cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of chronic food restriction on prodynorphin-derived peptides in rat brain regions

Abstract Chronic food restriction produces a variety of physiological and behavioral adaptations including a potentiation of the reinforcing effect of food, drugs and lateral hypothalamic electrical stimulation. Previous work in this laboratory has revealed that the lowering of self-stimulation threshold by food restriction is reduced by μ- and κ-selective opioid antagonists. In the present study, the effect of chronic food restriction on levels of three prodynorphin-derived peptides, namely dynorphin A1–17 (A1–17), dynorphin A1–8 (A1–8) and dynorphin B1–13 (B1–13) were measured in eleven brain regions known to be involved in appetite, taste and reward. Food restriction increased levels of A1–17 in dorsal medial (+ 19.6%), ventral medial (+ 24.2%) and medial preoptic (+ 82.9%) hypothalamic areas. Levels of A1–17 decreased in the central nucleus of the amygdala (− 35.1%). Food restriction increased levels of A1–8 in nucleus accumbens (+ 34.4%), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (+ 24.5%) and lateral hypothalamus (+ 41.9%). Food restriction had no effect on levels of B1–13. A1–17 is highly κ-preferring and the brain regions in which levels increased all have a high ratio of κ:μ and δ receptors. A1–8 is less discriminating among opioid receptor types and the brain regions in which levels increased have a low ratio of κ:μ and δ receptors. The present results suggest that food restriction alters posttranslational processing within the dynorphin A domain of the prodynorphin precursor, possibly leading to a change in the balance between κ and non-κ opioid receptor stimulation in specific brain regions.
Business divestment in South Africa: In who's best interest?

In recent years, there has been considerable pressure on corporations doing business in South Africa to divest and withdraw from that country. While this moral view espouses withdrawal, this article seeks to provide insight into the practical consequences of divestment. One of the questions addressed is how does foreign divestment affect Black South Africans, those who are supposed to benefit from a divestment policy.
The Changing Landscape of Banking and the Challenges It Poses for Accounting and Financial Reporting

SYNOPSIS: This paper summarizes changes that have taken place in banking, the attendant financial innovations, and the challenges these innovations pose for accounting standard setters and regulato...
All-fiber optical demultiplexer and XOR gate

We present a novel all fiber device for use as a high speed optical demultiplexer and logic gate. The device has particular applicability to demultiplexing for high data rate optical networks in addition to all optical address recognition via XOR gating.
Pneumatocele Formation in Adult Pneumonia

Pneumatocele formation is unusual in adult pneumonia, particularly in pneumococcal pneumonia. We report three cases of pneumatocele formation in adults, including one with probable pneumococcal pneumonia. All three patients were severely ill and two expired. Although they are usually asymptomatic, pneumatoceles may enlarge and compress the adjacent lung and mediastinum. This occurred in two patients causing respiratory insufficiency and cardiovascular compromise. The placement of a chest tube into the enlarging pneumatocele resulted in successful decompression.
Developing Total Maximum Daily Loads Under Uncertainty: Decision Analysis and the Margin of Safety

Summary and Conclusions BOD loading, dissolved oxygen concentrations, flows and other important variables associated with water quality management undergo considerable variation in both time and space in response to climate variations, changes in seasonal output from point and nonpoint sources and changes in land use. Only some of this variation can be regulated — much of it will always be present. Because of this, a probabilistic TMDL management framework based on the reduction of risk is called for. Bayesian networks have been presented here as a suitable framework to support such an Figure 7. Estimated PDF of dissolved oxygen (DO) at the outlet due to factory and ranch operations. Note that the combined effect of the two sources leads to a violation of the DO standard of 5 mg/L about 23 percent of the time. Figure 8. Estimated PDF of dissolved oxygen (DO) at the watershed outlet under scenario (2), a treatment plant at the factory. The DO standard of 5 mg/L is still violated about 12 percent of the time.
Growth and magnesium uptake of tall fescue lines at high and low potassium levels 1

Abstract Five tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) clonal lines with diverse root and xylem diameters were grown in nutrient solutions with magnesium (Mg) concentrations of 42, 125 and 250 μM and potassium K concentrations of 133 and 333 μM. Leaf Mg concentrations increased with increasing Mg rates at both low and high K concentrations. The tall fescue line with the largest root and xylem diameters had low leaf Mg concentrations, indicating a possible increased Mg tetany potential when consumed by cattle. The response of the K/(Mg+Ca) ratio in the plant, an indicator of tetany potential, to varying solution Mg at low and high K was determined for each of the five lines. No Mg effects or interactions were significant. Line, K, and line x K effects were all significant for the K/(Mg+Ca) ratios. The line with the largest root and xylem diameters had the highest tetany potential (highest cation ratio). Higher solution K gave higher K/(Mg+Ca) ratios.
Integration of Multimodality Approaches in the Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

More than half a century after the first descriptions of mesothelioma as a pathologic entity, satisfactory treatment is still elusive. Although relatively uncommon, the incidence of mesothelioma will most likely increase over the next 10-20 years. Advances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and staging, but they have not translated into markedly improved survival. Some use palliative treatment as the primary means of therapy even now. On the other hand, a cadre of individuals have studied how surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy affect the disease. Although each individual modality has had limited success by itself, a multimodality approach has been documented to improve survival and quality of life. In addition, intriguing discoveries in immunology and gene profiling and therapy promise hope for further improvement. In this article, we will illustrate the current views on integrating these different approaches and delineate areas of active research.
Attempts to modify cognitive tempo in elderly adults.

Three experiments were conducted in an attempt to modify the cognitive tempo of elderly adults. In all three, attempts were made to modify response latency. In the first experiment, the participant...
Vasopressin conformational fluctuations: A molecular dynamics study

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study the conformational fluctuations of the oligopeptide hormone vasopressin. Starting coordinates for these simulations were built upon the crystal structure of pressinoic acid, the cyclic ring moiety of vasopressin, recently determined by x-ray diffraction. Coordinates for the additional tripeptide “tail” of vasopressin were selected by arbitrary positioning of this segment using interactive computer graphics. Two such starting configurations were minimized to relax strains, and long dynamics simulations (20 and 40 ps) in vacuo were then conducted following extensive heating and equilibration sequences (36 ps). In these studies, vasopressin was found to undergo few substantial conformational changes at 300 K on the time scale simulated, in contrast to the results of a shorter previous simulation, but comparable structural transitions were observed during the equilibration periods. The pressinoic acid structure was found to be a reasonably stable possible conformation for vasopressin in vacuum on this time scale.
Depolarization-induced release of L-glutamic acid from isolated-resealed synaptic membrane vesicles.

Abstract l -Glutamic acid actively loaded into resealed brain synaptic membrane vesicles was rapidly released into the incubation medium following the introduction of KCl and CaCl 2 , or nigericin, or veratridine into the external medium. The KCl-induced release was enhanced by the presence of low (0.1 mM), extravesicular [Ca 2+ ]. Neither the KCl-induced nor the veratridine-stimulated l -glutamate efflux were carrier-mediated processes. Finally, the KCl-stimulated l -glutamate efflux was dependent on the ratio of intra- to extravesicular [K + ]. The observations described in this study were indicative of depolarization-induced l -glutamate release from isolated synaptic plasma membrane vesicles.
Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by analogs of 4-phenylpyridine and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium cation (MPP+), the neurotoxic metabolite of MPTP.

Abstract In order to clarify the structural requirements associated with the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by MPP+, the neurotoxic metabolite of the Parkinsonian agent MPTP, ten sets of pyridine/N-methylpyridinium pairs and a few miscellaneous compounds were evaluated on rat liver intact mitochondria (MW) and on submitochondrial particles (SMP). The pyridinium partners were much more potent inhibitors on MW than on SMP, indicating that they are concentrated inside mitochondria by the energy-dependent process previously reported for MPP+, probably as a consequence of non-specific passive transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane in response to the transmembrane potential. In the SMP assay, the neutral pyridines were stronger inhibitors than were the pyridinium cations, and the inhibitory potency varied little with structural changes. The N-methylated forms of β-carbolines may act as endogenous MPP+-like agents.
Mixing study of L shape mixheads in reaction injection molding

The effect of mixhead geometry on the impingement mixing in the reaction injection molding (RIM) process is largely unknown. In this study, high speed photographs are used to show the flow patterns produced by L shape mixheads. The mixing quality of the conventional I and various L shape mixheads is quantified by an emulsion test. The adiabatic temperature rise of a polyurethane/urea system is followed to further characterize the mixing produced by I and L shape mixheads. The results show that L shape mixheads give a better mixing quality than the I shape mixhead, especially at lower Reynolds numbers. In addition, the L shape mixheads can provide a more laminar flow from the mixhead, which is important for mold filling.
Minimizing phosphorus release from newly flooded organic soils amended with calcium silicate slag: a pilot study

A pilot study was conducted using commercially available forms of calcium silicate (CaSiO3) slag as a soil amendment to reduce phosphorus (P) release from an organic soil after flooding. Broadcasting CaSiO3 slag on top of the soil reduced the flux of soil P up to 84% compared to an unamended soil control. However, incorporation of CaSiO3 slag into the soil was only minimally effective at reducing P release. These materials have a potential use in the construction of treatment wetlands in south Florida. Further work is needed to better define reaction mechanisms, investigate the long-term treatment efficacy of these materials and address other environmental questions concerning their use.
Prediction of Helicopter Maneuver Loads Using BDF/Time Spectral Method on Unstructured Meshes

For flows with strong periodic content, time-spectral methods can be used to obtain time-accurate solutions at substantially reduced cost compared to traditional time-implicit methods which operate directly in the time domain. The time-spectral approach requires the simultaneous coupled solution of multiple time instances, which can be performed effectively in parallel on modern multicore parallel computer architectures. Although timespectral methods are only applicable to purely periodic flows, in previous work we have demonstrated the ability of a hybrid BDF/time-spectral approach for simulating quasiperiodic flows with good overall efficiency. A quasi periodic flow is defined as one which involves a slow transient in addition to a higher frequency periodic component. In this paper, we apply the BDF/time-spectral approach to compute the important practical problem of time dependent helicopter maneuver loads, which combine the periodic rotor motion with a slower vehicle maneuvering transient. The simulation includes a rotating and deforming mesh with prescribed aeroelastic blade deflections. The formulated BDF/time-spectral approach is compliant with the geometric conservation law, and produces equivalent temporal accuracy using less computation effort compared to a traditional BDF time-implicit approach.
Wesley Elementary: A Beacon of Hope for At-Risk Students.

Academic success of at-risk, African American students in inner-city environments is not due to chance but is the result of a culmination of factors. This study describes the characteristics of Wesley Elementary that are supported by research on effective schools. The researcher, formerly a Title I Coordinator/Reading Specialist at Wesley, interviewed three teachers who had taught at Wesley along with the former principal, Dr. Thaddeus Lott. An educational consultant who assisted teachers in the writing process from 1991-1992 was also interviewed to verify the perspectives of those interviewed that the school's success was due to specific factors. Implications for future research, instructional practice, and professional development are also discussed.
347 RATIONAL COSING OF RANITIDINE (R) IN PEDIATRIC ULCER DISEASE (UD)

Dosing requirements for R were determined in 10 children (C) aged 3.5-16 yr with endoscopically proven UD. Gastric acid output (GA) was monitored continuously during the first 2 days of therapy. The therapeutic endpoint was suppression of GA by ⩾90%. C received 0.06mg R/kg over 15 min plus an infusion of 0.02mg R/kg/hr. Each hour they received a bolus of 0.004mg R/kg and the infusion was increased by 0.02mg/kg until the therapeutic endpoint was reached. The infusion was then stopped and serial blood, urine and gastric fluid samples were obtained for the determination of R and GA during the next 12 hr. R was determined by HPLC. These values were used to calculate an IV dose which when administered every 6 hr would suppress GA ⩾90%. On day 2 the calculated dose was given and the monitoring of R pharmacokinetics(PK) and GA were repeated. When C were eating the IV R was crossed over to oral R. Following repeat PK analysis the doses of R were individually adjusted to give a BID dose which would result in an average serum R concentration which suppressed GA ⩾90% in that patient. C were then discharged to receive that dose for 6 wks. The minimum effective serum R concentration was 22.6ng/ml(range 9-65ng/ml). PK analysis revealed (x±SD) t½, 1.8(0.2)hr; Vd,2.1(019)4kg; Clp,724.3(163.7) ml/min/1.73m2. The absolute bioavailability of R averaged 51%(range 35-95%). Minimal PK differences were observed comparing IV and oral dosing. These data suggest that 1)R is a potent inhibitor of GA in C; 2)C require greater R/kg than adults; 3) oral doses of R should be ≃ twice that of IV.
Worsening Symptoms of Fever, Chills, Cough, Fatigue, and Muscle Soreness in Visitors to Washington, DC

1. What are these patients’ most striking clinical and laboratory findings? 2. How do you explain these findings? 3. What is the most likely diagnosis for both patients? 4. Why is it important for health care professionals to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease affecting these patients? 5. What is the significance of the geographic location of this case in regard to the suspected organism causing their disease? 6. How is the suspected disease contracted? 7. What are the 3 most common forms of this disease? 8. Why is it important this disease be recognized as early as possible? 9. What routine procedures can medical technologists perform to reinforce a suspicion of the organism causing the disease affecting these patients? 10. What are the laboratory test criteria for the diagnosis of this disease? 11. At what point should infection control personnel and public health officials be notified when individuals present with the signs and symptoms characteristic of the patients presented in this case study? 12. What factors are important in helping health care professionals differentiate naturally occurring disease from disease resulting from a bioterrorism event? Possible Answers
To Google or Not to Google, That Is the Question: Supplementing Google Book Search to Make It More Useful for Scholarship

This article looks at two different projects, the Google Book Search project and the Text Creation Partnership, both linked to the University of Michigan Library. Though on the surface they are very different, the Text Creation Partnership, a model of cooperation between scholars, librarians, and publishers, may have some useful lessons for how to make Google Book Search more useful for academic research, particularly in full-text searching.
ρ PARAMETER CONSTRAINTS ON FOURTH GENERATION QUARK MASSES

Constraints on the masses of possible fourth generation quarks (a, υ) are obtained from measurements of the ρ parameter and the elements of the quark mixing matrix. Stringent mass limits are found when the off-diagonal elements Vtυ and Vab are large. For example, with mt=90 GeV and |Vtυ|≃0.5 we find ma,v≤ 300 GeV. Stronger constraints are obtained as mt or |Vtυ| increase.
Outcomes of 98,609 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs patients enrolled in telemental health services, 2006-2010

Objective:The study assessed clinical outcomes of 98,609 mental health patients before and after enrollment in telemental health services of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs between 2006 and 2010. Methods:The study compared number of inpatient psychiatric admissions and days of psychiatric hospitalization among patients who participated in remote clinical videoconferencing during an average period of six months before and after their enrollment in the telemental health services. Results:Between 2006 and 2010, psychiatric admissions of telemental health patients decreased by an average of 24.2% (annual range 16.3%–38.7%), and the patients' days of hospitalization decreased by an average of 26.6% (annual range 16.5%–43.5%). The number of admissions and the days of hospitalization decreased for both men and women and in 83.3% of the age groups. Conclusions:This four-year study, the first large-scale assessment of telemental health services, found that after initiation of such services, patients' hospi...
Analgesic effects of 3-methoxybenzamide in rats

— The i.p. injection of 3-methoxybenzamide (3-MBA) in rats produces a dose-related elevation of the threshold for response to a painful stimulus. Metoclopramide, also a substituted benza-mide, has analgesic activity that is attenuated by bromocriptine, a dopamine receptor agonist, and by the narcotic antagonist, naloxone, suggesting involvement of dopamine and opiate receptors in the action of this drug. The involvement of these receptors in the analgesic action of 3-MBA has been examined using L -dopa and naloxone. Neither significantly altered the analgesic action. Although the results are preliminary, the analgesic action of 3-MBA would not seem to occur via opiate or dopamine receptors.
Transfer functions of a DDA program

The purpose of this paper is to establish a guide for the employment of a digital differential analyzer (DDA) as a control element. An analysis of the performance limitations imposed by a fixed point scaling procedure is presented in terms of bandwidth and a canonical realization for transfer functions. Roughly, the results are that for a DDA of Q iterations/s and for a resolution of one part in q-1: 1) the bandwidth is qQ rad/s 2) the poles of H(s) must lie in a circle of radius qQ about s = 0 3) the significant poles of D(z) must lie in a circle of radius q about z = 1 .
Effects of Dietary Carbofuran on Bobwhite Activity Patterns

Early pesticidal research focused primarily on the determination of LD~ 0 concentrations and measuring changes in D reproductive performance and/or number and survival of offspring (BROWN 1978). More recently, research has evaluated effects of pesticides on aggression, motor activity, stress, growth response, susceptibility to disease, and other nonletha! impacts. Because of the complexity of natural ecosystems and strong selective forces operating within them, slight pesticide-induced behavioral changes could be extremely important to the survival of certain organisms. Physiological and behavioral rhythms are part of the phylogenetic make-up of an organism and have obvious ecological and biological significance (PITTENDRIGH 1961, ASCHOFF 1964). Earlier we reported on the effects of carbaryl and carbofuran on bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) food intake, body weight, and locomotor activity (ROBEL et al. 1982). Herein we report on the effect of sublethal levels of carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate) on activity patterns of bobwhites.
180 Integrating structural and systems biology: structure-based prediction of protein–protein interactions on a genome-wide scale

The genome-wide identification of pairs of interacting proteins is an important step in the elucidation of cell regulatory mechanisms. To date, structural information has had only limited impact on genome-scale efforts to predict protein–protein interactions (PPIs). A new algorithm, PrePPI, will be introduced that combines structural information with nonstructural clues and that is comparable in accuracy to high-throughput experiments. The surprising effectiveness of three-dimensional structural information can be attributed to the use of homology models and the exploitation of both close and remote geometric relationships between proteins. More generally, the “structural BLAST” approach encapsulated in PrePPI significantly expands the range of application of protein structure in the annotation of protein function.
New organic photorefractive material composed of a charge-transporting dendrimer and a stilbene chromophore

In this report, we introduce new organic photorefractive composites consisting of charge transporting den-drimers highly doped with a stilbene nonlinear optic chromophore, The purpose of making these composites is to improve charge transport, by reducing inhomogeneity when compared to ordinary polymer-based systems. Because the structure of this material gives us freedom to control the orientation of charge transport agents synthetically, we can study the charge transport mechanism more systematically than in polymers. We discuss this point and present the characterization results for this material.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Introduction to muon cooling

Abstract We present an overview of the process of ionization cooling, which is useable for cooling muons. In ionization cooling, particles pass through a material medium and lose energy (momentum) through ionization interactions, and this is followed by beam reacceleration in RF cavities. The cooling can be sufficient to enable use of muons in high-intensity neutrino factories or high-luminosity μ + −μ − colliders. The status of μ-cooling research is discussed.
Judgment of the humanness-animality of mythological hybrid (part-human, part-animal) figures.

Summary Thirty Ss displayed considerable consistency in judging portraits of 29 mythological hybrid (part-human, part-animal) figures along a human-animal continuum. Wings, attached (angel-like) to otherwise intact human bodies, were the sole animal features of the three figures judged to be most human. A single human feature, the head, joined to an otherwise animal body, characterized the four most animal-like figures. Humanness/animality judgments were related to the relative extent of a figure's human and animal features, and to unpleasant feelings aroused by a figure; the hypothesized significance of the humanness/animality of the head for the perceived humanness/animality of the entire figure was not confirmed. While the ancient Egyptian mythological figures were generally considered more human than the ancient Near Eastern or ancient Greek figures, intracivilization judgment variabilities overshadowed intercivilization differences.
Novel Products in the CO2-Laser Induced Reaction of Trichloroethylene

Previous reports on the thermal or CO 2 -laser induced decomposition of trichloroethylene have identified only one condensible product, hexachlorobenzene (in addition to HCl and mono- and dichloroacetylene). We have found that trichloroethylene vapor exposed to cw irradiation on the P(24) line of the (001 - 100) band of the CO 2 laser at incident power levels from 8 - 17 W produces numerous products, of which the 13 major ones have been identified using IR, GC/MS, GC/FTIR, and NMR methods. All of these products have 4, 6, or 8 carbons, are highly unsaturated, and are completely chlorinated or contain a single hydrogen. C 4 HCl 5 and C 6 Cl 6 isomers (three of each) account for S 55% to 85% of total products (based on peak areas in the total ion chromatograms in GC/MS runs), depending on reaction conditions. In addition to characterizing the products, we discuss the dependence of the product distribution on laser power, irradiation time, and cell geometry, and we outline a possible mechanism.
Comparison of CD3 and CD2 activation pathways in T cells from young and elderly adults.

The ability of purified T cells to be activated by immobilized anti- CD3 and soluble anti- CD2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was compared using cells from young and old donors. Purified T cells from elderly humans activated with immobilized anti- CD3 mAb incorporated less [3H]thymidine (58,780 vs 92,258 cpm; p<0.02 into cellular DNA, and secreted less IL- 2 into the culture supernatants than did T cells from young donors. In contrast, T cells activated with anti- CD2 mAbs displayed no age- related differences in proliferation or IL- 2 production. Anti- CD2 stimulation resulted in equal IL- 2 synthesis by cells from young and old donors that was comparable to the amount produced by cells from elderly donors stimulated with immobilized anti- CD3. Northern blot analysis of early cell cycle gene expression by anti- CD2 activated T cells demonstrated no age differences in the expression of p55 IL- 2R or c- myc specific mRNA, although T cells from elderly individuals activated with immobilized anti- CD3 showed statistically significant decreases in both mRNAs. T cell receptor s chain mRNA levels did not differ between cells from young or old donors after activation by either anti- CD3 or anti- CD2. The discordance in proliferative ability, IL- 2 secretion, and specific mRNA expression between T cells from elderly donors activated through the CD3- TCR complex or by soluble anti- CD2 mAbs provides additional evidence for a multifactorial causation of age- related T cell proliferative defects, and may indicate that the difference in proliferative ability is, in part, attributable to responsiveness to secreted IL- 2. (Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 4: 307–315, 1992)
Kidney tumour virus - tumour or mycobacterial tubercle?

. Bacteriologically sterile filtrates of ‘tumorous’ fish elicited formation of ‘tumours’in vivo which were morphologically indistinguishable from those described by Wessing & Bargen (1959). Attempts to isolate the putative aetiologic ‘Virus’ in primary and established cell cultures failed. When the lesions were examined for other compatible aetiologies, acid-fast stains revealed acid-fast bacilli and cultures grew Mycobacterium fortuitum. It is suggested that the ‘kidney tumour virus’ is actually soluble mycobacterial cell-fractions capable of eliciting tubercle formation in vivo.
Mode of presentation of renal cell carcinoma provides prognostic information.

Purpose: Broadened applications of imaging modalities have increased the incidental detection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) over the past decade. Previous small series have suggested a prognostic benefit for incidental presentation. This study utilizes a large contemporary patient cohort to examine patterns of RCC presentation and their clinical implications. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 721 patients (260 women, 461 men) who underwent 750 nephrectomies for treatment of RCC between 7/1/89 and 12/31/97; 29 patients required two operations for bilateral RCC. Median age and follow-up were 63 years and 41 months, respectively. Indicators of symptomatic presentation included flank pain, flank mass, hematuria, varicocele, constitutional symptoms, paraneoplastic syndromes, and bone pain related to metastatic disease. Mode of presentation was compared with clinicopathologic parameters using Chi-square and t-test analyses. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates (log-rank test) and Cox regression modeling. Results: Incidental and symptomatic presentation occurred in 57% and 42% of cases, respectively. When compared to incidental cases, symptomatic presentation was predominantly detected in younger patients (mean age, 59 years; P < .001), in males (P < .04), and in tumors with conventional (clear cell) histology (P < .001), larger size (mean, 8 cm; P < .001), and non-organ confined pathology (P <.001). In univariate analysis, symptomatic cases had a more adverse disease-free (P < .0001) and disease-specific (P < .0001) survival. In multivariate analysis, mode of presentation was an independent predictor of disease-free (P < 0.0001) and disease-specific survival (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Symptomatic presentation correlates with an aggressive histology and advanced disease. Incidental tumors may be frequently detected in female and elderly patients, as these groups traditionally seek general medical care more regularly. Mode of presentation can independently predict an adverse patient outcome and should be included in RCC-specific modeling systems.
Unusual neoplasms detected in testicular cancer patients undergoing postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy

Approximately 30% of patients with disseminated testicular cancer who receive platinum-based chemotherapy will experience normalization of tumor markers but have persistent, radiographically evident disease in the retroperitoneum. These patients are usually subjected to retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection (RPLND). In all, 45 of 557 patients (8.1%) undergoing postchemotherapy RPLND at Indiana University Medical Center (IUMC) were found to have neoplastic elements distinct from the classic germ-cell tumor types within their resected specimens. Examples included various sarcomas in 14 patients (3.7%), other nonsarcomatous non-germ-cell cancers in 18 patients (3.2%), and cystic atypical choriocarcinoma in 8 patients (1.4%). No distinct patient characteristic or histologic pattern in the primary tumor was predictive of these unusual findings in the RPLND specimen, although sampling error in the orchiectomy specimen could be the reason for this lack of correlation. Surgical resection of these chemoresistant tumors is potentially curative, with disease-free survival being obtained in 13 of 19 patients (68.4%) with sarcoma, 10 of 18 patients (55.6%) with nonsarcomatous cancers, and 7 of 8 patients (87.5%) with cystic atypical choriocarcinoma at mean follow-up intervals of 30.6, 42.5, and 24.7 months, respectively.
Tumor board in gynecologic oncology.

Objective This study evaluates the influence of a weekly tumor conference on the management of patient care in a gynecologic oncology service. Methods The study utilizes all patients discussed in the gyncologic oncology tumor conference at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) from January 1, 1998, to January 1, 2001. Patient9s information (age, race, cancer site, stage, new cancer versus recurrent) was abstracted from the minutes and attendant log of the tumor board. We compared the pathology and diagnosis for each patient as stated both before and after presentation at the tumor board. A discrepancy is defined as a change in tumor site, stage, or treatment, resulting from findings discussed at tumor board meetings. Major discrepancy is defined as changes that affect patient care. Minor discrepancy is defined as changes that do not affect patient care. Results During the study period, a total of 459 cases were discussed (391 new cancer, 68 recurrent cancer). At each tumor conference, we discussed a mean of 3.7 cases (range 1–9, standard deviation 1.68). Thirty-two cases (6.9%) showed discrepancies with 23 major discrepancies and nine minor discrepancies. As a result of the tumor board, the two most common therapeutic changes were the addition of chemotherapy and surgery. Conclusions In this study, a gynecologic oncology tumor board added clinical information available to pathologists, thereby alters final diagnosis and affects patient medical care.
Rereading: Sex and the City: Exposing the Hegemonic Feminist Narrative

Sex and the City portrays the lives of four privileged white women and their resistance to challenging their own bigotry in favor of reinscribing hegemonies through difference. This article examines the series' hegemonic feminist narrative by analyzing the series' methods of addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and class.
Successful Vaccination Strategies That Protect Aged Mice from Lethal Challenge from Influenza Virus and Heterologous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Newly emerging viruses often circulate as a heterogeneous swarm in wild animal reservoirs prior to their emergence in humans, and their antigenic identities are often unknown until an outbreak situation. The newly emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and reemerging influenza virus cause disproportionate disease in the aged, who are also notoriously difficult to successfully vaccinate, likely due to immunosenescence. To protect against future emerging strains, vaccine platforms should induce broad cross-reactive immunity that is sufficient to protect from homologous and heterologous challenge in all ages. From initial studies, we hypothesized that attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) replicon particle (VRP) vaccine glycoproteins mediated vaccine failure in the aged. We then compared the efficacies of vaccines bearing attenuated (VRP3014) or wild-type VEE glycoproteins (VRP3000) in young and aged mice within novel models of severe SARS-CoV pathogenesis. Aged animals receiving VRP3000-based vaccines were protected from SARS-CoV disease, while animals receiving the VRP3014-based vaccines were not. The superior protection for the aged observed with VRP3000-based vaccines was confirmed in a lethal influenza virus challenge model. While the VRP3000 vaccine's immune responses in the aged were sufficient to protect against lethal homologous and heterologous challenge, our data suggest that innate defects within the VRP3014 platform mediate vaccine failure. Exploration into the mechanism(s) of successful vaccination in the immunosenescent should aid in the development of successful vaccine strategies for other viral diseases disproportionately affecting the elderly, like West Nile virus, influenza virus, norovirus, or other emerging viruses of the future.
Managerial Work and Management Reform in Senegal: The Influence of Hierarchy and Sector

The application of Western management techniques to countries in the very early stages of economic development remains a subject of debate. Building on the works of Montgomery in the Southern African Development Coordination Conference countries and of Vengroff in the Central African Republic, the authors examine the skill requirements among Senegalese managers from nine different employment situations: upper, middle, and lower levels at public, private, and parastatal organizations. They then extend their work by examining the same managers as to their normative beliefs and attitudes about managerial work. They conclude with implications of these findings for the design and implementation of management-training programs and the possibilities for the success of management reform efforts.
Distortion analysis of continuous-wave radar sensor for complete respiration pattern monitoring

Continuous-wave (CW) radar sensor has been used for monitoring physiological signals of respiration and heartbeat. Complete respiration pattern monitoring is of vital importance in motion-adaptive cancer radiotherapy which strictly relies on the respiration pattern to generate gating signals and track the tumor motion. However, the conventional AC-coupled radar sensor is subject to signal distortion due to the harmonics generated by nonlinear phase modulation. The distortion problem was often overlooked in the past but it may lead to false demodulation. In this paper, a DC-coupled architecture has been analyzed for complete respiration pattern monitoring. The DC-coupled approach allows the radar sensor to precisely measure movement with stationary moment, while the AC-coupled radar sensor is incapable of doing so. This paper further analyzes the distortion problem in AC-coupled radar sensor and demonstrates that the distortion comes from the loss of harmonic characteristics as the signal goes through the AC-coupled receiver chain. Both analysis and experiments show that the distortion decreases as the target frequency increases. It is shown that distortion-free measurement using AC-coupled radar sensor is also possible based on careful choice of the component parameters, but it results in tradeoffs with settling time, hardware cost, etc.
Variable threshold R wave detector: use in automated ECG processing

Reliable R wave detection is difficult under many commonly found conditions of varying baseline and changing morphology such as varying R wave amplitude and reduced R/T ratio. An instrument has been developed which overcomes many of these problems. The device employs a variable detection threshold which is based on the amplitude of the last occurring R wave. For large R wave amplitudes, the threshold is raised, thus providing good noise immunity. For low R wave amplitudes, the threshold is lowered, thus providing continued detection. An R wave filter de-emphasizes noise as well as P and T waves, and an adjustable refractory period following R wave detection prevents false detection during this period. The variable threshold R wave detector has been used to process ECG in a heart rate study in nearly 100 diabetic patients as well as in healthy controls. The detector provides much improved automatic R wave detection over fixed level detectors and can be constructed with parts costing under 100 dollars.
Characteristics of alprazolam-related deaths compiled by a centralized state medical examiner

Background and Objective: Unintentional drug poisoning deaths represent a major health concern, particularly in rural areas. Although alprazolam is frequently detected in drug-related deaths, characterization of its involvement is limited. Our objective was to compare the characteristics of alprazolam-related deaths with nonalprazolam deaths in a predominantly rural state. Methods: A comprehensive forensic drug database (FDD) was developed in 2005 to compile demographic, toxicology, and co-morbidity information from all West Virginia (WV) drug-related deaths. All FDD data from 2005 to mid-November 2007 were analyzed. Results: Alprazolam contributed to 204 (17.0%) of the 1,199 drug-related deaths and was identified in 7.2% of the 363 deaths occurring during 2005 and in 27.5% of the 422 deaths entered in the database during 2007. At least one other drug, predominantly an opioid, was identified in 97.5% of the alprazolam cases, with concurrent benzodiazepines also found. Compared to nonalprazolam deaths, alprazolam decedents were significantly more likely to be obese and to have preexisting cardiovascular disease, but were less likely to have documented substance abuse. An alprazolam prescription existed in 52.5% of the alprazolam deaths, with 77.6% having a prescription for all drugs identified. Conclusions: Alprazolam was a contributing cause of death in a substantial and increasing number of drug-related deaths. Prescriptions for alprazolam and the other drugs detected were often present in these cases. Scientific Significance: Controlled substance monitoring programs should be routinely used as one mechanism to help prevent potential drug misuse/abuse. Our findings provide a baseline for ongoing alprazolam-related death surveillance. (Am J Addict 2012;21:S27-S34). Language: en
Intensive Feeding Training with Retarded Children

An intensive feeding program previously developed for adult retardates was modified for use with six low functioning retarded children under four experimental conditions: baseline, training, maintenance, and follow-up. The children were given six meals per day with a maximum eating time of 15 min. per meal. A spoon was the only utensil used in training. Graduated guidance faded from hand to shoulder was used to establish correct feeding responses. Restitutional and positive practice overcorrection were used for incorrect responses, and tray time-out and restitutional overcorrection were used for inappropriate behaviors. Results showed that in all children correct eating responses increased to nearly optimal levels, incorrect eating responses were reduced to minimal levels, and inappropriate or disruptive behaviors were virtually eliminated. Follow-up data on intervals up to one year indicated that the effects of the program were quite durable and justified the approximately 173 training sessions that were...
Declining stroke burden among white and black male veteran subjects.

The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes is increasing. We hypothesized that this could contribute to increasing burden of stroke—the third leading cause of mortality—and investigated national trends in stroke burden among blacks and whites. From October 1990 to October 1997, 55,094 veterans were admitted with diagnosis of ischemic stroke (International Classification of Diseases [ICD] code 434 or 436) at any veterans hospital in the country were included in the study. We extracted demographic data from Veterans’ Administration administrative databases. Discharge ICD-9 codes were used to assess stroke risk factors. Patients were classified as white or black, and prevalence of stroke was calculated and stratified according to age. Overall annual incidence rate fell from 2.7 per 1,000 in 1991 to 1.67 per 1,000 in 1997. Annual incidence number of stroke declined steadily in both the white and black groups from 1991 to 1997. Incidence numbers fell for all ages with greater decrease in younger age groups. Our data indicate that the burden of stroke among male veterans is decreasing. This appears to be true for both blacks and whites and across all age groups.
Effect of channel bifurcation on residual estuarine circulation: Winyah Bay, South Carolina

The residual circulation pattern of Winyah Bay, the fourth largest estuary on the eastern coast of the US, is examined using stationary and shipborne current measurements during periods of low freshwater discharge. The estuary has a complex morphology with a single channel and narrow banks at the river entrance and the bay mouth, and a bifurcated channel system (main and western channels, respectively) in the middle part that appears to affect the residual circulation. Overall, the upper (single channel morphology) and middle (dual-channel morphology) parts of the estuary exhibit a baroclinic residual circulation. The presence of bifurcated channels in the middle part of the estuary modifies the typical gravitational circulation. The near-bed landward-directed residual flow is stronger in the deeper main channel than the shallower western channel. This is the result of the fact that the magnitude of residual flow scales with the water depth of the channel and it is also influenced by the opposing patterns of channel alignment in the northern and southern junctions. Analytical modeling confirms that the observed residual currents in the upper and middle estuary are density-induced. In the lower estuary, residual flow is directed seaward throughout the water column of the channel while in the adjacent shoals the residual flow is directed landward, suggesting that in contrast to the upper and middle estuary, the residual flow near the mouth is barotropic, controlled by the tides and the channelbank morphology. 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Extracellular Matrix and Integrins in Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells with great therapeutic potentials. The in vitro differentiation of ESC was designed by recapitulating embryogenesis. Significant progress has been made to improve the in vitro differentiation protocols by toning soluble maintenance factors. However, more robust methods for lineage-specific differentiation and maturation are still under development. Considering the complexity of in vivo embryogenesis environment, extracellular matrix (ECM) cues should be considered besides growth factor cues. ECM proteins bind to cells and act as ligands of integrin receptors on cell surfaces. Here, we summarize the role of the ECM and integrins in the formation of three germ layer progenies. Various ECM–integrin interactions were found, facilitating differentiation toward definitive endoderm, hepatocyte-like cells, pancreatic beta cells, early mesodermal progenitors, cardiomyocytes, neuroectoderm lineages, and epidermal cells, such as keratinocytes and melanocytes. In the future, ECM combinations for the optimal ESC differentiation environment will require substantial study.
Protecting Commodity Operating System Kernels from Vulnerable Device Drivers

Device drivers on commodity operating systems execute with kernel privilege and have unfettered access to kernel data structures. Several recent attacks demonstrate that such poor isolation exposes kernel data to exploits against vulnerable device drivers, for example through buffer overruns in packet processing code. Prior architectures to isolate kernel data from driver code either sacrifice performance, execute too much driver code with kernel privilege, or are incompatible with commodity operating systems. In this paper, we present the design, implementation and evaluation of a novel security architecture that better isolates kernel data from device drivers without sacrificing performance or compatibility. In this architecture, a device driver is partitioned into a small, trusted kernel-mode component and an untrusted user-mode component. The kernel-mode component contains privileged and performance-critical code. It communicates via RPC with the user-mode component which contains the rest of the driver code. A RPC monitor mediates all control and data transfers between the kernel- and user-mode components. In particular, it verifies that all data transfers from the untrusted user-mode component to the kernel-mode component preserve kernel data structure integrity. We also present a runtime technique to automatically infer such integrity specifications. Our experiments with a Linux implementation of this architecture show that it can prevent compromised device drivers from affecting the integrity of kernel data and do so without impacting common-case performance.
The Gamer Who Became Me

This autobiography is an attempt to write and share the authorâs personal story, first as a learner, then as a teacher. It also attempts to share the educational gifts initially bestowed and then passed on from one generation to the next. The writer will talk about how games and simulations were first inherited and learned, then employed in teaching, and subsequently disseminated to the next generation. The role play, games, and simulations are but a disposition to the love affair, passion, calling, and ideal that the writer calls education, with simulations as a hallmark to the process.