cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Technique For Elastic Registration Of Tomographic Images

A simple algorithm for geometric registration of tomographic images was developed to be applied to images of the heart obtained by Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Commonly, image misregistrations are not only caused by simple positioning differences like translation and rotation, but also by deformations that cannot be expressed by simple geometric transformations. The algorithm that we developed is a combination of two methods: a â��rigidâ�� registration followed by an â��elasticâ�� deformation. A variable number of reference points is used to register the images. The first part of this method consists of calculating the best match between the reference points of the two images based on the evaluation of the center of gravity, the axes of inertia and the surface extension. A set of geometric rotation, translation and scaling operations are then applied to the image to match. In the second phase an elastic model is further applied to perfectly match the reference points. An algorithm based on a weighted average of the displacement of every reference point is used. This second phase produces local deformations of the image to match every reference point. A set of validation experiments was performed using digitized images of isolated slices of a dog's heart where several deformations were applied. Further experiments on PET images showed that this method provides adequate automatic 2D registration of the tomographic images. The same approach could potentially be used to match images from different imaging modalities like MRI or CT scans. Â© 1988, SPIE.
Randomized comparison of cognitive function in humans at 0 and 8 Tesla.

Purpose To discover whether there was a measurable alteration in cognitive performance in humans when exposed to a static magnetic field of 8 Tesla (T). Materials and Methods Twenty-five normal human subjects were evaluated at both 0.05 and 8 T in a randomized order. Six standardized neuropsychological tests were administered and auditory reaction times were assessed. The cognitive assessment included measures of learning and retention, verbal fluency (spontaneous word generation), auditory attention, and auditory working memory. Alternate test forms were utilized to reduce practice effects. The sequential order of testing, 0.05 T first vs. 8 T first exposure, was randomized. The data was analyzed using univariate comparisons for correlated means to assess potential differences under the two conditions. Results There were no clinically significant differences in any of the measures. On a measure of recognition memory the subjects performed significantly better in the 0.05T condition, but the difference was extremely small, not clinically meaningful, and likely due to statistical artifact. Conclusion This study shows that exposure of the brain to high magnetic fields of up to 8 T does not appear to alter human cognitive performance. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:342–345. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Social relationships of men at risk for AIDS

Survey data collected in 1984-85 from a community sample of 637 gay and bisexual men were used to determine the features of social relationships that were most conductive to changes in both psychological health and AIDS-related sexual risk behavior. Multiple regression analyses showed that both the perceived availability of social support and the absence of conflicts in the social network were related to improve psychological health. At the same time, the subjective experience of integration into social networks was associated with increased psychological distress, and validation (the experience of being accepted by others) was related to a higher level of risk activity. These findings are discussed in terms of the social relationships among community members that share a common stressor--in this case the shared problem of being at risk for AIDS.
THE EFFECTS OF ACCESS TO SPECIAL ACTIVITIES ON THE PERFORMANCE IN FOUR CATEGORIES OF ACADEMIC TASKS WITH THIRD‐GRADE STUDENTS1

An ABAB experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of access to recreational activities contingent on the completion of at least 80% of academic tasks assigned daily. Requirements in four task categories (writing, copying words, spelling, and dictionary skills) were specified daily and students were required to complete at least 80% of the requirements in each category correctly in order to participate in daily recreational activities. The procedure produced reliable and educationally important increases in the task performance of all 19 third-grade students in the study. Most of the difference in the performance of each child between experimental conditions was on the spelling and dictionary tasks, although there were also improvements on the writing and words-copied tasks for those students showing the greatest overall change in performance. The procedure was easily implemented by the teacher alone, required only materials and equipment typically found in elementary schools, and produced changes in performance important enough to the teacher that she continued to use the basic procedure after the evaluation program was terminated.
Reply to Professor Brinton

In my paper, ‘Agnosticism’, I asked the reader to consider the following three propositions. (1) There is more evidence for theism than for atheism. (2) There is more evidence for atheism than for theism. (3) There is roughly the same amount of evidence for both. And I claimed that if it is not known which of (1) to (3) is true, then theism, atheism and agnosticism (suspension of judgement without the claim that this is the epistemically superior position) are all equally rational positions. As against that claim, Professor Brinton cites the following epistemic principle: When the state of the evidence on some question ‘p?’ is uncertain, suspension of belief is the most appropriate doxastic attitude . However, my paper contained the seeds of a refutation of this principle. I wrote there that the agnostic
An Embedding Method for Histochemical Studies of Undecalcified Skeletal Growth Plate

We have used glycol methacrylate to study undecalcified skeletal growth plate and subchondral bone. Minor modifications of the original technique including dehydration in glycol methacrylate vacuum infiltration and polymerization in the cold make it quite suitable for embedding of such tissues. Moreover, specimens can be processed quickly and the morphologic and biochemical integrity of the tissue retained so that histochemical procedures can be readily applied. Collagen, glycosaminoglycan, glycogen, lipid, calcium and the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase were localized. This technique appears to be very useful for studying skeletal tissues.
A median test with sequential application

In this paper the theoretical statistical properties of this sampling procedure are investigated. It is shown that a distribution-free control median test can be based on this procedure which is as efficient asymptotically as the joint median test proposed by Mood (1954). An associated confidence interval is also derived. The efficiency of this test is compared with those based on fully efficient parametric procedures. Finally, a sequential form of the test is discussed based on an underlying logistic family of curves.
Colloid and surface properties of clay suspensions. III. Stability of montmorillonite and kaolinite

Abstract The coagulating efficiency of a cation for clay suspensions increases with increasing ion exchange preference of the particles for the counterion. This was related to the release of aluminum species from the clay and subsequent coagulation by the aqueous aluminum complexes formed in solution. Addition of highly charged cations reduces the particle charge, thus increasing the susceptibility of the clay to coagulation. When cations of charge 1+ and 2+ are added, the stability of a clay sample decreases with increasing amounts of exchangeable aluminum in its double layer. With counterions of charge 3+, clays whose charge is more easily reduced become the less stable. In this respect Na-montmorillonite is less stable than Cs-montmorillonite and kaolinite in the presence of mono- and divalent cations, and slightly more stable in the presence of trivalent cations. Metal ion hydrolysis had no specific effect on clay colloid stability, except for Al (III) salts; in the latter case the coagulation behavior of Na-montmorillonite is similar in some respects to typical lyophobic sols. Large trivalent cobalt chelates behave as simple cations of the same charge. No restablization due to charge reversal was observed. The effect of pH on sol stability in general followed its effect on particle charge. In the acidic range where the edges of the particles are positive and the net negative charge on the particles is the lowest, the clay suspensions are less stable than at higher pH where the edge charge is neutralized and the net particle charge is greater.
Effective Algebraic Detection of the Nielsen–Thurston Classification of Mapping Classes

In this paper, we propose two algorithms for determining the Nielsen–Thurston classification of a mapping class ψ on a surface S. We start with a finite generating set X for the mapping class group and a word ψ in 〈X〉. We show that if ψ represents a reducible mapping class in Mod(S), then ψ admits a canonical reduction system whose total length is exponential in the word length of ψ. We use this fact to find the canonical reduction system of ψ. We also prove an effective conjugacy separability result for π1(S) which allows us to lift the action of ψ to a finite cover of S whose degree depends computably on the word length of ψ, and to use the homology action of ψ on to determine the Nielsen–Thurston classification of ψ.
Endovascular management of multiple arteriovenous fistulae following failed laser-assisted pacemaker lead extraction

A woman presented for evaluation of new-onset left arm edema after failed laser-assisted pacemaker lead extraction. Initial workup demonstrated a left subclavian artery to vein arteriovenous fistula (AVF). She underwent repair of the AVF with placement of a covered stent in the subclavian artery, however, her symptoms did not completely resolve. Investigation revealed a left common carotid artery to left innominate vein AVF, which was repaired by deploying a covered stent retrograde into the left common carotid artery. Her symptoms subsequently resolved. Multiple iatrogenic AVF can be repaired endovascularly, however, a high degree of suspicion for multiple injuries should be maintained.
Abstract A111: Endogenous conversion of n-6 PUFAs to n-3 PUFAs prevents progression of K-Ras activated pancreatic lesion development to pancreatic ductal carcinoma in Fat-1 transgenic mice

Developing novel strategies to prevent or delay the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a devastating disease with a dismal 5-year survival rate ( LSL-Kras G12D/+ and p48 Cre/+ mice were bred with Fat-1 mice and offspring of activated p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ and Fat-1-p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ were generated. Six-week old transgenic mice p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ (12/group), Fat-1-p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ (12/group), and wild-type (12/group) mice were fed (AIN-76A) a diet containing 10% safflower oil for 35 weeks. Pancreata were collected, weighed, and evaluated histopathologically for PanINs and PDAC. To understand the mechanisms, we analyzed levels of fatty acids and assessed the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle markers by GC, IHC, IHF, Western blotting, Real time and/or RT-PCR. Results show a dramatic reduction in incidence of PDAC (85.8% p Fat-1-p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ mice compared to p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ mice. Importantly, significant reduction of pancreatic ducts with carcinoma (90%, p Fat-1-p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ transgenic mice. The levels of n-3 PUFA, -Linoleic acid, DPA and DHA were much higher (∼90%) in pancreatic tissues of Fat-1-p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ mice than that of p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ and WT animals. Importantly, molecular analysis of pancreas showed a significant down-regulation of fatty acid synthase, insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1, PCNA, COX-2, 5-LOX, FLAP, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1 expression levels in Fat-1-p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ mice compared to p48 Cre/+ -LSL-Kras G12D/+ . These data highlight the potential for use of n-3 fatty acids for chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer and represent an important strategy to delay/prevent pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals. {Supported by Kerley-Cade Chair Endowment for Cancer Research} Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):A111.
Multiband Dual-Polarization High-Efficiency Array Feed for Ku/Reverse-Band Satellite Communications

A dual-band dual-polarized planar passive phased array feed was designed and simulated, with four highly isolated ports and polarizations. The feed design provides an important feasibility demonstration for the deployment of a satellite transponder that transmits a downlink signal at 17.3-17.8 GHz, referred to as reverse band (RB), in the same orbital slot as an existing Ku-band satellite. The design utilizes a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) to separate the complex feed distribution networks required for the four-port antenna. Simulation results indicate that the feed receives signals in dual linear polarization at Ku-band and dual circular polarization at RB with isolation between all ports better than 20 dB. With the feed illuminating a reflector antenna, the aperture illumination and radiation efficiencies are approximately 70% and 80%, respectively, for all ports, representing one of the most complex yet efficient reported planar array feed designs in the literature.
Point Defect Thermodynamics of Compound Semiconductors and their Alloys

The physical properties of crystalline solids depend on the presence of point defects. The concentrations of these defects in turn depend on the conditions of preparation and the presence of dopants. Quantitative relations between these conditions (partial pressures of components, concentrations of dopants, temperature) and the defect concentrations is arrived at on the basis of defect chemistry. Examples of pure and doped binary compounds, alloys of binary compounds, and ternary compounds, are given. Whereas binary compounds have one composition variable, the alloy systems and the ternary compounds have two. The role of phase diagrams in preparing systems of required composition and properties is stressed.
TEXTURE DEGRADATION KINETICS OF GELS MADE FROM PACIFIC WHITING SURIMI

Degradation kinetics of whiting surimi gel texture were examined over a temperature/time range (40-85C, 0.5-35 min). Changes in textural properties of whiting surimi gel were mainly affected by proteolytic activity of endogenous proteinase. A decrease of failure shear stress and shear strain followed first order kinetics. The kinetic parameters developed using either isothermal or nonisothermalprinciples were similar. Degradation rate of gel texture increased with temperature, reaching a maximum at 55C. It then decreased to a minimum at 70C. E a values for the activation and inactivation temperature range were 138.6-162.6 and 13.5-35.0 kJ/mol, respectively.
Bacterial Contamination of Eyedrop Dispensers

We undertook an in vitro investigation of the role of the design of the eyedrop dispenser in bacterial contamination. The nozzle tips of pipette and squeeze bottles containing Fluress (pH 5.0) were inoculated with 10 μl of an ocular isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.5 × 10 5 bacteria/ml). Cultures of single drops of ophthalmic solution (25-μl drops from each pipette bottle and 40-μl drops from each squeeze bottle) were done one minute, 15 minutes, one hour, two hours, and 24 hours after inoculation. Swabs from the inside of the caps of the eye-drop bottles were also cultured at similar intervals. No bacteria were recovered from either dispenser type after one hour. Swabbings from the caps of the pipette bottles showed no growth within minutes after inoculation, but swabbings from the caps of the squeeze bottles consistently yielded bacteria for 24 hours. We suggest that the cap of the squeeze bottle serves as a potential reservoir for bacterial contamination whereas direct contact of microorganisms with the preservative in an ophthalmic solution by the use of a pipette-type dispenser decreases the risk of microbial contamination and growth.
Using Tidal Salt Marsh Mesocosms to Aid Wetland Restoration

Tidal wetland mesocosms at Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve failed to elucidate effects of hydrologic treatments (excluded, impounded, and fully tidal systems) for most parameters measuring Salicornia virginica (pickleweed). Although soil salinity increased where tidal flushing was excluded for 10 months (salinities rose ∼20 to 50%), pickleweed cover and algal chlorophyll did not differ among treatments. Effects were seen only in pickleweed growth rates (∼30% decrease where tides were excluded) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) measurements. We failed to show any differences between impounded and fully tidal conditions, because the mesocosms had coarse sediments, and impounded water drained easily via subsurface flow. However, the problems that we encountered with the mesocosms led to the following advice for future wetland restoration projects: (1) Mesocosms are useful for testing restoration techniques before an actual restoration project takes place. (2) Mesocosms should be used to test factors that may lead to more successful restoration in the future, including planting techniques, substrate conditions, and hydrology. (3) Mesocosms should be used to develop new assessment methods for monitoring wetland ecosystems. Because of the ability to control some environmental parameters while maintaining seminatural conditions, mesocosms offer great potential for the future evaluation of experimental restoration techniques.
An assessment of the utility of the ERS standards

If the ERS Standards for Program Evaluation are to improve evaluation practices, proposal review, prerelease critiques, summative assessments, and secondary analysis may be necessary.
Identity and properties of bacteria inhabiting seeds of selected broadleaf weed species

Seeds of five weed species were examined for the presence of seedborne bacteria. A total of 459 isolates were obtained from 1,740 seeds. The bacteria were identified and examined for distribution among seed viability classes, antifungal activity, and potential phytopathogenicity. Weed seeds varied for the prevalence of bacteria and in the types of bacteria associated with each plant species. Antifungal activity exhibited by 80% of the bacteria may limit seed deterioration by potential fungal seed pathogens. Some of the seedborne bacteria (15%) were potentially phytopathogenic. It is suggested that the complex nature of the weed seed-bacteria associations may be an obstacle to the development of biotic agents for manipulating weed seed activity in soil.
Acoustic detection and localization from a tethered aerostat during the NATO TG-53 test

Acoustic sensors mounted to a tethered aerostat detect and localize transient signals from mortars, artillery, C-4, propane cannon, and small arms fire. Significant enhancements to soldier lethality and survivability can be gained when using the aerostat array to detect, localize, and cue an aerial imager to a weapon's launch site, or use the aerostat's instantaneous position and orientation to calculate a vector solution to the ground coordinates of the launch site for threat neutralization. The prototype aerostat-mounted array was tested at Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG) as part of the NATO TG-53 signature collection exercise. Acoustic wave form data was collected simultaneously with aerostat and ground-based sensor arrays for comparing wind noise, signal to noise related parameters, and atmospheric effects on propagation to an elevated array. A test description and summary of localization accuracy will be presented for various altitudes, ranges to target, and under differing meteorological conditions.
Isolation and characterization of a polyamine-peptide conjugate from human amniotic fluid.

Abstract Significant amounts of the diamine putrescine and the polyamines spermidine and spermine could be detected in human third-trimester amniotic fluid only after acid hydrolysis. This observation was interpreted to mean that these amines existed only in conjugated form in this biological fluid. Upon fractionation by ultrafiltration 90–100% of the putrescine was associated with the 1000–10 000 dalton fraction. Spermine was identified in this fraction and in a low-molecular weight fraction presumably representing acetylated derivatives. Spermidine was entirely associated with the 10 000–30 000 dalton fraction. The putrescine conjugate was purified to homogeneity by column chromatography on Biogels P10 and P6 followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25. Molecular weight by gel exclusion using peptide standards was estimated to be approx. 4600. The UV absorption spectrum of the putrescine conjugate conformed to that expected for a polypeptide. This putrescine conjugate contained 39 identified amino acids with a combined molecular weight of 4713. Putrescine was detectable by high pressure liquid chromatography only after acid hydrolysis of the conjugate. No other polyamines were detected in these hydrolyzates, nor were any polyamines demonstable in hydrolyzates of control peptides nor in pooled column washes. The identity of the putrescine determined by high pressure liquid chromatography was confirmed by a two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography method. These results establish the in vivo production of a putrescine—polypeptide conjugate in man. Such molecular species may constitute yet another metabolic pathway for polyamines or may reflect another mode of post-translational modification of polypeptide structure and function. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of polyamine conjugate in human amniotic fluid may prove to be useful in the detection of abnormalities in fetal development.
Adjusting for publication bias in the presence of heterogeneity

It is known that the existence of publication bias can influence the conclusions of a meta-analysis. Some methods have been developed to deal with publication bias, but issues remain. One particular method called 'trim and fill' is designed to adjust for publication bias. The method, which is intuitively appealing and comprehensible by non-statisticians, is based on a simple and popular graphical tool called the funnel plot. We present a simulation study designed to evaluate the behaviour of this method. Our results indicate that when the studies are heterogeneous (that is, when they estimate different effects), trim and fill may inappropriately adjust for publication bias where none exists. We found that trim and fill may spuriously adjust for non-existent bias if (i) the variability among studies causes some precisely estimated studies to have effects far from the global mean or (ii) an inverse relationship between treatment efficacy and sample size is introduced by the studies' a priori power calculations. The results suggest that the funnel plot itself is inappropriate for heterogeneous meta-analyses. Selection modelling is an alternative method warranting further study. It performed better than trim and fill in our simulations, although its frequency of convergence varied, depending on the simulation parameters.
Ethanol challenge alters amino acid neurotransmitter release from frontal cortex of the aged rat

In two groups of male rats having an average age of either 90 days or two years, guide cannulae for bilateral push-pull perfusion were implanted stereotaxically to rest upon the superficial frontal cerebral cortex. On post-operative recovery, either 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg 20% ethanol (V/V) was given by intragastric gavage to each unrestrained rat. Sequential samples of venous blood were obtained from the tail and analyzed for alcohol levels by gas chromatography. A set of push-pull perfusions of the cortical sites was carried out with an artificial CSF before gavage and at 25, 50 and 150 min after the administration of ethanol. An individual perfusion was continued for 5.0 min at a rate of 25 microliters/min. Using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) each sample of perfusate was then assayed for its content of glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp), glutamine (Gln), glycine (Gly), taurine (Tau) and GABA with homoserine used as the internal standard. The results showed that the 3.0 g/kg dose of ethanol resulted in a higher level of blood ethanol in the older animals, which persisted over the 150 min time interval. Further, the 1.5 g/kg dose of ethanol administered to the older rats reduced the cortical activity of Glu and Gln relative to the younger animals. In addition, the 3.0 g/kg dose augmented the cortical efflux of Tau in the aged rats. Neither dose of ethanol affected the efflux of Asp or Gly from the perfused frontal cortex of either the young or old group, nor was the release of GABA detectable under either the control condition or following treatment with ethanol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prevention of corticosteroid-induced bone loss with nitric oxide donor nitroglycerin in male rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. We examined the bone sparing effect of NO on prevention of corticosteroid-induced bone loss in older male rats. Recently, we demonstrated that NO donor nitroglycerin (NG) can alleviate ovariectomy-induced bone loss, and the protective effects of estrogens on bone are mediated through NO [Bone 18(4):301-304; 1996]. Therefore, we chose to study a different model (i.e., steroid-induced osteoporosis in males) to evaluate whether NG can inhibit the bone loss associated with corticosteroid therapy. Twenty-five 32-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 5/group). They received either vehicle, methylprednisolone (7 mg/kg per week), NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (25 mg/kg per day), NO donor nitroglycerin (NG, 0.2 mg twice daily), a combination of prednisolone+NG, or prednisolone plus L-NAME, respectively. Prior to treatment and at the end of the 6 week treatment period, bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning. Administration of prednisolone significantly decreased BMD (-9.50%, p < 0.05). The group receiving NG with prednisolone (-2.34%) and the group treated with NG alone (-0.36%) were not statistically different from the control group (-0.11%). Similar to the changes in BMD, femur weights were also significantly lower in prednisolone-treated rats (1.09 +/- 0.01 g vs. 1.17 +/- 0.03 in controls; p < 0.05). However, the rats receiving prednisolone together with NG were able to maintain their femur weights (1.13 +/- 0.02). There was a reduction of 9.5% of BMD (p < 0.05) and 7.8% of femoral weight (p < 0.05) in rats treated with L-NAME. A 50%-70% reduction of the percentage trabecular bone volume in the proximal tibia and distal femur and a 50% reduction of the midshaft cortical area was seen after corticosteroid therapy, and these too were prevented by administration of NG. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that supplementation with a NO donor compound can counteract prednisolone-induced bone loss.
The SrMnO3−XMn3O4 system

Abstract Phase relations were determined in the SrMnO 3− x Mn 3 O 4 system at elevated temperatures in air using quenching, gravimetric, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The system contains one intermediate compound, SrMn 3 O 6− x (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.10 between 900–1200°C), which decomposes to SrMnO 3− x plus Mn 3 O 4 near 1215°C. The existence of an oxygen deficient SrMnO 3− x having the hexagonal 4-layer structure was confirmed. Crystals of perovskite-like SrMnO 3− x ( x > 0.25) were grown from its primary field located in the system.
First observations of turbulence generated by grass fires

[1] Wildland fires radically modify the atmospheric boundary layer by inducing strong fire-atmosphere interactions. These interactions lead to intense turbulence production in and around the fire front. Two field experiments were conducted in tall-grass fuels to quantify turbulence generation during the passage of wind-driven fire fronts. Observations showed that the measured turbulence generated by the fires was five times greater than the turbulence in the ambient environment. The production of the turbulence at the surface near the fire front was caused by increased variance of the ambient wind, while the buoyancy was strongest at higher levels within the fire plume. Immediately after the fire front passage, turbulence kinetic energy decreased to ambient levels and was associated with strong downdrafts that occurred behind the fire front.
The Association between Trust in Health Care Providers and Medication Adherence among Black Women with Hypertension

Background: Black women have the highest prevalence of hypertension in the world. Reasons for this disparity are poorly understood. The historical legacy of medical maltreatment of Blacks in the U.S. provides some insight into distrust in the medical profession, refusal of treatment, and poor adherence to treatment regimens. Methods: Black women (N=80) who were prescribed antihypertensive medications were recruited from urban communities in North Carolina. Study participants completed the Trust in Physician and Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy questionnaires. An exact discrete-event model was used to examine the relationship between trust and medication adherence. Results: Mean age of study participants was 48 ± 9.2 years. The majority of participants (67%) were actively employed and 30% had incomes at or below the federal poverty level. Increasing levels of trust in the health care provider was independently associated with greater medication adherence (PTrend=0.015). Conclusions: Black women with hypertension who trusted their health care providers were more likely to be adherent with their prescribed antihypertensive medications than those who did not trust their health care providers. Findings suggest that trusting relationships between Black women and health care providers are important to decreasing disparate rates of hypertension.
Remote modification of sensor mote design for next-generation Wireless Sensor Networks

Many Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) applications are new and their requirements may not be fully anticipated during the sensor networks design and development stage. We are presenting a sensor network infrastructure that support motes' with remote hardware and software modification to match the target applications need. Using the proposed infrastructure in next-generation WSNs will produce flexible infrastructures that will provide over-the-air remote design modification even after the deployment of WSNs on the sensing field. In this paper, we are presenting the design concept and challenges of such infrastructure. Also, we present the use of the infrastructure in one possible environmental monitoring application such as forest fire. The development of such infrastructure will have an impact on advances the research on the real-time remote sensing, heterogeneous WSN, and WSNs applications.
Enhancement by phenobarbital of some effects of carbon tetrachloride on mouse liver.

Abstract Corn oil or a corn oil-CCI 4 mixture was administered orally twice a week for 7 or 8 weeks to male Swiss mice maintained without or with phenobarbital Na in the drinking water. There was a significant increase in liver weight in CCl 4 -treated mice maintained without phenobarbital Na in the drinking water and killed 48 hr after the last treatment. Histologically, livers from these CCl 4 -treated mice were composed of areas of necrosis within lobules of regenerating hepatocytes, but deposition of collagen was scant. Synthesis of DNA, protein and fatty acids in vitro was increased in liver tissue from CCl 4 -treated mice. Combined treatment with phenobarbital and CCl 4 produced additional significant increases in liver weight but collagen deposition was meager. In liver tissue from mice treated with both phenobarbital and CCl 4 , synthesis of DNA in vitro was significantly increased, protein synthesis was modestly increased and fatty acid synthesis was unchanged when compared with liver tissue from CCl 4 -treated mice not additionally given the barbiturate. Thus, phenobarbital did not accelerate or promote cirrhosis in livers of CCl 4 -treated mice but did enhance the effects of chronic CCl 4 treatment on liver weight, liver DNA synthesis and to a lesser extent on liver protein synthesis.
Unsuspected anal cancer discovered after minor anorectal surgery

The possibility of an early anal cancer should always be kept in mind when treating common chronic anorectal disease.
AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF GALAXIES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT ON LARGE SCALES

The Las Campanas Deep Redshift Survey (LCDRS) is a survey of the galaxy distribution, out to a redshift of 0.2, which will eventually cover ~1000 square degrees over the Northern and Southern Galactic Caps in alternating 1.5 degrees-thick slices. The goals of the LCDRS are to sample a large enough volume of the nearby Universe in order to constrain the scale of the largest features in the galaxy distribution, and to use this sample for the accurate measurement of galaxy clustering on a wide variety of scales. Upon completion, 25,000 - 30,000 galaxy redshifts will have been compiled. This dissertation describes results obtained by the analysis of the first ~5,400 reduced redshifts. Three main topics are discussed. First, the distribution of galaxies in the LCDRS is examined. Although visual inspection of the slices indicates an upper limit of ~100h-1 Mpc to the scale of high-contrast features, quantitative study of the galaxy distribution suggests the presence of low-contrast density gradients on scales comparable to the LCDRS volume itself. The galaxy-galaxy spatial auto-correlation function is also determined; it shows more power on large scales than is compatible for a standard Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model, although it is consistent with results expected from an open CDM model. Second, a group catalog is extracted from the nearly complete LCDRS -6 degree Slice, and its properties are compared with those of other group and cluster catalogs. A group-group spatial auto-correlation function is determined, and its amplitude is compared with the correlation amplitudes for other galaxy, group, and cluster catalogs. Finally, galaxy segregation is studied as a function of color. Overall, evidence from both visual impressions and quantitative tests points toward color segregation only on scales on the order of or less than the width of a typical void wall (<~10-20 h-1 Mpc). Arguments are made for galaxy evolution as a major driver of color-segregation, with primordial effects playing at most a minor role in the observed color-environment effects.
Consequences of colonization and infection by Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis

Summary The high carriage rate of Staphylacoccus aureus and the dense colonization of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis has been confirmed in British patients; clinical infection is apparent at lower densities of staphylococci than recorded elsewhere. Staphylococcal folliculitis was seen in 16 of 45 patients admitted to hospital for treatment. Phage typing revealed that all phage groups may occur on lesions. Comparison between the phage types and antibiograms of the staphylococci in the carrier sites with those on the lesions of dermatitis and in the pustules suggests that, in general, the bacteria are the same although infection with other strains of staphylococci occurs. During therapy directed at the atopic dermatitis, the staphylococci are greatly reduced in number.
The genetic architecture of pheromone production between populations distant from the hybrid zone of the pine engraver, Ips pini

Across North America, populations of the pine engraver, Ips pini, differ in their expressed ratios of the two enantiomers of ipsdienol, the main component of its aggregation pheromone. We confirm previous studies, showing that the percentage of (+)-ipsdienol ranged from approximately 40 to 70% for New York (NY) males and less then 5% for California (CA) males. We performed line crosses including the F1, F2, and backcross generations between these populations. These line crosses showed that most F1 hybrids produced an intermediate enantiomeric blend of ipsdienol that was closer to the CA blend, with a frequency distribution peak near 15% (+)-ipsdienol. There was also strong segregation to either parental type in the F2 and backcross generations, but not in a pattern that could be clearly described by a single autosomal locus. There was also an X-linked effect that caused some individuals in the F1 to have phenotypes more characteristic of NY populations. Generation means analysis confirms this X-linked effect, and also suggests a complicated autosomal dominance by dominance epistatic interaction. Despite the appearance of segregation, these results suggest a more complicated system of pheromone blend control than the single major gene previously found between divergent lines for high and low (+)-ipsdienol blends from the hybrid zone in British Columbia.
Neuroblastoma: An assessment of therapy in reference to staging

Abstract A total of 134 patients with neuroblastoma have been treated in one clinic with a relatively consistent method of management. When these patients are staged according to the system of Evans et al., the results in reference to survival would seem to validate the staging system and warrant its use by others. If the stage of the tumor is accurately assessed, patients with Stage I and II tumors require no radiation therapy whereas those with Stage III tumors benefit from postoperative irradiation.
Listeriosis prevention for older adults: effective messages and delivery methods

Individuals aged 60 years and older are at an increased risk for listeriosis and other foodborne illnesses. They can reduce their risk by following recommended food safety practices. A total of 8 focus groups were conducted to characterize older adults' food safety knowledge and practices, their impressions of educational materials on listeriosis prevention, barriers to adopting the recommended practices, and preferred delivery methods. Participants were not aware of listeriosis and recommended practices for listeriosis prevention. Adoption of the recommended practices was not widespread following exposure to the educational materials. This study identified the need to reach older adults with information on listeriosis prevention.
Redundancy analysis and removal for VLSI ASIC's

Abstract Due to high testcoverage requirements for VLSI ASIC designs the problem of untestable stuck-faults in the combinational logic of ASIC designs has recently gained growing attention. Some of those untestable faults are due to testgenerator deficiency, other untestable faults are due to redundant logic. We focus on this second class of untestable faults. This paper presents a technique for handling untestable faults, which are due to redundancies, in the process of testgeneration for chip designs. The aim is to remove as many as possible redundancies in the chip design before the actual testgeneration process starts. This enhances the testability of the design and shortens the CPU-time needed for the actual testgeneration. It may reduce the chip area (positive effect) and does not increase the static timing delay of the chip based on a longest path calculation (no negative effect). The proposed method is to restrict to subnetworks for redundancy removal. In this paper we explain how this method for analyzing and removing redundancies can be applied to industry chip designs and how it fits into the existing Electronic Design Automation (EDA) system in the Lab Boblingen. Finally experimental results for Boblingen IBM level sensitive scan designs (LSSD) and for the ISCAS '85 benchmark circuits [3] are reported.
Space Station attitude control - An overview of requirements and solutions

Attitude control and various structural aspects of NASA's permanent manned Space Station are discussed in the framework of design flexibility, obsolescence as a deterent to a long operational life, modularity, and autonomy. Among the variable factors of specific importance, consideration is given to internal factors, such as inertial variations (up to 400 percent), center of mass movements (up to 28 m), and shifts in modal characteristics, as well as to external torque shifts associated with aerodynamic moments and gravity gradients. The compatibility among multiple-user requirements is also considered. As the Station is a low-orbit spacecraft, its attitude will be greatly affected by the inhomogeneity of the atmosphere, placing a priority on the attitude control techniques. A combination of passive (spring-mass-damper suspension systems) and active (sensor/disturbance-canceling device) systems are expected to be used.
Synthesis of phenanthridin-3-one derivatives: Non-steroidal inhibitors of steroid 5-α-reductase

Abstract A short and efficient six-step synthesis of novel phenanthridin-3-one derivatives is described. The synthesis of these derivatives is highlighted by the cyclization of a suitably placed ketone side chain with a thioiminium ion. The derivatives prepared were found to be inhibitors of human steroid 5-α-reductase.
Supersymmetry and 't Hooft's twisted functional integral

't Hooft's twisted functional integral is exactly calculable in the supersymmetric version of the SU(N) gauge theories, provided that one uses periodic (up to gauge transformations) boundary conditions for fermions. The solution has in a sense light magnetic fluxes and heavy electric ones, and thus, it is consistent with confinement (but not a proof of it). This is an evidence of the fact that confinement is not ruled out by the absence of vacuum condensates in these supersymmetric gauge theories.
Closing the Gap: Genetic and Genomic Continuum from Syndromic to Nonsyndromic Craniosynostoses

Craniosynostosis, a condition that includes the premature fusion of one or multiple cranial sutures, is a relatively common birth defect in humans and the second most common craniofacial anomaly after orofacial clefts. There is a significant clinical variation among different sutural synostoses as well as significant variation within any given single-suture synostosis. Craniosynostosis can be isolated (i.e., nonsyndromic) or occurs as part of a genetic syndrome (e.g., Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Apert, Muenke, and Saethre-Chotzen syndromes). Approximately 85 % of all cases of craniosynostosis are nonsyndromic. Several recent genomic discoveries are elucidating the genetic basis for nonsyndromic cases and implicate the newly identified genes in signaling pathways previously found in syndromic craniosynostosis. Published epidemiologic and phenotypic studies clearly demonstrate that nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is a complex and heterogeneous condition supporting a strong genetic component accompanied by environmental factors that contribute to the pathogenetic network of this birth defect. Large population, rather than single-clinic or hospital-based studies is required with phenotypically homogeneous subsets of patients to further understand the complex genetic, maternal, environmental, and stochastic factors contributing to nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. Learning about these variables is a key in formulating the basis of multidisciplinary and lifelong care for patients with these conditions.
Throughput of the composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS) mid-infrared (MIR) channel for the Cassini mission to Saturn

The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) of the Cassini mission to Saturn has two interferometers covering the far infrared and mid infrared wavelength region. The instrument was aligned at ambient temperature, but operates at 170 Kelvin and has challenging interferometric alignment tolerances. Cryogenic alignment tests of the instrument indicate that it should suffer minimal degradation due to the cooldown from ambient to operational temperature. System level tests performed by the calibration team indicated a lower than expected signal level on the MIR channel, while providing ambiguous optical throughput data. Therefore it became imperative to develop a metric that could be used to determine the instrument performance at both the instrument and system levels, at ambient and cryogenic temperature. Modulation efficiency and throughput measurements were performed and new analytical models developed to evaluate the status of the instrument. Empirical and analytical data were eventually reconciled and deviations from the design values explained.
Immunolocalization of an Amino-Terminal Fragment of Apolipoprotein E in the Pick's Disease Brain

Although the risk factor for apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been well described, the role that apoE plays in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Pick's disease, is not well established. To examine a possible role of apoE in Pick's disease, an immunohistochemical analysis was performed utilizing a novel site-directed antibody that is specific for an amino-terminal fragment of apoE. Application of this antibody, termed the amino-terminal apoE cleavage fragment (nApoECF) antibody, consistently labeled Pick bodies within area CA1 of the hippocampus in 4 of the 5 cases examined. Co-localization of the nApoECF antibody with PHF-1, a general marker for Pick bodies, as well as with an antibody to caspase-cleaved tau (TauC3) was evident within the hippocampus. While staining of the nApoECF antibody was robust in area CA1, little co-localization with PHF-1 in Pick bodies within the dentate gyrus was observed. A quantitative analysis indicated that approximately 86% of the Pick bodies identified in area CA1 labeled with the nApoECF antibody. The presence of truncated apoE within Pick bodies suggests a broader role of apoE beyond AD and raises the question as to whether this protein contributes to pathogenesis associated with Pick's disease.
Age dependent dispersal is not a simple process: Density dependence, stability, and chaos

Abstract I present both discrete and continuous models for a single species with overlapping generations, density dependence, and movement rates that vary with age. In the discrete time and space model, I show that if the strongly density dependent age class(es) are stationary, the spatially structured model may exhibit instabilities or even chaos which are not present in the corresponding model without spatial structure. I argue that the conditions which lead to these diffusive instabilities are likely to be met in natural populations. Thus it is important to consider the interaction between age structure and spatial structure in both experimental and theoretical work. In particular, the conditions leading to chaos are more common than would be predicted in models which ignore structure.
The American mental retardation service system.

ABSTRACT. Significant changes have occurred in the United States in the last 30 years relative to the delivery of services to mentally retarded people. This paper explores the development of community service options in the United States since the late 1950s. The development of these new services is viewed relative to concerns with both deinstitutionalization and normalization. From the vantage point of the mid-1980s, the paper also explores the importance of information on the continuum of care cycle of mentally retarded individuals throughout the life cycle as an important guide to the understanding of how the American mental retardation service system functions.