cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of Resistance to Racial Exogamy: The 1998 South Carolina Referendum

Support for biracial unions is a significant barometer of American race relations (Aldridge, 1978; Gordon, 1964; Porterfield, 1978). It is also useful for assessing the social acceptance of racial minority groups (Lewis, Yancey, & Bletzer 1997; Yancey & Yancey, 1998). Historically, opposition to interracial unions, especially those consisting of Blacks and Whites, was an important source for legitimizing racial segregation (Myrdal, 1964; Spickard, 1989). In contemporary America, White supremacist groups use fear of interracial unions to justify their rejection of racial equality (Ferber, 1998), and interracial marriages, especially Black-White marriages, continue to be proportionately rare (Jaret 1995, chap. 7). When researchers want to gauge the level of opposition to interracial marriage, they typically use the most obvious method: They ask people. They then correlate the individual responses with other individual-level variables to see what individual-level factors are associated with individuals' opposition to such unions. Based on this research, the following variables are correlated with expressing increased opposition to interracial marriage: older age, lower education and income, being Anglo, and political and religious conservatism (Fang, Sidanius, & Pratto, 1998; Roof & McKinney, 1987; Schuman, Steeh, Bobo, & Krysan, 1997; Wilson & Jacobson 1995). These same variables tend to be associated with less progressive racial attitudes in general.
Effects of Thiouracil Level and Pen Position on Thyroxine Secretion Rate Determined by I131 Assay

Abstract THE recent use of radioactive iodine (I131) in thyroid secretion rate (TSR) studies has constituted a significant advance in the field of thyroid physiology. Potential applications in poultry research are numerous, and some investigators have already started to exploit these (Premachandra et al., 1958; Mueller and Amezcua, 1959; Mellen and Wentworth, 1960). Pipes et al. (1958) have called attention to the complicating effect of “recycled” I131 on apparent release rate of thyroidal I131, pointing out that some of the inorganic I131 available from metabolized thyroid hormone again reaches the thyroids and can be re-incorporated into thyroglobulin. In chickens, this re-utilization of I131 occurs to such an extent that TSR estimates (based on calculation of the exogenous thyroxine dose which blocks further release of thyroidal I131) are difficult or impossible unless an antithyroid drug such as thiouracil is administered. As Pipes et al. (1958) state: “It is not necessary to completely …
Karen Brodkin and the Study of Social Movements: Lessons for the Social Movement of Oaxaca, Mexico

■ This article highlights the intellectual contributions of Karen Brodkin in the analysis of gender and social movements through drawing on some of her key concepts and ideas, joining them with others, and applying them to the specific analysis of the pluralistic social movement in Oaxaca which emerged in 2006 and continues to this day. The article’s theoretical inquiry centers on two primary questions that are followed by specific concepts explored in the analysis of the Oaxaca social movement.1. How does collective action operate in daily life through interlinked networks? What are the leadership styles and models that may be unique to women? (center women, interlinked activist networks, meshworks, and the values and ties of daily life)2. How do individual and collective political identities develop, shape the politics of particular social movements, and participate in performing ideological work that shifts public political discourses and perceptions? (individual and collective identity development, pu...
Eye-roll and hypnotic susceptibility

Abstract Is the ability to roll ones eyes upward and then close the eyelids without looking down a predictor of hypnotic susceptibility as Spiegel has suggested? This paper reports non-significant negative correlations between the eye-roll test and both the HGSHS:A and the SHSS:C. Test conditions included separate and blind administration of the eye-roll and susceptibility scales, good reliability and range on all measures, and an adequate sample (N = 52) for testing the hypothesized relationship. Population and scale differences, E-bias, and selective elimination of Ss are discussed as possibly producing the relationship between eye-roll and hypnotic susceptibility reported in Spiegels system.
Generalized separable parameter space techniques for fitting 1K-5K serial compartment models.

Purpose: Kinetic modeling is widely used to analyze dynamic imaging data, estimating kinetic parameters that quantify functional or physiologic processes in vivo. Typical kinetic models give rise to nonlinear solution equations in multiple dimensions, presenting a complex fitting environment. This work generalizes previously described separable nonlinear least-squares techniques for fitting serial compartment models with up to three tissue compartments and five rate parameters. Methods: The approach maximally separates the linear and nonlinear aspects of the modeling equations, using a formulation modified from previous basis function methods to avoid a potential mathematical degeneracy. A fast and robust algorithm for solving the linear subproblem with full user-defined constraints is also presented. The generalized separable parameter space technique effectively reduces the dimensionality of the nonlinear fitting problem to one dimension for 2K-3K compartment models, and to two dimensions for 4K-5K models. Results: Exhaustive search fits, which guarantee identification of the true global minimum fit, required approximately 10 ms for 2K-3K and 1.1 s for 4K-5K models, respectively. The technique is also amenable to fast gradient-descent iterative fitting algorithms, where the reduced dimensionality offers improved convergence properties. The objective function for the separable parameter space nonlinear subproblem was characterized and found to be generally well-behaved with a well-defined global minimum. Separable parameter space fits with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm required fewer iterations than comparable fits for conventional model formulations, averaging 1 and 7 ms for 2K-3K and 4K-5K models, respectively. Sensitivity to initial conditions was likewise reduced. Conclusions: The separable parameter space techniques described herein generalize previously described techniques to encompass 1K-5K compartment models, enable robust solution of the linear subproblem with full user-defined constraints, and are amenable to rapid and robust fitting using iterative gradient-descent type algorithms.
Proving the adequacy of protection in an operating system

The best that can be expected from traditional debugging and testing techniques is that the number of bugs will be reduced to a tolerable level. However, programs that either implement or relate to protection in an operating system are examples of programs for which: 1) the number of residual bugs that can be tolerated is zero; 2) it is necessary to know, or at least have convincing objective evidence, that the number of bugs is indeed zero; and 3) the concern extends to bugs which would not arise under normal circumstances and which may be very difficult to find either by testing or by normal use.
Future directions for EPA Superfund research

The EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) identifies and prioritizes future research areas through a Waste Research Coordination Team. The team works together to plan the ORD Superfund research program, and it has members from each of the ORD laboratories as well as representatives from the Superfund office. Superfund scientists have identified several research topics in applied research areas to improve risk assessment methods and reduce uncertainty in site-specific risk assessments. Research areas include: dermal exposure models and toxicity values, improved methods for exposure factors, pharmaco-kinetic dose-response models, bioavailability and statistical methods. This paper presents ORD future research plans in response to these identified research areas.
c-Axis oriented ferroelectric SrBi2(TaxNb2-x)O9 thin films

c-Axis oriented SrBi2(TaxNb2−x)O9 (SBTN) ferroelectric thin films (0 < x < 2) have been deposited, for the first time, using pulsed laser ablation. Films were stoichiometries close to the target composition were deposited successfully on MgO(100)/Pt(100) substrates. X-ray diffraction analysis of the films showed a predominant (00l) orientation with small amounts of (115) and (200) orientations. The c-axis orientation was introduced primarily by choosing (100) Pt as the substrate material which has a lattice spacing close to the lattice parameter a (basal plane) in the pseudo-tetragonal unit cell of the layered structure ferroelectric material. The orientation effect is also attributed to the high energy of the depositing species, which is characteristic of the laser ablation process. The films show very good ferroelectric properties at room temperature and no fatigue up to 109 cycles. For example, SBTN films with a composition close to x = 0.8 show a remnant polarization value of 11 μC cm, a coercive field of 45 kV cm−1 and a resistivity of 4 × 1013 Ω cm. Comparison of these values with those obtained from films with no preferred (00l) orientation indicate a significant drop in the coercive field by 20 kV−2 cm−1 and an increase in resistivity by an order of magnitude in the c-axis oriented films.
Impact of the composition of combustion generated fine particles on epithelial cell toxicity: Influences of metals on metabolism

Inhaled airborne particulate matter (PM) represents a potentially significant health hazard to humans. Exposure to PM strongly correlates with pulmonary inflammation and incidences of severe respiratory distress, including increased hospital admissions for breathing disorders, asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. PM generated from the combustion of fuel oils and coals contain a number of water-soluble transition metals including Fe, V, and Zn. We have evaluated the impact of PM types with varying composition collected from the combustion of oils and coals on the health and metabolism of lung cell cultures. Three colorimetric assays (sulforhodamine B (SRB), Janus green, and MTT) have been adapted to quantify the impact of PM on rat lung alveolar type II epithelial cells (RLE-6TN cells). The PM toxicity metrics evaluated were inhibition of cell proliferation (SRB and Janus green) and inhibition of cellular metabolism (MTT). Cell proliferation is inhibited in a consistent dose-dependent manner by PM concentrations from 25 to 250 microg/ml. At a level of 100 microg/ml, oil-derived PM diminishes cell metabolism by as much as 40% relative to controls; the degree of inhibition is strongly dependent on PM particle size and metal content. Conversely, coal-derived PM at the same dosage diminishes cell metabolism by no more than 20% relative to controls. All three assays provide highly repeatable results and consistent toxicity rankings of the PMs evaluated. Overall, metabolic inhibition as measured by the MTT assay was deemed the most appropriate metric for PM toxicity, primarily due to its applicability with in vivo-like confluent cell monolayers.
Novel MIMO channel estimation at transmitter for LTE Release 10 systems

In frequency division duplex (FDD) wireless MIMO communications, the receiver conventionally feeds back quantized channel state information (CSI) of the forward link to the transmitter for precoder design. As systems are moving towards multi user and other advanced configurations, it's becoming more important to have accurate CSI at the transmitter (CSIT). In this paper, a double codebook-like mechanism is proposed to enable channel estimation at the transmitter. The novel feedback mechanism and estimation techniques are numerically tested in a time-varying, frequency selective system employing single user MIMO and multi user MIMO. Compared to a LTE Release 8 based scheme, the proposed scheme is seen to a) provide significantly better multi user MIMO performance when single antenna receivers are employed b) allow the transmitter to perform multi user MIMO much more frequently.
U.S. states predict water shortages

Thirty-six U.S. states anticipate suffering water shortages under normal water conditions within the next 10 years, state water managers indicated in a survey released by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) on 9 July. The report to Congress, entitled, “Freshwater Supply: States' Views of How Federal Agencies Could Help them Meet the Challenges of Expected Shortages,” is the first comprehensive national assessment of water availability and use since a 1978 report by the U.S. Water Resources Council.
Physical activity and incident urinary incontinence in middle-aged women.

Purpose: While strenuous, high impact activity may provoke urinary incontinence, little is known about relations with moderate physical activity. We examined recreational activity and incident urinary incontinence in middle-aged women.Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of women 37 to 54 years old in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Repeated physical activity reports from 1989 to 2001 were averaged to estimate long-term activity levels. From 2001 to 2003 we identified 4,081 incident cases with at least monthly urinary incontinence. Incontinence type was further determined among cases with at least weekly urinary incontinence. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted relative risks of urinary incontinence across quantiles of physical activity. To determine whether relations were mediated by body mass index, separate models were constructed that excluded and included body mass index as a covariate.Results: The risk of at least monthly urinary incontinence decreased ...
Impact of the assimilation of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder radiance measurements on short-term weather forecasts

[1] Advanced spaceborne instruments have the ability to improve the horizontal and vertical characterization of temperature and water vapor in the atmosphere through the explicit use of hyperspectral thermal infrared radiance measurements. The incorporation of these measurements into a data assimilation system provides a means to continuously characterize a three-dimensional, instantaneous atmospheric state necessary for the time integration of numerical weather forecasts. Measurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) are incorporated into the grid point statistical interpolation (GSI) three-dimensional variational (3D-Var) assimilation system to provide improved initial conditions for use in a mesoscale modeling framework mimicking that of the operational North American Mesoscale (NAM) model. The methodologies for the incorporation of the measurements into the system are presented. Though the measurements have been shown to have a positive impact in global modeling systems, the measurements are further constrained in this system as the model top is physically lower than the global systems and there is no ozone characterization in the background state. For a study period, the measurements are shown to have positive impact on both the analysis state as well as subsequently spawned short-term (0–48 h) forecasts, particularly in forecasted geopotential height and precipitation fields. At 48 h, height anomaly correlations showed an improvement in forecast skill of 2.3 h relative to a system without the AIRS measurements. Similarly, the equitable threat and bias scores of precipitation forecasts of 25 mm (6 h)−1 were shown to be improved by 8% and 7%, respectively.
Endothelial cells provide a niche for placental hematopoietic stem cell expansion

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an attractive source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, the number of HSCs in UBC remains limited and the attempts to amplify them in-vitro remain of poor efficiency. Several publications document amplification of HSC/progenitors with endothelial or mesenchymal cells, but the lack of homogeneity in culture conditions or HSC qualification impairs direct comparison of these results. Therefore, we compared the possible HSCs amplification using placental mesenchymal progenitors and Akt-activated umbilical vein endothelial cells. After HSCs isolation from UCB (defined as Lin-CD45-CD34+CD38-CD90+) on confluent feeder layer, the number of total cells and HSCs were monitored over 21 days. We demonstrate important cellular expansion on both niches. Most of the expanded cells were differentiated when characterized by flow cytometry. Only endothelial cells could trigger HSCs amplification with a pick at 14 days. Those amplified HSCs were able to differentiate in all cell lineages as attested by colony forming assays. Mesenchymal progenitors mainly triggered the amplification of CD38+ cells previously defined as precursors. A competitive assay demonstrated that HSCs had an in-vitro preference to interact with endothelial cells. Cytokines and transcriptomic analysis of our feeders indicate the mechanisms involved in HSC amplification and differentiation in both cases.
Possible Scheme for Analyzing Direct Nuclear Reactions

A technique of data analysis familiar in nucleon-nucleon scattering is proposed for use in the extraction of spectroscopic information from direct nuclear reactions. The method is shown to be successful in analyzing some artificial data generated by a soluble three-body model of deuteron stripping.
The Role of Reticulate Evolution in Creating Innovation and Complexity

Reticulate evolution encompasses processes that conflict with traditional Tree of Life efforts. These processes, horizontal gene transfer (HGT), gene and whole-genome duplications through allopolyploidization, are some of the main driving forces for generating innovation and complexity. HGT has a profound impact on prokaryotic and eukaryotic evolution. HGTs can lead to the invention of new metabolic pathways and the expansion and enhancement of previously existing pathways. It allows for organismal adaptation into new ecological niches and new host ranges. Although many HGTs appear to be selected for because they provide some benefit to their recipient lineage, other HGTs may be maintained by chance through random genetic drift. Moreover, some HGTs that may initially seem parasitic in nature can cause complexity to arise through pathways of neutral evolution. Another mechanism for generating innovation and complexity, occurring more frequently in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes, is gene and genome duplications, which often occur through allopolyploidizations. We discuss how these different evolutionary processes contribute to generating innovation and complexity.
Positive predictive value for presumptive diagnoses of skin cancer and compliance with follow-up among patients attending a community screening program.

Abstract Background. There is an ongoing need for evaluating the effectiveness of skin cancer screening programs and barriers to obtaining definitive diagnoses and treatments among screen-positive patients. Methods. We studied 132 patients who were given presumptive diagnoses of skin cancer while attending a free skin cancer screening program during May 1994 in San Diego, California (464 screened). We assessed compliance with recommendations to see a physician for definitive diagnostic workup. Logistic regression models included potential determinants of compliance: age, gender, health insurance, educational level, anatomic site, number of suspicious skin lesions, personal and family history of skin cancer, propensity to sunburn, and history of recent change in moles. The positive predictive value (PPV) of skin cancer diagnoses was defined conservatively as a range by inclusion then exclusion of patients not biopsied. Results. Follow-up information was obtained for 115 patients, and 88 (77%) of these reported obtaining a definitive workup. The final regression model controlling for age showed that patients without a family history of skin cancer were less compliant than those with a history [OR for noncompliance 3.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–9.83], and patients with only one presumptive skin cancer lesion were less compliant than those with additional cancer lesions (OR 5.31, 95% CI 1.07–26.43). Older patients were more compliant than younger. Among 82 patients under 65 years of age, the above factors were important only among men. Also, noncompliance was significantly higher among younger men without versus with health insurance (OR 5.14, 95% CI 1.23–20.68). Two melanomas, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, and 23 basal cell carcinomas were histopathologically confirmed. The PPV for melanoma was 6–15%, for squamous cell carcinoma 4–12%, and for basal cell carcinoma 32–85%. Conclusions. This study confirms the ability of skin cancer screening programs to successfully identify individuals with cutaneous malignancies. The significant association of noncompliance to seek recommended follow-up care with lack of health insurance for men too young to participate in Medicare suggests that approaches to definitive workup for uninsured patients be developed alongside free screening programs.
Spermicidal, anti-HIV, and micellar properties of di- and trihydroxylated cationic surfactants

Abstract The syntheses of 2-hydroxy- N -(2-hydroxyethyl)- N , N -dimethyl-1-alkanaminium 1 ( p ) and 2-hydroxy- N , N -bis(2-hydroxyethyl)- N -methyl-1-alkanaminium 2 ( p ) bromides are described for the homologous series, tetradecanaminium ( p =14) through octadecaminium ( p =18). The critical micelle concentrations (cmc's), measured by conductivity at 25 and 37°C, of the even-numbered members of the series show the expected linear dependence on chain length. All compounds display spermicidal and virucidal activity. Plots of minimum effective concentration (MEC) versus chain length in the Sander–Cramer spermicidal assay of 1 and 2 show a cut-off effect and a parabolic relationship, respectively. The best compounds— 1 (17) and 1 (18)—have MECs (∼0.12 mg mL −1 ) slightly lower than that of the commercial spermicide nonoxynol-9 (N-9). Compounds 1 (16) and 2 (17) show the best anti-HIV activity in in-vitro, cell-free and cell-associated virus inactivation assays. Both are highly effective at 0.1 mg mL −1 in the cell-free assay and 0.5 mg mL −1 in the cell-associated assay. Compound 1 (16) shows the best combination of dual activity against sperm and HIV. In summary, hydroxylated cationic surfactants, 1 and 2 , show promise as inexpensive topical, contraceptive microbicides.
MR imaging of the bladder

MR imaging of the bladder can now be routinely and easily performed with consistent quality. The latest techniques provide high-resolution images of the soft tissue contrast and the ability to perform dynamic contrast imaging and functional pelvic floor studies. MR imaging fits in as a complimentary tool to cystoscopy and to conventional pelvic floor dynamic studies and can provide a unique imaging perspective of the bladder. It is important, however, to remain cognizant of the limitations of its use in tumor detection and discrimination.
Probing beta relaxation in pharmaceutically relevant glasses by using DSC.

This study was conducted to demonstrate the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in detecting and measuring β-relaxation processes in amorphous pharmaceutical systems. DSC was employed to study amorphous samples of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), indomethacin (IM), and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDA) that were annealed at temperatures (Ta) around 0.8 of their glass transition temperatures (Tg). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to measure β-relaxation in PVP. Reheating the annealed samples gives rise to annealing peaks that occur below Tg. The peaks cannot be generated when annealing below the low temperature limit of β-relaxation. These limits are around 50°C for PVP, −20°C for IM, and 30°C for UDA. The effective activation energy (E) of the sub-Tg relaxation has been estimated for each Ta and found to increase with Ta, reflecting increasing contribution of the α-process. Estimates of E for β-relaxation have been obtained from the lowest Ta data, and are as follows: 68 (PVP), 56 (IM), 67 (UDA) kJ mol−1. DSC can be used for detecting β-relaxation processes and estimating its low temperature limit, i.e., the temperature below which amorphous drugs would remain stable. It can also provide comparative estimates of low temperature stability of amorphous drugs in terms of the activation energies of the β-relaxation.
Numerical iterative method for Volterra equations of the convolution type

The objective of this paper is to present an algorithm from which a rapidly convergent solution is obtained for Volterra integral equations of Hammerstein type. Such equations are often encountered when describing the response of viscoelastic materials where the time dependency of the material properties is often expressed in the form of a convolution integral. Frequently, singularity is encountered and often ignored when dealing with the constitutive equations of viscoelastic materials. In this paper, the singularity is incorporated in the solution and the iterative scheme used to solve the equation converges within six iterations to a typical toleration error of 10−5. The algorithm is applied to the strain response of a polymer under impulsive (constant) loading and the results show excellent correlation between the experimental and analytical solution. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality assurance in the care of the patient with cancer

Efforts today have been broadened to reduce the risk of cancer by changing life styles, to detect cancer at its earliest possible and most highly curable stage, to provide prompt and adequate treatment, and to restore the patient to as nearly a normal way of life as possible after cancer therapy
Neurotrophins Rapidly Modulate Growth Cone Response to the Axon Guidance Molecule, Collapsin-1

Abstract We show that neurotrophins acting at the growth cone via Trk receptors can mediate rapid and distinct changes in growth cone response to collapsin-1, an inhibitory axon guidance molecule. We find that the sensitivity of growth cones of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons to collapsin-1 differs when chronically cultured in BDNF, NT-3, or NGF with those in BDNF most sensitive and those in NGF least sensitive. Further, growth cones chronically cultured in BDNF rapidly decrease their sensitivity to collapsin-1 with acute exposure to NGF. Conversely, growth cones chronically cultured in NGF rapidly increase their sensitivity to collapsin-1 with acute exposure to BDNF. These bidirectional effects of neurotrophins appear to be mediated by the neurotrophin-specific Trk receptors on the growth cones since most growth cones are immunopositive for TrkA and TrkB, the NGF and BDNF receptors, respectively, and K252a, a selective inhibitor of Trk-mediated responses to neurotrophins, diminishes collapsin-1-induced growth cone collapse. These findings indicate that the response of growth cones to axon guidance molecules is dynamic and can be rapidly and differentially modulated by neurotrophins.
Cook/Chill Foodservice Systems with Conduction, Convection and Microwave Reheat Subsystems. Nutrient Retention in Beef Loaf, Potatoes and Peas

Percent thiamin in beef loaf and peas and percent ascorbic acid in potatoes were determined at all process stages in a simulated hospital cook/chill foodservice system. Retention of nutrients in experimental products after reheating by conduction, convection and microwave radiation was compared. Points in food product flow causing largest nutrient losses were: beef loaf, precooking; peas, reheating; and potatoes, 24-hr chilled storage. Statistical analyses indicated no significant difference in nutrient retention of experimental products due to method of reheating.
The Lapidary graphical interface design tool

The Lapidary interface design tool allows the graphics and run-time behaviors that go inside an application window, as well as the graphics and behaviors that go around the application window, such as menus and scroll bars, to be specified pictorially. In particular, Lapidary allows the designer to draw pictures of application-specific graphical objects that the end user will manipulate (such as boxes and arrows, or elements of a list), the feedback that shows which objects are selected (such as small boxes on the sides and corners of an object), and the dynamic feedback objects (such as hair-line boxes to show where an object is being dragged). The run-time behavior of all these objects can be specified in a straightforward way using constraints and dialog boxes that allow the designer to provide abstract descriptions of the interactive response to the input devices. Lapidary also generalizes from the specific example pictures to allow the graphics and behaviors to be specified by demonstration. Finally, Lapidary supports the construction and use of ‘‘widgets’’ (sometimes called interaction techniques or gadgets) such as menus, scroll bars, buttons and icons. Thus Lapidary allows all pictorial aspects of an application to be specified graphically. CR
Outcomes of a School-Wide Positive Behavioral Support Program

School-wide positive behavioral support (SWPBS) programs are becoming an increasingly popular and effective way to reduce behavioral disruptions in schools. Results from a 4-year study examining the effects of an SWPBS program in a public elementary school indicated significant reductions in percentages of behavioral referrals, suspensions, and instructional days lost, but the effect sizes were small. Implications for school counselors and future research are discussed.
L'ALTER ECO. L'ANIMALE SEMANTICO NE LA MISTERIOSA FIAMMA DELLA REGINA LOANA

La Misteriosa Fiamma della Regina Loana (2004) rappresenta l'ennesima applicazione degli studi teorici di Umbero Eco. In questo caso viene proposto il modello di un uomo nuovo, un animale semantico che va oltre il positivismo semiotico per avventurarsi nel campo della soggettivita e della psicologia archetipica. Nella Fiamma, usando le caratteristiche del postmoderno quali “ironia, gioco metalinguistico, enunciazione al quadrato,” Eco rivolge il suo sguardo al labirinto interiore, psicologico, del suo protagonista. Il modo per orientarsi all'interno della selva simbolica che compone il mondo, sembra suggerire Eco, deve passare attraverso quella parte irrazionale dell'uomo, emozionale appunto, fondamentale per dare un senso alla realta. Da qui i termini usati nel titolo di questo saggio, animale (la parte emozionale) e semantico (come queste emozioni riescono a connotare in maniera assolutamente personale i segni che si aggregano a comporre la nostra enciclopedia), che indicano il percorso scelto per l'ana...
Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice model for defect-plane wetting.

Ces simulations ont pour but de savoir si certains aspects qualitatifs du comportement de phase predit par l'analyse du champ moyen persiste dans ce traitement plus precis. Avec certaines incertitudes, on trouve que ces caracteristiques sont presentes
Characterizing Dynamic Transitions Associated with Snap-Through of Clamped Shallow Arches

Abstract Slender curved structures can often be found as components of complex structures in civil, mechanical, and aerospace systems. Under extreme loadings, a curved structure might undergo snap-through buckling, i.e., the structure is forced to its inverted configuration, inducing fatigue. Therefore, it is important to identify the stability boundaries of structures and to obtain an accurate description of their performance if the response moves beyond those boundaries. In this paper, a combined experimental–computational framework is used to analyze the transient behavior of clamped–clamped shallow arches. We examine, both experimentally and using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), the response of shallow arches under harmonic distributed loading. Various types of responses are identified and regions in the forcing parameter space that lead to snap-through and chaotic responses are determined.
Red muscle function during steady swimming in brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis.

Abstract Red muscle function during steady swimming in brook trout was studied through both in vivo swimming and in vitro muscle mechanics experiments. In the swimming experiments, red muscle activity was characterized through the use of electromyography and sonomicrometry, allowing the determination of several parameters such as tailbeat frequency, EMG burst duration, muscle length change patterns and relative phase of EMG activity and length change. Brook trout do show some shifts in these variables along their length during steady swimming, but the magnitude of these shifts is relatively small. In the muscle mechanics experiments, the in vivo muscle activity data were used to evaluate patterns of power production by red muscle during swimming. Unlike many fish species, the red muscle along the length of brook trout shows little change in isometric kinetic variables such as relaxation rate and twitch time. Furthermore, there is no rostral–caudal shift in red muscle mass-specific power output during steady swimming. This last result contrasts sharply with rainbow trout and with a variety of other fish species that power steady swimming primarily with the posterior red myotome.
Coronary artery fistulas emptying into left heart chambers

We present three cases of coronary artery fistulas entering into the left heart chambers. Coronary arteriography in one showed aneurysmal dilatation of the main left coronary artery and a fistulous communication with a large left atrium. Exploration during repair revealed an anomalous branch of the left circumflex emptying into the left atrium. In the second case the proximal left circumflex gave rise to a branch supplying a hemangioma which emptied into the left atrium. Coronary arteriograms of the third patient showed an enlarged left anterior descending artery with an anomalous branch emptying into the left ventricle. Shunt flow was estimated with hydrogen as a tracer in the last two cases and was two thirds and one third of the left coronary inflow, respectively. Review of the literature shows 32 previously reported cases of a fistula draining into the left side of the heart.
Single versus multiple sourcing in the presence of risks

This paper relies on a decision-tree approach to aid a buying firm in determining the optimal size of its supply base in the presence of risks. The risk under consideration refers to any unpredictable operations interruptions caused by all suppliers being unavailable to satisfy the buying firm's demand. The relationship between the levels of risk and associated trade-offs is captured by a decision-tree model, from which the expected cost function is formulated. The exact or approximate optimal solutions for various scenarios, as well as their sensitivity, are obtained and examined.
Misinformation about emergency contraception.

Although a few studies have reported no change in the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) attributed to emergency contraception (EC), there are also reports of an increase in STI rates. A study conducted in Sweden after EC was made widely available found a doubling in EC use along with
SLAP lesions of the glenoid labrum diagnosed with MR imaging

Tears of the superior portion of the glenoid labrum in patients without shoulder instability have recently been described. These tears, which include the “anchor” of the biceps tendon to the labrum, have been labeled “SLAP lesions” (superior /abrum anterior to posterior). This study was performed to determine the magnetic resonance (MR) findings in patients with SLAP lesions. Retrospective review of the shoulder arthroscopy reports on patients who underwent MR imaging using a 1.5-T unit and subsequent arthroscopy by a single surgeon identified six patients with SLAP lesions (average age 36 years, range 17–65 years). MR images demonstrated atypical morphology indicative of tear in the superior portion of the labrum in four of the six patients, but only one tear had been identified preoperatively. Radiologists interpreting MR images of the shoulder should be aware of the MR findings of SLAP lesions as these tears can be a significant cause of patient disability and are difficult to diagnose clinically.
Age differences in the reliability of parent and child reports of child anxious symptomatology using a structured interview.

Test-retest reliability of child and parent reports of anxious symptomatology, using a structured interview (The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children; ADIS-C and ADIS-P), was examined with 50 outpatients and their parents. The test-retest was 10 to 14 days. Reliability was examined for three parameters: (1) an exact match on primary anxiety diagnoses; (2) symptom scale scores; and (3) clinician's agreement on severity ratings. Overall, satisfactory reliability across the three parameters was found. The results were viewed to be promising in light of previous research that parents and children tend to be unreliable in making such reports. Age differences in reliability were also examined between children 6 to 11 and 12 to 17 years old. Discrepancies between parent and child reports and age differences between samples (i.e., 6-11, 12-17) are discussed.
Enantioselective Cascade Cyclization/Protodemetalation of Polyenes with N3Pt2+ Catalysts

The combination of the N-based pincer ligand PyBOX with Pt2+ leads to new catalysts for the enantioselective cycloisomerization of dienyl- and trienyl-ols. The mechanistic combination of electrophilic cyclization followed by rapid protodemetalation is surprising and leads to a powerful construct for developing new reactions.
Activity of the antioestrogen trioxifene againstN-nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary carcinomas

Abstract The therapeutic efficacy of a new antioestrogen, trioxifene, was compared with that of tamoxifen and ovariectomy against rat mammary tumours induced by N -nitrosomethylurea. In control animals, all but 1/59 tumours either progressed (52) or remained static (6) and 31 new tumours appeared. All 3 modes of therapy were highly effective. Trioxifene mesylate, ( 300 μg s.c. daily) induced regressions in 26/61 (42.6%) tumours, and stasis in 13 (21.3%) . Nine new tumours appeared during trioxifene treatment. Tamoxifen ( 200 μg s.c. daily), produced regression of 22/50 tumours (44.0%) , while 19 (38.0%) remained static and 2 new tumours developed. Ovariectomy caused regression of 35/56 (62.5%) tumours, growth was inhibited in another 8 (14.3%) and 2 new tumours developed. Regression after ovariectomy was greater compared with trioxifene therapy ( P The relative binding affinity (RBA, OE 2 ≡ 100) of trioxifene (8.8–11) for NMU-induced mammary tumour oestrogen receptors was consistently 4–5× greater than that of tamoxifen. The comparative study in vitro did not parallel the finding in vivo . However, the RBA of monohydroxytamoxifen, a metabolite of tamoxifen, was the same or 2× greater than that of oestradiol, suggesting that tamoxifen's action may be facilitated by conversion to active metabolites. Further study of trioxifene's metabolites may increase our understanding of its mechanism of action in vivo .
Transcriptional control of the tumor- and hypoxia-marker carbonic anhydrase 9: A one transcription factor (HIF-1) show?

Transcriptional activation by hypoxia is mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) via binding to the hypoxia-responsive element (HRE). Hypoxia in solid tumors associates with poorer outcome of the disease and reliable cellular markers of tumor hypoxia would represent a valuable diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target. In this category, carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is one of the most promising candidates. Here, we summarize the knowledge about transcriptional regulation of CA9. The HRE is the central regulatory element in the CA9 promoter, whereas other elements are limited to lesser roles of amplification of signals received at the HRE. The analysis of known mechanisms of activation of CA9 reveals the prominent role of the HIF-1 pathway. Experimental paradigms with uncoupled HIF-1α stability and transcriptional activity (pericellular hypoxia, proteasomal inhibitor) provide evidence that CA9 expression monitors transcriptional activity of HIF-1, rather than the abundance of HIF-1α. Furthermore, these paradigms could provide a corollary to some of the apparently discordant cases (CAIX+, HIF-1α−) or (CAIX−, HIF-1α+) observed in vivo. In conclusion, the existing data support the notion that CA9, due to the unique structure of its promoter, is one of the most sensitive endogenous sensors of HIF-1 activity.
Kelvin–Helmholtz Billows in the Eyewall of Hurricane Erin

Abstract A photograph of vertically aligned Kelvin–Helmholtz billows in the eastern eyewall of Hurricane Erin on 10 September 2001 is presented. The vertical shear instability in the horizontal winds necessary to produce the billows is confirmed with a high-altitude dropwindsonde observation. This shear instability is not known to be common in tropical cyclone eyewalls and is likely only in cases with a very large eyewall tilt. However, research and reconnaissance aircraft pilots need to be aware of the possibility of their existence, along with other types of hazardous conditions, in such rare circumstances.
Experimental determination of carbon vs. oxygen regioselectivity in reactions of gas‐phase enolate ions

A gas-phase experimental investigation of the competition between carbon and oxygen alkylation of a series of cyclic and acyclic enolate ions is described. Perfluoropropylene is shown to react in a characteristic way with oxyanions and carbanions to produce distinctive ionic products. The relative yields of these products formed in reactions with ambident enolate ions provides a measure of their intrinsic carbon vs. oxygen regioselectivity. The results for a series of enolates derived from aldehydes, ketones, esters, amides and related compounds show a wide range of reactivity which is a function of the nature of the central substituent. Most aldehyde and ketone enolates react mainly through oxygen, while enolates with σ-acceptor of π-donor type central substituents react mainly thorugh carbon. Ring-size in cyclic ketone enolates also influences C vs. O regioselectivity, i.e. small-ring enolates react mainly through carbon, while larger ring enolates (C7–C9) react preferentially through oxygen. The enolate reactivity patterns can be generally accounted for by the keto–enol energy differences for the parent carbonyl compounds, although some exceptions are evident. The origins of the highly variable, kinetically determined regioselectivities are discussed.
Meteor Burst Communications: Bits per Burst Performance Bounds

It is important for communications researchers and designers to understand the limitations of the media that they use. To enable a better understanding of meteor trails as a communications medium, classical received power equations were used to derive two performance bounds. These give the maximum number of bits that can be relayed during a single burst using 1)an optimum constant bit rate, and 2) a continuously varying bit rate. It was found that the second bound is about two to three times larger than the first. Examples are given to show how the maximum bits per burst varies as a function of great circle distance between terminals, wavelength, and trail electron line density, when the receiver uses an optimum constant bit rate. The first bound Was also used to estimate how the long-term bits per unit of time, or average bit rate, varies with changes in electron line density q when the meteor burst rate is considered.
A new digital neural network and its application

A new digital model of the neuron, called K/N gate, is presented. The K/N neural networks have important potential application in such areas as pattern recognition and image processing. The proposed model is applied to pattern recognition, like the decimal digits in presence of random noise, and comparison is made with its analog counter part perception model. The results show that the K/N net performs better than the perceptron net. The advantages of the proposed model over the analog model are reported as follows: 1) no time consuming training is needed; 2) the desired pattern can be easily distinguished from possible noise inputs given the fact that the distance between the two has been predetermined and included in the design; and 3) the implementation can be achieved with memory and register architecture. >
Fasting is a consideration—not a necessity—for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia

Preoperative fasting guidelines promulgated by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) have, with little discussion, been extrapolated outside of the operating room to include procedural sedation and analgesia. These guidelines stipulate at least 2 hours of fasting for clear liquids, at least 4 hours for breast milk, and at least 6 hours for solids, cow’s milk, and infant formula.1 Despite a general acceptance that most procedural sedation and analgesia techniques—particularly moderate and dissociative sedation—are not likely to produce a loss of protective airway reflexes,2-6 the ASA believes that fasting for even light preprocedural sedation should be as long as that for general anesthesia.1 These stringent ASA fasting guidelines have been widely disseminated and codified into hospital-wide sedation policies, and many emergency departments (EDs) have found their procedural sedation and analgesia practices affected by resulting institutional fasting dictates. These directives have encountered surprisingly little resistance, no doubt because essentially all practitioners outside of the ED administer procedural sedation and analgesia for scheduled, elective procedures. Minimal extra effort is required for the support staff of gastroenterologists, cardiologists, radiologists, and oncologists to instruct patients to fast in advance of P E D I A T R I C S / E D I T O R I A L
Mycoplasmacidal Activity of Peroxidase-H2O2-Halide Systems

A mycoplasmacidal system consisting of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-containing granules, H(2)O(2), and a halide is described. In all parameters measured, it appears to be identical to the MPO-H(2)O(2)-halide bactericidal system previously reported. It has a pH optimum of approximately 5.5 and an optimal MPO:H(2)O(2) ratio of 1:25. The halide requirement can be satisfied by either chloride or iodide. Through the use of taurine or horseradish peroxidase substitution, chloride-mediated killing can be distinguished from iodide-mediated killing. The relationship of this mycoplasmacidal system to other mycoplasmacidal systems and to host surveillance of mycoplasma is discussed.
Loving and Being Loved: Commitment Implications

Each person has a personal way of receiving and oppressing the experience of being in love. It is based on modeling and personal decisions stemming from family of origin, coupled with personal wants, needs, and values. This article adapts Sam Keen’s (1997) To Love and Be Loved to assist couples in examining their respective personal histories of love after describing objectrelations theory. Relationship commitment implications then are explored by means of an experiential activity.