cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consonant recognition as a function of the number of stimulation channels in the Hybrid short-electrode cochlear implant

Consonant recognition was measured as a function of the number of stimulation channels for Hybrid short-electrode cochlear implant (CI) users, long-electrode CI users, and normal-hearing (NH) listeners in quiet and background noise. Short-electrode CI subjects were tested with 1–6 channels allocated to a frequency range of 1063–7938 Hz. Long-electrode CI subjects were tested with 1–6, 8, or 22 channels allocated to 188–7938 Hz, or 1–6 or 15 channels from the basal 15 electrodes allocated to 1063–7938 Hz. NH listeners were tested with simulations of each CI group/condition. Despite differences in intracochlear electrode spacing for equivalent channel conditions, all CI subject groups performed similarly at each channel condition and improved up to at least four channels in quiet and noise. All CI subject groups underperformed relative to NH subjects. These preliminary findings suggest that the limited channel benefit seen for CI users may not be due solely to increases in channel interactions as a function of electrode density. Other factors such as pre-operative patient history, location of stimulation in the base versus apex, or a limit on the number of electric channels that can be processed cognitively, may also interact with the effects of electrode contact spacing along the cochlea.
Orthodontic treatment of a transposed gigantic canine --a case report.

Cuspid gigantism or radicomegaly is a rare occurrence often associated with a hereditary, X-linked condition, called oculo-cardio-facio-dental (OFCD) syndrome. This syndrome is also characterized by atrial septal defects and/or ventricular septal defects, congenital cataracts and unusual facial characteristics. Confirmation of this syndrome is often provided by dentists or orthodontists when they diagnose an extremely large canine root length from the panoramic radiograph. The following case report shows a multidisciplinary approach to the dental treatment of a patient with OFCD syndrome and a canine-first premolar transposition. The orthodontic approach required a mini-plate to achieve significant mesial movement of a gigantic maxillary canine that erupted in close contact with the first molar.
Early enteral nutrition improves gut edema associated ileus

METHODS: Female Balb/C mice (n 5 per group) were randomized to trauma (femur fracture 40% hemorrhage) or control. Traumatized animals were treated at the time of injury and for seven days with vehicle or 15d-PGJ2, given IP. Seven days after injury, splenic macrophages were harvested and stimulated with LPS. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. In another experiment, mice were subjected to CLP seven days after injury and monitored for survival (n 20 per group).
Zinc Status and Serum Testosterone Levels of Healthy Adults

Zinc deficiency is prevalent throughout the world, including the USA. Severe and moderate deficiency of zinc is associated with hypogonadism in men. However, the effect of marginal zinc deficiency on serum testosterone concentration is not known. We studied the relationship between cellular zinc concentrations and serum testosterone cross-sectionally in 40 normal men, 20 to 80 y of age. In four normal young men (27.5 +/- 0.5 y), we measured serum testosterone before and during marginal zinc deficiency induced by restricting dietary zinc intake. We also measured serum testosterone in nine elderly men (64 +/- 9 y) who were marginally zinc deficient before and after 3 to 6 mo of supplementation with 459 mumol/ d oral zinc administered as zinc gluconate. Serum testosterone concentrations were significantly correlated with cellular zinc concentrations in the cross-sectional study (lymphocyte zinc versus serum testosterone, r = 0.43, p = 0.006; granulocyte zinc versus serum testosterone, r = 0.30, p = 0.03). Dietary zinc restriction in normal young men was associated with a significant decrease in serum testosterone concentrations after 20 weeks of zinc restriction (baseline versus post-zinc restriction mean +/- SD, 39.9 +/- 7.1 versus 10.6 +/- 3.6 nmol/L, respectively; p = 0.005). Zinc supplementation of marginally zinc-deficient normal elderly men for six months resulted in an increase in serum testosterone from 8.3 +/- 6.3 to 16.0 +/- 4.4 nmol/L (p = 0.02). We conclude that zinc may play an important role in modulating serum testosterone levels in normal men.
Insights into tide-related variability at seafloor hydrothermal vents from time-series temperature measurements

Abstract Thermocouple/thermistor array packages and an in situ gamma detector were deployed in 1994 at two vent sites on the northern Cleft Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Continuous records of fluid temperatures were obtained in four separate locations over a period of 5.5 months, and these data were supplemented by current meter observations made ∼2.5 km to the south within the axial valley. Temperatures measured at a location of focused high temperature flow showed that: (1) the maximum temperature in the chimney was stable and did not exhibit tide-related variability; (2) temperatures within the chimney wall were variable on time-scales of minutes, indicating rapid shifts in amounts of cold seawater or hot vent fluid flowing across chimney walls; and (3) the stable maximum temperature within the chimney conduit was ∼9°C less than the maximum fluid temperature recorded at the vent site during the same time interval, and thus stable high temperatures within chimneys are not necessarily indicative of the maximum temperature within the vent structure or the hydrothermal system. Time-series records from areas of diffuse flow indicate modulation of temperature and total radioactivity by tidally induced changes in bottom currents. Spectra of the current meter record and temperature records are similar, with spectral peaks observed at 12.4 h, 16–17 h (inertial peak) and 4–5 days. Phases between maxima in current, tide and temperature records are consistent with temperature changes resulting from periodic shifts in currents from north to south, and the subsequent northward or southward advection of warm fluids venting from multiple local sources. Periodic (12.4 h) variability of temperature was also recorded by a thermocouple buried ∼1 cm within one of the deposits and is likely a result of periodic variations in the temperature at the boundary of the highly conductive sulfide deposit. The time-series results presented demonstrate the need for measuring and considering the effects of local currents when investigating causes of temporal variability within seafloor hydrothermal systems.
MRI evaluation of BBB disruption after adjuvant AcSDKP treatment of stroke with tPA in rat.

The primary limitation of thrombolytic treatment of ischemic stroke with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the hemorrhagic risk. We tested AcSDKP (N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline), as an auxiliary therapeutic agent, to reduce blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in a combination tPA thrombolytic treatment of stroke. Wistar rats subjected to embolic stroke were randomly assigned to either the tPA monotherapy group (n=9) or combination of tPA and AcSDKP treatment group (n=9) initiated at 4 h after ischemia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements were performed before and after the treatments. Immunohistochemical staining and measurements were performed to confirm MRI findings. Longitudinal MRI permeability measurements with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) demonstrated that combination treatment of acute embolic stroke with AcSDKP and tPA significantly reduced BBB leakage, compared to tPA monotherapy, at 3 and 6 days (18.3±9.8 mm3 vs. 65.0±21.0 mm3, p 0.18). The substantial reduction of BBB leakage observed in the combination treatment group was closely associated with reduced ischemic lesions measured by T2 maps (113.6±24.9 mm3 vs. 188.1±60.8 mm3, p<0.04 at 6 days). Histopathological analysis of the same population of rats showed that the combination treatment significantly reduced parenchymal fibrin deposition (0.063±0.059 mm2 vs. 0.172±0.103 mm2, p<0.03) and infarct volume (146.7±35.9 mm3 vs. 199.3±60.4 mm3, p<0.05) compared to the tPA monotherapy at 6days after stroke. MRI provides biological insight into the therapeutic benefit of combination treatment of stroke with tPA and AcSDKP 4h after onset, and demonstrates significantly improved cerebrovascular integrity with neuroprotective effects compared with tPA monotherapy.
Total knee arthroplasty for steroid-induced osteonecrosis

There have been only a few reports that evaluate the outcome of total knee arthroplasty in patients with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the knee. We retrospectively reviewed 31 total knee arthroplasties in 24 patients with confirmed steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the knee. The average follow-up was 64 months. Of surviving knees, 92% had significant improvement in knee scores. Five knees (16%) required a revision procedure. Reasons for revision were aseptic loosening in 3 knees and sepsis in 2 knees. Complications not requiring revision occurred in 6 of 31 knees (19%). Survivorship of total knee arthroplasty to revision in patients with steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the knee was 84% at 5 years. Although there was a slightly higher complication rate, this may, in part, be due to the severity of the patients' underlying disease processes. Total knee arthroplasty can be a successful procedure for chronically ill patients with steroid-induced osteonecrosis.
Facilitation and suppression of human loss-avoidance by signaled, unavoidable loss

A 15-sec stimulus followed by unavoidable monetary loss was presented to human subjects who were avoiding loss on a free-operant schedule. As has been observed in studies where shock is the aversive event, initial reactions to the pre-loss stimulus were transient increases in overall and stimulus rates. Unlike shock studies, continued training produced decreased rates, in the presence of the 15-sec stimulus, which were maintained in two of three subjects. Subsequent observations indicated that lowered rates were a function of the subject's rate of avoidance responding, the duration of the stimulus, and the scheduling of avoidable losses. Increasing the duration of the stimulus eliminated lowered rates in the presence of the stimulus and subsequent exposures to conditions which previously produced lowered rates did not result in recovery of the phenomenon. Introduction of the pre-loss stimulus on an extinction baseline (avoidable losses were omitted), however, reinstituted lowered rates. It is proposed that the pre-loss stimulus assumed discriminative control over low rates because responding in the presence of the stimulus was ineffective in avoiding the unavoidable loss. Recovery from lowered rates is attributed to the occurrence of avoidable losses during the stimulus period, and maintenance of lowered rates on the extinction schedule to the omission of such avoidable losses.
Adjuvant treatment in colorectal cancer: an update.

Analysis of current and recently completed trials of adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer permit a few very broad generalizations. Survival of patients initially treated by resection has improved during the past 2 decades, unrelated to adjuvant therapy. While pilot, uncontrolled, and historically controlled studies often suggest a treatment benefit, controlled trials have, to date, failed to show any advantage for adjuvant therapy in colon cancer. For rectal cancer, only those trials including radiation therapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy have provided enhanced patient survival. Superiority of preoperative versus postoperative radiotherapy has not been demonstrated. Of interest is the current United States intergroup trial in colon cancer which is evaluating levamisole in combination with 5-fluorouracil, based on preliminary experience in a smaller study of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group which suggests that levamisole and 5-fluorouracil may be a potentially beneficial adjuvant combination. Recent reports of pharmacologic modulation of 5-fluorouracil resulting in significantly enhanced response rates in advanced metastatic colorectal cancer invite a trial of this pharmacologic concept for surgical adjuvant therapy.
Trimming while checking clausal proofs

Conflict-driven clause learning (CDCL) satisfiability solvers can emit more than a satisfiability result; they can also emit clausal proofs, resolution proofs, unsatisfiable cores, and Craig interpolants. Such additional results may require substantial modifications to a solver, especially if preprocessing and inprocessing techniques are used; however, CDCL solvers can easily emit clausal proofs with very low overhead. We present a new approach with an associated tool that efficiently validates clausal proofs and can distill additional results from clausal proofs. Our tool architecture makes it easy to obtain such results from any CDCL solver. Experimental evaluation shows that our tool can validate clausal proofs faster than existing tools. Additionally, the quality of the additional results, such as unsatisfiable cores, is higher when compared to modified SAT solvers.
Reaction of forest floor organic matter at goethite, birnessite and smectite surfaces

Abstract Experiments were conducted to compare the affinity and reactivity of three different minerals for natural organic matter (NOM) in forest floor leachate (FFL) from hardwood and pine forests. The FFLs were acidic (pH 4) with ionic strengths of 1.4 mM (hardwood) and 1.1 mM (pine), and they contained larger organic molecules (weight average molecular weights [Mw] = 5–6 kDa) than has been reported recently for surface waters using similar methods. A synthetic diluent solution was prepared to match the inorganic chemistry of the FFL and to provide a range of initial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations (0–140 g C m−3) for reaction with goethite (α-FeOOH), birnessite (δ-MnO2) and smectite (montmorillonite, SWy-2) in suspension, and in corresponding blanks. A variety of macroscopic and spectroscopic methods were employed to show that reaction with the three minerals resulted in distinctly different NOM adsorption, fractionation and transformation patterns. Goethite exhibited a steep initial slope in the adsorption isotherm and a maximum retention of 10.5 g C kg−1. The isotherm for montmorillonite was more linear, but equal amounts of C were adsorbed to goethite and montmorillonite (per unit sorbent mass) at maximum DOC. Whereas preferential uptake of high Mw, aromatic constituents via ligand exchange was observed for goethite, compounds of lower than average Mw were retained on montmorillonite and no preference for aromatic moieties was observed. Birnessite, which has an isoelectric point of pH
Genotype modulates prenatal stress effects on aggression in male and female mice

Prenatal stress (heat and restraint) significantly increased postpartum aggression (proportion of animals fighting and/or the intensity of the behavior) in C57BL/6J female mice and reduced the behavior in DBA/2J females. For intermale aggression, prenatal stress increased the behavior (intensity of aggression) in C57BL/6J males but did not affect aggressive behavior in DBA/2J animals. Infanticidal behavior (the killing of young) exhibited by male mice was not influenced by prenatal stress in either strain. Relative anogenital distance measurements in neonates at birth did not serve as a reliable predictor of strain variation in prenatal stress effects. Prenatal stress did not influence this measure of prenatal androgen exposure in DBA/2J or C57BL/6J females. For males, prenatal stress elevated relative anogenital distance in C57BL/6J mice and decreased this measure in DBA/2J animals. Prenatal stress effects on aggressive behavior in male and female mice therefore depend upon genotype. Strain-dependent differences may be modulated by differences in endocrine reactivity to prenatal stress/and or differential central neural tissue sensitivity to hormones.
Efficient flooding in Wireless Sensor Networks secured with neighborhood keys

Network flooding is a fundamental communication primitive for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). Flooding is used for disseminating code updates and parameter changes, affecting the operation of all nodes in the network. When flooding occurs each node, typically, broadcasts the flooding packet once. The costs for flooding, however, can become significant if neighborhood keys are used for communication (as proposed in recent research on secure localization and key distribution [1]), since, instead of a single broadcast, a node is required to perform several unicast transmissions. In this paper we address the problem of minimizing the number of unicast transmissions required for ensuring 100% network coverage for flooding in WSN secured with neighborhood keys. We show that the problem is NP-hard and propose an approximation algorithm for solving it. Through simulations, we demonstrate that our algorithm ensures 100% network coverage for flooding, while requiring, surprisingly, as low as 0.75 packet transmissions per node.
Ontogeny of epileptogenesis in the rat hippocampus: a study of the influence of GABAergic inhibition.

Abstract In vivo experiments were carried out to examine whether the period during which γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibition in the hippocampus matures is associated with a decrease in epileptogenesis. Seizures were elicited with bipolar electrodes stereotactically positioned in the hippocampus of urethane-anesthetized rat pups from postnatal (PN) 7 through 28 days of age. No clinical seizure activity was detected but electrographic seizures (afterdischarges) were induced at all ages. Afterdischarge thresholds (ADT) varied inversely with age. However, the durations of initial afterdischarges and the degree of lengthening of afterdischarges with the rapidly recurring hippocampal seizure (RRHS) protocol were not different for the various age animals studied. Paired pulse inhibition was assessed with a twin pulse paradigm that has been shown to monitor GABAergic inhibition. Measurements were made before and 60 min after a single seizure and again 60 min after the RRHS protocol. At no age was there a significant change in paired pulse inhibition after a single seizure. After RRHS there was a significant reduction of paired pulse inhibition only in the groups that had manifested adult levels of paired pulse inhibition in pre-seizure measurements (≥PN 21). These studies indicate that heightened epileptogenesis in the young hippocampus cannot simply be explained on the basis of an immaturity of GABA-mediated inhibition.
THE ELEMENTARY READING ATTITUDE SURVEY: FACTOR INVARIANCE ACROSS GENDER AND RACE

The Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS) is purported to measure attitude toward recreational and academic reading. The present study examined the validity of this two-factor model across gender and race. Since measurement results are often group specific, factor invariance cannot be assumed, but should be tested empirically. No statistically significant difference in the factor structures for male and female respondents was found, indicating factor invariance across gender. However, there was a statistically significant difference (p < .05) in the factor structures of the African American and European American respondents. Follow-up analyses indicated that the sources of the invariance were three of the recreational reading attitude items (p < .05) and the recreational reading attitude factor variance (p < .005), with the variance being greater for African American than for European American students.
Revealed Preference Theory, Ordering and the Axiom of Sequential Path Independence

This paper is concerned with the axiomatic foundation of the theory of choice. Describing a choice procedure which one often observes in real life, this paper shows that the requirement of path independence of such a procedure is a necessary and sufficient condition for transitive or full rationalization of a choice function, i.e. the existence of a preference ordering. It is shown that our result holds when rationality is identified with different interpretations of the binary relations of preference revealed by a choice function, e.g. the revealed preference relation of Arrow, the wide revealed preference relation of Richter. It is also shown that a weaker version of our path independence condition is both necessary and sufficient for a rational choice.
A New Interpretation of the Wild Rice1: District of Wisconsin

IN AN article published in the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology in 1900, A. E. Jenks defined the wild rice district of the Upper Lakes and classified the tribes living within this area as wild rice gatherers. He also theorized that the high population density reported in the area northwest of Green Bay was based on the abundance of wild rice which grew there. Thus, Jenks' paper has stood for over half a century as an early example of an ecological study of native American groups, and has served as a guide for those ethnographers who later defined the cultural and ecological areas of native North America; notably, Kroeber (1939) and to a lesser extent, Wissler (1938; 1940). Since Jenks' publication, however, a great deal of historical material pertaining to the Great Lakes region has been made available. It will be the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that five of the Central Algonkin tribes included by Jenks in this area were not wild rice gatherers, and further, that the population concentration was not only very recent but was a result of (1) French trading activities in the area, and (2) the pressure exerted on these tribes by the westward thrust of the Iroquois. Wild rice was important to a much smaller segment of the population than Jenks supposed.2 The wild rice gathering Indians are listed by Jenks (1900:1038) as the Siouan speaking Dakota, Winnebago, and Assiniboin; and the Central Algonkin speaking Ojibwa, Menomini, Sauk, Fox, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Mascouten, and Kickapoo. It is well substantiated that the Santee Dakota, Winnebago, Menomini, and some of the Ottawa, Assiniboin, and Ojibwa were wild rice gathers. However, the evidence for the Sauk, Kickapoo, Fox, Mascouten, and Potawatomi indicates they were not wild rice gatherers.3 In referring to the Fox and Sauk, Jenks (1900:1050) says, "That they were producers of wild rice is unquestioned, but it is regretted that so little is known of them during the period when they must have depended largely upon the grain." He cites no references to support this statement. On the other hand, he makes it evident that the canoe is essential to a wild rice gathering economy (Jenks 1900:1061), but the Fox did not use the canoe as late as 1666 (Jesuit Relations Vol. 51:43; Vol. 54:223; Blair 1911a:20). Also, many sources mention the Fox's dependency upon the raising of Indian corn and hunting, but none of these mention wild rice (Jesuit Relations Vol. 51:43; Vol. 54:207, 223; Anonymous 1718:889). The Sauk used the canoe, so they cannot be discounted on this technicality. However, this may have been a very recent acquisition, since they are noted as being "very poor canoemen" (Blair 1911:303). The Sauk, like the Fox, grew Indian corn and hunted (Jesuit Relations Vol. 54:207).
Hindered β-decay of 143Pr

Abstract A low-intensity 742 keV γ-ray has been found in the decay of 13.6 d 143 Pr. This γ-ray is interpreted as evidence for a weak β-transition (1.2 × 10 −6 %, log ƒ 0 t = 13.2, log ƒ 1 t = 11.6) from 143 Pr (J π = 7 2 + ) to the 742 keV first excited state of 143 Nd ( 3 2 − ) .
Diversity of folding pathways and folding models of disulfide proteins.

Comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of protein folding requires the elucidation of both a folding pathway and a folding model. This entails characterization of the properties and structures of folding intermediates populated along the folding pathway, as well as the formation and interplay of secondary structures and tertiary structures along the course of folding. Using the conventional unfolding–refolding technique, there are limitations of acquiring these data in detail because of the inherent difficulty of trapping and analysis of folding intermediates. The technique of oxidative folding, in contrast, permits trapping, isolation, and further structural characterization of folding intermediates at any stage of the folding process. In this brief review, we present the potential of the technique of oxidative folding for concurrent analysis of both folding pathways and folding models.
Genetic code in evolution: switching species-specific aminoacylation with a peptide transplant

The genetic code is established in aminoacylation reactions whereby amino acids are joined to tRNAs bearing the anticodons of the genetic code. Paradoxically, while the code is universal there are many examples of species-specific aminoacylations, where a tRNA from one taxonomic domain cannot be acylated by a synthetase from another. Here we consider an example where a human, but not a bacterial, tRNA synthetase charges its cognate eukaryotic tRNA and where the bacterial, but not the human, enzyme charges the cognate bacterial tRNA. While the bacterial enzyme has less than 10% sequence identity with the human enzyme, transplantation of a 39 amino acid peptide from the human into the bacterial enzyme enabled the latter to charge its eukaryotic tRNA counterpart in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, substitution of the corresponding peptide of the bacterial enzyme for that of the human enabled the human enzyme to charge bacterial tRNA. This peptide element discriminates a base pair difference in the respective tRNA acceptor stems. Thus, functionally important co-adaptations of a synthetase to its tRNA act as small modular units that can be moved across taxonomic domains and thereby preserve the universality of the code.
Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis) Uses Nest Following Lightning Strike

Abstract Few studies have documented behavioral response of small mammals to fire. Here we report use of a nest by an adult Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis), an endangered subspecies endemic to the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona, following a direct lightning strike to a tree. After 2 days, the squirrel nested in this tree and remained in the area for another 136 days. This is evidence that red squirrels may tolerate some degree of fire on the landscape.
Commonality indices for product family design: a detailed comparison

Companies today are faced with the challenge of providing as much variety as possible for the market-place with as little variety as possible between products. To achieve this, many companies are using platform-based product development to realize families of products with sufficient variety to meet customers’ demands while keeping costs relatively low. The challenge when designing a family of products is in resolving the trade-off between product commonality and distinctiveness: too much commonality can cause products to lack distinctiveness and perform poorly, while too little commonality can increase manufacturing costs. Toward this end, several commonality indices have been proposed to assess the amount of commonality within a product family. In this paper, a framework for redesigning a product family using commonality indices is proposed. We first compare and contrast six of the commonality indices based on their ease of data collection, consistency, sensitivity, and repeatability. Nine families of p...
Making Voices Count: Corpus Compilation in Bilingual Communities

Corpus compilation is of great relevance in linguistics today, with growing appreciation of studies based on spontaneous speech, in particular for minority communities. This paper puts forward a model for corpus compilation in bilingual communities, illustrated through the New Mexican Spanish–English Bilingual corpus, in which the same speakers—from a long-standing minority community in the United States—use both Spanish and English in the same conversations, smoothly alternating between their languages. We advocate community-based fieldwork for the collection of speech data by community members; the formation of a corpus which comprises recordings of spontaneous interactions and is thus of widespread usability (rather than being tied to any particular set of research questions or elicited linguistic features); scrupulously compiling information about the demography and the linguistic history of the participants that may shape their patterns of language use; and comprehensive transcription of the data tak...
Does opioid analgesia show a gender preference for females

Recent evidence suggests that one of the factors that may influence the assessment and management of pain is a person's gender. However, only a limited amount of information exists on gender differences in responses to analgesic medications. Based on a review of the available literature published between 1966 and 1998, we suggest that opioids are better analgesics for women. The information in this paper comes predominantly from several studies on the use of patient-controlled analgesia for the management of postoperative pain. Additional information comes from our recent work that demonstrated a sexual dimorphism in oral surgery patients' responses to three different opioid analgesics that share the property of acting as agonists at the kappa-opioid receptor. The paper concludes with a discussion of the major recommendations for future research regarding the gender biology of pain.
The North Pacific: an Example of Tectonics on a Sphere

Individual aseismic areas move as rigid plates on the surface of a sphere. Application of the Mercator projection to slip vectors shows that the paving stone theory of world tectonics is correct and applies to about a quarter of the Earth's surface.
Factors that influence particle formation during pulsed electron deposition of YBCO precursors

Pulsed electron deposition (PED) is an attractive alternative to pulsed laser deposition (PLD) for growing thin films because of PED's relatively low cost. A potential problem with PED, however, is the generation of particulates that interfere with film growth. The influence of ambient pressure and accelerating potential on the number of and size of particulates appearing on the surface of films was investigated for the barium fluoride-based YBCO precursor process. It was found that the size of the particulates varies exponentially with accelerating voltage. The size of the particulates can be reduced to less than 100 nm by increasing the ambient pressure beyond that required for optimum deposition rate. The ability to control the size of particulates could make PED useful for technical applications where the generation of sub-micron sized materials is desired.
Plasma Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Genetic Variants in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose To compare plasma levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and controls and to evaluate a potential relationship between biochemical markers of oxidative stress and AMD susceptibility genotypes. Design Prospective case-control study. Methods Plasma levels of oxidative stress biomarkers were determined in 77 AMD patients and 75 controls recruited from a clinical practice. Cysteine, cystine (CySS), glutathione, isoprostane, and isofuran were measured, and participants were genotyped for polymorphisms in the complement factor H ( CFH ) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 ( ARMS2 ) genes. Results CySS was elevated in cases compared with controls ( P = .013). After adjustment for age, sex, and smoking, this association was not significant. In all participants, CySS levels were associated with the CFH polymorphism rs3753394 ( P = .028) as well as an 8-allele CFH haplotype ( P = .029) after correction for age, gender, and smoking. None of the other plasma markers was related to AMD status in our cohort. Conclusions Our investigation of the gene–environment interaction involved in AMD revealed a relationship between a plasma biomarker of oxidative stress, CySS, and CFH genotype. These data suggest a potential association between inflammatory regulators and redox status in AMD pathogenesis.
The implications of athlete freedom to contract: lessons from North America

The 1995 Bosman judgement by the European Court of Justice granted professional athletes in Europe inter-country freedom to contract and eased foreign-player restrictions. Based on two decades of free-agency experience in North America, we expect to see salaries of European players rise substantially, top players earn more while marginal players earn less, and players absorb more of their training costs. Ticket prices and competitive balance will be unaffected. Clubs and leagues will be likely to attempt to control player costs by instituting schemes such as payroll caps and increased revenue sharing.
Catalytic Z -selective olefin cross-metathesis for natural product synthesis

Alkenes are found in many biologically active molecules, and there are a large number of chemical transformations in which alkenes act as the reactants or products (or both) of the reaction. Many alkenes exist as either the E or the higher-energy Z stereoisomer. Catalytic procedures for the stereoselective formation of alkenes are valuable, yet methods enabling the synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted Z alkenes are scarce. Here we report catalytic Z-selective cross-metathesis reactions of terminal enol ethers, which have not been reported previously, and of allylic amides, used until now only in E-selective processes. The corresponding disubstituted alkenes are formed in up to >98% Z selectivity and 97% yield. These transformations, promoted by catalysts that contain the highly abundant and inexpensive metal molybdenum, are amenable to gram-scale operations. Use of reduced pressure is introduced as a simple and effective strategy for achieving high stereoselectivity. The utility of this method is demonstrated by its use in syntheses of an anti-oxidant plasmalogen phospholipid, found in electrically active tissues and implicated in Alzheimer's disease, and the potent immunostimulant KRN7000.
Ultrasonic signal amplitude measurement and analysis techniques for nondestructive evaluation of structural members

Ultrasonic technique has been increasingly used in recent years for nondestructive evaluation of defects and material properties (e.g., stiffness) in structural members made up of concrete, steel, wooden, and composite materials. Ultrasonic evaluation of structural members in the past has relied primarily on time-of-flight and velocity measurements. While these measurements lead to fair estimate of stiffness and detection of defects in structural members, the sensitivity of the measurements is not adequate to detect defects in their early stages. In order to enhance the sensitivity of the ultrasonic technique, this paper proposes to use ultrasonic signal amplitude measurements in conjunction with traditional velocity measurements. The conditions necessary to make repeatable amplitude measurements are described, and the data analysis techniques suitable for defect detection are discussed. Also, the advantages of signal amplitude measurement technique are presented using examples of defective steel, wooden, and composite members. The measurement and analysis techniques presented here can be easily generalized to structural members made from other materials such as concrete.
Demonstration of 0.75 Gbar planar shocks in x-ray driven colliding foils.

We have directly observed 0.75[plus minus]0.2 Gbar planar shocks in gold target foils impacted by ablatively driven gold flyer foils. The x-ray drive for the flyer foils was produced in a gold Hohlraum by ten beams of the Nova laser. The dynamic pressure inferred by shock velocity measurements is more than a factor of 7 greater than previous dynamic shocks produced in the laboratory and over a surface area significantly larger than most previous ultrahigh pressure experiments. The technique allows the laboratory investigation of equations of state in the gigabar regime.
Corrosion of NdFeB permanent magnets in humid environments at temperatures up to 150°C

Abstract The corrosion of NdFeB permanent magnets has been investigated in oxidizing environments containing controlled additions of water vapor in the temperature range 79–155°C under conditions where no condensation of electrolyte occurs. The corrosion occurs by intergranular attack leading to formation of pits. No significant corrosion was observed in dry environments at temperatures up to 155°C, indicating that H 2 O vapor is necessary to produce corrosion. Much higher corrosion rates were measured in Ar-20% O 2 -water vapor gas mixtures at 145°C than in air-water vapor mixtures at the same temperature, indicating that nitrogen inhibits the attack. The rate of attack in the Ar-20% O 2 -water vapor environment increased with time of exposure.
On primes of degree one in function fields

We show that over the algebraic closure of a finite field, every point of the jacobian of a curve annihilated by a power of a prime I is the I-primary component of a point in the image of the curve. Let X be a smooth, projective, geometrically connected curve of genus g > 0 defined over the algebraic closure F of the field Fq of q elements. Fixing a basepoint x( of X in Fq, let p: X -* J denote the embedding assigning to each point x of X the divisor class of the difference of x and x0. Let I be any prime number and let X: J(Fq) J(Fq), denote the projection of the torsion group J(Fq) onto its i-primary component. The object of this note is to prove the following THEOREM. The map X o q: X(Fq) J(F) is surjective. For the proof we need a lemma giving control over the distribution of primes of degree one in arithmetic progressions. Let K/k be an abelian unramified extension of global fields of positive characteristic. Let g be the genus of k and suppose that Fq is the field of constants of both K and k. For each prime v of k let Ft, E Gal(K/k) denote the corresponding arithmetic Frobenius. LEMMA. If there exists a0 E Gal(K/k) such that F,, / a0 for all primes v of k of degree one, then q < (2g[ K: k] + 3) 2. PROOF. By hypothesis (* )E = -E 4(co) ,(Ftj) C1 C1 4 where v runs through all the primes of k of degree one (i.e., of residue field coinciding with Fq), and 4 runs through all the nontrivial complex-valued characters of Gal(K/k). Now by the Riemann Hypothesis (see Appendix 5 of [W]) the left side of (*) is bounded below by q + 1 2g~/F; the right side is bounded above by ([K: k] 1)(2g 2)v/Vj. The desired conclusion follows immediately. Turning now to the proof of the theorem, suppose that some point d E J(Fq) fails to be in the image of X o T. Assume, as is permissible, that X is the base-change of a smooth projective curve X0 defined over Fq, x0 is Fq-rational, and d is an Fq-rational point of the jacobian J0 of X0. Fix a rational prime r distinct from 1. Let k denote the function field of X0, k an algebraic closure of k, and v0 the prime of degree one of k Received by the editors April 3, 1984. 1980 Mathemnatics Subject Classificcation. Primary 12A80; Secondary 14H99. 'A1985 American Mathematical Society 0002-9939/85 $1.00 + $.25 per page
Obstacles to disseminating applied psychological science.

Abstract Many argue that the objectives of individual research reports are inconsistent with the needs of practitioners and should logically be changed. Based on a survey of how practitioners use psychological research, it appears that clinicians believe that research findings are, and have been, important in modifying their practices. However, they tend to get this “research” information more often from popular books, practice-oriented journals, and workshops than from research journals. Hence, information probably is not coming from scientists and may not actually represent state-of-the-art research knowledge. We propose that scientists should market their findings through popular articles and books, workshops, and other vehicles of communication valued by practitioners.
Altered IgG autoantibody levels and CD4+ T cell subsets in lupus-prone Nba2 mice lacking the nuclear progesterone receptor

Important interactions between female reproduction and autoimmunity are suggested by the female-predominance of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases and the amelioration of certain autoimmune diseases during pregnancy. Sexually dimorphic risk of developing SLE involves modulation of genetic risk by environmental factors, sex hormones and non-hormonal factors encoded on the sex chromosomes. In some lupus models, estrogen, via estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), enhances production of highly pathogenic IgG2a/c autoantibodies (autoAbs). Some studies indicate that treatment with progesterone, a chief female reproductive steroid, can suppress IgG2a/2c autoAb production. Little is known about how endogenous progesterone impacts lupus autoimmunity. To investigate this, we introduced a disruptive progesterone receptor (PR) gene mutation into lupus-prone mice and tracked the development of spontaneous IgG autoAbs. Here, we present evidence that PR can suppress the emergence of class-switched IgG2c autoAbs, suggesting that PR and ER-α counter-regulate a critical step in lupus autoimmunity. PR's control of IgG2c autoAb production correlates with alterations in the relative abundance of splenic T follicular helper (TFH) cells and non-TFH CD4(+) T cells, especially regulatory T cells (TREGS). Surprisingly, PR also appears to help to maintain sexually dimorphic abundance of splenic leukocytes, a feature common to many mouse models of SLE. Together our results identify a novel molecular link between female reproduction and lupus autoimmunity. Further investigation into the immunomodulatory functions of PR promises to inform reproductive health care in women and offers mechanistic insight into important immunologic phenomena of pregnancy.
Existence of solutions to differential equations of relativistic mechanics involving Lorentzian time delays

Abstract A system of m bodies interacting with each other according to the relativistic mechanics is given. Let N = {1,…, m } and y j ( t ) = ( r j ( t ), v j ( t )) be the position-velocity vector in R 6 of the j th body and y (t) the list of all such vectors for j in N . Let T jk ( t ) be the time required for a wave traveling in a vacuum at the speed c of light to reach the j th trajectory from the k th trajectory at the point ( t , r j ( t )) in the time-position space. Let z ( t ) denote the list of vectors z ijk ( t ) = y i ( t − T jk ( t )) for i , j , k in N , j # k . Let f be a continuously differentiate function from an open domain G into R 6 m . Consider the differential equation (A) y ′( t ) = f ( y ( t ), z ( t )) for all t ⩾ 0. Assume that the initial trajectory y ( t ) is known. Assume that the initial trajectory is Lipschitzian with bounded kinetic energy. If at t = 0 the trajectory satisfies the differential equation, then the trajectory can be extended in a unique way to a maximal solution of the differential equation (A). At the end of the paper the equation is generalized to include the equations of Einstein-Loretz-Maxwell describing the N -body problem of the classical electrodynamics.
Effect of speckle on lidar pulse–pair ratio statistics

The ratio of temporally adjacent lidar pulse returns is commonly used in differential absorption lidar (DIAL) to reduce correlated noise. These pulses typically are generated at different wavelengths with the assumption that the dominant noise is common to both. This is not the case when the mean number of laser speckle integrated per pulse by the lidar receiver is small (namely, less than 10 speckles at each wavelength). In this case a large increase in the standard deviation of the ratio data results. We demonstrate this effect both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical value for the expected standard deviation of the pulse–pair ratio data compares well with the measured values that used a dual CO2 laser-based lidar with a hard target. Pulse averaging statistics of the pulse–pair data obey the expected σ1/N reduction in the standard deviation, σN, for N-pulse averages. We consider the ratio before average, average before ratio, and log of the ratio before average methods for noise reduction in the lidar equation. The implications of our results are discussed in the context of dual-laser versus single-laser lidar configurations.
Accurate Prediction of Acidity Constants in Aqueous Solution via Density Functional Theory and Self-Consistent Reaction Field Methods

We have developed a protocol for computing the acidity constant (pKa) of organic compounds via ab initio quantum chemistry and continuum solvation methods. Density functional (DFT) calculations employing large basis sets are used to determine the gas-phase deprotonation energies. Solvation effects are treated via a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) formalism involving accurate numerical solution of the Poisson−Boltzmann equation. Dielectric radii are parametrized for each functional group of interest to optimize solvation free energy calculations for neutral and charged species. While the intrinsic accuracy of these approaches is quite impressive (errors on the order of a few kcal/mol), it is not quite good enough to achieve the target accuracy that we have set for pKa prediction of 0.5 pKa units. Consequently, two further empirical parameters, scaling and additive factors, are determined for every functional group of interest by linear fitting directly to pKa data for a training set. With this additi...
High fat diet increases the weight of rat ventral prostate.

BACKGROUND Understanding the mechanisms by which diet influences the prostate may eventually lead to novel approaches for preventing prostate cancer. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of dietary fat, vitamin D, and genistein on prostate weight, serum and intraprostatic androgen levels, and the expression of several androgen-response genes. METHODS Sprague–Dawley rats were fed, beginning at 21 days of age, for 1 or 3 months of experimental diets with high saturated fat (32.2% calories from fat), low saturated fat (3.6% calories from fat), genistein plus (20 mg/kg), genistein deficient, vitamin D surplus (4,000 U/kg), or vitamin D deficient. The body weight, food intake, the weights of the ventral prostate and dorsolateral prostate, and the levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the serum and in the prostate were determined. The expression of androgen-response genes was characterized by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS The pilot experiments showed that high dietary fat appeared to consistently increase the weight of the ventral prostate, while vitamin D or genistein did not have a consistent effect on prostate weight. Further analysis confirmed that the ventral prostate is 15% (P < 0.001) heavier in the rat on a high fat diet as compared to a low fat diet. Dietary fat had no significant influence on the levels of serum and intraprostatic androgens and the expression of androgen-response genes. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that the ventral prostate weight of the rat is increased without affecting the androgen axis by feeding the animals with high fat diet beginning at 21 days of age. This observation is potentially important since epidemiological data suggest that saturated fat consumption is a major risk factor associated with prostate cancer incidence rate. Prostate 49:1–8, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.