cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excellent early and late outcomes of aortic valve replacement in people aged 80 and older.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate early and late outcome of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in a large cohort of patients aged 80 and older. DESIGN: Retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing AVR using a computerized database based on the New York State Department of Health registry. Data collection was performed prospectively. SETTING: University hospital (single institution). PARTICIPANTS: One thousand three hundred eight patients undergoing AVR (231 (17.6%) aged ≥80, 1,077 (82.4%) <80). MEASUREMENTS: Patient characteristics, hospital mortality, morbidity, length of stay and long-term survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Subjects aged 80 and older were more likely to be female, had a lower body mass index, and presented significantly more often with comorbidities such as heart failure, renal failure, and extensive aortic calcification. Crude hospital mortality was 5.2% (n=12) in subjects age 80 and older, compared with 4.5% (n=48) in those younger than 80 (P=.37). Respiratory failure occurred more frequently in those aged 80 and older. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age of 80 and older was not a predictor of hospital mortality. The median length of stay was significantly higher in those aged 80 and older than in those younger than 80 (10 days vs 7 days, P=.01). Five-year survival was 64±5% in those aged 80 and older, which was similar to that of the age- and sex-matched general U.S. population. CONCLUSION: Excellent results after AVR can be expected in patients aged 80 and older, with minimal increase in postoperative mortality and acceptable postoperative morbidity. Respiratory failure is the main postoperative complication in patients aged 80 and older. Recent advances in operative techniques and perioperative management have contributed to better surgical outcomes in these patients than found in historical reports.
Systematic applications of gas-liquid chromatography in toxicology: V. The pesticides and evaluation of toxic levels☆

Abstract The relative retention times of 24 pesticides obtained at 190 ° and 220 °C on the 1% Hi-Eff-8B column are recorded. An evaluation of toxic levels and how they can be detected under this systematic scheme is described. By arbitrarily taking ten times the higher therapeutic dose as toxic and twenty-five times as lethal, it is shown that most of the drugs and poisons studied under this scheme could be detected from 0.5 ml of blood when they are ingested in toxic or lethal concentrations. It is demonstrated that under the gas chromatographic conditions used, this quantity of blood will also be sufficient to detect therapeutic levels of many drugs. All the compounds are gas chromatographed on one single column: the alkaloids. antihistamines, barbiturates and tranquilizers in conjunction with a flame ionization detector and the pesticides with an electron capture detector. A different column was used for the sympathomimetic amines.
Imaging in gynecologic malignancies

Cross-sectional imaging is often a useful complement to clinical examination in patients with gynecologic malignancies. Patients with ovarian cancer will benefit less from the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, extensive intraperitoneal disease may be evaluated and followed with either technology. Endometrial cancer is best approached by staging with contrast-enhanced MRI. The more advanced the disease is, the more information should be available from MRI imaging. By contrast, patients with cervical cancer are assessed best using noncontrast-enhanced MRI as far as imaging of the primary tumor is concerned. Extracervical extension is defined better with contrast enhancement and varied pulse sequences. Radiation changes and tumor response also can be assessed with MRI imaging as a complement to clinical examination.
Energy partitioning in high speed impact of analogue solid rocket motors

Modelling the response of solid rocket motors to bullet and fragment impacts is a high priority among the military services from standpoints of both safety and mission effectiveness. Considerable effort is being devoted to characterising the bullet and fragment vulnerability of solid rocket motors, and to developing solid rocket motor case technologies for preventing or lessening the violent responses of rocket motors to these impact loadings. Because full-scale tests are costly, fast-running analytical methods are required to characterise the response of solid rocket motors to ballistic impact hazards. In this study, a theoretical first-principles-based model is developed to determine the partitioning of the kinetic energy of an impacting projectile among various solid rocket motor failure modes. Failure modes considered in the analyses include case perforation, case delamination, and fragmentation of the propellant simulant material. Energies involved in material fragmentation are calculated using a fragmentation scheme based on a procedure developed in a previous impact study utilising propellant simulant material. The model is found to be capable of predicting a variety of response characteristics for analogue solid rocket motors under high speed projectile impact that are consistent with observed response characteristics. Suggestions are made for improving the model and extending its applicability to a wider class of impact scenarios.
Digitizing interaction: the application of parameter-oriented design methodology to the teaching/ learning of interaction design

The development of digital technology has changed the way users interact with products and forced industrial design educators to rethink the role of design education with respect to both the integrity and suitability of current design curriculum. This study is sought to figure out a better way for teaching/ learning Interaction Design in the discipline of Industrial Design with considerations to the nature of interaction design and students' learning mode. A newly created interaction design methodology will be introduced in this paper, and the case study on the application of this approach to a graduate school level interaction design course should explain how this methodology can be manipulated in the development of an interaction design, making teaching/ learning Interaction Design more effective and enjoyable.
Development of an Orientia tsutsugamushi Lc-1 Murine Intraperitoneal Challenge Model for Scrub Typhus: Determination of Murine Lethal Dose (MuLD50), Tissue Bacterial Loads, and Clinical Outcomes.

Currently, no vaccine has been developed to protect humans from naturally acquired heterologous Orientia tsutsugamushi infections. To enhance the validity of vaccine candidates, we are developing a murine chigger challenge model with the O. tsutsugamushi Lc-1-infected Leptotrombidium chiangraiensis Line-1. To this end, an intraperitoneal (i.p.) murine challenge model using an O. tsutsugamushi Lc-1 isolate was developed for eventual validation of the chigger challenge model. We have determined that the murine lethal dose that kills 50% of the challenged mice (MuLD50) of a liver/spleen homogenate developed from O. tsutsugamushi Lc-1-infected ICR Swiss mice to be 10(-6.9). Employing different inoculum doses of this homogenate, the bacterial load using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was determined to range from 60 to 1.6 × 10(5) genome equivalent copies (GEC)/μL of liver and 33.4 to 2.2 × 10(5) GEC/μL of spleen tissue. The clinical outcomes relative to homogenate dose levels followed a dose-dependent pattern. The successful development and characterization of the O. tsutsugamushi Lc-1 i.p. challenge model will assist in the development and validation of a mouse chigger challenge scrub typhus model.
AVAILABILITY OF AMINO ACIDS IN SARCOPLASMIC FISH PROTEINS COMPLEXED WITH SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE

SUMMARY– Comparisons were made on the availability (enzyme digestion) of 4 amino acids (lysine, methionine, tryptophan, and threonine) in sarcoplasmic fish proteins and sarcoplasmic fish proteins complexed with sodium hexametaphosphate. The protein complexes were formed by reacting 1% solutions of sarcoplasmic fish proteins at pH values ranging from 2–4 and at phosphate concentrations ranging from 0.005–0.05 M. Uncomplexed sarcoplasmic protein was obtained by precipitation from 70% isopropanol. The samples were digested with the enzyme pronase and the available amino acids were measured with a bio-assay system. No significant differences in the availability (enzyme digestion) of amino acids were found between complexed and noncomplexed samples. Assays of samples dried at 75°C showed that nearly 100% of the methionine, threonine and tryptophan and 85% of the lysine were available. When the samples were subjected to moist heat (50% moisture, 100°C) for up to 24 hr, availability of lysine, methionine, tryptophan and threonine was reduced by 35, 22, 39 and 34%, respectively. Results of this study indicate that the nutritional characteristics of fish proteins are unimpaired when they are complexed with sodium hexametaphosphate.
Normal mucosal histochemistry and histopathology in familial colorectal cancer

Histochemical and histopathologic changes have been described in mucosa adjacent to and overlying neoplasms and non-neoplastic conditions of the large bowel. These changes are considered by some investigators to be preneoplastic changes. We studied mucosal biopsy specimens obtained at colonoscopy from all sections of large bowel in 34 asymptomatic subjects. Every subject had a documented family history of colorectal cancer (Cancer Family Syndrome of Lynch); in addition, two had previous colorectal cancers and two had cancers diagnosed at the time of colonoscopy. Consistent interpretations of mucin species secretion were not obtained. Microscopic mucosal abnormalities were not detected. Mucin histochemical and histopathologic changes are not promising markers for colorectal cancer in the Cancer Family Syndrome of Lynch.
Numerical analysis compares the lubrication of U seal and step seal

This feature describes further developments in the analysis of reciprocating seals for hydraulic cylinders. The analysis described here has been extended to simulate the typical actuator condition of low pressure on the outstroke with a high pressure instroke. A comparison is also drawn between a polyurethane U seal and a step seal design with PTFE sealing element. Major differences are demonstrated between the two seal types, particularly as pressure increases.
Identification of an enhancer invlved in tissue-specific regulation of the rat fibronectin gene

Fibronectin (FN) is a widely distributed extracellular matrix protein that is essential for cell adhesion in a variety of biological processes such as wound healing, tissue development and remodeling and oncogenic transformation. Appropriate FN levels are obtained by induction or repression of the FN gene in response to specific factors or circumstances in vivo. In order to identify regulatory regions involved in tissue-specific expression of FN, we have examined the transcriptional activity of overlapping fragments, within 4 kb upstream of the rat FN gene, following transfection into different cell types. Two regions conferred increases in transcription. The region between -1.08 and -2.6 displayed tissue-specificity and was active in fibroblasts but not hepatoma cells. The second region, between -3.2 and -3.9, was active in both cell types. Further characterization of the -1.08 to -2.6 segment demonstrated that it acts as an enhancer. Exonuclease III deletions of the 3' and 5' ends of the enhancer localized essential sequences between -1.5 and -1.7 and indicate that this fragment acts in concert with other sites between -1.08 and -2.6 to provide maximum enhancer activity. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated fibroblast-specific binding of nuclear protein(s) to a 65 bp fragment within the essential region and DNase I footprinting localized this binding to a 27 bp sequence. Deletion of the sequence abolished the activity of the 1.5 kb enhancer. These studies show that a novel DNA sequence at -1688 is involved in regulating transcription of the FN gene in fibroblasts.
Toward Reprogramming Gonads to Brains

An organism's proper development depends on mechanisms that instruct cells to develop into the myriad of different cell and tissue types that make up the body. Perhaps the most fundamental cell fate difference is between germ cells and somatic cells. Germ cells, such as egg and sperm cells, maintain the reproductive capacity of an organism. Somatic cells, such as nerve, muscle, and skin cells, allow an organism to feed, feel, move, and think. On page 304 of this issue, Tursun et al. ( 1 ) report on a simple recipe for transforming germ cells into somatic cells in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . Their recipe requires only two ingredients: expression of a transcription factor called CHE-1 that specifies the fate of somatic cells, and loss of a chromatin regulatory factor called LIN-53 (see the figure). This two-factor approach to transforming cell fates has far-reaching implications for developmental biology and regenerative medicine.
Experimental Method for Creep Crack Growth Testing in Controlled Environments at High Temperatures

Investigating creep crack growth under extreme environmental conditions is a challenging yet essential undertaking for the assessment of structural lifetimes of critical components subjected to extreme working conditions for long periods of time. For example, there is currently a need to evaluate structural materials for Next Generation Nuclear Plants (NGNPs) which will operate very high temperature helium-cooled reactors (VHTRs) for generating electricity and use by-product process heat for applications such as hydrogen production and desalination. The primary helium coolant is expected to operate at temperatures at or above 750 °C. In order to evaluate candidate materials for the intermediate heat exchangers, such as Inconel 617 and Alloy 800H, we have developed a creep crack growth (CCG) test apparatus which was designed to test compact tension specimens at temperatures up to 850 °C in controlled environments, including impure helium environments, following ASTM standard E 1457–13. Details of the design of the CCG apparatus and representative results are presented.
Exploring frameless stereotactic image guided surgery.

ABSTRACT Frameless stereotactic image guided surgery (IGS)—a fairly new modality originally used in cranial neurosurgical procedures—has been found to have several advantages over traditional framed methods of three-dimensional navigation. Frameless stereotactic IGS is proving useful in neurosurgical procedures by allowing screws to be placed in the spine more quickly and accurately than with traditional methods. As IGS becomes standard clinical practice for certain spinal procedures—overlapping both neurosurgery and orthopedic specialties—new ideas for surgical application of the technology are developing. Currently, frameless stereotactic IGS is being investigated for use in hardware placement in orthopedic procedures and for endoscopic navigation in otorhinolaryngologic sinus procedures. Frameless stereotactic IGS is expected to gain application approval in both orthopedic and otorhinolaryngologic specialties from the US Food and Drug Administration in the near future. AORN J 69 (March 1999) 498–512.
Zero range scattering theory. I. Nonrelativistic three- and four-particle equations

We prove here that by taking the zero range limit of conventional nonrelativistic three-particle theories and restricting the two-particle amplitude in this limit to have no singularities at negative energy other than bound state poles, we can derive unitary three-particle equations depending only on two-particle physical observables. Phenomenological extensions of this theory suitable for data analysis of systems with three-particle final states and two- and three-cluster reaction theories are briefly discussed. The extension of the theory to four-particle systems is sketched. Nonrelativistic and relativistic applications will be discussed in subsequent papers in this series.
Does feminism serve a protective function against eating disorders

ABSTRACT Two hundred seventeen women completed the Kinsey Sexual Orientation Scale, the Feminist Identity Scale, and three questionnaires that measured eating attitudes and behaviors. Lesbian participants were significantly more likely than heterosexual participants to work actively to improve the status of women, and they were less likely than heterosexuals to report attitudes and behaviors that are associated with eating disorders. Older women were more committed to feminist activism than younger women. Although feminist identity scores did not directly predict eating attitudes and behaviors, evidence suggests that feminism may serve a protective function against eating disorders in lesbians.
The adult acquired flatfoot and spring ligament complex: Pathology and implications for treatment

This article reviews the anatomy of the spring ligament complex, the extent of ligament involvement in addition to the spring ligament, and implications for clinical reconstruction.
Low-Income Workers with Employer-Sponsored Insurance: Who’s at Risk When Employer Coverage Is No Longer an Option?:

A firm's decision to drop the offer of employer-sponsored insurance (ESI), reduce eligibility for ESI, or significantly increase employee costs would have serious implications for the health insurance status of currently covered low-income workers. The authors find that at least a third of currently covered low-income workers do not have affordable insurance options outside of the group market. Furthermore, a simulation analysis shows that 54 percent of those workers would become uninsured if their employers were to drop ESI. This would result in an additional 1 million uninsured adults if 10 percent of low-income workers lost their ESI offer, and at least 350,000 uninsured adults if 10 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 100 employees (the firms most likely to drop coverage) lost their ESI. The authors also find that expanding public programs to cover low-income workers would reduce the high uninsurance rate by half, but substantial minorities would remain uninsured.
Influence of packaging on microbiological, chemical and sensory changes in chill‐stored turkey portions

1. Microbiological, chemical and sensory changes were determined for turkey breast fillets and drumsticks in either oxygen‐permeable film or vacuum packs during storage at 1 °C. 2. The use of vacuum packs delayed “off” odour development from 16 to 25 d in the case of breast fillets and from 14 to 20 d for drumsticks but in each case the detection of definite “off” odours was often preceded by marked changes in flavour. 3. At spoilage, pseudomonads predominated on both breast fillets and drumsticks in oxygen‐permeable packs whilst in vacuum packs the predominant organisms comprised two groups of bacteria resembling “ a typical lactobacilli “, one being more common on breast fillets, the other on drumsticks. 4. Protein breakdown (measured in tyrosine equivalents) was observed in all samples during storage and occurred most rapidly in vacuum‐packed breast fillets. Hypoxanthine, which has been associated with flavour changes in meats, increased in concentration at least four‐fold over the storage period.
Internode Mobility Correlation for Group Detection and Analysis in VANETs

Recent studies on mobility-assisted schemes for routing and topology control and on mobility-induced link dynamics have presented significant findings on the properties of a pair of nodes (e.g., the intermeeting time and link life time) or a group of nodes (e.g., network connectivity and partitions). In contrast to the study on the properties of a set of nodes rather than individuals, many works share a common ground with respect to node mobility, i.e., independent mobility in multihop wireless networks. Nonetheless, in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), mobile devices installed on vehicles or held by humans are not isolated; however, they are dependent on each other. For example, the speed of a vehicle is influenced by its close-by vehicles, and vehicles on the same road move at similar speeds. Therefore, the gap between our understanding of the impact of independent mobility and our interest in the properties of correlated mobility in VANETs, along with the real systems altogether, declare an interesting question. How can we measure the internode mobility correlation, such as to uncover the node groups and network components, and explore their impact on link dynamics and network connectivity? Bearing this question in mind, we first examine several traces and find that node mobility exhibits spatial locality and temporal locality correlations, which are closely related to node grouping. To study the properties of these groups on the fly, we introduce a new metric, i.e., dual-locality ratio (DLR), which quantifies mobility correlation of nodes. In light of taking spatial and temporal locality dimensions into account, the DLR can be used to effectively identify stable user groups, which in turn can be used for network performance enhancement.
End-to-End Propagation Noise and Memory Analysis for Molecular Communication over Microfluidic Channels

Molecular communication (MC) between a transmitter and a receiver placed in the chambers attached to a microfluidic channel is investigated. A linear end-to-end channel model is developed capturing the effects of the diffusion and the junction transition at the chambers, as well as the microfluidic channel shapes and the fluid flow. The spectral density of the propagation noise is studied, and the flat frequency bands are identified for the chambers and the microfluidic channel. This suggests that in certain microfluidic design choices, the spectral density of noise may end up naturally being flat. Motivated by this result, the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) model is developed based on the chamber, the microfluidic channel, and the fluid flow parameters for the end-to-end propagation noise. Furthermore, the molecular memory is modeled due to inter-diffusion among transmitted molecular signals. The effect of the molecular memory on the end-to-end propagation noise is also analyzed. To substantiate our analytical results, the ranges of physical parameters that yield a linear end-to-end MC channel are investigated. These results show the validity of the AWGN model for MC over microfluidic channels and characterize the impact of the microfluidic channel and chamber geometry on the propagation noise and memory.
Temperature acclimation alters oxidative capacities and composition of membrane lipids without influencing activities of enzymatic antioxidants or susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in fish muscle.

SUMMARY Cold acclimation of ectotherms results typically in enhanced oxidative capacities and lipid remodeling, changes that should increase the risk of lipid peroxidation (LPO). It is unclear whether activities of antioxidant enzymes may respond in a manner to mitigate the increased potential for LPO. The current study addresses these questions using killifish ( Fundulus heteroclitus macrolepidotus ) and bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus ) acclimated to 5 and 25°C for 9 days and 2 months, respectively. Because the effects of temperature acclimation on pro- and antioxidant metabolism may be confounded by variable activity levels among temperature groups, one species (killifish) was also subjected to a 9-day exercise acclimation. Oxidative capacity of glycolytic (skeletal) muscle (indicated by the activity of cytochrome c oxidase) was elevated by 1.5-fold in killifish, following cold acclimation, but was unchanged in cardiac muscle and also unaffected by exercise acclimation in either tissue. No changes in citrate synthase activity were detected in either tissue following temperature acclimation. Enzymatic antioxidants (catalase and superoxide dismutase) of either muscle type were unaltered by temperature or exercise acclimation. Mitochondria from glycolytic muscle of cold-acclimated killifish were enriched in highly oxidizable polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFA), including diacyl phospholipids (total carbons:total double bonds) 40:8 and 44:12. Increased oxidative capacity, coupled with elevated PUFA content in mitochondria from cold-acclimated animals did not, however, impact LPO susceptibility when measured with C11-BODIPY. The apparent mismatch between oxidative capacity and enzymatic antioxidants following temperature acclimation will be addressed in future studies.
Analysis of proportions for clustered binary data in the presence of unequal dispersions

Abstract This paper investigates the test procedures for testing the homogeneity of the proportions in the analysis of clustered binary data in the context of unequal dispersions across the treatment groups. We introduce a simple test procedure based on adjusted proportions using a sandwich estimator of the variance of the proportion estimators obtained by the generalized estimating equations approach of Zeger and Liang (1986) [Biometrics 42, 121–130]. We also extend the exiting test procedures of testing the hypothesis of proportions in this context. These test procedures are then compared, by simulations, in terms of size and power. Moreover, we derive the score test for testing the homogeneity of the dispersion parameters among several groups of clustered binary data. An illustrative application of the recommended test procedures is also presented.
Stimulation of neurite growth by epithelial implants into corneal stroma.

Abstract The neuronotrophic action of various ocular tissues to stimulate the ectopic formation of preterminal and terminal neural structures was tested in vivo. Pockets within the collagenous corneal parenchyma were implanted with pieces of epithelium, collagen with and without basal lamina, or conjunctival epithelium. After 3–4 weeks, corneas stained by the gold chloride procedure showed axon terminals within the epithelial cyst and plexiform arrangements at the periphery. In contrast, neither conjunctival epithelium nor collagen showed the ability to stimulate neural growth.
After the New Age

This article explores the connections between conventional religion and the New Age, using data from a major online questionnaire study, Survey2001, that was sponsored by the National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation. It begins with two competing hypotheses. (1) Involvement in conventional religion discourages involvement in unconventional para-religion because conventional religion competes with para-religion. (2) Conventional religion encourages unconventional para-religion by promulgating supernatural assumptions about the nature of humanity and the universe. Factor analysis of 20 putatively New Age agree-disagree questionnaire items reveals that 15 of them define a general New Age factor, supported by secondary anti-paranormal and anti-alien factors. Three measures of conventional religiousness show complex relations to the New Age items. Analysis using factor scores indicates that both hypotheses express real effects that cancel each other out for many people. Individual subjective religiousness and personal prayer or meditation correlate strongly positively with the New Age among respondents who never attend religious services. The study considers denominational differences, then concludes by showing that a curvilinear relationship exists between religiousness and acceptance of New Age beliefs.
A 1 GS/s, 31 MHz BW, 76.3 dB dynamic range, 34 mW CT-ΔΣ ADC with 1.5 cycle quantizer delay and improved STF

A 1 GS/s Continuous-time Delta-Sigma modulator (CT-ΔΣM) with 31 MHz bandwidth, 76.3 dB dynamic range and 72.5 dB signal-to-noise is reported in a 0.13µm CMOS technology. The design employs an excess loop delay (ELD) of more than one clock cycle for achieving higher sampling rate. The ELD is compensated using a fast-loop formed around the last integrator by using a sample-and-hold. Further, the effect of this ELD compensation scheme on the signal transfer function (STF) of a feedforward CT-ΔΣ architecture has been analyzed and reported. In this work, an improved STF is achieved by using a combination of feed-forward, feed-back and feed-in paths and power consumption is reduced by eliminating the adder opamp. This CT-ΔΣM has a conversion bandwidth of 31 MHz and consumes 34 mW from the 1.2V power supply. The relevant design trade-offs have been investigated and presented along with simulation results.
Salt Effects on Surface-Tethered Peptides in Solution

The capability to manipulate proteins/peptide fragments at liquid-solid interfaces has led to tremendous applications in detectors and biotechnology. Therefore, understanding the detailed molecular behavior of proteins and peptides tethered on a hard material surface is an interesting and important topic. The inhomogeneity presented by surfaces as well as ions in the solution plays an important role in the thermodynamics and kinetics of the tethered proteins. In this study, we perform a series of molecular dynamics simulations of a pentapeptide RHSVV, a p53 epitope, tethered on a prepared microarray surface in various salt concentrations (0, 0.14, 0.5, and 1 M NaCl), as well as free in ionic solution (0, 0.5, and 1 M). The conformational space the tethered peptide visits largely overlaps with the free peptide in solution. However, surface tethering as well as the salt concentration changes both the thermodynamics and kinetics of the peptide. Frequent conformational changes are observed during the simulations and tend to be slowed down by both increasing the salt concentration and surface tethering. The local composition of ions at different salt concentrations is also compared between the tethered and free peptide.
Spectral distribution of radiation from the cascade arc plasma

Abstract A mathematical model has been developed for radiation emission and absorption in the cascade arc plasma, and calculations have been performed to determine the complete spectral distribution of radiation emerging from the argon arc. Although self-absorption effects are negligible for the continuum radiation, they are significant for much of the line radiation. The radiation flux emerging from the arc, as well as the efficiency for conversion from electrical to radiant energy, increase with increasing arc current and pressure and decreasing arc radius. The relative contribution of line radiation to the total arc radiation decreases with increasing current and pressure and decreasing radius.
Possible commercial formulations of insect‐parasitic nematodes

At least two experimental nematode biological insecticide formulations are currently being produced in small quantities around the world, These formulations are efficacious and people are willing to pay money for them. Advantages for the use of these parasites can be: nonpolluting, self-perpetuating, safe, and not harmful to beneficial organisms. The disadvantages are: relatively short shelf-life, acceptability, moisture, price, and dispersal techniques. One of the preparations is a nematode that vectors a bacterium. It can be produced at the rate of 100 × 106 infective nematodes/2 liter container at a cost of 2 cents/106. It can kill over 1000 species of insects. The other product kills over 60 species of mosquitoes and has been sold as mermithid nematode eggs in moist sand. This mosquito parasite can be established in the new site and self-perpetuate to suppress mosquito parasite can be established in the new site and self-perpetuate to suppress mosquito populations. It kills the mosquito before pupating. Increased research activity, using these parasites in the last ten years, has stimulated interest in these organisms for pest insect control.
Survival perspectives from the world's most successful pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Studying defined mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the mouse model of infection has led to the discovery of attenuated mutants that fall into several phenotypic classes. These mutants are categorized by their growth characteristics compared with those of wild-type M. tuberculosis, and include severe growth in vivo mutants, growth in vivo mutants, persistence mutants, pathology mutants and dissemination mutants. Here, examples of each of these mutant phenotypes are described and classified accordingly. Defining the importance of mycobacterial gene products responsible for in vivo growth, persistence and the induction of immunopathology will lead to a greater understanding of the host-pathogen interaction and potentially to new antimycobacterial treatment options.
Relationship between visual sensitivity and target localization in older adults

Older adults commonly report problems in visual search tasks and experience a higher incidence of mobility problems (e.g. falls and vehicle crashes), which involve visual skills. We examined whether target localization problems in the elderly can be adequately explained by impairments in peripheral visual sensitivity, or whether deficits in higher order visual processing are also contributory. Fifty-nine older adults (59-88 yr) who exhibited varying degrees of visual field loss (none to severe) were asked to localize briefly-presented, high-contrast targets (3 x 5 deg) in the central 60 deg (diameter) of the visual field, while simultaneously performing a visual discrimination task at fixation. Visual sensitivity accounted for only 36% of the variance in localization performance across subjects, and this relationship grew weaker (13%) when the target was embedded in distracting stimuli, suggesting that impaired attentional skills also underlie older adults' localization problems. Not surprisingly, older adults with severe visual field loss were also poor at localizing targets. However, about half of those older patients with normal or near-normal visual fields also had severe localization problems. These results indicate that despite having good visual field sensitivity, many older adults have serious difficulty locating objects of interest in the environment. This study illustrates that clinical tests for identifying visual performance problems in the elderly must embody stimulus and task features which better reflect the visual demands of everyday life.
Periaortic fat and cardiovascular risk: a comparison of high-risk older adults and age-matched healthy controls

Periaortic fat and cardiovascular risk: a comparison of high-risk older adults and age-matched healthy controls
Evaluation and management of women with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition that often leads to a variety of symptoms that range from pain complaints to infertility. Endometriosis is also found in women who are asymptomatic. The diagnosis of endometriosis can be made clinically with reliability similar to that of one made surgically. Medical treatment options are effective, as are surgical treatment options. Complications associated with surgery, however, push the balance in favor of medical therapy whenever possible. Based on the body of evidence available at present, women with endometriosis-related complaints should be treated with a first-line medical therapy. If that fails, a second-line medical therapy is warranted under most conditions. Laparoscopic surgery should be reserved for patients in whom second-line medical therapy has failed or is contraindicated by desire to conceive immediately or as soon as possible.
Human factors in the forest products industry

The Forest Products Industry, like other “heavy industries” has for many years failed to plan and design for the human components of man-machine systems. This resulted in the humans having to adapt to poorly designed, illogical and hazardous work environments. The Occupational Safety and Health Act helped initiate the trend toward improved mill design. The rapid implementation of computer automation has provided additional impetus and opportunities for good man-machine design and modern plant design will provide five key areas for the application of Human Factors: Systems/Operations Analysis, Plant Design, Control Room Design, CRT Display Design and Training Programs.
Effect of probe geometry and optical properties on the sampling depth for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

The sampling depth of light for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is analyzed both experimentally and computationally. A Monte Carlo (MC) model was used to investigate the effect of optical properties and probe geometry on sampling depth. MC model estimates of sampling depth show an excellent agreement with experimental measurements over a wide range of optical properties and probe geometries. The MC data are used to define a mathematical expression for sampling depth that is expressed in terms of optical properties and probe geometry parameters.
Mirror responses in a Japanese macaque troop (Arashiyama West)

Behavior toward two mirrors in the field was observed in the Arashiyama West troop ofMacaca fuscata. Counts of visits to the mirrors, plus scan and focal animal sampling were used. Some animals were marked with fluorescent paint to test informally for self-recognition. A relatively high mean frequency of visits to the reflecting side of both mirrors by all age classes, ranks, and sexes was recorded. There was no age difference in frequency of mirror visits per sample but adults spent more time per visit than subadults who in turn spent more time than juveniles. There was no indication of self-recognition by paint-marked animals. Mirrors appeared to be used to monitor the reflected scene and to look at the self-image. Social behavior in the mirror zone that was not directed toward the mirror was common to all age classes. Species-typical behavior directed toward the mirror was seen in younger animals but very seldom in adults. No threat displays by any animal were observed. We suggest that for adults the mirror image was not seen simply as another monkey.
Crystal structure of cyclo(Pro‐Gly)3: Li complex: A model for ion transport by cyclo(Pro‐Gly)3

The crystal structure of cyclo(Pro-Gly)3 (PG3) complex with LiSCN (C22H30N7O6SLi) has been solved by x-ray diffraction. The crystals belong to the space group R3 in the hexagonal setting with unit cell parameters of a = 12.581(1), c = 29.705(3) A, V = 4072.0 A3, Z = 6, Mr = 527.53, Dc = 1.23 g/cm3. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods using the program SHELXS-86 and refined to an R value of 5.3% for 1645 reflections (I > 2σI). There are two conformers in the crystal structure. One conformer has three carbonyls on one side and three on the other side of the peptide plane. The other conformer has all six of the carbonyls on the same side of the peptide plane. Both of these conformers bind independently to a Li ion. Based on the conformers of the Li complex and other reported ion complexes formed by PG3, we propose a model for the transport of ions across the lipid membrane. The features of the model are as follows: (1) PG3 forms a hexameric stack in a lipid bilayer when complexing and transporting metal ions. (2) It undergoes a conformational flipping in order pass the ion along the channel. The energy required for the conformational change involved in the flipping of the PG3 molecule may be provided by the applied potential during ion transport. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Identification of Needs of and Utilization of Resources by Rural and Urban Elders After Hospital Discharge to the Home

The recent reductions in lengths of hospital stays may particularly affect the elderly in rural communities where resources may be scarce. The purpose of this descriptive, comparative study was to assess and evaluate the match of formal and informal resources with individual functional, behavioral, knowledge, and skilled care needs of rural and urban elderly during a 21-day transition period following hospital discharge to the home. Eighty-one elderly patients discharged to one urban and two frontier rural counties were selected. There were no significant differences in demographic variables between rural and urban participants. The Comprehensive Health Care Needs Assessment (CHCNA) questionnaire was used to assess needs and utilization of resources at 3 days and 3 weeks after discharge. Using repeated measure analyses of variance, there were significantly fewer needs identified at 3 weeks than at 3 days after discharge. Rural dwellers identified significantly more skilled care needs than their urban counterparts; however, none were highly technical in nature. Unexpectedly, at 3 weeks after discharge, considerably more functional needs were met by families in the urban setting than in the rural setting. Although only a small number of participants reported unmet needs in multiple domains, the complexity of the unmet needs requires further exploration.
The desirability of a permanent tax amnesty

Abstract There are two main concerns about tax amnesty. First, if it is anticipated it may increase cheating and reduce the efficiency of the tax system. Second, amnesty may be inequitable by letting cheaters ‘off the hook’. However, several federal governments currently hold a policy of long-term, or permanent, tax amnesty, in apparent defiance of these concerns. This paper examines fully anticipated tax amnesty and finds that it is possible for a permanent tax amnesty to actually increase, rather than decrease, the efficiency and equity of the tax system.
Characterization of the androgen-dependent 22Kdalton glycoprotein from rat ventral prostate.

Abstract (1) Oxidation by molecular oxygen converted the 22Kdalton glycoprotein from rat ventral prostate into a 34K species and this reaction could be reversed by thiol reducing reagent. (2) Measurement of the level of the 22Kdalton glycoprotein in prostatic cytosol by the radial immunodiffusion technique showed that changes in the 22Kdalton glycoprotein concentration in response to androgen withdrawal and replacement were slow in comparison to androgen regulated levels of mRNA coding for the protein. (3) Charcoal absorption steroid binding assays of the 22Kdalton glycoprotein revealed that the protein did not bind testosterone, estradiol, progesterone or corticosterone. These results indicate that the 22Kdalton glycoprotein is metabolically stable, not steroid-binding, and exists as an oligomer through disulfide crosslinking.
Regulating interest when learning online: Potential motivation and performance trade-offs

Abstract Online learning may be particularly sensitive to self-regulatory trade-offs between maintaining interest and performance. Undergraduates in online or on-campus sections of the same course rated strategies used to motivate studying for the first exam, and interest after the first exam and at semester's end. First exam and final class grades were obtained. We compared online and on-campus students in reported use of strategies to enhance the importance of studying-related outcomes (goals-defined) and to enhance the studying experience (experience-defined). The latter included an Internet-based strategy (i.e., making studying more enjoyable by exploring class web page). Online and on-campus students did not differ in reported use of outcome-focused strategies but online students were more likely to report exploring the class web page. For online students, greater exploration was associated with higher interest but lower first exam grades, which predicted final interest and grades. Implications for regulating interest and online learning are discussed.
Pappworth's Guinea Pigs

M.H. Pappworth's 1967 book, Human guinea pigs, was a major catalyst for change in the ethics and regulation of human research in the 1970s. Many of Pappworth's ethical concerns about the threats posed to human subjects are still valid today, yet the source of those threats has shifted from universities to industry sponsors.
The effect of parental social support and acculturation on childhood asthma control

AbstractObjective: There exists large ethnic disparities in asthma among Latino children; Puerto Ricans (PRs) are disproportionately affected, while Mexicans have the lowest prevalence and morbidity. Disparities are poorly understood, however, acculturation and social support are suggested to influence asthma control among children. This study investigated the relationship between acculturation, social support and asthma control among PR and Mexican children and their caregivers. Methods: Primary caregiver-child dyads (n = 267) of PR (n = 79) and Mexican (n = 188) descent were recruited from clinics at two inner-city hospitals in Bronx, NY and three clinics in Phoenix, AZ. Children were 5–12 years of age and had a confirmed asthma diagnosis. Dyads completed measures of social support, acculturation and asthma control; logistic regression was used for analysis. Results: Mexican children had better asthma control than PR children (p < 0.001). PR caregivers were more acculturated than Mexican caregivers (p <...
Evaluation of crystallographic and electromagnetic defects in the superconducting crystals and films by analysis of magneto-microwave response

Abstract Magnetic-flux trapping in crystals and films of high- T c superconductors is investigated from the microwave (MW) response detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. For Bi2212 single crystals, the periodic MW spectra were observed at external magnetic fluxes Φ X =( k ±1/2) Φ 0 ; where k is an integer, along with the surface impedance signal. The periodic spectrum is a clear evidence for the stepwise transitions ( k → k +1) between the energy states of Josephson-junction (JJ) links by MW absorption, which follows the stepwise penetration of quantized flux Φ 0 . Their analysis provided information on the phase shift Δ ϕ =0 or π of the vortex current along the link in addition to the link size, link-surface orientation, and the number of the penetrated quanta. The YBCO epitaxial films, which were fabricated by pulsed laser ablation–deposition (PLD), showed the three kinds of MW responses or their superimposed spectra: (1) surface impedance, (2) periodic spectra due to intra-crystal JJ, and (3) a complex spectrum characteristic of the flux dynamics at inter-granular JJ defects. They are discussed in comparison with the film-crystallinity studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and have made it possible to evaluate the degree of epitaxy and the defects that work as flux-trapping sites.
Analysis of evolutionary process in a lot sizing application

Abstract This paper seeks to determine the relationship between the best chromosome and its ancestors in genetic algorithms. The domain chosen is that of the classical lot sizing problem. A genetic algorithm software is developed to find the best lot size. We trace the best chromosome back for all generations to its ancestors and observe the evolutionary process. The preliminary results show that not all promising solutions led to the best chromosome. There were several good chromosomes repeating from generation to generation in the later part of the process and eventually leading to the best chromosome.