cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using a Virtual Reality Simulator in Phlebotomy Training

This study examines the effectiveness of a virtual reality phlebotomy simulator compared to a traditional method of teaching blood collection. Participants were 25 medical laboratory and phlebotomy certificate students enrolled in a 5-week phlebotomy course. Students were divided into 2 groups and were trained in phlebotomy using either a virtual phlebotomy simulator or a traditional mannequin training arm. Both groups received the same amount of didactic training except for the 2 practice methods. Results showed both methods demonstrated a significant improvement over baseline assessments with the mannequin arm showing a slightly greater improvement, but the self-directed learning and metrics recorded by virtual reality (VR) simulation may actually complement training with the mannequin arm in acquiring basic skills. * VR : virtual reality ANOVA : analysis of variance
Is lymphadenectomy required for all patients with endometrial cancer?: 0015

In 1988 FIGO adopted a comprehensive surgical staging system for endometrial cancer. The decision was based in part on data published from the Gynecologic Oncology Group demonstrating stage migration in 23% of clinical stage I patients undergoing TAH/BSO, lymph node dissection and peritoneal washings. Over the ensuing 16 years the number of patients with endometrial cancer undergoing surgical staging procedures has dramatically increased. Concomitantly, rates of pelvic radiation therapy have decreased. Positive nodal rates in endometrial cancer range from 8% to 14%. Pre- and intraoperative strategies or algorithms that attempt to “select” patients for complete surgical staging based on grade, depth of invasion or imaging studies are confusing and difficult to implement. These strategies may increase cost while decreasing overall quality of care through the use of multiple surgeons and unnecessary adjuvant therapies. A number of retrospective studies have shown that pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy can be safely performed in the majority of patients with endometrial cancer as an open or laparoscopic procedure. Once performed accurate information on the extent of disease may provide prognostic information and assist the clinician in the decision for and design of adjuvant therapies or follow-up. To date, strategies that maximize surgical staging while minimizing pelvic radiation therapy have been shown to be the most cost effective without compromising overall survival in stage I disease. Future investigations will focus on the molecular and surgical-pathologic characteristics of this disease (GOG 210). Objectives will include the validation of molecular risk factors to more accurately predict risk. Comprehensive surgical staging will play an important role as this repository of clinical specimens is archived and studied. Lymphadenectomy should be strongly considered for all clinical stage I patients. Patients should be given informed consent with the procedure planned and performed as a part of the comprehensive management of the disease provided by those physicians most qualified and experienced. In the end the actual benefit from lymphadenectomy is best determined by the final pathology report.
Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of a Dual-Clutch Automated Lay-Shaft Transmission

This paper presents a systematic model for the simulation and analysis of a power-shift transmission that features a dual-clutch design. The paper models the kinematics, dynamics, and control of the transmission for the analysis of powertrain overall performance and shift transient characteristics. The model is implemented in an object-oriented software tool. Analytical formulations and look-up tables are both used for modeling of powertrain components. The vehicle system model is established by integrating the various components and subsystem models according to the transmission power flow and control logic. The input to the simulation model is the vehicle speed-time profile and the output provides the speed follow-up, engine, and clutch operation status for the drive range and shift processes involved. As a numerical example, the model is used for a vehicle equipped with the power-shift transmission to simulate the speed follow-up over a specified drive range and the dynamic transients during shifts.
Improving the bulk data transfer experience

Scientific computations and collaborations increasingly rely on the network to provide high-speed data transfer, dissemination of results, access to instruments, support for computational steering, etc. The Energy Sciences Network is establishing a science data network to provide user driven bandwidth allocation. In a shared network environment, some reservations may not be granted due to the lack of available bandwidth on any single path. In many cases, the available bandwidth across multiple paths would be sufficient to grant the reservation. In this paper we investigate how to utilise the available bandwidth across multiple paths in the case of bulk data transfer.
Laparoscopic suturing in urology: A model for vesicourethral anastomosis

SummaryLaparoscopic urological reconstructive surgery represents an arduous task for intracorporeal suturing. This article describes the development of skills, instruments, suturing materials and models to aid in the successful sutured laparoscopic reconstruction of the vesicourethral anastomosis.
Reasons for declining computerized insulin protocol recommendations: Application of a framework

Clinical decision support systems (CDS) can interpret detailed treatment protocols for ICU care providers. In open-loop systems, clinicians can decline protocol recommendations. We capture their reasons for declining as part of ongoing, iterative protocol validation and refinement processes. Even though our protocol was well-accepted by clinicians overall, noncompliance patterns revealed potential protocol improvement targets, and suggested ways to reduce barriers impeding software use. We applied Rita Kukafka and colleagues' (2003) IT implementation framework to identify and categorize reasons documented by ICU nurses when declining recommendations from an insulin-titration protocol. Two methods were used to operationalize the framework: reasons for declining recommendations from actual software use, and a nurse questionnaire. Applying the framework exposed limitations of our data sources, and suggested ways to address those limitations; and facilitated our analyses and interpretations.
Composite blend polymer membranes with increased proton selectivity and lifetime for vanadium redox flow batteries

Abstract Composite membranes based on blends of sulfonated fluorinated poly(arylene ether) (SFPAE) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (P(VDF-co-HFP)) were prepared with varying P(VDF-co-HFP) content for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) applications. The properties of the SFPAE-P(VDF-co-HFP) blends were characterized by atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The water uptake, mechanical properties, thermal properties, proton conductivity, VO2+ permeability and VRFB cell performance of the composite membranes were investigated in detail and compared to the pristine SFPAE membrane. It was found that SFPAE had good compatibility with P(VDF-co-HFP) and the incorporation of P(VDF-co-HFP) increased the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and proton selectivity of the materials effectively. An SFPAE composite membrane with 10 wt.% P(VDF-co-HFP) exhibited a 44% increase in VRFB cell lifetime as compared to a cell with a pure SFPAE membrane. Therefore, the P(VDF-co-HFP) blending approach is a facile method for producing low-cost, high-performance VRFB membranes.
Distributional properties and weekly return patterns of the Athens stock exchange

The study examines the distributional properties of the Athens stock exchange and tests for persistence effects or anomalies found in the weekly redistributions of the market. The results indicate significant first- and second-order dependencies in the series as well as pronounced departures from normality. Further, employing the method of stochastic dominance, to determine which week's returns is dominant, it was found that the first week of the month offers a good risk–return relationship to investors. Finally, no evidence for presence of the January effect was found in the Athens stock exchange.
General treatment of liquid-phase boundary layer resistance in the pervaporation of dilute aqueous organics through tubular membranes

Abstract In the present study, pervaporation of dilute volatile aromatic solutes from water is investigated. The study draws particular attention to the importance of liquid phase boundary layer resistance on transport in the pervaporation of solutes which form highly nonideal mixtures with water. Identifying the controlling resistance is a critical factor in module design and process efficiency. The simulation procedure employed to describe solute transport was based on solving the continuity equation for the given solute. Solute diffusivity values in the aqueous phase play a crucial role in determining the theoretical fit of the experimental data. The theoretical predictions were found to correlate with the experimental data reasonably well. The dimensionless Z number was found to be a useful parameter in terms of which the experimental and theoretical results were represented. Another important parameter was identified and expressed as the dimensionless E parameter, which is the relative liquid phase resistance in relation to the membrane resistance and which represents effects due to solute/membrane interactions, the extent of solute non-ideality in the aqueous phase and membrane module dimensions. The central aim of the research study was to show that for transport processes involving a liquid phase, the liquid-phase boundary resistance is an important factor affecting the overall solute yield and process efficiency.
Configuration and Extension of Embedded Processors to Optimize IPSec Protocol Execution

Security protocols, such as IPSec and SSL, are being increasingly deployed in the context of networked embedded systems. The resource-constrained nature of embedded systems and, in particular, the modest capabilities of embedded processors make it challenging to achieve satisfactory performance while executing security protocols. A promising approach for improving performance in embedded systems is to use application-specific instruction set processors that are designed based on configurable and extensible processors. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive performance analysis of the IPSec protocol on a state-of-the-art configurable and extensible embedded processor (Xtensa from Tensilica Inc.). We present performance profiles of a lightweight embedded IPSec implementation running on the Xtensa processor, and examine in detail the various factors that contribute to the processing latencies, including cryptographic and protocol processing. In order to improve the efficiency of IPSec processing on embedded devices, we then study the impact of customizing an embedded processor by synergistically 1) configuring architectural parameters, such as instruction and data cache sizes, processor-memory interface width, write buffers, etc., and 2) extending the base instruction set of the processor using custom instructions for both cryptographic and protocol processing. Our experimental results demonstrate that upto 3.2times speedup in IPSec processing is possible over a popular embedded IPSec software implementation
Capital contrraints on nonetropolitan accumulation: rural process in the United States of America since the 1960s

Abstract Does the turnaround in net migration to rural areas in the 1970s and its subsequent reversal in the 1980s anticipate a reordering of rural process in the United States of America? I conclude that it does. Whereas standard neoclassical theory posits interregional equilibration through the interplay movements and prices, it is here contended that capital supply has become of paramount importance inn shaping rural outcomes, and that the nexus of capital control is shifting. The centerpiece of my argument is the partition of capital flows into three distinct circuits, within and among which capital ‘switches’ in periods of disproportionality — primarily overaccumulation — in search of new investment options or in response to new state-capital conformations. Viewed from this perspective, rural process is found to have progressed from a period of ‘counterbalanced growth’ (1960s and early 1970s), toward a period of ‘rural overaccumulation’, and then after the world debt crisis of 1981 to an interval of rural ‘consolidation’. During the latter — still underway — the electoral base of Federal support for rural enterprise had begun to erode, and capital had begun to recenter in the urban primary circuit. Rural areas, as well, had become more fully absorbed in national and global capital circuits. Then too, customary alliances in support of rural accumulation had begun to disassemble and new ones had yet to emerge. Future infusions of state capital in the secondary and tertiary circuits in support of rural accumulation are consequently in doubt. Under these conditions, the restructructing of rural industry may be further slowed, and the formulation of a new urban workforce in nonmetropolitan areas placed in jeopardy.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE SNAKE HEART (PYTHON MOLURUS BIVITTATUS)

Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed on Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to determine an optimal echocardiographic imaging technique for snakes and to describe the echocardiographic anatomy of the snake heart. Five snakes immobilized with tiletamine/zolazepam and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen were imaged in dorsal recumbency. The portion of the snake's body containing the heart was submerged in warm water to reduce the artifact created by air trapped between and under the scales. Imaging in sagittal planes demonstrated the caudal vena cava, sinus venous valve, right atrium, various portions of the ventricle, horizontal septum, the left aortic arch, and pulmonary artery. Transverse imaging depicted the spatial relationship of the left and right aortic arches and pulmonary artery and the horizontal septum. Basic knowledge of cardiac blood flow in the reptile was necessary to understand the echocardiographic anatomy.
STABLE STEADY FLOWS IN RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY

Steady flows generated by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) are considered for incompressible inviscid fluid. There is a family of steady solutions, and for the first time the problem of the solutions' stability is studied theoretically for 2D and 3D flows. The region of stable solutions is found to be very narrow and bounded by Hopf' bifurcations. The influence of flow symmetry and discontinuity of dimensional crossover in RTI are shown; agreement with existing experimental and numerical data is good. Bubbles dynamics is discussed.
MÖSSBAUER EFFECT STUDIES OF Te COMPOUNDS

Isomer shifts (IS) and quadrupole splittings (QS) are reported for a number of Te compounds. When the isomer shifts for Te compounds are plotted against the isomer shifts for similar I compounds a roughly linear plot results for pairs of compounds which are both isoelectronic and isostructural. Pairs which are not isoelectronic but merely have similar chemical character deviate from the linear relation. For these similar compounds it is noted that the Te-X bonds are more ionic than the I-X bonds. We attempt to make this argument more quantitative and pursue a correlation found to exist between the quadrupole splitting and the isomer shift which is also found to apply to chemically dissimilar Te compounds.
Delayed inflammatory mRNA and protein expression after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces secondary tissue damage that is associated with inflammation. We have previously demonstrated that inflammation-related gene expression after SCI occurs in two waves - an initial cluster that is acutely and transiently up-regulated within 24 hours, and a more delayed cluster that peaks between 72 hours and 7 days. Here we extend the microarray analysis of these gene clusters up to 6 months post-SCI. Adult male rats were subjected to mild, moderate or severe spinal cord contusion injury at T9 using a well-characterized weight-drop model. Tissue from the lesion epicenter was obtained 4 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, 28 days, 3 months or 6 months post-injury and processed for microarray analysis and protein expression. Anchor gene analysis using C1qB revealed a cluster of genes that showed elevated expression through 6 months post-injury, including galectin-3, p22PHOX, gp91PHOX, CD53 and progranulin. The expression of these genes occurred primarily in microglia/macrophage cells and was confirmed at the protein level using both immunohistochemistry and western blotting. As p22PHOX and gp91PHOX are components of the NADPH oxidase enzyme, enzymatic activity and its role in SCI were assessed and NADPH oxidase activity was found to be significantly up-regulated through 6 months post-injury. Further, treating rats with the nonspecific, irreversible NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodinium (DPI) reduced both lesion volume and expression of chronic gene cluster proteins one month after trauma. These data demonstrate that inflammation-related genes are chronically up-regulated after SCI and may contribute to further tissue loss.
Preliminary findings for the production of water repellent torrefied wood pellets with pyrolysis oil

Torrefaction of biomass has attracted considerable attention as a means to reduce biomass weight by 70% through removal of water and the hemicellulosic fractions while retaining most of the original high-energy cellulose and lignin content. Current torrefied wood pellets or briquettes cannot be shipped in open containers exposed to precipitation because they are not highly water resistant. A highly water repellent pelletized product is required to allow bulk shipping of torrefied wood pellets or briquettes via open railcar or by barge. We have recently developed a binder produced from biomass components that imparts the water repellent quality required to produce a torrefied product that is able to be shipped in open containers. Crushing strength of the pellets produced with this binder are high at between approximately 700 and 1100 psi. Water repellency tests indicate that upon total immersion the pellets absorb water into available pores up to 2–5%. The pellets can then be dried without unacceptable loss of strength. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2012
Navigating Globalization: Immigration Policy in Canada and Australia, 1945–20071

Scholarship on immigration and globalization has failed to adequately analyze the nation-state’s regulatory capacities, insisting instead that contemporary patterns of migration jeopardize national sovereignty and territoriality. While recognized that states possess the legitimate authority to control their territorial and membership boundaries, recent transformations of these capacities remain largely unanalyzed. This article’s historical analysis of Australia and Canada’s postwar immigration policies demonstrates that the contours of state regulation are intimately connected to the exigencies of state administration and nation building and—in contrast to the expectations of dominant theories—have intensified and expanded within the globalization context. The literature’s inattention to the fundamentally political nature of immigration has obscured the critical effects of national policies within both the migratory and globalization process. Australia’s and Canada’s contemporary policies constitute a unique model of migration control and reflect attempts by both countries to strategically position their societies within the global system and resolve a number of economic, political, cultural, and demographic transitions associated with globalization.
Effects of MK-801 on glutamate-induced swelling of astrocytes in primary cell culture

The effects of glutamate and its agonists and antagonists on the swelling of primary astrocytes were studied. Glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp), homocysteate (HCA), and quisqualate (Quis) at 1 mM concentration caused a significant increase in astrocytic swelling as measured by the 3-0-methyl-[14C]-glucose, whereas kainate (KA), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and receptor antagonists 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), 2-amino-7-phosphonohepatanoic acid (APH), and kynurenic acid (Kynu) were not effective. This glial swelling was time-dependent since 1-hr or greater incubations with Glu or its agonists were needed to produce such an effect. Preincubation of glutamate or NMDA receptor anatogonists including Kynu, APH, and APV failed to ameliorate the Glu effects. However, MK-801, a noncompetitive NMDA antagonist, when added to the Glu-incubated astrocytes significantly reduced Glu-induced astrocytic swelling. MK-801 was also effective in reducing the astrocytic swelling induced by agonists including Asp, Quis, and HCA, suggesting that those agonists may share similar mechanisms of Glu in inducing astrocytic swelling. Since the cultured astrocytes lack the NMDA receptors, our data suggest that the observed beneficial effects of MK-801 on excitotoxin-induced swelling of astrocytes may be mediated by mechanisms other than NMDA receptors.
Cardiorespiratory effects of hypothermia and bicarbonate alkalosis.

The cardiorespiratory effects of reducing body temperature to 30°C (by packing in ice) and subsequent metabolic alkalosis (by infusion of NaHCO3) were studied in six anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated\((F_{{\text{I}}_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } } {\text{ = 0}}{\text{.4}})\) dogs. Heart rate decreased from 135±6 beats/min (mean±S.E.) at 37°C to 84±4 at 30°C; it increased to 96±4 after 2 h alkalosis. Cardiac output decreased from 1.84±0.14 to 0.66±0.08 l/min and then increased to 0.83±0.07. pHa increased, as expected on cooling, from 7.41±0.07 to 7.49±0.03; with bicarbonate it increased to 7.79±0.03.\(Pa_{{\text{CO}}_2 } \) decreased on cooling from 32.9±1.4 to 21.7±1.2 torr, increasing with bicarbonate to 27.9±1.4 torr.\(V_{O_2 } \) decreased from 104.9±5.1 ml·min−1·min−2 at 37°C to 51.3±2.0 at 30°C; with alkalosis it increased by 16.2% to 59.6±3.3 ml·ml−1·m−2, an increase identical to that seen in normothermic alkalosis. Thus, the mechanism of the alkalosis-induced increase in oxygen consumption is not suppressed by the decrease in\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) seen in hypothermia, and the increase in\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) appears to be a consequence of the change in relative alkalinity rather than the increase in pH.
Xanthan Stability at Elevated Temperatures

Xanthan stability is examined to define more clearly the polymer's temperature limitations as a mobility-control agent. Experiments were performed to probe the relative importance of hydrolysis, oxidation, and helix-coil transitions in xanthan degradation. In the absence of oxidizing agents (i.e., dissolved oxygen), results indicate that free-radical, oxidation/reduction reactions are not the dominant mechanism for xanthan degradation. Depending on the pH, acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and base-catalyzed fragmentation reactions may play important roles. With Arrhenius calculations, it was estimated that under ideal conditions (no dissolved oxygen, pH 7 to 8, and moderate to high salinities), a xanthan solution could maintain at least half of its original viscosity for a period of 5 years if the temperature does not exceed 75 to 80{degrees}C (167 to 176{degrees}F). New polymers will be needed for chemical floods where xanthan does not have sufficient stability.
Incidental Variants Are Critical for Genomics

The topic of incidental variants detected through exome and genome sequencing is controversial, both in clinical practice and in research. The arguments for and against the deliberate analysis and return of incidental variants focus on issues of clinical validity, clinical utility, autonomy, clinical and research infrastructure and costs, and, in the research arena, therapeutic misconception. These topics are briefly reviewed and an argument is made that these variants are the future of genomic medicine. As a field, we should take full advantage of all opportunities to study these variants by searching them out, returning them to patients and research participants, and studying their utility for predictive medicine.
GABA accumulating neurons are relatively resistant to chronic hypoxia in vitro: An autoradiographic study

Abstract Whether there is preferential loss of certain types of nerve cells or specific cellular functions after hypoxic or ischemie insults remains unclear. To evaluate this phenomenon in vitro, the vulnerability of GABAergic neurons to hypoxia was investigated both quantitatively and with autoradiography. Immature neuronal cortical cultures obtained from fetal mice were subjected to chronic hypoxia (5% O 2 ) for 24 h or 48 h and then returned to the normoxic condition for 48 h. The shorter hypoxic exposure resulted in significantly reduced numbers of neurons in comparison to the longer exposure and also to controls (29% and 26%, respectively; p p
Intratemporal facial nerve anastomosis : a temporal bone study

The temporal bone findings in a patient who suffered a transverse temporal bone fracture and subsequently underwent intratemporal facial nerve anastomosis are presented. The patient returned a year after surgery with otorrhea and partial return of facial function that was documented clinically, and by electromyograph 12 days before death. The temporal bone shows breakdown of the posterior external canal wall and infection of the surgical cavity. At the facial nerve anastomosis, there is a fibrosis and lack of myelination in the few regenerating nerve fibers. These results demonstrate a seldom-mentioned complication of the translabyrinthine approach, and suggest changes in the technique of facial nerve anastomosis to improve the results.
Finite element analysis based model to study the electric field distribution and leakage current in PV modules under high voltage bias

The maximum system voltage for Photovoltaic systems is 1000 V in US. Some modules are designed to operate even at 1500 V, which is the limit for IEC low voltage systems. The high voltage bias between the cell circuit and frame of the module leads to a leakage current flowing through the insulation of the module to the ground. Over time, this leakage current causes migration of various species to and from the cell circuit, can result in slow degradation of the performance of PV module. It is important to understand the electric field distribution and leakage current pathways in the PV modules in order to study the system voltage induced degradation of PV modules. The leakage current from the PV modules deployed outdoor and under high voltage bias strongly varies with the environmental conditions. The lumped resistance models described in literature that attempt to explain the leakage current flow through the PV module do not provide adequate information about the distribution of leakage current through different layers of insulation present in the PV modules. In this paper, a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based model for the insulation of PV module is described. It yields useful information about the distribution of electric field, potential and leakage current flowing through different layers of module. The model is also used to predict and analyze the changes in leakage current with changes in module packaging materials and grounding configurations.
Attitude and translation control of a low-altitude Gravsat

Dynamic simulation of the Gravsat's attitude and translation control system is used to provide an upper bound for the fuel supply and test the feasibility of the preliminary design. A preliminary design is made for the disturbance compensation system (DISCOS) sensor, the thruster control laws, reaction wheel control laws, and the onboard state estimators. The sensor analysis and noise measurements show no problems in scaling the Triad navigation satellite sensor design up to meet the Gravsat requirements, except for proof mass center-of-mass offset. A promising technique is proposed to measure and eliminate this error. The covariance analysis confirms that a sophisticated post-flight data fit will be necessary to reconstruct a scientifically useful proof mass state. The DISCOS sensor will have to be continuously calibrated from the inflight data to achieve this reconstruction.
A single nucleotide deletion in exon 2 produces a novel null allele, HLA‐DRB1*01:33N

A single nucleotide deletion in codon 12 of the human leukocyte antigen HLA-DRB1*01 results in a novel null allele, DRB1*01:33N.
Current chemotherapy for glioblastoma.

INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma multiforme continues to be associated with a dismal prognosis, despite aggressive therapy. What limited therapeutic impact that has been made has come via multimodality treatment in which chemotherapy plays an important role. In this manuscript, we review current chemotherapy options for glioblastomas. METHODS The current literature concerning glioblastoma multiforme chemotherapy was reviewed. In addition to a review of landmark references, a MEDLINE search of the literature published from January 2000 to November 2002 was performed using the key words “chemotherapy AND malignant glioma” and limiting responses to clinical trials. RESULTS Several cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents that are efficacious in treating glioblastoma are in common clinical use. These can be classified as first-line or second-line agents, depending on their efficacy. In addition, cytostatic chemotherapy agents are beginning to play a role in glioblastoma treatment. Finally, new methods to deliver high chemotherapy doses to brain tumors hold promise for future therapies. CONCLUSIONS Despite the overall poor prognosis of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, multimodality treatment and chemotherapy in particular improve outcome, and chemotherapeutic options are beginning to have an increased impact. Strategies currently in clinical trials may improve this impact more in the future.
A thermosphere composition measurement using a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a side energy focusing quasi‐open ion source

The atomic oxygen concentration in the altitude range 130 to 240 km was determined through the use of a quadrupole spectrometer with a strongly focussing ion source. The instrument is used in the Thermosphere Probe in a manner that greatly increases the proportion of measured oxygen ions that have not experienced a surface collision and permits quantitative evaluation of surface recombination and thermalization effects which inevitably enter all spectrometer determinations. The data obtained strengthen the concept that consideration of surface effects is significant in quantifying spectrometer measurements of reactive gases, and tend to be in agreement with von Zahn's recent results.
Topical Tretinoin Increases the Tropoelastin and Fibronectin Content of Photoaged Hairless Mouse Skin

Topical tretinoin treatment of photoaged hairless mice has been shown in previous studies to stimulate formation of a subepidermal zone of new connective tissue characterized by enhanced collagen synthesis. The aims of this study were to localize and/or quantify elastin, fibronectin, and glycosaminoglycans in the same model. Hairless mice (Skh-1) were irradiated thrice weekly for 10 weeks with gradually increasing doses of ultraviolet (up to 4.5 minimal erythema doses per exposure) from Westinghouse FS-40 bulbs. Mice were then treated five times a week with either 0.05% tretinoin, the ethanol:propylene glycol vehicle, or nothing for another 10 weeks. Controls included mice sacrificed after 10 weeks of ultraviolet treatment and age-matched untreated animals. The distribution of elastin and fibronectin was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy, which revealed fine fibrils In the subepidermal zone in tretinoin-treated skin. A quantitative slot-blot immunobinding assay showed that tretinoin induced a threefold higher amount of tropoelastin compared with controls. Insoluble elastin content (desmosine levels) was similar in all groups. Although fibronectin content was increased by ultraviolet radiation, tretinoin treatment induced the largest increase. In contrast, the amount of glycosaminoglycans, although increased by UVB radiation, was reduced by tretinoin treatment.
Printing, Publishing, and Reform in Tsarist Central Asia

Scholars have long noted, often with disapproval, the tardiness of the introduction of printing to the Muslim world, but the consequences of that introduction on the production, reproduction, and transmission of knowledge in Muslim societies are only now beginning to be understood. For instance, the numerous movements for modernist reform that arose in the Muslim world in the 19th century were all propagated through the medium of print, yet the connection between those movements and the availability of printing seldom has been investigated. This neglect is all the more surprising in view of the fact that historians of early modern Europe have long emphasized the signal role played by printing in Europe's transition to modernity. In her influential work, Elizabeth Eisenstein has written of a “printing revolution” unleashed by the invention and rapid dissemination of the technology in 15th-century Europe. There is, for Eisenstein, something inherent in the very nature of printing that revolutionizes the intellectual outlook of individuals and cultures with which it comes in contact. In a different vein, Benedict Anderson has pointed to the importance of “print capitalism” in creating a sense of shared community in the 19th century that made possible the rise of national ism in many parts of the world.
Fixed-point theories on noncompact manifolds

This paper gives three noncompact variants of Lefschetz–Nielsen fixed-point theory parallel to developments that have occurred in surgery theory. Thus, we study when a proper map can be properly homotoped, or boundedly homotoped, or even homotoped in a C r bounded fashion to a fixed-point free map. As an example, the universal cover of a compact aspherical manifold always has a fixed-point free self-diffeomorphism C r close to the identity for all r (although this is not the case, in general, for arbitrary infinite covers of such manifolds, or general universal covers).
Thermoacoustic waves in a semi-infinite medium

Abstract The generation and transmission of planar, thermoacoustic (TAC) waves by the heating of a quiescent, isothermal, semi-infinite, gaseous medium's boundary is investigated theoretically. For step and gradual changes in the boundary temperature of a Pr = 3 4 gas, long- and short-time asymptotes are derived for the pressure, velocity and temperature fields and for the wall heat flux. Then the method of Laplace transform with numerical inversion is used to solve the linearized equations for general wall heating conditions. By comparing the Laplace transform predictions with the asymptotic results and with experimental data, the numerical scheme is verified and found to be highly accurate. Finally, the nonlinear equations are solved numerically to assess their effect on wave characteristics and to determine the conditions under which the linear approximation is adequate.
Impact of dense genetic marker maps on plant population genetic studies

Recent work and publications in human population genetics involving very dense SNP datasets suggest that the use of these markers will become common in plant breeding. The experience of human geneticists futher suggests that attention will need to be paid to the very high degree of genomic heterogeneity of population genetic measures such as genetic diversity. Dense marker sets will also allow more precision of estimates of relatedness between individual plants or pure-breeding lines.
Hygrothermal effects upon stress relaxation in a polyimide film

Polyimide films are being used extensively in first and second level microelec-tronic packages. Despite their many advantages, the tendency of polyimide films to absorb moisture can pose serious reliability problems such as corrosion, internal shorts, delamination, loss in dimensional stability, and a reduction in mechanical performance. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the effects of moisture upon stress relaxation in Kapton#x00AE; polyimide films. Three relaxation frames were designed and built so that they could be placed side by side within an environmental chamber which controlled both temperature and relative humidity. Stress relaxation experiments were then conducted in triplicate at various combinations of temperature and relative humidity and the relaxation modulus was determined as a function of time, temperature, and moisture concentration. While the relaxation modulus was found to decrease with increasing temperature and moisture concentration, this plasticizing effect could not be described by the simplifying assumption of time-temperature-moisture superposition except for those results obtained at or below 50% relative humidity. Application of the time-temperature superposition principle to the results obtained at relative humidities higher than 50% produced several distinct master curves at constant moisture concentration. These curves had fundamentally different shapes which could not be superimposed by rigid horizontal shifting.
The Causes of the Second World War in Europe: A New Scientific Explanation

Few political scientists have attempted to apply general theories of war to explain specific cases. This analysis takes a new and non-realist explanation of war derived from a review of quantitative peace research conducted in the last thirty years to identify the general causes of the Second World War in Europe. Two causal paths to war are theoret- ically delineated as typical of a pattern associated with the onset of world war: one that centers around the use of power politics to resolve territo- rial disputes, and a second that makes the initial interstate war expand to include more and more actors. It has been over fifty years since the Second World War ended, and while historians have spent a great deal of energy explaining the origins of that war, political scien- tists in comparison have devoted little attention to explaining its onset in terms of more general explanations of war. In this article, I seek to identify the causes of the Second World War in Europe by applying a new general explanation of world wars. Rather than explain the origins of the war primarily in terms of specific events, I will attempt to develop a scientific explanation by showing how the Second World War followed a pattern of behavior roughly consistent with other wars of its type. Within international relations, not much consideration has been given to whether we can explain specific wars scientifically. Nor is it obvious, precisely, what that would mean and entail. In the physical sciences, particular events are explained all the time. Hempel (1966: 51) argues that scientific explanation of individual events involves applying a "covering law." While Hempel has been challenged on various grounds (e.g., Ringer, 1989), the obvious place to start is his notion that scientific explanation involves applying a general theory of the class of events to a specific event in history. One of the functions of a good theory is that it should be able to account for the fundamental and often underlying causes of specific cases, such as individual wars. Since causal inferences can logically only be made by comparing across cases, a general theory of war that has been tested and corroborated provides
The Price and Profit Performance of Leading Food Chains

The net profits and grocery prices of large food chains were found to be positively and significantly related to market concentration and a chain's relative market share. The results refute the notion that higher profits for dominant firms in concentrated markets are due to efficiency and lower costs. Increased profits in noncompetitively structured markets accounted for about one-third of the increase in prices. Higher retailer costs in noncompetitive markets appear to stem from inefficiencies and cost increasing forms of competition. This paper reports the results of an analysis of the relationships between the market structure in which food chains operate and their profit and price performance. The analysis was made possible because of an unusually rich body of data collected by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) of the U.S. Congress. The then chairman of the JEC, the late Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, requested that the authors analyze these data for the committee. This paper reports the major findings of the study, including some results not included in the original analysis and clarifications of several questions raised by some reviewers of the JEC report.'
Transmission-mode diamond white-beam position monitor at NSLS.

Two transmission-mode diamond X-ray beam position monitors installed at National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) beamline X25 are described. Each diamond beam position monitor is constructed around two horizontally tiled electronic-grade (p.p.b. nitrogen impurity) single-crystal (001) CVD synthetic diamonds. The position, angle and flux of the white X-ray beam can be monitored in real time with a position resolution of 500 nm in the horizontal direction and 100 nm in the vertical direction for a 3 mm × 1 mm beam. The first diamond beam position monitor has been in operation in the white beam for more than one year without any observable degradation in performance. The installation of a second, more compact, diamond beam position monitor followed about six months later, adding the ability to measure the angular trajectory of the photon beam.
Nitric oxide blocks inflammatory cytokine secretion triggered by CD23 in monocytes from allergic, asthmatic patients and healthy controls

Background In allergic asthma, monocytes/macrophages may be activated to produce inflammatory cytokines through triggering of the low-affinity IgE receptor (CD23). Elevated airway levels of nitric oxide (NO) are associated with asthmatic exacerbations. Our previous work suggested that NO may function in an anti-inflammatory capacity by downregulating endotoxin-stimulated cytokine production by alveolar macrophages and matured monocytes. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of NO on CD23-triggered cytokine production by monocytes from asthmatic patients and healthy controls. Methods Monocytes were obtained from normal volunteers (n = 13) and asthmatic patients with atopy (n = 8). Monocyte cultures were treated with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for 24 hours to upregulate CD23 expression. Cultures were stimulated by anti-CD23 and treated with DETA NONOate [2,2-(hydroxynitrosohydrazonon)-bis-ethanamine] releases NO in culture with t 1/2 of 20 hours at 37°C for 24 hours. Cell free culture supernatants were collected and assayed by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay for macrophage inflammatory protein-1-α (MIP-1) and IL-6. Results NO inhibits MIP-1 secretion triggered by CD23 activation of IL-4- and GM-CSF-matured monocytes (percentage of MIP-1 suppression=52 ± 11 of monocytes from asthmatic patients; percentage=55 ± 8 healthy controls). The inhibitory effect of NO was not cytokine-specific, as similar results were obtained with IL-6 (50 ± 9% IL-6 suppression, asthmatic patients; 66 ± 20%, healthy controls). Conclusions The results demonstrate for the first time an inhibitory effect of NO on cytokine production stimulated by CD23 receptor activation. We suggest that NO may be upregulated as a potent anti-inflammatory agent in the asthmatic lung.
Effect of ionic strength and pH on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from pig kidney cortex

Abstract The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) purified from pig kidney cortex is sensitive to changes in ionic strength (μ). At low ionic strength (μ = 0.04 m ) the specific activity of PDC was 12.22 μmol/min/mg, whereas at high ionic strength (μ = 0.15 m ) the measured activity of the complex decreased to 4.88 μmol/min/mg. The optimum activity of PDC was achieved within a small range of ionic strength, μ = 0.035 – 0.040 m . Increasing the ionic strength from μ = 0.05 to μ = 0.15 m decreased the s 0.5 for pyruvate from 125 to 72 μ m and increased the Hill coefficient from 1.0 to 1.3. The effect of pH on PDC activity also was dependent upon ionic strength. At pH 7.2 the activity of PDC at μ = 0.05 and μ = 0.15 m was 90 and 55% of the maximal activity, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of Na + , K + , HCO 3 − , Cl − , and HPO 4 2− on PDC activity were dependent on ionic strength and pH. The addition of K + (80 m m ) at μ = 0.10 and μ = 0.15 m increased the activity of PDC by 12 and 42%, respectively. Lowering the pH from 8.2 to 7.5 resulted in a decrease in the s 0.5 for pyruvate from 179 to 110 μ m and from 110 to 35 μ m in the presence and absence of K + (80 m m ), Na + (20 m m ), Cl − (20 m m ), HCO 3 − (20 m m ), and HPO 4 2− (10 m m ), respectively. The observed changes in the properties of PDC in response to changes in ionic strength likely was a result of changes in the intramolecular electrostatic interactions within the complex. In this regard it was determined using two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis of the intact multienzyme complex that increasing the ionic strength to which PDC is exposed decreased the measured radius of PDC and may have decreased the electronegative surface charge of the complex.
Surgical considerations in treating sensorineural hearing loss with acute and chronic otitis media

Sensorineural hearing loss, especially of high frequencies, can be an important sequela of both acute and chronic otitis media. Recent studies of this phenomenon by various associates of our laboratory and clinic are briefly reviewed. Two illustrative case studies are presented. The first, involving acute purulent otitis media, showed both temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold shift (PTS). The second case was a teenager with intractable chronic otitis media and mastoiditis and severe labyrinthine symptoms that were ameliorated with a "flexible" surgical approach. Surgical tips used to deal with this problem are presented.
A regulatory component of adenylate cyclase is located on the inner surface of human erythrocyte membranes

Summary Human erythrocyte membranes contain the guanine nucleotide regulatory component of adenylate cyclase termed N, which can be assayed by in vitro complementation of adenylate cyclase in membranes of the cyc − variant of the S49 lymphoma cell. We used inside-out (IO) and rightside-out (RO) membrane vesicles to determine the membrane orientation of N: Trypsin inactivates N in IO but not in RO vesicles. Treatment with cholera toxin and NAD + activates N in IO but not in RO vesicles. These experiments provide strong evidence that N is located on the inner surface of the human erythrocyte membrane.