cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binary stellar winds.

Stellar winds from a binary star pair will interact with each other along a contact discontinuity. We discuss qualitatively the geometry of the flow and field resulting from this interaction in the simplest case where the stars and winds are identical. We consider the shape of the critical surface (defined as the surface where the flow speed is equal to the sound speed) as a function of stellar separation and the role of shock waves in the flow field. The effect of stellar spin and magnetic sectors on the field configuration is given. The relative roles of mass loss and magnetic torque in the evolution of orbital parameters are discussed.
Intravenous infusion of prostaglandin F2alpha in the mid-luteal phase of the normal human menstrual cycle.

The luteolytic effect of PGF2alpha was studied in 3 normal women. Plasma levels of estrogens progesterone and gonadotropins were measured daily. Following a control cycle an infusion of 100 mcg/minute of PGF2alpha over an 8 hour period was given. 2 subjects received the PGF2alpha on the 9th and one on the 5th postovulatory day. The steroid patterns during the control and treatment cycles were not significantly different and the length of the luteal phases was identical. To accentuate luteal activity 2 subjects received in subsequent cycles 10000 i.u. HCG 48 hours prior to the PGF2alpha infusion. In these cycles despite the PGF2alpha the steroids continued to rise and then gradually declined in a normal fashion. The luteal phase was not curtailed. All subjects experienced nausea vomiting painful uterine contractions staining and temperature elevations above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during infusion. It is concluded that in the human PGF2alpha at the given dose was not luteolytic. (authors)
Numerical evaluation of harmonic Green's functions for triclinic half‐space with embedded sources—Part I: a 2D model

The Green's functions for a triclinic half-space for embedded harmonic line load are considered. Corresponding displacement and stress fields are expressed in terms of double Fourier integrals. The first integral was evaluated using contour integration while the second one was computed through the Gauss–Legendre quadrature. The resulting Green's functions algorithm avoids repeated calculations of the same quantities and utilizes the vector computational features within MATLAB environment. Extensive testing of the results has been performed for both displacement and stress fields. The tests demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed procedure for evaluating the Green's functions without any restrictions upon material properties, frequency, and location of the source and observation points. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of ethacrynic acid and furosemide on urinary calcium, phosphate and magnesium

Abstract Experiments were performed in dogs to determine the effects of Ethacrynic Acid and Furosemide on the renal excretion of calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Both diuretics had a similar action increasing calcium and magnesium excretion, while urinary phosphate remained constant. Plasma concentrations of calcium and magnesium decreased and phosphate rose but no appreciable change occurred when the urinary losses were replaced. Clearance of ultrafilterable calcium paralleled sodium clearance and increased in a greater proportion. A good correlation was found for sodium as related to calcium thus supporting the possibility of a relationship in the renal transport of these two ions. The clearance of ultrafilterable magnesium exceeded the clearance of inulin in some instances demonstrating a secretory mechanism for magnesium.
Cytogenetic analysis of spontaneous abortions: Comparison of techniques and assessment of the incidence of confined placental mosaicism

Cytogenetic studies on spontaneous abortions traditionally have used one of two methodologies, direct preparations or long-term culture, to determine the chromosome constitution of either the cytotrophoblast or villous stroma, respectively. Few studies have utilized both techniques simultaneously to compare the relative efficiencies of each method and to assess the contribution of confined placental mosaicism (CPM). The present report summarizes cytogenetic studies on 691 consecutive spontaneous abortions using long-term culture, direct preparations, or both. All 691 cases were analyzed by long-term culture and 177 cases were analyzed using both long-term culture and direct preparations. The results indicate that the two methods have similar success rates, 82% for long-term culture and 76% for direct preparation; however, the proportion of normal females was significantly increased in the culture method, presumably attributable to maternal contamination. In 107 cases, results were obtained from both methods with 22 discrepancies identified. However, most of these involved a 46,XX result in culture, consistent with maternal contamination in the cultured preparation. Therefore, to estimate the proportion of CPM we excluded cases with a 46,XX result in culture and found four (6.1%) of the remaining 65 cases to be consistent with CPM. These cases consisted of normal or mosaic aneuploid cytotrophoblast and non-mosaic aneuploid villous stroma. These studies suggest that each method has specific advantages in the analysis of spontaneous abortions. Direct preparations are less prone to maternal contamination, but certain chromosome abnormalities are more likely to be identified using long-term culture.
On Constrained Nonlinear Tracking Control of a Small Fixed-wing UAV

The problem of constrained nonlinear tracking control for a small fixed-wing unmanned air vehicles (UAV) is considered. With the UAV equipped with low-level autopilots, the twelve-state model of the UAV is reduced to a six-state model with heading, air speed, and altitude command inputs. Three different approaches based on the state dependent Riccati equation (SDRE), Sontag's formula, and aggressive selection from a satisficing control set are proposed to design the heading and air speed control commands. Those approaches are compared with each other graphically to show their strength and weakness under different scenarios. High-fidelity simulation results on a six-degree-of-freedom twelve-state fixed-wing UAV model are presented to demonstrate the performance of the three approaches.
Differential effects of scopolamine and mecamylamine on passive avoidance behavior

Abstract Scopolamine and mecamylamine were found to have different relative potencies for imparing acquisition, retention and retrieval of passive avoidance behavior. Although each drug showed state-dependent effects when administered prior to both training and retest, no evidence was obtained for cross state-dependency between the two drugs. Scopolamine and mecamylamine were found to synergize when administered in combination prior to training but antagonize each other when administered in combination after training. These results suggest that central muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic mechanisms have separable behavioral functions.
EMBODIED TRIUMPH and Political Mobilization: Reading Marvelyn Brown's The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive

Using disability theory, Melissa Harris Lacewell's politicized “strong black woman,” Michelle Tracy Berger's “intersectional stigma” in relation to HIV-positive women, and Deborah Walker King's troping of blackpain to theorize Marvelyn Brown's media persona and her 2008 memoir, The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive, this essay shows how Brown invokes triumph in disability narratives for political mobilization.
Photographs and Classroom Response Systems in Middle School Astronomy Classes.

In spite of being readily available, photographs have played a minor and passive role in science classes. In our study, we present an active way of using photographs in classroom discussions with the use of a classroom response system (CRS) in middle school astronomy classes to teach the concepts of day–night and seasonal change. In this new pedagogical method, students observe objects or phenomena in photographs and use the information to develop understanding of the scientific concepts. They share their ideas in classroom discussion with the assistance of the CRS. Pre- and posttest results showed that the new pedagogy helped students overcome primitive conceptions and enhanced their understanding of the concepts. The observation of the rich details of photographs played three pedagogical roles in classroom discussion: easing students’ anxiety about learning a new scientific concept; continuous stimulus of learning; and as evidence or data.
Further Electrophoretic Characterization of Strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis

SYNOPSIS Mobility patterns of 5 isozymes in strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis were demonstrated using polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Six stock strains were compared in these patterns to 4 strains representative of each of the previously described 4 major “phenotypic sets.” Stock strains segregated into predicted “phenosets,” and essentially confirmed validity and reproducibility of such a discrimination method. The proposal that new strain designations be assigned on a basis of “phenoset” conformity is reaffirmed.
Vascular impingement by external fixator pins : a case report

Associated vascular injuries after external fixation of the tibia are rarely encountered. We report a case of impingement of the anterior tibial artery after application of an external fixator. The extrinsic compression disappeared after pin removal. Proper technique of pin placement is re-emphasized.
Abstract 3510: Fluvastatin enhances sorafenib cytotoxicity in melanoma cells via modulation of AKT and JNK signaling pathways

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Background: Most metastatic melanomas are refractory to current available therapy, underscoring the need to identify new effective treatments. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor of the RAF/RAS/MEK pathway, showed promise in earlier stages of clinical development, but ultimately failed to demonstrate efficacy as a single agent in the treatment of melanoma. In order to enhance the efficacy of sorafenib in the treatment of melanoma, we tested over 2,000 naturally occurring compounds and marketed drugs in the presence of a sorafenib in two chemoresistant human melanoma cell lines (M14 and SKM-173) resistant to sorafenib-induced apoptosis. Of the 9 compounds identified as sorafenib sensitizers, we prioritized the cholesterol lowering agent fluvastatin based on its favorable pharmacokinetics and safety profile. Methodology: Growth inhibition was examined by MTT assay in a panel of 6 human melanoma cell lines. Drug interaction was analyzed by Calcusyn software which determines the effects of two drugs (i.e., synergy, antagonism, or additivity) through calculations of the combination index (CI). The effect of combination therapy on cellular signaling and induction of apoptotic pathways was evaluated by immunoblotting techniques. Results: Our results demonstrate that fluvastatin at 1µM, a level which is safely achieved through oral administration, dramatically enhances the growth inhibitory activity of clinically achievable concentrations of sorafenib in M14 and SKM-173 melanoma cells with a 3.2 and 3.6-fold reduction in the sorafenib GI50, respectively, with similar effects observed in other melanoma cell lines. Combination indices analysis revealed a synergistic relationship between the two agents. Fluvastatin enhances sorafenib-mediated apoptosis as revealed through enhanced cleavage of PARP. In combination with sorafenib, fluvastatin treatment results in reduced levels of activated AKT along with enhanced levels of activated JNK. Sensitization to sorafenib is unique to fluvastatin as other statins (ie. pravastatin and simvastatin) do not enhance sorafenib-mediated growth inhibition. Conclusions: These promising results warrant further investigation into the clinical applicability of fluvastatin as an agent for enhancing the efficacy of sorafenib in the treatment of melanoma. Fluvastatin sensitization to sorafenib will be further addressed through follow-up studies in mouse melanoma xenograft models. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3510. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3510
Rainfall forecasting using variational assimilation of radar data in numerical cloud models

Abstract In this paper, a variational data assimilation procedure for initialization of a cloud model using radar reflectivity and radial velocity observations and its impact on short term rainfall forecasting are investigated in a simulation framework. The procedure is based on the formulation of an objective function, which consists of a linear combination of the squared differences between model forecasts and actual observations. The model's initialization requires the gradient-based minimization of the objective function. Three sources of errors in assimilation and forecasting are considered. These include observational errors, mathematically ill-posed structure (the observations are incomplete and do not uniquely determine the cloud model's initial conditions) and optimization related issues (the observations are complete, but the optimization procedure involved in the initialization fails to find the best solution). It is found that the reflectivity observation errors have significant impact on forecasts and that the mathematical structure and optimization caused errors are related. Conclusions and recommendations for future work are formulated.
Creating a paper-based personal health record for HIV-infected persons

A personal health record (PHR) contains information that a client believes is important to his/her health status; it can be either paper or Internet-based. The purposes of this action research were to determine the length of time an expert HIV nurse clinician needed to create a comprehensive PHR and to determine how hard it was for the patient to understand different components of a PHR. The average respondent (N = 9) was older, female, completed high school, African American, diagnosed with AIDS, and taking HIV medications for 11 years. The HIV nurse expert spent an average of 79 minutes preparing the PHR. Clients had the greatest difficulty understanding laboratory tests, medications, medical history, and immunizations. PHRs are evolving through the consumer-empowerment movement, technology, and a growing awareness of the consequences of medical errors. Nurses need to assist clients to create and use the PHR as an important tool in self-care management.
Determinants for the specificity of action of pancreatic lipase

Abstract A number of chromogenic fatty acid esters were prepared and studied as substrates for pancreatic lipase and hepatic esterase in an attempt to elucidate the factors involved in differentiating pancreatic lipase from other esterolytic enzymes. It was shown that specificity of a substrate for lipase is dependent not only upon the acyl chain length but also upon the number of ester groups present in the substrate. It is suggested that the structure of the lipide-water interface of the emulsions formed by these esters is correlated in a regular manner with their chemical structure and acts as an additional determinant of specificity for lipase by offering steric hindrance to aliesterase. The measurement of lipase in the presence of large amounts of other esterases requires the use of a substrate system of relatively high specificity. Tributyrin, which is in wide use for the measurement of human “serum lipase,” does not fulfil the criteria for a high degree of specificity. Although chromogenic substrates of greater specificity for lipase than 2-naphthyl laurate were demonstrated, a more sensitive colorimetric method for serum lipase was not evolved.
EVERYDAY MEMORY FUNCTION OF OLDER ADULTS: THE IMPACT OF INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

A longitudinal study was conducted to examine the effects of volunteering in in‐tergenerational school programs on the memory functions of older adults. Actual everyday memory performance changes and older adults’ perceptions of their memory performance change as a result of weekly participation in an intergenerational school volunteer program were examined. The effects of participation were investigated according to subjects’ age and educational level. Twenty‐six volunteers, age 60 or older, served as subjects. Various instruments were used to measure performance on memory tasks, subjects’ perceptions of their memory functioning, and self‐ratings of mood. Data were collected at three time points. The results are presented as descriptive data.
Superconductivity of organic polymers

A recent suggestion that superconductivity might be able to occur in certain types of organic macromolecules at temperatures near room temperature will be discussed. A crude description of the microscopic theory of superconductivity will be given first and from this it will be argued why superconductivity should be able to occur in certain highly specific types of organic macromolecules. Why the transition temperature for the onset of superconductivity should be high compared to that of metallic superconductors will be discussed together with recent developments in the field.
Protocols for growth and development of Dictyostelium discoideum

Dictyostelium discoideum, a unicellular organism capable of developing into a multicellular structure, is a powerful model system to study a variety of biological processes. Because it is inexpensive and relatively easy to grow, Dictyostelium is also frequently used in teaching laboratories. Here we describe conditions for successfully growing and developing Dictyostelium cells and methods for long-term storage of Dictyostelium amoebae and spores.
Comments on "Retention of Ionizable Compounds on HPLC. pH Scale in Methanol-Water and the pK and pH Values of Buffers"

Article commenting on an article titled, "Retention of Ionizable Compounds on HPLC. pH Scale in Methanol-Water and the pK and pH Values of Buffers."
Alternative method of repairing collateral ligament injuries at the metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb and fingers : Use of the Mitek® anchor

Injuries to the joints of the thumb and fingers frequently cause complete or partial tears of the collateral ligaments, resulting in marked instability of the involved joint. Twelve patients with 12 unstable metacarpophalangeal joints were treated surgically with a Mitek® metal suture anchor. At the last postoperative follow-up (range 6 weeks-6 months) 11 of 12 patients had good to excellent results subjectively and had regained 75% of the strength of the uninjured side.
Structural properties and phase transitions in the [(Et n Me 4−n )N] 2 CuX 4 family

Abstract The [(EtnMe4−n)N]2CuX4 series of compounds have been synthesized, their lattice types determined by X-ray crystallography, and their phase transitions characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The n=1 and n=2 members of the series belong to the β-K2SO4 family, while the n=3 members crystallize in a pseudo-antifluorite structure. This confirms that a small cation/anion radius ratio stabilizes the structure type of the β-K2SO4 family. The room temperature phases of the (EtMe3N)2CuX4 salts crystallize in the polar P21cn space group which corresponds to a B2u distortion at the Γ point. Two phase transitions exist below room temperature. For the (Et2Me2N)2CuX4 salts, the room temperature space group is P1121/n, which corresponds to a B3g distortion at the zone center. A single phase transition exists just above room temperature. The room temperature space group for the (Et3MeN)2CuX4 salts are I41/a, which arises through a series of four descent of symmetry steps from the parent Fm 3 m parent antifluorite structure.
The effects of phenoxybenzamine on the aortic pressure-diameter relationship in dogs.

The normalized diameter (D/D13.3 where D13.3 equals D at 13.3 kPa under control conditions) was measured at selected pressure levels under different hemodynamic conditions. Hemorrhage caused the normalized diameter to decrease (−3.3%) when compared to control values at a given pressure. Volume expansion anda-blockade with phenoxybenzamine caused D/D13.3 to increase (+3.3% and +8.5% respectively).
Classical Paths and Quantum Mechanics

Abstract In the semiclassical limit, the path integral description of quantum mechanics is dominated by classical paths. A classical path method is developed to extract energy levels and wavefunctions for a one-dimensional quantum system and it is shown that this method reproduces the results of the WKB approach. The classical path method generalizes the instanton method and provides new insights into instanton interactions. It provides a convenient and intuitive approach to many problems in quantum mechanics and field theory.
Pathologic classification of prostate carcinoma: the impact of margin status.

BACKGROUND A proposed pathologic (pTNM) classification system for prostate carcinoma was analyzed for its impact on survival outcome in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) era. The impact of margin status on the survival outcome of patients with otherwise organ-confined disease (i.e., without extraprostatic extension or seminal vesicle involvement) was assessed. METHODS Among 5467 patients, the original pathologic classification was T2 in 2094 patients; those with evidence of positive margins, extraprostatic extension, or seminal vesicle involvement were initially classified as having pT3 disease (2920 patients) or pT4 residual disease (211 patients). According to the proposed pTNM system, 1512 patients for whom margin status was considered independent of T classification were reclassified. RESULTS After reclassification, 803 specimens had been down-classified to pT2, resulting in 2932 (54%) with pT2N0 organ-confined disease and a margin positivity rate of 27%; originally, only 38% of patients had been classified as pT2N0. When the old and new classifications were compared, 5-year progression free survival to the combined endpoint of clinical and/or PSA progression (≤0.2 ng/mL) was 86% versus 84% and 70% versus 67% for disease classified as pT2N0 and pT3N0, respectively. Multivariate analysis assessed the effect of margin status on 2334 pT2N0 patients (classified according to the proposed pTNM system) who did not receive adjuvant therapy; adjustments were made for Gleason grade, preoperative PSA, and DNA ploidy. In this analysis, the relative risk (with 95% confidence interval) associated with positive margins was 1.65 (1.24-2.18); this was significant for the combined endpoint of clinical/PSA progression. The 5-year survival, free of clinical/PSA progression, was 86% for those without versus 75% for those with positive margins. CONCLUSIONS This analysis supports the adoption of the proposed pTNM system, which will allow for uniform reporting of pathologic data on prostate carcinoma. For patients with organ-confined disease, positive margins are associated with higher rates of PSA progression. Accordingly, patients should be stratified based on margin positivity in addition to pT classification. Cancer 1998;82:902-8. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Murder most gentle: The paradox deepens

Examen d'un paradoxe deontique jouant sur le detachement (de « Jean doit tuer Pierre gentiment » a « Jean doit tuer Pierre »). Pour echapper a ce paradoxe, l'A. propose de modifier un principe d'inference : si A entraine B, alors il est obligatoire que A entraine qu'il est obligatoire que A et B
Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality of Same-day Bilateral TKAs: Incidence and Risk Factors

Background Controversy persists regarding the safety of same-day bilateral TKAs, and indications for same-day versus staged bilateral surgery need to be clarified.
H2AX: functional roles and potential applications

Upon DNA double-strand break (DSB) induction in mammals, the histone H2A variant, H2AX, becomes rapidly phosphorylated at serine 139. This modified form, termed γ-H2AX, is easily identified with antibodies and serves as a sensitive indicator of DNA DSB formation. This review focuses on the potential clinical applications of γ-H2AX detection in cancer and in response to other cellular stresses. In addition, the role of H2AX in homeostasis and disease will be discussed. Recent work indicates that γ-H2AX detection may become a powerful tool for monitoring genotoxic events associated with cancer development and tumor progression.
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in pediatric respiratory failure.

Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation using a protocol designed to achieve and maintain optimal lung volume in pediatric patients with respiratory failure. Setting Tertiary care pediatric ICU in a university hospital. Design A prospective, clinical study. Patients Seven patients aged 1 month to 15 yrs with diffuse alveolar disease and airleak with a variety of primary diagnoses, including pneumonia, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Interventions After varying periods of conventional mechanical ventilation (16 to 216 hrs), patients were managed with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation using a “high-volume” strategy that consisted of incremental increases in mean airway pressure and lung volume to achieve an arterial oxygen saturation of ≥90%, with an Fio2 of ≤0.6. Measurements and Main Results Ventilatory settings, including Fio2 and mean airway pressure, hemodynamic parameters (cardiac index, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices, oxygen delivery [Do2] and oxygen extraction ratio) and the oxygenation index (oxygenation index = [Fio2 × mean airway pressure × 100]/ Pao2) were monitored during the transition to high-frequency oscillation and throughout the course of the high-frequency protocol. Six patients responded to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation with rapid and sustained reductions in mean airway pressure (p = .0001, repeated-measures analysis of variance [ANOVA]) and a trend toward decreasing oxygenation index (p = .08, repeated-measures ANOVA). In the four patients from whom hemodynamic data were obtained, there were no compromises of cardiac index or Do2 despite a significant increase in mean airway pressure (26 ± 2 to 35 ± 2 cm 11,0) during conversion from conventional ventilation to high-frequency oscillation. Conclusions High-frequency oscillatory ventilation, using a high-volume strategy, may be used safely and effectively in pediatric patients with respiratory failure and with high predicted mortality rates. High mean airway pressure during oscillatory ventilation does not appear to compromise Do2. Whether this technique can alter morbidity or mortality rates in this population awaits prospective randomized study. (Crit Care Med 1993; 21:272–278)
Morphological studies on the mantle of the fresh-water mussel Amblema (UNIONIDAE): Scanning electron microscopy

Abstract The scanning electron microscope has been used to describe the surface morphology of the mantle in mantle-shell preparations from the fresh-water mussel Amblema. In some regions (adductor muscle insertions), the mantle is firmly attached to the shell. In other areas (along the main course of the mantle), transient adhesions between the outer mantle epithelial cells and the nacre appear to temporally further compartmentalize the extrapallial fluid possibly as a prerequisite for the initial crystallization phenomenon. At the mantle edge, as well as at the isthmus, the periostracum was seen to extrude from the periostracal groove. At the siphonal edge, peculiar fingerlike processes were identified; these may represent primitive photoreceptors. The epithelial cells of the outer mantle epithelium are all microvillated whereas those of the inner mantle epithelium are both microvillated and ciliated. Specific differences in surface morphology are described for various regions of the outer mantle epithelium. These may be related to precise regionalized functional differences of this tissue. Several functions of the mantle, in addition to shell formation, and based on its various morphologies, are also discussed.
Detection of erosion events using10Be profiles: example of the impact of agriculture on soil erosion in the Chesapeake Bay area (U.S.A.)

Abstract 10Be concentration, total carbon and grain-size were measured in cores collected in undisturbed estuarine sediments of three tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. These cores were previously studied by Davis [1] and Brush [2,3] for pollen content, age and sedimentation rate. In this work, we compare the results obtained for these various analyses. In the cores, we observed two increases in10Be concentration concomitant with two major changes in the pollen composition of the sediments. These two pollen changes each correspond to well-dated agricultural horizons reflecting different stages in the introduction of European farming techniques [2]. In the Chesapeake Bay area, the agricultural development, associated with forest clearing, appears to have triggered the erosion, transport, and sedimentation into the river mouths of large quantities of10Be-rich soils. This phenomenon explains the observed rise in the sedimentation rate associated with increases in agricultural land-use.
Kinetic Analysis of Mechanochemical Chain Scission of Linear Poly(phthalaldehyde)

The kinetics of mechanochemical chain scission of poly(phthalaldehyde) (PPA) are investigated. Ultrasound-induced cavitation is capable of causing chain scission in the PPA backbone that ultimately leads to rapid depolymerization of each resulting polymer fragment when above the polymer's ceiling temperature (Tc ). An interesting feature of the mechanochemical breakdown of PPA is that "half-chain" daughter fragments are not observed, since the depolymerization is rapid following chain scission. These features facilitate the determination of rate constants of activation for multiple molecular weights from a single sonication experiment. Additionally, the degradation kinetics are modified with chain-end trapping agents through variation of the nature and amount of small molecule nucleophile or electrophile.
Multiple-Regime Spatial Price Transmission with an Application to Maize Markets in Southern Africa

Conventional threshold models of price transmission allow for different speeds of adjustment to equilibria depending on the magnitude of price differentials between markets. However, these models typically assume only one underlying long-run equilibrium price relationship. In this article we develop a framework for allowing multiple equilibria and multiple speeds of adjustment with regime separation depending on the magnitude of trade flows between regions, rather than the magnitude of price differentials. Applying this framework to maize price transmission between South Africa and Zambia shows no transmission during periods of high imports, when the government was heavily involved in maize importation, but stronger transmission during periods of low imports when the government was not importing. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.
Measuring patient satisfaction with dental care.

Abstract This paper describes development of a 19-item self-administered Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ). Item and factor analyses supported construction and separate scoring of 5 scales (Access. Availability/Convenience, Cost, Pain, and Quality) representing major sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with dental care providers and services. A global access scale and an overall dental satisfaction index were also constructed. Scale scores are sufficiently reliable to be used to compare different groups of patients or to study one group over time. Several lines of evidence support the validity of scale scores. Taken together, the results suggest that the DSQ will be useful in general population studies of dental care attitudes, and that dentists may do a better job than physicians in satisfying their patients.
Hormonal regulation of skeletal muscle hypertrophy in rats: the testosterone to cortisol ratio

This study determined the influence that the catabolic hormone, corticosterone (C), and the anabolic hormone, testosterone (T), had in regulating skeletal muscle hypertrophy using the rat hind limb ablation model. Specifically, the ratio of T : C (TCR) was manipulated via hormone implants and injections and concentrations measured to evaluate the relative contribution of each hormone to skeletal muscle protein balance. Skeletal muscle growth was measured 16 days after gastrocnemius muscle ablation. Elevations in plasma concentrations of C (via daily C injections, 50 mg · kg−1 body mass) resulted in TCR of 0.007 that was less than the control group TCR of 0.249. In this C-injected group, whole body and skeletal muscle atrophy was elicited-this being greater in the fast-twitch plantaris muscle than in the slow-twitch soleus muscle. The overloaded leg resisted the C-induced atrophy. Castration of animals (TCR 0.024) resulted in less whole body and skeletal muscle growth. However, elevations in plasma concentrations of T (two groups, with TCR of 1.35 and 1.64) did not result in significantly greater muscle growth. Furthermore, T was also ineffective in antagonizing the C-induced atrophy in a group that received both T implants and C injections. This group had a TCR of 0.175 that was similar to the control group ratio of 0.249 that received no manipulations. We concluded that glucocorticoids were able to induce pronounced atrophy, but at the same time overloaded muscles were able to over-ride the glucocorticoid signal. Plasma concentrations of C were a better predictor of muscle growth/atropy than T and/or the TCR. In addition, it is suggested that the volume of contractile activity of the muscle is perhaps an important determinant of C-induced atrophy, because less atrophy occurs in the more active slow twitch muscles.
The influence of forensic evidence on the case outcomes of homicide incidents

Abstract Objective In spite of the growth of forensic science services little published research exists related to the impact of forensic evidence on criminal case outcomes. The present study focused on the influence of forensic evidence on the case processing of homicide incidents. Materials and Methods The study utilized a prospective analysis of official record data that followed homicide cases in five jurisdictions from the time of police incident report to final criminal disposition. Results The results showed that most homicides went unsolved (34.5% conviction rate). Only 55.5% of the 400 homicide incidents resulted in arrest of which 77% were referred to the district attorney. On the other hand, 94% of cases referred to the district attorney were charged. Cases were more likely to have arrests, referrals, and charges when witnesses provided information to the police. Suspects who knew their victims were more likely to be arrested and referred to the district attorney. Homicides committed with firearms were less likely to be cleared. The most noteworthy finding was that none of the forensic evidence variables significantly influenced criminal justice outcomes. Conclusions The study results suggest that forensic evidence is auxiliary and non-determinative for homicide cases.
Long-term sertraline treatment of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of sertraline in the long-term treatment of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method Children (6–12 years; n = 72) and adolescents (13–18 years; n = 65) with DSM-III-R –defined OCD who had completed a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled sertraline study were given open-label sertraline 50 to 200 mg/day in this 52-week extension study. Concomitant psychotherapy was allowed during the extension study. Outcome was evaluated by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), National Institute of Mental Health Global Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, and Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I) scores. Results Significant improvement ( p n = 132), as well as the child and the adolescent samples. At endpoint, 72% of children and 61% of adolescents met response criteria (>25% decrease in CY-BOCS and a CGI-I score of 1 or 2). Significant ( p Conclusion Sertraline (50–200 mg/day) was effective and generally well tolerated in the treatment of childhood and adolescent OCD for up to 52 weeks. Improvement was seen with continued treatment.
Observation of laser speckle effects in an elementary chemical reaction

An experimental demonstration is shown for non-classical reaction kinetics in a homogeneous system with an elementary reaction, A+B→C. Sensitivity to the initial distribution of reactants is observed, along with a new reaction-kinetics regime which is a direct consequence of speckles in the laser beam. The long-time regime gives the first experimental demonstration of the asymptotic self-segregation (“Zeldovich”) effect, in spite of the non-random, speckled initial distribution of reactant B. Monte-Carlo simulation results are consistent with the experiments, and spatial analysis of these results correlates the excess of long-wavelength components in the initial reactant distribution with an anomalous slowing of the reaction progress.
A tool for assessing ‘readiness’ in emergency obstetric care: The room-by-room ‘walk-through’

This article presents a tool that can be used to assess the readiness of a health facility to provide emergency obstetric care. The 'walk-through' tool is a checklist that follows the physical path that a woman and her caregivers might follow. The items on the checklist are critical to an enabling environment in which skilled providers can save lives. The article explains how the tool can be used and by whom, and it describes several experiences in the field.
Workstations and mainframe computers working together

The history and design philosophy of a research project that produced a prototype soitware package are described. The package provides cooperation between large-scale mainframe computing systems and personal desktop workstations. Also discussed are the features of PC/VM Bond, the product that grew out of the research project.
New Developments in Heavy-Light Systems

The study of the narrow excited states in the ( c s ¯ ) heavy-light system provides new insight into QCD dynamics. These effects involve the light quarks and are unaccounted for in relativistic potential models.
Calculation of Newton's Gravitational Constant in Infrared-Stable Yang-Mills Theories

Newton's gravitational constant $G$ is calculated in a class of scale-invariant gauge theories with an infrared fixed point. The sign of $G$ depends on the coefficients in the renormalization-group $\ensuremath{\beta}$ function.
Some results in finite and discrete dynamical systems

The paper examines several concepts of dynamical systems and chaos in both finite and discrete domains where concepts and results are simpler and more intuitive. Some of the results are then compared to their continuous counterparts to determine the errors inherent in computer simulations of continuous dynamical systems.
Simulation of ion trajectories through a high pressure radio frequency only quadrupole collision cell by SIMION 6.0

A PC-based simulation to study the transmission properties of ions through quadrupolar collision cells has been developed. The simulation is based on the ion optics software SIMION 6.0, which enables three-dimensional (3D) representations of any geometry of a collision cell to be described. User-written programs simulated the application of both radio frequency and direct current potentials to the adjustable electrodes of the model. Two collision modeling programs were designed and compared, one based on viscous drag cooling which is applicable to ions of high m/z, and the other on discrete ion/neutral collision phenomena for ions of low m/z. The latter approach included an ion scattering model (the theory of which is described here) to simulate changes in trajectory with each binary collision. The models possess the ability to simulate collision induced dissociation experiments, with the user defining the fragment ion m/z of interest. The model was used to simulate ion exit energy distributions for both precursor and fragment ions to demonstrate the implications of collisional focusing on the spatial and energy distributions of the ions exiting the collision cell. Crown Copyright © 1999 National Research Council of Canada.
Episodic vertical nutrient fluxes and nearshore phytoplankton blooms in Southern California

Three distinct phytoplankton blooms lasting 4–9 d were observed in approximately 15-m water depth near Huntington Beach, California, between June and October of 2006. Each bloom was preceded by a vertical NO3 flux event 6–10 d earlier. NO3 concentrations were estimated using a temperature proxy that was verified by comparison with the limited NO3 observations. The lower–water-column vertical NO3 flux from vertical advection was inferred from observed vertical isotherm displacement. Turbulent vertical eddy diffusivity was parameterized based on the observed background (< 0.3 cycles h−1) stratification and vertical shear in the horizontal currents. The first vertical nitrate flux event in June contained both advective and turbulent fluxes, whereas the later two events were primarily turbulent, driven by shear in the lower part of the water column. The correlation between the NO3 flux and the observed chlorophyll a (Chl a) was maximum (r2 = 0.40) with an 8-d lag. A simple nitrate–phytoplankton model using a linear uptake function and driven with the NO3 flux captured the timing, magnitude, and duration of the three Chl a blooms (skill = 0.61) using optimal net growth rate parameters that were within the expected range. Vertical and horizontal advection of Chl a past the measurement site were too small to explain the observed Chl a increases during the blooms. The vertical NO3 flux was a primary control on the growth events, and estimation of both the advective (upwelled) and turbulent fluxes is necessary to best predict these episodic blooms.
Angle-domain Common-image Gathers For Steep Reflectors

Downward continuation migration cannot provide reliable angle domain common image gathers (CIGs) for steeply dipping reflectors, because it cannot handle most waves that illuminate steep reflectors. Also there is a severe stretch in conventional horizontal subsurface offset at steep reflectors. Both reverse-time migration and plane-wave migration in tilted coordinates solve these two problems and provide robust angle domain CIGs for steeply dipping reflectors. A test on the BP velocity benchmark dataset shows that both migration methods generate robust angle domain CIGs that are comparable. When the migration velocity is not correct, the angle domain CIGs from both migration methods show useful moveout information for velocity estimation.
Characteristics of the spacecraft optical glow

The optical glow induced by spacecraft-environment interaction under daytime conditions is analyzed using photometric data obtained by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmospheric Explorer Satellite. Because of the increased ambient oxygen density, the glow is more intense in the daytime. The daytime production efficiency, meausured in Rayleighs per oxygen atom, is similar to the nighttime value. No dependence of the glow intensity on the ambient plasma density was found. The production efficiency increased with time throughout the duration of the spacecraft in orbit.
Optimum Loading of a Wing with a Slit

Problem Statement T HE conjecture that a wing with a very small slit in the plane of symmetry has an elliptic optimum loading is proved. The convergence toward the solution, however, is very slow with the number of terms in the Fourier-series expansion, as shown by the analysis and numerical solution. Consider two lifting lines placed along the y axis, of equal length b/2, that barely touch the origin O (Fig. 1). The flow is assumed inviscid and incompressible, with incoming velocity U in the x direction. Let (y) be the optimum loading. must satisfy the following boundary conditions:
Prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.

Revue des possibilites de diagnostic antenatal: analyse de l'enzyme intestinal microvilleux entre 17 et 18 semaines de gestation; analyse du DNA pour les risques 1:4; determination du risque pour la parente proche; recommandations actuelles selon les cas; espoir proche de detection des heterozygotes dans la population generale
Young Children’s Object Play: A Window on Development

Adults can learn a great deal about young children’s development by watching them play with toys or other objects. Insights derived from theoretical and empirical explorations of object play are particularly useful for early childhood professionals who assess the development of preschool children with disabilities. The following discussion reviews theoretical and empirical literature relevant to young children’s object play and suggests implications of research findings for practitioners. The review emphasizes the cognitive prerequisites for object play, the sequential development of object play, the relationship between play and language, and the characteristics of object play in young children with developmental disabilities.
Unrest at home: diarrheal disease and microbiota disturbance

Diarrhea and malnutrition, two intertwined worldwide problems, are both associated with lower diversity of the intestinal microbiota in children in low-income countries.
Chirped gratings in integrated optics

Gratings with variable periods (chirped gratings) have been fabricated by recording the interference pattern of a collimated laser beam with a converging beam generated by a cylindrical lens. An analysis is presented for the behavior of the chirped gratings as a function of wavelength, the angle between the illuminating beams, the F number of the lens, and its position. To calculate the power radiated into air, the coupled-mode equations are solved for the case of a waveguide with chirped surface corrugation. Experimentally, chirped gratings have been etched on the surface of an optical waveguide and used to couple light out of the waveguide. It was found that the light was focused outside the waveguide, and the fraction of the power radiated into air compared favorably with the theoretical calculation. The focal point outside the waveguide was found to move by about 1 cm when the wavelength was changed by 500 A-in agreement with theoretical estimates.
Gender and Vocal Stress Differences During Truthful and Deceptive Information Sequences

The focus of this study was to determine the efficacy of the Mark II Voice Stress Analyzer as a means of discriminating between truthful and deceptive communications. A simulated job interview was manipulated so that participants in the deceptive condition told the truth on all questions except two, producing two types of deception: prepared and spontaneous lies. Participants in the truthful condition were truthful throughout the interview. Gender was introduced as a predictor variable. Results indicate that the Mark II can objectively and unobtrusively detect vocal stress indicative of deception for the prepared lie, but not for the spontaneous lie. Truthful participants demonstrated no significant differences for any of the information sequences, indicating that the Mark II avoids the problems of falsely identifying innocent subjects. Females exhibited elevated levels of vocal stress during the prepared deception, whereas males did not. Implications of this study and recommendations for future research ...