cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utilization of a pressure sensor guidewire to measure bileaflet mechanical valve gradients: Hemodynamic and echocardiographic sequelae

Suspected prosthetic valve dysfunction is a difficult clinical problem, because of the high risk of repeat valvular surgery. Echocardiographic measurements of prosthetic valvular dysfunction can be misleading, especially with bileaflet valves. Direct measurement of trans-valvular gradients is problematic because of potentially serious catheter entrapment issues. We report a case in which a high-fidelity pressure sensor angioplasty guidewire was used to cross prosthetic mitral and aortic valves in a patient, with hemodynamic and echocardiographic assessment. This technique was safe and effective, refuting the inaccurate non-invasive tests that over-estimated the aortic valvular gradient.
Endoscopic ultrasonography: The current status

The ability to image the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with endoscopically placed ultrasound transducers represents a major advance in endoscopic imaging. Although the original instruments were designed to examine areas of the upper GI tract not seen with transabdominal ultrasonography, the effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has recently been demonstrated for a variety of upper GI disorders. The role of EUS has been expanded with the introduction of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of mural, extramural, and pancreatic lesions. This technique has also been used for several therapeutic applications.
Data processing people — Are they satisfied/dissatisfied with their jobs?

Job satisfaction of 202 data processing personnel as assessed by the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) are presented. Comparisons of twenty job satisfaction levels are made for these DP personnel and other studies of accountants and engineers utilizing the MSQ. Satisfaction with Advancement and Compensation was particularly low for the DP personnel. When compared with accountants and engineers, these DP personnel consistently reported lower job satisfaction. DP operations personnel reported lower job satisfaction than the other DP functional groups.
Effects of High-Fidelity Virtual Training Simulators on Learners' Self-Efficacy

Perceptions of one's ability to perform a task, or self-efficacy, is one aspect of the multifaceted nature of an individual's identity. It is generally accepted that having a high perceived self-efficacy about a certain task can lead to positive performance outcomes. Bandura (1977) has suggested that efficacy influences and expectations can come from four sources: personal performance accomplishments; vicarious experiences; verbal persuasion; and emotional arousal. Trainers and training agencies use a variety of simulations and simulators to provide learners with valuable and necessary training experiences. This mixed methods study explored the influence of one high-fidelity virtual training simulator on the learners' self-efficacy. Participants in this study were recruits enrolled in a law enforcement academy. Data were collected through pre-and post-simulation-use surveys that combined general self-efficacy questions (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995) and task-specific self-efficacy questions (Bandura, 1977, 1997, 2006; Bandura, Adams, Hardy, & Howells, 1980), observations of participants using the simulator, and post simulator interviews. The most prominent theme that emerged from the data was emotional arousal due to the realism of the virtual environment. Emotional arousal seemed to impact both their perceived self-efficacy and task performance; yet, despite the variety of emotional arousal they experienced, the participants perceived their training in the high-fidelity virtual training simulator as valuable.
Threshold Temperature Sensors with Tunable Properties

Thermochromic polymer/dye blends based on small amounts (0.6-2.3 wt.-%) of chromogenic sensor dyes and glassy amorphous polymers were prepared. Subjecting melt-processed, quenched blends to temperatures above T g leads to permanent and pronounced changes of their absorption and fluorescence spectra as a result of phase separation and assembly of dye aggregates. The influence of dye structure and polymer T g on the aggregation kinetics of these blends was investigated. It is shown that increasing the length of the dye's rigid core leads to slower aggregation rates due to limited mobility in the polymer. The threshold of the color change can be tailored by adjusting the polymer T g , as was shown by the systematic investigation of blends based on poly(alkyl methacrylate) copolymers of varying composition.
Radar measurement of L-band signal fluctuations caused by propagation through trees

Fluctuations of an L-band, horizontally polarized signal that was transmitted from the ground through a coniferous forest canopy to an airborne radar are examined. The azimuth synthetic aperture radar (SAR) impulse response in the presence of the measured magnitude fluctuations shows increased sidelobes over the case with no trees. Statistics of the observed fluctuations are similar to other observations. >
Powerfully Solvating Matrices for MALDI-TOF Spectroscopy of Aromatic Polyesters

The starting premise of this work was that matrices containing powerfully solvating groups would enhance the quality of MALDI-TOF spectra of condensation polymers. The solvating groups in these matrices would pry the polymer aggregates apart and make it easy for individual ionized polymer molecules to “fly”. Ten polyfluorinated azobenzenes and stilbenes were synthesized. The laser desorption ionization spectra of the pure fluorinated matrices show the formation of radical cations (M•+) and anions (M•-) in addition to the more conventional [M + H]+ and [M−H]- ions. Dimerization followed by loss of fluorine is also observed. The effectiveness of these compounds as MALDI matrices was tested with four aromatic polyesters: poly(3-ethyleneoxybenzoate) (3EOB), Vectra, poly(1,4-dimethylenecyclohexane terephthalate) (CHDT), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The azobenzene-containing matrices were much better than their stilbene analogues and gave good quality positive ion spectra, better than those obtained...
In vitro and in vivo phenotypes resulting from deletion of the high temperature requirement A (htrA) gene from the bovine vaccine strain Brucella abortus S19

An htrA deletion mutant was created in the bovine vaccine strain, B. abortus S19, by replacing the majority of the htrA gene with a kanamycin resistance gene. Antibiotic selection for a double crossover event yielded kanamycin-resistant, ampicillin-sensitive colonies confirmed by Southern and western blot analysis to be HtrA deficient. The B. abortus S19 htrA mutant was significantly more susceptible than the parental strain to killing by H2O2 (P < 0.001) and O(2)- generated by the redox cycling agent paraquat (P < 0.05) in disk sensitivity assays. Deletion of the htrA gene from S19 produced a bimodal effect on the spleen colonization profile of this strain in BALB/c mice. At one week post-infection, the B. abortus S19 htrA mutant colonized the spleens of experimentally infected BALB/c mice at significantly lower levels (P < 0.01) than the parental strain. Enhanced clearance (P < 0.05) was also observed at later timepoints, i.e. 4 and 7 weeks post infection, however at 2 and 3 weeks post infection, the mutant and parental strains colonized the mice at equivalent levels. The temporal development of specific delayed type hypersensitivity and antibody responses in BALB/c mice infected with the mutant or parental strain were equivalent. These results suggest that the htrA gene product contributes to successful host colonization by S19. However, deletion of this gene does not radically alter the overall, characteristic spleen colonization profile of this vaccine strain in the BALB/c mouse model, nor compromise the capacity of this strain to elicit Brucella cellular or humoral immune responses in this experimental host.
Supranuclear Gaze Palsy in Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

• Seven affected individuals from three generations in a kindred having over 250 members were identified as having possible, probable, or definite Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Spongiform encephalopathy was found at postmortem examination in two cases. Detailed inpatient neurological examinations were performed on four of the subjects, three of whom were first observed with supranuclear gaze paralysis, gait ataxia, and rapidly progressive dementia. Supranuclear gaze paresis can be seen as an early feature of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, although it has been regarded as a late sign. In this, the largest reported kindred of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, most of the affected patients were farmers. Possible modes of infection are discussed.
A Scale Dependent Simulation of Liquid Lubricated Textured Surfaces

Over the past few years, the importance of nanoscale technology in industries, such as data storage, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMs), and conventional sliding and rolling element bearings, has increased significantly. This is due to increased performance criteria and emerging technologies at smaller scales. One way to increase tribological performance of such applications is through nanoscale surface texturing. These textures will allow for precise control of the performance of lubricated surfaces with very thin films. This work examines how the behavior of the lubricant changes as the geometry of the texture is decreased toward the nanoscale. This work uses existing scale dependent lubrication theories to model the hydrodynamic lubrication of textured surfaces in attempt to predict how nanoscale textures will perform. The theoretical results show that the scale effects of a lubricant between textured surfaces can decrease the load carrying capacity while also decreasing the friction force. Overall, the friction force decreases more than the load carrying capacity and so the effective friction coefficient is decreased. It should be noted that relative to larger scale textured surfaces, the load support can also decrease with the decreasing scale of the texture. DOI: 10.1115/1.4001105
Pyocele of scrotum: Consequence of spontaneous rupture of testicular abscess

We report 2 cases of spontaneous rupture of the testis secondary to suppurative epididymo-orchitis. Both cases presented with pyoceles and were treated conservatively by scrotal incision and drainage of the pyoceles. This prolonged hospital stay and increased morbidity, since both patients ultimately required orchiectomy. We believe that a pyocele is an indication for prompt surgical exploration, and if the testis is ruptured, an orchiectomy should be done.
Energy Balance of a Typical U.S. Diet.

Today’s agriculture provides an ever increasing population with sufficient quantities of food. During food production, processing, handling and transportation, an amount of energy is invested into the various products. An energy analysis of a typical American diet provides policy makers, farmers and the public with the necessary information to evaluate and make informed decisions as to how to improve the efficient use of energy. At the same time, an informed consumer may become energy conscious and be able to make dietary choices based on food energy balance. This paper studies the energy sequestered in a typical American diet as defined in Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Statistics Division (FAOSTAT). The amount of energy incorporated in this diet of 3628 kcal (15.18 MJ) per person and day to produce, transport, handle and process the foods is calculated and found to have approximately 39.92 GJ (9.54 Gcal) sequestered per person and year. It is shown that a diet in line with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommendation of around 2100 kcal (8.79 MJ) per day person will result in a reduction of energy inputs by 42% on an annual basis. This reduction for the whole population of the United States of America (USA), corresponds to approximately 879 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) savings. Energy efficiency for the food categories studied varies from 3.4% to 56.5% with an average of 21.7%. Food energy efficiency can be further improved in some food categories through either a reduction of energy inputs or yield increase.
Developmental expression patterns of Beta-ig (βIG-H3) and its function as a cell adhesion protein

Abstract Beta-ig is a secretory protein embodied by fasciclin I-like repeats containing sequences that might bind integrins and glycosaminoglycans in vivo. Expression of Beta-ig is responsive to Transforming Growth Factor-β and the protein is found to be associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, implicating Beta-ig as an ECM adhesive protein of developmental processes. The spatiotemporal distribution of Beta-ig during various stages of murine development was examined and its ability to support adhesion of various cell types assessed. In situ hybridization of mouse embryos (E12.5–E18.5) indicated a prominent, distinct expression pattern for Beta-ig message in connective tissue. Beta-ig transcripts were abundantly expressed during mesenchymal cell condensation in areas of axial, craniofacial and appendicular primordial cartilage from E12.5–E14.5. Beginning at E15.5, Beta-ig transcripts appeared in collagen-rich tissues, including dura mater and corneal stroma. During E16.5–E18.5, Beta-ig transcripts were observed in proliferating chondrocytes and areas of endochondral ossification in joint and articular cartilage formation. Connective tissues expressed Beta-ig transcripts within the nasal septum and surrounding cartilage primordia, and in the pericardium, optic cup, kidney, ovary, esophagus, diaphragm, bronchi, trachea and corneal epithelium, and during cardiac valve formation. These patterns of expression indicate that Beta-ig may be involved in tissue morphogenesis. Cells derived from mesenchyme attached onto a substratum comprised of purified recombinant Beta-ig. Taken together, the results indicate that Beta-ig is expressed principally in collagen-rich tissues where it may interact with cells and ECM molecules, perhaps playing a role in tissue morphogenesis.
Selection of a gas chromatographic material for use in explosive vapor preconcentration

Abstract The effectiveness of vapor detectors can be enhanced by the addition of a preconcentrator which collects explosives molecules and releases tis concentrated sample to the detector for analysis. Candidate preconcentrator materials for detector applications were evaluated using a gas chromatograph and a commercial explosives vapor detector. The saturation time and release temperature for nine materials were obtained using ethylene glycol dinitrate and 2,4-dinitrotoluene explosives. Based on these data, the best candidate for use in a thin-screen preconcentrator for the above explosives in OV-275.
Authentication by name or by registration

It turns out that the World Wide Web is not as secure as we once thought or at least hoped. In this talk, we review the security mechanisms, digital certificates and passwords, that we have been using to make the Web secure, and then argue, that despite these mechanisms, the web remains vulnerable to human mistakes and Phishing and Pharming attacks.
Dynamic residual property predictions for laminated composite structures: FE-based internal state variable approach

Abstract An incremental dynamic response finite element (FE) based formulation serves to model the initiation and progression of damage in laminated composite structures. A direct integration algorithm is utilized and equilibrium iterations are performed on a ply-by-ply basis. An internal state variable approach (ISV) provides the means to represent intralaminar crack distributions. The numerical approach presented here provides a representation of stiffness variation that compares more favorably with experiment than does the more commonly utilized ply discount method. This approach is combined with stress based criteria to account for interior delaminations and fiber fracture failure modes. A shear deformable finite element formulation is used to obtain results. In-plane stresses are obtained from the constitutive equations while solution of the equilibrium equations yields the transverse stress variation. Results are obtained for a number of beam/plate geometries subjected to transient dynamic loading conditions.
Defining Financial Conflicts and Managing Research Relationships: An Analysis of University Conflict of Interest Committee Decisions

Despite a decade of federal regulation and debate over the appropriateness of financial ties in research and their management, little is known about the actual decision-making processes of university conflict of interest (COI) committees. This paper analyzes in detail the discussions and decisions of three COI committees at three public universities in California. University committee members struggle to understand complex financial relationships and reconcile institutional, state, and federal policies and at the same time work to protect the integrity of the scientific process, the autonomy and intellectual freedom of their faculty colleagues and students, and the financial interests of the university.
Deflecting earth-threatening asteroids using the solar collector: An improved model

Abstract The solar collector (SC) is a proposed method of altering the solar orbits of Earth-threatening asteroids. A jet of material, energized by concentrated sunlight, would alter the asteroid's trajectory as a consequence of Newton's Third Law. A model, first applied during a 2007 NASA study, is further developed and applied to various classes of asteroids. Calculated jet velocities compare favorably with measurements of comet-tail ejection velocities. One of the parameters of the refined model is the electromagnetic (EM) penetration depth in the asteroid surface material. Measurements of EM penetration depth in a sample of the Allende meteorite are reported and applied to the calculations. The model predicts that the SC will be most effective in diverting asteroids rich in water ice, marginal in the case of silicate-rich asteroids and ineffective in the diversion of iron-rich asteroids. It is not impossible that the SC could be employed in efforts to steer very small ice-rich asteroids into high Earth orbit for purposes of resource retrieval. Possible limitations on SC lifetime caused by energized-jet material impacting on optical surfaces, results of other model studies and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Simultaneous Ionization and Excitation of Neon by Electron Impact

The simultaneous ionization and excitation cross sections by electron impact for the $3p$, $3d$, and $4s$ levels in neon of the $^{3}P$, $^{1}D$, and $^{1}S$ cores have been examined. The excitation functions were quite broad. In all, over 100 optical cross sections have been measured and over 50 excitation functions from threshold to 1000 eV were obtained. The cascade lines from the $3d$ and $4s$ levels of the various cores were very weak, with some at the limit of detectability. The error of these cascade cross sections ranges from 10 to 50%. The direct-excitation cross sections were obtained for the $3p$ levels of the three cores. Polarization effects were examined and only three levels exhibited any polarization; these were less than 10%. There are no previous experimental measurements of these cross sections. The branching ratios obtained by experiment and calculation have been compared with those yielded by our work. These branching ratios, the lack of strong lines between doublet and quartet levels, and the general tendency of the quartet excitation functions to be more peaked than the doublets leads us to accept the $(^{3}P)3p$ levels as being well designated by $\mathrm{LS}$ coupling. In conjunction with this and the exceptionally broad excitation functions, it appears that the ionization cross section influences the energy dependence of the simultaneous ionization and excitation cross section. The high-energy portion of the excitation functions tended to bear this out as well. The sudden-perturbation approximation has been applied to several of the $3p$ levels; its numerical values for the cross sections were two or three times greater than the experimental values. The cross section of most observed levels falls off with electron energy $E$ as ${E}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Theory tends to indicate a $\frac{(\mathrm{ln}E)}{E}$ dependence at high energy.
Localized therapeutic release via an amine-functionalized poly-p-xylene microfilm device.

Developing biocompatible polymeric platforms for drug delivery with enhanced localized activity represents a key facet of advanced interventional therapy. In this work, the drug-eluting potential of an amine-functionalized poly-p-xylene commonly known as Parylene A (4-amino(2,2)paracyclophane) was conducted with the microfilm device consisting of a primary base layer, drug film, and a secondary eluting layer presenting exposed amine groups which enhance the range of modifications that can be incorporated into the film. The murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 served as a cellular response to dexamethasone, a synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid and doxorubicin, an anticancer therapeutic. Decreased expression of NFκ-B-mediated cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFα), resultant DNA fragmentation, and spectroscopic analysis revealed the efficient and localized drug-eluting properties of the Parylene A polymeric bilayer.
Prescription Coverage, Use and Spending Before and After Part D Implementation: A National Longitudinal Panel Study

BACKGROUND In January 2006, 43 million Medicare beneficiaries became eligible for subsidized prescription coverage (Part D) through Medicare. To date, no longitudinal study has afforded information on beneficiaries’ prescription coverage transitions and corresponding changes in prescription use and spending.
Nonparametric Statistical Inference (2nd ed.)

The book review section generally accepts for review only those books whose content and level reflect the general editorial policy of Technometrics. Publishers are invited to send books for review to Eric R. Ziegel, Amoco Research Center, P.O. Box 400, Naperville, IL 60566. Please include the price of the book. The opinions expressed in this section are those of the reviewers and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff or the sponsoring societies. book review section gen rally accepts for review only those s whose content and lev l refl ct the general ditorial policy f
A high-speed polar-symmetric imager for real-time calibration of rotational inertial sensors

We present a high-speed (> 1kfps), circular, CMOS imaging array for contact-less, optical measurement of rotating inertial sensors. The imager is designed for real-time optical readout and calibration of a MEMS accelerometer revolving at greater than 1000rpm. The imager uses a uniform circular arrangement of pixels to enable rapid imaging of rotational objects. Furthermore, each photodiode itself is circular to maintain uniform response throughout the entire revolution. Combining a high frame rate and a uniform response to motion, the imager can achieve sub-pixel resolution (25nm) of the displacement of microscale features. In order to avoid fixed pattern noise arising from non-uniform routing within the array we implemented a new global shutter technique that is insensitive to parasitic capacitance. To ease integration with various MEMS platforms, the system has SPI control, on-chip bias generation, sub-array imaging, and digital data read-out.
Random sampling and greedy sparsification for matroid optimization problems

Random sampling is a powerful tool for gathering information about a group by considering only a small part of it. We discuss some broadly applicable paradigms for using random sampling in combinatorial optimization, and demonstrate the effectiveness of these paradigms for two optimization problems on matroids: finding an optimum matroid basis and packing disjoint matroid bases. Application of these ideas to the graphic matroid led to fast algorithms for minimum spanning trees and minimum cuts. An optimum matroid basis is typically found by agreedy algorithm that grows an independent set into an optimum basis one element at a time. This continuous change in the independent set can make it hard to perform the independence tests needed by the greedy algorithm. We simplify matters by using sampling to reduce the problem of finding an optimum matroid basis to the problem of verifying that a givenfixed basis is optimum, showing that the two problems can be solved in roughly the same time. Another application of sampling is to packing matroid bases, also known as matroid partitioning. Sampling reduces the number of bases that must be packed. We combine sampling with a greedy packing strategy that reduces the size of the matroid. Together, these techniques give accelerated packing algorithms. We give particular attention to the problem of packing spanning trees in graphs, which has applications in network reliability analysis. Our results can be seen as generalizing certain results from random graph theory. The techniques have also been effective for other packing problems. © 1998 The Mathematical Programming Society, Inc. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Masseteric and digastric reflex activity during conditioned sensorimotor rhythm.

Abstract 1. 1. Cats were trained to generate sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) (a synchronized EEG pattern of 12–14 c/sec recorded from the sigmoid gyrus) in order to obtain milk reinforcement. 2. 2. Masseteric and digastric reflexes evoked at 2/sec were monitored separately but continuously as the animals were maintained on their conditioning schedules. 3. 3. Episodes of conditioned SMR occurred during periods of behavioral immobility and alternated with episodes of desynchronized EEG activity related to attention to and the consumption of a milk reward. 4. 4. During SMR small amplitude masseteric reflexes were depressed. Large amplitude reflexes were not decreased, however. There was no consistent relationship between the presence of SMR and the amplitude of the digastric reflex. 5. 5. Masseteric reflex suppression during SMR and the lack of any change in the digastric reflex may be due to the fact that the former is monosynaptic and the latter polysynaptic, making inhibition (or defacilitation) susceptible to masking by excitation along the polysynaptic path. Alternately, it may be that whatever processes promote decrease in masseteric reflex amplitude act on the spindle and gamma motoneuron system, which are not present in the digastric reflex arc. 6. 6. It was suggested that suppression of the masseteric reflex during SMR reflects a reduction of afferent excitatory input to the monosynaptic connection, paralleling or being produced by reduced cortical discharge. Strong reflex evocation, then, would compensate for this reduced input and thereby mask the apparent “inhibitory effect”, which may be more realistically related to defacilitation occurring during the “idling” cortical state of SMR.
The expression of early resistance to an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis by old mice is dependent on IFN type II (IFN-γ) but not IFN type I

Old mice can express a transient early resistance to infection with M. tuberculosis that requires the presence of CD8 T cells within the lungs. Further characterization of those CD8 T cells within the aged lung established that the majority of CD8 T cells from old mice expressed the IL-15 receptor (CD122) in combination with bright expression of CD44 (CD44(hi)), and were capable of producing IFN-gamma after T cell receptor cross-linking. It has been previously described that CD8 CD44(hi) T cells proliferate in response to IFN-I, acting via IL-15, and therefore we determined whether IFN-I signaling could be a participant in the response of CD8 T cells within the lungs of old mice infected with M. tuberculosis. We demonstrate here that IFN-I signaling was required for the expansion of CD8 T cells within the aging lung in response to infection with M. tuberculosis, but that IFN-I signaling had no influence on the capacity of old mice to express early resistance to an infection with M. tuberculosis. Resident CD8 T cells were still however capable of producing IFN-gamma, which we demonstrate here to be critical in the expression of early resistance, suggesting that the expression of early resistance requires the participation, but not expansion, of the CD8 T cell pool within the aging lung.
Binary protein adsorption on gel-composite ion-exchange media

The adsorption kinetics of mixtures of lysozyme and cytochrome-C on S-HyperD-M, a cation exchanger composed of a rigid macroporous silica matrix whose pores are filled with a functionalized polyacrylamide gel, was characterized. Single-component isotherms were found to follow approximately the steric mass-action law of Brooks and Cramer, and an extension of this model to a binary system was consistent with two-component uptake equilibrium results. Transient adsorption experiments were done to investigate the kinetics of sequential and simultaneous adsorption of the two proteins. At low protein concentrations, adsorption is essentially noncompetitive, and mass transfer is controlled by the external film resistance. At higher concentrations, equilibrium becomes competitive and coupling of the intraparticle diffusion fluxes occurs. A model based on a Maxwell–Stefan approach, where the driving force for diffusion is expressed in terms of the chemical potential gradient, was in approximate agreement with the experimental results.
Supraventricular Tachycardia After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Atrial arrhythmias occur commonly after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Initial conservative management with medical therapy and cardioversion is reasonable, particularly in the early period (first 3 months) after ablation, because many of these arrhythmias remit over time. However, definitive therapy with ablation may be required, depending on the clinical circumstances, and should focus on the putative mechanism of tachycardia and its likely location, both of which can be suggested by the initial AF ablation strategy. Response to pacing, entrainment, and electroanatomic activation mapping are useful to confirm the mechanism, define complex circuits, and guide ablation targets.
The Constraint of Race: The Legacies of White Skin Privilege in America

The Constraint of Race: The Legacies of White Skin Privilege in America. By Linda Faye Williams. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2003. 440p. 27.95 paper.Linda Faye Williams's book seeks to identify “how, when and why American social policy became fused with the politics of race” and what that has meant for the development and evolution of the welfare state in the United States. The author's central argument is that the welfare state was “grafted onto preexisting conditions of race relations,” and the long-term consequence of this grafting is that even today, the organization of social policy in the United States continues to reproduce advantages for whites and disadvantages for many people of color. Further, as social welfare policy institutionalizes white advantage, this in turn tends to block movement in the direction of more universalistic social policy (p. 14). Williams supports this contention by revisiting the political history of social welfare policy, from just after the Civil War up to the Clinton administration's efforts at welfare “reform” in 1996.
PCR amplification of HIV-1 proteinase sequences directly from lab isolates allows determination of five conserved domains.

Abstract HIV-1 replication requires limited proteolysis of gag and gag-pol encoded precursor proteins by a specific viral proteinase (PR). Sequences of 20 different HIV-1 strains were compared in order to determine regions of conservation and variability within the PR gene. Viral strains included: (a) five new ones derived from New Orleans patient isolates, (b) four established ones grown in our laboratory, (c) eight, whose sequences were published in the Los Alamos Data Base (1990), (d) one Ugandan, and (e) two Brazilian isolates. In the first two groups, HIV proviral DNA extracted from infected lymphocytes was grown in tissue culture and directly amplified by PCR using specific primers flanking the PR gene. Amplified DNA was directly sequenced using a modified di-deoxy sequencing procedure. Sequence data showed a 25% variation among the 20 different HIV strains studied at the amino acid level, including 8% nonconservative changes and 17% conservative changes. Moreover, five noncontiguous regions were able to be delineated in which the PR showed no amino acid changes. These areas included amino acids (I) 1–9 (amino terminal sequence); (II) 21–32 (sequence around the active site); (III) 47–56 (top of the flap); (IV) 78–88; and (V) 94–99 (carboxy terminal sequence). Our results are consistent with those obtained from X-ray crystallography studies as well as single site mutational analysis.
Application of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive air samplers

The semipermeable membrane device (SPMD), consisting of a neutral lipid (triolein) enclosed in polyethylene layflat tubing, is demonstrated to be a highly efficient passive air sampler. These devices readily sequester lipophilic organic contaminants from the vapor phase. Specifically, the SPMDs are shown to concentrate polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues from a laboratory atmosphere in a linear manner through 28 days. Under the conditions of this study, a three device composite (1.4 g triolein) extracted PCB residues from ≈ 7 m3 of air per day.
The Effect of Mercurial Diuretics on the Excretion of Water

In experiments on 11 normal subjects and on three dogs it has been observed that mercurial diuretics do not prevent the stimulation of water absorption and formation of hypertonic urine which characteristically follows the infusion of Pitressin. Furthermore mercurial diuretics only rarely increase urine flow when administered in the course of maximal water diuresis. These two facts are interpreted as meaning that the diuretic agents have no primary effect on the reabsorption of water. Rather, increased urine flow results secondarily from increased elimination of ions.
Striatal projections from the rat lateral posterior thalamic nucleus

The dorsocentral striatum (DCS) has been implicated as an associative striatal area receiving inputs from several cortical areas including medial agranular cortex (AGm), posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and visual association cortex to form a cortical-subcortical circuit involved in directed attention and neglect. The lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (LP) may also play a role in directed attention and neglect because LP has robust reciprocal connections with these cortical areas and projects to DCS. We used anterograde axonal tracing to map thalamostriatal projections from LP and surrounding thalamic nuclei, with a focus on projections to DCS. The thalamic nuclei investigated included LP, laterodorsal thalamic nucleus (LD), central lateral nucleus (CL), and posterior thalamic nucleus (Po). We found that the mediorostral part of LP (LPMR) projects strongly to DCS as well as to the dorsal peripheral region of the striatum. Further, there is topography within LPMR and DCS such that the far medial LPMR projects to the central region of DCS (projection area of AGm) and the central LPMR projects to the dorsal region of DCS (projection area of PPC and Oc2M). In contrast, the laterorostral part of LP (LPLR) and other thalamic nuclei surrounding LP project to dorsolateral to dorsomedial peripheral regions of the striatum but do not project to DCS. These findings indicate that DCS is a region of convergence for thalamostriatal and corticostriatal projections from regions that are themselves interconnected, serving as the key element of the corticostriatal-thalamic network mediating spatial processing and directed attention.
Variability in the Position and Strength of Winter Jet Stream Cores Related to Northern Hemisphere Teleconnections

Abstract Numerous teleconnections have been identified based upon spatial variability in sea level pressure or lower-tropospheric geopotential height fields. These teleconnections, which are commonly strongest in winter when the mean meridional temperature gradient is large, typically are neither derived from nor linked to changes in the jet stream. Here, winter tropospheric jet stream cores over the Northern Hemisphere (NH) are recovered from 6-hourly gridded data and interannual variability in winter jet core position, speed, and pressure are investigated in the context of NH teleconnections. Common methods for researching jet stream speed and position variability may yield unrepresentative results because jet core pressure variability is ignored (only one isobaric surface is evaluated) or pressure variability effects are smoothed (values are vertically averaged across several isobaric surfaces). In this analysis, data are extracted at the surface of maximum wind, thus controlling for jet core pressure ...
Structure and Properties of Nanocomposites Based on Nylon-11 and -12 Compared with Those Based on Nylon-6

An in-depth analysis was made on the effect of polyamide repeat structure on the morphology and mechanical properties of nanocomposites based on nylon-6, nylon-11, and nylon-12. Special care was taken to make comparisons under fixed thermal and rheological conditions. Increasing the aliphatic content relative to nylon-6 results in a decrease in the extent of organoclay exfoliation as revealed by transmission electron photomicrographs. The extent of platelet separation as judged by low-angle X-ray scattering is more complicated for nylon-11 and -12 nanocomposites than those based on nylon-6 due the presence of crystalline peaks associated with the polyamide matrix. An “exfoliation index” is used to compare stiffness effects observed in the different nanocomposites due to the large difference in the modulus of nylon-6 as compared to nylon-11 and -12. Interestingly, the exfoliation efficiency parallels morphological trends in that nylon-6 exhibits higher efficiencies than the more aliphatic nylon-11 and -12 ...
Geochemistry of Natural Components in the Near-Field Environment, Yucca Mountain, Nevada

The natural near-field environment in and around the emplacement drifts of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, includes the host rock, dust, seepage water, and pore water. The chemical compositions of these components have been analyzed to provide a basis for assessing possible chemical and mineralogical reactions that may occur in and around the emplacement drifts during the heating and cooling cycle. The crystal-poor rhyolite of the Topopah Spring Tuff of Miocene age with an average silica (SiO{sub 2}) content of 76 percent will host the proposed repository. Samples of the rhyolite are relatively uniform in chemical composition as shown by an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 8.6 percent for major elements. The major component of underground dust is comminuted tuff generated during construction of the tunnel. Average CVs for major elements of dust samples collected from the main tunnel (Exploratory Studies Facility, ESF) and a cross drift (Enhanced Characterization of the Repository Block, ECRB) are 25 and 28 percent, respectively. This increased variability is due to a variable amount of dust derived from trachyte with SiO{sub 2} contents as low as 66 percent (from overlying crystal-rich members) and from surface dust with an even lowermore » average SiO{sub 2} content of 60 percent (from the abundance of trachyte in outcrop and carbonate dust derived from nearby ranges). The composition of the water-soluble fraction of dust is of interest with regard to possible salt deliquescence on waste canisters. The nitrate-to-chloride (NO{sub 3}{sup -}/Cl{sup -}) ratio (weight) is used to assess the potential corrosive nature of the salts because an excess of NO{sub 3}{sup -} over Cl{sup -} may inhibit the formation of the more corrosive calcium chloride brines in deliquescing salts. The soluble fractions of dust samples typically have NO{sub 3}{sup -}/Cl{sup -} ratios between 1 and 10. About 30 samples of seepage into the south ramp of the ECRB have an average NO{sub 3}{sup -}/Cl{sup -} of 0.62. Pore water extracted from core samples of the repository host rock has lower NO{sub 3}{sup -}/Cl{sup -}-ratios with an average value of 0.28 and a range over two orders of magnitude. Of all the components of the natural system, pore water has the largest compositional variability with an average CV of 62 percent, and thus, is the most difficult to characterize. Because pore water is extracted from dry-drilled core, its solute content may have been increased by evaporation during drilling, handling, storage, and extraction by ultracentrifugation. Further, microbial activity in the core during storage may reduce the concentration of NO{sub 3}{sup -} thus decreasing the NO{sub 3}{sup -}/Cl{sup -} ratio. Therefore, the more dilute pore water samples might be considered the most representative of native pore water with NO{sub 3}{sup -}/Cl{sup -} ratios close to unity or greater.« less
KNOWING AND NOT KNOWING ABOUT TRAUMA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPY

Levels of awareness for trauma and their consequences for research, treatment, and prevention within professional psychology and society are considered. When people must endure chronically traumatic environments, it may be adaptive to isolate from awareness information that would produce cognitive dissonance and threaten necessary relationships. Unawareness may also facilitate functioning in environments that invalidate the prevalence and impact of trauma. In addition, characteristics of the posttraumatic environment can promote or impede individuals’ awareness of trauma and their psychological functioning. Though often initially adaptive, unawareness for trauma is linked to intergenerational transmission of trauma and its effects and may preclude public and professional attention to trauma treatment and prevention. Understanding the processes through which individuals become unaware or aware of traumatic experience is therefore essential to conducting effective psychotherapy with trauma survivors.
Toxicity of thoracic radiotherapy on pulmonary function in lung cancer

Physiological changes in pulmonary function (PF) as a result of radiation therapy (RT) or radiation therapy plus chemotherapy (RT + CT) for unresectable lung cancer were evaluated in an ongoing prospective study and an attempt was also made to define a guideline which can be used to minimize adverse effect of RT on pulmonary function before RT is given. The study design consisted of: (a) standard overall pulmonary function test (PFT); (b) regional PFT, i.e. a quantitative analysis of regional distribution of ventilation, perfusion and volume using 13N and a positron camera before RT; and (c) follow-up studies of standard PFT every 6 months for 3 years after RT or RT + CT. Predicted post-RT PF prior to RT was calculated by a formula: predicted FEV1 after RT = FEV1 before RT x (1 - an average of the percent of ventilation and perfusion contributed by lung tissue within the RT treatment volume). A total of 267 patients with unresectable, but still potentially curable lung cancer by RT were entered into this study, and 135 patients who were free of recurrence underwent repeat studies. Loss of PF as a result of RT is closely related to the degree of PF reserve prior to RT. Patients with FEV1 > 50% of the predicted showed a statistically significant decrease in FEV1, FVC, MBC, peak expiratory flow rate and DLCO, i.e. a 22% loss of the initial value. Airway resistance was increased by 31%. Two-thirds of this group of patients showed a decrease in PF as predicted by the above formula. For patients with limited PF reserve defined by FEV1 10%) of ventilation and/or perfusion to the uninvolved side of the lung by centrally located primary tumor or involved lymph nodes showed an increase in PF in 60% of patients after RT, and another 20% of patients showed a minor decrease in PF (< 10% of the initial value). Only 20% of these patients showed a decrease in pulmonary function as predicted by regional PF data. Guidelines for minimizing adverse effect of RT on PF, which are based on the initial PF reserve and regional PF data, are presented.
The Effect of Category Choice on Some Ordinal Measures of Association

Abstract Several ordinal measures of association for cross-classification tables are compared with respect to their stability when various grids are placed on a bivariate normal distribution. Kendall's tau b usually fares better than Kendall's tau c, Goodman and Kruskal's gamma, and three extensions of Spearman's rho for cross-classification tables, in terms of approximating an associated measure for ungrouped data. The loss of efficiency of tau b due to grouping in testing the hypothesis of no association is considered and observed to be strongly related to the proportion of tied pairs of observations.
Cetia pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov., a chemolithoautotrophic, thermophilic, nitrate-ammonifying bacterium from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent

A thermophilic, anaerobic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, strain TB-6T, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent located on the East Pacific Rise at 9° N. The cells were Gram-staining-negative and rod-shaped with one or more polar flagella. Cell size was approximately 1–1.5 µm in length and 0.5 µm in width. Strain TB-6T grew between 45 and 70 °C (optimum 55–60 °C), 0 and 35 g NaCl l−1 (optimum 20–30 g l−1) and pH 4.5 and 7.5 (optimum pH 5.5–6.0). Generation time under optimal conditions was 2 h. Growth of strain TB-6T occurred with H2 as the energy source, CO2 as the carbon source and nitrate or sulfur as electron acceptors, with formation of ammonium or hydrogen sulfide, respectively. Acetate, (+)-d-glucose, Casamino acids, sucrose and yeast extract were not used as carbon and energy sources. Inhibition of growth occurred in the presence of lactate, peptone and tryptone under a H2/CO2 (80 : 20; 200 kPa) gas phase. Thiosulfate, sulfite, arsenate, selenate and oxygen were not used as electron acceptors. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of strain TB-6T showed that this organism branched separately from the three most closely related genera, Caminibacter , Nautilia and Lebetimonas , within the family Nautiliaceae . Strain TB-6T contained several unique fatty acids in comparison with other members of the family Nautiliaceae . Based on experimental evidence, it is proposed that the organism represents a novel species and genus within the family Nautiliaceae , Cetia pacifica, gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is TB-6T ( = DSM 27783T = JCM 19563T).
Nitrogenase MoFe protein from Clostridium pasteurianum at 1.08 Å resolution: comparison with the Azotobacter vinelandii MoFe protein

The X-ray crystal structure of the nitrogenase MoFe protein from Clostridium pasteurianum (Cp1) has been determined at 1.08 A resolution by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction phasing. Cp1 and the ortholog from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av1) represent two distinct families of nitrogenases, differing primarily by a long insertion in the α-subunit and a deletion in the β-subunit of Cp1 relative to Av1. Comparison of these two MoFe protein structures at atomic resolution reveals conserved structural arrangements that are significant to the function of nitrogenase. The FeMo cofactors defining the active sites of the MoFe protein are essentially identical between the two proteins. The surrounding environment is also highly conserved, suggesting that this structural arrangement is crucial for nitrogen reduction. The P clusters are likewise similar, although the surrounding protein and solvent environment is less conserved relative to that of the FeMo cofactor. The P cluster and FeMo cofactor in Av1 and Cp1 are connected through a conserved water tunnel surrounded by similar secondary-structure elements. The long α-subunit insertion loop occludes the presumed Fe protein docking surface on Cp1 with few contacts to the remainder of the protein. This makes it plausible that this loop is repositioned to open up the Fe protein docking surface for complex formation.