cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rate of anabolic-androgenic steroid use among students in junior high school.

Background: Anabolic-androgenic steroid use has become an increasingly large problem. Studies document steroid use in high-school students, but not students in junior high school. We surveyed 7th-grade students to assess rate of use and knowledge about steroids. Methods: Seventh-grade students completed a 22-question survey instrument that addressed previous steroid use, knowledge about the effects of steroids, other previous substance abuse, and demographic data. The one-sided Z test was used for statistical analyses. Results: Of those students who admitted to using steroids, 4.7 percent were male and 3.2 percent were female. Those more likely to have tried steroids included African-Americans (P Conclusion: The establishment of steroid use in junior high school should cause physicians to seek signs or history of steroid use, especially in patients who are members of groups more likely to use them. In addition, physicians should initiate dialogue about steroids with patients before they are likely to have tried them.
Expanding Pathways: A Summer Bridge Program for Community College STEM Students

This paper addresses the transition of community college students to degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The paper presents the results of an evaluation of a two-week residential summer bridge program that recruited community college students from a wide range of academic, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and included traditional and innovative elements to address academic, social, and career needs. Evaluation data were obtained from pre- and postsurveys, focus groups, and annual tracking surveys about subsequent academic choices and course completion. Results identify the factors that increase the confidence and motivation of students to pursue STEM undergraduate degrees. Student rankings indicate that they found the innovative elements of the bridge program to be the most valuable and transformative in their academic success.
Visible fluorescence from ultraviolet excited crude oil.

Radiant fluorescent intensity, from a UV irradiated sample of crude oil in the visible spectral region, was measured as a function of exposure time of the crude oil to the atmosphere. The intensity of the laboratory source of UV irradiation (300–400 nm) was calibrated and compared with the intensity of the sun at sea level through 1 atm. The maximum intensity of the sun excited fluorescence was estimated to be 5 times less than that required to be detected by presently available satellite mounted visible spectrum detectors and 500 times less than that required to differentiate one crude oil type from another.
Anal physiology testing in fecal incontinence: is it of any value?

The prognostic value of postoperative manometry in fecal incontinence is still controversial. The aims of this study were to establish if Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) and Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQL) scores correlate with anal manometry and endoanal ultrasound findings and to define if there is any prognostic value in performing anal manometry after patients are surgically treated for fecal incontinence. Fifty-three patients, all women, were identified. All patients underwent a surgical procedure and were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Fecal incontinence was assessed using the FISI and FIQL. Patients who did not have these score were excluded. Manometry and ultrasound findings before treatment and manometry findings after treatment were compared with surgical patient’s incontinence scores. Anal canal length was noted, and its association with the pre- and postoperative manometry finding and incontinence scores were compared. No correlation of pre- and postoperative resting and squeeze pressures with incontinence scores was found. Ultrasound findings had no correlation with manometry results and incontinence scores. Anal canal length correlated with both pre- and postoperative manometry findings but not with incontinence scores. Preoperative anal manometry and endoanal ultrasound help in guiding treatment options in patients with fecal incontinence. A decrease in FISI and increase in FIQL scores after a sphincter repair quantifies improvement after incontinence surgery, while changes in anal manometry pressures readings do not.
The intracellular distribution of the free amino acid pool in frog oocytes.

Abstract A mixture of radioactive amino acids was introduced to ovarian oocytes of Rana pipiens for 2 h. The cells were then frozen and fresh, frozen sections cut in a cryostat. Autoradiographic films were pressed against the frozen sections for 4 days at −10 °C and the resultant autoradiograms observed. It was found that acid-soluble isotope was distributed throughout the cells in a non-homogeneous pattern. Heavy concentrations of labeled amino acids were found in the germinal vesicle, in perinuclear cytoplasm, in the cortex, and in the animal pole cytoplasm. The vegetal half cytoplasm contained relatively little label. This pattern was not qualitatively altered when protein synthesis was stopped with metabolic inhibitors.
Influence of Stream Discharge on Reproductive Success of a Prairie Stream Fish Assemblage

Abstract We studied the relationship between stream discharge and reproductive success for five members of a prairie stream fish assemblage. Based on information obtained from the literature, we constructed seven models relating stream discharge to successful reproduction. To assess the utility of our models, we collected larval and juvenile Arkansas River shiners Notropis girardi, peppered chub Macrhybopsis tetranema, plains minnow Hybognathus placitus, flathead chub Platygobio gracilis, and red shiners Cyprinella lutrensis from the Canadian River, Texas, during 2000–2001. We removed otoliths and counted daily growth increments to determine ages. Models were parameterized by use of age and discharge data. Models were evaluated with the Akaike information criterion likelihood statistic to assess which model(s) best described reproductive success for each species. Of the seven models evaluated, the best overall model predicted that reproductive success was uniform across dates when discharge was present in...
Racemization of (R)-(−)-10-methyl-Δ1(9)-octalin: Stereochemical requirements for double bond migration (isomerization) on metal catalysts

Abstract ( R )-(−)-10-methyl-Δ 1(9) -octalin was synthesized in a mixture with cis - and trans -( R )-(−)-10-methyl-Δ 1(2) -octalin in a five step sequence. After removal of the cis - and trans -( R )-(−)-10-methyl-Δ 1(2) -octalins by hydrogenation over 5% Pt/C, 5% Rh/C, or 5% Pd/C, the remaining ( R )-(−)-10-methyl-Δ 1(9) -octalin was monitored for racemization (double bond migration) during continued hydrogenation. No racemization occurs over these catalysts. However, slow racemization does occur in increasing amounts during hydrogenations over a series of 1% Pd/SiO 2 catalysts with dispersions increasing from 36%D to 84%D. The ratio of cis - to trans -9-methyldecalin changes from 1.8 over 5% Rh/C, 1.6 over 5% Pt/C, 1.1 over 5% Pd/C, to 1.0 over the 1% Pd/SiO 2 catalysts. Since double bond migration does not occur over the 5% catalysts, it cannot be used to account for differences in the ratio of cis - to trans - products. Congestion around the double bond inhibits addition, but double bond migration seems to require the allylic hydrogens to be nearly perpendicular to the planes of the double bond and the surface.
Impact of statins on validation of ICH mortality prediction models

Abstract Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has the highest mortality rate of all strokes. Hemphill's ICH score is commonly used to predict mortality after ICH. More recently, the ICH grading scale (ICH-GS) has been shown to improve sensitivity of 30 day mortality prediction in this patient group. Objective: To assess the impact of admission variables not included in prediction models, such as coagulopathy, hyperglycemia, seizures and previous aspirin or statin use on 30 day mortality prediction using two contemporary prediction models. Methods: Records of consecutive ICH patients from 1999 to 2006 were reviewed. Patients with ICH secondary to trauma or underlying lesions (e.g. brain tumors, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations) and of infratentorial location were excluded. We dichotomized patients into a 'predicted survival group' and 'predicted death group' based on a 50% probability of death, respectively. The predicted mortality using ICH score and ICH-GS prediction models was calcu...
Nonlinear imaging methods for characterization of HIFU-induced lesions

Nonlinear ultrasonic imaging methods are used in visualization of lesion formation in freshly excised tissue. Both of these methods are more sensitive to nonlinear echoes than standard B-mode imaging. While all three methods typically show increased echogenicity at the lesion location, the nonlinear methods exhibit more localized echo enhancement than B-mode imaging. Therefore, nonlinear methods are potentially better suited to lesion mapping for purposes of image guidance. Quadratic images have the added advantage of a significant increase in image dynamic range and noise reduction. The results shown in this report continue to support the hypothesis that micro-bubbles play an important role of lesion formation. In this paper, we present imaging results before and after volumetric lesion formation in ex vivo tissue. The results illustrate the advantage of nonlinear imaging methods compared to conventional B-scan imaging in terms of accurate mapping of lesion size and location.
STUDIES OF THE GLUCOSE-TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE RABBIT ERYTHROCYTE.

Abstract 1. 1. The saturation kinetics of 3- O -methylglucose transport in the rabbit erythrocyte were studied. Efflux was unaffected by external sugar and influx was unaffected by internal sugar. These findings provide new evidence that the transport site is a mobile carrier and confirm the original assumptions of Widdas that the movements of carrier and sugar-carrier complex are rate-limiting and governed by the same diffusion constant. 2. 2. The kinetics of transport couterflow induced by glucose were studied and compared to the kinetics of glucose entry. The constant governing counterflow was found to be essentially equal to the Michaelis constant for glucose entry as predicted by Widdas and by Rosenberg and Wilbrandt . The findings were, therefore, compatible with the simplifying assumptions described above. 3. 3. When cells were incubated in 42 mM 3- O -methylglucose and the internal concentration had risen to 10 mM, the ratio of influx to efflux was found to be 1.8. The discrepancy between the flux ratio and the concentration ratio is further evidence for the operation of a mobile carrier in this cell. 4. 4. The inhibitory power of 3- O -methylglucose on xylose entry was esentially as predicted from 3- O -methylglucose transport kinetics. 5. 5. A portion of the sugar movements appeared to occur by simple diffusion.
Evaluating Susceptibility of Milk to Oxidized Flavor

Abstract Procedures used routinely in the study of factors that influence oxidative stability of milk are described. They include methods for the TBA (thiobarbituric acid) test, flavor scoring, preventing copper contamination, and heat treatment of milk samples. Data are presented to illustrate the influence of storage time and temperature, and of oxidative stability of milk on the relation between flavor scores and TBA increases. Advantages and limitations of the measures of oxidative stability, and some conditions that influence detection of differences in stability are discussed.
Double Character: Slavery and Mastery in the Antebellum Southern Courtroom

This study of the day-to-day law and culture of slavery investigates the local courtrooms of the Deep South where ordinary people settled their disputes over slaves. Buyers sued sellers for breach of warranty when they considered slaves to be physically or morally defective; owners sued supervisors who whipped or neglected slaves under their care. Double Character seeks to explain how communities dealt with an important dilemma raised by these trials: how could slaves who acted as moral agents be treated as commodities? Because these cases made the character of slaves a central legal question, slaves' moral agency intruded into the courtroom, often challenging the character of the slaveholders who saw themselves as honorable masters. The book looks at the stories about white and black character witnesses and litigants put forth in court and not only reveals the role of law in constructing "race," but also offers a portrait of the culture of slavery, one that addresses historical debates about law, honor, and commerce in the American south. Double Character maintains that witnesses and litigants drew on narratives available in the culture at large to explain the nature and origins of slaves' character, such as why slaves became runaways. But the legal process also shaped their expression of racial ideology by favoring certain explanations over others. The book combines the methods of cultural anthropology, quantitative social history, and critical race theory.
Dietary walnuts inhibit colorectal cancer growth in mice by suppressing angiogenesis.

Objective Animal studies have demonstrated that dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil inhibits colorectal cancer growth. Recent data indicate that walnuts have strong antiproliferative properties against colon cancer cells in vitro but no previous study has assessed the effects of walnuts in vivo or performed a joint evaluation of flaxseed oil and walnuts. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of dietary walnuts on colorectal cancer in vivo and to comparatively evaluate their efficacy in relation to flaxseed oil.
Quantitative detection of crystalline lysine supplementation in poultry feeds using a rapid bacterial bioluminescence assay.

Lysine is an essential amino acid for both humans and animals; and it is usually the first or second limiting amino acid in most formulated diets. In order to estimate the lysine content in feeds and feed sources, rapid amino acid bioassays have been developed. The objective of this work is to assess a rapid assay for lysine supplementation in chicken feeds, using a luminescent Escherichia coli lysine-auxotrophic strain, to avoid prior thermal sterilization. An E. coli lysine auxotroph carrying a plasmid with lux genes was used as the test organism. The lysine assay was conducted using depleted auxotrophic cells in lysine samples. Luminescence was measured with a Dynex MLX luminometer after addition of the aldehyde substrate. Growth response (monitored as optical density at 600 nm) and light emission response of the assay E. coli strain were monitored to generate standard curves. Bioluminescent analysis of feed samples indicated that the method works well in the presence of a complex feed matrix. Comparison of both optical density and luminescent-based methods indicated that, when the assay takes place under optimal conditions, both methodologies correlated well (r 2=0.99). Except for the 0.64% lysine-supplemented feed, estimates for lysine based on the bacterial assay were over 80% (82–97%) of the theoretical values. Animal data showed that the bacterial bioluminescent method correlated well with the chick bioassay when diets with different levels of lysine supplementation were assayed for lysine bioavailability (r 2=0.97). Luminescent methodology coupled with a bacterial growth assay is a promising technique to assess lysine availability in supplemented animal feeds.
Order from chaos: The poetics and pragmatics of scientific recordkeeping

Although the production of laboratory and field records is fundamental to the conduct of contemporary science, there has been little research into this topic in information studies. This article reports on a study in which, using ethnographic methods, the author studied recordkeeping as it is practiced in a basic research science laboratory. The process by which the record is created to reflect both personal need and professional norms is framed as a series of acts of selection, synthesis, and standardization. The article concludes with reflections on the role of deep understanding of scientific recordkeeping for other disciplines and the design of digital laboratory technologies. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphology and rheology of ternary fluid–fluid–solid systems

We examine the effects of interfacially active particles in blends of immiscible homopolymers with a droplet/matrix morphology. The effect of particles on drop size is not monotonic: at low volume fractions (∼0.1%), particles greatly increase the size of the dispersed phase by promoting flow-induced coalescence regardless of which phase wets the particles preferentially. At higher particle loadings (∼1 vol%), the particles completely cover the interface and reduce the size of the dispersed phase. Particles that are preferentially wetted by the continuous phase are also able to glue together two drops by bridging across them. In this case the morphology consists of clusters of particle-bridged drops, and the resulting blends show solid-like rheology. At low particle loadings, most of the particles are sandwiched between drops, leaving the rest of the interface particle-free. At high particle loadings, the entire surface is nearly covered with particles, the drops are faceted, and the morphology resembles a foam structure. In contrast to these results, particles that are preferentially wetted by the dispersed phase or equally wetted by both phases are not capable of bridging, and these blends do not show drop clusters. These results offer new insights on the behavior of ternary systems composed of two fluids and one particulate species.
Late Palaeoproterozoic monazite and titanite U–Pb ages in the Archaean Suomujärvi Complex, N-Finland

Abstract The paper documents a late Palaeoproterozoic episode of metamorphism and anatexis in the Suomujarvi Complex, an Archaean enclave in the Palaeoproterozoic Central Lapland Granitoid Complex of northern Finland. U–Pb ages were obtained from monazite and titanite in four Archaean granitoid rocks, one quartzite and a massive granite. The results show that growth of monazite and titanite in these rocks spanned a period of about 15 million years between 1780 and 1765 Ma, presumably reflecting complex processes of metamorphic (re-) crystallisation, invasion by granitic dykes, veins and fluids and post-peak-metamorphic retrogression. The timing of this activity corresponds to post-orogenic granitoid magmatism throughout the Baltic Shield. In this region, between the Lapland-Kola and that of Svecofennian orogens, it may represent a retarded response to their coeval, ca. 1.9 Ga convergent collision. The results support a proposed affinity of the Suomujarvi Complex with the Belomorian rather than the Archaean Karelian Province.
Effects of dipyridamole on mitochondrial electron transport: a new inhibitor at site I.

Abstract Dipyridamole (Persantin) inhibits the energy-linked reduction of NAD and oxidation of NADH with coenzyme Q 6 as acceptor catalyzed by submitochondrial particles. The aerobic oxidation of NADH or the anerobic oxidation catalyzed by fumarate were unaffected. Mitochondrial ATPase was also unaffected by the drug. An inhibitory action at or near Site I of the electron transport chain is suggested.
SnoN in regulation of embryonic development and tissue morphogenesis

SnoN (Ski-novel protein) plays an important role in embryonic development, tumorigenesis and aging. Past studies largely focused on its roles in tumorigenesis. Recent studies of its expression patterns and functions in mouse models and mammalian cells have revealed that SnoN interacts with multiple signaling molecules at different cellular levels to modulate the activities of several signaling pathways in a tissue context and developmental stage dependent manner. These studies suggest that SnoN may have broad functions in the embryonic development and tissue morphogenesis.
Analysis of the Effect of Oxygen Addition on Minimum Ignition Energy

The optimum minimum ignition energy for quiescent or flowing mixtures can be correlated by equations. Relative to a specific fuel-air ratio, only one oxygen addition is optimum. The optimum equivalence ratio /phi/ /SUB opt/ can be correlated by an equation against the oxygen fraction, and it is independent of pressure and flow condition. The thermal ignition theory can be used to predict the minimum ignition energy reduction by oxygen addition both for quiescent and flowing mixtures. Oxygen addition affects the minimum ignition energy by means of change of oxygen concentration and change of flame temperature; both increase the chemical reaction rates and thus flame speeds. Oxygen addition is a very useful method for improving low pressure ignition or ignition of alternative or heavy fuels.
Reasons and outcomes of conversion of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for nonresponders.

Abstract Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as a primary bariatric procedure has gained significant popularity. Conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) or Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy (LRYEJ) has been described as a treatment option for inadequate weight loss after LSG and unresolved co-morbidities or complications such as leak, stricture, and severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Objectives To determine reasons and outcomes of conversions of LSG to RYGBP. Setting Academic Center of Excellence Methods Between January 2004 and August 2014, a total of 1118 patients underwent primary LSG for morbid obesity. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was conducted for laparoscopic conversions of LSG to RYGBP or LRYEJ, describing reasons and outcomes. Results Conversion to RYGBP was identified in 30 (2.7%) patients, of whom only 9 (0.8%) were originally from the authors' institution. Of the entire cohort of revisions, 9 (0.8%) had intractable GERD; only 4 (0.4% of total LSGs reviewed) were originally from the authors' institution. Seven (0.6%) patients were revised for inadequate weight loss: 5 (0.4%) originally from the authors' institution, 2 (0.2%) for stricture, and 12 (1.1%) for leak. Both the stricture and the leak patients were referred from outside institutions. All procedures were performed laparoscopically. The additional mean excess weight loss after conversion to RYGBP was 30.9% with no mortalities. Conclusions The most common reason for conversion was chronic leak. The conversion rate of LSG to RYGBP due to inadequate weight loss, GERD, and stricture was 1.6% for the entire group, with .8% from the authors' institution. Additional follow-up and studies are needed to define real incidence of GERD after LSG.
Retroclival collections associated with abusive head trauma in children

Retroclival collections are rare lesions reported almost exclusively in children and strongly associated with trauma. We examine the incidence and imaging characteristics of retroclival collections in young children with abusive head trauma. We conducted a database search to identify children with abusive head trauma ≤ 3 years of age with brain imaging performed between 2007 and 2013. Clinical data and brain images of 65 children were analyzed. Retroclival collections were identified in 21 of 65 (32%) children. Ten (48%) were subdural, 3 (14%) epidural, 2 (10%) both, and 6 (28%) indeterminate. Only 8 of 21 retroclival collections were identifiable on CT and most were low or intermediate in attenuation. Eighteen of 21 retroclival collections were identifiable on MRI: 3 followed cerebral spinal fluid in signal intensity and 15 were bloody/proteinaceous. Additionally, 2 retroclival collections demonstrated a fluid-fluid level and 2 enhanced in the 5 children who received contrast material. Sagittal T1-weighted images, sagittal fluid-sensitive sequences, and axial FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images showed the retroclival collections best. Retroclival collections were significantly correlated with supratentorial and posterior fossa subdural hematomas and were not statistically correlated with skull fracture or parenchymal brain injury. Retroclival collections, previously considered rare lesions strongly associated with accidental injury, were commonly identified in this cohort of children with abusive head trauma, suggesting that retroclival collections are an important component of the imaging spectrum in abusive head trauma. Retroclival collections were better demonstrated on MRI than CT, were commonly identified in conjunction with intracranial subdural hematomas, and were not significantly correlated with the severity of brain injury or with skull fractures.
Improving Online Clinical Trial Search Efficiency Using Natural Language Processing and Biomedical Ontology Mapping Approach

Summary form only given. With the increasing demand for healthcare, computer technology and the internet are playing a more important role for patients, practitioners, and researchers. Oftentimes the process of seeking or providing care does not start in a waiting room or in a doctor's office, but online. Because of this, special attention must be concentrated in increasing the efficiency of online search engines so that the rest of the care process may also run smoothly. This research proposes a solution to improve the search efficiency for patients using natural language processing and SNOMED mapping techniques. In this research, clinical trials are extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov and n-gram method is applied to process the clinical trial contents. The processed terms are then mapped to SNOMED terms and a covariance matrix is formulated with the Jaccard similarity coefficient measuring similarity between a pair of clinical trials. Based on the similarity measures, the most relevant clinical trials are extracted for the searcher's needs. In the end, a comparative study is conducted to prove the enhancement of the search efficiency. In conclusion, the combination of n-gram model and SNOMED terminology mapping to process the clinical trial contents is proved to improve the efficiency for the online search of the clinical trials. Future research with clinical trials will use multiple methods such as ontological and statistical approaches to improve the precision and recall of the search results. Another interesting next step may be to explore clustering by analyzing the correlation structure of the clinical trial contents.
Stability of high-aspect-ratio micropillar arrays against adhesive and capillary forces.

High aspect-ratio (HAR) micropillar arrays have many interesting and technologically important applications. Their properties, such as large mechanical compliance, large surface area, and a topography that is well-separated from the underlying substrate, have allowed researchers to design and explore biomimetic dry adhesives, superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, and tunable wetting surfaces, mechanical sensors and actuators, and substrates for cell mechanics studies. However, the mechanical compliance and large surface area of the micropillars also make these structures susceptible to deformation by adhesive and capillary surface forces. As a result such micropillars, particularly those made from soft polymers, can prove challenging to fabricate and to use in various applications. Systematic understanding of these forces is thus critical both to assemble stable micropillar arrays and to harness these surface forces toward controlled actuation for various applications. In this Account, we review our recent s...
Radiation protection guidance for activities in low-earth orbit

Scientific Committee 75 (SC 75) of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) was assembled for the purpose of providing guidance to NASA concerning radiation protection in low-Earth orbit. The report of SC 75 was published in December 2000 as NCRP Report No. 132. In this presentation an overview of the findings and recommendations of the committee report will be presented.
Identification of the Calmodulin-binding Domain of Recombinant Calcium-independent Phospholipase A2β IMPLICATIONS FOR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) is the major phospholipase A2 activity in many cell types, and at least one isoform of this enzyme class is physically and functionally coupled to calmodulin (CaM) in a reversible calcium-dependent fashion. To identify the domain in recombinant iPLA2β (riPLA2β) underlying this interaction, multiple techniques were employed. First, we identified calcium-activated CaM induced alterations in the kinetics of proteolytic fragment generation during limited trypsinolysis (i.e. CaM footprinting). Tryptic digests of riPLA2β (83 kDa) in the presence of EGTA alone, Ca+2 alone, or EGTA and CaM together resulted in the production of a major 68-kDa protein whose kinetic rate of formation was specifically attenuated in incubations containing CaM and Ca+2 together. Western blotting utilizing antibodies directed against either the N- or C-terminal regions of riPLA2β indicated the specific protection of riPLA2β by calcium-activated CaM at a cleavage site ≈15 kDa from the C terminus. Moreover, calcium-activated calmodulin increased the kinetic rate of tryptic cleavage near the active site of riPLA2β. Second, functional characterization of products from these partial tryptic digests demonstrated that ≈90% of the 68-kDa riPLA2β tryptic product (i.e. lacking the 15-kDa C-terminus) did not bind to a CaM affinity matrix in the presence of Ca2+, although >95% of the noncleaved riPLA2β as well as a 40-kDa C-terminal peptide bound tightly under these conditions. Third, when purified riPLA2β was subjected to exhaustive trypsinolysis followed by ternary complex CaM affinity chromatography, a unique tryptic peptide (694AWSEMVGIQYFR705) within the 15-kDa C-terminal fragment was identified by RP-HPLC, which bound to CaM-agarose in the presence but not the absence of calcium ion. Fourth, fluorescence energy transfer experiments demonstrated that this peptide (694) bound to dansyl-calmodulin in a calcium-dependent fashion. Collectively, these results identify multiple contact points in the 15-kDa C terminus as being the major but not necessarily the only binding site responsible for the calcium-dependent regulation of iPLA2β by CaM.
Plato's Rejection of Thoughtless and Pleasureless Lives

In the Philebus Plato argues that every rational human being, given the choice, will prefer a life that is moderately thoughtful and moderately pleasant to a life that is utterly thoughtless or utterly pleasureless. This is true, he thinks, even if the thoughtless life at issue is intensely pleasant and the pleasureless life at issue is intensely thoughtful. Evidently Plato wants this argument to show that neither pleasure nor thought, taken by itself, is sufficient to make a life choiceworthy for us. But there is some disagreement among commentators about whether or not he also wants the argument to show why. Is the argument designed to establish that we should reject thoughtless and pleasureless lives because some pleasures and some thoughts are goods? Or is it silent on this issue? Many interpreters take the first option, claiming that Plato uses the argument to attack both the hedonist view that only pleasures are goods and the intellectualist view that only thoughts are goods. My aim in this paper is to show that the second option is at least as attractive as the first, both exegetically and philosophically.
Abnormalities of bone marrow mesenchymal cells in multiple myeloma patients.

BACKGROUND The importance of the bone marrow microenvironment in multiple myeloma is receiving increasing attention. Recent studies have suggested the importance of cytokine production and cell–cell contact by bone marrow stromal cells in the survival of myeloma cells. METHODS In the current study, the authors examined bone marrow mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC) cultures derived from eight multiple myeloma patients (mean age, 58 years) and nine normal donors (mean age, 61 years), with emphasis on cell surface antigens, cytokine, and growth factor expression. RESULTS The authors have found, based on analysis of cellular receptors, growth factors, and cytokine expression, that myeloma MPCs are phenotypically and functionally distinguishable from normal donor MPCs. Immunofluorescence analysis of MPC monolayers shows that myeloma MPC cultures expressed reduced cell surface vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and fibronectin, in contrast with the strong expression found on normal donor MPCs. Furthermore, a subset of myeloma MPCs strongly express intracellular receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility, whereas normal MPCs do not. Cytokine expression in bone marrow MPC cultures was examined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Bone marrow MPCs constitutively express interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage (GM)–CSF, stem cell factor (SCF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–α.. In comparison to normal MPCs, multiple myeloma MPCs express increased basal levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. In vitro exposure of MPC cultures to dexamethasone resulted in the down-regulation of IL-6, G-CSF, and GM-CSF in both normal and myeloma MPC cultures. However, dexamethasone treatment significantly increased expression of SCF-1 in myeloma MPCs. CONCLUSIONS In myeloma, bone marrow stromal cells provide paracrine factors, through cytokine production and cell–cell contact, which play a role in plasma cell growth and survival. The authors' data indicate differences in bone marrow MPCs, which may be biologically relevant to the growth and survival of myeloma plasma cells. Cancer 2001;91:1219–30. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Sexual impotency: Counseling of 388 private patients by urologist from 1954 to 1982

Counseling toward restoration of sexual potency was provided in twenty-eight years to 388 impotent men by one urologist. Most were in the fifty to fifty-nine-year age group. Many had histories of serious trauma, major surgical procedures, vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and alcoholism. Clinical judgment rather than elaborate testing was the basic approach to differentiate psychogenic from organic etiology. Strict criteria were used to classify success and failure of response to counseling. The success rate was 75 per cent, generally within three sessions at weekly intervals. Age alone did not preclude restoration of sexual competence. The highest success rate was in the fifty to fifty-nine-year age range for all three groups (white, black, and Asian).
723-4 Cardiovascular and Neurohormonal Effects of SDZ WAG 994, a Selective Adenosine A1Receptor Agonist, in Man

Adenosine is the treatment choice for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). However, short half life and lack of an oral preparation limits its use. SDZ WAG 994 is a new orally active selective adenosine A 1 receptor agonist. Its rapid action and sustained effect (6 – 8 hr) might be advantageous in the treatment of PSVT. It also produces presynaptic inhibition of norepinephrine release but its effects in man have never been tested. We investigated the effects of oral administration of 2 & 5 mg SDZ WAG 994 on exercise parameters –Iheart rate – HR, blood pressure, Anaerobic Threshold, Peak VO 2 & Ventilatory indices) & Neurohormones in 12 normal subjects in a single blind, placebo baseline-controlled, dose escalating design. SDZ WAG 994 did not affect resting HR but the 2 mg dose caused a decrease in peak exercise HR (by 11 beats/min, p l 0.01). The 5 mg dose had no further effect. There was a 16 msec increase in the PR interval at rest with 2 mg (159 to 175 msec, P l 0.01) with no further change at 5 mg. The increase in PR persisted even during peak exercise (115, 134 & 149 msec with placebo. 2 &5 mg, P l 0.001). The drug had no effect on resting & exercise blood pressure, exercise time, VO 2 , anaerobic threshold, ventilatory indices, and epinephrine, norepinephrine or aldosterone at peak exercise. However, SDZ WAG 994 completely suppressed the normal increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) with exercise (P l 0.01). An interesting and unexpected finding was a dose-dependent increase in ANF seen both at rest and peak exercise (P l 0.01). These findings suggest that a single dose of this oral adenosine A1 selective agonist, has the expected negative chronotropic & dromotropic properties in man, even during exercise when circulating catecholamines were very high (epinephrine 299 ± 220 pg/ml, norepinephrine 1947 ± 998 pg/ml) without any adverse cardiovascular effects. Its effects on PRA & ANF suggest that SDZ WAG 994 may also be an important neurohormonal modulator in man.
Labor unions in the american economy: An analytical survey

Study of labor unions again is moving to the forefront of economists’ attention. This resurrection of interest stems from two sources. First, econometric studies indicate that the impact of unions on wages is varied. Further, the absence of theoretical foundation for analysis of labor unions now is appreciated widely. But recent developments in theories of agency, of public choice, and of property rights promise progress toward a better model of labor unions. That model built, the impacts of unions can be ascertained.
CdTe I: Solidus curve and composition-temperature-tellurium partial pressure data for Te-rich CdTe(s) from optical density measurements

Abstract Known weights of Cd and Te in a silica optical cell of known volume were reacted and the partial pressure of Te2 determined by measuring the optical density of the vapor in the visible. The composition of the condensed phase or phases was calculated from the original weights and the amount of material in the vapor phase. The partial pressure measurements showed that the condensed phase was within the CdTe(s) homogeneity range at high temperatures and so Te-rich solidus points could be established as well as xTe-T-PTe2 data. The values of 105( X Te − 1 2 ) are in the 1–10 range between 960 and 1320 K and are in fair agreement with the findings of Greenberg et al.
The energy dependence of low energy K−-proton processes

Abstract Assuming the K−-proton interaction to have negligible range, the energy-dependence of the cross sections for elastic scattering, charge-exchange and reaction processes is discussed, taking into account the dominant effects of the K − - K 0 mass difference. The formulas obtained are used for the discussion of the cusps which appear at the K−-p and K 0 -n energy thresholds and for the analytic continuation of the scattering amplitude into the unphysical region of negative K−-p energies which is of relevance for the use of the K-meson dispersion relations. Four sets of scattering amplitudes are obtained consistent with all the present data on K−-proton interactions and the possibilities for discrimination between them are discussed. Two of these amplitudes are found to correspond to a resonance-like behavior just within the unphysical region.
A Neuropeptide Courier for δ-Opioid Receptors?

The delta-opioid receptor and the precursor protein of a neuropeptide, substance P, are colocalized in the large dense-core vesicles of pain-sensing neurons. In this issue of Cell, report that trafficking of the delta-opioid receptor to these vesicles depends on its physical interaction with the substance P domain of its precursor polyprotein (protachykinin). Moreover, in mice lacking this precursor, the contribution of the delta-opioid receptor to pain processing is dramatically altered. These observations suggest a new role for peptide precursors as sorting signals in vesicular transport.
Phonological error analysis, development and empirical evaluation☆

A method of error analysis, designed to examine phonological and nonphonological reading and spelling processes, was developed from preliminary studies and theoretical background, including a linguistic model and the relationships between articulatory features of phonemes. The usefulness of this method as an assessment tool for phonological ability was tested on a group of normal subjects. The results from the error analysis helped clarify similarities and differences in phonological performance among the subjects and helped delineate differences between phonological performance in spelling (oral and written) and reading within the group of subjects. These results support the usefulness of this method of error analysis in assessing phonological ability. Also, these results support the position that phonological approximation of responses is an important diagnostic feature and merely cataloging errors as phonologically accurate or inaccurate is inadequate for assessing phonological ability.
On simultaneous reduction of families of matrices to triangular or diagonal form by unitary congruences

Let {Ai }and {Bi } be two given families of n-by-n matrices. We give conditions under which there is a unitary U such that every matrix UAiU 1 is upper triangular. We give conditions, weaker than the classical conditions of commutativity of the whole family, under which there is a unitary U such that every matrix UAjU ∗ is upper triangular. We also give conditions under which there is one single unitary U such that every UAiU 1 and every UBjU ∗ is upper triangular. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for simultaneous unitary reduction to diagonal form in this way when all the Aj's are complex symmetric and all theBj 's are Hermitian.
Iatrogenic Intraocular Injection of Depot Corticosteroid and Its Surgical Removal Using the Pans Plana Approach

Abstract A four-year-old girl, while undergoing a repeat excisional biopsy for a progressive orbital hemangioma, sustained an accidental intraocular injection of methylprednisolone acetate (Depo-Medrol®) resulting in a mass of intravitreal and subretinal depot material as well as a retinal tear, retinal detachment, and rapid cataract formation. Pars plana lensectomy, vitrectomy, xenon arc endophotocoagulation and air fluid-gas exchange techniques were used to restore the ocular tissues for visual functions in the affected eye and to save the globe from the devastating toxic effects of the vehicles in the depot corticosteroid preparation.
Conduction electrons of the metal in the electrochemical interface

We calculate the conduction electron density profile for a liquid metal in contact with a layer of water molecules, representing the electrolyte phase of an electrochemical interface. The self-consistent Kohn-Sham equations are solved in the absence, and presence, of the electrolyte phase. Results are compared to those from variational calculations, showing that the latter are not sufficiently accurate for this problem. In the potential representing the interaction of the conduction electrons with the water molecules, the contribution of the exchange-correlation potential is extremely important, as well as the constraint of orthogonality to the closed shells of the water, represented by a repulsive pseudopotential. Different exchange-correlation potentials are investigated. Results are quite sensitive to the choice made and to the representation of the pseudopotential. The additional information needed to place these calculations on a firmer basis is indicated.
Curing Problem or Pathological Gambling: Don't Bet on It.

This review of literature on problem and pathological gambling provides the reader with some historical perspectives on gambling and its growth as an industry. The causes and effects of the identif...
Weakly ionized nonequilibrium viscous shock- layer and electrostatic probe characteristics

The electrochemical interactions between the hypersonic stream of weakly ionized gases and the stagnation region of electrically biased blunt bodies are analyzed. The analysis is based on a continuum description. From the study, typical current-potential relationships for electrostatic stagnation probes are obtained. The effects on the electrical characteristics of the finite-rate collisional energy exchange between electrons and neutrals, and the nonequilibrium electron-ion recombination are studied. Particular attention is given to the electron temperature variations in the freestream, shock, and the shock layer. Among other things, it was found that the classical electron saturation current is not usually attained.
Gravitational lens models of arcs in clusters

It is now well established that the luminous arcs discovered in clusters of galaxies, in particular those in Abell 370 and Cluster 2244-02, are produced by gravitational lensing of background sources. The arcs are modeled and constraints are placed on the distribution of the mass in the clusters and the shape and size of the sources. The models require, as expected, a large amount of dark matter in the clusters and a mass-to blue-light ratio for the cluster which exceeds 100 solar mass/solar luminosity and could be as high as 1000 solar mass/solar luminosity depending on cosmological parameters and the distribution of the dark matter. Furthermore, it is found that in the case of the arc in A370 the dark matter must have a different distribution than the luminous galaxies, while for the arc in Cl 2244 the dark matter can have a distribution similar to that of the light matter (galaxies) or a separate distribution.
The Loss of Animal Companions: A Humanistic and Consumption Perspective

This research project examines the dispossession of animal companions by loving owners. The results of two data collections reveal six highly interrelated themes: Love and Friendship, Joy in Life versus Sorrow in Death, Pets as Family Members, Vividness of Unexpected Death, Good-bye Rituals, and Return to Nature. The article closes with a brief discussion of the implications of these themes for service providers and for the education of potential pet owners.
National library for Bangladesh

In almost every country, there is a National Library with or without the express designation. Libraries are essential ingredients of a civilized society and the National Library epitomizes the quality of life of the people and the driving force in the cultural, social and political life of the nation. Libraries flourish when the value, usefulness of information and recorded knowledge are understood and the need to make the information available at a large scale is recognized. National Libraries in modern days, are, however, brought into being by governments aware of the need to better the storage, retrieval and dissemination of information within the national frontiers. In a democracy, the best government is one that creates a condition in which its citizenry can perform its best. One prerequisite for creating such a condition for the public is the availability of information. Efficient and economic access to information is an essential tool of national development. A society that ignores this motivation may achieve progress in the short term but in the long run would have stifled the spark of deepest human aspirations, if not creativity and ability to make proper decisions. It must also be mentioned at this point that the library serves other crucial societal functions as will be mentioned later in this article. The dire need in Bangladesh is the establishment of a national library without delay. The need is not just of a national library in name as is there on paper under the Directorate of Archives and Libraries but one that will perform functions worthy of its name. Here then are definitive suggestions of what duties it must perform, what responsibilities it must undertake, what status it should have and how the library itself may be brought about. This paper is the result of extensive practical experience in different countries coupled with academic training backed by thorough analysis of the available literature. The basic contention in this paper has been that in Bangladesh for an effective and responsible national library