cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender and Race as Variables in Psychosocial Adjustment to Middle and High School

School transition research indicates that negative outcomes (e.g., decreases in self-esteem and academic motivation) occur for a number of students in transition. Although data are not consistent, gender and race tend to play a role in school transition outcomes. The authors investigated gender and race as variables in 6th- and 9th-grade students' psychosocial adjustment (e.g., perceptions of difficulty of transition and connectedness to school) following a recent school transition and in persons who they perceived as helpful in the transition process. Results suggest differences by gender for feelings of connectedness to middle and high school following the transition. Latino students perceived the transition to middle school as significantly more difficult than did Caucasian and African American students. Additional findings and implications are presented.
Estimation of Microbial Populations in Orange Juice by Bioluminescence

Bioluminescent measurement of microbial ATP was compared to plate counts of orange juice on orange serum agar and plate count agar plus chloramphenicol and chlortetracycline. Bioluminescent values correlated well (r = 0.92) with plate counts of reconstituted juices with active microbial populations. A correlation of 0.58 was found for bioluminescent values to plate counts for orange juice samples immediately after reconstitution from concentrate. Centrifugation and resuspension of samples in 0.1M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, was utilized to provide adequate pH adjustment and concentration of microorganisms for bioluminescent measurement.
Prior heat stress: effect on subsequent 15-min time trial performance in the heat.

ABSTRACTThe impact of prior heat stress on subsequent aerobic exercise-heat performance has not been studied.Purpose:To determine whether prior heat stress degrades subsequent aerobic exercise performance in the heat.Methods:Eighteen nonheat acclimated males were trained (four practice trials) on an
Single-molecule chemistry and biology special feature: introduction to the special feature on single-molecule chemistry and biology.

The advent of experiments in single-molecule chemistry ≈20 years ago (1, 2) generated a new type of molecular spectroscopy and provided new ways of looking at the dynamics and reactions of biomolecules. In ordinary ensemble experiments, one measures the average over a large number of molecules, so that individual differences between molecules are unobservable. Early spectroscopic studies of single molecules in low-temperature solids showed that each molecule in the ensemble had a distinct spectrum, that the individual spectrum was time-dependent, and that the distribution of molecular properties was often counterintuitive.
Molecular and genetic mechanisms of acute and chronic pancreatitis

Abstract Hereditary pancreatitis is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and a very high risk for pancreatic cancer. Over 300 families have been identified, with the majority originating in Europe. The cause of most of the cases is from mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene, or PRSS1. The three most common mutations are R122H, N29I and R122C. The mutations are thought to cause gain-of-function mutations so that trypsinogen is either more easily activated, or active trypsin has delayed degradation. Research focused on the amino acids mutated in hereditary pancreatitis teach us about the central role of trypsin in the initiation of acute pancreatitis, and how the pancreas is normally protected from trypsin. The link between SPINK1 and trypsin activation further supports these concepts. Hereditary pancreatitis also teaches us about chronic pancreatitis. In this case, chronic pancreatitis develops in patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis. The unifying sentinel acute pancreatitis event (SAPE) model is reviewed. There are several major unanswered questions. First, how are 20% of the individuals who inherit the hereditary pancreatitis gene protected from ever getting an attack of pancreatitis? Secondly, what is the cause of the pancreatitis in the 35–40% of patients who do not have trypsinogen mutations? Third, what determines the severity of pancreatitis in those who develop pancreatitis? Finally, with knowledge of the mechanisms leading to pancreatitis, what can be done to limit or prevent damage from this disease?
Laparoscopic versus open colectomy for patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classifications 3 and 4: the minimally invasive approach is associated with significantly quicker recovery and reduced costs.

Background Conceivably, the benefits of earlier recovery associated with a minimally invasive technique used in laparoscopic colectomy (LC) may be amplified for patients with comorbid disease. The dearth of evidence supporting the safety of laparoscopy for these patients led to a comparison of outcomes between LC and open colectomy (OC) for patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classifications 3 and 4.
Old approach yields new antibiotic.

Antibiotic discovery has been stalled for well over a decade. The discovery of a new antibiotic with an unexpected mechanism of action could reinvigorate this lagging field ( pages 1082–1087 ).
The Use of UV/vis Absorption to Measure Diffusion Coefficients in LiPF6 Electrolytic Solutions

This work describes the measurement of the diffusion coefficient in lithium-battery electrolytic solutions. We have adapted the method of restricted diffusion to measure diffusion coefficients of LiPF 6 in various solvents using ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) absorption. The use of UV/vis absorption provides a simple alternative to more arduous experiments and reduces the potential for experimental error due to side reactions. The diffusion coefficient was seen to decrease with concentration according to the following: D = 3.018 X 10 -5 exp(-0.357c) for LiPF 6 in acetonitrile and D = 2.582 X 10 -5 exp(-2.856c) for LiPF 6 in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (with D in cm 2 /s and c in mol/L). This technique may be useful for any liquid solution with a UV-active species of D greater than 10 -6 cm 2 /s.
Lockup-free caches in high-performance multiprocessors

Abstract The performance of shared-memory multiprocessors can suffer greatly from moderate cache miss rates because of the usually high ratio between memory access and cache access times. In this paper we propose a cache design in which the handling of one or several cache misses occurs concurrently with processor activity. Concurrent miss resolution in multiprocessor caches must function in conjunction with the system's synchronization hardware and cache coherence protocol. Through performance models, we identify system configurations for which concurrent miss resolution is effective. Compiler techniques to take advantage of the proposed design are illustrated at the end of the paper.
Technical Basis for Code Cases on Design of Ellipsoidal and Torispherical Heads for ASME Section VIII Vessels

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code Committees have approved Code Cases 2260 and 2261 on the design of ellipsoidal and torispherical heads for Section VIII Division I and Division 2 vessels, respectively. Burst and low-cycle fatigue failure modes have been considered. A rationale is provided for including the foregoing referenced failure modes, and not including other failure modes such as dimensional changes, plastic collapse, knuckle yielding, etc. The basis for the specified design formulas to satisfy the burst and low-cycle fatigue criterion is discussed. The paper also discusses limitations and other requirements that have been imposed in the Code Cases.
Prostaglandin in Milk, Days Open, and Estrus Detection in Dairy Cows Treated with Prostaglandin F2α1

Abstract Prostaglandin F 2α was used to induce estrus in postpartum dairy cows to decrease calving interval and time spent on heat checks. The amount of prostaglandin residue in milk after treatment also was investigated. Twenty-two control cows, checked for heat twice daily, were bred at estrus after 55 days postpartum. Sixty-three cows checked on days 55 to 60 were either bred if in estrus or treated with 30mg of prostaglandin F 2α injected intramuscularly on day 60 and bred at induced estrus or at 75h posttreatment. Twelve cows were in heat between days 55 and 60 and were bred. Twenty-nine of 51 treated cows were seen in estrus; all of these were bred and 51.7% conceived at this time. Treated cows had fewer days to first service than did controls, but days open were not different, 105.7 versus 101.8. Fertility was similar. Controls required more heat checks than did treated cows (39 to 8.2). Milk from 17 cows at two milkings before and ten milkings after treatment had similar concentrations of prostaglandin (698±27 pg/ml) except for the first posttreatment milking when prostaglandin concentration almost doubled (1,293±143 pg/ml).
Computed tomography findings predicting invasiveness of thymoma.

Purpose To identify preoperative computed tomography (CT) findings associated with thymoma invasiveness before surgical resection and with clinical outcome. Methods We retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 99 patients with thymoma surgically treated at our institution between September 1999 and April 2010. Chest CT findings documented were size, volume, and heterogeneity of primary tumor; abutment of mediastinal vessels; and presence of calcifications, lobulation, infiltration of fat surrounding tumor, adjacent pulmonary changes, adenopathy, and pleural nodularity. Results Our study group consisted of 53 (54%) men and 46 (46%) women, age 18–79 years (mean: 53.2 years). Masaoka pathologic stages were stage I for 10 (10%), stage II for 48 (48%), stage III for 21 (21%), and stage IV for 20 (20%). The median radiologic tumor size was 7 cm (range: 2.5–21 cm). A multivariable logistic regression model showed that primary tumors with prechemotherapy radiologic tumor size ≥7 cm (odds ratio [OR]: 3.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–8.67, p = 0.02), a lobulated tumor contour (OR: 8.20, 95% CI: 1.63–41.35, p = 0.01), and infiltration of surrounding fat (OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.45–9.78, p = 0.007) were more likely to have stage III or IV disease. Cox's proportional hazard model showed that the presence of pulmonary nodules on staging CT was the only imaging parameter associated with shorter progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 4.93, 95% CI: 1.60–15.17, p = 0.005) and overall survival ( p = 0.03). Conclusion The primary tumor CT imaging features can differentiate between stage I/II and stage III/IV disease and, thus, help identify patients more likely to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy.
Learning and exploiting low-dimensional structure for efficient holonomic motion planning in high-dimensional spaces

We present a class of methods for optimal holonomic planning in high-dimensional spaces that automatically learns and leverages low-dimensional structure to efficiently find high-quality solutions. These methods are founded on the principle that problems possessing such structure are inherently simple to solve. This is demonstrated by presenting algorithms to solve these problems in time that scales with the dimension of a salient subspace, as opposed to the scaling with configuration-space dimension that would result from a naive approach. For generic problems possessing only approximate low-dimensional structure, we give iterative algorithms that are guaranteed convergence to local optima while making non-local path adjustments to escape poor local minima. We detail the theoretical underpinnings of these methods as well as give simulation and experimental results demonstrating the ability of our approach to efficiently find solutions of a quality exceeding that of known methods, and in problems of high dimensionality.
An improved model for estimating shipment platform handling times for motor carriers

Abstract One of the major areas of disagreement between shippers, carriers, and the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) concerns the costs (in both dollars and time) experienced by motor carriers in handling shipments over the terminal platform. A more sophisticated method of analysis than the method currently used by the ICC to estimate the effects of shipment characteristics on platform handling time is presented in this paper. Analysis of data obtained in the ICCs platform study revealed that the factors of shipment weight and density, which have been believed to be major determinants of shipment platform handling time, actually have relatively minor impact on variations in platform handling time. Shipment characteristics, such as the shipment's degree of unitization and number of pieces, are the major determinants of platform handling time. Motor carrier cost formulae and the classification system should be revised to place greater emphasis on these shipment characteristics.
The desert of the real and the simulacrum of war

As the global war on terror bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new inter-and intra-service struggle emerged within the military, between what we might call the ‘transformationists’ and the ‘neotraditionalists’. The transformationists put their faith in network-centric warfare and precision munitions to resolve the intractable political, civil and religious conflicts of the twenty-first century. The neotraditionalists, in contrast, go back to the future for lessons, to the ‘low-intensity conflicts’ of Malaya and Vietnam, the ‘small wars’ that Marines fought in Central America in the interwar period, and even the instructions given to American servicemen deployed to assist the British occupation of Iraq during the Second World War. Lumped together under the rubric of ‘irregular warfare’, two new watchwords have had emerged from the neotraditionalist camp: ‘counter-insurgency’ and ‘cultural awareness’. As the neotraditionalists reach out to social scientists to assist them in their efforts, a secondary civil war has erupted in the universities over whether academics should become involved in the new war efforts. Based on a week spent embedded with the 1/25th Marines at 29 Palms and extensive interviews with key proponents and critics, this article maps (and reflexively questions the practice of mapping) the future of warfare as it is planned, taught, gamed and operationalized by the US military.
The multivariate assessment of bioequivalence.

We propose an approach for comparing directly the reference and test blood concentration × time profiles of subjects in a bioequivalence trial under a crossover design. We compare the test and reference profiles via the construction of two regions, namely, an acceptable region based on the reference profile and another region based on reflecting the test profile about the reference profile. Also, we describe how to construct these regions if the assay for measuring the concentration has a lower limit of detection and how to adjust the reference and test concentrations of the n subjects participating in a bioequivalence trial. If the test and reference formulations are bioequivalent, then the area displaced by the latter region should be less than the area displaced by the acceptable region. Therefore, we construct a ratio of these areas for each subject. Then we calculate upper confidence limits for quantiles, either under the assumption of lognormality or based on a bootstrapping algorithm, to investigat...
R.I.P. NOTIS: Preparing for Vendor Death and Transformations

At the A.L.A. convention in Miami Beach, some of us thought we heard Ameritech issue a death announcement for NOTIS, one of the the respected old‐guard of library automation systems.
The comorbidity of self-reported chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic symptoms

Background Data from primary care and community samples suggest higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Objective This study investigated the co-occurrence of CFS, PTSD, and trauma symptoms and assessed the contribution of familial factors to the association of CFS with lifetime PTSD and current traumatic symptoms. Method Data on lifetime CFS and PTSD, as measured by self-report of a doctor's diagnosis of the disorder, and standardized questionnaire data on traumatic symptoms, using the Impact of Events Scale (IES), were obtained from 8544 female and male twins from the community-based University of Washington Twin Registry. Results Lifetime prevalence of CFS was 2% and lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 4%. Participants who reported a history of PTSD were over eight times more likely to report a history of CFS. Participants with scores ≥ 26 on the IES were over four times more likely to report CFS than those who had scores ≤ 25. These associations were attenuated but remained significant after adjusting for familial factors through within-twin pair analyses. Conclusion These results support similar findings that a lifetime diagnosis of CFS is strongly associated with both lifetime PTSD and current traumatic symptoms, although familial factors, such as shared genetic and environmental contributions, played a limited role in the relationship between CFS, PTSD, and traumatic symptoms. These findings suggest that future research should investigate both the familial and the unique environmental factors that may give rise to both CFS and PTSD.
A conserved role for retinoid signaling in vertebrate pancreas development

Retinoic acid (RA) signaling plays critical roles in the regionalization of the central nervous system and mesoderm of all vertebrates that have been examined. However, to date, a role for RA in pancreas and liver development has only been demonstrated for the teleost zebrafish. Here, we demonstrate that RA signaling is required for development of the pancreas but not the liver in the amphibian Xenopus laevis and the avian quail. We disrupted RA signaling in Xenopus tadpoles, using both a pharmacological and a dominant-negative strategy. RA-deficient quail embryos were obtained from hens with a dietary deficiency in vitamin A. In both species we found that pancreas development was dependent on RA signaling. Furthermore, treatment of Xenopus tadpoles with exogenous RA led to an expansion of the pancreatic field. By contrast, liver development was not perturbed by manipulation of RA signaling. Taken together with our previous finding that RA signaling is necessary and sufficient for zebrafish pancreas development, these data support the hypothesis that a critical role for RA signaling in pancreas development is a conserved feature of the vertebrates.
Individual and developmental differences in disengagement of fixation in early infancy.

The current study investigated whether individual and developmental differences in look duration are correlated with the latency for infants to disengage fixation from a visual stimulus. Ninety-four infants (52 3-month-olds, 42 4-month-olds) were tested in a procedure that measured ocular reaction time to shift fixation from a central target to a peripheral target under conditions in which the central target either remained present (“competition” condition) or was removed from the display (“noncompetition” condition). Look duration was correlated with disengagement latency; longer-looking infants were slower than shorter-looking infants to shift fixation to the peripheral target on competition trials, but not noncompetition trials. Results were similar for 3- and 4-month-olds, although 3-month-olds showed slower latencies on all trials. Furthermore, long-looking infants were not consistently slower, but rather showed greater variability in their response latencies under conditions that required disengagement of fixation. The results support the position that developmental and individual differences in look duration are linked to the development of the neural attentional systems that control the ability to disengage, or inhibit, visual fixation.
A Model-Based Fault Detection and Diagnosis Scheme for Distributed Parameter Systems: A Learning Systems Approach

In this note, fault detection techniques based on nite dimensional results are extended and applied to a class of innite dimensional dynamical systems. This special class of systems assumes linear plant dynamics having an abrupt additive perturbation as the fault. This fault is assumed to be linear in the (unknown) constant (and possibly functional) parameters. An observer-based model estimate is proposed which serves to monitor the system's dynamics for unanticipated failures, and its well posedness is summarized. Using a Lyapunov synthesis approach extended and applied to innite dimensional systems, a stable adaptive fault diagnosis (fault parameter learning) scheme is developed. The resulting parameter adaptation rule is able to \sense" the instance of the fault occurrence. In addition, it identies the fault parameters using the additional assumption of persistence of excitation. Extension of the adaptive monitoring scheme to incipient faults (time varying faults) is summarized. Simulations studies are used to illustrate the applicability of the theoretical results.
Pathophysiology of obesity-related hypertension: role of insulin and the sympathetic nervous system

Reviewed herein are data supporting the hypothesis that insulin and the sympathoadrenal system are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the obese. Data from the Normative Aging Study, a population-based cohort followed in Boston, confirm other epidemiologic reports of a direct relationship between upper-body obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertension. Because insulin is known to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the possibility that insulin-mediated sympathetic stimulation contributed to hypertension in the obese was investigated by the analysis of 24-h urinary norepinephrine (NE) excretion in this group. Urinary NE was directly correlated with body mass index and waist/hip ratio, supporting increased SNS activity in the obese. Epinephrine excretion, an index of adrenal medullary activity, was inversely related to obesity, and both high insulin and low epinephrine levels were independently correlated with lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher levels of triglycerides. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that insulin-mediated sympathetic stimulation results in hypertension from concomitant sympathetic stimulation of the heart, vessels, and kidney. Reciprocal changes in adrenal medullary function contribute to the associated dyslipidemia. Therapeutic strategies aimed at diminishing insulin resistance and lowering insulin levels, and antagonizing the effects of sympathetic stimulation on the heart, the vessels, and the kidneys, would appear to have a solid physiological rationale in the obese.
The generation of element stiffness matrices from base matrices in the node space

Abstract A method of obtaining element stiffness matrices without explicitly forming the element shape functions is described. The criteria for convergence and rank sufficiency are discussed in some detail. A systematic method for developing approximate stiffness matrices that meet these criteria is given. The method involves the construction of an orthogonal basis in the node space and the volume of the element must be determined exactly. The procedure is illustrated with the use of the three-node element in one dimension and the four-node quadrilateral in two dimensions. Comparisons are made with the usual stiffness matrices developed in the master element space for full integration and under integration with hourglass control. The advantages of the proposed approach include the automatic satisfaction of the patch test and potentially new ways for developing and interpreting mass matrices.
Plasma deposition of ultrathin films of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate): surface analysis and protein adsorption measurements

A method for the preparation of ultrathin films of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) by simultaneous condensation and RF plasma deposition of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) is described. Interactions of proteins with plasma-deposited and model PHEMA surfaces (spin-cast PHEMA, radiation-grafted PHEMA, and bulk PHEMA gels) were examined. Films prepared by conventional plasma deposition (i.e., without enhancing HEMA condensation by substrate temperature reduction) were also studied. 125 I-radiolabeled fibrinogen was used to study the protein absorption and retention characteristics of these materials
Probabilistically-sound and asymptotically-optimal algorithm for stochastic control with trajectory constraints

In this paper, we consider a class of stochastic optimal control problems with trajectory constraints. As a special case, we can constrain the probability that a system enters undesirable regions to remain below a certain threshold. We extend the incremental Markov Decision Process (iMDP) algorithm, which is a new computationally-efficient and asymptotically-optimal sampling-based tool for stochastic optimal control, to approximate arbitrarily well an optimal feedback policy of the constrained problem. We show that with probability one, in the presence of trajectory constraints, the sequence of policies returned from the algorithm is both probabilistically sound and asymptotically optimal. We demonstrate the proposed algorithm on motion planning and control problems subject to bounded collision probability in uncertain cluttered environments.
Relative Phytoplankton growth responses to physically and chemically dispersed South Louisiana sweet crude oil

We conducted controlled laboratory exposure experiments to assess the toxic effects of water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of South Louisiana sweet crude oil on five phytoplankton species isolated from the Gulf of Mexico. Experiments were conducted with individual and combinations of the five phytoplankton species to determine growth inhibitions to eight total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) equivalent concentrations ranging from 461 to 7,205 ppb. The composition and concentration of crude oil were altered by physical and chemical processes and used to help evaluate crude oil toxicity. The impact of crude oil exposure on phytoplankton growth varied with the concentration of crude oil, species of microalgae, and their community composition. At a concentration of TPH < 1,200 ppb, dinoflagellate species showed significantly better tolerance, while diatom species showed a higher tolerance to crude oil at higher concentrations of TPH. For both groups, the larger species were more tolerant to crude oil than smaller ones. The toxicity potential of crude oil seems to be strongly influenced by the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The addition of the dispersant, Corexit® EC9500A, increased the amount of crude oil up to 50-fold in the water column, while the physical enhancement (vigorous mixing of water column) did not significantly increase the amount of TPH concentration in the water column. The species response to crude oil was also examined in the five-species community. Each phytoplankton species showed considerably less tolerance to crude oil in the five-species community compared to their individual responses. This study provides baseline information about individual phytoplankton responses to crude oil and dispersed crude oil for subsequent research efforts seeking to understand the impacts of oil on the phytoplankton in the bigger picture.
Functional Nuclear Imaging Of Respiratory Dynamics

A technique has been developed for producing sequential images of respiratory dynamics without physiological gating. Features from these image sequences have been used to produce new types of functional images which illustrate the regional physiology and anatomy of the lung.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
New techniques for calculating heat and particle source rates due to neutral beam injection in axisymmetric tokamaks

A set of numerical techniques for calculating heat and particle source rates due to neutral beam injection in axisymmetric tokamaks is described. While these techniques consume a substantial amount of computer time, they take into account a number of significant, and normally neglected, effects. Examples of these effects are reionization of escaping charge exchanged beam particles, finite fast ion orbit excursions, beam deposition through collisions of beam neutrals with circulating beam ions, and the transport of thermal neutrals in the plasma due to charge changing collisions with beam ions.
Follow-Up Recommendations for Benign Breast Biopsies

Histologically proven benign breast disease increases a woman's relative risk for subsequent cancer development. Yet follow-up guidelines for mammogram and clinical breast examination after a benign breast biopsy are lacking. Our objective was to determine if increased surveillance is indicated following a benign breast biopsy. Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective database review was conducted of prospectively gathered patients who had a benign breast biopsy (core or excisional) for an abnormality detected on mammogram, ultrasound, or clinical breast examination. Follow-up, for all subjects, was a clinical breast examination and mammogram or ultrasound at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after benign breast biopsy by a breast surgeon. End points were the need for additional biopsies or cancer detection. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-squared analysis. From January 2000 to July 2003, 156 patients age 18-86 years had a benign breast biopsy. During the 2 year follow-up, 20 patients (13%) required a subsequent biopsy. No significant difference was observed in mean age, race, menarche, menopause, parity, age at first live birth, use of oral contraceptives, history of prior biopsy, or the pathology of the initial lesion between those who needed a subsequent biopsy and those who did not. Seven excisional biopsies were performed (one at 6 months, four at 1 year, and two at 2 years follow-up) for growth of the benign breast biopsy lesion, and pathology remained concordant with the original diagnosis. Thirteen biopsies were done for new findings on mammogram or ultrasound. Three of these (1.9%) yielded a cancer diagnosis (one at 6 months, one at 1 year, and one at 2 years follow-up). No new lesions were identified on follow-up by clinical breast examination alone. Increased surveillance following a benign breast biopsy is necessary because of the increased need for subsequent biopsy or risk of cancer development. This should include imaging (mammography or ultrasound) and a clinical breast examination 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after a benign breast biopsy.
cis-Platinum in advanced gynecologic malignancy

Abstract Eighteen patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies received cis -diamminedichloroplatinum (NSC 119875), an inorganic heavy metal compound with antineoplastic properties. Twelve patients had carcinoma of the ovary resistant to other chemotherapeutic agents. Three patients had previously irradiated carcinoma of the cervix; two, disseminated pelvic sarcoma; and one, metastatic carcinoma of the vulva. Objective responses were achieved in four patients (25%) with carcinoma of the ovary. Three patients with other tumors also responded. Mild to severe myelosuppression, nephrotoxicity, and ototoxicity occurred.
STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF TWO MUTANTS OF LECITHIN-CHOLESTEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE (T123I AND N228K)

Two naturally occurring mutants of human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), T123I and N228K, were expressed in COS-1 and Chinese hamster ovary cells, overproduced, and purified to homogeneity in order to study the structural and functional defects that lead to the LCAT deficiency phenotypes of these mutations. The mutants were expressed and secreted by transfected cells normally and had molecular weights and levels of glycosylation similar to wild type LCAT. The purified proteins (>98% purity) had almost indistinguishable structures and stabilities as determined by CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. Enzymatic activities and kinetic analysis of the pure enzyme forms showed that wild type LCAT and both mutants were reactive with the water-soluble substrate, p-nitrophenyl butyrate, indicating the presence of an intact core active site and catalytic triad. Both the T123I and N228K mutants had markedly depressed reactivity with reconstituted HDL (rHDL), but T123I retained activity with low density lipoprotein. To determine whether defective binding to rHDL was responsible for the low activity of both mutants with rHDL, the equilibrium binding constants were measured directly with isothermal titration calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods. The results indicated that the affinities of the mutants for rHDL were only about 2-fold lower than the affinity of wild type LCAT (Kd = 2.3 x 10(-7) M). Together, the activity and equilibrium binding results suggest that the T123I mutant is defective in activation by apolipoprotein A-I, and the N228K mutant has impaired binding of lipid substrate to the active site. In addition, the kinetic binding rate constants determined by the SPR method indicate that normal LCAT dissociates from rHDL, on average, after one catalytic cycle.
Delayed partial reinforcement: Length of delay interval and the relationship of independence

In Experiment 1, groups received a 0-, 15-, 30-, or 60-sec delay of reinforcement on the rewarded trials of a partial reinforcement schedule (delayed PR). A 15-sec reinforcement delay did not reduce acquisition speeds compared with no delay. With delays of 30 and 60 sec, decremental effects of delayed PR were obtained for the first time, with a 60-sec delay of reinforcement producing much slower running than the 0- or 15-sec delays and the 30-sec delay group intermediate. In Experiment 2, two groups received a 60-sec delay of reinforcement, combined in one case with PR and in the other with consistent reinforcement (CR). The delayed PR group ran faster than the delayed CR group in acquisition in all alley sections. The results were discussed with reference to the role of inhibition in producing behavioral decrements under delayed reinforcement.
Oil and gas stock price reactions to federal tax legislation

The purpose of this research is to assess the effects of major tax legislation on the stock prices of firms in the oil and gas industry. Event study methodology is used to examine the behavior of security prices of oil and gas firms in response to the Joint Conference Committee vote in August 1986.
A contribution to the pharmacology of succinic acid and its sodium and magnesium salts.

The results of a study on the effects of succinic acid, sodium succinate, and magnesium succinate in cats are reported. Large doses of these compounds produce numerous acute disturbances, the causes of which appear to be nonspecific. The report indicates that the succinate ion is substantially inert and that it exerts no specific toxic effects.
Where angels fear to tread: Richard Schoenherr (1935–1996)

Richard Schoenherr, professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin — Madison, passed away unexpectedly on 9 January 1996. He is memorialized in this essay for his scholarly contributions in the areas of teaching, research, and service.
Dielectric relaxation in solutions of poly (ϵ-caprolactone)

Dielectric relaxation has been studied for poly (ϵ-caprolactone) in dioxane solution. As expected from the head-to-tail structure [-(CH2)5COO-]x, at a given temperature there are two distinct dielectric loss peaks. Radio-frequency bridge measurements reveal a low-frequency peak due to a component of the repeat unit dipole parallel to the direction of the chain backbone and amounting to about 0.8 Debye per ester group. The position of this peak on the frequency scale varies with molecular weight as predicted from the longest normal-mode relaxation time, τ1≅M[η]η0/RT The second relaxation, which is independent of chain length, is conveniently studied over a wide range of concentrations by the technique of time-domain reflectometry (TDR). This peak is associated with relaxation by local conformational rearrangement of a component of the dipole moment perpendicular to the chain direction, amounting to about 1.6 Debye per ester group. The extrapolated frequency of maximum loss at infinite dilution is about 3 GHz at 300K, with an apparent activation energy of about 30 kJ mol−1. The dependence of the local relaxation time on concentration can be fitted by a familiar free-volume equation of the type τ = A exp(B/vf), in which the free volume vf is a linear function of composition.
Physical activity counseling for older women.

Physical inactivity is a major factor in increasing women’s risk for chronic disease, disability, and premature mortality. This study compared the effectiveness of five behavioral counseling (BC) sessions with a comparison group receiving one BC session based on the five A’s (ask, advise, assist, arrange, and agree) to increase moderate-intensity physical activity, muscle strengthening, and stretching activity. The health promotion model provided the framework for the intervention. A pretest/posttest comparison group design was used, with random assignment of 46 women recruited from an urban midwestern community. A significant group interaction was found only for cardiorespiratory fitness (p < .001). Significant time effects were found (p < .001) for both groups in increasing handgrip, leg strength, and flexibility. BC is a promising intervention to achieve physical activity behavior change with older women.
Call for Proposals: The Seventh International Buddhist Christian Conference, "Hear the Cries of the World"

The Society for Buddhist Christian Studies will hold the Seventh International Buddhist-Christian Conference at the Loyola Marymount University campus, Los Angeles, California, 3–8 June 2005. (This conference was earlier posted to take place in August 2004, but was postponed for various reasons.) The overall theme will remain as previously announced: “Hear the Cries of the World: Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue Toward Global Healing.” The program committee welcomes proposals for working groups, scheduled to meet in three successive morning sessions for two hours each, addressing a specific theme or issue, with one or two coordinators and five or more core-group members; full panels, to be presented in one two-hour session, on a specific theme, with a moderator, three to four speakers, and one or two respondents; and individual papers on a specific topic related to an issue or issues in Buddhist-Christian dialogue. Proposals for working groups on themes such as religion and ecology, human rights and social justice, women and religion, toward a global ethic, practice across traditions, Catholic-Buddhist relations, religious responses to violence, religion and globalization, and other relevant themes, are welcomed. Working group proposals should include the title or theme of the working group, a short 200–300 word description of the goal(s) of the working group, and the names and contact information (including address, phone, fax, and e-mail) of the coordinator(s) and at least five other core-group members. Proposals for full panels for a two-hour time slot, addressing specific themes, including issues in doctrine and theory, ritual, religious practice, methodology, and others, are encouraged. Full panel proposals should include the title of the panel, a short 100–200 word description of the theme and intent of the panel, and the names and contact information of the moderator and three or four panel participants. Individual paper proposals for a 30-minute presentation on various themes, including doctrinal, ritual, practical, ethical, and other issues relevant to BuddhistChristian dialogue are also encouraged.
Idealized tracer transport models with time-varying transport: applications to ocean boundary currents

One-dimensional advection–diffusion and advection–diffusion–dilution (or “leaky-pipe”) models have been widely used to interpret a variety of geophysical phenomena. For example, in the ocean these tools have been used to interpret the penetration and spreading of tracers such as Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) along the Deep Western boundary current (DWBC). Usually, the transport coefficients of such models are taken to be constant in time, thus assuming the transport to be in steady state. Here, we relax this assumption and calculate tracer-signal variability in two simple 1D models for the boundary current having low-amplitude time-varying coefficients. Given a background tracer gradient due, for example, to a steady-state source in a boundary region, the resulting tracer field exhibits fluctuations due to the transport acting on the gradients. We compare the transport-induced tracer fluctuations to propagated fluctuations occurring in steady-state models with a periodic source in the boundary region. Using coefficients fitted to DWBC tracer observations, we find that in the North Atlantic propagated tracer fluctuations are larger, while in the sub-tropics transport-induced fluctuations dominate. This contrasts a common view that subtropical and tropical DWBC fluctuations in tracers such as CFCs, temperature and salinity anomalies are propagated signals from the northern formation region. However, the predicted transport-induced fluctuations in these models are still smaller than the observed fluctuations.
Safety, cost and effectiveness issues with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.

Safety, cost, and eVectiveness studies are critically important for definitive assessment of disease modifying drugs (DMARDs), particularly when new mechanisms of drug action are likely to be present. This requires post-marketing surveillance, as these dimensions cannot be adequately assessed in pre-marketing studies. “Post-marketing surveillance”, in our definition, is “the asking and answering of important questions the answers to which cannot be ascertained from premarketing trials”. 1 Such questions include assessing the long term toxicity of the new drugs, comparison of the toxicity of the new drugs with alternative treatments, assessment of toxicity in elderly populations and persons with comorbid diseases, noting the characteristics of patients likely to experience toxicity, exploring the eVects of drug combinations on eYcacy and toxicity,and evaluating the long term net cost of treatment. For each of these questions, long term data are required. Such studies may require 1000 to 10 000 patient years of experience for each drug treatment arm. Randomised trials of this scope are not practical. Adverse event reporting systems lack accurate numerators and denominators and cannot validly compare different agents. Hence, prospective, protocol driven, large scale, observational studies are required. These should be started as early in the drug development sequence as possible. Data analysis must be sophisticated and must go far beyond purely descriptive studies without controls. Often, enrollment of early patients in phase 2 and 3 may shorten the time required for adequate follow up.
Music Educators’ Involvement in the Individual Education Program Process and Their Knowledge of Assistive Technology

In 1997, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 1990 was amended to require that assistive technology be considered when preparing an individual education program (IEP). This study expl...
Pulse Evaluation of High Voltage SiC Diodes

Summary form only given. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory is evaluating silicon carbide semiconductor components to determine the range of high power and pulsed power applications for which SiC is a sensible material to use. With SiC's tolerances for high temperatures and high current densities, compact modules of SiC diodes might be ideal for protecting other high power circuit components under pulse conditions. This study evaluated SiC diodes with a footprint of 0.73 cm2 which were designed bv Cree, Inc. and packaged and pulse tested at ARL. The diodes are rated for 6 kV blocking and 50 A of continuous forward current. They were arranged to clamp reverse currents at the switching end of a large capacitor bank and were pulsed at a single shot rate both individually and in parallel. Individual diodes were pulsed as high as 5.9 kA (corresponding to an action of 4.5 times 103 A2s) for 25 single shots before failing, and as high as 5.0 kA (with an action of 3.5 times 103 A2s) for over 100 shots without failure. Groups of diodes were characterized on a curve tracer and matched based on on-state dV/dl slope, which ranged from 3.7-4.0 mOmega. Five diodes paralleled in the pulse testbed carried a total current of 23 kA with each diode sharing 19-21% of the total peak current. Modules consisting of 8-10 diodes in parallel will be similarly pulsed to reach a peak total current of 40 kA and will ultimately be combined in a single, compact package for higher current applications.
EFFECT OF SOIL TYPE AND AERATION UPON ROOT SYSTEMS OF CERTAIN AQUATIC PLANTS

It is well known that the amount and movement of soil air are important factors in plant development. Because of the fact that many crop and aquatic plants are often forced to develop under conditions of minimal soil aeration, many investigations have been undertaken to determine the effects of restricted soil oxygen availability (1, 5, 7, 8, 14, 19, 20, 24). Such studies have disclosed that aeration is important in root respiration (8, 12, 20) , nutrient absorption (5, 6, 18, 20), rate of elongation (2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 21, 24), development of hair roots (11, 23, 24), aerenchyma formation (3, 16, 21), adventitious root development (10, 24, 25), as well as in modifications of the gross anatomy of the entire root system (6, 8, 9, 24). The many papers reviewed by Clements (8) indicate that the role of oxygen in root activity is a primary factor influencing, and in wet soils controlling, the functions of the root system that may determine the destiny of the plant. But few studies (2, 4, 17) have been made of root response in greatly increased soil aeration, although some data are available on the effects of culture solution aeration (6, 13, 18). This report embodies results of an experiment to determine the effects of soil aeration, increased well above the maximum usually encountered in nature, on several species of plants with relatively low oxygen requirements.
Ion imaging studies of the photodissociation dynamics of CH2I2 at 248 nm

Abstract The photodissociation of CH 2 I 2 at 248 nm is investigated using velocity map ion imaging with photoionization detection of the I ∗ ( 2 P 1/2 ) products. The velocity distribution of the I ∗ products reveals that only a small fraction of the available energy is released as translational energy, consistent with a simple impulsive model. Most of the excess energy is channeled into internal excitation with 〈 E int 〉 = 36.3 kcal mol −1 for CH 2 I radical fragments produced with I ∗ atoms. The anisotropy angular distribution of the I ∗ fragments and corresponding positive anisotropy parameter are indicative of prompt dissociation and electronic state mixing.