cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qualifications, training, and perceptions of substance abuse counselors who work with victims of incest

The study was an initial investigation into substance abuse counselors' qualifications and their training related to providing counseling for incest. Perceptions regarding the incidence of incest and insights into the difficulties of serving this subpopulation were also gathered. A total of 121 practicing substance abuse counselors, randomly sampled from treatment facilities across the United States, completed the "Substance Abuse Counselor Survey on Clients with Incest Histories" (SACSCIH). Participants estimated that, on average, about 24% of their clients were victims of incest. They also suspected that, on average, an additional 14% of their clients were victims of incest but did not report this information to the treatment staff. Participants revealed how they collected incest-related information and the various challenges they face in treating these clients. Data are analyzed descriptively and recommendations for future research are presented.
Interferon Regulatory Factors Are Transcriptional Regulators of Adipogenesis

We have sought to identify transcriptional pathways in adipogenesis using an integrated experimental and computational approach. Here, we employ high-throughput DNase hypersensitivity analysis to find regions of altered chromatin structure surrounding key adipocyte genes. Regions that display differentiation-dependent changes in hypersensitivity were used to predict binding sites for proteins involved in adipogenesis. A high-scoring example was a binding motif for interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family members. Expression of all nine mammalian IRF mRNAs is regulated during adipogenesis, and several bind to the identified motifs in a differentiation-dependent manner. Furthermore, several IRF proteins repress differentiation. This analysis suggests an important role for IRF proteins in adipocyte biology and demonstrates the utility of this approach in identifying cis- and trans-acting factors not previously suspected to participate in adipogenesis.
Prospective assessment of patient-reported long-term urinary morbidity and associated quality of life changes after 125I prostate brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose: Prostate brachytherapy has been reported to have less morbidity for patients than radical prostatectomy or external beam irradiation. However, to date there have been no long-term data to support these claims. With radiation doses in excess of 140 Gy required to control the tumor, disabling chronic urinary symptoms and associated quality of life (QOL) changes might be expected to occur. This study prospectively assessed the long-term effects of 125 I prostate brachytherapy on urinary morbidity. Methods and Materials: A total of 248 patients with a median age of 67 years (range, 43–83 years) who presented with T1–T2 prostate cancer were treated with 125 I seed implantation and followed up for a minimum of 18 months after treatment (range, 18 to 108 months; median, 31 months). There were 177 T1b–T2a cases and 41 patients with prostate-specific antigen >10 ng/ml; 20.2% were treated with hormonal therapy. All patients prospectively reported their urinary symptoms and QOL assessment on American Urological Association symptom score records before treatment and at each follow-up visit. Urinary symptoms at last follow-up were compared with pretreatment scores. Radiation doses to the prostate (dose delivered to 90% of the gland; D 90 ) and urethra (D 30 ) were determined by CT-based dosimetry. Results: The median prostate D 90 was 165 Gy (range, 16.5–260 Gy), and the median urethra D 30 was 192 Gy (range, 23.5–306 Gy). Mean individual scores and QOL ranged from 0.31 to 1.65 before implantation and 0.39 to 1.73 afterward. There were no significant differences between pretreatment and last mean scores for any of the categories except for a small but significant increase in urgency ( p = 0.01) and weak stream ( p = 0.03). The cohort of patients who initially presented with marked urinary symptoms (initial score ≥3) had improvement in individual scores by 31.4% to 58.2%, total score by 31.1% ( p = 0.0005), and QOL by 40.6% ( p Conclusions: This study suggests that prostate brachytherapy is associated with minimal long-term urinary morbidity. The subgroup of patients who present with marked urinary symptoms before implantation has improvement in symptoms and QOL after implantation. These data substantiate the favorable long-term QOL outcomes associated with modern brachytherapy techniques.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Use by Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Abstract Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly used to treat anxiety, depression, and other conditions that commonly affect patients with coronary artery disease. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors inhibit platelet activation and may, therefore, affect outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Methods A retrospective study was performed of 1254 patients with acute coronary syndromes comparing in-hospital bleeding and cardiac event rates in 158 patients who received a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a propensity score-matched group of patients who did not. All patients were treated with a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor and almost all also received aspirin, clopidogrel, and heparin. Results Patients who received a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor were significantly more likely to experience any bleeding (37.3% vs 26.6%, OR 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-2.66, P =.04) and significantly less likely to experience recurrent myocardial ischemia, heart failure, or asymptomatic cardiac enzyme elevation while in the hospital (7.0% vs 13.9%, OR 0.46, 95% CI, 0.22-0.99, P =.04). No differences were observed in death, myocardial infarction during the hospitalization, urgent revascularization, or major bleeding. Bleeding and cardiac events were not affected by antidepressants other than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Conclusions Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use during a hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome is associated with reduced rates of recurrent ischemia, heart failure, or cardiac enzyme elevation at the expense of increased bleeding in patients receiving maximal conventional antiplatelet medications and heparin. Clinicians should be aware of this association when treating patients with an acute coronary syndrome.
Electrically reconfigurable optical metamaterials based on orientationally ordered dispersions of metal nano-rods in dielectric fluids

Optical metamaterials capture the imagination with potential applications such as sub-wave imaging, invisibility cloaking and solar energy collection. The challenge is to learn how to construct and reconfigure a metamaterial with a spatially varying refractive index. We describe an approach based on colloidal dispersion of metal nano-rods in a dielectric fluid placed in a non-uniform electric field. Because of the dielectrophoretic effect, the nano-rods accumulate in the regions with the maximum field and align along the field lines. High concentration of nano-rods lowers the effective local refractive index of the dispersion. The nano-rods are much smaller than the wavelength of light. We illustrate the approach with a dispersion of gold nanorods (length 40-70 nm, diameter 10-20 nm) in toluene, using flat and cylindrical cells. In the first case, the electric field is created by two mutually perpendicular electrodes, in the second case, it is created by two coaxial electrodes. When the field is applied, the initially isotropic dispersion of nanorods transforms into birefringent orientationally ordered structures with the director following the electric field lines. We describe how the optical properties of the field-induced structures are controlled by dichroism and birefringence of the dispersion and determine the spatial variation of the field-induced optical phase retardation. In cylindrical capillaries, the index gradient bends lights around the central electrode, thus reducing its visibility. Our approach can be used as a starting point for the development of self-assembled and reconfigurable optical metamaterials with optical properties controlled by the dielectrophoretic effect on submicron scales.
Electron beam column for in-line applications featuring enhanced imaging of high-aspect-ratio structures by selective detection of on-axis secondary electrons

The scanning electron microscope presented here allows for enhanced and selective detection of on-axis secondary electrons by a novel two-detector arrangement in combination with a beam separator. It is based on our high-resolution electron beam column. The off-axis secondary electrons are recorded by a conventional in-lens detector. The on-axis secondary electrons from the primary electrons and deflects them towards a scintillator-based detector. The detector for on-axis secondary electrons can either work in a stand-alone mode or in combination with the in-lens detector. Due to the symmetry of its deflection field, the beam separator causes no first-order chromatic aberrations to the primary beam and the spatial resolution is not deteriorated. A first experimental evaluation has demonstrated the enhanced capabilities of this system.
Oxidation of 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid by hepatic and renal microsomes.

Abstract Liver and kidney microsomes were isolated from rats raised on high-fat diets. In terms of energy, the high-fat diets contained 4% vegetable and 40% fish, vegetable or coconut oils. Each microsomal preparation was fortified with 1 mM NAPDH and incubated with 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5( n − 3)). The number of metabolites formed was assessed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To identify the major metabolites, large-scale incubations were done with 20:5( n − 3) and microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats. After extracts from the phenobarbital and dietary studies were combined, individual products were isolated by reverse- and normal-phase HPLC. The metabolites were identified by mass spectrometry, by chromatographic properties, and by comparing their retention times and mass spectra with those of chemically synthesized standards. For liver microsomes, the major metabolites were: 17,18-. 14,15-, 11,12- and 8,9-dihydroxyeicosatetraenic acids, 20-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid, and 19-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. FOr renal microsomes, the major metabolites were 20-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic and 19-hydroxypentaenoic acids. Because formation fo these metabolites required NADPH and was enhanced by phenobarbital pretreatment, 20:5( n − 3) appears to be oxidized by cytochrome P -450 monooxygenases. Based on reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatograms, all three high-fat diets may produce the samy types of monooxygenase metabolites from 20:5( n − 3). It remains unknown whether fish-oil diets induce the synthesis of monooxygenases to oxidize n − 3 fatty acids, because these preliminary studies involved only two animals per dietary group.
Wide-Area Motion Imagery

Wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) sensors are placed on helicopters, balloons, small aircraft, or unmanned aerial vehicles and are used to image small city-sized areas at approximately 0.5 m/pixel and about one or two frames/s. The geospatial-temporal data sets produced by these systems allow for the observation of many dynamic phenomena that were previously inaccessible in street-level video data, but the efficient exploitation of this data poses significant technical challenges for image and video analysis and for data mining. Content of interest is defined in very abstract terms related to how humans interpret video imagery, but the data is defined in very physical terms related to the imaging device. This difference in representations is often called the semantic gap. In this review article, we describe advances that have been made and the advances that will be needed to produce the hierarchy of computational models required to narrow the semantic gap in WAMI.
Peak nucleate-boiling heat fluxes and nucleate-boiling heat-transfer coefficients for liquid N2, liquid O2 and their mixtures in pool boiling at atmospheric pressure

Abstract Pool boiling heat-transfer coefficients and peak nucleate-boiling fluxes for N2, O2 and their mixtures have been measured on a number of cylinders of gold, copper and several chemical films in a variety of surface textures or roughness. Nucleate-boiling coefficients have been found to be dependent upon cylinder orientation, as well as upon the surface character. Heat-transfer coefficients for a mixture were in all cases lower than for either pure component. Peak nucleate-boiling fluxes were found to be reproducible for any surface of constant character, and to depend upon cylinder orientation and chemical nature of the surface, but to be independent of surface roughness.
Catalytic Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)-Yohimbine

The total synthesis of (+)-yohimbine was achieved in 11 steps and 14% overall yield. The absolute configuration was established through a highly enantioselective thiourea-catalyzed acyl-Pictet−Spengler reaction, and the remaining 4 stereocenters were set simultaneously in a substrate-controlled intramolecular Diels−Alder reaction.
Intracellular potassium compartments in Nitella axillaris.

Three intracellular compartments for potassium exchange have been observed in intact cells of the giant-celled alga, Nitella axillaris. These compartments have been compared with the exchange properties of isolated subcellular structures. The smallest and fastest compartment (apparent half-time, 23 seconds) appears to involve passive absorption on the cell wall. The next largest (apparent half-time, 5 hours) may represent exchange with the cytoplasmic layer through the plasma membrane, the chloroplasts being in rapid equilibrium with the surrounding cytoplasm. The largest and slowest compartment (apparent half-time, 40 days) has been identified with the central vacuole. The vacuolar membrane and the plasma membrane have similar properties with respect to K permeability. Thus, the experimental data from the whole cell can be accounted for by a structural model of the compartments. Cyanide in concentrations up to 10-3 M causes no net loss of K. The fastest compartment in Nitella and in higher plants is compared, and the ecological significance of the slow rate of potassium transport in Nitella is discussed.
Desmoid tumors of the trunk and extremity

Background. Twenty-six patients with desmoid tumors of the extremities (n = 20) or trunk (n = 6) have been treated since 1977. Nine of these were referred with primary tumors and 17 with recurrent tumors. Methods. The tumor was removed in all patients, and 10 received adjuvant radiation. Five patients (19%) developed local recurrence; one of them was lost to follow-up, and the remaining four patients had the recurrence controlled with surgical resection or resection plus adjuvant radiation. Results. All 25 patients who have been followed are alive and disease-free at a mean follow-up of 84 months (median, 81 months). None with extremity tumors (n = 20) required an amputation. The estimated survival rate for the entire group is 95% at 42 months. Conclusions. Desmoid tumor of the trunk or extremities treated with surgical resection, supplemented selectively by adjuvant radiation, can be controlled locally in the majority (96%) of patients.
Sacroiliac joint pain: practical management

Physicians managing the variety of musculoskeletal problems that athletes develop will at one time or another evaluate and treat an athlete with sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain. Arriving at the diagnosis and prescribing treatment can be confusing. Controversy has surrounded the diagnosis for several reasons. First, the SIJ moves only a small amount in the young adult and moves less with aging. Past arguments suggesting that the relative lack of quantity of motion in a joint negates its significance as a pain generator have been replaced by a better understanding of quality and symmetry of joint motion. Second, no specific historical point or clinical examination technique will solidify the diagnosis. Third, imaging is often not helpful as radiographs, MRI, or bone scan, and CT scans do not differentiate symptomatic from asymptomatic patients. Fourth, the biomechanics of the SIJ and its interactions with the surrounding joints including the hip, pubic symphysis, and spine are complex, and researchers are still producing new information on force and load transmission across the pelvis. Fifth, there is no gold standard for treatment, leaving clinicians to use their experience in making recommendations. Sixth, there is confusion about whether the SIJ dysfunction is the chicken or the egg. Often patients may have had a history of lumbar discogenic pain, radiculopathy, facet syndrome, hip pathology, or pubic symphysitis that has resolved, but because of secondary adaptive changes that have occurred as a result of the primary problem, SIJ pain may develop. Theoretically, the inverse of this situation could happen as well. Any of these factors can contribute to problems in making a diagnosis or providing treatment of patients with SIJ pain. To date, there are no studies that outline or describe SIJ pain as it relates specifically to athletes.
Frequency-domain nonlinear optical studies of relaxation mechanisms and the homogeneous line shape of excitons in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well structures

Abstract We report high resolution nonlinear laser spectroscopy studies of excitation relaxation associated with the excitonic optical nonlinearity at room temperature and low temperature in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells. Using a new method of cw frequency domain four wave mixing, we show that relaxation of the room temperature nonlinear optical response is characterized by free carrier recombination and ambipolar diffusion. At low temperature, the excitation relaxation for localized excitons is dominated by phonon assisted tunneling. In addition, we use four wave mixing methods to eliminate contributions to the excitation line shape from inhomogeneous broadening. The observed line shape is highly asymmetric and shows the presence of spectral diffusion due to the phonon assisted tunneling associated with the excitation relaxation.
Distribution of hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms and hydrocarbon biodegradation potentials in Alaskan continental shelf areas

Hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms were enumerated from Alaskan continental shelf areas by using plate counts and a new most-probable-number procedure based on mineralization of (14)C-labeled hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon utilizers were ubiquitously distributed, with no significant overall concentration differences between sampling regions or between surface water and sediment samples. There were, however, significant seasonal differences in numbers of hydrocarbon utilizers. Distribution of hydrocarbon utilizers within Cook Inlet was positively correlated with occurrence of hydrocarbons in the environment. Hydrocarbon biodegradation potentials were measured by using (14)C-radiolabeled hydrocarbon-spiked crude oil. There was no significant correlation between numbers of hydrocarbon utilizers and hydrocarbon biodegradation potentials. The biodegradation potentials showed large seasonal variations in the Beaufort Sea, probably due to seasonal depletion of available nutrients. Non-nutrient-limited biodegradation potentials followed the order hexadecane > naphthalene >> pristane > benzanthracene. In Cook Inlet, biodegradation potentials for hexadecane and naphthalene were dependent on availability of inorganic nutrients. Biodegradation potentials for pristane and benzanthracene were restricted, probably by resistance to attack by available enzymes in the indigenous population.
Design and testbed evaluation of RDMA-based middleware for high-performance data transfer applications

Providing high-speed data transfer is vital to various data-intensive applications supported by data center networks. We design a middleware layer of high-speed communication based on Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) that serves as the common substrate to accelerate various data transfer tools, such as FTP, HTTP, file copy, sync and remote file I/O. This middleware offers better end-to-end bandwidth performance than the traditional TCP-based alternatives, while it hides the heterogeneity of the underlying high-speed architecture. This paper describes this middleware's function modules, including resource abstraction and task synchronization and scheduling, that maximize the parallelism and performance of RDMA operations. For networks without RDMA hardware acceleration, we integrate Linux kernel optimization techniques to reduce data copy and processing in the middleware. We provide a reference implementation of the popular file-transfer protocol over this RDMA-based middleware layer, called RFTP. Our experimental results show that our RFTP outperforms several TCP-based FTP tools, such as GridFTP, while it maintains very low CPU consumption on a variety of data center platforms. Furthermore, those results confirm that our RFTP tool achieves near line-speed performance in both LAN and WAN, and scales consistently from 10Gbps Ethernet to 40Gbps Ethernet and InfiniBand environments.
The MBA and academic business librarians: More than graduate education for subject specialists

ABSTRACT This work addresses the value of the MBA degree for academic business librarians. Based upon personal experience, the author relates how study within an MBA program may enhance business knowledge and contribute to the development of certain competencies and interpersonal skills.
A Quantitative Treatment of Dephosphorylation by an Amphiphilic Hydroxamate Ion. The Role of Micellar Charge

Comicelles of (Z)-dodecano-N-phenylhydroxamate ion (1b) with cationic and sulfobetaine surfactants effectively accelerate the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate (pNPDPP). The surfactants are cetyl trimethyl- and tributylammonium bromide (CTABr and CTBABr respectively), and (tetradecyldimethylammonio)propanesulfonate (SB3-14). Reaction is slower in comicelles with Brij-35, 23-dodecyl ether (C12E23), and much slower in comicelles with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In all conditions, the hydroxamic acid was fully deprotonated and pNPDPP was fully micellar-bound and, on the basis of NMR data (Langmuir 1997, 13, 6439), it appears that the rate effects are due to differences in the relative locations of pNPDPP and the hydroxamate residue in the interfacial region, which are related to micellar charge. Inhibition of reaction in SB3-14 on addition of ClO4-, and acceleration in SDS by weakly hydrophilic cations, are understandable in these terms, as are effects of n-dodecyldimethylphosphine oxide and n...
Development of a Practical Soy-Based Diet for White Seabass

Abstract Two feeding trials were conducted to begin development of a practical soy-based diet for white seabass Atractoscion nobilis. The first trial was designed to provide initial data on the efficacy of practical soy-based diets. Three diets and a commercial reference diet were evaluated. Research diets were 42% protein and 12% lipid, with varying protein sources: fish meal (FM), FM plus solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM), or FM plus soy protein concentrate (SPC). Final weight (14.1–17.2 g), percent weight gain (307.2–401.8%), and feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.0–1.2) followed similar trends, with fish offered the FM-based diet significantly outperforming the other dietary treatment groups. There was no significant difference between soy-based diets and the commercial reference diet, and no significant differences in survival due to dietary treatments were observed. The second trial was designed to evaluate varying levels of FM replacement with SPC in a series of four diets containing 42% protein and ...
Abstract 234: Transcription factor LSF is a novel oncogene for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC While the incidence of overall cancers is decreasing, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the few cancers the incidence of which is on an increase. The mortality rate of HCC parallels that of incidence since HCC is a highly aggressive cancer with extremely limited currently available therapeutic strategies. Understanding the molecular mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis will help develop novel, targeted and more effective therapeutic regimen to counteract this fatal disease. Here, we demonstrate that the cellular transcriptional factor Late SV40 Factor (LSF) functions as an oncogene in HCC. The level of LSF expression is significantly increased in human HCC patients compared to matched non-neoplastic controls and normal liver and LSF expression significantly correlates with the stages and grades of HCC. Ectopic overexpression of LSF in nontumorigenic human HCC cells leads to highly aggressive, multi-organ metastatic tumors while inhibition of LSF in aggressive human HCC cells profoundly inhibits tumorigenic and metastatic properties in athymic nude mice. Affymetrix microarray studies identified novel LSF-downstream genes that are associated with cell growth, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, chemoresistance, and senescence. Osteopontin, a key molecule mediating tumor progression, especially metastasis, was identified as a downstream target gene of LSF. Promoter-reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses confirmed that LSF transcriptionally upregulates OPN by binding to its promoter. Knockdown of OPN gene in LSF-overexpressing HCC cells markedly inhibits LSF-mediated tumor progression including metastasis. This is the first report on the novel function of LSF as an oncogene in any cancer indication. Since LSF expression correlates with the advanced stages of the disease, it might be employed as a diagnostic/prognostic marker for HCC. The DNA binding domain of LSF might be targeted with small molecule inhibitors that might be developed as potential HCC therapeutic. Our findings thus have significant translational implications. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 234.
Resistance due to vortex motion in the $ν=1$ bilayer quantum Hall superfluid

The longitudinal and Hall resistances have recently been measured for quantum Hall bilayers at total filling $\nu=1$ in the superfluid state with interlayer pairing, both for currents flowing parallel to one another and for "counterflowing" currents in the two layers. Here I examine the contribution to these resistances from the motion of unpaired vortices in these systems, developing some possible explanations of various qualitative features of these data.
Segmental atrophy of the liver: an uncommon and often unrecognized pseudotumor.

Segmental atrophy of the liver has been recently related to a rare and under-recognized pseudotumor [1]. The typical features of segmental atrophy include loss of hepatic parenchyma, mild inflammation, bile ductular proliferation, biliary retention cysts, and early fibrotic and elastotic changes. Segmental atrophy is often associated with remote vascular injury and may occasionally present as a sub-capsular mass lesion. Singhi et al. [1] reported on atrophic pseudotumor of the liver and identified multiple stages with different histologic findings. Early lesions are characterized by collapsed parenchyma, focal elastotic changes, and brisk bile ductular proliferation. The elastotic changes become more evident in the later stages, and in the final stage the lesion presents as an elastotic nodule with dense fibrosis. Although the morphological appearance of segmental atrophy of the liver has been described, very few cases have been reported. In addition, because the clinicopathological characteristics of this pseudotumor remain poorly described, clinicians are frequently unaware and ill prepared to deal with this clinical entity.
Manganese in coastal rainwater: speciation, photochemistry and deposition to seawater

Concentrations of manganese in 56 rain events in Wilmington, NC, USA rainwater from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 were 11 ± 3 nM for dissolved Mn and 1.2 ± 0.4 nM for particulate Mn. Concentrations of both forms of Mn were higher in terrestrial storms relative to marine events. This observation along with the positive correlation of Mn with pollutant indicators suggests anthropogenic inputs to rain at this location, as has been observed at other locations. The ratio of Mnpart/Mndiss was threefold larger in summer relative to winter rain, which matched the increase of particulate to dissolved Fe in rainwater suggesting influence of Saharan dust during the summer. Like Fe in rain, Mn undergoes photoreduction in rainwater, which has also been shown to be important in Mn cycling in seawater. The flux of Mn removed from the atmosphere via wet deposition is 1.5 × 10−5 moles m−2 yr−1 at this location, which is approximately twice the flux reported from two rainwater studies conducted in the early 1980s on Bermuda. Atmospheric input of Mn to the oceans is important because Mn like Fe is an essential and potentially limiting nutrient. Experiments mixing authentic rainwater and seawater demonstrate that rainwater dissolved Mn does not rapidly precipitate in seawater suggesting wet deposition is an important source of soluble, stable Mn to surface seawater.
Size-minimizing rectifiable currents

1. Introduct ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 2. On the existence and regularity of size minimizers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 3. Isoperimetric inequalities and size bounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 4. Bernstein theorems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
The Influence of Standard and Poor's Ranking Changes on Stock Price Performance

Describes Standard and Poor’s (S&P: USA) star ranking system for firm performance and presents a study of the impact of ranking changes on share prices. Outlines previous research on the effect of ranking changes and examines the share prices for 70 days before and after S&P ranking change announcements 1993‐1995 to assess abnormal returns. Explains the methodology and presents the results, which show significant changes in abnormal returns around the announcement dates, especially where the change is “in leaps rather than in steps”.
Red wine, dealcoholized red wine, and especially grape juice, inhibit atherosclerosis in a hamster model

The French have low coronary heart disease mortality with high fat consumption; this epidemiological anomaly is known as the "French Paradox" and is commonly attributed to the consumption of red wine. However, epidemiology studies have not convincingly shown a superiority of red wine vs. alcohol or other alcoholic beverages. We have used the hamster model of atherosclerosis to determine the active ingredient(s) of red wine responsible for the beneficial effect. Hamsters (nine in each group) were given a cholesterol/saturated fat for 10 weeks to induce foam cell formation. Water or 6.75% ethanol was given to the control groups. Beverages tested included red wine, dealcoholized red wine, and red grape juice, all diluted in half. Ethanol and all beverages caused a significant reduction in atherosclerosis. The combination of ethanol in red wine had the largest effect in decreasing atherosclerosis by both hypolipemic and antioxidant mechanisms. When compared with dealcoholized wine and normalized to polyphenol dose, red wine's beneficial effects can be attributed entirely to the polyphenols. Grape juice had a significant benefit at a much lower dose of polyphenols than the wines. Grape juice was calculated to be much more effective than red wine or dealcoholized red wine at the same polyphenol dose in inhibiting atherosclerosis and improving lipids and antioxidant parameters. This data suggests that polyphenolic beverages from grapes are beneficial in inhibiting atherosclerosis by several mechanisms. Grape juice or non-alcoholic red wine are an excellent alternative to red wine in this model of atherosclerosis.
The diagnostic value of determinations of serum leucine aminopeptidase concentrations in carcinoma of the pancreas.

The serum concentration and urine excretion of LAP was determined by the method of Goldbarg and Rutenburg in 187 patients.
New positive, tetrazolium-linked, staining method for use with electrophoresis of phosphoglycerate kinase

Eine Methode zur positiven Anfarbung der Phosphoglycerat-Kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) nach Starkegelektrophorese wird beschrieben. Das in der Vorwartsreaktion des Enzyms gebildete Adenosin-Triphosphat wird mit einem Indikatorsystem (Hexokinase, Glukose-6-phosphat-Dehydrogenase, Tetrazoliumsalz) erfasst.
An introduction to the psychophysiology of breathing.

Breathing can be viewed as an independent variable which affects emotion, cognition, and behavior as well as a dependent variable which reflects changes in emotion, cognition, and behavior. This bidirectional interaction is basic to an appreciation of the significance of breathing in terms of its relevance in research and application. The underlying premise of the present article is that since breathing is a behavior that is under voluntary as well as reflexive control, it can be modified according to the principles of both instrumental training (operant conditioning) and Pavlovian (classical) conditioning. The implications of this premise are relevant to theory, diagnosis, and treatment of stress and anxiety-related disorders (e.g., panic disorder, phobias, test anxiety, occupational strain, and related psychosomatic disorders), and to basic and applied research in the psychophysiology of breathing.
Circulating ghrelin and GLP-1 are not affected by habitual diet.

Background Ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are gut hormones known to induce hunger and satiety, respectively. Current knowledge about the effects of different macronutrients on circulating ghrelin and GLP-1 comes mainly from acute test meals, whereas little is known about the effects of chronic dietary intake on gut hormone secretion. This study was designed to examine whether 8-week habituation to diets with different percentages of carbohydrate and fat would affect serum ghrelin, GLP-1, and subjective hunger in a postabsorptive state and in response to a standard liquid mixed meal.
Oxidative stress in zebrafish cells: potential utility of transgenic zebrafish as a deployable sentinel for site hazard ranking

In order to quickly assess potential environmental hazards of forwardly deployed military bases, we have focussed our efforts on biochemical and molecular changes in vertebrate cells following exposure to aqueous soil extracts. To this end, we are designing a series of deployable transgenic fish. Fish exhibit many of the same general defenses against toxic chemicals as do mammals, including enzyme induction, and the generation of oxidative stress. In response to many foreign compounds that generate oxidative stress, the transcription of certain protective genes is induced via specific DNA motifs called electrophile response elements (EPREs). We have made a plasmid construct containing a single murine EPRE fused to a minimal promoter and the cDNA encoding firefly luciferase (EPRE-LUC). In this paper, we have shown that the treatment of zebrafish cell line ZEM2S with a variety of chemicals known to induce EPRE-dependent transcription in cultured mammalian cells, results in dose-dependent induction of the transiently-transfected EPRE-LUC reporter construct. Compounds tested include aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and organophosphates. We observed similar dose-dependent responses when we treated ZEM2S and human cells in vitro with identical aqueous extracts of soil from hazardous waste sites. This suggests that the mechanism by which these compounds activate transcription is well conserved between mammals and zebrafish, and that transgenic zebrafish lines containing EPRE-driven reporter constructs might be useful as sentinels for the early detection of oxidative stress-inducing chemicals.
Response to Letter by Pelz and Lownie Regarding Article, “Intracranial Hemorrhage Is Much More Common After Carotid Stenting Than After Endarterectomy: Evidence From the National Inpatient Sample”

Response: We thank Drs Pelz and Lownie for their thoughtful comments regarding our recent publication in Stroke .1 We share their concern that carotid artery stenting may be associated with an excess risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial (CREST) investigators have reported, among 2500 study participants who underwent carotid revascularization, nearly equivalent safety and efficacy of carotid artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy. However, even well-designed prospective randomized studies such as CREST face sample size limitations. In the case of rare events such as …
Subchronic toxicity of barium Chloride dihydrate administered to rats and mice in the drinking water

Barium Chloride dihydrate (BaCl2.2H2O) was given for 92 days to B6C3F1 mice and Fischer 344/N rats in their drinking water at levels of 0, 125, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 ppm. The no-effect level for this study was 2000 ppm BaCl2.2H2O in the drinking water. At 4000 ppm, daily consumption for mice was 436 to 562 mg/kg barium, up to four times more chemical than rats. Mortality ranged from 60 to 70% in mice and from 10 to 30% in rats in the 4000 ppm groups. Deaths in mice were associated with a treatment-related renal toxicity. Renal lesions in rats were much less severe than in mice and did not contribute to the treatment-related deaths seen in the high dose group. Body weights of both species and sexes in the 4000 ppm groups were lower than controls at 92 days. Male and female rats in treated groups exhibited higher serum phosphorus than controls. Serum sodium, potassium, and calcium levels in rats were unchanged by barium treatment, as were hematological values. In both species at 4000 ppm, motor activity, grip strength, and thermal sensitivity were marginally affected. These effects were probably secondary changes resulting from BaCl2 toxicity observed at this dose level. In a mating trial, no anatomical effects on offspring of rats or mice were seen. Rats receiving 4000 ppm exhibited marginal reductions in pup weights. No effects were seen on reproductive indices.
Science for Segregation: Race, Law, and the Case against Brown v. Board of Education ? By John P. Jackson Jr.

This new book examines the relationship between “science,” conservative racial thought, and public policy in twentieth‐century America. Conservative scientists, including psychologist Henry E. Garr...
Cutaneous ion exchange, and renal and extrarenal partitioning of acid and ammonia excretion in the larval tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, following ingestion of ammonium salts

The skin/gills and the kidneys of aquatic amphibians are potential sites of acid-base regulation. The roles of these organs in acid-base balance were examined in larval Ambystoma tigrinum following gastric infusion of ammonium salts. A single dose of 1.75 mEq NH4Cl·100 g-1 produced a mixed acidosis by 1 h after gavage. By 8 h after ingestion, pH and HCO 3 − had increased and PCO2 had decreased as the animals recovered. A prolonged acidosis was developed in a second group by gavage of an initial dose (1.5 mEq·100 g-1), followed by periodic maintenance doses (0.25 mEq·100 g-1) to prolong the disturbance for 8 h. The magnitude of the acidosis during this period was similar to that seen at 1 h after ingestion in the time-course study. A third group of larvae were given NaCl as a control for salt loading, which induced a small but significant respiratory acidosis. Unidirectional fluxes of Na+ and Cl- were examined during these serial ingestions. Salt loading inhibited the influx of the ingested ion. Na+ influx increased during the NH4Cl-induced acidosis. A fourth group of larvae were used to partition acid and ammonia excretion between the skin and the kidneys. These animals were given (NH4)2SO4 to allow re-examination of Cl- flux rates under non-Cl--loaded conditions. The ensuing acidosis had a reduced respiratory component and, therefore, pH did not decrease as much. Cl- influx rates did decrease significantly under these conditions. In both control and acidotic conditions, the majority of the acid efflux was as ammonia and the skin was the primary site of acid excretion. However, both the skin and the kidneys increased total acid excretion, although the efflux across the skin showed a much greater increase. This suggests a primary role for the skin in acid-base regulation in aquatic amphibians.
Neonatal necrotizing enterocolits

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a major cause of morbidity and death in neonates. The 30% to 50% mortality rate for NEC with perforation has not changed appreciably in the past 30 years. The critical relevant outcomes following NEC include survival, gastrointestinal function, and neurodevelopmental status. In each of these areas, initial anecdotal and case-series analysis has been followed by studies using more sophisticated methods of analysis. The single most important predictor of outcome, besides gestational age, is whether or not the disease has progressed to the point requiring surgical intervention. Patients with NEC requiring operation have a high mortality. Moreover, the vast majority of morbidity following NEC occurs in the patients who survive following operation. The purpose of this review is to examine the evolution of evidence regarding outcomes for patients with NEC and to provide an update on our current state of knowledge.
Could the Universe Have Recovered from a Slow First Order Phase Transition

We investigate the cosmological consequences of a phase transition which is driven primarily by slow nucleation of bubbles of the new phase via the effectively zero temperature quantum tunneling process of Coleman and Callan. These bubbles will asymptotically fill an arbitrarily large fraction of the space, yet they never percolate. Instead they form finite clusters, with each cluster dominated by a single largest bubble. The large scale thermalization required by the original “inflationary universe” scenario does not take place. The Coleman-De Luccia formalism for bubble formation in curved space is reviewed, with minor extensions. We argue that a single uncollided bubble would contain much less total entropy than the observed universe, unless the Higgs field potential involves widely disparate mass scales, as in the new inflationary universe scenario. We also argue that finite clusters are unlikely to yield a homogeneous and isotropic region containing sufficient entropy. Thus, unless the Higgs potential has the special form required by the new inflationary scenario, it appears quite implausible that there was such a phase transition in our past.
Effect of Chemical Functionality on Adhesion Hysteresis

Studies of adhesion and adhesion hysteresis were carried out using cross-linked poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) semispherical surfaces and self-assembled model surfaces containing different chemical functionalities, using the JKR method, the contact mechanics of solids spreading their interfacial area under load. Hysteresis resulting from fast relaxation processes in the PDMS elastomer network was practically eliminated using stepwise loading and unloading protocols. The interfacial H-bonding between PDMS and both Si−OH and −COOH surfaces was shown to be an important chemical interaction causing significant adhesion hysteresis. The number of H-bonds between PDMS and Si−OH surfaces increased with contact time under compressive load, indicating pressure-induced reorganization of the PDMS network near the interface that increased the number of H-bonds. The interaction between PDMS and functionalized biphenylthiolate monolayers exhibited a smaller hysteresis, which is believed to be caused by dipolar interacti...
Cellular Angiofibroma of the Vulva

Abstract Background. The cellular angiofibroma is a benign mesenchymal neoplasm that clinically and histologically must be distinguished from biologically more aggressive lesions. It typically arises in women of late reproductive age and lends itself to cure by complete local excision. A report of an unusual case in a postmenopausal patient is presented. Case. A 77-year-old woman presented with a painless vulvar mass that slowly enlarged over 3 years. Past history included a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by estrogen replacement therapy. Surgical excision of the mass was performed and there is no evidence of recurrence 1 year postoperatively. Histopathologic examination revealed an admixture of hyalinized blood vessels and loose cellular stroma characteristic of a cellular angiofibroma. Immunohistochemical studies revealed stromal cell immunoreactivity for vimentin and CD34 and nonreactivity for desmin, actin, and S100 protein. The nuclei of the stromal cells demonstrated strong reactivity for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Conclusion. Mesenchymal lesions of the vulva and perineum include both benign and malignant neoplasms. The cellular angiofibroma is benign; however, other lesions including the aggressive angiomyxoma must be excluded when arriving at that diagnosis. The role of long-term estrogen therapy in the genesis of this tumor awaits further analysis.
The molecular basis of IL-21–mediated proliferation

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a type I cytokine that modulates functions of T, B, natural killer (NK), and myeloid cells. The IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) is closely related to the IL-2 receptor β chain and is capable of transducing signals through its dimerization with the common cytokine receptor γ chain (γc), the protein whose expression is defective in humans with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. To clarify the molecular basis of IL-21 actions, we investigated the role of tyrosine residues in the IL-21R cytoplasmic domain. Simultaneous mutation of all 6 tyrosines greatly diminished IL-21–mediated proliferation, whereas retention of tyrosine 510 (Y510) allowed full proliferation. Y510 efficiently mediated IL-21–induced phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat3, but not of Stat5, and CD8+ T cells from Stat1/Stat3 double knock-out mice exhibited decreased proliferation in response to IL-21 + IL-15. In addition, IL-21 weakly induced phosphorylation of Shc and Akt, and consistent with this, specific inhibitors of the MAPK and PI3K pathways inhibited IL-21–mediated proliferation. Collectively, these data indicate the involvement of the Jak-STAT, MAPK, and PI3K pathways in IL-21 signaling.
High-current beta falloff

High-level conditions at the emitter-base junction and current crowding have both been invoked to explain gain falloff at high collector currents in bipolar transistors. Results indicating that high-level conditions in lightly doped collector regions may also lead to current gain reduction at high-current densities are presented; a dependence of gain on I c -1has been found experimentally.