cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF OMALIZUMAB ON SYMPTOMS OF SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS: A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL

Casale TB, Condemi J, LaForce C, et al. JAMA. 2001;286:2956–2967 Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a common immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated disorder that produces troublesome symptoms. A recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody (omalizumab) forms complexes with free IgE, blocking its interaction with mast cells and basophils and lowering free IgE levels in the circulation. This study specifically seeks to assess the efficacy and safety of omalizumab for prophylaxis of symptoms in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Patients 12 to 75 years old with no or mild symptoms during the preceding month but with at least a 2-year history of moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis attributable to ragweed were considered eligible for the study. The history of moderate to severe ragweed-induced allergic rhinitis was defined as having a score of 2 or more on a 0- …
Remarks on the Equilibrium Turbulent Boundary Layer

Two similarity laws are known for the mean-velocity profile in a turbulent boundary layer with constant pressure. These are Prandtl's law of the wall and Karman's momentum-defect law. The first law has recently been generalized empirically to flows with arbitrary pressure gradient by Ludwieg and Tillmann, and the second law to a certain class of equilibrium flows by F. Clauser. In the present paper it is shown that the pressure distribution corresponding to a given equilibrium flow cam be computed by assuming that a certain parameter D = (τ_w/q)dq/dτ_w is constant, where q and τ_w are the dynamic pressure in the free stream and the shearing stress at the wall, respectively. The hypothesis D = constant is suggested by a study of the integrated continuity equation and is supported by a rigorous analogy between the class of equilibrium flows defined by Clauser and the class of laminar flows studied by Falkner and Skan. The hypothesis D = constant is also verified using experimental data for several equilibrium turbulent flows and is interpreted physically from a kinematic point of view. Two hypothetical limiting cases of equilibrium flow are described. At one extreme is the boundary Layer in a sink flow, with a completely logarithmic mean-velocity profile outside the sublayer. At the other extreme is a continuously separating boundary layer in a dimensionless pressure gradient (x/q)dq/dx approximately twice that for the corresponding laminar flow. Typical shearing-stress profiles are computed for several equilibrium turbulent flows, including the two limiting cases.
New Webs and New Constituencies

As the diversity in the marketplace is exploding, many managers ask themselves how they shall be able to maintain the present hectic pace, churning out a never-ending series of new technology generations. The product cycles are getting shorter and shorter. Is there no end?
Classifying local disease recurrences after breast conservation therapy based on location and histology: new primary tumors have more favorable outcomes than true local disease recurrences.

BACKGROUND To distinguish true local recurrences (TR) from new primary tumors (NP) and to assess whether this distinction has prognostic value in patients who develop ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences (IBTR) after breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy. METHODS Between 1970 and 1994, 1339 patients underwent breast-conserving surgery at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma. Of these patients, 139 (10.4%) had an IBTR as the first site of failure. For the 126 patients with clinical data available for retrospective review, we classified the IBTR as a TR if it was located within 3 cm of the primary tumor bed and was of the same histologic subtype. All other IBTRs were designated NP. RESULTS Of the 126 patients, 48 (38%) patients were classified as NP and 78 (62%) as TR. Mean time to disease recurrence was 7.3 years for NP versus 5.6 years for TR (P = 0.0669). The patients with NP had improved 10-year rates of overall survival (NP 77% vs. TR 46%, P = 0.0002), cause-specific survival (NP 83% vs. TR 49%, P = 0.0001), and distant disease-free survival (NP 77% vs. TR 26%, P < 0.0001). Patients with NP more often developed contralateral breast carcinoma (10-year rate: NP 29% vs. TR 8%, P = 0.0043), but were less likely to develop a second local recurrence after salvage treatment of the first IBTR (NP 2% vs. TR 18%, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Patients with NP had significantly better survival rates than those with TR, but were more likely to develop contralateral breast carcinoma. Distinguishing new breast carcinomas from local disease recurrences may have importance in therapeutic decisions and chemoprevention strategies. This is because patients with new carcinomas had significantly lower rates of metastasis than those with local disease recurrence, but were more likely to develop contralateral breast carcinomas. Cancer 2002;95:2059–67. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10952
Modelling and control of single-input and multiple-output modular converter systems

This paper introduces a modular single-input and multiple-output (SIMO) converter system achieved by an input-series and output-independent (ISOI) architecture, where the input of each modular converter is connected in series while the output is independent. The system can generate multiple outputs at different power and voltage levels. The system modelling and analysis are presented. The cooperative control scheme is proposed to achieve the independent power and voltage control among different outputs. Under this control strategy, the system features a modular distributed control architecture. Each modular converter is controlled by its own on-board controller without any global information. There is no cross-regulation or communication in the system. At last, the proposed control scheme is verified through simulation and experiment on a modular SIMO system consisted of three buck converter modules.
Decoupling of engine subsystems for modular control design

In this paper, the problem of optimal decoupling of engine idle speed and emission subsystems is studied for facilitation of modularization of control tasks, enhancement of robustness, reduction of control complexity and calibration time, and improvement of engine system performance. A new design method is introduced which employs feedforward compensation to achieve optimal decoupling of engine subsystems over large frequency ranges. The design method is applied to the decoupling of engine idle speed and emission subsystems which demonstrate significant reduction of their interconnections.
4/spl times/10 GHz mode-locked multiple-wavelength fiber laser

We demonstrate a four-wavelength 10-GHz mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser, with wavelength spacings of 3.5-5 nm. Nearly transform-limited Gaussian pulses of 11- to 14-ps duration are measured and all wavelengths are synchronous.
The preparation and performance of “Cage” diphosphites as secondary antioxidants in the stabilization of polyolefins

Cage diphosphites, a new family of phosphorus antioxidants, are discussed in regard to their preparation, properties, and effectiveness in polyolefins, particularly, with phenolic stabilizers, in respect to their ability to control melt flow and color during processing. These trivalent phosphorus compounds have two different types of phosphite functionalities in their structure. One phosphorus is part of an eight membered (1,3,2-dioxaphosphocine) ring system while the other is part of a tricyclic cage of carbon and oxygen atoms. This structures can contribute to improved hydrolytic stability over rather similar aryloxy-alkoxy phosphites and show competitive stabilization effectiveness in the processing of polyolefins. The possible modes of formation and of hydrolysis are discussed.
Business as Usual? Economic Responses to Political Tensions

Do political tensions harm economic relations? Theories claim that trade prevents war and political relations motivate trade, but less is known about whether smaller shifts in political relations impact economic exchange. Looking at two major economies, we show that negative events have not hurt U.S. or Japanese trade or investment flows. We then examine specific incidents of tensions in U.S.-French and Sino-Japanese relations over the past decade—two case pairs that allow us to compare varying levels of political tension given high existing economic interdependence and different alliance relations. Aggregate economic flows and high salience sectors like wine and autos are unaffected by the deterioration of political relations. In an era of globalization, actors lack incentives to link political and economic relations. We argue that sunk costs in existing trade and investment make governments, firms, and consumers unlikely to change their behavior in response to political disputes. D o political tensions have economic consequences? The relationship between economic interdependence and conflict has been a central debate in international relations. Leading scholars contend that “states with good relations should have more trade than states with poor relations” and import decisions of firms will respond to “the climate of friendliness orhostilitythatexistsbetweentheimporterandexporter” (Morrow, Siverson, and Tabares 1998, 650; Pollins 1989b, 739). Analysis of trade and conflict in a simultaneous equations model concludes that “political relations are driving commerce, not the other way around” (Keshk, Pollins, and Reuveny 2004, 1175). We reexamine these arguments in the current globalization era to show that sunk costs reduce incentives for state and private actors to link political and economic relations. 1
Second-harmonic generation of green light in periodically poled planar lithium niobate waveguide

A periodically poled, planar waveguide in lithium niobate was used to generate 532 nm radiation at room temperature by continuous-wave frequency-doubling with a conversion efficiency of 5% per Wcm2. Quasi-phase-matching allowed generation of the second harmonic using the d33 nonlinear coefficient.
Specific inhibition of 50S ribosomal subunit formation in Staphylococcus aureus cells by 16-membered macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B antibiotics

The translational functions of the bacterial ribosome are the target for a large number of antimicrobial agents. The 14- and 16-membered macrolides, the lincosamides, and the streptogramin B type antibiotics are thought to share certain inhibitory properties, based on both biochemical and genetic studies. We have shown previously that the 14-membered macrolides, like erythromycin, have an equivalent inhibitory effect on translation and the formation of the 50S ribosomal subunit in growing bacterial cells. To extend this work, we have now tested the 16-membered macrolides spiramycin and tylosin, the lincosamides lincomycin and clindamycin, and 3 streptogramin B compounds pristinamycin I(A), virginiamycin S, and CP37277. Each of these was a specific inhibitor of 50S subunit formation, in addition to having an inhibitory effect on translation. By contrast, two streptogramin A compounds, virginiamycin M1 and CP36926, as well as chloramphenicol, were effective inhibitors of translation without showing a specific effect on the assembly of the large ribosomal subunit. A combination of an A and B type streptogramin (virginiamycin M1 and pristinamycin I(A)) demonstrated a synergistic inhibition of protein synthesis without exhibiting a specific inhibition of 50S subunit formation. These results extend our observations on 50S assembly inhibition to the entire class of MLS(B) antibiotics and reinforce other suggestions concerning their common ribosome-binding site and inhibitory functions.
The specific heats of Cr-V alloys from 125° to 625

Abstract The constant pressure specific heats ( C p ) of binary Cr-V alloys containing 5–77 at.% V were measured in an adiabatic calorimeter from about 125–625°K. It was found that C p could be represented as the sum of a lattice contribution, c d , described by the Debye function, a dilatation correction to constant volume conditions, ( C p − C v ), and an electronic contribution c E , equal to γ' T , where γ' is the effective electronic specific heat coefficient, γ' is constant. The γ' values were greater than the low temperature (liquid He range) values (γ 0 ) reported by previous investigators, particularly below 30 at. %V. This is attributed to the temperature dependence of the Fermi function and the sharp minimum in the electronic density of states curve near Cr.
Depressant effects of chloroquine on the isolated guinea-pig heart.

Some anti-malarials have deleterious effects upon the heart. The actions of two of these, chloroquine and quinacrine, were compared on isolated guinea-pig atria and Langendorff preparations to assess their effects on several calcium pools. Both compounds decreased developed tension in a concentration (chloroquine 10–100 μM; quinacrine 3–100 μM) and time-dependent manner, with quinacrine being twice as potent as chloroquine. Ventricular muscle was much more sensitive to chloroquine than was atrial muscle. Concentrations of chloroquine, comparable to that found in the serum of patients ingesting toxic doses, caused significant inhibition of developed tension. The effects of chloroquine were almost completely reversed on washout; quinacrine, however, was less readily reversible. Chloroquine also had a direct negative chronotropic effect, substantially reduced force-frequency relationships and developed tension in partially depolarized atrial preparations; while post-rest contraction and the positive inotropic effect of ouabain were unaffected. Increases in extracellular calcium antagonized the negative inotropic effect. Quinacrine had a marked effect on post-rest contraction and attenuated the positive inotropic action of ouabain. It is concluded that the action of chloroquine may involve a superficial calcium pool, while quinacrine may act upon several calcium pools.
Quantitative Trait Loci Analyses for Meristic Traits in Oncorhynchus mykiss

Meristic trait variation among species and populations has long been used as the basis for identification and classification of fishes. Within Oncorhynchus mykiss, there is considerable variation in meristic characters such as numbers of vertebrae, lateral line scales, fin rays, gill rakers, and pyloric caeca. In our laboratory the Oregon State University (OSU) rainbow trout and the Clearwater River (CW) steelhead trout clonal lines, produced by androgenesis, exhibit significant differences in values for meristic traits, making quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of these meristic characters possible. Our objective wastodetermine the number, location, and effects of QTL associated with meristic characters in order to test two hypotheses: (1) that QTL for different meristic traits co-localize to the same linkage group and (2) that meristic trait QTL co-localize to the same linkage group as a previously identified development rate QTL. Doubled haploid individuals, produced by androgenesis from sperm from an F1 hybrid between the OSU and CW lines, were used to evaluate the joint segregation of each meristic phenotype and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphic marker genotypes. Composite interval mapping revealed QTL for six of the seven traits analyzed. One QTL each for scales above the lateral line and for gill rakers co-localized to the same position. Only one QTL for scales above the lateral line co-localized to the same region as that for the development rate QTL, but a greater map resolution is necessary to determine if these loci are truly the same. We failed to detect pleiotropy for most meristic trait QTL. Our results suggest that different major loci are associated with variation in each meristic character and that the expression of these loci may be influenced by maternal and external environmental factors.
Changes in blood serotonin during exposure to cold.

SEROTONIN is a recently discovered biogenic amine which can be extracted from brain, blood, and other organs, and which is active on a wide variety of systems when injected into the animal1. Gathering of knowledge concerning serotonin's physiological importance has been slowed by an inability to observe fluctuations in its concentration in brain and other tissues, in a wide variety of circumstances simulating physiological mobilization2–4. A single exception to this is the observation of a release of serotonin into the bowel, controlled by, and in turn modifying, peristaltic activity5. Also, more recently, Toh has reported rat brain serotonin to drop following exposure to cold associated with drop in body-temperature of 36–30° C. (ref. 3).
THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF UBIQUINONE : SYNTHESIS AND ENZYMATIC MODIFICATION OF BIOSYNTHETIC PRECURSORS

Abstract The synthesis of key intermediates in the eukaryotic biosynthetic pathway of ubiquinone (Q) and the biotransformation of these materials with yeast ( S. cerevisiae ) mitochondria are described. The synthesis of Q aromatic precursors 2,3 , and 4 (n = 3 in all cases) relies on the palladium (O) catalyzed coupling of farnesyl tributylstannane with suitably functionalized aryl halides. Preliminary experiments show that incubation of synthetic substrate 3 with mitochondria from yeast containing the 3,4-dihydroxy-5-hexaprenylbenzoate methyltransferase gene ( COQ3 ) and S-[ methyl - 3 H]adenosyl-L-methionine yields radiolabeled 4 .
High-performance TaN/HfSiON/Si metal-oxide-semiconductor structures prepared by NH3 post-deposition anneal

Electrical and chemical characteristics of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) prepared by low-thermal-budget (∼600 °C) NH3 post-deposition annealing of HfSiON gate dielectric have been investigated. Compared to control Hf-silicate, HfSiON showed excellent thickness scalability, low leakage current density (J), and superior thermal stability. With proper annealing-time optimization, effective oxide thickness as low as 9.2 A with J<100 mA/cm2 at gate voltage Vg=−1.5 V has been achieved. C–V hysteresis of HfSiON MOSFET was found to be small (<20 mV). Unlike NH3 surface nitridation (NH3 pre-treatment prior to Hf-silicate deposition), no degradation in Gm (transconductance), Id–Vg (drain current–gate voltage), or Id–Vd (drain current–drain voltage) characteristics has been observed.
Threonine synthetase from higher plants: stimulation by S-adenosylmethionine and inhibition by cysteine.

Abstract S-Adenosylmethionine greatly stimulates the formation of threonine from O-phosphohomoserine by an enzyme from sugar beet leaves. The stimulation due to S-adenosylmethionine is inhibited by cysteine. Cysteine and O-phosphohomoserine are incorporated into cystathionine by another enzyme. The results suggest that the conversion of O-phosphohomoserine to either threonine or cystathionine is regulated by the relative amounts of cysteine and S-adenosylmethionine present.
Potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium contents of Chinook salmon tissues during various stages of the life cycle.

Abstract 1. 1. The potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium contents of plasma, red cells, brain, heart, muscle, liver, kidney and gills have been measured in Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) during four stages of the life cycle: (1) while juveniles in fresh water, (2) after 2 weeks in seawater, (3) as mature adults in the ocean, and (4) after 3–4 months of fasting at the spawning grounds. 2. 2. Although plasma cation concentrations changed with each alteration in ionic environment, a remarkable constancy of cellular cation composition is maintained except for the juveniles in seawater. 3. 3. The normal potassium/nitrogen ratio in the muscle of spawning salmon is inconsistent with the hypothesis that pathological hyperadrenocorticism occurs at this stage.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy for nonmetastatic lung cancer: An analysis of 75 patients treated over 5 years

Purpose: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may not be medically operable even in patients with surgically resectable disease. For patients who either refuse surgery or are medically inoperable, radiation therapy may be the best therapeutic choice. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) employs external fixation and hypofractionation to deliver a high dose per fraction of radiation to a small target volume. Methods and Materials: Retrospective review of 75 patients treated over 5 years at Staten Island University Hospital as definitive treatment for NSCLC or presumed NSCLC. Patients received a median of 5 fractions of 8 Gy per fraction over 27 days. Results: Overall 1-, 2-, and 5-year actuarial survivals were 63%, 45%, and 17%. Patients with a gross tumor volume (GTV) less than 65 cm{sup 3} enjoyed a longer median survival (25.7 vs. 9.9 months, p < 0.003), and at 5 years, the actuarial survival for the patients with GTVs less than 65 cm{sup 3} was 24% vs. 0% for those with GTVs larger than 65 cm{sup 3}. Conclusions: Stereotactic body radiation therapy as delivered was ineffective for curing the patients whose GTVs were larger than 65 cm{sup 3}. SBRT was promising for those with GTVs less than 65 cm{sup 3}.
HIV gp120-induced Interaction between CD4 and CCR5 Requires Cholesterol-rich Microenvironments Revealed by Live Cell Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Imaging

Binding of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope gp120 glycoprotein to CD4 and CCR5 receptors on the plasma membrane initiates the viral entry process. Although plasma membrane cholesterol plays an important role in HIV entry, its modulating effect on the viral entry process is unclear. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging, we have provided evidence here that CD4 and CCR5 localize in different microenvironments on the surface of resting cells. Binding of the third variable region V3-containing gp120 core to CD4 and CCR5 induced association between these receptors, which could be directly monitored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer on the plasma membrane of live cells. Depletion of cholesterol from the plasma membrane abolished the gp120 core-induced associations between CD4 and CCR5, and reloading cholesterol restored the associations in live cells. Our studies suggest that, during the first step of the HIV entry process, gp120 binding alters the microenvironments of unbound CD4 and CCR5, with plasma membrane cholesterol required for the formation of the HIV entry complex.
Exploring the multiple reaction pathways for the H + cyc-C3H6 reaction

Reaction pathways for the hydrogen atom plus cyclopropane (cyc-C3H6) reaction are studied using an extrapolated coupled-cluster/complete basis set (CBS) method based on the cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ, and cc-pVQZ basis sets. For this activated reaction, results reveal two reaction mechanisms, a direct H-abstraction and a H-addition/ring-opening. The hydrogen-abstraction reaction yields the H2 and cyclopropyl (cyc-C3H5) radical products. The vibrationally adiabatic ground-state (VAG) barrier height is predicted to be 13.03 kcal/mol. The isomerization barrier height from the product cyclopropyl to allyl radical is 21.98 kcal/mol via a cyc-C3H5 ring-opening process. In addition, the H-addition and ring-opening mechanism will lead to an n-C3H7 radical, which can result in a variety of products such as CH3 + C2H4, H + CH3CHCH2, and H2 + C3H5, etc. The VAG barrier height of the H-addition reaction is 16.49 kcal/mol, which is slightly higher than that of the direct H-abstraction reaction. Although the H + cyc-C3H6 → CH4 +...
Assessment of maximal tubular phosphate reabsorption: comparison of direct measurement with the nomogram of Bijvoet

It is well established that plasma phosphate (Pp) is largely determined by the renal phosphate threshold, which is best described by the maximal rate of tubular phosphate reabsorption divided by the glomerular filtration rate (Tmp/GFR). For its clinical assessment either direct phosphate loading with simultaneous measurement of GFR is performed, or the nomogram described by Walton and Bijvoet is used. In order to test the validity of the two methods, we compared in 20 infants and 31 children the fasting values of phosphate reabsorption [endogenous phosphate reabsorption/inulin clearance (Tp/Cin) and Tp] with those obtained after phosphate loading [maximal phosphate reabsorption (Tmp) and Tmp/Cin], and both with those derived from the nomogram. In addition the fasting Tp/Cin of 50 infants and 143 children could be compared with the nomogram. The results demonstrate that the directly measured Tp/Cin was the same as the directly measured Tmp/Cin and that the measured Tmp/Cin was correctly estimated by the nomogram. However, the comparison of fasting Tp/Cin with nomogram-derived values showed a systematic error, by which the latter values were higher than those measured. The discrepancy was due to the splay of the phosphate titration curve, which was found by Bijvoet when the ratio of phosphate clearance (Cp) corrected for GFR (Cp/GFR) fell below 0.2. The incorporation of this splay in the nomogram could not be confirmed by data measured in our children. It is concluded that fasting Tp is already “maximal” and that, therefore, no phosphate loading is necessary to estimate Tmp. Furthermore, there is no evidence of a major splay, which makes the nomogram incompatible below a Cp/GFR ratio of 0.2. For clinical assessment we recommend use of the formula Tmp/GFR=Pp−(Up×Pcrea/Ucrea) where Pp, Up, Pcrea and Ucrea refer to the plasma and urinary concentration of phosphate and creatinine respectively. This formula can be applied easily without the need to collect timed urinary specimens and is independent of the phosphate load.
Influence of Free Fatty Acids on Sweet Cream Butter Flavor

SUMMARY A threshold pattern for the even-numbered free fatty acids (FFA) in butter depended on chian-length. Butyric acid had the lowest total average flavor threshold (AFT) of the more volatile FFA, and the total AFT values increased as chain-length increased through hexanoic and octanoic acids. Threshold values decreased from octanoic acid through dodecanoic acid as the chain-length increased. The determination of AFT values for FFA in butter allowed an estimation of the importance of fatty acids in butter flavor. Mixture threshold results obtained support the concept that flavor components interact at subthreshold concentrations. Decrease in preference was shown for butter containing suprathershold levels of total FFA.
Diffuse scattering in nanbo3 at room temperature

A simple static model of one-dimensional disorder is put forward which is capable of reproducing the main features of X-ray diffuse scattering in antiferroelectric and ferroelectric NaNbO3 at room temperature. The static and dynamic approaches to diffuse scattering are briefly compared.
Chemical dilation and the dual porosity of humified bog peat

Abstract Hydrochloric acid and calcium and sodium chloride salt solutions were passed through humified bog peat cores of 1 m length to determine values for the material properties governing solute transport: hydraulic conductivity, effective porosity, and dispersivity. Chloride passed through the bulk peat cores about twice as fast as predicted from chloride breakthrough curves measured by selective-ion probes inserted into the peat 30 cm downgradient from the source. With continued experimentation, chloride dispersion increased. Chloride also passed through the peat up to 12 times slower than predicted by conservative advection. The retardation of the chloride fronts, the faster bulk transport, and the asymmetry of the breakthrough curves all indicate that humified bog peat is a dual porosity medium. Solutes both move preferentially through active macropore spaces and diffuse into dead pore space in the peat matrix. Neither the effective porosity nor the dispersivity of the peat could be precisely determined from the breakthrough curves because the hydraulic conductivity and discharge rates through the peat increased as much as five times when the chloride tracer solutions passed through the cores. In initial experiments, the shapes of the breakthrough curves were generally consistent with dispersivities of the order of centimeters, similar to that observed for granular soils at the same length scale (meters), whereas they `flattened' considerably during later experiments, suggesting dispersivities in the range of tens of centimeters. We hypothesize that the interaction of the chloride tracer solutions with organic-acid functional groups may cause macropores to dilate and micropores to close off.
The "Commentary" That Saved the Text. The Hazardous Journey of Ibn al-Haytham's Arabic Optics

The "Text" and the "Commentary" mentioned in the title of this essay are, respectively, the Kitāb al-Manāzir , or Optics , of al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham, composed in the first half of the fifth/eleventh century, and the Tanqīh al-Manāzir li-dhawī l-absār wa l-basā'ir, written by Abū l-Hasan (or al-Hasan) Kamāl al-Dīn al-Fārisī in the second half of the seventh/thirteenth century. It is known that, so far, only the first five of the seven maqālāt /Books that make up the Arabic text of IH's Optics have been published, and that the Tanqīh was published in two volumes. I shall be concerned with certain episodes in the lives of these two works, my aim being to shed light on their transmission within the Islamic Arabic and Persian worlds.
Oncogenic Transformation with Radiation and Chemicals

Quantitative in vitro assay systems for oncogenic transformation are a powerful research tool. They may be based on short-term cultures of hamster embryo cells, or established cell lines of mouse origin. While X-ray-induced transformation of human cells has been demonstrated, it has proved difficult to develop quantitative assay systems based on cells of human origin. The presently available quantitative assays have two quite distinct basic uses. First, they may be useful to accumulate data which is essentially pragmatic in nature. For example, they may be used to compare and contrast the oncogenic potential of chemotherapeutic agents or hypoxic cell sensitizers used or proposed in the clinic. They may be used to identify compounds that inhibit or suppress the transformation incidence resulting from known oncogenic agents, or they may be used to demonstrate the interaction between two different agents, such as radiation and asbestos. Second, they may prove to be invaluable in the study of the basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis, inasmuch as they represent models of tumourigenesis in which the various steps can be manipulated and modified more readily and in a controlled way.
The utility of phonetic versus orthographic transcription methods

This study compared composite orthographic and phonetic transcripts derived from the same language sample collected from a three-year-old hearing child of deaf parents. Specifically, discrepancies between the transcripts which involved the use of grammatical morphemes were selected for analysis. The largest group of these discrepancies was subjected to spectrographic analysis from which both spectral and temporal measurements were made. From these measures, an attempt was then made to determine the extent to which the phonetic transcrip tion lent additional information to the orthographic transcription. The results indicated that the information derived from the orthographic transcript for this subject was sufficient for most clinical purposes without additional phonetic documentation.
Extreme hyperglycemia with ketoacidosis and hyperkalemia in a patient on chronic hemodialysis

A patient on hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease secondary to diabetic nephropathy was admitted in a coma with Kussmaul breathing and hypertension (232/124 mmHg). She had extreme hyperglycemia (1884 mg/dL), acidosis (total CO(2) 4 mmol/L), hyperkalemia (7.2 mmol/L) with electrocardiographic abnormalities, and hypertonicity (330.7 mOsm/kg). Initial treatment with insulin drip resulted in a decrease in serum potassium to 5.3 mmol/L, but no significant change in mental status or other laboratory parameters. Hemodialysis of 1.75 hours resulted in rapid decline in serum glucose and tonicity and rapid improvement of the acidosis, but no change in mental status, which began to improve slowly after the hemodialysis was stopped, but with ongoing treatment with continuous insulin infusion. The rate of decline in tonicity during hemodialysis (14.5 mOsm/kg/h) was high, raising concerns about neurological complications. In this case, extreme hyperglycemia with ketoacidosis, hyperkalemia, and coma developing in a hemodialysis patient responded to insulin infusion. Monitoring of the clinical status and the pertinent laboratory values is required to assess the need for other therapeutic measures including volume and potassium replacement and emergency dialysis. The indications for and risks of emergency dialysis in this setting are not clearly defined.
Historical Cost, Inflation, and the US Corporate Tax Burden

We study whether the interaction between U.S. tax rules and inflation increases the real U.S. corporate tax burden because tax deductions based on historical cost are not inflation-indexed. We extend prior literature by using new models to examine this prediction. We find a significantly positive association between tax burden and inflation for capital- and inventory-intensive firms, even after they utilize inflation-mitigating tax law provisions. We also find that the LIFO inventory method mitigates inflation-induced tax distortions. These results provide evidence that capital- and inventory-intensive firms face a higher real tax burden in the presence of inflation.
Understanding Magnetic Field Gradient Effect From a Liquid Metal Droplet Movement

A two-dimensional liquid metal droplet moving into magnetic field gradient regions in a vacuum space in the absence of gravity has been simulated in VOF-CSF method. The general one-fluid VOF model for tracking free surfaces, and associated CSF model for applying surface tension to free surfaces are formulated
Identification of a novel nanomolar inhibitor of hIcmt via a carboxylate replacement approach

A substrate-based approach to human isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (hIcmt) inhibitors via systematic modulation of both the amide and the prenyl regions of N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine (AFC) led to potent inhibitors of this promising anti-cancer target. However, to date, molecules containing changes to the important carboxylate pharmacophore have not been extensively explored as Icmt inhibitors. We synthesized a set of 39 analogs in which the carboxylate region was chemically redefined using a farnesyl thiopropionic acid (FTPA) backbone. Herein, we demonstrated that modifications of carboxylate motif can lead to potent, sub-micromolar inhibitor of the enzyme. Our most potent inhibitor, analog 12, demonstrated an in vitro IC50 value of 860 nM and cellular effects consistent with hIcmt inhibition.
Seasonality in Japanese household demand for meat and seafood

The United States is the largest single exporter of seafood, beef, and beef products to Japan, and was the third largest source for pork in 1992. A better understanding of Japanese demand for meat and seafood is important in two regards. First, Japan is generally viewed as a tough market to enter, having many nuances and subtleties not well understood by Westerners accustomed to Western habits and preferences. Second, the United States faces strong competition from Canada and Australia in the beef market and from Taiwan and Denmark in the pork market. This study is designed to help US exporters to better understand Japanese preferences for meat and seafood through an understanding of seasonal effects on demand for these goods. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The role of C3 fragments in endocytosis and extracellular cytotoxic reactions by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Abstract Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) display the ability to bind particles coated with C3b or C3bi in the absence of immunoglobulin. Using highly purified, defined fragments of C3, we have extended the eivdence which indicates that these cells possess two distinct C3 receptors which are specific for their respective ligands but not for C3d. PMNL rosettes with erythrocytes (E) bearing only C3b (EC3b) were inhibited by soluble C3b but not native C3, C3bi, C3c, or C3d. EC3bi rosettes were inhibited by soluble C3bi but not native C3, C3b, C3c, or C3d. Engagement of either C3 receptor elicited comparable biological responses from PMNL. Particle bound C3b or C3bi stimulated the production of active oxygen species by PMNL as detected using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. CL responses occurred in the total absence of immunoglobulin and were inhibited by sodium azide or superoxide dismutase but not by catalase. Particle bound C4b also elicitied a CL response from PMNL. Engagement of multiple C3 receptors was necessary to stimulate the PMNL. Although soluble, monomeric C3b had no effect on PMNL, polymeric forms of C3b induced a CL response. Using a 51 Cr release assay, the antibody-dependent, PMNL-mediated killing of Raji cells was enhanced three- to fourfold when targets carried C3 fragments on their surface. Antibody was not required to effect phagocytosis of C3 fragment coated Escherichia coli . Fluoresceinlabeled E. coli 04 were preopsonized by incubation with a mixture of the six purified alternative pathway proteins at their respective physiological concentrations which were totally devoid of immunoglobulin. Incubation of the treated E. coli with purified PMNL led to ingestion of the bacteria as assessed by a combination of phase contrast and fluorescent light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Using radiolabeled E. coli 075, either C3b or C3bi was found to be sufficient to induce antibody-independent ingestion of the bacteria by PMNL. These studies thus comprise the first description of PMNL reactions which depend upon or are enhanced by C3bi. By utilizing well-defined and purified C3 fragments, these studies also clearly illustrate the participation of cell bound C3 fragments in promoting both antibody-dependent as well as antibody-independent cytotoxic reactions mediated by PMNL.
Hearing Silent Shapes: Identifying the Shape of a Sound-Obstructing Surface

Two experiments test whether the shape of objects that obstruct sound can be perceived by human listeners. Three foam-core shapes of equal area—disk, square, and triangle—were positioned in front a set of loudspeakers, which emanated broadband noise. On each trial, blindfolded listeners were asked to identify which shape obstructed the noise. Both experiments revealed that under most conditions, listeners could identify the shapes at better-than-chance levels. Experiment 2 also showed that the addition of a second intensity level of broadband noise randomized across trials actually improved performance. This finding suggests that listeners were likely basing their judgments on an acoustic dimension that was invariant—and was perhaps made more salient—over multiple intensities. These results add to the growing literature showing that human listeners are sensitive to sound-structuring surfaces that themselves do not produce sound.
Asteroid Collisional Evolution: Evidence for a Much Larger Early Population

The present population of asteroids is a remnant of a vastly larger one that contained perhaps a planetary mass, dominantly distributed in planetesimals approximately 500 kilometers or less in diameter. It constituted a large reservoir of objects that plausibly were responsible for cratering the moon, Mars, and Mercury. Much asteroidal dust may have accumulated on Mars and other planets.
Accelerating advanced MRI reconstructions on GPUs

Computational acceleration on graphics processing units (GPUs) can make advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction algorithms attractive in clinical settings, thereby improving the quality of MR images across a broad spectrum of applications. This paper describes the acceleration of such an algorithm on NVIDIA's Quadro FX 5600. The reconstruction of a 3D image with 128^3 voxels achieves up to 180 GFLOPS and requires just over one minute on the Quadro, while reconstruction on a quad-core CPU is twenty-one times slower. Furthermore, for the data set studied in this article, the percent error exhibited by the advanced reconstruction is roughly three times lower than the percent error incurred by conventional reconstruction techniques.
Exodus of 42K+ and 86Rb+ from rat thymic and human blood lymphocytes exposed to phytohemagglutinin.

It has been found that PHA produces an alteration in the lymphocyte membrane which allows /sup 86/Rb/sup +/ or /sup 42/K/sup +/ in prelabeled lymphocytes to exchange for cations present in washing solutions. These observations suggested that PHA might induce an increase in the exodus of intracellular potassium during incubation in physiologic media. We, therefore, examined /sup 86/Rb/sup +/ and /sup 42/K/sup +/ efflux from rat and human lymphocytes during incubation in tissue culture medium. The rate constant for efflux, K/sub e/, was significantly increased by PHA. /sup 86/Rb/sup +/ efflux was increased by 27 percent in rat thymic lymphocytes and by 78 percent in human blood lymphocytes following PHA treatment.
Harmonic convergence in the love songs of the dengue vector mosquito

The familiar buzz of flying mosquitoes is an important mating signal, with the fundamental frequency of the female's flight tone signaling her presence. In the yellow fever and dengue vector Aedes aegypti, both sexes interact acoustically by shifting their flight tones to match, resulting in a courtship duet. Matching is made not at the fundamental frequency of 400 hertz (female) or 600 hertz (male) but at a shared harmonic of 1200 hertz, which exceeds the previously known upper limit of hearing in mosquitoes. Physiological recordings from Johnston's organ (the mosquito's "ear") reveal sensitivity up to 2000 hertz, consistent with our observed courtship behavior. These findings revise widely accepted limits of acoustic behavior in mosquitoes.
STEREOTACTIC IRRADIATION OF THE POSTOPERATIVE RESECTION CAVITY FOR BRAIN METASTASIS: A FRAMELESS LINEAR ACCELERATOR-BASED CASE SERIES AND REVIEW OF THE TECHNIQUE

Purpose Whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is the standard of care after resection of a brain metastasis. However, concern regarding possible neurocognitive effects and the lack of survival benefit with this approach has led to the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the resection cavity in place of WBRT. We report our initial experience using an image-guided linear accelerator-based frameless stereotactic system and review the technical issues in applying this technique. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed the setup accuracy, treatment outcome, and patterns of failure of the first 18 consecutive cases treated at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The target volume was the resection cavity without a margin excluding the surgical track. Results The median number of brain metastases per patient was 1 (range, 1–3). The median planning target volume was 3.49 mL. The median prescribed dose was 18 Gy (range, 15–18 Gy) with normalization ranging from 68% to 85%. In all cases, 99% of the planning target volume was covered by the prescribed dose. The median conformity index was 1.6 (range, 1.41–1.92). The SRS was delivered with submillimeter accuracy. At a median follow-up of 12.7 months, local control was achieved in 16/18 cavities treated. True local recurrence occurred in 2 patients. No marginal failures occurred. Distant recurrence occurred in 6/17 patients. Median time to any failure was 7.4 months. No Grade 3 or higher toxicity was recorded. A long interval between initial cancer diagnosis and the development of brain metastasis was the only factor that trended toward a significant association with the absence of recurrence (local or distant) (log-rank p = 0.097). Conclusions Frameless stereotactic irradiation of the resection cavity after surgery for a brain metastasis is a safe and accurate technique that offers durable local control and defers the use of WBRT in select patients. This technique should be tested in larger prospective studies.
A gradient calorimeter study of normothermic and hibernating eastern chipmunks, Tamias striatus

Abstract o 1. The construction of a gradient calorimeter composed of flux plates is described. 2. The heat loss of normothermic Tamias striatus over the temperature range of 4–14°C can be described by the equation cal/g min = 0·35–0·014Ta. 3. The heat loss of chipmunks hibernating at 9 and 11°C was approx 2·12% of normothermic levels.
Inhibition of Basal and Transforming Growth Factor-β-induced Stimulation of COL1A1 Transcription by the DNA Intercalators, Mitoxantrone and WP631, in Cultured Human Dermal Fibroblasts

The Sp1 transcription factor plays a crucial role in COL1A1 transcriptional regulation under normal and pathologic conditions and under the effects of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Sp1 activity is elevated in numerous diseases characterized by tissue fibrosis. Therefore, inhibition of Sp1 binding to COL1A1 regulatory elements may represent an effective treatment for these diseases. Here we examined the effect of two DNA intercalators that prevent Sp1 binding on the expression of COL1A1 in human dermal fibroblasts. Cultured human adult dermal fibroblasts were treated with WP631 (50 pm/ml to 500 nm/ml) or mitoxantrone (5-500 nm/ml). Cytotoxicity, cellular apoptosis, and collagen deposition were examined by fluorescence microscopy. Collagen production was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and metabolic labeling, COL1A1 steady-state mRNA levels, and stability were assessed by Northern hybridizations, and COL1A1 transcription by in vitro nuclear transcription assays and transient transfections. Competition of the drugs for Sp1 binding and their effect on TGF-beta-induced stimulation of COL1A1 transcription was also examined. Both drugs caused a dose-related inhibition of COL1A1 production and mRNA levels without cytotoxicity or apoptosis. COL1A1 transcriptional activity showed a profound reduction mediated by a short proximal promoter region containing an Sp1-binding element at -87 to -82 bp. Furthermore, both drugs inhibited Sp1 DNA complex formation and abrogated the stimulation of COL1A1 transcription induced by TGF-beta. WP631 showed 10-fold higher potency than mitoxantrone. These data indicate that mitoxantrone and WP631 are very potent inhibitors of basal and TGF-beta-stimulated COL1A1 expression and suggest that Sp1-DNA intercalators may be an effective and novel approach for the treatment of fibrotic diseases and modulation of profibrogenic effects of TGF-beta.
Shear vibration of inhomogeneous earth dams in rectangular canyons

Abstract Analytical solutions for shear vibrations of earth dams in the critical upstream-downstream direction have been presented. Both the inhomogeneity of the cyclic shear modulus and the effect of the usually neglected abutment constraint have been taken into account in formulations. Some evidence is presented which shows that the mean shear modulus over a horizontal plane at a given depth from the crest of the dam varies with the square-root of that depth, rather than linearly or with 2/3 power of depth as it has been assumed in previous studies. The constraining effect of the abutments of the embankment is idealized by considering a rectangular valley cross section. It is shown that, unlike the homogeneous case, valley shape couples analytically with the inhomogeneity of shear modulus. Solution for free vibrations are then presented in the form of mode shapes, frequencies, and modal participation factors. In the limit L / h →∞, where L is the crest length and h is the embankment height, the plane strain condition is obtained. Since the plane strain idealization is usually made in practice, comparisons are made with this limit case to estimate the extent of the error made by one dimensional simplification.
Ongoing physical activity advice by humans versus computers: the Community Health Advice by Telephone (CHAT) trial

Purpose:Given the prevalence of physical inactivity among American adults, convenient, low-cost interventions are strongly indicated. This study determined the 6- and 12-month effectiveness of telephone interventions delivered by health educators or by an automated computer system in promoting physi