cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Paradigm for the Local Management of Extraskeletal Ewing Sarcoma

Objectives We reviewed our experience treating patients with localized extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) to determine optimal local management strategies for this rare disease. Methods Sixty patients with localized EES treated at our institution between 1994 and 2018 were reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimates disease outcomes. Results The median follow-up time was 74 months (interquartile range [IQR], 17-121). Half the patients (n = 30) received combined-modality local therapy (CMT) with both surgery and radiation therapy (RT), whereas the other half received single-modality local therapy (SMT) with either surgery or RT. All patients received chemotherapy. The 5-year overall survival was 76%. Twenty-two patients (37%) developed recurrence at a median time of 15 months (IQR, 5-56 months) resulting in 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) of 65%. On univariate analysis, the use of both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved 5-year PFS (71% vs. 50%, p = .04) compared with those who received one or the other. Furthermore, 11 patients (18%) developed local recurrences at a median time of 14 months (IQR, 2-19 months), resulting in a 5-year local control (LC) rate of 77%. Use of CMT was not associated with improved LC (83% vs. 72% SMT, p = .41). Also, use of CMT was the only factor associated with poorer disease-specific survival (vs. SMT; hazard ratio, 3.4; p = .047; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-11.4). Conclusion For patients with EES, CMT was not associated with a decreased rate of local relapse. These data suggest that SMT alone may be sufficient for LC in select patients. A multi-institutional collaborative effort should be considered to validate these findings. Implications for practice Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma is a rare chemosensitive sarcoma whose clinical course more closely follows Ewing sarcoma of bone rather than that of other soft tissue sarcomas. Based on this study, combined-modality local therapy did not confer a local control advantage compared with single-modality local therapy. Therefore, single-modality local therapy is likely adequate in select patients with favorable disease features, which has the advantage of ensuring prompt administration of systemic therapy. A multi-institutional collaborative effort is warranted to determine which patients may benefit from de-escalated local therapy.
Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Stroke Incidence: A Systematic Review.

Objective To summarize overall patterns of the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) on stroke incidence and uncover potential gaps in the literature, we conducted a systematic review of studies examining the association between nSES and stroke incidence, independent of individual SES. Methods Four electronic databases and reference lists of included articles were searched, and corresponding authors were contacted to locate additional studies. A keyword search strategy included the 3 broad domains of neighborhood, SES, and stroke. Eight studies met our inclusion criteria (e.g., nSES as an exposure, individual SES as a covariate, and stroke incidence as an outcome). We coded study methodology and findings across the 8 studies. Results The results provide evidence for the overall nSES and stroke incidence association in Sweden and Japan, but not within the United States. Findings were inconclusive when examining the nSES-stroke incidence association stratified by race. We found evidence for the mediating role of biological factors in the nSES-stroke incidence association. Conclusions Higher neighborhood disadvantage was found to be associated with higher stroke risk, but it was not significant in all the studies. The relationship between nSES and stroke risk within different racial groups in the United States was inconclusive. Inconsistencies may be driven by differences in covariate adjustment (e.g., individual-level sociodemographic characteristics and neighborhood-level racial composition). Additional research is needed to investigate potential intermediate and modifiable factors of the association between nSES and stroke incidence, which could serve as intervention points.
Performance Evaluation of the Vectorizable Binary Search Algorithms on an FPGA Platform

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are becoming promising heterogeneous computing components. In the meantime, high-level synthesis has been pushing the FPGA-based development from a register-transfer level to a high-level-language design flow using the OpenCL and C/C++ programming languages. The performance of binary search applications is often associated with irregular memory access patterns to off-chip memory. In this paper, we implement the binary search algorithms using OpenCL, and evaluate their performance on an Intel Arria 10 based FPGA platform. Based on the evaluation results, we optimize the grid search in XSBench by vectorizing and replicating the binary search kernel. We identify the computational overhead in the implementations of the vectorizable binary search algorithms, and overcome it by grouping work-items into work-groups. Our optimizations improve the performance of the grid search using the classic binary search by a factor of 1.75 on the FPGA.
CD2 and CD7 are sensitive flow cytometry screening markers for T-lineage acute leukemia(s): a study of 465 acute leukemia cases.

Summary T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) is a rare acute leukemia that expresses cytoplasmic CD3 (cCD3) and frequently lacks surface CD3. Given that routine flow cytometric testing for cCD3 may not be feasible and cCD3 interpretation may be difficult, we investigate if surface CD2 and/or CD7 expression on blasts can be used by flow cytometry to screen for T-lineage acute leukemia. We retrospectively reviewed flow cytometric data from 233 acute leukemias (36 T-ALL/LBL, 8 mixed-phenotype acute leukemia T/myeloid, 80 acute myeloid leukemia, 97 B-ALL/LBL, 8 mixed-phenotype acute leukemia B/myeloid, and 4 acute undifferentiated leukemia cases). Uniform expression (≥75% of blasts) of CD2 and/or CD7 was seen in all 44 cCD3-positive cases but in only 11% (20/189) of cCD3-negative acute leukemias, thus demonstrating 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity in the identification of cCD3-positive (T-lineage) acute leukemia. To avoid selection bias, we prospectively studied 232 consecutive acute leukemias for which cCD3, CD2, and CD7 were automatically performed in all cases. Similar to the retrospective study, uniform expression of CD2 and/or CD7 on blasts showed 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity in the screening for cCD3-positive (T-lineage) acute leukemia. Therefore, acute leukemias with uniform expression of CD2 and/or CD7 warrant further testing for cCD3 to evaluate for T-lineage acute leukemia. Blasts that lack both uniform CD2 and CD7 expression do not require additional cCD3 testing. We propose that CD2 and CD7 could be utilized in a limited antibody flow cytometry panel as a sensitive, robust, and cost-effective way to screen for T-lineage acute leukemia.
Towards a lifestyle experience: A phenomenological conceptualization and scale development in the hotel context

Abstract The topic of lifestyle has attracted interest both in service providers and marketing researchers. To better understand lifestyle experience, study 1 adopts a phenomenological approach to conceptualize lifestyle experience that is generated within consumers in a hotel setting. It is discovered that sense of community and culture is the spirit of a lifestyle experience that lives up to its name. In addition, it is uncovered that lifestyle experiences essentially meets consumer's higher-ordered psychological social needs. Studies 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate the development of a scale, LHEI—Lifestyle Hotel Experience Index, that captures consumer's lifestyle hotel experience. Such scale can be easily adapted to measure lifestyle experiences in other contexts. This paper contributes to current research by conceptualizing and quantifying the novel lifestyle experience. It contributes to the industry as a wakeup call for more sustainable and consumer-centric strategies in value co-creation.
Tau pathology mediates the effects of amyloid on neocortical tau propagation and neurodegeneration among individuals without dementia

Abstract Amyloid is associated with greater tau pathology and is thought to facilitate tau propagation from medial temporal lobe (MTL) to the neocortex, where tau is closely associated with local neurodegeneration. We used causal mediation analysis to quantify the involvement of amyloid and tau in tau propagation and neurodegeneration, as measured by cerebral blood flow, glucose metabolism, and volume, in two longitudinal samples of individuals without dementia. Greater entorhinal tau was associated with greater inferior temporal tau. This association was stronger among amyloid+ individuals, suggesting that amyloid facilitates tau propagation from MTL to neocortex. Entorhinal tau mediated up to 50% of the total effect of amyloid on inferior temporal tau. Higher inferior temporal tau was associated with colocalized neurodegeneration, including lower cerebral blood flow, glucose metabolism, and regional volume, whereas amyloid had only an indirect effect on neurodegeneration via tau, implying that tau is the primary driver of neurodegeneration. Our findings suggest targeting amyloid or MTL tau might slow down neocortical spread of tau, but a combination therapy may yield better outcomes.
Modified Pressure-Correction Projection Methods: Open Boundary and Variable Time Stepping

In this paper, we design and study two modifications of the first order standard pressure increment projection scheme for the Stokes system. The first scheme improves the existing schemes in the case of open boundary condition by modifying the pressure increment boundary condition, thereby minimizing the pressure boundary layer and recovering the optimal first order decay. The second scheme allows for variable time stepping. It turns out that the straightforward modification to variable time stepping leads to unstable schemes. The proposed scheme is not only stable but also exhibits the optimal first order decay. Numerical computations illustrating the theoretical estimates are provided for both new schemes.
OAB Update: Focus on Trospium

Muscarinic receptor antagonists form the mainstay of pharmacologic therapy for overactive bladder (OAB), a prevalent, debilitating, and costly condition. Antimuscarinics differ in their specificity for certain muscarinic receptors, their metabolism, and their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Trospium chloride is the only antimuscarinic that is a quarternary amine and its positive charge prevents the crossing of the blood-brain barrier, thus minimizing CNS side effects. Level I evidence supports the efficacy and tolerability of both the immediate-release and extended-release formulations of trospium. Furthermore, subanalyses of data pooled from large randomized, controlled trials support the efficacy is subpopulations such as men, the obese, and the elderly. The adverse event profile is favorable, with dry mouth and constipation presenting as the main adverse sequelae. As expected, CNS side effects have been rare and cognition does not appear to be impaired in those patients taking multiple medications.
Interplanetary gas: IX. Effects on the local interstellar medium

Abstract The extent of the ionized region about the Sun, as formed by ionizing solar particles, is estimated; the important effects of the sunward motion of galactic neutral hydrogen are included. The solar ultraviolet radiation apparently makes a negligible contribution to the solar HII region. If the solar system is surrounded by neutral hydrogen at a density of 0.1/cm 3 , solar particle emission can produce an asymmetrical, ionized region with a characteristic radius of approximately 600 a.u. Particle emission could be important in determining the sizes of the much greater HII regions observed around hot stars. Attention is called to the possibility of “interstellar aurorae” caused by the bombardment of interstellar neutral hydrogen by energetic protons and electrons associated with stellar winds. The encounter of fast protons with galactic neutral hydrogen can produce fast neutral hydrogen atoms which can penetrate into the inner part of the solar system, as suggested by Patterson et al . It appears that these fast hydrogen atoms are probably not important in the night sky Lyman-α problem. However, any such atoms are produced in the very distant parts of the solar ionized region, and, as such, carry potentially valuable information concerning the distant solar wind. Observation of the energy and density of fast hydrogen atoms in the vicinity of Earth seems desirable.
Expression and Misexpression of the miR-183 Family in the Developing Hearing Organ of the Chicken

The miR-183 family consists of 3 related microRNAs (miR-183, miR-96, miR-182) that are required to complete maturation of primary sensory cells in the mammalian inner ear. Because the level of these microRNAs is not uniform across hair cell subtypes in the murine cochlea, the question arises as to whether hair cell phenotypes are influenced by microRNA expression levels. To address this, we used the chicken embryo to study expression and misexpression of this gene family. By in situ hybridization, expression of all 3 microRNAs is robust in immature hair cells of both auditory and vestibular organs and is present in the statoacoustic ganglion. The auditory organ, called the basilar papilla, shows a weak radial gradient (highest on the neural side) in prosensory cells near the base on embryonic day 7. About nine days later, the basilar papilla also displays a longitudinal gradient (highest in apical hair cells) for the 3 microRNAs. Tol2-mediated gene delivery was used to ask whether cell phenotypes are malleable when the prosensory epithelium was forced to overexpress the miR-183 family. The expression plasmid included EGFP as a reporter located upstream of an intron carrying the microRNA genes. The vectors were electroporated into the otic cup/vesicle, resulting in strong co-expression of EGFP and the miR-183 family that persisted for at least 2 weeks. This manipulation did not generate ectopic hair cells in non-sensory territories of the cochlear duct, although within the basilar papilla, hair cells were over-represented relative to supporting cells. There was no evidence for a change in hair cell phenotypes, such as short-to-tall, or basal-to-apical hair cell features. Therefore, while increasing expression of the miR-183 family was sufficient to influence cell lineage decisions, it did not redirect the differentiation of hair cells towards alternative radial or longitudinal phenotypes.
Multiple receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase regulate Na-H exchange independent of cAMP.

We have previously determined that beta-adrenergic and somatostatin receptors stimulate and inhibit, respectively, Na-H exchange independent of changes in cAMP accumulation (Barber, D.L., McGuire, M.E., and Ganz, M.B. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 21038-21042). The present study extends our work on the beta-adrenergic receptor (beta AR) by investigating receptor activation of Na-H exchange in multiple cell types that either endogenously express the beta AR or that have been transfected with cDNA of the hamster lung beta 2AR or the turkey erythrocyte beta AR. Exchanger activity was determined by monitoring intracellular pH in cell populations loaded with the pH-sensitive dye BCECF (2,7-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein). In addition to the action of the beta AR, activation of prostaglandin E1 and parathyroid hormone receptors induced an intracellular alkalinization by stimulating a Na(+)-dependent amiloride-sensitive Na-H exchange. In contrast, activation of D2-dopaminergic receptors induced an intracellular acidification by inhibiting Na-H exchange. beta-Adrenergic, prostaglandin E1, and parathyroid hormone receptors activated Na-H exchange independent of changes in intracellular cAMP accumulation and independent of a cholera toxin-sensitive stimulatory GTP regulatory protein. D2-dopaminergic receptors inhibited exchanger activity independent of a pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory GTP regulatory protein. We suggest that these receptors are functionally coupled to adenylate cyclase and Na-H exchange through divergent signaling mechanisms.
Effects of ballistic impact damage on thin and thick composites

Use of composite materials is growing rapidly because they offer weight reduction, durability and better fatigue life as compared to metals. Despite of their advantages, there are some problems associated with the use of composites, and impact resistance is one of the weak areas in composites. Low speed impact damage has been the focus of attention of researchers for quite some time but studies of high speed impact damage is still in its preliminary stages. In this study, effects of ballistic impact on thin and thick composite panels were investigated. Damage due to high speed impact in composites is a complex phenomenon and it is diflScult to analytically model all the events taking place during the impact. An experimental approach was used to study the damage from high speed impact and the Finite Element analysis was performed to understand the damage sequence. Thin symmetric quasi-isotropic and cross-ply laminates consisting of up to 16 layers were studied using experimental vibration and Finite Element analysis. It was found that frequency response of damaged plates is dependent on the stacking sequence of the laminate. Results also show that the natural frequencies of the damaged plates decrease for few initial modes and increase for some of the higher modes. It was observed that cross-ply laminates exhibit very little effect on the natural frequencies due to damage. Thick symmetric quasi-isotropic and cross-ply laminates consisting of 56 plies were also studied. Results demonstrate that damage size is dependent more on the shape and size of the impactor, rather than the impact energy. Faster bullets cause less damage as
Unibus: An Integrative Approach to Next-Generation Metacomputing [Invited Speaker Abstract]

Summary form only given.The full potential of grids and metacomputing systems is yet unrealized, partly due to challenges resulting from heterogeneity, deployment issues, and dynamicity. The Unibus project proposes novel strategies for unifying and dynamically conditioning shared heterogeneous resources located within multiple administrative domains. Our approach is based on client-centric overlay software that provides unified interfaces to diverse resources, complemented by runtime systems that substantially automate setup and configuration. The overlay unifies heterogeneous resources through service drivers or mediators that operate analogously to device drivers. New resources and variations in availability are handled through self-deployment of mediators and their service daemon counterparts, enabling the overlay to adaptively present applications with coherent aggregated projections of the underlying resources. Dynamic incorporation of new resources is facilitated via automated environment conditioning that uses deployment descriptors in conjunction with site-specific data to prepare platforms for execution. This talk will discuss the motivations and rationale behind the Unibus approach, describe the design of the framework, and present preliminary results and experiences.
Concepts and status of laser-supported rocket propulsion

Laser propulsion, a unique new system in which thrust is produced by the absorption of remote laser energy, has several distinct advantages over existing forms of propulsion. This article is intended as an overview of the status of laser propulsion based on a review of the scientific literature. Included in the discussion is an evaluation of the advantages and limitations of laser propulsion, as well as the types of missions for which it can best be used. The various types of proposed thrusters are also discussed, focusing on operation, current research, and unresolved problems. Also included is a thorough list of references documenting the research in this relatively young field.
Occupant Extrication in Vehicular Crashes: NASS and CIREN Analyses

Improvements in occupants extrication techniques are required due to enhanced safety features in modern vehicles. The research questions were focused on what force directions and what vehicle types, were most highly associated with an extricated occupant. Two national databases, FARS and CIREN were queried. Principal direction of force for the occupant vehicle and vehicle weight were used as delineating variables. From FARS data, the percentage of extricated occupants increased between 1993 and 2000. Left-sided crashes account for the highest percentage of occupants requiring extrication (18.8%) compared to occupants in rear crashes (lowest at 8.6%). Occupants in vehicles less than 2500 pounds were most often extricated (19.1%) compared to vehicles greater than 3500 pounds (lowest at 11.3%). From the CIREN database, for left-sided crashes, occupants required extrication 33.0% of the time when involved in truck-into-car crashes whereas car-into-car crash victims were extricated only 27.3%. These results imply an increased risk for extrication need for those occupants struck by a vehicle that is mismatched.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification and quantitation of benzyl alcohol in serum after derivatization with perfluorooctanoyl chloride: a new derivative.

Benzyl alcohol is commonly used as an antibacterial agent in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations. Several fatalities in neonates have been linked to benzyl alcohol poisoning. Most methods for measuring benzyl alcohol concentrations in serum utilize direct extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. We describe here a novel derivatization of benzyl alcohol using perfluorooctanoyl chloride after extraction from human serum for analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The derivative was eluted at a significantly higher temperature respective to underivatized molecule and the method was free from interferences from more volatile components in serum and hemolyzed specimens. Another advantage of this derivatization technique is the conversion of low-molecular-mass benzyl alcohol (Mr 108) to a high-molecular-mass derivative (Mr 504). The positive identification of benzyl alcohol can be achieved by observing a distinct molecular ion at m/z 504 as well as the base peak at m/z 91. Quantitation of benzyl alcohol in human serum can easily be achieved by using 3,4-dimethylphenol as an internal standard. The within run and between run precisions (using serum standard of benzyl alcohol: 25 mg/l) were 2.7% (mean=24.1, S.D.=0.66 mg/l, n = 8) and 4.2% (mean=24.3, S.D.=1.03 mg/l, n = 8), respectively. The assay was linear for the serum benzyl alcohol concentrations of 2 mg/l to 200 mg/l and the detection limit was 0.1 mg/l. We observed no carry-over (memory effect) problem in our assay as when 2 microl ethyl acetate was injected into the GC-MS system after analyzing serum specimens containing 200 mg/l of benzyl alcohol, we observed no peak for either benzyl alcohol or the internal standard in the total ion chromatogram.
Factors Related to the Flavor Stability During Storage of Foam-Dried Whole Milk. III. Effect of Antioxidants

Summary The storage stability of vacuum foam-dried whole milk powder containing antioxidants was studied organoleptically. The relative effectiveness of antioxidants in reducing flavor deterioration in stored samples was found to decrease in the following order: lauryl gallate, propyl gallate, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, ascorbyi palmitate, butylated hydroxy anisole, ascorbic acid, dihydroquercetin, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, thiodipropionic acid, quercetin, dilaurylthiodipropionate. Largest flavor stabilizing effects in samples stored at 80F for six months were observed in air packs. Statistical analysis of the data showed that only dihydroquercetin, ascorbic acid, ascorbyi palmitate, or sodium diethyldithiocarbamate produced significant improvement of the flavor scores of powders packed in nitrogen containing 0.1 or 1.0% oxygen. None of the antioxidants tested allowed the production of powders with greater stability than those obtained by drying milk heated at 165F for 30min.
Optimality Measures for Performance Profiles

We examine the importance of optimality measures when benchmarking a set of solvers and show that the scale-invariance requirements we impose lead to a convergence test for nonlinearly constrained optimization solvers that uses a mixture of absolute and relative error measures. We demonstrate that this convergence test is well behaved at any point where the constraints satisfy the Mangasarian--Fromovitz constraint qualification and also avoids the explicit use of a complementarity measure. Computational experiments explore the impact of this convergence test on the benchmarking process with performance profiles.
Production of platelet-derived growth factorlike protein by rat mesangial cells in culture

Rat mesangial cells (MC) release a factor that competes in a dose-dependent manner with 125I-labeled platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) for binding to human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF). The competitor activity in mesangial cell conditioned medium (MCCM) is reversible, trypsin sensitive, and inhibited by anti-PDGF IgG. MCCM also expresses potent mitogenic activity to HFF. Anti-PDGF IgG, in concentrations that completely abolished the mitogenic activity of pure PDGF and the competitor activity of MCCM, only partially (33-41%) inhibits this mitogenic activity. The PDGF receptor competing activity as well as the total mitogenic activity, coelutes with labeled pure PDGF on Sephacryl S-200 gel chromatography. Cation exchange chromatography of concentrated MCCM yields a major mitogen peak with little competitor activity and a smaller mitogenic peak with comparable competitor activity, suggestive of the presence of other mitogens in MCCM besides the PDGF-like protein. PDGF is a potent mitogen and may play a role at inflammatory sites. The production of PDGF-like protein by MC may provide insights for understanding the pathogenesis of glomerular diseases.
Conservation laws in economics

Abstract Examples are given, in economics and physics, to suggest that economists gain a bit more from Maximization principles than from Conservation principles.
Applications of Complex Domain in Vapor−Liquid Equilibrium Calculations Using a Cubic Equation of State

A new method is proposed to identify the spurious root (density or compressibility) in a cubic equation of state when it is used for phase property calculations and also to evaluate the pseudo root for an unfeasible phase specification based on a heuristic approach. The variation of real and real part of the complex roots with pressure for a cubic equation of state at constant temperature and composition is taken into consideration in the development. A complete set of analytical expressions is developed for the implementation of the method. The validity of the method is demonstrated through examples. The proposed method is simple and easy to use. Moreover, the computational load involved in the implementation of the proposed method is minimal because no iterative strategy is required.
Engraftment potential of dermal fibroblasts following in vivo myogenic conversion in immunocompetent dystrophic skeletal muscle

Autologous dermal fibroblasts (dFbs) are promising candidates for enhancing muscle regeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) due to their ease of isolation, immunological compatibility, and greater proliferative potential than DMD satellite cells. We previously showed that mouse fibroblasts, after MyoD-mediated myogenic reprogramming in vivo , engraft in skeletal muscle and supply dystrophin. Assessing the therapeutic utility of this system requires optimization of conversion and transplantation conditions and quantitation of engraftment so that these parameters can be correlated with possible functional improvements. Here, we derived dFbs from transgenic mice carrying mini-dystrophin, transduced them by lentivirus carrying tamoxifen-inducible MyoD, and characterized their myogenic and engraftment potential. After cell transplantation into the muscles of immunocompetent dystrophic mdx 4cv mice, tamoxifen treatment drove myogenic conversion and fusion into myofibers that expressed high levels of mini-dystrophin. Injecting 50,000 cells/µl (1 × 10 6 total cells) resulted in a peak of ∼600 mini-dystrophin positive myofibers in tibialis anterior muscle single cross-sections. However, extensor digitorum longus muscles with up to 30% regional engraftment showed no functional improvements; similar limitations were obtained with whole muscle mononuclear cells. Despite the current lack of physiological improvement, this study suggests a viable initial strategy for using a patient-accessible dermal cell population to enhance skeletal muscle regeneration in DMD.
Nitrate and carbohydrate effects on nodulation and nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) activity of lentil (Lens esculenta Moench).

Lentils (Lens esculenta Moench, cv. Tekoas) grown in a nutrient solution containing 15 millimolar nitrate had 84% fewer nodules than lentils grown in nitrate-free nutrient solution. Nodules from the nitrate-grown plants weighed 71% less than nodules from the nitrate-free plants. Nitrate-grown plants also fixed much less nitrogen (measured by acetylene reduction) than the nitrate-free plants. When lentils were grown in a solution containing 15 millimolar nitrate and 75 millimolar fructose, glucose, or sucrose, however, the nitrogen fixation activity of their nodules was similar to that of nodules from nitrate-free plants. Leaves of lentils grown in the nitrate-sugar solutions had only about 7% as much nitrate reductase activity and accumulated only 10% as much nitrate as leaves from lentils grown in the nitrate solution alone. Roots of lentils grown in the nitrate-sugar solutions had similar nitrate reductase activity but accumulated only 17 to 25% as much nitrate as roots from lentils grown in the nitrate solution. The results indicate that the added sugars alleviated the inhibitory effects of nitrate on symbiotic nitrogen fixation not only by increasing the carbohydrate supply so lentils could support both nitrogen fixation and nitrate reduction but also by inhibiting the accumulation of nitrate and, hence, lowering nitrate reductase activity in the leaves.
Effects of EGR and Boost Pressure on Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) Engine at High Load Operating Conditions

Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) at engine high load operating conditions is investigated in this study. The effects of EGR and boost pressure on RCCI combustion were studied by using a multi-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The model was first compared with a previous CFD model, which has been validated against steady-state experimental data of gasoline-diesel RCCI in a multi-cylinder light duty engine. An RCCI piston with a compression ratio of 15:1 was then proposed to improve the combustion and emissions at high load. The simulation results showed that 18 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) could be achieved with gasoline-diesel RCCI at an EGR rate of 35 % and equivalence ratio of 0.96, while the peak pressure rise rate (PPRR) and engine combustion efficiency could both be controlled at reasonable levels. Simulations using both early and late direct-injection (DI) of diesel fuel showed that RCCI combustion at high load is very sensitive to variations of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) amount. Higher IMEP is obtained by using early diesel injection, and it is less sensitive to EGR variation compared to late diesel injection. Reduced unburned hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), soot and slightly more nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions were seen for early diesel injection. HC, CO and soot emissions were found to be more sensitive to EGR variation at late diesel injection timings. However, there was little difference in terms of peak pressure, efficiencies, PPRR and phasing under varying EGR rates. The effect of boost pressure on RCCI at high load operating conditions was also studied at different EGR rates. It was found that combustion and emissions were improved, and the sensitivity of the combustion and emission to EGR was reduced with higher boost pressures. In addition, cases with similar combustion phasing and reasonable PPRR were analyzed by using an experimentally validated GT-Power model. The results indicated that although higher IMEP was generated at higher boost pressures, the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) was similar compared to that obtained with lower boost pressures due to higher pumping losses.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Alteration of wetting of mica surfaces

Models of the complex interactions among crude oils, brines, and reservoir rocks are needed to facilitate studies of oil reservoir wettability. Sandstone reservoir minerals are usually represented by crystalline quartz or by various glass surfaces, but links between wetting alteration on these mineral surfaces and wetting effects in sandstone cores are difficult to establish. Mica is an alternative that is attractive for several reasons. It is relatively easy to reproduce fresh, molecularly smooth surfaces that are ideal for contact angle measurements. Surface chemistry can be varied by ion exchange. While sandstones may be composed primarily of quartz, pore surfaces may be better represented by high-surface-area clays. Muscovite mica has a similar surface structure to illite, a common clay mineral. Mica itself may be a more common component of reservoir rocks than has generally been recognized. Interactions have been tested with two varieties of mica and compared to previous studies on glass surfaces with the same brines and crude oils. Results are consistent with respect to the water film-stability concepts developed in studies using glass surfaces. The principal difference between mica and glass is the effect of temperature on crude oil/brine/solid interactions.
Lesión osteolítica digital: diagnóstico y tratamiento

Presentamos el caso clinico de una mujer de 81 anos, sin antecedentes patologicos conocidos, que consulta por tumefaccion y dolor de anos de evolucion en dedo medio de la mano, en la que se aprecia un nodulo solitario de consistencia blanda, con un componente flogotico asociado (fig. 1), cuyas imagenes de radiologia convencional evidenciaron una lesion litica, en sacabocados, que afecta de modo circunferencial a la falange media con componente de destruccion cortical en la cara volar de la falange (fig. 2). Completamos el estudio mediante una tomografia axial computarizada y una analitica completa, en la que destacaron valores de acido urico en suero de 10 mg/100 ml (rango normal de 2,6 mg/100 ml), por lo que el cuadro se oriento como artropatia metabolica por deposito de acido urico. Figura 1. Imagen clinica preoperatoria de tumoracion digital dolorosa. Figura 2. Imagen de radiologia convencional que objetiva una lesion osteolitica con destruccion articular. Iniciamos el tratamiento medico con uricosuricos y dieta, procediendose a la exeresis abierta del tofo gotoso y a la artrodesis interfalangica. El estudio anatomopatologico confirmo el diagnostico al identificar cristales de urato monosodico. La paciente siguio una evolucion correcta, y tras un ano del tratamiento se encuentra asintomatica (fig. 3) y con niveles de acido urico dentro de la normalidad. Figura 3. Imagen clinica posoperatoria. Las lesiones osteoliticas son manifestaciones clinicas habituales de enfermedades tumorales, metabolicas o infecciosas1. Para un optimo tratamiento, es necesario realizar un...
Personality traits in subclinical and non-obsessive-compulsive volunteers and their parents

Theorists from a variety of perspectives have asserted that obsessive compulsives are more risk-aversive, perfectionistic and guilt-ridden than non-obsessive compulsives, and that these characteristics are central features of the disorder. Furthermore, several have hypothesized that the parents of obsessive compulsives are characterized by risk-aversion, perfectionism, and high levels of criticism. Little research exists which corroborates these hypotheses, however. The present investigation examined these hypotheses among subclinical obsessive compulsives. In two different samples, subclinical obsessive compulsives were found to be more risk-aversive, perfectionistic, and guilt-ridden. Subclinical obsessive compulsives also perceived their parents to be more overprotective. The findings regarding other parental traits were less clear. There was some support for the hypothesis that the parents of subclinical obsessive compulsives are more risk-aversive, and that fathers are more critical and perfectionistic.
Observations on nematode parasitism in cow-calf production systems in southcentral/southwestern USA

Abstract Observations on fecal egg count (FEC) and nematode identification data were compiled to help determine the extent of nematode parasitism in cows and their nursing calves. Overall mean FEC values for cows in Utah, Louisiana, Navada, Texas, and California were 7 eggs per gram (EPG), 6 EPG, 9 EPG, 10 EPG, and 15 EPG, respectively. Overall mean FEC values for nursing calves from the same states were 7 EPG, 228 EPG, 3 EPG, 60 EPG, and 398 EPG, respectively. The overall mean FEC value for Arizona cows was 33 EPG. Relatively complete seasonal FEC data were available from California and Louisiana where fall-born calves acquired high nematode burdens (i.e. 400–500 EPG) as early as 3 months of age, and spring-born calf FEC started low (10–30 EPG) and reached high levels (200–400 EPG) at about 5 months of age. In California, tracer calf data indicated that Ostertagia and Cooperia were the predominant nematodes acquired from pasture. In Louisiana, tracer calf, tracer cow, slaughtered calf (at weaning) and coproculture data indicated that Ostertagia (fall/winter) and Haemonchus (summer/fall) were the predominant nematode genera acquired by cows and that Ostertagia (winter/spring), Haemonchus (summer) and Cooperia (all seasons) were the predominant nematode genera acquired by calves. The acquisition of nematodes in tracer cows was much lower than in calves; however, the percentage of inhibited Ostertagia (ranging from 0% in summer to more than 80% in spring) was similar. A survey of abomasal nematodes in culled dairy and beef cows in Louisiana indicated that cows can harbor large (mean of 24 543 for beef and 16 383 for dairy) burdens. Burdens ranged from a few (100–200) worms to a high of 192 668 (almost all inhibited Ostertagia) in one animal.
Rates of ribosomal RNA evolution are uniquely accelerated in eukaryotes.

A novel procedure for testing the relative rates of evolution is described. The procedure, the distance-matrix rate test, consists of creating a graph that displays two complete distance matrices for two different genes derived from the same group of species, an approach made practical by numerous whole genomic sequences. The results in this paper show that the molecular clock of ribosomal RNA from Eukaryotes is uniquely accelerated and highly variable while those of Archaea and Bacteria are not. This idiosyncratic eukaryotic rRNA evolution is not observed with four different protein genes. The distance matrix rate test consists of plotting the distance of one gene (from two different species) against the distance of a second gene (from the same pair of species) in the form of a simple X-Y plot. Because it is not possible to compute variances (or co-variances in this case) that can be meaningfully compared to expectations from a Poisson process, the test does not permit calculations of an index of dispersion. In place of this, equations are given for the 95% confidence limits expected for a Poisson process. The test was applied to the proteins rpsll and rp114, as one example, and to rpsl I and ssu rRNA as a second example. In addition, the cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase evolution from a larger group of Eukaryotes are compared to each other and that of the ssu rRNA. This graphical test shows that the evolution of the four proteins and the archael and bacterial ssu rRNA's are consistent with a Poisson process since last common ancestor. The distance-matrix rate test that is introduced in this study needs to make no assumptions regarding evolutionary rates, divergence times, or phylogenetic relationships.
Monoclonal antibody to a membrane glycoprotein inhibits the acrosome reaction and associated Ca2+ and H+ fluxes of sea urchin sperm

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared using sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) sperm or isolated sperm plasma membrane vesicles as immunogen. Two monoclonal antibodies, J4/4 and J10/14, react with different epitopes on external domains of the same Mr = 210,000 integral-membrane glycoprotein. At Fab fragment concentrations of equivalent cell surface binding, J10/14 inhibits the egg jelly-induced exocytotic acrosome reaction and associated Ca2+ influx and H+ efflux, whereas J4/4 does not. Immunofluorescent localization shows that both monoclonal antibodies react with a narrow collar of plasma membrane over the acrosomal complex and also with the entire flagellum.
Second Language Acquisition, Language Teaching and Translation Studies

AbstractCurrent interaction among second language acquisition (SLA), language teaching and translation studies is not entirely positive. One possible source for this mutual alienation lies not in disconnected fields of study, but in misunderstood notions about these fields and in the history of a particular research paradigm. This paper describes recent developments in SLA and shows that they translate into a different kind of relationship among SLA, language teaching and translation studies. It further examines similarities and differences in the goals and objects of study of the above disciplines, and reviews and synthesizes the legacy of language teaching in translator training. Finally, by summarizing research in SLA that is relevant for translation studies, the author illustrates the relationship among the fields under study with respect to specific research areas and to teaching. Some implications for translator training are pointed out.
Fock space multi-reference coupled-cluster study of excitation energies and dipole oscillator strengths of ozone

Abstract The singlet and triplet excitation energies are investigated by the Fock space multi-reference coupled-cluster method. A procedure for evaluating dipole transition moments and oscillator strengths is also presented and applied. Good agreement is achieved for excitation energies and transition moments where experimental data are known.
An electron microscopy study of the metastable structures in splat-cooled erbium-zirconium alloys

The metastable structures produced by splat-cooling in Er-Zr alloys were investigated by using transmission electron microscopy and X ray analysis in order to deduce the mechanism by which a continuous series of supersaturated solid solutions are formed between Er and Zr in their low temperature h c p allotropic form. The study revealed that the microstructure of alloys with extended solid solubility consisted of an h c p phase exhibiting predominantly martensitic character together with small amounts of a metastable beta phase. The volume fraction of the martensitic phase increased and that of the beta phase decreased with increase in Zr content of the alloy. The phase transformations involved in the formation of the various metastable phases in the Er-Zr system during splat cooling and the stability of these phases during subsequent ageing treatments are discussed in relation to the equilibrium phase diagram for this system.
Evidence for the Existence of a Novel Mechanism for the Nuclear Import of Hsc70

Abstract Hsc70 is a multifunctional protein that is capable of shuttling between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In this study we investigated the signal-mediated nuclear import step, usingXenopusoocytes as a model system. Purified rat hsc70, and hybrid proteins, which contained either the full-length or the mutated forms of rat hsc70 fused with the maltose binding protein, were labeled with125I and used as transport substrates. In competition experiments, it was found that the nuclear import of neither purified hsc70 nor the full-length fusion protein was inhibited by an excess of SV40 large T or nucleoplasmin nuclear localiza- tion signals (NLSs) that were conjugated with BSA. Since hsc70 contains only a single basic domain (246KRKHKKDISENKRAVRR262), which has the characteristics of an NLS, we examined its role in nuclear import. It was determined, by conjugating this sequence with BSA, that it is capable of promoting nuclear import and, therefore, acts as a prototypical basic NLS. However, inactivation of this signal by deleting the first six amino acids (246KRKHKK251) had no effect on hsc70 import. Overall, the present results indicate that hsc70 utilizes a novel import signal and enters the nucleus by a different mechanism than that employed by simple and bipartite NLSs. The novel signal has not been identified, but we have obtained evidence that it is located in the amino terminus of hsc70.
A novel Drosophila SOD2 mutant demonstrates a role for mitochondrial ROS in neurodevelopment and disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play essential roles in cell signaling, survival, and homeostasis. Aberrant ROS lead to disease and contribute to the aging process. Numerous enzymes and vigilant antioxidant pathways are required to regulate ROS for normal cellular health. Mitochondria are a major source of ROS, and mechanisms to prevent elevated ROS during oxidative phosphorylation require super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity. SOD2, also known as MnSOD, is targeted to mitochondria and is instrumental in regulating ROS by conversion of superoxides to hydrogen peroxide, which is further broken down into H2O and oxygen. Here, we describe the identification of a novel mutation within the mitochondrial SOD2 enzyme in Drosophila that results in adults with an extremely shortened life span, sensitivity to hyperoxia, and neuropathology. Additional studies demonstrate that this novel mutant, SOD2bewildered, exhibits abnormal brain morphology, suggesting a critical role for this protein in neurodevelopment. We investigated the basis of this neurodevelopmental defect and discovered an increase in aberrant axonal that could underlie the aberrant neurodevelopment and brain morphology defects. This novel allele, SOD2bewildered, provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of increased mitochondrial ROS on neural development, axonal targeting, and neural cell degeneration in vivo.