cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information relevance, working memory, and the consideration of alternatives

People routinely focus on one hypothesis and avoid consideration of alternative hypotheses on problems requiring decisions between possible states of the world–-for example, on the “pseudodiagnosti...
Mutants of Escherichia coli with a defect in the degradation of nonsense fragments.

Escherichia coli possesses a protein degradation system which can distinguish between normal and aberrant polypeptides1–8. For example, whereas the enzyme β-galactosidase, coded by the z gene of the lac operon, is itself stable, all the polypeptides produced by nonsense mutations in its structural gene are rapidly degraded in vivo1, 3. This degradation system for abnormal proteins is as sensitive to inhibition of the cell's energy metabolism by substances such as cyanide as is protein synthesis (ref. 4; and B. Shineberg, unpublished observations). Clearly, it is of considerable interest to characterize this system, which we refer to as the Deg system; the genetic locus or loci for this system is denoted by deg.
Hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a comparison with the open approach.

Purpose: Hand assisted laparoscopy combines aspects of open and laparoscopic surgery. A hand in the abdomen may facilitate laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy, allowing more urologists to participate. We report and compare our initial series of hand assisted laparoscopy donor nephrectomy with nephrectomy performed by standard open methods.Materials and Methods: In the last 18 months 60 patients at 2 institutions underwent hand assisted laparoscopy donor nephrectomy. This cohort was compared to a contemporary group of 31 patients who underwent open donor nephrectomy via a flank incision at our 2 institutions. Demographic and outcome data were compared retrospectively in a nonrandomized fashion in the 2 groups.Results: Demographic data on patient age, male-to-female ratio and body mass index were similar in the 2 groups. Operative time, transfusion rate, time to oral intake and complications were also similar. However, estimated blood loss, change in hematocrit preoperatively to postoperatively, hospitaliza...
Determination of iron, copper and aluminium by gas-liquid chromatography.

Abstract Gas chromatography has been utilised in the analysis of two National Bureau of Standard alloys for quantitative determination of aluminium, iron and copper. In the analysis of N.B.S. 162a the relative mean errors were 3.13% for aluminium, 2.06% for iron and −1.72% for copper and for N.B.S. 164a the relative mean errors were −1.39%, −0.19% and −0.89% for aluminium, iron and copper, respectively. The procedure for analysis involves solution of the alloy, conversion of the metal ions to trifluoroacetylacetonates by solvent extraction and, finally, complete separation of the metal chelates and quantitative determination by gas chromatography using a column containing Gas Pack F coated with Tissuemat E, a polyethylene wax. Other metals present in the N.B.S. samples did not interfere with the determination of aluminium, iron and copper.
Culture Clash Invades Miami Oral Histories and Ethnography Center Stage

Using a critical race theory (CRT) framework, this article compares the playwriting methods of the Chicano—Latino theater trio, Culture Clash, to a counterstorytelling methodology. The author uncovers the tenets of a critical race theater in the trio's site-specific ethnographic play, Radio Mambo: Culture Clash Invades Miami. He argues that this performance art consciously challenges social and racial injustice by illuminating the lives and histories of diverse urban communities. Grounded in a Chicana/o teatro rasquache aesthetic, Culture Clash's theatrical ethnographies speak to a broad array of audiences about race, class, culture, gender, and identity.
Anti-epiligrin (laminin 5) cicatricial pemphigoid

Summary Cicatricial pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease predominantly of elderly patients. Recently, a subtype of cicatricial pemphigoid with antibodies to epiligrin (laminin 5) was described. We report a patient in whom anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid was identified. He presented with cutaneous, oral and ocular involvement. He has shown initial improvement on corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide.
Who is liable for disaster planning? Malpractice liability for hospital administrative plans.

The Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005 brought to light numerous issues of liability for hospitals, nursing homes, health care professionals, and volunteers. Two of the most well publicized health ...
Neonatal cardiovascular physiology

The pediatric surgeon deals with a large number and variety of congenital defects in neonates that frequently involve early surgical intervention and care. Because the neonatal cardiac physiology is unique, starting with the transition from fetal circulation and including differences in calcium metabolism and myocardial microscopic structure and function, it serves the pediatric surgeon well to have a sound understanding of these principles and how they directly and indirectly affect their plans and treatments. In addition, many patients will have associated congenital heart disease that can also dramatically influence not only the surgical and anesthetic care but also the timing and planning of procedures. Finally, the pediatric surgeon is often called upon to treat conditions and complications associated with complex congenital heart disease such as feeding difficulties, bowel perforations, and malrotation in heterotaxy syndromes. In this article, we will review several unique aspects of neonatal cardiac physiology along with the basic physiology of the major groups of congenital heart disease to better prepare the training and practicing pediatric surgeon for care of these complex and often fragile patients.
Viscosity of human red cell membrane in plastic flow.

Abstract The rate of plastic growth of human red cell membrane “tethers” (filaments) is measured for fluid shear forces exerted on the tethered cells between 1 × 10 −6 and 4 × 10 −6 dyn. When these measurements are analyzed using a two-dimensional theory for membrane viscoplastic flow, a typical value of 1 × 10 −2 dyn-sec/cm (poise · cm) is obtained for the intrinsic viscosity of red cell membrane in plastic flow. This value, when divided by a typical membrane thickness of 100 A, would give a “pseudo” three-dimensional viscosity of 10 4 poise.
Density dependence and environmental justice organizations, 1970–2008

Abstract Density dependence theory is commonly used to examine trends in the establishment of for-profit organizations. This research extends density dependence theory to the study of political organizations. Specifically, we examine the variation in the number of environmental justice organizations established each year for the years 1970–2008. As density dependence theory predicts, the bivariate association between the number of existing organizations and the number of established organizations takes the polynomial form of an inverted U, indicating that the relationship between existing organizations and emerging organizations is at first cooperative, and then competitive. However, when we control for existing numbers of civil rights and environmental organizations, the results do not conform to density dependence expectations. Multivariate analyses reveal that environmental justice organization have yet to enter a competitive stage, and instead have cooperated over the past twenty-eight years. More generally this finding indicates that for-profit and nonprofit political organizations behave differently.
Analysis of Temperature Data for the National Center for Asphalt Technology Test Track

Several combinations of mix type, aggregate type, asphalt binder type, and layer thickness are in place at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) test track. It was desirable to examine the effects these various combinations may have on temperatures within the pavement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate measured versus predicted temperatures, evaluate the effect of mix type on pavement temperature, and compare the effect of surface layer thickness on pavement temperatures. On the basis of temperature data from the NCAT test track, some of the general conclusions are that (a) both the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) and Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) temperature models slightly underpredicted high pavement temperatures at 50% reliability and slightly overpredicted temperatures at 98% reliability and (b) the low-temperature models for SHRP overpredicteded low pavement temperatures for both 50% and 98% reliability. The LTPP models were also overly conservative at 98% relia...
Effects of thiazolidinediones on growth and differentiation of human aorta and coronary myocytes

Abstract Thiazolidinediones, insulin-sensitizing agents that lower insulin and lipid levels in insulin-resistant states, block agonist-induced Ca2+ entry into vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells in vitro and lower blood pressure in animals and humans in vivo. In this study, we investigated the effects of ciglitazone and troglitazone on cell growth and DNA synthesis (as thymidine incorporation), and differentiation in cultured human aorta (ha VSM) and human coronary artery (hca VSM) VSM cells. Mitotically quiescent ha VSM cells were stimulated with serum or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Ciglitazone (40 μmol/L) inhibited ha VSM cell proliferation by 84 ± 16% (mean ± SEM) (P
Fault-tolerant meshes and hypercubes with minimal numbers of spares

This paper presents several techniques for tolerating faults in d-dimensional mesh and hypercube architectures. The approach consists of adding spare processors and communication links so that the resulting architecture will contain a fault-free mesh or hypercube in the presence of faults. The authors optimize the cost of the fault-tolerant architecture by adding exactly k spare processors (while tolerating up to k processor and/or link faults) and minimizing the maximum number of links per processor. For example, when the desired architecture is a d-dimensional mesh and k=1, they present a fault-tolerant architecture that has the same maximum degree as the desired architecture (namely, 2d) and has only one spare processor. They also present efficient layouts for fault-tolerant two- and three-dimensional meshes, and show how multiplexers and buses can be used to reduce the degree of fault-tolerant architectures. Finally, they give constructions for fault-tolerant tori, eight-connected meshes, and hexagonal meshes. >
Heating of biological tissue in the induction field of VHF portable radio transmitters

The results of a research project on the heating of simulated human tissue in the induction field of portable radios at VHF are summarized. The investigation was initiated because measurements made with commercially available field probes indicated that, in some cases, apparent power levels higher than 10 mW/cm2are incident on the operator. Two phantom models have been built for RF heating tests. The first is a parallelepiped of simulated muscle material 26 in long, 9 in wide, and 6.5 in high, topped by a 0.5 in layer of fat and bone composition. The other phantom is a human-size head and shoulders. This "dummy" is a 1/3-in thick shell of bone composition containing simulated brain material. The measurements of temperature increment due to radiation were performed with a digital thermometer having a sensitivity of 0.01°C. Temperature measurements on the parallelepipedal phantom have shown that the penetrating power densities in the simulated tissue are substantially lower than what could be expected from an incident plane wave with the same E-field intensity. The physical reason for this apparent discrepancy is that the strong fields of static nature emanating from a VHF helical antenna (commonly used with portable radios) are normally rather than tangentially directed to the surface of the phantom. These fields practically collapse at the air-body interface because of the high complex dielectric constant of human flesh. The results of the measurements performed on the head phantom have shown that a 6-W portable radio with a helical antenna held at 0.2 in from the operator's mouth causes very little heating of the simulated biological tissue (less than 0.1°C is highest temperature increase for one minute exposure). The maximum power density penetrating the dummy is less than 1 mW/cm2in the middle forehead. No detectable temperature increase is present in the immediate eye area. This is because in normal use, the eyes of the operator are exposed to the relatively low fields at the base of the antenna. A health hazard is present if the user places the tip of the antenna in the immediate vicinity of the eye (less than a 0.2-in distance) and then operates the transmitter. In this case, the possibility of damage is greatly reduced by a thick insulating cap at the tip of the antenna.
Reinforcing Coal Mine Roof with Polyurethane Injection: 4 Case Studies

NIOSH has recently completed a study of the interaction between polyurethane (PUR) and coal mine roof in order to determine the mechanism of reinforcement, in both highly fractured rock and unfractured rock. Four case studies of PUR reinforcement are presented. At a West Virginia site, a borehole camera revealed the location of roof voids and guided the PUR injection. By injecting polyurethane into a zone from 0.6 to 1.8 m (2–6 ft.) high in the roof, a roof beam was created and ongoing intersection falls were halted. In another highly fractured roof in a western Pennsylvania mine, a total of 5.8 cm (2.3 in.) of rubbleized rock was found in a zone up to 3 m (10 ft.) into the roof. Untargeted PUR injection filled approximately 1/2 of the fractures. These two case studies showed that it is not necessary to fill up 100% of the void space to create stability. In the other two field sites, polyurethane was injected into weak, but unfractured roof. Post-injection video monitoring showed that weak bedding planes were hydraulically wedged open and polyurethane injected along bedding. The reinforcement value of this injection method is limited because of the wafer-thin layer of PUR introduced along bedding, and the lack of a PUR “webbing” which would serve as a structural framework to provide strength. It was determined that video inspection prior to PUR injection can aid in identifying the fracture zones to target, and minimize “blind” pumping and loss of PUR.
Modeling multiscale differential pixel statistics

The statistics of natural images play an important role in many image processing tasks. In particular, statistical assumptions about differences between neighboring pixel values are used extensively in the form of prior information for many diverse applications. The most common assumption is that these pixel difference values can be described be either a Laplace or Generalized Gaussian distribution. The statistical validity of these two assumptions is investigated formally in this paper by means of Chi-squared goodness of fit tests. The Laplace and Generalized Gaussian distributions are seen to deviate from real images, with the main source of error being the large number of zero and close to zero nearby pixel difference values. These values correspond to the relatively uniform areas of the image. A mixture distribution is proposed to retain the edge modeling ability of the Laplace or Generalized Gaussian distribution, and to improve the modeling of the effects introduced by smooth image regions. The Chi-squared tests of fit indicate that the mixture distribution offers a significant improvement in fit.
Feeding behavior in Aplysia: a simple system for the study of motivation.

Feeding behavior in the marine molluse Aplysia californica consists of a complex sequence of appetitive and consummatory behaviors. The consummatory behavior involves a biting response, mediated by the buccal musculature. The buccal musculature is also involved in swallowing and rejection responses. Constant stimulation with food results in regularly occurring, repetitive biting responses. The ratio of the median initial latency to interresponse times of repetitive biting was determined in order to test the predictions made by several alternative neuronal models of rhythmic biting. The data were consistent with a model in which biting is driven by a rhythmic oscillatory that is inactive until initiated by food stimuli. Control of feeding in Aplysia was examined by studying the effects on the biting response of a number of factors that affect feeding in higher organisms. A large meal was found to produce a state of satiation, characterized by a lack of locomotion and failure to exhibit biting responses to food stimuli. In a nonsatiated animal, brief contact with food was followed by an “arousal” response consisting of orienting movements, and a reduced latency to exhibit biting responses to a second food stimulus. Animals also showed a reduced latency for biting responses during the light period of a daily light-dark cycle. The advantageous properties of the nervous system of Aplysia have been utilized to study relatively simple behaviors. The present results suggest that Aplysia can be used to study more complex behaviors under extensive motivational control. Several observations in the literature indicate that many of the findings of feeding in Aplysia are also likely to apply to other gastropod molluscs with nervous systems that are advantageous for neurophysiological analysis.
High-pressure dissociation of carbonic and boric acids in seawater.

The apparent dissociation constants of carbonic and boric acids were determined for pressures up to 654 atmospheres in seawater of 34.8 per mille salinity at 22°C. Our values for the ratios of the apparent dissociation constants at 654 atmospheres to the constants at 1 atmosphere are 1.84 1.48, and 1.94 for K9 1 , K9 2 , and K9 B , respectively. At this pressure the commonly accepted values of Buch and Gripenberg for these ratios are 2.03 and 1.30 for K9 1 and K9 2 , respectively.
Rotational spin echoes in solids

Abstract Rotation of a sample whose NMR spectrum is split or broadened by anisotropic interactions results in a modulation of these interactions modulo the rotation period 2 2 ω r . When these interactions are inhomogeneous the magnetization lost in a free induction decay is recovered as an echo after each full rotation of the sample, the recovery being complete when the rotation is about the “magic” axis. Then the Fourier transform of the array of signals obtained at the echo maxima gives the spectrum which would exist in the absence of anisotropies. The shapes of the echoes can be employed to reextractthese anisotropies. Illustrations are given.
An Experimental Study of Thermal Transport in Transitional Flow at the Microscale

Pressure-drop measurements and instantaneous temperature flelds acquired using a microscale adaptation of two-color laser-induced ∞uorescence (LIF) technique at Re = 1600, 2200, 2800 and 3400 are used to characterize thermal transport in transitional wall-bounded ∞ows at the microscale. In order to perform these measurements, a smooth-wall copper test-section comprised of a rectangular microchannel having a hydraulic diameter of 600 „m was designed and fabricated. Pressure-drop measurements conducted across the length of the microchannel reveal the onset of transition at Re » 1900 with a fully turbulent state attained at Re » 3300. Consistent with the pressure-drop measurements, the mean temperature proflles reveal non-laminar behavior at Re = 2200, with the mean temperature proflle becoming increasingly ∞atter and fuller with increasing Re. Histograms of the instantaneous centerline ∞uid temperature for ∞ow in the transitional regime reveal broader distributions compared to those for ∞ow in the laminar and turbulent regimes. Additionally, these histograms are skewed toward higher (or lower) temperatures depending on whether the ∞ow is in its early (or later) stages of transition. The character of these histograms is also supported by examination of the instantaneous temperature flelds which reveal that the ensembles of instantaneous temperature flelds acquired for transitional ∞ow are comprised of a subset of realizations that exhibit laminar behavior while the remaining realizations reveal signiflcant deviation from laminar behavior.
Population-based biomarker screening and the development of severe preeclampsia in California.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between second-trimester maternal serum biomarkers and the development of early- and late-onset severe preeclampsia in euploid pregnancies. Study Design Included were 136,139 pregnancies that obtained second-trimester prenatal screening through the California Prenatal Screening Program with live births in 2006-2008. We identified severe preeclampsia diagnoses from hospital discharge records. We used log binomial regression to examine the association between abnormal second-trimester maternal serum biomarkers and the development of severe preeclampsia. Results Approximately 0.9% of all women (n = 1208) in our sample experienced severe preeclampsia; 329 women at Conclusion The risk of the development of severe preeclampsia increases for women with high second-trimester AFP, human chorionic gonadotropin, inhibin, and/or low unconjugated estriol; this is especially true for early-onset severe preeclampsia. When abnormal biomarkers co-occur, risk dramatically increases. Although the screening value of second-trimester biomarkers is low, abnormal biomarkers, especially when occurring in combination, appear to indicate placental dysfunction that is associated with the development of severe preeclampsia.
Nucleation Control and Thermal Aging Resistance of Near-Eutectic Sn-Ag-Cu-X Solder Joints by Alloy Design

Elemental (X) additions to Sn-3.5Ag-0.95Cu (SAC3595) solder were developed with minimal (<0.25 wt.%) concentration to avoid pro-eutectic Ag3Sn blades by reducing undercooling (ΔT) and to eliminate thermal-aging-induced embrittlement. Calorimetry and microstructure results on simple Cu/Cu joints identified 0.21Zn, 0.10Mn, and 0.05Al as sufficient to reduce undercooling below that for SAC3595 and to eliminate Ag3Sn blades. A 211°C melting onset for the X = Mn alloys also suggested the discovery of a new quaternary eutectic. Shear testing and microstructure analysis of larger joints showed that 0.05Al and 0.21Zn additions resulted in reduced as-soldered strength (30 MPa), like Sn-0.95Cu, but all joints showed ductile failure at about 30 MPa after 1000 h at 150°C.
ATP Hydrolysis Enhances RNA Recognition and Antiviral Signal Transduction by the Innate Immune Sensor, Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology 2 (LGP2)

Laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2) is a member of the RIG-I-like receptor family of cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors that detect molecular signatures of virus infection and initiate antiviral signal transduction cascades. The ATP hydrolysis activity of LGP2 is essential for antiviral signaling, but it has been unclear how the enzymatic properties of LGP2 regulate its biological response. Quantitative analysis of the dsRNA binding and enzymatic activities of LGP2 revealed high dsRNA-independent ATP hydrolysis activity. Biochemical assays and single-molecule analysis of LGP2 and mutant variants that dissociate basal from dsRNA-stimulated ATP hydrolysis demonstrate that LGP2 utilizes basal ATP hydrolysis to enhance and diversify its RNA recognition capacity, enabling the protein to associate with intrinsically poor substrates. This property is required for LGP2 to synergize with another RIG-I-like receptor, MDA5, to potentiate IFNβ transcription in vivo during infection with encephalomyocarditis virus or transfection with poly(I:C). These results demonstrate previously unrecognized properties of LGP2 ATP hydrolysis and RNA interaction and provide a mechanistic basis for a positive regulatory role for LGP2 in antiviral signaling.
Toda Soliton Limits on General Backgrounds

Abstract Starting from an arbitrary background solution of the Toda lattice, we study limits of N -soliton solutions on this given background as N tends to infinity. This yields a new class of solutions of the Toda lattice. Simultaneously, we solve an inverse spectral problem for one dimensional Jacobi operators–we explicitly construct Jacobi operators whose spectrum contains a given (countable, bounded) set of eigenvalues and whose absolutely continuous spectrum coincides with that of a given background operator.
Muscarinic receptor binding in the rat adrenal medulla.

Abstract Muscarinic receptor binding sites are present in rat adrenal gland and are associated primarily with the medulla. A Scatchard analysis using the ligand [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzylate (3H-QNB) revealed a KD of 0.064 nM and a Bmax of 66 fmol/mg prot. Denervation of the adrenal gland had no significant effect on 3H-QNB binding. The presence of muscarinic receptor binding sites in the adrenal medulla is consistent with reports that muscarinic receptors play a role in the release of adrenal catecholamines and modulation of cyclic 3′,5′-guanosine monophosphate.
Single-wafer processing: opportunities and challenges

As we approach the 0.25-/spl mu/m technology node and 300-mm wafer manufacturing, the industry is challenged to develop new thermal processing tools to replace traditional large-batch furnaces. The most technically challenging process for practical single-wafer implementation is thick oxidation (e.g., for device isolation). In general, the tradeoff between process uniformity, yield and throughput, for each thermal process, will be reflected in the single-wafer vs. minibatch configuration of these tools. The last bastion of large batch processing will probably be wet immersion cleanups, which are less sensitive to the "device- and wafer-scaling pressures". However, the migration of thermal processing away from large batches will exert "logistical pressure" on the associated cleanups to follow suit. Additional motivations for single-wafer processing are discussed.
Sensor Network Localization in Constrained 3-D Spaces

Localization of sensor nodes is important for many sensor network applications such as distance-based routing and target tracking. This paper presents a localization approach for sensor networks in constrained 3-D space. By assuming that all the original beacon nodes are on the bottom plane, the localization procedure for the entire network is primarily from the bottom to the top and at the same time the localization process is carried out in all directions from the regions where the original beacon nodes are clustered. Simulated results showed that efficiency is improved for network structures whose profiles are cuboid or cone shaped, and whose node distributions are layered or random. The effects of the number of original beacon nodes as well as the node density on the localizing errors and/or the localizing successful rate are explored. Finally, a large scale sensor network is analyzed to verify the propagating trend of localization.
Concentrations of organic contaminants in Mytilus edulis from the Hudson-Raritan Estuary and Long Island Sound

In this paper, we present the findings of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-ring polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), selected polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, the pesticide DDT and its degradation products, and the marine paint antifouling agent tributyltin (TBT), in the tissues of Mytilus edulis collected from 10 sites in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary and 10 sites in Long Island Sound. In the estuary, contaminant concentrations were highest in the Upper Bay, and systematically decreased moving south and east into the New York Bight. Near equal distributions of tetra-, penta-, and hexa-chlorinated PCBs in the Upper Bay systematically shifted to a composition dominated by more heavily chlorinated PCBs in the New York Bight. In Long Island Sound, contaminant concentrations were highest in the heavily populated southwest region of the Sound, while the lowest bivalve contaminant levels were observed near the eastern-most tip of Long Island. PAH distributions generally were reminiscent of complex mixtures of combustion products and refined fuel products. PCB congener distributions exhibited similar changes in composition as those observed in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary.
Optical switch based on thermally-activated dye-doped biomolecular thin films

A new optical switch has been developed, based on laser-induced heating and the temperature-dependent fluorescence emission properties of biomolecular thin films comprised of the phospholipid 15OPC. For films doped with the Laurdan dye probe, a 200 mW CW Nd:YAG laser (1060 nm) was used to heat submicron thick films by /spl sim/5/spl deg/C, and induce switching between two phase states of the bilayer, at the peak emission wavelengths of 440 nm and 490 nm, with rise and fall times of 50 ms and 275 ms, respectively. The thermal switching times are shown to be dependent on the initial device setpoint temperature, and the thermal sensitivity of the film in the phase transition region. >
Chemotherapy for advanced and recurrent cervical carcinoma: Results from cooperative group trials

Abstract Objective To review the clinical trial experience with chemotherapy for patients with primary Stage IVB, persistent and recurrent cervical cancer. Methods PubMed and cooperative group website search was performed and included clinical trials until September 2012. Emphasis was placed on the phase II and III clinical trial experience of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. Results Experience and trial results with single agents and combination agents in phase II settings are reviewed. Cisplatin has been considered as the most effective agent for metastatic cervical cancer. Most patients who develop metastatic disease have received cisplatin with concurrent radiation and may no longer be sensitive to single-agent therapy. Therefore, cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy regimens have been extensively studied and eight sentinel phase III trials are discussed in this review. Conclusion Based on phase III results, the combination of cisplatin and paclitaxel remains the standard of care; however, alternative combination therapies including cisplatin/topotecan and cisplatin/gemcitabine may be acceptable considerations for patients when considering potential toxicities. Further research is necessary to determine the optimal therapy for this group of patients. Final data from GOG 240 and JCOG 0505 will likely contribute to the design of future clinical trials in this disease setting.
Clonal deletion of thymocytes can occur in the cortex with no involvement of the medulla

The thymic medulla is generally held to be a specialized environment for negative selection. However, many self-reactive thymocytes first encounter ubiquitous self-antigens in the cortex. Cortical epithelial cells are vital for positive selection, but whether such cells can also promote negative selection is controversial. We used the HYcd4 model, where T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) expression is appropriately timed and a ubiquitous self-antigen drives clonal deletion in male mice. We demonstrated unambiguously that this deletion event occurs in the thymic cortex. However, the kinetics in vivo indicated that apoptosis was activated asynchronously relative to TCR activation. We found that radioresistant antigen-presenting cells and, specifically, cortical epithelial cells do not efficiently induce apoptosis, although they do cause TCR activation. Rather, thymocytes undergoing clonal deletion were preferentially associated with rare CD11c+ cortical dendritic cells, and elimination of such cells impaired deletion.
IS THERE MORE TO COUNTING THAN WHAT MEETS THE EYE? COMMENT ON SNYDER AND RICE

Snhyder and Rice (1994) comment that Shortz, Worthington, McCullough, DeVries, and Morrow (1994) failed to use sophisticated methods in their identification of prolific authors, institutions, and journals within the field of mari-tal therapy. This article is a response to Snyder and rice. We argue that Snyder and Rice's suggested methods emphasize a different research question that ouroriginal question, We investigated productivity of authous and institutions, not im-pact of scholars on the fiels of marital therapy. furthermore, we demonstrate that the results obtained from Snyder and Rice's suggested methodologies are nor appreciably different from our original results.
Dimensions of Recovery from Rape: Focus on Growth Outcomes

To date, all research on rape recovery has focused on patterns of reduction in negative symptoms—primarily fear, anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction. This article reports the first systematic attempt to conceptualize and measure how women grow and change in constructive ways as a consequence of having to cope with a rape and its aftermath. Factor analysis of instruments developed for this research and completed by 113 rape victims yield six dimensions of self-concept, five dimensions of coping techniques, and three dimensions of self-ascribed change. Reliability and validity data for these factors are presented, and the results are discussed in terms of the relations among negative symptomatology, growth outcomes, and self-rating of recovery.
Modified formulations for nine‐d.o.f. plane triangles that include vertex rotations

This paper considers various procedures that yield improved stiffness matrices for plane triangular elements. Each element has nine d.o.f. and vertex nodes only. Some of the resulting elements are non-classical constant strain triangles while others have more competent displacement fields. Numerical examples suggest that the nine-d.o.f. element can either be formulated more efficiently or made more accurate, but probably not both at the same time.
Chebyshev solution of large linear systems

The general problem considered is that of solving a linear system of equations which is singular or almost singular. A method is described which obtains a ''solution'' to the system which is stable with respect to small changes in the matrix elements. This method will solve an overdetermined system in m variables and n equations (m
Cross‐Cultural Differences in Risk Perceptions of Disasters

Public risk perceptions of mass disasters carry considerable influences, both psychologically and economically, despite their oft-times imprecise nature. Prior research has identified the presence of an optimistic bias that affects risk perception, but there is a dearth of literature examining how these perceptions differ among cultures-particularly with regard to mass disasters. The present study explores differences among Japanese, Argentinean, and North American mental health workers in their rates of the optimistic bias in risk perceptions as contrasted between natural disasters and terrorist events. The results indicate a significant difference among cultures in levels of perceived risk that do not correspond to actual exposure rates. Japanese groups had the highest risk perceptions for both types of hazards and North Americans and Argentineans had the lowest risk perceptions for terrorism. Additionally, participants across all cultures rated risk to self as lower than risk to others (optimistic bias) across all disaster types. These findings suggest that cultural factors may have a greater influence on risk perception than social exposure, and that the belief that one is more immune to disasters compared to others may be a cross-cultural phenomenon.
Uniformly convergent finite element methods for singularly perturbed elliptic boundary value problems: convection—diffusion type

In this paper we consider the standard bilinear finite element method (FEM) and the corresponding streamline diffusion FEM for the singularly perturbed elliptic boundary value problem −eα(∂2u∂x2 + ∂2u∂y2) − b(x, y) · ▽u + aα(x, y)u = f(x, y) in the two space dimensions. By using the asymptotic expansion method of Vishik and Lyusternik [36] and the technique we used in [21,22], we prove that the standard bilinear FEM on a Shishkin type mesh achieves first-order uniform convergence rate globally in L2 norm for both the ordinary exponential boundary layer case and the parabolic boundary layer case. Extensive numerical results are carried out for both cases. The results show that our methods perform much better than either the classical standard or streamline diffusion FEM.
Spatially-Resolved Evolutionary Synthesis Modelling of ARP:299 - Preliminary Results

We present spatially-resolved evolutionary synthesis modelling of the colliding galaxies NGC 3690 and IC 694, together known as Arp 299. This system is a possible merger and an excellent example of interaction-induced starbursts. Arp 299 is relatively nearby (V=3100 km s−1), emits most of its energy in the far-IR, and shows signs extended, thermal radiation sources. As such, it presents a good candidate for understanding the relationships between the dynamics of interacting galaxies and the starburst process. We use previously published photometric and spectroscopic data from the ultraviolet, optical, near- and far-infrared, millimeter, and radio spectral regions to constrain synthesis modelling of 1–2 kpc diameter areas at the three canonical regions of interest. The near-IR broadband decomposition method of Joy and Harvey (1987; also Telescoet al., 1985) is used to obtain the extinction to each of the three areas, which allows us to determine the intrinsic stellar spectrum. The synthesis modelling then determines the initial mass function and the star formation rate history of the interaction-induced stellar populations.
Mapping Impervious Surface Type and Sub‐Pixel Abundance Using Hyperion Hyperspectral Imagery

Abstract Impervious surfaces have been identified as an important and quantifiable indicator of environmental degradation in urban settings. A number of research efforts have been directed at mapping impervious surface type using multispectral imagery. To date, however, no studies have compared equivalent techniques using multispectral and hyperspectral imagery to that end. In this study, data from NASA's 220‐channel Hyperion instrument were used to: a) delineate three types of impervious surface, and b) map sub‐pixel percent abundance for a study site near Washington, D.C., USA. The results were compared with the results of similar methods using same‐spatial‐resolution Landsat ETM+ data for mapping impervious surface type, and with the results of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Land Cover Data (NLCD) 2001 impervious surface data layer, which is derived from Landsat and high‐resolution Ikonos data. The accuracy of discriminating impervious surface type using Hyperion data was assessed at 88% versus ...
Protection Conferred by Coarse Spray Vaccination Against Challenge with Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Commercial Broilers

The efficacy of coarse spray vaccination against pathogenic infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in commercial broilers was evaluated. Different coarse spray vaccination schedules using a commercial 2512 strain vaccine were compared with single or double drinking water application at 1 and/or 10 days of age. At 29 days of age, the chickens were challenged with the virulent Edgar strain of IBDV. Seven days postchallenge, severe gross bursal atrophy was observed in the unvaccinated-challenged birds. After challenge and regardless of the method of vaccination used, moderate-to-severe lymphoid depletion was observed, indicating challenge virus replication, later confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Coarse spray and drinking water vaccination induced protection against body weight loss. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the unvaccinated-challenged group (1483 g) and the birds vaccinated at 10 days of age by coarse spray (1812 g). The coarse spray vaccination also induced protection against challenge-induced gross bursal atrophy, as determined by bursal index values. After challenge, significant bursal atrophy was observed in the birds orally vaccinated at 1 day (0.61), 10 days (0.66), and 1 and 10 days (0.63) as well as the unvaccinated-challenged birds (0.62), but not in the coarse-spray-vaccinated groups that exhibited bursal indexes above 0.70 and did not differ from the unvaccinated-unchallenged control group. These results suggest that coarse spray vaccination can be considered as another tool to control IBDV in the field.
Metformin Pharmacogenomics: Current Status and Future Directions

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its costs to the health care system continue to rise. Despite the availability of at least 10 drug classes for the treatment of T2D, metformin remains the most widely used first-line pharmacotherapy for its treatment; however, marked interindividual variability in response and few clinical or biomarker predictors of response reduce its optimal use. As clinical care moves toward precision medicine, a variety of broad discovery-based “omics” approaches will be required. Technical innovation, decreasing sequencing cost, and routine sample storage and processing has made pharmacogenomics the most widely applied discovery-based approach to date. This opens up the opportunity to understand the genetics underlying the interindividual variation in metformin responses in order for clinicians to prescribe specific treatments to given individuals for better efficacy and safety: metformin for those predicted to respond and alternative therapies for those predicted to be nonresponders or who are at increased risk for adverse side effects. Furthermore, understanding of the genetic determinants of metformin response may lead to the identification of novel targets and development of more effective agents for diabetes treatment. The goals of this workshop sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases were to review the state of research on metformin pharmacogenomics, discuss the scientific and clinical hurdles to furthering our knowledge of the variability in patient responses to metformin, and consider how to effectively use this increased understanding to improve patient outcomes.
Anionic Polymerization of MMA and Renewable Methylene Butyrolactones by Resorbable Potassium Salts

Three resorbable potassium salts of hydride (K[H]), enolate Me2CC(OiPr)OK (K[E]), and allyl K[1,3-(SiMe3)2C3H3] (K[A]) have been investigated for controlled anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and its cyclic analogs, naturally renewable methylene butyrolactones including α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (MBL) and γ-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (MMBL). When used alone at ambient temperature in toluene, these salts exhibit no (K[H]) to low (K[A]) to modest (K[E]) polymerization activity. Mixing of K[H] and Al(C6F5)3 leads to the formation of an “ate” complex, K+[HAl(C6F5)3]−, which has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction; this complex has a high polymerization activity producing atactic PMMA, but addition of another equiv of Al(C6F5)3 further enhances both the rate and the efficiency of the polymerization, now producing syndiotactic PMMA with a narrow molecular weight (MW) distribution of 1.04. The K[H]/2Al(C6F5)3 system also exhibits high activity for polymerization of (M)MBL. In sharp contrast, addition of Al(C6F5)3 to K[A] shuts down the polymerization at various temperatures. The most active, controlled, and syndioselective polymerization system in this series is K[E]/2Al(C6F5)3. Accordingly, the polymerization control and kinetics of this most effective system have been examined in more detail. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Marginal nutritional status of zinc, iron, and calcium increases cadmium retention in the duodenum and other organs of rats fed rice-based diets

Dietary minerals Zn, Fe, and Ca are antagonistic to Cd absorption. We showed earlier that rats fed a rice-based diet with a marginal content of these nutrients absorbed more Cd than rats fed adequate Zn-Fe-Ca (Environ. Sci. Technol., 36 (2002) 2684-2692). The present experiment was designed to determine the effects of marginal dietary Zn, Fe, and Ca on the uptake and turnover of Cd in the gastrointestinal tract. Two groups of weanling female rats (six per treatment) were fed a diet containing 40% cooked, dried rice containing 0.6 mg Cd/kg. The diet of one group contained adequate Zn (35 mg/kg), Fe (30 mg/kg), and Ca (5000 mg/kg), while that of the other group contained marginal Zn (6 mg/kg), Fe (9 mg/kg), and Ca (2500 mg/kg). Rats were fed for 5 weeks and then orally dosed with 1g of diet containing rice extrinsically labeled with 109Cd. From 0.25 to 64 days after dosing, 109Cd and total Cd concentrations were determined in intestinal segments. Shortly after dosing, 109Cd, as a percentage of the dose, was about 4 times higher in the duodenum of marginally fed rats than in that of control rats (10% vs 40%, respectively). Sixty-four days after dosing, 109Cd was 10 times higher in marginally fed rats than in controls; however, of the amount at day 1, <0.1% remained at day 64. After 5 weeks, the concentration of elemental Cd in the duodenum of the marginally fed rats was 8 times higher than that of control rats (24 microg/g dry wt. vs 2.9 microg/g dry wt., respectively). Cd concentrations in liver and kidney were 5 times higher in the marginally fed rats than those in controls (liver, 0.81 microg/g dry wt. vs 0.14 microg/g dry wt.; kidney, 4.7 microg/g dry wt. vs 0.92 microg/g dry wt., respectively). These data suggest that marginal intakes of Zn, Fe, and Ca cause the accumulation of Cd in the duodenum, which results in a greater rate of Cd absorption and a greater accumulation in the internal organs. Results are discussed in relation to mineral nutrient status and risk assessment of Cd in natural food sources.
The use of a membrane and/or a bone graft may not improve the effects of enamel matrix derivatives in infrabony defects

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Do bone grafts or barrier membranes provide additional treatment effects for intrabony lesions treated with enamel matrix derivatives? A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails. Tu Y-K, Woolston A, Faggion CM Jr. J Clin Periodontol 2010;37:59-79. Reviewer Simone Verardi, DDS, MSD Purpose/Question Do membranes and bone grafts improve the outcomes in the treatment of intrabony defects when they are used in combination with enamel matrix derivatives? Source of Funding Government: Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and United Kingdom Research Council Fellowship Type of Study/Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of data Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality patient-oriented evidence. Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence