cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prenatal and childhood polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure and attention and executive function at 9-12 years of age.

Abstract Objective California children's exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) are among the highest measured worldwide. We previously reported associations for prenatal and childhood PBDE exposures with decrements in attention, processing speed, fine motor coordination, and cognition in children at ages 5 and 7 years. Here, we investigate associations of PBDEs with attention and executive function at ages 9 to 12 years in the expanded CHAMACOS cohort. Methods We measured PBDEs in prenatal and child age 9 year serum samples for families enrolled in the study since pregnancy (“CHAM1”, N = 321). In a subsequent cohort for which families were enrolled at child age 9 (“CHAM2”, N = 301), we measured PBDEs in maternal and child samples collected at child age 9, and used predictive modeling to estimate prenatal exposure levels. We examined associations of measured and estimated PBDE concentrations on children's attention and executive functioning at ages 9, 10½, and 12 years. Results Geometric means for prenatal and childhood ΣPBDE levels (sum of PBDE-47, -99, -100, -153) for the expanded CHAMACOS cohort were 26.3 and 63.2 ng/g lipid, respectively, and did not differ significantly between CHAM1 and CHAM2 families. We found consistent associations of prenatal exposure to PBDEs with poorer attention and executive function, measured with parent report and direct neuropsychological testing of the child. For example, using GEE models of repeated outcome measures at ages 9 and 12, a 10-fold increase in prenatal ΣPBDE was associated with poorer response consistency on the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (β = 2.9; 95% CI: 0.9, 4.8) and poorer working memory on the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (β = 2.5; 95% CI: 0.5, 4.4). Child age 9 ΣPBDE levels were associated with poorer parent-reported attention and executive function for girls but not boys. Conclusions Our results suggest that the prefrontal cortex may be a potential target for PBDE exposure and add to a growing literature showing that these ubiquitous toxicants may adversely affect neurodevelopment.
Carbonylation Processes by Homogeneous Catalysis

This article reviews homogeneously catalyzed carbonylation reactions with particular emphasis on catalytic hydroformylation using cobalt, rhodium, platinum, and palladium complexes. The carbonylation of methanol based on rhodium and iridium complexes (Monsanto and Cativa™ processes, respectively) is also discussed. Examples of the utility of carbonylation in the synthesis of complex molecules are given. Keywords: carbon monoxide; transition metals; organometallic; migratory insertion
A strong ramp secret sharing scheme using matrix projection

This paper presents a strong (k,n) threshold-based ramp secret sharing scheme with k access levels. The secrets are the elements represented in a square matrix S. The secret matrix S can be shared among n different participants using a matrix projection technique where: i) any subset of k participants can collaborate together to reconstruct the secret, and ii) any subset of (k-1) or fewer participants cannot partially discover the secret matrix. The primary advantages are its large compression rate on the size of the shares and its strong protection of the secrets.
Two new species of Nemesia (Scrophulariaceae) from the southern Cape, South Africa

Two new species of Nemesia Vent, are described from South Africa. Nemesia fourcadei is an annual with small white flowers, a yellow-orange pubescent palate, and violet lines at the base of the upper lip. It differs from the similar looking N. lucida Benth. by having larger flowers with a more prominent spur (mostly 3.5—4.5 mm long vs < 1.5 mm) and a pubescent palate. N. fourcadei is known from only two locations in the southern Cape. N. elata is a facultative perennial with white flowers, a lavender to purple reverse, and a white or very pale yellow palate. It is known only from the Langeberg and Oute-niqua Mountains between Swellendam and Montagu Pass. It is closest to N. fourcadei . but differs from that species by its more robust habit, the absence of a boss inside the corolla tube at the base of the hypochile, and a spur that is violet to purple at the base.
Age-related neurochemical changes in the rhesus macaque superior olivary complex.

Positive immunoreactivity to the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) and nitric oxide synthase NADPH-diaphorase (NADPHd) is well documented within neurons of the central auditory system of both rodents and primates. These proteins are thought to play roles in the regulation of auditory processing. Studies examining the age-related changes in expression of these proteins have been conducted primarily in rodents but are sparse in primate models. In the brainstem, the superior olivary complex (SOC) is crucial for the computation of sound source localization in azimuth, and one hallmark of age-related hearing deficits is a reduced ability to localize sounds. To investigate how these histochemical markers change as a function of age and hearing loss, we studied eight rhesus macaques ranging in age from 12 to 35 years. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were obtained in anesthetized animals for click and tone stimuli. The brainstems of these same animals were then stained for PV and NADPHd reactivity. Reactive neurons in the three nuclei of the SOC were counted, and the densities of each cell type were calculated. We found that PV and NADPHd expression increased with both age and ABR thresholds in the medial superior olive but not in either the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body or the lateral superior olive. Together these results suggest that the changes in protein expression employed by the SOC may compensate for the loss of efficacy of auditory sensitivity in the aged primate.
On the optimal minimum order observer-based compensator and the limited state variable feedback controller.

Four design problems are considered: two on the optimal minimum order observer-based compensator design and two on the optimal limited state variable feedback controller. The problem of designing an optimal discrete time linear time-invariant observer-based compensator for the regulation of an n dimensional linear discrete time time-invariant plant with m independent outputs is considered. This is a stochastic design problem to the extent that the initial plant state is assumed to be a random vector with known first and second order statistics. The compensator parameters are obtained by minimizing the expectation, with respect to the initial conditions, of the standard cost, quadratic in the state and control vectors with the inclusion of cross terms.
A NOVEL ASSAY OF ACYL-COA:DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY UTILIZING FLUORESCENT SUBSTRATE1

Common methods for assaying acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzymatic activity rely upon radiolabeled substrates or product assay. We developed a novel assay that directly quantifies endogenous DGAT activity through the use of a fluorescently labeled substrate. We performed this assay with microsomal protein, 2-(6-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)hexanoyl-1-hexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-diacylglycerol (NBD-DAG), and oleoyl-CoA substrates. DGAT activity was analyzed in three species of algae as well as rat liver. The protocol proved to be sensitive and reliable. This assay may be used to facilitate research in the areas of biodiesel, oilseed crops, and triacylglycerol-related human pathologies.
Alternative Modes of Derepression of the Histidine Operon Observed in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract Kinetic studies on the derepression of 5 of the 10 enzymes for histidine biosynthesis in Salmonnella typhimurium reveal that derepression may proceed by two different modes, depending upon the site of mutation in the various histidine auxotrophs examined. Simultaneous derepression of the enzymes is observed in those mutants incapable of producing the intermediate, 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide, through the histidine pathway. Derepression of the enzymes in a temporal sequence corresponding to the positional sequence of the genes in the histidine operon is observed in those mutants which do produce this intermediate. The addition of 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleoside to cultures of mutants ordinarily characterized by the simultaneous mode of derepression served to shift the mode from simultaneous to sequential, but did not influence the derepressed rate of enzyme synthesis. In organisms in which the sequential mode is ordinarily observed, adenine effected a shift to the simultaneous mode, causing all the enzymes to derepress at the same time, but did not influence the derepressed rate of enzyme synthesis. Chloramphenicol, at low concentrations, reduced the growth rate of derepressed cells by a factor of 2 to 3 and decreased the rate of derepression of the histidine enzymes in all organisms tested. In the histidine auxotroph, hisE11, and in the wild type, LT-2 (derepressed by the addition of thiazole alanine), chloramphenicol prolonged the intervals between the times of derepression of the histidine enzymes. On the other hand, in hisG52, in which the enzymes for histidine biosynthesis derepress simultaneously and not sequentially, chloramphenicol did not alter the time of derepression of the enzymes. In the presence of chloramphenicol, adenine shifted the mode of derepression of hisE11 and LT-2 from sequential to simultaneous, just as it did in the absence of chloramphenicol. However, adenine did not eliminate the effect of chloramphenicol on the rate of depression. The data presented here suggest that the histidine operon is transcribed into a polycistronic message which, under conditions in which sequential derepression is observed, is translated from one end only. Under conditions in which simultaneous derepression is observed, the translation of this message is initiated at multiple sites.
PPARγ1 as a Molecular Target of Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Human Colon Cancer (HT-29) Cells

Diets high in (n-3) PUFA decrease colon cancer development and suppress colon tumor growth, but the molecular mechanism through which these compounds act is largely unknown. We sought to determine whether PPARgamma1 serves as a molecular link between the physiological actions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in human colon cancer cells (HT-29). At nutritionally relevant concentrations, EPA stimulated a PPAR response element (PPRE) reporter assay in a dose-responsive manner in HT-29 cells. Cotreatment with GW9662 (GW), a PPARgamma antagonist, significantly inhibited this effect, whereas overexpressing the receptor enhanced it. EPA also stimulated the PPRE reporter in a PPARgamma negative cancer cell line (22Rv1) when the cells were cotransfected with a PPARgamma1 expression plasmid and this effect was again inhibited by GW. Furthermore, in vitro incubation of EPA with PPARgamma1 enhanced binding of the protein to DNA containing a PPRE. Next, we sought to determine whether EPA or a prostaglandin formed from EPA is the functional ligand of PPARgamma. Cotreatment in HT-29 and 22Rv1 cells with EPA and acetyl salicylic acid, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase activity, activated the PPRE reporter at levels similar to EPA alone, suggesting that EPA itself is a ligand of PPARgamma. Finally, EPA suppressed HT-29 cell growth and this effect was significantly reversed by the addition of GW, suggesting that in part the physiological actions of EPA are the result of PPARgamma activation. These studies identify PPARgamma as a molecular mediator of (n-3) PUFA actions in colon cancer cells.
Enhancing effect of tetrandrine on sister-chromatid exchanges induced by mitomycin C and cigarette-smoke condensate in mammalian cells.

Abstract Then enhancing effect of tetrandine, an antisilicosis, antitumor and antiinflammatory drug, on the genotoxic activity of two known mutagens, mitomycin C (MMC) and cigarette-smoke condensate (CSC), has been studied using cultured Chinese hamster lung (V79) cells. The sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) was used as genetic endpoint to measure gentoxicity. One-day cultured cells were exposed to the test chemicals for 3 h with or without metabolic activation. The results show that the frequencies of SCE induced by MMC or CSC were enhanced by tetrandine. The percent of enhancement was dependent on the concentration of tetrandrine.
Choosing a Paradigm to Guide Prevention Research and Practice

SUMMARY This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of the three main paradigms that guide prevention research: organicism, mechanism, and contextualism. Organicism has prompted us to identify typical developmental sequences and to organize our prevention efforts to reduce the risk factors that contribute to problematic development. Mechanism has encouraged us to search for generalizable models of the interrelationships among behavioral variables and randomized control trials of prevention programs. Contextualism has given us a framework for working with the individual case. When contextualism is focused on the goal of prediction and influence of the phenomenon under study, it is particularly likely to identify interventions that can be used to prevent problems of concern to communities and other social units.
Suppression of Internal Damping-Induced Instability Using Adaptive Techniques

Advanced rotor systems, for such applications as high-speed flywheel systems, consist (in a basic fashion) of a lightweight rotor spinning at relatively high speeds and supported by magnetic bearings. Composite materials are an extremely attractive choice for such rotor designs, offering high strength with light-weight. However, there are a number of issues that must be addressed for such efforts to be successful. Specific issues include imbalance control and active techniques to suppress internal damping-induced instability. A detailed description of the problem being considered and a strategy for solving it are presented. Simulation modeling and analysis results are presented and discussed to illustrate the method and demonstrate its effectiveness.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Trans-Pacific upper mantle shear velocity structure

[1] We use 50 Tonga-Fiji events recorded at the broadband TriNet array, southern California, to develop a pure path upper mantle shear velocity model across the Pacific. At the epicentral distances of 70°–95°, multibounce S waves up to S5 are observed, including their triplicated branches, which become particularly clear after stacking. Since these S wave multiples turn at various depths, simultaneously modeling their differential traveltimes and waveforms provides strong constraints on the radial velocity structure. We parameterize the velocity model according to a priori information from the previous oceanic models, so that we can take a grid search approach, to fully investigate possible interdependencies among the model parameters. We construct synthetics with a reflectivity code and study both the SH and SV components. By modeling the whole recordings from events at different depths, with different mechanisms, we are able to separate shallow low-velocity zone (LVZ) features from deeper structure. Our preferred model (PAC06) contains a fast lid (Vsh = 4.78 km s−1, Vsv = 4.58 km s−1) with a thickness of ∼60 km. The underlying LVZ is prominent with the lowest velocities Vsh = 4.34 km s−1, and Vsv = 4.22 km s−1 occurring at a depth of ∼160 km. These velocities are below the estimates of solid-state LVZ, suggesting the presence of partial melt. The anisotropy (Vsv < Vsh) of PAC06 extends to ∼300 km depth, which is constrained by S5 turning at this depth. Besides the 406 km and 651 km discontinuities, PAC06 also has a small (∼1%) velocity jump at ∼516 km. We consider these main features of PAC06 to be well determined, since PAC06 explains a large data set from various events. Therefore it is ideally suited for comparing with mineralogical models.
Glycemic control of pain threshold in diabetic and control rats.

Abstract Pain threshold was assessed via tail flick latency in alloxan-diabetic, streptozotocin-diabetic, BB/W-diabetic, and control laboratory rats. In addition, tail flick latency was determined under conditions of both euglycemia (60–120 mg/dl) and hyperglycemia (>250 mg/dl). Conditions of hyperglycemia resulted in a significant decrease in tail flick latency in both diabetic and control animals. More interestingly, tail flick latency was returned to control values in diabetic rats following normalization of blood glucose levels. It is concluded that elevated blood glucose levels result in a decrease in pain threshold in both diabetic and control rats. In addition, a permanent state of painful symptoms may be avoided in clinical diabetes by improvement of diabetic control.
The Effects of Age, Gender, and Economic Status on Generosity in the Presence of Exchange: A Pilot Study

In this field experiment, a confederate asked participants to provide a quarter for the confederate to make a telephone call. In the experimental condition, based on the concept of exchange, the confederate offered participants twenty-five pennies for the quarter. The researchers found that there was a significant difference in whether or not the confederate offered the pennies. Eighty-five percent of the participants complied when offered the pennies, while only 35 percent complied without the offer of exchange. Gender was not a factor. Participants over sixty-years-old complied more often than any other age group. Economic status was a factor in that those in the middle range tended to comply more often than those at either the low end or the upper end.
Excitability cyles of different gyri of cat cortex

Using the technique of paired shocks, excitability cycles were determined in anesthetized and unanesthetized cats. The excitability cycles for the unanesthetized suprasylvian, lateral and ecotosylvian gyri were characterized by an initial augmentation which was followed by a brief depression. This depression was maximal at the 5 msec interval and was followed by a long lasting augmentation. Responses were evoked without much difficulty in the unanesthetized suprasylvian gyrus. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining recordable responses in the lateral gyrus and responses were evoked with great difficulty in the ectosylvian gyrus. Anesthesia with pentobarbital (plus MgSo4) enhanced the facility with which responses were evoked in the specific sensory cortex and it also reduced responses variability. The depression was increased in duration and magnitude by anesthesia. The marked effects of anesthesia on the stability of the ectosylvian responses was paralleled by the effects of mesencephalic transection. This suggests that the ascending reticular formation exerts a tonic inhibitory influence on the apical dendrites. No consistent relationship between the magnitude of the various phases and strength of stimulus could be established. This was true for anesthetized and unanesthetized preparations. It is suggested that the early stage of augmentation reflects intrisic changes in dendrite excitability. The phases of depression and late augementation are considered to involve synaptic mechanisms, and the variability is related to variations in input from moment to moment and from place to place on the cortex.
Molecular Simulation and Regular Solution Theory Modeling of Pure and Mixed Gas Absorption in the Ionic Liquid 1-n-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(Trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf2N])

Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to compute the solubility of SO2, O2, and N2 in the ionic liquid 1-n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf2N]). Simulations are also used to compute the mixed gas isotherms for the mixtures CO2/O2, SO2/N2, and CO2/SO2. The pure gas isotherms agree well with available experimental data. For the mixtures CO2/O2 and SO2/N2, the simulations predict that the mixed gas solubilities are nearly ideal, with little enhancement or competition between the two solutes. This is contrary to published experimental studies, which found that in a gas mixture, CO2 enhances the solubility of the otherwise sparingly soluble O2 and that the poorly soluble N2 inhibits the solubility of the highly soluble SO2. For the SO2/CO2 mixture, it is found that the two gases absorb independently at low pressure but compete with one another at high pressure. An energetic analysis was performed for the different solutes in the ionic liquid. The van der Waals energy bet...
Magneto-Elastic Coupling in RbMn F 3

Magneto-elastic (ME) coupling effects in the simple cubic antiferromagnet RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ have been studied by observing shifts in antiferromagnetic resonance (AFMR) frequency and changes in AFMR line shape with the application of axial stress. Antiferromagnetic resonance in a two-sublattice antiferromagnet with a general anisotropy and ME interaction is analyzed. Formulas for the evaluation of ME constants of a two-sublattice cubic antiferromagnet are presented. ME constants of RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ have been determined as a function of temperature from measurements of AFMR in single-crystal specimens under applied stress. The spin-lattice strain coefficients in the spin Hamiltonian for $S$-state ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ in RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ have been determined from experimental ME constants and calculated magnetic dipolar ME constants. Large changes in the static and dynamic response of low-anisotropy RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ can be effected by the application of stress; via ME coupling, applied stress can change both the form and magnitude of the total anisotropy. The measured AFMR linewidth of RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ at low temperatures is shown to be due to inhomogeneous strain broadening. The intrinsic relaxation linewidth is estimated to be less than 5 Oe.
A postulated mechanism for the coordinate effects of ionophore A23187 on calcium uptake and cell viability in rat thymocytes

Abstract At the physiological concentration of Ca 2+ , the presumed calcium ionophore A23187 produced dose-related increases in 45 Ca uptake by rat thymocytes and decreases in cell viability, effects that displayed a strong linear correlation. In media containing a very low concentration of Ca 2+ (7 · 10 −6 M), in contrast, ionophore A23187 had no specific effect on either 45 Ca uptake or cell viability. The calcium-dependent cytotoxicity of ionophore A23187 resembles that of other agents that are not ionophores, but that are known to perturb the plasma membrane. Consequently, we suggest that, in the rat thymocyte, ionophore A23187 may not act as a true ionophore, but may perturb the cell membrane, allowing Ca 2+ to pass freely through the membrane along its electrochemical gradient.
Low-complexity multidiscriminant FOPEN target screener

We present a low-complexity model-based FOPEN target detection algorithm and discuss its potential application as a target screener within an end-to-end FOPEN SAR automatic target detection system. The algorithm uses multiple discriminants extracted over a local sliding window followed by a multivariate discrimination rule to perform target screening at the pixel level. We present detection performance results obtained against FOPEN SAR imagery and show that the multidiscriminant approach achieves better detection performance than a model-template matched-filter detection algorithm.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of forage-to-concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, lactation performance, and manure excretion

Holstein cows housed in a modified tie-stall barn were used to determine the effect of feeding diets with different forage-to-concentrate ratios (F:C) on performance and emission of CH(4), CO(2) and manure NH(3)-N. Eight multiparous cows (means ± standard deviation): 620 ± 68 kg of body weight; 52 ± 34 d in milk and 8 primiparous cows (546 ± 38 kg of body weight; 93 ± 39 d in milk) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 air-flow controlled chambers, constructed to fit 4 cows each. Chambers were assigned to dietary treatment sequences in a single 4 × 4 Latin square design. Dietary treatments, fed as 16.2% crude protein total mixed rations included the following F:C ratio: 47:53, 54:46, 61:39, and 68:32 [diet dry matter (DM) basis]. Forage consisted of alfalfa silage and corn silage in a 1:1 ratio. Cow performance and emission data were measured on the last 7 d and the last 4 d, respectively of each 21-d period. Air samples entering and exiting each chamber were analyzed with a photo-acoustic field gas monitor. In a companion study, fermentation pattern was studied in 8 rumen-cannulated cows. Increasing F:C ratio in the diet had no effect on DM intake (21.1 ± 1.5 kg/d), energy-corrected milk (ECM, 37.4 ± 2.2 kg/d), ECM/DM intake (1.81 ± 0.18), yield of milk fat, and manure excretion and composition; however, it increased milk fat content linearly by 7% and decreased linearly true protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat content (by 4, 1, and 2%, respectively) and yield (by 10, 6, and 6%, respectively), and milk N-to-N intake ratio. On average 93% of the N consumed by the cows in the chambers was accounted for as milk N, manure N, or emitted NH(3)-N. Increasing the F:C ratio also increased ruminal pH linearly and affected concentrations of butyrate and isovalerate quadratically. Increasing the F:C ratio from 47:53 to 68:32 increased CH(4) emission from 538 to 648 g/cow per day, but had no effect on manure NH(3)-N emission (14.1 ± 3.9 g/cow per day) and CO(2) emission (18,325 ± 2,241 g/cow per day). In this trial, CH(4) emission remained constant per unit of neutral detergent fiber intake (1g of CH(4) was emitted for every 10.3g of neutral detergent fiber consumed by the cow), but increased from 14.4 to 18.0 g/kg of ECM when the percentage of forage in the diet increased from 47 to 68%. Although the pattern of emission within a day was distinct for each gas, emissions were higher between morning feeding (0930 h) and afternoon milking (1600 h) than later in the day. Altering the level of forage within a practical range and rebalancing dietary crude protein with common feeds of the Midwest of the United States had no effects on manure NH(3)-N emission but altered CH(4) emission.
A necessary condition for decentralization and an application to intertemporal allocation

Abstract A necessary condition for realization by a decentralized finite-dimensional mechanism is proved. The concepts of the realization of a time sequence of allocations by a decentralized temporal process and by the particular more realistic class of decentralized evolutionary temporal processes are defined. The above condition shows that the optimal allocation in a simple model for intertemporal production and consumption can be realized by a decentralized temporal process but not by a decentralized evolutionary process which uses either a finite number of verification conditions or a finite-dimensional message space.
Vertical Oscillations in Protostellar Disks. II. Free Modes and Resonances

Using the mathematical framework developed in the preceding paper, I analyze vertical oscillations in self-gravitating, protostellar disks. After calculating the equilibrium stratification, I find the set of normal modes and discuss their radiative damping. Global, spiral-type perturbations of the disks induce horizontal motions that drive these oscillations, giving rise to resonances at discrete radii. Disks with plausible distributions of surface density and temperature may contain one or more of these critical regions, which are always located between the corotation radius and the outer disk edge. A resonant vertical oscillation, whose amplitude saturates through radiative losses, creates a significant back-reaction on the spiral-type disturbance that drives it. I find the associated reaction force analytically and argue that its net effect is to stabilize the disk against the global perturbation. On the other hand, if such perturbations are to induce long-term accretion onto the central protostar, the disk must be marginally stable to their growth. Marginal stability can be maintained if the vertical resonance is always located close to the outer disk edge. This constraint is a practical boundary condition for the study of long-term disk evolution.
The impact of prophylactic axillary node dissection on breast cancer survival--a Bayesian meta-analysis.

Background: Because of the general acceptance of the NSABP B-04 study, prophylactic axillary node dissection for women with clinically negative axillae is considered diagnostic, but not therapeutic, by many oncologists. Nevertheless, several authors have shown that B-04 did not include enough patients to exclude a small survival advantage.
Ab initio aqueous thermochemistry: application to the oxidation of hydroxylamine in nitric acid solution.

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed and thermochemical parameters estimated for 46 species involved in the oxidation of hydroxylamine in aqueous nitric acid solution. Solution-phase properties were estimated using the several levels of theory in Gaussian03 and using COSMOtherm. The use of computational chemistry calculations for the estimation of physical properties and constants in solution is addressed. The connection between the pseudochemical potential of Ben-Naim and the traditional standard state-based thermochemistry is shown, and the connection of these ideas to computational chemistry results is established. This theoretical framework provides a basis for the practical use of the solution-phase computational chemistry estimates for real systems, without the implicit assumptions that often hide the nuances of solution-phase thermochemistry. The effect of nonidealities and a method to account for them is also discussed. A method is presented for estimating the solvation enthalpy...
Subnanosecond x-ray diffraction from laser-shocked crystals.

We have used single-shot sub-nanosecond x-ray diffraction to directly measure lattice parameters of crystals during the passage of laser-driven shock waves. Changes in the interatomic spacings can be measured with a temporal resolution better than 50 ps. We have studied shock-launching in single crystals and have directly measured dynamic tension during shock-breakout from a rear surface. In separate experiments we have directly observed the onset of shock-induced plasticity by diffracting from planes running perpendicular to the shock front. In addition to the single crystal work we have recently demonstrated that we can record x-ray powder patterns with sub-nanosecond exposure times; and are now in a position to laser-shock polycrystalline material simultaneously with the x-ray flash. The technique promises to be useful in the study of many fundamental problems in shock wave physics, including the behaviour of materials at the lattice level during plastic deformation and shock-induced polymorphic phase transitions.
Structure-retention index relationships for derivatized monosaccharides on non-polar gas chromatography columns

A gas chromatographic method for predicting the retention index of a derivatized monosaccharide is presented. The procedures are especially useful to detect and predict minute quantities of sugars in biological or chemical samples. Monosaccharides are first converted to the alditols and then derivatized by acetylation, permethylation or silylation. The derivatized monosaccharide structure-retention index relationship that has been developed is useful in the identification of unknown monosaccharides that can be readily confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
All‐cause mortality risk predictors in a preventive cardiology clinic cohort‐examining diabetes and individual metabolic syndrome criteria: a PRECIS database study

Aim: It is unclear if metabolic syndrome (MS) is equal to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality, and its prognostic value compared to Framingham risk model is controversial. We assessed mortality, CVD risk and prevalence in patients with DM and those without DM who met National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) MS criteria compared to patients without DM or MS. We analysed which component(s) of NCEP MS criteria had greatest predictive value for mortality. Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of 1189 DM, 1241 MS (fasting glucose < 126 mg/dl and ≥3 components NCEP-ATP III criteria) and 3023 non-DM/non-MS patients presented for baseline visit to Preventive Cardiology clinic between 1995 and 2006, whose subsequent vital status was determined for a median of 5.2 years. The association with mortality was determined by Cox proportional hazards models. The incremental predictive value of MS components was performed by concordance indexes. Results and conclusion: DM group had highest mortality and CVD prevalence vs. MS and non-DM/non-MS groups respectively (all p ≤ 0.001). Patients with MS criteria had increased CVD prevalence and 1.5-fold increased mortality vs. non-DM/non-MS group (all p < 0.02). In NCEP MS criteria, only fasting glucose significantly predicted mortality in MS group (p = 0.05). MS criteria predicted CVD prevalence in a parallel manner to Framingham risk score assessment. In a cohort of patients at high risk for CVD whose risk factors are being treated, presence of diabetes in addition to plasma glucose within NCEP MS criteria strongly predicts all-cause mortality.
Two implications of habit formation for international trade

Abstract A country's choice set of trade policies becomes very constrained when its consumers are subject to habit formation. Free trade may, in fact, lie outside the choice set. Furthermore, the rise in import elasticities' values over time can be attributed to habit formation.
Grading practices: The construction and use of background knowledge in evaluative decision-making

Personnel in "people-processing" settings (Hasenfeld, 1972) are frequently asked to make evaluative decisions regarding clients who seek, use or are subjected to their services. Organizations like the police, courts, clinics, social service agencies, and myriad others produce ratings, judgments and diagnoses in order to determine appropriate organizational responses. Perhaps prototypic in this regard are educational institutions: schools must constantly evaluat e , classify and differentiate between students in order to monitor their progress and make placement decisions. Educators conscientiously espouse the need for using fair, accurate and unbiased decision-making procedures. To that end, special methods of evaluation have been widely instituted to safeguard against decisions that might be unsystematically derived or tainted by emotion or predisposition. In some sense, the grading practices that evolve in educational settings doing "standardized" evaluation are suggestive of evaluation methods implemented in other settings that attempt to decontextualize and systematize decision-making. These attempts to control decision-making assume, fundamentally, that it is possible, as well as advisable to prevent evaluators' use of particularized background knowledge of cases being evaluated in order to produce "objective" ratings.
Scanned CO 2 laser heating system for infrared scene generation

IR scene generators are devices that simulate the IR radiation seen by heat seeking devices and IR detectors. Since the tracking accuracy is essential to heat seeking operation, a realistic high-resolution image is required. Current thermal RI scene generators use resistor array technology to generate an image whose size is on the order of 25mm square. We are building a 600mm X 600mm IR display systems with a scanned laser heating system for devices requiring a larger image size. Three high-powered CO 2 lasers are raster-scanned over a thin kapton screen. Rapid modulation of the laser coordinated with the scanning produces a pixilated heated image that emits IR energy. The system is composed of a background heating system with two laser each scanning a 128 X 64 array and a hotspot heating system with one laser scanning a 40 X 40 array. The background system is fixed over the entire screen and simulates environmental IR while the hotspot system can be scanned anywhere on the screen and simulates a target. Convective cooling is used to increase spatial resolution and temporal response. An IR camera provides closed loop optical feedback for the system.
Second varicella infections: Are they more common than previously thought?

Objective. To describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of varicella reinfections reported to a surveillance project. Methods. We investigated varicella cases reported to a surveillance project between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 1999—with more extensive investigation of cases reporting previous varicella with onset between January 1, 1998, and September 30, 1998—to provide a more detailed description of first and second varicella infections. A simple decision tree was used to assess the likelihood that reported first and second infections were varicella. Results. Among varicella cases reported to the surveillance project, 4.5% of cases in 1995 and 13.3% of cases in 1999 reported previous varicella. More than 95% of first infections were physician diagnosed, epidemiologically linked to another case, or had a rash description consistent with varicella; the same was true for reported second infections. People who reported reinfections were generally healthy. There was a family history of repeat infections in 45% of people who reported reinfections. Conclusions. Clinical varicella reinfections may occur more commonly than previously thought. Additional studies of the predictive value of a positive varicella history and laboratory studies of reported reinfections are indicated to guide varicella vaccination policy.
Life Span Education and the Older Adult: Living is Learning.

Numerous papers have purported the need for life span education, yet few have examined the attitudes of older citizens toward lifelong learning. To determine why they were not attending a free audit program at the university and to ascertain their attitudes toward education for the elderly, 99 subjects aged 62 and older (M. = 74.6) were interviewed. The systematic sample chosen from membership lists of senior citizen groups yielded 34 men and 65 women. Interviews utilized a survey questionnaire. The analysis compared those who were and were not interested in the program. Results indicated that 68% (N = 65) of the subjects were not interested in attending university classes. The 32% (N = 31) who answered “yes” or “maybe” were significantly younger than those who were not interested; the two groups did not differ significantly on the other variables measured (sex, previous education, occupation, daily activities, attitude toward education for self and other older persons, etc.). Furthermore, only one subjec...
Identification of 19-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone in regenerating rat adrenal incubations

19-Hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (19-OH-DOC) was isolated from the incubation medium of enucleated rat adrenal glands during the early sodium retaining phase. Identification included comparison of chromatographic mobility of parent and derivatized compound with standard prepared by the 21-hydroxylation of 19-hydroxyprogesterone and mass spectrometry. The possible role of 19-OH-DOC as a precursor is discussed.
Integration of stereo vision and optical flow by using an energy-minimization approach

A cooperative method is proposed in which image intensity (brightness) and optical-flow information are integrated into a single stereo technique by modeling the input data as coupled Markov random fields (MRF’s). The Bayesian probabilistic estimation method and the MRF–Gibbs equivalence theory are used to integrate the optical flow and the gray-level intensity information to obtain an energy function that will explicitly represent the depth discontinuity and occlusion constraints on the solution. This energy function involves the similarity in intensity (or edge orientation) and the optical flow between corresponding sites of the left and right images as well as the smoothness constraint on the disparity solution. If a simple MRF is used to model the data, the energy function will yield a poor disparity by smoothing across object boundaries, particularly when occluding objects are present. We use optical-flow information to indicate object boundaries (depth discontinuities) and occluded regions, in order to improve the disparity solution in occluded regions. A stochastic relaxation algorithm (simulated annealing) is used to find a favorable disparity solution by minimization of the energy equation.
Modeling Melting Solder in System-in-Package Assembly

System-in-package (SiP) technologies typically demand an increasing number of passive components assembled into a single package to achieve system level electrical performance. Traditionally, these passive components and their assembly technologies are designed for printed circuit boards and are now integrated at the package level. However, problems may arise when solder joints are used as interconnects between the passive components and the substrate in SiP system. The solder joint may melt during the surface mounting process. Since the size of the solder joint is comparable to that of the passive components, the melting may significantly alter the stress field in the package. Consequent failure may occur if the interconnect structure is not properly designed. It is a challenge to simulate solder melting with commercial finite element codes. In this paper, the interaction between the melting solder and the surrounding structures is investigated. The stress superposition method is used in the finite element model, in which the melting solder is removed from the package and a void with identical geometry was analyzed in its place. The overall stress field is the superposition of the stress field due to temperature change and the stress field caused by the uniform pressure acting on the void surface. This method greatly simplifies the mechanical modeling.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Utility of intraoperative frozen section analysis of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

Abstract Background: Intraoperative frozen section pathologic analysis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) may guide immediate (single-stage) completion axillary dissection for patients with nodal metastases. Methods: The results of 203 consecutive patients undergoing SLN biopsy who had intraoperative pathology consultation between January 1998 and September 2000 were reviewed. SLN were analyzed by standard frozen section procedures. Final pathologic analysis included hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of serial sections at 2-mm intervals. Results: Frozen section analysis correctly identified a positive or negative result in 185 of 203 cases (overall accuracy 91%). In 17 of 53 cases, the SLNs were negative for tumor by frozen section, but positive on permanent section analysis (sensitivity 68%). The mean size of the nodal metastases was 6.2 mm and 1.5 mm in patients found to have true positive and false negative results, respectively ( P Conclusions: Two thirds of the patients were spared the need for reoperative axillary lymphadenectomy.
Grain size segregation and stratigraphy in aeolian ripples modelled with a cellular automaton

AEOLIAN ripples are distinguished by coarse-grained crests, finegrained troughs, and thin veneers of coarse grains on the upwind (stoss) slopes. Migration of these sorted bedforms during periods of net deposition results in a characteristic inversely graded stratigraphy that distinguishes aeolian sandstones from those of fluvial origin1. Here we investigate the formation and evolution of aeolian ripples using a cellular automaton model of a sandbed which incorporates two grain sizes and is subject to the impacts of episodically hopping (saltating) grains. Using this model, we identify the physical processes responsible for both the spatial sorting and the stratigraphic signature of the ripples. High-energy saltating grains are found to eject small grains preferentially from the impact site, leading to a coarsening of the heavily bombarded stoss slopes. Coarse grains do not in general leap far enough to escape the shadow zones on the downwind (lee) slopes, and therefore tend to accumulate and cycle around the ripple crests. Small grains, on the other hand, are ejected at higher velocities, enabling them to hop further. Incorporating net deposition into the model results in a stratigraphy closely resembling thin planar laminae ('pinstriping') found in aeolian sandstones: the inverse grading of grain sizes is a direct consequence of their different hop lengths.
Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) Functions as an IGF-reversible Inhibitor of IGFBP-4 Proteolysis

Previous studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is degraded only in the presence of exogenous IGFs; however, we found that cation-dependent proteinase activity present in conditioned medium of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts degrades 125I-recombinant human (rh)IGFBP-4 in the absence of IGFs. Addition of IGF-I, IGF-II, or insulin to conditioned medium had little affect on 125I-rhIGFBP-4 proteolysis, while extraction of IGFs resulted in only a ∼10% reduction in proteinase activity. Since factors other than IGFs appeared to be involved in regulating IGFBP-4 proteolysis, we hypothesized that IGFBP-3, an IGFBP produced by many cell lines, but not MC3T3-E1 cells, might function as an inhibitor of IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Addition of rhIGFBP-3 to conditioned media inhibited 125I-rhIGFBP-4 proteolysis by 90%, while IGF-I and IGF-II reversed the inhibitory effects of rhIGFBP-3 in a dose-dependent manner. 125I-rhIGFBP-4 proteolysis was not inhibited by N-terminal rhIGFBP-3 fragments that bind IGFs, but was inhibited by two synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences contained in the mid-region or C-terminal region of IGFBP-3. Both inhibitory peptides contain highly basic, putative heparin-binding domains and heparin partially reversed the inhibitory effects of rhIGFBP-3 on 125I-rhIGFBP-4 proteolysis. These data demonstrate that rhIGFBP-3 inhibits IGFBP-4-degrading proteinase activity and binding of IGFs or glycosaminoglycans to IGFBP-3 may induce conformational changes in the binding protein, causing disinhibition of the proteinase.
Two-ring DNA minor-groove binders consisting of readily available, di-substituted benzene derivatives

Abstract DNA minor-groove binders consisting of two disubstituted benzene rings were prepared. Two ligands showed sequence selectivities higher than some of the best known minor-groove binders containing six-membered rings. Reversing the orientation of amide linkages in one ligand leads to another one with relaxed binding to AT sequences and greatly increased affinity toward GC sequences.