cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Random fields and Wigner crystallization

The Wigner lattice in an inhomogeneous medium is investigated, using the elastic free-energy functional of the system. The correlation function describing the positional order in a three-dimensional (3D) electron crystal is found for different types of random forces. Arbitrarily weak short-range random forces destroy long-range positional correlations, while preserving the crystalline order at finite distances. Long-range Coulomb forces destroy a 3D electron lattice if fluctuations in a positive-charge background are strong enough. The criterion for the stability of an electron crystal is obtained. It is shown that statistical fluctuations of impurity concentration in compensated semiconductors are sufficient to completely destroy the Wigner lattice.
Reconstructing Death in Postmodern Society

Thanatology—defined here as “the study of life with death left in”—did not emerge as a field of concerted scholarly attention until the aftermath of World War II, which temporarily pierced society's armor of denial. This article examines the interaction between the emerging thantalogical movement and its sociohistorical context. Thanatology entered the scene during the declining years of industrialism and will take on new shape as individuals and society attempt to cope with postmodernistic forces and the deconstructive mentality. In general, thanatology has earned a degree of social integration by behaving itself surprisingly well—meaning that it has utilized existing modalities and procedures, endorsed traditional values, and looked the part of the responsible citizen. The ongoing process of reconstructing death, however, promises to be more unsettling for all concerned. Examples are offered in the realm of attitudes toward the dead body, death education without death, and the tendency to construct deat...
Semblance and Event: Activist Philosophy and the Occurent Arts

Brian Massumi. Semblance and Event: Activist Philosophy and the Occurent Arts. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2011; hardcover, $30.00; Kindle e-book, $16.50 Brian Massumi asks readers to reimagine w...
Scalar field theories in curved space

We investigate the behavior of scalar fields (phi) in curved space which have a potential V(phi) = V/sub 0/+(1/2)m/sup 2/phi/sup 2/+(1 /3exclamation)etaphi/sup 3/+(1/4exclamation)lambdaphi/sup 4/ and a general coupling to gravity (1/2)xiRphi/sup 2/. The back-reaction of gravity strongly affects the stability of scalar fields. By examining the scalar field equations and the Einstein equations, we clarify conditions for the system to have an absolutely stable ground state in which phi is constant and a metric is either Minkowski, or de Sitter, or anti--de Sitter. We find that (i) cubic interactions cause instability, unless xi = 0, (ii) Higgs scalar fields in the standard model must have xieq(1/6), (iii) negative quartic interaction couplings (lambda >Vertical Barm/sup 2/V/sub 0/Vertical Bar).
Fish oil and vascular disease

Dietary n-3 fatty acids have potent biologic effects on cells of the blood and the vasculature. Many of these actions could ultimately prove medically useful, with potential therapeutic impact on atherogenesis, thrombosis, or vascular reactivity. Although a few clinical trials of fish oil have been reported in humans (for example, prevention of reocclusion after coronary angioplasty), results have not yet been definitive. Until additional information is available, the use of fish-oil supplements for treatment or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease is not warranted.
Evaluating Race-of-Interviewer Effects In a National Survey

The present article attempts to overcome some of the problems involved in estimating race-of-interviewer effects in a nonexperimental national survey. Individual items as well as scales were examined, using General Social Survey (GSS) data. Race-of-interviewer effects large enough to justify the practice of matching interviewer and respondent race for interviews on racial topics were found for both black and white respondents. A few such effects were found for nonracial items among blacks, but the range of items involved is smaller than what has been reported in previous studies. The impact of race-of-interviewer effects on mean estimates in the GSS appears to be small for white respondents, due to the small proportion of cross-race interviews. The proportion of cross-race interviews among blacks is larger and more variable over the years, and the impact of race-of-interviewer effects should be considered when analyzing items which show these effects.
Single Port Access (SPA) Surgery—a 24-Month Experience

In April 2007, we performed our first single port access (SPA) surgical procedure. Beginning with simple procedures, we progressed to more complex procedures employing modifications of the initial technique. Maintaining our abdominal entry technique through a single incision, typically umbilical, we have now successfully performed cholecystectomies, colon resections, small bowel procedures, liver biopsy, splenectomy, adrenalectomy, and surgery of the gastroesophageal junction. Two procedures have required additional port sites, none has employed transabdominal sutures, and <5% of all procedures have required articulation. Immediate follow-up demonstrates safe completion of multiple procedures with acceptable outcomes of blood loss and hospital stay. Although initial operative times are extended, a decrease is seen following a learning curve. At 2-year follow-up, two hernias developed at the extended incision for colon extraction. With initial procedures performed in April 2007, we now report 24-month follow-up of a novel laparoscopic approach utilizing standard instrumentation. We demonstrate that SPA surgery is an alternative to multiport procedures with proposed initial benefits of decreased number of incisions and improved cosmesis for the patient. Long-term prospective randomized large case series will be necessary to assess pain, recovery, and hernia formation proving advantages, if any, over multiport laparoscopy.
Comparison of habitat modification, animal control, and standard spraying for control of the lone star tick.

Habitat modification (HM), animal control (AC), and standard spraying (55) treatments were compared as to their effects on field and cattle populations of Amblyomma americanum (L.). HM wasthe only treatment casing significant ( P = 0.05) changes in mean values of soil temperature, soil surface temperature, air temperature, percent relative humidity, and light intensity. HM influence deductions of mean values of field sampled lone star nymphs from 10.8 to 0.7 and 0.2 for 1978, 1979, and 1980, respectively, with similar reductions witnessed for adult mean counts. Regression analysis showed reductions of field sampled nymphs to be significantly ( P = 0.05) associated with increases in soil and soil surface temperatures, whereas adult reductions were only influenced by increased soil surface temperature. HM was the only treatment which significantly ( P = 0.05) reduced nymphal and adult lone star tick mean counts on Hereford and Angus cattle for both 1979 and 1980. AC significantly reduced mean adult counts for 1979 and 1980, while only significantly reducing nymphs for 1979. The SS treatment was the least effective in reducing adult counts. HM was much more profitable than AC or SS in terms of price of production of 1 kg of plant dry matter, costing $0.14, $0.74, and $0.33, respectively.
Combined Effect of Sequestration and Bioremediation in Reducing the Bioavailability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil

A study was conducted to determine the combined effect of sequestration and laboratory-scale bioremediation on the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil. After the compounds had aged for 140−203 days in soil, bacteria capable of degrading the compounds were added, and the availability of the hydrocarbons after bioremediation was determined. Aging decreased the amount of phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene available to bacteria as shown by increases in the amount of the compounds remaining after bioremediation and to earthworms (Eisenia foetida) as shown by lower tissue concentrations, percentages assimilated, and bioconcentration factors. Aging also diminished the availability of anthracene to wheat and barley. Bioremediation caused a marked diminution in the amount of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene taken up by earthworms. The smallest amounts of these three compounds were assimilated from soil in which they had aged and then been subject to biodegradation. The...
Influence of gastrointestinal peptides on bile acid transport by isolated rat hepatocytes.

While numerous effects of gut peptides on gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal secre- tion have been described, there has been little investigation of the influence of these peptides on hepatic function. In the present studies, effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatos- tatin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and bombesin on taurocholate transport by iso- lated rat hepatocytes have been examined. Somatostatin, TRH, and bombesin in incubation media produced no change from control incubations with regard to either uptake of taurocho- late by hepatocytes or efflux of bile acid from preloaded cells. However, incubation of hepato- cytes with VIP produced a significant decrease in taurocholate uptake ( 1.34 k 0.13 versus 1.73 f 0.16 nmole - min-' * lo6 cells-', P < 0.00 1). Studies with verapamil, a calcium-channel blocking agent, and theophylline, an inhibitor of CAMP catabolism, failed to provide evidence for transmembrane Ca2+ flux or alteration in intracellular levels of CAMP, respectively, as mechanisms for the observed inhibition of hepatocyte taurocholate uptake by VIP. These data, coupled with both clinical and other basic observations, suggest that VIP may play a significant role in the regulation of hepatic bile secretion. 0 1987 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.
Nonlinear vector eigen-solver and parallel reassembly processing for structural nonlinear vibration

Abstract In the frequency domain solution of large amplitude nonlinear vibration, two operations are computationally costly. They are: (1) the iterative eigen-solution and (2) the iterative nonlinear matrix reassembly. This study introduces a nonlinear eigen-solver which greatly speeds up the solution procedure by using a combination of vector iteration and nonlinear matrix updating. A feature of this new method is that it avoids repeatedly using a costly eigen-solver or equation solver. This solution procedure has also been engaged in parallel processing to further speed up the computation. Parallel nonlinear matrix reassembly is the main interest in this parallel processing. Force Macro is used in the parallel program on a CRAY-2S supercomputer.
Hemodynamic Abnormalities in Stented Carotid Artery: A Fluid Structure Interaction Study

Balloon-stented angioplasty is a common treatment for carotid arterial atherosclerosis. Clinical studies have shown that within 6 months of the initial procedure, 25% of stented-angioplasty patients develop restenosis, a postoperative narrowing of the artery due to plaque accumulation onto the stent. While hemodynamics and more specifically low oscillatory wall-shear stress have been identified as key factors promoting atherogenesis, their role in restenosis following stent implantation remains unclear. We hypothesize that the implantation of a stent generates hemodynamic abnormalities consisting of low wall shear stresses in the vicinity of arterial wall regions prone to restenosis. The objective of this study was to compare computationally the hemodynamics in normal (healthy), stenosed (atherosclerotic) and stented carotid artery bifurcation models and to investigate potential correlations between regions presenting high hemodynamic abnormalities and regions prone to postoperative stent angioplasty restenosis. Realistic, three-dimensional models of normal, stenosed and stented human carotid bifurcations consisting of the common (CCA), external (ECA) and internal (ICA) carotid arteries were developed using the computer-assisted design software Solid Edge. The characteristic dimensions of the normal and stenosed models were obtained from previously published human data. The stented model was designed by modeling the inner surface of the ICA bulb region as a rigid cylindrical surface mimicking the presence of a stent. Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations were carried out using the adaptive arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) approach of ANSYS 14 to simulate flow and arterial wall dynamics in each model subjected to physiologic pressure and flow rate. As expected, the atherosclerotic model resulted in higher velocity and wall shear stress (WSS) levels than the normal model due to the reduced ICA lumen. In addition, while stent implantation restored the hemodynamic performance of the vessel, it generated lower WSS than in the normal model, which may contribute to restenosis. This study provides new insights into the possible hemodynamic roots of postoperative stent angioplasty restenosis.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Increased δ, but not μ, opiate receptor binding in the medulla oblongata of Long-Evans rats following 5-day water deprivation

Opiate receptors of the mu type were labeled with [125I]D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Met-(O)5-ol-enkephalin (FK-33824). delta receptors were labeled with [125I]D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) in the presence of excess (N-Me-Phe3,D-Pro4)-morphiceptin (PL017). Since DADLE binds mu and delta receptor sites, and PL017 blocks mu receptors, this protocol improves specific labeling of delta receptors. Quantitative autoradiography showed that chronic dehydration causes no changes in mu receptor binding in the medulla oblongata of Long-Evans rats. However, there is increased delta receptor binding in the solitary, hypoglossal and gracilis nuclei, and the spinal nucleus of trigeminal system of dehydrated animals, suggesting that delta opiate receptors participate in the physiological response to dehydration.
Surface segregation kinetics of sulfur influenced by various conditions in thin-gauged 3% Si–Fe alloy strips

Abstract The surface segregation kinetics of sulfur has been investigated in detail in 3% Si–Fe alloy strips. The segregation profile of sulfur mostly shows a maximum during annealing at 1200 °C. The maximum surface concentration and the annealing time required to observe a certain concentration of segregated sulfur depend on hydrogen flow rate, heating rate and strip thickness.
SportsStuff.com: A Case Study on XML Technologies, e‐Business Processes, and Accounting Information Systems

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is an emerging technology that is extensively used in enterprise application integration and e‐business collaborations. This paper presents an integrated case, SportsStuff.com (SSC), that exposes students to “native” XML technologies (those technologies that are based on the XML specification) and illustrates how they can support innovative e‐business applications. First, the case introduces three native XML technologies that facilitate data exchange between networked applications: XML documents, XML Schema, and XSLT. Second, the case explores the uses of these technologies in an e‐business collaboration scenario.
Geographic information systems in developing countries: opportunities and options for decision support

Decision making at the national level in developing or developed countries requires the integrated use of information from a multitude of sources. This paper shows how geographic information systems technology provides a natural integration mechanism that is not naturally available in conventional systems. The capabilities of the technology and their contribution to strategic decision making are presented as is a flexible architecture for implementing a national level decision support system based on GIS technology. The most significant impediment to such a system is the availability of suitable data and strategies for developing data are also presented.
Immunostimulated enterocytes activate extracellular arginase I which competes with enterocyte inducible nitric oxide synthase for arginine during inflammation

We hypothesized that constitutively expressed arginase 1 (Arg-1) may be released from hepatocytes to the circulatory compartment to play the role of extinguisher at the front and to serve a protective function by modulating inflammation. We used a cell culture model of epithelial barrier dysfunction to determine whether liver cytosolic proteins could decrease NO• production and preserve enterocyte paracellular barrier function on that basis.
Awake negative pressure reflex response of the genioglossus in OSA patients and normal subjects

We hypothesized that the response of the genioglossus to negative pressure during wakefulness should be intact in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients despite published evidence showing impairment of the response of palatal muscles (Mortimore IL and Douglas NJ. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 156: 867-873, 1997). Thus the response of the genioglossus to brief nasal negative pressure applications (NPAs) in early inspiration was compared between OSA patients and an age-matched group of normal subjects at two study sites (n = 11 per group in Long Beach, n = 14 per group in Boston). Subjects were studied in the sitting (Long Beach) or supine (Boston) posture, and the genioglossus electromyogram (EMGgg) was measured with an intraoral surface electrode (Long Beach) or intramuscular electrode (Boston). The response of the EMGgg was expressed as the percent change from baseline where the baseline EMGgg was the value at the onset of the NPA. In Long Beach, the EMGgg response was significantly higher in the OSA patients at a lower suction pressure of approximately 10 cmH(2)O (75.2 +/- 8.4 vs. 37.4 +/- 4.0% increase; P < 0.001) but not at a higher suction pressure of approximately 20 cmH(2)O. In Boston, the response in the OSA patients was also greater (107.2 +/- 25.9 vs. 46.3 +/- 8.3%; P < 0.05) at a suction pressure of approximately 13 cmH(2)O. We conclude that the response of the genioglossus to NPA during wakefulness is not impaired in OSA patients compared with normal subjects and is greater at low suction pressures.
Computerization and Adaptive Administration of the NEO PI-R

This study asks, how well does an item response theory (IRT) based computerized adaptive NEO PI-R work? To explore this question, real-data simulations (N = 1,059) were used to evaluate a maximum information item selection computerized adaptive test (CAT) algorithm. Findings indicated satisfactory recovery of full-scale facet scores with the administration of around four items per facet scale. Thus, the NEO PI-R could be reduced in half with little loss in precision by CAT administration. However, results also indicated that the CAT algorithm was not necessary. We found that for many scales, administering the "best" four items per facet scale would have produced similar results. In the conclusion, we discuss the future of computerized personality assessment and describe the role IRT methods might play in such assessments.
Simultaneously Modeling Joint and Marginal Distributions of Multivariate Categorical Responses

Abstract We discuss model-fitting methods for analyzing simultaneously the joint and marginal distributions of multivariate categorical responses. The models are members of a broad class of generalized logit and loglinear models. We fit them by improving a maximum likelihood algorithm that uses Lagrange's method of undetermined multipliers and a Newton-Raphson iterative scheme. We also discuss goodness-of-fit tests and adjusted residuals, and give asymptotic distributions of model parameter estimators. For this class of models, inferences are equivalent for Poisson and multinomial sampling assumptions. Simultaneous models for joint and marginal distributions may be useful in a variety of applications, including studies dealing with longitudinal data, multiple indicators in opinion research, cross-over designs, social mobility, and inter-rater agreement. The models are illustrated for one such application, using data from a recent General Social Survey regarding opinions about various types of government s...
Stability of inverted organic solar cells with ZnO contact layers deposited from precursor solutions

We report on investigations of the stability of inverted organic solar cells with ZnO electron collecting interlayer that are solution-processed from zinc acetate (ZnAc) or diethylzinc (deZn) precursors. Characterization of the respective solar cells suggests that the two materials initially function similarly in devices, however, we find that devices with ZnO from the deZn precursor are more stable under long-term illumination and load than devices with ZnO from the ZnAc precursor. A dipolar phosphonic acid that reduces the ZnO work function also improved device performance and stability when compared with unmodified ZnAc-based ZnO, but was problematic for deZn-based ZnO. The long-term device degradation analyses shows that the improved devices had increased and significantly more stable open-circuit voltage and fill factor characteristics. Chemical analyses suggests that defects in the ZnO films, most likely interstitial zinc, may be responsible for the observed disparities in stability within organic solar cells.
Brain miner: a 3D visual interface for the investigation of functional relationships in the brain

ABSTRACT Brain imaging methods used in experimental brain research such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) andFunctional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI) require the analysis of large amounts of data. Statistical methods are necessary toobtain a reliable measure of a given effect. Typically, researchers report their findings by listing those regions which showsignificant statistical activity in a group of subjects under some experimental condition or task. A number of methodscreate statistical parametric maps (SPMs) of the brain on a voxelbasis. However, a major limitation of the voxelbasedtechnique is the inaccuracy of the transformation into a stereotaxic space (e. g., TalairachTournoux) given the widevariability in human brain structure. In order to account for this, researchers have turned to computing the statistics not onindividual voxels but on predefined anatomical regionsofinterest (ROIs). A correlation coefficient is used to quantifysimilarity in response for various regions during an experimental setting. Since the functional interrelationships canbecome rather complex, they are best understood in the context of the underlying 3D brain anatomy. In this paper, wepresent a novel 3D interface that allows the interactive exploration of the correlation datasets within a commonstereotaxic atlas.Keywords: brain imaging, positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, regions of interest,information visualization, human brain mapping
Kinetic properties of soluble and membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase from electric eel

Using electric eel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) which was either membrane-bound (AChEm) or solubilized (AChEs), similar kinetics were seen in the absence of inhibitor or in the presence of edrophonium, trimethylammonium ion or paraoxon. Thus, both forms of the enzyme appear to behave similarly toward various inhibitors. However, in the presence of a probe sensitive to allosteric effects or changes in membrane fluidity, the two forms exhibit altered behavior. In the presence of F, the relative rate of substrate hydrolysis by AChEm was reduced more rapidly than with AChEs, whether or not paraoxon was present. When inhibition by paraoxon (10−7-10−4 M) was studied in the presence of F−, AChEs had a Hill coefficient of 1.0, whereas with AChEm the Hill coefficient changed from 0.8 to 1.5.
Cordierite gneisses and associated lithologies of the Guri area, Northwest Guayana Shield, Venezuela

Gneisses in the Guri area of the Venezuelan Guayana Shield contain mineral assemblages with cordierite, garnet, sillimanite, hypersthene, biotite and Fe-Ti oxide intergrowths.
Functionality Dependent Olefin Activity in Acyclic Diene Metathesis Polymerization: Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Amino Acid Functionalized Olefins

Mass spectrometry has become an essential tool in delineating the structural properties of a new series of amino acid functionalized acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymers known as bioolefins. These measurements, coupled with the measurement of the polymers chemical and physical properties, assist in the determination of their utility as biomaterials. In the present study, a set of five polymers with different bulk size and electronic properties were chosen for structural analyses by MALDI-TOF, MALDI-FTICR, and DIOS-TOF. The obtained data show that due to the competing metathesis and isomerization during ADMET, depending on their structural properties, the olefins display different selectivity toward main metathesis or isomerized products.
Multiple comparisons based on a modified one-step M-estimator

Although many methods are available for performing multiple comparisons based on some measure of location, most can be unsatisfactory in at least some situations, in simulations when sample sizes are small, say less than or equal to twenty. That is, the actual Type I error probability can substantially exceed the nominal level, and for some methods the actual Type I error probability can be well below the nominal level, suggesting that power might be relatively poor. In addition, all methods based on means can have relatively low power under arbitrarily small departures from normality. Currently, a method based on 20% trimmed means and a percentile bootstrap method performs relatively well (Wilcox, in press). However, symmetric trimming was used, even when sampling from a highly skewed distribution and a rigid adherence to 20% trimming can result in low efficiency when a distribution is sufficiently heavy-tailed. Robust M-estimators are more flexible but they can be unsatisfactory in terms of Type I error...
An SCF-state interaction method for coupled oscillator systems

Abstract A computational method is presented for the treatment of coupled systems of oscillators by a SCF-like formalism. Extensions to state interaction (analogous to configuration interaction) are presented and explored numerically for the Henon—Heiles system. The formalism is presented for an MCSCF-like approach to such problems.
Coming out of the editorial closet: From feminist issues to gender issues

“Coming Out of the Editorial Closest” refers to the unusual circumstance of a man editing” Gender Issues during an editorial interregnum brought about by the abrupt resignation of an editor for personal/medical reasons. The year's plus time during which I, in effect, edited this journal, taught me many things. (1) That in the short run at least, issues of ascribed status and biosocial designation are overruled by the essentially universal premises of scholarship in social science. (2) Appeals to evidence based on experience and commonly accepted standards of data are paramount. (3) An appreciation for different points of view in any particular subject, especially policy issues, requires public awareness rather than gender specificities. This statement is hardly intended to be definitive, but it is suggestive, especially at a time when gender, class, and race stratification are viewed as entry tickets to some editorial and scholarly positions. My own experience convinces me that while gender issues are most often best covered by women—or at least those intimately concerned with the problems of the status of women in society—this does not preclude possibilities that “outsiders” can serve a useful and constructive role in the development of specialist journals.
A comparison of nuclear thermal propulsion concepts: Results of a workshop

A Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Workshop, co‐sponsored by NASA, DOE and DOD, was held in Cleveland, Ohio on July 10‐12, 1990. The workshop was to provide a database of nuclear propulsion concepts and technologies to assist in planning a nuclear propulsion project, identify high priority activities to be initiated early, and to provide cost and schedule estimates for development of concepts to technology readiness level 6‐full system verification in a simulated environment. Sixteen concepts were presented to Technology Review Panels (TRP), and discussed. Each concept was compared to a baseline manned Mars mission. A preliminary comparison of ratings made by the TRP’s is presented herein for mission benefit, safety, technical risk, and development cost.
Auger, ellipsometry, and environmental studies of thin films applied to schottky (MIS) solar cells

Schottky (MIS) solar cells typically consist of the structure 5A Cr/50A Cu/40A Cr/20A oxide/silicon. A study of metal diffusion and precise oxide thickness is important to predict the stability of such a device. Devices fabricated using the same process are shown to have almost identical electronic performance. Auger profiles show that the metal films do not penetrate through adjacent regions except when Ag is used in place of Cu. Ag does penetrate through the Cr and into the Si which alters the electronic properties. Ellipsometer studies show the insulator to range in thickness from 20A to 28A which may be controlled by variation of the heat-treatment cycle. Environmental studies of encapsulated solar cells show that polystyrene offers more protection than Sylgard l84. Failures due to dirt coatings, discoloration, thermal stresses, poor wire bonds, voltage degradation, and fill factor degradation have been observed. Properly fabricated and encapsulated cells have performed well for more than a year. A hermetic encapsulation may be necessary for future long term stability.
Paraoxonase 1 Polymorphisms Within a Mississippi USA Population as Possible Biomarkers of Enzyme Activities Associated With Disease Susceptibility

Paraoxonase (PON1) hydrolyzes paraoxon (PO) and diazoxon (DZO), active metabolites of insecticides parathion and diazinon. The PON1 gene has single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including a codon 192 arginine (R) to glutamine (Q) and methionine (M) to leucine (L) at codon 55. Hydrolysis of PO (POase), DZO (DZOase), dihydrocoumarin (lactonase), and phenyl acetate (arylesterase) were evaluated for associations with race, gender, age, and PON1 55/192 SNP genotypes. Variables were analyzed both individually and in combination. QQ individuals had higher lactonase (p < 0.001) than RR individuals. This might partially explain why predominantly RR African Americans have higher rates of coronary disease than predominantly QQ Caucasians. Significant (p < 0.001) differences in arylesterase were seen among genotypes with QQ and MM lowest whereas RR and LL were highest. This opposes the prevailing belief that arylesterase is unaffected by genotype and suggests that this activity cannot be used to quantify PON1 protein.
Blood chemistry changes in drinking alcoholics.

Summary The harmful effects of excessive alcohol intake, on a physiological as well as psychological basis, have been accepted for some time now. It has been suggested that in those alcoholic treatment programs where the patient is allowed to drink, there may actually be some adverse effects on hepatic functioning. One of the major features of our program relates to the fact that alcohol is made available, in limited quantities, to the patient on a fixed interval basis. In order to check on the possibility of adverse effects in our own program, we decided to use the SMA 12, which had been utilized routinely as a screening device, to compare the status of our patients at the beginning of the program with their subsequent status at the end of the program five weeks later. The subjects in this study, 75 male patients between the ages of 25 and 55 years, were initially screened for any medical illness or history of psychosis, or brain damage that would be aggravated by the use of alcohol. For purposes of analysis, they were divided into three groups based on the average amount of alcohol consumed daily: nondrinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers. Tests for 11 blood chemistry variables, the SMA 12 less creatine phosphokinase, were carried out at the beginning of the program and again just before the program ended. The major results were as follows: (1) the majority of the patients showed a general overall reduction on the blood chemistry variables, which would seem to be related to improvement in overall physiological function; (2) the degree of apparent improvement over the course of the program was not related to the amount of alcohol consumed, in that a patient who drank “heavily” while on the program could be expected to show the same degree of apparent improvement on the blood chemistry tests as did another patient who elected to abstain; some possible reasons for this finding were discussed at length in the paper, as was, also, the relevance of these findings to other alcoholic treatment programs in which alcohol consumption is utilized as one of the avenues of treatment.
Some inequalities of Bonferroni—Galambos type

Abstract Let A 1 , A 2 ,…, A n be events of a given probability space, and ν n be the number of events among them which occur. Some estimates are given of P (ν n ⩾ j ) by means of the binomial moments.
A search for weak transitions in the decay of Eu152

Abstract Weak internal conversion electron in the decay of Eu152 were investigated by a semiconductor spectrometer and a magnetic spectrometer. The K lines of the 658, 720 and 767 keV transitions were observed.
Segmentation and the Senior Traveler: Implications for Today's and Tomorrow's Aging Consume

Abstract When one combines their greater economic well-being with their escalating numbers, more independent living, and better overall health, aging consumers constitute a very attractive market for the travel and tourism industry. This paper examines key factors that impact the consumption decision-making, attitudes, and behavior of the mature consumer, with particular attention to the service sector of travel. It presents a review of relevant segmentation studies and recommends specific, additional variables to increase the predictive and explanatory power of models intended to segment current and future senior travelers. Finally, it discusses implications of the segmentation process for effective strategy formulation.
Walsh type transforms for completely and incompletely specified multiple-valued input binary functions

Spectral representation of multiple-valued input binary functions is proposed for the first time. Such a representation is composed of a vector of Walsh transforms, each of which is defined for one pair of the input variables of the function. The new representation has the advantage of being real valued and having, therefore, an easy interpretation. Since two types of binary function value codings are used, two different spectra are introduced. The meaning of each spectral coefficient is discussed in classical logic terms. The mathematical relationships between the number of true, false, and don't care minterms and spectral coefficients are stated. These relationships can be used to calculate the spectral coefficients directly from the graphical representations of binary functions. As do the spectral methods in classical logic design, the new spectral representation of binary functions find applications in many problems of analysis, synthesis, and testing of circuits described by such functions. >
Interstitial photodynamic therapy in combination with Cetuximab for recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background and Purpose : Combination therapy of interstitial photodynamic therapy (iPDT) with Cetuximab to attain symptomatic control of recurrent head and neck cancer. Methods : Two patients with Unresectable recurrent Head and Neck SCC were treated with iPDT alone and iPDT and cetuximab. Treatments were administered in an outpatient setting. A single dose of Photofrin at 2 mg per kilogram of body weight was administered intravenously two days prior to laser illumination. The iPDT was accomplished by delivering 630-nm laser light through two laser fibers with 2.5 and 5 cm long diffusive ends. Light irradiance of 400 mW/cm for 250 seconds was used to deliver a total of 100 J/cm, during the iPDT. Light applications were conducted, twice, at 3-4 days interval. One of the patients was treated with cetuximab along with iPDT. Results : Near total resolution of tumor was observed in the patient treated with iPDT and cetuximab, and partial resolution was seen in the patient treated with iPDT alone. Conclusion : Interstitial photodynamic therapy may be used to treat patients with recurrent unresectable head and neck cancer. The combination of iPDT with Cetuximab has the potential to improve tumor response in the patient population for whom there is no effective therapies. This observation merits further studies.
Using machine learning to maintain pub/sub system QoS in dynamic environments

Quality-of-service (QoS)-enabled publish/subscribe (pub/sub) middleware provides powerful support for scalable data dissemination. It is hard, however, to maintain specified QoS properties (such as reliability and latency) in dynamic environments (such as disaster relief operations or power grids). For example, managing QoS manually is often not feasible in dynamic systems due to (1) slow human response times, (2) the complexity of managing multiple interrelated QoS settings, and (3) the scale of the systems being managed. For certain applications the systems must be able to reflect on the conditions of their environment and adapt accordingly.Machine learning techniques provide a promising adaptation approach to maintaining QoS properties of QoS-enabled pub/sub middleware in dynamic environments. These techniques include decision trees, neural networks, and linear logistic regression classifiers that can be trained on existing data to interpolate and extrapolate for new data. By training the machine learning techniques with system performance metrics in a wide variety of configurations, changes to middleware mechanisms (e.g., associations of publishers and subscribers to transport protocols) can be driven by machine learning to maintain specified QoS.This paper describes how we are applying machine learning techniques to simplify the configuration of QoS-enabled middleware and adaptive transport protocols to maintain specified QoS as systems change dynamically. The results of our work thus far show that decision trees and neural networks can effectively classify the best protocols to use. In particular, decision trees answer questions about which measurements and variables are most important when considering the reliability and latency of pub/sub systems.
Selectivity, Compatibility, Downstream Functionalization, and Silver Effect in the Gold and Palladium Dual-Catalytic Synthesis of Lactones

The chemo- and regioselectivity and functional group compatibility in gold and palladium cooperatively catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were determined in the synthesis of lactones; the selectivity in the gold and palladium dual-metal catalysis system was distinct from that available for the same class of substrates in systems with only gold catalysis or only palladium catalysis rather than dual catalysis. The dual-catalytic rearrangement reaction selectively promoted oxidative addition at the C–O bond over the C–Br bond, providing a useful C–Br bond handle for downstream functionalization showcased via Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira coupling reactions. Product classes were expanded from isocoumarins to three previously unpublished ring classes: pyrone, indolepyrone, and furopyrone.
Space, energy and anisotropy effects on diffusion coefficients in the resonance region

Most of the present methods used in reactor calculations assume a priori that the conservation of the total, absorption and transfer cross sections will result in the conservation of the leakage term, div J. This assumption is not valid since it is well known that the leakage of neutrons from a heterogeneous cell is strongly anisotropic. In particular, the neutrons have a tendency to escape more easily in the axial direction. A new method is presented which includes linearly anisotropic scattering, a more adequate definition of the diffusion coefficient in a heterogeneous lattice and explicit energy dependence of the new diffusion coefficient in the resonance region. The study showed that the combined effect of heterogeneity and linear scattering anisotropy gave an increase of up to 29% in the parallel diffusion coefficient of TRX-3 and 5% in the parallel diffusion coefficient of ZPR-6/5. In contrast, the change in the perpendicular diffusion coefficient did not exceed 2% in both systems. These changes in the diffusion coefficients yielded a decrease in Δkk of 0.486% in TRX-3 and 0.188% in ZPR-6/5.
Observations on the hydrodynamics and swimming motions of mammalian spermatozoa

An asymptotic solution of the Stokes Flow equations for a self-propelling filament is presented. An explicit expression for the propulsive velocity is obtained for the case of an infinite filament undergoing small amplitude sinusoidal motions. The asymptotic solution is then used to obtain drag coefficients to be used in a simpler approximate analysis which can be applied to experimentally observed motions.
Brand Placements in Korean Films, 1995–2003: A Content Analysis

ABSTRACT A content analysis was conducted of the top 10 most popular Korean films of each year between 1995 and 2003. The study examines to what extent and in what context brands have been placed in Korean films over the nine-year period. Results indicate that brands are prevalent and occurrences have increased over time. Comedy and action were the most popular genres for placement. In terms of product/service categories, non-alcoholic beverage, alcoholic beverage, automobile, clothing, and food brands appeared most often, and Coca Cola was the most frequently occurring brand. Marketing and public policy implications and future research directions are provided.
When is a matrix a sum of idempotents

It is shown that a matrix A, ovei a field of characteristic zero, is a sum of idempotents. exactly when the trace of A is an integer at least as large as rank(A).
Prevention of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery

SUMMARY The rate of surgical site infection (SSI) for colorectal surgery is among the highest of all operations performed, ranging between 12 and 26% depending on definition applied, surveillance, the prevalence of emergency surgery and the penetration of laparoscopic surgery. With over 135,000 colorectal cancer operations per year, the cost of SSI to the healthcare system are in excess of US$1 billion a year. The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) has linked hospital reimbursement to compliance with five preventative process measures in colorectal surgery. The success of SCIP in reducing SSI is in doubt, but the addition of other evidence-based measures to SCIP might improve SSI rates. These measures, as well as the contributions of SCIP, are discussed in detail in this review. Implementation of some or all these measures, in addition to SCIP, should be considered by key stakeholders for baseline data collection, monitored for effectiveness and modified as necessary to improve outcomes.
Psychophysiological Assessment of Prejudice: Past Research, Current Status, and Future Directions

Many early studies of prejudice adopted psychophysiological measures as a way to circumvent the limitations of self-report instruments. Despite serious methodological weaknesses, that literature consistently points to the value of physiological probes as nonreactive indexes of affective responses to target stimuli. Possible reasons for the virtual abandonment of psychophysiological approaches in the study of prejudice over the last 15 years are outlined, and their reintroduction is advocated on methodological and conceptual grounds. Theoretical perspectives and empirical research in a closely related area, the psychophysiology of emotion, are reviewed and the implications of this literature for the study of prejudice are discussed. Several psychophysiological approaches have been found valuable for assessing the valence and intensity of emotional responses. The availability of these tools, together with the shifting theoretical zeitgeist, make prejudice research ready for a return to psychophysiological m...
Klebsiella pneumoniae endophthalmitis with associated hepatic abscess.

Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess is known to be associated with metastatic endophthalmitis, with most cases clustered in Taiwan. We report a case of Klebsiella liver abscess with metastatic endophthalmitis in a nondiabetic Haitian man without underlying medical problems. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2007;2:442–444. © 2007 Society of Hospital Medicine.
The Synthesis and Spectral Characterization of Arenetricarbonyl-Chromium Complexes which Contain Alicyclic Rings

Abstract The tricarbonylchromium complexes of the following arenes were prepared: 5-methoxy-1-tetralone, 6-methoxy-1-tetralone, 5,7-dimethyl-1-tetralone, 5-methoxy-1-indanone, 1-benzosuberone, 5-aminotetralin, 5-aminoindan, p-dicyclohexylbenzene and N-cyclohexylaniline. Preparative, microanalytical and IR, NMR, and UV spectral data are presented.
Embracing Change: Reflection on Practice in Immigrant Communities

The authors address disconnects that developed within Sin frontera, a program originally designed as an educational program for Mexican and Honduran women. The program gradually moved away from its grassroots origins and culture circles as institutionalized practices gradually informed our curriculum, causing us to implement institutionalized concepts of education, whether through overt or invisible discourses (Foucault, 1980). Initially based on Freirean concepts of conscientization, collegiality, and consensual governance (Freire, 1970), the program gradually shifted to a hierarchical institutionalized model in which we as facilitators subsumed the principal decision-making function that had once been the women’s domain. Poststructuralist analysis of narrative evaluations, emails, and fieldnotes revealed that families living in immigrant communities face sociocultural issues that affect program expectations. Analysis also revealed the importance of constant dialogue with participants to minimize asymmetrical power dynamics. We offer this paper as a contribution to the ongoing conversation about adult educational experiences in immigrant communities.
Design and Evaluation of a Multiagent Autonomic Information System

The goal of an autonomic system is to self-manage itself and adjust its actions in the face of environmental changes. In this paper, we adopt a multiagent approach to developing an autonomic information system. The aim of this autonomic information system (AIS) is to provide an information system that can adjust its processing algorithms and/or information sources to provide required information at various levels of efficiency and effectiveness. Our approach to developing autonomic multiagent systems is based on the organization model for adaptive computational systems. We describe the design of one particular autonomic system, the AIS, and illustrate how this system fulfills certain desired autonomic properties. We also evaluate the performance of our autonomic system by comparing it to a non- autonomic system.