cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and the peptide nature of decapacitation factor.

Abstract The activity of purified preparation of decapacitation factor (DF), an antifertility factor present in mammalian seminal plasma, was destroyed by proteolytic enzymes indicating that DF contains essential peptide bonds. Chemical tests on the DF preparation revealed the presence of histidine and arginine and gave color with ninhydrin and chlorine-tolidine typical of peptides. Specific hydrolyses indicated absence of an ester bond and possible presence of an amide or aspartyl peptide bond necessary for activity. The DF preparation was purified from 3 l of bull seminal plasma approximately 1000-fold by ultracentrifugation, water extraction of the sediment, Pronase digestion, dialysis and column chromatography on Sephadex G-10 and powdered cellulose.
Ileal conduit hemorrhage secondary to portal hypertension

Abstract The clinical features and management of 3 patients who presented with the triad of massive hemorrhage front the ileal conduit, portal hypertension due to liver disease, and portosys-temic varices related to the conduits are described. One patient, a class C cirrhotic, was treated conservatively and died of blood loss and hepatic coma. Two patients were managed with splenorenal shunts initially, followed by creation of colon conduits, and are currently doing well. Surgical approximation of areas draining in the portal and systemic circulation with subsequent development of adhesion-related varices probably explains the predilection for involvement of the deal conduit and may explain the presence of varices in mild to moderate portal hypertension before other signs of hepatic decompensation are evident. Superior mesenteric angiography with special attention directed at the venous phase is necessary to document this entity.
REFORM OF CHILD IMMUNIZATION SERVICE DELIVERY IN ISRAEL

Overall immunization rates for 2-year-old children in Israel have consistently been higher than 90%, 1 a particularly impressive figure given the country's absorption of millions of immigrants from diverse cultural backgrounds. Historically, Israel has maintained strong government control of immunization delivery. However, despite the success of this system, the country is now moving to limit direct government involvement in this area. Conversely, the uncoordinated mix of public and private sector activity in the United States has yielded low 2-year-old immunization rates, prompting the Clinton administration to call for greater government control of immunization delivery. 2 Examining the impetus for, and consequences of, changes in the Israeli system as it moves away from strict government control may provide insight into the implications of health care reform efforts in the United States and other countries. Current System of Immunization Delivery in Israel In Israel, children's preventive services and curative care are provided
Physical symptom reporting and health perception among type A and B college males.

Abstract This investigation studied the relationship of Type A behavior to physical symptom reporting and self-appraised health status. The student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey was administered to thirty male college seniors during a high-stress period of the semester. Results showed that Type A's reported relatively fewer physical symptoms and perceived themselves as being more healthy than Type B's. Type A individuals also rated themselves as healthier than their peers, whereas Type B individuals rated themselves as being less healthy than their peers. In addition, symptom reporting and health perception were negatively correlated in the Type B subsample; however, this relationship was not evident in the Type A subsample. In the discussion, it was suggested that the attentional style of Type A's may contribute to lower levels of symptom reporting and faulty appraisals of health status. The notion of an attributional bias whereby Type A's define internal somatovisceral states differently than T...
Upward planarity testing

Acyclic digraphs, such as the covering digraphs of ordered sets, are usually drawn upward, i.e., with the edges monotonically increasing in the vertical direction. A digraph is upward planar if it admits an upward planar drawing. In this survey paper, we overview the literature on the problem of upward planarity testing. We present several characterizations of upward planarity and describe upward planarity testing algorithms for special classes of digraphs, such as embedded digraphs and single-source digraphs. We also sketch the proof of NP-completeness of upward planarity testing.
A new method to generate large order low temperature expansions for discrete spin models

Abstract I describe work done in collaboration with Michael Creutz at BNL and Jan Lacki at IAS Princeton. We have developed a method to generate very high order low temperature (weak coupling) expansions for discrete spin systems. For the 3-d and 4-d Ising model, we give results for the low temperature expansion of the average free energy to 50 and 44 excited bonds respectively.
Ketamine and midazolam is an inappropriate preinduction combination in uncooperative children undergoing brief ambulatory procedures.

SummaryBackground: We prospectively studied the effects of intramuscular (i.m.) ketamine alone, or combined with midazolam, on mask acceptance and recovery in young children who were uncooperative during induction of anaesthesia. Methods: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained to study 80 children, 1–3 years, scheduled for bilateral myringotomies and tube insertion (BMT). Mask induction was attempted in all the children. Those who were uncooperative were randomly assigned to one of the four preinduction treatment groups: group I, ketamine 2 mg·kg−1; group II, ketamine 2 mg·kg−1 combined with midazolam 0.1 mg·kg−1; group III, ketamine 2 mg·kg−1 with midazolam 0.2 mg·kg−1; or group IV, ketamine 1 mg·kg−1 with midazolam 0.2 mg·kg−1. Anaesthesia was continued with nitrous oxide and halothane by facemask. Results: Children in all treatment groups achieved satisfactory sedation in less than 3 min following the administration of the preinduction drug(s). Compared with patients who received halothane induction (comparison group), the use of ketamine alone did not significantly (P > 0.0167, a Bonferroni corrected significance level) delay recovery and discharge times (18.8 ± 2.5 and 82.5 ± 30.7 min vs 12.6 ± 4.6 and 81.0 ± 33.8 min, P = 0.030 and P = 0.941, respectively). Patients who received ketamine/midazolam combinations, however, had significantly longer recovery and discharge times vs halothane (32.3 ± 14.0 and 128.0 ± 36.6 min, P = 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). These times were so clinically unacceptable, that the study had to be terminated with only 17 patients receiving study drugs. Conclusions: It is concluded that ketamine/midazolam combination is not appropriate for preinduction of anaesthesia in paediatric ambulatory patients because of unacceptably prolonged recovery and delayed discharge times.
Normobaric hyperoxia delays perfusion/diffusion mismatch evolution, reduces infarct volume, and differentially affects neuronal cell death pathways after suture middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

Normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) has been shown to extend the reperfusion window after focal cerebral ischemia. Employing diffusion (DWI)- and perfusion (PWI)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the effect of NBO (100% started at 30 mins after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)) on the spatiotemporal evolution of ischemia during and after permanent (pMCAO) and transient suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) was investigated (experiment 3). In two additional experiments, time window (experiment 1) and cell death pathways (experiment 2) were investigated in the pMCAO model. In experiment 1, NBO treatment reduced infarct volume at 24 h after pMCAO by 10% when administered for 3 h (P > 0.05) and by 44% when administered for 6 h (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, NBO acutely (390 mins, P <0 .05) reduced in situ end labeling (ISEL) positivity in the ipsilesional penumbra but increased contralesional necrotic as well as caspase-3-mediated apoptotic cell death. In experiment 3, CBF characteristics and CBF-derived lesion volumes did not differ between treated and untreated animals, whereas the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-derived lesion volume essentially stopped progressing during NBO treatment, resulting in a persistent PWI/DWI mismatch that could be salvaged by delayed (3 h) reperfusion. In conclusion, NBO (1) acutely preserved the perfusion/diffusion mismatch without altering CBF, (2) significantly extended the time window for reperfusion, (3) induced lasting neuroprotection in permanent ischemia, and (4) although capable of reducing cell death in hypoperfused tissue it also induced cell death in otherwise unaffected areas. Our data suggest that NBO may represent a promising strategy for acute stroke treatment.
Downstream Economic Benefits of Conservation Development

This paper evaluates the downstream hydrologic and economic impacts of development strategies that promote greater on-site storage of storm water. This paper applies a methodology to a specific case study that emphasizes flood risk reduction and drainage infrastructure. The estimates are at a first level of approximation. We use widely accepted simulation models and available data to compare alternative development scenarios for the 0.01 annual probability storm event. For a watershed in a rapidly developing area near Chicago, Ill., reduced downstream flooding with the employment of conservation design practices generates from $0 to 19,400∕ha ($0–7,800∕acre) in downstream property value benefits over all affected areas. For comparison purposes, flood-damage estimation methods generate an average of $16,800–$24,200∕ha ($6,700–$9,700∕acres present value reduction in damages for the 0.01 probability flood event alone. The two methods yield conservative, but mutually reinforcing estimates. For infrastructure ...
Cultured human skin fibroblasts: a model for the study of androgen action

Human skin may be considered as a target organ for androgens, as are male sex accessory organs, since all events involved in testosterone action have been observed in this tissue. As a corollary, the mechanism of androgen action can be studiedin vitro in cultured skin fibroblasts. The advantages of this system are that studies can be performed with intact human cells under carefully controlled conditions, differentiated genetic and biochemical characteristics of the cells are faithfully preserved and the biological material is renewable from a single biopsy specimen. The metabolism of androgens, in particular the 5α-reduction of testosterone to the active metabolite, dihydrotestosterone, the intracellular binding of androgen to its specific receptor protein and its subsequent translocation to the nucleus have been studied in skin fibroblasts. The intracellular androgen receptor content of genital skin fibroblasts is higher than that from nongenital skin sites. In addition, the androgen receptor has been characterized as a specific macromolecule with properties of high affinity and low capacity similar to that of other steroid hormone receptors.
A statistical analysis of the construction of the United Nations E-Government Development Index

Abstract There is much debate among scholars about what constitutes e-government success, what method is best for measuring it, and which variables best describe it. This lack of consensus naturally leads to disagreement about the best approach for ranking the e-government programs of different countries. This article evaluates the current standard in e-government ranking, the United Nations E-government Development Index, by performing a confirmatory factor analysis on the raw data reported in the “Data tables” section of the “Statistical annex” in the 2010 United Nations E-Government Survey. The results identify several technical issues with the index and point to the need for a statistical tool that can be used to evaluate and guide the development of e-government ranking systems. The article recommends that researchers develop a new paradigm for quantitative e-government ranking that uses factor analysis to aid in the selection of variables, the organization of aggregate constructs, and the determination of weights.
Effects of environmental factors on the in vitro potency of azithromycin.

The effects of media, pH, cations, serum, CO2 or anaerobic atmosphere, inoculum size and time of incubation on the in vitro potency of azithromycin were determined. The potency of azithromycin against all genera was particularly sensitive to changes in pH. The MIC forStaphylococcus aureus strains ranged from 50 µg/ml at pH 6 to ≤ 0.025 µg/ml at pH 8; for erythromycin the MIC change was less (1.6 to 0.05 µg/ml). Incubation for 18 h in 5 % CO2 or an anaerobic atmosphere (10 % CO2, 10 % H2, 80 % N2) lowered the pH by approximately 0.8 units with gram-negative organisms and 0.4 units with gram-positive organisms. This resulted in an MIC eight times greater than the aerobic MIC. In addition, the MIC100 for azithromycin and erythromycin againstBacteroides strains growing in Wilkins-Chalgren broth fell from 3.1 µg/ml in the anaerobic atmosphere to 0.2 and 0.4 µg/ml, respectively, when using the Oxyrase enzyme system to remove oxygen. With the Oxyrase system, the pH of the medium at the MIC remained at 7.2, while it fell to 6.7 in the anaerobic gas mixture. An increase in potency for both agents was also observed with other anaerobic species when using the Oxyrase system. The addition of serum produced an increase in potency of azithromycin and erythromycin that correlated with an increase in pH during incubation, despite the use of buffered media. Adding cations to Mueller-Hinton broth resulted in increased MICs for gram-negative organisms; the highest increases observed were four-fold forEscherichia coli. The activity of control antibiotics was not affected to the same degree as that of azithromycin. Increasing the incubation period from 24 to 48 h did not change the MIC values of azithromycin forStaphylococcus aureus orEscherichia coli; however, the MBC values were lower at 48 h and equalled the MIC values. Inoculum size or manner of preparation had no significant effect on the potency of azithromycin.
Tumour maintenance is mediated by eNOS

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is shown to have a role in cellular transformation and tumour maintenance downstream of Ras–AKT signalling. eNOS exerts its effect through nitrosylation and activation of endogenous wild-type Ras proteins. Tumour cells become addicted to the expression of initiating oncogenes like Ras, such that loss of oncogene expression in established tumours leads to tumour regression1. HRas, NRas or KRas are mutated to remain in the active GTP-bound oncogenic state in many cancers2. Although Ras activates several proteins to initiate human tumour growth, only PI3K, through activation of protein kinase B (PKB; also known as AKT), must remain activated by oncogenic Ras to maintain this growth3. Here we show that blocking phosphorylation of the AKT substrate, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3), inhibits tumour initiation and maintenance. Moreover, eNOS enhances the nitrosylation and activation of endogenous wild-type Ras proteins, which are required throughout tumorigenesis. We suggest that activation of the PI3K–AKT–eNOS–(wild-type) Ras pathway by oncogenic Ras in cancer cells is required to initiate and maintain tumour growth.
Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage with schwannoma.

This paper describes a unique case of spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage that occurred secondarily to thoracic schwannoma.
Synthetic humans in emergency response drills

Being able to realistically simulate humans in emergency response activities is a key challenge for advancing the field of information technology for emergency response. Building good human models enables testing information technology solutions in any emergency response simulated scenario. This paper presents an agent behavior model for mimicking peoples's behavior on emergency response activities. The accompanying demo demonstrates a concrete model for evacuations integrated with an emergency drill simulation environment.
Ryanodine sensitivity of the calcium release channel of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Ryanodine modulates Ca2+ permeability in isolated terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that it is a specific ligand for the calcium release channel. Our laboratory has purified the ryanodine receptor and demonstrated it to be equivalent to the feet structures, which are involved in the junctional association of the transverse tubule with the terminal cisternae. Recently, Smith, Coronado and Meissner have incorporated sarcoplasmic reticulum into bilayers and found a high conductivity channel (∼ 100 pS) which has a number of characteristics expected of the Ca2+ release channels in SR. We now find that the high conductivity channel in the bilayer is sensitive to ryanodine. Low concentrations of ryanodine (sub μM): (1) lock the channels in an open state; (2) prevent the action of ruthenium red (μM) to completely close the channel; and (3) much higher concentrations of ryanodine (300μM) close the channel. In these three respects ryanodine acts similarly on the channel in the bilayer as in vesicles. Further, the bilayer studies provide new insight into the action of ryanodine on the channel in that: (1) ryanodine locks the channel in the open state, but the conductivity is reduced to about 40%; (2) ryanodine prevents ruthenium red from closing the channel, although there is a further decrease in the open current. These studies provide support that the high conductivity calcium channel in sarcoplasmic reticulum is involved in excitation-contraction coupling. By the same token the pharmacological action of ryanodine is pinpointed to the calcium release channel.
Mechanisms of minocycline-induced suppression of simian immunodeficiency virus encephalitis: inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the central nervous system (CNS) can lead to cognitive dysfunction, even in individuals treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. Using an established simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/macaque model of HIV CNS disease, we previously reported that infection shifts the balance of activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in the brain, resulting in increased activation of the neurodegenerative MAPKs p38 and JNK. Minocycline treatment of SIV-infected macaques reduced the incidence and severity of SIV encephalitis in this model, and suppressed the activation of p38 in the brain. The purpose of this study was to further examine the effects of minocycline on neurodegenerative MAPK signaling. We first demonstrated that minocycline also decreases JNK activation in the brain and levels of the inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO). We next used NO to activate these MAPK pathways in vitro, and demonstrated that minocycline suppresses p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation by reducing intracellular levels, and hence, activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a MAPK kinase capable of selectively activating both pathways. We then demonstrated that ASK1 activation in the brain during SIV infection is suppressed by minocycline. By suppressing p38 and JNK activation pathways, which are important for the production of and responses to inflammatory mediators, minocycline may interrupt the vicious cycle of inflammation that both results from, and promotes, virus replication in SIV and HIV CNS disease.
Human papillomavirus DNA in malignant and hyperplastic prostate tissue of black and white males

This study hypothesized that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with increased prostate cancer risk, and that the 40% higher incidence rate in blacks is attributable to a greater prevalence of oncogenic viral DNA in prostatic tissues. Viral L1 and E6 gene sequences were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified in archival tissues from 56 prostate cancer cases and 42 hyperplastic controls. L1 amplimers were hybridized by dot blot to HPV L1 generic probes, as were E6 amplimers to E6 probes specific for HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, and 45. 12.5% of cases and 9.5% of controls were HPV positive by L1 hybridization (age/race adjusted odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval = 0.33, 8.37). Four of 52 (7.7%) blacks were HPV positive compared to 7 of 46 (15.2%) whites. However, none of the L1-positive samples hybridized to the E6 type-specific probes, and positive results were not replicable using a broader spectrum of PCR primers and probes. These data suggest that HPV infection is not a significant risk factor for prostate cancer and does not explain the excess cancer risk in blacks.
Studies of the α-glyceryl ether lipids occurring in molluscan tissues

Abstract 1. 1.Tissues of Katherina tunicata, Thais lamellosa, Octopus dofleini,andProtothaca staminea were examined for α-glyceryl ether-containing lipids. 2. 2.Phospholipids of the species analyzed contain glyceryl ethers amounting to as much as 25 mole % of the total phospholipid phosphorus. The neutral lipids of all species also contain glyceryl ether derivatives. 3. 3.Analysis of the glyceryl ethers by gas-liquid chromatography showed that in most cases chimyi alcohol (1-O-hexadecyl glycerol)andbatyl alcohol (1-O-octadecylglycerol) predominate, although many variations were noted in the distribution patterns. 4. 4.In some cases cyclic acetal derivatives of the plasmalogens were prepared to allow comparison of the vinyl ether side-chains with those of the saturated ethers. A new method employing LiAlH4 allows the rapid isolation in pure form of cyclic acetals as well as glyceryl ethers. 5. 5.The presence of significant levels of glyceryl ether lipids in representatives from the four principal classes of mollusca indicates that these lipids are of widespread occurrence within the phylum.
Effective thermal expansion of heterogeneous materials with application to low temperature environments

This paper presents direct formulations of the effective thermal linear expansion (TLE) and the effective coefficient of thermal linear expansion (CTLE) of heterogeneous materials, or multi-constituent composites, with temperature dependent constituent properties and an arbitrary initial incompatible eigenstrain field. The effective properties are expressed in terms of the stress and strain concentrators. For bi-phase composites results are expressed in terms of the effective elastic properties rather than the concentrators. These developments are based on the linear theory of uncoupled thermoelasticity. An example is presented for niobium (Nb) fibers embedded in a copper (Cu) matrix at cryogenic temperatures. It is shown that this composite achieves negative CTLE despite the CTLE of both Nb and Cu are strictly greater than zero. In addition, it is shown that the presence of an initial field of incompatible eigenstrains is capable of causing anisotropic thermal expansion coefficients in an otherwise macroscopically isotropic material of isotropic constituents. Due to the form equivalence of the governing equations the developments which are presented are also applicable to the area of moisture swelling.
MetNetGE: Visualizing biological networks in hierarchical views and 3D tiered layouts

Linking experimental data with large-scale biomedical networks is key for achieving new discoveries in system biology research. Visualization tools that facilitate these tasks often result in a dense web of connections that resembles a tangled hairball and is difficult to interpret. MetNetGE is an interactive pathway navigation tool based on Google Earth that features novel visualization techniques for pathway information display. Instead of simply showing all the pathways in a network in a complex graph, MetNetGE visualizes the entire network of pathways based on the hierarchical pathway ontology using a novel radial space filling (RSF) method. Orbits show when pathways belong to multiple categories. Mapping cumulative experiment statistics on the RSF drawing aids biologists in easily identifying highly activated pathways in an experiment. After identifying key pathways, biologists can fly to the corresponding region and see the detailed pathway and experimental data in an aligned 3D tiered layout with simplified cross-layer connection patterns.
Catecholamine uptake and concentration by liposomes maintaining p/ gradients.

Abstract Liposomes were prepared with pH gradients across their membranes (acidic interiors with respect to the external buffer). These liposomes efficiently concentrated several catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) added to the external buffer. Our observations support a mechanism which suggests that pH gradients may contribute to uptake of catecholamines by sub-cellular storage sites.
Teaching Direct Practice Skills Using Web-Based Simulations: Home Visiting in the Virtual World

Social work programs increasingly are engaged in deploying distance education models, yet questions remain about how to teach direct practice skills within this context. As field agency changes have limited practice opportunities for social work students, methods for helping interns develop direct practice skills in diverse field practicum settings also are needed. This paper describes a direct practice course initiative in which a virtual simulation of a home visit was developed in Second Life. Descriptions of the steps that were involved in developing and implementing this initiative, feedback from the students and instructors, and resources necessary to launch such an initiative are discussed.
Structural modifications of rat serum high density lipoprotein by pancreatic phospholipase A2.

An important and unusual aspect of the high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the rat is its tendency to undergo marked alterations in structure in response to physiological perturbations. In this study, the role of the surface lipids for maintenance of HDL integrity were investigated. Hydrolysis by pancreatic phospholipase A2 of the phospholipids of rat HDL in the presence of the d>1.21 g/ml fraction of rat serum results in an increase in the particle diameter and an uptake of apo-E and apo A-IV from the lipoprotein-free fraction; augmentation of the albumin concentration in the incubation mixture intensified the observed changes, probably due to enhancement of the compositional changes brought about by phospholipase treatment. Phospholipase A2 treatment of the d<1.21 g/ml fraction of rat serum produces only minor changes in the properties of the isolated HDL. These data suggest that changes in apoprotein content reflect an uptake of A-IV and E by the rat HDL, rather than a net loss of apo A-I. Likewise, titration of the action of pancreatic phospholipase A2 on HDL apoprotein composition showed that initially a modest increase in apo A-IV content occurred, but with more extensive phospholipolysis there was a considerably greater increase in the apo-E content of the particle. The data suggest that hydrolysis of phospholipids such as occurs physiologically through the action of lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase and hepatic lipase may alter the HDL structure independently from changes effected in the neutral lipid core.
An analysis of the dependence of clear-sky top-of-atmosphere outgoing longwave radiation on atmospheric temperature and water vapor

[1] We have analyzed observations of clear-sky top-of-atmosphere outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) measured by the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES). These measurements were obtained during March 2005 at night and over the ocean and cover latitudes from 70°N to 70°S. First, we compare the OLR measurements to OLR calculated from two radiative transfer models. The models use as input simultaneous and collocated measurements of atmospheric temperature and atmospheric water vapor made by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). We find excellent agreement between the models' predictions of OLR and observations, well within the uncertainty of the measurements. We also analyze the sensitivity of OLR to changing surface temperature Ts, atmospheric temperature Ta, and atmospheric water vapor q. We find that OLR is most sensitive to unit changes in Ta when that change occurs in the lower troposphere. For q, the altitude distribution of sensitivity varies between the midlatitudes, subtropics, and the convective region. We also partition the observed variations in OLR into contributions from changing Ts, Ta, and q. In the midlatitudes, changes in Ts and Ta contribute approximately equally, and are partially offset by changes in q. In the subtropics, changes in Ta dominate, with a smaller contribution from changes in Ts and a relatively small offsetting contribution from q. In the tropical convective region, a rapid increase in q in the midtroposphere leads to a dramatic reduction in OLR with increasing Ts, which has been termed the “super greenhouse effect”.
DAROS: Distributed user-server assignment and replication for online social networking applications

In this paper we study the problem of assigning users to servers and data replication in a distributed manner for online social networking (OSN) applications. Typical OSN applications such as Facebook and Twitter are built on top of an infrastructure of servers, which handle the users data storage and communications. Thus, for a given user's communication pattern, the loads of the servers depend critically on the assignment of users to servers. A good assignment will reduce the overall load of the system. Furthermore, by replicating data across the servers judiciously, the overall load can also be further reduced. Unfortunately, this optimal assignment and data replication problem is NP-hard. Therefore, we introduce a distributed heuristic algorithm in which the servers perform local computations and exchange information among each other iteratively in such a way that the algorithm converges to a good assignment and replication in terms of reducing the overall system load as well as balancing the loads among the servers. In contrast with a centralized algorithm, a distributed algorithm offers the advantage of balancing the computations among all the servers as well as the ability to naturally adapt to time-varying user's communication patterns. Simulations results show promising performance for the proposed algorithm.
Maximum permissible concentrations for tritiated water and tritiated thymidine.

Abstract The electrons of importance biologically in the absorption of energy from beta particles emitted by tritium have energies below 1 keV. These electrons have extremely short ranges which prompt the examination of absorbed energy on some basis other than average dose, such as ergs/gm. Tentative MPC's for tritiated water and tritiated thymidine are derived in this paper without reference to absorbed dose. The MPC's thus obtained are 10 to 100 times present recommended values.
Kinetic mechanisms for mullite formation from sol-gel precursors

The reaction kinetics for the formation of mullite (3Al2O3 · 2SiO2) from sol-gel derived precursors were studied using dynamic x-ray diffraction (DXRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The reaction kinetics of diphasic and single phase gels are compared and different reaction mechanisms are found for each gel. Mullite formation in the diphasic gel exhibits an Avrami type, diffusion-controlled growth mechanism with initial mullite formation temperatures of about 1250 °C and an activation energy on the order 103 kJ/mole. On the other hand, mullite formation from the single phase gel is a nucleation-controlled process with an initial formation temperature of 940 °C and a much lower activation energy of about 300 kJ/mole.
How Do Lignin Composition, Structure, and Cross-Linking Affect Degradability? A Review of Cell Wall Model Studies

anisms by which lignin restrict fiber degradation are poorly understood. Many aspects of grass cell wall lignification and degradation Hatfield, 1997). These reductions in degradability are are successfully modeled by dehydrogenation polymer-cell wall partly related to the increased lignin content of cell (DHP-CW) complexes formed with primary walls of corn Zea mays walls; however, variations in three-dimensional strucL. This system was used to assess how variations in lignin composition, ture and composition of lignin and its hydrophobicity, structure, and cross-linking influence the hydrolysis of cell walls by encrustation, and cross-linking to other matrix compofungalenzymes.Alteringthenormalguaiacyl,syringyl,andp-hydroxy- nents also have been implicated (Chesson, 1993; Jung phenyl makeup of lignin did not influence cell wall degradability; each and Deetz, 1993). unit of lignin depressed cell wall degradability by two units. Plants Because of the anatomical, morphological, and develwith perturbed lignin biosynthesis often incorporate unusual precuropmental complexity of cell wall and lignin formation sors into lignin and one of these, coniferaldehyde, increased lignin in various plant tissues, studies with normal, mutant, hydrophobicity and further depressed degradability by up to 30%. In other studies, lignin formed by gradual “bulk” or rapid “end-wise” or transgenic germplasm often do not show consistent polymerization of monolignols had markedly different structures but relationships between lignin-matrix characteristics and similar effects on degradability. Reductions in cell wall cross-linking, cell wall degradability at the whole plant, plant part, or via oxidative coupling of feruloylated xylans to lignin or nucleophilic even tissue level (Grabber et al., 1992; Jung and Vogel, addition of cell wall sugars to lignin quinone-methide intermediates, 1992; Jung et al., 2000). Even when plant selection or increased the initial hydrolysis of cell walls by up to 46% and the enzyme downregulation is targeted at specific lignin extent of hydrolysis by up to 28%. Overall, these studies suggest that properties or lignin-matrix interactions, compensatory reductions in lignin concentration, hydrophobicity, and cross-linking or associative changes in other cell wall characteristics will improve the enzymatic hydrolysis and utilization of structural often occur, making it difficult to identify underlying polysaccharides for nutritional and industrial purposes. In ongoing mechanisms controlling cell wall degradability. Plants work, we are developing a DHP-CW system for dicots and are investigating how cross-linking and various acylated and unusual monolig- may, for example, respond to lower lignification by innols influence the formation of lignin and the degradation of cell walls creasing the amount of cross-linking (Chabannes et al., by rumen microflora. 2001), perhaps yielding no net change in digestibility. A common but faulty assumption is that correlations between a particular lignin trait and degradability dem
A pilot phase II trial of all-trans retinoic acid (Vesanoid) and paclitaxel (Taxol) in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: We investigated a combination therapy with weekly paclitaxel and all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) for tolerability, response to treatment, time to progression and survival in previously treated patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. Our rationale was based on preclinical studies demonstrating potentiation of the cytotoxic effects of taxanes and induction of differentiation by ATRA. Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with previously treated metastatic or recurrent breast cancer were enrolled to a regimen of all-trans retinoic acid (Vesanoid, tretinoin, Hoffman-La Roche, Inc.) 45 mg/m2 PO daily for 4 days starting 2 days before a 1 h treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Plainsboro, NJ) 80 mg/m2 IV administered weekly for 3 weeks, repeated in 28 day cycles until disease progression or until no longer tolerated. Patients were evaluated for toxicity, response, time to progression and survival. Patients were primarily African American and Latino, representative of the population served by our Cancer Center. Results: The regimen was relatively well tolerated. There were nine grade 3 and one grade 4 toxic events. We administered 162 treatment cycles with a mean of 7.5 per patient (range 1–22, median 5). Three patients had a partial response (17.6%) and ten patients had stable disease (58.8%), with an overall clinical benefit of 76.4%. Median time to progression was 6.0 months (range 1–21, mean 7.7 months). Fourteen evaluable patients had a median survival of 16 months (range 1–68 months, mean 25.2 months). Conclusions: The data suggest this is a well tolerated regimen with modest response rates but with time to progression and survival rates similar to those reported for paclitaxel alone and relatively high rates of stable disease in this sample of patients.
Law Enforcement Agencies as Multiproduct Firms: An Econometric Investigation of Production Costs

In this paper we study the relationship between costs, input prices and activity levels in a sample of medium sized, city police departments for the years 1968, 69, 71 and 73. Our focus is on determining the functional structure of law enforcement production technology.
Net energy value of maize ethanol as a response to different climate and soil conditions in the southeastern USA

A recent increase in the demand for bio-ethanol has sparked maize production in the USA and other countries across the world. The net energy value (NEV), i.e. the energy output in ethanol and co-products after accounting for energy input requirements in the production chain of ethanol, is a measure of its sustainability. Grain yield of maize, which varies substantially across different climate and soil conditions, greatly impacts the ethanol NEV. The objectives of this study were to determine i) the NEV of ethanol produced from maize grown in four production regions in the southeastern USA and, ii) the specific impact of local soil variability under the same climate conditions within the four regions on the NEV of maize-ethanol. Maize yield was simulated with the Cropping System Model (CSM)-CERES-Maize model for soil and weather conditions, and management practices representing Bulloch, Floyd, Laurens and Mitchell counties, Georgia, USA. The calculation of ethanol NEV took into account the energy inputs and outputs of the entire ethanol production chain, and was based on the crop simulations. There were statistically significant differences in ethanol NEV among the counties, and within counties due to local soil variability. Differences in ethanol NEV among counties were partially due to different transportation distances. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that maize-ethanol NEV can be increased by accounting for the soil and climate factors in the feedstock production and by locating ethanol-processing facilities in regions with soil and climate conditions that are favorable for ethanol-maize production.
New lower bounds for binary codes of asymmetric distance two

Lower bounds for asymmetric single-error-correcting codes are derived. The codes are constructed by puncturing constant weight codes and by using a random coding argument. >
Citizenship: The Phantom Core of Social Studies Curriculum

Abstract The relationship of citizenship to the social studies curriculum is explored. Several well known curricular designs for the social studies are reviewed and the fundamental differences in their treatment of citizenship noted. It would appear that the development of knowledge about citizenship and the development of a curriculum for citizenship have become indistinguishable in the field of social studies education. There is need for a base of knowledge about citizenship independent of curriculum development, and the establishment of a scholarly discipline of citizenship is proposed.
Theory of Invar

Abstract A simple theory based on the high-spin, low-spin results of rigid-lattice band calculations for ordered Fe 3 Ni and the Debye-Gruneisen approximation is presented. The theory qualitatively explains the anomalous temperature dependence of the thermal expansion, bulk modulus, magnetization, and high-field susceptibility, and the different pressure dependencies of the lattice constant at different temperatures of Invar.
Role of adult input in young children's category evolution. I. An observational study.

Three factors have been hypothesized to play an important role in the reduction of children's initial overextensions: spontaneous adult use of the correct label, correction of the child's errors, and demonstration of the important attributes that make an object a member of its adult category. The role of these factors was examined in relation to data collected from a longitudinal study of early lexical development. This study used an observational methodology combined with systematic comprehension and production testing. Results indicated that demonstrations were the most important factor in inducing toddlers to assign an object to its adult category. The question of why purely linguistic input initially plays a minor role in changing children's categories is discussed.
Numerical simulation of LCM mold-filling during the manufacture of natural fiber composites:

In this paper, a finite element/control volume (FE/CV) method based computer code is adapted to simulate the flow of resin-like liquids in swelling jute fabrics during the manufacture of natural-fiber composites using the liquid composite molding (LCM) technique. A novel treatment of the continuity equation using the rigorous volume-averaging method indicates that the despite liquid absorption and fiber swelling, the form of the continuity equation may remain identical to the traditional form seen for non-absorbing carbon or glass fibers. Such a continuity equation in conjunction with the Darcy’s law with a time-varying permeability function is employed to model the resin flow as a fully saturated porous medium flow behind a clearly defined liquid front. Two new methods of estimating the time-varying local permeability and porosity of the wetted fiber mats behind the moving liquid-front are proposed. Later, the two time-dependent permeability models, one based on direct experimental estimation and the oth...
Craze behaviour in isotactic polystyrene: 1. Craze-spherulite interaction

Abstract The deformation of isotactic polystyrene (i-PS) in uniaxial tension at room temperature has been studied in detail by transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis reveals that crazes in amorphous i-PS are similar to crazes formed in atactic polystyrene (a-PS) under the same conditions, except for a higher stress concentration at the craze tip. Fully spherulitic i-PS films contain crazes with very irregular paths which often nucleate at spherulite triple points. Craze-spherulite interactions have been observed in films which contain spherulites isolated in an amorphous matrix. Lamellae with their c -axis perpendicular to the tensile axis generally yield a higher craze fibril draw ratio than in the amorphous matrix. Lamellae with their c -axis parallel to the tensile axis cause a decrease in both λ and craze width. When the c -axis is in the plane of the film but oblique to the tensile axis, the craze deviates toward the centre of the spherulite. The entanglement network approach applied to crystalline i-PS predicts the correct anisotropic behaviour of λ when neutron scattering data on chain conformation in i-PS crystals are used.
CYCLOSPORIN-INDUCED REMISSION IN SEVERE COLITIS UNRESPONSIVE TO CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY

Cyclosporln A (CyA) has induced clinical remission in Crohn's disease and one adult with ulc colitis. We have documented remission in disease activity and mucosal inflammation hy sequential biopsies in two adolescents with severe pancolitis unresponsive to IV corticesteroids and TPN. Patient #1 has UC and pt #2 pancolitis (indeterminate type). Patient #1 had persistent bleeding requiring 10 u of blood. After 4 wks of IV Solu-Medrol and TPN, IV CyA 160 mg BID (6 mg/kg/day) was begun. Plasma Cy by HPLC was 200 ng/ml. At one week, stools decreased and gross bleeding subsided. Biopsies on day 7 had reduced PMN infiltration. At day 14, no crypt abscesses were seen; PMN inflammation was minimal at 5-10 cm and normal at 15 cm. Pred was tapered to 20 rag QOD. After 5 mos of oral CyA rx, she is asymptomatic, with mild friability to 10 cm and normal from 10-25 cm. Patient #2 had severe abd pain, hematochezia and wt loss, non responsive to 4 wks of pred and 3 wks of IV Solu-Medrol. IV CyA, 130 mg BID, (6mg/kg/day) was followed by gradual improvement over 2 wks. A decrease in mucosal inflammation was noted at 3 wks and markedly improved at 6 wks. At 3 mos, she is asymptomatic on oral CyA and alt day pred wi th mild rectal edema. Conclusion: CyA reduces inflammation and induces clinical remission which lasts for at least 3-6 mos. A multicenter study of CyA in pediatric patients with severe colitis, unresponsive to corticosteroid therapy, should be established.
Detection of higher levels of dengue viremia using FcγR-expressing BHK-21 cells than FcγR-negative cells in secondary infection but not in primary infection

It has been reported that levels of viremia reflect the severity of illness in dengue virus infection. We assessed the levels of viremia in patients with primary and secondary infections, using 2 cell lines: FcγR-expressing BHK cells and FcγR-negative cells. In primary infection, virus titers were at similar levels between FcγR-expressing and FcγR-negative cells. In secondary infection, however, virus titers were ∼10 times higher in FcγR-expressing cells on days 1–6 when compared with FcγR-negative cells, indicating discrepancy in viremia titers between FcγR-expressing and FcγR-negative cells. The results suggest that dengue virus-antibody complexes with infectious capacity exist in patients with secondary infection, and these immune complexes can be detected by using FcγR-expressing cells. As it has been reported that principal target cells of dengue virus infection are FcγR-positive, monocyte/macrophage lineage cells, virus titers determined using FcγR-expressing cells may better reflect the actual viremic conditions in vivo.
Carbon financing of household water treatment: background, operation and recommendations to improve potential for health gains.

Household water treatment (HWT) provides a means for vulnerable populations to take charge of their own drinking water quality as they patiently wait for the pipe to finally reach them. In many low-income countries, however, promoters have not succeeded in scaling up the intervention among the target population or securing its consistent and sustained use. Carbon financing can provide the funding for reaching targeted populations with effective HWT solutions and the incentives to ensure their long-term uptake. Nevertheless, programs have been criticized because they do not actually reduce carbon emissions. We summarize the background and operation of carbon financing of HWT interventions, including the controversial construct of “suppressed demand”. We agree that these programs have limited potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that their characterization of trading “carbon for water” is misleading. Nevertheless, we show that the Kyoto Protocol expressly encouraged the use of suppressed demand ...