cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relation of splenomegaly to depressed liver catalase in Friend virus-infected germfree and conventional mice.

SummaryLiver catalase activity in Friend virus-infected germfree mice is significantly depressed below normal values at a stage when splenomegaly is marked and liver involvement slight. The indications are that splenomegaly alone is related to lowered liver catalase rather than mild liver damage or the presence of virus as such. The existence of a spleen-elaborated catalase inhibitory factor is postulated. The value of germfree mice in this study lay in the avoidance of the possibility of bacterial products affecting the liver catalase activity.
A high-fat diet and the threonine-encoding allele (Thr54) polymorphism of fatty acid-binding protein 2 reduce plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Abstract The threonine-encoding allele (Thr54) of the fatty acid–binding protein 2 (FABP2) DNA polymorphism is associated with increased triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (TRL). We hypothesized that the TRL response to diets of varied fat content is affected by the FABP2 A54T polymorphism, specifically that a high-fat diet would reduce TRL and that the Thr54 allele would have an enhanced response. Sixteen healthy, postmenopausal women completed a crossover dietary intervention that included three 8-week, isoenergetic diet treatments. The treatments consisted of high fat (40% of energy as fat), low fat (20% of energy), and low fat + n-3 fatty acids (20% of energy plus 3% as n-3 fatty acids). Eight subjects were homozygous for the wild type (Ala54/Ala54) of the FABP2 polymorphism, whereas 8 subjects had at least 1 Thr54 allele (7, Ala54/Thr54; 1, Thr54/Thr54). High-fat diet showed significantly reduced plasma TGs, chylomicron TG, and very low-density lipoprotein TG from baseline in all participants. Although carriers of the Thr54 allele of the FABP2 polymorphism had significantly reduced TRL, there is no evidence of an interaction, which does not support our hypothesis. The alanine-encoding allele did not influence the dietary effects on the plasma lipids.
Resilience under Fire: Perspectives on the Work of Experienced, Inner City High School Teachers in the United States.

Abstract Teachers working in inner city high schools in the United States face enormous challenges. Their students, most of whom come from economically disadvantaged minority families and often do not speak English as a first language, present a daunting array of educational needs for teachers and schools. Resources and school structures are seldom sufficient for the task. Despite such conditions, some urban high school teachers persist for many years in the classroom and experience success and satisfaction in their work. Through a survey and extended interviews, this study identifies three broad factors that motivated a group of these teachers to remain in inner city classrooms for more than 12 years: (1) the students, (2) professional and personal satisfaction, and (3) support from administrators, colleagues and the organisation of the school. The study discusses how the teachers’ resilience enabled them to overcome difficult challenges and recurring setbacks and to persist vigorously in their work. Further study of resilience in inner city teachers is recommended.
Detection of a Methylcarbamate Degradation Gene in Agricultural Soils Using PCR Amplification of Bacterial Community DNA

The carbamate insecticide carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benofurayl-N-methylcarbamate) is biodegraded by a methylcarbamate hydrolase enzyme encoded by a methylcarbamate degradation (mcd) gene cloned from Achromobacter sp. strain WM111. A 0.4-kbp BamHI-KpnI fragment of the mcd gene was used as a DNA probe to monitor soil microbial populations capable of degrading carbofuran in soils from twelve contrasting agricultural sites, representing seven soil series from five U.S. states. Each soil was amended three times with carbofuran (200 μg g−1 dry weight soil) and monitored until 90% of the carbofuran had degraded after each application. Soil bacterial community DNA was extracted and humic acid contaminants removed prior to PCR amplification of mcd. The detection limit for the probe protocol was 102 microorganisms g−1 of soil. Eight soils were mcd positive, and four were negative. Results were independently confirmed using both a Southern blot and slot blot protocol. Of the four negative soils, three e...
Laterality, sexual orientation, and immune system functioning : is there a relationship ?

There have been numerous recent investigations of the possibility that laterality (the extent to which an individual is right or left-sided or, more usually, right- or left-handed), sexual orientation (homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual), and immune system functioning are related. The reasons for inconsistencies in the literature and failures to reject the null hypothesis are discussed. Additional data are presented that show a positive relationship between left-sided laterality and homosexuality for a sample of HIV positive males. Immune system disorders were not associated with any of the other variables. It is concluded that increased left-sidedness is more likely in homosexual men as a group, but laterality cannot be used to differentiate homosexual men further into categories that vary in their susceptibility to immune disorders.
Intrinsic Tolerance to Total Ionizing Dose Radiation in Gate-All-Around MOSFETs

We measured the total ionizing dose response of gate-all-around silicon nanowire n- and pMOSFETs to x-ray doses up to 2Mrad(SiO2). We show that they are radiation hard, with no degradation in threshold voltage, off-state current, or subthreshold slope, even at the highest dose for a wide range of bias conditions. We attribute this to the intrinsically rad-hard feature of the gate-all-around device design, where the channel is no longer in contact with any insulating layers that could form a parasitic channel.
Psychotherapy for the myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome: a study of factors coinciding with symptom remission

Patients with myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome participated in 12 psychotherapy sessions in an experiment to correlate psychological variables with the remission of symptoms. Twenty-three patients with myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome completed brief psychotherapy after they did not respond to conventional treatment methods. Remission of symptoms occurred in 15 patients while in therapy and in two after therapy; remission did not occur in six patients. Symptom remission coincided with relief from a strong negative emotion, recognition of an unvalid or unrealistic self-concept, development of a feeling of competence, or a specific change in the patient’s environment.
Comments on matrix permutation tests in the evaluation of competing models for modern human origins

L'A revient sur l'article de Cole (J. Hum. Evol., 1996, 31) pour repreciser deux points : la reliabilite du test Dow-Cheverud lorsque les distances biologiques montrent des correlations temporelles ou spatiales, la question des incertitudes dans l'estimation des distances biologiques et ses effets sur le test de Mantel
The effect of Ag substitution in the mixed conductor Cu7PSe6

Abstract Cu 7 PSe 6 is a mixed conductor that crystallizes in the simple cubic structure at room temperature. Structural transitions above and below room temperature are accompanied by step-like changes in electrical conductivity. The substitution of Ag + for Cu + in Cu 7 PSe 6 stabilized the simple cubic structure over a wider range of temperatures than is observed for the pure compound. A disproportionate decrease in electrical conductivity accompanies modest levels of silver substitution. The prominent step in electrical conductivity associated with the low-temperature crystallographic phase transition disappears in (Ag x Cu 1− x ) 7 PSe 6 solid solutions for a composition parameter x =0.20, replaced by two distinct changes in the slope of conductivity below room temperature.
P-tree classification of yeast gene deletion data

Genomics data has many properties that make it different from "typical" relational data. The presence of multi-valued attributes as well as the large number of null values led us to a P-tree-based bit-vector representation in which matching 1-values were counted to evaluate similarity between genes. Quantitative information such as the number of interactions was also included in the classifier. Interaction information allowed us to extend the known properties of one protein with information on its interacting neighbors. Different feature attributes were weighted independently. Relevance of different attributes was systematically evaluated through optimization of weights using a genetic algorithm. The AROC value for the classified list was used as the fitness function for the genetic algorithm.
Classifier Combination Techniques Applied to Coreference Resolution

This paper examines the applicability of classifier combination approaches such as bagging and boosting for coreference resolution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first effort that utilizes such techniques for coreference resolution. In this paper, we provide experimental evidence which indicates that the accuracy of the coreference engine can potentially be increased by use of bagging and boosting methods, without any additional features or training data. We implement and evaluate combination techniques at the mention, entity and document level, and also address issues like entity alignment, that are specific to coreference resolution.
Influence of Proximal Side Mutations on the Molecular and Electronic Structure of Cyanomet Myoglobin: An 1H NMR Study†

A series of proximal side mutants of sperm whale metmyoglobin (metMb) that involves residues which provide hydrogen bonds to the axial His and heme have been prepared, and the CO binding and solution molecular and electronic structure has been investigated by 1H NMR. These include Ser92(F7), whose O gamma serves as a hydrogen-bond acceptor to the axial His ring NdeltaH and whose O gamma H serves as hydrogen-bond donor to the 7-propionate carboxylate, and His97(FG3) whose ring provides the other hydrogen-bond donor to the 7-propionate carboxylate. 2D NMR data on the S92A-metMbCN, S92P-metMbCN and H97F-metMbCN show that the distal structure is completely conserved and that proximal side structural changes are highly localized. For the S92A-metMbCN, altered dipolar contacts to the F-helix backbone show that the axial His imidazole has rotated clockwise by approximately 10 degrees relative to a stationary heme, while in H97F-metMbCN, the altered heme-E helix backbone contacts reveal that the heme has rotated counterclockwise by approximately 3 degrees relative to a conserved axial His. The pattern of axial His rotation was qualitatively predicted by energy minimization calculations. The assignments and conserved structural elements allow the determination of a set of magnetic axes whose major magnetic axis is unchanged with respect to WT and confirms that local distal, and not proximal, interactions control the orientation of the major magnetic axis and, by inference, the degree and direction of tilt of the Fe-CN from the heme normal. The rhombic magnetic axes in S92A-metMbCN are rotated approximately 10 degrees in the opposite direction from the established approximately 10 degrees rotation for the axial His ring as expected. It is shown, moreover, that the pairwise alpha-, gamma-meso vs beta-, delta-meso-H hyperfine shift differences are well predicted by the change in the location of the rhombic magnetic axes. Carbon monoxide ligation rates experience minor but systematic perturbation for the S92A substitutions which confirms an influence (albeit very small) for axial His orientation on ligand affinity.
Talking With Parents of High School Football Players About Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy A Concise Summary

Over the past decade, athletic-related chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has garnered a great deal of attention in the popular press and, more recently, in the scientific press. With increasing frequency, sports medicine practitioners and providers are faced with questions from the parents of high school football players about CTE and the risk posed to children who participate in this or other contact or collision sports. The purpose of this review was to summarize the research on CTE in an attempt to provide some evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions in clinics from parents. Addressed are (1) the definitions of CTE and its symptoms, (2) the evidence for CTE in football, (3) abnormal tau protein, (4) the use of neuroimaging in CTE diagnosis, (5) risk for CTE, (6) CTE diagnosis in youth, (7) CTE and its relationship to suicide, and (8) contact and collision sports as a risk factor for permanent brain injury or death.
Microbicides for HIV prevention: reality or hope?

Purpose of reviewThis review discusses recent developments within the field of microbicide development and considers whether there are grounds to be hopeful that it will be possible to develop a microbicide for the prevention of HIV infection.Recent findingsPhase 2B/3 effectiveness studies of surfac
Effects of antiplatelet agents in combination with endothelial cell seeding on small-diameter Dacron vascular graft performance in the canine carotid artery model

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the success of endothelial cell—seeded and nonseeded small-diameter vascular grafts in dogs medicated with antiplatelet agents. Eighty dogs underwent bilateral carotid artery replacements with 6 cm lengths of 4 mm I.D. double-velour Dacron grafts. In each dog one graft was seeded with enzymatically derived autologous endothelial cells; the contralateral graft was nonseeded. The following antiplatelet medications were administered beginning 4 days preoperatively: aspirin (5 grains every day); dipyridamole (50 mg twice a day); aspirin plus dipyridamole (5 grains each day plus 50 mg twice a day); aspirin (1.25 grains every other day); ibuprofen (10 mg/kg/day); U-53,059, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (3 mg/kg/day); and U-63557A, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor (10 mg/kg/day). Grafts were harvested 5 weeks postoperatively. Graft success was evaluated by patency, thrombus-free surface area, area endothelialized, and graft production of prostacyclin. None of the medications prevented neoendothelialization of seeded grafts. Mean patencies of endothelial cell—seeded grafts from medicated dogs were significantly greater than mean patencies of endothelial cell—seeded grafts from nonmedicated dogs. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors best maintained patency in non-seeded grafts. Thrombus-free surface areas of endothelial cell—seeded grafts from medicated dogs were significantly greater than from nonseeded control grafts from the medicated dogs. All medications impaired prostacyclin synthesis. We conclude that the combination of endothelial cell seeding plus antiplatelet medication is most efficacious in small-vessel grafting success and that high levels of prostacyclin production by vascular grafts are not necessary to maintain patency in dogs medicated with antiplatelet agents. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:898-906.)
Secret Codes, I

This chapter may be read independently of Chapter 10, and may be omitted without loss of continuity.
Correlation between electrical activity and splitting of phospholipids by snake venom in the single electroplax

— Cottonmouth moccasin snake venom (SV) was applied to the innervated membrane of the isolated single cell of the Sachs electric organ (electroplax) of the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus. Concentrations as low as 0.05 μg/ml irreversibly antagonized depolarization by carbamylcholine, whereas concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml or higher were required to directly and irreversibly depolarize and block electrical excitation. The active component of the venom was stable to boiling at acid pH, destroyed by boiling at alkaline pH and nondialyzable and corresponded to those fractions containing maximum phospholipase A activity demonstrable when isolated by paper electrophoresis and Sephadex filtration. Phospholipase C and lysolecithin in concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 0.2 mg/ml, respectively, depolarized and blocked electrical excitation, whereas lower concentrations did not antagonize depolarization by carbamylcholine. Triton X-100 (0.01 mg/ml) antagonized carbamylcholine, whereas 10-fold higher concentrations directly blocked electrical excitation. Hyaluronidase had no effect on resting or action potential but decreased the depolarizing response to carbamylcholine. At minimal concentrations which blocked the depolarizing response to carbamylcholine, SV caused only slight splitting of phospholipids in single cells of the Sachs organ. A concentration (1 mg/ml) of SV which blocked electrical excitation caused 80–100 per cent splitting of lecithin, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, the three principal phospholipids of the electric tissue. Similar percentages of splitting of the latter two phospholipids but only about one-third of the lecithin occurred at SV concentration of 0.1 mg/ml. These results indicate that electrical excitability in the eel electroplax can be maintained in the presence of extensive phospholipid splitting. Depolarization and block of electrical excitation by relatively high concentrations of SV may have resulted from splitting of phospholipids, especially lecithin, or may have reflected action of lysophosphatide detergents produced as a result of the action of phospholipase A upon membranal phospholipids.
LP-2: Late-News Poster: High Performance Plasma Enhancement Filters

A new plasma enhancement filter architecture has been introduced to the market with benefits such as increased display brightness (high overall filter transmittance), improved environmental durability, improved surface quality, color balancing and index matching. This greatly simplified design is achieved via a patent pending thin film barrier overcoat process that replaces the traditional costly lamination techniques and avoids the quality issues associated with lamination.
Strongly and Weakly Directed Approaches to Teaching Multiple Representation Use in Physics

Good use of multiple representations is considered key to learning physics, and so there is considerable motivation both to learn how students use multiple representations when solving problems and to learn how best to teach problem solving using multiple representations. In this study of two large-lecture algebra-based physics courses at the University of Colorado (CU) and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, we address both issues. Students in each of the two courses solved five common electrostatics problems of varying difficulty, and we examine their solutions to clarify the relationship between multiple representation use and performance on problems involving free-body diagrams. We also compare our data across the courses, since the two physics-education-research-based courses take substantially different approaches to teaching the use of multiple representations. The course at Rutgers takes a strongly directed approach, emphasizing specific heuristics and problem-solving strategies. The course at CU takes a weakly directed approach, modeling good problem solving without teaching a specific strategy. We find that, in both courses, students make extensive use of multiple representations, and that this use (when both complete and correct) is associated with significantly increased performance. Some minor differences in representation use exist, and are consistent with the types of instruction given. Most significant are the strong and broad similarities in the results, suggesting that either instructional approach or a combination thereof can be useful for helping students learn to use multiple representations for problem solving and concept development.
Effective remote stresses and stress intensity factors for an adhesive bonded multi-ply laminate

Abstract Crack growth data for 1–4 ply adhesive bonded 0.1 in. sheets of 2024-T81 aluminum has been generated. This data is presented in the form of crack growth rate (da/dN) at a given crack length and constant load level. In each case the crack was in the outer layer of the laminate. Each ply was strain gaged on both edges to indicate any induced bending. The purpose of this report is to present an approach which will utilize the experimental data to account for load transfer between plies and bending induced by unsymmetric crack growth. Then the effective remote stresses in the cracked ply and stress intensities for these finite width (4 in.) specimens will be calculated. From this da /dN vs ΔK data, certain assumptions will be made to allow for a multi-layer crack growth correction factor to be formulated which can be applied to other materials and laminate thicknesses.
Nornicotine is self-administered intravenously by rats

Rationale: Nicotine is a tobacco alkaloid known to be important in the acquisition and maintenance of tobacco smoking. However, other constituents in tobacco may contribute to the dependence liability. Objective: The present report sought to determine whether nornicotine, a tobacco alkaloid and metabolite of nicotine, has a reinforcing effect. Methods: Rats were prepared with a jugular catheter, then were allowed to self-administer intravenously either S(–)-nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion), RS(±)-nornicotine (0.3 mg/kg/infusion) or saline using a two-lever operant procedure. The response requirement for each infusion was incremented gradually from a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) to FR5. When responding stabilized on the FR5, other doses of nicotine (0.01 mg/kg/infusion and 0.06 mg/kg/infusion) and nornicotine (0.075, 0.15, and 0.6 mg/kg/infusion) were tested for their ability to control responding. Results: Similar to nicotine, rats self-administered nornicotine significantly above saline control levels. Within the dose ranges tested, both nicotine and nornicotine yielded relatively flat dose–response functions. Extinction of responding was evident when saline was substituted for nornicotine, and responding was reinstated when nornicotine again was available. The rate of nornicotine self-administration was similar between rats tested with either 24-h or 48-h inter-session intervals. Conclusion: These results indicate that nornicotine contributes to the dependence liability associated with tobacco use.
Sequence and genetic analysis of the hemin storage (hms) system of Yersinia pestis

Abstract We have sequenced a region from the pigmentation (pgm) locus of Yersinia pestis KIM6+ that is identified with the exogenous hemin storage (Hms+) phenotype in cells grown at 26 but not at 37°C. The hmsHFRS locus encodes a putative polycistronic operon, with hmsH encoding an outer membrane protein with a deduced molecular mass of 93.4/89.5 (unprocessed/processed) kDa. The mature HmsH 788 aa polypeptide has a pI of 4.99. The hmsF gene has an open reading frame of 654 aa, encoding a 74.6/72.2 kDa OM protein with a pI of 5.16 when processed. A deduced 423 aa, 52 kDa protein with a pI of 10.83 is encoded by hmsR. HmsR has a basic, hydrophilic, and α-helical carboxyl terminus; 13 aa at the amino-terminal end and a `KRKRAR' sequence at the carboxy-terminal end are essential for an Hms+ phenotype. The hmsS gene encodes a hypothetical 155 aa, 17.5 kDa protein with a pI of 6.68. Hms− Y. pestis strain M23-2 transformed with the cloned hmsHFRS locus developed an Hmsc phenotype (Hms+ at 26–37°C) due to mutations in genes outside the pgm locus.
Sucrose Concentration in Liquid Media Affects Soluble Carbohydrates, Biomass and Storage Quality of Micropropagated Hosta

The effects of sucrose concentration (1, 3, 5, or 7% w/v) in liquid media, in the presence and absence of benzylaminopurine (BAP), on internal carbohydrate status and growth of Hosta tokudama Tratt. ‘Newberry Gold’ during the multiplication phase (stage II) was investigated. Cultures from all treatment combinations were transferred to media containing 3% (w/v) sucrose during the rooting phase (stage III). At the end of the stage III, these micropropagules were subjected to 5 weeks of storage at 10 °C under low light (photosynthetic photon flux of 5 µmol m−2s−1). Endogenous concentrations of soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in the plantlets increased linearly as the media sucrose concentration increased from 1% to 7% during stage II. Root and shoot biomass increased with increasing media sucrose concentration. BAP increased the biomass and multiplication rate but did not affect internal concentration of soluble sugars. While in storage, endogenous sugar levels and plantlet dry weight remained unchanged for all treatments. Following storage, plants originally cultured in 5% and 7% media sucrose had higher dry weight and less leaf chlorosis than those cultured in 1% and 3% media. Differences in endogenous soluble sugar levels at the end of stage III rooting, and after storage were related to the sucrose concentration of the initial stage II multiplication medium. Increased media sucrose levels during the multiplication cycle has a positive, long-term effect on plant morphology and quality.
Characterization of the arene-oxidizing intermediate in ToMOH as a diiron(III) species.

We report the generation and characterization of a diiron(III) intermediate formed during reaction with dioxygen of the reduced hydroxylase component of toluene/o-xylene monooxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. OX1. The decay rate of this species is accelerated upon mixing with phenol, a substrate for this system. Under steady-state conditions, hydrogen peroxide was generated in the absence of substrate. The oxidized hydroxylase also decomposed hydrogen peroxide to liberate dioxygen in the absence of reducing equivalents. This activity suggests that dioxygen activation may be reversible. The linear free energy relationship determined from hydroxylation of para-substituted phenols under steady-state turnover has a negative slope. A value of ρ < 0 is consistent with electrophilic attack by the oxidizing intermediate on the aromatic substrates. The results from these steady and pre-steady-state experiments provide compelling evidence that the diiron(III) intermediate is the active oxidant in the toluene/o-xylene m...
A stability-enhancing scaling procedure for Schur-Riccati solvers

Abstract Scaling Riccati equations so that the solution has unit norm eliminates instabilities associated with the inversion step of invariant-subspace-based (Schur) methods without changing the relative condition number of the underlying problem. Such optimal scaling makes it easy to estimate this condition number and to bound the relative error of the computed solution. Moreover, the determination of whether the first step of Newton's method will improve this solution is also simplified.
Theoretical and experimental study of anodic stripping voltammetry with mercury-plated graphite electrodes

Abstract The application of mercury-plated graphite electrodes to stripping analysis has been evaluated. Theoretical relationships for chronopotentiometric stripping were derived. Excellent correlation between experimental and theoretical behavior was obtained using mercury films from 0.5–5.0 μ thick. Transition times are linearly related to amalgam concentration and reflect the complete removal of reduced species from the mercury film. Stripping with linearly varying potential was also investigated, and results were compared to previously derived theory. Correlation was not so good as for chrono-potentiometry, although analytical data could be obtained from peak areas. It is suggested that the poor correlation in the case of stripping with linearly varying potential is due to surface roughness effects.
Survivin-T34A: molecular mechanism and therapeutic potential.

The inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin’s threonine 34 to alanine (T34A) mutation abolishes a phosphorylation site for p34(cdc2)–cyclin B1, resulting in initiation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in cancer cells; however, it has little known direct effects on normal cells. The possibility that targeting survivin in this way may provide a novel approach for selective cancer gene therapy has yet to be fully evaluated. Although a flurry of work was undertaken in the late 1990s and early 2000s, only minor advances on this mutant have recently taken place. We recently described that cells generated to express a stable form of the mutant protein released this survivin-T34A to the conditioned medium. When this conditioned medium was collected and deposited on naive tumor cells, conditioned medium T34A was as effective as some chemotherapeutics in the induction of tumor cell apoptosis, and when combined with other forms of genotoxic stressors potentiated their killing effects. We hope with this review to revitalize the T34A field, as there is still much that needs to be investigated. In addition to determining the therapeutic dose and the duration of drug therapy required at the disease site, a better understanding of other key factors is also important. These include knowledge of target cell populations, cell-surface receptors, changes that occur in the target tissue at the molecular and cellular level with progression of the disease, and the mechanism and site of therapeutic action.
Fabrication and analysis of GaAs Schottky barrier diodes fabricated on thin membranes for terahertz applications

The GaAs Schottky diode is predominantly used as the critical mixer element in heterodyne receivers in the frequency range from 300 GHz to several THz[1]. At operating frequencies above one THz the skin effect adds significant parasitic resistance to the diode which degrades the receiver sensitivity. A novel diode structure called the Schottky barrier membrane diode is proposed to decrease the skin effect resistance by reducing the current path between the Schottky and ohmic contacts. This is accomplished by fabricating the diode on a very thin membrane of GaAs (about 1 μm thickness). A theoretical analysis has shown that this will reduce the substrate resistance by 60% at 3 THz. This reduction in resistance corresponds to a better frequency response which will improve the device's performance as a mixer element.
Superphysiologic FDG Uptake in the Non-Paralyzed Vocal Cord. Resolution of a False-Positive PET Result with Combined PET-CT Imaging

The application of positron emission tomography imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to the extracranial head and neck has been proven to be effective in the detection and staging of malignancy. The FDG uptake of normal laryngeal tissue is symmetric and low, while benign lesions typically have only slight increases in FDG uptake. We report a case of asymmetric, superphysiologic FDG uptake in the contralateral vocal cord of a patient with a unilateral vocal cord paralysis secondary to sacrifice of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during pneumonectomy for lung cancer. The FDG uptake of the non-paralyzed vocal cord was increased multiple-fold, placing it well within the range of malignancy. Use of unique, combined PET-CT imaging localized the high FDG uptake to the non-paralyzed vocal cord, and laryngoscopy confirmed no evidence of malignancy in the vocal cord. This case demonstrates that a benign cause of false-positive FDG-PET imaging may be encountered during evaluation of the extracranial head and neck for malignancy. We aim to alert the reader to this potential pitfall in the interpretation of FDG-PET imaging, which can be resolved with the use of combined PET-CT imaging and clinical correlation.
Cluster analysis of BI-RADS descriptions of biopsy-proven breast lesions

The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize clusters in a heterogeneous breast cancer computer-aided diagnosis database. Identification of subgroups within the database could help elucidate clinical trends and facilitate future model building. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering and k-means clustering were used to identify clusters in a large, heterogeneous computer-aided diagnosis database based on mammographic findings (BI-RADS) and patient age. The clusters were examined in terms of their feature distributions. The clusters showed logical separation of distinct clinical subtypes such as architectural distortions, masses, and calcifications. Moreover, the common subtypes of masses and calcifications were stratified into clusters based on age groupings. The percent of the cases that were malignant was notably different among the clusters. Cluster analysis can provide a powerful tool in discerning the subgroups present in a large, heterogeneous computer-aided diagnosis database.
Psychological Reactions of Nonsmokers to Secondhand Smoke

logical reactions of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke reviewed by Gibson (I 994) is impressive, but it understates the psychological effects. Speaking for the many nonsmokers with respiratory diseases, we experience each exposure to secondhand smoke as an immediate and often painful threat to health. As a consequence, we feel an anger toward smokers in our vicinity that is equal to the anger that anyone would feel against a person who assaults them. This anger is far more potent and dangerous a psychological effect than the ones that have been documented by researchers to date. Psychology has an opportunity to play a leading role in the effort to help smokers and nonsmokers live together healthily and peaceably, but only if we understand that the negative reactions of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke are intense.
Apomorphine and 7-OH DPAT reduce ethanol intake of P and HAD rats

Adult male rats of the alcohol-preferring (P) line (N = 10) and high alcohol drinking (HAD) line (N = 12) were used to study the effects of IP administration of 0.125-0.50 mg/kg 7-OH DPAT (a putative D agonist) and 0.25-1.0 mg/kg apomorphine (a dopamine agonist with 50-fold higher affinities for the D1 and D2 receptors than for the D3 receptor) on the concurrent intakes of 10% (v/v) ethanol and 0.0125% (g/v) saccharin during a daily 4-h scheduled access period. Control intakes by the P rats for the 4-h period were 17.9 +/- 0.5 and 7.2 +/- 0.4 ml for the ethanol and saccharin solutions, respectively. For the HAD line, ethanol consumption was 18.7 +/- 0.2 ml and saccharin intake was 8.7 +/- 1.6 ml for the 4-h period. In terms of grams ethanol/kg body wt, the 4-h intakes were 2.2 +/- 0.2 for the P line and 3.0 +/- 0.3 for the HAD rats. Both P and HAD rats consumed approximately 40% of their total ethanol intake in the first 15 min of access while consuming only about 15% of their total saccharin intake during this 15-min period. The putative D3 agonist 7-OH DPAT produced a decrease in ethanol intake in the first h to 45-55% of control levels for the P rat (p < 0.01) and to 25-70% of control values in the HAD line (p < 0.001). Apomorphine caused a dose-dependent decrease in ethanol intake in the first hour to 15-70% of control values in the P rat (p < 0.001) and to 25-60% of control levels in the HAD line (p < 0.001). Saccharin and 4-h food intakes for both lines were not altered by either 7-OH DPAT or apomorphine. Overall, these results suggest that D2 and D3 dopamine receptors may play a role in mediating alcohol drinking behavior of the selectively bred HAD and P lines of rats.
Solvability of the Matric Equation AX = B

Abstract Let A be an n×s matrix of rank r, B be an n×t matrix of rank ρ⩽r, and X be an s×t matrix. This paper discusses conditions on the matrices A and B so that the matric equation AX=B will have solutions for the matrix X.
Deregulation in investment banking: Industry concentration following Rule 415

Abstract This paper examines activity in the investment banking industry around the passage of Rule 415 (the ‘shelf registration regulation’). Our empirical results document that corporations that issued securities via shelf registrations chose to do so using significantly fewer and more prestigious underwriters per issue than corporations that issued securities prior to Rule 415. Although the trend toward fewer underwriters occurred for both shelf and non-shelf registrations, it is more pronounced for the shelf registered issues. Further, we show that stockholders of small, less prestigious underwriters experienced significantly larger stock price decreases than stockholders of larger, more prestigious underwriters during the period in which Rule 415 was passed.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma: prenatal assessment, fetal intervention, and outcome.

Abstract Purpose To understand the natural history and define indications for fetal intervention in sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT), the authors reviewed all cases of fetal SCT presenting for evaluation. Methods Prenatal diagnostic studies including ultrasound scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiography and pre- and postnatal outcomes were reviewed in 30 cases of SCT that presented between September 1995 and January 2003. Results The mean gestational age (GA) at presentation was 23.9 weeks (range, 19 to 38.5) with 3 sets of twins (10%). Overall outcomes included 4 terminations, 5 fetal demises, 7 neonatal deaths, and 14 survivors. Significant obstetric complications occurred in 81% of the 26 continuing pregnancies: polyhydramnios (n = 7), oligohydramnios (n = 4), preterm labor (n = 13), preeclampsia (n = 4), gestational diabetes (n = 1), HELLP syndrome (n = 1), and hyperemesis (n = 1). Fetal intervention included cyst aspiration (n = 6), amnioreduction (n = 3), amnioinfusion (n = 1), and open fetal surgical resection (n = 4). Indications for cyst aspiration and amnioreduction were maternal discomfort, preterm labor, and prevention of tumor rupture at delivery. Although 15 SCTs were solid causing risk for cardiac failure, only 4 fetuses met criteria for fetal debulking based on ultrasonographic and echocardiographic evidence of impending high output failure and favorable anatomy at 21, 23.6, 25, and 26 weeks’ gestation. Intraoperative events included maternal blood transfusion (n = 1), fetal blood transfusion (n = 2), chorioamniotic membrane separation (n = 2), and fetal arrest requiring successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (n = 1). In the fetal resection group, 3 of 4 survived with mean GA at delivery of 29 weeks (range, 27.6 to 31.7 weeks), mean birth weight of 1.3 kg, hospital stay ranging from 16 to 34 weeks, and follow-up ranging from 20 months to 6 years. Postnatal complications in the fetal surgery group included neonatal death (n = 1, secondary to premature closure of ductus arteriosus with cardiac failure), embolic event (n = 1, resulting in unilateral renal agenesis, jejunal atresia), chronic lung disease (n = 1), and tumor recurrence (n = 1). Conclusions For fetal SCT, the rapidity at which cardiac compromise can develop and the high incidence of obstetric complications warrant close prenatal surveillance. Amnioreduction, cyst aspiration, and surgical debulking are potentially life-saving interventions.
Using localized particle subset for target tracking in videos

In this paper, a localized particle subset method is proposed to solve target tracking problem in a Bayesian inference framework. Instead of using all particles to estimated the posterior probability density function (pdf) of targets, a subset is used. This subset of particles is selected by estimated motion of the targets. The weights of particles are updated by the 3D Hausdroff distances between target appearance model and samples. The proposed method is highly efficient in utilizing the particles, which consequently results in reduction of samples utilized in the prediction and update processes. It is also able to alleviate the sample degeneracy and impoverishment problems in the sampling process. Experiments show that the computation complexity for localized particle subset tracker is reduce to a fraction of that of the Sequential Importance (SIS) tracker but with compatible performance.
The essential oils of Mosiera ehrenbergii (O. Berg) landrum (Myrtaceae) originally from mexico and M. longipes (O. Berg) small from Florida

Abstract Essential oils of fragrant Mosiera enrhenbergii (O. Berg) Landrum (Myrtaceae), collected in Arizona from Mexican seed, and M. longipes (O. Berg) Small, collected in Florida, were examined by GC/MS/FID. Thirty-eight constituents were identified with dominant components of limonene (51.6±0.7%) and α-pinene (33.6±2.4%) in M. ehrenbergii and limonene (47.8±2.5%) in M. longipes.
SU-F-18C-09: Assessment of OSL Dosimeter Technology in the Validation of a Monte Carlo Radiation Transport Code for CT Dosimetry

Purpose: To assess the utility of optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) dosimeter technology in calibrating and validating a Monte Carlo radiation transport code for computed tomography (CT). Methods: Exposure data were taken using both a standard CT 100-mm pencil ionization chamber and a series of 150-mm OSL CT dosimeters. Measurements were made at system isocenter in air as well as in standard 16-cm (head) and 32-cm (body) CTDI phantoms at isocenter and at the 12 o'clock positions. Scans were performed on a Philips Brilliance 64 CT scanner for 100 and 120 kVp at 300 mAs with a nominal beam width of 40 mm. A radiation transport code to simulate the CT scanner conditions was developed using the GEANT4 physics toolkit. The imaging geometry and associated parameters were simulated for each ionization chamber and phantom combination. Simulated absorbed doses were compared to both CTDI{sub 100} values determined from the ion chamber and to CTDI{sub 100} values reported from the OSLs. The dose profiles from each simulation were also compared to the physical OSL dose profiles. Results: CTDI{sub 100} values reported by the ion chamber and OSLs are generally in good agreement (average percent difference of 9%), and provide a suitable way tomore » calibrate doses obtained from simulation to real absorbed doses. Simulated and real CTDI{sub 100} values agree to within 10% or less, and the simulated dose profiles also predict the physical profiles reported by the OSLs. Conclusion: Ionization chambers are generally considered the standard for absolute dose measurements. However, OSL dosimeters may also serve as a useful tool with the significant benefit of also assessing the radiation dose profile. This may offer an advantage to those developing simulations for assessing radiation dosimetry such as verification of spatial dose distribution and beam width.« less
Disease phobia and disease conviction are separate dimensions underlying hypochondriasis

The current study uses data from a large nonclinical college student sample (N = 503) to examine a structural model of hypochondriasis (HC). This model predicts the distinctiveness of two dimensions (disease phobia and disease conviction) purported to underlie the disorder, and that these two dimensions are differentially related to variables important to health anxiety and somatoform disorders, respectively. Results were generally consistent with the hypothesized model. Specifically, (a) body perception variables (somatosensory amplification and anxiety sensitivity - physical) emerged as significant predictors of disease phobia, but not disease conviction; (b) emotion dysregulation variables (cognitive avoidance and cognitive reappraisal) emerged as significant predictors of disease conviction, but not disease phobia; and (c) both disease phobia and disease conviction independently predicted medical utilization. Further, collapsing disease phobia and disease conviction onto a single latent factor provided an inadequate fit to the data. Conceptual and therapeutic implications of these results are discussed.
On the precipitation of proteins by polymers: the hemoglobin--polyethylene glycol system.

The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of MW 6000 to solutions of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobins results in an increase in the thermodynamic activity of these proteins. This in turn results, when PEG concentration is high enough, in phase separation into two phases; a protein-rich, PEG-poor phase and a PEG-rich, protein-poor phase. With increasing PEG concentration, the protein-rich amorphous phase becomes metastable and is converted into a well-defined crystalline or polymer phase. The logarithm of protein solubility is a linear function of PEG content up to a protein concentration of 150 g/L because the expression for the activity coefficient can, up to this concentration range, be approximated by a logarithmic function. Curvature appears at higher protein concentrations. Activities obtained by extrapolation from linear portions of the function, showing an unchanged, well-defined crystalline state, yield an activity coefficient for the saturated PEG-free protein solution in agreement with the appropriate values obtained from hard-sphere calculations of excluded volume [Ross, P. D. & Minton, A. P. (1977) J. Mol. Biol.112, 437–452]. Solutions containing two hemoglobin species showed cocrystallization of the hemoglobins with a triple point where two crystal forms can be shown to coexist.
Greater frequency of nut consumption is associated with lower prevalence of peripheral arterial disease.

Abstract Nut consumption has been associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. The association between nut intake and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is uncertain. Objective We sought to investigate the association between nut consumption and presence of prevalent PAD in a large cross-sectional sample. Methods Self-referred participants at > 20,000 US sites who completed a medical and lifestyle questionnaire were evaluated by screening ankle brachial indices for PAD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds of PAD in different nut consumption categories. Results Among 3,312,403 individuals, mean age was 63.6 ± 10.6 years and 62.8% were female. There were 219,527 cases of PAD. After multivariable adjustment there was an inverse association of nut intake with PAD. Compared to subjects with consumption of nuts Conclusion These observations suggest the need for more rigorous testing evaluating the role of nuts in PAD prevention.
Single-mode fibre optic directional coupler

A technique is presented for the fabrication of single-mode fibre optic directional couplers. Properties of couplers made using this technique include stability and durability, continuous tunability to a power transfer of 70%, less than 10% loss, high insensitivity to polarisation, and high directivity.
Childhood Asthma Prevalence among Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans: Implications for Behavioral Intervention Research

Parental management is the least understood, but often a vital, element of treatment effectiveness in childhood asthma. This study identifies individual, household, and community-level variables relevant to home treatment effectiveness among two Hispanic groups: Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans. The relationship between these variables and lifetime prevalence of childhood asthma (LTP) are examined with data in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982-84 (HHANES), a mixed cross-sectional retrospective national survey. Unadjusted estimates indicate that Puerto Rican ethnicity, poverty, urban residence, and single parenthood are positively associated with LTP. Children born outside the mainland United States, children of low weight for age, and males show an increased risk of LTP In a multiple logistic regression model, Puerto Rican ethnicity, low weight for age, and male gender remain positively associated, and poverty becomes negatively associated, with LTP Implications are discussed f...