cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production With Infinitely Many Commodities

The existence and optimality of competitive equilibria in pure exchange economies with finitely many agents and infinitely many commodities was extensively investigated in the previous chapter. We now extend this analysis to production economies. Equilibrium analysis is technically more demanding for production economies, than for exchange economies, even in the finite dimensional case. In the standard Arrow—Debreu model, the feasible (or attainable) sets of agent’s consumption plans or production plans are shown to be compact as a consequence of economically defensible assumptions on tastes and technology. In the infinite dimensional analysis, we, in essence, must assume compactness of the relevant sets.
Corporate Governance of Banks and the Banking Reforms in Nigeria: The Issues

The role of banks is integral to the development of any nation due to their multiplier effects on the economy at large. This is particularly true of Nigeria where banks have an overwhelmingly dominant position in the financial system. More so, the effects of the global financial crisis on many emerging economies such as Nigeria which have re-echoed the importance of corporate governance have compelled the financial and non-financial regulators such as the central bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission to revise their codes of best practices for the banks and other public companies. This paper makes a contribution to the existing literature on the state of corporate governance development in the Nigerian banking sector, the impacts of the banking regulations and the efforts put in place at ensuring that the banks are well governed. It also addresses the issue on whether the banking reforms carried out by the central bank of Nigeria in relation to governance are enough or adequate for the survival of the Nigerian financial sector in the face of the global challenges. It argues that while standards and codes are being enacted and revised by the CBN and the SEC, there is need for the Nigerian internal and external environments (be it socio-cultural, political, economic, legal, religious etc.) to support the reforms.
The mechanisms of mTOR inhibitor overcoming cisplatin resistance.

5434 We have previously shown that mTOR inhibitor (CCI-779) can restore cisplatin sensitivity in cisplatin resistant small cell lung cancer cell (SCLC) line (Mol. Cancer 4:25, 2005). However, not all cisplatin resistant cell lines are sensitive to mTOR inhibitor. In this report, we have investigated the molecular differences in these cisplatin resistant lung cancer cell lines and determined whether reversal of cisplatin resistance is by inhibition of mTOR. Two pairs of lung cancer cell lines and their resistant variants were used: SCLC1/SR-2 and MSCLCS/MSCLCSC. SR-2 exhibits 20 fold resistance to cisplatin and can be completely reversed with 30 ng/ml of CCI-779 whereas MSCLCSC exhibits 7 fold resistance to cisplatin and cannot be reversed with the same dosage. To confirm that the reversal effect is due to inhibition of mTOR, we have used SiRNA to knock down mTOR. Two SiRNA were used with similar result. The maximal effect occurs at 48 hrs. with 80% inhibition and lasts for 72hr. The ID50 of cisplatin was also decreased from 2.5 to 0.2ug/ml in the transfected cell lines which is similar to using CCI-779. The amount of phosphor-4E-BP was also decreased with maximal effect seen at 72 hr. Thus, our results further confirm that inhibition of mTOR can restore cisplatin sensitivity. Since SR-2 expressed higher levels of several genes including elongation factor alpha, hTERT, cyclin D3, Cyclin B replication A protein, RAD 52, RAD51, and Ku80, we determined whether these proteins decrease after addition of CCI-779. Our results show that Elongation factor alpha, hTERT, CyclinD3, Cyclin B, Replication A protein were decreased whereas RAD 52, RAD51 and Ku80 showed no changes. SR-2 cell lines also possess higher levels of pAKT and PDK1 which indicates activation of PI3, a growth stimulatory pathway upstream of mTOR. Thus, by inhibiting mTOR, the survival pathway of cisplatin resistant cells is inhibited. In contrast, MSCLCSC has minute amounts of pAKT as well as phosphor mTOR (cannot be detected by westernblot).In addition, by gene specific array analysis, MSCLCSC only showed increase in elongation factor alpha which can be inhibited by mTOR, whereas RAD51, 52, Ku80 are not affected by mTOR inhibitor. The remaining genes are being investigated. Thus, it is likely that mTOR inhibitor will restore cisplatin resistance in cell lines which have activated PI3 survival pathway and which possess high levels of replication proteins whose translation is controlled by mTOR. Supported by VA Research fund.
Segmentation of computerized tomography images for three dimensional analysis

Accurate segmentation methods for the three-dimensional information contained in stacks of two-dimensional CT slices are required for object definition and solid modeling of objects within the data. Displays showing the surfaces of solid models present three-dimensional structural relationships more clearly than sequential viewing of the stack of slices. Methods of segmentation and their performance in the presence of noise typically found in CT images are considered with respect to accurate solid modeling, volume determination, and display quality. The same techniques can also be applied to general non-invasive examination procedures which generate three-dimensional density information representing internal objects.
Herbicides, Identification of Biologically Active Materials

The approaches and tools for herbicide lead generation and optimization are increasingly sophisticated. Inputs to screens derived from traditional chemistry, natural products, or combinatorial chemistry are tested in vivo against plants, or in vitro against a target enzyme or receptor. In both cases, high throughput capacity is made possible by automated sample handling and data tracking. Specific in vitro targets may be identified and validated by chemical or genetic means. Increasingly, an inhibitor of a target may be designed with the aid of detailed biochemical and computational tools. If the target compound is active, it will be advanced in successive levels of whole plant testing under conditions that increasingly reflect the actual performance needs of the new herbicide. Detailed studies of uptake, translocation, metabolism in the plant, or partitioning in the soil may be used to understand the barriers to activity delivery and guide the optimization effort. Further, activity on nontarget organisms and persistence in the environment are assessed to ensure the lead optimization program is directed toward discovery of products that are safe to the environment and the end user. Although increasingly sophisticated technical tools provide high quality data to help direct decision making, it is the curiosity and initiative of the discovery scientist that is ultimately responsible for a herbicide product breakthrough. Keywords: natural products; combinatorial chemistry; herbicide target sites; high throughput screening; herbicide design; activity delivery; bio-availability; genomics
Event Mining with Event Processing Networks

Event Mining discovers information in a stream of data, or events, and delivers knowledge in real-time. Our event processing engine consists of a network of event processing agents (EPAs) running in parallel that interact using a dedicated event processing infrastructure. EPAs can be configured at run-time using a formal pattern language. The underlying infrastructure provides an abstract communication mechanism and thus allows dynamic reconfiguration of the communication topology between agents at run-time and provides transparent, location-independent access to all data. These features support dynamic allocation of EPAs to machines in a local area network at run time.
Space-cube: a flexible computer architecture based on stacked modules

This paper presents a flexible, computer architecture based on stacked interchangeable modules. The architecture is ideally suited to implementation using stacked multichip modules (MCMs). The architecture, by making use of all sides of a module stack, allows simple, single bussed modules, together with a gate-way module, to be easily configured into a variety of more complicated architectures.
Barriers to Help Seeking for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive and devastating social problem that is estimated to occur in one of every four opposite-sex relationships and at least one of every five same-sex romantic relationships. These estimates may not represent violence against those who identify as transgender or genderqueer, and very little comprehensive research has been conducted on IPV within these populations. One statewide study on IPV found rates of IPV were as high as one of every two transgender individuals. In order to cope with the effects of abuse or leave an abusive partner, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and genderqueer (LGBTQ) IPV survivors seek support from others. However, LGBTQ IPV survivors may experience unique difficulties related to their sexual orientation and gender identity when seeking assistance. This article reviews the literature on LGBTQ IPV and suggests three major barriers to help-seeking exist for LGBTQ IPV survivors: a limited understanding of the problem of LGBTQ IPV, stigma, and systemic inequities. The significance and consequences of each barrier are discussed, and suggestions for future research, policy, and practice are provided.
Percutaneous placement of iliosacral screws without electrodiagnostic monitoring.

Background:Iliosacral screws are commonly used for fixation of pelvic ring injuries. Previous reports using different screw insertion techniques have reported high neurologic complication rates, leading to recommendations for intraoperative neurodiagnostic monitoring. The purpose of this study was t
Educator and Participant Perceptions and Cost Analysis of Stage-tailored Educational Telephone Calls

Abstract Objective To identify strengths and weaknesses of nutrition education via telephone calls as part of a larger stage-of-change tailored intervention with mailed materials. Design Evaluative feedback was elicited from educators who placed the calls and respondents who received the calls. Setting An internet and telephone survey of 10 states in the midwestern United States. Participants 21 educators in 10 states reached via the internet and 50 young adults reached via telephone. Variables Measured and Analysis Rankings of intervention components, ratings of key aspects of educational calls, and cost data (as provided by a lead researcher in each state) were summarized via descriptive statistics. Results, Conclusions, and Implications Educational calls used 6 to 17 minutes of preparation time, required 8 to 15 minutes of contact time, and had a mean estimated cost of $5.82 per call. Low-income young adults favored print materials over educational calls. However, the calls were reported to have positive effects on motivating participants to set goals. Educators who use educational telephone calls to reach young adults, a highly mobile target audience, may require a robust and flexible contact plan.
The rate of respiration of potato tubers during storage 1. Review of literature

This literature review shows general agreement on rapid respiration immediately after harvest, particularly in immature tubers, followed by a fall, in 3–6 weeks, to 3–8 mg kg−1 h−1. Evidence is conflicting on whether respiration is then constant or continues to fall slowly until the rise accompanying sprout growth; and on the effects of tuber size and of cultivar, particularly in relation to maturity type. Chemical treatments to stimulate sprouting increase respiration, possibly because of tissue damage. Chemical sprout suppressants prevent the rise in respiration accompanying sprout growth. Sudden temperature change and injury temporarily increase respiration. Potassium status influences respiration, possibly because of effects on damage susceptibility.
Tandem Repeats and G-Rich Sequences Are Enriched at Human CNV Breakpoints

Chromosome breakage in germline and somatic genomes gives rise to copy number variation (CNV) responsible for genomic disorders and tumorigenesis. DNA sequence is known to play an important role in breakage at chromosome fragile sites; however, the sequences susceptible to double-strand breaks (DSBs) underlying CNV formation are largely unknown. Here we analyze 140 germline CNV breakpoints from 116 individuals to identify DNA sequences enriched at breakpoint loci compared to 2800 simulated control regions. We find that, overall, CNV breakpoints are enriched in tandem repeats and sequences predicted to form G-quadruplexes. G-rich repeats are overrepresented at terminal deletion breakpoints, which may be important for the addition of a new telomere. Interstitial deletions and duplication breakpoints are enriched in Alu repeats that in some cases mediate non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between the two sides of the rearrangement. CNV breakpoints are enriched in certain classes of repeats that may play a role in DNA secondary structure, DSB susceptibility and/or DNA replication errors.
The WHI and the brain: what have we learned?☆

Abstract The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) cast a dark shadow on HT therapy. However, in the opinion of Dr. Birge, there is an important bright side that has been overlooked—the role of HT on cognitive function. To find out more about the WHI and the brain, read on. — The Editors
Local proliferation of microglia cells in response to neocortical injury in vitro.

Studies examined whether increased numbers of microglia following neural damage result from induced mitotic activity of resident microglia in situ. Organotypic slice cultures of neocortex were maintained for 1 week prior to placement of lesions. Increased numbers of OX-6 or tomato lectin labeled microglial cells were detected 1-8 days following lesions. Administration of BrdU to the cultures demonstrated lectin and BrdU double labeled microglial cells, conclusively demonstrating that a portion of the microglial cells were generated by local mitotic activity in situ.
A compact and realistic cerebral cortical layout derived from prewhitened resting-state fMRI time series: Cherniak's adjacency rule, size law, and metamodule grouping upheld

We used hierarchical tree clustering to derive a functional organizational chart of 52 human cortical areas (26 per hemisphere) from zero-lag correlations calculated between single-voxel, prewhitened, resting-state BOLD fMRI time series in 18 subjects. No special “resting-state networks” were identified. There were four major features in the resulting tree (dendrogram). First, there was a strong clustering of homotopic, left-right hemispheric areas. Second, cortical areas were concatenated in multiple, partially overlapping clusters. Third, the arrangement of the areas revealed a layout that closely resembled the actual layout of the cerebral cortex, namely an orderly progression from anterior to posterior. And fourth, the layout of the cortical areas in the tree conformed to principles of efficient, compact layout of components proposed by Cherniak. Since the tree was derived on the basis of the strength of neural correlations, these results document an orderly relation between functional interactions and layout, i.e., between structure and function.
Protection of Rat Cardiac Myocytes by Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate and 2,3-Butanedione

Earlier studies by our group showed that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) enhances the hypothermic preservation of rat cardiac myocytes and the functional recovery of animal hearts after hypothermic storage. However, the mechanisms involved were not clear. We extended the cardiomyocyte studies by testing whether the FBP effects were due to chelation of extracellular calcium, leading to lower intracellular levels. We also tested effects of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), pyruvate, and adenine nucleotide precursors. Cardiomyocytes were incubated in ischemic suspension at 3°C, and aliquots examined over 48 to 72 hours for retention of rod-shaped morphology, a measure of viability. Cytosolic Ca2+ levels were measured in some experiments. FBP at 5 mM reduced the death rate even when added after one or two days of incubation. It caused cytosolic calcium levels that were 33% lower than controls in freshly-isolated cells and 70% lower after one day of incubation. EGTA protected against cell death similarly to FBP. These results indicated that one of the mechanisms by which FBP exerts protective effects is through chelation of extracellular calcium. BDM was strongly protective and reduced cytosolic calcium by 30% after one day of incubation. As with FBP, BDM was effective when added after one or two days of incubation. BDM may be useful in combination with FBP in preserving heart tissue. Pyruvate, adenine, and ribose provided little or no protection during hypothermia.
METHODS OF LOGISTICS SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

Logistics has been receiving increased attention in management literature in the past few years. In particular, logistics has been recognised not only as a group of important functions, but as functions that have important strategic impacts as well. Logistics, as demonstrated by many corporations, can either gain or lose leverage in the marketplace, and more firms are recognising its importance.
Hemorrhagic transformation and microvascular integrity during focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Hemorrhagic transformation after cerebral ischemia is a well known clinical concern. The frequency of intact basal lamina (BL), identified by laminin antigen, in hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic zones after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCA:O) and 3-h MCA:O with reperfusion in adolescent male baboons was assessed. Parenchymal hemoglobin was not detected prior to 24-h reperfusion. A significant decrease in the density of laminin (BL) in hemorrhagic zones (6.2 ± 2.4) compared with nonhemorrhagic ischemic zones (10.5 ± 2.4) (p < 0.05) and nonischemic basal ganglia (17.0 ± 2.7) (p < 0.01) was observed. Time-dependent changes in BL integrity appear linked to the extravasation of blood components.
Identification of temporal fundamental economic structure (FES) of India: An input–output and cross-entropy analysis

Abstract This study provides an understanding of the economic structure and structural changes in the Indian economy utilizing the fundamental economic structure (FES) approach. The FES construct states that certain selected characteristics of an economy will vary predictably with economic size, as measured by gross national product, population and total gross output. The main problem addressed in this study concerns the question whether identifiable patterns of relations between various macro-aggregates and economic transactions can be revealed via input–output tables. Jensen, West and Hewings have discussed the tiered, partitioned, and temporal approaches to the identification of FES using input–output tables. This study addresses the following four research questions: Does a temporal FES exist for the Indian economy? What proportions of the cells are predictable? Can the 1968–1990 temporal FES predict 1993–1994 table? Does a temporal FES manifest an enhanced understanding of the Indian economic structure? Regression analyses are used to identify the FES and non-FES cells for the Indian economy. Small sample estimation issues are addressed applying the cross-entropy approach. The input–output tables for 1968–1969, 1973–1974, 1978–1979, 1983–1984, 1989–1990 and 1993–1994 provide data for the analysis. Analysis reveals that temporal FES includes primary, secondary and tertiary sectors as components. This research has extended the notion of FES to include weak, moderate and strong FES cells.
There are no differences in colonoscopic findings of neoplasia in asymptomatic and symptomatic women

There are no differences in colonoscopic findings of neoplasia in asymptomatic and symptomatic women
INCREASING NURSES' USE OF FEEDBACK TO PROMOTE INFECTION‐CONTROL PRACTICES IN A HEAD‐INJURY TREATMENT CENTER

This study established regular implementation of a simple feedback procedure by supervisory nurses with their assistants at a head-injury treatment center. Five nurses were trained to distribute brief written comments to their assistants about infection-control practices, including using gloves to avoid contact with body fluids. Following low rates of written feedback, nurses met with the trainer weekly to set goals for using the system, to review feedback rates, and to examine contingent letters of appreciation. Written feedback increased from 0.09 to 0.58 per day. When outcome data on glove use were subsequently added to the feedback provided to nurses, nurses' feedback on glove use increased and overall glove use by assistants increased by 36.7% for 66.7% of assistants who responded to feedback. Assistants rated feedback as highly accurate and indicated some interest in receiving future feedback. However, nurses and assistants expressed a preference for oral over written feedback.
Driving continuous quality improvement at Fairchild

Steven Willison, senior HR associate at Fairchild Semiconductor, explains how the company’s drive for continuous improvement led to the achievement of a new quality standard that keeps it one step ahead of the competition
An Investigation of the Rasch Simple Logistic Model: Sample Free Item and Test Calibration.

This research investigated the use of the Rasch simple logistic model in item and test calibration. Tests employing word, picture, symbol, and number analogies were administered to high school students, college students, civil service clerical employees, and clients of the Minnesota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The results indicated that Rasch item easiness ratios and z item difficulty ratios were invariant with respect to the ability of the calibrating sample when an adequate sample was employed and the test design did not incorporate biasing factors. The invariance of the Rasch item easiness ratios was shown to be related to the goodness-of-fit of the items to the Rasch model in that the deletion of items with low Rasch probabilities increased the invariance of the Rasch item easiness ratios. The estimation of the amount of ability indicated by the raw scores on a test was also shown to be invariant with respect to the ability of the calibrating sample for tests of 25 or more items, even when ...
Urological Symptomatology in Patients with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

AbstractPurpose: We determined the effect of reflex sympathetic dystrophy on lower urinary tract function.Materials and Methods: A total of 20 consecutive patients (16 women and 4 men) with neurologically verified reflex sympathetic dystrophy was referred for voiding symptoms, including urgency, frequency, incontinence and urinary retention. No patient had had voiding symptoms before the initial trauma that induced reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Evaluation included medical history, physical examination, video urodynamic testing and cystoscopy.Results: Mean patient age was 43.4 plus/minus 10.2 years (range 28 to 58) and mean duration of urological symptoms was 4.9 plus/minus 3.6 years (range 1 to 14). Urodynamic study demonstrated a mean cystometric bladder capacity of 417 plus/minus 182 ml. (range 120 to 700). The urodynamic diagnoses included detrusor hyperreflexia in 8 patients, detrusor areflexia in 8, sensory urgency in 3 and detrusor hyperreflexia with detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia in 1. In ...
Mechanism of Crystalline Dicarboxamide Microsphere Self-Assembly Probed by in Situ Raman Microscopy and Raman Imaging

The microsphere formation mechanism of bis(Nα-amido-l-phenylalanine) 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate, whose self-assembly was triggered by protonation of its carboxylic groups, was investigated by Raman microscopy. An image of the Raman intensity contour map, Raman imaging, shows that water is excluded from the core during the l-phenylalanine dicarboxylate aggregation. In situ Raman microscopic studies on the size and morphological changes of microspheres indicates that osmotic pressure on the sphere, generated by water exclusion from the sphere's core, controls the final assembled structure and morphology.
Performance evaluation of programs for certain Bessel functions

This paper presents methods for performance evaluation of the K Bessel functions. Accuracy estimates are based on comparisons involving the multiplication theorem. Some ideas for checking robustness are also given. The techniques used here are easily extended to the Y Bessel functions and, with a little more effort, to the I and J functions. Details on a specific implementation for testing the K Bessel functions are included.
Citisense: Mobile air quality sensing for individuals and communities Design and deployment of the Citisense mobile air-quality system

Individual and community health can be greatly impacted by poor air quality. Unfortunately air quality metrics are hard for individuals to obtain and are often not precise enough for people to make the inferences they need to construct positive personal health choices. Through the Citisense mobile air quality system we enable users to track their personal air quality exposure for discovery, self-reflection, and sharing within their local communities and online social networks.
Enhancement of Low-Contrast Curvilinear Features in Imagery

A new method is described for enhancing low-contrast curvilinear features in imagery that combines directional filtering with Fischler, Tenenbaum and Wolf's F* algorithm for computing minimum cost paths. The method exploits a phenomenon called "the stability of lines over angle." The idea is that when a directionally filtered image contains a line plus noise, minimum cost paths tend to be aligned in the direction of the line with random jumps between parallel paths. When the input image contains noise only, the direction of minimum cost paths resemble random walks with drift. As the direction of the filter changes, minimum cost paths that follow true features persist and are more stable over angle than those that follow noise. Adding them up in an accumulator array over angle produces a larger number of votes along signal paths than along noise paths. This provides a means for enhancing trajectories of low-contrast features. Several examples illustrate the enhancement of forest trails in USGS aerial imagery, linear features on Mars, and roads in synthetic aperture radar imagery
Penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy associated with closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses.

Abstract Closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs) are associated with a high incidence of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK). The prognosis for recovery of vision with penetrating keratoplasty and the exchange of one type of AC IOL for another remains controversial. A total of 40 consecutive patients with closed-loop AC IOLs and varying degrees of PBK underwent penetrating keratoplasty, explantation of the closed-loop AC IOL, and implantation of a flexible tripod AC IOL—all done with a uniform technique. The average follow-up study was 24 months. Average preoperative visual acuity was 20/170 (range, 20/25-hand motions) and average postoperative visual acuity was 20/44 (range, 20/20-no light perception). A total of 23 eyes (57.5%) achieved a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Eleven eyes (27.5%) had a visual acuity of 20/ 200 or worse. Persistent cystoid macular edema was the most frequent cause of poor vision postoperatively (4 eyes), followed by age-related macular degeneration (3 eyes) and graft rejection (2 eyes). This is the first series documenting a good visual outcome for at least 2 years after penetrating keratoplasty and exchange of a closed-loop AC IOL for a single type of flexible tripod AC IOL.
Job stages of entry, mastery, and disengagement among nurses.

Objectives:To examine the phenomenon of job stages, particularly entry, mastery, and disengagement; to identify predictors of each stage; and to determine when disengagement occurs among nurses.Summary Background Data:Job or career stages have been conceptualized as an aspect of growth and developme
Two-phonon resonant Brillouin scattering in CdS

Abstract We have identified the high frequency Brillouin peaks recently reported by Winterling and Koteles in CdS as due to scattering of two acoustic phonons. A theory of two-phonon resonant Brillouin scattering of polaritons is developed and found to reproduce well the position, linewidth and relative intensity of all the experimental peaks with only one adjustable parameter. By fitting the experimental peak positions the effective mass of the A exciton in CdS parallel to the c-axis is determined to be 2.7 ± 0.2 times the free electron mass.
THE REDUCTION OF AROMATIC NITRO AND NITROSO COMPOUNDS BY (BIS(TRIMETHYLSILYL) AMINO) DIMETHYLPHOSPHINE

Abstract (Bis(trimethylsilyl)amino)dimethylphosphine is found to deoxygenate both 2-nitrobiphenyl and 2-nitrosobiphenyl to produce carbazole in good yield. In the case of nitrosobenzene, a stable addition compound is formed which suggests a revised mechanism for the reduction of nitro compounds involving the attack of phosphorus at nitrogen.
Chronic continuous cocaine infusion in rats: Effect on urine cocaine, ecgonine methylester and benzoylecgonine concentrations and bolus-dose cocaine pharmacokinetics

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chronic cocaine infusion on urine cocaine, ecgonine methylester and benzoylecgonine concentrations to establish if they varied with dose and duration of cocaine administration. Male rats were continuously infused with cocaine at either 6 or 18 mg kg(-1) daily for 13 days. Three urine samples taken over the course of the infusion period showed that cocaine, ecgonine methylester and benzoylecgonine concentrations varied with the dose administered and the duration of administration. Cocaine, ecgonine methylester and benzoylecgonine concentrations were 2-3 times greater in the high-dose group than the low-dose group at each sampling time point. These decreased, respectively, from 7.0+/-1.1, 26.7+/-4.5 and 29.5+/-5.4 microg mL(-1) to 2.5+/-0.5, 10.5+/-1.8 and 11.8+/-1.5 microg mL(-1) in the high-dose group and from 1.0+/-0-2, 7.8+/-1.5 and 6.3+/-0.1 microg mL(-1) to 0.5+/-0.1, 4.0+/-0.6 and 3.1+/-0.4 microg mL(-1) in the low-dose group (P 0.05)). We conclude that chronic cocaine infusion does not alter cocaine metabolism. This was not reflected by absolute cocaine metabolite urine concentrations, which varied with time, but was represented by urine ecgonine methyl ester/benzoylecgonine concentration ratios.
Isolation and characterization of naturally occurring cyanogenic compounds

Abstract The literature dealing with the detection, isolation, purification and characterization of cyanogenic glycosides has been integrated with spectral and chemical data as well as other techniques from our laboratory to establish a method for the positive identification of glycosides of this type. The compounds are arranged into biosynthetically related groups (those derived from l -phenylalanine; l -tyrosine; l -leucine, l -valine; l -isoleucine; those with cyclopentene rings and pseudocyanogenic glycosides) and features of each of the above procedures are critically reviewed and spectral data for each group presented (IR, MS, UV and NMR). The NMR spectra of TMS ethers of cyanogenic glycosides have proven especially useful in chemical structure determination. This information is sufficient to permit identification of any of the 26 known glycosides as well as certain uncharacterized ones.
The role of scientific studies in building consensus in environmental decision making: a coral reef example

We present a new approach for characterizing the potential of scientific studies to reduce conflict among stakeholders in an analytic-deliberative environmental decision-making process. The approach computes a normalized metric, the Expected Consensus Index of New Research (ECINR), for identifying where additional scientific research will best support improved decisions and resolve possible conflicts over preferred management actions. The ECINR reflects the expected change in agreement among parties over preferred management actions with the implementation and consideration of new scientific studies. We demonstrate the ECINR method based on a preliminary application to coral reef protection and restoration in the Guanica Bay Watershed, Puerto Rico, focusing on assessing and managing anthropogenic stressors, including sedimentation and pollution from land-based sources such as sewage, agriculture, and development. Structured elicitations of values and beliefs conducted at a coral reef decision support workshop held at La Parguera, Puerto Rico, are used to develop information for illustrating the methodology. The ECINR analysis was focused on a final study group of seven stakeholders, consisting of resource managers and scientists, who were not in agreement on the efficacy and respective benefits of reducing loadings from three sources: sewage, agriculture, and development. The scenario assumed that loadings would be reduced incrementally from each source through a series of management steps, which would be ranked in order of maximizing anticipated benefits. An examination of whether beliefs exhibited greater confidence and coherence between stakeholders when informed by plausible study results followed. The results suggest that new scientific research would be generally likely to bring people who initially disagreed to agree. Seventy-five percent of the hypothetical research results were projected to result in more agreement among the stakeholders. However, there can be situations where prior beliefs may be too different from the study results to shift perspectives enough to result in more agreement. Furthermore, in a few cases, hypothetical research results were projected to lead to more conflict among stakeholders. Priority research, according to the seven stakeholders, would be to quantify loadings from agriculture and sewage, and not loadings from development, since it is predicted to make little difference in the outcome. Assuming the stakeholders are conflict-averse, they would likely opt for research on sewage loadings as the highest priority. Though preliminary, these results suggest that ECINR can provide useful insights into the social implications of a research program.
Inadequacies in Uniaxial Stress Screen Vibration Testing

Validating the design and reliability of equipment prior to fielding is a critical step in the materiel development and manufacturing process. Success requires that the new equipment undergo and survive testing. Stress screen vibration testing determines the equipment's design capability. Traditionally, stress screen vibration tests have been conducted by sequentially applying uniaxial excitation to test articles along three orthogonal axes. Simultaneous multiaxial excitation is an advanced method of vibration testing with the goal of more closely approximating real-world operating conditions. Multiaxial testing achieves the synergistic effect of exciting all modes simultaneously and induces a more realistic vibrational stress loading condition. This research begins an effort to explore the difference in predicting fatigue failure between sequentially applied uniaxial and simultaneous triaxial tests. The research plan starts with simple cantilever beam structures. Once initial results are complete, more c...
Broadcast Feedback With Hysteresis Loop Control of Stochastically Behaving Cellular Units With Application to Cellular Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

This work develops a probability broadcast feedback controller for an ensemble of stochastically behaving cellular units exhibiting hysteresis. Previous work has developed asymptotically stable control laws for ideal on-off cellular units without any hysteresis or time lag. This work extends previous results by developing an asymptotically stable control law for an ensemble of cells that experience an arbitrary refractory period after a change in output, during which time the cell output is fixed. This refractory period describes the behavior of hysteretic cells such as shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators or biological cell migration. Conditions for stability are obtained using a stochastic Lyapunov function. Simulation of SMA actuators demonstrates the application of the new control law to practical hysteresis loops.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Studies on Three Reductases Which Have Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Quinones as Substrates

Abstract Unlike rodent tissues, the major quinone reductase in centrifuged homogenates of human liver and placenta is a carbonyl reductase rather than a DT-diaphorase. When reduction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is compared, there are differences between the human placental carbonyl reductase, rat liver DT-diaphorase, and Clostridium DT-diaphorase. In a buffer containing 1% albumin and 10 μM quinone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone is reduced most rapidly by the carbonyl reductase, 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone is reduced most rapidly by the rat enzyme, and 3,6-pyrenequinone is reduced most rapidly by the Clostridium enzyme. In the presence of O2, redox cycling occurs with all of the quinones that are enzyme substrates, but the rate of cycling does not necessarily correlate with that of quinone reduction. Since glutathionyl adducts of certain quinones can undergo redox cycling mediated by the human carbonyl reductase or rat DT-diaphorase, it is unlikely that the conjugation of one of these quinones with glutathione is sufficient to protect against quinone-mediated oxidative stress in cells which contain either of these enzymes. The observation that superoxide dismutase and a dismutase "mimic," 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl, inhibit the redox cycling of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone suggests a mechanism whereby cells could be protected against oxidative stress caused by certain quinones.
Posterior Capsule Opacification in Pseudophakic Eyes

Posterior capsule opacification following extracapsular cataract extraction is a manifestation of proliferation of anterior lens epithelium onto the posterior capsule. In addition to Elschnig pearl formation, vision is decreased in two ways. Multiple layers of proliferated epithelium produce a frank opacity. Also, the lens cells show myofibroblastic differentiation and their contraction produces numerous tiny wrinkles in the posterior capsule resulting in visual distortion. Because the cells that proliferate are anterior lens epithelial cells and because proliferation begins at the site of apposition of anterior capsular flap and the posterior capsule, a wide anterior capsulectomy should help reduce the risk of and delay the onset of visual loss from this complication of extracapsular surgery. Polishing the posterior capsule at the time of surgery will not help in this regard unless there is a complicated cataract with pre-existing posterior migration of lens epithelium. The presence of a potential cleavage plane between the proliferating epithelium and the posterior capsule provides a therapeutic alternative to surgical or laser discission.
Atypical Lymphoid Infiltration Occurring at the Site of a Healed Varicella Zoster Infection

Herpes zoster infection has been associated with a number of cutaneous reactions. The authors report the first case of a patient with an atypical epidermotropic lymphoid infiltrate that arose within skin previously affected by herpes varicella zoster. The differential diagnosis of such lesions and review of literature on previous cutaneous infiltrates occurring at sites of zoster infection are discussed
From preventive policy to preventive practice.

Abstract Characteristics of the relationship of preventive policy to preventive practice are reviewed. The relatively low emphasis on prevention compared with treatment programs is discussed and the particular problem of the “anonymity” of prevention is defined. Prevention programs suffer in part because of the lack of identity of the specific individuals benefited. Examples from the cardiovascular diseases are used to illustrate the general points. The contrast between community- and patient-oriented prevention is important. Adequate levels of disease prevention and health promotion will never be attained one case at a time. Interactions among individuals are determinants of environmental behavioral factors relevant to health. The policy forming process is intrinsically interactive in nature. The Institute of Medicine's 1988 study of the future of public health is reviewed with respect to its emphasis on professional participation in the health policy process. Prevention is an essentially multidisciplinary area requiring the participation of many professions and disciplines. This property of prevention will be enhanced in the future. Ten principles which can be useful in translating preventive policy into preventive practice are presented.
Interpolating polynomials from their values

A fundamental technique used by many algorithms in computer algebrais interpolating polynomials from their values. This paper discusses two algorithms for solving this problem for sparse multivariate polynomials, an updated version of a probabilistic one and a new deterministic technique that uses some ideas due to Ben-Or and Tiwari (1988). In addition algorithms are presented for quickly finding points that are not zeroes of sparse multivariate polynomials-the zero avoidance problem.
A Quantitative Assessment of the Human and Economic Hazard From Impact-Generated Tsunami

In this article, we assess the human and economic hazard posed by tsunami waves generated from impacts of sub-2 km diameter asteroids. Annually, on average, 182(+197/−123) people will be affected by impact-induced waves with a corresponding infrastructure loss of $18(+20/−12)M/y. Half of the tsunami hazard stems from impactors with diameters less than 300 m. One near Earth asteroid will survive atmospheric transit and strike somewhere into Earth’s oceans every 5880 years, on average. In the mean generic scenario, the tsunami from the impact affects 1.1 million people and destroys $110B of infrastructure.
Genetic epidemiology with a capital “E”

Three characteristics of genetic epidemiology that distinguish it from its parent disciplines are a focus on population-based research, a focus on the joint effects of genes and the environment, and the incorporation of the underlying biology of the disease into its conceptual models. These principles are illustrated by a review of the genetic epidemiology of breast and ovarian cancer. Descriptive and mechanistic models for the joint effects of genes and "environmental" risk factors such as hormones and reproductive events are compared to illustrate the need to understand the biology. The contribution of population-based research to the development of the evidence for the involvement of major genes, the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2, and their characterization is reviewed. Interactions of major susceptibility genes, metabolic genes, and hormones are also discussed. I conclude with some suggestions for future directions for the field, the journal, and the Society, including recent bioethics initiatives. I believe that the Society should reach out more to the epidemiology community and that the journal should shift its emphasis from pure methodology to also include more substantive papers that illustrate these principles.
Numerical Simulation of the Lateral Interactions Between Buoyant Clouds

Abstract Pairs of buoyant elements, or thermals, are found to merge very rapidly when they are close enough for extensive overlapping of their buoyancy force fields. When this occurs, the merged pair behaves in every respect as a single element with twice the buoyancy of a solitary thermal. In the absence of merging, however, the lateral interaction suppresses the circulation and velocity of rise of both clouds. In addition to these effects, the overlapping buoyancy force field appears to favor coalescence of the clouds, whereas the contacting and interfering fields of toroidal circulation cause a mutual repulsion.
Resistance Mechanism of Propanil-Resistant Barnyardgrass: 1. Absorption, Translocation, and Site of Action Studies

Abstract Resistance of barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crus-galli ) to propanil, an important herbicide for controlling weeds in rice, has been discovered in Arkansas. Laboratory studies were conducted using resistant and susceptible barnyardgrass biotypes and 14 C-radiolabeled propanil to determine if differential adsorption/translocation of propanil was responsible for resistance and to determine if an altered propanil binding site existed in the resistant biotype. Absorption and translocation of propanil were not significantly different in the resistant and susceptible barnyardgrass biotypes. Chlorophyll fluorescence data from leaf disks exposed to propanil showed that the herbicide binding site in the electron transport chain of PS II was also not altered in the resistant biotype. This biotype was not cross-resistant to other herbicides that inhibit PS II(atrazine, diuron, fluometuron, or linuron) because both biotypes had equal mortality rates when treated with recommended concentrations of these herbicides in the greenhouse, and low levels of atrazine (50 μM ) totally inhibited PS II in chlorophyll fluorescence tests of both biotypes. Thus, propanil resistance in this barnyardgrass biotype is not due to differential absorption, translocation, or modification of the herbicidal site of action.
Impacts of crop residue at the earth-atmosphere interface: Introduction

Crop residues have been an under-valued resource in many agricultural systems. This collection of papers presents a sampling of new research and applications of new knowledge to improve our understanding of crop residue properties and impacts. Development and implementation of improved crop residue management offers opportunities to manipulate hydrologic, radiative, and energy balance processes. I hope the readers of Theoretical and Applied Climatology will be stimulated with new ideas. Collectively our new ideas can advance understanding of crop residue management and help us achieve sustainability in agricultural systems.
Introduction: some promising research developments in the area of nonnormative family sizes.

Introduction to a special journal issue devoted to research topics on childlessness and one child families. The objectives of the issue are to present current research findings on childlessness and one child families 2) to address the need for methodological and theoretical development in the area of nonnormative family size and 3) to serve as a catalyst for increasing dialog and debate on issues related to these areas. Each of the articles contributions to areas of methodological and theoretical development are cited. Questions are presented which indicate directions for future investigations.
Smoking is associated with steatosis and severe fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C but not B

Objective. The results of retrospective studies suggest an association between smoking, insulin resistance, steatosis and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC); no data are available for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship, if any, of such factors on liver fibrosis in a cohort of patients with CHB and CHC. Material and methods. The study prospectively included 271 consecutive patients with CHB (n=95) or CHC (n=176) who had undergone liver biopsies. Each patient completed a questionnaire on smoking habits; anthropometric measurements and laboratory examinations were carried out and histological lesions were recorded. Results. In CHC patients, severe fibrosis was independently associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) (OR: 1.180, 95% CI: 1.028–1.354; p=0.019), heavy smoking (OR: 3.923, 95% CI: 1.356–11.348; p=0.012), higher alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) levels (OR: 1.010, 95% CI: 1.003–1.017; p=0.005) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level...