cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High prevalence of hepatitis B nonimmunity in vaccinated pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Durable protection from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other vaccine-preventable diseases assumes great importance due to improved long-term patient and graft survival rates in pediatric liver transplantation. Vaccine immunogenicity data in transplanted children is limited. This was a cross-sectional, single-center, point-prevalence study evaluating HBV immunity in 160 pediatric liver transplant recipients. Patients with hepatitis B surface antibody levels <10 IU/L were considered nonimmune. Predictor variables for nonimmunity identified in univariate analyses were later analyzed within a logistic regression model. All subjects received the full HBV vaccination series prior to transplant. The majority (67%) of previously immunized pediatric liver transplant patients were nonimmune. Older children (p < 0.001) and children who were further out from transplant (p < 0.001) were more likely to be nonimmune in univariate analyses, but only time from transplant was a significant predictor of nonimmunity in a logistic regression model (odds ratio 1.3, p < 0.001 at 1 year). The mean time since transplant was 5.6 years ± 4.6. Markers of nutrition, immunosuppression, white blood cell parameters and type/severity of disease did not correlate with HBV immunity. Information on the anamnestic response to boosting or revaccination is needed to adequately address this vulnerable group.
An Ethernet to FireWire bridge for real-time control of the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK)

In this paper, a real-time control network based on Ethernet and FireWire is presented, where Ethernet provides a convenient, cross-platform interface between a central control PC and a FireWire subnetwork that contains multiple distributed nodes (I/O boards). Real-time performance is achieved because this architecture limits the number of Ethernet transactions on the host PC, benefits from the availability of real-time Ethernet drivers, and uses the broadcast and peer-to-peer capabilities of FireWire to efficiently transfer data among the distributed nodes. This approach and resulting benefits are comparable to EtherCAT, but preserves existing investments in FireWire-based controllers and relies only on conventional, vendor-neutral network hardware and protocols. The system performance is demonstrated on the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), which consists of 8 FireWire nodes that control 2 Master Tool Manipulators (MTMs) and 2 Patient Side Manipulators (PSMs), for a total of 28 axes. This approach is generally applicable to interface existing FireWire-based systems to new control PCs via Ethernet or to serve as an open-source alternative to EtherCAT for new designs.
Algorithms for improved detection of supraventricular arrhythmias

A postprocessing system used for the detection of a subset of supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA), supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTA) and atrial premature beats (APBs), is described. A particularly difficult set of records is selected from a newly created SVA database SVA detection strategies which incorporate criteria based on examining R-R interval statistics in a wider context ('retrospective analysis') in order to identify isolated APBs more accurately are studied. Other strategies which use explicit 'look-ahead' criteria to find runs of SVTA are also studied. The 'retrospective analysis' algorithm yields a modest increase in APC sensitivity (to 44%), offset by a decrease in positive predictivity (to 91%). Applying the 'look ahead' algorithm to the output of the 'retrospective analysis' algorithm makes the APC sensitivity 78%, with 91% positive predictivity. >
Preventing Online Bullying: What Companies and Others Can Do

The Internet, the landmark invention of our lifetime, has brought us great benefit, but along with it, risk and antisocial behavior, including online bullying or "cyberbullying". Defined as the use of electronic technology to demonstrate behavior that teases, demeans, or harasses someone less powerful, the global pervasiveness of online bullying is supported by data including that in a 2012 Microsoft study of young people worldwide ages 8 to 17. Prevention lies in the promotion of "digital citizenship"-safer, responsible, and appropriate use of technology and services. And, while no singular entity can combat online bullying alone, Internet companies can play their part, as exemplified by the robust tools and resources offered by Microsoft and others. A collective focus, however, is needed to help raise awareness and change behavior and, that responsibility must be shared among parents and adults, educators, young people, law enforcement, and government.
Phase II trial of irinotecan plus cisplatin in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND. Patients with recurrent or metastatic HNC have a poor response and survival with currently available chemotherapy agents. Thus, new agents are needed. The authors report the results of a phase II trial of irinotecan and cisplatin in patients with metastatic or recurrent HNC. METHODS. Patients were treated with irinotecan 65 mg/m2 IV over 90 minutes and cisplatin 30 mg/m2 were administered intravenously weekly for four weeks, followed by a two week rest. However, after 17 patients were treated with weekly irinotecan at a dose of 65 mg/m2, toxicity analysis demonstrated the poor tolerance of that dose in this patient population. Thus, the protocol was amended, and irinotecan was dose reduced to a starting dose of 50 mg/m2. Twenty-three additional patients were treated with this dose. RESULTS. Forty patients were enrolled on study between February 2002 and April 2006, 17 patients at the first dose level and 23 patients at the amended dose level. Overall, 12 of 17 patients (71%) treated with irinotecan 65 mg/m2 experienced clinically significant grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Twelve patients required dose reductions. Toxicity was reduced but 17% of patients still experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicity on the lower irinotecan dose. The response rate was 35% for patients treated at irinotecan 65 mg/m2 and 22% for patients treated at 50 mg/m2. No complete responses were noted. CONCLUSIONS. The combination of irinotecan and cisplatin is efficacious in a poor prognosis group of patients but toxicity is substantial. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Association Between Levels of Blood Pressure and Measures of Subclinical Disease. Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background High blood pressure (BP) is associated with the presence and severity of subclinical disease. Less is known about associations between normal levels of BP and various measures of subclinical disease. Methods The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atheroclerosis (MESA) enrolled 6814 participants free of clinical cardiovascular disease (38% white, 28% African American, 22% Hispanic, and 12% Asian). The baseline examination included standardized measures of BP, common carotid intimal-medial thickness determined by ultrasonography, coronary artery calcium by computed tomography, and left ventricular mass by magnetic resonance imaging. Participants with treated hypertension (n = 2173) were excluded. Statistical methods included analysis of variance, linear regression, and χ2 tests. Results Among the 4640 participants, BP was strongly related to age and African American ethnicity. Carotid intimal-medial thickness was directly associated with systolic BP (SBP) and inversely associated with diastolic BP (DBP, P Conclusions The range of BP examined in this study fell largely within the normal or prehypertension stage. In cross-sectional analysis of data from a population-based study, these untreated levels of BP were associated with a variety of measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease.
Early Intervention for Young Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Prediction of Academic and Behavioral Outcomes

We examined the degree to which child, family, and treatment variables predicted treatment outcomes for reading and math achievement and oppositional behavior in a sample of 135 young children (105...
The coronary collateral circulation: Determinants and functional significance in ischemic heart disease

Richard Lower is given credit for having first postulated the existence of coronary collaterals or coronary interarterial anastomoses in 1869. Long after, the work of Spalteholz (1907), Gross (1921), James (1961), and Fulton (1965) combined to confirm their existence.’ Since then, a great deal has been thought, spoken, and published about coronary collaterals, but significantly less has been incontrovertibly demonstrated or proven. This presentation considers what is currently known and what is postulated with respect to the coronary collateral circulation. The specific questions addressed include: (1) the mode of growth and development and the anatomic distribution of coronary collaterals (when and where they are present and absent); (2) the role of physical exercise in the development of coronary collateralization; (3) functional efficacy of coronary collaterals (with respect to relief of myocardial ischemia, frequency of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrhythmias, and both sudden and nonsudden coronary death; (4) the relationship between nature’s coronary bypasses (collaterals) and man-made coronary bypasses (surgical grafts)-which are more effective? Do the former obviate the latter? What is the fate of the former following placement of the latter? and; (5) the question of our ability to pharmacologically or mechanically influence the function of coronary collaterals.
Liquidus Temperature-Composition Model for Multi-Component Glasses in the Fe, Cr, Ni, and Mn Spinel Primary Phase Field

Abstract We developed an extensive TL database of simulated high-level waste (HLW) glasses within the spinel primary phase field. Partial-molar TLs, Ti, were determined for all components that were systematically varied in database glasses (i=Al, B, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Si, Ti, U, and Zr). A clear relationship was found between the Ti values and ion potential. This led to a new model that can accurately predict the TL of glasses within component concentration ranges of the database. The model gives slightly better predictability than a first-order expansion of TL in composition while using only half of the fitted parameters and offers an improvement in predictability over previously published models. The success of this model gives insight to the nature of component effects on TL, which warrants further investigation. Specifically, the concentrations of glass components appear to be influential on TL in proportion to the character of their bonds or their ionic potential.
Simulation of stiff massless tethers

A model is developed and an algorithm presented for the time simulation of low-tension tethers with torsional and bending stiffness. Computational performance is extremely good owing to the neglect of all inertial terms, and quaternions enable arbitrary deflections. A first example verifies the accuracy of the program, and a second illustrates tether behavior during a complex maneuver.
You Didn’t Have to Do That Belief in Free Will Promotes Gratitude

Four studies tested the hypothesis that a weaker belief in free will would be related to feeling less gratitude. In Studies 1a and 1b, a trait measure of free will belief was positively correlated with a measure of dispositional gratitude. In Study 2, participants whose free will belief was weakened (vs. unchanged or bolstered) reported feeling less grateful for events in their past. Study 3 used a laboratory induction of gratitude. Participants with an experimentally reduced (vs. increased) belief in free will reported feeling less grateful for the favor. In Study 4, a reduced (vs. increased) belief in free will led to less gratitude in a hypothetical favor scenario. This effect was serially mediated by perceiving the benefactor as having less free will and therefore as being less sincerely motivated. These findings suggest that belief in free will is an important part of being able to feel gratitude.
Effects of the ionophores, X-537A and A-23187 on catecholamine release from the in vitro frog adrenal.

Abstract 1. The ionophore X-537A increases the rate of catecholamine release from the in vitro frog adrenal. 2. The ratio of epinephrine/norepinephrine measured during X-537A stimulation was the same as that during spontaneous release. 3. Even when Ca++ was removed from the Ringer, X-537A stimulated catecholamine release, but depolarization by elevated extra-cellular K+ was no longer effective. 4. X-537A also increases the release of dopamine β-hydroxylase, suggesting that the ionophore acts, at least in part, by stimulating the exocytosis of the chrommaffin granule contents. 5. Therefore, it is questionable whether the release of catecholamines by X-537A is owing to its action as a Ca++- ionophore. 6. The divalent cation ionophore, A-23187 (50μM), did not affect the rate of catecholamine release.
Differential maintenance of cortical and cancellous bone strength following discontinuation of bone-active agents.

Osteoporotic patients treated with antiresorptive or anabolic agents experience an increase in bone mass and a reduction in incident fractures. However, the effects of these medications on bone quality and strength after a prolonged discontinuation of treatment are not known. We evaluated these effects in an osteoporotic rat model. Six-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated with placebo, alendronate (ALN, 2 µg/kg), parathyroid hormone [PTH(1-34); 20 µg/kg], or raloxifene (RAL, 2 mg/kg) three times a week for 4 months and withdrawn from the treatments for 8 months. Treatment with ALN, PTH, and RAL increased the vertebral trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) by 47%, 53%, and 31%, with corresponding increases in vertebral compression load by 27%, 51%, and 31%, respectively (p < .001). The resulting bone strength was similar to that of the sham-OVX control group with ALN and RAL and higher (p < .001) with PTH treatment. After 4 months of withdrawal, bone turnover (BFR/BS) remained suppressed in the ALN group versus the OVX controls (p < .001). The vertebral strength was higher than in the OVX group only in ALN-treated group (p < .05), whereas only the PTH-treated animals showed a higher maximum load in tibial bending versus the OVX controls (p < .05). The vertebral BV/TV returned to the OVX group level in both the PTH and RAL groups 4 months after withdrawal but remained 25% higher than the OVX controls up to 8 months after withdrawal of ALN (p < .05). Interestingly, cortical bone mineral density increased only with PTH treatment (p < .05) but was not different among the experimental groups after withdrawal. At 8 months after treatment withdrawal, none of the treatment groups was different from the OVX control group for cortical or cancellous bone strength. In summary, both ALN and PTH maintained bone strength (maximum load) 4 months after discontinuation of treatment despite changes in bone mass and bone turnover; however, PTH maintained cortical bone strength, whereas ALN maintained cancellous bone strength. Additional studies on the long-term effects on bone strength after discontinuation and with combination of osteoporosis medications are needed to improve our treatment of osteoporosis.
Surface pressure dependence of phospholipase A2 activity in lipid monolayers is linked to interfacial water activity.

The specific activity of pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was studied in two disparate systems, one involving phosphatidylcholine monolayer at various surface pressures at the air–water interface and the other involving a solid-state system exposed to various equilibrium relative humidity (ERH). The results were examined in terms of thermodynamic activity of water in the interfacial region () and in the hydrated solid phase (aw). In both these physically different systems, the specific activity versus aw and profiles of PLA2 were remarkably similar. In both cases, the specific activity exhibited a maximum at aw (or ) ∼ 0.3. These results suggested that the mechanism of control of PLA2 activity at the lipid–water interface might involve modulation of the hydration state of the enzyme through control of the thermodynamic activity of water in the interfacial region. Extension of these results to biomembranes suggests that one of the functions of lipid bilayer might be the control of local water activity at the lipid–water interface. In biological membranes, localized subtle changes in interfacial water activity may occur as a result of local stretching or compression of the membrane facilitated by conformational changes in membrane-bound receptor proteins.
State Certification of Environmental Educators

(1978). State Certification of Environmental Educators. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 51-54.
β-Secondary deuterium equilibrium and kinetic isotope effects on nucleophilic attack by methanol at a carbonyl: Computational estimation of deviation from the rule of the geometric mean

Abstract An approximation using sets of rigid-rotors is developed that permits the computational estimation of observed isotope effects from non-rigid molecules. The approximation is applied to position-specific β-secondary deuterium isotope effects for the gas phase nucleophilic attack by methanol at a carbonyl where the reactant is considered capable of free methyl rotation while products are conformationally constrained. Computations utilized the B3LYP DFT level of theory with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The kinetic isotope effects computed for the attack of methanol at formaldehyde in the presence of ammonia are 1.030, 1.032 and 1.052 for the three methyl CH bonds. Equilibrium isotope effects for hydrogen-bonding of methanol as the donor to ammonia are 0.978 for the anti CH position and 1.047 for the two gauche CH positions, while complete ionization of methanol yielded a calculated equilibrium isotope effect of 1.496. When nucleophilic attack occurs prior to deprotonation the anti CH bond exhibits an equilibrium isotope effect of approximately 0.95, while the gauche positions demonstrate effects between 0.918 and 0.950 depending on steric and electronic effects in the 1-methoxyethanol protonated cation product. These estimations provide a framework to evaluate isotope effects from stereospecifically monodeuterated hydroxymethylenes in enzymatic reactions that employ primary alcohols as nucleophiles where the substrate exists as a non-rigid species capable of rotameric interconversion that becomes rigidly constrained at the transition state in the enzyme active site. The approximation can also be used to evaluate deviations from the rule of the geometric mean and the non-additivity of isotope effects by non-rigid molecules, and methanol ionization is considered as an example.
Canine hemangiosarcoma originates from hematopoietic precursors with potential for endothelial differentiation.

Objective Two competing hypotheses can be formulated regarding the origin of canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA). One states HSA originates from differentiated vascular endothelial cells that undergo mutations which endow them with malignant potential. The other states HSA originates from transformed hemangioblastic stem cells. This study was designed to begin to distinguish between these possibilities, as well as to test if flow cytometry was sufficiently sensitive to detect malignant cells in blood samples from dogs with HSA. Methods We used multiparameter flow cytometry to examine expression of cell-surface determinants associated with hematopoietic precursors (c-kit, CD34, CD133, CD45) or with lineage-committed cells (CD3, CD11b, CD14, CD21, CD105, CD146, α v β 3 -integrin) in HSA cell lines and in blood samples from healthy dogs or dogs with HSA. Results The data show that HSA cells coexpress surface markers associated with hematopoietic precursors and with commitment to endothelial lineage, providing a means to identify their presence in circulation and distinguish them from normal or malignant white blood cells. The percentage of cells that coexpressed these markers ranged from 0.5 to 1.25% for HSA dogs, and was less than 0.3% for unaffected dogs or dogs with HSA that had the tumors removed within 48 hours prior to obtaining samples. Conclusions The results place the ontogeny of HSA with multipotential bone marrow–derived stem cells whose progeny arrest differentiation at the hemangioblast or angioblast stage. In addition, these expression patterns may assist to confirm an HSA diagnosis, monitor minimal residual disease, and detect the disease in early stages.
INTERACTION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE IN CHICK OVIDUCT DEVELOPMENT: II. Effects of Estrogen and Progesterone on Tubular Gland Cell Function

The effects of estrogen and progesterone on the function of chick oviduct tubular gland cells have been studied. Such function, as measured by the increase in specific cell products such as lysozyme and ovalbumin, requires the continuous presence of estrogen or progesterone. Withdrawal of hormone results in a rapid cessation of function and an involution of the oviduct accompanied by rapid decreases in total weight, lysozyme, and RNA. During such involution, tubular gland cells per se persist, as evidenced by a lack of comparable decrease in total DNA content and by histological demonstration of tubular gland cells. When estrogen administration is reinstituted, preexisting tubular gland cells rapidly synthesize ovalbumin and lysozyme without requiring new DNA synthesis. Administration of progesterone also stimulates the function of such cells. Furthermore, the effects of estrogen and progesterone are synergistic on the synthesis of lysozyme and ovalbumin, whereas progesterone antagonizes the estrogen-evoked formation of tubular gland cells. It is suggested that such complex interactions of estrogen and progesterone on oviduct development and function result from differences in responsiveness of the various cell types present in the tissue.
Pharmacogenetics of methyl conjugation and thiopurine drug toxicity

Pharmacogenetics is the study of inherited variations in drug response Pharmacogenetics uses the techniques of pharmacology, population genetics, biochemical genetics and, most recently, molecular biology, to study the biological basis for individual variation in therapeutic response and in the occurrence of adverse reactions to medications. Most pharmacogenetic experiments deal with inherited differences in drug metabolism. The discussion here will review inherited variation in the activity of thiopurine methyltransferase, an enzyme that catalyzes the methyl conjugation of an important group of drugs, the thiopurines.
Neural correlates of the essence of conscious conflict: fMRI of sustaining incompatible intentions

The study of intrapsychic conflict has long been central to many key theories about the control of behavior. More recently, by focusing on the nature of conflicting processes in the brain, investigators have revealed great insights about controlled versus automatic processes and the nature of self-control. Despite these advances, many theories of cognitive control or self-control remain agnostic about the function of subjective awareness (i.e., basic consciousness). Why people consciously experience some conflicts in the nervous system but not others remains a mystery. One hypothesis is that people become conscious only of conflicts involving competition for the control of skeletal muscle. To test one aspect of this larger hypothesis, in the present study, 14 participants were trained to introspect the feeling of conflict (the urge to make an error during a Stroop color-word interference task) and then were asked to introspect in the same way while sustaining simple compatible and incompatible intentions during fMRI scanning (to move a finger left or right). As predicted, merely sustaining incompatible skeletomotor intentions prior to their execution produced stronger systematic changes in subjective experience than sustaining compatible intentions, as indicated by self-report ratings obtained in the scanner. Similar ratings held for a modified Stroop-like task when contrasting incompatible versus compatible trials also during fMRI scanning. We use subjective ratings as the basis of parametric analyses of fMRI data, focusing a priori on the brain regions involved in action-related urges (e.g., parietal cortex) and cognitive control (e.g., dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, lateral PFC). The results showed that subjective conflict from sustaining incompatible intentions was consistently related to activity in the left post-central gyrus.
Behavioral and environmental factors associated with acute exacerbation of asthma.

Background The relapse rate following treatment for acute asthma is high. While previous studies have evaluated the utility of pulmonary function measurements to identify patients likely to relapse, the resuts are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate other correctable, risk factors that may be associated with relapse. Participants Two hundred twenty-three patients treated in the emergency department during 1994, including those either admitted or discharged. Methods Patient interviews to identify behavioral and environmental risk factors for asthma exacerbation. Telephone contact and medical record review to determine incidence of relaspe. Results Two hundred twenty-three patients were enrolled of whom follow-up data were available for 152 (68%). Twenty-one percent of the patients relapsed within 14 days. Relapse was associated with the lack of an identifiable primary care physician and inability to obtain discharge medications. There was no relationship between relapse and the use of a spacer, hypoallergenic pillow or mattress cover, cigarette smoking, the presence of pets in the home, or weekly carpet cleaning. Conclusion Even following hospitalization for acute asthma, there is a significant relapse rate. Improving patients' access to primary care physicians and to appropriate medications may decrease the relapse rate. Although a significant portion of patients have behavioral and environmental risk factors for asthma exacerbation including cigarette smoking and failure to maintain a hypoallergenic environment, these factors are not associated with short-term relapse.
RL-MAC: a reinforcement learning based MAC protocol for wireless sensor networks

This paper introduces RL-MAC, a novel adaptive Media Access Control (MAC) protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) that employs a reinforcement learning framework. Existing schemes centre around scheduling the nodes' sleep and active periods as means of minimising the energy consumption. Recent protocols employ adaptive duty cycles as means of further optimising the energy utilisation. However, in most cases each node determines the duty cycle as a function of its own traffic load. In this paper, nodes actively infer the state of other nodes, using a reinforcement learning based control mechanism, thereby achieving high thoughput and low power consumption for a wide range of traffic conditions. Moreover, the computational complexity of the proposed scheme is moderate rendering it pragmatic for practical deployments.
Grasping component alterations and limb transport

The kinematic changes associated with the manipulation and transport components during a prehensile movement were examined using an experimental paradigm that required alterations in only the manipulation component. Instead of starting with the thumb and index finger naturally together (control condition), subjects began the reach-to-grasp movement with their thumb and fingers fully extended (experimental condition). In contrast to the control condition, in the experimental conditions the thumb and index finger started to close during wrist transport, then opened again prior to object grasp. In addition, there was a brief inflection in the ascending portion of the velocity profile of the wrist in over half the trials. However, all the primary features of the transport component profile remained unaltered. The results suggest that there can be substantial reorganization of the grip aperture during the first part of the reach without altering the temporal and spatial relationships between grip aperture and transport as the object to be grasped is approached.
Acute predictors of subacute complete heart block after alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Acute and subacute complete heart block (CHB) are sequelae of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Temporary pacemakers are routinely placed at the time of ASA, but there are no widely accepted guidelines for their management. This study examined acute predictors of subacute CHB in 52 consecutive ASA procedures in 48 patients without preexisting permanent pacemakers. Acute CHB occurred during 32 ASA procedures (62%), with the return of atrioventricular conduction on the day of ASA in all cases. New intraventricular conduction defects (IVCDs) were noted after 32 procedures (62%); in 9 of these, there was new first-degree atrioventricular block as well. CHB recurred subacutely 36 ± 22 hours after 13 ASA procedures (25%). In 5 of these cases, there was absent or inconsistent ventricular escape rhythm. Subacute CHB did not occur in 9 cases without acute CHB during ASA or new IVCDs after ASA. Acute CHB during ASA, new IVCDs after ASA, and new first-degree atrioventricular block after ASA incrementally increased the risk for subacute CHB. In conclusion, patients with acute CHB during ASA or new IVCDs after ASA are at high risk for developing subacute CHB, sometimes without a reliable escape rhythm; these patients should therefore have temporary pacing support for ≥48 hours after ASA or the last occurrence of CHB. Patients without acute CHB during ASA or new IVCDs after ASA are at low risk for subacute CHB.
Sonolysis of perhalomethane as studied by EPR and spin trapping

Intense ultrasonic waves have been reported to produce chemical changes by the phenomenon of cavitation (1-3). Although some sonochemically induced reactions proceed undoubtedly by an ionic mechanism (4-7), others most probably involve free radical intermediates (8, 9) although no direct evidence has been provided. We report our attempts to generate free radicals at room temperature in fluid solutions by ultrasonic exposure and their detection by EPR. We found that sonolysis of pure carbon tetrachloride or trichlorobromomethane generates free radicals which could be spin-trapped by 2-methyl-2nitrosopropane and identified. A Bransonic 12 ultrasonic cleaner (frequency, 50 kHz) was used as a generator of ultrasonic waves. The reaction mixture (3 ml) contained in a Pyrex test tube was held in the middle of the bath, and the vertical position of the tube was adjusted to maintain the same level of liquid inside the tube as outside. Particular care was taken to insure the reproducibility, by positioning the tube in the same place, keeping the water level and the temperature in the bath constant (23”C), etc. (10). The intensity of ultrasonic irradiation under these experimental conditions was monitored before each experiment by a calorimetric procedure which measures the amount of chlorine released in CC&-saturated water by ortho-tolidine reagent (II). Thus, a mixture of 3 ml water saturated with CCL, and 0.15 ml o&o-tolidine reagent (0.1% solution, Fisher Scientific Co.) was sonicated for 30 sec. The intensity of the yellow color was measured in a l-cm cell at 436 nm to be 0.8 IC_ 0.1 under our experimental conditions. When CCL or CCl,Br containing 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (1.5 mg/ml) was sonicated and subsequently analyzed by EPR, a spectrum composed of a triplet of ON = 6.7 G could be recorded (Fig. 1). This splitting characteristic of an acyl spin adduct (12) is attributed to the nitroxone I
CI superposition error caused by bond functions

Abstract The dissociation energy and the equilibrium bond length are calculated for CIO at the first order CI level for a variety of basis sets, consisting of both standard atomic centered basis sets and those including bond functions. The basis sets with bond function are found to have a CI superposition error many times that of the standard atomic centered basis sets.
Analysis of promoter activity from an α-zein gene 5′ flanking sequence in transient expression assays.

Three DNA regions required for high levels of transcription were identified by transient gene expression analysis of the 5′ flanking region of a 19 kDa α-zein gene. For these analyses, the zein promoter region was fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene and assayed by transient expression in carrot protoplasts. A 107-bp sequence (-114/-8) containing the TATA box resulted in low levels of GUS activity. Addition of the proximal 75 bp (-189/-114) doubled the level of GUS expression, and a further increase in expression was obtained when additional upstream sequences (-483/-226) were placed 5′ of the zein promoters. Zein upstream sequences enhanced transcription independently of the-189/-114 region. Although the-189/-114 region was not essential for transcription, it was important to obtain maximum GUS activity. A 121 bp upstream sequence (-347/-226) that contains the conserved TGTAAAG sequence gave high levels of GUS activity when placed in either orientation 5′ of the zein promoter sequences. However, nucleotides-347 to-309, containing the TGTAAAG sequence, could be deleted from this fragment without a significant change in GUS activity. Zein upstream sequences did not promote transcription of the GUS gene in somatic maize protoplasts. The upstream activating sequence from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter placed 5′ of deletion mutants of the zein promoter also failed to produce GUS activity above background.
Agon and rhetorical form: The essence of “old feminist”; rhetoric

Rhetorical critics have long been concerned with the processes through whch individuals are unified into movements for social change. This essay proposes that critics can gain distinctive insight into the character of a movement by searching for the dramatic conflict that was commonly experienced by its members. An analysis of the rhetoric of the “Old Feminist”; movement reveals that the movement originated in the essential conflict between the “Cult of True Womanhood”; and the personhood of all women and was represented most fully in Elizabeth Cady Stanton's “The Solitude of Self.”
FUNCTIONAL FIXATION IN PRODUCT PRICING: A COMPARISON OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS.

Abstract This study tests the functional fixation hypothesis by comparing changes in the product pricing decisions of individuals and small groups in response to a fully disclosed, cosmetic change in depreciation method. The study provides several methodological refinements over earlier related studies. The research design incorporates full disclosure of the effect of accounting differences and a variety of measures are used to assess the impact of the accounting change, these revealing the inadequacy of the aggregate measures employed in earlier studies. Furthermore, the paper includes a comparison of the quality of group versus individual decision making with respect to functional fixation. The findings indicate that while individuals have a more pronounced shift in decision models than do groups, neither individuals nor groups fully adjust for the change.
Pictorial multi-atlas segmentation of brain MRI

The use of a single labeled volume (“atlas”) is limited in registration-based segmentation because it is hard for one atlas to represent the whole data population, especially if input images observe large variation. Moreover, the choice of volume to label biases the algorithm. Multi-atlas segmentation has emerged as an alternative but it has a similar drawback due to combinatory combinations of different anatomical structures; and in addition, the computation time grows linearly with the number of atlases. In this paper, a pictorial-structure-based approach to achieving both the high performance and the efficiency of registration-based segmentation is proposed. Our method performs segmentation via registering each structure of the atlas in an exemplar-based graphical model. We compared the proposed approach with multi-atlas segmentation and show the advantage of our method in both effectiveness and efficiency.
An agent simulation study of a unified mechanism on individual foraging behaviour with individual scalar expectancies

In this study, we present a selective overview of group and individual foraging behaviour and propose an agent-based model to unify these methodologies, enabling the exploration of plausible causal mechanisms and novel hypothesis generation. Despite its popular place in behavioural science, little work has been done with the generalized matching equation as it pertains to simulation work. Our model uses psychologically justifiable and theoretically grounded models of memory for time and decision rules. The results of preliminary simulation experiments suggest that the model is sensitive to changes in pay-off density and correctly replicates Ideal Free Distributions.
Adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on fly ash from a municipal incinerator and a coal-fired power plant

Several assumptions in a theoretical model for adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on fly ash have been examined experimentally. Direct measurement of adsorption using elution analysis with gas-solid chromatography has been made for six PAH on fly ash from a municipal incinerator and a coalfired power plant. Results show adsorption is rapid, isotherms are non-linear and irreversible adsorption occurs at concentrations below 30 μg PAH per gram of fly ash. However, at concentrations above 30 μg g−1 mechanisms of adsorption for PAH are governed largely by vapor pressures. A new model which is based on these experimental results is proposed.
The Effect of Water on Thermal Stresses in Polymer Composites

The fundamentals of the thermodynamic theory of mixtures and continuum thermochemistry are reviewed for a mixture of condensed water and polymer. A specific mixture which is mechanically elastic with temperature and water concentration gradients present is considered. An expression for the partial pressure of water in the mixture is obtained based on certain assumptions regarding the thermodynamic state of the water in the mixture. Along with a simple diffusion equation, this partial pressure expression may be used to simulate the thermostructural behavior of polymer composite materials due to water in the free volumes of the polymer. These equations are applied to a specific polymer composite material during isothermal heating conditions. The thermal stresses obtained by the application of the theory are compared to measured results to verify the accuracy of the approach.
Proliferation and Peace: An Agnostic View:

Some experts contend that nuclear proliferation is fully compatible with international political stability, and others insist that the spread of nuclear weapons will undermine stability. Realists are optimistic about the implications of nuclear weapons spread because, in a rational world, nuclear weapons favor the defender over the attacker, making war less probable. Other schools of thought suggest that nuclear weapons are either irrelevant, because not actually useful in combat, or dangerous, in that they can be the instruments of inadvertent escalation to wars of unprecedented destruction. The perspective of nuclear agnosticism, admittedly characterized by diversity, offers a more plausible prospectus for the role of nuclear weapons in the new world order than does the realist view based on misreading of Cold War experience. Language: en
Erkundungen: Themen der Ethnologischen Forschung

Erkundungen: Themen der Ethnologischen Forschung. Andre Gingrich. Vienna: Bohlau, 1999.31 Opp., index.
A Robust Optimization Approach to Inventory Theory

We propose a general methodology based on robust optimization to address the problem of optimally controlling a supply chain subject to stochastic demand in discrete time. This problem has been studied in the past using dynamic programming, which suffers from dimensionality problems and assumes full knowledge of the demand distribution. The proposed approach takes into account the uncertainty of the demand in the supply chain without assuming a specific distribution, while remaining highly tractable and providing insight into the corresponding optimal policy. It also allows adjustment of the level of robustness of the solution to trade off performance and protection against uncertainty. An attractive feature of the proposed approach is its numerical tractability, especially when compared to multidimensional dynamic programming problems in complex supply chains, as the robust problem is of the same difficulty as the nominal problem, that is, a linear programming problem when there are no fixed costs, and a mixed-integer programming problem when fixed costs are present. Furthermore, we show that the optimal policy obtained in the robust approach is identical to the optimal policy obtained in the nominal case for a modified and explicitly computable demand sequence. In this way, we show that the structure of the optimal robust policy is of the same base-stock character as the optimal stochastic policy for a wide range of inventory problems in single installations, series systems, and general supply chains. Preliminary computational results are very promising.
An electron-microscopical study of the tempering of tungsten high-speed steels

Abstract An investigation into the tempering process of tungsten high-speed tool steels has been carried out using optical and electron microscopy. The secondary hardening phenomenon in these steels is caused mainly by the precipitation of W 2 C carbides. W 23 C 6 carbide also appears at and above 550°C but does not play a major role in secondary hardening.
EEG Profiles of Neuropsychiatrically Disturbed Children

Abstract The use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in clinical research and as a diagnostic tool requires operationally defined diagnostic criteria and objective EEG reporting. We studied the EEGs of 119 children with neuropsychiatric disorders, including childhood autism, aphasia, schizophrenia, and chronic multiple tics (Tourette syndrome). It was possible to discriminate between select populations on the basis of clusters of EEG findings, despite overall similarity on the normal-abnormal dimension. Examination of individual EEG parameters and sex differences suggests different pathways to similar behavioral phenotypes. EEG profiles may be related to differential patterns of disorganization of cerebral functioning in child psychiatric population.
Real-time pulse-shape discrimination and beta-gamma coincidence detection in field-programmable gate array

Abstract A real-time FPGA-based algorithm has been developed and tested to discriminate pulse-shapes, identify beta–gamma coincidence events and collect energy spectra from xenon radioisotopes using a phoswich detector. The detector consists of a thin plastic scintillator (BC-400) to detect beta and conversion electrons, a CsI(Tl) crystal for measuring X-rays and gamma-rays, and a BGO crystal, which surrounds the CsI(Tl) layer, to identify scattered photons and ultimately to reduce Compton continuum in the gamma energy spectrum. In this paper, we report on the detail of the FPGA hardware design, the pulse-shape discrimination method, and the system's operational modes. In addition, our initial real-time radioxenon measurement results with the phoswich detector are presented.
Formation and Growth Phenomena of Lactose Nuclei Under Contact Nucleation Conditions

Abstract Contact nucleation of α-lactose was studied in a photomicroscopic cell by gently sliding a parent crystal against a cover glass at different temperatures (303 to 333° K) and relative supersaturations (.6 to 2.8). It was observed that the growth rate dispersion phenomenon existed in the lactose system and followed the constant crystal growth model. Both gamma and normal distributions fit the growth rate dispersion of lactose nuclei well. The variance of the growth rate distribution increased as temperature and supersaturation (hence, mean growth rate) increased, and their relationships were modeled in this study. The average growth kinetics of these contact nuclei of lactose were approximately second order in supersaturation with an activation energy of 9.8 kcal/mol. A range of supersaturations was observed in which contact nuclei were formed but the nuclei were unable to grow. That is, the critical supersaturation for growth was higher than that for formation of these lactose crystals. This observation may be the result of mass transfer limitations to growth in the photomicroscopic cell.
Turnover in U.S. Agricultural Labor Markets

Agricultural workers move in and out of agriculture frequently. Migration between types of jobs takes relatively little time. Legal female workers tend to stay out of the U.S. labor market longer once they stop being employed and their access to jobs outside of agriculture is more limited than that of their male counterparts. Predictions made when the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act was passed that granting people amnesty would induce most of them to leave agriculture were incorrect. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Comparison of an Opsonophagocytic Assay and IgG ELISA to Assess Responses to Pneumococcal Polysaccharide and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

Children with sickle cell disease were immunized with either 2 doses of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine followed by 1 dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine or a single dose of 23-valent vaccine. Functional antibodies to 7 vaccine serotypes were measured by a flow cytometric opsonophagocytic assay (OPA) and compared with IgG anticapsular polysaccharide antibody concentrations measured by ELISA. Moderate correlations were found between OPA and ELISA antibody titers for all 7 serotypes (r values, 0.41-0.70; P<.001 for all serotypes). After immunization with 23-valent vaccine, geometric mean antibody titers by OPA were significantly higher in the combined schedule group for 5 of 7 vaccine serotypes but were significantly higher for only 2 of 7 serotypes as measured by ELISA. The ability of OPA to show a greater differential response to the 2 immunization schedules used in this study suggests that it may be useful in the evaluation of immunization regimens involving pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
Characterization of Hsp60 response in the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, exposed to multiple environmental contaminants

Abstract Many bioassays examine the effects of a single Stressor on organism health, but in the environment organisms are rarely, if ever, exposed to a single Stressor. The development of an assay that measures overall organism health would be desirable. Stress proteins, including hsp60, are a group of highly conserved proteins that are induced in response to a variety of environmental agents and are well suited to measure the effects of multiple Stressors due to their integrative nature (Sanders (1993) Critical Reviews in Toxicology 23, 49–75). They have been postulated to confer a protective response in the cell, shielding it from further protein damage. The goal of this investigation was to demonstrate an integrative stress response to multiple environmental contaminants using the marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, which has a demonstrated ability to produce hsp60 (Cochrane et al. (1991) Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 98C, 385–390).