cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Finasteride: The First 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

Finasteride is a synthetic 4-azasteroid that is a specific competitive inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase, an intracellular enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It has no binding affinity for androgen receptor sites and itself possesses no androgenic, antiandrogenic, or other steroid hormone-related properties. It is well absorbed after oral administration, with absolute bioavailability in humans of 63% (range 34-108%). The mean time to maximum concentration is 1-2 hours, and it is approximately 90% plasma protein bound. The elimination half-life averages 6-8 hours. The agent is metabolized to a series of five metabolites, of which two are active and possess less than 20% of the 5 alpha-reductase activity of finasteride. Little is known about potential drug interactions, although they appear to be minimal and not clinically relevant. The drug is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Its efficacy in regression of prostate gland enlargement is rapid and predictable, although correlation with subsequent improvement in urinary flow and symptoms is highly variable. Dosages of 0.5-100 mg/day regress prostate enlargement; the recommended dosage is 5 mg once/day. Finasteride may hold promise for other DHT-mediated disorders such as acne, facial hirsutism, frontal lobe alopecia, and prostate cancer, but its use in these conditions remains investigational. The frequency of adverse drug events is low, with the most common side effects being impotence, decreased libido, and decreased volume of ejaculate. No reports of intentional overdose have been reported, and dosages of up to 80 mg/day for 3 months have been taken without adverse effect.
Designing Distance-Preserving Fault-Tolerant Topologies

In this paper we introduce and study a new family of graphs called distance preserving graphs. A graph G is said to be k-edge distance preserving with respect to a spanning subgraph D, if there exist k edge-disjoint u-v paths in G of length at most d D (u, v) for every pair of nonadjacent vertices u, v of D. We study two design models each with a different optimality criterion. In the first model, minimizing the overall redundancy is considered. The second model considers regular fault-tolerant topologies with minimum regularity. The focus of this paper is on designs based on model 2. In particular, we construct distance preserving graphs with respect to cycles, crowns. We also prove that our constructions are optimal when D=C p and k<p/2 Further, given a graph G and a spanning subgraph D, we show that there exists a polynomial time algorithm to determine if G is k-edge distance preserving with respect to D. Finally we present a bound on the distance between adjacent vertices when k or fewer edges are removed.
An almost‐free barotropic mode in the Australian‐Antarctic Basin

[1] The Australian-Antarctic Basin (AAB) is known for its high levels of intraseasonal variability; sea-surface height variability exceeds background values by factors of 2 over thousands of kilometers. This paper addresses the hypothesis that this variability is caused by trapping of barotropic energy by the basin geometry. Analysis of a multi-year integration of a shallow-water model shows that the variability is dominated by a single, large-scale statistical mode that is highly coherent over the entire AAB. The flow associated with this mode is northwestward along the Southeast Indian Ridge, southward in the Kerguelen Abyssal Plain, and eastward in the southern AAB. The mode is interpreted as an almost-free topographically trapped mode, as it is confined by contours of potential vorticity that almost entirely enclose the AAB. The apex of the Wilkes Abyssal Plain represents the strongest barrier to the modal circulation: here velocities are strongest, making it a key area for dissipation of kinetic energy through bottom friction and eddy viscosity.
Structure of B13C2.

By comparing calculated lattice constants with x-ray data as well as by comparison of calculated free energies, we find that the correct structure of ${\mathrm{B}}_{13}$${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$ is ${\mathrm{B}}_{12}$(CBC) rather than ${\mathrm{B}}_{11}$C(BBC), as had been suggested. We also show that ${\mathrm{B}}_{12}$${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$ is stable against ${13\mathrm{B}}_{12}$${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${12\mathrm{B}}_{13}$${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$+15C as is ${\mathrm{B}}_{13}$${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$ against ${3\mathrm{B}}_{13}$${\mathrm{C}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${2\mathrm{B}}_{12}$${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$+15B.
The Strategic Motives for Corporate Risk Management

This paper demonstrates that a firm's need to hedge depends on the extent of hedging in its industry. When many firms in an industry experience common cost shocks, prices co-vary with costs providing firms with a 'natural hedge'. However, when hedging is widespread, prices do not offset cost shocks and profits of unhedged firms fluctuate more with cost shocks. This suggests that if firms engage in derivatives hedging to reduce volatility of profits, the incentive to hedge is higher when the extent of hedging in the industry is high. These hypotheses are tested using data on foreign currency derivatives usage. Empirical tests provide strong support for the predictions. First, prices are less responsive to foreign exchange related cost shocks in industries where currency hedging is widespread. Second, an unhedged firm's foreign exchange exposure and, therefore, its perceived need to hedge increases with the extent of hedging in the industry. Consistent with these findings, a firm is more likely to engage in foreign currency risk-management if many competitors are doing so. These strategic incentives for hedging are robust and appear to be more important for currency hedging decisions than some of the firm-specific factors highlighted by existing theory. Finally, results indicate that the market penalizes an unhedged firm with lower value if many competitors of the firm are hedged.
Recall of Acquired Cellular Resistance in Mice by Antigens from Killed Brucella

Mice infected with Brucella abortus 19 were challenged intravenously with Listeria monocytogenes. Spleen assays to determine the number of viable Listeria cells present revealed that these mice were highly resistant to Listeria when challenged on day 17 of the Brucella infection. Resistance was absent in mice challenged on the 5th day and was declining in mice challenged on the 33rd day. Resistance could not be detected by day 49 of the Brucella infection but could be recalled by the injection of antigens from smooth B. abortus 2308. Thus, extracted antigens appeared to be as effective in recall as the live cells used in earlier studies. Similar injections of extracts from rough B. abortus 45/20, or from B. ovis REO 198, were also effective in recalling resistance; this suggests that the smooth surface agglutinogen may be relatively unimportant in recall.
Energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity evaluation in obese children affected by hepatosteatosis.

Summary Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate the physical and sedentary activities and energy expenditure (EE) in a group of children affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), compared with normal and obese subjects, using a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) and a SenseWear armband (SWA). Methods Forty NAFLD (10 females), 41 lean (NRM; 11 females) and 30 obese (OB; 10 females), age- and pubertal stage-matched, children were included. Results Sedentary activity (PAQ) was similar in NAFLD and NRM but less in OB, while SWA showed that NAFLD spent less time in physical activity and more in sedentary activities compared with NRM, but not with OB. Insulin sensitivity index result is related to active EE (cal kg–1 d–1) in NAFLD, while homeostatic model assessment index result was negatively related to total EE in OB. Conclusions Regular physical activity must be encouraged in all obese children affected by NAFLD or not, and SWA might be a possible valid tool for evaluating actual EE.
Interactions between αv-Integrin and HER2 and Their Role in the Invasive Phenotype of Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro and in Rat Brain.

Background We tested the hypothesis that αv-integrin and the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) interact with each other in brain trophic metastatic breast cancer cells and influence their invasive phenotype. Methods Clones of MDA-MB231BR human breast cancer cells with stable knock down of αv-integrin in combination with high or low levels of HER2 were created. The interactions of these two proteins and their combined effect on cell migration and invasion were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results Knockdown of αv-integrin in MDA-MB231BR clones altered the actin cytoskeleton and cell morphology. HER2 co-precipitated with αv-integrin in three breast cancer cell lines in vitro, suggesting they complex in cells. Knockdown of αv-integrin altered HER2 localization from its normal membrane position to a predominantly lysosomal localization. When αv-integrin expression was decreased by 69–93% in HER2-expressing cells, cellular motility was significantly reduced. Deficiency of both αv-integrin and HER2 decreased cellular migration and invasion by almost 90% compared to cells expressing both proteins (P<0.01). After intracerebral inoculation, cells expressing high levels of both αv-integrin and HER2 showed a diffusely infiltrative tumor phenotype, while cells deficient in αv-integrin and/or HER2 showed a compact tumor growth phenotype. In the αv-integrin positive/HER2 positive tumors, infiltrative growth was 57.2 ± 19% of tumor volume, compared to only 5.8 ± 6.1% infiltration in the double deficient tumor cells. Conclusions αv-integrin interacts with HER2 in breast cancer cells and may regulate HER2 localization. The combined impacts of αv-integrin and HER2 influence the invasive phenotype of breast cancer cells. Targeting αv-integrin in HER2-positive breast cancer may slow growth and decrease infiltration in the normal brain.
Consistency properties of species tree inference by minimizing deep coalescences.

Abstract Methods for inferring species trees from sets of gene trees need to account for the possibility of discordance among the gene trees. Assuming that discordance is caused by incomplete lineage sorting, species tree estimates can be obtained by finding those species trees that minimize the number of “deep” coalescence events required for a given collection of gene trees. Efficient algorithms now exist for applying the minimizing-deep-coalescence (MDC) criterion, and simulation experiments have demonstrated its promising performance. However, it has also been noted from simulation results that the MDC criterion is not always guaranteed to infer the correct species tree estimate. In this article, we investigate the consistency of the MDC criterion. Using the multipscies coalescent model, we show that there are indeed anomaly zones for the MDC criterion for asymmetric four-taxon species tree topologies, and for all species tree topologies with five or more taxa.
POPULATION TRENDS IN THE HAMLETS AND VILLAGES OF ILLINOIS: 1940-1960

(1963). POPULATION TRENDS IN THE HAMLETS AND VILLAGES OF ILLINOIS: 1940-1960. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 17-21.
SURFACTANT INFLUENCE ON RIVULET DROPLET FLOW IN MINITUBES AND CAPILLARIES AND ITS DOWNSTREAM EVOLUTION

Abstract During our investigations of two-phase flow in long hydrophobic minitubes and capillaries, we have observed transformation of the main rivulet into different new hydrodynamic modes with the use of different kinds of surfactants. The destabilization of rivulet flow at air velocities
Fetal hemoglobin silencing in humans.

Interruption of the normal fetal-to-adult transition of hemoglobin expression should largely ameliorate sickle cell and beta-thalassemia syndromes. Achievement of this clinical goal requires a robust understanding of gamma-globin gene and protein silencing during human development. For this purpose, age-related changes in globin phenotypes of circulating human erythroid cells were examined from 5 umbilical cords, 99 infants, and 5 adult donors. Unexpectedly, an average of 95% of the cord blood erythrocytes and reticulocytes expressed HbA and the adult beta-globin gene, as well as HbF and the gamma-globin genes. The distribution of hemoglobin and globin gene expression then changed abruptly due to the expansion of cells lacking HbF or gamma-globin mRNA (silenced cells). In adult reticulocytes, less than 5% expressed gamma-globin mRNA. These data are consistent with a “switching” model in humans that initially results largely from gamma- and beta-globin gene coexpression and competition during fetal development. In contrast, early postnatal life is marked by the rapid accumulation of cells that possess undetectable gamma-globin mRNA and HbF. The silencing phenomenon is mediated by a mechanism of cellular replacement. This novel silencing pattern may be important for the development of HbF-enhancing therapies.
Benchmark Analysis of Diabetic Patients with Neuropathic (Charcot) Foot Deformity

During a 10-year period, 237 patients (129 women, 108 men) with a diagnosis of neuropathic (Charcot) arthropathy of the foot and ankle were treated in a tertiary care university hospital medical center. During this period, 115 of the patients (48.5%) were treated nonoperatively as outpatients with local skin and nail care, accommodative shoe wear, and custom foot orthoses. A total of 120 (50.6%) underwent 143 operations. Surgery included 21 major limb amputations, 29 ankle fusions, 26 hindfoot fusions, 23 exostectomies, and 23 debridements for osteomyelitis.It is widely accepted that patients with diabetes are at risk for developing foot ulcers, which can lead to lower extremity amputation. Within the population of diabetic patients, it is widely accepted that patients with neuropathic (Charcot) arthropathy of the foot and ankle have one of the highest likelihoods of having to undergo lower extremity amputation. The current emphasis in care of the foot of a diabetic patient involves a multidisciplinary te...
Characterizing pork producer demand for shelterbelts to mitigate odor: an Iowa case study

Shelterbelts have been shown to mitigate livestock odors incrementally through complex physical and social dynamics. By surveying Iowa hog producers, we assessed the current degree of shelterbelt usage by pork producers, examined producers’ beliefs and concerns regarding shelterbelt usage for odor mitigation and estimated both their willingness to pay and their overall demand for shelterbelts. Overall, Iowa hog producers display strong beliefs that shelterbelts help, social-psychologically, to mitigate odors and generally believe that shelterbelts physically reduce odors. Seventy-five percent of producers expressed a mean willingness to pay $0.18 per pig produced annually. Sixty percent are willing to pay within a range of estimated costs, and 13% are willing to pay more. Overall, younger (<mean) producers are the most probable users of this technology, and they tend to meet four criteria: they plan to be at the same site for over 10 years; they are located in regions with high pig populations; they are at higher risk of affecting neighbors with odors, due to their proximity; they appreciate the more intangible perceived benefits of using shelterbelts (e.g., those associated with social-psychological responses). Overall, the younger producers perceived excessive cost/labor requirements as their main concerns. This information is critical to guide future extension programming that addresses all key concerns of current and potential users of shelterbelts.
The role of gonadotropins in the development of cyclicity in the rat.

Two experiments were carried out to determine whether the serum gonadotropin levels found in the neonatal female rat play a role in the sexual differentiation of the neuroendocrine axis. Female rats were injected either with 100 μg of testosterone propionate (TP) on day 2 or day 3, or with the combination of TP and gonadotropins (5O μg of FSH and 5O μg of LH/day for 3 days). When animals receiving both gonadotropins and TP were compared with those receiving TP alone, it was observed that gonadotropins significantly delayed or prevented the onset of persistent vaginal estrus (p < 0.01) and significantly ameliorated both the decrease in ovarian weight (p < 0.05) and the loss of female sexual behavior (p < 0.05) due to the injection of testosterone propionate. The possible sites of action for the gonadotropins and a hypothesis for the mechanism of action are discussed. (Endocrinology 92: 500, 1973)
Microfluidic purification and preconcentration of mRNA by flow-through polymeric monolith.

Efficient and rapid isolation of mRNA is important in the field of genomics as well as in the clinical and pharmaceutical arena. We have developed UV-initiated methacrylate-based porous polymer monoliths (PPM) for microfluidic trapping and concentration of eukaryotic mRNA. PPM are cast-to-shape and are tunable for functionalization using a variety of amine-terminated molecules. Efficient isolation of eukaryotic mRNA from total RNA was first mathematically modeled and then achieved using PPM in capillaries. Purification protocols using oligo dT's, locked nucleic acid substituted dT's, and tetramethylammonium chloride salts were characterized. mRNA yield and purity were compared with mRNA isolated by commercial kits with statistically equivalent yields and purities (determined by qPCR ratio of 18s rRNA and Gusb mRNA markers). Even after extracting 16 μg of mRNA from 315 μg of total RNA, the 0.4-μL volume monolith showed no signs of saturation. Elution volumes were below 20 μL with concentrations up to 1 μg/...
An Inquiry of Children’s Social Support Networks Using Eco-Maps

Background Children receive support for their learning and development from multiple sources and within various developmental contexts. The extant literature investigating children’s social supports has uncovered multiple benefits to positive and complex social support system. However, the measurement of children’s social supports has largely been accomplished through accessing knowledge of either a parent or child. In order to understand children’s support systems, which are embedded within multiple contexts and prejudiced by multiple influences, it is imperative to access all relevant perspectives.
Electronic Structure Effects in Transition Metal Surface Chemistry

Based on density functional theory and the Newns–Anderson model we present a detailed study of how an inclusion of higher order moments of the density of states can explain observed fine structure variations in oxygen bonding at metal surfaces. The many and sometimes closely coupled parameters that define the band-structure and its position are shown to force the very late transition metals to change shape abruptly. This induces variations in bond-strengths, which are not captured by the simple but successful d-band model. We demonstrate that these variations can be recaptured by a slight modification of the descriptor.
THERMAL STRESSES IN BONDED SOLAR CELLS-THE EFFECT OF THE ADHESIVE LAYER

A two-dimensional, rectangular model of a proposed solar cell structure is analyzed as two plate elements bonded with an elastic continuum. The governing equations are formulated using the principle of minimum potential energy, with displacement components that vary linearly through the thickness of the adhesive layer. An approximate solution is constructed for a particular class of material properties and is characterized by a boundary layer near the unloaded edge. Both interface stress components achieve their largest values at the edge, and the maximum shear stress is independent of the Young's Modulus of the substrate.
Interference Comparators for Line Standards

This paper reviews progress in the techniques of calibration of scales and line standards by interferometry, techniques that have been under very active development since the redefinition of the meter in terms of an optical wavelength. After a study of some general considerations, specific examples of interference comparators are described, and, finally, the effect of the development of these techniques on the usefulness of scales as secondary standards is discussed.
Estimation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and photosynthetic activity of estuarine phytoplankton using a multiple-fixed-wavelength spectral fluorometer.

The utility of a multiple-fixed-wavelength spectral fluorometer, the Algae Online Analyser (AOA), as a means of quantifying chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and phytoplankton photosynthetic activity was tested using algal cultures and natural communities from North Inlet estuary, South Carolina. Comparisons of AOA measurements of CDOM to those by spectrophotometry showed a significant linear relationship, but increasing amounts of background CDOM resulted in progressively higher over-estimates of chromophyte contributions to a simulated mixed algal community. Estimates of photosynthetic activity by the AOA at low irradiance (∼80 μmol quanta m−2 s−1) agreed well with analogous values from the literature for the chlorophyte, Dunaliella tertiolecta, but were substantially lower than previous measurements of the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) in Thalassiosira weissflogii (a diatom) and Rhodomonas salina (a cryptophyte). When cells were exposed to high irradiance (1500 μmol quanta m−2 s−1), declines in photosynthetic activity with time measured by the AOA mirrored estimates of cellular fluorescence capacity using the herbicide 3′-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1′,1′-dimethyl urea (DCMU). The AOA shows promise as a tool for the continuous monitoring of phytoplankton community composition, CDOM, and the group-specific photosynthetic activity of aquatic ecosystems.
Liver Transplantation in Children Using Organ Donation After Circulatory Death A Case-Control Outcomes Analysis of a 20-Year Experience in a Single Center

Importance While orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a durable life-saving treatment for patients with irreversible liver disease, the waiting list mortality rate for children younger than 6 years is 4 times higher than for children aged 11 to 17 years and adults owing to scarce availability of size-appropriate grafts for transplantation. Objective To compare long-term outcomes for children (aged ≤18 years) undergoing OLT using grafts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) and donation after brain death (DBD). Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective study using case-control matched groups at a university transplant center. All patients aged 18 years and younger who underwent OLT using DCD organs between February 1, 1990, and November 30, 2010, at the University of California, Los Angeles, were matched in a 1 to 3 ratio with patients who received primary OLT from DBD donors within a 12-month period. Other matching criteria included recipient age, weight, cause of liver disease, and acuity of illness. Outcomes after OLT were compared for DCD (n = 7) and DBD (n = 21) donors. The median follow-up was 4.5 years. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure was graft failure–free survival; the secondary end point was the development of ischemic cholangiopathy. Results Comparing DCD and DBD groups, recipient median age (28.4 vs 20.1 months, respectively; P = .80), weight (12.0 vs 11.6 kg, respectively; P = .87), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease/Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease score (19 vs 11, respectively; P = .48), and donor age (24.0 vs 13.1 months, respectively; P = .72) were similar. For the DCD donors, the median donor warm ischemia duration was 24 minutes. Liver test results were similar for both groups at 1 week and 3, 6, and 12 months following OLT. Ten-year patient and graft survival rates for both DCD and DBD were 100%. Neither ischemic cholangiopathy nor vascular complications occurred in the DCD group. Biliary anastomotic strictures occurred in 1 DCD patient and 3 DBD patients. Conclusions and Relevance Our study showed excellent long-term outcomes with liver transplantation in children using DCD organs. Use of liver grafts procured after circulatory death is an effective approach to expand the donor pool and remains an untapped resource for children with end-stage liver disease.
Development of Eucelatoria bryani and Eucelatoria rubentis (Diptera: Tachinidae) in Different Instars of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Development of the tachinids Eucelatoria bryani Sabrosky and E. rubentis (Coquillett) in the last 2 larval instars of the host corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), was examined. Developmental differences exist between parasitoid species, and within a species, depending on host instar at the time of parasitization. Development was fastest for E. bryani reared in hosts parasitized as 5th instars and was slowest for E. rubentis reared from hosts parasitized as 4th instars. These 2 closely related species also differ in their physiological relationship with H. zea . Second and 3rd instars of E. rubentis become enclosed in a thickened gelatinous sheath, probably of host origin. Such a sheath does not form around larvae of E. bryani . Size of E. bryani was not affected by host instar at the time of parasitization. Host instar at the time of parasitization did not affect the size of E. rubentis females, but E. rubentis males were significantly larger from hosts parasitized as 5th instars. Although both species deposited larger clutches of eggs in older hosts, clutch size was greater in both host-instars for E. bryani than for E. rubentis . Its greater clutch size and lack of size variation in its progeny reared from different host classes indicate that E. bryani is more efficient in using H. zea as a host resource. Given its faster larval development, E. bryani should be a superior larval competitor when both species parasitize H. zea . Interspecific differences may result from E. bryani being more of a specialist parasitoid whereas E. rubentis is more polyphagous.
Influence of soil water stress on evaporation, root absorption, and internal water status of cotton.

Diurnal variations in leaf water potential, diffusion resistance, relative water content, stem diameter, leaf temperature, and energy balance components were measured in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. var. Lankart 57) during drought stress under field conditions. A plot of leaf water potential against either relative water content or stem diameter during the 24-hour period yielded a closed hysteresis loop. The relation between cell hydration and evaporation is discussed.Despite low soil water potential in the main root zone, significant plant evaporation rates were maintained. Root absorption rates as a function of soil depth were calculated from water content profiles measured with a neutron probe. The maximal root absorption rate of 3.5 x 10(-3) day(-1) occurred at the 75-centimeter depth, well below the main root zone.Stomatal resistance of individual leaves during the daylight hours remained nearly constant at 2.5 seconds centimeter(-1) even though leaf water potentials approached -30 bars. A growth chamber study indicated stomatal closure occurred at potentials near -16 bars. Possible implications of high soil water stress in relation to stomatal function and growth are discussed. Based on an energy balance method, the actual to potential plant evapotranspiration ratio was 0.43 for the 24-hour period, indicating partial stomatal closure. A surface resistance, r(s), of 4.0 seconds centimeter(-1) was calculated for the incomplete canopy with the use of the energy balance data. Alternatively, a canopy resistance of 1.3 seconds centimeter(-1) was attained from a relationship between leaf area and stomatal resistance of individual leaves. If the soil resistance was assumed to be very large and the canopy resistance was weighted for the fractional ground cover of the crop, the calculated surface resistance was 4.3 seconds centimeter(-1). Under these conditions, the two independent estimates of r(s) were in essential agreement.
The Impact of Capital Requirements and Managerial Compensation on Bank Charter Value

This paper examines the joint impact of capital requirements and managerial incentive compensation on bank charter value and bank risk. Most of the previous literature in the area of banking and agency theory has focused on asymmetric information between either banks and regulators, (and therefore on the role of bank capital), or between bank shareholders and bank managers, (and therefore on the role of managerial ownership). In this paper we unify these issues and present empirical results from the regression of capital requirements jointly with measures of incentive compensation on Tobin's Q, our proxy for bank charter value, and on the standard deviation of total return, our proxy for bank risk. In a sample of 102 bank holding companies we find that capital levels are consistently a significant positive factor in determining bank charter value and a significant negative factor in determining risk. On the other hand, we find our six measures of incentive compensation to be generally insignificant relative to charter value but do provide some evidence consistent with a theory relating types of incentive compensation with risk.
Why Superheroes Never Bleed: The Effects of Self-Censorship on the Comic Book Industry

(1987). Why Superheroes Never Bleed: The Effects of Self-Censorship on the Comic Book Industry. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 60-69.
Identification and characterization of 3-substituted pyrazolyl esters as alternate substrates for cathepsin B: The confounding effects of DTT and cysteine in biological assays

Substituted pyrazole esters were identified as hits in a high throughput screen (HTS) of the NIH Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (MLSMR) to identify inhibitors of the enzyme cathepsin B. Members of this class, along with functional group analogs, were synthesized in an effort to define the structural requirements for activity. Analog characterization was hampered by the need to include a reducing agent such as dithiothreitol (DTT) or cysteine in the assay, highlighting the caution required in interpreting biological data gathered in the presence of such nucleophiles. Despite the confounding effects of DTT and cysteine, our studies demonstrate that the pyrazole 1 acts as alternate substrate for cathepsin B, rather than as an inhibitor.
2-methyl- and 2-dimethylamino-6-picoline N-Oxide complexes formed from various copper(II) salts

Abstract Copper(II) complexes with 2-methylamino-6-picoline N-oxide (6MM) and 2-dimethylamino-6-picoline N-oxide (6MDM) have been prepared from the following salts: perchlorate, tetraflouroborate, nitrate, chloride and bromide. A number of different ligand to copper(II) preparative stoichiometries were attempted and the isolated solids were characterized using spectral methods (i.e., IR, UV—Vis and ESR). The 6MDM ligand coordinates via both the N-oxide oxygen and the amine nitrogen, but 6MM bonds to the various copper(II) centers solely by its N-oxide oxygen. However, deprotonation of 6MM does allow this ligand to bind in a bidentate fashion.
Utilization of glutamate/creatine ratios for proton spectroscopic diagnosis of meningiomas.

Our purpose was to determine the potential of metabolites other than alanine to diagnose intracranial meningiomas on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Using a 1.5-T MR system the lesions were initially identified on FLAIR, and T1- and T2-weighted images. Employing standard point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) for single voxel proton MRS (TR 1500 ms, TE 30 ms, 128 acquisitions, voxel size 2 × 2 × 2 cm, acquisition time 3.12 min), MR spectra were obtained from 5 patients with meningiomas, from 20 with other intracranial lesions, and from 4 normal controls. Peak heights of nine resonances, including lipid, lactate, alanine, NAA (N-acetylaspartate), β/γ-Glx (glutamate + glutamine), creatine, choline, myo-inositol, and α-Glx/glutathione, were measured in all spectra. The relative quantity of each metabolite was measured as the ratio of its peak height to the peak height of creatine. Relative quantities of α-Glx/glutathione, β/γ-Glx, and total Glx/glutathione were significantly elevated in meningiomas compared to the 20 other intracranial lesions and the normal control brains. Alanine was found in four of five meningiomas, but lactate partially masked the alanine in three meningiomas. None of the other lesions or control brains showed an alanine peak. The one meningioma with no alanine and the three others with lactate had elevated Glx. While alanine is a relatively unique marker for meningioma, our results support the hypothesis that the combination of glutamate/creatine ratios and alanine on proton MRS is more specific and reliable for the diagnosis of meningiomas than alanine alone.
COL4A1 Mutation in Preterm Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage is a common complication of preterm infants. Mutations in the type IV procollagen gene, COL4A1, are associated with cerebral small vessel disease with hemorrhage in adults and fetuses. We report a rare variant in COL4A1 associated with intraventricular hemorrhage in dizygotic preterm twins. These results expand the spectrum of diseases attributable to mutations in type IV procollagens.
Rat cerebral cortical estrogen receptors: male-female, right-left.

We determined the concentration of cytosol estrogen receptors in the postnatal, developing right and left cerebral cortices of Long-Evans male or female rats 2 to 3, 7 to 8, 14 to 15, and 25 to 26 days of age. Under anesthesia, the rats were gonadectomized and 24 h later they were killed by decapitation, and the dorsal right and left cerebral cortices were separated from the underlying white matter and placed on ice. Sephadex LH-20 gel filtration chromatography was used to dissociate the majority of alpha-fetoprotein-bound [3H]estradiol while leaving the receptor [3H]estradiol complex intact. The correction for the residual nonreceptor binding, including alpha-fetoprotein, was made using parallel incubation containing unlabeled diethylstilbesterol. The amount of residual nonreceptor binding was subtracted from [3H]estradiol-bound protein to calculate high-affinity estradiol binding receptors. The results showed that in both sexes, estrogen receptor concentration was highest at postnatal days 2 to 3 in both the right and the left cerebral cortex and then decreased until 25 days of age. In the female, the right cerebral cortex, at postnatal day 2 to 3, had a higher estrogen receptor concentration than the left cortex (P < 0.02). In the male, the left cortex had a higher cytoplasmic estrogen receptor concentration (P < 0.02) than the right. Considering the reported growth-inhibiting effects of estrogen on the cerebral cortex, the results indicated that one determinant of cerebral dominance in both sexes may be the differential exposure to estrogen, in the case of the male testosterone converted to estrogen, during a critical period of development.
Rocket observations of structured upper hybrid waves at fuh = 2fce

[1] The HIgh Bandwidth Auroral Rocket (HIBAR), launched into active pre-midnight aurora, encountered two bursts of 2–10 mV/m upper hybrid waves just below fuh = 2fce at approximately 377 and 390 km altitude. These waves occur in association with a density “shoulder” and enhancement, respectively. The waves show several bands of frequency structure with 4–8 kHz spacings and, within these, bands of frequency sub structure with 1–2 kHz spacings. At the time of the waves, the measured electron distribution indicates wave instability for frequencies 1–1.2% percent below the electron cyclotron harmonic. These results agree qualitatively with theoretical work predicting banded structure associated with upper hybrid waves trapped in density enhancements.
Crystal Structure of a DinB Lesion Bypass DNA Polymerase Catalytic Fragment Reveals a Classic Polymerase Catalytic Domain

Abstract The UmuC/DinB family of bypass polymerases is responsible for translesion DNA synthesis and includes the human polymerases η, ι, and κ. We determined the 2.3 A resolution crystal structure of a catalytic fragment of the DinB homolog (Dbh) polymerase from Sulfolobus solfataricus and show that it is nonprocessive and can bypass an abasic site. The structure of the catalytic domain is nearly identical to those of most other polymerase families. Homology modeling suggests that there is minimal contact between protein and DNA, that the nascent base pair binding pocket is quite accessible, and that the enzyme is already in a closed conformation characteristic of ternary polymerase complexes. These observations afford insights into the sources of low fidelity and low processivity of the UmuC/DinB polymerases.
Proliferative capacity of murine hematopoietic stem cells in vitro

Large numbers of granulocytes can be collected repeatedly from the supernatant medium of long-term cultures of mouse bone marrow cells. A constant relationship was found between the number of adherent hematopoietic stem cells and the lifetime cell production per culture. The data indicate that there is a limit to the proliferative capacity of normal and of irradiated stem cells. A similar limitation was found in the production of marked granulocytes from clonal cultures of "beige" C57 (bg/bgJ) stem cells placed in limiting dilutions into stromal culture layers.
Dynamic atmospheric turbulence corrections.

The wavefront distortions produced by atmospheric fluctuations are discussed in this paper. The problem at hand is: What is the best way to process the measurements of these distortions so that appropriate corrections for them can be made? If a set of N independent wavefront measurements are made, the measured wavefront can be established as some linear combination of these measurements. The measurements themselves need not be direct phase measurements but could be a set of wavefront slope measurements. Nevertheless, the problem is to find a procedure that gives a best estimate of the wave-front from the set of N measurements. With such a procedure, the system designer can make an estimate of the number of measurements required to achieve a certain desired level of performance as well as the dynamical system complexity required to process the data. What is considered here is an application and adaptation of the theory of optimal estimates to the problem of random wavefront estimation.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
New thermodynamic-transport theory for systems with continuous component density distributions

Abstract Transport theories, equilibrium, and non-equilibrium thermodynamics become useless when applied to materials, such as multicomponent mixtures of dissociating or reacting gases, industrial fuels or polymers, which must be characterized by very large numbers of equations and composition parameters (e.g., component diffusivities, specific heats, chemical affinities, chemical potentials, heats of reactions). This work deals with a new theory in which the numerous equations and parameters required in current thermodynamic and transport theories for such materials are replaced by a smaller number of proper moments of the distribution function. Introducing new conservation laws (expressed in terms of moments) together with new definitions for chemical potentials, specific heats, heat and mass fluxes, diffusivities, affinities and entropy-production rates, a new theory is presented for continuous systems. A few thermodynamic functions and rules are also re-examined. The advantage of the proposed theory lies mainly in the practical possibility to approximate the behavior of many multicomponent gaseous mixtures as well as many industrial fuels and polymers by a much smaller number of moments than the number of distinct chemical components present.
The Concept and Marketing Implications of Hispanicness

Hispanic ethnicity has been traditionally treated as a dichotomous variable, analogous to demographic variables such as gender or marital status. This treatment is atheoretic, simplistic, and ignor...
Late results of a prospective study of direct intra-arterial urokinase infusion for peripheral arterial and bypass graft occlusions.

Abstract The outcome of 72 direct intra-arterial urokinase infusions was studied prospectively. Thirty four were performed for native arterial occlusion and 38 for bypass graft occlusion; the immediate success rates were 67.5 and 84% respectively. The overall incidence of complications was 26%. Median follow-up was 36 (range 1–60) months. Seventeen patients (27%) died during follow-up; nine (14%) required a major amputation. Among patients with native arterial occlusion, 29% had no adjunctive procedure after thrombolysis; of these patients, 85% remained patent at a median of 21 (range 3–42) months. Among bypass occluded patients, only two (6%) had no lesion revealed after successful lysis; both bypasses remain patent at 54 and 58 months respectively. For patients treated with balloon angioplasty immediately after successful thrombolysis, 62% with native arterial occlusion remained patent at a median of 39 (range 2–60) months, whereas only 27% of bypass occlusion patients were patent at a median of 11 (range 2–40) months. Of patients requiring a surgical procedure after thrombolysis, 23 new bypasses (15 vein, eight prosthetic) were placed (nine in native arterial occlusion patients, 14 in bypass occlusion patients). In addition, there were 15 other surgical procedures, including six thrombectomies, four vein patch angioplasties, four vein jump grafts and one endarterectomy. The primary and secondary patencies for the 15 new vein bypasses placed were 81 and 88% respectively at a median follow-up of 36 months. Good immediate results were experienced with urokinase thrombolysis for peripheral arterial and graft occlusions. However, multiple adjunctive procedures were required to maintain patency. Balloon angioplasty yielded reasonable late patency for the native arterial group but poor patency for the bypass group. Replacement with a new bypass gave the best long-term patency in both groups. These data suggest that thrombolysis is a reasonable first-line treatment for limb ischemia due to native arterial occlusion. However, for bypass graft occlusion, the results, despite initial success, are not durable.
Oxidative induction of beta-turn conformations in cyclic peptidomimetics: conformational analyses as indicators of configuration.

Solid-phase syntheses of the cyclic peptidomimetics 1−4 were performed. Sulfide 1 and sulfoxide 3 did not tend to exist in β-turn conformations in solution, but the sulfone 2 and the epimeric sulfoxide 4 did. The assignment of configuration of the sulfoxides is based on the conformational analyses.
On region-based fault tolerant design of distributed file storage in networks

Distributed storage of data files in different nodes of a network enhances the reliability of the data by offering protection against node failure. In the (N,K),N ≥ K file distribution scheme, from a file F of size |F|, N segments of size |F|/K are created in such a way that it is possible to reconstruct the entire file, just by accessing any K segments. For the reconstruction scheme to work it is essential that the K segments of the file are stored in nodes that are connected in the network. However in case of node failures the network might become disconnected (i.e., split into several connected components). We focus on node failures that are spatially-correlated or region-based. Such failures are often encountered in disaster situations or natural calamities where only the nodes in the disaster zone are affected. The goal of this research is to devise a file segment distribution scheme so that, even if the network becomes disconnected due to any region fault, at least one of the largest connected components will have at least K distinct file segments with which to reconstruct the entire file. The distribution scheme will also ensure that the total storage requirement is minimized. We provide an optimal solution through Integer Linear Programming and an approximation solution with a guaranteed performance bound of O(ln n) to solve the problem for any arbitrary network. The performance of the approximation algorithm is evaluated by simulation on two real networks.
Trees, more than shrubs, protect against soil erosion

Soil erosion and saltation—the transport of ground particles by wind—are significant producers of dust and can damage crops or lead to nutrient-poor soil in semiarid regions. These regions are particularly vulnerable to climate warming and increased human activity, which can exacerbate erosion and induce dust bowl–like conditions. Previous research and observations have shown that vegetation such as shrubs and trees can reduce soil erosion, but existing models do not account for variations in wind direction or strength.
Scientific Discovery through Advanced Visualization

The SciDAC program of the Department of Energy has brought together tremendous scientific expertises and computing resources to realize the promise of terascale computing for attempting to answer some of the most important basic science questions. Scientific visualization is an indispensable path to gleaning insight from the massive data produced by terascale simulations. Unless the visualization challenges presented by the terascale simulations be adequately addressed, the value of conducting these immense and costly simulations is not being fully realized. In this paper, we introduce several key visualization technologies that address the critical need of many SciDAC scientists in the application areas from accelerator simulations, earthquake modeling, plasma physics, supernova modeling, to turbulent combustion simulations.
Chemical alternatives assessment: The case of flame retardants

Abstract Decisions on chemical substitution are made rapidly and by many stakeholders; these decisions may have a direct impact on consumer exposures, and, when a hazard exists, to consumer risks. Flame retardants (FRs) represent particular challenges, including very high production volumes, designed-in persistence, and often direct consumer exposure. Newer FR products, as with other industrial chemicals, typically lack data on hazard and exposure, and in many cases even basic information on structure and use in products is unknown. Chemical alternatives assessment (CAA) provides a hazard-focused approach to distinguishing between possible substitutions; variations on this process are used by several government and numerous corporate entities. By grouping chemicals according to functional use, some information on exposure potential can be inferred, allowing for decisions based on those hazard properties that are most distinguishing. This approach can help prevent the “regrettable substitution” of one chemical with another of equal, or even higher, risk.
Sickle red blood cells accumulate in tumor.

The preferential accumulation of sickle blood cells in tumor vasculature is demonstrated noninvasively using MRI and sickle red blood cells loaded with Gd-DTPA and invasively by two other techniques. The distribution of red blood cells in rat brain tumors relative to normal brains were measured using three separate techniques: MRI of Gd-DTPA loaded cells, fluorescent microscopy detection of Oregon Green 488 fluorescence conjugated to a streptavidin-biotin complex that binds to red blood cell surface proteins, and autoradiography using a technetium (99m)Tc-labeling kit. Labeled red cells were infused intravenously in rats with brain tumors. Sickle cells preferentially accumulated in tumor relative to normal brain, with highest concentrations near the tumor / normal tissue boundary, whereas control normal red cells did not preferentially aggregate at the tumor periphery. This demonstrates the potential of sickle red blood cells to accumulate in the abnormal tumor vessel network, and the ability to detect their aggregation noninvasively and at high spatial resolution using MRI. The application of the noninvasive measurement of sickle cells for imaging tumor neovasculature, or as a delivery tool for therapy, requires further study.