cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polysilanes: Conformations, Chromotropism and Conductivity

1 Introduction 2 Conformations and Electronic Structure 3 Chromotropism 4 Electrical Conductivity 5 Acknowledgements Keywords: polysilanes - conformations, chromotropism and conductivity; conformations and electronic structure; polysilane thermochromism in solution; polysilane thermochromism as solids; solvatochromism; ionochromism; other chromotropic behavior; pristine polysilanes and electrical conductivity
Kirkland ‐ A Questioned Fall*

Two small iron meteorites are reported to have fallen through the dome of an amateur astronomer's observatory near Kirkland, Washington, on January 17, 1955. One is a medium octahedrite. The other lacks Widmanstaetten structure. Both contain abundant schreibersite. In the octrahedral specimen, this occurs as an axial replacement of kamacite bands. The validity of the fall has been challenged: a fire was started and the angle of impact was less than 30° from the horizontal. The writer supports the view that the fall actually occurred as reported.
Management of Portal Hypertension

A 37-year-old woman with a history of hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and esophageal varices presented with hematemesis and melena. The patient had a history of a prior esophageal variceal bleeding episode 7 years ago, which required transfusion of four units of packed red blood cells (PRBC) and had been treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy. She was placed on nadolol at that time.
The teen—Tot clinic: An alternative to traditional care for infants of teenaged mothers

A comprehensive interdisciplinary clinic was established to provide health care for teenaged mothers ≤ 16 years old and their infants. Thirty-five mother-infants pairs using this clinic were matched with 70 mother-infant pairs who used "traditional" health care facilities. Significant differences in infant outcomes of immunization status at 6 months (91% versus 46% completed), and weight (97% versus 83% with "normal" range) and maternal outcomes of contraceptive use (91% versus 63%), enrollment in educational programs (86% versus 66%), and repeat pregnancy rate (16% versus 38%) were found between Teen-Tot Clinic participants and the control group. Coordination and consolidation of services for teenaged mothers and their infants appears to favorably influence their short-term outcomes.
Cardiovascular Disease Control Through Barbershops: Design of a Nationwide Outreach Program

Objectives To review the success of barbershops as vehicles for health promotion and outline the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program (BBHOP), a rapidly growing, repli-cable model for health promotion through barbershops. Methods BBHOP was established by clinicians in order to enhance community level awareness of and empowerment for cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. At coordinated events utilizing existing infrastructures as well as culturally and gender-specific health promotion, BBHOP volunteers screen for diabetes and hypertension and reinforce lifestyle recommendations for the prevention of cardiometabolic disorders from the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Patrons with abnormal findings are referred to participating physicians or health care facilities. We performed a selective review of the literature in order to place this model for health promotion in the context of previous efforts in barbershops. BBHOP is among several successful programs that have sought to promote health in barbershops. Combining a grassroots organization approach to establishing a broad-based network of volunteers and partner agencies with substantial marketing expertise and media literacy, the BBHOP has screened more than 7000 African American men in nearly 300 barbershops from more than 20 cities across 6 states. Conclusions The BBHOP is an effective method for community level health promotion and referral for cardio-metabolic diseases, especially for AA men, one of the nation's most vulnerable populations.
Modification of hamster sperm adenyl cyclase by capacitation in vitro.

Abstract It was found that epididymal hamster sperm contains an adenyl cyclase which at 25 mM MnCl2 synthesized 50 nmoles cAMP/108 sperm/hour. This was 20 times the activity observed at 25 mM MgCl2 in the presence or absence of fluoride. The rate of cAMP formation was nearly linear for at least 90 minutes. The specific activity was essentially independent of sperm concentration over the range tested. When hamster sperm were preincubated in a medium causing them to become capacitated, they synthesized more cAMP in the presence of manganese than did the uncapacitated sperm control. The significance of this to sperm capacitation is discussed.
Sociocybernetics of the Operative Actions (In Memory of Prof. Edmond Nicolau) - Symposium V (Based on 15 Communications)

There were submitted the following original ideas (concepts, constructs, conjectures, cognitive proposals, etc.): Similarities: geographical discoveries/Renaissance - space flights/today, mechanical printing/e-communication, first Medieval banks/e-banking, consequences: individual efforts to exceed the narrow specialization culture & responsibility within our consciousness vs. contemporary dynamics (Prof. Edmond NICOLAU); Cybernetic Model between Reality and Ideal (CONSTANDACHE G. George); A large number of agents: an example of self-contained adaptive coordination (SCHUSCHNY A. - PERRAZZO R.P.J. - HEYMANN D.); Making contemporary music: the Aristotelian point of view largely replacing Platonian concept of form vs. contemporary Mathematics and Cybernetics (POPOVICI Fred); Competitiveness as a System Characteristic of an Enterprise (ADAMKIEWICZ Hanna G.); Membership function as a mental reflection within linguistic occurrence of "2" and "3" cardinality forms (BATACHIA Ion-Leon); Ontopoiesis & Onto-anthropic-agociotics (DARIE Nicolae Gheorghe); Existence-Reflection Relation / Sociocybernetics of the Operative Actions (BULZ Nicolae); Ergonomics/Virtual environment (AHASAN Rabiul, VAYRYNEN Seppo & VIROKANNAS Hannu - TORNBERG Vesa); A new reliability function vs. contemporary Mathematics and Cybernetics (IOSIF Adrian); Brain functions & Knowledge processes vs. "Perceptron"/"Reasoning" same importance (ENCIU Bogdan); Learning vague concepts vs. joint probability distribution (FLONDOR Paul & IONESCU Cezar); Relativistic Psycho-dynamics vs. Freud and Einstein essential concepts: unconsciousness, and relativistic laws (GRAPPONE Arturo Graziano); Functional calculus - Synergetics (OTLACAN Eufrosina); Cybernetic Management/Virtual Dynamics: impact on Corporate Culture (KRATTLI Inga).
Compartmental endoscopic surgical anatomy of the medial intraconal orbital space.

Background Surgical management of intraconal pathology represents the next frontier in endoscopic endonasal surgery. Despite this, the medial intraconal space remains a relatively unexplored region, secondary to its variable and technically demanding anatomy. The purpose of this study is to define the neurovascular structures in this region and introduce a compartmentalized approach to enhance surgical planning. Methods This study was an institutional review board (IRB)-exempt endoscopic anatomic study in 10 cadaveric orbits. After dissection of the medial intraconal space, the pattern and trajectory of the oculomotor nerve and ophthalmic arterial arborizations were analyzed. The position of all vessels as well as the length of the oculomotor trunk and branches relative to the sphenoid face were calculated. Results A mean of 1.5 arterial branches were identified (n = 15; range, 1-4) at a mean of 8.8 mm from the sphenoid face (range, 4-15 mm). The majority of the arteries (n = 7) inserted adjacent to the midline of medial rectus. The oculomotor nerve inserted at the level of the sphenoid face and arborized with a large proximal trunk 5.5 ± 1.1 mm in length and multiple branches extending 13.2 ± 2.7 mm from the sphenoid face. The most anterior nerve and vascular pedicle were identified at 17.0 and 15.0 mm from the sphenoid face, respectively. Conclusion The neurovascular supply to the medial rectus muscle describes a varied but predictable pattern. This data allows the compartmentalization of the medial intraconal space into 3 zones relative to the neurovascular supply. These zones inform the complexity of the dissection and provide a guideline for safe medial rectus retraction relative to the fixed landmark of the sphenoid face.
Redundant Calibration of Nitric Oxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Ozone Air Pollution Monitors by Chemical and Gravimetric Techniques

Calibrated nitric oxide (NO) sources are described using ammonia and nitromethane permeation followed by pyrolysis. A field carbon monoxide calibrator based on nickel carbonyl as the liquid fill is discussed. Two techniques for intercalibrating chemiluminescent NO and ozone (O 8 ) meters using the photolysis of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) are demonstrated, together with the feasability of a continuous check on NO, NO 2 , and O 3 meters in ambient air, based on a photostationary state measurement.
Laser spectroscopy of atoms and molecules in buffer-gas loaded magnetic traps

Summary form only given. The very low temperatures (/spl les/1 /spl mu/K) and simultaneously high densities (/spl ges/10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/) attainable with magnetic trapping and evaporative cooling techniques have enabled a number of experiments with atoms whose de Broglie wavelengths are on the order of, or larger than, the mean distance between the atoms. We first demonstrated the technique by buffer-gas loading atomic europium (a 7 Bohr magneton species) into a magnetic trap. This work corroborated the feasibility of the scheme and produced the first benefits of magnetic trapping of a complex atom: a hyperfine resolved Zeeman spectrum whose variation with time provided dues about the relaxation dynamics of the trapped states.
Super-resolution of interleaved sampled signals

A single ADC is often used to digitize several channels. In this application, the channels are sampled sequentially in time. This results in signals that are correlated but are not sampled at the same time. Bandlimited interpolation can be used to obtain signals with the same sampling times. However, methods that were recently developed for digital cameras can be used to achieve resolution beyond the Nyquist limit of the sampling rate of a single channel. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of this method on stereo signals and shows it to be robust to estimations of the modelling parameters.
Atrazine-resistant cytoplasmic male-sterile-nigra broccoli obtained by protoplast fusion between cytoplasmic male-sterile Brassica oleracea and atrazine-resistant Brassica campestris.

Protoplast fusion was used to combine the cytoplasmic traits of atrazine resistance and male sterility in Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli). Leaf protoplasts from broccoli with the petaloid B. nigra type of cytoplasmic male sterility were fused with hypocotyl protoplasts from an atrazine-resistant biotype of B. campestris var. oleifera cv Candle (oilseed rape). A total of 19 colonies regenerated shoots, all of which were broccolilike in phenotype, i.e., lacked trichomes. Four shoots, all from one colony, were atrazine resistant, surviving and growing in the presence of 25 μM atrazine. A leaf piece assay also confirmed that they were atrazine resistant. Molecular analysis showed that they contain chloroplasts from the atrazine-resistant B. campestris parent and mitochondria from the B. nigra parent. No recombination or rearrangement of the mitochondrial genomes in the fusion products was detected. These four plants and their progeny all showed the petaloid B. nigra type of male sterility.
Selective musical processing deficits in brain damaged populations

Unilaterally brain damaged patients were asked to judge the correctness of familiar melody lines. Sixty per cent of these items contained either pitch, rhythm, tempo, or phrasing errors. With respect to the detection of pitch errors, right anterior patients performed significantly worse than all other groups; right central patients exhibited an intermediate level of difficulty; all left brain damaged (aphasic) groups were nearly flawless. For the detection of rhythm and phrasing errors, control, left anterior and left posterior groups did well while right anterior, right central and left central groups did poorly. Results suggest that the anterior right hemisphere may be critical in the processing of pitch components of music; the right hemisphere in general may be important in maintaining the internal auditory representation of musical material, essential for detecting violations in performance.
Automated detection of the magnetopause for space weather from the IMAGE satellite

The radio plasma imager (R.I.) is a low power radar on board the IMAGE spacecraft to be launched early in year 2000. The principal science objective of RPI. is to characterize the plasma in the Earth's magnetosphere by radio frequency imaging. A key product of RPI is the plasmagram, a map of radio signal strength vs. echo delay-time vs. frequency, on which magneto spheric structures appear as curves of varying intensity. Noise and other emissions will also appear on RPI plasmagrams and when strong enough will obscure the radar echoes. RPI echoes from the Earth's magnetopause will be of particular importance since the magnetopause is the first region that the solar wind impacts before producing geomagnetic storms. To aid in the analysis of RPI plasmagrams and ind all echoes from the Earth's magnetopause, a computer program has been developed to automatically detect and enhance the radar echoes. The technique presented in derived within a Bayesian framework and centers on the construction and analysis of a likelihood function connecting magneto spheric structures and RPI plasmagrams. Once this technique has been perfected on archival IMAGE data it will be recorded and used on board the IMAGE spacecraft in a series of test thereby greatly facilitating organizations like the NOAA SEC to perform real-time analysis of space weather.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cape Verdean Immigrants’ Career Development and School Engagement: Perceived Discrimination as a Moderator

This study examined the contribution of perceptions of discrimination, career planning, and vocational identity to the school engagement experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants among...
Tendon Collagens: Extracellular Matrix Composition in Shear Stress and Tensile Components of Flexor Tendons

Outer synovial tissues were separated from the remainder of avian flexor tendon and the collagens characterized biochemically and compared with those of the internal portion of tendon and sheath. The collagen content of tendon synovium was 23%, whereas that of tendon and sheath were 78% and 73%, respectively, based on dry weight. Four genetic types of collagen were found in the pepsin solubilized matrices: in the synovium, types I (78%) and III (19%) predominated; types V and possibly VI were present as minor collagens. Purified synovial type V collagen was a heterotrimer, with chain composition [α1(V)]2α2(V). In contrast, the internal portion of tendon and sheath were comprised of only type I collagen. There was a large amount (41%) of ethanol extractable, noncollagenous material present in synovium, a part of which was proteoglycans. In addition, collagen cross-links of these tissues were quantified: the internal tendon had an abundant concentration of pyridinoline; synovium exhibited high amounts of la...
Existence and uniqueness theorem for the Safronov-Dubovski coagulation equation

The solutions of the discrete Safronov–Dubovski coagulation equation are investigated. We prove global existence for a class of unbounded coagulation kernels. We also show that for sub-linear unbounded kernels, the mass conservation law holds. Finally, we show that for bounded kernels, this equation has a unique global solution that is continuously dependent on the initial data.
Detecting Social Desirability Bias Using Factor Mixture Models

Based on the conceptualization that social desirable bias (SDB) is a discrete event resulting from an interaction between a scale's items, the testing situation, and the respondent's latent trait on a social desirability factor, we present a method that makes use of factor mixture models to identify which examinees are most likely to provide biased responses, which items elicit the most socially desirable responses, and which external variables predict SDB. Problems associated with the common use of correlation coefficients based on scales' total scores to diagnose SDB and partial correlations to correct for SDB are discussed. The method is demonstrated with an analysis of SDB in the Attitude toward Interprofessional Service-Learning scale with a sample of students from health-related fields.
Next generation siloxane-based Bottom Anti-Reflective Coating (BARC) formulations with selective strip rates and required optical properties

Bottom Anti Reflective Coating (BARC) materials are generally used to minimize reflection of incident light from the substrate (Rsub). As IC manufactures move to high NA systems to meet the patterning requirements for next generation technology as well as the use of new lower dielectric constant materials in the back-end-of-line dielectric, the requirements for developing BARC materials with new properties such as faster strip rate and properly tuned optical properties (n = refractive index and k=extinction coefficient) are essential. Some photoresist patterning schemes may also require a dual BARC system such as tri-layer patterning (TLP), which is undergoing extensive evaluation in academia and industries. This work focuses on Honeywell's next generation DUO193 material (DUO193FS), which is a siloxane-based polymer with an organic 193 nm chromophore attached to it. The effects of additives for adjusting strip rate in a wet chemical stripper, while maintaining chemical resistance to a photoresist developer, 2.38% TMAH in water are discussed. Different spectroscopic studies are performed to elucidate the mechanism of faster strip rate. Solvation of silanol groups and their orientation in the presence of additives are found to be secondary mechanism. The primary reason for enhanced strip rate is attributed to the addition of additives A and B, which lower bulk density of the solid film. DUO193FS can be stand alone BARC or used with another BARC as part of a dual BARC system to further minimize Rsub, maintaining resistance to 2.38% TMAH, planarizing any underlying topography and keeping the final film strip rate high.
Poly(lactides) with controlled molecular architecture initiated from hydroxyl functional dendrimers and the effect on the hydrodynamic volume

Star poly(lactides) with well defined molecular architectures have been synthesized from multifunctional dendritic initiators derived from 2,2'-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis-MPA) derivatives. The bis-MPA derivatives, in the presence of stannous 2-ethylhexanoate, generated new polymeric structures with accurate control of molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distributions (<1.1). The combination of 'H NMR and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that all polymers have the requisite structure and the correct number of arms. This allowed characterization of the hydrodynamic volume as a function of molecular weight and number of arms. The results showed a linear relationship of the hydrodynamic volume as a function of the molecular weight for the polymers having two, four and six arms. However, the star polymers with twelve arms showed a relatively much smaller hydrodynamic volume, suggesting that these macromolecules are more globular in their shape. The same effect was found for star poly(e-caprolactone)s.
Sulfite-mediated oxidation of myeloperoxidase to a free radical: immuno-spin trapping detection in human neutrophils.

Abstract Previous studies focused on catalyzed oxidation of (bi)sulfite, leading to the formation of the reactive sulfur trioxide (•SO3−), peroxymonosulfate (−O3SOO•), and sulfate (SO4•−) anion radicals, which can damage target proteins and oxidize them to protein radicals. It is known that these very reactive sulfur- and oxygen-centered radicals can be formed by oxidation of (bi)sulfite by peroxidases. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an abundant heme protein secreted from activated neutrophils that play a central role in host defense mechanisms, allergic reactions, and asthma, is a likely candidate for initiating the respiratory damage caused by sulfur dioxide. The objective of this study was to examine the oxidative damage caused by (bi)sulfite-derived free radicals in human neutrophils through formation of protein radicals. We used immuno-spin trapping and confocal microscopy to study the protein oxidations driven by sulfite-derived radicals. We found that the presence of sulfite can cause MPO-catalyzed oxidation of MPO to a protein radical in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-activated human neutrophils. We trapped the MPO-derived radicals in situ using the nitrone spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide and detected them immunologically as nitrone adducts in cells. Our present study demonstrates that myeloperoxidase initiates (bi)sulfite oxidation leading to MPO radical damage, possibly leading to (bi)sulfite-exacerbated allergic reactions.
Modulation of the Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release cascade by β‐adrenergic stimulation in rat ventricular myocytes

1To define the sub-cellular mechanisms of modulation of cardiac excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling by the β-adrenergic pathway, we carried out confocal Ca2+ imaging in conjunction with recordings of inward Ca2+ current in fluo-3-loaded patch-clamped rat ventricular myocytes. 2Isoproterenol (isoprenaline; ISO) increased the amplitude of the inward Ca2+ current and the globally measured intracellular Ca2+ transients. The gain of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) was increased at all membrane potentials but especially at positive membrane potentials (> +30 mV). ISO dramatically broadened the bell-shaped voltage dependence of intracellular Ca2+ transients by shifting the descending portion of the curve to very high membrane potentials. 3The number of local release events (solitary sparks and conglomerates of overlapping sparks) induced by depolarizing steps to +30 mV was increased significantly by ISO. This potentiation of events was due to increased trigger calcium current (ICa) as well the enhanced ability of ICa to induce release. The amplitude and duration of solitary sparks were increased in the presence of ISO. In addition, ISO dramatically increased the proportion and the size (‘mass’) of clustered events. 4Exclusion of Na+ from the intra- and extracellular solutions prevented ISO from enhancing the ability of ICa to trigger sparks. 5We conclude that β-adrenergic stimulation enhances the gain of the CICR cascade by increasing the fidelity of dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR)-ryanodine receptor (RyR) coupling and by promoting cross-activation of RyRs in neighbouring release sites. Reverse Na+-Ca2+ exchange (NCX) appears to play a role in the β-adrenergic enhancement of CICR by effectively contributing to the Ca2+ trigger.
Percutaneous alleviation of abdominal compartment syndrome due to hemoperitoneum with simultaneous endovascular bleeding control: a case series

Learning Objectives Surgical decompressive laparotomy is the standard treatment for abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). We demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneous bleeding control and alleviation of ACS, a method that can obviate the need for major surgical interventions plagued by preventable mortality and morbidity. Background ACS is defined by intrabdominal pressure greater than 20mm Hg with evidence of organ failure or dysfunction. Sequelae of ACS include decreased cardiac output due to IVC compression, decreased pulmonary compliance, renal dysfunction and intestinal and hepatic ischemia. Expeditious decompression of the abdomen is essential to allow reperfusion to vital organs. Decompressive laparotomies have been the mainstay of treatment but carry a mortality of 49%. We present a series of 3 cases of ACS due to massive hemoperitoneum caused by left inferior epigastric artery hemorrhage secondary to paracentesis, hepatic artery bleed after transjugular liver biopsy and hepatic artery injury during cardiac valve repair. All patients presented with clinical evidence of ACS, documented with bladder and direct abdominal pressure measurements. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details In each case, the bleeding artery was identified by selective angiography and embolized with particles - complete arterial occlusion was achieved. Ultrasound was then used to find the largest pocket of blood. After establishing access to the peritoneal space, direct intraperitoneal pressure was measured using an end hole catheter. The same access was then used to place a large bore drainage catheter in each case. Compartment syndrome resolved in each case as evidenced by intrabdominal pressures and patient's clinical status. There were no acute or latent complications as a result of embolization or catheter drainage. Surgery was avoided in all three patients. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points Simultaneous embolization and percutaneous drainage is a feasible and significantly less morbid alternative to surgery in the management of ACS caused by hemoperitoneum.
Synthesis and characterization of constrained-geometry half-sandwich sila- and germacarboranes derived from a trianionic C(cage)-appended alkyloxo-C2B9-carborane ligand

Abstract The reaction of the [nido-7-(OCH2)-8-Me-7,8-C2B9H9]3− trianion with anhydrous MeMCl3 (M=Si, Ge) in 1:1 molar ratio in dry toluene, followed by re-crystallization from a solution of toluene/heptane, resulted in the formation of the corresponding novel half-sandwich constrained-geometry group 14 metallacarboranes, closo-1-M(Me)-2-(1-η1(σ)-OCH2)-3-Me-η5-2,3-C2B9H9 [M=Si (3), Ge (4)] in 48% and 56% yields, respectively.
Perspectives on the ethical concerns and justifications of the 2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV testing recommendations

In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended three changes to HIV testing methods in US healthcare settings: (1) an opt-out approach, (2) removal of separate signed consent, and (3) optional HIV prevention counseling. These recommendations led to a public debate about their moral acceptability. We interviewed 25 members from the fields of US HIV advocacy, care, policy, and research about the ethical merits and demerits of the three changes to HIV testing methods. We performed a qualitative analysis of the participant responses in the interviews and summarized the major themes. In general, arguments in favor of the methods were based upon their ultimate contribution to increasing HIV testing and permitting the consequent benefits of identifying those who are HIV infected and linking them to further care. The prevailing theme of ethical concern focused on suspicions that the methods might not be properly implemented, and that further safeguards might be needed.
THE LOWER BOUNDS OF THE LENGTHS OF THICK KNOTS

In this paper, we derive a formula that provides lower bounds on the minimal arc length required to tie a unit thickness knot in terms of the minimal crossing number of the knot. We prove that for any nontrivial knot with unit thickness, the minimal arc length is at least 24. This answers an open question (posted in [13]) in the negative: one cannot tie a knot using one foot-length of one-inch (diameter) rope. For knots with minimal crossing numbers up to 1850, our result yields larger lower bounds on the lengths of the knots than the known results.
Factors related to the difficulty of learning to program in Java—an empirical study of non-novice programmers

Abstract Due to its relative newness and popularity, Java is being taught to numerous non-novice programmers both in industry and in academia. Claims have been made that certain background characteristics of programmers relate to ease in learning Java. In this study, background information of 135 non-novice programmers was obtained, together with data relating to their difficulty of learning several different features of Java. Results of this study could be used by software project managers contemplating the use of Java, and by academicians involved in curricular planning.
A DISTRIBUTION‐FREE TWO‐SAMPLE GOODNESS‐OF‐FIT TEST FOR GENERAL ALTERNATIVES

This paper presents a distribution-free test of the null hypothesis that two independent samples are drawn from identical but completely unspecified populations. The test is a group randomization test, and the test statistic is a function of the sum of squared deviations between group relative frequencies in the samples. As its sampling distribution is conditional only upon the size of the groups formed and not on the individual observed values, the test is completely general and free of population distribution assumptions. It is applicable to categorical, discrete or continuous data, where the alternative does not specify the type of difference between populations. The complete exact null distribution of the test statistic is given for equal-sized groups and equal sample sizes up to 12 each. The chi-square approximation is investigated and seems sufficiently accurate for practical use in larger samples. Recommendations are made for the optimal number of groups to use. The merits of this test in comparison with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov two-sample maximum deviation test are fully explored.
The Fe-B-C ternary amorphous alloys

The properties of amorphous Fe-B-C alloys have been studied. The replacement of boron by carbon reduces the thermal stability of alloys containing more than approximately 80-percent iron, increases the Curie temperature slightly, and decreases the slope of the magnetization-temperature curve. Thus, although the low-temperature saturation magnetization decreases on replacement of B by C, as expected, the room-temperature magnetization exhibits a broad ridge of constant saturation magnetization per gram extending from approximately Fe 80 B 20 to approximately Fe 83 B 11 C 6 . This ridge follows one of the low-temperature magnetization contours. The density of the alloys in the series Fe 84 B 16-x C x was measured and compared to calculated densities. The increase in density agrees with the calculated values and results in a slight increase in saturation magnetization per unit volume with increase in carbon. The coercivity, both as-cast and after stress relief annealing, increases on replacement of B by C. This is not understood.
Syntheses and Characterizations of One-Dimensional Coordination Polymers Generated from Cadmium Nitrate and Bipyridine Ligands

Two new one-dimensional organic/inorganic composite polymers were synthesized by the reaction of Cd(NO3)2·4H2O with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethyne or trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene in several solvent systems. [Cd(NO3)2(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethyne)1.5]n (1), which has an infinite one-dimensional structure with interpenetrating molecular ladders, was obtained by reacting Cd(NO3)2·4H2O with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethyne in a methylene chloride/methanol solvent system. It crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15), with a = 20.713(3) A, b = 17.450(2) A, c = 14.451(3) A, β = 129.203(8)°, Z = 8. [Cd(NO3)2(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene)1.5]n (2) was generated from the reaction of Cd(NO3)2·4H2O with the trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene ligand in an ethanol/water system. It has a novel infinite non-interpenetrating zigzag chain structure which is made up of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene−Cd−trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene−Cd−trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene building units. Compound 2 crystallized in the triclinic space grou...
On the MBM 12 Young Association

I present a comprehensive study of the MBM 12 young association (MBM 12A). By combining infrared (IR) photometry from the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) survey with new optical imaging and spectroscopy, I have performed a census of the MBM 12A membership that is complete to 0.03 M⊙ (H ~ 15) for a 175 × 14 field encompassing the MBM 12 cloud. I find five new members with masses of 0.1-0.4 M⊙ and a few additional candidates that have not been observed spectroscopically. From an analysis of optical and IR photometry for stars in the direction of MBM 12, I identify M dwarfs in the foreground and background of the cloud. By comparing the magnitudes of these stars to those of local field dwarfs, I arrive at a distance modulus 7.2 ± 0.5 (275 pc) to the MBM 12 cloud; it is not the nearest molecular cloud and is not inside the local bubble of hot ionized gas as had been implied by previous distance estimates of 50-100 pc. I have also used Li strengths and H-R diagrams to constrain the absolute and relative ages of MBM 12A and other young populations; these data indicate ages of 2−1+3 Myr for MBM 12A and ~10 Myr for the TW Hya and η Cha associations. MBM 12A may be a slightly evolved version of the aggregates of young stars within the Taurus dark clouds (~1 Myr) near the age of the IC 348 cluster (~2 Myr).
Vasopressin and developmental onset of flank marking behavior in golden hamsters

Golden hamsters start displaying flank marking behavior (a form of scent marking) around postnatal day 20 (P-20). Because the behavior is dependent upon the central activity of arginine vasopressin (AVP), the present study was conducted to correlate this activation with changes in the vasopressinergic system. A first set of experiments was performed to compare flank marking activity between P-18 and P-22. A second set of experiments was performed to compare the density of AVP receptors between the age periods and assess responsiveness to AVP microinjection. Finally, a third set of experiments incorporated immunocytochemistry, radioimmunoassay, in situ hybridization, and Northern blot analysis to determine the location and numbers of AVP immunoreactive neurons and the level of mRNA correlating with the developmental onset of flank marking behavior. Our results show that flank marking develops between P-18 and P-22. Male and female hamsters do not display odor-induced flank marking anytime before P-19. However, all animals show odor-induced flank marking by P-22. The onset of flank marking does not appear to be associated with any change in AVP receptor binding in the anterior hypothalamus. Indeed, flank marking can be triggered in hamsters on P-18 by the microinjection of AVP in the anterior hypothalamus. This would suggest that the postsynaptic mechanisms contributing to the transduction of the AVP signal and the motor control of flank marking are intact prior to the onset of odor-induced flank marking. In contrast, AVP levels in the hypothalamus and pituitary increase by two to threefold between P-18 and P-22, suggesting that changes in AVP synthesis and release from presynaptic sites may contribute to the onset of flank marking. Interestingly, there is no change in AVP mRNA between P-18 and P-22, which raises questions about posttranslational processing during this developmental period. These results suggest that heightened synthesis and release of AVP between P-18 and P-22 may contribute to the developmental onset of flank marking.
A budget impact analysis of rapid human immunodeficiency virus screening in Veterans Administration emergency departments

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening is cost-effective and recommended in populations with low disease prevalence. However, because screening is not cost-saving, its financial feasibility must be understood.
Adequacy test of the fictive temperatures of silica glasses determined by IR spectroscopy

Adequacy of the fictive temperature determined by the IR spectroscopy method was examined for various silica glasses by measuring the extent of the memory effect. The IR method of fictive temperature measurement of silica glasses relies upon the assumption that a silica glass has a silica structural band with a unique wavenumber when it has a particular fictive temperature. Silica glasses with various impurities or added components such as Cl, F, and OH were given a cross-over heat-treatment and the extent of the resulting deviation of the wavenumber during the second stage heat-treatment at a constant temperature corresponding to the apparent fictive temperature of the sample was determined. Silica glasses containing high concentrations of water or fluorine exhibited distinct memory effects while glasses with low water concentration or Cl did not. These results seem to indicate that the main source of the memory effect in silica glasses is the composition fluctuation rather than density fluctuation. Thus, the IR method of determining the fictive temperature is adequate for high purity silica glasses even when the glass samples have unknown thermal history.
Factors affecting clinical outcome following endoscopic perforator vein ablation

Background: Despite good outcomes reported with minimally invasive, subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS), some patients demonstrate poor healing or recurrence of venous ulcers. The goal of this study was to identify factors that lead to failure of SEPS. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients who had undergone 57 SEPS procedures were analyzed. Mean follow-up was 17 ± 2 months (range 2 weeks to 52 months). Results: All active ulcers (n = 22) at the time of surgery healed in an average of 99 ± 37 days (range 11 to 670). Eight limbs had poor healing of their ulcer (>40 days); five (9%) new/recurrent ulcers developed postoperatively. Deep venous obstruction was associated with delayed ulcer healing (316 ± 171 versus 51 ± 14 days, P 3 months, or previous recurrences. Ulcer size >2 cm (P <0.05) and combined ilio-femoral and popliteal/tibial reflux were associated with poor ulcer healing (P <0.05). Conclusions: SEPS could not prevent recurrent or new ulceration in 9% of limbs. Venous outflow obstruction was associated with ulcer recurrence and prolonged ulcer healing. Multilevel deep venous reflux and ulcer size >2 cm were also associated with delayed healing.
Transaminase (AST/GOT) and (ALT/GPT) activity in ground beef as a means of determining end-point temperature

Thermal processing conditions [rate of temperature increase, 0.35°C or 3.5°C/min; end-point temperature (EPT), 57.2, 71.1, and 79.4°C; dwell time, 0 and 30 min; and enzyme extraction medium (deionized water, 0.9% saline, and pH 7 buffer)] affected glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT; aspartate aminotransferase, E.C. 2.6.1.1) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT; alanine aminotransferase; E.C. 2.6.1.2) activity in thermal treated ground beef samples. There was greater loss of GOT activity in samples heat processed at 0.35°C/min than samples heat processed at 3.5°C/min with depletion nearly to zero between 71.1 and 79.4°C. More GOT activity was noted when samples were extracted with 0.9% saline solution. GPT activity was low in all samples and was present after heating to 79.4°C.
Estimation of glycolipids in four selected lobes of human brain in neurological diseases.

— Glycolipid (ganglioside, cerebroside and cerebroside sulphate) and cholesterol concentrations for cerebral grey matter from frontal, occipital, temporal and hippocampal lobes of patients with neurological diseases (Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, cerebrocortical atrophy, schizophrenia and chronic alcoholism) and controls are reported. The results indicate that the concentrations of these lipids are not uniform in the different lobes of both diseased and control brains. The concentrations of the cerebrosides and cerebroside sulphates were generally highest in the occipital lobe and lowest in the frontal lobe; ganglioside N-acetymeuraminic acid (NANA) concentrations on the other hand were lowest in the occipital lobe and highest in the frontal lobe. About one-half of the total NANA was found in the lipid-free residues. There was a general decrease in the concentrations of the glycolipids in the grey matter from the frontal, temporal and hippocampal lobes of brain obtained from patients with neurological diseases (the chronic alcoholic being excluded) below the control values from patients with no known neurological diseases. The cholesterol concentrations in the schizophrenic and alcoholic brains were reduced slightly in all the lobes studied. The general decrease in the glycolipid concentration in the diseased brain may indicate the extent of cortical degeneration.
Percutaneous revascularization of chronic coronary occlusions: an overview.

Patients with a chronic coronary occlusion often undergo coronary angiography after weeks to months of occlusion. The published reports underestimate the extent of this problem because such patients are often arbitrarily assigned to receive medical therapy or undergo bypass surgery as a result of poor success with percutaneous revascularization and substantial restenosis. Thus, there is controversy about the role of angioplasty in this patient cohort. The goal of this overview was to evaluate the available information about angioplasty in chronic coronary occlusions. The primary indication for attempted recanalization of a chronic coronary occlusion has been symptomatic angina pectoris. Anginal status often improves after successful procedures (70% vs. 31% with a failed procedure); left ventricular function may improve; and subsequent referral for coronary artery bypass graft surgery is uncommon (3% vs. 28% in unsuccessful cases). Successful recanalization is achieved in ∼65% of attempted procedures. Inability to cross the stenosis with a guide wire is the most common cause of procedural failure. Statistically significant predictors of procedural success include older occlusions (75% 15 mm. Procedural complications occur at a slightly lower incidence than in angioplasty of high grade subtotal stenoses. Long-term success is limited, and restenosis can be expected in >50% of the patients. The experience with chronic total occlusions of saphenous vein bypass grafts is small, but there appear to be limited procedural success and significant procedural complications, particularly associated with distal emboli. The role of new pharmacologic agents has yet to be defined and that of new devices has been disappointing so far, but further technologic advances are on the horizon.
Mallory-Weiss tear after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

In the United States, the most common surgical procedure for morbid obesity is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Pulmonary embolism, leak, bowel obstruction, and gastrointestinal bleeding are among the potential early fatal complications. Early postoperative bleeding after laparoscopic gastric bypass, although uncommon, presents a dilemma because of the danger of perforation from postoperative endoscopy and the inability to access the gastric remnant easily. We describe a case of a Mallory-Weiss tear causing massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage 1 week after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Bariatric surgeons should consider this diagnosis, especially when encountering a patient with a history of significant retching postoperatively.
A hypertext metric based on huffman coding

Current research has established a relationship between user navigation behavior and outcome measures. This paper presents a metric designed to compare the depth of user navigation against a theoretically optimum behavior; measured using Huffman codes. The application of the metric to an example problem is presented.
Individuals with high total cholesterol/hdl cholesterol ratios are insulin resistant

Jeppesen J, Facchini FS, Reaven GM. (The Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, and Shaman Pharmaceuticals Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA). Individuals with high total cholesterol/hdl cholesterol ratios are insulin resistant. Journal of Internal Medicine 1998; 243: 293–98. Objectives To define the pathophysiologic characteristics of patients at high risk for coronary heart disease due to an increased ratio of total cholesterol (TC) to high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Design Cross-sectional. Setting Clinical Research Center. Subjects One hundred-20 healthy, non-diabetic, normotensive, volunteers were screened for this study. From this pool, 40 individuals (20 females and 20 males) with the highest and the lowest TC/HDL-C ratios were selected for comparison. Main Outcome Measures Values for body mass index (BMI), ratio of waist to hip girth (WHR), and blood pressure were obtained on all patients. In addition, measurements were made of fasting lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, plasma glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose challenge, and insulin resistance as assessed by the insulin suppression test. Results Age, BMI, and WHR were the same in the two groups. However, the group with a high TC/HDL-C ratio had higher (P < 0.05) systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In addition, patients with a high TC/HDL-C ratio had significantly higher (P < 0.001) very low density (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentrations and lower HDL-cholesterol concentrations, with significant (P < 0.001) correlations between the TC/HDL-C ratio and VLDL (r= 0.60), LDL (r= 0.54), and HDL (r=− 0.73) cholesterol concentrations. Patients with a high TC/HDL-C ratio were also significantly (P < 0.05–0.001) more insulin resistant, glucose intolerant with a greater plasma insulin response to oral glucose, and hypertriglyceridemic. Conclusions The results indicate that an increase in LDL-cholesterol concentration is not necessarily the major contributor to a high ratio of TC/HDL-C. Furthermore, individuals with this epidemiologic designation are insulin resistant, and liable to all the other abnormalities associated with this metaboic defect.
Further observations on the value of traction during roentgenography of the hip.

The traction technique is particularly valuable in obtaining a spontaneous pneumoarthrogram when applied to joints, such as the hip, in which effusions are difficult to diagnose by physical examination. This study shows that whether an intra-articular lucency will be produced by traction will depend on the amount of fluid in the joint and the amount of traction employed. If a lucent crescent forms in the joint space with traction in the supine position, it probably excludes an effusion and if the femoral head separates from the acetabulum without such a lucent crescent, it is diagnostic of excess fluid.
A relativistic DFT study of water adsorption on δ-plutonium (1 1 1) surface

Abstract Scalar-relativistic DFT-GGA has been used to study adsorption of water in molecular and dissociative configurations on δ-Pu (1 1 1) surface. In molecular state, water is physisorbed in an almost flat-lying orientation at a onefold coordinated on-top site. The interaction of the water 1 b 1 orbital and the Pu-6 d orbital provides the stability of water on the surface, implying that the Pu-5 f electrons remain chemically inert. The co-adsorption cases of partially dissociated and fully dissociated products at the threefold hollow sites yield chemisorption, coupled with rumpling of the surface layer and delocalization of the Pu-5 f electrons and formation of strong ionic bonds.
Social connectedness, extraversion, and subjective well-being: Testing a mediation model

Abstract This investigation examined social connectedness as distinct from extraversion and as a mediation variable in the relationship between extraversion and subjective well-being. A college student sample ( N = 295) and a sample of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB; N = 148) completed measures of extraversion, social connectedness, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affect. Factor analytic results suggest social connectedness is a unique construct from extraversion. Moreover, the relationship between extraversion and well-being was mediated by social connectedness.