cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smoking patterns of Asian-American youth in California and their relationship with acculturation

Abstract Purpose: To examine patterns of smoking behavior among subgroups of Asian-American youth in California and their relationship with acculturation status. Methods: Data were from the 1990–1996 California Tobacco Survey and the California Youth Tobacco Survey, which assessed smoking-related attitudes and behaviors among California youth in grades 7–12. Among the 20,482 respondents, 1,810 were Asian-Americans. Variables assessed included lifetime smoking prevalence, 30-day smoking prevalence, and age of smoking onset. Acculturation status was assessed with measures of English usage, language spoken at home, and age at immigration to the United States. Results: Of the 1,810 Asian-Americans (52% male), 19% were Chinese, 33% Filipino, 8% Japanese, 13% Korean, and 26% other Asian-Americans. Lifetime smoking prevalence was 16.1% for Asians and 26.1% for non-Asians. The 30-day smoking rate was 6.9% for Asians and 14.2% for non-Asians. Subgroup-specific analyses revealed differences in lifetime smoking prevalence (18.9% for Filipinos, 17.3% for Japanese, 16.3 % for Koreans, 11.0% for Chinese, and 13.7% for other Asian-Americans) and 30-day smoking rate (8.6% for Filipinos, 8.3% for Koreans, 7.4% for Japanese, 2.8% for Chinese, and 7.2% for other Asian-Americans). Gender differences in lifetime smoking prevalence varied by Asian subgroup; smoking prevalence was higher among males than among females for Chinese and Koreans, but smoking prevalence was higher among females than among males for Japanese and other Asians. The average age of smoking onset was 12.9 years for Asians and 12.8 years for non-Asians. Age of smoking onset differed among Asian-American subgroups but did not differ by gender. In addition, smoking behaviors of the Asian respondents were significantly associated with their acculturation status. Conclusions: Asian-American youth have relatively lower smoking rates and later age of smoking onset than non-Asian youth in California. In addition, subgroups of Asian-American youth vary widely in their smoking behavior. High levels of acculturation among Asian-American youth are associated with higher smoking prevalence rates and earlier age of smoking onset. Society for Adolescent Health, 1998
Aerobic exercise, psychological well‐being, and physical discomforts during adolescent pregnancy

The effects of participation in a 6-week aerobic exercise program (AEP) on pregnant adolescents' depression, self-esteem, and physical discomforts of pregnancy were examined. The sample was comprised of 58 ethnically diverse subjects ranging in age from 14 to 20 years. Subjects in the AEP were observed to have a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over time and an increase in total self-esteem; those in the comparison group reported a significant increase in physical discomforts associated with pregnancy. These findings suggest that exercise programs such as the AEP should be considered an important aspect of prenatal self-care for healthy pregnant adolescents.
Frontal plane configuration of the knee in children

During childhood the knee has been described to undergo a swing in the frontal plane from varus to valgus and then back towards neutral. The contention of a number of workers is that these frontal plane alterations are normal physiological changes and that when the child begins to stand this pendulum mechanism is needed to equalize physeal growth about the knee. This article examines the literature on the subject of physiological genu valgum and genu varum in children.
COLD-PCR enhanced melting curve analysis improves diagnostic accuracy for KRAS mutations in colorectal carcinoma

Background KRAS mutational analysis is the standard of care prior to initiation of treatments targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Sensitive methods are required to reliably detect KRAS mutations in tumor samples due to admixture with non-mutated cells. Many laboratories have implemented sensitive tests for KRAS mutations, but the methods often require expensive instrumentation and reagents, parallel reactions, multiple steps, or opening PCR tubes.
Separation of niobium and tantalum by reaction of the metal pentachlorides with calcium oxide and calcium fluoride

Abstract A study of the reactions of the gaseous pentachlorides of niobium and tantalum with calcium fluoride, calcium oxide, and calcium fluoride coated with calcium oxide showed that niobium could not be separated from tantalum merely by reaction of the mixed pentachlorides with pure calcium fluoride. Each of the pentachlorides reacted at nearly equal rates to form non-volatile compounds. However, it was found that a mixture of the pentachlorides could be separated by reaction with calcium fluoride coated with calcium oxide. A volatile niobium product containing less than 0.02% tantalum from an initial 50 wt.% mixture resulted with a yield of 75% of the niobium fed. The separation is attributed to differences in the stabilities of the oxytrichlorides of niobium and tantalum. The oxytrichlorides are formed by reaction of the pentachlorides with calcium oxide; the tantalum oxychloride is unstable and quickly decomposes to the non-volatile oxide. Niobium oxytrichloride, however, is relatively stable and does not react at a significant rate with the surface calcium oxide. The yield of niobium was increased to more than 90% with no loss in purity by initially reacting the mixed pentachlorides with calcium oxide to provide a niobium oxytrichloride-rich feed to the calcium oxide-coated calcium fluoride.
Selective photothermal therapy for mixed cancer cells using aptamer-conjugated nanorods.

Safe and effective photothermal therapy depends on efficient delivery of heat for killing cells and molecular specificity for targeting cells. To address these requirements, we have designed an aptamer-based nanostructure which combines the high absorption efficiency of Au−Ag nanorods with the target specificity of molecular aptamers, a combination resulting in the development of an efficient and selective therapeutic agent for targeted cancer cell photothermal destruction. Most nanomaterials, such as gold nanoshells or nanorods (NRs), require a relatively high power of laser irradiation (1 × 105−1 × 1010 W/m2). In contrast, the high absorption characteristic of our Au−Ag NRs requires only 8.5 × 104 W/m2 laser exposure to induce 93 (±11)% cell death of NR-aptamer-labeled cells. Aptamers, the second component of the nanostructure, are generated from a cell-SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) process and can be easily selected for specific recognition of individual tumor cell t...
Stability analysis of the G-algorithm and a note on its application to sparse least squares problems

The G-algorithm was proposed by Bareiss [1] as a method for solving the weighted linear least squares problem. It is a square root free algorithm similar to the fast Givens method except that it triangularizes a rectangular matrix a column at a time instead of one element at a time.
Polarized Raman spectroscopy of double-stranded RNA from bacteriophage phi6: local Raman tensors of base and backbone vibrations

Raman tensors for localized vibrations of base (A, U, G, and C), ribose and phosphate groups of double-stranded RNA have been determined from polarized Raman measurements on oriented fibers of the genomic RNA of bacteriophage phi6. Polarized Raman intensities for which electric vectors of both the incident and scattered light are polarized either perpendicular (I[bb]) or parallel (I[cc]) to the RNA fiber axis have been obtained by Raman microspectroscopy using 514.5-nm excitation. Similarly, the polarized Raman components, I(bc) and I(cb), for which incident and scattered vectors are mutually perpendicular, have been obtained. Spectra collected from fibers maintained at constant relative humidity in both H2O and D2O environments indicate the effects of hydrogen-isotopic shifts on the Raman polarizations and tensors. Novel findings are the following: 1) the intense Raman band at 813 cm(-1), which is assigned to phosphodiester (OPO) symmetrical stretching and represents the key marker of the A conformation of double-stranded RNA, is characterized by a moderately anisotropic Raman tensor; 2) the prominent RNA band at 1101 cm(-1), which is assigned to phosphodioxy (PO2-) symmetrical stretching, also exhibits a moderately anisotropic Raman tensor. Comparison with results obtained previously on A, B, and Z DNA suggests that tensors for localized vibrations of backbone phosphodiester and phosphodioxy groups are sensitive to helix secondary structure and local phosphate group environment; and 3) highly anisotropic Raman tensors have been found for prominent and well-resolved Raman markers of all four bases of the RNA duplex. These enable the use of polarized Raman spectroscopy for the determination of purine and pyrimidine base residue orientations in ribonucleoprotein assemblies. The present determination of Raman tensors for dsRNA is comprehensive and accurate. Unambiguous tensors have been deduced for virtually all local vibrational modes of the 300–1800 cm(-1) spectral interval. The results provide a reliable basis for future evaluations of the effects of base pairing, base stacking, and sequence context on the polarized Raman spectra of nucleic acids.
Thrombosis and Hemostasis in Cardiology: Review of Pathophysiology and Clinical Practice (Part I):

The adverse consequences of thrombosis are per haps nowhere more evident than in clinical cardiology. Throm bosis and hemostasis are primary issues in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation, prosthetic heart valves, severe left ventricular dysfunction, and coronary artery disease. Clini cal trials have defined a crucial role for anticoagulation with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation to reduce the inci dence of stroke. Anticoagulation with warfarin and aspirin in combination offers significant protection from systemic emboli in patients with mechanical prosthetic valves, without a sub stantial increased risk of hemorrhage. The risk of systemic emboli may also be reduced by anticoagulation in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Disturbance of the normal balance of hemostasis is a major factor in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease. Antiplatelet therapy, antithrombin agents, anticoagulants, and fibrinolytic agents have been used to prevent and treat acute co...
Proton conductance by the gramicidin water wire. Model for proton conductance in the F1F0 ATPases

The gramicidin channel contains a single strand of water molecules associated through hydrogen bonds. Previous work has shown that channels of similar size are formed by association of transmembrane alpha helices of synthetic leucine-serine peptides. Both types of channels translocate protons with considerable selectivity relative to other cations, and it has been proposed that the selectivity arises by proton "hopping" along hydrogen-bonded chains of water, whereas other cations must cross by ordinary diffusion processes. It is possible that a similar mechanism underlies proton transport in the Fo subunit of the F1F0 ATP synthase. Using the gramicidin channel as a model, we have tested whether a single strand of water is kinetically competent to translocate protons at a rate sufficient to support known rates of ATP synthesis. We found that the gramicidin channel saturates at approximately 530 pS of protonic current in 4 M HCl, more than sufficient for typical ATP synthesis rates. It follows that proton diffusion to a putative channel in Fo, rather than the channel itself, may limit ATP synthesis rates.
Blonanserin reverses the phencyclidine (PCP)-induced impairment in novel object recognition (NOR) in rats: Role of indirect 5-HT1A partial agonism

Blonanserin is an atypical antipsychotic drug (APD) which, compared to other atypical APDs, is a relatively selective serotonin (5-HT)2A and dopamine D2 antagonist. Comparing blonanserin with more broadly acting atypical APDs could be useful to test the contributions of actions at other monoamine receptors, e.g. 5-HT1A receptors, to the reversal of PCP-induced novel object recognition (NOR) deficit. In this study, we tested the effect of blonanserin alone, and in combination with 5-HT1A agents, on NOR deficit induced by subchronic treatment with the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP; 2 mg/kg), b.i.d., for 7 days. Blonanserin, 1mg/kg, but not 0.3mg/kg, improved the PCP-induced NOR deficit. However, at 1mg/kg, object exploration was diminished. Co-administration of sub-effective doses of blonanserin (0.3 mg/kg) and the 5-HT1A partial agonist, tandospirone (0.2 mg/kg), significantly reversed the NOR deficit without diminishing activity during the acquisition or retention periods. The combination of WAY100635 (0.6 mg/kg), a 5-HT1A antagonist, and blonanserin (1 mg/kg), also diminished object exploration which prevented assessment of the effect of this combination on NOR. WAY100635 (0.6 mg/kg) blocked the ameliorating effect of risperidone (0.1 mg/kg), another atypical APD with low affinity for 5-HT1A receptors, but did not impair exploration. These results suggest that blonansein and risperidone, atypical APDs which lack a direct action on 5-HT1A receptors require 5-HT1A receptor stimulation to reverse the subchronic PCP-induced NOR deficit and provide a support for clinical trial of blonanserin in combination with tandospirone to ameliorate cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and to have fewer side effects.
Channel-adaptive video transmission using H.264 SVC over mobile WiMAX network

The quality of video transmission over mobile worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network can be severely degraded due to the effect of fading and handoff. To cope with this problem, we propose a channel-adaptive video transmission method using H.264 scalable video coding (SVC) in this paper, which not only dynamically extracts the layer of bit stream based on the available channel bandwidth (ACBW), but also minimizes the error propagation during handoff. Firstly, the ACBW and the handoff in the mobile WiMAX are estimated by analyzing channel parameters including the carrier to interference and noise ratio (CINR). Secondly, the streaming server extracts the next transmission layer according to the estimated ACBW to support the better quality and controls the smart frame skipping adaptively based on the handoff detection. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can improve the performance of the video streaming over mobile WiMAX network.
Role of Urodynamics in the Evaluation of Elderly Voiding Dysfunction

Voiding dysfunction is a common condition in the elderly that can affect both men and women. Due to the age-associated changes in the lower urinary tract, voiding dysfunction in the elderly is usually complex and multifactorial, necessitating more objective testing sometimes. In this chapter, we will focus on the role of urodynamics in the setting of voiding dysfunction in the elderly. The term voiding dysfunction will be used to refer both to storage and obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms.
Optofluidic microscope: a complete on-chip imaging device

This paper reports a complete on-chip high resolution lensless imaging device based on the optofluidic microscopy method, which can form a vital optical microscopy component in a wide range of lab-on-a-chip systems. This imaging device does not use any lens elements and yet is capable of resolution comparable to that of a conventional microscope with a 20× objective. We demonstrate the use of the device for Caenorhabditis elegans and microsphere imaging at a resolution of ~ 1 μm with an imaging time of ~2 sec. The fabrication of this on-chip imaging device is fully compatible with existing semiconductor and microfluidic technologies, so the device can be massively fabricated and integrated into microsystems to form compact and low-cost total analysis systems for biological and colloidal studies.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dynamic response of shell type structures subjected to impulsive mechanical and thermal loadings

Abstract In order to achieve better understanding of impulsive loading effects on shell structures, a dynamic response analysis method is developed using continuous shell elements as the mathematical model. The present work is limited to the consideration of linear elastic effects. The extension to stability problems in terms of the bifurcation points of the static equilibrium, to the inelastic response, and to the postbuckled mode shape analysis based on geometric nonlinearities is being considered as the continuation of the present work. The modal approach is used for the response analysis. An original method, capable of handling large numbers of branched shells, is developed for the analysis of free vibration modes and frequencies. Hamilton's principle, suitably modified to consider the thermal effects, is employed for the analysis of the dynamic response. Static analysis (to be covered in a separate paper) for asymmetric loadings is a by-product of the present analysis. While the building blocks of the dynamic analysis are the mode shapes of free vibration of the axisymmetric shell model, the response definition is such that structural and mass non-symmetries can be included. The method as outlined here is very general in nature, and efficient for practical applications. At present it is used for the analysis of the dynamic structural response of missiles and re-entry space vehicles, and as well for the analysis of nuclear reactor vessels and internals subjected to axisymmetric time dependent thermal and mechanical loadings.
Investigation of the effects of upstream sidewall boundary-layer removal on a supercritical airfoil

Sidewall boundary-layer effects have been investigated by applying partial upstream sidewall boundary-layer removal in the Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. Over the range of sidewall boundary-layer displacement thickness of these tests the influence on pressure distributions was found to be small for subcritical conditions; however, for supercritical conditions the shock position was affected by the sidewall boundary layer. For these tests, with and without boundary-layer removal, comparisons with predictions of the GRUMFOIL computer code indicated that Mach number corrections due to the sidewall boundary layer improves the agreement for both subcritical and supercritical conditions. The results show the necessity for accounting for sidewall effects even when the top and bottom wall effects are small.
Inelastic scattering of neutrons from medium and heavy nuclei

Abstract The 90° energy spectra of neutrons scattered inelastically from 23 medium and heavy elements from Zr to U have been observed for incident neutron energies of 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 6.5 MeV, using time-of-flight techniques. The results of the investigation are as follows: (1) the Fermi gas model, with constant level density coefficient, describes the data reasonably well for nuclei between closed shells when pairing energy corrections are made. (2) For nuclei near the shell closures at N = 82, Z = 82 and N = 126, the nuclear temperatures are nearly constant over the range of excitation energies studied, and therefore the level density coefficients increase with excitation energy. (3) There is a general agreement between the experimentally determined values of the Fermi gas model level density coefficient and theoretical predictions, although the overall increase of level density coefficient with mass number does not appear to be as great as predicted by a simplified equidistant-spacing model.
Optimal Stopping in a Discrete Search Problem

In a search among m locations for an object possibly hidden in one, we are given prior probabilities of location pi, searching costs ci, and overlook probabilities αi. It is known also that an "unsearchable" location contains the object with prior probability p0, and, in addition, a penalty cost C is charged if the search is terminated unsuccessfully. Although an optimal search strategy for the problem is known, the best stopping rule is not. Under a certain constraint on C, independent of the prior probabilities pi, the optimal stopping rule is shown to be determined by the optimal m-stage look-ahead strategy.
FTTH look ahead — technologies & architectures

We review the trade-offs, challenges and potentials of various FTTH architecture options. Cedric F. Lam Network Architect, Google FTTH Look Ahead Technologies & Architectures Google’s Mission To organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful Outline • Introduction – Content-driven Internet Transformation – Google Fiber Project • FTTH Architectures & Challenges – Technology options – Network design considerations and challenges – Next generation FTTH evolution • Applications • Conclusion – call to action Google Confidential and Proprietary Introduction Internet Becoming More Content-Centric • Tier-1 Global Core • Commoditization of IP hosting/CDN Textbook Internet 1995-2007 Internet Today Ref: C. Labovitz et al: ATLAS Internet Observatory 2009 Annual Report. http://www.nanog.org/meetings/nanog47/presentations/Monday/Labovitz_ObserveReport_N47_Mon.pdf
Accessory obturator nerves with bilateral pseudoganglia in man

During the routine dissection of the pelvis and anterior thigh of an adult female cadaver, accessory obturator nerves were found bilaterally with pseudoganglia. In addition, each accessory obturator nerve rejoined the anterior division of the normally placed obturator nerves after traveling superficial to the pubic bones. Histological sections revealed primarily normal nerve with no neuronal cell bodies within these focal areas of enlargement. No inflammatory response was noted in these histologically normal peripheral nerve structures. Further gross anatomy including other peripheral nerves was found to be normal. Peripheral nerve "ganglia" are found in the literature with little focus on histology. Our case report represents to our knowledge, the first report of a pseudoganglion in association with an accessory obturator nerve.
Constitutive expression of high levels of prostate-specific antigen in the absence of prostate carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives To identify distinguishing serologic features in patients with stable marked elevation in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and multiple negative biopsies. Methods The study population consisted of 7 patients with a stable PSA level of greater than 20 ng/mL (average 27.0), followed for at least 34 months (average 56), and with two or more negative prostatic biopsies including transition zone biopsies. The PSA density (PSAD), rate of change in PSA, reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR), and free/total PSA were obtained. Results Rate of change in PSA level was stable (0.18 ± 1.2 ng/mL/yr), suggesting that there was no occult cancer; PSAD was high (0.34 ± 0.5 ng/mL/cc), indicating that prostate size was not the sole cause of the elevation. The RT/PCR was negative in 6 of 7 patients, further decreasing the likelihood of an occult malignancy. Free versus total PSA was not consistent, averaging 16.8%, but with a range of 6% to 34%. Conclusions Novel PSA tests were not found to be useful in this cohort of patients with multiple negative biopsies and PSA elevations greater than 20 ng/mL. Additional studies with larger sample size are required to confirm this finding.
Advances in the treatment of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease.

The randomized trial of risperidone, placebo, and haloperidol for behavioral symptoms in dementia reported by De Deyn et al. in this issue of Neurology provides critically important information on the use of risperidone and haloperidol in the treatment of behavioral abnormalities in patients with dementia.1 Behavioral disturbances are an important manifestation of AD, including aggression, agitation, delusions, depression, anxiety, disinhibition, irritability, and apathy.2 Behavioral disturbances cause substantial patient distress, increase caregiver burden, and precipitate institutionalization of AD patients.3,4 There are few studies of the optimal management of behavioral disturbances in AD using psychotropic medications; controlled trials of medications for specific behavioral indications of AD are essential. The eight-country study by De Deyn et al. involved 344 patients with AD, vascular dementia, or AD plus cerebrovascular disease. The average age of the patients was 81 years and the average Mini-Mental State Examination scores in the three groups ranged from 7.9 to 8.8. The patients were all living in nursing homes, and the behavioral ratings used to assess the outcome of treatment were based on interviews of nursing staff by investigators trained to use the Behave-AD and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). The Behave-AD measures a variety of behavioral disturbances including psychosis, purposeless activity, aggression, mood disturbances, and anxiety. The CMAI measures verbal and physical aggression. Risperidone and haloperidol both reduced the Behave-AD total score and the Behave-AD aggression subscore …
A Microfluidic Cytometer for High-Throughput and Quantitative Single Cell Red Fluorescent Protein Photobleaching

Fluorescent proteins (FPs), given their tendency to convert to a non-radiative triplet state and/or undergo rapid photobleaching, remain sub-optimal for today's advanced microscopy techniques which require low-copy cellular expression, high laser intensities and prolonged imaging durations. To overcome these experimental limitations and address FP photobleaching, which is particularly problematic in orange/red emitting fluorescent proteins, we have developed an innovative microfluidic platform capable of screening 30 mammalian cells per second based upon FP photobleaching. More specifically, the fluorescence intensity of a single hydrodynamically focused cell (5 mm/s) expressing the FP of interest is probed before and after exposure to an intense 1 ms. photobleaching laser (≈ 300 kW/cm2). The resulting emission intensities are measured with excellent sensitivity and signal to noise, permitting the change in fluorescence intensity between the first and second probe beams to be measured with high accuracy. As a result, this platform has enabled us to make quantitative and high-throughput photobleaching measurements as well as differentiate a diverse mixture of red FPs (mOr2, DsRed, mCherry, TagRFP & TagRFP-T). These results provide promising potential for library-based sorting and, given the improved selection criteria, may permit vastly improved photostability in future generations of FP mutants.
The Flexibility Factor: Finding The Right Balance

Medicaid is financed with federal and state dollars and administered by states subject to certain federal rules. This design has strengths and weaknesses, and inherent tensions. Rising costs, state fiscal pressures, and new federal waiver policies have prompted some states to seek authority to use Medicaid dollars in ways that do not conform to current federal standards. These changes could have a sizable impact on the program and its beneficiaries. As federal and state roles and responsibilities are discussed, a range of options, including some that extend beyond Medicaid, will need to be considered to address the cost and resource issues that lie beneath much of the current debate.
The decay of 75Se

Abstract The gamma-ray spectrum associated with the electron capture decay of 75 Se has been studied with Ge(Li) spectrometers. Coincidence spectra were taken with a Ge(Li)Ge(Li) combination. The data do not support a recent report of several new gamma rays in the decay of 75 Se. Gamma-gamma angular correlation experiments were performed with a NaI(Tl)Ge(Li) combination. The value obtained for δ (280 keV) is in excellent agreement with one recently reported value but in poor agreement with another. The ratio P K / P tot for the electron capture branch to the 401 keV level of 75 As has been determined, and the result agrees with previous experimental determinations.
STUDENTJAMA. Medicine and spirituality.

STUDENTJAMA provides a forum for critical exchange on current issues in medical education, research, and practice. It is produced by a group of medical student editors in collaboration with the JAMA editorial staff and is published monthly. The content of STUDENTJAMA includes writing by medical students, physicians, and other researchers, as well as original medical student artwork and creative writing. The articles and viewpoints in STUDENTJAMA do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Medical Association or of JAMA. All submissions must be the original unpublished work of the author(s). All submitted work is subject to review and editing.
QTc Prolongation Due to Propranolol Overdose

Prolongation of the QTc interval (a QT interval that has been corrected for heart rate) increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, and is an important topic with regard to psychotropic medication. ...
Spatial variability of annual precipitation and ENSO events in western Peru.

Abstract The probability distributions of annual rainfall totals at 18 stations from north coastal Peru to the southern highlands and Altiplano are examined. Most stations exhibit high interannual variability which cannot be satisfactorily modelled by a single lognormal distribution. Indices of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) suggest that two precipitation regimes may be identified, the ENSO regime and the non-ENSO regime. Simple descriptive statistics of rainfalls within the two sub-samples indicate that during ENSO years the Altiplano and southern highland regions experience drought, with an average reduction of mean annual precipitation of 18%, while the north coastal region is receiving over 88% above non-ENSO rainfall. A mixed lognormal model of annual precipitation is successfully fitted at all stations. The estimated parameters reflect the contrasting response of the two regions to ENSO events. Pearson product-moment correlation matrices generated between stations for each subsample further...
High-accuracy, high-resolution gravity profiles from 2 years of the Geosat Exact Repeat Mission

Satellite altimeter data from the first 44 repeat cycles (2 years) of the Geosat Exact Repeat Mission (EWRM) were averaged to improve accuracy, resolution and coverage of the marine gravity field. Individual 17-day repeat cycles were first edited and differentiated, resulting in the along-track vertical deflection (i.e., gravity disturbance). To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, 44 of these cycles were then averaged to form a single highly accurate vertical deflection profile. The largest contribution to the vertical deflection error is short-wavelength altimeter noise and longer-wavelength oceanographic variability; the combined noise level is typically 6 microrad. Both types of noise are reduced by averaging many repeat cycles. Over most ocean areas the uncertainty of the average profile is less than 1 microrad which corresponds to 1 mgal of along-track gravity disturbance. However, in areas of seasonal ice coverage, its uncertainty can exceed 5 microrad. To assess the resolution of individual and average Geosat gravity profiles, the cross-spectral analysis technique was applied to repeat profiles. Individual Geosat repeat cycles are coherent (greater than 0.5) for wavelengths greater than about 30 km and become increasingly incoherent at shorter wavelengths.
Block diagonalization of the equation-of-motion coupled cluster effective Hamiltonian: Treatment of diabatic potential constants and triple excitations

We present a diabatization method applicable to spectroscopic studies based on Equation-of-Motion Coupled Cluster (EOM-CC) energies and biorthogonal wavefunctions that uses the Block Diagonalization (BD) approaches of Cederbaum et al. [L. S. Cederbaum, J. Schirmer, and H. D. Meyer, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 22, 2427 (1989)] and Domcke et al. [W. Domcke and C. Woywod, Chem. Phys. Lett. 216, 362 (1993); W. Domcke, C. Woywod, and M. Stengle, Chem. Phys. Lett. 226, 257 (1994)]. The method gives excellent agreement with coupling constants calculated using the analytic gradient approach of Ichino et al. [T. Ichino, J. Gauss, and J. F. Stanton, J. Chem. Phys. 130, 174105 (2009)]. While the BD method is a finite difference approach, it can be applied at any geometry, can generate (pointwise) diabatic potential energy surfaces, and can be used with EOM wavefunctions that include triple (or higher) excitations. The method is applied to several model systems and its sensitivity to orbital choice, excitation space, and projection space is explored.
Lung diseases in the tropics. Part 2: Common tropical lung diseases: diagnosis and management

This is the second of the two articles discussing clinical features, radiographic abnormalities, laboratory tests, pathogenesis and therapy of common tropical disorders affecting the lungs. We have arbitrarily selected the diseases, which are worldwide in distribution and demand urgency in addressing the problems of morbidity and mortality. The tropical physician is often reduced to administering pills, capsules or liquids. Our aim is to provide succinct and clear descriptions combining scientific information with common sense clinical wisdom.
A β-glucosidase in feline kidney that hydrolyzes amygdalin (Laetrile)

Abstract A β-glucosidase has been demonstrated in cat, rat, and rabbit kidney tissue that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of the terminal glucose residue of amygdalin (mandelonitrile-β-gentiobioside). The enzyme was partially purified from feline kidney and its properties were determined. Although the natural substrates for the enzyme are unknown at this time, this β-glucosidase requires an aryl or unsaturated alkyl aglycone moiety for catalytic function. The unusual species and tissue distribution of the enzyme have considerable implications for cancer chemotherapeutic trials with amygdalin (Laetrile).
Presence of cholesterol ester synthetase activity in guinea pig gallbladder epithelium.

Abstract This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of cholesteryl ester synthetase activity in the gallbladder epithelium. Using epithelium of the guinea pig gallbladder, the study demonstrated that the enzyme was localized mainly in the particulate fraction. The enzyme required CoA and ATP for activity and displayed a pH optimum of 7.0. The uptake of biliary cholesterol by gallbladder (shown by other investigators) and the presence of cholesteryl ester synthetase activity (demonstrated in this study) suggest that the gallbladder epithelium has an active role which might be important in conditions of cholesterol supersaturation in bile.
Adaptive lossless video compression

In this paper, we describe a new lossless compression algorithm for color video sequences. Our approach is to exploit both spatial and temporal redundancies in the video sequence by developing a new adaptive algorithm. By adaptive selection between spatial and temporal prediction we show that our scheme is better than state-of-the-art lossless compression algorithms.
An evaluation of the colloidal stability of metal working fluid.

Abstract The effect of calcium on the stability of a commercial MWF is characterized through the experimental determination of the stability ratio, W. Three experimental methods of stability ratio evaluation are investigated. (1) The initial slope of the absorbance versus time curve is used to estimate the rate of coagulation. (2) Absorbance measurements are used to estimate N 0 / N with time. The stability ratio is determined from the slope of N 0 / N versus time. (3) Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) measurements of the volume distribution with time are used to estimate N 0 / N with time. Electrophoretic mobility was also measured and used to determine the fast coagulation concentration of the MWF. The accuracy of the experimentally determined stability ratios is evaluated using a population balance coagulation model. The model predicts the population distribution of a coagulating dispersion with time based on an initial particle size distribution and stability ratio. The model results were compared with the PCS-measured distributions to determine which stability ratio evaluation method best describes the stability of the MWF emulsion studied. Using the initial slope of the absorbance versus time curve to determine the fast coagulation concentration correlates well with electrophoretic mobility measurements. However, using absorbance measurements to determine the rate of coagulation underestimates the stability ratio of the MWF studied by orders of magnitude. N 0 / N values calculated from absorbance measurements provide a reasonable estimate of the stability ratio but inconsistencies in the method decrease its reliability. The stability ratio derived from PCS measurements appears to provide the most accurate, reliable description of MWF stability.
Growth deficits in a postnatal day 3 rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

The postnatal day (P) 3 rat model of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury provides valuable information regarding the cellular response to HI injury in a very immature brain. Our present study is the first to examine growth, metabolic, and behavioral outcomes following a P3 HI brain injury. Rats were injured by cauterizing the right common carotid, and exposure to 8% oxygen for 1.5 h. Control rats received sham surgery and exposure to 1.5 h of room air. One cohort of rats was examined for growth patterns through P33, evaluated using a battery of tests focused on early postnatal feeding behaviors, and studied using the open field paradigm during the early postnatal and postweaning periods. Another cohort of rats was used to examine metabolic parameters using indirect calorimetry. Significant growth deficits emerged in injured rats during the second postnatal week. No significant differences between groups were noted in the expression of feeding-related behaviors or in metabolic parameters between groups. However, we did observe significant associations between feeding-related behaviors and P14 growth parameters in injured rats. In the open field assessment, HI rats showed increased circling and supination behaviors only during the early postnatal period. Our data reveal that P3 HI brain injury results in generalized growth deficits that persist through postweaning. Analyses suggest that alterations in feeding-related behaviors contribute to growth deficits following a P3 HI brain injury.
Topical photochemotherapy for alopecia areata

Twenty-two patients with alopecia areata were treated with a combination of topical 0.1% 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA (PUVA). Eight of the twenty-two patients (36.3%) responded with excellent regrowth (terminal hair in at least 75% of the treated scalp), and two patients (9.1%) showed good regrowth (terminal hair in 50% to 75% of the treated scalp). The mean total UVA exposure and the mean total number of treatments for the entire treatment course for these responders was 171.7 joules/cm2 and 47.4 treatments, respectively. Eight of the nine responders available for follow-up experienced some degree of relapse when PUVA treatments were tapered or during a follow-up period (mean, 8.3 months) after treatment was discontinued. Despite the failure of topical PUVA to change the long-term course of alopecia, the combination of PUVA with other therapeutic modalities may result in the prolongation of the beneficial effect in selected patients. The mechanism of action of PUVA in alopecia areata might involve an immunomodulatory effect.
Neoadjuvant Trials of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Targeting: How Many Drugs Do We Need?

What does the neoadjuvant approach give us that the adjuvant approachdoesnot?Thereareseveralreasonsfortheintenseinterestin neoadjuvant trials. First, compared with adjuvant trials, neoadjuvant trials are typically far smaller (hundreds rather than thousands of patients) and give results in months, not years. Second, neoadjuvant trials provide fertile ground for correlative science; breast tumors are easily and safely accessible, and even serial biopsies are well tolerated. Finally, because the tumor is measurable and end points can be measured while the trial is still accruing, these trials lend themselves to adaptive designs in a way that adjuvant studies cannot. Several recent and ongoing neoadjuvant multicenter studies address the benefits and toxicity of adding single-agent or dual human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeting to chemotherapy in a way that can inform large adjuvant studies. Several European trials, including the Neo-Adjuvant Lapatinib and/orTrastuzumabTreatmentOrganisation(NeoALTTO)trial, 1 Neoadjuvant Study of Pertuzumab and Herceptin in an Early Regimen Evaluation (NeoSPHERE), 2 and the HER2-positive arms of GeparQuinto, 3 were presented or published within the last year (Table1),aswastheItalianmulticenterstudyentitledChemother
Effect of vibrational excitation on electron transport in gases

Abstract The thermal electron mobility was found to increase with increasing temperature T for CH 4 and to decrease with T for C 2 F 6 . These findings can be understood on the basis of the momentum transfer cross section σ m (ϵ) of the two molecules and the effect of vibrational excitation on electron transport.
Reduced TCOF1 mRNA level in a rhesus macaque with Treacher Collins-like syndrome: further evidence for haploinsufficiency of treacle as the cause of disease

Mutations in the human gene TCOF1 cause a mandibulofacial dysostosis known as Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS). An infant rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) that displayed the TCS phenotype was identified at the California National Primate Research Center. The TCOF1 coding region was cloned from a normal rhesus macaque and sequenced. The rhesus macaque homolog of TCOF1 is 91.6% identical in cDNA sequence and 93.8% identical in translated protein sequence compared to human TCOF1. Sequencing of TCOF1 in the TCS-affected rhesus macaque showed no mutations within the coding region or splice sites; however, real-time quantitative PCR showed an 87% reduction of spleen TCOF1 mRNA level in the TCS affected macaque when compared with normal macaque spleen.
Isolated cervical metastasis of breast cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Background Metastasis of nongynecologic tumors to the cervix is a rare event. Isolated breast cancer metastasis to the cervix has only been reported in two other cases. Case A 43-year-old with a history of intraductal breast cancer presented with vaginal bleeding. Colposcopic pathology revealed a lesion similar to her primary breast lesion. She underwent an extensive work up and hysterectomy that revealed no other lesions. Currently, she is alive and well. Conclusions Aggressive treatment of isolated cervical metastasis from breast cancer is warranted in appropriate patients.
Experience, Variation and Generalization: Learning a First Language edited by ARNON, INBAL, & EVE V. CLARK

The article reviews the book "Experience, Variation and Generalization: Learning a First Language," edited by Inbal Arnon and Eve V. Clark.
PD32. Early diagnosis of oral cancer with new technologies

tions and epigenetic alterations in the p16, p53, and PTEN tumor suppressor genes, together with activation of the PI3KCA and RAS oncogenes, and gene amplification of EGFR and CYCLIN D genes, among others. Ongoing large-scale multi-institutional oral cancer genome sequencing projects are now providing unprecedented opportunities to understand the nature of the dysregulated molecular networks driving oral cancer initiation, malignant growth, and metastatic spread. Efforts will be presented aimed at developing animal model systems based on the tissue and cell-type specific expression of candidate human and viral genes of interest and their combinations using Cre-recombinase and tetracycline-inducible systems, as well as by retroand lenti-viral gene delivery in vitro and in vivo. In particular, our current emphasis is in re-engineering oral cancer by genetic manipulation of the oral epithelial stem cell compartment using recently developed genetic tools, human oral epithelial stem cells, and high-throughput mouse models. The emerging information will provide the basis for the identification of markers for the early diagnosis of oral cancer lesions, and could help identify novel molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of oral malignancies.
Early experience affects the intergenerational transmission of infant abuse in rhesus monkeys

Maternal abuse of offspring in macaque monkeys shares some similarities with child maltreatment in humans, including its transmission across generations. This study used a longitudinal design and a cross-fostering experiment to investigate whether abusive parenting in rhesus macaques is transmitted from mothers to daughters and whether transmission occurs through genetic or experiential factors. Nine of 16 females who were abused by their mothers in their first month of life, regardless of whether they were reared by their biological mothers or by foster mothers, exhibited abusive parenting with their firstborn offspring, whereas none of the females reared by nonabusive mothers did. These results suggest that the intergenerational transmission of infant abuse in rhesus monkeys is the result of early experience and not genetic inheritance. The extent to which the effects of early experience on the intergenerational transmission of abusive parenting are mediated by social learning or experience-induced physiological alterations remains to be established.
Urban policy perspectives in the U.S.A.: An extension of the Yarmolinsky option

Building on a suggestion by Adam Yarmolinsky that the Federal American government insure the equity that homeowners have developed in their property, we suggest some additional elements which would make a more complete urban policy package. Educational opportunity is seen as a critical element in property value within the American context and any scheme such as Yarmolinsky suggests needs to take into account the fact that “house price” reflects heavily the general judgment of the quality of the school to which that residence has access. Hence, a stabilization of the housing market is heavily dependent upon an equalization of educational opportunity. Two ideas to this end are suggested. One, the “school parity adjustment,” would grant funds directly to the school district, generally in inverse proportion to the assessed property valuation, and consistent with the funding required for a quality education. The second notion, the “urban tax credit” would help to rectify the desirability of suburban locations for parents of school age children by giving them tax credits for living in the city, and in effect, equalizing the subsidy which the government already provides suburban dwellers through insuring the school-inflated value of their property through Mortgage Insurance.
Sensitivity analysis of mass effects in rotational energy transfer

This paper examines the sensitivity of rotationally inelastic integral state‐to‐state cross sections to variations in the masses of the collision partners. We investigate the helium‐hydrogenic scattering system with its many physical isotopes and excellent ab initio potential. The collision dynamics are approximated by coupled states‐exponential distorted wave (CS‐EDW) theory and both cross sections and elementary sensitivity coefficients (partial derivatives of the cross sections with respect to the mass parameters) are calculated. In order to be able to properly interpret these results, we first generate conceptually and computationally simpler distorted wave (CS‐DW) cross sections and elementary sensitivities. These perturbative results are analyzed using simple collisional concepts and models. In addition, we present functional forms which predict (or scale) the global behavior of DW cross sections through the mass parameter space. As a quantitative aid in linking EDW cross sections with the DW result...