cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of Lewis y antigen in resected stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer.

Background The role of Lewis y (Le y ) antigen expression has been studied extensively in predicting the outcome of various malignancies. We evaluated the expression of Le y and its relationship to survival, disease-free survival and other clinicopathologic variables in patients with stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Objective To investigate the prognostic significance of Le y antigen expression in a large group of well characterized patients with resected stage I and II NSCLC. Patients Two hundred and sixty patients with surgically resected stage I (n = 193) and II (n = 67) NSCLC with at least 5-year follow-up were identified. Results The median survival for patients with negative expression of Le y ( y (≥ 50%), the median survival was 54 months (p = 0.99). The disease-free survival for patients with Le y (–) expression was 39 months and 34 months for patients with Le y (+) expression (p = 0.3). Conclusions : We found no relationship between loss of blood group antigen A and expression of Le y . No statistically significant difference was found in survival between positive and negative expression of Le y antigen in patients with resected stage I and II NSCLC.
Minimum cycle covers of graphs

Some new results on minimum cycle covers are proved. As a consequence, it is obtained that the edges of a bridgeless graph G can be covered by cycles of total length at most , and at most if G contains no circuit of length 8 or 12. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 25:229–242, 1997
Extinction and the spatial dynamics of biodiversity

The fossil record amply shows that the spatial fabric of extinction has profoundly shaped the biosphere; this spatial dimension provides a powerful context for integration of paleontological and neontological approaches. Mass extinctions evidently alter extinction selectivity, with many factors losing effectiveness except for a positive relation between survivorship and geographic range at the clade level (confirmed in reanalyses of end-Cretaceous extinction data). This relation probably also holds during “normal” times, but changes both slope and intercept with increasing extinction. The strong geographical component to clade dynamics can obscure causation in the extinction of a feature or a clade, owing to hitchhiking effects on geographic range, so that multifactorial analyses are needed. Some extinctions are spatially complex, and regional extinctions might either reset a diversity ceiling or create a diversification debt open to further diversification or invasion. Evolutionary recoveries also exhibit spatial dynamics, including regional differences in invasibilty, and expansion of clades from the tropics fuels at least some recoveries, as well as biodiversity dynamics during normal times. Incumbency effects apparently correlate more closely with extinction intensities than with standing diversities, so that regions with higher local and global extinctions are more subject to invasion; the latest Cenozoic temperate zones evidently received more invaders than the tropics or poles, but this dynamic could shift dramatically if tropical diversity is strongly depleted. The fossil record can provide valuable insights, and their application to present-day issues will be enhanced by partitioning past and present-day extinctions by driving mechanism rather than emphasizing intensity.
The Butterfly Program: A Partnership Model for Pediatric Palliative Care (S726)

Objectives 1. Evaluate the impact of a focused palliative care educational program on knowledge and attitudes of clinicians providing end of life care. 2. Describe the features of a "Palliative Care Quick Reference Guide" as an educational tool on clinical areas. Background. Palliative Care is becoming a standard of care in many hospitals, making it increasingly important for healthcare clinicians to have knowledge and skills to effectively care for patients with progressive, life-limiting illnesses. Research Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a focused and fiscally responsible educational program on knowledge and attitudes of healthcare clinicians about end of life care. Method. Design: Knowledge and attitudes about care at the end of life were measured before and after a 3-hour educational program. Participants were 40 healthcare workers. Attitudes about care at the end of life were measured with the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale and Attitudes Toward Palliative Care Empowerment, a tool designed by the investigators. Knowledge was measured with an adapted End of Life Care Across Settings scale. Measures were obtained prior to the first session, after the last session, and at 3 and 7 months posteducation. Participants were instructed on a Palliative Care Quick Reference Guide binder with content on pain and symptom management, assessment scales, artificial nutrition and hydration, advance directives, communication, and bereavement to be used in their clinical areas to help educate their colleagues about end of life care. Result. Significant increases in positive attitudes toward care for the dying was found (p < .01). Knowledge did not change with education. Conclusion. A focused 3-hour program changed clinicians’ attitudes about care of the dying. The strength of the study findings and participant evaluations impacted decision-making of administration which now supports 12 hours of initial instruction and ongoing quarterly educational sessions to change attitudes and increase knowledge. Participants receive clinical ladder recognition credit for attending. Implications for Research, Policy, or Practice. A larger study is indicated and should be developed into other healthcare settings, including home care and extended healthcare facilities.
Pro)renin Receptor in Kidney Development and Disease

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), a key regulator of the blood pressure and fluid/electrolyte homeostasis, also plays a critical role in kidney development. All the components of the RAS are expressed in the developing metanephros. Moreover, mutations in the genes encoding components of the RAS in mice or humans are associated with a broad spectrum of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). These forms of CAKUT include renal papillary hypoplasia, hydronephrosis, duplicated collecting system, renal tubular dysgenesis, renal vascular abnormalities, and aberrant glomerulogenesis. Emerging evidence indicates that (pro)renin receptor (PRR), a novel component of the RAS, is essential for proper kidney development and that aberrant PRR signaling is causally linked to cardiovascular and renal disease. This paper describes the role of the RAS in kidney development and highlights emerging insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the PRR may regulate this critical morphogenetic process.
REGULATION OF THE RAT THYROID IN SHORTTERM IODINE DEFICIENCY1

THE central role of iodine deficiency in the etiology of simple goiter has been firmly established (Marine, 1935). Thyroid hyperplasia readily develops in rats maintained on a goitrogen-free low iodine diet (Levine et al, 1933, Remington and Remington, 1938). According to the most generally accepted theory of the pathogenesis of thyroid changes in iodine deficiency, the inadequate supply of iodine curtails the formation of thyroid hormone, and the resulting hypothyroid state leads to compensatory hypersecretion of pituitary thyrotrophin (TSH) (Marine, 1935; Greer, 1950; Riggs, 1952). In addition to thyroid enlargement, further signs of increased TSH production were described in rats fed low iodine diets, such as augmented thyroid cell height, pituitary changes similar to those seen in hypothyroid animals and enhanced thyroidal radioiodine collection (Leblond and Mann, 1942). Chapman (1941), however, reported that thyroid cell height increases in response to low iodine intake even in the absence of the pit...
Update Summarization using Semi-Supervised Learning Based on Hellinger Distance

Update summarization aims to generate brief summaries of recent documents to capture new information different from earlier documents. In this paper, we propose a new method to generate the sentence similarity graph using a novel similarity measure based on Helliger distance and apply semi-supervised learning on the sentence graph to select the sentences with maximum consistency and minimum redundancy to form the summaries. We use TAC 2011 data to evaluate our proposed method and compare it with existing baselines. The experimental results show the effectiveness of our proposed method.
A combined first-principles calculation and thermodynamic modeling of the F–K–Na system

Abstract The phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the F–K–Na system were analyzed by combining a first-principles approach and calculation of phase diagram (CALPHAD) technique in the present work. The enthalpies of formation for intermediate compounds (KF, NaF and KNa 2 ) in the F–K–Na system and the enthalpies of mixing in bcc and halite phases were obtained via first-principles density functional calculations. Using these values together with thermochemical and phase stability data in the literature, computational thermodynamic modeling of the F–K, F–Na, K–Na binary systems and the KF–NaF pseudo-binary system was performed. The isothermal and isopleth sections of the F–K–Na ternary system as well as the liquidus projection were predicted. All calculated results are well within the uncertainties of the experimental data and the results from first-principles calculations. This ternary system forms a basis for better understanding and controlling the extraction process of tantalum.
A study of productivity measures for improving benefit-cost ratios of operating organizations

This paper is based on a critical analysis of 27 published case-studies on productivity improvement efforts. First, the paper emphasizes why productivity is important for individual companies, for organizations as well as for nations, and outlines the most commonly used definitions and measures of productivity. Next, the paper attempts to identify all the productivity-related factors mentioned in the case-studies, and puts them under various groups of factors in such a way that each group falls under the general responsibility of one of the traditional functional managers. Further, the paper gives a critical review of commonly used, specialized productivity measures as they exist in the various U.S. industry groups, such as manufacturing, government, service industry, and others. An additional two sections are devoted to the critical assessment of the major contributors to productivity, and to the uncontrollable situations (statesof nature) that can damage productivity efforts. These two sections are foll...
Texas fever, two-headed calves and the Hatch Act--100 years and counting for veterinary parasitology in the United States.

The structure, historical development and major research problems confronting veterinary parasitology in the U.S.A. are reviewed 100 years after the cooperative federal-state experiment station system was authorized through passage of the Hatch Act by the U.S. Congress in 1887. The story of Texas cattle fever eradication from the American south exemplifies historical and functional aspects of the experiment station system. The distribution and importance of parasite problems of livestock, companion animals and parasitic zoonoses are summarized in the context of larger national agricultural issues.
Chronic administration of the delta opioid receptor agonist (+)BW373U86 and antidepressants on behavior in the forced swim test and BDNF mRNA expression in rats

Rationale Selective delta opioid receptor agonists have been shown to produce antidepressant-like behavioral effects and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression when given acutely, but the chronic effects of delta agonists have been less well characterized.
Prediction of health behaviors in pediatric cancer survivors.

Background It is important to understand the factors that motivate survivors of childhood cancer to engage in healthy behaviors. This is because of their susceptibility to adverse late effects from their malignancy and its treatment. We specifically examined sociodemographic and health perception variables as predictors of health-protective behaviors in pediatric cancer survivors. Procedure Forty-six patients, ages 10–18 years, who were previously treated for cancer and were 1–4 years off-therapy, were assessed using a battery of testing instruments. Results Preadolescent and adolescent cancer survivors reported moderately frequent practice of a variety of health-protective behaviors. The prevalence of risky health behaviors, as indicated by alcohol and tobacco use, was low. Regression analyses indicated that the practice of health-protective behaviors was best predicted by patient's age and socioeconomic status (SES); younger adolescents and patients from higher SES more frequently engaged in healthy behaviors. Health perception variables were not significantly related to health-protective behaviors. This was true despite findings that survivors perceived themselves to be vulnerable to health problems, identified a need to protect their health, and perceived their health outcomes to be largely determined by their own behaviors. Conclusions Sociodemographic factors should be kept in mind when designing interventions to promote continuing good health for young cancer survivors. Also to be included is the assessment of specific health risks secondary to the cancer therapies given. Risk counseling that recognizes and builds on these variables will be most effective in helping this patient population observe sound health habits. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 37:42–46, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Revisiting the Invisibility of (Male) Bisexuality: Grounding (Queer) Theory, Centering Bisexual Absences and Examining Masculinities

The article draws upon research published in the Journal of Bisexuality since the author's 2001 article to make observations about bisexuality research and about continuing sex and gender differences in bisexual visibility. Great interest in queer theory reflects the preponderance of theorizing about bisexuality as a transformative, liberatory and disruptive social identity. Advocating for sociological approaches and the analytic inclusion of nonbisexual identified but behaviorally bisexual individuals, the author suggests that more empirical attention to material relations, social structures and everyday social interactions is needed to complement the symbolic emphasis of queer theory and cultural studies. Further incorporating analytical attention to non-bisexual-identified individuals would better ground bisexuality studies and would involve a redirection of critical attention to the multiple social processes that generate bisexual ‘absences.’ Critical gender studies, which identify masculinity as a pe...
Abraham Lincoln: A Constitutional Biography

Chapter 1 The Declaration of Independence: An Introduction Chapter 2 The Declaration of Independence: On Rights and Duties Chapter 3 The Northwest Ordinance Chapter 4 Slavery and the Federal Convention of 1787 Chapter 5 The Common Law and the Organization of Government Chapter 6 Alexis de Tocqueville on Democracy in America Chapter 7 John C. Calhoun and Slavery Chapter 8 Southern Illinois' Abraham Lincoln Chapter 9 The Poetry of Abraham Lincoln Chapter 10 The "House Divided" Speech Chapter 11 The Lincoln-Douglas Debates Chapter 12 The First Inaugural Address Chapter 13 The Fourth of July Message to Congress Chapter 14 The Emancipation Proclamation Chapter 15 The Gettysburg Address Chapter 16 The Second Inaugural Address Chapter 17 Abraham Lincoln's Legacies
The effect of composition on the boiling rates of liquefied natural gas for confined spills on water

Abstract The rate of boiling of liquefied natural gas (LNG) spilled onto a water surface was experimentally measured in a confined area calorimeter. Increasing the concentration of ethane and propane resulted in higher boiling rates. In all cases, the vaporization rate was found to be very time dependent with concomitant variations in the LNG composition and temperature as well as in the character of the water where ice formed and increased in thickness. A qualitative theory is proposed to explain the effect of composition on the boiling rates and a quantitative model developed to predict boiling rates for LNG spills. This model is based on a numerical solution to the Stefan problem and is coupled to a vapor-liquid equilibrium model which tracks changes in LNG composition and temperature. Good agreement is obtained between predicted and experimental boiling rates with the use of a single adjustable parameter—which is itself correlated with initial LNG composition.
Identification of FcγRI, II and III on normal human brain ramified microglia and on microglia in senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease

Using monoclonal antibodies to the three known human leukocyte IgG receptors, Fc gamma R, we examined the expression of Fc gamma R in normal brains and in Alzheimer's disease. We found Fc gamma RI, II and III immunoreactivity in senile plaques and on ramified microglia throughout the cortex and white matter of normal and Alzheimer's disease brains. Fc gamma RI expression was independently confirmed by a murine isotype binding study. These findings suggest that intrinsic Fc gamma R may play an important role in normal and disordered immune-related processes in the brain. They support the idea that microglia are brain macrophages.
Information acquisition, controlled sensing, and active hypothesis testing

Measurements are ever increasingly ubiquitous, playing a central role in a wide variety of applications. However, the capabilities of any measurement device (e.g., sensitivity, resolution, dynamic range, reliability, etc.) are directly related to the deployed measurement resources/cost (e.g., size, weight, power, etc.), almost all information acquisition systems experience a tradeoff among competing goals. A novel unified mathematical formalism to understand this seemingly inherent and intuitive tradeoff is of paramount value and importance. A combination of techniques and results in stochastic control, information theory, decision theory, and statistics have proved powerful in advancing this goal and obtaining partial results. This presentation catalogues these advances and hopes to motivate further investigation of this research problem.
A systematic skills approach to the selection and training of foster parents as mental health paraprofessionals, I: Project overview and selection component

This is the first of two articles describing a systematic skills approach to the selection and training of foster parents who will function as mental health paraprofessionals. This article presents an overview of the project and a discussion of the selection component. The selection component is based on a definition of the role of foster parents in terms of the level of their helping skills and the quality of the family emotional climate. These two dimensions are assessed by the Group Assessment of Interpersonal Traits and the Family Concept Test. Results from a pilot study suggesting the efficacy of the Family Concept Test as a selection instrument are presented.
Oral and labial verruca vulgaris: clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation.

Etude de 96 specimens de verrue vulgaire orale. Etude microscopique de la morphologie architecturale, des caracteristiques de cornification, des modifications koilocytotiques et de l'inflammation sous muqueuse. Recherche de l'antigene commun papillomavirus dans les noyaux cellulaires epitheliaux
The synthesis of steroidal [16α,17α-d]-2'-pyrazolines and [16,17-d]-pyrazoles

Abstract The addition of diphenylnitrilimines to a series of steroidal 16,17-dipolarophiles occurs with the same regio specificity in all cases regardless of the nature of the 17-substituent, to yield [16α, 17α-d]-2'pyrazolines. The adducts from the 17-acetoxy-16,17-androstene, 3c, cannot be isolated but yield the [16,17-d]-pyrazoles by loss of acetic acid.
Transferring patients from residency into practice.

Recently graduated residents and their supervisors were questioned about the clinical wisdom of continuing to treat patients seen in training by transferring them to the residents’ newly established private practices. Given the increasingly competitive market for psychotherapy patients, there will likely be a growing tendency for graduating residents to want to carry over patients from their training caseloads to their private practices. Questions arise concerning which patients should be offered such an option, how much to charge, whether such a practice should be encouraged, and whether transfer provides greater continuity of care. Residents were asked about their attitudes and about their clinical and supervisory experiences with such transfers. Supervisors were questioned about the indications and complexities of transfers and the specific issues that should be raised in teaching about this phenomenon. Results tended to support transferring patients from residents’ training caseload to their private practices.
Moderate drinking and cardiovascular health.

Moderate alcohol consumption (1–2 drinks a day) can be beneficial in reducing the risk of coronary artery disease. This article focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of moderate drinking, including increased plasma high-density lipoprotein levels, changes in cellular signaling, reduction in platelet function, stimulation of fibrinolysis, and reduction in ischemia-reperfusion injury. While moderate drinking may be protective against coronary artery disease for some individuals, populations such as pregnant women and individuals who are about to operate motor vehicles or heavy machinery should not drink alcoholic beverages. People with family histories of alcoholism should exercise extreme caution in their decision to drink.
The Relationship Between Box Office and Repertoire: a Case Study of Opera*

This is a study of opera as a performing arts organization. The concept of market is used to explain the selection of repertoire. The box office—an expression of client-centeredness—acts to constra...
Extraction of effective trap density and gate length in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs based on pulsed I-V characteristics

Reliability issues such as degradation of DC, transient, and RF characteristics have been intensively investigated in AlGaN/GaN HEMT applications. The instability of AlGaN/GaN HEMT operations is attributed to modification in electrical behavior of trapping centers induced during the material growth and device fabrication, and/or introduction of new traps, caused by electrical/thermal stress. However, it has been difficult to analyze accurate trapping density and effective gate length under device operation since electron capture and emission are varied depending on bias condition and trap position/energy level. Thus, precise monitoring methodology for trapping effects is required. In this paper, we report a simple method to extract effective trap density based on pulsed I-V measurements under different quiescent bias (QB) conditions with a very short pulse width.
Finite difference analysis of thermal response and post-fire flexural degradation of glass fiber reinforced composites coated with carbon nanofiber based nanopapers

Abstract In this study, a 1D transient finite difference model was developed to predict the thermal response and post-fire flexural modulus degradation of glass fiber reinforced polyester composites subjected to various levels of heat flux. A carbon nanofiber (CNF) based hybrid nanopaper was coated onto the surface of the composites. The protective nanopaper coating was treated as to impose a temperature boundary condition in the model. A temperature dependent post-fire mechanical property model proposed in an earlier study was implemented with the thermal model in which the porosity and permeability of the material were taken into account. By comparing the post-fire residual flexural moduli, the model prediction showed reasonable agreement with the experimental data and expected physical behaviors. The model numerically demonstrates how the coating of nanopaper helps retain the structural integrity of the composite material, namely, the nanopaper coating leads to a reduction in mass loss, reduced cold side temperature, and eventually improved mechanical property. Furthermore, the parametric study of the model suggested that the porosity of the material has profound influence on the residual moduli of the composites.
Monte Carlo simulation of polymers in solution and bulk

Abstract The behavior of polymers in solution depends on both temperature and concentration. At least four different regions of the concentration-temperature plane exist in which the physical properties are fundamentally different. These regions are known as the dilute good solvent, theta solvent, semidilute, and concentrated regions. In this investigation, Monte Carlo simulations were performed in order to examine how properties change in going from one region to another. Two series of simulations were performed. In the first series, properties were studied as a function of concentration so that crossover from dilute, to semidilute, and then to concentrated was obtained. In the concentrated or bulk region, it was found that the second and fourth moments of the end-to-end distance were characteristic of ideal chains (without excluded volume), consistent with neutron scattering results. In the semidilute region, the concentration dependence of the mean square end-to-end distance was not in agreement with s...
Planning model for small power producing facilities based on the Gaussian distribution function

Abstract As a result of a law passed by the US Congress called the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), small power producing facilities gained considerable flexibility compared with utilities. This paper presents an optimization technique for the planning of a small power producing facility when it operates in parallel with a local utility. The model formulation is based on the analytical production costing model. It determines the on-site generation capacity, the contractual amount of power purchased from the utility, the number of generating units in the on-site generation facility, and the optimal scheduling of the small power producing facility subject to spot prices and reliability constraints.
Chemisorption and catalysis on oxidized aluminum metal

Abstract The oxide that grows on aluminum metal on exposure to room temperature air is similar in both its physical and chemical properties to γ-alumina. Thermal gravimetric analysis shows that it is not an aluminum hydrate. Vibrational spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine shows that Lewis acid sites can be generated by fluoriding.
3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryldithio-coenzyme A: A potent inhibitor of Pseudomonas mevalonii HMG-CoA reductase

Abstract 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-1-thionoglutaryl-coenzyme A, a dithioester analog of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA, has been enzymatically synthesized using the HMG-CoA synthase catalyzed condensation of acetyl-CoA with 3-oxo-1-thionobutyryl-CoA. HMGdithio-CoA is a potent inhibitor of Pseudomonas mevalonii HMG-CoA reductase. Inhibition was mainly competitive with respect to HMG-CoA with a Kis of 0.086 ± .01 μ m and noncompetitive with respect to NADH with a Kis of 3.7 ± 1.5 μ m and a Kii of 0.65 ± .05 μ m in the presence of 110 μ m (R,S)-HMG-CoA.
Fractal characterization and simulation of rough surfaces

Abstract Roughness measurements on a variety of machined steel surfaces and a textured magnetic thin-film disk have shown that their topographies are multiscale and random. The power spectrum of each of these surfaces follows a power law within the length scales considered. This spectral behavior implies that when the surface is repeatedly magnified, statistically similar images of the surface keep appearing. In this paper the fractal dimension is identified as an intrinsic property of such a multiscale structure and the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot (W-M) fractal function is used to introduce a new and simple method of roughness characterization. The power spectra of the stainless steel surface profiles coincide at high frequencies and correspond to a fractal dimension of 1.5. It is speculated that this coincidence occurs at small length scales because the surface remains unprocessed at such scales. Surface processing, such as grinding or lapping, reduces the power at lower frequencies up to a certain corner frequency, higher than which all surfaces behave as unprocessed ones. The W-M function is also used to simulate deterministically both brownian and non-brownian rough surfaces which exhibit statistical resemblance to real surfaces.
Tourette's syndrome in adults

Tourette's syndrome (TS) is defined as motor and phonic tics starting before age 18 years, and therefore most studies have focused on childhood TS, whereas the disorder in adults has not been well characterized. We reviewed medical records of all new TS patients referred to our Movement Disorders Clinic over the past 5 years, 19 years or older on initial evaluation and compared them with 100 TS patients 18 years or younger. The mean age at initial visit of 43 adult TS patients was 58.8 ± 6.7 years, whereas the mean age at initial visit of children with TS was 12.9 ± 2.0 years. Of the adult TS patients, 35 (81.4%) had a history of tics with onset before the age of 18 years (mean age at onset: 8.5 ± 3.4 years), with 8 (18.6%) reporting first occurrence of tics after the age of 18 years (mean age at onset: 37.8 ± 13.2 years). Only two (4.7%) patients reported tic onset after the age of 50 years. Adult patients with TS had significantly more facial and truncal tics, and a greater prevalence of substance abuse and mood disorders, but fewer phonic tics, and lower rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional behavior than children with TS. Adult TS largely represents reemergence or exacerbation of childhood-onset TS. During the course of TS, phonic and complex motor tics, self-injurious behaviors, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to improve, but facial, neck, and trunk tics dominate the adult TS phenotype. In addition, adults with TS are more likely to exhibit substance abuse and mood disorders compared with children with TS.
VIBRATIONS TRANSMITTED TO HUMAN SUBJECTS THROUGH PASSENGER SEATS AND CONSIDERATIONS OF PASSENGER COMFORT

An experimental study was conducted to determine the vertical and lateral vibration-transmission characteristics of several types of transport vehicle seats (two aircraft and one bus) to obtain preliminary estimates and comparisons of the ride acceptability of the various seat types. Results of this investigation indicate that from the standpoint of human comfort the seats exhibit undesirable dynamic response characteristics. Amplification of floor vibrations occurred at the frequencies known to be most critical for human comfort in both vertical and lateral axes. An average transmissibility function for aircraft seats was tabulated together with the associated variability for use by designers who incorporate similar types of seats in their vehicles. The acceptability of vibrations resulting from floor inputs of 0.10g and 0.15g was low over a broad range of frequencies for both axes and all seat types, and was especially low at frequencies where the input was being amplified.
Localization of the genes for silk fibroin in silk gland cells of Bombyx mori.

Abstract Radioactive iodinated silk fibroin messenger RNA and ribosomal RNA have been used as probes to localize their genes in tissue sections of Bombyx mori by in situ hybridization. From filter hybridization experiments it is inferred that the majority of the grains produced by in situ hybridization with fibroin mRNA represents specific hybridization to fibroin genes. Sections of the posterior silk gland where silk is synthesized have been compared with those of the middle gland which does not synthesize fibroin. Glands have been analyzed from the second through the fifth (last) larval instar during feeding and moulting periods. During later stages when the gland cells increase their DNA content by polyploidization, serial sections were required to follow the distribution of grains through entire nuclei. At all stages, both ribosomal DNA and fibroin genes are distributed randomly throughout the nuclei without a preferred relationship to any nuclear structure.
Potentiation of the anticonflict effects of diazepam, but not pentobarbital and phenobarbital, by aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA).

Abstract The Conditioned Suppression of Drinking (CSD) paradigm is an “animal model” for anxiety which has been used to study the anticonflict effects of the benzodiazepines. It has been postulated that benzodiazepines produce their effects through interactions with GABA. The present study examined this potential GABA-BZ interaction on CSD behavior. In daily 10-minute sessions, water-deprived rats were trained to drink from a tube which was occasionally electrified (0.5 mA), electrification being signalled by a tone. Within 2–3 weeks control CSD responding had stabilized (16–24 shocks session and 10–14 ml water/session); drug tests were conducted at weekly intervals. As expected, diazepam (0.3–20.0 mg/kg), pentobarbital (0.6–10.0 mg/kg) and phenobarbital (10.0–40.0 mg/kg) alone markedly increased the number of shocks received at doses which did not depress background responding (i.e., water intake). Treatment with the GABA-transaminase inhibitor aminooxyyacetic acid (AOAA: 2.5–10.0 mg/kg, 10- or 60-minute pretreatment) alone had no anticonflict effect on CSD behavior. However, pretreatment (60-minute) with 10.0 mg/kg AOAA significantly potentiated the effects of diazepam, as indicated by a significant shift to the left in the diazepam dose-response curve relative to diazepam alone. By contrast, the anticonflict effects of pentobarbital and phenobarbital were unaffected by this AOAA pretreatment. Thus, while increases in GABA transmission alone do not appear to affect CSD behavior, the anticonflict effects of benzodiazepines, but not barbiturates, appear to be potentiated by increases in GABA transmission.
Female Brain Size and Parental Care in Carnivores

Abstract Comparative studies indicate that species differences in mammalian brain size relate to body size, ecology, and life-history traits. Previous analyses failed to show intrasexual or behavioral patterns of brain size in mammals. Across the terrestrial Carnivora, I find to the contrary. Differences in female, but not male, brain size associate with a fundamental ecological and evolutionary characteristic of female behavior. Other factors equal, females that provide the sole parental care have larger brains than those of biparental or communal species. For females, more parental investment accompanies larger brains. Future comparative studies of mammalian brain size must recognize that some patterns arise independently in the two sexes.
Self-disclosure reciprocity, liking and the deviant

Abstract Conflicting predictions were derived from social exchange theory about the role of social attraction and the reciprocity norm on mutual self-disclosure in dyadic relationships. Sixty-six female subjects were exposed to one of three levels of disclosure input: conventional-low disclosure, conventional-high disclosure, or devianthigh disclosure. In support of the reciprocity norm prediction, willingness to disclose personal information was a positive function of the amount of disclosure input from another person, regardless of the degree of liking for the initial discloser.
Induction of keratouveitis by capsaicin.

The nervous system has profound modulatory influences on many inflammatory processes, particularly within the eye. These properties are in part mediated via neuropeptides. The neurotoxin, capsaicin, has been utilized as a valuble experimental tool to study the role of neuropeptides in many organ systems. Retrobulbar injection of capsaicin into rats results in the loss of sensory nerve function with rapid onset of inflammation (6–12 hours) which is confined to the the anterior segment. The hallmark of the acute response at 24–48 hours is marked polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)/mononuclear cell influx and opacification of the corneal stroma with degeneration and loss of the central epithelium. PMN/mononuclear cell infiltration was also evident within the angle, the anterior chamber, and the iris. The corresponding posterior segments were normal. There was extensive corneal neovascularization between 7 and 14 days. This keratouveitogenic response in rats was age-dependent and can be attenuated by prior syst...
Roller-Compacted Concrete Shoulder Construction on Interstate Highway in Georgia

In 2004, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) used roller-compacted concrete (RCC) for Interstate 285 shoulder reconstruction in Atlanta. This instance marks the first usage of RCC pavement in the Interstate highway system in the United States. The construction procedures are described, and the mix design data for the RCC material are presented. The results of a comprehensive field and laboratory investigation of the pertinent material properties are also presented. The 6- and 8-in. (150- and 200-mm) RCC shoulder was constructed with minimal disruption for the traveling public and has performed well to date. The RCC mix was designed for a 4,000-psi (27.6-MPa) compressive strength with 0.5-in. (12.5-mm) maximum size aggregate. More than 98% of the maximum wet density, as specified in the GDOT provision for average in-field density, was achieved in tests at random locations. The average compressive strength in the middle section showed close agreement with the design strength. Reasonably good den...
A New Technique for Design of Low-Profile, Second-Order, Bandpass Frequency Selective Surfaces

In this study, a new method for designing low profile frequency selective surfaces (FSS) with second-order bandpass responses is presented. The FSSs designed using this technique utilize non-resonant subwavelength constituting unit cells with unit cell dimensions and periodicities in the order of 0.15lambda0. It is demonstrated that using the proposed technique, second-order FSSs with an overall thickness of lambda0/30 can be designed. This is considerably smaller than the thickness of second-order FSSs designed using traditional techniques and could be particularly useful at lower frequencies with long wavelengths. To facilitate the design of this structure, an equivalent circuit based synthesis method is also presented in this paper. Two bandpass FSS prototypes operating at X-band are designed, fabricated, and tested. A free space measurement setup is used to thoroughly characterize the frequency responses of these prototypes for both the TE and TM polarizations and various angles of incidence. The frequency responses of these structures are shown to have a relatively low sensitivity to the angle of incidence. Principles of operation, detailed design and synthesis procedure, and measurement results of two fabricated prototypes are presented and discussed in this paper.
Prehabilitation and Quality of Life Three Months after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study:

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), which affects over 27 million Americans, decreases the individual's quality of life through decreasing mobility, deconditioning, reducing functional ability, and increasing knee pain. The present aim was to assess whether such patients engaging in exercise prior to surgery ("prehabilitation"; preoperative exercise intervention) rate higher quality of life 3 mo. after their surgery compared with ratings by patients who did not engage in prehabilitation. Standard populations consist of OA patients that do not participate in any preoperative exercise programs, such as a prehabilitation exercise intervention. 18 knee osteoarthritis patients were randomly assigned to a control or a prehabilitation group. The latter group participated in an exercise intervention three times per week, once at home and twice at the physical therapy lab, for 8 wk. prior to their surgery. The control group participated in their usual preoperative care prescribed by the physician for all patients. Eight health-related quality of life domains were assessed at 3 mo. post surgery. These preliminary findings suggest efficacy of prehabilitation in facilitating quality of life of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients 3 mo. after surgery.
A sampled-line reflectometer for submillimeter-wave measurements

A reflectometer designed for operation at submillimeter wavelengths and based on the sampled-transmission line architecture is described. The reflectometer is a relatively simple implementation of the six-port network analyzer introduced by Engen (IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-25, no. 12, pp. 1080-1083, 1979) and consists of a section of rectangular waveguide and an ensemble of Schottky diode power detectors. Design considerations for the instrument are described and measurements in the 270 GHz to 285 GHz range are presented and discussed.
Communicating with virtual paths and virtual channels (ATM networks)

The authors give several examples of virtual path and virtual channel use for different types of communication, and then compare the two mechanisms. For most types of communication, both virtual path and virtual channel connections are more-or-less equally capable. However, for relatively high bandwidth communication involving more than five to ten participants, virtual path connections can more efficiently support some interconnection patterns. In general, the authors believe that both connection types are desirable and both should be extended to the client by network providers. >
Identifying and reducing errors with surgical simulation

The major determinant of a patient’s safety and outcome is the skill and judgment of the surgeon. While knowledge base and decision processing are evaluated during residency, technical skills—which are at the core of the profession—are not evaluated. Innovative state of the art simulation devices that train both surgical tasks and skills, without risk to patients, should allow for the detection and analysis of errors and “near misses”. Studies have validated the use of a sophisticated endoscopic sinus surgery simulator (ES3) for training residents on a procedural basis. Assessments are proceeding as to whether the integration of a comprehensive ES3 training programme into the residency curriculum will have long term effects on surgical performance and patient outcomes. Using various otolaryngology residencies, subjects are exposed to mentored training on the ES3 as well as to minimally invasive trainers such as the MIST-VR. Technical errors are identified and quantified on the simulator and intraoperatively. Through a web based database, individual performance can be compared against a national standard. An upgraded version of the ES3 will be developed which will support patient specific anatomical models. This advance will allow study of the effects of simulated rehearsal of patient specific procedures (mission rehearsal) on patient outcomes and surgical errors during the actual procedure. The information gained from these studies will help usher in the next generation of surgical simulators that are anticipated to have significant impact on patient safety.
Sequential Changes in Antiangiogenic Factors in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Developing Preeclampsia

Concentrations of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) and soluble endoglin (sEng) increase in maternal blood with the approach of clinical preeclampsia. Although alterations in these circula...
Increased Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Is Not a Primary Determinant for Lethality of West Nile Virus Infection in Rodents

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was evaluated in mice and hamsters infected with West Nile virus (WNV, flavivirus) as compared to those infected with Semliki Forest (alphavirus) and Banzi (flavivirus) viruses. BBB permeability was determined by measurement of fluorescence in brain homogenates or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of sodium fluorescein, by macroscopic examination of brains after i.p. injection of Evans blue, or by measurement of total protein in CSF compared to serum. Lethal infection of BALB/c mice with Semliki Forest virus and Banzi virus caused the brain : serum fluorescence ratios to increase from a baseline of 2-4% to as high as 11 and 15%, respectively. Lethal infection of BALB/c mice with WNV did not increase BBB permeability. When C57BL/6 mice were used, BBB permeability was increased in some, but not all, of the WNV-infected animals. A procedure was developed to measure BBB permeability in live WNV-infected hamsters by comparing the fluorescence in the CSF, aspirated from the cisterna magnum, with the fluorescence in the serum. Despite a time-dependent tendency towards increased BBB permeability in some WNV-infected hamsters, the highest BBB permeability values did not correlate with mortality. These data indicated that a measurable increase in BBB permeability was not a primary determinant for lethality of WNV infection in rodents. The lack of a consistent increase in BBB permeability in WNV-infected rodents has implications for the understanding of viral entry, viral pathogenesis and accessibility of the CNS of rodents to drugs or effector molecules.
Evaluation of the patient with congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias

Abstract Although vasodilators and new inotropic agents have been shown to improve ventricular function and reduce symtoms, their effect on mortality is uncertain. In view of our failure to reduce mortality in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), the identification and amelioration of potentially reversible factors that might alter survival are crucial before initiating therapy. The first step is to establish the diagnosis of CHF and the presence or absence of dilated congestive cardiomyopathy. The extent of myocardial dysfunction, both right and left, must also be evaluated. In post-myocardial infarction patients, left ventricular ejection fraction is an important indicator of prognosis during the first 1 to 2 years. However, in patients with chronic CHF and dilated cardiomyopathy, right ventricular ejection fraction may be a more effective predictor of survival. The presence, frequency and complexity of ventricular arrhythmias must be determined, because these arrhythmias may independently increase the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Their role in patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy is less certain. In addition, myocardial ischemia, left ventricular dyskinesis or aneurysm, occult myocarditis and neurothrombosis formation must be ruled out. Detection and correction of serum electrolyte and neurohumeral abnormalities are essential. Our failure to reduce mortality in patients with CHF may not entirely lie in the lack of effective therapeutic agents but rather in our failure to apply properly the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches now available.
Fourier Transform Luminescence Spectroscopy of Semiconductor Thin Films and Devices

We have been successful in adapting Fourier transform (FT) Raman accessories and spectrophotometers for sensitive measurements of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of photovoltaic materials and devices. In many cases, the sensitivity of the FT technique allows rapid room-temperature measurements of weak luminescence spectra that cannot be observed using dispersive PL spectrophotometers. We present here the results of a number of studies of material and device quality obtained using FT-luminescence spectroscopy, including insights into bandgap variations, defect and impurity effects, and relative recombination rates. We also describe our approach to extending the range of the FT-Raman spectrophotometer to cover the region from 11,500 to 3700 cm-1, enabling FT-luminescence measurements to be made from 1.42 to 0.46 eV, and our investigation of FT-PL microspectroscopy.