cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Defining the Value of Future Research to Identify the Preferred Treatment of Meniscal Tear in the Presence of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) is extensively used to relieve pain in patients with symptomatic meniscal tear (MT) and knee osteoarthritis (OA). Recent studies have failed to show the superiority of APM compared to other treatments. We aim to examine whether existing evidence is sufficient to reject use of APM as a cost-effective treatment for MT+OA. Methods We built a patient-level microsimulation using Monte Carlo methods and evaluated three strategies: Physical therapy (‘PT’) alone; PT followed by APM if subjects continued to experience pain (‘Delayed APM’); and ‘Immediate APM’. Our subject population was US adults with symptomatic MT and knee OA over a 10 year time horizon. We assessed treatment outcomes using societal costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), incorporating productivity costs as a sensitivity analysis. We also conducted a value-of-information analysis using probabilistic sensitivity analyses.
Detecting Malingering: The Honest Palm Sign (P7.030)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of a simple, reliable diagnostic test to detect incomplete effort during the motor examination in patients undergoing neurologic evaluation. BACKGROUND: While manual muscle testing using the Medical Research Council grading scale is an standard component of the neurologic exam, patient effort can alter the numerical grade. Techniques for detecting incomplete patient effort, whether due to pain, malingering, or other causes, are not standardized, have low inter-observer reproducibility, and depend on the experience of the examiner. We describe a simple, novel test to gauge patient effort that addresses these deficiencies. DESIGN/METHODS: Upper extremity strength was evaluated in 180 consecutive patients. Without drawing attention to the palms, patients were exhorted to resist “as hard as you can” and to “squeeze as tight as possible”. The examiner graded patient effort as “full” or “incomplete” based on traditional strategies (symmetry of effort, presence of give-way weakness, etc.). A second observer independently evaluated each patient’s palms for the presence or absence of nail imprints. The absence of nail prints was considered a “positive” test result (i.e. indicative of incomplete effort). RESULTS: The Honest Palm Sign demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.6% (95% CI 57.8% - 95.7%) and a specificity of 75.2% (67.75% - 81.4%), a positive likelihood of 3.41 and a negative likelihood of 0.2. When patients with characteristics making them unsuitable for testing were removed from the analysis, specificity and the positive likelihood ratio were dramatically improved: sensitivity 84.6% (57.8% - 95.7%), specificity 96.6% (91.5%-98.7%), positive likelihood ratio 24.5, negative likelihood ratio 0.16. Assuming a prevalence of incomplete effort of 10% (the approximate prevalence in our patient cohort) a positive test increases the likelihood of incomplete effort to 73.2%, whereas a negative test decreases the likelihood to 1.7%. Inter-observer reliability was high (kappa = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The Honest Palm Test is a simple, reliable, easily taught, and predictive test of patient effort on the motor examination. Disclosure: Dr. Black has nothing to disclose.
Animal models of toxicology testing: the role of pigs

Introduction: In regulatory toxicological testing, both a rodent and non-rodent species are required. Historically, dogs and non-human primates (NHP) have been the species of choice of the non-rodent portion of testing. The pig is an appropriate option for these tests based on metabolic pathways utilized in xenobiotic biotransformation. Areas covered: This review focuses on the Phase I and Phase II biotransformation pathways in humans and pigs and highlights the similarities and differences of these models. This is a growing field and references are sparse. Numerous breeds of pigs are discussed along with specific breed differences in these enzymes that are known. While much available data are presented, it is grossly incomplete and sometimes contradictory based on methods used. Expert opinion: There is no ideal species to use in toxicology. The use of dogs and NHP in xenobiotic testing continues to be the norm. Pigs present a viable and perhaps more reliable model of non-rodent testing.
Expertech: Issues in the design and development of an intelligent help desk system

Abstract As more companies turn to expert systems to support traditional help desk activities, the need to understand the particular issues inherent in the development of such systems becomes increasingly important. This article describes the design and development of Expertech, a prototype expert system intended to assist a help desk operator in the resolution of common problems encountered by the users of a telecommunications network. Expertech, a rule-based system, is a partial implementation of a model of human expertise in network diagnosis. We argue that developers of intelligent help desk support systems (IHDSS) must consider several challenges not typically encountered in other environments. An IHDSS, for example, must consider the heterogeneous nature of the end users, and tailor its interface to encompass the varying technical knowledge of those users. Furthermore, an IHDSS must deal with the three-party nature of computer-based support, where the system does not interact directly with the end user. Instead, communication between the IHDSS and the end user takes place indirectly, through a human intermediary, the help desk operator. In the context of these considerations, we describe the approach we took in developing Expertech.
Diabetic nephropathy, renal hemodynamics, and aldose reductase inhibitors

Diabetic kidney disease or diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of renal failure in the United States today. This review presents a brief overview of diabetic nephropathy—its current statistics, histopathology, natural history, and main risk factors, including hyperglycemia, hyperfiltration, and hypertension. Pathogenic mechanisms by which hyperglycemia, severe hyperfiltration, and capillary hypertension might cause renal injury are discussed. Evidence is reviewed indicating a potentially useful role for aldose reducatase inhibitors (ARIs) to normalize or reduce the impact of two possible risk factors for diabetic nephropathy, namely, elevated polyol pathway metabolism and severe hyperfiltration. Measurements in experimental models of whole kidney blood flow (57Co-microspheres, clearance methods), superficial cortical blood flow (laser Doppler flowmetry), and single nephron hemodynamic parameters (renal micropuncture) concordantly indicate that the beneficial effect of ARIs on hyperfiltration is based on protection or restoration of normal renal microvascular resistance. Since ARIs affect neither blood sugar levels nor mean arterial pressure, ARIs have no increased risk attributable to hypoglycemia or hypotension. It is concluded that ARIs warrant further experimental and clinical research in early diabetic nephropathy.
Time-dependent negative reinforcement of ethanol intake by alleviation of acute withdrawal.

Background Drinking to alleviate the symptoms of acute withdrawal is included in diagnostic criteria for alcoholism, but the contribution of acute withdrawal relief to high alcohol intake has been difficult to model in animals. Methods Ethanol dependence was induced by passive intragastric ethanol infusions in C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice; nondependent control animals received water infusions. Mice were then allowed to self-administer ethanol or water intragastrically. Results The time course of acute withdrawal was similar to that produced by chronic ethanol vapor exposure in mice, reaching a peak at 7 to 9 hours and returning to baseline within 24 hours; withdrawal severity was greater in D2 than in B6 mice (experiment 1). Postwithdrawal delays in initial ethanol access (1, 3, or 5 days) reduced the enhancement in later ethanol intake normally seen in D2 (but not B6) mice allowed to self-infuse ethanol during acute withdrawal (experiment 2). The postwithdrawal enhancement of ethanol intake persisted over a 5-day abstinence period in D2 mice (experiment 3). D2 mice allowed to drink ethanol during acute withdrawal drank more ethanol and self-infused more ethanol than nondependent mice (experiment 4). Conclusions Alcohol access during acute withdrawal increased later alcohol intake in a time-dependent manner, an effect that may be related to a genetic difference in sensitivity to acute withdrawal. This promising model of negative reinforcement encourages additional research on the mechanisms underlying acute withdrawal relief and its role in determining risk for alcoholism.
Magnetization tunneling in high-symmetry Mn12 single-molecule magnets

Abstract This review has been adapted from a talk given by the author at the Third Workshop on Current Trends in Molecular and Nanoscale Magnetism, organized by George Christou in Orlando, Florida, June 2010. A very basic introduction to the theory of resonant quantum tunneling in single-molecule magnets (SMMs) is first given, followed by a short discussion of the Mn 12 -acetate single-molecule magnet (SMM) and the solvent disorder that is known to perturb the intrinsic magnetization tunneling behavior observed in this compound. The remainder of the review focuses on key developments resulting from the preparation of several high-symmetry, spin S = 10 Mn 12 clusters by the Christou group that do not suffer problems associated with disorder to the same extent as the original Mn 12 -acetate. Studies of these newer/cleaner Mn 12 ’s have thus contributed significantly to our current understanding of resonant magnetization tunneling in molecular nanomagnets. This review is intended for both chemists and physicists, particularly junior researchers who are just starting work in the field.
Feature-preserving wavelet scheme for low bit rate coding

In this research, we propose a novel low bit rate video compression scheme that consists of three major components: hybrid wavelet-JPEG compression, feature-preserving compression via multizone decomposition and window selection and tracking.
Computational grids in action: the national fusion collaboratory

The National Fusion Collaboratory (NFC) project was created to advance scientific understanding and innovation in magnetic fusion research by enabling more efficient use of existing experimental facilities through more effective integration of experiment, theory, and modeling. To achieve this objective, NFC introduced the concept of "network services", which build on top of computational Grids, and provide Fusion codes, together with their maintenance and hardware resources as a service to the community. This mode of operation requires the development of new authorization and enforcement capabilities. In addition, the nature of Fusion experiments places strident quality of service requirements on codes run during the experimental cycle. In this paper, we describe Grid computing requirements of the Fusion community, and present our first experiments in meeting those requirements.
An Animal Model for Study of Eustachian Tube and Middle Ear Function

An animal preparation for investigation of middle ear and Eustachian Tube function is presented. A cannula is implanted in the mastoid air cell system of the rhesus monkey. A pressure air pump is connected to the outer end of the cannula. Also an acoustic impedance bridge (Madsen ZO-70) is adapted to the ear canal. This measurement system allows us to simultaneously record middle ear and ear canal air pressure as well as the acoustic impedance of the tympanic membrane and the middle ear. In this paper, recordings of the Eustachian tube function are reported. The change in acoustic impedance using different ear canal pressures has been studied. Our results show that with this preparation it is possible to establish an experimental animal model of human function which will permit us to investigate Eustachian tube and middle ear function under a variety of normal and pathological conditions.
Autoradiographic and histological evidence of postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis in rats

In the autoradiograms of young rats injected with thymidine-H3 many of the granule cells of the dentate gyrus were found labeled. The number of labeled cells declined rapidly with increased age at the time of injection. Histological studies showed the presence in young rats of a large germinal matrix of mitotic cells in the ependymal and subependymal layers of the third and lateral ventricles. The areal extent and cell population of this germinal pool declined rapidly from birth on, with a transient rise with a peak at about 15 days. During this latter period the number of “undifferentiated” cells near the granular layer of the dentate gyrus showed a rapid rise with a subsequent decline. The decline in the number of “undifferentiated” cells was accompanied by a rise in the number of differentiated granule cells. Cell counts in homologous parts of the dentate gyrus indicated a six-fold increase in the number of differentiated granule cells from birth to three months. We postulated that undifferentiated cells migrate postnatally from the forebrain ventricles to the hippocampus where they become differentiated. The possible functional significance of delayed hippocampal neurogenesis is discussed with reference to our finding of incorporation of testosterone-H3 by cells of the hippocampus, implicating that they may function as receptors of gonadal hormones.
Atmospheric concentrations of carboxylic acids and related compounds at a semiurban site

Atmospheric gas- and particle-phase carboxylic acids and related compounds were measured during October 1991 in a semiurban site in northeastern United States. Formic and acetic acid were present in the atmosphere mostly in the gaseous form with less than 10% in the particle phase. Concentrations of formic acid and acetic acid were in the 0.80–2.5 and 0.60–3.4 ppbv ranges, respectively. Formic acid was correlated with acetic acid (r=0.94). Diurnal variations of formic acid were similar to those of ozone. This pattern is consistent with photochemical production as an important source. Formic-to-acetic acid ratios less than one were recorded, likely due to an increase in acetic acid contribution from direct emissions associated with vehicular traffic. Formaldehyde levels began to decrease after the mid-afternoon maxima; concentrations varied from 0.63 to 3.7 ppbv. Seven carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, pyruvic, glyoxalic, oxalic, succinic, and malonic) in the particle phase were identified. Aerosol carboxylic acid concentrations varied from 26 to 360 ng m−3. About 80% of the carboxylic acid aerosol mass was in the size fraction below 1.0 μm diameter. Of the dicarboxylic acids, oxalic acid was the most abundant species, followed by succinic acid and malonic acid. Particulate total organic carbon exhibited a concentration range of 12.6 × 103−49.9 × 103 ng Cm−3. The observed amounts of carboxylic acids in the particle phase accounted for a small fraction of the organic carbon. Results indicated that photochemical processes and anthropogenic emissions such as automobile exhaust are major sources of atmospheric carboxylic acids.
Glucose Disposal is Not Proportional to Plasma Glucose Level in Man

Metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of glucose has been defined as the rate of glucose utilization divided by the glucose concentration. This model of glucose transport has been widely used as a measure of hormonally regulated glucose disposal, on the assumption that glucose disposal rate is proportional to glucose concentration. To test this assumption, the relationship between glucose concentration and disposal rate was studied in man during infusion of somatostatin ± exogenous insulin to achieve fixed plasma insulin levels of 1,18, and 46 μU/ml on separate days. When glucose concentration was increased to more than twice basal fasting levels, the glucose disposal rate increased significantly at all three insulin levels. However, the increase was not proportional to the rise in glucose concentration, and MCR fell by 38%, 16%, and 11% at the low, medium, and high insulin levels, respectively. These results are explained by an alternative model of glucose transport in which insulin-independent tissues such as brain have a relatively fixed glucose uptake, while other tissues have glucose transport systems which take up glucose at a rate proportional to its plasma concentration. We conclude that MCR of glucose is not a good measure of hormonally regulated glucose disposal because it is partially dependent on the glucose concentration, particularly at low insulin levels.
Developing fluid flow and heat transfer in a channel partially filled with porous medium

Abstract A three-dimensional computational model is developed to analyze fluid flow in a channel partially filled with porous medium. In order to understand the developing fluid flow and heat transfer mechanisms inside the channel partially filled with porous medium, the conventional Navier–Stokes equations for gas channel, and volume-averaged Navier–Stokes equations for porous medium layer are adopted individually in this study. Conservation of mass, momentum and energy equations are solved numerically in a coupled gas and porous media domain along a channel using the vorticity–velocity method with power law scheme. Detailed development of axial velocity, secondary flow and temperature field at various axial positions in the entrance region are presented. The friction factor and Nusselt number are presented as a function of axial position, and the effects of the size of porous media inside the channel partially filled with porous medium are also analyzed in the present study.
Trimetrexate in the Treatment of Recurrent or Advanced Leiomyosarcoma of the Uterus: A Phase II Study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group☆

Abstract Objective. This study was conducted to determine the objective response of trimetrexate in patients with advanced or recurrent leiomyosarcoma of the uterus. Methods. Eligibility was restricted to patients with measurable disease who had received no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen, who had adequate bone marrow, renal, and hepatic function, and who had recovered from previous therapy. Trimetrexate was begun at 5 mg/m 2 /day orally for 5 days every other week, with dose modifications specified by study design. Results. Of 28 patients entered into the study, 27 were evaluable for toxicity and 23 for response. Prior therapy included radiation (7 patients) and/or chemotherapy (10 patients). Measurable disease was extrapelvic in 20 cases and confined to the pelvis in 3. The overall response rate was 4.3%; there were no complete responses and 1 partial response. Toxicities were mild to moderate with no treatment-related deaths. Hematological toxicity was most common, consisting of leukopenia (grade 1 to 2, 8 patients; grade 3 or 4, 2 patients), thrombocytopenia (grade 1 to 2, 10 patients; grade 3 or 4, 1 patient), and anemia (grade 1 to 2, 6 patients; grade 3 or 4, 4 patients. Severe (grade 3 or 4) nonhematologic toxicity was uncommon: nausea/vomiting/gastrointestinal (3 patients) and neurological (1 patient). Progression-free and overall survival, in months, was 2.2 (range: 0.9–13.4) and 7.2+ (range: 1.0–13.4+), respectively. Conclusion. Although toxicity is acceptable, trimetrexate at this dose and schedule is ineffective therapy for patients with recurrent leiomyosarcoma. Further development of this specific regimen for this indication is unwarranted.
Down-regulation of galactinol synthesis in oilseed Brassica napus leads to significant reduction of antinutritional oligosaccharidesThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in a Special Issue from the National Research Council of Canada – Plant Biotechnology Institute.

The utility of defatted seed meal from many crops such as canola (Brassica napus L.) is limited by the presence of antinutritional factors, including sucrose galactosides, raffinose, and stachyose. Anaerobic breakdown of these sugars in the digestive tract of livestock is a major source of production of farm gases. In this report, the gene encoding galactinol synthase was isolated from B. napus and reintroduced into the same species in an antisense orientation to limit the production of galactinol, an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of raffinose and stachyose. This approach substantially reduced the accumulation of galactinol and stachyose in mature transgenic canola seed. Substantial changes in the mRNA levels of galactinol synthase and several sugar-related genes were also observed.
Application of a model for strain aging under stress to niobium

Abstract A simple model is proposed to rationalize yield point return curves obtained when specimens of a b.c.c. metal-interstitial atom solid solution are strain aged under stress. Several basic assumptions are involved. First that the solute is mobile enough to diffuse to the dislocations and strain age them during the period that they wait in front of obstacles to their motion for thermal activation (Sleeswyk's hypothesis). Second, the solute is not mobile enough to be dragged with the dislocations as they advance between obstacles. Third, the stress increment due to the strain aging of the dislocations is additive to the stress of the basic rate controlling mechanism. Fourth, in agreement with experimental observations, the strain again follows conventional static strain aging kinetics involving both Shoeck-Seeger (Snoek) reordering of the solute in the stress fields of the dislocations and the long range Cottrell-Bilby drift of the solute to form dislocation atmospheres. Tests of the model using niobium-oxygen data, taken from the literature, demonstrate that it is able to account, within the experimental error, for the effects of both temperature and prestrain on the strain aging under stress kinetics curves.
Pricing Contingent Claims on a Risky Asset and Stochastic Interest Rates: A New Discrete Time Approach

This paper presents a new discrete time approach to pricing contingent claims on a risky asset and stochastic interest rates. The term structure of interest rates is modeled so that arbitrage-free bond prices depend on an observable initial forward rate curve rather than an exogenously specified market price of risk. A restricted binomial process is employed to model both interest rates and an asset price. As a result, a complete market valuation formula obtains. By choosing the parameters of the discrete joint distribution such that, in the limit, the discrete model converges to the continuous one, a model is obtained that requires the estimation of only three parameters. The approach is parsimonious with respect to alternative models in the literature and can be used to price contingent claims on any two state variables. The procedure is used to numerically analyze the effects of the volatility of interest rates on the determination of mortgage contract rates.
Interaction of trans and cis regulatory elements in the INO1 promoter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) were used to define the regions of the INO1 promoter that interact with factors present in extracts prepared from the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisae. These experiments identified three different types of protein:DNA complexes that assemble with the INO1 promoter. Formation of one type of complex depended on functional alleles of previously described regulatory genes, INO2 and INO4, that encode positive regulatory factors. Formation of the INO2/INO4-dependent complexes was increased when extracts prepared from cells grown under derepressing conditions (i.e. absence of inositol and choline). A second type of complex was dependent on the OPI1 gene, that encodes a negative regulator. Computer-aided sequence analysis of the promoters of several genes encoding phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes revealed a highly conserved nine basepair element (5'-ATGTGAAAT-3'), designated 'nonamer' motif, that is similar to the octamer motif identified in the promoters of mammalian immunoglobulin genes. The nonamer motif was shown to form a specific complex with a factor, designated nonamer binding factor (NBF). Extracts prepared from Schizosaccharomyces pombe formed a nonamer-specific complex.
SHORT EXPOSURE INHALATION TOXICITY OF PENTABORANE IN ANIMALS.

Studies are reported on the responses of rodents and dogs to pentaborane vapor from single and multiple short inhalation exposures and from cutaneous exposures. The concentrations causing death in 50% of rats and mice for single 5-, 15-, 30-, and 60-minute exposure periods were: for rats, 66.6, 31.2, 15.2, and 10.4 ppm, respectively; for mice, 40.5, 18.6, 10.6, and 7.8 ppm, respectively. Single exposures of dogs for 5-, 15-, and 60-minute periods to 26, 12, and 3 ppm, respectively, produced borderline signs of toxicity. Daily repeated exposures at approximately these levels caused convulsions, apprehensiveness, scleral injection, and miosis after the second exposure. Single exposures at 9.3, 5.0, and 1.4 ppm for 5-, 15-, and 60-minute periods produced no detectable effects with the techniques employed. However, repeated daily exposure for 5 days to these levels caused irritability, miosis, and increased response time in a conditioned avoidance response test. An accumulation of toxic effects from inhalation of 2.5 ppm of pentaborane vapor was seen in dogs exposed by inhalation after rest intervals of up to 96 hours. Two daily exposures caused severe signs of toxicity; increasing the exposure interval from 24 to 96 hours delayed the onset of signs. Dogs exposed cutaneously for single 2-, 4- and 6-hour periods to 580, 550, and 710 ppm of B5H9, respectively, showed minimal or no signs of toxicity.
Winning the Service Game

The article reviews the book “Winning the Service Game,” by Benjamin Schneider and David E. Bowen.
BONE MARROW REGENERATION FOLLOWING FRACTIONATED RADIATION THERAPY

Abstract Eighty patients were studied with 99m Tc-S colloid bone marrow scans prior to or at various intervals following megavoltage irradiation. None had marrow tumor involvement and none had chemotherapy during the study period. If reticuloendothelial marrow activity reflects hematopoietic activity, there appears to be maximal depression of marrow activity 6 months post irradiation. There appears to be evidence of marrow regeneration in the 9 month to 1 ear interval post irradiation in about half of the patients that had received a median dose of 4000 rad in 4 weeks. There was a trend toward increasing activity several years post irradiation. Total nodal irradiated patients regenerated marrow as well as "local field" patients despite the larger marrow volume irradiated. Peripheral extension of marrow accompanied regeneration in the majority of patients (57 %), and was uncommon with marrow ablation (14 % ).
Regulation of Aspartate Family Amino Acid Biosynthesis in Brevibacterium flavum

Dihydrodipicolinate (DDP)* synthetase and DDP-reductase were partially purified about 30 and 15 folds, respectively, from sonic extracts of Brevibacterium flavum.In contrast with DDP-synthetase from Escherichia coli, the B. flavum enzyme was only slightly inhibited by α, e-diaminopimelate, a precursor of lysine, but not by lysine itself. Single or simultaneous addition of any other amino acid(s) of aspartate family did not affect the activity significantly. Optimum pH for DDP-synthetase was 8.4 with Tris-HCl buffer. Kms for aspartic-β-semialdehyde and pyruvate at pH 7.5 were 2×10−4m and 1×10−4m, respectively. The formation of DDP-synthetase was not significantly repressed by lysine.DDP-reductase of B. flavum required NADH or NADPH as the cofactor. This enzyme was not inhibited by single or simultaneous addition of aspartate family amino acid(s).From the above results, the regulation mechanism of lysine biosynthesis in B. flavum was discussed.
A rapid, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of ammonia and methylamine for nitrogenase assays

A dansyl chloride precolumn derivatization method has been developed for high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of NH3 and/or CH3NH2 produced by nitrogenase-catalyzed reduction of substrates such as N2 (NH3) or diazirine (NH3, CH3NH2). The dansyl chloride reagent can be used immediately after preparation and is stable at 4 degrees C for 1 month. The derivatization products from NH3 and CH3NH2 are prepared by direct treatment of the assay mixture (30 min of incubation) and are then stable in air and ambient light at room temperature for at least 1 day. They are separated isocratically within several minutes on a mu Bondapak C-18 reversed-phase column (Altex) at 2000-2500 psi using an eluent of 7:7:3 H2O:methanol:acetonitrile and are detected fluorometrically (368 nm excitation; 500 nm emission). The NH3 sensitivity is limited by the background NH3 in the reagents and under practical conditions is ca. 0.02 nmol (20-microliters injection volume). Methylamine sensitivity is an order of magnitude greater. The detector response for either product is linear to at least 2.4 nmol. The method is compared to alternative analytical procedures with respect to sensitivity, convenience, and absence of interferences.
The effect of irradiation on the nucleation of incoherent precipitates

Abstract A computer solution is given for a mathematical model describing the formation of incoherent precipitates from dilute solutions of substitutional impurities. Irradiation increases the calculated steady state nucleation rates by many orders of magnitude to cause precipitation when even substantial solute supersaturations are by themselves inadequate. The effect of interstitial capture and radiation dissolution is to decrease the nucleation rate, but by factors small compared to the catastrophic enhancement effect of irradiation induced vacancies. Impurity drag, which is not a factor for oversized Ge atoms but should be operative for the smaller Si atoms in Al, is not included in the model. With this simplification, similar results are obtained for both the Al-Si and Al-Ge systems. The results of the calculations are in agreement with the experimental work on precipitation in quenched or irradiated Al-Ge quenched and Al-Si alloys.
National Subversion of Supranational Goals: ‘Pork-Barrel’ Politics and EU Regional Aid

The structural funds were designed to give the European Commission supranational control over where regional aid was spent. In this article, we argue that domestic ‘pork-barrel’ politics determine which regions are awarded regional aid in the new member states of Eastern Europe. Support for our argument comes from a dataset that includes 1,688 European Regional Development Fund grants to Latvia's 118 regions and 1,533 pre-accession Phare awards to Bulgaria's 264 municipalities. In both Bulgaria and Latvia, we find that regional aid projects went to wealthier not poorer localities, and to those that supported coalition parties in the previous election.
Use of Flash Photolysis to initiate Detonation in Gaseous Mixtures

THRUSH1 has reported on the apparent heterogeneity of initiation of reaction in gaseous mixtures of acetylene and oxygen sensitized by nitrogen dioxide, when flash photolysis was used to produce a region of homogeneous chemical reaction. The techniques of using flash photolysis to initiate explosions of hydrocarbon–oxygen–nitrogen dioxide systems are well known2,3. This apparent heterogeneity has been explained by the appearance of detonation waves over very small distances. It occurred to me that flash photolysis might be used to initiate detonation waves of certain geometries in a current detonation and shock-wave shaping programme in this laboratory.
Fermions in a time-periodic SU(2) background: the eigenfunctions

Isospmor fermlons are studied in the presence of a covanantly constant, time-periodic SU(2) background field The eagenfunctmn spectrum is den~ed Part of the modes termed tranb~erse, decouple from the external field The non-trivial content xs given by the so-called scalar-longltu&nil modes, which are quasl-doubl~-perlodlc functions of time
The workplace politics of U.S. accounting: Race, class and gender discrimination at Baruch College

Abstract There are significant differences between the U.S. and European academic workplaces (and therefore the way struggles against class and race discrimination are waged) however there are also important commonalities and convergences. This shared experience may be accentuated in the U.K. as a post-research assessment exercise (RAE) era approaches. This paper offers an account of U.S. workplace politics at a macro and micro level. We introduce our paper through a macro approach providing context for our analysis via a brief overview of a progressive research journal assessment exercise, designed to assist critical accounting faculty in promotion, tenure, hiring, and firing struggles. We then report our findings from our survey of progressive academics’ views on journal assessment and the implications of for higher education staff and students and potential students alike. Through our micro focus we present an in-house expose of the anatomy of discriminatory practices at the largest accountancy department, and the largest business, in the U.S.: Baruch College at the City University of New York (CUNY). There are specificities that are unique to the U.S. (and even between Baruch and other U.S. schools) however these differences should not be overstated. Nor should we minimize the possibility of distilling some broad lessons: the systematic subordination of education and research to capital accumulation processes and market pressures that evoke similarities that span academic workplaces across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
Identification of a Moraxella catarrhalis gene that confers adherence to various human epithelial cell lines in vitro

Moraxella catarrhalis is a pathogen of the human airways. We found that expression of the M. catarrhalis gene mcmA by Escherichia coli increases adherence to epithelial cells 100-fold. Furthermore, we discovered that disrupting mcmA decreases M. catarrhalis adherence to laryngeal and lung cells, which are relevant to pathogenesis by the bacterium.
Fever without apparent source on clinical examination, Lower respiratory infections in children, Other infectious diseases, and Acute gastroenteritis and diarrhea of infancy and early childhood

This section focuses on issues in infectious disease that are commonly encountered in pediatric office practice. Paul McCarthy discusses recent literature regarding the evaluation and management of acute fevers without apparent source on clinical examination in infants and children and the evaluation of children with prolonged fevers of unknown origin. Jean Klig reviews recent literature about lower respiratory tract infection in children. Eugene Shapiro discusses recent developments in the literature concerning several infectious diseases commonly facing practitioners in the office. Michael Baron reviews recent literature about gastroenteritis and diarrhea of infancy and early childhood.
The in vivo and in vitro action of 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide in trypanosomatid flagellates.

Abstract 4-Amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide, but not its riboside or ribotide, is inhibitory to the growth of promastigotes of Leishmania donovani, L. braziliensis, L. tarentolae , and L. mexicana , eventually causing cell lysis. Conversely, it is not inhibitory to the growth of epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi . This substituted imidazole proved to be an excellent inhibitor of guanine deaminase from all of the trypanosomatids used in this study, with K i values in the μM range.
Advanced displays and interactive displays federated laboratory

High performance display devices are being developed which have the potential to provide the solutions to many requirements for information assimilation on the battlefield. At the same time information systems are developing the ability to acquire, process, and distribute more information than any user can handle. Display subsystem architecture will be developed which can provide access to all information of practical use, provide data visualization in an efficient manner and use the advanced hardware and software technologies to address the human sensory modality without overloading the user and degrading performance. A research program will be conducted collaboratively with Rockwell International, its Consortium Members and the Army Research Laboratory. The research thrust will be to explore technical solutions in displays, software, and human-computer interface in such a way as to solve technology insertion issues.
Reading Aloud with Infants: The Controversy, the Myth, and a Case Study.

Reading aloud to infants continues to be the focus of controversy between educators, researchers, and health care professionals. This article will provide insight into what research says about reading aloud to infants as well as the results of a case study of a six-month-old infant who has been read aloud to in utero to the present time. The results of this case study confirm that parents and caregivers reading aloud to infants is necessary in developing literacy skills that are paramount to book awareness, print awareness, vocabulary development, fluency, and comprehension, all of which are stepping stones to learning to read and write.
Three-dimensional characterization of the wind-borne pheromone tracking behavior of male hawkmoths, Manduca sexta

We studied the relationship between vertical and lateral movements during free flight odor plume tracking by male moths, Manduca sexta, in a wind tunnel with the “horizon” set at different altitudes. Three-dimensional recordings revealed that the plume tracking males generated roughly equivalent movements vertically and laterally regardless of horizon height. We hypothesized that the moths’ tracks would be narrower in the vertical plane when they were presented with visual patterns on the tunnel’s side walls. Instead, we discovered that their tracks tended to be wider in the horizontal plane. Anecdotal observations of other moth species describe plume tracking flight in three dimensions as “spiraling”, suggesting a specific predictable relationship between vertical and lateral movements. However, we found that the relative phase, frequency, and amplitude of the vertical versus lateral movements vary on a maneuver-by-maneuver basis with no predictable temporal or spatial relationship. Our analyses suggest that a moth’s trajectory in 3D can best be described as progressing upwind toward the source while cutting through the plume from all directions with loops of different radii. This is a more precise description than the terms “zigzagging” and “counter-turning” which were derived from 2D analyses of this behavior.
De-crystallization of Uric Acid Crystals in Synovial Fluid Using Gold Colloids and Microwave Heating

In this study, we demonstrated a unique application of our Metal-Assisted and Microwave-Accelerated Evaporative Crystallization (MA-MAEC) technique for the de-crystallization of uric acid crystals, which causes gout in humans when monosodium urate crystals accumulate in the synovial fluid found in the joints of bones. Given the shortcomings of the existing treatments for gout, we investigated whether the MA-MAEC technique can offer an alternative solution to the treatment of gout. Our technique is based on the use of metal nanoparticles (i.e., gold colloids) with low microwave heating to accelerate the de-crystallization process. In this regard, we employed a two-step process; (i) crystallization of uric acid on glass slides, which act as a solid platform to mimic a bone, (ii) de-crystallization of uric acid crystals on glass slides with the addition of gold colloids and low power microwave heating, which act as "nano-bullets" when microwave heated in a solution. We observed that the size and number of the uric acid crystals were reduced by >60% within 10 minutes of low power microwave heating. In addition, the use of gold colloids without microwave heating (i.e. control experiment) did not result in the de-crystallization of the uric acid crystals, which proves the utility of our MA-MAEC technique in the de-crystallization of uric acid.
Post-menopausal estrogen replacement: the prevention of osteoporosis and systemic effects.

Abstract The long-term effects of estrogen replacements in post-menopausal women were assessed in 61 estrogen-treated and 63 control subjects followed prospectively for 3–16 yr (mean 8.6 yr). A loss of height of 1.3 cm ( 1 2 ″ ) or more developed with twice the frequency among control as among estrogen-replaced subjects, with the major difference appearing after 65 yr of age. However, estrogen replacement was not an absolute protection against height loss, especially after 70 yr of age. Myocardial infarctions and abnormal electrocardiograms were significantly reduced among the estrogen-replaced compared to the control subjects, but further observations are needed. Long-term estrogen replacement in post-menopausal women reduces the development of spinal osteoporosis and may reduce the development of ischemic heart disease.
STATISTICAL STRENGTH OF A TWISTED FIBER BUNDLE: AN EXTENSION OF DANIELS EQUAL-LOAD-SHARING PARALLEL BUNDLE THEORY

In this work, we extend the statistical strength model of Daniels for a parallel fiber bundle to a twisted bundle with an ideal helical structure. The bundle is clamped at each end in such a way that it has no slack fibers in the unloaded state. The fibers are linearly elastic and continuous, and have random strengths following a Weibull distribution with Weibull shape parameter . We calculate the stress redistribution from failed to surviving fibers according to a twist-modified equal load sharing (TM-ELS) rule, introduced here. The effect of the twist is modeled analytically by two approaches, one called geometrical averaging, in which the fiber helix angles are averaged, and the other called statistical averaging, in which the fiber failure probabilities are averaged. In both probability models, the bundle strength distributions remain asymptotically Gaussian, as in Daniels’ original model; however, the associated mean and standard deviation are additionally altered by the surface twist angle. To validate these theories, a Monte Carlo model is developed to simulate fiber break initiation and progression within a cross-sectional plane under tension. For all values of surface twist angle s, and bundle size studied, the simulated strength distributions are shown to be strongly Gaussian. Transitions in failure mode from diffuse, across the bundle cross-section, to localized near the center of the bundle occur when s and increase and the bundle size decreases, in spite of application of a diffuse-type loading sharing rule, TMELS. Both analytical models provide similar results which are in excellent agreement with the simulated results. For the most part, we consider the bundle to be short enough that interfiber friction plays no role in the stress redistribution. However, to demonstrate its importance in long bundles, we mimic the effects of interfiber friction by considering a chain of such bundles where the bundle length is chosen to approximate the characteristic length of unloading around breaks.
Letter by Kronish et al regarding article, "Residual arachidonic acid-induced platelet activation via an adenosine diphosphate-dependent but cyclooxygenase-1- and cyclooxygenase-2-independent pathway: a 700-patient study of aspirin resistance".

To the Editor: Frelinger et al1 conclude that nonadherence is associated with aspirin resistance in a small minority (≈2%) of aspirin-treated patients and that a cyclooxygenase-independent pathway may mediate aspirin resistance in the remainder of patients. Although we agree that there may be a cyclooxygenase-independent pathway that allows platelets to remain active in some aspirin-treated patients, we believe that the authors underestimate the role nonadherence plays in aspirin resistance, because of their restricted sample of acute coronary …
Stress Produces Aversion and Potentiates Cocaine Reward by Releasing Endogenous Dynorphins in the Ventral Striatum to Locally Stimulate Serotonin Reuptake

Activation of the dynorphin/κ-opioid receptor (KOR) system by repeated stress exposure or agonist treatment produces place aversion, social avoidance, and reinstatement of extinguished cocaine place preference behaviors by stimulation of p38α MAPK, which subsequently causes the translocation of the serotonin transporter (SERT, SLC6A4) to the synaptic terminals of serotonergic neurons. In the present study we extend those findings by showing that stress-induced potentiation of cocaine conditioned place preference occurred by a similar mechanism. In addition, SERT knock-out mice did not show KOR-mediated aversion, and selective reexpression of SERT by lentiviral injection into the dorsal raphe restored the prodepressive effects of KOR activation. Kinetic analysis of several neurotransporters demonstrated that repeated swim stress exposure selectively increased the V(max) but not K(m) of SERT without affecting dopamine transport or the high-capacity, low-affinity transporters. Although the serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe project throughout the forebrain, a significant stress-induced increase in cell-surface SERT expression was only evident in the ventral striatum, and not in the dorsal striatum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, or dorsal raphe. Stereotaxic microinjections of the long-lasting KOR antagonist norbinaltorphimine demonstrated that local KOR activation in the nucleus accumbens, but not dorsal raphe, mediated this stress-induced increase in ventral striatal surface SERT expression. Together, these results support the hypothesis that stress-induced activation of the dynorphin/KOR system produces a transient increase in serotonin transport locally in the ventral striatum that may underlie some of the adverse consequences of stress exposure, including the potentiation of the rewarding effects of cocaine.