cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic implications of current age-related macular degeneration treatments.

Purpose To measure the cost versus benefit of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment strategies, existing and proposed, in the postranibizumab era. Design Cost-effectiveness model. Participants None. Methods University with hospital–based practice modeling of clinical examination, imaging, and treatment schedules were constructed considering published protocols where available, or by estimating usual practices. Medicare-allowable reimbursement schedules for a hospital-based, south Florida practice in 2007 were used to calculate costs of treatment. The lines of vision saved were deduced from published reports or using identified assumptions. This information was used to calculate cost per lines saved and, using actuarial tables data, costs per line-year saved were calculated. Main Outcome Measure Cost ($US) per line-year. Results Consensus control values of expected lines loss if untreated (natural history) were established from published reports (2.5 lines at 1 year; 3.5 at 2 years) and photodynamic therapy (2.0 lines at 1 year; 3.0 at 2 years) for use in calculating lines of vision saved in studies without untreated control groups. The cost per line-year for 1 year of treatment ranged from a low of $84 with as-needed bevacizumab to $766 for protocol-style use of ranibizumab. Combination treatment regimens yielded a range of $71 to $269. The pharmaceutical proportion of treatment costs is higher than professional or facility costs, ranging to 83% for protocol-style ranibizumab. Conclusions Pharmaceutical-based treatments of AMD have markedly improved visual outcomes, but also have escalated costs markedly. Treatment regimens involving as-needed dosing, alternate medications, and combination therapy may preserve benefit for substantially lower costs. Disparate safety profiles would require consideration in choosing treatment regimens. Cost-benefit issues must be considered in AMD treatment regimens. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Ultra-Wideband, True-Time-Delay Reflectarray Antennas Using Ground-Plane-Backed, Miniaturized-Element Frequency Selective Surfaces

We introduce a new method for designing low-profile reflectarray antennas with broadband, true-time-delay (TTD) responses. Such structures are composed of numerous reflective spatial time-delay units distributed over a planar surface. Each spatial time-delay unit is a unit cell of a ground-plane-backed miniaturized-element frequency selective surface (MEFSS) composed of nonresonant elements. Each element is a lowpass type MEFSS composed of a stack of nonresonant patches separated from one another by thin dielectric substrates, and the whole structure is backed with a ground plane. A prototype of the proposed MEFSS-based TTD reflectarray with the focal length to aperture diameter ratio $(f/D)$ of 0.87 operating at the center frequency of 10 GHz is designed, fabricated, and experimentally characterized both in time and frequency domains. It is demonstrated that the fabricated TTD reflectarray operates over a bandwidth of 40% without any significant chromatic aberrations. The proposed antenna provides a realized gain of 23 dB when fed with an X-band horn antenna and shows a gain variation of about 4 dB in the 8–12 GHz range. The antenna also shows consistent radiation characteristics and relatively low side-lobe levels across its entire band of operation.
Canine tooth guidance and temporomandibular joint sounds in non-patients and patients.

In 46 non-patients and 46 patients, the authors examined the presence (+) and absence (-) of canine tooth guidance (CG), i.e. dynamic dental articulation events in contrast to static dental occlusion events. During a right and a left laterotrusion of the mandible, the number of simple, mutually exclusive and exhaustive tooth guidance events (possibilities) was four. In addition, the authors examined the associations between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds and canine guidance events. In non-patients, CG+ was relatively infrequent (30%), and CG- was relatively frequent (70%). In patients, CG+ was relatively infrequent (22%), and CG- was relatively frequent (78%). In both non-patients and patients, bilateral CG+ was rather infrequent (15%). In both non-patients and patients with the presence of TMJ sounds, CG+ was relatively infrequent (38%) while CG- was relatively frequent (61%). In non-patients as well as patients, no evidence was found that distal CG+ (putative lateral retrusive guidance) was associated with ipsilateral TMJ sounds (relative risk = 0%), nor that the association between mesial CG+ (putative lateral protrusive guidance) and ipsilateral TMJ sounds was beyond that of mere chance (relative risk = 50%).
School programs to prevent intrafamilial child sexual abuse

The incidence of child sexual abuse would argue for the schools assuming a larger role in the development of preventive and educational programs. Because of the public school system's consistent and longitudinal contact with children and families it is perhaps the most promising institution for the delivery of preventive efforts. This article presents specific suggestions for school-based programs directed toward the prevention of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Further, it is argued that for maximum effectiveness, the support of local parent-teacher organizations be elicited; that educational programs be presented separately for parents and children; and that a variety of programs in concert with the developmental level of participants be presented on topics related to child sexual abuse. Topics regarded as important for prevention efforts are factual information on sexual abuse, appropriate and inappropriate touch, the respective role responsibilities and rights of parents and children, and a sex education approach that stresses the values of nonexploitation and discrimination in the choice of whether to engage in sexual behavior and the choice of partners. Language: en
Importance of Investment Climates for Inflows of Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries

The changing direction of foreign direct investment towards developing countries has been attracting more attention in recent literature. As one possible source of the changing direction of FDI, the relationship between FDI inflows and some indicators of business friendliness (investment climate) of countries is investigated in this paper. The study covers the years from 2004 to 2013 and mainly focuses on developing countries. The results show that countries with better records of doing business tend to receive more FDI inflows. Improvements in the selected ease of doing business indicators, such as starting a business, protecting investors, and easiness of international trade, have a significant explanatory power in determining higher FDI flows to developing countries.
A generalized optimal performance chart for the constant velocity Faraday MHD generator

The well-known performance equations for the constant velocity MHD Faraday generator employing a fluid of constant conductivity are rewritten in terms of a general performance parameter Q. These equations are plotted for various constant values of Q in such a way as to make the resulting plot a general performance chart. From this chart general optimal operating conditions are deduced.
Structures and Technology Encouraging Discussion in Human Sexuality Courses: Strategies to Engage a Range of Students.

Human sexuality courses are common across many college/university campuses. The methods of instruction typically encourage discussion to increase knowledge and critical thinking about self, relationships, and professional pathways. However, often the pedagogical practices do not include methods to draw out students with a range of personalities, backgrounds, and opinions. This is particularly challenging given the nature of the subject matter. The following discusses strategies employed to engage a variety of students through small discussion groups, survey response and backchannel technologies, and guided notes. Student feedback is included to illustrate perceived effectiveness.
Case studies of preservice secondary mathematics teachers' beliefs: Emerging and evolving themes

Case studies were conducted to identify, describe, and compare three preservice teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning mathematics during their initial six months in a teacher education program. The research framework stipulated an inclusive conception of beliefs and used Ernest’s (1989) model to specify the beliefs under investigation. Repertory grid interviews were conducted to elicit emerging themes as the program began and evolving themes six months later. Data included responses to beliefs instruments, interview transcripts, program artifacts, and observation field notes. The researcher was a participant observer in the program.
The Future Course of the Eastern Martial Arts

The Oriental martial arts being taught in the U.S. today, such as taekwondo, are characteristically different from those being taught in the East. The traditional modes of training still used in the East are being ignored by American practitioners. The idea of martial training to achieve artistic excellence is being replaced by the notion of winning a competitive contest. Elements indigenous to taekwondo and other martial arts, such as spiritual development (Zen teachings), awareness of cultural origins, and repetitive drilling are challenged as being impractical. In the United States, emphasis is placed on full contact training, with the focal point being the concept of “winning.” Are these current changes in taekwondo and other Eastern martial arts positively influenced and therefore ideally molded for American society? The following analysis will attempt to answer this question.
Multiple Sex Pheromones of the Codling Moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.)

NUMEROUS sex pheromones of Lepidoptera have now been identified and synthesized. In general, one or two sex pheromones per species have been reported except that three were found in the silkworm moth, Bombyx mori (L.)1. If an insect contains more than one sex pheromone, it is important that they all be detected before undertaking structure determination and synthesis, since a single sex pheromone may be unattractive by itself2,3. Also, even if it were attractive, the presence of undetected sex pheromones would make it possible for the insect to develop resistance to being controlled by trapping.
Adoption of Technology-Mediated Distance Education: A longitudinal analysis

We investigated the factors that facilitated the fast adoption and utilization of Technology-Mediated Distance Education (TMDE) among higher education institutions. Our analysis was based on a rich data set on the utilization of TMDE between the 1997-1998 and 2000-2001 academic years. The analysis showed that size, public/private status, and location significantly predicted its actual adoption. Being in an urban location negatively affected enrollment in the courses at the undergraduate but not at the graduate level. While the intent to adopt TMDE correlated significantly with actual adoption, many schools that were not interested in TMDE in 1997-1998 adopted it by 2000-2001. Interestingly, late adopters utilized certain technologies as frequently as early adopters, such as synchronous Internet-based instruction and the use of CD-ROMs.
Median Nerve Injury and Repair

Median nerve injuries in the forearm are reasonably common and can lead to devastating functional sequelae for the hand if they are not managed in a timely and appropriate fashion. Most nerve lacerations should be repaired soon after injury, and current widespread application of microsurgical techniques should lead to reasonable results in most individuals. Despite these advances, many patients do not have ideal outcomes from injuries to the median nerve and are often left with permanent sequelae. This article will discuss current techniques in the management of median nerve injuries, with the goal of preventing or alleviating the potential negative sequelae of these injuries.
Turbulent Flow Past a Backward-Facing Step: A Critical Evaluation of Two-Equation Models

The ability of two-equation models to accurately predict separated flows is analyzed from a combined theoretical and computational standpoint. Turbulent flow past a backward facing step is chosen as a test case in an effort to resolve the variety of conflicting results that were published during the past decade concerning the performance of two-equation models. It is found that the errors in the reported predictions of the k-epsilon model have two major origins: (1) numerical problems arising from inadequate resolution, and (2) inaccurate predictions for normal Reynolds stress differences arising from the use of an isotropic eddy viscosity. Inadequacies in near wall modelling play a substantially smaller role. Detailed calculations are presented which strongly indicate the standard k-epsilon model - when modified with an independently calibrated anisotropic eddy viscosity - can yield surprisingly good predictions for the backstep problem.
Arrestin-Related Ubiquitin-Ligase Adaptors Regulate Endocytosis and Protein Turnover at the Cell Surface

The diversity of plasma membrane (PM) proteins presents a challenge for the achievement of cargo-specific regulation of endocytosis. Here, we describe a family of proteins in yeast (ARTs, for arrestin-related trafficking adaptors) that function by targeting specific PM proteins to the endocytic system. Two members (Art1 and Art2) of the family were discovered in chemical-genetic screens, and they direct downregulation of distinct amino acid transporters triggered by specific stimuli. Sequence analysis revealed a total of nine ART family members in yeast. In addition to similarity to arrestins, the ARTs each contain multiple PY motifs. These motifs are required for recruitment of the Rsp5/Nedd4-like ubiquitin ligase, which modifies the cargoes as well as the ARTs. As a result, ubiquitinated cargoes are internalized and targeted to the vacuole (lysosome) for degradation. We propose that ARTs provide a cargo-specific quality-control pathway that mediates endocytic downregulation by coupling Rsp5/Nedd4 to diverse plasma membrane proteins.
Origins of the Classical Gene Concept, 1900-1950: Genetics, Mechanistic, Philosophy, and the Capitalization of Agriculture

In the period of “classical genetics” (roughly 1915–1950), the common view of the gene was mechanistic—that is, genes were seen as individual, atomistic units, as material components of the chromosomes. Although it was recognized early on that genes could interact and influence each other’s expression, they were still regarded as individually functioning units, much like the chemists’ atoms or molecules. Although geneticists in particular knew the story was more complex, the atomistic gene remained the central view for a variety of reasons. It fit the growing philosophy of mechanistic materialism in the life sciences, as biologists tried to make their field more quantitative, rigorous, and predictive, like physics and chemistry. Conceptually and pedagogically, it provided a simple way to depict genes (as beads on a string) that fit with the exciting new work on chromosomal mapping. The atomistic gene also fit well with the increasing drive to move capital into agriculture, both for potential patenting purposes and for ease of experimental manipulation and prediction. It is the latter point that the present essay explores most thoroughly. The rise of agriculture as an industrialized process provided a context and material support that fueled much of the rapid growth of genetics in the first half of the 20th century.
Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding rabbit cardiac calsequestrin.

Abstract A cDNA encoding rabbit cardiac calsequestrin was isolated and characterized. The deduced nascent cardiac calsequestrin contains 409 amino acids of which 26% are acidic residues, and had 93% and 67% aa identify with canine cardiac calsequestrin and rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle calsequestrin, respectively. RNA blot analyses indicate that this mRNA is expressed in atrium, ventricle and to a lesser amount in slow-twitch skeletal muscle. This mRNA transcript is not expressed in adult fast-twitch skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, or nonmuscle tissues. Analysis of in vitro skeletal muscle myogenesis using a mouse myoblast cell line C2C12, demonstrates that both cardiac and skeletal calsequestrin isoforms are coproduced during muscle differentiation.
Vibrational properties of AlN grown on (111)-oriented silicon

We study the vibrational spectrum of AlN grown on Si(111). The AlN was deposited using gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. Raman backscattering along the growth c axis and from a cleaved surface perpendicular to the wurtzite c direction allows us to determine the ${E}_{2}^{1},$ ${E}_{2}^{2},$ ${A}_{1}(\mathrm{TO}),$ ${A}_{1}(\mathrm{LO}),$ and ${E}_{1}(\mathrm{TO})$ phonon energies. For a 0.8-\ensuremath{\mu}m-thick AlN layer under a biaxial tensile stress of 0.6 GPa, these are 249.0, 653.6, 607.3, 884.5, and 666.5 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, respectively. By combining the Raman and x-ray diffraction studies, the Raman stress factor of AlN is found to be $\ensuremath{-}6.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.4{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}/\mathrm{GPa}$ for the ${E}_{2}^{2}$ phonon. This factor depends on published values of the elastic constants of AlN, as discussed in the text. The zero-stress ${E}_{2}^{2}$ energy is determined to be $657.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2{\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}.$ Fourier-transform infrared reflectance and absorption techniques allow us to measure the ${E}_{1}(\mathrm{TO})$ and ${A}_{1}(\mathrm{LO})$ phonon energies. The film thickness (from 0.06 to 1.0 \ensuremath{\mu}m) results in great differences in the reflectance spectra, which are well described by a model using damped Lorentzian oscillators taking into account the crystal anisotropy and the film thickness.
A road map to stable, soluble, easily crystallized pentacene derivatives.

A series of 6,13-disubstituted pentacenes, in which the substituents are functionalized ethyne units, were synthesized and analyzed by X-ray crystallography. The resulting pentacene derivatives were highly soluble and oxidatively stable and exhibited a significant amount of π-stacking in the crystal.
Methods for Fabrication of Nanoscale Topography for Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Observations of how controlling the microenvironment of cell cultures can lead to changes in a variety of parameters has lead investigators to begin studying how the nanoenvironment of a culture can affects cells. Cells have many structures at the nanoscale such as filipodia and cytoskeletal and membrane proteins that interact with the environment surrounding them. By using techniques that can control the nanoenvironment presented to a cell, investigators are beginning to be able to mimic the nanoscale topographical features presented to cells by extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, which has precise and repeating nanotopography. The belief is that these nanoscale surface features are important to creating more natural cell growth and function. A number of techniques are currently being used to create nanoscale topographies for cell scaffolding. These techniques fall into two main categories: techniques that create ordered topographies and those that create unordered topographies. Electron Beam lithography and photolithograpghy are two standard techniques for creating ordered features. Polymer demixing, phase separation, colloidal lithography and chemical etching are most typically used for creating unordered surface patterns. This review will give an overview of these techniques and cite observations from experiments carried out using them.
Unusual Hall effect in superconducting MgB 2 films

We have investigated the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the Hall coefficient of two well-characterized superconducting ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ films ${(T}_{c0}=38.0\mathrm{K})$ in both the normal and superconducting states. Our results show that the normal-state Hall coefficient ${R}_{H}$ is positive and increases with decreasing temperature, independent of the applied magnetic field (to 8 T). We find that ${R}_{H}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}T(40--300\mathrm{K})$ and $\mathrm{cot}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{H}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{2}(100--300\mathrm{K}).$ As the sample is cooled below ${T}_{c}(H),$ ${R}_{H}$ decreases rapidly with temperature and changes sign before it reaches zero. The position and magnitude at which ${R}_{H}$ shows a minimum depends on the applied field.
Rad51 uses one mechanism to drive DNA strand exchange in both directions.

The Rad51 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, like its bacterial counterpart RecA, promotes strand exchange between circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in vitro. However, the two proteins differ in the requirement for initiating joint molecules and in the polarity of branch migration. Whereas RecA initiates joint molecules from any type of ends on the dsDNA and branch migration proceeds exclusively in the 5′- to 3′-direction with respect to the single strand DNA substrate, initiation mediated by Rad51 requires a complementary 3′ or 5′ overhanging end of the linear dsDNA and branch migration proceeds in either direction. Here we report that the rates of Rad51-mediated branch migration in either the 5′- to 3′- or 3′- to 5′-directions are affected to the same extent by temperature and MgCl2. Furthermore, branch migration in both directions is equally impeded by insertions of non-homologous sequences in the dsDNA, inserts of 6 base pairs or more being completely inhibitory. We have also found that the preference of strand exchange in the 5′- to 3′-direction does not change if RPA is replaced by Escherichia coli SSB or T4 gene 32 proteins, suggesting that the preference for the direction of strand exchange is intrinsic to Rad51. Based on these results, we conclude that Rad51-promoted branch migration in either direction occurs fundamentally by the same mechanism, quite probably by stabilizing successively formed heteroduplex base pair.
TH‐C‐220‐07: Multi‐Compartmental Tumor Control Probability (TCP) Modeling Based on the Microenvironmental Conditions of a Tumor Sub‐Volume

Purpose: The microenvironment varies throughout a tumor and is known to affect radiotherapy treatment response. In this study, impact of various microenvironmental conditions (currently thought to be critical to treatment response) was evaluated, based on the development of a compartmental TCP model. Methods: The model has three theoretical compartments based on two main microenvironmental factors, proliferation and hypoxia. The model focuses on small ‘tumorlets’ that are assumed to respond independently. The basic assumption is that each tumorlet has a limited capacity to supply cells with oxygen or glucose. The treatment response to the RT was estimated for head and neck cancer using relevant parameter values based on published sources. The tumordose required for a TCP of 50% (TD50) was numerically derived for various growth fractions (GF's), and the effect of alternating fractionation was also evaluated. Results: Generally, the TD50 decreased as the GF increased, with fewer cells in the hypoxic compartments. Due to the tradeoff between repopulation and reoxygenation, there typically exists an optimal fraction size having the lowest TD50 for a given GF. Smaller conventional fraction sizes (2∼3 Gy/fx) were shown to be more effective for GF's in the range of 5∼15%, which is thought to be the biologically relevant range. The effective reoxygenation time was evaluated for a given GF and showed decreasing tendency as GF increases. The effect of overall treatment time on the TD50 was also evaluated and the extra dose required to overcome the longer schedule was estimated to be 0.43 Gy/day using published parameters. Conclusions: In spite of the simplicity of the model, the model reproduces the loss of local control with prolonged treatment time. The model suggests the optimal fractionation schedules may exist which have not been explored.
A new species of Litoria (Anura: Hylidae) from southeastern New Guinea

Abstract: We describe a new species of riparian Litoria from the Cloudy Mountains of southeastern Papua New Guinea. The new species is a member of the Litoria nigropunctata species group and differs from other members of that group in its combination of small size, blunt snout, head wider than long, no vomerine teeth, fingers one-third webbed, red iris, and several aspects of color pattern. The new species is among the smallest members of its genus in New Guinea and apparently can be distinguished readily from all other Papuan (New Guinea and surrounding islands) Litoria by its iris color alone. The sole female has many small, white ova, but exact reproductive mode for the species remains uncertain.
Single Lung Transplantation for Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Single lung transplantation (SLT) has been considered physiologically inappropriate for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been postulated that the high static compliance and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance of the native lung functioning in parallel with the more normal allografted lung could cause unacceptable ventilation-perfusion mismatching and/or overinflation of the native lung with encroachment on the expansion of the transplanted lung. While some degree of ventilation-perfusion imbalance may be physiologically obligatory after SLT for COPD, a significant disruption in gas exchange may not occur unless a complication, such as rejection or infection, arises in the transplanted lung. A 60-year-old man with COPD who underwent successful SLT is presented and discussed. In spite of scintigraphic evidence of ventilation-perfusion mismatching between the native lung and the allograft during the first six postoperative weeks, the recipient had normal resting gas exchange on room air after the second postoperative week. Fourteen weeks after transplantation, his maximum oxygen uptake was 37.3 percent of the predicted maximal value, and no evidence of ventilatory limitation was detected. His functional status and lifestyle have been markedly improved by SLT. The role of SLT for COPD should be reconsidered. It may be a reasonable transplantation alternative for selected patients with COPD who are not candidates for double lung transplantation (DLT).
The measurement of cell membrane diffusion coefficients

Abstract The short time solution for the intensity to be used for the determination of membrane diffusion coefficients from photobleaching experiments on a flat membrane is determined. The exact short time solution is compared with a corresponding approximate solution and limited numerical results. An application to the calculation of a cell membrane diffusion coefficient is presented.
Glaciations and dense interstellar clouds

McCREA has revived the idea that the Earth's ice ages may have been caused by the interaction of the Sun with dense interstellar clouds1. In this theory, originally formulated by Hoyle and Lyttleton2, the solar luminosity is temporarily increased by the accretion of gas on to the Sun when the Solar System passes through a dense interstellar cloud. The increased insolation is assumed to cause an increase in precipitation and ice accumulation. McCrea suggests that the recurrence and duration of ice epochs can be attributed to the passage of the Solar System through compression lanes in the spiral arms. Relative velocities between the Solar System and the clouds range from 5–20 km s−1, but cloud densities of 105–107 hydrogen molecules per cm3 are called for by the model. A study of the character and grain size distribution of texturally mature lunar soils supports this model3. Here we examine several consequences of the passage of a dense cloud through the Solar System and find severe problems for this glaciation mechanism.
Combined immunohistochemistry for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and pro-GnRH, and in situ hybridization for GnRH messenger ribonucleic acid in rat brain.

Experiments were performed to explore the distribution of neurons containing pro-GnRH and GnRH in the rat brain and to determine the correspondence of immunoreactive peptides and pro-GnRH mRNA. Using avidin-biotin immunohistochemistry on free floating vibratome sections it was found that pro-GnRH- and GnRH-containing cells exhibited a similar distribution within the preoptic area-basal hypothalamus region. Within individual neurons pro-GnRH was primarily detected in the cell soma and proximal fibers, whereas the decapeptide was present in cells, fibers, and nerve terminals. Combined avidin-biotin immunohistochemistry for GnRH or pro-GnRH peptides and in situ hybridization for pro-GnRH mRNA using a cRNA probe revealed that the peptides and mRNA could be detected in the same cells. In both male and female rats pro-GnRH mRNA was localized primarily in GnRH-containing cells; however, not all immunoreactive GnRH neurons contained detectable levels of pro-GnRH mRNA, and not all neurons containing pro-GnRH mRNA ...
Psychopathology in Pediatric Epilepsy: Role of Antiepileptic Drugs

Children with epilepsy are usually treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDS). Some AEDs adversely affect behavior in susceptible children. Since psychiatric comorbidity is prevalent in pediatric epilepsy, this paper attempts to disentangle these AED side effects from the psychopathology associated with this illness. It first outlines the clinical and methodological problems involved in determining if AEDs contribute to the behavior and emotional problems of children with epilepsy. It then presents research evidence for and against the role AEDs play in the psychopathology of children with epilepsy, and outlines how future studies might investigate this problem. A brief description of how to clinically separate out AED effects from the complex illness-related and psychosocial factors that contribute to the behavior difficulties of children with epilepsy concludes the paper.
Long-term stability of two diode-laser-pumped nonplanar ring lasers independently stabilized to two Fabry–Perot interferometers

We have locked two 1064-nm diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG lasers to two ultralow-expansion glass-ceramic Fabry-Perot interferometers by using the Pound-Drever discriminator technique. The interferometers have finesses of approximately 200,000 and 5-kHz linewidths and are housed in separate temperature-stabilized vacuum vessels. Allan variance measurements of the beat note between the two lasers are as low as 10(-14) for delay times between 0.5 and 2 s and increase with the time interval for times longer than 2 s, an improvement of 4 orders of magnitude over the free-running performance. Daily variations of the beat-note frequency are less than 1 MHz, which corresponds to a relative temperature change of approximately 100 mK between the interferometers.
Heat Transfer Mechanisms and Clustering in Nanofluids

This paper surveys heat transfer in nanofluids. It summarizes and analyzes the theories regarding heat transfer mechanisms in nanofluids, and it discusses the effects of clustering on thermal condu...
Inhibition of Polyglutamine Protein Aggregation and Cell Death by Novel Peptides Identified by Phage Display Screening

Proteins with expanded polyglutamine domains cause eight inherited neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's, but the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for neuronal degeneration are not yet established. Expanded polyglutamine domain proteins possess properties that distinguish them from the same proteins with shorter glutamine repeats. Unlike proteins with short polyglutamine domains, proteins with expanded polyglutamine domains display unique protein interactions, form intracellular aggregates, and adopt a novel conformation that can be recognized by monoclonal antibodies. Any of these polyglutamine length-dependent properties could be responsible for the pathogenic effects of expanded polyglutamine proteins. To identify peptides that interfere with pathogenic polyglutamine interactions, we screened a combinatorial peptide library expressed on M13 phage pIII protein to identify peptides that preferentially bind pathologic-length polyglutamine domains. We identified six tryptophan-rich peptides that preferentially bind pathologic-length polyglutamine domain proteins. Polyglutamine-binding peptide 1 (QBP1) potently inhibits polyglutamine protein aggregation in an in vitro assay, while a scrambled sequence has no effect on aggregation. QBP1 and a tandem repeat of QBP1 also inhibit aggregation of polyglutamine-yellow fluorescent fusion protein in transfected COS-7 cells. Expression of QBP1 potently inhibits polyglutamine-induced cell death. Selective inhibition of pathologic interactions of expanded polyglutamine domains with themselves or other proteins may be a useful strategy for preventing disease onset or for slowing progression of the polyglutamine repeat diseases.
Control of chronic ectopic supraventricular tachycardia with verapamil

VERAPAMIL (lsoptin, Knoll Pharm. Co.) is a new type of antiarrhythmic drug not yet commercial ly available in the United States of America. Experience in Europe and other countries has indicated that it is a highly effective antiarrhythmic agen t , specifically for supraventricular tachycardias? Furthermore, worldwide experience has indicated that there are few side effects and it appears to be an excellent alternative form of treatment in refractory supraventricular tachycardia.
The right person for the job.

The article by Petsikas and colleagues in this issue of The Annals [1] reviews one institution’s experience with postoperative surveillance in lung cancer patients who have undergone resection. The authors compare and contrast the clinical results and cost of follow-up by thoracic surgeons and family practitioners. They suggest that it may not matter who provides routine follow-up in resected patients; most who recur are symptomatic, and curative reoperation is exceedingly rare. It is their contention that family practitioners could provide follow-up care at significantly lower cost with no negative effect on clinical outcome. This article is likely to irk some experienced thoracic surgeons who are dedicated to their patient’s well-being and provide regular postresection follow-up. Many such clinicians feel that not only is a thoracic surgeon best able to provide optimal long-term follow-up from the medical perspective, but that he/she also develops a special rapport with patients and is better able to provide reassurance and comfort. This issue has been dealt with before in an editorial by Hiebert in this journal in 1995 [2]. Dr Hiebert pointed out that the delivery of follow-up care by a thoracic surgeon provided an educational experience for the surgeon, a
Rebound cue state following a single dose of haloperidol

It has been reported that chronic administration of haloperidol produces an amphetamine-like rebound cue state. The experiments reported here were designed to assess whether a similar rebound phenomenon would result from a single dose of haloperidol. Rats were trained to discriminate .5 mg/kg amphetamine from distilled water. Five groups were formed to allow testing of haloperidol's effect at 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 hr postinjection. Each animal was given 0, .5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg haloperidol at its appropriate injection time in a counterbalanced fashion with one week between each test. A shift in the dose-response function of amphetamine that occurred during these weeks, however, precluded appropriate analysis of haloperidol's effects. Given this result, a second experiment was conducted using a between-subjects design. Half of the animals were injected with 1 mg/kg haloperidol 23 hr prior to testing, whereas the others were injected with distilled water. When tested, the haloperidol group responded 33% of the time on the amphetamine-correct lever, whereas the control group responded at 20%. The observation of posthaloperidol rebound in the between-subjects study and the failure to find significant temporal patterns of rebound phenomena using a within-subjects design have both theoretical and methodological importance.
Quantum interference by non-interacting classical trajectories evolving on a quasi-classical potential

The quantum interference pattern in the double-slit experiment is qualitatively reproduced by independent classical trajectories evolving on an effective potential obtained in the lowest order quantized Hamilton dynamics approach. The quantum effects appear due to a simple modification of the original classical potential that is sufficient to obtain a diffraction maximum in the middle between the two slits and an auxiliary diffraction structure on the sides of the central maximum.
Toxicokinetics of nickel in rats after intratracheal administration of a soluble and insoluble form

Ninety day laboratory studies were performed to determine the whole body distribution of two chemical forms of nickel in female Wistar rats. A single injection of 15 µCi of 63Ni, either NiCl2 as a solution or NiO as a suspension, 100 nmoles in each case, was administered intratracheally. Rats were sacrificed at post-exposure intervals of 0.5, 2, and 8 hours, 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days, and major organs and tissues were analyzed for 63Ni by liquid scintillation counting technique. The soluble NiCl2 was readily distributed throughout the body, and rapidly cleared from the tissues. The insoluble NiO was distributed slowly to other organs from pulmonary tissues. The rate of decline of 63Ni from various organs in the case of NiO was similar to that of NiCl2, with notable exceptions being the lung and associated lymph nodes. After NiO administration, these organs showed a high retention of nickel after 90 days. Results indicated that Ni in soluble form was rapidly absorbed from the site of deposition follo...
Vitreous Findings in Fellow Eyes of Aphakic Retinal Detachment

One hundred patients had bilateral aphakia, primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, and adequate visualization of the retinal and vitreous in the fellow eye. Of 43 patients with posterior vitreous separation and no retinal tear in the fellow eye, only one (2%) subsequently developed retinal detachment. Of 40 patients without posterior vitreous separation in the fellow eye, eight (20%) later developed retinal detachment following posterior vitreous separation. The remaining 17 patients had posterior vitreous separation and retinal tear or detachment at the time of initial examination. Thus, if posterior vitreous separation occurs without forming retinal tear, the risk of developing retinal detachment is significantly lowered.
Cache performance of the integer SPEC benchmarks on a RISC

SPEC is a new set of benchmark programs designed to measure a computer system's performance. The performance measured by benchmarks is strongly affected by the existence and configuration of cache memory. In this paper we evaluate the cache miss ratio of the Integer SPEC benchmarks. We show that the cache miss ratio depends strongly on the program, and that large caches are not completely exercised by these benchmarks.
Treating neurodegeneration by modifying mitochondria: potential solutions to a "complex" problem.

Mitochondria function differently in aged brains than they do in young brains. Consistently reported changes include reduced electron transport chain (ETC) enzyme activities, reduced phosphorylatio...
Robert Browne and Full Employment

Among the valuable contributions Robert Browne made in his career was the role he played in shaping the “Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Bill of 1974” that was introduced by Congressman Augustus Hawkins of California. Browne defined full employment as “a condition in which all persons willing and able to work, no matter what their race, gender, or national origin would be guaranteed a job”. In his view, if the private sector was unable to produce full employment, the government should act as the employer of last resort. Language in support of that view was included in the Hawkins bill. Robert Browne believed only a national policy to achieve that goal would eliminate racial disparities in employment and unemployment—a long term reality in the American labor market. The 1974 Hawkins bill was met with only tepid Congressional support, little notice from civil rights leaders, and no response from the business community. Little was done to advance full employment legislation until Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota embraced the cause in 1975. Negotiations with Congressman Hawkins led to the development of the “Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1975,” a legislative measure to replace the Employment Act of 1946. The new bill was commonly known as the Humphrey–Hawkins Full Employment Bill. Robert Browne offered far less support for the new bill than for the original full employment bill introduced by Mr. Hawkins. The Humphrey Hawkins Bill failed to provide explicitly a job guarantee for all workers, and included an inflation target to make price stability co-equal with full employment as a national policy objective. The Humphrey–Hawkins Bill was enacted into law in 1978, and remains the nation’s policy dictum on full employment to this day.
A continuum theory of porous media saturated by multiple immiscible fluids: I. Linear poroelasticity

The mechanical behavior of porous media is largely governed by the interactions among coexisting components. These interactions occur through interfaces. In this paper, a continuum theory of multiphase porous media is developed that can be used to characterize the interactions among various components. Central to the theory is the implementation of the dynamic compatibility conditions microscopically representing the constraints on the pressure jumps across the interfaces. It is shown that capillary relaxation processes are thermodynamically associated with the changes in the volume fractions of fluids. A linear model is developed by a formal linearization of the proposed theory. For fully saturated conditions, the linearized theory reduces to the Biot's poroelasticity model. A procedure to evaluate the material constants is presented for the porous media with two fluids. The linear model is utilized to analyze the propagation of acoustic waves in an unsaturated rock. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental data available in the literature.
Spatial memory in the desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys deserti)

Desert kangaroo rats (Dipodomys deserti) forage for seed distributed in patches in the desert environment and may remember patch locations. In Experiment 1, 7 desert kangaroo rats that had discovered the location of a plastic token in 1 box accurately dug for a token hidden in the same location in a 2nd identical box. Results of Experiment 2 indicated that the rats primarily remembered the spatial location of the token within the box in relation to extramaze objects and the walls of the experimental box. Female rats also remembered the chip's location in relation to objects inside the box, but males did not. Experiment 3 demonstrated that the rats' ability to locate the buried token did not depend on detection of the odor of the token. In the discussion I propose that spatial memory in kangaroo rats may have evolved as a result of an overall change in the ontogeny of the species rather than as a specialized adaptation for foraging efficiency.
The introduction of concepts in kinetic molecular theory to children

This investigator has attempted to determine the most effective level for presenting concepts relating to the kinetic molecular theory of matter to elementary school children.
Patterns of Crime and Drug Use Trajectories in Relation to Treatment Initiation and 5-Year Outcomes: An Application of Growth Mixture Modeling across Three Data Sets.

Drug abusers vary considerably in their drug use and criminal behavior over time, and these trajectories are likely to influence drug treatment participation and treatment outcomes. Drawing on longitudinal natural history data from three samples of adult male drug users, we identify four groups with distinctive drug use and crime trajectories during the 5 years prior to their first treatment episode. The groups' characteristics of initial treatment are compared. The trajectory groups are then included in Poisson growth curve models to predict drug use, incarceration, and employment during the 5 years following first treatment. Findings indicate that posttreatment drug use decreased and posttreatment employment increased. There was little change in posttreatment incarceration. Posttreatment trajectories for drug use, incarceration, and employment were significantly different across the four trajectory groups.
Multiple product channels in the collision-free UV photodissociation of 2-nitropropane

Abstract The one-photon, collision-free, UV (222, 249, and 308 nm) photodissociation of 2-nitropropane leads to several chemically distinct sets of products. We report the detection of OH, HONO and NO2 and discuss mechanisms as well as implications concerning condensed phase reactions.
Product applications and technology directions with SiGe BiCMOS

In this paper, we highlight the effectiveness and flexibility of SiGe BiCMOS as a technology platform over a wide range of performance and applications. The bandgap-engineered SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) continue to be the workhorse of the technology, while the CMOS offering is fully foundry compatible for maximizing IP sharing. Process customization is done to provide high-quality passives, which greatly enables fully integrated single-chip solutions. Product examples include 40-Gb/s (OC768) components using high-speed SiGe HBTs, power amplifiers compatible for cellular applications, integrated voltage-controlled oscillators, and very high-level mixed-signal integration. It is argued that such key enablements along with the lower cost and higher yields attainable by SiGe BiCMOS technologies will provide competitive solutions for the communication marketplace.
Regression tests of fit and probability plotting positions

Probability plots are commonly used as a technique for testing distributional assumptions. However, any conclusion about the linearity of such a plot is based strictly on the user's judgment. Regression tests of fit are supposed to make this procedure more objective, but these tests typically are not based on probability plots as they are constructed in practice. This is because the developers of these tests defined probability plots in terms of plotting positions which are not used by practitioners. In this paper, a class of goodness-of-fit test statistics which are calculated directly from probability plots as they are constructed in practice is described. Several realistic plotting positions for the normal distribution are chosen and empirical sampling methods are used to derive the null distribution of each of the corresponding test statistics. These tests are then compared on the basis of 5% power against certain nonnormal alternatives. Results of the comparisons indicate that the test based on the p...
A Jagged Edge to Cancer Chemoresistance

By the time the intruder is unmasked, most of the audience already knows the identity of the knife-wielding killer in the film Jagged Edge —just as physicians know that metastatic disease is the key intruder on cancer-patient survival. But there are still surprises when it comes to deadly
Systems Theory and Social Work: A Reexamination

Abstract Systems theory has received considerable attention in social work and appears to be in use at all levels of planning and practice. There is some indication, however, that this acceptance has occurred without much attention to its structural properties and their practical implications. This paper discusses some of the basic elements of systems theory, noting both reasons for their appeal to social workers and dangers involved in their uncritical application. Specific attention is paid to the issue of analogies in theory building and to systems theory implications for dealing with macrosocial phenomena, social change, and power.