cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure of the daytime urban moisture field

Abstract Within the larger context of Project METROMEX, temporal and spatial analyses of daytime specific humidity and potential temperature were evaluated for the surface and for the mixing layer over the St. Louis area. Data from instrumented aircraft, fixed and mobile surface stations and radiosondes were evaluated on a case study basis. Anthropogenic sources and sinks of water vapor were estimated. Mesoscale dry regions at the urban surface are associated with particular urban land use types. Dry regions within the urban mixing layer show a reduction of 10–20% in specific humidity, these appear to result from a combination of reduced surface evaporation and increased downward entrainment at the top of the mixing layer.
Numerical simulation of mixed convection heat and mass transfer in a human inhalation test chamber

Abstract Large baffled rectangular chambers, Rochester-style test chambers, and displacement ventilated rooms have traditionally been used to study effects of potentially toxic pollutants on animals and humans. Recently, the interest in harmful effects of indoor gaseous pollutants and associated air quality control have rapidly increased because most urban dwellers spend more than 90% of their daily lives in closed environments. Of interest here are the experimentally validated CFD simulations of transient turbulent non-isothermal flow with tracer gas transport in a personal exposure environment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of transient breathing on trace gas ambient (i.e., exposure) concentrations and ultimately the uptake (i.e., dose concentrations) by the subject for three different orientations with respect to the non-isothermal air stream and the location of the tracer gas source.
On Understanding Too Quickly: Colonial and Postcolonial Misrepresentation of Indigenous Fijian Land Tenure

From the very beginning of British colonial rule, government attempts to understand Fijian land tenure led to confusion about its nature and the development of a European understanding that oversimplified and misrepresented it as simple communal ownership. Indigenous land ownership was officially recognized and standardized over most of Fiji, as communal rights in the collective hands of a mid-level descent group within the sedentary lineage system, the mataqali. Actual land tenure is, however, more complex, and in many areas continues to be followed today. Recently, the common property theoretical model has been applied in many parts of the non-Western world, based on a similar oversimplification and misrepresentation of actual practice, as well as on a similar conviction that such tenure systems can be reduced to communal land rights. Drawing on a critique of the common property approach and empirical observations from the interior of Vitilevu, this paper shows how Fijian land tenure cannot be reduced to its superficial common property aspect, but has simultaneous, multilayered sets of rights, both communal and individual. A land tenure theory must be able to take into account such systems if it is to have any serious analytic value.
Methodological Challenges in Research on Sexual Risk Behavior: III. Response to Commentary

Background: We recently provided two detailed reviews of sexual risk behavior research (1,2) in which we identified methodological challenges, reviewed new developments, and made recommendations to guide future research. In this issue, Catania et al. provide a commentary on our two reviews.Purpose: Clarifications.Method: We carefully reviewed the commentary provided by Catania et al. and respond to their critique.Results: Catania et al. emphasized three major points in their commentary: (a) When assessing sexual risk behavior, categorical assessments of unprotected intercourse may be preferable to count data; (b) quantification of sexual risk via counts of unprotected intercourse does not reflect the complexity of the sexual transmission of HIV; and (c) analysis of variance and analysis of covariance options in analyzing the effects of randomized HIV risk-reduction trials were overemphasized in our review. We address each of these points in turn and clarify the three points that were misunderstood.Conclusions: We remain convinced that count data of sexual risk behavior are the more useful, versatile, and valid indicators of sexual risk reduction in the evaluation of sexual risk behavior interventions. We urge interested readers to review our original articles, which provide a more detailed account of the challenges and opportunities of sexual behavior research.
Generation of sulphate from cysteine in forest soil and litter

85-95% of the added label. 33S-labelled components in each extract were separated by electrophoresis, located on electrophoretograms by scanning and identified (Fitzgerald and Andrew, 1984). The radioactivity associated with each component, determined by liquid scintillation counting, was expressed as a percentage of the total radioactivity of the extract The amount of each component, expressed as nmol S, was calculated from the amount of "S added initially. Activities were standardized to a 1 g dry weight basis. Mineralization potentials were determined from the amount of [35S]sulphate present in all the extracts whereas potentials for incorporation of the amino acid into organic matter (immobilization) were determined from the amount of the 3SS-amino acid recovered in the acid and base extracts. To determine the effect of pH on cysteine metabolism, approximately equal amounts (wet weight basis) of Al
The traveling science teacher demonstration program and in-service education

A report of the use of the Traveling Science Teacher Demonstration Program as an agent for the in-service education of science teachers in Oregon.
Imprinted poly(acrylic acid) films on cadmium selenide. A composite sensor structure that couples selective amine binding with semiconductor substrate photoluminescence

Molecularly imprinted films of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been coated onto n-CdSe in order to make the band-edge photoluminescence (PL) of the semiconductor respond selectively to the imprinting analyte. This strategy has been implemented using PAA films deposited in the presence of ammonia and trimethylamine analytes. PAA films have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, which indicates that binding of either analyte nearly reversibly deprotonates the polymer carboxylic acid groups. PL measurements suggest that the imprinted PAA coatings serve as sieves for selective surface binding: In contrast to the bare CdSe surface, which responds both to ammonia and trimethylamine with reversible enhancements in PL intensity, CdSe coated with ammonia-imprinted PAA (AI−PAA) films exhibits reversible PL changes toward ammonia but no response to trimethylamine. The PL changes for the AI−PAA films can be fit to a dead-layer model that indicates that ammonia binding reduces the CdSe depletion width by ∼100 A, an eff...
Light and electron microscopic study on the pineal complex of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae Smith.

The pineal complex of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae was studied light and electron microscopically. It consists of two vesicles representing parapineal and pineal organs. Both occur intracranially and openly communicate with each other and the brain ventricle. The entire complex shows a striking photoreceptor morphology with sensory, ependymal and nerve cells. The last cell type is more abundant in the parapineal vesicle than in the pineal organ. The following ultrastructural details of the parapineal are noteworthy: The results are discussed with regard to photoreceptive and secretory functions of the pineal complex and its evolution in lower vertebrates.
Engineering three-dimensional nervous tissue constructs based on fiber-gel substrates

Three-dimensional (3D) nervous tissue constructs were developed using a compliant gel matrix and a fiber component for promoting contact-guided axon outgrowth. Rat embryonic (E15) dorsal root ganglion expiants (DRGs) were cultured on biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and wet-spun type I collagen fibers embedded in soft collagen gels. Gel constructs containing fibers induced greater axon outgrowth distances with significantly more directionality along the aligned fibers. Interestingly, wet-spun type I collagen from rat tail tendon displayed a highly aligned outgrowth pattern from DRG axons suggesting potential use for peripheral nerve repair.
Nonlocal mode mixing and surface-plasmon-polariton-mediated enhancement of diffracted terahertz fields by a conductive grating

This work generalizes our previous study of the effect of plasma-wave induced longitudinal fields [D. H. Huang et al. J. Appl. Phys. 100, 113711 (2006)]. We incorporate a conductive grating on top of a conducting sheet for generating and mixing Bragg modes arising from a reflected and/or transmitted electromagnetic field. It also generalizes our recent work on the coupling of electronically modulated two-dimensional plasmons with the surface plasmon [G. Gumbs and D. H. Huang, Phys. Rev. B 75, 115314 (2007)] by including the retardation and longitudinal-field effects in calculating the diffracted near and far electromagnetic fields. The main result of this paper is the prediction of large enhancements at the band edges of a coupled Bloch-surface-plasmon-polariton band in the spectrum of the reflected far electromagnetic field due to anticrossing gaps induced by the strong coupling between the continuous surface-plasmon-polariton mode and discrete Bloch-like modes. The existence of these Bloch-like modes is a direct consequence of the nonlocal mixing of specular and diffraction modes of the reflected electromagnetic field by free-electron induced optical polarization and the interference of a pair of surface optical-polarization waves with opposite Bragg order numbers in the presence of a grating. The interference of these two counterpropagating surface waves leads to the formation of a Wannier-like state with associated electromagnetic fields localized within the grating-gap regions. The effects of the sheet density, plasmon instability, grating period, angle of incidence, and absorption loss on the optical enhancements of both transmitted and reflected electromagnetic fields are investigated.
Delocalizing Electrons in Water with Light

Experimental information on the spatial extent of the putative p and conduction band states of the hydrated electron (eeq) has been obtained by monitoring and controlling the electron/hole spatial separation of a photogenerated eeq/hole pair using a femtosecond laser pulse sequence. Optical excitation of eeq with two photons is observed to dramatically alter its spatial distribution and geminate recombination yield with the hole. One-photon excitation, in contrast, has no effect on the spatial distribution. The results strongly confirm theoretical predictions on the size and location of excited states of eeq.
Lens regeneration from the dorsal iris inEurycea bislineata, the two-lined salamander

Following lens removal from the eye of adultEurycea bislineata, the northern (USA) 2-lined salamander, it was found that this salamander has the capacity for lens regeneration. Its widespread distribution and high percentage of regenerative success suggests it as a suitable organism for the study of this differentiative phenomenon.
Effects of 7-OH-DPAT on cocaine-seeking behavior and on re-establishment of cocaine self-administration.

Effects of the D2-like dopamine agonist, 7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT), on cocaine-seeking behavior and re-establishment of cocaine self-administration were examined. Rats were trained to lever press for cocaine infusions (0.25 mg/kg iv). Some were then tested for cocaine-seeking behavior (i.e., lever presses in the absence of cocaine re-inforcement) immediately following acute 7-OH-DPAT (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 mg/kg sc) or saline administration. Others were tested immediately or 2-23 h following repeated daily 7-OH-DPAT (1.0 mg/kg sc) or saline administration for extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior, cocaine re-instatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, and re-establishment of cocaine self-administration following extinction. 7-OH-DPAT-induced changes in locomotion were also assessed. Cocaine-experienced animals exhibited cross-tolerance to the transient hypoactivity produced by acute 7-OH-DPAT administration. Acute administration of low doses (0.01-0.1 mg/kg) of 7-OH-DPAT attenuated cocaine-seeking behavior, whereas the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg) initially attenuated, then increased, cocaine-seeking behavior. In animals tested immediately following one of the repeated administrations, 7-OH-DPAT did not alter cocaine self-administration, but sensitized locomotion. Repeated 7-OH-DPAT administration also increased cocaine-seeking behavior when administered 0 h, but not 2 or 4 h, before cocaine priming (15 mg/kg ip) and testing. In animals tested 17-23 h following one of the repeated administrations, cocaine-seeking behavior and re-establishment of cocaine self-administration were attenuated, but maintenance of self-administration following re-establishment, cocaine re-instatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior, and spontaneous locomotion were unaltered. The findings suggest that following repeated administration, 7-OH-DPAT produces a transient increase (<2 h) in incentive motivation for cocaine that is followed by a protracted decrease in incentive motivation for cocaine.
High speed e-beam testing using GaAs negative electron affinity photocathodes

Abstract An experimental electron gun utilizing an activated negative electron affinity GaAs photocathode has been constructed and installed on a scanning Auger microprobe column. The cathode is operated in the pulsed mode with a dye laser. The electron gun is used to perform time domain metrology with a 100 ps resolution. Use of a high repetition rate short electron pulse photocathode eliminates the need for high frequency beam blanking optics and increases the number of electrons per pulse. The electron pulse shade and duration are predicted by numerically solving the ambipolar diffusion equation which describes the transport of the photoexcited electrons in the cathode structure.
Hippocampal lesions interfere with Pavlovian negative occasion setting

Rats were trained with either a serial feature positive (L-->T1+ T-) or a serial feature negative (L-->T1-, T1+) discrimination, intermixed with training on another, nonconditional discrimination (T2+, N-), using a Pavlovian appetitive conditioning preparation with multiple response measures. Among rats trained with the serial feature positive discrimination, neurotoxic lesions of the hippocampus produced a transient impairment in the acquisition of that discrimination, but did not affect acquisition of the nonconditional discrimination. In contrast, among rats that received serial feature negative discrimination training, hippocampal lesions produced enduring deficits in the acquisition of both discriminations. The results of transfer tests indicated that both lesioned and control rats used a conditional learning strategy (occasion setting) to solve the feature positive and feature negative discriminations. Furthermore, lesioned rats, especially those that received training with the feature negative discrimination, displayed increasingly higher levels of general activity as training progressed. The results suggest that hippocampal lesions particularly interfere with inhibitory learning (negative occasion setting) about both explicit and contextual cues.
Mode locked and Q-switched Cr:ZnSe laser using a Semiconductor Saturable Absorbing Mirror (SESAM)

A passively mode-locked cw Cr:ZnSe laser operating near 2.5 μm generated 400 mW of output power with 11 psec pulse duration and 100 MHz repetition rate using a Semiconductor Saturable Absorbing Mirror (SESAM). Adjusting the cavity to be significantly shorter and have a weaker focus on the SESAM, passive Q-switched operation could also be obtained with the same SESAM. Q-switched operation produced 50 nsec pulses with a 1 MHZ repetition rate, and peak powers of 10 W. In both mode-locked and Q-switched operation, the laser was pumped with 2.4W from a Tm:YALO laser.
Integrating education, research, and practice in gerontological social work: lessons learned from the reclaiming joy peer support program.

The practice-to-research gap has been attributed to many factors, including differing goals and priorities, differing knowledge bases and skill sets, and lack of recognition of limits of agency and community resources. Although many scholars have called for more collaboration between educators, researchers, and practitioners, these challenges can make collaboration difficult. The authors illustrate how the application of the strengths perspective, by acknowledging and building on the strengths and goals of researchers, practitioners, and educators, can help to mitigate some of the barriers that contribute to the research–-practice gap and to create more relevant research. The Reclaiming Joy Peer Support Program is offered as a case study in gerontological social work to demonstrate how the strengths perspective can be applied in a real-life research setting.
Tissue Engineered Tumor Microvessels to Study the Role of Flow Shear Stress on Endothelial Barrier Function

As solid tumors develop, a variety of physical stresses arise including growth induced compressive force, matrix stiffening due to desmoplasia, and increased interstitial fluid pressure and altered flow patterns due to leaky vasculature and poor lymphatic drainage [1]. These microenvironmental stresses likely contribute to the abnormal cell behavior that drives tumor progression, and have become an increasingly significant area of cancer research. Of particular importance, is the role of flow shear stress on tumor-endothelial signaling, vascular function, and angiogenesis. Compared to normal vasculature, blood vessels in tumors are poorly functional due to dysregulated expression of angiogenic growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or the angiopoietins. Also, because of the abnormal vessel structure, blood velocities can be an order of magnitude lower than that of normal microvessels. Recently published work utilizing intravital microscopy to measure blood velocities in mouse mammary fat pad tumors, demonstrated for the first time that shear rate gradients in tumors may help guide branching and growth of new vessels [2]. However, much still remains unknown about how shear stress regulates endothelial organization, permeability, or expression of growth factors within the context of the tumor microenvironment.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
SU‐FF‐T‐497: When Tumor Repopulation Starts? An Outcome Analysis of Radiotherpay for Cervical Cancer

Purpose: The onset time of tumor repopulation remains an unsolved issue for cervical cancer, although 3∼4 weeks have been assumed. The purpose of this study is to determine the onset time (Tk) of cervical cancer based on an outcome analysis. Method and Materials: A total of 80 patients with cervical cancer (stages IB2‐IVA) were included in this study. Four sequential magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scans were performed before, during and after radiation therapy (RT). The median follow‐up time was 5.5 years (range 0.2–9.4 years). A kinetic model incorporating effects of radiation cell killing, dead‐cell resolving, and tumor repopulation, was introduced to analyzetumor regression data measured by the MRI scans. A series of the onset time (Tk) has been tested for outcome prediction. The derived radiobiological parameters, including cell surviving fraction of 2 Gy (S2) and dead‐cell resolving half‐time (T1/2), were correlated with clinical outcome using the Mann‐Whitney rank‐sum test. Results: Both the model parameters, S2 and T1/2, derived from regression data, correlated significantly with clinical outcome (p<0.0001). The corresponding p‐values for outcome prediction were obtained as a function of the onset time. The optimal value of the onset time for best outcome prediction was Tk=19 days, with an uncertainty range of (14, 35) days. The outcome prediction power of T1/2 was superior to that of S2, and more sensitive to the onset time of tumor repopulation. Conclusion: The onset time of accelerated repopulation of cervical cancer was directly derived from the clinical data using a kinetic model. Our study showed that accelerated repopulation does exist in RT for cervical cancer and has a relatively short onset time. Therefore dose escalation is necessary to compensate the effects of RT protraction.
Growth of Nanotubes and Chemical Sensor Applications

We have used a number of methods to grow long aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes. Geometries include individual long tubes, dense parallel arrays, and long freely suspended nanotubes. We have fabricated a variety of devices for applications such as multiprobe resistance measurement and high-current field effect transistors. In addition, we have measured conductance of single-walled semiconducting carbon nanotubes in field-effect transistor geometry and investigated the device response to water and alcoholic vapors. We observe significant changes in FET drain current when the device is exposed to various kinds of different solvent. These responses are reversible and reproducible over many cycles of vapor exposure. Our experiments demonstrate that carbon nanotube FETs are sensitive to a wide range of solvent vapors at concentrations in the ppm range.
Emittance and absorptance of the national aeronautics and space administration ceramic thermal barrier coating

The spectral emittance of a NASA developed zirconia ceramic thermal barrier coating system, consisting of a metal substrate, a layer of Ni-Cr-Al-Y bond material and a layer of yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic material, is analyzed. The emittance, needed for evaluation of radiant heat loads on cooled coated gas turbine components, was measured over a range of temperatures that would be typical of its use on such components. Emittance data were obtained with a spectrometer, a reflectometer and a radiation pyrometer at a single bond coating thickness of 0.010 cm and at a ceramic coating thickness of 0-0.076 cm. The data were transformed into the hemispherical total emittance and were correlated to the ceramic coating thickness and temperature using multiple-regression curve-fitting techniques. The system was found to be highly reflective, and, consequently, capable of significantly reducing radiation heat loads on cooled gas turbine engine components.
Gliofibroma: a distinct entity or a subtype of desmoplastic astrocytoma?

Abstract Gliofibromas are rarely encountered astrocytic neoplasms characterized by an admixture of astrocytic and fibroblastic cell components. The exact nature of these rare tumors are still a matter of considerable debate. This article reports a case of gliofibroma occurring in a 3-month-old boy. The astrocytic component of the tumor stained diffusely positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S-100 protein. Prominent reticulin staining was observed within the fibroblastic component of the tumor. The MIB1 labeling index (positive number of tumor cells divided by total tumor cells counted ×100) was low (0.9), supporting the general slow growth of these tumors. Immunohistochemical staining with antibody against p53 protein was negative. Gliofibromas seem to be a low-grade variant of an astrocytoma that shares many features with other desmoplastic astrocytic neoplasms (desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma, desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma) including a generally favorable prognosis.
Preventing Perioperative Transmission of Infection: A Survey of Anesthesiology Practice

Given the societal and economic impact of perioperative infection, it is essential that anesthesiologists and other operating room personnel use appropriate precautions to reduce the potential for transmission of infectious agents to the patients under their care.This study, therefore, was designed
Revisiting prochaska and DiClemente's stages of change theory: An expansion and specification to aid in treatment planning and outcome evaluation

Why people change and why they do not change is a question that therapists have asked for many years. For almost two decades one model of change has stood as the standard bearer in conceptualizing the stages of change in therapy. The need to modify the Prochaska and DiClemente model of change has come out of our own experiences in working with patients with a variety of mental health issues. The addition of these new stages reflects the experiences of clients and therapists both in and out of the therapeutic process. The original model has guided not only our therapy but our research as well. We now face times of increasing scrutiny of our therapeutic process and a reliance on research-based outcome evaluation. This increased scrutiny requires us to provide models with more precision to truly describe what we do and how we do it. The development of this expanded model of change was designed to fulfill that very purpose of more precision. This model will hopefully provide the clinician, the researcher, the third party payer and ultimately the patient with a more experience-centered focus from which to make their decisions.
Uniform Spatial resolution list mode reconstruction for the HRRT

In expectation-maximization (EM) reconstruction, uniform spatial resolution in the field of view (FOV) is difficult to achieve as the iterations are typically stopped prematurely. Maximum-a-posterior (MAP) reconstruction is known to accelerate convergence by applying desirable constraints on the estimated parameters. However, object-dependent spatial resolution is still present using traditional penalty functions, even when the algorithm fully converges. The goal of this study is to test a uniform-resolution MAP (UR-MAP) algorithm for static PET reconstruction, as an extension of the work of Fessler et at and our list-mode OSEM algorithm (MOLAR), for the HRRT. The local spatial resolution, characterized by local impulse response (LIR) function is adjusted by applying spatially varying smoothing to the image based on local counts. A simulation study shows that standard MAP reconstruction with a global smoothing parameter over-smoothed high-activity regions and reduced the contrast between hot regions and the background. With the global smoothing parameter P=O.Ol, the contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) reaches 87% in low-background areas and 77% in high background areas. UR-MAP reduced the effective smoothing in high-background areas, and thus produced a uniform CRC of 87%, independent of background activity and local contrast. Preliminary results in human brain reconstructions show that UR-MAP yields images with reduced smoothing in high-activity regions than the standard MAP method.
Should the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood lead poisoning intervention level be lowered?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1991 chose 10 μg/dL as an initial screening level for lead in children’s blood. Current data on health risks and intervention options do not support generally lowering that level, but federal lead poisoning prevention efforts can be improved by revising the follow-up testing schedule for infants aged 1 year or less with blood lead levels of 5 μg/dL or higher; universal education about lead exposure risks; universal administration of improved, locally validated risk-screening questionnaires; enhanced compliance with targeted screening recommendations and federal health program requirements; and development by regulatory agencies of primary prevention criteria that do not use the CDC’s intervention level as a target “safe” lead exposure.
Predicting outcome of patients with chest wall injury.

Abstract Background Rib fractures occur in 10% of injured patients, are associated with morbidity and mortality, and frequently necessitate intensive care unit (ICU) care. A scoring system that identifies the risk for respiratory failure early in the evaluation process may allow early intervention to improve outcomes. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a scoring system based on initial clinical findings can identify patients with rib fractures at greatest risk for morbidity and mortality. Methods A simple scoring system to stratify risk was developed and applied to patients through a retrospective trauma registry review. Points were assigned as follows: age 65 years = 3 points; 5 fractures = 3 points; no pulmonary contusion = 0 points, mild pulmonary contusion = 1 point, severe pulmonary contusion = 2 points, bilateral pulmonary contusion = 3 points; and bilateral rib fracture absent = 0 points, bilateral rib fracture absent present = 2 points. A review of trauma registry patients with rib fractures (June 2008 to February 2010) at a state-designated level 1 trauma center was performed. Data reviewed included age, number of fractures, bilateral injury, presence of pulmonary contusion, classification of the contusion, length of hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and length of stay. The scoring system was retrospectively applied to 649 patients to determine validity. Results A score ≤ 7 indicated lower mortality (24 of 579 [4.2%]) compared with patients with scores > 7 (10 of 70 [14.3%]) (Fisher's 2-sided P = .0018). Patients with scores ≤ 6 were less likely to be admitted to an ICU (29.7%) compared with those with scores ≥ 7 (56.7%) ( P P 4 (59.7%) ( P Conclusions A simple scoring system predicts the likelihood that patients will require mechanical ventilation and prolonged courses of care. A score of 7 or 8 predicted increased risk for mortality, admission to the ICU, and intubation. A score > 5 predicted a longer length of stay and a longer period of ventilation. This scoring system may assist in the earlier implementation of treatment strategies such epidural anesthesia, ventilation, and operative fixation of fractures.
How often is 84(g−1) achieved?

For any finitely generated group Γ, the asymptotics of the set of orders of finite quotient groups of Γ are determined by the minimum dimension of a complex linear group containing an infinite quotient of Γ. We give a proof and an application to the asymptotic behavior of the set of integersg for which the Hurwitz bound is sharp.
The value of curettage in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

The charts of all patients hospitalized between 1978 and 1983 with proved ectopic pregnancies at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and Meir Hospital, Kfar-Sava, Israel, were reviewed. Eighty-four patients with ectopic pregnancies had endometrial tissue available for histologic analyses. Review of the endometrial curettings revealed that the most common endometrium associated with ectopic pregnancy was secretory (39.4%). Proliferative endometrium present 19% of the time was as common a finding as Arias-Stella phenomenon. This study shows that any type of endometrium lacking trophoblasts may be associated with an ectopic pregnancy. The lack of decidual reaction or Arias-Stella phenomenon should not alone lower the clinician's index of suspicion.
Psychology's Surge in Undergraduate Majors.

This is a report on the surge of undergraduate psychology majors since the early 1980s. The number of psychology faculty has remained relatively constant in the last decade, but the number of bachelor's degrees awarded in psychology has increased by 59% since 1985 almost entirely due to an increase in the number awarded to women, which has increased by 80%. Results of a survey indicate that psychology departments have dealt with increasing enrollments by some combination of (a) new admissions requirements, such as completion of required premajor courses; (b) more rigorous requirements for graduation; and (c) limiting advanced courses only to majors. Causes and long-range implications for academic psychology are discussed.
The Effects of Cooking Methods on the Chemical, Physical, and Sensory Properties of Hard-Cooked Eggs

Abstract The effects of three cooking methods on the chemical, physical, and sensory properties of hard-cooked eggs were investigated. Freshly laid eggs were stored at 23 C for 48 hr and then hard cooked by one of three methods: steaming (S) for 20min; severe boiling (B) procedure (water brought to a full boil and maintained for 20 min); and a standard hard cook (SHC) procedure (water brought to a slow boil followed by 20 min simmer). The eggs were peeled, separated into yolk and white, and evaluated for pH, moisture, color, texture by an Instron Texturometer and texture profile panel, and flavor by a trained profile panel, experienced panel, and headspace gas chromatography. Eggs subjected to the B procedure had the highest endpoint temperature (98.7 C) followed by SHC (95.6 C) and S eggs (89.4 C). The cooking rate for S eggs was approximately three times faster than SHC or B eggs. Both egg white moisture and pH values were significantly influenced by cooking method. Severely boiled egg whites had significantly lower pH moisture values than SHC or S eggs. Small but perceivable texture differences due to cooking were found by the texture profile panel in addition to significant egg white and yolk texture differences as measured using the Instron. Severely boiled egg whites had the firmest texture followed by SHC and S egg whites. All treatments had a typical egg aroma and flavor, yet several detectable sensory differences were found between the treatments. There were little qualitative differences in headspace volatiles between treatments, although significant quantitative differences were noted between treatments for eggs yolks and whites.
Automated tandem high-performance liquid chromatographic system for separation of extremely complex peptide mixtures

We have developed an automated tandem chromatography system, which consists of a combination of ion-exchange column chromatography and reversed-phase column chromatography. The system is composed of two independent high-performance liquid chromatography assemblies, in each of which programmed elution is carried out by a computer-assisted controller. A peptide mixture is applied to an ion-exchange column and is eluted in a stepwise manner. The eluent from the first column is introduced directly into the second, reversed-phase column, which is connected in tandem through a tee tube. After application of two column volumes of the eluent, reversed-phase chromatography is performed by linear gradient elution. Stepwise elution for ion-exchange chromatography and the gradient elution for reversed-phase chromatography are synchronized by a computer program. The resolving power and the reproducibility of the method were tested by using a tryptic digest of human ceruloplasmin [molecular weight 132 000 daltons (132 kDa)]. By this method, the digest was resolved reproducibly into several hundred peaks within 16 h. All of the four glycopeptides expected to be obtained by tryptic digestion were purified easily from the whole digest of the protein. Comparison of the peptide maps between a single-chain and a degraded form of ceruloplasmin facilitated the identification of two tryptic peptides, derived from the carboxyl-terminal regions of 67 kDa and 50 kDa fragments of the degraded form, which lack the carboxyl-terminal arginine and lysine residues, respectively. The method may be applicable to comparative peptide mapping of very large proteins exhibiting molecular microheterogeneity, such as carbohydrate or genetic variants; it also can be used complementarily for sequence support of DNA sequencing as well as for preparative purification of peptides as a strategy of protein sequencing of very large proteins.
Detection and subtyping of swine influenza H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 viruses in clinical samples using two multiplex RT-PCR assays

A total of 360 type A swine influenza virus-positive samples including cell culture isolates, nasal swabs or lung tissues along with 30 virus-negative samples were tested for the detection and subtyping of H1N1, H1N2 or H3N2 by two multiplex reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays. The positive samples had been collected between 1999 and 2001 from pigs with respiratory diseases, and type A influenza virus was isolated and subtyped by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test at the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MVDL). Two multiplex RT-PCR assays specific for H1 and H3, and N1 and N2 were developed. RT-PCR products with unique sizes characteristic of each subtype of influenza A virus were sequenced, and the sequences were demonstrated to be specific for H1N1, H1N2 or H3N2. Genomic RNAs or DNAs from 12 common swine pathogens other than type A influenza viruses were not amplified when the PCR assays were performed with these primer sets. Positive amplification reaction could be visualized with RNA extracted from up to 10(-5) dilution of each reference virus with original infectivity titer of 10(5) TCID(50)/ml. Of the 360 samples tested, swine influenza virus H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 were identified in 200, 13 and 139 samples, respectively. The remaining eight samples were positive for both H1N1 and H3N2 viruses. The results of multiplex RT-PCR were 100% in agreement with those of virus isolation. These results demonstrate the usefulness of multiplex RT-PCR for detection and identification of influenza A virus subtypes. The results also indicate an increased occurrence of H1N2 in US swine population.
Impact on quality of life of adjuvant therapy for breast cancer

Late toxicities of adjuvant chemotherapy and side effects of endocrine therapy may cause long-term quality-of-life impairments for some individuals who have been treated for breast cancer. Chemotherapy has been associated with durable effects on cognitive function and fatigue and with the induction of menopause. Endocrine therapies can increase menopausal and sexual symptoms and can contribute to weight gain. Overall, however, quality of life is good for the majority of breast cancer survivors who have received adjuvant systemic therapy. Behavioral interventions that target fatigue and sleep disturbance may further enhance quality of life.
Effect of surface contamination on adhesive bonding of cast pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

Abstract Statement of problem. There is little information regarding bond strengths of resin cements to cast titanium surfaces contaminated by investment material. Purpose. This study examined the effect of surface contamination on the shear bond strength of resin cements to cast titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Material and methods. Two types of disks were cast from commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V alloy ingots using an argon-arc pressure casting unit and a phosphate-bonded Al 2 O 3 /LiAlSiO 6 investment. After casting, disks were subjected to 3 surface treatments: (1) cast surface sandblasted (50 μm-sized Al 2 O 3 ) for 30 seconds; (2) metal surface sanded with silicon-carbide paper (600 grit) after grinding the contaminated cast surface (approximately 200 μm in thickness); and (3) metal surface sandblasted for 30 seconds after treatment 2. Surface structures were examined after each treatment with SEM and optical microscopy. Each type of disk was then bonded with 2 types of luting materials. Bonded specimens were subjected to thermocycling for up to 50,000 cycles, and shear bond strengths were determined after 0 (baseline) and 50,000 thermocycles. Results were statistically analyzed with 3-way ANOVA ( P Results. Microscopic observation of cast CP-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V exhibited noticeable structures on the cast surfaces apparently contaminated with investment material. However, there were no statistical differences ( P >.05) in the bond strengths of both cements between contaminated (treatment 1) and uncontaminated surfaces (treatment 3) for both metals at baseline and after 50,000 thermocycles. The bond strength of specimens sanded with silicon-carbide paper (treatment 2) deteriorated dramatically after 50,000 thermocycles. Conclusions. Contamination of the cast metal surfaces by elements of the investment during casting did not affect bond strengths of the luting materials to CP-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;81:270-6.)
Coexistence of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with primary hyperaldosteronism

The discovery of two forms of secondary hypertension in the same patient is unusual and suggests similar pathophysiological mechanisms, a predisposition to one type in the presence of the other or a chance occurrence. We describe two patients with renal artery stenosis who after successful correction of the stenotic lesions were discovered to have primary hyperaldosteronism associated with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Initially prior to revascularisation of the renal artery stenosis, the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism was not evident. Both patients were subjected to further diagnostic evaluation after the appearance of hypokalaemia in one patient and continued resistant hypertension in both patients. The addition of spironolactone therapy reduced blood pressure impressively in both patients. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility that these two forms of secondary hypertension may be present in the same patient and that optimal blood pressure control requires diagnostic assessment and intervention for both disorders.
Circulating adiponectin levels, body composition and obesity-related variables in Prader-Willi syndrome: comparison with obese subjects.

People with obesity and/or the metabolic syndrome have an increased risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease and may have low adiponectin levels. The obesity associated with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) would be expected to have similar complications. However, it was recently reported that, despite their adiposity, people with PWS have reduced visceral fat and are less likely to develop diabetes mellitus or the metabolic syndrome compared with people with simple obesity. To determine if plasma adiponectin levels and other variables relevant to diabetes and cardiovascular risk are different in a cohort of PWS subjects with known genetic subtypes compared with age-, sex- and weight-matched control subjects. Fasting plasma glucose, C-peptide, triglycerides, leptin and cholesterol levels were similar in PWS and obese subjects. Our 20 PWS subjects (mean age=27.7 years) had higher percent body fat (54.1 vs 48.5%) determined by DEXA measurements and lower percent lean mass (45.9 vs 51.5%) compared with 14 obese controls (mean age=26.9 year). Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly higher in PWS (15.5±8.2 μg/ml) than in obese controls (7.5±2.7 μg/ml). A significant positive correlation was found with insulin sensitivity in PWS subjects (r=0.75, P=0.0003) but not in obese controls (r=0.36, P=0.20). Our study confirmed an earlier observation of higher adiponectin levels in PWS subjects and less insulin resistance proportionate to their obesity status than found in subjects with simple obesity. Furthermore, no differences were seen in PWS subjects with the chromosome 15 deletion or maternal disomy 15. The reported excessive visceral adiposity in subjects with simple obesity compared with PWS may be associated with decreased production and lower circulating levels of adiponectin.
Consumers and establishment limitations contribute more than competitive interactions in sustaining dominance of the exotic herb garlic mustard in a Wisconsin, USA forest

The understory is a diverse component of temperate forest ecosystems, contributing significantly to forest ecosystem services. Despite their importance, many native understories face stresses from current and past land use, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and overabundant herbivores. We established a four block, three factor experiment to evaluate the relative contribution of native plant establishment, competitive effects from the invasive herb garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), and herbivory from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to better understand the mechanisms promoting low native plant richness and cover and understory dominance by the biennial exotic herb garlic mustard in a NE Wisconsin, USA forest. Four years of garlic mustard removal failed to increase native plant richness or cover in non-restored plots. However, deer access and the introduction of native plants (restoration treatment) both significantly enhanced native plant cover and richness, with restored species cover in fenced plots approximately 216 % that of open-access plots, and the majority of these species flowered at significantly higher proportions inside of fenced areas. In contrast, deer access did not significantly alter the cover, or seed production of garlic mustard. We also found no significant effect of garlic mustard presence on the cover or flowering of restored native species. We conclude that multiple factors, including limited natural establishment by native species and selective herbivory drove low native, high exotic dominance at our site, suggesting that a shift in focus from invasive plant removal to combined native plant restoration and herbivore control is needed to maximize the recovery of this degraded forest understory.
Abelian Frobenius kernels and modules over number rings

Some categories of groups (typically involving groups, possibly infinite, with abelian Frobenius kernels) are shown to be equivalent to categories whose objects are modules over groups and rings. The rings in question are associated with algebraic number fields, and the category equivalences allow some applications of number theory to group theory. In particular the number of isomorphism classes of metabelian Frobenius groups with kernel of order n and complement of order m is calculated in terms of the prime factorization of n and the structure of the Euler group (ZmZ)•.
ATP-dependent Mitochondrial Porphyrin Importer ABCB6 Protects against Phenylhydrazine Toxicity

Abcb6 is a mammalian mitochondrial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that regulates de novo porphyrin synthesis. In previous studies, haploinsufficient (Abcb6(+/-)) embryonic stem cells showed impaired porphyrin synthesis. Unexpectedly, Abcb6(-/-) mice derived from these stem cells appeared phenotypically normal. We hypothesized that other ATP-dependent and/or -independent mechanisms conserve porphyrins. Here, we demonstrate that Abcb6(-/-) mice lack mitochondrial ATP-driven import of coproporphyrin III. Gene expression analysis revealed that loss of Abcb6 results in up-regulation of compensatory porphyrin and iron pathways, associated with elevated protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). Phenylhydrazine-induced stress caused higher mortality in Abcb6(-/-) mice, possibly because of sustained elevation of PPIX and an inability to convert PPIX to heme despite elevated ferrochelatase levels. Therefore, Abcb6 is the sole ATP-dependent porphyrin importer, and loss of Abcb6 produces up-regulation of heme and iron pathways necessary for normal development. However, under extreme demand for porphyrins (e.g. phenylhydrazine stress), these adaptations appear inadequate, which suggests that under these conditions Abcb6 is important for optimal survival.