cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aneurysmal degeneration of the thoracoabdominal aorta after medical management of type B aortic dissections.

Background Patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissections who are managed medically are at risk of aortic aneurysmal degeneration over time. However, the effect of improvement in antihypertensive medications and stricter blood pressure control is unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the rate of aneurysmal degeneration in a contemporary cohort of patients with medically treated type B dissection. Methods Included were all patients with acute uncomplicated type B aortic dissection who were initially managed medically between March 1999 and March 2011 and had follow-up axial imaging studies. Maximum aortic growth was calculated by comparing the initial imaging study to the most current scan or imaging obtained just before any aortic-related intervention. An increase of ≥5 mm was the threshold considered as aortic growth. Predictors of aortic aneurysmal degeneration were determined using Cox proportional hazards models. Results We identified 200 patients (61% men) with medically managed acute type B dissections receiving multiple imaging studies. Patients were an average age of 63.4 years, and 75.5% had a history of hypertension. Mean follow-up was 5.3 years (range, 0.1-14.7 years). Mean time between the initial and final imaging studies was 3.2 years (range, 0.1-12.9 years). At 5 years, only 51% were free from aortic growth. Fifty-six patients (28%) required operative intervention (50 open, 6 endovascular repair) for aneurysmal degeneration, and the actuarial 5-year freedom from intervention was 76%. After excluding five patients (2.5%) with early rapid degeneration requiring intervention within the first 2 weeks, the mean rate of aortic growth was 12.3 mm/y for the total aortic diameter, 3.8 mm/y for the true lumen diameter, and 8.6 mm/y for the false lumen diameter. Only aortic diameter at index presentation >3.5 cm was a risk factor for future growth (odds ratio, 2.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-4.81; P P Conclusions Although medical management of uncomplicated acute, type B aortic dissections has been the standard of care, at 5 years, a significant number of patients will require operative intervention for aneurysmal degeneration. Further studies of early intervention (eg, thoracic endovascular aortic repair) for type B aortic dissection to prevent late aneurysm formation are needed.
Responses of CA1 pyramidal neurons: comparing the effects of dendritic and somatic inputs

This work investigates the effect of synaptic input location on both single cell dynamics and small network behavior. Using spike time response curves (STRCs), we measure how synaptic inputs effect the expected firing time of a periodically firing cell. By changing the input location from the soma, the most convenient place to record, to the dendrite, where excitatory synaptic inputs occur biologically, we see a difference in the effects of these inputs. Dendritic inputs given early in the interspike interval (ISI) causes the greatest advance of the expected spike time. Somatic inputs advance the expected spike time most when given later in the ISI. The differences between the STRCs translate to differences in synchrony properties in a simulated small network. Two cell networks with excitatory synapses connected via their somas fire synchronously; however, two cell networks with excitatory synapses connected through their dendrites fire anti-synchronously. These results have implications for larger neural networks.
Semantic priming increases left hemisphere theta power and intertrial phase synchrony.

Information is stored in distributed cortical networks, but it is unclear how distributed stores are synthesized into a unified percept. Activation of local circuits in the gamma range (30 80 Hz), and distributed stores in the low theta range (3–5 Hz) may underlie perceptual binding. Words have a crucial role in semantic memory. Within memory the activation of distributed semantic stores is facilitated by conceptually related previous items, termed semantic priming. We sought to detect event-related brain oscillations (EROs) sensitive to semantic activation and priming. Here we show that low theta evoked power and inter-trial phase locking (4–5 Hz) from 250–350 msec over left hemisphere language areas was greater to related than to unrelated words. Theta band event-related oscillations over left hemisphere language areas may provide a brain signature for semantic activation across distributed stores being facilitated by semantic priming.
Stratified Sampling for Field Survey of Environmental Gradients in the Mojave Desert Ecoregion

Environmental gradients, represented by mapped physical environmental variables within a GIS, were classified and used to allocate a two-stage random stratified sample for field survey of vegetation in the Mojave Desert Ecoregion, California. The first-stage sample was allocated randomly and with unequal proportions among 129 environmental classes defined by the intersection of climate and geology digital maps at 1 km resolution. The second-stage sample was selected for each 1 km cell in the primary sample by defining six terrain classes related to desert vegetation patterns and randomly locating one plot location per class per cell. The total number of observations (1133) was determined by the resources available for the survey. This approach allowed the vegetation survey to be planned efficiently, alternate samples to be located, and vegetation types to be defined quantitatively. The sample allocated surveyed broad scale environmental gradients effectively, and the objective of oversampling rare environmental classes and undersampling common classes was achieved in most cases. It did not succeed, however, in capturing replicates of rarer plant alliances. We suggest sampling efforts should be weighted even more heavily toward rare environments and plant communities for this objective.
Lepton-quark scattering and nucleon spin structure

Abstract Consideration is given to the asymmetries arising from the deep inelastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons and positrons with longitudinally polarized protons at ep collider energies. Information from such measurements will provide means for testing models of nucleon spin structure. The Carlitz-Kaur model of spin structure is used as a guide for estimating the behavior of these asymmetries, which arise from the interference of the electromagnetic and neutral currents.
A 2 kW Gallium Nitride based switched capacitor three-port inverter

This paper presents a single phase, multilevel, three-port, switched capacitor inverter based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices from Transphorm. The features of this inverter include one 200 V dc port, and two ac ports, which are two-level 120 V (1X inverter) and three-level 240 V (2X inverter), respectively. This circuit harness the superior characteristics of GaN devices, especially their faster switching speed and lower on resistance, to reduce the passive components size, increase overall power density, and achieve multiport operation. In this paper, complete circuit description, operation principles and device evaluation are provided. Also, to verify proposed functions, a 2 kW prototype has been built and the preliminary testing results have shown a 98.5% peak efficiency with two ac outputs.
RAPID, NONRADIOACTIVE DETECTION OF CLONAL T-CELL RECEPTOR GENE REARRANGEMENTS IN LYMPHOID NEOPLASMS

Abstract Southern blot hybridization analysis of clonal antigen receptor gene rearrangements has proved to be a valuable adjunct to conventional methods for diagnosing lymphoid neoplasia. However, Southern blot analysis suffers from a number of technical disadvantages, including the time necessary to obtain results, the use of radioactivity, and the susceptibility of the method to various artifacts. We have investigated an alternative approach for assessing the clonality of antigen receptor gene rearrangements in lymphoid tissue biopsy specimens. This approach involves the amplification of rearranged gamma T-cell receptor genes by the polymerase chain reaction and analysis of the polymerase chain reaction products by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. By use of this approach, clonal rearrangements from neoplastic lymphocytes constituting as little as 0.1-1% of the total cells in the tissue are detected as discrete bands in the denaturing gel after the gel is stained with ethidium bromide and viewed under ultraviolet light. In contrast, polyclonal rearrangements from reactive lymphocytes appear as a diffuse smear along the length of the gel. Our findings suggest that polymerase chain reaction combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis may offer a rapid, nonradioactive, and sensitive alternative to Southern blot analysis for the diagnostic evaluation of lymphoid tissue biopsy specimens.
Prospective determination of distal colon findings in average-risk patients with proximal colon cancer.

Abstract Background: Recent guidelines indicate that colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are both acceptable options for screening average-risk patients for colorectal cancer. Retrospective studies have found that a majority of patients with cancer proximal to the splenic flexure have a normal screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective description of colonoscopic findings and family history in consecutive patients with proximal colon cancer. Results: Among 116 prospectively identified average-risk patients with cancer proximal to the splenic flexure, 40 (34.5%) had neoplasia distal to the splenic flexure. The prevalence of patients with adenomas greater than or equal to 1 cm, with only one tubular adenoma less than 1 cm, and with only hyperplastic polyps were 16.4%, 8.6%, and 6.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Most average-risk patients with cancer proximal to the splenic flexure will have a normal screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. These patients have an unexpectedly high prevalence of large distal adenomas, but the prevalence of both single small tubular adenomas and hyperplastic polyps alone is similar to that expected during screening of the general population. Clinicians and payers should continue to seek methods to improve the cost-effectiveness and availability of screening colonoscopy in average-risk persons. (Gastrointest Endosc 1999;49:727-30.)
Radiotherapy and rectal cancer

Studies utilizing preoperative radiotherapy as an adjunct to surgery are reviewed, with results indicating marked increase in survival. Results of postoperative irradiation also appear beneficial, although less extensive data are available. Irradiation for inoperable and recurrent rectal cancer has demonstrated symptomatic relief, particularly avoidance of colostomy, and can render some patients operable and resectable. Adjuvant immunotherapy after irradiation and operation is suggested for further research.
Database semantic integrity for a network data manager

The goal of semantic integrity is assuring that data within a database is logically correct. Logical correctness is evaluated by showing that the data represents a valid abstraction or model of a 'real world' application. This is required for effective use of the database.
Effects of Confinement on Water Structure and Dynamics: A Molecular Simulation Study

Classical molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study structural and dynamic properties of water confined within graphite surfaces separated by a distance varying between 7 and 14.5 A, at a constant water density of 1 g/cm3. Results at 298 K show the formation of a well-ordered structure constituted by water layers parallel to the graphite surfaces. The water molecules in layers in contact with the surface have a tendency to orient their dipole parallel to the surface. Such ice-like structure may have, however, different structural and dynamical properties than those of ice. The time evolution of the calculated mean square displacement reveals that at the smallest separation (7 A) the water mobility is significantly lower than that of low-temperature water (213 K) at the same density; the mobilities become similar at a separation of 8 A although the structure of that confined water is very different from that in low-temperature water. The temperature at which the mobility of water confined betwe...
The association between ambient particulate air pollution and fatal coronary heart disease among persons with respiratory symptoms/disease

Purpose To assess the effects of ambient particulate matter (PM) air pollution on risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) in persons characterized as a sensitive subgroup, e.g. persons with known respiratory disease. Methods The Adventist Health Study on Smog (AHSMOG) is a cohort study of 3769 nonsmoking, adults who have been followed for 22 years. A total of 806 persons free of CHD, stroke or diabetes at baseline and who reported having symptoms of asthma, some kind of bronchial condition, or emphysema on one of the 4 follow-up questionnaires (1977, 1987, 1992, 2000) constitute the study population. Monthly concentrations of ambient air pollutants were obtained from monitoring stations (PM10, Ozone, SO2, and NO2) or airport visibility data (PM2.5) and interpolated to zip code centroids of work and residence locations. PM10-2.5 concentrations were calculated as the differences between PM10 and PM2.5. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression was used for analyses. Analyses were controlled for a number of potential confounders available from a detailed lifestyle questionnaire at baseline and for environmental tobacco smoke and other personal sources of air pollution available from the 4 subsequent questionnaires. Results Elevated risk of fatal CHD was found for all ambient PM fractions with the highest risk estimates for coarse fraction (PM10-2.5). The relative risk (RR) for fatal CHD with each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10-2.5 was 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 3.3) in the single pollutant model and 2.2 (95 % CI: 1.3, 3.8) in the two-pollutant model with ozone. Risk appeared to be stronger in females than in males. Conclusion High ambient concentrations of PM, especially coarse fraction, are associated with increased risk of fatal CHD among persons with known chronic respiratory disease (asthma, bronchial condition, or emphysema). The risk appears to be stronger in females than in males.
Indicative planning in Japan

Abstract This paper reviews experiences of Japan's indicative planning. Section 1 emphasizes, in the Japanese context, three conditions that indicative planning is expected to meet. Section 2 reviews Japan's national economic plans. Section 3 discusses plan implementation at the ministerial level, with particular reference to industrial policy practiced by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Section 4 goes over an inventory of plan instruments. Section 5 examines plan effectiveness, target setting, and plan failures. Section 6 attributes the success ofindicative planning in Japan to its market structure.
Physical and mechanical properties of C60under high pressures and high temperatures

The physical and mechanical properties of a C60 fullerene sample have been investigated under high pressure–high temperature conditions using a designer Diamond Anvil Cell. Electrical resistance measurements show evidence of C60 cage collapse at 20 GPa, which leads to the formation of an insulating phase at higher pressure. Energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXD) data indicated that the characteristic fcc reflections gradually decrease in intensity and eventually disappear above 28 GPa. A C60 sample was laser-heated at a pressure of 35 GPa to a temperature of 1910±100 K and, subsequently, decompressed to ambient conditions. The photoluminescence spectra and the Raman spectrum of the pressure–temperature-treated sample were measured at a low temperature of 80 K. Raman peak at 1322.3 cm−1 with full-width half-maximum of 2.9 cm−1 was observed from the sample, which is attributed to the hexagonal diamond phase in the sample. The room temperature photoluminescence spectra showed a symmetric emission band ce...
"I Luv U :)!": A Descriptive Study of the Media Use of Individuals in Romantic Relationships

In this study, we address the communication technologies individuals within romantic relationships are using to communicate with one another, the frequency of use, and the association between the use of these technologies and couple's positive and negative communication. Participants consisted of individuals involved in a serious, committed, heterosexual relationship. The Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire instrument was used to assess a variety of relationship variables. The majority of individuals within the study frequently used cell phones and text messaging to communicate with their partner, with “expressing affection” being the most common reason for contact. Younger individuals reported using all forms of media (except for e-mail) more frequently than older participants. Relationship satisfaction did not predict specific use of media but predicted several reasons for media use. Additional analyses revealed that text messaging had the strongest association with individuals' positive and negative communication within their relationships. Specifically, text messaging to express affection, broach potentially confrontational subjects, and to hurt partners were associated with individuals' view of positive and negative communication within their relationship. Implications of the results are discussed.
Consumer perceptions of private label quality: the role of product category characteristics and consumer use of heuristics

Abstract Given consumer associations with their lower cost/lower quality positioning and their relatively small marketing budgets, private label brands must carefully select the product categories in which they attempt to compete. A regression-based study was undertaken to investigate the manner in which product category characteristics influence consumers’ perceptions of private label quality. Results of this study indicate that perceptions of private label quality are driven by the complexity, price level, average interpurchase time, and quality variance of the product category. Private label brands are also perceived differently due to the manner in which consumer segments employ brand names as heuristics. Although consumers’ use of brand names as functional cues is unrelated to assessments of private label quality, consumers who consider brands to be symbolic resources are, surprisingly, found view private label brands more favorably. However, the results indicate the positive perception of private label quality among consumers viewing brands as symbolic resources is limited to product categories that are private in nature.
Efficient Intracellular Delivery of Molecules with High Cell Viability Using Nanosecond-Pulsed Laser-Activated Carbon Nanoparticles

Conventional physical and chemical methods that efficiently deliver molecules into cells are often associated with low cell viability. In this study, we evaluated the cellular effects of carbon nanoparticles believed to emit photoacoustic waves due to nanosecond-pulse laser activation to test the hypothesis that this method could achieve efficient intracellular delivery while maintaining high cell viability. Suspensions of DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells, carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, and calcein were exposed to 5–9 ns long laser pulses of near-infrared (1064 nm wavelength) light and then analyzed by flow cytometry for intracellular uptake of calcein and cell viability by propidium iodide staining. We found that intracellular uptake increased and in some cases saturated at high levels with only small losses in cell viability as a result of increasing laser fluence, laser exposure time, and as a unifying parameter, the total laser energy. Changing interpulse spacing between 0.1 and 10 s intervals s...
Thermal Admittance Studies of Electron-Irradiated CdGeAs2

Brudnyi, et al., and Zwieback, et al., have shown that introducing damage by irradiation with MeV electrons can alter the electrical and optical properties of undoped p-type CdGeAs 2 (CGA) crystals. Brudnyi's studies of the electrical transport properties of isochronally annealed samples demonstrated type conversion and identified at least two new centers, one a stable donor. Zwieback used multi-MeV electrons to introduce compensating donors, thereby, significantly improving the optical transparency of CGA crystals. However, at the present little is known about these centers. Therefore, we have studied these centers by observing the properties of electron-irradiated specimens using Thermal Admittance Spectroscopy (TAS) and correlated the results of these measurements with capacitance-voltage measurements and Hall effect measurements. Measurements before an after irradiation are compared. The as-grown native acceptor concentrations in our samples varied from a low in the mid 10 16 cm −3 to nearly 1019 cm −3 . Significant changes in the electrically active states in the band gap were seen as a result of a single irradiation with 2 MeV electrons to a total dose of 5 × 10 5 cm −2 . The samples appear to respond more strongly than Brudnyi's samples. The thermal activation energies have been determined using TAS and they will be reported.
Influence of Temperature on the Rate of Development of Diglyphus intermedius (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Girault, a Parasite of Liriomyza spp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Developmental rates of the egg, larval, and pupal stages of Diglyphus intermedius Girault were measured at 15.5, 21.2, 26.7, and 32.2°C constant temperatures. The parasites were reared in artificial mines on paralyzed 3rd-instar larvae of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard. The relationship obtained for the egg-to-adult cumulative developmental rate (Y) as measured by the reciprocal of length of development in days and temperature (X) in °C is given by the equation: Y = -0.2028 + 0.0214X – O.OOO4X2.
MANAGING COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA : FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN OUTPATIENT CARE

Most patients with community-acquired pneumonia are treated as outpatients, and choice of therapy is usually empirical because the etiologic agent is unknown. Therapy should include coverage for both typical and atypical organisms. In geographic areas with highly resistant S pneumoniae, one of the newer fluoroquinolones should be considered, since resistance to penicillin is associated with cross-resistance to macrolides and tetracyclines. Once-daily dosing should be given strong preference because more frequent dosing results in poor compliance, which may lead to inadequate therapy and increased resistance. At present, the duration of therapy should probably be no less than 7 days. Patients should be categorized for mortality risk with objective scoring methods, and the need for hospitalization should be decided accordingly. Greater use of observational and intermediate-care beds is encouraged, as is improved utilization of pneumococcal vaccine.
Numerical studies on the reaction of carbon particles in a vacuum residue—air flame

A computational work was carried out for the study of one-dimensional, laminar, premixed, flat, atomized vacuum residue (VR) particle–air flames. The mathematical model includes the specified pyrolysis scheme, soot and char oxidation scheme. With some experimental works, the product composition and kinetic parameters of VR pyrolysis were determined and used for the present computational work. The computed results show that the oxidation of VR carbon char and soot occurs mainly in the reaction zone and the oxidation rate of soot is much higher than that of VR carbon char. The oxidation rates of carbon char and soot can be increased with the decrease in particle diameter, and it might be accomplished by the more effective atomization and mixing of solid particles with combustion air. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In-vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium kansasii to amoxycillin and ticarcillin in combination with clavulanic acid

The in-vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. kansasii to amoxycillin alone and in combination with 2 mg/l of clavulanic acid was evaluated by broth dilution. The MIC90 of amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid was 4 mg/l compared with greater than 32 mg/l for amoxycillin alone when tested against M. tuberculosis (n = 27). M. bovis (n = 8) was the most susceptible species with an MIC90 of amoxycillin 8 mg/l, compared with 0.5 mg/l for the combination. M. kansasii (n = 6), with an MIC90 of 16 mg/l for amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid was more resistant than either M. tuberculosis or M. bovis. Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid with an MIC90 of 32 mg/l was less active against M. tuberculosis (n = 28) than amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid. The addition of clavulanic acid to amoxycillin greatly improves its in-vitro activity against M. tuberculosis and M. bovis.
Effects of Atrial Fibrillation on Exercise Performance in Patients with Cardiac Disease

Cardiac performance in 25 male and 40 female cardiac patients with atrial fibrillation was compared with that of age, sex, and function-matched controls with sinus rhythm. All had rheumatic valvular heart disease treated with digitalis. Multistage maximal exercise was tested on a motor-driven treadmill with increasing work loads every 3 minutes to the limits of fatigue. Mean heart rates of patients with atrial fibrillation were greater at rest, at all levels of exercise, and immediately after it regardless of sex or anatomic lesion; however, recovery heart rate was significantly higher in the males than in the females with sinus rhythm. As is true for normals, mean duration and intensity of exercise was greater in male than in female cardiac patients regardless of rhythm or anatomic lesion.
Concurrent multiprocessing for calculating nullspace and range spacebases for multibody simulation

It is shown that highly efficient parallel variants of the QR decomposition and modified Gram-Schmidt procedure can be derived by using a graph theoretic description of system connectivity. The methods developed herein regularly order the directed graph of the mechanical system, such that the transpose of the constraint matrix has block upper triangular form, and subsequently assign independent processors tasks based upon the zero fill structure of the constraint matrix
What Is the Incidence and Severity of Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Surgery

Background Existing studies suggest a relatively high incidence of dysphagia after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). The majority of these studies, however, are retrospective in nature and lack a control group.
Fighting AIDS Among Adolescent Women: Effects of a Public Communication Campaign in Brazil

In 2003, Brazil's Ministry of Health launched a national campaign aimed at promoting the use of condoms by adolescent women. The Carnival Campaign was broadcast on television and radio between February 16 and March 3 and targeted young women, between 13 and 19 years of age, a social group that previously had registered a growth in the number of cases of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The Ministry hired Kelly Key, a Brazilian pop singer, to deliver the campaign messages. One of the objectives was to empower the girls and encourage them not to be ashamed to buy condoms and to demand that their partners use them. The article presents the results of a national survey conducted with 1,006 adolescent women, which was sponsored by the Ministry of Health. The results show that campaign materials reached the main target public and that they were very positively received. Moreover, the survey data show that the Carnival Campaign had important effects, generating discussions in the adolescents' social environments and reinforcing a social norm that favors the participation of women in the purchase and use of condoms.
A ‘safety deposit’ mechanism for US climate policy

US policy makers are currently evaluating options to reduce domestic carbon dioxide emissions, and several economy-wide cap-and-trade proposals have been put forward in the 111th Congress. Despite mounting enthusiasm for cap-and-trade, advocates of this approach have had to defend such proposals against the criticisms that prices in the resulting carbon market will be unstable and that the implied costs of policy might exceed society's willingness to pay for the expected environmental benefits. Allowance borrowing has been proposed as one solution to both of these concerns, with firm-level borrowing intended to mitigate the impacts of transient cost shocks, and system-level borrowing intended to hedge against the risk of early technology bottlenecks. Each of these mechanisms, as proposed, relies upon prescribed constraints, such as interest payments or quantity limits, to protect against overuse. This article introduces a novel mechanism that offers qualitatively similar protection—a firm-level deposit on...
The Peopling of Early America: Two Studies by Bernard Bailyn. A Review Article

With these two books Bernard Bailyn has begun a massive treatment of a most important subject in early American history: The composition of the eighteenth-century colonial population and its relationship to the Revolution. Bailyn has synthesized the works of other historians on migration, the shipping industry, indentured servitude and other topics, as well as doing his own research into British, Canadian and America records, to come up with the beginnings of a survey on the population of British North America in the years before the Revolution. More importantly than this, he is looking at all this material in a somewhat different light than others have, and he is asking questions-the right questions-that put eighteenth-century migrations in their proper perspective. In the eighteenth century, hundreds of thousands of free and bound immigrants from Europe and Africa poured into the North American continent. While these migrations have not gone unnoticed by other historians, few have ever tried to establish what the overall picture looked like, or what (as Bailyn puts it) all this movement of people might have looked like to a satellite hovering over the Atlantic. In order to understand migrations fully, one must investigate what the situation was at the source of the migration, during the "middle passage" and in the receiving country. This is what Bailyn is doing, and he is going to do it for all immigrant groups, though at this point we only have a detailed picture of English and Scottish migrants. Perhaps the most important question asked by Bailyn is, how does the actual movement of so many thousands of people, as well as the activities of the migrants themselves fit into or influence the overall historical development of the area in question, in this case mid-eighteenth century British North
Bone mineral changes in primary hyperparathyroidism.

We studied 34 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in order to assess their bone mineral status, to determine its relationship to biochemical parameters (serum calcium and parathyroid hormone) and surgical status, and to determine the relationship between peripheral cortical bone and spinal trabecular bone in this disease. These patients were studied with radiogrammetry of the metacarpals, Norland-Cameron photon absorptiometry of the radius, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of the spine, industrial radiography of the hands, and conventional radiography of the thoracolumbar spine. We also calculated a spinal fracture index from thoracolumbar spine films. We found that the appendicular measurements correlated well together, but less well with spinal QCT. The spinal fracture index correlated best with QCT (r=-0.55), although significant dispersion was noted. We found that, in general, these hyperparathyroid patients had statistically significant decrements in bone mineral content in both the appendicular and the axial portions of the skeleton. However, the decrement in the appendicular skeleton did not correlate well with that in the axial skeleton. Therefore we conclude that it is necessary to measure both peripheral and central bone mineral content in order to reliably assess the skeletal demineralizing effects of primary hyperparathyroidism in an individual patient.
A Theorem on the Identifiability of the von Neumann-Morgenstern Utility Function from Asset Demands

Abstract If the demand for risky assets is determined by the maximization of an analytical von Neumann-Morgenstern utility function, and if these demands are known as a function of the assets' prices, then this utility function can be constructed without ambiguity.
Kinetics of an orally absorbed aldose reductase inhibitor, sorbinil

Kinetics of sorbinil, an orally absorbed aldose reductase inhibitor, were examined in man. Peak plasma concentrations were 0.95 μg/ml after a single 50-mg oral dose and 3.6 μg/ml after a 250-mg dose. The apparent volume of distribution was 840 ml/kg. Elimination from plasma was slow with a terminal half life between 6 and 24 hr after dose of 34 to 52 hr and a renal clearance of 6.0 ml/min/1.73 m2. Administration of 50 mg/day for 5 claws induced a mean peak serum concentration of 1.9 μg/ml. A dose of 250 mg/day for 10 days induced a peak serum concentration of 10.6 μg/ml. A mean of one-third of the dose was ultimately recovered unchanged in urine. Sorbinil kinetics make it suitable for once-a-day dosing. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1981) 30, 693–700; doi:10.1038/clpt.1981.222
Malignant hepatic tumors: changes on MRI after hepatic arterial chemoembolization--preliminary findings

This study describes the MR appearances of malignant hypervascular liver lesions pre- and post-hepatic-arterial chemoembolization, with correlation to serial imaging and clinical responses. Eight patients with malignant hypervascular liver lesions underwent pretreatment and posttreatment MR examination on a 1.5-T MR imager. MR sequences included T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo (SGE), T2-weighted fat-suppressed spin echo or turbo spin echo, and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced SGE images. All patients underwent pretreatment, initial posttreatment, and subsequent posttreatment MR studies. The histology of primary tumors included various types of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (four patients: fibrolamellar HCC [one patient], HCC [two patients], mixed HCC/cholangiocarcinoma [one patient]) and liver metastases (four patients: untyped islet cell tumor [two patients], gastrinoma [one patient], carcinoid [one patient]). Response to chemoembolization was determined by three assessments: MR response, serial imaging response, and clinical response. The appearance of MR response to chemoembolization was determined based on the correlation with clinical and serial imaging response. The MR response of lesions that showed good clinical response included: increase in signal intensity on T1-weighted images (three patients), decrease in signal intensity on T2-weighted images (three patients), and negligible or minimal enhancement on immediate postgadolinium images (four patients) after chemoembolization. The most marked change in lesion appearance was observed in lesions < or = 1 cm, which had intense homogeneous enhancement on pretreatment MR studies and negligible enhancement on initial posttreatment MR examinations. MR response of lesions that showed moderate clinical response demonstrated a variety of lesion appearances from substantial change to minimal change. MR response of lesions that showed poor clinical response demonstrated no change in lesion appearances compared with the pretreatment MR study. Our results demonstrated change in appearance of liver lesions between pre- and post-hepatic-arterial chemoembolization MR studies. MR response correlated with response determined by serial imaging studies and clinical findings.
Adolescents' utilitarian and hedonic Web consumption behavior: Hierarchical influence of personal values and innovativeness

This study addresses the Web-consumption behavior of adolescents from a cognitive, hierarchical decision-making perspective. Using a structural equation analysis technique on data collected from high school students, two a priori domains of Web consumption (utilitarian and hedonic) were confirmed. The utilitarian and hedonic domains of Web consumption were influenced directly by innovativeness and indirectly by the personal values of the adolescents. A theoretical discussion based on the results and the implications of these results are presented for the benefit of youth practitioners, educators, parents, and social marketers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
beta-elimination in uronic acids: evidence for an ElcB mechanism

Abstract Methyl esters of methyl pyranosides of 2,3,4-tri- O -methyl-α- D -mannuronic acid ( 3 ), -α- D -glucuronic acid ( 2 ), and -β- D -galacturonic acid ( 1 ) undergo rapid beta -elimination of the 4-methoxyl group in 0.50, 0.20, and 0.02 M sodium methoxide in methanol at room temperature to give 4,5-unsaturated esters via cis , cis and trans elimination, respectively. The ease of cis elimination in methyl (methyl 2,3,4-tri- O -methyl-α- D -glucopyranosid)uronate ( 2 ) and methyl (methyl 2,3,4-tri- O -methyl-α- D -mannopyranosid)uronate ( 3 ) to form the 4,5-unsaturated glycoside is explained by ring flexibility which allows a change in conformation. Only the methyl (methyl 2,3,4-tri- O -methyl-α- D -mannopyranosid)uronate ( 3 ) yields a 2,3:4,5-di-unsaturated ester ( 7 ) ( trans elimination), and this occurs in 0.50 M methoxide, in a much slower reaction. The favoring of trans elimination over the cis elimination that would have been needed in the other two compounds in order to form the second double bond is explained by the rigidity of the half-chair conformation of the 4,5-unsaturated esters. It is suggested that both eliminations proceed via an ElcB mechanism. The results of treatment of hydroxypropyl alginate with potassium hydroxide confirmed that its depolymerization is much slower, and more dependent on the concentration of alkali, than that of pectin.
Mended Chiral Symmetry and the Linear Sigma Model in One-Loop Order

It is shown that the linear σ-model in one-loop order in the chiral limit recovers meson masses mπ=0, mσ=2mqk (NJL), (KSRF), along with couplings (VMD universality) and Weinberg’s mended chiral symmetry decay width relation Γσ=(9/2)Γρ. The linear σ-model combined quark and meson loops also properly predict the radiative decays π0→2γ, π→evγ and δ0(983)→2γ.
Self-powered sensory nerve system for civil structures using hybrid forisome actuators

In order to provide a true distributed sensor and control system for civil structures, we have developed a Structural Nervous System that mimics key attributes of a human nervous system. This nervous system is made up of building blocks that are designed based on mechanoreceptors as a fundamentally new approach for the development of a structural health monitoring and diagnostic system that utilizes the recently discovered plant-protein forisomes, a novel non-living biological material capable of sensing and actuation. In particular, our research has been focused on producing a sensory nervous system for civil structures by using forisomes as the mechanoreceptors, nerve fibers, neuronal pools, and spinocervical tract to the nodal and central processing units. This paper will present up to date results of our research, including the design and analysis of the structural nervous system.
Reducing Spatial Sampling in Long-Term Groundwater Monitoring Networks Using Ant Colony Optimization

Groundwater long-term monitoring (LTM) is required to assess human health and environmental risk of residual contaminants after active groundwater remediation activities are completed. However, LTM can be costly because of the large number of sampling locations that exist at a site from previous site characterization and remediation activities. The cost of LTM may be reduced by identifying redundant sampling locations. However, care must be taken so that the elimination of specific individual wells from the monitoring network does not result in unacceptable levels of data loss and errors. An ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is proposed to identify optimal sampling networks that minimize the number of monitoring locations while maintaining the overall data loss below a given threshold. ACO is inspired by the ability of an ant colony to identify the shortest route between its nest and a food source through indirect communication and positive feedback. Metrics for quantifying well redundancy and overall data loss after optimization are quantified and used in the ACO heuristics. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the ACO developed for LTM optimization is applied to a case study with 30 existing monitoring wells. The LTM optimization problem was solved using different data loss thresholds to identify solutions with 27 to 21 wells remaining in the LTM network. Contour mapping of the contaminant plume using the remaining wells show that the ACO solutions are effective and practical. These results demonstrated that ACO is a promising method for solving LTM optimization problems.
Determining buying center size

Abstract This research utilized microcontigency analysis to study buying center size. The constructs of purchase situations and purchase phases were drawn from the early organizational buyer behavior models and were validated as being significantly related to buying center size. The results have implications for industrial marketing research and strategy.
Abstract 3688: Role of inhibitor of apoptosis family proteins in diallyl trisulfide-induced apoptotic cell death in human prostate cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is a promising cancer chemopreventive constituent of processed garlic. The DATS administration not only inhibits chemical carcinogenesis in experimental rodents but also affords significant protection against cancer development in a transgenic mouse model of prostate cancer. We have shown previously that DATS inhibits growth of human prostate cancer cells by causing apoptosis, but the mechanism of cell death is not fully understood. Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family proteins has emerged as critical regulators of apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the role of IAP family proteins in DATS-mediated apoptosis using PC-3 (an androgen-independent cell line lacking functional p53) and LNCaP (an androgen-responsive cell line with wild-type p53) human prostate cancer cells as a model. Protein level of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) was decreased markedly upon 8-hour treatment with 20 and 40 µmol/L DATS in both PC-3 and LNCaP cells but this effect was somewhat reversible at the 16-hour time point. The DATS-mediated suppression of XIAP protein was not due to a decrease in its mRNA expression. Instead, the DATS-mediated decline in XIAP protein level was reversed in the presence of proteasomal inhibitor MG132. Ectopic expression of XIAP in PC-3 cells conferred modest yet statistically significant protection against DATS-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, the DATS treatment resulted in a marked and sustained induction of survivin protein in both cell types. The DATS-mediated induction of survivin protein correlated with an increase in its mRNA levels in PC-3 and LNCaP cells. RNA interference of survivin resulted in increased apoptosis even in absence of DATS treatment in PC-3 cells. However, the DATS-induced apoptosis was only marginally affected by siRNA knockdown of survivin. Inhibition of prostate cancer development in Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mice by p.o. gavage with DATS correlated with a statistically significant decrease in the levels of XIAP protein and induction of survivin protein expression. The results of the present study indicate differential effect of DATS treatment on IAP family protein expression, which may serve as biomarkers of DATS response. This study was supported by the USPHS grant 2 RO1 CA113363-06, awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3688. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3688
Concentration and Contemplation: A Lesson in Learning to Learn

The author shows in this article how a traditional-Asian contemplative and mediation practice can be used to increase concentration and learning. The author introduces a model of higher learning that captures a traditional linear paradigm of how higher learning unfolds. He then argues that effective use of that paradigm presupposes that students possess well-honed skills in concentration and contemplation, but that they often do not possess them. Thus, educators (at least those of us who use versions of the traditional paradigm) need to broaden curricula to include methods of learning that develop and polish these essential skills. As support, the author develops an argument for the importance of concentration and contemplation as foundational academic competencies. Finally, he introduces a demystified version of a traditional meditation/contemplative practice—the author's lesson in learning to learn—and argues that use of this model can enhance the development of mature academic skills.
Parasitism by Microplitis demolitor induces alterations in the juvenile hormone titers and juvenile hormone esterase activity of its host, Pseudoplusia includens

Microplitis demolitor is a polydnavirus-carrying parasitoid that attacks the larval stage of Pseudoplusia includens and other noctuids. Parasitism or injection of wasp components like polydnavirus and teratocytes has a juvenilizing effect on P. includens development. Here we measured hemolymph juvenile hormone (JH) titers and juvenile hormone esterase activity in P. includens larvae after parasitism or injection of wasp components. Results were compared to nonparasitized larvae. During the fifth stadium, JH titers of nonparasitized larvae fluctuated between 0.08 and 0.50 ng/ml, whereas titers in parasitized larvae never fell below 2 ng/ml. P. includens larvae injected with calyx fluid plus venom or calyx fluid plus venom and teratocytes exhibited JH titers intermediate between parasitized and nonparasitized larvae. Nonparasitized larvae exhibited two peaks of JH esterase activity. The first occurred between 12 and 48 h in association with cessation of larval feeding, while the second occurred immediately before pupation. In contrast, levels of JH metabolism remained at low levels in parasitized larvae and larvae injected with calyx fluid plus venom or calyx fluid, venom and teratocytes. Only trace amounts of JH were detected in in vitro assays of teratocytes or M. demolitor larvae suggesting neither released JH into the hemolymph of parasitized larvae. Although calyx fluid plus venom and teratocytes did not elevate JH titers to the levels measured in parasitized larvae, their effects on formation of larval-pupal intermediates by P. includens were similar to those generated by exogenous application of methoprene or JH.
HIGH-ENERGY PHOTOMESON PRODUCTION FROM HYDROGEN VIA THE ''u CHANNEL.''

We have investigated the photoproduction process $\ensuremath{\gamma}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+n$ over a wide range of energies and $u$ values at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) accelerator. We also have investigated $\ensuremath{\gamma}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{N}^{*++}$ at one value of $u$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}$, ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}$ at one $u$ value and three energies. Our results for $\frac{d\ensuremath{\sigma}}{\mathrm{du}}$ for the photoproduction of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ mesons from hydrogen are roughly $\frac{\ensuremath{\alpha}}{2\ensuremath{\pi}}$ of the corresponding cross sections for the elastic scattering of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons from hydrogen. The $u$ dependence of our cross sections is not dominated by nucleon exchange as it is in the case of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p$ elastic scattering.