cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breast self-examination: who teaches it, who is taught, and how often? (United States).

Background: Although the effectiveness of breast self-examination (BSE) has not been established, it is widely practiced and taught. However, it is not clear which patients and providers are involved in BSE teaching, nor how often it occurs. We undertook this study at a large New England Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to answer these questions. Methods: The study was a retrospective cohort of 2242 randomly selected women aged 40–69 with no history of breast cancer and at least one screening clinical breast examination, followed over a ten-year period, including their medical providers (n = 356). Data were collected via computerized medical records. Results: Sixty-eight percent of women had documented BSE teaching at least once in the ten years, increasing from 13% taught in 1983 to 36% in 1993 (p = 0.001). Teaching was related to younger age, increasing numbers of clinical breast examinations, screening mammograms, and prior BSE teachings. Patient race, income, family history of breast cancer, and estrogen replacement use were not related to teaching. Sixty-one percent of all providers taught BSE at least once during the ten years. Internists (OR 6.37, 95% CI 2.23–17.3) and non-physician providers (OR 12.8, 95% CI 3.0–54.4) were more likely to teach at least half of their patients than were obstetrician–gynecologists. Recent medical school graduates taught BSE more often. Provider gender was not associated with teaching. Conclusions: Over two-thirds of women patients in this HMO setting were taught BSE and the majority of providers taught BSE at least once during the ten years. Rates of teaching tripled over the decade. It is important to establish the effectiveness of BSE and its appropriate role in breast cancer screening.
Cardiac Specific Gene Delivery of the Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Improves Diastolic Function in a Canine Model of HFpEF.

Introduction Natriuretic peptides stimulate guanylyl cyclase-A (GCA) to produce cGMP. Deficient myocardial cGMP signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction and heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We hypothesized that cardiac specific over-expression of GCA via gene-delivery with an adeno-associated virus-9 (AAV9-GCA) vector will enhance response to endogenous natriuretic peptides and improve diastolic dysfunction in experimental HFpEF. Methods The HFpEF model included unilateral renal wrapping (RW) to induce hypertension plus DOCA-salt exposure in aged beagles. Trans-catheter (C-cath®) endocardial injections (≈ 14 per dog) of AAV9-GCA or placebo were performed 2 weeks prior to RW. HFpEF+Placebo (n=8) and HFpEF+AAV9-GCA (n=8) underwent echo and invasive pressure-volume analysis at 11 weeks post-RW. Aged Control (n=6) dogs (no RW) were also studied. In HFpEF dogs, systemic blood pressure (BP) was monitored weekly with an implanted CardioMEMS sensor. All dogs underwent a bio-assay to exclude anti-AAV9 antibodies prior to treatment. Results At end study, as compared to Control dogs, HFpEF+Placebo dogs had higher EF (67% vs 63%, p=0.03), relative wall thickness (RWT; 0.55 vs 0.47, p Conclusion Catheter based, cardiac specific gene delivery of GCA in experimental HFpEF was feasible, resulted in persistent GCA over-expression at 13 weeks post-delivery and was associated with improved LV diastolic stiffness.
The effect of parental smoking on preadolescents' implicit and explicit perceptions of smoking-related cues

Children of smokers are significantly more likely to experiment with cigarettes and become habitual smokers than children of nonsmokers. The current study examined the effect of parental smoking on children's implicit and explicit responses toward smoking behavior and smoking-related cues with the goal of identifying potential mechanisms for this relationship. A sample of 8-12-year-old children of smokers (n = 57) and children of nonsmokers (n = 86) completed a dot probe task to assess implicit attentional bias toward smoking cues and the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) to assess implicit affective responses to smoking cues. In addition, children indicated their explicit perceptions of smokers and smoking behavior. Results demonstrated that children of smokers showed more sustained implicit attentional bias toward pictures of smoking stimuli presented alone than children of nonsmokers. Overall, participants showed negative implicit affective responses to smoking stimuli regardless of parental smoking. Children of smokers indicated that smokers would experience fewer negative consequences than children of nonsmokers; these relationships were moderated by age. Together, our findings suggest that parental smoking affects the ways that preadolescent children implicitly process smoking cues and their perceptions about smoking and its consequences. These findings help us understand the environmental mechanisms associated with smoking behavior in this vulnerable population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Silicone versus Saline Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Using the BREAST-Q.

Background The most common type of breast reconstruction is implant-based breast reconstruction. Implant-based reconstruction has been reported to impact quality-of-life outcomes. Therefore, the authors sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of saline versus silicone implants. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed data from patients who underwent breast reconstruction with saline or silicone implants at their institution. This included type of procedure, acellular dermal matrix use, complications, and number of revisions. Costs were estimated using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services physician fee schedule and hospital costs. Effectiveness was measured using BREAST-Q-adjusted life-years, a measure of years of perfect breast health, based on BREAST-Q data collected before mastectomy and reconstruction and at 12 months after final reconstruction. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was obtained for silicone and saline reconstruction. Results The authors identified 134 women, among which 77 (57 percent) underwent silicone and 57 (43 percent) underwent saline breast reconstruction. The cost of saline reconstruction was $1288.23 less compared with silicone. BREAST-Q-adjusted life-years were 28.11 for saline and 23.57 for silicone, demonstrating higher cost-effectiveness for saline. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for saline was -$283.48, or $283.48 less per year of perfect breast-related health postreconstruction than silicone. Conclusions The authors' results indicate that saline breast reconstruction may be more cost-effective compared with silicone at 12 months after final reconstruction. Silicone was both more expensive and less effective than saline. However, given the relatively small cost difference, surgeon and patient preference may be important in determining type of implant used.
Fictitious domain finite element method for Stokes/elliptic interface problems with jump coefficients

Abstract In this paper, the distributed Lagrange multiplier/fictitious domain (DLM/FD) finite element method is studied for a generic Stokes/elliptic interface problem with jump coefficients which belongs to a type of linearized stationary fluid–structure interaction problem. A mixed finite element discretization is developed for the proposed DLM/FD method for Stokes/elliptic interface problem and analyzed on the aspects of well-posedness, stability and optimal convergence. Numerical experiments are carried out and the theoretical error estimates of DLM/FD finite element method are validated.
Effectiveness of phase change materials for improving the resiliency of residential buildings to extreme thermal conditions

Abstract When heat waves coincide with loss of access to air conditioning (e.g., due to power outages), the adverse impacts on well-being of occupants will be exacerbated. Hence, there is ongoing interest in using passive strategies to improve the resiliency of buildings under such conditions. One promising strategy is the use of conventional or latent thermal mass to passively mitigate overheating. As a result, Phase Change Materials (PCM), which are already promoted widely as a strategy to use solar energy for passive heating in buildings, may also be a useful strategy to avoid summertime overheating. To verify this, we used whole-building energy simulations to study the effectiveness of PCMs in improving the resiliency of buildings during extreme events. The results suggest a considerable dependence on the timing and duration of power/air conditioning loss episode, the melt temperature of the material, and the underlying climate. We used parametric runs to study the effect of melt temperature on PCM effectiveness to reduce energy consumption while simultaneously increasing the resiliency of buildings during power outages. The results suggest that under some conditions it is possible to optimize melt temperature for both energy efficiency and heat resiliency, while under other conditions, optimizing for one outcome adversely affects the other.
Clinical Approach and Assessment of Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Abstract Despite being among the more common and problematic disorders, IED is not well understood among mental health providers and is far less familiar with the public. This facilitates the general perception of aggression problems seen in IED as evidence of immutable character flaws rather than addressable problems for which treatment is available. Even those with IED often fail to seek treatment for this reason. However, as IED becomes better recognized among treatment providers, the importance of accurate assessment of IED is key. Diagnostic assessment will focus on the form, function, and frequency of the aggressive behavior, as well as the role of any comorbidities. A nonjudgmental, normalizing approach will help reduce any patient hesitancy and anxiety about reporting their aggressive behavior, though in most cases this is minimal. Diagnosis can be aided by the use of structured clinical interviews. This can be augmented by trait measures of anger and aggression to provide additional information about IED severity. Once a patient shows a readiness to engage in treatment, progress can be monitored using weekly or biweekly measures if anger and aggression interviews such as the OAS-M, which are designed to be sensitive to change over time. Finally, accurate assessment of behavior referable to IED is integral to effective treatment.
Ceramide–Rubusoside Nanomicelles, a Potential Therapeutic Approach to Target Cancers Carrying p53 Missense Mutations

Ceramide (Cer) is an active cellular sphingolipid that can induce apoptosis or proliferation-arrest of cancer cells. Nanoparticle-based delivery offers an effective approach for overcoming bioavailability and biopharmaceutics issues attributable to the pronounced hydrophobicity of Cer. Missense mutations of the protein p53, which have been detected in approximately 42% of cancer cases, not only lose the tumor suppression activity of wild-type p53, but also gain oncogenic functions promoting tumor progression and drug resistance. Our previous works showed that cellular Cer can eradicate cancer cells that carry a p53 deletion-mutation by modulating alternative pre-mRNA splicing, restoring wild-type p53 protein expression. Here, we report that new ceramide–rubusoside (Cer–RUB) nanomicelles considerably enhance Cer in vivo bioavailability and restore p53-dependent tumor suppression in cancer cells carrying a p53 missense mutation. Natural RUB encapsulated short-chain C6-Cer so as to form Cer–RUB nanomicelles (∼32 nm in diameter) that substantially enhanced Cer solubility and its levels in tissues and tumors of mice dosed intraperitoneally. Intriguingly, Cer–RUB nanomicelle treatments restored p53-dependent tumor suppression and sensitivity to cisplatin in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells and xenograft tumors carrying p53 R248Q mutation. Moreover, Cer–RUB nanomicelles showed no signs of significant nonspecific toxicity to noncancerous cells or normal tissues, including bone marrow. Furthermore, Cer–RUB nanomicelles restored p53 phosphorylated protein and downstream function to wild-type levels in p53 R172H/+ transgenic mice. Altogether, this study, for the first time, indicates that natural Cer–RUB nanomicelles offer a feasible approach for efficaciously and safely targeting cancers carrying p53 missense mutations.
Performance comparison of different interpretative algorithms utilized to derive sleep parameters from wrist actigraphy data.

We compared performance of four popular interpretative algorithms (IAs), i.e., Cole–Kripke, Rescored Cole–Kripke, Sadeh, and UCSD, utilized to derive sleep parameters from wrist actigraphy data. We...
Quantitative Assessment of Compress-Type Osseointegrated Prosthetic Implants in Human Bone Using Electromechanical Impedance Spectroscopic Methods

Osseointegrated (OI) prostheses are a promising alternative to traditional socket prostheses. They can enhance the quality of life of amputees by avoiding fit and comfort issues commonly associated with sockets. The main structural element of the OI prosthesis is a biocompatible metallic implant that is surgically implanted into the bone of the residual limb. The implant is designed to provide a conducive surface for the host bone to osseointegrate with. The osseointegration process of the implant is difficult to clinically evaluate, leading to conservative postoperative rehabilitation approaches. Elastic stress waves generated in an OI prosthesis have been previously proposed to interrogate the implant-bone interface for quantitative assessment of the osseointegration process. This paper provides a detailed overview of the various elastic stress wave methods previously explored for in situ characterization of OI implants. Specifically, the paper explores the use of electromechanical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to assess the OI process in compress-type OI prostheses. The EIS approach measures the electrical impedance spectrum of lead zirconate titanate elements bonded to the free end of the implant. The research utilizes both numerical simulation and experimental verification to establish that the electromechanical impedance spectrum is sensitive (between 400 and 460 kHz) to both the degree and location of osseointegration. A baseline-free OI index is proposed to quantify the degree of osseointegration at the implant-bone interface and to assess the stability of the OI implant for clinical decision making.
Calling Somatic SNVs and Indels with Mutect2

Abstract Mutect2 is a somatic variant caller that uses local assembly and realignment to detect SNVs and indels. Assembly implies whole haplotypes and read pairs, rather than single bases, as the atomic units of biological variation and sequencing evidence, improving variant calling. Beyond local assembly and alignment, Mutect2 is based on several probabilistic models for genotyping and filtering that work well with and without a matched normal sample and for all sequencing depths.
On the implementation of a baseline part-of-speech tagger

The task of part-of-speech tagging is very important for various text understanding applications including machine translation, question answering and Internet search. In this paper we present a semester-long project that aimed at efficiently implementing a baseline part-of-speech tagger while keeping costs low. This was a project for an undergraduate class in Advanced Data Structures in which we adopted a design with re-use method. The approach allowed the delivery of the software on time and with the desired functionality. It also allowed us to focus on design and conceptual issues rather than on implementing data structures and related algorithms, such as TreeMaps, already available in free libraries.
Designing a tool for promoting fluid-intake behavior: a qualitative study with pediatric patients

Drinking a target goal of fluids is a critical self-care activity that children with chronic illnesses should do to maintain their health. Despite the ubiquity of fluid-consumption recommendations in managing health, hydration is an under-researched topic, both in pediatric healthcare and HCI. The goal of the current study is to support children in establishing a sustainable fluid intake routine, such that positive health behaviors and management strategies continue even after recovering from illness. By conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews with pediatric patients, we sought to understand the participants' fluid habits and perceptions of intervention ideas that could promote healthy fluid intake behavior. Our findings highlight an overall lack of motivation to drink fluids and the need for a supportive care tool that tracks fluid intake. Findings will guide the future development of a behavior change intervention to promote a routine practice of achieving daily fluid goals.
Using a low-carbohydrate diet to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose of review This study will provide a narrative review of the history of the clinical use of low-carbohydrate diets and give a practical example of how to implement a low-carbohydrate diet, with an emphasis on deprescribing medications. Recent findings Low-carbohydrate diets have been used since the late 19th century to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, clinical research has validated the use of low-carbohydrate diets for individuals affected by obesity and T2DM, and these diets are included in several national clinical guidelines. Because medications are commonly used to treat hypertension and T2DM, special consideration must be made to monitor and reduce these medications to avoid overmedication. Clinic visits and home monitoring of blood pressure and glucose levels are important tools to alert clinicians that a reduction in medication levels may be indicated. Summary Low-carbohydrate diets have been utilized clinically for many years to treat obesity and T2DM and can be used alongside effective monitoring to safely deprescribe dispensable medications for these diseases.
High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of the ν2 band of CD3Br

Abstract Approximately 230 transitions in the ν2 band of CD379Br and 190 transitions in the ν2 band of CD381Br have been recorded and the frequencies measured to an accuracy of 2–10 MHz by the method of infrared-microwave sideband-laser spectroscopy. The frequencies in these parallel bands have been fit by least squares to an energy expression containing centrifugal distortion parameters up to the eighth order. The Coriolis interaction with the ν5 band has been taken into account in each case by using previously reported parameters for the interaction and for the ν5 band. The resulting combination of the ν2 parameters obtained in this work and the parameters from previous work is sufficient to predict the frequencies for J ≤ 48 and K ≤ 8 to within ∼ 5 MHz for each band. The parameters have been used to calculate the frequencies of transitions that are in near coincidence with CO2 laser frequencies.
Staging Womanist Visibility on Red Table Talk

In a season one episode of the web series Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch, 2018–present) titled “The Racial Divide: Women of Color and White Women,” African American actress Jada Pinkett Smith revea...
Cryo-EM structure of the Hippo signaling integrator human STRIPAK.

The striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex is a large, multisubunit protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) assembly that integrates diverse cellular signals in the Hippo pathway to regulate cell proliferation and survival. The architecture and assembly mechanism of this critical complex are poorly understood. Using cryo-EM, we determine the structure of the human STRIPAK core comprising PP2AA, PP2AC, STRN3, STRIP1, and MOB4 at 3.2-A resolution. Unlike the canonical trimeric PP2A holoenzyme, STRIPAK contains four copies of STRN3 and one copy of each the PP2AA-C heterodimer, STRIP1, and MOB4. The STRN3 coiled-coil domains form an elongated homotetrameric scaffold that links the complex together. An inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) is identified as a structural cofactor of STRIP1. Mutations of key residues at subunit interfaces disrupt the integrity of STRIPAK, causing aberrant Hippo pathway activation. Thus, STRIPAK is established as a noncanonical PP2A complex with four copies of regulatory STRN3 for enhanced signal integration.
Tracking Changes in Age Distribution of Head and Neck Cancer in the U.S. from 1975-2016

INTRODUCTION Several independent studies report an alarming increase in patients younger than 40 being diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. There is currently a lack of available data clearly tracking changes in the age distribution of head and neck cancer (HNC) within the United States. This study attempts to elucidate any trends in oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx cancer age distribution in the United States population from 1975 to 2016. Unlike previous studies, this paper does not track incidence but rather reports proportional changes of prevalence within age cohorts over time. METHODS This is a retrospective chart review centred on data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Each decade interval from 1975 to 2016 displays the proportion of HNC patients, classified by primary tumour subsite, within each age cohort. RESULTS Mean age at diagnosis increased for all subsites except oropharynx. Oropharyngeal cancer was the only subsite to show a decrease in the mean age at diagnosis. In addition, oropharyngeal cancer was the only subsite to demonstrate an overall increase in proportional prevalence, largely due to increased incidence in middle-age (40-59 years) patients. Cancers of the oral cavity were the only subset to show a true increase in the proportion of young (0-39 years) patients, but its mean age at diagnosis still increased. When stratifying by gender, the proportion of young patients in female HNC cases is higher than the young male proportion. CONCLUSION Overall, this study demonstrates an increased proportion of older HNC patients that is consistent with the ageing population. Oral cavity cancer demonstrated a true increase in the proportion of young patients, likely due to the increased incidence of young women diagnosed with this cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer was the only subsite to show a decrease in the mean age at diagnosis. The increased proportion of middle-age patients with oropharyngeal cancer likely reflects the increase in HPV-related cancers.
Olfactory-Specific Quality of Life Outcomes after Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery of the Sella.

Objective To assess olfactory outcomes as measured by an olfactory-specific quality of life (QOL) questionnaire in patients undergoing EESBS for sellar lesions. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Participants In total, 36 patients undergoing EESBS for lesions limited to the sella were evaluated. Main outcome measures The following were performed before and three months after surgery: 22-Item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), and the Assessment of Self-reported Olfactory Functioning (ASOF), which has three domains: subjective olfactory capability scale (SOC), smell-related problems (SRP), and olfactory-related quality of life (ORQ). Results Median age at surgery was 52.5 years, with a median tumor size of 1.8 cm (range: 0.2 to 3.9 cm). Pre- and postoperative median scores were 35 [34, 36.2] and 34.5 [32, 36] for UPSIT, 21 [7.5, 33.5] and 21.5 [6.8, 35.7] for SNOT-22, 10 [9, 10] and 9 [8, 10] for ASOF-SOC, 5 [4.8, 5] and 4.5 [4, 5] for ASOF-SRP, and 5 [5, 5] and 5 [4.5, 5] for ASOF-ORQ. There was no significant change in the two of the three domains of the ASOF. Correlation between ASOF and UPSIT scores were weak. Older age and larger tumor size were associated with worsened olfaction after surgery. Conclusions Patients did not experience significant changes in olfactory-specific QOL three months after EESBS, as measured by two domains of the ASOF. The ASOF may serve as a useful adjunctive tool for assessing olfaction after surgery. The lack of correlation between UPSIT and ASOF suggests the need for more research in subjective olfactory-related quality of life after surgery.
The Legacy of the Motes

"Look up at the dome," Van Buren instructed the young scholar. "And roll your eyeball round to the left." "I was going across to that pub for lunch," Eliott told the helpful attendant, "When I saw this thing like a bird flying sideways through the sky. At least I thought it was the sky. But then at lunch it kept wafting back and forth across my page and I realized it was inside my eye." "One really shouldn't read in pubs," cautioned Van Buren, "The light is so poor." He gingerly pried back Eliott's eyelid with dry fingers and peered deep into the left eye. Good old Van Buren, he'd been able to flush the rarest of seven teenth-century obscurities out of forgotten stacks and was going to be remem bered specifically in Eliott's acknowledgements. "Does it hurt?" he asked. "Not a bit. That's the odd thing. Do you see a hair in there or anything? Though I'm sure I'd feel a hair." "Hmm. Roll it up and around. Now over that way. Not a thing. Do you think perhaps you've been overtaxing your eyes? It's quite possible, you know. You've been going at those books rather devilishly these past three months. Why not give things a rest? Go to a park, enjoy our English spring. If your eye is still troubling you tomorrow, you might pop over to Moorfield's Eye Hospital." Tomorrow. Wasn't that just like them. They took a week to launder a shirt. They were always going to parks. Van Buren spent half his lunch hour trudging
The Corporate Governance of Banks

The study argues that commercial banks pose unique corporate governance problems for managers and regulators, as well as for claimants on the banks' cash flows, such as investors and depositors. The authors support the general principle that fiduciary duties should be owed exclusively to shareholders. However, in the special case of banks, they contend that the scope of the fiduciary duties and obligations of officers and directors should be broadened to include creditors. In particular, the authors call on bank directors to take solvency risk explicitly and systematically into account when making decisions or else face personal liability for failure to do so.
Mobile Device Engineering

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Mobile Device Reliability Reliability Calculations Mobile Device Context Awareness Network-Aware Applications Mobile Device Performance Summary and Conclusions References
Mutations that substitute serine for glycine alpha 1-598 and glycine alpha 1-631 in type I procollagen. The effects on thermal unfolding of the triple helix are position-specific and demonstrate that the protein unfolds through a series of cooperative blocks.

Abstract Cultured skin fibroblasts from two probands with lethal variants of osteogenesis imperfecta synthesized type I procollagen that was posttranslationally over-modified. Analysis of cDNAs and genomic DNAs from the two probands demonstrated that proband I had a single-base mutation that converted the codon for glycine alpha 1-631 to a codon for serine, and proband II had a single-base mutation that converted the codon for glycine alpha 1-598 to a codon for serine. Although the two serine-for-glycine substitutions were separated by only 35 residues, they had markedly different effects on the thermal unfolding of the collagen triple helix as assayed by brief protease digestion. The type I procollagen from proband I (serine alpha 1-631) had an essentially normal temperature for thermal unfolding. In contrast, type I procollagen from proband II (serine alpha 1-598) was cleaved to readily identifiable intermediate fragments of about 630 residues at 20 degrees C. With procollagens from both probands, collagenase A fragments containing the first 775 amino acids of the alpha chain domains had a lowered temperature for thermal unfolding as assayed by brief protease digestion. The collagenase A fragments from proband I were cleaved to intermediates of about 600 amino acids at 36 degrees C and to fragments of about 510 residues at 37 degrees C. The collagenase A fragments from proband II were cleaved to intermediates of about 630 residues at 32 degrees C, to fragments of about 600 residues at 36 degrees C, and to fragments of about 510 at 37 degrees C. The fragments of about 510 residues from both mutated procollagens were more stable to protease digestion than the collagenase A fragments of 775 residues from normal type I collagen. The results demonstrate that the effects of glycine substitutions on the thermal unfolding of type I collagen are highly position-specific. They also provide direct evidence for previous indications that the triple helix of the protein undergoes micro-unfolding of a series of relatively independent "cooperative blocks" in the predenaturation range of temperatures.
A study of Ag/Ag(100) thin film growth with scanning tunneling microscopy

Thin films are attracting more and more attention in both the industrial and scientific communities. Many applications of thin films have been developed in industry. By using various growth methods, thin films can be used in optics, microelectronic devices, magnetic recording media, and as protective coatings. In order to improve existing applications and to find new ones, it is essential to understand what makes them so useful in applications and what factors affect their properties. Therefore, an understanding of film growth processes is necessary. Scientifically, many fundamental interactions, such as the interaction between the atoms that comprise the film and substrate, or the interaction between film atoms, are of great interest to surface scientists; studies of these interactions can provide dramatic insights into the nature of thin films and therefore, can further drive technology forward. In every application, the film structures, including morphology and microstructure, and adhesion between film and substrate are critical to the film`s properties and therefore its performance. Studies of the mechanisms that control film morphology, microstructure and adhesion thus are important. Film growth kinetics can provide important information regarding the film structure and adhesion. Film growth is an atomistic process. The chemistry and physics of the system can be better understood if the information provided is at an atomic level.
Liver Cholesterol Concentration in Relation to Hepatic Cholesterogenesis and Activity of Certain Liver Enzymes in Rats

The study was conducted to determine 1 ) the interrelationship between liver cholesterol concentration and rate of hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and 2) the effect of cholesterol or cholestyramine feeding on the activity of liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the rate of hepatic fatty acid synthesis. Either cholesterol (1%)- cholic acid (0.33%) or cholestyramine (3%) was added to a basal 20% fat diet to elevate or deplete rat liver cholesterol concentration. The results indicate that cholesterol feeding elevated liver cholesterol concentration, inhibited liver cholesterol synthesis, and depressed the activity of liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Cholestyramine feed ing did not change the level of liver cholesterol but elevated the rate of in vitro liver cholesterol synthesis. Cholestyramine also elevated the activity of liver glucose-6-phos- phate dehydrogenase and the rate of in vitro liver fatty acid synthesis. Rats, prefed a cholesterol diet for 12 days, then fed a cholestyramine (3%) diet, had a reduction in liver cholesterol, and an elevation in liver cholesterol synthesis. These rates approached control levels more rapidly than when a basal diet was refed. Rats with accumulated liver cholesterol had much lower hepatic cholesterol synthesis than rats with "normal" liver cholesterol levels fed the same basal diet. The same was true when the diet was supplemented with cholestyramine. These data suggest that the concentration of liver cholesterol or a related factor(s) may play a role in the control of liver cholesterogenesis. J. Nutr. Â?03:1119-1125, 1973.
Understanding use in the real world

The paper considers a number of issues related to measuring and understanding use of innovative electronic document systems. It presents experiences related to the implementation of a digital library comprised of scientific and technical journal articles, and concentrates on one particular barrier to use: the difficulties potential users have in logging on to an electronic document system.
Curvature-induced p − n junctions in bent or folded bilayer graphene sheets

A massive quantum particle on a two-dimensional curved surface experiences a surface-geometry induced attractive potential that is characterized by the radii of curvature at a given point. With bilayer graphene sheets and carbon nanoribbons in mind, we obtain the geometric potential ${V}_{G}$ for several surface shapes. Under appropriate conditions that we discuss in detail, this potential suppresses the local Fermi energy. Therefore, we argue that in zero band-gap materials with a quadratic band structure, it will create $p$- and $n$-type regions. We discuss the consequences of this result, and suggest that surface curvature can provide an avenue to create $p\text{\ensuremath{-}}n$ junctions and, in general, to control local electronic properties in carbon nanoribbons and bilayer graphene sheets.
The Advertising Market in a Product Oligopoly

A model is developed in which producers in a differentiated product market compete in prices and informative advertising. The model also includes commercial media, which are linked to producers through the advertising market and to consumers through the media market. We investigate how certain market parameters, such as media market differentiation or product market differentiation, affect the competitive level advertising chosen in the market. The model shows that less product differentiation or more media differentiation leads to a higher market level of advertising. In the case of sufficiently high media differentiation, levels of advertising are in excess of the social optimum.
NSF funding trends in EPS

National Science Foundation trends in funding for research in universities in the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) during the 5-year period 1975–1980 show gradual increases (see figure). The trend for ocean sciences has taken a mostly continuous increase that will continue if the Ocean Margin Drilling Program is supported in fiscal year 1983 as proposed. Support of the program has been in jeopardy in Congress during the past months, but right now the prospects for continued support of the project appear to be favorable. Astronomical sciences have what appears to be a levelling off in funding, but at a substantial base. Astronomy will be getting a boost in one sector—space telescope—during the present decade, with NASA funding.
Mode identification for an oscillator using solid-state active devices in a waveguide-below-cutoff resonator

The author's reply is given to a recent letter by McPhun on waveguide-below-cutoff resonators.
Feature matching, unique features, and the dynamics of the choice process: Predecision conflict and postdecision satisfaction.

Abstract The feature-matching comparison process was used to examine prechoice conflict and postchoice feelings of satisfaction. In Experiment 1, subjects chose between paired items that either shared good features and had unique bad features (unique bad paris) or shared bad features and had unique good features (unique good pairs). Unique bad pairs should produce avoidance-avoidance conflicts, with vacillation between the alternatives and the slow decisions. Unique good pairs should produce approach-approach conflicts, with little vacillation and rapid decisions. As predicted, decision times were longer for unique bad pairs. Experiment 2 examined subjects' satisfaction with a choice between items that constituted either a unique good or a unique bad pair. It was expected that postchoice satisfaction would depend upon the interaction of the valence of the unique features and which alternative (the accepted or the rejected) was the focus at the time satisfaction was assessed. For unique good pairs, satisfaction was greater when the focus was on the accepted alternative. For unique bad pairs, satisfaction was greater when the focus was on the rejected alternative. The results are used to provide a theoretical rationale for predicting and understanding both predecisional and postdecisional outcomes. These results are discussed in terms of the relevance of the comparison process for different phases of the choice situation and the relations between pre- and postchoice phenomena.
Conformational energy analysis of peptides using microcomputers: Description of PepCAD™ and analysis of N-formyl-N′-methylalanineamide

Abstract A computer program (called PepCAD™) was developed for performing conformational analysis of peptides on an Apple Macintosh personal computer. The program takes advantage of the mouse-based user interface and graphics of the Macintosh. PepCAD displays peptide molecules, calculates conformational energies, and performs energy minimization on peptides of up to 10 residues. Written in C, PepCAD supports an interactive mode and a batch processing mode, contains about 17,000 lines of code in 11 modules, and utilizes the ECEPP/2 and MINOP equations and parameters for energy calculation and minimization. Conformational energy minimization was done on N-formyl-N′-methylalanineamide. The number of minima and their relative energies were essentially the same as those of N-acetyl-N′-methylalanineamide.
Bony fusion in a chronic cervical bilateral facet dislocation.

BACKGROUND Cervical facet dislocation injuries typically present shortly after occurrence due to the pain and neurologic deficit that can be associated with this injury. Bilateral dislocations of the facet joint require prompt evaluation, reduction, and surgical intervention. Rare case reports present bilateral dislocations presenting in a delayed fashion. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 60-year-old male who presented with mild neck pain 1 year after initial injury. Computed topography of the cervical spine showed healing with bony fusion of a bilateral C6-7 facet dislocation. Given the chronic healed nature of the injury and minimal symptoms, the patient is being followed without intervention. CONCLUSIONS Although most bilateral facet dislocations present and are treated immediately after injury; this case illustrates that some may be missed during initial evaluation. Once healed, these injuries may be stable without surgical intervention.
Post-emergence, inter-row tillage to enhance infiltration under sprinkler irrigation

Abstract Surface runoff can be a problem when water application rates of continuously moving sprinkler irrigation machines exceed the infiltration capability of soil. The problem is aggravated with reduced sprinkler pressure operating conditions. Field studies were conducted over a 5 year period on farmer managed and researcher managed sites to evaluate the influence of an annual post-emergence, interrow subsoil tillage (IRT) practice on surface runoff, soil water content and corn ( Zea mays L.) grain yields. The IRT practice consisted of the operation of a flat-soled, straight shank between each corn row at a 250–300 mm depth immediately after a shallow (50 mm) cultivation when the corn was in the six to eight leaf stage of growth. A single, shallow cultivation was used as a control practice. Surface runoff for the IRT practice was a quarter of the control runoff on both the farmer and researcher sites. The IRT practice eliminated runoff during the early part of the irrigation season, but lost some of its effectiveness during the later part of the season. Soil water contents of the IRT soil profile were consistently equal to or greater than the control profile contents. Soil water contents for the IRT and control practices were equal at the time of inter-row tillage which indicated no residual effects between successive years. The largest soil water differences between the two tillage practices occurred near the end of the irrigation season. Irrigation management practices used in farmer cooperator fields caused a significant crop yield response to the IRT practice where corn yields averaged 9.0 t ha −1 and 10.0 t ha −1 for the control and IRT practices, respectively. Corn yields were also increased from 11.3 to 11.8 t ha −1 on a research site where significant increases in soil water contents were caused by the IRT practice during the last half of the crop season. No differences in corn yields were found on a second research site where significant soil water differences were not present.
Nonhuman primate placental MHC expression: a model for exploring mechanisms of human Maternal-Fetal immune tolerance

Placental contributions to the establishment of maternal-fetal immune tolerance, and placental influences on maturation and vascular development of the endometrium in the human have been difficult to explore directly. Although significant differences exist in organization and relevant gene expression between human and nonprimate placentas, the nonhuman primate has substantial potential to provide insights into the physiology of human pregnancy and maternal-fetal immune tolerance. In this report, we will summarize major histocompatability complex class I gene expression in the nonhuman primate placenta and present progress in characterizing the immune cells resident in the primate endometrium. Finally, we will outline new experimental approaches for modifying placental function now available to move research forward in this field.
A second positive regulatory function in the mer (mercury resistance) operon.

Transpositional mutagenesis of the mer operon of the IncFII plasmid, R100, has revealed a second, trans-acting positive regulatory function. Mutants in this function do not synthesize any of the three small mer operon peptides and have no inducible Hg(II) uptake activity. This second regulatory function is part of complementation group B and so depends upon the activity of the previously described trans-acting positive regulatory function merR. All mutants in this new function map in the amino-terminal 20 kDal of the Hg(II) reductase, suggesting either that this enzyme is also a regulatory protein or that there is a distinct protein whose reading frame is superimposed on that of the Hg(II) reductase. While we have only seen the five previously described mer operon peptides of 69, 66, 15.1, 14 and 12 (13) kDal encoded in minicells by single-copy plasmids, we have observed two new HgCl2-inducible polypeptides of approx. 20 kDal in minicells carrying a multicopy derivative of the mer operon of R100. Sequence data for the Hg(II) reductase region of the related mer operon of the transposon, Tn501 [Brown, N.L., Ford, S.J., Pridmore, R.D. and Fritzinger, D.C., Biochemistry 22 (1983) 4089-4095], shows a second reading frame very rich in cysteine and arginine which overlaps the amino-terminal 20 kDal of the Hg(II) reductase structural gene. We believe that this reading frame is the structural gene for this new regulatory function and propose the name merC (for control).
Exciton interactions between substitutional impurities in molecular crystals

Abstract A compact secular determinant for the exciton energies of a crystal containing substitutional impurities is derived using the dipole approximation for intermolecular interactions. In distinction to previous work all host and impurity transitions from the ground state are included and the number and nature of the impurities is arbitrary. The first feature is important for proper consideration of crystal field polarization effects. It is shown that the effective long range interaction between impurities has factors that do not appear the corresponding interactions between interstitial impurities. The differences are smallest in the limit of deep traps.
Neutrophil and platelet antibodies in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

Background and Objectives Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), is an inherited disorder characterized by defective lymphocyte apoptosis, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, accumulation of T-cell receptor (TCR)-αβ+ CD4− CD8− T cells (double-negative T cells) and autoimmunity. We investigated the incidence and nature of neutrophil and platelet antibodies in patients with ALPS. Materials and Methods Sera from 26 patients with ALPS were tested for neutrophil antibodies by granulocyte immunofluorescence, granulocyte agglutination and monoclonal antibody immobilization assays of granulocyte antigens, and for platelet antibodies using a solid-phase antibody-detection system. Results Neutrophil antibodies were detected in 46% of patients with ALPS. Antibody specificity could be defined in eight of the 12 patients with neutrophil antibodies. Among these eight patients, four had antibodies directed against more than one antigen. Overall, 14 antibodies directed to specific antigens were identified: three were directed to the HNA-1a antigen of FcγRIIIb; two to the HNA-1b antigen of Fcγ-RIIIb; two to epitopes common to all FcγRIIIb molecules; four to the HNA-2a antigen of the NB1 glycoprotein; and three to neutrophil β2 integrins. Platelet antibodies were detected in 35% of patients with ALPS. No antibody specificities were identified among the platelet antibodies. There was no association between the detection of neutrophil antibodies and a history of clinical neutropenia, or between the detection of platelet antibodies and a history of clinical thromobocytopenia. Conclusions Neutrophil and platelet antibodies are important markers of ALPS, but do not always cause clinical cytopenias. The specificities of neutrophil antibody were similar to those found in children with autoimmune neutropenia but without ALPS.
Differential thermal analysis of pressure crystallized polyethylene

The results presented here demonstrate that although medium-density polyethylene in addition to linear polyethylene can crystallize in extended-chain as well as folded-chain crystals, the branches have a significant effect on the ease of forming extended-chain crystals. Besides the two types of crystals having different melting points, as measured by DTA, an endothermic peak assumed to be due to the onset of rotational motion and located just below the respective melting peaks is associated with each type of crystal. Melting itself does not result in a complete disappearance of order; if the sample is held just above the melting point for a short period of time sufficient seed nuclei remain to produce crystallization at a higher temperature than commensurate with the cooling rate employed. This crystallization at atmospheric pressure takes place through chain folding even though the nuclei are remnants of extended-chain crystals. In addition to fractionation and segregation by molecular weight during crystallization under pressure, for which some further evidence is presented, the results obtained here suggest that fractionation by branching content may also occur.
Assessing Impacts of Freeway Truck Traffic on Residential Property Values: Southern California Case Study

This study investigates the impact of freeway traffic (especially truck traffic) on 4,715 single-family houses located in the busy transportation corridor that links the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles, California. These houses are located at least 200 m from the nearest arterial road; this distance was selected to filter out the effects of arterial road traffic. To minimize the risk of omitted variable bias and to deal with spatial autocorrelation, researchers estimated a fine-grained fixed effects model. A 1% increase in total traffic would reduce by only $24 the value of a $420,000 house located within 100 m of a freeway. By contrast, a 1% increase in truck traffic would decrease the value of a $420,000 house located between 100 and 400 m from the nearest freeway by $2,000 to $2,750. These results are important for policy makers and for homeowners because of the expanding role of trucking in the economy.