cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Standardization for information technology (IT) - status: November 1986

Abstract This contribution is a state-of-the-art report on information technology (IT) standardization in Europe, including worldwide related activities of ISO, IEC and CCITT. The European bodies described here are: CEN, CENELEC, CEPT, ITSTC, CENCER, CEC, EFTA, ECMA, ECTEL, and SPAG. The concept of Functional Standards in the OSI environment is outlined, and the planning behind and scheduling for their development is indicated, together with a description of the progress achieved.
Alemtuzumab induction and antibody-mediated kidney rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation

Background. The best induction agent for simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) remains the subject of debate. Alemtuzumab is effective in preventing acute cellular rejection (ACR) in SPK recipients and has been used to prevent antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in sensitized kidney transplant candidates. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was performed including 136 SPK recipients receiving maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid prodrugs, and prednisone. Two groups were compared: those who received induction with alemtuzumab (n=97) and those induced with basiliximab (n=39). Results. Kidney ACR was more frequent in SPKT induced with basiliximab (2-year 12.8% vs. 3.1%, P=0.04), but the incidence of AMR was similar (2-year 18% with basiliximab vs. 13.8% with alemtuzumab, P=NS). Kidney rejection was associated with clinical pancreas rejection in 70% of cases, without differences between the groups. Postrejection kidney graft survival was similar in both groups (2-year basiliximab/alemtuzumab 94.7%/91.2%), but death-censored kidney graft survival was lower with alemtuzumab (100%/91.2%, P=0.056). In the basiliximab group, the predominant cause of kidney loss was death-with-function, whereas in the alemtuzumab group AMR accounted for all losses. Pancreas graft survival was similar in both groups, yet more pancreas losses due to acute rejection occurred in alemtuzumab-treated patients (4 vs. 1). Conclusions. Kidney AMR is more common than ACR in SPKT recipients treated with alemtuzumab, tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, and steroids. ACR is better prevented by alemtuzumab than basiliximab, but no relevant difference is found in prevention of AMR. Despite the high incidence of AMR, survival rates are excellent in both groups.
Small molecule organic light-emitting diodes can exhibit high performance without conventional hole transport layers

It is generally accepted that hole transport layers (HTLs) with thicknesses on the order of tens of nm are indispensable to the function of small molecule organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) if high electroluminescence and quantum efficiencies are to be achieved. In the present letter, small molecule OLEDs with high luminance and external quantum efficiencies are fabricated in which the HTL is replaced solely by an ultrathin (1–2 nm) self–assembled, saturated hydrocarbon organosiloxane monolayer. These results require some reconsideration of conventional design criteria regarding the necessity of HTLs and argue that the role of the self-assembled monolayer here is to enhance hole injection and charge recombination efficiency, while blocking electron transport to the anode. These results therefore offer significantly simplified device fabrication.
64Cu-labeled PEGylated polyethylenimine for cell trafficking and tumor imaging.

Purpose In this study, we exploited the potential of 64Cu-labeled polyethylenimine (PEI) for cell trafficking and tumor imaging as compared to copper-64-pyruvaldehyde-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (64Cu-PTSM).
Flow of ices in the ammonia‐water system

We have fabricated in the laboratory and subsequently deformed crystalline hydrates and partial melts of the water-rich end of the NH3-H2O system, with the aim of improving our understanding of physical processes occurring in icy moons of the outer solar system. Deformation experiments were carried out at constant strain rate. The range of experimental variables are given. Phase relationships in the NH3-H2O system indicate that water ice and ammonia dihydrate, NH3-2H2O, are the stable phases under our experiment conditions. X-ray diffraction of our samples usually revealed these as the dominant phases, but we have also observed an amorphous phase (in unpressurized samples only) and occasionally significant ammonia monohydrate, NH3-H2O. The onset of partial melting at the peritectic temperature at about 176 K appeared as a sharp transition in strength observed in samples of x(sub NH3) = 0.05 and 0.01, the effect of melt was less pronounced. For any given water ice + dihydrate alloy in the subsolidus region, we observed one rheological law over the entire temperature range from 175 K to about 140 K. Below 140 K, a shear instability similar to that occurring in pure water ice under the same conditions limited our ability to measure ductile flow. The rheological laws for the several alloys vary systematically from that of pure ice to that of dihydrate. Pure dihydrate is about 4 orders of magnitude less viscous than water ice just below the peritectic temperature, but because of a very pronounced temperature dependence in dihydrate (100 kJ/mol versus 43 kJ/mol for water ice) the viscosity of dihydrate equals or exceeds that of water ice at T less than 140 K. The large variation in viscosity of dihydrate with relatively small changes in temperature may be helpful in explaining the rich variety of tectonic and volcanic features seen on the surfaces of icy moons in the outer solar system.
Nuclear charge parameters and quadrupole moment in 105Pd from muonic X-rays

Abstract The K and L X-rays of muonic 105 Pd were measured and the radial parameters of the charge distribution in 105 Pd were derived. Based on 2p state hyperfine splitting, the spectroscopic quadrupole moment was determined to be Q s = 0.660(11) e · b.
Effect of die temperature on the morphology of microcellular foams

A study on the extrusion of microcellular polystyrene foams at different foaming temperatures was carried out using CO 2 as the foaming agent. The contraction flow in the extrusion die was simulated with FLUENT computational fluid dynamics code at two temperatures (150°C and 175°C) to predict pressure and temperature profiles in the die. The location of nucleation onset was determined based on the pressure profile and equilibrium solubility. The relative importance of pressure and temperature in determining the nucleation rate was compared using calculations based on classical homogeneous nucleation theory. Experimentally, the effects of die temperature (i.e., the foaming temperature) on the pressure profile in the die. cell size, cell density, and cell morphology were investigated at different screw rotation speeds (10 ∼ 30 rpm). Experimental results were compared with simulations to gain insight into the foaming process. Although the foaming temperature was found to be less significant than the pressure drop or the pressure drop rate in deciding the cell size and cell density, it affects the cell morphology dramatically. Open and closed cell structures can be generated by changing the foaming temperature. Microcellular foams of PS (with cell sizes smaller than 10 μm and cell densities greater than 10 9 cells/cm 3 ) are created experimentally when the die temperature is 160°C, the pressure drop through the die is greater than 16 MPa, and the pressure drop rate is higher than 10 9 Pa/sec.
The management of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

The purpose of this article is to explain the evolution of the current management of carcinoma of the vulva. Before the 1940s the outlook for a patient with carcinoma of the vulva was extremely poor. A variety of relatively ineffective treatments were practised including coagulation diathermy, radiotherapy and limited non-radical surgery with reported 5-year survivals ranging from 10-25°h.‘-3 Within two decades the outlook had dramatically altered and many centres were reporting 5-year survival rates in excess of 60%. The principal reason for this improvement was the development and application of radical surgery. In 1912, a Frenchman, Antoine Basset, was the first to propose a radical surgical procedure for a carcinoma of the vulva.4 In addition to a wide excision of the primary carcinoma, in this instance a carcinoma of the clitoris, he suggested that the regional lymph nodes should be removed in an en bloc fashion utilizing incisions running parallel with the inguinal ligament (Fig. 1A). Basset only performed his procedure on cadavers and it was Frederick Taussig of St. Louis, Missouri, who performed the first large series of radical surgery. Taussig modified the original Basset operation by making three separate incisions (Fig. lB), fashioning the groin incisions to run obliquely across the line of the inguinal ligament. Stanley Way in Newcastle, England, approached the problem of carcinoma of the vulva in a similar way to Taussig but he felt that an even more radical excision was necessary. He proposed a radical vulvectomy and en bloc inguino-femoral and pelvic node
Mouthbrooding in the black-chinned tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron (Pisces: Cichlidae): The presence of eggs reduces androgen and estradiol levels during paternal and maternal parental behavior

The black-chinned tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) is considered a paternal mouthbrooder in which the male churns the eggs in his mouth for 14-18 days after they are fertilized. We previously showed that plasma androgen and estradiol concentrations increased significantly between the beginning and end of mouthbrooding. Here we provide evidence that androgen and estradiol are relatively high in prespawning male tilapia, decrease significantly with the initiation of mouthbrooding, and return to and slightly surpass prespawning levels by the end of mouthbrooding. We then test the hypothesis that the initiation of mouthbrooding causes a decrease in androgen and estradiol. We raised single pairs of tilapia in seawater aquaria and conducted two experiments. In the first, we removed eggs from males on the morning of Day 1 of mouthbrooding, followed changes in plasma androgen and estradiol in the afternoon of Day 1 and on Days 6, 11, and 16, and compared them to levels in control males who kept their eggs. Removing eggs from mouthbrooding males on the morning of Day 1 eliminated the decrease in plasma androgen and estradiol observed in the afternoon of Day 1 of mouthbrooding. This demonstrates that the eggs are necessary for the decrease. We observed that, infrequently, the female of the pair would pick up the eggs to brood them in her mouth. In a second experiment, in the afternoon of Day 1, we sampled both the male and female of pairs in which the female brooded eggs. In female-brooding pairs, the females had significantly lower androgen and estradiol levels than prespawning females. The black-chinned tilapia in captivity exhibits both paternal and maternal parental behavior. In both sexes the initiation of mouthbrooding triggers a decrease in androgen and estradiol concentrations. We conclude that the presence of eggs inhibits the pituitary-gonadal axis in both males and females and hypothesize that a chemical signal from the eggs is delaying the initiation of the next brood.
Surface Effect on the Elastic Behavior of Static Bending Nanowires

The surface effect from surface stress and surface elasticity on the elastic behavior of nanowires in static bending is incorporated into Euler-Bernoulli beam theory via the Young-Laplace equation. Explicit solutions are presented to study the dependence of the surface effect on the overall Young's modulus of nanowires for three different boundary conditions: cantilever, simply supported, and fixed-fixed. The solutions indicate that the cantilever nanowires behave as softer materials when deflected while the other structures behave like stiffer materials as the nanowire cross-sectional size decreases for positive surface stresses. These solutions agree with size dependent nanowire overall Young's moduli observed from static bending tests by other researchers. This study also discusses possible reasons for variations of nanowire overall Young's moduli observed.
Learning to “Deal” and “De-escalate”: How Men in Nursing Manage Self and Patient Emotions†

While prior research has explored how gender frames emotion management processes, little work has specifically examined the links between men's emotion management in a caring profession and theory on masculine emotionality. Stereotyped as less sensitive to their own and others' emotions, male nurses confront unique challenges in navigating the profession's emotional demands. Drawing on men's diaries and interviews, I examine emergent emotion-based processes that characterize men's emotional labor—the strategies men use to manage their own and patient emotions on the job. In managing their own emotion, men's narratives reveal three distinct strategies: reframing the nurse role, distancing, and relinquishing situational control. In managing patient emotions, they frame control over their own emotions as a means for managing others and emphasize knowledge/education as a strategy for managing patient stress and anxiety. While both male and female nurses may engage these strategies, men's emotion management implicates the simultaneous reproduction and disruption of hegemonic masculinity and the reason/emotion dualisms that undergird the current gender system. Implications for masculinity and emotion management theory, as well as recruiting, training, and retaining male nurses are explored.
Figuring the future in Los(t) Angeles

AbstractThis article examines Los Angeles' symbolic relation to the rest of the US, deriving from its multi-layered political, social, economic, racialized and environmental complexity. Metropolitan Los Angeles has become 'a dystopian symbol of Dickensian inequalities and intractible racial contradictions', according to historian Mike Davis. Rather than representing America's modernity, Los Angeles has come to symbolize 'the collapse of the American Century'. Accordingly this article explores the motives of African American writers in representing Los Angeles as a politically and environmentally disastrous living space and a figure for the state of the nation. The value that black writers place upon and celebrate in the multiple range of urban ethnicities is at odds, not only with the class and racialized political and economic hierarchies of the city which oppresses its black residents but also contrary to contemporary dominant models of American citizenship. The article considers work by Chester Himes, ...
Affinity consideration in the design of synthetic vaccines intended to elicit antibodies

Abstract As a model for synthetic vaccines BALB/c mice were injected with a large cyanogen bromide cleaved fragment of horse cytochrome c , containing residues 1–80 of the 104 residue long polypeptide chain; then individual B cells specfic for the peptide were challenged in vitro in splenic fragment cultures, with either the fragment or intact cytochrome c , both coupled to hemocyanin. The splenic environment in which the B cells were cultured contained hemocyanin-primed T cells, which provided equivalent T cell help for both the peptide and protein immunogens. In two experiments, intact cytochrome c -hemocyanin activated a total of only five peptide-primed B cells, compared to 66 that were activated by the peptide-hemocyanin conjugate. Futhermore, antibodies from the few cells that appeared to be activated by the protein did not bind the native protein with appreciable affinity in competitive ELISA. Of the mAbs elicited by the peptide, 51 were shown to have detectable affinity for native cytochrome c , but their affinity was dramatically less than that previously observed for antibodies elicited by protein-primed B cells and also less than that for the peptide. Thus, although the Ig receptors on many of the peptide-primed B cells did bind the protein to some extent, most such B cells were not activated. These results demonstrate that, in the development of synthetic vaccines, the affinity of a protein for peptide-primed antibodies (Ig receptors) is an important criterion to be considered. Qualitative examination of the binding of an anti-peptide antibody to a protein antigen, especially in denaturing conditions such as Western blots or in potentially denaturing conditions such as ELISA, is not an accurate indication of the efficacy of the peptide to prime B cells that can be activated upon challenge from the native protein.
Why don't we get more cancer? A proposed role of the microenvironment in restraining cancer progression

Tumors are like new organs and are made of multiple cell types and components. The tumor competes with the normal microenvironment to overcome antitumorigenic pressures. Before that battle is won, the tumor may exist within the organ unnoticed by the host, referred to as 'occult cancer'. We review how normal tissue homeostasis and architecture inhibit progression of cancer and how changes in the microenvironment can shift the balance of these signals to the procancerous state. We also include a discussion of how this information is being tailored for clinical use.
EVALUATION OF CHEESE TEXTURE

The textural characteristics of cheese were surveyed for consumer preference and sensory perception. The important textural characteristics of cheese—hardness, chewiness, springiness and adhesiveness-were evaluated by a panel. The mechanical properties of cheese were measured with an Instron Universal Testing Machine. In making the Instron measurements, the effects of the conditions (i.e. rate of compression, rate of loading and cheese temperature) on the mechanical properties of cheese were determined. The melting property of cheese was determined by viscosity changes upon heating using a Brookfield Viscometer, Model RVT with T-F bar. The correlations between sensory evaluation and the mechanical properties of cheese were resolved. The panel concluded that the important textural characteristics of cheese were hardness, springiness and adhesiveness. The hardness evaluated by the panel was related to the Instron determinations of the compression force, work ratio, adhesive force, force at the inflection point and viscometer determination of the melting property. The sensory assessment of springiness correlated with elastic recovery and force at the inflection point. The sensory adhesiveness rating was related to the adhesive force but inversely related to force at the inflection point.
Detection and control of broken symmetries with Andreev bound state tunneling spectroscopy: effects of atomic-scale disorder

Abstract Quasiparticle planar tunneling spectroscopy is used to study unconventional superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) thin films and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (BSCCO) single crystals. Tunneling conductances are obtained as a function of crystallographic orientation, applied magnetic field (magnitude and orientation), atomic substitution and surface damage. Our systematic studies confirm that the observed zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP), a measure of the near-surface quasiparticle (QP) density of states (DoS), is comprised of Andreev bound states (ABS) resulting directly from the sign change of the d-wave order parameter (OP) at the Fermi surface. Our data, plus a literature search, reveals a consistency in the observation of the splitting of the ZBCP in optimally-doped materials. We note that the splitting of the ZBCP observed in applied field, and the spontaneous splitting observed at lower temperatures in zero field, occur concomitantly in a given junction, and that observation of this splitting is dependent upon two parameters: (1) the magnitude of the tunneling cone and (2) the degree of atomic-scale disorder at the interface.
Field-induced ordering of local moments in ferromagnetic CeRh3B2

Abstract A neutron powder diffraction study of the ferromagnet CeRh3B2 shows no measurable magnetic Bragg intensity unless a small (H = 130 Oe) magnetic field is applied. This result indicates that the long-range ordering of local magnetic moments in CeRh3B2 is field induced. An analysis of the field-induced Bragg intensities shows that the magnetic moments in the ordered state are associated with the cerium atoms and point along the hexagonal c axis.
Possible identification of gibberellins in tulipa gesneriana by gas-liquid chromatography

Abstract Gas-liquid chromatography of trimethylsilyl ethers of methyl esters (TMS) of partially purified extracts of tulip bulb organs on 3% OV-1 column suggested the presence of gibberellins A 1 , A 5 , A 8 , A 9 and A 13 . Gibberellins A 1 , A 5 , A 8 and A 9 in the fleshy scales, gibberellin A 1 in the shoot, and gibberellins A 5 , A 9 and A 13 in the roots. Many of the TMS derivatives did not, however, correspond with any of the gibberellin samples available. The TMS derivatives were found to be biologically active in the dwarf pea bioassay.
Acceptability of HPV vaccine among a national sample of gay and bisexual men.

Objective: Due to higher rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and anal cancer among gay and bisexual men, we aimed to characterize their willingness to get HPV vaccine and identify correlates of vaccine acceptability. Methods: We surveyed a national sample of men aged 18 to 59 who self-identified as either gay (n 236) or bisexual (n 70) during January 2009. We analyzed data using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Most men had heard of HPV vaccine (73%, 224/306) and were willing to get it (74%, 225/306). HPV vaccine acceptability was higher among men who believed their doctor would recommend getting the vaccine (OR 12.87, 95% CI: 4.63‐35.79) and those who were unsure (OR 3.15, 95% CI: 1.47‐6.76), as compared to men who believed their doctor would not recommend it. Acceptability was also higher among men who reported 5 or more lifetime sexual partners (OR 3.39, 95% CI: 1.34‐8.55), perceived greater severity of HPVrelated disease (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.18‐3.14), perceived higher levels of HPV vaccine effectiveness (OR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.27‐3.06), or reported higher levels of anticipated regret if they did not get vaccinated and later developed an HPV infection (OR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.57‐3.61). Conclusions: HPV vaccine acceptability was high among gay and bisexual men. These findings identify potentially important beliefs and attitudes for future communication efforts about HPV and HPV vaccine among gay and bisexual men.
Flavor Characteristics of Glutathione in Raw and Cooked Foodstuffs

The flavor of glutathione (gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine, GSH) was examined by several sensory evaluations. The measurement of a point of subjective equality (PSE) showed that the peptide increases the flavor characteristics but did not affect the intensity of basic tastes, such as sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and umami. However, the threshold value of GSH decreased significantly in an umami solution containing 0.05% each of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and disodium inosinate (IMP). This suggests that GSH interacts with the umami substance and has a certain effect on the flavor. GSH had a characteristic kokumi flavor, such as continuity, mouthfulness, and thickness in the umami solution as well as in a model beef extract constructed from analyzed components at a concentration of 0.02% w/v. Some foodstuffs, including meat, were found to contain GSH above its threshold value, which implicates the contribution of GSH to the flavor. The thermal degradation study suggested that a part of GSH have changed into its disulfide, pyroglutamic acid (PCA), and cyclocysteinylglycine in cooked foodstuffs.
Risk factors and comorbidities associated with obesity in children and adolescents after the arterial switch operation and Ross procedure

Background Over 25% of patients with congenital heart disease are obese (OB) or overweight (OW). Unique factors such as activity restriction and early feeding practices may play a role. We evaluated a high-risk cohort predisposed to early coronary artery disease due to past surgery involving coronary artery reimplantation. Methods Patients at our institution who underwent the arterial switch or Ross operation were included. Data collection included chart review and activity and diet questionnaires. The proportion of OB/OW (body mass index ≥85%) was compared to national data. Factors associated with OB/OW were evaluated. Results A total of 106 patients were enrolled. Median age was 14.2 years (6.0-19.9 years); 69% were male. Similar to national data, 31% were OB/OW (vs 31%, P = nonsignificant [NS]). There was no difference comparing OB/OW to normal-weight patients in activity restriction (cardiologist documented 27% vs 27%; parent reported 38% vs 42%, P = NS), activity level (9.8 hours/week [1.7-41.2] vs 11.5 [0.8-52.3], P = NS), or early feeding practices (formula vs breastfeeding, caloric fortification, tube feeding). OB/OW patients were more likely to have an OB parent (70% vs 37%, P = .01). Left ventricular mass index was higher in OB/OW patients (48.8 g/m 2.7 [24.4-120.6] vs 37.7 g/m 2.7 [16.5-85.1], P = .01). Conclusions Nearly one third of ASO and Ross patients were OB/OW. Obese/overweight was not found to be related to activity restriction or early feeding practices, but was associated with parental obesity. Obese or OW patients had higher left ventricular mass. Obesity and associated comorbidities may pose additional cardiovascular risk in this unique population who underwent coronary artery reimplantation in childhood.
Imaging for evaluation of cholesteatoma: current concepts and future directions.

Purpose of reviewTo examine the rationale and utility of imaging in patients with known or suspected cholesteatoma, with emphasis on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI).Recent findingsThe initial diagnosis of cholesteatoma is largely based on patient histor
Murine neutrophils require α1,3-fucosylation but not PSGL-1 for productive infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, the second most common tick-borne disease in the United States. Mice are natural reservoirs for this bacterium and man is an inadvertent host. A phagocytophilum9s tropism for human neutrophils is linked to neutrophil expression of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), as well as sialylated and α1,3-fucosylated glycans. To determine whether A phagocytophilum uses similar molecular features to infect murine neutrophils, we assessed in vitro bacterial binding to neutrophils from and infection burden in wild-type mice; mice lacking α1,3-fucosyltransferases Fuc-TIV and Fuc-TVII; or mice lacking PSGL-1. Binding to Fuc-TIV -/- /Fuc-TVII -/- neutrophils and infection of Fuc-TIV -/- /Fuc-TVII -/- mice were significantly reduced relative to wild-type mice. A phagocytophilum binding to PSGL-1 -/- neutrophils was modestly reduced, whereas sialidase treatment significantly decreased binding to both wild-type and PSGL-1 -/- neutrophils. A phagocytophilum similarly infected PSGL-1 -/- and wild-type mice in vivo. A phagocytophilum induced comparable levels of chemokines from wild-type and PSGL-1 -/- neutrophils in vitro, while those induced from Fuc-TIV -/- /Fuc-TVII -/- neutrophils were appreciably reduced. Therefore, A phagocytophilum infection in mice, as in humans, requires sialylation and α1,3-fucosylation of neutrophils. However, murine infection does not require neutrophil PSGL-1 expression, which has important implications for understanding how A phagocytophilum binds and infects neutrophils.
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Paper Coatings

An overview of the use of Raman spectroscopy for compositional mapping of paper coatings is presented. Raman spectroscopy is able to give the spatial distribution of pigments and binders in coated papers containing kaolin, anatase, and styrene butadiene (SB). Moreover, there are subtle differences in the Raman spectra of two forms of calcite, ground (GCC) and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), and these differences can be used to monitor the spatial distribution of coatings containing mixtures of PCC and GCC. Surface compositional mapping is relatively straightforward and is demonstrated with measurements of SB/CaCO3 ratios in mottled regions in printed coatings and the measurement of the same pigment/binder ratio in both thin and thick coated regions. For depth profiling, microtome methods are preferred, whereas the data obtained using confocal-based methods do not work.
Characterization of a bis-maleimide triazine resin for multilayer printed circuit boards

Etude du durcissement d'un melange d'une resine bis-maleimide triazine avec une resine epoxyde brome (resistance feu)
Polarization and Propagation Characteristics of Laser Beams

Polarization of laser beams and its evolution with propagation is studied theoretically. The presence of cross-polarization component for linearly polarized Hermite-Gauss and Laguerre-Gauss family of laser beams is demonstrated experimentally.
Quantitative methods for the study of lycopod megaspore ultrastructure

Abstract The study of spore wall ultrastructure has provided much useful information in comparisons between fossil and modern taxa. Recently, some features of lycopod megaspore ultrastructure have been noted which may allow for comparisons between fossil and modern megaspores. These differences include the porosity of the megaspore wall and the variability in the angle of orientation of the sporopollenin wall elements. Methods to quantify these salient aspects of megaspore ultrastructure have been developed. These include a rapid method of sectioning megaspore walls for observation using the scanning electron microscope rather than the transmission electron microscope, and techniques for measuring the porosity of the megaspore wall and the angles of orientation of the wall elements. A number of statistical tests are suggested which can be used to determine whether these features are systematically significant. Preliminary results from a continuing study of Recent and Mesozoic lycopod megaspores, which are presented to demonstrate the use of these methods, indicate that these techniques can indeed be successfully applied. These eesults also suggest that the isoetalean and selaginellalean lineages can be distinguished by ultrastructural characteristics, and that fossil megaspores can be assigned to one of these lineages based on ultrastructure. Such quantitative methods may prove valuable in tracing the evolutionary history of the lycopods and in systematic studies of the biostratigraphically useful Paleozoic and Mesozoic megaspores.
Comments, with reply, on 'Synchronization and relativity' by G.M.R. Winkler

The commenter asserts that the above-titled paper by G.M.R. Winkler (see ibid., vol.79, no.7, p.1029-39, July 1991) perpetuates a fairly widespread fundamental error by using a semipopular explanation for the dissemination of time in rotating frames of reference. The misconception that one must employ general relativity to describe kinematic phenomena (synchronization, Sagnac effect, etc.) in accelerated systems, even in flat space-time, is exposed by the commenter, who proposes a way to resolve the problem. Winkler replies that he shares the commenter's concerns but does not necessarily agree with the way he proposes to resolve the issues, and he presents arguments to support his position. In a further comment, the commenter disagrees and offers further discussion. >
The Influence of Light and Temperature on Isoprene Emission Rates from Live Oak

There is a growing awareness of the role of vegetation as a source of reactive hydrocarbons that may serve as photochemical oxidant precursors. A study was designed to assess independently the influence of variable light and temperature on isoprene emissions from live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.). Plants were conditioned in a growth chamber and then transferred to an environmentally controlled gas-exchange chamber. Samples of the chamber atmosphere were collected; isoprene was concentrated cryogenically and measured by gas chromatography. A logistic function was used to model isoprene emission rates. Under regimes of low temperature (20°C) or darkness, isoprene emissions were lowest. With increasing temperature or light intensity, the rate of isoprene emission increased, reaching maxima at 800 μE m-2 s-1 and 40–44°C, respectively. Higher temperatures caused a large decrease in emissions. Since the emissions of isoprene were light-saturated at moderate intensities, temperature appeared to be the main factor controlling emissions during most of the day. Carbon lost through isoprene emissions accounted for 0.1 to 2% of the carbon fixed during photosynthesis depending on light intensity and temperature.
Fabrication of self-assembled silica / polystyrene microlens arrays for light extraction enhancement in nitride light-emitting diodes

The fabrications of SiO 2 / polystyrene (PS) microlens arrays with various PS thicknesses were performed, and this approach resulted in 2.2–2.8 times increase in output power for nitride light-emitting diodes.
Evaluation of multiple, self-recycling of reprocessed uranium in LWR

The multiple recycling of uranium in light-water reactors is evaluated to understand its sustainability in multiple recycling scenarios and to evaluate its impact on fuel design and the fuel cycle. Two recycling scenarios were evaluated. One involves the mixing of repU with natU prior to reenrichment. A second involves the mixing of repU with 19.9% EU to provide the new reactor fuel. The equilibrium concentrations of troublesome isotopes such as U-232 and U-236 are evaluated along with the required overenrichment of U-235. It was confirmed that a U-235 overenrichment factor of 0.28 applied to the U-236 concentration is sufficient to meet the cycle reactivity requirements and yields equilibrium enrichments of 5.06% and 5.52% for the two cycles, respectively. The impact on plutonium production and cycle reactivity is further evaluated to ensure the new fuel can meet the desired burnup requirements. Here, the plutonium production was found to be greater and the reactivity swing less in recycling scenarios with higher U-236 concentration.
"Momma's Got the Pill": How Anthony Comstock and Griswold v. Connecticut Shaped US Childbearing

The 1960s ushered in a new era in US demographic history characterized by significantly lower fertility rates and smaller family sizes. What catalyzed these changes remains a matter of considerable debate. This paper exploits idiosyncratic variation in the language of "Comstock" statutes, enacted in the late 1800s, to quantify the role of the birth control pill in this transition. Almost 50 years after the contraceptive pill appeared on the US market, this analysis provides new evidence that it accelerated the post-1960 decline in marital fertility.
Distributive laws for commuting equivalence relations

Abstract In his paper (1942), Ore found necessary and sufficient conditions under which the modular and distributive laws hold in the lattice of equivalence relations on a set S . In the present paper, we consider commuting equivalence relations. It has been proved by Jonsson (1953) that the modular law holds in the lattice of commuting equivalence relations. We give some necessary and sufficient conditions for the distributive law and its dual to hold for commuting equivalence relations.
Partial purification and characterization of lactate dehydrogenase from Plasmodium falciparum.

Abstract Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from Plasmodium falciparum was partially purified by two different procedures. In the first procedure, parasitized erythrocytes (80% parasitemia) were lysed, and the soluble fraction was purified on DEAE-Sephadex to separate the parasite LDH (LDH-P) from the LDH isozymes present in the human erythrocytes. LDH-P was then purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a TSK-G-3000 SW protein column. This two-step procedure gave LDH-P with specific activity 85 μmol/min/mg protein; this represented a 700-fold increase in specific activity relative to the starting lysate. Alternatively, parasites of P. falciparum were isolated by mechanical rupture of infected erythrocytes followed by differential centrifugation. The 100 000 × g supernatant obtained after lysis of these parasites showed LDH-P specific activity 3.6 μmol/min/mg protein. This activity was free of contaminating erythrocyte LDH as determined by electrophoresis and specific staining for LDH. Further purification of LDH-P by HPLC, as before, gave material with specific activity 98 μmol/min/mg protein. Recoveries of activity on HPLC were 90%, demonstrating the usefulness of this procedure for the partial purification of small quantities of parasite protein. The kinetic properties of LDH-P were compared with those of two of the human isozymes, LDH-H 4 and LDH-M 4 . LDH-P resembles LDH-H 4 in its kinetic properties: K M (NADH) is 7, 8.3 and 1.3 μM for LDH-P, LDH-H 4 and LDH-M 4 , respectively; K M (pyruvate) is 30, 60 and 180 μM for LDH-P, LDH-H 4 and LDH-M 4 . LDH-P differs significantly from LDH-H 4 and LDH-M 4 in that LDH-P is not sensitive to inhibition by high pyruvate nor sensitive to inhibition by the complex between NAD + and pyruvate. LDH-P is inactivated within seconds by sodium deoxycholate at concentrations that do not affect LDH-H 4 and only slowly inactivate LDH-M 4 .
TRIGGERS OF SYMPTOMS AND HEALTH CARE

This article studies triggers of physical symptoms and health care on a daily basis. The data used arc health diaries kept for 6 weeks by 589 adults in metropolitan Detroit. The results show that bad moods consistently trigger physical problems and health actions (medical drug use, medical care, lay consultation, restricted activity) for men and women of all ages. Negative events have small effects on these outcomes, sometimes acting as triggers, but sometimes as dampers. Physical malaise (feeling bad overall) is an especially strong trigger for symptomatic people to take health actions. Troubles of all kinds-bad moods, physical malaise, symptoms, negative events- tend to repeat from one day to the next. Yesterday's troubles help trigger symptoms and health care today, but they have less influence than today's troubles do. When troubles continue for 2 days in a row, this spurs people especially to seek professional help. Women tend to respond more predictably and simply to triggers than men do, and older people appear to be more sensitive and responsive to triggers. The results indicate that the social stress and health model, which typically considers the longrun of major life events and chronic mental and physical conditions, is also apt for the shortrun of daily negative events, bad moods and physical discomfort and symptoms.
A seminar in computer audit and control systems

This article presents a brief overview of a graduate-level course of computer audit and control systems. I hope it will be of interest to SIGSAC Review readers who are interested in the organization of such a course. Readers are also referred to the Spring 1982 edition of SIGSAC where Bill Neugent outlines in detail a similar course he is teaching at American University in computer security.
Study of Circulating Immune Complexes in Thyroid Diseases: Comparison of Raji Cell Radioimmunoassay and Specific Thyroglobulin-Antithyroglobulin Radioassay*

Circulating soluble immune complexes (ICs) were studied by Raji cell RIA in a series of patients with and without thyroid disorders. Clearly elevated IC levels (>41.2 egeq/ml; i.e. >3 SD above the mean value of the normal controls) were found in 3 of 18 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, in 4 of 39 with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and in none of 21 patients with Graves' disease as well as in none of 21 normal healthy controls. Thyroglobulin (Tg) was not found in the ICs bound to Raji cells when sought by a sensitive radiolabeled antibody technique. Furthermore, experiments carried out with radiolabeled Tg-anti- Tg ICs (Tg-ICs) obtained by mixing Tg with homologous (Hashimoto's sera) antibody revealed that homologous Tg-ICs did not bind to Raji cells, while the ICs prepared from heterologous (rabbit) antibody did bind. Tg-ICs were also assayed in the same sera and in additional samples from 29 normal controls and 12 patients with Graves' disease by a recently developed specific immunoradiometric ...
Intra-articular hip injection: does pain relief correlate with radiographic severity of osteoarthritis?

Intra-articular injection is being used widely for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the hip. However, its efficacy is not always predictable in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the degree of radiographic severity of OA was predictive of the response to intra-articular injection of local anesthetic with corticosteroid and to determine the relationship between immediate pain relief resulting from the anesthetic and delayed pain relief resulting from corticosteroid administration. This retrospective study included 217 patients (220 injections) with diagnosis of hip OA who underwent a fluoroscopically guided therapeutic hip injection of local anesthetic and corticosteroid. Hip radiographs were scored using the Kellgren–Lawrence scale. Immediate and delayed pain relief was documented using a visual analog scale. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate whether age, gender or radiographic severity of OA were independent predictors of pain relief. Degree of agreement between immediate and delayed response was assessed with the kappa coefficient. Immediate pain relief was reported in 68.2% of hips and delayed relief in 71.4% of hips. A high level of agreement was observed between immediate and delayed pain relief (kappa = 0.80, p < 0.001). 94% of patients reporting immediate relief also reported relief 2 weeks later. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that neither gender nor age was related to immediate or delayed pain relief. Only severity of OA (based on radiographic analysis) was observed to be predictive of pain relief. Pain relief following intra-articular hip injection correlated with radiographic severity of OA. This intervention may be of therapeutic and prognostic value in patients awaiting hip arthroplasty.
The Elusive Nature of Entropy and Its Physical Meaning

Entropy is the most used and often abused concept in science, but also in philosophy and society. Further confusions are produced by some attempts to generalize entropy with similar but not the same concepts in other disciplines. The physical meaning of phenomenological, thermodynamic entropy is reasoned and elaborated by generalizing Clausius definition with inclusion of generated heat, since it is irrelevant if entropy is changed due to reversible heat transfer or irreversible heat generation. Irreversible, caloric heat transfer is introduced as complementing reversible heat transfer. It is also reasoned and thus proven why entropy cannot be destroyed but is always generated (and thus over-all increased) locally and globally, at every space and time scales, without any exception. It is concluded that entropy is a thermal displacement (dynamic thermal-volume) of thermal energy due to absolute temperature as a thermal potential (dQ = TdS), and thus associated with thermal heat and absolute temperature, i.e., distribution of thermal energy within thermal micro-particles in space. Entropy is an integral measure of (random) thermal energy redistribution (due to heat transfer and/or irreversible heat generation) within a material system structure in space, per absolute temperature level: dS = dQSys/T = mCSysdT/T, thus logarithmic integral function, with J/K unit. It may be also expressed as a measure of “thermal disorder”, being related to logarithm of number of all thermal, dynamic microstates W (their position and momenta), S = kBlnW, or to the sum of their logarithmic probabilities S = −kB∑pilnpi, that correspond to, or are consistent with the given thermodynamic macro-state. The number of thermal microstates W, is correlated with macro-properties temperature T and volume V for ideal gases. A system form and/or functional order or disorder are not (thermal) energy order/disorder and the former is not related to Thermodynamic entropy. Expanding entropy to any type of disorder or information is a source of many misconceptions. Granted, there are certain benefits of simplified statistical descriptions to better comprehend the randomness of thermal motion and related physical quantities, but the limitations should be stated so the generalizations are not overstretched and the real physics overlooked, or worse discredited.
Population Coding of Visual Space: Modeling

We examine how the representation of space is affected by receptive field (RF) characteristics of the encoding population. Spatial responses were defined by overlapping Gaussian RFs. These responses were analyzed using multidimensional scaling to extract the representation of global space implicit in population activity. Spatial representations were based purely on firing rates, which were not labeled with receptive field characteristics (tuning curve peak location, for example), differentiating this approach from many other population coding models. Because responses were unlabeled, this model represents space using intrinsic coding, extracting relative positions amongst stimuli, rather than extrinsic coding where known RF characteristics provide a reference frame for extracting absolute positions. Two parameters were particularly important: RF diameter and RF dispersion, where dispersion indicates how broadly RF centers are spread out from the fovea. For large RFs, the model was able to form metrically accurate representations of physical space on low-dimensional manifolds embedded within the high-dimensional neural population response space, suggesting that in some cases the neural representation of space may be dimensionally isomorphic with 3D physical space. Smaller RF sizes degraded and distorted the spatial representation, with the smallest RF sizes (present in early visual areas) being unable to recover even a topologically consistent rendition of space on low-dimensional manifolds. Finally, although positional invariance of stimulus responses has long been associated with large receptive fields in object recognition models, we found RF dispersion rather than RF diameter to be the critical parameter. In fact, at a population level, the modeling suggests that higher ventral stream areas with highly restricted RF dispersion would be unable to achieve positionally-invariant representations beyond this narrow region around fixation.
Erythrocyte survival in sheep exposed to ozone.

Erythrocyte survival studies in the Dorset ewe using chromium 51 were performed. The purpose of the study was to determine if ozone exposure produces decreased cell survival which may be the result of premature erythrocyte aging. This strain of sheep has an erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity that is very low, being comparable to human A-variants with G6PD deficiency. Ozone exposure may produce hemolytic effects in G6PD deficients more readily than in erythrocytes with normal activity. A decrease in hematocrit was observed in the ozone exposed groups. With respect to red cell destruction, ozone does not appear to act immediately, but rather there appears to be a delayed effect. At 0.25 ppM ozone, the group reached the 50% remaining level an average of 1 day sooner than the control group. There was no significant difference between control and exposed groups at the 0.50 ppM and 0.70 ppM levels. Also, the results demonstrate a net decrease in hematocrit which is greater for 0.25 ppM ozone than any other exposure level. (RJC)
Diffuse Reflectance FT-IR Analysis of Rosin Flux-Metal Oxide Interactions

The use of diffuse reflectance Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy for the analysis of rosin flux residues on metal oxide powders, after exposure to high-temperature soldering conditions, is examined. The flux is shown to solvate some metal ions to form metal-carboxylate salt complexes. The ability of nonactivated rosin flux to remove possible corrosion products of copper-tin/lead solder joint areas is discussed.