cooling through the studied temperature interval). In all cases, the ${C}_{\text{ij}}(T)$ measurements agree well with an Einstein-oscillator model. We consider especially the Poisson ratio, which is low and anisotropic (${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{12}=0.242$, ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{13}=0.196$) and suggests some covalent interatomic bonding, which may account for osmium's extreme high hardness and the departure of the $5d$ elements from Friedel's parabolic bulk-modulus/atomic-number model.
Sexting among young men who have sex with men: results from a national survey.

Purpose We know little about the prevalence of sexting behavior among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) or its association with their sexual behaviors.
Providing sexual information to ostomy patients

Forty patients with a permanent colostomy, ileostomy, or ileal conduit were interviewed. Besides changes in sexual performance postoperatively, the authors specifically attempted to determine answers to other sexual variables such as attractiveness, appliance problems, and partner reactions. The extent of information provided to patients on sexuality prior to the permanent ostomy was also examined. There was a significant but predictable incidence of male impotence and female dyspareunia after surgery. Despite innumerable sexual variables, other than performance, which these patients faced postoperatively, 42 per cent received no information regarding sexuality at the time of ostomy surgery. Most patients (97.5 per cent) stated that sexuality, including variables other than performance, should be discussed primarily by the surgeon prior to permanent ostomy surgery. The enterostomal therapist has an important role in the total patient adjustment in the long-term postoperative period.
NT79: A novel neurotensin analog with selective behavioral effects

Neurotensin, a tridecapeptide, is widely distributed in the brain and gastrointestinal tract. It possesses analgesic, hypothermic, and antipsychotic-like properties. Neurotensin's effects are mediated mainly through two receptor subtypes, NTS1 and NTS2. Activation of NTS1 has been implicated in most of the pharmacological effects of neurotensin but is associated with hypothermia and hypotension. We report on a novel neurotensin analog with higher selectivity to NTS2, namely, NT79, which exhibits selective behavioral effects. NT79 was tested in animal models for pain (thermal-hot plate test; visceral-acetic acid-induced writhing test), and in animal models that are predictive of antipsychotic-like effects (apomorphine-induced climbing; d-amphetamine-induced hyperactivity; disruption of prepulse inhibition). Its effects on body temperature and on blood pressure were also determined. Neurochemical changes in extracellular neurotransmitters were measured using in vivo microdialysis while the rats were simultaneously evaluated for acetic acid-induced writhing with and without pretreatment with NT79. Binding data at molecularly cloned hNTS1 and hNTS2 suggest selectivity for hNTS2. NT79 blocked the acetic acid-induced writhing with an ED(50) of 0.14 microg/kg while having no effect on thermal nociception. The writhing was paralleled by an increase in 5-HT which was attenuated by NT79. NT79 demonstrated antipsychotic-like effects by blocking apomorphine-induced climbing, d-amphetamine-induced hyperactivity, and reducing d-amphetamine- and DOI-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition. Uniquely, it caused no significant hypothermia and was without effect on blood pressure. NT79, with its higher selectivity to NTS2, may be potentially useful to treat visceral pain, and psychosis without concomitant side effects of hypothermia or hypotension.
Postnatal expression of the facilitated glucose transporter, GLUT 5, in gerbil outer hair cells.

Abstract The fifth isoform from the family of facilitative glucose transporters (GLUT5) was identified in the gerbil cochlea by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. The immunostaining procedure employed a polyclonal antibody raised against a synthetic peptide representing the carboxy terminus of human GLUT 5. Immunoreactive GLUT 5 was abundant in the basolateral plasma membrane of outer hair cells (OHCs) in the mature gerbil cochlea. No immunostaining was observed in any other site in the cochlea or vestibular system. During postnatal development of the gerbil inner ear, OHCs were first observed to express GLUT 5 in a punctate pattern at 10 days after birth. Immunostaining intensity increased gradually and developed a linear pattern along the entire OHC basolateral plasmalemma between 10 and 16 days after birth when it approached adult levels. The developmental expression of GLUT 5 corresponded with the appearance of glycogen in OHCs and structural maturation of the organ of Corti. This time period also coincided with the onset and rapid maturation of auditory function in the gerbil. GLUT 5 apparently supports OHC function by facilitating uptake of glucose which enables these cells to sustain a high level of metabolic activity in a relatively anaerobic environment.
Sodium ion and the cardiac actions of digitalis

Abstract A coherent hypothesis has been developed over many years explaining how digitalis glycosides increase force of myocardial contraction via Na + /K + -transporting ATPase interaction. Tai Akera and Theodore Brody extend this hypothesis, discussing how an increase in intracellular Na + enhances drug action by both stimulating further glycoside binding to the Na + pump, while reducing its reserve capacity. The missing link in the model remains the precise role of the Na + Ca 2+ exchanger, clarification of which may be important in the strategy for developing safer cardiotonic drugs.
On a type of dependency between Weibull lifetimes of system components

Abstract A k-out-of-n system with binary components e1, e2, …, en is supposed to support a mechanical or electrical load l that is assumed to be constant over time. Until the first failure in the system the lifetimes of the components e1, e2, …, en have the Weibull distribution with the parameters α i , β i (β i ≥ 1) and i = 1, 2, …, n ). The fact that the lifetimes T1, T2, …, Tn, now considered during the entire work of the system, are stochastically dependent is the result of the assumed dependence between the parameters α i , β i and the load l as functions α i = α i (l) , β i = β i (l) that are continuous and non-decreasing. The failure of components causes an increment of the load put on those surviving, since the load on the whole system remains the same. This is equivalent to changing parameters of lifetime distributions of those remaining components which makes the random variables T1, …, Tn dependent. In this paper the reliability of the system described above is given. In the case of parallel structure ( k = 1 ) the joint distribution of the random vector (T1, T2, …, Tn) is also given. Finally, an analytical example is presented.
Effect of a baseline ovarian cyst on the outcome of in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer

Abstract Objective: To determine the significance of prestimulation ovarian cysts on the response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and the outcome of IVF. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: In vitro fertilization unit in an academic center. Patient(s): One hundred thirty-seven patients undergoing IVF. Intervention(s): The outcome of 71 patients who had an ovarian cyst of >10 mm detected at ultrasound examination performed on day 3 was compared with that of 66 patients who underwent a similar protocol and did not have an ovarian cyst. Main Outcome Measure(s): Parameters evaluated were the E 2 level on the day of hCG administration, the number of follicles, the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of embryos transferred, and the pregnancy rate. Result(s): The E 2 level on the day of hCG administration and the number of mature oocytes retrieved were lower in the group with a baseline cyst. The pregnancy rate also was significantly lower in the group with a cyst (24% versus 41%). The presence of a baseline ovarian cyst decreases the odds of pregnancy 0.37-fold (95% confidence interval, 0.16–0.87). Conclusion(s): A baseline ovarian cyst on cycle day 3 was associated with a poorer outcome after IVF-ET.
Nanotribological Properties of Alkanephosphonic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers on Aluminum Oxide: Effects of Fluorination and Substrate Crystallinity

Two phosphonic acid (PA) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are studied on three aluminum oxide surfaces: the C and R crystallographic planes of single crystal α-alumina (sapphire) and an amorphous vapor-deposited alumina thin film. SAMs are either fully hydrogenated CH3(CH2)17PO3H2 or semifluorinated CF3(CF2)7(CH2)11PO3H2. Atomic force microscope (AFM) topographic imaging reveals that the deposited films are homogeneous, atomically smooth, and stable for months in the laboratory environment. Static and advancing contact angle measurements agree with previous work on identical or similar films, but receding measurements suggest reduced coverage here. To enable reproducible nanotribology measurements with the AFM, a scanning protocol is developed that leads to a stable configuration of the silicon tip. Adhesion for the semifluorinated films is either comparable to or lower than that for the hydrogenated films, with a dependence on contact history observed. Friction between each film and the tips depends str...
Calcium isotopic fractionation between clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene from mantle peridotites

Abstract We report the first observation of Ca isotopic fractionation between co-existing clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene from Kilbourne Hole and San Carlos mantle peridotites. The 44 Ca/ 40 Ca in orthopyroxenes is 0.36 to 0.75‰ heavier than that in the co-existing clinopyroxenes. Using these isotopic constraints and the relative proportions of major Ca-bearing minerals in the upper mantle, the estimated 44 Ca/ 40 Ca of the upper mantle is 1.05 ± 0.04‰ heavier relative to NIST SRM 915a. This is slightly higher than our average for basalts (0.97 ± 0.04‰ heavier relative to NIST SRM 915a). Combined with published 44 Ca/ 40 Ca data on low temperature Ca-bearing minerals (calcite, aragonite and barite), we infer that the inter-mineral fractionation of Ca isotopes at both low- and high temperatures is primarily controlled by the strength of Ca–O bond. Accordingly, the mineral with a shorter Ca–O bond and a smaller Ca coordination number (i.e., stronger Ca–O bond) yields a heavier Ca isotopic ratio (i.e., higher 44 Ca/ 40 Ca). Since stable isotopes of major elements, such as Ca and Mg, exhibit small fractionations during igneous processes, the estimate of stable isotopic compositions of the bulk differentiated planetary bodies, including the Earth and the Moon, needs to take into account the relative proportions of major rock-forming minerals and their respective isotopic signatures.
Quantitative surface topography determination by Nomarski reflection microscopy. I. Theory

The Nomarksi differential interference contrast microscope is examined as a tool for determination of metallic mirror surface topography. This discussion includes the development of an optical model for the Nomarski system, an examination of the key results of the model’s application to sloped sample surfaces, and recommended procedures for implementation. The functional relationship is developed between image intensity and the component of surface slope along the Nomarski shear direction, the fixed parameters in the Nimarksi system, and the adjustable phase shifts related to Nomarski prism position. Equations are also developed to allow the determination of surface slope from relative image intensity when sample reflectively is uniform and slopes are small.
Protein Requirements of Growing Pullets

Abstract The amount of protein from certain sources and with certain basal rations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) required to rear chicks during the first 10 to 12 weeks of the growing period has been definitely measured and rations have been formulated which supply an adequate amount of protein during this early period. So far as we know the optimum amount of protein for pullets for the period extending from 10 or 12 weeks of age to maturity has not been determined for any given protein supplement with any specific basal ration. Atwood6 has reported that a poorly-balanced ration, fed to chicks from one week of age to maturity, reduced the rate of growth, the mature weight of the females, and the number of eggs laid, and increased the age at which the first egg was laid, but had little, if any, effect upon the weight of eggs laid. This poorly-balanced . . .
Electron binding and stability of excess-electron alkali halide clusters: Localization and surface states.

Metal-excess alkali halide clusters have been investigated experimentally using a cluster-beam source comprised of laser ablation of alkali metal and reaction of helium-seeded halogen gas. Metal-excess neutrals and charged clusters, M n X m (+) where M=Na or Li and X=F, Cl, or Br, have been produced, with the neutral series, M n X n-1 , displaying a wide range of excess-electron-dominated behavior. An extensive investigation of the abundances and electronic properties of Na n F n-1 (n<100) is described
Versene used as a spot reagent for gold

Empirical trials were performed to test the suitability of three detergents, Versene, Tergitol 7, and Solvadine K as reagents in spot analysis. Versene gives a specific test for gold, which was found quite reliable and simpler than most of the other spot tests described. When working with large drops on spot paper, the purple to violet spot is still obtained with 50γ gold; limiting concentration = 1 : 1000.
Nonparametric prediction analysis for binary data

A nonparametric inference algorithm developed by Davis and Geman (1983) is extended problem. The algorithm and applied to a medical prediction employs an estimation procedure for acquiring pairwise statistics among variables of a binary data set, allows for the data-driven creation of interaction terms among the variables, and employs a decision rule which asymptotically gives the minimum expected error. The inference procedure was designed for large data sets but has been extended via the method of cross-validation to encompass smaller data sets.
“Coherent intrusion complexes” in large basaltic volcanoes — a new structural model

Abstract Highly concentrated “coherent intrusion complexes” consisting of thousands of small mafic intrusions occur in probably all major basaltic volcanoes and play an important role in volcano development. Magma excursions from the high-level chamber travel laterally along a surface of neutral buoyancy at the margin of a complex and cause the complex to grow. The limited distance, however, that narrow intrusions can propagate before becoming blocked causes complexes to be wedge like. Intrusive-dike complexes underlie rift zones, and asymmetric growth of the dike wedge causes rift zones of shield volcanoes to become non-collinear and may initiate a third rift zone in the obtuse angle. Downbowing of stress trajectories across complexes causes dikes to be non-vertical and results in axial subsidence. Intrusive-sheet complexes form instead of dike complexes in volcanic systems that have a restricted ability to expand laterally and accommodate intrusions by expanding vertically instead. Downbowing of stress trajectories causes sheets to be non-horizontal, and this combined with subsidence increasing toward the thicker part of the sheet wedge produces the inward and inwardly increasing dip that characterizes cone-sheet complexes. This mechanism for cone sheets differs considerably from previously proposed mechanisms. Successive injections of sheets at the top of a sheet complex probably offers the most efficient means of powering a high-intensity geothermal field such as the 5000 MW Grimsvotn system in Iceland. It is inferred that similar mechanisms to those in major basaltic edifices operate in spreading ridges; study of basaltic edifices has the potential to contribute significantly to the understanding of spreading ridges.
Low-concentration Oxygen Therapy Via a Demand Oxygen Delivery System

Recent heightened concern about the costs of medical care has stimulated research and development in devices and schemes for saving costs while retaining quality of care. Consistent with that concern is the fact that standard steady-flow oxygen delivery is so wasteful. Almost its entire benefit occurs at the very beginning of inspiration. We compared the efficacy of nasal oxygen delivery via a new demand oxygen delivery system (DODS) with the standard steady-flow (SF) method. The DODS incorporates a valve and sensor interposed between the oxygen reservoir and the patient, which meters oxygen to the patient only during early inspiration. Twelve COPD subjects with hypoxemia at rest received oxygen at flow settings of 1 to 4 L/min via SF and at various breath interval settings via the DODS method, calculated to match the above spectrum of the SF. We measured oxygen delivery using an ear oximeter. The results indicate that significantly less oxygen was required to provide equivalent saturations using the DODS compared with the SF method (p
The expanding melanoma burden in California hispanics: Importance of socioeconomic distribution, histologic subtype, and anatomic location.

Melanoma incidence has increased substantially worldwide over the last few decades, 1-5 and melanoma has become a leading cause of cancer deaths in young adults.6-8 Most previous studies examining the expanding burden of melanoma in the United States (US) have focused on non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations in whom incidence is highest. 9 However, little is known about the burden of melanoma among Hispanics, who comprise approximately 15% of the US population and represent its fastest-growing ethnic group. In California, more than 36% of the population is Hispanic.10 Melanoma incidence rates in the US are lower in Hispanics (4.5 per 100,000) than in NHWs (21.6 per 100,000),8 but melanomas in Hispanics are thicker and of later stage at diagnosis, are more likely to metastasize, and have worse overall outcomes than in NHWs. 7, 11-17 Clinical characteristics including anatomic site of presentation and histologic subtype also differ between Hispanics and NHW, with more melanomas on the legs 11, 14, 15, 18 and higher frequencies of acral lentiginous subtype (which occur on the palms, soles and subungual areas) in Hispanics. 12, 14, 15 Among California Hispanics, increasing melanoma incidence from 1988-2001 was confined to thicker (> 1.5mm) tumors (associated with a worse prognosis), 19, 20 a trend not observed in NHWs.21 A recent Florida study reported that the proportion of melanomas diagnosed at late stage in Hispanics improved little from 1990-2004 compared with the significant improvements observed in NHWs.17 The later stage at diagnosis and worse prognosis in Hispanics have been attributed to several factors, including lower access to health insurance,22 delayed seeking of treatment,15, 23 lower awareness of risks or symptoms,15, 24 a lack of linguistically or culturally-targeted screening efforts25 and declines in sun-safe behaviors due to increasing acculturation.26 Many of the above factors may be associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES). Prior studies have reported higher rates of melanoma in high-SES populations, but higher prevalence of late-stage melanoma and worse outcomes among low-SES, uninsured or poorly-insured populations.14, 16, 27-31 SES may therefore represent a critical component in understanding the melanoma burden among Hispanics, as Hispanics are more concentrated in lower-SES communities than are NHWs. To further understand the burden of melanoma in Hispanics and especially how SES influences this burden, we focused on the large Hispanic population of California, and examined differences in melanoma characteristics between all Hispanics and NHW diagnosed with cutaneous malignant melanoma in California from 1988-2007. Our primary goal was to describe racial/ethnic differences in the socioeconomic distribution of overall melanoma incidence and the incidence of thicker (>2mm) tumors. We also examined differences in the socioeconomic distribution of melanoma histologic subtype and anatomic location.
The role of focal adhesion kinase in tumor initiation and progression

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that acts as a primary regulator of focal adhesion signaling to regulate cell proliferation, survival, and migration. While FAK is known to directly influence many fundamental adhesion and growth factor signaling pathways important in cancer, and FAK is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, studies addressing a causal role for FAK in tumor initiation and progression using transgenic models of human cancer had not been performed. Recently, using tissue-specific FAK-knockout in mouse models of human cancer, the consequences of FAK ablation in carcinoma were demonstrated by multiple independent research groups. Strong consensus evidence indicates that epithelial cells are able to transform in the absence of FAK, but do not undergo a malignant conversion to invasive carcinoma, and as such, metastasis is impaired. This is likely the consequence of decreased Src and p130Cas activation in concert with misregulated actin cytoskeleton dynamics and...
The mating system and alternative reproductive behaviors of Dendrobias mandibularis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Adults ofDendrobias mandibularis fed at sites where sap oozes from the stems of desert broom,Baccharis sarothroides. These sites were used by only one individual at a time. Males practiced alternative reproductive tactics, and were separated into two distinct morphs. Major males had enlarged mandibles, were found significantly more frequently at feeding sites than elsewhere on the food plants, and defended the feeding sites to gain access to females that visited the sites to feed. Minor males had small mandibles, were found significantly more frequently in foliage of the food plant than at feeding sites, and usually did not defend feeding sites. Mandibles were used in aggressive interactions, which were always won by larger males. Mating occurred at feeding sites, on stems, and in foliage of the food plant. Major males were observed mating nearly twice as often as minor males. Major males mated significantly more frequently at feeding sites than in foliage; the reverse was true of minor males. Minors occasionally occupied and mated at feeding sites. They were unable to defend feeding sites against majors, but did so occasionally against other minors. Differences in frequency, mating success, and behavior of the morphs appeared to be linked to differences in environmental conditions between the two years of this study. This study demonstrated the importance of spatial distribution of food resources in the evolution of the mating system ofDendrobias mandibularis.
P-1102 - Comparative effectiveness of second generation antidepressants in the pharmacologic treatment of adult depression

Introduction Second-generation antidepressants dominate the medical management of major depressive disorder (MDD). Two published CERs provide conflicting evidence about the comparative efficacy and safety of second-generation antidepressants for the treatment of MDD. Objectives To compare the benefits and harms of bupropion, citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, and venlafaxine for the treatment of MDD in adults. Methods We updated a CER published in 2007 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality searching MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and the International Pharmaceutical Abstracts up to May 2010. Two persons independently reviewed the literature, abstracted data, and rated the risk of bias. If data were sufficient, we conducted meta-analyses of head-to-head trials of the relative benefit of response to treatment. In addition, we conducted mixed treatment comparisons to derive indirect estimates of the comparative efficacy among all second-generation antidepressants. Results Overall, no substantial differences in efficacy could be detected among second-generation antidepressants. Statistically significant differences in response rates between some compared drugs are small and likely not clinically relevant. Differences exist in the incidence of specific adverse events and the onset of action. Venlafaxine leads to higher rates of nausea and vomiting, sertraline to higher rates of diarrhea, and mirtazapine to higher rates of weight gain than comparator drugs. Bupropion caused lower rates of sexual dysfunction than other antidepressants. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the existing evidence does not warrant the choice of one second-generation antidepressant over another based on greater efficacy and effectiveness.
Brewster Angle Microscopy Study of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Crystal Growth in Langmuir Films at the Air/Water Interface

Surface pressure-induced crystallization of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) from a metastable region of the surface pressure−area per monomer (Π−A) isotherm in Langmuir monolayers at the air/water (A/W) interface has been captured in real time by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Morphological features of PCL crystals grown in Langmuir films during the compression process exhibit four fully developed faces and two distorted faces. During expansion of the crystallized film, polymer chains slowly detach from the crystalline domains and diffuse back into the monolayer as the crystals “melt”. Typical diffusion-controlled morphologies are revealed by BAM during the melting process as the secondary dendrites melt away faster, that is, at a higher surface pressure than the principal axes. Electron diffraction on Langmuir−Schaefer films suggests that the lamellar crystals are oriented with the polymer chain axes perpendicular to the substrate surface, while atomic force microscopy reveals a crystal thickness of ∼7.6 nm.
Refractory symptomatic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in elderly patients.

Abstract The problem of refractory life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in elderly patients has not been previously studied. To determine if clinical, anatomic, or electrophysiologic variables and prognosis are significantly different in elderly subjects, 49 elderly (68 to 84 years) and 44 younger (44 to 53 years) survivors of refractory symptomatic ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation secondary to coronary artery disease were studied. Elderly patients displayed more extensive anatomic coronary artery disease, with 80 percent having three-vessel disease in comparison with 30 percent of the younger patients (p
Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a duplication of the small bowel

A case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in a cystic duplication within the small bowel mesentery of a 65-yr-old man is described. The cyst wall had a double layered smooth muscle coat with intervening ganglionic plexus; part of the cyst was lined by ciliated columnar epithelium. Twelve previously reported cases of carcinoma arising in duplications are reviewed together with the present case. In all but one case, the onset of symptoms was probably related to malignant change; the age at presentation ranged from 26 to 65 yrs. Pre-operative diagnosis proved difficult, and led to a delay in the appropriate treatment of some of the five cases involving duplications of the rectum. Duplications of the alimentary tract are encountered only occasionally in adults; malignant change, although rare, should be recognised as a possible complication.