cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of neonatal dried blood spot retrieval amid evolving state policies (2009-2010): A Children's Oncology Group study

Dried blood spots (DBS) are collected uniformly from US newborns to test for metabolic and other disorders. Because evidence exists for prenatal origins of some diseases, DBS may provide unique prenatal exposure records. Some states retain residual DBS and permit their use in aetiological studies. The primary study aim was to assess the feasibility of obtaining residual DBS from state newborn screening programmes for paediatric and adolescent cancer patients nationwide with parental/subject consent/assent. Families of leukaemia and lymphoma patients aged ≤21 years diagnosed from 1998 to 2007 at randomly selected Children's Oncology Group institutions across the US were questioned (n = 947). Parents/guardians and patients aged ≥18 years were asked to release DBS to investigators in spring 2009. DBS were then requested from states. Overall, 299 families (32%) released DBS. Consenting/assenting patients were born in 39 US states and 46 DBS were obtained from five states; 124 DBS were unobtainable because patients were born prior to dates of state retention. State policies are rapidly evolving and there is ongoing discussion regarding DBS storage and secondary research uses. Currently, population-based DBS studies can be conducted in a limited number of states; fortunately, many have large populations to provide reasonably sized paediatric subject groups.
The absence of a shape bias in children's word learning.

There is debate about whether preschool-age children interpret words as referring to kinds or to classes defined by shape similarity. The authors argue that the shape bias reported in previous studies is a task-induced artifact rather than a genuine word-learning strategy. In particular, children were forced to extend an object’s novel label to one of several stand-alone, simple-shaped items, including a same-shape option from a different category and a different-shape option from the same superordinate category. Across 6 experiments, the authors found that the shape bias was eliminated (a) when the objects were more complex, (b) when they were presented in context, or (c) when children were no longer forced to choose. Moreover, children preferred the different-shape category alternatives when these were part of the same basic-level category as the target. The present experiments suggest that children seek out objects of the same kind when presented with a novel label, even if they are sometimes unable to identify the relevant kinds on their own.
Hydrothermal plumes in the Galapagos Rift

ALTHOUGH there is indirect evidence that a major fraction of the heat loss from newly-created lithosphere occurs by convection of seawater through the porous crust1–3, it has proved difficult to locate vents of deep-sea hydrothermal systems by direct measurement of the discharge fluid. Local increases in bottom water temperature up to 0.1 °C have been measured by towing arrays of thermistors a few metres above the axes of active oceanic spreading centres4,5, but these data are ambiguous because small temperature anomalies may have a hydrographic explanation. We report here the first conclusive measurements of modified seawater discharging as buoyant hydrothermal plumes from fissures in young oceanic crust. We obtained samples of hydrothermal plumes in the Galapagos Rift3, albeit after considerable dilution with surrounding bottom-water, and report the first results of the collection and analysis of these samples.
Using Skype as an Academic Tool: Lessons Learned

Inside or outside the traditional or virtual classroom, Skype is a proven academic software tool. Instructors and students can communicate freely regardless of location, creating unrestricted convenience and strengthening personal interactions.
Legal outcomes of sexual assault

Abstract Objective: The study was undertaken to better describe the assault characteristics and examination findings in sexual assault victims who pursue legal action. Study Design: A case-control study of consecutive women older than 15 years who came to an urban hospital after sexual assault over a 32-month period was conducted. All the women underwent a standardized history and physical examination by a resident in obstetrics and gynecology. Cases were those in which charges were filed against an assailant by the prosecutors' office. The controls were the women assaulted immediately preceding and after each case. Results: Of the 888 women undergoing evaluation in the emergency department, 132 (15%) had charges filed by the prosecutor. Characteristics positively associated with a legal outcome included being examined within 24 hours after assault, partner/spouse as an assailant, oral assault, and anogenital trauma ( P P Conclusion: Although only 15% of sexual assault cases were resolved with a legal outcome, the data support the importance of a physical examination within 24 hours of the assault. Anogenital trauma is associated with, but not a prerequisite for, a successful legal outcome. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1638-41.)
Ammonia-mediated, large-scale synthesis of ammonia borane.

A simple, large-scale synthesis of ammonia borane from NaBH4 and (NH4)2SO4 at 0 °C–rt in THF containing 5% NH3 is described. The presence of ammonia is critical for the reaction to proceed and allows the reaction at high concentrations and ambient temperature without the need for anhydrous solvent or inert atmosphere.
Thermal conductivity of a beryllium gas packed bed

Abstract An unsintered packed bed has been suggested as a material form for the solid breeder and multiplier in fusion reactor blankets. Study of the effective bed thermal conductivity can provide tools for analysis of the blanket performance under different operating conditions, and for analysis of how to control actively the thermal behavior of the blanket. Issues of particular interest are the ability to predict and to control the thermal conductivity. The UCLA 2-D model is used to study the effects of the particle diameter, solid-to-gas conductivity ratio, bed porosity, contact area and surface roughness characteristics on the bed thermal conductivity. The study shows that all the parameters except the bed porosity play important roles in determining the bed thermal controllability. The effect of the bed porosity is minimal. Four models (the UCLA 2-D model, the modified Hall-Martin model, the SZB model, and the Kunii-Smith model) were compared with the recent UCLA single-size beryllium packed bed experimental data. The sensitivity of each model to uncertainties in the input parameters, such as the surface roughness characteristics and particle-to-particle contact area, are examined. The UCLA 2-D model gives the most reliable prediction of the Be-He packed bed effective thermal conductivity, using reasonable parameters. The modified Hall-Martin model predictions agree well with the experimental data, using a larger empirical particle-to-particle contact area. The SZB model works well for BeN 2 or Be-air particle beds. The Kunii-Smith model is not suitable for a packed bed with a high solid-to-gas conductivity ratio.
Parametric study of a simultaneous pitch/yaw thrust vectoring single expansion ramp nozzle

In the course of the last eleven years, the concept of thrust vectoring has emerged as a promising method of enhancing aircraft control capabilities in post-stall flight incursions during combat. In order to study the application of simultaneous pitch and yaw vectoring to single expansion ramp nozzles, a static test was conducted in the NASA-Langley 16 foot transonic tunnel. This investigation was based on internal performance data provided by force, mass flow and internal pressure measurements at nozzle pressure ratios up to 8. The internal performance characteristics of the nozzle were studied for several combinations of six different parameters: yaw vectoring angle, pitch vectoring angle, upper ramp cutout, sidewall hinge location, hinge inclination angle and sidewall containment. Results indicated a 2-to- 3-percent decrease in resultant thrust ratio with vectoring in either pitch or yaw. Losses were mostly associated with the turning of supersonic flow. Resultant thrust ratios were also decreased by sideways expansion of the jet. The effects of cutback corners in the upper ramp and lower flap on performance were small. Maximum resultant yaw vector angles, about half of the flap angle, were achieved for the configuration with the most forward hinge location.
Pet Ownership Predicts Adherence to Cardiovascular Rehabilitation1

This experiment examined the effects of pet ownership and potential mediating (e.g., social support) and moderating variables (e.g., gender, personality, pet attachment) on completion of a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program. This experiment assessed pet ownership, personality, and psychosocial variables at the beginning of the program and followed participants through to completion. Results showed that pet owners (96.5%) were significantly more likely to complete cardiac rehabilitation compared with non-owners (79.2%). Covariance analyses ruled out several alternative explanations for the results, including social support, personality variables, personal efficacy, and pet attachment. Results suggest that having a pet may facilitate rehabilitation and that further research is needed to understand how having a pet or being a pet owner improves health outcomes.
Patterns for building dependable systems with trusted bases

We propose a set of patterns for structuring a system to be dependable by design. The key idea is to localize the system's most critical requirements into small, reliable parts called trusted bases. We describe two instances of trusted bases: (1) the end-to-end check, which localizes the correctness checking of a computation to end points of a system, and (2) the trusted kernel, which ensures the safety of a set of resources with a small core of a system.
Disaster preparedness and regional training on nine Caribbean islands: A longterm evaluation

This paper presents an analysis and evaluation of emergency preparedness and regionalized training on nine Caribbean islands during the period of 1980 to 1985. Preparedness on the islands is measured in numerous ways, including the existence and comprehensiveness of the disaster plan; existence and adequacy of district organizations; existence of an emergency operations centre; frequency of drills; adequacy of communications; and various other indicators. The regionalized training, which was provided out of a small, internationally-funded unit in Antigua, is evaluated in terms of the contribution it made to Caribbean preparedness during the period. Various management difficulties are analyzed and recommendations made for future, similar programs.
Qualification of the NEAR laser transmitter

The qualification of the NEAR laser transmitter is discussed with emphasis placed on the three major problem areas encountered: (1) use and derating of discrete power supply components; (2) application of a non-hermetic, high voltage hybrid to the space environment; and (3) vibration testing of the laser optics train. Summary comments are made with respect to the predictability of these quality/reliability problems.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cadmium inhibits stimulus-response coupling in skate (Raja erinacea) electric organ.

Abstract 1. The effects of cadmium on stimulus-response coupling in the skate ( Raja erinacea ) electric organ were examined. 2. Cadmium decreased the evoked electrical discharge and the evoked release of 3 H-ACh in a concentration-related fashion. 3. Cadmium (100 μM) also blocked voltage-dependent 45 Ca uptake. 4. Both d-tubocurarine and nifedipine blocked Ca uptake and evoked potential, but not 3 H-ACh release, thus most of the 45 Ca uptake measured was post-synaptic through L Ca channels. 5. Nickel, cadmium, and verapamil inhibited 3 H-ACh release and evoked potential, indicating a block of pre-synaptic T Ca channels.
Recreation succession: A simulation model

Recreation resource managers must deal with a myriad of problems brought on by conflicting goals in maximizing use, minimizing ecological deterioration, and satisfying resource use demands. Rational decision making in this setting demands systematic consideration of the impacts of major changes in the recreational environment on all relevant components of the recreation system. The present study was an effort to provide a model for assessing the impact of a large recreational resort development on existing recreation patterns; specifically, the impact on campground camping in the general area. A dynamic simulation model based on the concepts of user satisfaction and recreation succession was developed and tested for internal consistency. Implications for the decision making process in recreation resource management are discussed.
Changing the way we study change: advocating longitudinal research in MIS

Recently, scholars in various disciplines have called for the use of longitudinal research designs to test and build theory. Their argument is that key phenomena in virtually every theory change over time. As such, cross-sectional research designs used to test and extend theories do not provide insights that help understand the nature of temporal relationships between variables that are central to theory. Evidence is emerging that in some cases the strength and the direction of the relationship between variables found using longitudinal data is quite different relative to that found using cross-sectional data. The view expressed in this paper is that longitudinal research brings with it both new opportunities and challenges for information systems (IS) researchers. Opportunities will come in the form of explicitly incorporating time in testing and applying IS theories to cast new light on prior research that has been predominantly based on cross-sectional designs. At the same time, challenges will come in the form of proposing hypotheses on interrelationships between variables over time, and using newer data analytic techniques that are better suited to analyzing longitudinal data. We provide illustrations that highlight both advantages and challenges associated with longitudinal research in the field of IS.
Prenatal cocaine exposure: effects on play behavior in the juvenile rat

Prenatal exposure to cocaine has become a growing problem in the United States. This study examined the effects of such exposure on social behavior in young rats. The subjects were offspring of Sprague-Dawley dams exposed to 40 mg/kg cocaine HCl (SC) daily on gestational days 8-20, pair-fed dams injected daily with 0.9% saline, and saline-injected controls. The pups were tested at 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36 days of age for instances of pinning, a reliable measure of play behavior. Although showing no differences on such developmental indices as body weight or age of eye opening, offspring prenatally exposed to cocaine showed significantly less pinning than saline controls and were more likely to be pinned. Although males pinned more than females across the treatment groups, cocaine-exposed rats of both sexes showed play deficits. Gestational cocaine exposure thus appears to result in suppressed levels of play in juvenile rats.
Quality of life impairments associated with diagnostic criteria for traumatic grief

Background. This study examined the association between a diagnosis of traumatic grief and quality of life outcomes. Method. Sixty-seven widowed persons were interviewed at a median of 4 months after their loss. The multiple regression procedure was used to estimate the effects of a traumatic grief diagnosis on eight quality of life domains, controlling for age, sex, time from loss and diagnoses of major depressive episode and post-traumatic stress disorder. Results. A positive traumatic grief diagnosis was significantly associated with lower social functioning scores, worse mental health scores, and lower energy levels than a negative traumatic grief diagnosis. In each of these domains, traumatic grief was found to be a better predictor of lower scores than either major depressive episode or post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusions. The results suggest that a traumatic grief diagnosis is significantly associated with quality of life impairments. These findings provide evidence supporting the criterion validity of the proposed consensus criteria and the newly developed diagnostic interview for traumatic grief - the Traumatic Grief Evaluation of Response to Loss (TRGR2L).
Solar climates of the conterminous united states: A preliminary investigation

Abstract A classification of solar climates in the conterminous United States is developed using a combination of analyses which include: P -mode principal components analysis of a covariance matrix and an optimized Ward's grouping of six non-trivial dimensions of solar climate. While traditional classifications are based upon summary statistics (e.g. means) and often neglect many elements of temporal and spatial variability, the taxonomy reported on here incorporates the average magnitudes of global radiation as well as the stations' day-to-day perturbations. Ten solar climates are identified, described and presented in map form. Data for the study were 5 yr of daily total global radiation observed at 60 stations from 1970 to 1974.
A vibrating cantilever magnetic-field sensor

Abstract A magnetic-field sensor is described in which a planar coil, photolithographically fabricated on a silicon cantilever blade, is caused to vibrate at a resonance frequency of the blade using a piezoelectric driver. In the presence of a magnetic field, an e.m.f. is induced in the coil proportional to the field strength. Operation is analogous to that of an a.c. generator. A reciprocal device, analogous to an a.c. motor, is also possible in which an a.c. current in the coil results in a vibration of the blade with amplitude proportional to the magnetic field and a corresponding output from the piezoelectric element. Applications, required electronics and advantages of this method are discussed.
Hyper expression of an environmentally friendly synthetic polymer gene

Biodegradable polymers offer an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based polymers. Applications of protein based polymers include the use of these compounds in the fields of medicine, molecular-based energy conversions, the manufacture of unique fibers, coatings and biodegradable plastics. We report here expression of a synthetic gene G-(VPGVG) 119-VPGV coding for the EG-120mer (elastomer) in E. coli. Polymer expression is observed in uninduced cells grown in terrific broth in polyacrylamide gels negatively stained with CuCl2. Electron micrographs reveal formation of inclusion bodies in uninduced cells occupying upto 80–90% of the cell volume under optimal growth conditions. To the best of our knowledge this report represents the first demonstration of hyper expression of a synthetic gene (with no natural analog) in E. coli.
Review: Nutrition and Alcoholic Liver Disease

While the rate of malnutrition is relatively modest in alcoholic patients without alcoholic liver disease, the rate of malnutrition is virtually 100% in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and/or alcoholic cirrhosis. The reasons for malnutrition in the alcoholic hepatitis patient include various factors such as anorexia, poor diet, malabsorption, and altered metabolic state. When the patient is hospitalized, the malnutrition frequently worsens because of fasting for tests, continued anorexia, and complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with severe acute hepatitis appear to be both hypermetabolic and hypercatabolic, whereas data are much more conflicting concerning patients with more stable liver disease. Most studies suggest that patients with alcoholic liver disease require at least 60 g of protein per day to maintain positive nitrogen balance. Consistent alterations in plasma amino acid profiles occur in alcoholic liver disease, and specialized nutritional formulations have been devised to correct this amino acid profile with the intent of improving overall nutritional status, hepatic encephalopathy, and mortality. The effects of nutritional support (including use of specialized products) on outcome, on acute hepatic encephalopathy, and on chronic or latent portal systemic encephalopathy are reviewed.
Synthesis and characterization of highly fluorescent phenylene vinylene containing perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aromatic ether polymers

Abstract 4-(Trifluorovinyloxy)benzaldehyde was treated under Wittig conditions with 4-dihexyloxy-2,5-xylenebis(triphenylphosphoniumbromide) to form 1,4-bis(2′-(4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)ethenyl)-2,5-dihexyloxybenzene, a novel phenylene vinylene-bistrifluorovinyl ether monomer. Cyclopolymerization afforded an insoluble, non-luminescent material likely due to cross-addition reactions between phenylene vinylene olefin and trifluorovinyl ether (TFVE). However, 1,2-bis(4-formylphenoxy)hexafluorocyclobutane was polymerized with 1,4-dihexyloxy-2,5-xylenebis(triphenylphosphoniumbromide) and 1-methoxy-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-2,5-xylenebis(triphenylphosphoniumbromide) under Wittig conditions to yield two novel poly(perfluorocyclobutyl- co -phenylene vinylene) polymers. The polymers are of moderate molecular weight (8600–8700 M n ), show excellent thermal stability ( T d = 390–405 °C), and are readily soluble in common organic solvents. The materials are highly fluorescent in both solution and thin film with solution quantum yields of 68 and 71%.
Locating All Heterogeneous and Reactive Azeotropes in Multicomponent Mixtures

A novel approach for enclosing all heterogeneous and reactive azeotropes in multicomponent mixtures is presented. The thermodynamic conditions for azeotropy form a system of nonlinear equations. A deterministic global optimization approach is introduced in which the global optimization problem may contain multiple global minima and there is a one-to-one correspondence between each global minimum and a potential azeotrope. An algorithm is presented which provides a theoretical guarantee that all global minima can be enclosed. This method is general and can be applied to multicomponent mixtures that are described by standard thermodynamic models. The problem formulations for finding all heterogeneous azeotropes and for finding all reactive azeotropes are presented. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated through several example problems using the Wilson, NRTL, UNIQUAC, and UNIFAC activity coefficient equations.
The circulation systems of Bikini and Rongelap lagoons

Four and one-half months of the early part of 1946 were spent in the field at Bikini and Rongelap Atolls to study the circulation systems within the lagoons. Additional synoptic studies were made in the laboratory of kinematically similar models based on early field data. The results of these studies were later tested against further observations made in the field. It was found that both lagoons exhibited a primary circulation (overturning wind-driven circulation) and a secondary circulation (rotary circulation composed of two counter-rotating compartments). The direction of the primary circulation and the division between the counter-rotating compartments of the secondary circulation were always contained in a vertical plane having roughly the azimuth of the prevailing wind. The vigor of both circulations varied with the average wind strength taken over the previous 24 hours. Perturbations of the primary and secondary modes of circulation were produced by tides, waves, and the North Equatorial Current which surrounds the atolls of the northern Marshall Islands group. Seasonal changes were also noted; the circulation of the winter months when the northeast trade-winds prevail showed a marked stability and strength which was lacking in the summer season when the atolls are on the edge of the belt of doldrums. In addition to the qualitative synopsis of the circulations, numerical data are presented in tabular form which show the volumetric exchanges of water between the lagoons and the ocean. An estimate is made of the rates of refreshment and overturning of each lagoon. A chart of the values of eddy diffusion in the surface plane is given for Bikini, as well as secondary data on the behavior of current poles and dye trails in a variety of wind and current strengths.
An Investigation of the Characteristics of Coplanar Waveguide and Terminations and Coplanar Waveguide Probes for On-Wafer Measurement Applications

Both CPW and GCPW guiding structures have been discussed. Their modal and dispersive properties have been presented both quantitatively and visually. Examples of canonical discontinuities in CPW were presented and computations and measurements were compared. An entirely new examination of a typical on-wafer CPW probe was carried out. Both qualitative, and just as importantly, qualitatively information was obtained through examination of the electromagnetic fields of this general 3-D structure. Computations can have a great role in the design of structures as complicated as a CPW on-wafer probe or as simple as a CPW termination. Concepts like the possibility of multiple modes, localized energy storage, and many other intuitive ideas are now possible. Well calibrated measurements must still be considered the basis upon which to make final judgements, but are limited in the amount of intuitive information they yield. Used in combination, computations and measurements can be even more powerful tools.
Adsorption of cobal, zinc, barium and cesium from dilute solutions

Abstract It has been shown that a maximum of 97 per cent of the zinc in a solution containing 8 × 10−8 mole/30 ml can be removed from solution by a single filtration through Schleicher and Schuell Blue Ribbon paper at pH 6·5 when the ammonium salt concentration is 3 × 10−6 M. Under similar conditions 70 per cent of the cobalt present in a solution containing 2·8 × 10−9 mole/30 ml can be removed. Only 43–46 per cent of barium and 5–6 per cent of cesium are removed from solutions which have 3 × 10−9 mole/30 ml and less than 10−8 mole/30 ml respectively. The above results permit the conclusions that unweighable quantities of zinc and cobalt ions in solution with cesium, and probably other alkali metal salts can be separated from these salts by adjustment of pH with ammonia and filtering the solutions. The cobalt and zinc which may be radioactive are recoverable in almost invisible quantities of solid, (after ammonium salt sublimation) suitable for nuclear spectroscopy studies or for other use which requires relatively salt free high specific activity tracers.
Valuation Issues in a Greening World

Abstract As most readers of this publication are well aware, the concept of “green building” or “sustainable development” focuses on meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising...
Digital analysis of shadowgraph images for statistical index of refraction (density) turbulent fluctuation properties in high-speed flow

A non-intrusive method for obtaining index of refraction (density) turbulent fluctuation levels from shadowgraph photographs of high-speed flows is presented. The application of modern image processing techniques to shadowgraphs allowed critical compressible turbulence data to be acquired accurately and easily. The techniques were applied to supersonic free mixing (shear) layers, as an example application. The flow field was designed to represent a near full-scale supersonic combustion chamber. The optically measured density fluctuation levels were compared to those measured by an intrusive cross-wire anemometry method, and excellent agreement was found.
A Fast Poisson Solver for Complex Geometries

Robust fast solvers for the Poisson equation have generally been limited to regular geometries, where direct methods, based on Fourier analysis or cyclic reduction, and multigrid methods can be used. While multigrid methods can be applied in irregular domains (and to a broader class of partial differential equations), they are difficult to implement in a robust fashion, since they require an appropriate hierarchy of coarse grids, which are not provided in many practical situations. In this paper, we present a new fast Poisson solver based on potential theory rather than on direct discretization of the partial differential equation. Our method combines fast algorithms for computing volume integrals and evaluating layer potentials on a grid with a fast multipole accelerated integral equation solver. The amount of work required is O (m log m + N), where m is the number of interior grid points and N is the number of points on the boundary. Asymptotically, the cost of our method is just twice that of a standard Poisson solver on a rectangular domain in which the problem domain can be embedded, independent of the complexity of the geometry.
Call for Papers for the 1974 Annual Meeting of The American Dairy Science Association

s of research accepted for publication by a scientific journal before the annual meeting are not acceptable. The Program • Committee favors the general policy that a person present ,only one paper. If the total number of papers submitted by the membership is too great to include in the program, the Committee will assign some papers to be read by title only. Stinmlating ,the highest quality of research is the goal of the committee. Mathematical and statistical units should be checked to avoid costly corrections in final printing. Careful experimental design and interpretation of results are necessary. Compliance with instructions for preparation of abstracts wilt simplify tasks of .the Program Committee and of Editors. Careful editing of abstracts before submission is essential. Mimeographed copies (300) of pertinent details and data are desirable for distribution at the time of presentation. Projected material, such as 2><2 slides, should include large lettering for easy reading. Names and addresses of the chairman to whoin abstracts should be sent are below. If acknowledgment of the receipt of the abstract is not received by March 15, the appropriate chairman should be contacted. Industry and Business Section Grant Hartman, Jr. Mead-Johnson & Company Evansville, Indiana 47721 Manufacturing Section Joseph Tobias Department of Food Science University of Illinois Urbana 61801
Medium energy ion scattering study of Ni on ultrathin films of SiO2 on Si(111)

Abstract The structure of thin Ni films (∼ 7 A ) deposited at room temperature on ultrathin SiO2 layers on Si(111) has been studied using medium energy ion scattering. Our results indicate that the Ni films deposited at room temperature are not uniform. The data have been fitted with two model approximations. In one, the overlayer structures are characterized by spherical caps with a radius of 39 and height of 22 A, while in the second they are characterized by a thickness distribution function with an average thickness of 14 and deviation of 7 A. Above 750 K, Ni atoms start to diffuse through the SiO2 layer and subsequently into the near-surface region of the crystalline Si substrate. After annealing to 1075 K, some of the Ni has diffused into the substrate to a depth of at least 800 A. In this final state, the SiO2 is completely desorbed and nickel silicides are formed.
27-Hydroxycholesterol Promotes Cell-Autonomous, ER-Positive Breast Cancer Growth

To date, estrogen is the only known endogenous estrogen receptor (ER) ligand that promotes ER+ breast tumor growth. We report that the cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) stimulates MCF-7 cell xenograft growth in mice. More importantly, in ER+ breast cancer patients, 27HC content in normal breast tissue is increased compared to that in cancer-free controls, and tumor 27HC content is further elevated. Increased tumor 27HC is correlated with diminished expression of CYP7B1, the 27HC metabolizing enzyme, and reduced expression of CYP7B1 in tumors is associated with poorer patient survival. Moreover, 27HC is produced by MCF-7 cells, and it stimulates cell-autonomous, ER-dependent, and GDNF-RET-dependent cell proliferation. Thus, 27HC is a locally modulated, nonaromatized ER ligand that promotes ER+ breast tumor growth.
Ultraviolet absorbance detection of colchicine and related alkaloids on a capillary electrophoresis microchip.

Abstract The separation and UV absorbance detection of four toxic alkaloids, colchicine, thiocolchicine, colchicoside, and thiocolchicoside, on a microchip-based capillary electrophoresis device are reported. To increase the sensitivity of UV absorbance detection, optical cells with extended path lengths were integrated into the separation channel during the microfabrication process. The absorbance values realized on the microchip using these optical cells were proportional to the increase in average depths according to the Beer-Lambert Law, resulting in sensitivity enhancements by as much as five times. Linearity of response was observed from 5.0 to 500 mg L −1 of colchicine, with detection limits ranging from 2 to 6 mg L −1 depending upon the specific alkaloid and the dimension of the optical cell. The extraction of colchicine from spiked milk samples was performed and an average recovery rate of 83% with a relative standard deviation of 3.8% was determined using the optimized conditions on the microchip.
Transduction of ACTH signal from plasma membrane to mitochondria in adrenocortical steroidogenesis. Effects of peptide, phospholipid, and calcium.

Abstract The conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by adrenocortical mitochondria is the rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis. This process is stimulated dramatically by the action of ACTH through the sequential reactions, in which adenyl cyclase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, cholesterol esterase and ribosomal protein synthesis are all involved. The de novo synthesized protein, the so-called labile protein with a half-life of approx 10 min, is believed to stimulate the cholesterol side chain cleavage reaction by an unknown mechanism. Available evidence indicates that the electron transfer reaction from NADPH to P-450 scc is mediated rapidly by adrenodoxin reductase and p-450 scc . In addition, these redox components are inactivated slowly with a half-life of 3.5 days after hypophysectomy. It is known that the corticoid output from adrenocortical cells starts within 5 min and reaches the maximum after 10–15 min of ACTH administration to animals. One can assume that under normal physiological conditions, both O 2 and NADPH are not limiting. Additionally, mitochondrial inner membranes are poor in cholesterol. In this context, the availability of substrate cholesterol to P-450 scc is the most likely candidate for the regulatory mechanism.
An interpretation of the action of bismuth molybdates in ammoxidation of propylene

The experimental data of Aykan [J. Catal.12, 281 (1968)] which reveal a maximum in acrylonitrile yield in ammoxidation of propylene from a m Bi2O3 · n MoO3 catalyst at an m, n value of 1, 2 are reinterpreted in terms of oxidation of Bi3+ with a consequent increase in the concentration of Mo5+. The relationship between the mn ratio and Mo5+ concentration behaves in a manner exactly parallel to the experiental data of Aykan.
Effects of single- and multiday ozone exposures on respiratory function in active normal children

Ventilatory function was measured twice daily on 46 healthy children aged 8-14 years on at least 7 days for each child during a 4-week period at a northwestern New Jersey residential summer camp in 1988. The highest 1-hr O3 concentration was 150 ppb, while the highest 12-hr H+ concentration (as H2SO4) was 18.6 micrograms/m3. The highest temperature-humidity index was 81 degrees F. The regressions of FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75, and PEFR on O3 in the hour preceding the afternoon function measurements yielded slopes essentially the same as those measured on other children at the same camp in 1984. Regressions of the changes in function between the late morning and late afternoon function measurements on average O3 concentration between them produced significant, but somewhat smaller effects, while regressions of morning function on O3 during the previous day indicated small but still significant effects. There were no significant correlations with other measured environmental variables including H+. Based on the results of this study and similar previous studies, we conclude that O3 exposures in ambient air produce greater lung function deficits in active young people in natural settings then does pure O3 in controlled chamber exposure studies because of: (1) longer exposures; (2) potentiationmore » by other factors in the ambient exposures; (3) the persistence of effects from prior day's exposures; and (4) the persistence of a transient response associated with the daily peak of exposure. It follows that projections of likely effects in the real world from controlled chamber exposure studies should either have a large margin of safety, or the judgment of the extent of effects likely to occur among populations should be based directly on the effects observed in field studies.« less
Generating interest in generating functions

ABSTRACT A project for undergraduate students of combinatorics is shared, with discussion of goals and outcomes, as well as an example of students' work. The project revolves around independent study of the generating functions for certain partition functions, as the students search for congruences and recurrences.
Acceleration of chip - Package failures in temperature cycling

IC components experience temperature and power cycles during operation in their end use environments. They also experience cold temperature exposures during shipping. These temperature cycles influences the mechanical integrity of silicon backend dielectrics, assembly/packaging materials and packages. A complete assessment of the cumulative number of temperature cycles and temperature extremes from shipping/storage and through end-customer use is required to guarantee product performance and reliability. This paper will show data from accelerated temperature cycling on IC components and use these data to develop acceleration models for observed failure modes. These models will be used in conjunction with known use conditions to estimate lifetime requirements. These lifetime requirements will then be compared to JEDEC standards based requirements and a need for recalibration of these standards to more appropriate temperature cycle conditions and durations where will be highlighted. The influence of die package geometric factors on reliability performance will be shown. Some artifacts associated with stressing IC packages to extreme cold temperatures well outside of their intended use conditions will also be described.
Attitudes to Mesalamine Questionnaire: A Novel Tool to Predict Mesalamine Nonadherence in Patients with IBD

Attitudes to Mesalamine Questionnaire: A Novel Tool to Predict Mesalamine Nonadherence in Patients with IBD
Prospective longitudinal evaluation of elbow motion following pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures.

Background: Temporary elbow stiffness after the treatment of a supracondylar humeral fracture in a child is often a concern of parents. However, little attention has been devoted to documenting, longitudinally, the time required for motion recovery. The purpose of the present study was to provide a prospective, longitudinal evaluation of elbow motion in a large population of pediatric patients undergoing treatment of a supracondylar humeral fracture. Methods: We prospectively examined 373 patients (375 fractures) who presented to our urgent care center between March 1, 2007, and September 30, 2008. On the basis of a standard protocol, patients were managed with either casting or surgery, depending on the severity of the injury, and then were followed for a minimum of seven weeks. Values of elbow flexion and extension were recorded, and the relative arc of motion was calculated as a percentage of the motion of the contralateral elbow. Results: In general, following a supracondylar humeral fracture, the greatest increases in flexion, extension, and the absolute and relative arcs of motion are observed within the first month after cast removal, with a progressive improvement for up to forty-eight weeks after the injury. Age had a significant effect on the recovery of elbow motion, with patients older than five years of age demonstrating a 3% to 9% lower relative arc of motion at the follow-up points in comparison with younger patients. Similarly, patients with more-severe fractures requiring surgical treatment demonstrated a decrease in relative elbow motion of 10% (with respect to the contralateral side) at the time of cast removal in comparison with those who were managed nonoperatively. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that an initial rapid recovery in elbow motion can be expected after a supracondylar humeral fracture in a child, followed by a progressive improvement for up to one year after the injury. This motion recovery is slower in older patients and in those with more severe injuries. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Beatrix Potter: An annotated bibliography

Beatrix Potter is best remembered as the creator of the notoriously naughty bunny, Peter Rabbit. Peter and his circle of friends grace the pages of the little books, so called because they measure less than six inches tall. These children's classics have been delighting readers since The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1901. During Potter's lifetime the little books were read in the United Kingdom, America, and Canada. Foreign language translations of her work introduced her characters to children of other nations. Note the 1987 publishing event, the “new editions from the original watercolors,” which Warne used to great advantage! A flurry of books accompanied this event, by biographer Judy Taylor plus reprints (e.g., Linden). Today sales of the little books show no sign of abating. An industry of Peter Rabbit spinoff products has existed for almost as long as Peter has. Toys, games, videos, and collectibles of the Potter characters can be found on store shelves worldwide.
Military: The U.S. Navy bets on V/STOL: Integrating technological advances on a broad front is the key to successful vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft

Discusses the trend of integrating technological advances as the key to successful sea-based vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft. Among the major technologies proposed are the following: Composite-material and manufacturing quality-control techniques that would yield light, superstrength substances like graphite and boron epoxies for use on most of an aircraft's structure; development of reliable, relatively lightweight, digitally controlled power systems; multiplexed fiber-optic data-interconnecting systems; advanced data-processing techniques; and RF radars based on conformal antennas covering large portions of the aircraft, and advanced sensors for passive surveillance.
Prediction of Survival After Coronary Revascularization: Modeling Short-Term, Mid-Term, and Long-Term Survival

Background Many clinical prediction rules for short-term mortality after coronary revascularization have been developed, validated, and introduced into routine clinical practice. Few rules exist for predicting long-term survival in the modern era of coronary revascularization. We report on the development and validation of models for predicting long-term survival after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention on the basis of recent experience. Methods We linked 1987 through 2001 coronary artery bypass graft surgery and 1992 through 2001 percutaneous coronary intervention data from our northern New England registries on 35,000 patients with complete data on risk factors to the National Death Index, ascertaining 7,000 deaths. We partitioned time after revascularization into three periods on the basis of exploratory analysis using generalizations of Cox's semiparametric model to nonproportional hazards and nonlinear log-hazards. These periods were 0 to 3 months, 4 to 18 months, and 19 months and later. For each period, Cox's regression model was used to regress survival on risk factors yielding three models, which were then combined to make long-term predictions. Results These models were incorporated into easy-to-use software that yields predicted survival for up to 8 years after revascularization. The Harrell concordance statistic ranged from 72% to 83% for these models. Conclusions We developed and internally validated models that accurately predict long-term survival after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention as currently performed. These models using routine clinical data, can be solved with available software, and could be used to enhance informed, patient-centered clinical decision making on the choice of revascularization procedure.
Organophosphate Poisoning-Intermediate Syndrome?

(1992). Organophosphate Poisoning-Intermediate Syndrome? Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 331-332.
Stochastic radiative transfer in a partially cloudy atmosphere.

Abstract A radiation treatment of the broken-cloud problem is presented, based upon various stochastic models of the equation of radiative transfer that consider the clouds and clear sky as a two-component mixture. These models, recently introduced in the kinetic theory literature, allow for non-Markovian statistics as well as both vertical and lateral variations in the cloudiness. Numerical results are given that compare different models of stochastic radiative transport and that point out the importance of treating the broken-cloud problem as a stochastic process. It is also shown that an integral Markovian model proposed within the atmospheric radiation community by Titov is entirely equivalent to a special case of a simple low-order different model. The differential form of Titov's result should be easier than the integral form to implement in any general circulation model.
A q-analog of the Gauss summation theorem for hypergeometric series in U(n)

In this paper we derive a q-analog of Holman's U(n) generalization of the Gauss summation theorem. This result is obtained by iterating our mutivariable generalization of the Gauss reduction formula for basic hypergeometric series in U(n). Multiple series generalizations of both classical q-analogs of the Vandermonde summation theorem appear as special cases. We obtain the corresponding theorems for ordinary series by taking the limit as q → 1 of all these results.
Core excitons in SixGe1−x alloys

Abstract The Hjalmarson et al. theory of Frenkel core excitons is applied to the Si and Ge p core excitons in Si x Ge 1-x alloys. The Si 2p and Ge 3p Frenkel excitons' “binding energies” with respect to the conduction-band edge are found to be strong functions of x, with nearly zero binding energies for both excitons near x=0 or 1, and with binding energies of order tenths of eV for compositions x near x=0.2.
‘Le Sénégal Qui Gagne’: Soccer and the Stakes of Neoliberalism in a Postcolonial Port

This essay reveals how Senegal’s effort to promote itself as an anti‐terrorist Islamic nation while aggressively pursuing privatization is linked to the way soccer is promoted internally, to cohere the population around neoliberal aspirations, and externally, as evidence of Senegalese potential. This essay also explores the politics of ‘gagnism’, or the sense that economic development takes place most effectively by strict adherence to a set of rules subjects must follow, like an athlete who presumes a direct correlation between energy expended in conditioning and athletic contests. Crucial to the idea of ‘gagnism’ as well, is the fact that such competition takes place in a context that is ‘refereed’ by more authoritative agents. By drawing from discourses surrounding Senegal’s performance in the 2002 World Cup, the author shows how national enthusiasm for soccer parallels the political strategies developed by a state apparatus concerned with maintaining a ‘democratic’ public image in order to guarantee i...