cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental and modeling study of NO formation in 10 torr methane and propane flames: Evidence for additional prompt-NO precursors

Abstract We report LIF derived profiles for NO and CH in 10 torr methane and propane flames over a range of stochiometries from φ = 0.6 to 1.2. Flame modeling results using two different published mechanisms severely underpredict NO formation in very lean flames, and in propane flames relative to methane. Proper prediction of the NO formation under our flame conditions as well as other flames recently reported in the literature cannot be achieved assuming that CH is the only prompt NO precursor. Recently postulated reactions of N 2 O and NNH with CH 3 are insufficient to explain the differences under the low pressure conditions of our study. Analysis of the NO generation trends versus stoichiometry and fuel type point to the possible role of C 2 O and CH 2 as precursors to prompt NO formation. Recent experimentally based updates for the heats of formation for C 2 O and NCN demonstrate an exothermic product channel for the reaction C 2 O + N 2 to form NCN. Additionally, formation of NCN and related species for the reaction of CH 2 + N 2 , analogous to the NCN + H channel for the reaction of CH + N 2 , leads to additional energetically favorable product channels which have not been previously considered. Modeling studies assuming realistic kinetics for the reactions of CH 2 and C 2 O with N 2 support the inclusion of these two species into NO formation schemes in these flames.
Claustrophobia and adherence to CPAP treatment.

This study evaluated the effect of claustrophobia, an abnormal dread or fear of closed spaces, on adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The design was a secondary analysis of data from a prospective study of participants (N = 153) that completed 3 months of CPAP therapy from seven sleep disorders centers in the United States and Canada. A 15-item subscale adapted from the Fear and Avoidance Scale measured claustrophobic tendencies pre-CPAP treatment and again after 3 months. An overt monitor attached to the CPAP machines recorded mask-on CPAP adherence. There was a statistically significant difference in claustrophobia scores by adherence group ( or = 5 hours) and time period (pre-CPAP and after 3 months CPAP). Poor CPAP adherence ( or = 25. Identification of persons with increased claustrophobia tendencies and targeted interventions may increase adherence.
Language, race, and history: The origin of the Whitney‐Müller debate and the transformation of the human sciences

Practitioners of disciplines often create a history of their field that justifies their own theoretical perspective. In the introduction to his Course in General Linguistics, Ferdinand de Saussure constructed such a history for the study of language. In doing so, he gave a very different evaluation of two of his immediate predecessors, William Dwight Whitney and Friedrich Max Muller, praising Whitney while relegating Muller to the outmoded past. These two scholars, however, were nearly exact contemporaries; they were trained similarly, and were interested in a similar set of linguistic issues. Beginning around 1870, Whitney and Muller engaged in an epic scholarly debate that raged for more than twenty years. The origin of this conflict was a controversy over Darwinian evolution, but their disagreement had deeper roots in the long-standing connection between language study and discussions of racial history. By intellectually distancing Whitney and Muller and writing their debate out of his history, Saussure emphasized the independence and objectivity of his new “scientific” linguistics and excluded the racial controversies that had been central to comparative philology during the nineteenth century.
Problem-Solving Session Results From the 54th Annual Meeting of the Association of University Radiologists

The problem-solving session at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) was formulated by the American Alliance of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology (A3CR2) steering committee at the 2005 RSNA meeting in Chicago. Two issues were discussed: 1) the impact on vascular interventional radiology training by nonradiology specialties and how radiology training programs must adapt to maintain and expand the specialty and 2) how can radiology programs meet the needs of residents who have differing professional expectations and goals, specifically the diversity of resident interest in private practice versus academic careers? The topics were discussed in two sessions composed of A3CR2 members as well as radiology residents from across the country. Solutions were then discussed in a joint session with the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR) and Association of Program Coordinators in Radiology (APCR) and final conclusions were formulated. Participants included several interventional radiologists.
Changing social priorities and the increased salience of the economy in Estonia

Since 1991, throughout the former Soviet Union marketization has increased, and much of the social safety net has disappeared. Compared with other former Soviet republics, Estonia has fared well. In this paper, we examine the salience and seriousness of various social issues for groups in Estonia in 1996, and we compare the 1996 results with those of a survey that took place in Estonia in 1991 shortly before the coup. We also reflect on the findings in light of opportunities and challenges for Estonia.
Large Eddy Simulations of Turbulent Flows in IC Engines

A new computational methodology is developed and tested for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flows in internal combustion (IC) engines. In this methodology, the filtered compressible Navier-Stokes equations in curvilinear coordinate systems are solved via a generalized, high-order, multi-block, compact differencing scheme and various subgrid-scale (SGS) stress closures. Both reacting and nonreacting flows with and without spray are considered. The LES models have been applied to a piston-cylinder assembly with a stationary open valve and harmonically moving flat piston. The flow in a direct-injection spark-ignition (DISI) engine is also considered. It is observed that during the intake stroke of the engine operation, large-scale unsteady turbulent flow motions are developed behind the intake valves. The physical features of these turbulent motions and the ability of LES to capture them are studied and tested by simulating the flow in a simple configuration involving a stationary valve. The flow statistics predicted by LES are shown to compare well with the available experimental data. The DISI configuration includes all the complexities involved in a realistic single-cylinder IC engine, such as the complex geometry, moving valves, moving piston, spray and combustion. The spray combustion is simulated with the recently developed two-phase filtered mass density (FMDF) model.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Ondansetron: In a class (5HT3) of its own

Summary PONV is increasing in importance for the practice of anesthesiology today. Patients are more commonly aware of this problem and desire that it be prevented. An understanding of the factors which predict an increased likelihood of PONV aids the selection of techniques to reduce its frequency. Ondansetron seems to be at least as effective as other antiemetics with a lack of significant sedation or major side effects. This suggests that ondansetron may be particularly useful in the ambulatory surgery setting. However, ondansetron must be judged in light of its somewhat greater acquisition cost. Some questions remain to be answered. The majority of studies reported to date have evaluated women receiving general anesthesia for gynecological surgery because this is such a high-risk population for PONV. Future studies must address different patient populations, both adult and pediatric, having a variety of surgical procedures and anesthetic techniques. Other questions which need further clarification include the timing of administration of antiemetic drugs. Should they be administered prophylactically or only therapeutically? Also, what about combination therapy? Is the coadministration of an agent like droperidol and metoclopramide superior to either alone? As Fred Orkin comments, the fact that “almost 75% of subjects base their preferences on whether emetic symptoms were present suggests that greater efforts should be made to prevent these symptoms.”
Designing an IMAC system using TeraNet

Even though considerable progresses have been made with communication technology, one of the more difficult problems facing in installing a comprehensive clinically effective Image Management and Communication (IMAC) system for a hospital is the communication problem. Most existing systems are based on Ethernet or Token-ring net. Some of the newer systems are being installed using FDDL. All these systems have inherent problems like communication speed, control of bandwidth usage, or/and poor performance under heavy traffic. In order to overcome these difficulties, we are designing a complete IMAC system based on a novel network known as TeraNet, being developed at Center for Telecommunication Research, Columbia University.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A global indicator of wastewater treatment to inform the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract This paper assessed an effort to create an indicator of global wastewater treatment performance to inform environmental performance and sustainable development. We compiled wastewater treatment statistics for 183 countries and constructed a first-of-its-kind global indicator for wastewater treatment performance. Although reporting definitions are inconsistent across countries, we preliminarily concluded that wastewater performance trends vary globally, regionally, and by income. Overall, the lack of consistent definitions, reporting protocols, and a central custodian for wastewater treatment data are main reasons for many challenges we confronted in constructing comparable performance measures. We suggest a standardized definition of wastewater treatment aimed at the utility level, which could be normalized and aggregated to reflect national performance. U.N. negotiators, who are designing a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for water that includes a metric on wastewater treatment, must consider these issues if countries are to be successful in managing wastewater and ultimately, water quality.
Performance of Industrial Equipment to Collect Coolant Mist

A protocol was developed to evaluate collector performance in the laboratory under conditions that simulate plant practice. Eight collector manufacturers provided nine samples of their products, each designed to handle 1700 m3/hr (1000 ft3/min) of airflow. Each collector was tested using mists of mineral oil, soluble oil, and synthetic fluid; for a three-stage collector, tests with each metalworking fluid lasted for thirteen 24-hour days. For each collector stage as well as for each assembled collector, tests established the relationship between efficiency and droplet diameter for droplets from less than 0.3 to about 6 µm in diameter. Substantial differences in efficiency and pressure drop were found among the stages and assembled collectors. Some metal mesh filters worked well as first stages, whereas pocket filters, one cartridge filter, and an electrostatic precipitator worked well as second stages. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), 95% dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and candle filters provided excelle...
Managing Security: The Business of American Social Policy, 1910-1960

Today, the notion of economic security is in eclipse, but at mid-cen tury it occupied a central place in American cultural and political life as a right of citizenship and employment. The enactment in the New Deal era of federal mortgage assistance, deposit insurance, min imum wages, Social Security, and laws bolstering the right to orga nize created a social entitlement to a minimum standard of living—if not for all workers, then as a model to which the nation should as pire. Workers, too, created this entitlement in the workplace, com munity, and polity, redefining the terms of citizenship. When local and private welfare programs failed in the Great Depression, workers turned to the national government for relief. The positive response of Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration fundamentally changed American political culture: Americans now expected the state to guarantee a minimal level of social well-being. As previously mar ginalized ethnic workers participated in the political process, they
Single-transistor-latch-induced degradation of front- and back-channel thin-film SOI transistors

The front- and back-channel transistor characteristics in thin-film silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFETs have been studied before and after front-channel hot-carrier stress resulting from single-transistor latch. This stress causes the following significant changes: (a) a reduction of the front-channel current for a given gate voltage, (b) an increase in front-channel drain-source breakdown voltage when measured in the reverse mode, and (c) a decrease in the back-channel transconductance. These changes can be attributed to the hot-carrier induced interface traps on both front and back interfaces near the drain junction. >
Untersuchungen über die Natur der Antikörper

Antigene, seien es pathogene Erreger oder kunstliche chemische Verbindungen, veranlassen im Korper die Bildung von Antikorpern groser Spezifitat, welche die Ursache der spateren Immunitat sind. Die Spezifitat ist u. a. in den raumlichen Formen der beteiligten Molekule begrundet. Antigen und Antikorper passen zueinander wie Matrize und Abgus (Faltung der Peptidketten). Uber Einzelheiten der Antikorperbildung wird sich erst Entscheidendes sagen lassen, wenn wir mehr uber die Biosynthese der Proteine und besonders der Serumglobuline wissen. Die wesentlichen Anschauungen und Theorien neuerer Zeit leiten sich noch von Ehrlichs Idee der Komplementaritat ab.
Perception of a White‐Collar Crime: Tax Evasion

The current study was designed to investigate U.S. taxpayer's perception of the severity of tax evasion relative to other offenses, in general, and white‐collar crimes, in particular. We compared the perception of tax evasion to 20 other offenses, including violent crimes such as rape and murder and relatively minor offenses such as jaywalking. Due to the recent focus by lawmakers and the media on white‐collar scandals and the lack of comparisons in prior literature, we also included six white‐collar crimes. Overall, the results indicate that tax evasion was viewed as only somewhat serious. When comparing tax evasion to other white‐collar offenses, we found that tax evasion was perceived as equal in severity to minimum wage law violations and rated less serious than the other four white‐collar crimes investigated. Most demographic factors (age, gender, education or income level, political affiliation, etc.) did not seem to be related to perceptions of tax evasion. However, location of taxpayers did have s...
The relationship between AIDS retinal cotton wool spots and neuropsychological impairment in HIV-positive individuals in the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy era.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between AIDS retinal cotton wool spots (CWS) and neuropsychological impairment in HIV-positive individuals in the pre-HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) era and the association between AIDS-related retinal CWS and neuropsychological impairment in HIV-positive patients not treated with HAART. Methods: A case-control analysis of prospectively acquired data in HIV-infected individuals who underwent prospective and longitudinal evaluations of retinal findings as well as neuropsychological testing was performed. Individuals underwent prospective retinal ophthalmic examinations with fundus photography of any retinal lesions. They also underwent periodic neuropsychological testing. The occurrence of retinal CWS was analyzed in relationship to neuropsychological impairment. Results: Thirty individuals with CWS were compared to 60 matched control AIDS patients. There was no association between either global clinical neuropsychological impairment or impairment in any...
Invariant web defect detection and classification system

We present a live web defect detection and classification system that runs on a Laptop PC with an attached camera. Features, invariant with respect to rotation and translation based on local integration are extracted from the grabbed images. They are then presented to a neural network for classification.
Throughput analysis for multicast switches with multiple input queues

This letter analyzes the saturated throughput for multicast switches with multiple input queues per input port. Under the assumptions of a Poisson uniform traffic model and random packet scheduling policy, we derive the multicast switch saturated throughput under different fanouts. To verify the analysis, extensive simulations are conducted with different switch sizes and fanouts. It is shown that the theoretical analysis and the simulation results have a discrepancy less than 1.9%. Results from this letter can be used as a guidance to design the optimal queuing for multicast switches.
5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid orally administered suppress P-selectin expression on mouse platelets

Caffeic acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid are naturally occurring phenolic acid and its quinic acid ester found in plants. In this article, potential effects of 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid on P-selectin expression were investigated due to its significant involvement in platelet activation. First, the effects of 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid on cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes were determined due to their profound involvement in regulating P-selectin expression on platelets. At the concentration of 0.05 microM, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid were both able to inhibit COX-I enzyme activity by 60% (P<.013) and 57% (P<.017), respectively. At the same concentration, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid were also able to inhibit COX-II enzyme activity by 59% (P<.012) and 56% (P<.015), respectively. As expected, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid were correspondingly able to inhibit P-selectin expression on the platelets by 33% (P<.011) and 35% (P<.018), at the concentration of 0.05 microM. In animal studies, 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid orally administered to mice were detected as intact forms in the plasma. Also, P-selectin expression was respectively reduced by 21% (P<.016) and 44% (P<.019) in the plasma samples from mice orally administered 5-caffeoylquinic acid (400 microg per 30 g body weight) and caffeic acid (50 microg per 30 g body weight). These data suggest that both 5-caffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid orally administered can be absorbed and suppress P-selectin expression on mouse platelets.
Neurochemical characterization of excitotoxin lesions in the cerebral cortex

Neuronal degeneration that occurs in both ischemia and degenerative neurologic illnesses may involve excitotoxic mechanisms. In the present study, we examined whether cortical lesions with agonists acting at subtypes of glutamate receptors result in selective patterns of neuronal death. Injections of quinolinic acid, NMDA, homocysteic acid, kainic acid (KA), and a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionic acid (AMPA) were made at 2 sites in the dorsolateral frontoparietal cortex in rats. After 1 week, the cerebral cortex was either dissected for neurochemical studies, or animals were perfused for histologic evaluation. Concentrations of somatostatin (SS), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP), cholecystokinin (CCK), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were measured by radioimmunoassay, while amino acids and catecholamines were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. NMDA agonists (quinolinic acid, homocysteic acid, and NMDA itself) resulted in dose-dependent reductions in glutamate and GABA, while SS, NPY, SP, CCK, and VIP were either unchanged or significantly increased in concentration. KA and AMPA at doses that resulted in comparable GABA depletions caused significant reductions in SS concentrations. Markers of cortical afferents were spared. All excitotoxins resulted in dose-dependent marked increases in uric acid concentrations. Histologic examination verified that lesions with NMDA agonists produced relative sparing of NADPH-diaphorase, SS, VIP, and CCK neurons. These results show that NMDA excitotoxin lesions result in a pattern of selective neuronal damage in the cerebral cortex that is similar to that which occurs in both ischemia and Huntington’s disease.
β-alanine suppresses malignant breast epithelial cell aggressiveness through alterations in metabolism and cellular acidity in vitro

Deregulated energetics is a property of most cancer cells. This phenomenon, known as the Warburg Effect or aerobic glycolysis, is characterized by increased glucose uptake, lactate export and extracellular acidification, even in the presence of oxygen. β-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that has previously been shown to be metabolized into carnosine, which functions as an intracellular buffer. Because of this buffering capacity, we investigated the effects of β-alanine on the metabolic cancerous phenotype. Non-malignant MCF-10a and malignant MCF-7 breast epithelial cells were treated with β-alanine at 100 mM for 24 hours. Aerobic glycolysis was quantified by measuring extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxidative metabolism was quantified by measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR). mRNA of metabolism-related genes was quantified by qRT-PCR with corresponding protein expression quantified by immunoblotting, or by flow cytometry which was verified by confocal microscopy. Mitochondrial content was quantified using a mitochondria-specific dye and measured by flow cytometry. Cells treated with β-alanine displayed significantly suppressed basal and peak ECAR (aerobic glycolysis), with simultaneous increase in glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). Additionally, cells treated with β-alanine exhibited significantly reduced basal and peak OCR (oxidative metabolism), which was accompanied by reduction in mitochondrial content with subsequent suppression of genes which promote mitochondrial biosynthesis. Suppression of glycolytic and oxidative metabolism by β-alanine resulted in the reduction of total metabolic rate, although cell viability was not affected. Because β-alanine treatment reduces extracellular acidity, a constituent of the invasive microenvironment that promotes progression, we investigated the effect of β-alanine on breast cell viability and migration. β-alanine was shown to reduce both cell migration and proliferation without acting in a cytotoxic fashion. Moreover, β-alanine significantly increased malignant cell sensitivity to doxorubicin, suggesting a potential role as a co-therapeutic agent. Taken together, our results suggest that β-alanine may elicit several anti-tumor effects. Our observations support the need for further investigation into the mechanism(s) of action and specificity of β-alanine as a co-therapeutic agent in the treatment of breast tumors.
Interactions between invasive Eurasian watermilfoil and native water stargrass in Cayuga Lake, NY, USA.

Aims Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) is a common invasive plant in American lakes and has many negative impacts on invaded ecosystems. Drastic decline of this plant at the northern end of Cayuga Lake in the New York State has occurred since the 1980s, with a much smaller magnitude of decline of Eurasian watermilfoil at the southern end [Johnson et al. (2000) Eurasian watermilfoil biomass associated with insect herbivores in New York. J Aquat Plant Manage 38:82–8]. During the same period, increases in the abundance of native plants, particularly water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia (Jacq.) MacMill.), have been observed [Johnson et al. (1998) Decline of the invasive submersed macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum (Haloragaceae) associated with herbivory by larvae of Acentria ephemerella (Lepidoptera). Aquat Ecol 31:273–82]. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the decline of Eurasian watermilfoil and evaluate the responses of co-occurring plants at the two ends of Cayuga Lake over time. We hypothesized that plant interactions might have contributed to the drastic decline of Eurasian watermilfoil, particularly allelopathy by native water stargrass. Methods A lake survey was conducted to assess distribution and abundance of plant communities at the northern end and the southern end of Cayuga Lake. Additionally, two sets of greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the interactions between invasive Eurasian watermilfoil and native water stargrass. A competition experiment evaluated intra- versus inter-specific competition among plants grown together; an allelopathy experiment examined the responses of plants to each other’s extracts. Important Findings The lake survey showed that water stargrass was extremely abundant at the northern end, whereas Eurasian watermilfoil was sparse at the northern end but one of the most common species at the southern end. The survey also revealed that water stargrass was more abundant than Eurasian watermilfoil at sites where the two species coexisted in the lake. Results from greenhouse experiments revealed no effects of Eurasian watermilfoil on water stargrass growth. However, Eurasian watermilfoil biomass was reduced by 46% when treated with high concentration of water stargrass extracts. This is likely due to osmotic effects rather than allelopathic effects of water stargrass. We proposed several possible reasons for the drastic decline of Eurasian watermilfoil and the increase in water stargrass abundance at the northern end of Cayuga Lake, including space competition, nutrients, substrates, wind exposure and water clarity in addition to insect herbivory and mechanic harvesting.
Protection and Regeneration of Vestibular Hair Cells—the Role of Neurotrophins after Gentamicin Ototoxicity

The spontaneous and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) assisted recovery of vestibular hair cells in adult chinchillas following intraotic gentamicin (GM) ototoxic treatment (50 µg) was studied in three experiments. 1. GM group: One week after intraotic GM treatment all type I (100%) and most of type II hair cells (85%) were destroyed. At 4 weeks post-treatment (PT), type II hair cells experienced a significant spontaneous regeneration to 83% of normal values. 2. GM/BDNF group: Intraotic administration of 1 µg of BDNF one week after GM treatment accelerated the recovery of type II hair cells. They recovered to 81% at 2 weeks PT. The regeneration of type I hair cells reached 28% at 8 weeks PT. 3. GM&BDNF group: BDNF administered together with GM delayed the initial hair cell destruction for one week. At this time period, 23% of type I hair cells were still present, whereas the number of type II hair cells was normal. At 8 weeks PT, no type I hair cells were found, but type II hair cell numbers were normal.
Effect of border rows and trap/donor ratios on pollen-mediated gene movement

One of the concerns associated with the field testing and agronomic-scale release of transgenic crops is the potential for the pollen-mediated escape of engineered genes into naturally occurring populations of wild relatives. While border rows have been used frequently to restrict the pollen-mediated escape of engineered genes from field trials, the efficacy of this approach has been little studied. To test the effectiveness of border plantings, isogenic lines of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) differing for the seedling marker trait blunt leaf apex (bla) were planted in four designs: 1 m2 of wild-type donor plot surrounded by a 399-m2 border of bla recipients; 1 m2 of donor plot/99 m2 border; 4 m2 of donor plot/96 m2 border; and 1-m2 of donor plot with no border. Each planting was encircled by eight 1.4-m2 satellite plots 50 m from the plot center. Progeny of plants from the satellites and borders were screened to determine the percentage of gene movement as measured by the occurrence of the dominant phenotype. Gene movement within the plot borders followed a leptokurtic distribution; there was greater movement from the 4-m2 donor plot than from the 1-m2 plot. Long-distance movement to the satellites significantly increased as the trap-to-donor ratio decreased. Although movement to individual satellites was generally consistent within a treatment, there was one instance of unusually high outcrossing to a single satellite, indicating that the effectiveness of borders was influenced by both the relative numbers of donor plants and by environmental variables.
SNAP-25 Palmitoylation and Plasma Membrane Targeting Require a Functional Secretory Pathway

Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is a palmitoylated membrane protein essential for neurotransmitter release from synaptic terminals. We used neuronal cell lines to study the biosynthesis and posttranslational processing of SNAP-25 to investigate how palmitoylation contributes to the subcellular localization of the protein. SNAP-25 was synthesized as a soluble protein that underwent palmitoylation approximately 20 min after synthesis. Palmitoylation of the protein coincided with its stable membrane association. Treatment of cells with brefeldin A or other disrupters of transport inhibited palmitoylation of newly synthesized SNAP-25 and abolished membrane association. These results demonstrate that the processing of SNAP-25 and its targeting to the plasma membrane depend on an intact transport mechanism along the exocytic pathway. The kinetics of SNAP-25 palmitoylation and membrane association and the sensitivity of these parameters to brefeldin A suggest a novel trafficking pathway for targeting proteins to the plasma membrane. In vitro, SNAP-25 stably associated with membranes was not released from the membrane after chemical deacylation. We propose that palmitoylation of SNAP-25 is required for initial membrane targeting of the protein but that other interactions can maintain membrane association in the absence of fatty acylation.
MDM2+/CDK4+/p53+ oral liposarcoma: Case report and review of the literature * **

Abstract Although liposarcoma is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas, its location in the oral cavity is very rare. To our knowledge, only 43 cases of liposarcoma originating in the oral tissues have been reported in the English-language literature. In this article, we report a case of well-differentiated liposarcoma affecting the cheek of a 28-year-old man and review the oral liposarcoma literature. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor revealed an MDM2+/CDK4+/p53+ immunophenotype that is consistent with the immunohistochemical profile of well-differentiated liposarcoma originating in other areas of the body. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of the DNA levels of the MDM2 (human homologue of the murine double-minute type 2), CDK4 (cyclin-dependent kinase 4), and SAS (sarcoma amplified sequence), genes was performed, revealing only SAS gene amplification. The possibility of misdiagnosis of oral liposarcoma because of its sometimes inconspicuous clinical and microscopic features is emphasized. Careful pathologic examination of liposarcoma is essential for discrimination from benign adipose tissue neoplasms and for precise histologic classification, both of major prognostic significance. Possible implications of molecular and cytogenetic analysis for unraveling the pathogenesis and determining the prognosis of liposarcoma are discussed. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2001;92:194-201)
An electronic diary software for ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in clinical trials

Experience sampling is a research technique in which participants record their behaviors and moods in real time in their day-to-day environments. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a refinement of experience sampling in which randomly timed assessments are combined with event-contingent assessments. EMA data are more reliable if obtained with handheld computers than with paper diaries. Robust EMA applications sufficiently flexible and easily adaptable for our various research efforts, including a study of polydrug use we are now undertaking at our outpatient treatment/research clinic, were not available. We developed transactional electronic diary (TED), a highly configurable EMA program. TED provides investigators the capability to conduct close assessment and monitoring of symptoms and intensity of drug withdrawal in participants. Data collected via TED is subsequently incorporated into our human research information system (HuRIS) for further analysis.
Pathology consultation on urine compliance testing and drug abuse screening.

Objectives: Compliance testing in pain management requires a distinct approach compared with classic clinical toxicology testing. Differences in the patient populations and clinical expectations require modifications to established reporting cutoffs, assay performance expectations, and critical review of how best to apply the available testing methods. Although other approaches to testing are emerging, immunoassay screening followed by mass spectrometry confirmation remains the most common testing workflow for pain management compliance and drug abuse testing. Methods: A case-based approach was used to illustrate the complexities inherent to and uniqueness of pain management compliance testing for both clinicians and laboratories. Results: A basic understanding of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of immunoassays and mass spectrometry provides the clinician a better understanding of how best to approach pain management compliance testing. Conclusions: Pain management compliance testing is a textbook example of an emerging field requiring open communication between physician and performing laboratory to fully optimize patient care.
Predicting coaxial helical stacking in RNA junctions

RNA junctions are important structural elements that form when three or more helices come together in space in the tertiary structures of RNA molecules. Determining their structural configuration is important for predicting RNA 3D structure. We introduce a computational method to predict, at the secondary structure level, the coaxial helical stacking arrangement in junctions, as well as classify the junction topology. Our approach uses a data mining approach known as random forests, which relies on a set of decision trees trained using length, sequence and other variables specified for any given junction. The resulting protocol predicts coaxial stacking within three- and four-way junctions with an accuracy of 81% and 77%, respectively; the accuracy increases to 83% and 87%, respectively, when knowledge from the junction family type is included. Coaxial stacking predictions for the five to ten-way junctions are less accurate (60%) due to sparse data available for training. Additionally, our application predicts the junction family with an accuracy of 85% for three-way junctions and 74% for four-way junctions. Comparisons with other methods, as well applications to unsolved RNAs, are also presented. The web server Junction-Explorer to predict junction topologies is freely available at: http://bioinformatics.njit.edu/junction.
Evaluation of Chemical Modifiers and Stabilizers for Chemically Active Soils—Clays

Of the types of soils that occur in nature, clay soils are the most physicochemically active. Their natural tendencies to change volume with moisture level changes cause billions of dollars of damage annually to transportation facilities. Methodologies to modify and stabilize their damaging behavior have been widely sought. In fact, there is evidence of clay soil stabilization in antiquity. Because these problematic soils are chemically active and their behavior can be improved through the application of chemical agents, a multitude of these agents have been applied. Some of these agents are naturally occurring, some are derived by manufacture, and some are the waste products of manufacturing processes. Why these clays are chemically active, how agents can be applied to improve the behavior of clays, and why the agents proposed should be evaluated are reviewed. Minimum requirements for adequate testing and evaluation are provided.
Robotic Systems: Past, Present, and Future

In the last decades we have witnessed the emergence of robotic surgery. The concept of “Medical Robotics” took time to become feasible and accepted by the medical community. Urology robotics has been promoted by the preceding development of minimally invasive surgery methods and laparoscopy, for which urology has also been a fertile ground. Potential advantages of robots in medical applications include remote, scaled, and digital manipulation with precise, accurate positioning. Their ability to improve dexterity in minimally invasive approaches and perform operations remotely to reduce physician’s radiation exposure has been an important factor to further demonstrate the potential value of these technologies. In this chapter we introduce the evolvement of medical robots, their current status, and give a perspective view of the ideas and projects currently under development.
Leaving Race Behind

This paper argues that American society ought to move away from employing racial categories in favor of either ethnicity or the renunciation of such descriptors. It argues that race is both socially-constructed and arbitrary yet, at the same time, is treated as immutable and serves as the source of significant social tension and division. Yet, despite these facts, both the government and social scientists continue to legitimize racial divisions through surveys like the Census which force individuals to racialize themselves. The paper suggests that the growing Hispanic population places the country at a crossroads: will it push the members of this group into one or more racial groupings or will it encourage them to think in terms of history and heritage — categories far less prone to sowing division and discord? Finally, having made the case for the latter, the paper proposes a number of solutions for addressing the harms of historical and systemic racism without simultaneously propping up racial distinctions.
A survey of vaccinations of immigrants and refugees in San Diego County, California.

PURPOSE: This report summarizes a vaccination coverage survey of 65 immigrant and refugee families in San Diego County. It included gathering information from 19 community and government organizations on the immunization system, and on families' barriers impeding immunization. METHODS: The "rapid appraisal" exploratory method flexibly used several research methods, such as informant interviews and door-to-door surveys, changing methods as new questions were uncovered. The researcher went alone, or with organizations' staffs, to interview families, record their vaccination records, and give them forms telling which vaccine doses they lacked. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The 4:3:1 (4 DTP, 3 polio, 1 MMR) vaccination series completion rate among children while they were aged 19-35 months old ranged from 33% in those born in 1984-1985, to 60% in those born in 1996-1997. The hepatitis B vaccine completion coverage rate among children in the 1984-1993 birth cohorts was 73%. The hepatitis B vaccine completion coverage rate among Hmong, Vietnamese, and Chinese adolescents ranged from 86%-100%, and among the Kurdish was 85%, Somali 73%, Lao 43% and Cambodian adolescents 35%. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatitis B vaccine completion coverage rate was higher among Hmong, Vietnamese, and Chinese adolescents probably because they lived near clinics and schools providing the vaccine to many, and among the Kurdish and Somali because they received many doses in refugee programs. The families experienced immunization barriers involving transportation, languages, little knowledge of immunizations, and missed opportunities. Two populations have cultural barriers: numerous European-Americans believe in anti-vaccine ideas; and many East Africans have little knowledge of the English language and the American system. RECOMMENDATIONS: Health personnel should continue using current methods to promote immunizations. Community organizations' staffs should consistently check vaccination records, and health officials should do more trainings for those staffs. The National Task Force on Hepatitis B Immunization, Focus on Asians and Pacific Islanders should broaden its work from Asians and Pacific Islanders, to other nationalities with intermediate or high hepatitis B endemicity.
Experience Goods and Risk Preferences

Experience goods are those where the utility received is not known until consumed. The purchase can be viewed as a lottery. Consequently, risk preferences should affect willingness to pay and the price. Data from panels of experts rating cigars is used to test this assertion. For inexpensive cigars evidence is presented that the variation in the ratings reduces the price, as is consistent with Prospect Theory where consumers are risk averse for gains from a reference point and risk loving for losses. For expensive cigars the variation reduces prices, which is consistent with consumers who are risk loving.
A Test Of General Information For Children Of Preschool Age

tional program, there is ? rising need for some objective means of measuring the relative achievement and progress of children between the ages of two and five years in all phases of their educational development. At the present time there is a dearth of standardized tests, either of general information or of specific content knowledge, for children below the kindergarten level, and only a limited number for children from five to six years. It was the purpose of this research to con struct an achievement test of general informa tion for preschool children, integrating the results of this study with other research pre viously done in the field of information tests at the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station, (i) (8) (10) (ii) (13) (15). The work of the four2 test authors (1) (8) (10) (15), upon which this research was based, though exploratory in nature, did indicate that it is possible to differentiate between preschool children on the basis of their informational
Efficacies of esomeprazole,omeprazole,lansoprazole and rabeprazole in patients with gastro-esophageal reflex disease

Objective:To evaluate and compare the efficacies of proton pump inhibitors,esomeprazole, omeprazole,lansoprazole and rabeprazole,for symptomatic relief and curing esophagitis in patients with gastro-e- sophageal reflex disease(GERD).Methods:The patients with GERD(n=124)were randomly divided into 4 groups,and treated with oral esomeprazole 40 mg,omeprazole 40 mg,lansoprazole 30 mg or rabeprazole 20 mg once daily for 4 weeks.Results:The rates of symptomatic relief were 93.1%,81.6%,85.7% and 86.4%,re- spectively,after treatments with esomeprazole,omeprazole,lansoprazole and rabeprazole;the curing rate of esoph- agitis under gastric endoscope was70%.Esomeprazole at the standard dose of 40 mg was significantly more effec- tive than other proton pump inhibitors(P0.05).Conclusion:Esomeprazole is more effective for symptomatic re- lief and curing esophagitis than omeprazole,lansoprazole and rabeprazole at standard doses in patients with GERD.
Seismic risk analysis of lifeline networks

The aim is to show how seismic risk analysis of lifeline networks can be performed efficiently without loss of accuracy. Two efficient schemes have been developed to find the probabilities of partial network failure due to threats coming from a given set of seismically active source areas and/or faults with known seismic history. Networks with deterministic link resistances and those with random link resistances can be analyzed. Both schemes start with the transformation of the given network and its objective to an equivalent SSP network which is simpler to handle and has a certain number of tie-sets. Then the probability that any desired number of these tie-sets fail simultaneously in any given year is evaluated. An efficient computer program for the deterministic resistance approach has been developed and tested on several pilot problems. The network of major highways surrounding the Boston, Massachusetts area is analyzed, and the results are presented herein.
Portosystemic communications in the cat.

SUMMARY Communications were studied between portal and systemic circulations in 26 normal adult cats, 6 of which were unoperated controls, while the portal trunks of the remaining 20 cats were partially ligated. Gradual occlusion of portal veins led to a marked dilation of the normally existing hut very small anastomoses between the portal system and systemic veins. The anastomoses thus formed were classified into the portoprecaval and the portopostcaval communications. Portopostcavalanastomoses formed the major group of portosystemic communications. These were named the gastrophrenic, duodenal, velar omental left colic and cranial rectal anastomoses. Portoprecaval communications were represented only by the cardio-oesophageal anastomoses. In the cat the gastrophrenic, duodenal, velar omental, left colicanastomoses were found to be the most adequate collateral pathways, which on gradual portal occlusion could shunt most of the portal blood into the systemic circulation. In extreme cases, however, the cardio-oesophageal and the cranial rectal anastomoses could also play an important role.
Upper Paleozoic cephalopod mandibles; frequency of occurrence, modes of preservation, and paleoecological implications

Thirty localities in the Upper Paleozoic (Mississippian–Permian) of North America have yielded more than 1,000 cephalopod mandibles preserved as carbon films, pyrite/limonite internal molds, and as nuclei in phosphate, carbonate, and ironstone concretions. With occasional exceptions, cephalopod mandibles, as part of either the microfauna or macrofauna, are rare despite the fact that co-occurring cephalopods may be extremely abundant. Without exception, the mandibles recovered co-occur with ammonoids and very frequently with bactritoids. Localities containing only nautiloids, either coiled or orthoconic, have not yet yielded cephalopod mandibles. Also, nekroplanktic accumulations of cephalopods have not yielded mandibles. Except for Lagerstatten deposits (two occurrences), the cephalopod mandibles were always recovered from molluscan-dominated communities; these communities have been interpreted as being in relatively offshore, “deeper” water in normal marine salinities with relatively low to anoxic oxygen conditions.