cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased thymic size and thymocyte interleukin 2 production in androgen-resistant mice.

The functional significance of androgen receptors in thymocytes is unknown. To investigate whether such receptors might mediate androgen-induced effects on thymocyte proliferation or differentiation we examined mice bearing a known defect in the gene coding for the androgen receptor. This mutation, termed testicular feminization (Tfm/Y), renders these mice resistant to the action of androgenic hormones. Testicular feminization mice were found to have large thymuses that were an average of 2.8 times as heavy as those of their unaffected male litter mates, and contained up to 36 times as many thymocytes. Similar findings were observed when Tfm mice were compared with C57B1/6 control mice. Thymocytes from androgen-resistant mice produced several limes more interleukin 2 in culture than did thymocytes from control mice. A small but significant reduction in the population of cells bearing neither CD4 nor CDS surface markers (‘double negatives') was observed in the androgen-resistant mice. These data indicate that androgen resistance is associated in the Tfm/Y mouse with alterations in thymocyte number, phenotype, and function that may be attributable to lack of androgen action during thymic development.
Many-body interactions in physisorption: Nonadditivity of film and substrate contributions to the holding potential

Abstract Calculations are presented of non-pair-additive contributions to the interaction energy of a probe atom with a physisorbed monolayer film and substrate. The Axilrod-Teller-Muto triple dipole energy is summed for triplets composed of probe atom, monolayer atom, and substrate atom. The lateral average, over probe atom positions, of the sum vanishes. A similar result and a nonvanishing term from a higher many-body interaction are derived also from the McLachlan theory of the dispersion interaction of two atoms in the presence of a continuum substrate.
Microbiological Evaluation of an Active Tubotympanic Type of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Keywords: Antibiotics; chronic otitis media; microbiology DOI: 10.3126/njenthns.v1i2.4758 Nepalese J ENT Head Neck Surg Vol.1 No.2 (2010) p.14-16
CSF 5-HIAA concentrations in anorexia nervosa: reduced values in underweight subjects normalize after weight gain

introduction It has been uncertain whether or not underweight anorectics have reduced concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5hydroxyindolacetic acid (5HIAA) concentrations compared to controls. We previously reported that CSF 5-HIAA concentrations were significantly lower in eight underweight anorectics compared to the same patients after weight restoration (Kaye et al. 1984a). In that study, CSF S-HIAA levels for both underweight patients (as well as the same patients after weight correction) were similar to healthy control women. Gillberg ( 1983) reported that two underweight anorectics had CSF 5-HIAA levels that were below the range of age-matched controls. In contrast, Gemer et al. C 1984) found that underweight anorectics had normal basal CSF 5-HIAA levels. In our previous study. the number of under-
Silver-enhanced fluorescence emission of single quantum dot nanocomposites

A novel plasmon-coupled quantum dot (QD) nanocomposite via covalently interfacing the QD surfaces with silver nanoparticles was developed with greatly reduced blinking and enhanced emission fluorescence.
Turbulent shear flow mixing and rapid chemical reactions: an analogy

Two-species, irreversible, very rapid reactions, with mild heat release, in a turbulent shear flow are shown to be analogous to the transport of two non-reacting species by the same shear field. Expressions for the probability density functions of the reacting species, the product species and the reaction-generated thermal field are obtained in terms of the joint probability density functions of the two nonreacting species. As an example we have constructed, from recent measurements of temperature statistics at a cross-section in a heated jet, the meanand fluctuating concentration fields of the reacting species and the mean concentration of the product.
Dissonance thin-ideal and didactic healthy behavior eating disorder prevention programs: results from a controlled trial.

Objective Negative body image, a common problem among college-age women in the United States, strongly correlates with low self-esteem, disturbed eating behavior, and eating disorders. Psychoeducational programs have inconsistently shown improvement in body image, thin-ideal internalization, eating behaviors, psychosocial functioning, and self-esteem. Method In the current study, college women with body image concerns (N = 84) were randomly assigned to a cognitive dissonance-based, thin-ideal internalization, single-session workshop (DTI; n = 26); a psychoeducational, healthy behavior, single-session workshop (HB; n = 24); or a wait-list control (WL; n = 34). Results Comparing baseline data with 4-week follow-up data, results indicated that both DTI and HB participants reported improvement in body image, thin-ideal internalization, and eating behaviors. Discussion Results provide evidence that both interventions effectively reduce risk factors for eating pathology. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 36: 376–388, 2004.
Methods of Determining a Damping Ratio From a Simple Impact Test

Numerous tests have been performed in the nuclear industry to determine damping ratios for the analysis of steam generator tube bundles. Several methods have been used to analyze the response data, including the logarithmic decrement method, the half-power point method, and curve-fitting methods. Theoretically, the methods give the same damping results; however, in practice, the results may be appreciably different. Each of these methods presents certain difficulties in determining a damping ratio. For the half-power point method, the difficulties include selecting a sampling rate, setting a time span, and the use of a window to truncate the data. The difficulties associated with the logarithmic decrement method include selecting the initial and final peaks and selecting an appropriate frequency. In both cases, most of the difficulties arise from the need for subjective decisions by the engineer or technician. Blind curve-fitting methods have been shown to underestimate the actual damping. A practical comparison of these three methods was performed on damping data from a simple impact test. While the half-power point method and curve-fitting methods are useful tools to validate damping results, a logarithmic decrement method that averages the damping over a number of cycles appears to provide the most consistent and realistic damping results for SG tubes.© 2005 ASME
Fragile Families: Sample and Design

Abstract This paper provides important background information on the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, and is the first and only paper to provide detailed information on the research methodology and sampling strategies employed. The bulk of the paper is devoted to a detailed description of the three-stage sampling process that was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of non-marital births in large US cities. First, it was necessary to sample cities that, collectively, were nationally representative and had maximum variation in policy regimes. Next, it was necessary to sample hospitals so as to be representative of non-marital births in each city. Finally, we sampled births in order to be representative of those at each hospital. The paper concludes with some general information about the study and a simple description of the baseline non-marital sample from the first seven cities.
Cross border North Korean women trafficking and victimization between North Korea and China: An ethnographic case study

Abstract This is a case study on the trafficking of North Korean women via the interviewing of women trafficking victims. The study has an explorative nature. Its primary goal is to address the issues of the cross-border trafficking of North Korean women. In doing so, this research will describe the current picture of cross-border North Korean women trafficking operation between North Korea and China. It will uncover the identity and characteristics of traffickers, the identity and characteristics of victims and contributing factors of their victimization, and the cross-border trafficking routes and procedural networks of trafficking operation. The findings of the current study shows that the problem of North Korean women trafficking is worth being paid attention by the international community and that appropriate counter-measures need to be implemented. Also, this study hopes to facilitate more empirical research on this topic.
RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE CONSISTENCY IN RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY PROCEDURES.

(1964). Relative and Absolute Consistency in Reliability and Validity Procedures. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 139-141.
Nurses' attitudes concerning the delivery of brief cessation advice to hospitalized smokers.

Abstract Background. Nurses have a unique opportunity to assist hospitalized smokers with cessation. However, relatively little is known about nurses' attitudes and beliefs toward their role in assisting patients with cessation. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of staff nurses at four hospitals was conducted. Four scales based on constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior were developed for this survey: attitudes toward offering cessation advice, beliefs about the outcome of offering advice, perceived normative beliefs, and perceived ability to offer advice. Other survey items included sociodemographics, employment characteristics (shift, unit worked), and personal smoking status. Results. Of the nurses surveyed, 397 (68%) returned completed questionnaires. Nurses had a relatively positive attitude toward helping patients to quit smoking, 63% believed that hospitalization was an ideal time for patients to try to quit smoking, and 59% believed a nurse had an obligation to advise patients to quit smoking. In the final multiple linear regression model, self-reported delivery of cessation advice was related to attitudes toward offering cessation advice, perceived ability to offer advice, and unit worked. Conclusions. Efforts should be made to educate staff nurses about the efficacy of brief cessation advice and current smoking cessation methods and practices.
Consciousness and the Neurobiology of Perceptual Binding

The brain processes information along specialized tracts that are separated across cortex. However, our visual experiences are of unified objects. How our perceptions become united into wholes even though all individual features that comprise them are distributed about the brain is the problem of perceptual binding. This article discusses ongoing neurophysiological research that connects perceptual awareness with 40 Hz neural oscillatory firing patterns. Three different experimental approaches for tying 40 Hz oscillatory firing patterns in cortex to perceptual experiences are examined: (1) the single cell and local field potential recordings of visual areas 17 and 18 which show synchronous firing patterns between noncontiguous cells with similar receptive fields; (2) MEG measurements of rapid thalamic bursting, indicating that the ILN might drive or otherwise contribute to the cortical oscillations; and (3) EEG recordings taken over the sensory areas of cortex demonstrating a higher level of neural coordination, suggesting that perceptual binding occurs at a higher level of organization entirely. As of this writing, a connection between any 40 Hz oscillatory patterns and perceptual binding or consciousness is tenuous at best.
Absorption optics of low-symmetry crystals — Application to titanian clinopyroxene spectra

A complete description of the optical spectra of a mineral should include specification of the (mutually perpendicular) principal directions of absorption — greatest, intermediate, least — for each important absorption band. In monoclinic and triclinic crystals, these directions do not always coincide either with the crystallographic axes or the principal refractive index directions. However, they can be located and their magnitudes ascertained even in triclinic crystals by measuring at most six vibration directions in three sections. For example, each such section could contain one of the principal refractive directions, and the bisector of the other two directions. The subtleties of absorption-refractive index relationships have led to some confusion and error in the literature. In most studies of low-symmetry crystals, insufficient measurements have been made to characterize the polarization. As an example of the basic principles and their applications, the spectra and color of titanian pyroxenes are discussed.
MapReduce guided approximate inference over graphical models

A graphical model represents the data distribution of a data generating process and inherently captures its feature relationships. This stochastic model can be used to perform inference, to calculate posterior probabilities, in various applications such as classification. Exact inference algorithms are known to be intractable on large networks due to exponential time and space complexity. Approximate inference algorithms are instead widely used in practice to overcome this constraint, with a trade off in accuracy. Stochastic sampling is one such method where an approximate probability distribution is empirically evaluated using various sampling techniques. However, these algorithms may still suffer from scalability issues on large and complex networks. To address this challenge, we have designed and implemented several MapReduce based distributed versions of a specific type of approximate inference algorithm called Adaptive Importance Sampling (AIS). We compare and evaluate the proposed approaches using benchmark networks. Experimental result shows that our approach achieves significant scaleup and speedup compared to the sequential algorithm, while achieving similar accuracy asymptotically.
The volterra model for three species predator-prey systems: Boundedness and stability

The classical Volterra equations modelling three species predatorprey interactions are considered with the intention of developing global properties of their solutions. Thirty-four different cases are exhibited. Global asymptotic stability is established for all non-loop cases. Global boundedness is established for all but one kind of loop case, and a condition is exhibited which insures boundedness for that case also. Finally a particular case is shown to have unbounded solutions.
Surgical approach to complicated cervical aortic arch: anatomic, developmental, and surgical considerations.

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of brachiocephalic arterial branching and arch laterality are common in patients with a cervical aortic arch. In addition, structural anomalies of the arch such as obstruction, aneurysms, and tortuosity are found in a significant number of cases. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1998, 6 patients underwent surgery for an obstructed right cervical arch. A significant obstruction was present at the transverse or distal arch in all patients, and was recurrent after previous repair in 2. In 1 patient, there was also a multi-lobed aneurysm of the aortic segment contiguous to the obstruction, and in 2 there was marked tortuosity of the arch. In all cases, the order of origin of the head and neck vessels was abnormal, and obstruction of 1 or more brachiocephalic vessels was found in 3. A vascular ring was present in all patients, with a right aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery in 4 patients and a double aortic arch with a dominant right cervical arch in 2. The descending aorta was circumflex (left-sided) in 3 patients. Three patients were repaired through a standard right posterolateral thoracotomy, and 3 through a median sternotomy. Patch augmentation aortoplasty was used in 2 patients, a tube graft from the ascending to descending aorta in 2, end to side anastomosis of the descending aorta to the proximal arch in 1, and direct anastomosis to reconstruct an atretic left-sided component of a double arch in 1. RESULTS: Repair was successful in all cases, with no perioperative complications. At follow-up ranging from 1 to 9 years, all patients were alive and well, with no recurrence of arch obstruction or other significant complications. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed microdeletion of chromosome 22q11 in 1 patient (not performed in the others). CONCLUSIONS: Structural anomalies of the arch are relatively common in patients with a cervical aortic arch. Such abnormalities may be the result of hemodynamic conditions and/or abnormal vascular tissue related either to the cervical position of the arch or its embryologic precursors. Given the highly variable anatomy of patients with a complicated cervical aortic arch, surgical considerations will vary in kind.
New Rapid Setting Alkali Activated Cement Compositions

The advantage of utilizing blended cements for many applications has been well documented. However, the use of these materials has been limited by the longer setting times associated with the use of these materials. This report discusses the development of formulations employing alkali activation to shorten the setting times. The results of characterization of these materials using calorimetry, microscopic, x-ray diffraction, and mechanical property techniques are discussed.
Heroin-Associated Rhabdomyolysis With Cardiac Involvement

A heroin addict had rhabdomyolysis with cardiac involvement. The patient was admitted with edema of the right leg and oliguria. Admission diagnoses were right iliofemoral thrombophlebitis, acute renal failure, and heroin addiction. Urinalysis was strongly positive for "blood" in the absence of hemolysis or marked hematocyturia, and a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was made. Peritoneal dialysis succeeded in lowering blood urea nitrogen and serum potassium levels, but the patient died on the fourth hospital day. Postmortem examination disclosed focal myocardial myolysis, diffuse rhabdomyolysis of the right soleus muscle, and acute renal tubular necrosis. Direct toxicity or hypersensitivity to heroin or an adulterant is considered in the pathogenesis of myolysis. (Arch Intern Med137:1255-1257, 1977)
Inhibition of (+)[3H]SKF 10,047 binding to rat brain membranes by FAB fragments from a monoclonal antibody directed against the opioid receptor.

Examination of the binding of (+)[3H]SKF 10,047 to rat brain membranes indicated that at a low concentration most of the binding was to the haloperidol-sensitive binding site. Titration curves exhibited a displacement potency order of haloperidol >(+)SKF 10,047 =1,3-diorthotolyl-guanidine≫(−)SKF 10,047⋙ phencyclidine analogues. The effect of Fab fragments from a monoclonal antibody, OR-689.2.4, directed against the opioid receptor on the binding of(+)[3H]SKF 10,047 to rat brain membranes was examined. The specificity of this antibody for the opioid receptor has been determined by its ability to inhibit the binding of μ and δ opioid peptides to rat brain but not the binding of κ opioid ligands or nonopioid ligands specific for other receptors. The Fab fragments blocked and displaced specifically bound (+)[3H]SKF 10,047 in a titratable manner. Increasing the incubation time of the membranes with the Fab fragments increased the percent inhibition obtained. The Fab fragments acted as noncompetitive inhibitors of (+)[3H]SKF 10,047 binding. A(+)SKF 10,047 binding site in rat brain appears to share a common structural domain with μ and δ opioid receptors.
Staged surgical dislocation and redirectional periacetabular osteotomy: a report of five cases.

A wide spectrum of morphologic abnormalities of both the acetabulum and the proximal part of the femur can lead to hip pain in the young adult1-3. These developmental, or occasionally acquired, abnormalities may present clinically with symptoms and signs of both hip instability and femoroacetabular impingement1,4,5. Also, it is now recognized that a classically dysplastic or unstable hip may begin to manifest impingement as a result of an iatrogenic cause. For example, periacetabular osteotomy6 performed to improve coverage of the femoral head can lead to relative acetabular overcoverage and resultant femoroacetabular impingement2,7. Alternatively, a hip that is being treated for impingement can become unstable as a result of the performance of an acetabular rim resection and a femoral head osteochondroplasty8,9. Finally, hips that have a combination of impingement and instability may require acetabular reorientation to treat the underlying intra-articular pathology10. In our experience, many patients who present initially with signs and symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement secondary to acetabular overcoverage and/or lack of femoral head-neck offset have been found at the time of surgery to have substantial damage to the acetabular hyaline cartilage1,9,11,12. Recent studies support the concept of resection of the damaged or delaminated hyaline acetabular cartilage and performance of labral advancement rather than debridement or microfracture8,9. Alternatively, in some hips with substantial cartilage damage, large areas of hyaline cartilage resection and labral advancement may produce a relatively dysplastic or deficient acetabulum, even with labral preservation and refixation. In our first ninety-one procedures in which surgical dislocation and osteochondroplasty8,13 were performed as treatment for femoroacetabular impingement, three (3%; Cases 1, 3, and 5; mean …
A Prospective Study of Telomere Length and the Risk of Skin Cancer

Telomere length is important in tumorigenesis. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we prospectively measured relative telomere length in a nested case-control study within the Nurses' Health Study: 218 melanoma cases, 285 squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) cases, 300 basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) cases, and 870 controls. We observed that shorter telomeres were associated with a decreased number of moles (P=0.002) and a decreased risk of melanoma. Women in the second and first quartiles, those with the shortest telomere length, had an odds ratio (OR) for melanoma of 0.54 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29-1.01) and 0.59 (95% CI, 0.31-1.13), respectively, compared with those in the fourth quartile (P, trend=0.09). There was no clear trend between telomere length and SCC risk. In contrast, we found that shorter telomere length was associated with an increased risk of BCC. Compared with those in the fourth quartile, women in the first quartile had an OR of 1.85 (95% CI, 0.94-3.62) (P, trend=0.09). The opposing associations observed should be interpreted with caution, and further research is needed to confirm these possible associations.
Correctly accounting for radiofrequency spillover in saturation transfer experiments: application to measurement of the creatine kinase reaction rate in human forearm muscle

Measurements based on transfer of magnetization have been widely used to calculate reaction rates in systems with slow chemical exchange. In these experiments, correction for direct irradiation of the observed resonance is in general accomplished by replacing the equilibrium magnetization in the Bloch equations by a magnetization obtained in an experiment in which a low power radiofrequency (RF) pulse is placed contralaterally, that is, at an equal distance from the observed resonance as the saturated one but on the opposite side. However, the magnetization observed during contralateral irradiation is affected not only by direct irradiation but also by chemical exchange. We demonstrate here that including this effect leads to a substantial improvement in the accuracy of reaction rate determination in steady-state saturation transfer experiments and, if incomplete saturation is present, also in transient saturation transfer experiments. In steady-state saturation trnasfer experiments performedin vivo at 1.9 T, correct interpretation of the contralateral saturation transfer experiment resulted in a correction of the creatine kinase reaction rate by approximately 11% on average.
Metaphoric transfer: Generalization between alternative meanings of the same word

Summary The hypothesis tested in two experiments was whether there is generalization between alternative meanings of a polar adjective. The experiments were based on the alternative meanings of the adjective “bright” as it relates to intelligence and to albedo. The S s scaled a group of pictures of men for physical brightness and for intelligence. Positive correlations between the scale values were predicted. The results led to the conclusion that generalization between alternative meanings of “bright” was not demonstrable by this method.
The Meanings of Democracy in Venezuela: Citizen Perceptions and Structural Change

Throughout Latin America, democratic political structures reflect liberal conceptualizations of democracy. Since the election of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has emerged as an exception, with President Chavez sponsoring initiatives designed to foster participatory democracy. This article draws on the Venezuelan case in an effort to gain insight on the malleability of citizens' definitions of and attitudes toward democracy. Two key findings emerge. First, in data gathered ten years into the Chavez presidency, the vast majority of Venezuelans still define democracy in liberal terms, whereas relatively few have embraced participatory conceptualizations. Second, although Venezuelans as a whole are highly supportive of democracy as a form of government, no evidence is found that either support for Chavez or defining democracy in terms of participation corresponds with higher favorability toward democracy. Together, these findings suggest that Venezuela's political transformation has produced little or no discernible effect on mass sentiment regarding democracy.
Proposals for chunking and tabu search

Chunking - grouping basic units of information to create higher level units - is a critical aspect of human intelligence. We identify special types of chunking to enhance tabu search memory structures, producing improved problem solving ability and giving useful supporting information for decision makers. Tabu search as proposed by Glover [ORSA Journal on Computing 1 (3) (1989) 190; 2 (1) (1990) 4] has proven to be a very effective meta-heuristic for hard optimization problems. The search is typically based on a local improvement scheme that involves alteration of one or more attributes of fully specified solutions at each iteration. In this paper we describe the use of, and search for, groupings of solution attributes. Although they are most natural in the context of the tabu search paradigm, many of the proposals can also be employed in genetic algorithms and simulated annealing based algorithms. Chunking enables a number of search improvements including a general purpose metric for decision vectors. The paper develops theory and proposals for learning about chunks and using them. Computational experience to date is summarized to support the contention that chunking can be an important part of effective optimization algorithms.
Newton–Raphson optimization of the explicitly correlated Gaussian functions for the ground state of the beryllium atom

Explicitly correlated Gaussian functions have been used in variational calculations on the ground state of the beryllium atom. In such calculations on systems with more electrons, it becomes imminent and essential to develop effective strategies for optimizing the parameters involved in the basis functions. The theory of analytical first and second derivatives of the variational functional with respect to the Gaussian exponents and its computational implementation in conjunction with the Newton–Raphson optimization technique is described. Some numerical results are presented to illustrate the performance of the method. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Astrocytic reaction to a lesion, under hormonal deprivation

Gonadal hormones can influence the morphology and function of glial cells, particularly astrocytes. Here we explore the hypothesis that 17β-estradiol (E2) exerts a positive effect on astrocytes within the region of the cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, an area heavily implicated in memory and attentional processes. Female rats were ovariectomized at 3 months of age and lesioned with the immunotoxin 192 IgG-saporin before receiving a subcutaneous pellet containing 0.25 mg of estrogen or placebo, released over 60 days. The control, non-ovariectomized group was treated identically. At the end of the treatment, we used image analysis procedures to evaluate changes in the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in the area of the lesion. Infusion of the immunotoxin induced a slight increase in GFAP expression in some subjects, compared to the contralateral side. However, when differences within animals where factored in, GFAP expression in ovariectomized animals treated with E2 was undistinguishable from intact controls. By contrast, in ovariectomized animals treated with placebo, GFAP expression was significantly higher. These results suggest that E2 deprivation may exacerbate the effects of an immunotoxic lesion, and, more importantly, that E2 administration may contribute to structural recovery of lesioned cholinergic neurons by blocking GFAP expression in the area. These results are particularly relevant in the context of female aging and postmenopausal dementia, and further highlight other potential levels at which to design interventions to preserve an intact cholinergic system, which may be crucial to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Increased excitatory synaptic activity and local connectivity of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in rats with kainate-induced epilepsy.

Formation of local excitatory circuits may contribute to epileptogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that epileptogenesis is associated with increased recurrent excitation in the hippocampal CA1 area...
Carbon Isotopes in Pelites of the Precambrian Uncompahgre Formation, Needle Mountains, Colorado

Carbon isotopic ratios and weight percentages of carbon were measured in 15 samples of slate, phyllite, and schist of the approximately 1500- to 1600-m.y.-old Uncompahgre Formation of the Needle Mountains, southwestern Colorado. Rocks with less than 1 percent total carbon, all of which is reduced, have δC 13 values of −23 to −28 per mil, whereas those with 1 to 6.4 percent carbon have δC 13 from −29 to −31 per mil. In general, the slates and phyllites contain more carbon and isotopically lighter carbon than do the schists of higher metamorphic rank. Increasing loss of C 12 -enriched methane with increasing intensity of metamorphism is suggested to account for these differences.
Herpesvirus antigens as markers for cervical cancer

Abstract A total of 393 patients representing cervical atypias, cancers, and nonneoplastic disease have been studied. Cellular specimens have been stained with antisera raised against total herpes type 2 virus (HSV-2) and subfractions labeled crude AG-e, pure AG-e, ICP 12, and ICP 14. Reproducibility, statistical significance, false positive and false negative results, specificity, and sensitivity of the various antisera have been investigated. Correlation of immunocytostaining with Papanicolaou staining has been made. Usefulness of these markers in the detection and diagnosis of premalignant and malignant cervical epithelial changes for mass screening has been discussed. Using crude AG-e, pure AG-e, HSV-2, and HSV-1 antisera in a number of blind studies, no significant differences were found in the reproducibility of results. Observations indicated that a minimum of 30 cells must be analyzed to make data amenable to statistical analysis. Exfoliated cells from 62, 75, 77, and 94% of patients respectively diagnosed as mild, moderate, and marked atypia, and cancer were studied with antisera against total HSV-2. Similar results were observed with antisera against pure AG-e. No patient reacted with anti-AG-e or anti-HSV-1 antiserum in the absence of reactivity to antisera against total HSV-2 antigens. Studies using anti-ICP 12 and -ICP 14 antigens established the wide and specific staining character of anti-HSV-2 antisera. Morphologic preservation of cells by Papanicolaou staining after the FA procedures was considered satisfactory for diagnostic purposes. Our studies indicated the potential usefulness of anti-HSV-2 and anti-AG-e antisera in mass cervical cancer screening programs and cytology automation.
Market structure, conduct and performance: Evidence from the Bangladesh banking industry

Abstract With regard to the market structure and performance in Bangladesh banking industry, there are two competing hypotheses—the traditional structure–conduct–performance (SCP) hypothesis and the efficiency hypothesis (EH). Using pooled and annual data for the period 1999–2002, this study tests the validity of these two hypotheses. In general, the results of this study support the EH hypothesis as an explanation for market performances in Bangladesh, but for definitive policy purposes, the impact of the banking structure needs to be explored further.
Desulphurization and denitrogenation of SRC liquids by transition metals on solid supports

Abstract Low-valent transition metal complexes, such as bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel and 1,5-cyclooctadiene ( η 3 -cyclooctenyl)cobalt, can rupture carbon-sulphur bonds in aryl sulphides and in SRC liquids at temperatures below 100 °C and in the absence of hydrogen gas. The desulphurizing activity of such complexes is markedly enhanced by the presence of main group metal hydrides. Furthermore, combinations of transition metal salts, amines and metal hydrides can efficiently desulphurize SRC liquids at temperatures of 55–75 °C, either in a batch operation where the coal liquid is slurried with the reagents, or in a percolation mode where the coal liquid trickles through a bed of the reagents dispersed on a solid support of alumina or poly(4-vinylpyridine). In the latter procedure, as an unexpected bonus, the nitrogen content of the SRC liquid is also sharply reduced. Although the percolation process for heteroatom removal is not catalytic, preliminary work has suggested that such percolation columns can be regenerated.
A Note on the Degree of Adaptation by Stutterers and Nonstutterers During Oral Reading

Group adaptation data reported for stutterers and for nonstutterers in three studies were reanalyzed using a proportional adaptation measure. In none of the studies did the stutterers adapt proport...
Chemical Complexing of AgI-NaI Aerosols

Abstract An x-ray diffraction study of AgI-NaI aerosols produced from a standard solution generator has revealed the formation of several hydrated phases. The aerosol samples were collected on glass filter paper and analyzed continuously in a controlled atmosphere chamber at 23C, with exploratory runs at 0C, at vapor pressures ranging from 2.5 mb to saturation values. At 4.5 (+1, −1.5) mb and 23C the aerosol transforms from a 3.9:1 weight ratio of dry AgI and NaI to 3.1:1 weight ratio of AgI and NaI·2H2O. At 8.1 (±1) mb there is a 60% loss in free AgI with formation of 3AgI·2NaI·nH2O (4<n<10). At 11.7 (±1) mb the double salt phase breaks down to form pure AgI immersed in an aqueous solution of NaI and AgI. Exploratory runs made at low temperatures reveal other compounds, one of which may be NaI·5H2O. Kinetic observations at the lower temperatures indicate that the hydrous phases may persist in aerosols released from airborne generators but would be eliminated before cloud base is reached when the aerosol ...
Chromosome Numbers in Zamia (Cycadales)

SUMMARYChromosome numbers of 14 species of Zamia range from 2n = 16 to 2n (3n?) = 27. West Indian zamias have the most symmetrical karyotype (12M + 4S) and probably are the least primitive members of the genus. Most Central and South American zamias have higher- numbered karyotypes (2n = 18 to 2n = 27). The greatest variation in chromosome numbers for any species within the genus occurs in Zamia chigua (2n = 22, 24, 25, 26), the latter being 4S + 22T. Those species judged to be the most primitive on morphological and ecological bases also possess the higher numbers of telocentric chromosomes; those judged the most ecologically and morphologically specialized (West Indian forms and the epiphytic Z. pseudo-parasitica) have the more symmetrical, lower-numbered karyotypes. In consequence, it is suggested that the trend in karyotype evolution in Zamia has been in the direction of increasing symmetry produced by fusion of telocentric chromosomes.
The guide to available mathematical software advisory system

Abstract The primary goal of the Guide to Available Mathematical Software (GAMS) project is to provide convenient access to information about mathematical and statistical software which is available to computer users at the National Institute for Standards and Technology. The principal vehicle through which this information is disseminated is an on-line advisory system called the GAMS Interactive Consultant. In this paper we describe the current status of the GAMS project. We then enumerate some of the weaknesses of the system and suggest knowledge engineering techniques which may alleviate them.
Distinguishing spiritual, psychological, and psychiatric issues in palliative care: Their overlap and differences

AbstractIt is often difficult to discern whether the suffering of a medical patient should be regarded as a spiritual, psychological, or psychiatric problem. A further challenge is to determine whether consulting a chaplain, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist will best aid the patient. We present a four-step assessment for determining which perspective and which clinician may best aid a patient: (1) distinguish whether suffering is due to a normal syndrome of distress or to a psychiatric disorder; (2) assess the potential efficacy of spiritual care, psychotherapy, or psychopharmacology for relieving distress of this type; (3) determine probable effectiveness for spiritual care, psychotherapy, or psychopharmacology given limitations of clinician availability, clinicians' clinical competencies, and the treatment setting; and (4) learn whether the patient has a strong preference for a consultant with a secular (psychiatrist, psychotherapist) or religious (chaplain, clergy) professional identity. This assessmen...
Diagnostic Exercise High Mortality in a Flock of Chukar Partridge Chicks (Alectoris chukar) in California

Mortality of 20% of a flock of 1000 chukar partridge chicks occurred over a 6-week period in Northern California from August to September 2012. Affected birds were 2 to 42 days old and died without premonitory clinical signs or after showing ruffled feathers and anorexia for 24 to 72 hours. Three carcasses were submitted for necropsy, 2 birds had hemorrhagic tracheitis grossly, and all 3 had lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic myocarditis with myocardial necrosis microscopically. The differential diagnoses and the diagnostic workup to achieve a final diagnosis are discussed. The detection of 2 zoonotic agents in these birds makes this an interesting case from a public health perspective.
Treatment of Patients With Suspected Ischemic Stroke of Undetermined Onset and Negative Head Computed Tomography Scan Caution is Advised

This case represents a difficult situation; by the description, this woman probably has a multilobar cerebral infarction that is most likely secondary to an occlusion of the internal carotid artery or the proximal segment of the middle cerebral artery. The computed tomography scan is normal, a finding somewhat surprising given the severity of her stroke; the presence of a dense artery sign suggesting occlusion of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery or early ischemic changes in the insular cortex would be expected. The absence of early ischemic changes suggests that the stroke might be of recent onset and potentially treatable. Although the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score is not provided in the vignette, the description suggests that her score would be at ≈20; it may be higher. This information is important because it portends a poor prognosis; she is likely to die or be disabled as a result of the stroke. The natural reaction is to prescribe reperfusion therapy to alter this otherwise potentially dismal situation.1 Still, caution should be exercised because the risk …
Community colleges, public policy, and Latino student opportunity

This chapter synthesizes the studies described in this volume and situates them within a broader policy context, concluding with implications for practitioners and researchers.
Tomographic mapping of human cerebral metabolism: Sensory deprivation

Local cerebral glucose metabolism was measured in 22 right-handed, normal volunteers using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and positron computed tomography. Three states consisting of selective or combined auditory or visual deprivation were examined. Results demonstrated a progressive decline in overall glucose metabolism with reduced sensory inputs. The relative metabolism of the frontal cortex compared to that of the parietal and occipital cortex progressively increased from the eyes-closed to the ears-closed to the both-closed states. Left-right symmetry was found throughout the distribution of structures within the region of brain sampled for both the selective auditory and visual deprivation test conditions, but a relative decrease in right-sided metabolism occurred in the combined audiovisual deprivation state. The most significant metabolic asymmetries occurred in the perisylvian, inferior prefrontal, and lateral occipital cortex. The relative metabolic rates of the medial occipital cortex, measured as a percentage of the hemispheric mean, doubled bilaterally with eye opening. The results demonstrate the difficulties inherent in defining a stable and reproducible “resting” state for the human brain.
A Survey on Biologically Inspired Algorithms for Computer Networking

Biologically Inspired Algorithms (BIAs), processes that mimic how organisms solve problems, offer a number of attributes well suited to addressing challenges presented by future computer networking scenarios. Such future networks will require more scalable, adaptive and robust designs to address the dynamic changes and potential failures caused by high heterogeneity and large scale networks. A variety of biological algorithms demonstrate characteristics desirable to network design, and significant effort has been placed on analyzing and developing the corresponding BIAs and applying them to computer networking applications. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of BIAs for the computer networking field, in which different BIAs are organized and explored based on their: (1) biological source; (2) mathematical model; (3) major application; (4) advantages to corresponding "classic" approach; (5) limitations and border conditions; and (6) potential directions for future applications. The paper also compares performance amongst each type of BIA, and compares BIAs that are inspired by different biological sources but are applicable to similar networking applications. The paper concludes by offering a framework for understanding the application of BIAs to problems in the computer networking space.
Quantifying and simulating the behavior of knowledge-based interpretation systems

The beginnings of a methodology for quantifying the performance of knowledge-sources (KSs) and schedulers in a knowledge-based interpretation system are presented. As part of this methodology, measures for the "reliability" of an intermediate state of system processing and the effectiveness of KSs and schedulers are developed. Based on the measures, techniques for simulating KSs and schedulers of arbitrary effectiveness are described.
A Comparison of Certain Organoleptic and Physical Properties of CO2 Snow-Pack and Ice-Pack Fresh Broiler Chicken

Abstract Fresh broiler chickens packed in CO2 snow (powdered dry ice) or ice were subjected to organoleptic evaluation of appearance, aroma, flavor, tenderness, and juiceness; and were compared for weight loss and drip solids loss during chilled storage, cooking loss, and shear force of the cooked thigh muscle. In the organoleptic evaluations, the ice-pack birds were found to be slightly more tender than the CO2 snow-pack group with the difference being confined generally to the breast pieces. No other organoleptic differences were apparent. Higher weight loss and drip solids loss during chilled storage were observed in the CO2 snow-pack birds, however, these differences were small and probably of little practical importance in an over all evaluation of the two methods of chill packing. No significant differences were observed for cooking loss or shear values of the thigh muscle.
Qualitative research: Data analysis framework generating grounded theory applicable to the crisis in science education

The shortage of qualified teachers, and the quality and quantity of the science taught in precollege institutions are two focal issues in today's national crisis in science education. This article delineates aspects of qualitative research having the potential of providing guidance to change agents in designing effective strategies to mitigate the crisis. A discursive approach to qualitative research involving the method of collecting and simultaneously analyzing data known as “grounded theory” is described. Role theory and schools as organizations composed of interactive subsystems are defined as suitable frameworks within which to analyze data.
Determinants of Organizational Commitment

Using an exchange perspective based on work rewards and work values, this study is concerned with assessing the relative importance of various influences on organizational commitment. Data from 1385 workers representing a variety of occupations suggests that the model employed explains a large proportion of the variations in this work attribute. Moreover, it appears that work rewards have a strong positive effect on commitment while work values have a weaker negative effect. The results further indicate that intrinsic rewards are significantly more powerful determinants of commitment than extrinsic rewards. Additionally, the study examines the role of demographic variables. Generally, the data suggests that the effect of demographic factors on commitment is indirect through work rewards and values. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Simulation of Mechanisms in Strained Silicon Germanium Epitaxy

Growth of strained semiconductors can lead to self-assembly of interesting structures such as quantum dots. Simulation of this growth requires an accurate and efficient model for the interactions of lattice mismatched materials. We present a potential for calculating the bond energies in a diamond-like crystal of silicon and germanium. With this potential we predict the strain profiles in an embedded quantum dot and discuss the mechanisms of island formation.