cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of oxygen partial pressure on the properties of RF-sputtered Al2O3 thin films

Abstract Aluminum oxide thin films are used as insulating and passivating layers in a variety of microelectronic and other applications. RF bias sputtering was used to deposit Al 2 O 3 films. The effects of oxygen partial pressure on the deposition rate, argon content, refractive index, etch rate, substrate temperature and uniformity were characterized by alpha-step scan, EDX, AES, XPS, STEM, X-ray diffraction and ellipsometry.
The College Campus: Images and Influences

URBAN STUDIES: Site, situation, and appearance influence images of colleges in the city; but there are similarities.
Specificity of daunomycin in causing chromosome aberrations in human leukocytes.

When the chromosome aberrations induced in human leukocytes in culture with daunomycin (Dm) (0.015 μg/ml, with or without added arginine) are analyzed with respect to sites of breakage and reunion, non-randomness is observed, both between and within chromosomes. These results suggest either a site-specificity of action of the drug or site-specific sensitivity or both. Superficially, the data give an indication of the phenomenon of somatic crossing-over having occurred. However, if chromosome breakage and reunions of broken ends are considered as two events, independent of each other, the frequency of exchanges between homologues and apparent homologues is lower than the expected frequency in cases of groups involving chromosomes 6–12/X and 13/15 and almost equal to the expected frequency in cases of chromosomes 1, 2 and 3.
Some Possible Effects of Occupation on the Maturing of Professional Men.

Abstract The effects of occupation upon 68 professionals and business managers were studied by means of retrospective focused interviews and objective sorting and rating procedures. Psychological test data secured when they were in college and in their early thirties confirmed that they had matured and become more psychologically healthy since college. The principal determinants of such maturing were their spouses and occupations. A transculturally validated model of maturing mapped the principal effects of their occupations and ways of life. The men matured in their allocentric and integrative cognitive skills, stability and autonomy of their self-concepts, symbolization of their values, and symbolization and allocentricism of their nonfamilial relations. Their occupation had nonintegrative effects on their values and self-concepts and autocentric and nonintegrative ones on their personal relationships.
On the Molecular Theory of Dielectric Polarization in Rigid‐Dipole Fluids

A molecular theory is developed for the polarization P(r) produced by a weak position‐dependent external electric field E0(r) in a finite fluid system, of arbitrary shape, composed of rigid polar molecules. The theory differs from earlier work in that no assumption is made concerning the form of the electrostatic constitutive relation. [The usual assumption in this regard is that P(r) = (e − 1)E(r) / 4π, where E(r) is the total Maxwell electric field. The “dielectric constant” e is well defined only if the relation between P(r) and E(r) is in fact one of constant local proportionality.] The result of the present theory is a non‐local relation between P(r) and the external field E0(r). The contribution to P(r1) produced by E0(r2) (r1 ≠ r2) is determined by the orientational correlation which exists in zero applied field between two representative dipoles located at r1 and r2. In principle this result may be used to investigate the conditions under which the dielectric constant is well defined, a question o...
Lessons learned in adopting endovascular techniques for treating abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Hypothesis Endovascular exclusion of abdominal aortic and common iliac aneurysms can be performed safely, and in the short term represents a feasible alternative to traditional, open aneurysm repair. Patients and Methods Forty-one patients were treated with endovascular grafts for 39 abdominal aortic and 2 common iliac artery aneurysms. Results All devices were successfully deployed. The size of the abdominal aortic aneurysms varied from 4.9 to 11.9 cm (average, 6.13 cm). The median procedure time was 195 minutes. There was one iliac artery rupture, which required celiotomy for repair. The hospital stay varied from 2 to 39 days (average, 6.7 days). The perioperative mortality rate was 2.4%. Sixteen patients (39%) had groin wound complications. Ten patients (24%) had evidence of contrast (endoleak) within the aneurysm sac on completion of the procedure. There were no obvious direct leaks from either the point of proximal or distal fixation. Seven of these endoleaks have resolved spontaneously. Two patients required additional procedures in the postoperative period to treat endoleak. The final patient has evidence of persistent endoleak on 3-month surveillance computed tomography scan. Major late problems occurred in 3 patients. Conclusion Patients with large abdominal aortic aneurysms and considerable cardiac comorbidity can safely undergo endovascular aneurysm repair. Femoral groin wound complications resulting in prolonged hospitalization remain the major cause of perioperative morbidity. In contradistinction to open aneurysm repair, long-term surveillance is essential to detect migration of the device and identify flow within the residual aneurysm sac—complications that could lead to aneurysm rupture following endovascular repair.
On the Mean Time between Failures for Repairable Systems

Much of the recent work on modeling repairable systems involves Poisson processes with nonconstant intensity functions, viz, nonhomogeneous Poisson processes. Since times between failures are not identically distributed when the process is nonhomogeneous, it is not clear what concept should take the place of the mean time between failures in assessing the reliability of a repairable system. A number of alternate concepts can be found in the literature. We investigate the relationship between two of the most frequently considered alternatives: the reciprocal of the intensity function, and the mean waiting time from t until the next failure. Theorem 1 states a necessary and sufficient condition for the mean time until the next failure to be asymptotically proportional to the reciprocal of the intensity function. Some examples, including the familiar log-linear and power-intensity processes satisfy this condition. A monotonicity property is also established between these two concepts which could be used to obtain conservative statistical confidence limits for the mean time until the next failure, based on results which are already available for the intensity function of the power-intensity process. However, further study of concepts such as the rate of convergence would be needed in order to determine the degree of approximation of the nominal confidence level to the actual level.
Cell kinetic studies in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung

Small cell carcinoma of the lung is a type of lung cancer characterized by abrupt onset of clinical manifestations, running a short course with early signs of dissemination, and often responding favorably to chemotherapy. A delineation of its growth characteristics by determination of thymidine labeling index (LI), duration of intermitotic cycle (Tc) of proliferating tumor cells, and of its cell cycle phases (G1, S1 G2, M) and proliferative fraction (growth fraction, GF) was undertaken. The studies employed the technique of intratumoral thymidine injection; aspirates or biopsy samples of injected subcutaneous nodules, lymph nodes, and bone marrow replaced by tumor were then processed autoradiographically. The LI was obtained in 12 patients; the median LI was 16.7% (range 7.2–23.8%). Chemotherapy achieved prolonged remission in 3 patients with the highest LI prior to treatment. In 1 patient the duration of DNA synthesis period (Ts) by the labeled mitoses curve method was estimated to be 18.8 hours. Repeated pulses into nodules at intervals less than 12 hours showed a linear rise to 55–44% LI within 48 hours in 2 other patients. These results suggest that whereas cell cycle times may be similar to those of other human solid tumors, the growth fraction is usually higher in small cell carcinoma of the lung than in other common human malignancies. This parameter may be an important determinant in responsiveness to chemotherapy. Similar studies in other human malignancies, coupled with such clinical correlations are necessary to confirm this concept.
Induced quasicocycles on groups with hyperbolically embedded subgroups

Let G be a group, H a hyperbolically embedded subgroup of G , V a normed G ‐module, U an H ‐invariant submodule of V . We propose a general construction which allows to extend 1‐quasicocycles on H with values in U to 1‐quasicocycles on G with values in V . As an application, we show that every group G with a nondegenerate hyperbolically embedded subgroup has dimH 2 b .G;‘ p .G//D1 for p 1. This covers many previously known results in a uniform way. Applying our extension to quasimorphisms and using Bavard duality, we also show that hyperbolically embedded subgroups are undistorted with respect to the stable commutator length.
The United States is a small country in world trade

Despite being the largest country in world trade and thus presumably having high optimal tariffs, the United States has long had low and declining levels of protection. This paradox suggests that the United States is failing to exploit its monopsony power by levying optimal tariffs. Using data on world output and trade flows, we find that the United States is a small country in world trade in that its trade policies have negligible impacts on world prices. In the median manufacturing industry, US tariffs reduce world prices by only 0.12%. United States optimal tariffs are also typically small (3.6% in the median industry) and are lower than existing US tariffs in most industries. It is no puzzle that the United States has been a champion of free trade since the 1930s—the United States, like other small countries, benefits economically from tariff reductions.
Soluble precursor of an integral membrane protein: Synthesis of procoat protein in Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage M13

Abstract Prior to virus assembly, the major coat protein of coliphage M13 is an integral protein of the host cytoplasmic membrane. Coat protein synthesized in vitro is initially made with an NH2-terminal "leader peptide" of 23 amino acids and is termed "procoat." We now report that procoat is a biosynthetic precursor of coat protein in vivo. Conversion of procoat to coat occurs within 30 sec in cells infected with wild-type virus. This proteolytic processing is delayed in cells infected by M13 mutants (in genes 1, 5, or 7) that are defective in virus assembly. Pulse--chase experiments in combination with subcellular fractionation show that procoat is synthesized in a soluble form in the cytoplasm and is then incorporated into the cytoplasmic membrane, where it is converted to coat protein. This finding is supported by the observation that procoat is synthesized exclusively by polysomes that are not membrane bound. These results are interpreted in terms of the "membrane-triggered folding" hypothesis of membrane protein assembly.
Formation and regular dynamics of shock-trains in the Burgers model

Abstract Solutions to the Burgers equation with small viscosity and a periodic driving force are considered. A class of traveling wave solutions is investigated by means of a linearizing transformation as well as asymptotic methods that can be applied to more general nonlinear equations. Using these techniques, travelling wave solutions are obtained for the case where the driving term represents the loss of stability of two harmonics in the spectrum. Numerical integration shows that the time-asymptotic behaviour reduces entirely to a dynamical system of periodic shock-train solutions originating from these two unstable harmonics. The stability of the solutions in the range of parameters where they represent a travelling waves is briefly considered.
Macroeconomic conditions and committee re-election rates

The traditional literature on the link between the macro economy and House elections follows Kramer (1971) and assumes all members of the President's party are equally vulnerable to voter wrath caused by economic changes. Using Presidential Party return rates from 10 House committees over the time period 1916–1996, I find the impact of economic conditions at the polls varies by committee. Generally, committees that manage money or provide a public good are the most sensitive to economic fluctuations. Contrastingly, members of the Public Works committee and the Rules committee are more insulated from electoral culpability due to economic fluctuations.
Global behavior of solutions to nonlinear wave equations in three dimensions

(1983). Global behavior of solutions to nonlinear wave equations in three dimensions. Communications in Partial Differential Equations: Vol. 8, No. 12, pp. 1291-1323.
A de Haas-van Alphen study of niobium: Fermi surface, cyclotron effective masses, and magnetic breakdown effects

The Fermi surface of niobium has been investigated using the de Haas-van Alphen effect. Data were taken at temperatures as low as 0.3 K and in fields as high as 130 kG. An on-line minicomputer was used to Fourier-transform the digitized signals. Many new extremal area data have been obtained, including oscillations associated with the previously unobserved γ-centered hole octahedron and γ and N-centered orbits on the so-called jungle gym. An additional set of signals has been observed near [100], which are thought to be a result of magnetic breakdown between the second zone octahedron and third zone jungle gym. A separate low-frequency signal was observed and is believed to be a result of magnetic-breakdown-induced quantum interference oscillations. Anisotropies of the cyclotron effective mass have been determined for many orbits on all three of the Fermi surface sheets. Finally, the area data have been used to parametrize the Fermi surface in terms of scattering phase shifts in a Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker band structure formalism.
Design and Realization of a Discretely Loaded Resistive Vee Dipole on a Printed Circuit Board

A discretely loaded resistive vee dipole is designed and realized for use in pulse radiation applications, such as ground-penetrating radars. The resistive vee dipole is capable of radiating a broadband pulse whose shape is simply related to the input signal. In addition, it mostly eliminates the multiple reflections between the surface of the ground and the antenna because of its low radar cross section. Other investigators have studied the resistive vee dipoles using continuous loading. The antenna presented in this paper is printed on a circuit board and discretely loaded with off-the-shelf surface-mount chip resistors, making it easy, inexpensive to build, and mechanically stable. The characteristics of the antenna on a circuit board are measured and compared with the characteristics of the antenna in free space, which is numerically modeled using the method of moments code. The effects of the balun on the performance of the antenna are also presented.
Evaluating computer-supported cooperative work: models and frameworks

Evaluating distributed CSCW applications is a difficult endeavor. Frameworks and methodologies for structuring this type of evaluation have become a central concern for CSCW researchers. In this paper we describe the problems involved in evaluating remote collaborations, and we review some of the more prominent conceptual frameworks of group interaction that have driven CSCW evaluation in the past. A multifaceted evaluation framework is presented that approaches the problem from the relationships underlying joint awareness, communication, collaboration, coordination, and work coupling. Finally, recommendations for carrying out multifaceted evaluations of remote interaction are provided.
Line Crack Subject to Shear.

Field equations of nonlocal elasticity are solved to determine the state of stress in the neighborhood of a line crack in an elastic plate subject to a uniform shear at the surface of the crack tip. A fracture criterion based on the maximum shear stress gives the critical value of the applied shear for which the crack becomes unstable. Cohesive stress necessary to break the atomic bonds is calculated for brittle materials.
Proportional Reasoning: A Review of the Literature.

This paper presents a review of the research on proportional reasoning. Methodologies used in proportional reasoning studies are presented first. The discussion is then organized around the following topics: strategies use to solve proportion problems, including erroneous strategies; factors that influence performance on proportion problems, both task-related and subject-related; training studies. The discussion is accompanied by suggestions for educational and research applications.
Mechanical Stimulation of Stem Cells Using Cyclic Uniaxial Strain

The role of mechanical forces in the development and maintenance of biological tissues is well documented, including several mechanically regulated phenomena such as bone remodeling, muscular hypertrophy, and smooth muscle cell plasticity. However, the forces involved are often extremely complex and difficult to monitor and control in vivo. To better investigate the effects of mechanical forces on cells, we have developed an in vitro method for applying uniaxial cyclic tensile strain to adherent cells cultured on elastic membranes. This method utilizes a custom-designed bioreactor with a motorized cam-rotor system to apply the desired force. Here we present a step-by-step video protocol demonstrating how to assemble the various components of each "stretch chamber", including, in this case, a silicone membrane with micropatterned topography to orient the cells with the direction of the strain. We also describe procedures for sterilizing the chambers, seeding cells onto the membrane, latching the chamber into the bioreactor, and adjusting the mechanical parameters (i.e. magnitude and rate of strain). The procedures outlined in this particular protocol are specific for seeding human mesenchymal stem cells onto silicone membranes with 10 µm wide channels oriented parallel to the direction of strain. However, the methods and materials presented in this system are flexible enough to accommodate a number of variations on this theme: strain rate, magnitude, duration, cell type, membrane topography, membrane coating, etc. can all be tailored to the desired application or outcome. This is a robust method for investigating the effects of uniaxial tensile strain applied to cells in vitro.
Primary tumor necrosis predicts distant control in locally advanced soft-tissue sarcomas after preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose Various neoadjuvant approaches have been evaluated for the treatment of locally advanced soft-tissue sarcomas. This retrospective study describes a uniquely modified version of the Eilber regimen developed at the University of Chicago. Methods and Materials We treated 34 patients (28 Stage III and 6 Stage IV) with locally advanced soft-tissue sarcomas of an extremity between 1995 and 2008. All patients received preoperative therapy including ifosfamide (2.5 g/m2 per day for 5 days) with concurrent radiation (28 Gy in 3.5-Gy daily fractions), sandwiched between various chemotherapy regimens. Postoperatively, 47% received further adjuvant chemotherapy. Results Most tumors (94%) were Grade 3, and all were T2b, with a median size of 10.3 cm. Wide excision was performed in 29 patients (85%), and 5 required amputation. Of the resected tumor specimens, 50% exhibited high (≥90%) treatment-induced necrosis and 11.8% had a complete pathologic response. Surgical margins were negative in all patients. The 5-year survival rate was 42.3% for all patients and 45.2% for Stage III patients. For limb-preservation patients, the 5-year local control rate was 89.0% and reoperation was required for wound complications in 17.2%. The 5-year freedom–from–distant metastasis rate was 53.4% (Stage IV patients excluded), and freedom from distant metastasis was superior if treatment-induced tumor necrosis was 90% or greater (84.6% vs. 19.9%, p = 0.02). Conclusions This well-tolerated concurrent chemoradiotherapy approach yields excellent rates of limb preservation and local control. The resulting treatment-induced necrosis rates are predictive of subsequent metastatic risk, and this information may provide an opportunity to guide postoperative systemic therapies.
Detection of Organic Mercaptan Vapors Using Thin Films of Alkylamine-Passivated Gold Nanocrystals

Alkylamine-capped gold nanocrystals have been used as chemically sensitive resistors for the detection of volatile organic mercaptan vapors. Thin (<1 × 10^(-4) cm) films of dodecylamine-capped, 6−7 nm diameter Au nanocrystals produced dc electrical resistances of 10 kΩ to 10 MΩ when deposited onto interdigitated Au/Cr electrodes. These chemiresistive vapor detectors displayed a reversible increase in dc electrical resistance when exposed to non-thiol-containing vapors such as water, acetone, or toluene delivered at a constant fraction (0.05) of their vapor pressure, with relative differential resistance responses to these vapors of ≈5% under such conditions. In contrast, the amine-capped Au nanocrystal films exhibited a much larger, irreversible decrease in resistance upon exposure to vapors possessing the thiol (−SH) functionality, including H_2S, CH_3SH, and propanethiol. Optical spectroscopic and transmission electron microscopy data indicated that the thiols displaced the amine caps, allowing the gold cores to move closer together and in some cases enter into contact, thereby lowering the film resistance. Consistently, the resistance of such films did not decrease upon exposure to octanethiol. For CH_3SH, the rate of resistance change under repeated experimental conditions allowed extraction of the concentration of analyte over the range 4 ppb to 1.5 ppm in air.
Spectrum management: the killer application of ad hoc and mesh networking

The traditional approach to managing radio frequency (RF) spectrum concludes with a spectrum management administration identifying how a band of spectrum may be used in a region it administers and who may use it. This approach to spectrum management is encumbered with political process that is challenged to keep pace with the rapid advances in technologies that exploit RF spectrum. Recognizing that this process can stifle innovation, the FCC has proposed new spectrum management models and the use of a measure of interference temperature. Unfortunately, they too result in picking winners and losers and can have detrimental effects on legacy users. In this paper we review these concepts and then describe how ad hoc networks can offer new solutions. Three different spectrum management ideas are described. The synchronous collision resolution (SCR) MAC protocol enables a strict arbitration of spectrum access based on spectrum rights thus enabling a hierarchy of networks in the same spectrum that always guarantees the primary rights holder precedence. Second, it autonomously manages the use of an arbitrary number of channels in the same network all of which support the network achieving a higher capacity. The third and most exciting idea is a new fast command and control model for spectrum management. An underlying ad hoc network built using the nodes state routing (NSR) protocol is used to track and manage the use of spectrum of attached RF emitters. NSR tracks the state of the network by collecting and disseminating the states of the nodes. These states can include relevant information on the spectrum these nodes are using and are observing others use. Thus the network supports tracking and monitoring spectrum use spatially in near real time. Spectrum management utilities built on top of the network could allow users and spectrum managers to rapidly negotiate the use of spectrum for short periods of time in small regions. This finer resolution command and control model supports rapid prototyping of new services while simultaneously giving spectrum managers the ability to identify and turn off emitters that cause harmful interference to higher precedence users. We conclude with proposed standardization and regulatory changes to make this feasible
Wave-driver options for low aspect ratio steady-state tokamak reactors

Low aspect ratio designs are proposed for steady-state tokamak reactors. Benefits stem from reduced major radius and lessened stresses in the toroidal field coils, resulting in possible cost savings in the tokamak construction. In addition, a low aspect ratio (A=2.6) permits the application of a bundle divertor capable of diverting 3-T fields to a power reactor using STARFIRE technology. Such a low aspect ratio is possible with the elimination of poloidal field coils in the central hole of the tokamak, which implies a need for noninductive current drive. Several plasma waves are considered for this application, and it appears likely that a candidate can be found which reduces the electric power for current maintenance to an acceptable value.
Impact of donor age on survival and fibrosis progression in patients with hepatitis C undergoing liver transplantation using HCV+ allografts

Studies have suggested that the use of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive (HCV+) donor allografts has no impact on survival. However, no studies have examined the effect that HCV+ donor histology has upon recipient and graft survival. We evaluated the clinical outcome and impact of histological features in HCV patients transplanted using HCV+ livers. We reviewed all patients transplanted for HCV at our institution from 1988 to 2004; 39 received HCV+ allografts and 580 received HCV-negative (HCV-) allografts. Survival curves compared graft and patient survival. Each HCV+ allograft was stringently matched to a control of HCV- graft recipients. No significant difference in survival was noted between recipients of HCV+ livers and controls. Patients receiving HCV+ allografts from older donors (age > or =50 yr) had higher rates of graft failure (hazard ratio, 2.74) and death rates (hazard ratio, 2.63) compared to HCV- allograft recipients receiving similarly-aged older donor livers. Matched case-control analysis revealed that recipients of HCV+ allografts had more severe fibrosis post-liver transplantation than recipients of HCV- livers (P = 0.008). More advanced fibrosis was observed in HCV+ grafts from older donors compared to HCV+ grafts from younger donors (P = 0.012). In conclusion, recipients of HCV+ grafts from older donors have higher rates of death and graft failure, and develop more extensive fibrosis than HCV- graft recipients from older donors. Recipients of HCV+ grafts, regardless of donor age, develop more advanced liver fibrosis than recipients of HCV- grafts.
Electronic Ferroelectricity in the Falicov-Kimball Model

I show that a spontaneous electric polarization exists in the solution of the Falicov-Kimball model by mapping the strong coupling limit of this Hamiltonian into an xxz spin 1/2 model with a magnetic field. In this way, I determine the phase diagram of the strongly interacting model and show the existence of a transition to a mixed-valence regime containing two phases: an orbitally ordered state and a Bose-Einstein condensation of excitons with a built-in electric polarization.
Duration of hospitalization in previously well infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection

To describe the typical hospital course of infection in previously well infants hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, we reviewed the charts of 196 patients with laboratory-proved respiratory syncytial virus infection in the 1987-1988 respiratory disease season. Eighty-seven of the children had been previously well. Their mean duration of hospitalization was 3.4 days. Previously well infants younger than 6 weeks of age experienced significantly longer hospitalizations and more days of supplemental oxygen and were more likely to require intensive care than were older children. Children older than 12 weeks of age were hospitalized for a mean of 2.5 days and did not require intensive care. Oxygen saturation was measured in the emergency room for 67 of the previously well infants; in 42 oxygen saturation was at least 90% whereas in 25 saturation was less than 90% or infants were receiving supplemental oxygen at the time of measurement. Decreased initial oxygen saturation was associated with a prolonged hospitalization (5.3 vs. 3.2 days, P less than 0.01) and with more days of supplemental oxygen (4.4 vs. 1.5 days, P less than 0.01). We conclude that among previously well infants admitted to the hospital with respiratory syncytial virus infection, infants younger than 6 weeks of age are at increased risk for a prolonged and more severe hospital course than are older children.
Service load fatigue damage — a historical perspective

Abstract Although a general understanding of many aspects of fatigue crack growth behavior was established in the early 1960s, a specific ‘accumulation of damage model’ for computation of growth under a wide variety of service loads was lacking. The control of growth rates by K, the crack tip stress intensity factor and its reversing plastic zone, was well understood but somehow crack closure was overlooked until W. Elber's astute observations in the late 1960s. Various ‘service load damage models’ were proposed in the 1970s which at best successfully augmented extensive testing under simulated service load conditions. More recently, the crack closure/finite element model of J. Newman has shown the greatest promise. However, the precise cyclic load crack growth data of J.K. Donald has shown limitations of the ‘crack opening based ΔK’ as the most appropriate damage criterion. A simple partial crack closure model will be explored herein to attempt to better understand the near-threshold effects observed. Although this new model, as an augmentation of Newman's model, shows great promise, both of these models require measurements of opening loads which are avoided by Donald's ‘adjusted compliance ratio’ and other approaches. Further possibilities for modeling will be discussed in this historical context to attempt to anticipate future developments. Certainly, some simplification through physical understanding is still required. The recent development of a simplified view of cyclic crack growth behavior by R.W. Hertzberg will be cited as an example of ultimate relevant simplification. Optimism that better understanding will lead to yet better and simpler ‘accumulation of service load damage models’ will be emphasized.
Effect of Chronic Oral Pentoxifylline Administration on Murine Erythrocyte Deformability

Abstract Background: Pentoxifylline has been reported to increase radiation sensitivity in vivo. We sought to evaluate whether this effect is mediated by changes in murine erythrocyte flexibility. Methods: Pentoxifylline was administered via liquid or solid diet to young adult male CF-1 mice for 1–6 weeks. After 1, 3, and 6 weeks of drug administration, plasma levels of pentoxifylline and major derivatives were measured and erythrocyte deformability was assessed by rheoscopy, a technique which permits direct measurement of individual cellular dimensions. Results: Contrary to prior reports, we found no discernible effect of the drug on erythrocyte deformability. Conclusions: The beneficial effect of pentoxifylline administration on radiation sensitivity in tumor-bearing mice is mediated by other mechanisms.
Soot Surface Reactions in High-Temperature Laminar Diffusion Flames

The structure and the soot surface growth and surface oxidation properties of round laminar jet diffusion flames were studied experimentally. Measurements were made along the axes of acetylene/argon-fueled flames burning at atmospheric pressure in coflowing oxygen/argon mixtures to provide higher temperature soot-containing regions (2000‐2350 K) than were considered during earlier work. The measurements yielded soot surface growth and surface oxidation rates as well as the flame properties that are thought to control these rates. The present measurements of soot surface growth rates (corrected for soot surface oxidation) were consistent with earlier measurements in laminar premixed and diffusion flames having lower temperatures and exhibited good agreement with existing hydrogen-abstraction/carbon-addition soot surface growth rate mechanisms in the literature with steric factors of these mechanisms having values on the order of unity, as anticipated. Similarly, the present measurements of soot surface oxidation rates (corrected for soot surface growth) were consistent with earlier measurements in laminar premixed and diffusion flames having lower temperatures and exhibited good agreement with existing OH soot surface oxidation mechanisms in the literature, with a collision efficiency for OH of 0.13, in good agreement with past work, and supplemented to only a minor degree by direct soot surface oxidation by O2.
Light-induced changes of the 1/f noise in hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

The 1/f-noise power spectra of coplanar current fluctuations in n-type doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) are measured before and after light-induced metastable defects (the Staebler-Wronski effect) are created. The noise spectral density for the annealed state is strongly non-Gaussian, with large correlations of the noise power between differing octaves. Upon illumination the noise becomes Gaussian and the correlation coefficients of the noise power decrease, which is consistent with an increase in the disorder at the mobility edge in a-Si:H in the light-soaked state.
Cross-language positive priming disappears, negative priming does not: Evidence for two sources of selective inhibition

The authors used a unilingual and bilingual primed lexical decision task to investigate priming effects produced by attended and ignored words. In the unilingual experiment, accelerated lexical decisions to probe target words resulted when the word matched the preceding target word, whereas slowed lexical decisions to probe target words resulted when the word matched the preceding ignored nontarget word. In the bilingual (English-Spanish) experiment, between-language, rather than within-language, priming manipulations were used. Although the ignored repetition negative priming effect replicated across languages, cross-language attended repetition positive priming did not. This dissociation of priming effects in the inter- versus intralanguage priming conditions contradicts episodic retrieval accounts of negative priming that deny the existence of selective inhibitory processes. On the other hand, these results support an extension of inhibition-based accounts of negative priming, because they indicate that inhibition can operate at two levels of abstraction—local word and global—language simultaneously.
Uncoupling of 3T3-L1 gene expression from lipid accumulation during adipogenesis

Adipocyte differentiation comprises altered gene expression and increased triglyceride storage. To investigate the interdependency of these two events, 3T3-L1 cells were differentiated in the presence of glucose or pyruvate. All adipocytic proteins examined were similarly increased between the two conditions. In contrast, 3T3-L1 adipocytes differentiated with glucose exhibited significant lipid accumulation, which was largely suppressed in the presence of pyruvate. Subsequent addition of glucose to the latter cells restored lipid accumulation and acute rates of insulin-stimulated lipogenesis. These data indicate that extracellular energy is required for induction of adipocytic proteins, while only glucose sustained the parallel increase in triglyceride storage.
Arylsulfatase activity in Gorgoderina attenuata and Haematoloechus medioplexus: Cytochemical and biochemical observations on the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes☆☆☆

Abstract Arylsulfatase (EC 3.1.6.1) activity in the gastrodermis of Gorgoderina attenuata and Haematoloechus medioplexus is operative over a pH range of 4.2–7.2. The activity is localized in the cytolysomes and microvesicles, as well as on invaginations of the basal plasmalemma and membranous remnants in the lumen.
Relaxation therapy as an adjunct in radiation oncology.

Stress, anxiety, and depression in patients who are undergoing treatment of cancer significantly compromise the quality of their lives. The impact of stress reduction by relaxation training and imagery was studied in 82 out-patients who were undergoing curative (73 patients) or palliative (9 patients) radiotherapy. Fifty-two females and 30 males were assigned randomly to a relaxation training condition (34 patients) as an adjunct to radiation or a control condition (29 patients), which entailed education and counseling along with the RT. Using pre- and posttests of the Profile of Mood States, significant (p less than .01) reductions were noted in the treatment group in tension, depression, anger, and fatigue. The results suggest that relaxation training substantially improves several psychological parameters associated with quality of life in ambulatory patients who are undergoing radiation therapy.
MASS SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF LOW TEMPERATURE FIELD EVAPORATION.

Low temperature field vacuum evaporation of Be, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn analyzed by field ion mass spectrometer, discussing metal ions detection
Posterior midventricular rupture after mitral valve replacement.

Abstract Posterior midventricular rupture occurred in 3 patients after insertion of a mitral prosthesis. Iatrogenic surgical trauma was not implicated. There were five clinical factors common to each case: a woman with mitral stenosis; a left ventricle of relatively normal size; the use of intermittent cold cardioplegia; the insertion of a porcine heterograft valve; and transient postoperative hypertension. Rupture in such cases may be caused by hyperdynamic left ventricular contraction against the strut of the prosthesis. Causes of ventricular perforation are discussed.
Successful implementation of a protocol for photorefractive keratectomy in children requiring anesthesia.

Abstract Purpose To describe a protocol for treating children with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) under general anesthesia and to review intraoperative and postoperative complications. Setting Institutional academic practice. Methods Nine patients between 3 years and 9 years of age were treated with PRK under general anesthesia for anisometropia with unilateral high myopia or high hyperopia and amblyopia of the affected eye. Induction of anesthesia and the surgical procedure were carried out in separate rooms. The laser beam was centered on the entrance pupil, and eye position was monitored throughout the procedure. Specific precautions were taken before and during the procedure to prevent unwanted effects of inhalational anesthetic agents on laser performance. Results All children did well, with no anesthesia-related or treatment-related complications. Conclusions Our protocol for PRK under general anesthesia was effective and efficient in children who were unable to cooperate for the procedure using local anesthesia. It can be adapted for laser in situ keratomileusis and other refractive surgical procedures in children and uncooperative adults.
Programmable Technologies for Micro- and Nano-Scale Pattern and Material Transfer and Possible Applications for Control of Self-Assembly

Abstract : Programmable methods for transferring materials to surfaces in patterns can produce structures with micrometer and nanometer scale features. All such technologies involve combinations of information, materials and energy. The materials in additive technologies can originate in the vapor phase, as liquids or suspensions, or as solids. The energy can come from laser, electron or ion beams, or the pressures used in writing, dispensing, jetting or flow methods. Many of the programmable techniques do not require high temperatures, so they can be used to make fine-scale structures of organic and bio-materials, and even live biologicals. Quantitative comparisons of both additive and subtractive programmable methods show that only a few, based on electron or ion beams, or on proximal probes, are capable of making nanometer-scale structures. Assembly methods, notably self- and directed-assembly, should prove to be central to the realization of manufacturable nanotechnology. Programmable deposition technologies may be used to supply materials for, and otherwise control self-assembly processes. The four sets of technologies, namely masked lithography, direct-write techniques, self-assembly and directed-assembly, provide a versatile and powerful toolbox for making micro-and nano-meter scale devices and systems.
Glomerular macrophage phagocytic activity in experimental immune complex nephritis

Glomerular macrophage phagocytic activity in experimental immune complex glomerulonephritis. In rats with the proliferative immune complex glomerulonephritis of chronic serum sickness, kidney function deteriorates in three clearly distinguishable and discrete stages: mild, moderate and severe. The macrophage component of glomerular inflammation in each stage is also quantitatively and qualitatively distinct, with abnormal phenotypic markers appearing in the moderate stage and increasing in the severe stage. To determine whether there were distinct functional differences among macrophages from the three stages, Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytic capacity was measured. The phagocytic capacity of glomerular macrophages increased significantly in the moderate stage, then significantly decreased, as rats progressed to severe chronic serum sickness. This decline in phagocytic function was not associated with a decrease in the expression of Fcγ receptors on the glomerular macrophage cell surface. Furthermore, the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages from rats with severe chronic serum sickness was not impaired. Whether or not this attenuation of glomerular macrophage phagocytic capacity is the cause, or result, of renal disease progression remains unclear. It may indicate a potentially protective role for intraglomerular macrophages, and can serve as an additional functional marker of disease progression.
Paranasal sinusitis complicated by inspissated exudate in the ventral conchal sinus

Primary paranasal sinusitis complicated by inspissated exudate within the ventral conchal sinus was diagnosed in five horses. Clinical signs included a unilateral, foul-smelling, mucopurulent nasal exudate of 2 to 7 months' duration. Two of the horses had partial nasal obstruction from distortion of the ventral concha. Radiographs of the skull showed a mass of soft tissue density dorsal to the roots of the superior third and fourth or fourth and fifth cheek teeth. Treatment included bone flap maxillary sinusotomy with exposure of the ventral nasal concha and removal of inspissated exudate. Resolution of the sinusitis occurred in all five horses.
Physician e-mail and telephone contact after emergency department visit improves patient satisfaction: a crossover trial.

Study objective Enhancing emergency department (ED) patient satisfaction has wide-ranging benefits. We seek to determine how postvisit patient-physician contact by e-mail or telephone affects patients' satisfaction with their emergency physician. Methods We undertook this crossover study from May 1, 2010, to June 30, 2010, at 2 community EDs. Forty-two physicians either e-mailed or telephoned their patients within 72 hours of the ED visit for 1 month; in the alternate month, they provided no contact, serving as their own controls. Patients received satisfaction surveys after their ED visit. Patient satisfaction is reported as a percentage of those responding very good or excellent on a 5-point Likert scale for 3 questions about their emergency physician's skills, care, and communication. We calculated differences between patient groups (noncontact versus contact) using an intention-to-treat analysis. Results The mean patient satisfaction score was 79.4% for the 1,002 patients in the noncontact group and 87.7% for the 348 patients in the contact group (difference 8.3%; 95% confidence interval 4.0% to 12.6%). Patient satisfaction scores were similar for e-mail and telephone contact: 89.3% for the e-mail group and 85.2% for the telephone group (difference 4.1%; 95% confidence interval −2.3% to 10.5%). Conclusion Patient satisfaction was higher when emergency physicians contacted patients briefly after their visit, either by e-mail or by telephone. Higher patient satisfaction was observed equally among patients contacted by e-mail and those contacted by telephone. Postvisit patient-physician contact could be a valuable practice to improve ED patient satisfaction.
Sampling Wind Data for Mean Wind Speed Estimation

Abstract Two sampling techniques are applied to wind data at 3 h intervals for six stations in the Great Plains region in the United States in order to investigate the reduction in the number of data needed to estimate the mean wind speed. One-in-k sampling of the daily averages of 0600 and 1500 LT data indicates that it is necessary to sample only 4% of the total 3 h data to attain a 95% confidence interval of 5% of the true mean value. Random sampling of all 3 h data shows that ∼3.4% of the total data is needed to obtain the same accuracy.
A Generalized Self-Consistent Mechanics Method for Solids Containing Elliptical Inclusions

The determination of the effective moduli for a material containing elliptical inclusions is the objective of this paper. This is done by incorporating an inclusion/ matrix/composite model into a general energy equivalence framework. Through the evaluation of the average strain in each individual inclusion, the current approach can handle the inclusion's orientation dependency in a straightforward manner. The case ofan in-plane isotropic distribution of elliptical inclusions is addressed in detail. For the case of reinforcements, or hard inclusions, the effect of the inclusion aspect ratio on in-plane effective moduli is small if the aspect ratio is larger than 0.5. For aspect ratios less than 0.3, the effective moduli increase dramatically, which implies that flat reinforcements are much more effective than traditional cylindrical reinforcements. It is also established that the generalized self-consistent method predicts a stronger dependence of effective moduli on the inclusion aspect ratio than does the Mori-Tanaka method, especially for shear moduli.
XANTHOPHYLLS AND THE HILL REACTION

Summary The incorporation of oxygen from water enriched in H218O into the leaf xanthophylls during the Hill reaction was investigated. No enrichment was detectable in violaxanthin and neoxanthin. A low incorporation into lutein, which was not dependent on the Hill reaction, was observed. The results indicate that the epoxy pigments do not function as an oxygen transport system in photosynthesis under the conditions of these experiments.