cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aversive conditioning of drug addicts: a pilot study.

Abstract Narcotic addiction has proven remarkably resistant to treatment methods when the therapeutic goal has been abstinence. The strength of the narcotic habit has its roots in the powerful learning or conditioning that creates and maintains the addiction. Figure 1 shows diagrammatically how the addict's narcoticseeking behavior is produced and reinforced. The pay-off or reward for the addict is the narcotic's effects which combine the primary gratification of being “high” (positive reinforcement) with the relief of severe psycho-physiological discomfort (the “yen” and withdrawal symptoms) and escape from anxiety-provoking, stressful, interpersonal and environmental conditions (negative reinforcement). Wikler (1965) has emphasized the importance of classical and operant factors in opiate addiction. Treatment aimed at abstinence must break this behavioral chain at some point to be effective. Recent efforts at rehabilitating addicts using Methadone maintenance break the chain near its origin; that is, by satisfying the craving without the “high” (Dole, et al. 1966). The pilot research reported here attempts to break the chain at its end, by making the narcotic “fix” unpleasant and noxious instead of gratifying. The addict learns or is conditioned to associate the unpleasant effects of apomorphine (nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, dizziness) with the narcotic-taking ritual. Aversive conditioning techniques have been used with varying degrees of effectiveness in the treatment of alcoholism for over 30 yr. Some practitioners of this technique report abstinence in about 50 per cent of cases followed-up for 10 yr (Thimann 1949; Lemere and Voegtlin 1950; Franks, 1966). Others have had much less success and undoubtedly the selection of cases, the amount of ancillary, supportive therapy and the precision and sophistication in the application of the conditioning techniques account for the varied outcomes. In the past few years there have been two reports of aversive conditioning used to treat narcotic addiction. Raymond (1962) in England used techniques similar to those reported here to cure a woman addicted to Methadone (2 1 2 yr follow-up). Wolpe (1965) used electrical shock to the skin in producing temporary abstinence lasting 12 weeks in a physician-addict who gave himself shocks on three separate occasions when he felt the desire for narcotics arise.
Photolysis of water vapor on titanium/TiO2 surfaces

Abstract The photolysis of water vapor on the surface of titanium coated polycrystalline n-TiO2 at a temperature of 380°C is reported. A quantum conversion efficiency for hydrogen production of 2% is measured for excitation above the band gap of TiO2. The experiments demonstrate the catalytic nature of the reaction with respect to the active material and also suggest an important role played by the titanium metal in the observations.
Identification of an ATP-activated endopeptidase from rat kidney which catalyzes cleavage of parathyroid hormone to fragments identical to those produced in the rat kidney in vivo.

An endopeptidase catalyzing cleavage of parathyroid hormone to specific C-terminal and N-terminal fragments was identified in a partially purified membrane fraction from rat kidney. Fractionation on sucrose gradient showed that this activity is present primarily in a light membrane fraction rather than in the basallateral membranes, or in the classic lysosomal fraction. The endopeptidase can be extracted from the membranes by freezing and thawing, it has an acid pH optimum, and it catalyzes production of specific fragments of PTH. The major C-terminal fragment produced has its N-terminus at residue 39 of the native hormone. This fragment is identical to the primary PTH fragment found in kidney tissue following injection of iodinated PTH into the systemic circulation of rats (D'Amour et al., 1979). Finally, the cleavage of PTH by this acid endopeptidase is activated by physiological concentration of ATP (10-4 - 10-3M). These results suggest that this enzyme may be involved in PTH catabolism by the kidney, ...
STUDIES ON PROTEIN UPTAKE BY ISOLATED TUMOR CELLS I. Electron Microscopic Evidence of Ferritin Uptake by Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells

Ferritin, added to the incubation medium of ascites tumor cells, was used as an electron microscopic marker to study the uptake of large protein molecules by morphologically intact cells. A definite uptake could be detected after 1 hour of incubation in Tyrode bicarbonate solution containing 0.04 to 13.3 mg ferritin/ml. Ferritin was found in a variety of membrane-surrounded structures, suggesting that pinocytesis and related membrane movements are occurring under physiological conditions and can account for the penetration of intact macromolecules into isolated tumor cells. Supplementation of the medium with serum albumin (33 mg/ml) increased the average amount of ferritin per cell and per pinocytotic structure. Ferritin was strongly adsorbed by fragments of lysed cells, which were readily taken up by intact cells. Besides its role as carrier, this debris appeared to stimulate membrane movements. Only rare examples were found to suggest the release of ferritin from the pinocytotic structures into the cytoplasm. Thus, the disintegration of such structures cannot be considered an obvious step towards a rapid metabolic utilization of protein by the cell. Particles of colloidal gold presented to the cell under the same conditions were not taken up to any significant extent, thus providing good evidence for a selective ingestion of particles of comparable sizes.
Topographical dopamine and serotonin distribution and turnover in rat striatum.

Abstract Topographic distribution of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) was determined in rat striatum using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. The ratios of DOPAC:DA and 5-HIAA:5-HT were calculated as indices of DA and 5-HT. There was a rostro-caudal gradient for both DA and 5-HT, with DA highest in rostral striatum and 5-HT highest in caudal striatum (P
Viperin Links Lipid Bodies To Immune Defense

Viperin is an interferon-stimulated gene that exerts antiviral effects. In this issue of Immunity, Saitoh et al. (2011) uncovered an unexpected function of Viperin and lipid bodies in interferon induction by Toll-like receptors, specifically in plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
On the Theory of Growth Controls

Numerous empirical studies have examined the effect of growth controls on housing prices.’ These studies have used many different techniques ranging from hedonic price model estimation to paired comparisons but have all come to the same conclusion: growth controls raise the price of housing. In theory, there are both demand and supply side explanations (which need not be mutually exclusive) for these observed price differences. On the supply side, housing caps, zoning restrictions, limitations on the amount of developable land, and other forms of growth control may reduce the supply of housing over time. This, in turn, may produce scarcity effects which manifest as shifts (or other changes) in the housing supply curve and attendant price increases. On the demand side, to the extent that growth controls may reduce or internalize expected negative externalities and/or congestion costs associated with growth, controls may also produce amenity effects. Such amenity effects manifest as changes in the demand curve and likewise may be capitalized in land values (and wages), e.g., the price of a house rises as commute time falls.
Needed Directions in Domestic Food Assistance Policies and Programs

This paper reviews alternatives to existing food assistance policy and discusses specific reforms of the current programs. Particular attention is given to the benefits and limitations of the alternatives and reforms. The emphasis of the paper is forward looking. The first section of this paper briefly discusses the dimensions of hunger and poverty in the United States, providing a needed background. The second section examines several major policy alternatives to the existing programs. The third section reviews specific reforms of the current programs which would address certain problems and issues. The concluding section assesses the prospects for change.
Back-Gate Controlled Wide Tunable Range Diode Voltage in Asymmetrical Double-Gate Devices

An area-efficient wide tunable range diode voltage technique was proposed using back-gate controlled asymmetrical DG device. Examples for power gating in latches and SRAMs, and dynamic supply for SRAM read/write, were discussed and validated by mix-mode simulations. Due to the wide range of achievable supply voltage in the proposed scheme, it can be used in VLSI logic/SRAM applications including dynamic VDD for logic, voltage islands, power gating, separate VDD for logic and SRAM, SRAM with a sleep transistor, and dynamic VDD for SRAM read/write
Dynamic evaluation of regional air quality model’s response to emission reductions in the presence of uncertain emission inventories

Abstract A method is presented and applied for evaluating an air quality model’s changes in pollutant concentrations stemming from changes in emissions while explicitly accounting for the uncertainties in the base emission inventory. Specifically, the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model is evaluated for its ability to simulate the change in ozone (O 3 ) levels in response to significant reductions in nitric oxide (NO x = NO + NO 2 ) emissions from the NO x State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call and vehicle fleet turnover between the years of 2002 and 2005. The dynamic model evaluation (i.e., the evaluation of a model’s ability to predict changes in pollutant levels given changes in emissions) differs from previous approaches by explicitly accounting for known uncertainties in the NO x emissions inventories. Uncertainty in three sectors of NO x emissions is considered – area sources, mobile sources, and point sources – and is propagated using sensitivity coefficients calculated by the decoupled direct method in three dimensions (DDM-3D). The change in O 3 levels between 2002 and 2005 is estimated based on differences in the empirical distributions of the modeled and observed data during the two years. Results indicate that the CMAQ model is able to reproduce the observed change in daily maximum 8-hr average O 3 levels at more than two-thirds of Air Quality System (AQS) monitoring locations when a relatively moderate amount of uncertainty (50%) is assumed in area and mobile emissions of NO x together with a low amount of uncertainty (3%) in the utility sector (elevated point sources) emissions. The impact of other sources of uncertainty in the model is also briefly explored.
Sweden and the European Miracles; Conquest, Growth and Voice: A Survey of Problems and Theories . By Erik Emilsson. Goteborg: Goteborg University, 1996. Pp. v, 142.

Recension av Erik Orjan Emilsson,Sweden and the European miracles; Conquest, growth and voice: A survey of problems and theories
Quantitative radioimmunoassay of immunoglobulins on the surface of human tumor cells

Abstract Indirect radioimmunoassay can be used to detect surface immunoglobulins on tumor cells. In this study, 460–1140 ng of immunoglobulins per 10 6 cells was found on a variety of tumor cells. Peripheral lymphocytes also were assayed for surface immunoglobulins and from 340 to 1045 ng/10 6 cells were found. Cultured tumor cells, on the other hand, were found to contain only negligible quantities of immunoglobulin. The technique of radioimmunoassay of immunoglobulins on cells is described and the physiologic implications are discussed.
Development of hemolytic anemia in rats fed selenite

Abstract The anemia of selenite toxicity in rats was studied with 59Fe. When the 59Fe was injected into control animals and into selenite-fed animals which would soon show anemia, the uptake of radioactivity in the blood was the same. In observing the fatal anemia that then developed with the selenite-fed animal, an extensive decline of the hemoglobin concentration and of the newly incorporated 59Fe in the blood occurred at the same time. An interruption of the decline might occur. At death, the overall reduction of the hemoglobin concentration in the blood was less than the reduction of the label. During the terminal stage, hemoglobinuria occurred. The animals which did not show extensive loss of the 59Fe in the blood also did not show anemia or die. The results indicated that the anemia was caused by hemolysis rather than by a defect in red blood cell synthesis. The effect of the selenite treatment on the 59Fe loss from the blood was reduced when arsenite was included in the diet. The use of arsenite in the diet without selenite also appeared to have some sparing effect on the 59Fe loss. When arsenite was fed with labeled selenite, a reduction in the selenium level in the liver and kidneys occurred. Thus, arsenite addition to a selenite-treated diet was associated with a reduction in hemolysis and in selenium accumulation in certain organs.
Cryogenically cooled, 149 W, Q-switched, Yb:LiYF_4 laser

We demonstrate a 149 W Yb:LiYF4 laser with diffraction-limited beam quality at 995 nm. The laser, Q-switched at 10 kHz pulse repetition frequency, produces linearly polarized 52 ns pulses with a slope efficiency of 73%. The combination of cryogenic cooling and a low (3.5%) quantum defect results in minimal thermo-optic effects and high thermal efficiency. The measured heat load to the cryogen is 0.15 W per watt of output. These results show the potential for significant power scaling of Q-switched Yb:YLF lasers with excellent beam quality.
All-optical clock recovery of NRZ data at 40 Gbit/s using Fabry-Perot filter and two-section gain-coupled DFB laser

All-optical clock recovery from 40 Gbit/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data has been experimentally demonstrated by using a fibre-pigtailed Fabry–Perot filter and a self-pulsing two-section gain-coupled distributed feedback laser. The recovered clock has a measured root-mean-square (RMS) timing jitter of 1.2 ps. Error-free performance has been achieved in back-to-back bit error ratio (BER) tests using the optically recovered clock.
Evolvable characteristic-based pseudo random number generation

Abstract We have recently succeeded in developing genetic algorithm (GA)-based random number generators (RNG) by encoding generators in genomes that manifest themselves as combinations of basic mathematical operators and randomized seeds/parameters. The combination of operators and parameters are “optimized” by selecting the “most fit” algorithm as measured by our GA's objective function (a metrized version of the Federal Information Protection Standard 140-1 (FIPS) statistical tests). Moreover, offline testing (with Marsaglia's Diehard test suite) shows that our characteristic-based RNGs perform well.
Mathematics for elementary majors

Mr. Higgins describes the preparation in mathematics of Ball State student teachers and invites supervising teachers to submit suggestions for improvement.
Heterogeneity of protein turnover in Escherichia coli.

Abstract An investigation has been made to determine the extent of turnover synthesis in the subcellular components of resting cells of Escherichia coli , and the extent to which this synthesis differs from that in normal growth. Estimates of turnover vary with the strain of organism examined, the condition of starvation and the amino acid used as an indicator of turnover. Estimates further depend on whether breakdown of growth-labeled protein or resynthesis of new protein is examined. Turnover of protein was found to occur to varying extents in all subcellular fractions examined including the cell walls. Most of the protein synthesized in turnover differs from the protein of growth in being for the most part metabolically unstable and associated with the cell membranes. It is maximally revealed by pulsed labeling, the most unstable elements disappearing within a minute thereafter. The cumulative rate of cellular replacement can thus amount to 20% per h. The proteins synthesized in turnover are postulated to comprise a generally stable class derepressed by nutritional deficiency, and a more labile class which recycle non-specifically to contend with environmental alteration. In the soluble subcellular component, turnover synthesis is favored among the low molecular weight proteins. Cell-free preparations retain a limited capacity for preferential breakdown of pulse-labeled protein.
THE ROLE OF FREE AND BOUND WATER IN IRRADIATION PRESERVATION: FREE RADICAL DAMAGE AS A FUNCTION OF THE PHYSICAL STATE OF WATER

SUMMARY English sole fillets previously equilibrated with aqueous 0.1% cysteine were dehydrated by three methods to moisture levels ranging from 2 to 72%. Model systems using cellulose to replace the fish tissue were also used. The samples were irradiated at 1 Mrad in an air, nitrogen, or oxygen atmosphere. The destruction of −SH groups was measured and related to the amount and physical state of the tissue water. As free water was removed, destruction steadily increased, reaching a maximum at about 20% moisture. Destruction decreased markedly at moisture levels below 10%, and calorimetric measurements confirmed that 10% moisture was about the level of bound water in this species. These data suggest that dehydration favors the reaction of solute molecules with free radicals formed in the free water of muscle cells. At moisture levels greater than about 20%, simple free radical recombination is more likely than reaction with solute molecules, while below 20% moisture the reverse is true. The calculated α values support this conclusion, as do the results from model systems using cellulose.
Sequence similarity between part of human retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product and a neurofilament protein subunit.

Retinoblastoma, is a highly malignant but readily treatable cancer of the retina, which occurs at an incidence of 1 in 20,000 live births in young children. The retinoblastoma gene that determines susceptibility to this cancer encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein which has been extensively characterized. Yet, to this date, its function remains unknown. We report here that RB amino acids 307–435 shows similarity to the rod domain of the neurofilament L-type subunit (NF-L).
Location, color, size, depth, and volume may predict endometriosis in lesions resected at surgery.

Abstract Objective: To correlate the diagnosis of endometriosis in lesions excised at laparoscopy with pathologic diagnosis. Design: Prospective study. Setting: U.S. government research hospital. Patient(s): Women with chronic pelvic pain thought to be due to endometriosis. Intervention(s): Excision of lesions suspicious for endometriosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Histologic examination of lesions for color, width, depth, and location of endometriosis. Lesion colors were grouped as black, red, white, mixed color, or endometriomas. Result(s): Sixty-five women with a surgical diagnosis of endometriosis had minimal (n = 22), mild (n = 25), moderate (n = 9), or severe disease (n = 9) according to the revised American Fertility Society classification. Endometriosis was confirmed in all but seven patients with minimal and one with severe disease. Twelve other patients did not have endometriosis. Of 314 lesions excised, 189 (61%) were endometriotic. Black or red lesions were less often histologically confirmed to be endometriosis than were white lesions, mixed-color lesions or endometriomas. Lesions > 5 mm wide or deep were more likely to be endometriosis than were narrower or shallower implants. Endometriomas deeper than 1 cm were histologically confirmed to be endometriosis, and 50% of peritoneal windows contained endometriosis. Conclusion(s): White lesions, mixed-color lesions, endometriomas, and larger lesions by depth or width were more likely to be histologically confirmed endometriosis than were smaller, black, or red lesions.
Talismans of the Carpatho-Rusyn Woman: The Ritual Practices and Symbol System in the Art of Pysanky

This paper provides an historical review of the art of Rusyn Easter Eggs. The use of symbolism, colour, and the talismanic qualities of each design will be discussed along with the ritualistic practices adhered to in the making of these egg designs. Pysanky making in the past had been a ritual, handed down from mother to daughter, where codes of conduct were practised and traditional symbols and colours were used to create the designs on each egg. After the pysanky were made, they were used in traditional Easter festivities. While pysanky are still made by Carpatho-Rusyn women today, their magical qualities have been lost. Old symbols continue to be used along with new designs, techniques, and colours.
Effects of price and management level on optimal replacement and insemination decisions

A stochastic dynamic model was used to evaluate the effects of price and management changes on optimal decisions for replacement and insemination. A simulation was used to determine the added value of optimized decisions over benefits from typical recommendations. Five levels were specified for each input. Inputs were varied individually and then placed into price or management categories and varied as groups. Five price levels and five management levels were defined. All 25 possible combinations of price and management level were examined. One combination represented typical Florida inputs and was used as a base run. The variation of model outputs resulting from the uncertainty in specifying inputs was used to determine which results represented meaningful change from the base run. Varying inputs individually rarely caused meaningful changes in optimal policy with the exception of pregnancy rate. However, varying inputs in price and management groups consistently resulted in meaningful changes in optimal policies. In addition, interactions between price and management level were important. Just as optimal replacement and insemination policies changed with different decision contexts, the value of these policies also changed. Results make it readily apparent that replacement and insemination policies should be specific to a given situation.
A Randomized Sieving Algorithm for Approximate Integer Programming

The Integer Programming Problem (IP) for a polytope $P \subseteq \mathbb{R} ^{n}$ is to find an integer point in P or decide that P is integer free. We give a randomized algorithm for an approximate version of this problem, which correctly decides whether P contains an integer point or whether a (1+∈)-scaling of P about its center of gravity is integer free in 2 O(n)(1/∈ 2) n -time and 2 O(n)(1/∈) n -space with overwhelming probability. Our algorithm proceeds by reducing the approximate IP problem to an approximate Closest Vector Problem (CVP) under a "near-symmetric" norm. Our main technical contribution is an extension of the AKS randomized sieving technique, first developed by Ajtai et al. (Proceedings of 33rd Symposium on the Theory of Computing (STOC), pp. 601---610, 2001) for lattice problems under the l 2 norm, to the setting of asymmetric norms. We also present an application of our techniques to exact IP, where we give a nearly optimal algorithmic implementation of the Flatness Theorem, a central ingredient for many IP algorithms. Our results also extend to general convex bodies and lattices.
Sensitivity of the Eddy Momentum Flux to Meridional Resolution in Atmospheric GCMs

Abstract GCM experiments with zonally symmetric climates are used to demonstrate that the increase in the meridional eddy momentum fluxes and zonal surface winds that occurs when resolution is increased is primarily due to the increase in meridional rather than zonal resolution. It is argued that the sensitivity to meridional resolution reflects the need to resolve the small scales generated in the Rossby wave field as waves radiate from the midlatitude baroclinic eddy source region into regions with small mean winds. Some additional experiments highlight the sensitivity of surface winds and eddy momentum fluxes to the subgrid-scale horizontal mixing formulation in low-revolution models.
Longitudinal analysis of clinical markers following antiretroviral therapy initiated during acute or early HIV type 1 infection

Background. Treatment of acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection may have unique immunologic, virological, and clinical benefits. However, the timing of treatment, optimal starting regimens, and expected response to therapy have not been defined. Methods. One hundred two subjects treated during acute and early HIV-1 infection were observed prospectively to determine the effect of time elapsed before initiation of therapy on time to virological suppression and absolute CD4 + cell count. Subjects were divided into pre- and postseroconversion groups on the basis of HIV-1 antibody status at the time of initiation of treatment. Absolute CD4 + cell counts were compared between these groups and with those of historical untreated persons who had experienced seroconversion. Potential predictors of time to virological suppression and CD4 + cell count at ≥12 months were assessed. Results. Ninety-nine (97%) of 102 subjects achieved virological suppression. The median time to suppression was 11.1 weeks (95% confidence interval, 9.4-14.9) and was independent of initial regimen. The mean CD4 + cell count at 12 months was 702 cells/mm 3 (95% confidence interval, 654-750 cells/mm3) and showed an increasing trend over 60 months. Treated subjects demonstrated a statistically significant gain in the CD4 + cell count, compared with untreated historical control subjects, at ≥12 months. Comparable virological and immunologic outcomes were seen in the pre- and postseroconversion groups. Baseline virus load and nadir CD4 + cell count predicted time to virological suppression and CD4 + cell count at ≥12 months, respectively. Conclusions. Early treatment of HIV-1 infection is well tolerated and results in rapid and sustained virological suppression. Preservation of CD4 + cell counts may be achieved with early therapy, independent of seroconversion status. Protease inhibitor-based and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens show comparable performance in tolerability, time to virological suppression, and CD4 + cell count when used as a first regimen.
Long-distance mechanism of neurotransmitter recycling mediated by glial network facilitates visual function in Drosophila

Neurons rely on glia to recycle neurotransmitters such as glutamate and histamine for sustained signaling. Both mammalian and insect glia form intercellular gap-junction networks, but their functional significance underlying neurotransmitter recycling is unknown. Using the Drosophila visual system as a genetic model, here we show that a multicellular glial network transports neurotransmitter metabolites between perisynaptic glia and neuronal cell bodies to mediate long-distance recycling of neurotransmitter. In the first visual neuropil (lamina), which contains a multilayer glial network, photoreceptor axons release histamine to hyperpolarize secondary sensory neurons. Subsequently, the released histamine is taken up by perisynaptic epithelial glia and converted into inactive carcinine through conjugation with β-alanine for transport. In contrast to a previous assumption that epithelial glia deliver carcinine directly back to photoreceptor axons for histamine regeneration within the lamina, we detected both carcinine and β-alanine in the fly retina, where they are found in photoreceptor cell bodies and surrounding pigment glial cells. Downregulating Inx2 gap junctions within the laminar glial network causes β-alanine accumulation in retinal pigment cells and impairs carcinine synthesis, leading to reduced histamine levels and photoreceptor synaptic vesicles. Consequently, visual transmission is impaired and the fly is less responsive in a visual alert analysis compared with wild type. Our results suggest that a gap junction-dependent laminar and retinal glial network transports histamine metabolites between perisynaptic glia and photoreceptor cell bodies to mediate a novel, long-distance mechanism of neurotransmitter recycling, highlighting the importance of glial networks in the regulation of neuronal functions.
Intraoperative parathyroid hormone testing improves cure rates in patients undergoing minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.

Background Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (iPTH) testing often is used during minimally invasive parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (1°HPT). However, several investigators report that these assays are not cost effective and do not improve outcomes significantly. Methods To determine the impact of iPTH testing on the outcomes of patients with 1°HPT, we reviewed our experience. From January 1990 to June 2004, there were 345 consecutive patients with 1°HPT and positive localization studies for a single parathyroid adenoma who were candidates for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Group 1 patients (n = 157) underwent parathyroid exploration without iPTH testing and group 2 patients (n = 188) had an operation with iPTH testing. Results Of the group 1 patients, 15 (10%) still were hypercalcemic postoperatively owing to additional unidentified hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands. In contrast, among 188 group 2 patients, 170 (90%) had resection of a single parathyroid adenoma, a greater than 50% decrease in iPTH levels, and were cured. The remaining 18 (10%) patients did not have an adequate reduction in iPTH levels and underwent bilateral neck exploration with resection of additional parathyroids. Of these 18 patients, 9 had double adenomas and 9 had 3- or 4-gland hyperplasia. Importantly, all patients in group 2 were cured. Conclusions iPTH testing improves cure rates in patients undergoing minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. iPTH testing allowed intraoperative recognition and resection of additional hyperfunctioning parathyroids missed by preoperative imaging studies. Consequently, we strongly advocate the routine use of iPTH testing in patients who undergo minimally invasive parathyroidectomy for 1°HPT.
A PC-based tissue classification system using artificial neural networks

The author presents a pattern recognition algorithm and describes required instrumentation for ultrasound classification of simulated human-liver tissue abnormalities. The tissue is simulated by a liver phantom that mimics the tissue acoustically. The instrumentation used, a 50-MHz microcomputer-based data acquisition and analysis system designed by the author, digitizes the ultrasound backscattered signal from selected regions of the phantom and processes the digitized data for feature measurement. The algorithm is based on a three-layer backpropagation artificial neural network; trained to differentiate between simulated normal and abnormal tissue and to classify three types of simulated abnormalities. The results show that out of 28 cases the system classifies 25 correctly and fails to classify three cases. The reasons for this are discussed along with recommendations to increase the accuracy of classification. >
Achievements and Prospects of Artificial Earth Satellites

In less than half a decade astronautics has developed from crude satellites to systems of unbelievable sophistication. Probes to Mars and Venus and a manned expedition to the moon are well into the planning and design stage. Weather and communication satellites as well as military monitoring satellites will soon be fully operational; navigation satellites are at this stage already, as are manned earth satellites. Elaborate lunar probes and complex astronomical satellites are just around the corner. However, practically all of the scientific achievements so far have been in the field of geophysics. Although some areas still remain to be investigated, many fundamental results have been gathered about the earth and its environment; briefly discussed here are findings about the figure of the earth, the density, temperature and constitution of the upper atmosphere, the nature of the radiation belt and auroral particles, and disturbances of the geomagnetic field.
Distributed computation in wireless and dynamic networks

Today's wireless networks tend to be centralized: they are organized around a fixed central backbone such as a network of cellular towers or wireless access points. However, as mobile computing devices continue to shrink in size and in cost, we are reaching the point where large-scale ad-hoc wireless networks, composed of swarms of cheap devices or sensors, are becoming feasible. In this thesis we study the theoretical computation power of such networks, and ask what tasks are they capable of carrying out, how long does solving particular tasks take, and what is the effect of the unpredictable network topology on the network's computation power. In the first part of the thesis we introduce an abstract model for dynamic networks. In contrast to much of the literature on mobile and ad-hoc networks, our model makes fairly minimalistic assumptions; it allows the network topology to change arbitrarily from round to round, as long as in each round the communication graph is connected. We show that even in this weak model, global computation is still possible, and any function of the nodes' initial inputs can be computed efficiently. Also, using tools from the field of epistemic logic, we analyze information flow in dynamic networks, and study the time required to achieve various notions of coordination. In the second part of the thesis we restrict attention to static networks, which retain an important feature of wireless networks: they are potentially asymmetric. We show that in this setting, classical data aggregation tasks become much harder, and we develop both upper and lower bounds on computing various classes of functions. Our main tool in this part of the thesis is communication complexity: we use existing lower bounds in two-player communication complexity, and also introduce a new problem, task allocation, and study its communication complexity in the two-player and multi-player settings. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, libraries.mit.edu/docs - [email protected])
Expansion of the Clavulanic Acid Gene Cluster: Identification and In Vivo Functional Analysis of Three New Genes Required for Biosynthesis of Clavulanic Acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Clavulanic acid is a potent inhibitor of beta-lactamase enzymes and is of demonstrated value in the treatment of infections by beta-lactam-resistant bacteria. Previously, it was thought that eight contiguous genes within the genome of the producing strain Streptomyces clavuligerus were sufficient for clavulanic acid biosynthesis, because they allowed production of the antibiotic in a heterologous host (K. A. Aidoo, A. S. Paradkar, D. C. Alexander, and S. E. Jensen, p. 219-236, In V. P. Gullo et al., ed., Development in industrial microbiology series, 1993). In contrast, we report the identification of three new genes, orf10 (cyp), orf11 (fd), and orf12, that are required for clavulanic acid biosynthesis as indicated by gene replacement and trans-complementation analysis in S. clavuligerus. These genes are contained within a 3.4-kb DNA fragment located directly downstream of orf9 (cad) in the clavulanic acid cluster. While the orf10 (cyp) and orf11 (fd) proteins show homologies to other known CYP-150 cytochrome P-450 and [3Fe-4S] ferredoxin enzymes and may be responsible for an oxidative reaction late in the pathway, the protein encoded by orf12 shows no significant similarity to any known protein. The results of this study extend the biosynthetic gene cluster for clavulanic acid and attest to the importance of analyzing biosynthetic genes in the context of their natural host. Potential functional roles for these proteins are proposed.
Reactively evaporated Co thin film for tape media

The dependence of the magnetic properties of reactively evaporated Co on film thickness and oxygen pressure have been studied. The coercivity was found to be very sensitive to oxygen pressure, but the coercive squareness and coercivity peak at different values of oxygen pressure for the same thickness. An optimized 500 /spl Aring/ Co-O film deposited at an oxygen pressure of 1.6 /spl mu/torr, exhibits a coercivity of 2000 Oe, a coercive squareness S* of 0.7, an M/sub r/t of 2.2 memu/cm/sup 2/, a remanence squareness of 0.9 and an anisotropy constant of 3.5/spl times/10/sup 6/ erg/cc. Auger spectroscopy reveals an oxygen content of 30 at.% throughout the film thickness.
Primary care physician treatment of low HDL: Rational approach or Pandora's Box?

Abstract Background Guidelines for treating high low-density lipoproteins are clear, whereas guidelines for treating low high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are less so. Physicians approach to treating low HDL cholesterol is not known. Objective To determine primary care physicians approach to managing low HDL. Methods Three-thousand, nine-hundred and nineteen surveys were mailed to all primary care physicians in the State of Indiana, asking questions regarding demographics, case studies to assess the provider's approach to managing low HDL, and direct questions regarding management of HDL levels and general lipid knowledge questions. Results Seven-hundred and eighty-one surveys were returned, for a response rate of 19.9%. Fifty-eight percent of participants would initiate HDL-raising therapy after achieving the appropriate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal. The approaches used to raise HDL included lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, smoking cessation) (85%), niacin (83%), fibric acid derivative (61%), and alcohol (31%). Reasons inhibiting initiating therapy for raising HDL included concern over side effects (56%), perceived lack of effectiveness of currently available drugs (24%), lack of clear guidelines (22%), and lack of evidenced-based trials demonstrating benefit of raising HDL (14%). For men, 40% of physicians use 40 mg/dL as a cutoff for initiating HDL-raising therapy, while 25% using a cutoff of 35 mg/dL. For women, 24% use a cutoff of 50 mg/dL for initiating HDL-raising therapy, while 12% use 45 mg/dL as a cutoff. Conclusions The majority of primary care physicians in the State of Indiana treated low HDL with appropriate approaches, although use of alcohol to raise HDL raises concerns.
THE MEASUREMENT OF RAPID SURFACE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS DURING NUCLEATE BOILING OF WATER

The surface temperature during nucleate boiling was measured with a special thermocouple so designed as to measure the temperature of a small area and to have an extremely rapid response time. The surface temperature was found to drop occasionally 20 to 30 deg F in about 2 msec during the boiling of water. This indicates a rapid extraction of heat during a short time interval. The significance of this observation is that it provides an important new clue to an understanding of nucleate boiling. A hypothesis is advanced to explain these observations. (auth)
Sanpodo and Notch act in opposition to Numb to distinguish sibling neuron fates in the Drosophila CNS

In Drosophila, most neuronal siblings have different fates (‘A/B’). Here we demonstrate that mutations in sanpodo, a tropomodulin actin-binding protein homologue, equalize a diverse array of sibling neuron fates (‘B/B’). Loss of Notch signaling gives the same phenotype, whereas loss of numb gives the opposite phenotype (‘A/A’). The identical effect of removing either sanpodo or Notch function on the fates of sibling CNS neurons indicates that sanpodo may act in the Notch signaling pathway. In addition, sanpodo and numb show dosage-sensitive interactions and epistasis experiments indicate that sanpodo acts downstream of numb. Taken together, these results show that interactions between sanpodo, the Notch signaling pathway and numb enable CNS sibling neurons to acquire different fates. SUMMARY
Characterization of semiconductor surfaces by femtosecond optical rectification

The recent observation of the optical rectification of femtosecond electromagnetic waves provides an alternative optical technique to characterize the depletion fields at semiconductor surfaces and interfaces 1 The basic physical mechanism of the optical rectification is the electromagnetic radiation from the transient photocurrent within the depletion width. The outward rectified field E1 radiated from a bare semiconductor surface can be expressed as follows.
Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act Amendments and Bankruptcy Leniency Fail to Provide Relief Where Partnership Debts are Repaid With Insurance Proceeds or Discharged in Bankruptcy

The Hurricane Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (the "Katrina Tax Act") includes a number of provisions designed to reduce the tax liability of victims of the hurricane that devastated New Orleans and other areas of the Gulf Coast. Section 405 of the Katrina Act extends the period of time taxpayers may have to replace involuntarily converted that was damaged or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Katrina property under Code Sec. 1033 without recognizing gain. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Trustee Program of the Department of Justice also announced that it has directed bankruptcy administrators to exercise "appropriate restraint and discretion favorable to hurricane victims" in applying some of the new, more restrictive requirements of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (the "2005 Bankruptcy Act") for natural-disaster victims. The 2005 Bankruptcy Act, which became effective on October 17, 2005, makes is harder and more expensive for persons to receive a full discharge of their debts under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. On October 5, the Trustee Program announced a temporary waiver of the statutory requirement that bankruptcy filers take an instructional course in personal financial management. Other requirements that should be relaxed include the "means" test for determining whether debtors qualify to file for Chapter 7 relief. Bankruptcy trustees have been told to consider lost income, increased expenses, and other items resulting from the hurricanes to be "special circumstances" to be taken into account in the means test. Both the Katrina Act amendments to Code Sec. 1033 and the relaxation of the 2005 Bankruptcy Act requirements will offer welcome relief to many hurricane victims. However, partners and LLC members who own interests in partnerships that own damaged property subject to a mortgage or who receive a discharge of their shares of partnership debts may not enjoy the same relief afforded to other hurricane victims under the new rules. The problems facing such partners are not attributable to the new provisions and relaxed requirements. Instead, subchapter K provisions will trigger gain recognition to some partners who otherwise would enjoy the benefits of the Katrina Tax Act or the relaxed application of the bankruptcy laws. This article discusses the problems and suggests that the IRS should be generous in accepting offers in compromise from cash-strapped hurricane victims who suffer larger tax liabilities as a result of the decrease in their shares of partnership liabilities.
Quantum phases of the Shastry-Sutherland antiferromagnet: Application to SrCu 2 ( BO 3 ) 2

We study possible paramagnetic phases of antiferromagnets on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice by a gauge-theoretic analysis of fluctuations in a theory with $\mathrm{Sp}(2N)$ symmetry. In addition to the familiar dimer phase, we find a confining phase with plaquette order and a topologically ordered phase with deconfined $S=1/2$ spinons and helical spin correlations. The deconfined phase is contiguous to the dimer phase and in a regime of couplings close to those found in the insulator ${\mathrm{SrCu}}_{2}({\mathrm{BO}}_{3}{)}_{2}.$ We suggest that a superconductor obtained by doping this insulator with mobile charge carriers will be an attractive candidate for observing the anomalous magnetic flux properties associated with topological order.
Data-Based Cost-To-Go Design for Optimal Control

An optimal controller design technique is presented in this paper. The regular parametric optimization approach leads to a nonlinear optimization problem even for a linear system. The presented approach converts a nonlinear optimization to a linear one, thus eliminates typical problems associated with nonlinear optimization. The approach relies on direct identification of the cost-to-go function from input- output or input-state data. The optimal controller is then obtained by minimizing this cost-to-go function. The optimal controller can be designed directly from data obtained from a simulation code or from the physical system. The need to perform system identification first to obtain an explicit model of the system in standard form is therefore eliminated. The derived optimal controllers can be either in state feedback form or dynamic output feedback form. Comparison of the proposed data-based optimal controller to the model-based linear quadratic regulator (LQR) is shown in a model aircraft example. This paper is focused on linear systems. Extension of the technique to the nonlinear case is reported in a companion paper.
Oxidation of Au/Si Films for Self-Confined Interconnects

We have explored the possibility of oxidizing a Au/Si composite layer or a Au-Si alloyed layer on SiO2 substrates to form a highly conductive narrow line with a protective SiO2 layer over it. A number of sample configurations and annealing ambients have been investigated. It was found that co-evaporated Au-Si alloys (∼30 at. % Au) showed no oxide formation for annealing temperatures between 200°C and 800°C in a flowing O2 ambient (annealing time ≃ 2.25hrs). Samples with a configuration of SiO2/Au/Si showed mixing of the Au and Si layers, but no appreciable oxide formation until after annealing at 800°C in a flowing O2. Samples with a configuration of SiO2/Si/Au, however, showed uniform and smooth oxide growth on top of the Au layer after annealing in air at 200°C. The structural and electrical properties of the self-confined Au lines will be discussed. This process may be potentially useful for narrow interconnects on VLSl chips.
The Virginal Middle: Towards a Marian Metaxology

In the following, an initial approach to the otherwise very old and perennial relationship between theology and philosophy is undertaken by constructively pressing into service the wealth of the mystical theological tradition and twinned with a robust Marian reflection as a fruitful, though largely under utilized theological matrix in which to facilitate this encounter. With recourse to the metaxological metaphysics of the contemporary Irish philosopher of religion, William Desmond, I argue for a Marian metaxology as uniquely opening an integral site of open porosity between theology and philosophy well-beyond the narrow field of Mariology proper. And furthermore, speculatively reengaging Mary's irreducible significance is to be found in maintaining this excessive, ‘virginal middle’ from which ‘one infers the lesser from the greater’ (i.e. God becomes man) and ‘also the greater from the lesser (i.e. man becomes divine)’, themes of which direct us to the very core of the use of analogy and the metaphysical...
Investigation on Formaldehyde Pollution in Some Indoor Air in Suzhou City and Its Prevention Technique

[Objectives]To investigate the pollution level of formaldehyde in indoor air,so as to analyze the pollution sources and explore the prevention techniques.[Methods]Some different types of rooms were selected randomly,the formaldehyde contents in indoor air were detected in field,the decoration and materials were investigated.[Results]① Among 39 rooms which were detected,the average concentration of formaldehyde was 0.088 mg/m3,the over standard rate of detection point was 33.33%,and the highest concentration reached 0.679 mg/m3.② The over standard rates were high in summer(46.15%) and autumn(55.56%),and over standard of formaldehyde was not found in winter.③ The formaldehyde concentration of master bedroom was the highest,followed by subaltern bedroom.④ The pollution degree was related to decoration materials and furniture.[Conclusion]The formaldehyde pollution was serious in indoor air in Suzhou city,and the pollution level was related to decoration materials,ventilation and season.