cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial Variations in UV-Optical Lines Across the Ring Nebula

IUE spectra of the Ring Nebula (M57=NGC 6720) were taken 16–18 May 1991 using the large aperture (10 X 20 arc sec oval) at low dispersion. SWP and LWP spectra of seven locations were acquired at 10 arc sec intervals extending along a PA = 124° line and passing through the central star of the nebula. This direction was such that, the long axis of the large aperture was aligned and overlapped, thus enabling the line profiles to be “spliced” together. This provided continuous spatial variation curves at approximately 1 arc sec spatial resolution over the entire diameter (80 arc sec) of the main body of the Ring Nebula.
Enhanced Conversion of Lactose to Glycerol by Kluyveromyces fragilis Utilizing Whey Permeate as a Substrate

Kluyveromyces fragilis (CBS 397) is a nonhalophilic yeast which is capable of lactose utilization from whey permeate and high glycerol production under anaerobic growth conditions. However, the optimum yields of glycerol (11.6 mg/ml of whey permeate medium) obtained in this study occurred only in the presence of 1% Na2SO3 as a steering agent. The use of other concentrations of Na2SO3, as well as 5% NaCl and 1% ascorbic acid, had no or detrimental effects on cell growth, lactose utilization, and glycerol production. Glycerol yields were greater in cultures grown from a light inoculum of K. fragilis than in cultures in which a resuspended mass of cells was introduced into the medium. The results of this study suggest that this strain of K. fragilis may be useful commercially in the utilization of cheese whey lactose and the concomitant production of glycerol.
If We Could Choose The Way We Pay: The Impact Of Decision Complexity On Tax Scheme Preference

A continuing debate exists about how the complex U.S. tax code has resulted in counter-productive business decisions. Our study examines how tax policy impacts taxpayer decision-making. We present a model addressing factors impacting taxpayer decision-making and test our resulting hypotheses using an experimental design drawn from industrial and organizational psychology. We find that the context of the taxpayer's personal situation significantly affects the decision to favor changes in tax policy. Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that taxpayers having a more complex tax situation will tend to support a tax simplification proposal less than those with simpler tax situations. Our study provides unique evidence that taxpayers having more complex tax situations feel more in control of their decisions under the existing tax structure than those having simpler tax situations. Implications for decision-making researchers and tax policymakers are offered.
A canonical form for testing boolean function properties

In a well-known result Goldreich and Trevisan (2003) showed that every testable graph property has a "canonical" tester in which a set of vertices is selected at random and the edges queried are the complete graph over the selected vertices. We define a similar-inspirit canonical form for Boolean function testing algorithms, and show that under some mild conditions property testers for Boolean functions can be transformed into this canonical form. Our first main result shows, roughly speaking, that every "nice" family of Boolean functions that has low noise sensitivity and is testable by an "independent tester," has a canonical testing algorithm. Our second main result is similar but holds instead for families of Boolean functions that are closed under ID-negative minors. Taken together, these two results cover almost all of the constant-query Boolean function testing algorithms that we know of in the literature, and show that all of these testing algorithms can be automatically converted into a canonical form.
Rapid LC-MRM-MS assay for simultaneous quantification of choline, betaine, trimethylamine, trimethylamine N-oxide, and creatinine in human plasma and urine

There is a growing interest in analyzing choline, betaine, and their gut microbial metabolites including trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in body fluids due to the high relevance of these compounds for human health and diseases. A stable isotope dilution (SID)-LC-MRM-MS assay was developed for the simultaneous determination of choline, betaine, TMA, TMAO, and creatinine in human plasma and urine. The assay was validated using quality control (QC) plasma samples, spiked at low, medium, and high levels. Freeze-thaw stability was also evaluated. The utility of this assay for urine was demonstrated using a nutritional clinical study on the effect of various egg doses on TMAO production in humans. This assay has a wide dynamic range (R2 > 0.994) for all the analytes (choline: 0.122-250 μM; betaine: 0.488-1000 μM; TMA: 0.244-250 μM; TMAO: 0.061-62.5 μM; and creatinine: 0.977-2000 μM). High intra- and inter-day precision (CV < 6%) and high accuracy (< 15% error) were observed from the QC plasma samples. The assay is reliable for samples undergoing multiple freeze-thaw cycles (tested up to eight cycles). The assay also works for urine samples as demonstrated by a clinical study in which we observed a significant, positive linear response to various egg doses for urinary concentrations of all the analytes except creatinine. A rapid SID-LC-MRM-MS assay for simultaneous quantification of choline, betaine, TMA, TMAO, and creatinine has been developed and validated, and is expected to find wide application in nutrition and cardiovascular studies as well as diagnosis and management of trimethylaminuria.
Magnetic coupling in granular aluminum superconducting films

The maximum coupling force ${F}_{\mathrm{cm}}$ in a Giaever superconducting transformer is measured in granular aluminum films at significantly higher fields and lower temperatures than in previous work. A new method to determine ${F}_{\mathrm{cm}}$ by measuring the critical current in one film only is presented. The results are in excellent quantitative agreement with the one-reciprocal-lattice-vector approximation to the theoretical analysis in its region of validity, i.e., at high fields. For low fields, ${F}_{\mathrm{cm}}$ is consistent with the temperature dependence of the low-field approximation over the entire reduced-temperature ($t=\frac{T}{{T}_{c}}$) range ($0.36ltl0.96$).
On robust phase retrieval for sparse signals

Recovering signals from their Fourier transform magnitudes is a classical problem referred to as phase retrieval and has been around for decades. In general, the Fourier transform magnitudes do not carry enough information to uniquely identify the signal and therefore additional prior information is required. In this paper, we shall assume that the underlying signal is sparse, which is true in many applications such as X-ray crystallography, astronomical imaging, etc. Recently, several techniques involving semidefinite relaxations have been proposed for this problem, however very little analysis has been performed. The phase retrieval problem can be decomposed into two tasks — (i) identifying the support of the sparse signal from the Fourier transform magnitudes, and (ii) recovering the signal using the support information. In earlier work [13], we developed algorithms for (i) which provably recovered the support for sparsities upto O(n1/3−∊). Simulations suggest that support recovery is possible upto sparsity O(n1/2−∊). In this paper, we focus on (ii) and propose an algorithm based on semidefinite relaxation, which provably recovers the signal from its Fourier transform magnitude and support knowledge with high probability if the support size is O(n1/2−∊).
Transgenic Fish as Models in Environmental Toxicology

Historically, fish have played significant roles in assessing potential risks associated with exposure to chemical contamination in aquatic environments. Considering the contributions of transgenic rodent models to biomedicine, it is reasoned that the development of transgenic fish could enhance the role of fish in environmental toxicology. Application of transgenic fish in environmental studies remains at an early stage, but recent introduction of new models and methods demonstrates progress. Rapid advances are most evident in the area of in vivo mutagenesis using fish carrying transgenes that serve as recoverable mutational targets. These models highlight many advantages afforded by fish as models and illustrate important issues that apply broadly to transgenic fish in environmental toxicology. Development of fish models carrying identical transgenes to those found in rodents is beneficial and has revealed that numerous aspects of in vivo mutagenesis are similar between the two classes of vertebrates. Researchers have revealed that fish exhibit frequencies of spontaneous mutations similar to rodents and respond to mutagen exposure consistent with known mutagenic mechanisms. Results have demonstrated the feasibility of in vivo mutation analyses using transgenic fish and have illustrated their potential value as a comparative animal model. Challenges to development and application of transgenic fish relate to the needs for improved efficiencies in transgenic technology and in aspects of fish husbandry and use. By taking advantage of the valuable and unique attributes of fish as test organisms, it is anticipated that transgenic fish will make significant contributions to studies of environmentally induced diseases.
A comparative evaluation of three methods of antiviral susceptibility testing of clinical herpes simplex virus isolates.

Abstract Background: Current methods of antiviral susceptibility testing for herpes simplex virus (HSV) are poorly standardized and have rarely been compared critically. Objectives: To compare the three most commonly utilized HSV susceptibility assays for accuracy of result, method of implementation, and time required. Study design: We compared susceptibility results for acyclovir and foscarnet using the plaque reduction, dye uptake and DNA hybridization assays in 30 patient isolates of HSV, of varying susceptibility pattern. Compared parameters included: values for ID 50 (the concentration of drug required to inhibit virus growth by 50% or more), ratio of ID 90 to ID 50 , and correlation of susceptibility result with clinical response to antiviral therapy, when available. In addition, we compared ease of the assay, presence of objective endpoint, time required to generate the susceptibility result, and necessary equipment for implementation. Results: The dye uptake yielded ID 50 results that were approximately two-fold greater than those from the plaque reduction assay, while ID 50 values from the DNA hybridization assay were one-half those from the plaque reduction assay. Comparison of the correlation of susceptibility result with clinical response to acyclovir therapy in 17 instances and to foscarnet therapy in 10 instances suggested the possibility of a somewhat greater discriminative ability of the dye uptake assay, and a somewhat lesser discriminative ability of the DNA hybridization assay, when compared with results from the plaque reduction assay in isolates with borderline acyclovir susceptibility. Conclusions: Larger comparative studies are necessary to further differences in discriminative ability of the three assays for HSV. All three assays were deemed suboptimal due to an overly long turnaround time, associated expense, and/or level of equipment required for their performance. Continued evaluation of alternative, more rapid assays is therefore warranted.
89 RHYTHM DISTURBANCES AFTER FONTAN PROCEDURE

Persistance of sinus rhythm is common after Fontan type operation (op) and the reported arrhythmias are infrequent. We reviewed 18 patients (pt) who survived Fontan op with regard to the occurrence of rhythm disturbances detected by ECG, Holter monitoring and stress ECG. All underwent op between 1975 and 1984 at age 3-18 years (median 11 years). Anatomical lesions were tricuspid atresia 11, univentricular heart 4, pulmonary atresia 2, transposition and pulmonary stenosis 1. Duration of follow-up was 6 months-9 years (mean 3.2 years) and all had serial ECGs. Preop rhythm disturbances were present in 8 pt (2 had short P-R intervals, 3 had ectopic atrial pacemaker or junctional rhythm and 3 had 1° A-V block). Post-op transient atrial dysrhythmias were seen in 9. Late post-op 1° A-V block developed in 1, sinus bradycardia in 2, PVCs in 3. 24 hour Holter monitor recordings were done in 12: 8 had rare PACs,, wandering pacemaker or junctional beats, 1 had short runs of supraventricular tachycardia. 8 had PVS: 6 uniform, 2 multiform. Bradycardia with junctional escape were seen in 4. Stress tests were done in 10 pt; 2 had ventricular tachycardia, and 1 also had couplets. Conclusion: Transient atrial dysrhythmias were common in immediate post-op period but prolonged atrial tachycardia was not seen. Significant ventricular dysrhythmias occurred but were rare. Sinus bradycardia developed in some. Stress test and 24 hour Holter monitoring were helpful in evaluating and detecting rhythm disturbances in post-op Fontan patients.
Looking for Bias in All the Wrong Places: A Search for Truth or a Witch Hunt in Student Ratings of Instruction?.

Through a half-century of research on student ratings, the constant quest has been to prove or disprove the existence of biasing factors. What have we learned, and what has happened as a result? This chapter examines some of these supposed biases and presents some guidelines for improving practice.
COMPLEX PRIMARY AND REVISION TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY USING THE CONDYLAR CONSTRAINED PROSTHESIS : AN AVERAGE 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Abstract The condylar constrained total knee arthroplasty was performed on 29 patients undergoing 33 procedures and were reviewed clinically and radiographically at an average follow-up of 5 years (range, 2–10 years). There were 21 women and 8 men. The average age at the time of surgery was 70 years (range, 32–84). Of the 16 knees that were revision total knee arthroplasties, 8 had a previous infected total knee arthroplasty, and 17 knees had severe deformities requiring, the use of the condylar constrained prosthesis. The patients were rated according to the Knee Society clinical and radiological evaluation protocol. Measurements of femoral and tibial component position were obtained as well as femoral tibial angle, patella position, and cement bone radiolucencies. All clinical measurements were made by an independent physical therapist. Clinical results revealed an improvement from an average preoperative knee score of 38 points to an average postoperative score of 86 points. The clinical results for 19 (58%) knees were excellent, 8 (24%) had a good result, 1 (3%) was fair, 2 (6%) were poor, and 3 (9%) were failures. The patients' average functional levels increased from 24 to 58. The final average flexion was 96°. Three knees have been revised (9%). One was revised for recurrent infection, one for periprosthetic fracture, and one for mechanical loosening of the tibial component. There were no other knees with evidence of radiologic loosening. We conclude that the condylar constrained total knee prosthesis provides an acceptable solution for revision and complex primary total knee replacements at an intermediate follow-up term of 5 years.
Turbidity Dispersion in Lake Superior Through use of Landsat Data

Abstract Consecutive Landsat images of a red clay turbidity plume due to runoff from Nemadji River, Wisconsin, are used in computation of the horizontal eddy diffusivity for Lake Superior. Dispersion of turbid areas ranging from 2.5-5.4 km in diameter and having average velocities of 0.4 cm/sec-6.1 cm/sec are investigated. The coefficient for horizontal eddy diffusivity ranges from 0.6-1.5 m 2 /sec.
Osteosarcoma of the Head and Neck: Meta‐analysis of Nonrandomized Studies

To assess the role of adjuvant therapy in the treatment of osteogenic sarcoma of the head and neck, treatment and survival information from 173 patients with osteosarcoma of the head and neck was entered into a database. A meta-analysis of the data was attempted with primary emphasis on the effect of adjuvant therapy on disease outcome. The overall 5-year survival was 37%. Patients with mandibular and maxillary tumors had similar survival rates; both groups fared significantly better than patients with extragnathic tumors (P<0.001). Treatment with surgery alone was associated with significantly longer survival rates (P<0.03) than surgery with adjuvant therapy. In the majority of patients reported, information about surgical margins was not available. For this reason, the differences may not adequately represent the effect of adjuvant therapy. While there have been encouraging results with adjuvant treatment protocols for long bone osteosarcoma, the ultimate role of radiation and chemotherapy in the management of osteosarcoma of the head and neck remains unproven. Nevertheless, we recommend that adjuvant therapy be considered due to the poor prognosis in osteosarcoma of the head and neck.
The alcohol alibi: Blaming alcoholics

Alcohol problems cost American society a staggering $25 billion annually in illness, family disruptions, arrests, property destruction, loss of productivity and death. There is no doubt that alcohol is the nation's number one drug problem. Yet, alcohol is definitely not the nation's number one drug issue. Despite the creation of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in 1970, and despite several decades of promoting the concept of alcoholism as a major community problem, lesser drug problems such as heroin use receive far more attention from the media, public officials and the public. It is not widely recognized that the concept of alcoholism is itself a major reason for this public inattention to alcohol problems. Our idea---or our myth--of alcoholism is the major obstacle to recognizing alcohol as the leading drug issue. It is no myth that there are at least nine million persons in the United States who are, because of the amount of alcohol they drink, at serious risk of physical, psychological or social damage. The myth is the false idea that these people have some inner condition--called alcoholism--which explains their drinking problems. The function of the myth is to achieve a particular apportionment of responsibility for the huge social costs of the substance of alcohol. With this myth, "we have convinced ourselves that the nation's alcohol problems are caused by a small minority of drinkers, who are unable to use alcohol properly. This misdefinifion of the problem obscures the fact that alcohol problems are a function of existing inadequate public and private controls over availability and use of alcohol. The alcohol industry and all those who drink must bear the costs of preventing problems through more stringent safeguards. By holding the alcoholic responsible for the social costs of alcohol, we add to the stigma of those who suffer alcohol damage. Finally, by avoiding reference to alcohol when considering alcohol problems, we have managed to make the latter less visible to the public.
Contrasting effects of interleukin-2 secretion by rat glioma cells contingent upon anatomical location: accelerated tumorigenesis in the central nervous system and complete rejection in the periphery.

Abstract Rat T9.F glioma cells were transduced with the interleukin (IL)-2 gene. Clone T9.F/IL2/#12 secreted a high level of IL-2 (15 ng/10 6 cells/48 h). Enhanced tumor progression and reduced survival was observed when T9.F/IL2/#12 cells were implanted intracranially. Subcutaneous injection of T9.F/IL2/#12 cells induced a palpable nodule, which regressed in approximately 15 days, resulting in tumor-specific protection. Lymphocytes from T9.F/IL2/#12 primed rats specifically respond to T9.F antigens but lacked cytotoxicity towards T9.F cells. Intracranial T9.F/IL2/#12 tumors were markedly infiltrated by CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, natural killer (NK)-T cells and myeloid progenitor cells, whereas subcutaneous T9.F/IL2/#12 tumors contained an elevated level of NK cells.
The Use of Popular Opinion Leader (POL) Groups and the Reduction of “Gay Bullying” in Middle School: A Case Study Inquiry of Group Leader Experiences

This study is a qualitative investigation of the experiences of group leaders facilitating popular opinion leader (POL) groups in middle school to reduce LGBTQQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning) aggression. Using a case study design, the author sought to understand the experiences of group leaders in a 4-week POL group based on the Diffusion of Innovations theory (Rogers, 2003). The author presents findings, implications for future research, practice, and advocacy related to group workers using POL groups in middle school to address the issue of LGBTQQ aggression.
A Study of the Effects of a Skills-Based Versus a Conventional Group Counseling Training Program.

Abstract This article presents the Skilled Group Counseling Training Model (SGCTM). In this study, 68 counselors-in-training who completed systematic group skills training based on the SGCTM demonstrated significant gains in skill acquisition and performed significantly higher than 15 counselors-in-training from a conventional group-counseling class. The 36-hour skills-based SGCTM can be incorporated into conventional group-counseling classes for helping counselors-in-training to learn basic and advanced counseling skills. Findings from this study indicate that higher level group counseling skills can be efficiently taught prior to practica and internships. Thus, if counselors-in-training gain higher level group skills prior to internships, counselor educators can focus on intuitive, responsive, and conceptualization processes during clinical supervision.
Electrophoretic separation of proteins on microchips

A mixture of model proteins was rapidly separated by capillary electrophoresis on a microfabricated device. The proteins were labeled with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate and detected on-chip with laser-induced fluorescence. The small channel dimensions of the device allow the use of high ionic strength buffer to minimize protein adsorption to the channel walls. Electric field strengths as high as 600 V/cm could be applied without significant band distortion in 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer, and separations were completed within 60 seconds. The buffer pH was adjusted to optimize separation of proteins based on charge differences. A zwitterionic buffer additive, betaine, also reduced protein-wall interactions and improved the reproducibility of analyses. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 12: 407–411, 2000
Scaling limits of Gaussian vector fields

Abstract For Gaussian vector fields { X ( t ) ∈ R n : t ∈ R d } we describe the covariance functions of all scaling limits Y(t) = L lim α↓0 B −1 (α) X (α t ) which can occur when B ( α ) is a d × d matrix function with B ( α ) → 0. These matrix covariance functions r(t, s) = EY(t) Y ∗ (s) are found to be homogeneous in the sense that for some matrix L and each α > 0, ( ∗ ) r(αt, αs) = α L∗ r(t, s) α L . Processes with stationary increments satisfying ( ∗ ) are further analysed and are found to be natural generalizations of Levy's multiparameter Brownian motion.
Constitutional inversion of chromosome 7 and hematologic cancers

Nonrandom aberrations of chromosome 7 have been described in various hematopoietic disorders. We describe here two unrelated families with the same constitutional inversion of chromosome 7 [inv(7)(q11.2q22)]. The probands in both families had acute leukemia and cytogenetic analysis revealed that the inversion was the sole cytogenetic abnormality in the bone marrow at diagnosis. There is a history of hematologic diseases in one of these families that included a son who is a carrier of this constitutional inversion. The distal inversion breakpoint lies within the common region of chromosome loss identified in some myeloid diseases. These observations raise the possibility that this inherited chromosome rearrangement could result in a mutation of a tumor suppressor gene and possibly represent a predisposing event for the development of leukemia in these individuals.
Dust dynamics in off-road vehicle trails: Measurements on 16 arid soil types, Nevada, USA

Abstract Soil analyses and measurements with the Portable In Situ Wind Erosion Laboratory (PI-SWERL) were conducted on 16 soil types in an area heavily affected by off-road vehicle (ORV) driving. Measurements were performed in ORV trails as well as on undisturbed terrain to investigate how ORV driving affects the vulnerability of a soil to emit PM10 (particles
Role of surface chemistry in adsorption of phenol on activated carbons

Two samples of activated carbon of wood origin were oxidized using ammonium persulfate. The structural properties and surface chemistry of the samples and their oxidized counterparts were characterized using sorption of nitrogen and Boehm titration, respectively. Phenol adsorption from solution (at trace concentrations) was studied at temperatures close to ambient without maintaining a specific pH of the solution. The results showed, as expected, that the phenol uptake is dependent on both the porosity and surface chemistry of the carbons. Furthermore, phenol adsorption showed a strong dependence on the number of carboxylic groups due to two factors: (1) phenol reacts with carboxylic groups on the carbon surface, forming an ester bond, and (2) carboxylic groups on the carbon surface remove the pi-electron from the activated carbon aromatic ring matrix, causing a decrease in the strength of interactions between the benzene ring of phenol and the carbon's basal planes, which decreases the uptake of phenol.
Psychosis during adolescence: A review

All indicators of emotional illness rise sharply during adolescence including the utilization of outpatient psychiatric clinics and hospitalizations for psychiatric illness and suicide. Psychoses secondary to drug ingestion, manic-depressive illness, and schizophrenia are not uncommon. This paper reviews the various forms of psychoses during adolescence. Special emphasis is on the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent schizophrenia, the most common psychosis in this developmental period.
Time course of sea water acclimation by the euryhaline teleost, Dormitator maculatus: Correlation between potassium stimulation of sodium efflux and Na/K activated ATPase activity

The time course of sea water acclimation of the teleost,Dormitator maculatus has been investigated by transferring fresh water acclimated individuals into 50% sea water for 24 h and thence into full strength sea water. At various times after the initial transfer from fresh water, individuals were removed and assayed for either potassium stimulation of sodium efflux or gill tissue activity of the enzyme Na/K activated ATPase. If an early, rapid increase in total cellular protein is taken into account, it can be shown that the time course of the activation of potassium-stimulated sodium efflux is approximately the same as the time course of the activation of the enzyme. Such parallel activation supports the view that Na/K activated ATPase is functionally linked to sodium extrusion by this species.
Kaon-nucleon scattering amplitudes and Z* enhancements from quark Born diagrams.

We derive closed form kaon-nucleon scattering amplitudes using the ``quark Born diagram'' formalism, which describes the scattering as a single interaction (here the OGE spin-spin term) followed by quark line rearrangement. The low energy I=0 and I=1 S-wave KN phase shifts are in reasonably good agreement with experiment given conventional quark model parameters. For ${\mathit{k}}_{\mathrm{lab}}$g0.7 GeV, however, the I=1 elastic phase shift is larger than predicted by Gaussian wave functions, and we suggest possible reasons for this discrepancy. Equivalent low energy KN potentials for S-wave scattering are also derived. Finally we consider OGE forces in the related channels K\ensuremath{\Delta}, ${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$N, and ${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$\ensuremath{\Delta}, and determine which have attractive interactions and might therefore exhibit strong threshold enhancements or ``${\mathit{Z}}^{\mathrm{*}}$-molecule'' meson-baryon bound states. We find that the minimum-spin, minimum-isospin channels and two additional ${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$\ensuremath{\Delta} channels are most conducive to the formation of bound states. Related interesting topics for future experimental and theoretical studies of KN interactions are also discussed.
Assessment of the nutritional condition of larval and early juvenile tuna and Spanish mackerel (Pisces: Scombridae) in the Panamá Bight

The nutritional condition of first-feeding and late larval/early juvenile scombrids was investigated in waters of the northwestern Panama Bight from May through early November 1988. Wild-caught larvae and juveniles of three taxa, black skipjack tuna (Euthynnus lineatus), bullet and/or frigate tuna (Auxis spp.) and sierra (Scomberomorus sierra), were examined histologically to determine nutritional condition. The incidence of malnourishment in wild-caught preflexion (first feeding—prior to notochord flexion) larvae of all taxa was high. Starvation rates for E. lineatus and Auxis spp. preflexion larvae ranged from 62 to 63% d-1, while the percentage of larvae actually dying of starvation was estimated at 41 to 43% d-1. The nutritional point-of-no-return for preflexion larvae was estimated at 1 to 2 d maximum. The cellular condition of liver hepatocytes, particularly the relative amount of vacuolation related to storage of glycogen and lipid, proved to be a sensitive indicator of nutritional condition. In laboratory trials, late larval (postflexion) and early juvenile black skipjack exhibited a nutritional point-of-no-return of 2 to 3 d. Although postflexion larvae were moderately vulnerable to malnourishment in laboratory trials, <13% of wild-caught postflexion larvae exhibited even mild nutritional stress, and no postflexion larvae or juveniles showed signs of severe malnourishment. This pattern of starvation incidence suggests that tropical scombrids undergo stagespecific starvation mortality. Preflexion larvae can suffer significant daily losses due to starvation, while postflexion larvae and early juveniles seem to experience a rapid improvement in feeding ability and/or food availability.
Radical excision of primary tumor and lymph nodes in advanced neuroblastoma: combination with intensive induction chemotherapy

The role of surgery in the management of children with advanced neuroblastoma is still unclear; no radical surgical technique for resection of primary tumor and lymph nodes has been established. A radical procedure was developed and has been employed in 13 patients over 1 year of age with stage III or IV disease since 1985, together with intensive induction chemotherapy. For abdominal neuroblastoma, the area of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was divided into six sections: to the left of the abdominal aorta, between the aorta and vena cava, and to the right of the vena cava, with further subdivision according to the level of the renal vein. After excision of the primary tumor, lymph node dissection was carried out systematically in all six sections; gross complete resection was possible in 12 of the 13 patients. All 12 patients attained complete remission at least once in the course of treatment, and 7 underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation. It is noteworthy that local control of the disease was satisfactory in all but 1 patient who had extensive involvement of both renal hila and showed recurrence in the remaining kidney. Eight patients are alive with an average follow-up of 44 months; 7 of them show no signs of disease. After reviewing the results of our previous series and this series, it was concluded that advances in operative techniques and the introduction of intensive induction chemotherapy did increase surgical resectability, the rate of complete remission, and the number of candidates for bone marrow transplantation. Improvement of survival in patients with advanced neuroblastoma may thus be expected.
Generalized Additive Models: An Introduction With R

(2007). Generalized Additive Models: An Introduction With R. Technometrics: Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 360-361.
The Bleaching and Photostabilization of High-Yield Pulp by Sulfur Compounds. II. Reaction of Glycol Mercaptoesters with Model Quinones

Abstract The reaction of ethylene glycol dimercaptoacetate and pentaerythritol tetramercaptoacetate with p-benzoquinone have been investigated, both in solution and in the presence of cellulose fibers. In either system, Michael addition is the predominant reaction, leading to decolorization of the quinone by converting it to a substituted hydroquinone. This reaction accounts for the initial bleaching of high-yield pulp produced by these compounds. Handsheets impregnated with these compounds have been irradiated for extended periods of time, and are found ultimately to become more discolored than untreated handsheets. The darkening may be the result of photoinitiated redox chemistry between the Michael adducts and quinones produced in the photodegradation of lignin.
Wijsman convergence: A survey

A net 〈Aλ〉 of nonempty closed sets in a metric space 〈X, d〉 is declaredWijsman convergent to a nonempty closed setA provided for eachx eX, we haved(x, A)=limλd(x, A). Interest in this convergence notion originates from the seminal work of R. Wijsman, who showed in finite dimensions that the conjugate map for proper lower semicontinuous convex functions preserves convergence in this sense, where functions are identified with their epigraphs. In this paper, we review the attempts over the last 25 years to produce infinite-dimensional extensions of Wijsman's theorem, and we look closely at the topology of Wijsman convergence in an arbitrary metric space as well. Special emphasis is given to the developments of the past five years, and several new limiting counterexamples are presented.
National patterns of care and outcomes after combined modality therapy for stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The role of surgery in addition to chemotherapy and radiation for stage IIIA non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. Because there are limited data on the benefit from surgery in this setting, we evaluated the use of combined modality therapy nationally and explored the outcomes with and without the addition of surgery. Methods: Patient variables and treatment-related outcomes were abstracted for patients with clinical stage IIIA NSCLC from the National Cancer Database. Patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation were compared with those undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery (CRS) in any sequence. Results: Between 1998 and 2010, 61,339 patients underwent combined modality treatment for clinical stage IIIA NSCLC. Of these, 51,979 (84.7%) received chemotherapy and radiation while 9360 (15.3%) underwent CRS. Patients in the CRS group were younger, more likely female patients and Caucasians, and had smaller tumors and lower Charlson comorbidity scores. The 30-day surgical mortality was 200 of 8993 (2.2%). The median overall survival favored the CRS group in both unmatched (32.4 months versus 15.7 months, p p Conclusions: There is significant heterogeneity in the treatment of stage IIIA NSCLC in the United States. Patients selected for surgery in addition to chemoradiation therapy seem to have better long-term survival.
High-power flip-chip balanced photodetector with >40 GHz bandwidth

A high-linearity balanced photodetector with a record-high RF output power of 16 dBm at 40 GHz is presented. The third order intercept point at 15 GHz reaches 34 dBm. By operating one photodiode in the non-linear regime we observe partial cancelation of intermodulation distortions in common mode.
Design aspects for clinical trials with repeated measures in the presence of informative censoring

Abstract Likelihood-based procedures derived under the linear random effects model and distribution-free tests obtained by combining marginal U statistics as well as by ranking the individual effects are reviewed for clinical trials with repeated measures. Simulation studies are illustrated to evaluate the effects of informative censoring and model misspecifications on statistical power and sample size. The results indicate that in some situations with information censoring the combined marginal U statistic could suffer severe loss of power. Furthermore, in the presence of informative censoring with some model misspecifications all other procedures could also suffer some power losses, although not as severe. Therefore, in planning clinical trials in which informative censoring is likely to occur, it is important to conduct some simulation studies based on realistic parameter estimates such that a proper method of analysis could be selected and appropriate sample size adjustments could be made.
An effectiveness and cost analysis of presumptive treatment for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Background Delay in treatment of tuberculosis has contributed to both the spread of tuberculosis and its case fatality rate. Methods : Decision analysis was used to examine the effectiveness and cost of presumptive treatment in patients evaluated for tuberculosis. Results : Over a range of assumptions, empiric antituberculous therapy for acid-fast bacillus smear-positive persons lowers mortality and cost per person evaluated when available rapid diagnostic laboratory methods for tuberculosis are used. In contrast, the average cost per life saved by giving presumptive treatment to all acid-fast bacillus smear-and HIV-negative patients exceeds $1 million. Empiric treatment for HIV-infected patients with acid-fast bacillus-negative smears decreases average mortality by 2% at an additional cost of $8000 per life saved. When the prevalence of multiple-drug resistance exceeds 9.6%, presumptive drug-resistant therapy for acid-fast bacillus smear-positive patients, rather than the initial four-drug regimen recommended for much of the United States, minimizes both mortality and costs. Conclusions : Empiric antituberculous therapy often minimizes average mortality and cost for patients evaluated for tuberculosis when rapid diagnostic methods are used.
Clinic and home parent training of a mother with mental handicap caring for three children with developmental delay

There have been few intervention studies with mothers with mental handicaps and their children, but recently there has been more interest in this population. Previous work has focused upon a limited number of behaviours and only upon interactions between a mother and one child, even though some mothers had several children. This study reports on parent training efforts with a mother of three children, each with behavioural and/or medical and cognitive delays. Training occurred first in a clinic setting and then in the home, the mother being instructed with each child singly and then as a group. Using a multiple baseline procedure the results showed that the interactions were positively changed in both settings. Great difficulty in developing more positive styles of interaction, especially with the eldest daughter, led the authors to expect that the gains would not be fully maintained and additional training would be required. However, there was some maintenance in the positive aspects of the mother's behaviour as well as for some of each child's behaviour. The data support the contention that mothers with mental handicaps can be successfully trained to care for several (even delayed) children. Given the manifold problems of the mother studied and of other mothers with similar handicaps, and the consequent large expenditure of professional effort, it is apparent that other training programmes should be examined. These may require relatively short, periodic maintenance training sessions for a long duration. The efficacy of differing methodologies to meet individual parents' needs must be examined.
Reducing oscillator PM noise from AM–PM noise correlation

A new scheme for reducing the phase-modulated (PM) noise of an oscillator from correlation between amplitude-modulated (AM) and PM noise is presented. Experimental results of this correlation effect are also presented. An improvement of almost 10 dB in the PM noise is reported for frequency offsets with strong correlation.
Growth Kinetics of Glioma Cells

Abstract Three experiments involving the growth of tumor cells in an organ culture system are described. The fraction of labeled mitoses, the labeling index, and the grain count are measured in each of these experiments. The data and the statistical analyses involving skewed logistic regression, branching process theory, and two-phase linear regression are presented.
Malaria: A 21st century solution for an ancient disease

The sequencing of the Plasmodium falciparum genome should reveal new parasite protein targets for drug and vaccine development.
Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C has evolved for virulence by greatly reduced activity on GPI anchors

Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) plays a critical role in escape of this human pathogen from host cell vacuoles. Unlike classical bacterial PI-PLCs, the L. monocytogenes enzyme has very weak activity on glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. Previous crystal structure analysis has revealed that a small β-strand (Vb) is present in Bacillus cereus PI-PLC and is absent in the enzyme from L. monocytogenes. This Vb β-strand in B. cereus PI-PLC forms contacts with the glycan linker of GPI anchors, which presumably increases its activity on GPI-anchored proteins. In this study, we show that, of all known bacterial PI-PLCs, those from listeriae are the only ones that lack the β-strand. Expression by L. monocytogenes of B. cereus PI-PLC, which has strong activity on GPI-anchored proteins, inhibited bacterial escape from a vacuole and cell-to-cell spread, resulting in greatly reduced virulence in mice. Deletion of the Vb β-strand from B. cereus PI-PLC abolished its ability to cleave GPI-anchored proteins, decreased its inhibitory effects, and increased its virulence in mice. These results strongly suggest that L. monocytogenes PI-PLC has evolved as an important determinant of L. monocytogenes pathogenesis by absence of the Vb β-strand, thus leading to greatly reduced activity on GPI-anchored proteins.
The distributions of 239,240Pu, 238Pu, 241Am and 137Cs among chemically-defined components of sediments, settling particulates and net plankton of Lake Michigan

Abstract The application of selective extraction techniques to samples of consolidated sediments, surficial sediment floc and suspended particulate material collected in sediment traps from Lake Michigan shows that 239,240Pu, 238Pu and 241Am are removed primarily with the hydrous oxide coatings while 137Cs is strongly associated with the mineral fraction. Low concentrations of plutonium and americium are found associated with isolated humic acid fractions. The selective extraction of plutonium from net plankton samples results in the observation of a different distribution of plutonium among phases than that observed for sedimentary material, but, in all cases, the major fraction of the plutonium is found in the same extractant as with sediment samples. Attempts to displace 137Cs from the mineral fraction by several techniques indicate that the adsorption of 137Cs is not readily reversible.
The Role of Baroclinic Processes in Tropical Cyclone Motion: The influence of Vertical Tilt.

Abstract The numerical study presented here focuses on baroclinic processes that contribute to tropical cyclone (TC) propagation. A three-dimensional, semispectral, primitive equation model of baroclinic vortex was developed to study TC motion. In a tilted vortex, interaction between upper- and lower-level vorticity anomalies leads to vortex propagation relative to the steering flow. On a, β plane, with no environmental flow, the vortex is tilted toward the south and the interaction between the layers reduces the westward movement of the vortex. The vortex tilting can also occur due to the vertical shear in the environmental wind. On an f plane, the interaction between the layers causes the northward movement of the vortex in westerly linear shear, and southward movement in easterly linear shear, with a meridional velocity of about 1 m s−1. Ibis velocity increases with increasing vortex intensity and vertical motion.
Dioxin sources and mechanisms during pulp bleaching

Les resultats obtenus indiquent que les phenols substitues uniquement en position 4 avec une chaine laterale deplaceable par le chlore sont de bons precurseurs des dioxines. Le couplage oxydant des phenols suivi d'une chloration est un mecanisme de reaction important. L'alcool p-coumarylique et l'acide p-hydroxybenzoique qui ont subi un couplage oxydant sont des precurseurs probables des dibenzodioxines et dibenzofuranes chlores.
Volume Estimation: A New, Accurate, Computerized Algorithm

The volume of a polyhedron, which approximates an anatomical feature or lesion is calculated by means of an algorithm which is evoked by the Gauss' Theorem. Such polyhedra are useful in reconstructing surfaces of anatomical features and lesions from data obtained from CT or ultrasound scans. The volume estimation algorithm is presented. A proof of the algorithm is provided together with applications.
Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in the San Francisco Bay Area

Abstract Background & Aims: Pancreatic cancer usually does not cause definitive symptoms until survival is severely compromised. Prevention and early detection are urgently needed. Our aim was to collect and analyze data in a population-based study on signs and symptoms of disease reported by patients with pancreatic cancer and control participants to contribute to earlier detection and better prognosis. Methods: A supplemental symptoms questionnaire was administered to 120 consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer who were part of a larger population-based case-control study conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area between 1994 and 2001. One hundred eighty age- and sex-matched population-based control participants also were queried about the same symptoms reported by at least 5% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Results: Most signs and symptoms occurred within 3 years before diagnosis with pancreatic cancer (cases) and interview (controls). Many signs and symptoms were more likely to have been reported by patients compared with control participants and included appetite loss (odds ratio [OR], 41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14–120), pale stools (OR, 31; 95% CI, 7.3–134), abdominal pain (OR, 30; 95% CI, 9.1–101), jaundice (OR, 20; 95% CI, 8.0–49), unusual bloating (OR, 20; 95% CI, 5.9–67), unusual belching (OR, 17; 95% CI, 3.9–75), weight loss (OR, 12; 95% CI, 5.2–28), dark urine (OR, 10; 95% CI, 2.9–36), constipation (OR, 7.3; 95% CI, 2.0–26), diarrhea (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 2.0–16), itching (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.3–11), fatigue (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.0–7.3), altered ability to sleep (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3–6.3), and unusual heartburn (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2–4.5). Conclusions: Our results show that signs and symptoms likely to be indicators of pancreatic cancer occur substantially more often among patients with pancreatic cancer than among population-based controls. The large magnitude of the risk estimates indicate that common gastrointestinal symptoms may assist clinicians in earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and perhaps affect survival.
Change Patterns of Homeless Individuals with Mental Illness: A Multiple Case Study

This multiple case study illuminates the individual change trajectories of four homeless men with mental illnesses who participated in a manualized life skills intervention to improve housing retention. Readiness-to-change, life skills knowledge and trauma symptoms were measured at baseline, post-intervention and at 3–6 months follow-up. Cluster analysis identified two patterns of readiness-to-change: engaged and pre-engaged. Change is non-linear and baseline readiness is not necessary to benefit from the intervention. Examining individuals’ lives in context illuminated the change process and demonstrated that varied patterns can lead to successful outcomes for housing stability and community reintegration.