cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathologic and genetic features of young patients with colorectal cancer.

On average, patients with CMMR-D presented younger, with a mean age of 14 years old at diagnosis. 65.2% of patients with LS presented with a proximal tumour (65.2%) compared with the polyposis (10.2%) and NOS (34.4%) groups. In contrast, 83% of polyposis patients and 65.5% of NOS patients presented with distal colon or rectal cancers. Family history was significant for the majority of LS patients with 54 of 73 (74%) meeting Amsterdam I or II criteria. Two of the 7 patients with IBD, and 15 of 98 NOS patients also met Amsterdam I/II criteria, as opposed to the CMMR-D families where none met these criteria. Six LS patients presented with sporadic CRC, as did approximately 25% of polyposis patients and 59.2% of the NOS patients. Conclusions Cancer site differs between individuals ≤35 years with LS, polyposis and NOS CRC. Greater than 1/3 of patients presented with no significant family history of CRC. While the majority of patients diagnosed with CRC ≤35 have a known hereditary CRC syndrome or risk predisposition, 69 of 221 (31.2%) of individuals appear to have no recognizable syndrome.
Convex spectral functions

In this paper we characterize all convex functionals defined on certain convex sets of hermitian matrices and which depend only on the eigenvalues of matrices. We extend these results to certain classes of non-negative matrices. This is done by formulating some new characterizations for the spectral radius of non-negative matrices, which are of independent interest.
Anti-CD40, anti-CD3, and IL-2 stimulation induce contrasting changes in CB1 mRNA expression in mouse splenocytes

The expression and function of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in mouse immune cells is unclear. Here we show that splenic B cells express more CB1 mRNA than T cells. Furthermore, splenocytes stimulated with the T cell mitogens, PMA/Io and anti-CD3, showed a decrease in CB1 message while cultures stimulated with the B cell mitogen, anti-CD40 antibody, showed an increase in message. In addition, co-treatment with mitogens and IL-2 uniformly caused an increase in CB1 mRNA. It is suggested that signaling pathways activated by T cell mitogens lead to decreased CB1 gene activation while pathways activated by B cell mitogens and IL-2 lead to increased CB1.
Lateral Extension of Dislocations in NMOS IC

Dislocations extending through channel regions of NMOSFETs with submicron gate lengths have been observed. Additionally, arrays of dislocations in the field regions of IC’s have also been observed and found to be generating from the corners of the first n+ region during subsequent high temperature process.
Continuum generation in optical fibers for high-resolution holographic coherence domain imaging application

ABSTRACT High pulse energy continuum generation in conventional multimode optical fibers has been studied for potential applications to a holographic optical coherence imaging system. As a new imaging modality for the biological tissue imaging, high-resolution holographic optical coherence imaging requires a broadband light source with a high brightness, a relatively low spatial coherence and a high stab ility. A broadband femtosecond laser can not be used as the light source of holographic imaging system since the laser creates a lot of speckle patterns. By coupling high peak power femtosecond laser pulses into a multimode optical fiber, nonlinear optical effects cause a continuum generation that can be served as a super-bright and broadband light source. In our experiment, an amplified femtosecond laser was coupled into the fiber through a microscopic objective. We measured the FWHM of the continuum generation as a function of incident pulse energy from 80 nJ to 800 P J. The maximum FWHM is about 8 times higher than that of the input pulses. The stability was analyzed at different pu mp energies, integration times and fiber lengths. The spectral broadening and peak position show that more than two processes compete in the fiber. Keywords: femtosecond laser, continuum generation, multimode optical fiber, nonlinear optics
Ion-ripple laser as an advanced coherent radiation source

We describe the Ion-Ripple Laser as an advanced scheme for generating coherent radiation. A relativistic electron beam obligately propagating through an ion ripple excites electromagnetic radiation which is coupled to slow electrostatic waves with peak growth rate at the resonance frequency ω≈ 2λ2Okwc via backward Raman scattering. This new scheme may provide novel tunable sources of coherent high-power radiation. By proper choice of device parameters, sources of microwaves, optical, and perhaps even x rays can be made. By employing fluid theory the dispersion relation for wave coupling is derived and used to calculate the radiation frequency and linear growth rate. The nonlinear saturation mechanism is due to trapping of the beam electrons by the ponderomotive potential. For an energetic electron beam, the peak growth rate is ωi = ω5/2peeisinθ/λO3/4(2kωc)3/2 and the efficiency is η= ωpe/(2kωcλO3/2). A 1 2/2 D-PIC simulation code was developed to verify the ideas, scaling laws, and nonlinear mechanism. From the observed power spectrum, backward Raman scattering is show to be responsible for the radiation. The growth rates and efficiencies given by the simulation match the ones of theory for different wiggler wave lengths and beam λ. Both of them show a slow decrease with momentum spread. Momentum spread also broadens the radiation spectrum.
Quantum Dynamical Simulation of the Energy Relaxation Rate of the CN- Ion in Water

The energy relaxation rate of a CN- ion in water at 300 K has been calculated using the centroid molecular dynamics (CMD) simulation method. The simulation consisted of 107 water molecules and a single CN- ion. An independently parameterized three site CN- model was employed along with an ab initio potential for the CN- bond coordinate. A flexible water model designed for quantized bulk water simulations was employed for the solvent. The equilibrium simulation results are seen to give a reasonable structure of the CN- ion and its solvation in water. The calculated relaxation behavior is found to be biexponential with a fastest time scale of about 15 ps, which is comparable to the experimentally observed value.
Direct effects of neostigmine on aneural myotube cultures.

Abstract Long term (24–96 h) treatment of a mouse-derived myogenic cell line (G8) with meostigmine or physostigmine markedly reduces binding of α-bungarotoxin (α-BuTx) to these cells. Protein synthesis in these cultures is markedly reduced and cell morphology degenerates. Myotubes maintain slightly hyperpolarised resting membrane potentials, and are able to respond to iontophoretic acetylcholine (ACh) application with overshooting action potentials. Prolonged exposure to neostigmine also inhibits protein synthesis in a fibroblastic cell line (B82). The results suggest that degenerative changes at the neuromuscular junction associated with chronic neostigmine treatment in vivo are due to a direct action of the anticholinesterase on the muscle, rather than to altered intracleft ACh levels [2] or to presynaptic effects of the anticholinesterase [15].
Dispersion relations for linear wave propagation in homogeneous and inhomogeneous media

For the dispersion of waves in a homogeneous medium there exist the Kramers–Kronig relations for the wave number K(ω) = ω/c(ω). The usual mathematical proof of such relations depends on assumptions for the asymptotic behavior of c(ω) at high frequency, which for electromagnetic waves in dielectrics can be evaluated from the microphysical properties of the medium. In this paper such assumptions are removed and the necessary asymptotic behavior is shown to follow the representation of K(ω) as a Herglotz function. From the linear, causal, and passive properties of the media we thus establish the Kramers–Kronig relations for all linear wave disturbances including acoustic, elastic, and electromagnetic waves in inhomogeneous as well as homogeneous media without any reference to the microphysical structure of the medium.
Antecedents to Job Success in Business Process Management: A Comparison of Two Models

Business Process Management BPM maximizes firm performance by transforming isolated functional activities into streamlined, cross-functional processes. Being a relatively new discipline, disagreement exists regarding the position structure and qualifications required for success. However, certain individual differences have been associated with job performance, both in general and for specific occupations. Because BPM initiatives can be expensive and risky, understanding these individual differences may help practitioners improve their chances for BPM job success. Two models of job performance have dominated organizational research; one argues that personality traits are the chief determinants, while the other argues that intelligence and experience are most important. This paper uses logistic regression to examine the efficacy of each model in predicting job performance among BPM professionals. Results indicate that intelligence, conscientiousness, and openness to experience are the most important differentiators of BPM job performance.
A Description of Intraoperative and Postanesthesia Complication Rates

This article reviews the current rate of intraoperative and postanesthesia complications in an acute care hospital and Level II Trauma center. One thousand patients were assessed for intraoperative and postoperative complications and compared with a previous study from 1991 in a different institution. The overall rate of complications in this current study indicated an overall complication rate (combined intraoperative and PACU) of 26% with an intraoperative rate of 3.8% and a PACU rate of 23.4%. Although a slight improvement from a study in 1991, there continue to be many similarities.
Chile and beyond: The second-generation pension reforms in Latin America

In the early 1990s, pension reforms leading to substantial changes in the organization and financing of old age security were undertaken in Argentina, Colombia and Peru. Implemented ten years after the pioneer reforms in Chile, they have taken advantage of the experiences and lessons of the Chilean case; at the same time, the second-generation reforms clearly demonstrate the restrictions policy makers are being faced with in a democratic political context. This paper examines the recent pension reform experiences in Latin America and discusses their implications for a modified concept of old age security.
Age-dependent seismic thickness and mechanical strength of the Australian lithosphere

[1] We present constraints on the regional variations of the seismic and mechanical thickness of the Australian lithosphere. We infer the seismic thickness from a waveform tomographic model of S-wave speed, and as a proxy for the elastic thickness we use the wavelength at which the coherence of surface topography and Bouguer gravity drops below half of its long-wavelength maximum. Our results show that on scales <1000 km the relationship between the age of the crust and the thickness of the lithosphere is more complicated than longer-wavelength or global averages suggest. Recent geochemical and geodynamical evidence for small-scale secular variations of the composition and stability of continental cratons further illustrates the complexity of the age dependence of seismo-mechanical lithospheric properties on regional scales.
The sizes of nerve fibers supplying cerebral cortex

Abstract The nerve fiber supply to various cortical areas of several vertebrate animals has been examined by means of the electron microscope, the fibers measured in cross sections of white matter as it approaches cortex, and plots made of numbers of fibers vs diameters. Most of the fibers are myelinated in mammals, and the relatively few unmyelinated structures are not clearly distinguishable from glial elements. In mammals, each distribution curve shows a maximum at approximately 1 μ, some fibers as small as 0.2 μ, a rapid decrease in numbers up to 4 μ, and a plateau finally declining to zero at diameters of 5 to 14 μ in different cortical areas of different species. In some small areas sampled there may be few or no fibers over 3 μ. In the motor area of the macaque monkey, a second maximum, at 8 to 9 μ presumably represents the Betz cell axons. Otherwise no secondary maxima such as the alpha to delta peaks of peripheral nerves are obvious, but reasons are presented for fividing the total size spectrum range into three ranges, corresponding to the large myelinated afferents passing into the dorsal cord column, medium-sized fibers whose postsynaptics cross the cord to ascend in the ventrolateral column, and the unmyelinated fibers taking a similar course through the cord. There are reasons for considering these three size groupings in spinal nerves to be phylogenetically successive, and to have been extended by relays successively to higher centers. The smaller fiber group is then the most primitive, and evidence here presented indicates that similar-size components have been successively acquired during the phylogenetic development of the mammalian cortex. Similar examination of the white matter of reptilian cortex shows few myelinated fibers, and few of these are as large as 4 μ. They are inferred to be the precursors of the 0.2 to 3 μ range of mammals, to which successively higher mammals have added increasing numbers of fibers of increasing diameter. The fiber size distributions of the pyramidal tract, optic tract and olfactory nerve have been analyzed for contrast with the trigeminal nerve distribution. The results are consistent with the phylogenetic interpretation suggested. Examination of the cortex of an insectivore, the mole, a relatively primitive mammal, shows the typical mammalian pattern of fiber size distribution, but with small areas of white matter containing no fibers over 3 μ, others with none over 5 μ, but an overall of 9 μ. It is proposed that these morphological components, whose axons are recognizable physiologically in terms of thresholds and conduction rates, may contribute phylogenetically successive functional patterns to cortical activity. Tracing the origins of paths activating cortex, and destination of paths originating in cortex, may lead to identification of types of response correlated with fiber sizes.
Optical properties of Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt

The reflectivity and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ spectra of the fcc metals Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt are reviewed and discussed between about 0.1 and 30 eV. Structures in ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ are interpreted in terms of recent band calculations. Calculations of the joint density of states and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$, based on the energy distribution of the joint-density-of-states results of Smith, are presented and compared with experiment. The low-energy dielectric functions are observed to be sensitive to the bands near the symmetry point $L$, notably the spin-orbit-split $d$-like states which shift relative to the $\mathrm{sp}$-like ${L}_{6}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ level and affect transitions below about 2 eV. Structure near 2.8 eV in Rh is interpreted in terms of transitions between bands 3 and 5 along $Q$. Like the bcc and hcp transition metals, the fcc metals display minima in ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ near 10 eV and, at higher energies, characteristic structures are observed which can be understood qualitatively in terms of transitions to high-lying bands. The fcc metals, like the bcc and hcp transition metals, are shown to have two volume and two surface plasmons. In the discussion, shortcomings and uncertainties in the optical data are pointed out and appeals for further study are made.
Long-Term Survival of Patients With Radiation Heart Disease Undergoing Cardiac Surgery A Cohort Study

Background—Thoracic radiation results in radiation-associated heart disease (RAHD), often requiring cardiothoracic surgery (CTS). We sought to measure long-term survival in RAHD patients undergoing CTS, to compare them with a matched control population undergoing similar surgical procedures, and to identify potential predictors of long-term survival. Methods and Results—In this retrospective observational cohort study of patients undergoing CTS, matched on the basis of age, sex, and type/time of CTS, 173 RAHD patients (75% women; age, 63±14 years) and 305 comparison patients (74% women; age, 63±4 years) were included. The vast majority of RAHD patients had prior breast cancer (53%) and Hodgkin lymphoma (27%), and the mean time from radiation was 18±12 years. Clinical and surgical parameters were recorded. The preoperative EuroSCORE and all-cause mortality were recorded. The mean EuroSCOREs were similar in the RAHD and comparison groups (7.8±3 versus 7.4±3, respectively; P=0.1). Proximal coronary artery di...
Inhibiting Proteasomal Degradation of Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Prevents CCl4-induced Steatosis

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) interferes with triglyceride secretion and causes steatosis, fibrosis, and necrosis. In mice, CCl4 decreased plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, increased cellular lipids, and reduced microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) without diminishing mRNA levels. Similarly, CCl4 decreased apoB-lipoprotein production and MTP activity but had no effect on mRNA levels in primary enterocytes and colon carcinoma and hepatoma cells. CCl4 did not affect MTP synthesis but induced post-translational degradation involving ubiquitinylation and proteasomes in McA-RH7777 cells. By contrast, MTP inhibitor increased cellular lipids without affecting MTP protein. MTP was covalently modified when cells were incubated with 14CCl4. This modification was prevented by the inhibition of P450 oxygenases, indicating that CCl3· generated by these enzymes targets MTP for degradation. To determine whether inhibition of proteolysis could prevent CCl4 toxicity, mice were fed with CCl4 with or without lactacystin. Lactacystin increased ubiquitinylated MTP and prevented lipid accumulation in tissues. Thus, CCl4 induces post-translational degradation without affecting lipid transfer activity, whereas MTP antagonist inhibits lipid transfer activity without causing its destruction. These studies identify MTP as a major target of CCl4 and its degradation as a novel mechanism involved in the onset of steatosis, suggesting that inhibition of proteolysis may prevent some forms of steatosis.
Photochemistry of ketones adsorbed on porous silica

Abstract The Phetochemical reactions of several families of ketones adsorbed on various forms of silica have been investigated. The influence of surface coverage, silica average pore diameter, temperature, applied magnetic fields, and additives on the product distributions have been determined. The results are consistent with a model in which the silica surface consists of two major regions, one consisting of stronger binding sites (active silanol groups) and the other consisting of weaker binding sites (free silanol groups). The relative proportions of these two types of sites are related to the pore size of the silica, smaller pores correlating with a larger fraction of the stronger binding sites and larger pores correlating with a smaller fraction of the stronger binding sites. At low coverage, the initial location of a ketone in one of the two binding sites is an important factor in determining the product distributions. Some preliminary results are reported on the time resolved spectroscopy of ketones adsorbed on silica investigated by diffuse reflectance absorption spectrescopy.
Diversity, speciation, endemism and extinction in Devonian reef and level-bottom communities, eastern North America

Lower Devonian late Emsian (Bois Blanc and Clear Creek Limestones; Schoharie Formation) level-bottom communities in New York, Michigan and Illinois were moderately cosmopolitan and diverse and dominated by brachiopods and solitary rugose corals. Subsequently (Early Eifelian?), there was an important episode of cratonal patch reef building in New York (Edgecliff Member, Onondaga Limestone), southwestern Ontario (Formosa Reef Limestone, lower Detroit River Group), and the Hudson Bay Lowland (Kwataboahegan Formation) by highly diverse endemic communities. The Edgecliff reefs were built by corals whereas the Formosa and Kwataboahegan reefs were built primarily by stromatoporoids. The strong correlation between high diversity and high endemism during the reef-building episode suggests that these communities contained numberous, small species populations belonging to several major taxa — an example of rapid speciation by geographic isolation and genetic drift.
Rb-Sr ages of the Archean rocks from the Vermilion district, northeastern Minnesota

The Vermilion district in Northeastern Minnesota is a classic example of a lower Precambrian greenstone-granite terrane in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. The present study presents new Rb-Sr isotopic data for the Ely Greenstone, the Newton Lake Formation, granitic pebbles that occur within the Ely Greenstone, a graywacke composite of the Knife Lake Group, and some Algoman granites whose data are complementary to those of Peterman et al. (1972). The isochron ages obtained are statistically indistinguishable and therefore cannot be used to resolve the timing of specific geologic events. Volcanic extrusion, granitic intrusion, and metamorphism are shown to be less contemporaneous events which probably took place within a time span of less than 50 m.y. A major conclusion is that a granitic basement probably did not underlie the Ely Greenstone.
Complete Polarimetric and Doppler Measurements with a Single Receiver Radar

Abstract The concept of the polarimetric scattering matrix applicable to hydrometeors is reviewed to indicate the total number of measurands that is possible from a radar system with two orthogonal linear polarizations. It is shown how to obtain this complete set of polarimetric measurands together with Doppler spectral moments through a single receiver by proper choice of polarization in a transmit-receive sequence pair.
A review of homing and straying of wild and hatchery-produced salmon

Abstract This paper reviews studies on the patterns of straying of adult salmonids from their river or hatchery of origin, with emphasis on Pacific salmon. The prevalence of straying varies greatly among populations. In general, introduced (i.e. non-native) populations and salmon displaced from their rearing site for release stray more than native salmon and those reared and released on-site. Evidence that standard hatchery practices increase the tendency of salmon to stray is equivocal but releases of salmon at a different season from the normal migration period can increase straying. Estimates of straying vary greatly between hatcheries and rivers, so general statements on straying proportions have minimal biological significance. Straying between hatcheries and spawning grounds gives cause for concern because there is evidence that the offspring of hatchery-produced salmon may be less viable than those from local wild fish. The impact of straying on local gene pools depends not only on the prevalence of straying but on the degree of assortative mating and survival differential between populations. At present, fundamental gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental factors that influence straying hinder accurate prediction of the levels and consequences of straying.
Biological responses to polyethylene oxide modified polyethylene terephthalate surfaces

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) of molecular weights 5,000, 10,000, 18,500, and 100,000 g/mol was covalently grafted to surfaces of otherwise cell adhesive polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. Analysis of these surfaces by measurement of contact angles and ESCA verified the presence of the grafted PEO. Protein adsorption assays of radiolabeled albumin and fibrinogen showed a marked reduction in adsorbed protein for the 18,500 and 100,000 molecular weight PEO coupled surfaces. Cell growth assays using human foreskin fibroblasts in culture showed that the higher-molecular-weight PEO surfaces supported cell growth to a much lower extent than the two lower-molecular-weight PEOs. Flow of whole blood over these surfaces and visualization of platelet adherence using epifluorescence video-microscopy showed very low platelet adherence only on the two higher-molecular-weight PEO coupled surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy corroborated these results. It was concluded that PEO of molecular weights neighboring 18,500 and higher was effective in reducing protein adsorption and cellular interactions on these surfaces. [on SciFinder (R)]
Adaptive processing of microwave sea echo for the suppression of strong reflections from scatterers

Adaptive processing of microwave sea echo is proposed for the suppression of strong reflections from scatterers on the ocean surface. An adaptive method using echoes of pulses at different carrier frequencies is also shown to be effective for this purpose. It is noted that nonadaptive processing of the same data does not suppress these reflections. Results obtained by processing coherent microwave backscatter from the ocean surface are presented. >
Diencephalic distributions of ascending reticular systems

Abstract The ascending projections of the brain stem reticular formation were mapped using electrophysiological methods. Low voltage single pulse electrical stimulation of the ponto-mesencephalic reticular core produced short latency unit discharges and evoked responses in two discrete diencephalic regions: the intralaminar-ventral anterior nucleus system and the subthalamus. In the telencephalon, short latency responses were found in the internal capsule and in the head of the caudate nucleus. These results are compared with earlier physiological and anatomical studies on the distribution of ascending reticular projections and the relationship of the findings to the problem of reticular projections to cortical association areas is discussed.
Pipeline defects in CMOS MOSFET devices caused by SWAMI isolation

A pipeline defect which became a leakage path between source and drain in an n-channel MOSFET was identified. It was found that a 20-second Wright-etch will clearly delineate the pipe. The cause of the pipeline was the improper SWAMI (side wall masked isolation) etch which generated stress at the island corners. This stress generated high density dislocation lines which made vacancies readily available for enhanced phosphorus diffusion. >
ORGs for Scalable, Robust, Privacy-Friendly Client Cloud Computing

The advent of multicore architecture stands to transform cloud computing in terms of scalability, robustness, and privacy. Social systems offer promising metaphors to address these issues. This column presents an approach based on organizations of restricted generality (ORGs), which are analogous to human organizations.
A model of growth with first-order birth and death rates

This paper describes the derivation, behavior, and application of a model of growth based on elementary kinetic considerations. The model is based on an abbreviated version of the cell cycle in which first-order kinetics govern both production in a growing fraction and loss from the resting fraction of a cell population. Transition between the resting and growing fraction is assumed. The model is derived in the form of a first-order ordinary differential equation with a simple general form, but no closed form solution. Model behavior is examined analytically at equilibrium, in a limiting case, and qualitatively by numerical integration. Because of the simplicity of the underlying assumptions, the model parameters have direct biological interpretations and simple units. Examples of model fitting to data are given, including a direct comparison to the Gompertz growth law.
The label escape error: Determination of the active bone-forming surface in histologic sections of bone measured by tetracycline double labels

Twenty healthy female beagles, all postbreeding age, were given two bone-labeling agents. Transilial bone biopsies were obtained and embedded undecalcified. Double-labeled, single-labeled, and unlabeled surfaces were determined along with the interlabel width on unstained sections under fluorescent light. Mean osteon thickness was determined on toluidine bluestained sections. A mathematical model for predicting the amount of singly labeled surface was tested and compared to the amount of surface actually found occupied by single labels of either color. We found that the model accurately predicted the amount of singly labeled surface and that the amount of singly labeled surface labeled by one agent was equal to that labeled by the other (r = 0.977, P < .001). We conclude that singly labeled surfaces in these animals were so labeled because bone formation either began or ended in the interval between administration of the two labels and that the proposed model accurately predicts this quantity of singly labeled surface without the need to measure any singly labeled surface. This label escape phenomenon must be taken into account when measuring bone formation rates by tetracycline labeling, and the model should be used whenever it is suspected that single labels appear that are not due to label escape.
Social science research in malaria prevention, management and control in the last two decades: an overview.

Abstract In the recent past, considerable progress has been made in understanding how human behavior and social organization, macro- and micro-level economic processes, and health and political systems affect responses to malaria at global, national, community, household, and individual levels. Advances in malaria-related social, behavioral, economic, evaluation, health systems, and policy (social science) research have resulted in improvements in the design and implementation of malaria prevention, management and control (PMC) strategies. Indeed, the past two decades chronicle dramatic advances in the implementation of evidence-based interventions, drawn not only from biomedical but also from social science research. Malaria awareness-raising, advocacy, case management, and prevention efforts have reaped the benefits of social science research and as a result, many programs are implemented and evaluated in a more effective manner than in the past. However, the pace at which findings from social science research are integrated into program and policy implementation is unsatisfactory. Additionally, examples remain of programs that fail to utilize findings from social science research and as a result, achieve minimal results. Furthermore, there is a sizeable body of knowledge that is underutilized and which, if assimilated into programs and policies, could accelerate progress in malaria PMC. Examples include information on meaningful community participation, gender, socio-economic status, and health systems. Regrettably, although social science input is necessary for almost all interventions for malaria management and control, the numbers of scientists working in this area are dismal in most of the key disciplines—medical anthropology; demography; geography and sociology; health economics and health policy; social psychology; social epidemiology; and behavior-change communication. Further, skills of program workers charged with implementation of interventions and strategies at country level are most often inadequate. The Special Program for Research and training in tropical diseases (TDR) and the multi-lateral initiative on malaria (MIM) have remained in the forefront of capacity building for this area of research, but additional efforts are needed to bring more applied social scientists into the fold. Their skills are necessary to ensure that social science findings get to program planners and implementers in a useful form that allows for more rapid and appropriate integration of the results into malaria PMC programs and policies. A re-thinking of the current focus within capacity building efforts is proposed.
A bayesian analysis of the intraclass correlations in the mixed linear model

This article is concerned with the study of intraclass correlations in the mixed linear model. A brief account of the shortcomings of the existing meth¬ods (frequentist. likelihood and Bayesian) is followed by alternative Bayesian parametrizations involving intraclass correlations and variance ratios. Our prior specifications accommodate a priori dependencies as well as situations which involve little or no prior information. We give examples of interval estimation and hypothesis testing using data from an animal breeding study.
Cryostat insert for direct absorbance measurements in the far-infrared∗

Abstract A simple and reliable system for making direct absorbance measurements on small single crystals in the far-infrared is described. This method uses the sample itself as absorber and thermometer; and produces spectra similar to absorption coefficient results via transmission studies. Samples as small as 3 mm × 50 μm have been used successfully.
A pharmacodynamic interaction between caffeine and phenylpropanolamine.

The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction between caffeine and phenylpropanolamine has been investigated in six normal subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, Latin-square design study. After 3 days on a 100 mEq sodium, xanthine-free diet, fasting subjects were placed in a supine position and were given 25 mg phenylpropanolamine and placebo, 250 mg caffeine and placebo, or 25 mg phenylpropanolamine and 250 mg caffeine in random order. Blood pressure, pulse, plasma renin activity, and plasma catecholamine levels were measured before and for 3 hours after drug administration. Plasma and urinary phenylpropanolamine, caffeine, and caffeine metabolite levels were measured serially for 48 hours. Coadministration of caffeine and phenylpropanolamine produced an additive increase in blood pressure. This effect could not be explained by any pharmacokinetic interaction between the two drugs and occurred even though phenylpropanolamine attenuated the epinephrine and renin response to caffeine. These data suggest that a clinically relevant interaction between caffeine and phenylpropanolamine does occur in drug-free subjects and that this interaction cannot be explained by a mechanism involving the sympathetic or renin-angiotensin systems. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1991) 50, 363–371; doi:10.1038/clpt.1991.152
Atherosclerosis, Vascular Remodeling, and Impairment of Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Genetically Altered Hyperlipidemic Mice

Abstract We examined the vascular structure and endothelium-dependent relaxation in two genetic models of hypercholesterolemia: apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout mice and combined apoE/LDL receptor–...
In Vitro Susceptibility of Ureaplasma urealyticum to Rosaramicin

Thirty-two clinical isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum were inhibited by 0.036 mug of rosaramicin per ml, whereas 25 (78%) and 13 (41%) of the strains were inhibited by this concentration of minocycline and tetracycline, respectively. These results suggest that rosaramicin may be useful for the treatment of U. urealyticum infections.
Motivational Relevance as a Potential Modulator of Memory for Affective Stimuli: Can We Compare Snakes and Cakes?

Consideration of affective dimensions beyond arousal may be useful for a more precise understanding of the effects of emotional events on episodic memory. As highlighted by Kensinger (2009), the valence of an event may differentially impact the accuracy of its recall. Paralleling work on attention, we propose that the relevance of an event or stimulus for survival may also importantly modulate memory accuracy. However, few memory studies to date have accounted for motivational relevance, and the stimuli employed in most studies are not matched on this dimension.
Wheat leaf epicuticular characteristics as rust inhibitors

Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) trichomes influence wheat leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm.) germling elongation as a function of the external element (i.e. ‐ Ca, Si, P, CI) concentration. Basal cells of multicellular trichomes have a high Ca content; and, Ca2+ has been shown to inhibit elongation of primary roots. Evaluation of epicuticular wax composition in the intracellular areas of epidermal cells might explain the disorganized growth in those locations.
More Like Us: How Religious Service Attendance Hinders Interracial Romance

Religious service attendance is a consistently strong predictor of aversion to interracial romance, but intervening social mechanisms at work in this relationship have yet to be explicated. This article examines whether the persistent negative association between religious service attendance and interracial romance is mediated by a preference for religio-cultural endogamy—a form of cultural purity. Multivariate analyses of national-level survey data reveal that persons who believe it is more important that their romantic partner shares their particular religious understandings are less likely to have interracially dated, and that the initially strong effect of religious service attendance on interracial romance is completely mediated by the inclusion of desire for religio-cultural endogamy in regression models. I argue that, because the majority of American congregations are racially homogenous, more frequent attendance hinders interracial romantic engagement by embedding churchgoers within primarily samerace religio-cultural communities, and because congregational embeddedness influences members to seek romantic partners similar to the group, more embedded members are less likely to view differentrace persons as sharing their religio-cultural understandings, and thus, as romantic options.
Effect of Host Condition and Soil Texture on Host Finding by the Entomogenous Nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae)

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of soil texture and condition of Galleria mellonella larvae (infected with Beauveria bassiana , uninfected and alive, or uninfected and killed by freezing) on host-finding by the entomogenous nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae, H. bacteriophora was more motile than S. carpocapsae in organic and fine sandy loam soils, but less motile in clay soil. In soil-filled tubes, H. bacteriophora and S. carpocapsae usually occurred more frequently near healthy hosts when healthy hosts were present in choice tests. When a Beauveria -infected host was included in a choice test, nematodes tended to occur more frequently at the host not infected with B. bassiana . This behavior may minimize antagonistic interactions between entomogenous nematodes and B. bassiana in soil.
Use of Georgia Loaded Wheel Tester to Evaluate Rutting of Asphalt Samples Prepared by Superpave Gyratory Compactor

The Georgia loaded wheel tester (LWT) developed by the Georgia Department of Transportation has been used since 1985 in the laboratory during the design stage to evaluate rutting susceptibility of asphalt concrete mixtures. In the LWT testing, asphaltic concrete is subjected to an elevated temperature in a loaded wheel system under repetitive loading conditions, and the permanent deformation induced under the wheelpath is measured. This approach to assess rutting susceptibility was thought to be much more representative than the current test methods and can provide a fast and more accurate means of assessing rutting susceptibility of asphalt concrete under actual field conditions. The asphaltic beam samples used for the LWT testing are prepared by a rolling compaction machine. The new LWT developed in 1992 is described. To promote the concept of using Georgia LWT as a supplement to the Superpave Level 1 design procedure for evaluating permanent deformation of hot-mix asphalt (HMA), a test method utilizing...
Method for rapid removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate from polyacrylamide gels

Abstract Sodium dodecyl sulfate can be rapidly and simply removed from polyacrylamide gels by transverse electrophoresis for 40 min in isopropanol/acetic acid/water in the presence of mixed bed ion-exchange resin. This allows subsequent staining of protein bands and their visualization in as little as 10 min.
CHOP plus Rituximab Therapy in Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia

Recently, a consensus panel of experts recommended that patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) who are candidates for future autologous transplantation should have limited alkylator or nucleoside analogue exposure due to potential stem cell harm. Cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone/rituximab (CHOP-R) is a stem cellsparing regimen that has been extensively evaluated in patients without WM or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. As such, we analyzed the outcome of 13 patients with WM who received CHOP-R at our institution. Patients had a median age of 54 years and a median of 1 previous therapy. Ten of 13 patients (77%) had relapsed (n = 3) or refractory (n = 7) disease. Eight and 6 patients had previously received fludarabine and rituximab, respectively. Intended therapy consisted of 6 cycles of standard-dose CHOP and 6 infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m2). Three patients received additional rituximab as maintenance therapy. Median immunoglobulin M and serum viscosity for all patients decreased from 5230 mg/dL to 1690 mg/dL (P 37 months), 10 of the 11 patients who had a major response remained in remission. Therapy was well tolerated for most patients. Two patients had febrile neutropenia with documented bacteremia and recovered without complications. Circulating effector cell levels were also evaluated in 6 patients before and after CHOP-R, because rituximab activity is mediated in part by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity. No significant change in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD16+/CD56+ effector cell levels occurred following CHOP-R as assessed by multicolor flow cytometry.
Metal Hardmask Etch Residue Removal For Advanced Copper / Low-k Devices

Plasma dry etching processes are commonly used to fabricate vertical sidewall trenches and vias for copper (Cu)/low-k dual damascene devices. Small amounts of polymer are intentionally left on the sidewalls of trenches and vias during the dry etching process in order to achieve a vertical profile and to protect the low-k materials under the etching mask. Other particulate etch residues (such as mixtures of copper oxide (CuxOy) with polymers) can be seen in the bottom of the vias. As technology nodes advance to 45 nm and beyond, IC companies are investigating the use of a metal hardmask such as TiN in order to gain better etching selectivity to the low-k materials during the dry etching process. In order to obtain reliable, low-resistance interconnects that can be used to manufacture advanced IC devices, the polymers on the sidewalls and the particulate residues at the via bottoms must be removed prior to the next process step. In this paper we report a recently developed wet cleaning approach to remove the metal hardmask etch residues while maintaining high selectivity to the copper and low-k film(s). This was demonstrated at the 45 nm technology node for porous low-k, as well as 65 nm for non-porous low-k materials through controlled modification of the formulations. The cleaning mechanism of the etch residues is discussed.
Taxonomy and biology of Simulium clarkei Stone & Snoddy(Diptera: Simuliidae), a poorly known black fly of the southeastern United States

Simulium clarkei Stone & Snoddy was the least known species of black fly in the eastern United States prior to our recent collections from southern Virginia (type locality) to southern Georgia, which yielded good series of all life stages after the egg. On the basis of these collections, we describe the female and the banding patterns of the polytene chromosomes, redescribe the larva, pupa, and male, and provide biological and distributional information. Simulium clarkei most closely resembles S. emarginatum Davies, Peterson, & Wood, but can be distinguished by the banding sequence of its larval polytene chromosomes and the shape of the male ventral plate.
Minimization through convexitization in training neural networks

Provides a mathematical explanation of the ability of the adaptive risk-averting training method to avoid poor local minima. The method actually transforms the standard least-squares error criterion into a "quasi-convex" criterion to make it unnecessary to search throughout the entire weight space to avoid poor local minima. Two theorems are proven in the paper, one examining the convexity region of the risk-averting error criterion to which the standard criterion is transformed to and the other giving a minimax interpretation of the risk-averting error criterion.
Agreement, Anti-Agreement, and Order

Chapter Three argued that agreement and anti-agreement are functors with distinct consequences — agreement requires that the members of its argument share properties and yields a result with a single value for these properties; anti-agreement requires that the members of its argument have different properties and yields a result with an added value, drawn collectively from the members of the argument. The effect of agreement was demonstrated on the Constituent and the effect of anti-agreement on the Argument Structure. Chapter Four applied both to the analysis of the Luiseno Proposition. Given a display of the person and number values in the Propositional Radical (what I have called the agreement grid), agreement yields a temporal value for the Proposition; anti-agreement yields a person/number value, the Subject. Chapter Five showed how the result of agreement and anti-agreement for the Proposition solve the aux compatibility problem introduced in Chapter One. The Luiseno aux is sensitive to just those properties represented in the Proposition’s formal value — its temporal value, its Subject person/number value, and the presence and properties of the non-Subject chain.
What Happened To The Quants In August 2007

During the week of August 6, 2007, a number of high-prole and highly successful quantitative long/short equity hedge funds experienced unprecedented losses. Based on empirical results from TASS hedge-fund data as well as the simulated performance of a specic long/short equity strategy, we hypothesize that the losses were initiated by the rapid unwinding of one or more sizable quantitative equity market-neutral portfolios. Given the speed and price impact with which this occurred, it was likely the result of a sudden liquidation by a multi-strategy fund or proprietary-trading desk, possibly due to margin calls or a risk reduction. These initial losses then put pressure on a broader set of long/short and long-only equity portfolios, causing further losses on August 9th by triggering stop-loss and de-leveraging policies. A signican t rebound of these strategies occurred on August 10th, which is also consistent with the sudden liquidation hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that the quantitative nature of the losing strategies was incidental, and the main driver of the losses in August 2007 was the resale liquidation of similar portfolios that happened to be quantitatively constructed. The fact that the source of dislocation in long/short equity portfolios seems to lie elsewhere|apparently in a completely unrelated set of markets and instruments|suggests that systemic risk in the hedge-fund industry may have increased in recent years.