cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing maturation time of native arteriovenous fistulas.

Background To determine the factors influencing the maturation time of native arteriovenous fistulas. Methods A retrospective review was performed of hemodialysis patients from a single university-associated dialysis center from 2004 to 2009. Demographics, comorbidities, and insurance status were recorded. Maturation time was defined as the time from access creation until the access was able to be used regularly for hemodialysis for a period of 2 weeks. Results A total of 249 patients were identified during the study period who had an arteriovenous fistula created that successfully matured; 104 (42%) patients were women and 145 (58%) were men. Most of the patients were Hispanic (82%). Ninety-seven (39%) of the patients had Medicaid-type insurance and 133 (53%) had Medicare. The mean age was 51 years, and 190 (76%) of the patients had diabetes. The overall mean maturation time was 79 days. Women had a significantly longer time to fistula maturation than males (91.9 days vs. 70.5 days, P = 0.0028). Diabetics also had a significantly longer maturation time than nondiabetics (92.5 days vs. 75.4 days, P = 0.0004). Age did not have an effect on maturation time. On multivariable analysis, sex remained significant ( P = 0.007), however, diabetes lost its significance. Conclusions In this predominantly Hispanic hemodialysis population, women require longer fistula maturation times than men. The exact reasons for this are unknown based on this data. More study is required to determine the etiology of this gender discrepancy.
Misinformation Effects in Recall: Creating False Memories through Repeated Retrieval

Abstract In two experiments subjects viewed slides depicting a crime and then received a narrative containing misleading information about some items in the slides. Recall instructions were manipulated on a first test to vary the probability that subjects would produce details from the narrative that conflicted with details from the slides. Two days later subjects returned and took a second cued recall test on which they were instructed to respond only if they were sure they had seen the item in the slide sequence. Our interest was in examining subjects’ production of the misleading postevent information on the second cued recall test (on which they were instructed to ignore the postevent information) as a function of instructions given before the first test. In both experiments, robust misinformation effects occurred, with misrecall being greatest under conditions in which subjects had produced the wrong detail from the narrative on the first test. In this condition subjects were more likely to recall the wrong detail on the second test and were also more likely to say that they remembered its occurrence, when instructed to use Tulving's (1985) remember / know procedure, than in comparison conditions. We conclude that a substantial misinformation effect occurs in recall and that repeated testing increases the effect. False memories may arise through repeated retrieval.
Instrumentation development at the W.M. Keck Observatory

ABSTRACT The W. M. Keck Observatory is now in its 12th year of science operations, and the development of new instruments, and upgrades to existing ones, continues to be an important part of our science driven strategic plan, which emphasizes state of the art instrumentation, continued advances in high angular resolution astronomy and faint-object spectroscopy. Our program is starting to deliver the third generation of instruments. The first of these, OSIRIS, was delivered in February 2005 and is now in shared risk operation. OSIRIS is the second instrument at the Observatory to be routinely used with laser guide star adaptive optics (LGS AO) on the Keck II telescope. LGS AO is now a regularly offered observing mode with a steadily increasing number of nights being made available to our community. AO developments underway at the Observatory include new wavefront controllers for the Keck I and Keck II AO systems, and the development of a solid state laser for the Keck I telescope (in collaboration with the Gemini Observatory). The development of Keck-Keck interfe rometry continues, with the V
Identification of a 10-μm Silicate Absorption Feature in the Acidalia Region of Mars

Abstract Using the SpectroCam-10 instrument on the Hale 200” telescope at Palomar Observatory, we obtained an extensive set of images and spectra of Mars in the thermal infrared during the 1993 and 1995 oppositions. Images were taken using a set of seven wide-band filters centered at 7.9, 8.8, 9.8, 10.3, 11.7, 12.5, and 17.9 μm. Spatially resolved slit spectra with a spectral resolving power of λ/Δλ = 100 between 7.5 and 13.5 μm were also obtained. Initial analysis of data from the 1993 opposition led to the identification of an absorption feature at 9.2 μm in the Acidalia region. At the time the feature was first identified, it was impossible to determine whether it was caused by a local enhancement of atmospheric dust over Acidalia, or by nonunit emissivity of surface materials in that region. Subsequent observations taken during the 1995 opposition showed that the feature in Acidalia persisted, indicating that it was of surficial origin. Because of its spectral position and shape, we interpret the feature to be the result of the emissivity spectrum of coarse (sand-sized or greater) silicate materials on the surface in Acidalia. While the spectral range available in our data is probably insufficient to make a specific mineralogical interpretation, we find it to be consistent with the emissivity spectrum of a terrestrial basalt sample measured in the laboratory.
Depth profile of the crystallization of Fe80B20 metallic glass

Abstract The depth profile of the crystallized Metglas 2605, Fe 80 B 20 metallic glass, as well as the process of crystallization have been studied. Crystallization of Fe 80 B 20 Metglas was observed during continuous heating between 25 °C and 600 °C in situ. Micrographs and diffraction patterns which tracked the phase transformation were taken through the entire range of temperatures. The depth profile phase distribution for the crystallization of Fe 80 B 20 was obtained from the quench side to the free side. The electron microscopy results showed that the crystallization occurs preferentially at the free side of the amorphous strip during all stages of crystallization.
Supercomputer simulation of liquid drop formation on a solid surface

Using a molecular-dynamics-type approach, we show how to simulate the formation of a liquid drop on a solid surface. Application is made to the case in which the liquid is water and the solid is graphite. The dynamical equations are large systems of nonlinear, ordinary differential equations which must be solved numerically. CRAY X-MP/24 simulations and related contact angle calculations are described and discussed.
Experimental Measurement of Nano-Particle Emissions From Atomic Layer Deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a key enabling nanotechnology for a broad array of applications due to its ability to grow conformal and pinhole-free thin films and control layer growth at atomic scale. Like many nanotechnologies, the potential amount of nano-particle emissions from ALD nano-manufacturing system is a significant concern for both occupational and public health exposure. Here we report our preliminary investigations of nano-particle emissions at end-of-the-pipe of ALD nano-manufacturing system. Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) spectrometer is used for the nano-particle measurement during the ALD process of Al2O3 high-k dielectric gate materials using Trimethyl Aluminum (TMA) and H2O binary reactions. Under various experimental conditions tested in our project, the results demonstrate that the aerosol nanoparticle emissions from ALD nano-manufacturing system are averaged with a mean diameter of 201.28 nm and 940,850 particle concentrations at 200 °C reaction temperature.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Smart camera with extended depth of field

A smart camera is studied that combines the blurring logarithmic asphere lens and maximum entropy processing to extend the depth of field 10 times over that of a conventional lens and to provide near diffraction-limited performance. For this camera, a circularly symmetric logarithmic lens with radially varying focus length provides an image with distance invariant blur; a newly developed digital deconvolution technique, the accelerated maximum entropy processing, is thereafter applied to recover the sharp image providing an extended depth of field. Three types of logarithmic aspheres are described together with the effect of aperture apodizations. We show that the central obscuration of the aperture improves the overall performance of the smart camera, especially the near distance performance. The performance of the maximum entropy processing is greatly improved by introducing a new metric parameter into the algorithm. In the presentation, I will demonstrate the novel maximum entropy algorithm that has been devised, and also demonstrate the lens manufacturing technique of magnetorheological finisher that we used.
Risk Factors and Characterization of Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata in Patients With Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease

Importance Cutaneous manifestations of chronic graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) are highly variable and may recapitulate well-characterized autoimmune diseases, including systemic sclerosis and Sjogren syndrome. However, vitiligo and alopecia areata (AA) have not been well characterized in the chronic GvHD setting. Objective To determine laboratory markers, transplant-related factors, and other systemic manifestations associated with vitiligo and/or AA in patients with chronic GvHD. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional, retrospective study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of 282 adult and pediatric patients with chronic GvHD seen under the NIH natural history protocol between 2004 and 2013. Main Outcomes and Measures Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, including measures of 11 antibodies, were included in the analysis. Patients with vitiligo and/or AA were identified from dermatologist documentation and photographic evidence. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors for vitiligo and AA development. Results Fifteen (5.3%) of 282 patients demonstrated vitiligo (14 of 282; 4.9%) and/or AA (2 of 282; 0.7%) (1 patient had both vitiligo and AA). Univariate analysis identified female donor to male recipient sex mismatch ( P = .003), positive test results for anticardiolipin (ACA) IgG ( P = .03) or antiparietal antibody ( P = .049), elevated CD19 level ( P = .045), and normal or elevated IgG level ( P = .02) as risk factors for vitiligo or AA. Female donor to male recipient sex mismatch ( P = .003) and positive findings for ACA-IgG ( P = .01) retained significance in the multivariable analysis. Conclusions and Relevance Female donor and female donor to male recipient sex mismatch, in particular, are significantly associated with the development of vitiligo and/or AA. Further studies are needed to explore transplant-related risk factors that may lead to better understanding of the pathomechanisms of chronic GvHD.
An investigation of expectations and perceptions of health‐care services with a Latino population

In attempts to improve the quality of health‐care services in the USA, health‐care providers must be aware of and understand the socioeconomic characteristics and cultural values of minority populations in order to better serve these patients. This study focuses on the Puerto Rican population and issues of quality in the delivery of health‐care services.
Spectrally resolved and interferometric detection in second harmonic generation microscopy

We demonstrate two imaging systems for spectrally resolved and heterodyne detection in SHG microscopy of biological media. Coherent detection is achieved by mixing the SHG from a biological sample with SHG from a reference crystal.
MiniPay: charging per click on the Web

Abstract Many promising Web applications could benefit from a payment mechanism for small amounts (micro-payments). Payment by credit cards, which is the common method for on-line consumer purchasing, involve substantial per-transaction fee and delay, and are therefore inappropriate for micro-payments. We present MiniPay, a simple system for supporting micro-payments. MiniPay features low cost, negligible delay, natural user interface, scalable design, support for multiple currencies, and high security — including non-repudiation, overspending prevention, and protection against denial of service. MiniPay is currently being piloted with several potential providers.
Managing Resistance of Venturia inaequalis to the Strobilurin Fungicides

Over the past thirty years, fungicide resistance has been cited as the cause of large-scale crop losses due to apple scab in a number of commercial orchards in the Northeast. The strobilurins represent the most recent class of fungicides for which the threat of resistance exists. In this article we examine the use of strobilurin fungicides at their highest and lowest labeled rates and as a mixture of the lowest labeled rate with a protectant fungicide in commercial spray programs for efficacy against apple scab as well as their utility in a resistance management program. Our results suggest that anti-resistance properties of high strobilurin rates are superior to low rates and low rate mixtures with a protectant fungicide.
Is Political Action Heroic? Heroism and American Political Culture

Although contemporary American political discourse often refers to heroic action, scholars have paid little attention to the concept of heroism Because individuals' understandings of politics are constituted and reflected by the prosaic terms at their disposal, inattention to the concept of heroism interferes with our ability to comprehend citizens' values and the political culture. In addition, although Tocqueville is often cited as a prescient observer of American life, empirical analysts have neglected Tocquevillean individualism. In response, this article analyzes four subjective views of heroism, with particular attention to the relative importance of public and private life. Some perspectives find greatness in both spheres, whereas other conceptualizations sequester one from the other. Implications for the state and study of political culture are discussed.
Isolation of γ-glutamylaspartic acid and α-aspartylalanine from pig brain

Abstract The isolation of two acidic dipeptides, γ-glutamylaspartic acid and α-aspartylalanine, from pig brain is described. The identification of these dipeptides was based on comparison with the authentic compounds.
Influence of glycosidic linkage on the solution conformational entropy of gluco- and mannobioses.

Abstract Employing size-exclusion chromatography, an entropically-controlled separation technique, we have determined the solution conformational entropy (−Δ S ) of (1→2)-, (1→3)-, (1→4)-, and (1→6)-linked gluco- and mannobioses with an α anomeric configuration, at quasi-physiological conditions of solvent, temperature, and pH. The experiments allowed for comparison both among and between each series of disaccharides. Results included quantitative information on how the additional degrees of freedom of the (1→6) linkage influence −Δ S , as well as on the influence on solution conformational entropy of a single axial hydroxyl (OH) group and of the relative positioning of the glycosidic linkage and the anomeric hydroxyl group. We also contrasted the (1→4)-α- d -linked gluco- and mannobioses to their counterparts with a β anomeric configuration. Comparison between (1→4)-β- d -linked glucobiose (cellobiose) and (1→4)-β- d -linked mannobiose showed that the restrictive effect on solution flexibility of the axial OH in the latter disaccharide is offset by the combined effect of hydroxyl group orientation and anomeric configuration on intramolecular hydrogen bonding.
Program ENERGY: An extension focusing on brain and nervous system science for 6th-grade elementary school children.

Program ENERGY's goal is to reduce obesity/type 2 diabetes in suburban/rural elementary school children and families by teaching/reinforcing body science, energy balance and healthy behavior choices. An extension of PE focusing on brain and nervous system science and good decision making was delivered to 6th grade children at Tavelli Elementary School in Ft. Collins, CO. Children discover, explore, inquire and learn the basis of healthy behaviors in a challenging, scientific setting, with the support of scientists/health professionals/students. Knowledge is brought home and shared with their families. An 8-week program of classroom and outdoors activities was conducted. Beginning and end of intervention assessments including knowledge and attitudes about brain and nervous system science were conducted. Results of pre- and post-tests show statistically significant improvements in the intervention school: health and science knowledge (brain science), attitudes (mental illness), behaviors (sensory physiology, increased body acceptance), and increased interest in science/health-related careers. The intervention had high rates of enrollment and retention, positive evaluations by children and educators, produced significant positive outcomes in health/science knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and increased interest in science and health-related careers. Thus, this extension of Program ENERGY into the areas of brain and nervous system science and behavior was effective and could be replicated in other schools.
Tissue specific regulation of renal n-nitrosodimethylamine-demethylase activity by testosterone in BALB/c mice

Abstract Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), like several other nitrosamines, is activated by the enzymes—mixed-function oxidases—present in the tissue microsomal fractions, producing mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Previous studies in BALB/c mice have shown an age, sex and androgenic regulation of NDMA-induced mutagenicity. The present study was designed to test the correlation between renal NDMA-demethylase activity and previously published reports on NDMA-induced mutagenicity. Renal and hepatic NDMA-demethylases were determined from the microsomal fractions by quantitating formaldehyde. Renal NDMA-demethylase showed the presence of two isozymes, I and II, with K m values of 0.6 ± 0.2 and 20.2 ± 6.8 mM respectively. Isozyme I was detected in adult males and first appeared at the onset of puberty; it was absent in adult females and in immature mice. Renal isozyme II was detected in both males and females and was independent of age. Testosterone treatment of adult females resulted in the appearance of renal isozyme I. Castration of adult males caused a dramatic decrease in activity, whereas testesterone administration to such castrates increased activity, of renal isozyme I. Hepatic NDMA-demethylase activities were independent of age, sex or testosterone treatment. In conclusion, these results show an age, sex and tissue specific regulation of renal NDMA activity. Renal and hepatic NDMA-demethylase activities correlated positively with earlier studies on NDMA-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.
Rituximab as monotherapy for elicited xenoreactive antibody responses.

Purpose This study was conducted in a non-human primate model to determine the impact of the rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, as monotherapy on elicited xenoreactive antibody responses. Methods Adult baboons were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 baboons were treated with rituximab then sensitized with porcine red blood cells; Group 2 baboons did not receive rituximab but were immunized with porcine red blood cells. Both groups were followed-up prospectively for 4 weeks. During this time, sera and peripheral lymphocytes were collected for analysis. Anti-galactose-α (Galα)-1–3 Gal-immunoglobulin (Ig) M and anti-IgG antibody titers were measured using porcine cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and flow-cytometry was used to study populations of B cells after rituximab therapy. Results After the administration of rituximab, baboons in Group 1 had a detectable decrease in the percent of CD19 + /CD20 + B cells. The effect of rituximab lasted for more than a month in this group. Despite the elimination of B cells, both groups developed vigorous anti-Galα-1–3 Gal antibody responses, which were evident within 12 days of immunizations. Furthermore, this increase in the anti-Galα-1–3 Gal antibody titers was accompanied by a relative rise in the percentage of double negative (CD19 – /CD20 – ) but IgM + and IgG + B cells. Conclusions In a non-human primate model of xenotransplantation, anti-Galα-1–3 Gal antibody responses were elicited despite the elimination of B cells by rituximab. These responses seem to be mediated in part by cells lacking common B-cell surface antigens.
Uncoupling of Cav1.2 From Ca2+-Induced Ca2+ Release and SK Channel Regulation in Pancreatic β-Cells

We investigated the role of Cav1.2 in pancreatic β-cell function by expressing a Cav1.2 II-III loop/green fluorescent protein fusion in INS-1 cells (Cav1.2/II-III cells) to disrupt channel-protein interactions. Neither block of KATP channels nor stimulation of membrane depolarization by tolbutamide was different in INS-1 cells compared with Cav1.2/II-III cells, but whole-cell Cav current density was significantly increased in Cav1.2/II-III cells. Tolbutamide (200 μM) stimulated insulin secretion and Ca2+ transients in INS-1 cells, and Cav1.2/II-III cells were completely blocked by nicardipine (2 μM), but thapsigargin (1 μM) blocked tolbutamide-stimulated secretion and Ca2+ transients only in INS-1 cells. Tolbutamide-stimulated endoplasmic reticulum [Ca2+] decrease was reduced in Cav1.2/II-III cells compared with INS-1 cells. However, Ca2+ transients in both INS-1 cells and Cav1.2/II-III cells were significantly potentiated by 8-pCPT-2′-O-Me-cAMP (5 μM), FPL-64176 (0.5 μM), or replacement of extracellular ...
A method of measuring fingertip loading during keyboard use

A single keycap on a standard alphanumeric computer keyboard was instrumented with a piezoelectric load cell and the fingertip motion was recorded with a high-speed video motion analysis system. Contact force histories between the fingertip and the keycap were recorded while four subjects typed a standard text for five minutes. Each keystroke force history is characterized by three distinct phases: (I) keyswitch compression, (II) finger impact and (III) fingertip pulp compression and release. Each keystroke force history contained two relative maxima, one in phase II and one in phase III. The subject mean peak forces ranged from 1.6 to 5.3 N and the subject mean peak fingertip velocities ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 m/s. Motion analyses and force measurements suggest a ballistic model of finger motion during typing.
Finite element analysis of void growth in elastic-plastic materials

Three-dimensional finite element computations have been carried out for the growth of initially spherical voids in periodic cubic arrays and for initially spherical voids ahead of a blunting mode I plane strain crack tip. The numerical method is based on finite strain theory and the computations are three-dimensional. The void cubic arrays are subjected to macroscopically uniform fields of uniaxial tension, pure shear and high triaxial stress. The macroscopic stress—strain behavior and the change in void volume were obtained for two initial void volume fractions. The calculations show that void shape, void interaction and loss of load carrying capacity depend strongly on the triaxiality of the stress field. The results of the finite element computation were compared with several dilatant plasticity continuum models for porous materials. None of the models agrees completely with the finite element calculations. Agreement of the finite element results with any particular constitutive model depended on the level of macroscopic strain and the triaxiality of the remote uniform stress field. For the problem of the initial spherical voids directly ahead of a blunting mode I plane strain crack tip, conditions of small scale yielding were assumed. The near tip stress and deformation fields were obtained for different void-size-to-spacing ratios for perfectly plastic materials. The calculations show that the holes spread towards the crack tip and towards each other at a faster rate than they elongate in the tensile direction. The computed void growth rates are compared with previous models for void growth.
The impact of gender differences on the career experiences of information systems professionals

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of gender differences on the career experiences and job success of information systems professionals. The study analyzes career experiences with respect to a number of variables, including feelings of acceptance, job discretion, met expectations, career support, career satisfaction, and organizational commitment. The study also examines which skills gained from educational preparation and work experience are viewed as most critical to successful performance.The study was accomplished by using in-depth interviews and a questionnaire. The findings showed that MIS careers offer challenge based upon technical competence, regardless of gender. The likelihood of reaching a technical plateau and the increasing transition of MIS roles into functional business units poses some career uncertainty.
Atrial BNP endocrine function during chronic unloading of the normal canine heart.

The goal of the study was to define the effect of chronic unloading of the normal heart on atrial endocrine function with a focus on brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), specifically addressing the rol...
K-252a and staurosporine selectively block autophosphorylation of neurotrophin receptors and neurotrophin-mediated responses.

Abstract The same receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) can mediate strikingly different biological responses in a fibroblast as opposed to a neuron. We have compared the rapidly induced tyrosine phosphorylations mediated by various RTKs in both NIH3T3 fibroblasts and in the PC12 neuronal precursor cell line and found that each RTK induces a distinct pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylations in the two cell types. These findings are consistent with a model in which various cell types present a given RTK with different menus of signal transduction components, allowing the same RTK to elicit fundamentally distinct biological responses. Although there are obvious overlaps in the tyrosine phosphorylations induced by different RTKs in the same cell, there are also clear differences. The attempt to dissect these differences revealed that the kinase inhibitors K-252a and staurosporine inhibit RTK autophosphorylation and thus the biological consequences of receptor/ligand interaction. These inhibitors displayed substantially greater specificity for a subset of RTKs (including the neurotrophin receptors) than for other RTKs and acted as remarkably selective blockers of neurotrophin action in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells. A potential therapeutic application for these inhibitors is discussed.
Simulation methods for queues: an overview

This paper gives an overview of those aspects of simulation methodology that are (to some extent) peculiar to the simulation of queueing systems. A generalized semi-Markov process framework for describing queueing systems is used through much of the paper. The main topics covered are: output analysis for simulation of transient and steady-state quantities, variance reduction methods that exploit queueing structure, and gradient estimation methods for performance parameters associated with queueing networks.
Fluctuating magnetic fields in the magnetosphere: 1: ELF and VLF fluctuations

The study of ULF waves in space has been in progress for about 12 years. However, because of numerous observational difficulties the properties of the waves in this frequency band (10-3 to 1 Hz) are poorly known. These difficulties include the nature of satellite orbits, telemetry limitations on magnetometer frequency response and compromises between dynamic range and resolution. Despite the paucity of information, there is increasing recognition of the importance of these measurements in magnetospheric processes. A number of recent theoretical papers point out the roles such waves play in the dynamic behavior of radiation belt particles.
Appearance of a brain specific antigen (th S-100 protein) during human foetal development.

—The concentration of a protein specific to brain, the S-100 protein, was measured in various regions of the human foetal brain at gestational ages ranging from 10 weeks until term. The relative increase in concentrations of the S-100 protein during development of the human foetal brain proceeded in a caudal-rostral fashion. This observation is emphasized by the delayed appearance of the S-100 protein in the frontal cerebral cortex until the 30th week of gestation.
A mechanistic approach to preventing schizophrenia in at-risk individuals.

In this issue of Neuron, Schobel et al. (2013) report that excess hippocampal glutamate may cause transition to psychosis in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia. Their data has implications for prevention strategies and why stress often precipitates this transition.
Optical determination of the oxygen stoichiometry of nanophase metal-oxide materials

In this paper we present an overview and assessment of the use optical techniques, primarily Raman scattering, for analyzing the composition and stoichiometry of nanophase metal-oxide ceramics. Raman scattering has been shown to be a useful technique for evaluating the oxygen stoichiometry of some metal oxide materials. However, it is essential for nanophase materials that grain size effects are considered since their ultrafine grain sizes can produce large shifting and broadening of the Raman spectrum. 18 refs., 4 figs.
Serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and progress towards disease in patients infected with HIV.

Summary Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a membrane-bound molecule that is primarily involved in cell to cell adhesive interactions of the immune system. Concentrations of soluble ICAM-1 (s-ICAM-1) shed into the circulation were measured by a quantitative ELISA in HIV-infected persons without AIDS, patients with AIDS with or without evidence of acute opportunistic infection at the time of sampling, and HIV-seronegative patients with toxoplasmosis, community-acquired pneumonia, leishmaniasis and rickettsial infections. Patients were classified on the basis of clinical condition and CD4 + T-cell counts according to the 1993 revised HIV classification of the USA Centers for Disease Control. Concentrations of s-ICAM-1 in the serum of HIV-infected persons without AIDS-indicator conditions (categories A1, A2, B1 and B2) as well as in the serum of patients with AIDS (categories A3, B3, C1, C2 and C3) were significantly higher than normal (mean ± s.e.m. 469 ± 23, n = 60 and 780 ± 73, n = 56, respectively, versus 329 ± 15 ng/ml, P P n = 29) did not differ from those of the remaining patients with AIDS or from those of HIV-seronegative patients with the infections studied. A steady and significant increase of serum concentrations of s-ICAM-1 with progress of disease according to clinical category (categories A ⇒ B ⇒ C, p=0·0007) as well as with the loss of circulating CD4 + T-cells (categories 1 ⇒ 2 ⇒ 3, p=0·009) was observed. Individual serum concentrations of s-ICAM-1 showed negative correlations with individual total lymphocyte ( P = 0·004), CD4 + T-cell ( P = 0·05), CD8 + T-cell counts ( P = 0·03) as well as positive correlation with serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptors ( P
Producing political climate change: the hidden life of US environmentalism

Despite strong public support for environmental goals, critics of the US environmental movement are so frustrated by the apparent paralysis of the movement in recent years that some have suggested that environmentalism must die so that something better can replace it. This essay offers a different assessment of the situation. It argues that pessimistic assessments of the environmental movement may be a function of limitations in the way we understand the political life of social movements. It suggests that shifting our analytical gaze from the tactical activities of environmental groups – success in what we call traditional ‘ledger’ politics – to a more strategic understanding of the political activity of social movements reveals the largely hidden ways in which environmental categories enact meaningful social change by creating and changing public consciousness through movement framing and the discursive construction of new coalitions of ideas. It then explores these possibilities in the context of clima...
WE‐E‐332‐05: Dose Reduction in Detection of Pulmonary Thrombotic Embolism with Computed Tomography

Purpose: Due to recent concerns raised regarding excessive doses acquired by CT, it is prudent to review and audit the amount of radiation acquired by a patient who undergoes a procedure. Included is an assessment of a proposed dose‐reduced CT scan protocol for detecting a pulmonary thrombotic embolism (PTE). An alternative protocol for the PTE scan involves a reduction in the peak voltage of the x‐ray tube from 120 kV to 80 kV for young female patients. Method and Materials: An assessment of the dose was done using Monte Carlo simulation data provided by the U.K. Health Protection Agency publication NRPB‐SR250 (D G Jones and P C Shrimpton 1993). Using a FORTRAN program, the data can be used to determine organ dose along with a concise calculation of the effective dose upon a statistically average human. This dose model was compared to a measurement of the dose under equivalent scanning conditions for verification of the accuracy and reliability of the computermodel.Results: Calculations from the computermodel show a difference in breast dose is nearly a factor of six reduction. Comparisons to weighted CTDI suggest at least a factor of four dose reduction under equivalent conditions. Contrast‐to‐Noise (CNR) actually improves under sample cases due to increased response of the contrast media at lower tube voltages and smaller patient size. Conclusion: The results of the computer modeling clearly demonstrate a considerable dose savings, as young female patients can be expected to have a breast dose reduction of nearly 83%, while maintaining an acceptable level of efficacy in the scan protocol by reassigning the image's window level and window width to help compensate for the shift in contrast media signal in an 80 kV scan.
Combinatorial congruences and ψ-operators

The @j-operator for (@f,@C)-modules plays an important role in the study of Iwasawa theory via Fontaine's big rings. In this note, we prove several sharp estimates for the @j-operator in the cyclotomic case. These estimates immediately imply a number of sharp p-adic combinatorial congruences, one of which extends the classical congruences of Fleck (1913) and Weisman [Some congruences for binomial coefficients, Michigan Math. J. 24 (1977) 141-151].
Glutamate-194 to cysteine mutation inhibits fast light-induced proton release in bacteriorhodopsin.

Substitution of glutamic acid-194, a residue on the extracellular surface of bacteriorhodopsin, with a cysteine inhibits the fast light-induced proton release that normally is coupled with the depr...
Other forms of conviviality: The best and least of which is our daily care and the host of which is our collaborative work

In this collaboratively written essay, artists Park McArthur and Constantina Zavitsanos take a queer materialist feminist approach to the entanglement of dependency and reproductive labor, disability, intimacy, and the impossibility of exchanging incommensurables. The text merges the authors' experiences receiving and providing one another care with their artistic practices, and includes instructive performance scores for past, rather than future, events.
Simple stopping criterion for min-sum iterative decoding algorithm

A simple stopping criterion for iterative decoding based on min-sum processing is presented. While most stopping criteria suggested in the literature are based on cross entropy (CE) and its simplification, the proposed stopping criterion is to check whether a decoded sequence is a valid codeword along the encoder trellis structure. This new stopping criterion requires less computational complexity and saves memory.
Oblique medial malleolar osteotomy for the management of talar dome lesions

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the efficacy of the oblique medial malleolar osteotomy for the management of medial talar dome lesions. Arthroscopy remains a viable option for the management of these lesions; however, the central and posteromedial lesions are often difficult to gain access to with arthroscopy and may require open arthrotomy. Fourteen oblique medial malleolar osteotomies were performed for the surgical management of medial talar dome lesions. Subjective data were collected through the process of questionnaire. Objective criteria consisted of radiographic evaluation and retrospective medical record review. Seven of the 14 patients related a history of trauma preoperatively. The oblique medial malleolar osteotomy demonstrated osseous union at an average of 6.6 weeks. There were no delayed unions or nonunions. None of the patients required a second operative procedure. Nine patients reported excellent postoperative results, two patients had good results, two had fair results, and one patient related a poor postoperative outcome with only 50% relief of pain. Patients greater than the age of 30 were found to have less favorable results. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 72 months, with a mean follow-up of 34 months.
Construction of Porous Solids from Hydrogen-Bonded Metal Complexes of 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic Acid

The reaction of M(II) acetate hydrate (M = Co, Ni, and Zn) with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic (BTC) acid yields a material formulated as M3(BTC)2·12H2O. These compounds are isostructural as revealed by their XRPD patterns and a single crystal structure analysis performed on the cobalt containing solid [monoclinic, space group C2, a = 17.482 (6) A, b = 12.963 (5) A, c = 6.559 (2) A, β = 112.04°, V = 1377.8 (8) A, Z = 4]. This solid is composed of zigzag chains of tetra-aqua cobalt(II) benzenetricarboxylate that are hydrogen-bonded to yield a tightly held 3-D network. Upon liberating 11 water ligands per formula unit a porous solid results, M3(BTC)2·H2O, which was found to reversibly and repeatedly bind water without destruction of the framework. The proposed 1-D channels of the monohydrate have a pore diameter of 4 × 5 A, which is typical of those observed in zeolites and molecular sieves. The successful inclusion of ammonia into the porous solid was demonstrated. Larger molecules and others without a reactiv...
Effect of a rattlesnake venom (Crotalus viridis helleri) on bone marrow

Crotalus viridis helleri venom produces a fall in peripheral platelet count in rats but does not appear to damage the precursors in the bone marrow. The major response is a myeloid hyperplasia.
Occurrence and relevance of chemically induced benign neoplasms in long-term carcinogenicity studies.

Recent carcinogenicity studies conducted and evaluated by the National Toxicology Program/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences were examined to determine the frequency of chemically increased incidences of neoplasia. Many of the chemicals originally selected for study were chosen because of an a priori suggestion that they might be carcinogens. Of the 143 chemical studies evaluated, usually involving male and female rats and mice, 42 (29%) did not induce any neoplasms, 20 (14%) gave marginal or equivocal neoplastic responses, and 81 (57%) showed positive neoplastic responses in one or more of the 524 species-gender experiments. Of these 81 positive studies, 60 (74%) were considered positive based on malignant neoplasia, 16 (20%) were positive due primarily to benign neoplasia, but hd supporting evidence of malignant neoplasia in the same organ/tissue, and 5 (6%) were positive based only on benign neoplasia. These five chemicals are a) allyl isothiocyanate (transitional cell papillomas of the urinary bladder in male rats), b) 2-amino-4-nitrophenol (tubular cell adenomas of the kidney in male rats), c) asbestos intermediate range chrysotile (adenomatous polyps of the large intestine in male rats), d) decabromodiphenyl oxide (neoplastic nodules of the liver in male and female rats), and e) nitrofurazone (fibroadenomas of the mammary gland in female rats and benign mixed tumors and granulosa cell tumors of the ovary in female mice). For all but one of these lesions (mammary gland), the occurrence in historic controls is low. Thus, only 5 of the 143 chemicals studied (3.5%) induced benign neoplasia alone, and those observed benign neoplasms are known to progress to malignancy. Accordingly, we consider chemically induced benign neoplasia to be an important indicator of a chemical's carcinogenic potential in rodents, and believe it should continue to be made an integral part of the overall weight-of-the evidence evaluation process for identifying potential human health hazards.
The effects of SCF/G-CSF prestimulation on radiation sensitivity and engraftment in nonmyeloablated murine hosts.

Abstract Objective Previous studies have shown improved engraftment in a murine model when granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) were administered for 5 days prior to irradiation, with significant levels of engraftment in the growth factor–preconditioned group even at very low radiation doses. We sought to explore the mechanisms behind this effect. Methods The radiation sensitivity of mice with or without 5 days of prestimulation with G-CSF (200 μg/kg/d) and SCF (50 μg/kg/d) was compared. To further evaluate whether growth factor prestimulation enhances engraftment by mobilization of hematopoietic progenitors into peripheral blood, thus creating less endogenous competition within the marrow compartment, female mice were pretreated with 5 days of G-CSF/SCF or control diluent. Engraftment of 40 × 10 6 peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) harvested from G-CSF/SCF-mobilized male mice was compared in the two recipient groups. Results There was no difference in survival between the pretreated and control mice at the radiation doses tested. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the recovery of blood counts, bone marrow cellularity, colony-forming unit (CFU) content, or stem cell numbers assessed 4 months later in a competitive repopulation model. Engraftment levels of male cells did not differ between G-CSF/SCF-pretreated and control recipients, and could be detected in 30% of recipients at 20–24 weeks (4/12 in each group) at overall levels of 0.1–1%. Conclusions The enhanced engraftment in cytokine pretreated recipients is unlikely to be due to increased endogenous stem-cell killing or to the creation of endogenous marrow "space" by egress of endogenous stem cells after cytokine prestimulation.
Excited states of 81Br

Abstract A total of 33 previously unreported states of 81 Br in the region 1 E x 80 Se( 3 He, d) 81 Br using a broad-range spectrograph and a 15 MeV 3 He beam from the University of Pennsylvania tandem accelerator.
Thickness Tolerance for Portland Cement Concrete Pavements

The thickness tolerance limit currently used by the Texas Department of Transportation for portland cement concrete pavements was developed about 50 years ago, when the pavement thickness was normally less than 10 in., and no additional study on the tolerance limit has been conducted since its development. Because the current thickness tolerances are independent of the design pavement thickness, they are very tight, especially for thicker pavements. These tight tolerances give difficulties in construction and in the use of nondestructive testing (NDT) methods for slab thickness determination because errors of NDT methods depend on the thickness. In this study, the sensitivity analysis of the slab thickness has been conducted to investigate whether the current thickness tolerance can be loosened and to propose acceptable thickness tolerance limits. The concepts to find the thickness tolerance have been developed on the basis of various methods, including the AASHTO pavement life prediction equation, the me...
Reading performance and general cognitive ability in twins with reading difficulties and control pairs

Abstract The etiology of the observed relationship between general cognitive ability and reading performance was investigated by analyzing data from samples of twin pairs tested in the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center. Bivariate phenotypic and genetic structural equation models were fitted to data from 486 twin pairs selected for reading deficits (276 identical and 210 same-sex fraternal) and 314 control pairs (195 identical and 119 same-sex fraternal). Subtests of the Peabody Individual Achievement test (Reading Recognition, Reading Comprehension, and Spelling) were used as measures of reading performance, and verbal and performance IQ scores from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) were used as indices of general cognitive ability. The results of these confirmatory factor analyses indicate that shared environmental influences do not contribute significantly to covariation between general cognitive ability and reading performance. In contrast, genetic influences contribute substantially to the relationship between the two latent factors. Moreover, the genetic and phenotypic variances of reading performance in the proband group are larger than those in controls, whereas both the genetic and phenotypic correlations between reading performance and general cognitive ability are lower in probands. These results are consistent with recent reports that reading disability may be caused by one or more genes with major effects.
Maternal Sensitivity and Attachment: Softening the Impact of Early Adversity

D onald Winnicott, Daniel Stern, John Bowlby, and other relational theorists have emphasized the critical importance of the early caregiving relationships in shaping child development. Their developmental theories have emphasized that the primary caregiving relationship not only influences the child’s behavior but also sculpts the foundation for the child’s future interpersonal relationships and eventually the child’s relationship with his or her own offspring. Mary Ainsworth’s seminal work used these theories to operationalize the construct of attachment security, thereby permitting experimental evaluations of this relationship. Using clearly defined measurements, attachment security was linked to maternal sensitivity, the understanding of and responding to a child’s needs. Subsequent research then demonstrated the association between attachment security and multiple facets of child development. Studies have demonstrated how parents represent their own childhood attachment relationships predict their attachment to their own child. Perhaps more importantly, this retrospective representation of their own experience as a child predicted how their child understood complex emotions at 6 years of age. Although it is clear that parenting is affected by early life experiences, only recently have studies begun to examine the neurobiological mechanisms and pathways involved in parenting. Defining these mechanisms offers insight not only into the impact on the child’s behavior but also a child’s physiology. i