cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sedimentation coefficients of self-associating species

Abstract Under the same solution conditions, the apparent weight average sedimentation coefficient, swa, and some quantities obtained from it can be combined with the equilibrium constant or constants, Ki, and the monomer concentration, cI, obtained from sedimentation equilibrium, light scattering or osmotic pressure experiments on the same self-associating solute, so that the individual sedimentation coefficients, si, of the self-associating species, and also the hydrodynamic concentration dependence parameter,g or g , can be evaluated. Using two different models for the hydrodynamic concentration parameter, four different methods are presented for the evaluation of the si's. Methods for evaluating g or g , once the si's are known, are presented. A method for obtaining the number average sedimentation coefficient, sN, and its application to self-associations is presented. Methods are shown for the evaluation of Z average properties, xzc, as well as number average properties,xNc, of a self-associating solute from its weight average properties, xwc.
Detrimental Reliance on Detrimental Reliance: The Courts’ Conflicting Standards for the Retroactive Application of New Immigration Laws to Past Acts

A decade ago, the United States Supreme Court held that a newly enacted law that attaches adverse immigration consequences to certain criminal convictions could not be retroactively applied in the case of an immigrant who was convicted of the offense pursuant to a guilty plea before enactment of the new law. Since then, the courts of appeals that have addressed the same issue in the context of an immigrant who was convicted at trial, rather than after a guilty plea, have done so with remarkable divergence. Some courts have held that, unlike immigrants who pled guilty, immigrants who went to trial cannot show that they detrimentally relied on the old law; accordingly, the new law may be applied retroactively. Other courts have rejected the detrimental reliance requirement. In this article, I argue that detrimental reliance, while properly viewed as a factor in retroactivity analysis, must not be viewed as a requirement for challenging the retroactive application of a new law to past acts.
Series editorial: radio communications: components, systems, and networks

Our continuing mission is to increase interest in the Radio Communication Series, and make sure that our readers are presented with relevant and timely material in a tutorial style. As radio communications are encompassing such a wide variety of technical topics, we are looking into contributions and technical activity in all relevant areas, and are seeking contributions from throughout the community of researchers and practitioners. To ensure that we are looking into the most significant topics, among other things, the editors have ventured into conferences and workshops to be in direct touch with potential and current readers.
Predictive risk factors of free flap thrombosis in breast reconstruction surgery

Vascular thrombosis is one of the major postoperative complications of free flap microvascular breast reconstruction operations. It is associated with higher morbidity, higher cost, increased length of hospital stay, and potentially flap loss. Our purpose is to evaluate the rate of this complication and whether patient characteristics play a role. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we examined the clinical data of patients who underwent free flap breast reconstruction between 2009 and 2010 in the United States. Multivariate and univariate regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors of flap thrombosis. A total of 15,211 patients underwent free flap breast reconstruction surgery (immediate reconstruction: 43%). The most common flap was the free deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap (53.6%), followed by free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap (43.1%), free superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap (2%), and free gluteal artery perforator (GAP) flap (1.3%). The overall rate of flap thrombosis was 2.4 %, with the highest rate seen in the SIEA group (11.4%) and the lowest in the TRAM group (1.7%). Peripheral vascular disease (adjusted odds ration [AOR] 10.61), SIEA flap (AOR, 4.76) and delayed reconstruction (AOR, 1.42) were found to be statistically significant risk factors for flap thrombosis. Other comorbidities were not linked. While the overall rate of flap thrombosis in free flap breast reconstruction was relatively low (2.4%), Plastic Surgeons should be aware that patients with peripheral vascular disease and those undergoing free SIEA flap are at higher risk of flap thrombosis and they should closely monitor flaps to increase the chance for early salvage.
Audit Fees, PCAOB Sanctions, Sanction Risk, Sanction Risk Premiums, and Public Policy: Theoretical Framework and a Call for Research

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was enacted to “protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws…” The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was created as part of SOX and given a duty to impose monetary sanctions on PCAOB registered accounting firms for intentional, knowing, or reckless conduct that results in violation of the statutory, regulatory, or professional standards of auditing, or for repeated instances of negligent conduct. This creates a new risk for both individual auditors and auditing firms separate and distinct from business, audit, and litigation risk — sanction risk. This paper establishes the legal and economic bases of sanction risk and proposes that research be conducted to determine whether sanction-risk premiums are being incorporated into audit fees and passed on to clients by registered accounting firms thereby subverting the intended purpose of the sanctions.
An aid to diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders

Abstract Commonly encountered disorders of the temporomandibular joint have been considered as postural problems resulting from chronic or forceful eccentric positioning of the mandible. Muscular hyperactivity produced by such eccentric positioning results in muscle spasm with attendant compression or tension of articular and periarticular structures. The level of mandibular closure at which eccentric positioning originates is suggested as a supplementary aid to routine diagnostic procedures. Such an approach facilitates the removal of cause as well as symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders.
How brains are built: genetics and evolution.

Evolution operates through intraspecific variation. It takes the genetic variation responsible for the differences that we see between individuals and drives them to fixation, whether by chance or selection, and leads to the emergence of new species. This understanding drives much of our current thinking of biology and underlies the statistical tests of selective pressures. It allows us to better understand the processes that occurred long ago, in evolutionary time, to create the diverse array of species and phenotypes that we see around us today.
Evaluation of Cerebral Aneurysm Stent Performance in a Subject-Specific Computational Model

Rupture of cerebral aneurysms is the second leading cause of stroke in the United States [1]. Altered hemodynamics is thought to play a role in the progression and subsequent rupture of aneurysms. Blood flow into an aneurysm can be occluded by surgically clipping the aneurysm or using endovascular devices, such as stents or coils. In saccular aneurysms, coiling alone may be a sufficient method of inducing flow stagnation in the aneurysm, causing thrombosis and preventing rupture. When treating wide-necked aneurysms, stenting is often used in conjunction with coiling to prevent the migration of coils. Many investigators have studied the ability of a stent-only treatment to favorably alter flow in aneurysms [2, 3].Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Effect of the Sex of Interviewers on the Quality of Data in a Nigerian Family Planning Questionnaire

Traditionally, female interviewers have been preferred to men for conducting fertility and family planning surveys. However, in West Africa, evidence for their superiority over male interviewers is mixed. In Nigeria, as part of a four-state pretest of the national family planning questionnaire, an experimental design was incorporated to quantify effects of the sex of the interviewer. In one state, reinterviews were also performed to measure the reliability of responses. In the conservative northern state of Kano, the use of male interviewers was problematic. However, in the other three states, only weak evidence was found to mitigate against the use of male interviewers. In fact, in two states, the proportion of respondents reporting knowledge of several contraceptive methods was significantly higher when male interviewers conducted the survey. Respondents' reports of contraceptive use were very unreliable for interviewers of both sexes.
Electric-field broadening of an electronic transition in azulene

Abstract An electric field induced broadening of the vibrational structure of the 1 A 1 (1)→ 1 A 1 (2) transition (∼3500A) in azulene is reported and a change in dipole moment upon excitation is deduced. The sample is a rigid solution in 3-methylpentane at 77°K.
Focused electron-beam induced deposition of plasmonic nanostructures from aqueous solutions

Electron-beam-induced deposition (EBID) is a gas-phase direct-write technique capable of sub-10 nm resolution, with applications in micro- and nanoscale object manipulation, mask repair, and circuit edit. While several high purity materials can be deposited by EBID, the majority of deposits suffer from undesirable co-deposition of organic or inorganic ligands. As a result, impurity incorporation limits EBID application in processes requiring high purity. Recently, a complimentary technique known as liquid phase EBID (LP-EBID) has been shown to drastically improve deposit purity by utilizing precursors without carbon or phosphorous based architectures. Here we demonstrate direct-write deposition of silver nanostructure arrays, with tunable geometry for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) control. Nanoparticle arrays with 55 – 100 nm diameters were obtained. Resonant wavelengths between 550 - 600 nm were achieved and correlated to the observed nanoparticle geometry. These results demonstrate how LP-EBID can be used to provide site-specific deposition for plasmonic devices and additionally open the door to fields inaccessible to traditional gas-phase EBID.
Diminutive polyps: histopathology, spatial distribution, and clinical significance

This retrospective study of 329 diminutive colon polyps revealed that 49.2% of the polyps were neoplastic, whereas 49,9% were nonneoplastic. 36.8% of the polyps were metaplastic, and 0.9% had mixed metaplastic and adenomatous components. The metaplastic polyps had a predominance in the distal portion of the large bowel, with 76.9% being located distal from the splenic flexure and 52.9% being located in the rectosigmoid area. Neoplastic polyps were distributed throughout the colon, with 65.4% located from the splenic flexure distally and 34.5% located proximal to the splenic flexure. These findings suggest that a much larger proportion of diminutive polyps are neoplastic and therefore at risk to progress to carcinoma than previously considered.
Human Pol ε-dependent replication errors and the influence of mismatch repair on their correction.

Mutations in human DNA polymerase (Pol) e, one of three eukaryotic Pols required for DNA replication, have recently been found associated with an ultramutator phenotype in tumors from somatic colorectal and endometrial cancers and in a familial colorectal cancer. Possibly, Pol e mutations reduce the accuracy of DNA synthesis, thereby increasing the mutational burden and contributing to tumor development. To test this possibility in vivo, we characterized an active site mutant allele of human Pol e that exhibits a strong mutator phenotype in vitro when the proofreading exonuclease activity of the enzyme is inactive. This mutant has a strong bias toward mispairs opposite template pyrimidine bases, particularly T • dTTP mispairs. Expression of mutant Pol e in human cells lacking functional mismatch repair caused an increase in mutation rate primarily due to T • dTTP mispairs. Functional mismatch repair eliminated the increased mutagenesis. The results indicate that the mutant Pol e causes replication errors in vivo, and is at least partially dominant over the endogenous, wild type Pol e. Since tumors from familial and somatic colorectal patients arise with Pol e mutations in a single allele, are microsatellite stable and have a large increase in base pair substitutions, our data are consistent with a Pol e mutation requiring additional factors to promote tumor development.
The Career Success Expectations Scale: An Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

In the present study, the development of the Career Success Expectations Scale (CSES), and its application to two different significant career transitions, is described. Two independent samples (161 managers in expatriate work assignments and 103 managers obtaining an MBA degree) were employed in conducting, first, an exploratory (orthogonal and oblique rotations) analysis, and second, a confirmatory analysis of the factor structure of the instrument. The three-factor structure that emerged in the exploratory factor analysis was confirmed with structural equation modeling techniques in the second phase of the study.
Uncertainty Analysis of Laser-Doppler-Velocimetry Measurements fin a Swirling Flowfield

A statistical analysis of instantaneous laser-Doppler-velocimetry (LDV) measurements acquired in a swirling flowfield is performed. Instrument uncertainties associated with each velocity realization propagate into the ensemble statistics. Integral quantities such as the integrated mass flow rate and swirl number are susceptible to precision uncertainties associated with the instrument's optics, lasers, and electronics. In this study, experimental data are used in conjunction with an analytical model to determine the precision uncertainty of the first three velocity moments. With this analysis, the effects of ensemble size and probe volume location within the flowfield are accounted for. The statistical model is applied to LDV data acquired downstream of an aircraft engine combustor swirler. We show that the precision uncertainties associated with these swirler measurements bound the amount of information that can be extracted from the profiles.
Remote Sensing of Gravity Wave Intensity and Temperature Signatures at Mesopause Heights Using the Nightglow Emissions

During the past four decades a variety of optical remote sensing techniques have revealed a rich spectrum of wave activity in the upper atmosphere. Many of these perturbations, with periodicites ranging from ~5 min to several hours and horizontal scales of a few ten's of km to several thousands km, are due to freely propagating buoyancy (or acoustic-gravity waves), and forced tidal oscillations. Optical observations of the spatial and temporal characteristics of these waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region (~80-100 km) are facilitated by several naturally occurring, vertically distinct nightglow layers. This paper describes the use of state-of-the-art ground-based CCD imaging techniques to detect these waves in intensity and temperature. All-sky (180°) image measurements from Bear Lake Observatory, Utah are used to illustrate the characteristics of small-scale, short period (< 1 hour) waves that are most frequently observed at MLT heights including a particular set of ducted wave motions, possibly associated with mesospheric bores. These results are then contrasted with measurements of mesospheric temperature made using a separate imaging system capable of determining induced temperature amplitudes of much larger-scale wave motions and investigating night-to-night and seasonal variability in mesospheric temperature.
A modified colloidal osmotic transducer for the determination of transcapillary fluid movement

Abstract A modification of the Prather et al. (3, 4) osmometer has been effected to enable its application to the study of transcapillary fluid movement. The basic change in the unit concerns the filter mounting and the gasketing in order to minimize the compliance of the assembly to allow measurement of changes in colloidal osmotic pressure as low as 0.02 mmHg. The necessity for low-noise high amplification and rigorous temperature regulation should be self-evident.
Atomic heap transactions and fine-grain interrupts

Languages such as Java, ML, Scheme, and Haskell provide automatic storage management, that is, garbage collection. The two fundamental operations performed on a garbage-collected heap are "allocate" and "collect." Because the heap is in an inconsistent state during these operations, they must be performed atomically. Otherwise, a heap client might access the heap during a time when its fundamental invariants do not hold, corrupting the heap.Standard techniques for providing this atomicity guarantee have large latencies and other performance problems that impede their application in high-performance, interruptladen, thread-based systems applications. In particular, the standard techniques prevent thread schedulers from switching threads on VM page faults.We cast the space of possible implementations into a general taxonomy, and describe a new technique that provides a simple, low-overhead, low-latency interlock. We have implemented this technique in a version of SML/NJ, and, because of its applicability to thread-based systems, are currently implementing it in the scheduler of our raw-hardware SML-based kernel, ML/OS. Our technique can be extended to provide other atomic sequences besides storage allocation.
Nebulizer delivery of tobramycin to the lower respiratory tract

We characterized a tobramycin aerosol generated by five nebulizers: Micron One, Pulmosonic, Pulmo-Aide, DeVilbiss Model 65, and UltraNeb 100 by particle size and drug concentration. The Micron One nebulizer did not produce a recoverable aerosol, while the Pulmosonic had a minimal output; therefore three machines were examined for their ability to deliver tobramycin to the lower respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The DeVilbiss 65 had the greatest output: with air as the carrier gas it produced an aerosol with > 60% of the particles having a mean mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of > 5.5 microns. Using helox shifted the MMAD so that > 65% of the particles were 9.2 microns, without a change in the particles 60% particles, < 3.3 microns MMAD. Using helox the UltraNeb 100 increased the amount of aerosol with a < 3.3 microns MMAD to 98%. Tobramycin delivery to the lower respiratory tract with the Pulmo-Aide and UltraNeb 100 was compared using air or helox by measuring sputum drug concentration. Pulmo-Aide failed to produce detectable tobramycin in sputum in 2 out of 9 patients with CF. With the UltraNeb 100, all patients had measurable sputum tobramycin immediately after administration (range, 16.2-3385 micrograms/g), but no statistically significant difference was found when using either compressed air, helox, or ambient air.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Diagnosing pneumonia by physical examination: relevant or relic?

Background The reliability of chest physical examination and the degree of agreement among examiners in diagnosing pneumonia based on these findings are largely unknown. Objectives To determine the accuracy of various physical examination maneuvers in diagnosing pneumonia and to compare the interobserver reliability of the maneuvers among 3 examiners. Methods Fifty-two male patients presenting to the emergency department of a university-affiliated Veterans Affairs medical center with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection (cough and change in sputum) were prospectively examined. A comprehensive lung physical examination was performed sequentially by 3 physicians who were blind to clinical history, laboratory findings, and x-ray results. Examination findings by lung site and whether the examiner diagnosed pneumonia were recorded on a standard form. Chest x-ray films were read by a radiologist. Results Twenty-four patients had pneumonia confirmed by chest x-ray films. Twenty-eight patients did not have pneumonia. Abnormal lung sounds were common in both groups; the most frequently detected were rales in the upright seated position and bronchial breath sounds. Relatively high agreement among examiners (κ ≈ 0.5) occurred for rales in the lateral decubitus position and for wheezes. The 3 examiners' clinical diagnosis of pneumonia had a sensitivity of 47% to 69% and specificity of 58% to 75%. Conclusions The degree of interobserver agreement was highly variable for different physical examination findings. The most valuable examination maneuvers in detecting pneumonia were unilateral rales and rales in the lateral decubitus position. The traditional chest physical examination is not sufficiently accurate on its own to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of pneumonia.
Peptide characterization by CE-ESI-MS with orthogonal spray

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with tandem UV and MS detection is increasingly being used for the analysis of complex mixtures. Here the analysis of peptides by CE-ESI-MS with a fully automated system is described.
Lung development in the fetal primate, Macaca nemestrina. II. Pressure-volume and phospholipid changes.

Lung Development in the Fetal Primate, Macaca nemestrina. II. Pressure-Volume and Phospholipid Changes
Invertebrate colonization of leaves and roots within sediments of intermittent Coastal Plain streams across hydrologic phases.

Ecological flows between habitats are vital for predicting and understanding structure and function of recipient systems. Ecological flows across riparian areas and headwater intermittent streams are likely to be especially important in many river networks because of the shear extent of these interfaces, their high edge-to-width ratio, and the alternation of wet and dry conditions in intermittent channels. While there has been substantial research supporting the importance of riparian-stream linkages above-ground, comparatively less research has investigated below-ground linkages. We tested the hypothesis that riparian roots are colonized by invertebrates as a food source within stream beds of intermittent headwater streams. We compared benthic invertebrate assemblages colonizing three types of buried substrates (leaves, roots, and plastic roots) among three intermittent Coastal Plain streams, each with a different riparian management treatment (clearcut, thinned, and reference), over a 1-year period. Invertebrate density was significantly lower in root litterbags than in plastic roots litterbags, but neither differed from densities in leaf litterbags. Total invertebrate abundances, however, were significantly higher in leaf and root litterbags compared to abundances in plastic root litterbags. Invertebrate biomass and richness did not vary among substrates, but invertebrate density, abundance, and richness all declined from the wet phase (September–December) through the dry phase (June–August). Meiofauna and aquatic dipterans were the primary colonizing invertebrates during the wet phase. Relative abundance of terrestrial taxa increased during the dry phase, but their absolute abundance remained lower than aquatic taxa during the wet phase. Invertebrate composition did not differ among substrate types, but was significantly different among streams and time periods. Cumulative number of dry days, degree days, and redox depth all strongly correlated with assemblage structure as indicated by ordination scores. Our results suggest that subsurface invertebrates respond to leaves and roots as food sources, but assemblage composition is not substrate specific. Colonization of leaves and roots within stream beds by aquatic and terrestrial taxa supports the idea that headwater intermittent streams are important interfaces for the reciprocal exchange of energy and materials between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Comparison of two domoic acid-producing diatoms: a review

In the past five years, awareness of domoic acid has increased from localized problems in Canada to outbreaks along both North American coasts. The phycotoxin domoic acid causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) in humans and can be fatal. The known species of phytoplankton responsible for production of domoic acid include some pennate diatom species of the genus Nitzschia, sensu latu, which form stepped chains typical of the Pseudonitzschia. These diatoms are widely distributed, but their life histories and population dynamics are poorly understood. This review addresses histories of occurrences, morphology, geographical distributions, seasonal patterns, growth requirements, domoic acid production, and trophic interactions, with emphasis on a comparison of Pseudonitzschia pungens f. multiseries (Hasle) Hasle and Pseudonitzschia australis Frenguelli. Through continued research it will become possible to provide guidelines for regulatory agencies that protect both the consumer and the seafood industry.
Abstract 5036: NF-κB pathway inhibition delays the onset of MYC-induced liver cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Liver cancer is one of the most lethal forms of cancer worldwide. Hence, it is critical to identify pathways that may be essential for the genesis of liver cancer and can thus be considered as targets for therapeutic intervention. Previously, our laboratory developed a conditional transgenic murine model of MYC-induced liver cancer that is dependent upon the expression of this oncogene and regresses following its inactivation. Here, we present evidence of an important role for the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in MYC-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. In order to examine whether NF-κB activation is necessary for MYC-induced liver cancer, we established a transgenic system in which MYC can be activated in hepatocytes concomitantly with a mutant form of IκB, thereby inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Our approach has revealed that suppression of NF-κB activation can significantly inhibit MYC-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adult hosts. Indeed, animals with hepatocyte-inhibited NF-κB remain tumor free up to 8 months after oncogene activation compared to mortality in 100% within 6 months in animals expressing MYC alone. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB reduces disease penetrance from 100% to 75%. In hosts that do develop liver tumors, there is evidence for activation of the NF-κB pathway, suggesting a necessity for NF-κB activation in MYC-induced HCC. Importantly, suppression of NF-κB activation in neonatal hosts is not only able to similarly suppress MYC-induced tumor formation, but animals that develop liver cancer in this context demonstrate a strikingly altered tumor phenotype. In addition, MYC inactivation results in a concomitant decrease in expression of NF-κB target genes, suggesting a direct role of MYC in the activation of NF-κB in hepatocytes. The inhibition of NF-κB did not result in increased apoptosis upon MYC activation. Rather, NF-κB activation may be important for MYC to evade oncogene-induced senescence, thereby facilitating tumorigenesis. Our data suggests that the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway may be sufficient to abrogate MYC's ability to induce tumorigenesis in the liver and thereby establish NF-κB activation as an attractive therapeutic target for liver cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5036.
Photochemical investigations of some DI-η5-cyclopentadienyldiaryltitanium compounds☆

Abstract The photolysis of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Ti(C 6 H 5 ) 2 in benzene solution leads to black titanocene and biphenyl. Studies in benzene- d 6 have shown that biphenyl- d 0 and biphenyl- d 5 are produced in ca. equal amounts. Photolysis of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Ti( p -CH 3 C 6 H 4 ) 2 produces black titanocene, toluene, 4-methylbiphenyl and 4,4′-dimenthylbiphenyl, while photolysis of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Ti( m -CH 3 C 6 H 4 ) 2 gives titanocene toluene, 3-methylbiphenyl and 3,3′-dimethylbiphenyl. The above results indicate that the biaryls are formed both by a reductive-elimination process as well as by attack of a radical-like aryl species on the solvent, and not by an ortho -phenylene or benzyne-type titanocene intermediate as has been suggested for the thermal decomposition of diaryltitanocenes. Photolysis of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Ti(C 6 H 5 ) 2 in the presence of either CO or PhCCPh leads to moderate yields of dicarbonyltitanocene and 1,1-di-η 5 cyclopentadienyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyltitanole, respectively.The formation of cis - and trans -stilbenes as well as cis,cis -1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-1,3-butadiene in the latter reaction is indicative of titanium-hydride intermediates being formed under these photolytic conditions.
An analysis of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency neurotoxicity testing guidelines

Abstract Few of the more than 65,000 chemicals listed in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inventory have been tested for neurotoxicity. The nervous system may be especially vulnerable to toxicants because many compounds can cross the blood-brain barrier and induce irreversible damage. Additionally, the young, the elderly, and other sensitive populations may be particularly susceptible to neurotoxic injury. The EPA has developed guidelines including neurobehavioral, neuropathological, and neurochemical tests for the identification of possible neurotoxicants. In the present review, tests included in the current EPA guidelines for neurotoxicity testing are described and evaluated. The main benefit of the tests is that regulators are familiar with them, thus facilitating interpretation. Additionally, validation data on these tests are available for many known neurotoxicants. These factors make it difficult to introduce new methods that may include in vitro and other techniques. The current in vivo tests can be costly and prolonged and can involve the use of many laboratory animals, making them inappropriate for generalized use on existing chemicals. It is suggested that alternative tests be incorporated for screening of large numbers of chemicals and that testing priority be given to chemicals on the basis of structure/ activity relationships, lipophilicity, bioaccumulation, and extent of exposure.
Syntactic processing in agrammatism: Evidence from lexical decision and grammaticality judgement tasks

Abstract This study explored the ability of aphasic patients to process the same sentences varying in syntactic structure in an on-line task (lexical decision) and an off-line task (grammaticality judgement). Eight agrammatic and six age-matched normal subjects were tested on a lexical decision task which probed ten types of ungrammaticalty (five syntactic and five morphological). Normal subjects showed a sensitivity to ungrammaticalty as demonstrated by a significant increase in reaction time to target words in ungrammatical as compared to grammatical contexts. On a grammaticality judgement task using these same stimuli, normal subjects' performance was near ceiling level. The aphasic subjects failed to show a comparable increase in RT on the lexical decision task. In addition, while the agrammatic aphasics performed above chance, they did not perform as well as expected on the grammaticality judgement task. Results are discussed in terms of the nature of the routines involved in the processing of senten...
Photointerpretation of Tertiary structures in platform cover strata of interior Oscar II Land, Spitsbergen

A structural map of Oscar II Land compiled using black and white, stereo-pair air photos and other available information sources suggests the existence of three structural zones within the deformed platform cover strata. The western zone consists of basement involved overthrusts of complex geometry in the north large-scale folds of platform cover strata with a stepped, down to the east profile in the south. The central zone consists primarily of folds within Kapp Starostin Fm. and overlying Triassic strata that likely formed above a subhorizontal decollement within Gipshuken Fm. strata. Farther to the east thrusts emplace Permian Kapp Starostin Fm. strata over Triassic strata. This zone probably represents stratigraphic climb of the basal decollement. Conservative estimates of shortening for the central and eastern zones are in the 15-25% range. The contribution of the western zone structures to overall Tertiary shortening depends on the geometry of faults underlying the stepped folds and is uncertain at present. Changes along strike are in part due to differential levels of erosion and changes in transport direction, but also probably important was variable thickness of the platform cover strata involved (less to the north) and the availability of incompetent horizons along which thrust-fiats could form. Two areas with anomalous structural trends may represent oblique ramps.
Resection of lymph node metastases influences survival in stage IIIC endometrial cancer

Objective. Surgical staging of endometrial cancer identifies those patients with microscopic metastatic disease most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy and may also confer therapeutic benefit. Our objective was to compare survival of patients who underwent resection of grossly positive lymph nodes (LN) to those with microscopically positive LN. Methods. Patients had stage IIIC endometrial cancer with pelvic and/or aortic LN metastases and underwent surgery between 1973 and 2002. Exclusion criteria included pre-surgical radiation and second primary cancer. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Results. Mean age of 96 patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer was 64. There were 45 cases with microscopic LN involvement and 51 with grossly enlarged LN. Overall, 41% had disease in aortic LN, which in 18% represented isolated aortic LN metastasis. Adjuvant therapies were given to 92% of patients (85% radiotherapy, 10% chemotherapy, 10% progestins). Among those with grossly involved LN, 86% were completely resected. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 63% in 45 patients with microscopic metastatic disease compared to 50% in 44 patients with grossly positive LN completely resected and 43% in 7 with residual macroscopic disease. In multivariable analyses, gross nodal disease not debulked (HR = 6.85, P = 0.009), serosal/adnexal involvement (HR = 2.24, P = 0.036), diagnosis prior to 1989 (HR = 4.33, P P 2 positive lymph nodes (HR = 3.12, P = 0.007) were associated with lower DSS. Conclusion. Grossly involved LN can often be completely resected in patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer. These retrospective data provide evidence suggestive of a therapeutic benefit for lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer.
Mitral valve disease presentation and surgical outcome in African-American patients compared with white patients.

Background Disparities associated with race, particularly African-American race, in access to medical and surgical care for patients with cardiac disease have previously been documented. The purpose of this study was to determine the presentation, etiology, and hospital outcome differences between African-American patients and white patients with regard to surgically corrected mitral valve disease. Methods All 1,425 adult patients who underwent first time, isolated mitral valvuloplasty or mitral valve replacement by the same group of surgeons at New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center between 1993 and 2003 were studied. Results African Americans (n = 123, 8.6%) were significantly younger (45.6 ± 14.4 versus 60.5 ± 15.3 years) and had significantly higher incidences of diabetes mellitus, renal failure, congestive heart failure, endocarditis, and rheumatic mitral disease; whereas whites (n = 1,302, 91.4%) more commonly had degenerative mitral disease. African Americans were less likely to undergo mitral valvuloplasty. There were no significant differences in the incidences of postoperative complications or hospital mortality (2.4% African American versus 5.1% white, p = 0.19). Conclusions African Americans present for mitral valve surgery at a significantly younger age than whites and with higher incidences of many risk factors. Whether presentation at a significantly earlier age in African Americans is a result of failures in primary care or an enhanced susceptibility to the process of mitral disease and comorbidities remains to be determined. African Americans were less likely to undergo mitral valvuloplasty, which may have an effect on long-term outcome. Improved screening in this racial group will facilitate earlier referral, increasing the potential for mitral valvuloplasty.
Learning modes, feature correlations, and memory-based categorization.

Several pairs of correlated features were embedded in descriptions that had a wealth of exemplar-specific (i.e., idiosyncratic) information, and sensitivity to these correlations was examined as a function of intentional and incidental encoding conditions. Participants in incidental conditions were able to access information about several embedded correlations, even when the correlations involved 3 rather than 2 dimensions, and when complex inferences were required to recover correlations. In intentional conditions, however, little access to correlations was observed. The richness of the stimuli made it difficult to detect correlations at encoding, and the representations that resulted from analysis appeared too impoverished to allow covariations to be recovered. The results are discussed in terms of the advantages of storing examples for addressing unanticipated needs and goals.
Identification and chromosomal localization of a processed pseudogene of human GRK6

Abstract G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) phosphorylate agonist-occupied G-protein-coupled receptors, resulting in desensitization of receptor signaling. To date, 6 mammalian GRKs have been identified by molecular cloning. Several lines of evidence indicate that a homologue of GRK6, the most recently described GRK, is present in the human genome. Northern analysis identifies two transcripts which hybridize to GRK6, and genomic Southern analysis indicates that GRK6 is localized to chromosome 5, with a second GRK6-like locus on chromosome 13. To identify the GRK6 homologue on chromsome 13, several sets of closely-spaced primers were designed based on the GRK6 cDNA sequence and then used to amplify human genomic DNA by PCR. Two products were identified, the larger of which is a fragment of the GRK6 gene which contains introns, while the smaller fragment is 94% homologous to GRK6 and contains no introns. In order to further characterize this GRK6 homologue, primers from the 5′ and 3′ coding regions of GRK6 were used to amplify a product of 1458 base pairs from human genomic DNA. This 1458 base pair PCR fragment displays 94% homology to GRK6 and contains multiple nucleotide insertions and deletions compared to GRK6, including a C to T mutation at base pair 202 which creates a predicted in-frame stop codon. In an effort to determine whether this gene is transcriptionally active, primers designed to preferentially amplify either GRK6 or the homologue were used in reverse transcription PCR. In contrast to the GRK6-specific primers, primers which selectively amplify the GRK6 homologue fail to produce a PCR product in any RNA tested, indicating that this gene is most likely transcriptionally inactive. PCR amplification of rodent/human hybrid cell lines using these same primers confirms the previously established chromosome 5 localization of GRK6, and localizes this homologue to chromosome 13. Northern analysis indicates that the two GRK6-hybridizing species seen in RNA differ by ∼500 base pairs in the 3′ untranslated region, indicating that both transcripts likely arise from differential processing of a single gene. Taken together, these data indicate that the GRK6-hybridizing species on chromosome 13 is a transcriptionally inactive processed pseudogene of GRK6, while the two GRK6 transcripts differ in the 3′ untranslated region.
Two-arm kinematic posture optimization for fixtureless assembly

This article focuses on finding optimal kinematic postures for two robot arms performing various assembly tasks without the aid of jigs and fixtures. The goal of the work is to identify the manipulator postures that would result in some optimum kinematic conditions for initiating a typical male-female assembly. Specifically, the article addresses issues related to the following question: In the absence of preset jigs and fixtures, where are the optimum location in the 3-dimensional work space and the optimum orientations of the assembly parts (therefore, the postures of the manipulators holding the parts) to perform a fixtureless assembly? First, using velocity and force ellipsoids a performance criterion is developed for the optimal kinematic posture based on constraints that are imposed by the kinematic coupling of the two robot arms as well as the environment. Next, an algorithm based on a null-space search technique is formulated to “search” for the posture of the two-arm system that maximizes the performance criterion within the set of postures that satisfy given constraints. Finally, the algorithm is demonstrated numerically for two planar robots performing typical fixtureless assembly operations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A radioimmunometric assay for the detection and characterization of lung cancer-associated antibodies in sera of lung cancer patients.

Abstract A radioimmunometric assay was developed from P3 lung carcinoma target cells to detect anti-lung cancer antibodies. Of 100 sera from lung cancer patients tested, 80 (80%) were postitive. However, only 6 30 (20%) sera from cancer patients with other cancers, 1 25 (4%) of sera from patients with nonmalignant lung disease, and 0 20 sera from healthy donors were positive. Quantitative absorptions showed that sera from lung cancer patients cross-reacted with other lung cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, and/or fetal lung tissues, but not with breast carcinomas, melanomas, sarcomas, fetal skin, or normal lung tissues. Two lung cancer antigens were defined: LCA-1, which shared antigenic determinants with GI tumors and fetal lung tissues, and LCA-2, which showed cross-reactivity only with GI tumors.
Genetic control of the expression of immunoglobulin isotypes in the responses of mice to sheep red blood cells

Studies have been carried out on the genetic control of the expression of individual Ig classes in the responses of A/J (A) and C57BL/6J (B6) mice to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). An isotopic anti-immunoglobulin test employing Ig class-specific reagents was used to measure levels of IgM, IgA, IgG1 IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 anti-SRBC antibodies in sera of hyperimmunized mice. Compared with B6 mice, A mice are low IgM and IgA responders but high responders with respect to all IgG subclasses. In (B6 × A)F1 mice low responsiveness was dominant for all Ig classes indicating that IgM and IgA responses are controlled by genes different from those which control IgG subclass responses. Analysis of the responses of [(B6 × A)F1 × A] and [(B10. A × A)F1 × A] backcross mice indicates multigenic control of IgG subclass responses. Expression of IgG2a and IgG3 responses appear to be regulated largely by single genes whose action is modified by genes at other loci; control of IgG1 and IgG2b is, clearly, polygenic with no evidence for major control by any single gene. The magnitude of all IgG subclass responses appears to be regulated by a gene(s) associated with or linked to the IgCH locus. Analysis of the responses of H-2-congenic mice shows that major histocompatibility genes do not have a strong influence on the patterns of IgM and IgG responses in A or B6 mice. The overall results indicate that while there is some common control of all IgG classes, there is also separate polygenic control of individual Ig classes.
Controls, Risk, & Educational Responsibility: The Ethical/Professional Links

Abstract Engineers learn from experience, as one of the author's own early experiences illustrates. The case method is the best way to bring real-world experience into the classroom. In the emerging discipline of engineering ethics, the case method is the most appropriate. Concepts and techniques (including feedback) have been developed to use cases in implementing the teaching of engineering professionalism and ethics. In teaching controls, the project method is the way to most closely emulate real-world experience. It is not only a much more effective way of teaching, but it is also a lot more fun for both students and instructors.
Transformation of marketing management in Russia: A qualitative and theory building approach

Casual observers of Russian management are quick to portray a simplistic, well packaged, and seemingly accurate picture of life of Russian managers. Russia, they say, is imploding and disintegrating. In 1992, the inflation rate was 3,000 percent, and in the first 6 months of 1993, the monthly inflation rate ranged from 25 to 30 percent. The gross national product declined 25 percent in 1992 and continued to decline in 1993. Management life in Russia, these observers say, is unbearable, hell. Russian managers have been order-takers from central planners and regulators for more than 70 years. They have been accustomed to working in a stable and predictable environment, and therefore could not possibly be effective in the shock-therapy-induced market economy that began in January, 1992. However, these observers could not be further from the truth. I concluded from my study of Russian management decision making in 1989, 1991, and 1992 that in a rapidly changing and chaotic environment, Russian managers are quick to recognize the effects of the evolving market economy and take rapid corrective or exploitive action. The 3-year effort is a qualitative study of Russian management transformation and the development of a theoretical framework. What I found was that contrary to my findings in 1989 and 1991, the Russian economic shock therapy, which began in 1992, has infused life into Russian managers. As a result, they have been quick to recognize the effects of such economic forces as inflation, uncertainty, competition, consumer selectivity, credit, cash flow, and raw material on their enterprises. Likewise, they were also quick to respond, for example, by restructuring, downsizing, developing more competitive strategies, increasing promotions and sales force, and seeking foreign investors. In these respects, Russian management behavior resembles Western management behavior. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Immune responses and protection against vaginal infection after nasal or vaginal immunization with attenuated herpes simplex virus type‐2

Summary We compared nasal and vaginal immunizations using attenuated herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) for protection against vaginal infection with wild-type HSV-2. Mice were immunized once intranasally, intravaginally after progestin (DP) treatment, or intravaginally with scarification after oestradiol treatment. Compared with vaginal immunizations, nasal immunization did not increase immunoglobulin A (IgA) plasma cell numbers in the vagina or elicit a higher antiviral IgA titre in vaginal secretions. Both types of vaginal immunizations increased the number of immunoglobulin G (IgG) plasma cells in the vagina and the secretion/serum titre ratio of IgG antiviral antibody, indicating local production of virus-specific IgG in these groups. Cell-mediated immunity in the vagina, as indicated by memory T-cell secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in situ 20 hr after HSV-2 challenge, was essentially equivalent in the vaginally immunized groups but significantly lower in the nasal group, while lymphocyte recruitment to the vagina was similar in all three groups. All three immunizations protected all mice from neurological disease after challenge, but vaginal DP immunization induced the greatest immunity against reinfection of the vaginal epithelium.