cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor localization of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) in human melanoma heterotransplants

The nude mouse bearing a human tumor heterotransplant is a useful model for studying the tumor localization of radiolabeled compounds. The biological tissue distribution of carbon 14-labeled alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), a synthetic, nonmetabolized amino acid, was determined in nude mice bearing human malignant melanoma heterotransplants in order to investigate the feasibility of using carbon 11 (t 1/2, 20.4 min)-labeled AIB for the visualization of human melanoma in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET). Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the use of 11C-labeled AIB as a tumor-imaging agent in a number of animal tumor models. The mean relative concentration of 14C-labeled AIB in tumor tissue at 45 min was 1.95 in this melanoma model. Tumor/blood and tumor/muscle ratios at 45 min postinjection were 5.42 and 12.2, respectively. These values suggest that 11C-labeled AIB may be useful for the in vivo study of malignant melanoma in humans.
Results of an artificial-lung survey to lung transplant program directors.

Abstract Background: Lung transplantation is the only treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. However, the scarcity of donor organs illustrates the need for alternatives. Recent success in the use of ventricular assistance has stimulated research in technology designed as a bridge to lung transplantation. Some laboratories have demonstrated significant advances in the development of artificial lungs, and clinical applications are on the horizon. In preparation, we sought to gather information from the lung transplant community regarding issues related to testing and potential trials of artificial lungs. Methods: We constructed a survey and distributed it to lung transplant program directors recognized by the United Network for Organ Sharing. Topics included required animal studies, preferred designs, logistics of clinical trials, and patient diagnoses most appropriate for such a trial. Results: The 31 programs responding to the survey performed 72% of all lung transplants in the United States in 1999. Ninety-seven percent supported a Phase I trial using an artificial lung as a bridge to lung transplantation. Additionally, 58% specifically supported a trial in which organ allocation would be prioritized to enrolled patients. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was the diagnosis thought most appropriate for inclusion in initial clinical trials. Conclusions: Widespread support exists for the development and use of an artificial lung as a bridge to lung transplantation. Information from transplant centers regarding device design and application can influence laboratories developing artificial lungs, and such communication will be essential as this technology progresses from the bench-top to the bedside.
The effects of hatching date on timing of autumn migration in partial migrants – an individual approach

Timing of spring migration and breeding and their interaction with climate change has been widely studied in recent years, but the possible changes in timing of autumn migration have gained less attention. This work focuses on autumn migration and provides the first multi-species individual-based study of how hatching date affects the autumn migration date and migration age by using nestling ring data and re-trappings of the same individuals during the autumn migration at the Hanko Bird Observatory, Finland. We studied three potentially multibrooded passerines (great tit, blue tit and coal tit) and two single-brooded birds of prey (goshawk, sparrowhawk), all partially migratory short-distance migrants. Individuals from late broods migrated at a younger age in all tit species and also in hawks the late hatched individuals tended to migrate at a younger age than the early-hatched individuals. Late-hatched individuals migrated later than early-hatched individuals in blue and coal tits, where the latest hatchers represented second brood individuals. Based on our results, the time from hatching to autumn migration is not constant even among individuals of the same population. Our study indicates that climate warming induced advancement of avian breeding may cause changes in the timing of autumn migration through the frequency of second broods.
Were there mammalian pursuit predators in the tertiary? Dances with wolf avatars

Fast-running, long-legged pursuit carnivores are familiar members of the present-day ecosystem, and it has been assumed that extinct large predators took similar ecomorphological roles (i.e., were “wolf avatars”) in past faunas. While these fossil taxa may also have been meat-specialists, we present evidence from limb morphology to show that there was no modern type of pursuit predator until the latest Tertiary. In contrast, ungulates evolved longer legs similar to those of present-day cursorial taxa by the middle Tertiary, some 20 million years earlier. These data suggest the need for the reevaluation of many classical evolutionary stories, not only about assignation of fossil taxa to a wolf-like mode of predatory behavior, but also to issues such as the coevolution of long legs and fast running speeds between predator and prey, and even the implicit assumption that cursorial morphologies are primarily an adaptation for speed. We conclude that evolutionary change in ungulate limb morphologies represents an adaptation to decrease transport costs in association with Tertiary climatic changes and that the present-day predation mode of long distance pursuit is a Plio-Pleistocene phenomenon, related to the development of colder and more arid climates.
Regional geotherms and lithospheric thickness

Continental and oceanic geotherm families parametric in surface heat flow intersect the mantle solidus at a depth coincident with the top of the seismic low-velocity zone, thus allowing surface heat-flow variations to be used to map the thickness of the lithosphere on a global scale. Thermal models were developed that predict a lithospheric thickness of a few tens of kilometers in young oceans and continental orogenic provinces and more than 300 km in shield areas. The variable thermal structue of the mantle implies a greater viscosity beneath shields, which offers an explanation for the observed retarded motions of plates that bear shields.
pGPA: a personalized grade prediction tool to aid student success

Many educational institutions are starting to make use of their scholastic data to improve the academic experience for their students. To aid in this endeavor we have developed a research prototype implementation of a collaborative filtering-based tool called the personalized Grade Prediction Advisor (pGPA). The goal of this prototype tool is to demonstrate the potential of recommender technology by providing grade predictions for upcoming courses in a student's academic career to support decision-making for administrators, students, educators, and academic advisors. In this demonstration we briefly describe the underlying technology and potential applications of pGPA. We then present how a user can interact with pGPA to produce and interpret personalized grade predictions for an individual student or group of students.
Precision limb profiles for navigation and research.

Luminance profiles of earth sunlit limb through visible spectrum for navigation and research
Jasmonic acid-dependent increase in vegetative storage protein in soybean tissue cultures

Adding jasmonic acid (JA) to autotrophic, photomixotrophic, or heterotrophic suspension cultures of soybean specifically increased the level of the Mr 30,000 subunit of soybean vegetative storage protein (VSP-30) and a polypeptide at Mr 18,000 that interacted with antibody raised against VSP. Using photomixotrophic cells, the increase was observed at concentrations as low as 10 nM JA and the increase was evident within 2 h following treatment. Below 10 μM, JA did not inhibit growth of the cells but did cause browning at higher concentrations. Other plant growth regulators, including abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid, and benzyl adenine, did not alter the level of VSP-30 either in the presence or absence of JA. Methyl jasmonate (JA-Me), 3-oxo-2-butyl-cyclopentane-1-acetate, and 3-oxo-2-pentyl-cyclopentane-1-acetate also increased VSP-30 but at higher concentrations than JA. Altering the level of reduced nitrogen or sucrose in the medium did not alter VSP-30 levels in the cells, but at higher sucrose concentrations, sensitivity to JA was reduced. The dramatic increase in VSP-30 elicited by JA appears to be a specific response to the phytohormone.
Simplified Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Pediatric Hand Wounds

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is commonly used as a bolster for skin grafts. The technique offers the benefit of negative pressure as well as reduced dressing changes. Skin grafting of the hand provides a unique challenge, and currently, the only commercially available NPWT hand dressings are adult-sized, precluding their use in small children. We present our custom NPWT “mitten” technique for use with skin grafts on the pediatric hand.
The significance of autoionization processes during nonresonant one-color two-photon ionization of neutral silver and copper atoms at λ = 248 nm

Recent experimental ionization efficiency data (photoion signal as a function of laser intensity) for nonresonant two-photon ionization of Ag and Cu at λ = 248 nm show strong deviations from the expected laser intensity dependence of the nonresonant two-photon ionization process. In addition, the comparison of the ionization efficiency data of the photoions Ag+ and Cu+ shows drastic differences between silver and copper. These deviations are explained by considering a two-photon excitation process of the internal 4d (Ag) or 3d (Cu) electron followed by autoionization of the short-lived excited atomic states produced. In the case of Cu, the competition between the de-excitation due to autoionization processes and non-ionizing radiative de-excitation schemes must also be taken into account. The importance of these processes for quantitative surface analysis using secondary neutral mass spectrometry in combination with nonresonant two-photon postionization is addressed.
Light scattering on oceanic turbulence

Turbulent inhomogeneities of fluid flow have the effect of scattering light in near-forward angles, thus providing an opportunity to use optics to quantify turbulence. Here we report measurements of the volume-scattering function in the range of 10(-7) to 10(-3) rad using a wave-front sensing technique. The total scattering coefficient b, due to scattering on turbulent inhomogeneities, is between 1 and 10 m(-1) under typical oceanographic conditions. The numerical calculations of turbulent volume-scattering functions compare well with the laboratory measurement. These results suggest that optical measurements at small angles are affected by turbulence-related scattering, and their effects can be well modeled with numerical calculations.
Positron Imaging Instrumentation

Positron imaging systems provide a unique and powerful means to examine the spatial and temporal course of radiopharmaceuticals in the body to observe normal and abnormal physiology in vivo. The information so obtained in conventional or transverse section mode complements the information on structure obtained from conventional x-ray and computerized tomography (CT) imaging. Powerful instruments are now available to provide high resolution conventional and transverse section positron images.
Theoretical estimates of asperity-scale stresses in normally-oriented continuous fiber-reinforced composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites represent a class of materials with enhanced mechanical and tribological capabilities over the non-reinforced matrices. Past studies have shown that fiber orientation in relation to the plane of contact has a significant effect on tribological performance. In general, when the fibers are oriented normal to the sliding interface, wear is minimized. In this study, stresses in the near-surface region to a depth on the scale of the asperity dimensions are estimated for normally-oriented continuous fiber-reinforced composites. The composite is treated as a transversely isotropic half-space whose properties are estimated from the micro-mechanical considerations of structural composites. Asperity contacts are represented by a hemispherical indentor on the transversely isotropic half space with a known sliding friction coefficient. The surface tensile stresses and their effect on wear are discussed in light of the results. Presented at the 47th Annual Meeting In Philadel...
Community health workers understanding and attitudes regarding intimate partner violence in the dominican republic

Program/Project Purpose: Rehabilitation response following a natural disaster has been progressively documented as an essential strategy for recovery and relief. In order to respond quickly, rehabilitation professionals, policy makers, relief volunteers and health officials need adequate training. The International Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine arranged a directive to improve rehabilitation after disasters by creating a training program built off of the first hand documentation of past disasters around the world. Structure/Method/Design: After putting together a preliminary online framework for the Disaster Acute Rehabilitation Team curriculum, three University of Michigan students travelled to China, Chile and Taiwan individually to conduct interviews with disaster victims, doctors, health officials, nurses, volunteers and hospital administration in post-disaster areas to assess their personal postdisaster rehabilitation experiences. Dozens of interviews were conducted and over 20 hours of video and over 2,000 photographs were collected. The student/physician team consolidated this information in the form of training videos for rehabiliation physicians, online quizzes, tutorials, disaster photography, and realistic disaster scenarios. We organized all of this information into a framework for initial trials as a PowerPoint presentation. Outcomes & Evaluation: The framework for the core curriculum consists of 3 modules: a module for training rehabilitation professionals who will respond immediately to a natural disaster, another module for training rehabilitation professionals who will be team leaders and a third for rehabilitation professionals who will coordinate with national emergency planning organizations and NGO’s. All of the modules have been successfully completed and edited by international disaster experts from the International Society for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The next step consists of making the modules internet friendly and inviting physicians to become trained in disaster rehabilitation. Going Forward: It is imperative that the rehabilitation response be rapid and efficient to improve survival rate following natural disaster. The DART curriculum provides a method for rehabilitation professionals who are involved in disaster work to plan and respond more effectively. The first-hand experience gained through interviews with rehabilitation professionals and tours of the disaster sites allowed for the production of a core curriculum and the preemptive planning for acute rehabilitation response during a natural disaster. The next challenges includes finalizing our curriculum into website format and recruiting rehabilitation physicians from around the world to become trained in Natural Disaster Response. Funding: No Funding Source As of Now. Abstract #: 01ETC096
The Strategy of the Story: Media Monitoring Legislative Activity

To what degree do the news media provide voters with the information needed to hold House members accountable for their actions in Congress? Previous studies have simply debated whether or not local news media cover politicians' actions, but this article considers the news media as a strategic actor when covering House members. I developed a set of theoretical expectations about the conditions under which local news media would be more or less likely to monitor the actions of members of Congress outside of election seasons. I tested these expectations using an extensive content analysis of local newspapers in both descriptive and multivariate settings. I find that local news media are strategic in their coverage of local members of Congress. Local newspapers invest more resources to cover out-of-step members than they do to follow members with policy preferences congruent with the district's. In addition, coverage of out-of-step members tends to be less positive than coverage of in-step members.
Response of strawberry genotypes to inoculation with isolates of Verticillium dahliae differing in host origin

Eight strawberry genotypes known to differ in susceptibility to verticillium wilt were inoculated with eight isolates of Verticillium dahliae originally obtained from six different host crops: strawberry, potato, watermelon, mint, eggplant (aubergine) and cauliflower. Inoculation experiments were conducted in replicated field trials during two successive years. Known susceptible genotypes developed typical symptoms of verticillium wilt in both years. Although isolates manifested a wide range of aggressiveness, differences were significant only on the most susceptible strawberry genotype. Two isolates originating from strawberry were among the most aggressive of the eight tested, whereas the least aggressive isolate was obtained from cauliflower. Six strawberry genotypes that were regarded as resistant to verticillium wilt based on previous tests were also resistant in the present study, regardless of the isolate used. Overall, strawberry genotypes represented the largest source of variation in these experiments, with variance components approximately 10-fold greater than those associated with either isolate or the isolate × genotype interaction. The results suggest it should be possible to develop resistance to verticillium wilt in strawberry that is broadly effective against isolates of diverse host origin.
Airborne spectroscopic observations of chlorine activation and denitrification of the 1999/2000 winter Arctic stratosphere during SOLVE

[1] We have used Fourier transform spectrometers aboard the NASA DC-8 and on balloons as part of the SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE) to record infrared absorption spectra of the polar stratosphere. From the high-resolution aircraft spectra we derived vertical column amounts of HCl, HF, NO2, HNO3, and a number of other gases for 11 flights in the region of the northern polar vortex. Vertical mixing ratio profiles are derived for a number of gases from two balloon flights. Within the vortex, where low values of total ozone are observed during the latter part of the observation period, we observed markedly reduced columns of HCl and NO2 and elevated columns of HF and HNO3 relative to columns outside the vortex. The low value for the ratio of HCl to HF indicates that HCl had been chemically or physically removed, probably providing a source for active chlorine. High values of HNO3 inside the vortex indicate that nitrogen oxides, which might otherwise mitigate chlorine-catalyzed ozone destruction, have been converted into more stable reservoirs. Because of incorporation into particles, some nitric acid may be removed from the stratosphere altogether.
Viscous flow past a split plate

Abstract The situation of viscous flow past a split plate is treated within the framework of the Oseen equations. The problem is reduced to an integral equation defined on disjoint intervals. The solution of the integral equation is determined asymptotically for slow flow. The drag force is calculated and compared with certain single plate results.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists after acute myocardial infarction

This article examines trials of the use of two types of drugs in the treatment of myocardial infarction: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium antagonists. ACE inhibitors are an established treatment for hypertension and heart failure and have been shown to reduce mortality from heart failure and after myocardial infarction. Six large studies have been carried out. In 1 in which an ACE inhibitor was given 3-16 days after infarction in patients with an ejection fraction < 40%, mortality was reduced by 17%. In a second study of patients who had evidence of heart failure and were followed up for 15 months, treatment with ACE inhibitors was given 3-10 days after myocardial infarction and mortality was reduced by 27%. Two other studies of 11,000 and 50,000 unselected patients with myocardial infarction showed only marginal clinical benefit. Calcium antagonists were introduced to treat hypertension and angina pectoris. In trials with patients with heart failure, the results have not been encouraging, and in some patients these agents seem to be harmful. Recently, long-acting calcium antagonists have become available, and these may avoid the deleterious effects of short-acting drugs. Since calcium antagonists act on smooth muscle, they may increase myocardial blood flow to improve function after "stunning" or "hibernation." This idea was investigated with a long-acting dihydroyridine calcium, antagonist in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Doppler Flow, Echocardiography, and Functional Improvement Assessment of Nisoldipine Therapy-I--DEFIANT I), and a further study is being carried out. At present the widespread use of calcium antagonists after infarction is not recommended.
Tear down the walls: Jefferson Airplane, race, and revolutionary rhetoric in 1960s rock

While the notion of the ‘rock revolution’ of the 1960s has by now become commonplace, scholars have rarely addressed the racial implications of this purported revolution. This article examines a notorious 1968 blackface performance by Grace Slick, lead singer of Jefferson Airplane, to shed light on a significant tendency in 1960s rock: white musicians casting themselves as political revolutionaries by enacting an idealised vision of African American identity. Rock, a form dominated by white musicians and audiences but pervasively influenced by black music and style, conveyed deeply felt but inconsistent notions of black identity in which African Americans were simultaneously subjected to insensitive stereotypes and upheld as examples of moral authority and revolutionary authenticity. Jefferson Airplane's references to black culture and politics were multifaceted and involved both condescending or naive radical posturing and sincere respect for African American music. The Airplane appear to have been engaged in a complex if imperfect attempt to create a contemporary musical form that reflected African American influences without asserting dominance over those influences. Their example suggests that closer attention to racial issues allows us to address the revolutionary ambitions of 1960s rock without romanticising or trivialising them.
The α1-adrenergic photoaffinity probe [125I]arylazidoprazosin binds to a specific peptide of P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant cells

Much evidence suggests that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) confers multidrug-resistance (MDR) in tumor cells by energy-dependent efflux of hydrophobic cytotoxic agents. In this study, we have used the alpha 1-adrenergic photoaffinity probe, [125I]arylazidoprazosin ([125I]AAP), and identified P-gp as a specific acceptor for prazosin. Drugs to which MDR cells are resistant, including vincristine, vinblastine, doxorubicin, actinomycin D and colchicine as well as agents reversing MDR, including verapamil, nicardipine, prenylamine, diltiazem, trifluoperazine, dibucaine, reserpine, monensin, and progesterone, differentially reduced [125I]AAP photolabeling of P-gp. We also analyzed the influence of alpha 2-adrenergic drugs and dopaminergic drugs on [125I]AAP photolabeling of P-gp. Limited proteolysis of [125I]AAP photolabeled P-gp with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease revealed that prazosin binds to a single 8 kDa fragment of P-gp.
An Analysis of Helicopter Pilot Scan Techniques While Flying at Low Altitudes and High Speed

Abstract : This study compared the eye scan patterns of nonexperienced and experienced helicopter pilots during a simulated high-speed, low-level flight. For helicopters, flying at high speeds and low levels is not the safest way to fly, but in times of war, it is necessary for survival. Subjects were 17 active-duty Navy helicopter pilots, all of whom had different levels of flight experience based on their total flight times. Each pilot was asked to successfully navigate a course through a simulated southern California desert in a fixed-based helicopter simulator modeled after the U.S. Navy's MH-60S. The pilots' eye scanning behavior was tracked by an eye-tracking system while they flew the course to determine scan rate and locations. Flight parameters, such as air speed and altitude, were recorded by the simulator's recording system. Analysis of the results obtained from the eye tracking system showed a decreasing relationship between scan rate and pilot experience, indicating that the scan rate decreases as a pilot becomes more experienced. The analysis used altitude variance as a measure of flight performance. Results indicate that higher scan rates correlate with higher degrees of variance in the altitude, indicating that a quicker scan does not necessarily result in better performance. The more experienced pilots showed a lower degree of altitude variance overall (they were more consistent in maintaining a constant altitude above the ground), yet all of these pilots exhibited slower scan rates. The integration of eye tracking technology with a simulator representing an aircraft currently in service was a success. Although none of the null hypotheses presented were rejected, trends were evident in scan rates when compared with pilot experience. The relatively small sample size was identified as the major reason for the lack of significance of the results. Data were lost on five subjects from both the eye tracking system and the simulator's flight recording software.
The synthesis and structural properties of [M(dippe)(η2-C4H4S)] complexes of Pd and Pt and comparison with their Ni analog

Abstract X-ray structural and NMR spectroscopic data for the ring-opened thiophene complexes [Pd(dippe)(T)] (2), and [Pt(dippe)(T)] (3) are now presented. The complex [Ni(dippe)(T)] (1), where T = (η2-C,S-C4H4S), was reported by our group, previously.The structural and bonding properties of complexes 2 and 3 were compared with those of complex 1. DFT calculations were carried out to rationalize their relative stabilities and structural properties. Compound 1 loses thiophene at ambient temperature in solution, while compound 2 decomposes rapidly in both acetone-d6 and THF-d8 with kobs = 7.15(9) × 10−5 and 7.7(3) × 10−5 s−1, respectively, to give products that varied by solvent. Complex 3 does not lose thiophene at temperatures below 100 °C. The ΔG0 values determined from DFT calculations are consistent with the observed stabilities of the complexes. The single crystal X-ray structures of all three complexes contain a disordered thienyl fragment in the asymmetric unit due to the interchange of the position of sulfur in the metal-inserted thiophenic ring. The thiophenic moiety is relatively flat in 1, 2 and 3, which is attributed to the open ligand environment at the M(dippe) fragment. All three complexes possess square-planar geometry around the metal center and have bond-length alternation among the thiophenic carbons, which indicates double bond localization. The calculated bond lengths are in good agreement with experimental data. Molecular orbital (MO) and natural bonding orbital (NBO) analyses were carried out to rationalize the results.
Prognostic Performance of Different Lymph Node Staging Systems After Curative Intent Resection for Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Objective: To compare the prognostic performance of American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer seventh N stage relative to lymph node ratio (LNR), log odds of metastatic lymph nodes (LODDS), and N score in gastric adenocarcinoma. Background: Metastatic disease to the regional LN basin is a strong predictor of worse long-term outcome following curative intent resection of gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 804 patients who underwent surgical resection of gastric adenocarcinoma were identified from a multi-institutional database. The relative discriminative abilities of the different LN staging/scoring systems were assessed using the Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) and the Harrell’s concordance index (c statistic). Results: Of the 804 patients, 333 (41.4%) had no lymph node metastasis, whereas 471 (58.6%) had lymph node metastasis. Patients with ≥N1 disease had an increased risk of death (hazards ratio = 2.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.68–2.61; P < 0.001). When assessed using categorical cutoff values, LNR had a somewhat better prognostic performance (C index: 0.630; AIC: 4321.9) than the American Joint Committee on Cancer seventh edition (C index: 0.615; AIC: 4341.9), LODDS (C index: 0.615; AIC: 4323.4), or N score (C index: 0.620; AIC: 4324.6). When LN status was modeled as a continuous variable, the LODDS staging system (C index: 0.636; AIC: 4304.0) outperformed other staging/scoring systems including the N score (C index: 0.632; AIC: 4308.4) and LNR (C index: 0.631; AIC: 4225.8). Among patients with LNR scores of 0 or 1, there was a residual heterogeneity of outcomes that was better stratified and characterized by the LODDS. Conclusions: When assessed as a categorical variable, LNR was the most powerful manner to stratify patients on the basis of LN status. LODDS was a better predicator of survival when LN status was modeled as a continuous variable, especially among those patients with either very low or high LNR.
Regulation of the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of viral and cellular proteins by ubiquitin and small ubiquitin-related modifiers

Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of many cellular proteins is regulated by nuclear import/export signals as well as post-translational modifications such as covalent conjugation of ubiquitin and small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs). Ubiquitination and SUMOylation are rapid and reversible ways to modulate the intracellular localisation and function of substrate proteins. These pathways have been co-opted by some viruses, which depend on the host cell machinery to transport their proteins in and out of the nucleus. In this review, we will summarise our current knowledge on the ubiquitin/SUMO-regulated nuclear/subnuclear trafficking of cellular proteins and describe examples of viral exploitation of these pathways.
Risk and return of mudarabas: Empirical evidence from Pakistan

As a response to the Islamic prohibition on debt financing, innovative financial institutions (mudarabas or modarabas) offer alternative financing instruments based on profit and loss sharing contracts. The article analyzes the theoretical risk and return characteristics of such instruments. An empirical exercise examines the risk and return profiles of mudaraba certificates in Pakistan and compares these with those of equity and debt securities. The analysis shows that mudaraba certificates have characteristics which would classify them as equity securities rather than debt securities. One implication of our results is that the cost of capital would be higher for firms which are forced to substitute debt with mudaraba financing. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Influence of periodic wall roughness on the slip behaviour at liquid/solid interfaces: molecular-scale simulations versus continuum predictions

The influence of surface roughness on the slip behaviour of a Newtonian liquid in steady planar shear is investigated using three different approaches, namely Stokes flow calculations, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and a statistical mechanical model for the friction coefficient between a corrugated wall and the first liquid layer. These approaches are used to probe the behaviour of the slip length as a function of the slope parameter ka = 2πa/λ, where a and λ represent the amplitude and wavelength characterizing the periodic corrugation of the bounding surface. The molecular and continuum approaches both confirm a monotonic decay in the slip length with increasing ka but the rate of decay as well as the magnitude of the slip length obtained from the Stokes flow solutions exceed the MD predictions as the wall feature sizes approach the liquid molecular dimensions. In the limit of molecular-scale wall corrugation, a Green–Kubo analysis based on the fluctuation–dissipation theorem accurately reproduces the MD results for the behaviour of the slip length as a function of a. In combination, these three approaches provide a detailed picture of the influence of periodic roughness on the slip length which spans multiple length scales ranging from molecular to macroscopic dimensions.
Preventing obstetric fistulas in low-resource countries: insights from a Haddon matrix.

An obstetric fistula is classically regarded as an "accident of childbirth" in which prolonged obstructed labor leads to destruction of the vesicovaginal/rectovaginal septum with consequent loss of urinary and/or fecal control. Obstetric fistula is highly stigmatizing and afflicted women often become social outcasts. Although obstetric fistula has been eliminated from advanced industrialized nations it remains a major public health problem in the worlds poorest countries. Several million cases of obstetric fistula are currently thought to exist in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Although techniques for the surgical repair of such injuries are well known it is less clear which strategies effectively prevent fistulas largely because of the complex interactions among medical social economic and environmental factors present in those countries where fistulas are prevalent. This article uses the Haddon matrix a standard tool for injury analysis to examine the factors influencing obstetric fistula formation in low-resource countries. Construction of a Haddon matrix provides a "wide angle" overview of this tragic clinical problem. The resulting analysis suggests that the most effective short-term strategies for obstetric fistula prevention will involve enhanced surveillance of labor improved access to emergency obstetric services (particularly cesarean delivery) competent medical care for women both during and after obstructed labor and the development of specialist fistula centers to treat injured women where fistula prevalence is high. The long-term strategies to eradicate obstetric fistula must include universal access to emergency obstetric care improved access to family planning services increased education for girls and women community economic development and enhanced gender equity. Successful eradication of the obstetric fistula will require the mobilization of sufficient political will at both the international and individual country levels to ensure that adequate resources are devoted to this problem and that maternal health becomes a high priority on national political agendas. TARGET AUDIENCE: Obstetricians & Gynecologists and Family Physicians. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After participating in this CME activity physicians should be better able to apply the Haddon matrix a tool commonly used for injury analysis to the field of obstetrics and gynecology; analyze the problem of obstructed labor and obstetric fistula formation in low-resource countries using the Haddon matrix and implement possible strategies for the prevention of obstetric fistulas and the mitigation of harm in cases of obstructed labor that arise from the use of the Haddon matrix.
Node autonomy in distributed systems

The goal of this paper is to explore the notion of node autonomy in distributed computer systems. Some motivations for autonomy are exposed. Different facets of autonomy as well as relationships among them are discussed. Finally, we look into how autonomy affects other aspects of distributed computing, including timeliness, correctness, load sharing, data sharing, and data replication.
Differential synthetic aperture ladar.

We report a differential synthetic aperture ladar (DSAL) concept that relaxes platform and laser requirements compared to conventional SAL. Line-of-sight translation/vibration constraints are reduced by several orders of magnitude, while laser frequency stability is typically relaxed by an order of magnitude. The technique is most advantageous for shorter laser wavelengths, ultraviolet to mid-infrared. Analytical and modeling results, including the effect of speckle and atmospheric turbulence, are presented. Synthetic aperture ladars are of growing interest, and several theoretical and experimental papers have been published on the subject. Compared to RF synthetic aperture radar (SAR), platform/ladar motion and transmitter bandwidth constraints are especially demanding at optical wavelengths. For mid-IR and shorter wavelengths, deviations from a linear trajectory along the synthetic aperture length have to be submicron, or their magnitude must be measured to that precision for compensation. The laser coherence time has to be the synthetic aperture transit time, or transmitter phase has to be recorded and a correction applied on detection.
Mediator-template assembly of nanoparticles.

The ability to construct size- and shape-controllable architectures using nanoparticles as building blocks is essential for the exploration of nanoparticle-structured properties. This paper reports findings of an investigation of a mediator−template strategy for the size-controllable assembly of nanoparticles. This strategy explores multidentate thioether ligands as molecular mediators and tetraalkylammonium-capped gold nanoparticles (5 nm) as templates toward the preparation of size-controllable and monodispersed spherical assemblies (∼20−300-nm diameters). The combination of the mediation force of the multidentate thioether and the hydrophobic force of the tetraalkylammonium template establishes the interparticle linkage and stability. The morphological properties of the spherical assemblies have been characterized using TEM, AFM, and SAXS techniques. The finding of the soft−hard nature of the nanoparticle assemblies and their interactions with contacting substrates could form the basis of a new strateg...
Titanium Alloys and Processing for High Speed Aircraft

Commercially available titanium alloys as well as emerging titanium alloys with limited or no production experience are being considered for a variety of applications to high speed commercial aircraft structures. A number of government and industry programs are underway to improve the performance of promising alloys by chemistry and/or processing modifications and to identify appropriate alloys and processes for specific aircraft structural applications. This paper discusses some of the results on the effects of heat treatment, service temperatures from - 54 C to +177 C, and selected processing on the mechanical properties of several candidate beta and alpha-beta titanium alloys. Included are beta alloys Timetal 21S, LCB, Beta C, Beta CEZ, and Ti-10-2-3 and alpha-beta alloys Ti-62222, Ti-6242S, Timetal 550, Ti-62S, SP-700, and Corona-X. The emphasis is on properties of rolled sheet product form and on the superplastic properties and processing of the materials.
A conformational transition in the structure of a 2′-thiomethyl-modified DNA visualized at high resolution

Crystal structures of A-form and B-form DNA duplexes containing 2′-S-methyl-uridines reveal that the modified residues adopt a RNA-like C3′-endo pucker, illustrating that the replacement of electronegative oxygen at the 2′-carbon of RNA by sulfur does not appear to fundamentally alter the conformational preference of the sugar in the oligonucleotide context and sterics trump stereoelectronics.
The Spectrum of Diaphragmatic Hernia

Diaphragmatic hernias are among the most common abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract. Those with significant paraesophageal features may require surgical intervention to prevent potentially lethal complications. By contrast, 90% of patients with sliding hiatal hernias respond favorably to behavior modification and antisecretory drug therapy.
Comparison of charged derivatives for high energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry

Fixed-charge derivatives have been used to direct the fragmentation pattern of high energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectra for several years. It has been noted that a fixed-charge placed at a terminus of a peptide will simplify the pattern of fragment ions that are produced in collision-induced dissociation. Trimethylammoniumacetyl, dimethyloctylammoniumacetyl, and triphenylphosphoniumethyl derivatives have been cited in the literature for this purpose and many other structures are possible. This work compares the cited derivatives as well as some new structures. The criteria used include the ease of synthesis and purification of the derivatized peptide and the effects of the derivative on the peptide sequence fragment ion yield and ionization efficiency. The trimethylammoniumacetyl derivative is concluded to be the most practical for general use, whereas the dimethyloctylammoniumacetyl derivative is found to be desirable for use with hydrophilic peptides.
Public Perceptions of Disease Severity but Not Actionability Correlate with Interest in Receiving Genomic Results: Nonalignment with Current Trends in Practice

Purpose: Frameworks highlighting disease actionability and severity are evolving to address the need to organize results from genome-wide analyses. This approach
Eating disorder symptoms and body image concerns in Iran: comparisons between Iranian women in Iran and in America.

Objective Rates of eating disorder symptoms were compared between Iranian women living in Iran and Iranian women living in America, in order to assess the impact of Western culture on eating disorders. Women in Iran are mandated by law to cover their bodies with a long veil or overcoat and they have little legal exposure to Western culture and media. Method Fifty-nine female Iranian students living in Tehran and 45 female students of Iranian descent living in Los Angeles were surveyed with the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and the Figure Rating Scale. Results Few differences were found between participants in the two samples, despite ample power to detect them. Participants in Iran reported as much disordered eating as participants who had immigrated to America. Discussion Neither exposure to Western media nor acculturation to Western norms appeared to be related to symptoms of disordered eating and body image concerns in this sample. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 30: 259–268, 2001.
Adducin Regulation DEFINITION OF THE CALMODULIN-BINDING DOMAIN AND SITES OF PHOSPHORYLATION BY PROTEIN KINASES A AND C

Adducin promotes association of spectrin with actin and caps the fast growing end of actin filaments. Adducin contains N-terminal core, neck, and C-terminal tail domains, is a substrate for protein kinases A (PKA) and C (PKC), and binds to Ca2+/calmodulin. Ser-726 and Ser-713 in the C-terminal MARCKS-related domains of alpha- and beta-adducin, respectively, were identified as the major phosphorylation sites common for PKA and PKC. PKA, in addition, phosphorylated alpha-adducin at Ser-408, -436, and -481 in the neck domain. Phosphorylation by PKA, but not PKC, reduced the affinity of adducin for spectrin-F-actin complexes as well as the activity of adducin in promoting binding of spectrin to F-actin. The myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate-related domain of beta-adducin was identified as the dominant Ca2+-dependent calmodulin-binding site. Calmodulin-binding was inhibited by phosphorylation of beta-adducin and of a MARCKS-related domain peptide by PKA and PKC. Calmodulin in turn inhibited the rate, but not the extent, of phosphorylation of beta-adducin, but not alpha-adducin, by PKA and that of each subunit by PKC. These findings suggest a complex reciprocal relationship between regulation of adducin function by calmodulin binding and phosphorylation by PKA and PKC.
Abnormal fatty acid breath tests in cancer patients, with nutritional correlation

In a group of cancer patients selected to exclude common causes of abnormal lipid absorption, we have examined this function using a breath test. Abnormal breath tests of fatty acid absorption (FABT) are found in most cancer patients, as has been previously claimed. These tests are abnormal in both quality (delayed peak in nine of ten patients, and quantity (reduced maximum peak in five of ten patients) of fatty acid absorption. In many patients abnormal FABT is not due to chemotherapy. Our preliminary results indicate no definite malabsorption mechanism but more stringent tests of absorption need to be applied. Malnutrition is common in cancer patients, even in those with little or no weight loss, and some of the malnutrition may be related to abnormal lipid absorption or to other disturbed aspects of lipid metabolism.
An evaluation of two acid hydrolysis processes for the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks to ethanol and other chemicals.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been actively involved in the development of acid hydrolysis processes for the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks to ethanol since 1981. At that time, the TVA renewed earlier work conducted in the 1950s with the USDA Forest Products Laboratory to develop a dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis process. Hydrolysis research at the TVA was further expanded in 1983 with the development of a concentrated sulfuric acid hyrolysis process for converting cellulosic feedstocks to sugars for ethanol production. Both processes are being developed in laboratory-, bench-, and pilot-scale studies. Ethanol yields from the two processes are 63 gal/t using dilute acid hydrolysis and 72 gal/t using the concentrated acid hydrolysis. An economic assessment of the two processes has been conducted using a base-case, commercial-scale design for producing 11M gal/yr of ethanol. Hardwoods and corn stover are used as feedstocks for the dilute and concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis processes, respectively. This paper will evaluate the effects of both internal and external factors on ethanol production costs. The sensitivity of these costs to technology, market, and economic changes will be presented.
Turnover of rat liver tyrosine transaminase: stabilization after inhibition of protein synthesis.

Turnover of the rat liver tyrosine transaminase in vivo was measured by a label and chase procedure under conditions where the amount of enzyme undergoes no change. Half-life of the 14 C-labeled enzyme in this basal condition was found to be 1.5 ± 0.3 hours. Inhibitors of protein synthesis (cycloheximide or puromycin) do not appreciably influence the basal enzyme level over a 5-hour period, although these drugs will block hormonal induction of this enzyme. In pulse-labeling experiments, cycloheximide blocked transaminase synthesis almost completely. The conclusion that enzyme degradation, as well as synthesis, must be blocked when protein synthesis is stopped was confirmed in experiments showing that labeled enzyme is stable in the liver of rats treated with cycloheximide The participation of a continuously synthesized polypeptide in the degradative phase of transaminase turnover is suggested.