cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human metapneumovirus--an important new respiratory virus.

Physicians who have an interest in infectious diseases know well that many infections cannot be assigned a microbial cause. This gap between what we observe and what we can explain is particularly obvious in the realm of respiratory infections. The article on human metapneumovirus infections by Williams and colleagues in this issue of the Journal (pages 443–450) represents substantial progress in bridging that gap. Our assumption has been that the gap is attributable to a combination of the insufficient sensitivity of our diagnostic tests and the existence of several as-yet-undiscovered microbes. Both of these assumptions turn out to be correct. . . .
Oxidation of Diazinon by Aqueous Chlorine: Kinetics, Mechanisms, and Product Studies

The oxidation kinetics and mechanisms of diazinon, an organophosphorus pesticide, by aqueous chlorine were studied under different conditions. The oxidation is of first order with respect to both diazinon and chlorine. The oxidation rate is found to increase with decreasing pH. The second-order rate constants at pH 9.5, 10.0, 10.5, and 11.0 are determined to be 1.6, 0.64, 0.43, and 0.32 M-1 s-1, respectively. Based on the rate constants at different temperatures, the activation energy is calculated to be 30 kJ/mol at pH 10.0 with a chlorine-to-diazinon ratio of 11:1, 33 kJ/mol at pH 11.0 with a 11:1 ratio, and 36 kJ/mol at pH 11.0 with a 5:1 ratio, respectively. Diazoxon is identified as the oxidation product by GC−MS. Ion chromatography analysis shows an increase of sulfate concentration as the reaction proceeds, indicating that sulfur is being oxidized to sulfate. This study indicates that oxidation by aqueous chlorine can significantly affect the fate of diazinon in the environment. Keywords: Diazinon;...
Exploring the relationship of perceived automotive salesperson attributes, customer satisfaction and intentions to automotive service department patronage: The moderating role of customer gender

Abstract This study examines the relationship of perceived automotive salesperson attributes and customer satisfaction behavior in the purchase experience leading to the patronage of a service department in an automotive dealership. Logistic regression analyses indicate that gender moderates the relationship of the perceived salesperson attributes and customer satisfaction as well as intentions for service department patronage. The model distinguishes users from non-users of the service department and does this better for females than for males. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the managerial implications and directions for future research.
Is Post-Lipiodol CT Better Than IV Contrast CT Scan for Early Detection of HCC? A Single Liver Transplant Center Experience

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly vascular neoplasm usually arising from a cirrhotic liver. Delayed, noncontrast, computed tomography (CT) imaging after 7 to 14 days reveals an oil-based contrast agent to be concentrated in the tumor but not in normal hepatic parenchyma. The aim of this study was to retrospectively correlate the post Lipiodol CT scan findings with respect to tumor size in the explanted liver. We retrospectively reviewed adult patients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation between November 1995 and December 2004 and also had an hepatic arteriogram with Lipiodol injection as part of their pretransplant workup. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, false-negativity, false-positivity, and accuracy of the test, as well as positive and negative predictive values. Lipiodol CT exam had sensitivity of 1.0; specificity of 0.6 with a calculated positive predictive value of 0.89 and a negative predictive value of 1.0. Overall accuracy of Lipiodol CT scan test was found to be 0.91, which was superior to an intravenous contrast CT alone. In conclusion, because of the higher sensitivity and accuracy values, hepatic arterial Lipiodol injection can be considered during the pretransplantation workup of high-risk cirrhotic patients, since the current model for End-stage Liver Disease scoring system for hepatocellular carcinoma is built on the ultimate bulk of the tumor. Further multicenter, controlled, large-volume prospective studies are warranted to verify this observation.
Vaccine Advance-Purchase Agreements For Low-Income Countries: Practical Issues

There are strong theoretical arguments for the creation of advance-purchase agreements to increase incentives for the development and production of vaccines for diseases concentrated in low-income countries. A Center for Global Development working group recently concluded that such agreements could be implemented successfully. We consider the practical economic and legal arrangements for such advance-purchase commitments. We identify several practical issues that we believe the public health and policy community should consider further in the design of an advance-purchase commitment.
Skin cancer following transplantation: the Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry experience.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze a large series of skin cancers in solid organ transplant recipients to determine their biologic behavior. Methods A retrospective review of all US transplant recipients with skin cancer reported to the Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry was performed. Results Transplant recipients from the United States with skin malignancies were identified (n = 2018) and assigned to 1 of 3 groups: squamous cell cancer (SCC), basal cell cancer (BCC), or combined malignancies (BCC/SCC). Squamous cell to basal cell cancer ratio was found to be 1.9 to 1. The ratio of extrarenal to renal allograft recipients was identical for all 3 groups (3:1). The median interval from transplant to skin cancer diagnosis was greater than 4 years in each group and longest in those with isolated SCC lesions. In the SCC group, there was a 9% incidence of nodal or secondary site involvement affecting the cervix, perineum, or lung. The highest recurrence rate was demonstrated in the combined malignancy group. Cancer-specific deaths were significantly higher in the SCC (8%) and BCC/SCC (6.8%) groups compared to the BCC (3.6%) group. Conclusions This large experience indicates that SCC is more common than BCC in transplant recipients. SCC alone or in combination with BCC appears aggressive and is associated with significant mortality.
Asian American Masculinity: A Review of the Literature.

Asian American men have distinct histories and experiences within the context of masculinity. In considering gender role conflict, a concept that examines the negative impact of prescribed gender roles on both men and women (O'Neil, Helms, Gable, David, & Wrightsman, 1986), it is important to note that Asian American men are situated within the United States' White hegemonic masculinity while also negotiating their racialized minority status. Asian American men, as do other racial minorities, experience gender role conflict in relationship to and interaction with their racial identity. The purposes of this manuscript are to provide an overview of how Asian American masculinity has been shaped and challenged by U.S. society, present existing literature on racial identity and gender role conflict with particular attention to intersections of identity, and address the implications of gender role conflict on Asian American men.
Inhomogeneous near-extremal black branes

It has recently been shown that there exist stable inhomogeneous neutral black strings in higher dimensional gravity. These solutions were motivated by the fact that the corresponding homogeneous solutions are unstable. We show that there exist new inhomogeneous black string and black p-brane solutions even when the corresponding translationally invariant solutions are stable. In particular, we show that there exist inhomogeneous near-extremal black strings and p-branes. Some of these solutions remain inhomogeneous even when the size of the compact direction (at infinity) is very small.
BLyS levels correlate with vaccine-induced antibody titers in patients with glioblastoma lymphodepleted by therapeutic temozolomide

B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is a cytokine involved in differentiation and survival of follicular B cells along with humoral response potentiation. Lymphopenia is known to precipitate dramatic elevation in serum BLyS; however, the use of this effect to enhance humoral responses following vaccination has not been evaluated. We evaluated BLyS serum levels and antigen-specific antibody titers in 8 patients undergoing therapeutic temozolomide (TMZ)-induced lymphopenia, with concomitant vaccine against a tumor-specific mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII). Our studies demonstrate that TMZ-induced lymphopenia corresponded with spikes in serum BLyS that directly preceded the induction of anti-EGFRvIII antigen-specific antibody titers, in some cases as high as 1:2,000,000. Our data are the first clinical observation of BLyS serum elevation and greatly enhanced humoral immune responses as a consequence of chemotherapy-induced lymphopenia. These observations should be considered for the development of future vaccination strategies in the setting of malignancy.
Isolation, Culture and Characterization of Human Renal Proximal Tubule and Collecting Duct Cells

The complexity and heterogeneity of the human nephron with regard to cell types make well-defined in vitro systems of renal cells valuable for studies of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in nephro
Biospheric change : will it matter in plant pathology ?

Un changement des composantes physiques ou biologiques du milieu ou une modification dans leurs interactions peut provoquer un changement dans la biosphere. La composition chimique de l'atmosphere peut avoir un effet direct sur les plantes et ce document se concentre sur les repercussionst des changements de cette composition sur l'interaction hote/agent pathogene. Un triangle elargi des maladies est utilise pour illustrer les nombreux effets directs et indirects sur l'hote et sur l'agent pathogene ainsi que pour decrire les retroactions de l'ecosysteme. Une revue bibliographique des cinq dernieres annees fait appel a des exemples portant sur l'influence de l'ozone, du dioxyde de soufre, des pluies acides et des combinaisons de ces elements sur le developpement des maladies. L'interaction particuliere, qu'il peut y avoir entre polluant/hote/agent pathogene, peut resulter en une augmentation, une diminution ou aucun changement du developpement d'une maladie. La repercussion d'un changement dans la biosphere sur l'importance d'une maladie depend en partie de la nature et de la vitesse de ce changement.
Categories of certain minimal topological spaces

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the categories of the minimal topological spaces investigated in [1], [2], [7], and [8]. After these results are given, an application will be made to answer the following question: If is the lattice of topologies on a set X and is a Hausdorff (or regular, or completely regular, or normal, or locally compact) topology does there always exist a minimal Hausdorff (or minimal regular, or minimal completely regular, or minimal normal, or minimal locally compact) topology weaker than ?
Materials science: A hard concept in soft matter.

Hydrogels have many potential applications, but their mechanical strength is low. By simultaneously crosslinking two kinds of polymers in different ways, a highly fracture-resistant hydrogel has been made. See Letter p.133 Hydrogels are used in flexible contact lenses, as scaffolds for tissue engineering and in drug delivery. Their poor mechanical properties have so far limited the scope of their applications, but new strong and stretchy materials reported here could take hydrogels into uncharted territories. The new system involves a double-network gel, with one network forming ionic crosslinks and the other forming covalent crosslinks. The fracture energy of these materials is very high: they can stretch to beyond 17 times their own length even when containing defects that usually initiate crack formation in hydrogels. The materials' toughness is attributed to crack bridging by the covalent network accompanied by energy dissipation through unzipping of the ionic crosslinks in the second network.
The cardiac renin—angiotensin—aldosterone system and hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have proven to be uniquely effective in inducing regression, or preventing the occurrence, of ventricular hypertrophy associated with systemic hypertension. This has pointed, for many years, to a possible direct involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. Over the last 10 years further supporting evidence has been forthcoming about direct trophic effects of angiotensin II in several experimental systems. Additionally, we now have rather conclusive evidence for the existence of a local, intracardiac renin-angiotensin system, which is capable of synthesis of all components of the system, and of cleaving, via the classic pathway, angiotensin peptides from the precursor, angiotensinogen. Moreover, a number of studies have demonstrated the capacity of regulatory response and modulation of activity of the local system in response to a variety of pharmacologic perturbations as well as differential expression of specific components under pathologic conditions, including compensatory hypertrophy and remodeling after myocardial infarction, pressure overload hypertrophy, and volume overload hypertrophy. Continued research into the role of the cardiac renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and failure will provide us with the tools to devise more specific, targeted strategies for therapeutic intervention or prevention.
Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy of Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystals are complex organic systems exhibiting a variety of interesting phase transitions. In this paper, work is reviewed in two areas: (1) lattice dynamics of nematogenic crystals as the crystalnematic liquid crystal phase transition is approached, and (2) vibrational spectroscopic changes at the gel-liquid crystal phase transition of phospholipid-water mixtures. In each area, a case is made that interpretable spectroscopic information can be obtained from a system of this complexity. For the lattice vibrations, a model potential is used to calculate vibrational frequencies. These in turn are discussed in terms of motions which might be uncoupled as the crystal-nematic transition is approached. For the lipid vibrations, infrared and Raman data show how chain melting manifests itself in the spectrum. An application of this to phase diagram construction is presented.
Outcome measures: evolution in clinical trials of neurological/functional recovery in spinal cord injury.

The need to determine the beneficial effect of the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) requires clearly defined standardized measures of the severity of injury and how well the function is restored. Improved neurological recovery should be linked to increased capacity to perform tasks such as walking, reaching and grasping, which results in meaningful gains in mobility and self-care. Measurements of recovery, capacity, mobility and self-care are the outcomes used to determine the benefits from the treatment and have evolved over the last century with contributions by the mentors and proteges of Sir Ludwig Guttmann, whom we honor today. Randomized clinical trials in the past 20 years have taught us many lessons as to which outcome measures have the greatest validity and reliability. The International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI have become the clinical gold standard for measurement of severity, but would benefit from pathophysiological surrogates to better understand the mechanisms of recovery. Measurements of walking capacity have emerged as valid/reliable/responsive and upper extremity measures are in development, which help distinguish neurological improvement from rehabilitation adaptation. Performance of self-care and mobility has been linked to capacity and severity outcomes. In addition, new partnerships between clinical trial entities, professional societies, industry and federal agencies should facilitate identification of priorities and uniformity of measurement standards. Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life of those individuals with SCI whom we serve, but we must focus our investigative efforts carefully, systematically and rigorously as clinical scientists.
Fuzzy logic based assignable cause diagnosis using control chart patterns

Control chart patterns, besides determining the presence of assignable causes, also provide hints on the nature of assignable cause(s) present. Relating the patterns exhibited on the control chart to assignable causes is an ambiguous and vague task especially when multiple patterns co-exist. In this work, a rule based fuzzy inference system is developed for [email protected]? control chart to prioritize the control chart causes based on the accumulated evidence. When a process goes out of control, search for assignable causes can be assisted by the priorities assigned to the causes. For an in-control process, developing patterns can be tracked and preventive action can be taken to prevent the process from going out of control.
Acceptability of Condoms, Circumcision and PrEP among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Descriptive Study Based on Effectiveness and Cost

The current study examined and compared the willingness of young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) to accept pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), adult male circumcision, and condoms for reducing their risk of HIV acquisition. The majority (67%) reported unprotected receptive anal sex in the last six months. About three-quarters (71%) would accept using PrEP if it was 100% effective. Cost influenced PrEP acceptance with 19% indicating acceptance at $100 per month co-pay. Of those not circumcised, 50% indicated willingness if circumcision was 100% effective. Acceptance of circumcision decreased markedly to 17% with co-pays of $100. About 73% of men were willing to use condoms if they were 100% effective and 50% indicated a willingness at the cost of $10 per month. The findings suggest that condom use promotion strategies should remain at the forefront of public health efforts to control HIV incidence among YBMSM.
Primitive Warfare and the Ratomorphic Image of Mankind

The most influential current explanations of preindustrial violence and warfare see it as determined by factors and forces entirely external to human beings and their motives and purposes. This article critically examines the most prominent of these approaches—behavioristic, sociobiological, and ecological-functional—and some of the assumptions underlying them. Then, drawing on ethnographic data from a society known for its peacefulness—the Semai Senoi—the article offers an alternative conception of action, one that views human behavior, including warfare and nonviolence, as purposive, and that sees human beings as active decision makers picking their ways through fields of options and constraints in pursuit of individually and culturally defined goals in a culturally constituted reality which they themselves are actively constructing.
An artificial lung reduces pulmonary impedance and improves right ventricular efficiency in pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Objective: Artificial lungs may have a role in supporting patients with end-stage lung disease as a bridge or alternative to lung transplantation. This investigation was performed to determine the effect of an artificial lung, perfused by the right ventricle in parallel with the pulmonary circulation, on indices of right ventricular load in a model of pulmonary hypertension. Methods: Seven adult male sheep were connected to a low-resistance membrane oxygenator through conduits anastomosed end to side to the pulmonary artery and left atrium. Banding of the distal pulmonary artery generated acute pulmonary hypertension. Data were obtained with and without flow through the device conduits. Outcome measures of right ventricular load included hemodynamic parameters, as well as analysis of impedance, power consumption, wave reflections, cardiac efficiency, and the tension-time index. Results: The model of pulmonary hypertension increased all indices of right ventricular load and decreased ventricular efficiency. Allowing flow through the artificial lung significantly reduced mean pulmonary artery pressure, zero harmonic impedance, right ventricular power consumption, amplitude of reflected waves, and the tension-time index. Cardiac efficiency was significantly increased. Conclusions: An artificial lung perfused by the right ventricle and applied in parallel with the pulmonary circulation reduces ventricular load and improves cardiac efficiency in the setting of pulmonary hypertension. These data suggest that an artificial lung in this configuration may benefit patients with end-stage lung disease and pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular strain.
Diagnosis of myocardial ischemia by the pressure-rate quotient and diastolic time interval during coronary artery bypass surgery.

Abstract Diagnosis of intraoperative myocardial ischemia by the rate-pressure product (RPP), pressure-rate quotient (PRQ), and diastolic time interval (DTI) was studied in 13 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with fentanyl, vecuronium/pancuronium, and enflurane anesthesia. Criteria for ischemia were 1 mm of ST segment elevation or depression or T wave inversion on the ECG. RPP was calculated by multiplying the systolic arterial pressure (SAP) times the heart rate (HR); PRO was determined by dividing the mean arterial pressure (MAP) by the HR; and DTI was defined as the interval from the closure of the aortic valve on M-mode transesophageal echocardiography to the onset of the ORS complex on the ECG. Six of 13 patients experienced episodes of ischemia (a total of 32 episodes out of 134 measurements). RPP of 12,000 was not found to correlate with myocardial ischemia ( P 0.05), whereas a PRO of P
1,3-Dioctanoylglycerol modulates arachidonate mobilization in human neutrophils and its inhibition by PGBx: Evidence of a protein-kinase-C-independent role for diacylglycerols in signal transduction

Preincubation of human neutrophils with 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) enhances subsequent f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-stimulated arachidonate mobilization. We have recently demonstrated that preincubation of neutrophils with OAG also reverses inhibition of A23187 stimulated [3H]arachidonate mobilization by the phospholipase A2 inhibitors, PGBx and aristolochic acid. The present study has compared the effects of 1,2-sn-dioctanoylglycerol (1,2-diC8) and 1,3-dioctanoylglycerol (1,3-diC8) on these cellular events. Dose-dependent priming (ED50 < 2.5 microM) of fMLP-stimulated [3H]arachidonate mobilization is obtained with both 1,2-diC8 and 1,3-diC8. Both diC8s also enhance fMLP-stimulated synthesis of leukotriene B4, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and platelet-activating factor, and generation of superoxide. Furthermore, both 1,2-diC8 and 1,3-diC8 reverse the effects of PGBx on A23187-stimulated [3H]arachidonate mobilization and platelet-activating factor synthesis. By contrast, higher concentrations (5-10 microM) of 1,2-diC8, but not 1,3-diC8, directly stimulate both [3H] arachidonate mobilization and superoxide generation. Since 1,3-diC8 does not activate protein kinase C (PKC), these results suggest that PKC is involved in direct activation of neutrophils by diacylglycerols but not in priming. Furthermore, reversal of the inhibitory effects of PGBx by diacylglycerols also appears to involve a PKC-independent mechanism.
The Effects of White Noise on PB Score of Normal and Hearing-Impaired Listeners

There is increasing awareness among clinical audiologists of the inability of current speech discrimination tests to provide diagnostically significant data. In fact the most commonly used test of speech discrimination, the CID auditory test W–22 does not, according to Carhart [1965], separate persons with normal hearing from those with various types and degrees of hearing impairments. Although there has been discussion in the literature of mixing speech with noise to increase the diagnostic value of PB tests, very little data has been reported to date.In the present study 10 persons with normal hearing, 10 persons with high-frequency hearing loss, and 10 persons with relatively flat hearing loss were used as experimental listeners. All listeners yielded PB score in quiet of 92% or better, i.e. a hearing impairment was not reflected in the PB score obtained in quiet.CID auditory test W–22 words lists 1 and 2 were presented to these listeners at 40 dB SL or the sensation level necessary for PB Max. The wor...
Environmental Aspects of the Intensive Plantation/Reserve Debate

Abstract This paper addresses the argument that increasing the intensity of industrial wood production on plantations to meet future demand will reduce harvest pressure on existing old growth and “natural” forests and lead to their protection. The work of several experts in the field is examined closely. These individuals view industrial roundwood production as an industry that should maximize its efficiency by using as little land and producing as much wood as possible. At the same time, the assumption is held that increasing plantations will also increase environmental protection of native forests. In response to this conclusion, this paper challenges the argument that intensive forest management practices on plantations prevent the degradation of natural forests, thereby protecting the ecological values of natural forests, making plantations environmentally and socially desirable.
Porous SiO2 films analyzed by transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Porous SiO 2 films derived from a novel organic-inorganic composite sol-gel process were studied for possible applications in the microelectronics industry. The films were capped with plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposited silicon nitride and characterized using ellipsometry, IR spectroscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM cross-sections were prepared using a focused ion beam (FIB) system, because traditional TEM preparation by polishing was too harsh for the fragile samples. The TEM analysis determined the film thickness to be 155 nm for SiO 2 and 83 nm for Si 3 N 4 , and showed high porosity in the SiO 2 film and vertical pores in the Si 3 N 4 film.
Latest research in travel and tourism

Abstract The following paragraphs briefly summarize the 25th annual conference of the Travel and Tourism Research Association held in Bal Harbour, FL USA. Conference registrants and member of TTRA will automatically receive a copy of the conference proceedings when they are published. Other readers who wish to receive copies may order them from Francine Butler, TTRA, 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033; 303/940-6557. The cost is $75.
Evidence for the influence of fCH 4 on the crystallinity of disseminated carbon in greenschist facies rocks, Rhode Island, USA

Disseminated carbon has been extracted from 19 samples of arkosic rocks from the chlorite, biotite and garnet zones in the Narragansett basin, and analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD of these samples yields only the (002) peak which may be as much as four times wider than the silicon internal standard peak and is always skewed to low angles 2θ. All (002) peaks were digitized and the four moments calculated. The results suggest that width at half-height (W1/2) provides a poorer estimate of peak shape than coefficients of skewness and kurtosis. The positive correlation of these coefficients with grain size determined by SEM in the range of 0.1–100 μm suggest a direct relationship between peak shape and grain size.
The dark side of galaxy colour: evidence from new SDSS measurements of galaxy clustering and lensing

The age matching model has recently been shown to predict correctly the luminosity L and g-r color of galaxies residing within dark matter halos. The central tenet of the model is intuitive: older halos tend to host galaxies with older stellar populations. In this paper, we demonstrate that age matching also correctly predicts the g-r color trends exhibited in a wide variety of statistics of the galaxy distribution for stellar mass M* threshold samples. In particular, we present new measurements of the galaxy two-point correlation function and the galaxy-galaxy lensing signal as a function of M* and g-r color from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and show that age matching exhibits remarkable agreement with these and other statistics of low-redshift galaxies. In so doing, we also demonstrate good agreement between the galaxy-galaxy lensing observed by SDSS and the signal predicted by abundance matching, a new success of this model. We describe how age matching is a specific example of a larger class of Conditional Abundance Matching models (CAM), a theoretical framework we introduce here for the first time. CAM provides a general formalism to study correlations at fixed mass between any galaxy property and any halo property. The striking successmore » of our simple implementation of CAM provides compelling evidence that this technique has the potential to describe the same set of data as alternative models, but with a dramatic reduction in the required number of parameters. CAM achieves this reduction by exploiting the capability of contemporary N-body simulations to determine dark matter halo properties other than mass alone, which distinguishes our model from conventional approaches to the galaxy-halo connection.« less
Spatial frequency response functions obtained from cat visual evoked potentials

Abstract Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were obtained from the surface of teh cat visual cortex in response to contrast reversing sinusoidal gratings. Gratings of different spatial frequency were presented either separately, using signal averaging to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, or as a spatial frequency sweep, in which spatial frequency was sequentially increased every 5 sec during a 40 sec trial (3.99 Hz) or every 3 sec during a 24 sec trial (6.65 Hz). The second harmonic amplitude- and phase-spatial frequency functions derived from averaging or from sweep trials were similar, indicating that the swept stimulus method can be used to provide a rapid and reliable measure of the VEP-spatial frequency function. Intravenous administration of physostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, evoked a spatial frequency-dependent change in VEP amplitude. At 3.99 Hz, responses to low spatial frequencies were enhanced to a greater extent than were responses to high spatial frequency stimuli. At 6.65 Hz, responses to mid-range spatial frequencies were enhanced to a greater extent than were responses to low and high spatial frequency stimuli. VEP phase at both 3.99 and 6.65 Hz was advanced to a greater degree at the higher spatial frequencies. These results indicate that the swept spatial frequency method may be useful in studying spatial frequency-dependent pharmacological effects on the VEP and support the possibility that pharmacological disruption of the cholinergic visual system can produce such changes.
ANOPHELES CULICIFACIES: THE OCCURRENCE OF MULTIPLE INSEMINATION UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Multiple insemination was detected under laboratory conditions in 38 of 399 females of Anopheles culicifacies Giles using a sex-linked, recessive eye-color marker system. Multiple mating occurred less frequently at low pair density and was not detected in a large cage. Remating after a 24-hr delay was detected in 5 of 131 families. The high incidence of multiple mating was attributed to interrupted copulations resulting in the transference of inadequate quantities of male accessory gland substance and/or by remating before insemination barriers were established after the initial insemination. RESUME ANOPHELES CULICIFACIES GILES: LA PRESENCE D'INSEMINATIONS MULTIPLES DANS LES CONDITIONS DE LABORATOIRE Les inseminations multiples ont ete mises en evidence dans les conditions de laboratoire chez 38 sur 399 femelles d'Anopheles culicifacies en utilisant un marqueur recessif colorant l'œil, lie au sexe. Les copulations repetees sont moins frequentes aux faibles densites et n'ont pas ete observees dans de grandes cages. La recopulation apres un delai de 24 h a ete observee dans 5 families sur 131. La haute frequence de copulations multiples est envisagee comme consequence de copulations interrompues, empechant le transfert de quantites adequates de secretions des glandes accessoires mâles et/ou par la recopulation avant que les barrieres de non receptivite aient ete etablies par l'insemination initiale.
Well Test Interpretation of Vertically Fractured Gas Wells

A mathematical model was developed to generate simulated drawdown tests for fractured gas wells. The model includes the effects of real gas properties, well bore storage, and turbulence. A special coordinate transformation is used to obtain better accuracy for turbulent flow near the well bore. The results show that the slope of the drawdown curve is affected by the nonlinearity of real gas flow.
Viscosity of dilute solutions of linear and branched polyvinyl acetate

The dilute solution viscosity properties of fractions of two linear and one branched sample of polyvinyl acetate in benzene and of two linear and one branched fraction in several solvents were measured at 35°C. Values of total slope, b (from plots of ηsp/c vs. c), and intrinsic viscosities were obtained under the requirement that k′ + β = 0.500 ± 0.002. Empirical plots of log b vs. log [η] gave lines which were straight within the limits of accuracy of the data. For the linear fractions in benzene, Huggins' k′ was constant and the slope of the log b vs. log [η] line was 2; for the branched fractions in benzene, k′ increased with [η] and the slope of the log b vs. log [η] line was greater than 2. The log b vs. log [η] plots form the basis for a “one-point” method for determining [η]. Consideration of these data along with results reported in the literature indicates that k′ is measurably sensitive to branching only for fractions possessing a certain minimum combination of size and complexity. However, in some cases where the variations of k′ are inconclusive, use of the slope of the log b vs. log [η] line may provide a reliable indication of branching. It was found that a comparison between the branched and linear series could also be made at constant values of [η] or b. Two linear fractions in different solvents obeyed a type of Huggins relationship in which k′ did not vary with solvent and the slope of the log b vs. log [η] line was 2. For a higher molecular weight branched fraction, however, k′ varied from solvent to solvent and the slope of the log-log plot was about 1.7. These data do not support a reference point concept of “true” intrinsic viscosity based on a simple linear relationship between b and [η]. Preliminary results dealing with the effects of the shear rate indicated that the measured viscosity properties of branched fractions may be more seriously affected by changes in shear rate than those of linear fractions.
Characteristic Line Based Schemes for Solving a Quasilinear Hierarchical Size-Structured Model

New schemes, based on the characteristics line method, for solving a hierarchical size-structured model with nonlinear growth, mortality and reproduction rate are developed. The idea of the schemes is not to follow the characteristics from the initial condition, but for each time-step to find the origins of the grid nodes at the previous time level. Numerical tests, including comparison with exact solutions for the new schemes, are elaborated. Numerical results that confirm the theoretical order of convergence of the new schemes are presented.
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Cambodian Refugees

To determine rates of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in Cambodian refugees, and to assess the proportion whose conditions are satisfactorily managed in comparison to the general population. Self-report and laboratory/physical health assessment data obtained from a household probability sample of U.S.-residing Cambodian refugees (N = 331) in 2010–2011 were compared to a probability sample of the adult U.S. population (N = 6,360) from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia in Cambodian refugees greatly exceeded rates found in the age- and gender-adjusted U.S. population. Cambodian refugees with diagnosed hypertension or hyperlipidemia were less likely than their counterparts in the general U.S. population to have blood pressure and total cholesterol within recommended levels. Increased attention should be paid to prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Cambodian refugee community. Research is needed to determine whether this pattern extends to other refugee groups.
The communication of educational reform: A nation at risk

The 1983 publication of A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform (ANAR) by the National Commission on Excellence in Education (NCEE) catapulted the issue of educational reform into the public sphere. Not since the Soviet launching of Sputnik in the late 1950s has the topic of educational reform figured so prominently in American public discourse. This report was considered the spark that fueled educational reform policy, corporate involvement, gubernatorial attention, and legislative action culminating in the passage of Goals 2000 in 1994. Because of the prominence and acclaim accorded ANAR, it is an essential document to examine in understanding the communication of educational reform. This essay is a critical review of the discourse about educational reform as presented in the scholarly and professional literature published about ANAR during the period from the creation of the NCEE to the passage of Goals 2000. We categorize, describe, and synthesize the academic articles written about AN...
Some behavioral effects of selective neuronal depletion by kainic acid in the dorsal hippocampus of rats

Abstract Iontophoretic injections of the neurotoxin kainic acid (KA) into the dorsal hippocampus resulted in an essentially complete attrition of neurons throughout the dorsal hippocampus but spared the fimbria/fornix system. The ventral hippocampus, subiculum, and associated aspects of the entorhinal area appeared completely intact. There was also no detectable damage to neocortex or thalamus adjacent to the dorsal hippocampus or to such KA-sensitive distant regions of the brain as the piriform cortex or striatum. Bilateral depletion of neurons from the dorsal hippocampus retarded the acquisition of a brightness discrimination (because the animals developed position habits during the early phases of acquisition) but had no deleterious effects on brightness discrimination reversal. The KA injections also sharply reduced spontaneous alternation in a T maze and increased locomotor activity in an open field. Food and water intake as well as saline and sucrose preferences were normal after the initial post-operative period but the animals continued to spill more of their food than controls.
Socio-Cultural Factors That Foster Use and Abuse of Alcohol Among a Sample of Enlisted Personnel at Four Navy and Marine Corps Installations

ABSTRACTRates of heavy drinking are consistently higher among U.S. military personnel than among civilians, particularly among young male personnel. In addressing drinking in the military, more information is needed on contextual factors influencing drinking to better understand the conditions that lead to or facilitate drinking. Results from 15 focus groups conducted with enlisted personnel at 2 Navy and 2 Marine Corps installations as part of formative research for an alcohol abuse prevention trial are reported in this article. The study explored the “drinking climate” of each installation in terms of shared attitudes and recognized norms regarding alcohol use and installation personnel’s general understanding of policies concerning alcohol consumption. Analysis revealed several contextual factors that add to our understanding of drinking behaviors.
Efficient training of artificial neural networks for autonomous navigation

The ALVINN (Autonomous Land Vehicle In a Neural Network) project addresses the problem of training artificial neural networks in real time to perform difficult perception tasks. ALVINN is a backpropagation network designed to drive the CMU Navlab, a modified Chevy van. This paper describes the training techniques that allow ALVINN to learn in under 5 minutes to autonomously control the Navlab by watching the reactions of a human driver. Using these techniques, ALVINN has been trained to drive in a variety of circumstances including single-lane paved and unpaved roads, and multilane lined and unlined roads, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
A Phase II trial of gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with chemotherapy-naive, advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND The goals of the current study were to determine the safety and efficacy of a nonplatinum-containing doublet, gemcitabine and docetaxel, in the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-naive nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODS Thirty-two patients with advanced, chemotherapy-naive NSCLC were treated with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) and docetaxel (40 mg/m2) administered on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days. All patients were evaluable for toxicity and survival and 27 patients were evaluable for response. RESULTS This combination was extremely well tolerated with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurring in 6 of 32 patients (19%) (grading was based on the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria). There were two episodes of Grade 3 thrombocytopenia and no episodes of Grade 3 or 4 anemia. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicities included nausea (occurring in 1 of 32 patients), diarrhea (occurring in 1 of 32 patients), fatigue (occurring in 10 of 32 patients), fluid retention (occurring in 2 of 32 patients), anorexia (occurring in 4 of 32 patients), and transaminitis (occurring in 2 of 32 patients). Six patients experienced Grade 3 pneumonitis that was at least possibly related to the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel. There was 1 complete response and 7 partial responses for an overall response rate of 30%. The 1-year and median survivals were 35% and 7.9 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, the regimen of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) and docetaxel (40 mg/m2) administered on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days was well tolerated with manageable hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities. The responses were comparable to those achieved with platinum-based combination chemotherapy and the 2-year survival was an encouraging 19%. These data would support the further study of this nonplatinum doublet in patients with advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2002;95:1714–19. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10843
Individual differences in biological stress responses moderate the contribution of early peer victimization to subsequent depressive symptoms

Some children who are exposed to early peer victimization become depressed, whereas others are resilient. Understanding individual differences in responses to early adversity, such as victimization, is critical for developing both comprehensive theoretical models and effective interventions. This study examined whether individual differences in biological stress responses (i.e., activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system) moderated the contribution of peer victimization to depressive symptoms across a 1-year period. Children (N = 132; M age = 9.46 years, SD = 0.33) completed measures of peer victimization and depressive symptoms, and rated their ruminative responses (i.e., persistent thoughts about negative task-related emotion and experiences) to a laboratory-based social challenge task involving two conflict-of-interests situations with an unfamiliar peer. Children’s saliva was collected prior to, and following, participation in the task, and was later assayed for cortisol and alpha amylase [sAA]. Victimization interacted with levels of cortisol measured in anticipation of the task to predict task-related rumination and depressive symptoms 1 year later, adjusting for initial symptoms. Specifically, victimization served as a risk factor for rumination and depressive symptoms in children with heightened but not dampened anticipatory cortisol; yet, heightened anticipatory cortisol was protective against rumination and depressive symptoms in low-victimized children. Victimization also predicted subsequent depressive symptoms in girls with high sAA reactivity across the task. This study advances contemporary theory and research by implicating individual variation in biological stress responses as one determinant of sensitivity to the mental health effects of early adversity.
Classifying civilian vehicles using a wide-field circular SAR

In this paper we consider classification of civilian vehicles using circular synthetic aperture radar. For wide-field application in which the scene radius is a significant fraction of the flight path radius, vehicle signatures are spatially variant due to layover. For a ten-class identification task using simulated X-band signatures, we demonstrate 96% correct classification for single-pass 2D imagery with scene radius 0.4 times the flight radius. Simulated scattering data include multi-path and material effects. Image signatures are represented by sets of attributed scattering centers. Dissimilarity between attributed point sets is computed via a minimized partial Hausdorff distance. Using multidimensional scaling, the distances are represented in a low-dimensional Euclidean space for both visualization and improved classification. The minimized partial Hausdorff distance, while not a true distance, empirically shows remarkable fidelity to the triangle inequality. Finally, in a limited two-class study, we show that three-dimensional imaging of layover points using polarization cues provides improved class separability.
Fused tricyclic β-lactams via intramolecular aryl radical cyclization1#

Abstract Easy access to fused tricyclic β-lactams starting with o-bromobenzaldehyde and allyl amine has been devised using intramolecular aryl radical cyclization under the influence of tributyltin hydride. The major product resulted from exo cyclization leading to the formation of a 6-membered ring and thus a tricyclic β-lactam. In some cases, a minor product was a 7-membered ring-containing tricyclic β-lactam formed by endo cyclization.
Stellar orbit constraints on neutralino annihilation at the galactic center

Dark matter annihilation has been proposed to explain the TeV gamma rays observed from the Galactic Center. We study constraints on this hypothesis coming from the mass profile around the Galactic Center measured by observing stellar dynamics. We show that for several proposed WIMP candidates, the constraints on the dark matter density profile from measurements of mass by infrared observations are comparable to the constraints from the measurements of the TeV source extension.
An Objective Graphical Method for Testing Normal Distributional Assumptions using Probability Plots

Abstract Formulas for plotting probability and techniques for subjectively drawing lines on probability plots are reviewed. A method is presented for plotting data and drawing an objective line on the probability plot to obtain a test of the distributional assumption.