cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproductive performance of Japanese quail fed tall fescue seed infected with Acremonium coenophialum

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of feeding endophyte-infected (Acremonium coenophialum) tall fescue seed on the growth and reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnixcoturnixjaponica). One hundred and twenty female and 60 male chicks (5 weeks old) were selected from a larger group of chicks and were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments (Diet 1, Diet 2 and Diet 3). Two females and one male were housed in each of 60 battery breeder cages. A quail breeder diet was formulated to contain 45% fescue seed plus corn, soybean meal, vitamins and minerals. The fescue seed used for Diet 1 was 100% endophyte infected, while that used for Diet 2 and Diet 3 was not infected. Birds on Diet 1 and Diet 2 were fed on an ad libitum basis, while the feed intake of birds on Diet 3 was restricted to that of birds on Diet 1. The daily photoperiod of 6 hours was increased to 16 hours by 60 days of age, at which time the hens began to lay eggs. Dietary treatments were started at 35 days of age. Eggs were collected daily, set weekly and incubated through hatching. The results indicated no differences (P>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) or average daily intake (ADI) among the 3 treatments. There was also no difference (P>0.05) in egg production among the 3 treatments. However, there was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the percentage of fertility (approximately 10%) and in the percentage of hatchability of the total number of eggs (approximately 12%) between Diet 2 and Diet 3 versus Diet 1. There was no significant difference in the hatchability of fertile eggs. The results suggest, for the first time, that infected fescue seed, as incorporated in the diets of birds in the current experiment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on fertility but not on embryonic development in Japanese quail.
The Origins of Language: What Nonhuman Primates Can Tell Us

The Origins of Language: What Nonhuman Primates Can Tell Us. Barbara J. King. ed. Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research, 1999. 442 pp.
CONVERGENCE IN RELATION TO LEVEL OF SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT

A classic version of convergence theory was proposed by Marion Levy as part of his theory of modernization: If and as the level of modernization increases (defined as a higher ratio of reliance upon inanimate energy and tools relative to animate energy), the level of structural uniformity among relatively modernized societies continually increases. I test this hypothesis by using the coefficient of variation (V) as the measure of convergence. I analyze a wide range of variables: level of economic development, capitalist market economy, demographic variables, technology, the state and political democracy, cognitive modernization, health, income inequality and poverty, gender particularism–universalism, and information and communications. Each variable is treated as one test of the hypothesis. The hypothesis is first tested by dividing 201 societies into quartiles representing four levels of development as of 1990, and comparing their V scores at one point in time (around the year 2000). Full confirmation o...
A SPICE Compact Model of Metal Oxide Resistive Switching Memory With Variations

A SPICE compact model is developed for metal-oxide-based resistive random access memory (RRAM). The model includes the critical impact of temperature change and temporal variation. Using experimental data from HfOx-based RRAM, the model reproduces both the voltage-time relationship and the cycle-to-cycle variation in the RESET of the memory cells.
Diamond-Blackfan syndrome: lymphocyte-mediated suppression of erythropoiesis

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from six patients with congenital hypoplastic anemia suppressed erythroid cell formation by normal human bone marrow cells in response to erythropoietin in vitro. The results suggest that the anemia in these children has an immunologic basis.
Low power/low cost unlicensed digital biotelemetry

With the introduction of a summary of both U. S. and Canadian regulations for unlicensed biotelemetry design criterion for an inexpensive FSK telemetry system are discussed. The results of the evaluation of a commercially available system are illustrated and considerations in receiver antenna configuration are summarized. 1.
Study in ER/PR and HER2 receptor IHC

Recently, the development of Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) receptors in immunohistochemistry has amassed significant prognostic value in the treatment of breast carcinomas. Its introduction provides an inexpensive and widely available testing protocol yielding vital pathological information regarding patient outcome and therapeutic response. However, in conjunction with its continued advancement, these markers withstand increased hindrance in reaching their full diagnostic potential due to the lack of a standardized protocol. The primary focus of this study was to develop standardized protocols for each breast marker. Through manipulation of antigen retrieval methods and dilutions, highly accurate and reproducible staining results were achieved. Validations of ER and PR were run with alternating Heat Induced Epitope Retrieval (HIER) methods using solutions buffered with EDTA and citrate. Simultaneous comparisons were run using the l...
DEATH OF SALMONELLA SEROVARS, ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 : H7, STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES DURING THE DRYING OF MEAT: A CASE STUDY USING BILTONG AND DROËWORS

ABSTRACT Biltong and droewors are ready-to-eat dried seasoned beef strips and sausages, respectively. Procedures to meet process lethality requirements for these products have not been validated. The fate of Salmonella serovars, Escherichia coli O157 : H7, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated during the manufacture and vacuum-packaged storage (7 days at 20–22C) of three lots each of biltong and droewors. Acid-adapted pathogens were used as inocula (ca. 7 log CFU per sample for each pathogen). The biltong manufacturing process reduced pathogen levels from 1.2 to 3.8 log CFU (S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, respectively). Less lethality was achieved in making droewors, probably because of the higher fat content. The manufacturing processes for biltong and droewors achieved significant lethality. Combined with additional intervention steps and/or raw material testing, the processes would achieve mandated levels of pathogen destruction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The results of our experimental trials can be applied to commercial dried meat products with water activity, MPR, pH and % water-phase salt at least as restrictive as our trial products. It was clear from our results that drying of seasoned beef strips or sausage would result in significant reduction in numbers for all four pathogens tested.
Internationalizing the American Politics Curriculum

The increasing recognition of a global interdependence among our economies and societies places a significant amount of pressure on educational institutions to prepare future citizens for successful participation in this “new world order.” While there might be general agreement that globalization or internationalization is a “major trend in education” or a “worldwide phenomenon,” there are barriers to internationalization, some of which can be individual—resulting from faculty and student attitudes; some institutional—caused by long-standing policies, practices, and traditions; and some reflecting the attitudes and culture of the wider American society (Green 2003, 11). There are different ways that institutions of higher learning can respond to this phenomenon most effectively, including, for example, changes at the curricular level, broad institutional policies that involve recruitment of foreign students, experiential partnerships with foreign institutions of higher learning, and the creation of campuses in other countries (see Altbach 2002).
Alcohol use among older persons in a rural state.

Objective Older individuals are vulnerable to adverse consequences from alcoholism; unfortunately, alcohol-related problems are often under-identified in this group. Methods We characterized the demographic features of alcohol use among older adults (over age 65) in a statewide community survey. Results Approximately 15% were at risk for alcoholism. As a group, the at-risk individuals were younger than the remaining sample. Twenty percent indicated that they had previously tried unsuccessfully to stop drinking, but only 10% had received any type of treatment Conclusions This low rate of treatment intervention implies a need for enhanced recognition of alcoholism among older adults in rural settings.
Status and Future of NDE in Section XI

This paper discusses the current status of NDE requirements in Section XI and future directions. The Code is well on its way migrating towards performance-based requirements in contrast to the traditional prescriptive requirements. The requirements for ultrasonic examination performance demonstration are contained in Appendix VIII and this has had a significant impact on the nuclear industry. The question arises as to the necessity and value of imposing performance demonstration requirements on the less technically demanding surface examination methods such as magnetic particle and liquid Penetrant examination methods. The impact of risk informed inspection and license renewal on NDE should be evaluated in the near future. Finally, the trend towards developing performance based NDE personnel certification requirements will be described.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
An Improved Semiquantitative Spectrochemical Method

A critical examination of commonly used semiquantitative techniques has been completed. Improved precision and accuracy have allowed analysis on sample sizes of 10 mg with no prior knowledge of chemical composition. A comparison of various matrices such as graphite, lithium carbonate, and lithium fluoride is included. Data on the precision and accuracy of each matrix in air and argon–oxygen atmospheres are also presented. A lithium fluoride–graphite matrix showed the best over-all results. The deviation from established values was approximately 15% and the coefficient of variation was also 15%. This study was completed under rigorous conditions with single determinations. Results were taken over a two year period and nearly 500 single determinations were used to complete the data.
A nursing-home care unit: extended care service.

: A new Nursing-Home Care Unit, opened at the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital in September 1970, is described. The aim is to take the best possible care of the residents in all aspects of their lives during the process of rehabilitation. The Unit could be regarded as a model for nursing homes everywhere.
Capacity of inter-cloud layer-2 virtual networking

Due to the economy of scale of Ethernet networks and available dynamic circuit capability from the major national research and educational networks, VLAN (Virtual LAN) based virtual networking solution has been successfully adopted in some advanced distributed cloud systems. However, there are two major constraints in this adaptation: (1) dynamic circuit service is far from pervasive; (2) there is only limited VLAN tags offered by regional network service providers.In this paper, after examining layer-2 networking in large-scale distributed cloud environments, we present a graph theoretical model to study the network capacity in terms of the number of inter-cloud connections that can co-exist. We further design the algorithms to achieve this capacity for both point-to-point and multi-point inter-cloud connections in both static and dynamic scenarios. We also study a general topology embedding problem based on this model. As tagging is a common mechanism for isolating communication channels in other network layers, the proposed models and algorithms can be extended to optical and IP networks.
Desensitization of Vascular Tissue to Parathyroid Hormone and Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein*

Although PTH and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) are vasodilators, prolonged exposure to elevated levels of PTH is often associated with hypertension. We investigated the effects of prolonged incubation with PTH or PTHrP on arterial segments and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). PTH or PTHrP transiently relaxed precontracted arterial segments within 10 min. Additional PTH or PTHrP added after 40-min exposure to these peptides had little effect on vascular tone, whereas forskolin, isoproterenol, isobutylmethyl-xanthine, or acetylcholine were still potent. In fura 2-loaded VSMC, 5-min incubation with PTH or PTHrP attenuated angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced calcium mobilization, an effect that was reduced by preincubation of VSMC with PTH for 1.5 h. Similarly, 1.5-h preincubation with PTH or PTHrP decreased the cAMP response to these peptides but not to forskolin or NaF. Ang II potentiated the cAMP response to PTH and PTHrP but was also subject to desensitization. Nle8, 18Tyr34 bovine PTH(3-34) amide ...
Emerging Optical Biomedical Imaging Techniques

Since Victorian times, the search has been on for a noninvasive way to peer inside the human body using light. Today’s researchers don’t have the perfect solution yet. This article explores the optical imaging techniques that look most promising.
Estimating and Projecting Trends in HIV/AIDS Generalized Epidemics Using Incremental Mixture Importance Sampling

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has decided to use Bayesian melding as the basis for its probabilistic projections of HIV prevalence in countries with generalized epidemics. This combines a mechanistic epidemiological model, prevalence data, and expert opinion. Initially, the posterior distribution was approximated by sampling-importance-resampling, which is simple to implement, easy to interpret, transparent to users, and gave acceptable results for most countries. For some countries, however, this is not computationally efficient because the posterior distribution tends to be concentrated around nonlinear ridges and can also be multimodal. We propose instead incremental mixture importance sampling (IMIS), which iteratively builds up a better importance sampling function. This retains the simplicity and transparency of sampling importance resampling, but is much more efficient computationally. It also leads to a simple estimator of the integrated likelihood that is the basis for Bayesian model comparison and model averaging. In simulation experiments and on real data, it outperformed both sampling importance resampling and three publicly available generic Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms for this kind of problem.
THE STRUCTURE OF A STUDENT PROJECT COURSE

This paper describes the objectives, operating structure, and evaluation of a course entitled Operations Analysis and Management (OAM) 8–159, Quantitative Approaches to Administrative Problems. The purpose is to present the reader with an in-depth view of a project course in order to help an instructor decide whether or not a project course is desirable and feasible within his academic unit. Further, the paper presents some suggestions concerning what attributes are associated with a successful project course experience.
Contemporary stochastic approach to water resource systems: The ARMP and feature prediction models

Abstract An autoregressive model with Markovian parameters (ARMP/a.r.m.p.) and a feature prediction scheme (FPM) are developed in this paper. The ARMP is physically based and adaptive in its implementation thus taking into consideration the inherent periodicities in hydrological time series. The FPM is motivated by the current inability to provide a suitable and sufficiently comprehensive yet simplified mathematical hydrological model. It is based on pattern analysis and is such that a system's dynamic feature is predicted using a priori data which can subsequently be used to simulate the missing data and forecast future hydrological parameters. The ARMP and FPM provide efficient alternatives to some other existing models which are not, in general, applicable to all classes of hydrological problems; with an added advantage of on-line forecasting. A comparative analysis of the techniques are undertaken using the discharge record data from the River Nile at Aswan Dam from 1870–1945. It is further proposed that in order to enhance the over-all performance of the orediction scheme, the FPM may be used as an input (training data) to the ARMP.
Breaking the cycle: treatment strategies for 163 cases of recurrent Clostridium difficile disease.

Breaking the cycle: treatment strategies for 163 cases of recurrent Clostridium difficile disease
Functional Expression and Characterization of Skeletal Muscle Dihydropyridine Receptors in Xenopus Oocytes

Abstract Dihydropyridine receptors in vertebrate skeletal muscle serve a dual role: as voltage sensors for excitation-contraction coupling and as voltage-activated calcium channels. Although they were the first of six classes of calcium channels to be cloned, skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptors remain the only ones not functionally expressed as calcium channels in Xenopus oocytes, leading to the hypothesis that an interacting component is missing. Using β1b, an isoform previously found in brain, we have for the first time reconstituted skeletal muscle calcium channel function in Xenopus oocytes. We show that this β subunit is necessary for functional expression and that the α2δ subunit significantly enhances the expressed current. The majority of the α1 subunit in skeletal muscle is a truncated form. Here we show that both the full-length and truncated forms produce functional calcium channels in Xenopus oocytes, but the truncated form gives significantly larger currents. In addition, we show that the β1b transcript is expressed in rat skeletal muscle, although at a much lower level than the abundant β1a isoform.
Pilot study of regional, hepatic intra-arterial paclitaxel in patients with breast carcinoma metastatic to the liver.

BACKGROUND. Approximately 25% of patients with metastatic breast carcinoma develop hepatic involvement during the course of their disease that further affects their survival. Systemic paclitaxel is safe and has demonstrated good antitumor activity against breast carcinoma. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the safety and antitumor activity of hepatic intra-arterial paclitaxel therapy. METHODS. Ten patients with breast carcinoma and dominant liver metastases received monthly, inpatient, 24-hour, continuous hepatic infusions of paclitaxel at 200 mg/m2 through an intra-arterial catheter, which was placed using a percutaneous transfemoral approach. RESULTS. The mean patient age at the time of treatment was 51 years. Fifty-six courses of paclitaxel were delivered. The most common treatment-related toxicities were leukopenia, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. No procedure-related complications were observed. Three patients (30%) attained partial responses that lasted for 6 months, 7 months, and 48 months; and 4 other patients had stable disease for 5 months to 9 months. One patient underwent liver resection after receiving hepatic arterial infusions of paclitaxel and remained disease free for 48 months. Eight patients had received prior systemic taxane therapy alone or with other cytotoxic agents. However, no association between previous taxane exposure and the efficacy of the current regimen was established. CONCLUSIONS. Hepatic intra-arterial therapy with paclitaxel at the dose level and on the schedule used in this study was safe and well tolerated and had reasonable antitumor activity against breast carcinoma involving the liver. Previous taxane exposure did not hamper the potential benefit of this approach. This regimen alone or in combination with targeted therapies deserves further investigation in patients with dominant liver metastases from breast carcinoma. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Growth hormone studies before and during catch up growth in a child with emotional deprivation and short stature

ABSTRACT Growth hormone response to arginine, insulin hypoglycemia and sleep was studied during separate hospitalizations in a child with emotional deprivation and short stature. During both study periods growth hormone response to arginine and hypoglycemia was low on admission to the hospital and high after 6 weeks. There was no growth hormone response to slow wave sleep in the first sleep cycle at the time of the second hospital admission but the response to sleep was normal after 6 weeks of hospitalization. These studies suggest a temporal correlation between catch-up growth and growth hormone output. The normal sleep pattern suggests that the lack of growth hormone output seen in emotional deprivation and short stature is not related to disturbed sleep.
Malleable endoscope increases surgical freedom compared with a rigid endoscope in endoscopic endonasal approaches to the parasellar region.

BACKGROUND One challenge when performing endoscopic endonasal approaches is the surgical conflict that occurs between the surgical instruments and endoscope in the crowded nasal corridor. This conflict decreases surgical freedom, increases surgeon frustration, and lengthens the learning curve for trainees. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact a malleable endoscope has on surgical freedom for endoscopic approaches to the parasellar region. METHODS Uninostril and binostril endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches to the pituitary gland and cavernous carotid arteries were performed on 8 silicon-injected, formalin-fixed cadaveric heads using both rigid and flexible 3-dimensional endoscopes. Surgical freedom to targets in the parasellar region was assessed using an established technique based on image guidance. Results are presented as 3 measurements: area of surgical freedom for a point target, area for the surgical field (cavernous carotids and sella), and angular surgical freedom (angle of attack). RESULTS Point target surgical freedom, exposed area surgical freedom, and angle of attack were all significantly greater in approaches using the malleable endoscope compared with the rigid endoscope (P values .06 to <.001), with values varying between 17% and 28%. The improved surgical freedom noted with the malleable endoscope was due to the minimization of instrument-endoscope conflict at the back end (camera) and front end (tip) of the endoscope. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that application of a malleable endoscope to transsphenoidal approaches to the parasellar region decreases instrument-endoscope conflict and improves surgical freedom.
The identity as a matrix commutator

If A is an n×n matrix over a field F of positive characteristic p, then In =AB−BA, for some matrix B, iff p divides the size of each Jordan block of A.
FTA, Customs Union or Unilateral Trade Policy? Final Status Options for "the West Bank and Gaza"

This paper considers regional and unilateral trade policy options for the West Bank and Gaza (WBG). It examines the welfare implications of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Israel, a customs union (CU) with Israel, and a nondiscriminatory trade policy (NDTP). The analysis captures the fact that the WBG is landlocked, that it has a large trade deficit with Israel, and that smuggling takes place between them. The paper concludes that i) a NDTP is unambiguously superior to a FTA with Israel; but ii) the WBG should only pursue a NDTP if the policy is open, transparent, and enforced by a credible lock-in mechanism; otherwise, a CU with Israel may be preferable, especially if trade and other taxes are shared more equitably.
Interaction between vasopressin and angiotensin II in vivo and in vitro: effect on aquaporins and urine concentration.

The study was undertaken to examine the potential cross talk between vasopressin and angiotensin II (ANG II) intracellular signaling pathways. We investigated in vivo and in vitro whether vasopressin-induced water reabsorption could be attenuated by ANG II AT1 receptor blockade (losartan). On a low-sodium diet (0.5 meq/day) dDAVP-treated animals with or without losartan exhibited comparable renal function [creatinine clearance 1.2 ± 0.1 in dDAVP+losartan (LSDL) vs. 1.1 ± 0.1 ml·100 g−1·day−1 in dDAVP alone (LSD), P > 0.05] and renal blood flow (6.3 ± 0.5 in LSDL vs. 6.8 ± 0.5 ml/min in LSD, P > 0.05). The urine output, however, was significantly increased in LSDL (2.5 ± 0.2 vs. 1.8 ± 0.2 ml·100 g−1·day−1, P < 0.05) in association with decreased urine osmolality (2,600 ± 83 vs. 3,256 ± 110 mosmol/kgH2O, P < 0.001) compared with rats in LSD. Immunoblotting revealed significantly decreased expression of medullary AQP2 (146 ± 6 vs. 176 ± 10% in LSD, P < 0.01), p-AQP2 (177 ± 13 vs. 214 ± 12% in LSD, P < 0.05), and AQP3 (134 ± 14 vs. 177 ± 11% in LSD, P < 0.05) in LSDL compared with LSD. The expressions of AQP1, the α1- and γ-subunits of Na-K-ATPase, and the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter were not different among groups. In vitro studies showed that ANG II or dDAVP treatment was associated with increased AQP2 expression and cAMP levels, which were potentiated by cotreatment with ANG II and dDAVP and were inhibited by AT1 blockade. In conclusion, ANG II AT1 receptor blockade in dDAVP-treated rats on a low-salt diet was associated with decreased urine concentration and decreased inner medullary AQP2, p-AQP2, and AQP3 expression, suggesting that AT1 receptor activation plays a significant role in regulating aquaporin expression and modulating urine concentration in vivo. Studies in collecting duct cells were confirmatory.
A geometric theory of the equilibrium mechanics of fibers in ligaments and tendons

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the equilibrium mechanics of bending and twisting fiber geometries in ligaments and tendons. The theory predicts that the bending of loaded fibers is necessarily accompanied by large transverse pressures and pressure gradients. The predicted pressures are especially large at the bone tunnel entries of ligament grafts, where they can equal or exceed the applied tensile loads. Experimental measurements of internal pressures confirm these predictions.
Antioxidative ability, dioscorin stability, and the quality of yam chips from various yam species as affected by processing method.

: The antioxidative ability, stability of storage protein dioscorin, and the quality of fried yam chips from different cultivars of Chinese yams influenced by various processing treatments were investigated. Total phenolic content and DPPH free radical scavenging effect were found to be the highest in Mingchien (MC) and the lowest in Keelung (KL) yam. Following processing, freeze-dried yams of all varieties showed the least decrease in total phenolic compounds and DPPH radical scavenging effect, while boiling caused the greatest decrease in both. Fresh yams of all varieties contained the highest dioscorin contents comparing with their counterparts. Boiling and deep-frying caused severe protein denaturation resulting in loss of dioscorin solubility after purification. Freeze-drying resulted in increase in protein surface hydrophobicity (So); nonetheless, it attained higher total phenol content, antioxidative capacity, and dioscorin stability of yams compared with other processing treatments. The peroxide values of all yam chips increased during the initial stage, then declined with advanced storage. Fracturability of all yam chips gradually decreased, due to the absorption of moisture, with increasing storage time.
Leadership Style and International Norm Violation: The Case of the Iraq War

We examine the topic of decision making and norm violation in international politics. While constructivists emphasize norm conformity due to global social pressures, and realists emphasize the ease of norm violation due to self-interest and the lack of a world enforcer, we argue that these approaches fail to explain variation in normative behavior in foreign policy. We suggest that normative behavior is mitigated importantly by leaders' beliefs and decision-making styles. Leaders who view the international environment in state-centric, Hobbesian terms and are less sensitive to the political context are more likely to violate international norms than leaders who view world politics in more benign terms and are more sensitive to contextual pressures. We test these expectations by correlating key leadership traits of Bush Administration officials with their positions regarding the normatively suspect invasion of Iraq in 2003. The findings suggest that need for power, belief in ability to control events, ingroup bias, and especially distrust may be important predictors of one's willingness to violate international norms. We discuss the implications of our results for the prospect for international society to regulate force, and call for a third wave of constructivism wedded to its ideational ally of political psychology.
“Almost Bleeding to Death”: The Conundrum of Acquired Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (AAT) is a rare hematological disorder causing severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding. Previous in vitro studies postulated both cell-mediated suppression of megakaryocytopoiesis in early megakaryocytic progenitor cells and humoral-mediated suppression by anti-thrombopoietin antibodies as possible etiologies of AAT. Patients with AAT usually present with severe bleeding and thrombocytopenia that is unresponsive to steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Although standard guidelines have not been established for management of AAT, a few case reports have indicated a response to immunosuppressive treatment. The prompt recognition of this disease entity is essential in view of the substantial risk of morbidity and mortality from excessive bleeding. We report a case of AAT successfully treated with equine antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CSP).
A continuum mechanics approach to some problems in subcritical crack propagation

The results of the so-called energetic approach to fracture for the cases of a sharp crack without and with a cohesive zone are briefly reviewed with particular attention to the crack tip singularity analysis and to the issue of energy dissipation due to crack propagation. The case of a crack with a cohesive zone removing all thermomechanical singularities is then further analyzed, focusing the attention on the question of the thermodynamic admissibility of subcritical crack growth, and on some of the hypotheses that lead to the derivation of subcritical crack growth laws. A two-phase cohesive zone model for discontinuous crack growth is presented and its thermodynamics analyzed, followed by an example of its possible application.
Intrinsic axonal degeneration pathways are critical for glaucomatous damage

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease affecting 70 million people worldwide. For some time, analysis of human glaucoma and animal models suggested that RGC axonal injury in the optic nerve head (where RGC axons exit the eye) is an important early event in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. During the last decade advances in molecular biology and genome manipulation have allowed this hypothesis to be tested more critically, at least in animal models. Data indicate that RGC axon degeneration precedes soma death. Preventing soma death using mouse models that are mutant for BAX, a proapoptotic gene, is not sufficient to prevent the degeneration of RGC axons. This indicates that different degeneration processes occur in different compartments of the RGC during glaucoma. Furthermore, the Wallerian degeneration slow allele (Wlds) slows or prevents RGC axon degeneration in rodent models of glaucoma. These experiments and many others, now strongly support the hypothesis that axon degeneration is a critical pathological event in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. However, the events that lead from a glaucomatous insult (e.g. elevated intraocular pressure) to axon damage in glaucoma are not well defined. For developing new therapies, it will be necessary to clearly define and order the molecular events that lead from glaucomatous insults to axon degeneration.
Mother-offspring grooming relations in rhesus monkeys.

Grooming relations in mother-offspring pairs of rhesus monkeys living in social group A on Cayo Santiago were studied over a 24-month period. The general pattern of grooming relations indicated that (1) up to the age of 3 years, there was no difference in the amount of grooming performed by mothers on their daughters vs. their sons; (2) from age 3–6 years, mothers groomed their daughters more than they groomed their sons; and (3) from the yearling stage through age 5 years, daughters groomed their mothers more than sons groomed their mothers. The maternal-offspring bond, as reflected by measures of grooming frequency, persists into the adult life of the offspring. This study confirms previously reported findings regarding the importance of kinship as a determinant of grooming relations.
Chinese family law and social change in historical and comparative perspective

Although "law and social change" is a current topic of scholarly discussion, little research has been undertaken on the role of family law as an instrument of social change. This multidisciplinary volume now makes available recent research conducted in this field. The first section includes an examination of the standards and rules for marriage during Han times, and of divorce in traditional Chinese law. The second section, devoted to family partition procedures, discusses the nature of family property in traditional China; the results of a field investigation on ancestral sacrifice in Manchuria; and the partition of family property in villages in southern Taiwan and in Tibet. The third section, dealing only with Taiwan, examines marriage in rural areas, summarizes field research on rural to urban migration, and looks at modernization and household composition. An investigation of marriage and divorce in the People's Republic of China, and comparisons of developments in marriage law in the USSR and in the People's Republic of China are dealt with in the fourth section. In the fifth section the authors indicate some factors that influence the relationship of law and social change in India and Indonesia.
Structural analysis of the mouse T-cell receptor Tcra V2 subfamily.

Cosmid clones containing T-cell receptor Tcra V2 subfamily gene segments have been isolated from a BALB/c cosmid library and subjected to DNA sequence analysis. The V gene segments in the Tcra V2 subfamily differ from each other by 3%–7% at the nucleotide level and 5%–16% at the amino acid level. T-cell receptor Tcra V2 gene segment polymorphisms have been identified in the B10.PL and PL/J mouse strains with a Tcra V2 subfamily-specific probe. These V gene segment polymorphisms may cause the differential Tcra V gene usage in induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis between B10.PL and PL/J mice.
Future for visualization through the integrated forest resource management system (INFORMS)

Abstract Graphic and visual representation tools have always played a central role in environmental management and planning. It is difficult to imagine any significant natural resource management activity that does not rely to some extent on visual representations. Environmental managers are being exposed to technical advances in the areas of remote sensing, computer mapping, geographic information systems and quantitative modeling. As these tools have increased in sophistication, there is a commensurate need for improved data visualization tools, perhaps explaining why computer graphics is one of the most rapidly advancing of all computer technologies. It should be no surprise that resource managers are in a quandary as to how to manage these tools effectively.
Water Resources Research supports water economics submissions

AGU's international interdisciplinary journal Water Resources Research (WRR) publishes original contributions in hydrology; the physical, chemical, and biological sciences; and the social and policy sciences, including economics, systems analysis, sociology, and law. With the rising relevance of water economics and related social sciences, the editors of WRR continue to encourage submissions on economics and policy. WRR was originally founded in the mid 1960s by Walter Langbein and economist Allen Kneese. Several former WRR editors have been economists—including David Brookshire, Ron Cummings, and Chuck Howe—and many landmark articles in water economics have been published in WRR.
Differences in Regulation in the Silk Glands of the Spider

IT has been found that the production of fibroin from the ampullate glands of the spider, Araneus sericatus, can be stimulated both by cholinergic agents and by emptying the gland1. However, as will be shown here, the cylindrical glands do not have a cholinergic regulatory mechanism.
Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus presenting as multiple pedunculated polyps.

Une observation chez un malade de 54 ans de race noire. Etude radiologique et anatomopathologique
Adiponectin is associated with risk of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in women

The purpose of this study was to examine insulin resistance, markers of the metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and serum adiponectin concentrations in pre-menopausal Hispanic and non-Hispanic White (NHW) women. This cross-sectional study examined 119 pre-menopausal women (76 Hispanic, 45 NHW) for markers of the metabolic syndrome (ATP III criteria), level of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), CVD risk factors, and serum total adiponectin concentrations. Relationships between variables were assessed using Student’s t-tests, Pearson’s and Spearman’s Rho correlations, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Hispanic women had significantly lower adiponectin concentrations than NHW women, even after controlling for body fat (%) (P < 0.01). Number of markers of the metabolic syndrome was inversely related to total adiponectin concentration for all women combined and for NHW women (P ≤ 0.04), but not for Hispanic women. Insulin resistance was inversely related to adiponectin for all women and for NHW women (P < 0.01), but not significantly associated in Hispanic women. Adiponectin concentration was not significantly associated with number of CVD risk factors for these women. While adiponectin was associated with markers of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance for all women of this study and despite lower adiponectin concentrations for Hispanic women than NHW women, the role of adiponectin to these conditions among Hispanics remains unclear. There was no significant association between adiponectin and CVD risk for these women. Future research should focus on understanding mechanisms for up-regulating adiponectin secretion and if ethnicity affects adiponectin gene expression and secretion given the beneficial effects derived from elevated adiponectin levels.
Antioxidant activities and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in normal and preeclamptic placentas

Placental production of lipid peroxides is abnormally increased in preeclampsia. The reason for this is not known, but if placental antioxidant enzymes were deficient, lipid peroxides would increase unchecked. In this study, we measured 1) enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and tissue levels of vitamin E, and 2) mRNA expression of CuZn-SOD, catalase, and GSH-Px in normal and preeclamptic placentas. Placental tissues were obtained from normal (n = 16) preeclamptic (n - 12) pregnancies immediately after delivery. Tissue pieces were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80C until assayed. The enzyme activities of CuZn-SOD, catalase, and GSH-Px and the levels of vitamin E were determined by spectrophotometric assays. Messenger RNA expression of CuZn-SOD, catalase, and GSH-Px was determined by Northern blot analysis. The activities of CuZn-SOD and GSH-Px and the tissue levels of vitamin E were significantly lower in preeclamptic placentas than in normal placentas (CuZn-SOD: 1.13 ± 0.49 versus 3.71 ± 0.71 V/mg protein, P .4). 1) Activities of CuZn-SOD and GSH-Px and the tissue levels of vitamin E are significantly lower in preeclamptic than in normal placentas. 2) Activity of catalase is significantly higher in preeclamptic than in nortnal placentas. 3) Messenger RNA expression for CuZn-SOD and GSH-Px is lower in preeclamptic placentas. We speculate that decreased antioxidant activity may result in increased lipid peroxide levels in preeclamptic placentas. (J Soc Gynecol Invest 1996;3:179-84)
Lattice relaxation at an aluminum surface: Self-consistent linear-electronic-response approach.

We present a calculation of multilayer relaxation at the (110) surface of aluminum based on the numerical minimization of the total energy of a metal slab. The total energy is evaluated with use of pseudopotential perturbation theory. The electron-ion interaction gives rise to two contributions of electronic origin to the total energy. These are related to spatial variations of the electron density, and to the screening of the ions by the mobile sp electrons. Both electronic energies are evaluated self-consistently within the perturbation-theoretic framework. The electron-density profile at the surface (the Lang-Kohn profile), and the linear-density-response function of the conduction electrons, are evaluated in the local-density approximation of density-functional theory. We discuss the physics of the forces driving the relaxation, with emphasis on the range of these forces. Electronic screening is shown to play a fundamental role in the multilayer relaxation process, both quantitatively and qualitatively (it gives rise to long-range-effects). Numerical results for the interplanar spacings in the relaxed crystal are given for a 19-layer film. Agreement with the experimental values of the first few interplanar spacings is fair. It is suggested that the experimental analysis be carried out letting a large enough number of lattice planes participate on an equal footing in the search for the relaxed structure. Comparison is made with the theoretical work of Barnett, Landman, and Cleveland and of Ho and Bohnen.
Attitudinal correlates of employee integrity

Employee theft, violence, and drug abuse account for enormous losses in business and industry. The major purpose of the present research was to determine the relationship of the attitudes of prospective employees in these three key areas and the admissions of such acts by the applicant in a preemployment polygraph examination. Four hundred seventy job applicants for positions of trust involving access to money merchandise, and other company property completed the Personnel Selection Inventory (PSI) prior to taking the preemployment polygraphe examination. The results showed strong relationships between attitudes and behavior in the area of theft (r=.56, p<.01), violence (r=.51. p<.05). and drug abuse (r=.46 for marijuana use, p<.05 and r=.40 for other drug abuse. p<.05). The results also showed that the PSI had no adverse impact against protected race or sex groups. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Lightweight medical BodyNets

Body area networks are becoming more and more popular in addressing health care application due to advances in sensing technologies and the fact the these networks lie within close proximity of the body. We have developed a general purpose wearable platform using lightweight embedded system to address various medical applications. This architecture is composed of tiny processors/microcontrollers equipped with non-invasive sensors. In addition, an on-body terminal enables the system to be reconfigurable and to communicate with medical enterprises. Since our architecture is made of software programmable blocks, it becomes a reconfigurable system. We introduce different levels of reconfiguration for body area networks and illustrate how reconfiguration can address several design challenges such as adaptability, reliability and power consumption. Finally, we formulate sampling rate assignment as a means of power reduction while meeting performance specification. Through our formulation, power dissipation can be minimized and at the same time, the desired accuracy of the system is achieved.
Control of Mid-spatial-frequency Errors for Large Steep Aspheric Surfaces

Control of mid-spatial-frequency errors on precision optical surfaces is very important for next-generation optical systems. We present results of smoothing experiments and of polishing runs utilizing figuring and smoothing for the 8.4m GMT off-axis segment.
An initial approach towards quality of service based Spectrum Trading

Spectrum scarcity has become an important issue as demands for higher data rates increase in diverse wireless applications and aerospace communication scenarios. To address this problem, it becomes necessary to manage radio spectrum assignment in a way that optimizes the distribution of spectrum resources among several users while taking into account the quality of service (QoS) characteristics desired by the users of spectrum. In this paper, a novel approach to managing spectrum assignment based on Spectrum Trading (ST) will be presented. Market based spectrum assignment mechanisms such as spectrum trading are of growing interest to many spectrum management agencies that are planning to increase the use of these mechanisms for spectrum management and reduce their emphasis on command and control methods. This paper presents some of our initial work into incorporating quality of service information into the mechanisms that determine how spectrum should be traded when using a spectrum exchange. Through simulations and a testbed implementation of a QoS aware spectrum exchange our results show the viability of using QoS based mechanisms in spectrum trading and in the enhancement of dynamic spectrum assignment systems.
New magnetic phase transition between electron-hole drops and free-excitons in pure Ge

Abstract We have discovered a new magnetic phase transition between free-excitons and electron-hole drops in high purity Ge near the critical point of the liquid-gas phase diagram. The critical magnetic field is found to be Hc ≈ 0.4 T. For H⩾Hc the electron-hole drops are stable to higher temperatures by about 1 K with respect to zero field.
Interference effects in the Coulomb dissociation of 8B

Abstract The interference between E1 and E2 in the Coulomb breakup of 8B strongly affects the angular distribution of the decay proton. Thus this measurement could provide empirical information on the magnitude of the E2 contribution, which has been the subject of recent controversy.
Trends Impacting Public Policy Support for Caregiving Families

Public policy aimed at supporting the caregiving capacity of families has risen to prominence on the public agenda in the United States. Initiatives at the state and federal levels have created some initial services. Three trends that are pushing the issue of family caregiving to the surface are discussed, including large-scale social, demographic, and economic changes. The pressures on women from increased caregiving demands are discussed, along with the taken-for-granted cultural value placed on the home as a locus of care for family members who need assistance with common daily activities. Experiments at the state level with consumer-directed care and capitated wrap-around services are described. The authors argue that support for caregiving families is likely to remain a prominent concern of the public and policy makers for the foreseeable future.