cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thinking with two brains: Student perspectives on the presentation of race in pre-clinical medical education.

Context There is growing concern that during their education medical students come to believe that "race" is a biological construct and that differential treatment of patients based on "race" is clinically beneficial. How "race" is presented to medical students may influence both their implicit biases and future clinical practices, potentially widening racial disparities in care. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with twenty-two preclinical mostly non-white medical students attending a public medical school in a major metropolitan area in the northeastern United States. Interview content focused on how medical students experience the presentation of race in medical education, use race in their learning experiences, and envision using race as physicians in future clinical encounters. Transcripts were analyzed using the framework method and emergent themes were identified. Results Participants described being most aware of the presentation of race in board-style questions and least aware of the presentation of race during lectures. They described being aware of race in problem-based learning (PBL) modules if the case revolved around a likely race-disease association. They identified imprecision in how race was presented during lectures and insufficient explanations of causes of racial disparities in health. Participants described feeling ill-prepared to obtain racial self-identification and receiving mixed messages around the utility of race in diagnosing a patient. Participants reported experiences of cognitive dissonance around the presentation of race in board-style questions and lectures. Conclusions Critical evaluation of the presentation of and instruction around "race" is needed to address whether it is presented as a biological vs. social construct, the level of precision of racial categorization in curricular content, and the causes of and mechanisms behind race-disease associations. This has the potential to minimize false beliefs about race as a biological construct and the resultant negative impacts on clinical care. Future research could evaluate whether problem-based or experiential (OSCE) learning, in contrast to board-style questions and didactic lectures, are the most effective way to educate students around race in health and illness. Additionally, future research can investigate if the mission (i.e. social) and composition (Predominantly White Institution or Historically Black College/University) of the faculty impacts student experiences of the presentation of race.
The Relative Orientation of the Trunk and Tibia can be Used to Estimate the Demands on the Hip and Knee Extensors During the Barbell Back Squat

Sagittal plane inclination of the trunk and tibia have been shown to independently modulate hip and knee extensor moments during squatting. The purpose of this study was to determine if the differe...
An experimental study on the detrimental effects of deicing fluids on the performance of icephobic coatings for aircraft icing mitigation

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted to examine the detrimental effects induced by deicing fluids used for aircraft ground deicing on the performance of icephobic coatings for aircraft inflight icing mitigation. Commonly used superhydrophobic surface (SHS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon®) were selected as the representative icephobic coatings in the present study. Test plates and airfoil/wing models coated with SHS and PTFE coatings were immersed into two kinds of deicing fluids (i.e., Type-I and Type-IV deicing fluids) to simulate the scenario of spraying deicing fluids onto aircraft surfaces for ground deicing at airports. Then, the deicing fluids were drained off from the icephobic coated surfaces to imitate their shedding off from airframe surfaces after aircraft takeoff. Variations of the surface wettability and ice adhesion characteristics on the icephobic coated surfaces were examined before and after immersion into the deicing fluids. Advanced diagnostic systems, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were used to reveal the changes in the surface topology and chemistry characteristics to elucidate the underlying physical and chemical “contaminations” induced by the deicing fluids to the icephobic coatings. An icing tunnel testing campaign was also conducted to demonstrate the detrimental effects induced by the contaminations of the deicing fluids on the dynamic ice accretion processes on icephobic coated airfoil/wing models. It was revealed that spraying Type-1 deicing fluid for ground deicing would have only very minor (i.e., to the SHS) or no effect (i.e., to the PTFE) on the performance of the icephobic coatings. However, spraying Type-IV deicing fluid onto airframe surfaces would degrade the performance of the icephobic coatings significantly and totally deteriorate the effectiveness of the icephobic coatings for aircraft inflight icing mitigation.
Transient microscale flow boiling heat transfer characteristics of HFE-7000

Abstract A detailed experimental study was conducted to identify the important parametric trends governing the temperature response of a microdevice to transient heat loads for flow boiling of HFE-7000. The microdevice consisted of a microgap etched on a silicon wafer and placed centrally over a thin-film heater deposited on a Pyrex wafer. A step change in heat flux and a rectangular pulse were applied to the heater. The effects of mass flux, heat flux (pulse amplitude), and pulse width on the heater temperature response and boiling dynamics were investigated in detail. Conditions at which onset of boiling occurred were identified and the repeatability of the boiling process was studied. Onset of boiling and the subsequent bubble dynamics was recorded with a high-speed video camera. Boiling initiated at very high wall superheat due to the smoothness of the heater surface and low surface tension of HFE-7000. At high heat fluxes, onset of boiling resulted in the formation of a vapor film on the surface and rapid heater temperature rise was observed. Time taken to initiate boiling decreased rapidly with increasing heat flux and then reached a constant value. The wall superheat at which boiling started increased with increasing heat flux and subsequently reached a constant limit.
Deformation and Failure of Boron-Epoxy Plate with Circular Hole

The behavior under uniaxial tension of a boron-epoxy composite plate with a circular hole was studied by means of experimental stress analysis and finite-element methods. The specimens were 10 by 26 in boron-epoxy panels of [0/′45/0/90] s layup. They were instrumented with strain gages, photoelastic coatings, and moire grids. The latter were analyzed using moire fringe multiplication techniques. Strain distributions as a function of applied nominal stress were obtained along the axes of symmetry and around the boundary of the hole. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio were computed from the far-field strains. Tensile and compressive strain concentrations were computed for the linear range of strain response. Experimental results were compared with those obtained by homogeneous anisotropic elasticity and by finite-element analysis. The mode of failure was a combination of interlaminar shearing and tensile cracking starting at the hole boundary off the horizontal axis, at a point where the elastic shear stress and strain reach their maximum and where the tangential normal and shear strains increase rapidly and nonlinearly with load. The average applied stress at failure was 42 200 psi compared with a coupon strength of 94 000 psi. The average ultimate tensile strain at the hole boundary on the horizontal axis was 8 X 10 - 3 in./in. compared with a coupon ultimate strain of 6.8 X 10 - 3 in./in. At higher loads the peak of the tensile strain shifted, resulting in a higher ultimate strain away from the boundary.
Bacterial Metabolism of Thiamine III. METABOLISM OF THIAMINE TO 3-(2'-METHYL-4'-AMINO-5'-PYRIMIDYLMETHYL)-4-METHYLTHIAZOLE-5-ACETIC ACID (THIAMINE ACETIC ACID) BY A FLAVOPROTEIN ISOLATED FROM A SOIL MICROORGANISM

A flavoprotein which catalyzes the metabolism of thiamine to 3-(2'-methyl-4'-amino-5'-pyrimidylmethyl)-4-methylthiazole-5-acetic acid (thiamine acetic acid) has been purified to homogeneity. The purification and certain properties of the enzyme are described. The enzyme catalyzes a reaction in which 1 mole of thiamine and 2 moles of oxygen are consumed to form 1 mole of thiamine acetic acid. The evidence reported here suggests that thiamine is oxidized to thiamine acetic acid by a single enzyme without the intermediate aldehyde being released from the enzyme. The enzyme is active against thiamine, oxythiamine, and pyrithiamine but not thiochrome. At an equimolar concentration, thiamine acetic acid decreases the rate of oxidation of thiamine by 40%. The enzyme is inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, quinacrine, semicarbazide, Hg2+, and Cu2+ and stimulated by mercaptoethanol, NaCN, and EDTA.
Kinetic Properties of Phosphotransacetylase from Veillonella alcalescens

The phosphotransacetylase of Veillonella alcalescens catalyzes a reversible reaction with Michaelis-Menten kinetics for all substrates. The rate of the reverse reaction (the synthesis of acetyl coenzyme A from acetyl phosphate) was 6.5 times greater than the rate of the forward reaction (the synthesis of acetyl phosphate from acetyl coenzyme A). The apparent K(m) values determined for the forward reaction were 8.6 x 10(-6)m for acetyl coenzyme A and 9.3 x 10(-3)m for phosphate. In the reverse reaction, the K(m) values were 3.3 x 10(-4)m for coenzyme A and 5.9 x 10(-4)m for acetyl phosphate. The results of an analysis of the inhibition by end products in the forward and reverse directions were compatible with a random bi- bi- mechanism. The enzyme was inhibited by adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate but was not affected by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or pyruvate. The inhibition by adenosine triphosphate was noncompetitive with respect to acetyl phosphate and competitive with respect to coenzyme A. MgCl(2) reversed the inhibition by adenosine triphosphate or adenosine diphosphate. The role of Mg(2+) and adenylates in the regulation of phosphotranscetylase activity is discussed.
Model-based sparse source identification

This paper presents a model-based approach for source identification using sparse recovery techniques. In particular, given an arbitrary domain that contains a set of unknown sources and a set of stationary sensors that can measure a quantity generated by the sources, we are interested in predicting the shape, location, and intensity of the sources based on a limited number of sensor measurements. We assume a PDE model describing the steady-state transport of the quantity inside the domain, which we discretize using the Finite Element method (FEM). Since the resulting source identification problem is underdetermined for a limited number of sensor measurements and the sought source vector is typically sparse, we employ a novel Reweighted `1 regularization technique combined with Least Squares Debiasing to obtain a unique, sparse, reconstructed source vector. The simulations confirm the applicability of the presented approach for an Advection-Diffusion problem.
Enders, John Franklin

1897–1985 American microbiologist known for his work in cultivating viruses in tissue culture, notably the poliovirus, which led directly to the development of vaccines for poliomyelitis as well other diseases such as mumps, measles and rubella. Keywords: tissue culture; poliovirus
Discrim: a computer program using an interactive approach to dissect a mixture of normal or lognormal distributions

DISCRIM is an interactive computer graphics program that dissects mixtures of normal or lognormal distributions. The program was written in an effort to obtain a more satisfactory solution to the dissection problem than that offered by a graphical or numerical approach alone. It combines graphic and analytic techniques using a Tektronix1 terminal in a time-share computing environment. The main program and subroutines were written in the FORTRAN language.
Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the CTNS gene.

Cell cysteine (Cys) levels and/or the [Cys/CySS] redox potential have been shown to regulate mRNA levels of the CTNS gene, which encodes for a lysosomal cystine (CySS) carrier that is defective in cystinosis. To investigate the mechanisms involved CTNS mRNA regulation, different portions of the CTNS promotor were cloned into a luciferase vector and transfected in HK2 cells. A 1.5–2.4-fold increase in luciferase activity was observed when cells were incubated in culture medium containing low CySS concentrations. Conversely, CTNS mRNA levels decreased by 47–56% in the presence of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Chase experiments with actinomycin D (ActD) demonstrated a 3-fold stabilization of the CTNS mRNA when cells were cultured in low CySS medium for 48 h. Treatment of control cells with cyclohexamide (CHX) increased CTNS mRNA levels, suggesting that CHX blocked the synthesis of proteins involved in mRNA degradation or in repression of the CTNS gene. Finally, in vitro binding assays showed increased binding (30–110%) of the Sp-1 transcription factor to two regions of the CTNS promotor when cells were incubated in low CySS medium. These results indicate that the CTNS gene is actively regulated at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels and suggest that CTNS plays a pivotal role in regulating cell thiol concentrations.
Hyphenated Techniques in Dynamic Electrochemistry. 1. Mechanistic Diagnosis for Redox Switching of Electroactive Films Using Nonelectrochemical Population Probes

The use of hyphenated electrochemical techniques to study electroactive films has two aspects. First, there is an electrochemical control function that drives fluxes of film mobile species and may trigger film structural changes. Second, there are two responses, one characteristic of the probe and the other the conventional electrochemical response. We present a quantitative theory relating changes in electroactive film mobile species populations to different electrochemical control functions. This theory identifies the coulostatic and potentiostatic step methods as optimal for separation of the elementary steps in the redox switching of electroactive films. Combinations of the population changes to the coulostatic and potentiostatic control functions predict the population changes to all other electrochemical control functions. Although the theory is general, we discuss it specifically with regard to a model for redox switching of electroactive films that incorporates three elementary steps. These elemen...
DSM criteria for major depression: evaluating symptom patterns using latent-trait item response models.

Background. Expert committees of clinicians have chosen diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders with little guidance from measurement theory or modern psychometric methods. The DSM-III-R criteria for major depression (MD) are examined to determine the degree to which latent trait item response models can extract additional useful information. Method. The dimensionality and measurement properties of the 9 DSM-III-R criteria plus duration are evaluated using dichotomous factor analysis and the Rasch and 2 parameter logistic item response models. Quantitative liability scales are compared with a binary DSM-III-R diagnostic algorithm variable to determine the ramifications of using each approach. Results. Factor and item response model results indicated the 10 MD criteria defined a reasonably coherent unidimensional scale of liability. However, person risk measurement was not optimal. Criteria thresholds were unevenly spaced leaving scale regions poorly measured. Criteria varied in discriminating levels of risk. Compared to a binary MD diagnosis, item response model (IRM) liability scales performed far better in (i) elucidating the relationship between MD symptoms and liability, (ii) predicting the personality trait of neuroticism and future depressive episodes and (iii) more precisely estimating heritability parameters. Conclusions. Criteria for MD largely defined a single dimension of disease liability although the quality of person risk measurement was less clear. The quantitative item response scales were statistically superior in predicting relevant outcomes and estimating twin model parameters. Item response models that treat symptoms as ordered indicators of risk rather than as counts towards a diagnostic threshold more fully exploit the information available in symptom endorsement data patterns.
The form and function of duets and choruses in Red-backed Fairy-wrens

In many avian species, both members of a pair or all members of a breeding group sing, often in duets or choruses. Previous studies indicate that duets often function in territorial defence. Howeve...
GRANULOCYTIC SARCOMA PRESENTING AS TESTICULAR AND PARATESTICULAR MASSES IN INFANCY

A 2-month-old infant presented with swelling and discoloration of the right hemiscrotum. An ecchymotic, firm, discrete 2 cm. mass was palpated superior to the right testis with a normal testis and spermatic cord proximal and distal to the mass. No lymphadenopathy, or abdominal or testicular mass was identified. Scrotal ultrasound showed a 2.3 cm. solid echogenic mass superior to the right testicle and bilateral intratesticular hypoechoic lesions (see figure). Inguinal exploration demonstrated a focal gelatinous, hemorrhagic mass arising from the anterior portion of the spermatic cord and several small bluish nodules within the testis. Due to lesion multifocality the spermatic cord mass was excised and a testicular lesion was biopsied. Each specimen demonstrated granulocytic sarcoma. Bone marrow biopsy revealed acute myelocytic leukemia. Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation were performed. The patient is disease-free 1 year after transplantation. DISCUSSION
Allometric Growth and the Beverton and Holt Yield Equation

Abstract In the development of their theory of fishing, Beverton and Holt assume that growth is isometric and thus express the body weight of a fish as directly proportional to the cube of its length. The effect on their theory of replacing this assumption with an allometric growth equation estimated from weight-length data is examined in this paper. Numerical evaluation of the Beta-integral that results from using allometric growth in the yield equation was carried out on a digital computer. Relative and absolute differences between the yield isopleths obtained using isometric growth and those obtained using allometric growth are examined for taxonomic groups with different characteristic growth patterns and longevities.
Characteristics of GaAs laser arrays designed for beam addressable memories

Four properties of GaAs laser arrays i.e., the efficiency, junction width, beam spread, and polarization, are important in assessing the usefulness of such devices in beam addressable memory applications. Measurements made on a series of arrays are presented. It is shown that the first two parameters closely approach the characteristics of an idealized array, while the latter two reduce the energy density at the storage plane to 25 percent of that at the junction surface. With existing devices, information has been written and recovered at a bit rate of 10 MHz.
Interpretation of Relative Weight in Three Populations of Wild Bluegills: A Cautionary Tale

Abstract Physiological status of wild fish is inherently variable in time and space, and investigators need to understand how this variation affects the interpretation of condition indices. Our objective was to describe the relationship of relative weight (Wr) to several indicators of nutritional status (lipid, protein, and water content, and weights of internal organs) in two populations of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and see how well this relationship performed when tested against an independent data set, a third population. We used four samples from the third population to evaluate the relationship of Wr to nutritional status through the annual cycle. The regression model relating Wr to the component variables was highly significant (R2 = 0.573, F = 14.97, P < 0.001). The most influential variables in the model were liver–-somatic index and viscerosomatic index. In the testing data, mean bias was significantly greater than zero in three of four cases, and unexplained variance was much greater than in ...
Hydrazine as a substrate and inhibitor of Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase.

Abstract Hydrazine has been tested as a substrate and inhibitor of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii . It is a linear noncompetitive inhibitor of acetylene reduction, with K il = K is = 80 mM at pH 8.0. Carbon monoxide is a linear noncompetitive inhibitor of hydrazine reduction with K ii = K is = 2 × 10 −4 atm. The inhibition of acetylene reduction by hydrazine is unaffected by the presence of hydrogen, and hydrogen does not inhibit the reduction of hydrazine. Hydrazine can completely suppress hydrogen evolution, while not inhibiting phosphate hydrolysis. The apparent K m for hydrazine reduction varies with pH, reaching a limiting value of about 25 mM at high pH. The apparent K i for hydrazine inhibition of hydrogen evolution reaches a similar limiting value at high pH. By varying the concentration of ATP it is possible to alter the relative allocation of electrons to acetylene or hydrazine. Hydrazine is a relatively more potent inhibitor of acetylene reduction at low levels of ATP. It is concluded that hydrazine is able to react effectively with a less reduced state of the enzyme from A. vinelandii than is acetylene or dinitrogen.
Forced Vibratory Motion of a Circular Disk on an Infinite Transversely Isotropic Medium

The forced vertical vibratory motion of a rigid body with a circular base on the surface of a transversely isotropic material is investigated by using the method of Hankel transform. The total dynamic contact force is obtained through a complete contour integration in terms of the Rayleigh surface waves. The real-valued displacement functions are expressed in terms of the frequency factor and the anisotropic material constants. The resonant amplitudes of vibration are shown to depend significantly on the anisotropic material constants, the mass ratio, and the vibration frequency.
Turning Genealogists onto GIS

As the popularity of genealogy continues to grow, an increasing number of genealogists are venturing into map and geography libraries to research their family histories. An assortment of geographical materials is essential for this type of research including gazetteers, atlases, historical maps and aerial photos. Given this genuine regard for geography, genealogists can and should be introduced to GIS. Numerous types of data that genealogists collect can be visually represented in mapping projects using ESRI's ArcView 9.1 software. Libraries that offer GIS services are perfectly suited to foster that initiation. GIS Librarians will be able to show examples and demonstrate for genealogists the endless possibilities in building a personalized family history atlas.
Brownian dynamics of emulsion film formation and droplet coalescence

We analyze the evolution in thickness and radius of the film formed during the collision of two deformable emulsion Brownian droplets. These variables exhibit random fluctuations due to thermal disturbances from the continuous liquid phase. As a result, the system probes a random trajectory in the configurational space until it reaches a critical film thickness, at which point the droplets coalesce. Therefore, the film is modeled as a disk with thicknesses and radi that can fluctuate. Our analysis is based on a Langevin-Brownian dynamics approach, which accounts for the thermodynamic and hydrodynamic interactions in the lubrication approximation. We examine the effect of parameters such as droplet size, interfacial mobility, and electrolyte concentration on the coalescence of small Brownian droplets. The results suggest that the coalescence times depend on a complex interplay between the thermodynamic and hydrodynamic interactions.
Effects of injections of allergen extracts on antigenic release of histamine from leucocytes, skin tests and bronchial challenge in allergic children.

Summary Leucocyte sensitivity to antigenic release of histamine was determined in allergic children receiving injections of allergen extracts in order to ascertain the frequency of development of complete loss of sensitivity (unresponsiveness). Leucocyte unresponsiveness did not occur in any of eight allergic children given large doses of allergen extracts by an intensive regimen of injections. In only two of twenty-three children who had received injections of allergen extracts by a customary dosage regimen, were the leucocytes found to be unresponsive to antigenic histamine release. These findings confirm our earlier reports. The incidence of complete loss of leucocyte sensitivity during injection therapy in our studies is lower than reported by others. This is attributed to our employment of a more nearly optimal in vitro system for measurement of antigenic histamine release from leucocytes, thus avoiding the false impression of leucocyte unresponsiveness which can result from use of a less sensitive procedure. Other findings in the present investigation were: (I) concordant fluctuations in leucocyte sensitivity to two unrelated allergens during injections of one of the allergens, indicating non-specific changes in sensitivity; (2) skin sensitivity and bronchial reactivity were not reduced even with marked decrease in peripheral leucocyte sensitivity; (3) significant decrease in titre of serum complement, as occurs in presence of antigen-antibody complex reactions.
Magnetic Resonance Investigations of Phase Transitions and Modulation Wave Motions in Incommensurate Solids

We measured87Rb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) Hahn spin-echo magnetization decays in the incommensurate (I) phase of Rb2ZnCl4 and, in each case, obtained a Hahn echo decay that was shorter than the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill decay and one which decayed with a time constant proportional to the cube of the echo time. From these measurements we obtained from both the87Rb NMR and35Cl NQR measurements values for the diffusion coefficients that are comparable in magnitude, a fact that strongly supports the existence of slow modulation wave diffusionlike motions in the I phase, since such motions should affect both Rb and Cl ions similarly. In addition, we used87Rb two-dimensional exchange-difference NMR to study atomic motions in the incommensurate (I) and paraelectric (P) phases to elucidate the nature of the I-P transition. We measured as a function of the mixing time the frequency shifts of the cross peaks from the main diagonal and observed a gradual increase towards an asymptotic value in the I phase but a sudden jump to the final value in the P phase. We interpreted the motions observed in the P phase as normal modes arising from simultaneous reorientations of ZnCl4 tetrahedra and corresponding Rb ions displacements between two sites. These normal modes freeze out in the I phase and change to the diffusionlike motion of the modulation wave. We also performed35Cl NQR lineshape andT 1 measurements in K2ZnCl4 and obtained conclusive evidence for the presence of a narrow 1q (singly modulated) I phase between 146 and 149 K.
Calibration standards and field instruments for the precision measurement of insolation

The design of a fieldworthy survey instrument based on a developed radiation calibration standard is discussed. The radiometer system, a fieldworthy modification of Pacrad, is an all-weather solar radiometer, and a field test is described which demonstrates the instrument's stability in severe environments over an extended period of time. It is suggested that the instrument may be considered a transfer standard as well as a radiometer. It is hoped that future modifications might reduce the 15-deg view angle and improve the tracking system to eliminate weekly manual declination adjustments.
Mechanisms of Teratogenesis

Man’s early pictorial and written records make it clear that he was aware of and curious about the structural defects that from birth afflicted some of his fellow men. His attitudes about these congenital variants have ranged widely in different cultures: from romanticizing them in mythology, to using them as portent of coming events, to accepting them as divine retribution for wrongdoing, to simply regarding them as manifestations of witchcraft. Historical medical writings contain descriptions of the more bizarre malformations but explanations as to their genesis, if not always as fanciful as those seated in popular superstition, were equally fatalistic in outlook.
Cost-effective WDM backbone network design with OXCs of different bandwidth granularities

We investigate the design of a WDM backbone network with optical cross-connects (OXCs) of different switching granularities to reduce the network-wide OXC port cost. We enhance our proposed graph model (Zhu, H. et al., IEEE/ACM Trans. Networking, vol.11, p.285-99, 2003), and the extended graph model can represent different node architectures in which a node may have multiple OXCs with different switching granularities simultaneously. Based on this model, we propose a provisioning algorithm for a single connection and a framework for network design, which can intelligently determine the type of OXCs at each node according to the traffic so that the benefit of different types of OXCs can be utilized. Numerical examples are presented showing that granularity-heterogeneous networks are more cost-effective than granularity-homogeneous networks.
Phospholipase A2 acyl-hydrolytic activity in rat RPAR-induced pleurisy.

Endogenous phospholipase A2 (PLA2) specific activity (SA) (% hydrolysis/min/mg protein) in the rat pleural cavity, measured as the acyl-hydrolysis of [3H]-arachidonic acidE. coli substrate, was quantitated after induction of a reverse passive Arthus reaction (RPAR). PLA2 SA, derived when the rate of hydrolysis was linear (1–5 min), was 1.9, 1.4, 3.8 and 4.1% h/min/mg at 10 min, 2 h, 4 h and 24 h, respectively, after induction of the RPAR. This time course appeared to correlate, with the influx of mononuclear inflammatory cells, although the effect of plasma leakage on changes in exudate PLA2 SA could not be determined. Oral adminstration of antiinflammatory drugs signficantly inhibited pleural fluid exudation and inflammatory cell influx to varying degrees. However, whereas these drugs additionally reduced total exudate protein and PLA2, they had no effect on the concentration of either parameter, implying that pleural PLA2 may be passively linked to fluid and cell movement.
Trisomic Pregnancy and Earlier Age at Menopause

We tested the hypothesis that the connection between advanced maternal age and autosomal trisomy reflects the diminution of the oocyte pool with age. Because menopause occurs when the number of oocytes falls below some threshold, our hypothesis is that menopause occurs at an earlier age among women with trisomic pregnancies than it does among women with chromosomally normal pregnancies. To determine their menstrual status, we interviewed women from our previous study of karyotyped spontaneous abortions who, in 1993, were age ≥44 years. Premenopausal women completed interviews every 4–5 mo, until menopause or until the study ended in 1997. The primary analyses compare 111 women whose index pregnancy was a trisomic spontaneous abortion with two groups: women whose index pregnancy was a chromosomally normal loss ( n =157) and women whose index pregnancy was a chromosomally normal birth ( n =226). We used a parametric logistic survival analysis to compare median ages at menopause. The estimated median age at menopause was 0.96 years earlier (95% confidence interval −0.18 to 2.10) among women with trisomic losses than it was among women with chromosomally normal losses and chromosomally normal births combined. Results were unaltered by adjustment for education, ethnicity, and cigarette smoking. Our results support the hypothesis that trisomy risk is increased with decreased numbers of oocytes. Decreased numbers may indicate accelerated oocyte atresia or fewer oocytes formed during fetal development.
DLW: My Mentor

As this journal's tribute to his life and work indicates, D. Lawrence Wieder's (hereafter DLW1) contributions to the disciplines of sociology and communication were outstanding; he was not only a prolific scholar and avid researcher, but also a pioneer in the communication disciplines' area of language and social interaction. His academic legacy however, extends beyond his research and writings to the many lives of graduate and undergraduate students he influenced in his roles as mentor and role-model. It is from this perspective, as DLW's student and mentee, that I write this tribute.
Simultaneous generalizations of the theorems of Ceva and Menelaus for field planes

In 1992, Klamkin and Liu proved a very general result in the Extended Euclidean Plane that contains the theorems of Ceva and Menelaus as special cases. In this article, we extend the Klamkin and Liu result to projective planes PG(2, ?) where ? is a field.
Occupational Stereotyping in American and Greek Cultures

Summary This investigation was designed to extend the findings of previous research on occupational stereotyping cross-culturally by assessing the attitudes of segments of the American and the Greek publics toward the altruism, competence, power, status, and truthfulness of the members of 20 selected occupations. It was hypothesized that members of the two cultures would show high agreement in their ratings of the various occupations. Specifically, it was predicted that both Americans and Greeks would rate professionals most favorably, followed by businessmen and clerks, with blue-collar workers being rated most negatively. To test these contentions, four samples of men and women Ss, two from the American (N = 368) and two from the Greek cultures (N = 258), were recruited for the study and asked to fill out an Attitudes Toward Occupations Questionnaire. The results supported the predictions. The Americans and the Greeks did differ in their ratings, however, in several interesting respects. The Americans r...
Importance of soil and elevation characteristics for modeling hurricane-induced power outages

Hurricanes can severely damage the electric power system, and therefore, predicting the potential impact of an approaching hurricane is of importance for facilitating planning and storm-response activities. A data mining approach, classification and regression trees (CART), was employed to evaluate whether the inclusion of soil and topographic variables improved the predictive accuracy of the power outage models. A total of 37 soil variables and 20 topographic variables were evaluated in addition to hurricane, power system, and environmental variables. Hurricane variables, specifically the maximum wind gust and duration of strong winds, were the most important variables for predicting power outages in all models. Although the inclusion of soil and topographic variables did not significantly improve the overall accuracy of outage predictions, soil type and soil texture are useful predictors of hurricane-related power outages. Both of these variables provide information about the soil stability which, in turn, influences the likelihood of poles remaining upright and trees being uprooted. CART was also used to evaluate whether environmental variables can be used instead of power system variables. Our results demonstrated that certain land cover variables (e.g., LC21, LC22, and LC23) are reasonable proxies for the power system and can be used in a CART model, with only a minor decrease in predictive accuracy, when detailed information about the power system is not available. Therefore, CART-based power outage models can be developed in regions where detailed information on the power system is not available.
Interim treatment: Bridging delays to opioid treatment access

Abstract Objective Despite the undisputed effectiveness of agonist maintenance for opioid dependence, individuals can remain on waitlists for months, during which they are at significant risk for morbidity and mortality. To mitigate these risks, the Food and Drug Administration in 1993 approved interim treatment, involving daily medication + emergency counseling only, when only a waitlist is otherwise available. We review the published research in the 20 years since the approval of interim opioid treatment. Methods A literature search was conducted to identify all randomized trials evaluating the efficacy of interim treatment for opioid-dependent patients awaiting comprehensive treatment. Results Interim opioid treatment has been evaluated in four controlled trials to date. In three, interim treatment was compared to waitlist or placebo control conditions and produced greater outcomes on measures of illicit opioid use, retention, criminality, and likelihood of entry into comprehensive treatment. In the fourth, interim treatment was compared to standard methadone maintenance and produced comparable outcomes in illicit opioid use, retention, and criminal activity. Conclusions Interim treatment significantly reduces patient and societal risks when conventional treatment is unavailable. Further research is needed to examine the generality of these findings, further enhance outcomes, and identify the patient characteristics which predict treatment response.
An Electrophysiologic Approach to the Surgical Treatment of the Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Report of Two Cases Utilizing Catheter Recording and Epicardial Mapping Techniques

The usefulness and limitations of electrode catheter and epicardial mapping techniques in the evaluation of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are described. In one case epicardial surface mapping was unsuccessful in localizing the accessory connection. However, a septal location was suggested by catheter recording techniques and confirmed by the point at which the surgical incision interrupted the accessory connection. In the second case catheter techniques could not confirm the role of the accessory connection in a re-entrant rhythm. Epicardial mapping of the atrium during PAT confirmed a return route to the atrium over the accessory connection, opposite the point of ventricular pre-excitation during sinus rhythm. In both cases, following surgery, epicardial maps, 12-lead ECGs and catheter recording techniques revealed no evidence of residual pre-excitation.
Diffusion of radiotracers in normal and ischemic brain slices.

Diffusion in the extracellular space (ECS) is important in physiologic and pathologic brain processes but remains poorly understood. To learn more about factors influencing tissue diffusion and the role of diffusion in solute-tissue interactions, particularly during cerebral ischemia, we have studied the kinetics of several radiotracers in control and hypoxic 450-μm hippocampal slices and in 1,050-μm thick slices that model the ischemic penumbra. Kinetics were analyzed by nonlinear least squares methods using models that combine extracellular diffusion with tissue compartments in series or in parallel. Studies with 14C-polyethylene glycol confirmed prior measurements of extracellular volume and that ECS shrinks during ischemia. Separating diffusion from transport also revealed large amounts of 45Ca that bind to or enter brain as well as demonstrating a small, irreversibly bound compartment during ischemia. The rapidity of 3H2O entry into cells made it impossible for us to distinguish intracellular from ex...
Micro Particle Image Velocimetry Measurements of Steady Diastolic Leakage Flow in the Hinge of a St. Jude Medical ® Regent™ Mechanical Heart Valve

A number of clinical, in vitro and computational studies have shown the potential for thromboembolic complications in bileaflet mechanical heart valves (BMHV), primarily due to the complex and unsteady flows in the valve hinges. These studies have focused on quantitative and qualitative parameters such as velocity magnitude, turbulent shear stresses, vortex formation, and platelet activation to identify potential for blood damage. However, experimental characterization of the whole flow fields within the valve hinges has not yet been conducted. This information can be utilized to investigate instantaneous damage to blood elements and also to validate numerical studies focusing on the hinge's complex fluid dynamics. The objective of this study was therefore to develop a high-resolution imaging system to characterize the flow fields and global velocity maps in a BMHV hinge. In this study, the steady leakage hinge flow fields representing the diastolic phase during the cardiac cycle in a 23 mm St. Jude Medical regent BMHV in the aortic position were characterized using a two-dimensional micro particle image velocimetry system. Diastolic flow was simulated by imposing a static pressure head on the aortic side. Under these conditions, a reverse flow jet from the aortic to the ventricular side was observed with velocities in the range of 1.47-3.24 m/s, whereas low flow regions were observed on the ventricular side of the hinge with viscous shear stress magnitude up to 60 N/m². High velocities and viscous shearing may be associated with platelet activation and hemolysis, while low flow zones can cause thrombosis due to increased residence time in the hinge. Overall, this study provides a high spatial resolution experimental technique to map the fluid velocity in the BMHV hinge, which can be extended to investigate micron-scale flow domains in various prosthetic devices under different hemodynamic conditions.
Differential Fine Force Control of the Upper and Lower Lips

From a review of the literature, it was hypothesized that the upper lip and lower lip are differentially controlled by separate, but interacting, neuronal connectivities. A normal data base was dev...
A Case of Priapism with Risperidone

Priapism is a urologic emergency defined as a prolonged, possibly painful, penile erection. There are several known causes of priapism including psychotropic medications. One of the mechanisms by which antipsychotics are believed to induce priapism is through alpha-1 antagonism. This is case of a 50-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia with previous priapism related to trazodone, who presents with new onset priapism associated with risperidone. In this case, the treatment of priapism includes discontinuation of the offending agent and drainage of the corpus cavernosum twice along with intracavernosal phenylephrine injections. It is important to educate patients on priapism as a possible side effect of medications. It is also important to consider previous episodes of medication-induced priapism when prescribing psychotropic medications as this may increase the patient's future risk of priapism.
Modified yeast-two-hybrid system to identify proteins interacting with the growth factor progranulin.

Progranulin (PGRN), also known as granulin epithelin precursor (GEP), is a 593-amino-acid autocrine growth factor. PGRN is known to play a critical role in a variety of physiologic and disease processes, including early embryogenesis, wound healing 1, inflammation 2, 3, and host defense 4. PGRN also functions as a neurotrophic factor 5, and mutations in the PGRN gene resulting in partial loss of the PGRN protein cause frontotemporal dementia 6, 7. Our recent studies have led to the isolation of PGRN as an important regulator of cartilage development and degradation 8-11. Although PGRN, discovered nearly two decades ago, plays crucial roles in multiple physiological and pathological conditions, efforts to exploit the actions of PGRN and understand the mechanisms involved have been significantly hampered by our inability to identify its binding receptor(s). To address this issue, we developed a modified yeast two-hybrid (MY2H) approach based on the most commonly used GAL4 based 2-hybrid system. Compared with the conventional yeast two-hybrid screen, MY2H dramatically shortens the screen process and reduces the number of false positive clones. In addition, this approach is reproducible and reliable, and we have successfully employed this system in isolating the binding proteins of various baits, including ion channel 12, extracellular matrix protein 10, 13, and growth factor14. In this paper, we describe this MY2H experimental procedure in detail using PGRN as an example that led to the identification of TNFR2 as the first known PGRN-associated receptor 14, 15.
Experimental evaluation of design features of a cryostat for an iron-less COSθ- SSC magnet

A conceptual design for an iron-less cosθ SSC magnet cryostat has identified several areas for experimental study. Included are bowing of thermal radiation shields due to cooldown and warmup; thermal performance of the suspension systems; cryostat thermal performance; structural responses to decentering forces between the coil and the steel vacuum vessel; and response of thermal shields to forces due to quench induced eddy currents. Studies were carried out with 6m long thermal bowing and magnetic effects models, a suspension heat leak measurement dewar and a 12m long thermal model. The models incorporate important features of the conceptual cryostat design. The details of the test arrangements, procedures and results are presented.
Perceptions of community integration in an ethnically diverse sample.

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the meaning of community integration in an ethnically diverse sample. DESIGN:: Prospective study using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods. SETTING:: County level I trauma center. PARTICIPANTS:: Fifty-eight blacks, 57 Hispanics, and 52 whites with traumatic brain injury living in the community 6 months postinjury. MAIN MEASURES:: Open-ended interview questions and a questionnaire assessing perceived importance of community integration activities. RESULTS:: Resulting themes indicated that feeling part of the community was related to type and quality of community relationships, perceived safety and security, active involvement, feeling included and respected, and familiarity with the community. Themes regarding barriers included the following: environmental and social barriers; injury-related cognitive and physical changes; dissimilarities to others; relocation; and financial issues. Blacks and Hispanics placed more emphasis on domestic activities than did whites. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:: Feeling integrated into the community relates to aspects of the environment, as much as to involvement in specific activities. Environmental barriers can be just as important as injury-related changes. Different racial/ethnic groups place different value on participation activities. The results emphasize the importance of assessing subjective aspects of community integration, individualizing rehabilitation goals, and intervening in the environment to facilitate participation. Language: en