cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurocognitive Effects of Chemotherapy and Endocrine Therapies in the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Recent Perspectives

With an estimated 207,090 patients diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, the role of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment is of growing importance. Studies to determine the impact of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment have been hindered by difficulties in study-design, in particular, study methodology. Here, we present a review of existing studies and discuss several mechanisms for chemotherapy-induced neurocognitive impairment in breast cancer patients, such as direct neurotoxic injury, telomere shortening, oxidative stress, cytokine dysregulation, estrogen-mediated effects, and the role of certain genetic polymorphisms. Decreased estrogen levels may serve as a link between multiple mechanisms potentiating the effects of the chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment.
The effect of cytomegalovirus retinitis on the quality of life of patients with AIDS in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis on quality of life (QOL) in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Design Enrollment data from a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Participants Patients ≥13 years of age with AIDS in three groups: no CMV retinitis, 709 patients; long-standing CMV retinitis (diagnosed a median of 34.5 months previously), 212 patients; and newly diagnosed CMV retinitis (diagnosed ≤45 days previously), 50 patients. Methods Patients were enrolled at 19 centers throughout the United States. CMV retinitis status was determined by ophthalmoscopy. Vision-related QOL was assessed with a questionnaire designed for patients with CMV retinitis. General health-related QOL was evaluated with a modified version of the Medical Outcomes Survey–HIV instrument. Health utility was measured with the EuroQol instrument. Main outcome measures Patient-reported vision-related QOL, general health-related QOL, and health utility. Results All domains of vision-related QOL were substantially lower in both the long-standing and newly diagnosed CMV retinitis groups than in the group with no CMV retinitis. The long-standing CMV retinitis group was similar to the no CMV retinitis group in most general health-related QOL domains and in health utility measures. The newly diagnosed CMV retinitis group scored substantially worse than the other groups in many of the general health-related QOL domains and in visual analog scale–measured health utility. Adjustment of selected scale scores for demographic characteristics and for CD4 + T-cell count, human immunodeficiency virus viral load, and use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) attenuated most of the differences in general health-related QOL, except that physical function scores remained significantly lower in the newly diagnosed CMV retinitis group. Adjustment did not alter the pattern of vision-related QOL results. Conclusions These results suggest that in the HAART era, CMV retinitis is associated with reduced vision-related QOL in patients both with newly diagnosed and with long-standing disease, even though patients with long-standing CMV retinitis seem to have general health-related QOL and health utility similar to that of patients with AIDS who do not have CMV retinitis. Newly diagnosed CMV retinitis also is associated with lower general health-related QOL in most domains and with lower health utility.
Mode of presentation, age, and short-term memory.

Female volunteers, ranging in age from 19 to 78 years, viewed or listened to prose passages and sequences of unrelated digits in an evaluation of the effects of modality (visual vs. auditory) upon short-term memory. The data indicated that performance on the digit span task was better with the auditory than with the visual presentation mode, while the opposite effect (i.e., visual better than auditory) was found with the prose passages. Although there were age-related deficits with both types of materials, the modality effects were similar for all age levels.
Variations of the lipid phase of living microorganisms during the transport process.

Abstract In studying the lipid phase in microorganisms, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry was employed. Evidence is presented showing that the 1.3 parts/million signal (relative to a tetramethylsilane standard), reported previously in Nocardia asteroides , is related to the cellular lipids and not to other cellular constituents. The variations of the lipid signals, that appeared when living microorganisms were exposed to different environmental conditions, seemed to be related tochanges in phase (orientation and mobility) that modified their permeability: 1. 1. Growing cells, or cells exposed to isotonic or favorable conditions, did not show any NMR signal (equilibrium phase). 2. 2. Cells exposed either to hypotonic or hypertonic conditions gave NMR signals at 1.3 parts/million (about 80 cycles/sec), a region in which the aliphatic CH 2 chains are ordinarily observed; this change was an easily reversible one, which disappeared when the cells were returned to a more favorable environment (easily reversible phase). 3. 3. In cells treated with phosphate buffer, the equilibrium phase (NMR negative spectrum) showed a strong resistance to change under hypotonic or hypertonic conditions. 4. 4. Cells exposed to isotonic environment in the presence of surface-active ions Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ showed the 1.3 parts/million signal; this “positive” NMR spectrum was difficult to reverse, requiring an extensive washing with isotonic NaCl or phosphate buffer to return to the “negative” equilibrium condition (difficultly reversible phase). 5. 5. The possible relationship between the 1.3 parts/million signal and the arrangement (phase) of the cellular lipids during permeability processes is discussed, taking into account that the cellular leakage was large in the presence of phosphate ions, medium in the presence of NaCl and comparatively small in the presence of Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ .
Risk Factors of Follicular Lymphoma.

Introduction: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous group of malignancies with more than 30 different subtypes. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common form of indolent NHL and the second most common form of NHL overall. It has morphologic, immunophenotypic and clinical features significantly different from other subtypes. Considerable effort has been devoted to the identification of risk factors for etiology and prognosis of FL. These risk factors may advance our understanding of the biology of FL and have an impact on clinical practice. Areas covered: The epidemiology of NHL and FL is briefly reviewed. For FL etiology and prognosis separately, we review clinical, environmental and molecular (including genetic, genomic, epigenetic and others) risk factors suggested in the literature. Expert opinion: A large number of potential risk factors have been suggested in recent studies. However, there is a lack of consensus, and many of the suggested risk factors have not been rigorously validated in ...
Lattice imaging of Ag-Co thin films using energy-filtered TEM

The structure of Ag/sub 65/Co/sub 35/ thin films is characterized using energy-filtered high resoimaging TEM and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI). Cosputtered Ag-Co films were prepared according to protocols that produced maximum giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in thicker films with the same composition. Elemental maps produced using ESI reveal 50 nm diameter Ag particles embedded in a granular alloy matrix. Cobalt maps of these films show uniform cobalt distribution at the spatial resolution of the technique (about 2 nm), indicating that distinct cobalt particles, if they exist, are very small. Energy-filtered lattice imaging and digital image processing were used to search for such particles, but none were found.
Tridiagonalization of a Symmetric Dense Matrix on a GPU Cluster

Symmetric dense Eigen value problems arise in many scientific and engineering simulations. In this paper, we use GPUs to accelerate its main computational kernel, the tridiagonalization of a dense symmetric matrix on a distributed multicore architecture. We then study the performance of this hybrid message-passing/shared-memory/GPU-computing paradigm on up to 16 compute nodes, each of which consists of 16 Intel Sandy Bridge processors and three NVIDIA GPUs. These studies show that such a hybrid paradigm can exploit the underlying hardware architecture and obtain significant speedups over a flat message-passing paradigm can, and they demonstrate a potential of efficiently solving large-scale Eigen value problems on a GPU cluster. Furthermore, these studies may provide insights on the general effects of such hybrid paradigms on emerging high-performance computers.
Semigroups and abstract Gevrey spaces

Abstract Conditions are found under which a closed linear operator A in a Banach space X generates a continuous semigroup in a linear topological space Y which is dense in X . The space Y is an abstract Gevrey space associated with the operator A . This is an abstract setting for some results for hyperbolic systems with data in spaces of Gevrey functions.
Do You See a Difference? Evaluating Outcomes of a Parent-Implemented Intervention

The Parent-Implemented Communication Strategies (PiCS) project resulted in the development of an intervention package aimed at enhancing the social communication skills of young children with disabilities and limited expressive language. While the outcomes of the PiCS project seem to be positive, a thorough and comprehensive assessment of social validity was warranted. Wolf (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 203–214, 1978) contended that interventions should be assessed not only for effectiveness but also for social validity. This study of social validity addressed the question, “Was the PiCS project socially valid from an expert perspective?” Our expert evaluators were recruited from three groups: (a) parents of young children with disabilities, (b) early childhood special education teachers, and (c) speech language pathologists who worked with young children with disabilities. Each evaluator viewed video clips of parent–child interactions from pre- and post-intervention sessions, in random order, and completed a questionnaire about parent and child behaviors. The overall findings provided support for the social validity of the PiCS project. Further discussion that examines differences in the ratings of the groups of evaluators and implications for research and practice is provided.
Leiomyoma of the ovary with ascites and hydrothorax

A case is described in which a leiomyoma of the ovary was accompanied by hydrothorax. There was no reaccumulation of fluid after oophorectomy.
Atomic shuffling dominated mechanism for deformation twinning in magnesium.

Deformation twinning is often mediated by partial dislocation activities at the twin boundary. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we have uncovered a new mechanism for the most commonly observed {1012} deformation twinning in Mg and other hexagonal close-packed metals. Here the twin growth involves no definable dislocations at the twin boundary, and the twin orientational relationship can be established by local atomic shuffling, directly constructing the twin lattice from the parent lattice.
The 11β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 exists as an inactive dimer

The 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2 enzymes (11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2), modulate glucocorticoid occupation of the mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors by interconverting corticosterone and cortisol to the inactive metabolites 11-dehydrocorticosterone and cortisone within the target cells. The NAD(+)-dependent 11-HSD 2 in the kidney inactivates corticosterone and cortisol, allowing aldosterone, which is not metabolized, access to the receptor. Studies of the kinetics of 11-HSD 2 activity in the rat kidney have produced inconsistent results. Western blots done in the absence of the reducing agent beta-mercaptoethanol showed two bands with approximate MW of 40 and 80 kDa. When beta-mercaptoethanol was used, only the 40 kDa was detected, indicating that under non-denaturing conditions a significant proportion of the 11beta-HSD 2 exists as a dimer. NAD(+)-dependent conversion of 3H-corticosterone by 20 microg of microsomal protein increased approximately 10 fold with the addition of 5 mM DTT concentration. NADP(+)-dependent activity with 20 microg of microsomal protein was very low and did not change significantly when using DTT. In the presence of DTT, the predominant 11-HSD activity in the rat kidney is NAD(+)-dependent with a K(m) of 15.1 nM, similar to that of the cloned and expressed enzyme. These data suggest that dimerization and subsequent enzyme inactivation occur when protocols promoting oxidation of this protein are used.
An ultrastructural examination of dorsal root input to the sacral secondary visceral gray

Dorsal root input to the sacral secondary visceral gray was examined in the adult cat using an orthograde degeneration technique. Five days after unilateral, intradural section of sacral dorsal roots electron-microscopic evidence of synaptic degeneration was seen throughout the nucleus ipsilateral to the side of the lesion. Degenerating sacral primary afferents in this nuclear region were associated mainly with S and GS type boutons. S type synapses showed two distinct degenerative responses. Some of the degenerating boutons were swollen with synaptic vesicles clustered tightly near the presynaptic membrane. Others appear shrunken with consequent packing of vesicles and mitochondria within the presynaptic terminal. Degenerating S terminals were found mainly on dendrites. S type synapses on nerve cell bodies appeared to be unaffected by dorsal root section. The degenerative response of sacral primary afferents associated with GS boutons was characterized by marked swelling of the presynaptic terminal and the presence of significant amounts of glycogen. Degenerating GS boutons were observed on both cell bodies and dendrites. These observations provide morphologic evidence of a direct synaptic link between dorsal root afferents and nerve cells in the sacral secondary visceral gray.
A2 meson production in K−d reactions

Abstract New data on the reactions K − n→ Λ o A 2 − and K − n→ Σ o A 2 − are presented which are compatible with J PC = 2 ++ for the A 2 − . Previously published data on the reaction on the K − n→ Λ A 2 − favoured J PC = 1 −+ and would thus be incompatible with the simple quark model.
Effects of the peri-pubertal rearing environment on endocrine and behavioural responses to oestrous female exposure in the mature bull

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the peri-pubertal rearing environment upon subsequent endocrine and behavioural responses of the bulls to oestrous female exposure. Thirty Angus bulls were allotted to one of three rearing environments at 10–11 months of age: on pasture (male contact only, CON); on pasture with male contact and female contact for 2 h at 28-day intervals (female-exposed treatment, EXP); or penned individually which restricted direct physical contact with other animals (IND). Environmental conditions were maintained for 8 months after which bulls were observed during a single 30-min exposure to an oestrous female with concurrent blood sampling. Significantly elevated serum cortisol concentrations were a result of the female contact period in CON, EXP and IND bulls. Detectable increases in growth hormone were evident during oestrous female exposure in IND bulls (P<0.01). This observation was absent in CON and EXP bulls. Increased mean testosterone levels were measured subsequent to the period of female exposure in all bulls. Of the behavioural events recorded, only the elapsed time to first mounting was different between environmental rearing groups. The CON bulls were slower to initiate mounting than EXP and IND bulls (P<0.07). These results suggest that the rearing environment, at or near the time of puberty, can alter subsequent endocrine responses during mating with little or no effect on behavioural parameters during the post-pubertal period of the bull.
Raman detection of carotenoid pigments in the human retina

We have used resonance Raman scattering as a novel, non- invasive, in-vivo optical technique to measure the concentration of carotenoid pigment in the human retina. Using argon laser excitation we are able to measure two strong carotenoid resonance Raman signals at 1159 and 1525 wave numbers, respectively. The required laser power levels are within the limits given by safety standards for ocular exposure. Of the approximately ten carotenoid pigment found in normal human serum, the species lutein and zeaxanthin are concentrated in high amounts in the cells of the human macula, which is an approximately 5 mm diameter area of the retina in which the visual acuity is highest. These carotenoids give the macula a characteristic yellow coloration, and it is speculated that these molecules function as filter to attenuate photochemical damage and/or image degradation under bright UV/blue light exposures. In addition, they are thought to act as free-radical scavenging antioxidants. Studies have shown that there may be a link between macular degenerative diseases, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in the US, and the presence or absence of the carotenoids. We describe an instrument capable of measuring the macular carotenoids in human subjects in a non-invasive, rapid and quantitative way.
Neurophysiological correlates of cognitive development: Changes in long-latency event-related potentials from childhood to adulthood

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to tachistoscopically flashed slides were recorded from subjects ranging from 6 to 36 years of age. Subjects counted the number of presentations of target slides (P = 0.12) randomly interposed in sequences of background slides (either P = 0.76 or P = 0.88). Also interposed (P = 0.12) in these sequences of targets and backgrounds were one of two types of slides: those (thermed dims) bearing any one of the letters from C to Z or those bearing ‘novel’ patterns, each consisting of a different, quasirandom, ‘unrecognizable’ color pattern. Targets and backgrounds elicited N1, P2, N2 and P3 waves in subjects of every age tested, suggesting that the mode of processing such explicitly important events and the neuronal substrate for such processing, is similar in children and adults. However, P3 latencies and reaction times in response to these events decreased with age, suggesting that the speed of such processing increases with age. On the other hand, dims and novels elicited ERPs in young children and adults characterized by different late waves. ERPs in 6–8 year olds were characterized by Nc waves (ca. 410 msec and 30 μV) and Pc waves (ca. 900 msec and 30 μV), while ERPs in adults were characterized by P3 waves (ca. 420 msec and 15 μV). The transition from the childhood to adulthood wave form occurred in the mid-teens. It is suggested that these differences in ERP wave forms reflect differences in the way children and adults categorize events.
Needed: A fiscal framework.

The article presents the author's thoughts regarding the need for a fiscal framework in the U.S. The presentation of the trade-offs of taxation and spending, along with a formal budget projection for at least five to 10 years, offered by a fiscal framework is described. The risks associated with a rising national debt are also discussed.
Cancelling planned actions following mild traumatic brain injury.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) leads to a variety of attentional, cognitive, and sensorimotor deficits. An important aspect of behavior that intersects each of these functions is the ability to cancel a planned action. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of mTBI on the ability to perform a countermanding saccade task. In this task, participants were asked to generate a saccade to a target appearing in peripheral vision, but to inhibit saccade execution if an auditory stop signal was presented. The delay between the appearance of the peripheral target and the presentation of the auditory stop signal was varied between 0 and 125 ms. We found that the change in the probability of cancelling the saccade as a function of this delay was no different between participants with mTBI tested within 2 days of their injury and matched controls. However, saccadic reaction times and the stop signal reaction time were unexpectedly faster in the participants with mTBI and, furthermore, they inaccurately inhibited saccades during 15% of the trials with no stop signal. Taken together, this data suggests that the ability to cancel planned actions is subtly yet adversely affected by mTBI.
Custodial grandparenting: Stresses, coping skills, and relationships with grandchildren.

This cross-sectional study compared three groups of custodial grandparents, those raising problematic grandchildren, those raising "normal" grandchildren, and noncustodial grandparents to identify the unique challenges and expectations faced by custodial grandparents due to their nontraditional roles while attempting to disentangle grandparental role demands from child-specific problems as sources of distress. Those grandparents raising grandchildren demonstrating neurological, physical, emotional, or behavioral problems exhibited the most distress, the most disruption of roles, and the most deteriorated grandparent-grandchild relationships. Although custodial grandparents raising apparently normal grandchildren demonstrated less distress, less disruption of roles, and less deterioration of the grandparent-grandchild relationship than those grandparents raising grandchildren displaying problems, in these respects, they still demonstrated higher such levels than did traditional grandparents.
Electrochemical and XPS study of the nickel-titanium electrode surface

A Ni-Ti alloy with a 50:50 atomic composition has shown exceptional properties as a fixed potential LCEC detector for carbohydrates and related substances. It exhibited excellent sensitivity and superior long-term stability compared to pure Ni. A study was therefore undertaken by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to understand the role of Ti and the respective surface oxides of Ni and Ti in the catalytic stability of the detector. CV results showed that Ti is initially oxidized, most likely to TiO(2) in 0.1 M NaOH solution. The oxidation of Ni to nickel(II) oxide also occurs at potentials close to that of Ti. At higher potentials in the range of +0.4 to +0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl reference, nickel(II) oxide undergoes further oxidation to the Ni(III) oxidation state. This state is responsible for the catalysis of carbohydrates, amino acids and other biosubstances. When Ni-Ti and Ni are repetitively CV cycled in the potential range of 0.0 to +0.6 V, a second wave appears at more negative potentials during the reverse cathodic scan for Ni but not for Ni-Ti. SEM images of these two electrodes in the oxidized form show the Ni-Ti surface remains smoother in appearance. This smoothness is consistent with the fact that the thickness of the surface "oxide" layer increases less rapidly, as Ni-Ti is repetitively CV cycled, compared to pure Ni. XPS results for the nature of the surface oxides are consistent with oxidized Ti as TiO(2), Ni(II) predominantly as Ni(OH)(2), and Ni(III) possibly as NiOOH. Possible reasons for Ti stabilizing the Ni-Ti alloy as a LCEC detector are discussed.
Cytogenetic Findings in a Case of Epithelioid Sarcoma and a Review of the Literature

Cytogenetic studies of epithelioid sarcoma, a rare malignant soft tissue neoplasm of adolescents and young adults, are few. A characteristic anomaly has not yet been identified for this sarcoma. In this study, cytogenetic studies of a primary epithelioid sarcoma of a 15-year-old male revealed the following abnormalities: t(6;8)(p25;q11.2) and add(7)(p15).
Effect of dissipation on ternary fission in very heavy nuclear systems

Abstract On the basis of a macroscopic dynamical model, we explore the effect of two prototype dissipation mechanisms that represent opposite extremes of small and large dissipation on the formation of a third fragment during the fission of very heavy nuclear systems. With five collective coordinates to describe axially symmetric and reflection-symmetric nuclear shapes, we solve the generalized Hamilton equations of motion numerically to determine the time evolution of the system. The nuclear potential energy of deformation is calculated as the sum of a repulsive Coulomb energy and an attractive Yukawa-plus-exponential potential, the inertia tensor is calculated for incompressible, nearly irrotational flow by use of the Werner-Wheeler method and the dissipation tensor is calculated for both two-body viscosity and one-body dissipation. For light nuclei the dynamical evolution leads to compact binary scission shapes, but for sufficiently heavy nuclei it leads to shapes with long necks that subsequently contract at the extremities to form three fragments. This ternary division, whose onset begins at Z 2 A∼35 for two-body viscosity and much later at Z 2 A∼57 for one-body dissipation, is examined in terms of a neck instability that is analogous to the Plateau-Rayleigh hydrodynamic instability of an uncharged, infinite, initially stationary cylinder. For nuclear systems with mass numbers ranging from 200 to 500, we calculate the mass of the third fragment that forms under certain circumstances, the translational kinetic energy of the two end fragments at infinity, and the time required for the system to descend from its saddle point to scission.
Determination of total reduced sulfur in natural waters1

A method has been developed for determining small amounts of reduced sulfur in water (25-600 ..mu..g S.liter/sup -1/) that is very specific and free from interferences. It is based on alkaline digestion of a sample using Raney nickel as a reductant. Hydrochloric acid is added to the digestion mixture to liberate hydrogen sulfide, which is trapped in a zinc acetate solution and then determined spectrophotometrically as ethylene blue. The method affords excellent recoveries for the reduced sulfur compounds tested. Sulfate and most sulfate esters do not interfere, so that the method is useful in seawater where sulfate is abundant.
Foundations of Computer Generated Holograms for 3-D Display

We begin with events in the history of computer holography related to 3-D display. Next is an examination of computer hologram structure. Finally, we scrutinize the encoding of the 3-D information in the 2-D hologram.
Rotavirus Vaccine and Intussusception: Where Do We Go From Here?

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea worldwide. Rotavirus illness ranges from mild, watery diarrhea of limited duration to severe, dehydrating diarrhea with vomiting and fever, resulting in death. 30,33,69 Virtually all children become infected in the first 3 to 5 years of life, but severe diarrhea and dehydration occur primarily among children 3 to 35 months of age. 30,49,78 Rotavirus is estimated to be responsible for 20% of diarrheal deaths and 6% of all diarrheal episodes worldwide. 25 In a review in 1986, the Institute of Medicine estimated that each year rotavirus causes diarrheal illness in 130 million children under 5 years of age worldwide, of whom 18 million develop moderate or severe dehydration, and an estimated 600,000 to 873,000 die. 36 In addition, rotavirus causes a substantial disease burden for children in the United States, accounting for 20 to 40 deaths annually, 41 and approximately 50,000 hospitalizations due to severe diarrhea and dehydration. 58 Rotavirus is responsible for as many as 50% of pediatric admissions to hospitals because of diarrhea and 20% to 25% of cases of pediatric diarrhea in outpatient clinics. 8,49,69 During peak rotavirus season, the virus can be the cause of over 75% of inpatient pediatric admissions for gastrointestinal illness. 8,43,49,69 Rotavirus gastroenteritis predominantly affects young children. In the United States, 72% of rotavirus hospitalizations occur during the first 2 years of life, and 90% occur by age 3 years. 58
Ecology of testate amoebae (protozoa) in two Lake Superior coastal wetlands: Implications for paleoecology and environmental monitoring

Testate amoebae are common inhabitants of moist soils, wetland, and lacustrine habitats. They produce a decay-resistant test, or shell, which can be identified to species in most cases and recovered from sediments in quantities sufficiently large to permit estimation of relative abundance. The objectives of this study were to assess the potential of testate amoeba assemblages as paleoenvironmental and environmental indicators in two Lake Superior coastal wetlands and to determine if morphological variation in four common taxa (Arcella spp., Assulina spp., Centropyxis cassis type, and Nebela tincta-parvula-collaris group) is related to microenvironment. Study localities included ridge-swale wetland systems adjacent to Grand Traverse Bay and Tahquamenon Bay in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Testate amoeba assemblages from 74 microsites were compared with percent moisture, depth to water table, pH, porosity, depth of living moss, and associated moss and vascular plant species. Morphometric analysis (e.g., test length and aperture diameter) was conducted on 25 individuals from at least 10 microsites for each of the four selected taxa. Gradient analysis indicated that testate amoeba assemblages are primarily controlled by substrate moisture and pH, consistent with results from other regions. Transfer functions for pH and substrate moisture were developed using ‘jack-knifed’ validation procedures. Little relationship was found between microenvironmental parameters and morphological variation in the investigated taxa, except for the Nebela tincta-parvula-collaris group, where test size was significantly correlated with pH (r2 = 0.68). Results indicate that wetland testate amoeba assemblages in these coastal wetland systems are sensitive environmental and paleoenvironmental indicators that can be used to monitor and reconstruct water-level or pH changes.
Comments concerning the visual acuity of quark hunters

In the preceding paper K. S. Shrader-Frechette raises problems concerning the observation of microscopic objects and phenomena, especially concerning the observation of quarks.1 As an experimental physicist, I intend here to provide a glimpse of the problem from the perspective of one who has attempted to learn new things about quarks and other subatomic particles on a first-hand basis. The central question is this: what constitutes observation? I shall use the words "observation" and "seeing" as synonyms. In the most literal sense, seeing is the act of a human eye and brain perceiving photons that have bounced off an object. Since the retina of the eye is not sensitive to light with wavelengths shorter than those of violet colored light, and since two small objects cannot be distinguished if they are separated by a distance much smaller than the wavelength of the light used to illuminate them, it would appear that nothing smaller than a few hundred nanometers can ever be seen. However, most scientists are willing to permit an extension of the meaning of "seeing" to include pictures produced by electron microscopes, for which the wavelengths can be much shorter than the wavelength of light that can be seen in the more restricted sense. As electron micrographs are made with increasingly energetic electrons and with ever smaller targets, the interpretation becomes progressively less obvious. Finally, one can arrive at the point of view that the two-mile electron linear accelerator at Stanford is merely a gigantic electron microscope for seeing objects smaller than nuclei. It has been pointed out that accelerators bombard their targets with so much energy that they create the phenomena that are seen.2 This type of effect is indeed an annoyance, but optical microscopes can be used to demonstrate such effects. Consider an observer sitting in a cold room, looking through a microscope at snow crystals that are melting because the illumination is partially absorbed by the sample. Such an observer is still seeing the crystals, although more care must be taken in the interpretation of what is seen.
Inhibition of bleomycin-induced cellular DNA strand scission by 1,10-phenanthroline

Abstract Inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline of cellular DNA strand scission induced by the antitumor antibiotic bleomycin in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was studied. DNA alkaline elution was performed on cells after 1-hr bleomycin treatments. Pretreatment for 24 hr with initial 1,10-phenanthroline concentrations of 0.2 nmol/10 5 cells, which depletes cells of ferritin iron by 80%, had no consistent effect on bleomycin strand breakage. However, simultaneous treatment with 3.1 nmol of 1,10-phenanthroline/10 5 cells and with bleomycin concentrations from 5 to 25 μM decreased both apparent double-stranded breaks and random breakage. When cells were treated with both 3.1 nmol of 1,10-phenanthroline/10 5 cells and 25 μM bleomycin, washed free of both drugs, and incubated at 37° for 1 hr, the resulting breakage was equivalent to that found in cells treated with bleomycin only. When the combination treatment was extended to 4 hr, cell washing and reincubation resulted in increased strand scission, as compared with strand scission in cells treated with bleomycin only. Growth inhibition by bleomycin was not affected appreciably by temporary suppression of DNA strand breakage activity.
Theorem relating spatial and temporal harmonics for nuclear interlevel transfer driven by collective electronic oscillation

Abstract A crucial step in the development of gamma-ray lasers will be the discovery of an efficient mechanism for nuclear interlevel transfer. One promising mechanism uses the near-field interaction between the nucleus and laser-driven collective electronic oscillations. I prove an important theorem relating spatial and temporal harmonics: 22n-poles are driven only at even multiples of the laser frequency, while 22n+1-poles are driven only at odd multiples of the laser frequency. I comment on the theorem's relevance to a proposed interlevel-transfer experiment.
Camelina oil derivatives and adhesion properties

Abstract Camelina ( Cannabis sativa ) is an emerging low-input and stress-tolerant non-food oilseed feedstock in the USA. The seed contains 36–47% oil with 90% unsaturated fatty acids, which means it may be suitable for making oleochemicals and biopolymers. This paper describes the synthesis of several oleo derivatives from camelina oil (CO) and the development of polymers through UV polymerization for pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) applications. CO was converted into epoxidized camelina oil, then to partially acrylated epoxidized camelina oil, and finally to di-hydroxyl acrylated epoxidized camelina oil, an acrylic polyol with 1 acrylate functionality and a hydroxyl value of 293 mg KOH/g. These oil derivatives were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance, rheometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. The acrylic polyol was copolymerized with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) to form tacky viscoelastic polymers. Glass transition temperature of the polymers increased as increasing ratio of acrylic polyol to 2-EHA. A bio-based PSA with a good balance of peel strength (3.86 N/in), tack (5.2 N/in), and shear resistance (>30,000 min) was achieved with equal amounts of acrylic polyol and 2-EHA and a moderate amount of rosin ester added as a tackifier. Frequency sweeps indicated positive correlations between the adhesion performances and viscoelastic responses of PSAs.
Evaluation of Treatment Programs A Statistical Resolution of Selection Biases Using the Case of Problem Drinkers

A common and perverse problem facing those who evaluate human service programs is the difficulty in getting random assignment of clients to control and experimental groups, so that experimental or quasi-experimental research designs can be meaningfully applied. This article demonstrates the use of a technique (covariance adjustment) that statistically manipulates independent variables so as to give an approximation of random assignment on those variables. In this article, we adapt the work of Alwin and Sullivan (1976) to an actual data set from public alcohol treatment programs. We found some very significant differences between the adjusted and nonadjusted treatment out comes, demonstrating the need for some type of pretreatment controls in the absence of random assignment. The covariance adjustment technique and its assumptions are dis cussed leading to the conclusion that the technique is a very workable resolution of the random assignment problem. We also demonstrate how the technique yields some valu...
Electronic Structure Measurements of Oxidized Flavins and Flavin Complexes Using Stark-Effect Spectroscopy

Stark-effect spectroscopy (electroabsorption) measurements were obtained for oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in frozen glycerol/H2O glasses and N(3)-methyl-N(10)-isobutyl-7,8-dimethyl-isoalloxazine in frozen n-butanol glasses at fields of up to 5 × 105 V/cm. In all three flavins, the effect of the applied electric field on the low-energy transition (S0 → S1, 450 nm band) is significantly smaller than on the higher energy transition (S0 → S2, 370 nm band). The Stark spectra indicate that the magnitude of the permanent dipole moment in the S1 state, |μ1| is only modestly different from the S0 state, |μ0|, and that there is little change in the mean polarizability for the S0 → S1 transition. The electric field effect on the S0 → S2 transition, however, shows that the magnitude of the dipole moment of the S2 state is ∼60% larger than that of the S1 state and that the change in the mean polarizability is much larger. Concentration studies indicate that the FAD dimer o...
A separate bias U–D factorization filter

Two forms of Friedland's separate bias estimation algorithm with U-D factorization of the covariance matrices are provided. Each is suited to implementation in a particular computing environment. (We consider MATLAB and compiled computer languages.) We reduce the computation time substantially, primarily at the time propagation stage, by using a separated bias formulation, while retaining the desirable numerical properties of the U-D factorization. The perecentage reduction typically increases with ratio of bias state dimension to dynamic state dimension. A numerical evaluation is given for the MATLAB algorithm.
Time-independent theory of quantum scattering from disordered surfaces

Abstract We review the projected continuum approach to quantum scattering from disordered surfaces, placing it in the context of previous time-independent and time-dependent approaches. The method provides a one K -vector expansion of the scattering with a coherent field potential average, which leads to a unitary set of equations describing specular and non-specular scattering. Of particular significance is the capability to describe sticking due to surface disorder, which increases at low collision energies. Application to a model partial monolayer of molecular adsorbate is made, illustrating the efficiency and usefulness of the approach for study of finite coverage, disordered adsorbate systems.
Predation by Octopus vulgaris in the Mediterranean

. Octopus vulgaris consumes at least 22 molluscan and several crab species in the Mediterranean off the coast of France. Collections of prey discards in octopus middens and in areas inhabited by octopuses revealed that molluscs comprise an estimated 80% of the O. vulguris diet. Octopus predation is probably an important source of mortality for many of these prey species, causing up to 60 % of the mortality within the size ranges sampled. O. vulgaris does not selectively consume particular sizes of its three most important prey species, the bivalves Pilaria chione and Venus verrucosa and the abalone Haliotis tuberculata. Analysis of octopus drill holes on the two bivalve species showed that their locations were nonrandom, whereas the distribution of drill holes in the abalone was not distinguishable from random.
Laser-Addressed Liquid Crystal Projection Displays

A summary is given of recent work on laser-addressed smectic liquid crystal projection displays. Details of the cell construction are given along with some considerations on optimizing contrast ratio. Two display demonstrations are described. The first employs a GaAs laser, has 500x500 picture element capacity, and operates at keyboard-entry speeds. The second demonstration uses an argon laser, has 1024x1024 picture elements, two color capability, and can be written in several seconds.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of three-dimensional (3D) conformal proton radiotherapy (RT), 3D conformal photon RT, and intensity-modulated RT for retroperitoneal and intra-abdominal sarcomas.

Purpose To compare three-dimensional conformal proton radiotherapy (3DCPT), intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT), and 3D conformal photon radiotherapy (3DCRT) to predict the optimal RT technique for retroperitoneal sarcomas. Methods and Materials 3DCRT, IMRT, and 3DCPT plans were created for treating eight patients with retroperitoneal or intra-abdominal sarcomas. The clinical target volume (CTV) included the gross tumor plus a 2-cm margin, limited by bone and intact fascial planes. For photon plans, the planning target volume (PTV) included a uniform expansion of 5 mm. For the proton plans, the PTV was nonuniform and beam-specific. The prescription dose was 50.4 Gy/Cobalt gray equivalent CGE. Plans were normalized so that >95% of the CTV received 100% of the dose. Results The CTV was covered adequately by all techniques. The median conformity index was 0.69 for 3DCPT, 0.75 for IMRT, and 0.51 for 3DCRT. The median inhomogeneity coefficient was 0.062 for 3DCPT, 0.066 for IMRT, and 0.073 for 3DCRT. The bowel median volume receiving 15 Gy (V15) was 16.4% for 3DCPT, 52.2% for IMRT, and 66.1% for 3DCRT. The bowel median V45 was 6.3% for 3DCPT, 4.7% for IMRT, and 15.6% for 3DCRT. The median ipsilateral mean kidney dose was 22.5 CGE for 3DCPT, 34.1 Gy for IMRT, and 37.8 Gy for 3DCRT. The median contralateral mean kidney dose was 0 CGE for 3DCPT, 6.4 Gy for IMRT, and 11 Gy for 3DCRT. The median contralateral kidney V5 was 0% for 3DCPT, 49.9% for IMRT, and 99.7% for 3DCRT. Regardless of technique, the median mean liver dose was Conclusions IMRT and 3DCPT result in plans that are more conformal and homogenous than 3DCRT. Based on Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in Clinic benchmarks, the dosimetric advantage of proton therapy may be less gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity.
Torsade de Pointes and Elevated Magnesium and Calcium Requirements Associated With Intravenous Pentamidine

We present a report of markedly elevated calcium and magnesium requirements in an AIDS patient receiving central venous nutrition. These increased requirements were attributed to urinary magnesium losses associated with intravenous pentamidine therapy. The combination of intravenous pentamidine and electrolyte abnormalities resulted in the development of the dysrhythmia, torsade de pointes, in the patient. A review of literature presenting similar cases is included. Nutrition practitioners should be aware of the often prolonged effect of intravenous pentamidine on magnesium and calcium homeostasis so that adequate supplementation will be provided, perhaps preventing the development of life-threatening torsade de pointes.
The Thermal Conductivity of Bismuth Telluride

Measurements of the thermal conductivity of bismuth telluride have been made in the range of temperature 150°K to 300°K. It has been found that the electronic contribution to the conduction of heat is considerably greater for specimens in which the charge carriers are intrinsically excited than for specimens in which most of the carriers arise from an impurity concentration; this can be explained by the recently proposed theory which takes into account the transfer of ionization energy down a temperature gradient.
Toward unified satellite climatology of aerosol properties: Direct comparisons of advanced level 2 aerosol products

Abstract The development of a unified satellite climatology of aerosol properties requires accurate quantification and deep understanding of the underlying factors contributing to discrepancies between individual satellite products. In this paper we compare the most recent level 2 results obtained for coincident pixels viewed at essentially the same time by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) instruments flown on the EOS Terra platform. This strategy eliminates potential sampling effects and provides a virtually direct comparison of spatially and temporally collocated MODIS and MISR retrievals. We show that the MODIS and MISR Angstrom exponent datasets reveal essentially no correlation. Although the corresponding aerosol optical thickness (AOT) datasets can agree worse than expected over the oceans, still the agreement is often satisfactory. However, the agreement over the land is often poor or even unacceptable. Of the collocated pixels for which there is a MODIS aerosol retrieval, only ∼40% or fewer pixels have a MISR aerosol retrieval, and vice versa. These findings further illustrate the complexity of the problem of aerosol retrievals from satellite observations and indicate that the creation of a meaningful unified MODIS–MISR aerosol climatology will be a nontrivial task.
Mathematical model of oxygen distribution in engineered cardiac tissue with parallel channel array perfused with culture medium containing oxygen carriers.

A steady-state model of oxygen distribution in a cardiac tissue construct with a parallel channel array was developed and solved for a set of parameters using the finite element method and commerci...
Clientelism and Citizenship The Limits of Democratic Reform in Sucre, Colombia

Political reality in Latin America raises important questions about the prerequisites for democratic citizenship. Popular movements often fail to take advantage of institutional openings and encounter obstacles in transforming their mobilizing power into institutional political power. An analysis of political participation in the Colombian department of Sucre shows that the clientelism that is so widespread in Latin American democracies inhibits the potential power of organized popular groups under new political rules and frustrates the promise of institutional change. First, a precarious economic situation forces important sectors of the population to value the immediate benefits of exchanging their votes over the more long-term and abstract benefits of political representation. Second, the long history of these political practices has created informal institutions based on networks of unequal exchange and has prevented the development of local participatory institutions that could serve as the basis of democratic citizenship. Third, politicians and their political machines have displayed a much greater ability to adapt to changes in political rules and institutions than the proponents of institutional political reforms generally anticipated. Colombia is an interesting place to examine clientelism and democratic citizenship because, in contrast to the new democracies, which in many cases face economic crisis or must overcome the legacies of previous authoritarian regimes, it has enjoyed economic stability and civil government for several decades. In spite of this institutional democratic history, however, high abstention rates, entrenched clientelism, and constant violence show that