cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protozoa as Toxicological Tools

At the age of 50 a Puka-Pukan retires from manual labor and becomes one of the members of The Company, spending hi; evenings shooting popguns or playing checkers, and his nights in ordering the young fry about. He never again has to go fishing, to gather coconuts, or to do any other work. When the malos [young men] bring in their fish they are given to the fathers, who divide them after picking out the choice bits for themselves… To be sure, many of the fathers spend a day or two at fishing now and then, but this is not required of them and they do it only to pass the time… (22).
Observations of the structure and evolution of solar flares with a soft X-ray telescope

Soft X ray flare events were observed with the S-056 X-ray telescope that was part of the ATM complement of instruments aboard SKYLAB. Analyses of these data are reported. The observations are summarized and a detailed discussion of the X-ray flare structures is presented. The data indicated that soft X-ray emitted by a flare come primarily from an intense well-defined core surrounded by a region of fainter, more diffuse emission. An analysis of flare evolution indicates evidence for preliminary heating and energy release prior to the main phase of the flare. Core features are found to be remarkably stable and retain their shape throughout a flare. Most changes in the overall configuration seem to be result of the appearance, disappearance or change in brightness of individual features, rather than the restructuring or reorientation of these features. Brief comparisons with several theories are presented.
The importance of language, context, and communication as components of successful partnership

Successful community-university partnerships are usually attributed, at least in part, to clear communication processes. This chapter reflects on language and context as elements in developing a strong partnership process.
Influence of crude trypsin inhibitor on utilization of hydrolyzed protein.

SummaryThe addition of an extract of raw soybeans containing active trypsin inhibitor to an enzymatic protein digest (Protolysate) caused a decrease in growth rate and protein utilization. Autoclaving, which inactivated the trypsin inhibitor, abolished the harmful effects of the extract. It has been concluded that the deleterious effects resulting from the ingestion of an extract of raw soybeans are not necessarily due to an interference with the intestinal digestion of dietary protein.
Improved late graft survival and half-lives in pediatric kidney transplantation: a single center experience.

We evaluated variables associated with improved late graft survival in 290 children transplanted between 11/1/1984 and 12/31/1997, and who had > 1 year graft survival. We studied the following variables: age, gender, race, primary disease (diseases prone to recurrence, i.e. hemolytic uremic syndrome, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or oxalosis vs. others), primary vs. re-transplant; donor source, acute tubular necrosis, acute rejection episodes in the first year, transplant era and discharge serum creatinine. Graft half-life was defined as the time taken for 1/2 of the grafts functioning at 1 year to fail. There were 205 living donor and 85 cadaveric transplant. The cumulative graft survival at 5 and 10 years was 88% and 75% for living donor, and 72% and 46% for cadaveric, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed a higher late graft survival to be associated with: no acute rejection episodes (risk ratio 0.16, p = 0.0001), age 2–5 years (risk ratio 0.24, p = 0.0007), living donor (risk ratio 0.46, p = 0.017), primary nonrecurrent disease (risk ratio 0.29, p = 0.001), Caucasian race (risk ratio 0.40, p = 0.006). A high half-life was seen with living donor transplant (21.3 years) and the age group 2–5 years (27.5 years). Further, living donor patients with no acute rejection episodes had the best half-life of 37.6 years, while children with hemolytic uremic syndrome, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or oxalosis had the lowest overall half-life of 5.6 years. This study finds that living donor, no acute rejection episodes, age 2–5 years, Caucasian race and having a disease not prone to recurrence are strong predictors of late graft survival. Hence, preferential use of living donor and prevention of acute rejection episodes in the first year are key variables that can improve long-term renal graft survival in children.
Endogenous Regulation of Endothelial Cell Proliferation

Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) in culture have the ability to regulate their own proliferation. We have found that a fraction below 100,000 daltons obtained from the media of confluent cultures of BAEC inhibits tritiated thymidine [3H]TdR incorporation as well as their proliferation. The inhibition is dose- and time-dependent; maximum inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation occurs 8 hr after cells are released from synchronization and the inhibitory fraction is added. Inhibition is evident at concentrations as low as 50 micrograms/ml and reaches a maximum at 600 micrograms/ml. The blockage of [3H]TdR incorporation is reflected in the inhibition of cell proliferation. In the presence of 400 micrograms of endogenous inhibitor per ml of media, added at the time of plating, the average population doubling time increases from 19 to 41 hr. These findings indicate that, in culture, BAEC can regulate their own proliferation by synthesizing an endogenous inhibitor(s) of proliferation.
The ketogenic activities of Acetobacter species in a glucose medium.

Abstract 1. 1. A survey has been made of the behavior of 14 species of Acetobacter toward glucose in the presence of calcium carbonate in a yeast-water medium. 2. 2. All the cultures produced in greater or less quantity a reducing acid (or acids) yielding a soluble calcium salt (or salts). In the cases of eleven species it was shown by isolation, ultimate analysis, and other tests that this reducing material consisted wholly or in part of calcium 2-keto- d -gluconate. 3. 3. Acetobacter acetigenum, A. gluconicum, A. kutzingianum, A. orleanense, A. suboxydans, A. turbidans (one strain), A. viscosum, and A. xylinum produced 5-ketogluconic acid in addition to the 2-keto acid. The ability of A. acetigenum, A. kutzingianum. A. turbidans, and A. viscosum to form the 5-keto acid has not been reported by previous workers. The total amount of keto acids produced by the several cultures varied from 9.7 g. (strain of A. acetosum) to 76.5 g. (A. gluconicum) per 100 g. of glucose utilized.
A comparative study of detrital mineral and bedrock age-elevation methods for estimating erosion rates

traditional age-elevation method using detrital and bedrock 40 Ar/ 39 Ar muscovite data sets from a single river catchment in the Annapurna Range, Nepal Himalaya. A nominal erosion rate estimate of � 0.6 km/Myr for the 5.0–2.5 Ma period was calculated from the bedrock data, presented here for the first time. This result agrees with the � 0.7 km/Myr (maximum) estimate from the detrital data set, which was derived from the DMT variant that emphasizes the range of single-grain ages for a detrital sample, in this case, 11–2.5 Ma. However, the other DMT variant, which emphasizes the mean of the sample age distribution, yields an erosion rate estimate of � 2.3 km/Myr. The simplest explanation for this discrepancy is that erosion rate increased significantly after � 2.5 Ma, a scenario that is supported by apatite fission track data from the catchment.
Statistical Methods for Ambiguous Sequence Mappings

Mapping RNA sequences to a reference genome often results in high percentages of short reads assigned to multiple locations within the genome. These mappings are known as "ambiguous mappings" and are often discarded by sequence mapping tools and pipelines. The number of ambiguous mappings within these data sets can sometimes be significantly large, occupying in certain cases as much as one third of the mapped sequences. We are developing task specific computer programs that utilize statistical methods as an alternative solution for the problem. This statistical approach is based upon identifying significantly expressed genomic locations. We handle ambiguous data through a multi-step process starting with a standard short read alignment tool to identify all the possible mappings within the genome for each sequence read. Custom programs are then used to identify expressed genomic locations by statistical methods. That is, we compare gene expression in the regions of interest with a number of randomly-selected genomic locations. Using these comparisons will help us in establishing a value at which a gene is significantly expressed and determine the locations that are most likely to be the best mapping for each ambiguous sequence.
Long range order in Ni3Mo based ternary alloys—I. Isothermal aging response

Abstract In an attempt to understand the constitution of quaternary Ni Al X superalloys, the ordering reactions in Ni3(Mo, X) alloys have been studied. The effects of additions of Al, Ta, V or W on the ordered structures produced during isothermal aging have been determined by transmission electron microscopy. Quenching the alloys from 1300°C resulted in a f.c.c. matrix which exhibited diffuse diffraction intensity at the [1½0] locations of reciprocal space. Aging at 600, 700 and 800°C caused various long range ordered structures to evolve from this matrix including Dla, DO22 and Pt2Mo prototype. The phases observed were dependent upon which ternary element was substituted for Mo. The diffraction evidence was consistent with a spinodal ordering transformation mechanism for all of the alloys aged at temperatures ⩽ 700°C. At 800°C, the Al-bearing ternary formed the Pt2Mo structure via a homogeneous nucleation mechanism. These results are interpreted in terms of the statistical thermodynamic (pairwise interaction) theory as it has been applied to ordering systems.
Congenital Heart Surgery Database and Nomenclature Project: Aortic Valve Disease

The extant nomenclature for aortic valve disease is reviewed for the purpose of establishing a unified reporting system. The subject was debated and reviewed by members of the STS-Congenital Heart Surgery Database Committee and representatives from the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery. All efforts were made to include all relevant nomenclature categories using synonyms where appropriate. Aortic valve disease has been subdivided into stenotic and regurgitant lesions. Stenotic lesions have been characterized by anatomic location: supravalvar, valvar, and subvalvar. Regurgitant lesions have been characterized as either congenital or acquired. A comprehensive database set is presented that is based on a hierarchical scheme. Data are entered at various levels of complexity and detail that can be determined by the clinician. These data can lay the foundation for comprehensive risk stratification analyses. A minimum database set is also presented that will allow for data sharing and would lend itself to basic interpretation of trends. Outcome tables relating diagnoses, procedures, and various risk factors are presented.
Sphingolipids in rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia: implication for stroke injury

Lipids are essential for signal transduction in response to trauma leading to neurodegeneration. Ceramide is an important mediator of apoptosis and cell proliferation. We studied the involvement of ceramide/sphingomyelin pathway in rat brain (stroke model) after 45 min ischemia followed by 24-h reperfusion. Ischemia was performed through occlusion of right middle cerebral artery (MCA). The level of ceramide was found increased (70–100% in ischemic side of brain v/s contralateral side of brain). Sphingomyelin levels were also decreased by 20–25% in ischemic brain v/s contralateral side of brain. Increase in ceramide and decrease in sphingomyelin were in good agreement with observed apoptotic cell loss (TUNEL assay) and decrease in the level of cardiolipin (a mitochondrian specific phospholipids) in affected ischemic brain. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a therapeutic agent recognized as potent antioxidant provided protective effect. Pretreatment with NAC before ischemia reduced the infarct volume size, suppressed apoptosis, restored cardiolipin level and decreased the levels of free fatty acids. However, NAC did not normalize the ceramide level. These interesting observations raise a question about the role of ceramide and its relationship with apoptosis and oxidative stress in rat brain ischemia. Acknowledgements: Supported by NIH grants NS-40144, NS-40810, NS-22576, NS-34741 and NS-37766.
The theory of approximate prices: analytical foundations of experimental cost-benefit analysis in a fuzzy-decision space

Abstract The essay presents a theory of efficient prices for cost-benefit analysis in a fuzzy space. The approach proceeds by taking consumers' income, and producers' outputs and costs as given. The price preferences of consumers and producers are elicited and then embedded in a fuzzy space through fuzzy mappings to obtain a fuzzy compact price space where fuzzy price decisions are constructed. Solutions to the fuzzy price decision problems are abstracted through fuzzy mathematical programming to obtain fuzzy equilibrium prices. From the fuzzy price space measures of price disagreement, fuzzy consumer surplus and fuzzy producer surplus are advanced. Theorems of existence and uniqueness are stated. The total result is a theory of fuzzy prices for cost-benefit analysis for decision problem, in general including cases where market imputations of prices may not be available to us as well as those cases where market failure may yield price distortions. The theory is not only compactible with either contigent variation method (direct information elicitation) and revealed preference method (market-based evaluation) but provides a direction for cases where problems may exist in both. A computational example is provided to illustrate the working mechanism of the theory.
Perceptions of Time and Their Impact on Negotiations in the Arabic-Speaking Islamic World

This article examines how perceptions of time affect Arabic-speaking Islamic negotiators and how their attitudes about time, and their corresponding behaviors, may differ from those of their Western counterparts. We begin by identifying cultural differences in the conceptualization of time and then comment on the role of time in negotiations, discussing how time influences bargaining, trust, and negotiation tactics. In the section on tactics, we discuss stall-and-delay tactics, the use of the past as an objective standard, and limits on negotiating the future. Our purpose is to encourage negotiators from the West to be knowledgeable about the way they, as well as negotiators from Arabic-speaking Islamic cultures, conceive of and use time in negotiations. We believe that understanding that the very concept of time is often quite different in these two cultures is an important step in facilitating negotiations that cross these cultural boundaries.
EFFECTIVENESS BUDGETING: THE LIMITS OF BUDGET REFORM

This paper is concerned with the potential for improving public sector financial management by means of efforts to budget in terms of effectiveness. A series of statements are derived from the assumptions of Effectiveness Budgeting to consider what the preconditions for its success and failure might be, in an effort to begin to fill what i s argued to be a void in the literature in the field. Comments are offered as to the likelihood of Effectiveness Budgeting realizing i t s own stated ideal and its utility under less than ideal conditions.
Inhibition of ERBB2-overexpressing Tumors by Recombinant Human Prolidase and Its Enzymatically Inactive Mutant

ERBB2 is an oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in a subset of human breast cancer and other cancers. We recently found that human prolidase (PEPD), a dipeptidase, is a high affinity ERBB2 ligand and cross-links two ERBB2 monomers. Here, we show that recombinant human PEPD (rhPEPD) strongly inhibits ERBB2-overexpressing tumors in mice, whereas it does not impact tumors without ERBB2 overexpression. rhPEPD causes ERBB2 depletion, disrupts oncogenic signaling orchestrated by ERBB2 homodimers and heterodimers, and induces apoptosis. The impact of enzymatically-inactive mutant rhPEPDG278D on ERBB2 is indistinguishable from that of rhPEPD, but rhPEPDG278D is superior to rhPEPD for tumor inhibition. The enzymatic function of rhPEPD stimulates HIF-1α and other pro-survival factors in tumors, which likely attenuates its antitumor activity. rhPEPDG278D is also attractive in that it may not interfere with the physiologic function of endogenous PEPD in normal cells. Collectively, we have identified a human protein as an inhibitory ERBB2 ligand that inhibits ERBB2-overexpressing tumors in vivo. Several anti-ERBB2 agents are on the market but are hampered by drug resistance and high drug cost. rhPEPDG278D may synergize with these agents and may also be highly cost-effective, since it targets ERBB2 with a different mechanism and can be produced in bacteria.
A Command Language Based Data-Acquisition and Analysis System for Low Energy Physics

An open-ended Command Language based data-acquisition and analysis system for low energy nuclear physics applications is described. The system is designed to accommodate user-written command functions as well as standard system functions. The system insulates users from each other so that a user has access to only his particular functions and those of the system. Features include a "Help" function, free format input with prompting for omitted parameters, an extensive error message facility, and dynamic memory management. Particular effort has been directed at making the system as natural and logical as possible to the physicist/user while giving him maximum flexibility in controlling his experiment. The incorporation of reasonable defaults, free format input, and extensive checking of input with appropriate diagnostics is essential. Although this paper details a system developed for nuclear physics applications, the techniques are applicable to a variety of data acquisition and control applications.
Carbohydrates in individual poplar fine roots: effects of root age and defoliation.

Late-summer starch accumulation in fine roots of poplars (Populus x canadensis Moench.) defoliated by gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) lagged behind that in fine roots of undefoliated trees. If starch concentration declines with age, defoliation-induced changes in root system age structure could be partly responsible for this difference. To test this hypothesis, we measured fine-root starch and soluble sugar concentrations in roots of known age from trees in defoliated and undefoliated plots. There was a significant interaction between the effects of defoliation and root type (white, brown, or dead) on fine root soluble sugar concentration because of the high concentration of soluble sugars in white roots from trees in undefoliated plots. Both root starch and soluble sugar concentrations were variable among individuals of each age class. The population frequency distributions for starch and soluble sugar concentrations were both right-skewed, and fit by exponential functions. These data are most consistent with direct defoliation effects on a labile and dynamic pool of carbohydrates in poplar fine roots, rather than indirect defoliation effects on root system age structure.
NGO Policy, Sex Workers and Structural Violence: Looking Beyond the Brothel Village

Abstract: Different styles of intervention collide when non governmental organizations' operationalize their respective discourses on human rights and risk. In this article, I examine this issue in the context of Vietnamese sex workers in Cambodia. Some NGOs see themselves as “rescuing” sex workers from brothels, while other NGOs try to empower them as sex workers as a strategy to reduce the spread of HIV. Each undertakes a project designed to “do good,” but neither addresses the structural violence that make sex work one of a very few options for these women. In this article, I present four of the structural problems that create conditions for entire villages of brothels to thrive. Particularly important is doi moi, the 1986 economic liberalizing project in Vietnam.
Accelerating image filters using a custom computing machine

This paper describes the use of the SPLASH-2 custom computing platform for real-time median and morphological filtering images. SPLASH-2 is an FPGA-based attached processor that can be reconfigured to perform a wide variety of tasks. Although not specifically designed for image processing, the architecture is well suited for the repetitive computations and high data transfer rates that characterize most low-level image processing problems. Median filtering is a particularly good benchmark, since nonlinear rank ordering must be performed for 2D neighborhoods at every pixel location in an image. General-purpose workstations are inefficient at such tasks, whereas SPLASH-2 can be configured to perform this at a rate of 30 images per second. This paper presents the hardware/software codesign process that we have used to implement this operation, which can be pipelined with other operations by using additional SPLASH-2 processor boards. The results presented here illustrate that custom computing architectures are much faster than conventional uniprocessors, and offer an attractive altrenative to dedicated special-purpose harware when high performance is required.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cooperativeness and Achievement: Interaction of Student Cooperativeness with Cooperative versus Competitive Classroom Organization.

Abstract The present study investigated two issues: the differential impact of various cooperative learning methods, and the interaction of student characteristics with learning methods. The subjects in the study were 864 second-through sixth-grade students in the elementary school classrooms of 32 student teachers. Teachers were randomly assigned to teach spelling by using one of three instructional modes: traditional whole-class instruction or one of two cooperative learning methods, Student Teams-Achievement Divisions (STAD) and Teams-Games-Tournaments (TGT). The results support two conclusions: First, substantial differences exist in the effects of various cooperative learning techniques; what are presumed to be minor variations in the techniques may have major impact. Second, cooperative-competitive social orientation and ethnic status interact with classroom structure to determine achievement gains. It appears that the relatively exclusive reliance on competitive and individualistic classroom structures in public schools biases important educational outcomes against individuals and minority groups who have a relatively cooperative social orientation.
Digby Baltzell: Sociologist and Critical Celebrant of the Upper Class

L'A. evoque la carriere d'E. Digby Baltzell. Il considere que ce dernier doit etre reconnu commun un specialiste de la haute societe americaine. Il souligne l'influence de Charles Wright Mills et de Robert Lynd sur la perspective sociologique adoptee par Baltzell. Il rappelle que Baltzell comme un grand nombre de sociologues de sa generation a a la fois rejete le totalitarisme nazi et le totalitarisme communiste. Baltzell rejetait egalement l'idee d'une societe sans classes, sans stratification. L'A. montre que, dans le meme temps, Baltzell defendait une certaine egalite des chances. Pour lui, la haute societe anglo-saxonne devait etre a meme d'assimiler les nouveaux talents quel que soit leur sexe, leur race et leur religion.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and cervical cancer: Uptake and next steps

Infection with a high-risk type of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major contributing factor in the vast majority of cervical cancers. Dissemination of the HPV vaccine is critical in reducing the risk of the disease. This descriptive review of HPV vaccine uptake in papers published between 2006 and 2011 focuses on studies conducted in girls and young women. In the United States, rates of immunization as per the protocol for teens (age 13-17 years) range from 6% to 75% and those for young women (age 18-26 years) range from 4% to 79%, although the samples and data collection methods vary. The epidemiology of HPV, the mechanisms of action, protocols for vaccine immunization, rates of uptake, and barriers to vaccination at the policy, provider, and patient levels are reviewed. Various intervention techniques are described, and policy-level programs, such as legislation supporting mandates, subsidized public education, and cost-reduction initiatives, are also explored. Increased distribution of the HPV vaccine in school-based clinics, evidencebased scripts for provider counseling of young patients and their parents, concurrent immunizations to adolescents, prevention visits, greater patient education and outreach, and the dissemination of academic detailing can help to boost vaccine uptake, particularly in underresourced communities. Population-based surveillance is necessary for robust estimates of uptake over time. Additional research is needed to comprehensively examine socio-demographic, psychosocial, and sociocultural factors that predict vaccine uptake according to the protocol. Increased study of the vaccine's long-term effectiveness, in both males and females and among extended age groups, is warranted.
Segregation of drop size and velocity in jet impinging splash-plate atomizers

Abstract Atomization of a liquid jet as it impinges on the flat end of a circular rod (splash plate) is studied experimentally. The effects of the splash-plate diameter (surface diameter) arid the jet velocity on the disintegration of the jet are investigated. Six surface-to-jet diameter ratios of 2.3, 3.0, 5.1, 5.3, 8.7, and 13.9 are used, while the jet velocity is varied from 7.4 to 31 m/s. A hollow cone sheet and consequently a spray are formed as a result of this type of impingement. A phase Doppler particle analyzer (PDPA) is used to measure the diameter and velocity variations in the resulting sprays simultaneously. The diameter and velocity of the drops at the region of the spray with the highest volume flux are measured for various surface diameters and the jet velocities. It is found that the mean diameter of the drops at this region decreases as the jet velocity increases. In addition, at low jet velocities (uj 18 m/s), it is insensitive to the changes in the surface to jet diameter ratio. Empirical correlations are derived and reported for these variations. It is also found that the mean drop diameter and velocity are the largest at the outer edges of the spray, and they continuously decrease across the spray toward the spray axis. This result indicates that the impinging jet atomizers segregate drop sizes and velocities. The suspected cause of this segregation is the flow currents inside the hollow cone spray.
Study of silver films over silica beads as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for detection of benzoic acid

Surfaces prepared by vacuum depositing silver on silica nanospheres were investigated as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates using benzoic acid as an analyte. The SERS sensitivity of the substrates was probed as a function of substrate parameters, such as silver-film thickness and silica-bead dimensions. The SERS signals were found to increase with an increase in silver-film thickness and silica-bead diameter until a maximum signal was reached. Additional increases in the film thickness or the bead diameter resulted in a decrease in the SERS signal. Maximum SERS response was obtained with a substrate made by vapor depositing a 6 nm thick coating of silver on a thin layer of silica beads with a nominal diameter of 565 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the substrates was performed to consider the effect of surface morphology on the SERS responses. Optimal SERS substrates exhibited a detection limit of 5 × 10−7M for adsorbed benzoic acid. A linear relationship was demonstrated between the SERS response and the concentration of benzoic acid with two different slopes, one in the 10−5–10−3M range and the other in the 10−3–10−1M range. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Turbulence Within the Tip-Leakage Vortex of an Axial Waterjet Pump

Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry measurements are performed in an optical refractive index matched facility to investigate the evolution of turbulence in the tip region of an axial waterjet pump rotor. Presented analysis of mean flow velocity, vorticity, Reynolds stresses, and turbulence production/transport within the rotor passage focus on the tip-leakage vortex and associated flows. Turbulence production peaks in the shear layer that connects the blade-tip suction side with the vortex as well as in a region of flow contraction situated at the casing wall. Flow separation occurring there, as the leakage backflow meets the throughflow, detaches the boundary-layer vorticity, which is entrained into the tip-vortex perimeter. Upon the inclusion of turbulence transport in the analysis, a discrepancybetweendistributions of turbulent stresses andassociated production vanishes, except at the vortex core. There, the elevated turbulent energy (but relatively low production of Reynolds stresses) is presumably due to low dissipation. Within the aft part of the rotor passage, shortly after vortex bursting, the tip-leakage backflow reaches the neighboring blade. There, radial motion induced by the tip-vortex residual swirl detaches the pressure-side boundary-layer vorticity and injects it into the rotor passage.
Risk reduction and health promotion behaviors following genetic testing for adult-onset disorders

Although clinical genetic testing is available for over 1,000 inherited disorders, consequences of predictive genetic testing have been most extensively examined for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), hereditary colon cancer, and Huntington disease (HD). These focus primarily on psychological, ethical, legal, and social aspects of genetic testing. Genetic testing may also provide information that can lead to behaviors that promote health and reduce risk for disease, reflecting options available for the disorder for which the person is at risk. However, regardless of condition, people completing a genetic test may inform relatives about the results of the test and implications for their risk to develop the condition. Literature on risk reduction behaviors and communication focuses on families with HBOC or colorectal cancer. Few reports document behaviors for other conditions. This paper presents a systematic review of the research literature on risk reduction and health promotion behaviors follow...
Creation of a biologically active interleukin-5 monomer

INTERLEUKIN-5 (IL-5) specifically induces the differentiation of eosinophils, which are important in host defence and the patho-genesis of allergies and asthma1,2. Structurally, IL-5 is a unique member of the short-chain helical-bundle subfamily of cytokines whose canonical motif contains four helices (A–D) arranged in an up–up–down–down topology3,4. In contrast to other subfamily members, which fold unimolecularly into a single helical bundle5–8, IL-5 forms a pair of helical bundles by the interdigita-tion of two identical monomers that contribute a D helix to the other's A–C helices3. We predicted that the lack of bioactivity by an IL-5 monomer9 was due to a short loop between helices C and D which physically prevents unimolecular folding of helix D into a functionally obligate structural motif. Here we report that, by lengthening this loop, we have engineered an insertional mutant of IL-5 that was expressed as a monomer with biological activity similar to that of native IL-5. These studies demonstrate that all of the structural features necessary for IL-5 to function are contained within a single helical bundle.
High-Speed Recursion Architectures for MAP-Based Turbo Decoders

The maximum a posterior probability (MAP) algorithm has been widely used in Turbo decoding for its outstanding performance. However, it is very challenging to design high-speed MAP decoders because of inherent recursive computations. This paper presents two novel high-speed recursion architectures for MAP-based Turbo decoders. Algorithmic transformation, approximation, and architectural optimization are incorporated in the proposed designs to reduce the critical path. Simulations show that neither of the proposed designs has observable decoding performance loss compared to the true MAP algorithm when applied in Turbo decoding. Synthesis results show that the proposed Radix-2 recursion architecture can achieve comparable processing speed to that of the state-of-the-art recursion (Radix-4) architecture with significantly lower complexity while the proposed Radix-4 architecture is 32% faster than the best existing design
Comment on "Participant Observation and Interviewing: A Comparison"

Insofar as the paper by Becker and Geer says: "Participant observation is a very useful way of collecting data, and here are some illustrations to show how useful we found it in one study," I can take no issue with them. On the contrary, I profited from their discussion of the method and their illustrations of its use.
Enhanced spatiotemporal relational probability trees and forests

Many real world domains are inherently spatiotemporal in nature. In this work, we introduce significant enhancements to two spatiotemporal relational learning methods, the spatiotemporal relational probability tree and the spatiotemporal relational random forest, that increase their ability to learn using spatiotemporal data. We enabled the models to formulate questions on both objects and the scalar and vector fields within and around objects, allowing the models to differentiate based on the gradient, divergence, and curl and to recognize the shape of point clouds defined by fields. This enables the model to ask questions about the change of a shape over time or about its orientation. These additions are validated on several real-world hazardous weather datasets. We demonstrate that these additions enable the models to learn robust classifiers that outperform the versions without these new additions. In addition, analysis of the learned models shows that the findings are consistent with current meteorological theories.
[Comment on “Which one is correct, 2000 or 2001? How about 1995?”]

Professor Veronis' proof that the new millennium began on January 1, 2000, is wrong. The new millennium will begin on January l, 2001.Veronis's error stems from an apparent confusion of intervals and points on the number line. On the temporal number line, periods such as years, centuries, and millennia are intervals; birth dates are points.
Determination of dielectric dispersion by two methods and application to calculations of van der Waals forces

Abstract Values of ϵ ( iω ), the dielectric permeability on the imaginary frequency axis, have been obtained in the case of liquid water and employed in the calculation of van der Waals forces. Previous work has employed expressions for ϵ ( iω ) calculated from incomplete spectral data in the uv. In the present work an estimation is obtained of how severe these approximations are in the case of liquid water, where nearly complete spectral data exist, by applying Kramers' formulas. Results are in general agreement with previous calculations which employ a damped harmonic oscillator model. However, for frequencies beyond 10 17 rad/sec, the application of Kramers' formulas indicates that values of ϵ ( iω ) previously obtained are somewhat low. By increasing the effective absorption frequency for liquid water from the first to somewhat less than the fourth ionization potential, values of ϵ ( iω ) according to the two methods are in better agreement for large frequencies. The increased effective frequency gives larger values of the van der Waals forces, but it is concluded that, at the most, a 50% increase in their value can be expected.
Spillover of cause-specific longevity interventions: an independent mortality risk model

As an alternative to the "competing mortality risk model", this paper presents an "independent mortality risk model" in which the complementarity among various longevity investments is less obvious. In studying spillover effects of cause-specific longevity interventions, it distinguishes between two types of such interventions: cause-specific price reductions and cause-specific direct provisions. It finds that a cause-specific direct provision always has a positive spillover effect on longevity investments for other causes, but a cause-specific price reduction may have a negative spillover effect due to a substitution effect.
Ultrafast X-ray Pulses from Laser-Produced Plasmas

A high-temperature plasma is created when an intense laser pulse is focused onto the surface of a solid. An ultrafast pulse of x-ray radiation is emitted from such a plasma when the laser pulse length is less than a picosecond. A high-speed streak camera detector was used to determine the duration of these x-ray pulses, and computer simulations of the plasmas agree with the experimental results. Scaling laws predict that brighter and more efficient x-ray sources will be obtained by the use of more intense laser pulses. These sources can be used for time-resolved x-ray scattering studies and for the development of x-ray lasers.
DNA-Targeted 1,2,4-Benzotriazine 1,4-Dioxides: Potent Analogues of the Hypoxia-Selective Cytotoxin Tirapazamine

Tirapazamine (TPZ, 1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-amine 1,4-dioxide) is a bioreductive hypoxia-selective cytotoxin, currently in phase II/III clinical trials in combination with radiotherapy and with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. We have prepared a series of 1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide (BTO) analogues of TPZ where a DNA-targeting chromophore is attached at the 3-position via a flexible linker. DNA binding affinity was modified through variation of the chromophore or the pKa of the linker chain. The association constants (KDNA) for calf thymus DNA ranged from 1 × 102 to 5.6 × 105 M-1 (ionic strength of 0.01 M). DNA binding affinity was dependent on the presence of a positive charge, either in the linker chain or in the chromophore, and (for a series of 4-acridine carboxamide chromophore analogues) correlated strongly with linker chain pKa. The efficacy of these BTOs in killing aerobic and hypoxic mouse SCCVII tumor cells in vitro was determined by clonogenic survival. Cytotoxicity was measured as the concentrati...
A Neural Model of Motion Processing and Visual Navigation by Cortical Area MST

Cells in the dorsal medial superior temporal cortex (MSTd) process optic flow generated by self-motion during visually guided navigation. A neural model shows how interactions between well-known neural mechanisms (log polar cortical magnification, Gaussian motion-sensitive receptive fields, spatial pooling of motion-sensitive signals and subtractive extraretinal eye movement signals) lead to emergent properties that quantitatively simulate neurophysiological data about MSTd cell properties and psychophysical data about human navigation. Model cells match MSTd neuron responses to optic flow stimuli placed in different parts of the visual field, including position invariance, tuning curves, preferred spiral directions, direction reversals, average response curves and preferred locations for stimulus motion centers. The model shows how the preferred motion direction of the most active MSTd cells can explain human judgments of self-motion direction (heading), without using complex heading templates. The model explains when extraretinal eye movement signals are needed for accurate heading perception, and when retinal input is sufficient, and how heading judgments depend on scene layouts and rotation rates.
Diffusion properties of ion-implanted species in selected target materials

Experiments designed to select the most appropriate target material for generating a particular radioactive ion beam (RIB) are in progress at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. They are important to the future success of the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF). The 25-MV HHIRF tandem accelerator is used to implant stable complements of interesting radioactive elements into refractory targets mounted in a high-temperature FEBIAD ion source which is `on-line' at the UNISOR facility. The intensity versus time of implanted species, which diffuse from the high-temperature target material (approximately equals 1700 degree(s)C) and are ionized in the FEBIAD ion source, is used to determine release times for a particular projectile/target material combination. From such release data, diffusion coefficients can be derived by fitting the theoretical results obtained by computational solution of Fick's second equation to experimental data. The diffusion coefficient can be used subsequently to predict the release properties of the particular element from the same material in other target geometries and at other temperatures, provided that the activation energy is also known. Diffusion coefficients for Cl implanted into and diffused from CeS and Zr5Si3 and As, Br, and Se implanted into and diffused from Zr5Ge3 have been derived from the resulting intensity versus time profiles. Brief descriptions of the experimental apparatus and procedures utilized in the present experiments and plans for future related experiments are also presented.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparisons of computed and measured premixed charge engine combustion

Abstract Comparisons are presented of computed and measured cylinder pressure in a reciprocating engine with a pancake combustion chamber and premixed propane/air charges. Engine operating conditions range over volumetric efficiency of 30–60%; equivalence ratio of 0.87–1.1; and rpm of 1000–1500. The computations start from the actual spark times and simulate the growth of the flame kernel into a fully developed turbulent flame by taking into account the increasing influence of turbulent eddies on the growing flame kernel. A k-ϵ submodel is used for turbulence. The species conversion submodel assumes that the species (C3H8, O2, H2O, CO2, CO, H2, and N2) concentrations approach their local thermodynamic equilibrium values with a characteristic conversion time that is a combination of a turbulent mixing time and a chemical conversion time in laminar propaneair flames. In all cases computed and measured cylinder pressure agree well in trends and magnitudes during the entire duration of combustion. The difference in magnitudes generally is much less than 8%. The main conclusion is that laminar flame processes must be explicitly accounted for in order to reproduce certain elements of premixed charge engine combustion.
Hydrodynamics of Carbonate Fecal Pellets

ABSTRACT Sand-sized carbonate fecal pellets are a common to dominant constituent of many shallow marine tropical environments. Ovoid pellets 100-1000 µ in median diameter predominate. Pellets may be soft or hardened by intragranular micritization or cementation. Single grain settling of pellets collected from eight shallow marine environments in south Florida and the Bahamas permits calibration with the hydrodynamic behavior of quartz spheres. Well-hardened carbonate pellets settle at rates equivalent to quartz spheres having a median diameter 70 percent to 100 percent of the pellet size. Soft carbonate pellets containing abundant silt settled as quartz spheres 90 to 30 percent in diameter. Soft carbonate pellets composed mainly of aragonite needle mud settled as quartz spheres 60 to 25 ercent in diameter. From this data, preliminary estimates can be made of the shear velocities necessary for entertainment of pellet or peloidal sands and the propensity of suspended versus bedload transport of different grain types and sizes.
Space-adjusting technologies and the social ecologies of place: review and research agenda

This paper reviews research on how new forms of transportation and information and communication technology ICT facilitate changes in daily individual activity patterns and, as a result, the social ecologies of urban environments. Prior attempts to map and describe the space–time social ecologies of place are based on activity diaries for representative samples of urban residents. Geo-referencing information and location technologies embedded within ICT are seen as increasingly central to transformations in urban social ecologies, affording new forms of human activity behavior. Incorporation of geo-enabled ICT provides a research agenda for geographical information science GIS to develop concepts and tools for documenting and mapping indicators of the ongoing reorganization in the space–time social ecologies of cities and regions for purposes of exploratory research, diagnostic use, and policy evaluation.
Studies concerning the behaviour of photomultiplier with large photocathode

Abstract The results from a series of measurements show that the relative sensitivity of large cathode photomultiplier varies as much as 50%; although, according to manufacturer, this should not be more than 10–15%. This latter figure might include only that part of the variation which arises out of non-uniformity of the photosensitive material of the cathode. But, in reality, the variation arises not only due to the above effect but also due to the variation in the photoelectron collection efficiency onto the first dynode even under the optimum conditions of focusing and accelerating voltages. Moreover, the optimum focusing and accelerating voltages set for a particular zone, does not fulfill the requirements for an adjacent zone and, as such, there is no ideal setting for the whole cathode surface.
Dispersion effects in four-wave mixing measurements of ions in solids.

We have performed nondegenerate four-wave mixing measurements on Cr3+ ions in three crystals: BeAl2O4, Gd3Sc2Ga3O12, and LaMgAl11O19. Two laser beams of the same frequency were used to resonantly pump one of the absorption bands of Cr3+, and probe beams with three different wavelengths ranging from 442 to 1064 nm were used to generate a signal from the laser-induced population grating. The observed four-wave mixing signal strength was found to increase as the wavelength of the probe beam was decreased. A model was utilized to explain these results based on the change in polarizability of the Cr3+ ions when they are in the metastable state versus the ground state, and it was found that the dispersion effects can be described by a single-oscillator model with the lowest-energy charge-transfer transition of Cr3+ making the dominant contribution to the signal.
Transluminal Angioplasty of the Extracranial Carotid Artery: Indications and Technique—A Multicenter Interventional Neuroradiologist's Perspective

The authors report their experience with transluminal angioplasty of the extracranial carotid artery over the past 14 years. The angioplasty sites included the common carotid artery in 59 patients, the internal carotid artery in 55 patients, and the external carotid artery in 11 patients. The indications for treatment included patients who harbored symptomatic stenosis of 70% or greater, with the majority failing medical therapy and considered poor surgical candidates.