cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Habitual recreational physical activity is associated with significantly improved survival in cancer patients: evidence from the Roswell Park Data Bank and BioRepository.

The association of recreational physical activity (RPA) with mortality is well established only for breast and colon cancers and few studies have evaluated relationships for exercising before and after diagnosis, across multiple disease sites. We examined the joint associations of pre- and post- diagnosis RPA with mortality in a cohort of 5,807 patients enrolled in the Data Bank and BioRepository at Roswell Park. Patients were classified into one of four activity categories (habitually active, increased activity after diagnosis, decreased activity after diagnosis, habitually inactive). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations of activity status with mortality. In comparison to patients who were habitually inactive, habitually active patients experienced a 39% decreased hazard of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.54–0.69) and a 36% decreased hazard of cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.56–0.73). Previously inactive patients who began exercising after diagnosis experienced a 28% decreased hazard of all-cause (HR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.59–0.89) and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.57–0.91) in comparison to patients who remained inactive. Patients engaging in 3–4 sessions/week experienced the greatest survival advantages, but 1–2 sessions/week also yielded significant survival advantages in comparison to inactivity. Low-to-moderate frequency pre- and post-diagnosis RPA was associated with significantly decreased mortality in patients diagnosed with a variety of malignancies. These observations solidify the clinical and public health importance of the message that some regular activity is better than inactivity, which is particularly encouraging, given that cancer survivors can be overwhelmed by current daily physical activity recommendations.
Rheumatic Double Valve Repair Using Two Remodeling Annuloplasty Rings

Mitral valve repair is well developed, and it allows for successful reconstruction of selected rheumatic valve pathologies. Rheumatic aortic valve repair also has been successful, using techniques such as Nodular unfolding. Aortic ring annuloplasty is currently available, and when used in conjunction with appropriate leaflet procedures, it could promote rheumatic repair by restoring annular geometry and facilitating leaflet reconstruction. This report describes rheumatic double valve repair in a patient with rheumatic dysfunction of both the aortic and mitral valves.
Coordinating what we’ve learned about memory consolidation: Revisiting a unified theory

Abstract According to traditional systems consolidation theories neocortical long-term plasticity (i.e., cellular consolidation) lags behind, and is dependent upon, hippocampal long-term plasticity. In this review, we examine accumulating evidence that local neocortical and hippocampal cellular consolidation occurs with a similar time-course. The implication is that the rate-limiting step for systems consolidation is the time it takes for cellular consolidation in longer connections throughout a more distributed extra-hippocampal system that comes to coordinate distributed neocortical activity during recall. The hippocampus is, thus, crucial for the development of this extra-hippocampal coordinating system, and acts to coordinate activities crucial for recall until it develops. Recent work on schema formation, engram cells, and the role of sleep in consolidation add substantial evidence for this “unified theory” of systems and cellular consolidation. Here, we discuss this evidence, its implications, and consider remaining questions.
An Efficient Hardware Architecture for Template Matching-Based Spike Sorting

This paper presents an efficient hardware architecture for the design and implementation of a spike sorting system using online template matching. Over the past decade, various spike sorting algorithms have been proposed; however, due to their computational complexity, they may not be suitable for implantable devices that have stringent area and power consumption requirements. We first developed a software-based spike sorting system in both floating-point and fixed-point representations. Then, we used our developed software-based spike sorting system for: 1) studying various neural signal processing algorithms and assessing their feasibility for efficient hardware implementations; and 2) offline processing of previously recorded neural data and extracting the threshold data and spike templates for configuring our spike sorting hardware architecture. The characteristics and implementation results of the designed spike sorting system on a Xilinx Artix-7 A200TFBG676-2 field-programmable gate array are presented. The application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implementation of the designed spike sorting system is estimated to occupy 0.3 mm2. Postlayout synthesis and simulation shows that the ASIC implementation will dissipate 64 nW from a 0.25-V supply, while operating at a 24-kHz frequency in a standard 45-nm CMOS technology. Compared to the previously published work, our ASIC implementation consumes 96.8% less power, while maintaining a comparable sorting accuracy. Moreover, our design can run at a higher clock frequency and uses fewer hardware resources, while achieving a 168% reduction in output data rate when comparing the raw data sampling rate and the sorted spike output rate and, yet, offers comparable spike sorting accuracy.
Association of type 2 diabetes with central-scalp hair loss in a large cohort study of African American women.

Abstract Background Hair loss on the central scalp commonly occurs among African American (AA) women and can pose substantial psychosocial burdens. The causes of hair loss remain obscure, although type 2 diabetes has been hypothesized to increase the risk of hair loss. The objective of the present study was to prospectively estimate the association between type 2 diabetes and severe central hair loss in AA women. Methods The Black Women’s Health Study has collected data on medical and lifestyle factors, including diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, biennially since 1995 from AA women across the United States. The present analysis was based on responses from 5389 women to an online hair loss questionnaire in 2015. Respondents indicated severity of central hair loss on a validated six-item photographic scale; the highest levels, levels 3 to 5, were designated as severe. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate multivariable hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for type 2 diabetes in relation to severe central hair loss. Results During the follow-up period, 850 cases of severe hair loss occurred. The multivariable hazard ratio for severe hair loss associated with diabetes was 1.68 (95% CI, 1.38-2.06) overall, and 2.05 (95% CI, 1.48-2.85) for diabetes duration of ≥ 10 years. Conclusion Type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of severe central scalp hair loss in AA women. Patients with type 2 diabetes should be followed closely for central scalp hair loss so that appropriate treatment can be offered.
PABA/NO lead optimization: Improved targeting of cytotoxicity to glutathione S-transferase P1-overexpressing cancer cells

PABA/NO [O(2)-{2,4-dinitro-5-[4-(N-methylamino)benzoyloxy]phenyl} 1-(N,N-dimethylamino) diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate] is a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing arylating agent designed to be selectively activated by reaction with glutathione (GSH) on catalysis by glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), an enzyme frequently overexpressed in cancer cells. PABA/NO has proven active in several cancer models in vitro and in vivo, but its tendency to be metabolized via a variety of pathways, some that generate inactive metabolites and hydrolysis products, limits its potential as a drug. Here we show that a simple replacement of cyano for nitro at the 4 position to give compound 4b ('p-cyano-PABA/NO') has the dual effect of slowing the undesired side reactions while enhancing the proportion of NO release and arylating activity on catalysis by GSTP1. Compound 4b showed increased resistance to hydrolysis and uncatalyzed reaction with GSH, along with a more favorable product distribution in the presence of GSTP1. It also showed significant proapoptotic activity. The data suggest p-cyano-PABA/NO to be a more promising prodrug than PABA/NO, with better selectivity toward cancer cells.
Kritische Betrachtung des „Wohnungseigentumsfruchtnießers“ aus materiell- und verfahrensrechtlicher Sicht

Der Fruchtnieser am Wohnungseigentum, auch bezeichnet als „Wohnungseigentumsfruchtnieser“, erfreut sich jungst besonderer Beliebtheit in Judikatur und Literatur. Die von der hM vertretene These, der Fruchtnieser verdrange den Wohnungseigentumer im Rahmen der ihm zustehenden Rechte, und zwar auch im Verhaltnis zur Eigentumergemeinschaft und den ubrigen Wohnungseigentumern, fuhrt jedoch nicht nur zu materiellrechtlichen, sondern auch verfahrensrechtlichen Unsicherheiten, insb im wohnungseigentumsrechtlichen Auserstreitverfahren.
The association between health care coverage and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes over a 10-year period.

Abstract Persons without health care coverage have poorer health outcomes. We investigated the association between health care coverage and trends in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes pre- and post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) periods. Using data from 3,824,678 surveyed adults in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey from 2007 – 2016, we calculated the yearly prevalence of CVD and diabetes. Using logistic regression, we investigated the association between health care coverage and CVD and diabetes, controlling for sociodemographic factors (age, sex, race, marital status, education and income). The mean age of participants was 55.3 ± 18.9 years. Health care coverage increased from 88.6% in 2007 to 93% in 2016. The prevalence of CVD and diabetes increased from pre- to post-ACA periods. After adjustment, in pre-ACA period, the odds ratio (OR) for the association between health care coverage and CVD and diabetes was 1.32 (95% CI:1.30–1.34) and 1.44 (95% CI:1.41–1.46), respectively; in the post-ACA period, the OR was 1.26 (95% CI:1.22–1.30) and 1.48 (95% CI:1.44–1.52), respectively. We found a significant association between health care coverage and trends in the prevalence of CVD and diabetes in the pre- and post-ACA periods.
Of larks and owls.

A cell-intrinsic program induces circadian disarming of the toxic machinery of neutrophils in the steady state and prevents tissue injury.
Events in Normal Skin Promote Early-life Atopic Dermatitis - the MPAACH Cohort

Background Nonlesional skin in atopic dermatitis (AD) is abnormal, but the pathobiology of lesional and nonlesional skin and the definition of endotypes are poorly understood. Objective To define lesional and nonlesional endotypes of AD by building the first US-based early-life prospective cohort of children with AD, the Mechanisms of Progression from AD to Asthma in Children cohort. Methods We assessed lesional and nonlesional skin transepidermal water loss, filaggrin (FLG) and alarmin (S100A8, S100A9) expression, staphylococcal colonization, and patterns of aeroallergen and food sensitization to define nonlesional and lesional phenotypes and endotypes. Results Pathophysiologic changes were present in lesional and nonlesional skin and were associated with SCORing for Atopic Dermatitis. Nonlesional skin had features characteristic of diseased skin including low FLG and high alarmin expression, and increased colonization with Staphylococcus aureus. In a multivariate model, nonlesional, but not lesional, FLG expression was associated with the development of cosensitization and moderate to severe AD. Lesional skin was characterized by further deficits in FLG expression (P Conclusions This study reveals that events in the nonlesional, not the lesional, skin promote the subsequent development of AD severity and cosensitization, which is a key risk factor for allergic comorbidities. Collectively, these data suggest the presence of a subclinical eczema endotype that may predispose to the development of allergic disease in the absence of overt eczema. This may represent a new definition of the atopic march that starts with skin barrier dysfunction rather than eczema.
Heavy Fermion Properties and their Relation to Electronic Band Theory

Materials of the “heavy fermion” (HF) class of metals are characterized by extremely large values at low temperature of the linear specific heat coefficient γ(T) = C/T and their magnetic susceptibility χ(T). These highly enhanced thermodynamic properties are interpreted as due to fermionic quasiparticles bearing a very large effective mass m*. Neither γ nor χ remain constant as the temperature is raised, rather they display unusual temperature dependences before rapidly decreasing to normal values at high temperature. In addition the resistivity, which is large at room temperature, does not begin to decrease monotonically except at low temperatures of the order of 2–20 K. The crossover crudely defines a “coherence temperature” T 0, below which the excitations begin to look like fermionic quasiparticles. For T ~ T 0 more complex behavior occurs, indicative of strong many-body interactions which destroy the quasiparticle character of the excitations.
Innovative training Design of Disinfection Cotton Ball stick suitable for Outdoor exercise in Field training

根据在各级军队医院就业的毕业生反馈的意见，在护理实训中增加了野战救护实训内容，并且把改进消毒液、消毒棉球棒存放使用方法作为引入野战救护实训的第一个内容。本次实训以小组为单位团队合作完成，培养了学生的创新意识，通过这次实训大家认识到发明创新不仅仅是理工科学生的事情，护理专业的学生也应该具有创新能力，同时培养了学生的动手、合作、沟通、交流、分析及解决问题等多种职业能力，增强了学生的综合职业能力，从而实现学生职业的可持续发展。
Philosophy and Education

Implicit in any discussion of education is a philosophy of education, a theory of educational principles, aims and values, a conception of the nature of education and its value for the human individual. Modern educational writings have paid due tribute to the value of philosophy for education, and yet considering the great influence educational philosophies have had on technical theories of education it is unfortunate that most recent writings in this area have suffered from serious limitations, and consequently have been of very little philosophic worth. Modern philosophies of education have tended to devote themselves to relatively specialized educational problems and have shown very little concern for larger philosophic issues. The sense of illumination and excitement a profound philosophic vision can bring has seldom been aroused in educational philosophy, and the result has been a serious gap between its philosophic value and its immediate educational ramifications. The ultimate result of such a schism may well be the depreciation of the philosophy of education, and its replacement by practical principles of educational purpose.
Team Effectiveness in Academic Law Libraries: Using Targeted Team Interventions To Improve Dynamics and Performance

Academic law library staff work in task specific teams to accomplish law library initiatives and further the library’s mission. Targeted team interventions serve to improve team cognition, behavior, and attitudes by developing the core teamwork competencies and mediating mechanisms. Academic law library work in task determined teams. The author argues that law library team leaders should implement targeted team development interventions to enhance team effectiveness and performance, and law libraries should incorporate team interventions into routine librarianship.
Leukocyte response in ischemic stroke is regulated by let7i microRNA (S51.005)

Objective: Evaluate microRNA let7i in ischemic stroke and its regulation of leukocytes. Background: The immune system responds rapidly following ischemic brain injury and can contribute to the final extent of brain damage. microRNA are differentially expressed in leukocytes following ischemic stroke and may regulate the immune response to ischemic brain injury. In our initial study we identified microRNA let7i to be among the most significantly decreased microRNA in leukocytes of patients with ischemic stroke. Design/Methods: A total of 212 patients were studied; 106 with acute ischemic stroke and 106 risk factor matched controls. RNA from circulating leukocytes was isolated from blood collected in PaxGene tubes. Let7i miRNA expression was assessed by TaqMan qRT-PCR. To assess let7i regulation of gene expression in stroke, mRNA from leukocytes was measured by whole genome HT Affymetrix microarray. Given microRNAs act to destabilize and degrade their target mRNA, mRNA that inversely correlated with let7i were identified. To demonstrate let7i post-transcriptional regulation of target genes, a 3′UTR luciferase assay was performed. Target protein expression was assessed by ELISA. Results: Let7i was decreased in patients with acute ischemic stroke (fold change −1.70, p Conclusions: Let7i is decreased in circulating leukocytes of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Mechanisms by which let7i regulates inflammatory response post-stroke include targeting CD86, CXCL8 and HMGB1. Study Supported by: The American Heart Association (GCJ) and the National Institutes of Health (NS075035, NS079153, FRS). Disclosure: Dr. Jickling has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ander has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shroff has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stamova has nothing to disclose. Dr. Liu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sharp has nothing to disclose.
tprof: Performance profiling via structural aggregation and automated analysis of distributed systems traces

The traditional approach for performance debugging relies upon performance profilers (e.g., gprof, VTune) that provide average function runtime information. These aggregate statistics help identify slow regions affecting the entire workload, but they are ill-suited for identifying slow regions that only impact a fraction of the workload, such as tail latency effects. This paper takes a new approach to performance profiling by utilizing distributed tracing systems (e.g., Dapper, Zipkin, Jaeger). Since traces provide detailed timing information on a per-request basis, it is possible to group and aggregate tracing data in many different ways to identify the slow parts of the system. Our new approach to trace aggregation uses the structure embedded within traces to hierarchically group similar traces and calculate increasingly detailed aggregate statistics based on how the traces are grouped. We also develop an automated tool for analyzing the hierarchy of statistics to identify the most likely performance issues. Our case study across two complex distributed systems illustrates how our tool is able to find multiple performance issues that lead to 10x and 28x performance improvements in terms of average and tail latency, respectively. Our comparison with a state-of-the-art industry tool shows that our tool can pinpoint performance slowdowns more accurately than current approaches.
Sequential Intravesical Gemcitabine and Docetaxel for the Salvage Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Background Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the most effective intravesical therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but patients can fail or supply shortages can develop. For BCG failures, radical cystectomy is recommended. However, in patients who desire bladder preservation or are poor surgical candidates, alternative salvage intravesical therapies should be explored. Objective To determine whether dual sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel is effective in treating NMIBC. Methods We evaluated our initial experience with 45 patients treated with intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel between June 2009 and May 2014. Patients were treated with 6 weekly instillations of gemcitabine (1 gram of gemcitabine in 50 ml of sterile water) followed immediately by docetaxel (37.5 mg of docetaxel in 50 mL of saline). Treatment success was defined as no bladder cancer recurrence and no cystectomy. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed using the Kaplan Meier method. Results Forty-five patients received treatment with a median overall follow-up of 15 months. Median follow up for treatment success was 6 months in all patients and 13 months for responders. Five patients were unable to tolerate a full induction course. Treatment success was 66% at first surveillance, 54% at 1 year, and 34% at 2 years after initiating induction. Ten patients received cystectomy (median of 5.6 months from starting induction) with no positive margins or lymph nodes on final pathology. Conclusions Sequential dual intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel can salvage some patients in a challenging NMIBC cohort.
The Transition Process: Initial Assessment and Development of a Treatment Plan

Young adulthood is well recognized as a time of life with low utilization of health care and preventive services. Economic and social norms of the past have been in part to blame. In the US prior to 2010, insurance coverage through state-funded Child Health Insurance Programs and dependent coverage through private insurers often ended at age 18 or 21. If the emerging adult (age 18–25) has a health condition from childhood, insurance coverage was historically even more difficult or expensive to obtain. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), in mandating dependent coverage up to age 26, expanding health care options for lower income patients, and expanding care options for patients with preexisting conditions, has facilitated health care provision to many emerging adults with special health care needs.
Stochastic Model for Analysis of Pavement Systems

This paper presents a methodological framework to analyze highway pavements from the standpoint of the levels of service they provide to the users at any time throughout their operational life. The proposed model has a causal structure which relates the physical properties of the pavement system to some physical indicators of distress, such as those suggested by AASHO, through probabilistic transfer functions. The model incorporates elements of uncertainty in the behavior of the system imparted to it by both the statistical nature of the materials characteristics, and the randomness in traffic and environmental conditions. Serviceability, reliability, life expectancy, as well as potential maintenance and cost factors, may be evaluated using this framework to provide a rational basis for evaluation and optimal selection of a design configuration suitable for a given demand and operational characteristics.
Characterization of the structural gene encoding a copper-containing nitrite reductase and homology of this gene to DNA of other denitrifiers.

Abstract A copper-containing nitrite reductase gene (nirU) from Pseudomonas sp. strain G-179 was found in a 1.9-kb EcoRI-BamHI DNA fragment. The coding region contained information for a polypeptide of 379 amino acids. The encoded protein had 78% identity in amino acid sequence to the nitrite reductase purified from Achromobacter cycloclastes. The ligands for type 1 copper- and type 2 copper-binding sites found in A. cycloclastes were also found in Pseudomonas sp. strain G-179, suggesting that these binding sites are conserved. Upstream from the promoter, two putative fnr boxes were found, suggesting that an FNR-like protein may be involved in regulation of the nitrite reductase gene under anaerobic conditions. When the 1.9-kb clone was used to probe Southern blots for similar sequences in DNAs from different denitrifiers, hybridization bands were seen for 15 of 16 denitrifiers known to have nitrite reductase containing copper. Except for Pseudomonas stutzeri JM300, all denitrifiers tested that have nitrite reductases containing heme c,d1 showed no or weak hybridization to this probe. Thus, this structural gene may be useful as a probe to detect denitrifiers with copper-containing nitrite reductases.
Real-world buffer overflow protection for userspace & kernelspace

Despite having been around for more than 25 years, buffer overflow attacks are still a major security threat for deployed software. Existing techniques for buffer overflow detection provide partial protection at best as they detect limited cases, suffer from many false positives, require source code access, or introduce large performance overheads. Moreover, none of these techniques are easily applicable to the operating system kernel. This paper presents a practical security environment for buffer overflow detection in userspace and kernelspace code. Our techniques build upon dynamic information flow tracking (DIFT) and prevent the attacker from overwriting pointers in the application or operating system. Unlike previous work, our technique does not have false positives on unmodified binaries, protects both data and control pointers, and allows for practical hardware support. Moreover, it is applicable to the kernel and provides robust detection of buffer overflows and user/kernel pointer dereferences. Using a full system prototype of a Linux workstation (hardware and software), we demonstrate our security approach in practice and discuss the major challenges for robust buffer overflow protection in real-world software.
Intra-molecular reactions between cysteine sulfinyl radical and a disulfide bond within peptide ions

Abstract Cysteine sulfinyl radical ( SO• Cys) is a reactive intermediate discovered in the inactivation of enzymes utilizing the glycyl/thiyl radical in their catalytic functions upon exposure to air. SO• Cys has been recently formed and investigated in the gas phase via mass spectrometry (MS), with the aim being to acquire direct experimental evidence of the radical’s intrinsic chemical reactivity. Ion/molecule reaction studies showed that SO• Cys was relatively chemically inert toward thiol (S H) and disulfide (S S) functional groups under the explored experimental conditions. Herein, we utilized intra-molecular reactions aided by collision-induced dissociation (CID) to overcome the limitations associated with the traditional bimolecular reactions and explore the reactivity of SO• Cys. Our results revealed a new reaction pathway in which the sulfinyl radical exchanged with an intrachain or interchain disulfide bond within a peptide ion, leading to the formation of a new disulfide bond and a sulfinyl radical. As a consequence, CID of peptide disulfide regio-isomers consisting of SO• Cys led to enhanced sequence information, however the disulfide bond linkage patterns could not be accurately assigned. This reaction pathway also has implications on disulfide bond scrambling in proteins initiated by a radical intermediate.
An improved algorithm for the traveler's problem

In a paper in Journal of Algorithms, Vol.13, (1992), p.148–160, Hirschberg and Larmore introduced the traveler's problem as a subroutine for constructing the B-tree. They gave an O(n5/3 log1/3n) time algorithm for solving traveler's problem of size n. In this paper, we improve their time bound to O(n3/2 log n). As a consequence, we build a B-tree in O(n3/2 log2n) time as compared to the O(n5/3 log4/3n) time algorithm of Hirschberg and Larmore for the same problem.
The movements and fusion of the pronuclei at fertilization of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus: Time-lapse video microscopy.

The penetration of the sperm into the egg, and the movements of the male and female pronuclei were followed from sperm attachment through pronuclear fusion, using time-lapse video microscopy of gametes and zygotes of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus (23° C). The pronuclei move in four stages: I. Sperm Entry Phase, following sperm-egg fusion and a rapid radiating surface contraction (5.9 ± 1.3 μm/second) when egg microvilli engulf the sperm head, midpiece, and tail to form the fertilization cone and the sperm tail beats in the egg cytoplasm; II. Formation of the Sperm Aster, which pushes the male pronucleus centripetally at a rate of 4.9 ± 1.7 μm/minute starting 4.4 ± 0.5 minutes after sperm-egg fusion, as the male pronucleus undergoes chromatin decondensation; III. Movement of the Female Pronucleus, the greatest and fastest of the pronuclear motions at a rate of 14.6 ± 3.5 μm/minute at 6.8 ± 1.2 minute after sperm-egg fusion, which establishes the contact between the pronuclei; and IV. Centration of the Pronuclei to the egg center at a rate of 2.6 ± 0.9 μm/minute by 14.1 ± 2.6 minutes after sperm-egg fusion. Pronuclear fusion typically occurs after stage IV and proceeds rapidly starting 14.7 ± 3.6 minutes after sperm-egg fusion with the male pronucleus coalescing into the female pronucleus at a rate of 14.2 ± 2.6 μm/minute.
Quadrupled Hamstring Graft Strength as a Function of Clinical Sizing.

Purpose This study sought to compare the strength of quadrupled hamstring tendon (QHT) grafts of 6 to 9.5 mm in clinical diameter with that of 10-mm bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) grafts. Methods Twenty cadaveric semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were combined into QHT grafts. These were sized using a standard graft-sizing device and an area micrometer, yielding grafts ranging from 6 to 9.5 mm in diameter. The grafts were tested to failure. Five 10-mm BPTB grafts were also sized and tested. Results Clinical sizing did predict the strength of the graft but not profoundly. As a material alone, without consideration of fixation in bone tunnels, QHT grafts were stronger than BPTB grafts. Graft strength decreased with size, but a linear relation between strength and diameter ( r 2 = 0.715, P r 2 = 0.709). Compared with BPTB grafts, even the smallest QHT grafts (diameter P = .004). The elastic moduli of the QHT and BPTB grafts were 761 ± 187 MPa and 615 ± 403 MPa, respectively; elongations at failure were 12.0% ± 2.0% and 7.5% ± 1.6%, respectively; and failure stresses were 105 ± 18 MPa and 50 ± 14 MPa, respectively. Conclusions This work shows that a clinical size of QHT grafts of 6 mm in diameter is not a concern regarding the strength itself. For a possible lower-end prediction of acceptable size, assuming that a gracilis-semitendinosus graft would have only the stress of the weakest measured QHT graft of 88 MPa, a graft of 5.5 mm in diameter would suffice, having more strength in newtons than the average patellar tendon. Clinical Relevance Clinically sized QHT grafts have a higher failure strength than 10-mm patellar tendon grafts. Therefore the strength of the graft cannot account for the higher clinical failure rates of smaller hamstring grafts in active patients in clinical studies.
Genetic variation in a subterranean arthropod (Folsomia candida) as a method to identify low-permeability barriers in an aquifer

Summary Folsomia candida (order Collembola), a common soil arthropod, has recently been described living in a shallow (2.5–5.7 m below surface), unconsolidated aquifer in southwestern Michigan. F. candida was haplotyped from 14 wells using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) markers, and genetic variation in F. candida was used as a bioindicator to identify pore scale to mesoscale migration barriers in the aquifer. With one exception, individual haplotypes were only found in single wells. A significant relationship was identified between interpopulation genetic differentiation and geographic distance, and F. candida exhibits genetic population structuring over a very fine geographic scale (0.65 km2). Monmonier's algorithm was used to identify two most likely subsurface barriers to migration. Hypothesized barriers divided the F. candida populations into three genetically distinct groups, with two groups separated by only 15 m. These groupings are not dependent on groundwater flow direction, and are supported by a minimum spanning network and AMOVA analysis. Because F. candida movement is limited by pore size, these barriers identify local areas of low permeability in the aquifer material. The study suggests that F. candida may serve an important role in identifying geological characteristics and patterns in aquifers that may be difficult to evaluate by other means.
Biorthogonal Wavelets with Certain Regularities

Abstract In this paper, we will discuss the construction of biorthogonal wavelets that possess the largest possible regularities and required vanishing moments. For the sake of applications, we also give a general Daubechies' iteration method of constructing biorthogonal wavelets by using biorthogonal splines.
A study of monoalkylcarbamates as local anesthetics

A series of 21 new monoalkylcarbamic acid esters of some tertiary-amino alcohols has been prepared. Two new ureas have been isolated and identified. Single pharmacological tests have been made with each compound using three methods: the rabbit cornea, the guinea pig wheal, and the Rider frog. The results indicate that some of the compounds are local anesthetics and that further pharmacological study of the series is warranted.
Response to Comment on “Influence of HLA-C Expression Level on HIV Control”

Lo Monaco et al. propose that human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E) and HLA-C expression levels both contribute to HIV control. The minimal, flat level of cell surface HLA-E detectable by staining with available HLA-E–specific antibodies questions a role for differential HLA-E expression in determining HIV control. Evidence remains far stronger that HLA-C expression levels as detected by the DT9 antibody specifically affect HIV control.
A theater level simulation with COMO-III

Abstract A computerized modeling system is described which presents the analysis of a large number of interacting units operating at various levels of managerial control. The COMO-III system employs a “tool kit” approach to modelling by providing great flexibility in fitting the various parts of the model together. The decision maker/manager can directly interact with the model through a special COMIL language to permit “what if” analysis to be performed in direct support of the decision process. First the model is described in general and then we report the application of the COMO-III modeling system to a theater level air defense simulation. COMO-III is an advanced simulation package developed by the SHAPE Technical Center (The Hague, Netherlands). We believe that this may be the first such simulation of theater level combat in the level of detail described. A large number of individual air defense weapons are simulated on an event oriented basis. The COMO-III system demonstrated to us a considerable state-of-the-art advancement in the methodology of military simulation. Our development efforts also encompassed an expansion of COMO-III to include interactive gaming of individual Air Force interceptor aircraft which showed the model to be unusually flexible. Representative simulation results are presented together with perceived advantages from employing the COMO-III system. It has both methodological and managerial advantages and is entirely government owned and operated. Because the features of COMO-III have not been previously described in the literature, a specially constructed example and commentary are included in an appendix. Implications for future applications are also introduced.
The God issue: God is a testable hypothesis

Whether an ultimate creator as envisaged by religion exists or not is a question that science can address, argues atheist Victor J. Stenger
Protein–protein interaction dynamics by amide H/2H exchange mass spectrometry

Amide H/2H exchange detected by mass spectrometry provides a powerful tool for observing changes that occur upon protein–protein interactions. In general, it is possible to observe protection of surface amides, they become less solvent exposed when they are buried at the interface. The information thus obtained about the location of the protein–protein interface is useful for building a correct docked structure of the protein–protein complex. Examples of protein–protein interfaces that were correctly identified by such methods include the thrombin–thrombomodulin interaction and the interaction between the regulatory and catalytic subunit of protein kinase A. Amide exchange also affords a view into the subtle changes in the ensemble of states that occur upon protein modification or protein–protein binding. Examples of proteins in which amide exchange has been used to observe phosphorylation-induced changes include ERK2 and CheB. Amide exchange showed the pathway of communication between the cAMP-binding site and the catalytic subunit site within the regulatory subunit of protein kinase A. Clues as to how thrombomodulin regulates the catalytic activity of thrombin were also obtained.
Clostridium pasteurianum F1Fo ATP Synthase: Operon, Composition, and Some Properties

The atp operon encoding F1Fo ATP synthase in the fermentative obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium pasteurianum was sequenced. It consisted of nine genes arranged in the order atpI(i), atpB(a), atpE(c), atpF(b), atpH(δ), atpA(α), atpG(γ), atpD(β), and atpC(e), which was identical to that found in many bacteria. Reverse transcription-PCR confirmed the presence of the transcripts of all nine genes. The amount of ATPase activity in the membranes of C. pasteurianum was low compared to what has been found in many other bacteria. The F1Fo complexes solubilized from membranes of C. pasteurianum and Escherichia coli had similar masses, suggesting similar compositions for the F1Fo complexes from the two bacteria. Western blotting experiments with antibodies raised against the purified subunits of F1Fo detected the presence of eight subunits, α, β, γ, δ, e, a, b, and c, in the F1Fo complex from C. pasteurianum. The F1Fo complex from C. pasteurianum was activated by thiocyanate, cyanate, or sulfhydryl compounds; inhibited by sulfite, bisulfite, or bicarbonate; and had tolerance to inhibition by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The target of thiol activation of the F1Fo complex from C. pasteurianum was F1. Thiocyanate and sulfite were noncompetitive with respect to substrate Mg ATP but competitive with respect to each other. The F1 and Fo parts of the F1Fo complexes from C. pasteurianum and E. coli bound to each other, but the hybrid F1Fo complexes were not functionally active.
Reactions to Alcohol in Sons of Alcoholics and Controls

This paper synthesizes some major findings coming from our laboratory over the last decade. The data focuses on our search for mechanisms that might contribute to the elevated risk for alcoholism in sons of alcoholic fathers. Consistent results corroborated by several additional groups indicate that the higher risk sons of alcoholics demonstrate less intense reactions to ethanol as measured by their subjective self-reports, measures of body sway, changes in several hormones after drinking, and the intensity or persistence of ethanol-related changes on two electrophysiological measures. The potential implications of these results as they might relate to an enhanced vulnerability to alcoholism, and some possible future research directions, are discussed.
Polynomial Dual Network Simplex Algorithms

We show how to use polynomial and strongly polynomial capacity scaling algorithms for the transshipment problem to design a polynomial dual network simplex pivot rule. Our best pivoting strategy leads to an O(m2 log n) bound on the number of pivots, where n and m denotes the number of nodes and arcs in the input network. If the demands are integral and at most B, we also give an O(m(m + n log n) min(log nB, m log n))-time implementation of a strategy that requires somewhat more pivots.
War mobilization and the life course: A cohort of World War II veterans

Men experience historical events, such as wars, at different times in their lives and are thereby influenced in different ways. Using data on a cohort of veterans from World War II, this study investigates the proposition that entry into the armed forces at a relatively early age maximized discontinuity and facilitated a redirection of the life course through psychological development, a delayed entry into family roles, and greater advancement opportunity. By comparison, later entry into the service favored greater risk of family and career disruption within a pattern of life continuity from adolescence to the middle years. Results from the analysis are consistent with these expectations.
Perspectives on pediatric bariatric surgery: identifying barriers to referral.

Abstract Background Pediatric obesity is a growing problem affecting the health of our youth. We sought to identify the barriers to pediatric bariatric referral at a tertiary referral center. Methods We performed a survey of pediatricians and family practitioners at a single institution to assess their perspectives on pediatric obesity. Results A total of 61 physicians completed the survey (response rate 46%). All believed pediatric obesity is a major problem, and 82.0% noted an increase in the incidence during a mean period of 15 years (range 3–25). Of the 61 physicians, 88.5% used nonoperative weight loss techniques, with only 1.8% reporting satisfactory results. However, 42.6% had referred a patient (adult or pediatric) for a bariatric procedure, of whom 84.6% were satisfied with the operative outcomes. Despite the high satisfaction with bariatric procedures, 88.5% would be unlikely or would never refer a child for a bariatric procedure, and 44.3% would be somewhat or very likely to refer an adolescent. Conclusion Physicians caring for children recognize the growing problem of childhood and adolescent obesity. Despite the poor outcomes with nonoperative methods and the high satisfaction with the outcomes of bariatric procedures, physicians are still reluctant to refer children and adolescents for surgical weight loss procedures.
Radiation in the Einstein universe and the cosmic background

It is shown that the cosmic background radiation is not at all uniquely or scientifically relatively economically indicative of a ''big bang.'' Specifically, essentially any temporally homogeneous theory in the Einstein universe is consistent with the existence of a cosmic background radiation (CBR) conforming to the Planck law; in particular, the chronometric cosmology is such. It is noted that the Einstein universe appears particularly natural as a habitat for photons by virtue of the absence of infrared divergences and of the absolute convergence of the trace for associated Gibbs-state density matrices. These features are connected with the closed character of space in the Einstein universe, and facilitate the use of the latter in modeling local phenomena, in place of Minkowski space with periodic boundary conditions or the like, with minimal loss of covariance or effect on the wave functions. In particular, the Einstein universe may be used in the analysis of the perturbation of a Planck-law spectrum due to a local nonvanishing isotropic angular momentum of the CBR, of whatever origin. The estimated distortion of the spectrum due to such a kinematically admissible effect is in very good agreement with that observed by Woody and Richards, which is opposite inmore » direction to those earlier predicted by big-bang theories. The theoretical analysis involves a preliminary treatment of equilibria of linear quantum fields with supplementary quasilinear constraints.« less
Periodic and Dynamic 3-D Gold Nanoparticle−DNA Network Structures for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Based Quantification

The enhancement factor of gold nanoparticles linked by DNA in a three-dimensional (3-D) network structure was evaluated as 1.12 × 107 and shown to be greater than a two-dimensional (2-D) array by a factor of ∼10, possibly due to the dimensional expansion of resonance and periodicity of the so formed structures. Uniform and higher level of enhancement was possible from these DNA linked gold nanoparticle networks because of the matching of the resonant condition and the excitation wavelength (785 nm) to enable dynamic quantification of analytes by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The structure was first validated by obtaining a SERS measurement of 4-mercaptopyridine; then, rhodamine B was used as a test analyte to quantify the dye up to nanomolar concentrations using the proposed 3-D network structures dynamically in a liquid system. Since these constructs can be easily fabricated, we envision its application in in vitro quantification and intracellular studies in the near future.
Asitrilobins C and D: two new cytotoxic mono-tetrahydrofuran annonaceous acetogenins from Asimina triloba seeds

Two new bioactive mono-tetrahydrofuran (THF) gamma-lactone acetogenins, asitrilobins C (1) and D (2), were isolated from the seeds of Asimina triloba (Annonaceae) by directing the fractionation with brine shrimp lethality. Compounds 1 and 2 have a relative stereochemical relationship of threo/trans/threo across the mono-THF ring with its two flanking hydroxyls. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. Compounds 1 and 2 showed selective cytotoxicity comparable with adriamycin for the breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and the colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cell lines.
Non-response in student surveys: The Role of Demographics, Engagement and Personality

What causes a student to participate in a survey? This paper looks at participation across multiple surveys to understand survey non-response; by using multiple surveys we minimize the impact of survey salience. Students at a selective liberal arts college were administered four different surveys throughout the 2002–2003 academic year, and we use the number of surveys participated in to understand how student characteristics such as demographics, engagement and Holland personality type affect cooperation. We find that survey respondents are more likely to be female and socially engaged, less likely to be on financial aid, more likely to be an investigative personality type and less likely to be an enterprising personality type.
Reduced modeling of flexible structures for decentralized control

Based upon the modified finite element - transfer matrix method [1], this paper presents a technique for reduced modeling of flexible structures for decentralized control. The modeling decisions are carried out at (finite-) elemental level, and are dictated by control objectives. A simply supported beam with two sets of actuators and sensors (linear force actuator and linear position and velocity sensors) is considered for illustration. In this case, it is conjectured that the decentrally controlled closed loop system is guaranteed to be at least marginally stable.
Potential Bone‐Marrow Donors and Their Spouses: The Effects of Volunteerism on Distress Levels1

The current study sought to provide a better understanding of the reactions of bone-marrow volunteers to the possibility of donating by examining these volunteers in the context of their closest relationships. Using Tesser's (1988) self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model as a guide, we examined the influence of spouses who are also volunteers on each member of the couple's distress levels and on the marrow volunteer's ambivalence about donating. We also examined the independent effects of known risk factors for donation-related distress and the combined effects of spouse volunteer status and these risk factors on distress levels. Questionnaire data were collected from 278 couples selected from 39 bone-marrow donor centers. Results demonstrated that when spouses of potential donors were engaged in any type of volunteer activity, members of the couple felt greater anxiety than when spouses were not volunteers. Additionally, other variables were found to have a conjoint effect with spouse volunteer status on volunteer and spouse anxiety levels.
A Microsoft Fortran 77 Program for Testing the Differences among Independent First-Order Partial Correlations

A Microsoft FORTRAN 77 program is presented that computes a global test and the subsequent multiple range procedure for testing differences among independent first-order partial correlations.