cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Design Theory

Intelligent Design Theory is the claim that some fea- tures of organisms are so complex - "irreducibly com- plex" - that they could not possibly have come into exis- tence through normal causes, through processes of blind law, and hence demand the supposition of a designer who thought them up and put them into place (Ruse, 2005; Forrest and Gross, 2004). The key work is that of Lehigh University biochemist Michael Behe (1996), who argues in Darwin's Black Box that things like the clotting process of blood areso intricate that they cannot possibly have evolved, and certainly not evolved through Charles Darwin's mechanism of natural selection 1 .T here must have been an intelligence behind such a process. Behe and his fellows try deliberately not to say what this in- telligence might be, but truly no one thinks that it is an extraterrestrial. No one thinks that there is some gradu- ate student on Andromeda who is running life on Earth as an experiment and who intervenes in the course of nature every now and then to see what will happen. The intelligence is the God of Christianity. Intelligent Design- ersaremuchgiventoquotingthefirstverseofthe Gospel accordingtoSaintJohn-"Inthebeginning wastheword, and the word was with God, and the word was God." Ineedhardlysaythatforregularscientists,Intelligent Design Theory is anathema. They argue that it simply cannot be supported by the evidence.A favorite example
El concepto y la práctica de la salud internacional en el programa Takemi

The Takemi Program in International Health was established at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1983 as a research and advanced training program for mid-career health professionals concerned with the allocation of resources for health, especially in developing countries. This essay describes the origins of the Takemi Program and presents seven principles that underlie the concept and practice of international health in the Takemi Program. The principles are: research emphasis, policy orientation, interdisciplinary perspective; mutual respect, individual freedom, community spirit, and individual capacity building. The broader implications of these principles are suggested for current efforts to redefine the concept of international health.
Oral mucositis after bone marrow transplantation. A marker of treatment toxicity and predictor of hepatic veno-occlusive disease.

Abstract Oral mucositis and hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) are common complications after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Forty-seven patients were prospectively examined for development of ulcerative oral mucositis (UOM) and HVOD after allogeneic BMT. In 17 patients (36%) UOM developed between 2 days before and 18 days after transplant (median 4 days after BMT). In seven patients (15%) HVOD developed with onset between 3 and 21 days after transplant (median 18 days after BMT). In a time-dependent analysis, in patients given busulfan plus cyclophosphamide or busulfan, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide UOM was 19 times more likely to develop than in patients treated by cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation or by cyclophosphamide alone ( p p
Enhancing Teachers' Use of Technology through Professional Development on Electronic Concept Mapping.

The majority of public school teachers do not feel well prepared to use instructional technology. Professional development on computer-based concept mapping responds to this concern through focusing on a tool/software that has many applications and is not difficult to master. A subset (n = 18) of science teachers in a Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) completed a workshop on electronic concept mapping and were provided with school site licenses and other follow-up support (summer institute). They utilized the software in academic enrichment for underserved students, regular classroom instruction, and inservice training for colleagues. Triangulation of findings from data sources (electronic conferencing, lesson plans, workshop evaluations) revealed that HSTA teachers embrace electronic concept mapping as a versatile educational tool. Factors contributing to this enthusiasm included the ease with which students use the software, the transparent nature of the learning process for these students, and the positive attitudes of colleagues whom they have inserviced. The findings from this project are congruent with what experts contend to be critical features of effective teacher professional development: facilitating a community of learners and providing sustained support. This project now funds software use in over 45 public schools.
Publishing perishing? Towards tomorrow's information architecture

Scientific articles are tailored to present information in human-readable aliquots. Although the Internet has revolutionized the way our society thinks about information, the traditional text-based framework of the scientific article remains largely unchanged. This format imposes sharp constraints upon the type and quantity of biological information published today. Academic journals alone cannot capture the findings of modern genome-scale inquiry.
IMF Programs and the Risk of a Coup d’état:

Leaders use the distribution of economic rents to maintain the political support of regime elites. When countries join International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs, they are often required to implement a variety of free market-inspired reforms—such as privatization, reductions in government spending, and the restructuring of financial institutions—as a condition for receiving program funds. These types of reforms can diminish a leader’s capacity to redistribute wealth, which ultimately increases the risk of a coup. More specifically, when a leader begins the implementation of an IMF arrangement, the leader’s action provides public information about the leader’s weakened ability to redistribute wealth in the future. Thus, the act of implementing an IMF program provides each individual elite with information about his or her expected value of rents in the future, and this information gives elites who stand to be harmed by a reform an incentive to launch a coup.
Reduced Prevalence of the Lucké Renal Adenocarcinoma in Populations of Rana pipiens in Minnesota

Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) afflicted with the Lucke renal adenocarcinoma virtually disappeared from Minnesota in the autumn of 1977. Frogs from four sites in Minnesota counties (Polk, Otter Tail, Kandiyohi, and Scott) with a previously high prevalence of Lucke renal tumor were studied. In the past decade, prevalence averaged 4.2% in 29 collections (total, 1,870 frogs). No tumors were detected in 685 frogs autopsied in the autumn of 1977 by the method of previous studies. Frog collections, each comprised of 20 or more individuals, were compared for the presence or absence of tumor-bearing frogs. Significantly fewer collections contained tumor-bearing frogs in the autumn of 1977 than did collections of previous years.
Long-range enhancer–promoter interactions in the Scr-Antp interval of the Drosophila Antennapedia complex

Long-range enhancer-promoter interactions are commonly seen in complex genetic loci such as Hox genes and globin genes. In the case of the Drosophila Antennapedia complex, the T1 enhancer bypasses the neighboring ftz gene and interacts with the distant Scr promoter to activate expression in posterior head segments. Previous studies identified a 450-bp promoter-proximal sequence, the tethering element, which is essential for T1-Scr interactions. To obtain a more comprehensive view of how individual enhancers selectively interact with appropriate target genes, we used bioinformatic methods to identify new cis-regulatory DNAs in the approximately 50-kb Scr-Antp interval. Three previously uncharacterized regulatory elements were identified: a distal T1 tethering sequence mapping >40 kb from the proximal tethering sequence, a repressor element that excludes activation of Scr by inappropriate enhancers, and a new ftz enhancer that directs expression within the limits of stripes 1 and 5. Many of the regulatory DNAs in the Scr-Antp interval are transcribed, including the proximal and distal tethering elements. We suggest that homotypic interactions between the tethering elements stabilize long-range T1-Scr interactions during development.
Phosphorylation of cleavage stage histone H1 in mitotic and prematurely condensed chromosomes.

Abstract The cleavage stage variant of histone H1 (CS H1) in early sea urchin embryos is highly phosphorylated. As is the case for H1s from other cell types, CS H1 reaches its highest degree of phosphorylation during mitosis. Cs H1 from male chromosomes forced to prematurely condense and from mitotic chromosomes are phosphorylated to a similar extent. Despite the correlation between the degree of H1 phosphorylation and chromosome condensation, the two events can be separated. In the presence of emetine, a protein synthesis inhibitor, CS H1 is assembled onto the male pronuclear chromatin from a histone pool stored in the egg. Phosphorylation proceeds to a normal extent, but chromosome condensation is blocked. The data suggest that if the high degree of phosphorylation of H1 characteristic of mitotic chromosomes is required, it is not by itself sufficient, for chromosome condensation.
Homogeneous Charge Catalytic Ignition of Water-Ethanol Blends in a CFR Engine

The burning of water ethanol blends has the potential to reduce NOx, CO, and HC emissions while reducing the ethanol fermentation production cost of distillation and dehydration by utilization of these blends. The torch style ignition produced by the catalytic igniter allows for the operation and cold start of an SI engine on ethanol/water fuels up to a 50/50 blend. This paper describes the operating characteristics of a catalytic igniter in a modified Co-operative Fuels Research (CFR) engine. Performance data was evaluated using a high speed in-cylinder combustion pressure analyzer. Emission data for premixed ethanol/water was also compared to separate water and ethanol injection for concentrations of 0–30% water in ethanol. Emissions and performance results for both fuel preparation methods were compared with engine operation on 100% ethanol. Premixed ethanol/water displayed significantly lower NOx and CO emissions and somewhat higher hydrocarbon emissions than separate water and ethanol injection. At a compression ratio of 10:1, the catalytic igniter configuration studied in this work was able to control cycle to cycle pressure variation even at high water fractions.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Notes toward a socially informed pedagogy for computer documentation

This article extends Johnson-Eilola's main argument and then, using a thought experiment, examines an extended example of its implications. The experiment follows a student who learns how to produce technical communication artifacts following the philosophy that informs most technical communication classes and that leads to production of the functional but not conceptual systems Johnson-Eilola critiques. The article concludes by recommending changes in overall curricula and in individual courses that would better educate communicators to account for the social implications of their work.
Electron emission in the near-field of surface plasmons

Abstract Plasmon-enhanced photoelectron emission in the near-field region of gold nanostructures is reported. We show that, depending on the photon energy of the excitation light, the emission from the near-field region can be markedly stronger than from the plasmonic gold itself. Photoemission micrographs also indicate that the spatial confinement of the near-field emission is stronger than in the gold and that the near-field emission exhibits a strong sensitivity on the linear and circular polarization state of the excitation light. The results are explained in terms of work-function differences between the near-field region and the plasmonic material and an interaction between propagating and localized surface plasmon modes. We suggest that the circular polarization sensitivity of the near-field surface plasmon modes may open the way to generate spin-polarized electrons in a plasmon-induced photoemission process.
Semiconductor amplifiers and lasers with tapered gain regions

Semiconductor amplifiers and lasers with tapered gain regions provide the highest-brightness all-semiconductor sources of near infrared continuous wave (CW) power and have many useful applications. Simple models of these devices are described. Their applications, device performance and brightness limitations are reviewed1.
Heat transfer and air flow in a transverse rectangular notch

Abstract Heat-transfer parameters and recovery factors on all surfaces of transverse rectangular notches, with length-to-height ratios L/H of 1 4 , to 1 3 4 are reported for air speeds from 160 to 600 ft/s. Heat-transfer coefficients are proportional to the free-stream mass flux peUe raised to the 0.8 power, which continues in a new range of L/H the previous controversy with Larson's measurements in turbulent flow and Charwat's ideas. A tentative proportionality is found between heat-transfer coefficient and notch length raised to the −0.2 power. This proportionality makes possible a dimensionless correlation. Recovery factors are consistent with a previously proposed concept of distinct flow regimes in notches in different ranges of L/H. Temperatures in the flow near the notch surface agree with neither the turbulent boundary layer profiles nor the assumptions of existing theories of heat transfer in notches.
Registration techniques for speckle suppression in 2D LADAR image sequences

Air Force Research Labs, Sensors Directorate has constructed and tested a coherent imaging system. The Laservision coherent imaging system resolution goals are compatible with long-range target identification based on the image characteristics of the target. The system received reflected coherent light from the laser using an optical telescope, which fed a CCD detector to collect the scene intensity. Registration of individual images remains a significant problem in the generation of accurate images collected using coherent imaging systems. An investigation of the performance of an image registration algorithm was conducted using data collected from a coherent optical imaging. The algorithm under study was implemented on a general-purpose computer running the MATLAB simulation environment. This paper documents the performance of the proposed technique compared to that of the cross-correlation algorithm.
Primary lymphoma of bone: a B-cell neoplasm with a high frequency of multilobated cells

Primary lymphoma of bone is an uncommon neoplasm that can be difficult to diagnose and subclassify. Only in a few cases has the immunophenotype been determined with monoclonal antibodies. We evaluated the histological features and immunophenotype of 12 cases of primary lymphoma of bone. The patients ranged in age from 16 to 80 years (mean, 41 years) with a male:female ratio of 1:1. The sites involved included femur (three cases), humerus (two cases), tibia (three cases), pelvis (two cases), ulna (one case), and scapula (one case). All cases were diffuse large-cell lymphomas: nine large-cleaved (eight with multilobated cells), two large-cell not otherwise specified, and one immunoblastic. Sclerosis was noted in six cases. Immunohistochemical studies on frozen-tissue sections demonstrated staining with the following antibodies: 11 of 11 with CD45, 12 of 12 with CD20, eight of 12 with monotypic immunoglobulin (six IgG, two IgM, seven kappa, one lambda). Tumor cells were negative for T-cell markers in each case. Ten patients are alive and well 0.5-4.5 years (median, 1.5 years) following treatment with radiation or chemotherapy. Two patients had recurrence at another site 0.75 years and 4 years after the initial diagnosis, respectively. Primary bone lymphoma is a B-lineage large-cell lymphoma with an unusually high incidence of large-cleaved and multilobated cells. The frequency of IgG heavy chain expression suggests a post-germinal center stage of differentiation. Frozen section immunohistologic studies are useful in the diagnosis of this tumor. Aggressive therapy has resulted in a favorable outcome in most cases.
Surgical treatment options and management strategies of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the lumbar spinal nerve roots

Spinal nerve root metastasis of renal cell carcinoma is a rare occurrence. In addition to treatment of the primary lesion, surgical resection of the nerve root metastasis, occasionally with sacrifice of the involved nerve, is the accepted standard of treatment. Resection often resolves presenting motor and pain symptoms due to relief of neural compression. We describe two patients with nerve root metastasis of renal cell carcinoma and their management. While locally advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma has been shown to be chemo- and radio-resistant, immunotherapy is a promising treatment. Given the high prevalence of systemic disease in patients with intradural metastases, systemic (and possibly intracranial) imaging can be used to identify other potential areas of disease.
Characterization of the signal peptide processing and membrane association of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein O.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has a structurally complex envelope that contains multiple glycoproteins. These glycoproteins are involved in virus entry, virus maturation, and cell-cell spread of infection. Glycoprotein H (gH), glycoprotein L (gL), and glycoprotein O (gO) associate covalently to form a unique disulfide-bonded tripartite complex. Glycoprotein O was recently discovered, and its basic structure, as well as that of the tripartite complex, remains uncharacterized. Based on hydropathy analysis, we hypothesized that gO could adopt a type II transmembrane orientation. The data presented here, however, reveal that the single hydrophobic domain of gO functions as a cleavable signal peptide that is absent from the mature molecule. Although it lacks a membrane anchor, glycoprotein O is associated with the membranes of HCMV-infected cells. The sophisticated organization of the gH·gL·gO complex reflects the intricate nature of the multicomponent entry and fusion machinery encoded by HCMV.
Voice, exit, and negative word-of-mouth behaviors: An investigation across three service categories

Drawing upon Hirschman’s (1970) framework for Exit, Voice and Loyalty, a model is proposed which predicts and explains variation in voice, exit, and negative work-of-mouth behaviors. The findings from extant consumer complaining behavior (CCB) literature are also incorporated into the hypothesized model. Using data from customer dissatisfaction with three different service categories, the proposed model is subjected to empirical investigation. Despite the parsimony of Hirschman’s framework, results show that the hypothesized model provides good model-fit indices in each of the three data sets. In addition, the explanatory power of the model is encouraging, ranging from 36 percent to 50 percent variance explained. However, the support for the hypothesized pattern of CCB rates across the service categories is mixed. Specifically, while voice responses conform to the hypothesized pattern, exit responses do not. Implications stemming from a comparative analysis of the results are discussed, and directions for future research outlined.
Bell-type inequalities in the nonideal case: Proof of a conjecture of bell

Recently Bell has conjectured that, with “epsilonics,” one should be able to argue, a la EPR, from “almost ideal correlations” (in parallel Bohm-Bell pair experiments) to “almost determinism,” and that this should suffice to derive an approximate Bell-type inequality. Here we prove that this is indeed the case. Such an inequality—in principle testable—is derived employing only weak locality conditions, imperfect correlation, and a propensity interpretation of certain conditional probabilities. Outcome-independence (Jarrett's “completeness” condition), hence “factorability” of joint probabilities, is not assumed, but rather an approximate form of this is derived. An alternative proof to the original one of Bell [1971] constraining stochastic, contextual hidden-variables theories is thus provided.
Isolated Tibial Polyethylene Insert Exchange Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a modular design allows isolated tibial polyethylene insert exchange (ITPIE) as a treatment option for isolated polyethylene failure. We asked whether ITPIE in selected patients would provide high survivorship and identified factors predicting success or failure. We retrospectively reviewed 42 patients (42 knees) who underwent ITPIE for instability, stiffness, or aseptic effusions after TKA. All patients had well-aligned and well-fixed components documented by radiographs and intraoperative evaluation. We determined whether patients had been revised and evaluated unrevised patients using the Knee Society rating system. The minimum followup was 2 years (average, 5.6 years; range, 2–11 years). Twelve patients (29%) underwent subsequent revision of their ITPIE (58% survivorship at 11 years). Average time to revision was 3 years. Although mean Knee Society scores improved, nine of the 30 unrevised patients (30%) had persistent pain at followup. Time from index TKA to ITPIE was associated with outcome; ITPIE less than 3 years from index TKA was 3.8 times more likely to undergo rerevision than ITPIE more than 3 years from index TKA. ITPIE for failed TKA is associated with unpredictable outcomes. ITPIE, even with well-defined and narrow indications, should be undertaken with caution. The longer the initial components performed successfully before ITPIE, the greater the likelihood of success after ITPIE.
Cloning and Chromosomal Mapping of the Murine Norepinephrine Transporter

The norepinephrine (NE) transporter (NET), a target of many clinically prescribed antidepressants, regulates noradrenergic neurotransmission by efficiently clearing NE from synaptic spaces after release. To advance our understanding of NET gene structure, regulation, and potential associations with complex behavioral trait loci, we amplified a mouse norepinephrine transporter (mNET) cDNA from placenta total RNA and utilized mNET probes to isolate and characterize the mNET gene. Inferred translation of the major open reading frame of the mNET cDNA predicts a 617-amino acid protein with 12 putative membrane-spanning regions and 94% identity to human NET. The coding exons of the mNET cDNA were found to be spread across >36 kb of 129/Svj genomic DNA, with exon-intron boundaries bearing consensus gt/ag splice sites. Sequence upstream (202 bp) of the inferred translation initiation site matched the sequence of 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends products from brain mRNA with no evidence for intervening introns and is preceded by a TATA box and canonical transcriptional regulatory elements that may play a role in mNET expression in vivo. Probes derived from mNET cDNA identified species-specific MspI restriction fragment length variations within the mNET gene that were utilized to position the gene (Slc6a5) to murine chromosome 8, one recombinant distal to D8Mit15. This site is within a recently defined quantitative trait locus defined for ethanol sensitivity in LSXSS recombinant inbred mice, Lore4. The status of Slc6a5 as a candidate gene for alcohol sensitivity is discussed with respect to studies noting ethanol-induced alterations in brain NE receptors, NE receptor-linked adenylate cyclase, and NE transport.
Factors associated with increased risk for acute unintentional childhood poisoning among children living on the U.S.-Mexico border

This study evaluated prevalence of unsafe storage of toxic products and evaluated the association of demographic-socio-cultural variables with risk of young-child exposure to household poisons. Interviews were conducted with 698 low-income caregivers living on the U.S./Mexico border. Multiple-ordinal regression was used to analyze associations between very unsafe storage of toxic products and household factors. At least one toxic product was accessible to children in 49.4% of households and 18.5% of these households' stored substances very unsafely in that products were accessible and stored either in non-original containers or without childproof caps. At-risk households were associated with U.S.-born caregivers who were single, employed, and live in more U.S. acculturated communities. These homes stored an increased number of toxins and were more likely to house a smoker. U.S./Mexico border childhood poisoning prevention programs should focus on potentially acculturated families with personal and household characteristics akin to the U.S. mores and customs.
Relationships among violaxanthin deepoxidation, thylakoid membrane conformation, and nonphotochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in leaves of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The kinetics and temperature dependencies of development and relaxation of light-induced absorbance changes caused by deepoxidation of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin (ΔZ; peak at 506 nm) and by light scattering (ΔS; peak around 540 nm) as well as of nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) were followed in cotton leaves. Measurements were made in the absence and the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT), an inhibitor of violaxanthin deepoxidase. The amount of NPQ was calculated from the Stern-Volmer equation. A procedure was developed to correct gross AS (ΔSg) for absorbance changes around 540 nm that are due to a spectral overlap with ΔZ. This protocol isolated the component which is caused by light-scattering changes alone (ΔSn). In control leaves, the kinetics and temperature dependence of the initial rate of rise in ΔSn that takes place upon illumination, closely matched that of ΔZ. Application of DTT to leaves, containing little zeaxanthin or antheraxanthin, strongly inhibited both ΔSn and NPQ, but DTT had no inhibitory effect in leaves in which these xanthophylls had already been preformed, showing that the effect of DTT on ΔAn and NPQ results solely from the inhibition of violaxanthin deepoxidation. The rates and maximum extents of ΔSn and NPQ therefore depend on the amount of zeaxanthin (and/or antheraxanthin) present in the leaf. In contrast to the situation during induction, relaxation of ΔZ upon darkening was much slower than the relaxation of ΔSn and NPQ. The relaxation of ΔSn and NPQ showed quantitatively similar kinetics and temperature dependencies (Q10=2.4). These results are consistent with the following hypotheses: The increase in lumen-proton concentration resulting from thylakoid membrane energization causes deepoxidation of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin. The presence of these xanthophylls is not sufficient to cause ΔSn or NPQ but, together with an increased lumen-proton concentration, these xanthophylls cause a conformational change, reflected by ΔSn. The conformational change facilititates nonradiative energy dissipation, thereby causing NPQ. Membrane energization is prerequisite to conformational changes in the thylakoid membrane and resultant nonradiative energy dissipation but the capacity for such changes in intact leaves is quite limited unless zeaxanthin (and/or antheraxanthin) is present in the membrane. The sustained ΔSn and NPQ levels that remain after darkening may be attributable to a sustained high lumen-proton concentration.
Amino acid supplementation reveals differential regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3357 and Aspergillus parasiticus SRRC 143

Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. To better understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate aflatoxin production, the biosynthesis of the toxin in A. flavus and A. parasticus grown in yeast extract sucrose media supplemented with 50 mM tryptophan (Trp) were examined. Aspergillus flavus grown in the presence of 50 mM tryptophan was found to have significantly reduced aflatoxin B1 and B2 biosynthesis, while A. parasiticus cultures had significantly increased B1 and G1 biosynthesis. Microarray analysis of RNA extracted from fungi grown under these conditions revealed 77 genes that are expressed significantly different between A. flavus and A. parasiticus, including the aflatoxin biosynthetic genes aflD (nor-1), aflE (norA), and aflO (omtB). It is clear that the regulatory mechanisms of aflatoxin biosynthesis in response to Trp in A. flavus and A. parasiticus are different. These candidate genes may serve as regulatory factors of aflatoxin biosynthesis.
Uncoupler-insensitive respiratory control of α-ketoglutarate oxidation by plant mitochondria

Abstract When applied singly or in combination, and in appropriate concentrations, the uncouplers 2,4 dinitrophenol, dicumarol, and arsenate reduced ADP:0 ratios of α-ketoglutarate oxidation by isolated wheat mitochondria but failed to stimulate State 4 2 oxidation rates unless small amounts of ATP were also present. The conventional lack of respiratory control of α-ketoglutarate oxidation in the presence of 2,4 dinitrophenol was observed with rat liver mitochondria in the absence of ATP. The evidence suggests that an uncoupler-insensitive ADP-effector site controls α-ketoglutarate oxidation in plant mitochondria.
Unique characteristics of the neonatal intestinal mucosal barrier

The purpose of this study was to compare the newborn and weanling intestinal mucosa to determine differences in: (1) the electrophysiologic characteristics of the mucosal barrier; (2) the effects of glutamine supplementation on these physiological characteristics; and (3) transmucosal bacterial passage. The Ussing chamber was used to study ileal mucosa from newborn (1 to 4 days old) and weanling (21 days old) piglets. After the seromuscularis was stripped off the bowel wall, the mucosa was mounted in the chamber and perfused with Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) or HBSS + 20 mmol/L of glutamine. Following initial stabilization, potential difference (PD) and resistance (R) were measured at 30-minute intervals for 2 hours. Transmucosal bacterial passage was measured by quantitative cultures of the mucosal and serosal reservoirs obtained 2 hours after adding 10(8) E coli C-25 to the mucosal reservoir. Six groups of membranes were studied: (1) newborn and HBSS; (2) weanling and HBSS; (3) newborn and HBSS + glutamine; (4) weanling and HBSS + glutamine; (5) newborn - HBSS + glutamine + E coli; and (6) weanling - HBSS + glutamine + E coli. Newborn ileal mucosa had significantly lower PD and R compared with weanling at all time points. Glutamine led to a significant increase in PD in both newborn and weanling. Newborn mucosa had a significantly increased incidence of transmucosal bacterial passage (4/7) compared with weanling (0/10). These findings suggest that: (1) newborn mucosal barrier has uniquely different electrophysiologic characteristics; (2) glutamine improves the metabolic activity as measured by PD in both newborn and weanling; and (3) the newborn mucosal barrier allows increased transmucosal passage of bacteria.
Probabilistic proof of the interchangeability of ./M/1 queues in series

Given a finite number of empty ./M/1 queues, let customers arrive according to an arbitrary arrival process and be served at each queue exactly once, in some fixed order. The process of departing customers from the network has the same law, whatever the order in which the queues are visited. This remarkable result, due to R. Weber [4], is given a simple probabilistic proof.
Using simulated annealing to synthesize resource-bounded software

This paper describes how simulated annealing can be used to synthesize software implementations. Simulated annealing is a strategy for solving combinatorial optimization problems. The challenge here is to effectively cast the many implementation decisions (e.g., data structures, algorithms, data flow) inherent in implementing software systems as an optimization problem. This paper presents RT-Syn, a software synthesis architecture targeting real-time software. Real-time software is characterized by a set of tasks, each with individual hard timing deadlines. RT-Syn represents implementation decisions in terms of their timing and space costs and then uses simulated annealing to minimize the cost of the implementation until the individual hard timing deadlines are met. Producing a satisficing implementation rather than an absolute optimal implementation results in tractable annealing run times. We present experimental results covering the synthesis of real-time software tasks that meet the desired execution characteristics. These results illustrate the effectiveness of the simulated annealing approach in searching the software implementation space and the belief that simulated annealing approaches have much to offer to automated software engineering.
Bremsstrahlung in the nuclear fireball model

The recently proposed nuclear fireball model is used to calculate the low-energy (approximately-less-than10 MeV) bremsstrahlung from relativistic heavy ion collisions. For low-energy photons with wavelengths larger than nuclear dimensions and frequencies smaller than the inverse collision time the bremsstrahlung is nearly independent of details of the collision process. The number of photons produced per collision depends strongly on the impact parameter. Production cross sections are generally strongly peaked in the forward direction with a broad hump in the backward direction, and appear to be large enough to be seen experimentally.
Multiple-energy proton bombardment in n+-GaAs

Abstract The effects of single-energy and multiple-energy proton bombardment on the electrical characteristics of n + -GaAs ( n ≥ 10 18 cm −3 ) have been studied. It was found that a multiple-energy bombardment is superior to a single-energy bombardment in creating high-resistivity layers in n + -GaAs. For 4 × 10 18 cm −3 GaAs, the entire 4-μm-thick bombarded layer could not be effectively compensated by a single-energy 400-keV bombardment. A multiple-energy bombardment, however, effectively compensated the bombarded layer throughout its depth. With no annealing, there is a optimum multiple-bombardment dose which maximizes the average resistivity. With annealing, higher doses are necessary and for a dose higher than the optimum without annealing, the resistivity at first increases and then goes through a maximum with increasing anneal temperature. There is again an optimum dose for any specific anneal temperature and for the range of doses studied, the resistivity reaches a maximum at a higher anneal temperature for increasing total dose. For n + -GaAs with an initial concentration of 10 18 cm −3 , layers with an average resistivity of ≥ 10 8 Ω- cm have been achieved using a multiple-energy bombardment and an anneal temperature as high as 500°C. Measurement of the ac resistivity as a function of frequency indicates that conduction in the bombarded layer may be occurring via a hopping mechanism.
Yttrium-90 radioembolization as salvage therapy for colorectal cancer with liver metastases.

Abstract Background Few patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are candidates for resection of their hepatic disease. Yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) radioembolization has promise in the treatment of unresectable mCRC. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the efficacy in patients with refractory mCRC who underwent 90 Y radioembolization. Materials and methods Patients with unresectable mCRC with liver metastases treated at The Ohio State University were included in this analysis. Demographic data, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) values, observed toxicities, and information on prior therapies were collected. Response was assessed by RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) 1.1 criteria. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Twenty-four patients (median age, 63 years) were included. Of the patients, 54% had extrahepatic disease; 67% had bilobar involvement. The patients had received a median of 3 prior therapies. No objective responses were observed. Five patients had a CEA response. Median PFS and OS were 3.9 months (95% CI, 2.4-4.8 months) and 8.9 months (95% CI, 4.2-16.7 months), respectively. Patients older than 65 years had improved PFS (4.6 vs. 2.4 months) and OS (14 vs. 5.5 months) vs. younger patients, likely due to receipt of 90 Y treatment earlier in their disease course. The presence of extrahepatic disease and the absence of CEA response appeared negatively predictive of efficacy. Toxicities were expected and manageable. Conclusion 90 Y radioembolization is active in select patients with refractory mCRC and with liver metastases, and is safe and well tolerated in the elderly. In patients with extensive extrahepatic disease, 90 Y should be used in combination with chemotherapy. CEA may be a predictor of efficacy.
Residential preferences and population redistribution: 1972–1988

In seeking to explain recent trends in population distribution, there has been increased interest in residential preferences. This study is a comparison of preferences based on 1972 and 1988 national surveys, years that bracket a period of considerable change in distribution patterns. Over time there has been a small shift in preference toward cities less than 500,000 in size, primarily by those already living there. Rural settings, especially near cities, continue to be very attractive. At both times studied, more than half of those preferring a smaller or more remote place would retain this preference even if it meant 10% less income. Nevertheless, the proportion preferring to live more than 30 miles from a large city was unchanged and approximately equal to the proportion already living there at both times, indicating that a discrepancy between where people live and where they want to live is not an important basis for the upturn in nonmetropolitan growth away from large cities in the 1970s or the downturn in the 1980s.
Air pollution injury to coastal sage scrub in the Santa Monica Mountains, Southern California

A field survey observed 26 types of foliar damage symptoms on seven species of coastal sage scrub in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area near Los Angeles, California. Of these, 6 symptoms were likely related to herbivory. Forty percent of visual injury symptoms in the field matched symptoms observed on these species exposed for 10 weeks to controlled fumigation with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ppm of O3 and 0.05, 0.2 and 0.5 PPM of SO2 or combinations of these. Based on a comparison of field and chamber symptoms, it appeared that both 03 and SO2 were responsible for field injury symptoms, with 03 being the more frequent cause. Symptoms also appeared to be produced at lower concentrations in the field than in chambers. Using the foliar damage symptom present in greatest intensity on a 3-point scale, species were generally found to exhibit increased intensity of this symptom on sites estimated to experience higher levels of 03, SO2 and NO2. Pollution levels at sites were estimated from seven surrounding air quality monitoring stations. One- or two-month-old leaves exhibit sufficient intensity of symptom damage that not all observed injury can be attributed to senescence. Brachyblast leaves of Salvia mellifera exhibited more severe damage symptoms than dolichoblasts, confirming fumigation chamber results; for three other seasonally dimorphic species, brachyblasts were not more sensitive. Fasciated stems were found both in fumigation chambers and in the field on Artemisia californica, Lotus scoparius and Eriogonum fasciculatum, but sample sizes were not sufficient to distinguish among alternative potential causes of this phenomenon.
Simulation studies of diffusion‐limited coarsening in two dimensions

The kinetics of particle coarsening are studied by means of contour dynamics simulation in two dimensions. The current method is free from the usual restrictions, such as small area fraction, constant particle shape, and local particle motion. Growth or shrinkage of particles in a given realization is found to depend on the local environment of the particles. The concept of critical size central to the classical theories such as the LSW theory, therefore, appears to be inappropriate. Surprisingly, the ensemble-averaged macroscopic behavior is consistent with mean-field theory. The particle-size distribution (PSD) tends toward an asymptotic shape, different from the mean field result. The normalized width of the PSD seems to be insensitive to volume fraction. Interfacial transport limitation can be significant for small particles, and it has the effect of altering the width of the PSD. The coarsening rate constant is found to be a function of the area fraction.
Dispersionless modulations in low-energy solar electron bursts and discontinuous changes in the solar wind electron strahl

[1] The solar wind experiment on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) has detected at least 328 impulsive solar electron bursts that exhibited energy and angle dispersion at onset at energies below 1.4 keV in the interval from 1 January 1998 through 30 September 2003. Discontinuous, dispersionless modulations in burst intensity and pitch angle occurred in a subset of these events. These dispersionless modulations were similar to discontinuous modulations in the solar wind electron strahl intensity often observed at these same energies at other times. During the bursts themselves, dispersionless modulations in burst intensity commonly, but not always, were associated with discontinuous changes in the underlying strahl intensity. At times the burst intensity modulations were correlated with the strahl modulations and at times they were anticorrelated with the strahl modulations. We find that the variety of types of dispersionless burst/strahl modulations observed within low-energy solar electron bursts can largely be explained in terms of a simple model that assumes spatially limited burst source regions, a strahl intensity that varies with coronal magnetic connection point, and magnetic field line foot point motions in the solar atmosphere during the 2–4 days it takes solar wind plasma and the embedded heliospheric magnetic field to travel from the Sun to 1 AU.
Controversies in out-of-hospital emergency airway control: Esophageal obstruction or endotracheal intubation?

Maintaining an unobstructed airway and providing adequate oxygenation and CO 2 elimination, by artificial means if necessary, are among the highest priorities in all life-threatening circumstances. How this goal can best be met in the prehospital setting has become a controversial issue. The esophageal obturator airway (EOA ® ) frequently is used in the prehospital setting, but its use and effectiveness recently have been criticized. A critical review of available literature reveals two areas of concern: 1) many clinical studies do not address prehospital airway management, and 2) the EOA has only one advantage over mask techniques for artificial ventilation, ie, it reduces the likelihood of aspiration of gastric contents. This advantage was the only one postulated by initial investigators. Many perceived EOA problems are due to poor mask fit and can be rectified. Although endotracheal intubation is the accepted standard for airway management in the apneic patient, its limitations in the prehospital setting are many. These utilization problems and complications remain undefined and must be addressed.
The interplay between intensity standardization and field inhomogeneity correction in MR image processing

Image intensity standardization is a recently developed post-processing method designed for correcting acquisition-to-acquisition signal intensity variations inherent in MR images. Inhomogeneity correction is a method used to suppress the low frequency background non-uniformities of the image domain that exist in MR images. Both these procedures have important implications for MR image analysis. The effects of these post-processing operations on improvement of image quality in isolation has been well documented [1-11]. However, the combined effects of these two processes on MR images and how the processes influence each other have not been studied thus far. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of inhomogeneity correction followed by standardization on MR images and vice-versa in order to determine the best sequence to follow for enhancing image quality. Our results indicate that improved standardization can be achieved by preceding it with inhomogeneity correction. There is no statistically significant difference in image quality obtained between the results of standardization followed by correction and that of correction followed by standardization from the perspective of inhomogeneity correction. The correction operation was found to bias the effect of standardization. We demonstrated this bias both qualitatively and quantitatively. Standardization on the other hand did not influence the correction operation. It was also found that longer sequences of repeated correction and standardization did not considerably improve image quality.
Metamemory in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

The impact of depression on self-perception of memory has been well documented in a variety of populations. We examined the relationship between metamemory (defined as awareness of memory capacities and deficits), actual memory performance, depression, and laterality of epileptogenic focus in surgical candidates with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) (N = 151) and with healthy controls (N = 63). Compared to healthy controls, presurgical TLE patients reported more difficulties in memory on self-rating and activities of daily living rating scales, performed worse on tests of memory, and were less accurate in self-perception of memory capacity when compared to actual test performance. Patients reported more depression than controls, but there were no differences in level of depression or accuracy of metamemory between right and left TLE patients. Presurgical TLE patients who were depressed reported more memory impairment and underestimated their memory, but did not differ in actual memory per...
Suppression of tumor growth by growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist JV-1-36 does not involve the inhibition of autocrine production of insulin-like growth factor II in H-69 small cell lung carcinoma

Although a high antitumor activity of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonists has been demonstrated in various tumors, the mechanism of action of these peptide analogs remains poorly understood. An association has been observed between the antitumor effects of GHRH antagonists and the inhibition of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), but it is not clear whether the suppression of IGFs is obligatory for the action of GHRH antagonists. In the present study we investigated various components of the IGF system in H-69 small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) xenografted into nude mice and treated with GHRH antagonist JV-1-36. After 31 days of treatment with JV-1-36, tumor weight was inhibited by about 70% as compared with the controls. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that H-69 tumors express mRNAs for IGF-II and IGF-receptors- (IGFR-) I and II, but not for IGF-I. The levels of mRNA for IGF-II and IGFR-I and -II were not affected by the treatment with JV-1-36. Exposure to antibody IRa, which blocks the binding of IGF-I and -II to IGFR-I, inhibited the proliferation of H-69 cells in vitro, indicating that IGF-II present in the tumors might stimulate the proliferation of H-69 SCLC in an autocrine manner. Collectively our results suggest that inhibition of tumor growth by GHRH antagonists is not associated with the suppression of the autocrine stimulation by IGF-II in H-69 SCLC.