cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in the serum creatinine assay calibration: A practical application to glomerular filtration rate estimation

Variation in the serum creatinine assay calibration: A practical application to glomerular filtration rate estimation. Background Variation among clinical laboratories in calibration of serum creatinine assays is a source of error in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation equations. We evaluated impact of this variation on GFR estimates. Methods Errors in GFR estimates were computed based on the range of calibration differences from the 1994 College of American Pathologists (CAP) survey using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study GFR equation. Results Mean (95% CI) calibration difference observed in the CAP survey was +0.14 mg/dL (+12.4 μmol/L) [-0.09, +0.37 mg/dL (-7.96, +32.71 μmol/L)]. Errors in GFR estimates using uncalibrated serum creatinine values were lower in individuals with lower estimated GFR. For GFR of 60 mL/min/1.73m 2 , the mean calibration difference in the CAP survey was associated with errors in GFR estimation between -5.5 to -8.1 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (-9.1 to -13.5%) depending on race and sex. The 95% confidence interval for the calibration difference was associated with a maximal range of error in GFR estimates from +4.6 to -18.1 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (+7.6 to -30.2%). Errors of this magnitude at an estimated GFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 are not likely to be of clinical significance. However, errors at higher levels of estimated GFR would be greater, making GFR estimates in this range unreliable. Conclusion Recalibration of serum creatinine assays to the MDRD Study clinical laboratory would improve accuracy of GFR estimation using the MDRD Study equation, but is not practical for all clinical laboratories. As an interim solution, clinical laboratories could report GFR estimates 2 without recalibration with an acceptable accuracy.
Tubular and fibrillar components of mature and differentiating sieve elements.

An ontogenetic study of the sieve element protoplast of Nicotiana tabacum L. by light and electron microscopy has shown that the P-protein component (slime) arises as small groups of tubules in the cytoplasm. These subsequently enlarge to form comparatively large compact masses of 231 ± 2.5 (SE)A (n = 121) tubules, the P-protein bodies. During subsequent differentiation of the sieve element, the P-protein body disaggregates and the tubules become dispersed throughout the cell. This disaggregation occurs at about the same stage of differentiation of the sieve elements as the breakdown of the tonoplast and nucleus. Later, the tubules of P-protein are reorganized into smaller striated 149 ± 4.5 (SE)A (n = 43) fibrils which are characteristic of the mature sieve elements. The tubular P-protein component has been designated P1-protein and the striated fibrillar component P2-protein. In fixed material, the sieve-plate pores of mature sieve elements are filled with proteinaceous material which frays out into the cytoplasm as striated fibrils of P2-protein. Our observations are compatible with the view that the contents of contiguous mature sieve elements, including the P-protein, are continuous through the sieve-plate pores and that fixing solutions denature the proteins in the pores. They are converted into the electron-opaque material filling the pores.
An Ergonomic Protocol for Patient Transfer That Can Be Successfully Taught Using Simulation Methods

Abstract Introduction Nursing personnel injury related to patient transfer is epidemic, and reduction of injury rates is a national priority. Hierarchical task analysis (HTA) was chosen to address this issue. Method HTA methods were used to create an optimum task set and protocol which consisted of Internet-based education, simulation practice, and debriefing. Participants (N = 71) were randomly assigned to teams to perform simulated transfers. Pre- to postintervention transfer success was evaluated by ergonomic experts. Results Each team improved significantly from pre- to postintervention (N = 19), with every protocol step demonstrating improvement (N = 10). Interrater reliability of the evaluation instrument was calculated (.43–.83). Conclusion Simulation was used successfully to improve transfer success. This approach shows promise in reduction of transfer-related nursing injury.
Rapid determination of nitrite by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Measurement of nitrite and nitrate, the stable oxidation products of nitric oxide (NO), provides a useful tool to study NO synthesis in vivo and in cell cultures. A simple and rapid fluorometric HPLC method was developed for determination of nitrite through its derivatization with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN). Nitrite, in standard solution, cell culture medium, or biological samples, readily reacted with DAN under acidic conditions to yield the highly fluorescent 2,3-naphthotriazole (NAT). For analysis of nitrate, it was converted to nitrite by nitrate reductase, followed by the derivatization of nitrite with DAN to form NAT. NAT was separated on a 5-microm reversed-phase C18 column (150X4.6 mm, I.D.) guarded by a 40-microm reversed-phase C18 column (50x4.6 mm, I.D.), and eluted with 15 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) containing 50% methanol (flow-rate, 1.3 ml/min). Fluorescence was monitored with excitation at 375 nm and emission at 415 nm. Mean retention time for NAT was 4.4 min. The fluorescence intensity of NAT was linear with nitrite or nitrate concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 2,000 nM in water, cell culture media, plasma and urine. The detection limit for nitrite and nitrate was 10 pmol/ml. Because NAT is well separated from DAN and other fluorescent components present in biological samples, our HPLC method offers the advantages of high sensitivity and specificity as well as easy automation for quantifying picomole levels of nitrite and nitrate in cell culture medium and biological samples.
Molecular analysis of malignant triton tumors

Triton tumors are rare variants of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) with muscle differentiation, often seen in patients with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Individuals affected with NF1 harbor mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene and develop neurofibromas and MPNSTs. The NF1 gene is expressed in Schwann cells and its expression is lost in schwannian neoplasms, suggesting a role in malignant development. Separately, there is evidence that p53 suppressor gene mutations are involved in MPNSTs. To determine the role of the NF1 and p53 genes in the development of the malignant Triton tumor we examined 2 such tumors, 1 from a 3-year-old boy without clinical manifestations of NF1 and another from a 24-year-old man with NF1. Histological analysis of these tumors showed both neural and muscle differentiation with S-100 and desmin immunoreactivity, respectively. Reverse transcribed RNA polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of NF1 mRNA showed NF1 expression in the sporadic tumor. Strong nuclear immunoreactivity for p53 was observed throughout the malignant population in both tumors. This was confirmed by loss of heterozygosity for p53 in the non-NF1 patient, suggesting that p53 is involved in both hereditary and sporadic Triton tumors. The finding of preserved NF1 gene expression in the non-NF1-related Triton tumor suggests that different genetic events predispose to the development of this rare neoplasm in sporadic cases.
Reading Theory and Persuasive Business Communications: Guidelines for Writers.

Reading theory is important because meaning is not located solely in texts, but instead results from an interaction between reader and text. Although guidelines for developing such consensual meaning have been derived for the informational level of communications, the arguments underlying this level are not well understood. Reading theory offers insights on this issue. Background is given on reading theory and on guidelines that have already been formulated. The inability of current guidelines to account for the reader impact of one type of persuasive business communication is demonstrated. Three aspects of reading—inferring, reasoning analogically, and learning—are discussed, and their role in building consensual meaning, for persuasive business communications, is demonstrated in sample texts. Four guidelines are proposed for persuasive business communications, to supplement those guidelines already developed.
Characterization of the host-specific phytotoxin victorin by high-pressure liquid chromatography

Summary The host-specific phytotoxin victorin was purified from culture filtrates of Bipolaris victoriae by solvent extraction, alumina adsorption chromatography and reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Victorin activity was associated with an HPLC fraction containing a peak of absorption at 254 nm; by several criteria this ultra-violet (UV)-absorbing peak was identified as victorin. Victorin purified by HPLC ran as a single ninhydrin-positive spot in several thin-layer chromatography (TLC) systems. Purified victorin inhibited susceptible oat ( Avena sativa ) root growth half-maximally at 0.1 ng/ml, yet did not significantly inhibit resistant oat root growth at 50 g/ml.
Toxicology and the expert witness from the viewpoint of a regulatory agency.

I will try to set the tone for the role of expert witnesses in relation to toxicology by describing some fundamental aspects of the legal process which I hope will provide a perspective into which you can place my remarks. First, let us consider some selected aspects of the legal process that comprises our Anglo-American heritage. You will remember that in the early days of English history, attorneys literally went to the tournament and fought on behalf of their clients. In the early days might meant right, and if you will consider this for a moment, at least a decision was made. Somebody won and somebody lost. Thus, a decision over a particular issue was made and events proceeded from there. The question then became, were these decisions consistent with one another, and the answer obviously was no. Reason more and more entered into the process of making decisions and decisions became legal precedent. Stare decisis and the rules of procedure and evidence gradually evolved into the present pattern that we are familiar with and call legal process. Omitting a few details here and there, and spanning a few moments in history, we consider the present fundamentals that a legislative body sits for the purpose of reflecting public opinion as to the need for and the wording of statutory laws, administrative agencies exist in specialized areas such as science to apply the laws in finer detail-called regulations-to more specified problems, judges exist to interpret statutes and regulations as to their constitutionality and specific meaning in relation to a problem, juries and judges sitting in that capacity exist to try the facts and arrive at ultimate conclusions, and lawyers exist to insist on proper procedural safeguards, to present and evaluate evidence, and to prove or disprove a case. A case is really a proposition of logic-or should be. If a civil case is involved, the triers of fact-be they the jury or a judge sitting in that capacity without a jury-judge the case by a preponderance of the evidence. If the case is a criminal one, the evidence must be conclusive beyond a reasonable doubt. What about the witnesses? Well, witnesses are usually confined by the rules of law to describing what they actually did or saw. The matter in question had to be
Measurement of the mixing state, mass, and optical size of individual black carbon particles in urban and biomass burning emissions

[1] In situ measurements of the mass, mixing state, and optical size of individual black-carbon (BC) particles in the fine mode (90–600 nm) have been made in fresh emissions from urban and biomass burning sources with an airborne single-particle soot photometer. Contrasts between the two sources are significant and consistent. Urban BC tends to smaller sizes, fewer coated particles, thinner coatings, and less absorption per unit mass than biomass-burning BC. This suggests that urban BC may have a longer lifetime in the atmosphere and a different impact on BC radiative forcing in the first indirect effect than biomass-burning BC. These measurements bound the likely variability in the microphysical state of BC emissions from typical continental processes, and provide direct measurements of the size distribution and coating state of fine-mode BC for use in constraining climate and aerosol models. These results highlight the need for the integration of source-specific information into such models.
Complexes of carbohydrates with aluminate ion. Chromatography of carbohydrates on columns of anion-exchange resin (aluminate form)☆

Abstract With water as sole eluant, the retention volumes for carbohydrates on an aluminate-resin column generally decrease in the order: ketoses>aldoses>alditols>methyl glycosides; retention increases with molecular size. Both aluminate ion and hydroxide ion contribute to the chromatographic properties of an aluminate resin. To avoid alkaline degradation and interconversion, which can occur extensively at 25°, chromatography of reducing sugars must be performed both rapidly and at low temperature. A mixture of d -glucose and d -fructose can be completely separated on a short aluminate column.
Meta-analysis of adjuvant cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil chemotherapy in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, node-positive breast cancer

Abstract Conflicting results have been published regarding the efficacy of adjuvant cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5- fluorouracil (CMF)-type chemotherapy in postmenopausal, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive women. The Oxford overview suggests real but limited benefit of any chemotherapy in this group of patients but avoids analyzing smaller subsets. We wished to better quantitate the benefit of adding CMF to tamoxifen in postmenopausal ER-positive women with tumor involvement of axillary lymph nodes. Six randomized studies comparing CMF plus tamoxifen to tamoxifen alone in postmenopausal, ER-positive, node-positive women have been published since 1992. They include 2368 patients. We performed a meta-analysis of 6 endpoints: survival, disease-free survival, locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, contralateral breast recurrence, and thromboembolic complications. There was a statistically significant increase in disease-free survival from the addition of CMF-type chemotherapy to tamoxifen in this population; the absolute risk of relapse was reduced by 5.5% at 5 years. Effects of locoregional recurrence were greater than those on overall recurrence. No significant survival benefit was observed.
Bringing LGBTQ Topics into the Social Studies Classroom

Social studies education plays an important role in preparing students for a diverse, pluralistic democratic citizenry (NCSS 2010). While the field has made some gains in addressing the needs of various marginalized communities within the curriculum, there has been very little progress in incorporating LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) people and their experiences in the social studies (Jennings 2006). As such, this article gives a rationale for the inclusion of LGBTQ figures and their allies within the social studies and provides an overview of ways in which teachers can successfully incorporate LGBTQ topics into the social studies. The authors present one such project, entitled The Difference Maker Project, which aims to get students to research, listen, and advocate in the exploration of a constitutional LGBTQ issue. In closing, the authors contend that by adding LGBTQ topics into the curriculum teachers can begin to eradicate the erasure and misinformation surrounding a group of p...
A three-dimensional explicit preconditioned solver

A new class of Generalized Approximate Inverse Matrix (GAIM) techniques, based on the concept of LU-sparse factorization procedures, is introduced for computing explicitly generalized approximate inverses of large sparse unsymmetric matrices of regular structure, without inverting the decomposition factors. Explicit preconditioned iterative methods, in conjunction with modified forms of the GAIM techniques, are presented for solving numerically boundary value problems in three dimensions. The numerical implementation of these algorithms is presented and Fortran subroutines are given
Plastic deformation of polyethylene. Mechanism and properties

Studies of single-crystal deformation explain the small- and wide-angle x-ray observations of the cold drawing of PE, particularly the effects in the necking zone where the original spherulitic structure is transformed into a highly aligned fiber structure. Whole blocks of folded chains are broken out of the original crystals, which have undergone a substantial deformation by phase transformation, twinning, chain tilting, and slip, and are incorporated in the new fiber structure. The latter contains a great many highly strained tie molecules with an entropy and heat content lower than in a completely relaxed supercooled liquid. Melting experiments yield the heat content reduction which is a consequence of more extended chain conformation (intramolecular energy) and of closer chain packing (intermolecular energy). The entropy and enthalpy reduction explains the drastic decrease of sorption and diffusion of solvents first observed in wide-line NMR experiments. Annealing at sufficiently high temperature (118°C.) lets the sample relax nearly instantaneously. The long period, heat content, diffusion, and sorption assume values corresponding to the temperature of annealing. If the plastic deformation is performed at so high a temperature that annealing effects are not more negligible (hot drawing), the drawn sample still consists of highly oriented crystals but the molecules in the amorphous regions are rather relaxed so that their density, entropy, and heat content do not appreciably differ from the values of a supercooled liquid.
The Explanation of Artifact Variability

We furnish a theoretical framework for explaining that portion of formal variability in artifacts attributable to the behavior of the artisan. Major causal factors are the artisan's knowledge and experience, extent of feedback on performance in activities along the artifact's behavioral chain, situational factors in behavioral chain activities, technological constraints, and social processes of conflict and negotiation. In identifying the causal factors at work in a specific case, the investigator must focus analytically on activities-that is, on people-people, people-artifact, and artifact-artifact interactions-and on the performance characteristics relevant to each. Application of this behavioral framework allows abandonment of many cherished but unhelpful concepts, including style and function. Ceramic artifacts, the low-fired, clay cooking pot in particular, are employed for illustrative purposes.
Report of the Fusion Simulation Project Steering Committee

The Fusion Simulation Project (FSP) is envisioned as a 15 year, $20M/year multi-institutional project to develop a comprehensive simulation capability for magnetic fusion experiments with a focus on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The FSP would be able to contribute to design decisions, experimental planning and performance optimization for ITER, substantially increasing ITER’s likelihood of success and its value to the US Fusion Program. The FSP would be jointly supported by the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences and the DOE Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research. The potential for developing this simulation capability rests on the exponential growth of computer power over the last 50 years, the progress in physics understanding developed by the international fusion program and the continued progress in computational mathematics that enables the use of the new “ultra-scale” computers to solve difficult mathematical problems. The initial concept for the FSP was developed by the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee Integrated Simulation and Optimization of Fusion Systems Subcommittee (J. Dahlburg and J. Corones, et al., J. Fusion Energy, 20(4), 135–196.). The DOE asked the FSP Steering Committee to develop a project vision, a governance concept and a roadmap for the FSP. The Committee recommends that the FSP consist of three elements: a production component, a research and integration component, and a software infrastructure component. The key challenge is developing components that bridge the enormous distance and time scales involved with the disparate physics elements of tokamak performance. The committee recommended that this challenge be met through “Focused Integration Initiatives” that would first seek to integrate different physics packages with disparate distance and time scales. An example is the integration of Radio Frequency (RF) Current Drive and Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) components to produce an integrated capability to simulate the use of RF current drive to suppress MHD instabilities. This report also defines the requirements for a governance structure. The FSP Steering Committee judged that the project begin with a conceptual design phase lasting one or two years and be followed by a staged ramp-up over a few years to the full funding level.
Cultural factors in working with Southeast Asian refugee adolescents

The purpose of this paper is to present some of the unique socio-political-cultural factors that impact upon the psychological development of Southeast Asian refugee adolescents. As a special group of youngsters, they are confronted with the developmental crisis as adolescents, adjustment problems as refugees, and intercultural conflicts caused by the immense value differences between Eastern and Western cultures. In working with this population, clinicians are urged to take into account the special stressors resulting from the refugee and cultural experiences. Three areas of assessment are recommended: (1) assessment of major stresses (migration stress, acculturation stress, life cycle stress, and family stress); (2) assessment of strengths; and (3) assessment of culturally specific responses to mental health problems. Different treatment modalities are also discussed. It is hoped that the practical suggestions presented in this paper can lead to more culturally relevant care for this group of youths.
High-Resolution MR Imaging of the Orbit in Patients with Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular childhood malignancy, with a prevalence of one in 18,000 children younger than 5 years old in the United States. In 80% of patients, retinoblastoma is diagnosed before the age of three, and in 95% of patients, retinoblastoma is diagnosed before the age of five. Although reports exist of retinoblastoma in adults, onset beyond 6 years of age is rare. Broadly, retinoblastoma may be classified into two groups: sporadic and heritable. In either case, the origin of the tumor is a biallelic mutation in primitive neuroepithelial cells. Although their details vary, several staging schemes are used to describe the extent of retinoblastoma according to the following four general criteria: intraocular location, extraocular (extraorbital) location, central nervous system disease, and systemic metastases. In the past decade, substantial changes have taken place in terms of staging and monitoring treatment in patients with retinoblastoma. Diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma involve a multidisciplinary approach, for which imaging is a vital component. Increasing awareness and concerns about the effects of radiation in patients with retinoblastoma have led to a shift away from external-beam radiation therapy and toward chemotherapy and locoregional treatment, as well as the establishment of magnetic resonance imaging as the most important imaging modality for diagnosis, staging, and treatment monitoring.
Analysis of conifer leaf free amino acids by gas-liquid chromatography☆

Abstract Free amino acids from the leaves of ten North American conifer species have been analysed by packed-column gas-liquid chromatography as their N(O,S)-heptafluorobutyryl isobutyl esters. The species examined were Balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill], douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menzeisii (Mirb.) Franco], western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.], Rocky mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.), western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis, Hook), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.), black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP], colorado spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.), and white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) (Voss)]. All the proteic amino acids and some biologically important non-proteic amino acids were readily assayed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to confirm the identity of the proteic amino acids and the homogeneity of the corresponding peaks. Ten unidentified components were partially characterised by their mass spectra.
An Experimental Investigation of Micropitting Using a Roller Disk Machine

Micropitting is a microscopic form of progressive fatigue wear. It is most often associated with case hardened gears although such failures have also been reported for rolling element bearings. This paper reviews the micropitting phenomenon and reports the results of an experimental study conducted using a roller disk machine. Analysis of the micropitted test specimens confirmed that the roller disk machine experiments faithfully reproduce the failure mode as found on full size gears. The effect of various operating parameters was investigated. The results show that increasing load, decreasing specific film thickness and maintaining negative relative sliding all increased the rate of micropitting wear. The authors also found that micropitting is almost completely eliminated at a very low, but non-zero, slide-to-roll ratio. Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois May 14–19, 1995
Minimum energy for computation, theory vs. experiment

How much energy is required to compute a bit of information? As the end of the CMOS scaling era approaches, this question becomes ever more important. A group at the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) has postulated a limit at k B T ln(2) for charge-based computing, and suggested that other state variables are necessary. Our work shows that the SRC analysis is flawed, and investigates devices and circuits that will dissipate energy only when information is destroyed.
Pond production characteristics of freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii as influenced by the stocking of size-graded populations of juveniles

Abstract A nursery-reared population of 50-day-old post-larvae of freshwater shrimp ( Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) averaging 0.16 ± 0.08 g was divided into three groups. Two groups were size-graded by passive passage through either a 0.64 or a 0.48 cm mesh. Prawns passing through the 0.64 cm mesh proportionately graded into two size groups, 30% upper (0.40 ± 0.13 g) and 70% lower (0.15 ± 0.06 g). Size groups resulting from the 0.48 cm mesh grading were 70% upper (0.21 ± 0.09 g) and 30% lower (0.10 ± 0.03 g). Earthen ponds (0.061–0.073 ha) were stocked at a density of 39530/ha in triplicate with individuals from one of each of the graded or ungraded groups. After a 125- to 138-day growing season, average harvest weight ranged from 24.3 g (ungraded) to 35.4 g (30% upper) and differed significantly among treatments. Growth rates were not significantly different. Samples of prawns removed from each pond were classified into 5 morphotypes: blue claw male (BC), orange claw male + no clawed male (OCNC), small male (SM), berried female + open female (BFOF), and virgin female (VF). Mean harvest weights of the BFOF and OCNC categories in the 30% upper treatment were significantly greater than those for all other treatments. Average yield for the 30% upper and 70% upper treatments (1106 and 884 kg·ha −1 , respectively) were significantly greater than that of the ungraded treatment (775 kg·ha −1 ). Differences in average harvest weight and total yield were achieved through changes in morphotype distributions. Calculated gross revenues in graded populations were 6–73% greater than that of the ungraded population.
Comment on “Eye movements and decrement in the Müller-Lyer illusion”

Festinger et al conflrm the findings of previous investigators that the magnitude of the Muller-Lyer illusion diminishes with prolonged observation of the test figure, but only if gross eye movements are allowed. To explain this phenomenon, they advance the hypothesis that “the perception of length is determined by efferent readiness activated by the visual input.” We offer evidence that the hypothesis is incorrect.
NMR study of platinum microcrystals and application to thermometry

Abstract A systematic pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance study was performed on a set of ultrafine platinum powder samples with mean particle diameters ranging from 33 A to 200 A. The particle size dependent NMR properties revealed Friedel oscillations of electron densities near the metal surface. No quantum size effect was found. It is suggested that 300 A diameter samples may be useful for thermometry in large magnetic fields at low temperatures.
Mass reversal and weak interactions

An attempt is made to construct a theory of all weak processes from a single invariance principle. The requirement that the weak interaction Hamiltonian be invariant under the reversal of the sign of the mass in the Dirac equation separately forany fermion field leads to a unique form of the four-fermion interaction responsible for weak processes. The Hamiltonian contains equal amounts ofV andA, and is necessarily invariant under time reversal but non-invariant under parity regardless of whether or not the neutrino field is involved. (Our results are identical to those obtained byFeynman andGell-Mann and bySudarshan andMarshak using somewhat different approaches.) The possible existence of an intermediatecharged boson field responsible for all weak processes is discussed with reference to several weak processes which have not been observed. Most experiments in β decay and the π-μ-e sequence are consistent with the predictions of our theory with the important exception of the6He recoil experiment. Various implications of our theory which can be experimentally tested are examined with special attention to the decay interactions of hyperons and K-mesons.
Studies on the metabolism of linoelaidic acid in the essential fatty acid-deficient rat

Male weanling rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were made essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient by feeding them a fat-free diet for five months. The animals were then fed a supple-ment of methyltrans-9,trans-12-octadecadienoate (methyl linoelaidate), as 5% of the dietary calo-ries (approximately 400 mg/animal/day) for 19 days, and killed by exsanguination. The com-position of the liver, kidney, epididymal and plasma lipids was determined and compared with that obtained from EPA-deficient rats given oral supplements of methylcis-9,cis-12-octadeca-dienoate (linoleate) and methylcis-9,trans-12- octadecadienoate. Linoelaidic acid was depos-ited in the phospholipids, sterol esters and tri-glycerides in all of the tissues examined. Iso-lation analysis of the fatty acids showed no evidence that linoelaidic acid was converted to higher polyunsaturated fatty acids in the EFA-deficient rat.
Effects of evaporative inlet and aftercooling on the recuperated gas turbine cycle

Inlet air cooling and cooling of the compressor discharge using water injection boost both efficiency and power of gas turbine cycles. Four different layouts of the recuperated gas turbine cycle are presented. Those layouts include the effect of evaporative inlet and aftercooling (evaporative cooling of the compressor discharge). A parametric study of the effect of turbine inlet temperature (TIT), ambient temperature, and relative humidity on the performance of all four layouts is investigated. The results indicate that as TIT increases the optimum pressure ratio increases by 0.45 per 100 K for the regular recuperated cycle and by 1.4 per 100 K for the recuperated cycle with evaporative aftercooling. The cycles with evaporative aftercooling have distinctive pattern of performance curves and higher values of optimum pressure ratios. The results also showed that evaporative cooling of the inlet air could boost the efficiency by up to 3.2% and that evaporative aftercooling could increase the power by up to about 110% and cycle efficiency by up to 16%.
Morphogenesis and structure of caprine respiratory syncytial virus.

Cell cultures inoculated with caprine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were studied with light, fluorescent, and electron microscopy to determine the morphogenesis and structure of the virus.
Endoscopic management of 10 separate fibroepithelial polyps arising in a single ureter.

Abstract Introduction Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter, usually of congenital or inflammatory origin, are rare entities. These polyps are often solitary, but cases of multiple polyps have also been reported. Treatment of these entities has evolved with emerging surgical techniques and technologies. Surgical Technique We describe our surgical technique for minimally invasive treatment of multiple polyps arising in a single ureter. The base of each polyp is ablated with a 365-μm holmium laser fiber operating at 10 W, and each polyp is removed from the ureteral wall with 3F grasping forceps. Hemostasis is achieved with laser coagulation. Ureteral stones are removed concurrently with a 2.4F basket. A 12/14F ureteral access sheath is used to facilitate the multiple passes of the ureteroscope and the removal of the polyps and stones from the proximal ureter. All 10 polyps were removed from the proximal portion of a single ureter. The ureteral stent was removed at 6 weeks, and follow-up intravenous urography at 6 months and ureteroscopy at 11 months showed no residual polyps or stones. The wall of the ureter was well healed, with no evidence of stricture. Conclusions We have demonstrated a specific minimally invasive technique that can be used to treat even highly complex cases involving upper urinary tract fibroepithelial polyps.
Topical Application of Representative Multifunctional Acrylates Produced Proliferative and Inflammatory Lesions in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice, and Squamous Cell Neoplasms in Tg.AC Mice

Widespread human exposure to multifunctional acrylates is of concern, due to their inherent reactivity and irritating properties. Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) are industrially important representatives of multifunctional acrylates. The current studies characterized the toxicity of 3-month topical administration of technical grade TMPTA and PETA in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice, and evaluated the carcinogenic potential of TMPTA and PETA in hemizygous Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) transgenic mice. Administration of 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg TMPTA and PETA for 3 months resulted in hyperplastic, degenerative, and necrotic lesions, accompanied by chronic inflammation of the skin, with severities generally increasing with dose. Lesions were slightly more severe in rats, when compared with mice, and illustrate the irritant potentia lo f TMPTA and PETA. A similar dosage regimen was used for the 6-month study with Tg.AC mice. Topical application of TMPTA and PETA to Tg.AC mice showed dose-dependent increases in squamous cell papillomas at the site of application, with decreases in the latency of their appearance in mice receiving 3 mg/kg or greater. Papillomas, the reporter phenotype in Tg.AC mice, were accompanied by a few squamous cell carcinomas, along with hyperplastic and inflammatory lesions. Although chronic inflammation might have contributed to the development of the skin lesions, the dose-related nature of the induction of the skin papillomas in Tg.AC mice by TMPTA and PETA may reflect a potential for carcinogenicity.
Cross-correlation and 2D NOE spectra

Abstract The dipole-dipole relaxation of a system of more than two nuclei is described by a system of equations involving integrals of auto- and cross-correlation functions. The latter are the correlations between the internuclear interactions of one pair of nuclei with that of another pair, and they contain angular and other information not found in auto-correlation terms. Cross-correlation terms are generally ignored in the quantitative analysis of 2D nuclear Overhauser spectra (2D NOE or NOESY). The errors introduced by ignoring these terms were analyzed and found to be relatively small in the cases investigated. Conversely, the standard NOESY experiment is not a particularly sensitive way of measuring cross-correlation terms and thereby accessing the information they contain. Modifications to the standard NOESY experiment, which enable relatively direct measurement of cross-correlation terms, are proposed and analyzed.
Modulatory effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on perception and pain thresholds in healthy volunteers.

Background and purpose: We aimed to evaluate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is effective in modulating sensory and pain perception thresholds in healthy subjects as to further explore mechanisms of tDCS in pain relief. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects received stimulation with tDCS under four different conditions of stimulation: anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex (M1), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), occipital cortex (V1), and sham tDCS. The order of conditions was randomized and counterbalanced across subjects. Perception threshold and pain threshold to peripheral electrical stimulation of the right index finger were evaluated by a blinded rater. Results: The results showed a significant effect of the interaction time versus stimulation condition for perception (P = 0.046) and pain threshold (P = 0.015). Post hoc comparisons revealed that anodal stimulation of M1 increased both perception (P < 0.001, threshold increase of 6.5%) and pain (P = 0.001, threshold increase of 8.3%) thresholds significantly, whilst stimulation of the DLPFC increased pain threshold only (P = 0.046, threshold increase of 10.0%). There were no significant effects for occipital or sham stimulation. Conclusions: These results show that both M1 and DLFPC anodal tDCS can be used to modulate pain thresholds in healthy subjects; thus, the mechanism of tDCS in modulating pain involves pathways that are independent of abnormal pain-related neural activity.
Ikaros Null Mice Display Defects in T Cell Selection and CD4 versus CD8 Lineage Decisions

Previous evidence suggested that the hemopoietic-specific nuclear factor Ikaros regulates TCR signaling thresholds in mature T cells. In this study, we test the hypothesis that Ikaros also sets TCR signaling thresholds to regulate selection events and CD4 vs CD8 lineage determination in developing thymocytes. Ikaros null mice were crossed to three lines of TCR-transgenic mice, and positive selection, negative selection, and CD4 vs CD8 lineage decisions were analyzed. Mice expressing a polyclonal repertoire or a MHC class II-restricted TCR transgene exhibited enhanced positive selection toward the CD4 lineage. Moreover, in the absence of Ikaros, CD4 development can occur with decreased thresholds of TCR signaling. In addition, CD4 single-positive thymocytes were detected in MHC class I-restricted TCR-transgenic Ikaros null mice. To assess the role of Ikaros in negative selection, we analyzed deletion of T cells induced by conventional Ag or by endogenous superantigen. Surprisingly, negative selection was impaired in Ikaros null thymocytes despite evidence of high levels of TCR signal and no intrinsic defect in apoptosis ex vivo. To our knowledge, these data identify Ikaros as the first nuclear factor that plays a critical role in regulating negative selection as well as CD4 vs CD8 lineage decisions during positive selection.
Identifying Rivals and Rivalries in World Politics

Instead of assuming that all actors are equally likely to clash, and that they do so independently of previous clashes, rivalry analysis can focus on the small number of feuding dyads that cause much of the trouble in the international system. But the value added of this approach will hinge in part on how rivalries are identified. Rivalry dyads are usually identified by satisfying thresholds in the frequency of militarized disputes occurring within some prespecified interval of time. But this approach implies a number of analytical problems including the possibility that rivalry analyses are simply being restricted to a device for distinguishing between states that engage in frequent and infrequent conflict. An alternative approach defines rivalry as a perceptual categorizing process in which actors identify which states are sufficiently threatening competitors to qualify as enemies. A systematic approach to identifying these strategic rivalries is elaborated. The outcome, 174 rivalries in existence between 1816 and 1999 are named and compared to the rivalry identification lists produced by three dispute density approaches. The point of the comparison is not necessarily to assert the superiority of one approach over others as it is to highlight the very real costs and benefits associated with different operational assumptions. The question must also be raised whether all approaches are equally focused on what we customarily mean by rivalries. Moreover, in the absence of a consensus on basic concepts and measures, rivalry findings will be anything but additive even if the subfield continues to be monopolized by largely divergent dispute density approaches. The analysis of rivalry in world politics possesses some considerable potential for revolutionizing the study of conflict. Rather than assume all actors are equally likely to engage in conflictual relations, a focus on rivalries permits analysts to focus in turn on the relatively small handful of actors who, demonstrably, are the ones most likely to generate conflict vastly disproportionate to their numbers. For instance, strategic rivals, a conceptualization that will be developed further in this article, opposed each other in 58 (77.3 percent) of 75 wars since 1816. If we restrict our attention to the twentieth century, strategic rivals opposed one another in 41 (87.2 percent) of 47 wars. A focus on the post-1945 era yields an opposing rival ratio of 21 (91.3 percent) of 23 wars. Moreover, their conflicts are not independent across time-another frequent and major assumption in conflict studies. They are part of an historical process in which a pair of states create Author's note: The strategic rivalry data were collected with support from a National Science Foundation grant. The present article has benefited from the criticisms of three reviewers, including Paul Diehl who finally has been allowed to review a rivalry paper.
Properties of PP/PET bicomponent melt blown microfiber nonwovens after heat-treatment

Polypropylene (PP)/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bicomponent (bico) fibres are successfully melt blown in the Reicofil® meltblown (MB) pilot line commissioned at the Textiles and Nonwovens Development Center (TANDEC), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The bico fibers possess a cross-sectional side-by-side configuration. The originally expected greater fiber crimp due to density and fine structure gradients on the different sides of the bico fibers was not commonly observed in the normal MB webs. These fabrics were exposed to dry heat for a period of time. The properties before and after the heat treatment were determined and compared to investigate the effects of heat on their properties. It was found that the bico webs are thermal dimensionally stable and many of their properties were not significantly affected. A mechanism is suggested on the thermal dimensional stability of the PP/PET bico MB webs. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Aging and immunosenescence in invertebrates

Most contemporary research into aging is driven by interest in the human aging process and in interventions that attenuate the normal and pathophysiological effects of aging, or senescence. Operationally, senescence is the progressive, inevitable breakdown of the organism. Among the changes associated with senescence is the diminished capacity of the immune systems and reactions to challenge, known as immunosenescence. Senescence and age-related immunosenescence has been recorded in several invertebrates, including insects. Two invertebrates, the worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, and the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are model organisms for research into mechanisms of senescence and of prolonged life spans. In this essay, I will treat some of the available information on immunosenescence in invertebrates. The purpose is to move away from trying to understand human senescence and toward generating new ideas around the application of research into invertebrate immunosenescence to contemporary and emerging problems in aquatic and terrestrial agriculture. I cover mechanisms of senescence, beginning with the original idea of increasing oxidative damage and moving to more recent views. I provide a thumb-nail sketch of insect immunity as a model for the generality of complex invertebrates, then discuss selected examples of immunosenescence in invertebrates. In some instances, changes that look like immunosenescence may be physiological resource trade-offs and I highlight a few examples. Finally, I complete the essay with a few remarks on the potential practical significance of research to understand immunosenescence in invertebrates.
Effective social support: Antecedents and consequences of partner support during pregnancy

This longitudinal study investigated a new conceptualization of the effectiveness of social support attempts called social support effectiveness (SSE) that takes into account the quantity and quality of support attempts and the extent to which they meet the needs of recipients. SSE was assessed in a sample of 176 pregnant women with regard to their partners’ social support behaviors. Potential antecedents of SSE were investigated, including individual and relationship variables. In addition, it was hypothesized that women who appraised their partner’s support as more effective would have lower prenatal anxiety, both concurrently (in mid-pregnancy) and prospectively (in late pregnancy). Factor analyses confirmed that all hypothesized aspects of SSE contributed to a unitary factor of SSE. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed antecedents and consequences of SSE. Results revealed that women’s ratings of the effectiveness of partner support were predicted by their interpersonal orientation (adult attachment, network orientation, kin individualism–collectivism, and social skills) and by characteristics of their relationships with their partners (relationship quality, emotional closeness and intimacy, and equity). Furthermore, women who perceived themselves to have more effective partner support reported less anxiety in mid-pregnancy and showed a reduction in anxiety from mid- to late pregnancy. Findings are discussed with regard to implications for advancing research on social support processes, especially within relationship contexts.
Epithelial cell proliferation during organogenesis of rat colon

Between the 16th to the 20th day of gestation, the mucosa of the colon of fetal rats changes from a simple tube with a tiny lumen lined by stratified epithelium to a much more complex structure with a large lumen and well-developed crypts lined by a single layer of columnar epithelium. Autoradiographic studies with 3H-thymidine show that cell proliferation is present throughout the stratified epithelium but becomes confined to the lower half of colonic crypts immediately on their formation. The number of epithelial cells shown to be proliferating after exposure to a single pulse of 3H-thymidine is high during this period of organogenesis but decreases rapidly after the 20th day of gestation once the adult mucosal pattern has formed.