cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategies to meet the needs of the rural poor

Demographic, geographic, and economic forces have influenced the treatment and supportive care of patients with cancer and their families who reside in rural areas. The trends that limit access to cancer care include an aging population, lower income, less comprehensive insurance coverage, ill-equipped and poorly staffed health care facilities, and geographic isolation from health care services. It is important to develop strategies that can be used to overcome the barriers to rural cancer care.
Multiplanar variations in the structural characteristics of cancellous bone

Abstract A quantitative serial sectioning technique and a video-imaging procedure were used to obtain precise (20-μm voxels, in a 5 mm × 6 mm × 7 mm test volume) digital images of lumbar vertebral cancellous bone specimens. Conventional stereological image analyses were performed on this data to determine multiplanar (bulk) and surface planar variations in cancellous structural properties. Based upon an error analysis of subgroups of the complete serial planar images, our findings suggest that, for a plane resolution of 20 μm, sectioning at an increment ⩽100 μm along an axis is necessary to obtain accurate data of bulk structural properties of cancellous bone. Planar structural variations obtained from the serial sections of cancellous bone revealed a high degree of complexity and heterogeneity of the bone architecture. Bone area centers deviated from the section centroid and showed a helical variation along the primary or superior-inferior loading axis of samples. In comparison with the base planes (perpendicular to the superior-inferior axis), the lateral planes (parallel to the superior-inferior axis) of spine samples showed smaller mean values of structural indices and a more oriented structure. This structural anisotropy may be related to the functional mechanical anisotropy of the samples.
Direct determination of the T matrix from a MoM impedance matrix generated with the Rao-Wilton-Glisson basis function

We present an explicit and numerically exact method for determining the T matrix of an arbitrarily shaped PEC object directly from a MoM impedance matrix that is generated using the Rao-Wilton-Glisson basis function for use in multiple-scattering calculations.
915-82 Contribution of Nitric Oxide to Post-Ischemic Hyperemia: The Consequences of Endothelial Dysfunction

Post-ischemic vasodilation during reactive hyperemia is believed to be primarily due to accumulation of ischemic metabolites. To investigate the contribution of nitric oxide (NO) release from vascular endothelium to reactive hyperemia in humans, we studied the effect of inhibition of NO synthesis using L-NGmonomethyl arginine (L-NMMA) in 40 pts, 22 with, and 18 without coronary artery disease. Endothelium-dependent and independent dilation, before and after L-NMMA, was measured in the femoral circulation with intra-arterial acetylcholine (ACH) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively. Three and 5 minutes periods of ischemia were produced by cuff inflation over the thigh and peak hyperemic responses were measured. Femoral vascular resistance was derived from continuous Doppler flow velocity and blood pressure measurements. Results %Increase in Vascular Resistance with L-NMMA Baseline ACH SNP 3’lschemia 5’lschemia 40 ± 24 ** 57 ± 51 ** 10 ± 4 24 ± 29 ** 17 ± 19 * mean ± SO * p l 0.01 ** p l 0.001 L-NMMA produced a significant increase in vascular resistance at rest, after ACH, and after 3 and 5 minute periods of ischemia and hyperemia, but did not affect endothelium-independent dilation with SNP. Pts with greater inhibition of ACH-induced dilation with L-NMMA also had a greater inhibition of reactive hyperemia with L-NMMA (r = 0.47, P l 0.001). Conclusions 1) NO release contributes to microvascular vasodilation in response to ischemia, and 2) endothelial dysfunction resulting in reduced release of NO in response to ACH correlates with diminished vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia. These findings suggest that the contribution of NO to vasodilation in response to metabolic stress is attenuated in pts with endothelial dysfunction and imply that endothelial dysfunction in the coronary vasculature may, by limiting vasodilation during stress, also accentuate myocardial ischemia.
First passage time of nonlinear ship rolling in narrow band non-stationary random seas

The generalized extended stochastic central difference (GESCD) method is applied to study the response statistics and first passage time of nonlinear ship rolling in narrow band stationary and non-stationary random seas. The GESCD method is based on a combination of the extended stochastic central difference method with a statistical linearization technique, modified adaptive time scheme, and time coordinate transformation. The extended stochastic central difference method is, however, an extension of the stochastic central difference method for the determination of the recursive mean square or covariance of responses of systems under narrow band stationary and non-stationary random disturbances. Approximate first passage probabilities of nonlinear systems based on the modified mean rate of various crossings proposed earlier by the first author were determined. It is concluded that the GESCD method is very accurate, simple and efficient to apply compared with Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed method is applicable to cases with large nonlinearities and intensive random excitations. The approximate first passage probabilities of the nonlinear system determined by the proposed approach are very accurate as they are in excellent agreement with those evaluated by the Monte Carlo simulation. It is believed that the model considered in this paper is a closer representation to reality than those reported earlier in the literature.
High surface area, supported precious metal cathodes utilizing metal microfibrous collectors for application in chlor-alkali cells

Activated cathodes were prepared from papermaking techniques for use in a membrane type chlor-alkali cell. These cathodes consisted of a nickel fiber matrix, which entrapped a platinum electrocatalyst supported on activated carbon fiber. Following optimizations of the void volume, thickness, catalyst loading, carbon support, and substrate–support ratio, these cathodes performed at an overpotential of only 58 mV @ 3 kA m−2 in a cell containing 30 wt% NaOH at 80 °C. In addition to I/V performance, cathodes were characterized for catalyst dispersion and support surface area. When testing was discontinued, activated cathodes had demonstrated stability for greater than 60 days in a custom cell designed for continuous, steady-state operation.
Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients

Statin-associated myalgias represent a significant health concern as they often limit the ability of patients to receive the mortality benefits associated with statin therapy. Randomized controlled trials show rates of statin-associated myalgias ranging between 1% and 5%, with some rates as high as 15%, although not significantly different from placebo-treated patients [1, 2]. Although not often associated with creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level elevations or progression to rhabdomyolysis, the symptoms can be disconcerting to patients and are a frequent cause of statin discontinuation. A variety of strategies have been attempted to manage this challenge, including decreasing the statin dose, trying alternative statins or other lipid-lowering agents, and intensifying therapeutic lifestyle changes [3]. An additional tool used by many patients and physicians has been red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus). The mechanism of action is not completely understood, although the active agent is thought to be monacolin K, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor produced as the pharmaceutical lovastatin. However, red yeast rice also contains other monacolins that may have similar or different effects, making red yeast rice not a “true” statin medication. Thus far, widespread use of red yeast has been limited by the variety of preparations (as it is a dietary supplement rather than a pharmaceutical) and the relative paucity of data on its safety and efficacy relative to statin drugs. Many clinicians do use red yeast rice as an alternative for their statinintolerant patients; however, no randomized controlled trial has examined using red yeast rice to treat patients with statin-associated myalgias.
Children with Atopic Dermatitis Do Not Have More Anxiety or Different Cortisol Levels Compared with Normal Children

Antecedents: L'axe hypothalamo-hypophyso-surrenalien joue un role immunoregulateur important dans les situations de stress, et l'anxiete due au stress semble associee a une alteration des fonctions immunitaires ainsi qu'a une baisse des niveaux de cortisol chez les patients souffrant de dermatite atopique (DA). Objectif: Nous avons explore les niveaux de cortisol basal dans le serum et evalue le degre d'anxiete chez des patients pediatriques atteints de DA avant de comparer les resultats a ceux d'un groupe de controle. Methodes: Les niveaux de cortisol basal dans le serum etaient mesures chez 36 patients pediatriques atteints de DA (âges de 9 a 16 ans) et chez 36 personnes (âgees de 9 a 15 ans) representant le groupe de controle. L'anxiete a ete mesuree au moyen de la sous-echelle d'anxiete reactionnelle (TAI-C) du State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. La gravite de la DA a ete evaluee objectivement au moyen de l'indice de severite (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis [SCORAD]). Resultats: L'analyse des donnees a revele des differences statistiques dans les mesures du cortisol basal (p = ,383) et du TAI-C (p = ,730) entre les deux groupes. Aucune correlation significative n'a ete trouvee entre les valeurs du cortisol basal et les resultats du TAI-C dans le groupe DA (p = ,290). Une correlation a ete etablie entre l'indice SCORAD et les resultats du TAI-C (p < ,05), mais aucune correlation avec le niveau du cortisol basal dans le serum chez les patients atteints de DA (p = ,06). Conclusion: Les enfants atteints de DA ne presentent pas des niveaux d'anxiete ou des taux de cortisol differents que les autres enfants; toutefois, la symptomatologie grave de la DA peut elle-meme causer une hausse des niveaux d'anxiete chez les enfants atteints.
Wireless Capsule Motility: Comparison of the SmartPill ® GI Monitoring System with Scintigraphy for Measuring Whole Gut Transit

Introduction Assessment of whole gut transit, by radio-opaque markers or scintigraphy, is used to evaluate patients with constipation for slow gastrointestinal transit. Wireless capsule motility, using the SmartPill® GI monitoring system, samples and transmits intraluminal pH, pressure, and temperature data from a capsule at regular intervals as it traverses through the gastrointestinal tract; from these, gastric emptying and whole gastrointestinal tract transit can be assessed. The objective of this study was to compare the SmartPill® with whole gut transit scintigraphy to determine whether the SmartPill system could serve as a test for measurement of whole gut motility and transit.
The addition of decision support into computerized physician order entry reduces red blood cell transfusion resource utilization in the intensive care unit.

Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) has the potential for cost containment in critically ill patients through practice standardization and elimination of unnecessary interventions. Previous study demonstrated the beneficial short-term effect of adding a decision support for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion into the hospital CPOE. We evaluated the effect of such intervention on RBC resource utilization during the two-year study period. From the institutional APACHE III database we identified 2,200 patients with anemia, but no active bleeding on admission: 1,100 during a year before and 1,100 during a year after the intervention. The mean number of RBC transfusions per patient decreased from 1.5 ± 1.9 units to 1.3 ± 1.8 units after the intervention (P ¼ 0.045). RBC transfusion cost decreased from $616,442 to $556,226 after the intervention. Hospital length of stay and adjusted hospital mortality did not differ before and after protocol implementation. In conclusion, the implementation of an evidenced-based decision support system through a CPOE can decrease RBC transfusion resource utilization in critically ill patients. Am. J. Hematol. 82:631–633, 2007. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Elastic Energy Minimization and the Recoverable Strains of Polycrystalline Shape‐Memory Materials

Shape‐memory behavior is the ability of certain materials to recover, on heating, apparently plastic deformation sustained below a critical temperature. Some materials have good shape‐memory behavior as single crystals but little or none as polycrystals, while others have good shape‐memory behavior even as polycrystals. We propose a method for explaining the difference.
Potency of the N3im-methyl analog of TRH in the induction of shaking movements in the rat

Abstract The relative potencies of TRH analogs in provoking a shaking response in rats were determined. Bilateral administration of 0.011–2.0 μg TRH analog into the periaqueductal-fourth ventricular spaces of the barbiturate-anesthetized rat showed that N3im-methyl TRH was approximately 10X more potent than TRH, wherease N1im-methyl TRH was approximately 10X less potent than TRH. These results indicate that the potencies of the TRH analogs in inducing shaking parallel their thyrotropin-releasing activities.
Conductivity detection of polymerase chain reaction products separated by micro-reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Abstract In this paper, we describe the application of micro-reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (μ-RP-HPLC) for the separation and/or purification of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products with detection accomplished using a miniaturized conductivity detector. The conductivity detector used two Pt wires and a bipolar waveform applied to the electrode pair from which the conductivity of the bulk solution could be measured. In the mobile phase used for the μ-RP-HPLC separation of the PCR product, the mass detection limit for herring sperm DNA using conductivity was found to be 11 ng. Efficient separation of the PCR amplicon from the other reagents present in the PCR cocktail was achieved in less than 4 min with a capacity factor of 2.5 and separation efficiency of 9.1·103 plates. The separation was carried out using reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography with a triethylammonium acetate ion-pairing agent.
ECHINOSTOME-INDUCED MORTALITY VARIES ACROSS AMPHIBIAN SPECIES IN THE FIELD

Echinostomes are receiving increased attention because of their emerging parasite status in landscapes associated with human development and their ability to infect and kill many North American larval amphibians. While laboratory experiments have shown that echinostomes can cause extensive mortality in their amphibian hosts, their effect on tadpoles in the field is less clear. I conducted a controlled-infection field-enclosure experiment in 4 ponds to compare the effects of echinostomes on green frog (Rana clamitans) and gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) tadpoles in the field. I measured tadpole growth, development, mortality, and infection intensity. Echinostome infection resulted in high mortality in green frog tadpoles and less mortality in gray tree frogs. However, metacercariae encystment rates were higher in gray tree frog tadpoles than in green frog tadpoles. The effect of echinostomes on mortality varies across amphibian species, with the result that some species may experience more extensive echinostome-induced mortality than others. Mortality as a result of echinostome infection in green frog tadpoles was similar to mortality observed in predation experiments.
Bringing Students Into a Discipline: Reflections on a Travel Study

This commentary describes a two-week domestic travel study course for undergraduate sociology students designed to introduce students to the practice of social research and to the larger discipline of sociology. We arranged activities, presentations, and experiences in Chicago and Washington, DC. In this article, we outline the relevant parts of our travel study program and highlight benefits of our travel study program for students and for our major program.
Solid modeling as a tool for constructing solar envelopes

This paper presents a method for constructing solar envelopes in site planning using a 3D solid-modeling program. The solar envelope for a site is a mechanism for ensuring that planning regulations on the solar access rights of others are observed. In this application, solid modeling offers the advantage of being a general-purpose tool having the capability to handle sets of site conditions that are complex. The paper reviews the concept of solar envelopes and demonstrates the method of application of solar envelope construction to a site. Techniques for displaying the constraints on building sections imposed by a solar envelope are presented.
State implementation of TANF: where do we stand in 2001?

Abstract To provide a context for understanding the evaluations discussed in this volume, this paper gives an overview of the federal TANF legislation and describes features of state TANF programs that are particularly relevant for appreciating the need for evaluation and for interpreting evaluations. These features include the states’ policies regarding work by applicants and recipients, policies to divert applicants from welfare, and rules designed to change individuals’ behavior regarding childbearing, childrearing, and marriage. Because the implementation of state policies depends on practices at the front lines of the welfare system, some features of the ‘culture’ of local welfare offices are also examined.
The Justice of Economics

Judge Richard A. Posner is the leading and most creative exponent of “the economic analysis of law”—an extremely influential movement in American jurisprudence and law teaching. As he articulates and defends this pattern of analysis, it is seen as having both a descriptive and a normative dimension. As a descriptive theory, the economic analysis of law maintains that the principle of wealth maximization (goods and services are to be in the hands of those willing to pay the most for them) has in fact—surface language often to the contrary—guided a substantial amount of common law adjudication. As a normative theory, the economic analysis of law maintains that the principle of wealth maximization ought to guide adjudication—that judges, whenever possible, should resolve common law cases in such a way that wealth is maximized. Wealth maximization is the expected result when free market forces are operative, and thus judges should attempt to “mimic the market” whenever possible.
Inheritance of Resistance to Stagonospora Leaf Spot in a Dillel Cross of Orchardgrass

Purple leaf spot of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) caused by Stagonospora arenaria (Sacc.) Sacc. is prevalent and damaging in the northeastern USA. Most plants in existing cultivars are moderately to highly susceptible, but an occasional plant is resistant. This study was undertaken to examine the inheritance of resistance in a 10-parent diallel cross involving five susceptible and five resistant parent plants selected from cycles 0 to 3 of a program on phenotypic recurrent selection for resistance (.)
Evaluating the Short-Run Benefits of Six Department of Energy R&D Projects

This paper evaluates the short-run benefits of research and development (R&D) projects funded by the Automotive Lightweighting Materials (ALM) Program of the Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The six ALM projects evaluated—using qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods—yielded numerous benefits in the short-run. From the qualitative assessment, all met their technical goals, increased intellectual knowledge among the research teams, and led to increased collaboration among DOE, the auto industry, its suppliers, and national laboratories. Moreover, U.S. competitiveness appeared to have increased as a result of each R&D effort. One interesting finding, however, is that most of the participants indicated their firms would not have engaged in the research efforts without DOE funding. If they had engaged in the effort, it would have been with considerably less person time and financial commitment. With respect to quantitative measures, several graduate students were supported by the projects and numerous publications and presentations resulted, although these metrics varied across the ALM R&D projects.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Potassium Cyanide

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously injected potassium cyanide have been studied in Beagle bitches. In the period up to about 80 min after dosing, blood levels fell in a manner consistent with first-order elimination kinetics. Thereafter blood cyanide concentrations fell at a slower rate, indicating that a second phase of slower elimination had been entered.
Differing distributions of potentially competing amphipods, copepods and gastropods among specimens of the intertidal alga Pelvetia fastigiata

Possible competitive interactions are inferred from the distributions and abundances of species within three invertebrate groups (Hyale spp., Ampithoe spp. and thallusdwelling species) among unmanipulated and experimental specimens of the brown alga Pelvetia fastigiata collected between 1974 and 1976, inclusive, at La Jolla, California, USA. During the fall, when the vagile amphipods Hyale grandicornis and H. frequens were relatively abundant, they were found mostly on specimens of P. fastigiata at upper mid-intertidal and mid-tide levels, respectively. H. grandicornis often dispersed to mid-tide levels, but the two species cooccurred on few plants. Although H. frequens infrequently occupied P. fastigiata in the spring, H. grandicornis still generally sheltered in upper mid-intertidal plants, in part, because the net reproduction rates of H. grandicornis were low when space was available. The tubiculous amphipod A. tea usually was the only Ampithoe species on P. fastigiata; however, A. lindbergii and A. pollex sometimes dispersed to and released broods on this alga, particularly during the early summer when abundances of A. tea were relatively low. Similarly, net immigration rates of other thallus-dwelling copepods were relatively high when abundances of Scutellidium lamellipes were low. Moreover, several copepods were most abundant on different specimens of small isolated plants, and thallus-dwelling gastropods on larger plants at sites with relatively low densities of S. lamellipes on P. fastigiata; such copepods and gastropods generally were not abundant on aggregated plants sheltering large numbers of S. lamellipes. Such differences suggest that competition for food or space is among the factors causing negative correlations in the densities of Ampithoe spp. and thallusdwelling species on P. fastigiata.
Hierarchically clustered navigation of distinct Euclidean particles

This paper introduces and solves the problem of cluster-hierarchy-invariant particle navigation in Conf (Rd, J). Namely, we are given a desired goal configuration, x∗ ∊ Conf (Rd, J) and τ, a specified cluster hierarchy that the goal supports. We build a hybrid closed loop controller guaranteed to bring any other configuration that supports τ to the desired goal, x∗ ∊ Conf (Rd, J), through a transient motion whose each configuration along the way also supports that hierarchy.
Review of losses caused by virus yellows in English sugar beet crops and the cost of partial control with insecticides.

SUMMARY From 1970 to 1975, before soil-applied pesticides were widely used by sugar beet growers in England, virus yellows is estimated to have caused an annual loss representing about 5 per cent of the crop's potential yield, equivalent to about £4·2 million at the 1974 price for beet. At least £0·9 million were spent annually by growers on insecticides to give partial control of yellows, probably giving a yield increase worth thrice that sum. When 20 per cent or more of sugar beet plants show symptoms of virus yellows at the end of August crop yields are appreciably decreased, and the proportion of the national crop area in this category during 1970–75 ranged from less than 1 to 86 per cent (averaging 30 per cent).
Cytotoxic compounds from Mundulea chapelieri from the Madagascar Rainforest.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of methanolic extracts of Mundulea chapelieri resulted in the isolation of two new flavonoids, isomundulinol (1) and 3-deoxy-MS-II (2), in addition to the eight known flavonoids 8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, MS-II, mundulinol, mundulone, munetone, rotenolone, rotenone, and tephrosin, and one known sesquiterpenoid, 8α-acetoxyelemol. The structures of the new flavonoids 1 and 2 were determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments. All the isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line; rotenolone and rotenone were the most potent compounds isolated, with IC50 values of 0.5 and 0.7 μg/mL, respectively.
A model not requiring continuous lithosphere for anomalous high-frequency arrivals from deep-focus South American earthquakes

Abstract Various workers have constructed models to explain a class of anomalous arrivals at Peruvian and Chilean stations from deep-focus South American earthquakes. These arrivals are shear waves with a later arrival time, a higher frequency content, a longer duration and a lower apparent velocity than direct S. Our models assume that there is a sufficiently sharp discontinuity at the upper interface of the descending lithospheric slab between depths of 80 and 250 km to provide efficient reflection (≈0.1) for S-waves incident from below. The observed travel times require a single S-to-S reflection at this interface if the J-B velocity-depth model is modified to allow for 7% higher velocities down to a depth of 300 km (excluding the crust). The locus of required reflection points correlates well with the upper boundary of the observed seismicity (strike and dip angles within 5°) and Q for the proposed path is consistent with the frequency content of the anomalous arrivals. Thus the existence of these arrivals requires a dipping interface down to about 250 km, but, contrary to the wave-guide model of Isacks and Barazangi, cannot be used to infer a continuous lithospheric slab down to the deep-focus earthquakes (h #62; 500 km).
A Requirement for Two Cell Types for Antibody Formation in vitro

A suspension of mouse spleen cells can be separated into two populations on the basis of their ability or inability to adhere to plastic dishes. It was found that both adherent and nonadherent cells were necessary for the induction of antibody formation to sheep red blood cells in vitro. Exposure of adherent cells to antigen for brief periods of time was sufficient to initiate a maximal in vitro response.
Radiotherapy in advanced prostatic carcinoma.

Twenty-two patients with advanced stages of prostatic carcinoma were treated with-Cobalt-60 teletherapy. Local control of the prostatic lesion was obtained in five out of eight patients with stage C. and in 2 out of 14 patients with stage D of the disease. However, survival of these irradiated patients was not better than other similar patients treated with orchiectomy and stilbestrol. Following radiotherapy, pain relief was obtained in almost all the patients without serious complications. Nevertheless in available post mortem material the histological appearance of the primary tumor was unchanged before and after radiotherapy. A randomized controlled clinical trial of radiotherapy in prostatic cancer is needed before final decisions can be made on its primary role in the treatement of this disease.
Wind-induced variability of ocean gyres

Stochastic wind forcing of ocean gyre circulations is examined using the ideas of generalized linear stability theory applied to the barotropic vorticity equation of a idealized ocean. The barotropic vorticity equation is linearized about a time-evolving basic state flow, and the spatial patterns of stochastic surface wind stress curl that are optimal for increasing the variability of the ocean are computed. The most disruptive pattern of stochastic forcing is found to be insensitive to: measures of variance, the optimization time, the temporal decorrelation time of the stochastic forcing, the time evolution of the basic state flow, the stability of the basic state flow, basin size, gyre symmetry, and the presence of bathymetry. In addition, the most disruptive pattern of wind stress curl is reminiscent of that which would be associated with individual large-scale weather systems in the atmosphere, and changes in the amplitude of the atmospheric teleconnection patterns. The response of a nonlinear model to stochastic forcing described by the optimal patterns is examined, and the dynamics of the response discussed.
Restoring the power of unions: it takes a movement, by Julius Getman

Restoring the power of unions: it takes a movement, by Julius Getman, New Haven, CT, Yale University Press, 2010, xvii + 381 pp., $55.00 (cloth), ISBN 9780300137002 Restoring the Power of Unions is...
Accelerating ozone layer protection in developing countries

Abstract The authors argue that the benefits of ozone protection far outweigh the costs. Therefore, the primary objective of international and national action should be benefit maximization via accelerated phaseout of ozone depleting substances across countries and economic sectors. Developing countries abound with opportunities for early low unit abatement cost phaseout through well-designed policies and projects. However, the current international framework provided by the Montreal Protocol tends to focus instead on project-level incremental cost minimization, and does not provide incentives for early action. The authors propose modifications to remedy these shortcomings.
Reproductive change in Sri Lanka: Analysis of intermediate variables, 1982 and 1987

Abstract This study examines the intermediate determinants of fertility in Sri Lanka by making use of the data collected in the 1982 Sri Lanka Contraceptive Prevalence Survey and the 1987 Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis shows that the most important inhibitor of potential fertility is deliberate control. The marital structure of the population is also an important fertility‐inhibitor, but lactational infecundability is increasingly becoming an unimportant contributor. The findings show the success of the family planning program in Sri Lanka, which propelled fertility to a substantial lower level. Achievement of the replacement level fertility by the turn of the century, set by the Sri Lankan government, would largely depend on the efforts to increase the quality and quantity of contraceptive use and the duration of breastfeeding.
ELASTO‐VISCOPLASTIC ANALYSIS OF FIBRE‐REINFORCED COMPOSITES

An analysis model has been developed for the elasto‐viscoplastic analysis of continuous fibre‐reinforced composite structures. Elastic deformation of fibre and elasto‐viscoplastic deformation of matrix are considered in the analysis model because the yield strength of matrix is, in general, substantially lower than that of fibre. A finite element formulation is derived for the proposed analysis model. If matrix is assumed homogeneous and isotropic, the von Mises yield criterion is used for viscoplastic yielding. As numerical examples, a parametric study has been performed for elasto‐viscoplastic analysis of unidirectional composite plates subjected to inplane loads.
Facile Synthesis of Robust Free-Standing TiO2 Nanotubular Membranes for Biofiltration Applications

Robust monodisperse nanoporous membranes have a wide range of biotechnological applications, but are often difficult or costly to fabricate. Here, a simple technique is reported to produce free-standing TiO2 nanotubular membranes with through-hole morphology. It consists in a 3-step anodization procedure carried out at room temperature on a Ti foil. The first anodization (1 h at 80 V) is used to pattern the surface of the metallic foil. Then, the second anodization (24 h at 80 V) produces the array of TiO2 nanotubes that will constitute the final membrane. A higher voltage anodization (3-5 minutes at 180 V) is finally applied to detach the TiO2 nanotubular layer from the underlying Ti foil. In order to completely remove the barrier layer that obstructs some pores of the membrane, the latter is etched 2 minutes in a buffered oxide etch solution. The overall process produces 60 μm-thick TiO2 nanotubular membranes with tube openings of 110 nm on one side and 73 nm on the other side. The through-hole morphology of these membranes has been verified by performing diffusion experiments with glucose, insulin and immunoglobulin G where in differences in diffusion rate are observed based on molecular weight. Such biocompatible TiO2 nanotubular membranes, with controlled pore size and morphology, have broad biotechnological and biomedical applications.
Heteroscedastic discriminant analysis and reduced rank HMMs for improved speech recognition

We present the theory for heteroscedastic discriminant analysis (HDA), a model-based generalization of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) derived in the maximum-likelihood framework to handle heteroscedastic-unequal variance-classifier models. We show how to estimate the heteroscedastic Gaussian model parameters jointly with the dimensionality reducing transform, using the EM algorithm. In doing so, we alleviate the need for an a priori ad hoc class assignment. We apply the theoretical results to the problem of speech recognition and observe word-error reduction in systems that employed both diagonal and full covariance heteroscedastic Gaussian models tested on the TI-DIGITS database.
The use of prior probabilities in maximum likelihood classification of remotely sensed data

Possibilities for the improvement of classification accuracies by the use of prior information about the expected distribution of classes in the maximum likelihood classification of remote sensing data are examined. The modification of the maximum likelihood decision rule to take into account one or several sets of probabilities for the occurrence of classes which probabilities are based on independent knowledge of the area surveyed is demonstrated. It is then shown that the use of prior probabilities is sufficiently versatile so as to allow the prior weighting of output classes based on their anticipated sizes as well as the merging of continuously varying measurements with discrete collateral information data sets and the construction of time-sequential classification systems in which an earlier classification modifies the outcome of a latter one.
Chemistory of Fibrates

Since the description of the synthetic chemical clofibrate in 1962, various derivatives of fibrates with a diversity of chemical structures have been developed. Several of these are used clinically to treat dyslipidemia because they are generally effective in lowering elevated plasma triglycerides and cholesterol. Studies suggest that several biochemical mechanisms underlie fibrate-mediated modulation of lipoprotein and related metabolites. These mechanisms are: 1) induced lipoprotein lipolysis; 2) induced hepatic fatty acid uptake and reduced hepatic triglyceride formation; 3) amplified removal of low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles; 4) reduced neutral lipid (cholesteryl ester and triglyceride) exchange between very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) resulting from decreased plasma levels of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL); and 5) increased HDL production and stimulation of reverse cholesterol transport. Recent studies of structure-based inhibitor design strategy revealed that an independent enzyme, aldose reductase (AR), is a target of fibrate activity, an additional biochemical mechanism. AR has been implicated as a major player in the development of diabetes and diabetic complications because of its ability to catalyze the conversion of glucose to sorbitol. This article discusses various targets of fibrate action, biochemical pathways and commonalities in potential molecular interactions.
Measuring Cu 2+ -Nitroxide Distances Using Double Electron–Electron Resonance and Saturation Recovery

Distance measurements were obtained between a bound Cu2+ and a spin label on two polypeptides of differing length using the double electron–electron resonance (DEER) and saturation recovery experiments. Distance distributions obtained from the DEER results resolved differences between the average distance and distribution of distances for each peptide. An average distance was also obtained for each peptide using the relaxation-based saturation recovery experiment. Predicted average distances for the relaxation-based method, , were calculated using the distance distributions from the DEER experiment. The predicted values were similar to those measured by saturation recovery; both were biased to shorter values compared with the DEER results. The breadth of the distance distributions had a significant effect on the average distance measured by saturation recovery. This work highlights the advantage of using DEER to measure metal-nitroxide distances in that the average distances measured are less biased than in relaxation-based techniques.
Infrared thermographic profiles of vessel sealing devices on thyroid parenchyma.

Background During thyroid lobectomy, division of the thyroid parenchyma has traditionally been accomplished using suture ligation. Development of hemostatic techniques in the forms of ultrasonic dissection (UD) and electronic vessel sealing (EVS) have increased the usage of these devices during thyroid operations. We sought to characterize the thermal profile of each of these devices when used to divide the parenchyma of the thyroid gland. Methods Using a porcine model, the parenchyma of the gland was sealed by alternating application of the UD and EVS devices. In each case, the thermal activity was recorded using infrared thermal imaging. We performed multiple seals with each instrument and then compared the thermal profiles. Results There was no significant difference in lateral thermal spread of EVS and UD above 39, 40 or 60°C (2.30 ± 0.31mm versus 2.53 ± 0.47 mm, P = 0.26; 2.22 ± 0.27 mm versus 2.47 ± 0.47mm, P = 0.22, and 1.37 ± 0.27 mm versus 1.54 ± 0.26 mm, P = 0.22). There was no significant difference in mean time above 39 or 40°C (35.1 ± 8.7 s versus 31.7 ± 9.3 s, P = 0.47 and 29.9 ± 8.1 s versus 27.3 ± 6.7 s, P = 0.50). UD reached a greater maximum temperature (179.12 ± 0.0008C versus 96.52 ± 5.6C, P ≤ 0.001) and stayed over 60°C for longer than EVS (9.5 ± 1.8 s versus 5.3 ± 0.97 , P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions The amount of lateral spread of thermal energy was not significantly different between the UD and EVS devices. However, the use of UD produced a higher maximum temperature during thyroid parenchyma sealing and remained above 60°C longer than EVS. This may translate into greater thermal injury to thyroid and surrounding tissues during division.
Role of spatial memory in primate foraging patterns: Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis

From field data collected in the Amazon Basin of northeastern Peru, I present evidence that moustached (Saguinus mystax) and saddle-back (Saguinus fuscicollis) tamarins maintain detailed knowledge of the distribution and location of many tree species in their home range. During the wet season months of October through December 1984, fruits and exudates from 20 tree species and over 150 individual trees accounted for 75% of plant feeding time. These trees exhibited a patchy distribution; mean nearest-neighbor distances between trees of the same species averaged 148 meters. Moustached and saddle-back tamarins visited an average of 13 trees per day, concentrating their feeding efforts on 4-11 individual trees from a small number of target species. In 70% of all cases the nearest tree of a given species was selected as the next feeding site. Movement between these sites was characterized by relatively straight-line travel. It is argued that S. mystax and S. fuscicollis offset the patchiness component of the fruit and exudate part of their diet through goal-directed foraging and an ability to compare accurately the distances and directions from their present location to a large number of potential feeding trees.
Targeted Transduction of CNS Neurons with Adenoviral Vectors Carrying Neurotrophic Factor Genes Confers Neuroprotection That Exceeds the Transduced Population

Application of neurotrophic factors (NFs) to the cut stump of motor nerves of neonatal rats confers neuroprotection from trauma-induced neuronal death. To test whether motoneurons are capable of responding to endogenously produced NFs, facial motoneurons were genetically modified in vivo to express several NFs and then tested for their response to peripheral nerve damage. Replication-defective adenoviral vectors [Adv. Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-nf] representing three families of NFs were constructed that carried genes for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and nerve growth factor. Media from cultured cells transduced with Adv. RSV-nf contained NFs that supported the survival of cultured chick sensory neurons in the same manner as recombinant NF standards. When Adv.RSV-nf or an adenoviral vector containing the beta-galactosidase gene (Adv.RSV-beta-gal) were injected into the facial muscles of neonatal rats the vectors were retrogradely transported to the facial nucleus where the NFs or beta-gal were expressed. A fraction (approximately 10%) of the neurons were transduced as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-PCR, histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. In the case of Adv.RSV-BDNF, Adv.RSV-CNTF, and Adv.RSV-GDNF, a significant portion of the facial nucleus neurons was protected, 16.5, 18.2, and 53.3%, respectively, from death after axotomy, showing that neurons are capable of transporting the Adv. RSV-nf, expressing the recombinant NF genes, and responding to the NFs. In the case of Adv.RSV-GDNF, a greater number of facial nucleus motoneurons survived than were transduced, indicating that neighboring untransduced neurons were protected by the GDNF expressed by the transduced neurons by a paracrine mechanism.
Peripheral vascular endothelial function testing as a noninvasive indicator of coronary artery disease

Abstract OBJECTIVES We studied whether assessment of endothelium-dependent vasomotion (EDV) with brachial artery ultrasound (BAUS) imaging predicts the presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as defined by exercise myocardial perfusion imaging (ExMPI). BACKGROUND Abnormalities in EDV can be detected in arteries before the development of overt atherosclerosis, and its presence may predict poor long-term prognosis. Brachial artery ultrasound during reactive hyperemia is a noninvasive method of assessing peripheral EDV. METHODS Clinically-indicated ExMPI along with BAUS were performed in 94 subjects (43 women, 51 men). Coronary artery disease was defined by myocardial ischemia or infarction on single photon emission computed tomography images. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) after upper arm occlusion was defined as the percent change in arterial diameter during reactive hyperemia relative to the baseline. RESULTS Subjects with CAD by ExMPI (n = 23) had a lower FMD (6.3 ± 0.7%) than those without CAD by ExMPI (n = 71) (10.5 ± 0.6%; p = 0.0004). Flow-mediated dilation was highly predictive for CAD with an odds ratio of 1.32 for each percent decrease in FMD (p = 0.001). Based on a receiver-operator analysis, an FMD of 10% was used as a cut-point for further analysis. Twenty-one of 23 subjects who were positive for ExMPI had an FMD CONCLUSIONS Assessment of EDV with BAUS has a high sensitivity and an excellent negative predictive value for CAD and, thus, has the potential for use as a screening tool to exclude CAD in low-risk subjects. Further standardization of BAUS is required, however, before specific cut-points for excluding CAD can be established.
A simple means of demonstrating coma in the laboratory.

It is frequently desirable for instructional purposes to provide a simple means of demonstrating the optical aberration, coma, in the laboratory independently of all the other aberrations. In this paper, a lens design consisting of a cemented doublet and a singlet which produces nearly pure coma is described.
Genomic DNA standards for gene expression profiling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A fundamental problem in DNA microarray analysis is the lack of a common standard to compare the expression levels of different samples. Several normalization protocols have been proposed to overcome variables inherent in this technology. As yet, there are no satisfactory methods to exchange gene expression data among different research groups or to compare gene expression values under different stimulus‐response profiles. We have tested a normalization procedure based on comparing gene expression levels to the signals generated from hybridizing genomic DNA (genomic normalization). This procedure was applied to DNA microarrays of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using RNA extracted from cultures growing to the logarithmic and stationary phases. The applied normalization procedure generated reproducible measurements of expression level for 98% of the putative mycobacterial ORFs, among which 5.2% were significantly changed comparing the logarithmic to stationary growth phase. Additionally, analysis of expression levels of a subset of genes by real time PCR technology revealed an agreement in expression of 90% of the examined genes when genomic DNA normalization was applied instead of 29‐68% agreement when RNA normalization was used to measure the expression levels in the same set of RNA samples. Further examination of microarray expression levels displayed clusters of genes differentially expressed between the logarithmic, early stationary and late stationary growth phases. We conclude that genomic DNA standards offer advantages over conventional RNA normalization procedures and can be adapted for the investigation of microbial genomes.
Effect of systemic glucagon administration on ACTH secretion in anaesthetized rats

The effect of glucagon on ACTH secretion was studied in anaesthetized rats injected with either saline (0.1 ml i.m.) or glucagon (0.02 mg/kg i.m.). For the first 90 min after glucagon injection, plasma ACTH fell by 50% from the basal value of 23 +/- 4 pmol/l (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 11 +/- 2 (P = 0.011), after which an abrupt return to baseline occurred (120 min value: 26 +/- 2 pmol/l). In saline injected rats, the baseline ACTH value was not significantly different from either the 90 min value or the 120 min value (27 +/- 3 vs 21 +/- 4 and 24 +/- 3 pmol/l respectively; P > 0.10). Plasma glucose after glucagon peaked at 11.6 +/- 1.1 mmol/l by 15 min but subsequently fell rapidly, attaining the baseline by 60 min. Insulin levels increased sharply after glucagon, from 381 +/- 78 pmol/l to 3172 +/- 668 pmol/l at 15 min, and plateaued at approximately 1000 pmol/l thereafter. No changes in glucose or insulin were seen in saline injected rats. The magnitude of suppression of ACTH after glucagon was not affected either by sustained hyperinsulinaemia (congruent to 1400 pmol/l), induced with continuous glucose infusion to maintain plasma glucose > 12 mmol/l, or by pretreatment with the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide (50 micrograms/kg s.c.). However, the return to baseline between 100 and 120 min was prevented both by hyperinsulinaemia induced with sustained hyperglycaemia, and by octreotide. It is postulated that glucagon may inhibit ACTH secretion either by a direct effect on the hypothalamus or indirectly through insulin, which is known to stimulate endogenous somatostatin release.