cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Model for Oligomeric Regulation of APOBEC3G Cytosine Deaminase-dependent Restriction of HIV

APOBEC3G (A3G) restricts HIV-1 infection by catalyzing processive C → U deaminations on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with marked 3′ → 5′ deamination polarity. Here we show that A3G exists in oligomeric states whose composition is dictated primarily by interactions with DNA, with salt playing an important, yet secondary, role. Directional deaminations correlate with the presence of dimers, tetramers, and larger oligomers observed by atomic force microscopy, and random deaminations appear to correlate mainly with monomers. The presence of a 30-nt weakly deaminated “dead” zone located at the 3′-ssDNA end implies the presence of a preferred asymmetric direction for A3G catalysis. Single turnover reaction rates reveal a salt-dependent inhibition of C deamination toward the 3′-ssDNA region, offering a molecular basis underlying A3G deamination polarity. Presteady state analysis demonstrates rapid diffusion-limited A3G-ssDNA binding, a slower salt-dependent conformational change, possibly indicative of DNA wrapping, and long (5–15 min) protein-DNA complex lifetimes. We suggest that diverse A3G oligomerization modes contribute to the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1, proviral DNA mutational bias.
A role for K-ras in conferring resistance to the MEK inhibitor, CI-1040.

Abstract PD184352/CI-1040 is a potent and selective MEK1/2 inhibitor that represents the first MEK-targeted agent to enter clinical trials. Here, we report the development and molecular characterization of CI-1040 resistance in the murine colon 26 (C26) carcinoma cell line. The growth rate of the resistant line (C26/CI-1040 r ) in the presence of 2 μM CI-1040 is comparable to that of parental C26 cells in the absence of CI-1040. C26/CI-1040 r cells are approximately 100-fold more resistant than the parental line to CI-1040 inhibition in soft agar and are less sensitive to the induction of apoptosis that normally occurs in response to CI-1040 treatment. K-ras expression is significantly elevated in C26/CI-1040 r cells. We confirmed a causative role for K-ras in conferring resistance to CI-1040 by transfecting K-ras into parental C26 cells, whereupon an elevation in the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 was observed in addition to resistance to CI-1040. Furthermore, an in vivo -derived MEK inhibitor-resistant line also shows increased K-ras expression. Our data suggest that increasing activated K-ras expression represents one potential mechanism by which tumor cells that initially are responsive to blockade of the MAP kinase pathway can overcome their sensitivity to MEK inhibition.
Benefits of participation in corporate volunteer programs: Employees' perceptions

This exploratory survey study investigated the alleged benefits associated with corporate volunteer programs. The results demonstrated that employees viewed volunteerism as an effective means of developing or enhancing several types of job‐related skills. This was particularly true for female employees and employees participating in a formal volunteer program. The results also demonstrated that organizational commitment was higher for volunteers from companies with a corporate volunteer program than for non‐volunteers with organizations without a corporate volunteer program. Finally, the results indicated that job satisfaction was related to volunteerism among female employees, but not for male employees.
Electoral and partisan cycles between US economic performance and presidential popularity

Empirical voting/popularity research examines parameters that relate economic performance to voting and popularity, not the interaction of these parameters with movements in economic performance, which is what actually influences voting and popularity. This paper examines that interaction for the USA from 1953:1–1990:4 by decomposing the response of popularity to economic performance by both political party and the quarter of the electoral term. Averaged over the electoral term, economic performance increases the popularity of Democrats but decreases it for Republicans, whereas near the election the opposite occurs. Overall, the results appear consitent with a mix of partisan and electoral influences, so that no single approach seems fully adequate.
Furofuranonaphthoquinones: bioactive compounds with a novel fused ring system from crescentia cujete

Abstract Bioassay-directed fractionation of the methyl ethyl ketone extract of Crescentia cujete yielded the naphthoquinones 1 and 2. Both compounds are cytotoxic, and 1 shows selective DNA-damaging activity against yeast. Detailed spectroscopic interpretation led to the assignment of the structures of 1 and 2 as 3-hydroxymethylfuro[3,2-b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan-5,10-dione and 9-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylfuro[3,2-b]naphtho[2,3-d]furan-5,10-dione, respectively. This is the first report of this fused furofuran ring system, either as a natural product or a synthetic substance.
Physiological, Cognitive, and Nonverbal Responses to Repeated Exposure to Crowding1

The present study testcd the hypotheses that crowded subjects would evidence higher levels of arousal than uncrowded subjects and that the arousal of crowded subjects would not habituate with the passage of time. In a laboratory setting, subjects were exposed three tinies over a 3-week period to either crowding with physical contact or an uncrowded environment. A high degree of convergence in support of the experimental hypotheses was provided by behavioral, physiological, and self-report measures. Crowded subjects were more physiologically aroused; rated by confederates to be more tense, uncomfortable, and annoyed; and reported more negative affect than uncrowded subjects. No evidence for habituation of. response to crowding was found.
A morphological study of the liver and gallbladder in hemolysis-induced gallstone disease in mice

The nb/nb mouse with a hereditary hemolytic anemia is an animal model of hemolysis-induced gallstone disease. These anemic mice have hepatomegaly and form calcium bilirubinate gallstones. We undertook this study to: (a) examine the histopathology of the liver and gallbladder in nb/nb mice and (b) assess the influence of hemolysis per se on liver and gallbladder histology by transplanting nb/nb bone marrow into another genotype W/Wv. Livers and gallbladders obtained from male nb/nb and control mice of similar age were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Gallbladders were also stained with alcian blue (pH 2) and periodic acid-Schiff for acidic and neutral glycoproteins, respectively. Volume densities of the extralobular (blood vessels) and lobular (hepatocytic and sinusoidal) components of the liver and glands of the gallbladder neck were determined by standard morphometric techniques. The liver mass of nb/nb mice was 25% greater than that of control mice (1.79 ± 0.26 S.D. gm vs. 1.43 ± 0.23, p 0.05). However, the sinusoidal compartment, representing extramedullary hematopoiesis, was three times greater in nb/nb than in control livers (0.40 ± 0.13 gm vs. 0.13 ± 0.05, p < 0.001). Overall, glandular concretions within the gallbladders were present at least twice as often in nb/nb than in control mice (p < 0.02). Bile pigment concretions occurred in only nb/nb gallbladders and were present three times more frequently in those with luminal gallstones (81%) than in those without stones (25%) (p < 0.02). The glandular density of nb/nb gallbladders was higher than that of control gallbladders (16 ± 21%, p < 0.02), and nb/nb gallbladders with luminal gallstones had a higher glandular density than nb/nb gallbladders without stones (88 ± 8% vs. 37 ± 20%, p < 0.05). Eight months after transplantation, recipient W/Wv mice had not developed gallstones but had marked hepatomegaly with a disproportionate increase in the sinusoidal compartment (27.4 ± 4.9%) compared with control W/Wv mice (9.90 ± 2.0%, p < 0.001). The glandular concretions and density in transplanted and control W/Wv gallbladders were similar. These data indicate that: (a) the hepatomegaly of nb/nb mice is due to extramedullary hematopoiesis while the morphological mass of hepatocytes is similar in control and nb/nb mice; (b) bile pigment concretions within nb/nb gallbladders precede luminal calcium bilirubinate stone formation; (c) glandular hyperplasia is a secondary event in hemolysis-induced gallstone disease, and (d) the hemolytic anemia is responsible for the hepatomegaly and gallstone formation, but the genotype determines the glandular density and concretions within the gallbladder prior to luminal gallstone formation.
Victim Personal Statements: An analysis of notification and utilization

Victim statement policies are a controversial topic inspiring several decades of debate. Criminal justice systems internationally have implemented diverse types of victim statement policies; however, regardless of the type of policy, literature supports that victims seldom provide statements. Despite these findings, few studies have explored the notification and utilization of these policies. The current study selects the Victim Personal Statement (VPS) policy in England and Wales to evaluate what factors influence whether victims are informed of the VPS, and what factors influence one’s decision to provide a VPS by using British Crime Survey (BCS) data. The findings support that several victim, offender, offense, and jurisdictional characteristics influence both notification and utilization of victim statements. The implications for these findings regarding victim statement policies are discussed.
Proposed three-terminal superconducting device based on the magnetoelectric effect

The development of three-terminal superconducting devices with transistor-like characteristics may be crucial for a number of applications of superconducting electronics. A three-terminal Josephson device which in principle could have gain, and which depends on the magnetoelectric effect is described. The magnetoelectric effect is a property of the antiferromagnetic phase of certain compounds. When an electric field is applied across a magnetoelectric material, a magnetization develops. If one Josephson junction of a two-junction, three-electrode sandwich contained a magnetoelectric barrier, a magnetic field would result if that junction were switched to the finite voltage state. This field, when coupled into the second junction, would cause it to switch from the zero-voltage to the finite voltage state. If the second junction had a larger critical current than the drive junction, then the three-terminal device would have gain.
Nanosize metal alloy particle formation in Ag and Cu sequentially implanted silica

A series of high purity silica samples were sequentially implanted with Ag and Cu ions at energies such that the depth distributions for each of the ions overlapped. The samples were characterized by RBS, TEM and optical spectroscopy. The optical response was found to be dependent on the order of sequential implantation, as well as the relative concentration of the implanted elements. The changes in the optical response are attributed to composition changes of the metal colloids that are formed as a result of alloying of the sequentially implanted metal ions, as well as to changes in the size the colloids.
EVIDENCE SUGGESTING ABNORMAL MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND DEGRADATION IN UREMIA

Children with chronic renal disease have decreased growth and diminished muscle mass suggesting that altered protein metabolism occurs in these children. We studied the effect of moderate, stable uremia in young, growing rats made uremic by 5/6 nephrectomy. Two weeks postop the uremic animals weighed less than the sham-operated controls (191 vs. 251 g) and plasma urea nitrogen levels were elevated (57.4 vs. 16.1 mg/dl). Muscle composition, as reflected in protein, water, total RNA and ATP content was unaltered when measured per gram wet weight. While total RNA concentration was unchanged in uremia, sucrose density centrifugation revealed an increase in the percentage of RNA sedimenting as 60s + 40s ribosomal subunits, suggesting a relative block in peptide chain initiation. Subunit levels were approximately 30% higher both in the post-fed state and after a 48 hour fast. 3-methylhistidine production, a measure of myofibrillar protein breakdown was no different under normal feeding conditions but was significantly elevated after 48 hours of fasting. Taken together, these findings suggest that the decreased anabolism seen in uremia may be related to increased polysome disaggregation and consequent decreased “efficiency” of muscle protein synthesis. Protein degradation may be effected as well after the imposition of additional metabolic stress (PHS grant AM 24061 and MDA).
Studying c-Myc serine 62 phosphorylation in leukemia cells: concern over antibody cross-reactivity.

To the editor: A recent article in Blood demonstrated that the Pim kinase inhibitor SGI-1776 has efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia.[1][1] This inhibitor reduced phosphorylation of multiple targets of the Pim kinases, including c-Myc at serine 62 (S62). Because no therapies directly target c-Myc,
Laboratory modeling of coastal upwelling

With the advent of routine satellite investigations of the coastal regions where wind-induced upwelling occurs (L.C. Breaker and C.N.K. Mooers (manuscript in preparation); Flament et al. [1985]) has come an increased appreciation for the complexity of the flows that can be produced. These are revealed especially in the surface temperature and chlorophyll fields, which often show a complex filamentary structure that is clearly related to the transport of surface water by interacting mesoscale eddies and large-amplitude waves. In many cases these features are observed to propagate along shore in the direction of the applied wind stress, but often they are found to be quasi-stationary. It has been speculated that this latter effect is due to the influence of bottom topography or coastline features to which these large-scale flow features can become locked and then produce outward meandering jets. Often the features tend to drift offshore and in the direction of the applied stress, allowing new features to develop in their place (see, for example, Mooers and Robinson [1984] or Narimousa and Maxworthy [1985]). In this article we describe a series of laboratory experiments designed to study some of the questions raised by this line of reasoning and to compare experimentally determined values of certain of the observed features to values obtained from satellite and field observations.
Expression of a microinjected immunoglobulin gene in the spleen of transgenic mice

Transgenic mice were produced by microinjection of a rearranged, functional immunoglobulin κ gene into fertilized mouse eggs and implantation of the microinjected embryos into foster mothers. Mice that integrated the injected gene were mated and the DNA, RNA and serum κ chains of their offspring were analysed. The data from offspring of three different transgenic mice indicate that the microinjected gene is expressed in the spleen, but not the liver of mice which inherited the injected gene.
What's The Gendered Story? Vancouver's Prime Time Olympic Glory on NBC

Previous Olympic media studies have shown that NBC's Winter Olympic telecast is far more likely to promote and advance men athletes and sports than women athletes and sports (see Billings, 2008b), and this study of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic telecast again reveals gender divisions. Analysis of all 64 hours of NBC's prime time telecast revealed that (a) when excluding mixed-gender pair competitions, men received more than three-fifths of the remaining airtime, (b) 75% of the most-mentioned athletes were men, and (c) sportscasters again employed dialogue differences in key areas including that men were more likely than women to be portrayed as succeeding because of their experience, while women were more likely than men to be depicted as succeeding because of courage and failing because they lacked commitment. Contextualization is also offered related to intervening factors such as (a) Olympic participation rates and (b) U.S. medal successes by gender.
Abstract LB-115: Ultrasensitive detection of cancer mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer FFPE and cell-free DNA samples using multiplexed droplet digital PCR

Targeted therapies in many forms of cancer today have allowed unprecedented progress in the treatment of disease. Despite these advances, routine implementation of genomic testing is still limited by: 1) methods to detect, with confidence, mutational loads below 10%, 2) limited amounts of sample (pg-ng range) per biological specimen, 3) diagnostic turnaround time, and 4) cost. In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies (αEGFR) are used to target the wild-type EGFR receptor. However, KRAS is mutated in approximately 40% of colorectal cancers and is indicative of a negative response to αEGFR therapy. BRAF and PIK3CA mutations are also associated with poor response in the remaining patients with KRAS wild-type genotype. To optimize therapy strategies for personalized care, it is therefore critical to rapidly screen patient samples during the course of disease for the presence of multiple mutations. The low abundance of mutants and limited amount and quality of available clinical samples (FFPE and cfDNA) render it difficult to reliably detect multiple mutations with current platforms and methods. We have developed a multiplexing strategy for screening clinically-actionable KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations in mCRC clinical samples using digital PCR. No pre-amplification step was required. This sensitive and inexpensive method reduces the risk of contamination and can be easily implemented in molecular diagnostic laboratories for rapid, routine screening and monitoring of residual disease in cancer patients. Citation Format: Wei Yang, Dawne N. Shelton, Samantha Cooper, Jennifer Berman, Svilen Tzonev, Eli Hefner, John F. Regan. Ultrasensitive detection of cancer mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer FFPE and cell-free DNA samples using multiplexed droplet digital PCR. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-115. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-115
Sustainability of NGO capacity building in southern Africa: successes and opportunities

Despite an increase in organizational capacity building efforts by external organizations in low and middle income countries the documentation of these efforts and their effects on health programs and systems remains limited. This paper reviews key frameworks for considering sustainability of capacity building and applies these frameworks to an evaluation of the sustainability of an AIDS non-governmental organization (NGO) capacity building initiative. From 2004-2007 Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundations Secure the Future(TM) initiative in southern Africa funded a five country program the NGO Training Institute (NGOTI) to build capacity of NGOs working to address HIV/AIDS. Lessons learned from this project include issues of ownership the importance of integrating planning for sustainability within capacity-building projects and the value of identifying primary capacity-building objectives in order to select sustainability strategies that are focused on maintaining program benefits. Sustainability for capacity building projects can be developed by discussing key issues early in the planning process with all primary stakeholders. Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Comparison of ceftibuten transport across Caco-2 cells and rat jejunum mounted on modified Ussing chambers.

Ceftibuten uptake into Caco-2 cells and intestinal brush border membrane vesicles is mediated by the dipeptide transport system (PEPT1). The apical to basolateral transport characteristics of ceftibuten across Caco-2 cells and rat jejunum mounted on a modified Ussing chamber was examined. Mannitol was used as a paracellular marker along with trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) for monitoring tight junction permeability. Transport across Caco-2 cells and rat jejunum mounted on a modified Ussing chamber was linear across the concentration range 0.25–10 mm. The net flux of mannitol and ceftibuten was higher across rat jejunum compared with Caco-2 cells. At a donor concentration of 0.25 mm, ceftibuten transport across Caco-2 cells was found to be pH dependent. Glycyl proline, a dipeptide, and 2,4- dinitrophenol, an energy poison, caused a reduction in the permeability of 0.25 mm ceftibuten across Caco-2 cells. Benzoic acid and adipic acid also inhibited transcellular transport of ceftibuten. At a donor concentration of 0.25 mm, passive paracellular transport accounts for about 60% and the active carrier mediated mechanism accounts for about 40% of ceftibuten transport across Caco-2 cells. None of the inhibitors however, had a significant effect on ceftibuten transport across rat jejunum mounted on a modified Ussing chamber at a donor concentration of 0.25 mm. In the concentration range 0.25–10 mm, ceftibuten is predominantly transported by paracellular mechanisms across rat jejunum and a mixture of active and passive transport across Caco-2 cells. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
“Tied-back” carbocyclic intermediates in the preparation of very sterically strained olefins: Derivatives of tetra-tert-butylethylene

Abstract The preparations of the extremely sterically hindered olefins (12) and-(13) are described, and attempts to convert these compounds to other derivatives of tetra- tert -butylethylene (1) are outlined.
Regulating emotions uniquely modifies reaction time, rate of force production, and accuracy of a goal-directed motor action.

We investigated how emotion regulation (ER) strategies influence the execution of a memory guided, ballistic pinch grip. Participants (N = 33) employed ER strategies (expressive suppression, emotional expression, and attentional deployment) while viewing emotional stimuli (IAPS images). Upon stimulus offset, participants produced a targeted pinch force aimed at 10% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Performance measures included reaction time (RT), rate of force production, and performance accuracy. As hypothesized, attentional deployment resulted in the slowest RT, largest rate of force production, and poorest performance accuracy. In contrast, expressive suppression reduced the rate of force production and increased performance accuracy relative to emotional expression and attentional deployment. Findings provide evidence that emotion regulation strategies uniquely influence human movement. Future work should further delineate the interacting role that emotion regulation strategies have in modulating both affective experience and motor performance.
A comparison of alternative specifications of the college attendance equation with an extension to two-stage selectivity-correction models

Abstract This paper estimates a college attendance equation for a common set of students using three popular econometric specifications: the multinomial logit, the ordered probit, and the bivariate probit. The results suggest that while the multinomial logit is rejected as an appropriate specification, the estimated marginal effects generally are not statistically different across the three specifications. Extending the analysis to two-stage corrections for selection bias suggests that the biggest potential for cross-specification differences occur in the estimated significance of the second-stage coefficients and the predicted outcomes based on those estimates. This suggests that for such applications it is likely important to carefully consider the choice of specification of the first-stage attendance equation.
A simple and extensible graphical debugger

deet is a simple but powerful debugger for ANSIC and Java. It differs from conventional debuggers in that it is machine-independent, graphical, programmable, distributed, extensible, and small. Low-level operations are performed by communicating with a "nub," which is a small set of machine-dependent functions that are embedded in the target program at compile-time, or are implemented on top of existing debuggers. deet has a set of commands that communicate with the target's nub. The target and deet communicate by passing messages through a pipe or socket, so they can be on a different machines. deet is implemented in tksh, an extension of the Korn shell that provides the graphical facilities of Tcl/Tk. Users can browse source files, set breakpoints, watch variables, and examine data structures by pointing and clicking. Additional facilities, like conditional breakpoints, can be written in either Tcl or the shell. Most debuggers are large and complicated, deet is less than 1,500 lines of shell plus a few hundred lines of machine-specific nub code. It is thus easy to understand, modify, and extend. We describe an implementation of the nub API for Java and an implementation that is layered on top of gdb. We have also implemented a version of gdb using the nub API, which demonstrates the modularity of the design.
Health benefits for veteran (senior) tennis players

To explore the health benefits of tennis participation in veteran players and to identify future research needs, an electronic literature search using the Ovid (Cinhal, Medline, Sport Discus) library databases from 1966-2005 was undertaken. Specific search words were employed related to tennis, aging, exercise, health, and the psychophysiological systems. Public access internet search engines were also used (Google, PubMed), along with non-electronic searches of library holdings. There is ample research documenting the health benefits of regular participation in moderately intense aerobic activity. There have been research studies targeting veteran tennis players but most were cross sectional. No tennis related study successfully eliminated all confounding cross training effects. The health of veteran tennis players is improved by enhanced aerobic capacity, greater bone densities in specific regions, lower body fat, greater strength, and maintained reaction time performance in comparison with age matched but less active controls. However, it is not certain whether tennis alone can be a sole contributor to these physiological variables. Well controlled longitudinal research among elite veteran and novice older adult players is needed.
Mass-Transfer Coefficients in Washcoated Monoliths

The asymptotic mass-transfer coefficients are determined in washcoated monoliths of various geometric shapes by solving the convection–diffusion equation in the fluid phase coupled with the diffusion–reaction equation in the washcoat. The dependency of the asymptotic Sherwood number (Sh∞) on washcoat properties (relative effective washcoat thickness λ, ratio of diffusivity of reactant in the fluid phase to that in the washcoat δ, and the catalyst loading ϕ) is examined. It is found that in the kinetic regime (ϕ → 0), Sh∞ approaches a new asymptote (Shw,∞) which depends on the flow as well as washcoat geometries. For δ → 0, Shw,∞ approaches Sh corresponding to flow geometry, whereas for δ → ∞ it approaches Sh of flow geometry. As can be expected, in the mass transfer controlled regime, Sh∞ approaches ShT,∞ (flow geometry), which is independent of washcoat properties. It is also found that the variation of Sh∞ with catalyst loading is not always monotonic when washcoat distribution around the channel perimeter is nonuniform. Numerical results, describing the variation of Sh∞ with washcoat properties, are presented for some commonly used channel geometries. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 2939–2955, 2004
Chip Electrophoresis as a Method for Quantifying Total Albumin in Cerebrospinal Fluid

The cerebrospinal/serum albumin ratio (QAlb) is a measure of cerebrospinal—blood barrier permeability, where dysfunctional barriers have been associated with a variety of disease states. Thus, the ability to accurately quantify albumin has critical diagnostic importance. The current work uses chip electrophoresis as an alternative methodology to the conventional immunoassay for quantifying cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) albumin. With variable concentrations of bovine serum albumin normalized to a chicken albumin internal standard, the electrophoresis system demonstrated signal correlation with a best-fit polynomial (R2 = 0.9993) (concentration range of 7.8–1000 mg/L). Interchip and intrachip variation studies conducted on patient CSF demonstrated coefficient of variations of 0.1–17%. Chip electrophoresis detected an average of 24% greater albumin than the immunoassay in patient CSF samples (n = 58), indicating the ability to detect immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive forms of albumin. Finally, the correlatio...
Channel Cracking Technique for Toughness Measurement of Brittle Dielectric Thin Films on Silicon Substrates

A technique for the measurement of brittle thin film toughness has been developed. It is based on the mechanics of channel cracking in thin films. Dielectric films including CVD silicon oxide and silicon nitride films were studied using this technique. To prevent channel cracks from propagating into silicon substrates, an aluminum layer was deposited prior to the deposition of the dielectric layer. By using a specially made bending fixture, the cracks were observed in situ when the samples were subject to well controlled stresses. It was observed that for each film, a well defined critical film stress level existed, beyond which the crack velocity accelerated very rapidly. The critical film stresses were obtained by superposition of the critical applied stresses and the residual stresses in the films due to deposition and thermal expansion mismatch. It was shown that this technique was highly consistent in critical stress measurement. A simple shear-lag model was used to obtain the film toughness values using the measured critical film stress data.
Acute coronary occlusion in the pig: effect of nitroglycerin on regional myocardial blood flow.

Abstract Myocardial blood flow was studied in 10 closed chest, anesthetized pigs after an acute balloon catheter occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. With use of radioactive microspheres (15 μ), myocardial blood flow was measured before and during an intravenous nitroglycerin infusion and during a combined nitroglycerin-phenylephrine infusion. A significant zone of ischemia (myocardial blood flow less than 50 percent of normal zone flow) was produced by the occlusion and involved 15 percent of the combined left ventricular and interventricular septal mass. More than 50 percent of this ischemic zone was intensely ischemic (myocardial blood flow 0 to 3 percent of normal). Nitroglycerin resulted in a 20 to 30 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure. Myocardial blood flow was unchanged in intensely ischemic areas but varied directly with the product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure in the moderately ischemic area (myocardial blood flow 26 to 50 percent of normal). S-T segment elevation was significantly increased during nitroglycerin infusion and returned to control level with the added infusion of phenylephrine sufficient to restore the systemic blood pressure to prenitroglycerin values. No improvement in ischemic zone perfusion could be demonstrated during the infusion of nitroglycerin alone or with phenylephrine. The endocardial epicardial flow ratio in moderately ischemic areas was slightly lower than the normal zone flow ratio and decreased slightly during infusion of nitroglycerin. With the addition of phenylephrine, the ratios rose slightly and no longer differed from prenitroglycerin values. Blood flow distribution in acutely ischemic pig myocardium differs considerably from that observed in the dog. Nitroglycerin was not shown to have any beneficial effects with or without its relative hypotensive effect. More extensive study in animal models other than the dog is needed.
Septic shock: phenomenology.

This is an autobiographical account of an episode of life-threatening endotoxin shock experienced in the intensive care unit of a university-affiliated V.A. hospital. It was written within a day of the event by a psychiatrist interested in sharing with other physicians and nurses his harrowing time as a patient. He has added some afterthoughts as his perspective has broadened. The account presents the moment-to-moment events as he perceived them as well as his thoughts, feelings and fantasies. The ambiguities of being a psychiatrist-patient with its passivity-control, intellectual defenses, denial and fears of death are prominent in his thoughts.
Endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma as the etiology of biliary strictures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aim: Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) typically presents as biliary strictures. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-fine needle aspiration (FNA) may contribute to the diagnosis of CCA as the etiology of extrahepatic biliary strictures. Our aim was to study the uselfulness of EUS-FNA in diagnosing CCA as the etiology of biliary strictures. Patients and methods: In this meta-analysis, PUBMED and EMBASE databases were examined to find studies published to April 2014 where diagnostic correlation of CCA was available. Studies reporting only “positive for malignancy” were included in our analysis. The main outcome measurements were sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio. Results: Six studies were included, covering 196 patients. The overall pooled sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of EUS-FNA for diagnosis of CCA were 66% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57–74%] and 0.34 (95% CI 0.26–0.43), respectively. In five studies (146 patients), where a mass lesion was detected during EUS, the pooled sensitivity and LR- of EUS-FNA for diagnosis of CCA were 80% [95% CI 72–87%] and 0.20 (95% CI 0.13–0.28), respectively. In the 49 patients with a negative brush cytology, the pooled sensitivity and LR- of EUS-FNA for diagnosis of CCA were 59% [95% CI 44–73%] and 0.41 (95% CI 0.27–0.56), respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that EUS-FNA is useful in the evaluation of CCA as the etiology of biliary strictures. EUS-FNA may improve the diagnosis of CCA in patients with negative cytology and no mass on cross-sectional imaging.
P2F-8 Performance Comparison of Attenuation Estimation Techniques

Ultrasound attenuation measurements in soft tissue is important both for the clinical diagnosis of various pathological conditions as well as for further analysis of ultrasound B-mode images artifacts such as shadowing and enhancement. In this paper, we present a new method for estimating local attenuation coefficients using spectral cross-correlation between consecutive power spectra obtained from the backscattered radiofrequency echo signals at different depths. Since the spectral cross-correlation method estimates the spectral shift by comparing the entire power spectra, it is more robust and stable to the noise artifacts in the backscattered radiofrequency signals. We compare the attenuation estimation performance of spectral cross-correlation to the centroid downshift, and reference phantom methods reported in the literature. Ultrasound simulations that incorporate variations in the transducer dependent parameters and backscatter properties of tissue are utilized to compare the accuracy and precision of each method. Simulation results demonstrate that the estimation accuracy of the reference phantom and spectral cross-correlation methods are better than the centroid downshift method in uniform backscatter regions. However, as backscatter properties change along the beam propagation path, the reference phantom method fails to estimate attenuation coefficients at the boundaries where the backscatter changes occur while the spectral cross-correlation and centroid downshift are fairly independent of backscatter variations. Experimental results using tissue mimicking phantoms also illustrate that the spectral cross-correlation method is more robust towards changes in tissue backscatter properties
Forms of Corporate Entrepreneurship

The domain of corporate entrepreneurship is comprised of two categories of phenomena: corporate venturing and strategic entrepreneurship. Corporate venturing consists of entrepreneurial phenomena through which new businesses are created by, added to, or invested in by an existing organization. Its forms include internal, cooperative, and external corporate venturing. By contrast, strategic entrepreneurship consists of a broad array of entrepreneurial initiatives that do not necessarily involve new businesses being added to the firm. Strategic entrepreneurship involves the exhibition of organizationally consequential innovations that are adopted in pursuit of competitive advantage. The forms of strategic entrepreneurship include strategic renewal, sustained regeneration, domain redefinition, organizational rejuvenation, and business model reconstruction. Keywords: corporate entrepreneurship; corporate venturing; strategic entrepreneurship
Stacking-Fault Energies in Silicon, Diamond, and Silicon Carbide

Stacking faults in a perfect crystal can be seen as limiting structures of certain series of polytypes of that crystal. A parametrization of the energy of polytypes in terms of interaction constants between layers therefore allows for the calculation of stacking-fault energies. The first-principles pseudopotential-density-functional method is used to calculate total energies of a few simple polytypes of silicon and carbon. The energies of intrinsic and extrinsic stacking faults (γISF and γESF , respectively) in silicon and diamond that follow from these calculations are in much better agreement with available experimental numbers than in previous theoretical approaches. I find: γISF = 47 mJm-2 and γESF = 36 mJm-2 for Si, γISF = 300 mJm-2 and γESF = 253 mJm-2 for diamond. From recently published similar calculations for polytypes of silicon carbide one obtains a negative energy for the extrinsic stacking fault, if zincblende silicon carbide is taken as the unfaulted structure, suggesting the observed occurrence in nature of polytypism in silicon carbide.
Mechanisms of naturally evolved ethanol resistance in Drosophila melanogaster

The decaying fruit in which Drosophila melanogaster feed and breed can contain ethanol in concentrations as high as 6–7%. In this cosmopolitan species, populations from temperate regions are consistently more resistant to ethanol poisoning than populations from the tropics, but little is known about the physiological basis of this difference. I show that when exposed to low levels of ethanol vapor, flies from a tropical African population accumulated 2–3 times more internal ethanol than flies from a European population, giving evidence that faster ethanol catabolism by European flies contributes to the resistance difference. Using lines differing only in the origin of their third chromosome, however, I show that faster ethanol elimination cannot fully explain the resistance difference, because relative to African third chromosomes, European third chromosomes confer substantially higher ethanol resistance, while having little effect on internal ethanol concentrations. European third chromosomes also confer higher resistance to acetic acid, a metabolic product of ethanol, than African third chromosomes, suggesting that the higher ethanol resistance conferred by the former might be due to increased resistance to deleterious effects of ethanol-derived acetic acid. In support of this hypothesis, when ethanol catabolism was blocked with an Alcohol dehydrogenase mutant, there was no difference in ethanol resistance between flies with European and African third chromosomes.
Educational quality improvement report: outcomes from a revised morbidity and mortality format that emphasised patient safety.

Problem: Although morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) are meant to promote quality care through careful analysis of adverse events, focus on individual actions or the fear of incrimination may interfere with identification of system issues contributing to the adverse outcomes. Design: Participant attitudes before and after the intervention towards patient safety and conference redesign were assessed using an attitudinal survey. A list of contributing factors, recommended solutions and targeted system improvements was maintained with ongoing progress recorded. Setting: Department of Internal Medicine training programme at University of Missouri–Columbia. Participants: Residents and fellows from the above residency programme. Educational objectives: (1) Distinguish between culture of blame/shame and patient safety culture, (2) identify gaps in quality contributing to adverse outcomes (3) identify strategies to close gaps and (4) participate in root cause analysis, demonstrating an ability to review an adverse event and recommend an action plan. Strategies for change: An interdisciplinary team modified the internal medicine MMC to emphasise a better understanding of patient safety principles and system-based practice interventions. For each adverse event analysed, root causes were identified, followed by discussion of system interventions that might prevent future such events. Key measures for improvement: (1) Attitudes of residents and fellows regarding patient safety, as measured on a 20-item, five-point ordinal scale survey, (2) system improvements generated from the patient safety MMC (PSMMC) and (3) attendance at PSMMC. Effects of change: Clinical outcomes: 121 system improvement recommendations were made and 39 were pursued on the basis of likelihood of achieving high impact changes. 23 improvements were implemented, 11 were partially implemented or in progress, and 5 were abandoned due to impracticality or redundancy. Educational outcomes: 58 residents and fellows completed surveys before and after modification of conference format. 6/20 survey items showed substantial change with four of these changes occurring in the desired direction. Eleven of the remaining 14 responses changed in the desired direction. Average MMC attendance increased from 41±8 to 50±10 participants (p<0.03). Lessons learnt: The new PSMMC initiated multiple improvements in the quality of patient care without sacrificing attendance or attitudes of the residents or fellows. The new PSMMC promotes opportunities for participants to improve quality of patient care in a safe and nurturing environment.
Blocking IKKα Expression Inhibits Prostate Cancer Invasiveness

Purpose IKKα has been recently identified as a key mediator of the inflammation and metastasis in prostate cancer. In the present study, we intend to silence the IKKα expression in prostate cancer cells using synthetic siRNAs and examine their biological effects on tumor cell invasiveness and growth.
A SIMPLE METHOD FOR MEASURING CO2 IN A CONTINUOUS AIR-FLOW SYSTEM: MODIFICATIONS TO THE SUBSTRATE-INDUCED RESPIRATION TECHNIQUE

Abstract A simple, inexpensive method for measurement of respiration (CO2 evolution) under a continuous air-flow was calibrated against an i.r. gas analyzer. Regression equations were developed to apply the method to general soil respiration measurement in the laboratory. The substrate-induced respiration technique was modified. By using 120% FWHC as a standard soil water condition during incubation, initial substrate-induced maximal respiration was measured in an optimal fashion. The problem of high experimental errors associated with soils with high pH values (pH > 6.5) can be avoided by using the simple method of CO2 measurement with this continuous air-flow system.
The Effect of Early Maltreatment, Victimization, and Partner Violence on HIV Risk Behavior Among Homeless Young Adults

Abstract Purpose The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between child maltreatment, physical and sexual victimization, and partner violence victimization with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among a sample of homeless young adults from the midwestern United States. Methods Data are from the Homeless Young Adult Project. A total of 199 young adults aged 19–26 years were interviewed over 14 months using a systematic sampling strategy. The final sample included 172 young adults who were homeless or had a history of running away and being homeless. Results Results from the path analysis revealed that sexual abuse is directly linked with street sexual victimization which was positively associated with a greater number of HIV risk behaviors. Experiencing more types of physical abuse and neglect were positively correlated with partner violence victimization, which was, in turn, associated with more HIV risk behaviors. Those who suffered from more types of neglect also experienced more forms of sexual and physical victimization. Conclusions These findings have implications for service providers. Clinicians who serve homeless youth should recognize the potential effect that experiencing a variety of forms of victimization may have on health risk behaviors.
Construction of a promethium-147 atomic battery

The feasibility of constructing an "atomic battery" by combining the β-emitting radioisotope Pm147and a semiconductor containing a p-n junction has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. The properties of cells made by diffusing a p-type impurity into n-type GaAs, p-impurity into n-type silicon (p/n) and n-impurity into p-type silicon (n/p) are compared. The problems associated with the presence of an alpha emitting impurity (Am147) in the Pm147and with the fabrication of a suitable Pm147source are considered. Experiments with prototype batteries composed of Pm147and n/p silicon cells have led to the conclusion that such batteries would have a half life (1.6 years) somewhat shorter than that of Pm147(2.6 years). Such a battery could generate a few milliwatts of power from a volume of about 2 cubic inches including shielding.
VocalSketch: Vocally Imitating Audio Concepts

A natural way of communicating an audio concept is to imitate it with one's voice. This creates an approximation of the imagined sound (e.g. a particular owl's hoot), much like how a visual sketch approximates a visual concept (e.g a drawing of the owl). If a machine could understand vocal imitations, users could communicate with software in this natural way, enabling new interactions (e.g. programming a music synthesizer by imitating the desired sound with one's voice). In this work, we collect thousands of crowd-sourced vocal imitations of a large set of diverse sounds, along with data on the crowd's ability to correctly label these vocal imitations. The resulting data set will help the research community understand which audio concepts can be effectively communicated with this approach. We have released the data set so the community can study the related issues and build systems that leverage vocal imitation as an interaction modality.
Contexts and Concepts, Abstraction Duals

In the theory of conceptual graphs [1], it is not clear how a concept, with a referent that is a graph, differs from a context containing the same graph. In a previous paper, ”Contexts as White Box Concepts” [3], the author began exploring the relationship of contexts and concepts in the theory of conceptual graphs. It pointed out a strong relationship between contexts with type labels and type definitions with differentia and formalized that relationship in a couple of theorems. This paper reviews and generalizes those results. First, the same analysis is applied to individuals to show that aggregations can be thought of as white box individuals. Second, the strong parallel between the prior and new application is generalized. This generalization leads to the definition of a new operator and its inverse, referent expansion and contraction. It also results in the observation that a concept with a graph or graphs in its referent field is just another notation for a context. Lastly, another approach to relation instances is presented and used to map an arbitrary context to a corresponding concept. That step establishes the hypothesis that concepts and contexts are abstraction duals.