cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preventing hepatocellular carcinoma: the crucial role of chronic hepatitis B monitoring and antiviral treatment

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 746,000 deaths and 782,000 new cases in 2012 [1]. The countries in the Western Pacific region accounts for 64% and China alone accounts for 51% of the new liver cancer cases and deaths each year. Approximately 80% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is associated with viral hepatitis [1]. In countries with high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, such as China, up to 80% of HCC is associated with hepatitis B [2]. Liver cancer carries a poor prognosis with a global mortality to incidence ratio of 0.95 [1]. In the USA, the 1-year survival rate remains less than 50% [3]. Asians and Pacific Islanders have the highest incidence of HCC among the different racial/ethnic groups. While every individual with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) or HBV carrier is at risk for developing HCC, disease progression leading to cirrhosis is associated with the greatest risk [2]. In an effort to improve survival through early detection of HCC, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommended HCC screening with abdominal ultrasound (US) at 6–12 month intervals of HBV carriers considered at increased risk for HCC, including those with cirrhosis, family history of liver cancer and Asian male HBV carriers above the age of 40 [4,5]. However, it remains controversial whether population-wide HCC screening of CHB patients results in a reduction in HCC mortality particularly in resource-constraint regions of the world that have the highest burden of HCC. The only two randomized trials available to date are both from China [6,7]. A population-based study in the city of Shanghai, conducted by the Liver Cancer Institute of Fudan University, reported 1-year HCC survival rates improved from 31.2% in the control group to 65.9% in the screened group among 18,816 CHB patients aged 35–59 years with or without cirrhosis, who were randomized into either a group using US and AFP screening every 6 months or a control group [6]. The second study from a rural setting in Qidong, using AFP screening every 6 months without US, did not show any improvement in survival [7]. According to the National Cancer Institute [8], screening for HCC
Effect of the elective surgical schedule on daily emergency department throughput time

Study objectives: Mean emergency department (ED) throughput time per day (TPT) measured from arrival to departure is influenced by input, throughput, and output factors. Knowledge of the relative effects of these factors on TPT is important in maximizing ED efficiency. Elective operating room surgical cases compete with ED patients for inpatient beds and vary in our hospital from zero on weekends to a median of 48 on weekdays. We measure the effect of the following daily variables on TPT: (1) number of elective OR surgical cases; (2) ED volume; (3) number of ED admissions; (4) number of ED ICU admissions; (5) number of ED clinical attending hours and shifts; (6) presence of any ambulance diversion; (7) day of the week; and (8) medical-surgical hospital occupancy. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from ED and hospital electronic logs for 24-hour periods starting at midnight for 102,327 ED visits between April 15, 2002, and February 29, 2004. TPT was compared with the independent variables by linear regression analysis. Variables reaching statistical significance at P less than .05 were further analyzed in a multiple linear regression model. Results: The following 4 variables achieved statistical significance: (1) number of elective surgical OR cases; (2) any diversion; (3) number of admissions; and (4) medical-surgical occupancy. In multivariate analysis, TPT for each patient increased by the following: 0.256 minutes (15 seconds) for every additional elective surgical case; 6.5 minutes for any diversion; 2.2 minutes for every additional admission; and 0.54 minutes (32 seconds) for every percent increase in occupancy. These 4 variables accounted for 21.1% of the variability in TPT. The median of 48 elective surgeries performed per weekday add 12.3 minutes to the TPT per patient on those days. Conclusion: The number of OR elective surgical cases on weekdays prolonged TPT by 12.3 minutes per ED patient during the study in our hospital. Reorganizing the elective surgical schedule may have a beneficial effect in decreasing TPT. The increase in TPT during diversion is presumably the result of ED crowding.
Psychological tension and closeness to others: stress and interpersonal distance preference.

Summary The prediction that increased tension would lead to a preference for greater distance from others was tested on 40 male and 40 female S s approached in eight natural settings of high or low tension and their distance preference measured. S s in the four higher-tension situations indicated a preference for significantly more distance. Self-reported tension was correlated significantly and positively with the distance preferred across all eight situations. There was no effect of sex.
Role playing, issue importance, and attitude change

Based on their different conceptualizations of the processes evoked by role playing and issue importance in the induction of attitude change, cognitive dissonance, incentive, and social judgment theories make competing predictions on the relative effectiveness of role playing and passive exposure as a function of issue importance. The experiment utilized a 3 x 2 design having control, passive-exposure, and role-playing conditions with low and high levels of issue importance. Planned comparisons of means in the cells expected to register maximal and minimal changes in attitudes under each theory provided little support for the dissonance position and fairly credible, though somewhat overlapping, evidence for incentive and social judgment theories. Other comparisons indicated that improvised role playing produced more change than did passive exposure only for the high-importance issue.
Feedback effects of host-derived adenosine on enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) is a common cause of diarrhea in children in developing countries. After adhering to intestinal cells, EPEC secretes effector proteins into host cells, causing cell damage and eventually death. We previously showed that EPEC infection triggers the release of ATP from host cells and that ATP is broken down to ADP, AMP, and adenosine. Adenosine produced from the breakdown of extracellular ATP triggers fluid secretion in intestinal monolayers and may be an important mediator of EPEC-induced diarrhea. Here we examined whether adenosine has any effects on EPEC bacteria. Adenosine stimulated EPEC growth in several types of media in vitro. Adenosine also altered the pattern of EPEC adherence to cultured cells from a localized adherence pattern to a more diffuse pattern. Adenosine changed the expression of virulence factors in EPEC, inhibiting the expression of the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) and enhancing expression of the EPEC secreted proteins (Esps). In vivo, experimental manipulations of adenosine levels had strong effects on the outcome of EPEC infection in rabbit intestinal loops. In addition to its previously reported effects on host tissues, adenosine has strong effects on EPEC bacteria, stimulating EPEC growth, altering its adherence pattern, and changing the expression of several important virulence genes. Adenosine, like noradrenaline, is a small, host-derived molecule that is utilized as a signal by EPEC.
Bidder returns in bancassurance mergers: Is there evidence of synergy?

Abstract We provide evidence on the potential for bidder wealth gains in bancassurance mergers by examining a sample of such mergers in the United States and abroad. These combinations are expected to produce positive wealth gains if there are synergies between these two types of financial firms. We find positive bidder wealth effects that are significantly related to economies of scale (as measured by the size of the target relative to the bidder), potential economies of scope, and the locations of the bidders and targets. These results suggest that the bancassurance architectural structure for financial firms does offer some benefits and thus may become more prominent in future years.
Metabolomics in pediatric nephrology: emerging concepts

Metabolomics, the latest of the “omics” sciences, refers to the systematic study of metabolites and their changes in biological samples due to physiological stimuli and/or genetic modification. Because metabolites represent the downstream expression of genome, transcriptome, and proteome, they can closely reflect the phenotype of an organism at a specific time. As an emerging field in analytical biochemistry, metabolomics has the potential to play a major role in monitoring real-time kidney function and detecting adverse renal events. Additionally, small molecule metabolites can provide mechanistic insights into novel biomarkers of kidney diseases, given the limitations of the current traditional markers. The clinical utility of metabolomics in the field of pediatric nephrology includes biomarker discovery, defining as yet unrecognized biological therapeutic targets, linking of metabolites to relevant standard indices and clinical outcomes, and providing a window of opportunity to investigate the intricacies of environment/genetic interplay in specific disease states.
Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Clinically N0 Neck: The Past, Present, and Future of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) has a yearly incidence of 274,000 patients. Twenty percent to 30% of patients will harbor occult regional metastases, an important feature that correlates with worse outcomes. Supraomohyoid neck dissection (SND) is the gold standard treatment, but because of recent successes of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the management of breast cancer and melanoma, many have begun evaluating its use in head and neck mucosal cancers. SLN biopsy offers patients decreased morbidity compared with SND, and has shown reproducibly low false-negative rates, high-negative predictive values, and high sensitivities. Limitations with floor-of-mouth primaries and delayed secondary SNDs have been described, but a new agent designed to address these shortcomings, Lymphoseek (Neoprobe Corp.; Dublin, OH), is currently under investigation. This article reviews the current literature on SLN biopsy and introduces a phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy of Lymphoseek in SLN biopsy of OCSCCs.
A model of two-dimensional biofilm morphology

A mathematical model of biofilm development was proposed. The model, which can be classified as a cellular automaton, is based on simple local rules for growth and detachment of individual cells. Results of several numerical simulations suggest that the thickness of concentration and hydrodynamic boundary layers may have an important effect on the developing biofilm structure. When external mass transfer limitations are significant, model biofilms develop an open structure. When the concentration boundary layer is reduced and external mass transfer is enhanced, a dense layer of a biofilm develops. Biofilm strength to withstand erosion has a smaller but also significant effect on its structure.
The Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Many cancer patients experience painful physical and emotional symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatments. Integrative medicine combines mainstream cancer treatments and evidence-based complementary modalities such as touch therapies, music therapy, meditation, yoga, and acupuncture to provide symptom relief and to improve quality of life. The Integrative Medicine Service is an important component of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and has established complementary medicine as a valued element in cancer care.
Coronary perfusion pressure and return of spontaneous circulation after prolonged cardiac arrest.

AbstractIntroduction. The amount of myocardial perfusion required for successful defibrillation after prolonged cardiac arrest is not known. Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) is a surrogate for myocardial perfusion. One limited clinical study reported that a threshold of 15 mmHg was necessary for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and that CPP was predictive of ROSC. A distinction between threshold and dose of CPP has not been reported. Objective. To test the hypothesis that swine achieving ROSC will have higher preshock mean CPP and higher preshock area under the CPP curve (AUC) than swine not attaining ROSC. Methods. Data from four similar swine cardiac arrest studies were retrospectively pooled. Animals had undergone 8–11 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation, 2 minutes of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), administration of drugs, and 3 more minutes of CPR prior to the first shock. Mean CPP ± standard error of the mean (SEM) was derived from the last 20 compressions of each...
Vertical soil-structure interaction of nuclear power plants subjected to seismic excitation

Abstract The vertical soil-structure interaction problem is investigated by coupling an N -mass lumped mass structure to a two-dimensional elastic half space. This problem is formulated as an integral equation of the Volterra type. Numerical results are obtained by iteration for an idealized threemass two-mode model of a nuclear power plant containment structure. The effects of interaction are evaluated by comparing free-field acceleration spectrum response curves with similar curves determined from foundation motion.
Toxicity of Senecio jacobaea (tansy ragwort) in rats

Abstract To investigate the toxicity of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid containing plant Senecio jacobaea (tansy ragwort), rats were fed diets containing 0 or 5% tansy ragwort and then sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Tansy ragwort produced a depression of body weight gain, food intake, and food efficiency as early as 1 week after beginning treatment. In tansy-fed rats, the relative weights of lungs, heart, spleen, adrenals, and testes were increased at 4 weeks while that of kidney was increased after 6 weeks. Leukocyte counts were markedly elevated at 2 weeks whereas the hematocrit and erythrocyte counts were decreased, respectively, at 4 and 6 weeks of treatment. At 4 weeks, total serum protein, serum albumin, and albumin:globulin ratios were decreased in the tansy-fed rats. The principal pathological changes observed in treated rats were enlarged spleen with lymphoid hyperplasia and increased hematopoietic activity, atrophied thymus, ascites, hydrothorax, and diffuse necrotizing hepatitis. The majority of the gross and histopathological changes were evident following 6 and 8 weeks of treatment.
Clinical features and outcomes of cytomegalovirus retinitis after transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the retina is a rarely encountered end-organ disease after transplantation. In order to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of CMV retinitis after hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation, we performed a retrospective review of all cases of CMV retinitis at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) during 1990-2004. During this 15-year period, CMV retinitis was diagnosed in 14 eyes of 9 patients who had received kidney (n=5), liver (n=2), heart (n=1), and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (n=1). The mean age of the patients was 58 (standard deviation+/-11) years; 6 were male. The median time to diagnosis of CMV retinitis was 9 months (range, 4 months to 13 years) after transplantation. Four (44%) patients had concomitant pneumonitis or hepatitis. Five (55%) patients had bilateral retinitis. Retinal involvement was 10% but 50% in 2 eyes. All patients received induction therapy with intravenous ganciclovir (n=8) or foscarnet (n=1) for a median of 43 days (range, 14-100 days) followed by maintenance therapy with intravenous or oral ganciclovir for a median of 88 days (range, 36-943 days) in 6 (67%) patients. One patient developed bilateral immune recovery uveitis during treatment, and later on progressed to develop rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. During the mean follow-up period of 20 months, visual acuity improved in 4 (28.5%), was stable in 4 (28.5%), and worsened in 6 (43%) eyes. CMV retinitis recurred in 2 patients. In conclusion, CMV retinitis is a rare, progressive, and highly morbid infectious complication of transplantation. The severity of clinical disease at the time of diagnosis may predict poor outcome. Hence, early intervention may be crucial to prevent its progression to irreversible visual loss.
Effects of maternal folic acid deficiency on cytologic phenomena in the rat embryo

A purified diet lacking folic acid and containing 20 mg% of the antimetabolite, 9-methyl pteroylglutamic (folic) acid was fed to female Long-Evans rats during days eight and nine of pregnancy. Embryos were removed at autopsy on the tenth day of gestation for study and comparison with embryos from normal control pregnancies. Analysis of mitotic counts revealed that 18.6% of the cells in control embryos were in mitosis in contrast to only 5.7% in PGA-deficient embryos. A disproportionate reduction in anaphase and telophase stages was observed in conjunction with an increased percentage of cell at metaphase. Concomitantly with these mitotic changes a marked reduction in histochemically demonstrable RNA and in numbers of ribosomes as revealed by electron microscopy was observed.
Block of the Kir2.1 Channel Pore by Alkylamine Analogues of Endogenous Polyamines

Inward rectification induced by mono- and diaminoalkane application to inside-out membrane patches was studied in Kir2.1 (IRK1) channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Both monoamines and diamines block Kir2.1 channels, with potency increasing as the alkyl chain length increases (from 2 to 12 methylene groups), indicating a strong hydrophobic interaction with the blocking site. For diamines, but not monoamines, increasing the alkyl chain also increases the steepness of the voltage dependence, at any concentration, from a limiting minimal value of ∼1.5 ( n = 2 methylene groups) to ∼4 ( n = 10 methylene groups). These observations lead us to hypothesize that monoamines and diamines block inward rectifier K+ channels by entering deeply into a long, narrow pore, displacing K+ ions to the outside of the membrane, with this displacement of K+ ions contributing to “extra” charge movement. All monoamines are proposed to lie with the “head” amine at a fixed position in the pore, determined by electrostatic interaction, so that zδ is independent of monoamine alkyl chain length. The head amine of diamines is proposed to lie progressively further into the pore as alkyl chain length increases, thus displacing more K+ ions to the outside, resulting in charge movement (zδ) increasing with the increase in alkyl chain length.
Purification and characterization of the chick oviduct progesterone receptor A subunit.

Abstract The DNA-binding A subunit of the chick oviduct progesterone receptor has been purified approximately 20,000-fold to apparent homogeneity. The procedure employs phosphocellulose, DNA-cellulose and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Purity has been assessed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in two denaturing systems. The protein is obtained with about 20% of the available ligand sites complexed with labeled progesterone. Dissociation kinetics and displacement studies show the protein is identical to the crude starting material. Molecular weight (Mr) determined by gel electrophoresis in l% Na dodecyl SO 4 is 79,000. Values for Stokes radius (46 A) and sedimentation coefficient (3.6 S) are in agreement with the properties of the crude A protein and give an indicated molecular weight of 72,000 for the native protein. The purified protein retains its DNA-binding ability to both DNA cellulose columns and to free DNA using a nitrocellulose filter adsorption assay. The latter assay shows no saturability nor DNA sequence specificity under the conditions employed. The binding is enhanced 8-fold by heat denaturing the DNA.
A Light-trapping Metric for Solar Cells With Application to Cadmium Telluride and Silicon

We examine an enhancement metric for characterizing light trapping in single-junction solar cells by comparing the measured quantum efficiency spectrum and the theoretical absorptance spectrum based on ergodic light scattering. This ideal enhancement is 4 n 2, where n is the refractive index of the absorber layer. Using a uniform procedure, we have determined the effective enhancement from published results for many single-junction nanocrystalline, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline silicon cells, as well as for thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe)-based cells. The largest effective enhancements were 33 for monocrystalline Si, 25 for nanocrystalline Si, and 10 for CdTe. The 4 n 2 benchmarks are about 50 for Si and 36 for CdTe; for CdTe, 4 n 2 light trapping adds about 1 mA/cm2 to the photocurrent density of a 3-μm cell. We propose a procedure that separates the effects of parasitic absorption from incomplete scattering in determining the enhancement and show that the champion enhancement of 33 for silicon was mostly limited by parasitic absorption and not by inadequate scattering.
eXtraembryonic ENdoderm (XEN) stem cells produce factors that activate heart formation.

Background Initial specification of cardiomyocytes in the mouse results from interactions between the extraembryonic anterior visceral endoderm (AVE) and the nascent mesoderm. However the mechanism by which AVE activates cardiogenesis is not well understood, and the identity of specific cardiogenic factors in the endoderm remains elusive. Most mammalian studies of the cardiogenic potential of the endoderm have relied on the use of cell lines that are similar to the heart-inducing AVE. These include the embryonal-carcinoma-derived cell lines, END2 and PYS2. The recent development of protocols to isolate eXtraembryonic ENdoderm (XEN) stem cells, representing the extraembryonic endoderm lineage, from blastocyst stage mouse embryos offers new tools for the genetic dissection of cardiogenesis. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we demonstrate that XEN cell-conditioned media (CM) enhances cardiogenesis during Embryoid Body (EB) differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in a manner comparable to PYS2-CM and END2-CM. Addition of CM from each of these three cell lines enhanced the percentage of EBs that formed beating areas, but ultimately, only XEN-CM and PYS2-CM increased the total number of cardiomyocytes that formed. Furthermore, our observations revealed that both contact-independent and contact-dependent factors are required to mediate the full cardiogenic potential of the endoderm. Finally, we used gene array comparison to identify factors in these cell lines that could mediate their cardiogenic potential. Conclusions/Significance These studies represent the first step in the use of XEN cells as a molecular genetic tool to study cardiomyocyte differentiation. Not only are XEN cells functionally similar to the heart-inducing AVE, but also can be used for the genetic dissection of the cardiogenic potential of AVE, since they can be isolated from both wild type and mutant blastocysts. These studies further demonstrate the importance of both contact-dependent and contact-independent factors in cardiogenesis and identify potential heart-inducing proteins in the endoderm.
Management of Arrhythmias in the Perioperative Setting

Perioperative arrhythmias are a common complication of surgery, with incidence ranging from 4% to 20% for noncardiothoracic procedures, depending on the type of surgery performed. The immediate postoperative period is a dynamic time and is associated with many conditions conducive to the development of postoperative arrhythmias. The presence of postoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with increased morbidity, ICU stay, length of hospitalization, and hospital costs. The associated burdens are expected to rise in the future, given that the population undergoing cardiac surgery is getting older and sicker. Thousands of patients undergo major surgery each year and a major complication of these procedures is the occurrence of perioperative arrhythmia. It is imperative for clinicians to be up-to-date on current management of these arrhythmias.
High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of staurosporine in vivo : Its translocation and pharmacokinetics in rats

The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (Stsp) has been used extensively to study physiological functions, biochemical mechanisms, and cancer therapy. Using an HPLC assay for Stsp developed in our laboratory, we find that only 0.7% of Stsp remains in circulating blood of rats 5 min after injection. In vitro, Stsp is adsorbed to red blood cells (RBC) weakly and reversibly. In vivo, all but 1.2-2.5% of Stsp injected is adsorbed by the heart and lungs in one passage through them, indicating that the endothelium acts as a major Stsp sink. Following initial adsorption, pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that Stsp had a half-life of 51.6 min in plasma and 75.3 min in RBC. Thus, plasma Stsp was in the cancer therapy range of 1-10 ng/ml for 2.7 h following a bolus injection. This data indicates that a bolus injection of Stsp must be followed by a continuous infusion of low Stsp concentration for several days to produce the G1 arrest in cells necessary to stop cell proliferation.
Pulmonary atelectasis following administration of halogenated hydrocarbons

Abstract The halogenated hydrocarbons 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro-1,2-difluoroethane (TCDF) and 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (TCTF) were investigated for their action on pulmonary surfactant. Intravenous injection of TCDF in rats produced acute pulmonary alveolar instability and atelectasis. In vitro ventilation of rat lungs with vapors of TCTF produced alveolar instability and atelectasis. We conclude that both materials are capable of dissolving and displacing the lipid portion of alveolar surfactant and thus prevent its normal function in maintaining alveolar stability.
Do circulating tumor cells play a role in coagulation and thrombosis

¬Cancer induces a hypercoagulable state, and patients with cancer who suffer a thrombotic event have a worse prognosis than those who do not. Recurrent pathologic thrombi in patients with cancer are clinically managed with anticoagulant medications; however, anticoagulant prophylaxis is not routinely prescribed owing to a complex variety of patient and diagnosis related factors. Early identification of patients at risk for cancer-associated thrombosis would allow for personalization of anticoagulant prophylaxis and likely reduce morbidity and mortality for many cancers. The environment in which a thrombosis develops in a patient with cancer is complex and unique from patients without cancer, which creates therapeutic challenges but may also provide targets for the development of clinical assays in this context. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may play a role in the association between cancer and thrombosis. Cancer metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, is facilitated by the hematogenous spread of CTCs, and CTCs accompany metastatic disease across all major types of carcinomas. The role of CTCs in the pathogenesis of thrombosis has not been studied due to the previous difficulty in identifying these rare cells, but the interaction between these circulating cells and the coagulation system is an area of study that demands attention. The development of CTC detection platforms presents a new tool by which to characterize the role for CTCs in cancer-related hypercoagulability. In addition, this area of study presents a new avenue for assessing the risk of cancer associated thrombosis and represents a potential tool for predicting which patients may benefit from anticoagulant prophylaxis. In this review, we will discuss the evidence in support of CTC induced hypercoagulability, and highlight areas where CTC-detection platforms may provide prognostic insight into the risk of developing thrombosis for patients with cancer.
WORKING MOTHERS: THE IMPACT OF OCCUPATIONAL STATUS ON THE FAMILY/WORK NEXUS

Both work institutions and the family, capitalism and patriarchy must change if work and family are to be capable of integration by both men and women. Obviously needed changes are: greater work scheduling flexibility, more available part‐time work for men and women, more available and affordable child care, more generous maternity and paternity leave. In order for work to be truly compatible with parenting it needs to be less alienated, and parenting needs to be less individualistically structured and isolating. Both realms need to be more creative, egalitarian and social. With the majority of wives and mothers working outside the home the previous “myth of separated worlds” has become increasingly untenable, as women are asked to reconcile work and family. The literature is examined, emphasising its limitations in its failure to disaggregate working mothers according to occupation and its one‐sided focus on the impact of work relationships on family life. Sociological theories about family and work are examined. The nature of the family work nexus for non‐professional and professional women is explored. The professional/non‐professional comparison is analysed as well as the changing family/work nexus and its impact on men and women.
Backbone chemical shift assignments of mouse HOXA13 DNA binding domain bound to duplex DNA

The homeobox gene (Hoxa13) codes for a transcription factor protein that binds to AT-rich DNA sequences and controls expression of many important proteins during embryonic morphogenesis. We report complete backbone NMR chemical shift assignments of mouse Hoxa13 DNA binding domain bound to an 11-residue DNA duplex (BMRB no. 16577).
Bridgman-Stockbarger crystal growth of Li2Ti3O7

Abstract We report the growth of cm-dimension single crystals of Li 2 Ti 3 O 7 from stoichiometric and near-stoichiometric melts using the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. Air-quenching of the crystals from 1000°C avoids the two possible destructive phase transitions during cooling. The crystal growth results are compared to the published liquidus phase relations for Li 2 O-TiO 2 in the vicinity of Li 2 Ti 3 O 7 . The optical transparency of crystals grown in Rh-free Pt ampoules is limited only by the purity of the starting materials.
Regional differences in BMP-dependence of dorsoventral patterning in the leech Helobdella.

In the leech Helobdella, the ectoderm exhibits a high degree of morphological homonomy between body segments, but pattern elements in lateral ectoderm arise via distinct cell lineages in the segments of the rostral and midbody regions. In each of the four rostral segments, a complete set of ventrolateral (O fate) and dorsolateral (P fate) ectodermal pattern elements arises from a single founder cell, op. In the 28 midbody and caudal segments, however, there are two initially indeterminate o/p founder cells; the more dorsal of these is induced to adopt the P fate by BMP5–8 emanating from the dorsalmost ectoderm, while the more ventral cell assumes the O fate. Previous work has suggested that the dorsoventral patterning of O and P fates differs in the rostral region, but the role of BMP signaling in those segments has not been investigated. We show here that suppression of dorsal BMP5–8 signaling (which effects a P-to-O fate change in the midbody) has no effect on the patterning of O and P fates in the rostral region. Furthermore, ectopic expression of BMP5–8 in the ventral ectoderm (which induces an O-to-P fate change in the midbody) has no effect in the rostral region. Finally, expression of a dominant-negative BMP receptor (which induces a P-to-O fate change in the midbody) fails to affect O/P patterning in the rostral region. Thus, the rostral segments appear to use some mechanism other than BMP signaling to pattern O and P cell fates along the dorsoventral axis. From a mechanistic standpoint, the OP lineage of the rostral segments and the O–P equivalence group of the midbody and caudal segments constitute distinct developmental modules that rely to differing degrees on positional cues from surrounding ectoderm in order to specify homonomous cell fates.
Studies on the conformation and interactions of elastin secondary structure of synthetic repeat hexapeptides.

Repeat hexapeptides of elastin have been synthesized and studied with nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The deuterium substituted hexapeptide HCO-Ala1-Pro2-[2H2]Gly3-Val4-Gly5-Val6-OMe allowed completion of the proton assignments and specifically the definitive assignments of the Gly3 and Gly5 resonances. Solvent titrations followed by carbon-13 magnetic resonances are reported which delineate the Ala1 C-O and Gly5 C-O as intramolecularly hydrogen bonded. This coupled with the proton magnetic resonance data which delineated the Gly3 NH and Val4 NH as candidates for intramolecular hydrogen bonding lead to the proposal of two hydrogen bonds, one between the Ala1 C-O and the Val4NH and the second between the Gly5C-O and the Gly3NH. The probability, or mol fraction, of occurrence of these secondary structural features is demonstrated to be high.
Electromagnetically induced gravitational radiation

Abstract Using a general relativistic treatment we have analyzed the coupled emission of gravitational and electromagnetic radiation in the simplest possible radiation process: a massive charged particle falling radially into a Reissner-Nordstrom geometry. Particular attention is given to a detailed analysis of the “feedback” terms between gravitational and electromagnetic radiation.
Operant clinical intervention: Behavior management or beyond? Where are the data?

Operant studies published in Behavior Therapy, Behaviour Research and Therapy , and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis from 1972–1973 were reviewed to determine whether clinically applied operant research extends beyond short-term behavioral management toward lasting, generalizable behavior changes. Each investigation was classified as to presence or absence of long-term follow-up data, and of stimulus and response generalization data (whether short- or long-term). Studies were further identified as to target behaviors studied, nature of data collected, settings studied, and outcome. Findings suggest that researchers are not extensively studying the operant approach beyond the demonstration that shortterm changes are possible given adequate environmental engineering. Evidence relating to long-term and/or generalizable changes is conspicuous by its absence; and the meager evidence available raises serious doubts about our ability to go “beyond management.”
Biochemical and hematologic reference intervals for free-ranging desert bighorn sheep.

Over 200 clinically normal desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) from multiple geographic areas were sampled utilizing a uniform protocol. The goals of this study were to develop comprehensive reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical analytes using central 90th percentile nonparametric analyses. Adult female sheep had greater erythrocyte mass (hemoglobin and hematocrit) compared with adult male sheep. Young animals ≤ 1-yr-old had greater erythrocyte mass (hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell count), higher alkaline phosphatase activity, and lower serum protein and globulin concentrations compared with adult animals. Because of the large sample size, wide geographic range, and uniform sample and handling protocol in this study, these reference intervals should be robust and applicable to other free-ranging desert bighorn sheep populations.
Electroweak Constraints from Atomic Parity Violation and Neutrino Scattering

Precision electroweak physics can provide fertile ground for uncovering new physics beyond the standard model (SM). One area in which new physics can appear is in so-called 'oblique corrections', i.e., next-to-leading-order expansions of bosonic propagators corresponding to vacuum polarization. One may parametrize their effects in terms of quantities S and T that discriminate between conservation and nonconservation of isospin. This provides a means of comparing the relative contributions of precision electroweak experiments to constraints on new physics. Given the prevalence of strongly T-sensitive experiments, there is an acute need for further constraints on S, such as provided by atomic parity-violating experiments on heavy atoms. We evaluate constraints on S arising from recently improved calculations in the Cs atom. We show that the top quark mass m{sub t} provides stringent constraints on S within the context of the SM. We also consider the potential contributions of next-generation neutrino scattering experiments to improved (S,T) constraints.
Red, Gray, and Blue: Near Infrared Spectrophotometry of Faint Moons of Uranus and Neptune

Abstract Using the CoCo Cold Coronagraph at NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, we observed the uranian satellites Miranda, Puck, Portia, and Rosalind and the neptunian satellite Proteus in the near infrared (JHK) to determine the albedos of those faint satellites. In V-J, all of Puck, Portia, Rosalind, and Proteus are very blue, similar to the colors of many icy satellites and of water ice. The satellites we observed have a wide range of J-H colors, with Miranda being blue, Proteus being gray, and Puck, Portia, and Rosalind being red. For the satellites for which we could determine H-K (Miranda, Puck, and Proteus), the colors are gray to red. As a whole, spectrally, these five satellites lie between icy Solar System satellites (e.g., saturnian satellites or the major uranian satellites) and Kuiper belt objects. The redness of Proteus and Puck and perhaps other satellites suggests the presence of organic material, although the redness is also similar to that of C- and D-class asteroids and some outer jovian moons. In all cases, diagnostic spectral features could be masked by broadband photometry.
Modeling Long-Range Dependence, Nonlinearity, and Periodic Phenomena in Sea Surface Temperatures Using TSMARS

Abstract We analyze a time series of 20 years of daily sea surface temperatures measured off the California coast. The temperatures exhibit quite complicated features, such as effects on many different time scales, nonlinear effects, and long-range dependence. We show how a time series version of the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) algorithm, TSMARS, can be used to obtain univariate adaptive spline threshold autoregressive models that capture many of the physical characteristics of the temperatures and are useful for short- and long-term prediction. We also discuss practical modeling issues, such as handling cycles, long-range dependence, and concurrent predictor time series using TSMARS. Models for the temperatures are evaluated using out-of-sample forecast comparisons, residual diagnostics, model skeletons, and sample functions of simulated series. We show that a categorical seasonal indicator variable can be used to model nonlinear structure in the data that is changing with time of yea...
Determination of polymer blends composed of polycarbonate and rubber entities using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and multivariate calibration

Abstract This paper presents an application of near-infrared NIR spectroscopy and multivariate calibration for compositional analysis of complex blends of polycarbonate (PC) and three copolymer components (C1, C2, and C3). Each of the copolymers is composed of 2–3 entities (sub-components) consisting of combinations of butadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile. The concentrations of the PC and three copolymer components were varied using a modified D-optimal design with criteria that minimized the inter-component correlations. To minimize non-chemical spectral variations, the acquired NIR spectra were pre-processed using standard normal variate (SNV and 2nd derivative Savitzky-Golay). Spectral range selection was explored in order to identify which optimal spectral regions were required to generate robust partial least-squares (PLS) models for each component. The optimal calibration models for PC, C1, C2 and C3 exhibited RMSEP values of 0.94%, 0.62%, 0.59% and 0.69% respectively. Using a set of external validation samples, the optimized calibration models for PC, C1, C2 and C3 exhibited bias values of −1.07%, 0.28%, −1.21% and −1.00%, and RMSEP of 2.43%, 1.44%, 1.51%, and 2.05%, respectively. Finally, using a set of 3 samples, the optimized model was successfully transferred to a secondary instrument located in a quality control (QC) laboratory.
Generation of a Monoclonal Antibody to a Cryptic Site Common to Both Integrin β1 as Well as Gelatinase MMP9

Integrins are one class of cell surface receptors that have been implicated in the regulation of a diverse set of cellular processes, including cell adhesion, migration, and invasion as well as gene expression, differentiation, and signal transduction. Cellular invasion not only requires the adhesive properties of integrins but also the proteolytic properties of matrix-degrading enzymes, such as the metalloproteinases (MMPs). Previous studies have shown that integrin αvβ3 is a receptor for MMP2, localizing its proteinase activity to the cell surface, ultimately leading to site-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Here we develop reagents to investigate the possibility of an interplay between MMP9 and integrin α5β1. With the use of EV22 viral studies, the tetrapeptide sequence, LRSG, was shown to be a dimerizing sequence mediating β1 integrin binding to EV22. The same study also showed that cellular infection could be halted with the use of LRSG-containing peptides. In a later study, in an effo...
Pharmacokinetic evaluation of anticonvulsants prior to efficacy testing exemplified by carbamazepine in epileptic monkey model.

Summary The form and route of administration of carbamazepine were evaluated in normal monkeys and monkeys with spontaneous major motor seizures (after implantation of aluminum-gel). Carbamazepine controlled seizures when given by mouth in two monkeys; dry pellets gave lower blood levels than a solution given by nasal-gastric intubation. Since the biological half-life was less than 2 hr, the drug could not be tested when given chronically without a sustained-release formulation. REsume Chez des singes rendus epileptiques par le gel d'allumine et avec des crises motrices majeures spontanees, on a teste L'efficacite de ia carbamazepine suivant la forme et la voie d'administration. La carbamazepine controlait les crises lorsqu'elle etait donnee par os chez 2 singes; les comprimes etaient moins efficaces qu'une solution administeree par une sonde gastrique. Puisque la demi-vie etait moins de deux heures, on ne pouvait pas tester les effets du produit en administration chronique. ZUSAMMEnfassung Der Zusammenhang zwischen Wirksamkeit des Carbamazepin und Art und Weise seiner Anwendung wurde bei Affen getestet, die spontane grosse Anfalle nach Implantation von Aluminiumgel bekamen. Carbamazepin kontrollierte die Anfalle bei 2 Affen, denen es oral gegeben wurde. Granulat war weniger wirksam als eine Losung, die uber eine Nasen-Magen-Sonde verabfolgt wurde. Da die biologische Halbwertszeit weniger als 2 Stunden betrug, konnte das Medikament im chronischen Versuch nicht getestet werden. RESUMEN Se ha estudiado la relacion de la eficacia, segun la via de administracion, de la Carbamazepina en monos con ataques generalizados producidos por la implantacion de gel de alumina. La administracion oral de Carbamazepina controlo los ataques en dos monos, siendo menos efectivas las grageas que la solucion a traves de una sonda nasogastrica. No se pudieron estudiar los efectos de la administracion cronica porque la vida media boilogica es menor de dos horas.
Effect of Oleic Acid on the Delay of Sexual Maturity in Chickens Caused By Sterculia Foetida Oil

Abstract It has recently been shown that feeding 200 mg. of S. foetida oil per day to sexually maturing pullets resulted in retardation of comb, ovary, and oviduct development (Schneider et al., 1962). Also noted in these experiments were lack of egg production, enlargement of the gall bladder and liver, and a decrease in the iodine number of the omental fat. Evans et al. (1961) showed that feeding either cottonseed oil or S. foetida seeds (both of which contain Halphen-reactive cyclopropene fatty acids) to laying hens produced eggs which had a higher percentage of stearic acid and a lower percentage of oleic acid. Both of these investigations indicated that the cyclopropene fatty acids apparently interfered in some manner with the conversion of stearic acid to oleic acid even though they are present only in small amounts. What role this metabolic derangement might have on sexual maturity is unknown. However, Panos et al….
A model for realism of confidence judgments: implications for underconfidence in sensory discrimination.

In a recent issue of this journal, Bjorkman, Justlin, and Winman (1993) presented a model of the calibration of subjective confidence judgments for sensory discrimination which they called "subjective distance theory." They proposed that there was a robust underconfidence bias in such judgments, that the model predicted such a bias, and that two different models were needed for the calibration of subjective confidence for cognitive judgments and for sensory ones. This paper addresses issues they raised. It points out that they have not presented a new model, but rather a portion of a more general one, the "decision-variable partition model" originally proposed in Ferrell and McGoey (1980). This paper explores properties of the model and shows, contrary to Bjorkman, Juslin, and Winman's hypotheses, that the model does not predict underconfidence, that the "hard-easy effect" can be observed with sensory discriminations, and that the model fits not only sensory, but also cognitive judgments.
Racial disproportionality in child welfare

Racial disproportionality, or the overrepresentation of children of color, has been observed in the child welfare system for more than 40 years and persists as a national concern. Yet research has ...
Unit Thermal Performance of Atmospheric Spray Cooling Systems

Thermal performance of an open atmospheric spray pond or canal depends on the direct-contact evaporative cooling of an individual spray unit (spray nozzle or module) and the interference caused by local heating and humidification. Droplet parameters may be combined into a dimensionless group, number of transfer units (NTU) or equivalent, whereas large-scale air-vapor dynamics determine interference through the local wet-bulb temperature. Quantity NTU were implied from field experiments for a floating module used in steam-condenser spray canals. Previous data were available for a fixed-pipe nozzle assembly used in spray ponds. Quantity NTU were also predicted using the Ranz-Marshall correlations with the Sauter-mean diameter used as the characteristic length. Good agreement with experiments was shown for diameters of 1–1.1 cm (module) and 1.9 mm (fixed-pipe nozzle).
Two-photon coherent propagation. transmission of 90 ~ phase-shifted pulses. and application to isotope separation

Most single photon coherent propagation effects are shown to have their two-photon analogue. The case of zero-area pulse propagation (90° phase shifted in the two-photon situation), frequency shift with distance, and selective optical excitation for isotope separation are considered. Selective two-photon pumping is shown to occur even when the pulse spectrum overlaps the various isotope shifted lines. An application to radiation pressure isotope separation is proposed.
Fitting dynamical X-ray diffraction data over the World Wide Web

The first implementation of fitting X-ray Bragg diffraction profiles from strained multilayer crystals at a remote web-based X-ray software server is presented. The algorithms and the software solutions involved in the process are described. The suggested technology can be applied to a wide range of scientific research and has the potential to promote remote collaborations across scientific communities.