cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of body composition and bone mineral measurements from two DXA instruments in young men

The purpose of this study was to compare body-composition and whole-body, lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), trochanter, and Ward's triangle (WT) bone mineral measurements by using the Hologic QDR 1000W (DXA H ) and the Lunar DPX-L (DXA L ) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry instruments. In addition, the ability of conversion equations to predict DXA H data from DXA L data were tested. Thirteen healthy young adult males (aged 22.2 ± 3.6 y, 177.4 ± 5.3 cm in height, and 72.7 ± 9.6 kg in weight) were scanned on the same day by using DXA H and DXA L . Whereas measured body mass was not different (P > 0.05) between machines, whole-body fat mass [DXA H - DXA L (DXA diff ) = 1152 ± 1395 g], percentage fat (DXA diff = 1.5 ± 1.7% of body mass), bone mineral density (BMD ; DXA diff = 0.016 ± 0.023 g/cm 2 ), and bone mineral content (BMC ; DXA diff = 316 ± 50 g) were lower and whole-body fat-free soft tissue (FFST ; DXA diff = 1781 ± 1859 g) was higher with DXA H than with DXA L . Lower fat mass (DXA diff = 2145 ± 855 g) and BMC (DXA diff = 216 ± 36 g) and higher FFST (DXA diff = 1966 ± 943 g) in the trunk were primarily responsible for the whole-body differences. Lower BMD and BMC values were found for LS (DXA diff = 0.145 ± 0.038 g/cm 2 and 3 ± 2 g, respectively), trochanter (DXA diff = 0.100 ± 0.044 g/cm 2 and 1.7 ± 1.0 g), and WT (DXA diff = 0.195 ± 0.061 g/cm 2 and 1.93 ± 0.51 g) with DXAH compared with DXA L . DXA H BMD of FN was also lower (DXA diff = 0.141 ± 0.032 g/cm 2 ) than with DXA L . Only DXA H whole-body BMC and LS BMD were accurately predicted from DXA L with conversion equations. Predicted DXA H FN BMD was significantly lower than the actual DXA H value (P ≤ 0.05), whereas the discrepancy between DXA H and DXA L actually increased for whole-body percentage fat and BMD (DXA diff = 6.6 ± 1.3% body mass and 0.020 ± 0.025 g/cm 2 ). In conclusion, lower whole-body fat mass, percentage fat, and BMC, and higher whole-body FFST with DXA H were due primarily to measurement differences in the trunk. Whereas conversion equations accurately predicted DXA H whole-body BMC and LS BMD from DXA L measurements in young adult males, they did not accurately predict DXA H , percentage fat, and BMD of the whole body and FN BMD.
Sex Chromosome Meiotic Drive in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER Males.

In Drosophila melanogaster males, deficiency for X heterochromatin causes high X-Y nondisjunction and skewed sex chromosome segregation ratios (meiotic drive). Y and XY classes are recovered poorly because of sperm dysfunction. In this study it was found that X heterochromatic deficiencies disrupt recovery not only of the Y chromosome but also of the X and autosomes, that both heterochromatic and euchromatic regions of chromosomes are affected and that the "sensitivity" of a chromosome to meiotic drive is a function of its length. Two models to explain these results are considered. One is a competitive model that proposes that all chromosomes must compete for a scarce chromosome-binding material in Xh- males. The failure to observe competitive interactions among chromosome recovery probabilities rules out this model. The second is a pairing model which holds that normal spermiogenesis requires X-Y pairing at special heterochromatic pairing sites. Unsaturated pairing sites become gametic lethals. This model fails to account for autosomal sensitivity to meiotic drive. It is also contradicted by evidence that saturation of Y-pairing sites fails to suppress meiotic drive in Xh- males and that extra X-pairing sites in an otherwise normal male do not induce drive. It is argued that meiotic drive results from separation of X euchromatin from X heterochromatin.
An XPS study of formaldehyde and related molecules adsorbed on the surface of a tungsten (100) single crystal

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to study the adsorption and catalytic decomposition of formaldehyde on a W(100) single crystal. Comparison with the O(1s) spectra of CO(ads), CO2(ads) and O(ads) has been carried out in an attempt to understand the surface complexes formed from H2CO. It has been shown that H2CO dissociates at 100 K upon adsorption up to ca. 1/2 monolayer. Above this coverage, condensation of undissociated H2CO occurs. A surface complex leading to the liberation of CO2 from the formaldehyde layer has been detected by XPS. However, no complex uniquely related to an intermediate which yields a small quantity of CH4 has been detected by XPS.
Mechanistic aspects of fracture and R-curve behavior in human cortical bone

An understanding of the evolution of toughness is essential for the mechanistic interpretation of the fracture of cortical bone. In the present study, in vitro fracture experiments were conducted on human cortical bone in order to identify and quantitatively assess the salient toughening mechanisms. The fracture toughness was found to rise linearly with crack extension (i.e., rising resistance- or R-curve behavior) with a mean crack-initiation toughness, K0 of approximately 2 MPa square root m for crack growth in the proximal-distal direction. Uncracked ligament bridging, which was observed in the wake of the crack, was identified as the dominant toughening mechanism responsible for the observed R-curve behavior. The extent and nature of the bridging zone was examined quantitatively using multi-cutting compliance experiments in order to assess the bridging zone length and estimate the bridging stress distribution. Additionally, time-dependent cracking behavior was observed at stress intensities well below those required for overload fracture; specifically, slow crack growth occurred at growth rates of approximately 2 x 10(-9) m/s at stress intensities approximately 35% below the crack-initiation toughness. In an attempt to measure slower growth rates, it was found that the behavior switched to a regime dominated by time-dependent crack blunting, similar to that reported for dentin; however, such blunting was apparent over much slower time scales in bone, which permitted subcritical crack growth to readily take place at higher stress intensities.
Lead‐Contaminated Drinking Waters in the Public Schools of Philadelphia

Lead exposure is a preventable environmental health concern. Young children between the ages of 1 to 6 are most susceptible to its clinical effects. This article reports the results of lead level determinations in the drinking water of Philadelphia's public school buildings and remediation efforts aimed at dealing with this public health concern. Methods: Water samples were collected from drinking sources in 292 school buildings in Philadelphia from May 2000 through January 2001. These samples were collected and sent to reference laboratories for determination of lead levels. Results: A total of 42.5% (124) of schools had water lead levels not exceeding the action level of 20 ppb, of which 3.1% had nondetectable levels or levels less than 5 ppb. A total of 28.7% of buildings had water lead levels ranging from 20 to 50 ppb, 11.6% had levels between 50–100 ppb, and 17.1% had water lead levels of 100 ppb or more. Conclusion: A total of 57.4% of Philadelphia's public school buildings had water lead levels exc...
Level of family dysfunction and genetic influences on smoking in women.

BACKGROUND: An adoption study of alcoholism suggests that in women, the impact of genetic risk factors become greater in the presence of conflict in the family of origin. Is the same true for cigarette smoking (CS)? METHOD: We obtained, in a sample of 1676 twins from female female twin pairs from a population-based register, a measure of maximum lifetime CS (divided into six ordinal categories) and family dysfunction (FD) assessed as the mean report of up to four informants (twin, co-twin, mother, father). Statistical analysis was conducted by traditional regression analysis and a moderator structural equation twin model using the computer program Mx. RESULTS: With increasing levels of FD, maximum CS increased substantially while correlations for CS in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins decreased modestly. Regression analyses demonstrated reduced twin-pair resemblance for CS with increasing levels of FD. The best-fit structural equation model found high levels of heritability for CS and no evidence for a role of shared environment. With increasing levels of FD, the proportion of variance in CS due to genetic factors (i.e. heritability) decreased while that due to unique environmental effects increased. CONCLUSIONS: Several different statistical methods suggested that, contrary to prediction, heritability of CS decreased rather than increased with higher levels of dysfunction in the family of origin. The hypothesis that genetic effects for psychiatric and drug-use disorders become stronger in more adverse environments is not universally true. Language: en
The role of T cells in the induction of B memory cells: Influence of variations in experimental design☆

Abstract The purpose of these experiments was to determine the influence of several variables on the results of experiments designed to determine whether T cells are required for the induction of IgG-producing B (B γ ) memory cells in mice. In all of these experiments normal or T-cell-depleted mice which were to be used as B-cell donors were primed with trinitrophenylated keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Hapten-primed B cells were then transferred to irradiated syngeneic recipients together with a source of carrier-primed T cells from human gamma globulin-primed mice and all recipients were challenged with DNP-human gamma globulin in Maalox. The above parameters were constant in all experiments. The variables which were tested included the method of T-cell depletion, the dose of antigen used for priming of B-cell donors and for challenge of recipients, and the type of adjuvant used for priming of B-cell donors. The results indicated that the development of B γ memory cells is markedly T-cell dependent except when relatively high doses of antigen are used for priming. Variations in the method used to deplete T cells or in the adjuvant used for priming of B-cell donors had no effect on the results obtained. In addition, it was found that in order to observe differences in the IgG responses of recipients of B cells from various donors, i.e., normal unprimed, primed T-depleted, or primed euthymic donors, it was necessary to use a relatively low dose of antigen for challenge of recipient mice. These results are discussed in relation to previous studies which have shown variable effects of antigen on B cells in T-depleted mice.
Functional connectivity of hippocampal networks in temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) affects brain areas beyond the temporal lobes due to connections of the hippocampi and other temporal lobe structures. Using functional connectivity MRI, we determined the changes of hippocampal networks in TLE to assess for a more complete distribution of abnormality.
Prospective evaluation of 618 pregnant women exposed to parvovirus B19: Risks and symptoms

Objective: To assess the risk of maternal parvovirus B19 infection from exposure to various sources and the fetal morbidity of those infections. Methods: We obtained demographic and occupational information about pregnant women exposed to sources of B19 and about the nature and duration of the exposures. We performed serologic testing 10–14 days after exposure using an indirect capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Women with immunoglobulin (Ig) M were examined with weekly ultrasound until 12 weeks after exposure, and the outcome of the pregnancy was ascertained from interviews with patients and their obstetricians. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for maternal immunity and infection by B19. Results: Of 618 pregnant women exposed, 307 (49.7%) were immune to B19, 259 remained susceptible after exposure, and 52 (16.7% of all susceptibles) contracted B19 infection. None of the 52 fetuses of infected women developed nonimmune hydrops, and there were no fetal deaths attributable to B19 in this group. The relative risk of maternal B19 infection was 2.8 if the source was a related child living in the household (95% confidence interval 1.7,4.6; P < .001). No significant differences were found for maternal B19 infection in eight categories of maternal occupation. Maternal symptoms of polyarthralgia (46%), fever (19%), and nonspecific rash (38%) were significantly more common (P < .001) in IgM-positive patients than in noninfected women (4.1%, 2.8%, and 5.7%, respectively). Only 17 (33%) of the IgM-positive women were entirely asymptomatic. Conclusion: The risk of maternal B19 infection in pregnancy could not be predicted by a gravida's occupation, but it was significantly higher when the source of exposure was her own child. The fetal risk of nonimmune hydrops after maternal B19 infection must be very low. As a consequence, exclusion of pregnant women from the workplace during endemic periods with seasonal clusters of cases is not justified. Weekly fetal ultrasound evaluation in these cases carries a low yield.
Effectiveness of a Florida Landfill Biocover for Reduction of CH4 and NMHC Emissions

Methane-oxidizing “biocovers” were constructed at the Leon County Landfill (Florida). The primary goal was to determine if a biocover placed above the existing thin (15 cm) intermediate clay cover would be capable of mitigating CH4 and nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions to the atmosphere in this subtropical environment. A secondary goal was to maximize the use of locally recycled materials for biocover construction. The biocovers consisted of 30 or 60 cm of ground garden waste placed over a 15 cm gas distribution layer (clean crushed recycled glass from discarded fluorescent lights). The deep biocover reduced methane fluxes relative to the controls during temporal monitoring over more than a year; in large part, these reductions were attributable to increased methane oxidation. Both the shallow and the deep biocover exhibited significant percentages of negative fluxes (uptake of atmospheric methane) relative to the nonbiocover controls which had consistently positive fluxes. The overall annual effect...
Improved clinical staging system combining biopsy laterality and TNM stage for men with T1c and T2 prostate cancer: results from the SEARCH database.

ABSTRACTPurpose: A number of studies have failed to show significant differences in outcome following radical prostatectomy between men with palpable, clinically localized prostate cancer (cT2) and those whose tumors are not palpable (cT1c). We determined whether we could improve the prognostic value of the TNM staging system in men with cT1c and cT2 cancers by including information on whether prostate needle biopsy was unilaterally or bilaterally positive.Materials and Methods: A retrospective survey of 992 patients from the SEARCH (Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital) Database treated with radical prostatectomy at 4 equal access medical centers between 1988 and 2002 was done. TNM 1992 clinical stage was T1c in 421 patients, T2a in 287, T2b in 202 and T2c in 82. Multivariate analysis was used to examine whether biopsy laterality and clinical stage were significant predictors of surgical margin status, nonorgan confined disease, seminal vesicle invasion, and time to prostate specific antigen (PSA...
Induction of New GlutathioneS-Transferase Isozymes by Allelochemicals in the Fall Armyworm

Abstract The induction of glutathione S -transferases in different tissues of fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) larvae was studied using the allelochemical xanthotoxin as a model inducer. Newly molted sixth instars were fed an artificial diet containing 0.01% xanthotoxin for 2 days prior to enzyme preparation and characterization. Xanthotoxin treatment resulted in significant increases in glutathione S -transferase activity (DCNB) in midguts (76-fold), fat bodies (59-fold), and Malpighian tubules (32-fold) compared with the respective controls. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis of glutathione–agarose affinity-purified preparations from control larvae showed that the midgut possessed six heterodimeric isozymes with subunit molecular weights of 26,700 to 30,000. The fat body contained three homodimeric isozymes with subunit molecular weights of 20,100 to 29,000. The Malpighian tubules had five heterodimeric isozymes with subunit molecular weights of 26,700 to 30,000. Induction of glutathione S -transferases by xanthotoxin in the larvae resulted in production of two new isozymes in fat bodies but had no effect on isozyme composition in midguts and Malpighian tubules. Both induced isozymes were homodimers with a subunit molecular weight of 28,000. The allelochemicals, indole 3-acetonitrile and flavone, also induced these new isozymes in fat bodies but, unlike xanthotoxin, both inducers decreased levels of the constitutive isozymes. Using isozyme-specific antisera as probes, one of the induced isozymes was immunologically related to two midgut isozymes. Actinomycin D at 0.1 μg/larva completely blocked the xanthotoxin induction of new isozymes in fat bodies.
Anorectal Anomalies: A Review of Surgeries Past

The complex history of the surgical treatment of imperforate anus and anorectal anomalies illustrates the challenges of correcting this congenital defect. Initial procedures were designed to secure a stable outlet for the fecal stream. Despite an awareness of perineal muscular anatomy, early attempts to correct this anomaly failed to appropriately use this musculature and most patients suffered from problems related to constipation, incontinence, or fecal soiling. More recent surgical approaches demonstrate an evolving appreciation of the muscles of continence. The work of these past surgical pioneers has enhanced our understanding of anorectal musculature and its importance in continence and defecation. Their innovative procedures improved the outcomes for this challenging congenital defect.
Experimental Bilayer Membrane Models

The structure of cellular membranes is a central problem in biology. Interest in structure at the subcellular level derives primarily from the realization that the functional properties of biological membranes are a product of the molecular arrangement and the physical properties of the component molecules. The widely accepted hypothesis of membrane organization advanced by D a v s o n and Danielli has the phospholipid component arranged in the form of a bimolecular sheet. On the basis of this hypothesis it is evident that many of the physical properties of biological membranes will be related to the corresponding properties of a phospholipid bilayer.
Exenatide reduces food intake and activates the enteric nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract and the dorsal vagal complex of the hindbrain in the rat by a GLP-1 receptor.

Abstract Exenatide is a synthetic agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor, which has also been shown to reduce food intake. The goal of this work is to test the hypothesis that exenatide reduces food intake and activates the enteric nervous system (ENS; myenteric and submucosal plexuses) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the areas of the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) of the hindbrain that control food intake. Experiment 1 Five groups of overnight food-deprived male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with exenatide (0.1, 0.5, 5 and 10 µg/kg) or saline intraperitoneally, and the intake of 10% sucrose solution was measured at 5 min intervals for 120 min. All doses of exenatide reduced sucrose intake following the 20 min time point, and pretreatment with exendin (9–39), a GLP-1 receptor antagonist, reversed this reduction. Experiments 2 and 3 Following overnight food deprivation, five groups of rats were injected with the treatments listed above and sacrificed 90 min following the injections. The myenteric and submucosal plexuses and DVC were processed for detection of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI; a marker for neuronal activation). Exenatide increased Fos-LI dose-dependently in the myenteric and submucosal neurons of the duodenum, but not jejunum and ileum, and in the areas of the DVC that regulate food intake e.g. area postrema, nucleus tractus solitaries and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. In addition, pretreatment with exendin (9–39) prior to exenatide injection blocked the activation in both locations. Conclusions Activation of the enteric neurons by exenatide may be part of the pathway by which this peptide reduces food intake.
Enhanced repair of a cisplatin‐damaged reporter chloramphenicol‐O‐acetyltransferase gene and altered activities of DNA polymerases α and β, and DNA ligase in cells of a human malignant glioma following in vivo cisplatin therapy

Current evidence suggest an important role for increased repair of drug-induced DNA damage as one of the major mechanisms involved in tumor cell resistance to cis-DDP. In this study, we examined the DNA repair capacity and the activities of three DNA repair related proteins, namely, DNA polymerases α and β, and total DNA ligase in cells of a malignant oligodendroglioma obtained from a patient before therapy and compared it with those of a specimen of the tumor acquired after the patient had failed cis-DDP therapy. DNA repair capacity was quantitated as the extent of reactivation of the chloramphenicol-O-acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in a eukaryotic expression vector that has been damaged and inactivated by prior treatment with cis-DDP and then transfected into the tumor cells. The extent of DNA-platinum adduct formation in the expression vector was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The level of cis-DDP resistance of cells of the two tumors was determined with the capillary tumor stem cell assay. We observed a 2.8-fold increased capacity to repair Pt-DNA adducts and reactivate the CAT gene in cells of the tumor obtained after cis-DDP therapy, compared to cells of the untreated tumor. This was associated with increases of 9.4-fold and a 2.3-fold, respectively, in DNA polymerase β and total DNA ligase activities in cells of the treated tumor. At 5 μM cis-DDP, there was a 5.9-fold increase in the in vitro cis-DDP resistance of post-therapy tumor cells relative to cells of the untreated tumor. No significant difference in DNA polymerase α activity was observed between the two tumors. These data suggest that the enhanced ability to repair cis-DDP induced DNA damage, mediated, in part, by increased tumor DNA polymerase β and DNA ligase activities, plays an important role in the in vivo acquisition of cis-DDP resistance in human malignant gliomas, and that these proteins and/or their encoding genes may represent critical targets for strategies to overcome such resistance clinically.
Ischemic colitis in young adults: a single-institution experience.

Ischemic colitis is not well characterized in the young adult population, despite its commonness in older patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the demographics, etiology, clinical features, and prognosis of ischemic colitis in young adults. We conducted a retrospective study of 39 young adults (<50 years of age) diagnosed with ischemic colitis over a period of 9 years (1990 to 1998). The mean age at diagnosis was 38 ±2 years (range 18 to 49 years); the female:male ratio was 1.8. Fifty-two percent (13 of 25) of women were using oral contraceptives at the time of diagnosis. Other potential associations identified were vascular thromboembolism (4 of 39), vasoactive drugs (4 of 39), hypovolemia (4 of 39), and vasculitis (2 of 39); 19 patients (49%) had no identifiable predisposing factors. Dominant presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (77%), bloody diarrhea (54%), and hematochezia (51%). Most patients were diagnosed at colonoscopy, and most disease was left sided. Twenty-nine patients were successfully managed with intravenous fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and bowel rest; 10 patients required surgery. There was one disease-related death in the operative group. We found a strong female predominance and an association with oral contraceptive use, but almost half of the patients did not have an identifiable etiology. Mortality from ischemic colitis in this patient population is low.
Beyond Transactions: the Decision Support Benefits of ERP Systems

Enterprise systems literature and practice has emphasized the transactional focus of ERP systems. Here, we report on an initial study that explores the potential decision-support benefits of an enterprise system. We begin by synthesizing a set of benefit dimensions from the decision support system literature. These form the basis for an instrument used to gather enterprise system managers’ perceptions about decision-support benefits achieved in their enterprise implementations, the importance of having those benefits, and obstacles to achieving them. The central finding is that enterprise systems do indeed furnish substantial decision-support benefits. However, the high level of importance attributed to the achievement of such benefits suggests that ERP adopters desire even greater support for decision making.
Histopathological Effect of Lernaea cyprinacea (a Copepod Parasite) on Fish

(1976). Histopathological Effect of Lernaea cyprinacea (a Copepod Parasite) on Fish. The Progressive Fish-Culturist: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 110-113.
The Formation of New Castes: A Probable Case from North India

There is a persistent notion in the literature on caste in India that new castes tend to develop within the caste system. Heretofore largely unsubstantiated, this notion receives support from the data of the present paper, which argues that a new caste is in the process of formation in an area of north India. The inevitability, given certain conditions, of new caste formation within an established caste system is posited, and such formation is hypothesized as both a reflection and one of the chief causes of the great stability of the Indian caste system.
Cell-specific induction of c-fos expression in the pituitary gland by estrogen.

Estrogens regulate many functions of pituitary lactotrophs, including PRL gene expression, release, storage, and cellular proliferation. The mechanism by which estrogens exert such a variety of functions is poorly understood. In the uterus, estrogens rapidly and transiently induce the expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and c-jun in specific cell types. The Fos/Jun proteins form the activating protein-1 (AP1) transcription factor that mediates ligand-activated cell proliferation, differentiation, and secretion. Here we used Fischer 344 (F344) rats that develop hyperprolactinemia and prolactinomas in response to estrogens. The objectives were to: 1) determine whether estrogen induces c-fos expression in the pituitary gland and identify the responsive cells; 2) compare the dynamics of c-fos induction in the pituitary and uterus; and 3) examine the temporal relationship between c-fos expression and PRL release. Ovariectomized F344 rats were injected with 1 μg estradiol and killed at different times...
A New Taxonomy of Monetary Regimes

This paper proposes a new taxonomy of monetary regimes defined by the choice and clarity of the nominal anchor. The regimes are as follows: (i) monetary nonautonomy, (ii) weak anchor, (iii) money anchor, (iv) exchange rate peg, (v) full-fledged inflation targeting, (vi) implicit price stability anchor, and (vii) inflation targeting lite. This taxonomy captures the commitment-discretion tradeoffs that lie at the heart of choosing a monetary regime. During the last 15 years the world has moved toward monetary regimes with less discretion. Empirical analysis suggests that country regime choices reflect the level of financial and economic development and recent inflation history.
Teaching Ophthalmoscopy to Medical Students (the TOTeMS Study)

Purpose To determine medical student preferences for learning the ocular fundus examination and to assess their accuracy using different examination modalities. Design Prospective, randomized study of medical student education approaches. Methods First-year medical students received training in direct ophthalmoscopy using simulators and human volunteers. Students were randomized to receive vs not receive specific training on interpreting fundus photographs prior to accuracy assessments. Students' preferences for each of the 3 methods (direct ophthalmoscopy on simulators or human volunteers, or use of fundus photographs) and recognition of normal and abnormal fundus features were assessed. Results Of 138 first-year medical students, 119 (86%) completed all required elements. For learning ophthalmoscopy, 85 (71%) preferred humans to simulators. For learning relevant features of the ocular fundus, 92 (77%) preferred photographs to ophthalmoscopy on simulators or humans. Accuracy of answers was better when interpreting fundus photographs than when performing ophthalmoscopy on simulators ( P P = .02). Examination of the ocular fundus was found easier and less frustrating when using photographs than when using ophthalmoscopy on simulators or humans. Eighty-four students (70%) said they would prefer to have fundus photographs instead of using the ophthalmoscope during upcoming clinical rotations. Conclusions Students preferred fundus photographs for both learning and examining the ocular fundus. Identification of ocular fundus features was more accurate on photographs compared to examination by direct ophthalmoscopy. In the future, the increasing availability of nonmydriatic ocular fundus photography may allow replacement of direct ophthalmoscopy in many clinical settings for non-ophthalmologists.
The Role of a d-Mannosyl-Lipid as an Intermediate in the Synthesis of Polysaccharide in Phaseolus aureus Seedlings

Particulate preparations from Phaseolus aureus produce a d-mannosyl-lipid when treated with GDP-d-mannose. This lipid complex appears to be an active d-mannose donor, and some investigators have proposed that its role might be an obligatory intermediate in mannan synthesis of higher plants. When the partially purified d-mannosyl-lipids, isotopically labeled in the d-mannose moiety, were treated with particulate enzymes under a variety of conditions, a negligible amount of material was produced that behaved as a polysaccharide. Endogenous, particle-bound d-mannosyl-(14)C-lipid prepared from P. aureus particles readily transferred d-mannose to GDP to yield GDP-d-mannose and was hydrolyzed to free d-mannose when treated briefly with 0.01 n HCl at 100 C. The d-mannosyl-lipid, therefore, exhibits active d-mannose transfer potential in its endogenous state. When endogenous glycosyl-lipid was incubated in the absence of GDP-d-mannose-(14)C, little or no polysaccharide was produced. It was, instead, slowly degraded to d-mannose. Addition of several different unlabeled sugar nucleotides had no effect on the results. Our studies to date, therefore, offer no evidence that the mannosyl-lipid is an obligatory precursor of polysaccharide.
High-resolution photoemission mapping of the three-dimensional band structure of Bi(111)

Angle-resolved photoemission spectra of Bi(111) excited with synchrotron radiation at photon energies from 9 to 100 eV have been used to determine the initial- and final-state band structures along $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}T$. Deviations from the free-electron dispersion for energies below about 60 eV can be accounted for by an energy-dependent extension function to the final-state bands. The experimentally determined dispersion of the top three bulk valence bands is compared with literature data and various band-structure calculations, none of which satisfactorily describes the observed band width, the critical-point energies, or their specific dispersion relations ${E}_{i}(k)$. At a photon energy of 29 eV, direct transitions lead to a pronounced final-state gap. In this region, the experimental band-structure map consists of features resembling the one-dimensional density-of-states projection of the Bi bulk band structure onto the (111) surface.
Particle size, cohesiveness and charging effects on electrostatic and nonelectrostatic powder coating

Ten powders, differing in protein, carbohydrate and salt contents and ranging from 19 to 165 μm were coated by nonelectrostatic and electrostatic coating. Nonelectrostatic transfer efficiency (TE) increased to a maximum before leveling off with increasing particle size. Electrostatic TE either decreased or increased then decreased with increasing particle size. Powders became more free flowing as particle size increased. Since TE increases as powders become more free flowing, TE increased with particle size for both nonelectrostatic and electrostatic coating. For electrostatic coating, the effect of charge decreases with increasing particle size. Thus, the conflicting effects of ability to pick up charge and flowability caused an increase then decrease in the TE for powders coated electrostatically, and can also explain the exceptions. The average improvement in TE by electrostatic coating was 20%, with the improvement increasing as particle size decreased.
Influence of a culture-based entrepreneurship program on student interest in business ownership

This paper reports the results of a study that examined the impact of a culture-based entrepreneurship study abroad program on student interest in business ownership. Ninety-six students were asked to complete a pre-and post-study abroad program questionnaire that asked about their understanding of a variety of program activities and to gauge their interest in starting a business. Little similar research has been reported in the literature. Pre- and post- program mean rankings of the variable are reported. The results indicated that post-program mean ranking of knowledge, understanding, and skill ability variables tend to be higher than pre-program mean rankings. Fifteen of the 22 post-program mean values of the measured variables are significantly different from pre-program mean values. Logit regression analysis indicated that the language and program structure variables were positively associated with interest in starting a business while the Spanish business and entrepreneurial skills were negatively associated with business ownership. The results of this study may be of interest to educators involved in developing entrepreneurship and study abroad courses and programs. The study may be of special interest to those involved in developing integrative entrepreneurship programs.
On the reflection representation in Springer's theory

The theory of arrangements of hyperplanes allows to attach to every parabolic subgroup of a finite Coxeter group some numbers which look very much like exponents of the Coxeter group. In the case of Weyl groups similar numbers arise from the character theory of finite groups of Lie type, and more generally from the theory of Springer's representations. For exceptional Weyl groups these numbers were known to coincide, at least if the characteristic is not a small prime. Lehrer and Shoji [8] have shown that in characteristic 0 the same is true for classical Weyl groups, by computing the multiplicity of the reflection representation in the Springer representations associated to various nilpotent orbits. According to a note added in proof, they can handle all nilpotent orbits which are relevant to the connection with arrangements of hyperplanes, but some nilpotent orbits still evade their investigation.
Simulated weightlessness and synbiotic diet effects on rat bone mechanical strength

Abstract This paper reports results on exposure to simulated weightlessness that leads to a rapid decrease in bone mineral density known as spaceflight osteopenia by evaluating the effectiveness of dietary supplementation with synbiotics to counteract the effects of skeletal unloading. Forty adult male rats were studied under four different conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design with main effects of diet (synbiotic and control) and weight condition (unloaded and control). Hindlimb unloading was performed at all times for 14 days followed by 14 days of recovery (reambulation). The synbiotic diet contained probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactococcus lactis lactis and prebiotic fructooligosaccharide. This paper also reports on the development of a desktop three-point bending device to measure the mechanical strength of bones from rats subjected to simulated weightlessness. The importance of quantifying bone resistance to breakage is critical when examining the effectiveness of interventions against osteopenia resulting from skeletal unloading, such as astronauts experience, disuse or disease. Mechanical strength indices provide information beyond measures of bone density and microarchitecture that enhance the overall assessment of a treatment's potency. In this study we used a newly constructed three-point bending device to measure the mechanical strength of femur and tibia bones from hindlimb-unloaded rats fed an experimental synbiotic diet enriched with probiotics and fermentable fiber. Two calculated outputs for each sample were Young's modulus of elasticity and fracture stress. Bone major elements (calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous) were quantified using ICP-MS analysis. Hindlimb unloading was associated with a significant loss of strength in the femur, and with significant reductions in major bone elements. The synbiotic diet did not protect against these unloading effects. Tibia strength and major elements were not reduced by hindlimb unloading, as was the case for femur, but tibia bone strength was negatively affected by the synbiotic diet. Thus, unexpectedly, the synbiotic diet was associated with null or detrimental effects on bone strength.
Inter-species interaction differences in play actions in canids

Abstract Species-typical action patterns were identified in wild and domesticated canids during play in dyads of the same or different species. While these actions are under relatively rigid genetic control (i.e. are inherited), other dimensions of the play sequence may be more easily modified contextually. Thus not only species and context determine the frequency of occurrence of certain actions, but also the “compatibility” of the interactee, be it of the same or of a different species. The long-term consequences of inter-species interactions under conditions of captivity may lead to more permanent changes in the occurrence, frequency and amplitude of certain species-typical,“fixed”action patterns; this may be an additional variable to consider in investigating the complex influences of domestication upon behavior and warrants further investigation.
Phase I pilot trial of the bispecific antibody MDXH210 (anti-FcγRI X anti-HER-2/neu) in patients whose prostate cancer overexpresses HER-2/neu

The goal of this study was to evaluate, in patients with prostate cancer, the toxicity profile and biologic activity of the bispecific antibody MDXH210, which has specificity for the non-ligand-binding site of the high-affinity immunoglobulin G receptor (Fc gamma RI) and the extracellular domain of the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene product. Patients with prostate cancer that expressed HER-2/neu were entered into a phase I dose-escalation trial of MDXH210. Patients received an intravenous infusion MDXH210 during a period of 2 h three times per week for 2 weeks and were monitored for toxicity. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were measured and included the biologic end points of monocyte-bound MDXH210, cytokine production, and clinical response. Seven patients were treated with MDXH210 doses ranging from 1 to 8 mg/m2. In general, MDXH210 was well tolerated, with only mild infusion-related malaise, fever, chills, and myalgias. No dose-limiting toxic effects were observed. Biologic effects included induction of low plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 observed immediately after MDXH210 infusion and 70% saturation of circulating monocyte-associated Fc gamma RI with MDXH210 at a dose level of 4 to 8 mg/m2. Five of six patients had stable prostate-specific antigen levels during the course of 40 days or more. Circulating plasma HER-2/neu levels decreased by 80% at days 12 and 29 (p = 0.03 and 0.06, respectively, by the Wilcoxon signed rank test). MDXH210 can be given safely to patients with HER-2/neu-positive prostate cancer in doses of at least 8 mg/m2. At the doses studied, biologic activity was demonstrated and characterized by binding of MDXH210 to circulating monocytes, release of monocyte-derived cytokines, a decrease in circulating HER-2/neu, and short-term stabilization of prostate-specific antigen levels.
Lignin depolymerisation by nickel supported layered-double hydroxide catalysts

Lignin depolymerisation is traditionally facilitated with homogeneous acid or alkaline catalysts. Given the effectiveness of homogeneous basic catalysts for lignin depolymerisation, here, heterogeneous solid-base catalysts are screened for C–O bond cleavage using a model compound that exhibits a common aryl–ether linkage in lignin. Hydrotalcite (HTC), a layered double hydroxide (LDH), is used as a support material as it readily harbours hydroxide anions in the brucite-like layers, which are hypothesised to participate in catalysis. A 5 wt% Ni/HTC catalyst is particularly effective at C–O bond cleavage of a model dimer at 270 °C without nickel reduction, yielding products from C–O bond cleavage identical to those derived from a base-catalysed mechanism. The 5% Ni-HTC catalyst is shown to depolymerise two types of biomass-derived lignin, namely Organosolv and ball-milled lignin, which produces alkyl-aromatic products. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy show that the nickel is well dispersed and converts to a mixed valence nickel oxide upon loading onto the HTC support. The structure of the catalyst was characterised by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, which demonstrates partial dehydration upon reaction, concomitant with a base-catalysed mechanism employing hydroxide for C–O bond cleavage. However, the reaction does not alter the overall catalyst microstructure, and nickel does not appreciably leach from the catalyst. This study demonstrates that nickel oxide on a solid-basic support can function as an effective lignin depolymerisation catalyst without the need for external hydrogen and reduced metal, and suggests that LDHs offer a novel, active support in multifunctional catalyst applications.
Erosion processes and rates for gullies in granitic soils bathurst, new south wales, australia

Soil movement rates from fluted gully sides in New South Wales were measured over three years by erosion pins and survey. Erosion rates varied considerably over short distances from 0 to 53 mm yr−1 with an average removal rate of 19-8 mm yr−1.
Controversies in determination of epoetin (recombinant human erythropoietin) dosages.

Worldwide experience has confirmed the efficacy and safety of epoetin (recombinant human erythropoietin) therapy for renal anaemia and attention has focused on broader issues, including rational epoetin dosage and administration. Controversy regarding epoetin dosage has continued from the earliest multicentre clinical trials involving patients on haemodialysis. These trials examined 2 types of initial dosages: low doses which were titrated upwards (Sundal & Kaesar 1989) or high doses that were titrated downwards (Eschbach et al. 1989a). Intravenous administration was soon challenged by the success of low-dose subcutaneous epoetin given 3 times weekly (Bommer et al. 1988) or even daily (Granolleras et al. 1989). Early guidelines in the United States recommended initial dosages of 150 U /kg, reflecting experience with high-dose therapy (Ad Hoc Committee for the National Kidney Foundation 1989). Epoetin dosages have since been reduced by factors including clinical experience and US FDA approved labelling both for initial doses of 50 to 100 U/kg and a lower target haematocrit (30 to 33%) than was used in many clinical trials. Most notably, reimbursement constraints have reduced dosages (Sisk et al. 1991). This discussion focuses on clinical experience with epoetin as the determinant of rational and costeffective epoetin administration. While reimbursement policies have influenced epoetin dosage, these policies, which are not discussed here, are modified as the pharmacology of the drug becomes clearer. Similarly, the target haematocrit is a major determinant of epoetin dosage, but should be established by physiological studies and is not discussed.
Adenoviral vectors for gene transfer

Adenoviruses began to be developed into highly effective gene expression vectors in the early 1980s. Recently, the increased interest in utilizing this transfer system in vivo has posed new problems for heterologous gene-transfer, spurring a renewed effort in the field of vector development toward solving the structural, immunological and targeting problems posed by gene therapy applications.
A research status report on adaptation for mobile data access

Mobility demands the systems be adaptive. One approach is to make adaptation transparent to applications, allowing them to remain unchanged. An alternative approach views adaptation as a collaborative partnership between applications and the system. This paper is a status report on our research on both fronts. We report on our considerable experience with application-transparent adaptation in the Coda File System. We also describe our ongoing work on application-aware adaptation in Odyssey.
Fabrication of semiconductor quantum dots

The fabrication of semiconductor structures with precisely controlled nanomeLer scale compositional variations have given designers of electronic and photonic devices a new degree of freedom in the control of material properties, and have made possible entirely new classes of electronic and photonic devices (Vahala, 1988). The synthesis of quasi zero-dimensional systems, called quantum dots, has been proposed as an even more exciting development because the electronic state space in these structures is discrete as a result of the three dimensional confinement. The benefits of this confinement can only be realized if the dimensions of the structures can be controlled to within very tight tolerances. The necessary control has been achieved in quantum well structures through the application of molecular beam epitaxi techniques. Efforts to synthesize photonic devices from quantum dots have, however, been frustrated by the inability to control the scale of the structures produced by lithographic methods with sufficient precision. It is estimated that the size of a gallium arsenide cluster of 5 nm diameter should be controlled to within 0.5 nm (Vahala, 1988).
Is there a maximal anabolic response to protein intake with a meal

Several recent publications indicate that the maximum stimulation of muscle protein fractional synthetic rate occurs with intake of 20-30 g protein. This finding has led to the concept that there is a maximal anabolic response to protein intake with a meal, and that the normal amount of protein eaten with dinner will generally exceed the maximally-effective intake of protein. However, protein breakdown has not been taken into account when evaluating the anabolic response to protein intake. Protein anabolism occurs only when protein synthesis exceeds protein breakdown. Higher protein intakes when protein synthesis is maximized is characterized by suppressed protein breakdown and via that mechanism leads to a greater anabolic response. This explains why when net protein synthesis is measured, the relationship between amino acid availability and net gain remains linear, without any apparent plateau of effect at higher levels of availability. We conclude that there is no practical upper limit to the anabolic response to protein or amino acid intake in the context of a meal.