cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and sporadic colorectal adenomas.

Abstract First, and most importantly, the standard of care for treating adenomatous polyps is polypectomy and not therapy with NSAIDs. The initial clinical observation by Waddell and Loughry in 198314 that sulindac treatment influenced rectal polyps in patients with FAP has led to a considerable amount of research, commentary, and discussion during the past decade. These original observations have been validated by controlled clinical trials.7 Work presented in this issue by Ladenheim et al. indicates that sulindac may not be effective therapy for sporadic polyps that are present before initiation of treatment (secondary prevention). Even though their study may have failed to show a small effect of NSAIDs on polyps, further investigation of the ability of NSAIDs to cause regression of established polyps is probably not warranted. A more clinically relevant question, whether or not these agents can be used in a primary prevention strategy to prevent the development of adenomas in a colon devoid of these lesions, is currently being addressed in a large trial with sufficient statistical power to render firm conclusions (personal communication, January 1995). The multiple reports that sulindac treatment causes regression of adenomas in patients with FAP has stimulated research directed at understanding the molecular basis for these effects. If we are able to understand the molecular mechanism by which NSAIDs decrease the risk of colorectal cancer, we might be able to design more effective drugs or other approaches that would be clinically useful in humans for colorectal cancer chemoprevention.
Acquisition and retention of conditioned taste aversions as a function of the taste quality of the CS

Abstract Rats were given three-choice preference tests involving saccharin, NaCl, and citric acid. One substance was familiar to S, a second was novel, and a third (CS) has been associated with gastrointestinal illness. Conditioned aversions were acquired and retained when the CS was saccharin or NaCl but not when it was citric acid. In a second experiment, using a simpler two-choice test, a conditioned taste aversion to citric acid again could not be detected. Together, the results suggest that CS adequacy may vary as function of taste quality.
Co-regulated expression of glomerular 12/15-lipoxygenase and interleukin-4 mRNAs in rat nephrotoxic nephritis

Arachidonate 12- and 15-lipoxygenase (LO) products are generated in experimental glomerulonephritis. 15-S-HETE (a 15-LO product) and lipoxins (interaction products between 5-LO and either 12-LO or 15-LO) counteract the proinflammatory actions of leukotrienes. IL-4 has been shown to up-regulate 15-LO gene expression in human leukocytes. Based on homology with human 15-LO, we cloned a 0.76 kbp fragment of a rat LO cDNA from leukocytes stimulated by interleukin-4 (IL-4). The deduced amino acid sequence shows 71.0% and 60.1% homology to human 15-LO and 12-LO, respectively, and 100% homology to a recently cloned "leukocyte type" rat 12-lipoxygenase enzyme, which possesses significant 15-lipoxygenase activity (heretofore referred to as "12/15-LO"). A deletion mutant was utilized to generate internal standard cRNA in quantitative PCR assays. Glomerular 12/15-LO mRNA increased significantly over controls 24 and 48 hours after NTS injection, then decreased at 72 hours. RNA from NTS glomeruli contained higher levels of 12/15-LO mRNA than that from unstimulated peripheral leukocytes, suggesting that 12/15-LO transcription is up-regulated locally in native and/or infiltrating glomerular cells. Glomerular IL-4 mRNA increased markedly 16 hours post-NTS, and was then reduced, suggesting a potential role for T cell-derived IL-4 in directing the expression of 12/15-LO during glomerulonephritis. This represents the first demonstration of tandem regulated in vivo gene expression for a lymphokine (IL-4) and a lipoxygenase, both of which promote counter-inflammatory influences in immune complex-mediated injury.
Reliable intersection protocols using vehicular networks

Autonomous driving will play an important role in the future of transportation. Various autonomous vehicles have been demonstrated at the DARPA Urban Challenge [3]. General Motors has recently unveiled their Electrical-Networked Vehicles (EN-V) in Shanghai, China [5]. One of the main challenges of autonomous driving in urban areas is transition through cross-roads and intersections. In addition to safety concerns, current intersection management technologies such as stop signs and traffic lights can introduce significant traffic delays even under light traffic conditions. Our goal is to design and develop efficient and reliable intersection protocols to avoid vehicle collisions at intersections and increase the traffic throughput. The focus of this paper is investigating vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications as a part of co-operative driving in the context of autonomous vehicles. We study how our proposed V2V intersection protocols can be beneficial for autonomous driving, and show significant improvements in throughput. We also prove that our protocols avoid deadlock situations inside the intersection area. The simulation results show that our new proposed V2V intersection protocols provide both safe passage through the intersection and significantly decrease the delay at the intersection and our latest V2V intersection protocol yields over 85 % overall performance improvement over the common traffic light models.
PRACTICAL GEOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF SOME SEAFLOOR SURVEY INSTRUMENTS

Seafloor survey instruments are integral to the study of marine geology. Because understanding their resolution and limitations is critical, we compare how different survey systems represent the seafloor. Coincident data collected at the Galapagos propagator (GLORIA, SeaMARC II, Sea Beam, Deep-Tow, camera sled, and Alvin) allow comparisons of how well seafloor features (e.g., faults and volcanoes) observed and characterized in high resolution data are represented in lower resolution, coarser-scale data sets. Our reported values for the minimum sizes of detected and well-represented features show that practical geological resolutions are generally ∼2-10 times lower than theoretical resolutions; care must be taken in evaluating which system to use to address a particular problem.
Preprocessing techniques for high-speed videoendoscopy analysis.

Summary One of the critical requirements for high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) to become a clinically useful tool is to pair it with a technique, which provides a quick overview of the vast amount of HSV data and rapidly identifies the best video segments for subjective and objective analyses. This article proposes intensity-based representations that are easily computed from the HSV data and can be used to identify the HSV features quickly. The first representation—termed the Quick Vibratory Profile (QVP)—is an HSV-based one-dimensional waveform that captures the vocal fold vibration as well as nonglottic activities. The QVP can be used in a wide range of experimental and clinical studies to select appropriate HSV recording segments quickly without extensive review of the actual video frames. Moreover, this article proposes a pair of spatial profiles to locate the vibrating vocal folds within the HSV frames. These profiles are useful in automation of objective assessments as their use together with the QVP are demonstrated in a proposed cyclewise three-dimensional glottal area segmentation. The article illustrates the usefulness of these proposed representations with examples.
Thin film head with staggered pole tips

The authors propose a cost-effective approach to reduce write track widths down to the sub-micron range. Thin-film heads with staggered pole tips, such that the track width is defined by the overlap of pole tips, have been fabricated with processes similar to the conventional thin-film head process. Both the transverse and the longitudinal configurations have been examined. Heads of both configurations have worked well, achieving satisfactory overwrite performance and track definition. Narrow track write heads capable of writing transitions as narrow as 0.7 mu m have been demonstrated. such sub-micron write heads hold potential for achieving high track densities in conjunction with magnetoresistive read heads. >
Glucagon-insulin interactions in patients with insulin-producing pancreatic islet lesions

Abstract In 16 patients with benign, insulin-producing pancreatic islet cell lesions, basal plasma levels of immunoreactive glucagon (IRG), insulin (IRI), GH, and glucose were studied to assess possible interactions of glucagon and insulin in states of chronic insulin excess. Basal plasma levels of IRG were in the normal range despite hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Median plasma IRG did not correlate with median plasma total IRI (r = −0.371) or the insulin component of IRI (corrected for proinsulin proportion) (r = −0.097). Median plasma IRG and glucose correlated negatively (r = −0.617; P < 0.05). The median insulin components of IRI and glucose did not correlate (r = −0.108). When augmented hypoglycemia was induced acutely by tolbutamide, plasma levels of IRG and GH increased significantly despite concurrent exaggerated hyperinsulinemia. During 70-h fasting in one patient with insulinoma, plasma levels of IRG were not different from those observed in a healthy subject matched according to prevailing...
A note on the distortion of the hurricane San Felipe (II) by the mountains of Puerto Rico

In Figure 1 the reports of lowest pressures and times at which they occurred as collected by Dr. Fassig from various amateur observers around the Island are plotted. [A description of this storm is given on Mon. Wea. Rev., September, 1928, pp. 347–352. The data used here were only in part published, some in the above reference and some in a mimeographed account by the Weather Bureau, San Juan. The rest of the data and information are from manuscript sources on file at the United States Weather Bureau, San Juan; R. W. Gray, official in charge of that Office, kindly made this information available to the writer.] Lines have been drawn through points at which the lowest pressure was reached at the same hours, namely, for 1 p.m., 2 p.m., etc. These generally trend north-south but show that as the hurricane moved west the Luquillo Mountains and central Sierras held back the center of the storm locally while the parts of the storm over the smoother lowlands and over the sea moved on ahead with the usual speed. Then when the storm-center reached the central part of the Island (on September 13, 1928) the delay became so great that even the outlying parts of the storm slowed down for awhile (4 to 10 p.m.) until the center could slowly make its way along the crest of the western mountain and down to the coast. There the normal symmetry was apparently quickly regained (by 10 p.m.) over the smooth ocean, and the center soon (by 11 p.m.) picked up the speed it lost by friction over the rough terrain of the Sierra. Lack of reports from, any ship near the coast leaves us only to speculate on the positions of the isochrones over the surrounding waters, but we give what we believe is a reasonable interpretation.
Write for your reader

In writing for your reader, adopt the habit of considering his needs and you will succeed in communicating technical information effectively. Write to meet the reader's personal needs-his use for the information and his background regarding it. Write the report to educate the busy reader quickly-emphasize through repetition and placement what you especially want the reader to know. Write for your reader's understanding-choose familiar words in familiar patterns, be consistent, and be grammatical. To catch accidental misspellings and cumbersome connections, read your report aloud. In the format allow plenty of blank space to rest the reader's eyes.
Chronic vomiting and recurrent pneumonia in an adolescent female.

Abstract A 17-year-old girl presented with episodic vomiting associated with chest pain, a 20-pound weight loss over the past year, and multiple hospitalizations for pneumonia. She was bradycardic, cachectic ( 90%) present as neonatal emergencies secondary to esophageal obstruction. They have a high incidence of associated abnormalities, cardiovascular being the most common. Unexplained recurrent respiratory symptoms in an otherwise normal child with dysphagia should prompt the clinician to evaluate patients for foreign bodies, reflux and other more common problems. Unusual etiologies, however, do occur – as in this case – and warrant more complex workup.
Is Essential Tremor Symmetric?: Observational Data From a Community-Based Study of Essential Tremor

Background Essential tremor (ET) has been variably portrayed in the literature both as a symmetric arm tremor and as an asymmetric arm tremor. Few quantitative clinical or neurophysiological data specifically address the issue of tremor asymmetry in ET. Objectives To examine a community-dwelling cohort of subjects with ET to (1) estimate the prevalence of tremor asymmetry and (2) quantify the magnitude of tremor asymmetry. Methods Fifty-four subjects with ET, identified in a community-based study of ET in New York City, underwent a Tremor Interview and a videotaped Tremor Examination. The examination included 6 tasks: sustained arm extension, pouring water, drinking water, using a spoon, finger-to-nose movements, and drawing spirals with each arm. Two neurologists rated the severity of tremor using a 0 to 3 clinical rating scale and a total tremor score was calculated (range, 0-36). Fourteen (25%) of 54 subjects also underwent quantitative computerized tremor analysis. Results The prevalence of asymmetry depended on the definition of asymmetry; small to moderate differences between sides were common. The mean side-to-side difference in clinical ratings for each of the 6 tasks was 0.54 of 3 points, which represented a 1.32-fold difference between sides. Clinical rating scores were higher in the nondominant arm in 39 subjects (72%), higher in the dominant arm in 9 (17%), and equal in 6 (11%). The 2 left-handed subjects had higher clinical ratings on the right. During quantitative computerized tremor analysis, there was a 1.71-fold mean difference between tremor amplitudes in the dominant and nondominant sides, and in 12 subjects (86%), the maximum tremor amplitude was in the nondominant arm. Conclusions Small to moderate differences between sides were common in ET. In most community-dwelling subjects, tremor amplitude was greatest in the nondominant arm. In contrast, clinic-based studies have reported greater tremor in the dominant arm; those with ET who seek medical attention are more likely to exhibit severe tremor in their dominant arms. This study documents that mild asymmetry is a fundamental property of ET and that tremor is more severe in the nondominant arm.
Effects of growth hormone on glucose utilization in fasted rats.

A single injection of growth hormone to fasted rats leads to a hypoglycemic response. Using a method of determination of rate of glucose utilization recently developed it can be shown that this hypoglycemic response is due to an increase in glucose utilization. Pretreatment of the animals with growth hormone decreases the response to a subsequent injection both as regards hypoglycemic reaction and as regards increase in glucose utilization.
HOW DO PARTICLES PUT ON WEIGHT

The ideas of Dimopoulos, Hall and Raby for explaining the array of masses of elementary particles are discussed. If their model (which is considered to be testable) holds up it could fill a substantial void left by the conceptual framework that currently holds all of theoretical physics together - the standard model.
Data-based versus symptomatic formulation of treatment: The case of a dependent personality

A 48-year-old female presented anxiety and avoidances following diagnosis of her daughter as diabetic. A comprehensive formulation of the case seemed unobtainable. Symptomatic treatment was thus initiated which led to improvement then relapse. Subsequent clinical observation led to a new formulation, namely, anxiety about independent decision making. This hypothesis was assessed. The patient was found to be excessively reliant on others and deficient in autonomous behavior. Accordingly, treatment was aimed at modifying anxiety about independent decision making, and this proved successful. Improvements maintained at an 11-month follow-up. The implications of this case for clinical practice are discussed.
Coping With Interracial Stress in Ethnically Diverse Classrooms: How Important Are Allport's Contact Conditions?

This study examined desegregated classrooms with an emphasis on how students' perceptions of Allport's (1954) contact dimensions influence the frequency and effectiveness of their coping strategies for interracial stress, their self-esteem, and their self-reported academic performance. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from two ethnically diverse middle schools in Los Angeles, California, participated. Results indicated that students' perceptions of a more positive interracial classroom climate were associated with less frequent and more effective coping strategies, specifically as related to the frequency and effectiveness of positive/approach coping strategies. Positive classroom climate also was related to higher self-esteem and better academic performance. This research highlights the importance of the presence of contact criteria when desegregation is to be a positive experience both academically and socially and of the integration of coping strategies as a means of reducing interracial stress.
Basilar artery pseudoaneurysm presenting at 5-month follow-up after traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation in a 7-year-old girl treated with intracranial stent placement and coiling

Atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) is a grave injury that is rarely survivable. Patients who do survive often have long-term sequelae resulting from the intracranial damage sustained during the traumatic event. The high impact needed to cause AOD is translated to the intracranial vessels, which can lead to vascular injury. Pseudoaneurysm is one of the possible outcomes of damage to the vessel wall. We present a case of basilar artery pseudoaneurysm diagnosed 5 months after a traumatic AOD who was treated with intracranial stent placement and coiling.
Noise Transmission Control Studies on a Chamber Core Composite Cylinder

The vibroacoustic behavior and sound transmission properties of a mock-scale chamber core composite cylinder were studied, and the feasibility of the active structural acoustic control and passive control was also investigated. A box-beam model of the chamber core cylindrical shell was used for calculating the critical frequency and the ring frequency. The coupling problems between structural and acoustic modes were investigated, and the structural and acoustic modal parameters were identified from measured data. The sound transmission into the chamber core cylindrical structure was measured with and without fill materials in its wall chambers. The structural stiffness-, cavity resonance-, coincidence-, and mass-controlled zones were identified and verified.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Ambient pressure thermal desorption ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of substances of forensic interest

The large backlog of forensic samples needing chemical analysis requires new tools with high specificity, throughput, and reliability. Mass spectrometric techniques have the specificity and reliability necessary for identification, but often require sample preparation before analysis. The growth of ambient pressure ionization techniques has the capability to reduce the need for lengthy preparation. This report presents one possible technique, ambient pressure thermal desorption ionization mass spectrometry, which could prove to be useful to the forensic science community. Example mass spectra for several explosive compounds and illicit drugs obtained from liquid and bulk samples with almost no sample preparation are presented. The use of the technique for quantitative analysis is also addressed.
Adult Bicyclists in the United States: Characteristics and Riding Experience in 1996

In December 1996, 20 percent (4, 712) of the League of American Bicyclists members were surveyed about their cycling experiences during calendar year 1996. The 33 questions included bicycle type and equipment, distribution of bicycle trips by purpose (e.g., work, on-road recreation), total distance cycled, commuting habits, accidents, and demographic data. The survey was designed to update one done by Kaplan in 1975. By the March 31, 1997, deadline over 2,400 (51 percent) had been returned. Of these, 19 percent were rejected due to incompleteness or inconsistent responses, leaving 1,956 valid surveys. The "average" respondent was a 48-year-old, married (66 percent) male (80 percent) professional (48 percent) who rode 4670 km in 1996. Just over 9 percent reported having had a serious crash (resulting in at least $50 of property damage or medical expense) in 1996. Based on the experience reported by these cyclists, the average cyclist in this group could be expected to ride for 11 years before having such a...
Cropland Riparian Buffers throughout Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Spatial Patterns and Effects on Nitrate Loads Delivered to Streams†

We used statistical models to provide the first empirical estimates of riparian buffer effects on the cropland nitrate load to streams throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For each of 1,964 subbasins, we quantified the 1990 prevalence of cropland and riparian buffers. Cropland was considered buffered if the topographic flow path connecting it to a stream traversed a streamside forest or wetland. We applied a model that predicts stream nitrate concentration based on physiographic province and the watershed proportions of unbuffered and buffered cropland. We used another model to predict annual streamflow based on precipitation and temperature, and then multiplied the predicted flows and concentrations to estimate 1990 annual nitrate loads. Across the entire Chesapeake watershed, croplands released 92.3 Gg of nitrate nitrogen, but 19.8 Gg of that was removed by riparian buffers. At most, 29.4 Gg more might have been removed if buffer gaps were restored so that all cropland was buffered. The other 43.1 Gg of cropland load cannot be addressed with riparian buffers. The Coastal Plain physiographic province provided 52% of the existing buffer reduction of Bay-wide nitrate loads and 36% of potential additional removal from buffer restoration in cropland buffer gaps. Existing and restorable nitrate removal in buffers were lower in the other three major provinces because of less cropland, lower buffer prevalence, and lower average buffer nitrate removal efficiency.
Intimate Partner Survivors’ Help-Seeking and Protection Efforts: A Person-Oriented Analysis

Domestic violence advocates and researchers advocate for a survivor-centered approach for assisting women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), with individualized safety plans and services; yet little empirical work has been done to determine IPV survivors’ specific combinations of vulnerabilities and assets that might inform such an approach. Using latent profile analysis of a cohort of 448 survivors, five distinct subgroups were previously identified in terms of biopsychosocial asset and vulnerability profiles. The purpose of the current study was to apply person-oriented methodology for survivor-centered investigation of differences in help-seeking and protective actions according to subgroup membership within this cohort. Though not differing demographically, the subgroups were found to differ significantly and meaningfully in their patterns of IPV help-seeking and protective actions. Thus, reliance on population-aggregate linear relationships between IPV exposure and safety efforts may risk ...
Measurement of 18 Perfluorinated Organic Acids and Amides in Human Serum Using On-Line Solid-Phase Extraction

We have developed an on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) method coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)−tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for measuring trace levels of 18 perfluorinated chemicals (3 perfluorosulfonates, 8 perfluorocarboxylates, 7 perfluorosulfonamides) in serum. Without protein precipitation, only dilution with 0.1 M formic acid, one aliquot of 100 μL of serum was injected into a commercial column switching system that allowed for concurrent SPE and HPLC−MS/MS acquisition. First, the analytes were concentrated on a C18 SPE column. Then, this column was placed automatically in front of a C8 analytic HPLC column for chromatographic separation of the analytes. Detection and quantification were done using negative-ion TurboIonSpray ionization, a variant of electrospray ionization, MS/MS. Excellent recovery was achieved for all analytes including the volatile sulfonamide derivatives that could not be determined before using traditional off-line SPE methods. The high throughput...
Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ranitidine in human plasma

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of ranitidine in human plasma. Prior to analysis, ranitidine and the internal standard (metoprolol) were extracted from alkalinized plasma samples using dichloromethane. The mobile phase was 0.05 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate-acetonitrile (88:12, v/v) adjusted to pH 6.5. Analysis was run at a flow-rate of 1.3 ml/min and at a detection wavelength of 229 nm. The method is sensitive with a detection limit of 1 ng/ml at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1, while the quantification limit was set at 15 ng/ml. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 15-2000 ng/ml. Mean recovery value of the extraction procedure was about 90%, while the within-day and between-day coefficients of variation and percent error values of the assay method were all less than 15%.
Broadband detector measures IR, millimeter & THz waves

We used a commercial neon lamp to detect THz waves (0.1, 0.2, 0.37 THz), IR (800 nm) and UV light (200 ~ 400 nm). The amplified responsivities at 0.1 THz, 0.2 THz, and 0.37 THz are 150 V/W, 57.5 V/W and 19.3 V/W, respectively.
Occupancy pattern based intelligent control for improving energy efficiency in buildings

Energy efficiency and occupant comfort are two major issues in building control system design, and the major challenge lies in the development of an effective control strategy for minimizing the total energy usage without compromising the indoor comfort. In this paper, a multi-agent control system for building applications is proposed. Besides the environmental factors including the outside CO 2 concentration, external daylight and ambient temperature, the occupancy pattern of the building is also taken into account in the control strategy development. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is utilized to enable the multi-agent control system to achieve the high energy efficiency and high level of comfort. In addition, plug loads are managed by the proposed control system for further improving the building energy efficiency. Case studies and corresponding simulation results are presented and analyzed in this paper.
Preparing for Future Needs

Developments now pending will alter the character of SP, as we presently know it, beyond recognition. SP is essentially a discipline for a programming shop that turns out programs in response to assignments. It enables better planning and control of software development work and improves productivity of the programmers. New technology will alter the roles of the chief programmer and the members of his team.
Inefficacy of pneumococcal vaccine in a high-risk population

Use of pneumococcal vaccine remains controversial. To further study this question, 89 patients hospitalized at the Denver Veterans Administration Medical Center with pneumococcal bacteremia were chosen as the case group for a case-control study. The control group was made up of patients matched on the basis of age, date of admission, and comorbid conditions. Vaccination status in the bacteremic patients and control patients was determined, as were pneumococcal serotypes among the bacteremic patients. If the vaccine were protective, vaccination rates should be higher among the control patients, and serotype distribution should be different in vaccinated and nonvaccinated bacteremic patients. There were no differences between vaccination rates among bacteremic patients (29 percent) and control patients (24 percent). Furthermore, 65 percent of the blood isolates from nonvaccinated bacteremic patients were serotypes included in the vaccine, as compared with 69 percent of the isolates in vaccinated bacteremic patients. Pneumococcal vaccine did not appear to be protective in this high-risk population.
A continuum theory for the mechanical response of materials to the thermodynamic stress of sintering

Abstract The microstructural material rearrangement that accompanies sintering is driven primarily by surface energies and tensions and depends to some extent upon the local geometry of the free surface. This article uses concepts from continuum mechanics to describe the macroscopic response of a body to the thermodynamic stress associated with these driving forces. This stress can be described as an equilibrium or sintering stress that is, as defined here, the stress that must be applied to prevent spontaneous shrinkage of a sinter body. An expression that quantifies the sintering stress is developed and is assumed to be dependent upon two microstructural parameters: the specific surface area and the mean curvature of the void-solid interface. The macroscopic response of the sinter body is modeled as a linear Newtonian fluid and the theory is used to analyze data from experiments on sintering copper powders.
Apoptosis of smooth muscle cells is not silent: Fas/FADD initiates a program of inflammatory gene expression.

Abstract Unlike necrosis, apoptosis is classically considered to be “silent,” (i.e., self-contained and non-inflammatory). In this review, we describe the system that we developed to regulate apoptosis of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in vivo. We have used this system to demonstrate that SMC apoptosis initiated by FADD or by Fas ligation includes a specific program of expression of pro-inflammatory genes. We discuss how this conclusion can be reconciled with reports that Fas plays an anti-inflammatory role in vascular lesions.
Fermion masses and Fayet-Iliopoulos terms in string theory

Abstract In many four-dimensional compactifications of string theory, Fayet-Iliopoulos terms are generated. In addition to scalar and gauge boson masses, which have been computed elsewhere, these terms should give rise to masses for certain fermions. We show that these terms are generated, by explicit computations both covariantly and in the Green-Schwarz formalism.
Electrochemical properties of complexes of iodine with cyclized poly(acrylonitrile) and 2-poly(vinylpyridine)

Abstract Electrochemical and conductivity measurements have been performed on the iodine complexes of cyclized poly(acrylonitrile) and 2-poly(vinylpyridine). The thermodynamic activity of iodine as a function of iodine content was determined using cells of the type polymer(I 2 ) x ¦ AgI ¦ Ag . The results indicate that chemical bonding between iodine and polymer is relatively weak. The conductivity data show a strong dependence of conductivity on the iodine content of the complex.
Building a Simulated Medical Augmented Reality Training System

Medical decision-making largely depends on the caregiver’s fundamental knowledge of anatomy. To this end, the authors discuss a cost-effective augmented reality system for simulated medical research and education. First, we define augmented reality. Second, we will review the history of augmented reality in medical training. Third, we will discuss some of the human factors principles associated with augmented reality training systems. Fourth, we will describe our insight and methods for building a Simulated Medical Augmented Reality Training (SMART) system, which can be used as an alternative training tool for medical and anatomy students. Finally, we will outline five steps that can be taken to build a SMART system.
The role of Depth and Gestalt cues in information-rich virtual environments

Managing the layout of multi-dimensional visualizations is a crucial concern for the development of effective visual analytic interfaces. In these environments, heterogeneous and multi-dimensional information must be structured and combined into data representations that demand low cognitive resources but yield accurate mental models and insights. In this paper, we use Information-Rich Virtual Environments (IRVE) to articulate crucial tradeoffs in the use of Depth and Gestalt cues in text label layouts. We present a design space and evaluation methodology to explore the usability effects of these tradeoffs and collect results from a series of user studies. These lessons are posed as a set of design guidelines to aid developers of new, advantageous interfaces and specifications.
Transient liver pathology in patients consuming water from a private well contaminated by PCBs from a submersible water pump

Abstract Submersible water pumps in private water wells have in some instances been found to contain PCBs in their oil. When these pumps leak they may release PCBs into the drinking water constituting a potential health hazard.
Sublinear Capacity Scaling Laws for Sparse MIMO Channels

Recent attention on performance analysis of single-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems has been on understanding the impact of the spatial correlation model on ergodic capacity. In most of these works, it is assumed that the statistical degrees of freedom (DoF) in the channel can be captured by decomposing it along a suitable eigenbasis and that the transmitter has perfect knowledge of the statistical DoF. With an increased interest in large-antenna systems in state-of-the-art technologies, these implicit channel modeling assumptions in the literature have to be revisited. In particular, multiantenna measurements have showed that large-antenna systems are sparse where only a few DoF are dominant enough to contribute towards capacity. Thus, in this work, it is assumed that the transmitter can only afford to learn the dominant statistical DoF in the channel. The focus is on understanding ergodic capacity scaling laws in sparse channels. Unlike classical results, where linear capacity scaling is implicit, sparsity of MIMO channels coupled with a knowledge of only the dominant DoF is shown to result in a new paradigm of sublinear capacity scaling that is consistent with experimental results and physical arguments. It is also shown that uniform-power signaling over all the antenna dimensions is wasteful and could result in a significant penalty over optimally adapting the antenna spacings in response to the sparsity level of the channel and transmit SNR.
Assessment of key biological and engineering design parameters for production of Chlorella zofingiensis (Chlorophyceae) in outdoor photobioreactors

For the design of a large field of vertical flat plate photobioreactors (PBRs), the effect of four design parameters—initial biomass concentration, optical path length, spacing, and orientation of PBRs—on the biochemical composition and productivity of Chlorella zofingiensis was investigated. A two-stage batch process was assumed in which inoculum is generated under nitrogen-sufficient conditions, followed by accumulation of lipids and carbohydrates in nitrogen-deplete conditions. For nitrogen-deplete conditions, productivity was the most sensitive to initial biomass concentration, as it affects the light availability to individual cells in the culture. An initial areal cell concentration of 50 g m−2 inoculated into 3.8-cm optical path PBR resulted in the maximum production of lipids (2.42 ± 0.02 g m−2 day−1) and carbohydrates (3.23 ± 0.21 g m−2 day−1). Productivity was less sensitive to optical path length. Optical path lengths of 4.8 and 8.4 cm resulted in similar areal productivities (biomass, carbohydrate, and lipid) that were 20 % higher than a 2.4-cm optical path length. Under nitrogen-sufficient conditions, biomass productivity was 48 % higher in PBRs facing north–south during the winter compared to east–west, but orientation had little influence on biomass productivity during the spring and summer despite large differences in insolation. An optimal spacing could not be determined based on growth alone because a tradeoff was observed in which volumetric and PBR productivity increased as space between PBRs increased, but land productivity decreased.
Decoding ensemble activity from neurophysiological recordings in the temporal cortex

We study subjects with pharmacologically intractable epilepsy who undergo semi-chronic implantation of electrodes for clinical purposes. We record physiological activity from tens to more than one hundred electrodes implanted in different parts of neocortex. These recordings provide higher spatial and temporal resolution than non-invasive measures of human brain activity. Here we discuss our efforts to develop hardware and algorithms to interact with the human brain by decoding ensemble activity in single trials. We focus our discussion on decoding visual information during a variety of visual object recognition tasks but the same technologies and algorithms can also be directly applied to other cognitive phenomena.
Sequential changes in mineral metabolism and serum vitamin D metabolite concentrations produced by phenobarbital administration in the rat.

We examined the effect of daily phenobarbital administration on serum vitamin D metabolite levels and indices of vitamin D biologic activity in 7-week-old male rats maintained on parenteral vitamin D supplementation (125 ng/day). Treatment with phenobarbital (75 mg/kg/day) produced a biphasic response in parameters of vitamin D biologic effect, including serum calcium concentration, serum inorganic phosphate concentration, and intestinal45Ca calcium absorption. An initial increase in these values, maximal after 3–5 days of treatment, was followed by a subsequent decline to subnormal levels by day 21. A parallel biphasic pattern was observed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration. Serum 25OHD reached a peak increase of 87% above control levels (P<0.01), observed after 5 days of treatment, and subsequently declined to 62% of control animal values (P<0.01) by 21 days. Serum 24,25(OH)2D concentration followed a similar course and exhibited a strong positive correlation with serum 25OHD concentrations (r=0.74,P<0.01). In contrast, serum 1,25(OH)2D concentration was not significantly different from control values after 5 days but was increased 80% over control values (P<0.05) by day 21. Serum vitamin D concentration declined progressively in treated animals, falling to 50% of control levels (P<0.05) by day 5 and to 27% of control levels (P<0.001) by day 21. At the point of maximal increase in serum 25OHD concentration, hepatic microsomal vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase activity was not increased in the treated animals whereas hepatic mitochondrial vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase activity was increased by 2.4-fold. Increased hepatic mitochondrial vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase activity persisted through 21 days of phenobarbital treatment. It is concluded that phenobarbital administration in the rat produces an initial increase in vitamin D biologic effect which correlates temporally with increased circulating levels of 25OHD, the latter possibly resulting from increased hepatic mitochondrial vitamin D-25-hydroxylase activity. A subsequent decline in serum 250HD concentration may be the result of decreased availability of vitamin D as substrate. This sequence of alterations in vitamin D metabolism bears potentially important implications for the timing of prophylactic vitamin D supplementation in patients treated with anticonvulsant drugs.
Measurement of a composite criterion of managerial success

Abstract One of the problems in developing a composite criterion is the weighting of its multiple components. Pairwise dominance judgments on 20 profiles of managers on six criterion elements served as input data in determining a composite measure of managerial success. American and foreign executives in two management development programs served as judges. The weights were estimated by a new technique using linear programming. An excellent fit of the composite criteria to the pairwise judgments was obtained and high correlations were demonstrated between these criteria and independent ratings of managerial success. Compensation and Expenditure Authorization were the most important criterion elements. Other important elements receiving lesser weights were Level of Supervision, Staff/Line designation, and Career Satisfaction.
Stochastic versus stable transcriptional differences on Plasmodium falciparum DNA microarrays.

Abstract The recent availability of the Plasmodium falciparum genome sequence has opened up convenient, large-scale analysis of transcriptional products in malaria. Protocols for cDNA labelling, cDNA hybridisation, and fluorescent signal detection developed for other organisms can be applied directly to malaria. However, P. falciparum offers unique challenges in data analysis due to stochastic variability in expression of some gene products, such as variable erythrocyte surface proteins. Careful comparison of global transcriptional patterns in two well-studied clones of P. falciparum (Dd2 and HB3) indicates that reliable, stable transcriptional alterations in malaria can be readily distinguished from stochastic processes. To do this, we utilised a complex experimental design which involves a combination of self-hybridisations and cross-hybridisations between two independently grown parasite populations for each clone being examined (for short, we call this a ‘2×2 CombiScan’). While even a simple 2×2 CombiScan required 12 microarray hybridisations, the effort generated output that was highly interpretable. Reliable RNA transcriptional differences between Dd2 and HB3 could be readily visualised using public algorithms for data normalisation and clustering.
The Prominence of Formal Theory in Sociology

In sociology, work in formal theory is more extensive and intensive today than at any time in the past, but remains invisible to some, including S. Zhao [(1996) “The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning: The Theory Construction Movement Revisited,” Sociological Forum, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 305–318]. I trace the growth of formal theory in sociology focusing on theoretical research programs and show that, whereas formal theory came after the books on theory construction, it was not based on them. Elementary Theory's research program provides an example of that discontinuity. Some misunderstandings concerning formal theory can be traced to the Maryland Theory Conference of 1990 and a critique of selected ideas of that Conference is offered.
Seismic Performance of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Substructure Encased in Fiber Composite Tubes

Recent cyclic tests in the United States, China, and Japan have shown that fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes can effectively replace spiral reinforcement in reinforced concrete (RC) columns. This study was undertaken to advance the current state of the art for concrete-filled FRP tubes (CFFTs) by comparing their seismic performance with that of conventional RC bridge pier columns at the sectional, member, and bridge system levels. A nonlinear finite element model was developed for a bridge case study. Because FRP has a lower rupture strain than steel spiral and because of its linear elastic response, a CFFT section shows less ductility than an RC section. However, at the member level, a CFFT column distinctly outperforms its RC counterpart, with almost twice the base shear capacity and more than three times the lateral drift capacity. This phenomenon was attributed to the effective role of the FRP tube in extending the plastic hinge zone of the column well beyond its typical range in conventional RC columns. The implication of this behavior was shown through a seismic simulation of the entire bridge under a major historical shake with varying levels of magnified ground acceleration. The simulation showed the CFFT substructure to suffer moderate damage while maintaining structural integrity compared with the RC substructure, which suffered severe and irreparable damage.
Interaction between the immune and central nervous systems.

Much of the understanding of tolerance has focused on the requirements for antigen-specific lymphocyte activation and function. However, there is increasing evidence for anatomic regulation of effector access to self antigens. Recently, a number of studies have provided evidence for tissue-specific “addressins” in chemokine/chemokine receptor pairs. The central nervous system (CNS) provides special anatomic barriers to the movement of cells from the vascular compartment to the parenchyma. Herein I raise the possibility that antigen, perhaps through specialized antigen-presenting cells, may play a role in regulating access of activated lymphocytes into the CNS parenchyma. The results suggest that a reexamination of the widely held dogma that all activated lymphocytes have access to the CNS parenchyma is nessary to understand the relationship between the immune and central nervous systems.
A SIMPLIFIED PREPARATION OF CIS-1,3-CYCLOPENTANEDICARBOXYLIC ACID

(1974). A SIMPLIFIED PREPARATION OF CIS-1,3-CYCLOPENTANEDICARBOXYLIC ACID. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 49-51.
The AMS program at the University of Rochester

Abstract The AMS program at the University of Rochester is described with mention of the development of a gas-filled magnet isobar separator as a means to overcome the anticipated problems with high sulfur in 36Cl measurements once a high-intensity ion source is installed. 36Cl is the radioisotope with the largest nubmers of samples measured in recent years. A brief overview of 36Cl and 129I applications as well as other projects is given with details to be found in other contributions in this issue.
Analysis of Family Data Collected under A General Proband Sampling Scheme

The case-control sampling scheme commonly used in familial aggregation studies assumes that each family is ascertained through a single proband. Tosteson et al. generalized this sampling scheme to allow for more than one proband in a family. They proposed a parametric approach to the analysis of family data collected under the expanded sampling scheme. In this article, we derive a semiparametric maximum likelihood estimator for the parameter vector in the prospective model of all family members’ data. This semiparameteric estimator is more efficient because our method uses a likelihood component containing information about the correlation of familial covariates and probands’ response. The estimator can be obtained by iteratively maximizing a pseudo-likelihood and updating the estimates of a set of nuisance parameters. Estimates of the asymptotic variance-covariance matrix are also given. Our simulations show a gain in efficiency using our estimator as compared with Tosteson et al.'s parametric maximum li...
Phosphorylation of phospholamban and troponin I in β-adrenergic-induced acceleration of cardiac relaxation

Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) in ventricular myocytes by isoproterenol (Iso) causes phosphorylation of both phospholamban (PLB) and troponin I (TnI) and accelerates relaxation...