cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Suppression of uric acid secretion in a patient with renal hypouricemia.

Despite much recent progress, we remain uncertain as to the precise mechanisms of uric acid excretion and the actions of interfering drugs. We have explored these questions with the assistance of an unusual individual with renal hypouricemia. Our patient is an essentially normal 55 year old woman who first consulted Dr. Skeith for low grade hypertension and mild obesity. Physical examination and laboratory evaluation are otherwise normal with no evidence of aminoaciduria or renal glycosuria. She consistently, however, has been found to have a serum urate level of 0.3 mg/% while her total uric acid excretion is within normal limits. Expressed in the conventional terms of renal physiology, this woman has a clearance of urate which consistently exceeds her glomerular filtration rate. In this respect, she resembles only two other reported humans, although the same property has long been recognized in Dalmatian dogs.
The Role of Metalloproteinases in Corona Virus Infection

Infection with neurotropic strains of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) results in rapid leukocyte infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS). The inflammatory response controls virus replication but fails to mediate sterile clearance. The persistence of viral RNA and inflammatory cells within the CNS is associated with the development of ongoing demyelination. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteases involved in degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). During inflammatory responses MMPs are thought to play a significant role in breaking down the basement membrane surrounding blood vessels as well as parenchymal ECM thereby facilitating leukocyte infiltration. MMPs have also been associated with activation of chemokines and perhaps more significantly the degradation of myelin proteins and generation of autoantigens. Recent examination of MMP expression during MHV infection suggests that MMP-3, -9 and -12 are involved in the inflammatory response. The proinflammatory effects of these MMPs are likely tempered by induction of tissue inhibiter of metalloproteinase-1 expression.
Unique determination of shape and area of coronary arterial cross-section from biplane angiograms

A novel method of estimating the computational errors in the shapes and the transverse areas of coronary arterial trees from biplane angiograms is described. Using an elliptical model, the intensity distributions of an ellipse in any image plane which is perpendicular to the plane of an arterial cross section are calculated. Given intensity distributions of ellipses in any two such image planes, one can show from their quadratic expressions that they have the same area. Computer-generated data for elliptical cross-sections at different viewing angles and sampling intervals are analyzed. The absolute percentage errors in estimating the lengths of the major amd minor axes and the rotation angle of an ellipse are computed from the computer-generated data and compared with the corresponding values obtained from biplane angiograms at a fixed viewing angle. >
Wide-line and High-resolution 1H NMR of Food Materials

Publisher Summary Objectives of NMR spectroscopy of foods include non-destructive chemical analysis and characterization of molecular state relevant to functionality. To achieve these objectives, NMR signals from specific components must be obtained on intact material. Molecules in liquid-like states normally produce narrow NMR resonances (tenths to a few Hz) with molecular structure-dependent frequencies or chemical shifts. Thus it should be easy to identify specific components in liquids by NMR. Molecules in a solid-like state generally produce a much broader resonance (1000 to 100 000 Hz), which is inhomogeneousthat is, since magnetic interactions between nucleus and environment are orientation-dependent , the multiple orientations of molecules in a sample produce many resonances with slightly different frequencies. Thus a broad resonance contains information about local structure and motion. The dominant broadening interaction affecting protons in organic materials is the homonuclear magnetic dipolar interaction. Molecular motion exchanges orientations and hence frequencies in the inhomogeneous solid resonance, leading to narrowing of broad resonances. Analysis of lineshapes produces information about such restricted mobility.
Integrative Neuroscience for the Behavioral Sciences: Implications for Inductive Inference

1 Mapping Across Levels of Organization 2 Toward Stronger Inferences in the Interpretation of Brain–Behavior Relationships 3 The Importance of Specifying Context: Taxonomy of Mappings 4 Summary Keywords: history; experimental design; inductive inference; brain imaging; lesion studies; multiple determinism; nonadditive determinism; reciprocal determinism; Heterarchical CNS organization; levels of organization; sensitivity; specificity; positive predictive value; negative predictive value; invariant; marker; outcome; concomitant
Laser therapy: Basic concepts and nomenclature

Laser therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in treating many types of cutaneous vascular and pigmented lesions. Clinical and investigative studies on lasers are being published with increasing frequency, but it is difficult to interpret and compare results because of lack of use of appropriate nomenclature regarding laser energy. We suggest that scientific communication in this expanding field will be improved if all future studies state: (1) irradiance (laser flux density) at the irradiated surface in watts/cm 2 , (2) laser beam cross-sectional area and shape at the irradiated surface, (3) laser pulse duration or exposure time in seconds, (4) pulse repetition rate (pulsed lasers) in pulses per second, (5) treatment time segments and intervals between treatment times, (6) total treated skin area in cm 2 , (7) total number of applied laser pulses or exposures, and (8) the type of laser used and its spectral distribution.
ANALYSES OF TRAA, INT-TN, AND XIS-TN MUTATIONS IN THE CONJUGATIVE TRANSPOSON TN916 IN ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS

Abstract The conjugative transposon Tn916moves intercellularly via an excision/insertion mechanism that involves products ofint-Tnandxis-Tn.Tn5-insertion mutations in these genes were found to be complemented in anEnterococcus faecalishost by specific coresident transposons harboring the corresponding wild-type allele. A determinant designatedtraA,partially overlapping and divergently transcribed fromxis-Tn,is thought to encode a key positively acting regulatory protein needed for expression of conjugation functions. This locus was also shown to express atrans-acting product.
Atrial septal defect tracking in 3d cardiac ultrasound

We are working to develop beating-heart atrial septal defect (ASD) closure techniques using real-time 3-D ultrasound guidance. The major image processing challenges are the low image quality and the high frame rate. This paper presents comparative results for ASD tracking in sequences of 3D cardiac ultrasound. We introduce a block flow technique, which combines the velocity computation from optical flow for an entire block with template matching. Enforcing similarity constraints to both the previous and first frames ensures optimal and unique solutions. We compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with that of block matching and optical flow on six in-vivo 4D datasets acquired from porcine beating-heart procedures. Results show that our technique is more stable and has higher sensitivity than both optical flow and block matching in tracking ASDs. Computing velocity at the block level, our technique is much faster than optical flow and comparable in computation cost to block matching.
Friction and wear of self-lubricating TiN-MoS{sub 2} coatings produced by chemical vapor deposition

The purpose of the work reported here was to develop special chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods to produce self-lubricating ceramic coatings in which the lubricating and structural phases were co-deposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrates. These novel composite coatings are based on a system containing titanium nitride and molybdenum disulfide. The method for producing these coatings and their sliding behavior against silicon nitride counterfaces, in the temperature range 20--700 C in air, are described. The initial sliding friction coefficients for the composite coatings at room temperature were 0.07--0.30, but longer-term transitions to higher friction occurred, and specimen-to-specimen test variations suggested that further developments of the deposition process are required to assure repeatable friction and wear results. Friction and wear tests at 300 and 700 C produced encouraging results, but tests run at an intermediate temperate of 400 C exhibited friction coefficients of 1.0 or more. Oxidation and a change in the nature of the debris layers formed during sliding are believed to be responsible for this behavior.
Application of Time Dependent Green’s Function Method to Scattering of Elastic Waves in Anisotropic Solids

The propagation and scattering of elastic waves provides a valuable tool for the QNDE of composite materials. Since, in general, the composite materials are highly anisotropic, it is important to develop theoretical methods for calculation of wave propagation characteristics in anisotropic media. A lot of work has been done on transient wave propagation in isotropic media but not much in anisotropic media (see, for example [1,2] and other references given there).
A Project Designed to Examine the Effects that Collaborative Peer Interactions Have on the Professional Development of Teachers

Holloway, Van Bryce. M.Ed. Education Department, Cedarville University, 2004 A Project Designed to Examine the Effects that Collaborative Peer Interactions have on the Professional Development of Teachers Much research links collaborative experiences to the professional development of teachers. The author of this study designed a project, called the Buddy System, which provided opportunities for teachers to observe one another in the classroom and to interact with one another collaboratively. The goal was to determine if these activities provided a means of professional development. After the implementation of this sixteen-week project, the author collected data from a variety of sources which indicated that professional development had taken place.
Active mirror boosted 351 nm laser irradiation facility

The Laboratory for Laser Energetics of the University of Rochester has operated a single-beam 351-nm laser irradiation facility for several years.1 This facility has been based on the glass development laser (GDL), a Nd:phosphate glass laser system that is capable of generating more than 150 J in 1-ns pulses at 1054 nm.2 With an overall frequency tripling efficiency of >50%, this facility has also been capable of generating more than 75 J in 1 ns at 351 nm. We now report on the upgraded GDL facility that consists of a frequency- tripled active-mirror-boosted GDL laser system which produces in excess of 800 J in 500 ps and 150 J in 100 ps for a substantial increase in third harmonic radiation.
Glucose tolerance and excessively large infants. A twelve year follow-up study.

Abstract 1. Obesity, abnormal glucose curves, and repeated delivery of infants in excess of 4,500 grams are significant with regard to the future development of diabetes. Seventynine per cent of the patients in our study who had this triad are now diabetic. 2. Of the 67 patients tested, 24 (36 per cent) are diabetic and 14 (21 per cent) have an abnormal curve in the nonpregnant state. 3. Sixty per cent of the women who were delivered of one or more large infants now have a diabetic or prediabetic curve.
Comparison of Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients ≥90 Years Versus <90 Years.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) is increasingly performed in nonagenarians. There is scarce evidence on the feasibility and safety of balloon-expandable TAVI in this patient population. A total of 734 patients who underwent balloon-expandable TAVI at our institute were included in the study. We compared 136 patients who were aged at least 90 years at the time of TAVI (mean age 92.4 ± 2.4 years) with the remaining 598 younger patients (mean age 79.7 ± 7.8 years). Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 end points were compared between the 2 groups. Diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and chronic lung disease were significantly less prevalent in patients aged ≥90 years. In contrast, the prevalence of frailty, chronic renal failure, and atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in these patients. Device success was 96% in both groups. All-cause mortality at 30 days and 1 year was 2.9% and 12.5% versus 2.8% and 12.3% in patients aged ≥90 and <90, respectively (p = 0.95 for both). All major complication rates were similar between groups. Nonagenarians had higher rates of minor vascular complications (13.2% vs 7.7%; p = 0.04). In conclusion, performing balloon-expandable TAVI in carefully selected group of nonagenarians is feasible and offers clinical benefit comparable to patients aged <90 years. Advanced age, in the absence of significant co-morbidities, should not deter clinicians from evaluating patients for TAVI for severe AS.
In-situ diffraction study of Ba2In2O5

Abstract In-situ neutron and X-ray diffraction experiments were used to determine the crystal structure of Ba 2 In 2 O 5 as related to temperature. Ba 2 In 2 O 5 has a Brownmillerite-type crystal structure from room temperature to 900 °C, consisting of an orthorhombic unit cell with lattice parameters 6.0864(3)×16.7903(7)×5.9697(3) A and Icmm (74) space group symmetry. At 900 °C, oxygen vacancies begin to disorder. By 925 °C, barium indate crystallizes in a tetragonal, 6.0348(4)×17.0688(22) A, unit cell with I4cm (108) space group symmetry. This oxygen vacancy order–disorder transition is associated with an evolution to fast oxide-ion conduction. At 1040 °C, Ba 2 In 2 O 5 becomes a cubic oxygen-deficient perovskite, 4.2743(1) A, in the Pm3m space group. At 1080 °C, Ba 2 In 2 O 5 begins to decompose.
Partner Contributions as Predictors of Equity Share in International Joint Ventures

The type of expertise that a company contributes to a joint venture may affect the amount of equity that it owns. This research observes the ownership patterns associated with four common combinations of partner expertise in international joint ventures. The results rank company assets with respect to the contributor's ability to negotiate majority ownership in the original joint venture contract and that company's tendency to buy up equity from the partner later on.
Assessment of left ventricular performance by on-line pressure-area relations using echocardiographic automated border detection.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate left ventricular performance by on-line pressure-area relations using echocardiographic automated border detection in the in situ canine heart in a manner similar to pressure-volume analyses. Background. Echocardiographic automated border detection can measure ventricular cavity area as an index of volume and may be interfaced with pressure to construct pressure-area loops on-line. Methods. Eight anesthetized open chest dogs had simultaneous measurement of ventricular pressure, aortic flow and midventricular short-axis area. Pressure-area loops were constructed by a computer workstation interfaced with the ultrasound system. Stroke area (Maximal area — Minimal area) and stroke force (∝P dA [P = pressure; A = area]) values during inferior vena cava (n = 8) and aortic (n = 4) occlusions were compared with stroke volume and estimates of stroke work, respectively. Inotropic modulation was induced with dobutamine infusion (2 to 5 μg/kg body weight per min), followed by propranolol infusion (2 to 5 mg). End-systolic and maximal elastance and preload recruitable stroke force (stroke force versus end-diastolic area) were derived for each period. Results. Changes in stroke area and stroke force were significantly correlated with changes in stroke volume and estimates of stroke work during caval occlusion (n = 8) (r = 0.87 ± 0.02, SEE = 8 ± 1% and r = 0.90 ± 0.03, SEE = 8 ± 2%, respectively). In dogs with aortic occlusion (n = 4), changes in stroke area significantly correlated with changes in stroke volume for pooled data (r = 0.84, SEE = 8%, y = 1.0x + 3). Ventricular performance increased with dobutamine infusion (n = 7): endsystolic elastance 30 ± 11 to 67 ± 24 mm Hg/cm2(p < 0.02 vs. control values); maximal elastance 37 ± 11 to 82 ± 26 mm Hg/cm2(p < 0.02 vs. control values); preload rcruitable stroke force 81 ± 24 to 197 ± 92 mm Hg (p < 0.02 vs. control values). Decreases occurred with propranolol infusion (n = 5) end-systolic elastance 20 ± 4 to 13 ± 4 mm Hg/cm2(p < 0.002 vs. control values); maximal elastance 29 ± 8 to 15 ± 5 mm Hg/cm2(p < 0.002 vs. control values); preload recruitable stroke force 66 ± 14 to 40 ± 9 mm Hg (p < 0.002 vs. control values). Conclusions. On-line pressure-area relations are a potentially useful means to assess left ventricular performance in a manner that is quantitatively similar to the predicted responses of pressure-volume relations.
Size and Velocity Characterization of Asymmetric Twin-Fluid Nebulizer Sprays

Drop size and velocity measurements were obtained for two nebulizers unique in their asymmetric configuration—a "quarter-moon" liquid exit port, whose axis of symmetry is located nearly co-axially with a circular air exit port. The two devices, a Mira Mist and an LB-30, are commercially available units originally designed for mass-spectrometry applications, but also useful for medicinal/pharmaceutical spray purposes. Sprays were characterized in terms of droplet velocity and size at a number of axial and radial positions. Measurements were performed using a Dantec DualPDA. Air injection pressures of 270 to 410 kPa (25 to 45 psig) and liquid flow rates of 75 to 1200 ml/hr were the operating conditions considered in this study. Water and ethanol were used as test fluids since their physical properties span the range of typical products. The results are useful because they show, for the first time, how sprays formed from such asymmetric devices evolve as they move away from the atomizer.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
COX-2 in large bowel cancer: a one-sided story

See article on page 730 Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of death from cancer in many industrialised countries. This disease will affect 5% of the US population, resulting in over 130 000 new cases and 57 000 deaths projected this year. The age adjusted death rates are highly variable in populations located in different parts of the world. For example, there are 3.4 cases per 100 000 in Nigeria compared with 35.8 cases per 100 000 each year in the state of Connecticut, USA. This indicates that, apart from the known genetic factors, certain environmental and dietary factors are probably involved in the aetiology of this disease. Epidemiological, clinical and genetic evidence indicates that a great number of colorectal adenocarcinomas develop from a benign adenomatous polyp progressing through a sequence of events which may take about 15–20 years.1 The progression of events leading to …
Graphics and animation in expert systems for language tutoring

The use of artificial intelligence in language tutoring systems is in its present state largely based on syntax and semantics processing. In the work reported here, an attempt has been made to use animated graphics in such systems. Such an extended system uses a combination of objects and motions in a manner resembling the primitives in Schank's conceptual system. Graphics primitives are used to define these primitive objects and motions and they are tied to the underlying linguistic system. Alternatively, the syntax and semantics rules of the language are linked to a graphics kernel that consists of graphics primitives. The tutoring consists of two layers. The first is an instructional layer that uses the rules of syntax and semantics of the language and uses the associated primitives in the graphics kernel in the instruction. The second is a semantic analyzer used for the identification and correction of student responses. The latter, too, makes use of the graphics kernel in reinforcing the semantics of each segment of a lesson. A prototype is currently being designed and the results will be reported in the near future.
A survey of gay/lesbian Catholics concerning attitudes toward sexual orientation and religious beliefs.

The negative assessment of lesbian/gay relationships in Catholic circles is most often based on scanty information gathered from folklore, the commercial media, and a narrow, literal reading from Biblical texts. Assumptions are made about the personal adjustment of individual gay/lesbian persons and the quality of their relationships without recourse to actual lived experience. This survey of 263 gay/lesbian Catholics and 20 controls was designed to receive direct feedback from lesbian/gay persons concerning their religious attitudes, personal adjustment, and relational quality. The results contradict many preconceptions, and a remarkable similarity is demonstrated between the gay/lesbian responses and those of the control group.
Transverse aortic arch replacement associated with MAGIC syndrome: case report and literature review.

We report a case of ascending and transverse aortic arch aneurysm repair with aortic valve replacement in a patient with MAGIC syndrome (mouth and genital ulcers with inflamed cartilage), the unusual setting of both Behcet's disease and relapsing polychondritis.
Improving the dissemination of systematic reviews in emergency medicine

Abstract [Rowe BH, Wyer PC, Cordell WH. Improving the dissemination of systematic reviews in emergency medicine. Ann Emerg Med. March 2002;39:293-295.]
Optical feature extraction using the Radon transform and angular correlation

This paper describes two processing algorithms that can be implemented optically: the Radon transform and angular correlation. These two algorithms can be combined in one optical processor to extract all the basic geometric and amplitude features from objects embedded in video imagery. We show that the internal amplitude structure of objects is recovered by the Radon transform, which is a well-known result, but, in addition, we show simulation results that calculate angular correlation, a simple but unique algorithm, which extracts object length, width, area, aspect ratio, orientation and boundary from suitably thresholded images. In addition to being insensitive to scale and rotation, these simulations indicate that the features derived from angular correlation algorithm are relatively insensitive to tracking shifts and image noise. Some optical architecture concepts, including one based on micro-optical lenslet arrays, have been developed to implement these algorithms. We will discussed these architectures, stressing the micro-optical approach. Test and evaluation using simple synthetic object data will be described. We will also describe the results of a study that uses object boundary (derivable from angular correlation) to classify objects using a neural network.
Leaf carbon isotope discrimination and nitrogen content for riparian trees along elevational transects.

Leaf carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), seasonal estimates of the leaf-to-air water vapor gradient on a molar basis (ω), and leaf nitrogen contents were examined in three riparian tree species (Populus fremontii, P. angustifolia, and Salix exigua) along elevational transects in northern and southern Utah USA (1500–2670 m and 600–1820 m elevational gradients, respectively). The ω values decreased with elevation for all species along transects. Plants growing at higher elevations exhibited lower Δ values than plants at lower elevations (P. fremontii, 22.9‰ and 19.5‰, respectively; P. angustifolia, 23.2‰ and 19.2‰, respectively; and S.␣exigua, 21.1‰ and 19.1‰, respectively). Leaf nitrogen content increased with elevation for all species, suggesting that photosynthetic capacity at a given intercellular carbon dioxide concentration was greater at higher elevations. Leaf Δ and nitrogen content values were highly correlated, implying that leaves with higher photosynthetic capacities also had lower intercellular carbon dioxide concentrations. No significant interannual differences were detected in carbon isotope discrimination.
Urban Poverty and Access to Information Technology: A Role for Local Government.

(1997). Urban poverty and access to information technology: A role for local government. Journal of Urban Technology: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 61-81.
Understanding the potential role of statins in pneumonia and sepsis

Objective To examine the association of statin use with clinical outcomes and circulating biomarkers in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and sepsis.
Surgical gesture classification from video and kinematic data

Much of the existing work on automatic classification of gestures and skill in robotic surgery is based on dynamic cues (e.g., time to completion, speed, forces, torque) or kinematic data (e.g., robot trajectories and velocities). While videos could be equally or more discriminative (e.g., videos contain semantic information not present in kinematic data), they are typically not used because of the difficulties associated with automatic video interpretation. In this paper, we propose several methods for automatic surgical gesture classification from video data. We assume that the video of a surgical task (e.g., suturing) has been segmented into video clips corresponding to a single gesture (e.g., grabbing the needle, passing the needle) and propose three methods to classify the gesture of each video clip. In the first one, we model each video clip as the output of a linear dynamical system (LDS) and use metrics in the space of LDSs to classify new video clips. In the second one, we use spatio-temporal features extracted from each video clip to learn a dictionary of spatio-temporal words, and use a bag-of-features (BoF) approach to classify new video clips. In the third one, we use multiple kernel learning (MKL) to combine the LDS and BoF approaches. Since the LDS approach is also applicable to kinematic data, we also use MKL to combine both types of data in order to exploit their complementarity. Our experiments on a typical surgical training setup show that methods based on video data perform equally well, if not better, than state-of-the-art approaches based on kinematic data. In turn, the combination of both kinematic and video data outperforms any other algorithm based on one type of data alone.
The organization of the seventh lumbar spinal ganglion of the cat

The organization of the seventh lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the cat has been investigated both anatomically and electrophysiologically. In the first two series of experiments an attempt was made to relate the topographic location of identified groups of cells in the ganglion with the rostro-caudal position of their central processes in the filaments of the dorsal root. 3H-proline was injected into various sectors of the ganglion and the distribution of the axonically transported proteins, in individual dorsal rootlets, was determined by means of liquid scintillation spectroscopy and the location of the injections was determined by autoradiography of the sectioned ganglia. The projection pattern was also determined by antidromically activating DRG cells in various parts of the ganglion by sequentially stimulating each of six dorsal root filaments. The results of both groups of experiments indicate that cells located in the medial (caudal) parts of the ganglion project into the most caudal rootlets of the dorsal root; cells in the most lateral (rostral) parts of the ganglion project into the most rostral rootlets, while cells in the intermediate parts of the ganglion project into the middle rootlets. In a third series of experiments, a shifting pattern of overlapping receptive fields was demonstrated for a series of recordings that traversed the ganglion from medial to lateral. This pattern was shown to be nearly equivalent to the organization of receptive fields previously demonstrated by Kuhn ('53) for a rostral to caudal sequence of dorsal rootlets, i.e., foot and leg preaxial fields predominated in the lateral sectors, while postaxial fields were found in the medial sectors of the ganglion.
PHOTOACTIVITIES OF THE RED-SHIFTED AZULENIC BACTERIORHODOPSIN ANALOGUES

Incorporating red-shifted retinal analogues, such as azulenic retinals, into bacterioopsin provides a method to evaluate the low-energy limit for bacteriorhodopsin (bR) proton-pumping activity. We report results of nanosecond time-resolved studies of three azulenic bR analogues. In contrast to a recent report on an azulenic bR analogue (Druzhko et al., 1996),4 we conclude that such pigments do not exhibit photocycles (no detectable intermediates) and suspect that the preferred direction of deactivation is internal conversion to the low-lying forbidden S1 state of the azulene chromophore. We further demonstrated that for slow-binding bR analogues, the samples can easily be contaminated with small amounts of native bR.
The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea as a biomonitor of trace element contamination: accounting for different sources of variation using an hierarchical linear model.

In the present study, specimens of the invasive clam, Corbicula fluminea, were collected above and below possible sources of potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in the Altamaha River system (Georgia, USA). Bioaccumulation of these elements was quantified, along with environmental (water and sediment) concentrations. Hierarchical linear models were used to account for variability in tissue concentrations related to environmental (site water chemistry and sediment characteristics) and individual (growth metrics) variables while identifying the strongest relations between these variables and trace element accumulation. The present study found significantly elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Hg downstream of the outfall of kaolin-processing facilities, Zn downstream of a tire cording facility, and Cr downstream of both a nuclear power plant and a paper pulp mill. Models of the present study indicated that variation in trace element accumulation was linked to distance upstream from the estuary, dissolved oxygen, percentage of silt and clay in the sediment, elemental concentrations in sediment, shell length, and bivalve condition index. By explicitly modeling environmental variability, the Hierarchical linear modeling procedure allowed the identification of sites showing increased accumulation of trace elements that may have been caused by human activity. Hierarchical linear modeling is a useful tool for accounting for environmental and individual sources of variation in bioaccumulation studies.
ÉMILE DURKHEIM'S DIVISION OF LABOR AND THE SHADOW OF HERBERT SPENCER

This article assesses Durkheim's theory of the division of labor in advanced societies relative to Spencer's views on the subject. It seeks to correct a key chapter in the history of sociological thought, for it is in his classic 1893 work that Durkheim is presumed to have routed both Spencer's account of the division of labor and his larger theory of man and society. In fact, Spencer and Durkheim differ very little in their conceptions of the causes of an expanding division of labor (both identify population growth and concentration, and its impact, through heightened competition—group and individual—on specialization of function). They do differ, however, in their treatment of its effects, but Durkheim's explanation is not necessarily—as is commonly assumed in textbook narratives—an improvement of Spencer's. Indeed, many of the questions involved (e.g., whether and to what extent exchange presupposes or creates norms, or divided labor produces cohesion beyond that resulting from mutual need, or the divi...
Health-related quality of life of adults with upper respiratory tract infections

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact that upper respiratory tract infections have on patients’ physical, social, and emotional functioning, we measured the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of adults with upper respiratory tract infections. SETTING: Acute care clinic from November 2001 to February 2002. DESIGN: Prospectively administered survey. To measure HRQL, we used the Acute Form of the Short Form-36, version 2 (SF-36). For all 8 SF-36 subscales, we used norm-based scoring, in which the general U.S. population has a mean of 50. PATIENTS: Adults who had symptoms for fewer than 30 days completed the SF-36; and were diagnosed with nonspecific upper respiratory infection, viral syndrome, otitis media, sinusitis, nonstreptococcal pharyngitis, streptococcal pharyngitis, or acute bronchitis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The sample of 318 patients was 63% female, 81% white, and had a mean age of 35 years. The primary diagnoses were nonspecific upper respiratory infection (42%), acute bronchitis (16%), sinusitis (12%), viral syndrome (9%), nonstreptococcal pharyngitis (8%), otitis media (7%), and streptococcal pharyngitis (6%). Patients had a mean general health subscale score of 50.9, which is not significantly different from the mean population value of 50 (P=.09). However, there were significant decrements in the remaining 7 subscales of the SF-36: physical functioning (45.5), role-physical (38.5), bodily pain (42.6), vitality (40.8), social functioning (37.8), role-emotional (46.8), and mental health (46.8; P<.0001 for all 7 subscales compared with normative values). Results were similar for the subset of patients with no comorbid illnesses (P<.001 for the same 7 subscales) and patients diagnosed with nonspecific upper respiratory infection (P<.001 for the same 7 subscales). These decrements were similar in magnitude, but somewhat different in subscale pattern, to those of adults with chronic lung disease, osteoarthritis, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should remember that adults who seek care for upper respiratory tract infections have measurable, significant decrements in HRQL. For researchers, HRQL is an attractive, potential measure of outcome in future trials of established and novel therapies for upper respiratory tract infections.
Origin of substituent effects in edge-to-face aryl–aryl interactions

Substituent effects in the edge-to-face configuration of the benzene dimer have been studied using modern density functional theory. An accurate interaction potential energy curve has been computed for the unsubstituted dimer using ab initio methods with large basis sets. The recommended binding energy for the edge-to-face benzene dimer is 2.31 kcal mol−1, estimated at the counterpoise-corrected CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. For both edge-ring and face-ring-substituted dimers, interaction energies correlate with σm for the substituents, indicating that substituent effects can be understood qualitatively in terms of simple electrostatic effects, although in the latter case dispersion results in some scatter in the data. In contrast to prevailing models of substituent effects in benzene dimers, polarization of the π-system of the substituted ring does not induce substituent effects. For edge-ring-substituted dimers, substituent effects arise from differential electrostatic interactions between the hy...
Nonanatomic patterns for full cast gold crowns

lhe combination of anatomic-nonanatomic artificial teeth is a recommended posterior arrangement for complete denture occlusion.‘,’ The advocated advantages over nonanatomic teeth arrangements include improved cusp efficiency, concentration of vertical forces, improved esthetics, and elimination of lateral planes.3-5 In situations in which an upper complete denture is occluded with mandibular cast gold crowns, this occlusal scheme is incorporated through the use of acrylic patterns.
Theory, Method, and Design in Anthropologies of the Internet

The study of the Internet challenges the anthropologist on many fronts. It demands a robust theoretical engagement with the technologies and semiotics of digital information and their relation to m...
On decidable varieties of Heyting algebras

In this paper we present a new proof of a decidability result for the firstorder theories of certain subvarieties of Heyting algebras. By a famous result of Grzegorczyk, the full first-order theory of Heyting algebras is undecidable. In contrast, the first-order theory of Boolean algebras and of many interesting subvarieties of Boolean algebras is decidable by a result of Tarski [8]. In fact, Kozen [6] gives a comprehensive quantitative classification of the complexities of the first-order theories of various subclasses of Boolean algebras (including the full variety). This stark contrast may be reconciled from the standpoint of universal algebra as arising out of the byplay between structure and decidability: A good structure theory entails positive decidability results. Boolean algebras have a well-developed structure theory [5], while the corresponding theory for Heyting algebras is quite meagre. Viewed in this way, we may hope to obtain decidability results if we focus attention on subclasses of Heyting algebras with good structural properties. K. Idziak and P. M. Idziak [4] have considered an interesting subvariety of Heyting algebras, , which is the variety generated by all linearly-ordered Heyting algebras. This variety is shown to be the largest subvariety of Heyting algebras with a decidable theory of its finite members. However their proof is rather indirect, proceeding via semantic interpretation into the monadic second order theory of trees. The latter is a powerful theory—it interprets many other theories—but is computationally highly infeasible. In fact, by a celebrated theorem of Rabin, its complexity is not bounded by any elementary recursive function. Consequently, the proof of [4], besides being indirect, also gives no information on the quantitative computational complexity of the theory of . Here we pursue the theme of structure and decidability. We isolate the indecomposable algebras in and use this to prove a theorem on the structure of if -algebras. This theorem relates the -algebras structurally to Boolean algebras. This enables us to bootstrap the known decidability results for Boolean algebras to the variety if .
HPLC analysis of ciprofloxacin and ciprofloxacin metabolites in body fluids

An improved high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure for the analysis of ciprofloxacin and three of its metabolites in plasma, serum and urine samples was developed. The previously published HPLC procedure described the isocratic separation of ciprofloxacin and three ciprofloxacin metabolites in urine samples on a polystyrene-divinylbenzene reverse-phase column followed by quantitation using a UV detector. The present procedure involved the same chromatographic separation, but is also applicable to the analysis of plasma and serum as well as urine samples, and quantitation was based on fluorometric detection after postcolumn induction of fluorescence instead of UV detection. The post-column induction of fluorescence was necessary because the M2 and M3 metabolites of ciprofloxacin have relatively weak native fluorescence, and induction enhanced the fluorometric signals of metabolites M2 and M3 forty-four-fold and eleven-fold, respectively. The observed enhancement of fluorescence may be attributed to the partial conversion by UV light of metabolites M2 and M3 to metabolite M1 which has intense native fluorescence. The lower quantitation limits of ciprofloxacin and metabolites M1, M2 and M3 were 0.05 micrograms ml-1, 0.01 micrograms ml-1, 0.05 micrograms ml-1, and 0.5 micrograms ml-1, respectively. All four analytes were quantitated using one isocratic elution of either plasma or serum supernatant after the precipitation of proteins or the isocratic chromatography of diluted urine samples.
Microperoxidase 11: a model system for porphyrin networks and heme–protein interactions

We measured the circular dichroism (CD) and absorption spectra of the B-band region of microperoxidase 11 (MP11) as a function of temperature and peptide concentration. At micromolar concentrations, small MP11 dimers or trimers lead to excitonic coupling between low-spin and high-spin heme groups, to which the NH(2) group of the MP11 N-terminal and H(2)O are bound as a sixth ligand, respectively. These aggregates convert into monomers with hexacoordinated high-spin heme groups with increasing temperature. This transition can be described by a two-state model. Aggregation becomes more extended at 50 microM concentration and causes some B-band hyperchromism, which reflects a J-type arrangement of heme groups linked together in the aggregates formed. At near-millimolar concentration, the CD and absorption spectra of the B-band region suggest the existence of even more extended and thermally stable aggregates, which might involve mu-oxo dimers of the heme groups. The degree of aggregation at 50 and 500 microM concentration increases substantially if the sample is freed from most of its oxygen in a N(2) atmosphere. The CD spectrum of the monomeric high-spin species is reminiscent of that observed for the unfolded alkaline conformation of the intact protein. Finally, we investigated the binding of acetylmethionine (AcM) ligands to the heme at aggregation-supporting conditions (500 microM concentration). The data suggest that the ligand prevents any substantial aggregation. As a surprising result, our data reveal that AcM-MP11 complexes exhibit a high-spin/low-spin mixture, with the high-spin configuration being stabilized at high temperatures.
Use of Letters and Phone Calls to Encourage Preparticipation Special Olympics Physical Examinations To Be Done in a Medical Home: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

~lhe Special Olympics in Greater Cleveland, like many school systems and camps, offers group setting preparticipation examination (PPE) to all participants at low or no cost to the participants' families. Many participants view the PPE as a substitute for ongoing primary care. It has been shown that for more than 78% of athletes the PPE is their only periodic health examination.' However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, regular visits to
High power, high speed, single-mode wafer-bonded AlInGaAs-based LW-VCSELs at 70/spl deg/C

We present wafer-bonded long-wavelength VCSEL operation between 1300 nm and 1330 nm demonstrating 2.5 mW single mode output power at 20/spl deg/C and 1.7 mW at 70/spl deg/C. We also show small signal 3-dB bandwidths greater than 10 GHz and 8 GHz at 20/spl deg/C and 70/spl deg/C respectively.
Risk-Based Fracture Evaluation of Reactor Vessels Subjected to Cool-Down Transients Associated With Shutdown: An Examination of the Effects of Different Modeling Approaches on Estimated Failure Probabilities

The current regulations, as set forth by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC), to insure that light-water nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) maintain their structural integrity when subjected to planned startup (heat-up) and shutdown (cool-down) transients are specified in Appendix G to 10 CFR Part 50, which incorporates by reference Appendix G to Section XI of the ASME Code. In 1999, the USNRC initiated the interdisciplinary Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) Re-evaluation Project to determine if a technical basis could be established to support a relaxation in the current PTS regulations. The PTS re-evaluation project included the development and application of an updated risk-based computational methodology that incorporates several advancements applicable to modeling the physics of vessel fracture due to thermal hydraulic transients imposed on the RPV inner surface. The results of the PTS re-evaluation project demonstrated that there is a sound technical basis to support a relaxation of the current PTS regulations. The results of the PTS re-evaluation are currently under review by the USNRC. Based on the promising results of the PTS re-evaluation, the USNRC has recently applied the updated computational methodology to fracture evaluations of RPVs subjected to planned cool-down transients, associated with reactor shutdown, derived in accordance with ASME Section XI – Appendix G. The objective of these analyses is to determine if a sound technical basis can be established to provide a relaxation to the current regulations for the derivation of bounding cool-down transients as specified in Appendix G to Section XI of the ASME Code. This paper provides a brief overview of these analyses, results, and the implications of the results.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Overlapping Repressor Binding Sites Result in Additive Regulation of Escherichia coli FadH by FadR and ArcA

Escherichia coli fadH encodes a 2,4-dienoyl reductase that plays an auxiliary role in beta-oxidation of certain unsaturated fatty acids. In the 2 decades since its discovery, FadH biochemistry has been studied extensively. However, the genetic regulation of FadH has been explored only partially. Here we report mapping of the fadH promoter and document its complex regulation by three independent regulators, the fatty acid degradation FadR repressor, the oxygen-responsive ArcA-ArcB two-component system, and the cyclic AMP receptor protein-cyclic AMP (CRP-cAMP) complex. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that FadR binds to the fadH promoter region and that this binding can be specifically reversed by long-chain acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters. In vivo data combining transcriptional lacZ fusion and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses indicated that fadH is strongly repressed by FadR, in agreement with induction of fadH by long-chain fatty acids. Inactivation of arcA increased fadH transcription by >3-fold under anaerobic conditions. Moreover, fadH expression was increased 8- to 10-fold under anaerobic conditions upon deletion of both the fadR and the arcA gene, indicating that anaerobic expression is additively repressed by FadR and ArcA-ArcB. Unlike fadM, a newly reported member of the E. coli fad regulon that encodes another auxiliary beta-oxidation enzyme, fadH was activated by the CRP-cAMP complex in a manner similar to those of the prototypical fad genes. In the absence of the CRP-cAMP complex, repression of fadH expression by both FadR and ArcA-ArcB was very weak, suggesting a possible interplay with other DNA binding proteins.
Extraction of Weibull Parameters of Fiber Strength from Means and Standard Deviations of Failure Loads and Fiber Diameters

The errors in using an average fiber diameter to calculate the mean strength (σ m ), Weibull reference strength (σ 0 ), and Weibull modulus (m) from failure loads of fibers were examined experimentally. Although the use of an average diameter gave very good estimates of σ m , the error in the Weibull parameters (σ 0 and m) was significant, which supported the recent simulation results. Computational approaches to reduce these errors have been considered, and a numerical procedure to extract the Weibull parameters from the means and standard deviations of the load and fiber diameter has been proven feasible, provided the sample population is large. Parametric studies have shown that sample populations of ∼175 are required to obtain results within an error of 10%. The recommended sample populations for commercial fibers are 75-200, depending on the scatter in the fiber diameter and the acceptable error.
Disparate evolution of yeasts and filamentous fungi indicated by phylogenetic analysis of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes

Genes encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) from several evolutionarily disparate organisms were used to construct a phylogenetic tree by evolutionary parsimony. The GAPDH tree indicates that, in contrast to the presently accepted taxonomy of fungi, the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii evolved separately from the filamentous ascomycetes (such as Aspergillus nidulans) with which these yeasts are classified. According to this tree, the Saccharomyces-like yeasts evolved very early in the course of eukaryotic evolution, whereas both ascomycete and basidiomycete filamentous fungi diverged much later through a common ancestor.