cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of nitrous oxide on exposure on maternal and embryonic S-adenosylmetthionine levels and ornithine decarboxylase activity

Abstract Nitrous oxide is suspected to be a developmental toxicant in humans. The anesthetic does produce increases in the resorption and malformation frequencies in rodents. The mechanism for the drug's developmental toxicant effects in unknown. Embryonic DNA synthesis is decreased; however, this decrease does not appear to be due to depressed levels of adenine or guanine. In this investigation, we examined the effect of N2O on maternal and embryonic S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) levels and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, and the effect of exogenous methionine (Met) on these parameters was also examined. AdoMet and ODC are involved in polyamine synthesis, and polyamines are involved in regulation of macromolecular synthesis. Pregnant rats were treated with N2O for 24 hours beginning on the morning of day 10 of gestation. There was no effect of N2O on maternal hepatic AdoMet or S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) levels; there was also no effect on embryonic AdoMet. Embryonic AdoHcy could not be detected in many of the samples; however, N2O treatment did significantly increase the number of embryonic samples in which AdoHcy was detectable. ODC activity was not affected by either treatment in dams but was increased by N2O in embryos. It is possible that the embryotoxic effect of this anesthetic is mediated by alterations in the AdoMet to AdoHcy ratio or to changes in ODC activity and polyamine synthesis.
Optimal Permeability Character for Quasi-Static Countercurrent Dialysis

An important parameter in the design of countercurrent dialyzers is the permeability of the membrane which separates the blood and dialyzate. In this paper, methods of optimization theory are applied to specify membrane permeability along the length of a countercurrent dialyzer operating under quasi-static conditions. Two optimization problems are considered. In the first the performance functional is a quadratic measure of membrane complexity; in the second it includes also a quadratic measure of the deviation of the blood output concentration from a desired (low) level. For both situations it is shown that the optimal membrane is one of constant permeability along its length, a result which is intuitively appealing and has an obvious economic consequence. Formulas for computing the optimal permeabilities are given, and some problems for future research in this area are outlined. A generalization of the principal result is also included, and some deficiencies in the present analysis are discussed.
Dynamic light scattering from a highly swollen nonionic lamellar liquid crystal.

We have conducted a dynamic light-scattering study of the homeotropically aligned highly swollen lamellar phase (layer separation d\ensuremath{\sim}180 nm) of a nonionic binary system, dodecylpentaglycol (C12E5) and water, where the steric and entropic repulsion is the dominant intermembrane force stabilizing the lamellar order. We have identified a hydrodynamic mode in the two momentum-transfer limits available to light scattering. Based on previous models, we have found an explicit expression for the dispersion relation of this ``baroclinic'' or ``slip'' mode for systems with large layer spacing, which successfully explains our experimental results. When d is large, the bilayer curvature elasticity and the viscous coupling between water and the bilayers become more important to the understanding of the baroclinic mode. We found the curvature elastic constant ${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$T, consistent with generally accepted values for flexible membranes.
Molecular epidemiology of occupational and environmental lung disease

BIOMARKERS AND MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY Advances in molecular biology and analytical chemistry are providing potentially useful tools for the epidemiologic study of occupational and environmental lung disease (NRC, 1989; Paoletti, 1995; Schulte, 1996). These tools are biological indicators, or biomarkers, of events that represent exposure to a xenobiotic, effects of exposure and susceptibility to effects of exposure. Taken together, these biomarkers can be used to describe a continuum of events following a xenobiotic exposure and proceeding through resultant diseases. Using a continuum concept expands the classic epidemiologic model that involves statistically inferring an association between an exposure and disease. This classic approach has yielded many useful findings for public and occupational health with regard to pulmonary diseases such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis, beryllium disease, asthma from wood dust and lung cancer from asbestos, cigarette smoking, bis-chloromethylether and uranium. The epidemiologic assessment involving these lung diseases
ARGON ION REACTION STUDIES ON TANTALUM and GOLD NEAR COULOMB BARRIER ENERGIES

Abstract Gold and tantalum targets were bombarded with a 40 Ar beam at 183 and 209 MeV, close to the Coulomb barrier height. Angular distributions of recoiling reaction products were measured by collecting on A1 catcher foils. The radioactivity was counted after the irradiation by Ge(Li) detectors. One-neutron and one- and two-proton transfer products were prominent. Simple semiclassical transfer theory adequately fits the backward peaking angular distributions at or below the Coulomb barrier but fails at bombarding energies above the barrier. Yields of some products more than two mass numbers removed from reactants were observed in thicker targets at 235 MeV, and their significance is discussed.
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology Turns Six

With this issue, JICA officially begins its sixth year of publication. Like the fields of island and coastal archaeology, many exciting changes are coming to JICA in 2011. Last year we welcomed thr...
Readings on psychosomatic medicine: survey of resources for trainees.

Background As systems of care become more complex and comorbid medical and psychiatric illness becomes more evident, it is essential to prepare psychiatric trainees for practice in more integrated models of care. Objective We sought to identify readings available for residency training in consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry/psychosomatic medicine with the intent to help educators and trainees identify appropriate and essential learning resources within the field. Methods We reviewed readings available to the residents (including commonly used textbooks in C-L psychiatry and C-L training programsʼ required reading lists) and identified areas of consensus regarding the topics germane to the care of patients with comorbid medical and psychiatric illness (namely depression, dementia, and delirium) and the education of trainees. Results There was considerable variation in the references cited by well-regarded textbooks and by reading lists created for trainees in C-L psychiatry. In the 4 textbooks reviewed, there were 83 shared citations on delirium (including 10 citations that were common to all 4 textbooks and 17 citations shared by 3 textbooks). Markedly less overlap was noted in the chapters on depression (only 2 references cited in all of the textbooks with relevant content) and dementia (only 7 shared references). Conclusion Given the paucity of overlap of citations in commonly used textbooks, we recommend that practical topical reviews or textbook chapters be used as core (required) or recommended readings for residents on C-L psychiatry rotations, supplemented by a small number of studies or case series that illustrate key teaching points on each essential topic.
Effect of Lubricant Level and Applied Compressional Pressure on Surface Friction of Tablets

A method for measuring friction coefficients of compacted surfaces (tablet surfaces) is described. Frictional coefficient measurements were carried out at various tableting compression forces. The effect of magnesium stearate concentration was found to be a log-linear approach to an asymptote (which would represent a minimum frictional coefficient).
Acute Hypoxia-Ischemia Results in Hydrogen Peroxide Accumulation in Neonatal But Not Adult Mouse Brain

The neonatal brain responds differently to hypoxic-ischemic injury and may be more vulnerable than the mature brain due to a greater susceptibility to oxidative stress. As a measure of oxidative stress, the immature brain should accumulate more hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) than the mature brain after a similar hypoxic-ischemic insult. To test this hypothesis, H2O2 accumulation was measured in postnatal day 7 (P7, neonatal) and P42 (adult) CD1 mouse brain regionally after inducing HI by carotid ligation followed by systemic hypoxia. H2O2 accumulation was quantified at 2, 12, 24, and 120 h after HI using the aminotriazole (AT)-mediated inhibition of catalase spectrophotometric method. Histologic injury was determined by an established scoring system, and infarction volume was determined. P7 and P42 animals were subjected to different durations of hypoxia to create a similar degree of brain injury. Despite similar injury, significantly less H2O2 accumulated in P42 mouse cortex compared with P7 at 2, 12, and 24 h after HI. In addition, less H2O2 accumulated in P42 mouse hippocampus compared with P7 hippocampus at 2 h. Since immature neurons are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of H2O2 than mature neurons, this increased accumulation in the immature brain may explain why the neonatal brain may be more devastated, even after a milder degree of acute hypoxic-ischemic injury.
Microstructures of ZnO films deposited on (0001) and r-cut α-Al2O3 using metal organic chemical vapor deposition

Zinc oxide films were deposited on (0001) and r-cut α-Al2O3 under identical conditions using metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Microstructures of the ZnO films were studied in detail using conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction, and HRTEM image simulations. The films deposited on these two substrates show distinctive structural differences. The film grown on r-cut α-Al2O3 shows a high-quality single crystal with an orientation relationship of α-Al2O3[�101–1]//ZnO[0001] and α-Al2O3(10–1– 2)//ZnO(2–1–10). The interface between the film and the substrate was abrupt and decorated with high density of misfit dislocations. Film grown on α-Al2O3 (0001) shows several orientation domains. Typically, one domain correspond to the classic growth model such that α-Al2O3 (0001)// ZnO(0001) and α-Al2O3 [11–20]//ZnO[10–10]. Another domain corresponds to the growth mode such that α-Al2O3 [11–20]//ZnO[10–10] but the (0001) plane of ZnO is tilted relative to the (0001) plane of α-Al2O3 such that ZnO(0001) is almost parallel to the α-Al2O3 (�1104) plane. This orientation reduces the extent of lattice mismatch as compared with the classic growth mode. The interface between ZnO and α-Al2O3 is abrupt and possesses periodic dislocations. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of age and sex on pattern electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials

Pattern-electroretinograms (P-ERGs) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were simultaneously recorded in 112 normal individuals aged 20-75. Two-sized checks subtending 15' and 31' were used as stimuli. A weighted regression analysis was used to determine which of the variables, sex or age, was significant. The latency of the a and b wave of the P-ERGs showed a progressive increase with age but no difference between sexes. The effect was statistically significant for both 15' and 31' checks. There was no statistically significant aging effect for VEPs elicited by 31' checks. Aging, however, affected N70, P100, and the interpeak interval between b wave to N70 and b wave to P100 for responses to 15' checks. Shorter VEP latencies were noted in females for both 15' and 31' checks. The simultaneous recording of P-ERGs and VEPs has demonstrated that aging is a major variable at the retinal level. The effects on the a and b waves are mostly due to optic changes with aging and only partially to aging changes in the neuronal retinal circuitry. The effect of aging on VEPs is different for different size stimuli. The cause is a random neuronal cell loss in the visual pathways from the optic nerve to the visual cortex as the individual ages. The difference in VEP data between sexes may be related to anatomical size and hormonal influences.
Critique of the “Clark Effect”

A DIRECT measurement of the magnetic field strengths within the Galaxy would be of the greatest importance for understanding its structure and evolution1, and Clark2 has proposed a method based on the effect of a magnetic field on the anomalous dispersion of 21 cm radiation passing through neutral hydrogen. I wish to point out that Clark's calculation contains a fundamental error, rendering the method much less effective than he claims.
Group additivity for partial molal heat capacities and volumes of alkanes in methanol at 25°C

A flow heat capacity calorimeter and a flow vibrating tube densimeter have been used to measure the apparent molal heat capacities and volumes of 14 linear and branched alkanes in methanol at 25°C. These quantities have been extrapolated to infinite dilution to obtain the standard partial molal heat capacities and volumes. The Cp2o and V2o data can be expressed by equations having the general form: Y=AY+Σ Nk Yk+Σ(steric factors), where AY is solute independent and the Yk terms are the individual group contributions. A rationale for use of the above equation is presented.
Spin-density functionals for the electron correlation energy with automatic freedom from orbital self-interaction

Using two different interpretations of the concept of the Fermi hole curvature, the author derives a class of correlation energy expressions for the inhomogeneous interacting electron gas. Their properties include freedom from spurious orbital self-interaction, invariance under unitary transformations among occupied orbitals, correct values in the homogeneous limit, correctly normalized correlation hole, inclusion of kinetic energy (KE) as well as potential energy of correlation, and non-vanishing values for fully spin-polarized systems (in contrast with some similar schemes developed for chemical applications). Minimization of the energy with respect to the orbitals leads to a Euler-Lagrange equation resembling the Hartree-Fock one-electron effective Schrodinger equation, with the addition of a term resembling the KE operator for an inhomogeneous effective mass. For current-carrying states there is a further term involving an effective dynamically induced vector potential. Despite these complications the effective one-electron Hamiltonian is Hermitian, so that the canonical orbitals are orthogonal, in contrast with those of the commonest self-interaction correction scheme.
Enhanced dispersion resulting from solute exchange between phases

The authors discuss the enhanced dispersion resulting from solute exchange between phases investigated experimentally for the case of a long, cylindrical capillary tube in which a stationary absorbing phase formed a thin annular film around a flowing fluid. Solute diffusion into the stationary phase was analyzed in detail in order to accurately determine the coupling of film diffusion and hydrodynamic effects. The experimental results and analyses showed an increase in dispersion relative to the usual Taylor effect. The increased dispersion was a function of the relative partitioning of solute between phases and was in quantitative agreement with predictions from previously published theoretical studies.
Mechanism of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: covalent binding versus oxidative stress.

The hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen is believed to be mediated by the reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine; however, the mechanism by which this metabolite produces the toxicity is unknown. The metabolite, which is both an electrophile and an oxidizing agent, may covalently bind to critical proteins, or it may initiate oxidative damage. We have previously developed a Western blot assay for detection of acetaminophen covalently bound to protein and have reported the relationship between covalent binding and the development of hepatotoxicity. Recently, we developed a Western blot assay for protein aldehyde formation, which may occur via the reactive oxygen species, the hydroxyl radical. In this paper, we have compared covalent binding to protein aldehyde formation. Toxic doses of acetaminophen (400 mg/kg) were administered to mice, and the mice were subsequently killed at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h. Since the oxidizing agent FeSO4 has been reported to potentiate lipid peroxidation when administered wi...
What is this thing called a safety regulation

Regulation is generally perceived as an important way to achieve safety. Controversy about enforcing, amending, reforming, reducing, improving, and evaluating safety regulations abounds. Questions about the need for, validity, and effectiveness of safety regulations also continue. This paper explores the nature of a safety regulation, what can be expected of a safety regulation in view of its nature, and what this means to persons affected by safety regulation. The role of regulation in safe task performance is reviewed. Consequences of these findings on regulation promulgation, employee training, and regulatory enforcement programs are discussed. Steps to enhance the effectiveness of safety regulations are suggested.
Dividing attention between fovea and periphery: implications for helmet-mounted display design

Designers of helmet- and head-mounted displays (HMDs) often assume that monocular devices improve operator performance relative to binocular devices by increasing field of view and by allowing two tasks to be performed simultaneously (one by each eye). To test these assumptions, we implemented a modified useful field of view (UFOV) paradigm in which subjects localized a peripheral target along give meridians within a semicircular region while simultaneously performing a central task. The tasks were either presented to the same eye or to different eyes (simulating a monocular HMD). Because previous research has established age-related changes in the UFOV, the present study investigated the performance of middle-aged observers and compared it to results obtained from young observers in an earlier study. In general, middle-aged observers made more peripheral target localization errors than young observers, indicating an overall constriction of the UFOV. The dependence of localization performance on viewing condition, peripheral distractors and central task, however, was the same for both age groups. Most notably, there was no difference in performance as a function of viewing condition. Thus, these findings do not support the assumption that dividing attention between two eyes allows dual tasks to be performed more efficiently than when attention is divided within the visual field of one eye.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Production and Perception of the /r/ - /l/ Contrast in Korean Adults Learning English.

Training of Korean speakers in the perception and production of the /r/-/l/ contrast in English resulted in short term improvement in production with little carryover. Improved identification of the phonemes in a speech perception task, however, did result. Speakers with lowest production scores produced an [r]-like sound for /l/, while speakers with higher scores evidenced fewer confusions and they occurred both ways: r/l and l/r. Identification of items in a [ra] to [la] continuum was better than discrimination between pairs of items. There was a significant relationship between production and self-perception, with live judgments of self in better agreement with experimenter judgments than were taped judgments of self. In some cases, production “errors” seem to parallel perceptual behavior and in other cases, they seem to be only a problem in production. Implications for training are drawn from the results.
The knowledge chain model: activities for competitiveness

Today, there is a growing recognition by researchers and practitioners about the importance of managing knowledge as a critical source for competitive advantage. Various assertions about competitiveness through knowledge management (KM) are consistent with results of empirical studies and lessons learned on the knowledge highways and byways. In spite of these macro-level contentions and success stories, there has been little investigation of a systematic means for studying connections between KM activity and competitiveness. This chapter advances a knowledge chain model that identifies and characterizes KM activities an organization can focus on to achieve competitiveness. The model is analogous to Porter’ s value chain and is grounded in a descriptive KM framework developed via a Delphi-study involving international KM experts. It is comprised of five primary activities that an organization’ s knowledge processors perform in manipulating knowledge resources, plus four secondary activities that support and guide their performance. Each activity is discussed in detail, including examples. Evidence is provided from the literature illustrating each activity’ s role in adding value to an organization to increase its competitiveness through improved productivity, agility, reputation, and innovation. In conclusion, we present some observations about avenues for future research to extend, test, and apply the model in business practices.
Multilevel Examination of Facility Characteristics, Social Integration, and Health for Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes

Objectives. T esting a model based on past research and theory, this study assessed relationships between facility char acteristics (i.e., culture change efforts, social workers) and residents’ social networks and social support across nursing homes; and examined relationships between multiple aspects of social integration (i.e., social networks, social capital, social engagement, social support) and mental and functional health for older adults in nursing homes. Methods. Data were collected at nursing homes using a planned missing data design with random sampling tech niques. Data collection occurred at the individual-level through in-person structured interviews with older adult nursing home residents (N = 140) and at the facility-level (N = 30) with nursing home staff. Results. The best fitting multile vel structural equation model indicated that the culture change subscale for relationships significantly predicted differences in residents’ social networks. Additionally, social networks had a positive indirect relationship with mental and functional health among residents primarily via social engagement. Social capital had a positive direct relationship with both health outcomes.
589 PHYSICIANS FAILURE TO ALTER FAILURE TO THRIVE (FTT)

Non-organic failure to thrive often results in expensive, but ineffective hospital stay, which occurs without adequate prior outpatient work-up. To improve the management of these pts., we performed a 1 year retrospective review of children over 12 mos. admitted and discharged with 1° dx. of FTT. 10 of 21 cases were non-organic FTT. All pts. had at least 1 prior physician contact and adequate immunization status. 5 children had received prior dietary instruction. Our results indicate that even when hospitalized, these children did not receive adequate nutritional assessment: 1) Dietary hx. by physician either lacking or inadequate; hx. by a hospital dietitian often contributed the only clues to the pt.'s problem. 2) Anthropometric data for all pts. included only ht., wt., & growth charting; often missing was head circ., MAC, TSF, or data on parental and family stature. 3) P.E. specified nutritional status indicators only 50% of the time. 4) Biochemical evaluation revealed an average/pt. of 14 diagnostic tests, of which all WNL except FE/TIBC(2) and HCT/Hb(3). The course of the hospital stay included daily wts. (90% of cases), calorie counts (100%) and nutrition consults (50%). Outcomes were: We conclude that 50% of admissions could have been prevented initially by additional counseling and reassurance. 50% of pts. required significant social intervention for which hospitalization and subsequent follow-up did little.
Non-endoscopic removal of radiologically placed percutaneous primary gastrostomy tubes: a new technique.

Purpose. To present a new technique for non-endoscopic removal of radiologically inserted primary percutaneous gastrostomy tubes (PGT) and to assess the utility and safety of this technique in the pediatric population. Materials and methods. Over a 9-year period 172 children (80 F, 92 M) mean age 10 years (range 0.29–24 years) underwent removal of radiologically placed PGTs in the Radiology Department. All procedures were performed with conscious sedation. The procedure time ranged from 20 to 45 min (mean 30 min). The procedures were performed electively at ≥ 3 14 months for either gastrostomy button placement (70), balloon gastrostomy and jejunostomy placement (55), or G tube removal at termination of enteral feeding (15). Results. PGT disc retrievals were successful performed in 169 of 173 (98 %). No technical failures occurred, but five procedures failed due to PGT disc lodgement in gastric wall (four), and gastrocolic fistula (one). One child had a repeat procedure due to premature removal of the primary PGT necessitating replacement. No deaths occurred. PGT discs retrieval was performed at a mean time interval of 14 months from initial PGT insertion (range 3–40 months). Conclusion. Non-endoscopic GT disc removal is a quick and safe procedure. It facilitates easy conversion to a gastrostomy button in the radiology setting and avoids the risk of a retained percutaneous gastrostomy tube remnant and intra/transmural migration of discs.
Peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial diseases are common problems because atherosclerosis, the most common cause of both occlusive peripheral arterial disease and aneurysmal disease, is a feature of an aging population. The less common types of occlusive peripheral arterial disease--the vasospastic disorders and the arteritides--although frequently not addressed to any extent in medical school curricula or in residency programs in family and internal medicine, offer the alert and informed clinician diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities that are too important to neglect. As a group, abnormalities of the peripheral arteries are easy to detect if careful observation and examination of the extremities is included in the physical examination and attention to functional disorders is included in the medical history. In this presentation, the clinical features, physical findings, complications, useful noninvasive diagnostic tests, imaging techniques, and therapeutic options for atherosclerotic occlusive peripheral arterial disease (both chronic and acute), uncommon types of occlusive arterial disease of both the lower and upper extremities, the vasospastic disorders, and the peripheral arterial presentations of the arteritides are reviewed. The application of natural history and comorbidity of a particular arterial disease, when available, is emphasized in the formulation of management for the individual patient.
Translocation (X;14)(p11;q32) in a patient with refractory anemia

Abstract We describe an unusual translocation, t(X;14)(pl1;q32), in a patient with refractory anemia of myelodysplastic syndrome.
A modified selective harmonic elimination method for fault-tolerant operation of multilevel cascaded H-bridge inverters

This paper presents a novel switching strategy based on Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE) for the fault-tolerant operation of multilevel cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverters. In this paper, first the structure and operation of a 7-level CHB is reviewed and the general SHE concept for this type of inverter is studied briefly. Then, the proposed fault-tolerant switching strategy for a CHB with one faulty switch is presented. Finally, simulation results are provided to validate the proposed modulation technique.
An Infrared Spectrophotometer for the Organic Chemist

In the last decade there has been tremendous growth in the application of both infrared and ultraviolet spectrometry by the organic chemist. In each case, single-beam instruments appeared first, to be followed by the more versatile double-beam spectrophotometers. Because of the simplicity of ultraviolet spectrometry, both instruments are used in this field. In the infrared, however, the requirements are such that the double-beam instrument displaced the single-beam type even though it was more expensive. Because of this cost, infrared use has been limited to larger sites using central group, specialized personnel and the equipment has not been available to the chemist at the bench In order to meet the chemist's need directly, there has been developed an inexpensive, reliable, double-beam infrared spectrophotometer The significance of this development to the chemist is described and illustrated.
Spontaneous recovery after training with multiple outcomes

Four experiments explored the increase in an instrumental response (R) with time after it had been subjected either to extinction or to training with a second outcome (O). Experiment 1 found less performance of an extinguished response immediately after extinction than after a 7-day delay (spontaneous recovery). Experiments 2–4 found a similar difference when training with a second outcome replaced extinction, despite the failure of that replacement to itself undermine performance. Similar results did not occur when the second outcome was identical to that used in initial training. These results suggest that training with a novel outcome generates a decremental process that is not directly observable but that dissipates with time.
Association between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome: NHANES III.

Background : We investigated whether microalbuminuria was associated with the metabolic syndrome by comparing the strength of the association between microalbuminuria and the syndrome as a whole and its individual components. Methods: This investigation included 5659 women and men aged 20 to 80 years from the cross-sectional, nationally representative, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III: 1988-1994). Metabolic syndrome was defined as any three of the following: increased waist circumference, increased triglycerides, decreased HDL cholesterol, increased blood pressure, or high fasting glucose. Microalbuminuria was defined as urinary albumin/creatinine ratio of 30 to 300 mg/g. Results: Microalbuminuria was present in 7.8% of women and 5.0% of men. Log linear analysis revealed a significant association between the metabolic syndrome and microalbuminuria in both genders (women X 2 = 44.1; men X 2 = 59.6; P <.0001 for both). Microalbuminuria was more common in both women (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44, 3.34) and men (OR = 4.1; 95% CI 2.45, 6.74) with metabolic syndrome compared to those without it; 34% of women and 42% of men with microalbuminuria also had metabolic syndrome. After adjusting for other components of the metabolic syndrome, hypertension demonstrated the strongest association with microalbuminuria in both women (OR = 3.34; 95% CI 2.45, 4.55) and men (OR = 2.51; 95% CI 1.63, 3.86). Conclusions: Microalbuminuria and metabolic syndrome are associated in a large, nationally representative cohort, possibly due to early renal effects of hypertension, and it may be useful to consider microalbuminuria as a component of the metabolic syndrome.
The effect of the price of gasoline on the urban economy: From route choice to general equilibrium

Abstract RELU-TRAN2, a spatial computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the Chicago MSA is used to understand how gasoline use, car-VMT, on-the-road fuel intensity, trips and location patterns, housing, labor and product markets respond to a gas price increase. We find a long-run elasticity of gasoline demand (with congestion endogenous) of −0.081, keeping constant car prices and the TFI (technological fuel intensity) of car types but allowing consumers to choose from car types. 43% of this long run elasticity is from switching to transit; 15% from trip, car-type and location choice; 38% from price, wage and rent equilibration, and 4% from building stock changes. 79% of the long run elasticity is from changes in car-VMT (the extensive margin) and 21% from savings in gasoline per mile (the intensive margin); with 83% of this intensive margin from changes in congestion and 17% from the substitution in favor of lower TFI. An exogenous trend-line improvement of the TFI of the car-types available for choice raises the long-run response to a percent increase in the gas price from −0.081 to −0.251. Thus, only 1/3 of the long-run response to the gas price stems from consumer choices and 2/3 from progress in fuel intensity. From 2000 to 2007, real gas prices rose 53.7%, the average car fuel intensity improved 2.7% and car prices fell 20%. The model predicts that from these changes alone, keeping constant population, income, etc. aggregate gasoline use in this period would have fallen by 5.2%.
Kuznets's inverted U-curve hypothesis : The rise, demise, and continued relevance of a socioeconomic law

This paper provides a historical analysis of the changing significance of the most influential statement ever made on inequality and development—Simon Kuznets’s “inverted U-curve hypothesis.” The shifting interpretations and appropriations of the hypothesis over time—from its status as a speculative supposition in 1955, to its rise and fall as a reified socioeconomic law, to its contested standing in the social sciences today—demonstrate how Kuznets’s arguments, originally advanced under more limited conditions, became transformed into overarching theoretical, empirical, and political constructions. This history suggests that even empirically grounded and testable social science models are contingent on the broader social and political contexts in which they are produced and negotiated.
The influence of fructose diphosphate on pyruvate kinase activity in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of the rat, mouse, pig and chicken

Abstract 1. 1. Pyruvate kinase of rat, mouse, pig and chicken tissues has been investigated with regard to the influence of fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on the activity of the enzyme. 2. 2. For all species studied, the liver enzyme was markedly stimulated by FDP whereas the muscle enzyme was insensitive to FDP. 3. 3. Rat, mouse and pig adipose tissue pyruvate kinase activity was not stimulated by FDP. The chicken adipose tissue enzyme was, however, markedly stimulated by FDP. 4. 4. FDP sensitivity of the liver pyruvate kinase of all species studied and of the chicken adipose tissue enzyme could be related to a decrease in the Km for phosphoenolpyruvate in the presence of FDP. 5. 5. The possible physiological significance of these findings is discussed.
Mitosis in beating cardiac myoblasts treated with cytochalasin-B.

Time-lapse pictures of isolated chick cardiac myoblasts grown in a medium with cytochalasin-B reveal that normal mitotic chromosomal separation and muscle contraction can take place simultaneously. These observations indicate that the contractile stimulation for the cells' myofibrils does not affect the movement of the chromosomes and that the cell can regulate two different motile systems inside one cell.
The evolution of trust in information technology alliances

Abstract As strategic alliances become an increasingly important weapon for companies in achieving a competitive advantage, an important subject of investigation has become those factors that contribute to the success of the alliance. Trust between the alliance partners has been proposed to be one of those critical success factors. The high levels of uncertainty and interdependence that characterizes high technology alliances make trust particularly important in these contexts. Very little is known, however, about the process of trust creation or erosion in strategic alliances. This study addresses this shortcoming in cross-sectional trust research by utilizing a longitudinal survey design to examine the antecedents and outcomes of trust formation between strategic alliance partners. We contrast a transaction cost economics view of trust with a social exchange perspective to more fully explore what may influence changes in the level of trust between partners. Results suggest that the development of trust was not a function of the formal incentive systems that transaction cost economists deem necessary to prevent opportunistic behavior. Conversely, factors from social exchange theory – communication, shared values, and relationship equity – provide a more thorough explanation of what contributes to the development of higher levels of organizational trust. Finally, this study provides evidence that as trust increases between partners, the alliance benefits by displaying higher levels of dependence, higher levels of partner learning, and higher levels of performance.
Purification and Characterization of Four Extracellular Proteases Isolated from Raw Milk Psychrotrophs

Abstract Extracellular proteases from psychrotrophic strains of Bacillus coagulans (LY 9), Bacillus sp. (LY 10), Bacillus subtilis (LY 11), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (LY 13) were purified and characterized. The molecular weight of the purified protease from Pseudomonas fluorescens LY 13 was 4.50×10 4 , and from the three Bacillus species ranged from 3.35×10 4 to 3.90×10 4 . The proteases from LY 10 and LY 13 were monomeric proteins, whereas the protease from LY 9 was in a polymeric form that contained up to 14 subunits. Only the protease from Pseudomonas fluorescens LY 13 showed trypsin-like activity. All four proteases were inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate and would be classified as metallo proteases. Casein was the preferred substrate for these proteases. Susceptibility of casein fractions to attack by these proteases varied with the enzyme source. Maximum enzyme activity was between pH 6.5 and 7.5. The protease from Pseudomonas fluorescens LY 13 retained more activity after heating at 63°C for 30min than the proteases from the three Bacillus species. Calcium ion showed a protective effect by decreasing heat denaturation of the proteases from LY 9 and LY 11. This protective effect tended to be greater in the presence of Tris-HC1 buffer (.05 M , pH 7.5) plus 10% skim milk than in buffer only.
The role of phonemic awareness in second language reading

This study investigates the effects of disparate L1 (first language) alphabetic experience on L2 (second language) phonemic awareness and decoding among ESL (English as a Second Language) readers w...
Wars of the Third Kind: Conflict in Underdeveloped Countries

Most of the armed conflicts since World War II have been neither conventional nor nuclear, but wars of a third kind, usually fought in the Third World and relying heavily, although not exclusively, on guerrilla warfare. Edward E. Rice examines a number of conflicts of this sort, starting with the American Revolution, but concentrating on the Chinese Civil War, the Huk rebellion in the Philippines, the wars in Algeria and in Vietnam, and the repeated conflicts in Latin America. He explores the origin, organization, and motivation of wars of the third kind, their rural and popular nature, the conversion of guerrilla armies to regular armies, and conceptual approaches to counterinsurgency. Rice concludes with an analysis of the perils of these wars for the great powers.
Wavelet feature extraction for image pattern recognition

A method of extracting improved features for object identification by correlating with a wavelet filter is described. The wavelet filter used is a linear combination of Gabor wavelets, which is designed by a neural network algorithm to extract features that are useful for discriminating different classes of objects. The neural network algorithm achieves this by iteratively adapting the filter parameters and linear combination weights of the wavelet filter so that the features extracted maximize the Fisher ratio between the classes. The algorithm thus provides an automated technique of designing a filter which extracts improved features for identification. Results are presented which show the ability of these improved features to increase the classification performance of a pattern recognition system.
Cell death and the creation of regional differences in neuronal numbers.

Regional variations in cell death are ubiquitous in the nervous system. In the retina, cell death in retinal ganglion cells is elevated in the retinal periphery and may be important in setting up the initial conditions that produce central retinal specializations such as an area centralis or visual streak. In central visual system structures, pronounced spatial and spatiotemporal inhomogeneities in cell death are seen both in layers and regions of the lateral geniculate nucleus and superior colliculus; similar indications of inhomogeneities are seen in those nonvisual structures that have been examined. Cell death in the cortex is highly nonuniform, by layer and by cortical area. A variety of possible functions for these regional losses are proposed, in the context of a uniform mechanism for cell death that allows it to assume multiple functions. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Guest Editors' Introduction to the Special Issue on Secure Database Systems Technology

INCE the U.S. Air Force Summer Study in 1982, several S research and development efforts in secure database management systems have been initiated. These include efforts in Secure Relational DBMS, Secure Object-Oriented DBMS, Secure Distributed IDBMS, and other topics such as inference and aggregation, policies and models, polyinstantiation, concurrency control, auditing, and role-based security. In addition to military applications, security for commercial applications such as medical information systems and banking systems have received increased attention in recent years. Since security is becoming increasingly important to many government as well as commercial organizations, and database technology is a necessity for these organizations, it is important for the various communities to be aware of the developments made in securing database systems. Due to the considerable pressing interest and concern in this area, this special issue of IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering is devoted to this topic. This issue consists of seven papers addressing a variety of topics in secure database systems technology. The first paper by Qian and Lunt describes a MAC policy framework for multilevel relational databases. Much of the work in multilevel secure database management systems has focussed on the relational model. Various prototype systems as well as commercial products have been developed. This paper presents a formal framework to specify mandatory access control policies for relational database systems. More recently quite a few efforts have been reported on multilevel secure object-oriented database management systems. One such effort is reported in the second paper by Thomas and Sandhu. ‘They propose a trusted subject architecture for designing multilevel secure objectoriented databases. Transaction processing in multilevel secure database management systems is a major issue. Concurrency control algorithms such as locking are known to cause covert channels. The goal in secure transaction processing is to ensure consistency as well as security. The third paper by Smith, Blaustein, . Jajodia, and Notargiacomo describes a
A prospective study of the effect of fracture on measured physical performance: results from the MacArthur Study--MAC.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of fractures on measured physical performance and to assess whether specific fractures have unique sequelae. SUBJECTS: 762 men and women, aged 70 to 79 at baseline, who were part of the MacArthur Study of Successful Aging. DESIGN: A longitudinal case-cohort: those with prevalent fractures at baseline were excluded; cases were persons with a medically diagnosed hip, arm, spine, or wrist fracture during the follow-up period (1988–1995). MEASURES: Eight physical performance tests: turning a circle, walking fast, chair stands, timed tap, tandem stand, grip strength, single leg stand, and balance (average of single leg and tandem stands) measured at baseline and follow-up. ANALYSIS: Two fracture groups were defined: (1) those with incident wrist fractures (n = 7) and (2) those with a fracture of the hip, arm, or spine (combined fractures group, n = 16). Change in physical performance was analyzed using crude, age-adjusted, and multiply-adjusted ANCOVA models. RESULTS: The combined fracture group demonstrated statistically significant (P < .05) declines seven of eight of the performance tests compared with individuals without fractures. In contrast, individuals with wrist fractures did not experience a statistically significant decline in any performance measure compared with the no fracture group. CONCLUSIONS: Relative to those without fractures, individuals with a hip, arm, or clinical spinal fracture show similar global declines in physical performance, whereas those with wrist fracture demonstrate no physical performance decrements. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 546–549, 2000.
The synthesis and molecular structure of (Ph3PAu)2Fe(CO)3P(OEt)3: a triangular Au2Fe cluster

Reaction of salts of HFe(CO)3PR3− (R = OMe, OEt, OPh, Me, Ph) with Ph3PAuCl leads to quantitative partitioning into H2Fe(CO)3PR3 and (Ph3PAu)2 Fe(CO)3PR3. The complex (Ph3PAu)2Fe(CO)3P(OEt)3 · Et2O crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a 10.385 (3), b 35.452(10), c 13.648(6)A, V 5024(3) A3, β 91.15(3)°, and Z = 4. The coordination geometry about Fe is that of a distorted Fe(CO)3PR3 tetrahedron bicapped with Ph3PAu moieties; one along a OCFeCO edge and the other in a face at an AuFeAu angle of 69.0(1)°. The AuAu bond distance of 2.872(2)A is the smallest observed for analogous group 8 (R3PAu)2M(CO)4 complexes and is less than the AuAu distance of metallic gold. Acute FeAuAu angles in the Au2Fe triangle of 54.7(1), and 56.3(1)° further suggest a cluster formulation for the trimetallic.
Building Tools for Identifying Local Variability and Cultural Patterns: A Digital Ceramic Attribute Analysis

Recent studies of Northeast Algonquin cultures emphasize variation on the local level and position individuals as agents operating within—but not inescapably constrained by—a worldview. This welcome theoretical focus in Northeast studies presents a particular dilemma to the treatment of archaeological datasets. How can archaeologists structure and quantify data in ways that remain sensitive to local change and agency while simultaneously allowing for recognition of cultural tradition across space and time? This article documents the process of building a digital model and Web-based tool for archiving and analyzing ceramic attribute datasets using current theories in the field of Knowledge Discovery. Modeling and automating a manual laboratory process offers many lessons in the limits of statistical tools, the challenges of relational data schemas, and the continuing potential for computerized tools in archaeology.