cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Diverse Functional Elements in the Upstream Sp1 Domain of the Rat Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Gene Promoter (

Transcription of the luteinizing hormone receptor gene is dependent on Sp1-induced promoter activation from two Sp1 binding domains (Sp1(2), and Sp1(4)) within the 173-base pair promoter. Of the two Sp1 binding domains, the canonical GC box (GGGCGG) was determined by mutation to be the binding element for only the Sp1(2) domain. The Sp1 binding element within the Sp1(4) domain was identified by mutation and immunological/competition studies as the 5'-GGG GTG GGG that conforms to a Zif-268 like three zinc finger binding domain, rather than the canonical 3' Sp1(4) GC box (GGGCGG). The guanines in the third trinucleotide (GGG GTG GGG) were not required for Sp1 binding, although they increased binding affinity. Non-Sp1 protein(s) bind the 3' Sp1(4) GC box, and by themselves exhibit transcriptional activity. Tissue specific differences were localized to this non-Sp1 binding domain, which functionally substituted for the downstream activating M1 regulatory domain in non-expressing but not in expressing cells. Mutations of both non-Sp1 and M1 domains were required for inhibition of promoter activity in constructs that retained the Sp1 binding elements in non-expressing cells, indicating that together these domains may play a role in regulation of luteinizing hormone receptor gene expression.
The Measurement of Wisdom: A Commentary on Taylor, Bates, and Webster's Comparison of the SAWS and 3D-WS

In a commentary on Taylor, Bates, and Webster's article (2011, Experimental Aging Research, 37, pp. 129-140), the author (a) clarifies the development and assessment of the Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS); (b) describes the difference between the essential components of wisdom and its predictors, correlates, and consequences; and (c) conducts additional bivariate correlation analyses between the components of the 3D-WS and Webster's Self-Administered Wisdom Scale (SAWS) and all the forgiveness and psychological well-being subscales. Results show that the cognitive, reflective, and affective dimensions of the 3D-WS were significantly and positively correlated with all the forgiveness and psychological well-being subscales. By contrast, only the emotional regulation and humor components of the SAWS were consistently positively associated with those subscales. It appears that the 3D-WS measures the essential cognitive, reflective, and affective components of wisdom, whereas the SAWS contains a reflective wisdom component, a wisdom predictor, a consequence of wisdom, and two necessary but not sufficient wisdom components.
Compositional tuning of glass for the suppression of nonlinear and parasitic fiber laser phenomena

Fiber lasers are susceptible to a number of nonlinear and parasitic effects that can significantly inhibit performance. From a system perspective, requirements of a fiber laser may cover average or peak power, amplitude stability, and spectral content of the source. Nonlinear and parasitic phenomena, including Brillouin scattering, Raman scattering, mode stability, self-phase modulation, four-wave mixing in multi-wavelength lasers, etc. can each influence one or all of these performance characteristics. Conventionally, these system-limiting undesirables have been addressed with complex waveguide designs. However, each of these light-medium interactions can be described by material coefficients that lead to estimates of ‘threshold’ values where these phenomena become significant. For example, this may be the Brillouin gain coefficient for Brillouin scattering, the nonlinear refractive index, n 2 , for self-phase modulation, or the thermo-optic coefficient, dn/dT, for mode stability. Furthermore, these coefficients tend to be strong functions of the material, and surprisingly wide ranges of values exist between known material systems. For example, both the Pockels’ photoelastic constant, p 12 , and thermo-optic coefficient may be either positive or negative for a material. It follows logically that mixtures of materials with coefficients of opposing signs would then give rise to compositions where these coefficients may be zero. Example of such effect negation may include the barium aluminosilicate system for p 12 and the phosphosilicate or titanosilicate system for dn/dT. Compositional tailoring of the optical fiber is therefore suggested as an alternative means to suppressing these parasitics, and methods to do so will be discussed at the conference.
Acute exposure to sarin increases blood brain barrier permeability and induces neuropathological changes in the rat brain: dose-response relationships.

We hypothesize that a single exposure to an LD(50) dose of sarin induces widespread early neuropathological changes in the adult brain. In this study, we evaluated the early changes in the adult brain after a single exposure to different doses of sarin. Adult male rats were exposed to sarin by a single intramuscular injection at doses of 1, 0.5, 0.1 and 0.01 x LD(50). Twenty-four hours after the treatment, both sarin-treated and vehicle-treated (controls) animals were analyzed for: (i) plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity; (ii) brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, (iii) m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (m2 mAChR) ligand binding; (iv) blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability using [H(3)]hexamethonium iodide uptake assay and immunostaining for endothelial barrier antigen (EBA); and (v) histopathological changes in the brain using H&E staining, and microtubule-associated protein (MAP-2) and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining. In animals treated with 1 x LD(50) sarin, the significant changes include a decreased plasma BChE, a decreased AChE in the cerebrum, brainstem, midbrain and the cerebellum, a decreased m2 mAChR ligand binding in the cerebrum, an increased BBB permeability in the cerebrum, brainstem, midbrain and the cerebellum associated with a decreased EBA expression, a diffuse neuronal cell death and a decreased MAP-2 expression in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, and degeneration of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum. Animals treated with 0.5 x LD(50) sarin however exhibited only a few alterations, which include decreased plasma BChE, an increased BBB permeability in the midbrain and the brain stem but without a decrease in EBA expression, and degeneration of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum. In contrast, animals treated with 0.1 and 0.01 x LD(50) did not exhibit any of the above changes. However, m2 mAChR ligand binding in the brainstem was increased after exposure to all doses of the sarin.Collectively, the above results indicate that, the early brain damage after acute exposure to sarin is clearly dose-dependent, and that exposure to 1 x LD(50) sarin induces detrimental changes in many regions of the adult rat brain as early as 24 hours after the exposure. The early neuropathological changes observed after a single dose of 1 x LD(50) sarin could lead to a profound long-term neurodegenerative changes in many regions of the brain, and resulting behavioral abnormalities.
Identification and quantitative determination of prostaglandins by high pressure liquid chromatography.

Abstract High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using 4′ × 1 8″ columns of a pellicular silica support (Corasil-II) allows identification of prostaglandins diastereomers based on their characteristic retention relative to a standard, PGE2 in this study. Surprisingly this simple method allows separation of PGE2, PGE1, and PGEo (dihydro-PGE1) or PGF2α, PGF1α, and PGFoα without resort to silver nitrate impregnated stationary phases. Even more subtle distinctions such as that between 13,14-dihydro-PGF2α, PGF1α and 5,6- trans -PGF2α are possible by HPLC. The differential refractometer detector used throughout can also be used for quantitation. This is illustrated by a study of the relative rates of degradation of natural PGF2α (an oil at the temperature employed, 41°C) and racemic PGF2α (mp. 63°) on exposure to air.
Abstract P6-15-09: Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor I (IGF1R) Inhibitors May Be Synergistic with Chemotherapy in Basal Breast Cancer

Background: Preclinical and clinical data show associations between basal breast cancer (BBC) and obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome suggesting a role for the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway in this disease. We hypothesized that IGF1R targeted therapy will be active in BBC and would enhance the activity of chemotherapeutic agents. We evaluated AG1024, a kinase inhibitor of IGF1R, and Figitumumab, a human anti-IGF1R antibody, in BBC cell lines as monotherapy and in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, doxorubicin or paclitaxel. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the effect of AG1024, Figitumumab, doxorubicin and paclitaxel, growth assays were conducted using four BBC cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, SUM149 and BT20) and the ER positive control cell line, MCF7. Cells were harvested, resuspended in OptiMEM and plated in triplicate at optimal cell densities (50-70% confluent). AG1024 (0-µM), Figitumumab (0-0.585μM), doxorubicin (0-0µM) and paclitaxel (0-20nM) were added after 24-hour incubation. On Day 5, at 70-90% confluence, the cell proliferation Reagent WST-1 (Roche) was added, cells incubated and OD measured as directed by the manufacturer. The percent of surviving cells in each test well was calculated as follows: OD drug-treated well/untreated mean x 100. Each drug combination was assessed in triplicate. Using CalcuSyn (BioSoft), the Median Effects method described by T-C Chou and P. Talaly was used to determine whether or not drug combinations were synergistic or additive. A combination index (CI) 1.10 = antagonism. The CI values reported were observed in two or more experiments. Results: AG1024 produced dose-dependent growth inhibition in all BBC cell lines. Cytotoxicity of AG1024 (40uM) after a five day incubation. The hormone-receptor positive MCF7 cell line was the least sensitive to AG1024. Figitumumab had no activity as monotherapy on BBC and control cell lines. Combination therapy with AG1024 and chemotherapy produced synergistic or additive effects in all BBC cell lines. For instance, combining 01µM doxorubicin with 1µM AG1024 produced a synergistic effect in all BBC cell lines except MDA-MB-468. Combination Indices (CI) of combination therapy experiments. Similarly, Figitumumab and chemotherapy produced additive or synergistic growth inhibition. Further data on IGF1R levels and phosphotyrosine activity will be presented Conclusions: AG1024 causes a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability in BBC cell lines produced synergistic cytotoxicity with paclitaxel and doxorubicin. Figitumumab alone failed to have cytotoxic effects on BBC cell lines, however additive or synergistic effects were seen with paclitaxel or doxorubicin in combination with Figitumumab. The combination of IGF1R inhibitors with chemotherapy in BBC should be further explored. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-15-09.
Modeling the design and performance characteristics of solar steam-jet cooling for comfort air conditioning

A detailed mathematical model describing the performance of low-pressure low-temperature solar steam-jet cooling cycles for comfort air conditioning is presented in this paper. The model is based on the analysis of the cycle performance together with the supersonic flow conditions in the convergent divergent nozzle and the preceding supersonic and subsonic diffusers. The sets of simultaneous equations resulting from the model together with a subroutine providing numerical values of the thermodynamic properties of steam formulated a computer simulation program. The simulation program analyzes the performance of the solar steam-jet cooling system under different design and operating conditions. A set of design charts for the solar steam-jet cooling cycle and for the selection of the ejector dimensions were constructed. Finally, conclusions on the design considerations and limitations as well as the off design performance are discussed.
Super-resolution digital speckle photography for micro/nano measurements

Abstract Speckle photography, also referred to as one-beam speckle interferometry, has gone through several evolutions. It started as laser speckle photography and then white light speckle photography and recently the electron speckle photography. With the advent of CCD and computational power of PC, the process of recording also changed from optical (i.e., photographic) to digital. This paper presents some recent development of super-resolution digital speckle photography with the emphasis on micro/nano measurements.
Angiointervention: an independent predictor of survival in high-grade blunt liver injuries

Abstract Background The role of angiointervention (ANGIO) in the management of high-grade liver injuries is not clear and there are concerns about increased complications. Methods National Trauma Data Bank study, isolated grade IV and V blunt liver injuries. Patients with major associated intra-abdominal or extra-abdominal injuries were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of mortality and complications. Results Six thousand four hundred two patients met the criteria for inclusion. Laparotomy was performed in 32% of the patients and nonoperative management in 68%. Overall, 11% of the patients underwent ANGIO. Patients in the ANGIO group were significantly more likely to be older than 55 years than non-ANGIO patients and more likely to have Injury Severity Scores greater than 25. After stepwise logistic regression, ANGIO was an independent predictor of survival ( P P P = .008). ANGIO was associated with increased systemic complications. Conclusions ANGIO in blunt, severe liver injuries is associated with reduced mortality and increased complications, in both operative and nonoperative management.
Microfluidic Deans Switch for Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

A microfluidic Deans switch was used as a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) modulator. The simplicity and wide temperature range of the Deans switch make it a promising alternative to existing modulation techniques. However, the Deans switch is a low duty cycle modulator; that is, it samples only a small portion of the primary column effluent. Like all low duty cycle modulators, the Deans switch produces inconsistent transfer of components from the primary to the secondary column if the primary peaks are undersampled. Theoretical simulations and experimental studies show that the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the fraction of material transferred from the primary column to the secondary column is less than 1% if the modulation ratio is greater than 2.5. But the RSDs increase rapidly as the modulation ratio is decreased below 2.5. Deans switch GC×GC was validated by analyzing the aromatic content of gasoline. A fast analysis (<10 min) produced narrow primary peaks and a modulat...
In vivo binding of N1′-([11C]methyl)naltrindole to δ-opioid receptors in mouse brain

The regional distribution of N1'-([11C]methyl)naltrindole ([11C]MeNTI) in vivo in mouse brain correlates with established delta opioid receptor densities in vitro. [11C]MeNTI binding is blocked by naltrindole, a delta antagonist, but not by cyprodime, a mu antagonist, of by (+/-)-U50,488, a kappa agonist. Thus, [11C]MeNTI selectively labels central delta opioid receptors in vivo in mouse, and shows promise for positron emission tomography studies of delta sites in human brain.
Structure-activity relationships of a series of glycine antagonists related to 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid and 3-(2-carboxy-6-chloroindol-3-yl)acetic acid

Abstract A series of 3-substituted acetic and propanoic acid derivatives of 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid were prepared and evaluated as antagonists of the glycine site on the NMDA receptor complex. They were found to possess reduced affinity for the glycine site relative to 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid and the analogous 2-carboxyindole-3-acetic acid series of glycine antagonists.
An optically pumped submillimeter wavelength regenerative amplifier

An optically pumped regenerative amplifier has been designed to operate at submillimeter wavelengths using a waveguide cavity resonator and an interferometer coupling arrangement. Amplifier design and experimental measurements of gain are presented.
Dynamics of Air-Water Contact Lines and Interfaces Near the Pinning Threshold

We report a study of the dynamics of capillary rise of water in glass tubes and glass bead packs. The water column height h is measured as a function of time t by video imaging. Analyzing the late time data in terms of critical pinning, dh=dt / (P i Pc) , we nd an anomalously large exponent for interfaces in bead packs and 1⁄4 1 for contact lines in capillary tubes. Repetitive rise and fall experiments in capillary tubes suggests that thinning of the wetting lm plays an important role in the dynamics. We discuss these ndings in light of recent theories and experiments.
The role of fairness in implementing large‐scale change: Employee evaluations of process and outcome in seven facility relocations

Organizational transitions may be difficult to implement if employees resist the change. ‘Participation’ and ‘education’ (Kotter and Schlesinger, 1979) are hypothesized to enhance commitment to change, however mechanisms for those effects are unclear. In a sample of employees from seven relocated organizations, a test of our model showed that the effects of justification (a form of education) on intent to remain are mediated by outcome and procedural fairness judgements. Voice (a form of participation) showed no effects on fairness judgments, perhaps because employees did not expect voice in relocation decisions. Supplementary analyses yielded no evidence for direct effects of voice and justification on intention to remain. The findings extend our understanding of fairness to transition settings.
Ghostwritten Speeches: Ethics Isn't the Only Lesson.

Ghostwriting has long been a subject of controversy within the field of Speech Communication. Much of that controversy, however, has focussed on the relatively narrow question of the “ethics”; of ghostwriting. Important as the question of “ethics”; is, there are other lessons to be learned from the study of ghostwritten speeches. This article examines ghostwriting as source, process, and relationship, and suggests five specific ways in which the study of ghostwritten texts can enrich rhetorical studies.
Effects of d-amphetamine, diazepam, and pentobarbital on the schedule-controlled pecking and locomotor activity of pigeons.

Abstract Pigeons were trained on a variant of the autoshaping procedure devised by Matthews and Lerer (1987) in which a keylight stimulus ramp of increasing brightness signaled the passing of a 30-s interfood interval. This procedure generates two distinct behavioral components: key pecking and locomotor activity. The effects of three psychoactive drugs on these behavior classes were measured. d-Amphetamine had negligible effects on both types of behavior, whereas diazepam and pentobartital increased key pecking and decreased activity in a dose-dependent fashion. In Experiment 2, the possibility that drug effects were suppressed by excessively strong stimulus control exerted in Experiment 1 was tested by decreasing the discriminability of the stimulus ramp. The direction of the effects of diazepam and pentobarbital was the same as in Experiment 1 but the magnitude of the effects tended to be larger. The effects of d-amphetamine, however, remained quite small, suggesting that, under these conditions, locomotor activity and key pecking are less sensitive to d-amphetamine. In Experiments 3 and 4, key pecking was eliminated by removing the keylight. Reinforcers were presented at fixed intervals in Experiment 3 and at variable intervals in Experiment 4. The drug effects on activity observed in Experiments 1 and 2 disappeared in both Experiments 3 and 4. The results suggest that diazepam and pentobarbital affect activity indirectly by increasing key-pecking behavior, which, in turn, competitively decreases activity.
Establishment of B‐lymphoblastoid cell lines from Marek's disease virus‐induced tumors in turkeys

Four lymphoblastoid cell lines were established from tumors of turkeys inoculated with high doses of the GA strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV). Unlike other MD lymphoblastoid cell lines of chicken origin, these MDV transformed turkey lines appear to be B lymphocytes and produce immunoglobulin. Growth characteristics of these cell lines are slightly different; however, they all produce low levels of MDV-specific antigen and carry the complete genome of the virus as determined by virus rescue in the chicken or in duck embryo fibroblast cultures. These cell lines are pathogenic for chickens and produce virus-induced MD lesions. All four lines are free of the herpesvirus of turkeys, reticuloendotheliosis virus, and three lines are also free of avian leukosis virus. They all have typical normal turkey chromosomes and are positive for Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen.
Isolated local recurrence is rare after radical prostatectomy in men with Gleason 7 prostate cancer and positive surgical margins: therapeutic implications.

Purpose: We determined whether the high biochemical failure rate in men with Gleason score 7 disease and positive surgical margins after radical retropubic prostatectomy is secondary to distant metastasis or to local tumor recurrence that could be eliminated by immediate adjuvant radiation therapy.Materials and Methods: Between 1982 and 1997, 112 men with Gleason score 7 disease and positive surgical margins but no seminal vesicle or lymph node involvement underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy without immediate adjuvant radiation or hormonal therapy. Median followup was 8 years (range 1 to 16) and 45 men (40%) were followed 10 years or more. Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival estimates were used to determine the actuarial 5 and 10-year post-prostatectomy, and 5-year post-radiation recurrence rates.Results: The actuarial 5 and 10-year post-prostatectomy biochemical, local and distant recurrence rates were 40% and 52%, 6% and 6%, and 7% and 16%, respectively. For 20 men who received radiation therapy for ...
Two-step navigatorless correction algorithm for radial k-space MRI acquisitions.

A new way to correct magnetic resonance image artifacts resulting from view-dependent phase variations and view-dependent variations in rigid body object translation is presented by exploiting basic properties of the trajectory of radial k-space acquisitions. Simulations, phantom studies, and in vivo experiments are used to demonstrate the feasibility and the utility of this method. While somewhat analogous to navigator echo correction, in which special gradients are interleaved into the imaging sequence so echoes at the center of k-space can be acquired prior to or after collection of the image data, the current method does not require additional new gradient structures within the pulse sequence or increases in scan time. The new method uses the phase information from all collected radial k-space data points rather than only the navigator echo, which permits correction of multiple sources of view-dependent phase variation in the image data. The resultant effect is improved image quality in radial MRI acquisitions. Magn Reson Med 45:277-288, 2001.
Hydrogen peroxide pretreatment of perfused canine vessels induces ICAM-1 and CD18-dependent neutrophil adherence.

BACKGROUNDCytotoxic products of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMNs) contribute to ischemia-reperfusion injury of several tissues. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), one of the cytotoxic products of PMNs, also promotes the adherence of PMNs to cultured vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The present study was undertaken to determine if H2O2 also augmented adhesion of PMNs to intact vessels perfused ex vivo and to determine if H2O2-induced PMN adherence to intact canine carotid arteries and external jugular veins or to cultured canine venous endothelium is mediated by specific adherence ligands on the neutrophil and/or the endothelium.METHODS AND RESULTSVessels were perfused for 20 minutes with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer with and without H2O2, washed with buffer alone, and then exposed to 111In-labeled isolated PMNs (10(7) cells/vessel) under static conditions for up to 20 minutes before being washed again. Residual radioactivity retained by the washed vessel was counted as an index ...
Effect of Selenium and Vitamin E on the Development of Immunity to Coccidiosis in Chickens

Six experiments were conducted using broiler chickens to study the effect of selenium (Se) or vitamin E supplementation of a corn-soybean meal diet on the immune response to coccidiosis. Immunized chickens fed diets supplemented with .25 ppm Se or 100 IU vitamin E/kg of diet had increased body weight gain and feed intake and a tendency for lower feed conversion ratio than chickens fed unsupplemented diet after a challenge with 150,000 oocysts of Eimeria tenella. In two experiments, chickens fed .25 and .50 ppm of Se and immunized against E. tenella had higher body weight gain and a tendency for higher feed intake and lower feed conversion ratio than unsupplemented chickens when challenged with 150,000 oocysts of E. tenella. Except for a reduction on cecal lesion scores and blood packed cell volume in Experiments 1 and 4, respectively, no dietary effect was observed on cecal lesion score or blood packed cell volume of immunized chickens. Dietary supplementation with selenium or vitamin E reduced mortality and increased body weight gain of nonimmunized chickens infected with E. tenella in three of four experiments. These studies suggest that immunization of chickens against coccidiosis is enhanced by Se or vitamin E supplementation.
Assessment of joint review of radiologic studies by a primary care physician and a radiologist.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the joint review of radiologic studies by the primary care physician and the radiologist affects patient care and health care costs.
MALE HYPOGONADISM TREATED BY SUBLINGUAL METHYLTESTOSTERONE

THERE have been only a few reports on the clinical administration of methyltestosterone sublingually for treatment of male hypogonadism. One of the earliest was that of Spence, who reported a single case (9). Another concerned twelve male hypogonads ranging in age from 19 to 73 years (6). In all, satisfactory development of secondary sexual characteristics took place and was maintained on a lesser dosage schedule using sublingual methyltestosterone.* A subsequent report has confirmed the observations of others in regard to the effectiveness of relatively small doses of methyltestosterone sublingually (2). Methyltestosterone sublingually may be administered in the form of Linguets or in a solution of propylene glycol. The former, however, is more practical than the solution, since solid material can be placed between the buccal mucosa and the tongue. In this locality, the Linguet usually remains unnoticed during the period of absorption, causing no inconvenience or restrictions beyond the admonition to ref...
Children Enrolled in Public Pre‐K: The Relation of Family Life, Neighborhood Quality, and Socioeconomic Resources to Early Competence

This article presents data on the family and social environments of 501 children enrolled in public sponsored pre-K in 5 states and tests the relation of these resources to child competence. Structured interviews and questionnaires provide information from parents about the family's social and economic status. Direct assessments and teacher reports provide data on children's literacy, numeracy, and behavioral problems. A majority of the children served in public pre-K lived in poverty and showed decrements in language but not in other domains. A socioeconomic resource factor consisting of parental education, household income, and material need predicted all domains of children's functioning. Children from households high in socioeconomic resources entered pre-K with more well developed language and math skill but fewer behavioral problems than their disadvantaged peers. Neighborhood quality status was related to language competence and mother's marital status to math competence. Neighborhood quality and income level may have their impact on child competence through their relation to dyadic quality and the health and the psychological well-being of the parents.
Suppression of Induced microRNA-15b Prevents Rapid Loss of Cardiac Function in a Dicer Depleted Model of Cardiac Dysfunction.

Background Dicer endonuclease, critical for maturation of miRNAs, is depleted in certain forms of cardiomyopathy which results in differential expression of certain microRNAs. We sought to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the rapid loss of cardiac function following cardiac-specific Dicer depletion in adult mice.
Optimal Management of Gout in Older Patients

Gout in older patients tends to be sub-acute to chronic, often tophaceous, polyarticular, erosive, symmetrical, and causes persistent, recurrent and chronic arthritis. Clinically, it may closely mimic rheumatoid arthritis; thus, a correct diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion and the identification of uric acid crystals. An optimal therapeutic strategy for most older patients with chronic tophaceous gout could involve the following: avoidance of alcohol and diuretic use if possible; avoidance of long term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy; use of short term corticosteroids (systemic or intra-articular) for acute exacerbations; prophylactic colchicine daily or every other day according to the degree of renal dysfunction present; and long term allopurinol therapy in dosages adjusted to the degree of hyperuricaemia and renal dysfunction.
Orientation studies of poly(vinyl chloride). Part I: Intrinsic birefringence

The intrinsic birefringence of rigid poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, was obtained from measurement of birefringence and infrared dichroism. Rigid PVC samples were stretched at temperatures above the glass-transition temperature, Tg, to various stretch ratios. The measured intrinsic birefringence obtained in this study is consistent with theoretically calculated and previously measured values using other techniques and samples. From the intrinsic birefringence, the principal polarizability differences of the PVC monomer were also calculated, and the results are comparable with those estimated from flow birefringence measurements of PVC dilute solutions.
Target identification performance improvement from enhanced HRR radar clutter suppression

Airborne radar tracking in moving ground vehicle scenarios is impacted by sensor, target, and environmental dynamics. Moving targets can be assessed with 1-D High Range Resolution (HRR) Radar profiles with sufficient signal-to-noise (SNR) present which contain enough feature information to discern one target from another to help maintain track or to identify the vehicle. Typical radar clutter suppression algorithms developed for processing moving ground target data not only remove the surrounding clutter but also a portion of the target signature. Enhanced clutter suppression can be achieved using a multi-channel signal subspace (MSS) algorithm which preserves target features. In this paper, we exploit extra information from enhanced clutter suppression for automatic target recognition (ATR), present a gain comparison using displaced phase center antenna (DPCA) and MSS clutter suppressed HRR data, and generate confusion-matrix identification results. The results show that more channels for MSS increase ID over DCPA, result in a slightly noisier clutter suppressed image, and preserve more target features after clutter cancellation
Seasonal variation of upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric equatorial waves over the tropical Pacific

Abstract Upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric wind data spanning 31 years from 1964 to 1994 were analyzed at rawinsonde stations in the central/western Pacific. Traditional spectral and cross-spectral analysis led to the conclusion that there is a significant signal with periods between 3 and 4.5 days, which the authors link with the dominant antisymmetric waves predicted by theory to have these periods, mixed Rossby–gravity waves, and equatorial Rossby waves. Then the authors applied the seasonally varying spectral analysis method developed by Madden to study the average seasonal variation of these waves. The seasonally varying analysis suggested that there are significant twice-yearly maxima in equatorial wave activity throughout the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, with peaks occurring in late winter–spring and in late summer–fall. The twice-yearly signal was most prominent at the 70-hPa and 100-hPa levels. Similar and consistent results were also shown by an autoregressive cyclic spectr...
Non-immunostimulatory nonviral vectors

SPECIFIC AIMSProinflammatory cytokines induced by nonviral vectors have limited their applications in gene therapy. The specific aim of this study is to develop a non-immunostimulatory vector, which has been named “safeplex.” The safeplex could efficiently deliver a gene to the target cells and inhibit the cytokines.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. Inhibition of cytokines by the safeplexTumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is one of the major cytokines induced by CpG motif DNA. It has been shown that intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (DEX) suppressed cationic lipid vector-mediated TNF-α induction. Therefore, TNF-α was used as an index and DEX was selected as the suppressor to evaluate the effect of the safeplex on inhibiting cytokines. It is known that high levels of gene transfer into the lung requires a high charge ratio of cationic lipid to DNA, the higher the charge ratio the higher efficiency of gene transfer. However, data in Fig. 1⤻ a revealed that an increase in the charge ratio resulted in increased TNF-...
PRAMEing a Picture of Differentiation Therapy for AML

Addition of retinoic acid to chemotherapy improves survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. This effect is more pronounced in leukemias that express high levels of PRAME. PRAME is an inhibitor of retinoic acid signaling, which may prove to be an important marker for retinoic acid response.
Medical data mining by fuzzy modeling with selected features

Objective: Medical data is often very high dimensional. Depending upon the use, some data dimensions might be more relevant than others. In processing medical data, choosing the optimal subset of features is such important, not only to reduce the processing cost but also to improve the usefulness of the model built from the selected data. This paper presents a data mining study of medical data with fuzzy modeling methods that use feature subsets selected by some indices/methods. Methods: Specifically, three fuzzy modeling methods including the fuzzy k-nearest neighbor algorithm, a fuzzy clustering-based modeling, and the adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system are employed. For feature selection, a total of 11 indices/methods are used. Medical data mined include the Wisconsin breast cancer dataset and the Pima Indians diabetes dataset. The classification accuracy and computational time are reported. To show how good the best performer is, the globally optimal was also found by carrying out an exhaustive testing of all possible combinations of feature subsets with three features. Results: For the Wisconsin breast cancer dataset, the best accuracy of 97.17% was obtained, which is only 0.25% lower than that was obtained by exhaustive testing. For the Pima Indians diabetes dataset, the best accuracy of 77.65% was obtained, which is only 0.13% lower than that obtained by exhaustive testing. Conclusion: This paper has shown that feature selection is important to mining medical data for reducing processing time and for increasing classification accuracy. However, not all combinations of feature selection and modeling methods are equally effective and the best combination is often data-dependent, as supported by the breast cancer and diabetes data analyzed in this paper.
Privacy and ethical issues in location-based tracking systems

Location-based tracking systems (LTSs) use a variety of technologies to record the locations of objects. An LTS can increase the risks to the privacy and security of individuals. Previous studies have failed to distinguish between losses and violations of privacy when the locations of individuals are recorded by an LTS. We argue that individual privacy is threatened not by the collection of public location information but by the centralization of aggregated information, and by the combination of location information with other personal information. Further, informed consent should be required when the collection of information might cause a violation of privacy.
Teaching software testing: Experiences, lessons learned and the path forward

According to a study commissioned by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in 2002, software bugs cost the U.S. economy an estimated $59.5 billion annually, or about 0.6 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). The same study also found that more than one-third of these costs, or an estimated $22.2 billion, could be eliminated by an improved testing infrastructure. These numbers would be significantly higher if the study were conducted today.
The role of effective discharge in the ocean delivery of particulate organic carbon by small, mountainous river systems

Recent research has shown that small, mountainous river systems (SMRS) account for a significant fraction of the global flux of sediment and particulate organic carbon (POC) to the ocean. The enormous number of SMRS precludes intensive studies of the sort conducted on large systems, necessitating development of a conceptual framework that permits cross-system comparison and scaling up. Herein, we introduce the geomorphic concept of effective discharge to the problem of source-to-sink POC transport. This idea recognizes that transport effectiveness is the product of discharge frequency and magnitude, wherein the latter is quantified as a power-law relationship between discharge and load (the ‘rating curve’). An analytical solution for effective discharge (Qe) identifies two key variables: the standard deviation of the natural logarithm of discharge (sq), and the rating exponent of constituent i (bi). Data from selected SMRS are used to show that for a given river Qe-POC , Qesediment, Qe for different POC constituents (e.g., POCfossil vs. POCmodern) differs in predictable ways, and Qe for a particular constituent can vary seasonally. When coupled with the idea that discharge peaks of small rivers may be coincident with specific oceanic conditions (e.g., large waves, wind from a certain direction) that determine dispersal and burial, these findings have potentially important implications for POC fate on continental margins. Future studies of POC transport in SMRS should exploit the conceptual framework provided herein and seek to identify how constituent-specific effective discharges vary between rivers and respond to perturbations. Delivery of particulate organic carbon (POC) from the land to the sea by rivers and its eventual burial in ocean sediments are critical processes in the global carbon cycle. Sequestration of POC in marine sediments is a major long
Decision making in technology development for radioactive waste management and cleanup

Summary form only given. This paper summarizes a recent National Research Council committee study of the prioritization and decision-making processes of the Office of Science and Technology (OST) within the US Department of Energy (DOE). The OST funds research and development (R&D) projects to develop technologies to be applied to activities of the DOE Environmental Management (EM) program. These activities are the management of radioactive wastes, the long-term disposition and dismantlement of nuclear facilities with no further mission, and the clean-up of environmental contamination resulting from Cold War-era activities (such as nuclear weapons production) at DOE sites. The objective of this report summary is to identify the key decision points that challenge OST program management and to discuss the report's findings and recommendations for improvement.
Learning about children’s school preparation through photographs: The use of photo elicitation interviews with low-income families:

As part of a larger project on the transition to kindergarten, eight families volunteered for a photographybased study. The purpose of this study was to gain further insight into how low-income families prepare children for kindergarten. Following a photo elicitation approach, eight families used a digital camera for 1 week to document activities they did with their children to prepare them for school. Families then participated in a follow-up interview to discuss the meaning behind the images. Interview data were thematically analyzed, and findings suggested that school readiness for families involved both traditional school-like activities and nontraditional everyday activities. A variety of nontraditional images often not associated with preparing children for school were captured by participants, suggesting that many homebased activities may go unrecognized by the early childhood community. Implications for early childhood professionals are discussed, specifically related to building on family strengths.
Expanding the Base for Child Mental Health Service and Training

A mental health role and professional training situation was developed, spanning the child-related systems of school, pediatric, and mental health clinics. The physician intern's work in the natural setting of the school had three facets, each related to a systems intervention framework, (a) Children were seen for immediate intervention in the school or referred to the intern's pediatric or psychiatric clinic base for specialized evaluation and treatment, (b) Parents, children, and teachers met together in a problem-solving group, (c) Teachers participated in groups encouraging development of support systems. Emphasis was placed on children's pediatric, mental health, and educational needs, stressing early detection, family involvement, and lessening of transactional conflict. Acceptance by school and district personnel was extremely positive. Similar functions can be performed by other pediatric, mental health or educational staff.
In Honor of David Kreps, Winner of the John Bates Clark Medal

avid Kreps is the winner of the 1989 John Bates Clark Medal, given to | "that American economist under forty who is adjudged to have made a significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge." He obtained a doctorate degree in Operations Research in 1975 under the supervision of Evan Porteus at Stanford University. He has taught at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business since then. I will try to explain where Kreps's contributions fit in the food chain of economic ideas, why they have a high nutritional content, and why they should be in the diet of the common economist. I will arbitrarily divide this review into three major themes of Kreps's work: individual decision making, gamne theory (foundational and applied) and asset pricing. My strategy is to focus on a small number of papers to highlight better the lines of research; thus, this review is far from being exhaustive. In keeping with the spirit of this journal, I will focus on the economic contributions of the papers; some readers will thus feel that I do little justice to the technical mastery that characterizes his work.
Representation and Recall in Infancy

A pervasive part of the Piagetian legacy is the belief that fundamental changes in the representation of knowledge occur over the course of development. The most dramatic shift in the representational system is said to take place at the end of infancy (the sensorimotor period). This shift can be understood as a change from merely knowing how to also knowing that. In other words, it is a shift from a procedural to a declarative form of representation (J. Mandler, 1983). As conceived by Piaget, the infant has no representation of the world other than sets of motor and perceptual procedures, that is, mechanisms for acting and for recognizing things. Altogether lacking, in this view, are sets of concepts about the world, gathered together into categories or other abstract formats and accessible to thought independently of familiar recognitory or motor routines.
Off-balance sheet liabilities, deposit insurance and capital regulation

Abstract We examine the effect of banks' off-balance sheet activities (particularly loan commitments) on their asset portfolio risk when banks as well as borrowers are free to choose asset risk. We formally establish that banks that have loan commitments have lower asset risk than banks that do not. Loan commitments may thus reduce the bank's portfolio risk and lower the exposure of the federal deposit insurer. We then analyze the implications of the interaction between banks' on- and off-balance sheet activities for the recently adopted BIS capital guidelines, maintaining a clear distinction between loan commitments and other off-balance sheet activities.
Presence of lakes and wetlands decreases resilience of jack pine ecosystems to late-Holocene climatic changes

We reconstructed vegetation and fire histories from four sites located on a sandy outwash plain in northwestern Wisconsin (USA) to test whether lakes and wetlands have influenced how vegetation and fire regimes in pine-oak forests responded to late-Holocene climatic changes. Because of positive feedbacks between jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and fire, communities with few fire breaks should be more resilient to changing climatic conditions. Pollen and charcoal from lake- sediment cores were used to reconstruct vegetation changes at 50- to 100-year intervals and forest fire history at decadal time scales for the past 2500 years. The presence of fire breaks affected both fire regimes and the response of vegetation to climatic changes. Areas with more fire breaks had smaller charcoal peaks and the vegetation was more responsive to climate changes. The vegetation in areas with few fire breaks was more resilient, maintaining higher amounts of jack pine and (or) red pine than the more protected sites. We interpret these findings as evidence that positive feedbacks between fire and jack pine forests stabilized vegetation at sites where fire breaks were absent, and that such sites may be relatively resilient to future climate changes, until jack pine is no longer able to regenerate under the regional climatic conditions.