cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Limited proteolysis of the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) on HeLa cells exposed to trypsin

Trypsin treatment of HeLa cells results in a limited proteolysis of the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) after which the cleaved CAR remains cell-associated and tryptic peptides remain associated through disulfide bonds. Trypsin-treated HeLa cells remain susceptible to infection with coxsackievirus B and produce progeny virus at 8 h post-infection in amounts comparable to cells with intact CAR. HeLa cells remove the proteolysed CAR within 15 h and require over 24 h to restore intact CAR to control levels. As turnover is relatively slow, physiological functions that require intact CAR protein may be compromised for more than 24 h following trypsin treatment. Moreover, since removal of proteolysed CAR proceeds at more than twice the replacement rate, trypsin treatment disrupts the receptor-per-cell steady state for at least 24 h.
An introspective view of penicillinase.

Based both on a review of the literature dealing with penicillinase induction as well as published data from this laboratory, the thesis is presented that penicillinase serves an important metabolic function in producing cells, far more significant than the ability to hydrolyze certain penicillins. An attempt is made to implicate the enzyme in the sporulation process in sporeforming cells and in cell wall metabolism in non-spore-forming organisms.
Use of pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis and risk of infection, by chemotherapy cycle and regimen, among patients with breast cancer or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Purpose This study aims to examine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis by cancer type, chemotherapy regimen, and cycle in a real-world setting to assess if practice conforms to clinical guidelines, which recommend G-CSF prophylaxis every cycle when a patient’s risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) is 20 % or greater, and to describe the incidence of FN among patients who discontinue pegfilgrastim (peg) prophylaxis.
Sex Chromatin in Newborns: Presumptive Evidence for External Factors in Human Nondisjunction

An incidence of 0.6 percent of sex-chromosome aberrations in newborns was found during a 5-month period, while no aberrations occurred in similar populations before and after this period. Down's syndrome also exhibited an elevated frequency during this same critical interval. A severe rubella epidemic may have influenced this pattern.
Contrast in Variable Flip Angle Fast MR Imaging

Signal intensity in magnetic resonance imaging is described by the solution to the Bloch Equations. Image behavior has been calculated for the variable angle gradient refocusing and conventional spin echo techniques. It was found that by proper manipulation of the excitation angle (and echo time in spin echo sequences) that the imaging time can be reduced up to twenty-fold for the gradient refocusing technique and four-fold for conventional spin echo imaging. The contrast obtained is comparable to that acquired in conventional MRI. Imaging experiments performed on phantoms and human heads are in good agreement with theoretical results.
Safety of contrast agent use during stress echocardiography in patients with elevated right ventricular systolic pressure: a cohort study.

Background— Microbubble safety concerns led to changes in product recommendations for patients with pulmonary hypertension. Noninvasive estimation of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) is equivalent to pulmonary artery systolic pressure in the absence of pulmonary outflow obstruction. We analyzed the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who received microbubble contrast and those who did not during stress echocardiography (SE) according to resting RVSP. Methods and Results— From November 2003 to December 2007, 26 774 patients underwent SE. RVSP (mean, 32.6±9.6 mm Hg) was measured in 16 434 patients. Of these, 6164 (37.5%) received contrast for left ventricular opacification and 10 270 (62.5%) did not. Short-term (≤72 hours and ≤30 days) and long-term (4.3 years) end points were death and myocardial infarction. Analysis was done for rest RVSP cut-points ≥35, ≥50, and ≥60 mm Hg and tricuspid regurgitant velocities ≥2.7 ms−1 and ≥3.5 ms−1. Adjusted Cox regression models were used. The contrast cohort comprised older patients (age, 67±12 versus 64±14 years; P <0.001), who were more likely to have positive SE results (35% versus 30%, P <0.001) compared with the noncontrast cohort. Using RVSP ≥50 mm Hg, there was no significant difference in short-term events between the contrast and noncontrast cohorts. For long-term events, there was no significant difference between both cohorts (adjusted hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals] for death, 1.10 [0.80 to 1.50], P =0.56; and myocardial infarction, 0.34 [0.11 to 1.03], P =0.06). Similar results were obtained at different RVSP and tricuspid regurgitant cut-points. Contrast agent–related adverse effects occurred in <1% of patients. Conclusion— RVSP had no impact on predisposition to adverse outcomes in patients undergoing contrast SE in the population studied. Received July 17, 2009; accepted February 23, 2010. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}
A GTPase-accelerating factor for transducin, distinct from its effector cGMP phosphodiesterase, in rod outer segment membranes

Hydrolysis of GTP by the photoreceptor G protein transducin (Gt alpha) was found to occur with kinetics identical to the inactivation of its effector cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE), but was too slow (tens of seconds) in dilute rod outer segment (ROS) suspensions to account for subsecond recovery of the light response. Raising the concentration of ROS membranes increased the rates of GTP hydrolysis and PDE inactivation in parallel as much as 6-fold. Holo-PDE and its gamma subunit had weak effects on GTPase kinetics (< 1.6-fold and < 1.3-fold, respectively). ROS membranes stripped of PDE retained approximately 90% of a GTPase accelerating activity that was protease sensitive, indicating that they contain a GTPase-accelerating factor distinct from PDE.
Economic development, income inequality and Kuznets' U-shaped hypothesis

Abstract This paper re-examines Kuznets' U-shaped hypothesis, which postulates that income inequality first increases and then decreases during the development process. Utilizing a much larger and more up-to-date data sample than heretofore used, we find strong support for the U-shaped hypothesis for all but the bottom 20 percentile of the population. Our results, thus, differ from those of other researchers and introduce a new interesting dimension to the dynamics of income inequality during the development process. We also answer some of the criticisms leveled against this type of empirical analysis.
Normal and anomalous scaling in a problem of a passively advected magnetic field.

Recently M. Vergassola [Phys. Rev. E 53, R3021 (1996)] considered the possibility of anomalous scaling in the three-dimensional dynamo problem. It has been shown that the two-point correlation function of magnetic field, advected by a white-in-time random velocity field with zero helicity has anomalous inertial-range scaling exponent in a statistically steady state. In this work we demonstrate that for the same problem the scaling of covariance of magnetic helicity is normal. The difference in scalings comes from the fact that unlike magnetic energy magnetic helicity in this problem is conserved. It is also conjectured that even small violation of parity invariance of the velocity field makes existence of the steady-state solution impossible.
Immune thrombocytopenia following actinomycin-Dtherapy

newborn and adults by high performance liquid chromatography: In: Frigeri0 A, ed: Chromatography in biochemistry, medicine and environmental research. Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publications, 1983; pp 235-247. 3. Dubowitz LMS, Dubowitz V, Goldberg C: Clinical assessment of gestational age in the newborn infant. J PEDIATR 1970;77:1 4. Lubchenco LO, Hansman C, Boyd E: Intrauterine growth in length and head circumference as estimated from live birth and gestational age from 26 to 42 weeks. Pediatrics 1966;37:403 5. Souller JP, Larrieu M: Etude analytique des temps de Quick allong6s: dosage de la prothrombine, de la proconvertine et de la proacc616rine. Sang 1952;23:549 6. Van Doorm JM, Hemker HC: Vitamin K deficiency in the newborn infant [letter]. Lancet 1977;2:708 7. Shearer M J, Rahim S, Barkhan P, Stimmler L: Plasma vitamin KI in mothers and their newborn babies. Lancet 1982;2:460 8. Lefevere MF, De Leenheer AP, Claeys AE: High performance liquid chromatography assay of vitamin K in human serum. J Chromatogr 1979;186:749 9. Shearer M J, Burney MC, Barkhan P: Studies on absorption and metabolism of phylloquinone (vitamin KI) in man. Vitam Horm 1974;32:513 10. Sann L, Leclercq M, Frederich A, Bourgeois J, Bethenod M, Bourgeay-Causse M: Pharmacokinetics of vitamin KI in low birthweight infants. Dev Pharmacol Ther (accepted for publication) 11. Corrigan JJ Jr, Kryc J J: Factor Ii (pr0thrombin) levels in cord blood: correlation of coagulant activity with immunoreactive protein. J Pediatr 1980;97:979 12. Sann L, Leclercq M, Fouillit M, Chapuis MC, Bruy6re A: Gamma carboxyglutamic acid in urine of newborn infants. Clin Chem Acta 1984;142:31 13. Shirahata A, Najiri T, Takarapi, Horinchi T, Yamada K: Normotest screenings and proptiylactic oral administration for idiopathic vitamin K deficiency in infancy. Acta Haematol Jpn 1982;45:203 14. Yoshioka K, Kinoshita S, Takamiya O, Fujimura Y, Mimura Y: Abnormal antigens of factors I1, VII and IX in newborns and breast-fed infants with vitamin K deficiency. Acta Haematol Jpn 1982;45:860
Boceprevir: A recently approved protease inhibitor for hepatitis C virus infection

Purpose The pharmacologic properties, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of the first oral protease inhibitor approved for the treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 are reviewed. Summary Boceprevir, approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an adjunct to the standard regimen for HCV genotype 1 infection (peginterferon alfa and ribavirin), is available in 200–mg capsules, to be administered thrice daily at seven–to nine–hour intervals (total daily dose, 2400 mg). In two Phase III clinical trials involving a total of nearly 1500 previously untreated patients who were not sufficiently responsive to or had relapsed after standard therapy, the adjunctive use of boceprevir was associated with significantly higher rates of sustained virologic response and a shorter cumulative duration of treatment. Adverse effects occurring significantly more often in clinical trial participants receiving boceprevir relative to control groups included anemia (47% versus 20%), dysgeusia (35% versus 16%), and neutropenia (25% versus 19%); these were generally not treatment–limiting effects. Due to the potential for serious or potentially life–threatening adverse events, boceprevir use is contraindicated in patients receiving any of a wide range of drugs whose clearance is highly dependent on cytochrome P–450 (CYP) isoenzymes 3A4/5 (e.g., cisapride, lovastatin, midazolam, sildenafil); boceprevir is also contraindicated for patients receiving potent CYP3A4/5 inducers such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, and rifampin, whose concurrent use can diminish boceprevir's virologic activity. Close monitoring is critical to ensure patient adherence to triple–drug therapy and, more broadly, to reduce the risk of the development and transmission of resistant HCV strains. Conclusion Previously untreated patients with chronic HCV monoinfection, as well as patients who do not respond adequately to or relapse after standard dual therapy, may benefit from adjunctive boceprevir therapy. Careful selection and close monitoring of patients receiving boceprevir are essential to avoid drug–drug interactions, reduce adverse effects, and optimize treatment outcomes.
Using (im)perfect markets to catch criminals

Abstract We extend the use of rational choice models of criminal activity to examine the use of ‘sting’ operations. These operations are modeled as technological innovations in law enforcement that influence the probability of detection/conviction of criminal activities. We ask: do all sting operations have the same impact on the supply of criminal activity? We find that such impacts are sensitive to the type of sting used and the competitiveness of the criminal market in which the sting is used.
The general will beyond Rousseau: Sieyès’ theological arguments for the sovereignty of the Revolutionary National Assembly

Cultural history's recent treatments of Sieyes’ political theory have understood his political writings in their convergences with and divergences from Rousseau's political theory. By sketching a thoroughgoing analogy between the ecclesiological arguments in Malebranche's Entretiens sur la Metaphysique et sur la Religion (1688) and the arguments that Sieyes offers on the floor of the National Assembly concerning the nature of representation, I suggest that we should recontextualize Sieyes’ speeches vis-a-vis the broader discourse of the ‘general will,’ which was theological at its root. That is, the arguments Sieyes offers for the sovereignty of the National Assembly, separately and in combination, appear to have been shaped by a malebranchiste ecclesiology that grew out of the particular context of the Jansenist challenge to the Church. This argument has ramifications not just for our understanding of Sieyes and revolutionary political theory but also for what have been called the “religious origins of t...
Bayesian network analysis of computer science grade distributions

Time to completion is a major factor in determining the total cost of a college degree. In an effort to reduce the number of students taking more than four years to complete a degree, we propose the use of Bayesian networks to predict student grades, given past performance in prerequisite courses. This is an intuitive approach because the necessary structure of any Bayesian network must be a directed acyclic graph, which is also the case for prerequisite graphs. We demonstrate that building a Bayesian network directly from the prerequisite graph results in effective predictions, and demonstrate a few applications of the resulting network in areas of identifying struggling students and deciding upon which courses a department should allocate tutoring resources. We find that many of our observations agree with what has long been considered conventional wisdom in computer science education.
Utility of the MÖssbauer Effect in the Assessment of Chemical Transformations in Unsupported Catalyst Systems as a Function of the Metal Salt

This paper is presented to illustrate the utility of Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy in the physical and chemical characterization of metallic catalysts as a function of preparation and subsequent treatment. The particular example chosen for investigation is the Ru-Fe bimetallic salt system which has significant potential as an active Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. The interpretation of the resulting Mossbauer parameters provides information on the chemical state of the metals as a function of treatment and initial salt properties and allows certain deductions to be made about particle size and solid state properties.
Studies in the etiology of idiopathic orolingual paresthesias.

Studies in a comprehensive investigation of the etiology of idiopathic orolingual paresthesia included: extensive history, repeated oral examinations, physical examination, kodachrome photographs, intra-oral x-rays, blood chemistry,blood counts, Kline test, basal metabolic rate determination, nutrition study, psychiatric interview, 17-neutral kestosteroid determination,
Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with polyinosinic-polycytidylic lysine carboxymethylcellulose (poly(ICLC))

Eight patients with advanced ovarian cancer were treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic lysine carboxymethylcellulose (poly(ICLC]. Toxicity was substantial. No responses were seen in this small group of patients. Further clinical trials utilizing poly(ICLC) at the doses described in patients with advanced ovarian cancer do not appear to be warranted.
Oat cell carcinoma metastatic to ureter

A rare and perhaps unique case of oat cell carcinoma metastatic to the ureter is presented.
EHMT1 controls brown adipose cell fate and thermogenesis through the PRDM16 complex

Brown adipose tissue-enriched lysine methyltransferase EHMT1 is an essential enzyme in the PRDM16–C/EBP-β transcriptional complex that controls brown adipose cell fate and energy metabolism. Here it is shown that euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1), an enzyme found at increased levels in brown adipose tissue (BAT), is an essential component of the PRDM16 transcriptional complex that controls brown adipose cell fate. Loss of EHMT1 in brown adipocytes results in loss of brown fat characteristics and induces muscle differentiation in vivo through demethylation of histone 3 Lys 9 in the muscle-selective gene promoters. By contrast, EHMT1 expression switches on the thermogenic gene program in brown adipocytes by stabilizing the PRDM16 protein. Adipose-specific deletion of EHMT1 reduces BAT-mediated adaptive thermogenesis, and causes obesity and insulin resistance. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates chemical energy in the form of heat as a defence against hypothermia and obesity. Current evidence indicates that brown adipocytes arise from Myf5+ dermotomal precursors through the action of PR domain containing protein 16 (PRDM16) transcriptional complex1,2. However, the enzymatic component of the molecular switch that determines lineage specification of brown adipocytes remains unknown. Here we show that euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) is an essential BAT-enriched lysine methyltransferase in the PRDM16 transcriptional complex and controls brown adipose cell fate. Loss of EHMT1 in brown adipocytes causes a severe loss of brown fat characteristics and induces muscle differentiation in vivo through demethylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2 and 3) of the muscle-selective gene promoters. Conversely, EHMT1 expression positively regulates the BAT-selective thermogenic program by stabilizing the PRDM16 protein. Notably, adipose-specific deletion of EHMT1 leads to a marked reduction of BAT-mediated adaptive thermogenesis, obesity and systemic insulin resistance. These data indicate that EHMT1 is an essential enzymatic switch that controls brown adipose cell fate and energy homeostasis.
Serotonin-containing cells in the nervous system and other tissues during ontogeny of a lancelet, Branchiostoma floridae

Serotonin-containing cells are described by immunohistochemistry throughout lancelet ontogeny. Such cells are first detected in the 2-day larva: these are (1) enterochromaffin cells in the inner epithelium of the gut and (2) anterior serotonergic neurons at the rostral end of the nerve cord. In the 6-day larva, relatively low levels of serotonin appear in ventro-lateral perikarya and cell processes of intraspinal serotonergic neurons scattered along the nerve cord. In the 18-day (early metamorphic) larva, antero-lateral serotonergic neurons are detected near the rostral end of the nerve cord as two small, bilateral clusters of perikarya with axons that descend the nerve cord; at later developmental stages, these axons extend almost to the posterior end of the body. In the 21-day (mid-metamorphic) larva, serotonin can no longer be detected in the anterior serotonergic neurons, but serotonin-containing cells are found subjacent to the inner epithelium of the digestive caecum and in the peribranchial epithelium covering the primary gill bars. In the discussion, we suggest that the anterior serotonergic neurons may play a role in larval photoreception and that the antero-lateral serotonergic neurons may be homologous to vertebrate hindbrain neurons with axons descending the spinal cord to modulate undulation (if this homology is valid, the anterior limit of the lancelet hindbrain would be roughly 100 μm behind the rostral tip of the nerve cord).
Holographic recording properties in thick films of ULSH-500 photopolymer

The photopolymer holographic recording materials, ULSH-500, based upon cationic ring-opening polymerization, has been further optimized for recording in an increased film thickness of 200 micrometers . The dynamic range attained, at least M/# equals 16, is substantially greater than previously reported, while concurrently the inherent low transverse shrinkage and high sensitivity characteristics of the material have been retained. Dynamic range or cumulative grating strength, (Sigma) (eta) i0.5, has been determined from co-locationally recorded peristrophic and angle multiplexed plane-wave gratings which exhibit low diffraction efficiencies between about 0.1 and 0.2%. Good Bragg selectivity consistent with the imaged thickness and sinc2 function behavior is observed for the multiplexed holograms, and both the angular response and the diffraction efficiency are stable without the need for post-imaging fixing procedures. Sensitivity is in the range of 1 to 10 cm/mJ, and the refractive index modulation achievable during consumption of the accessible dynamic range is n1 equals 1.3 X 10-2 at the read wavelength of 514.5 nm.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Historic preservation, significance, and age value: A comparative phenomenology of historic Charleston and the nearby new-urbanist community of I'On

Abstract While the age of physical environments is the central tenet of historic preservation, there is a lack of empirical evidence about how everyday people actually value, perceive, and experience age as an intrinsic part of an urban environment. In order to ameliorate this knowledge deficit, this study employs phenomenology to understand the lived experience of being in a “new” versus an “old” or “historic” urban residential environment. The new environment is the I'On new urbanist development in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and the old environment is the location of the United States' first historic district in Charleston, South Carolina. These locations are approximately within five miles of each other. In both places, the physical characteristics of the built environment are remarkably similar in density, form, layout, and design, but the age is dramatically different. Through photo elicitation techniques and interviews, the results of this study reveal that residents of historic Charleston and I'On value their built environments in remarkably similar ways. Surprisingly, elements that evoke a strong sense of attachment tend to be landscape features, such as gates, fountains, trees, and gardens rather than buildings. The informants valued the “mystery” that they felt was part of the landscape and which consisted of layered elements such as fences, gates, and paths, such that these features (including buildings) had to be “discovered.” Lastly, the informants strongly valued landscapes that showed “people care” through regular maintenance. The essential difference in people's experience and valuation of the new environment (I'On) and the old environment (historic Charleston) is in the older environment's ability to instill creative fantasies in the minds of the informants based on a hypothetical past of their own creation. The informants in I'On did not share these kinds of meanings.
Optimal Design of Planar Frames Based on Stability Criterion

This paper suggests an optimization-based design methodology for improving the strength and overall stability of framed structures, the capacities of which are governed by inelastic limit-load behavior. The optimization objective function, comprising the dominant linearized buckling eigenvalue of the structure weighted by a frequency-dependent penalty function, is motivated by a simple model of nonlinear frame behavior. Designs are constrained to have constant weight. The method requires only the linearized buckling eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the structure, avoiding computationally intensive nonlinear structural analyses in the design cycle. An iterative optimality-criteria method is used to solve the optimization problem. Several examples are given to examine the performance of the procedure, both in terms of robustness of the numerical algorithm and the quality of the designs it produces. By way of example, it is shown that by improving the overall stability characteristics of a structure under static loading, the dynamic performance of the structure is often improved.
Testing effective string models of black holes with fixed scalars

We solve the problem of mixing between the fixed scalar and metric fluctuations. First, we derive the decoupled fixed scalar equation for the four-dimensional black hole with two different charges. We proceed to the five-dimensional black hole with different electric (one-brane) and magnetic (five-brane) charges, and derive two decoupled equations satisfied by appropriate mixtures of the original fixed scalar fields. The resulting greybody factors are proportional to those that follow from coupling to dimension (2,2) operators on the effective string. In general, however, the string action also contains couplings to chiral operators of dimension (1,3) and (3,1), which cause disagreements with the semiclassical absorption cross sections. Implications of this for the effective string models are discussed. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Regulation of Yellow Pigment Formation in Mice: A Historical Perspective

Pigment synthesis by hair follicle melanocytes is modulated by a large number of environmental and genetic factors, many of which are discussed in this review. Eumelanic (non-yellow) pigment is produced by hair follicle melanocytes following the binding of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone to melanocortin receptor 1. Binding of this hormone to the melanocyte membrane is blocked by agouti signaling protein (ASP) which is encoded by the agouti locus and results in the synthesis of yellow pigment, instead of non-yellow (black/brown) pigment. The cyclical release of ASP by hair follicle cells results in a black/brown hair with a subapical yellow band. This is the wild-type coat color pattern of many mammals and is called agouti. Several dominant mutations at the agouti locus in mice, induced by retrotransposon-like intracisternal A particles, result in ectopic over-expression of ASP and animals with much higher proportions of all-yellow hairs. This abnormal presence of ASP in essentially all body cells results in the 'yellow agouti obese mouse syndrome.' The obesity has been associated with binding of ASP to melanocortin receptor 4 inactivating the latter. The syndrome also includes hyperinsulinemia, increased somatic growth, and increased susceptibility to hyperplasia and carcinogenesis. The physiologic and molecular bases for these syndrome components have not yet been elucidated. This historically orientated review is subdivided, where applicable, into pre- and post-1992 subsections to emphasize the impact of the cloning of the agouti and extension loci and their protein products on the identification of the molecular and physiological pathways modulating the manifold aspects of pheomelanogenesis.
Validating TOEFL® iBT Speaking and Setting Score Requirements for ITA Screening

Although the primary use of the speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL® iBT Speaking) is to inform admissions decisions at English medium universities, it may also be useful as an initial screening measure for international teaching assistants (ITAs). This study provides criterion-related validity evidence for the TOEFL iBT Speaking as an instrument for ITA screening and evaluates the effectiveness of using the scores for teaching assistantship (TA) assignments. Three universities participated in this study. Local ITA screening tests were used as the criterion measures. Relationships between the TOEFL iBT Speaking and local ITA tests were explored. These relationships were moderately strong, supporting the use of the TOEFL iBT Speaking for ITA screenings. However, the strengths of the relationship between the TOEFL iBT Speaking and the local ITA tests were somewhat different across schools depending on the extent to which the local test engages and evaluat...
A Survey Estimate of Academic Liver Transplant Teams’ Selection Practices for Alcohol-Dependent Applicants

Alcoholism itself is not a contraindication to liver transplantation. However, certain individual alcoholic applicants may pose an unacceptably high psychosocial risk of poor outcome. Transplant psychiatrists or psychologists at 14 academic liver transplant centers were asked to estimate their centers' selection practices with regard to specific problems in the more difficult alcohol-dependent applicant and with regard to hypothetical problem cases. There was impressive variability in estimated selection practice between the centers. However, the centers consistently appeared to prefer to require rehabilitation or observation in difficult situations rather than to reject applicants outright. The results provide an initial estimate of current thinking and practice with regard to the more difficult alcoholic applicant and suggest directions for further study.
The practical management of Achilles tendinopathy.

The Achilles tendon, named after the legendary warrior and hero of Homer’s Iliad, is the strongest and thickest tendon in the human body. Despite this fact, Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury, particularly in runners and other athletes. Kujala et al showed a 10-fold increase in Achilles injuries in runners compared with age-matched controls. Another study reported the incidence of Achilles tendinopathy in top-level runners as 7% to 9%. The specific factors linking this injury with running include excessive mileage, sudden increase in training intensity, decrease in recovery time, change of running surface, and poor footwear. This injury also is common in athletes who compete in racquet sports, track and field, volleyball, and soccer. Other factors that have been associated with Achilles tendinopathy include various biomechanical deficits, older age, male gender, increased body weight and height, and fluoroquinolone exposure.
Evaluation of Shooting Distance by AFM and FTIR/ATR Analysis of GSR

The techniques of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR ⁄ ATR) spectroscopy are applied to the analysis of gun-shot residue (GSR) to test their ability to determine shooting distance and discrimination of the powder manufacturers. AFM is a nondestructive technique that is capable of characterizing the shapes and size distributions of GSR particles with resolution down to less than a nanometer. This may be useful for estimation of the shooting distance. Our AFM images of GSR show that the size distribution of the particles is inversely proportional to the shooting distance. Discrimination of powder manufacturers is tested by FTIR ⁄ ATR investi- gation of GSR. Identifying the specific compounds in the GSR by FTIR ⁄ ATR was not possible because it is a mixture of the debris of several com- pounds that compose the residue. However, it is shown that the GSR from different cartridges has characteristic FTIR ⁄ ATR bands that may be useful in differentiating the powder manufacturers. It appears promising that the development of AFM and FTIR ⁄ ATR databases for various powder manufacturers may be useful in analysis and identification of GSR.
Renormalization and Asymptotics

After a gentle introduction to the Stuckelberg–Petermann style (i.e. field-theoretical) renormalization group (RG) theory, its application to the study of asymptotic behaviors of differential equations is explained through simple examples. The essence of singular perturbation methods to study asymptotic behaviors of differential equations is to reduce it to equations governing long time scale behaviors (i.e. the so-called reductive perturbation). The RG approach gives the reduced equation as an RG equation (this is called the reductive renormalization group approach). Once the RG equation is written down, the asymptotic behavior can be obtained by solving it. The RG equation also facilitates the error analysis of the asymptotic solutions. A new approach via "proto-RG equation" explained in this article further simplifies the reductive use of RG. For example, to the lowest nontrivial order the approach does not require any explicit calculation of perturbative results.
Instabilities in micromechanical deformation

Abstract Thermodynamic and thermokinetic stability conditions are used to examine micromechanical deformation. Examples in serrated yielding, buckling, stick/slip in scratching and slow/fast in slitting are examined. Other instabilities such as negative diffusivity in spinodal decomposition and negative creep in amorphous metals are discussed.
The Open Void – Embodiment and Experience – In Film/Video/Numeric-Computer Art and Immersive Environments

In non-Western cultures including those of the African and Eastern continents, the relationship of the individual self to the cosmos and the progression of life is established through spiritual and ritual practice. In Western cultures, the relation of the individual self to society as well as the notion of truth is based on empirical forms of knowledge. The following reading will discuss current trends in New Media theory, including computer technologies in film/video, digital and analog and their relational influences to non-Western forms of thought.
Progesterone receptor membrane component-1 regulates the development and Cisplatin sensitivity of human ovarian tumors in athymic nude mice.

To determine whether progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) regulates the development and cisplatin (CDDP)-sensitivity of human ovarian tumors, PGRMC1 was depleted from a human ovarian cancer cell line, dsRed-SKOV-3 cells, using a short hairpin RNA knockdown approach. Compared with parental dsRed-SKOV-3 cells, the PGRMC1-deplete cells grew slower in vitro and did not show progesterone’s (P4) antiapoptotic effect. In fact, P4 induced apoptosis in PGRMC1-deplete cells in a dose-dependent manner. When transplanted into the peritoneum of athymic nude mice, parental dsRed-SKOV-3 cells developed numerous tumors, which were classified as either typical or oxyphilic clear cell tumors. CDDP increased the percentage of apoptotic nuclei in typical clear cell tumors and P4 attenuated CDDP-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the percentage of apoptotic nuclei in oxyphilic clear cell tumors was low (≤1%) and was not significantly affected by CDDP and/or P4. Compared with tumors derived from parental dsRed SKOV...
Development of a health care utilisation data-based index for rheumatoid arthritis severity: a preliminary study

Health care utilisation ('claims') databases contain information about millions of patients and are an important source of information for a variety of study types. However, they typically do not contain information about disease severity. The goal of the present study was to develop a health care claims index for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) severity using a previously developed medical records-based index for RA severity (RA medical records-based index of severity [RARBIS]). The study population consisted of 120 patients from the Veteran's Administration (VA) Health System. We previously demonstrated the construct validity of the RARBIS and established its convergent validity with the Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Potential claims-based indicators were entered into a linear regression model as independent variables and the RARBIS as the dependent variable. The claims-based index for RA severity (CIRAS) was created using the coefficients from models with the highest coefficient of determination (R2) values selected by automated modelling procedures. To compare our claims-based index with our medical records-based index, we examined the correlation between the CIRAS and the RARBIS using Spearman non-parametric tests. The forward selection models yielded the highest model R2 for both the RARBIS with medications (R2 = 0.31) and the RARBIS without medications (R2 = 0.26). Components of the CIRAS included tests for inflammatory markers, number of chemistry panels and platelet counts ordered, rheumatoid factor, the number of rehabilitation and rheumatology visits, and Felty's syndrome diagnosis. The CIRAS demonstrated moderate correlations with the RARBIS with medication and the RARBIS without medication sub-scales. We developed the CIRAS that showed moderate correlations with a previously validated records-based index of severity. The CIRAS may serve as a potentially important tool in adjusting for RA severity in pharmacoepidemiology studies of RA treatment and complications using health care utilisation data.
Personality correlates of complexity-simplicity.

To test inferences derived from previous research in personality and creativity, 61 undergraduates were given a variety of personality measures and a group of 28 Ss were exposed to an authoritarian speech to see whether the speech would increase their liking of hostile humor. Although the authoritarian speech did not influence humor preferences, the personality correlates of complexity-simplicity preferences were consistent with research by Barron (1963) and others. Number of points on the polygons correlated .90 with subjective ratings of complexity by males and .92 with subjective ratings of complexity by females. Implications are discussed, including whether or not symmetry may be equated with simplicity and asymmetry with complexity.
An Experimentally Verified Model of a Membrane Mirror Strip Actuated Using a Piezoelectric Bimorph

The behavior of a membrane mirror strip actuated using a piezoelectric bimorph is treated. An improved model for the transverse vibration is presented. The model accounts for the changes in physical properties of the membrane strip at the location of the piezoelectric bimorph. The membrane strip is modeled as a pinned-pinned beam under tension and the finite element method (FEM) is used to represent the system mathematically. The beam under tension assumption allows accounting for the traveling wave effect experienced by a membrane strip and the added flexural rigidity induced by the piezoelectric bimorph. Additionally, the structural and air damping effects are included in the model. An experimental setup is built to verify the proposed model. The frequency response obtained from the proposed model is shown to be in agreement with conducted experiments. Furthermore, the importance of including local mass and stiffness effects is demonstrated
Norwegian Immigrants Respond to the Common School: A Case Study of American Values and the Lutheran Tradition

In his book, A Chrzstlan America: Protestant Hopes and Historical Realities, Robert T. Handy stresses "the important role that the idea of civilization has played in the evangelical Protestant denominations that together made up the dominant religious subculture of nineteeth-century America." Handy contends that the English-speaking evangelical Protestant denominations-he includes the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Disciples of Christ, United Brethren, and the evangelical wing in the Protestant Episcopal Church-thought of themselves as making up the "religious mainstream of the nation" and were motivated by the vision of a Christian America. They saw it as their task to work for the creation of a nation based on Christian principles, and they sought to utilize a number of institutions, voluntary organizations, and techniques to achieve that goal.1 One such institution was the public school. The nineteenth century was a time of important developments in the American public school system, and evangelical Protestant leaders saw the public schools "as part of the strategy for a Christian America." To be sure, these schools were not controlled by a particular denomination, but that was not essential, for, in Handy's words, "their role was to prepare young Americans for participation in the broadly Christian civilization toward which all evangelicals were working." And so these leaders "saw no reason why the schools should not continue to be the bearers of Christian civilization, unofficially, of course, but effectively."2 Handy's account provides a perceptive and useful description of that facet of the prevailing cultural values in nineteenth-century America. But that century was also a period of mass migration that brought millions of persons to the New World, many of whom did not speak English and did not belong to these mainstream denominations. Did those immigrants share the vision of utilizing the public schools to Christianize America? Did they also regard
Research Note: Effect of Carcass Size and Sodium Pyrophosphate on Moisture Absorption and Retention by Marinated Broiler Halves

Abstract The influences of carcass size and sodium pyrophosphate (PP) were observed on moisture absorption and retention after marination, a freeze-thaw cycle, and cooking. Carcass size did not significantly affect the percentage of moisture absorbed during marination or drip losses in the freeze-thaw cycle. Heavy carcasses had lower cooking losses than light carcasses; these losses were reduced and made equal by PP. The data indicate that large and small carcasses respond similarly to PP but that for cooking loss, the change is slightly greater in larger than in smaller carcasses.
Hiding the Evidence of Valid Theories: How Coupled Search Processes Obscure Performance Differences among Organizations

Theorists argue that an organization's high-level choices, such as its organizational design or the attributes of its top management team, should influence its performance, yet empirical researcher...
Investigation of spatial resolution and efficiency using pinholes with small pinhole angle

Pinhole collimators are well suited for small animal SPECT, in which high spatial resolution is required over a small field of view (FOV). Typical pinhole collimators have pinhole angles of 90/spl deg/ or more. If their full FOV is used, the trajectories of imaged gamma rays can be more than 45/spl deg/ away from the pinhole axis, and form angles of incidence at the surface of a planar detector greater than 45/spl deg/. The large incident angle produces a depth-of-interaction (DOI) blur thus reducing spatial resolution for these off-axis locations. This loss of resolution is masked by the accompanying improvement of the pinhole point spread function (PSF) due to the reduced effective aperture size. The magnitude of these effects as a function of the angle between the gamma ray trajectory and the pinhole axis depends on detector absorption efficiency, and on the physical parameters of the pinhole collimator, including pinhole type, composition, and size pinhole angle. In addition, the reduced effective pinhole results in reduced efficiency for off-axis source points. In this paper we investigate the angular dependence of these effects for pinhole collimators with different compositions and pinhole angles. Results are compared to theoretical expressions that take into account gamma ray penetration of the pinhole material.
Employee Retention in Growth-Oriented Entrepreneurial Firms: An Exploratory Study

This study uses a sample of 47 high-growth small firms to examine the understudied topic of employee retention. We found that firms reporting very low annual voluntary turnover (0-2%) rates engaged in creating a positive work environment, provided employees more freedom and flexibility, offered ample employee involvement and opportunities for growth; were clear about the processes associated with compensation and benefits, and frequently communicated with and provided assistance to their employees. Firms reporting turnover higher than 10% for the past year described their retention practices in much diminished frequency and richness along these same dimensions. Given that these firms were all part of a pool of 77 high growth small companies (over $1 million annual revenue, less than 12 years old and compound annual growth greater than 15%), retention of intellectual capital would be a prime issue. Industry differences among the companies are explored and theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Nocturnal Monitoring in the Evaluation of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) counterbalances forces leading to upper airway narrowing or collapse during sleep and is the most widely used treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In patients with OSA, progressively higher CPAP levels applied during sleep turn obstructive apneas into hypopneas, hypopneas into continuous inspiratory flow limitation, with or without snoring, and flow limitation into unobstructed breathing. When breathing becomes unobstructed, “respiratory arousals” (i.e., arousals that may follow increased inspiratory efforts associated with obstructed breathing) are eliminated, while sleep becomes more stable and sleep cycles more regular, contributing to improvements in subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life usually observed after just a few nights of CPAP application [1]. Also, relief of upper airway obstruction is associated with resolution of intermittent hypoxemia and hemodynamic swings that accompany obstructive events, with a consequent reduction in long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [2].
Rashba versus Kohn-Luttinger: Evolution of p -wave superconductivity in magnetized two-dimensional Fermi gases subject to spin-orbit interactions

We study how the Rashba spin-orbit interaction influences unconventional superconductivity in a two-dimensional electron gas partially spin polarized by a magnetic field. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that for all field orientations, only the larger Fermi surface is superconducting. When the magnetic field is oriented out of plane, the system realizes a topological $p+ip$ pairing state. When the field is rotated in plane, the order parameter develops nodes along the field direction and finite center-of-mass-momentum pairing is realized. We demonstrate that the pairing symmetry of the system can be easily probed experimentally due to the dependence of various thermodynamic quantities on the magnetic field geometry, and calculate the electronic specific heat as an example.