cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined use of three agents containing stannous fluoride: a prophylactic paste, a solution and a dentifrice

Five groups of children, all natives of a community with 0.05 ppm of fluoride in the water supply, were given different combinations of three stannous fluoride treatments; these were stannous fluoride prophylactic paste, topically applied aqueous stannous fluoride solution and home use of a stannous fluoride denti­ frice. 'Children given all three treatments had the highest reduction in dental caries after 6 and 12 months.
The role of cytoplasmic membranes in poliovirus biosynthesis.

Abstract Chemical analysis and electron microscopy show that isopycnic centrifugation in discontinuous sucrose density gradients separates smooth and rough cytoplasmic membranes of HeLa cells. By 3.25 hours after poliovirus infection, there is evidence of marked proliferation of cytoplasmic membranes in the smooth microsomal fraction. Sixty-five percent of labeled virus-specific RNA is found in this fraction after a 2.5-min pulse of uridine-3H 3.25 hours after infection; however, after a 10-min pulse, most of the labeled RNA is found in the rough microsomal fraction. Over 50% of newly synthesized viral protein is found in the rough microsomal fraction throughout a 30-min chase period following a 3-min pulse of leucine-3H. This pattern of distribution of viral RNA and protein is dependent on the presence of cytoplasmic membranes. The major site of translation of viral RNA is associated with rough membranes, whereas replication of viral RNA takes place in association with smooth membranes. Results after addition of guanidine to infected cells support the hypothesis that viral RNA synthesis is initiated in a complex associated with smooth membranes.
A passive damper for the vibration modes of the head actuator in hard disk drives

As the track density of hard disk drives increases, further improvement in the performance of the read/write head positioning servo system is required. However, the servo performance is limited mainly by the inherent mechanical resonances of the head actuator. Passive damping has the potential to improve the head actuator dynamics. In this paper, a practical passive vibration damper is proposed that is very effective for damping the critical vibration modes of the head actuator. The experimental results from the application of this passive damper to two commercially available hard disk drives are presented. The measured data show that the tracking dynamics of the head actuator can be greatly improved by this passive damper. The vibration induced variation of the flying height is also significantly reduced.
ON RANK TWO LINEAR TRANSFORMATIONS AND REFLEXIVITY

We study operator algebras generated by commuting families of nilpo- tents. In order for such an algebra A to be re°exive, it is necessary that each ideal generated by a rank two member of A be one{dimensional. When the underlying space is anite{dimensional Hilbert space and the nilpotents in question doubly commute in the sense that they commute with each other's adjoints, the condition is also su±cient. Doubly commuting families of nilpotents admit simultaneous Jordan Canonical Forms and re°exivity of A can also be characterized in terms of Jordan block sizes. In particular, our results generalize work of J. Deddens and P. Fillmore on singly{ generated operator algebras.
A novel in vitro system to study extravasated tumor cell-induced angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones, is a fundamental stage in the metastatic pathway. For the primary tumor, this neovascularization provides nutrients and oxygen as well as a route by which metastatic tumor cells gain access to the circulatory system. Among these metastatic tumor cells, there are subgroups of cells that express an angiogenesis-inducing cells phenotype (AICs) as well as others that do not. Tumor cells not expressing the angiogenesis-inducing cells phenotype (non-AICs) invade new tissues and remain as dormant micrometastases unless they accompany AICs. Thus, either alone or with non-AICs, angiogenesis-inducing cells form rapidly growing, clinically detectable metastases. Much of the current research in this area is concentrated on the vascularization of primary tumors, but the regulation of angiogenesis by extravasating or invading tumor cells has not being extensively studied. We have developed a working model, which demonstrates that human metastatic prostate cancer cells (PC-3) appear to induce human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) to translocate across a Matrigel-coated 8 urn membrane. The parameters of this model (i.e. pore size, seeding-cell density, seeding times) were established using highly invasive murine melanoma cells (B16F10) seeded on murine microvascular endothelial cells (CD3). We have further modified our model in order to include a host compartment made of collagen gel, in order to mimic the in vivo site of metastases-induced angiogenesis.
Biochemical and morphological effects of testosterone treatment on developing sympathetic neurons.

Abstract— Neonatal rats were treated with testosterone propionate (TP) or isoproterenol (ISO) to determine whether (1) increases in salivary gland mass are associated with alteration of developing sympathetic neurons and (2) whether effects on neuron growth are secondary to altered target mass itself or to increases in salivary growth factors. TP treatment is known to result in salivary tubule hypertrophy and elevated nerve growth factor (NGF) content whereas IS0 treatment results in acinar hypertrophy and no known alteration in NGF. TP treatment increased submaxillary gland weight as well as tyrosine hydroxylase (T-OH) activity, adrenergic neuron numbers and total protein in the innervating superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Unilateral sialectomy prevented the increase in T-OH activity in the SCG, suggesting that the salivary glands were necessary for this effect. T-OH activity and total protein were elevated in the distant sixth lumbar sympathetic ganglion after TP treatment, suggesting that sympathetic development as a whole was affected and that humoral factors may be involved. Salivary gland weight was also elevated following ISO administration, but T-OH activity in the SCG was not affected. These observations suggest that TP treatment increases T-OH activity and sympathetic neuron numbers by alteration of specific salivary humoral growth factor(s).
Comparison of supervised and unsupervised exercise training after coronary bypass surgery

Abstract Functional capacity and cardiovascular responses to serial graded treadmill testing (GXT) were compared in 180 patients who performed prescribed unsupervised exercise and 24 patients who were referred for supervised exercise after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). The groups were men similar in age range, number of bypass grafts, preoperative left ventricular impairment and number of days hospitalized. All patients received similar predischarge exercise monitoring and began a progressive home walking or cycling program. Initial GXT (T1) was performed 44 ± 9 days postoperatively. Both groups were instructed to continue prescribed exercise at 75 to 85% maximal heart rate (HR) for 30 to 40 minutes 3 days (supervised) or 5 days (unsupervised) per week. The second GXT (T2) was performed 115 ± 27 days after CABS. In each group there were significant (p
Synchronized afterdischarges in the hippocampus: Simulation studies of the cellular mechanism

Abstract Synchronized multiple bursts represent an epileptic neuronal behavior transitional between synchronized single bursts (interictal spikes) and self-sustained seizures. As described in the previous paper, synchronized multiple bursts occur in hippocampal slices treated with picrotoxin. Multiple bursts consist of an initial prolonged depolarizing burst followed by a rhythmical series of afterdischarges. Both the initial burst and the afterdischarges are synaptically elicited. Our previously described model of the interictal spike illustrates that the generation of a single synchronized burst requires a neuronal network possessing the following properties: intrinsic bursting capability of individual neurons, the presence of recurrent excitatory connections between principal neurons and the blockade of synaptic inhibition. The model demonstrates that the generation of single synchronized bursts involves the initial excitation of one or more neurons, and the subsequent sequential spread of excitation through a population of neurons via recurrent excitatory synapses. In the present study, we examined whether this same mechanism assumed in the previous model could also allow for the generation of synchronized afterdischarges in a population of neurons. We tested the effects of manipulating three network factors: synaptic strength, synaptic density and the refractoriness in the population members following a period of excitation. We discovered that the refractory period following prolonged excitation assumed in our previous model was insufficient to allow for afterdischarge generation. Once sufficient refractoriness was introduced, afterdischarges appeared in our network of neurons. In the present study, the required refractoriness was attributed to the properties of pyramidal cell axons. In principle, such refractoriness might be located elsewhere in the network. The possible contribution of axonal properties is emphasized because of the known intermittent conduction in other axons. Our present model also reproduced other experimental data. Thus, if the network was too small or if synaptic strength was too small, then only a single synchronized burst occurred. The basic assumptions of this model are both biologically plausible and experimentally testable.
Determination of vitamin D by a chemical method involving chromatography and color inhibition.

A method for the determination of vitamin D applicable to pharmaceutical products is described in detail. The method involves saponification, extraction, chromatography, and color measurement by a modified antimony trichloride test. An important feature is the use of acetic anhydride which inhibits completely and selectively the vitamin D-SbCl 3 reaction, providing a reaction blank that greatly improves the specificity of the reaction. Of particular concern are the purity of color reagent, and the adsorption index of the magnesium oxide and alumina adsorbents used in the chromatography. Data are presented showing stability of vitamin D in the chromatography, the effect of acetic anhydride in the color reaction, and the validity of corrections based upon the acetic anhydride blank, and upon absorption differences at 500 and 550 mμ wavelengths. The character of the vitamin A degradation interferences is discussed and analytical results of the method applied to a series of pharmaceutical products are compared with bioassay values.
Inhibition of glycosylation prevents H-2K and D antigen expression on SV40 virus-transformed cells

Tunicamycin, an inhibitor of glycosylation, was used to examine the role of carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins involved in recognition of Simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Tunicamycin treatment renders such cells refractory to lysis by H-2 restricted, SV40-specific CTL as well as by allogeneic CTL directed only against H-2 antigens. Treated cells are no longer susceptible to lysis by anti-H-2 antisera and complement, nor are they stained by monoclonal anti-H-2 antibodies in an indirect immunofluorescence assay. No accumulation of H-2 proteins was detected in immunoprecipitates from cells labeled with [35S]methionine in the presence of tunicamycin. It is concluded that tunicamycin prevents the expression of H-2 glycoproteins in these cells, perhaps due to accelerated degradation of the unglycosylated molecules.
Notes on equivalent stationary policies in Markov decision processes with total rewards

We construct examples of Markov Decision Processes for which, for a given initial state and for a given nonstationary transient policy, there is no equivalent (randomized) stationary policy, i.e. there is no stationary policy which occupation measure is equal to the occupation measure of a given policy. We also investigate the relation between the existence of equivalent stationary policies in special models and the existence of equivalent strategies in various classes of nonstationary policies in general models.
The Statistical and Physical Properties of the Low-Redshift Lyα Forest Observed with the Hubble Space Telescope/STIS*

We examine the Lyα absorber population at z < 0.3 detected in spectra of the quasars PG 0953+415 and H1821+643 taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. We compare their statistical properties to those in carefully constructed mock quasar spectra drawn from a cosmological hydrodynamic simulation of a Λ-dominated cold dark matter universe. We find very good agreement in the column density and b-parameter distributions, down to the smallest observable absorbers with N ≈ 1012.3 cm- 2. The observed absorber population is complete for N 1013 cm- 2, with a column density distribution slope of β = 2.04 ± 0.23 and a median b-parameter of 21 km s-1 above this limit. The intergalactic gas giving rise to these weak absorbers is analogous to that at high redshift, located in diffuse large-scale structures that are highly photoionized by the metagalactic UV flux, though a greater number arise within shock-heated warm gas. The density, temperature, and column density of these absorbers follow similar relationships of those at high redshift, though with substantially larger scatter due to the shock-heated gas. The b-parameters typically have a significant contribution from thermal broadening, which facilitates a measurement of the low-z intergalactic medium temperature as traced by Lyα absorbers. From our simulation we estimate TIGM ~ 5000 K, with an upper limit of 104 K, at the mean density. The agreement in predicted and observed amplitude of the column density distributions allows us to measure the H I photoionization rate at = 0.17 to be Γ = 10-13.3±0.7 s-1 (estimated modeling uncertainty), close to predictions based on quasar properties.
Toxicology of Diethylene Glycol Butyl Ether 5. Dermal Subchronic Neurotoxicity Study in Rats

Groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were treated dermally with the vehicle, distilled water or with diethylene glycol butyl ether (DGBE) at 10 or 30% v/v aq. solutions or undiluted (0.2, 0.6, or 2.0 g/kg body weight) for 13 weeks under occlusion 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, at the maximum attainable volume of 2 mL/kg. Male and female rats were examined using a functional observational battery (FOB) prestudy, at 1, 6, and 24 hr after the initiation of the first exposure, and prior to treatment on days 7, 14, 35, 63, and 91. Motor activity was determined prestudy and on nontreated days 34, 62, and 90. At the completion of treatment, six control and top dose group animals were perfused for neuropathology. There was no mortality, and the body weights and food consumption were unaffected. Five females in the top dose group had scab formation at the treatment site during the study. There were no other treatment-related clinical findings. The FOB and motor activity tests revealed no findings indicative of a neurotoxic effec...
The rational cohomology of finite loop spaces

Abstract In this note we prove that any simply connected finite loop space that has one three-dimensional rational cohomology generator has the rational cohomology of a Lie group. Other results are obtained in the case that the rational cohomology has more than one three-dimensional generator.
Is the obstetric guideline of 30 minutes from decision to incision for Cesarean delivery clinically significant

A Cesarean delivery may be critical to the health and wellbeing of a newborn. The time required to extract an infant from a hostile in utero environment is a frequent issue in medical negligence cases. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest a time guideline of 30 minutes from decision for Cesarean delivery to the beginning (incision) of the procedure. This time frame is based on survey data from hospitals throughout the United States and is not based on clinical outcomes or the pathophysiology of obstetric events. This review focuses on specific Cesarean indications as noted by the specialty groups and analyzes them from an outcome point of view. The authors conclude that specific high-risk factors do indeed warrant delivery in as expedient a fashion as possible; however, compliance with the 30-minute guideline does not necessarily lead to a difference in outcome as far as the neonate is concerned.
Severe bronchial synechia after removal of a long-standing bronchial foreign body: A case report to support control bronchoscopy

The authors report the case of a child who had severe bronchial synechia of the left main bronchus after removal of a pistachio shell embedded in granulation tissue. Histology finding of the removed granulation tissue at initial bronchoscopy showed an Actinomyces bacterial invasion. It was decided not to treat this local contamination and to perform a control bronchoscopy to verify the disappearance of local bacterial invasion. The control bonchoscopy performed 4 weeks after the foreign body (FB) removal disclosed a large central left main bronchus synechia producing a 70% reduction of the lumen, although the child had become asymptomatic except for a slight residual cough. The resection of the synechia restored a normal bronchial lumen. The performance of a systematic control bronchoscopy after removal of long standing FB is discussed and recommended.
The prevalence of auscultatory crackles in subjects without lung disease.

Crackles heard during auscultation of the lungs are generally considered an abnormal physical finding. This study was done to see if crackles could be induced to occur in the lungs of normal subjects. We studied 52 nonsmoking normal subjects by listening at the right and left posterior bases and over the lower right anterior chest during inspiration from functional residual capacity (FRC) and then during inspiration from residual volume (RV). Crackles were recorded on magnetic tape for subsequent time-expanded waveform analysis. No crackles were heard at any of the three sites during inhalation from FRC. Of 52 subjects, 26 had crackles over the anterior site when inhaling from RV. These crackles were often profuse, loud, and easily recorded. Waveform analysis revealed these crackles in normal subjects to be similar to those occurring in patients with interstitial lung diseases. We conclude that crackles, heard over the anteror chest during inspiration from low lung volumes, are not necessarily adventitious sounds.
KTiOPO 4 :(KTP): A New And Superior Electrooptic Material For Guided Wave Optics

Electrooptic modulation is the changing of the phase or amplitude of an optical beam by an applied electric field. This phenomenon is inherently nonlinear and can only be observed in crystals that do not have an inversion symmetry. The modulation, when effected in a waveguide, is the foundation of many guided wave optical devices, such as: Mach-tender interferometers, channel switches and directional couplers, etc. which are particularly useful for fiber optics communication)
A national study of substance use behaviors among NCAA male athletes who use banned performance enhancing substances

Background Reports of illicit substance use by college athletes have become commonplace in recent years, yet comparatively little effort has been put forth by the research community to understand these behaviors.
Just a little (lateral prefrontal) patience.

A new study finds causal evidence that the lateral prefrontal cortex, implicated in executive function, is critical for making decisions in which forgoing a small immediate reward can lead to a better future outcome. These results suggest that this area provides a neural signal that biases behavior in favor of delaying gratification.
Pulmonary Edema in the Course of a Blood Transfusion without Overloading the Circulation

Three cases of transient pulmonary edema in the course of blood transfusion reactions are reported. The edema seen radiologically was presumably mainly interstitial, was accompanied by cough, fever and cyanosis, and could not be identified by physical examination. The reactions are attributed to incompatibility of undetermined nature. Hypervolemia is not considered the causative factor because of the small amount of transfused blood and lack of clinical evidence of left ventricular failure. The role of histamine release and capillary permeability are discussed as possible causative factors in the pathophysiology of the pulmonary edema. With the recent interest in postcardiotomy reactions, the study of this fleeting pulmonary edema in nonsurgical cases may shed some light upon the more complex postperfusion lung syndrome.
The IMF's Return to Iraq

The International Monetary Fund has imposed its traditional policies in Iraq. Few have considered the consequences. But the author notes that business as usual will probably not work in Iraq, and may well be destructive. He also wonders why there is so little imagination at the IMF.
Purchasing Power Parity Between the UK and Germany: The Euro Era

We use the Johansen cointegration approach to assess the empirical validity of the purchasing power parity (PPP) between the UK and Germany since the introduction of the euro. We conduct the empirical analysis in the context of the global financial crisis that began in 2007 and find that it directly affects the cointegration space. We fail to validate the Johansen and Juselius (1992) original hypothesis that nonstationarity of PPP associates with the nonstationarity of interest rate differentials to produce a stationary relation. On the other hand, we do not reject PPP. We find that PPP cointegrates with inflation differentials. We also find, contrary to conventional wisdom, that (i) equilibrium adjustment occurs between the German and UK inflation rates, while weak exogeneity exists for the German and UK interest rates and the PPP condition, and (ii) three common trends associated with the German interest rate the UK interest rate, and the PPP condition “push” the system with the German interest rate and the PPP condition playing dominant roles in affecting inflation in both Germany and the UK. These results cast serious doubt on the presumed independence of the UK monetary policy.
Possible physiological and behavioral adaptations of herbivorous dinosaurs

ABSTRACT Evidence of communal nesting and site fidelity in hadrosaurian dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana indicates a close parallel with herbivorous iguanine lizards. Raised nests prevented egg drowning, while communal habits and site fidelity facilitated fecal ingestion by young, which infected them with a microflora appropriate for herbivory.
Comparative lifecycle inventory (LCI) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods using different CO2 sources

Abstract This study uses a process lifecycle inventory (LCI) to compare the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations using different sources for CO 2 and to non-CO 2 EOR methods. All EOR techniques were compared to the base case of natural-source CO 2 -EOR, which had net emissions of 0.52 ± 0.03 metric tons of CO 2 -e per barrel of oil recovered (t/bbl) (85.1 ± 4.9 gCO 2 -e/MJ oil (g/MJ)), the same as the net emissions of 0.52 ± 0.02 t/bbl (84.3 ± 3.0 g/MJ) when using CO 2 derived from a coal-fueled synthetic natural gas (SNG) plant. Net emissions were lowered to 0.36 ± 0.03 t/bbl (58.5 ± 5.2 g/MJ) for EOR using CO 2 derived from a coal-fed Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant. Net emissions were further reduced to 0.18 ± 0.11 t/bbl (28.6 ± 18.7 g/MJ) using switchgrass grown on marginal land in an IGCC plant. Similar to coal, net emissions were 0.34 ± 0.03 t/bbl (55.3 ± 5.5 g/MJ) for EOR using CO 2 derived from a Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) plant, and 0.39 ± 0.03 t/bbl (63.3 ± 4.4 g/MJ) when using livestock manure biogas for NGCC. Net emissions of methane- and nitrogen-EOR were 10–15% greater than for natural-source CO 2 -EOR. For the allocations used in this study, all sources of CO 2 derived from IGCC or NGCC plants resulted in between about 25% and 60% lower net CO 2 -e emissions per barrel of oil recovered compared to natural-source CO 2 -EOR, and were also approximately 25–60% lower than average domestic U.S. oil lifecycle emissions of 0.50 ± 0.02 t/bbl (82.4 ± 2.5 g/MJ). These results suggest that coal and biomass IGCC CO 2 -EOR, as well as natural gas and biogas NGCC CO 2 -EOR, may be alternatives for reducing GHG emissions associated with fossil fuel use during the slow transition from fossil fuels to other energy sources.
The longitudinal transport of energetic ions from impulsive solar flares in interplanetary space

We present a study of the longitudinal spread of energetic charged particles from a localized instantaneous compact source on the Sun. Our study utilizes a diffusive-transport model for the propagation of energetic ions in interplanetary space. We show that even for very small values of the ratio of perpendicular to parallel diffusion coefficients—a few percent—the particles spread significantly in longitude. Spatial diffusion and adiabatic energy loss of ions in the interplanetary plasma cause impulsive particle events at Earth's orbit to last a few days. In this time, the combination of transport both along and across the local Parker-spiral magnetic field and the longitudinal motion of the magnetic lines of forces rooted at the Sun as it rotates leads to substantial longitudinal transport of the particles. We show that spacecraft separated by as much as 180° or more may observe events associated with compact solar sources, such as those from impulsive solar flares. Our results are qualitatively consistent with recent multi-spacecraft observations.
Effect of Massive Doses of Thiamine on Fertility and Lactation in the Albino Mouse.

SummaryThe effect of massive doses of thiamine on reproduction and lactation in the albino mouse has been studied. No harmful action was observed.
Workshop on barcoded DNA: application to rotifer phylogeny, evolution, and systematics

DNA barcoding is the use of segments of gene sequences to assign individual organisms to species. Thus it can be used to define species and to identify specimens. Barcoding has been applied as an aid to systematics with little controversy in both monogonont and bdelloid rotifers, and also in environmental sequencing projects designed to determine the diversity of microscopic organisms. In contrast, a great deal of controversy has arisen over the creation of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, a major initiative to barcode all the species in several major groups of animals, with the long-range goal of barcoding all species of organisms. This is a very brief review of DNA barcoding, especially as applied to rotifers, and a summary of the results of a workshop held at the 11th International Workshop on Rotifera.
Successful thrombolytic therapy for acute kidney injury secondary to thrombosis of suprarenal inferior vena cava filter

Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis is a complication that occurs in 1-32% of patients inserted with IVC filters (IVCF). Deployment of the filter in the suprarenal position is advocated in certain clinical conditions, and some reports suggest a higher incidence of renal complications in that position, especially among patients with malignancy. We report a case of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to acute thrombosis of a suprarenal IVCF, which was successfully treated with systemic thrombolytic therapy. We also provide a review of the literature in regard to the indications, complications, and outcomes of suprarenal IVCF. Suprarenal IVCF placement should be performed rarely, and then only after careful evaluation of the underlying renal function, and likely should be avoided in patients with malignancy and known hypercoagulable state. Systemic thrombolytic therapy is a feasible treatment option for acute thrombotic episodes of IVCF, assuming it is diagnosed early and there are no known contraindications.
Analytic energy second derivatives for paired-excited multi-configuration self-consistent-field wavefunctions. Application of the PE MCSCF model to H2O, CH2, HCN, HCCH, H2CO, NH3, CH4, and C2H4

Abstract A method to analytically evaluate second derivatives for both the generalized valence bond (GVB) and paired-excited multiconfigurationself-consistent-field (PE MCSCF) wavefunctions is presented. Harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and electric polarizabilities, all of which have been evaluated with several basis sets, are reported for H2O, CH2(3B1), CH2 (1A1), HCN, C2H2, H2CO (1A1), H2CO (3A″), NH3, CH4, and C2H4 in order to demonstrate the importance of these techniques. This work presents the most detailed examination to date of the reliability of the PE MCSCF approach to the correlation problem.
Influence of the nature of the Si substrate on nickel silicide formed from thin Ni films

Abstract We investigate the rate of silicide formation and the composition of the resulting compound when thin (1000–5000 A) Ni films vacuum deposited onto various substrates are annealed from 200 °C to 325 °C and from 1 2 to 24 h . Only the phase Ni2Si is observed on substrates of (111), (100) and polycrystalline Si. On amorphous (vacuum-deposited) Si the two phases Ni2Si and NiSi form simultaneously in two distinct sublayers. In all cases, the compound layers grow at ( time ) 1 2 , and the activation energies all lie between 1.3 and 1.6 eV. The actual value of the growth rate depends on the substrate. On (100), polycrystalline and amorphous Si substrates the rates are very similar and correspond to about 1000 A at 1 h and 275 °C. On (111) Si substrates the rate is about a quarter of that. Transmission electron micrographs establish that silicide layers grown on different substrates have different microcrystalline structure.
Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin in ugandan patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The frequency of ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was determined in 125 Ugandan patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Seventeen, or 13.6%, had measurable serum levels of hCG. The hCG-positive group was older and had a lower incidence of the presence of alpha-fetoprotein than did the hCG-negative group (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the presence of hCG and the presence or absence of elevated serum proline hydroxylase activity, hepatitis-associated antigen or antibody, cirrhosis, or the length of survival. Thus, the presence of hCG in the blood of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma does not alter his prognosis. Its utility as a marker for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and other neoplasms and for following the effect of therapy remains to be determined.
The Berlin Questionnaire for assessment of sleep disordered breathing risk in parturients and non-pregnant women.

Abstract Background Pregnancy is associated with alteration in sleep patterns and quality. We wished to investigate whether pregnant women have a higher likelihood of a positive Berlin Questionnaire than non-pregnant women. Methods Pregnant women ages 18–45 years ( n =4074) presenting for delivery, and non-pregnant women ages 18–45 years ( n =490) presenting for outpatient surgery provided demographic information and completed the Berlin Questionnaire evaluating self-reported snoring and daytime sleepiness. For the pregnant patients, the infant's birth weight and Apgar scores were also recorded. Results Of the 1439 patients with a positive Berlin Questionnaire, 96 were in the non-pregnant control population versus 1343 in the pregnant population (20% vs. 33%, respectively, P Conclusion Parturients are more likely to have a positive Berlin Questionnaire than non-pregnant women. This may indicate an increased likelihood of sleep disordered breathing.
Re-evaluating the need for hospital admission and observation of pediatric traumatic brain injury after a normal head CT.

Abstract There is no consensus on the optimal management of pediatric patients with suspected trauma brain injury and a normal head CT. This study characterizes the clinical outcomes of patients with a normal initial CT scan of the head. A retrospective chart review of pediatric blunt trauma patients who underwent head CT for closed head injury at two trauma centers was performed. Charts were reviewed for demographics, neurologic function, CT findings, and complications. 631 blunt pediatric trauma patients underwent a head CT. 63% had a negative CT, 7% had a non-displaced skull fracture, and 31% had an intracranial hemorrhage and/or displaced skull fracture. For patients without intracranial injury, the mean age was 8years, mean ISS was 5, and 92% had a GCS of 13–15 on arrival. All patients with an initial GCS of 13–15 and no intracranial injury were eventually discharged to home with a normal neurologic exam and no patient required craniotomy. Not admitting those children with an initial GCS of 13–15, normal CT scan, and no other injuries would have saved 1.8±1.5 hospital days per patient. Pediatric patients who have sustained head trauma, have a negative CT scan, and present with a GCS 13–15 can safely be discharged home without admission.
Wie addieren sich zwei C‐C‐Doppelbindungen an eine M‐M‐Dreifachbindung? Struktur und Bindungsverhältnisse von Bis(η‐ethylen)hexakis(neopentoxy)diwolfram

Two pseudotetrahedral d-W(OR) 3 (η 2 -C 2 H 4 ) fragments make up the structure of the title compound [W 2 (OCH 2 tBu) 6 (η 2 -C 2 H 4 ) 2 ]. According to an MO analysis, the structure is governed by the competition between metalolefin and metal-metal bonds
Standardized echography of the eye and orbit.

Standardized echography (pioneered and developed by Dr. Karl Ossoinig) is a state-of-the-art method of diagnostic ophthalmic ultrasound. More than sixty (60) orbital and periorbital and eighty (80) intraocular conditions may be detected and differentiated with high reliability. Optimal results can be expected when specified instrumentation and techniques are used by a well trained examiner. Specific instrumentation to be used includes standardized A-scan (i.e. Kretztechnik 7200MA/Ophthascan S), contact B-scan and Doppler instrumentation. A systematic approach to intraocular and orbital examinations includes use of the specific basic examination and special examination techniques. Once a lesion is detected with the basic examination, a variety of acoustic criteria are determined with topographic, quantitative and kinetic examination techniques for lesion differentiation, localization and measurement. In the globe, standardized echography is useful in both opaque media, where fundus view is obscured or prevented, and in clear media as a supplement to the ophthalmoscopic examination. Standardized echography is also useful in the evaluation of orbital and periorbital disease. Mass-like lesions, extraocular muscle and optic nerve conditions may be detected, differentiated and accurately measured.
The continuum-of-addiction: cigarette smoking in relation to price among Americans aged 15-29.

SUMMARY We studied the relationship between current cigarette smoking and price among 34,145 respondents, aged 15–29 years, to the 1992–1993 Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey. The price elasticity of current smoking varied inversely with age: -0.831 (standard error 0.402) for ages 15–17; -0.524 (st. err. 0.256) for ages 18–20; -0.370 (st. err. 0.188) for ages 21–23; -0.202 (st. err. 0.175) for ages 24–26; and -0.095 (st. err. 0.157) for ages 27–29. In response to higher prices, older youth were more likely to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day than to quit entirely. Among 15-to-17-year-olds, smoking cigarettes “some days” was more sensitive to price than smoking “every day.” Cigarette smoking was inversely related to the prices of premium brands, but not discount brands.
Analysis of Multifingered Hands

This paper discusses three fundamental problems relating to grasping and manipulating objects within an articulated, multifingered hand: determining how hard to squeeze an ob ject in order to ensure a secure grasp, determining the finger- joint motions required to produce a desired motion of the object, and determining the workspace of the hand.Squeezing the object, or the application of internal grasp forces, is reduced to a linear programming problem which considers friction and joint torque limit constraints. The relationship between the finger-joint motions and the motion of the object, for the case of pure rolling between the finger tips and the object, is formulated as a set of differential equa tions. The total workspace for a hand is determinedfor spe cial cases of planar and spatial hands.
The Principles and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration: Applicable Laws and Rules

IMPORTANCE OF THE LAW How important is the law in international commercial arbitration? That may depend upon the particular case. In some arbitrations, the arbitrators' task will primarily be to understand the facts and to apply the contract terms to the facts. Procedural issues will be resolved in accordance with the rules chosen by the parties. Legal questions may not be raised or argued. In other arbitrations, difficult or technical legal questions may be at the core of the dispute. Although party autonomy is an important element of arbitration, nonetheless, the parties' contract, and their dispute, do not exist in a legal vacuum. There are layers of laws and rules that may be applicable, and complications increase when more than one national law may properly apply to the arbitration. Typically, the parties will choose a law to govern the contract. This law, which is the substantive law, is likely to be the national law of one of the parties. Or, in a contract for the sale of goods, it could be an international law such as the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). The law applicable to the arbitration procedure is usually a different national law – the arbitration law at the seat of the arbitration. In addition to these two laws, other laws may come into play. This chapter will discuss the various laws, as well as what happens when parties have not chosen a governing law or a seat for the arbitration.
Accuracy and Consistency of Respiratory Gating in Abdominal Cancer Patients

Purpose To evaluate respiratory gating accuracy and intrafractional consistency for abdominal cancer patients treated with respiratory gated treatment on a regular linear accelerator system. Methods and Materials Twelve abdominal patients implanted with fiducials were treated with amplitude-based respiratory-gated radiation therapy. On the basis of daily orthogonal fluoroscopy, the operator readjusted the couch position and gating window such that the fiducial was within a setup margin (fiducial-planning target volume [f-PTV]) when RPM indicated “beam-ON.” Fifty-five pre- and post-treatment fluoroscopic movie pairs with synchronized respiratory gating signal were recorded. Fiducial motion traces were extracted from the fluoroscopic movies using a template matching algorithm and correlated with f-PTV by registering the digitally reconstructed radiographs with the fluoroscopic movies. Treatment was determined to be “accurate” if 50% of the fiducial area stayed within f-PTV while beam-ON. For movie pairs that lost gating accuracy, a MATLAB program was used to assess whether the gating window was optimized, the external-internal correlation (EIC) changed, or the patient moved between movies. A series of safety margins from 0.5 mm to 3 mm was added to f-PTV for reassessing gating accuracy. Results A decrease in gating accuracy was observed in 44% of movie pairs from daily fluoroscopic movies of 12 abdominal patients. Three main causes for inaccurate gating were identified as change of global EIC over time (∼43%), suboptimal gating setup (∼37%), and imperfect EIC within movie (∼13%). Conclusions Inconsistent respiratory gating accuracy may occur within 1 treatment session even with a daily adjusted gating window. To improve or maintain gating accuracy during treatment, we suggest using at least a 2.5-mm safety margin to account for gating and setup uncertainties.
Selective amplification of stimulus differences during categorical processing of speech

The brain's perceptual stimuli are constantly changing: some of these changes are treated as invariances and are suppressed, whereas others are selectively amplified, giving emphasis to the distinctions that matter most. The starkest form of such amplification is categorical perception. In speech, for example, a continuum of phonetic stimuli gets carved into perceptually distinct categories. We used fMRI to measure the degree to which this process of selective amplification takes place. The most categorically processing area was the left supramarginal gyrus: stimuli from different phonetic categories, when presented together in a contrasting pair, were neurally amplified more than two-fold. Low-level auditory cortical areas, however, showed comparatively little amplification of changes that crossed category boundaries. Selective amplification serves to emphasize key stimulus differences, thereby shaping perceptual categories. The approach presented here provides a quantitative way to measure the degree to which such processing is taking place.
Genomic BLUP Decoded: A Look into the Black Box of Genomic Prediction

Genomic best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) is a statistical method that uses relationships between individuals calculated from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to capture relationships at quantitative trait loci (QTL). We show that genomic BLUP exploits not only linkage disequilibrium (LD) and additive-genetic relationships, but also cosegregation to capture relationships at QTL. Simulations were used to study the contributions of those types of information to accuracy of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs), their persistence over generations without retraining, and their effect on the correlation of GEBVs within families. We show that accuracy of GEBVs based on additive-genetic relationships can decline with increasing training data size and speculate that modeling polygenic effects via pedigree relationships jointly with genomic breeding values using Bayesian methods may prevent that decline. Cosegregation information from half sibs contributes little to accuracy of GEBVs in current dairy cattle breeding schemes but from full sibs it contributes considerably to accuracy within family in corn breeding. Cosegregation information also declines with increasing training data size, and its persistence over generations is lower than that of LD, suggesting the need to model LD and cosegregation explicitly. The correlation between GEBVs within families depends largely on additive-genetic relationship information, which is determined by the effective number of SNPs and training data size. As genomic BLUP cannot capture short-range LD information well, we recommend Bayesian methods with t-distributed priors.
Kinetics of Expression of Rhesus Monkey Rhadinovirus (RRV) and Identification and Characterization of a Polycistronic Transcript Encoding the RRV Orf50/Rta, RRV R8, and R8.1 Genes

Rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV) is a close relative of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV; human herpesvirus 8). RRV serves as an in vitro and an in vivo model for KSHV, and the mapping of its transcription program during lytic replication is significant since it represents de novo infection in the absence of stimulation with phorbol esters. Further, the RRV lytic system facilitates the making of recombinant viruses, and hence transcription profiling of the wild-type virus is important. Currently, the kinetics of lytic gene expression of RRV, the function of the RRV Orf50/Rta gene, and the presence of the RRV R8 and R8.1 genes are not known. This study details the transcription profile seen during RRV lytic replication and shows that RRV latency-associated nuclear antigen, viral FLIP (vFLIP), and vCyclin are transcribed during the RRV lytic phase. In addition, this study describes the identification of three new spliced products of the RRV Orf50, R8, and R8.1 genes, which are structural homologs of the KSHV Orf50, K8, and K8.1 genes, respectively. Characterization of the RRV Orf50 protein identifies it as a strong transcriptional transactivator capable of activating three early RRV promoters. Interestingly, the KSHV Orf50 transactivator can also activate these simian virus promoters, suggesting that there exists a conservation of gene function between the key transcription factors of KSHV and RRV.
Inferring metabolic networks using the Bayesian adaptive graphical lasso with informative priors

Metabolic processes are essential for cellular function and survival. We are interested in inferring a metabolic network in activated microglia, a major neuroimmune cell in the brain responsible for the neuroinflammation associated with neurological diseases, based on a set of quantified metabolites. To achieve this, we apply the Bayesian adaptive graphical lasso with informative priors that incorporate known relationships between covariates. To encourage sparsity, the Bayesian graphical lasso places double exponential priors on the off-diagonal entries of the precision matrix. The Bayesian adaptive graphical lasso allows each double exponential prior to have a unique shrinkage parameter. These shrinkage parameters share a common gamma hyperprior. We extend this model to create an informative prior structure by formulating tailored hyperpriors on the shrinkage parameters. By choosing parameter values for each hyperprior that shift probability mass toward zero for nodes that are close together in a reference network, we encourage edges between covariates with known relationships. This approach can improve the reliability of network inference when the sample size is small relative to the number of parameters to be estimated. When applied to the data on activated microglia, the inferred network includes both known relationships and associations of potential interest for further investigation.
Hepatitis G virus

Summary HGV is a novel human flavivirus related to HCV. Like HCV, HGV causes persistent infection and is transmitted parenterally by blood transfusion and intravenous drug use. In contrast to HCV, HGV does not appear to cause chronic hepatitis and does not worsen the prognosis of patients coinfected with other known hepatitis viruses. Although present in patients with non-A through E acute hepatitis, it has not been demonstrated as a primary cause of acute hepatitis. Hepatotropism of HGV has not been established. At this time HGV cannot be considered a primary pathogen (ie., hepatitis virus).
Small Business Lending by Banks Involved in Mergers

The paper uses data on the volume outstanding of small business loans from the midyear Call reports to summarize the nature of small business lending at banks that were involved in mergers between June 1993 and June 1996. Then, a model of gradual adjustment by the consolidated bank following the merger is estimated to determine whether the portfolio share of small business loans at the consolidated bank tends to move over time towards either the pre-merger share at the acquiring bank or the typical share at other banks of roughly the same size as the consolidated bank.
Negotiating the democratic classroom

The authors reflect on their experiences incorporating democratic ideals in their work as university professors in an adult education doctoral program.