cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Demand for Beef and Chicken Products: Separability and Structural Change

Several studies have indicated that the recent shift from beef to poultry in consumption is not entirely caused by changes in rela­ tive prices or income (Braschler, Chavas, Dahlgran, Hudson and Vertin, Moschini and Meilke, Frank, Thurman). Most studies of structural change have focused on red meat consumption; only Thurman has looked closely at the poultry market, and no one has considered poultry products. Yet, the mix of chicken products marketed changed dramat­ ically during the last twenty years and should have influenced aggregate meat demand. The share of broiler slaughter marketed as whole birds declined from 74% in 1965 to 28% in 1985, while cut-up parts and processed chick­ en products increased from 26% to 72%. Whole birds are inferior goods, and cut-up parts and processed chicken are normal goods (Haidacher et al.). The shift in chicken prod­ uct mix away from whole birds should have increased the preference for total chicken. In this article two related questions are ad­ dressed. First, do consumers allocate expendi­ tures among meats by animal origin or by­ product type? Second, does disaggregation of meat into products in a meat demand model give insight into the causes of structural
Mechanism of Tetraalkylammonium Headgroup Degradation in Alkaline Fuel Cell Membranes

Cationic headgroups such as tetramethylammonium (TMA) undergo degradation in alkaline conditions through two different mechanisms. In the first mechanism, a hydroxide ion performs an SN2 attack on the methyl groups and directly forms methanol. In the second mechanism, an ylide (trimethylammonium methylide) and a water molecule are formed by the abstraction of a proton from a methyl group. The ylide subsequently reacts with water to form methanol. Both pathways have the same overall barrier as observed in our reaction path calculations with density functional theory. The ylide mechanism is verified by H−D exchange observed between the aqueous phase and the cationic head group. We also discuss the effect of the medium and the water content on the calculated reaction barriers. Good solvation of the head-groups and hydroxide ions is essential for the overall chemical stability of alkaline membranes.
Strategies of information seeking in deferred decision making

Abstract In a simple binary decision task, subjects could purchase information that was relevant to the decision to be made. Three models of behavior were described, based upon three strategies that might determine how much information was bought. The optimal strategy, one based upon a critical odds, was clearly not used by subjects. A fixed-sample-size strategy was inadequate to describe behavior, but a modification of this strategy was a better description. The form of departures of the data from the predictions of the three models implied that subjects used a stopping strategy defined by a critical odds that decreased as a positively accelerated function of sample size.
Intravenous or oral steroids: which is better for acute exacerbations of asthma or COPD?

For asthma, oral steroids appear to be as effective as intravenous. For COPD, we have less evidence.
Yes, male physicians should care for adolescent females.

Recent studies show a general trend of patients preferring physicians of the same gender. These gender-related preferences are expressed most strongly among female patients less than 20 years old. This same-sex physician preference also increases when the patient-physician encounter requires a genital examination discussion of personal issues or counseling. Young women seeing physicians are routinely asked personal questions regarding school performance friendships romantic relationships family dynamics substance abuse and sexuality. Depending on the patient one may also require counseling or a pelvic examination. What does this mean for male physicians who are personally and professionally committed to caring for young female patients? Is there a need or role for them as more women complete medical school and pursue careers in pediatrics family practice and obstetrics/gynecology? (excerpt)
Theoretical model and experimental results for the nonlinear elastic behavior of human annulus fibrosus

The physical properties of the annulus fibrosus are critical to the intervertebral disc's biomechanical function; alterations with degeneration and aging can contribute directly to joint dysfunction and pain. A constitutive model that links the mechanical structure of the annulus to its material properties is important for many bioengineering purposes. To this end, we developed a strain energy function with separate terms to represent the matrix, the fibers, and the interactions between the constituents. Additionally, we measured the tensile and compressive stress-strain response of the annulus in the circumferential direction. We simultaneously applied the strain energy function to these new data and to data from a wide range of experimental protocols reported in the literature. By choosing experimental protocols that use an unloaded reference configuration, we developed a comprehensive formulation for the multiaxial annular elastic behavior. As a partial validation, this formulation predicted experimental results that were not included in model parameter specification. We anticipate that this constitutive formulation will be useful for computational simulations of the disc's biomechanical response and for elucidating structure-function relationships of the annulus fibrosus.
DrHJ: a lightweight pedagogic IDE for Habanero Java

The Java language and runtime environment has had a profound worldwide impact on computer software since its introduction nearly two decades ago. It has enabled the creation of a rich ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools that promises to deliver significant value for many years to come. Consequently, a wide range of Interactive Development Environments (IDEs) have emerged to increase the productivity of Java programmers. They vary in functionality based on the expertise level assumed for their target user base. The Eclipse Java Development Tools (JDT) project offers a rich set of power tools for experienced programmers, but can be harder for novice programmers to set up and use. In contrast, IDEs such as DrJava [2] and BlueJ [16] have been developed primarily for use in introductory programming courses.
The Field from an Isolated Nerve in a Volume Conductor

Experimental recordings of electric field potentials from an active frog sciatic nerve in an "infinite" volume conductor were obtained. The dorsal and ventral roots supplying the isolated sciatic nerve were dissected and stimulated separately and in combination. The measured electric field potentials from dorsal/ventral root stimulation, as well as whole nerve stimulation, were recorded at the nerve surface and at several radii from the nerve. The field potentials, at these radius values, were predicted from a solution of Laplace's equation. The Fourier transform development of the solution of Laplace's equation, as presented by Clark and Plonsey [4], [5], allowed the determination of the field potentials to be viewed as a one-dimensional linear filtering procedure with the surface potential as an input and the field potential at a given radius as an output. Standard techniques in linear system theory were utilized to perform convolution via the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and to perform inverse filtering via optimal filtering methods. With these techniques the surface potential could be predicted given a field potential measurement at a known radial distance from the nerve.
Force-frequency effect of Y-cut langanite and Y-cut langatate

Most recently, langasite and its isomorphs (LGX) have been advanced as potential substitutes for quartz, owing to their extremely high-quality (Q) factors. At least twice higher Q value of LGX than that of quartz has been reported. High Q translates into potentially greater stability. In order to make such materials practical, the environmental sensitivities must be addressed. One of such sensitivities is the force-frequency effect, which relates the sensitiveness of a resonator to shock and vibration via the third-order (non-Hookean) elastic constants. In this paper, we report measured force-frequency coefficients of a Y-cut langanite (LGN) resonator and a Y-cut langatate (LGT) resonator as a function of the azimuthal angle, which is the angle between the crystalline X-axis of a resonator plate and the direction of in-plane diametric force applied to the periphery of the resonator. It was found that the LGN and the LGT behave like AT-cut quartz in the polarity of the frequency changes and the existence of zero-coefficient angle. The maximum magnitudes of the coefficients of the LGN and the LGT are five and seven times smaller than that of stress-compensated cut (SC-cut) quartz, respectively (or, 7 and 10 times smaller comparing to AT-cut quartz). The coefficients of planar-stress, which represent the superposition of a continuous distribution of periphery stresses, also were obtained as 0.52/spl times/10/sup -15/ m/spl middot/s/N and 0.38/spl times/10/sup -15/ m/spl middot/s/N for the LGN and the LGT, respectively.
Measurements on the biaxial extension viscosity of bulk polymers: The inflation of a thin polymer sheet

An experimental study of the inflation of a thin polymer sheet has been conducted to determine whether this technique can be used to measure the biaxial extensional viscosity of bulk polymers. Viscosities were determined at various extensional strain rates using two undiluted polyisobutylene samples having different molecular weights. Advantages, limitations, and errors associated with the method are discussed.
Implicit WENO Scheme and High Order Viscous Formulas for Compressible Flows

The purpose of this paper is to develop a robust and e‐cient high order fully conservative flnite difierence scheme for compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The 5th order WENO scheme is used for the inviscid ∞uxes. A conservative fourth order accuracy flnite central difierencing scheme is developed for the viscous terms. An improved " value of 10 i2 is suggested for the WENO smooth factors calculation, which removes the weight oscillation and signiflcantly improves the convergence rate and level. The wall surface is taken as half-point mesh so that the no slip wall boundary condition can be accurately imposed. A 3th order accurate flnite difierence scheme is given to treat wall boundary condition. The implicit time marching method with unfactored Gauss-Seidel line relaxation is used with the high order scheme to achieve steady state solutions with high convergence rate.
Selective osmoreceptor dysfunction in the syndrome of chronic hypernatremia.

A patient with the syndrome of chronic hypernatremia (serum Na+: mean = 154, range 139-184 mEq/l, n = 30) and hypodipsia due to a hypothalamic injury was studied to evaluate osmolar and baroreceptor control of arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion. Resting plasma AVP levels measured by radioimmunoassay were inappropriately low for the degree of plasma hyperosmolality: range = less than 0.5-2.1 pg/ml, n = 10, with corresponding levels of plasma osmolality (P osM) greater than 300 m osmol/kg, suggesting either direct damage to the AVP synthesis and storage area or impaired afferent osmoreceptor function. Direct pituitary damage seemed unlikely, since anterior pituitary function was normal by standard testing. The existence of adequate neurohypophyseal stores of AVP was demonstrated by baroreceptor stimulation with the hypotensive agent trimethaphan (Arfonad): plasma AVP rising to 50.0 pg/ml during transient hypotension (BP = 70/0). Osmoreceptor function was evaluated during acute water loading followed by hypertonic saline infusion. During hypertonic saline infusion plasma AVP levels correlated with P osM (R = .87, P less than .01, n = 8), suggesting some residual osmotic regulation of AVP release. The osmotic threshold for AVP release (the x-axis intercept of the plasma AVP-P osM regression line) was not higher than normal. However, the AVP levels throughout this study remained markedly subnormal for the degree of plasma hyperosmolality (maximum plasma AVP = 1.9 PG/ML when P os M = 327 M OSMOL/KG). Since a substantial amount of AVP was released with baroreceptor stimulation, the inadequate rise in plasma AVP level with hyperosmolality indicates that afferent input from the osmoreceptor/thirst area of the hypothalamus is selectively impaired in this patient. These findings directly demonstrate a dissociation of osmoreceptor function from the AVP secretory apparatus in man.
Keratinocyte adhesion and the missing link: from Dowling-Meara to Hay-Wells. St John's Hospital Dermatological Society Annual Oration 2000.

Maintaining a protective barrier against the environment is an essential function of normal skin. Critical to this role are several structural proteins and glycoproteins that contribute to adhesive junctions linking adjacent keratinocytes and basal keratinocytes to the underlying dermis, as well as other regulatory proteins involved in aspects of epidermal development, differentiation and proliferation. Inherited abnormalities in the genes that encode these components may give rise to a range of genodermatoses, many of which are characterized structurally by a ‘missing’ or perturbed adhesive link and clinically by congenital skin blistering. This oration reviews some of the original clinical descriptions and observations made in this field, as well as providing an update on the corresponding recent molecular discoveries. The emphasis is on contributions made by past and present members of the St John's Hospital Dermatological Society.
Endothelin mediates a component of the enhanced myogenic responsiveness of arterioles from hypertensive rats.

Objective:To determine if the enhanced pressure-induced constriction of arterioles isolated from hypertensive rats is mediated by the endothelium. Methods:We utilized isolated, cannulated first-order arterioles (80 to 110 µm, i.d.) from the rat cremaster muscle of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats. Arteriolar diameter was measured in response to changes in intraluminal pressures as well as various pharmacological agents in the presence and absence of an intact endothelial cell lining. Results:All arterioles developed intrinsic tone (approximately 74% of passive). Pressure-diameter relationships over a pressure range of 30 to 170 cm H2O demonstrated that the myogenic response of arterioles derived from both WKY and SHR was not dependent upon an intact endothelium. However, at higher pressures (>170 cm H2O) the ability of the denuded arteriole from the SHR to maintain a constricted diameter was completely abolished. Treatment of arterioles from the SHR having intact endothelium wi...
Wide PRIME-current range for all-magnetic shift registers

In an all-magnetic resistance-type shift register, a PRIME current pulse i_{p}(t) , of amplitude I p , is applied to N p and N b turns through the minor and major apertures, respectively. For given operation frequency f , the ratio R = I_{p}^{max}/I_{p}^{min} , where I_{p}^{min} is the PRIME range of bistable operation, is maximized by matching N_{p}/N_{b} so that I_{p}^{max} values determined by spurious ZERO buildup and ONE dropout are the same. For a rectangular (or dc) i_{p}(t) , the matched N_{p}/N_{b} is fixed by the core properties, and Rmaxis limited (e.g., i_{p}(t) rises gradually, the matched N_{p}/N_{b} depends also on the rise time T r of i_{p}(t) . The lower f is, with corresponding larger T r , the smaller is the matched N_{p}/N_{b} , and the larger is Rmax. Calculation of R is carried for ramp and half-sinusoidal i_{p}(t) waveforms. The latter, for instance, at T = 25\deg C yields Rmaxvalues of 14.0 and 22.0 for f of 1.0 and 0.5 kc/s respectively. Such wide PRIME ranges permit reliable register operation in a wide temperature range without resorting to temperature compensation of I p . Experimental results are in agreement with the calculation.
The positive aspects of a transgender self-identification

Research to date has primarily focused on health risks, psychopathologies and negative life experiences with little attention to the positive aspects of identifying as transgender. An online survey collected data on self-reports of the positive aspects of a transgender identity (n = 61). Qualitative thematic analysis revealed eight positive identity themes: congruency of self; enhanced interpersonal relationships; personal growth and resiliency; increased empathy; a unique perspective on both sexes; living beyond the sex binary; increased activism; and connection to the GLBTQ communities. These findings are compared to previous research on the positive aspects of gay, lesbian and bisexual identities. The implications of these findings for providing strength-based therapeutic approaches and training counsellors to be culturally competent with transgender-identified clients are discussed.
INFUSION OF ALDOSTERONE, 9-α-FLUOROHYDROCORTISONE AND ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE INTO THE RENAL ARTERY OF NORMAL AND ADRENALECTOMIZED, UNANESTHETIZED DOGS: EFFECT ON ELECTROLYTE AND WATER EXCRETION1

The development of a technique for chronic catheterization of one renal artery, with a collection of urine from each kidney individually, has afforded the opportunity of studying the effects on water and electrolyte excretion produced by aldosterone, 9-α-fluorohydrocortisone and ADH infused directly in the renal artery of normal and adrenalectomized dogs. In the normal dog intrarenal aldosterone or 9-α-fluorohydrocortisone produced a unilateral kaluresis but no demonstrable natriuresis, or effect on water excretion. In the same catheterized dogs, following recovery from adrenalectomy, small doses of aldosterone infused into the renal artery produced a unilateral anti-natriuresis. The unilateral kaluresis was of the same magnitude as that observed in the normal state. In both the normal and adrenalectomized animal the effect of intrarenal aldosterone on potassium excretion was apparent only after a delay of 30 to 60 minutes, and a maximum effect was noted after two to three hours. The present investigation...
Analogous 32− levels in 43Ca and 41Ar

Abstract Lifetime measurements of the 3 2 − levels in 43 Ca at 594 keV and 41 Ar at 518 keV yield M1 hindrances within the predominantly f 7 2 3 configurations of (⩽300) and 3000, respectively. These results are compared with M1 matrix elements between the f 7 2 2 p 3 2 admixtures obtained from recent theoretical calculations.
Herpes zoster in immunocompromised patients: Incidence, timing, and risk factors

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the risk factors for herpes zoster as well as the incidence and timing of this complication in patients who were treated with immunosuppression because of active Wegener's granulomatosis. Subjects and methods We studied the 180 Wegener's granulomatosis patients in the Wegener's Granulomatosis Etanercept Trial (WGET). Herpes zoster events during WGET were documented prospectively. Follow-up questionnaires were employed to describe the location, treatment, and complication(s) of herpes zoster and its therapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors, including history of herpes zoster, for the occurrence of herpes zoster during the trial. All analyses were based on the time to first occurrence of herpes zoster. Results Eighteen patients (10% of the WGET cohort) suffered a total of 19 herpes zoster episodes over a mean follow-up period of 27 months. The annual incidence of herpes zoster in the WGET cohort was 45 cases/1000 patient-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27, 70). The median time from enrollment to the occurrence of herpes zoster in the subgroup of patients with that complication was 16.5 months (± 9.4). Fifteen of the 19 herpes zoster events (79%) occurred between months 6 and 36, many months after the period of most intensive immunosuppression. In univariate analyses, history of serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL before enrollment was associated with a relative risk (RR) of 3.0 (95% CI: 1.1, 7.8) for herpes zoster during WGET (P=.03). In multivariate analyses, serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL was associated with an RR of 6.3 (95% CI: 2.0, 19.8; P=.002), and female sex with an RR of 4.6 (95% CI: 1.6, 13.2; P=.004). Conclusion Renal dysfunction and female sex were consistently strong risk factors for herpes zoster events in this population. Contrary to expectation, most herpes zoster events did not occur during periods of most intensive immunosuppression. These data may inform studies of interventions designed to prevent herpes zoster in patients on treatment for immune-mediated diseases.
COMPARISON OF SIEVING AND SETTLING TECHNIQUES FOR SIZE ANALYSIS, USING A BENTHOS RAPID SEDIMENT ANALYZER

Grain-size distributions of sand samples by means of a Benthos Rapid Sediment Analyzer were determined, using SCHLEE'S (1966) fall times. The results were compared with analysis of the same samples by sieving. The Rapid Sediment Analyzer (RSA) consistently overestimated the mean diameter of fine samples and underestimated the diameter of coarse samples relative to sieving. Since we used a wider settling column and a smaller sample weight than did Schlee, we infer that the differences were due to weaker grain interaction effects in our analyzer. Thus, by using Schlee's fall times, we overcompensated for these effects. We conclude that the “new grain parameter” of fall velocity (SENGUPTA and VEENSTRA, 1968) is indeed valuable. MIDDLETON'S (1967) psi transform is more convenient than the analogous phi transform in that it yields Middle-ton sand classes of 0 to 5 psi, as compared to Wentworth-Krumbein sand classes of -1 to 4 phi. However, use of fall velocity does not completely obviate the need to determine grain diameter, since this is the most expedient criterion with which to correct fall velocity to standard fall velocity.
Adsorption of nicotinic, picolinic, and dipicolinic acids on monodispersed sols of α-Fe2O3 and Cr(OH)3

Abstract The adsorption of nicotinic, picolinic, and dipicolinic acids on α-Fe 2 O 3 and Cr(OH) 3 sols consisting of spherical particles of narrow size distributions was measured at solute concentrations up to 4 × 10 −4 mole dm −3 and over a range of pH values at 25°C. The ionic strength was adjusted to 0.05 mole dm −3 with NaClO 4 . The large uptake by Cr(OH) 3 reflected its amorphous structure. Adsorption on the crystalline α-Fe 2 O 3 was more rapid and confined to the external surface of the particles. On both colloids nicotinic acid adsorption was negligible, whereas the uptake of dipicolinic acid approached saturation at the highest concentrations used. Picolinic acid showed intermediate behavior. Adsorption is postulated to involve the use of Lewis acid sites provided by incompletely coordinated metal ions on the surface. Dipicolinic acid also caused slow dissolution of α-Fe 2 O 3 at low pH. The results can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of the complexing power and the acid dissociation constants of the solutes, and the surface acidity of the solids.
Coarse-grained computation for particle coagulation and sintering processes by linking Quadrature Method of Moments with Monte-Carlo

The study of particle coagulation and sintering processes is important in a variety of research studies ranging from cell fusion and dust motion to aerosol formation applications. These processes are traditionally simulated using either Monte-Carlo methods or integro-differential equations for particle number density functions. In this paper, we present a computational technique for cases where we believe that accurate closed evolution equations for a finite number of moments of the density function exist in principle, but are not explicitly available. The so-called equation-free computational framework is then employed to numerically obtain the solution of these unavailable closed moment equations by exploiting (through intelligent design of computational experiments) the corresponding fine-scale (here, Monte-Carlo) simulation. We illustrate the use of this method by accelerating the computation of evolving moments of uni- and bivariate particle coagulation and sintering through short simulation bursts of a constant-number Monte-Carlo scheme.
Laparoscopic oophoropexy and ovarian function in the treatment of Hodgkin disease

BACKGROUND Hodgkin disease commonly affects women of reproductive age. Total lymph node irradiation (TNI) typically delivers a dose of 2000–4000 centigray (cGy) to the ovaries, which invariably results in premature ovarian failure (POF) and infertility unless the ovaries are shielded. Transposition of the ovaries at staging laparotomy has had mixed success and may be remote in time from pelvic radiation. METHODS A laparoscopic technique has been described that allows transposition of the ovaries just prior to pelvic radiation. This is a report of the outcome of 12 patients who underwent laparoscopic oophoropexy at the University of Florida from 1989 to 1995. Two were excluded from analysis, because one died and the other had a second malignancy for which radiation was aborted. RESULTS At follow-up, five patients had evidence of ovarian function, and the four patients of these five who desired children achieved pregnancies. All five had zero to two courses of chemotherapy. Two patients who subsequently had pregnancies had staging laparotomy with oophoropexy 5 and 6 months, respectively, before laparoscopy. In both cases the ovaries had migrated back to their original positions, and their therapy would have resulted in ovarian failure had the repeat procedure not been performed. Five patients had ovarian failure at follow-up. Four of the five had received multiple courses of chemotherapy; the other had pelvic primary disease and received 3500 cGy to the femoral lymph nodes and pelvis, with little central shielding. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic oophoropexy performed immediately prior to pelvic irradiation is effective in preserving ovarian function in nearly all patients who are to undergo TNI for Hodgkin disease and who receive minimal or no chemotherapy. Cancer 1999;86:2138–42. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Imine Anions Derived from 2° Allylic Amines

Abstract The application of allylic carbanions to organic synthesis is extensive2,3 and among the numerous variations are the generation and use of heteroallylic dianions. Noteworthy in this useful option is the ability of sulfide (−Sθ) to stabilize a developing adjacent carbanion,4,5 while alkoxide (−0θ) uniquely directs carbanion formation to a distal allylic position (Scheme I).6,7 We now wish to report that under conditions typically used for hetero allylic dianion formation 2° allylic amides provide a third reaction pathway for this structural entity by isomerizing to the resonance-stabilized imine anions (Scheme I).8,9 This overall conversion (presumably through an intermediate dianion) represents a heretofore unknown isomerization process that provides an alternative method for the generation of synthetically useful enolate equivalents.10
FACTORS AFFECTING RUNNING TIME ON TRANSIT ROUTES

Abstract This article reports on empirical models of transit mean running time and running time deviation estimated from data collected on transit routes in Cincinnati, Ohio. In general, the models confirm prior hypotheses concerning transit running time. It was found that mean running time is strongly influenced by trip distance, people boarding and alighting, and signalized intersections. Running time deviation at early points on a route propagate as the vehicle proceeds further downstream. The running time deviation model suggests that corrective actions to instability which develops early on a transit route warrants serious consideration. Improvements may also be possible through planning shorter routes. Finally, investment strategies which emphasize improved control rather than modification of existing link characteristics may produce more reliable service. Apart from their explanatory value, the availability of empirical models which relate running time measures to transit route characteristics is seen as being useful for identifying and evaluating strategies to improve service and resource allocation on existing routes and for the introduction of new services. The models also allow for reasonable approximations of running times without the high cost of manual data collection.
Determining Protein Size Using an Electrochemically Machined Pore Gradient in Silicon

Porous silicon films displaying a distribution of pore dimensions can be generated by electrochemically etching silicon in aqueous ethanolic HF using an asymmetric electrode configuration. The median pore size and breadth of the size-distribution in the film can be set by adjusting the HF concentration, current density, and position of the counter electrode relative to the silicon electrode. Films with pore sizes in the range of a few nanometers are used as size-exclusion matrices to perform an on-chip determination of macromolecule dimensions. The test molecule used in this study is bovine serum albumin (BSA). Optical reflectivity spectra of the thin porous Si films display distinctive shifts in the Fabry–Perot fringes in regions of the film where the pore dimensions are larger than a critical size, interpreted to be the characteristic dimensions of the protein. Gating of the protein in and out of the porous films is demonstrated by adjustment of the solution pH below and above the pI (isoelectric point) value, respectively.
Serum immunoglobulin levels in acute and chronic urticaria

Abstract Although the pathogenesis of acute urticaria may frequently involve an allergic mechanism, the etiology of chronic urticaria is a diagnostic dilemma in most patients. A recent study described 9 children with immunoglobulin deficiencies in a group of 16 children with chronic urticaria and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. The purpose of this investigation was to quantitate the three major serum immunoglobulins, γG-, γA-, and γM-globulins, in adult patients with acute or chronic urticaria. None of these patients was subject to repeated upper respiratory tract or other infection. No deficiency of serum γG-, γA-, or γM-globulins was demonstrated in the 10 adult patients with acute urticaria or the 24 adult patients with chronic urticaria. In fact, when compared with normal adults, the patients with chronic urticaria had statistically significant increased serum γG-globulin concentrations. The clinical significance of this increased γG-globulin synthesis in adult patients with chronic urticaria has not been elucidated.
Long‐term hearing results following vestibular surgery in meniere's disease

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term hearing changes following vestibular surgery in patients with Meniere's disease. Study Design: This is a retrospective analysis of patients operated on in a tertiary referral center setting. Methods : Preoperative, postoperative, and 3- to 9-year postoperative audiograms were analyzed in two patient groups. Twenty-one patients underwent posterior fossa vestibular neurectomy (VN) and five, mastoid endolymphatic sac decompression and shunt (ELS). All frequencies, four-frequency pure-tone averages (PTAs), spondee thresholds, and speech recognition scores were compared for operated ear against non-operated ear of VN subjects. The results were subjected to a covariance analysis. VN and ELS patients whose hearing deteriorated from serviceable (PTA ≤70 dB hearing level) and speech recognition ≥30%) to nonserviceable status were compared using nonparametric statistics. Results: Progressive hearing loss beyond the rate of change of the normal contralateral ear was evident in all patients. Serviceable hearing dropped from 81% to 43% of patients an average of 4 years following VN. Conclusions: VN patients have significant hearing deterioration over time in the operated ear. This finding suggests that continued postoperative medical management is necessary for patients undergoing VN.
Early Biochemical Detection of Delayed Neurotoxicity Resulting from Developmental Exposure to Chlorpyrifos

Developing animals are more sensitive than adults to the delayed neurotoxicity caused by chlorpyrifos exposure. In developing rat brain, chlorpyrifos doses that cause no discernible systemic toxicity and only a minor degree of cholinesterase inhibition, nevertheless evoke alterations in cell function and number that appear after several days' delay. In the current study, neonatal rats were exposed to subtoxic doses of chlorpyrifos (no weight loss or mortality) on either postnatal days 1-4, or postnatal days 11-14, and the effects on cellular RNA levels were determined in two brain regions that are targeted for delayed neurotoxicity-the brainstem and forebrain. In both regions, chlorpyrifos exposure evoked significant alterations in RNA concentration and content, variables that are ordinarily very tightly controlled in the developing brain. The effects on RNA appeared well before the deficits in cell function and number and showed a regional selectivity similar to that of subsequent, delayed neurotoxicity. Deficits in RNA were more prominent in the brainstem, an early-developing brain region, than in the forebrain, which develops later. These results suggest that chlorpyrifos can elicit delayed developmental neurotoxicity by targeting the pivotal macromolecules that control cell differentiation in a critical postmitotic period. The lower threshold for these cellular effects compared to that for systemic toxicity indicates that the developing brain is a selective target for chlorpyrifos, effects that should be considered in assessing safety thresholds.
Management of elderly and frail elderly cancer patients: the importance of comprehensive geriatrics assessment and the need for guidelines.

Abstract Objectives Management of elderly and frail patients with cancer is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This article reviews and discusses the current literature that evaluates the relevance of comprehensive geriatrics assessment (CGA) and other evaluation tools in the detection of this vulnerable patient population. Methods A literature search of articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese was conducted in PubMed through September 2011. Results There is lack of detailed information concerning the efficacy, tolerability and toxicity of cancer therapies in senior adults, although the literature indicates that there is a trend toward including elderly patients and their outcome. Recent guidelines advocate a careful patient selection through a CGA. For vulnerable (pre-frail) and frail elderly cancer patients, there is no consensus in relation to selection and type of treatments. CGA has been advocated as the gold standard for evaluation of elderly patients, but thorough evaluation of vulnerable and frail patients has not been undertaken. A tool to evaluate vulnerable elderly patients to predict treatment outcomes is also needed. Discussion The adoption of the CGA in oncology practice has been slow because of the difficulties with practicality and objectivity. A shorter reliable tool for rapid and complete assessment is needed. Inclusion of frail elderly patients in treatment trials is recommended. New treatment approaches for frail elderly cancer patients need to be further investigated. Some studies that used serum markers of frailty found that even in the absence of clinical signs, some elderly patients might be already vulnerable. A potential cancer frailty index also needs further investigation.
Evaluation of functions on microcomputers: square root

Abstract This paper treats the evaluation of one of the elementary functions on short wordlength computers. The setting is a binary fixed point short wordlength (8–16 bits) machine where the intent is to suggest improvements in ROM- or microcode-based software which include the square root function as part of a more general mathematical software library or for special computation in real-time applications. This paper focuses on the evaluation of square roots and features a careful treatment of Newton's method with linear initialization. Comparisons with other popular algorithms are made based on storage requirements, speed, and accuracy, with some indication of the effect that special hardware features have on the performance of these routines.
The concept of evolution and revolution

(1972). The concept of evolution and revolution. The Philosophy Forum: Vol. 11, No. 1-2, pp. 41-69.
Lymphocyte-Macrophage Alveolitis in Nonsmoking Individuals Occupationally Exposed to Asbestos

A disordered immunologic activity has been observed in humans and animal models of asbestosis and silicosis. To characterize the lung immunologic response following long-term occupational exposure to asbestos, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on 28 nonsmoking individuals. Increased BAL lymphocytes were observed in one third. Lung lymphocytes were predominantly of the CD4 + helperinducer subtype with increased CD4 + /CD8 + ratio and increased surface expression of DR antigen consistent with the activation phenotype. Histologic evaluation of lung tissue from two individuals with lymphocytic-macrophage alveolitis and asbestos exposure revealed an infiltration of alveolar walls with chronic inflammatory mononuclear cells (lymphocytes). Interferon gamma was spontaneously released by BAL cells from 19 (76 percent) of 25 of the individuals with asbestos exposure and only one of ten normal controls. The release of interferon gamma by BAL cells could be further stimulated with concanavalin A and suppressed by cyclosporine. Although asbestosis is characterized by a predominant alveolar macrophage alveolitis, there is a subgroup with lymphocytic alveolitis and activated lymphocytes participating in the inflammatory response, especially in those without respiratory impairment early in the course of the disease process.
Comparison of mixed-acid fermentations inoculated with six different mixed cultures

The MixAlco™ process biologically converts biomass to carboxylate salts that may be converted to a variety of chemicals and fuels. This study examines the fermentation performance of six different mixed cultures, and how the performance was affected by the bacterial composition of each community. All six countercurrent fermentations had very similar performance, but were dissimilar in microbial community composition. The acid concentrations varied by only 12% between fermentation trains and the conversions varied only by 6%. The microbial communities were profiled using 16S rRNA tag-pyrosequencing, which revealed the presence of dynamic communities that were dominated by bacteria resembling Clostridia, but they shared few taxa in common. Yue–Clayton similarity calculations of the communities revealed that they were extremely different. The presence of different but functionally similar microbial communities in this study suggests that it is the operating parameters that determine the fermentation end-products.
Welfare participation and social support in late life.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among participation in welfare programs, gender, and change in social support in adults aged 65 and older. It was hypothesized that older men receiving public assistance would encounter more social network problems than older women on welfare. The findings reveal that during the 7-year study older men in receipt of welfare benefits, compared with older women on welfare, received less social support from others, were more dissatisfied with the assistance they got, and encountered more negative interaction from informal social network members (i.e., family and friends). The results suggest that those who administer welfare programs, as well as public policymakers, should consider developing interventions that address the wider psychosocial problems associated with receiving public assistance.
Plagiarism among Collaborators

Plagiarism is widely regarded by scientists as unethical because it denies a person credit he or she deserves, and it involves lying about who is responsible for ideas, words, data, or methods (Sha...
Political Information Efficacy and Internet Effects in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

Despite the increase in young adult political engagement during the early part of the twenty-first century, young adult voting rates remain relatively low. This study explores the effects of Intern...
Targeting Epigenetic Modifications for the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer

DNA methylation, histone modification, and nucleosome remodeling are the three intercalated events that result in epigenetic modification, which in turn alters gene expression. Aberrant epigenetic regulation resulting in altered gene expression has been clearly implicated in the initiation and progression of breast cancer. Our understanding of the landscape of these changes in breast cancer has increased tremendously over the past decade. Significant advancement has been made in the preclinical arena to identify targets that are epigenetically altered in breast cancer and to modulate these targets with epigenetic therapies to improve tumor response. Clinical translation of these concepts is currently ongoing and shows promise in improving outcomes in breast cancer. This article provides a comprehensive review of the completed and ongoing clinical trials of epigenetic therapy in the management and prevention of breast cancer and the rationale leading to the design of these trials.
Walleye and Muskellunge Movement in the Manitowish Chain of Lakes, Vilas County, Wisconsin

Abstract We quantified within-year and between-year movement of walleyes Sander vitreus and muskellunge Esox masquinongy in the Manitowish Chain of 10 interconnected lakes in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Beginning in May 2004, we marked 7,427 walleyes (55–2,720 fish/lake) and 491 muskellunge (24–99 fish/lake) with T-bar anchor tags and marked 33 walleyes and 36 muskellunge with radio tags. Tags were recaptured and recovered through October 2005 via fyke-netting, electrofishing, angling, and spearing. Anchor tag loss averaged 2.9% for walleyes and 2.1% for muskellunge. Of 1,752 anchor-tagged walleyes (19–555 fish/lake), 81% (54–90% per lake) were recovered in the same lake in which they were tagged. Of the 95 muskellunge tagged (1–18 fish/lake), 53% (0–100% per lake) were recovered in the same lake in which they were tagged. For radio-tagged fish, 82% (27 of 33 fish) of walleyes and 50% (18 of 36 fish) of muskellunge were recovered in the same lake in which they were tagged. Of 1,153 anchor tag returns for wal...
A Test of an Hypothesized Relationship between Learning Time and Amount Learned in School Learning

AbstractIt has been hypothesized that the degree of learning, other things being equal, is a simple function of the amount of time during which the pupil engages actively in learning. This hypothesis was tested with forty-eight students in an introductory psychology course. Classroom examinations were used to indicate amount learned; intelligence tests were used to indicate learning ability, and hours of study time reported by students were used to indicate learning time. When learning ability was controlled, statistically, the correlation between amount learned and learning time was statistically significant, r = .30, a result which provides support for the original hypothesis. Considering the attenuating effect of indicants, it was concluded that learning time is a highly important variable which should be taken into account in investigations of classroom learning.
The Miracle of the Heartbeat

My fifth pacemaker made me think of the divine miracle of our hearts' function. http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/43-2-8729
Pharmacokinetics of Intravaginal Metronidazole Gel

The pharmacokinetics of a single 500 mg oral dose of metronidazole and 5 g of 0.75% metronidazole intravaginal gel (37.5 mg metronidazole) were compared in 12 adult volunteers in a randomized crossover manner. Serial serum samples were collected over a 48-hour period and analyzed for metronidazole and hydroxymetronidazole. Metronidazole serum concentrations after intravaginal administration were only 2% of concentrations seen with the standard 500-mg oral dose. The dose-adjusted maximum serum concentration (898 +/- 121 ng/mL vs. 237 +/- 69 ng/mL) and area under the serum concentration-time curve (9362 +/- 2873 ng * hr/mL vs. 4977 +/- 2671 ng * hr/mL) were significantly greater for the oral versus intravaginal dose of metronidazole. The time to reach maximum concentration (1.4 +/- 0.6 hr vs. 8.4 +/- 2.2 hr) was significantly shorter for the oral compared with the intravaginal dose. The mean bioavailability for the intravaginal gel was 56%. Our results show that the 0.75% gel formulation may offer the advantage of fewer systemic adverse effects compared with other formulations for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
The facile synthesis of multifunctional PAMAM dendrimer conjugates through copper-free click chemistry

The facile conjugation of three azido modified functionalities, namely a therapeutic drug (methotrexate), a targeting moiety (folic acid), and an imaging agent (fluorescein) with a G5 PAMAM dendrimer scaffold with cyclooctyne molecules at the surface through copper-free click chemistry is reported. Mono-, di-, and tri-functional PAMAM dendrimer conjugates can be obtained via combinatorial mixing of different azido modified functionalities simultaneously or sequentially with the dendrimer platform. Preliminary flow cytometry results indicate that the folic acid targeted nanoparticles are efficiently binding with KB cells.
Interannual Variability in the Mid- and Low-Latitude Western North Pacific

Abstract Twenty-two years (1967–88) of hydrographic data collected by the Japan Meteorological Agency along the 137°E meridian and surface wind data compiled by Florida State University (FSU) were analyzed to study the interannual variability in the western North Pacific. In the midlatitude region north of 22°N, the dominant signal in the dynamic height field was the interannual path variations of the Kuroshio. Whereas the eastward transport of the Kuroshio itself had no significant changes between the straight-path and meander-path years, the net transport of the Kuroshio system including recirculations showed a 30% increase during the meander-path years. In the straight-path years when the net transport was small, the Kuroshio tended to take a straight path with a strong recirculation developed to the south. The interannual path variations of the Kuroshio strongly influenced the water-mass movement in the midlatitudes. During the Kuroshio meander years, we found that a significant portion of the North P...
Laser interference lithography and nanoimprint techniques for lower reflection transparent conducting oxide hybrid films

The transparent conducting oxide (TCO) film is a significant component in flat panel display industry, applied for flexible display, e-paper, and touch panel. The TCO materials have high refractive index, so the phenomenon of high reflectance is the major issue and needs solved in present and future market. In this study, the structure and process of new lower reflection TCO hybrid film is introduced. The laser interference lithography and UV nanoimprint are combined for fabrication of sub-wavelength structures on PET film, then the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) deposited on structures. Finally, the best result of this hybrid film is reflectance reduced to 3.3% at wavelength 550nm, just 13% of the original film, and the resistance of ITO layer is 1.05×10−3 Ω-cm. This result is useful for the TCO film applied in low reflection demand products in the future.