cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographic Characteristics And Health Related Quality of Life in Men Attending Prostate Cancer Support Groups

ABSTRACTPurpose: Prostate cancer can be associated with anxiety, depression and fears of recurrence and side effects of treatment. Support groups may help meet the needs of patients with cancer by providing treatment information and emotional support. We describe men in prostate cancer support groups and compare them to a national registry.Methods and Methods: Men attending prostate cancer support groups in the San Francisco Bay area completed a questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, health related quality of life items, satisfaction with treatment, relief of prostate cancer symptoms and bother from perceived side effects of treatment. Patients in support groups were compared to men enrolled in a national prostate cancer registry (Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research Endeavor).Results: Men attending support groups had higher annual income and education levels, lower median serum prostate specific antigen and higher cancer grades than men in Cancer of the Pro...
INTRINSIC BIREFRINGENCE OF GLYCERINATED MYOFIBRILS

Patterns of intrinsic birefringence were revealed in formalin-fixed, glycerinated myofibrils from rabbit striated muscle, by perfusing them with solvents of refractive index near to that of protein, about 1.570. The patterns differ substantially from those obtained in physiological salt solutions, due to the elimination of edge- and form birefringence. Analysis of myofibrils at various stages of shortening has produced results fully consistent with the sliding filament theory of contraction. On a weight basis, the intrinsic birefringence of thick-filament protein is about 2.4 times that of thin-filament protein. Nonadditivity of thick- and thin-filament birefringence in the overlap regions of A bands may indicate an alteration of macromolecular structure due to interaction between the two types of filaments.
Bone marrow‐derived very small embryonic‐like stem cells: Their developmental origin and biological significance

Data from our and other laboratories provide evidence that bone marrow (BM) contains a population of stem cells that expresses early developmental markers such as (1) stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA) and (2) transcription factors Oct-4 and Nanog. These are the markers characteristic for embryonic stem cells, epiblast stem cells, and primordial germ cells (PGC). The presence of these stem cells in adult BM supports the concept that this organ contains some population of pluripotent stem cells that is deposited in embryogenesis during early gastrulation. We hypothesize that these cells could be direct descendants of the germ lineage that, to pass genes on to the next generations, has to create soma and, thus, becomes a "mother lineage" for all somatic cell lineages present in the adult body. Germ potential is established after conception in totipotent zygotes and retained in blastomeres of morula, cells from the inner cell mass of blastocyst, epiblast, and population of PGC. We will present a concept that SSEA(+) Oct-4(+) Nanog(+) cells identified in BM could be descendants of epiblast cells as well as some rare migrating astray PGC.
Forecasting precipitation from multi-platform remote sensing systems using wavelet-based neural network models

This paper explores spectral decomposition of environmental data for use in ad hoc artificial neural networks for predicting precipitation patterns by exploiting the nonlinear dynamic signals of oceanic teleconnection patterns found in the Northern Atlantic and Pacific. Using sophisticated ground and satellite remote sensing, including the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument onboard the NOAA satellites for sea surface temperature detection and the GOES geostationary satellite for precipitation correction of in-situ data, high predictive skill is demonstrated during the winter months within the Adirondack state Park in upstate New York, USA. Results show winter months with up to 67% of the land area accurately forecasting precipitation trends with a lead time of 3 months.
Seamless Integrated Stroke Telemedicine Systems of Care A Potential Solution for Acute Stroke Care Delivery Delays and Inefficiencies

See related article, pages 1626–1630 Although there still remains some work to be performed refining the operations of regional stroke networks designed to maximize intravenous thrombolysis eligibility and administration for patients with acute ischemic stroke,1 Prabhakaran et al2 have embarked on necessary research exploring the next level of sophistication—early determination of eligibility for endovascular therapies and the interhospital communication, which is required. Delay in hospital-to-hospital transfer is a common reason that patients with acute ischemic stroke are excluded from interventional therapy. The authors concluded that the likelihood of receiving intra-arterial treatment decreased rapidly in response to an increased transfer time. They propose that specific goals for transfer time be considered in future quality standards for …
Monochromatic sinks in nearly transitive arc-colored tournaments

Let T be the set of all arc-colored tournaments, with any number of colors, that contain no rainbow 3-cycles, i.e., no 3-cycles whose three arcs are colored with three distinct colors. We prove that if [email protected]?T and if each strong component of T is a single vertex or isomorphic to an upset tournament, then T contains a monochromatic sink. We also prove that if [email protected]?T and T contains a vertex x such that T-x is transitive, then T contains a monochromatic sink. The latter result is best possible in the sense that, for each n>=5, there exists an n-tournament T such that (T-x)-y is transitive for some two distinct vertices x and y in T, and T can be arc-colored with five colors such that [email protected]?T, but T contains no monochromatic sink.
Nonatomic mutual exclusion with local spinning

We present an N-process local-spin mutual exclusion algorithm, based on nonatomic reads and writes, in which each process performs Θ(log N) remote memory references to enter and exit its critical section. No atomic read/write algorithm with better asymptotic worst-case time complexity is currently known. This suggests that atomic memory is not fundamentally required if one is interested in worst-case time complexity. The same cannot be said if one is interested in fast-path or adaptive algorithms. We show that such algorithms fundamentally require memory accesses to be atomic. In particular, we show that for any N-process nonatomic algorithm, there exists a single-process execution in which the lone competing process executes Ω(log N/log log N) remote operations to enter its critical section. Moreover, these operations must access Ω(√log N/log log N) distinct variables.
Hydrologic modeling using elevationally adjusted NARR and NARCCAP regional climate-model simulations: Tucannon River, Washington

Summary An emerging approach to downscaling the projections from General Circulation Models (GCMs) to scales relevant for basin hydrology is to use output of GCMs to force higher-resolution Regional Climate Models (RCMs). With spatial resolution often in the tens of kilometers, however, even RCM output will likely fail to resolve local topography that may be climatically significant in high-relief basins. Here we develop and apply an approach for downscaling RCM output using local topographic lapse rates (empirically-estimated spatially and seasonally variable changes in climate variables with elevation). We calculate monthly local topographic lapse rates from the 800-m Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) dataset, which is based on regressions of observed climate against topographic variables. We then use these lapse rates to elevationally correct two sources of regional climate-model output: (1) the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR), a retrospective dataset produced from a regional forecasting model constrained by observations, and (2) a range of baseline climate scenarios from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP), which is produced by a series of RCMs driven by GCMs. By running a calibrated and validated hydrologic model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), using observed station data and elevationally-adjusted NARR and NARCCAP output, we are able to estimate the sensitivity of hydrologic modeling to the source of the input climate data. Topographic correction of regional climate-model data is a promising method for modeling the hydrology of mountainous basins for which no weather station datasets are available or for simulating hydrology under past or future climates.
An evaluation of aerodynamics modeling of spinning light airplanes

This paper extends the application of the modified strip theory for wing body combination of a spinning light airplane reported earlier. In addition, to account for the contribution of the tail plane, the shielding effect on vertical tail under steady state spin condition is modeled from basic aerodynamic considerations. The results of this combined analysis, presented for some light airplane configurations, are shown to be in good agreement with spin tunnel rotary balance test data.
Finger Motion Analysis in Typing of Texts of Varying Complexity

Operation of keyboard entry devices entails manual and intellectual skill components. The source material and its effect on short-term memory determines whether the information processing will introduce delays in addition to those from the manual component. The finger timing and motion patterns were investigated for six classes of text material from normal English to numerals and mixed alphanumeric text. Successive keystrokes by skilled typists tend to overlap when normal English text is being entered, while more complex text results in delays between strokes. Finger motion rates also vary, with typists excelling on text and key-punch operators on numerics.
Signaling trust in print advertisements: An empirical investigation

Trust is a key component of many successful businesses, and while there are many factors in advertising that can aid in establishing trust, this paper focuses on business tenure and local ownership as potential cues of trustworthiness. Additionally we consider industry type as a potential moderating variable. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 examined the use of the statement ‘locally owned and operated’ while Study 2 looked at the length of time in business. Dependent variables were trustworthiness, brand attitude and purchase intent. Ads were created promoting consumer services from both high-trust and low-trust industries. Study 1 found the claim ‘locally owned and operated’ has no impact on attitudes and intentions as compared to relevant control. Study 2, however, shows that length of time in business accounts for differences in consumers' perception of the company and subsequent purchase intent. Consumers use trust as the foundation for making purchase decisions through the reduction of uncertaint...
Pathogenetic basis of myocardial dysfunction and amenability to reversal

As the role of the LVAD graduates from the "bridge-to-transplant" to the "bridge-to-recovery," several important issues need to be answered. Such a paradigm would require a definition of appropriate candidates for LVAD implantation, the most appropriate time for LVAD placement during the management of end-stage CHF, reliable histologic, biochemical, and imaging markers of recovery, and the optimum duration of LVAD support. The device technology must be refined further to reduce the morbidity associated with the device itself, and to make the device smaller, less invasive, and less thrombogenic. It will be a challenge to identify the role for concomitant drug therapy and to develop weaning programs for device support. Finally, guidelines will have to be developed to monitor and manage these patients after explantation of LVAD.
Twenty-first-century living color: Racialized enactment in psychoanalysis

With wrecking effects on personality, relational competencies, and citizenship, racism is ubiquitous. No one, victim or perpetrator, escapes significant contortions of self and function. In this essay, I will explore racializing processes in psychoanalytic enactments and the ways in which transgenerational traumatic histories and contorted views of self/other, shame, and relational rupture emerge and shift in each participant.
Musculoskeletal injuries in theatrical dance students

Three hundred and fifty-two injuries in 185 theatrical dance students at the North Carolina School of the Arts were diagnosed and treated from September 1981 through May 1982, the most recent academic year. The total number of dancers enrolled in the school was 218; thus, 84.9% of the dance students were evaluated for an injury by a physician, with 87.8% of the injuries sustained during dance. Approximately one-fourth of the dance-related injuries involved the foot or ankle. The injuries were usually not severe, and proved amenable to treatment by conservative measures.
Exact Renormalization Group Exhibiting a Tricritical Fixed Point for a Spin-1 Ising Model in One Dimension

Exact renormalization-group recursion relations are studied for a spin-1 Ising model in one dimension. In this model, critical lines are marked by a double degeneracy of the largest eigenvalue of the transfer matrix, and the tricritical point by a triple degeneracy. This is directly related to the tricritical fixed point being more unstable than the critical fixed points.
The effect of flow rate on the Cl−, Na+ and K+ concentrations in parotid saliva of the baboon

Abstract The surgically exteriorized orifice of the parotid duct of the unanaesthetized baboon (Papio anubis) was cannulated for collection of saliva. Secretion was stimulated by intramuscular injection of pilocarpine (0.67 mg/kg) or acetyl-β-methylcholine chloride (0.42 mg/kg), or by feeding orange slices. The ion concentrations of the collected parotid secretion following these stimuli were similar and were related to flow rate. Saliva sodium concentration was low (
SILENCE, STIGMA, AND SHAME: DISTRESS DURING THE MENOPAUSE TRANSITION

Purpose: Some women experience symptoms during the menopause transition that lead to consequent distress. This study explored the experience of distress for women during the menopausal transition. Research Questions: From the perspective of the woman during the menopause transition, what is the essential experience of distress? How do women describe the relationship between aging and menopause? Significance/Background: A decreased quality of life is a consequence of distressful menopausal symptoms. Many risk factors for distress during menopause have been explored with some reinforcing negative stereotyping. Methods: Postmodern feminist theory and narrative analysis methodology were used to facilitate the understanding of how each woman defined distress and how this reflected the shared meanings imbedded in American society. Interviews of 17 women were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were re-transcribed into narratives and poetic structures. Findings: The women experienced a range of distressing symptoms. Themes of silence, shame, and stigma related to aging and menopause were identified. Contradicting social discourses and the specific context of each individual's life were found to greatly impact experiences of distress. Conclusion: Some women may be experiencing symptoms with a potential for distress and decreased quality of life. It is imperative that we understand the meaning and context imbedded in the women's experiences. Efforts need to be made to decrease the isolation and stigma associated with menopause and aging women.
Connections Between the Ivory Tower and the Multicolored World: Linking Abstract Theories of Social Justice to the Rough and Tumble of Affirmative Action

This article seeks to combine the social psychologist's interest in articulating and testing concepts with the public policymaker's interest in the effective implementation of specific policies and programs. The first part of the article applies knowledge about distributive and procedural justice to understanding some of the opposition to affirmative action. The application also reveals some lacunae-specifically concerning rule change-in how social psychologists have looked at procedural justice issues. In the second part of the article, we discuss the problem of rule change and propose a set of conceptualizations about the conditions that govern people's reactions to rule change. We end by reflecting on some changes in our studies of procedural justice.
Identification and dynamics of a beneficial mutation in a long-term evolution experiment with Escherichia coli

Background Twelve populations of E. coli were serially propagated for 20,000 generations in a glucose-supplemented minimal medium in order to study the dynamics of evolution. We sought to find and characterize one of the beneficial mutations responsible for the adaptation and other phenotypic changes, including increased cell size, in one of these populations.
A wire-speed power TM processor: 2.3GHz 45nm SOI with 16 cores and 64 threads

An emerging data-center market merges network and server attributes into a single wire-speed processor SoC. These processors are not network endpoints that consume data, but inline processors that filter or modify data and send it on. Wire-speed processors merge attributes from 1) network processors: many threaded low power cores, accelerators, integrated network and memory I/O, smaller memory line sizes and low total power, and from 2) server processors: full ISA cores, standard programming models, OS and hypervisor support, full virtualization and server RAS & infrastructure. Typical applications are edge-of-network processing, intelligent I/O devices in servers, network attached appliances, distributed computing, and streaming applications.
Intrathecal GABAB antagonists attenuate the antinociception produced by microinjection ofl-glutamate into the ventromedial medulla of the rat

Abstract This study examined whether the antinociception produced by glutaminergic stimulation of neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars α (NGCpα) is mediated by an action of GABA at GABAB receptors in the spinal cord. Rats were pretreated with intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the selective GABAB receptor antagonists phaclofen (100 μg) or CGP 35348 (30 μg), the serotonin receptor antagonist methysergide (30 μg), or vehicle. Fifteen min later, 30 nmol l -glutamate was microinjected into the NRM, NGCpα, or sites in the medulla outside these two regions. Microinjection of l -glutamate into the NRM or NGCpα in vehicle-pretreated rats significantly increased tail flick latency. This increase was antagonized, but not abolished, by i.t. pretreatment with 30 μg CGP 35348 or 100 μg phaclofen. Pretreatment with 30 μg methysergide completely antagonized the antinociception produced by l -glutamate. Microinjection of l -glutamate at medullary sites outside the NRM or NGCpα did not produce antinociception. In an ancillary experiment, the possibility that the ability of methysergide, phaclofen or CGP 35348 to antagonize glutamate-induced antinociception was related to non-specific increases in tail skin temperature was explored. Although phaclofen or methysergide increased tail skin temperature, the magnitude and time course of this increase were not consistent with the antagonism of glutamate-induced antinociception. Moreover, administration of CGP 35348 resulted in a modest decrease in tail skin temperature. Thus, antagonism of glutamate-induced antinociception does not appear to result from non-specific alterations in tail skin temperature. Taken together, these results indicate that the antinociception produced by activation of neurons in the NRM and NGCpα is at least partially mediated by GABAB receptors in the spinal cord.
SU-E-T-620: Computational Boundary Sampling to Accelerate IMRT Optimization.

Purpose: To reduce the time and memory requirements of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy(IMRT)treatment planning.Methods: We propose a new sampling method, called Computational Boundary Sampling (CBS) for IMRToptimization, which samples all the boundary voxels and a certain percentage of inner voxels of each region of interest (ROI). Within CBS, we developed a grid‐based sampling method for choosing inner voxels. In this method, each region is first evenly gridded and then sampling points are randomly selected from each sub‐volume. We also developed a supporting theory to quantify the solution quality of CBS. We compared a variant of CBS that always keeps boundary voxels and a variant of CBS that does not. Finally, we quantified the impact of CBS on 10 different anonymized, clinical treatment cases using a prioritized prescription optimization method, including compute time, required memory and objective function values. Results: (1) We have found that the D95 of the targets are generally 4% larger when boundary voxels are included. (2) Grid sampling, compared to completely random sampling, yields more uniformly distributed sampling, with better solution quality, and less variance between independent runs, using the same or less time. (3) We have compared our original IMRToptimization solver without sampling and the solver combined with CBS sampling. The result showed that CBS can reduce the solution time and memory consumption by up to 20x with < 2% change in dosimetric variables. Conclusions: We have proposed a new sampling method (CBS), along with corresponding new techniques including boundary sampling and grid sampling, to improve time and space efficiency of IMRToptimization. A corresponding theory is developed to quantify the error bound. Experimental results have shown that our new methods significantly reduce solution time and memory costs with negligible impact on resulting plan quality.
Capillary electrophoresis applied to kinetic studies of photocatalytic oxidation of substituted anilines

Abstract Cyclodextrin modified capillary electrophoresis (CMCE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) were tested for their ability to analyze mixtures containing substituted anilines. CMCE separated analytes by their partitioning preference between the two substituted cyclodextrins while MEKC exploited the analyte partitioning between the micelles and the bulk aqueous phase. MEKC was selected to analyze samples that were subjected to photocatalytic oxidation using TiO 2 and/or SnO 2 as the semiconductor catalyst. The rate constant for each compound was determined when it was degraded individually or in the presence of other derivatives in the same family, indicating a significant degree of analyte competition and synergism offered by the mixed catalyst. The results demonstrated that CE, with its minimal sample preparation and requirement, is a valuable tool, particularly suitable for studying highly toxic pollutants, without generating a high volume of waste.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Dogs

A disease syndrome similar to the hemolytic uremic syndrome of people is described in three dogs with acute renal failure. In each dog, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis preceded the onset of anuric acute renal failure. Evidence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (schizocytes, thrombocytopenia, and increased concentrations of fibrin split products) was present in the three dogs. Serum chemistry results showed increased concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and phosphorus. Ultrasound examination performed in one dog revealed increased echogenicity of the renal cortices. Treatment for anuric acute renal failure using a continuous dopamine and furosemide infusion established urine production in one of three dogs. Microscopic examination of tissue from the two dogs that underwent necropsy showed occlusion of the renal vasculature by fibrin thrombi consistent with microangiopathic arteriolar thrombosis. The pathophysiology and current knowledge of human hemolytic uremic syndrome is compared with hemolytic uremic syndrome in these dogs.
Socioeconomic rights in constitutional law: Explaining America away

The apparent absence of a commitment to socioeconomic rights in United States constitutional law gives rise to continuing debate. It is unclear that this omission has any bearing on the actual performance of American governments in the social welfare fi eld. Might there be other reasons for treating the omission as problematic? If so, might the omission nevertheless be explained in terms consistent with the belief that some kind of socioeconomic commitment ideally does belong in the constitutional law of a country like the U.S.? After briefl y reviewing the uneasy instrumental case for a constitutionalized socioeconomic commitment, this article suggests why inclusion could be demanded, nonetheless, as a matter of political-moral principle. It then canvasses possible responses to the American case. These include both a possible denial that socioeconomic guarantees are, in fact, lacking from U.S. constitutional law and a possible claim that omitting them is the correct choice for the U.S. as a matter of nonideal political morality.
A rich family of generalized Poisson regression models with applications

The Poisson regression (PR) model is inappropriate for modeling over- or under-dispersed (or inflated) data. Several generalizations of PR model have been proposed for modeling such data. In this paper, a rich family of generalized Poisson regression (GPR) models is reviewed in detail. The family has a wide range of applications in various disciplines including agriculture, econometrics, patent applications, species abundance, medicine, and use of recreational facilities. For illustrating the usefulness of the family, several applications with different situations are given. For example, hospital discharge counts are modeled using GPR and other generalized models, in which the applied models show that household size, education, and income are positively related to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) hospital discharges. One of the advantages of using the family is that it lets data determine which model is appropriate for a given situation. It is expected that the results discussed in the paper would enhance our understanding of various forms of count data originating from primary health care facilities and medical domains.
Effects of turn residues on beta-hairpin folding--a molecular dynamics study.

Folding of beta-hairpin structures of synthetic peptides has been simulated using the molecular dynamics method with a solvent-referenced potential. Two similar sequences, Ac-MQIFVKS(D)PGKTITLKV-NH(2) and Ac-MQIFVKS(L)PGKTITLKV-NH(2), derived from the N-terminal beta-hairpin of ubiquitin, were used to study the effects of turn residues in beta-hairpin folding. The simulations were carried out for 80 ns at 297 K. With extended initial conformation, the (D)P-containing peptide folded into a stable 2:2 beta-hairpin conformation with a type II' beta-turn at (D)PG. The overall beta-hairpin ratio, calculated by the DSSP algorithm, was 32.6%. With randomly generated initial conformations, the peptide also formed the stable 2:2 beta-hairpin conformation. The interactions among the side chains in the 2:2 beta-hairpin were almost identical to those in the native protein. These interactions reduced the solvation energy upon folding and stabilized the beta-hairpin conformation. Without the solvent effect, the peptide did not fold into stable beta-hairpin structures. The solvent effect is crucial for the formation of the beta-hairpin conformation. The effect of the temperature has also been studied. The (L)P-containing peptide did not fold into a stable beta-hairpin conformation and had a much lower beta-hairpin ratio (16.6%). The( L)P-containing peptide has similar favorable side-chain interactions, but the turn formed by (L)PG does not connect well with the right-handed twist of the beta-strands. For comparison, the isolated N-terminal peptide of ubiquitin, Ac-MQIFVKTLTGKTITLEV-NH(2), was also simulated and its beta-hairpin ratio was low, indicating that the beta-hairpin in the native structure is stabilized by the interaction with the protein environment. These simulation results agreed qualitatively with the available experimental findings.
The coevolution of firms and their knowledge environment

Abstract What are the most effective learning strategies for firms given the characteristics of their knowledge environment? This paper addresses this question by documenting the major changes in the knowledge environment of the pharmaceutical industry, with a particular emphasis on the period since the emergence of biotechnology, and discussing the related changes in the learning strategies of established pharmaceutical firms. Both the historical analysis and a review of the empirical research on organizational learning and knowledge transfer reveal a strong emphasis of firms on external learning through interfirm collaborations and sourcing of external knowledge. This learning strategy seems to be driven by the speed, uncertainty, and dispersion of knowledge developments in the industry. Studying the connections between the knowledge environment and the effectiveness of organizational learning processes is important to understand organizational change and adaptation, and is an area of research that deserves further attention.
The George Washington University Core System implementation

A full implementation of the proposed standard Core System graphics subroutine package, including raster extensions, is described. Emphasis is placed on the internal structure of the implementation, and on critical design decisions. Salient features of the implementation include separate 2D and 3D viewing pipelines, a centralized dispatcher to control the flow of information between various parts of the Core, a strong separation between the device-independent and device-dependent parts of the Core, and either device-independent or device-dependent simulation of missing hardware capabilities.
Cost comparison of radiologic versus surgical placement of long-term hemodialysis catheters.

The purpose of this study was to compare the cost of radiologic versus surgical placement of long-term hemodialysis catheters.Our cost analysis was based on 47 long-term hemodialysis catheters radiologically placed in 45 patients and 25 catheters surgically placed in 25 patients from October 1996 through March 1997. Variable and total costs were calculated using data from the hospital administrative computer system that records the actual costs incurred by the hospital in caring for patients.The average total hospital cost was $926 for each radiologic placement and $1849 for each surgical placement of long-term hemodialysis catheters. The total cost saving for radiologic placement was $923 for each catheter.Radiologic placement of long-term hemodialysis catheters resulted in substantial savings over surgical placement.
Effectiveness of Management Strategies for Renal Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this systematic review was to compare aggressive medical therapy and angioplasty with stent for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. The authors found no randomized trials, but oth...
STUDIES ON THE ISOLATION OF METAPHASE CHROMOSOMES

A method for the isolation of metaphase chromosomes from mouse L1210 leukemia cells has been developed. Cells, arrested at metaphase with colchicine, were exposed to hypotonic solution and the pH was then adjusted to 5.6 to stabilize the chromosomes. The metaphase figures were subsequently disrupted and the chromosomes isolated by a series of differential centrifugations in sucrose. The isolated chromosomes were well preserved, as judged by morphological criteria. The effect of various enzymes and chemical agents on the isolated chromosomes was studied. Chymotrypsin, trypsin, and deoxyribonuclease caused a marked disintegration of the chromosomes, whereas treatment with pepsin and ribonuclease induced no significant morphological alterations.
Central CRF inhibits gastric emptying of a nutrient solid meal in rats: the role of CRF2receptors

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related peptides exhibit different affinity for the receptor subtypes 1 and 2 cloned in the rat brain. We investigated, in conscious rats, the effects of intrac...
The 3′-Azido Group Is Not the Primary Determinant of 3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) Responsible for the Excision Phenotype of AZT-resistant HIV-1

The mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 resistance to 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) involves reverse transcriptase (RT)-catalyzed phosphorolytic excision of the chain-terminating AZT-5′-monophosphate (AZTMP). Primers terminated with AZTMP are generally better substrates for this reaction than those terminated with 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside-5′-monophosphate (2′,3′-ddNMP) analogs that lack a 3′-azido moiety. This led to the hypothesis that the 3′-azido group is a major structural determinant for maintaining the primer terminus in the appropriate site for phosphorolytic excision of AZTMP by AZT-resistant (AZTR) RT. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the incorporation, phosphorolytic excision, and antiviral activity of a panel of 3′-azido-2′,3′-ddN including 3′-azido-2′,3′-ddA (AZddA), 3′-azido-2′,3′-ddC (AZddC), 3′-azido-2′,3′-ddG (AZddG), AZT, and 3′-azido-2′,3′-ddU (AZddU). The results indicate that mutations correlated with resistance to AZT (D67N/K70R/T215F/K219Q) confer resistance to the 3′-azidopyrimidine nucleosides (AZddC, AZT, and AZddU) but not to the 3′-azidopurine nucleosides (AZddA and AZddG). The data suggest that the presence of a 3′-azido group on the 3′-terminal nucleotide of the primer does not confer increased phosphorolytic excision by AZTR RT for all 3′-azido-ddNMP analogs. Thus, the 3′-azido group cannot be the only structural determinant important for the enhanced phosphorolytic excision of AZTMP associated with HIV resistance to AZT. Other structural components, such as the base, must play a role in defining the specificity of the excision phenotype arising from AZT resistance mutations.
Novel Ceria-Polymer Composites for Reduced Defects during Oxide CMP

To meet the stringent requirements of device integration and manufacture, surface defects and mechanical stresses that arise during chemical mechanic planarization (CMP) must be reduced. Towards this end, we have synthesized multiple hybrid and composite particles on micron length scales consisting of siloxane co-polymers functionalized with inorganic nanoparticles. These particles can be easily tailored during synthesis, leading to softer or harder abrasion when desired. Upon using these particles for the planarization of silicon oxide wafers, we obtain smooth surfaces with reduced scratches and minimal particle deposition, which is an improvement from conventional abrasive materials like pure silica, ceria and alumina nanoparticle slurries. Tribological characteristics during polishing were examined using a bench top CMP tester to evaluate the in situ co-efficient of friction. Characterization of the hybrid and composite particles has been done using infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and electron microscopy. Surface roughness of the wafers was examined using atomic force and optical microscopy while removal rate measurements were conducted using ellipsometry at multiple angles.
Living Arrangements Among Older Immigrants in the United States

This analysis uses data from the 1990 5% Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) to identify the individual-level characteristics that influence residential dependence among immigrants age 60 and older in the United States. Particular attention is given to differences among 11 immigrant groups. Separate models are shown by gender and marital status. The results indicate that Hispanic and most Asian immigrants, particularly those from Mexico, Central or South America, India, and the Pacific Islands, are at a greater risk of living with family than non-Hispanic White immigrants. Although resource, need, and demographic characteristics influence the risk of living with Family, these individual-level characteristics do not explain the observed differences across the immigrant groups. These findings suggest that preferences that are shaped by the immigrant's experience as well as cultural background are an important determinant of immigrant living arrangements in later life.
Comparison of Visual Acuity Loss in Patients with Different Stages of Stargardt’s Disease

Purpose To investigate a previously reported observation that the presence of diffuse, as compared with localized, fundus flecks is an indicator of a more severe course for visual acuity (VA) loss beyond 20/200 in patients with Stargardt's disease. Design Retrospective clinic-based cross-sectional study. Participants Four hundred five patients with Stargardt's disease. Methods Visual acuity in 405 patients with Stargardt's disease was analyzed at their initial and most recent visits. The stage of Stargardt's disease and appearance of the macula were recorded. The diagnosis and stage of Stargardt's disease were based on the extent and appearance of fundus flecks. Main Outcome Measures Best-corrected VA, stage of Stargardt's disease, and appearance of the macula at the initial and most recent visits were used in the cross-sectional analysis. Results At their initial visit, 199 patients were identified as having stage 1 Stargardt's disease, of whom 97.5% maintained 20/200 or better VA in at least one eye. One hundred eighty-five were identified as having stage 2 or stage 2–3 Stargardt's disease combined, of whom 83.2% maintained 20/200 VA or better. Patients with stage 1 were more likely to maintain 20/200 or better VA in at least one eye when compared with patients with stage 2/stage 2–3 Stargardt's disease (χ 2 1 = 21.25, P 2 1 = 5.72, P = 0.017). Conclusions Patients with stage 1 Stargardt's disease exhibiting fundus flecks limited to the posterior pole are more likely to maintain a level of VA at 20/200 or better when compared with patients with stage 2/stage 2–3 disease who have diffuse fundus flecks. Nevertheless, over 80% of the patients with stage 2/stage 2–3 Stargardt's disease still maintained VA of 20/200 or better. Only 5.9% of patients with stage 2/stage 2–3 had VA levels worse than 20/400. In our cohort of patients with Stargardt's disease and diffuse fundus flecks, the majority of patients did not lose VA to a greater extent than those with localized flecks.
In Vitro Inoculum Enriched with Particle-Associated Microorganisms for Determining Rates of Fiber Digestion and Protein Degradation

Abstract In trial 1, rates of neutral detergent fiber digestion were measured on alfalfa hay with conventional inoculum prepared with strained ruminal fluid or inoculum also enriched with particle-associated microorganisms. Microorganisms from particles were obtained by washing the particle residue four times with nutrient-buffer. During the first 24 h, rates of neutral detergent fiber digestion from the enriched inoculum were approximately doubled. However, by 48 h differences in extent of neutral detergent fiber digestion were small. With the enriched inoculum but not the conventional inoculum, there was a linear increase of rate of neutral detergent fiber digestion with graded application of a mixture containing potassium carbonate, which enhanced field drying of hay. In trial 2, two additional inocula were prepared from whole contents of rumen that were either blended or had been chilled at 4°C. Digestion of neutral detergent fiber was not increased by chilling, and blending tended to lower digestion. In trial 3, seven inocula were evaluated in a protein degradation study. Three inocula enriched with particle-associated organisms yielded degradation rates of casein that were more than twice those with the conventional inoculum (.17/h versus .39/h). Inocula prepared from blended whole contents of rumen (with or without chilling) or from addition of Tween 80 before chilling did not increase rates of protein degradation. Inoculum enriched with particle-associated organisms can be used routinely to obtain improved estimates of in vitro rates of fiber digestion and protein degradation.
Images in vascular medicine: Lymphoscintigraphy in congenital lymphedema

Slight degrees of congenital lymphedema are not infrequently reported in the pediatric population. These findings probably reflect a normal developmental variation in the regression of lymphedema that is postulated to be present in all fetuses.1,2 However, more severe degrees of lymphedema in childhood are much less common, and frequently reflect the impact of infection, trauma, neoplasia and radiation.3 Severe congenital lymphedema is most often ascribable to heritable syndromes of genetic origin, such as Nonne–Milroy disease, lymphedema with microcephaly,6,7 Noonan syndrome,8,9 Ullrich Turner syndrome,10 lymphedema-hypoparathyroidism syndrome11 and the more recently described Hennekam syndrome.12 Most of these syndromes display an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Many of the associated somatic defects, such as hypertelorism, ear anomalies, epicanthal folds and retrognathia, might conceivably be explained by lymphatic hypoplasia as a consequence of intrauterine lymphedema. In many such patients, the identification of heritable syndromes depends heavily on the accurate diagnosis of congenital lymphedema. While this can often be accomplished with routine physical assessment, at times the findings of indirect radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy can provide valuable confirmatory evidence. The figure depicts the lymphoscintigraphic findings in a 13-year-old female with severe, congenital lymphedema and associated developmental defects. The study demonstrates extensive stasis of the radionuclide within the cutaneous structures of the lower extremities (‘dermal backflow’) and the popliteal lymph nodes are distinctly delineated with radionuclide uptake. The latter finding suggests lymphatic transport via the deep lymphatic system;14 both findings are characteristic of lymphatic insufficiency and lymphostasis.
Comparison of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptors in Human Retinal Cells

Specific receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factors have been identified in a variety of tissues, including brain and retinal cells. Covalent crosslinking analysis using disuccinimidyl suberate has enabled us to determine altered molecular weight forms of both the insulin and Type I IGF receptors in human retinal tissue. Autopsy eye donations were frozen and collected until adequate tissue was available for tissue to be solubilized using Triton-X-100. Retinal pigment epithelial cells were also identified and similarly treated. In addition, retinal pigment epithelial cells were cultured following transformation with plasmid pSV2Neo. Using these cells or tissues, we have analyzed the binding of [125I] insulin, IGF I and IGF II, and have determined the molecular weight for the insulin and IGF receptors. We have also examined the effect of mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) on the binding of IGF I to adult rat tissue. M6P had a dramatic effect on the crosslinking of IGF I binding to the Type II IGF/M6P receptor in detergent solubilized tissue preparations; however, no effect of M6P has been seen on autoradiographs of 125I-IGF I crosslinked to solubilized human retinal pigment epithelial cells or human neural retinal membranes. This agrees with our finding that human retinal cells have few Type II IGF/M6P receptors.
The president, congress, and appropriations, 1951-1985

In this article, the author develops a model of appropriations behavior that treats appropriations decision making as a two-stage process. At the heart of the model is the conjecture that the historical cooperation between the president and Congress in appropriations conceals strategic congressional behavior that has linked regular and supplemental appropriations. The model implies certain patterns of presidential and congressional behavior in regular appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and impoundments, which are examined using data covering the fiscal years 1951-1985. The results of the analysis not only strongly support the conjecture but shed light on the implications of divided government as well as recent developments in congressional budgetary behavior.
Influence of Interface Traps on the Temperature Sensitivity of MOSFET Drain-Current Variations

The temperature sensitivity of drain-current variations in the subthreshold regime of MOSFET operation is analyzed through TCAD simulations and device measurements. Interface traps are determined to be the dominant factor in increasing the temperature sensitivity of drain-current differences in weak inversion. The variability caused by interface defects has significant implications on the reliability of MOSFET-based circuits intended for extreme-environment applications.
Determinants of radiologists' desired workloads.

Purpose To examine what factors lead radiologists to desire different work hours. Materials and Methods Particular attention was paid to the intensity of work, measured in procedures per work hour, a potentially important variable previously largely ignored. Weighted data from the ACR's 2003 survey of radiologists were used. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influences of characteristics of individual radiologists and the practices in which they worked on their desired annual workloads. Results Increasing the work intensity of the average radiologist by 1 procedure per hour (11%) decreased the annual desired work hours by 2.3 hours (0.1%). Older radiologists sought smaller workloads. For example, the desired annual work hours of radiologists aged 65 years and older were 262 annual hours fewer than those of radiologists aged 45 to 54 years. The desired annual work hours of radiologists in academic practices were more (by 213 hours) than those of radiologists in private, nonacademic radiology groups. In addition, the desired annual work hours of radiologists in practices situated in the West and Northwest census regions were fewer than those of radiologists in practices in the South. Conclusion Radiologists who worked more intensively sought fewer annual work hours, but the effect of greater work intensity on desired hours was very small. The very small size of this effect makes it likely that radiology practices will continue, as they have in the past, to accommodate the increasing imaging workload in the United States by increasing the intensity of their work rather than by lengthening hours.
Enno E. Kraehe (1921–2008)

Enno Edward Kraehe, William M. Corcoran Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Virginia, died at the University of Virginia Medical Center on Thursday, December 4, 2008, five days before his eighty-seventh birthday. He was the leading American scholar on the Congress of Vienna and of its most important and colorful participant, Prince Clemens von Metternich.
The Ethics of Knowledge Transfers and Conversions: Property or Privacy Rights?

Closely related to organizational learning, knowledge creation, knowledge codification, and knowledge reuse, knowledge transfers of tacit knowledge between individuals and conversions of tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge raise important issues regarding the use of ethics and self-interest as counter determinants. Do organizations "own" the knowledge of their employees, or is this knowledge an "attribute" of an autonomous individual and subject to protection under human rights to privacy or security-of-person? This paper explores these opposite viewpoints from the perspectives of knowledge management and human rights. Consequently, organizational knowledge may fall under the intellectual property theory and organizations have the right to buy, sell and use their corporate knowledge as it suits their needs, while personal knowledge may fall under the personal privacy theory and individuals have the right to protect the security of their personal knowledge. Thus, knowledge management practices may differ with regard to the two types of knowledge.