cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of nonpsychotic mental disorders does not affect treatment outcome in a homeless cocaine dependent sample

This study presents the prevalence and treatment outcome of DUAL diagnoses (psychoactive substance use disorders [PSUD] plus other nonpsychotic mental disorders) among a population of homeless persons participating in a behavioral day treatment and contingency management drug abuse treatment program. Participants were 128 persons: 76.6% male, 23.4% female; 82.2% African-American, 17.2% Caucasian. There were 46 (35.9%) PSUDs and 82 (64.1%) DUAL participants. Cocaine (96.9%) and alcohol disorders (57.8%) were most prevalent overall, and 60.2% of participants had two or more psychoactive substance use disorders. DUAL participants had significantly more alcohol disorders than PSUDs (62.2% versus 50.0%). The most prevalent mental disorders (other than substance use) for the total and DUAL samples were, respectively, mood (51.6% and 80.5%) and anxiety (35.9% and 56.1%), and 31.3% and 48.8% had more than two mental disorders. The DUAL group had more severe problems than the PSUD group at baseline in alcohol, medical condition, employment/support, and psychiatric status areas on the ASI. Both groups showed treatment improvements at 6-months follow-up with the DUAL group showing greater mean changes than the PSUD group in five of the seven ASI areas. These findings are discussed in terms of effect of dual diagnoses on treatment outcome and study limitations related to a retrospective design and select sample of nonpsychotic mental disorders.
EXPERIMENTAL ECOLOGICAL GENETICS IN PLANTAGO IV. EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH RATES AND REPRODUCTION IN THREE POPULATIONS OF PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA L. (PLANTAGINACEAE)

The effects of temperature on growth rates and flowering responses of Plantago lanceolata L. populations sampled from open, shaded, and sunflecked habitats were studied in controlled environments. A large number of characteristics were phenotypically plastic in response to a broad range of temperatures. Low night temperatures substantially reduced reproductive effort, whereas high temperatures produced a reduction in total biomass. Temperature had little effect on leaf or inflorescence production rates, other than at very low temperatures. The phenotypic plasticity observed in the growth chamber correlated well with the observed seasonal phenology. Genetic differences were found in inflorescence height and total plant productivity. The rapid growth rate, the high reproductive effort, and generally broad temperature optimum to moderate temperatures are consistent with the occurrence of P. lanceolata in a wide variety of disturbed habitats in temperate latitudes. PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA L. is a cosmopolitan species with wide ecological amplitude. This species is extensively distributed throughout most temperate areas in the Northern and
Association of systemic lupus erythematosus with angiographically defined coronary artery disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 1. Epidemiologic data suggest that SLE is an independent risk factor for CAD 2-5 and in a prospective study, after controlling for traditional risk factors, the relative risk for development of myocardial infarction (MI) was shown to be 10.16. Women with SLE between the ages of 35 and 44 years old are particularly more likely to have a MI than controls2. It is believed that these adverse cardiovascular outcomes are a result of accelerated atherosclerosis, leading to the development of occlusive CAD. To date, however, most of our understanding about atherosclerosis in patients with SLE is derived from autopsy studies or investigations of surrogates of atherosclerosis, such as increased carotid intima and media thickening (IMT), reduced brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD), and coronary artery calcification as detected by electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) 7-10. Recent studies have suggested that these modalities may not be as reliable in patients with SLE as in the general population. In a previous study of SLE patients, the results of BAFMD correlated poorly with those of myocardial perfusion scanning 11; other studies in this patient population have shown that carotid IMT measurements do not correlate with the presence of carotid plaque8. Little is known about the severity and distribution of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. The gold standard for measuring flow-limiting CAD is coronary angiography -- an invasive procedure with its own inherent risks. Most descriptions of the coronary angiograms of SLE patients are from case reports. There are a few studies evaluating coronary angiograms in SLE 12, 13, but none to our knowledge have explored in a large cohort the severity of CAD defined by coronary angiography in this population. Therefore, we took advantage of a large cardiovascular databank at our institution to investigate the severity of CAD by coronary angiography in a selected population of patients with SLE. We investigated the role of SLE in predicting coronary angiographic abnormalities and adverse clinical outcomes after accounting for traditional CAD and SLE-related risk factors.
Laparoscopic Placement of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: Preliminary Report

We used a laparoscopic technique for the percutaneous placement of the peritoneal end of cerebrospinal fluid shunts in adult patients with obstructive or normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Concurrent with the initial cranial part of the procedure, pneumoperitoneum is established in a routine fashion, and a video-laparoscope and grasping forceps are inserted into the peritoneal cavity. With use of a pacemaker introducer kit, the peritoneal catheter is placed percutaneously under direct laparoscopic vision through a small upper abdominal incision into the peritoneal cavity. At the completion of the procedure, the patency of the assembled shunt system can be verified by observing free flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the catheter tip as the valve is being pumped. We found that this technique is particularly useful in technically challenging cases—for example, those involving obese patients and those who have undergone multiple abdominal operations. No complications associated with the technique were encountered.
Surface griding with intrinsic parameters

Abstract In this paper, we present a new technique within the framework of active modeling for achieving the goal of intrinsic surface parameter computation. Intrinsic surface parameters such as the lines of curvature and asymptotic lines are useful in describing three-dimensional shapes. The problem is formulated as a variational principle with the associated energy expression consisting of a parameterized stabilizer term and a penalty term. In this method, we use a static instance of the controlled continuity spline for the stabilizer , and any transformation of parameters requires a modification of the stabilizer. We present experimental results with real and synthetic range data.
Asymmetric dihydroxylation of primary allylic halides and a concise synthesis of (−)-diepoxybutane

Abstract The asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of primary allylic halides is described. Enantiomeric excesses range from 40 to 98%. Subsequent base treatment gives epoxy alcohols in high yields. This strategy is further illustrated by the synthesis of (−)-diepoxybutane, an important C 4 -chiral building block.
Beloit College's Ten‐Day Foreign Language and Culture Program: The Director's Perspective

: A two-year grant from Pew Memorial Trust permitted Beloit College to offer a ten-day foreign language and culture program in August 1985, for the purpose of encouraging new students to study a foreign language and its culture. Ten languages were taught. The program was scheduled just before the beginning of the 1985–86 academic year, so that students could enroll in a regular language course immediately after the program. At the end of the ten days of instruction, students and senior instructors turned in written evaluations of the program. Over 94 percent of the student participants indicated the program had met their expectations.
Adjusted estimates of United States–China bilateral trade balances: 1995–2002

Abstract In a series of papers ( Fung & Lau, 1996 , Fung & Lau, 1998 , Fung & Lau, 2001 ), we have argued that neither the U.S. nor the Chinese bilateral trade balance data are accurate. In this paper, we utilize the most up-to-date information and provide more accurate estimates. The adjustments include f.a.s.–f.o.b. and f.o.b.–c.i.f. conversions, re-exports via Hong Kong, re-export markups of Hong Kong middlemen and trade in services. With these adjustments, the best estimate of the U.S.–China bilateral trade balance in goods and services in 2002 is US$ 74.3 billion. This is a large figure, but it is more than 25% smaller than the official estimate of the U.S. government.
Getting to better water quality outcomes: the promise and challenge of the citizen effect

Agriculture is a major cause of non-point source water pollution in the Midwest. Excessive nitrate, phosphorous, and sediment levels degrade the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. In this research we ask, to what extent can citizen involvement help solve the problem of non-point source pollution. Does connecting farmers to farmers and to other community members make a difference in moving beyond the status quo? To answer these questions we examine the satisfaction level of Iowa farmers and landowners with their current conservation measures as a proxy for willingness to change. A survey of 360 conservation minded farmers obtained from a random sample of 75 HUC (Hydrologic Unit Code) 12 Iowa watersheds reveals that 27% of the variance among farmers’ perception of adequacy of their conservation practices is explained by a combination of beliefs about the seriousness of water pollution, personal, civic, and expert connections. The more farmers talk with other farmers the more likely they are satisfied with their conservation efforts. However, the more frequently farmers talk to friends and neighbors that don’t farm, the more likely they are to not be satisfied with their conservation efforts. Further, the more social organizations farmers belong to—e.g., more non-farmers they interact with in a group setting—the more likely they are to be dissatisfied with their level of effort being adequate to protect local water bodies. These findings suggest the personal and civic connections among farmers and communities are important in explaining perceptions of how adequate conservation measures are. These perceptions have implications for farmers’ willingness to go beyond current actions and more actively engage in solving local watershed problems and explain why they may not currently be engaged in additional actions.
Incentivizing participation in online forums for education

We present a game-theoretic model for online forums for education, where students in a class can post questions to the forum and seek responses from the instructor or other students in the class. We first show that our model predicts the anecdotally observed phenomenon that students' participation in a forum is non-monotone in the instructor's response rate to questions: if the instructor responds at too high a rate students do not respond to their peers' questions, whereas an almost-absent instructor induces very little participation from the students as well. We then investigate the optimal use of a forum for two kinds of questions--- single-answer questions and discussion-style questions--- which lead to different levels of rewards that can be meaningfully offered. We show that for discussion-style questions, the instructor can choose her response rate so that the expected rate at which the first student response is received increases linearly with the size of the class; for single-answer questions, however, the optimal expected rate of arrival of the first student response remains a constant even as class size diverges. However, this slow response rate can be remedied by mixing question\ types--- as long as there is any positive probability of a\ discussion-type question in a forum, the instructor can choose her\ response rate so that the equilibrium rate of the first response from the class diverges with the number of students in the class.
CARNELIAN containment data report

The CARNELIAN event was detonated in hole U4af of the Nevada Test Site as indicated in figure 1 .l. The CARNELIAN device had a depth-of-burial (DOB) of 208 m in the alluvium of Area 4 , about 70 m above the Paleozoic formation and 330 m above the standing water level, as shown in the geologic cross-sections of figure 1.2(l) Figure 1 3 displays the local surface area showing nearby events Stemming of the 2 44 m diameter emplacement hole followed the plan shown in figure 1 4. A log of the stemming operations was maintained by Holmes & Narver(2) Detonation time was about 07 00 PDT on July 28 , 1977, and collapse progressed to the surface at about 19 minutes after the detonation resulting in a crater having a �cookie-cutter� geometry (steep walls with a relatively flat bottom) with a mean radius of 32 2 m and a maximum depth of 10 5 m No radiation arrivals were detected above ground and the CARNELIAN containment was considered successful
Children’s judgments of social interactive behaviors with peers: the influence of age and gender

Participants (138 children; 7–12 years of age) rated how often nice and not nice behaviors occurred when (a) participants (boys/girls) were the actor and peers (males/females) were the target and (b) when participants were the target of peers’ actions in a school setting. Children indicated they were nicer to their same-gender peers than to their opposite-gender peers. Also, older boys, in comparison to young boys, indicated that not nice interactions occurred more often among them and male peers. Nice (e.g., helping) and not nice (e.g., verbal aggression) behaviors were also generated, which also differed by age and gender. Finally, this study has important implications for educators in that from children’s point of view these are the types of behaviors that are occurring during their time at school. Although there are programs in schools that are aimed at decreasing physical aggression, more attention should be given to the more indirect or subtle forms of aggression, such as social manipulation and verbal. At the same time, programs that encourage nice behaviors, such as helping and sharing, should be expanded.
Overexpression and Purification of the Vaccinia Virus DNA Polymerase

Abstract We have overexpressed the vaccinia virus DNA polymerase using the hybrid vaccinia virus/T7 expression system. Accumulation of the DNA polymerase to levels as high as 10% of the total protein was observed following coinfection of BSC40 cells with the appropriate vaccinia recombinants. Although the DNA polymerase produced at 37°C was largely insoluble, 25% of the recombinant protein could be recovered as soluble protein when infected cultures were maintained at 32°C. Starting with cytoplasmic lysates of coinfected cells, a rapid and reproducible purification protocol that yielded apparently homogeneous preparations of the DNA polymerase after four chromatographic steps was established. Typically, 0.3 mg of purified DNA polymerase was obtained from 27 mg of total protein within 10 h after harvesting infected cells. As was previously described for the DNA polymerase purified from vaccinia-infected cells (Challberg and Englund, J. Biol. Chem., 254, 7812-7819,1979), the purified recombinant enzyme displayed both polymerase and 3′-5′ exonuclease activities but lacked detectable 5′-3′ exonuclease activity. Kinetic analysis of nucleotide incorporation catalyzed by the vaccinia enzyme revealed apparent Km values of 0.9, 2.9, 4.0, and 2.7 μM for dGTP, dATP, TTP, and dCTP, respectively.
Statistical shape analysis of neuroanatomical structures based on medial models

Knowledge about the biological variability of anatomical objects is essential for statistical shape analysis and discrimination between healthy and pathological structures. This paper describes a novel approach that incorporates the variability of an object population into the generation of a characteristic 3D shape model. The proposed shape representation is a coarse-scale sampled medial description derived from a fine-scale spherical harmonics (SPHARM) boundary description. This medial description is composed of a net of medial samples (m-rep) with fixed graph properties. The medial model is computed automatically from a predefined shape space using pruned 3D Voronoi skeletons. A new method determines the stable medial branching topology from the shape space. An intrinsic coordinate system and an implicit correspondence between shapes is defined on the medial manifold. Several studies of biological structures clearly demonstrate that the novel representation has the promise to describe shape changes in a natural and intuitive way. A new medial shape similarity study of group differences between monozygotic and dizygotic twins in lateral ventricle shape demonstrates the meaningful and powerful representation of local and global form.
Quenching of band-edge photoluminescence in InP by Cu.

We report on experimental observations of the systematic decrease in near-band-edge 80-K photoluminescence in InP upon the deliberate introduction of increasing amounts of Cu by diffusion. It is thus confirmed that Cu introduces an effective recombination center in InP. The decrease in the luminescence intensity is accompanied by the appearance of a broad band at 1.353 eV which is identified as luminescence involving the Cu impurity.
One hundred laparoscopic myomectomies with ultrasonic energy: surgical evaluation of a new energy source

Objective To evaluate the surgical efficiency of ultrasonic energy for laparoscopic myomectomies through review of the dissection and haemostatic capabilities of the energy source; the pregnancy results after surgery; formation of uterine fistulas and postoperative adhesions, and energy-related difficulties and complications. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting One surgeon, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. Patients 100 women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomata. Interventions 100 consecutive laparoscopic myomectomies were performed between April 1993 and May 1997. Ultrasonic cutting and coagulation (Ultrasonic Scalpel) was used on all cases for dissection of myomas from the myometrium. Results The indications for surgery were: menometrorrhagia (44%), chronic pain (29%) and increasing uterine size (27%), and 99 procedures were completed laparoscopically. One procedure was converted to an open laparotomy to remove a broken needle fragment from the EndostitchTM (1% conversion rate). No energy-related complications occurred. A total of 320 myomas were removed laparoscopically from 99 patients. Dissection and achievment of haemostasis was easy and rapid with all types of myomas. To date, 10 patients have experienced 12 pregnancies. No fistulas or uterine dehiscence have occurred. A total of 26 patients had second-look evaluations, and 65% of these were clinically free of adhesions (grade 0 or grade 1). Conclusions When compared with published results of laparoscopic myomectomies performed with lasers and electrosurgical instruments, ultrasonic energy demonstrated equal dissection and haemostatic capabilities without the risks of toxic smoke, burns and thermal injuries. Ultrasonic energy is an effective energy source for laparoscopic myomectomies.
Recovery of structure from motion: Implications for a performance theory based on the structure-from-motion theorem

The structure-from-motion theorem asserts that three projective views of four elements in motion are sufficient to specify the structure of the object to which the elements belong. Seven experiments were conducted to determine whether the perceptual recovery of structure in human observers is favorable to an interpretation of the theorem as aperformance theory. In six experiments, subjects either discriminated simulations of objects in rotation around the y-axis versus randomly perturbed counterparts or tried to identify them. As the rotation angle between frames of the simulations increased, performance accuracy decreased. Furthermore, performance accuracy did not depend upon the type of projection (parallel versus polar) or upon the coplanarity/ noncoplanarity of the stimulus elements. A seventh experiment showed that the subjective appearance of structure breaks down when the angle of rotation between successive frames exceeds about 35.5°. Because the subjects' performance in some conditions exceeded expectations based upon constraints imposed by the structure-from-motion theorem, it is suggested that additional algorithms or heuristic rules might need to be considered when interpreting human recovery of structure in such displays.
Infectious keratitis after LASIK.

Abstract Purpose To report the clinical course, management, and outcomes of culture-proven infectious keratitis in 15 eyes of 13 subjects after LASIK. Design Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Participants Fifteen eyes of 13 subjects who underwent LASIK and developed culture-positive keratitis. Intervention Infectious keratitis was encountered in the operative eyes between 1 day and 450 days. Cultures were obtained, and topical antibiotic therapy was administered in all cases. Some cases required flap lifting, irrigation, and soaking of the bed with antibiotics, flap amputation, or further surgical intervention. Main outcome measures Time periods from onset to diagnosis, from clinical diagnosis to clinical resolution, final acuities, microbiologic profiles, and medical and surgical interventions were reviewed. Results Onset of symptoms of infection varied, depending on the infectious organism. Bacterial organisms tended to present earlier, whereas mycobacterial and fungal organisms had a later mean onset of presentation. Furthermore, the atypical organisms such as mycobacteria, fungus, and acanthamoeba also had a more delayed diagnosis, resulting in a prolonged disease course. Conclusions Infectious keratitis after LASIK is a potentially vision-threatening complication. Onset of symptoms varies depending on causative agents. Furthermore, atypical organisms in the interface or beneath the flap can pose both diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. Location in the interface can make it more difficult to culture the organisms and prevent adequate penetration of topical antibiotics.
Transcriptional control of adrenal catecholamine and opiate peptide transmitter genes

In the rat, decreasing transsynaptic activity through adrenal denervation, nicotinic receptor blockade, or explanation is associated with an increase in preproenkephalin mRNA, enkephalin prohormone and peptide. In contrast, catecholamine pathways remain unchanged under similar conditions. Since it is not known whether changes in messenger RNA result from stabilization or increased synthesis, we exploited transcription 'run-on' assays to measure the rate of transmitter gene read out. Tyrosine hydroxylase message (TH-mRNA) was found to be the most abundantly produced transcript in the unmanipulated control rat adrenal medulla. TH-mRNA was produced in excess of twice the rate of transcription of the structural gene beta-actin. In contrast, preproenkephalin transcription occurred at a much lower rate (60% of the actin gene and only 25% of tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription). All transcripts were inhibited by the polymerase II inhibitor, alpha-amanitin. After two days in explant culture, the rate of enkephalin transcription increased approximately 2-fold (to the same level as actin transcription); while tyrosine hydroxylase transcriptional activity fell to 30% of actin level. To analyze cellular mechanisms, explants were depolarized with potassium chloride. Enkephalin gene transcription was observed to be 2.5-fold less when grown under depolarizing conditions (50 mM KCl) than in control explants. On the other hand, tyrosine hydroxylase gene read-out was unchanged, similar to results obtained when TH catalytic activity was measured. These data indicate that membrane depolarization can selectively regulate expression of a transmitter gene product and are consistent with a proposed transsynaptic regulatory mechanism controlling biosynthesis of adrenal opiate peptides.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
SU-E-J-134: Effect of Reproducibility of the Deep Inspiration Breath Hold in Left Breast Cancer Radiotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric impact of variable reproducibility of the Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) level for left breast cancer external beam radiotherapy. Methods: Left breast cancer patients went through CT scans at FB and DIBH prior to external beam treatment. Deformable registration between the two data sets was performed using the demons algorithm on a GPU developed by Gu et al. PMB 55(1). With an in‐house program using Matlab, the vectors were verified for accuracy and applied to the FB image at 75%, 90% and 110% magnitude, in order to simulate fictional anatomical configurations with different breath hold levels . The new images were saved as DICOM files. These new images represent variable reproducibility of a patients' DIBH level. The new DICOM Files were imported into the treatment planning system (TPS). The DIBH scan and the 75%, 90%, 110% fictitious scans were registered in the TPS based on the breast/chest surface. A treatment plan was created on the DIBH CT scan, and was copied to the registered breath hold images.Dose to the heart was calculated and compared for all the inspiration levels to determine the effect of the reproducibility of DIBH levels on the dose to the heart. Results: Preliminary results show that there is a significant effect on the location of the heart from FB to the various inspiration levels. Normal tissue complication probability decreases greatly from the FB to the breath hold scans, although it is patient dependent. Variation amongst the breath hold levels is less severe. Conclusions: We have developed a tool to quantify the effect of reproducibility of the DIBH level on dose to the heart in left breast cancer radiation treatments. Preliminary results show that the effect of DIBH reproducibility is less severe than the change from FB to DIBH.
Radiative and conductive heat transfer in a quiescent gas-solid bed of particles: Theory and experiment

This paper concerns a study of radiation as a contributing mechanism in the transfer of heat between discrete solid particles. A theory for transfer in such systems is generalized to include planar-, spherical-, and cylindrical-bed geometries; because of the particulate nature of the system the generalization is given in terms of finite-difference equations. Transfer experiments were performed in a quiescent cylindrical bed with an axial heat source and a cylinderical containing-wall sink. Heat fluxes and radial-temperature profiles were measured. As the experiments were arranged, only modest temprature gradients were established between source and sink, but the ambient sink temperature was taken in steps from 100° to 1,000°C. For a bed of 3.8-mm.-diameter alumina spheres the ratio of heat transferred by radiation to that transferred by conduction was estimated to increase with average bed temperature from the order of 0.1 at 100°C., to 1.2 at 1,000°C. The effects of temperature on bed reflectivity and transmissivity and on apparent boundary-temperature discontinuities are discussed.
Salt reduction in the United States.

In June 2006, the American Medical Association catapulted its salt policy into the headlines. In a bold step the association's membership voted to implement several strategies to reduce salt intake. The members voted (a) to urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revoke the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) status of salt and develop regulatory measures limiting the amount of salt in processed and restaurant foods; (b) to establish quantifiable milestones, specifically a 50% reduction over the next decade, in the salt content of processed foods, fastfood products, and restaurant meals; (c) to join in partnership with organisations to educate consumers about the benefits of long term salt reduction; and (d) to work with the FDA to improve food labelling and develop warning labels for foods high in salt. The association's decision to advocate salt reduction follows a recent series of reports in the United States recommending sharp reductions in salt consumption, largely because of its adverse effects on blood pressure.1-5
Integrating expert judgment in veterinary epidemiology: Example guidance for disease freedom surveillance

Expert opinions supplement empirical data in many epidemiologic assessments. For veterinary disease freedom surveillance, where the geographic scope of concern is often broad, populations subject to change, decisions eminent and empirical data, expert opinion can be a critical component of the decision making process. However, opinion is by definition subjective and the manner in which opinion is sought can impact the quality and reliability of estimates. Group interaction can hinder or improve the estimation process, depending on its facilitation. Further, whether and how validation is conducted can limit or increase acceptance of the resulting model. While the utility of expert opinion is widely recognized in many fields, and the impact of its use or misuse implicit, standards for application to veterinary assessments are not readily available. This paper aims to foster discussion on this influential component of epidemiology, with disease freedom application as a focus. Benefits and concerns attributed to expert judgment and guidelines for its structured elicitation are described, borrowing insights from its long history of use in decision science fields and examples from recent veterinary assessments.
Visual dysfunction in retinal and optic nerve disease

Visual perceptions seen with retinal and optic nerve disease may overlap with those resulting from retrochiasmal disorders. A few disorders typically present with distinctive perceptions, but the majority have less specific symptoms. Features include whether or not the visual phenomena are negative or positive, monocular or binocular, and the location and form of any deficits. Among negative phenomena, transient visual loss usually is the result of ischemic disease, but particular precipitants may suggest demyelination or photoreceptor degeneration. The pattern and location of visual field defects may help localize disorders to the level of the macula, papillomacular or other inner retina nerve fiber bundles, optic nerve, or chiasm. Altered brightness perception may point to optic nerve or photoreceptor disease. Decreased acuity is among the most common and least specific symptoms, but association with other symptoms may help to narrow the differential diagnosis. Dyschromatopsia points to either a photoreceptor or optic nerve pathologic condition (Table 7). Among positive phenomena, hallucinations resulting from anterior visual system disorders typically are unformed, although deafferentation of retrochiasmal pathways may produce formed hallucinations. The common "floaters" frequently are benign, but occasionally herald more concerning disorders. Various types of photopsias commonly occur with vitreal disorders or photoreceptor disorders. Macular disease typically leads to distortions of the central visual field, and other particular disorders lead to a host of characteristic distortions of color, form, or brightness. Careful attention to the ophthalmologic examination, visual fields, and subtle variance in symptomatology also help to distinguish among various disorders.
Resuspension induced by impacting particles

Abstract Ammonium fluorescein particles, 8.6 μm dia., were resuspended from a Tedlar surface by impacting 3.0 μm ammonium fluorescein particles from a 40 m s −1 jet. The time dependence of the reentrainment was measured with an optical counter and the spatial distribution of particles on the surface was measured at different stages of the reentrainment with an optical microscope and an image analyzer. The observed particle reentrainment from the area directly under the circular nozzle is accounted for by a theoretical calculation including the non-uniform profile of the particle beam and the non-uniform particle deposit on the impaction surface. Reentrainment from the area surrounding the nozzle was induced by particles which bounced from the central region and reimpacted at larger radial distances. This reentrainment is satisfactorily fitted by a calculation using trajectories inferred for the bouncing particles.
On the structures of pentasilicon dodecachloride, Si5Cl12, and hexasilicon tetradecachloride, Si6Cl14☆

Abstract Pentasilicon dodecachloride, Si5Cl12, and hexasilicon tetradecachloride, Si6Cl14, produced in the amine induced disproportionation of disilicon hexachloride, form stoicheiometric 1:1 adducts with silicon tetrachloride, methyltrichlorosilane, and dimethyldichlorosilane. These adducts dissociate reversibly and plots of the logarithm of the dissociation pressure vs. 1 T yielded straight lines from which the ΔH of dissociation was calculated. A discussion of the probable bonding in these adducts is presented. The infra-red spectra of pentasilicon dodecachloride and hexasilicon tetradecachloride in the vapour phase and in solutions of methylene chloride and silicon tetrachloride are presented along with a discussion of these spectra elucidating the molecular structure of pentasilicon dodecachloride and hexasilicon tetradecachloride.
Unique features of gastric carcinoma in the young: a population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND It is suspected that young patients with adenocarcinoma have a more aggressive form of disease and therefore a poorer prognosis than older patients. METHODS A retrospective cohort study used the population-based tumor registries of Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties. Cases (patients age ≤40 years with gastric carcinoma) were compared with controls (patients age >40 years with gastric carcinoma). RESULTS The overall, age-adjusted incidence rate of gastric carcinoma was 10.2/100,000. Approximately 5.5% of 3,020 cases occurred in patients age 70 years had an independent increased risk of dying from all causes in comparison with young patients (relative risk = 1.46; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Young gastric carcinoma patients have adverse clinical and pathologic features in comparison with older patients. In this study, young age was not found to be an independent predictor of overall survival. Cancer 1998;83:25-33. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
The computer: tutor and research assistant

The concept of a library of statistical computer programs based on a single statistics text can significantly reshape current teaching of statistical methods and can increase the use of statistical methods in research---especially if the library is quite easy to use. Such a library has changed the way we teach and use statistics at our university.
Short-Loading-Time Stiffness from Creep, Resilient Modulus, and Strength Tests Using Superpave Indirect Tension Test

The Superpave indirect tension (IDT) system was modified to determine the short-loading-time stiffness of asphalt mixtures from resilient modulus, creep, and strength tests. The idea was not only to provide a more accurate method to determine the resilient modulus, but also to determine whether reasonable measures of short-loading-time stiffness could be obtained from tests that provide other properties and thereby minimize the amount of testing needed to characterize asphalt mixtures. It was found that even when evaluated at very short loading times, the stiffnesses determined from the different tests were significantly different. Detailed evaluation indicated that the differences can be explained by the differences in loading rates between the tests. In general, stiffnesses from the different tests all appeared to be reasonable and followed the same trend. However, since the rheological behavior of asphalts and mixtures varies, stiffnesses from different tests were not directly related. Therefore, altho...
Dissociating Prefrontal and Parietal Cortex Activation during Arithmetic Processing

Lesion and brain-imaging studies have implicated the prefrontal and parietal cortices in arithmetic processing, but do not exclude the possibility that these brain areas are also involved in nonarithmetic operations. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore which brain areas contribute uniquely to numeric computation. Task difficulty was manipulated in a factorial design by varying the number of operands and the rate of stimulus presentation. Both manipulations increased the number of operations to be performed in unit time. Manipulating the number of operands allowed us to investigate the specific effect of calculation, while manipulating the rate of presentation allowed us to increase task difficulty independent of calculation. We found quantitative changes in activation patterns in the prefrontal and parietal cortices as well as the recruitment of additional brain regions, including the caudate and midcerebellar cortex, with increasing task difficulty. More importantly, the main effect of arithmetic complexity was observed in the left and right angular gyrus, while the main effect of rate of stimulus presentation was observed in the left insular/orbitofrontal cortex. Our findings indicate a dissociation in prefrontal and parietal cortex function during arithmetic processing and further provide the first evidence for a specific role for the angular gyrus in arithmetic computation independent of other processing demands.
Ovarian Hormone Secretory Response to Gonadotropins and Nitric Oxide Following Chronic Nitric Oxide Deficiency in the Rat

Ovarian hormone secretion is regulated by gonadotropins, and it has been demonstrated that this response is modulated by nitric oxide (NO). The focus of this study was to determine the effect of chronic NO deficiency on the secretion of ovarian steroids. Female rats were given N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 0.6 g/L) in their drinking water, and vaginal smears were obtained daily. By 4 wk of treatment, all the rats were in constant estrus or proestrus. At 6-8 wk the animals were killed; the ovaries were removed and incubated in the presence of eCG (1 IU/ml) and hCG (1 IU/ml) and/or S-nitroso-L-acetyl penicillamine (an NO donor, S-NAP; 0.1 mM) for 4 h. Medium was collected at 30-min intervals, and estradiol, progesterone, and androstenedione were measured. Ovaries from proestrous rats served as controls. Ovaries from L-NNA-treated animals had a greater basal and gonadotropin-stimulated release of estradiol but not of androstenedione or progesterone in comparison to ovaries from untreated controls. S-NAP decreased the gonadotropin-stimulated estradiol, progesterone, and androstenedione in ovaries from NO-deficient rats. Steroid secretion in controls was not responsive to S-NAP. We conclude that chronic NO inhibition produces constant estrus due to increased estradiol production and that NO acts to inhibit estradiol and androstenedione production.
Wetting properties of silicon mesh microchannels coated with SiO 2 /SnO 2 nanoparticles using layer-by-layer nano self assembly

The wetting property of silicon mesh microchannels which are coated with SiO 2 /SnO 2 nanoparticles is investigated in this paper. The SiO 2 /SnO 2 bi-layer were prepared using layer-by-layer nano self assembly. It was found that the silicon mesh channels were superhydrophilic and demonstrated powerful capillary forces. The capillary rise rate was tested by measuring the front location of liquid on the silicon mesh surface that was laid on a 45 degree inclined platform. As for the silicon mesh 25 mm by 25 mm, when the width of microchannels is 0.5 mm, the liquid front can reach the top edge of a sample in approximately 30 seconds.
Stochastic Response of Tension Leg Platform to Wave and Current Forces

The linear analysis in the frequency domain is presented for the surge motion of a tension leg platform (TLP) in the case of random waves only and random waves with constant current. A single-degree-of-freedom model of a TLP is employed for response. The superposition method is applied to random sea wave. Wave-induced forces are calculated using the modified of Morison equation, which takes into account relative motion
IEEE 802.11n Development: History, Process, and Technology

This article provides insight into the IEEE 802.1 In standard amendment development process, beginning with a general overview of the IEEE 802.11 process. Development of requirements and usage models in the study group and task group is discussed. The lengthy proposal down selection process used by 802.11n is described and critiqued. We also discuss the expected time to develop a standard from a market perspective. An overview of the physical layer technology used to achieve the 600 Mb/s data rate is presented. We outline the medium access layer features employed to enhance usable throughput to over 400 Mb/s. The added robustness afforded by techniques in the standard and issues with backward compatibility with legacy IEEE 802.1 la/g devices are addressed.
Pathology of inhalational anthrax animal models

Anthrax is a lethal disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. There are three principal forms of the disease in humans-cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational-depending on the route of exposure. Of these, inhalational anthrax is the most dangerous; it is rapidly fatal; and it has been used as a deadly biological warfare agent in the last decade. Suitable animal models of inhalational anthrax have been utilized to study pathogenesis of disease, investigate bacterial characteristics such as virulence, and test effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics. To date, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and nonhuman primates are the principal animal species used to study inhalational anthrax. Mice are valuable in studying early pathogenesis and bacterial characteristics. Few pathologic changes occur in the mouse models but may include marked bacteremia and lymphocyte destruction in the spleen and mediastinal lymph nodes. Rabbits and guinea pigs rapidly develop fulminate systemic disease, and pathologic findings often include necrotizing lymphadenitis; splenitis; pneumonia; vasculitis; and hemorrhage, congestion, and edema in multiple tissues. Nonhuman primates consistently develop the full range of classic lesions of human inhalational anthrax, including meningitis; lymphadenitis; splenitis; mediastinitis; pneumonia; vasculitis; and hemorrhage, congestion, and edema in multiple tissues. This review focuses on basic characteristics of the bacterium and its products, key aspects of pathogenesis, and the pathologic changes commonly observed in each animal model species.
PARASESSION ON TOPICS IN INTERACTIVE DISCOURSE INFLUENCE OF THE PROBLEM CONTEXT

My comments are organized within the framework suggested by the Panel Chair, Barbara Grosz, which I find very appropriate. All of my comments pertain to the various issues raised by her; however, wherever possible I will discuss these issues more in the context of the "information seeking" interaction and the data base domain.The primary question is how the purpose of the interaction or "the problem context" affects what is said and how it is interpreted. The two separate aspects of this question that must be considered are the function and the domain of the discourse.
The tensile strength of uterosacral ligament sutures: a comparison of vaginal and laparoscopic techniques.

model. METHODS: In 12 unembalmed cadavers, four polytetra.fluoroethylene sutures were placed through the uterosacral ligaments. In each cadaver, two sutures were placed laparoscopically, and two more were placed vaginally. A single, experienced surgeon placed alliaparoscopic sutures (n = 23), and another experienced surgeon placed all vaginal sutures (n = 22). A blinded team of investigators measured the distance from each suture to the ipsilateral ischial spine; determined whether any sutures incorporated ureters, viscera, or large vessels; and then passed the sutures through an apical vaginal incision. Using a hand-held tensiometer, progressive tensile load was then applied to these sutures along the axis of the vagina until they either broke or were completely dislodged from the ligaments. RESULTS: The average peak tension required to break or dislodge the sutures was 26.2 :t 8.8 psi (Iaparoscopic) and 22.5 :t 7.4 psi (vaginal) (P = .14,95% confidence interval [CI] -1.2, 8.6). The average force required for suture breakage (n = 28) was 28 :t 7 psi, and the average force applied when ligament failure occurred (n = 17) was 18.5 :t 6 psi (P < .001, 95% CI -13.8, -5.2). The average distance from a laparoscopic or vaginal suture to the ipsilateral ischial spine was 19.1 :t 7 mm and 17.4 :t 6 mm, respectively (P = .46,95% CI -3.0, 6.4). None of the sutures from either technique were found to incorporate a visceral structure, ureter, or great vessel. CONCLUSION: These suturing techniques appear to be equal in tensile strength. (Obstet Gynecol 2003;101:500-3. @ 2003 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.)
Requirements for distributed virtual environments on the Internet

We examine the basic requirements for large scale virtual environments distributed on the Internet: a platform independent description of virtual worlds, support for multi user collaboration, the network infrastructure required to realize these features, and support for partitioned worlds. We show how we address these issues in our current prototype based on VRML (the Virtual Reality Modeling Language).
Immigration and the New Racial Diversity in Rural America

This article highlights the new racial and ethnic diversity in rural America, which may be the most important but least anticipated population shift in recent demographic history. Ethnoracial change is central to virtually every aspect of rural America over the foreseeable future: agro-food systems, community life, labor force change, economic development, schools and schooling, demographic change, intergroup relations, and politics. The goal here is to plainly illustrate how America's racial and ethnic transformation has emerged as an important dimension of ongoing U.S. urbanization and urbanism, growing cultural and economic heterogeneity, and a putative "decline in community" in rural America. Rural communities provide a natural laboratory for better understanding the implications of uneven settlement and racial diversity, acculturation, and economic and political incorporation among Hispanic newcomers. This article raises the prospect of a new racial balkanization and outlines key impediments to full incorporation of Hispanics into rural and small town community life. Immigration and the new ethnoracial diversity will be at the leading edge of major changes in rural community life as the nation moves toward becoming a majority-minority society by 2042.