cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anthracycline cardiotoxicity: clinical and pathologic outcomes assessed by radionuclide ejection fraction

A clinical syndrome of severe cardiomyopathy often accompanies administration of high doses of anthracycline agents. We studied 36 patients serially with radionuclide angiography. At three weeks following drug administration, 8 of 36 patients showed depression of ejection fraction (EF). All had received at least 280 mg/m2 of the drug and 7 had received more than 380 mg/M2. Definite clinical syndromes of congestive cardiomyopathy developed only in patients showing EF depression and in some patients, EF depression developed without signs of congestive heart failure. Ejection fraction studies at 5 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, and one week following drug administration showed no changes when compared to immediate preg-drug EF. Seven patients who died during the study underwent histologic examination. Only the single patient with a depressed EF showed histologic evidence of athracycline cardiotoxicity, although all but 1 of these patients had received at least 400 mg/M2. We conclude that serial radionuclide EF just prior to anthracycline administration is a potentially useful predictor of cardiac toxicity, and that EF depression and/or preservation of a normal EF should be weighed in the decision for administering a drug of this type at high dosage levels.
The effect of orally administered zinc sulfate on extraction wound healing in hamsters.

Abstract Orally administered zinc sulfate was found to cause a statistically significant acceleration in the rate of healing of extraction wounds in hamsters. The greatest acceleration was observed during the first postoperative week. After one week, the differences between the control and experimental groups were less dramatic. Bone formation, however, was still accelerated in the experimental group throughout the time of the study. Not only was there an acceleration in the rate of bone formation, but the process of maturation of osteoid tissue to mature secondary trabeculae was also accelerated.
Intimacy, Passion and Commitment in Adult Romantic Relationships: A Test of the Triangular Theory of Love

Predictions derived from Sternberg's (1986) Triangular Theory of Love were tested. Two-hundred- and-four adults completed questionnaires assessing several constructs, including each of the three components of the theory: intimacy, passion and commitment. Results indicated mixed support for the Triangular Theory. As expected, self-reported levels of commitment were higher for the respondents in more serious (i.e. married vs unmarried) relationships. The predicted decline over time in passion emerged only for females, and intimacy levels did not generally display the predicted decline for longer relationships. Commitment was the most powerful and consistent predictor of relationship satisfaction, especially for the longest relationships. Other results indicated a need for more psychometrically sound measures of these constructs, and the desirability of using adult, non-student samples for investigations of romantic love.
Strategy and Accountability: Structural Reform Litigation and Public Management

Structural reform litigation involves legal action against public bureaucracies alleging that an official has violated the legal rights of an agency's client. A pattern of rights infringements raises the specter of systemic dysfunction. If the court finds for the plaintiffs, or if the defendant agency agrees to settle, the remedy reconstitutes agency operations. What are the incentives faced by public managers whose agencies are involved in structural reform litigation? How might public managers retain public accountability while strategically using the institutional arrangements present in such cases? This article examines these questions through a spatial bargaining model and discusses its analytical implications in the context of a comprehensive suit against the child welfare agency in Kansas City, Missouri.
Solid Dispersion Approach to the Formulation of Organic Liquid Drugs Using Polyethylene Glycol 6000 as a Carrier

Five poorly water-soluble liquid compounds—benzonatate, clofibrate, methyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate, and dl-α-tocopheryl acetate—were solid dispersed in a polyethylene glycol 6000 carrier by the melting method. The solidified mass, containing up to 5 or 10% (w/w) of liquid compounds, could be pulverized, encapsulated, and tableted. In the in vitro dissolution studies, the active ingredients were completely dissolved in 4-14 min. The preparations were highly reproducible, and the active ingredients were shown to distribute homogeneously within the carrier matrix. This approach represents a new method in the formulation of liquid medicinal compounds. The application of the solid dispersion principle in formulating a prolonged or sustained-release dosage regimen is also discussed.
DQB1*06:02 allele-specific expression varies by allelic dosage, not narcolepsy status.

Abstract The association of narcolepsy–cataplexy, a sleep disorder caused by the loss of hypocretin/orexin neurons in the hypothalamus, with DQA1*01:02–DQB1*06:02 is one of the tightest known single-allele human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations. In this study, we explored genome-wide expression in peripheral white blood cells of 50 narcolepsy versus 47 controls (half of whom were DQB1*06:02 positive) and observed the largest differences between the groups in the signal from HLA probes. Further studies of HLA-DQ expression (mRNA and protein in a subset) in 125 controls and 147 narcolepsy cases did not reveal any difference, a result we explain by the lack of proper control of allelic diversity in Affymetrix HLA probes. Rather, a clear effect of DQB1*06:02 allelic dosage on DQB1*06:02 mRNA levels (1.65-fold) and protein (1.59-fold) could be demonstrated independent of disease status. These results indicate that allelic dosage is transmitted into changes in heterodimer availability, a phenomenon that may explain the increased risk for narcolepsy in DQB1*06:02 homozygotes versus heterozygotes.
A model of the ventricular cardiac action potential. Depolarization, repolarization, and their interaction.

A mathematical model of the membrane action potential of the mammalian ventricular cell is introduced. The model is based, whenever possible, on recent single-cell and single-channel data and incorporates the possibility of changing extracellular potassium concentration [K]o. The fast sodium current, INa, is characterized by fast upstroke velocity (Vmax = 400 V/sec) and slow recovery from inactivation. The time-independent potassium current, IK1, includes a negative-slope phase and displays significant crossover phenomenon as [K]o is varied. The time-dependent potassium current, IK, shows only a minimal degree of crossover. A novel potassium current that activates at plateau potentials is included in the model. The simulated action potential duplicates the experimentally observed effects of changes in [K]o on action potential duration and rest potential. Physiological simulations focus on the interaction between depolarization and repolarization (i.e., premature stimulation). Results demonstrate the importance of the slow recovery of INa in determining the response of the cell. Simulated responses to periodic stimulation include monotonic Wenckebach patterns and alternans at normal [K]o, whereas at low [K]o nonmonotonic Wenckebach periodicities, aperiodic patterns, and enhanced supernormal excitability that results in unstable responses ("chaotic activity") are observed. The results are consistent with recent experimental observations, and the model simulations relate these phenomena to the underlying ionic channel kinetics.
Nuclear spin lattice relaxation in K metal

Abstract Measurements of the spin-lattice relaxation time for the 39K spin system in potassium metal at liquid helium bath temperatures are reported (1–4°K). An upper limit of the line width is obtained from the free induction decay.
Growth Hormone Secretory Dynamics Over the Menstrual Cycle

Whether GH secretion in women varies over the menstrual cycle is uncertain. Previous investigations have led to conflicting conclusions; some studies suggested that there is an estrogen mediated rise in GH during the periovulatory (PO) and luteal (L) phases whereas others indicated no change in GH axis over the cycle. Differences in conclusions could relate to heterogeneity of the study populations, GH sampling paradigms or sensitivity of the GH assays used. In order to investigate whether GH secretion varied over the cycle, 24-h GH profiles using every 10-min sampling were obtained in 6 ovulatory women during the early follicular (EF), PO and L phases of the cycle. The TSH response to TRH, GH response to GRH and fasting plasma IGF-I were measured on each occasion. There was a trend toward higher integrated GH concentration (IGHC) during the PO phase, although this difference was not statistically significant (3284+/-721 vs 4542+/-872 vs 4071+/-699 microg/min/L; EF vs PO vs L; p=0.09). Similarly, deconvolution estimated GH secretion did not vary over the cycle (p=0.56). There were no differences in GH pulse amplitude or frequency. There were no correlations between IGHC and sex steroids. Serum IGF-I was constant over the cycle (272+/-38 vs 277+/-31 vs 265+/-38 microg/L; p=0.89). The TSH response to TRH and GH response to GRH did not vary over the cycle. We concluded that the effect of changes in the ovarian steroid milieu on the GH axis during spontaneous menstrual cycles is minimal.
Regulation of cricket phonotaxis through hormonal control of the threshold of an identified auditory neuron

1. The phonotactic threshold of 3 to 5-day-old adult female Acheta domesticus and the threshold of the L1 auditory neuron drop progressively (Fig. 1). 2. Application of juvenile hormone III (JHIII) to 1 -day-old females caused both the female's threshold for phonotaxis and the threshold of the L1 auditory neuron to drop 20 or more dB over the next 12 h (Figs. 3, 4). 3. JHIIFs effect on phonotactic threshold could be blocked by injection with a transcription (α-amanitin) or a translation blocker (emetine, Fig. 3). 4. Injection of emetine also prevented the JHIII induced drop in L1's threshold (Fig. 4). 5. Application of JHIII to the surface of, or microinjection of JHIII into one prothoracic hemiganglion caused the female to circle phonotactically away from the side of hormone addition at thresholds 25 to 35 dB lower than the pre-JHIII addition threshold within 2 h (Fig. 6). 6. Application of JHIII to the surface of both prothoracic hemiganglia, accompanied by microinjection of emetine into one hemiganglion resulted in the female circling phonotactically toward the side receiving emetine injection, with a 25 to 35 dB drop in threshold (Fig. 6).
Heat-stress-induced changes in central venous pressure do not explain interindividual differences in orthostatic tolerance during heat stress

The extent to which heat stress compromises blood pressure control is variable among individuals, with some individuals becoming very intolerant to a hypotensive challenge, such as lower body negative pressure (LBNP) while heat stressed, while others are relatively tolerant. Heat stress itself reduces indexes of ventricular filling pressure, including central venous pressure, which may be reflective of reductions in tolerance in this thermal condition. This study tested the hypothesis that the magnitude of the reduction in central venous pressure in response to heat stress alone is related to the subsequent decrement in LBNP tolerance. In 19 subjects, central hypovolemia was imposed via LBNP to presyncope in both normothermic and heat-stress conditions. Tolerance to LBNP was quantified using a cumulative stress index (CSI), and the difference between normothermic CSI and heat-stress CSI was calculated for each individual. The eight individuals with the greatest CSI difference between normothermic and heat-stress tolerances (LargeDif), and the eight individuals with the smallest CSI difference (SmallDif), were grouped together. By design, the difference in CSI between thermal conditions was greater in the LargeDif group (969 vs. 382 mmHg × min; P < 0.001). Despite this profound difference in the effect of heat stress in decreasing LBNP tolerance between groups, coupled with no difference in the rise in core body temperatures to the heat stress (LargeDif, 1.4 ± 0.1°C vs. SmallDif, 1.4 ± 0.1°C; interaction P = 0.89), the reduction in central venous pressure during heat stress alone was similar between groups (LargeDif: 5.7 ± 1.9 mmHg vs. SmallDif: 5.2 ± 2.0 mmHg; interaction P = 0.85). Contrary to the proposed hypothesis, differences in blood pressure control during LBNP are not related to differences in the magnitude of the heat-stress-induced reductions in central venous pressure.
Decreased drug reporting in a cross-sectional student drug use survey.

Abstract Purpose. Prior longitudinal cohort studies have suggested that reinterviews about drug use often lead to decreased reports of lifetime substance use (recanting). Respondents may edit their answers on reinterview because of perceptions regarding question threat. Since reinterviews usually occur after long periods of time, the influence of inadequate recall (memory), cannot be ruled out. In order to evaluate the relative importance of editing and memory on recanting, we examined a cross-sectional survey administered in 1993 to a probability sample of Illinois students who were in the 7th through 12th grade. Methods. Two sets of self-administered survey questions assessed drug use: the I-SAY drug-use questionnaire, and a supplemental questionnaire asked at the end of the main survey. We compared the rates of “new use” (no use for a drug reported in the I-SAY, use reported for a drug on the supplement) with rates of recanting (use for a drug reported on the I-SAY, no use for a drug reported on the supplement). Results. Recanting was generally more pronounced than new use, especially for cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and inhalants. Those classified as light or inconsistent users on the I-SAY were significantly more likely to recant their drug use reports.
Mesquite pollen—an aeroallergen in asthma and allergic rhinitis

Skin reactions to mesquite pollen extract occurred in 62% of 100 consecutive patients tested at an adult allergy clinic despite absence of the plant within about a 50-mile radius. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) studies confirmed that the skin tests represented specific IgE antibodies to the mesquite pollen. Nasal, conjunctival, and bronchial challenges indicated that mesquite provoked symptoms in a specific manner. The pollen was trapped at a considerable distance from its source. Mesquite surveys and climatologic data suggested a route and method of transport. Mesquite pollen is a potent allergen capable of evoking immediate hypersensitivity reactions in a susceptible population remote from the plant source.
Eliciting good teaching from humans for machine learners

We propose using computational teaching algorithms to improve human teaching for machine learners. We investigate example sequences produced naturally by human teachers and find that humans often do not spontaneously generate optimal teaching sequences for arbitrary machine learners. To elicit better teaching, we propose giving humans teaching guidance, which are instructions on how to teach, derived from computational teaching algorithms or heuristics. We present experimental results demonstrating that teaching guidance substantially improves human teaching in three different problem domains. This provides promising evidence that human intelligence and flexibility can be leveraged to achieve better sample efficiency when input data to a learning system comes from a human teacher. We aim to improve Interactive Machine Learning by influencing the human teacher.We propose Teaching Guidance: instructions for teachers, to improve their input.Teaching Guidance is derived from optimal or heuristic teaching algorithms.We performed experiments to compare human teaching with and without teaching guidance.We found that Teaching Guidance substantially improves the data provided by teachers.
Planarization for three-dimensional photonic crystals and other multi-level nanoscale structures

We describe an approach for achieving local as well as global planarization in the fabrication of multi-level nanoscale structures. Using a 'pre-fill-in' technique, where trenches are filled with SiO2 prior to the application of a planarizing liquid, we demonstrate that the global degree of planarization can be improved from a mere ~25% to over ~90%. The first layer of a woodpile photonic lattice with a period of ~0.5 µm and a minimum feature size of ~0.2 µm is used as an example structure to illustrate the issues involved in planarization. This method provides an attractive and simpler alternative to the traditional chemical mechanical polishing approach, which can be quite complicated at nanoscale features involving non-traditional materials.
Probable autosomal dominant optic atrophy with hearing loss.

The seventh family manifesting an entity described as automosal dominant optic atrophy with hearing loss is reported here. This disorder shows great inter-and intrafamilial variation in the onset time and the degree of loss of both vision and hearing. Unlike autosomal dominant optic atrophy without hearing loss, it appears to be associated with a red-green (deutan) defect in color vision.
Allelic inhibition at the autosomally inherited gene locus for liver alcohol dehydrogenase in chicken-quail hybrids

At the gene locus for liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) of the Japanese quail, three alleles which give electrophoretic variants, A, B, and C, exist. This enzyme is autosomally inherited. Allelic polymorphism was not observed in the chicken, but the wild-type ADH of the chicken can readily be distinguished from A, B, and C of the quail by starch gel electrophoresis. In the development of both species, ADH activity reached a near adult level at about the nineteenth day (a few days after hatching in the quail and a few days before hatching in the chicken). Chicken-quail hybrids at the day of hatching (nineteenth day) revealed the presence of maternally derived quail ADH only, and their ADH activities were about half that of both parental species. Those hybrids which received either A or C allele from the mother quail showed three bands of ADH at the third day after hatching. The chicken and quail alleles began to function in synchronous harmony. One 3-day-old and two adult hybrids which received B allele from the quail, however, still revealed complete absence of the paternally derived chicken ADH.
The natural history of untreated skull base meningiomas.

BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to determine the natural history of untreated skull base meningiomas. Although there are reports on the natural history of meningiomas, most series contain only a few cases of meningiomas involving the skull base. Natural history information is important when recommending treatment and evaluating results. METHODS The case records and imaging studies of 40 patients with skull base meningiomas from a single practice were reviewed. These patients either did not receive treatment or there was a long delay from the onset of symptoms to the initiation of treatment. RESULTS Skull base meningiomas may be very indolent tumors. Patients with these tumors have lived long, comfortable, and relatively productive lives without treatment or with delayed treatment. Impairment may be much less than imaging studies would suggest. CONCLUSION The authors are not advocating that skull base meningiomas not receive treatment. However, their unique experience with this group of patients provides convincing evidence that the indolent behavior of some skull base meningiomas must be considered when recommending various surgical and radiation procedures and interpreting their results in relationship to the functional outcome of the patient.
An Electronic Nose to Differentiate Aromatic Flowers using a Real-Time Information-Rich Piezoelectric Resonance Measurement

Abstract A new type of electronic nose is used to differentiate subspecies of flowers grown together under identical conditions. The electronic nose uses a computer-designed broadband voltage pulse sent to a polymer coated electromechanical resonator. The pulse spans a user-defined bandwidth around a user-selected center frequency so as to include at least one mechanical resonance. The transient voltage pulse excites mechanical resonance through the piezoelectric effect. The current response signal from the device is recorded and subjected to FFT. Components of the response due to electrical impedance and mechanical resonance are separated and tracked with time upon exposure to floral aromas from related species and subspecies. This work uses low-cost electronics but still achieves enough sensitivity to easily differentiate subspecies grown under identical conditions.
Salvage surgery for patients with recurrent gastrointestinal sarcoma : Prognostic factors to guide patient selection

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal sarcomas are rare stromal tumors and most are classifiable as malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors. They have a high propensity for intraabdominal recurrence. It is unclear whether there is a survival advantage from reoperation for recurrent disease or if surgery should be confined to symptom relief. The authors have attempted to identify features that may allow the selection of patients most likely to benefit from reoperation. METHODS Retrospective univariate and multivariate analyses of 60 patients with recurrent gastrointestinal sarcoma, accrued from a prospective data base between July 1982 and September 1995, were performed. RESULTS Initial recurrence was evident by a median of 20 months from primary resection. Most patients (85%) had an initial symptomatic recurrence. Local recurrence was seen in 76% of patients, but in half of these synchronous hepatic metastases were present. None had disease outside of the abdomen. Complete resection of recurrent disease was possible in only one-third of cases. Median survival after surgery for recurrence was 15 months, but was longest for patients whose recurrence took the form of liver metastases in the absence of disease elsewhere. In multivariate analysis of postrecurrence survival, the only significant determinant of survival was the length of the disease free interval between the initial operation and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Survival following recurrence of a gastrointestinal sarcoma is largely determined by the tumor biology, one manifestation of which is the disease free interval. Except for patients with a long disease free interval, surgery should be reserved largely for symptom control. Cancer 2000;88:66–74. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Use of the gradient plate immunodiffusion technique

The use of the single dimensional gradient plate immunodiffusion technique as a qualitative and quantitative measure of antigen is described. This method gives results analogous to those obtained using the single radial immunodiffusion method, but it requires about 1/10 the antibody and it accentuates the visibility of multiple antibody—antigen systems at lower concentrations of antigen.
Neutron diffraction analysis of myoglobin.

A preliminary analysis of myoglobin proves that neutron diffraction analysis of proteins is feasible and should reveal the position of fixed hydrogen atoms.
Collecting as luxury consumption : effects on individuals and households

Collecting is a common acquisitive and possessive behavior that is generally regarded by society as more valued and less selfish than other forms of luxury consumption. Based on depth interviews with 200 collectors, an assessment of collecting is offered considering its problems and benefits for the individual collector, the collector's household, and society. While extreme cases are found in which collecting is addictive and dysfunctional for the individual and his or her family, it is more commonly found to be a beneficial activity, at least for the collector. But interpersonally, collections are found to be perceived as non-human rivals for the affection of collectors in the household and to leave a cultural legacy of material artifacts that over-represent powerful social classes.
Poly(dimethylsiloxane) films as sorbents for solid-phase microextraction coupled with infrared spectroscopy

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) film was investigated as a stationary phase for solid-phase microextraction coupled with infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Five organic compounds of environmental concern (trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, o-xylene, p-xylene, and trifluralin) were selected as test compounds for this study. Spiked solutions were extracted from 250-ml water samples into small squares (3.2×3.2 cm) of commercially available, 127-μm thick, PDMS film. The equilibration times for the test analytes in PDMS ranged from 60 to 85 min, and were about three times faster than those in Parafilm M. However, it was found that PDMS had poorer detection limits (in the range of 0.2–4.4 ppm) than those obtained with Parafilm M (in the range of 0.066–1.8 ppm). The relative standard deviations of the measurements were from 6.7–12%, and were governed primarily by volatility losses. Finally, preliminary work with PDMS demonstrates that real water matrices do not adversely affect the detection of organic compounds.
Third-order nonlinear spectra in C 60 and C 70 : reconciling electroabsorption, third-harmonic generation and degenerate four-wave mixing spectra

We present an overview of what has been learned form nonlinear optical spectral studies in C60 and C70 by our group and others. These include third harmonic generation (THG), degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM), and electroabsorption (EA). We present empirical models of interacting states consistent with spectra of EA, THG, and DFWM in C60 and C70. The spectra in the dispersed and solid forms differ significantly. In C60 the lowest- energy resonances in (chi) (3_ are dominated by 'forbidden' transitions made allowed by vibronic coupling in the molecule and intermolecular coupling in the solid. These interactions must be included in theoretical models of C60 if comparison is to be made between calculated and experimental nonlinear optical spectra. Major features of (chi) (3) spectra in C70 can be modeled with similar states redshifted from those of C60.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
NEW FICTITIOUS DOMAIN METHODS: FORMULATION AND ANALYSIS

Two closely-related fictitious domain methods for solving problems involving multiple interfaces are introduced. Like other fictitious domain methods, the proposed methods simplify the task of finite element mesh generation and provide access to solvers that can take advantage of uniform structured grids. The proposed methods do not involve the Lagrange multipliers, which makes them quite different from existing fictitious domain methods. This difference leads to an advantageous form of the inf–sup condition, and allows one to avoid time-consuming integration over curvilinear surfaces. In principle, the proposed methods have the same rate of convergence as existing fictitious domain methods. Nevertheless it is shown that, at the cost of introducing additional unknowns, one can improve the quality of the solution near the interfaces. The methods are presented using a two-dimensional model problem formulated in the context of linearized theory of elasticity. The model problem is sufficient for presenting method details and mathematical foundations. Although the model problem is formulated in two dimensions and involves only one interface, there are no apparent conceptual difficulties to extending the methods to three dimensions and multiple interfaces. Further, it is possible to extend the methods to nonlinear problems involving multiple interfaces.
Block punch index (BPI) test—a new consideration on validity and correlations for basalt and rhyolite rock types

The difficulties associated with performing direct compression strength tests on rock specimens have led to development of indirect test methods for the rock strength assessment. Over the years, indirect test methods have found wide acceptance as these methods are simple, more economical, less time consuming, and easy to adapt to any field situations. Among other indirect test methods, Block Punch Index (BPI) test is a relatively new compression index test in which a small segment of core with minimal sample preparation is subjected to an increasing load until the middle part of the specimen is punched out. As per the ISRM suggested method, for the BPI test to be valid, specimen should be broken into three parts: two end parts which are fixed in the apparatus and the middle-band which is punched out. The test should be rejected as invalid if the parallel fracture planes are either absent or not fully developed or cross joints develop. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the validity of the BPI test under secondary fracture development by laboratory testing and study of stress distribution in the BPI test specimen using 3D numerical models. Observations from laboratory experiments and numerical simulation studies indicate that the development of significant tensile stresses at the bottom-middle part of the specimen caused by bending, resulting in secondary failures in the middle part of the specimen after or at the time of the shear failure along the two parallel planes. However, the study suggests that, even with the secondary (cross) fracture development, the BPI test should be considered as a valid test as along as the middle portion of the specimen is punched out along two clean parallel shear planes. Finally, based on laboratory test data on basalt and rhyolite rock types, new correlations are developed between block punch index and other material properties of rock, such as, uniaxial compression strength, splitting tensile strength, and Young’s modulus.
A numerical simulation of BOMEX data using a turbulence closure model coupled with ensemble cloud relations

A one-dimensional version of a simplified second-moment turbulence closure model, coupled with a recently developed cloud model, is used to simulate BOMEX (Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment) data. Partial differential equations for the turbulence energy and a master length scale are solved. Simulated mixing ratios of water vapour, virtual temperatures and horizontal wind speeds are compared with observations. Horizontal wind speeds agree quite well; however, simulated temperature and mixing ratio of water vapour at the end of the fourth day are about 2K and 1.5 g kg−1 higher, respectively, than corresponding observations; possibly this is due to the fact that the surface temperature used in the simulation is too high. Mean liquid water, cloud volume, liquid water variance, turbulence energy and eddy viscosity coefficients are presented, but data for these variables are not available for comparison. Surface momentum, heat and moisture fluxes are also presented and are compared with data. Sensitivity studies indicate that the simulated mixing ratios of water vapour agree best with observations when both vertical wind and horizontal advection obtained from the data are included. The present study is encouraging, although further research is required to improve the model and to develop confidence in its predictive capability.
Computational Studies of Structure and Dynamics of Clathrate Inhibitor Monomers in Solution

Theoretical studies of five monomer constituents of gas clathrate inhibitorsvinylpyrrolidone, vinylvalerolactam, l-proline (LP), 1-formylpyrrolidine, and (dimethylaminoethyl)methacrylate (DMAEMA)are performed in the presence of water, with the solvent treated both explicitly and as a continuum. The binding energy increases as the inhibitor is more polarized, but no clear relationship is found between polarization and free energy of solvation values. Comparison of the binding energies of the inhibitor−water complexes and analysis of the hydration shells around the inhibitor sites indicate that short-range interactions influence the clathrate inhibitor effect more than long-range ones do. The balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties is found to be a determinant factor in the behavior of the inhibitor. In contrast to the other monomers, analyses of the DMAEMA and LP behaviors show that the N site can be associated with the hydrophilic moiety. Besides, DMAEMA has the best hydrophobic solvation around i...
Massage therapy restores peripheral vascular function after exertion.

Abstract Objective To determine if lower extremity exercise-induced muscle injury reduces vascular endothelial function of the upper extremity and if massage therapy (MT) improves peripheral vascular function after exertion-induced muscle injury. Design Randomized, blinded trial with evaluations at 90 minutes, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Setting Clinical research center. Participants Sedentary young adults (N=36) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) exertion-induced muscle injury and MT (n=15; mean age ± SE, 26.6±0.3); (2) exertion-induced muscle injury only (n=10; mean age ± SE, 23.6±0.4), and (3) MT only (n=11; mean age ± SE, 25.5±0.4). Intervention Participants were assigned to exertion-induced muscle injury only (a single bout of bilateral, eccentric leg press exercise), MT only (30-min lower extremity massage using Swedish technique), or exertion-induced muscle injury and MT. Main Outcome Measures Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was determined by ultrasound at each time point. Nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced dilation was also assessed (0.4mg). Results Brachial FMD increased from baseline in the exertion-induced muscle injury and MT group and the MT only group (7.38%±.18% to 9.02%±.28%, P P P P Conclusions Our results suggest that MT attenuates impairment of upper extremity endothelial function resulting from lower extremity exertion-induced muscle injury in sedentary young adults.
The Socio-economic Integration of the Ethiopian Community in Israel

Using data from the 1995 Israeli Census of Population, this study examines the demographic, human capital, and labour force characteristics of the Ethiopian community in Israel and its determinants of employment. The results provide strong evidence for the overall disadvantaged socio-economic status of the Ethiopian community and reveal substantial gaps in educational and occupational attainment between Ethiopian Israelis and members of other ethnic groups in Israeli society. Ethiopian Israelis have substantially lower levels of education, lower employment rates, and are more likely to have low-skilled occupations. However, multivariate analyses show that the determinants of employment of Ethiopian Israelis are relatively similar to those of other ethnic groups. Education and veteran status are found to be especially important factors associated with increased odds of employment. Although the rates of return from education are lower among Israelis of Ethiopian origin compared to other ethnic groups, this study suggests that education constitutes the major avenue for upward mobility in the Ethiopian community. Nevertheless, considering their current disadvantaged position, the question of whether Ethiopian immigrants will manage in the long run to climb up the socio-economic ladder and significantly improve their status, or whether they run the risk of becoming a marginalized ethnic group in Israeli society, remains a major concern. Implications for the formation of a new cleavage in Israeli society and the emergence of a stratification system based on race are discussed.
Amyloid infiltration of the salivary glands in the setting of primary systemic amyloidosis without multiple myeloma.

68-year-old man with a history of valvular heart disease presented with a 1-year history of enlarging submandibular and parotid glands, extreme xerostomia, and progressive fatigue. Previous CT and MRI scans showed enlarged parotid and submandibular glands with no pathologic enhancement, and 2 prior fine needle aspirations (FNA) were read as benign glandular elements. His physical examination was remarkable for irregularly enlarged parotid and submandibular glands of wooden consistency, dry mucous membranes, and dental indentations on the underside of his tongue. Repeat FNA of the submandibular gland stained with Congo red showed orangepink amorphous material (Fig 1 with apple-green birefringence under the polarized light (Fig 2 He had a positive work-up for systemic amyloidosis but a negative work-up for a multiple myeloma. Once diagnosed, he was treated with melphalan and prednisone and would have received a stem cell transplant, had he not been rejected due to his cardiomyopathy. Despite treatment, the patient died from heart failure after 4 months.
Kinetics of diffusion-free radiation graft polymerization of styrene onto polyethylene

The diffusion-free radiation graft polymerization of styrene onto polyethylene has been studied. The grafting rate shows a dependence on monomer which is far different than what has been assumed. Further, the dependence on monomer changes with increasing dose rate as does the dependence of grafting rate on radiation dose rate. Three different regions of behavior are defined: (1) a region of low dose rate where the grafting rate is 1/2-order in dose rate and 3/2-order in monomer; (2) a region of intermediate dose rate where the grafting rate is intermediate between 1/2- and zero-order in dose rate and 5/2-order in monomer; and (3) a region of high dose rate, where the grafting rate is independent of dose rate and at least 5/2-order in monomer. Various possible mechanisms responsible for these effects are discussed, including the effects of viscosity on the initiation and termination reactions, the possibility of ionic graft polymerization, and energy transfer.
Occidentalism and the Categories of Hegemonic Rule

This article applies Jack Goody’s critique of Western classifications of historical and ethnographical phenomena to the current discourses of orientalism themselves in an endeavor to understand the sociological basis of what might be called the shift from orientalism to occidentalism. The argument compares the current emergence of anti-civilizational and self-critical discourses to historical examples of similar phenomena and argues that the current shift itself, so well represented in works that may seem similar to Goody’s but which are very more narrowly ideological and lacking in a more general critical stance, are reflexes of the declining hegemony of powerful imperial centers within global systems.
Strain relaxation of CdTe films growing on lattice-mismatched substrates

We have deposited CdTe films by laser-assisted epitaxy approach and investigated the influence of substrate and film thickness on the film properties. Grown on Si(001), GaAs(001), and quartz substrates; the CdTe films exhibit preferential orientation along the cubic CdTe(111) direction. When the films are thin (<500 nm), a blueshift of the band gap and splitting of valence bands were observed. These results are attributed to the existence of residual strains induced by mismatch of the film lattice constant with that of the substrate, and by their difference in thermal expansion coefficients. The bulk band-gap energy of 1.5 eV was achieved on the surface of thick CdTe films grown on Si(001) substrate, indicating that strain was almost completely relaxed in this case. Our results demonstrate that by a proper selection of substrate and film thickness it is possible to grow film semiconductors with band gap approaching those of bulk crystals.
Detection and analysis of off-task gaming behavior in intelligent tutoring systems

A major issue in Intelligent Tutoring Systems is off-task student behavior, especially performance-based gaming, where students systematically exploit tutor behavior in order to advance through a curriculum quickly and easily, with as little active thought directed at the educational content as possible. The goal of this research was to explore the phenomena of off-task gaming behavior within the Assistments system. Machine-learned gaming-detection models were developed to investigate underlying factors related to gaming, and an analysis of gaming within the Assistments system was conducted to compare some of the findings of prior studies.
Conversion of Testosterone-1,23H to Androstenedione-3H in the Isolated Hair Follicle of Man

The metabolism of testosterone-1, 23H in vitro in isolated human hair follicles from the scalps of nine normal subjects, six males and three females has been studied. The major metabolite identified by thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, and recrystallization to constant specific activity, was found to be androstenedione.
A methodology for propagating design tolerances to shape tolerances for use in manufacturing

The move to low-k1 lithography makes it increasingly difficult to print feature sizes which are a small fraction of the wavelength of light. Manufacturing processes currently treat a target layout as a fixed requirement for lithography. However, in reality layout features may vary within certain bounds without violating design constraints. The knowledge of such tolerances, coupled with models for process variability, can help improve the manufacturability of layout features while still meeting design requirements. In this paper, we propose a methodology to convert electrical slack in a design to shape slack or tolerances on individual layout shapes using a two-phase approach. In the first step, we redistribute delay slack to generate delay bounds on individual cells using linear programming. In the second phase, which is solved as a quadratic program, we convert these delay bounds to shape tolerances to maximize the process window of each shape. The shape tolerances produced by our methodology can be used within a process-window optical proximity correction (PWOPC) flow to reduce delay errors arising from variations in the lithographic process. Our experiments on 45nm SOI cells using accurate process models show that the use of our shape slack generation in conjunction with PWOPC reduces delay errors from 3.6% to 1.4%, on average, compared to the simplistic way of tolerance band generation.
Potential health hazards of ceramic ring lining material.

B ecause of the specter of cancer from asbestos, ceramic ring lining materials have been introduced as asbestos substitutes in industry and in dentistry. Although the toxicity of ceramic fibers to humans has not been studied, asbestos toxicity has been thoroughly examined and is important to consider if safer substitutes are sought. Asbestos is the generic term for a group of fibrous minerals that differ in physical form, chemistry, and toxicity. Of the many fibrous minerals, three major kinds of asbestos have been studied, white asbestos (chrysotile), blue asbestos (crocidolite), and brown asbestos (amosite). Extensive epidemiologic studies in humans with industrial or environmental exposure have shown that blue asbestos is the most toxic, brown asbestos is intermediate, and white asbestos, the type used in dentistry, is the least toxic.‘-‘5 Three diseases have been associated with asbestos exposure: asbestosis, a fibrotic thickening of the lung tissues causing impaired function; bronchogenic lung cancer; and mesothelioma, an always fatal tumor of the tissue lining the pleural cavity. Asbestosis and bronchogenie lung cancer (in the absence of smoking) have been shown to be dose-dependent, and thus preventable by reducing the amount of inhaled fibers longer than 5 Brn to below the threshold level (about 10 fibers/ml for white asbestos).), l5 Asbestosis and brochogenic lung cancer in the presence of smoking are not dosedependent; a synergistic reaction occurs, producing high incidence of both conditions.‘-4 Mesothelioma induction appears to be not only dose-dependent but also fiberdependent, and it is possible that only a few inhaled fibers of appropriate dimensions could induce fatal tumor formation. Even in circumstances in which blue asbestos was certainly the cause of fatal mesothelioma, fibers have been found in lung tissue in only 25% of the individuals.2 Intrapleural inoculation of rats has shown that not only does asbestos of all types induce mesotheliomas, but that these tumors may also be induced by man-made ceramic, glass, and aluminum oxide fibers.‘6*‘7 Intra-
An Analog VLSI Chip for Thin-Plate Surface Interpolation

Reconstructing a surface from sparse sensory data is a well-known problem in computer vision. This paper describes an experimental analog VLSI chip for smooth surface interpolation from sparse depth data. An eight-node ID network was designed in 3µm CMOS and successfully tested. The network minimizes a second-order or "thin-plate" energy of the surface. The circuit directly implements the coupled depth/slope model of surface reconstruction (Harris, 1987). In addition, this chip can provide Gaussian-like smoothing of images.
The structure and function of steroid receptor proteins.

AbstractThis review has highlighted several topics in the study of steroid hormone action. The unanswered questions regarding the mechanism of ligand-controlled LRF activity, the extent of evolutionary conservation and specificity of DNA binding, and the validity of various models of transcriptional regulation mediated through gene networks point to the future direction of research in this field. Steroid hormones are used extensively in clinical treatments, especially glucocorticoids.90 Our laboratory is attempting to determine which gene networks are responsible for some of these clinical phenotypes. Figure 5 points out that the study of glucocorticoid action holds a unique position because it spans both the basic sciences and the field of applied molecular biology. Now that we have a fundamental knowledge of the necessary elements required for steroid-dependent regulation of gene expression, we can better investigate the clinical responses to steroid therapy (which include devastating side effects) by i...
Microbial modulation of innate defense: goblet cells and the intestinal mucus layer

The gastrointestinal epithelium is covered by a protective mucus gel composed predominantly of mucin glycoproteins that are synthesized and secreted by goblet cells. Changes in goblet cell functions and in the chemical composition of intestinal mucus are detected in response to a broad range of luminal insults, including alterations of the normal microbiota. However, the regulatory networks that mediate goblet cell responses to intestinal insults are poorly defined. The present review summarizes the results of developmental, gnotobiotic, and in vitro studies that showed alterations in mucin gene expression, mucus composition, or mucus secretion in response to intestinal microbes or host-derived inflammatory mediators. The dynamic nature of the mucus layer is shown. Available data indicate that intestinal microbes may affect goblet cell dynamics and the mucus layer directly via the local release of bioactive factors or indirectly via activation of host immune cells. A precise definition of the regulatory networks that interface with goblet cells may have broad biomedical applications because mucus alterations appear to characterize most diseases of mucosal tissues.
CT of airways disease and bronchiectasis

High-resolution CT is accepted as an accurate noninvasive means of diagnosing bronchiectasis. A wide spectrum of abnormalities may be identified at HRCT in patients with airway disease, including various distinctive patterns of bronchiectasis in specific clinical settings, such as ABPA, MAC infection, AIDS, and CF. Characteristic CT findings occasionally suggest a specific diagnosis that may not have been under clinical consideration. HRCT also provides significant clinical use in assessing the degree and extent of airway disease, and allows noninvasive monitoring of disease progression, regression, or response to therapy.