cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Waivers and exemptions for health services in developing countries

In response to shrinking budgets and growing demands, many developing countries have adopted formal or informal user fees in government health facilities. While they raise revenue, in the absence of special provisions user fees may hurt equity and efficiency. This paper reviews the success of two such provisions-waivers and exemptions. Waivers enable the poor to obtain free healthcare while exemptions enable all people to receive certain services for free. The dilemma is how to preserve user fees without hurting equity and efficiency.
Calculus excellence workshop: a case study

ABSTRACT The overall goal of the South Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation (SCAMP) is to increase the number of students receiving advanced degrees in science, engineering and mathematics. One of the ways to achieve this goal is to assist students in the “gateway” courses in science, engineering and mathematics. Calculus I has been identified as one of the gateway courses at Benedict College in which students need special assistance and support. To help students successfully pass this course and to pursue advanced degrees in science, engineering and mathematics, the Calculus Excellence Workshop was instituted at the College. It was found that no single method works all the time. Flexibility is the key. Similar workshops have also been instituted at other SCAMP institutions. The Workshop became an integral part of the course in Fall 1992 and has continued since that time. A significant improvement in overall performance of students in this course has been realized. In this study we describe what i...
Changes in Distribution of Nonnative Brook Trout in an Idaho Drainage over Two Decades

Abstract Invasions of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis are believed to threaten the aquatic fauna native to the cold streams and lakes of western North America. Although invasion is widespread, documentation of historic versus recent invasion rates throughout drainages is lacking. We compared brook trout distributions in 1996 to those as early as 1971 for 17 streams in the upper South Fork Salmon River, Idaho. In 1996, brook trout occurred in 11 of the streams. Adult ranges expanded at least 0.5 km upstream in 8 streams, and upstream invasion (1.2-2.4 km) occurred in 3 of those. No recent invasion was apparent in 10 streams that lacked dispersal barriers within 1 km of the South Fork Salmon River confluence or of previous distribution limits, including 4 streams containing at least some adult brook trout. We also compared distributions between 1993 and 1997 in two streams of the Weiser River drainage, Idaho, and found no changes in upstream distribution limits over that shorter time interval. Although in...
The involvement of water at the retinal binding site in rhodopsin and early light-induced intramolecular proton transfer.

Extensive dehydration of air-dried films of bovine rod outer segment membranes induces fully reversible changes in the absorption spectrum of rhodopsin, indicative of deprotonation of the retinylidene Schiff base in more than 50% of the rhodopsin molecules in the sample. This suggests that water is involved at the site of the Schiff base protonation in rhodopsin. In contrast, the spectrum of metarhodopsin I is resistant to similar dehydrating conditions, implying a significant difference in the mechanism for protonation in metarhodopsin I. The photochemistry of dehydrated membranes was also explored. Photoexcitation of deprotonated rhodopsin (λmax 390 nm) induces a large bathochromic shift of the chromophore. The major photoproduct at room temperature was spectrally similar to metarhodopsin I (λmax, 478 nm). These findings suggest that intramolecular proton transfer involving the Schiff base proton may occur in the earlier stages of the visual cycle, prior to or during the formation of metarhodopsin I.
ATTRIBUTE NOISE DETECTION USING MULTI-RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

The value of knowledge inferred from information databases is critically dependent on the quality of data. The identification of noisy attributes which can easily corrupt and curtail valuable knowledge and information from a dataset can be very helpful to analysts. We present a novel detection method to identify noisy attributes in datasets of software metrics using multi-resolution transformations based on Discrete Wavelet Transforms. The proposed method has been applied to supervised datasets of scientific full-scale data from NASA's Software Metric Data Program (MDP) and to a military command, control, and communications system (CCCS). Empirical results have been favorably compared to those obtained from the robust Pairwise Attribute Noise Detection Algorithm (PANDA) using the same MDP datasets and with mixed results for the CCCS data. All results were verified with several case studies that included injecting known simulated noise into specific attributes with no class noise.
Cyclic stability and C-rate performance of amorphous silicon and carbon based anodes for electrochemical storage of lithium

Abstract Polymer-derived, amorphous ceramics (PDCs) constituted from silicon, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen are promising candidates as anodes for lithium ion (Li + ) batteries, having a reversible capacity of up to 800 mAh g −1 . These measurements of lithium capacity are extended here to cyclic stability, high C-rate performance, and composition-range. The following new results are presented: (a) materials processed at 800 °C perform better than those synthesized at lower and higher temperatures, (b) materials with high oxygen content perform better than those with high nitrogen, (c) the SiCO materials are highly stable in cyclic loading, and (d) they are robust materials, capable of very high C-rates, without damage to their overall performance. Phenomenological analysis of composition dependent capacity suggests that Li is sequestered to mixed-bond tetrahedra of Si coordinated to both oxygen and carbon; it is argued that when oxygen is substituted by nitrogen the ability of these mixed bonds to bind to lithium in a reversible manner is severely diminished.
Inundative biological control of velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti (Malvaceae) with Niesthrea louisianica (Hem: Rhopalidae)

Niesthrea louisianica Sailer (Rhopalidae) is native from Arizona to Florida north to New York and West to Iowa in the Mississippi Valley. Immatures and adults feed on seeds of malvaceous plants. Velvetleaf,Abutilon theophrasti Medic. (Malvaceae), is a major exotic weed of corn, soybeans, cotton, and sorghum, and is among the hosts forN. louisianica. A laboratory colony ofN. louisianica was established in 1984 using imbibed velvetleaf seeds as the food source. The colony was expanded in 1985 to support field releases in velvetleaf infested fields in the Midwest and New York State. Approximately 83,000 adultN. louisianica were released in 5 States. The insects reproduced and were found more than a kilometer from the release point at some release sites. In areas of establishment, a significant reduction in seed viability was recorded.
Particle in an external electromagnetic field

The relativistic velocity of a classical charged particle in a constant, homogeneous, but otherwise arbitrary electromagnetic field is obtained using the Dirac algebra realization of the Lorentz group. We are able to separate the gyrational part of the motion from the Lorentz boost or linear acceleration, in a method that is analogous to but distinct from the guiding-center approximation. This result generalizes previous descriptions, in a framework which is intrinsically relativistic.
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Abstract Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) can present with coexistent subfertility caused by diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Recent texts suggest that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may improve pregnancy outcomes for women with RPL. Objective: This article reports the outcome of the treatment of a female of advanced maternal age. She had diagnoses of DOR and RPL. Design, Setting, and Patient: This 42-year-old patient with DOR and RPL presented in a private acupuncture practice, located in Bellevue, WA. Intervention: The patient received TCM treatment that involved weekly acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy from June 2006 to May 2007. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome sought was a live birth after 24 weeks of gestation. Results: After another miscarriage in September 2006, this patient conceived a viable pregnancy in December 2006, after 6 months of treatment. She continued treatment through 20 weeks and delivered a healthy son at 39.5 weeks of gestation. Conclusions: Subfertile women w...
Hyaluronidase dissolves a component in the hamster zona pellucida

Mammalian sperm must pass between cumulus cells and corona radiata cells before reaching the surface of the zona pellucida which surrounds the oocyte. The cumulus and corona radiata cells are separated from each other by an extracellular matrix (ECM) containing hyaluronic acid. The structure of this ECM and of the zona pellucida was investigated in the hamster oocyte-cumulus complex (OCC) using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) following processing in ruthenium red. When fixed in the presence of ruthenium red, the ECM of the OCC and the zona pellucida were well preserved and highly structured. The ECM between corona radiata cells was comprised of a network of granules and filaments which resembled hyaluronic acid containing matrices described in other systems. The outer one-third to one-half of the zona pellucida was porous; the ECM of the corona radiata extended into these pores. Bovine testicular hyaluronidase, Streptomyces hyaluronidase, and hamster sperm extracts containing hyaluronidase each dispersed the cumulus cells and most of the corona radiata cells. TEM examination revealed that brief (5-10 min) hyaluronidase treatment of OCCs removed the matrix filaments and caused clumping of the granules in both the corona radiata and zona pellucida. Longer hyaluronidase treatments (15-30 min) removed both filaments and granules. Our observations are consistent with the ideas that: 1) the ECM between corona radiata cells contains hyaluronic acid, and 2) hyaluronic acid is present in the outer one-third to one-half of the zona pellucida.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A delta-2 opioid agonist inhibits p38 MAPK and suppresses inflammatory activation of murine macrophages

Abstract Introduction: Delta opioid agonists may represent a novel approach to attenuate organ dysfunction following ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with organ transplantation. Activation of macrophages is a key component of this injury. However, whether signaling through delta opioid receptors (delta-1 or delta-2) alters macrophage function has not been investigated. We sought to determine if the delta opioids, [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]-enkephalin (DADLE, a nonspecific delta opioid receptor agonist), [D2,5Pen]-enkephalin (DPDPE, a specific delta-1 opioid receptor agonist) or deltorphin-D (a specific delta-2 opioid receptor agonist) could attenuate proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages after activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: Murine macrophages, RAW 264.7, were pretreated for 4 hours with media, DADLE, DPDPE, or deltorphin-D, and then incubated with LPS for 4 hours. TNF-alpha and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) secretion were measured by ELISA. Additionally, after 1 hour of LPS, activation of NF-kB, AP-1 and p38 MAPK were assessed by EMSA and Western blot. Results: LPS induced significant increases in TNF-alpha and MIP-2 production. Pretreatment with media, DADLE or DPDPE had no effect on cytokine secretion. However, deltorphin-D in a dose-dependent fashion, caused a 3.5–5-fold reduction in TNF-alpha and MIP-2 (p Conclusions: Delta-2 but not delta-1 opioid agonists appear to suppress inflammatory activation of macrophages in a p38 MAPK-dependent fashion. Further examination of the molecular mechanism by which these agonists confer protection may provide important information allowing their use in the clinical setting.
Multi-level formation roadmaps for collision-free dynamic shape changes with non-holonomic teams

Teams of robots can utilize formations to accomplish a task, such as maximizing the observability of an environment while maintaining connectivity. In a cluttered space, however, it might be necessary to automatically change formation to avoid obstacles. This work proposes a path planning approach for non-holonomic robots, where a team dynamically switches formations to reach a goal without collisions. The method introduces a multi-level graph, which can be constructed offline. Each level corresponds to a different formation and edges between levels allow for formation transitions. All edges satisfy curvature bounds and clearance requirements from obstacles. During the online phase, the method returns a path for a virtual leader, as well as the points along the path where the team should switch formations. Individual agents can compute their controls using kinematic formation controllers that operate in curvilinear coordinates. The approach guarantees that it is feasible for the agents to follow the trajectory returned. Simulations show that the online cost of the approach is small. The method returns solutions that maximize the maintenance of a desired formation while allowing the team to rearrange its configuration in the presence of obstacles.
Intraorganizational Mobility and Career Perceptions Among Rank and File Employees in Different Technologies

Rates and directions of intraorganizational job mobility as well as perceptions of mobility requirements among rank and file employees were found to differ by technology. Career experiences were po...
Area-restricted Search and the Scale Dependence of Path Quality Discrimination

Abstract This paper considers how the spatial distribution of resource patches can influence resource quality discrimination when search behavior is conditioned on patch quality. Two models of animal dispersal between patches are presented, a random walk simulation and a simple analytical treatment. These models are used to examine whether a patch-based version of “area-restricted search” can produce scale dependence in the level of patch quality discrimination. Simulations of the random walk model suggest that when animals condition search behavior on patch quality: (i) equilibrium levels of patch quality discrimination will be scale dependent, and (ii) patch quality discrimination may be minimal at small and large interpatch distances. The analytical model suggests that scale dependence in patch quality discrimination should be expected not just in random dispersal systems, but whenever dispersal behavior meets two simple conditions: (i) the probability of a trip reaching a given displacement from the home patch decrease with increasing displacement, (ii) trip displacement is conditioned on patch quality. Since these conditions seem likely to be broadly applicable, scale dependence in patch quality discrimination should be common. Scale dependence develops in these models because they explicitly represent the interaction between trip length distribution and the distance between patches. This suggests that both optimal foraging models and the metapopulation models currently popular in conservation biology may need to explicitly represent how patch quality dependent search behavior interacts with interpatch distance in producing interpatch migration rates.
Microstructure of mullite ceramics used for substrate and packaging applications

The objective of this investigation was to explain the variation in dielectric constants of mullite ceramics prepared with 25% excess silica under a variety of conditions as described in an earlier study. Different starting materials, mullite-silica (M-S) and alumina-silica (A-S), different particle sizes (fine or coarse) and different firing times and temperatures were used. Dielectric constants measured for the alumina-silica system at 1550°C at different times, showed an initial reduction followed by an increase on further heating. The dielectric constants of other systems increased with increase in heat-treatment time at the different heat-treatment temperatures. From the study of microstructures using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it was shown that the initial decrease in dielectric constant on heating the alumina-silica system was because alumina, a phase with a higher dielectric constant was being replaced by mullite, a phase with a lower dielectric constant. On completion of this reaction, the intergranular silica was absorbed by mullite thereby leading to an increase in the dielectric constant. It was then shown that whenever phases with a lower dielectric constant exist, the dielectric constant of the system as a whole is lower.
Injuries and Small-Wheel Skates

Abstract Study objective: To determine the types of injuries sustained during the use of in-line skates and to compare them with injuries sustained during the use of roller skates and skateboards, which have similar riding mechanics; and to assess the protection afforded by wrist, elbow, and knee guards. Methods: The study population was a consecutive series of injured patients who presented to the emergency department of a Level I trauma center between May 1992 and October 1993. Results: Of the 137 patients with skating injuries evaluated in the ED during the study period, 63 (46%) were in-line skaters,36 (26%) were roller skaters, and 38 (28%) were skateboarders. Minor injuries (sprains, bruises, lacerations) were more common than fractures, and there was no statistical difference in the types of injury between skater groups ( P =NS). The most common serious injury was fracture of the distal arm, which occurred in each of the three skater groups (43%, n=59). Of these patients, 37% (n=21) required open or closed orthopedic reduction. More fractures of the distal forearm or elbow occurred among skaters who had not been wearing wrist guards ( P =.013; risk ratio, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 3.13). Only 25% of skaters used any protective equipment. In-line skaters owned and used protective equipment more often than did roller-skaters or skateboarders. Most injuries occurred while the patient was traveling in the street or on the sidewalk. Injuries occurred more commonly because the skater was going too fast (35%), because the skater struck an object in the pavement (20%), or because the skater was unable to brake (19%) than because of equipment failure (2%) or interference from motor vehicles (3%). Conclusion: Injuries sustained by in-line skaters were similar to those sustained by roller skaters and skateboarders. The risk of wrist or elbow fracture is greater when wrist guards are not worn. [Orenstein JB: Injuries and small-wheel skates. Ann Emerg Med February 1996;27:204-209.]
THE EFFECTS OF REPEATED ANESTHESIA ON THE BIOLOGY OF BLATTELLA GERMANICA (LINNAEUS)1

Short exposures of cockroach nymphs once each week to anesthetic gases (nitrogen, nitrous oxide, cyclopropane, carbon dioxide, and ethyl ether) retarded the growth rate, decreased the adult weight, reduced the number of offspring produced, and prolonged adult life. Certain of these effects were more pronounced with some gases than with others, so that no one gas can be considered safest. Carbon dioxide applied throughout life is more deleterious to reproduction than if it is discontinued at maturity. The longer it is used, the greater the incidence of aborted egg capsules. The weight of egg capsules of CO2-treated roaches tends to be less than normal even though the number of eggs per capsule is normal. An attempt was made to determine if carbon dioxide retards growth and causes abortion of eggs by affecting moisture loss, or ambient temperature, or molting rate; but all findings were negative. The percentage of moisture of treated roaches and their eggs was the same as for untreated ones; air chilled to the temperature of expanding carbon dioxide had no effect on growth rate; and the frequency of molting of anesthetized roaches was the same as for controls. One positive difference was that the efficiency of food conversion to body weight was less in CO2-anesthetized roaches than in controls. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG DIE WIRKUNG WIEDERHOLTER BETAUBUNG AUF DIE BIOLOGIE VON BLATTELLA GERMANICA (L.) Wenn Blattella germanica (L.) wahrend des Wachstums einmal wochentlich mit einem Gas betaubt wurde, verzogerte sich ihre Zuwachsrate. Das Endgewicht war geringer und die Anzahl der Nachkommen kleiner, aber die Lebensspanne wurde langer. Die funf angewandten Betaubungsmittel (Stickstoff, Stickoxydul, Cyclopropan, Kohlendioxyd und Athylather) hatten verschiedene Folgen, waren aber alle schadlich. Kohlendioxyd wurde ausfuhrlicher untersucht. Die Insekten wurden damit auch noch nach der Metamorphose betaubt. Dadurch verringerte sich die Anzahl der Nachkommen noch mehr. Die Nahrungsverwertung war bei den behandelten Larven ungunstiger.
Electrical stimulation of visceral afferent pathways in the pelvic nerve increases c-fos in the rat lumbosacral spinal cord.

Abstract Electrical stimulation (20–35 Hz, 2–5 V, 1.5 h) of the pelvic nerve in urethane-anesthetized rats increased the expression of c-fos protein-immunoreactivity primarily in neurons in the L6–S1 segements of the spinal cord. The neurons were localized to areas receiving afferent input from the pelvic viscera including the superficial dorsal horn, the dorsal commissure, and lateral laminae V–VII in the region of the sacral parasympathetic nucleus. These experiments indicate that (1) electrical stimulation of abdominal nerves following surgical exposure is a useful method for tracing visceral afferent pathways and (2) afferent information from the pelvic viscera is received by neurons in specific areas of the dorsal horn.
Disorders of the Achilles tendon and its insertion.

Pathology of the Achilles tendon occurs frequently, especially in runners, and is frustrating to treat [1]. It is referred to as tendonitis or tendinitis, although there is no biochemical evidence that inflammation of the tendon exists [2]. Tendonitis and tendinitis are used interchangeably in the literature. Trauma and overuse producing microtears and repair are thought to be etiologic factors [3]. A distinction needs to be made between insertional Achilles tendinitis and tendinopathy. Histologic changes consistent with bursitis are found in the retrocalcaneal space in cases of retrocalcaneal bursitis and insertional tendinitis [4]. Tendinosis, however, may be present at the insertion or at 3 to 6 cm proximal to the tendon insertion. In tendinosis, there may be inflammation of the paratenon (paratenonitis) or intratendinous necrosis and degeneration. There is typical fusiform swelling, which may or may not be tender (Fig. 1). Clinically, the most significant problem is limitation of sports activities, especially high-impact sports such as middleand long-distance running, track and field, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. These athletes do not want to eliminate the cause of their problem but rather to continue playing their sport Clin Podiatr Med Surg
Portfolio characterization of risk aversion

Abstract Investment behavior in a portfolio choice situation with one risky and one riskless asset reflects investors' attitude toward risk. A higher fraction of wealth invested in a risky asset indicates smaller risk aversion. We examine the equivalence of this way of measuring risk aversion with the standard way based on the Arrow-Pratt measure in several cases distinguished by specification of short-sales restrictions for both assets.
The circulation produced within embedded liquid drops

Abstract A circular cylindrical or spherical subregion of an incompressible homogeneous infinite viscous fluid undergoing any mathematically definable Stokes type slow motion is composed of a liquid immiscible with the surrounding medium. Assuming that the circulation pattern for the homogeneous infinite fluid is known, a sequence of mathematical operations are derived which enable the circulation patterns for the drop and the matrix to be evaluated directly from the corresponding particular result for the homogeneous infinite fluid. The importance of these operations derives from their simplicity and generality-diversity of separate and unconnected flow fields are brought under the same roof.
VirA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is an intradimer transphosphorylase and can actively block vir gene expression in the absence of phenolic signals

The VirA-VirG two-component system regulates the 30-gene vir regulon in response to host-released chemical signals. VirA is a homodimeric membrane-spanning histidine protein kinase. Here, we show that mutations in two essential VirA residues, His-474 and Gly-657, can be complemented by the formation of mixed heterodimers, indicating that each subunit of a VirA dimer transphosphorylates the opposite subunit. VirA contains a receiver domain that inhibits kinase activity. We use the forced heterodimer system to show that the two receiver domains of a VirA dimer act independently and that each inhibits the phosphoacceptor subdomain of the opposite subunit. We also demonstrate that merodiploid strains co-expressing constitutive VirA mutants and wild-type VirA show levels of vir gene expression far lower than haploid strains expressing just the constitutive alleles. The fact that wild-type VirA can actively block vir gene expression in the absence of phenolic signals suggests that it might have a phospho-VirG phosphatase activity. The receiver domain of VirA is essential for this activity, whereas residues H474 and G657 of the kinase domain are not required. Merodiploid strains co-expressing a constitutive VirA allele and an allele that is kinase inactive but proficient in the inhibitory activity show strongly inducible vir gene expression, indicating that the inhibitory activity is modulated by environmental signals.
Effect of oxygen inhalation on relaxation times in various tissues

The effect of the oxygen inhalation on relaxation times was evaluated in various tissues, including the myocardium, liver, spleen, skeletal muscle, subcutaneous fat, bone marrow, and arterial blood, with a [1H]MR system. Statistically significant decrease of T1 relaxation times was observed in the myocardium, spleen, and arterial blood after inhalation of 100% oxygen, whereas no significant change was observed in liver, skeletal muscle, subcutaneous fat, or bone marrow. The T2 relaxation time of these tissues did not differ significantly between before and after inhalation of the oxygen. These results indicate that [1H]MRI can be used to evaluate changes with oxygen inhalation and that the effect of the oxygen inhalation on T1 relaxation time is different among various tissues.
Endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary: A case series with flow cytometric DNA content analysis

Endodermal sinus tumors (EST) are rare germ cell ovarian malignancies occurring primarily in young women. A retrospective review of the Magee-Womens Hospital tumor registry revealed eight cases of pure EST and two mixed tumors in which the EST component was predominant. Mean patient age was 18.2 years. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom and a pelvic mass was palpable in all patients. Four patients are currently alive and well with no evidence of disease. All were treated with surgery and combination chemotherapy. Flow cytometric DNA content analysis of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue identified similar aneuploid cell populations in three of five tumors analyzed with relative peak positions of 1.72, 1.62, and 1.70. The management of women with endodermal sinus tumor remains controversial with regard to type of chemotherapy employed and the use of second-look laparotomy. The prognosis role of flow cytometric DNA content analysis is yet to be determined.
Performance of Porous CaO Obtained from the Decomposition of Calcium-Enriched Bio-Oil as Sorbent for SO2 and H2S Removal

The performance of calcium oxide particles produced from the decomposition of calcium-enriched bio-oil (CEB), the product of the reaction of bio-oil and calcium hydroxide, as a sorbent for the in situ removal of SO2 and H2S from the flue gases of coal combustors and the coal gas produced in coal gasifiers, respectively, is investigated. Reactivity evolution experiments are carried out in a thermogravimetric analysis system using CaO samples prepared through decomposition of calcium-enriched bio-oil applied as a thin coating on a quartz pan or through calcination of two naturally occurring calcitic solids of high CaCO3 content. CEB is converted to CaO in one or two steps, that is, first conversion to CaCO3 in the presence of CO2 and then calcination. Calcination and sulfidation or calcination and sulfation are carried out both sequentially and simultaneously. Because of its high porosity, the CaO material that results from the decomposition of CEB is found to be capable of reaching much higher conversions ...
Geologic implications of recycled Permian and Triassic palynomorphs in Tertiary rocks of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Recycled palynomorphs in the Tertiary Seymour Island Group, Antarctic Peninsula, include more than 25 spore and pollen species well known in Gondwana rocks of Permian and Triassic age. Their relative abundance and the lack of associated recycled marine phytoplankton of similar age suggest that the provenance for the palynomorphs was a nonmarine sedimentary sequence. Consideration of the regional geology points to the provenance being part of an emergent topographic high in the forearc terrain of the late Paleozoic–early Mesozoic Gondwana plate margin and supports the conclusion that the Antarctic Peninsula was part of Gondwanaland.
Faculty virtue and research capacity-building in the context of poorly funded universities: the case of the Royal University of Phnom Penh

A nation's capacity to absorb and produce knowledge is increasingly linked to advancing its social and economic well-being. While the bulk of research attention has focused on knowledge management in the private sector, universities worldwide continue to play pivotal roles in developing the human capability to work with knowledge. This article draws on a qualitative case study of a public flagship, comprehensive university in a developing nation in Southeast Asia to identify existing research capacity strengths and the hopes some academic faculty and administrators have for the future in a resource-limited and politically constrained context. It points out that faculty virtue may be the basis on which research capacity can develop when gaps in organizational processes, physical resources, and outside support exist. The findings have relevance for richer and poorer nations alike, as rapidly changing economic conditions threaten levels of funding to universities around the world.
Regional nodal metastatic disease is the strongest predictor of survival in patients with thin vertical growth phase melanomas: a case for SLN Staging biopsy in these patients.

The benefit of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for patients with thin (≤1.0 mm) melanomas, even for prognostic value, is controversial. This may partly result from the relatively small number and short follow-up of SLN-positive patients in this group. Previously, we have shown that clinical regional nodal metastatic disease (RNMD) serves as a good surrogate for SLN positivity. Here, we use RNMD as a validated surrogate for SLN positivity and examine its prognostic value in a large pre-SLN group of patients with thin vertical growth phase (VGP) lesions who would today commonly be offered SLN biopsy in our practice. Between 1972 and 1991, 472 patients with thin VGP melanomas with at least 10 years’ follow-up were eligible for the study. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were computed for patients with and without RNMD. A multivariate Cox model and classification tree analysis were used to evaluate clinical and histopathologic predictors of survival. Sixty-seven patients (14.2%) developed recurrence, 53.7% of whom developed RNMD. Forty-five patients (9.5%) experienced melanoma-related deaths (MRD). The most statistically significant predictor of MRD was RNMD (hazard ratio [HR] 13.5, P 60 years (HR 2.7, P = .005) additionally were independently associated with an increased risk of MRD. RNMD patients demonstrated a 44.4% 10-year disease-specific mortality. RNMD was the most statistically significant factor associated with MRD in patients with thin VGP lesions. This supports the prognostic use of SLN biopsy in this group, recognizing that additional factors, including thickness, axial location, and older age were independently associated with a worse survival outcome.
Habitat Use, Diet, and Population Structure of Adult and Juvenile Paddlefish in the Lower Alabama River

Abstract We quantified habitat use, diet, and population characteristics of paddlefish Polyodon spathula in the lower Alabama River, Alabama, in an effort to determine whether juveniles and adults differ in their seasonal use of three types of habitats (oxbow lakes, backwater areas, and channel areas) and to identify differences in population characteristics between fish from the Alabama River and those from other drainage systems. Both juveniles and adults used backwater and channel areas. Paddlefish used backwater areas primarily during summer and fall and channel habitats during winter and spring. Juvenile paddlefish that were present in backwater areas migrated with prespawn adults, whereas juveniles in the oxbow habitat did not. Juvenile paddlefish used oxbow lakes as nursery areas, remaining there until sexual maturity. Paddlefish in the lower Alabama River had shorter life spans than those previously studied further north, suggesting a latitudinal gradient in fish survival. Although fecundity rates...
Molecular Alterations Associated with Breast Cancer Mortality

Background Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and patients with similar pathologies and treatments may have different clinical outcomes. Identification of molecular alterations associated with disease outcome may improve risk assessment and treatments for aggressive breast cancer.
A case of Cypher restenosis treated with gamma radiation.

A 76-year-old man with history of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and family history of coronary artery disease was admitted with unstable angina in October 2003. He has a history of coronary artery bypass surgery with saphenous vein graft (SVG) to obtuse marginal (OM), left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD), and SVG to right coronary artery (RCA). Follow-up angiogram in 1997 revealed patent LIMA to LAD, totally occluded SVG to RCA and significant lesion of proximal part of SVG to OM for which he underwent stent implantation (3.0 25 mm Multilink, ACS, Guidant) with intravascular ultrasound confirmation of excellent apposition. The patient was evaluated for recurrent angina in June 2003 and found to have in-stent restenosis of SVG to OM (Fig. 1). He was subjected for balloon angioplasty (using 2.0 15 mm Maverick, 3.0 20 mm Maverick
Analysis of Radiation Characteristics of Imperfectly Conducting Antenna of Revolution

The radiation characteristics of imperfectly conducting antenna of revolution with arbitrarily varying surface impedance along the constant o contour are investigated. The problem is formulated with an electric field integral equation and solved by the method of moments with the Hermite expansion functions as both the basis and weighting functions. The radiation characteristics of antennas of revolution with a magnetic ring current source, including radiation patterns, input admittance, radiation efficiency, radiation directivity and surface current are presented. The results of surface current are validated by the Mie series solution for the case of constant impedance sphere excited by an electric dipole. The cases of cylindrical and duo-conical antennas are also presented. Broadband radiation characteristics are found for absorbing surfaces due to the traveling-wave effect.
The effectiveness of family planning programs evaluated with true experimental designs.

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the magnitude of effects for family planning programs evaluated with true experimental designs. METHODS: Studies that used true experimental designs to evaluate family planning programs were identified and their results subjected to meta-analysis. RESULTS: For the 14 studies with the information needed to calculate effect size, the Pearson r between program and effect variables ranged from -.08 to .09 and averaged .08. CONCLUSIONS: The programs evaluated in the studies considered have had, on average, smaller effects than many would assume and desire.
The Relationships Between Money Cost, Investment, and the Rate of Return

Introduction, 295. — I. Increasing eosts and the distribution of earnings, 296. — II. Increasing costs and the rate of return, 299. — III. Implications and conclusions, 301.
Creating Opportunities for College Access: Examining a School Model Designed to Prepare Students of Color for College

Drawing on data from a charter school case study, the author shares student and staff reflections on a college preparatory model for students of color. Through analyses of staff interview and student focus group transcripts, the author highlights key features of the school culture that helped students of color make their transition to college. The author also highlights staff members' challenges on implementing a college preparatory model for students of color. These findings suggest the importance of a clear college preparatory school mission, personalized college planning, and curriculum-based college enrichment activities.
Uptake of 5-lodo-deoxyuridine by a Single Colony of Developing Embryos of Arbacia punctulata

PREVIOUS investigations have shown that 5-iodo-deoxyuridine (IUDR), an analogue of thymidine, is incorporated into DNA and within certain limitations can be used as an indicator of DNA synthesis (refs. 1–4, and work of Kreuger and others in preparation). Details of incorporation and elimination of iodo-deoxyuridine in various cells of mice may be found in a review4. According to the authors IUDR is a “convenient, sensitive, and specific tracer of DNA metabolism in vivo”. Incorporation of IUDR labelled with iodine-131 has been used as an indication of the rate of DNA synthesis at different stages of the developing sea urchin embryo5. The facility of detecting the γ-radiation of iodine-131 made it seem possible to use iodine-131 labelled IUDR to follow DNA synthesis in the same group of living cells without fixation, extraction, or digestion of the cells. This communication pursues the use of repetitive exposure to labelled IUDR of a single colony of sea urchin embryos as a method for the investigation of developmental changes in the rate of DNA synthesis in the living cell.
Earth pressure behind a gravity retaining wall

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the static earth pressure behind a gravity wall with dry cohesionless backfill. A comparison is made between the results of finite element analyses and those of several experimental studies on wall models. The results of the investigation indicate that current design methods do not account adequately for some parameters that may influence the magnitude and distribution of the earth pressure. The study shows also that the design of earth-retaining structures should be based on the amount of displacement permitted in the structure.
Quark action for very coarse lattices

We investigate a tree-level $\mathcal{O}{(a}^{3})$-accurate action, D234c, on coarse lattices. For the improvement terms we use tadpole-improved coefficients, with the tadpole contribution measured by the mean link in the Landau gauge. We measure the hadron spectrum for quark masses near that of the strange quark. We find that D234c shows much better rotational invariance than the Sheikholeslami-Wohlert action, and that mean-link tadpole improvement leads to smaller finite-lattice-spacing errors than plaquette tadpole improvement. We obtain accurate ratios of lattice spacings using a convenient ``Galilean quarkonium'' method. We explore the effects of possible $\mathcal{O}({\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s})$ changes to the improvement coefficients, and find that the two leading coefficients can be independently tuned: hadron masses are most sensitive to the clover coefficient ${C}_{F},$ while hadron dispersion relations are most sensitive to the third derivative coefficient ${C}_{3}.$ Preliminary nonperturbative tuning of these coefficients yields values that are consistent with the expected size of perturbative corrections.
Increased levels of acute-phase serum proteins in diabetes

Serum viscosity's increase in diabetes has been linked to the presence of microvascular sequelae and to changes in serum protein composition. The major change is a decline in albumin and an increase in the levels of acute-phase proteins. In this study, albumin and five acute phase proteins--alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and C-reactive protein--were measured. Levels in adult diabetes (principally type II) were compared with those in both subjects with glucose intolerance and control subjects (healthy subjects and nondiabetic ambulatory patients). Haptoglobin, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and C-reactive protein increased markedly in both diabetes and glucose intolerance; ceruloplasmin and alpha-1 antitrypsin increased more marginally. Serum albumin level decreased more strikingly as hyperglycemia advanced. Acute-phase proteins also increased in advanced glucose intolerance as in established diabetes. The acute-phase protein elevation did not differ with degree of control or duration of diabetes. When diabetics were divided into those with and without clinically detectable evidence of microvascular sequelae, elevation of haptoglobin, C-reactive protein and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and depression of albumin were found to progress with number of sequelae. The levels of these proteins, particularly haptoglobin, were also highly correlated with serum viscosity expressed as viscosity number. Mild serum albumin depression and a more striking acute-phase protein elevation are greater in diabetes with microangiopathy, develop in glucose intolerance, and contribute substantially to elevated plasma viscosity in diabetes.
Time-varying DS-CDMA interference suppression

Suppression of time-varying DS-CDMA interferers in a 50 user/150 chip system using a low complexity receiver employing as few as 60 taps is demonstrated. No training signals are required at any time, nor is knowledge of spreading codes, delays and phases of interfering users.
DIFFERENTIAL RESISTANCE OF TWO DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON SYSTEMS SUBJECT TO MICROWAVE RADIATION

We present the expression for differential resistance of a disordered two-dimensional electron gas placed in a perpendicular magnetic field and subject to microwave irradiation. We demonstrate that in strong dc electric fields the current oscillates as a function of the strength of the applied constant electric field. We demonstrate that the amplitude of oscillations of the differential resistivity is characterized by the back-scattering rate off disorder. We argue that the dominant contribution to the non-linearity in strong electric fields originates from the modification of electron scattering off disorder by electric fields, or so-called "displacement" mechanism. The non-equilibrium mechanism, which is related to modification of electron distribution function by electric fields turns out to be inefficient in strong electric fields, although it describes current in weak electric fields. We further analyze the positions of maxima and minima of the differential resistance as a function of the applied electric field and frequency of microwave radiation.
Infrared Transmission Characteristics and Laser Tissue Interaction of Albino Pigskin Using Pulsed NIR Laser Light

This work explores near infrared transmission through albino pigskin and determines controllable factors that influence transmission efficiency. Pigskin samples of varying thicknesses were irradiated using a 1440 nm near-infrared laser diode, where a photodetector was used to measure the transmitted power, and a two-dimensional real time surface temperature distribution was recorded using infrared thermography. Results demonstrate that this technique could potentially lead to a noninvasive approach for enhancing wound healing.
Intratumoral injection of α-gal glycolipids induces a protective anti-tumor T cell response which overcomes Treg activity

α-Gal glycolipids capable of converting tumors into endogenous vaccines, have α-gal epitopes (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) and are extracted from rabbit RBC membranes. α-Gal epitopes bind anti-Gal, the most abundant natural antibody in humans constituting 1% of immunoglobulins. α-Gal glycolipids insert into tumor cell membranes, bind anti-Gal and activate complement. The complement cleavage peptides C5a and C3a recruit inflammatory cells and APC into the treated lesion. Anti-Gal further opsonizes the tumor cells and targets them for effective uptake by recruited APC, via Fcγ receptors. These APC transport internalized tumor cells to draining lymph nodes, and present immunogenic tumor antigen peptides for activation of tumor specific T cells. The present study demonstrates the ability of α-gal glycolipids treatment to prevent development of metastases at distant sites and to protect against tumor challenge in the treated mice. Adoptive transfer studies indicate that this protective immune response is mediated by CD8+ T cells, activated by tumor lesions turned vaccine. This T cell activation is potent enough to overcome the suppressive activity of Treg cells present in tumor bearing mice, however it does not elicit an autoimmune response against antigens on normal cells. Insertion of α-gal glycolipids and subsequent binding of anti-Gal are further demonstrated with human melanoma cells, suggesting that intratumoral injection of α-gal glycolipids is likely to elicit a protective immune response against micrometastases also in cancer patients.
αvβ3 and αvβ5 Integrins Bind Both the Proximal RGD Site and Non-RGD Motifs within Noncollagenous (NC1) Domain of the α3 Chain of Type IV Collagen: IMPLICATION FOR THE MECHANISM OF ENDOTHELIAL CELL ADHESION

The NC1 domains of human type IV collagen, in particular α3NC1, are inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth (Petitclerc, E., Boutaud, A., Prestayko, A., Xu, J., Sado, Y., Ninomiya, Y., Sarras, M. P., Jr., Hudson, B. G., and Brooks, P. C. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 8051–8061). The recombinant α3NC1 domain contained a RGD site as part of a short collagenous sequence at the N terminus, designated herein as RGD-α3NC1. Others, using synthetic peptides, have concluded that this RGD site is nonfunctional in cell adhesion, and therefore, the anti-angiogenic activity is attributed exclusively to αvβ3 integrin interactions with non-RGD motifs of the RGD-α3NC1 domain (Maeshima, Y., Colorado, P. C., and Kalluri, R. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 23745–23750). This nonfunctionality is surprising given that RGD is a binding site for αvβ3 integrin in several proteins. In the present study, we used the α3NC1 domain with or without the RGD site, expressed in HEK 293 cells for native conformation, as an alternative approach to synthetic peptides to assess the functionality of the RGD site and non-RGD motifs. Our results demonstrate a predominant role of the RGD site for endothelial adhesion and for binding of αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins. Moreover, we demonstrate that the two non-RGD peptides, previously identified as the αvβ3 integrin-binding sites of the α3NC1 domain, are 10-fold less potent in competing for integrin binding than the native protein, indicating the importance of additional structural and/or conformational features of the α3NC1 domain for integrin binding. Therefore, the RGD site, in addition to non-RGD motifs, may contribute to the mechanisms of endothelial cell adhesion in the human vasculature and the anti-angiogenic activity of the RGD-α3NC1 domain.