cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PAMAM Dendrimer Based Macromolecules as Improved Contrast Agents

Dendrimers are an attractive platform for macromolecular imaging due to the presence of multiple terminal groups on the exterior of the molecule. Through application of appropriate metal ion chelates, large numbers of metal ions for imaging (paramagnetic or radioopaque) and therapy (radioactive particle emitters) may be conjugated to the dendrimer in combination with a targeting vector, through classic organic synthetic techniques. Thus, a large amount of these metal ions potentially may be site specifically delivered directly into the body with the dendrimer as the vehicle with the targeting vector directing the modified dendrimer. The development of targeted macromolecular agents with acceptable blood retention times and selective organ uptake then has the potential for various biological applications. A review of comparative studies of dendrimers with various externally appended imaging and targeting agents is presented herein. Keywords: PAMAM dendrimers; macromolecular contrast agents; targeted imagin...
Optical tunnelling: Radiation losses in bent fibre-optic waveguides

On presente une nouvelle methode pour determiner les pertes par rayonnement dans les guides d'ondes a fibres optiques courbees. On obtient une description detaillee de la distribution de l'energie rayonnee
Possible mechanism for the breakdown of the quantum hall effect

Abstract A quite simple mechanism of nonlinear current-voltage dependence in the quantum Hall effect regime is proposed. It is based on the specific electrostatics of a 2D strip and on the strong concentration dependence of σ xx , and does not rely on any microscopic nonlinearities in the local relation between current and electric field. It is shown that the predicted electric field and current density scales of nonlinearities in the current-voltage dependence are in agreement with experiments. Nonlinear corrections for low voltages are derived, while what happens at high voltages still remains to be understood.
Follicular Fluid-Specific Distribution of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Isoforms and sFlt-1 in Patients Undergoing IVF and Their Correlation With Treatment Outcomes

Objective: To investigate the distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms and soluble form of VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) in the follicular fluid (FF) of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients in relationship to age, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and their correlation with IVF outcomes. Design: Prospective study. Main Outcome Measures: VEGF 121 and VEGF165 isoforms were detected using Western blotting and pixel density analysis. The concentration of sFlt-1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In vitro fertilization outcomes measured included number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, and clinical pregnancy. Statistical analysis used the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test where appropriate. Results: There was a statistically significant association between higher VEGF165 levels and the diagnosis of PCOS, BMI ≥ 30, and age ≥40 years. In vitro fertilization cycles resulting in pregnancy were linked to statistically l...
Determination of the mineral phases and structure of the bone‐implant interface using raman spectroscopy

The bone-implant interface formed in a canine distal femur was examined by means of a Raman microprobe using an implant model designed to test calcium phosphate surface coatings. By using the 960 cm−1 band of calcium phosphate to characterize the interface and adjacent mineral, we obtained spatial and compositional information about the attachment of bone to the synthetic calcium phosphate coating on a titanium support. The interface between bone and the synthetic calcium phosphate is approximately 30–40 μm in width. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Modulation of the transport of bilirubin and asialoorosomucoid during liver regeneration.

The normal rat hepatocyte divides approximately once per year but, following two thirds hepatectomy, rapid cellular replication occurs throughout the remaining liver remnant. Using a multiple indicator dilution technique, single-pass transport of 3H-bilirubin and 125I-asialoorosomucoid was studied in isolated perfused liver from 6hr to 6d after two thirds hepatectomy or sham surgery. Influx (k1), efflux (k2), and sequestration (k3) rates were quantitated by computer analysis. k1 for 3H-bilirubin fell by over 50% within 6hr after two thirds hepatectomy and returned to normal 4d later. k2 progressively decreased with a nadir at 2d, and returned to normal by 4d. k3 was transiently depressed, and became normal within 2d. Although hepatic uptake of asialoglycoproteins has been thought to be irreversible, the experimental data required k2 and k3 parameters for best fit. Similar to results for 3H-bilirubin, the k1 of 125I-asialoorosomucoid was 20% of normal at 1d after two thirds hepatectomy, and returned to normal by 6d. Unlike results for 3H-bilirubin, there was a prolonged 50% reduction of k2 and k3 with return to normal by 6d. The transport changes during regeneration are independent of reduced liver mass or changes in hepatic spaces of distribution. The fact that influx of both compounds reaches a nadir at the time of greatest cellular proliferation with subsequent return to normal suggests a „maturation” of liver cell function for restoration of these specific hepatocyte functions. Modulation of the hepatocyte receptor for desialylated glycoproteins may also be required for cellular recognition as a prerequisite for proliferative responses.
Characterizing Cyclic Cubic Extensions by Automorphism Polynomials

Abstract The arithmetic of iterated maps is used to characterize the cyclic cubic extensions F of a field κ (char κ ≠ 2) in terms of the polynomials representing the nontrivial automorphisms of F /κ. This leads to an analogue of Kummer theory for abelian extensions of exponent 3 of κ, whether or not κ contains a primitive cube root of unity. Such extensions are shown to be in 1-1 correspondence with certain groups of linear fractional transformations defined over κ.
Subgaleal hematoma presenting as a manifestation of Factor XIII deficiency

Extracranial hematoma without significant head trauma is uncommon. We discuss a 9-year-old girl who presented with sudden head swelling, bilateral proptosis, extraocular muscle palsy, and progressive visual disturbance after hair braiding. The diagnosis of a large subgaleal hematoma with extension into the superior aspect of the orbits was made, requiring surgical drainage. Hematologic workup revealed an underlying Factor XIII deficiency.
Intramolecular diels-alder reactions. XI. Modal selectivity in the syntheses of some parent cyclolignan lactones†

Ph(C2)CH2Cl and Ph(C2)'CO2Na [where (C2) = -C=C- or trans-CH=CH-, (C2)' = -C=C- or cis-CH=CH-] reacted in refluxing dimethylformamide to yield unsaturated esters Ph(C2)'CO2-CH2(C2)Ph and/or their intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization products (cyclolignan lactones). It was found that modal selectivity for cyclization in DMF sometimes varies from that found previously with acetic anhydride as solvent. Two new parent tetrahydrocyclolignan lactones were synthesized.
Classification of adsorption behavior: simple fluids in pores of slit-shaped geometry

Abstract We report calculations based on an accurate (compared to molecular simulations) nonlocal density functional theory for adsorption isotherms for simple fluids on single surfaces and in slit-shaped pores for a wide range of pore sizes, fluid-wall adsorption strengths and temperatures. The calculations are for smooth structureless walls interacting with the (10,4,3) potential, and the intermolecular interactions between fluid molecules are of Lennard-Jones form. The calculations are used to classify the adsorption behavior into seven classes. Six of these correspond to the IUPAC classification scheme (Sing et al., 1985), and the seventh corresponds to capillary evaporation (drying). The range of conditions that give each of these classes are identified. Qualitative comparisons with experiment are made, and we describe some typical phase diagrams for fluids in such pores. All calculations are based on the single pore model. While a distribution of pore sizes can easily be introduced with this model, interconnection of pores is neglected. Although all six of the IUPAC classes are produced with the single pore model, details of the hysteresis loops in classes IV and V are not reproduced.
Protein-protein interactions involving erbA superfamily receptors: through the TRAPdoor.

Modulation of transcription in response to hormonal signals is mediated in part by a large family of structurally related receptor proteins, the erbA superfamily. This superfamily includes the receptors for steroid and thyroid hormones, vitamin D and retinoic acid, as well as a rapidly enlarging array of so-called ‘orphan’ receptors that lack identifiable ligands (for reviews, see Evans, 1988; Beato, 1989). The homology amongst erbA superfamily members is particularly evident upon examining the modular structure of these proteins (Fig. 1). Briefly, they consist of an amino terminal segment of variable length and sequence, a more or less centrally located DNA binding domain featuring two zinc finger motifs, and a carboxyterminal hormone binding domain. Other functions such as transcriptional activation and nuclear localization have been delimited to various subdomains in different receptors (Giguere et al., 1986; Fawell et al., 1990). The cis-acting response elements to which erbA proteins bind typically contain two inverted or directly repeated ‘half sites’ (Brent et al., 1989; Nordeen et al., 1990). Current evidence suggests these receptors generally bind to response elements as dimers. However, there is an
Analysis of homozygous serum alpha1-antitrypsins: effects of neuraminidase.

Extract: The molecular basis for the complex electrophoretic banding patterns of serum α1-antitrypsins of different protease inhibitor (PI) types is unknown. In order to demonstrate the role of sialic acid residues in this polymorphism, serums of homozygous PI, types FF, MM, and ZZ, were studied by acid starch and crossed electrophoresis, before and after treatment with neuraminidase. Increasing enzyme concentrations, temperatures, and times of incubation led to greater release of sialic acid and progressive slowing of PI bands. Exhaustive incubation of the three serum types with neuraminidase produced a single broad cathodal peak of α1-antitrypsin. Isoelectric focusing in gel with a pH 4–6 gradient, followed by immunoprecipitation of α1-antitrypsin bands, resulted in complex banding patterns with the expected differences in isoelectric points among the three serum types. After exhaustive neuraminidase treatment, each of the banding patterns remained complex, but shifted toward a more basic pH. Although sialic acid residues are one of the major determinants of the net charge and electrophoretic mobility of different PI types, differences remain after removal of sialic acids which may represent other genetically determined differences in primary structure. Speculation: Differences in isoelectric point of the banding patterns of PI, FF, MM, and ZZ α1 -antitrypsins, remaining after removal of their terminal sialic acid residues, suggest that other primary molecular differences exist among these inherited variants. By analogy with other well known protein polymorphisms, these differences are likely to consist of variations in primary amino acid sequence. Detailed analysis of purified PI system variants will be required to establish this possibility.
Basic requirements for calcification.

THE chief product of calcification in bone is usually considered to be a variant of hydroxyapatite, Ca10 (PO4)6 (OH)2 (ref. 1), the unit cell of the crystal lattice containing all eighteen ions of the formula. A tacit assumption is made that the two OH− ions come from the water in the calcifying solution. Because the equilibrium constant for water (Kw) is only 10−14 (mole/l.) (ref. 2) at 25° C, however, the dissociation of water would require more energy to increase the OH− concentration than is readily available in the surrounding mineral matter2.
Instability of a hollow rubber-like cylinder under initial stress

Abstract In this paper, the problem of a rubber-like hollow circular cylinder subjected to a finite uniform initial stress in the axial direction is considered. An infinitesimal axial-symmetric deformation is then superposed on the prestressed hollow cylinder and the axial-symmetric instability of the cylinder caused by the initial stress is investigated. The analysis is based on the general theory of mechanics of incremental deformations established by Biot[ll]. It is shown that introducing a displacement potential function, φ, the field equation previously derived by Sun[15] is obtained. The solution of this field equation is shown to be given in terms of modified Bessel functions of the first and the second kind in r and trigonometric functions of z . By satisfying the homogeneous boundary conditions, the characteristic equation governing stability of the hollow cylinder is obtained. Numerical results examining the critical initial stress as a function of the slenderness ratio and the geometry of the cylinder are presented and discussed.
The feasibility of inert colloidal processing of silicon nanoparticles

Silicon nanoparticles have important applications, including nonvolatile floating-gate memory devices. To prevent device performance variations, particle size and oxide thicknesses need to be controlled with a high degree of precision. Additionally, producing well-ordered, two-dimensional arrays of nanoparticles may require the exploitation of self-assembly techniques and colloidal forces, which in turn requires that silicon nanoparticles first come into contact with liquids. Until recently, aerosol silicon nanoparticle collection into liquid was assumed to be an inert process. Once formed, the silicon nanoparticle colloid was assumed to be inert. In fact, silicon nanoparticles produced in the aerosol phase by dilute silane pyrolysis and size classified with a differential mobility analyzer undergo a size reduction upon collection in ethylene glycol, water, and ethanol. Unclassified polydisperse silicon aerosol nanoparticles with an average diameter of 11 nm become monodisperse when collected in a colloid and have a final particle diameter of 2–5 nm. Further evidence suggests that silicon nanoparticles collected in ethanol react with the ethanol to produce tetraalkylorthosilicate-like species. Collections of aerosol silicon nanoparticles in degassed water do not show measurable differences between the aerosol and colloidal size distributions. This reduced reactivity to the solvent indicates that the presence of dissolved oxygen in the solvent may be responsible for the reactivity between the silicon nanoparticles and the solvent.
The psychoanalyst of the future: wise enough to dare to be mad at times.

What sort of patients do we have in psychoanalysis now, at the beginning of the third millennium, and what sort will we have in the future? In the author's clinical experience, the patients who are currently seeking help from the psychoanalyst use primitive defence mechanisms alongside neurotic ones. Most of them do not explicitly request psychoanalytic treatment, but this does not mean that they would not want it if they knew what it was. She argues that is the psychoanalyst's task to identify the latent request behind the ‘non-request’. To conduct a psychoanalysis with such patients, the psychoanalyst has to identify and interpret both primitive and neurotic psychic mechanisms; moreover, he has to use not only language that speaks to patients but also language that ‘touches’ them, because these patients are difficult to reach through verbal symbolism. This implies that the psychoanalyst must be attentive to the bodily manifestations and bodily phantasies accompanying his countertransference feelings. The author shows through clinical examples what she means by ‘language that can touch patients’. The psychoanalyst gradually builds up this language while, at the same time, daring to discover in himself his own mad aspects and giving himself enough psychical freedom to accept them.
Development of Fungicide Cross Resistance in Helminthosporium solani Populations from California.

ABSTRACT Helminthosporium solani populations on potato from the Tulelake area in California frequently have been exposed to thiophanate-methyl but not benomyl. Assessment of three H. solani populations found that 182 of 238 isolates were resistant to both thiophanate-methyl and benomyl and 56 isolates were sensitive to both fungicides. None of the isolates exhibited a differential reaction to the two fungicides. The effective concentrations that reduced growth by 50% for resistant isolates of H. solani were approximately 400 mg/liter for thiophanate- methyl and 35 mg/liter for benomyl. Two point mutations were detected in the β-tubulin gene from H. solani isolates from California; however, only the mutation at the 455-nucleotide position (codon 198) was strongly associated with thiophanate-methyl resistance. This mutation led to a change of glutamic acid to alanine at codon 198. Independent of fungicide resistance, a mutation at the 836-site was detected in all California isolates. A polymerase chain reac...
Resistance of tumor-derived DNA to restriction enzyme digestion.

AbstractThe major finding of this work is that there are specific restriction enzyme inhibitors present in “purified” tumor DNA which cause partial digestion patterns when tumor DNA is digested by standard procedures with any of three commonly employed restriction enzymes (Hind Ill, Kpnl, Xbal). These aberrant patterns are not seen when DNA of cell lines derived from these tumors is digested. Thus, when working with tumor DNA these restriction enzymes should be used with caution.
The evolution of extracranial carotid artery surgery as seen by one surgeon over the past 40 years.

Carotid endarterectomy is one of the most common vascular and neurosurgical operations. Controversies regarding its indications and safety have required several decades before general resolution, while its methodology is still debated. The first operations are described with particular emphasis on the epic successful procedure in 1954 by Eastcott and Rob. Early procedures were on patients with frank strokes with poor results. The development of carotid endarterectomy was slow because neurologists were unsure of its effectiveness and safety as the mortality and stroke results recorded by untrained surgeons were unacceptable. It was not until some 35 years after its introduction that randomised controlled trials, both in North America and Europe, defined its indications and demonstrated its benefits for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Clamping of the carotid vessels, required during endarterectomy, may result in various degrees of cerebral ischaemia. Methods to determine which patients need shunting are compared. The author has employed local neck block anesthesia since 1972, which is the only method that provides constant neurological assessment for selective shunting during carotid cross clamping. Evidence is presented showing that local anaesthesia also reduces complications of general anaesthesia, especially myocardial infarction. The technique of neck block, conventional endarterectomy and two varieties of eversion endarterectomy for carotid disease are described. Each of these techniques of endarterectomy is advantageous in certain circumstances, suggesting that vascular surgeons should ideally be proficient in each. Likewise, the management of early stroke after operation, stenotic or occluded external carotid the presence of retinal Hollenhorst plaques, and the totally occluded internal carotid, is presented. Finally, observations on some famous figures who suffered from cerebrovascular complications secondary to carotid disease and what effect it may have had on world history is discussed
Analysis of Impact Response of Composite Laminates under Prestress

An analytical solution for the impact response is obtained for the central impact of mass on a simply supported laminated composite plate under prestresses based on the Fourier series expansion and Laplace transform technique. A linearized version of the elastoplastic contact law proposed was used in the analytical formulation to consider permanent indentation during the impact. Permanent indentation including damage effects was included in the elastoplastic contact law. The effects of initial stresses on the contact force, plate center displacement, as well as strain time histories are presented. It is shown that higher initial stresses increase the maximum value of the contact force but reduce the plate central displacement. Effects of impactor velocity, mass, interlaminar shear strength of the laminates, and plate thickness on the contact force and dynamic response of the plate under tensile prestresses are also discussed.
Henry George the Classical Model and Technological Change:*The Ignored Alternative to the Single Tax in Progress and Poverty

. Henry George's vision of land monopolization as the source of growing rentier income was compatible with all elements in the predominant Ricardian-Millian classical distribution model except the rent-reducing effects of technological change and Malthusian population growth as the catalyst underlying income distribution. Since George also rejected Malthusianism on ethical and philosophical grounds, his analysis focused on the autonomous nature of rent income with respect to population and technological change. George analyzed the distributive consequences of both increasing technology with constant population, and constant technology with increasing population. In the latter case, George, in an ultimate rejection of Malthusianism, demonstrated an optimistic increasing returns to scale of population growth. However, although capable, George never considered a logical extension of his analysis, namely, the dynamic case of changing population, technology, and increasing returns. This analysis would have contradicted his predictions of the trend in relative income shares and the uniqueness of the single tax as the solution to social and economic distress.
A new approach to the calculation of secondary structures of globular proteins by optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism.

Summary The rotatory contributions can be written as X = ΣfiXi, where the subscripts i = H, β and R represent the fractions of the helix, β-form and unordered form. X can be the bo of the Moffitt equation, [m]233, [θ]222 or other parameters at any chosen wavelength. With fi's from the X-ray diffraction studies, the reference values, X′s, are solved by a least-square method. The helical content of a protein can be determined by: (1) bo = −580fH, (2) [m]233 = −12700fH −2520, and (3) [θ]222 = −30300fH − 2340. The estimation of the β-form is still uncertain.
USB-based Personal Health Records: an analysis of features and functionality.

Abstract Purpose To determine the features of commercially available USB-based Personal Health Records (PHR) devices, and compare the commercial state of the art to recommendations made by certification committees. Methods Thirteen USB-based PHRs were identified and analyzed based on data elements used and features provided. Marketing techniques used by the companies were also explored. Results Eight of the thirteen PHRs contained all seven clinical data elements (problems, procedures, medications, providers, allergies, labs, immunizations), three were missing a single element and the remaining two lacked two elements. In the features analysis no single PHR contained all eight features (export data, import data, images, summary print out, emergency entry, teaching material available for problem, username and password supported, Mac-compatible), but two of the devices had seven of the eight features. Finally, scare tactics were used in marketing all but two of the PHR devices. Conclusion While PHRs are very important in the health care field, at the present time, USB-based PHRs currently on the market appear to have deficiencies. Tethered or web-based PHRs may be a better option for consumers at present.
Mindfulness as a predictor of positive reappraisal and burnout in standardized patients.

Background: Standardized patients (SPs) portray emotionally intense roles that can have unintended deleterious effects including burnout. Purpose: This study explored SP characteristics that could serve as protective factors against these adverse effects. The literature suggests that positive reappraisal and mindfulness are protective factors, with positive reappraisal mediating the relationship between mindfulness and burnout. Methods: Seventy-six SPs completed an instrument measuring burnout, positive reappraisal, and mindfulness. Multiple regression was performed to test the hypothesized mediator model. Results: The results revealed that mindfulness and positive reappraisal explained a meaningful portion of SP burnout variance (R 2 = .31 p < .01). Germane to the mediator model, all correlations were significant: mindfulness and positive reappraisal (a) r = .668; positive reappraisal and burnout (b) r = –.527; and mindfulness and burnout (c) r = –.496, p < 01. When positive reappraisal and mindfulness w...
Obturator Nerve Injury: A Review of Management Options

Obturator nerve injury in obstetrics/gynecology and gynecologic oncology is thought to be infrequent. The reported consequences of this injury vary in severity and management options have not been well described. The functional anatomy, dual adductor muscle innervation, and inconstant accessory obturator nerve presence help explain variable outcome following neurotmesis. Intraoperative management centers around epineurial repair with surgical loupe magnification. With the assistance of postoperative physiotherapy this approach leads to satisfactory results.
A continuum model of kinetic roughening and coarsening in thin films

We present a phenomenological continuum model of film growth based on a series expansion of the deposition flux in powers of the profile gradient, consideration of the energetics of the film–substrate interface and the enforcement of Onsagers reciprocity relations. The interfacial term, which operates at very small thicknesses, is nonconservative and breaks the ±h symmetry of the remaining terms in the kinetic equation. By virtue of this term, very thin flat films are predicted to be stable within an appropriate range of parameters, and to loose stability and become rough at a well-defined critical thickness. This instability effectively provides an island nucleation mechanism. For thick films, the rate processes envisioned in the model favor a characteristic slope for the film profile, a feature which is in keeping with observation for a number of systems including YBCO films. The enforcement of reciprocity ensures the existance of a kinetic potential and enables the use of direct methods of the calculus of variations. Within this framework, we provide an explicit construction for the coarsening of the film profile based on a sharp interface approximation. The construction predicts characteristic exponents for the evolution of grain size and film roughness which are in close agreement with the observational evidence for YBCO. The predictions of the construction are also born out by numerical tests.
Multiscale moment transforms over the integer lattice

Multiscale moment-based transformations, such as the multiscale Harris corner point detector, have been used in image processing applications for several years. Typically, such transforms are used to identify objects-of-interest in a given image, which, in turn, facilitate target tracking and registration. Though these transforms are usually applied to digitally sampled images, many of their properties were previously only known to hold for images over continuous domains. We prove that many of these properties indeed generalize to images over discrete domains. In particular, after introducing a mathematically well-behaved method for rotating an image over the two-dimensional integer lattice, we show that this rotation commutes with the moment-based transform in the expected manner.
Protein thiol modifications visualized in vivo.

Thiol-disulfide interconversions play a crucial role in the chemistry of biological systems. They participate in the major systems that control the cellular redox potential and prevent oxidative damage. In addition, thiol-disulfide exchange reactions serve as molecular switches in a growing number of redox-regulated proteins. We developed a differential thiol-trapping technique combined with two-dimensional gel analysis, which in combination with genetic studies, allowed us to obtain a snapshot of the in vivo thiol status of cellular proteins. We determined the redox potential of protein thiols in vivo, identified and dissected the in vivo substrate proteins of the major cellular thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases, and discovered proteins that undergo thiol modifications during oxidative stress. Under normal growth conditions most cytosolic proteins had reduced cysteines, confirming existing dogmas. Among the few partly oxidized cytosolic proteins that we detected were proteins that are known to form disulfide bond intermediates transiently during their catalytic cycle (e.g., dihydrolipoyl transacetylase and lipoamide dehydrogenase). Most proteins with highly oxidized thiols were periplasmic proteins and were found to be in vivo substrates of the disulfide-bond-forming protein DsbA. We discovered a substantial number of redox-sensitive cytoplasmic proteins, whose thiol groups were significantly oxidized in strains lacking thioredoxin A. These included detoxifying enzymes as well as many metabolic enzymes with active-site cysteines that were not known to be substrates for thioredoxin. H2O2-induced oxidative stress resulted in the specific oxidation of thiols of proteins involved in detoxification of H2O2 and of enzymes of cofactor and amino acid biosynthesis pathways such as thiolperoxidase, GTP-cyclohydrolase I, and the cobalamin-independent methionine synthase MetE. Remarkably, a number of these proteins were previously or are now shown to be redox regulated.
Cyclotron Resonance in a Molecular Crystal-Anthracene

Cyclotron resonance of holes orbiting in the $a\ensuremath{-}b$ plane of an anthracene crystal has been observed. This represents the first time that this phenomenon has been observed in a molecular crystal. From these experiments, the hole effective mass is determined to be $11{m}_{e}$ where ${m}_{e}$ is the free-electron mass. The hole scattering time at 2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K was measured in two different crystals and found to be \ensuremath{\sim}7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$ sec in one crystal and 4 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec in the other.
Automatic assignment of soft Boolean operators

The conventional bibliographic retrieval systems are based on Boolean query formulations and inverted file implementations. Such systems provide rapid responses in answer to search queries but they are not easy to use by uninitiated patrons. An extended Boolean retrieval strategy has been devised in which the Boolean operators are treated more or less strictly, depending on the setting of a special parameter, known as the p-value. The extended system is much more forgiving than the conventional system, and provides better retrieval effectiveness. In this study various problems associated with the determination of appropriate p-values are discussed, and suggestions are made for an automatic assignment of p-values. Evaluation output is included to illustrate the operations of the suggested procedures.
Electrosprayed bovine serum albumin-loaded tripolyphosphate cross-linked chitosan capsules: synthesis and characterization.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded tripolyphosphate (TPP) cross-linked chitosan capsules were prepared using an electrospraying technique, in which a sufficiently strong electric field was applied to overcome the surface tension of a droplet. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the effects of concentrations of initial chitosan and TPP solutions, flow rate and BSA/chitosan weight ratio on the physical properties of the mixtures; the morphology, size and yield of the capsules; BSA encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC); and in vitro release. A high voltage was required to obtain a continuous and stable spray for the mixtures with a high viscosity at high chitosan concentration. The capsules were spherical in shape. Capsule size increased with increasing flow rate, but did not change significantly (p < 0.05) with increases in concentrations of chitosan and TPP. Increasing concentrations of chitosan and TPP solutions increased the yields, while yields decreased with increases in the...
New ionization methods and miniature mass spectrometers for biomedicine: DESI imaging for cancer diagnostics and paper spray ionization for therapeutic drug monitoring

The state-of-the-art in two new ambient ionization methods for mass spectrometry, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and paper spray (PS), is described and their utility is illustrated with new studies on tissue imaging and biofluid analysis. DESI is an ambient ionization method that can be performed on untreated histological sections of biological tissue in the open lab environment to image lipids, fatty acids, hormones and other compounds. Paper spray is performed in the open lab too; it involves electrospraying dry blood spots or biofluid deposits from a porous medium. PS is characterized by extreme simplicity and speed: a spot of whole blood or other biofluid is analyzed directly from paper, simply by applying a high voltage to the moist paper. Both methods are being developed for use in diagnostics as a means to inform therapy. DESI imaging is applied to create molecular maps of tissue sections without prior labeling or other sample preparation. Like other methods of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), it combines the chemical speciation of multiple analytes with information on spatial distributions. DESI imaging provides valuable information which correlates with the disease state of tissue as determined by standard histochemical methods. Positive-ion data are presented which complement previously reported negative-ion data on paired human bladder cancerous and adjacent normal tissue sections from 20 patients. These data add to the evidence already in the literature demonstrating that differences in the distributions of particular lipids contain disease-diagnostic information. Multivariate statistical analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) is used to analyze the imaging MS data, and so confirm differences between the lipid profiles of diseased and healthy tissue types. As more such data is acquired, DESI imaging has the potential to be a diagnostic tool for future cancer detection in situ; this suggests a potential role in guiding therapy in parallel with standard histochemical and immunohistological methods. The PS methodology is aimed at high-throughput clinical measurement of quantitative levels of particular therapeutic agents in blood and other biofluids. The experiment allows individual drugs to be quantified at therapeutic levels and data is presented showing quantitative drug analysis from mixtures of therapeutic drugs in whole blood. Data on cholesterol sulfate, a new possible prostate biomarker seen at elevated levels in diseased prostate tissue, but not in healthy prostate tissue in serum are reported using paper spray ionization.
Phase synchronization of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation with the annual cycle.

The El Ni\~no-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the largest global climate signal on the interannual time scale. ENSO events occur irregularly, yet individual events follow a similar pattern of developing during boreal summer or fall and peaking during boreal winter. This characteristic of ENSO is often referred to as ``phase locking'' of ENSO with the annual cycle. However, no observational evidence of phase interaction between the two phenomena has thus far been presented. In this study, we analyze sea surface temperature observations and find the first evidence of partial phase synchronization of ENSO with the annual cycle.
A Non-geometric Relativistic Theory of Gravitation

A non-geometric relativistic theory of gravitation is developed by defining a semi-metric to replace the metric tensor as gravitational vector potential. The theory show that the energy-momentum tensor of the gravitational field belong to the gravitational source, gravitational radiation is contained in Einstein’s field equations that including the contribution of gravitational field, the real physical singularity in the gravitational field can be eliminated, and the dark matter in the universe is interpreted as the matter of pure gravitational field.
Ultrastructure of oral lichen planus

Abstract Surgical specimens were obtained from the buccal mucosa of two clinically normal patients and five patients with oral lichen planus. A portion of each biopsy specimen was prepared for conventional light microscopy, and the remainder was prepared for electron microscopy. The ultrastructural changes of oral lichen planus correlated closcly with conventional light microscopy findings in the following ways: (1) condensation and destruction of the basement membrane, (2) presence of inflammatory cells in intercellular spaces of the epithelium, (3) pools of fluid filling epithelial intercellular spaces, and (4) distortion of cytoplasmic membranes of the epithelium adjacent to desmosomes because of intercellular pools forming cytoplasmic “villi.” Several changes were not comparable to changes seen with the light microscope: (1) irregularity of the nuclear membrane of epithelial cells and (2) increased thickening and granularity of epithelial tonofibrils. This study did not substantiate any theory of etiology of oral lichen planus. It seems likely that there is a relationship between the destruction of the basement membrane and the presence of inflammatory cells and fluid in intercellular spaces, but no causative agents could be visualized. The lack of microbial agents in any section does not support previous contentions that they act as direct etiologic agents of oral lichen planus.
Joint Sparsity Model with Matrix Completion for an ensemble of face images

An ensemble of correlated signals are often encountered in many applications of image processing, such as a set of face images of the same subject. In this paper, we propose a new model, called Joint Sparsity Model with Matrix Completion (JSM-MC), which extracts a common component, an innovation component, and a low-rank component from an ensemble of face images. These components have their respective physical significance in terms of representing different types of information in the original ensemble, hence facilitating an analysis task such as recognition. An algorithm is proposed under the model to solve for the components, based on Block Coordinate Descent and Singular Value Thresholding. Experimental results show that the proposed method has unique advantages over existing methods in dealing with challenging face images with extreme illumination conditions or occlusions.
Body Image Development in the Burned Child

This descriptive study presents an approach to body image development in burned children. Disorders may occur at any level of body image experience including Body Schemata, Body Self, Body Fantasy or Body Concept. The associated defense patterns and symptoms are described with three case examples and treatment recommendations. The importance of parental attitudes toward the child's physical defects and emotional reactions is emphasized.
Spectral theory for domains in Rn of finite measure

Abstract Let Ω be a measurable subset of Rn of finite positive Lebesgue measures. The following two problems are considered: (i) Find commuting self-adjoint extensions of the minimal operators -i∂/∂xk, k = 1,..., n (Ω open). (ii) Find a set Λ ⊂ Rn such that the functions eλ = exp(iλ1x1 +... + iλnxn) for λ ∈ Λ form an orthonormal basis for L2(Ω). The problems are known to be equivalent under mild regularity conditions on Ω, and existence holds in two cases: (i) there is a connected open set Ω′ such that the symmetric difference ΩΔΩ′ is a null set and Ω′ is a fundamental domain for a discrete total subgroup; and (ii)Ω = [unk]a∈R (a + [unk]), disjoint union neglecting null sets, in which [unk] is a fundamental domain and R is a “set of representors” for a finite group of translations. Case i is equivalent to a function theoretic condition of Forelli, and case ii is established when the existence of a discrete covariance group is assumed. Generalizations of the geometric results i and ii for spectral sets in arbitrary Lie groups are indicated.
The future of the Anglo‐American cataloguing rules

Purpose – Discusses the goals of RDA: resource description and access.Design/methodology/approach – Describes some potential uses of the new code.Findings – Contends that RDA will be a powerful tool adopted by a large array of information providers.Originality/value – Provokes thought on an internationally‐important topic.
Black and white women in Maryland receive different treatment for cervical cancer.

Purpose Despite an overall decrease in incidence, the death rate from cervical cancer in the United States remains higher in black women than their white counterparts. We examined the Maryland Cancer Registry (MCR) to determine treatment factors that may explain differences in outcomes between races in the state of Maryland.
Stress and Control‐Related Problems at Three Mile Island1

The relationship between stress and control for residents at Three Mile Island (TMI) was examined. TMI was studied because of the technological nature of the accident there. Residents of Frederick, Maryland, more than 80 miles from TMI, were used as a comparison group. Control-related problems were measured using questionnaires and a behavioral task. Stress levels were determined using self-report, behavioral, and biochemical measures. Residents at TMI reported more loss of control and performed more poorly on the behavioral task than did comparison subjects. Subjects at TMI reporting more loss of control had more stress-associated symptoms than did comparison subjects and subjects at TMI not experiencing as many control-related problems.
Adelphi International Conference on Illusory Contours: A report on the Conference

On November 24-26, 1985, Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, hosted the International Conference on lllusory Contours. The conference was organized by Glenn E. Meyer of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and Susan Petry of Adelphi University. It was partially funded by the United States Air Force Office ofScientific Research (No. 86-(028) and Adelphi University. This was the first conference to be held devoted exclusively to the topic of illusory contours, and discussion was indeed lively. The keynote speaker was R. H. Day of Monash University. R. L. Gregory of University of Bristol and Stanley Coren of University of British Columbia were the featured speakers. Twenty-eight additional papers were presented, representing work from a large segment of the major researchers in the field. Speakers came from as far away as Australia, Italy, England, and Scotland, and papers and additional material from England, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Germany were presented in absentia (our "illusory conferees," a term coined by William Dember). Although Gaetano Kanizsa was not able to be present, he sent greetings through Walter Gerbino of the University of Trieste, who also presented a paper which he coauthored with Kanizsa. Among the topics covered were: neurological data and theoretical models of illusory contours; psychophysical investigations of brightness, hue, configuration, threshold, and temporal factors; phantoms and motions; transparency and texture segregation; cognitive and higher order perceptual contributions; and illusory contours and art. While theoretical positions were hotly debated and defended, ways of going beyond a narrow theoretical framework were frequently suggested and encouraged. In particular, a suggestion to use the term "illusory surfaces" in place of the numerous other terms currently in use was received with great interest and support. Finally, there were several ideas for collaborative work between various researchers in the field. We are most grateful to the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the hard-working students and staff at Adelphi, and especially the Conference participants for their ideas, cooperation, spirit, and enthusiasm. In the following pages are the abstracts of the papers presented at the conference. They are grouped by session in the order of presentation.
Continuous synthesis of YBa2Cu3O6+x by thermal explosion in a rotary kiln

Abstract Continuous synthesis of YBa2Cu3O6+x superconductor was conducted in a rotary kiln. Dense pellets or loose powder of a stoichiometric mixture of copper, barium peroxide, and yttrium oxide were fed into a heated rotary kiln causing ignition on the whole outer surface followed by an inward movement of a combustion front. Following this thermal explosion, the pellet was post-treated (sintered) at 900 to 985°C as it moved along the kiln, and a product containing about 95 wt% YBa2Cu3O6+x was obtained. The impact of the thermal-explosion temperature, the post-treatment temperature, the pellet density, and the total residence time in the kiln on the product quality were studied. The best thermal-explosion temperature was found to be 800°C, the best post-treatment temperature was 985°C, and the total residence time in the kiln of 100 minutes was sufficient for the pellet to reach equilibrium.
Both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors mediate catecholamine secretion by isolated guinea-pig chromaffin cells

Abstract We have studied the roles of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the acetylcholine-evoked secretion of catecholamine from guinea-pig chromaffin cells. Isolated guinea-pig chromaffin cells secrete catecholamine in response to acetylcholine, nicotine, and a variety of muscarinic agonists. Optimal concentrations of acetylcholine (50–200 μM) induce the release of 10–25% of the catecholamine content of the cells in 10 min. Maximal secretion evoked by nicotine or by muscarinic agonists is 5–12% of the catecholamine content of the cells. Secretion evoked by optimal concentrations of nicotine (50 μM) and muscarine (200 μM) are additive, and together these agonists cause catecholamine release equivalent to that produced by optimal concentrations of acetylcholine. Atropine causes a biphasic inhibition of acetylcholine-induced catecholamine secretion; low concentrations of atropine (0.02–0.1 μM) inhibit by 35–45% the catecholamine secretion evoked by 100 μM acetylcholine. Increasing the atropine concentration from 0.1 to 5 μM causes no further decrease in acetylcholine-evoked release, but at concentrations above 5 μM, a second distinct phase of inhibition appears. At 100 μM, atropine reduces acetylcholine-evoked secretion by 85%. At 0.1 μM, atropine significantly inhibits secretion induced by muscarinic, but not nicotinic, agonists. Tubocurarine (50 μM) does not block muscarinic stimulation of release, but inhibits acetylcholine- and nicotine-evoked release by 70 and 80%, respectively. Our experiments indicate that nicotinic and muscarinic stimulation represent distinct mechanisms for the activation of catecholamine release from guinea-pig chromaffin cells. Acetylcholine causes secretion by both of these pathways. Nicotinic stimulation accounts for approximately 60–70% of the release caused by 100 μM acetylcholine; the remaining 30–40% of the acetylcholine-evoked release is mediated by muscarinic receptors.