cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of moldboard plowing, chisel plowing and rotation crops on the Rhizoctonia disease of white potato

Two tillage practices, chisel plowing (30 cm) and deep moldboard plowing (22 cm), and five rotation crops (oats, lupine, buckwheat, broccoli and peas) were studied for their effects on the soil population ofRhizoctonia solani AG-3 and on Rhizoctonia disease on potato. All rotation crops were harvested except buckwheat, which was treated as a green manure crop. Chisel plowing significantly reduced (p = 0.05) the incidence and severity of stem lesions on potato caused byR. solani AG-3. In 1990, oats after moldboard plowing significantly increased disease when compared to other crops and broccoli after chisel plowing decreased disease severity. Soil populations ofR. solani AG-3 were significantly lower with chisel plowing. No interactions between tillage and rotation crops were observed. Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is a soil inhabiting plant pathogen found worldwide that affects many plant species including white potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).R. solani attacks potato at one or more stages in development resulting in distinct disease symptoms (25) often termed the Rhizoctonia disease complex of potato. In Maine, only strains AG-3 and AG-5 ofR. solani (4, 5) have been identified as attacking potato and causing four distinct types of symptoms: 1) black scurf (sclerotia) on tubers, 2) stem cankers, 3) aerial tubers and top rosetting, and 4) killing of sprouts. Crop rotation has been reported to reduce the incidence and severity ofR. solani on potato, but no single rotation method controls completely or to a high degree of reliability (11, 23, 24, 26). Deep moldboard plowing has been shown to reduce diseases caused byR. solani andSclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in crops other than potatoes (2, 7, 15, 19, 20). However, Gudmestadet al. (6) reported that deep moldboard plowing increased the severity ofR. solani on stems and stolons of potatoes. The reduction of diseases caused byR. solani andS. rolfsii by moldboard plowing is attributed to low inoculum densities in the upper soil layer by the burial of sclerotia to depths where germination and infection were prevented (14, 15, 19, 20). However, disking to a depth of 5–7 cm did not affect disease as the inoculum remained in the root zone (14, 15). Gurkin (7) states that the rationale for deep moldboard plowing is to promote decay of organic matter, remove organic matter from the infection court and to bury the sclerotia below the infection court. Cultural control techniques are largely preventive and are designed to reduce the quantity or the activity of inoculum by means of crop rotation, tillage practices, green manure crops, etc. (22). This study was conducted to determine individual effects and possible interactions of deep moldboard plowing versus chisel plowing in various rotation crops on the presence ofR. solani AG-3 in the soil and on the incidence of Rhizoctonia disease complex of potato.
Student research award in the undergraduate, master candidate, or health science degree candidate category, 15th annual meeting of the society for biomaterials, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, April 28–may 2, 1989. Toxicity of copper-based dental alloys in cell culture

The biocompatibility of three commercial copper-based dental casting alloys--Duracast MS, Goldent, and Trindium--three experimental copper alloys, and a control gold alloy, Modulay, were investigated. Trindium, Duracast MS, experimental alloys 1 and 2 are aluminum bronzes; Goldent is a hybrid aluminum-brass alloy; and experimental alloy #3 is a high zinc brass alloy. ASTM F813-83 Standard Practice for Direct Contact Cell Culture Evaluation of Materials for Medical Devices, a 3-day direct-contact cell culture regimen and atomic absorption spectroscopy were utilized for evaluating the biocompatibility of these alloys in both Waymouth's and RPMI 1640 complete media. Cellular proliferation assays, using 3H-thymidine uptake, were also conducted in Waymouth's media. In this investigation, only the experimental alloy #3 elicited alterations in morphology and viability of the fibroblast monolayer during the ASTM and 3-day culture tests in either media. Cell cultures exposed to experimental alloy #3 experienced copper concentrations greater than 16.0 ppm in Waymouth's and 10 ppm copper in RPMI 1640 media. Differences in the size of the cytotoxic zone around experimental alloy #3 were also observed, with the larger zone occurring in Waymouth's media. In contrast to the direct cell contact studies, all alloys caused decreases in 3H-thymidine uptake in Waymouth's media at much reduced metal ion concentrations as compared to the controls. Thus, adverse changes in DNA synthesis occurred at much lower copper and zinc concentrations than changes in morphology and viability. Consequently, the assessment of biocompatibility is dependent on the parameters evaluated, and several parameters must be analyzed before a material may be considered biocompatible.
Creating classroom-level measures of citizenship education climate

Optimal classroom climates for civic education encourage the development of knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for students to become involved citizens. One of the simplest and most common ways of measuring classroom climate in this field is to aggregate individual students’ perceptions of classroom climate to the group level; however, little has been done to assess the quality of such aggregate measures. We examined data from the United States sample of the 1999 IEA Civic Education Study to determine the reliability of aggregate measures of the openness of classroom discussion climate as reported by students. Student and class-level correlates of within-classroom variability in students’ reports were considered, and aggregate reports were correlated with student outcomes. Although the aggregated classroom climate measure had only modest reliability, we identified several within-classroom sources of variability in ratings. Classrooms were also more variable in their ratings if the average climate perceptions were lower on average, and if the classrooms served students with fewer educational resources at home. However, the aggregate measures did predict a variety of student outcomes even after controlling for within-group sources of variability.
Pre-pregnancy obesity and maternal circadian cortisol regulation: Moderation by gestational weight gain.

Abstract We investigated main and interactive effects of maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain on circadian cortisol from the second to third trimester. A diverse sample of 215 pregnant women was enrolled. Maternal height and most recent pre-pregnancy weight were collected at study initiation (22% obese). Weight and circadian salivary cortisol samples were measured during second (24 ± 4) and third (35 ± 1 weeks) trimesters. During the third trimester, women who were obese prior to conception showed elevated evening cortisol versus normal weight women. This pattern was moderated by weight gain in excess of Institute of Medicine guidelines, such that women who were obese prior to conception and gained greater than 7.94 kg by the 35 ± 1 week visit displayed greatest elevations in evening cortisol. Given links between excessive prenatal glucocorticoid exposure and both poor maternal and offspring health outcomes, elevated maternal cortisol may be one mechanism underlying links between maternal obesity and adverse perinatal outcomes.
Amino acid stabilization for cell-free protein synthesis by modification of the Escherichia coli genome

Cell-free biology provides a unique opportunity to assess and to manipulate microbial systems by inverse metabolic engineering. We have applied this approach to amino acid metabolism, one of the systems in cell-free biology that limits protein synthesis reactions. Four amino acids (arginine, tryptophan, serine and cysteine) are depleted during a 3-h batch cell-free protein synthesis reaction under various conditions. By modifying the genome of the Escherichia coli strain used to make the cell extract, we see significant stabilization of arginine, tryptophan and serine. Cysteine, however, continues to be degraded. Cell-free protein synthesis with the modified cell extract produces increased yields of the cysteine-free protein Outer Membrane Protein T (OmpT).
Electronic Fetal Monitoring: Past, Present, and Future

Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) using cardiotocography is a common tool used during labor and delivery for assessment of fetal well-being. It has largely replaced the use of intermittent auscultation and fetal scalp pH sampling. However, data suggesting improved clinical outcomes with the use of EFM are sparse. In this review, the history of EFM is revisited from its inception in the 1960s to current practice, interpretations, and future research goals.
Numerical models of petroleum migration via buoyancy-driven porosity waves in viscously deformable sediments

The apparent ability of petroleum to migrate rapidly through low permeability sediments in sedimentary basins has led to many questions about the manner of its transport. One possible explanation is suggested from observations of the compaction of viscously deformable porous media. These systems have been found in some cases to give rise to regions of locally elevated liquid fraction, in the form of fluid-filled porosity waves that can ascend at rates much greater than that of the background flow. Previous research on the phenomenon has focused on its implications for magma transport, but recognition of the fact that the compaction of viscous porous media can take place in sedimentary basins has suggested the possibility that porosity waves could similarly be important for hydrocarbon transport. The purpose of the present study was to test this hypothesis by quantifying the transport that would occur as the result of porosity waves initiated during the conversion of kerogen to petroleum. A one-dimensional numerical model was constructed solving equations for the mechanics of viscous compaction and for the kinetics of reactions describing the formation of petroleum from kerogen. The results showed that porosity waves would develop readily in viscously deformable regions of sedimentary basins, but would not necessarily provide enhanced transport over that of the background flow regime. In order for the waves to achieve this enhanced transport, they must develop high amplitudes, i.e. high porosities relative to the background porous medium. To achieve the high wave amplitudes, the background porosity must be very low in absolute terms. In addition, high kerogen contents are needed in the source layer, and the source layer needs to be buried rapidly to a high temperature region of the oil window. Considerable uncertainty exists as to the value of the matrix shear viscosity of sediments in basins. However, the wave volumetric transport capacity was not found to be significantly altered as a result of variations in the value of this parameter. The physical form of the waves was strongly altered by the matrix shear viscosity, with higher values leading to lower amplitudes and generation frequency, but higher wavelengths. Thus the waves become less recognizable physically at higher values of the matrix shear viscosity. As the waves ascend to higher stratigraphic levels, where the porosity is higher, they gradually lose their physical definition and become absorbed into the background.
IS THE LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION VALID AT SHORT DISTANCES

Recently, short-range macroscopic forces superimposed to gravity have been conjectured. We argue that their existence is unavoidable if gravity has to be merged with the other fundamental interactions within the currently accepted paradigms for unification. A first attempt to detect such forces in the macroscopic range using micromechanical resonators is reported, together with a discussion of further sensitivity improvements. Implications of the possible discovery of these new interactions in elementary particle physics and cosmology are outlined.
Cell Death in Retinitis Pigmentosa: Gap Junctions and the ‘Bystander’ Effect

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) constitutes a group of genetically mediated, degenerative retinal diseases that display a broad range of phenotypes. There is appreciable heterogeneity in the pathogenetic mechanisms that underlie the various forms of RP, but a substantial percentage of the known cases arise as a consequence of mutations in rhodopsin or other rod-specific proteins. However, despite the fact that the genetic defect is expressed solely in the rod photoreceptors, otherwise healthy cone photoreceptors invariably die, resulting in severe visual impairment. In this paper, the author proposes a mechanism that may be responsible, at least in part, for this unfortunate circumstance. The basic premise of the hypothesis is that the spread of the disease from dying rods to genetically normal cones is a form of 'bystander' effect, mediated by the gap junctions that exist between these photoreceptor subtypes. On this view, agents that trigger the apoptotic process permeate the intercellular gap-junctional channels to carry the disease from rods to neighboring cones. If permeation of noxious substances through gap junctions is a significant factor in the non-cell-autonomous spread of photoreceptor degeneration, blocking transmission through these channels may provide a means for therapeutic intervention. Many substances are known to block gap-junctional communication, but if the rod-cone channel is to be targeted, it will be essential to identify the connexins that form the gap junctions between the two types of photoreceptor, and to develop drugs that selectively affect their junctional properties. Clearly, passage of toxic agents through gap junctions may not be the only form of cell-cell interaction by which dying rods could cause cone cell death, and in this brief account, the author considers other avenues that are currently being explored to explain this phenomenon.
Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) provides a means of directly imaging surface topography with atomic scale resolution. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) usually refers to the image-wise determination of the tunnel current variation with bias voltage for fixed tunnel gap width. Results can be related to the density of filled and empty surface electronic states. The association of energetic features with spatially localized features is a unique capability. Other variations of STS are inelastic tunneling imaging and barrier spectroscopic imaging. All these techniques are described and representative examples given to provide a survey of STS.
A perspective on the adaptive importance of genetic infrastructure in salmon populations to ocean ranching in Alaska

Abstract Salmon hatcheries, like other resource management practices and tools, potentially have genetic effects on wild-spawning populations of salmon. These effects, which theory predicts will erode vital genetic diversity, would be expected to operate through straying and gene introgression, and through other processes. Genetic diversity among populations is well known from analysis of neutral biochemical traits and is less well known from observation of polygenic, ecologically adaptive, phenotype differences. We note increasing evidence of adaptively important polygenic genetic diversity within populations and evidence that this variability is partitioned temporally or spatially among distinct segments of salmon populations, a partitioning we call infrastructure. For example, in one well-studied small population, Auke Creek pink salmon, there is evidence of genetically based variability of timing of anadromous migration and simultaneous evidence of the importance to survival of that timing. We believe that the adaptedness and productivity of salmon stocks are dependent on genetic infrastructure; fisheries management practices, including enhancement of harvests by hatcheries and ocean ranching, potentially reduce genetic infrastructure as they may reduce other levels of genetic diversity. Rational resource management should seek to conserve genetic diversity at all levels. Treatment of salmon stocks as homogeneous units, neglecting within-stock diversity or infrastructure, will not be adequate to conserve fitness and productivity of these commercially valuable resources.
Sexual dimorphic porcine pituitary response to growth hormone-releasing hormone.

The aim of this study was to compare growth hormone (GH) response of barrows and gilts to porcine growth hormone-releasing hormone (pGRH) at the pituitary level. Anterior pituitary cells from barrows and gilts responded to pGRH in a dose-dependent manner. The median effective pGRH concentration (EC50) which stimulated GH release from cells of barrows was greater (P less than .05) than that for cells obtained from intact female siblings. Maximal pGRH mediated GH secretion from barrows was not different (P greater than 0.05) than that from gilt stimulated cells. These data demonstrate that somatotrophs of growing peripubertal gilts are more responsive to pGRH stimulation than are cells from their castrated male siblings. This difference could be caused by castration of the neonatal male.
Experimental performance evaluation of the CM-5

Abstract In this paper, we present an extensive experimental performance evaluation of the communication capabilities of the CM-5. We first study the communication characteristics such as start-up time, sustainable bandwidth for simple messages as a function of message size and number of processors, and the effect of multiple messages and link contention on the communication time. We study the effect of dense communication patterns such as complete exchange and propose four algorithms for scheduling a complete exchange operation. We also consider the scheduling of irregular communication patterns and present four algorithms for the same. We have tested these algorithms on many synthetic irregular communication patterns as well as those arising in real problems such as the conjugate gradient solver and the Euler solver. Finally, we study the performance and communication aspects of scientific applications such as two-dimensional FFT and Gaussian Elimination on the CM-5.
Atypical antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects: insights from receptor-binding profiles

Atypical antipsychotic drugs offer several notable benefits over typical antipsychotics, including greater improvement in negative symptoms, cognitive function, prevention of deterioration, and quality of life, and fewer extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). However, concerns about EPS have been replaced by concerns about other side effects, such as weight gain, glucose dysregulation and dyslipidemia. These side effects are associated with potential long-term cardiovascular health risks, decreased medication adherence, and may eventually lead to clinical deterioration. Despite a greater understanding of the biochemical effects of these drugs in recent years, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying their various therapeutic properties and related side effects remain unclear. Besides dopamine D(2) receptor antagonism, a characteristic feature of all atypical antipsychotic drugs, these agents also bind to a range of non-dopaminergic targets, including serotonin, glutamate, histamine, alpha-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors. This review examines the potential contribution of different receptors to metabolic side effects associated with atypical antipsychotic treatment for all seven agents currently marketed in the United States (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, aripiprazole, paliperidone and clozapine) and another agent (bifeprunox) in clinical development at the time of this publication.
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR “LAW AND ORDER”: Interrelationships with System Affirmation and Attitudes Toward Minorities

This study deals with interrelationships among system affirmation, intoler-ance of minorities or minority viewpoints. and support for a tough role for the police and courts in the criminal justice system. Using data from a survey of “Middletown” (Muncie, Indiana), all three of these concepts are-as expected-moderately highly interrelated. Those high in system affir-mation are also high in intolerance, and they are high in support for a tough role for the police and courts. Further, combining system affirmation and intolerance measures into typologies accentuates the independent effects of these concepts on a hard-line approach to “law and order” issues.
Detection of Low-Lattitude Plumes in the Outer Corona by Ulysses Radio Ranging Measurements

Plumes have been detected beyond the field of view of coronagraphs in the range of 23-42 R(sub o) in an equatorial coronal hole by Ulysses radio ranging measurements conducted in 1991 at 13 and 3.6 cm wavelengths. These results show that plumes are not exclusive to polar regions, but appear to be intrinsic to open magnetic field regions at any latitude.
Method in Bioethics: A Troubled Assessment

This discussion is a critical assessment of the methods employed by some leading writers in the field of bioethics. The author agrees with those in the field who regard its primary or essential method as moral philosophy, but he nevertheless finds a prevalent tendency among bioethical writers merely to apply received moral principles to issues and to avoid penetrating theoretical analysis, even when such analysis is unavoidably required. He explains these deficiencies in terms of the exigencies of interdisciplinary work and the affinity of much early bioethics with policy- or legislatively-oriented "public ethics". The discussion ends with a call for increased theoretical sophistication in this field.
Modeling the cascade amorphization of silicas with local-rules reconstruction

Abstract Displacement-cascade disorder was modeled topologically in two crystalline SiO2 polymorphs (quartz, cristobalite) and one amorphous silica in an attempt to understand the origins of the experimentally observed common terminal density after prolonged irradiation. Cascades were simulated by imposing random rotations of constituent [SiO4] tetrahedra followed by reconnection according to several sets of local assembly rules derived previously for crystalline or non-crystalline assemblages. The resulting arrangements were characterized by their bond-angle distributions, ring topology of their local clusters, and pair correlations. It is concluded from their similarity that fundamental topological constraints underlie the commonalities of the endpoint configurations.
The effect of water molecules in stabilizing co-crystals of active pharmaceutical ingredients

A series of co-crystallization reactions were carried out on two hydrazone compounds in order to determine their effectiveness in forming co-crystals in a consistent manner, as well as to establish whether their thermal behaviour can be tailored in a predictable fashion. The crystal structures of twelve hydrated co-crystals with both aromatic as well as aliphatic carboxylic acids are reported. In the structures that display structural consistency, the thermal behaviour of the bulk materials can be correlated with molecular structure.
Weighted frequent gene co-expression network mining to identify genes involved in genome stability.

Gene co-expression network analysis is an effective method for predicting gene functions and disease biomarkers. However, few studies have systematically identified co-expressed genes involved in the molecular origin and development of various types of tumors. In this study, we used a network mining algorithm to identify tightly connected gene co-expression networks that are frequently present in microarray datasets from 33 types of cancer which were derived from 16 organs/tissues. We compared the results with networks found in multiple normal tissue types and discovered 18 tightly connected frequent networks in cancers, with highly enriched functions on cancer-related activities. Most networks identified also formed physically interacting networks. In contrast, only 6 networks were found in normal tissues, which were highly enriched for housekeeping functions. The largest cancer network contained many genes with genome stability maintenance functions. We tested 13 selected genes from this network for their involvement in genome maintenance using two cell-based assays. Among them, 10 were shown to be involved in either homology-directed DNA repair or centrosome duplication control including the well- known cancer marker MKI67. Our results suggest that the commonly recognized characteristics of cancers are supported by highly coordinated transcriptomic activities. This study also demonstrated that the co-expression network directed approach provides a powerful tool for understanding cancer physiology, predicting new gene functions, as well as providing new target candidates for cancer therapeutics.
Increase in proton and glucose diffusion in liposomes as a function of trans-retinal concentration

Abstract The permeability of liposomes to protons and glucose is shown to be related to the amount of vitamin A ( trans -retinal) incorporated into the liposomal membranes. Low levels of the vitamin (0.1 mole percent) increased the rate of proton diffusion but had no measurable effect on glucose diffusion. Higher levels of the vitamin (more than 0.5 mole percent) increased also glucose diffusion. These experiments indicate trans -retinal can perturb membrane structure, increasing leakiness in proportion to its concentration in the membrane.
Contributions to composite second-order distortion for 80-channel analog systems from chromatic dispersion, PMD, and PDL

Composite second-order distortion (CSO) can significantly impair system performance of analog systems. Of the three mechanisms that contribute to the CSO level, namely, chromatic dispersion, PMD, and polarization-dependent loss (PDL), modeling and experimental results show that chromatic dispersion may be the main contributor if PMD from typical currently manufactured fibers are used. Because of this and due to the low variability of the chromatic dispersion values, levels higher than -70 dB of CSO can be accommodated. Using chirp values from current directly modulated lasers at 1310 nm, system lengths as long as 40 km are predicted to be achievable. Sixteen picoseconds of instantaneous PMD can be tolerated provided chromatic dispersion and PDL are reasonably controlled.
Effects of Interleukin-1β on Food-Maintained Behavior in the Mouse

The present studies compared the effect of parenteral administration of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on food-seeking behavior under various conditions. IL-1beta (100 ng/mouse) decreased home cage consumption of sweetened milk to a greater extent in ad libitum fed mice than in mice that were food-restricted to maintain 85-90% of their free-feeding body weight. When operant responding for milk was maintained under a fixed-ratio 10 response (FR10) schedule of milk delivery, IL-1beta (30-300 ng/mouse) significantly decreased milk-maintained responding in mice fed ad libitum, but not in food-restricted mice. When food-restricted mice were trained under either an FR4 or FR32 response schedule of milk delivery, IL-1beta (100-300 ng/mouse) produced significant decreases in FR32, but not in FR4 responding. When responding was maintained under a progressive-ratio 10 response (PR10) schedule of milk delivery, IL-1beta (30-300 ng/mouse) dose-dependently decreased breaking points. These results indicate that the effects of IL-1beta on food-maintained behavior depend on both the level of motivation (as assessed by food restriction) and on the response cost for the milk (as assessed by ratio requirement). These findings suggest that motivational factors may be capable of attenuating some of the behavioral effects of these agents.
Another Look at FTA-Approved Sampling Plans for Fixed-Route Bus Services

The Federal Transit Administration has approved six sampling plans that transit agencies can use to estimate the consumption of fixed-route bus services for reporting to the National Transit Database. These sampling plans follow a simple framework and are assumed to be universally applicable. Some background information is presented, and then these sampling plans (including the related statistical theory, the development of the sampling plans based on this theory, and the estimation procedure) are reviewed. More important, a set of allowable variations in passenger miles is defined for each sampling plan, and it is demonstrated that these sampling plans are not universally applicable. Improved sampling options are proposed within the simple framework of the original sampling plans.
Taking substation maintenance to the next level

In the age of “smart” technology the majority of substation maintenance activities are still as relying on manual activities instead of putting technology to work to better manage the overall health of the substation assets. With the decrease in available O&M budgets the ability to carry out all planned maintenance activities are getting more difficult every year. Technology could be the solution due to the rise of substation monitoring technology by allowing monitoring technology to determine when to perform maintenance activities. This paper proposes transforming this idea into a plan of action by leveraging technology and taking substation maintenance to the next level.
Differential in vivo regulation of mRNA encoding the norepinephrine transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase in rat adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus

To investigate the regulation of norepinephrine transporter mRNA in vivo, we analyzed the effects of reserpine on its expression in the rat adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus. First, PCR was used to clone a 0.5-kb rat cDNA fragment that exhibits 87% nucleotide identity to the corresponding human norepinephrine transporter cDNA sequence. In situ, the cDNA hybridizes specifically within norepinephrine-secreting cells, but in neither dopamine nor serotonin neurons, suggesting strongly it is a partial rat norepinephrine transporter cDNA. Reserpine, 10 mg/kg administered 24 h premortem, decreased steady-state levels of norepinephrine transporter mRNA in the adrenal medulla by approximately 65% and in the locus ceruleus by approximately 25%, as determined by quantitative in situ hybridization. Northern analysis confirmed the results of the in situ hybridization analysis in the adrenal medulla but did not detect the smaller changes observed in the locus ceruleus. Both analyses showed that reserpine increased tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus. These results suggest that noradrenergic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells can coordinate opposing changes in systems mediating catecholamine uptake and synthesis, to compensate for catecholamine depletion.
Preoperative evaluation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels in patients with endometrial cancer

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the relationship between preoperative serum levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, alone and in combination with CA 125, and the presence of prognostic clinicopathologic factors and subclinical metastases in women with endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-two women who underwent primary exploration for endometrial adenocarcinoma had preoperative serum samples evaluated for macrophage colony-stimulating factor and CA 125 levels. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the associations of surgicopathologic findings with macrophage colony-stimulating factor and CA 125 levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the risk of extrauterine disease. The association of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and CA 125 levels with stage, grade, and depth of myometrial invasion and histologic characteristics were analyzed with Fisher's two-tailed exact test. RESULTS: Elevated levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor were not associated with depth of myometrial invasion, histologic grade, or histologic cell type; however, advanced stage (p = 0.02) and the presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.04) were associated with elevated levels. Sensitivity and specificity of macrophage colony-stimulating factor for predicting extrauterine disease were 42% and 89%, respectively. If either an elevated macrophage colony-stimulating factor or an elevated CA 125 level was used to predict extrauterine disease, the sensitivity was increased to 67% but the specificity was decreased to 78%. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor elevations predicted lymph node metastases with a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 86%. A multivariate regression model showed CA 125 to be the most significant predictor of extrauterine disease; macrophage colony-stimulating factor also contributed prognostic information (p = 0.02). The sensitivity and specificity of the multivariate model for predicting extrauterine disease were 75% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Macrophage colony-stimulating factor and CA 125 are neither sensitive nor specific enough to be used as predictors of the presence or absence of extrauterine disease in patients with endometrial cancer. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1996;174:1316-9.)
Spatial Distribution of Marine Ciliates: Micro‐Ecologic and Biogeographic Aspects of Protozoan Ecology*†

SYNOPSIS Free-living marine ciliates occur in the interstitial spaces of a wide vareity of filamentous and particulate substrata, on the surfaces of planar substrata, and in the plankton. In addition, they are found in association with a wide variety of plant and animal hosts. In this paper I review the progress during the past decade in understanding the distribution of marine ciliates, with particular emphasis on the relationship between ciliate biogeography and the species problem. It is concluded that as a general rule among marine ciliates, genera and species complexes are cosmopolitan. Specific locales may support a confusing array of sibling species or subspecific morphologic variants. Because the distributional processes and breeding biology of marine ciliates are only beginning to be understood, conventional ideas that marine ciliate species are cosmopolitan may require modification.
Effect of leading-edge vortex flaps on aerodynamic performance of delta wings

The effect of leading-edge vortex flaps on the aerodynamic characteristics of highly swept-back wings is analytically investigated, using the free vortex sheet method. The method, based on a three-dimensional inviscid flow model, is an advanced panel type employing quadratic doublet distributions to represent the wing surface, rolled-up vortex sheet and wake and is capable of computing forces, moments and surface pressures.
Defense and security of a wireless tactical network

Recall the adage `a chain is as strong as its weakest link'- -a phrase that could serve as the official mantra of computer security. Operating Systems are difficult system to administer because it is not only complex and cantankerous but also hard to secure. They are enormous configurability, the fact that vendors don't ship secure systems, and that it requires significant amounts of time, resources, and expertise to safeguard a host are only some of the reasons that so many systems are insecure any type of network commercial or tactical. To compound the problem, like all modern operating systems it not only becomes less secure as time goes on (simply due to usage), but with the rapidly changing security field, it also requires considerably effort to stay abreast of the latest information. Army Research Labs is trying to address the security of the operating system in a tactical wireless environment. Through the use of public domain and/or commercial mans. ARL is evaluating monitoring, deployment, and auditing techniques to the wire commercial domain. By evaluating the wire domain ARL will determine what works and how they work in the tactical area. There are numerous ways to protect the wire/wireless network via public domain or commercial software.
A prospective, controlled phase II study of neoadjuvant exisulind therapy before radical prostatectomy: effect on apoptosis.

Objective To evaluate the activity of exisulind against prostate cancer (CaP) in vivo through a prospective study of neoadjuvant exisulind in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Exisulind and its analogs have been shown to induce apoptosis in vitro in many cancer cell lines, including CaP cell lines without affecting normal human cells. Methods Men with biopsy-proven, localized CaP (Gleason score ≥6) amenable to RP were offered enrollment into the trial. The treatment group (n = 44) was given oral exisulind (375–400 mg) daily for 4 weeks and then underwent RP. The control group underwent RP per routine (n = 49). The primary endpoint was change, from biopsy to prostatectomy specimens, in apoptosis biomarkers (bcl-2, Bax, par.-4, caspase 3, PTEN) between the 2 groups. Results There were no significant effects of exisulind on biomarkers of cell death between biopsy specimen and posttreatment RP specimen. The drug was well tolerated and there were no drug-related serious adverse events or deaths. Conclusion Exisulind is a well-tolerated drug with minimal adverse events; however, we were unable to detect any significant differences in apoptotic biomarkers among those treated with neoadjuvant exisulind compared with controls at the dose and duration tested. Future studies should consider evaluating a higher dose or longer duration to better evaluate the role exisulind may play in the treatment of men with CaP.
Constipation in the Elderly: Influence of Dietary, Psychological, and Physiological Factors

OBJECTIVE: To identify dietary, psychological, and physiological characteristics of older individuals with chronic constipation, compared with a control group of individuals without constipation, and identify correlates of colonic transit time. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: University hospital and affiliated clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen constipated and 18 control subjects who were nondemented, ambulatory, community-dwelling outpatients over the age of 60 years. MEASURES: Measures included a 1-week food diary, diet questionnaire, bowel diary, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90R), colonic transit study, and medical history, including queries about activity, medications, medical illnesses, and bowel symptoms. MAIN RESULTS: Constipated subjects reported consuming fewer meals per day compared with control subjects (P < 0.01) and a tendency to consume fewer calories (P = 0.07). There were no differences between groups on fiber or fluid intake or any of the other dietary parameters. However, slow colonic transit was significantly related to low caloric intake (P < 0.0001), higher percent of protein in the diet (P < 0.05), low fluid intake (P < 0.05), and to psychological symptoms of somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, depression, anxiety, and the global severity index (P < 0.05). Transit times were unrelated to crude or dietary fiber intake, activity level, or age. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that constipation in this older population is related to caloric intake rather than fiber consumption or other dietary qualities. Psychological distress is associated with slowed colonic transit and should be investigated further as a possible etiologic factor in constipation.
The role of inhaled insulin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

With the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, it is imperative that health care providers adopt a more aggressive treatment approach to optimize glycemic control and to reduce the incidence of and costs associated with diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Despite the well-recognized benefits of improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, the majority of patients still have poor glycemic control. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and many patients who initially achieve glycemic control with oral therapy will eventually require the addition of insulin to maintain glycemic control. Subcutaneous injections, however, represent a barrier to patients' initiation of insulin therapy, and alternative methods of insulin delivery are likely to be viewed positively by patients and physicians. The recent approval of Exubera (Pfizer, New York, NY), a novel inhaled insulin delivery system for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, may alleviate some of the barriers to the initiation of insulin. In studies in patients with type 2 diabetes, Exubera provided effective glycemic control that was comparable to that seen with subcutaneous insulin and superior to that seen with oral therapy, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Exubera can reduce the need for daily insulin injections and may become a useful alternative to existing treatments for the management of type 2 diabetes. Greater acceptance of new insulin delivery systems may lead to earlier introduction of insulin therapy, which should help more patients with diabetes achieve glycemic control sooner after diagnosis.
California court's decision regarding a physician's petition for reinstatement of his medical license.

Case Law is intended to provide pharmacists with timely information about recent court decisions that may affect pharmacy practice. Each installment includes pertinent background information, excerpts from the opinion of the court, and brief commentary. The contributing editor for the section is David B. Brushwood, B. Pharm., J.D., Professor, Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Center, University of Florida, Box 100496, Gainesville, FL 32610 (brushwood{at}cop.ufl.edu).
Cooperativity and intermediates in the equilibrium reactions of Fe(II,III) with ethanethiolate in N-methylformamide solution

The reaction of FeCl2 or FeCl3 with sodium ethanethiolate (SEt) in N-methylformamide (NMF) has been reevaluated to rectify a previous Fe(II) oxidation artifact. On titrating Fe(II) with EtS− concentrations up to 12 mol Eq, new features in the UV/vis spectrum (e344=(3.1±0.2)×103 M−1 cm−1; e486=(4.5±0.1)×102 M−1 cm−1) indicated that the first observable step was the formation of a single complex different from the known tetrahedral tetrathiolate, [Fe(SEt)4]2− . As the EtS− concentration increased past 12.5 mol Eq the UV/vis spectrum gradually transformed to that of [Fe(SEt)4]2− (λmax=314 nm). A Hill-formalism fit to the titration data of the initially formed complex indicated cooperative ligation by three ethanethiolate ions, with Kcoop=(1.7±0.1)×103 M−3 and Hill “n”=2.4±0.1 (r=0.997). The 3:1 EtS−–Fe(II) complex is proposed to be [Fe2(SEt)6]2− . Titration of Fe(III) with EtS− showed direct cooperative formation of [Fe(SEt)4]− [e340=(3.4±0.5)×103 M−1 cm−1] with a Hill-formalism Kcoop=(4.3±0.1)×102 M−4 and a Hill coefficient “n”=3.7±0.2 (r=0.996). Further ligation past [Fe(SEt)4]− was observed at EtS− concentrations above 35 mol Eq. The Fe(III) Hill constants are at variance with our previous report. However, the UV/vis spectrum of Fe(III) in NMF solution was found to change systematically over time, consistent with a slow progressive deprotonation of [Fe(nmf)]3+ . The observed time-to-time differences in the equilibrium chemistry of Fe(III) with ethanethiolate in NMF thus reflect variation in the microscopic solution composition of FeCl3 in alkaline NMF solvent. These results are related to the chemistry of nitrogenase FeMo cofactor in alkaline NMF solution.
A Longitudinal Study of Relational and Physical Aggression in Preschool.

Abstract To understand the development of relational aggression during early childhood, 91 girls and boys ( M age = 39.0; SD = 7.6 months) and their teachers participated in an 18-month longitudinal study. Children were observed for relational and physical aggression during free play in four time periods. Individually administered interviews were conducted to provide peer reports of relational and physical aggression. Teachers completed measures of relational and physical aggression and peer rejection. Findings support the psychometric properties of the observational methods for use during early childhood. Results suggest that girls are more relationally aggressive than male peers and boys are more physically aggressive than female peers. Moreover, children primarily direct their aggressive behavior at same-sex peers. Finally, relational aggression was found to be moderately stable during early childhood and was associated with future peer rejection problems. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of developing methods to investigate behavior patterns for understanding the early development of and future social–psychological risks that may be associated with relational aggression.
Analysis of mode I and mode II tests for composites with translaminar reinforcements

This paper presents finite element models to determine the Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness of stitched composites in conjunction with experiments. Two new test methods to measure the Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness of stitched composites are developed. From the experimental load- deflection diagram, the effective fracture toughness can be determined by the area method. However, in order to comprehensively understand the effect of stitches, two parameters, Gc-par (parent material's fracture toughness) and Gc-eff (effective fracture toughness) are needed to represent the fracture behavior of stitched composites. Gc-par is the intrinsic property of the parent material and is independent of stitch behavior. Gc-eff is the effective critical strain energy release rate that includes the effects of stitching. The purpose of performing the finite element analysis is to identify the correct physical models that represent the stitch interactions with the parent laminate and stitch failure mechanisms. Gc-par and Gc-eff can be obtained through different paths of the J-integral in the FE models. The models help in understanding the effects of stitch stiffness and spacing on the fracture toughness without the need for fabricating and testing stitched composite specimens.
Understanding the relationship between individualism–collectivism and team performance through an integration of social identity theory and the social relations model

In studying the relationship between individualism–collectivism and team performance, empirical research has shown that individualistic team members exert a negative influence on team performance. However, theoretical understanding of why this relationship exists is lacking. Addressing this gap in the literature, this research proposes a theoretical model of the relationship between individualism–collectivism and team performance by integrating two previously distinct theories, social identity theory and the social relations model. Drawing upon these theories, we propose that team identification, meta-perception accuracy, and team identity will mediate the relationship between individualism–collectivism and team performance. Further, we posit that task interdependence will moderate the relationship between individualism–collectivism and team identifi-cation. In developing our work, we formulate testable propositions which are aligned with the specific relationships shown in our model. After presenting our...
Response to Angel Lin's Review of When Children Write

I remember reading a book on the art of the novel, and remember being enraged by some of the author's comments on Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. He said that the book should have been the Great American Novel, but was not, because it was fatally flawed. It was fatally flawed because it was unbalanced. It was unbalanced because Steinbeck had not portrayed the rich with the same sort of detail and complexity that he had the poor. Across time, I have tried to figure out why I was so angered by this criticism. In part, I think I simply did not want anything bad said about a book I loved. (I am sure I loved it, in part, because Steinbeck's heroes were familiar-I grew up in northern Wisconsin, not Oklahoma, and my family and neighbors were certainly better off than the Joads. But they were recognizable: rural, farming, persevering.) But even more, my anger was fueled by the fact that this critic seemed to assume some sort of equal treatment of rich and poor in all the novels and books and movies that came before Grapes of Wrath. My question for the critic was: Why should Steinbeck lavish attention on the wealthy? They have received more than their fair share.