cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An experimental determination of rare earth partition coefficients between a chloride containing vapor phase and silicate melts

The partitioning behavior of cerium, europium, gadolinium and ytterbium between an aqueous “vapor” phase and water saturated silicate melt have been experimentally examined using a new experimental approach employing radioactive tracers and a double-capsule technique. Equilibrium was established by reversing the partition coefficient1 and by betatrack autoradiography. Aqueous solution compositions were varied by adding different amounts of chloride and in some cases fluoride or carbon dioxide. The H2O contents of the Spruce Pine pegmatite melts were varied by conducting experiments at 4.0 kb, 800°C and at 1.25 kb, 800°C. A jadeite-nepheline composition (75 wt% Jadeite) also was employed at 4.0 kb, 800°C. The chloride experiments (Spruce Pine 4 kb, 800°C) show a linear relationship between the cube of the chloride molality and the partition coefficients of the trivalent rare earths. Europium, under the experimental fO2 conditions (quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer), varied linearly as the fifth power of the chloride molality. At the chloride molalities examined ( KPGd>KPYb. The smaller ytterbium ion was consistently concentrated in the melt phase relative to the other rare earths in all experiments on the Spruce Pine composition. Experiments on the jadeite-nepheline composition showed no relative fractionation and a positive europium anomaly. The 1.25 kb experiment on the Spruce Pine composition showed a negative europium anomaly in plots of KpRE vs. REE. The overall rare earth partitioning at a constant chloride molality (mCl = .914) was such that KPSP(1.25 kb) > KPSP(4.0 kb) > KPJd-Ne(4.0 kb), where SP = Spruce Pine, Jd-Ne = jadeitenepheli Using the model of Burnnam (1975), It is suggested that the trivalent rare earth partitioning is related to the cube of the melt octahedral site concentration; a property which 1n hydrous melts 1s dependent on melt composition and hydroxyl molality. Excellent agreement was found for the Spruce Pine melt, whereas the jadeite-nepheline melt gave apparent hydroxyl molalities which were too high for the measured partition coefficient. Additional octahedral sites are proposed for this unusual composition perhaps due to some aluminum in 6-fold coordination. The apparent compositional variation of europium partitioning at a constant oxygen fugacity is believed to be related to both the octahedral melt site concentration for trlvalent europium and an 8-coordinated site concentration for divalent europium. Any parameter which affects the numbers of these sites (PH2O, melt composition) will affect the rare earth partitioning. The observed dependency of the partition coefficient on the structural state of the melt could be as significant as its dependency on crystalline structural constraints. Furthermore, since PH2O can drastically effect the melt structural state, its effects could be reflected in melt/crystal partition coefficients.
Molecular genetic methods for mapping disease genes

Recent technological enhancements in molecular genetics have significantly improved our ability to locate disease genes by linkage analysis. Despite the introduction of molecular methods such as PCR and the discovery of highly polymorphic SSRs, genotyping is still rate-limiting for localizing disease genes by linkage. These methods have been, until recently, highly technical, time-consuming, and expensive. The challenge of mapping the major genes that render one susceptible to environmentally initiated lung disorders such as asthma will require efficient and highly accurate methods of genotyping. We have shown that genotyping by semi-automated fluorescence-based techniques is both highly accurate and efficient. These methods may improve productivity by more than an order of magnitude and can be easily adapted to most linkage studies.
Relationship of pain and ancestry in African American women

Background African Americans are reported to be more sensitive to pain than European Americans. Pain sensitivity has been shown to be genetically linked in animal models and is likely to be in humans. Methods Exactly, 11,239 self-identified African American post-menopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative had percentage African ancestry determined by ancestry informative markers, “Pain Construct” measurements and covariate information. They answered five questions about specific types and location of pain, such as joint, neck, low back, headache and urinary. They also answered two questions which were used to derive a “Pain Construct”, a measure of general pain scored on a scale of 1–100. Associations were tested in linear regression models adjusting for age, self-reported medical conditions, neighbourhood socio-economic status, education and depression. Results In the unadjusted model of the five specific types of pain measures, greater pain perception was associated with a higher proportion of African ancestry. However, some of the specific types of pain measures were no longer associated with African ancestry after adjustment for other study covariates. The Pain Construct was statistically significantly associated with African ancestry in both the unadjusted [β = −0.132, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −099 to −0.164; r = −0.075, 95% CI −0.056 to −0.093] and the adjusted models (β = −0.069 95% CI = −0.04 to −0.10). Conclusions Greater African ancestry was associated with higher levels of self-reported pain, although this accounted for only a minor fraction of the overall variation in the Pain Construct.
Anxiety, economic growth and suicide and homicide.

Summay.-Rates of economic growth were not associated with 1980 suicide or homicide rates in a sample of 72 nations. Lynn (1969) suggested that high rates of economic growth should increase the anxiety in a nation and that the suicide rate of a nation might provide a good index of its anxiety. He found a positive association between the rates of economic growth from 1950 to 1965 and suicide rates in 1965 for a sample of industrialized nations. Lynn's hypothesis was studied using a data set for 72 nations (Lester, 1996). The rate of economic growth from 1965 to 1980 was defined for the present analysis as the percentage change in the gross domestic product per capita from 1965 to 1980 (Summers & Heston, 1984). This measure was not associated with the 1980 suicide rate (Pearson r =.01, n=59) or the 1980 homicide rate (r = -.19, n=55). Similarly, using a ten-year measure of the growth rate in the Gross National Product per capita from 1970 to 1979 (Kurian, 1984), the associations also did not reach statistical significance [rs =.O3 (n=61) and -.I2 (n=58), respectively]. Thus, Lynn's hypothesis does not appear to have validity for nations of the world in general.
Practice, Process, and Social Change in Third Millennium bc Europe: A View from the Sizandro Valley, Portugal

This paper considers the shift from the practice of collective burials to individual (or double) burials in western Europe at the end of the Neolithic/Copper Age, around 2500–2000 bc, through the lens of a particular mortuary site—the artificial cave of Bolores (Torres Vedras, Portugal). It suggests that the practices involved in making and using collective burials played an important role in this transformation towards increasing social differentiation. It explores how a focus on materiality at different scales, both temporal and spatial, might contribute new insights into geographically widespread and relatively co-synchronous social change.
Rise of the machines--left ventricular assist devices as permanent therapy for advanced heart failure.

Traditionally, the only definitive therapy for patients who have advanced, medically refractory heart failure was replacement of the heart with another human heart. However, transplantation is an inadequate option in light of the large number of potential candidates, the lack of donors, and the coexisting conditions that make most potential candidates ineligible for transplantation. In this context, ventricular assist devices, or heart pumps, become an attractive option for patients who have advanced heart failure. Rather than replacing the human heart completely, ventricular assist devices serve in a true “assistance” capacity by supplementing the cardiac output of the native but weakened . . .
TRANSITION RADIATION FROM RELATIVISTIC ELECTRONS CROSSING DIELECTRIC BOUNDARIES

A coincidence technique has been used to observe transition radiation from fast electrons crossing the boundary between a vacuum and a dielectric. Gold, nickel, aluminum, and Mylar were the dielectrics used. A photomultiplier was used to count single photons in coincidence with the arrival of the electron at the boundary, as observed with a lithium-drifted germanium detector. The electrons were from a cesium-137 source. The relative photon yields for the three metals were: Al yield/Au yield=1.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.22, Ni yield/Au yield=0.61\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09. The absolute yield for gold was (10\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ photons per electron, in agreement with theory. The results with Mylar are complicated by fluorescence effects, but there is evidence that the transition-radiation yield is of the same order of magnitude as the yield in gold. The yield was measured as a function of electron energy; it is a monotonically increasing function of the energy from 0.33 MeV to 0.662 MeV, in qualitative agreement with theory.
Elastic torsion of thin walled bars of variable cross sections

Abstract An application of the finite element method to the theory of thin walled bars of variable cross sections has been presented in this paper. A solution of this problem is based on the linear membrane shell theory with the application of Vlasov's assumptions. A bar is divided into elements along its longitudinal axis and then, a shell mid-surface of the element is approximated by arbitrary triangular Subelements. Nodal displacements of the element are assumed to be polynomials of the third order and the equivalent stiffness matrix is obtained. Calculated nodal displacements enable an analysis of normal and shearing stresses.
The webnovela and immigrants in the United States

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the webnovela, a new type of marketing genre and sentimental serial drama which is popular among immigrants, pivotal to the future of the US Spanish‐language media and informative about its past. No academic research currently exists on this topic.Design/methodology/approach – This paper applies cultural studies, management, new media and marketing theory to the study of the first three webnovelas launched from 2006 to 2011. It analyzes how this new genre fits into the history of sentimental serial drama; how it appeals to Hispanics and to immigrants at their home countries and at their host country as well; and how the US Spanish‐language television and new media address their $900 billion Hispanic consumer market.Findings – This study revealed that although webnovelas are likely to continue being popular as romantic fiction for the new media and profitable as a marketing system, they are unlikely – as operationally defined by this analysis – to be produ...
Diseases of Renal Adenosine Triphosphatase

ABSTRACT Most renal transport is a primary or secondary result of the action of one of three membrane bound ion translocating ATPase pumps. The proximal tubule mechanisms for the reabsorption of salt, volume, organic compounds, phosphate, and most bicarbonate reabsorption depend upon the generation and maintenance of a low intracellular sodium concentration by the basolateral membrane Na-K-ATPase pump. The reabsorption of fluid and salt in the loop of Henle is similarly dependent on the energy provided by Na-K-ATPase activity. Some proximal tubule bicarbonate reabsorption and all distal nephron proton excretion is a product of one of two proton translocating ATPase pumps, either an electrogenie H-ATPase or an electroneutral H-K-ATPase. In this article, the authors review the biochemistry and physiology of pump activity and consider the pathophysiology of proximal and distal renal tubular acidosis, the Fanconi syndrome, and Bartter's syndrome as disorders of ATPase pump function.
Subband texture synthesis for image coding

ABSTRACT Large regions of many images are filled with visual texture, in which a viewer is not concerned with the exact pixelvalues. In image coding, it is advantageous to describe such regions in terms of their boundaries and textural properties.A textural desription can be much more compact than a precise description of pixel values. For a coding system to work,it is necessary to have an automated method for generating compact texture descriptions; the synthesized textures must appear satisfying to the human viewer. We have adapted the Heeger and Bergen ri1 to the coding problem. The algorithm decomposes an image into subbands with a steerable pyramid, and characterizes the texture in terms ofthe subbandhistograms and the pixel histogram. Since the subband histograms all have a similar form, we can describe each one with alow-order parametric model. The resulting textural descriptor is quite compact. We show examples with both still imagesand video sequences.Keywords texture synthesis, image coding, steerable pyramid, wavelet
Solution of Population Balance Equations by the Finite Size Domain Complete Set of Trial Functions Method of Moments (FCMOM) for Inhomogeneous Systems

The FCMOM (finite size domain complete set of trial functions method of moments) is an efficient and accurate numerical technique to solve monovariate and bivariate population balance equations. It was previously formulated for homogeneous systems. In this paper, the FCMOM approach is extended to solve monovariate population balance equations for inhomogeneous (spatially not uniform) systems. In the FCMOM, the method of moments is formulated in a finite domain of the internal coordinates and the particle size distribution function is represented as a truncated series expansion by a complete system of orthonormal functions. The FCMOM is extended to inhomogeneous systems assuming that the particle-phase convective velocity is independent of the internal variables (particle size). The method is illustrated by applications to particle diffusion and to particle convection. In the case of particle convection, a gas−solid dilute flow in a pipe was simulated and the FCMOM equations were coupled with the governing...
Effects of marihuana (delta9-THC) on behavior patterns and social roles in colonies of CBA mice.

The effects of marihuana (Δ9-THC) upon dominant and subordinate male behavior profiles were continuously observed in mice socially interacting in population cages. All males were magnetically tagged and triggered Hall Effect devices at each of the eight portals in the population cage. Ethologically oriented observations consisting of entry-exit rates, patterns of spontaneous behavior, and elapsed time in each functional area were made for each animal. The subordinates showed no significant change in their pattern of low locomotor activity after a single intravenous dose of 20 mg/kgΔ9-THC. By contrast, the high-activity dominants showed a significant reduction in entry-exit rates and in their patrol patterns. They fully recovered from their locomotor depression within 24–48 hr unless a rival male was present, in which case the dominant was severely attacked, lost his territory, and assumed subordinate behavior at both 2 and 20 mg/kg doses. A dose of 0.5 mg/kgΔ9-THC significantly decreased the dominant male's aggressive response to an intruder, but did not alter his social status. The behavioral effect of Δ9-THC in a freely interacting, mixed-sex group of rodents living in population cages is dependent upon social position in the hierarchy and upon the social composition of the group.
Chaotic mixing in microfluidic devices driven by oscillatory cross flow

The kinematics of oscillatory cross flow has been studied numerically as a means for generating chaotic mixing in microfluidic devices for both confined and continuous throughput flow configurations. The flow is analyzed using numerical simulation of the unsteady Navier–Stokes equations combined with tracking of single and multispecies passive tracer particles. Two characteristics of chaotic flow are demonstrated: the stretching and folding of material lines leading to particle dispersion and a positive “effective” Lyapunov exponent. The primary mechanism for the generation of chaotic flow is a periodic combination of stretching (which occurs via shear in the channels) and rotation (which occurs via the timing of the oscillations), making these systems effective tendril-whorl type flows. First, the case of confined mixing is studied. It is shown that chaotic flow is generated in a cross-cell device when sinusoidally driven, out-of-phase, perpendicular fluid streams intersect in the flow domain. Calculatio...
Is RFID Right for Your Library

RFID technology is taking off in libraries at an increasingly rapid pace. Though there are few libraries employing this technology today, the benefits are great. The cost is still prohibitive however. This article discusses some of the benefits and drawbacks to RFID to provide information for librarians that will be useful when deciding if the technology should be employed.
Hyperactivity and hypoactivity in a rat model of Huntington's disease: the systemic 3-nitropropionic acid model

The present study proposes the use of systemic 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) treatment in rats as a model of Huntington's disease (HD). The systemic 3-NP model involves chronic injection of low dose intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 3-NP to rats once every 4 days over a period of time. Evidence from our experimental studies suggests that manipulating the number of injections can result in either increased nocturnal spontaneous locomotor activity (hyperactivity) or nocturnal akinesia (hypoactivity) [1]. For example, two injections of 3-NP (using the treatment of one injection every 4 days) result in hyperactivity, while four injections or more of 3-NP lead to hypoactivity [1]. The locomotor activity is recorded by Digiscan locomotor activity monitors [11]. The observation of these two types of locomotor activity is unique since no excitotoxin model has replicated a two-stage progression of a HD-like behavioral alteration. Most studies using excitotoxins like quinolinic acid (QA) and kainic acid (KA) have only reproduced the hyperactivity stage [4,5,7]. With the systemic 3-NP model, investigations into at least two stages of the disease are made possible. This allows for better assessment of intervention strategies such as neural transplants across different stages of the disease. The systemic 3-NP rat model is believed to be an improved animal model of HD.
Mechanism of cardioprotection following trauma-hemorrhagic shock by a selective estrogen receptor-β agonist: up-regulation of cardiac heat shock factor-1 and heat shock proteins

Abstract Although 17β-estradiol (E2) administration following trauma-hemorrhage (T-H) improves cardiac function in male rodents, it is not known whether the salutary effects of E2 are mediated via estrogen receptor (ER)-α or ER-β, and whether cardiac heat shock proteins (Hsp) are affected by E2 administration. Male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent T-H (mean BP 40 mmHg for 90 min, then resuscitation). ER-α agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) (5 μg/kg), ER-β agonist diarylpropiolnitrile (DPN) (5 μg/kg), or vehicle (10% DMSO) was injected subcutaneously during resuscitation. At 24 h after T-H or sham operation, cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), mean blood pressure, and ± dP/dtmax were measured (n = 6 rats per group). Cardiac Hsp32, 60, 70, and 90 mRNA/protein expressions and heat shock factor (HSF)-1 DNA binding activity were determined. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis. CO, SV and ± dP/dtmax decreased significantly after T-H, however, administration of ER-β agonist DPN after T-H restored the above parameters. Moreover, DPN treatment prevented T-H-mediated decrease in Hsp60 mRNA/protein and Hsp90 protein expressions in the heart. Hsp32 and Hsp70 mRNA/protein expression and HSF-1 DNA binding activity in the hearts were increased even above the shams in DPN treated T-H rats. In contrast, no significant change in the above parameters was observed in T-H rats treated with ER-α agonist PPT. Thus, the salutary effects of E2 on cardiac function are mediated via ER-β and ER-β-induced up-regulation of Hsp likely plays a significant role in the E2-mediated cardioprotection after T-H.
Far-Reaching Impacts of Energetics

Drawing on his extensive work with mammals and birds in diverse environments, McNab offers a personal perspective on comparative physiology and ecological energetics.
Determination of polysaccharide linkage and branching by reductive depolymerization. Gas-liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry reference data

Abstract A series of partially methylated anhydro- d -alditol acetates has been prepared and analyzed by g.l.c. and g.l.c.-m.s. The reference compounds were obtained by reductive cleavage of permethylated and partially methylated standard methyl glycosides, and standard di-, tri-, and tetra-saccharides of known composition and linkage. Structural characterization included retention times on g.l.c. using DB-225 capillary columns and mass spectrometry in both the chemical- and electron-ionization modes. This compiled library allows further evaluation of the applicability of the reductive cleavage procedure for determining linkage or branching (or both) of new and more complex oligosaccharides. The technique has been applied to microgram amounts of a bacterial-membrane oligosaccharide and to a saccharide obtained from the urine of a mannosidosis patient. The procedures are simple, reliable, and applicable to small amounts of isolated biological materials.
Convergent multiples of convergent operators

Abstract Let “ X ≫0” mean that “the bounded linear Hilbert-space operator X is selfadjoint, positive, and invertible”. We discuss the operators A which are known to be convergent (i.e. have spectral radius less than 1) because they all satisfy Stein's condition P−A ∗ PA≫0 for a fixed P ≫0. We use the convexity of this set of A's to show that when certain operators are in it (and hence convergent), others (often multiples) must be also. Our results generalize, and are modivated by, some results in [A. Bhaya, E. Kaszkurewicz, Linear Algebra Appl. 187 (1993) 87–104).
N&B and Cross-N&B Analysis Detect Oligomerization of Huntingtin in Live Cells

Aggregation of misfolded proteins is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease (HD). HD is caused by a mutation of Huntingtin caused by an elongation of a polyglutamine (polyQ) sequence in the protein. Here we describe the application of the recently developed Number and molecular Brightness method (NB ii) Following an increase in protein concentration (∼1 μM), due to protein accumulation, small oligomers (8-15 proteins) form throughout the cell; iii) At higher protein concentrations, an inclusion is formed in the cytoplasm; iv) The inclusion recruits most of the Httex1 protein in the cell, including those in the nucleus, leaving only monomers at very low concentration.We also performed cross-N&B analysis to measure the size of the oligomeric species. Cross-N&B recovers the stoichiometry of the complexes from the simultaneous fluctuations of the fluorescence intensity in two image channels. The experiments were done on ST14A cells co-transfected with Httex1-97QP-EGFP and Httex1-97QP-mCherry. These experiments confirmed the mechanism of aggregation observed by N&B and the range of size of the oligomers.Work supported by NIH-P41-RRO3155, P50-GM076516, NIH NS045283 (J. L. M.),Optical Biology Shared Resource of the Cancer Center Support Grant CA-62203 at University of California, Irvine.
Spin-orbit symmetry potential and the stability of superheavy elements

Experimental and theoretical evidence favors a spin-orbit symmetry potential which has a sign opposite to the corresponding term of the central potential. Only one of the potentials employed in recent calculations of the stability of superheavy elements is in accord with this sign. The shell correction term for the nucleus /sup 354/(126)/sub 228/ is changed by 2 MeV when an extrapolation based on the experimentally observed symmetry term is used rather than the standard extrapolation.
Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting for failed angioplasty: Risk factors and outcome

Abstract It has been suggested that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed in the setting of emergent failure of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty causes minimal increased risk compared with routine CABG. We reviewed the records of 103 patients undergoing emergency CABG for failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (group 1) and compared them with an identical number of consecutive CABG patients from 1987 (group 2). Group 1 had a lower risk profile evidenced by lower mean age ( p p p p p p p p p p
Supersonic cooling by shock–vortex interaction

The subject of total temperature separation in jets was treated in Fox et al. (1993) for subsonic jets. When we extended this study to the case of supersonic jets, we found the presence of a different mechanism of cooling, an effect which does not appear to have been known in the past. Named the ‘shock-induced total temperature separation’, this cooling can be of much greater magnitude than the subsonic cooling treated previously; it is caused by the interaction of convected vortical structures near the jet exhaust with the shock structure of the supersonic jet.In studying this phenomenon, we focus our attention on overexpanded jets exiting a convergent-divergent nozzle. The theoretical results for the shock-induced cooling which are based on a linearized, unsteady supersonic analysis are shown to agree favourably with experiments.When an impingement plate is inserted, the shock-induced cooling would manifest itself as wall cooling, whose magnitude is significantly larger than the subsonic counterpart. This has implications for heat transfer not only in jets, but wherever vortical structures may interact with shock waves.
Hyperinsulinemia, Insulin Resistance, Vitamin D, and Colorectal Cancer Among Whites and African Americans

African Americans have the highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer among all US racial and ethnic groups. Dietary factors, lifestyle factors, obesity, variability in screening rates, socioeconomic differences, barriers to screening, and differences in access to health care may be contributory factors to racial and ethnic disparities. African Americans are more likely to demonstrate microsatellite instability in their colorectal tumors leading to malignancy. However, these differences do not completely explain all the variances. Ample evidence implicates insulin resistance and its associated conditions, including elevated insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), in colorectal carcinogenesis. African Americans have a high risk for and a high prevalence of insulin resistance and subsequent overt type 2 diabetes. Recent clinical studies revealed that ethnic differences between whites and African Americans in early diabetes-related conditions including hyperinsulinemia already exist during childhood. African Americans have a much higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than whites throughout their life spans. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with higher rates of diabetes and colorectal cancer, particularly in individuals with high serum insulin and IGF-1 levels. Moreover, African Americans have lower insulin sensitivity in tissues, independent of obesity, fat distribution, and inflammation. Further development of measures of biomarkers of tumor biology and host susceptibility may provide further insight on risk stratification in African Americans.
INFECTIOUS PROVIRAL DNA IN HUMAN CELLS INFECTED WITH TRANSFORMATION-DEFECTIVE TYPE-C VIRUSES

Abstract Human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD) productively infected with the transformation-defective feline virus, RD-114, contain viral-specific DNA integrated into the chromosomal DNA which specifies complete information for progency virus formation. This cellular DNA is infectious for permissive cells of human and canine origin, giving rise to progeny virus identical in assessed biochemical and biological properties to the parental virus. The host range for transfection with RD-114 DNA is similar to that of the intact virus. Although progeny virus could first be detected by reverse transcriptase assay at 2 to 4 weeks after transfection, virus is actually released at 3 days post-transfection, as shown by assay of culture media on sensitive indicator cells. The minimum dose of RD-114 DNA required for one infectious event in 2 × 10 6 RD cells is 0.10 to 0.20 μg. This gives a calculated efficiency of infection of 1 infectious unit per 5 × 10 4 to 5 × 10 5 viral gene copies, if there are 2 or 20 copies per infected cell, respectively. RD cells, productively infected with the transformation-defective mammalian viruses FeLV and GaLV, also contain viral-specific DNA, which gives rise to the respective virus of origin upon application to permissive RD cells.
Survey of cardiac pacing and defibrillation in the United States in 1993

Abstract A survey of implanters of permanent cardiac pacemakers and implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in the United States during 1993 was conducted to identify present and changing patterns in indications for pacing, implantation techniques, pacing-mode selection, follow-up, and opinions regarding pacing-and ICD-related issues. Five major pacemaker manufacturers also provided estimates of the numbers of pacemakers and ICDs implanted in the United States from 1990 through 1993. In 1993 approximately 133,000 new rhythm-management devices, including 112,000 primary pacing systems and 16,000 ICDs, were implanted, an increase of 18% for pacemakers and 113% for ICDs since 1990. In 1993, pacemaker implantations were performed by about 8,700 physicians working in 3,300 hospitals and 1,000 independent “surgi-centers.” Since the last survey, which addressed pacing practices in 1989, respondents' use of dual-chamber pacemakers increased from 32% to 68% of the total, and adaptive-rate systems from 29% to 48%. Significant differences (p
Fetal Counselling for Surgical Congenital Malformations

2.4 Invasive Diagnostic Tests 11 2.4.1 Amniocentesis 11 2.4.2 Chorionic Villous Sampling (CVS) 11 2.4.3 Prenatal Maternal Serum Screening 11 2.4.4 Fetal Blood Sampling (FBS) 12 2.4.5 Fetal Surgery 12 2.4.6 Genetic Diagnoses 12 2.4.7 Future Developments 12
A wide-band microstrip antenna using two triangular patches

A wideband patch antenna composed of two triangular patches is investigated using an EM simulation program. The antenna bandwidth is twice as large as that of an ordinary rectangular patch of the same size. Numerical results also shown that good radiation patterns are obtained with the cross-polarization level of -14 dB in the whole frequency range. >
Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy reveals the complex behaviour of an amyloid fibril inhibitor

Amyloid formation has been implicated in the pathology of over 20 human diseases, but the rational design of amyloid inhibitors is hampered by a lack of structural information about amyloid-inhibitor complexes. We use isotope labelling and two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to obtain a residue-specific structure for the complex of human amylin (the peptide responsible for islet amyloid formation in type 2 diabetes) with a known inhibitor (rat amylin). Based on its sequence, rat amylin should block formation of the C-terminal β-sheet, but at 8 h after mixing, rat amylin blocks the N-terminal β-sheet instead. At 24 h after mixing, rat amylin blocks neither β-sheet and forms its own β-sheet, most probably on the outside of the human fibrils. This is striking, because rat amylin is natively disordered and not previously known to form amyloid β-sheets. The results show that even seemingly intuitive inhibitors may function by unforeseen and complex structural processes.
POTASSIUM-DEPENDENT SODIUM EXTRUSION BY CELLS OF PORPHYRA PERFORATA, A RED MARINE ALGA

Potassium-free artificial sea water causes a loss of cell potassium and a gain of cell sodium in Porphyra perforata, which is not attributable to an inhibition of respiration. On adding KC1 or RbCI to such low potassium, high sodium tissues, net accumulation of potassium or rubidium takes place, accompanied by net extrusion of sodium. Rates of potassium or rubidium accumulation and sodium extrusion are proportional to the amount of KCI or RbC1 added only at low concentrations. Saturation of rates is evident at KCI or RbC1 concentrations above 20-30 raM, suggesting the role of an ion carrier mechanism of transport. Evidence for and against mutually dependent sodium extrusion and potassium or rubidium accumulation is discussed. In nerve fibers, kidney tubules, and other special secretory tissues the important role of active ion transport has been well demonstrated. In other cells, however, the significance of ion transport and the maintenance of a constant cellular ion constitution has not been fully appreciated. It is possible that the secretion of ions is of general physiological importance in cellular homeostasis, and with this in mind experiments on ion transport in Porphyra were under
Complementary methods of system usability evaluation: Surveys and observations during software design and development cycles

Poor usability of clinical information systems delays their adoption by clinicians and limits potential improvements to the efficiency and safety of care. Recurring usability evaluations are therefore, integral to the system design process. We compared four methods employed during the development of outpatient clinical documentation software: clinician email response, online survey, observations and interviews. Results suggest that no single method identifies all or most problems. Rather, each approach is optimal for evaluations at a different stage of design and characterizes different usability aspect. Email responses elicited from clinicians and surveys report mostly technical, biomedical, terminology and control problems and are most effective when a working prototype has been completed. Observations of clinical work and interviews inform conceptual and workflow-related problems and are best performed early in the cycle. Appropriate use of these methods consistently during development may significantly improve system usability and contribute to higher adoption rates among clinicians and to improved quality of care.
COMMUNITY INFLUENCES ON WHITE RACIAL ATTITUDES: What Matters and Why?

Tracing the roots of racial attitudes in historical events and individual biographies has been a long-standing goal of race relations scholars. Recent years have seen a new development in racial attitude research: Local community context has entered the spotlight as a potential influence on racial views. The race composition of the locality has been the most common focus; evidence from earlier decades suggests that white Americans are more likely to hold anti-black attitudes if they live in areas where the African-American population is relatively large. However, an influential 2000 article argued that the socioeconomic composition of the white community is a more powerful influence on white attitudes: In low-socioeconomic status (SES) locales, “stress-inducing” deprivations and hardships in whites' own lives purportedly lead them to disparage blacks. The study reported here reassesses this “scapegoating” claim, using data from the 1998 to 2002 General Social Surveys linked to 2000 census information about communities. Across many dimensions of racial attitudes, there is pronounced influence of both local racial proportions and college completion rates among white residents. However, the economic dimension of SES exerts negligible influence on white racial attitudes, suggesting that local processes other than scapegoating must be at work.
Light absorption and utilization by colonies of the congeneric hermatypic corals Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa

The congeneric species Montastraea faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa are important hermatypic corals on reefs throughout the Bahamas, Caribbean, and the Florida reef tract that have overlapping bathymetric distributions. However, these congeners differ in their respective abundance at similar depths. The underlying mechanism for these patterns may partly be because of their relative dependence on photoautotrophy versus heterotrophy. The dependence of these two corals on photoautotrophy was examined quantifying the optical properties and productivity of these two species of corals at two different depths in the Dry Tortugas. Maximum surface irradiances in the Dry Tortugas during this study varied from 1,900 to 2,100 mmol quanta m 22 s 21 . Spectral attenuation coefficients calculated from the 1995 and 1996 irradiance data differed by as little as 10% within the visible wavelengths (photosynthetically active radiation [PAR], 400‐700 nm), suggesting year-to-year similarities in the optical properties of the overlying water column. Underwater irradiances of PAR were ;400 mmol quanta m 22 s 21 and 25 mmol quanta m 22 s 21 at 10 m and 18 m, respectively. Significantly lower rates of maximum photosynthesis were observed for samples of M. cavernosa compared with M. faveolata at 10 m and 18 m. For samples of M. faveolata from both depths, the mean chlorophyll-specific absorption (a*) across all PAR wavelengths was greater than that of M. cavernosa. When spectrally corrected for the underwater light field and used to calculate the minimum quantum requirements (1/fm) of these corals at each depth, we observed that M. faveolata always had higher 1/fm than M. cavernosa (50 versus 18 quanta O2 21 and 39 versus 15 quanta O2 21 at 10 m and 18 m, respectively). M. cavernosa, with its greater pigment concentrations and lower a*, exhibits a significant package effect that results in a smaller functional optical cross section and lower maximum photosynthetic capacities, whereas M. faveolata at the same depths, despite the greater minimum quantum requirements, has a larger functional optical cross section and enhanced absorption of available visible radiation, resulting in a greater maximum photosynthetic capacity. Based on polyp size, corallite structure, and surface area considerations, M. faveolata appears to depend on photoautotrophy versus heterotrophy to a greater extent than its congener, M. cavernosa. Recent data suggest, however, that polyp size alone may not be a good indicator for differences in trophic strategies and that coordinated studies on feeding and productivity in corals are needed to better understand their ecological distributions.
Cancer and age in the USA

Cancer in the older person has become an increasingly common problem with the aging of the population. The goal of this paper is to review the influence of age on cancer biology and cancer management. Specific interactions of cancer and aging include: Increased incidence of cancer with the age: This association may be reported to three factors: duration of carcinogenesis; increased susceptibility of older tissues to late stage carcinogens, and systemic effects of aging, including immune-senescence and enhanced cytokine production. Biological behavior of cancer: With aging, the prognosis of certain neoplasms, including acute myelogenous leukemia and large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma worsens, whereas the behavior of other tumors becomes more indolent. In these biologic variations one may recognize both a 'seed" effect (different tumor cells) and a "soil" effect (different ways in which the older tumor host handles tumor growth. Goals of prevention and treatment: Given the limited life-expectancy of older individuals and reduced tolerance of clinical intervention, the main goal is compression of morbidity, rather than prolongation of survival. Cancer prevention in the older person: In virtue of increased susceptibility to environmental carcinogens, the older person appears an ideal candidate for primary prevention of cancer, including chemoprevention; though randomized controlled studies have not been performed, the older person may benefit from secondary prevention (screening), when the average life-expectancy is 3 years or longer. Cancer treatment: The risk of surgical complications increases only slightly with age for elective surgery, but increases dramatically for emergency surgery. Radiation therapy appears a valuable method of cancer treatment in patients of all ages. Chemotherapy can be made safer by the following provisions: use of hemopoietic growth factors for patients aged 70 and older receiving moderately toxic chemotherapy (CHOP and CHOP-like); maintenance of hemoglobin levels at 12 g/dl with erythropoietin; adjustment of the dose of renally excreted agents to the glomerular filtration rate; selection of the best candidates for chemotherapy based on comprehensive geriatric assessment.
INFLUENCE OF FAMILY CLIMATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN; THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS.

In this discussion I have indicated some of the aspects of the interrelationship between family climate, the familial concept and the climate of therapy that may be helpful to us in our work: 1) A parent's misunderstanding of the child's psyche may disrupt the family. 2) Conversely, the family climate itself may have an adverse effect on the patient's mental health. In fact, there are certain family situations which are so malignant that we cannot help our patient without a knowledge of them. 3) By seeking an understanding of a patient's children as well as his parents, we may be able to expedite a cure. 4) As family members, our patients are part of a biological organism in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The concept of role-playing within this structure is particularly important in today's changing world. 5) The climate in therapy is crucial in the effectiveness of the therapeutic process.
Techniques for managing very large scientific databases

Discusses issues relating to the state of the art in scientific data management. Management of scientific data sets or databases is reviewed. The generic science requirements, as well as a case example that drives the underlying data management system architecture are explored, showing current technology limitations. A concept of intelligent information fusion with sufficient detail on how to integrate advanced technologies to enhance scientific production, is presented. Emphasis is on user interfaces, spatial data structure, uses of neural networks for extracting information from scientific imagery, uses of object-oriented database management systems, animation, and visualization techniques. >
Stability of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-Hydroxy-THC, and 11-Nor-9-carboxy-THC in Blood and Plasma

The stabilities of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and two of its metabolites, 11-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (HO-THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (COOH-THC), were determined in blood and plasma stored at -10 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and room temperature. Each of the cannabinoids was added to freshly-drawn blood and plasma to give concentrations of 20 ng/mL. Two-mL aliquots were stored in silanized tubes and the cannabinoid concentrations were monitored by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry over a 6-month period. No significant changes were observed in the concentrations of the cannabinoids for the first month of storage. However, the concentrations of THC and HO-THC in blood stored at room temperature had decreased significantly at 2 months. No statistically significant changes were detected in cannabinoid concentrations in plasma or blood stored at 4 degrees or -10 degrees C for up to 4 months. After 6 months at room temperature, the blood concentrations of THC and HO-THC had decreased by 90 and 44%, respectively, whereas the concentration of COOH-THC was not significantly different from the control. The possibility of loss of cannabinoids from blood due to adsorption onto the grey stoppers used in Venoject tubes was also investigated. Over a 24-hr period, no significant differences were detected in any of the cannabinoid concentrations regardless of sample size (1.3 or 8 mL), differences in temperature (-10 degrees C, 4 degrees C, or room temperature), or extent of contact with the tube's stoppers.
The Modigliani-Miller Theorem and Entrepreneurial Firms: An Overview

This volume is a timely kick-off to the next fifty years of this important research agenda, where entrepreneurial firms will be front and center.
31P NMR spectroscopy of an experimentally induced intracerebral tumor in mice

31P surface coil NMR spectroscopy was used to evaluate in vivo high-energy phosphorus metabolism in the brains of mice with experimentally induced primary intracranial and subcutaneous KHT sarcomas. 31P spectra of subcutaneous KHT tumors revealed a lack of detectable phosphocreatine (PCr) levels in the tumor as compared to the relatively high endogenous levels of PCr in normal mouse brain. As the intracerebral tumor size increased, there was a reduction in spectral PCr levels over a 23-day postinoculation period in situ in the brain. No histologic or spectroscopic evidence of tumor-associated necrosis or hypoxia was found. This study demonstrates that surface coil 31P NMR spectroscopy can be used to monitor changes in high-energy phosphate metabolism associated with progressive growth of an experimentally induced mouse brain tumor in situ.
Community perceptions of carbon sequestration: insights from California

Over the last decade, many energy experts have supported carbon sequestration as a viable technological response to climate change. Given the potential importance of sequestration in US energy policy, what might explain the views of communities that may be directly impacted by the siting of this technology? To answer this question, we conducted focus groups in two communities who were potentially pilot project sites for California's DOE-funded West Coast Regional Partnership (WESTCARB). We find that communities want a voice in defining the risks to be mitigated as well as the justice of the procedures by which the technology is implemented. We argue that a community's sense of empowerment is key to understanding its range of carbon sequestration opinions, where 'empowerment' includes the ability to mitigate community-defined risks of the technology. This sense of empowerment protects the community against the downside risk of government or corporate neglect, a risk that is rarely identified in risk assessments but that should be factored into assessment and communication strategies.
The “Isms” in Totalitarianism.

A major theme in political literature since the nineteen fifties has been a “unitotalitarian” approach to the study of modern dictatorships. The principal totalitarian “isms”—Fascism, Nazism and Communism—have been viewed as examples of one common species, containing no doubt some variations and differences; but practically, or operationally, the divergencies have been thought considerably less important than the similarities. The emphasis has been heavily on the structure and methods underlying the exercise of political control by the “Leader” and the “Party.” In what is undoubtedly the outstanding modern study of the subject, Friedrich and Brzezinski have attempted to extrapolate predictive hypotheses from the common pattern of totalitarian dictatorship expressed in a familiar syndrome of six interrelated characteristics.
The cell wall-associated kinase (WAK) and WAK-like kinase gene family.

We have identified a large family of genes with sequence similarity to the cell wall-associated kinase ( WAK ) genes ([He et al., 1999][1]). Like the WAK s, these genes exist in multiple gene clusters, and our analyses suggest that they encode functional protein kinases that are associated with the