cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is considered the gold standard for measurements of central arterial stiffness obtained through noninvasive methods1. Subjects are placed in the supine position and allowed to rest quietly for at least 10 min prior to the start of the exam. The proper cuff size is selected and a blood pressure is obtained using an oscillometric device. Once a resting blood pressure has been obtained, pressure waveforms are acquired from the right femoral and right common carotid arteries. The system then automatically calculates the pulse transit time between these two sites (using the carotid artery as a surrogate for the descending aorta). Body surface measurements are used to determine the distance traveled by the pulse wave between the two sampling sites. This distance is then divided by the pulse transit time resulting in the pulse wave velocity. The measurements are performed in triplicate and the average is used for analysis.
AsAP: A Fine-Grained Many-Core Platform for DSP Applications

Many emerging and future applications require significant levels of complex digital signal processing and operate within limited power budgets. Moreover, dramatically rising VLSI fabrication and design costs make programmable and reconfigurable solutions increasingly attractive. the ASAP project addresses these challenges with a chip multiprocessor composed of simple processors with small memories, achieving high energy efficiency and throughput in a small chip area.
Developments in West Virginia in 1948

In all, 934 wells were drilled in West Virginia during 1948, or 8 less than in 1947. There were 923 permits to drill or deepen, 53 less than in 1947. There were 1,132 wells abandoned under permit or abandoned under original drilling permit numbers; 310 more wells were abandoned in 1948 than in 1947. Wells completed were: gas, 590; oil, 131; oil and gas, 26; storage et cetera, 9; dry, 178. The 1947 totals were: gas, 644; oil, 93; oil and gas, 25; storage et cetera, 9; dry, 171. Wells ranged in depth from 283 to 8,942 feet, compared with 385 to 8,120 feet in 1947. Total footage drilled was 2,520,757 feet, compared with 2,570,198 feet in 1947. The average depth of wells was 2,699 feet, compared with 2,819 feet in 1947. The total daily initial volume of gas was 491,441 MCF, c mpared with 506,672 MCF in 1947. Range in size of gas wells, 6 to 24,000 MCF, compared with 10 to 18,151 MCF in 1947. Total initial daily oil, 2,478 3/4 barrels, compared with 1,567 barrels in 1947. Number of wells drilling or completions unreported at end of year, 333, compared with 310 in 1947. Preliminary estimates of production for 1948: gas, 221,130,000 MCF; oil, 2,695,000 barrels. Estimated number of producing wells at end of 1948: gas, 14,250; oil, 16,365. A table gives statistics by counties.
Outcrop characterization of reservoir quality and interwell-scale cement distribution in a tide-influenced delta, Frontier Formation, Wyoming, USA

Petrographic study of the Frewens sandstone, Upper Cretaceous Frontier Formation, documents reservoir-scale diagenetic heterogeneity. Iron-bearing calcite cement occurs as large concretions that generally follow bedding and are most common near the top of the sandstone. Median thickness of the concretions is 0.6 m, length 4.5 m, and width 5.7 m; median volume is 5.2 m 3 . Coneretions comprise 12% of the sandstone. The minus-cement porosity of concretion samples is low, indicating that the calcite precipitated near maximum burial depth. Isotopic and burial history data suggest that the calcite precipitated at ∼54°C from evolved meteoric water enriched in 18 O or from a mixed meteoric-marine pore-water. Shell-bearing transgressive shales above the Frewens sandstone are interpreted to be the source of calcium carbonate. Concretions of this size and distribution would influence fluid flow in a reservoir and would reduce the amount of hydrocarbons in place.
Enzymatic oxidation and reduction of C-19-delta-5,3 beta-hydroxysteroids by hepatic microsomes. I. Biosynthesis of 3 beta,17 beta-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-1 6-one and sex differences in adult rats.

Incubation of 14C-4-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) with liver microsomes from adult Sprague-Dawley rats led to the biosynthesis of 3β,17β-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-16-one (16-keto- A5-diol), along with the expected products, androst- 5-ene-3β,17β-diol (A5-diol), 3β,l6α-dihydroxyandrost- S-en-17-one (16a-0H-DHA), and androst-5-ene-3β,16α,17β-triol (A5-triol). The identity of 16-keto-A5-diol was established by the chromatographic properties of the free and acetylated compounds and by recrystallization to constant SA. Optimal incubation conditions for the biosynthesis of the 16,17-isomeric ketols yielded 16-keto-A5-diol as the predominant isomer. The production of 16-keto-A5-diol is sex-linked as is that of 16α-OH-DHA and A5-triol, with higher yields from males. The rate of biosynthesis of A5-diol is the same for both sexes. (Endocrinology 91: 969, 1972)
Patterns of Magma Flow in Segmented Silicic Dikes at Summer Coon Volcano, Colorado: AMS and Thin Section Analysis

Abstract A complex pattern of magma flow is found in two silicic dikes of a radial swarm at Summer Coon, an eroded stratovolcano in southern Colorado. The two intrusions are broken into multiple segments that suggest vertical dike propagation. However, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurements and thin section observations suggest that magma flow was often subhorizontal and away from the center of the volcano. Segments that are proximal to the central intrusion are characterized by magma that flowed steeply upward at the proximal segment extremity, then laterally along the segment, and finally downward at the distal end of the segment. Magma flow in offset segment tips located far from the volcano center was subhorizontal towards the adjacent segment, implying lateral propagation of segment tips towards one another. This observation suggests relatively high driving pressure in distal dike segments, as supported by dike thickening with radial distance from the center of the volcano. The present study indicates that radial dike evolution at stratovolcanoes is dominated by lateral flow of magma and dike segmentation is a poor magma flow indicator. A horizontally propagating radial dike has the potential to cause an eruption low on the flank of a composite cone, which poses a significant yet largely unrecognized hazard to population centers and infrastructure that may surround the volcano.
Retardation of falling spheres by hydrodynamic oscillations

Abstract Terminal velocities of gravitational fall of four sizes of precision sapphire spheres (0·794–0·4764 cm dia.) and six sizes of glass spheres (0·0208–0·505 cm dia.) have been measured in a vertically oscillating water column at conditions of constant velocity, amplitude, acceleration and frequency of vibration. Vibration conditions encompassing frequency and amplitude ranges of 5–50 c/s and 0–1·0 cm respectively have been studied. The experimental terminal velocities have been compared with oscillation-retarded asymptotic velocities predicted theoretically by the numerical solution on a digital computer of a nonlinear Langevin equation proposed by Houghton (1966) as representing a force balance on a free particle in an accelerating fluid. For the larger spheres the experimental velocities were found to be lower than those predicted theoretically using steady state drag coefficients with a negligible phase lag for the displaced fluid—these velocity differences are primarily attributed to oscillation-induced increases in the drag coefficient, with appreciable secondary influences arising from changes in phase lag, drag exponent and virtual mass. Experimental velocities for the smaller particles were found to be higher than those predicted theoretically, the differences being attributed to primary reductions in the drag exponent, with second order effects arising from oscillation-induced alterations in drag coefficient, virtual mass and phase lag.
Localization of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in pyramidal neurons of the developing rat hippocampus

During development, estrogen has a variety of effects on morphological, biochemical and electrophysiological properties of hippocampal neurons. Correspondingly, estrogen receptor (ER) binding and mRNA increase transiently in the developing hippocampus. In this study, we used immunocytochemistry to determine the localization of the ERα subtype in the developing rat hippocampus. Nuclear staining was present in pyramidal cells and some interneurons of the CA1 and CA3 regions of the developing rat hippocampus. Little or no immunoreactivity was observed in postnatal day (P)0 animals (day of birth=P0), however, beginning on P4, ERα-immunoreactivity (ERα-ir) was visible and reached maximal levels by P10. These levels subsequently declined to low levels so that by P15, levels approximated those of adult females. Western blot analysis confirmed that this antibody recognized a 67 kDa protein, characteristic of the full-length ERα protein, in the hippocampus and pituitary. Furthermore, most of the ERα-immunopositive cells in the hippocampus were located in the pyramidal cell layer, and did not co-localize appreciably with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at any age examined. We conclude, based on the immunocytochemical localization of ERα, that the effects of estrogen on biochemistry and morphology of the developing hippocampus may be direct through the ERα subtype in hippocampal pyramidal cells.
On The Frontlines or Sidelines of Knowledge and Power? Feminist Practices of Responsible Scholarship'

This presidential address challenges IR scholars to reflect on their scholarly responsibility in what some have termed a new age of empire and in which critics of US foreign policy—academics and otherwise—are increasingly under attack. Using the metaphor of frontlines and sidelines, the question is raised as to whether we can or should engage directly in the policy world or remain at a critical distance from it. This essay focuses on some ways in which feminist scholarship is responding to these questions and challenges. Claiming that knowledge and practice cannot be separated, feminists argue that the foundations of modern knowledge, built during an earlier age of empire, are implicated, often unconsciously, in the ways in which scholars and policymakers construct and respond to global events today. The divisive gendered dimensions of the clash of civilizations and the gendered workings of the global economy and the way we analyze it are presented to illustrate this claim. The essay presents some feminist reformulations that could contribute to more inclusionary theory and practice.
A case of prolonged carboplatin therapy in a patient with carboplatin hypersensitivity

Abstract Background Platinum-containing chemotherapeutic drugs have high response rates yet are known to cause hypersensitivity reactions. Attempts have been made to rechallenge allergic patients with prolonged desensitization infusion regimens. Case A female with advanced peritoneal cancer went into remission after six cycles of paclitaxel/cisplatin. Her cancer recurred 17 months later and she was treated with paclitaxel/carboplatin. A hypersensitivity reaction to carboplatin occurred during the fourth cycle and further carboplatin was withheld. With the second recurrence carboplatin was resumed using a prolonged desensitization regimen. The patient had a third recurrence and has recently completed cycle 15 of carboplatin for a total of 56 cycles. Conclusion A carboplatin desensitization regimen may allow patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian or peritoneal cancer to continue to benefit from its efficacy.
Effects of nicotine and tobacco smoke on gastric secretion in rats with gastric fistulas.

A light-weight plastic cannula was surgically implanted in the stomach at the nonglandular/glandular mucosal junction in male Sprague-Dawley rats. After a 3-week recovery period they were studied repeatedly over a span of 9 months. Following a 48-hr fast, gastric secretion was collected hourly for 7 hr (1 control and 6 experimental); parameters measured were gastric-juice volume (GJV), acid output (AOP), and pepsin output (POP). The effects of nicotine hydrogen tartrate and tobacco smoke in 10% ethanol saline were studied under basal conditions and after stimulation with maximal doses of histamine acid phosphate and submaximal and maximal doses of ICI-50123. In control experiments, rats received normal saline or 10% ethanol saline (tobacco smoke control). Nicotine depressed, to a varying degree, GJV and AOP in 3 hr of basal secretion; POP was unaffected. With maximal histamine-stimulated secretion, nicotine depressed GJV and AOP, to a varying degree, over the third to seventh hour; POP was depressed from the second to seventh hour. With maximal ICI-50123-stimulated secretion, nicotine depressed POP from the second to seventh hour; no effect was seen on the other parameters. With submaximal ICI-50123-stimulated secretion, POP was depressed by both nicotine and tobacco smoke; the other parameters were unaffected.
LIFE HISTORY OF A GLAZE: I, MATURING OF A WHITEWARE GLAZE *

Glazed specimens of a commercial semivitreous body were fired according to a production tunnel-kiln schedule, and draw trials were taken out and quenched at frequent temperature intervals. Thin sections of these specimens were examined with a petrographic microscope for a determination of the constituents in the glaze and at the interface. The volume of the bubbles, undissolved feldspar, and undissolved quartz were measured for each temperature.
Issues in Education: Readiness for School or for School Culture?.

(1995). Issues in Education: Readiness for School or for School Culture? Childhood Education: Vol. 71, No. 3, pp. 164-166.
Cardiodynamic changes during prolonged carbon monoxide exposure in the rat

Abstract Adult male rats were exposed to 500 ppm CO (38–42% COHb) for periods of time from 1–42 days. Hematocrit rose gradually from 49.8 to 69.7%. Cardiomegaly developed as reported earlier. Using an open chest anesthetized preparation, stroke index, mean stroke power, and mean cardiac output were seen to increase sharply upon initial CO exposure and to remain elevated for the duration of exposure. Concurrently, both total systemic resistance and total pulmonary resistance fell sharply and remained depressed. Left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) systolic pressures and mean aortic pressure rose modestly, but nonsignificantly over the first 14 days of exposure, declining somewhat thereafter. The maximum rate of change of LV pressure ( dP dt ) tended to rise above control values during the first 2 weeks of exposure. There was no consistent change in heart rate. Enhanced cardiac output via increased stroke volume is seen as a compensatory mechanism to provide adequate tissue oxygen delivery during CO intoxication. The greater continuous heart work involved may be the major factor responsible for development of CO-induced cardiomegaly.
Field lines in the Mandelbrot Set

Abstract A technique for displaying color images of field lines surrounding the Mandelbrot Set using angle-slicing decomposition and a “contrast color lookup table,” is described. A modification of this method, which compensates for the spatial-frequency doubling inherent in angle-slicing decomposition, can produce black and white images that even more accurately portray the field lines.
Bioaccumulation of cyanuric acid in edible tissues of shrimp following experimental feeding.

Due to concerns that cyanuric acid (CYA)-contaminated feed had been used in aquaculture and could enter the human food chain, a method to quantify CYA residues in the edible tissues of fish and shrimp was previously developed and validated. This paper provides further data on the deliberate feeding of CYA to shrimp to determine the extent of residue accumulation in edible tissue. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was employed for the analysis of CYA in shrimp tissue. Edible tissue of shrimp fed 1666 or 3333 mg kg−1 CYA in their diet (approximately 55 and 124 mg kg−1 body weight) contained 0.767 and 0.406 mg kg−1 CYA, respectively. The residue levels are below the World Health Organization (WHO) tolerable daily intake level for CYA and are generally considered unlikely to pose a human health risk.
Exploring patterns of TASER use by the police: an officer-level analysis

The empirical research on the TASER and other conducted energy devices (CEDs) has been expanding as police departments increasingly adopt them as a force alternative. To date, a number of studies have examined the circumstances in which they are used, their effectiveness in the field, and physiological effects. Much of the research in criminal justice has focused on incident-level health and effectiveness outcomes. Also, a growing number of researchers have begun to study organizational-level changes in policy and management that have emerged as a result of the introduction of this new technology. However, few studies have examined officer-level patterns and variations in TASER use. Although it is important to understand how situational contingencies and departmental policies shape police–citizen encounters, it may also benefit the policing field to understand whether non-users, users and high-frequency users of the TASER differ in meaningful ways. That is the focus of this study. This paper draws on a 20...
The Effects of Vegetation Removal by Grass Carp on Water Chemistry and Phytoplankton in Indiana Ponds

Abstract Water quality parameters and phytoplankton in ponds stocked with grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (test ponds) and in control ponds were compared during the summers of 1975 and 1976. Grass carp rapidly consumed available aquatic vascular plants. Dissolved oxygen levels in test ponds remained high as long as bottom growths of the filamentous green alga, Spirogyra sp. were present, but consumption of this alga in addition to vascular vegetation led to significantly lower dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water directly above the sediments. The most consistently affected parameters were turbidity and potassium concentrations, both of which were significantly higher in test ponds. Phytoplankton populations consisting primarily of dinoflagellates were not affected by grass carp introduction. As much as 54% of the phosphorus and 42% of the nitrogen released by consumption of plants were incorporated into new fish tissue. Most of the phosphorus not taken up by the fish was sequestered into compo...
Novel chromatographic technique for studying pressure and secondary surface effects on the critical micelle concentration

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed to study micelle formation. A maximum is observed at the critical micelle concentration (CMC) when the chromatographic selectivity factor for solute pairs of different polarity is plotted as a function of surfactant concentration. The values obtained for the CMC are about 10–15% higher than those reported for ambient pressures but are much closer to elevated pressure data.
Mass Rearing of Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) Fruit Flies: A Demographic Analysis

A mass rearing demographic model was applied to three species of Anastrepha fruit flies: A. ludens (Loew), A. oblique (Macquart), and A. serpentine (Wiedemann). All flies were field collected as larvae from infested fruits and later sorted by pupal weight. The effects of size on mass-rearing demographic parameters were determined. The number of pupae produced per female was higher for the large flies. The optimal discard age was similar for both large and small flies and was longer than the optimal discard age reported for other laboratory reared tephritids. Age distribution analysis showed that the adults represent less than 1% of the standing population at the facility. The age distribution of the released population for a Sterile Insect Technique program was estimated and implications are discussed.
Detection of Lyme Borrelia in Questing Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Small Mammals in Louisiana

Lyme borreliosis is caused by spirochetes from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex. In the United States, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.; Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt, and Brenner) is the most common cause of human Lyme borreliosis. With >25,000 cases reported annually, it is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Although approximately 90% of cases are contained to the northeastern and Great Lake states, areas in Canada and some southern states are reporting rises in the number of human disease cases. Louisiana records a few cases of Lyme each year. Although some are most certainly the result of travel to more endemic areas, there exists evidence of locally acquired cases. Louisiana has established populations of the vector tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say), and a wide variety of potential reservoir animals, yet Lyme Borrelia has never been described in the state. Using culture and polymerase chain reaction, we investigated the presence of Lyme Borrelia in both mammals and questing ticks at a study site in Louisiana. Although culture was mostly unsuccessful, we did detect the presence of B. burgdorferi s.s. DNA in 6.3% (11 of 174) of ticks and 22.7% (five of 22) of animal samples. To our knowledge, this is among the first evidence documenting B. burgdorferi s.s. in Louisiana. Further investigations are required to determine the significance these findings have on human and animal health.
Climatic Oscillations 10,000-155,000 yr B.P. at Owens Lake, California Reflected in Glacial Rock Flour Abundance and Lake Salinity in Core OL-92

Chemical analyses of the acid-soluble and clay-size fractions of sediment samples (1500-yr resolution) reveal oscillations of lake salinity and of glacial advances in core OL-92 back to 155,000 yr B.P. Relatively saline conditions are indicated by the abundance of carbonate and smectite (both pedogenic and authigenic), reflected by Ca, Sr, and Mg in the acid-soluble suite, and by Cs2O, excess MgO, and LOI (loss on ignition) in the clay-size fraction. Rock flour produced during glacial advances is represented by the abundance of detrital plagioclase and biotite in the clay-size fraction, the ratio of which remains essentially constant over the entire time span. These phases are quantitatively represented by Na2O, TiO2, Ba, and Mn in the clay fraction. The rock-flour record indicates two major ice-advances during the penultimate glacial cycle corresponding to marine isotope stage (MIS) 6, no major advances during the last interglaciation (entire MIS 5), and three major advances during the last glacial cycle (MIS 2, 3, and 4). The ages of the latter three correspond rather well to36Cl dates reported for Sierra Nevada moraines. The onset of the last interglaciation is shown by abrupt increases in authigenic CaCO3and an abrupt decrease in rock flour, at about 118,000 yr B.P. according to our time scale. In contrast, the boundary appears to be gradual in the δ18O record in which the change from light to heavy values begins at about 140,000 yrs B.P. The exact position of the termination, therefore, may be proxy-dependent. Conditions of high carbonate and low rock flour prevailed during the entire period from 118,000 yr B.P. until the glacial advance at 53,000 yr B.P. signaled the end of this long interglaciation.
Adaptive Digital Controller and Design Considerations for a Variable Switching Frequency Voltage Regulator

An auto-tuning adaptive digital controller with maximum efficiency point tracking to optimize dc-dc converter switching frequency is presented in this paper. The adaptive-frequency-optimization (AFO) controller adjusts the dc-dc converter switching frequency while tracking the converter minimum input power (maximum efficiency) point under variable operation conditions of the power converter. The AFO digital controller continuously finds the optimum switching frequency that will result in minimum total power loss while converter parameters and conditions vary. Moreover, the presented controller addresses the issues that are associated with implementing variable switching frequency in digital controllers, including limit cycle oscillation and possible performance degradation, by using a dynamic algorithm to maintain converter system stability under variable switching frequency operation. In this paper, the proposed controller is discussed, analyzed, and its digital control algorithms and experimental results are presented.
Collecting System Invasion In Renal Cell Carcinoma: Impact on Prognosis And Future Staging Strategies

ABSTRACTPurpose: To define further the prognostic impact of urothelial invasion in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) we examined the outcome in patients presenting to our institution with kidney cancer treated with nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 895 patients with RCC who were treated with nephrectomy between 1989 and 1999. Median followup was 31 months. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed with respect to 1997 TNM stage, Fuhrman grade and University of California-Los Angeles Integrated Staging System stage, comparing patients with and without collecting system invasion. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Overall survival was defined as time from nephrectomy to time of death or last followup.Results: Of the 895 patients 124 (14%) demonstrated collecting system invasion. Patients with collecting system invasion were more likely to be symptomatic and have associated metastases and/or positive nodes at diagnosis. Urothelial invasion was evident in 21 ...
Is there a scaffolding domain within the structure of the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin a (CsA)? Studies of the cyclophilin binding domain of CsA

Abstract The synthesis of a peptide that approximates the critical binding/immunosuppressive domain within CsA but which is lacking any form of molecular scaffolding is described. The analysis of the conformation and cyclophilin binding properties of this synthetic analogue provides further evidence for the existence of a scaffolding domain within the natural product.
Suppressive Regulatory T Cell Activity Is Potentiated by Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Inhibition

The mechanism by which regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress the immune response is not well defined. A recent study has shown that β-catenin prolongs Treg cell survival. Because β-catenin is regulated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β)-directed phosphorylation, we focused on GSK-3β and the role it plays in Treg cell function. Inhibition of GSK-3β led to increased suppression activity by Treg cells. Inhibitor-treated Treg cells exhibited prolonged FoxP3 expression and increased levels of β-catenin and of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Systemic administration of GSK-3β inhibitor resulted in prolonged islet survival in an allotransplant mouse model. Our data suggest that GSK-3β could be a useful target in developing strategies designed to increase the stability and function of Treg cells for inducing allotransplant tolerance or treating autoimmune conditions.
Evaluation of modeling refinements on work sampling statistics

Abstract A spreadsheet program is presented as a design tool for work sampling studies. The program incorporates the alternating Poisson process (APP) model for process fluctuation and allows for evaluation of process parameters with, or without, a finite sample size correction.
A Technique of Formalizing and Testing Models of Behavior: Two Models of Ojibwa Restraint1

Social scientists often construct informal models of the behavior of typical members of a society or of members of a social category, such as “peasants.” A technique of formalizing such models in terms of mathematical decision theory is illustrated with informal models offered by Hallowell and Freud. Quantitative implications of the models are compared with field data from two groups of Ojibwa.
LEO: An autonomic query optimizer for DB2

Structured Query Language (SQL) has emerged as an industry standard for querying relational database management systems, largely because a user need only specify what data are wanted, not the details of how to access those data. A query optimizer uses a mathematical model of query execution to determine automatically the best way to access and process any given SQL query. This model is heavily dependent upon the optimizer's estimates for the number of rows that will result at each step of the query execution plan (QEP), especially for complex queries involving many predicates and/or operations. These estimates rely upon statistics on the database and modeling assumptions that may or may not be true for a given database. In this paper, we discuss an autonomic query optimizer that automatically self-validates its model without requiring any user interaction to repair incorrect statistics or cardinality estimates. By monitoring queries as they execute, the autonomic optimizer compares the optimizer's estimates with actual cardinalities at each step in a QEP, and computes adjustments to its estimates that may be used during future optimizations of similar queries. Moreover, the detection of estimation errors can also trigger reoptimization of a query in mid-execution. The autonomic refinement of the optimizer's model can result in a reduction of query execution time by orders of magnitude at negligible additional run-time cost. We discuss various research issues and practical considerations that were addressed during our implementation of a first prototype of LEO, a LEarning Optimizer for DB2Â® (Database 2TM) that learns table access cardinalities and for future queries corrects the estimation error for simple predicates by adjusting the database statistics of DB2.
Disruption of the 'disease triangle' by chemical and physical environmental change

The physical and chemical environment of the Earth has changed rapidly over the last 100 years and is predicted to continue to change into the foreseeable future. One of the main concerns with potential alterations in climate is the propensity for increases in the magnitude and frequency of extremes to occur. Even though precipitation is predicted to increase in some locations, in others precipitation is expected to decrease and evapotranspiration increase with air temperature, resulting in exacerbated drought in the future. Chemical [ozone (O3 ) and other air contaminants] and subsequent physical alterations in the environment will have a profound effect on the 'disease triangle' (a favourable environment, a susceptible host and a virulent pathogen) and should be included in any analysis of biological response to climate change. The chemical and physical environment affects plant health and alters plant susceptibility to insect and pathogen attack through increased frequency, duration and severity of drought and reduction in host vigour. The potential effects of climate change and O3 on tree diseases with emphasis on the western United States are discussed. We describe a generalised modelling approach to incorporate the complexities of the 'disease triangle' into dynamic vegetation models.
Plain film imaging of Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implants

Summary: A glaucoma drainage implant was detected on plain skull radiographs before MR imaging examination of the brain. The patient was denied the MR imaging for fear of dislodging the “metallic foreign body.” The Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implant was mistakenly identified as an orbital metallic object based on its radiographic characteristics. Because none of the current glaucoma drainage implants contain ferromagnetic material, patients with these devices can undergo MR imaging without special precaution.
Defects in Neurofibromatosis 2 Protein Function Can Arise at Multiple Levels

Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is an inherited cancer syndrome resulting from mutations in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene. Analysis of NF2 mutations has revealed some general genotype-phenotype correlations. Severe disease has been associated with mutations that produce a premature termination while more mild disease has been associated with missense mutations. Here, we provide experimental proof for these genotype-phenotype correlations by demonstrating that nonsense mutations fail to produce stable merlin protein while missense mutations result in the generation of merlin proteins defective in negative growth regulation. This inability to suppress cell growth may result from defects in the function of merlin at several levels, including failure to form an intramolecular complex. Based on these findings, we propose a model for merlin growth suppression that provides a framework for analyzing NF2 patient mutations and merlin function.
Low-dose methotrexate treatment for oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis nonresponsive to intra-articular corticosteroids.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose (0.2 mg/kg) methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of children with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who do not respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and repeated intra-articular corticosteroid (IA) injections. Nineteen consecutive patients (age: 2–14 years, 18 females) with oligoarticular JIA were studied prospectively. Sixteen had a persistent course and three had an extended course of the disease. Patients were defined as nonresponders to IA injections if the duration of improvement following two consecutive injections was less than 4 weeks. These patients were offered low-dose oral MTX, administered once a week for at least 6 months. Of the 19 patients in this series, 2 responded to NSAIDs alone. Forty-eight IA injections were given to 17 patients; 11 (64%) of them did not respond to this treatment. Nine of the nonresponders were treated with low-dose MTX for a median duration of 15±3.8 months. Except for one patient with an extended disease course, all responded very well to treatment and went into remission after a median of 6.4±2.9 months, and none required additional IA injections after initiation of MTX treatment. Low-dose oral MTX appears to be very effective in the management of children with oligoarticular JIA, who are unresponsive to IA injections.
Freshwater input structures soil properties, vertical accretion, and nutrient accumulation of Georgia and U.S tidal marshes

To identify relationships between freshwater input and marsh soil properties, measurements of bulk density, nutrients (carbon [C], nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]), accretion, and accumulation were compared in tidal marshes of three estuaries of Georgia that varied in delivery of freshwater. Soil organic C and N (0–30 cm) were two times greater in marshes of the freshwater-dominated Altamaha River than in the salt marshes of Doboy Sound and Sapelo River. 137Cs accretion and accumulation of organic C and N were three to five times greater in freshwaterdominated marshes than in salt marshes. The patterns observed in Georgia marshes were geographically general; data for tidal freshwater and brackish marsh soils compiled from 61 studies in the conterminous United States showed lower bulk density and higher percent organic C and N than salt marshes, regardless of geographic region. Salinity, a proxy for freshwater input, was inversely correlated with percent soil organic C and N and with vertical accretion in Georgia marshes and in marshes elsewhere in the conterminous United States. There was no relationship between above- or belowground emergent plant production and salinity of Georgia marshes but the rate of root decomposition was positively related to salinity, and decomposition rate was negatively related to percent soil organic C and C accumulation. In Georgia tidal marshes and elsewhere, soil organic matter content and accumulation are mediated by freshwater through its effects on decomposition. The mixing of freshwater and seawater is a fundamental driving force that determines the structure and function of tidal marshes. Freshwater governs the distribution of emergent plant communities and tidal marsh fauna along the estuarine gradient (Simpson et al. 1983; Odum 1988). Spatial patterns in biogeochemical processes such as sediment deposition (Paludan and Morris 1999), P sorption (Sundareshwar and Morris 1999), denitrification (Seitzinger 1988), methanogenesis (Bartlett et al. 1987), and sulfate reduction (Capone and Kiene 1988) also are linked to spatial and temporal variation in freshwater input. Soils are an important component of tidal marshes. They sequester organic matter, N, and P (Craft et al. 1988), support complex biogeochemical reactions (Capone and Kiene 1988), and contribute to long-term marsh stability through deposition of mineral sediment and accumulation
4-20 GHz magnetostatic-wave delay-line oscillator

A single-mode 4-20 GHz tunable oscillator is described. The oscillator makes use of a narrowband magnetostatic-surface-wave delay line in a feedback loop of a solid-state amplifier. The output power from the oscillator was always >+ 15 dBm throughout the tuning range.
Towards an Ontology for Interdisciplinary Handoff Communication in Intensive Care: Implications for Tool Resiliency and Patient Safety

Handoffs are considered a vulnerable point in the clinical workflow. A recent report by The Joint Commission (TJC) found that nearly 80% of communication errors occur during care transitions. While there has been significant research on handoff tools and their use, it can be argued that there is variability among the handoff tools used in current practice. We conducted a multi-year, longitudinal evaluation on the nature of content and structure of handoffs among residents and nurses in a medical intensive care unit (MICU). In this paper, we report on our top-level findings regarding the use of a body-systems based formatted tool that supported standardized, interactive and effective communication for both medical and nursing practice. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our results for the design and development of future handoff tools.
Effect of grip span on lateral pinch grip strength.

Repetitive, high-force pinch grip exertions are common in many occupational activities. The goal of the current study was to quantify the relationship between lateral pinch grip span (distance between thumb and index finger) and lateral pinch grip strength. An experiment was conducted in which 40 participants performed maximal lateral pinch grip exertions at 11 levels of grip span distances (0, 10%, ... 100% of maximum functional lateral pinch grip span distance). The results show a significant effect of lateral pinch grip span, with strength at the maximum functional lateral pinch grip span 40% higher than that found at the smallest lateral pinch grip span considered. Between these two endpoints, strength increased monotonically with increasing pinch grip span. The application of these results in pinch grip design criteria for both high-force and long-duration exertions is discussed. Potential applications of this research include the design of hand tools and controls for which significant force is applied by the user.
Tetracycline-controlled transcriptional regulation systems: advances and application in transgenic animal modeling.

Since the first tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activation system was designed nearly a decade ago, new variants, modifications, and improvements have been steadily added to this powerful set of tools for temporal control of transgene expression in mammalian systems. Tetracycline-based externally regulatable (Tet-based) systems have been successfully used to control the expression of numerous transgenes in cultured cells and in whole organisms, especially in mice. The application of these systems has provided invaluable insights into the function and regulation of a variety of genes under physiological and pathological conditions. Because of the favorable characteristics of the inducing agent doxycycline and the efficiency and effectiveness of the operating mechanism, the Tet-based systems have attracted substantial attention from the transgenic research community and are rapidly gaining popularity. The original tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activator (tTA) is a regulator with tight control of target gene expression and a broad range of inducibility. The reverse tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activator (rtTA) activates the responsive elements only in the presence of doxycycline, giving a convenient control over the target transgene. The recently developed tetracycline-controlled transcriptional silencer (tTS) has been successfully used in cultured cells and in transgenic mice. In combination with rtTA, tTS actively suppresses background expression or “leakiness” without impeding the inducibility of the target gene, providing a true “On/Off” transgenic switch. New variants of Tet-based regulators with improved features are still emerging and the utilities of these systems are constantly being tested.
Measurement of triboluminescence and proton half brightness dose for ZnS:Mn

Preliminary research has shown that triboluminescent (TL) phosphors show promise for use as the active element in impact sensors. For ZnS:Mn, preliminary results indicate that impact energies greater than 1.6/spl times/10/sup -2/ J produced measurable TL light. A so-called "smart" structure with embedded TL material could be capable of determining whether a particle had struck, and record the relative intensity of its impact. In order to use such materials in space, we need to understand the radiation susceptibility of the TL phosphor. The corresponding proton dose required to reduce the proton-induced luminescence of ZnS:Mn to half of its initial value was found to be 9.02/spl times/10/sup 13/ mm/sup -2/. This value will be used to help determine how incident protons affect the production of TL in ZnS:Mn.
Impact of an Emergency Department Pain Management Protocol on the Pattern of Visits by Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

This study explores how implementation of pain management guidelines in concert with clinic case management affected emergency department (ED) utilization, clinic visits, and hospital admissions for patients with sickle cell disease. A pain management guideline that eliminated meperidine and encouraged timely use of morphine or hydromorphone for pain control in sickle cell crisis was introduced as a quality improvement project. This study is a retrospective review of ED visits, clinic visits, and admissions from 1 year before and 3 years after the guideline implementation. Working with the ED, the Hematology Clinic began to proactively seek the return of their patients for clinic follow-up. A formal case management program for sickle cell patients was initiated in June 2003. A total of 1584 visits by 223 patients were collected, 1097 to the ED and 487 to the Hematology Clinic. Total hospital visits did not change significantly in any of the 4 years, p > 0.10 for each comparison. Total ED visits decreased significantly over the 4-year study period (p < 0.001), whereas clinic visits steadily increased (p < 0.001). Return visits to the ED within 30 days also declined significantly, p < 0.001. Both the absolute number of admissions per year and the total admissions per hospital visit per year declined significantly over the study period, p = 0.001. Although total admissions per hospital visit did not change, the proportion of ED visits that resulted in admission in year 1 (29%) was significantly lower than the proportion admitted in year 2 (43%), p = 0.04. A pain protocol using morphine or hydromorphone coupled with increased access to outpatient clinics decreased ED visits, hospitalizations, and increased utilization of a more stable primary care clinic setting by patients with sickle cell disease.
X.25 Virtual Circuits - TRANSPAC IN France - Pre-Internet Data Networking [History of communications]

The following article , by Remi Despres, is the second on the history of X.25 systems to appear in this column. As noted by Dr. Despres, the previous article focused on the Canadian Datapac system. Earlier articles on packet switching in this column have included one on the history of the Arpanet/Internet and one on early British packet switching systems. What makes this article particularly distinctive, aside, of course, from the fact that it focuses on the major contributions of French engineers to the development of packet switching as well as to X.25 standardization, is that it carefully outlines the reasons for the choice of connection-oriented virtual circuits for the Transpac network, as contrasted with datagram-based packet switching adopted for Arpanet. Interestingly, Dr. Despres notes that the idea of using virtual-circuit connection-oriented packet switching in the Transpac development came from the British packet switching activity. It is to be noted that early commercial packet switching networks in the United States, such as Tymnet and Telenet, also adopted the virtual circuit paradigm.
The Journal of the American Taxation Association 1979–2000: Content, Participation, and Citation Analyses

This study uses three databases to identify and discuss trends within The Journal of the American Taxation Association (JATA) for the 1979 through 2000 time period. This research reports on institutional involvement of the authors publishing in JATA and examines the extent of citations of JATA articles within the journal itself and in other academic, accounting journals. Methodologies utilized are content, participation, and citation analyses. A review of the data suggests that JATA went through a major shift in emphasis during the late 1980s and early 1990s. This shift brought a narrowing of focus on tax topics and research methodologies consistent with the Scholes and Wolfson paradigm of tax research. In addition, participation in JATA shifted more toward Assistant Professors, although this gap has begun to close in recent years.
Ultrastructural, Biochemical, and Endocrine Studies on the Effects of Gossypol and its Isomeric Derivatives on The Male Reproductive Tract

Chinese scientists have reported that in clinical trials involving more than 8000 men tested over a four-year period gossypol was found to be a 99.89% effective, safe, and reversible contraceptive [1]. Treatment for eight weeks with 20 mg of gossypol daily decreases sperm counts to well below 4 x 106/ml; a maintenance dose of 40 mg of gossypol/wk thereafter sustains infertility. Gossypol does not appear to affect plasma testosterone levels in human subjects [2, 3] or in monkeys [4, 5], and the drug is without adverse effects on sexual function. A few minor side effects occur but they are transient and disappear spontaneously within the first few weeks of treatment. Hypokalemic paralysis, a potentially serious side effect reported by Chinese investigators in 66/8806 cases (0.75%) [6], was not observed in Brazilian men treated with gossypol [7] and it has since been suggested that the incidence of hypokalemia in China may be related more to regional differences in dietary intake than to effects of gossypol on serum potassium [8]. More recently, double-blind studies in gossypol-treated men in China have failed to confirm a causal relationship between gossypol and hypokalemia [9]. Interestingly, there is a high incidence of spontaneously occurring periodic hypokalemic paralysis in Oriental men [10].