cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sorption kinetics of binary protein solutions: General approach to multicomponent systems

Abstract In a previous paper the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetic approach to modeling adsorption of human γ-globulin (G), on an artificial surface (quartz) was tested against new experimental data. The principal purpose of this paper is to explore the extension of that approach to a binary system as an example of a putative general approach for multicomponent systems. In particular the previous results along with new results from a second single-protein system, human albumin (A), modeled as in the previous study, are combined with new results for the binary system γ-globulin-albumin.
A small dose of morphine increases intake of and preference for isotonic saline among rats

Water-deprived rats were given hourly opportunities to ingest physiological saline and water for a number of days until they were taking substantial amounts of both solutions. Prior to some opportunities to ingest, they were injected with either morphine (2.0 mg/kg) or a placebo. Across a variety of procedures, morphine increased intake of and, in 1-hr tests, increased preference for 0.9% NaCl. Intake of 1.5% NaCl also increased after administration of morphine. These data suggest that endogenous opioids are involved in sodium intake. These data also provide further support for the idea that one or more of the endogenous opioid systems are involved in the regulation of ingestion.
Web site redesign follies

Once upon a time, word spread that geeks could get together in a new kingdom called Cyberspace. Subjects raced to upload information onto the new kingdom. Eventually, any old jester was uploading pages. It was wonderful! It was exciting! It was unmanageable! Sometimes it was downright ugly! Nearly two years ago, California State University (CSU) Dominguez Hills initiated a Web site redesign with the goal of developing a site that is both beautiful and easy to use. At midpoint, the Center for Usability in Design and Assessment (CUDA) added a whole new set of design criteria by asking the question, “Can the site viewer find the piece of information s/he seeks?” Jan Boucher is project manager of CUDA, located on the campus of CSU Long Beach, which serves both corporate and educational clients. Marion Smith, coordinator of instructional computing services at CSU Dominguez Hills, has been a CUDA client. Using CSU Dominguez Hills as a case study, they will outline the process and pitfalls of a Web site redesign, focusing on the following three areas:
Stress on the bottom of an estuary

MANY estuaries are sufficiently deep relative to their maximum fetch that even in severe storms the bottom remains undisturbed by wind-generated waves. Yet observations of sediment transport and of changes in benthic animal populations indicate that agitation of the bottom of deep estuaries is not infrequent (refs 1–3, and D. C. Rhoads, unpublished). We report here an analysis of current meter records which shows that such bottom disturbances can arise because wind stress at the surface causes increased turbulence deep in the water column and, consequently, a more frequent occurrence of unusually high velocities near the bottom.
Predissociation of Diatomic Molecules from High Rotational States

Instability of molecules in high rotational states as observed especially in HgH and A1H, is a phenomenon whose quantum-mechanical explanation is closely analogous to that of the radioactive disintegration of atomic nuclei. The heat of dissociation of A1H from its normal state is estimated to be 3.07 volts.
A markov chain version of the secretary problem

This paper deals with the Secretary Problem where n secretaries are interviewed sequentially and the best k must be hired. The values of the secretaries are observed as they are interviewed, but beforehand only the distributions of these values are known. Furthermore, the distributions of two successive secretaries' values are governed by a Markov chain. Optimal hiring policies for finite n and limiting optimal policies as k and n approach infinity are obtained.
Endoanal Ultrasound: Staging and Follow-Up of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the anal canal. Accurate staging is important, both in selecting among treatment modalities and in predicting a patient's response, local recurrence, and survival. The traditional anal cancer tumor-nodes-metastases staging system is defined solely by tumor diameter, as determined via digital and anoscopic examination. As a result, a movement has emerged toward the use of endoanal ultrasound (EAUS). The data to suggest the advantages of anal canal cancer staging via the use of depth of penetration are fairly robust. Many studies, including a large multicenter prospective clinical trial, have shown ultrasound staging to be a more accurate predictor of complete response, local recurrence, and survival. EAUS is a better tool for evaluating the depth of invasion of early tumors as compared to magnetic resonance imaging. Newer 3-dimensional ultrasonography is proving even more accurate in detecting tumor dimensions and depth of penetration. The efficacy of EAUS for detection of recurrence has also been shown. In combination with digital and anoscopic examination, EAUS is an important tool in the evaluation and management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus.
Charge-Transfer Excited State Dynamics in DNA Hairpins Substituted with an Ethylenylpyrenyl-dU Electron Source and Halo-dU Traps

In this work nine DNA hairpins (HPs) are studied at room temperature to observe their pyrene(*+)/dU(*-) CT excited-state dynamics following photoexcitation at 355 nm with a 25 ps laser pulse. The HPs are 18-24 bases long, have a central tetra-T loop, and have a single U(PE) (5-(2-pyren-1-yl-ethylenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine) substitution in the central region of their stems. Three of the HPs are also substituted with 5-XdU traps, where X = Br or F, to learn about the effects of these traps on CT excited-state lifetimes and emission quantum yields in U(PE) substituted HPs. The combination of lengthened average CT lifetime and enhanced CT emission quantum yield in HPs with excess electron traps compared to HPs lacking traps strongly suggests that excess electrons are injected into the DNA stem at pyrimidine sites external to U(PE) as well via charge separation within U(PE) itself. Furthermore, the increased CT emission quantum yield in HPs with traps compared to HPs without traps implies that externally injected electrons can migrate to uracil in U(PE) (i.e., Py(*+)dU) and thus indirectly form the emissive Py(*+)dU(*-) CT state of U(PE).
Degradation of InP-based Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes due to proton irradiation

Degradation of InGaAs/InP Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes caused by proton irradiation is reported for the first time. The devices are found to be very sensitive to displacement damage. Substantial changes in the dark count rate, and the after-pulse count rate are observed following room temperature irradiation and characterization at −50°C. The device detection efficiency is unaffected by irradiation. Following 51 MeV proton fluences in the mid 109 protons/cm2 range, the dark count rate becomes so large that the devices are rendered essentially unusable. This is a very low fluence at which to observe device failure.
Synthesis and antiferromagnetism of Mn/sub 5/O/sub 8/

By reacting manganese nitrate and sodium hydroxide at pH/spl sime/12 and heating the product at 400/spl deg/C for 3 hrs, Mn/sub 5/O/sub 8/ with crystallite size /spl sime/14 nm and the Cd/sub 2/Mn/sub 5/O/sub 8/ structure is produced, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction. Magnetic state of Mn/sub 5/O/sub 8/ is investigated by measuring the temperature variations of the magnetic susceptibility /spl chi/ and the electron spin resonance spectra. The /spl chi/ versus T variation is characteristic of antiferromagnetic ordering with Neel temperature T/sub N//spl sime/128 K. For T>T/sub N/, /spl chi/ follows the Curie-Weiss law, /spl chi/=C/(T-/spl theta/), with C=14.26 cm/sup 3/-W/mole, and /spl theta/=-164 K. In ESR, only a single line is observed whose linewidth /spl Delta/H fits the variation /spl Delta/H(Oe)=1570+A/(T-T/sub N/)/sup -/spl gamma// with /spl gamma/=1.26, characteristic of a uniaxial antiferromagnet. The magnitude of C is consistent with the Mn/sub 2//sup 2+/Mn/sub 3//sup 4+/O/sub 8/ valence state of Mn/sub 5/O/sub 8/.
Single Cell Genome Amplification Accelerates Identification of the Apratoxin Biosynthetic Pathway from a Complex Microbial Assemblage

Filamentous marine cyanobacteria are extraordinarily rich sources of structurally novel, biomedically relevant natural products. To understand their biosynthetic origins as well as produce increased supplies and analog molecules, access to the clustered biosynthetic genes that encode for the assembly enzymes is necessary. Complicating these efforts is the universal presence of heterotrophic bacteria in the cell wall and sheath material of cyanobacteria obtained from the environment and those grown in uni-cyanobacterial culture. Moreover, the high similarity in genetic elements across disparate secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways renders imprecise current gene cluster targeting strategies and contributes sequence complexity resulting in partial genome coverage. Thus, it was necessary to use a dual-method approach of single-cell genomic sequencing based on multiple displacement amplification (MDA) and metagenomic library screening. Here, we report the identification of the putative apratoxin. A biosynthetic gene cluster, a potent cancer cell cytotoxin with promise for medicinal applications. The roughly 58 kb biosynthetic gene cluster is composed of 12 open reading frames and has a type I modular mixed polyketide synthase/nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS/NRPS) organization and features loading and off-loading domain architecture never previously described. Moreover, this work represents the first successful isolation of a complete biosynthetic gene cluster from Lyngbya bouillonii, a tropical marine cyanobacterium renowned for its production of diverse bioactive secondary metabolites.
Silymarin and epithelial cancer chemoprevention: How close we are to bedside?

Failure and high systemic toxicity of conventional cancer therapies have accelerated the focus on the search for newer agents, which could prevent and/or slow-down cancer growth and have more human acceptability by being less or non-toxic. Silymarin is one such agent, which has been extensively used since ages for the treatment of liver conditions, and thus has possibly the greatest patient acceptability. In recent years, increasing body of evidence has underscored the cancer preventive efficacy of silymarin in both in vitro and in vivo animal models of various epithelial cancers. Apart from chemopreventive effects, other noteworthy aspects of silymarin and its active constituent silibinin in cancer treatment include their capability to potentiate the efficacy of known chemotherapeutic drugs, as an inhibitor of multidrug resistance-associated proteins and as an adjunct to the cancer therapeutic drugs due to their organ-protective efficacy specifically liver, and immunostimulatory effects. Widespread use of silymarin for liver health in humans and commercial availability of its formulations with increased bioavailability, further underscore the necessity of carrying out controlled clinical trials with these agents in cancer patients. In this review, we will briefly discuss the outcomes of clinical trials being conducted by us and others in cancer patients to provide insight into the clinical relevance of the observed chemopreventive effects of these agents in various epithelial cancer models.
The density of indium-bismuth alloys

The density of various In--Bi alloys at room temperature was measured by the buoyancy technique. With increasing Bi concentration in the alloys, the density increases smoothly between the values for the terminal elements indium and bismuth. No maxima occur at any of the compositions which correspond to the intermediate phases In$sub 2$Bi, In$sub 5$Bi$sub 3$ and InBi. On compound formation from the constituents, a volume contraction is observed which is proportional to the amount of bismuth in the alloy. For InBi, a maximum decrease in specific volume by 2.9 percent is found. However, despite the decrease in specific volume, the experimental density data for Bi concentrations up to 50 at. percent may be expressed in an additive manner by attributing a density of 10.27 g/cm$sup 3$ to the bismuth instead of the conventional value of 9.80 g/cm$sup 3$. This indicates that the bismuth acts in the alloys with a density it would have at room temperature in its supercooled liquid state.
An architecture for efficient Lisp list access

In this paper, we present a Lisp machine architecture that supports efficient list manipulation. This Lisp architecture is organized as two processing units: a List Processor (LP), that performs all list related operations and manages the list memory, and an Evaluation Processor (EP), that maintains the addressing and control environment. The LP contains a translation table (LPT) that maps a small set of list identifiers into the physical memory addresses of objects. Essentially, the LP and LPT virtualize a list. The EP then operates on these virtualized lists. Such an organization permits the overlap of EP function evaluation with LP memory accesses and management, thus reducing the performance penalties typically associated with Lisp list manipulation activities. We used trace-driven simulations to evaluate this architecture. From our evaluation a relatively small LPT is seen to be sufficient, and to yield “hit rates” on data accesses higher than those of a data cache of comparable size.
The principle of complementarity: chemical versus biological space

Chemical genomics aims to systematically explore the interactions between small molecules and biological systems. These efforts aim to annotate genomes using the language of chemistry, and to provide information-rich profiles of chemical and biological systems. Here, I describe recent conceptual and experimental advances toward the goal of mapping multidimensional chemical and biological descriptor spaces. In doing so, I will focus on the complementary nature of these efforts, the importance of recognizing the distinction between computed versus observed descriptors, and highlight recent ‘landmark’ examples of small molecules discovered using phenotypic screens. Future computation and experimental advances will be needed to fully realize the goals of chemical genomics. For those willing to consider both local and global properties of chemical and biological space, and to venture into uncharted territory, there promises to be new vistas and principles to be discovered.
Assigning student programming pairs based on their mental model consistency: an initial investigation

Pair Programming has been shown to be beneficial to student learning. Much research has been conducted to effectively create student pairs when using pair programming in introductory computer science courses. This paper reports results of research investigating the effectiveness of pairing students based on their mental model consistency. Prior research has found a strong correlation between mental model consistency and performance in introductory computer programming courses. Evaluating students' mental models helps to provide insights into how students approach problem solving and may indicate how to effectively pair students to improve their programming ability and learning. The results from an empirical study conducted to investigate these effects indicate that mental model consistency is a predictor of student success in an introductory programming course. Future goals of this research are to fully evaluate all possible pairing arrangements and to produce tests that can be used to evaluate mental model consistency for other computer science concepts.
Acetazolamide-sensitive short-circuiting current versus mucosal HCO3− concentration in turtle bladders

Abstract Isolated bladders of Pseudemys turtles, interposed between choline sulfate Ringer solution on the mucosa and choline sulfate Ringer solution with HCO3− (20 mM) on the serosa were short-circulated in a chamber. Mucosal concentration of HCO3− was varied from 0.2 to 20 mM in the presence and in the absence of acetazolamide. Both in the presence and in the absence of acetazolamide, spontaneous trans-bladder potential and short-circuiting current (Isc) increased with increasing mucosal HCO3− concentration. When Isc was plotted as a function of mucosal HCO3− concentration, it exhibited Michaelis-Menten-like characteristics. In the absence of acetazolamide, the saturation current and half maximal concentration of mucosal HCO3− were 1.98 mA/g dry tissue and 2.4 mM HCO3−, respectively. In the presence of 0.1 mM acetazolamide, they were 0.37 mA/g dry tissue and 3.15 mM HCO3−, and in the presence of 0.2 mM acetazolamide they were 0.24 mA/g dry tissue and 3.89 mM HCO3−. The changes in the half maximal concentration of mucosal HCO3− were not significant. Hence, acetazolamide appears to inhibit HCO3− transport in a manner analogous to noncompetitive inhibition. Data further indicate that the inhibition of HCO3− transport by acetazolamide is reversible. Analysis of data from experiments carried out in the absence of acetazolamide suggest the existence of a second HCO3− transport process having a saturation current of 1.13 mA/g dry tissue and a half maximal concentration of 0.17 mM HCO3− in the mucosal fluid.
Dynamic and Robust Local Clearance Triangulations

The Local Clearance Triangulation (LCT) of polygonal obstacles is a cell decomposition designed for the efficient computation of locally shortest paths with clearance. This article presents a revised definition of LCTs, new theoretical results and optimizations, and new algorithms introducing dynamic updates and robustness. Given an input obstacle set with n vertices, a theoretical analysis is proposed showing that LCTs generate a triangular decomposition of O(n) cells, guaranteeing that discrete search algorithms can compute paths in optimal times. In addition, several examples are presented indicating that the number of triangles is low in practice, close to 2n, and a new technique is described for reducing the number of triangles when the maximum query clearance is known in advance. Algorithms for repairing the local clearance property dynamically are also introduced, leading to efficient LCT updates for addressing dynamic changes in the obstacle set. Dynamic updates automatically handle intersecting and overlapping segments with guaranteed robustness, using techniques that combine one exact geometric predicate with adjustment of illegal floating-point coordinates. The presented results demonstrate that LCTs are efficient and highly flexible for representing dynamic polygonal environments with clearance information.
Cytomegalovirus infection in orthotopic liver transplantation.

We retrospectively studied 175 orthotopic liver transplants in 151 patients. Of the 151 patients, 59 (39.1%) were diagnosed as having cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The rate of infection in patients treated for rejection was 48.8% as compared to 26.2% in patients without rejection (P<0.01). Antirejection therapy was associated with culture-positive cases in 33 out of 43 patients as compared to 9 out of 16 patients who had CMV antibody titer elevations. Patients were treated with gancyclovir if they had simultaneous positive cultures from multiple sites and were seriously ill. Eighteen of the 19 patients thus treated had side effects, one of which was serious (bone marrow hypoplasia). Cultures became negative in 15 out of 17 (88%) of the surviving patients. Patient survival was similar to our overall survival rate of 87%.
Maximising α-lifetime for wireless sensor networks

In energy constrained wireless sensor networks, it is very important to conserve energy and prolong network lifetime while ensuring proper operations of the network. In this paper, we investigate how to maximise the α-lifetime of wireless sensor networks, where α-lifetime is defined as the time duration during which at least α portion of the surveillance region is covered. We first present, given node locations, two upper bounds of the α-lifetime. We then design, based on the derived upper bound, an algorithm that sub-optimally schedules node activities to maximise the α-lifetime of a sensor network. We carry out simulations to validate the derived results and evaluate the designed algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves around 90% of the derived upper bound. This implies that the derived upper bounds are rather tight and the proposed algorithm is close to optimal. Finally, we draw from our study several useful conclusions on sensor network deployment and design.
Distinct cell type-specific expression of scaffolding proteins EBP50 and E3KARP: EBP50 is generally expressed with ezrin in specific epithelia, whereas E3KARP is not.

Summary The ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins are regulated microfilament membrane linking proteins. Previous tissue localization studies have revealed that the three related proteins show distinct tissue distributions, with ezrin being found predominantly in polarized epithelial cells, whereas moesin is enriched in endothelial cells and lymphocytes. EBP50 and E3KARP are two related scaffolding proteins that bind to the activated form of ERM proteins in vitro, and through their PDZ domains to the cytoplasmic domains of specific membrane proteins, including the Na + /H + exchanger isoform (NHE3) present in kidney proximal tubules and the β 2 -adrenergic receptor. Using specific antibodies to EBP50 and E3KARP for localization in murine tissues, we find that the cellular distribution of EBP50 and E3KARP is mutually exclusive. Epithelial cells expressing ezrin generally co-express EBP50, such as intestinal epithelial cells, gastric parietal cells, the epithelial cells of the kidney proximal tubule, the terminal bronchiole of the lung, and in mesothelia. This correlation is not absolute as cells of the mucous epithelium of the stomach and in the renal corpuscle, express ezrin but no detectable EBP50, whereas the bile canaliculi of hepatocytes express EBP50 and not ezrin. E3KARP has a restricted tissue distribution with the highest expression being found in lung. It is largely colocalized with moesin and radixin, especially in the alveoli of the lung, as well as being highly enriched in the renal corpuscle. These results document a preference for co-expression of EBP50, but not E3KARP, with ezrin in polarized epithelia. These results place constraints on the physiological roles that can be proposed for these scaffolding molecules.
Storage of natural gas by adsorption on activated carbon

Abstract Natural gas may be stored by liquefaction, compression, or adsorption. For use as a transportation fuel, liquefaction is impractical and compression requires high pressure (20 MPa) and an expensive multi-stage compression facility. At relatively low pressure (3–4 MPa) achievable by single-stage compression, adsorbed natural gas (ANG) has nearly the capacity of compressed natural gas (CNG). Monte Carlo calculations were performed to simulate the adsorption of natural gas on activated carbon. The model is pure methane intercalated between parallel planes of graphite at a slit of width 11.4 A, optimized for ANG storage. The simulations predict that the maximum delivered energy density of ANG is 0.25 for monolithic carbon and 0.17 for pelletized carbon, compared to 0.29 for CNG and 1.0 for gasoline.
Macrophages resistant to endogenously generated nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis are hypersensitive to exogenously added nitric oxide donors: Dichotomous apoptotic response independent of caspase 3 and reversal by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 098059

Nitric oxide (NO) induction through the inducible NO synthase has been demonstrated to cause cell death in macrophages. We demonstrate that, in macrophages that have been rendered resistant to apoptosis induced by inducible NO synthase (RES cells), exposure to exogenous NO donors results in a hypersensitive apoptosis reaction when compared with the parental RAW 264.7 cells. The apoptosis induced via exogenous NO donors was found to be caspase 3-independent. Although caspase 3 activity was stimulated in the apoptotic macrophages, inhibition of caspase 3 by the inhibitor DEVD-CHO (N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde) did not reverse the apoptosis induced by the NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). This suggests that although caspase 3 activity is stimulated during apoptosis in macrophages, this signal is not sufficient to induce apoptosis. Cleavage of the enzyme poly(ADP ribose) polymerase mirrors our results of the caspase activity. Interestingly, we show that exogenous NO donation results in an accumulation of cells at the G2/M-phase border. Here, we demonstrate that the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 098059 can be used to reverse the G2/M-phase block and show that this treatment also inhibits the observed apoptosis in RES macrophages. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor also reversed both the caspase 3 activity and poly(ADP ribose) polymerase cleavage in cells treated with GSNO. This result indicates that the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway may be involved in regulation of the caspase cascade. Alternatively, it may suggest an activity for the MEK inhibitor heretofore not observed, that of a cyclin kinase inhibitor. Our results suggest that selection of macrophages by resistance to endogenously generated NO may cause hypersensitivity to exogenous NO donors. These findings have relevant implications for the treatment of apoptotic-resistant cell populations that may occur in both cancer and atheroma.
Foods or Nutrients: Validity of Assessment Standards

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To compare changes in dietary patterns based on food pyramid/CSFII groupings rather than Recommended Dietary Allowances People select and consume foods not nutrients. Nutrition intervention appears to be most effective when clients are instructed about specific foods to eat and not eat. Yet when programs are evaluated for effectiveness, pre- and post-intervention intakes are compared based on specific nutrients in the Recommend Dietary Allowances However the RDA do not sensitively measure desired food intake changes when nutrient intake is above 100% of the recommendations. Data were collected on 16 subjects who received nutrition intervention as part of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and 12 control subjects. Nutrition assessment data included 24-hour recall diet histories for both groups prior to intervention and one year later. Pre- and post-intervention dietary intake data were compared using RDA and defined food groups adapted from food pyramid and USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). Baseline mean intakes for both groups were approximately 100% of RDA for water soluble vitamins and approximately two-thirds of RDA for fat soluble vitamins and minerals. One year later, the EFNEP group reported lower intakes of vitamins D and E, and calcium, while the control group reported significantly lower (p
A cladistic analysis of Scinax (Anura: Hylidae)

The hylid frog genus Scinax ranges from southern Mexico to eastern Argentina. The 84 recognized species are currently arranged in five groups: the Scinax rubra, Scinax rostrata, Scinax catharinae, Scinax staufferi, and Scinax perpusilla species groups. Although a few species groups are distinctive, compelling evidence of monophyly is lacking for three groups, and their interrelationships remain virtually unknown. With the objective of testing the monophyly of the species groups and exploring their interrelationships, a cladistic analysis was performed, employing 86 characters from osteology, myology, adult and larval external morphology, reproductive biology, and karyotypes taken from 36 representative species of the five species groups plus eight outgroup taxa. The analysis of the resulting data matrix shows moderately well-supported (as assessed through Bremer support and parsimony jackknifing) S. catharinae and S. rostrata species groups. The S. staufferi species group is polyphyletic, as currently composed, given that some of its species are nested within the S. catharinae species group. The only representative of the S. perpusilla species group is the sister species of the S. catharinae species group. Although weakly supported, the representatives of the S. rostrata and S. staufferi species groups are nested, separately, within the S. rubra species group. In order to have a taxonomy consistent with these results, it is proposed not to recognize the S. rubra group but to recognize a more inclusive rubra clade that includes all studied exemplars of the former S. rubra group, plus some of the S. staufferi group and all of the S. rostrata group. Similarly, a catharinae clade is recognized, within which all studied exemplars of the S. catharinae group (that now includes Scinax berthae and Scinax agilis) and the one studied representative of the S. perpusilla group are included.
Variational calculations and renormalization.

In this paper we discuss the finiteness constraint imposed by renormalizability on variational approximations in quantum field theories. After a review of the philosophy to be followed, an illustration of the problem in a simple superrenormalizable model is presented. To obtain a well-defined variational approximation for this model, we propose a first-order formalism augmented by the inclusion of redundant degrees of freedom. As an example we calculate a well-defined (i.e., regulator-independent) variational approximant to the effective potential.
Three-Dimensional Motion Analysis Validation of a Clinic-Based Nomogram Designed to Identify High ACL Injury Risk in Female Athletes

AbstractAims: Prospective measures of high knee abduction moment (KAM) during landing identify female athletes at increased risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Laboratory-driven measurements predict high KAM with 90% accuracy. This study aimed to validate the clinic-based variables against 3-dimensional motion analysis measurements. Methods: Twenty female basketball, soccer, and volleyball players (age, 15.9 ± 1.3 years; height, 163.6 ± 9.9 cm; body mass, 57.0 ± 12.1 kg) were tested using 3-dimensional motion analysis and clinic-based techniques simultaneously. Multiple logistic regression models have been developed to predict high KAM (a surrogate for ACL injury risk) using both measurement techniques. Clinic-based measurements were validated against 3-dimensional motion analysis measures, which were recorded simultaneously, using within- and between-method reliability as well as sensitivity and specificity comparisons. Results: The within-variable analysis showed excellent inter-rater reli...
Recent Research on Team and Organizational Diversity: SWOT Analysis and Implications

Sixty-three studies published in the years 1997–2002 are reviewed to assess the effects of workplace diversity on teams and organizations. Four major questions are considered: Which personal attributes have diversity researchers studied in recent years? What has been learned about the consequences of diversity for teams and organizations? What has been learned about the role of context in shaping the effects of diversity? How has research addressed the multi-level complexities inherent in the phenomenon of diversity? For each question, we consider the strengths and weaknesses of recent diversity research, point out opportunities for new research, and identify threats to continued advancement. The review concludes by considering practical implications of the accumulated evidence.
Randomized trial of high- and low-source strength 125I prostate seed implants

Abstract Purpose A range of 125 I isotope activities is used in permanent prostate implants. In this study, we compared the implant quality and cost in patients randomized to high-source or low-source strength permanent implants. Methods and materials Forty patients were randomized to receive high (0.76 μGy/m 2 /h) or low (0.4 μGy/m 2 /h) seed strength implants. The two treatment arms had a comparable mix of primary and boost patients and underwent implantation by the same team. The postimplant dosimetric evaluation was performed using CT (seed position) and T 2 -weighted MRI (prostate) scans registered using mutual information techniques. The implant quality parameters were assessed by dose indexes (ratio of achieved dose to planned dose) to quantify the relative error tolerance. Results The high-source strength implants had better dose coverage as defined by the dose index; a larger percentage of volume receiving 100% of the prescribed dose as determined by CT (V 100 ) (96.3% ± 3.5% vs. 90.4% ± 5.3%; p p Conclusion All 40 patients received an excellent implant as indicated by the CT V 100 . Unless long-term toxicity differs, high-source strength seed implants improve the probability of excellent implant quality and decrease the average cost of permanent prostate implants.
Water-clear-cell hyperplasia mimicking parathyroid adenoma.

The case of a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism in whom water-clear-cell hyperplasia (WCCH) involved only the superior glands, and disproportionately so, is presented. In addition, unlike the cases of WCCH described previously, a rim of normal parathyroid tissue was observed at the periphery of each gland in this case. It is speculated that these findings are not necessarily peculiar, but may reflect an earlier stage of the disease. Such cases may mimick parathyroid adenoma, thereby leading to inadequate surgical therapy.
There exists a topologically mixing interval exchange transformation

We prove the existence of a topologically mixing interval exchange transformation and prove that no interval exchange is topologically mixing of all orders.
Performance analysis and simulation of the SOME-Bus architecture using message passing

The simultaneous optical multiprocessor exchange bus (SOME-Bus) is a low-latency, high-bandwidth, fiber-optic interconnection network which directly links arbitrary pairs of processor nodes without contention. It contains a dedicated channel (of b bits) for the data output of each node, eliminating the need for global arbitration and providing bandwidth that scales directly with the number of nodes in the system. Each of N nodes has an array of receivers, with one receiver dedicated to each node output channel. The entire N-receiver array can be integrated an a single chip at a comparatively minor cost resulting in O(N) complexity. The receiver number remains constant as b is increased. This paper examines the performance of the SOME-Bus using a message-passing queueing network model. It develops theoretical results which provide distributions of messages in the system and predict processor utilization and message waiting time. It also presents simulation results which validate the theoretical results and compare processor utilization in the SOME-Bus, the crossbar and the torus using queueing network models, with and without synchronization. It demonstrates that, compared to the networks considered here, the SOME-Bus is the interconnection network whose performance is least affected by large message communication times. Even in the presence of intense synchronization, processor utilization remains practically unaffected while it drops quite dramatically in the other architectures.
Fitsari ′dan Duniya: An African (Hausa) praise song about vesicovaginal fistulas

Abstract The vesicovaginal fistula from prolonged obstructed labor is a condition that is no longer seen in the affluent, industrialized world, yet it continues to exist in epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa, where several million women are estimated to suffer from this condition. The unremitting urinary incontinence that is produced by a fistula causes these women to become social outcasts. The problem is particularly acute in Nigeria, where the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs estimates that there may be as many as 800,000 unrepaired fistula cases. Because of the social stigma attached to their condition, fistula victims have often been subjected to major psychosocial trauma. Finding ways to help such patients reintegrate into social networks is an important part of their treatment. When fistula patients meet one another, they realize that they are not alone in their suffering. This article describes the use of a “praise song” by a group of Nigerian fistula patients as a vehicle for building group identity as part of a “sisterhood of suffering.” A transcription and translation of a Hausa praise song about vesicovaginal fistulas is presented, along with a commentary on the text that sheds new light on a problem that is unfamiliar to most Western obstetrician-gynecologists.
Islamic Aniconism: Making Sense of a Messy Literature

“Postmodern” authors such as Virilio, Baudrillard, Barthes, and Zizek express interesting sensitivities toward images (and their inflation in today’s media) which remind the quarrels in 8th century Byzantine Iconoclasm. Historically, Anatolia (Turkey), where Byzantine Empire stood once, has been a fertile ground for religious debates over the nature of images. My study starts with the thesis that "the lawfulness of painting" in Islam, as coined by Creswell, is an ignored issue in today's Turkish art classroom. Through philosophical hermeneutic analysis of 30 interviews with 10 middle-school students, the study unfolds student meanings regarding various Muslim attitudes toward 2-D figural representation. Philosophical hermeneutics is a form of textual analysis that incorporates dialogue through conversations and elicitation with regard to contexts and history. For example, linking the (once-asked) participant question, “Mom, why isn’t there a picture of our prophet?” to the greater cultural and historical aspects of TurkishIslamic context is crucial in such hermeneutic approach. I problematize the muteness of the centralized national art education curriculum on the issue and offer instructional strategies that incorporate the issue into modern art education practice. The creation of polyphonic spaces for students to explore these conflicting and coinciding ideas is essential unless one considers art education in Turkey a top-down imposition of Western “iconography” alone.
Youths Transitioning as Adult Learners

This chapter considers how transitions to adulthood have been historically represented and presents alternative ways of thinking about transitions to adulthood through the context of adult basic education programs.
Quantized color instruction set for media-on-demand applications

This paper presents quantized color pack eXtension (QCPX) ISA to accelerate performance of pixel-oriented media processing applications. The QCPX ISA (with a 32 bit word size) supports two packed, quantized (reduced) 16-bit color pixels represented in a YCbCr (Y: luminance, Cr and Cb: chrominance) color format. Unlike typical multimedia instruction set extensions (e.g., MDMX, MMX, ALTIVEC), QCPX obtains substantial performance and code density improvements through implicit support for color pixel processing rather than depending solely on generic subword parallelism. To fully measure its impact, QCPX is evaluated in the context of a massively data-parallel SIMD execution platform where data parallelism is harnessed by an orthogonal mechanism. Simulation results indicate that the 32-bit QCPX ISA achieves an overall average speedup of 584% over the non-QCPX and 88% over the 32-bit MDMX-like ISA with four media applications in a same machine platform. In addition, QCPX results in a higher system utilization in excess of 95% due to a significant reduction of conditional instructions.
The Pen, the Sword, and the Crown: Islam and Revolution in Songhay Reconsidered, 1464–1493

This paper examines the origin of the Askiya dynasty in Songhay, with an emphasis on the alliance between the militant ‘ulamā’ and the commanders of the northwestern province during the reign of Sonni 'Alī (1464–1492). The inadequacy of Sonni 'Alī's policy for dealing with the polarization in the cities, the increased role of the officers in these political matters, the rise of militant Islam and the division of the army: all these contributed to the downfall of the Sonni dynasty and the subsequent transfer of power to a regime inspired by Islam. The conflict in Timbuktu to which the ‘ulamā’ gave a religious justification precipitated the revolution. This revealed the importance of Islam as a factor of division, a motor for social action and political change. Indeed, many Muslim leaders had come to see themselves as members of a community worthy of ruling a predominantly non-literate country governed by a non-Muslim royalty. But for this they had to rely on the officers, and in particular Muḥammad Ture who, as a high official connected with both the main warring factions, could fulfil all the conditions for success. His victory introduced a new imperial era in the history of Islam in the Western Sudan.
On Definite Reference in World Englishes

Deixis, associated with the gestural dimension of language, connects all language use to context of situation. It governs a number of grammatical and epistemological categories, including topicalization, orientational mapping and definite and unique reference. The focus of this paper is on the category mentioned last in the previous sentence: definite and unique reference across world Englishes. The aim is to explore the uses of definite descriptions (Russell, 1919), i.e., noun phrases with the definite article the, to determine the nature and extent of differences across the varieties. Research on this topic is driven by two observations. The first is recent research findings in corpus linguistics. For example, Poesio and Vieira (1998) suggest that native speakers differ considerably from each other in their judgment of whether a definite noun phrase refers to an antecedent in the text, and if so, which noun phrase is the antecedent. The second is that it seems reasonable to assume that differences in the use of definite descriptions across varieties exist in view of the fact that English is in contact with other languages in different parts of the world. These languages utilize different categories to represent the same reality or imagined reality that are expressed in English by deictic categories. Research has shown that ‘conceptual situation’ and ‘conceptual event’ are largely language-specifc (see, e.g., Pawley, 1987), and bilinguals and multilinguals transfer their ways of speaking and writing to their use of English. Use of definite descriptions, therefore, is very likely to differ in Englishes used in different parts of the world. In this paper I utilize insights from earlier theories of definite descriptions (e.g., Christophersen, 1939; Hawkins, 1978; Webber, 1979; Prince, 1981, 1992; Heim, 1982) to analyze data from several world varieties of English. I also discuss the implications of my findings to the teaching of grammar in the EIL context.
A two-dimensional detailed ion channel model of abnormal cardiac action potential propagation

Cardiac action potential propagation is modeled with a two-dimensional simulation that includes full Luo-Rudy (LRd) ion channel dynamics. Preliminary results show that the L-type calcium current is dependent on the curvature of the propagating wavefront, and that, in the case of spiral wave reentry, calcium-induced calcium release exhibits complex temporal behaviour including occasional large releases which occur on the boundary of the spiral wave core. The core region also exhibits significantly lower intracellular calcium concentrations. The computer model uses a simple forward Euler method in combination with a variable, multiple. The algorithm thereby allows the desktop modeling of a reasonable size spatial region while simultaneously providing for a detailed representation of the action potential upstroke. Attempts to reduce the runtime of the code, including parallelization issues, are also discussed.
Nutrition, Lipids, and Cardiovascular Disease

The evolving epidemic of cardiovascular disease in many newly industrialized societies will bankrupt their health care systems and reduce the available resources for other health priorities. Therefore, the prevention of this epidemic, or at least slowing the increase, is of the highest priority. The development of coronary heart disease (CHD) is an example of a common source epidemic due to increased consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol, low intakes of polyunsaturated fat, and increasing obesity. Hypertension, cigarette smoking, and diabetes mellitus contribute to risk of disease. The prevention of atherosclerosis beginning in young adults is of paramount importance. Careful monitoring of the evolving epidemic of CHD, including noninvasive evaluation of atherosclerosis, is important. A high-risk approach is very successful but expensive.
Predictors of persistent sleep apnea after surgery in children younger than 3 years.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective review of medical records at a tertiary academic children’s hospital involving children younger than 3 years who had OSA documented by polysomnogram (PSG) and underwent TA P < .001), baseline oxygen saturation (96.6% [2.1%] to 97.2% [1.4%]; P = .05), minimum oxygen saturation (77.2% [11.4%] to 89.9% [6.8%]; P < .001), and sleep efficiency (84.7% [14.9%] to 88.7% [9.1%]; P = .02) after T&A. When AHI greater than 5 was used as the definition of OSA, 21% of the patients (15 of 70) had residual OSA. The most consistent predictor of residual OSA after T&A was the severity of preoperative OSA (P = .02).
Right heart function and haemodynamics in pulmonary hypertension

The primary challenge in the care of the patient with advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is right ventricular dysfunction with concomitant right heart failure. Right heart function is closely tied to survival in this disease, and there is a growing interest in the study of this unique structure. While echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) have augmented our ability to image the right ventricle (RV), the primary means of assessing right heart function remains right heart catheterisation. Several of the currently available treatments for PAH have been shown to have effects on the RV, not just the pulmonary vasculature, and, in future, therapies aimed at optimizing right ventricular function may allow better outcomes in this challenging disease. New directions in right ventricular assessment including measurement of pulmonary vascular impedance and more widespread availability of CMR may allow greater knowledge about this little studied, yet highly important, right side of the heart.
Specific Isolation of RNA from the Grape Powdery Mildew Pathogen Erysiphe necator, an Epiphytic, Obligate Parasite

RNA expression profiling of obligately parasitic plant microbes is hampered by the requisite interaction of host and parasite. This can be especially problematic in the case of powdery mildews, such as Erysiphe necator (syn. Uncinula necator), which grow superficially but tightly adhere to the plant epidermis. We developed and refined a simple and efficient technique in which nail polish was used to remove conidia, appressoria, hyphae, conidiophores, and developing ascocarps of E. necator from grapevine (Vitis vinifera) leaves and showed that RNA isolated after removal was not contaminated with V. vinifera RNA. This approach can be applied to expression analyses throughout fungal development and could be extended to other epiphytic pathogens and saprophytes.
Pharmacokinetic and behavioral characterization of a long-term antipsychotic delivery system in rodents and rabbits

Rationale Non-adherence with medication remains the major correctable cause of poor outcome in schizophrenia. However, few treatments have addressed this major determinant of outcome with novel long-term delivery systems.