cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Nuclear Scattering Resonance on Bremsstrahlung Production and K-Shell Ionization

While the effects of nuclear resonances on nuclear bremsstrahlung emission have been the focus of current bremsstrahlung studies in nuclear physics, such effects on atomic K-shell ionization have attracted much attention recently. In this paper, we review the recent developments of these two topics with the emphasis upon their common features. Special attention is given to the effect of the nuclear resonance near 461 keV in p+12C where experimental results are available for bremsstrahlung production and K-shell ionization.
Guanidine group specific ADP-ribosyltransferase in murine cells.

Abstract We have identified a guanidine group specific ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, capable of transferring an ADP-ribose group from NAD to a low molecular weight guanidine compound [p-(nitrobenzylidine)amino]guanidine and proteins such as histone and poly-L-arginine, in a variety of murine cell lines. The enzyme activity appears to be associated with an integral membrane protein of apparent molecular weight 30–33 kDa. Incubation of the viable cells in isotonic phosphate buffered saline with [ 32 P]NAD results in the incorporation of label into cellular proteins. Dimethyl sulfoxide treatment of the cells downregulates the transferase activity as well as the ADP-ribosylation of cell proteins with extracellular NAD.
Bioconversion of leukotriene D4 by lung dipeptidase.

Abstract Sheep lung dipeptidase was released from a lung membrane preparation by digestion with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus thuringiensis . The total enzyme activity released into the supernatant was 4- to 5-fold greater than that measured in the intact membrane prior to solubilization. The release of the peptidase from the membrane by this treatment is typical of proteins anchored to the lipid bilayer by a covalent attachment of phosphatidylinositol via a C-terminal glycolipid extension. The solubilized lung peptidase was further purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by affinity chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography. A linear relationship between log molecular weight and elution volume for proteins of known molecular weight was established using a Toya Soda TSK 3000 high-pressure liquid chromatography column, and the molecular weight of the lung dipeptidase was estimated at 105 000. The peptidase activity against glycyldehydrophenylalanine of the purified enzyme co-chromatographed in high-pressure liquid chromatography with the activity that converted leukotriene D 4 to leukotriene E 4 . In kinetic studies using leukotriene D 4 as substrate, the relationship between the rate of hydrolysis and enzyme concentration was shown to be linear over the range 20 ng to 98 ng enzyme. Values of K m and V max for the dipeptidase using leukotriene D 4 as substrate were 43 ± 6 μ M and 11200 ±400 nmol/min per mg, respectively. Inhibition of the conversion of leukotriene D 4 to leukotriene E 4 was observed with a series of inhibitory agents. Cilastatin, bestatin and chloroacetyldehydrophenylalanine were all effective at the micromolar level with cilastatin proving to be the most effective inhibitor. Dithiothreitol was effective within the millimolar range.
Evaluation of D-amino acid levels in human urine and in commercial L-amino acid samples.

Detectable levels of four free D-amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and leucine) were found in human urine. This was accomplished using a liquid chromatographic coupled column (i.e., achiral-chiral) method that was developed for the rapid and sensitive analysis of these compounds. The technique was tested on a series of commercial L-amino acids. Care was taken to minimize racemization. Trace to percent levels of contaminating D-enantiomers were found in all commercial samples. In urine the D-amino acids ranged from several hundredths of a percent up to percent levels of the corresponding excreted natural L-amino acids. There were no apparent correlations between the amount of amino acids excreted and the relative amount of D-enantiomers present. Currently this study is being expanded to include additional amino acids and a variety of other physiological fluids.
Nonlinear optics: Metamaterial quasi-phase matching

The introduction of periodic inversion in the geometry of a plasmonic metasurface markedly boosts the efficiency of nonlinear processes in ultracompact structures.
The effects of intermittent exposure to suspended solids and turbulence on three species of freshwater mussels.

Abstract A laboratory experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of intermittent suspended solids exposure on the unionid clams Quadrula pustolosa, Fusconaia cerina and Pleurobema beadleanum. Intermittent impacts of this type are important effects of commercial navigation traffic in freshwater. Clams were cyclically exposed to turbulence alone or accompanied by 600–750 mg litre−1 of suspended inorganic solids for 9 days. Clams exposed to suspended solids every 3 h reduced their metabolic rate but did not shift from the mainly protein based catabolism of controls. Feeding impairment was apparently compensated for by a reduction in metabolic demand. Conversely, clams exposed every 0.5 h to suspended solids shifted to virtually complete reliance on non-protein body stores as indicated by O:N values averaging 197.
Kinetics of Free Platelet Decrease After ADP: Effect of Fibrinogen Binding Inhibitors

Evaluation of platelet aggregation in vitro has generally been performed by the turbidometric method. This technique is largely insensitive to early events of aggregation which, are best evaluated by following the decrease in number of free-platelets after agonist addition. In this study the kinetics of free-platelet decrease after adenosine-5-diphosphate (ADP) addition was analyzed in platelet rich plasma and in whole blood samples obtained from 29 normal donors and 5 thrombocytopenic subjects. Analysis of experimental data using a single exponential decay equation allowed us to compute the maximal velocity and the rate constant of the reaction as well as the number of un-reactive platelets. The velocity of aggregation was positively correlated with platelet number and was markedly increased by the presence of red blood cells. The process was unaffected by platelet cyclooxygenase inhibition and was also independent of thrombospondin or von Willebrand factor binding to GpIIb-IIIa. Fibrinogen receptor bloc...
Assessment of clinical competence on the Emergency Medicine Specialty Certification Examination: the validity of examiner ratings of simulated clinical encounters.

To evaluate the reliability and validity of examiner ratings of simulated clinical encounters (SCEs), 94 subjects representing four distinct groups in training, experience, and ability to deliver emergency medical care were administered SCEs by two examiners. Inter-rater reliabilities of performance on specific SCEs varied from 0.61 to 0.89, with an average of 0.79 for all SCEs in the library. Identified sources of examiner error in determining clinical competence included case-specific variability of candidate performance, differences in standards used by different examiners, a halo effect when several different ratings were made, and random errors in determining exact rating scores. However, this research indicates that examiner ratings clearly discriminate groups with known differences in clinical competence and correlate well (0.83) with objective test scores.
Identification of N-acetylglucosamine-binding immunoglobulins in chicken egg yolk and serum distinct from the major mannose-binding immunoglobulins

An N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc)-binding protein of 170 kDa has been isolated from hen serum and egg yolk. Another GlcNAc-binding protein of higher molecular mass was present only in the serum. The 170 kDa protein co-electrophoresed and co-chromatographed in gel filtration with a chicken IgG, and behaved identical to chicken IgG in double immunodiffusion with goat anti-chicken gamma chain antiserum. The sugar-binding hierarchy for the serum and yolk binding proteins, determined with bovine serum albumin neoglycoproteins, was GlcNAc greater than N-acetyl-D-galactosamine greater than glucose = galactose = L-fucose greater than mannose. This hierarchy was unlike any previously reported GlcNAc-binding proteins. The larger serum binding protein component was shown to be an IgM by double immunodiffusion with goat anti-chicken mu chain antiserum. The serum and yolk GlcNAc-binding proteins comprise a unique set of sugar-binding immunoglobulins distinct from the previously reported hen serum and yolk mannose-binding proteins (Wang et al., 1986).
The 'buoy' stent: evaluation of a prototype indwelling ureteric stent in a porcine model.

OBJECTIVE To assess a prototype ureteric ‘buoy’ stent with a 10 F upper body tapering to a 3F tail, developed to potentially reduce stent-related irritative symptoms while providing an adequate mould for healing after endopyelotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen Yucatan minipigs had the stent placed either into the intact ureter (phase I) or after Acucise proximal endoureterotomy (phase II). Buoy stents were compared to 10/7 F endopyelotomy stents and to standard 7 F stents in phases I and II, respectively. The pigs were assessed for vesico-ureteric reflux, hydronephrosis and infection, before stent insertion and at harvest. Stents were weighed before and after placement and the removal force was measured. Pressure/flow studies, antegrade nephrostograms and specimens for histopathology from the renal pelvis, ureter and vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ) were obtained at harvest. RESULTS Thirteen minipigs survived the entire study. Ureteric flow with the stents in situ was better for buoy stents than for 10/7 F stents (P < 0.005). Ureteric flow after endoureterotomy and subsequent stent removal was similar for buoy stents and standard 7 F stents. None of the stents refluxed. There was no difference between stents in removal force, weight change or incidence of hydronephrosis. At 1 and 12 weeks, buoy stents tended to produce lower histopathological alteration scores than control stents, especially at the VUJ (phase I, 2.0 vs 3.9, P = 0.092; phase II, 0.6 vs 1.7, P = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS The novel buoy stents are easily placed and removed via the urethra. They can cause less VUJ inflammation than standard stents while allowing for adequate ureteric flow and healing after proximal endoureterotomy.
Gender and cognition: A commentary on current research

Abstract The articles in this special issue all take up the question of gender differences in verbal, mathematical, and spatial performance. The collection is interesting because of the different lenses used by the researchers in examining the issue. Because of limitations on the length of my commentary, I have chosen to focus on three of the articles in detail, rather than providing superficial comments on all seven. Before proceeding to the specific articles, however, one general question needs to be raised.
Homesteading in New York City, 1978-1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida

List of Plates and Figures Introduction Housing, Urban Homesteading, and Community Land Trusts in Historical and Theoretical Context Past and Present of the Lower East Side Sweat and Debris The Day the Wall Fell Down Conflicting Constructions of Work, Gender Roles, Ownership, and Community Social Movements, Community Organizations, and Private Lives Conclusion Sources Index
EFFECTIVE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE URBAN SETTING

Water resources management in the urban areas of the United States to be effective must include dimensions far beyond water supply and sewerage. This paper concerns itself with those problem areas of water resource management outside of potable water supply and sanitary sewers. These areas include flood plain management, greenways and blueways, storm water, vistas of waterways, and other attributes of living in or near a water-related environment. The perceptions and attitudes of the concerned public and community power structure must be known in order to manage the water environment effectively. Methods of measuring these perceptions and attitudes are described and ways in which the resulting citizen-resource can be tapped and used as a management device are explored.
Development of tolerance to the diphenyl ether herbicide acifluorfen-methyl in excised cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons

Abstract Etiolated cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons and cotyledons greened for 24 hr in low light (75 μE m −2 sec −1 ; measured as PAR, i.e., photosynthetically active radiation between 400 and 700 nm) were susceptible to 1 μ M acifluorfen-methyl (AFM), methyl-5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate, following an 8-hr exposure to high light (600 μE m −2 sec −1 ; PAR). Cotyledons greened in low light for 48 hr prior to treatment with 1 μ M AFM in high light were tolerant. Injury was detected by monitoring efflux of 3- O -methyl-[ 14 C]glucose from treated cotyledons excised from 6- or 7-day-old dark-grown seedlings. Although development of tolerance was light dependent, tolerance was not related specifically to seedling age. Tolerance to AFM injury was overcome partially by rubbing the adaxial surface of the leaf (i.e., the side of the cotyledon exposed to herbicide) with a wetted finger and was eliminated completely following abrasion with carborundum. Cuticle abrasion resulted in an increase in [ 14 C]AFM uptake. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that abrasion resulted in disruption of the leaf surface. These induced aberrations in surface structure facilitated enhanced absorption of AFM. Nonpolar hydrocarbon constituents of cuticular and epicuticular waxes of 24- and 48-hr-greened cotyledons were examined using gas chromatography. There were no differences in these cuticular components. Transmission electron micrographs indicated there were also no differences in cuticle thickness. The light-dependent development of tolerance to AFM activity was due in part to a decrease in herbicide absorption. The mechanism(s) responsible for inhibition of herbicide uptake and tolerance are unknown.
Areas of spatial interaction for a hyperacuity stimulus.

Abstract We report that the ability to detect a small vernier offset (less than 5 sec of arc in many individuals) between two small spots of light separated by a narrow gap can be disrupted by presenting additional targets in close proximity to the vernier stimulus. A rectangular background of light, centered on the vernier stimulus, elevates offset threshold by a factor of two when the total width of the background is 3–4 min arc. Backgrounds narrower or wider than 3–4 min have less or no effect on vernier threshold. These areas of spatial interaction extend to either side of a vertically-oriented vernier stimulus, or above and below a horizontally-oriented stimulus, and their extent is dependent upon the gap size of the two-dot stimulus. The effect of the presence of the background on vernier threshold cannot be accounted for by spatial interval cues nor by changes in the visibility of the stimulus. Two alternative interpretations of the results are presented to develop a description of the underlying mechanisms which produce hyperacuity spatial interactions.
Development of Methodologies for Copper-Catalyzed C–O Bond Formation and Direct Cyanation of Aryl Iodides

We present a new methodology using copper(I) oxide as a catalyst in conjunction with cesium carbonate as a base for the preparation of diaryl and aryl–alkyl ethers. A range of aryl iodides, phenols and primary alcohols can be used as substrates and reactions are performed using microwave heating. We also present the use of Cu2Fe(CN)6 as both catalyst and cyanating agent for the direct conversion of aryl iodides to nitriles.
Abnormal Suprarenal Discharges in Angina Pectoris and Their Control by X-ray Therapy

IN A PREVIOUS PAPER1 the theory was advanced that angina pectoris accompanying effort is brought about by the anoxiating metabolic effect of sudden discharges of adrenalin upon the heart muscle whose sclerotic arteries are incapable of dilating sufficiently to compensate for the acute loss of oxygen caused by adrenalin in the myocardial tissue. The therapeutic effect of roentgen irradiation of the supra renal glands in 100 cases of typical angina pectoris was reported in detail. Indirect evidence could be pointed out in favor of this theory, such as the artificial provocation of typi cal anginal symptoms through injection of adrenalin, the common occurrence of anginal attacks in persons with tumors of the suprarenal medulla, and the anal ogy between the occurrence of physiological adrenalin discharges and of anginal attacks accompanying effort, emotion and cold. However, direct objective evidence in regard to the behavior of suprarenal secretory activity in angina patients both before and after treat ment...
Low-coherence enhanced backscattering beyond diffusion.

An analytical theory for coherent backscattering (CBS) of low-coherence light is presented. An expression linking the CBS profile to the radial distribution of the incoherent backscattered light is derived when the incident light is partially spatially coherent. The backscattered snake light, which has experienced exactly two large-angle scatterings, is taken into account together with the diffuse light in the analysis. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the model describes well the CBS profile as long as the spatial coherence length, Lc, of the incident beam is larger than the scattering mean free path of light in the medium. The intensity of the enhanced backscattered light in the exact backscattering direction and the width of the CBS cone are found to be proportional to Lc and Lc−1, respectively, in the limit of small Lc.
Characterizing urban light sources using imaging spectrometry

Remote mapping of night lights has been used for decades for mapping urbanization and the global distribution of human activity. Most of this has been accomplished using remote sensing data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The coarse spatial and spectral resolution of DMSP, however, has precluded discrimination of lighting types or spectral characteristics. Recent demonstrations using photography from the International Space Station and airborne multispectral simulations demonstrate significant potential, but high-spectral-resolution field and laboratory measurements indicate that these methods do not take full advantage of the spectral information available. This research demonstrates the use of imaging spectrometer data to identify, characterize, and map urban lighting based on spectral emission lines unique to specific lighting types. ProSpecTIR imaging spectrometer data were analyzed to extract spectral features and these were compared to spectral library measurements on a pixel-by-pixel basis, resulting in a detailed spatial map showing different lighting types. The nature and distribution of lights can be used as a surrogate for measurement of urban development.
Partition-based heap memory management in an application server

Heap is an important shared resource in Java virtual machine. A problem with memory management in one component can affect the whole system and even result in crashing the virtual machine. In this paper, we propose an partition-based approach to manage heap in an application server. In our approach, the shared heap is divided into logical partitions, in which instances of application components and server components are allocated separately.
Advances in surgical therapy for thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system and its incidence has dramatically increased over the past three decades. Well-differentiated thyroid cancers (DTCs) are the main focus of this article, as they represent >90% of thyroid malignancies. This Review provides an overview of the controversies surrounding the optimal choice of surgery and extent of resection for patients with low-risk DTC or with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, and the role of prophylactic central lymph node dissection. This Review also outlines the current surgical management of DTC and presents updated results for these techniques, along with important advances and current dilemmas in surgical approaches to treatment of these cancers. For example, endoscopic and robotic thyroidectomy are the two most recent innovations to present technical and other challenges to the endocrine surgeon; in addition, the risks as well as the advantages of same-day thyroid surgery, which has gained some acceptance, are detailed. Arguments for and against each approach are presented, along with supporting evidence. The authors' personal opinions are also provided for each topic.
How collective intelligence emerges: knowledge creation process in Wikipedia from microscopic viewpoint

The Wikipedia, one of the richest human knowledge repositories on the Internet, has been developed by collective intelligence. To gain insight into Wikipedia, one asks how initial ideas emerge and develop to become a concrete article through the online collaborative process? Led by this question, the author performed a microscopic observation of the knowledge creation process on the recent article, "Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster." The author collected not only the revision history of the article but also investigated interactions between collaborators by making a user-paragraph network to reveal an intellectual intervention of multiple authors. The knowledge creation process on the Wikipedia article was categorized into 4 major steps and 6 phases from the beginning to the intellectual balance point where only revisions were made. To represent this phenomenon, the author developed a visaphor (digital visual metaphor) to digitally represent the article's evolving concepts and characteristics. Then the author created a dynamic digital information visualization using particle effects and network graph structures. The visaphor reveals the interaction between users and their collaborative efforts as they created and revised paragraphs and debated aspects of the article.
Codeterministic Lindenmayer schemes and systems

Abstract A Lindenmayer IL scheme is codeterministic if each string in the alphabet of the scheme is directly derivable from at most one string. Codeterminism is decidable for IL schemes. Equivalence is decidable for codeterministic IL schemes and it is also decidable for DIL schemes. An IL system is codeterministic if each string in the language of the system is directly derivable from at most one string in that language. Although codeterminism is undecidable even for OL systems, it is decidable for those IL systems that generate regular languages. These results concerning IL schemes and systems are obtained by applying the theory of single valued a -transducers after observing: For each IL scheme S there is an a -transducer T ( S ) such that a string y is directly derivable from a string x via S if and only if y is in T ( S ) x . Codeterministic OL systems cannot exhibit surface ambiguity, but they may exhibit production ambiguity where these ambiguity concepts are understood in the sense of Reedy and Savitch.
Ten years of forest cover change in the Sierra Nevada detected using Landsat satellite image analysis

The Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System (LEDAPS) methodology was applied to detected changes in forest vegetation cover for areas burned by wildfires in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California between the periods of 1975- 79 and 1995-1999. Results for areas burned by wildfire between 1995 and 1999 confirmed the importance of regrowing forest vegetation over 17% of the combined burned areas. A notable fraction (12%) of the entire 5-km (unburned) buffer area outside the 1995-199 fires perimeters showed decline in forest cover, and not nearly as many regrowing forest areas, covering only 3% of all the 1995-1999 buffer areas combined. Areas burned by wildfire between 1975 and 1979 confirmed the importance of disturbed (or declining evergreen) vegetation covering 13% of the combined 1975- 1979 burned areas. Based on comparison of these results to ground-based survey data, the LEDAPS methodology should be capable of fulfilling much of the need for consistent, low-cost monitoring of changes due to climate and biological factors in western forest regrowth following stand-replacing disturbances.
Changes in left ventricular systolic function that accompany rejection of the transplanted heart: A serial radionuclide assessment of fifty-three consecutive cases

To examine the functional changes that accompany the development of rejection of the orthotopically transplanted heart, radionuclide ventriculograms, right heart catheterizations, and endomyocardial biopsies were performed at weekly intervals during the posttransplantation hospitalization of 53 consecutive transplant recipients. Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased in those (n = 10) who had sequential biopsies that changed from no rejection to moderate rejection (63% ± 7% to 57% ± 7% respectively, p = 0.007). There was an associated decrease in the peak ejection rate (4.4 ± 1.0 to 3.9 ± 0.8 end-diastolic volumes per second, p = 0.008) and an increase in the time to peak ejection rate (137 ± 27 msec to 153 ± 20 msec, p = 0.004) that accompanied the development of rejection. There was a similar decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction in those (n = 9) who had sequential biopsies that changed from no rejection to mild rejection (63% ± 6% to 59% ± 8%, p = 0.009). Only two of 19 patients whose biopsies changed from no rejection to either mild or moderate rejection did not have an associated decrease in ejection fraction. In patients who had a blopsy that showed definite rejection, which was then followed by histologic resolution after treatment (n = 11), left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 56% ± 8% to 61% ± 8%, p = 0.03. There were no significant changes in any of the parameteres of diastolic function or in any of the hemodynamic parameters measured, which were associated with either the development or resolution of rejection. These data indicate that measurable changes in left ventricular ejection fraction occur in association with the development of histologic rejection of the transplanted heart and can be detected by radionuclide ventriculography.
Glutathione VII. Differentiation among substrates by the thiol-oxidizing agent, diamide

Abstract 1. 1. Glutathione reacts much more rapidly with the thiol-oxidizing agent, diamide, than do other small molecule cellular constituents like NADH, CoASH and lipoic acid. 2. 2. Combination of rate data and concentration data for important oxidizable cellular constituents leads to the conclusion that GSH is the major target for diamide within the cell. 3. 3. Conversion of GSH to GSSG is the most important immediate consequence of diamide treatment of a cell suspension. 4. 4. Consideration of the rate constants for thiol-disulfide interchange reactions leads to the idea that further chemical and physical changes may occur shortly after the initial GSH-GSSG equilibrium has been perturbed by diamide. The time scale of an experiment defines how extensive these sequellae might be. 5. 5. A new term, the thiol-disulphide status of the cell is defined. 6. 6. Perturbations of the thiol-disulfide status of cells and organisms by thiol-oxidizing agents have been demonstrated as important in many problems, including protein synthesis and neurotransmitter release.
W-topological matter and gravity

Abstract We show how the N = 2 super-W ∞ algebra can be twisted to give a topological algebra, which we call W ∞ top . This can be realised by a matter system comprising a complex scalar and a complex spinor field. We construct a topological BRST charge for W ∞ top , and use this to obtain a topological W ∞ gravity theory. This can then be coupled to the W-topological matter system. The total lagrangian arises as a BRST variation.
Isolation of a Sex Hormone from the Water Mould Achlya bisexualis

Achlya is a genus of filamentous aquatic fungus inhabiting fresh-water lakes and ponds. Some years ago, Raper established that sexual reproduction is initiated, in certain members of this genus, by a diffusible substance secreted into the surrounding water by the female mycelium1. This substance was named hormone A. In response to the hormone, the male hyphae produce specialized branches2 and at the tips of these branches antheridia are delimited3. An attempt to isolate the hormone from culture liquids of A. bisexualis gave a highly active though amorphous substance4. We have continued the investigation of hormone A and have isolated from strain T5 of A. bisexualis a crystalline compound which at high dilution induces branching and formation of antheridia in a number of male strains of Achlya. An account of the isolation of this hormone, which we wish to designate “antheridiol”, is given here.
Helpful and Unhelpful Comments after Suicide, Homicide, Accident, or Natural Death.

Comments made to recently bereaved persons may be experienced as helpful or unhelpful. To see helpfulness ratings varied depending on the cause of the death, 141 college students rated thirty poten...
Gender and Mortuary Ritual at Ancient Teotihuacan, Mexico: a Study of Intrasocietal Diversity

Archaeologists increasingly recognize a need to revise the scales at which we investigate identities such as gender, class and faction in ancient complex societies. In this article I present research on the expression of gender roles and ideologies in the performance of mortuary ritual in four distinctive residential areas of Classic Teotihuacan, including the urban compounds of La Ventilla 3, Tlajinga 33 and Tlailotlacan 6 and the hinterland settlement of Axotlan. Results indicate that gender was constructed and experienced differently across Teotihuacan society. This research demonstrates that multiscalar, comparative approaches to social identity make possible a fuller understanding of the significance of social heterogeneity in structuring early states.
Effect of ethnicity on the risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer following long-term PUVA therapy.

Background Research demonstrating an increased incidence of skin cancer with psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy has reflected the Caucasian experience. Our objective was to review the literature on skin cancer risk associated with long-term PUVA therapy in non-Caucasians. Methods Our analysis included 4294 long-term PUVA patients in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Egypt, and Tunisia with a follow-up period of at least 5 years. Results The relative risk of PUVA patients developing nonmelanoma skin cancer relative to general dermatology outpatients was 0.86 [CI 0.36–1.35]. Conclusions There does not appear to be an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer with long-term PUVA therapy in Asian and Arabian-African populations. Therefore, in phototherapy risk assessment, it is important to consider the patient's skin phototype and the potential protection that more pigmented skin may confer.
Forward telescoping bias in reported age of onset: an example from cigarette smoking.

Age at the onset of a disorder is one of its key descriptive characteristics. Early onset may indicate increased risk of a severe course and increased genetic liability. However, retrospectively reported onset in surveys is subject to forward telescoping, a bias in which respondents report events closer to the time of interview than is true. We examined the effect of this bias on age of onset for smoking initiation and daily smoking. Data came from the 1966–77 birth cohorts interviewed in the cross-sectional National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse (NHDSA) 1979–98 (N = 82,122). An association between age at onset and age at interview, within birth year, was found for experimenters and for daily smokers. This was indicative of forward telescoping. As age at interview increased from 12 to 25 the probability of reporting early onset dropped by half. An association was also found between early onset of daily smoking and age at interview. This response bias differed significantly by sex and race, created significant misclassification of smokers as late instead of early onset cases, and biased cohort comparisons from cross-sectional data. These results suggest efforts need to be made to limit the effect of forward telescoping in epidemiological studies by survey question and sampling design. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction of a Compact Adjustable Waveform Spark Source

An "open box" spark source is described. It is designed for easy adjustment of inductance and capacitance values while maintaining compact design to minimize radio frequency interference. The design allows monitoring of discharge parameters during operation, and can be assembled with minimal machining.
“Look George, There's Another One!” The Volume and Characteristics of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising in Popular Magazines

ABSTRACTSpending on direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medications has grown to approximately $2 billion a year in the United States (1). The volume of DTCA spending and the potential impact of DTCA on consumers' health care behavior justify the investigation of DTCA. The present descriptive study examines DTCA volume from a consumer perspective and identifies how much DTCA a consumer may encounter in popular magazines. Results indicate that the volume and characteristics of DTCA vary across magazines and medical conditions. Findings identify potential audiences most likely to be targeted, and therefore affected, by DTCA.
Wireless LAN signal strength in a 3-story cinderblock building

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory, in support of network communications for a Horizontal Fusion program, experimented with large-scale wireless LANs at the McKenna facility in Fort Benning, GA. In total, we deployed two wireless LANs, one consisting of both the 802.11A and 802.11G protocols and the other consisting of only the 802.11G protocol. In this paper, we will describe the deployment of wireless LAN access points and show the mapping of wireless LAN signal strength reception in rooms of building B1 of McKenna village at Fort Benning, GA. We will also describe our observations in using these wireless LANs.
BROMINE OXIDATION OF THE DIPOTASSIUM SALT OF α,α′-DINITROSUCCINONITRILE INTO THE POTASSIUM SALT OF NITROKETOSUCCINONITRILE

(1983). BROMINE OXIDATION OF THE DIPOTASSIUM SALT OF α,α′-DINITROSUCCINONITRILE INTO THE POTASSIUM SALT OF NITROKETOSUCCINONITRILE. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 15, No. 1-2, pp. 7-15.
Solvent optimization in normal-phase liquid chromatography of selected steroids

Resolution (Rs) is a function of three factors: efficiency, retentivity and selectivity. A procedure for optimization of mobile phase selectivity was demonstrated using a reversed-phase (RP) separation of compounds with various functionalities. In this paper, the same procedure is used with normal bonded-phase (NP) chromatography to develop a separation of structurally similar steroids. The optimization of mobile-phase selectivity provided increased problem-solving capability and decreased the analysis time.
Student pharmacists' perceptions of access to student organization opportunities at colleges/schools of pharmacy with satellite campuses

Abstract Background An increasing number of schools of pharmacy offer part or entire doctor of pharmacy programs at satellite campuses. Co-curricular offerings such as student organization and student government facilitate professional and personal development of a student pharmacist. Multi-campus schools strive to ensure that the professional experiences at main and satellite campuses are equivalent. Objectives To compare perceptions of and satisfaction with access to student organization opportunities between students at main versus satellite campuses among four schools of pharmacy. Methods Using an 18-item online survey instrument, second- and third-year student pharmacists at main and satellite campuses rated their level of agreement and satisfaction regarding access to student organizations. Results Of 1013 total students, 314 completed the survey (31.0% response rate); 22.9% of respondents were on a satellite campus. Many respondents were members of a student organization (93.0% main campus and 92.2% satellite campus). There were similar responses between campuses for students who were interested but felt that they had no access to opportunities to be members. A higher proportion of the main campus students were satisfied with access to faculty advisors (93% versus 80%). Conclusion Regardless of campus site, student organizations were available to students, and lack of access was not perceived as a barrier to participation in student organizations. Access to faculty advisors for student organizations should be an area of focus for schools with satellite campuses.
Representation of Mutual Information Via Input Estimates

A relationship between information theory and estimation theory was recently shown for the Gaussian channel, relating the derivative of mutual information with the minimum mean-square error. This paper generalizes the link between information theory and estimation theory to arbitrary channels, giving representations of the derivative of mutual information as a function of the conditional marginal input distributions given the outputs. We illustrate the use of this representation in the efficient numerical computation of the mutual information achieved by inputs such as specific codes or natural language
A Treatment Protocol for Restoring Occlusal Vertical Dimension Using an Overlay Removable Partial Denture as an Alternative to Extensive Fixed Restorations: A Clinical Report

Treatment options for patients with severe attrition resulting in reduced occlusal vertical dimension are often limited to fixed prosthesis to reestablish proper occlusal vertical dimension and functional occlusion. In some cases such as when there are limited finances, minimal esthetic concerns, and medical considerations fixed prosthesis may not be the ideal treatment option. Overlay removable partial dentures (ORPDs) can be used as a provisional or interim prosthesis as well as permanent prosthesis in these cases. While ORPDs can provide a reversible and relatively inexpensive treatment for patients with a significantly compromised dental status, there is not much scientific evidence in the literature on ORPDs. Most studies published on ORPDs to date are primarily reviews and clinical reports. In this article, literatures on ORPDs are summarized and a patient treated with interim and permanent ORPDs is presented. This article reviews previously published literatures on the use of ORPDs. Indications, advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Treatment protocol with an example of the prosthodontic treatment of a patient with severely worn dentition with an interim ORPD and later a permanent ORPD are discussed in details.
Pulse power system characterization of the plasma interactions with propellants experiment (PIPE) electrothermal plasma gun

The plasma interactions with propellants experiment (PIPE) facility is designed for the study of materials and propellants exposed to a pulsed, high-heat flux plasma produced with an electrothermal plasma gun. PIPE is powered by a single 340-/spl mu/F capacitor with a maximum charging voltage of 10 kV, for a maximum discharge energy of 17 kJ. This paper describes discharge voltage and current measurements made with a high-frequency compensated voltage divider and a Pearson coil. For these experiments, the gun was operated in air at 2 torr at discharge energies between 1.1-8.1 kJ. The maximum current ranged between 10-45 kA. The maximum gun power ranged between 30-160 MW. Typical discharge durations were on the order of 100 /spl mu/s.
Development of EEG and daytime sleep patterns in normal full-term infants during the first 3 months of life: Longitudinal observations

Abstract EEG polygraph recordings of 1 to over 4 h duration were obtained during daytime sleeps weekly from birth to 11–13 weeks of age in 17 normal full-term newborns. Analysis of the recordings permitted more precise specification of the time courses of early developmental changes in EEG patterns related to the sleep cycle. The trace alternant pattern of quiet sleep was seen up to 2 weeks post term in all subjects, but in none beyond 6 weeks. Active sleep onset occurred in 80% of daytime sleeps at 1–3 weeks and decreased rapidly over the next 5 weeks, but at 8–13 weeks was still seen in 5–10% of the recordings. Rolandic sleep spindle bursts appeared in some subjects as early as 4 weeks post term and were present in all beyond 8 weeks. Based upon these 3 criterion variables, the transition from ‘perinatal’ to ‘infantile’ EEG sleep patterns started at a mean age of 30.3 days and was completed at a mean age of 46.6 days. The earliest and latest completions of the transition were at 27 and 66 days, respectively. On the average the transition took just over 2 weeks. Frontal sleep transients were seen until 3 weeks post term in all subjects, but in none beyond 7 weeks. Active sleep decreased from just over 50% of total sleep time at birth to about 20% beyond 8 weeks. Percent-time quiet sleep increased proportionately. Indeterminate sleep remained relatively constant at 5–10 percent-time. A tendency for percent-time indeterminate sleep to be elevated in the presences of minor illnesses was observed. The usefulness of these, and other, EEG data in defining mature and immature EEGs in the neonatal period and the clinical significance of EEG immaturity are discussed.
The Case for Rarity of Chondrules and Calcium-Aluminum-rich Inclusions in the Early Solar System and Some Implications for Astrophysical Models

The high-temperature materials in chondritic meteorites, the chondrules (silicate spherules produced by flash heating) and refractory inclusions (the CAI, or calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions), have been used to place major constraints on astrophysical models for the early solar system. Among the meteorites falling to Earth, the CAI are rare, being only 15% by volume of a class that constitutes 0.84% of observed falls, however chondrules are ubiquitous. Here it is pointed out ~96% of the meteorites entering the atmosphere contain few or no chondrules because atmospheric passage destroys such meteorites 1000 times more effectively than the tougher chondrule-rich material. Furthermore, the mechanisms for transferring meteorites from the asteroid belt to Earth do not sample the belt representatively, so that even the 4% of chondrule-rich material entering the atmosphere may be an overestimate. Most asteroids have surfaces resembling meteorite classes that are chondrule-poor or chondrule-free. Foreign clasts in meteorites, which are an independent sampling of asteroidal material, usually resemble chondrule-poor or chondrule-free carbonaceous chondrites. Cosmic-ray ages and gas-retention ages for meteorites indicate that most stony meteorites are coming from just a few asteroids. A strong case can thus be made that chondrules and CAI were rare in the inner solar system during planet and planetesimal formation and that they do not provide a strong constraint on astrophysical ideas for the evolution of the early solar nebula.
Grazing Angle Metal-Overlayer Infrared ATR Spectroscopy

The most sensitive reflection spectroscopic technique has been developed for studying the structure of thin films between a semiconductor and a metallic film. In this study, a metal-overlayer ATR technique was applied to measure the infrared spectra of interfacial layers. According to optical theory, this technique requires a high angle of incidence near the grazing angle in order to obtain optimum sensitivity. On the basis of the theoretical prediction, an optimized prism was designed. Our prism/thin film/metal configuration yields an S/N ratio 5 times better than that achieved by the conventional reflection-absorption spectroscopy. This enhancement is not due to the so-called metal island effect, but is due instead to the high refractive index of the semiconductor prism.
Long-term follow-up of patients treated with ileoendorectal pull-through and right colon onlay patch for total colonic aganglionosis

Abstract Background/Purpose: This study was performed to assess the long-term follow-up of five patients who underwent one-stage ileoendorectal pull-through with right colon onlay patch for total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Methods: A retrospective review of inpatient and outpatient charts and telephone follow-up of all patients were conducted to obtain current data regarding growth, development, bowel function, and postoperative and late complications. Results: Follow-up has ranged from 2 to 11 years. All patients are at or above the 50th percentile for weight by age and are continent with 1 to 5 daily bowel movements. Only two patients required reoperation. A perirectal abscess developed in one patient 2 months postoperatively. In the second patient a functional obstruction was relieved by sphincterotomy. Conclusions: Ileoendorectal pull-through with right colon onlay patch is associated with few early and late postoperative complications; it appears to be superior to other procedures in the early postoperative period because of the more rapid return to acceptable stooling patterns. This method of reconstruction provides an excellent opportunity for normal growth, development, and long-term bowel function.
Interplay between septin organization, cell cycle and cell shape in yeast

Septins are conserved filament-forming proteins that assemble into cortical cytoskeletal structures in animal and fungal cells. Although rapid progress has been made into the functions of septins, the mechanisms governing their localization and organization remain mysterious. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cdc42p organizes the septin cytoskeleton into a ring in preparation for bud formation, following which septins remain as a collar at the mother-bud neck. We have dissected the phenotype of cdc42V36T,K94E cells that display an aberrant cell shape correlated with the development of ectopic septin caps and rings within the bud. The results suggest that a well-assembled septin cortex plays a novel role in directing growth to shape the nascent bud, and that a disorganized septin cortex directs improper growth generating an aberrant neck. Conversely, we found that the elongated bud shape arising as a result of the morphogenesis checkpoint cell cycle delay that accompanies septin perturbation can feed back to exacerbate minor defects in septin organization, by maintaining a bud-tip-localized septin assembly activity that competes with the neck-localized septin cortex. Using this exacerbation as a tool, we uncovered septin organization defects in many mutants not previously known to display such defects, expanding the cast of characters involved in proper assembly of the septin cortex to include CLN1, CLN2, BNI1, BNI4, BUD3, BUD4 and BUD5.
Understanding Parallel Performance Under Interferences in Multi-tenant Clouds

The performance of parallel programs is notoriously difficult to reason in virtualized environments. Although performance degradations caused by virtualization and interferences have been well studied, there is little understanding why different parallel programs have unpredictable slow- downs. We find that unpredictable performance is the result of complex interplays between the design of the program, the memory hierarchy of the hosting system, and the CPU scheduling in the hypervisor. We develop a profiling tool, vProfile, to decompose parallel runtime into three parts: compute, steal and synchronization. With the help of time breakdown, we devise two optimizations at the hypervisor to reduce slowdowns.