cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cyclic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin plus vinblastine and bleomycin in advanced germinal tumors. Results with 100 patients.

Abstract One hundred patients with advanced mixed germ-cell tumors were treated with cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin alternating with vinblastine and bleomycin (cyclic CISCA II /VB IV ). The chemotherapy achieved an 89 percent continuous disease-free status (85 percent with chemotherapy, 4 percent with chemotherapy plus surgery). The mean follow-up duration for patients with continuous complete remission was 132 weeks (±6.2), with a median of 126 weeks. Multivariate analysis using a stepwise logistic regression of prognostic variables revealed that a high serum level of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (more than 50,000 mIU/ml) was of prognostic significance, followed by the Samuels staging criteria and extragonadal origin of disease. Thirty-two patients underwent exploratory surgery after they had had two courses of chemotherapy beyond the establishment of a stable mass and absent serum biomarkers. No viable cancer was found at exploration, and all patients remain alive and free of disease. The acute toxicity of the cyclic chemotherapy was formidable, but only one patient had a fatal complication. Thirty-six percent of the CISCA II courses and 44 percent of the VB IV courses were associated with leukopenic fever, and 5 percent of the CISCA II courses and 8 percent of the VB IV courses were associated with culture-positive infection. Long-term toxicity was unusual: bleomycin lung toxicity 1 percent, cardiac toxicity 1 percent. CISCA II /VB IV cyclic chemotherapy is superior to cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB) chemotherapy; it results in a higher complete remission rate, a lower relapse rate, and a lower incidence of long-term complications. Patients with a high risk of failure of PVB chemotherapy (Samuels stage IIIB 3 to IIIB 5 ) or with extragonadal tumors should be treated with CISCA II /VB IV .
Biochemistry of Anterior, Medial, and Posterior Genioglossus Muscle in the Rat

The tongue plays a vital role in swallowing actions. However, tongue muscles have been understudied, and it is unclear if tongue muscles are homogeneous with respect to muscle fiber-type distribution. We examined myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of anterior, medial, and posterior sections of the genioglossus muscle (GG) using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in ten adult (9 months old) male Fischer 344/Brown Norway hybrid rats. We found that Type IIx MHC predominated in the anterior, medial, and posterior regions of the GG muscle (p = 0.002), followed by IIa, then IIb. The anterior GG contained a significantly greater (p = 0.004) proportion of Type IIa than did the medial or posterior regions, while the posterior GG contained a significantly greater (p = 0.002) proportion of Type IIb MHC than did the medial or anterior GG. Accordingly, we found variable expression of MHC isoforms across anterior, medial, and posterior portions of the GG muscle, with more fast-contracting isoforms found posteriorly. Because motor control of the tongue requires precise and rapid movements for bolus manipulation and airway protection, variable expression of MHC isoforms along the anteroposterior axis of the GG muscle may be required to efficiently achieve deglutition and maintenance of airway patency.
Development and Validation of a Mathematical Model for the Chemical Vapor Deposition of Alumina from Mixtures of Aluminum Trichloride, Carbon Dioxide, and Hydrogen

Detailed homogeneous and heterogeneous chemistry models are formulated for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of alumina from mixtures of aluminum trichloride, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Since formation of the species that are required for the incorporation of oxygen atoms in the film (primarily H 2 O and OH) takes place through the pathways of the water-gas-shift reaction, a complete kinetic model for this process is incorporated as a submodel in the homogeneous chemistry model. Information obtained from the analysis of the thermodynamic equilibrium in the gas phase of the reacting mixture and from past experimental and theoretical studies is employed to determine which elementary reaction steps play an important role in the overall deposition process The kinetic model is introduced into the transport and reaction model of a tubular, hot-wall CVD reactor, and it is employed to obtain results on the effects of the operating conditions on the variation of the gas-phase composition, deposition rate, and surface species coverages with residence time, under conditions typically encountered in aluminum oxide chemical vapor deposition. Experimental data obtained in a tubular, hot-wall CVD reactor in our laboratory are used to validate the predictions of the overall model. The model is found to he capable of reproducing successfully the experimental data and the various behavior patterns observed in the experiments, such as the occurrence of a maximum in the variation of the deposition rate with parameters that affect strongly the residence time of the mixture in the reactor.
A self-consistent model to simulate large-signal electrical characteristics of resonant tunneling bipolar transistors

Abstract A model is presented which calculates the collector and base current densities for resonant tunneling bipolar transistors. This method combines the voltage-current relations for a heterojunction bipolar transistor and a resonant tunneling structure in a self-consistent manner to obtain the overall behavior of a resonant tunneling transistor. The model includes space-charge effects in the quantum well and predicts bistability in the current-voltage behavior, and is in good agreement with the experimental data reported on AlGaAsGaAs resonant tunneling transistors.
Using subtests of the Brain Age Quotient to screen for cognitive deficits among substance abusers.

The subtests of the Brain Age Quotient, a brief neuropsychological battery, were used to screen for cognitive impairment in a sample of 112 substance abusers. Each of the subtests was scored, using newly developed T scores corrected for age, education, and gender, for which a mean battery score of T < 40 indicates general cognitive impairment. The chance-corrected agreement in finding cognitive dysfunction between this battery and the Average Impairment Rating T score from the Halstead-Reitan battery was adequate, κ = .81. This result suggests that, for discerning global cognitive impairment, this relatively brief neurodiagnostic screening device may be an attractive alternative to the more time-consuming Halstead-Reitan battery.
Reduction of the MSE in R-times oversampled A/D conversion O(1/R) to O(1/R/sup 2/)

In oversampled analog-to-digital conversion, the usual reconstruction method using lowpass filtering leads to a mean squared error (MSE) inversely proportional to the oversampling ratio R. The authors prove, under certain assumptions and with periodic analog input signals, that optimal reconstruction achieves an MSE with an oversampling ratio dependence order of at least O(1/R/sup 2/). That is, an MSE slope of /spl minus/6 dB per octave of oversampling is obtained, rather than the conventional /spl minus/3 dB/octave slope of classical schemes. >
Citrus rootstock and carbon dioxide enriched irrigation influence on seedling emergence, growth, and nutrient content

Abstract Seeds of Carrizo citrange (Citrus senensis (L.) Osb. X Poncirus trifolliata (L.), Cleopatra mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco), Sour orange (C. aurantium L.), and Rough lemon (C. Union (Buna f.) were sown in trays, irrigated without or with enriched Carbon dioxide (CO2) (1,362 mg L‐1) and evaluated for seedling emergence, growth, and nutrient contents. Rough lemon had a faster rate and higher percent emergence than the other rootstocks. Carrizo citrange had thicker stem diameters and taller seedlings than other rootstocks. Cleopatra mandarin had the smallest seedling shoot and root weights and larger shootrroot ratios than Rough lemon and Sour orange. Carrizo citrange and Cleopatra mandarin had higher leaf chlorophyll‐a and total chlorophyll content than Rough lemon or Sour orange. Carbon dioxide enriched irrigation had no effects on emergence or seedling growth variables except lower root weight. Lower media pH (6.90 versus 5.65), attributed to CO2 enriched irrigation, may have adversely affected r...
Mutation and expression analysis of the p73 gene in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND p53 is the most highly mutated tumor suppressor gene in human cancers. Recently, p73, a first homologue of p53, was identified and considered to be an imprinted tumor suppressor gene. Thus, we analyzed the possible role of p73 in human prostate cancers. METHODS We investigated the expression levels and expressed allelotypes and searched for mutations in the p73 gene in 27 primary prostate cancers with matched normal tissues as well as in four prostate cell lines. RESULTS Allelic expression analysis using polymorphisms in exons 2 and 5 revealed that p73 is biallelically expressed in both normal and tumor tissues, suggesting that p73 is not imprinted in prostate tissues. Quantitative PCR demonstrated that p73 expression is the same in both normal and tumor prostate tissues. Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and DNA sequencing revealed that there were no tumor-specific mutations in the p73 gene at the genomic level. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that alterations of p73, including mutations, changes in message abundance, and changes in allelic expression, are likely to be rare in early-stage prostate cancer, and that p73 could be a tissue-specific imprinting gene. Prostate 39:94–100, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Negative Affect Differentiation and Adherence During Treatment for Thalassemia

Although research has demonstrated the detrimental effects of excessive negative affect on treatment adherence and morbidity in chronic illness, rarely have researchers investigated the benefits of awareness of negative emotional experiences during treatment. In this investigation, we examined the association of negative affect differentiation (the ability to report negative emotional experiences as separate and distinct from each other,) to treatment adherence in adult patients with the congenital blood disorder thalassemia. Negative affect differentiation was assessed during a 12–16-week treatment-based diary and adherence was operationalized as attendance at routine screenings over 12 months. Participants were adult patients (n = 32; age M = 31.63, SD = 7.72; 72 % female) with transfusion-dependent thalassemia in treatment in a large metropolitan hospital in the Northeastern USA. The results indicate that negative affect differentiation is significantly associated with greater adherence to treatment, even when controlling for disease burden and level of psychological distress. Although preliminary, this investigation suggests that differentiated processing of negative emotional experiences during illness can lead to adaptive treatment-related behavior. As such, it may present a new avenue for research and intervention targeting the improvement of adherence during treatment for chronic illness.
A Direct Comparison of the Kelvin and Electron Beam Methods of Contact Potential Measurement

Comparison of contact potential values determined for a given pair of surfaces by (1) the Kelvin method, which is insensitive to patch fields, and (2) the electron beam method which is, according to patch theory, sensitive to these fields, offers a means of testing the validity of the theory and of determining the extent to which patch effects influence electron beam measurements. A technique for carrying out such comparative measurements in a single sealed-off tube is described. Barium and silver are selected for the study because of the known reproducibility and long-period constancy of their work functions. The measured surfaces are prepared by fractional distillation following intensive outgassing and the technique allows repetitive checking through renewal of these surfaces. Special attention is given to the conditions required for satisfactory Kelvin measurements in all-glass, sealed-off systems.
Creatine phosphokinase activity in dysgenic (mdg/mdg) mouse muscle.

The specific activity of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was measured in the muscle of mdg/mdg and control embryos of 14–18 days' gestation. CPK specific activity values were similar in mutant and normal embryos at the earliest stages examined (14–15 days). However, after 15 1/2 days, the specific activity of the enzyme in the mdg/mdg embryos was approximately 50% lower than in the controls. The dysgenic and normal muscle extracts exhibited comparable stability after storage at −85 C. CPK activity levels in the muscle of adult heterozygotes (+/mdg) and wild-type (+/+) controls were found to be statistically identical. The findings suggest that the mdg mutation does not have a primary or direct effect on CPK activity.
Television, Background Characteristics and Learning in El Salvador's Educational Reform.

In the US, differences in school achievement between rich and poor, between suburban child and ghetto child, have not been significantly altered by increased investment in the schools of the disadvantaged. Rather, schooling has tended to widen gaps between rich and poor, or so the research seems to say (Coleman, 1966; Mosteller and Moynihan, 1972). While schooling obviously affects learning, such variations in schooling expendi tures as exist do not. In contrast, in El Salvador, one innovation, an educational reform including instructional television, has had a significant incremental impact on learning. In 1969, with some help from the US Agency for International Development and other outside organizations, the El Salvador Ministry of Education launched a major educational reform. It included, for the seventh, eight and ninth grades, curriculum reform, new student and teacher printed materials, bureaucratic reorganization, teacher retraining and television. Each classroom received from three to five 20 minute weekly broad casts in each of the five basic subjects. Student workbooks provided comple mentary text and exercises. Each teacher, many of whom were upgraded from primary school jobs, had been retrained for up to nine months in a subject specialty, pedagogical technique and utilization of television. Simultaneously, the newly reformed Third Cycle (as grades seven to nine are called in El Salvador) opened its doors to many more students. Free tuition, double sessions and a higher student/teacher ratio permitted a tripling of enrollment in the public schools. While some critics have questioned the direction of the reform, and others the adequacy of changes in some components, there can be little
Potentiometric-scanning ion conductance microscopy for measurement at tight junctions

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM) has been developed originally for high-resolution imaging of topographic features. Recently, we have described a hybrid voltage scanning mode of SICM, termed Potentiometric-SICM (P-SICM) for recording transmembrane ionic conductance at specific nanostructures of synthetic and biological interfaces. With this technique, paracellular conductance through tight junctions – a subcellular structure that has been difficult to interrogate previously – has been realized. P-SICM utilizes a dual-barrel pipet to differentiate paracellular from transcellular transport processes with nanoscale spatial resolution. The unique combination of voltage scanning and topographic imaging enables P-SICM to capture paracellular conductance within a nominal radius of several hundred nanometers. This review summarizes recent advances in paracellular conductance recording with an emphasis on the P-SICM based approach, which is applied to detect claudin-2 mediated permeability changes at the tight junction.
Comparative Direct Analysis of Type Ia Supernova Spectra. I. SN 1994D

As the first step in a comprehensive, comparative, direct analysis of the spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), we use the parameterized supernova synthetic-spectrum code SYNOW to interpret 26 spectra of the well-observed SN 1994D. Our results are consistent with the traditional view that the composition structure (element abundance fractions versus ejection velocity) is radially stratified. We find that resonance-scattering features due to permitted lines of Ca ii, Na i, and Fe ii persist to more than 100 days after explosion. The fitting parameters for SN 1994D, together with those to be determined for other SNe Ia, will provide an internally consistent quantification of the spectroscopic diversity among SNe Ia and shed light on how the various manifestations of observational diversity are related to their physical causes.
The Simulated Ward: ideal for Training Clinical Clerks in an Era of Patient Safety

Abstract Introduction Work rules have changed medical education. Knowledge previously acquired by experience must now be actively taught to avoid prolonging the training period. We report the feasibility of and clinical clerk opinions regarding a novel simulated floor management course to teach patient care concepts required on the surgical wards. Methods We created a hospital ward with simulators exhibiting physical exam findings and active vital signs. Surgical clerks gathered data during “morning rounds,” wrote notes, and provided care. An acute event allowed students to participate in active evaluation and treatment. Findings and plans were communicated to their “chief resident,” a surgical attending. We distributed a survey to participants to determine attitudes and opinions about the course. Results The course required five faculty, two medical educators, four surgical house staff, and 2.5 h to accommodate 40–50 students. Faculty and surgical house staff provided guidance and feedback on clinical skills. Fifty students completed the survey (56% response rate). Most clinical clerks thought that the simulated floor management course improved their understanding of medical management of surgical issues (66%) and their documentation skills (78%). Clinical clerks reported that attending involvement made the experience more valuable (89%) and was not intimidating (66%). Most expressed an interest in participating in more clinical scenarios (72%). Conclusions A simulation course for teaching patient care concepts is feasible and regarded positively by clinical clerk participants. Further development and use of such simulated patient care exercises may be an effective adjunct for training future house staff and hospital staff in patient care in a time of shifting work hour paradigms.
S6 Kinase p90rsk in Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor-stimulated Proliferative and Mature Hematopoietic Cells

The ribosomal S6 kinase p90rsk was studied in mature and proliferating hemopoietic cells in response to the human cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In neutrophils, GM-CSF induced time-dependent electrophoretic mobility shifts in immunoreactive p90rsk. Although these shifts suggested changes in the phosphorylation status of the molecule, a kinase assay with whole cell lysates detected minimal (1.5-fold) increments in enzymatic activity. Only immunoprecipitation followed by immune complex kinase assay or in-gel kinase assay performed against the RSK substrate RRLSSLRA evidenced an increase in p90rsk activity (3.4-fold). p90rsk was also detected in the GM-CSF-dependent erythroleukemia cell line TF-1. Normally cultured, cytokine-supplemented cells did not respond to further GM-CSF stimulation. However, the activity of p90rsk in cytokine-starved cells increased dramatically in response to short term GM-CSF challenge. This effect was readily observable in total cell lysates (6.6-fold increase over controls) and was paralleled by changes in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity (a substrate of p90rsk). Thus, p90rsk is present in mature hemopoietic cells, but the extent of the enzymatic response to GM-CSF is significantly lower than that seen in proliferative cells.
Dynamics of News Media Regulations in China: Explanations and Implications

(2006). Dynamics of News Media Regulations in China: Explanations and Implications. Journal of Comparative Asian Development: Vol. 5, China Faces the New Millennium: An Interdisciplinary Approach, pp. 49-64.
The translocation of white phosphorus from hen (Gallus domesticus) to egg

Thousands of waterfowl deaths occurring at Eagle River Flats (ERF), Anchorage, Alaska, USA, have been attributed to the ingestion of white phosphorus (P4) particles. White phosphorus has been found in the egg of one herring gull (Larus argentatus) and in the yolks of some shorebirds at ERF. The presence of P4 in eggs suggests potential toxic consequences for avian reproduction. This study was undertaken to determine the magnitude and potential importance of P4 translocation from the hen to the egg. Egg-laying hens (Gallus domesticus) were gavaged with a single dose of 1, 3, or 5 mg P4/kg body weight or dosed with 1 mg P4/kg body weight for 5 consecutive d. Eggs of dosed hens were collected daily. White phosphorus was extracted from the yolk and the white, individually, with isooctane and analyzed by gas chromatography. White phosphorus had no significant effect on chicken weight, egg weight, or shell thickness. However, laying frequency was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in chickens receiving 1 mg P4/kg body weight for 5 d. For all treatments, P4 was detected in the yolk and not in the white. It was first detected in the yolk approx. 1 to 2 d after P4 exposure and became nondetectable 6 to 10 d after P4 exposure. The total P4 recovered from eggs of chickens treated with P4 was less than 0.01% of the administered dose.
Quantum Spin Liquids and the Metal-Insulator Transition in Doped Semiconductors

We describe a new possible route to the metal-insulator transition in doped semiconductors such as Si:P or Si:B. We explore the possibility that the loss of metallic transport occurs through Mott localization of electrons into a quantum spin liquid state with diffusive charge neutral ``spinon'' excitations. Such a quantum spin liquid state can appear as an intermediate phase between the metal and the Anderson-Mott insulator. An immediate testable consequence is the presence of metallic thermal conductivity at low temperature in the electrical insulator near the metal-insulator transition. Further, we show that though the transition is second order, the zero temperature residual electrical conductivity will jump as the transition is approached from the metallic side. However, the electrical conductivity will have a nonmonotonic temperature dependence that may complicate the extrapolation to zero temperature. Signatures in other experiments and some comparisons with existing data are made.
β-Adrenergic receptor blockade modulates Bcl-XS expression and reduces apoptosis in failing myocardium

The mechanisms by which beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) blockade modulates apoptosis in heart failure (HF) are unclear. We examined the impact of beta-AR blockade with metoprolol on myocardial remodeling, apoptosis, pro-apoptotic (Fas, Fas ligand, Bax, and Bcl-X(S)) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-X(L)and Bcl-2) gene expression, and Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-X(S) protein in post-infarction HF in rats. In untreated rats, there was significant (P < 0.001) LV dilatation and systolic dysfunction compared to sham. Myocardial apoptosis was significantly increased (P < 0.005). Fas, Bax, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression was unchanged. However, Fas ligand mRNA and Bcl-X(S) mRNA and protein, all undetectable in sham, were markedly elevated (P < 0.001), whereas Bcl-X(L) mRNA and protein was unchanged. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased Bcl-X(S) staining in failing myocardium, with unchanged Bcl-X(L). Metoprolol treatment resulted in: (1) improved LV remodeling (P < 0.025), (2) reduced myocardial apoptosis (P < 0.005), and (3) selective reduction in myocardial Bcl-X(S) expression (P < 0.001) without change in Fas, Fas ligand, Bax, Bcl-2, or Bcl-X(L). Studies in isolated rat myocytes revealed that prolonged isoproterenol (ISO) stimulation significantly increased Bcl-X(S) protein, reducing the Bcl-X(L)/X(S) ratio and myocyte survival (P < 0.005). ISO-induced Bcl-X(S) expression was significantly attenuated (P < 0.001) by both metoprolol and CGP20712A, a beta1-AR selective antagonist, but not by ICI118,551, a beta2-AR selective antagonist. We conclude that adrenergic activation, such as occurs in HF, increases pro-apoptotic Bcl-X(S) expression via the beta1-AR. beta-AR blockade in HF reduces myocardial apoptosis; attenuation of Bcl-X(S) expression may be one mechanism underlying this effect.
The Binding Interface of Cytochrome c and Cytochrome c1 in the bc1 Complex: Rationalizing the Role of Key Residues

The interaction of cytochrome c with ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (bc1 complex) has been studied for >30 years, yet many aspects remain unclear or controversial. We report the first molecular dynamic simulations of the cyt c-bc1 complex interaction. Contrary to the results of crystallographic studies, our results show that there are multiple dynamic hydrogen bonds and salt bridges in the cyt c-c1 interface. These include most of the basic cyt c residues previously implicated in chemical modification studies. We suggest that the static nature of x-ray structures can obscure the quantitative significance of electrostatic interactions between highly mobile residues. This provides a clear resolution of the discrepancy between the structural data and functional studies. It also suggests a general need to consider dynamic interactions of charged residues in protein-protein interfaces. In addition, a novel structural change in cyt c is reported, involving residues 21–25, which may be responsible for cyt c destabilization upon binding. We also propose a mechanism of interaction between cyt c1 monomers responsible for limiting the binding of cyt c to only one molecule per bc1 dimer by altering the affinity of the cytochrome c binding site on the second cyt c1 monomer.
Microphysical Contrasts in Atlantic Stratus

Abstract Measurements of a mid-Atlantic clean and polluted cloud are presented. The cleaner cloud had lower concentrations of larger droplets with a broader spectrum and more drizzle drops. The first two characteristics are attributed to the lower cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations that were measured near the clean cloud. The greater droplet spectral broadness may just he a manifestation of the usual observation of broader droplet spectra for larger droplet sizes but it may also be related to the higher slope of the CCN spectra that was observed in the cleaner air mass. The larger droplets and wider droplet spectra in the clean cloud seemed to promote drizzle drop production.
NOVEL GENES EXPRESSED IN THE CHICK OTOCYST DURING DEVELOPMENT : IDENTIFICATION USING DIFFERENTIAL DISPLAY OF RNA

Differential display of mRNA is a technique that enables the researcher to compare genes expressed in two or more different tissues or in the same tissue or cell under different conditions. The method is based on polymerase chain reaction amplification and comparison of specific subsets of mRNA. We have used this method to clone partial complementary DNAs (cDNAs; amplicons) for genes expressed in the otocyst in order to identify genes that may be involved in development of the inner ear. A full length cDNA was isolated from an embryonic quail head library with an amplicon (KH121) obtained from the otocyst. This avian cDNA encoded a novel, 172-amino acid acidic protein and detected a major transcript of ca 0.8 kb in RNA from chick embryos and several neonatal chick tissues. The full length avian cDNA had high sequence identity to several human cDNAs (expressed sequence tags) from human fetal tissues, including cochlea, brain, liver/spleen and lung, and from placenta. The human homologue of the avian gene encoded a protein that was 183 amino acids long and had 75.6% amino acid sequence identity to the avian protein. These results identified both the avian and human homologues of an evolutionarily conserved gene encoding a small acidic protein of unknown function; however, expression of this gene was not restricted to otocysts.
EFFEMINATE HOMOSEXUALITY: A DISEASE OF CHILDHOOD.

In a systematic study of 40 homosexuals and 25 non-homosexual controls data indicated that effeminate homosexuals exhibited effeminacy before puberty. Homosexual behavior was only a secondary manifestation. Birth order and age of mother at birth did not differentiate homosexuals from controls. Family history revealed two homosexual siblings for the effeminate homosexuals.
3-D landmark recognition from range images

Progress in building and recognizing models of objects for an autonomous vehicle for on-road and cross-country navigation is reported. The object models are stored in a map and are used as landmarks for estimating vehicle position. The landmarks can be used as intermediate control points at which the vehicle must take some prescribed action in the case of a complex mission. Robust object tracking using sequences of range images and building and updating 3-D object representations is presented. Tracking uses object prediction from one image to the next to accurately compute object locations. Object representations are built by merging sets of points from individual images into a single set in an object-centered coordinate frame. The sparse set of points is then segmented into shapes yielding compact and general object representations. An algorithm for landmark identification in range images is introduced in the context of map-based navigation. >
Effect of Density and Instar of Heliothis zea on Parasitization by Hyposoter exiguae

The effects of age and density of larvae of Heliothis zea (Boddie) on parasitization by the endoparasitic ichneumonid, Hyposoter exiguae , (Viereck) were assessed in the laboratory. The instar-ranking of % parasitization of H. zea (highest to lowest) after a 24-h exposure to one ♀ wasp was: 2nd instar ≥ 3rd instar ≥ 1st instar > > 4th instar. Fifth-instar H. zea were not parasitized. For 3rd and 4th instar H. zea % parasitization declined as density of hosts increased. The % parasitization of either 1st- or 2nd-instar hosts was not affected by increases in density of the host (up to 50 larvae/wasp). Parasitization of older hosts resulted in a shorter larval period of the parasite and an increase in weight and longevity of the F1 adults. Several explanations for the effects of host age on the developmental period of parasitic larvae and the longevity of adult wasps are offered.
A New Era for Cancer Treatment: Gold‐Nanoparticle‐Mediated Thermal Therapies

Nanotechnology-based cancer treatment approaches potentially provide localized, targeted therapies that aim to enhance efficacy, reduce side effects, and improve patient quality of life. Gold-nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia shows particular promise in animal studies, and early clinical testing is currently underway. In this article, the rapidly evolving field of gold nanoparticle thermal therapy is reviewed, highlighting recent literature and describing current challenges to clinical translation of the technology.
Discovery and characterization of artifactual mutations in deep coverage targeted capture sequencing data due to oxidative DNA damage during sample preparation

As researchers begin probing deep coverage sequencing data for increasingly rare mutations and subclonal events, the fidelity of next generation sequencing (NGS) laboratory methods will become increasingly critical. Although error rates for sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are well documented, the effects that DNA extraction and other library preparation steps could have on downstream sequence integrity have not been thoroughly evaluated. Here, we describe the discovery of novel C > A/G > T transversion artifacts found at low allelic fractions in targeted capture data. Characteristics such as sequencer read orientation and presence in both tumor and normal samples strongly indicated a non-biological mechanism. We identified the source as oxidation of DNA during acoustic shearing in samples containing reactive contaminants from the extraction process. We show generation of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) lesions during DNA shearing, present analysis tools to detect oxidation in sequencing data and suggest methods to reduce DNA oxidation through the introduction of antioxidants. Further, informatics methods are presented to confidently filter these artifacts from sequencing data sets. Though only seen in a low percentage of reads in affected samples, such artifacts could have profoundly deleterious effects on the ability to confidently call rare mutations, and eliminating other possible sources of artifacts should become a priority for the research community.
Genetic variation in candidate obesity genes ADRB2, ADRB3, GHRL, HSD11B1, IRS1, IRS2, and SHC1 and risk for breast cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study II.

Obesity has consistently been associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk. Proteins that are secreted by adipose tissue or are involved in regulating body mass may play a role in breast tumor development. We conducted a nested case-control study among postmenopausal women from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort to determine whether genes associated with obesity increase risk for breast cancer. Tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected to capture common variation across seven candidate genes that encode adipose-related proteins: ADRB2, ADRB3, GHRL, HSD11B1, IRS1, IRS2, and SHC1. Thirty-nine SNPs were genotyped in 648 cases and 659 controls. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between each tagging SNP and risk for breast cancer while adjusting for matching factors and potential confounders. We also examined whether these SNPs were associated with measures of adult adiposity. Two out of five tagging SNPs in HSD11B1 were associated with breast cancer (rs11807619, P = 0.006; rs932335, P = 0.0001). rs11807619 and rs932335 were highly correlated (r 2 = 0.74) and, when modeled as a haplotype, only haplotypes containing the rs932335 C allele were associated with breast cancer. The rs932335 C allele was associated with a nearly twofold increased risk for breast cancer (odds ratio = 1.83, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–3.33 for C/C versus G/G). Three of the 11 SNPs for IRS2 were associated with breast cancer (rs4773082, P = 0.007; rs2289046, P = 0.016; rs754204, P = 0.03). When these three SNPs were examined as a haplotype, only the haplotype that included the G allele of rs2289046 was associated with breast cancer (odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval = 0.63–0.92 for TGC versus CAT). IRS2 rs2289046, rs754204, and rs12584136 were also associated with adult weight gain but only among cases. None of the other SNPs in any gene investigated were associated with breast cancer or adiposity. Our findings suggest that these tagging SNPs in HSD11B1 and IRS2 mark regions of the genome that may harbor risk alleles for breast cancer, and these associations are probably independent of adiposity.
Maintenance of storage properties of pediatric aliquots of apheresis platelets in fluoroethylene propylene containers.

BACKGROUND: Platelet (PLT) aliquots for pediatric use have been shown to retain in vitro properties when stored in gas-impermeable syringes for up to 6 hours. As an alternative, PLT aliquots can be stored for longer periods in containers used for storage of whole blood–derived PLTs. These containers are not available separate from whole blood collection sets and PLT volumes less than 35 mL either have not been evaluated or may be unsuitable for PLT storage. Gas-permeable fluoroethylene propylene (FEP) containers have been used in the storage of cell therapy preparations and are available in multiple sizes as single containers but have not been evaluated for PLT storage. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A single apheresis unit was divided on Day 3 into small aliquots with volume ranging from 20 to 60 mL, transferred using a sterile connection device, and stored for an additional 2 days either in CLX (control) or in FEP containers. PLT storage properties of PLTs stored in FEP containers were compared to those stored in CLX containers. Standard PLT in vitro assays were performed (n = 6). RESULTS: PLT storage properties were either similar to those of CLX containers or differed by less than 20% excepting carbon dioxide levels, which varied less than 60%. CONCLUSION: Pediatric PLT aliquots of 20, 30, and 60 mL transferred on Day 3 into FEP cell culture containers adequately maintain PLT properties for an additional 2 days of storage.
Building incentives into tor

Distributed anonymous communication networks like Tor depend on volunteers to donate their resources. However, the efforts of Tor volunteers have not grown as fast as the demands on the Tor network. We explore techniques to incentivize Tor users to relay Tor traffic too; if users contribute resources to the Tor overlay, they should receive faster service in return. In our design, the central Tor directory authorities measure performance and publish a list of Tor relays that should be given higher priority when establishing circuits. Simulations of our proposed design show that conforming users receive significant improvements in performance, in some cases experiencing twice the network throughput of selfish users who do not relay traffic for the Tor network.
Congressional Ethics: The Fox and the Henhouse1

Members of Congress have conflicting responsibilities between advancing the public's interest while advocating for the private interests of constituents. This research examines the association between political corruption and the increased devotion to constituent casework. It creates a congressional corruption matrix that gives rise to four types of political corruption illuminated through descriptions of the Abscam Scandal, the Duke Cunningham Scandal, the Keating Five Scandal, and the Jack Abramoff Scandal. It makes a distinction between individual and institutional forms of corruption and differentiates between personal gain and career advancing varieties of corruption. This article contends that Congress is disinclined to enact and enforce substantive reforms in career advancing forms of corruption because of a shared institutional value in expanding politically beneficial activities.
Plant functional type classifications in tropical dry forests in Costa Rica: leaf habit versus taxonomic approaches

Summary 1. One way to simplify the high taxonomic diversity of plant species in vegetation models is to place species into groups based on shared, dominant traits. Many studies have suggested that morphological and physiological traits of tropical dry forest tree species vary with leaf habit (i.e. leaves from evergreen, deciduous or semi-deciduous species) and thus this characteristic may serve as a useful way to distinguish ecologically meaningful functional types. 2. In this study we examine whether 10 plant traits vary with leaf habit in replicated leaves and individual trees of 87 species from a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica. We also looked for evidence of phylogenetic conservatism, i.e. closely related species sharing similar trait values compared to more distantly related taxa. 3. While some of the traits varied within and among individual trees of the same species, interspecific variation accounted for 57–83% of the variance among samples. Four traits in addition to leaf habit showed evidence of phylogenetic conservatism, but these results were strongly dependent on the inclusion of the 18 species of legumes (Fabaceae) in our dataset. Contrary to our predictions, none of the traits we measured differed among leaf habits. However, five traits (wood density, leaf C, leaf N, N ⁄ P and C ⁄ N) varied significantly between legumes and other functional types. Furthermore, when all high-nitrogen non-legume taxa were compared to the high-nitrogen legumes, six traits excluding leaf N differed significantly, indicating that legumes are functionally different from other tree species beyond high N concentrations. Similarly, the 18 legume taxa (which all have compound leaves) also differed from other compound-leaved species for six traits, thus leaf type does not explain these patterns. 4. Our main conclusions are that (i) a plant functional type classification based on leaf habit alone has little utility in the tropical dry forest we studied, and (ii) legumes have a different suite of traits including high leaf carbon and wood density in addition to high leaf nitrogen. Whether this result generalizes to other tropical forests is unknown, but merits future research due to the consequences of these traits for carbon storage and ecosystem processes.
Chilean Rural Society: From the Spanish Conquest to 1930

1. Rural settlement and agrarian society to the early nineteenth century 2. Town and country in 1850 3. Economic expansion: the impact of the Atlantic economy 4. Capital, credit and technology in the rural economy 5. Agriculture, tenure patterns and agrarian structure 6. Lower rural society from 1850 to 1930 7. Landowners in Chilean society 8. Santiago and the countryside 1910 9. Conclusion and epilogue Appendices Sources Index.
New roles for an old selenoenzyme : Evidence from glutathione peroxidase-1 null and overexpressing mice

Cellular glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1) is the first identified and the most abundant selenoprotein in mammals. Although GPX1 has been widely considered to be a major antioxidant enzyme, there has been no direct evidence for such role in vivo until GPX1 transgenic and null mice became available 10 y ago. Using these new models, we demonstrated that GPX1 protects against oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the physiologic importance of this protection varies with insult level and body Se status. Full expression of GPX1 is needed, and overexpression of GPX1 is beneficial for Se-adequate mice to defend against severe oxidative stress. This function of GPX1 is associated with attenuating the prooxidant-induced oxidation of NADPH, NADH, lipid, and protein in various tissues. In Se-deficient mice, a minute amount of GPX1 activity (4% of adequate levels) protects against hepatic aponecrosis induced by mild oxidative stress. In contrast, knockout of GPX1 renders mice and their hepatocytes resistant to oxidative stress related to reactive nitrogen species (RNS). More intriguingly, mice overexpressing GPX1 develop insulin resistance and obesity, accompanied by a downregulation of insulin-mediated phosphorylations of insulin receptor and Akt protein. In conclusion, GPX1 seems to play contrasting roles in coping with ROS vs. RNS, and its metabolic functions extend beyond redox regulation.
Control of Marek's Disease by Vaccination

There are three types of vaccines presently available for the control of Marek's disease (MD), namely the apathogenic MD viruses that spread horizonatlly, the altered viruses that do not spread and...
The Arabidopsis Circadian System

Rhythms with periods of approximately 24 hr are widespread in nature. Those that persist in constant conditions are termed circadian rhythms and reflect the activity of an endogenous biological clock. Plants, including Arabidopsis, are richly rhythmic. Expression analysis, most recently on a genomic scale, indicates that the Arabidopsis circadian clock regulates a number of key metabolic pathways and stress responses. A number of sensitive and high-throughput assays have been developed to monitor the Arabidopsis clock. These assays have facilitated the identification of components of plant circadian systems through genetic and molecular biological studies. Although much remains to be learned, the framework of the Arabidopsis circadian system is coming into focus.DedicationThis review is dedicated to the memory of DeLill Nasser, a wonderful mentor and an unwavering advocate of both Arabidopsis and circadian rhythms research.
Personal and Indoor/Outdoor Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure Assessments of 23 Homes in Taiwan

Indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations of 23 homes from two areas in Taiwan, the city of Taipei and a rural village in central Taiwan, were measured concurrently from December 1987 to January 1988. NO2 measurements were carried out by Palmes tube for one week and filter badges for two days. In Taipei, the mean NO2 concentrations outdoors, in the kitchens, in the livingrooms, and in the bedrooms were 40.1 ppb, 34.4 ppb, 32.1 ppb, and 29.7 ppb for one week, and were 25.7 ppb, 25.6 ppb, 22.6 ppb, and 20.5 ppb for two days. In the village of central Taiwan, the corresponding concentrations were 23.5 ppb, 24.5 ppb, 20.4 ppb, and 17.5 ppb for one week, and 20.3 ppb, 24.7 ppb, 18.8 ppb, and 15.4 ppb for two days. The NO2 concentrations of all microenvironments in Taipei were significantly higher than those in the village of central Taiwan. The outdoor NO2 concentrations were significantly higher than the indoor NO2 concentrations in Taipei. The NO2 measurements in the kitchens were higher than all other measurements indoors and outdoors in the village of central Taiwan. The houses which used natural gas as cooking fuel had slightly higher indoor NO2 concentrations than the houses which used LPG as cooking fuel in Taipei city. Cement houses had slightly higher indoor NO2 concentrations than brick houses. The mean of housewives' exposures was 30.8 ppb in Taipei and 19.9 ppb in the village of central Taiwan. The explanation power of the housewife's exposure to NO2 was 72% by the time weighted-average model and 70% by the simple linear regression model.
Pharmacological Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents Anxiety disorders are among the most common of childhood psychiatric disorders, which may be associated with low self-esteem, substance abuse, depression, social isolation, inadequate social skills, and academic difficulties. The aim of the presented article is to review the drug treatment of anxiety disorders. Selected papers and books regarding to drug treatment of anxiety disorders were reviewed. Currently the selective serotonin receptor inhibitors are the first choice for the short-term treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescent, because they have been shown to be effective and safe. It is recommended to begin the treatment with very low doses and increase gradually to avoid side effects and compromise the adherence to treatment. The medication should be administered at therapeutic dosages for least 6 weeks to decide effectiveness of the treatment. The studies on drug treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescent are scarce. More well designed, double blind, placebo controlled studies on drug treatment of anxiety disorder are required.
How audience analysis keeps engineers customer-focused

Technical communication has long advocated the importance of the customer. When technical communication instructors train engineering students to focus on audiences' needs, backgrounds, abilities, and interests before designing a document or giving a presentation, instructors are emphasizing the customer. Thus, the audience analysis skill taught in the communication classroom helps engineers to prepare for the highly competitive, restructed workplace.