cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Precursor routes to Group 4 metal borides, and metal boride/carbide and metal boride/nitride composites

Precursor routes to Group 4 metal borides, as well as metal-boride/carbide and metal-boride/nitride composites, that employ metal-oxide/polymer and metal/polymer dispersions are described. The metal boride precursors were initially obtained by dispersing metal oxides in a decaborane-dicyanopentane polymer, but better results have now been achieved using a newly developed polyhexenyldecaborane polymer. Subsequent pyrolyses of the metal-oxide/polymer dispersions afford metal borides, including TiB2, ZrB2, and HfB2 in high chemical and ceramic yields. On the other hand, pyrolyses of hafnium/polyhexenyldecaborane dispersions provide an efficient route to hafnium-boride/carbide composites. Metal-boride/nitride composites, including TiB2/TiN and HfB2/HfN materials, are also readily obtained by pyrolyses of metal dispersions in the boron-nitrogen polymer polyborazylene, (B3N3H4)X. The high ceramic yields of the metal-boride/nitride systems (∼98%), enable their use for the controlled formation of shaped monolithic TiB2/TiN or HfB2/HfN materials by pyrolysis of pressed precursor green bodies.
Intercellular Signalling: Knowing that you're among friends

Factors that are simultaneously secreted and sensed are used by cells to monitor local cell density; a recently discovered factor of this type controls the transformation-competence of Bacillus subtilis.
Pore structure of hardened portland cement pastes and its influence on properties

Abstract An eclectic critical review of the literature on the influence of pore structure on properties of Portland cement pastes is presented. Emphasis is given to relevant technologies in concrete science developed in the last decade. Topics include strength-porosity relationships, fracture, permeability and diffusivity of concrete to aggressive media, special low-porosity cement systems, DSP (densified by small particles) densified systems, macro-defect-free systems, and numerical modeling of pore structure. Discussion of the role of the various cement phases in strength development processes is presented. Consideration of the relative importance of microstructural aspects (e.g., morphology, conditions of product formation, compaction procedures, autoclaving, silica polymerization, degree of crystallinity, and pore structure descriptors) is provided throughout the text.
The sympathetic nervous system in heart failure

The syndrome of clinical heart failure (CHF) is characterized by increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which may contribute in part to the heightened vascular tone that adversely affects left ventricular systolic performance. The increased resting SNS activity is accompanied by an attenuated SNS response to physiological stress, including orthostasis, hypotension, and maximal exercise. Since heart transplantation appears to reverse the increased resting activity and the deficient reflex responsiveness, these abnormalities appear to be functional. The degree of SNS activation appears to be directly related to mortality in CHF, thus suggesting that heightened SNS activity is either a marker or a risk factor for a lethal outcome in this syndrome. Pharmacologic inhibition of the SNS is an attractive therapeutic option for evaluation in CHF.
Electron Microscopy of Large Cell Undifferentiated and Giant Cell Tumors

Electron microscopy is a valuable morphologic method for the diagnostic evaluation of undifferentiated tumors composed of polygonal or oval large cells and mononuclear or multinucleated giant cells. Although few ultrastructural details are pathognomonic, electron microscopic findings may add significantly to the formulation of the final diagnosis if used in the context of other pathomorphologic and clinical data. Contributions of electron microscopy to tumor diagnosis are summarized and illustrated with appropriate examples from personal experience in a routine university hospital laboratory.
Relationship Between an Increase in Thermostability and Amino Acid Substitutions in N-Carbamyl-D-Amino Acid Amidohydrolase

For the production of D-amino acids using stable N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase (DCase) in an immobilized form, the DCase gene of Agrobacterium sp. KNK712 was mutagenized to increase its enzymatic thermostability. In a search for thermostability-related amino acid sites besides the two known sites of DCase, i.e., the 57th and 203rd amino acids, the new mutant enzyme found, in which the 236th amino acid, valine, had been changed to alanine, showed a 10°C increase in thermostability. These known three thermostability-related amino acids were changed to other amino acids by the PCR technique, and it was proved that the thermostability of the DCase increased when the 57th amino acid of DCase, histidine, was changed to leucine, the 203rd amino acid, proline, to asparagine, glutamate, alanine, isoleucine, histidine, or threonine, and the 236th amino acid, valine, to threonine or serine, in addition to the known mutations.
Energy gap and Korringa constant in the high-temperature superconductor La1.83Sr0.17CuO4 determined by NMR.

Polycrystalline samples of ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.83}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.17}$Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ were studied by pulsed nuclear-magnetic-resonance methods on the copper nucleus over a temperature range which included both normal and superconducting phases. A Korringa constant 14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 K sec and a minimum value for the energy gap $\frac{2\ensuremath{\Delta}}{{k}_{B}{T}_{c}}=1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ were found. A comparison of these results with the larger gap reported from infrared absorption and from tunneling experiments indicates that there is substantial anisotropy in the pairing interaction. Homogeneous line narrowing in the superconducting state was observed.
Sulfate Determination in Natural Waters by Nonresonance Line Furnace Atomic Absorption

The determination of sulfate in potable water is normally accomplished by its precipitation with an excess of barium ion followed by measuring the turbidity of the suspended precipitate, gravimetry, or, as more recently advocated, flame atomic absorption (AA) measurement of nonprecipitated barium. We undertook to adapt the constant temperature Woodriff atomic absorption furnace for this very common analysis. Direct sulfur determination is not routinely performed by flame or nonflame atomic absorption because of difficulties associated with the use of the far-uv resonance lines of that element. Therefore, efforts were directed at precipitation of the sulfate with a metal ion followed by determination of the metal retained on a porous graphite filter after washing off of excess precipitant. It was discovered that nonresonance atomic absorption of the lead in a lead sulfate precipitate served the purpose.
Head impact response to simulated ball-to-head collisions

Softball is a relatively safe sport, but, as with all sports, the risk of injury remains. Many of the rare severe injuries which occur on the softball field involve ball-player contact. To mitigate the risk of these injuries, modified softballs have been developed with greater compliance than their standard counterparts. The purpose of this work was to investigate the difference between standard softball models approved for use in slowpitch play and two modified softball models in ball-to-head collisions. A finite element model of ball-to-head impacts was developed from a leading softball model and the Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) developed by Toyota. Simulated softball models included a standard slowpitch softball, a cork-core softball and Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) softball. Both frontal and lateral impacts were simulated for initial ball velocities ranging from 26.8 m/s to 53.6 m/s. The stiffness of cork-core and RIF softballs were 39% and 23% of the standard softball model stiffness. In the case of lateral impacts, differences in maximum bone stress were as small as 16% and 30% on average for cork-core and RIF balls, respectively, while in the case of frontal impacts differences in maximum bone stress were as large as 57% and 74% on average. These results suggest that modified balls may be a viable approach for limiting skull fracture injuries for ball-to- head impacts in some regions, but that these balls may be less effective in others.
The Incidence of Maxillary Sinus Membrane Perforation During Endoscopically Assessed Crestal Sinus Floor Elevation: A Pilot Study

Transcrestal sinus membrane elevation is a surgical procedure performed to increase the bone volume in the maxillary sinus cavity. Because of visual limitations, the potential for maxillary sinus membrane perforations may be greater than with the lateral approach technique. The aim of this study was to macroscopically investigate ex vivo the occurrence of sinus membrane perforation during surgery using 3 transcrestal sinus floor elevation methods. Twenty fresh human cadaver heads, with 40 intact sinuses, were used for simultaneous sinus membrane elevation, placement of graft material, and dental implants. Real-time sinus endoscopy, periapical digital radiographs, and cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) images were subsequently used to evaluate the outcome of each surgical procedure. Perforation rates for each of the 3 techniques were then compared using a significance level of P < .05. No statistically significant differences in the perforation rate (P = .79) were found among the 3 surgical techniques. Although the sinus endoscope noted a higher frequency of perforations at the time of implant placement as compared with instrumentation or graft insertion, the difference was not statistically significant (P = .04). The CBCT readings were judged to be more accurate for identifying evidence of sinus perforations than the periapical radiographs when compared with the direct visualization with the endoscope. This pilot study demonstrated that a sinus membrane perforation can occur at any time during the sinus lift procedure, independent of the surgical method used.
The use of epidemiologic data for personal risk assessment in Health Hazard/Health Risk Appraisal programs

Abstract Health Hazard/Health Risk Appraisal (HHA/HRA) programs employ personal risk assessment as an educational and motivational technique to encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyles by health education clients. We have reviewed the scientific basis of the risk assessments provided in HHA/HRA. There are severe limitations in both the data and the risk estimation procedures. Various undocumented assumptions enter into the projections; several key aspects are arbitrary. Proposals for improvement of the procedure generally require data that are not available. Attention has largely focused on increasing mathematical sophistication (e.g. adjustment for competing risks) while ignoring problems in accuracy of the client data from which projections are calculated and serious questions about the health education messages implicit in the appraisal results. Health Hazard/Health Risk Appraisal programs should be candid about the limitations of the technique. Use of appraisal results for evaluation purposes is questionable. The health education messages produced by such programs deserve attention, since their appropriateness, especially for clients who are not white, middle class and middle-aged, has not been established.
Defense Display Strategy and Roadmaps

The Department of Defense (DoD) is developing a new strategy for displays. The new displays science and technology roadmap will incorporate urgent warfighter needs as well as investment opportunities where military advantage is foreseen. Thrusts now ending include the High Definition System (HDS) program and related initiatives, like flexible displays, at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Continuing thrusts include a variety of Serviceled programs to develop micro-displays for virtual image helmet-/rifle-mounted systems for pilots and soldiers, novel displays, materials, and basic research. New thrusts are being formulated for ultra-resolution, true 3D, and intelligent displays (integration of computers and communication functions into screens). The new strategy is Service-led.
Infection control practitioner as advocate for the antibiogram: Launching local interventions to prevent antimicrobial resistance

ISSUE: Antimicrobial susceptibility data are often aggregated into “antibiograms,” which provide a summary picture of common organisms and their susceptibility to many antimicrobial agents. Local antibiograms (e.g., by unit, hospital, or facility) provide a starting point for making decisions about empiric antimicrobial treatment. Clinicians are not making use of the antibiogram information, nor taking into account the local patterns of resistance and the further increase of resistant strains resulting from inappropriate antibiotic therapy. PROJECT: The antibiotic imipenem is used within the acute care areas as a last resort medication for the treatment of serious infections. Current surveillance systems monitoring emerging drug resistance detect susceptibility patterns for each acute care entity. In this study, four hospitals that comprise part of a network were used to compare their resistance patterns to imipenem for the organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using their respective antibiograms. The dependent variable is the resistance of the organism; independent variables are the hospitals themselves and the time elapsed. A full model two-way ANOVA analysis was performed, with a subsequent one-way ANOVA performed as the reduced model. RESULTS: Retrospective review of the antibiogram resistance patterns for three time periods were analyzed from each of the four hospitals. Full model: Two-way ANOVA analysis indicates that Hu Hospital has the largest average resistance. Hi Hospital has a small average, indicating a higher percentage of susceptible isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Over time, the mean value of resistance did not change very much. Resistance patterns for one of the four hospitals were quite distinctly different (p = 0.012), illustrating the need to monitor local data even when working within a multisite system. Reduced model: One-way ANOVA results confirmed that the one hospital had substantially higher rates of resistance than the other three hospitals. LESSONS LEARNED: One of the hospitals had a different antibiogram and resistance pattern than the other three hospitals. Knowledge of local patterns of resistance contained within the antibiogram will allow the infection control nurse to be alert to significant shifts in the populations of organisms within the locale and report those findings to all stakeholders. This information can be shared via Internet and PDA for real-time clinical decisions at the bedside.
Differences in survival and feeding activity among colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

Eight field-collected colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were used to determine intraspecific variation for two commonly measured response variables reported in laboratory bioassays. Survival among 5 vigorous colonies varied from 76.4–87.5% but was less than 20% in 3 weak colonies at the end of 8-week feeding trials. Wood consumption by the vigorous colonies was significantly greater than by weak colonies (39.74–78.48 mg/g/day vs. 23.80-44.67 mg/g/day). A significant negative correlation was observed between mean worker biomass and wood-consumption rate (r = −0.82; P < 0.05). It is concluded that a minimum of 3 source colonies should be used in bioassays and that colony origin should be incorporated into the experimental design of such experiments. Zusammenfassung Unterschiede in der Lebensdauer und Frasaktivitat zwischen Kolonien der Formosa-Termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shir. Acht im Freiland gesammelte Kolonien von C. formosanus wurden im Labor auf ihre Lebensdauer und Frasaktivitat untersucht. Die Uberlebensdauer von 5 vitalen Kolonien variierte zwischen 76,4 und 87,5%, betrug aber weniger als 20% bei 3 schwachen Kolonien, jeweils am Ende einer 8-wochigen Futterungsperiode. Der Holzverzehr bei den vitalen Kolonien war signifikant groser als bei den schwachen (39,8–78,5 mg/g/Tag gegenuber 23,8–44,7 mg/g/Tag). Eine signifikante Korrelation wurde zwischen der mittleren Arbeiter-Biomasse und der Holzverzehrsrate beobachtet (r = −0,82; P < 0,05). Es wird der Schlus gezogen, das derartigen Untersuchungen mindestens 3 Kolonien zugrunde gelegt werden und deren Herkunft bei der Versuchsplanung berucksichtigt werden sollten.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Pneumonias in Adults Due to Mycoplasma, Chlamydiae, and Viruses

Abstract Pneumonias in adults due to mycoplasma, chlamydiae, and viruses are a common clinical problem. These microorganisms contribute to the etiologies in 6–35% of all cases of pneumonia and are the sole pathogens in 1–17% of hospitalized cases. Important trends and developments in the field include (1) the emergence of a Chlamydia psittaci strain (TWAR) that is passaged from human to human, causes a mycoplasma-like illness, and that is relatively resistant to erythromycin, (2) the recognition of respiratory syncytial virus as a pathogen in nursing home outbreaks and in immunosuppressed adults, the continuing high lethality of fully developed influenza pneumonia, (4) the efficacy of acyclovir and adenine arabinoside in limiting the complications of varicella-zoster virus infections, and (5) the increasing frequency of pneumonia caused by cytomegalovirus and the severity of this disorder in highly immunosuppressed patients. Developments in the rapid diagnosis and therapy of respiratory syncytial virus infections with an aerosolized antiviral drug in children may pave the way for comparable advances in difficult pneumonias in adult patients.
Circumventing Sea Power: Chinese Strategies to Deter U.S. Intervention in Taiwan

A hypothetical attempt by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to forcibly unite itself with the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan provides a particularly illustrative example of many of Alfred Tha...
Interval Estimation of the Largest Mean of k Normal Populations with Known Variances

Abstract A procedure is given for the construction of a fixed-width confidence interval of the largest mean of k(k≥1) normal populations with a common known variance, based on the largest sample mean. The sample size required to achieve the preassigned confidence coefficient can be computed by using the standard normal table only.
Sequential hemibody irradiation integrated into a chemotherapy—local radiotherapy program for limited disease small cell lung cancer

Abstract Twenty-four patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with sequential hemibody irradiation (SHB) integrated into a conventional chemotherapy—local radiotherapy (LRT) program. Among 23 evaluable patients, 12 (52%) attained a complete response (CR) and 8 (35%) attained a partial response for an overall major response rate of 87%. The median time since study entry is 29 months. Durations of response are 9.9 months for all patients and 16.5 months for patients who achieved a CR. The primary site was the predominant area of recurrence. The median survival is 13.2 months for all patients and 23.2 months for the 12 patients who attained a CR. Myelosuppression, especially thrombocytopenia, was the major toxicity. Acute radiation toxicities and subacute pneumonitis previously associated with hemibody radiotherapy were well controlled or prevented using the current dose, premedication, and shielding techniques. This integrated program of systemic therapies with SHB and combination chemotherapy plus LRT is feasible for limited disease SCLC; it may prolong survival in patients who attain a CR but compared to similar programs without hemibody irradiation, there was no improvement in overall response rate, response duration, or survival.
Method of X-Ray Anomalous Diffraction for Lipid Structures

The structures of the unit cells of lipid phases that exhibit long-range crystalline order but short-range liquid-like disorder are of biological interests. In particular, the recently discovered rhombohedral phase has a unit cell containing either the structure of a membrane fusion intermediate state or that of a peptide-induced transmembrane pore, depending on the lipid composition and participating peptides. Diffraction from such systems generally presents a difficult phase problem. The existing methods of phase determination all have their limitations. Therefore it is of general interest to develop a new phasing method. The method of multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion is routinely used in protein crystallography, but the same method is difficult for lipid systems for the practical reason that the commonly used lipid samples for diffraction do not have a well-defined thickness. Here we describe a practical approach to use the multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion method for lipid structures. The procedure is demonstrated with the lamellar phase of a brominated lipid. The method is general to all phases as long as anomalous diffraction is applicable.
Heart transplantation and altered drug response, part I: heart transplantation and innervation.

This first in a two-part series of articles will review heart transplantation and the changes in innervation that occur as a result of the surgical procedure. The second article will review how individual drug response is altered and will outline management guidelines for treatment of specific conditions.
A Multi-Resolution Foveated Laparoscope

A multi-resolution foveated laparoscope is proposed, which could simultaneously provide a wide-angle “stadium view” and a high-resolution sub-field. The FOV-resolution tradeoff in traditional optical systems was addressed by this “foveal” imaging system.
You Have To Bleed a Little To Reach the Big Time

ISSUE: Contaminated blood cultures result in an increased use of antibiotics leading to potential antibiotic resistance, unnecessary treatment, increased length of stay, and an increase in the cost of care. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has established an acceptable contamination rate at ≤3%. At our institution an average of 2500 blood cultures are collected monthly. Initial review of our data revealed a blood culture contamination rate of 7.3% (>CAP 90th percentile). PROJECT: A multidisciplinary team representing nursing, microbiology laboratory, Epidemiology, Materials Management, and Nursing Education and Professional Development was assembled to address this issue. Microbiology staff provided the contamination data. Materials Management provided information on the products available for use. Nursing staff was queried on practice, policy, and products used to perform collection. Epidemiology developed a web-based education program and with the support of hospital administration the education was mandated for all staff who drew blood cultures. Unit-based nurse educators were made accountable for completion of the education program by their staff. Trainees were evaluated via a posttest and a hands-on demonstration of competency. Product changes included replacement of povidone-iodine with chlorhexidine/alcohol for skin preparation, and a kit was developed that included all products needed to perform the procedure as well as an instruction sheet and bottle labels for designation of the culture site (central line or peripheral vein). A monthly report was generated and distributed, which included a contamination rate for each nursing unit in the inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department (ED) settings. Nurse clinicians reviewed the report and followed each contaminated culture down to the person who performed the culture collection. RESULTS: We achieved 98% compliance with mandatory education. The hospital-wide blood culture contamination rate decreased from 7.3% to 3.8%. Stratified by hospital area, the contamination rates fell to 3.2% for inpatient units and 2.3% for outpatient clinics. The ED is responsible for an average of 500 blood cultures/month; their rate decreased from a high of 11% to 5.4%. LESSONS LEARNED: The 3% rate continues to be our “Big Time” or long-range goal but we consider our progress to date to be highly significant. Monitoring continues, products continue to evolve, and education for new staff has been implemented. The ED and administration continue to review the collection process to achieve complete success. The additional success of educating hundreds of clinical staff via a web-based tutorial has opened the door to many possibilities when considering future educational programs for our 4000 clinical providers.
Enhanced Raman scattering with one monolayer of silver.

Adatoms, clusters, and complexes have been associated with the active sites that enable the short-range mechanism of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To clarify this relationship we have studied the interaction between pyridine and a monolayer (ML) of Ag on a Pt substrate as a function of applied potential and solution composition. Our electromagnetic calculations show only small optical fields exist at the 1-ML Ag--Pt substrate surface which are incapable of supporting the electromagnetic enhancement of SERS. This confirms our earlier report that enhancement for this system arises from an electronic resonant Raman process in the surface complex. The growth of the Ag ML was performed in a thin-layer solution-exchange electrochemical cell. The cell allowed removal of the Ag/sup +/ solution and introduction of a pyridine and Cl/sup -/ solution while maintaining a constant applied potential. Results reported here show that no SERS exists for pyridine adsorbed on the pre-prepared Ag ML. Electrochemical oxidation and reduction of the ML in the presence of pyridine and Cl/sup -/ is necessary before a signal is observed. This process creates Cl/sup -/-stabilized, electron-deficient sites onto which pyridine is bound. These Ag/sup +/ sites on the Pt substrate are analogous to the Ag/sub 4/ /supmore » +/ pyramidal clusters which have been discovered as SERS-active sites on bulk Ag substrates.« less
Effects of reading content on occupational sex role stereotypes

Abstract The relation between sex and occupational role of story characters was systematically varied in reading material presented to preschoolers. On a series of posttests measuring stereotyped attitudes towards occupational sex roles, boys appeared more stereotyped than girls. Stories that portrayed a stereotyped relation between sex and occupation served to make girls more stereotyped in their responding, thus supporting the notion that reading content may reinforce attitudes and ideas developed from other sources. There was little to suggest that reading content could counteract established attitudes and predispositions, however.
Cowbird responses to aircraft with lights tuned to their eyes: Implications for bird-aircraft collisions

ABSTRACT Collisions between birds and aircraft (bird strikes) are expensive, risk human lives, and increase bird mortality. Aircraft lighting has been proposed as a potential means of enhancing avian responses to aircraft. Determining the optimal changes to lighting to reduce bird strikes is a complicated problem because avian visual systems differ markedly from that of humans. Icteridae, including Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater; hereafter “cowbirds”), are involved in bird strikes, have a well-described visual system, and respond to approaching vehicles and lights. Our goal was to assess cowbirds' responses to a remote-controlled (RC) aircraft fitted with lights tuned to the cowbird eye. On the basis of perceptual modeling (i.e. visual physiology, object and background reflectance, and ambient light conditions), we found that 470-nm lights (“blue” portion of the human spectrum) would be the most conspicuous wavelength for cowbirds. We used field experiments to examine cowbird response to 470-nm lig...
Trauma exposure, resilience, social support, and PTSD construct validity among former prisoners of war.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of persistent symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to examine the construct validity of PTSD in a national sample of 270 World War II and Korean Conflict prisoners of war (POWs). Method: POWs were interviewed at two points in time (1965 and 1990). Predictors included PTSD symptomatology measured in 1965 by items from the Cornell Medical Index (CMI), severity of captivity trauma, resilience factors, and post-trauma social support. The criterion, symptomatology in the early 1990s, was evaluated with the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID). Results: The CMI provided only partial coverage of PTSD criteria and appeared to provide only a general index of distress. Clustering of SCID items in two-dimensional space via multidimensional scaling analysis offers some construct validation for the DSM's differentiation of PTSD symptoms into criterion groups, although there was not a perfect match. Trauma severity is best related to PTSD symptomatology experienced in 1990, mitigated in part by greater education level and age at the time of trauma exposure. Surprisingly, 1965 distress added only a modest amount to the prediction of current distress, while post-trauma social support added none. Conclusions: These findings support previous work showing the severe psychological sequelae of POW status 40–50 years after captivity, and indicate that trauma severity during captivity is the best predictor of current PTSD symptomatology. Results also add to our understanding of the conceptual differentiation of PTSD symptoms into separate and distinct symptom clusters.
Reciprocal Effects of Exercise and Nutrition Treatment-Induced Weight Loss with Improved Body Image and Physical Self-Concept

Improvements in self-image and mood are often reported as outcomes of obesity interventions. However, they may also concurrently influence weight loss, suggesting a reciprocal effect. Although previously reported for overweight women, such relationships were untested in morbidly obese women whose psychosocial responses to treatment may be different, and health-risks greater. Women (N = 161, Meanage = 42 years) with morbid obesity (MeanBMI = 45.1 kg/m2) participated in a 6-month, behaviorally based physical activity and nutrition treatment. Significant within-group improvements in weight-loss behaviors (physical activity and eating), weight, body satisfaction, physical self-concept, and depression were found. After controlling for age, mediation analyses indicated that, as a result of the treatment, weight loss was both an outcome and mediator of improvements in body-areas satisfaction and physical self-concept (reciprocal effects), but not depression. Results replicated findings from women with lower degr...
Activating Notch signaling post-SCI modulates angiogenesis in penumbral vascular beds but does not improve hindlimb locomotor recovery.

Abstract Manipulation of Notch signaling has led to significant tumor shrinkage as well as recovery from several traumatic and ischemic injury models indicating its potential clinical application. We have tested both an agonist and antagonist of Notch signaling to study the effects of Notch-mediated angiogenesis on spinal cord vascular pathology following traumatic injury. Initial neonatal retinal vascularization assays showed their respective bioactivities in vivo. Mice were treated with either the antagonist Jagged1-Fc chimera (Jag1-Fc) or agonist Notch1 antibody (N1 Ab) immediately following a mid-thoracic contusive injury through an initial jugular bolus and tail vein injections for 3 days post-injury. After 14 days, activating Notch signaling decreased the overall vascular density within the penumbral gray matter compared to controls while maintaining the density of perfused vessels. Inhibiting Notch signaling did not change the density or perfusion of microvessels within the lesion penumbra. Furthermore, neither activation nor inhibition of Notch signaling significantly altered inflammation, hypoxia, and lesion volume in the epicenter and penumbra. Importantly, neither treatment changed locomotor function. In postnatal retinal vascular assays, administration of Jag1-Fc and N1 Ab increased and decreased both tip cell numbers and branch points in each treatment, respectively. However, these agents did not modulate primary CNS EC proliferation in vitro in spite of sufficient Notch ligand expression. We conclude that Notch signaling, while an important part of developmental angiogenesis, may play a lesser role in mediating vascular recovery following traumatic injury to the CNS.
Evidence for angular momentum depolarization and for enhanced sequential fission in the reaction /sup 197/Au(/sup 86/Kr, Z/sub 3/f)

At 618 MeV bombarding energy, large fission probabilities have been observed for recoil fragments heavier than the target. The probability of sequential fission seems to depend very strongly upon angular momentum as well as upon excitation energy. The out-of-plane widths of the fission fragments together with the above observations imply that a nearly random depolarization of the heavy-fragment angular momentum may occur during the deep-inelastic processes.
Metabolism of isothiocyanates in individuals with positive and null GSTT1 and M1 genotypes after drinking watercress juice.

Background & Aims Isothiocyanates (ITCs) derived from cruciferous vegetables have been shown to be promising agents against cancer in human cell culture, animal models, and in epidemiological studies. Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between intake of dietary isothiocyanates and the risk of cancers, particularly lung, colon, and breast. More importantly, the protective effects of dietary ITCs appear to be influenced by glutathione S-transferase (GST) genotype; specifically, individuals with glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) and glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) null are better protected than those with GSTT1 and M1 positive. Although majority of studies, especially those conducted in populations exposed to ITCs rich diet, demonstrated such effects there are a few studies showed opposite or no association. While evidence for the interactions of dietary ITCs with GST genes is relatively strong, the reasons for the differential effects remain unclear. In this study, we examined one possible mechanism whether subjects with the null genotypes excrete ITCs at a slower rate than those with the positive genotypes after drinking watercress juice, a rich source of ITCs.
Theory of chemical desorption

Abstract The general problem of desorption of a volatile component accompanied by chemical reaction is considered. Basic points of difference between chemical absorption and desorption are emphasized. The conditions required for chemical absorption theory to apply to chemical desorption are established. A general procedure for solving chemical desorption problems when the rates of reaction are very high is developed; the procedure applies up to and including the limit where the reactions are instantaneous.
A simulation model of AIDS in San Francisco. I, Model formulation and parameter estimation

A model is formulated for the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the subsequent development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the population of homosexual men in San Francisco. The dynamic simulation model includes sexually very active and active subpopulations, migration, and a staged progression of HIV-infected persons to AIDS and death. Numerous data sources are used to estimate parameter values in the model. In a companion paper, simulations using the model and parameter estimates are found that are consistent with HIV and AIDS incidence data.
T regulatory cells: hypoxia-adenosinergic suppression and re-direction of the immune response

T regulatory cells (Treg cells) suppress immune responses to maintain self tolerance, but they also protect cancerous tissues. I propose a model to potentially unify the diverse functions of Treg cells. This assumes that Treg cells provide a complementary immunological arm to a physiological tissue-protecting mechanism, driven by low oxygen tension (i.e. hypoxia) in inflamed or cancerous tissues. The cAMP-elevating A2A and A2B adenosine receptors, hypoxia inducible transcription factor 1α (HIF), the cAMP response element (CRE)- and hypoxia response element (HRE)-mediated transcription in Treg and effector cells have key roles in this model. Both the T cell receptor (TCR)-triggered- and HRE- and CRE-driven activities of Treg cells are required to achieve a maximal level of immune suppression.
Cancer and psychosocial traits, continued (Reply)

In Reply. — In her response to our recent article, Dr Andrianopoulos suggests that depression may be a risk factor for a subgroup of cancers that are sensitive to immunodeficiency. We did not present analyses by site or type of cancer because we did not have sufficient numbers of cases to conduct conclusive analyses. Of the 637 cases of any diagnosis of cancer, only 71 (11%) were of the types specified by Dr Andrianopoulos. Most of these (47) were carcinomas of the lip and skin. New proportional hazards analyses, with and without adjustment for standard risk factors, showed no significant association between depressive symptoms on the General Well-being Schedule and these types of cancer (relative risk, 1.1), nor was there a significant association when the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale was examined. Even with the small number of cases in these analyses, it appears fair to conclude that if
Ethical Principles for Engineers in a Global Environment

Engineering ethics has undergone an evolutionary process from a national perspective to a recognition that global concerns matter in engineering. However, this has been an additive process which is still generally based on an American model of ethical theory as a foundation, with professional ethics as the outcome. Neither of these elements can be expected to be understood or accepted on a worldwide basis. This chapter therefore argues that a new foundation for a global engineering ethics must be established, one which derives ethical principles from the nature of engineering and the universal use among engineers of the faculty of reason. Arguments are presented why this is the appropriate approach given the contemporary work environment of engineers. A number of fundamental engineering ethics principles are derived.
Effect of Er additions on ambient and high-temperature strength of precipitation-strengthened Al-Zr-Sc-Si alloys

Abstract The effect of substituting 0.01 at.% Er for Sc in an Al–0.06Zr–0.06Sc–0.04Si (at.%) alloy subjected to a two-stage aging treatment (4 h/300 °C and 8 h/425 °C) is assessed to determine the viability of dilute Al–Si–Zr–Sc–Er alloys for creep applications. Upon aging, coherent, 2–3 nm radius, L12-ordered, trialuminide precipitates are created, consisting of an Er- and Sc-enriched core and a Zr-enriched shell; Si partitions to the precipitates without preference for the core or the shell. The Er substitution significantly improves the resistance of the alloy to dislocation creep at 400 °C, increasing the threshold stress from 7 to 10 MPa. Upon further aging under an applied stress for 1045 h at 400 °C, the precipitates grow modestly to a radius of 5–10 nm, and the threshold stress increases further to 14 MPa. These chemical and size effects on the threshold stress are in qualitative agreement with the predictions of a recent model, which considers the attractive interaction force between mismatching, coherent precipitates and dislocations that climb over them. Micron-size, intra- and intergranular, blocky Al3Er precipitates are also present, indicating that the solid solubility of Er in Al is exceeded, leading to a finer-grained microstructure, which results in diffusional creep at low stresses.
Wildlife Disease Training in Colleges and Universities of the World

Questionnaires were sent to universities throughout the world asking for information regarding the status of wildlife disease training programs.
Selection technique for subcarrier frequencies and modulation indices

This paper presents a simple technique for the design of a phase-modulated residual carrier communications link to mitigate mutual interferences among the channels for optimum system performance. The emphasis is on two data channels which am operated simultaneously with a ranging signal. The data channels employ PCM/PM and PCM/PSK/PM modulation schemes for high and low data rate channels, respectively. The technique proposed selects the optimum (1) subcarrier frequency to reduce the interference between the two data channels, and (2) modulation indices to suppress the undesired signals in the data channels. Further, this technique also provides an optimum balance of power between the two telemetry data channels and the ranging channel. Although this technique is proposed to optimize the performance degradation for two data channels, generalizations can be made for more than two data channels. To make the generalizations easier, this paper presents an algorithm based on the proposed technique, along with numerical results demonstrating its applicability. >
Metropolitan political reorganization as a politics of urban growth: the case of San Fernando Valley secession

Abstract Much of the literature on metropolitan political reorganization (defined here as secession, annexation, and incorporation) understands the phenomenon as a self-contained politics. That is, the literature mostly analyzes the politics surrounding reorganization in terms of the powers and responsibilities of the local state itself. Specifically, the literature finds that the main motivations for reorganization are: (1) a desire to reorganize the local collective consumption; and (2) a desire among outlying communities for more local control. I argue that the literature is not wrong, but that the politics of municipal reorganization must be seen in a broader context than just the formal powers and responsibilities of the local state. Specifically, I argue that reorganization is embedded in a wider politics of urban growth. To bring out the relationship between reorganization and growth politics, the paper analyzes the case of a secession movement in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. I show that, among other goals, secessionists are trying to restructure the local state so that they can now more effectively pursue their agenda with respect to local growth. The paper ends by suggesting some implications of this finding. Because growth politics in American cities are primarily a struggle over urban space, linking reorganization to growth politics provides a more complete understanding of the relationship between the politics of the local state and the geography of the city.
CLED: a calcium-linked protein associated with early epithelial differentiation.

Although it has been well established that Ca(2+) plays a key role in triggering keratinocyte differentiation, relatively little is known about the molecules that mediate this signaling process. By analyzing a bovine corneal epithelial subtraction cDNA library, we have identified a novel gene that we named CLED (calcium-linked epithelial differentiation), which encodes a messenger RNA present in all stratified squamous epithelia, hair follicle, the bladder transitional epithelium, and small intestinal epithelium. The deduced amino acid sequence of CLED, based on a bovine partial cDNA and its full-length, human and mouse homologues that have been described only as ESTs, contains 2 EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding domains, a myristoylation motif, and several potential protein kinase phosphorylation sites; the CLED protein is therefore related to the S100 protein family. In all stratified squamous epithelia, the CLED message is associated with the intermediate cell layers. Similar CLED association with cells that are above the proliferative compartment but below the terminally differentiated compartment is seen in hair follicle, bladder, and small intestinal epithelia. The only exception is corneal epithelium, where CLED is expressed in both basal and intermediate cells. The presence of CLED in corneal epithelial basal cells, but not in the adjacent limbal basal (stem) cells, provides additional, strong evidence for the unique lateral heterogeneity of the limbal/corneal epithelium. These results suggest that CLED, via Ca(2+)-related mechanisms, may play a role in the epithelial cell's commitment to undergo early differentiation, and that its down-regulation is required before the cells can undergo the final stages of terminal differentiation.
Opening Remarks on Environmental Standards at Triennial Conference, England

The need for common environmental standards among the European Community and international community, with the British standards given as an example, is presented in this paper.
COGs: an evolutionary classification of genes and proteins from sequenced genomes

A comprehensive classification of genes from sequenced genomes, based on evolutionary principles, is a must for the success of comparative and functional genomics. One such classification system is the database of Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs), which was constructed by clustering the results of an all-against-all comparison of the protein sequences encoded in prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Each COG includes genes or sets of genes from three or more genomes, which are orthologous to each other, that is, evolved from a single ancestral gene in the common ancestor of the analyzed organisms. Between 50 and 85% of the genes from the sequenced genomes belong to COGs, indicating notable evolutionary conservation. The COG system is a natural framework for comparative genomics and has the potential of facilitating both functional annotation of genomes and large-scale evolutionary studies. Keywords: comparative genomics; genome evolution; orthologs; paralogs; functional annotation; phyletic patterns; lineage-specific gene loss; horizontal gene transfer
Problems associated with the use of the ratio of Martin's diameter to Feret's diameter as a profile shape factor☆

Abstract Mathematical relationships between Martin's and Feret's statistical diameters for elliptical-shaped particle profiles and the major and minor axes of the ellipse have been developed Some implications of these relationships are explored.