cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balloon dilatation for treatment of resistant nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Abstract Purpose: Our purpose was to report our experience with balloon catheter dilatation for resistant nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: Patients enrolled had symptoms of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and (1) had failed previous probing or (2) were more than 2 years old. Balloon dilatation was performed with a LacriCATH lacrimal catheter (Atrion Medical Products, Birmingham, Ala.). A subset of patients had Silastic silicone rubber (Dow Corning, Midland, Mich.) intubation after balloon dilatation. Success was determined by clinical examination a minimum of 6 weeks later. Results: Twenty-one lacrimal systems of 12 patients were treated (age range 4 months to 7 years). Of the patient subset treated with a LacriCATH lacrimal catheter alone, 9 of 18 systems demonstrated complete resolution of symptoms. Three of the 12 patients underwent balloon dilatation intraoperatively after attempts at Silastic silicone rubber intubation were unsuccessful. In two of these patients, who were younger, Silastic silicone rubber tubes passed easily after balloon treatment; however, in an older patient, age 5 years, intubation still could not be accomplished. Conclusion: Common clinical strategy for treatment of resistant nasolacrimal obstruction includes repeat probing, intubation of the nasolacrimal system with Silastic silicone rubber tubes, or dacryocystorhinostomy. Balloon catheter dilatation is an alternative or adjunct to consider. Factors that may affect the success of treatment include the age of the patient, the complexity of the nasolacrimal anatomy, and use of adjunctive systemic antibiotics and steroids.
Reduction of an eye tic by controlled blinking

The eye-squinting tic of a 9-year-old girl was found to be reduced somewhat (54%) by facial relaxation and almost eliminated (97% reduction) by voluntary soft blinking for brief experimental periods. The child was taught to engage in the voluntary blinking at home contingent upon the tic. The tic decreased to zero during the first 6 weeks and remained absent at a 2-year follow-up conducted in the home. Voluntary blinking appeared to be inherently incompatible with the eye-squinting tic and offers a clinical method of effective treatment by arranging it on a response-contingent basis.
Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3/PbTiO3 single-crystal piezoelectrics for ultrasonic transducers

The Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZN)/PbTiO3 (PT) solid solution has been grown in single crystal form. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties have been determined over a wide range of compositions. Longitudinal coupling constants in this system can be maintained at near 90% for a wide range of relative permittivities, allowing a 'designer dielectric' approach to ultrasonic transducer design. The piezoelectric transducer model developed by Kimholtz, Leedom and Matthaei (KLM) was employed to first optimize transducer design points, and then to study the behavior of these materials as operational transducers. Two types of transducers were modeled and contrasted to conventional materials, a 50 MHz single element designed for ultrasound backscatter microscopy and a 5 MHz phased array element. These two transducer designs are representative of the wide range of properties available in this system by carefully choosing a composition. Extremely high piezoelectric coupling coefficients (k33 greater than 94%) and a range of dielectric constants (3000 - 5000) have been observed in these systems on the rhombohedral side of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Relatively low dielectric constants (approximately 1000) and high thickness mode coupling (kt greater than 63%) were observed as typical of tetragonal formulations. A prototype single element transducer at 35 MHz was fabricated from PZN/8% PT and compared, in pulse/echo mode, to a PZT-5H transducer similar design.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An introduction to the Resident Resource Corner: your own RRC.

We are pleased to inaugurate the Resident Resource Corner (your own RRC!) as a new feature of Current Surgery. We realize that there are many issues critical to success in your future practices that either are not covered during the formal residency training period or are addressed in an informal way. In addition, there is no mechanism for surgical residents as a group to let us know the kinds of information they would like to see in Current Surgery. Our goals with the Resident Resource Corner are to provide you with timely information about important issues in surgery, to serve as a forum for you to express your thoughts and ideas, and to highlight areas of interest we feel will be of help to you in both your training and the development of your future practice in surgery. Plans at present include addressing the explosion of information available on the Internet, providing help on exams and studying, and exploring business aspects of surgical practice. The corner will be monitored and mentored by three experienced surgeons: Joseph B. Cofer, MD, Susan E. Pories, MD, and Richard K. Spence, MD. Dr. Cofer is a general surgeon specializing in hepatobiliary surgery and the residency program director for the University of Tennessee School of Medicine campus in Chattanooga. Dr. Pories is a general and oncologic surgeon at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and actively involved in student and resident teaching. Dr. Spence is a general and vascular surgeon who serves as the surgery program director for the Birmingham Baptist Health Systems hospitals in Birmingham, Alabama. We welcome you to send any suggestions, comments, etc to us care of the journal, or you can e-mail us directly: Richard.Spence@bhsala.com or rkspence@ix.netcom.com, Coferjb@erlanger.org or jbcofer@worldnet.att.net, or Spories@bidmc.harvard.edu. We look forward to hearing from you. Dr. Cofer has provided us with the following information for this month’s Resident Resource Corner. ABSITE EXAMINATION ERRORS AND CONSEQUENCES
Dynamic phasor model of single-phase inverters for analysis and simulation of large power distribution systems

Transient analysis of large distribution systems with high PV penetration using either the full switching model or even the detailed average model of the PV inverters is computationally intensive. Transient analysis through conventional state-space formulations is not suitable for the study of long-term transients of large distribution systems such as, interaction with other control devices, cloud transients, and voltage flicker. In this work, dynamic phasor model for single-phase inverters are developed, aiding the fast simulation of large distribution systems with high PV penetration. This paper extends the applicable range of phasors for transient analysis from the quasi-stationary range.
Alzheimer disease: An imbalance of proteolytic regulation?

Alzheimer disease is typified by the accumulation of protein and neuronal death. We propose that neuronal death creates a proteolytic imbalance that generates the pathological lesions. Our hypothesis explains the morphology and topographic distribution of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Thermal decomposition models for HMX-based plastic bonded explosives

Global multistep chemical kinetic models for the thermal decomposition of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazine (HMX)-based plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) using endothermic or exothermic binders are developed for calculation of the times to thermal explosion as functions of heating rate and geometry in the Chemical TOPAZ heat-transfer computer code. The decomposition mechanisms of the binder materials are treated separately from that of HMX, and the chemical reactions of each constituent are assumed to occur independently. Experimental data and theoretical predictions of the thermal properties, decomposition pathways, and chemical kinetic reaction rate constants are used to develop reaction sequences for each of the components present in the PBX at various weight percentages. The measured times to thermal explosion at various initial temperatures in a new One-Dimensional Time-to-Explosion (ODTX) apparatus are compared to the Chemical TOPAZ predictions. Two series of pristine HMX spheres formulated with coarse and fine particles are tested for the first time in an ODTX apparatus. The pure HMX data clearly show that the presence of an endothermic binder in a PBX increases the times to thermal explosion, while the presence of an exothermic binder decreases the times to explosion. The magnitudes of these changes in explosion time depend upon the chemical stabilities and heats of reaction of these binders. A four-step decomposition model is developed for HMX, which includes the β to δ solid-phase transition as the first endothermic reaction. This model accurately reproduces the pure HMX curves. Decomposition models for the various binder components are then used with the HMX model to accurately reproduce the ODTX time-to-explosion curves. Comparisons are also made to times to thermal explosion obtained in various experiments involving aged PBXs, ramped temperature rate increases, unconfined explosives, and a larger size, cylindrical geometry called the scaled thermal explosion experiment.
Item response models for joint analysis of quality of life and survival.

A complication when assessing quality of life data longitudinally is that in many trials a substantial percentage of patients die before completing all of the assessments. Furthermore, a patient's risk of dying might be predicted by his current quality of life. This suggests jointly modelling quality of life and survival, and using this combined information to summarize the outcome. The aim of this paper is to address the complicated issues, such as death, present in analysing multiple-item ordinal quality of life data in clinical trials while recognizing the psychometric properties of the quality of life instrument being used. This is done by combining an item response model and Cox's proportional hazard model, where a latent variable process for quality of life determines the probability of selecting various options on quality of life items, and also serves as a time-dependent covariate in the survival model. We accomplish this by using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to obtain parameter estimates. Then we compute a summary measure, area-under-QOL curve, to compare the efficacy of the treatments. The methods are illustrated with analysis of data from the Vesnarinone trial of patients with severe heart failure, in which quality of life was assessed with the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire.
Follow-up of children at risk for language problems

Abstract Nineteen students (ages 10–14) who were previously identified as at risk for language problems were examined after a period of five to seven years. Information concerning cognitive, academic, and linguistic skills was collected using standardized and informal measures. Results were analyzed for the total group and also for two subgroups. At the time of follow-up, seven subjects (37%) who had not been served by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) were unidentified with language impairments (LI); two subjects (11%) were being seen by a SLP; one subject (5%) was identified as mentally handicapped, and nine subjects (47%) did not exhibit language problems. Subgroup comparisons between the seven unidentified language impaired subjects (LI) and the nine without language impairments (contrast = CG) revealed lower language scores, especially for receptive and composite language as measured by the CELF-R and TLC-E. Teachers rated these two groups (LI and CG) differently in the areas of following/giving directions, initiating/maintaining conversation, and taking turns. Parents also reported greater concerns for the LI group in the areas of listening, communication, and social skills. Issues concerning identification of at-risk groups and future studies using at-risk populations are discussed.
Humanist Interpretation Versus Coding Text Samples

As a methodological package, sampling and coding in a systematic manner serve as a hallmark of rigor for research into bodies of textual evidence. In truth this widely approved bundle of methods comprises a counterproductive tool. Applying humanist interpretation to exemplary texts with the “ideal-type” approach of Max Weber is superior by major criteria for the conduct of science as conventionally understood. Interpretation in this tradition is more transparent and traceable, more exposed to retesting, and wiser about standards of representativeness.
Mantle fluids: Evidence from fluid inclusions

Abstract A total dissolution technique has been developed and used to identify and quantify the incompatible element contents of fluids trapped in inclusions in minerals from peridotite xenoliths using “fluids” in the generic sense (i.e., COH fluids and melts). Fluids from lherzolites, a wehrlite, and a harzburgite host important quantities of alkalis, Ba, U, Th, Pb, and contain Sr and Nd as well. Quantitative application of the technique shows that the CO 2 -rich fluid in a Iherzolite from Nunivak Island, AK, USA and the CO 2 -poor melt in a Iherzolite from San Carlos, Arizona, USA, have incompatible element compositions similar to each other differing only in their K and Ba contents. With the exception of their K contents, the trace element compositions of these fluids resemble those of carbonatites and kimberlites. Major and radiogenic isotope data from the lherzolite and a phlogopite harzburgite from Nunivak suggest that the fluid trapped in the Iherzolite is associated with a carbonatite melt, linked to hydrous metasomatism in the region. A more dilute CO 2 -bearing melt was identified in a wehrlite from Salt Lake Crater, HI, USA resembling Hawaiian alkali basalt in its incompatible element composition. The strontium, neodymium, and lead isotope composition of the fluids resemble those of the surrounding mantle and do not reflect their parent/daughter ratios. Lead isotope data for fluid-bearing clinopyroxene in the wehrlite suggest fluid influx was recent. Conventional and laser oxygen isotope analyses show that most fluid inclusion-bearing xenoliths examined are out of oxygen isotope equilibrium. Diffusion-based arguments suggest that fluid infiltration in these xenoliths occurred over the last 1–10 My. The fluids identified in this study will dominate the incompatible element budget of typical mantle peridotite if present in greater than sub-weight percent quantities.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor β/δ Cross Talks with E2F and Attenuates Mitosis in HRAS-Expressing Cells

The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) in Harvey sarcoma ras (Hras)-expressing cells was examined. Ligand activation of PPARβ/δ caused a negative selection with respect to cells expressing higher levels of the Hras oncogene by inducing a mitotic block. Mitosis-related genes that are predominantly regulated by E2F were induced to a higher level in HRAS-expressing Pparβ/δ-null keratinocytes compared to HRAS-expressing wild-type keratinocytes. Ligand-activated PPARβ/δ repressed expression of these genes by direct binding with p130/p107, facilitating nuclear translocation and increasing promoter recruitment of p130/p107. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism of PPARβ/δ cross talk with E2F signaling. Since cotreatment with a PPARβ/δ ligand and various mitosis inhibitors increases the efficacy of increasing G2/M arrest, targeting PPARβ/δ in conjunction with mitosis inhibitors could become a suitable option for development of new multitarget strategies for inhibiting RAS-dependent tumorigenesis.
Line matching in stereo vision

The problem of reconstructing real-world positions of three-dimensional objects from stereo views has proved very difficult, because the problem is inherently underdetermined. By reducing the problem to a one-line problem, and using precision image acquisition hardware, range information may be obtained with relatively simple correlation calculations.
Is There a Role for Executive Functions in the Development of Mathematics Ability

— This article examines the role of working memory, attention shifting, and inhibitory control executive cognitive functions in the development of mathematics knowledge and ability in children. It suggests that an examination of the executive cognitive demand of mathematical thinking can complement procedural and conceptual knowledge-based approaches to understanding the ways in which children become proficient in mathematics. Task analysis indicates that executive cognitive functions likely operate in concert with procedural and conceptual knowledge and in some instances might act as a unique influence on mathematics problem-solving ability. It is concluded that consideration of the executive cognitive demand of mathematics can contribute to research on best practices in mathematics education.
Formal design of a provably safe robotic roundabout system

In this paper, we show how to design a provably safe robotic roundabout system comprised of three vehicles. This is accomplished by combining two-vehicle collision avoidance primitives, which are each computationally light given the natural partial order structure on which the system evolves. We show how to design the system parameters in order to prevent conflicts among the control primitives, and to thus ensure the safety and liveness of the system as a whole. We implement our design on a multi-vehicle test-bed involving three vehicles continuously running on three intersecting roundabouts, and provide experimental results demonstrating the system is collision free and live.
An attack on Gauss, published by Legendre in 1820

Abstract The question of priority in the discovery of the method of least squares reached a climax when Legendre published an attack on Gauss in 1820. The background of the dispute is sketched, and this little known attack is presented in translation.
Efficient detection of large-scale redundancy in enterprise file systems

In order to catch and reduce waste in the exponentially increasing demand for disk storage, we have developed very efficient technology to detect approximate duplication of large directory hierarchies. Such duplication can be caused, for example, by unnecessary mirroring of repositories by uncoordinated employees or departments. Identifying these duplicate or near-duplicate hierarchies allows appropriate action to be taken at a high level. For example, one could coordinate and consolidate multiple copies in one location.
Structure/Function Analyses of Recombinant Variants of Human Factor Xa: Factor Xa Incorporation into Prothrombinase on the Thrombin-Activated Platelet Surface Is Not Mimicked by Synthetic Phospholipid Vesicles†

This report describes the expression, purification, and characterization of a series of recombinant factor Xa variants bearing aspartate substitutions for each of the glutamate residues which normally undergo gamma-carboxylation. Factor X was expressed in human embryonic kidney cells and purified from conditioned media by immunoaffinity and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Factor X was activated with Russell's viper venom factor X activator, and single-chain unactivated factor X was removed from activated factor X by size-exclusion chromatography. Recombinant wild-type factor Xa had normal activity in a clotting assay, and mutants with aspartate substitutions for glas residues 16, 26, and 29 had no detectable clotting activity. In purified component assays, these gla variants had essentially no detectable activity in the prothrombinase complex assembled on synthetic phospholipid vesicles but had significant activity when the prothrombinase was assembled on thrombin-activated platelets. In addition, the gla 32 variant had normal activity in the platelet prothrombinase but diminished activity in prothrombinase assembled on synthetic PSPC vesicles. These differences were not accounted for by the total phospholipid composition of the thrombin-activated platelet membrane. We have produced fully active recombinant human factor Xa and demonstrated that gla residues 16, 26, and 29 are critical for normal activity of factor Xa. More importantly, this study provides an extensive characterization of macromolecular enzyme complex formation with gla variants of a vitamin K-dependent coagulation protein and provides evidence that prothrombinase complex assembly on thrombin-activated platelets is not equivalent to assembly on synthetic phospholipid vesicles. The data suggest that thrombin-activated platelets possess some element(s) (other than 30% phosphatidyl serine or factor Va), presumably either protein or phospholipid, that serves as a component of the factor Xa binding site.
Relative nutritional value of ciliate protozoa and algae as food forDaphnia.

The relative importance of autotrophic flagellates, desmids, cyanobacteria, and ciliates as food forDaphnia magna was examined using cohort life tables. Each cohort was fed a single food type at a given concentration, and comparisons among each type were made. Algal feeding treatments included three levels of young (7 to 14 days old)Chlamydomonas reinhardi (Chlorophyta, Chlamydomonadacae), two levels of senescent (> 14 days old)C. reinhardi, two levels ofCryptomonas sp. (Chlorophyta, Cryptomonadacae), two levels ofStaurastrum sp. (Chlorophyta, Desmidacae), four levels of young (7 to 15 days old) or senescent (> 15 days old)Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyta, Chlorococcacae), and a no-food treatment. The ciliatesCyclidium sp. andParamecium caudatum were also presented at concentrations of 1 or 102 cells/ml, as well as mixtures ofC. reinhardi (103/ml) andCyclidium (1/ml) orP. caudatum (1/ml).Daphnia growth, reproduction, and survivorship were highest whenC. reinhardi orCryptomonas were the food source, while those starved or fedM. aeruginosa had shorter survivorship and lower growth and reproduction.Daphnia grew and had high survivorship when fedP. caudatum, but even though eggs were produced, most were aborted after 2 or 3 days.Staurastrum andCyclidium produced intermediate growth and survivorship, but reproduction was seen only in the 103Staurastrum/ml treatment. Carbon and nitrogen content were general indicators of nutritional value. However, growth, reproduction, and survivorship were higher in some cohorts fed treatments containing relatively low levels of carbon and nitrogen. Other cohorts were short-lived and did not reproduce, despite being fed much higher levels of carbon and nitrogen. The results also suggest that green algae are nutritionally valuable forDaphnia, whereas cyanobacteria are not. As measured by life-table parameters, the nutritional value of ciliates was variable, with some being poor food sources. Thus, the potential of ciliates as a trophic link between microbial production and higher trophic levels may vary with the ciliate community structure. Our results suggest that ciliates alone were insufficient as a food source to supportDaphnia population growth.
A Tale of Two Fondas: Scrambling Gender in Tepoztlán in “the Decade of the New Economy”

New forests of fast and slow food chains manifest the mammoth technological, stylistic, and labor process changes that have transformed Mexico's food services industry. Restructuring evidences Mexico's aggressive implementation of a world market-led development model that transferred control of a sector historically dominated by micro and small local enterprises to national and international conglomerates. Yet, far from being gobbled up, contriving to insert their operations into Mexico's functionally overlapping formal, quasi-formal, and informal economies, 1 survivalists created a shadow economy food industry (Fernandez-Kelly and Shefner 2006). Well-documented is that gender—the ways a culture[s] conceptualizes, regulates, and challenges sexual differences and identities—is organizationally central to each economic system. Evident as well is that systems shifts are contexts for “gender scrambling”: specific reversals of “workplace and organizational arrangements” (Adkins 2001:673). This anthropology of ...
A new approach to preparing tips for atom probe field ion microscopy from powder materials

Abstract A new approach to preparing tips for atom probe field ion microscopy from powder materials is described. It is especially useful for particle sizes exceeding >0.050 mm. Particles resulting from mechanical alloying of Cu and Ag, and from cryomilling of conventional Ni powders have been prepared this way for field ion imaging and atom probe composition analysis. In both cases, useful information complementing results from transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction was obtained.
Characterizing lentic freshwater fish assemblages using multiple sampling methods

Characterizing fish assemblages in lentic ecosystems is difficult, and multiple sampling methods are almost always necessary to gain reliable estimates of indices such as species richness. However, most research focused on lentic fish sampling methodology has targeted recreationally important species, and little to no information is available regarding the influence of multiple methods and timing (i.e., temporal variation) on characterizing entire fish assemblages. Therefore, six lakes and impoundments (48–1,557 ha surface area) were sampled seasonally with seven gear types to evaluate the combined influence of sampling methods and timing on the number of species and individuals sampled. Probabilities of detection for species indicated strong selectivities and seasonal trends that provide guidance on optimal seasons to use gears when targeting multiple species. The evaluation of species richness and number of individuals sampled using multiple gear combinations demonstrated that appreciable benefits over relatively few gears (e.g., to four) used in optimal seasons were not present. Specifically, over 90 % of the species encountered with all gear types and season combinations (N = 19) from six lakes and reservoirs were sampled with nighttime boat electrofishing in the fall and benthic trawling, modified-fyke, and mini-fyke netting during the summer. Our results indicated that the characterization of lentic fish assemblages was highly influenced by the selection of sampling gears and seasons, but did not appear to be influenced by waterbody type (i.e., natural lake, impoundment). The standardization of data collected with multiple methods and seasons to account for bias is imperative to monitoring of lentic ecosystems and will provide researchers with increased reliability in their interpretations and decisions made using information on lentic fish assemblages.
Preparation of lead titanate particles by crystallization of glass

Abstract PbTiO 3 particles of micron size were prepared by crystallization of glasses obtained by twin-roller quenching of PbO-TiO 2 -B 2 O 3 melts. To insure glass formation, the amount of B 2 O 3 needed to be more than in the composition 8(PbO+TiO 2 ) · 2B 2 O 3 . The glasses crystallized between 410° and 550°C depending on the composition. The PbTiO 3 crystallites were precipitated leaving an acid-soluble glass in the glasses containing PbO in amounts greater than the composition 5PbO · 5(TiO 2 +B 2 O 3 ). The separation of PbTiO 3 crystallites was accomplished with the 5PbO · 3TiO 2 · 2B 2 O 3 glass by the treatment with 1N acetic acid solution. The tetragonality of PbTiO 3 crystals increased gradually with increasing annealing temperature. TEM observations revealed that the PbTiO 3 particles were nearly discrete. In addition, it was found that these particles varied from ca. 0.5 to 3 μm in size and gradually turned to tetragonal in shape with increasing annealing temperature.
Morning Message Time: An Exploratory Study in Head Start

This exploratory study examined the Morning Message, an activity that is widely practiced in many early childhood curricula but has almost no empirical data to support its effectiveness. In total, 7 Head Start teachers and the 59 four-year-old children in their classrooms participated in this study. Using a qualitative observation system, we examined Morning Message time in these classrooms, including teachers’ and children’s talk about these texts. Results revealed variation in both the messages that teachers wrote and their presentation and discussion of these texts with children. In addition, multilevel regressions revealed selective relations between Morning Message practices and children’s skills, with talk about letters linked to children’s letter learning over the Head Start year. This study fills a significant gap between practice (where Morning Message is increasingly accepted) and research (where virtually no data on this technique are available) and provides a coding system that can be used to collect more extensive information in the future.
Rooted in the Soil: How Understanding the Perspectives of Landowners Can Enhance the Management of Environmental Disputes.

This essay uses mythic criticism to examine missed opportunities for identifying with landowners in ways that would enhance the constructive management of environmental disputes. It focuses on the communicative implications of a policy for managing endangered species that fails to consider existing cultural practices, then offers an alternative mythic understanding of the American (U.S.) West that is drawn from the discourse of its central characters. After reviewing the historical context leading to a conflict over the golden‐cheeked warbler habitat, we explore the meaning system discovered in landowners’ discourse. Interviews conducted with ranchers who have been required to sell or limit their land‐management options to make room for a wildlife refuge display the problematic relationship between public discourse and public policy. Finally, we argue that by encouraging the inclusion of communities that have been directly influenced, yet not consulted when environmental policy is formulated, decision‐mak...
CCD array for measuring spread functions

A prototype high resolution charge coupled photodiode device (CCD) array coupled to an analog to digital converter (ADC) personal computer system has been developed to assist in the measurement of line spread functions generated in diagnostic radiology for the purpose of objectively evaluating focal spots and film-screen systems. Presently, this task is accomplished with the use of a microdensitometer and associated hardware in order to achieve small enough sampling to make the measurements accurate. An ADC card in a personal computer system samples the output of the 2048 element CCD array, upon which a film containing the LSF is projected. Conversion of the transmitted light through the film by the CCD array permits digitization of the output video signal for subsequent analysis. The CCD computer system is relatively inexpensive and can be made portable, with the potential of providing in the field assessment of LSFs of similar accuracy to the microdensitometer. In addition, the direct computer interface allows for on-line data manipulation and corrections for the characteristic curve, background biases, and nonuniformities, as well as direct calculation of the corresponding MTFs through Fourier transformation.
Effects of film nonlinearities in holography.

A study of the effects of photographic nonlinearities in recording coherent wavefronts is reported. Particular emphasis is placed on holography using the two-beam interferometry technique. A phenomenological model which provides the mathematical formulation for describing the effects of nonlinearities is described. The model includes a zero-memory nonlinearity which represents experimentally derived transmittance–exposure curves for various photographic emulsions. An analysis of this model reveals many interesting phenomena which are supported experimentally. In particular, the nonlinearity of the film generates false targets, causes weak signal suppression, and can introduce additional noise as a result of spectral folding. Experimental results, verifying the analysis, are presented.
The effect of 6-mercaptopurine and its derivatives on mammalian RNA-dependent RNA synthesis

Summary The effect of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and its nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives on the rate of RNA synthesis with reticulocyte RNA-dependent RNA polymerase has been examined. Of the 6-MP derivatives tested only 6-mercaptopurine ribo-5′-monophosphate (6-MPR-P) significantly stimulates the rate of RNA synthesis with hemoglobin mRNA as a template while 6-MP and 6-MPR have little or no effect. Kinetic studies have demonstrated that 6-MPR-P activates the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase by increasing the Vmax of the enzyme rather than by decreasing the Km values for the substrates. It is suggested that the stimulation of RNA-dependent RNA synthesis by 6-MPR-P may explain the transient development of megaloblastic anemia following 6-MP therapy.
Glia are the main source of lactate utilized by neurons for recovery of function posthypoxia.

Abstract Experiments are described in which a rat hippocampal slice preparation was used along with the metabolic glial inhibitor, fluorocitrate (FC), to investigate the role of glial-made lactate and its shuttling to neurons in posthypoxia recovery of synaptic function. After testing two less effective concentrations of FC, only 10.1±6.5% of slices treated with 100 μM of the metabolic toxin recovered synaptic function at the end of 10-min hypoxia and 30-min reoxygenation. In contrast, 79.6±7.4% of control, untreated slices recovered synaptic function after 10-min hypoxia and 30-min reoxygenation. The low rate of recovery of synaptic function posthypoxia in FC-treated slices occurred despite the abundance of glucose present in the medium before, during, and after hypoxia. The amount of lactate produced by FC-treated slices during the hypoxic period was only 62% of that produced by control, untreated slices. Supplementing FC-treated slices with exogenous lactate significantly increased the posthypoxia recovery rate of synaptic function. These results strongly support our previous findings concerning the mandatory role of lactate as an aerobic energy substrate for the recovery of synaptic function posthypoxia and clearly show that the bulk of the lactate needed for this recovery originates in glial cells.
PBTI relaxation dynamics after AC vs. DC stress in high-k/metal gate stacks

A detailed study on PBTI relaxation after AC and DC stress in high-k nFETs is reported. First, Vt shift during AC and DC stress are examined, showing that the PBTI time evolution depends on the stress mode due to the relaxation effect. Then, comparison of relaxation after different stress types reveals large difference in the relaxation behavior at short times, whereas AC and DC relaxation are observed to merge at longer times. The “time-to-merge” rapidly increases with stress time and it strongly depends on the duty cycle. From a series of “Stress-Relax-Stress” measurement, we also demonstrate that the charge trapping and de-trapping process are highly correlated through “trap level”. A simple model from a trap distribution point of view is proposed to rationalize the above observations. These observations provide new insight into the trapping dynamics during PBTI.
Baculovirus mediated expression of human phagocytic cell oxidase cytochrome b558 in sf9 insect cells.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) results from deficient production of components of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Most commonly affected is cytochrome b558, a heterodimer composed of a 22-kDa protein (p22phox noncovalently bound to a 91-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein (gp91phox). CGD phagocytes lack both p22phox and gp91phox peptides when either gene is affected, suggesting that both peptides must be produced for individual subunit stability. Both genes have been cloned, but eukaryotic expression of recombinant gp91phox has not been reported. To investigate the stability and interaction of cytochrome b558 subunits, we introduced p22phox and gp91phox cDNA into recombinant baculoviruses. Recombinant gp91phox (rgp91phox) and p22phox (rp22phox) were detected individually and together in the same cells by in situ immunofluorescence and by SDS-PAGE immunoblotting of membranes from sf9 cells infected with baculovirus constructs. Formation of rp22phox/ rgp91phox complexes was demonstrated by coprecipitation using subunit-specific antibodies. This study demonstrates for the first time that cDNA encoding either subunit is capable of initiating production of stable recombinant cytochrome b558 subunits in eukaryotic cells.
Religion and Food: The Case of Eating Disorders

L'A. s'interesse au phenomene du desordre alimentaire et affirme que les pratiques alimentaires contemporaines sont une extension et une revision de l'ancien principe ascetique. Les desordres sont l'expression d'un desir de vie interieure, une subjectivite qui n'est pas autorisee, encouragee ou supportee par les medias. Ce sont les femmes qui sont les plus touchees par les desordres alimentaires en raison d'un modele impose par les images mediatiques. Les groupes religieux doivent donc veiller a une critique responsable de la societe et a la fortification d'un desir individuel ou communautaire
Short-term and complete reversal of NGF effects in rats with lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis.

Abstract Rats received bilateral quisqualic acid (QUIS) lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). Three weeks after lesioning, osmotic minipumps were implanted that released recombinant human nerve growth factor (NGF) or cytochrome c at a dosage of 5.0 μg rat−1 day−1 through intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulas for 7 weeks. One quarter of the rats were sacrificed at the end of the treatment, while the rest of the animals were sacrificed 2, 8, and 12 weeks after termination of NGF/cc treatment. ICV administration of NGF transiently reduced weight gain. NGF maximally increased choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in all cortical regions, the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus between 20% and 56% at the end of the treatment. This increase linearly declined and completely regressed during the 12-week withdrawal period both in regions affected and unaffected by the lesion. Administration of NGF induced a short-lasting hypertrophy of low affinity NGF receptor immunoreactive neurons within the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca, and the medial septum (MS). In contrast, QUIS-induced NBM lesions permanently reduced ChAT activity most pronounced in the frontal and parietal cortex up to 45%. Furthermore, QUIS induced a permanent loss of p75NGFr-immunoreactive neurons within the NBM and the DB without affecting the MS. These findings suggest that degenerating cholinergic neurons of the NBM and HDB do not spontaneously recover after lesioning and may require continuous neurotrophic support by NGF to ameliorate cholinergic hypofunctioning.
A case-control study of the factors associated with spontaneous resolution of hepatitis C viremia.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) becomes chronic in 85% of the infected individuals. We studied risk factors that may predict clearance of HCV. METHODS: A case-control study compared the association between risk factors and viral clearance. Viral clearance was defined as presence of a positive HCV antibody test plus negative HCV test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-four cases and 214 controls with persistent viremia were identified in a database of patients evaluated at the Gastroenterology Clinic of the University of New Mexico. RESULTS: Of all 258 HCV-antibody–positive patients, 17% had a negative test by PCR. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that a history of parenteral exposure and a long time interval since the most recent exposure were both associated with an increased likelihood of persistent viremia, whereas subjects who had been monogamous for longer time periods were more likely to have cleared HCV from their serum. A low serum level of ferritin also conferred protection against persistent viremia. Case and control subjects did not differ with respect to their demographic characteristics, occurrence of comorbid disease, previous medical history, occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, blood group, and risky health or sexual practices. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that route of exposure and time when exposure occurred are important in the development of persistent HCV infection.
Systemic therapy for colorectal cancer: focus on newer chemotherapy and novel agents.

Abstract Systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer is evolving rapidly after many years without significant change. Standard adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer, on the other hand, remains much the same as it has been since the early 1990s. Recent additions to the colorectal cancer armamentarium include capecitabine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. Use of these agents in metastatic colorectal cancer and potential for use in localized rectal cancer are discussed. In addition to these “classical” chemotherapeutic agents, there are a number of exciting therapies designed to target specific molecular features of malignant cells. These agents are now being tested in colorectal cancer in addition to chemotherapy and to radiotherapy, with the hope that improvements in outcome will be made without substantial increases in treatment toxicity. The focus of the section on newer classes of agents will be on agents that are in phase II and III trials, with brief mention of other exciting treatment strategies.
Rippling Is a Predatory Behavior in Myxococcus xanthus

Cells of Myxococcus xanthus will, at times, organize their movement such that macroscopic traveling waves, termed ripples, are formed as groups of cells glide together on a solid surface. The reason for this behavior has long been a mystery, but we demonstrate here that rippling is a feeding behavior which occurs when M. xanthus cells make direct contact with either prey or large macromolecules. Rippling has been observed during two fundamentally distinct environmental conditions: (i) starvation-induced fruiting body development and (ii) predation of other organisms. Our results indicate that case (i) does not occur in all wild-type strains and is dependent on the intrinsic level of autolysis. Analysis of predatory rippling indicates that rippling behavior is inducible during predation on proteobacteria, gram-positive bacteria, yeast (such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and phage. Predatory efficiency decreases under genetic and physiological conditions in which rippling is inhibited. Rippling will also occur in the presence of purified macromolecules such as peptidoglycan, protein, and nucleic acid but does not occur in the presence of the respective monomeric components and also does not occur when the macromolecules are physically separated from M. xanthus cells. We conclude that rippling behavior is a mechanism utilized to efficiently consume nondiffusing growth substrates and that developmental rippling is a result of scavenging lysed cell debris.
Influence of quinoline soluble component on the sintering behavior of ground raw coke

Abstract An attempt was made to clarify, from the viewpoint of the behavior of the quinoline soluble component, the reason for the promotion of the sinterability of raw coke powder caused by long grinding. Raw coke powder manufactured at 460°C was ground for 44 hr by an automatic mortar. The ground powder was then treated with quinoline to remove the soluble component. Two powders, as-ground and quinoline-treated, were compressed into cylindrical compacts 20 mm in dia., and then heat-treated up to 2800°C. Three points were clarified; 1. (1) the amount of the quinoline soluble component was not increased by grinding; 2. (2) in ground raw coke powder compact, the quinoline soluble component existed as a boundary phase, and transformed into a porous carbon phase by successive heat-treatment; 3. (3) the ground raw coke powder treated with quinoline showed relatively better sinterability at elevated temperatures, that is, the quinoline soluble component in ground raw coke hindered the sintering.
Physical activity, glycemic control, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A national sample

To determine if physical activity and/or blood glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) are associated with the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in a representative population of diabetics. Three hundred thirty-nine diabetic participants (40-85 yrs) taking part in 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were studied. Participants were defined as having peripheral neuropathy if examination determined ≥1 insensate area in either foot. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was objectively-measured using accelerometry. After adjustments, MVPA was not significantly associated with PN (OR=1.16; 95% CI: 0.48-2.78), nor was HbA1c (OR=0.55; 95% CI: 0.28-1.04). However, there was evidence of statistical interaction (OR=0.24; 95% CI: 0.06-0.87) between MVPA and HbA1c status, showing that diabetics engaging in higher levels of MVPA and having normal HgbA1c levels were less likely to have PN than what would be expected based on the individual effects of MVPA and HbA1c alone. Although MVPA was not directly associated with PN, these findings suggest that proper physical activity, coupled with good glycemic control, is associated with less neuropathy. Future longitudinal studies are required to evaluate whether physical activity and improved glycemic control may help prevent or slow the progression of diabetic end-organ damage, particularly diabetic neuropathy.
Smectite interactions with riboflavin

Smectite with polyvalent cations on the exchange complex readily absorbed riboflavin from aqueous solution to a limit of about 0.5 mmole/g. The shape of the adsorption isotherms was of the Langmuir type. An exception was Na+-smectite which provided an S-shaped isotherm and smaller amounts of adsorption. Ca2+-vermiculite had no interlamellar adsorption of riboflavin, suggesting that this mineral does not swell sufficiently to permit such adsorption. Adsorption isotherms, X-ray powder diffraction data, and UV-visible spectroscopic data suggest that the mechanisms of interaction between smectite and riboflavin may involve a combination of ion-dipole, charge transfer, hydrogen bonding, and physical effects.
Minimum cross-entropy spectral analysis

The principle of minimum cross-entropy (minimum directed divergence, minimum discrimination information, minimum relative entropy) is summarized, discussed, and applied to the classical problem of estimating power spectra given values of the autocorrelation function. This new method differs from previous methods in its explicit inclusion of a prior estimate of the power spectrum, and it reduces to maximum entropy spectral analysis as a special case. The prior estimate can be viewed as a means of shaping the spectral estimator. Cross-entropy minimization yields a family of shaped spectral estimators consistent with known autocorrelations. Results are derived in two equivalent ways: once by minimizing the cross-entropy of underlying probability densities, and once by arguments concerning the cross-entropy between the input and output of linear filters. Several example minimum cross-entropy spectra are included.