cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of multipolar electrocoagulation on EUS findings in Barrett's esophagus

Abstract Background: Restoration of squamous epithelium in patients with Barrett's epithelium may be achieved by treatment with a proton pump inhibitor plus selective electrocoagulation of the metaplastic epithelium. The effect of such treatment on esophageal wall thickness and morphology, as determined by EUS, is unknown. Methods: Patients with Barrett's esophagus were treated with omeprazole (40 mg by mouth, twice daily) and underwent selective multipolar electrocoagulation of the metaplastic segment monthly until complete squamous re-epithelialization or a maximum of 6 treatments was achieved. EUS was performed before and 6 months after the end of treatment. Four-quadrant large-forceps biopsy specimens were taken every 2 cm at the 6-month follow-up. Results: Twenty-five patients with Barrett's epithelium (mean length 3.1 cm, range 2-6 cm) were included. Complete endoscopic reversal was achieved in 24 patients. Residual intestinal metaplasia beneath squamous epithelium was observed in 1 patient. In 4 patients there was intestinalized mucosa at the neosquamocolunmar junction. The thickness of the treated distal esophageal wall decreased from 4.0 ± 0.1 mm to 3.7 ± 0.1 mm (mean ± SEM; p t test). Untreated (control) esophageal wall thickness at the level of the aortic arch (2.1 ± 0.1 mm vs. 2.2 ± 0.1 mm) and the mid-body gastric wall thickness (2.9 ± 0.1 mm vs. 3.1 ± 0.1 mm) did not change. Among the 6 patients with residual intestinal metaplasia there was no change in mean wall thickness (3.7 ± 0.2 mm vs. 3.8 ± 0.2 mm); among the 19 without metaplasia, thickness decreased from 4.1 ± 0.2 mm to 3.6 ± 0.2 mm; p Conclusions: Multipolar electrocoagulation of Barrett's esophagus results in a slight decrease in thickness of the treated esophageal wall. A decrease in wall thickness by EUS was associated with the absence of intestinal metaplasia in follow-up biopsy specimens. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:23-6.)
Recent progress in the scheduling algorithms in optical-burst-switched networks [Invited]

Feature Issue on Next-Generation WDM Network Design and Routing (WDMN). Optical burst switching (OBS) is a promising paradigm for the future Internet infrastructure. Owing to the lack of an optical buffer, burst loss in OBS networks is a major concern. The problem of how to schedule as many bursts as possible to minimize the burst loss has been under intense research in the past several years. We classify the approaches to burst scheduling and review the recent research.
Acute Abdominal Pain

Acute abdominal pain is a complaint seen commonly in the outpatient setting that has a broad and often confusing differential diagnosis. Although many presentations can be managed on an outpatient basis, several gastrointestinal causes of abdominal pain demand thoughtful consideration with subsequent referral to a higher level of care for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. To achieve this goal, outpatient physicians must have an understanding of the mechanisms of abdominal pain, as well as the common gastrointestinal causes that carry potentially higher morbidity and mortality.
Content of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Factor and Luteinizing Hormone During the Estrous Cycle and After Changes in Gonadal Steroid Titers

LH-releasing activity of acidic extracts of the stalk-median eminence region was estimated by the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion induced by intravenous injection of the extracts into immature test rats pretreated with gonadotrophins. In cycling females, LH-releasing activity was highest in the evening of late diestrus, and it declined at proestrus. Castration of either males or females produced no significant changes in the hypothalamic content of LH-RF. Treatment for 14 days with varying doses of estradiol benzoate in females and testosterone propionate in males was also ineffective in altering the content of the releasing factor, except for a large dose (1000 μg) of testosterone propionate which caused a slight decline in activity in males. Both estradiol and testosterone lowered hypophysial LH content. Implants of testosterone and estradiol into the median eminence region, which were effective in altering gonadotrophin secretion, also lowered the content of stored LH-RF. Implants of testosterone in th...
Global existence for a particular convection diffusion system

This system can be thought of a parabolic regularization of a nonstrictly hyperbolic conservation law or it can be considered as a Burgers type system related to the two component turbulence model which was introduced in [l]. In [4], Dlotko utilizes Galerkin arguments to guarantee global existence to the two component Burgers system. Other recent work related to Burgers systems appears in [3, 5, 12, 6, 71. One way to approach (1.la-c) would be to apply the methods of Hoff and Smoller [lo] and to utilize an entrophy-enstrophy flux pair to obtain a global solution. However, we choose a different approach; we set (1.la-c) within the framework of analytic semigroups and the associated theory of abstract semilinear evolution equations. This approach has been previously applied to the two-component turbulence system of Burgers, [6, 71.
Infrared astronomy archived data: overview and prospects

Taken collectively, the data sets from the various past infrared missions form a remarkable base of knowledge about the sky. These data support archival research, motivate and inform planning for new missions. In today's information technology environment, the scientific potential of such a collection is enhanced by the integrated access and analysis tools coming online in efforts generally described as "Virtual Observatory" projects. The Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) is a major hub of the archived infrared sky, having been designated by NASA as the infrared Science Archive Center. This talk surveys the infrared data sets available today on-line, the prospects for future additions, and the astrophysics enabled both within the infrared domain and by connection to other wavelength domains.
Effective Closure of the Mitral Valve without Atrial Systole

There has been considerable dispute concerning the role of atrial contraction in the closure of the atrioventricular valves. Selective angiocardiograms with left ventricular [see figure in the PDF file] opacification in 43 patients having a variety of arrhythmias that resulted in the absence of atrial systole, or in an abnormal temporal relationship between atrial and ventricular contractions, revealed no evidence of mitral regurgitation. From this observation it is concluded that a properly timed atrial contraction is not always essential for effective closure of the mitral valve in man.
Claw Impressions in the Walls of Modern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) Tunnels as a Means to Identify Fossil Burrows and Interpret Digging Movements

Casts of the foraging tunnels of eastern American moles ( Scalopus aquaticus ) show impressions from the moles' mani along the lateral walls. The number of discernable impressions ranges from one to five, each showing two or three long, flat, blunt-ended claws. The size and shape of the impressions matches the claws on the paddle-like manus of S. aquaticus . The impressions are spaced at regular intervals of about two cm, and probably represent points at which the mole pushed off from the tunnel wall with alternating laterad digging strokes. Tunnel width generally exceeds height by about 15%, reflecting the laterally compressed body of the mole. These tunnel casts help show that clear, recognizable traces can be preserved in loose, humic soils, and demonstrate the type of traces left by a “lateral-thrust” digger with fully sprawled stance, such as S. aquaticus . Identification of traces on the tunnels of living moles may be applied to the fossil record, in which fossilized burrows with similar marks could...
Problem signatures from enhanced vector autoregressive modeling

The work reported in this paper concerns the enhancement of mutivariate autoregressive (AR) models with geometric shape analysis data and stochastic causal relations. The study aims at producing numerical signatures characterizing operating problems, from multivariate time series of data collected in an application and operating environment domain. Since the information content of an AR model does not appear sufficient to characterize observed vector values fully, both geometric and stochastic modeling techniques are applied to refine causal inferences further. The specific application domain used for this study is real-time network traffic monitoring. However, other domains utilizing vector models might benefit as well. A partial Java implementation is being used for experimentation.
Wet and arid phases in the southeast African tropics since the Last Glacial Maximum

Plant leaf wax carbon isotopes provide a record of C 3 versus C 4 vegetation, a sensitive indicator of aridity, from the southeast African tropics since the Last Glacial Maximum. Wet and arid phases in southeast Africa were in phase with conditions in the global tropics from 23 to 11 ka, but at the start of the Holocene these relationships ended and an antiphase relationship prevailed. The abrupt switch from in phase to out of phase conditions may partially be attributed to a southward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during the last glacial. Southward displacements of the ITCZ are also linked to arid conditions in southeast Africa during the Younger Dryas and the Little Ice Age.
Auditory nerve fiber responses following chronic cochlear de-efferentation.

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of the olivocochlear system in auditory processing by examining the long-term effects of cochlear de-efferentation on auditory nerve response properties in adult chinchillas. Spontaneous rates, response thresholds, tuning curves, discharge rate-level functions, and adaptation of single auditory nerve fibers were measured in chinchillas with complete cochlear de-efferentation produced by sectioning the olivocochlear bundle in the internal auditory meatus. De-efferentation was verified as successful on the basis of acetylcholinesterase staining of surface preparations of the organ of Corti. Following chronic de-efferentation, there was a striking decrease in spontaneous rate, consistent with earlier observations in cats. In addition, the present study shows that complete de-efferentation results in: (1) increased driven discharge rates and decreased dynamic range of discharge rate-level functions, (2) larger onset-to-steady state ratio of discharge rate at moderate intensities, and (3) a hypersensitive tail of the tuning curve. These effects, largely confined to neurons that were most sensitive to frequencies between 2‐8 kHz, indicate that the cochlear efferent system is important in maintaining normal function (e.g., frequency and intensity selectivity) of the auditory periphery by modulating auditory nerve fiber response properties. J. Comp. Neurol. 406:72‐86, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Indexing terms: inner ear; hearing; central control; efferent innervation
Conditions for Successful Use of Technology in Social Studies Classrooms

The purpose of the authors in this review is to examine how teacher-related, context-related, and project-related conditions interact in successful cases of technology integration projects in social studies classrooms. A close examination of different dimensions of these conditions in the implementation of 33 successful cases of technology-assisted projects showed the importance of strong pedagogy-technology alignment. This is in line with the emphasis given to the centrality of technological pedagogical content knowledge by the practitioner in the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework. Other conditions found to be important for the success of the projects were focus and clarity of targeted learning outcomes and the supportive role of teacher educators when collaborating with teachers in designing and implementing the projects. The implication of these findings for school research and practice and teacher education is discussed.
Animal models for the study of influenza pathogenesis and therapy.

Influenza A viruses causes a variety of illnesses in humans. The most common infection, seasonal influenza, is usually a mild, self-limited febrile syndrome, but it can be more severe in infants, the elderly, and immunodeficient persons, in whom it can progress to severe viral pneumonitis or be complicated by bacterial superinfection, leading to pneumonia and sepsis. Seasonal influenza also occasionally results in neurologic complications. Rarely, viruses that have spread from wild birds to domestic poultry can infect humans; such “avian influenza” can range in severity from mild conjunctivitis through the rapidly lethal disease seen in persons infected with the H5N1 virus that first emerged in Hong Kong in 1997. To develop effective therapies for this wide range of diseases, it is essential to have laboratory animal models that replicate the major features of illness in humans. This review describes models currently in use for elucidating influenza pathogenesis and evaluating new therapeutic agents.
Antagonistic self-sensing and mate-sensing signaling controls antibiotic-resistance transfer

Conjugation is one of the most common ways bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance, contributing to the emergence of multidrug-resistant “superbugs.” Bacteria of the genus Enterococcus faecalis are highly antibiotic-resistant nosocomial pathogens that use the mechanism of conjugation to spread antibiotic resistance between resistance-bearing donor cells and resistance-deficient recipient cells. Here, we report a unique quorum sensing-based communication system that uses two antagonistic signaling molecules to regulate conjugative transfer of tetracycline-resistance plasmid pCF10 in E. faecalis. A “mate-sensing” peptide sex pheromone produced by recipient cells is detected by donor cells to induce conjugative genetic transfer. Using mathematical modeling and experimentation, we show that a second antagonistic “self-sensing” signaling peptide, previously known to suppress self-induction of donor cells, also serves as a classic quorum-sensing signal for donors that functions to reduce antibiotic-resistance transfer at high donor density. This unique form of quorum sensing may provide a means of limiting the spread of the plasmid and present opportunities to control antibiotic-resistance transfer through manipulation of intercellular signaling, with implications in the clinical setting.
Geographic pathology of uterine cancers in oregon: Risks of double primaries and effects of socioeconomic status

An intensive statewide study of uterine cancer incidence for the period 1968-1972 revealed that women with one histologic type of uterine cancer were much more susceptible to the simultaneous presence of a second histologic type than were the rest of the residents of the state. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common uterine cancer; peak number and rate were found in the age group 25-29 years, indicating the need for periodic screening of young adult women and the need for discussion of neoplasia risk in adolescent sex education classes. Risks of squamous cell carcinoma and leiomyosarcoma were excessive among blacks. Socioeconomic status had a strong and consistent inverse relationship with uterine squamous cell carcinoma incidence, implying that its major risk determinant, sexual behavior, could have a similar socioeconomic pattern. Uterine adenocarcinoma incidence had a weaker but consistent direct relationship with socioeconomic status for which the cause is unknown.
The role of domain ontologies in database design: An ontology management and conceptual modeling environment

Database design is difficult because it involves a database designer understanding an application and translating the design requirements into a conceptual model. However, the designer may have little or no knowledge about the application or task for which the database is being designed. This research presents a methodology for supporting database design creation and evaluation that makes use of domain-specific knowledge about an application stored in the form of domain ontologies. The methodology is implemented in a prototype system, the Ontology Management and Database Design Environment. Initial testing of the prototype illustrates that the incorporation and use of ontologies is effective in creating entity-relationship models.
Crystal engineering of conjugated oligomers and the spectral signature of π stacking in conjugated oligomers and polymers

H-bonding was used to alter the molecular packing of a bithiazole oligomer. Comparison of the solid-state UV−vis absorption spectra of the H-bonded oligomer with a related non-H-bonded oligomer allowed for the assignment of the optical signature of π stacking in crystals or ordered aggregates of conjugated oligomers or polymers. The π-stacking interactions give rise to the fine structure frequently observed in the absorption spectra of regioregular, conjugated polymers, including P3AT's, PABTz's, etc.
Reprint of "The Operative Treatment of Communicating Hydrocephalus" by Walter E Dandy, MD. 1938.

After a brief review of Walter Dandy’s early private and professional life one of his important papers on the treatment of hydrocephalus, first published over 60 years ago, is reprinted.
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM

The number of mid-air collisions which would occur if all pilots were flying uncontrolled and blindfolded is computed from data on the sizes, speeds and density of aircraft, and compared to the number which actually occurred over the United States during the 9-year period 1964-1972. The ratio comes out at least 32 to 1 for low-altitude en route traffic, and at least 84 to 1 in low-altitude terminal airspace (5-30 miles from the centre of an airport). Within 5 miles the density is so high that this ratio would have been far higher, and meaningless; the number of collisions at high altitudes is very small, and again less than would be predicted by the model. The model is such that it might drastically underestimate the number of collisions (and therefore the above ratios), but could not overestimate it by more than a factor of two or three. It is concluded that under conditions of moderate to high densities of air traffic, the air traffic control system and its inherent doctrine of see-and-avoid are useful in avoiding collisions.
Research synthesis reviews: an illustrated critique of “hidden” judgments, choices, and compromises

This paper takes a pragmatic view of the steps involved in conducting a quantitu- tiue litirature review. It em$asizes the multitude of judgments, choices, and compromise com- monly encountzred. Examination of a metu-analysis study of implosion therapy outcome research is provided as a structured means of illustrating and constructively considering questions, dcisions, and issues l&y to arise at each stage of the review process. T~I? discussion should pore useful to prospective m&-analysis researchers and consumers. An extensive set of references that characterize contemporary meta-analysis research is also in&&d.
Drugging Topoisomerases: Lessons and Challenges

Topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes that control DNA supercoiling and entanglements. They are essential during transcription and replication, and topoisomerase inhibitors are among the most effective and most commonly used anticancer and antibacterial drugs. This review consists of two parts. In the first part (“Lessons”), it gives background information on the catalytic mechanisms of the different enzyme families (6 different genes in humans and 4 in most bacteria), describes the “interfacial inhibition” by which topoisomerase-targeted drugs act as topoisomerase poisons, and describes clinically relevant topoisomerase inhibitors. It generalizes the interfacial inhibition principle, which was discovered from the mechanism of action of topoisomerase inhibitors, and discusses how topoisomerase inhibitors kill cells by trapping topoisomerases on DNA rather than by classical enzymatic inhibition. Trapping protein–DNA complexes extends to a novel mechanism of action of PARP inhibitors and could be applied to...
Molecular beam epitaxy of nitride thin films

Abstract Fabrication of optoelectronic devices from III-V nitrides and operating in the blue and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum has been a goal of many groups practically since the first infrared and red devices were produced. While much of the original research on these materials centered around films with the wurtzite structure, the zinc blende structure nitrides have been receiving increasing interest. Recent results from several groups around the world have successfully addressed some of the traditional problems associated with growth of all these materials. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been the most common technique for nitride growth and continues to be very successful. However, many researchers, including those growing III-V nitrides, have turned to molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for its important advantages in purity and in situ analytical capabilities. This paper will review the recent developments in MBE growth of aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, and their heterostructures.
Plasma deposition for biomedical applications: a brief review.

Radio frequency plasma-deposited thin films offer an advantageous mechanism to alter the surface properties of biomaterials and medical devices without affecting the mechanical properties or primary fabrication. Such coatings are tightly adherent, conformal, and easily applied. They also exhibit excellent biocompatibility qualities. Examples are presented of four different thin film plasma treatments that show promise for reducing the platelet reactivity of materials, enhancing their ability to grow cells, preventing protein pickup by surfaces, and improving the biocompatibility of opthalmic devices.
Hormonal Evaluation of the Infertile Male: Has It Evolved?

An endocrinologic evaluation of patients who have male-factor infertility has clearly evolved and leads to specific diagnoses and treatment strategies in a large population of infertile men. A well-considered endocrine evaluation is especially essential with the ever-growing popularity of assisted reproductive techniques and continued refinements with intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Aging: Progeria and the Lamin Connection

The relationship between progerias — diseases that resemble premature aging — and the normal aging process has been a source of debate in the aging research community. A recent study finds that LMNA , a gene targeted for mutation in Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome, may control the onset of aging-associated decline in normal fibroblasts.
Miniaturized on-sensor fluorescence flow cytometer

Flow cytometers are powerful instruments used in both basic research and clinical medicine for high-throughput single cell analysis. Decades of engineering have pushed these devices to the limits of their design based on measuring one cell at a time. In order to increase the throughput by the factor of 100 required to measure rare cells such as circulating tumor cells, a new parallel architecture will have to be developed. This paper demonstrates that the technology of lensless fluorescence imaging can be combined with microfluidic technology to perform highly parallel flow cytometry.
Expanding use of emergency endovascular repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: disparities in outcomes from a nationwide perspective.

Background Endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has become widely accepted in the elective setting but remains controversial for emergency repair of ruptured aneurysms (rAAA). We sought to examine the national trends in use and associated outcomes with EVAR. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to analyze all admissions for rAAA from 2001 through 2004. Nationwide temporal trends and demographics using weighted samples were evaluated. Focused univariate and multivariate analyses comparing outcomes from open repair and EVAR were done for the years 2003 and 2004. Results There were 28,123 admissions for rAAA, with a stepwise decline in admissions from 2001 to 2004. Use of EVAR increased significantly from 6% of all emergency repairs in 2001 to 11% in 2004 ( P P P P = .59). Mortality for EVAR was significantly higher at nonteaching hospitals compared with teaching centers (55% vs 21%, P Conclusions Endovascular repair is being increasingly used in the emergency management of ruptured AAA, with steadily decreasing mortality during the study period. Endovascular AAA repair is associated with improved mortality and outcomes compared with open repair, but results in nonteaching centers are substantially worse than those in teaching hospitals.
Experiments on inelastic scattering in the integer quantum Hall effect.

Using the temperature (T) dependence of the maximum slope of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{x}\mathit{y}}$ versus B in between two adjacent integer quantum Hall (IQH) plateaus as a thermometer for T1.2 K, we study the effective temperature (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{e}}$) of a two-dimensional electron gas as a function of applied current I in five GaAs/${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As heterostructures with mobility ranging from 52 000 to 780 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V s. We find that there is a characteristic current above which ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{e}}$\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{I}}^{\mathit{a}}$ and a=0.49\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 independent of Landau levels and electron mobilities. In the context of electron heating, our result demonstrates explicitly the existence of a universal T exponent p=2.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.24 for the inelastic scattering length in the IQH regime.
1129 HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B (HIB) INFECTION IN CHILDHOOD: NATURAL HISTORY OF BACTEREMIA AND ANTIGENEMIA

Groups of children, up to 7½ years of age, with meningitis, epiglottitis or septic arthritis due to HIB were tested for the presence and levels of bacteremia, capsular polyribophosphate (PRP) antigenemia and development of HIB specific antibody in serum following onset of acute illness. The quantitative direct plating method and indirect ELISA were used to determine the number of organisms, PRP, and immunoglobulin class of HIB specific antibody. Bacteremia and antigenemia were detected in all patients immediately after onset of illness. Although bacteremia cleared promptly after antibiotic therapy, PRP could be detected in serum up to 96 days after onset of illness. The presence of a low magnitude bacteremia ( 1000 ng/ml of PRP. Despite this correlation, persistence of PRP antigenemia appeared to be independent of a) magnitude of antigenemia observed during the acute phase, b) development of antibody, or c) patient's age at time of illness. However, serum antibody response was observed in convalescent samples only in subjects who exhibited peak PRP concentrations <10 ng/ml (p=0.006). These findings suggest a direct correlation between the magnitudes of bacteremia and antigenemia and that antigen may persist for long periods even in the presence of antibody and the level of antigenemia significantly influences the convalescent antibody response.
Optical diffuse reflection of deep and shallow stratified sea waters

Differential equations for the transmittance and the diffuse reflection coefficients of the stratified sea are obtained. To simplify starting radiative transfer equation, the approach uses experimental dependencies between mean cosines of underwater angular radiance distribution. The resulting equation for the diffuse reflection coefficient is of a Riccati type. For the homogeneous sea with arbitrary combination of inherent optical properties, that equation is solved analytically. For vertically inhomogeneous sea it is solved approximately. The resulting formula expresses diffuse reflection coefficient through the profiles of inherent optical properties of seawater and bottom depth and albedo. The results of calculations with main formula are compared with the Monte Carlo computations. It was found that the precision of this theory is about 15% and it is comparable with the precision of contemporary in situ measurements.
Introductions: Comments by the Chairman on Opening the Second Day Session

Before proceeding into the second half of this seminar, I would like to expand the example I used for the introduction in the context of the discussions that were generated by yesterday's papers. I do not intend that these remarks be considered derogatory to our previous speakers, but are used in an attempt at a startling example to describe the magnitude of the problem that faces us.© (1969) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Stochastic equilibrium: Concepts and computations for Lindley processes

This paper deals with the question of estimating an invariant distribution of Lindley processes using simulation techniques. The results are of interest in problems of resource management with supply-side uncertainty and constant harvesting.
The Ramsey size number of dipaths

Let H be a finite graph. The Ramsey size number of H, r(H,H), is the minimum number of edges required to construct a graph such that when its edges are 2-colored it contains a monochromatic subgraph, H. In this paper we prove that the Ramsey size number of a directed path is quadratic.
Lipidomic Profiling of Bile in Distinguishing Benign From Malignant Biliary Strictures: A Single-Blinded Pilot Study

Lipidomic Profiling of Bile in Distinguishing Benign From Malignant Biliary Strictures: A Single-Blinded Pilot Study
Innovation in the States: A Diffusion Study

This study focuses on a nonmonetary dimension of public policy—innovation by states in the fields of education, welfare, and civil rights. Innovation is considered equivalent to the adoption of a law by a state. From the literature on diffusion (or spread) of innovations, the explanation of user interaction is taken, and a simple model with an interaction term is constructed. The model performs fairly well when evaluated by several common criteria. The results do vary somewhat from one issue area to another; other types of supplementary analysis also indicate variation in diffusion patterns according to the issue involved. Political and economic differences among states are found to account for differences in time of adoption, and “innovativeness” is shown to be an issue- and time-specific factor.
Medical Castration Using Megestrol Acetate and Minidose Estrogen

Sixty-two men who presented with previously untreated metastatic carcinoma of the prostate (Do: 10 patients; D1: 29 patients; D2: 23 patients) received oral megestrol acetate (80 mg twice daily) and minidose estrogen (diethylstilbestrol 0.1 mg or ethinyl estradiol 0.05 mg once daily) as a means of achieving total androgen ablation (testicular and adrenal). A high incidence of feminizing side effects (70–74 %), a higher than expected rate of cardiovascular complications (18 %), an unexpected need for cortisone replacement (13 %), and failure of patients with Stage D2 disease to obtain results better than those of standard therapy during the first year of observation suggest this regimen offers no advantage over other more conventional therapy.
Seed-bank and vegetation development in a created tidal freshwater wetland on the Delaware River, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

The initial stages of seed-bank and vegetation development were documented in a newly created tidal freshwater wetland where donor soils were not applied. The 32.3-ha site adjacent to the Delaware River in New Jersey, USA was completed in stages from November 1993 to November 1994. Objectives of the study were to determine characteristics of the seed bank and vegetation and to monitor spatial and temporal changes. The study was carried out from 1995 to 1999 using three sites (North, East, and South Marshes) and three elevation locations (1 m from a tidal channel, midpoint, and 1 m from the upland edge). Development of the seed bank and vegetation demonstrated tremendous colonization potential derived from regional and local sources. Colonization and complete plant cover occurred within one year, and subsequent changes were rapid. Individual species behaved uniquely regarding colonization time, duration, and decline in both the seed bank and vegetation. Large seed banks of some species were present even after decline in the vegetation. Overall, the seed bank was large, small-seeded and persistent, and diverse. A total of 177 species occurred in soil seed bank and 92 in field vegetation samples, with 72 contributing to cover. Seedbank densities (mean±SE/m2) ranged from 450±152 to 394,600±29,950. Species richness (species/ sample) ranged from 3.3±1.2 to 32.3±1.8. Density and species richness were clearly reduced by inundation and were lowest in channel edge samples and in the first year (1995). Cover species richness ranged from 1.6±0.2 to 7.3±0.6 per quadrat. Complexity of the vegetation increased over time, with lowest diversity along the channels. The 1995 site differences, with greatest densities and species richness in the East Marsh, could be related to site history (timing of construction). Species similarity between the seed bank and vegetation ranged from 11 to 53% and showed no site, location, or temporal pattern. However, similarity between sites of the seed bank and vegetation increased from 1995 to 1998. Several New Jersey State rare or threatened species, as well as invasive species, were present. Results indicated that it is ecologically feasible to create a wetland adjacent to a tidal freshwater river without use of donor soil and that transplantation had not been necessary.
On the Detection of Contemporaneous Relationships Among Multiple Time Series

The Box and Tiao (1977) canonical time series approach considers linear combinations of multiple time series and ranks them according to their predictability. When dealing with individually non stationary sequences, it is the least predictable components that are of interest as they suggest cointegrated stationary relationships. In this article, we review the Box and Tiao (1977) approach and point out a feature that escaped notice for more than 30 years. Their measure of the predictability of a linear combination assumes that the history on all individual series is available, and not just the past realizations of that particular linear combination. As a consequence, their canonical analysis leads to only a lower bound for the number of unpredictable components. In this article, we investigate the sampling properties of the canonical analysis approach and study through simulations whether this method can detect the number of cointegrated relationships and can estimate their coefficients. On the basis of our simulation results, we propose to supplement the canonical analysis with a regression approach that constructs the cointegrated relationships from regressions on a smaller subset of the series. Two examples are considered for illustration: the annual Chinese real income by sector, and the Quenouille hog data considered by Box and Tiao in their original article.
RAT PLACENTATION: AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL FOR INVESTIGATING THE HEMOCHORIAL MATERNAL-FETAL INTERFACE

The rat possesses hemochorial placentation with deep intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and trophoblast-directed uterine spiral artery remodeling; features shared with human placentation. Recognition of these similarities spurred the establishment of in vitro and in vivo research methods using the rat as an animal model to address mechanistic questions regarding development of the hemochorial placenta. The purpose of this review is to provide the requisite background to help move the rat to the forefront in placentation research.
Molecular motion and ordering in rubidium cyanide, studied with dielectric and Raman techniques

Rubidium cyanide, so far rarely investigated and apparently for the first time available in high-purity single-crystal form, has been studied with dielectric and optical techniques between 2 and 300 K. Starting from the pseudocubic orientationally disordered phase at room temperature, the crystals show under cooling\char22{}by a sharp drop in light transmission and dielectric constant\char22{}the transition into a multidomain structure of elastic dipole order at 132 K. Dielectric measurements give evidence for electric disorder in this phase, showing paraelectric (${T}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) behavior down to 47 K, with Debye losses yielding an activation energy for reorientation of 0.107 eV and an effective dipole moment of $0.022e$\AA{} per C${\mathrm{N}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ dipole. While some indications for the onset of a gradual electric ordering become apparent below 47 K, the freezing-in dipole reorientation prevents its establishment under further cooling, leading most likely at lowest temperatures to an electrically disordered state in nonequilibrium. Raman spectra, taken in both the regimes of librational-translational and C${\mathrm{N}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-stretching modes, are discussed and compared to the behavior in NaCN and KCN. Characteristic trends in the order-disorder phenomena and physical behavior with cation size become apparent among the alkalicyanide family.
N-electron Slater determinants from nonunitary canonical transformations of fermion operators

Mean-field methods such as Hartree-Fock (HF) and Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) constitute the building blocks upon which more elaborate many-body theories are based. The HF and HFB wave functions are built out of independent quasiparticles resulting from a unitary linear canonical transformation of the elementary fermion operators. Here, we discuss the possibility of allowing the HF transformation to become nonunitary. The properties of such HF vacua are discussed, as well as the evaluation of matrix elements among such states. We use a simple ansatz to demonstrate that a nonunitary transformation brings additional flexibility that can be exploited in variational approximations to many-fermion wave functions. The action of projection operators on nonunitary-based HF states is also discussed and applied, in a variation-after-projection approach, to the one-dimensional Hubbard model with periodic boundary conditions.
Neocortical correlates of vibrotactile detection in humans

This study examined the cortical representation of vibrotactile detection in humans using event-related fMRI paired with psychophysics. Suprathreshold vibrotactile stimulation activated several areas, including primary (SI) and second somatosensory cortices (SII/PV). For threshold-level stimuli, poststimulus activity in contralateral and ipsilateral SII/PV was the best correlate of detection success. In these areas, evoked signals on hit trials were significantly greater than on missed trials in all participants, and the relative activity level across stimulation amplitudes matched perceptual performance. Activity in the anterior insula and superior temporal gyrus also correlated with hits and misses, suggesting that a "ventral stream" of somatosensory representations may play a crucial role in detection. In contrast, poststimulus activity in Area SI was not well correlated with perception and showed an overall negative response profile for threshold-level stimulation. A different correlate of detection success was, however, observed in SI. Activity in this representation immediately before stimulus onset predicted performance, a finding that was unique to SI. These findings emphasize the potential role of SII/PV in detection, the importance of state dynamics in SI for perception, and the possibility that changes in the temporal and spatial pattern of SI activity may be essential to the optimal representation of threshold-level stimuli for detection.
Outcomes from Multisystemic Therapy in a Statewide System of Care

We examined client outcomes from the implementation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) in a statewide child and adolescent mental health system. Specifically, we examined (1) the validity of therapist-rated MST outcome measures by comparing them to ratings of functional impairment and level of service needs by CAMHD care coordinators, who provide case management and care coordination services, (2) potential client and service predictors of therapist-rated outcomes, and (3) improvement in youth functioning around the time of entry to and exit from MST compared with rates of improvement reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by the developers of MST. Results suggested that therapist-rated MST outcomes were valid indicators of treatment success. Similar to other findings in the MST literature, few client or service characteristics predicted these outcomes. Finally, although MST entry–exit effect sizes were lower than the mean derived from RCTs published by the developers, they were within the 95% confidence interval. Together, these findings support the implementation of MST in complex systems of care with continued attention to quality assurance and ongoing use of data for evaluation.
Leadership and Power in the Bos-Wash Megalopolis: Environment, Ecology, and Urban Organization

This article presents a review of the book “Leadership and Power in the Bos-Wash Megalopolis: Environment, Ecology, and Urban Organization,” by Delbert C. Miller.
Intravenous Versus Subcutaneous Dosing of Epoetin: A Review of the Literature

Recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) is approved to be administered by the intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) route. Several studies have been conducted and published that compare the relative pharmacokinetics and efficacy of the IV and SC routes. An analysis of the methodology and results of these studies reveals that the data have been somewhat contradictory and highly variable. However, most investigations have concluded that the SC route is associated with a decreased dose requirement in the correction and/or maintenance phase. To justify a switch from the IV to the SC route, it is important to consider the practical implications, including patient and staff acceptance, as well as the financial aspects. Regardless of the route of administration, dose titration must be individualized based on the patient's response to epoetin therapy, red blood cell turnover rate, and iron status. More studies are needed to develop a standardized cost-effective method for epoetin dosing in patients on dialysis.
External Carotid Endarterectomy for Cerebral and Ocular Ischemia

We are reporting a series of 8 patients in whom external carotid endarterec tomy was performed for ocular or cerebral ischemia or embolism. High quality cerebral angiography and noninvasive cerebro...
The application of electrical conductivity as a tracer for hydrograph separation in urban catchments

Two-component hydrograph separation was performed on 19 low-to-moderate intensity rainfall events in a 4·1-km2 urban watershed to infer the relative and absolute contribution of surface runoff (e.g. new water) to stormflow generation between 2001 and 2003. The electrical conductivity (EC) of water was used as a continuous and inexpensive tracer, with order of magnitude differences in precipitation (12–46 µS/cm) and pre-event streamwater EC values (520–1297 µS/cm). While new water accounted for most of the increased discharge during storms (61–117%), the contribution of new water to total discharge during events was typically lower (18–78%) and negatively correlated with antecedent stream discharge (r2 = 0·55, p < 0·01). The amount of new water was positively correlated with total rainfall (r2 = 0·77), but hydrograph separation results suggest that less than half (9–46%) of the total rainfall on impervious surfaces is rapidly routed to the stream channel as new water. Comparison of hydrograph separation results using non-conservative tracers (EC and Si) and a conservative isotopic tracer (δD) for two events showed similar results and highlighted the potential application of EC as an inexpensive, high frequency tracer for hydrograph separation studies in urban catchments. The use of a simple tracer-based approach may help hydrologists and watershed managers to better understand impervious surface runoff, stormflow generation and non-point-source pollutant loading to urban streams. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Edward Aloysius Pace

Edward Aloysius Pace, pioneer of experimental psychology among American Catholics, was the first American Catholic and the first Catholic priest to study with Wilhelm Wundt. Upon his return from Leipzig, where he received his PhD in 1891, he established a psychological laboratory and department of psychology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. This department became the model for most of the early departments of psychology at Catholic colleges and universities as well as the training center of many teachers who staffed the new departments at these Catholic colleges and universities. From Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, the experimental psychology of Wundt radiated to Catholic circles throughout the United States.
Interfacing MSC/NASTRAN with SDRC I-DEAS to perform component mode synthesis combining test, analytical, and finite element data

Abstract A technique is developed that integrates inputs from msc/nastran, sdrc t-das , and sdrc i-deas to allow users to perform component mode synthesis on test or finite element models in a cost-efficient and timely manner. The technique is relatively easy to implement, and is well suited to the typical modus operandi of an engineering project where data comes from a variety of sources and design changes can occur anywhere within the system. In addition, the technique does not place excessive demands of computer disk or archive storage capacity.
THE ADOLESCENT PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Is It Helpful?

The preparticipation examination (PPE) is a widely practiced method of screening athletes for medical limitations before sports participation. Although the PPE is widely implemented, there is little consistency regarding content or method in providing this important service. This lack of uniformity undermines the overall effectiveness of the PPE. The history, efficiency, and nature of athletic screening in adolescents are discussed in this article, and specific suggestions are offered on how the examination might be improved in the future. As sports participation among teens continues to change--in number of participants and in athlete-demographics--and as the field of sports medicine expands equally rapidly, the adolescent PPE, the commonest interaction between adolescent patients and the medical system, should be updated.
APPLICATION OF POLYANION/Fe3+ MULTILAYERED MEMBRANES IN PREVENTION OF BIOSENSOR MINERALIZATION

ABSTRACT Controlled analyte permeability, calcification resistance and biocompatibility are among the many prerequisites necessary for the fabrication of outer membranes for implantable biosensors. In this study, multilayered films of polyelectrolytes (i.e., NafionTM, a perfluorinated ionomer, and Humic Acids (HAs), naturally occurring biopolymers) were investigated as potential semi-permeable membranes for implantable glucose sensors. These films were fabricated using the layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyanions (either Nafion or HAs) with oppositely charged ferric ions. Spectroscopic and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) studies point towards a stepwise film growth pattern, with growth rates as high as 47 and 24.3 nm per layer for Nafion and HAs, respectively. These assemblies were characterized by growth rates that are strongly dependent on the pH and ionic strength of the polyanion solution. Nafion/Fe3+ assembled films exhibit an order of magnitude lower calcification level as compared to dip-coated...