cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"Footprints in the bathroom": the role of spirituality in patient diagnosis.

CASE Lucy is a 12-year-old Latina whose mother brought her to the pediatric clinic for help with her anxiety symptoms, "hearing voices," and episodes of "spacing out." Lucy did not cry at birth secondary to vocal cord paralysis and still has the tracheostomy performed at a few days of life. In addition to her neonatal intensive care unit stay, she has been hospitalized for pneumonia. Her mother says she is "sickly" and has a weak immune system due to her asthma symptoms. Lucy also experiences somatic complaints related to gastroesophageal reflux and constipation.Lucy is described as being "in another world" and must be called several times before she responds. Lucy states she is nervous "all the time" and often experiences a fast heartbeat, chest pain, and headache. Her attention and internalizing problems began at age 4 years and have worsened since she entered adolescence. When she is alone in the dark, she sees an unknown person and becomes frightened. She hears the voice of her paternal uncle telling her something will harm her mother and runs crying to "check" on her. Lucy also says she hears voices of paternal family members fighting. She has dreamed that her paternal uncle stabbed her in an alley. Lucy reports experiencing sadness and feelings of wanting to die. She has not tried to harm herself and has no plan to do this. She states that she does not know when she is awake or asleep and "hate people talking in my head." She does not report drug use.Lucy's family is bilingual, English and Spanish. Her mother works part-time as a nutritionist, and her father is a machinist. Her father receives counseling for anger management, and there have been previous unsub- stantiated child abuse reports involving Lucy and her younger brother. The maternal uncle has been involved in a gang and attempts to phone Lucy's mother, who does not wish to have contact with him. Lucy's mother expresses strong Christian religious and spiritual beliefs, including demons and spirits that may enter her home and can be cast off with prayer. Recently, the family purchased a "cuadro" (picture) at a yard sale, and Lucy's mother said this resulted in footprints in the bathroom that are disappearing with prayer, guidance from the church minister, and discarding of the "cuadro."The primary pediatrician ordered a home school program, given Lucy's frequent illnesses. She is progressing well with a special education teacher. Her recent psychological evaluation at school showed a below average nonverbal intelligence quotient, with strengths in the areas of perceptual, logical, and abstract relationships. Lucy's mother in the past has been hesitant to follow through with psychiatric evaluation because "it is up to God."In the clinic, she is pale and slender with an ethereal look. She is awake and alert with appropriate affect and mentation. Her tracheostomy is intact without any respiratory distress noted. There are no signs of drug use or active hallucinations. You are left wondering whether these voices need psychiatric management.
Deletion of murine kininogen gene 1 (mKng1) causes loss of plasma kininogen and delays thrombosis

High-molecular-weight kininogen (HK) plays an important role in the assembly of the plasma kallikrein-kinin system. While the human genome contains a single copy of the kininogen gene, 3 copies exist in the rat (1 encoding K-kininogen and 2 encoding T-kininogen). Here, we confirm that the mouse genome contains 2 homologous kininogen genes, mKng1 and mKng2, and demonstrate that these genes are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. To determine the roles of these genes in murine development and physiology, we disrupted mKng1, which is expressed primarily in the liver. mKng1−/− mice were viable, but lacked plasma HK and low-molecular-weight kininogen (LK), as well as ΔmHK-D5, a novel kininogen isoform that lacks kininogen domain 5. Moreover, despite normal tail vein bleeding times, mKng1−/− mice displayed a significantly prolonged time to carotid artery occlusion following Rose Bengal administration and laser-induced arterial injury. These results suggest that a single gene, mKng1, is responsible for production of plasma kininogen, and that plasma HK contributes to induced arterial thrombosis in mice.
Psychological distance to reward: equating the number of stimulus and response segments.

Psychological distance to reward, or the segmentation effect, refers to the preference for a terminal link of a concurrent-chains schedule consisting of a simple reinforcement schedule (e.g. fixed interval [FI] 30 s) relative to its chained-schedule counterpart (e.g. chained FI 15 s FI 15 s). This experiment was conducted to examine whether the segmentation effect is due to the number of terminal-link stimulus and response segments per se. Three pigeons pecked under a concurrent-chains schedule in which identical variable-interval (VI) schedules operated in the initial links. In each session, half the terminal-link entries followed one initial-link key and the other half followed the other initial-link key. The initial-link keys correlated with the different terminal links were manipulated across conditions. In the first three conditions, each terminal link contained a chained fixed-time (FT) FT schedule, and in the final three conditions, each terminal link contained a chained FI FI schedule. In each condition, in one terminal link (alternating), the order of two key colors correlated with the different schedule segments alternated across terminal-link entries, whereas in the other terminal link (constant), the order of two other key colors was identical for each entry. With the chained FT FT schedule terminal links, there was indifference between the alternating and constant terminal links within and across pigeons, as indexed by initial-link choice proportions. In addition, terminal-link response rates were relatively low. With the chained FI FI schedule terminal links, for each pigeon, there was relatively more preference for the alternating terminal link and terminal-link response rates increased relative to conditions with the chained FT FT schedule terminal links. These data suggest that the segmentation effect is not due simply to the number of terminal-link stimulus or response segments per se, but rather to a required period of responding during a stimulus segment that never is paired with reinforcement.
Refinements of two-sided bounds for renewal equations

Abstract Many quantities of interest in the study of renewal processes may be expressed as the solution to a special type of integral equation known as a renewal equation. The main purpose of this paper is to provide bounds for the solution of renewal equations based on various reliability classifications. Exponential and nonexponential types of inequalities are derived. In particular, two-sided bounds with specific reliability conditions become sharp. Finally, some examples including ultimate ruin for the classical Poisson model with time-dependent claim sizes, the joint distribution of the surplus prior to and at ruin, and the excess life time, are provided.
Treatment strategies for mares with placentitis

Equine placentitis, and resultant preterm labor, are important sources of fetal and neonatal loss. The primary cause of equine placentitis is infection of the placenta with Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, which ascends through the caudal reproductive tract. Current treatment protocols for mares affected with placentitis are empirical. This paper reviews treatment approaches for resolving placentitis and preterm labor in both equine and non-equine species. Specific therapies reviewed include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, tocolytic, and progestin agents.
Hydrated/Dehydrated Lipid Phase Transitions Measured Using Nanocalorimetry

ABSTRACT: The phase transition evolution with hydration of a model system, 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DPPC), was investigated with a fast nanocalorimetry system. Using nanocalorimetry, it is possible to measure the gel to liquid phase transitions that occur on millisecond to second time scales and quantify the time to recover the hydrated state. The results show the phase transition occurring in a few milliseconds and the relaxation or recovery time from the dehydrated state back to original hydrated state occurring with times dependent on the local humidity. With relative humidity (RH) of 43% or higher, the recovery time can be less than a few seconds. With RH of 11% or lower, the recovery time is extended to greater than a minute. The recovery process is controlled by mechanisms that depend on the lipid molecular repacking and water transport from the environment. Nanocalorimetry provides a powerful method to investigate the kinetics of such transformations in lipids and other biological and pharmaceutical moieties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:3442–3447, 2014
Early metabolism in vivo of [4-14C] androst-4-ene-3,17-dione in rat liver.

Abstract Four different doses of [4- 14 C]androst-4-ene-3,17-dione of relatively high specific activity were injected intraperitoneally into four male 45-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Ten minutes after the hormone injection, the livers were removed and the following radiometabolites were identified in the extract of the liver: androst-4-ene-3-one-17β-ol, 5α-androstane-3β-ol-17-one, 5β-androstane-3α-ol-17-one, 5β-androstane-3β-ol-17-one and 5α-androstane-3α-ol-17-one. Evidence for the presence in the rat liver of C 19 -steroids haveing a 3β-hydroxyl group is presented for the first time.
Factors affecting fresh mixture entrainment in bluff-body stabilized flames

An experimental and theoretical investigation has been carried out on the effects of air velocity and temperature, and stabilizer size and blockage, on the amount of fresh mixture entrained in the recirculation zone of a stabilized flame. Direct measurement of the entrainment quantity was not possible, and it was decided therefore to derive it by measuring the fuel flow at weak extinction of the flame. With a knowledge of the extinction fuel/air ratio, a value could then be found for the quantity of air participating in combustion within the recirculation zone. Tests were carried out at various values of gas temperature and velocity, using three circular pipes of four, five and six inches diameter, in conjunction with fifteen conical stabilizers, each of 30° included angle. Values of stabilizer blockage ranged from 11 per cent to 44 per cent, the actual stabilizer dimensions being specially chosen in order to permit baffle size and blockage to be varied independently. The experimental results obtained showed that the amount of fresh mixture entrained into the recirculation zone was independent of stabilizer size but increased with stabilizer blockage in a manner which agreed with the predictions of a parameter derived from simple fluid dynamic theory. It was also found that the entrainment fraction increased with increase in air velocity and decreased with increase in air temperature.
Determination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by ion-exclusion chromatography with UV detection

Abstract 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was determined without interferences in juices, honey, syrup, tomato paste, grape juice concentrate and dehydrated pear by anion-exclusion chromatographic separation and UV detection at 285 nm. The samples were mixed with water, filtered and injected without extensive sample treatment, which is normally required in conventional spectrophotometric or reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods, HMF at the 50 ppb level was determined with a signal-to-noise ratio of 6. The recovery of HMF added to honey was 98% at the 10 ppm level and 91% at 30 ppm.
Chronic toxicity of nitrogen dioxide. I. Effect on resistance to bacterial pneumonia.

Continuous (24 hr/day) exposure to 0.5 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for three months or longer significantly increased the susceptibility of mice to airborne Klebsiella pneumoniae as demonstrated by enhanced mortality. Intermittent exposure to 0.5 ppm NO2 for 6 or 18 hr/day for six months also resulted in a significantly increased mortality. After 12 months’ exposure to NO2, mice in the three experimental groups
Pulpal and radicular response to maxillary osteotomy in monkeys

The purpose of this study was to examine the pulpal and radicular response to total maxillary osteotomy. The osteotomy was performed on four adult Macaca irus monkeys. Monkeys were killed after a postsurgical observation period of 150 days. Tissue blocks of the maxilla with teeth were cut and examined histologically. The pulp of the majority of the teeth from experimental animals showed cellular and circulatory pathologic changes, even in the presence of collateral circulation.
Improving early and intermediate results of truncus arteriosus repair: a new technique of truncal valve repair.

Abstract Background . Despite improved surgical results for truncus arteriosus, overall mortality rates, remain higher than those reported for other complex congenital heart diseases, especially with truncal valve regurgitation or an interrupted aortic arch. Methods . Seventeen patients had complete repair of the truncus arteriosus at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation between August 1993 and June 1997. The age at operation ranged from 2 days to 4.5 years. Associated abnormalities included interrupted aortic arch in 3 patients and abnormal coronary artery anatomy in 3. Four patients had more than moderate truncal valve insufficiency requiring concomitant truncal valve repair. Results . There were no early deaths and only one late death at a mean follow-up of 24 months. The death occurred 3 months postoperatively and resulted from refractory pulmonary vascular obstructive disease in a patient who was referred at 1 year of age. Reoperation was required in 4 patients. Conclusions . Even in the presence of associated anomalies complete repair was performed with a low mortality rate. Truncal valve repair can be performed safely in the neonate with good results.
Effects of Zero Ferrite Permeability on Circularly Polarized Waves

Experimental data is presented describing the propagation characteristics of ferrites in the vicinity of zero permeability as seen by a wave which exhibits a positive sense of circular polarization of its microwave H vector. Deailed results derived in the 9000-mc region are given for a ferrite rod axially located in circular waveguide in which the TE11, circularly polarized mode is propagating. A theoretical treatment is also presented which predicts that the behavior of a ferrite rod so located in circular waveguide and biased to the zero permeability region can be made to expel practically all microwave energy from its interior. Experimental results verifying these predictions and an experimental setup used in obtaining a portion of these results are presented in detail. It is shown that similar behavior near zero permeability can be obtained from ferrite rods located in rectangular waveguide. The utilization of ferrites near zero permeability to obtain large nonreciprocal attenuations is discussed for the cases of low, moderate, and high loss ferrites.
Beyond screening: problems and prospects for risk characterization of endocrine disruptors.

Abstract Over time, the NAS's original concept of “risk characterization” has broadened to include not just explication of the risk inferences themselves, but a forthright discussion of their dependence on the many less-than-certain elements of the inferential process. Ideally, such characterization communicates the span of possible conclusions that emerge from alternative reasonable interpretations of the information at hand, together with considered judgment regarding the likelihood that each interpretation provides a good representation of the actual situation. Uncertainties regarding the magnitudes of parameters in the various equations used in quantitative risk assessment are increasingly characterized using statistical tools for analysis and propagation of variance through the calculations. Of potentially greater concern, however, is “model uncertainty”—the more fundamental uncertainty regarding the soundness of our conception of what biological phenomena are operating, how they interact, and how they can be represented in quantitative models. This is particularly true for assessment of potential endocrine disruptors, since much fundamental information is lacking and unanswered questions exist about the consequences and interpretation of empirically observable effects. An approach is to define a series of alternative models, each embodying a different conception, and using expert scientific judgment to weigh the individual results.
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor (CRHR)1 and CRHR2 Are Both Trafficking and Signaling Receptors for Urocortin

Transport of urocortin, a potent satiety peptide, occurs at the blood-brain barrier of the mouse. Endocytosis of urocortin by the cerebral microvessel endothelial cells composing the blood-brain barrier is a rate-limiting step of this transport, but the cellular mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. The presence of both CRH receptors R1 and R2 in isolated cerebral microvessels shown in this study suggested that both subtypes might mediate urocortin transport. The roles of these two receptors in the endocytosis and signal transduction of urocortin were tested by overexpression studies in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Both receptors led to a significant increase of binding and endocytosis of radiolabeled urocortin. CRHR1-mediated urocortin endocytosis was blocked by astressin (antagonist for both CRHRs), whereas CRHR2-mediated urocortin endocytosis was also blocked by antisauvagine 30 (selective CRHR2beta antagonist). Chlorpromazine, filipin, and nystatin had no effect on urocortin endocytosis, indicating the lack of significant involvement of clathrin or caveolae membrane microdomains. Both CRHR1 and CRHR2 were able to mediate the ligand-induced increase of cAMP production, suggesting that the overexpressed receptors were biologically active. Elevation of intracellular cAMP by forskolin or dibutyryl-cAMP, however, did not show acute modulation of the binding and endocytosis of urocortin. Despite the substantial intracellular degradation of endocytosed urocortin in cells overexpressing either CRHR1 or CRHR2, intact urocortin could be exocytosed during the 1-h study interval. We conclude that both CRHR1 and CRHR2 play a facilitatory role in the non-clathrin-, non-caveolae-mediated endocytosis and intracellular signal transduction of this potent peptide.
Perchlorate in the feed-dairy continuum of the Southwestern United States

Perchlorate has the potential to cause thyroid dysfunction by inhibiting iodide uptake by the sodium iodide symporter. Perchlorate-contaminated waters may lead to human exposure through drinking water and food chain transfer in crops by way of irrigation water. Perchlorate has been found in dairy milk collected nationally and internationally. This study was conducted to evaluate perchlorate in the feed-dairy continuum in the southwestern United States. All feed products collected at dairies in this study had detectable levels of perchlorate as analyzed by ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The calculated total perchlorate intake across dairies ranged from 1.9 to 12.7 mg/cow per day. The variation in total perchlorate intake across dairies was largely associated with variation in forage and silage products. Alfalfa products were the single most important source of perchlorate intake variability among dairies. The estimated perchlorate intake from drinking water ranged from 0.01 mg per cow per day and was generally less than 2% of the total perchlorate intake. The perchlorate content of milk ranged from 0.9 to 10.3 microg/L and was similar to levels reported by the Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study. The perchlorate content of milk was significantly related to the presence of perchlorate in feed but the variation of perchlorate in milk could not be explained by feed intake alone.
Effect of pressure on carbonate equilibria in seawater

Abstract The directly measured effect of pressure, RT (∂ ln K i / ∂P) = − Δ V i , and the estimated effect of pressure, Δ V i , using partial molal volume data for carbonate equilibria in pure water and seawater have been examined. The partial molal volume of the carbonate ion, V ∗(CO 3 2− ) = 22·1 cc/mol at 25°C in seawater has been determined from the effect of pressure on the dissociation of HCO3− and from partial molal volume data using the ion-pairing model of Millero (1969). This result does not agree with the value of V ∗(CO 3 2− ) = 31·8 cc/mol determined from the effect of pressure on the solubility of CaCO3, (∂ ln K Sp / ∂P)RT = − Δ V ' . Possible causes of this difference of 9·7 cc/mol in V ∗(CO 3 2− ) are briefly discussed. If our estimated value for the V ∗(CO 3 2− ) is used to estimate the effect of pressure on the solubility of CaCO3; a greater proportion of the oceans becomes undersaturated with respect to CaCO3.
Rate Setting in the Utilities Industry: Does Size Make a Difference?

This study provides evidence that the “size effect,”which has been investigated extensively in the literature, has not been considered by regulators in the utility rate setting process. In essence, the results indicate the rates assigned to both large and small utilities have not differed significantly in the past, statistically. However, to be consistent with the behavior observed in the competitive financial markets, the rates regulators set should be significantly higher for small utilities compared to large utilities. The fact that this was not observed might suggest inequities exist in the rate-setting process.
Using leaf margin analysis to estimate the mid-Cretaceous (Albian) paleolatitude of the Baja BC block

Abstract The “Baja BC hypothesis”, which postulates that western Washington State, British Columbia and southern Alaska originated at the latitude of Mexico, has pitted paleomagnetic results against long-held interpretations about the tectonic evolution of western North America. In this paper we develop a new paleobotanical method for estimating paleolatitude and apply it to this problem. We start by showing that the modern MAT field for North America is well correlated with latitude, demonstrating the feasibility of using MAT to estimate paleolatitude. A compilation of MAT and floral data from 84 modern sites in Central and North America is used to establish a new prediction relationship, MAT = 1.32 + 28.99P, where P is the proportion of smooth-margined species within a floral sample at a site. Our analysis also includes a more complete estimate of the uncertainties associated with estimating MAT from a measurement of P. Using modern data, we show that MAT and P can be used to estimate latitude as well. We then apply this approach to resolve the paleolatitude of Baja BC. Eleven floral sites from stable North America are used to establish the latitudinal MAT profile for North America during the Albian and Cenomanian. A floral site from the Winthrop Formation, a mid-Cretaceous (110–100 Ma) fluvial unit in the Methow basin of northern Washington State, is linked to the Baja BC block and predates its proposed northward offset. Forty-three morphospecies of dicotyledonous angiosperm leaves from the Winthrop Formation give P = 0.76, which is equivalent to a MAT of 23.4 °C, indicating a subtropical to tropical climate. We use the North American MAT profile to estimate a paleolatitude of 38.4°N for the Winthrop flora, indicating ∼ 2200 km of northward offset relative to stable North America.
Laterally actuated nanoelectromechanical relays with compliant, low resistance contact

Laterally actuated nanoelectromechanical relays with compliant source-drain contacts are presented. The relay sidewalls are coated with a 30 nm-thick conductive layer of titanium nitride (TiN) deposited using atomic layer deposition (ALD). By hollowing the tip of the relay, a flexible sidewall is formed from the thin TiN that results in a larger contact area and therefore improves the contact properties of the relay. This modification improves the on-state resistance (RON) and also provides better stability over a larger number of switching cycles compared to a rigid contact. The results of life-time tests show that the contact resistance increases with the number of switching cycles possibly due to degradation of the contact material. However, flexible contacts show improved contact resistance stability under cyclic contact.
Does price transparency legislation allow the uninsured to shop for care

Background The majority of states have enacted price transparency laws to allow patients to shop for care and to prevent price discrimination of the uninsured. In California, hospitals must provide a price estimate to a requesting uninsured patient and cannot bill for an amount greater than the reimbursement the hospital would receive from a government payer.
Metabolism of dicumarol-14C by rat-liver microsomes

Abstract Re-examination of the in-vitro metabolism of dicumarol by rat-liver microsomes reveals that the primary metabolite is 7-hydroxydicumarol and not the substance of unknowi, structure, B055, previously reported ( Christensen, 1972 ). The substance B055 appears to be an artifact which arises from decomposition of 7-hydroxydicumarol during paper chromatography in a widely used ammoniacal solvent system.
Optimal spatiotemporal reduced order modeling, Part II: application to a nonlinear beam

A geometrically nonlinear, simply supported beam under the influence of time-dependent external forcing serves as a testbed to demonstrate application of the optimal spatiotemporal reduced order modeling (OPSTROM) framework proposed in Part I of this work. Fully resolved simulations, which are relatively expensive to perform, are used to accurately predict the beam response for a few forcing parameters. More affordable simulations are achieved with a conventional finite-difference scheme by coarsening the computational grid in space and time. Discretization errors are reduced with OPSTROM as subgrid-scale models are designed to account for the underlying space-time statistical structure using principles of mean-square error minimization, conditional expectations and stochastic estimation. When included in the under-resolved simulations, these optimal subgrid-scale models are shown to significantly improve the accuracy of predictions for both periodic and chaotic response types. This improved accuracy is further demonstrated through a set of numerical experiments designed to capture the complex bifurcation behavior of the beam response.
Middle-Holocene climates and human population densities in the Great Basin, western USA

Much of western North America saw higher temperatures and lower precipitation during the middle Holocene. The Great Basin became much drier and warmer than it is today, causing major shifts in lake levels, treelines, plant community composition, and vertebrate distributions and abundances. To assess the impact of climate change on middle-Holocene human population densities in this region, we examine the frequency structures of radiocarbon-dated archaeological sites through time in three separate parts of the Great Basin: the Bonneville Basin, Fort Rock Basin, and western Lahontan Basin. The results of the analysis support the hypothesis that human population densities in many parts of the Great Basin dropped substantially in response to middle-Holocene climate change but also document that there were intervals during the middle Holocene in all three areas that appear to have been marked by temporary population increases. We hypothesize that these increases were associated with equally temporary increases ...
Addressing the Persistence and Retention of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education: Incorporating Key Strategies and Supports on Campus

This article explores the key characteristics of postsecondary education programs that help youth and young adults with disabilities persist and remain in college. Student support factors include services that develop stronger self-determination skills, teach and support young adults' self-management skills, expose students to assistive technology, and promote career development by providing internships or other career-related experiences. In conjunction with student support services there are two professional development emphases for instructional faculty that contribute to the institutional support needed by college students with disabilities. Students benefit when faculty have an increased awareness and knowledge of the characteristics and needs of students with disabilities and when faculty incorporate concepts of universal design into their instruction and curriculum.
Nonlinear Hertzian Indentation Fracture Mechanics

Indentation cracking under blunt indenters is analyzed using nonlinear fracture mechanics. The usual assumptions of linear elastic fracture mechanics have been replaced with a nonlinear load vs load-point displacement curve while assuming the material is linear elastic. The load, the load-point displacement, and a function of the crack area have been related to the crack driving force, J, while assuming a cone fracture under the Hertzian sphere. Experimentally, it was found that the load-displacement curve during loading, cracking, and unloading is nonlinear. The crack length is empirically shown to be proportional to the load-point displacement for several indenters. The experimentally measured relations between indenter load, load-point displacement, and crack geometries are then analyzed with mechanical energy balances based on the similitude of crack lengths with load-point displacements. The Hertz hardness that describes the nonlinear load vs load-point displacement relation during cracking is derived on the constant J line in load-displacement space. Finally, well-known experimental expressions that relate load to crack length are shown to be indistinguishable from the load-point displacement analysis reported.
Natural history and therapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: the role of interleukin-2.

BACKGROUND Despite significant advances in understanding the biology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) during the past decade, metastatic disease remains nearly incurable and a major medical challenge. Because RCC is known to be immunogenic, immunotherapeutic agents such as recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and interferon-α (IFN-α) have represented encouraging treatment modalities. METHODS A review of the natural history of and therapeutic approaches to RCC was examined. Studies involving rIL-2 alone and in combination with other adjuvant therapies were critically evaluated. RESULTS Overall response rates for metastatic RCC patients treated with rIL-2 were similar (i.e., in the range of 15-20%), regardless of whether rIL-2 was administered as monotherapy or in combination with IFN-α. Recombinant IL-2 monotherapy response rates were similar to those of IFN-α, but with an increased frequency of complete responses and enhanced response duration. Subcutaneous administration generally resulted in lower toxicity than intravenous administration. The roles of chemotherapy or adoptive immunotherapy in combination with rIL-2 and IFN-α therapy remain unclear and require further study. The importance of patient performance status as a predictor of response and survival in rIL-2 therapy was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS The use of rIL-2 with or without IFN-α may represent the most useful therapeutic approach currently available for patients with good performance status. In patients with borderline performance status or severe comorbid disease, therapeutic approaches depend on patient factors and outcome expectation and may involve cytokine therapy. However, regardless of performance status, palliative measures and/or observation are important choices, because the majority of patients with metastatic RCC are incurable. Cancer 1997; 80:1198-220. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Sensitivity of Untreated Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement to Moisture, Density, and Freeze Thaw

The objective of the research was to assess the structural capacity of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) as a base layer and to investigate the effect of RAP content, moisture content (MC), freeze-t...
Functional data analysis of prosodic effects on articulatory timing

An application of functional data analysis (FDA) (Ramsay and Silverman, 2005, Functional Data Analysis, 2nd ed. (Springer-Verlag, New York)) for linguistic experimentation is explored. The functional time-registration method provided by FDA is shown to offer novel advantages in the investigation of articulatory timing. Traditionally, articulatory studies examining the effects of linguistic variables such as prosody on articulatory timing have relied on comparing the durations of speech intervals of interest defined by kinematic landmarks. Such measurements, however, do not preserve information on the detailed, continuous pattern of articulatory timing that unfolds during these intervals. We present an approach that allows the analysis of entire, continuous kinematic trajectories obtained in a movement tracking experiment examining the influence of a phrasal boundary on articulatory patterning. FDA time deformation functions, after alignment of test and reference (control) signals, reveal delaying of articulator movement (i.e., slowing of the internal clock rate) in the presence of a phrase boundary as the speech stream recedes from the boundary. This is a theoretically predicted pattern (Byrd and Saltzman, 2003, The elastic phrase: Modeling the dynamics of boundary-adjacent lengthening, Journal of Phonetics 31, 149–180.), which would be more difficult to validate with a traditional interval-based approach. It is concluded that the FDA time alignment method provides a useful tool for characterizing timing patterns in linguistic experimentation based on continuous kinematic trajectories.
Subwavelength Plasmonic Waveguides and Plasmonic Materials

With the fast development of microfabrication technology and advanced computational tools, nanophotonics has been widely studied for high-speed data transmission, sensitive optical detection, manipulation of ultrasmall objects, and visualization of nanoscale patterns. As an important branch of nanophotonics, plasmonics has enabled light-matter interactions at a deep subwavelength length scale. Plasmonics, or surface plasmon based photonics, focus on how to exploit the optical property of metals with abundant free electrons and hence negative permittivity. The oscillation of free electrons, when properly driven by electromagnetic waves, would form plasmon-polaritons in the vicinity of metal surfaces and potentially result in extreme light confinement. The objective of this article is to review the progress of subwavelength or deep subwavelength plasmonic waveguides, and fabrication techniques of plasmonic materials.
Sphingomyelin lipidosis in a cat: Golgi studies.

Alterations in neuronal geometry in a feline model of sphingomyelin lipidosis were evaluated using Golgi staining. Neurons in cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, amygdala, thalamus, and cerebellum were impregnated and many were found to possess conspicuous enlargements at the axon hillock-initial segment region (meganeurites) and/or to sprout secondary neuritic processes from this same area. The latter were sometimes well developed and resembled small dendrites. These changes were cell type specific with distribution limited to certain types of neurons in select brain regions, while others remained normal, or underwent only simple somatic enlargement or generalized degenerative changes. Occasional cortical pyramidal neurons also displayed thinning of dendrites and extensive loss of dendritic spines.
Convective Wakes in the Equatorial Western Pacific during TOGA

Abstract The evolution of convective wakes was studied using composite time series calculated from data collected in the western Pacific warm pool during a pilot cruise and intensive observation period (IOP) of the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE). Hourly averaged observations from 42 convective wakes were used to compute wake-relative composite time series of the bulk meteorological variables, as well as sensible and latent heat fluxes. These analyses show great similarities between the convective wake characteristics of the pilot cruise and the IOP, despite differences in season and location. This result, combined with a strong correlation between individual wakes and the composite time series, demonstrates the representativeness of the composites. TOGA convective wakes were found to cause a significant decrease in air temperature, a significant increase in wind speed, and thus significant increases in sensible and latent heat fluxes, which is ...
Design and Development of the Combustor Dif fuser for NASA/GE Energy Efficient Engine

Results of an experimental investigation of the aerodynamic performance of a split duct annular combustor inlet diffuser system are presented. Several diffuser configurations were investigated in 3X-scale water-table tests and the preferred design was evaluated in full-scale annular airflow model tests. Pressure recovery and flow losses were determined as a function of prediffuser inlet velocity profile, flow extraction at the prediffuser exit, and distribution of flow in the combustor. Inlet velocity profile and turbulence levels were found to have a pronounced effect on system performance. Flow extraction at the prediffuser exit was found to have little influence on system performance. Generally, the annular split duct diffuser system was found to satisfy the performance objectives for the engine.
Social Security in Britain—Twenty Years After Beveridge

Summary In one major respect British experience with social security policies since 1946 has vindicated Beveridge's analysis, namely that to be successful, any income maintenance program must be buttressed by an effective attack on other social problems. Two of these, the complications resulting from the varying size of families and the burden of medical care costs, have been the subject of special measures, Children's Allowances and the National Health Service. The former is not as effective as it might be, owing to the still modest level of the allowance per child; the latter has undoubtedly made the task of the income maintenance and public assistance services much easier by freeing them from the necessity of attempting to pay benefits or allowances to cover medical care costs, a particularly important consideration in regard to the aged. But in the areas of housing and employment less has been done. The lack of adequate housing means that in many cases the Assistance Board has to grant higher allowances to cover unduly high rents or to carry a heavy burden of supplementation to meet rent charges. And although Britain has, until recently, enjoyed a surprisingly high degree of full employment, there is little evidence that this has been the result of deliberate policy; the situation now seems to be changing. The next few years may well see social security policy responding, as in the prewar period, to the needs of the unemployed rather than so exclusively to the needs of the aged. And it seems likely too that the needs of the unemployed will be interpreted more broadly than was the case in the prewar period, when it was thought sufficient merely to ensure some modicum of income. In the future it can be anticipated that there will be much greater pressure on the government to provide employment, through general expansionist policies, measures to revive depressed areas, more effective retraining and transfer programs, and perhaps also expanded public works. In another respect, however, Britain's postwar social security experience has demonstrated that income security policy itself can never be determined once and for all. Increasing affluence has called in question the appropriateness of Beveridge's assumption that all that was needed was to ensure a very low minimum social insurance payment. Greater knowledge of the circumstances of those with little or no income has raised doubts as to the extent to which economic insecurity could be eliminated through universal coverage by social insurance, unsupported by a quite extensive national assistance system. It has also become clear, in view of the persistence in a period of high employment of groups of employable persons who for personal reasons are unable to secure or retain jobs, that assurance of income alone is not enough. The future is likely to witness a considerable expansion of social services other than income maintenance, not only for such groups but also for the aged whose needs are increasingly seen to demand something more than minimum income maintenance.
Using “macro hardware” to integrate EPICS and spec

Abstract This paper describes the steps needed to use spec 's “macro hardware facility” for control and reading of EPICS process variables. This resource allows many instruments that can communicate with EPICS to be integrated into the spec diffractometer-control program.
Capsule commentary on Jones et al., the future as a series of transitions: qualitative study of heart failure patients and their informal caregivers.

Jones et al.1 performed a qualitative study to determine how patients with heart failure and their caregivers perceive the future. This knowledge could enhance advance care planning for a disease with a prolonged and variable clinical course. Clinicians in outpatient cardiology and geriatric clinics at a single medical center recruited potential subjects with NYHA class II–IV heart failure. In total, 33 patients and 20 of their informal caregivers participated in one-on-one interviews. The major finding was that patients and caregivers experienced four transitions in grappling with heart failure: shock after diagnosis, adjustment to life with the disease, taking control, and accepting mortality. Patients with advanced heart failure must make decisions about therapies that can extend life but carry potential trade-offs. Clinicians need guidance on fostering high-quality, shared decision-making.2 Attention to the transitions experienced by patients with heart failure may inform such discussions. The findings have some limitations. Patients were recruited from one medical center. Longstanding relationships with their clinicians may have biased their perceptions. The patients had been living with heart failure for a median of 5 years (range: > 1 to 27 years), yet the study is cross-sectional. The median survival of patients with systolic heart failure is approximately 3–5 years. Patients who are doing poorly may never achieve a sense of control or acceptance. Two findings warrant particular note: One, many patients expressed frustration that clinicians failed to address uncertainty. This is consistent with recent reports suggesting that patient–physician communication surrounding implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), a complex therapy for advanced heart failure, is characterized by “omission of information” and “lack of attention to psychological and long-term risks.”3 Two, patients who felt more in control “set limits” regarding therapy. In a recent study, 70 % of ICD patients said they would deactivate their ICD in hypothetical scenarios such as severe cognitive impairment.4 Fear of death, and medicine’s difficulty with anticipating the future, may underlie society’s drive to do everything possible to extend life, even at the expense of its quality.5 To enable patients to make decisions that reflect their values, we must help them move from bewilderment to control.
A decrease in the growth rates of atmospheric halon concentrations

HALONS H-1301 (CBrF3) and H-1211 (CBrClF2) have been introduced into the atmosphere, mainly through use in fire extinguishers, for almost three decades. Although each is now present in the troposphere at a concentration of only 2 parts per 1012, these gases have long atmospheric lifetimes (65–77 yr for H-1301 and 11–16 yr for H-1211)1,2 and carry significant amounts of bromine to the stratosphere2,3, where it can destroy ozone catalytically4,5. For this reason, the halons have high ozone depletion potentials6. The manufacture of both gases is to be discontinued globally by the year 2000, according to the Montreal Protocol, and perhaps sooner, as a result of unilateral action by users, manufacturers and producing countries7,8. Here we present a six-year record of tropospheric halon mixing ratios which shows that the growth rates of H-1301 and H-1211 have already begun to decrease substantially. This recent decrease in growth rates is consistent with industry emission estimates (although these have greater uncertainties), and supports current appraisals of atmospheric lifetimes. Our results suggest that, even though these halons are relatively long-lived species, their atmospheric mixing ratios may stabilize or begin to decrease within the next few years.
Crystal Structures of Penicillin-binding Protein 2 from Penicillin-susceptible and -resistant Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Reveal an Unexpectedly Subtle Mechanism for Antibiotic Resistance

Penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) from N. gonorrhoeae is the major molecular target for β-lactam antibiotics used to treat gonococcal infections. PBP2 from penicillin-resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae harbors an aspartate insertion after position 345 (Asp-345a) and 4-8 additional mutations, but how these alter the architecture of the protein is unknown. We have determined the crystal structure of PBP2 derived from the penicillin-susceptible strain FA19, which shows that the likely effect of Asp-345a is to alter a hydrogen-bonding network involving Asp-346 and the SXN triad at the active site. We have also solved the crystal structure of PBP2 derived from the penicillin-resistant strain FA6140 that contains four mutations near the C terminus of the protein. Although these mutations lower the second order rate of acylation for penicillin by 5-fold relative to wild type, comparison of the two structures shows only minor structural differences, with the positions of the conserved residues in the active site essentially the same in both. Kinetic analyses indicate that two mutations, P551S and F504L, are mainly responsible for the decrease in acylation rate. Melting curves show that the four mutations lower the thermal stability of the enzyme. Overall, these data suggest that the molecular mechanism underlying antibiotic resistance contributed by the four mutations is subtle and involves a small but measurable disordering of residues in the active site region that either restricts the binding of antibiotic or impedes conformational changes that are required for acylation by β-lactam antibiotics.
Stress Analysis of Generally Asymmetric Single Lap Adhesively Bonded Joints

An analysis is presented that predicts shear and peel stresses in an adhesively bonded single lap joint having general asymmetric configuration. The single lap joint is under tension loading together with moments induced by geometric eccentricity. Because these eccentricity moments are the key elements of this analysis, a general relationship between the eccentricity moments and simple geometric moments has been determined with the aid of finite element analysis (FEA). Example calculations show that the shear- and peel-stress profiles from the closed-form model are well matched to FEA results except in the small regions near the free ends of the joints, because of the shear lag basis of the model. For asymmetric joints, the model predictions are more accurate for the case of modulus eccentricity than thickness eccentricity. Elastic-limit load predictions accounting for both shear and peel stress in the adhesive have been used to find optimal joint configurations between asymmetric adherends.
Geobacter sulfurreducens Can Grow with Oxygen as a Terminal Electron Acceptor

Geobacter sulfurreducens, previously classified as a strict anaerobe, tolerated exposure to atmospheric oxygen for at least 24 h and grew with oxygen as the sole electron acceptor at concentrations of 10% or less in the headspace. These results help explain how Geobacter species may survive in oxic subsurface environments, being poised to rapidly take advantage of the development of anoxic conditions.