cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visual information processing in high and low susceptible subjects.

Abstract High and low hypnotically susceptible Ss were compared in their ability to identify a briefly exposed informational target stimulus consisting of a letter when it was preceded (forward masking) or followed by (backward masking) a non informational mask stimulus. There were 4 intervals between the target and mask and a no mask control for both forward and backward masking. The experiment was replicated in 2 independent sessions. In Session 1 high susceptible Ss were superior to lows in identifying the target stimulus. The superiority was not maintained in Session 2. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Horizontal Interaction and Weak Mixing Angles

The formula tan/sup 2/theta/sub C/ approx. = m/sub d//m/sub s/ is derived from a continuous symmetry. Cabibbo universality is guaranteed in a natural way. All weak mixing angles are determined in terms of quark masses. The b quark is predicted to decay mainly to the u quark, and the lifetime of the associated mesons is approx. 10/sup -10/ - 10/sup -11/ sec. We argue that this additional symmetry is (essentially) the only one which can be added to the standard SU/sub c/(3) x SU(2) x U(1) model without generating anomalies.
On the thermal history of Libyan Desert glass

Abstract Libyan Desert glass shows polarized Raman spectra that are virtually identical to those of pure fused silica. We use the time-temperature dependence of the D2 = 606 cm−1 “defect” line to gain information about the thermal history of one of the naturally occurring samples. The effective fictive temperature of several samples is (1000±50)°C. From measured annealing rates for the D2 defect we conclude that our samples did not originally cool from the melt in seconds, nor did they cool from high temperatures over geological periods of time.
Minimizing the cycle time in multiple-dwell cams:

Presented in this article are closed-form kinematic equations that give the minimum cycle time for multiple-dwell cam-follower systems subject to acceleration and jerk constraints set by the user. Cam-driven machines are used extensively in manufacturing because of their low cost, great precision and high production rates when compared with alternatives. Since they are frequently used in mass production operations, there is a need for minimizing their cycle time to increase manufacturing throughput and reduce capital costs for machines and facilities. Their widespread use means that there is the potential for significant improvement in overall manufacturing efficiency. The incorporation of acceleration and jerk limits in the kinematic formulation ensures minimal cycle time without compromising the operational limits of the manufacturing machines. The equations are given in a form suitable for spreadsheet or equation-solver programs, making it easy for the cam designer to generate an arbitrary number of da...
Dynamic, Gated and High Resolution Imaging with the ECAT III

The ECAT III has a unique data collection system in which all events are collected under the control of a 125 MHz clock. On each bank of 32 detectors (16 banks of 32 per ring) events are time encoded relative to the master clock and also encoded as to whether or not they are single events, nearest neighbor, triple or more than triple events. The ECAT III was designed primarily with a view towards imaging the heart. The gantry both rotates about the vertical axis and tilts about the horizontal axis to allow the optimum imaging angle of the heart. The patient opening is 65 cm in diameter to allow these motions. The initial experience with the ECAT III in imaging phantoms, animals, and man is described.
Bodies Still Unrisen, Events Still Unsaid

In what follows, I identify the apophatic element in the body by way of a distinction between bodies and the events harbored by bodies, and by taking the phenomenon of the “risen body” in the New T...
Nitrogen balance and abomasal protein-nitrogen flow in growing ruminants fed methane digester effluent in combination with distillers dried grains

Two experiments were conducted to compare dry matter and nitrogen (N) digestibilities, N balance (heifers and lambs) and abomasal N flow (lambs) of ruminants offered ensiled, cracked maize—maize cob diets supplemented with either methane digester effluent (MDE), distillers dried grains (DDG), MDE + DDG (50% of the supplemental N from each) or soyabean meal (SBM). Dry matter digestibility of the diets was similar (avg. 68.4%, heifer; 65.4%, lambs), but N digestibility was lowest (P 0.10) between MDE and DDG (58.5 vs. 57.7%) when lambs were utilized. Nitrogen balance was lower for MDE (6.0 g/day, heifers; 1.8 g/day, lambs) compared with DDG (16.4 g/day, heifer; 3.3 g/day, lambs) but the MDE + DDG combination resulted in an increased balance similar (P > 0.10) to that of SBM (13.3 g/day, heifers; 3.2 g/day, lambs). Total|N flowing past the abomasum was lowest for MDE (14.6 g/day) and highest for DDG (16.9 g/day) with intermediate values observed for MDE + DDG (16.2 g/day) and SBM (15.1 g/day). No differences in nonprotein N flow rates were measured (avg. 7.0 g/day) but protein N flow was lower (P < 0.10) for MDE (6.8 g/day) compared with DDG (9.4 g/day). Higher quantities of total abomasal N appeared to be associated with the protein N fraction. Adding DDG to MDE resulted in a protein N flow rate similar to SBM (7.8 vs. 7.5 g/day). These data indicate that N balance was lower for MDE compared with DDG, MDE + DDG or SBM and may be the result of a reduction in quantity of protein N presented to the small intestine. Replacing 50% of the supplemental N supplied by MDE with DDG increased N balance and abomasal protein N flow to a level equivalent with SBM.
Seasonal changes in the amphipod fauna ofMicrociona prolifera (Ellis and Solander) (Porifera: Demospongia) and associated sponges in a shallow salt-marsh creek

Between September 1976 and August 1978, samples of four species of sponge,Microciona prolifera (Ellis and Solander),Haliclona loosanoffi Hartman,Lissodendoryx isodictyalis (Carter) andHalichondria bowerbanki Burton, were collected from subtidal shell debris in a North Edisto River, South Carolina saltmarsh creek and associated amphipods identified. Dominant spongicolous amphipods wereColomastix halichondriae Bousfield,Leucothoe spinicarpa (Abildgaard),Corophium simile Shoemaker,Corophium acherusicum Costa,Lembos cf.L. websteri Bate andMelita appendiculata (Say). Densities of amphipods inMicroclona prolifera andHalichondria bowerbanki usually exceeded those inLissodendoryx isodictyalis andHaliclona loosanoffi. Seasonal changes in amphipod dominance were however approximately the same in all sponge species. Winter dominance byCorophium spp., and on occasionLembos spp., is followed by spring dominance byMelita appendiculata and summer dominance byColomastix halichondriae. Harsher winter conditions in 1976–77 apparently resulted in more reduced populations of various sponge species as well asColomastix halichondriae andLeucothoe spinicarpa when compared with the following winter. With some exceptions during the winter, amphipod density inMicrociona prolifera generally decreased as sponge size increased. The range of gammarid amphipod densities inMicrociona prolifera was 128–724 individuals per 5 g (40.3 cm3) of sponge.
A soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer scheme for the modeling of water and energy balance processes in high latitudes: 2. Application and validation

In support of the overall scientific objective of the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS), which encompasses the improved understanding of the interactions between the boreal forest and the atmosphere, a process-based water and energy balance model is applied to observed forcing data, and the results are presented and discussed. Observed tower forcing and validation data are analyzed. A consistent diurnal pattern in the energy balance closure of the validation data is obtained. Simulations are performed for a number of BOREAS flux tower sites. The model successfully simulates the temporally averaged Bowen ratio and the evaporative part of precipitation over the different BOREAS flux tower sites during the 1994 and 1996 intensive field campaigns. At finer temporal scales a small phase shift in sensible heat flux and net radiation exists between the observed and model-derived quantities. The ground heat flux is found to be slightly larger than the observations during the course of the day. It is suggested that the sensitivity of the model to parameters such as the moss thickness, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity is responsible for these differences. The moss moisture content and the different components of the energy balance were very well matched for a continuous simulation during 1996. Overall, the accuracy performance of the model is equivalent to the accuracy of the input forcing data.
Portable Free-Fall Electrostatic Separator for Beneficiation of Charged Particulate Materials

A portable free-fall electrostatic separator capable of analyzing gram quantities of charged powders is presented. Unlike a Faraday pail, in which only the net average charge-to-mass (Q/M) ratio of the particles sampled by the instrument is measured, an electrostatic separator is capable of separately measuring the charge-to-mass ratios of positively and negatively charged sampled powders. Thus, with an electrostatic separator it is possible to measure the mass fractions of powders that are charged with different polarities and the respective charge-to-mass ratios, along with the mass fraction of particles that are uncharged or charged below a threshold level. We describe a method of measuring the total charge of the collected particles in real time by incorporating an electrometer to integrate the current flowing through the collecting electrode to the high voltage power supply. In this manner, both the total charge and total mass of powder deposited on the two electrodes are measured in near real time, ...
Diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is a challenging and complex process that requires a high index of clinical suspicion from even the most astute clinician. This article discusses the use of a variety of noninvasive tests that can help define the population of patients in whom invasive cardiac catheterization should be pursued. It points out the vagaries and limitations of electrocardiography and the radiographic and echocardiographic clues to the diagnosis. Ultimately, right- and, often, concomitant left-heart catheterization is required to establish the diagnosis and distinguish pulmonary arterial hypertension from pulmonary venous hypertension.
Secretion of the lysosomal acid triacylglycerol hydrolase precursor by J774 Macrophages

Abstract J774, thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal and BCG-induced rabbit alveolar macrophages all contain high levels of a triacylglycerol hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.3) (TGase) with optimal activity at pH 6.5. The J774 macrophages, a cell line deficient in the calcium-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor, were found to secrete large quantities of the TGase into the culture medium. In contrast, mouse peritoneal and rabbit alveolar macrophages, which are both mannose 6-phosphate receptor-competent cell types, secreted much lower amounts of neutral TGase. The enzyme was localized in the lysosomes of rabbit alveolar macrophages. Addition of 25 mM NH 4 Cl induced a 6-fold increase in TGase secretion by alveolar macrophages, while 50 mM NH 4 C1 induced a 12-fold increase in TGase secretion. NH 4 Cl had no effect on TGase secretion by J774 macrophages. The TGase secreted by J774 macrophages was internalized by I-cell disease fibroblasts, increasing the cellular content of TGase 10-fold after 8 h. Internalization was inhibited 70% by the addition of 2 mM mannose 6-phosphate to the culture medium, but was not affected by 2 mM mannose or glucose 6-phosphate. After internalization, the neutral TGase was converted to a TGase with a pH optimum of 5.1. These data are consistent with the spontaneous release of a lysosomal enzyme precursor from a calcium-in-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor-deficient cell line, indicating that the neutral TGase previously reported in several types of macrophages may be the precursor of the lysosomal acid TGase.
Hardiness and social support as predictors of psychological discomfort in mothers of children with autism.

Mothers of 60 children with autism participated in this study to measure the effects of social support and hardiness on the women's responses to the stressful demands of raising a child with a disability. MANOVA analysis indicated a significant main effect for hardiness, Wilks' lambda=.859, approx. F(2, 55)=4.494, p<.02. There were no main effects for social support, or for the interaction of social support and hardiness. In regression analyses, the best combination of predictors of depressive symptoms were the Commitment dimension on the Hardiness Questionnaire and the total score on the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List social support inventory, mult. R=.783, p<.001. The best predictor of somatic complaints was total Hardiness score, mult. R=.698, p<.01. There was a significant correlation between hardiness and perceived social support, r(57)=−.67, p<.001. Results are discussed in terms of the relationship between perceived social support and hardiness and the potential buffering effect of these dimensions.
Constant site (Buttonhole) method of needle insertion for hemodialysis

Available data are suggesting that insertion of the hemodialysis needles in exactly the same spot for consecutive dialyses (the “buttonhole” method) may be associated with fewer complications as compared with using different needle insertion sites for each dialysis. The buttonhole method is becoming popular among home hemodialysis patients. This paper will describe the origin of the method, early results, and the reasons why the method has not gained widespread popularity in U.S. hemodialysis centers. Dial. Transplant. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electron trapping by alkali-ion impurities in alkali halides

Abstract Evidence is presented which indicates that certain transient infrared absorptions normally observed in alkali halide crystals are due to trapping of electrons by substitutional alkali-ion impurities.
Statistical gene mapping of traits in humans-hypertension as a complex trait: Is it amenable to genetic analysis?

Gene mapping refers to the localization of disease genes on the human gene map. The currently used mathematical methods for gene mapping are outlined and compared. The example of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is discussed in detail.
Presence of NMDA-type glutamate receptors in cingulate corticostriatal terminals and their postsynaptic targets.

The glutamatergic projection from the anterior cingulate cortex to the medial caudate-putamen nucleus (CPN) has been implicated in motor and cognitive functions, many of which are potently modulated by activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors (NMDARs). To determine the functional sites for NMDAR activation within this circuitry, we combined anterograde transport of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) from deep layers of the rat anterior cingulate cortex with immunogold labeling of NMDAR subunit, NMDAR1, in the dorsomedial CPN. BDA-containing axons were seen in patch-like clusters in a neuropil that showed more uniform immunogold-silver labeling for NMDAR1. Electron microscopy of these regions showed that BDA-labeling was present exclusively in axons and terminals, 23% (98 of 421) of which also contained NMDAR1-immunoreactivity (IR). BDA-labeled terminals often apposed NMDAR1-immunoreactive neuronal and glial profiles. These terminals also formed asymmetric excitatory-type synapses with dendritic spines. Of 155 anterogradely labeled axon terminals forming asymmetric synapses, 34% were with NMDAR1-labeled, and 66% with unlabeled dendritic spines. These results provide ultrastructural evidence for the involvement of NMDARs in presynaptic regulation of glutamate transmission, and in postsynaptic modulation of the excitability of spiny neurons in patch-like compartments of the dorsomedial CPN. These dual NMDAR-mediated actions are likely to play a major role in the acquisition of new behaviors and reward-related processes that have been associated with cortical input to the striatal patch compartments.
POTENTIAL FOR AUGMENTING WATER YIELD THROUGH FOREST PRACTICES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON AND WESTERN OREGON

Western Washington and western Oregon comprise a water-rich region that has a very uneven annual distribution of both precipitation and streamflow. Highest demand for water coincides with lowest streamflow levels between July 1 and September 30 when less than 5 percent of annual water yield occurs. Increases in annual water yield in small, experimental watersheds in the region have ranged up to 600 mm after entire watersheds were logged and up to 300 mm in watersheds that were 25 to 30 percent logged. Most of the increase has occurred during the fall-winter rainy season, and yield increases have been largest during the wettest years. Estimated sustained increases in water yield from most large watersheds subject to sustained yield forest management are at best only 3-6 percent of unaugmented flows. Realistically, watersheds in this region will not be managed to produce more water. Water yield augmentation will continue to be only a small and variable by-product of logging. The utility of water yield augmentation is limited by its size and by its occurrence relative to the time of water demand. In some local areas, reduction of fog interception and drip or establishment of riparian phreatophytic hardwoods may reduce summer flows.
VANVLK: an algebraic manipulation program for canonical van Vleck perturbation theory

Abstract Canonical Van Vleck perturbation theory is used to transform vibrational Hamiltonians to effective Hamiltonians, where the form of the effective Hamiltonian is better suited to the study of highly excited vibrational states of polyatomic molecules than that of the original representation. The key advantage is that the solution to the full problem is obtained in the new representation using significantly smaller basis sets than are needed to obtain the solutions in the original representation. These transformations are implemented in a superoperator framework, using the program VANVLK. In this work, transformations are applied to the Hamiltonian operator itself, not the Hamiltonian matrix; this obviates the need for large basis sets. The tedious and complex algebra, required to perform these transformations, is implemented computationally. Combining these two features enable the investigations of vibrational dynamics in energy regimes and densities of states, unattainable by standard variational methods.
When Leadership Becomes Allegory: Mzeina Sheikhs and the Experience of Military Occupation

The free-spirited nomadic tribes who roamed the Arabian deserts attracted tur-of-the-century European explorers. In search of exotic experiences, these gentry wandered through the Arab world and later turned their adventures into many a magnum opus. One of the figures to capture the explorers' imagination was the Bedouin tribal leader or sheikh. Describing sheikhs of the Central Arabian Bedouin of the 1870s, Charles Doughty wrote: "These are the noblemen of the desert, men of ripe moderation, peacemakers of a certain erudite and subtle judgment" (Doughty 1921:259; cf. Meeker 1979:26). During World War I Alois Musil lived with the Rwala, one of the most vigorous and militant of the Bedouin tribes. His depiction of their leaders typifies his painstaking documentation of the entire tribe:
Nowcasting the macroeconomy with search engine data

It is now possible to acquire real time information on economic variables of interest from various commercial sources. I illustrate how one can use Google Trends data to measure the state of the macroeconomy in various sectors, and discuss some of the ramifications for research and policy.
Stem cells 201: an overview of the ethics of stem cell research.

championed by scientists as the key to curing such diseases as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, reducing the neurological devastation of stroke and spinal cord injury, and eradicating juvenile diabetes, among many others. However, controversy surrounding the practice of using embryos for research purposes has kept government funding of stem cell research from being a foregone conclusion. The ethical decisions that drive policy tend to initially hang on the question of the moral status of an embryo. Views on the moral ramifications of harvesting embryos for research purposes are wide ranging and tend to be informed by theology and social ideology. Does the embryo have the same rights as a person? Groups who believe that the embryo has the same rights as a child or an adult argue that the destruction of embryos is morally wrong and that the use of embryos in research is unjustified no matter how great the potential therapeutic benefit of stem cell research. However, there are other groups that view the embryo as a form of human life that, while worthy of respect, is not the moral equivalent of a person. Once the embryo is granted an intermediate moral status that allows its destruction for the attainment of a greater good, the ethical discussion then shifts to the moral parameters of stem cell research. How does one proceed with stem cell research in an ethical manner? Questions of research protocol, acceptable sources of embryos for stem cells, and the just allocation of the fruits of stem cell research take on more weight as the ethicists and policy makers strive to balance the potential moral good of curing disease and alleviating human suffering with the potential moral pitfalls of destroying one form of human life to benefit another. Should one proceed with stem cell research at all? There are some in the disability community who feel that the funding of stem cell research in the name of eradicating disability would be a misappropriation of federal funding. When so many people live with disabilities every day and lack federal funding or political support for programs that would increase quality of life now, many feel that it would be unconscionable to focus on a cure to the exclusion of all else.
Material removal in abrasive waterjet machining of metals Surface integrity and texture

An experimental study was conducted to determine the influence of material properties on the surface integrity and texture that results from abrasive waterjet (AWJ) machining of metals. A microstructure analysis, microhardness measurements, and profilometry were used in determining the depth of plastic deformation and surface texture that result from material removal. Models now available for dry abrasive erosion were adopted and found useful in understanding the influence of material properties on the hydrodynamic erosion process. It was found that the depth of subsurface plastic deformation is inversely proportional to a metals strength coefficient and extends the greatest depth near jet entry in the initial damage region (IDR). Furthermore, surface skewness in AWJ machining of metals increases with ductility and the corresponding critical strain for lip formation.
Molecular cytogenetics: Diagnosis and prognostic assessment

Abstract This review describes molecular cytogenetic techniques for detection and characterization of genetic aberrations associated with human disease. The techniques of fluorescence in situ hybridization, primed in situ labeling and comparative genome hybridization are described, as are probes for repeated sequences, whole chromosomes and specific loci. Also reviewed are applications of these technologies to pre-and neonatal diagnosis and to the characterization of human malignancies.
Community-based health care for "the city that care forgot".

References to New Orleans as “the city that care forgot” first appear as far back as the 19th century. Although this reference has pointed, generally, to the high levels of poverty, we submit that forgotten “care” may refer to inadequate preventative and ambulatory health care for its residents. As the most recent US census and health statistics data indicate, this epithet remained apt through the city’s mandatory evacuation in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina making landfall last month. Twenty-eight percent of residents in New Orleans lived below the poverty line (43% of children under the age of 5 years). Health statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 60% of adults in Louisiana were overweight, 25% had diagnosed hypertension, 31% had diagnosed high cholesterol, 8% had diagnosed diabetes, and 85% of residents did not participate in physical activity on a regular basis. Louisiana placed 50th in overall health (i.e., the absolute least healthy state), a precarious ranking it has held for 14 of the previous 15 years. The devastation that Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath wrought on the city of New Orleans has been described in vivid detail throughout the world’s press. We relate the salient facts here in brief. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf coast of the United States with sustained winds of 165 miles per hour. On August 30th, 2005, the levees protecting New Orleans from Lake Ponchartrain failed, resulting in widespread flooding in 80% of the city. During the days that followed, the plight of New Orleans’ poor was played out repeatedly on the international news. Evacuation plans for the poor and infirm were not well planned, executed, or communicated. In the nightmarish situation that followed the actual storms, tens of thousands were stranded on highways and at “refuge” stations waiting to be taken away from the heat and squalor. Many of these people were elderly and ill and had not been able to evacuate. Before Hurricane Katrina, the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans (also known as Charity Hospital) served as the health care safety net for many of these people. Opened in 1736, it was the oldest continually operating hospital in the United States and had remained a crucial source of healthcare in the “city that care
Fluorescence lifetime-enhanced spectral characterization of human serum.

Frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime techniques were used for the characterization of pooled human serum, including normal serum, hyperlipid serum, and sera that had been stripped of various components. Fluorescence lifetime measurements of normal human serum revealed lifetime components primarily in the regions of 102 ps, 1–2 ns, 4–7 ns, and 9–10 ns. Phase-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (PRFS), a frequency-domain technique that combines spectral and lifetime information, in measurements of phase-resolved fluorescence intensity (PRFI), provided the basis for comparison of the various sera. Measurements of PRFI vs excitation wavelength and emission wavelength yield a phase-resolved excitation-emission matrix (PREEM) at a given modulation frequency. Multifrequency measurements yield a three-way excitation-emission-frequency array. The multifrequency PREEMs of the various sera were compared with each other and with the corresponding two-way excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) that are obtained using conventional, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Application of matrix-based analysis techniques to the steady-state and PRFS data arrays allowed direct comparison between the two approaches. Results demonstrate the enhanced discrimination among samples that is achieved through the additional dimension of fluorescence lifetime in PRFS.
Numerical aspects of computing high Reynolds number flows on unstructured meshes

An edge-data structure describing a mesh edge-wise given the vertices of each edge and neighboring cell information is used developing algorithms for the Navier-Stokes equations on triangular meshes. Edge formulas for the Galerkin and finite-element discretization of gradient, divergence, Hessian, and Laplacian operators are derived. A simple edge formula is derived for the discretization of the Laplacian operator, where precise theoretical conditions for a discrete maximum principle can be ascertained. Practical issues associated with solving the Navier-Stokes equations on unstructured meshes are addressed, along with issues concerning the generation of highly stretched triangular meshes and the modeling of turbulence on unstructured meshes. A turbulence modeling strategy is proposed, and numerical results for a high-Reynolds-number flow about single- and multielement airfoils are discussed.
Proxy-Based Impedance Control of a Cable-Driven Assistive System for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Abstract In rehabilitation robotics, rehabilitation algorithms determine an appropriate magnitude and direction of assistive force, which is to help the patient perform desired motions. In this paper, proxy-based impedance control is proposed as a rehabilitation algorithm of a cable-driven assistive system. The proposed method applies an assistive joint torque when the human joint angle deviates from the position of the proxy. A free space is assumed around the proxy such that a free motion of the human joint is allowed in a certain range. If the desired inertia of the human body is different from a nominal value, the proposed method also applies assistive torques to compensate for the inertia mismatch. The implementation of rehabilitation algorithms is challenged by actuator dynamics. The proposed method is designed considering the actuator dynamics, and its performance is verified by experiments.
Empirically derived subclassification of the autistic syndrome.

A method is presented for empirical subclassification of autistic and autisticlike children, based on observations of current behavior. The advantage of the method is that it identifies profiles of cooccurring behaviors and accordingly assigns children to subtypes. The subtypes are more clinically homogeneous than the overall sample of autistic children. Preliminary findings are presented, including an effort to validate the subclasses by suggesting possible relationships between subtype membership and perinatal markers, developmental milestones, and independent measures of concurrent behavior.
Global Priorities in the Control of Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis is a major blinding disease. Appropriately, the World Health Organization, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies, supports two large-scale onchocerciasis programs. First, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases has provided major support for much of the recent research on onchocerciasis. Second, the Onchocerciasis Control Programme is an ambitious, service-oriented effort to eliminate onchocerciasis as a public health problem in the Volta River basin area of West Africa. Initially, the latter program focused on vector control measures; recently, however, it has launched a major chemotherapy development initiative. Taken together, these two programs provide comprehensive support for the development of chemotherapy and vector control measures. However, in the absence of another integrated research program, there is a need to strengthen the available support for research into the immunologic aspects of onchocerciasis.
Small Neuroscience: The Nanostructure of the Central Nervous System and Emerging Nanotechnology Applications

The design and application of bionanotechno logies aimed at the central nervous system (CNS) provide powerful new approaches for studying cell and molecular biology and physiology. Emerging clinically oriented bionanotechnologies are targeting CNS pathologies such as trauma or degenerative events. The successful and meaningful development of bionanotechno logies designed to interact with the CNS as research or clinical tools require an understanding of the relevant neurophysiology and neuropathology, an appreciation of the inherent 'nanoscale' structure of the CNS, and an understanding of the relevant chemistry and materials science and engineering. This review gives an introduction to the structure and organization of the CNS starting at the organ level and working down in spatial scale to the cellular and molecular levels, with specific examples of biological 'nanoengineering' in neural cells. This is followed by a discussion of some of the unique challenges and obstacles associated with developing bionanotechnologies aimed at the CNS, and a discussion of emerging nanotechnologies for neuroscience applications.
Some remarks on isostasy and the long-term behavior of the continental lithosphere

Abstract The interpretation of linear transfer function (admittance) studies of the relationship between gravity anomalies and topography depends on what assumptions are made in limiting the acceptable set of solutions. However, whatever assumptions are made, the value of the flexural rigidity determined from admittance studies of Australia and the continental United States is less than about 10 28 dyne-cm (5-km plate thickness). This is much less than values determined from other studies of the loading of continental lithosphere which consistently give values in the range of 4 × 10 30 to 2 × 10 31 dyne-cm (elastic plate thickness of 35–60 km). It is argued that the latter values represent the long-term rigidity of the continental lithosphere and that the rigidity does not change greatly with age of loading.
Intravesical ethanol test: an ineffective measure of bladder hyperpermeability.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the intravesical ethanol test as a quantitative measure of bladder hyperpermeability in patients with interstitial cystitis. Methods Patients with a clinical diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and a positive result on the Parsons potassium test were enrolled in the study. The intravesical ethanol test was conducted after completion of the Parsons potassium test. Dose escalation (10% to 20% ethanol) was performed in an attempt to achieve detectable levels of ethanol. Breathalyzer data were recorded in 5-minute intervals for 30 minutes using a calibrated Intox Breathalyzer Model IV Alcosensor. The bladder was then drained, and volume recovered was recorded. The breathalyzer data were recorded for an additional 30 minutes after removal of the catheter at 5-minute intervals. Results The 3 patients studied demonstrated significant qualitative evidence of bladder hyperpermeability, with pain and urgency scores ranging from 4 to 5 on the Parsons potassium test. No detectable levels of ethanol were identified in any of the 3 patients after the intravesical ethanol test, with up to 50 mL of 20% ethanol instilled for 30 minutes. Intravesical ethanol instillation was not associated with significant pain or irritative voiding symptoms. Conclusions The intravesical ethanol test did not prove to be a useful clinical adjunct in the diagnosis and management of interstitial cystitis. The evaluation of higher concentrations of ethanol may be warranted.
Rapid Detection of Ricin in Milk Using Immunomagnetic Separation Combined with Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

: Ricin is a potential bioterrisiom agent. There is a critical need for a method that can rapidly and simply detect ricin and other bioterrisiom agents in complex food matrices such as milk. In this study, we demonstrated a rapid method that combined immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect ricin in whole milk. IMS was used to specifically capture the ricin out of the milk. Then, SERS was applied to analyze the IMS eluate mixed with silver dendrite nanosubstrates. This approach facilitated detection and quantification down to 4 μg/mL ricin in milk within 20 min, based on the results of principal component analysis and partial least squares analysis. The feasibility of using a portable Raman instrument shows great promise for on-site detection in a processing facility. Practical Application: The method described in this manuscript that combined IMS and SERS could be used for rapid detection of ricin and other protein toxins in complex food matrices such as milk within 20 min. The use of a portable Raman could facilitate the on-site detection in a processing facility.
Mode of action for inorganic arsenic toxicity and carcinogenesis

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) at high doses is a known human carcinogen, inducing tumors of the skin, urinary bladder, and lung. It is also associated with non-cancer toxicities. An understanding of the mode of action (MOA) for arsenic-induced effects is needed to develop a scientifically-based risk assessment. To determine an MOA for iAs induced toxicities, it is necessary to understand the metabolism, kinetics, cell transport, and interaction with specific proteins of iAs. Based on in vitro investigations using animal and human cells, studies from animal models, and clinical and epidemiological studies, we have proposed an MOA involving formation of sufficient levels of reactive trivalent metabolites which interact with critical free sulfhydryl groups, leading to cytotoxicity and regenerative cell proliferation. There is a strong correlation between in vitro cytotoxicity (>0.1 μmol/L trivalent arsenicals) and the no effect levels in rodents [approximately 1 ppm (1 ppm = 1 mg/L) of water or diet]. In epithelial target tissues, the cytotoxic effects of iAs result in chronic precursor lesions which have the potential for an increased risk of developing cancer. In non-epithelial tissues, non-cancer toxicities such as hypertension and atherosclerosis develop. This MOA implies a non-linear, threshold dose–response relationship for both non-cancer and cancer end points of exposure to iAs.
Utility of an algorithm in differentiating spontaneous from secondary bacterial peritonitis

To prospectively assess the value of an algorithm in differentiating spontaneous from secondary bacterial peritonitis, we performed serial paracenteses in 43 episodes of ascitic fluid infection (28 spontaneous and 15 secondary) in 40 patients. The algorithm involved identification of (a) secondary peritonitis associated with gut perforation, based on previously proposed criteria in patients with neutrocytic ascites (ascitic fluid total protein greater than 1 g/dl, glucose less than 50 mg/dl, and lactate dehydrogenase greater than the upper limit of normal for serum) and (b) separation of spontaneous from secondary peritonitis (unassociated with perforation) based on the response of the ascitic fluid cell count to antibiotic therapy. The perforation criteria had 100% sensitivity in detecting episodes of actual gut perforation; their specificity, however, was low (45%). After 48 h of treatment the concentration of ascitic fluid neutrophils was below the baseline pretreatment value in all episodes of spontaneous peritonitis but in only two thirds of the patients with secondary peritonitis. This algorithm is useful in (a) identifying patients who have infected ascites associated with perforation of an intraabdominal viscus, and (b) differentiating spontaneous from nonperforation secondary peritonitis on the basis of the response of the ascitic fluid cell count to appropriate antibiotic therapy. The optimal time for repeat paracentesis in patients with infected ascites appears to be 48 h after initiation of treatment.
The Influences of Pre-testing Reviews and Delays on Differential-associative Processing versus Conditions in which Students chose their Learning Strategy

Recent studies show that a new strategy called differential-associative processing is effective for learning related concepts; however, our knowledge about differential-associative processing is still limited. Therefore the goals of the present study are to assess the duration of knowledge that is acquired from using differential-associative processing, to determine whether the efficacy of differential-associative processing changes with the addition of a 10-minute pre-testing review, and to compare differential-associate processing to two conditions in which students select their own learning strategy. The results revealed that differential-associative processing was a better strategy for learning related concepts than were either of the two comparison conditions. They also revealed that a 10-minute pre-testing review had a positive additive influence on differential-associative processing. Finally, although the knowledge acquired from using differential-associative processing declined with an increase in delay between learning and testing, the speed of this decline was equivalent to the speed of the decline observed for both comparison conditions.
The role of radiography and computerized tomography in the diagnosis of subluxation and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint

The diagnosis of an isolated subluxation or dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) may be extremely difficult to make from the standard radiographic examination. Radiographs and computerized tomographic (CT) scans of cadaver wrists were used to evaluate subluxation and dislocation of the DRUJ. Both subluxation and dislocation could be accurately diagnosed from a true lateral radiographic projection of the wrist with the forearm in neutral rotation. Minimal supination or pronation of the forearm led to inaccurate diagnosis. A single CT scan through the DRUJ was diagnostic for subluxation and dislocation in all positions of forearm rotation. Wrist pain, plaster immobilization, or suboptimal wrist positioning may make it impossible to obtain a perfect lateral view of the wrist, thereby precluding the radiographic diagnosis of DRUJ subluxation and dislocation. In this instance, a single CT scan through the DRUJ is recommended.
ACL2s: “The ACL2 Sedan”

ACL2 is the latest inception of the Boyer-Moore theorem prover, the 2005 recipient of the ACM Software System Award. In the hands of experts it feels like a finely tuned race car, and it has been used to prove some of the most complex theorems ever proved about commercially designed systems. Unfortunately, ACL2 has a steep learning curve. Thus, novices tend have a very different experience: they crash and burn. As part of a project to make ACL2 and formal reasoning safe for the masses, we have developed ACL2s, the ACL2 sedan. ACL2s includes many features for streamlining the learning process that are not found in ACL2. In general, the goal is to develop a tool that is ''self-teaching,''i.e., it should be possible for an undergraduate to sit down and play with it and learn how to program in ACL2 and how to reason about the programs she writes.
Induced subgraphs of Ramsey graphs with many distinct degrees

An induced subgraph is called homogeneous if it is either a clique or an independent set. Let hom(G) denote the size of the largest homogeneous subgraph of a graph G. In this short paper we study properties of graphs on n vertices with hom(G)=
Biomechanics of the rostrum and the role of facial sutures

The rostrum is a large diameter, thin-walled tubular structure that receives loads from the teeth. The rostrum can be conceptualized both as a rigid structure and as an assemblage of several bones that interface at sutures. Using miniature pigs, we measured in vivo strains in rostral bones and sutures to gain a better understanding of how the rostrum behaves biomechanically. Strains in the premaxillary and nasal bones were low but the adjacent maxillary-premaxillary, internasal, and intermaxillary suture strains were larger by an order of magnitude. While this finding emphasizes the composite nature of the rostrum, we also found evidence in the maxillary and nasal bones for rigid structural behavior. Namely, maxillary strain is consistent with a short beam model under shear deformation from molar loading. Strain in the nasal bones is only partially supported by a long beam model; rather, a complex pattern of dorsal bending of the rostrum from incisor contact and lateral compression is suggested. Torsion of the maxilla is ruled out due to the bilateral occlusion of pigs and the similar working and balancing side strains, although it may be important in mammals with a unilateral bite. Torsional loading does appear important in the premaxillae, which demonstrate working and balancing side changes in strain orientation. These differences are attributed to asymmetrical incisor contact occurring at the end of the power stroke.
CT histogram analysis in pathologically proven adrenal masses.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to evaluate a histogram analysis method for distinguishing adrenal adenomas from metastases, pheochromocytomas, and adrenocortical carcinomas on CT.MATERIALS AND METHODS. A pathology database was searched, and 335 adrenalectomies from 1995 to 2002 were identified. CT images were available for retrospective review in 187 patients (93 males, 94 females; age range, 15-84 years; mean age, 55.2 years) with 208 adrenal masses. This included 112 adenomas in 104 patients, 48 metastases in 39 patients, 40 pheochromocytomas in 36 patients, and eight adrenocortical carcinomas in eight patients. Histogram analysis was performed using a circular region of interest for mean attenuation, number of pixels, number of negative pixels (< 0 H), and percentage of negative pixels by two interpreters. Areas of necrosis were excluded from measurements. Observer agreement was calculated.RESULTS. In 72 of 76 (94.7%) and 63 of 72 (87.5%) adenomas, respectively, interpreters found attenuatio...
Hospital Response Variation to the Demands of Preadmission Certification

This paper reports findings from a study of the impact of preadmission certification programs from the perspective of the hospital—a deeply affected party. A series of field studies was undertaken to explore and delineate the range of hospital responses to the challenges posed by this third-party payer man date and to identify factors associated with variation in responses. The evidence presented suggests wide variation in how hospitals chose to share responsibil ity for pre-certification with physicians and patients. The findings are broadly consistent with a proposed model that hospital response is determined by both external and internal considerations, but a larger scale hospital survey is necessary to test the hy potheses that can be derived from this study.
RESPONSE TO BAXTER AND WRIGHT

The glass ceiling is a very popular metaphor among gender scholars. It has become a shorthand expression for describing the myriad obstacles that prevent women from being promoted to high positions of authority, prestige, and pay. So it is significant when Gender & Society publishes an article debunking its implicit claims. In their recent article, Janeen Baxter and Erik Olin Wright (2000) argue that the metaphor of the glass ceiling does not accurately depict the barriers that women confront in the workforce. In their study of three countries, they find little evidence to support the idea that discrimination against women increases as they move into top-level management positions. They suggest that barriers for women actually may be greater at the lower levels of job hierarchies than at the top. It is debatable whether they have correctly defined the glass ceiling, however. They write, "Taken literally, the metaphor of the glass ceiling implies the existence of an impermeable barrier that blocks the vertical mobility of women. Below this barrier women are able to get promoted; beyond this barrier, they are not" (p. 276). To test for the existence of the glass ceiling, they examine whether "the barriers to managerial promotions become increasingly severe for women compared to men as they move up the hierarchy" (p. 277).