cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption and the deposition of carbon on cotton from solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate

The deposition of carbon on cotton from solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate of varying concentration was determined, together with the adsorption isotherms of NaDS on both cotton and carbon, and the aggregate size of the carbon in the suspensions. An optimum concentration for protection against deposition of carbon was found far below the critical micelle concentration, and not correlating with either the presumed values of the zeta-potential nor the extent of surface coverage by adsorbed detergent. Various explanations were considered and rejected for accounting for the inflection in the adsorption isotherm of NaDS on carbon at the c.m.c., and the subsequent occurrence of a maximum in the isotherm.
The Neurocognitive Signature of Psychotic Bipolar Disorder

Background Psychotic bipolar disorder may represent a neurobiologically distinct subgroup of bipolar affective illness. We sought to ascertain the profile of cognitive impairment in patients with bipolar disorder and to determine whether a distinct profile of cognitive deficits characterizes bipolar patients with a history of psychosis. Methods Sixty-nine outpatients with bipolar I disorder (34 with a history of psychotic symptoms and 35 with no history of psychosis) and 35 healthy comparison subjects underwent a comprehensive neurocognitive battery. All three groups were demographically matched. Results Despite preserved general intellectual function, bipolar I patients overall showed moderate impairments on tests of episodic memory and specific executive measures (average effect size = .58), and moderate to severe deficits on attentional and processing speed tasks (average effect size = .82). Bipolar I patients with a history of psychosis were impaired on measures of executive functioning and spatial working memory compared with bipolar patients without history of psychosis. Conclusions Psychotic bipolar disorder was associated with differential impairment on tasks requiring frontal/executive processing, suggesting that psychotic symptoms may have neural correlates that are at least partially independent of those associated with bipolar I disorder more generally. However, deficits in attention, psychomotor speed, and memory appear to be part of the broader disease phenotype in patients with bipolar disorder.
Development of polymorphic markers for Cirsium arvense, Canada thistle, and their amplification in closely related taxa

Suppression of invasive Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense, with biological control agents has stalled because introduced agents were not host-specific. To aid in the development of more effective management strategies, molecular markers are needed to examine the genetic structure of Canada thistle populations. Microsatellite (simple sequence repeat) markers were developed and intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were tested for North American populations. An average of nine polymorphic alleles per microsatellite locus and 11 per ISSR locus were detected. These will be used to examine the genetic structure of C. arvense in the northern Great Plains and their transferability to endemic Cirsium spp.
When White Feels Right: The Effects of In‐Group Affect and Race of Partner on Negotiation Performance

This research investigated the unique role of racial in-group affect, or liking one's racial group, to foster or inhibit integration in negotiations with different race partners. We hypothesized that when the racial backgrounds of the negotiators are salient, threat inherent in negotiations activates in-group affect for some White negotiators (those more “glad to be White”), triggering divergent negotiation approaches with White versus Black counterparts. In support of our hypotheses, we found that when negotiating with a Black confederate, stronger in-group affect of White participants was a liability, relating to poorer joint outcomes and a “chilling and competing” negotiation approach. When negotiating with a White confederate, stronger in-group affect of White participants instead boosted the dyad's joint outcomes by fostering greater trust. The meaning and practical implications of strong in-group affect in negotiations with diverse counterparts are discussed.
Growth of Age-0 Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Pine River Watershed, Alcona County, Michigan

We sampled ten sites within the Pine River watershed, Alcona County, Michigan. In 2001, age-0 steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were collected to determine growth rates. In 2002, emergence dates of steelhead were determined by observational studies and age-0 steelhead and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were collected to determine growth rates. Steelhead emergence occurred from late June to mid-July 2002. Growth rates of both species varied among branches within the watershed (P<0.05). Steelhead growth varied from 0.24 to 0.42 mm/day and brook trout growth varied from 0.22 to 0.37 mm/day.
Anger management style moderates effects of emotion suppression during initial stress on pain and cardiovascular responses during subsequent pain-induction.

Background: Suppression of emotion, anger in particular, may be linked to heightened pain intensity during a subsequent painful event, but it is not clear whether an individual’s anger management style (trait anger-out or trait anger-in) moderates effects on pain intensity and cardiovascular responses during pain.Purpose: To determine whether (a) trait anger-out and/or trait anger-in moderate effects of Emotion-Induction (anger, anxiety)×Emotion Suppression (nonsuppression, experiential, expressive) manipulations during mental arithmetic on pain intensity and cardiovascular responses during and following a cold pressor pain task, such that “mismatch” relationships emerge (preferred anger management style is discrepant from situation demands), and (b) general emotional expressivity accounts for these effects.Method: Healthy nonpatients (N=187) were assigned to 1 of 6 conditions for a mental arithmetic task. Cells were formed by crossing 2 Emotion-Induction (anxiety, anger)×3 Emotion Suppression (non-suppression, experiential, expressive) conditions. After mental arithmetic, participants underwent a cold pressor followed by recovery. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), heart rate (HR), and pain intensity ratings were recorded. Spielberger Anger Expression Inventory tapped anger management style.Results: General Linear Model procedures tested Emotion-Induction×Emotion Suppression×Anger-Out or Anger-In (continuous)×Period (baseline, cold pressor, recovery) effects on pain intensity, SBP, DBP, and HR. A 4-way interaction emerged for pain intensity: Only for those in the anger-induction/experiential suppression condition, anger-out was related significantly to pain recovery. Three-way interactions emerged for SBP and DBP: Only for those in expressive suppression condition, anger-out was related significantly to SBP during and following cold pressor and to DBP following cold pressor. General emotion expressivity did not account for anger-out effects.Conclusions: A mismatch situation may apply for high anger-out people who suppress emotion in a certain circumstance and thus may suffer greater discomfort and physiological responsiveness to subsequent pain than high anger-out people not having to suppress.
Simple scheme for surface-band calculations. I

A simple, efficient scheme for calculating the electronic structure of a surface is presented. The scheme is applicable to any general Hamiltonian that can be described within a localized-orbital basis. The method is much faster than the current techniques available. The basic concept is that of wave-function matching through a transfer matrix. The eigensolutions of this matrix then provide all the information concerning the projected band structure, surface-state energies, orbital character, and decay lengths. A rather detailed discussion of the formalism is presented for a general surface system. A comprehensive and illustrative example is also presented for readers who are interested in using the scheme but not in the details of the theory.
Characterization of microstrip discontinuities on LaAlO/sub 3/

The difference between microstrip-coupled line filter designs using quasi-static and full-wave analyses on LaAlO/sub 3/ is discussed. Comparative data for CAD (computer-aided design) predictions and direct measurement for selected microstrip discontinuities on LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates are presented, as well as measured and predicted filter performance. >
Enzymatic Basis of Metal Ion Alterations of Cellular Heme and Glutathione Metabolism

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the enzymes of heme and GSH metabolism pathways are extremely sensitive to metal ions. It follows that alterations in the activities of the enzymes of heme metabolism are often reflected in the heme dependent cellular functions, particularly those which depend on cytochrome P-450. Moreover, perturbations in cellular GSH levels may alter the biological inactivation of the intermediates of cytochrome P-450 activity normally inactivated by GSH-conjugation. The effects of transition and heavy metal ions on the heme metabolism pathway are perhaps of particular significance when exerted on the two key enzymes of the pathway: the delta-aminolevulinate synthetase, the initial and the rate-limiting enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, and heme oxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme of heme degradation pathway. The activities of other enzymes of the heme metabolism pathway are also effected by metal ions; the nature of the effect is generally that of inhibition. Similarly, the inhibition by heavy metal ions of the activities of GSSG-reductase, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, which are the key enzymes of GSH metabolism, have toxicological significance. However, it is important to recognize that the presently discussed effects of metal ions do not necessarily have negative biological implications. The rather intricate and interrelated effects of metal ions on heme and GSH metabolism pathway under certain circumstances may have positive ramifications.
Depolymerization of Polypropylene in an Induction-Coupled Plasma (ICP) Reactor

An induction-coupled plasma reactor was used to thermally decompose polypropylene into propylene and other useful chemicals. From a series of statistically designed experiments, it was found that plasma power input, sheath gas flow rate, central gas flow rate, powder feed rate, quench gas flow rate, and interaction of sheath gas flow rate with power and feed rate were the key parameters affecting the yield of monomer in the product gas stream. On average, 78 wt % of the polymer was converted into gas at a power level of 20 kVA. The product gas stream, on an argon-free basis, contained 94% propylene, with the balance being methane, ethylene, and some C4's. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of the carbon residue indicated the formation of some novel carbon structures, including carbon nanotubes.
Characterization of Cardiotoxicity Induced by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and Related Chemicals during Early Chick Embryo Development

Abstract Cardiotoxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) was studied in White Leghorn-Babcock (WLB) and Plymouth Rock-Barred (PRB) chick embryos. TCDD, injected on day 0 (D0), induced a dose-related increase in heart weight in both strains in the absence of pericardial edema on D10. PRB embryos were four to five times more sensitive to this cardiotoxicity than WLB. To determine if another aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist produced a similar response, graded doses of TCDD; 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PeCB 126); or 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (HxCB 153) were injected into WLB eggs. TCDD and PeCB 126 induced a dose-related increase in heart weight without pericardial edema, while HxCB 153 had no effect. We then hypothesized that TCDD-induced cardiotoxicity progressed to heart failure and edema. In PRB, morphometric analysis revealed that TCDD (0.06–0.45 pmol/g) induced a dose-related increase in left and right ventricle cavity area without wall hypertrophy on D10, consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. A time course showed that 0.24 pmol/g did not alter heart morphology on D8 but induced cardiac dilation on D10 and D12. The 0.24 pmol/g dose also induced changes associated with progression of cardiomyopathy toward heart failure, including increased cardiac atrial natriuretic factor mRNA expression and decreased cardiac responsiveness to isoproterenol-induced positive chronotropy, on D10 and D12. Finally, 0.24 pmol/g induced a significantly higher incidence of subcutaneous and peritoneal edema, indicative of overt heart failure, on D12 (75%, 15/20) compared to D10 (14%, 3/22). In conclusion, TCDD induced a phenotype of dilated cardiomyopathy and symptoms associated with the development of congestive heart failure.
Structure-Reactivity Relationships and Intrinsic Reaction Barriers for Nucleophile Additions to a Quinone Methide: A Strongly Resonance-Stabilized Carbocation

Second-order rate constants kNu (M-1 s-1) were determined for addition of a wide range of nucleophiles to the simple quinone methide 4-[bis(trifluoromethyl)methylene]cyclohexa-2,5-dienone (1) to give the nucleophile adduct 1-Nu in water. Equilibrium constants were determined for the overall addition of HBr and HI to 1 to give H-1-Nu, and the data were used to calculate equilibrium constants for the addition of Br- and I- to 1, and to estimate equilibrium constants for the addition of Cl- and AcO-. The values of log kNu show a linear correlation with the Ritchie nucleophilicity parameter N+ with a slope s = 0.92 ± 0.10 that is essentially the same as the electrophile-independent value of 1.0 for highly resonance-stabilized carbocations. Marcus intrinsic barriers Λ of 12.4, 13.9, 15.4, and 19.8 kcal/mol are reported for the addition of I-, Br-, Cl-, and AcO- to 1, respectively. The thermodynamic barriers ΔG° and intrinsic barriers Λ for addition of Br-, Cl-, and AcO- to 1 are 8.4 ± 1.0 and 5.2 ± 0.2 kcal/mo...
Electrospinning of polymer nanofibers loaded with noncovalently functionalized graphene

Pristine graphene/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized graphene and PVA. This is the first report of electrospun nanofibers reinforced with dispersed pristine graphene. We examine the relationship between graphene loading and critical electrospinning parameters. Microscopy indicates uniform fiber formation and excellent graphene dispersion within the fiber. Rheological data indicates that the excellent level of graphene dispersion enhances the modulus of the polymer by 205%. We also find that the graphene significantly increases the fibers' thermal stability (increase of 15°C) and crystallinity (59% increase) above the baseline. In fact, the graphene may act as nucleating points for increased crystallinity. These graphene/polymer nanofibers have the potential to serve in a variety of applications, including electrodes, conductive wires, and biomedical materials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
On the theory of the cardiovascular system.

Most theoretical studies of the circulation have focussed on the transmission line properties of arteries. Only a small number of papers have dealt with the circulation as a closed (lumped) system with two pumps connected by the lesser and greater circulation (Beneken, inCirculatory Analog Computers, No. Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam, 1963; Defares,et al., inCirculatory Analog Computers, No. Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam, 1963; Grodins,Quart. Rev. of Biology,34, 93, 1959; Guyton,Cardiac Output and its Regulation, Saunders Publ. Co., New York, 1963). F. W. Cope's recent studies in this journal (Bull. Math. Biophysics,22, 19, 1960;23, 337, 1961;24, 137, 1962) deal with essentially the same questions, although here the circuit is not “closed”. We have attempted to extend the analysis of the areflex (closed) circulation. The complete study is reported elsewhere (Defares,et al., Acta Physiol, et Parmac. Neerl., 1963).
Optimizing the functionalization process for nanopillar enhanced electrodes with GOx/PPY for glucose detection

In this study, the functionalization process for nanopillar enhanced electrodes (NEEs) using glucose oxidase (GOx) with polypyrrole (PPY) is optimized for the purpose of achieving enhanced sensing performances for these electrodes in glucose detection. Specifically, an optimal roughness factor for the NEEs and an optimal set of electro-polymerization/deposition parameters for their functionalization using GOx/PPY are identified. Results show that NEEs with a roughness factor of about 60 are optimal for enhancing the amperometric current responses and that for such electrodes an electro-functionalization/deposition process at a deposition current of 50 µA cm−2 and a total charge of 150 mC cm−2 will give rise to a high sensing performance with a sensitivity as high as 36 µA cm−2 mM−1.
Kinetic studies of tricalcium silicate formation from sol-gel precursors

Reaction kinetic studies of Ca3SiO5 formation from sol-gel-derived precursors were carried out in situ using dynamic X-ray diffraction. Infrared spectra data, TEM experimental results, and X-ray diffraction patterns, all confirmed that CaO and Ca2SiO4 are the only compounds formed from a stoichiometric gel prior to Ca3SiO5 formation (< 1250 °C). The kinetic data for Ca3SiO5 formation are consistent with an Avrami nucleation and growth mechanism but with a sudden drop in the time exponent at higher conversion. The sharp drop of the exponent is attributed to the impingement of grain growth in the longitudinal direction and this is confirmed by SEM observations of the fully converted gels. The presence of 10% steam did not change the mechanism nor the activation energy of the reaction but significantly enhanced the nucleation and grain growth rate at both stages of the reaction.
A multihoming application flow network using "A-BOX": a fast packet processing node featuring direct traffic monitoring

This paper proposes a novel IP multihoming scheme in which fast packet processing nodes switch and distribute the traffic on an application flow basis. The newly developed node, called A-BOX, classifies each incoming packet up to the layer 4(L4) or L7(payload) header, edits it as necessary, and forwards it to an outgoing port according to the header's entry. The NAT-like sandwiched path formed between A-BOXs acts like one path defined for an application flow, and so suits applications that have QoS(quality of service) requirements. A-BOX realizes wire rate forwarding by applying hardware techniques including FPGAs. A-BOX can measure the traffic on a real time basis for each flow and distribute the flow to achieve the application's requirements. The software interface of A-BOX means that the network can be transparently controlled for each application flow. We clarify the feasibility of A-BOX's basic methods, which include network condition monitoring via individual flow with huge background traffic, switching a specified flow in the multihoming condition, and traffic sharing/bandwidth aggregation.
Amongst eligible patients, age and comorbidity do not predict for dose-limiting toxicity from phase I chemotherapy

There are no clear predictors clinicians can use to determine who is more likely to experience dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in phase I chemotherapy clinical trials. Many providers are reluctant to refer older adults to phase I trials because of concerns about the development of toxicity. The goal of this study was to identify clinical and nonclinical factors which were associated with the development of DLT in phase I studies. Patients (pts) were included if they were treated at maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and above. Studies were included only if MTD was reached. Data collected included age, comorbidity (Cumulative Illness Rating Score-Geriatrics), labs at enrollment, height, weight, performance status, cancer type, duration of diagnosis, prior treatment, drug level, smoking status, marital status, mean income, percent of population high school educated as determined by ZIP code, and distance to the phase I trial hospital. Those who did and did not have DLT were compared by bivariate and then multivariate analysis. A total of 242 charts were reviewed from 24 cytotoxic chemotherapy studies, and 27 different types of cancer were represented. On bivariate analysis, mean age, household income (higher), weight, body surface area, dose of drug, alkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, and LDH were significantly associated with DLT (P < 0.05). CIRS-G score was not associated with DLT. In multivariate analysis, dose level (P = 0.004) and distance from the phase I trial hospital (P = 0.04) were still significant predictors of DLT. Age did not predict for severity of DLT. Age and comorbidity did not predict for development of DLT in phase I chemotherapy trials. Many of these pts were very fit, with relatively low CIRS-G scores, so the impact of comorbidity may not have been fully evaluated. Several social and clinical factors may predict for development of DLT. A prospective study is being planned to confirm these results.
Comparing Survey and Diary Measures of Internet and Traditional Media Use

Considerable debate exists over the accuracy of self‐reported media use measures. This report compares two methodologies for studying Internet and traditional media use: online surveys and diaries. A study was conducted with undergraduate students from two universities. Participants were asked to (a) complete a survey and (b) keep a diary over the course of one day. Both instruments assessed how frequently they engaged in various media use activities, including television viewing, radio listening, Web surfing, email sending and receiving, music listening, and video game playing. Results indicate that survey estimates of media use are consistently higher than diary use, but both methods are significantly correlated with each other, within a given medium. Given uncertainty about which method is more accurate, a third method of data collection, electronic tracking, is described.
Intermolecular bromoesterification of conjugated enynes: an efficient synthesis of bromoallenes

We have discovered that bromine electrophile and carboxylate nucleophile can be added to conjugated enynes intermolecularly in a 1,4-fashion with high diastereoselectivity. Highly functionalized bromoallenes with an adjacent stereogenic centre were prepared from readily available conjugated 1,3-enynes.
Limitations of two-dimensional treatment planning programs

Some limitations of conventional two-dimensional computer programs used to plan radiation therapy are presented. These include: a lack of involvement in defining the clinical problem; deficiencies in the algorithms for computing dose; failure to compute dose throughout the volume of interest; an inability to handle treatments with noncoplanar beams; failure to provide estimates of error; lack of tools for comparing rival plans; inadequate definition of geometric coverage of anatomic structures by external beams; and failure to provide tools for specifying and verifying the accuracy of treatment delivery. Some suggestions are offered for improvements in some of these areas. In particular, subtraction of dose distributions is proposed as a tool for comparing plans, and displays which exhibit the results of error analyses are presented.
Speech Characteristics of Two Children With Moebius Syndrome

Moebius syndrome is a rare but interesting neuropathology in which structures supporting speech performance may be impaired. Two children suffering from Moebius syndrome are presented. In addition to a review of neurologic and structural deficits observed in these children, data obtained from a comprehensive assessment of their speech skills are offered. The clinical speech problems identified are compared to the symptom patterns characteristic of patients with bulbar palsy.
Characterizing the ensiling properties of sugarbeets with dry feedstuffs.

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the ensiling characteristics of chopped sugarbeets with dry feedstuffs and the corresponding change in the nutritive composition of the silages with the addition of dry substrates. Pre-calculated amounts of each feedstuff were weighed individually to achieve desired proportions of each silage product and thoroughly mixed for 5 min. After mixing, the silage was distributed evenly into three 19-L buckets and sealed to provide an anaerobic environment. The treatments for this study were arranged in a 4 × 4 + 1 factorial design to determine the effects of DM level and source of dry feedstuff on the ensiling properties of sugarbeets following a 42-d fermentation period. Treatments were ensiled sugarbeets alone (250 g/kg) or based on (1) formulated silage DM concentrations of 275, 350, 425, and 500 g/kg and (2) the inclusion of dry feedstuffs (alfalfa hay, dry-rolled corn, wheat middlings, and wheat straw). Fermentation and nutritive characteristics of ensiled sugarbeets were influenced with the addition of dry substrates. A linear increase ( P P P P =0.01) when corn was added, while wheat straw addition did not influence ( P =0.37) lactate. A contrast was used to compare ensiling characteristics of sugarbeets alone (250 g/kg DM) to 350 g/kg DM (sugarbeets with dry substrates). Results indicated fermentative parameters were altered; pH increased ( P P =0.003) for the sugarbeets ensiled with dry-rolled corn compared with sugarbeets ensiled alone. Alfalfa, wheat straw, and wheat middlings decreased ( P P =0.54) in vitro DM digestion. These results indicate the inclusion of dry feedstuffs with sugarbeets altered fermentation and with the exception of corn, decreased in vitro DM digestion. Nutrient composition and DM content of ensiled sugarbeets was altered with the addition of dry substrates.
Orientation of giant tortoises, Geochelone gigantea (Schweigger) while grazing on Aldabra Atoll

The Aldabran giant tortoise is one of the few testudines that feeds in dense herds, and in so doing the animals frequently exhibit a conspicuous orientation away from the sun. This orientation is most marked when ambient temperature is high, and it breaks down when the tortoises are shielded from direct sunlight. It was previously hypothesized that negative heliotaxis is related to thermoregulation-to reduce heat inflow to the exposed anterior appendages and instead expose the protected posterior of the shell. There has been no test of the thermoregulatory function, and pilot experiments indicate that orientation away form the sun occurs to reduce direct glare into the tortoise's eyes. The glare of the sun seems to interfere with accurately oriented biting movements and reduce feeding efficiency. Speed and intensity of reaction to solar glare is inversely related to the animal's body size. The possibility of a thermoregulatory component to the away-from-the-sun orientation cannot be discounted, but it must be investigated directly.
Local Mobility in Lipid Domains of Supported Bilayers Characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is used to examine mobility of labeled probes at specific sites in supported bilayers consisting of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid domains in 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). Those sites are mapped beforehand with simultaneous atomic force microscopy and submicron confocal fluorescence imaging, allowing characterization of probe partitioning between gel DPPC and disordered liquid DOPC domains with corresponding topography of domain structure. We thus examine the relative partitioning and mobility in gel and disordered liquid phases for headgroup- and tailgroup-labeled GM1 ganglioside probes and for headgroup- and tailgroup-labeled phospholipid probes. For the GM1 probes, large differences in mobility between fluid and gel domains are observed; whereas unexpected mobility is observed in submicron gel domains for the phospholipid probes. We attribute the latter to domain heterogeneities that could be induced by the probe. Furthermore, fits to the FCS data for the phospholipid probes in the DOPC fluid phase require two components (fast and slow). Although proximity to the glass substrate may be a factor, local distortion of the probe by the fluorophore could also be important. Overall, we observe nonideal aspects of phospholipid probe mobility and partitioning that may not be restricted to supported bilayers.
Health Care for the Poor: Politics, Culture, and Community

This article develops a state-culture model for conceptualizing state-level policy formation. The model is then tested through an examination of the interrelationship between political party control and the degree of state and regional support for indigent health care. ANCOVA and ANOVA are conducted on empirical indicators to test whether states with higher levels of expressed support for Democratic Party ideology will have higher levels of total Medicaid expenditures per capita among the poor, controlling for financial capacity and Medicaid need demographics. The proper role of the federal government in indigent health care is discussed in its relationship to a national vision of social justice, which requires a basic health care program for the poor that does not embody differential levels of care based upon state residency.
Electronic contrast in scanning tunneling microscopy of Sn–Pt(111) surface alloys

Abstract Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of mixed domain p(2×2) and ( 3 × 3 )R30° tin–platinum surface alloys are presented. It was found that the apparent height of Pt ensembles increases with a decreasing number of Sn next-neighbor atoms per Pt atom. This is explained by a reduction of the local density of states near the Fermi level at Pt sites due to the effects of alloying of Pt with Sn.
Rex Stockton and the Association for Specialists in Group Work: The Power of Working Together

ABSTRACT This article examines the breadth and depth of Rex Stockton's contributions to the Association for Specialists in Group Work since its inception.
Ruptured Anterior Spinal Artery Aneurysm Associated with Bilateral Vertebral Artery Occlusion Treated by Surgical Clipping

Background Spinal artery aneurysms are rare lesions that can occur in isolation or may be attributed to a variety of secondary causes. Chronic bilateral vertebral artery occlusion is an exceedingly rare cause of anterior spinal artery aneurysm, with only one previous case reported in the literature. Surgical treatment of ventrally located anterior spinal artery aneurysms situated at the craniocervical junction presents particular challenges related to the operative approach, which may entail high cervical anterior exposure, posterolateral complete facetectomy/pediculectomy, or far lateral skull base approaches, among others. Case Description We present the case of a patient who presented with a ruptured anterior spinal artery aneurysm at the level of C2, associated with a hypertrophied anterior spinal artery due to chronic bilateral vertebral artery occlusion; the second such case reported in the literature. A posterior approach with spinal cord rotation was employed to expose and clip the aneurysm. The patient made an uneventful recovery. Conclusion This report highlights an exceedingly rare cause of anterior spinal artery aneurysm and emphasizes the utility and technical aspects of the posterior approach with spinal cord rotation.
Micromanaging Palate Development.

Abstract Development of the facial skeleton is one of the most intriguing and intricate events that occur during human development. Most of the bone, cartilage, and connective tissue that compose t...
Use of electrical stimulation to enhance recovery of quadriceps femoris muscle force production in patients following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background and Purpose. Electrical stimulation has been shown to be effective in aiding the recovery of quadriceps femoris muscle force production after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The actual dosage of stimulation (training intensity) has not been well described. The purpose of this investigation was to establish a dose-response curve for electrical stimulation regimens designed to improve quadriceps femoris muscle recovery in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Subjects and Methods. We analyzed data from a subsample (n=52) of patients receiving electrical stimulation (N=110) who were involved in a large, multicenter randomized clinical trial investigating treatment strategies designed to enhance quadriceps femoris muscle recovery. Fifty-two subjects (40 male, 12 female), with an age range of 15 to 43 years (X=25, SD=7), participated in 4 weeks of quadriceps femoris muscle training using either portable, battery-powered home stimulators or console stimulators designed for clinical use. Training intensities were monitored by logging the electrically elicited knee extension torque and expressing this torque as a percentage of the uninvolved quadriceps femoris muscles' maximal voluntary contraction force. After the 4 weeks of training, isometric muscle torque was assessed and a dose-response curve was generated. The relationship between training intensity and quadriceps femoris muscle torque was assessed with Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients. Results. A significant, linear correlation was found between training intensity and quadriceps femoris muscle torque. Subjects training with console, clinical generators trained at higher intensities than those training with portable, battery-operated generators; such training resulted in higher quadriceps femoris muscle torque. Conclusion and Discussion. These results support the use of high-intensity electrical stimulation and do not support the use of low-intensity or battery-powered stimulators when the goal is recovery of quadriceps femoris muscle force production in the early phases of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
The impact of gender on presentation, therapy, and mortality of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the United States, 2001-2004.

Introduction The elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) may decrease a patient's risk of rupture and confers a significantly lower in-hospital mortality rate than emergency repair. Previous works have shown that AAA rupture rates are higher in women compared to men, and that women have higher associated in-hospital mortality rates. This study was performed to evaluate, currently, to what extent patient gender influences presentation and treatment of AAA and the associated outcomes in the United States. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used, with pertinent ICD-9 codes, to identify all patient-discharges that occurred with the primary diagnosis of intact (iAAA) or ruptured/dissecting (rAAA) abdominal aortic aneurysms between the years 2001 and 2004. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses of variables were performed. Results An estimated 220,403 AAA patient-discharges were identified during the study period. 37,016 (17%) patients presented with rAAA. A higher percentage of women with AAA presented with rupture compared to men (21% vs 16%; odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-1.54). This rupture rate did not significantly change from 2001 to 2004 ( P = .85 for trend). For iAAA, women had higher odds of in-hospital mortality than men (OR 1.60; 95% CI, 1.24-2.07). Compared to men, in-hospital mortality rates for women with iAAA were higher for both endovascular (2.1% vs 0.83%, P P P P P Conclusion A higher percentage of women currently present with aneurysm rupture. They have higher in-hospital mortality rates for both iAAA and rAAA. This gender difference in the outcomes following repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm has persisted over time, the cause of which is not explained by these or previous data, a fact that warrants further investigation.
On the linear relation between mb and Ms for discrimination between explosions and earthquakes

Summary. The statistical capability of the mb :M, discriminant for the discrimination of earthquake and explosion populations is examined by application of discriminant functions to a group of 83 explosions and 72 earthquakes in Eurasia. Equations are derived for the probability that an event is an earthquake or an explosion. The positive sign of DIS in the decision index equation, DIS, = 34.3383 - 11.9569 mb, + 7.1 161 M,,, indicates that the event i is an earthquake. Its negative sign indicates that event i is an explosion. The probability of correct classification for an event, Pi, is reiated to its DIS, value, by Pi = [l t exp (DIS,)]-', where a large, positive DIS indicates a high probability that an event is an earthquake and a large, negative DIS indicates a high probability that an event is an explosion. The discrimination line Ms = 1.680 mb ~ 4.825, or rnb = 0.595 M, t 2.872 very successfully separates the explosion population from the earthquake population. The points on this line have an equal chance of being an earthquake or an explosion; moreover, for any event, the distance parallel to the M,-axis from the point representing that event in the mb:M, plane to this line is a measure of the probability for the correct classification of that event.
Comparison of bone ingrowth into cobalt chrome sphere and titanium fiber mesh porous coated cementless canine acetabular components

Bone ingrowth into uncemented hemispherical canine acetabular components porous-coated with cobalt chrome spheres was compared to those porous-coated with titanium fiber mesh. While good bone ingrowth was noted in both types of porous coatings at 6 weeks after surgery with no difference in the histologic quality of the ingrown bone, quantitation of bone ingrowth showed that significantly more bone grew into titanium fiber mesh porous-coated components. The mean amount of bone ingrowth measured 10.5% of the area of the porous coating with fiber mesh coatings and only 5.5% of the area of the porous coating with spherical coatings (significant difference at P < .0005). The mean area density of the ingrown bone inside the pores measured 21.5% of the pore area with fiber mesh coatings, also significantly greater than 13.4% of the pore area with sphere coatings (P < .025). The ingrown bone penetrated a mean 66% of the depth of the porous layer with fiber mesh coatings compared to 32% of the depth of the porous layer with spherical coating (significant difference at P < .0005). The mean extent of the periphery of the porous layer with bone ingrowth was 88% for the mesh coatings and 55% for the spherical coatings (also a significant difference at P < .01).
Incorporating prior knowledge of predictors into penalized classifiers with multiple penalty terms

Motivation: In the context of sample (e.g. tumor) classifications with microarray gene expression data, many methods have been proposed. However, almost all the methods ignore existing biological knowledge and treat all the genes equally a priori. On the other hand, because some genes have been identified by previous studies to have biological functions or to be involved in pathways related to the outcome (e.g. cancer), incorporating this type of prior knowledge into a classifier can potentially improve both the predictive performance and interpretability of the resulting model. Results: We propose a simple and general framework to incorporate such prior knowledge into building a penalized classifier. As two concrete examples, we apply the idea to two penalized classifiers, nearest shrunken centroids (also called PAM) and penalized partial least squares (PPLS). Instead of treating all the genes equally a priori as in standard penalized methods, we group the genes according to their functional associations based on existing biological knowledge or data, and adopt group-specific penalty terms and penalization parameters. Simulated and real data examples demonstrate that, if prior knowledge on gene grouping is indeed informative, our new methods perform better than the two standard penalized methods, yielding higher predictive accuracy and screening out more irrelevant genes. Contact: weip@biostat.umn.edu
Effect of pregnancy on bile flow and biliary lipids in the hamster.

The administration of estrogens and oral contraceptive steroids containing estrogen and a progestogen affects biliary lipids, bile acids, and bile flow in a number of animal species. The physiologic relevance of these observations has been examined in the hamster by studying hepatobiliary function in pregnancy, a state characterized by high levels of estrogens and progesterone. The rate of bile flow and the excretion of biliary lipids were studied on the 9th and 14th days of pregnancy and compared with those of nonpregnant females and males of similar ages. The authors measured the concentration, composition, and secretion of bile acids, phospholipids, and cholesterol in hepatic bile. There were no differences in these measurements between males and nonpregnant females. In pregnant females, the following changes were observed: (a) a progressive fall in bile flow, which in late pregnancy (14th day) was decreased 62%; the decrease in bile flow (67%) was principally in the bile acid-independent fraction; (b) reduced secretion of total bile acids due to decreased cholic acid secretion; the decreased output of bile acid, especially cholic acid, may reflect a reduced pool size during pregnancy; (c) increased concentration of biliary lipids but no significant change in the lithogenic index of bile; and (d) the appearance of β-muricholic and hydodeoxycholic acids in the bile. In addition, (Na+K+)ATPase activity was reduced but (Mg++)ATPase activity was not altered in liver homogenates of 14-day pregnant animals. These effects of pregnancy—decreased bile acid-independent bile flow, decreased hepatic (Na+K+)ATPase activity, and decreased cholic acid secretion—are similar to those produced by estrogen administration in hamsters and rats. The findings stress the importance of changes in hepatobiliary function produced by female sex hormones in an important physiologic state.
Technological change and depletion in offshore oil and gas

Abstract This paper tests the hypothesis that technological change has offset depletion for offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico using a unique micro-level data set from 1947–1998. The study supports the hypothesis that technological progress has mitigated depletion effects for our case study, but the pattern differs from the conventional wisdom for non-renewable resource industries. Contrary to the usual assumptions of monotonic changes in productivity or an inverted “U”-shaped pattern, we found that productivity declined for the first 30 years of our study period. But more recently, the rapid pace of technological change has outpaced depletion and productivity has increased rapidly, particularly in most recent 5 years of our study period. We also provide a more thorough understanding of different components of technological change and depletion.
The progesterone receptor stimulates cell-free transcription by enhancing the formation of a stable preinitiation complex.

Abstract Highly purified chicken progesterone receptor (cPR) is shown to stimulate RNA synthesis directly in an in vitro transcription assay. Stimulation of transcription by cPR requires the presence of progesterone response elements (PREs) in the template and can be specifically inhibited by addition of competitor oligonucleotides containing PREs. Binding of receptor to two PREs is cooperative and leads to a synergistic (27-fold) stimulation of transcription. A purified fusion protein containing the DNA binding domain of cPR linked to yeast ubiquitin was produced in E. coli and also functions in the transcription assay. Using this in vitro transcription system, we demonstrate that hormone-free cPR activated by salt treatment induces transcription of a test gene in a hormone-independent manner. Finally, we present evidence that the progesterone receptor acts by facilitating the formation of a stable preinitiation complex at the target gene promoter and thus augments the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II.
Building taxonomy of web search intents for name entity queries

A significant portion of web search queries are name entity queries. The major search engines have been exploring various ways to provide better user experiences for name entity queries, such as showing "search tasks" (Bing search) and showing direct answers (Yahoo!, Kosmix). In order to provide the search tasks or direct answers that can satisfy most popular user intents, we need to capture these intents, together with relationships between them.In this paper we propose an approach for building a hierarchical taxonomy of the generic search intents for a class of name entities (e.g., musicians or cities). The proposed approach can find phrases representing generic intents from user queries, and organize these phrases into a tree, so that phrases indicating equivalent or similar meanings are on the same node, and the parent-child relationships of tree nodes represent the relationships between search intents and their sub-intents. Three different methods are proposed for tree building, which are based on directed maximum spanning tree, hierarchical agglomerative clustering, and pachinko allocation model. Our approaches are purely based on search logs, and do not utilize any existing taxonomies such as Wikipedia. With the evaluation by human judges (via Mechanical Turk), it is shown that our approaches can build trees of phrases that capture the relationships between important search intents.
Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus species from Thailand

Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus species were isolated from soil samples from ten different regions within Thailand. Aspergillus flavus was present in all of the soil samples. Unlike previous studies, we found no A. parasiticus or A. flavus capable of both B- and G-type aflatoxin production in any of the samples. A. pseudotamarii, which had not been previously reported from Thailand, was found in four soil samples. In two of the samples A. nomius was determined to be the most abundant aflatoxin-producing species. Based on sequence alignments for three DNA regions (Taka-amylase A (taa), the rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and the intergenic region for the aflatoxin biosynthesis genes aflJ and aflR) the A. nomius isolates separated into three well-supported clades. Isolates from one of the A. nomius clades had morphological properties similar to those found for S-type isolates capable of B and G aflatoxin production and could easily be mistaken for these isolates. Our results suggest that such unusual A. nomius isolates could be a previously unrecognized agent for aflatoxin contamination in Thailand. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Ablative Fractional Laser Resurfacing With Topical Paromomycin as Adjunctive Treatment for a Recalcitrant Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Wound

Background and objective Leishmaniasis is a vector borne disease that can cause disease manifestations that range from localized skin ulceration to lethal visceral disease. With increased global travel, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is becoming more common in developed nations. However, current treatment options are limited. Study design We report a 16-year-old female who presented with several non-tender, non-healing CL wounds on her bilateral upper and lower extremities. Ablative fractional laser resurfacing (AFR) was used in conjunction with topical paromomycin via laser-assisted delivery to treat the largest non-healing CL wound on the patient's distal lower extremity. Results Upon follow-up after two treatments with AFR, the patient's wound healed completely without evidence of infection and with minimal scarring. Conclusion AFR with laser-assisted delivery of topical paromomycin represents a novel treatment option for resistant, non-healing CL wounds. The technique may prove additionally useful for concurrent mitigation of scarring related to CL.