cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rotational Zeeman effect and Coriolis coupling in NeHCl and KrHCl

The rotational Zeeman effect has been measured for NeHCl and KrHCl. For NeH 35Cl we obtain g ⊥ = -0·00037(11). For 84KrH 35Cl we obtain g ⊥ = -0·00118(4), and x ‖ - x ⊥ = -1·17(29) × 10-10 MHz/G2. Analysis of the rotational g-values leads to determination of the Coriolis coupling function f( ). For KrHCl the result is f = 0·777(28), in good agreement with the result of 0·79(14) estimated from earlier measurements by Howard and co-workers of the chlorine spin-rotation constant in KrHCl. For NeHCl the result is f = 0·102(40). These f results are in agreement with the predictions of a semi-empirical calculation developed in a previous study of the rotational Zeeman effect in ArHBr. Zero field spectra of the J = 1 →2 transition for NeH 35Cl are also reported.
Impaired tumor antigen processing by immunoproteasome-expressing CD40-activated B cells and dendritic cells

Professional APCs, such as dendritic cells, are routinely used in vitro for the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for tumor antigens. In addition to dendritic cells, CD40-activated B cells and variant K562 leukemic cells can be readily transfected with nucleic acids for in vitro and in vivo antigen presentation. However, the expression of immunoproteasome components in dendritic cells may preclude display of tumor antigens such as Mart1/MelanA. Here, we use three target epitopes, two derived from tumor antigens [Mart126–34 (M26) and Cyp1B1239–247 (Cyp239)] and one derived from the influenza A viral antigen [FluM158–66 (FluM58)], to demonstrate that CD40-activated B cells, like dendritic cells, have a limited capability to process certain tumor antigens. In contrast, the K562 HLA-A*0201 transfectant efficiently processes and presents M26 and Cyp239 as well as the influenza FluM58 epitopes to T cells. These results demonstrate that the choice of target APC for gene transfer of tumor antigens may be limited by the relative efficacy of proteasome components to process certain tumor epitopes. Importantly, K562 can be exploited as an artificial APC, efficient in processing both M26 and Cyp239 epitopes and presumably, by extension, other relevant tumor antigens.
Ansiedades de frontera en dos novelas policiales españolas sobre la inmigración

En este ensayo sostengo que la narrativa policial espanola que se acerca al tema de la inmigracion refleja una ansiedad de frontera como una estrategia de preservacion de la identidad nacional. La ansiedad de frontera es una actitud de rechazo a la presencia del inmigrante economico y se manifiesta con la marginacion del mismo de los escenarios y espacios de socializacion tradicionales. La ansiedad de frontera aparece con la cercania y la proximidad del otro cultural, y reaviva una serie de miedos y temores historicos camuflados en estereotipos, reacciones xenofobicas, incomprension, intolerancia y violencia racial.
Balancing product quality, costs, and profits

Abstract Cutthroat competition, cost cutting measures, and vendor-specification programs are primary reasons why suppliers are so intently trying to upgrade the quality of their products and services. Numerous U.S. industrial corporations have shown that their commitment to quality improvement can most certainly result in decreasing costs, increased productivity, and higher profit levels. In the face of purchasing managers who are increasingly more sophisticated, more technically aware, and more demanding of high product quality for greater product performance, industrial suppliers must continually monitor and maintain the highest possible quality in their product and service offerings. Simultaneously, they must decrease their total costs of operations, improve their productivity, and increase the attractiveness of their bottom line.
ANGLED JET FLOW MODEL FOR A DIESEL ENGINE INTAKE PROCESS-RANDOM VORTEX METHOD

SUMMARY A numerical model is developed to study the interactions of multiple angled jet flows in the inlet port plane of the Detroit Diesel 6V-92 two-stroke engine cylinder. The random vortex method is used in two dimensions. Results show axisymmetric swirl initially. As flow develops, the centre of the swirl moves to the mid-radius region and begins to precess about the cylinder centre. The flow becomes progressively more chaotic as time progresses.
Modeling and visualization of scattered volumetric data

This paper is concerned with the problem of analyzing and visualizing volumetric data. Volumetric data is a collection of fourtuples, (xi, yi, zi; Fi), i equals 1, ..., N where Fi is the value of a dependent variable at the location of the independent variables (xi, yi, zi). No assumptions are made about the location of the samples of the independent variables. Most of the currently available methods for visualizing volumetric data assume that the independent data sites are at points of a cuberille grid. In order to make these methods available for the more general situation of scattered, volumetric data, a modeling function F(x, y, z) can be determined and then sampled on a cuberille grid. This report covers some techniques for obtaining the modeling relationship and reports on the results of some experiments involving the application of these methods.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of Outcomes of One-Stage Basilic Vein Transpositions and Two-Stage Basilic Vein Transpositions

Background Basilic vein transpositions (BVTs) provide autologous hemodialysis access in the upper extremity. We report and compare our experience using the two techniques that are commonly performed to create BVTs: the one-stage and the two-stage technique. Methods A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent BVT from June 2006 to June 2010 from a database of all patients undergoing dialysis access procedures. One hundred six patients, mean age of 54 years (41% male), who received upper-arm basilic vein–only transposition were identified and were stratified based on one-stage and two-stage BVTs. Anatomic outcomes and functionality were determined and compared between stages. Results Seventy-seven patients underwent two-stage BVT, and 29 underwent one-stage BVT. Fifty-one percent and 79% of the two-stage group and the one-stage group, respectively, had had a previous failed ipsilateral permanent access. Catheter dialysis at time of surgery was 14% in one-stage BVT and 43% in two-stage BVT. Immediate technical success was obtained in all cases. The rate of primary failure was 21% in the one-stage group and 18% in the two-stage group. Reintervention rates for the one-stage group and the two-stage group were 62% and 66%, respectively. Primary patency for the one-stage group and the two-stage group at 1 year was 82% and 67%, at 2 years was 81% and 27%, and at 3 years was 51% and 18%, respectively. Secondary patency for the one-stage group and the two-stage group at 1 year was 91% and 81%, at 2 years was 80% and 61%, and at 3 years was 58% and 45%, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 0% in both groups, and all-cause morbidity was 12% in both groups (counting all stages). Conclusion One-stage BVTs have a similar number of initial failures and secondary interventions as two-stage BVTs. One-stage BVTs achieved better primary and cumulative patencies. There appears to be no advantage to a two-stage BVT in equally matched patients.
Power and the Monopoly of Information

The links between power and information are numerous and, for the most part, very obvious. I shall not apologize for returning to the obvious at many points in my remarks, on the grounds that at least a few things that are obvious are also deadly important and deserving of repetition from time to time. It was about a generation ago that both constructs-power and information-became prize targets for more formal definition and measurement. Indeed, it is a charming coincidence that the publication of Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), dealing with power and information, coincided exactly with the watershed study by Shannon and Weaver (1949) on the measurement of information and the "mathematical theory of communication." The impact of such measurement has been enormous and continues to grow. Regrettably, however, this form of measurement will be of relatively little use to us here, because its bite is lost in open systems. That is to say, the lanterns in the steeple can convey to the knowledgeable one crucial bit of information -whether the British are coming by land or by sea -but they do not mean much unless the viewer is already apprised that this is a special communication device and knows in advance the full code of potential alternatives. We shall be operating in more open systems, where these helpful constraints are missing. The numerous attempts from the same period to formalize the treatment of power will be no more helpful, even though most competing definitions of "the power of A over B" did have a similar ring about them, suggesting substantial convergence. We can, however, use one part of that literature to say what we are not talking about. Scholars have frequently differentiated among the various bases on which power may rest, and one base that customarily emerges on such lists is expertise. This is, of course, a classic
Kicked Rydberg atom: Response to trains of unidirectional and bidirectional impulses

The behavior of $\mathrm{Rb}(390p)$ atoms subject to a train of up to 50 half-cycle pulses (HCPs) with duration ${T}_{p}\ensuremath{\ll}{T}_{n},$ where ${T}_{n}$ is the classical electron orbital period, is investigated. In this limit, each HCP simply delivers an impulsive momentum transfer or ``kick'' to the electron. The response of atoms to a series of unidirectional kicks and to a series of kicks that alternate in direction is compared. For unidirectional kicks, the Rydberg atom survival probability has a pronounced maximum when the pulse repetition frequency ${v}_{p}$ is \ensuremath{\sim}1.3 times the classical orbital frequency ${v}_{n}.$ Classical simulations show this behavior provides a signature of dynamical stabilization. Evidence of dynamical stabilization and chaotic diffusion is also found in the distribution of final bound states. Very different behavior is observed for alternating kicks. The survival probability generally increases with ${v}_{p},$ although a small local maximum is evident when ${v}_{p}\ensuremath{\sim}{v}_{n}.$ Little evidence of dynamical stabilization is observed in either the calculated dependence of the survival probability on the number of applied kicks, in the measured final bound-state distribution, or in the classical phase space of the kicked atom. Model calculations for a one-dimensional ``atom'' reveal islands of stability, but their three-dimensional counterparts are found to be unstable.
Effects of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy on Myocardial Blood Flow, Vasodilatory Capacity, and Coronary Vasomotion

Background Coronary vasculopathy is the third leading cause of death 1 year after cardiac allograft transplantation. This study was designed to assess the hemodynamic effects of transplant vasculopathy on myocardial blood flow and vasomotion. Methods and Results Thirty-two patients were studied 1 to 2 years after cardiac transplantation by use of positron emission tomography (n=32), intravascular ultrasound (n=26), coronary angiography (n=32), and endomyocardial biopsy (n=32). Twenty healthy individuals served as control subjects. Quantitative intravascular ultrasound was used to compute coronary lumen area, intimal thickness, and intimal index [Intima Area/(Intima+Lumen Area)]. Myocardial blood flow was quantified with the use of 13N-ammonia/positron emission tomography. Mean myocardial blood flow was higher in the transplant patients than in control subjects (0.94±0.26 versus 0.68±0.16 mL·min−1·g−1; P<.0005). Cold increased myocardial blood flow to 0.79±0.18 mL·min−1·g−1 in control subjects but not in p...
Variation, sex, and social cooperation: molecular population genetics of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.

Dictyostelium discoideum is a eukaryotic microbial model system for multicellular development, cell–cell signaling, and social behavior. Key models of social evolution require an understanding of genetic relationships between individuals across the genome or possibly at specific genes, but the nature of variation within D. discoideum is largely unknown. We re-sequenced 137 gene fragments in wild North American strains of D. discoideum and examined the levels and patterns of nucleotide variation in this social microbial species. We observe surprisingly low levels of nucleotide variation in D. discoideum across these strains, with a mean nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.08%, and no strong population stratification among North American strains. We also do not find any clear relationship between nucleotide divergence between strains and levels of social dominance and kin discrimination. Kin discrimination experiments, however, show that strains collected from the same location show greater ability to distinguish self from non-self than do strains from different geographic areas. This suggests that a greater ability to recognize self versus non-self may arise among strains that are more likely to encounter each other in nature, which would lead to preferential formation of fruiting bodies with clonemates and may prevent the evolution of cheating behaviors within D. discoideum populations. Finally, despite the fact that sex has rarely been observed in this species, we document a rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium between SNPs, the presence of recombinant genotypes among natural strains, and high estimates of the population recombination parameter ρ. The SNP data indicate that recombination is widespread within D. discoideum and that sex as a form of social interaction is likely to be an important aspect of the life cycle.
The prevalence and clinical significance of lymphadenopathy in primary biliary cirrhosis.

We present the results of a retrospective review of abdominal computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance examinations of 12 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis undertaken to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of previously reported coexistent intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy in patients with this disorder. Lymphadenopathy, in the form of bulky periportal and retroperitoneal nodes, was identified in a single patient secondary to an occult metastatic adenocarcinoma. We conclude that coexistent intra-abdominal lympadenopathy occurring in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis is uncommon. Although it may represent a benign component of the primary disease, it may equally be due to unsuspected coexistent occult malignancy.
Robust kalman filtering for discrete-time uncertain stochastic systems

Development of a robust Kalman filter for uncertain stochastic systems under persistent excitation and unknown measurement model is presented. The given discrete-time stochastic formulation does not require the knowledge of any bounds on parametric uncertainties and excitations. When there are no system uncertainties, the performance of the proposed robust estimator is similar to that of the traditional Kalman filter and the proposed approach asymptotically recovers the desired optimal performance in the presence of uncertainties and/or persistent excitation.
Cation-exchange chromatography in non-aqueous solvents

Abstract Much of the selectivity of organic ions in conventional ion chromatography comes from hydrophobic interaction between the carbon chain of the analyte ions and the polymer matrix of the ion exchanger. By operating in organic solvents containing little, if any, water, the true ion-exchange selectivity of various organic ions can be measured. Retention factors (capacity factors, k ′) for a series of protonated amine cations were measured in methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and acetonitrile using a polymeric cation-exchange resin, conductivity detection, and eluents of methanesulfonic acid in the same organic solvent. Plots of log t ′ R vs. log methanesulfonic acid concentration were linear with slopes close to the theoretical slope of −1.0 except for acetonitrile where the slopes averaged −0.82. The retention factor showed little change with increasing carbon chain length in n -alkylamine cations, but increased substantially at fixed eluent concentration in going from methanol, to ethanol, to 2-propanol and especially to acetonitrile. Several practical separations of organic amine cations were demonstrated in non-aqueous media. One advantage of this technique is that neutral organic analytes elute very quickly in non-aqueous media and thus do not interfere with chromatographic separations of the ions.
RNAi Reduces Expression and Intracellular Retention of Mutant Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein

Mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a large extracellular glycoprotein expressed in musculoskeletal tissues, cause two skeletal dysplasias, pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. These mutations lead to massive intracellular retention of COMP, chondrocyte death and loss of growth plate chondrocytes that are necessary for linear growth. In contrast, COMP null mice have only minor growth plate abnormalities, normal growth and longevity. This suggests that reducing mutant and wild-type COMP expression in chondrocytes may prevent the toxic cellular phenotype causing the skeletal dysplasias. We tested this hypothesis using RNA interference to reduce steady state levels of COMP mRNA. A panel of shRNAs directed against COMP was tested. One shRNA (3B) reduced endogenous and recombinant COMP mRNA dramatically, regardless of expression levels. The activity of the shRNA against COMP mRNA was maintained for up to 10 weeks. We also demonstrate that this treatment reduced ER stress. Moreover, we show that reducing steady state levels of COMP mRNA alleviates intracellular retention of other extracellular matrix proteins associated with the pseudoachondroplasia cellular pathology. These findings are a proof of principle and the foundation for the development of a therapeutic intervention based on reduction of COMP expression.
Spatial structure of time-periodic solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equation☆

Abstract We study solutions of the form A(x, t)=a(x)eIωt of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation i A t + α A xx = β A− γ |a| 2 A , near those of the integrable limit: the nonlinear Schrodinger equation i A t + α A xx =- γ |A| 2 A, α , γ real. We show that spatially periodic and quasiperiodic solutions as well as heteroclinic orbits to them exist, in addition to the spatially decaying (homoclinic) solitions found by Hocking and Stewartson (1972). We speculate briefly on spatially chaotic solutions.
A Haplotype at STAT2 Introgressed from Neanderthals and Serves as a Candidate of Positive Selection in Papua New Guinea

Signals of archaic admixture have been identified through comparisons of the draft Neanderthal and Denisova genomes with those of living humans. Studies of individual loci contributing to these genome-wide average signals are required for characterization of the introgression process and investigation of whether archaic variants conferred an adaptive advantage to the ancestors of contemporary human populations. However, no definitive case of adaptive introgression has yet been described. Here we provide a DNA sequence analysis of the innate immune gene STAT2 and show that a haplotype carried by many Eurasians (but not sub-Saharan Africans) has a sequence that closely matches that of the Neanderthal STAT2. This haplotype, referred to as N, was discovered through a resequencing survey of the entire coding region of STAT2 in a global sample of 90 individuals. Analyses of publicly available complete genome sequence data show that haplotype N shares a recent common ancestor with the Neanderthal sequence (∼80 thousand years ago) and is found throughout Eurasia at an average frequency of ∼5%. Interestingly, N is found in Melanesian populations at ∼10-fold higher frequency (∼54%) than in Eurasian populations. A neutrality test that controls for demography rejects the hypothesis that a variant of N rose to high frequency in Melanesia by genetic drift alone. Although we are not able to pinpoint the precise target of positive selection, we identify nonsynonymous mutations in ERBB3, ESYT1, and STAT2—all of which are part of the same 250 kb introgressive haplotype—as good candidates.
A Review of Scales to Assess Family Needs

Public Law 99-457 requires an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) rather than an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for families with children (birth to 2 years) who have developmental delays or...
A comparative study of the ability of calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin13–52 to modulate microvascular but not thermal hyperalgesia responses

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide, is a potent vasodilator. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is suggested to be produced by vascular cells in inflamed tissue. ADM shares some structural homology with CGRP. We have compared the ability of CGRP and ADM to modulate microvascular and thermal hyperalgesic responses in rat skin. Vasodilator activity was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry, inflammatory oedema by the extravascular accumulation of intravenously-injected labelled albumin, and neutrophil accumulation by tissue myeloperoxidase, in dorsal skin. Hyperalgesia was assessed by a thermal hyperalgesimeter in paw skin. ADM (10–300 pmol) was 3 fold less potent than CGRP (3–100 pmol) as a direct vasodilator. CGRP (30 pmol) potentiated oedema formation induced by mediators of increased microvascular permeability, as expected (P<0.01). However, ADM (30–100 pmol) was without a potentiating effect, although ADM (300 pmol) was effective (P<0.01). By comparison ADM (100 pmol) potentiated neutrophil accumulation induced by interleukin-1β (P<0.05), whereas CGRP (30 pmol) did not. No thermal hyperalgesia was observed to either CGRP or ADM, when given as single or repeated treatments. Thus despite a dilator activity neither CGRP nor ADM appears to mediate hyperalgesic activity in the periphery. However ADM, like CGRP, has the ability to potentiate inflammatory oedema formation and, in addition, ADM can potentiate neutrophil accumulation. ADM may, as suggested for CGRP, act as a modulator of the vascular phases of inflammation. The property of the two compounds of evoking differential microvascular responses and neutrophil accumulation may be due to differing mechanisms of action. British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 130, 1589–1596; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703502
Decomposition of the Kneser Graph into paths of length four

Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a graph decomposition of the Kneser Graph K G n , 2 into paths of length four.
Analysis and functional evaluation of the hair-cell transcriptome

An understanding of the molecular bases of the morphogenesis, organization, and functioning of hair cells requires that the genes expressed in these cells be identified and their functions ascertained. After purifying zebrafish hair cells and detecting mRNAs with oligonucleotide microarrays, we developed a subtractive strategy that identified 1,037 hair cell-expressed genes whose cognate proteins subserve functions including membrane transport, synaptic transmission, transcriptional control, cellular adhesion and signal transduction, and cytoskeletal organization. To assess the validity of the subtracted hair-cell data set, we verified the presence of 11 transcripts in inner-ear tissue. Functional evaluation of two genes from the subtracted data set revealed their importance in hair bundles: zebrafish larvae bearing the seahorse and ift 172 mutations display specific kinociliary defects. Moreover, a search for candidate genes that underlie heritable deafness identified a human ortholog of a zebrafish hair-cell gene whose map location is bracketed by the markers of a deafness locus.
Understanding the “Horizontal Dimension” of Molecular Evolution to Annotate, Classify, and Discover Proteins with Functional Domains

Protein evolution proceeds by two distinct processes: 1) individual mutation and selection for adaptive mutations and 2) rearrangement of entire domains within proteins into novel combinations, producing new protein families that combine functional properties in ways that previously did not exist. Domain rearrangement poses a challenge to sequence alignment-based search methods, such as BLAST, in predicting homology since the methodology implicitly assumes that related proteins primarily differ from each other by individual mutations. Moreover, there is ample evidence that the evolutionary process has used (and continues to use) domains as building blocks, therefore, it seems fit to utilize computational, domain-based methods to reconstruct that process. A challenge and opportunity for computational biology is how to use knowledge of evolutionary domain recombination to characterize families of proteins whose evolutionary history includes such recombination, to discover novel proteins, and to infer protein-protein interactions. In this paper we review techniques and databases that exploit our growing knowledge of “horizontal” protein evolution, and suggest possible areas of future development. We illustrate the power of the domain-based methods and the possible directions of future development by a case history in progress aiming at facilitating a particular approach to understanding microbial pathogenicity.
Modulation of IGF-binding protein-2 and -3 in hyperoxic injury in developing rat lung.

Retinoids play an important role in lung development and repair. We showed that retinoic acid (RA) inhibits O2-induced fibroblast proliferation in rat lung explants. IGF-1, which enhances the proliferation of human fetal lung fibroblasts and stimulates collagen production during lung injury, has an important role in the lung injury/repair process. Interactions of IGF-1 with its receptor are modulated by IGF-binding proteins IGFBPs. We hypothesized that RA alters IGFBP-2 and -3 in hyperoxia-exposed neonatal lung and alters collagen production. Neonatal rat lungs were cultured in room air or 95% O2 and 5% CO2 for 3 d with or without RA. IGFBP-2 and -3 were measured both in culture medium and in lung tissue. Type I collagen and procollagen propeptide were analyzed in the lung tissue. Hyperoxia induced an increase in type I collagen that was significantly inhibited in the presence of RA. IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 in the lungs were decreased in hyperoxia but significantly increased in hyperoxia plus RA. In the culture medium, IGFBP-2 and -3 were not increased with hyperoxia but significantly increased in the presence of RA plus hyperoxia. There was no increase in IGFBP-3 RNA transcript after RA treatment in either room air or O2 exposure. In conclusion, RA modulates the secreted IGFBP-2 and -3 during O2 exposure and inhibits the increase in collagen that occurs during lung injury. We speculate that RA protects against O2-induced neonatal lung injury through modulation of the IGFBPs.
Maffucci syndrome presenting in a patient with nail-patella syndrome 1

MAFFUCCI SYNDROME PRESENTING IN A PATIENT WITH NAIL-PATELLA SYNDROME Latanya T. Benjamin, MD, University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, United States, Andrea Trowers, MD, University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, United States, George Elgart, MD, University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, United States, Lawrence Schachner, MD, University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, United States
The national synchrotron light source VUV and soft x-ray beam lines: Performance characteristics

Abstract A total of five beam lines are currently being constructed and commissioned at the NSLS. They involve a 2.75° toroidal grating monochromator, a plane grating grazing monochromator, a large aperture modified Wadsworth monochromator, a Seya-Namioka instrument and a Czerny-Turner instrument. We present details of these beam lines and their anticipated operational characteristics.
Impact of major depression on chronic medical illness.

The study by Walker et al. 111 emphasizes the profound impact that current depressive and anxiety disorders may have in patients with chronic medical illness. Walker et al. found that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and current DSM-III-R depressive and anxiety disorders, compared with patients with IBD without current psychiatric illness, suffered from significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms, nongastrointestinal medically unexplained symptoms such as headache or dizziness, and perceived themselves as significantly more disabled by their emotional symptoms, controlling for severity of inflammatory bowel disease. This editorial will initially review the expanding research database that has shown that patients with acute medical illness have a high incidence rate of major depression and patients with chronic medical illness have a high prevalence rate of comorbid major depression. Evidence will also be reviewed which shows that patients with comorbid affective disorder and chronic medical illness have 1) increased ambulatory visits and medical costs; 2) increased functional impairment and decreased quality of life; 3) increased somatic symptoms and problems habituating to chronic aversive symptoms of medical illness; 4) more problems following self-care regimens (such as adherence to medications, diet, and quitting smoking); and 5) increased rates of mortality.
A comparative study of the safety and efficacy of femcap®, a new vaginal barrier contraceptive, and the ortho all-flex® diaphragm

The FemCap is a new silicone rubber barrier contraceptive shaped like a sailor's hat, with a dome that covers the cervix, a rim that fits into the fornices, and a brim that conforms to the vaginal walls around the cervix. It was designed to result in fewer dislodgments and less pressure on the urethra than the cervical cap and diaphragm, respectively, and to require less clinician time for fitting. This was a phase II/III, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel group study of 841 women at risk for pregnancy. A subset of 42 women at one site underwent colposcopy. Women were randomized to use the FemCap or Ortho All-Flex contraceptive diaphragm, both with 2% nonoxynol-9 spermicide, for 28 weeks. The objectives were to compare the two devices with regard to their safety and acceptability and to determine whether the probability of pregnancy among FemCap users was no worse than that of the diaphragm (meaning not more than 6 percentage points higher). The 6-month Kaplan-Meier cumulative unadjusted typical use pregnancy probabilities were 13.5% among FemCap users and 7.9% among diaphragm users. The adjusted risk of pregnancy among FemCap users was 1.96 times that among diaphragm users, with an upper 95% confidence limit of 3.01. Clinical equivalence (noninferiority) of the FemCap compared with the diaphragm, as defined in this study, would mean that the true risk of pregnancy among FemCap users was no more than 1.73 times the pregnancy risk of diaphragm users. Because the observed upper 95% confidence limit (and even the point estimate) exceeded 1.73, the probability of pregnancy among FemCap users, compared with that among diaphragm users, did not meet the definition of clinical equivalence used in this study. The FemCap was believed to be safe and was associated with significantly fewer urinary tract infections. More women reported problems with the FemCap with regard to insertion, dislodgement, and especially removal, although their general assessments were positive. The two devices were comparable with regard to safety and acceptability, but a 6-point difference in the true 6-month pregnancy probabilities of the two devices could not be ruled out. Further studies are needed to determine whether design modifications can simplify insertion and removal.
Using pre-release software to SPUR student learning

ACM President David A. Patterson's recent "manifesto" calls on IT and computer professionals to focus their attention on the neglected areas of security, privacy, usability, and reliability (SPUR). We report on a recent classroom exercise designed to increase students' awareness of and engage their interest in addressing SPUR concerns.IT students at George Mason University, as part of their senior design project course, were given the opportunity to perform hands-on testing of pre-release security software being developed by Hewlett-Packard Laboratories. Over two class sessions, forty students were tasked with testing a research prototype application designed to limit harm from malicious code. Results from this experience suggest that hands-on access to pre-release software can provide an effective vehicle for enhancing student understanding of the challenges of meeting the interlocking goals of security, privacy, usability, and reliability. The faculty observers noted additional beneficial side-effects of this exercise. Working through bugs, designing experiments to test ideas, and analyzing the interface served as a whetstone to sharpen students' trouble shooting skills and critical thinking abilities.We conclude that IT undergraduate programs should consider the incorporation of a hands-on software evaluation module that stresses the principles of the SPUR manifesto. Such a module can make use of open source software where commercial pre-release software is not available. This could be incorporated into a projects class, human-computer interaction class, or software development class as appropriate to a particular program.
Radar signatures of furniture elements

Through-the-wall radar (TTWR) systems designed for detecting, locating, and tracking humans are plagued by harsh clutter scenarios caused by the variety and abundance of furniture elements within the antenna’s field of view. This paper investigates the signatures of indoor clutter using radar cross section (RCS) and linear depolarization ratios to implement clutter suppression algorithms. The paper focuses on the analysis of common individual and composite pieces of indoor clutter for TTWR. The characterization of the wideband spectral properties of indoor clutter elements is accomplished using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) techniques. Using FDTD, the spectral characteristics of clutter elements are obtained over a wide range of frequencies, different polarizations, and aspect angles.We compare and contrast the RCS responses between the different objects for analysis and use in TTWR. RCS results obtained from the simulations are compared to experimental data using a network analyzer and reasonable agreement is obtained. Clutter signatures are also compared to those of humans in order to design appropriate waveforms for maximizing the signal-to-clutter ratio in TTWR systems.
Verbal Expressions of Emotion and the Structure of Affective Space

160HEARTBROKEN31 159REGRETFUL31 37HURT27 124DISTRESSED26 163UNLUCKY25 12DEPRESSED25 99ABUSED16 116DISGUSTED14 60DEFEATED14 83DESPERATE13 136NERVOUS12 86CONFUSED12 122ANGRY11 17DISORIENTED10 166DISCONTENT9 114HUMILIATED8 161SCARED8 52CONTEMPIBLE7 14STIMULATED4 39IN*TURMOIL3 39FRENZIED3 42REPULSIVE3 44DISINTEGRATED2 CATEGORY#6 INADEQUACY ABSTRACT: 111USELESS23 105IDIOTIC23 74AIMLES22 65RIDICULOUS22 48INCOMPLETE19 81INFERIOR17 147HELPLESS14 44DISINTEGRATED9 132BLANK8 83DESPERATE6 137AMUSED5 52CONTEMPIBLE4 145DRAINED4 42REPULSIVE3 152FRANTIC3 CATEGORY#7 DEPLETION ABSTRACT: 145DRAINED21 23DEVASTATED20 44DISINTEGRATED19 32EXHAUSTED15 60DEFEATED15 17DISORIENTED7 160HEARTBROKEN6 12DEPRESSED6 163UNLUCKY6 37HURT6 99ABUSED6 149INVALIDATED6 159REGRETFUL5 15NONEXISTENT5 111USELESS5 146OUSTED5 83DESPERATE4 48INCOMPLETE4 132BLANK2 136NERVOUS2 114HUMILIATED2 CATEGORY#8 REJECTION ABSTRACT: 125UNREQUITED 47LEFT*OUT27 156DISREGARDED26 146OUSTED21** 149INVALIDATED19 107UNAPPRECIATED18 153PROHIBITED16** 129THWARTED13** 60DEFEATED7 17DISORIENTED4 86CONFUSED4 133DECEIVED4 82DISTRUSTED4 15NONEXISTENT2 CATEGORY#9 ISOLATION ABSTRACT: 119LISTLESS27 30APATHETICL26 132BLANK21 61UNAWARE16 18DETACHED16 45SOLITARY15 16INEXPERIENCED14 91CALM5 32EXHAUSTED4 21SOOTHED4 71SOBER3 164SMOTHERED3 130SELFSACRIFICING2 CATEGORY#10 GUILT ABSTRACT: 87BLAMEWORTHY18 42REPULSIVE18 52CONTEMPIBLE18 114HUMILIATED17** 163UNLUCKY5 159REGRETFUL5 160HEARTBROKEN4 135CRITICIZED4 12DEPRESSED4 116DISGUSTED2 CATEGORY#11 DOUBT ABSTRACT: 117AMBIVALENT20 109SKEPTICAL19 40INDECISIVE16 67RELUCTANT16** 96 / HARRISON
Minimal extent of homology required for completion of meiotic recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The minimal length of contiguous homology required for successful completion of meiotic recombination was investigated by using heterologous insertions to delimit homologous segments of chromosome III in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Constructs created in vitro by insertion of selectable markers into the LEU2 locus were transplaced into haploid strains, which were then mated to create diploids containing pairs of insertion heterologies at various distances. Analysis of the meiotic products from these diploids revealed a gradient in the frequency of both reciprocal and nonreciprocal recombination declining monotonically from the 5′ end of LEU2. Both types of event were found to be restricted by the presence of the insertion heterologies. The spo 13 single division meiosis was exploited to develop a plating assay in which LEU2 diploid spores containing reciprocally recombinant strands derived from events occurring completely within the interval flanked by the insertion heterologies were selected by random spore methods. Reciprocal recombination frequencies measured with this assay decreased linearly with extent, extrapolating to a minimal homology requirement of 150–250 nucleotides. When homology was most severely restricted, unexpected flanking marker configurations among reciprocal recombinants within LEU2 demonstrated the occurrence of complex recombination events. In addition to detecting reciprocal recombinants, the system is capable of measuring the probability that a non-reciprocal recombination event will have one endpoint between the heterologous inserts and the other lying outside the interval. The minimal length of homology required for this aspect of recombination was found to be 25–60 nucleotides. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The burial of Herodes Atticus: élite identity, urban society, and public memory in Roman Greece

This paper discusses the burial of Herodes Atticus as a well-attested case of elite identification through mortuary practices. It gives a close reading of Philostratus� account of Herodes� end in c. 179 (VS 2.1.15) alongside the evidence of architecture, inscriptions, sculpture, and topography at Marathon, Cephisia and Athens. The intended burial of Herodes and the actual burials of his family on theAttic estates expressed wealth and territorial control, while his preference for Marathon fused personal history with civic history. The Athenian intervention in Herodes� private funeral, which led to his magnificent interment at the Panathenaic Stadium, served as a public reception for a leading citizen and benefactor. Herodes� tomb should be identified with a long foundation on the stadium�s east hill that might have formed an eccentric altar-tomb, while an elegant kline sarcophagus found nearby might have been his coffin. His epitaph was a traditional distich that stressed through language and poetic allusion his deep ties toMarathon and Rhamnous, his euergetism and his celebrity. Also found here was an altar dedicated to Herodes �the Marathonian hero�with archaizing features (IG II2 6791). The first and last lines of the text were erased in a deliberate effort to remove his name and probably the name of a relative. A cemetery of ordinary graves developed around Herodes� burial site, but by the 250s these had been disturbed, along with the altar and the sarcophagus. This new synthesis of textual and material sources for the burial of Herodes contributes to a richer understanding of status and antiquarianism in Greek urban society under the Empire. It also examines how the public memory of elites was composite and mutable, shifting through separate phases of activity � funeral, hero-cult, defacement, biography � to generate different images of the dead.
Variations Across Canadian Regions in the Sensitivity to U.S. Monetary Policy

This paper contributes to the research on regional economic responses to monetary policy shocks in two ways. First, rather than just model the Canadian economy at the national level, we examine the impact of monetary policy shocks across five separate Canadian regions. The second extension of the literature is our focus upon estimating the impact from both Canadian and U.S. monetary policy shocks upon regional Canadian economic activity. The findings are broadly consistent with results from previous research modeling the national Canadian economy, but noteworthy regional differences are observed. Eastern Canadian regions, defined as Ontario (ON), Quebec (QU), and Atlantic (AT), exhibit greater sensitivity to Canadian monetary policy shocks than do Western Canadian regions. We also find that U.S. monetary policy shocks have a discernable impact on Canadian regional economic activity, but the impact varies across regions. For the three Eastern Canadian regions ON, QU, and AT, there is a significant impact upon regional economic activity from a U.S. monetary policy shock, but not for the two Western Canadian regions Prairie (PR) and West (WE). Moreover, the impact on ON, QU, and AT from a fed funds shock is quite similar to the impact from a shock to the Canadian Bank Rate.
On predicting secondary structure transition

A function of a protein is dependent on its structure; therefore, predicting a protein structure from an amino acid sequence is an active area of research. To improve the accuracy of validation of structures, we are studying the predictability of secondary structure transitions using the following machine learning algorithms: naive Bayes, C4.5 decision tree, and random forest. The annotated data sets from PDB that have agreement with DSSP and STRIDE are used for training and testing. We have demonstrated that predicting structure transition with high degree of certainty is possible and we were able to get as high as 97.5% of prediction accuracy.
Comparison of Impurities in Charcoal Sorbents Found by Neutron Activation Analysis

Neutron activation of gas samples in a reactor often requires a medium to retain sufficient amounts of the gas for analysis. Charcoal is commonly used to adsorb gas and hold it for activation; however, the amount of activated sodium in the charcoal after irradiation swamps most signals of interest. Neutron activation analysis was performed on several commonly available charcoal samples in an effort to determine the activation background. The results for several elements, including the dominant sodium element, are reported. It was found that ECN charcoal had the lowest elemental background, containing sodium at 2.65 ± 0.05 ppm, as well as trace levels of copper and tungsten.
A martingale inequality and large deviations

Abstract Let ( X i ) be a martingale difference sequence and let S n =∑ i =1 n X i . Suppose ( X i ) is bounded in L p . In the case p ⩾2, Lesigne and Volný (Stochastic Process. Appl. 96 (2001) 143) obtained the estimation μ ( S n > n )⩽ cn − p /2 , which is optimal in a certain sense. In this article, we show that μ ( S n > n )⩽ cn 1− p when p ∈(1,2]. This is optimal for an i.i.d. sequence, as shown in Lesigne and Volný (Stochastic Process. Appl. 96 (2001) 143). For this purpose, we establish some inequalities for ( X i ), which may be of interest on their own right.
Statistical perspectives on confidentiality and data access in public health.

Confidentiality and disclosure limitation are topics that are inherently statistical but, until recently, they have received limited attention from statistical methodologists. That situation has changed considerably in the present decade. In this paper, we provide an introduction and overview of some statistical disclosure limitation issues that are of special relevance to public health studies and surveys, and the linkages to current research on bounds for multi-dimensional contingency table entries and 'simulated' categorical data. We also describe how these research methods relate to a new data access query system being developed for use by NCHS and other statistical agencies.
Weight loss reduces abdominal fat and improves insulin action in middle-aged and older men with impaired glucose tolerance

Aging is associated with an increased accumulation of abdominal fat, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. We tested the hypothesis that diet-induced weight loss would reduce the abdominal distribution of fat and improve glucose tolerance and insulin action in a group of obese middle-aged and older men with normal or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed at baseline and after 9 months of diet-induced weight loss in 35 men (mean age, 60 ± 8 years). Fifteen men of comparable age and degree of obesity who did not participate in the weight loss intervention served as controls. Subjects lost 9.0 ± 2.0 kg (mean ± SD) body weight (P < .001), resulting in a 19% reduction in percent body fat (30.0 ± 4.0% to 24.0% ± 4.0%, P < .001), an 8% reduction in waist circumference (104.0 ± 7.0 to 96.0 ± 7.0 cm, P < .001), and a 2% reduction in waist to hip ratio [WHR] (0.97 ± 0.06 to 0.95 ± 0.06, P < .01). Weight loss improved glucose tolerance: nine men with IGT at baseline reverted to normal glucose tolerance following the intervention. Glucose area during the OGTT was significantly reduced after weight loss (−22.0%, P < .001), while it increased in control subjects (+32%, P < .004). In multiple regression analysis, the improvement in glucose area following weight loss in these 35 men was attributed to the reduction in waist circumference (P < .01) and baseline glucose area (P < .05). Insulin response to glucose and tissue sensitivity to endogenous insulin were measured in a subset of eight men using the hyperglycemic clamp technique. Weight loss resulted in significant reductions in acute (P < .05) and second-phase (P < .01) insulin responses and a significant increase in the rate of glucose utilization ([M] P < .05), indicative of increased tissue sensitivity to insulin. Our results support the hypothesis that weight loss significantly improves glucose tolerance and insulin action in obese middle-aged and older men with normal glucose tolerance or IGT, in part by reducing the distribution of fat in upper-body sites.
Water cost and availability: Key determinants of family hygiene in a Peruvian shantytown

OBJECTIVES. This study was conducted to determine whether poor hygiene practices are owing to difficulty in getting enough water and/or to ignorance of sanitary principles. METHODS. In a water-scarce shantytown in Lima, Peru, we observed in 12-hour periods over 3 consecutive days the amount of water and soap used for personal and domestic activities in 53 families and the frequency with which direct fecal contamination of hands was interrupted by washing. We also surveyed women in a similar shantytown concerning their knowledge of hygiene to ascertain whether noncompliance was owing to ignorance. RESULTS. Three hundred fecal contamination events were registered, of which only 38 (13%) were interrupted by hand washing within 15 minutes. The mean 12-hour per capita amount of water and soap used by the families was low. More than 80% of the water stored by these families had fecal coliforms. Yet the level of knowledge concerning the importance of hand washing and other hygienic practices was high. CONCLUSION...