cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-GG-T-514: Dosimetric Measurements of Onyx Embolization Glue for Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Purpose: Arterio‐venous malformations (AVM) are often treated with a combination of embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS). Concern has been expressed in the past regarding the dosimetric properties of glues used in embolization and the effects that the introduction of these glues into the brain may have on the quality of the radiosurgery plan. To quantify these effects we have taken large volumes of Onyx©35 and Onyx©18 (ethylene‐vinyl alcohol copolymerdoped with tantalum) and measured the attenuation and interface effects of these glues.Methods and Materials: The manufacturer provided large cured volumes (∼28 cc) of both Onyxglues. These samples were 8.5 cm in diameter with a nominal thickness of 5 mm. The samples were placed on a block tray above a stack of solid water with an Attix chamber at a depth of 5 cm within the stack. The Attix chamber was used to measure the attenuation. These measurements were made for 6 MV and 16 MV beams. The interface effects were measured by placing the sample directly on the solid water stack and varying the thickness of solid water between the sample and the Attix chamber. CT numbers of approximately 2700 were measured for both glues.Results: The transmission through the glues relative to solid water was approximately 98% and 97% for 16 MV and 6 MV beams respectively. The interface effect shows an enhancement of approximately 2% and 1% downstream for a 16 MV and 6 MV beams respectively. The largest effect that must be considered is the correction for the apparent attenuation due to the large CT numbers of the glue.Conclusions: The introduction of embolization glues has negligible affect on the dose distribution of MV therapeutic beams. These results are in quantitative agreement with previous Monte Carlo calculations by others. Research sponsored by the MTI Corporation.
Integrated environments for formally well-founded design and simulation of concurrent systems

An ongoing project concerned with the development of environments that support the specification and design of concurrent systems is reported. The project has two key aspects: an existing and working system, Clara, that supports Milner's CCS as a specification and design language; and the development of general techniques for computer-aided generation of Clara-like environments for other concurrent languages. The Clara environment is emphasized. It has two main components: support for the usage of formal techniques in the design process, and a rich and highly interactive simulation facility. A further distinguishing feature is the environment's graphical user interface which is based on a pictorial version of CCS. The semantics of CCS is defined nonprocedurally in two phases: an operational semantics given as a set of inference rules, and an algebraic semantics represented by a set of equational rules. >
Omental segmental infarction; a report of two cases in children.

Summary Two cases of an extremely rare surgical lesion in children have been presented with a brief review of the literature, citing plausible theories as to the mechanism of etiology in idiopathic segmental omental infarction.
A model for intersegmental coordination in the leech nerve cord

The neuronal circuits that generate swimming movements in the leech were simulated by a chain of coupled harmonic oscillators. Our model incorporates a gradient of rostrocaudally decreasing cycle periods along the oscillator chain, a finite conduction delay for coupling signals, and multiple coupling channels connecting each pair of oscillators. The interactions mediated by these channels are characterized by sinusoidal phase response curves. Investigations of this model were carried out with the aid of a digital computer and the results of a variety of manipulations were compared with data from analogous physiological experiments. The simulations reproduced many aspects of intersegmental coordination in the leech, including the findings that: 1) phase lags between adjacent ganglia are larger near the caudal than the rostral end of the leech nerve cord; 2) intersegmental phase lags increase as the number of ganglia in nervecord preparations is reduced; 3) severing one of the paired lateral connective nerves can reverse the phase lag across the lesion and 4) blocking synaptic transmission in midganglia of the ventral nerve cord reduces phase lags across the block.
Study on Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Nano-Cr(OH)3 Powder

Abstract. This paper studies on the thermal decomposition analysis kinetics of nanometer powders. The DTA-TG-DTG curves obtain by SDT 2960 Simultaneous DSC-TGA analysis apparatus. Under the condition of N2 atmosphere operation and rise temperature velocity was 10°C·min-1. The mechanism function dα/dt=κ(1-α)n is used to calculate the kinetics factors. Reaction progression n was obtained by calculation of the kissinger peak shape factor method. The results showed that the apparent activation energy of nano-Ni(OH)2 was 254.027 KJ·mol-1, the pre-exponential factor was 3.062×1036, the reaction progression was obtained as 1.560, the kinetic equation is dα/dt=3.062×1036exp(-30554.166/T)(1-α)1.560
Part IX: Limitations of translesional pressure and flow velocity for long ostial left anterior descending stenoses

Translesional pressure and flow velocity can be used to assess angiographically intermediate or indeterminate lesions. Ostial narrowings and long lesions represent situations that may require both pressure and flow velocity assessment. In patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic renal failure, distally measured absolute and regional coronary reserve values alone may not be helpful in selecting lesions requiring intervention.
Serratia marcescens and its extracellular nuclease

Serratia marcescens produces an endonuclease with extraordinarily high specific activity that is released into the surrounding medium. This enzyme has been the focus of studies on gene regulation, protein secretion, endonuclease action, and protein structure; it has also been found to have many applications in biotechnology. Here we briefly review these different facets of research regarding the Serratia nuclease and summarize the current state of knowledge about this enzyme.
Occurrence and Origin of Permian Evaporites: ABSTRACT

The deposits of Permian salt, anhydrite, and potash which occur in the southwestern Mid-Continent region are of considerable importance from both the economic and the scientific viewpoints. Although their presence has been known and their substance mined for years, there is no available comprehensive account of their occurrence and origin. It has been decided that a section of the Permian Volume be given over to a discussion of problems coming under the above title. This note is a report of progress on the preparation of the section on evaporites. Procedure to date has been as follows. All pertinent articles on the subject at hand have been read and summarized by the writer of this note; these summaries have been assembled and synthesized; and a number of copies of the assembled summaries have been made. It is now hoped that all geologists interested in this subject will procure copies of the digested abstracts, read them with care, and then let the present writer have their ideas, opinions, suggestions, hypotheses, theories, recommendations, and criticism in general. The purpose of all this will be, first, to summarize accurately the occurrence of Permian saline residues, and second, to test the published theories and hypotheses of evaporite formation against the facts as they are known by qualified workers in the field. If th theories now in existence explain everything satisfactorily, it will be worth while to know that; if not, then an attempt will be made to evolve something more generally applicable. The ultimate report will be the result of cooperation on the part of many geologists interested in evaporites. It is hoped that the report can be completed in a few months. End_of_Article - Last_Page 907------------
Occupational Exposures During Routine Activities in Coal-Fueled Power Plants

Limited information is available on occupational exposures during routine, nonoutage work activities in coal-fueled power plants. This study evaluated occupational exposures to the principal contaminants in the facilities, including respirable dust (coal dust), arsenic, noise, asbestos, and heat stress. The data were collected over a 3-month period, during the summer of 2001, in 5 facilities that were chosen to be representative of the coal-fueled power plants of a large southeastern power-generating company. Each of the facilities was divided into 5 similar exposure groups based on previous exposure assessments and job tasks performed. From 4 of the 5 facilities, 392 air samples and 302 noise samples were collected with approximately 50 respirable coal dust, 32 arsenic, 15 asbestos, and 70 noise samples from each of the 4 plants. One of the previously surveyed facilities was also evaluated for heat stress, and 1 additional coal-fueled power plant was surveyed for a total of 20 personal heat stress sample...
Growth and net photosynthetic rates of Hosta ‘blue vision’ during acclimatization in bright, natural light with CO2 enrichment

Hosta ‘Blue Vision’, a shade-adapted perennial, was successfully acclimatized in high, natural light conditions in the research AcclimatronTM at Clemson University, Clemson, SC during the summer of 2000. The supplemental CO2 levels achieved during acclimatization were 710±113, 2396±121, and 5641±119 μmol mol−1, approximately 2×, 6×, and 15× ambient CO2. Plants were maintained in H2O-saturated atmospheres and protected from temperature increases associated with high light intensity. In the 5 wk following ex vitro transfer, plantlet roots grew at the 2× CO2 level, but shoot biomass was unaffected. Results for the 6× and 15× CO2 levels were comparable and provided the best plantlet growth. The “doubling time’ that is characteristic of exponential growth was 10.8 and 9.8 d for root and shoot dry weights, respectively. There was no indication of light saturation of net photosynthetic rate (NPR) over the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) range of 100–1200 μmolm−2s−1 experienced during this study. An interaction between CO2 and light intensity levels was detected for NPR of Hosta ‘Blue Vision’ with CO2 saturation occurring at approximately 2800 μmol mol−1. regardless of light level. Furthermore, at the optimal CO2 level, NPR increased quadratically as light intensity increased, and NPR was greatest at the maximum light intensity (PPFD: 1200 μmol m−2s−1).
Optical pumping of rare-gas metastable atom beams with a frequency-modulated multimode dye laser

Very efficient stable optical pumping of an argon metastable atom beam is achieved using a frequency-modulated multimode dye laser. Frequency modulation is accomplished by rapidly oscillating the laser output coupler using a piezoelectric translator. This technique appears attractive for use in optically pumping a wide variety of atomic species.
Antibody stimulation of tumour growth in t-cell depleted mice.

IT is well known that in certain conditions the growth of allogeneic tumours can be enhanced by passively transferred antibodies directed against antigens present on the graft1,2. Most of the hypotheses proposed to explain this phenomenon have placed some form of antibody-mediated interference with the immune response of the host towards the tumour. Nevertheless, there have been occasional observations which suggest that immunological enhancement is the result of a change in the neoplastic cells themselves resulting from the interaction with antibody3–5. We have reported the results of in vitro experiments which support this idea6. Nucleoside incorporation, DNA synthesis, and cell growth were stimulated when mouse L cells were incubated in the presence of limiting amounts of rabbit anti-L cell serum (aLS); higher concentrations of antibody inhibited cell growth. Addition of complement greatly augmented cell growth, especially at low concentrations of antibody7. We now report that this immunostimulation phenomenon can also be observed in vivo. A preliminary report of this work has appeared8.
2,2-Di-(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl as an alkane-soluble standard for electron paramagnetic resonance studies

Abstract The title compound a “waxy DPPH”, was synthesized in three steps from p,p ′-di- tert -octyldiphenylamine. The new radical showed spectral properties that were nearly identical to those of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and it easily dissolved in all organic solvents tested except fluoroblube and ethylene glycol. The radical was monomeric at −95°C in isooctane at a concentration of 0.4. m M .
Production knowledge and its impact on the mechanisms of governance

A framework is developed outlining how production knowledge and capabilities influence firm boundaries by impacting the transaction costs of markets and hierarchies. A central implication of the framework is that at lower levels of these capabilities the transaction costs of markets decline at a faster rate than the costs of hierarchy, while at higher levels of these capabilities the transaction costs of hierarchy decline at a faster rate than the costs of markets. The discriminating role of production capabilities arises because markets and hierarchies utilize different types of control (prices and output control versus authority and behavior control), and hence require different levels of knowledge to be efficient. The analysis suggests firms often maintain some production knowledge when contracting for various inputs since it not only reduces transactional hazards in markets, but also because in comparative institutional terms, initial gains in knowledge make markets more efficient than internal organization. In addition, the analysis suggests that there would be a U shaped relationship between the propensity to integrate vertically and the extent of production capabilities as opposed to a monotonically increasing relationship. I find support for the U shaped relationship in a cross sectional sample of 1553 manufacturing firms.
Intergenerational Support and Depression Among Elders in Rural China: Do Daughters-In-Law Matter?

This study examined the influence of intergenerational assistance with household chores and personal care from sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law on the depressive symptoms of older adults in rural China. The sample derived from rural Anhui Province, a region with a strong hierarchy of support preferences that leads with sons and their families. We used data from a random sample of 1,281 adults aged 60 and over, who were interviewed in 2001 and 2003. Analyses indicated that depressive symptoms were usually reduced by assistance from daughters-in-law and increased sometimes when such support was from sons. These relationships held most strongly when mothers coresided with their daughters-in-law. This research suggests that the benefits of intergenerational support are conditional on culturally prescribed expectations.
Application of thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations near maximum lift

The flowfield about a NACA 0012 airfoil at a Mach number of 0.3 and Reynolds number of 1 million is computed through an angle of attack range, up to 18 deg, corresponding to conditions up to and beyond the maximum lift coefficient. Results obtained using the compressible thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations are presented as well as results from the compressible Euler equations with and without a viscous coupling procedure. The applicability of each code is assessed and many thin-layer Navier-Stokes benchmark solutions are obtained which can be used for comparison with other codes intended for use at high angles of attack. Reasonable agreement of the Navier-Stokes code with experiment and the viscous-inviscid interaction code is obtained at moderate angles of attack. An unsteady solution is obtained with the thin-layer Navier-Stokes code at the highest angle of attack considered. The maximum lift coefficient is overpredicted, however, in comparison to experimental data, which is attributed to the presence of a laminar separation bubble near the leading edge not modeled in the computations. Two comparisons with experimental data are also presented at a higher Mach number.
Cathelicidins: microbicidal activity, mechanisms of action, and roles in innate immunity

Antimicrobial peptides are important host-defense molecules of innate immunity. Cathelicidins are a diverse family of potent, rapidly acting and broadly effective antimicrobial peptides, which are produced by a variety of cells. This review examines the classification, antimicrobial spectrum, mechanism of action, and regulation of cathelicidins.
Apparent vs. effective mating in an experimental population of Raphanus sativus

Effective mating in plant populations need not occur during periods of peak pollinator activity and flowering. We measured seasonal and diurnal patterns of pollinator activity, pollen and ovule availability, and seed production in an experimental population of Raphanus sativus to infer the times of reproductively effective mating. On a seasonal scale, we found that most "effective matings", those resulting in mature seeds, occurred very early in the season, well before the peak of flowering and pollinator activity. At a finer scale, diurnal schedules of flower opening, stigma saturation with pollen, and pollen removal indicated that most effective matings occurred before noon, even though pollinator activity increased later in the day. These patterns may be most common in populations that are not pollen limited, but other ecological factors (e.g. seed predation, resource depletion) could weaken the correspondence between pollination and effective mating.
On the Energy Analysis of the Two-Layer Frontal Model

Abstract The energy analysis of the two-layer frontal model of Kotchin (1932) and Orlanski (1968) is reformulated. The new formulation is based on separating the contributions to the eddy kinetic energy of the unstable waves by the changes in 1) the difference in relative momentum between the layers (multiplied by the shear), and in 2) the available potential energy. Such a separation results in a clear characterization of the instabilities, particularly near the Rayleigh, Helmholtz and baroclinic instability limits. The mean meridional circulation induced by the unstable waves is analyzed.
A toy model for Hidden Weinberg-Salam Higgs particle

We show that in theSU(2)×U(1) model with one more Higgs singlet, the Weinberg-Salam Higgs can be made Hidden.
Metabolism of the nephrotoxicant N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide in rats: evidence for bioactivation through alcohol-O-glucuronidation and O-sulfation.

The agricultural fungicide, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS), was shown to be nephrotoxic in rats. Previous studies have indicated that the metabolism of NDPS contributes to its mechanism of toxicity and both phase I and phase II pathways may be involved. In the current report, we investigated the detailed biotransformation of [ 1 4 C]NDPS in rats using HPLC-ESI-MS. The chemical reactivity of the phase II NDPS metabolites was also evaluated. In vivo studies were conducted by administering [ 1 4 C]NDPS to male Fischer 344 rats. Urine, tissue (liver and kidney), and plasma samples were analyzed. The mechanism of formation and chemical reactivity of the glucuronide and sulfate metabolites of NDPS were investigated in vitro using liver subcellular preparations. Major in vivo metabolites of NDPS were identified as the oxidative [N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2- and 3-hydroxysuccinamic acid, 2-/3-NDHSA] and hydrolytic products [N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinamic acid]. N-Acetylcysteine and cysteine (with intramolecular aminolysis) conjugates were also detected in rat urine and fecal extracts, respectively, suggesting the formation of reactive intermediate(s) in the metabolism of NDPS. Small amounts of the alcohol-O-glucuronide and O-sulfate of 2-/3-NDHSA were detected in rat urine, plasma, and tissue homogenates. The formation of these phase II metabolites was found to be mediated through the initial conjugation of N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide (NDHS) followed by hydrolysis. As compared to NDHS, NDHS-O-sulfate is approximately 500-fold more reactive toward GSH conjugation. In rat liver S9, fortifying phase II cofactors (UDPGA or PAPS) in incubation mixtures with NDHS also significantly increased the amount of GSH adducts produced. Results of this research demonstrate that phase II metabolites of NDPS were produced in rats. The formation of the alkyl alcohol-O-glucuronide and O-sulfate conjugates represents bioactivation pathways in the metabolism of NDPS that could potentially contribute to its mechanism of nephrotoxicity.
Unmanned guided vehicle system

Unmanned guided vehicles (UGV) require the ability to visually understand the objects contained within their operating environments in order to locally guide vehicles along a globally determined route. Several large scale programs have been funded over the past decade that have created multimillion dollar prototype vehicles incapable of functioning outside of their initial test track environment. This paper describes the Unmanned Guided Vehicle System (UGVS) developed for the US Army Missile Command for operation in natural terrain. The goal of UGVS is to develop a real-time system adaptive to a range of terrain environments (e.g. roads, open fields, wooded clearings, forest areas) and seasonal conditions (e.g., fall, winter, summer, spring). UGVS consists of two primary processing activities. First, the UGVS vision system is tasked with determining the location of gravel roads in video imagery, detecting obstacles in the vehicles path, identifying distant road spurs, and assigning a classification confidence to each image component. Second, the guidance and navigation system computes the global route the vehicle should pursue, utilizes image classification results to determine obstructions in the local vehicle path, computes navigation commands to drive the vehicle around hazardous obstacles, correlates visual road spur cues with global route digital maps, and provides the navigation commands to move the vehicle forward. Results of UGVS working in a variety terrain environments are presented to reinforce system concepts.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Comparison of Arterial and Lingual Venous Blood Gases in Anethetized Dogs

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine whether lingual vanous blood gas samples reflect arterial acid-base gas status in anethetized dogs. Heparinized blood samples were drawn simultaneously from the lingual vein and a peripheral artery in 50 anestheized dogs that were clinical surgical patients, as well as from four experimental dogs in which hemorrahaic shock was being studied. Blood pH, oxygen tension (PO2), and bicarbonate (HCO3-)) from the two sources in clinical patients showed significant liner correlation, although arterial PO2)(PaO2)) tended to be approximately 110mm Hg higher than lingual venous PO2). During hemorrahgic shock, however, PaO2) and PaCO2) were significantly different from lingual venous PO2) and PCO2), Lingula venous blood gas analysis may be useful in assessing acid-base and blood gas status in routline cases, but should not be relied upon in dogs with low cardiac output or poor perfusion.
Estimation of inbreeding parameters in stratified populations.

Summary A clarification is given of the differences in approaches to the estimation of F-statistics of Nei & Chesser [Ann. Hum. Genet. (1983) 47, 253–259)] and Cockerham [Genetics (1973) 74, 679–700]. The principal difference is that Nei & Chesser define quantities with respect to fixed extant populations, while Cockerham allows for evolutionary variation between populations. Weighted and unweighted analyses are compared, and a numerical example given.
Qualitative Research Genres in the IS Literature: Emerging Issues and Potential Implications

In this opinion piece, we provide a critical commentary on the arena of qualitative research in IS. We reflect on why reviewer or editorial evaluations of manuscripts, with respect to methodological issues in qualitative studies, often come across as ''prejudiced." By viewing the adoption of qualitative research in the IS discipline as an evolutionary process, and by highlighting key differences among genres of qualitative manuscripts, a number of implications for both authors and evaluators of qualitative manuscripts emerge
The Earth's equatorial principal axes and moments of inertia

The earth's equatorial principal moments of inertia are given as A and B, where A is less than B, and the corresponding principal axes are given as a and b. Explicit formulas are derived for determining the orientation of a and b axes and the difference B - A using C(22) and S(22), the two gravitational harmonic coefficients of degree 2 and order 2. For the earth, the a axis lies along the (14.93 deg W, 165.07 deg E) diameter, and the b axis lies perpendicular to it along the (75.07 deg E, 104.93 deg W) diameter. The difference B - A is 7.260 x 10 to the -6th MR2. These quantities for other planets are contrasted, and geophysical implications are discussed.
Interactive anonymization of sensitive data

There has been much recent work on algorithms for limiting disclosure in data publishing, however they have not been put to use in any toolkit for practicioners. We will demonstrate CAT, the Cornell Anonymization Toolkit, designed for interactive anonymization. CAT has an interface that is easy to use; it guides users through the process of preparing a dataset for publication while limiting disclosure through the identification of records that have high risk under various attacker models.
Naltrexone reduces ethanol- and sucrose-reinforced responding in rhesus monkeys

These experiments evaluated the ability of naltrexone (NTX) to reduce selectively oral and IV ethanol-reinforced responding, and examined the ethanol-NTX interaction in terms of the competitive opioid antagonist property of NTX. Five rhesus monkeys self-administered ethanol or sucrose and concurrently available water. Ethanol concentration was varied from 0.25% to 8% (w/v). Naltrexone (0.032–0.32 mg/kg) or saline was given IM 30 min prior to some drinking sessions. NTX (0.32 mg/kg) reduced ethanol-reinforced responding at the concentration that maintained the most responding (1% or 2%). NTX (0.1 mg/kg) reduced ethanol-reinforced responding, both at a low ethanol concentration (0.25%) that produced little ethanol intake (g/kg), and at a higher concentration (4%) with an appreciable intake. Thus, NTX (0.1 mg/kg) shifted the ethanol concentration-consumption curve down, in an insurmountable manner. NTX (0.1 and 0.32 mg/kg) also reduced reinforced responding for sucrose 100 g/l. In another experiment, three rhesus monkeys were given opportunities to self-administer ethanol IV. NTX (0.1 mg/kg) reduced the number of ethanol injections obtained by the monkeys at all ethanol doses tested (0.01, 0.032, and 0.1 g/kg per injection).The dose-effect curve was also shifted down. These results showed that NTX reduced behavior maintained by either ethanol or sucrose non-selectively. Furthermore, the ability of NTX to suppress ethanol-reinforced responding did not depend on the route of ethanol administration and was not overcome by increasing the concentration or dose per injection of ethanol.
Energy Model of Electric Vehicle Filling Station

With the increasingly grim world environmental degradation and energy crisis, the industrial development of electric vehicles and charging for electric facilities has risen to national strategy. Based on the introduction of electric vehicle energy supply mode, proposed for power mode is the main push of the State Grid Corporation of business model. The Large-scale construction of electric vehicle filling station presents a challenge to Power grid, but through the application of V2G technology, electric vehicle power battery become smart grid energy storage structure, strengthen the new energy, electric vehicle charging the relationship between the three power stations and smart grid, and accelerate the integration process among the three.
Presentation of the 2009 Morris F Collen Award to Betsy L Humphreys, with remarks from the recipient

The American College of Medical Informatics is an honorary society established to recognize those who have made sustained contributions to the field. Its highest award, for lifetime achievement and contributions to the discipline of medical informatics, is the Morris F Collen Award. Dr Collen's own efforts as a pioneer in the field stand out as the embodiment of creativity, intellectual rigor, perseverance, and personal integrity. The Collen Award, given once a year, honors an individual whose attainments have, throughout a whole career, substantially advanced the science and art of biomedical informatics. In 2009, the college was proud to present the Collen Award to Betsy Humphreys, MLS, deputy director of the National Library of Medicine. Ms Humphreys has dedicated her career to enabling more effective integration and exchange of electronic information. Her work has involved new knowledge sources and innovative strategies for advancing health data standards to accomplish these goals. Ms Humphreys becomes the first librarian to receive the Collen Award. Dr Collen, on the occasion of his 96th birthday, personally presented the award to Ms Humphreys.
Lack of Effect of Cyclandelate in Peripheral Arterial Disease

While cyclandelate is widely used in the therapy of peripheral arterial disease, objective evidence of its efficacy remains controversial. For this reason, 12 patients with intermittent claudication (average age of 66.8 years) received both cyclandelate 400 mg qid and placebo in a double-blind crossover trial lasting two months. During the cyclandelate and placebo periods, the following peripheral hemodynamic measurements were obtained using a plethysmograph and treadmill claudication testing: mean calf blood flow, vascular resistance and venous capacitance; finger and toe blood flow, pulsation amplitude and temperature before and after vasodilating maneuvers; arm and leg arterial pulsation amplitudes, one and ten minute calf reactive hyperemia reaction; 30 pound/30 second calf active hyperemia reactions and times of onset of claudication as measured on a treadmill. No major significant difference could be demonstrated between placebo and cyclandelate on any subjective symptom or any objective measurement. It is concluded that cyclandelate 400 mg qid for 4 weeks was of little objective value in treating this group of 12 patients with peripheral arterial disease and suffering from intermittent claudication.
Development of endothelin receptor antagonists as potential therapeutic agents

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen, is associated with several disease states including pulmonary hypertension, systemic hypertension and heart failure. There are two endothelin (ET) receptor subtypes known as ETA and ETB. Selective ETA receptor antagonists, as well as non-selective (dual) ETA/ETB antagonists, represent a new therapeutic target for disease states associated with elevated ET-1 levels. In vivo studies and early phase clinical trials have provided strong evidence that these agents are effective in the treatment of heart failure, essential hypertension, pulmonary hypertension and atherosclerosis. FDA approved the use of the orally active dual antagonist bosentan (Tracleer™, Roche Holding AG) for primary pulmonary hypertension in 2001. Despite important advances in this field, the complexity of biological effects mediated by two different receptor subtypes complicates the use of selective versus dual ET receptor antagonists. The number of patent applications filed in rec...
Light Scattering Spectroscopies in Semiconductors

With the advent of lasers, light scattering has developed into an important technique for studying the properties of electronic and vibrational excitations and of their interactions in semiconductors.
Immunization with Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote antigens incorporated into Iscoms protects against lethal challenge in mice

An immunoglobulin G3 monoclonal antibody obtained by immunizing mice with a cell membrane preparation of epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi was shown to agglutinate live epimastigotes, lyse blood-form trypanosomes, and partially protect mice by passive transfer. The main antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibody were located in the flagella of epimastigotes and blood-form trypanosomes. Antigens of epimastigotes, purified by affinity chromatography with the monoclonal antibody, were shown to be highly glycosylated and revealed a wide band with an Mr between 45,000 and 68,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Immunization of mice with a small concentration of the affinity purified antigens incorporated into an antigen delivery system prepared with Quil A (Isotec AB, Lulea, Sweden), a saponin derivative, induced strong antibody and cell-mediated immune responses and protected 100% of the immunized animals against death due to challenge with 100 100% lethal doses of blood form trypanosomes. Protection was due to the use of the antigen delivery system, since mice immunized with equal concentrations of antigens alone or in combination with saponin had 100% mortality. The results suggest that small concentrations of epimastigote antigens obtained by biochemical methods and incorporated into the proper antigen delivery system may serve as a vaccine against Chagas' disease.
The Enolase of Borrelia burgdorferi Is a Plasminogen Receptor Released in Outer Membrane Vesicles

The agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, has a number of outer membrane proteins that are differentially regulated during its life cycle. In addition to their physiological functions in the organism, these proteins also likely serve different functions in invasiveness and immune evasion. In borreliae, as well as in other bacteria, a number of membrane proteins have been implicated in binding plasminogen. The activation and transformation of plasminogen into its proteolytically active form, plasmin, enhances the ability of the bacteria to disseminate in the host. Outer membrane vesicles of B. burgdorferi contain enolase, a glycolytic-cycle enzyme that catalyzes 2-phosphoglycerate to form phosphoenolpyruvate, which is also a known plasminogen receptor in Gram-positive bacteria. The enolase was cloned, expressed, purified, and used to generate rabbit antienolase serum. The enolase binds plasminogen in a lysine-dependent manner but not through ionic interactions. Although it is present in the outer membrane, microscopy and proteinase K treatment showed that enolase does not appear to be exposed on the surface. However, enolase in the outer membrane vesicles is accessible to proteolytic degradation by proteinase K. Samples from experimentally and tick-infected mice and rabbits as well as from Lyme disease patients exhibit recognition of enolase in serologic assays. Thus, this immunogenic plasminogen receptor released in outer membrane vesicles could be responsible for external proteolysis in the pericellular environment and have roles in nutrition and in enhancing dissemination.
Field-dependent transport critical current in single crystals of Ba(Fe1 − xTMx)2As2 (TM = Co, Ni) superconductors

Critical current density was studied by direct electrical transport measurements in single crystals of Ba(Fe1−xTMx )2As2 under magnetic fields up to 9 T. To understand the relation of the critical current to the structural transformations in the material, the electron doping level was controlled by the amount of TM = Co (underdoped x = 0.054 versus optimally doped x = 0.074) and by the nature of the dopant (optimally doped TM = Co versus TM = Ni). It is found that the suppression of the critical current density by the magnetic field is much slower for Ni and underdoped Co compositions than for an optimally doped Co composition. We relate this difference to the proximity to the orthorhombic/antiferromagnetic phase boundary in the T (x) phase diagram. Structural domains formed in this area of the phase diagram create favorable conditions for pinning and not only increase critical current densities, but also hamper the degradation of the critical current under magnetic field. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Recent Trends in Detection of Huntingtin and Preclinical Models of Huntington's Disease.

Huntington’s disease is a genetically inherited neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by neuronal cell death in the brain. Molecular biology techniques to detect and quantify huntingtin protein in biological samples involve fluorescence imaging, western blotting, and PCR. Modified cell lines are widely used as models for Huntington’s disease for preclinical screening of drugs to study their ability to suppress the expression of huntingtin. Although worm and fly species have been experimented on as models for Huntington’s disease, the most successful animal models have been reported to be primates. This review critically analyses the molecular biology techniques for detection and quantitation of huntingtin and evaluates the various animal species for use as models for Huntington’s disease.
An Event Study Analysis of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158

This study examines the economic consequences of the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 158 requirement to recognize previously disclosed net pension and postretirement benefit obligations on the balance sheet. The study documents a negative stock price reaction around the release of the SFAS No. 158 Exposure Draft. Additionally, the results indicate that the market reaction varies cross-sectionally with the magnitude of the balance sheet adjustment required by SFAS No. 158 and is driven by the other postretirement plan adjustment rather than the pension plan adjustment. The findings have important implications for the recognition versus disclosure debate because they document a significant market reaction to the relocation of already disclosed information from the financial statements footnotes to the balance sheet.
Characterization of scaled-up photonic crystal structures using a discretely tunable carbon-dioxide laser

Micron-scale, photonic crystal devices fabricated using standard microelectronics technology can be used as a step in the development of sub-micron-scale devices. A discretely tunable CO2 laser beam is focused onto the sample and transmission data are collected. Regularization methods are used to calculate the single-angle plane-wave response of the device.
Olive Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Ovipositional Preference and Larval Performance in Several Commercially Important Olive Varieties in California

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an invasive pest of olives (Olea spp.) in the United States. The objectives of this study were to determine whether B. oleae exhibits ovipositional preference under California field conditions similar to that demonstrated in European populations and whether the resulting larvae fare better in preferred varieties. Female B. oleae exhibited strong ovipositional preference for certain varieties of the domesticated olive, Olea europaea L, and the resulting larvae performed better by some measures in preferred varieties than in lesser preferred varieties. Ovipositional preference was observed in the field from 2003 to 2005, and laboratory assays were conducted to evaluate larval performance in 2005 and 2006. Among the olive varieties tested, Sevillano, Manzanillo, and Mission olives were the most heavily infested during three consecutive years. The larval performance measurements used were pupal yield, pupal weight, larval developmental time, and pupal emergence time. Ovipositional preference and pupal yield do not seem associated. There were significant differences in pupal emergence time, but these also measures did not reflect ovipositional preference. Two measures on performance did seem related to ovipositional preference; there were significant effects of variety on pupal weight and larval developmental time. Pupae developing in Manzanillo and Sevillano olives were heavier than those developing in less preferred varieties, and larval developmental time was significantly shorter in Sevillano olives relative to the other varieties. Oviposition preference and enhanced larval performance has implications for the pest status of this invasive insect in California.
E1G MODEL OF SUPERCONDUCTING UPT3

The phase diagram of superconducting UPt{sub 3} is explained in a Ginzburg-Landau theory starting from the hypothesis that the order parameter is a pseudo-spin-singlet which transforms according to the {ital E}{sub 1{ital g}} representation of the {ital D}{sub 6{ital h}} point group. We show how to compute the positions of the phase boundaries both when the applied field is in the basal plane and when it is along the {ital c} axis. The experimental phase diagrams, as determined by longitudinal sound velocity data, can be fit using a single set of parameters. In particular the crossing of the upper critical field curves for the two field directions and the apparent isotropy of the phase diagram are reproduced. The former is a result of the magnetic properties of UPt{sub 3} and their contribution to the free energy in the superconducting state. The latter is a consequence of an approximate particle-hole symmetry. Finally, we extend the theory to finite pressure and show that, in contrast to other models, the {ital E}{sub 1{ital g}} model explains the observed pressure dependence of the phase boundaries. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Trust and the Global Law Firm: Are Relationships of Trust Still Central to the Corporate Legal Services Market?

This article explores the concept of trust as it relates to the lawyer’s role and explains how recent trends in the structure, operation, and regulation of law firms may make the traditionally “thick” type of attorney-client trust more elusive, particularly in the context of corporate legal practice. Trust may lose its place as a defining element of the attorney-client relationship as the relationship itself becomes less personal, more distant, and more fungible. At the same time, trust may become even more important to consumers in a globalized economy, thereby giving lawyers an opportunity to reassert their value against increasing competition from providers from other jurisdictions and disciplines. In this regard, the article draws an important distinction between cognitive and affective forms of trust, and suggests that attorney-client trust cannot be captured fully in the language of cost-benefit calculation, for the lawyer’s role presumes a relationship of willingly encountered vulnerability. The story of trust’s marginalization in corporate legal practice may resonate most powerfully with lawyers themselves, who may increasingly struggle to find meaning in their work, and with clients, who may discover that technicians work efficiently until a problem calls for counsel that is not strictly technical. More broadly, though, the story of trust’s marginalization should be of interest to a society that has long empowered attorneys to function as quasi-public actors, for the weakening of trust directly compromises the attorney’s capacity and inclination to introduce public values into the representation. After analyzing the market and regulatory trends exerting pressure on a more relationship-centered type of trust, the article offers some tentative suggestions on how the profession can keep relational trust at the center of the lawyer’s role, even in a globalized, efficiency-driven profession.
Meta-analysis and review of learner performance and preference: virtual versus optical microscopy.

Context Over nearly two decades, a wealth of literature describing the various capabilities, uses and adaptations of virtual microscopy (VM) has been published. Many studies have investigated the effects on and benefits to student learning of VM compared with optical microscopy (OM). Objectives This study statistically aggregated the findings of multiple comparative studies through a meta-analysis in order to summarise and substantiate the pedagogical efficacy of teaching with VM. Methods Using predefined eligibility criteria, teams of paired researchers screened the titles and abstracts of VM studies retrieved from seven different databases. After two rounds of screening, numerical and thematic data were extracted from the eligible studies for analysis. A summary effect size and estimate of heterogeneity were calculated to determine the effects of VM on learner performance and the amount of variance between studies, respectively. Trends in student perceptions were also analysed and reported. Results Of the 725 records screened, 72 studies underwent full-text review. In total, 12 studies were viable for meta-analysis and additional studies were reviewed to extract themes relating to learners’ perceptions of VM. The meta-analysis detected a small yet significant positive effect on learner performance (standardised mean difference 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.09–0.47; p = 0.003), indicating that learners experience marked knowledge gains when exposed to VM over OM. Variation among studies was evident as high heterogeneity was reported. An analysis of trends in learner perceptions noted that respondents favoured VM over OM by a large margin. Conclusions Although many individual studies have reported non-significant findings in comparisons of VM and OM, the enhanced power afforded by meta-analysis revealed that the pedagogical approach of VM is modestly superior to that of OM and is preferred by learners.
An observing response analysis of fixed ratio discrimination

Two pigeons were trained on an observing response procedure where a peck to the observing key produced either a stimulus correlated with FR1O or FR50. When observing response output had become stable on this schedule, the lower of the two FRs was raised to 20 and then to 30. The larger of the two FRs remained at 50. Both Ss ceased making the observing response when the lower FR was set at 30.
Radiometric detection of Haemophilus in simulated blood cultures.

The radiometric detection of various Haemophilus species was studied in simulated blood cultures and in blood culture media without added blood, but supplemented with nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD) or hemin, or both. Haemophilus aphrophilus was the only species studied that was radiometrically detectable without added blood or NAD. All other species studied ( Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Haemophilus haemolyticus, and Haemophilus parahaemolyticus ) required either added NAD, whole blood, or washed blood cells for growth and radiometric detection. The results of this study and extensive experience with clinical specimens show that the radiometric system is an effective means of rapidly detecting Haemophilus in blood cultures, but it is essential that it be used in conjunction with a subculture three to five days after inoculation.