cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of the Morcher capsular tension ring on refractive outcome

Purpose To evaluate the effect of the Morcher capsular tension ring (CTR) on refractive outcome in patients having cataract extraction by phacoemulsification complicated by zonular instability. Setting Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Methods A retrospective case-control series of 19 eyes of 19 patients with a CTR were compared with a control population of 24 eyes without zonular instability having routine cataract surgery. A subset of 9 patients with a CTR in 1 eye but milder zonular instability in the contralateral eye not requiring a CTR was analyzed. The main outcome measures were the mean arithmetic and absolute refractive prediction errors (ArRPE, AbRPE) and variances used to gauge accuracy and precision. Results The CTR and control groups were compared using SRK/T and Holladay 2. There was no statistically significant difference in ArRPE or AbRPE, but lower variances in eyes with a CTR were identified. The CTR subset demonstrated a trend toward more accurate outcomes when using Holladay 2 but not SRK/T when compared with contralateral eyes without a CTR. Both formulas showed lower variances in the CTR eyes than in the contralateral eyes. Conclusions In this small population, there was no consistent effect on refractive outcome when a Morcher CTR was placed that would necessitate modification of intraocular lens power calculations. The eyes with a CTR had refractive outcomes as accurate as and more precise than the outcomes in the contralateral eyes with milder zonular instability and the control population of eyes without zonular instability in either eye. The Morcher CTR is not only a tool to assist in complicated cataract surgeries, but a device that can deliver more accurate and precise refractive outcomes.
Evaluations of Others' Decisions by Intellectually Gifted and Average Children Effects of Decision Consequences and Decentering Prompts

This study investigated the effects of decentering prompts on the tendency for intellectually gifted and average children to base their evaluations of an individual upon the negative consequences of the individual's behavior. Eighty gifted and average children, ages 7-10, were read scenarios in which a child makes a seemingly reasonable decision that produced mild, severe, or no consequences. Half of the subjects were prompted to think about what the child in the story knew at the time the decision was made, whereas the others were not. When they were not prompted to decenter, both gifted and average children evaluated the child more negatively when they thought negative consequences had resulted from his or her behavior, replicating previous research. When they were prompted, gifted subjects disregarded consequence information when making their judgments, whereas average children continued to base their evaluations on behavioral consequences.
Hierarchical Linear Modeling Analyses of the NEO-PI-R Scales in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

For the better part of a century, psychologists have investigated stability and change in adult personality (Helson, 1999; Kelly, 1955; Soldz & Vaillant, 1999). In the early 1980s, findings of consistent rank-order stability in personality traits emerged as some of the strongest evidence for the existence of traits themselves. Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cross-sequential analyses of mean level personality change in adulthood suggested that personality changed little, and Costa and McCrae (1988) concluded that "personality is stable after age 30" (p. 853). Many researchers (Helson, Jones, & Kwan, 2002; Mroczek & Spiro, 2003; Piedmont, 2001; Srivastava, John, Gosling, & Potter, 2003) have questioned that position, and, based on subsequent research, McCrae and Costa (2003) extended and qualified their position. There are notable normative changes between late adolescence and age 30: Neuroticism (N) and Extraversion (E) decline, Agreeableness (A) and Conscientiousness (C) increase, and Openness (O) first increases, then declines. After age 30, both longitudinal (Costa, Herbst, McCrae, & Siegler, 2000) and cross-sectional (McCrae et al., 1999) analyses suggest that there are continuing normative declines in N, E, and O, albeit at a modest rate of 1 to 2 T-score points (0.1 to 0.2 SD) per decade. Despite decades of research, many uncertainties remain in the description of age changes. Developmental trends for A and C are unclear, because these factors appear to increase with age in cross-sectional analyses, but did not increase in a large-scale longitudinal analysis (Costa et al., 2000). Even less is known about longitudinal trends for the specific traits or facets of the five factors; facets of A and C have been studied longitudinally only over a six-year period in middle-aged men and women (Costa et al., 2000). Little is known about age trends in extreme old age: The few studies that focus on this segment of the lifespan have found inconsistent results (see, Weiss et al., 2005). The present study analyzes new longitudinal data to refine the description of age changes in the broad dimensions and specific facets of the Five-Factor Model (FFM; McCrae & John, 1992) of personality. By using a comprehensive model of personality and employing a multilevel modeling approach on a large sample with over 5000 assessments, this study attempts to clarify and refine the description of the longitudinal course of personality trait development in adulthood.
No association of α1-antichymotrypsin flanking region polymorphism and Alzheimer disease risk in early- and late-onset Alzheimer disease patients

Abstract The α 1 -antichymotrypsin (AACT)-155 allele was found elsewhere to have a significant effect on Alzheimer disease (AD) risk in individuals with at least one APOE-4 allele. We compared AACT genotypes of 284 cases of sporadic AD and 172 controls. The frequency of the AACT-155 allele did not differ significantly between cases and controls, either overall or when restricted to subjects with at least one APOE-4 allele. Logistic regression controlling for age and sex failed to show an effect due to AACT either alone or acting with APOE. There was no evidence of an interaction between APOE-4 and the AACT-155 allele to reduce age at onset. Thus, our data do not support an association of AACT-155 with risk or age at onset in AD.
Saul D. Alinsky's Contribution to Community Development.

Abstract The works of Saul D. Alinsky are widely known but not systematically treated in the social sciences. The present research interprets Alinsky's contribution to community development from the perspective of three underlying themes: community as the unit of analysis and community cohesiveness as one of the goals of community organization; political participation and goal of broadening community participation in city‐wide decision making; and the use of non‐violent conflict as a means of unifying diverse local interests and effectively bargaining with extra‐community agents. Analysis reveals that Alinsky's understanding of the task of community organization complement existing community development perspectives and provides a basis for assessing his strategies.
Thermal expansion of metal–ceramic composites: a three-dimensional analysis

Abstract The thermal expansion response of macroscopically isotropic metal–ceramic composites is studied through micromechanical modeling. Three-dimensional finite element analyses are carried out for the entire range of phase concentration from pure metal to pure ceramic, using the aluminum–silicon carbide composite as a model system. Particular attention is devoted to the effects of phase connectivity, since other geometrical factors such as the phase shape and particle distribution play a negligible role in affecting the overall coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the composite. Three types of phase connectivity, i.e. metal-matrix, ceramic-matrix and interpenetrating (where both phases form a continuous network in space), are considered. It is found that for fixed phase concentrations, the composite CTE depends strongly on the phase connectivity, with the metal- and ceramic-matrix cases showing the highest and lowest CTE values, respectively. The numerical results are compared with analytical predictions. The combined effects of phase connectivity and metal plasticity are examined by numerically varying the thermal history. The correlation between the constrained metal yielding and the composite CTE is identified. The three-dimensional analysis allows the thermal deformation behavior of interpenetrating composites to be examined in a realistic manner. The results presented in this paper are important in the design and characterization of composites in applications such as electronic packaging and functionally graded materials.
Matrix fixed-charge density as determined by magnetic resonance microscopy of bioreactor-derived hyaline cartilage correlates with biochemical and biomechanical properties.

Objective To use noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biochemical analyses, and mechanical testing of engineered neocartilage grown in a hollow- fiber bioreactor (HFBR) to establish tissue properties, and to test the hypothesis that MRI can be used to monitor biochemical and biomechanical properties of neocartilage. Methods Chondrocytes from day 16 embryonic chick sterna were inoculated into an HFBR and maintained for up to 4 weeks with and without exposure to chondroitinase ABC. The fixed-charge density (FCD) of the cartilage was determined using the MRI gadolinium exclusion method. The sulfated glycosaminoglycan (S-GAG), hydroxyproline, and DNA contents were determined using biochemical procedures, while dynamic and equilibrium moduli were determined from mechanical indentation tests. Results S-GAG content, tissue cross-sectional area, and equilibrium modulus of the neocartilage increased with development time. There was a gradient of S-GAG content across the length of control neocartilage at the 4-week time point, with higher values being found toward the inflow region. Exposure to chondroitinase ABC resulted in a decrease in tissue area, negative FCD, proteoglycan content, and equilibrium and dynamic moduli. The treated bioreactors displayed a lengthwise variation in S-GAG content, with higher values toward the outflow end. Linear correlations were established among FCD, proteoglycan content, and biomechanical properties. Conclusion HFBR-derived neocartilage showed regional variation in S-GAG content under control conditions, and in the decrease of S-GAG in response to enzyme treatment. In addition, the results support the hypothesis that tissue parameters derived from MRI can be used to noninvasively monitor focal neocartilage formation and biochemical and biomechanical properties.
Protection of the textbook industry in developing countries: In the public interest?

Many developing countries protect their textbook industries to safeguard national image, local jobs, infant industries, and foreign exchange. Yet, as this article points out, protection itself has costs, and these costs have become excessive. Reducing protection for textbook production, the author argues, would benefit both education and economies in developing countries.
Elastic stability of high dose neutron irradiated spinel

Abstract Elastic constants ( C 11 , C 12 and C 44 ) of spinel (MgAl 2 O 4 ) single crystals irradiated to very high neutron fluences have been measured by an ultrasonic technique. Although results of a neutron diffraction study show that cation occupation sites are significantly changed in the irradiated samples, no measurable differences occurred in their elastic properties. In order to understand such behavior, the elastic properties of a variety of materials with either normal or inverse spinel structures were studied. These results show that the cation valence and cation distribution appear to have little influence on the elastic properties of spinel materials.
A proposed physical explanation of the activation of sodium channels

Abstract A physical mechanism for activation of excitable Na channels is proposed, based on an electrodiffusion model with the assumption of constant dielectric permittivity replaced with a dielectric equation of state descriptive of ferroelectric behavior. The model postulates a ferroelectric channel unit within the glycoprotein Na channel to be in a ferroelectric state in a membrane at resting potential as a result of field-induced elevation of the transition temperature. A threshold depolarization initiates a first-order transition to a paraelectric state. A screening layer of permeant cations is drawn across the membrane by the negative bound charge at the phase boundary. This hypothesis is consistent with experimental observations of current-voltage hysteresis, voltage-dependent birefringence, single-channel currents, “gating” currents, heat and cold block of excitability, electromechanical and thermoelectric responses, and nonlinear ion conduction, and in quantitative agreement with the estimated ma...
Dopamine receptor pruning during the peripubertal period is not attenuated by NMDA receptor antagonism in rat

D(1) and D(2) receptors are overproduced and pruned in the mammalian striatum during the periadolescent period. The mechanism that underlies this process in striatum is unknown. However, previous research has shown that the activity-dependent pruning of dendrites and synapses in somatosensory cortex and the visual fields is mediated by glutamatergic actions via N-methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) receptor and is prevented by pretreatment with the NMDA antagonist MK-801. In order to test the hypothesis that the pruning of dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors that occurs in the striatum after puberty (which occurs at approximately 40 days of age; P40), male and female rats were treated with saline vehicle or MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg) for 20 or 40 days and sacrificed immediately after the 20 day treatment (P60), 40 day treatment (P80), or 40 day treatment with 40 day recovery (P120). Analyses of the data reveal that none of these three treatment regimens altered striatal D(1) or D(2) receptor density in males or females relative to vehicle controls. At P60, MK-801 treatment failed to alter either D(1) (F1,16=0.06, P>0.5) or D(2) receptors (F1,16=0.39, P>0.5) for either sex. Similarly, MK-801 treatment did not affect D(1) or D(2) receptors at P80 (P>0.3) or at P120 (P>0.7). These data suggest that the normal 40% reduction in striatal dopamine receptor density that occurs between puberty and adulthood is not dependent on post-pubertal glutamatergic transmission through NMDA receptors.
On a three-dimensional kelvin problem for an elastic nonlocal medium

Making use of the Eringen-Kroener form of the nonlocal constitutive equations and the exponential Fourier transformation, a system of two coupled differential equations of the second order describing the equilibrium of the body is derived. By appeal to the Helmholtz representation, the system is reduced to a single differential equation of the fourth order for the Love function, reminding a Bessel type transform of the biharmonic equation. A solution of this equation is found, and inverse transforms of the stress components using the convolution theorem established. A recourse to the formula of de la Vallee Poussin shows that, in contrast to the classical result, the stress singularity at the point of application of a concentrated force fails to appear, though the stress concentration at that point is extremely high.
Critical role of amino acids on the sensitivity and development of resistance to polymyxin B

Abstract Differences shown by Aerobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Escherichia coli in their susceptibility to polymyxin B have been found to depend upon the medium in which the inoculum has been grown and the medium in which the organisms are exposed to the drug. They are much more susceptible in richer medium than in salt-glucose medium. Salmonella paratyphi B, in contrast, is more resistant to this antibiotic in richer medium than in salt-glucose medium. The cells surviving the action of polymyxin B in salt-glucose medium are resistant. Polymyxin B is either very much less active or inactive at lower temperatures. In the case of Aerobacter aerogenes , combinations of serine and leucine, or leucine and methionine, or methionine and serine, when added to salt-glucose medium prevented the emergence of resistant cells. Resistance development of Aerobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to polymyxin B shows the same trend as initial susceptibility. It is much more rapid in salt-glucose medium than in broth or casein hydrolyzate. The interrelationship between drug susceptibility and nutritional environment is peculiar to the organism. Our experiments point to the mechanism of the development of resistance of Aerobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to polymyxin B as being a mechanism of metabolic readjustment.
Sparse coding for speech recognition

This paper proposes a novel feature extraction technique for speech recognition based on the principles of sparse coding. The idea is to express a spectro-temporal pattern of speech as a linear combination of an overcomplete set of basis functions such that the weights of the linear combination are sparse. These weights (features) are subsequently used for acoustic modeling. We learn a set of overcomplete basis functions (dictionary) from the training set by adopting a previously proposed algorithm which iteratively minimizes the reconstruction error and maximizes the sparsity of weights. Furthermore, features are derived using the learned basis functions by applying the well established principles of compressive sensing. Phoneme recognition experiments show that the proposed features outperform the conventional features in both clean and noisy conditions.
Depression of rat testicular 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase after administration of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD)

Abstract Toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD), such as chloracne, hirsutism, and skin hyperpigmentation, suggest endocrine involvement, however, little is known about the effects of TCDD on steroidogenic organs. It is known that TCDD can cause decreases in testicular heme, testicular microsomal cytochrome P-450, and serum testosterone in the rat. This study was designed to examine the activities of the testicular hemoprotein microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes, 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase, following a single, oral dose of either 12.5, 25, or 50 μg/kg TCDD. TCDD caused dose- and time-dependent decreases in the activity of the 17-hydroxylase enzyme. Significant decreases were observed at 3, 7 and 14 days at the lowest dose of 12.5 μg/kg TCDD. The 17,20-lyase enzyme seemed to be less sensitive to the toxic effects of TCDD with significant decreases in enzyme activity being observed at days 3, 7 and 14 only after treatment with 50 μg/kg TCDD. Both microsomal cytochrome P-450 and serum testosterone levels decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner following 12.5, 25 and 50 μg/kg doses of TCDD. These results indicate that decreased testosterone production following treatment with TCDD is related to decreased activities of the testicular microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase.
Hydrogen as Anion

WE are all so much entertained by Prof. H. E. Armstrong's broadside attacks that those of us who happen to come within his range must not complain; but I feel that I must protest against his criticism (NATURE, April 17, p. 553) of the beautiful experiment of Bardwell which proved that hydrogen is an anion in metallic hydrides (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 44, 2499 (1922)). If Prof. Armstrong would read carefully Dr. Bardwell's paper he would see what pains were taken to separate the anode and cathode chambers, and since hydrogen was evolved quantitatively at the anode it could scarcely be due to liberated alkali metal unless this also were set free at the anode—which even a thorough-going opponent of physical chemistry would scarcely assume. This being so, it is perhaps unnecessary to mention the bald chemical fact that the alkali metals do not in any case react with metallic hydrides to set free hydrogen.
Alcoholism in the elderly

(1993). Alcoholism in the elderly. International Review of Psychiatry: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 477-483.
Optimal Design and Operation of a Spatially Distributed Multiscale Process, with Regard to Layered Heterostructure Growth

Determining the optimal operation of processes modeled by multiscale systems presents many challenges, because of complexities in modeling and the extensive computational requirements needed to solve them. Application to layered heterostructure deposition is considered here, where an additional challenge of interface characterization is encountered. A solution methodology is applied to the fabrication of a device consisting of alternating layers of gallium arsenide and aluminum arsenide, with the intent of minimizing thickness nonuniformity and interfacial step density. Using a finite-element solver and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, we were able to balance reductions in thickness nonuniformity and interfacial step density with maintaining favorable operating conditions in a computationally efficient manner.
Detection of space debris and meteor impacts using atmospheric infrasound

Improvements in hardware and processing techniques for the passive detection of infrasonic sound waves provide capabilities for monitoring space debris and meteor impacts. A review of past detection of meteors indicates possible uses for infrasonic observatories. We also document signals from bolides that we recorded on 3 - 4 October 1996, illustrating long-range tracking capabilities and review short-range detections and the observation of a space shuttle reentry. We discuss possible roles of acoustic observing systems for space debris and meteor detection.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Measurement of histamine metabolites in brain and cerebrospinal fluid provides insights into histaminergic activity

Measurements of the concentrations of histamine's metabolites,tele-methylhistamine (t-MH) andtele-methylimidazoleacetic acid (t-MIAA), in brain have been used to evaluate histamine turnover in brains of animals, and the same measurements in CSF have been used to infer histaminergic activity in brains of man. In regions of rat brain, half-lives of histamine are shorter than those of dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine. Studies of human CSF suggest that brain histaminergic activity increases with age and is higher in females than in males.
Compressive strength of concrete impregnated with epoxy systems that do not contain a curing agent

Concrete impregnated with epoxy was polymerized at high temperature using moisture that remains after controlled drying as a curing agent. Moisture content, impregnation, and polymerization conditions were investigated for concrete test cylinders. Impregnation conditions may have to be adjusted for other concrete systems depending upon thickness of the concrete, maturity of the concrete, and drying conditions. Compressive strength values for this novel system were lower than concrete impregnated with conventional epoxy systems but significantly higher than the controls.
Assessment of right ventricular function at rest and during exercise in patients with coronary heart disease: a new approach using equilibrium radionuclide angiography.

Abstract To evaluate a new method of calculating right ventricular ejection fraction by equilibrium radionuclide angiography and to assess its response during supine bicycle exercise, 20 normal persons and 50 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease were studied. Each subject underwent a resting equilibrium and first pass right ventricular study as well as symptom-limited graded bicycle exercise while supine. The correlation between the two methods in all 70 cases was good (r = 0.81). Inter- and intraobserver variability was small (3.9 ejection fraction units or less) and serial reproducibility (two studies performed 2 weeks apart) was also good (4 ejection fraction units or less). There was no difference in the right ventricular ejection fraction at rest when normal subjects and patients with coronary disease were compared (0.49 ± 0.10 versus 0.46 ± 0.08). Ejection fraction increased with exercise in normal subjects (0.49 ± 0.10 to 0.64 ± 0.12, p
Vital signs as part of the prehospital assessment of the pediatric patient : a survey of paramedics

Vital signs are an integral part of the field assessment of patients. A two-part study was undertaken to determine which vital signs are taken in the field assessment of pediatric patients and to determine whether the frequency of vital signs taken is influenced by base station contact, patient's severity of illness or injury, or paramedic demographic factors such as parenting and field experience. An initial pilot study of prehospital care records (run sheets) from two base hospitals in Los Angeles County revealed that there were significant differences between field vital sign assessment in pediatric and adult patients ( P P
Sheep erythrocyte Forssman hapten, an isohapten system: composition of the ceramide.

Abstract Forssman glycosphingolipid hapten was isolated from a pooled blood sample and by a new method from the blood of seven indivisual sheep. All preparation were of high purity and specific activity. Combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the trimethylsilyl ether of the long chain base obtained after methanolysis of Forssman glycosphingolipids demonstrated C 18 -sphinganine to be the only base present in the ceramide. Similar analysis of fatty acid methyl ester obtained after methanolysis demonstrated a mulltiplicity of fatty acids ranging from palmitic to nervous acids for individual preparations and a more limited variety of fatty acids, behenic, lignoceric, and nervous acids, in the pooled preparation. This limited intrachangeability of fatty acyl group indicates that the sheep erythrocyte Forssman system is a family of isohaptens.
High drinking in the dark mice: A genetic model of drinking to intoxication

Drinking to intoxication is a critical component of risky drinking behaviors in humans, such as binge drinking. Previous rodent models of alcohol consumption largely failed to demonstrate that animals were patterning drinking in such a way as to experience intoxication. Therefore, few rodent models of binge-like drinking and no specifically genetic models were available to study possible predisposing genes. The High Drinking in the Dark (HDID) selective breeding project was started to help fill this void, with HDID mice selected for reaching high blood alcohol levels in a limited access procedure. HDID mice now represent a genetic model of drinking to intoxication and can be used to help answer questions regarding predisposition toward this trait as well as potential correlated responses. They should also prove useful for the eventual development of better therapeutic strategies.
The Danger Signal, Extracellular ATP, Is a Sensor for an Airborne Allergen and Triggers IL-33 Release and Innate Th2-Type Responses

The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation of innate and adaptive proallergic Th2-type responses in the airways are not well understood. IL-33 is a new member of the IL-1 family of molecules that is implicated in Th2-type responses. Airway exposure of naive mice to a common environmental aeroallergen, the fungus Alternaria alternata, induces rapid release of IL-33 into the airway lumen, followed by innate Th2-type responses. Biologically active IL-33 is constitutively stored in the nuclei of human airway epithelial cells. Exposing these epithelial cells to A. alternata releases IL-33 extracellularly in vitro. Allergen exposure also induces acute extracellular accumulation of a danger signal, ATP; autocrine ATP sustains increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and releases IL-33 through activation of P2 purinergic receptors. Pharmacological inhibitors of purinergic receptors or deficiency in the P2Y2 gene abrogate IL-33 release and Th2-type responses in the Alternaria-induced airway inflammation model in naive mice, emphasizing the essential roles for ATP and the P2Y2 receptor. Thus, ATP and purinergic signaling in the respiratory epithelium are critical sensors for airway exposure to airborne allergens, and they may provide novel opportunities to dampen the hypersensitivity response in Th2-type airway diseases such as asthma.
Self-dual codes, subcode structures, and applications

The classification of self-dual codes has been an extremely active area in coding theory since 1972. A particularly interesting class of self-dual codes is those of Type II which have high minimum distance (called extremal or near-extremal). It is notable that this class of codes contains famous unique codes: the extended Hamming code, the extended Golay code, and the extended quadratic residue code. We examine the subcode structures of Type II codes for lengths up to 24, extremal Type II codes of length 32, and give partial results on the extended quadratic residue code. We also develop a generalization of self-dual codes to Network Coding Theory and give some results on existence of self-dual network codes with largest minimum distance for lengths up to 10. Complementary Information Set (CIS for short) codes, a class of classical codes recently developed in, have important applications to Cryptography. CIS codes contain self-dual codes as a subclass. We give a new classification result for CIS codes of length 14 and a partial result for length 16.
Univariate Versus Multivariate Differences in Tooth Size According to Sex

As expected, a comparison of tooth size in males and females has different results when the correlation effects among the variables are removed by multivariate analysis.
Bisphosphonates for Treatment and Prevention of Bone Metastases

Bone metastases are a major cause of morbidity for men with prostate cancer. Complications of bone metastases include pain, fractures, and spinal cord compression. Although they appear osteoblastic by radiographic imaging, most bone metastases are characterized by excess osteoclast number and activity. In addition, pathologic osteoclast activation is associated with increased risk of skeletal complications. Zoledronic acid, a potent inhibitor of osteoclast activity, differentiation, and survival, decreases the risk of skeletal complications in men with androgen-independent prostate cancer and bone metastases. Other bisphosphonates, including pamidronate and clodronate, seem to be ineffective in this setting. The reduction in risk of skeletal complications with zoledronic acid must be weighed against potential adverse effects. Additional studies are needed to determine the optimal timing, schedule, and duration of treatment in men with bone metastases as well as the potential role of bisphosphonates in other settings including the prevention of bone metastases.
Disaster Dynamics: Understanding the Role of Quantity in Organizational Collapse

This article examines the role that the quantity of nonnovel events plays in precipitating disaster through the development of a formal (mathematical) system-dynamics model. Building on existing case studies of disaster, we develop a general theory of how an organizational system responds to an on-going stream of non-novel interruptions to existing plans and procedures. We show how an overaccumulation of interruptions can shift an organizational system from a resilient, self-regulating regime, which offsets the effects of this accumulation, to a fragile, self-escalating regime that amplifies them. We offer a new characterization of the conditions under which organizations may be prone to major disasters caused by an accumulation of minor interruptions. Our analysis provides both theoretical insights into the causes of organizational crises and practical suggestions for those charged with preventing them.• Major disasters have long interested organization theorists (Perrow, 1984; Shrivastava, 1987; Weick, 1993b; Vaughan, 1996), and their causes continue to be an active area of inquiry. Accidents like the nuclear catastrophe at Chernobyl or Union Carbide’s gas leak at Bhopal are major social events responsible for immeasurable human suffering and environmental damage. There are few more compelling opportunities for organization theory specifically, and the social sciences in general, to prevent suffering and contribute to humanity. Moreover, major disasters provide a unique opportunity to study organizational processes in situations that are far from equilibrium. Just as the designers of bridges and airplanes test their systems under extreme conditions that are rarely, if ever, experienced during actual use, major catastrophes provide a similar opportunity to learn more about the vulnerability and resilience of human and social systems.
Degeneration in the ventral cochlear nucleus after severe noise damage in mice

To study the mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss and the phantom noise, or tinnitus, often associated with it, we studied a mouse model of noise damage designed for reproducible and quantitative structural analyses. We selected the posteroventral cochlear nucleus, which has shown considerable plasticity in past studies, and correlated its changes with the distribution of NT3. We used volume change, optical density analysis, and microscopic cluster analysis to measure the degeneration after noise exposure. There was a fluctuation pattern in the reorganization of nerve terminals. The data suggest that the source and size of the nerve terminals affect their capacity for regeneration. We hypothesize that the deafferentation of VCN is the structural basis of noise-induced tinnitus. In addition the immuno-fluorescent data show a possible connection between NT3 and astrocytes. There appears to be a compensatory process in the supporting glial cells during this degeneration. Glia may play a role in the mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss.
N-player cournot and price-quantity function mixed competition

We study the value of network providers committing to offering a quantity of bandwidth to a market versus having the amount of bandwidth offered be conditional on the prices that the market settles upon. For instance a cable television ISP has the option to shift capacity from Internet service to television channels if the market price for Internet service is low, and thus such a provider can avoid committing to a fixed capacity being devoted to Internet service. To study the issue, we consider a two-stage game. In the first stage, competing network providers either commit to set a quantity of bandwidth to offer to the market, or choose to offer bandwidth to the market according to a function relating price to quantity. If they choose the later option, the network provider initially chooses a slope for their function. In the second stage, the quantity players choose the quantity to offer, where as the function players choose the offset term of their function. We show that a unique Nash equilibrium exists for the second stage play, and that it is the only subgame-perfect equilibrium for each provider to choose a quantity commitment in the first stage. We also show that a quantity commitment is not always a subgame-perfect equilibrium when demand uncertainty is introduced to the model.
Rasterizing algebraic curves and surfaces

A new, recursive, space-subdivision algorithm for rasterizing algebraic curves and surfaces gets its accuracy from a newly devised, computationally efficient, and asymptotically correct test. The approach followed is essentially the interval arithmetic method for rendering implicit curves. The author's contribution is a particularly efficient way to construct inclusion functions for polynomials. An ideal algorithm is given for rendering an algebraic curve Z(f)={(x,y):f(x,y)=0} in a square box of side n. The algorithm scans the square and paints only those pixels cut by the curve. This algorithm is ideal, because every correct algorithm should paint exactly the same pixels, but it is impractical. It requires n/sup 2/ test evaluations, one for each pixel in the square. However, since in general it will be rendering a curve on a planar region, the number of pixels it is expected to paint is only O(n). We need a more efficient algorithm. There are two issues to examine. The first is how to reduce the computational complexity by recursive subdivision. The second is how to test whether the curve Z(f) cuts a square. >
Electronic and Structural Properties of Bulk γ‐Al2O3

γ-Al2O3 is a defective spinel phase of alumina with cation site vacancies randomly distributed. Its structure and properties are not well understood. There has been long-standing controversy as to whether the cation vacancies are located at the tetrahedral sites or the octahedral sites. Based on an empirical pair potential calculation and first-principles electronic structure studies, we have concluded that cation vacancies are preferentially located at the octahedral sites in bulk γ-Al2O3. Our calculation shows that the electronic structure of γ-Al2O3 differs from that of α-Al2O3 in fine details. γ-Al2O3 has a smaller band gap and wider valence bandwidths. The calculated density of states (DOS) of γ-Al2O3 is in good agreement with recent experimental XPS and XES data. Site- and orbital-resolved partial DOS (PDOS) of Al atoms shows significant dependence on the local coordinations. The PDOS of an oxygen adjacent to a vacancy differs substantially from that of a fully coordinated anion.
Videomalaise or Virtuous Circle?: The Influence of the News Media on Political Trust

>> Some scholars argue that exposure to news media has a negative effect on public trust in government, while others maintain that the relationship between media exposure and political trust is positive and reciprocal. The current study departs from most research in this area by focusing on how both news source and individual characteristics of news consumers moderate the influence of news exposure on political trust. e mploying several panel studies from a survey specifically designed to investigate media use and campaign dynamics during the 2000 presidential election, the current study makes several novel contributions to the literature. Specifically, the author finds that the influence of news media on political trust—positive or negative—is dependent on both the news source (i.e., newspaper or television) and individuals’ existing level of political trust. Those with low levels of political trust do not become more or less trusting following news exposure regardless of the news source. However, those with higher levels of political trust become more trusting following exposure to newspapers and less trusting following exposure to television news.
An advanced no-snapback LDMOSFET with optimized breakdown characteristics of drain n-n/sup +/ diodes

Snapbacks in sustain characteristics of lateral double-diffused MOSFETs (LDMOSFETs) are caused by positive feedbacks between the turn-on of the bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and the avalanche breakdown of the drain n-n/sup +/ diodes . Although the n-n/sup +/ diodes are thus one of the most basic parasitic devices, which play a leading role in the snapback characteristics, neither a textbook nor a paper has ever described their breakdown characteristics in depth so as to realize a simple no-snapback LDMOSFET. This paper analyzes the snapback characteristics of n-n/sup +/ diodes and their mechanisms in detail. The no-snapback theory derived from this study is applied to an advanced no-snapback LDMOSFET with a simple structure, as an improved version of the conventional no-snapback LDMOSFET , which endures the electrostatic discharge (ESD) criterion for automotive applications: 15 kV, 150 pF, and 150 /spl Omega/.
Copper Content and Exchange in Mammalian Hearts

Determination of the copper (Cu) content of rat, rabbit, and mouse hearts proved to be a sensitive microassay for mitochondrial content and membrane area of mitochondrial cristae per unit myocardial cell volume. The direction of variations in Cu content correlated well with variations in membrane area of mitochondrial cristae determined by morphometry of electron micrographs during normal postnatal growth, ventricular hypertrophy after aortic constriction, and thyroxin-stimulated myocardial cell growth. Right and left ventricular and interventricular septal Cu contents per unit dry weight were the same, did not vary during postnatal growth, and significantly exceeded atrial Cu content. Among different mammalian species, ventricular Cu content per unit dry weight tended to vary inversely with adult animal size and thus with adult resting heart rate. The existence of mechanisms for transport of 67 Cu across the myocardial cell plasma membrane and for incorporation of 67 Cu into mitochondrial cristae from an intracellular precursor pool was demonstrated by injecting 67 Cu-labeled blood serum into rats.
Addressing secondary prevention of osteoporosis in fracture care: follow-up to "own the bone"

The majority of the 1.8 million individuals who sustain a fracture annually in the United States have osteopenia or osteoporosis, yet <15% of these patients subsequently receive treatment for osteoporosis. A prospective cohort study was conducted to assess the effect of two different interventions on the rate of osteoporosis treatment in patients with a fragility fracture. Patients who were fifty years of age or older and were hospitalized for the treatment of a fragility fracture at either of two academic institutions were eligible for inclusion in the study. The intervention at one hospital involved immediate care for osteoporosis, including initiation of pharmacologic therapy during hospitalization. The intervention at the other hospital involved delayed care, including recommendations for osteoporosis counseling, bone-mineral density testing, and potential treatment for osteoporosis that were communicated to the primary care physician after the patient was discharged from the hospital. Patients were surveyed by telephone six months after the fracture, and their medical and pharmacy records were reviewed to verify the osteoporosis treatment that they had received. The mean age was 73 ± 10 years in the immediate-care group and 74 ± 12 years in the delayed-care group. Eighty percent of the patients were women. Sixty-five percent of the patients in each group completed the telephone interview six months after the fracture, and most had seen their primary care physician and undergone bone-mineral density testing. The rate of bone-mineral density testing was 92% in the immediate-care group compared with 76% in the delayed-care group. Both immediate and delayed care for osteoporosis resulted in a significant increase in the treatment rate compared with the baseline rate of 0% (p < 0.001). However, the primary care physician had initiated osteoporosis therapy by six months after the fracture in only 30% of the patients in the delayed-care group compared with a treatment rate of 67% in the immediate-care group (p < 0.001). Limitations of the study include the possibility that the findings resulted from a difference between the two study centers rather than between the two strategies. In addition, because of the academic and integrated nature of the medical systems at which the study was conducted, the findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to other types of institutions. In summary, a recommendation for osteoporosis treatment made by an orthopaedic surgeon to the patient's primary care physician resulted in an increase in the rate of bone-mineral density testing and in the rate of therapy compared with baseline. However, immediate initiation of osteoporosis care during hospitalization for the fragility fracture resulted in a higher rate of treatment--with two-thirds of the patients receiving therapy six months after the fracture--compared with delayed initiation.
IMAGE ANALYSIS AS A RAPID PATHOGEN DETECTION METHOD FOR USE IN POULTRY INDUSTRY

An image analysis system was developed and evaluated as a method for rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium in pure culture and in chicken washes. A direct immunomagnetic separation and immunofluorescent staining technique was developed to capture and identify target cells. Digital images were acquired and segmented into background and bacteria. Bacteria were enumerated using a custom designed image analysis software. The image analyses results were compared with manual enumeration. A correlation coefficient of 0.78 was established between manual and image analysis counts. In addition, the difference between the manual and the image analysis bacterial counts in individual images was low. Image analysis took an average of 15 s to analyze an image. The results indicate that the proposed system has the potential to be used as a rapid screening procedure for bacterial detection in the food industry.
Working memory load reduces the late positive potential and this effect is attenuated with increasing anxiety

Emotion regulation decreases the processing of arousing stimuli, as indexed by the late positive potential (LPP), an electrocortical component that varies in amplitude with emotional arousal. Emotion regulation increases activity in the prefrontal areas associated with cognitive control, including the dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The present study manipulated working memory load, known to activate the DLPFC, and recorded the LPP elicited by aversive and neutral IAPS pictures presented during the retention interval. The LPP was larger on low-load compared to high-load trials, and on trials with aversive compared to neutral pictures. These LPP data suggest that emotional content and working memory load have opposing effects on attention to distracting stimuli. State anxiety was associated with reduced modulation of the LPP by working memory load. Results are discussed in terms of competition for attention between emotion and cognition and suggest a relationship between DLPFC activation and the allocation of attentional resources to distracting visual stimuli–a relationship that may be disrupted with increasing anxiety.
Effects of thermal treatment on the co-rolled U-Mo fuel foils

A monolithic fuel type is being developed to convert US high performance research and test reactors such as Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU). The interaction between the cladding and the U-Mo fuel meat during fuel fabrication and irradiation is known to have negative impacts on fuel performance, such as mechanical integrity and dimensional stability. In order to eliminate/minimize the direct interaction between cladding and fuel meat, a thin zirconium diffusion barrier was introduced between the cladding and U-Mo fuel meat through a co-rolling process. A complex interface between the zirconium and U-Mo was developed during the co-rolling process. A predictable interface between zirconium and U-Mo is critical to achieve good fuel performance since the interfaces can be the weakest link in the monolithic fuel system. A post co-rolling annealing treatment is expected to create a well-controlled interface between zirconium and U-Mo. A systematic study utilizing post co-rolling annealing treatment has been carried out. Based on microscopy results, the impacts of the annealing treatment on the interface between zirconium and U-Mo will be presented and an optima annealing treatment schedule will be suggested. The effects of the annealing treatment more » on the fuel performance will also be discussed. « less