cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Condensate drainage performance of a plain fin-and-tube heat exchanger constructed from anisotropic micro-grooved fins

Abstract In this research, the feasibility of using non-homogeneous, chemically-modified aluminum surfaces to more effectively manage condensate formation on a round-tube, plain-fin heat exchanger is explored. Surfaces having an anisotropic, patterned wettability may be preferred in HVAC&R applications since droplet motion can be restricted to one direction (i.e. downward with gravity) thereby mitigating condensate carryover into the occupied space. In this work, micro-grooved aluminum surfaces were created and then used to construct two prototype heat exchangers for testing. The results have shown that the micro-grooved structure of the fin surface in combination with an alkyl silane coating can reduce water retention by more than 27 percent. The new fin surface design was also shown to decrease the air-side core pressure drop of the prototype heat exchangers during wet operation by an average of 30–36 percent over the baseline heat exchanger, with the actual percentage strongly dependent on the flow rate.
Postexercise Late-Onset Hypoglycemia in Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients

A new clinical entity that is prevalent in young type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients, postexercise late-onset (PEL) hypoglycemia, is described. A prospective case-finding study suggested that PEL hypoglycemia occurred in 48 of approximately 300 diabetic type I patients who were diagnosed as diabetic before age 20 yr and who were monitored for up to 2 yr. Typically, hypoglycemia was nocturnal and occurred 6-15 h after the completion of unusually strenuous exercise or play. In more than half the cases the hypoglycemia resulted in loss of consciousness or seizures and necessitated treatment with subcutaneous glucagon or intravenous glucose and/or attendance by a health professional. The hypoglycemia was not limited to patients in good or excellent metabolic control and often occurred after a single bout of exercise in patients unaccustomed to exercise or in athletic patients who were making the transition from an untrained to a trained state. Surprisingly, 12 of the patients who experienced nocturnal PEL hypoglycemia were not using significant amounts of insulin that peaked at night. Type I diabetic patients should be made aware of the possibility of PEL hypoglycemia to enable them to make adjustments in their management plans in anticipation of unusually strenuous exercise, so that they may attempt to minimize or avoid late-onset hypoglycemia.
Heterogeneous morphological granulometries

Abstract The most basic class of binary granulometries is composed of unions of openings by structuring elements that are homogeneously scaled by a single parameter. These univariate granulometries have previously been extended to multivariate granulometries in which each structuring element is scaled by an individual parameter. This paper introduces the more general class of filters in which each structuring element is scaled by a function of its sizing parameter, the result being multivariate heterogeneous granulometries. Owing to computational considerations, of particular importance are the univariate heterogeneous granulometries, for which scaling is by functions of a single variable. The basic morphological properties of heterogeneous granulometries are given, analytic and geometric relationships between multivariate and univariate heterogeneous pattern spectra are explored, and application to texture classification is discussed. The homogeneous granulometric mixing theory, both the representation of granulometric moments and the asymptotic theory concerning the distributions of granulometric moments, is extended to heterogeneous scaling.
Endoscopic ultrasound for non-gastroenterologists: what you need to know.

AbstractEndoscopic ultrasound (EUS) combines the use of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes with high-resolution ultrasound technology. It is increasingly used for the evaluation, staging, and diagnosis of many luminal and extraluminal gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, as well as non-GI tract ailments, including the staging of lung cancer. In the past decade, EUS has become available on a wide scale, with an increasing number of indications. The technology has been shown to be comparable with and often more sensitive than computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging in staging many malignancies. The use of fine-needle aspiration and ultrasound-guided injection also allows for accurate tissue diagnosis and therapy of GI ailments. Despite increasing availability and indications for EUS over the past decade, general internists may not be aware of EUS technology, when to order an EUS, and how to integrate the results of an EUS into their management decisions. This article will review the general indication...
Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: a biliary equivalent to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas?

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant of bile duct carcinoma characterized by intraductal growth and better outcome compared with the more common nodular-sclerosing type. IPNB is a recognized precursor of invasive carcinoma, but its pathogenesis and natural history are ill-defined. This study examines the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of IPNB. A consecutive cohort of patients with bile duct cancer (hilar, intrahepatic, or distal) was reviewed, and those with papillary histologic features identified. Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical staining for tumor markers and for cytokeratin and mucin proteins were used to classify IPNB into subtypes. Survival data were analyzed and correlated with clinical and pathologic parameters. Thirty-nine IPNBs were identified in hilar (23/144), intrahepatic (4/86), and distal (12/113) bile duct specimens between 1991 and 2010. Histopathologic examination revealed 27 pancreatobiliary, four gastric, two intestinal, and six oncocytic subtypes; results of cytokeratin and mucin staining were similar to those of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas. Invasive carcinoma was seen in 29/39 (74%) IPNBs. Overall median survival was 62 months and was not different between IPNB locations or subtypes. Factors associated with a worse median survival included presence and depth of tumor invasion, margin-positive resection, and expression of MUC1 and CEA. Conclusion: IPNBs are an uncommon variant of bile duct cancer, representing approximately 10% of all resectable cases. They occur throughout the biliary tract, share some histologic and clinical features with IPMNs of the pancreas, and may represent a carcinogenesis pathway different from that of conventional bile duct carcinomas arising from flat dysplasia. Given their significant risk of harboring invasive carcinoma, they should be treated with complete resection. (HEPATOLOGY 2012)
Surgical management of acute complications and critical restenosis following carotid artery stenting.

Carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) is being increasingly used in the treatment of extracranial carotid artery stenosis. As in other catheter-based approaches to the treatment of arterial disease, surgical intervention may be required because of either acute complications or correct critical restenosis. We have reviewed our experience managing early complications and critical in-stent restenoses after CAS in a tertiary care university hospital and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During the last 5 years, 22 carotid arteries (21 patients) underwent CAS. One patient developed thrombosis and rupture of the carotid artery during stenting. Two other patients (3 arteries) developed critical restenosis within 12 months. Subsequent surgical reconstructions included an internal carotid artery (ICA)-to-external carotid artery (ECA) transposition and a common carotid artery (CCA)-to-ICA bypass with reversed saphenous vein (RSV). The patient who underwent CCA-to-ICA bypass later required subclavian-to-ICA bypass because of rapidly progressive intimal hyperplasia and subsequent occlusion of the CCA. The other patient has not had surgical repair because of his deteriorating condition and significant comorbidities. During the same time period, two additional patients were referred from outside institutions specifically for surgical intervention after carotid stenting. One had delayed rupture of the carotid artery 1 day after stenting and underwent urgent surgical repair. Another patient had early, critical restenosis within the stent and underwent placement of a CCA-to-ICA interposition graft using RSV. Acute treatment failures after CAS can be successfully managed using standard surgical techniques. Patients who develop critical in-stent restenosis requiring surgical repair may need more challenging surgical reconstructions to maintain cerebral perfusion.
Transit and job accessibility: an empirical study of access to competitive clusters and regional growth strategies for enhancing transit accessibility

Abstract This study looks at questions of regional transit job accessibility in an urban area making significant changes to its transit system. The study area is the Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) metropolitan region, which also has several initiatives to build/expand different competitive economic clusters —export-oriented, interconnected firms in the region. We analyze current transit accessibility to the existing clusters in the region and find significant sector to sector differences that highlight both the poor level of transit access to some economic sectors and the need of automobile ownership to be able to reliably access these jobs. Further, given changes that are being made to the transit system, we conduct scenario analyses and ask which population and employment growth patterns the region should follow to maximize transit accessibility for its residents. The results suggest that a strategy which focuses growth along transitways, particularly the growth of jobs along transitway corridors, will achieve the best regional transit accessibility gains. The research helps to bridge the separate bodies of literature on competitive clusters and transit, tests alternative land use scenarios to enhance accessibility, and investigates the importance of transit for jobs in regional competitive clusters.
Protein Requirements of Laying Hens as Affected by Strain

Abstract IN RECENT years, many people have considered the protein requirement of high-producing laying hens to be as high as 18 or 19% of the diet, but some research has shown protein levels as low as 12% adequate. The National Research Council (NRC) (1966, Table 1) states the protein requirement as 15% of the diet. Table 9 of the same publication states that, for 60% production, a laying hen weighing 1,800 g. requires 16.5 g. of protein daily. From Table 6, one can calculate a daily protein requirement of 15.8 g. protein for the 1,800 g. hen producing 200 eggs per year or 18.5 g. daily for a 300-egg per year rate of production. From Table 6 and Table 1, one can also calculate a daily requirement of 17.5 and 20.1 g. protein for the 2,270 g. hen producing 200 and 300 eggs per year, respectively. Harms et al. (1966) reviewed…
Mesoscale Ocean Surface Current Structure Detected by High-Frequency Radar

Abstract The quality and vertical correlation scales of high-frequency (HF) radar-derived ocean surface current measurements from an ocean surface current radar (OSCR) are assessed by comparing surface to subsurface current observations from 11 June to 8 July 1993 at directional discus buoys DW and DE, each instrumented with a three-axis ultrasonic current meter at the 13.8- and 9.5-m depths, respectively. A dual-station OSCR mapped the current fields at 20-min intervals at a horizontal resolution of 1.2 km over a 30 km × 44 km domain inshore of the Gulf Stream using the HF (25.4 MHz) mode. Over a 27-day experimental period, surface current observations were acquired 97% of the time extending to the maximum theoretical range of 44 km. Linear regression analyses indicated a bias of 2–4 cm s−1 and slopes of O(1). While there were periods when the daily averaged complex correlation coefficients were highly correlated (>0.8), periods of low correlation (<0.3) are explained in terms of vertical phase differenc...
Several anesthetics, but not diethyl ether, cause marked elevation of serum parathyroid hormone concentration in rats

The effects of anesthetics on serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations were determined by a new homologous two-site immunoradiometric assay for rat PTH. Serum PTH concentrations (mean +/- SE) from ether-anesthetized rats (14.7 +/- 1.5 pg/ml, n = 22) were not significantly different from those of decapitated unanesthetized female rats (13.0 +/- 1.8 pg/ml, n = 21). Serum PTH concentrations in pg/ml (n = 4-14) for other anesthetics tested were: ketamine, 12.5 +/- 1.1; Na pentobarbital, 23.3 +/- 2.4; methoxyflurane (inhalation), 42.2 +/- 6.8; and xylazine combined with ketamine, 51.4 +/- 11.3 pg/ml. The latter two concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than the values for all other anesthetics and decapitation. Elevation of serum PTH induced by pentobarbital or ketamine + xylazine increased with time under anesthesia. Neither serum Ca2+ concentrations nor pH differed among any of the groups. We conclude that anesthesia induced by pentobarbital, methoxyflurane, or ketamine + xylazine in rats leads to a marked elevation of serum PTH levels that appears to be related to the duration of anesthesia and not due to any measurable fall in serum Ca2+.
Lie‐Poisson integrators: A Hamiltonian, variational approach

In this paper we present a systematic and general method for developing variational integrators for Lie-Poisson Hamiltonian systems living in a finite-dimensional space 𝔤*, the dual of Lie algebra associated with a Lie group G. These integrators are essentially different discretized versions of the Lie-Poisson variational principle, or a modified Lie-Poisson variational principle proposed in this paper. We present three different integrators, including symplectic, variational Lie-Poisson integrators on G×𝔤* and on 𝔤×𝔤*, as well as an integrator on 𝔤* that is symplectic under certain conditions on the Hamiltonian. Examples of applications include simulations of free rigid body rotation and the dynamics of N point vortices on a sphere. Simulation results verify that some of these variational Lie-Poisson integrators are good candidates for geometric simulation of those two Lie-Poisson Hamiltonian systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular weight separation of proteins and peptides with a new high-pressure liquid chromatography column.

Abstract A new high-pressure liquid molecular weight chromatography column was evaluated for its ability to separate proteins and peptides. The column was able to give a linear separation of compounds between 5,000–700,000 M r . Chromatography of posterior pituitary extracts, tumor-associated fetal antigens, and estrogen receptors demonstrated the ability of the column to separate biological samples.
Craniofacial and central nervous system malformations induced by triamcinolone acetonide in nonhuman primates: I. General teratogenicity

Eighteen pregnant Macaca mulatta, 15 Macaca radiata, and six Papio cynocephalus were treated with 5--20 mg/kg triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) between 21 and 43 days of gestation on single- or multiple-day treatment schedules. Prenatal deaths and stillbirths were tripled in the bonnet monkey and doubled in the rhesus monkey, but did not significantly increase in the baboon. The central nervous system and cranium were the most commonly malformed areas in all three species. The incidence of severe defects, e.g., cranium bifidum, encephalocele, meningocele, and hydrocephalus, was increased in multiple-day treated cases. Minor abnormalities such as aplasia cutis congenita, cranium bifidum occultum, and occipital lobe hypoplasia were more prevalent in single-day treated cases. The sensitive period (days 23--31) for TAC for this group of defects encompasses neural tube closure, rostral demarcation of the midbrain, and development of the primordial collicular plate and two midbrain neuromeres. The results of this study indicate that TAC is a valuable chemical tool for the study of malformations and pathogenesis of the brain and accompanying cranio-facial defects.
Mixed lymphohaemopoietic chimerism and graft-ver suslymphoma effects after non-myeloablative therapy and HLA-mismatched bone-marrow transplantation

Summary Background HLA-mismatched donor bone-marrow transplantation after standard myeloablative conditioning therapy for haematological malignant disorders has been limited by severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft failure. We tested a new approach to find out whether lymphohaemopoietic graft-versus-host reactions could occur without excessive GVHD in mixed haemopoietic chimeras produced across HLA barriers with nonmyeloablative conditioning. Methods Five patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma underwent bone-marrow transplantation from haploidentical related donors sharing at least one HLA A, B, or DR allele on the mismatched haplotype. Conditioning included cyclophosphamide and thymic irradiation before transplantation, and antithymocyte globulin before and after transplantation. The only other GVHD prophylaxis was cyclosporin. Findings Four of five patients were evaluable and showed engraftment. Mixed haemopoietic chimerism was established, with a predominance of donor lymphoid tissue and varying degrees of myeloid chimerism. Two patients were in GVHD-free states of complete and partial clinical remission at 460 and 103 days after bone-marrow transplantation. Interpretation Mixed chimerism can be induced in adult recipients of HLA-mismatched bone-marrow transplantation by a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen. The antilymphoma responses seen in two patients suggest that allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation without myeloablative conditioning might have potent immunotherapeutic benefits.
Use of Handheld Computers in Medical Education: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, handheld computers (or personal digital assistants [PDAs]) have become a popular tool among medical trainees and physicians. Few comprehensive reviews of PDA use in medicine have been published.
Influence of polymer interdiffusion and clay concentration on gas barrier of polyelectrolyte/clay nanobrick wall quadlayer assemblies

Abstract Thin film assemblies of polyvinylamine (PVAm), branched polyethylenimine (PEI), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and sodium montmorillonite (MMT) clay, created using the layer-by-layer assembly technique, demonstrate the influence of polymer interdiffusion and clay concentration on oxygen barrier behavior. These quadlayer (QL) assemblies can be switched from linear to exponential growth by varying the placement of PVAm and PEI layers. PEI has a much lower T g and is better able to interdiffuse with PAA, resulting in exponential growth and greater clay deposition in each layer. When deposited on 179 μm poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), these ‘nanobrick wall’ thin films only decreased visible light transmission by 2% as the thickness increased by a factor of 10, indicating that clay platelets are highly oriented and well separated. Atomic force and transmission electron microscope images also reveal this high level of clay orientation that creates an extended gas diffusion pathway that dramatically reduces oxygen transmission rate (OTR). A 6QL PVAm-based assembly, with a thickness of 175 nm, has an OTR of 0.009 cm 3 /(m 2 day atm). OTR was found to be linked to both the degree of polymer interaction and clay concentration in these thin films. The desired barrier can be obtained by substituting PVAm layers for PEI. This study demonstrates a promising technique for tailoring the gas barrier of polymer/clay composite thin films that could find use in flexible electronics and food packaging.
The role of the substrate in the optical degradation of solar absorbing black chrome

Abstract The role of the substrate in optical degradation of solar absorbing black chrome films has been investigated. Since it has been previously found that the thermally activated mechanism of substrate diffusion and oxidation exists at temperatures as low as 400°C for the standard black chrome plated on a nickel substrate, other materials have been considered here as candidates for a more stable substrate. Copper, gold, nickel, chromium and stainless steel # 304 have been studied as substrate materials. It has been shown by Auger electron spectroscopy that substrate diffusion and resultant optical degradation exist for all of the black chrome/substrate systems considered. Stainless steel # 304, however, demonstrated a selective diffusion and oxidation mechanism which significantly reduced optical degradation of the black chrome system for temperatures up to 450°C. Of the candidates considered, this alloy substrate was found to be the most suitable for enhancement of the thermal stability of black chrome.
An ultra-clean microprobe ion source for atomic mass spectrometry

Abstract The design and initial implementation of an ultra-clean microprobe ion source (Chimera), which is under construction at the University of North Texas in collaboration with Texas Instruments, is presented. The source, which is intended for trace impurity analysis of stable isotopes, combines the features of existing secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) microprobe instruments with the molecular discrimination and single-ion detection capabilities of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Issues of cesium ion microbeam formation and cleanliness, secondary ion collection and transmission efficiency are discussed. Novel features of the Chimera include high-resolution magnetic analysis of the primary Cs+ ion beam ( m Δm > 200) , high-purity silicon slits and an ultra-high vacuum analysis chamber with unique silicon-based extraction optics and sample holder.
High-performance mechanically butted 12,000 x 1 pixel VIS/NIR focal-plane array

The CCD194 image sensor is described in terms of the high-performance, low-light-level, high-resolution applications (graphics, reconnaissance, and photogrammetry) for which it has been designed. The CCD194 design comprises two monolithic 6000 by 1 CCD image sensors in a body consisting of an aluminum header and an antireflective sapphire window. The photosite arrays are butted end-to-end and linearly aligned, separated by a distance of 20 microns. The peak-to-peak nonlinearity and nonplanarity are less than 15 microns for the entire 120-mm photosite span. A distance of 20 microns separates the arrays. The electrical characteristics of the device are tested; photosite transfer loss is measured. The results show a dynamic range of 15,000 to 1 with respect to rms noise, charge transfer inefficiency of 10 to the -6th/transfer, and a photoresponse nonuniformity of 15 percent. The line-scan imager is shown to function in high-performance, high-resolution, low-light-level applications. A 32 MHz effective data rate is provided by dual outputs on four chips.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Redox Modulation of AP-2 DNA Binding Activity in Vitro

Abstract Transcription factor AP-2 plays a critical role in regulating gene expression during vertebrate development and cellular differentiation. We report here that AP-2 DNA binding in vitro can be reversibly modulated by redox conditions and that thioredoxin is a potent stimulator of AP-2 DNA binding. Our studies indicate that oxidation of recombinant human AP-2 with diamide or hydrogen peroxide inhibits its DNA binding activity to synthetic AP-2 oligodeoxynucleotides. The inhibitory effect of diamide on AP-2 DNA binding was dose-dependent and was reversible by addition of reducing agents β-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and thioredoxin. Immunoblot assays indicated that treatment with oxidants caused a change in migration of the AP-2 protein in nonreducing gels and that this effect was also reversible by treatment of the oxidized AP-2 with reducing agents. These data suggest a mechanism by which the oxidation state of conserved cysteine residues in the AP-2 DNA binding domain may contribute to its DNA binding activity. AP-2 joins a group of other transcription factors whose functions are regulated in part by their redox states.
The Song of the Nonaligned World: Transnational Identities and the Reinscription of Space in Late Capitalism

contingent form of organizing space in the world. National identity appears to be firmly spatialized and seemingly immutable, becoming almost a "natural" marker of cultural and social difference. This article problematizes nationalism by juxtaposing it and other forms of spatial commitment and identity, particularly transnational ones. In so doing, it seeks to illuminate the specificity of nationalism in the postcolonial world. Beginning with the premise that the structures of feeling (R. Williams 1961:48-71) that produce a location called "the nation" are not identical in differently situated places, I wish to conceptualize the vastly dissimilar structural positions occupied by First and Third World' nationalisms by locating them with respect to late capitalism and to the postcolonial world order. Connecting such global phenomena with questions of place and identity is consonant with recent moves in anthropological theory that urge us to go beyond "the field" to see how transnationalism refracts and shapes "the local."2 The changing global configuration of postcoloniality and late capitalism have resulted in the repartitioning and reinscription of space. These developments have had profound implications for the imagining of national homelands and for the discursive construction of nationalism. To grasp the nature of these changes, we need to be bifocal in our analytical vision. On the one side, we need to investigate processes of place making, of how feelings of belonging to an imagined community bind identity to spatial location such that differences between communities and places are created. At the same time, we also need to situate these processes within systemic developments that reinscribe and reterritorialize space in the global political economy. To spell out the argument, I make extensive use of two examples of nonnational collectivities: the Nonaligned Movement (NAM) and the European Community (EC). The examination of imagined communities that transgress the spa
Population-scale assessment endpoints in ecological risk assessment part 1: Reflections of stakeholder values

The selection of appropriate assessment endpoints is a basic element of an ecological risk assessment, especially at regional or watershed scales. Because ecological services often are tied to specific species, the risk to populations is a critical endpoint and feature of ecological risk assessments. The first item is a discussion of the replacement of population-level risk assessment with the construct of a population-scale assessment endpoint. Next, the criteria that are currently used for assessment endpoints are reviewed and evaluated for utility in an ecological risk assessment. Following this examination, assessment endpoints from a number of regional-scale ecological risk assessments are compared. The outcome of this evaluation is that population-scale assessment endpoints are important expressions of the valued components of ecological structures. Finally, a few recommendations for the selection of assessment endpoints at a population scale are listed.
Confusion in revascularization: are women different and why?

Abstract Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in most developed countries of the world. Even though cardiovascular deaths of men in the United States have been declining, until recently the number of cardiovascular deaths in US women was on the rise, with 1 in 3 women dying from heart disease. Over the last 30 years numerous studies have reported sex differences in the epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease. A higher morbidity and mortality were also noted in women versus men undergoing revascularization during this early period. This has mainly been attributed to the fact that women have more comorbid conditions by the time that they are referred for revascularization. These conditions include increased age, hypertension, diabetes (metabolic syndrome), heart failure, renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, and worse lipid profile. With improvements of both surgical techniques and percutaneous coronary intervention, morbidity and mortality rates have decreased in women undergoing revascularization. However, there are now questions surrounding percutaneous coronary intervention strategies, particularly with drug eluting stents. More recent advances in coronary bypass graft surgery techniques, both off- and on-pump, and analysis of prospective and retrospective data have shown a clearly improved survival rate in patients undergoing coronary bypass graft surgery and the persistence of a durable result.
Variational study of a continuum crossing model

A model $S$-wave crossing of a bound state into the continuum is investigated using nonlinear variational calculations performed with the exact wave function and a trial function which has incorrect asymptotic behavior. The variational estimates of the energy-branch structure become less accurate near threshold, as expected, but the calculations indicate a sequence of branches which are followed in order to obtain estimates of the energy and width of a decaying-state resonance above threshold.
Mechanism of direct spread of abdominal neuroblastoma: CT demonstration and clinical implications

Neuroblastoma, a malignant tumor of neural crest origin, is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. In 1971 Evans et al. introduced a clinical staging for neuroblastoma. Over sixty percent of patients present with neuroblastoma beyond stage I. Despite more aggressive therapy there has been only minimal improvement in survival. Since 1978, all patients with neuroblastoma have had CT scanning as part of their initial evaluation at our institution. Children with abdominal neuroblastoma beyond stage I form the basis of this report. Selected cases illustrating the permeative nature of neuroblastoma and the mechanism of direct abdominal spread by CT scanning are presented. The tumor originates in the retroperitoneum and spreads to the abdominal aorta where it gains access to the subperitoneal space via the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. These vessels course from the aorta to their ultimate destination within their peritoneal folds. These folds form the interconnecting space (subperitoneal space) between the retroperitoneum and the peritoneal organs. Such scanning is extremely sensitive in detecting neuroblastoma with early infiltration into adjacent tissues and contiguous spread through abdominal spaces. The clinical implications of the permeative nature of neuroblastoma and the mechanism of contiguous abdominal spread are discussed.
Examination of a pre-exercise, high energy supplement on exercise performance

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pre-exercise high energy drink on reaction time and anaerobic power in competitive strength/power athletes. In addition, the effect of the pre-exercise drink on subjective feelings of energy, fatigue, alertness and focus was also explored.
Preparation of spherical alumina and copper oxide coated alumina sorbents by improved sol-gel granulation process

Granular alumina (Al2O3) and copper coated Al2O3 sorbents were prepared by a continuous sol‐gel process that could be the basis of a large-scale plant for production of the new sorbents by the sol‐gel method. This continuous fabrication process allows the production of the sorbents in a larger quantity as well as in a more consistent shape and size. In addition, several improvements were done to the current synthesis procedure for sol‐gel-derived pure c-Al2O3 and copper doped Al2O3 granules, which include the preparation of the sorbents using alternate cost-eAective raw materials, the elimination of the washing step and the fast drying of the beads by a microwave technique. These improvements simplify the sorbent synthesis process, minimize the wastes generated, reduce the preparation time, and decrease the production cost. The pore structure, mechanical strength and attrition rate of the sorbents prepared in this work were studied and compared with the properties of the best sorbents commercially available. Excellent pore structure and superior crushing strength were found in the sorbents prepared in this work compared to their commercial counterparts. ” 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Decrease in adhesion of cells cultured in polyunsaturated fatty acids

The addition of long chain unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids) to BHK cells reduces the cell to substrate adhesion, causes morphological changes and alters the cellular growth properties. The new characteristics are similar to those of transformed cells. The data indicate that the effects are probably due to actual changes in the surface membrane lipids and not due to prostaglandin synthesis.
Customers' Perceptions of Best Available Hotel Rates:

A study of 153 travelers in three airports (Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Ithaca) found that respondents held a generally negative view of hotel companies' pricing policies. The respondents were asked specifically about their reaction to best available rate pricing, as compared to the common practice of quoting a single rate for a multiple-night stay. Compared to the single-rate policy, respondents judged that being charged the lowest possible rate for each night is more fair, more acceptable, more reasonable, and more honest, even if the room rate changes from night to night. In particular, infrequent travelers (those staying in hotels twenty nights per year or less) judged best rate pricing most favorably. In contrast, frequent travelers were essentially indifferent to the two pricing approaches.
Pastoral care through small groups

Pastoral care has for too long been conceived as the task of the ordained clergyman alone. The concept of shared leadership now offers us a unique tool to implement the pastoral care of the whole church—the laity as well as clergy. The small group, as a locus of care and concern and as a training tool, offers a unique way by which this ministry of the laity may become a reality, but training in small group process is vitally important to release this potential.
Downscaling and Forecasting of Evapotranspiration Using a Synthetic Model of Wavelets and Support Vector Machines

Providing reliable forecasts of evapotranspiration (ET) at farm level is a key element toward efficient water management in irrigated basins. This paper presents an algorithm that provides a means to downscale and forecast dependent variables such as ET images. Using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and support vector machines (SVMs), the algorithm finds multiple relationships between inputs and outputs at all different spatial scales and uses these relationships to predict the output at the finest resolution. Decomposing and reconstructing processes are done by using 2-D DWT with basis functions that suit the physics of the property in question. Two-dimensional DWT for one level will result in one datum image (low-low-pass filter image) and three detail images (low-high, high-low, and high-high). The underlying relationship between the input variables and the output are learned by training an SVM on the datum images at the resolution of the output. The SVM is then applied on the detailed images to produce the detailed images of the output, which are needed to help downscale the output image to a higher resolution. In addition to being downscaled, the output image can be shifted ahead in time, providing a means for the algorithm to be used for forecasting. The algorithm has been applied on two case studies, one in Bondville, IL, where the results have been validated against AmeriFlux observations, and another in the Sevier River Basin, UT.
Specific issues associated with high power levels in space

Future trends are discussed which indicate that orders of magnitude increases in power will be necessary over the long term if advanced space missions are to be pursued. As these demands increase, techniques which could be employed at lower power levels are no longer usable. Key issues which affect the design of high-power systems in space are discussed with respect to constraints imposed by the platform, environment and mission. >
THE LOCUS OF EVOLUTION: EVO DEVO AND THE GENETICS OF ADAPTATION

An important tenet of evolutionary developmental biology (”evo devo”) is that adaptive mutations affecting morphology are more likely to occur in the cis-regulatory regions than in the protein-coding regions of genes. This argument rests on two claims: (1) the modular nature of cis-regulatory elements largely frees them from deleterious pleiotropic effects, and (2) a growing body of empirical evidence appears to support the predominant role of gene regulatory change in adaptation, especially morphological adaptation. Here we discuss and critique these assertions. We first show that there is no theoretical or empirical basis for the evo devo contention that adaptations involving morphology evolve by genetic mechanisms different from those involving physiology and other traits. In addition, some forms of protein evolution can avoid the negative consequences of pleiotropy, most notably via gene duplication. In light of evo devo claims, we then examine the substantial data on the genetic basis of adaptation from both genome-wide surveys and single-locus studies. Genomic studies lend little support to the cis-regulatory theory: many of these have detected adaptation in protein-coding regions, including transcription factors, whereas few have examined regulatory regions. Turning to single-locus studies, we note that the most widely cited examples of adaptive cis-regulatory mutations focus on trait loss rather than gain, and none have yet pinpointed an evolved regulatory site. In contrast, there are many studies that have both identified structural mutations and functionally verified their contribution to adaptation and speciation. Neither the theoretical arguments nor the data from nature, then, support the claim for a predominance of cis-regulatory mutations in evolution. Although this claim may be true, it is at best premature. Adaptation and speciation probably proceed through a combination of cis-regulatory and structural mutations, with a substantial contribution of the latter.
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Selected Sulfur Compounds

Abstract High pressure liquid chromatography was used to separate and determine quantitatively the following groups of sulfur compounds: thiols, sulfides, disulfides, sulfones, isothiocyanates, thioamides, and thioureas. Amperometric and UV detectors were compared; for thiols, thioureas, isothiocyanates, and thioamides, the former was generally more sensitive. With the exception of alkyl and cycloalkyl sulfides, the liquid chromatographic method can be used for the analysis of the investigated sulfur compounds below the ppm range. The method developed was compared to gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. The latter was found to be superior for the analysis of alkyl and cycloalkyl thiols, sulfides and disulfides of molecular weight below 200, whereas the former was more suitable for the analysis of aromatic thiols, sulfides and disulfides, as well as thioamides, isothiocyanates, and thioureas. Both methods were equivalent for the analysis of aromatic sulfones.
Departments of medicine and international health

There is an emerging role in international health for departments of medicine that care to accept the challenge. Supervised medical rotations in the developing world and the care of culturally distinct immigrant populations provide unique opportunities to expand the scope of medical education while emphasizing a sensitive and humanistic approach to health care. The restraints imposed by diminished laboratory support and limited availability of drugs can foster reliance on diagnostic skills and the essential elements of therapy. Medical schools may elect to become involved in international health, but they must do so without becoming exploitative. Rotations of students, residents, and faculty in both directions should lead to productive interaction at both the clinical and research levels, for all participants.
Computational performance of Java and C++ in processing large biomedical datasets

In the analysis of image-based biomedical data, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRI), data sets from 40 to 90 MB are not uncommon, and some experimental fMRI paradigms require as much as 200 MB of storage. Software systems for the analysis of such data require a flexible data model, fast computational techniques and a graphical user interface. Object-oriented programming languages, such as Java and C++, facilitate software reuse and maintainability and provide the foundations for the development of complex data analysis applications. A is paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of using these two programming environments when processing large datasets.
Test vector generation based on correlation model for ratio-I/sub DDQ/

For ratio-Iddq testing, the test performance is significantly affected by the correlation between two currents of different input patterns as process parameters vary. In this paper we first study the reason for strong correlation between Iddq currents for different test vectors, then build a model to estimate the correlation. Based on this model, we propose three test vector selection methods to improve the fault detection ability of ratio-Iddq testing by selecting test vector pairs with the highest correlation. Hspice simulation showed that the fault detection ability can be improved by as much as an order of magnitude. We also describe a test vector partitioning technique to increase the correlation between Iddq currents of different test vectors.
Influence of carbohydrate starvation and arginine on culturability and amino acid utilization of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis

Two strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis were used to determine the influence of lactose and arginine on viability and amino acid use during carbohydrate starvation. Lactose provided energy for logarithmic-phase growth, and amino acids such as arginine provided energy after carbohydrate exhaustion. Survival time, cell numbers, and ATP concentrations increased with the addition of arginine to the basal medium. By the onset of lactose exhaustion, the concentrations of glycine-valine and glutamate had decreased by as much as 67% in L. lactis ML3, whereas the serine concentration increased by 97% during the same period. When no lactose was added, the concentrations of these amino acids remained constant. Similar trends were observed for L. lactis 11454. Without lactose or arginine, L. lactis ML3 was nonculturable on agar but was viable after 2 days, as measured by fluorescent viability stains and intracellular ATP levels. However, L. lactis 11454 without lactose or arginine remained culturable for at least 14 days. These data suggest that lactococci become viable but nonculturable in response to carbohydrate depletion. Additionally, these data indicate that amino acids other than arginine facilitate the survival of L. lactis during carbohydrate starvation.
A review of current ground penetrating radar concepts

Ground penetrating radar concepts are reviewed, with particular attention given to the focused spot antenna. It is noted that an antenna array can be designed based on either the focused antenna or the uniform aperture (focused at infinity). A solid-state pulser can be placed at the terminals on each transmitting antenna and triggered so that the pulse from each element arrives at the desired target position at the same time. The receive array can be connected by means of a corporate harness to a single sampling system to reduce signal-to-noise and signal-to-clutter problems. This may introduce excessive ringing in the harness itself, since near-perfect matching is required. Alternatively, a sample-and-hold circuit could be placed at the terminals of each receive antenna and their output voltages combined. This has several advantages and can be used as long as the dynamic range of the sampler is adequate. >
Functional Variants in the Lymphotoxin-α Gene Predict Cardiovascular Disease in Dialysis Patients

TNF- that is encoded by lymphotoxin- gene (LTA) regulates adhesion molecules and IL-6. Previously, a genome-wide case-control study showed that LTA gene variants predisposed to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In a prospective study of 775 dialysis patients, LTA and IL-6 gene variants were tested as independent predictors of CVD risk. Four polymorphisms in the LTA gene and one in the IL-6 gene were genotyped. CVD events were ascertained from medical records. During a mean follow-up of 2.6 yr, 294 first-incident CVD events occurred. The LTA 26Asn variant predicted higher adjusted CVD risk (hazard ratio HR 1.33 for each additional copy of Asn allele; 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.55; P 0.0003). Two other nonsynonymous polymorphisms in the LTA, 13Agr and 51Pro, were associated with lower inflammatory activity and CVD risk. LTA haplotypes (based on all four single-nucleotide polymorphisms) were associated with inflammatory markers and predicted CVD risk (P 0.005) after adjustment. These LTA genotype associations were independent of the IL-6 174G/C genotype association that was reported recently. LTA and IL-6 gene variants independently predicted risk for CVD among dialysis patients, suggesting that susceptibility in multiple inflammatory pathways contribute to the development of CVD.
Cape Fear– Two Versions and Two Visions Separated by Thirty Years

This essay examines the changes between 1962 and 1991 that occurred in the context within which the two very different versions of Cape Fear appeared. These two versions of the story of a threatened lawyer are emblematic of an altered perspective on law. The essay highlights the tension between art’s role as a reflector of society and its values and its role shaping social views. The inference, from the different portrayals of Sam Bowden, that there has been a systematic decline in the lawyer’s status and public esteem is not, however, borne out in the cinematic field. The situation has become one of moral ambiguity with the lawyer playing a more ambivalent role in society.
Advent of occupational health services research.

After lagging behind health services research in general health care, research is now examining health services provided to workers suffering occupational injuries and illnesses. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Workers' Compensation Health Initiative, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), and the Canadian Institute for Work and Health co-sponsored a June, 1999, conference to explore research needs in this area. Fundamental tenets for advancing occupational health services research include: adopting the goal of improving occupational health care, including better integration of preventive and curative care; creating standardized interstate occupational health care data sets that include medical, economic, and patient perspectives; better defining quality in occupational care and developing appropriate performance measures; in addition to medical costs, assessing social, economic, medical and functional outcomes of care; considering the connections between work and health, including general health services; and addressing the need to train qualified occupational health services researchers.