cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2923: Estrogen signaling modulates cisplatin resistance in the treatment of human non-small cell lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality in male and female patients in the US. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 85% of lung cancers. Standard initial chemotherapy for patients with advanced NSCLC is a platinum-based regimen, with data showing that these therapies elicit a modest improvement in patient survival. However, a major limitation to cisplatin therapy is development of drug resistance, leading to cancer progression and reduced patient survival. Cisplatin acts by interacting with DNA to form adducts that, in turn, activate signaling pathways for cell death (apoptosis). DNA damage-mediated apoptotic signals, however, can be blocked, and the resistance that ensues is a major drawback of cisplatin therapy. Resistance mechanisms, such as increased DNA adduct repair, may be modulated by interactions with other signaling pathways for cell survival, and emerging data suggest that estrogens may play a role in this process. To understand how estrogens modulate cisplatin resistance in vitro, we used two models of human NSCLC, A549 and H23 cells, that proliferate in response to estradiol-17β (E2) and express estrogen receptors and aromatase (enzyme that produces estrogens locally). Cisplatin markedly reduces tumor cell growth and enhances apoptosis in both models. However, the antitumor action of cisplatin is significantly blocked when cells are treated with estrogen in vitro. Using qRT-PCR and Western immunoblot analysis of excision repair cross-complementing-1 (ERCC1) protein (repairs cisplatin-induced DNA damage), we find that ERCC1 mRNA and protein levels are significantly increased in the presence of estrogen, thereby suggesting a potential mechanism for estrogen-induced cisplatin resistance. Analyses of the 5’-regulatory region of the human ERCC1 gene revealed putative half-estrogen responsive elements in close proximity with sp1 and AP1 sites. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed binding of estrogen receptors to these promoter sites. Furthermore, treatment of human NSCLC xenografts in vivo with an aromatase inhibitor (exemestane) alone or combined with standard cisplatin chemotherapy elicits a significant reduction in tumor progression as compared to paired controls. A new strategy to block NSCLC progression may be use of cisplatin with simultaneous suppression of estrogen signaling (such as use of aromatase inhibitors). [Supported by NIH Lung Cancer SPORE, National Lung Cancer Partnership and Stiles Program funds]. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2923.
Relationship between extent of residual myocardial viability and coronary flow reserve in patients with recent myocardial infarction.

Abstract Background The presence of viability in an infarct zone implies an intact microvasculature. We hypothesized that coronary flow reserve (CFR), which assesses the microcirculation, would correlate with the extent of viability in infarction zones. Methods CFR was measured after stenting in 17 patients with single vessel disease >48 hours from infarction. Viability was determined with use of single-photon emission computed tomography sestamibi imaging. Results Sestamibi uptake in the infarct zone correlated with CFR in the infarct artery ( r = 0.62, P =.008) and sestamibi uptake in the infarct zone was greater in patients with normal CFR than in patients with abnormal CFR (61.9 ± 9.1% vs 46.3 ± 9.6%, P =.004). In addition, CFR was greater in patients with viability compared with patients without viability (2.4 ± 1.3 vs 1.4 ± 0.4, P =.015). Conclusions CFR correlates with the extent of viability after infarction. Preserved CFR in an infarct-related artery implies preserved viability. (Am Heart J 2001;141:456-62.)
What is the Real Basis of the State Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Laws

Drug addiction is a complex, multi-faceted problem in the United States today. Equally complex are the state statutes which govern the abuse of these drugs, and which, it is generally held, were based upon the concept of the “criminal-addict.” Theoretically, strict drug legislation was considered a deterrent and punishment for the offender. Through an analysis of the state statutes, the article questions this “criminal addict” stereotype and concludes that the concept did not appear to play a significant role in the enactment of stringent drug laws. A further analysis suggests that the year of state adoption of the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act is a minor factor in determining the severity of the laws, but that the actual basis of the narcotic and dangerous drug legislation remains elusive.
FChain: Toward Black-Box Online Fault Localization for Cloud Systems

Distributed applications running inside cloud systems are prone to performance anomalies due to various reasons such as resource contentions, software bugs, and hardware failures. One big challenge for diagnosing an abnormal distributed application is to pinpoint the faulty components. In this paper, we present a black-box online fault localization system called FChain that can pinpoint faulty components immediately after a performance anomaly is detected. FChain first discovers the onset time of abnormal behaviors at different components by distinguishing the abnormal change point from many change points caused by normal workload fluctuations. Faulty components are then pinpointed based on the abnormal change propagation patterns and inter-component dependency relationships. FChain performs runtime validation to further filter out false alarms. We have implemented FChain on top of the Xen platform and tested it using several benchmark applications (RUBiS, Hadoop, and IBM System S). Our experimental results show that FChain can quickly pinpoint the faulty components with high accuracy within a few seconds. FChain can achieve up to 90% higher precision and 20% higher recall than existing schemes. FChain is non-intrusive and light-weight, which imposes less than 1% overhead to the cloud system.
Multi-frequency mode-locked lasers

A new theoretical model is constructed which describes the operation of multi-frequency, pulsed mode-locked laser cavities. The model, which is a combination of multi channel interactions in the canonical master mode-locking model subject to three different gain models which account for both self- and cross-saturation effects, results in mode-locking dynamics which qualitatively describe the observed experimental dual-frequency laser operation. Specifically, the combination of self- and cross-saturation in the gain allows for mode-locking at two frequencies simultaneously, which can be of significantly different energies and pulsewidths. The model gives a framework for understanding the operation and stability of the increasingly important and timely technology of dual- and multi-frequency mode-locked laser cavities. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Surgical Management of the Severely Subluxated Neuromuscular Hip

The neuromuscular disorder–affected child with severe hip subluxation presents a difficult challenge for the pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Surgical correction is often necessary and can range from soft tissue releases to bony procedures including proximal femoral osteotomy, proximal femoral resection, arthrodesis, arthroplasty, and pelvic osteotomy. In this article, the indications and surgical techniques for these procedures are discussed. In addition, some general considerations for the care for the child with neuromuscular disorder are considered.
Autoantibodies directed against sicca syndrome antigens in the neonatal lupus syndrome.

Clinical and serologic studies on three infants who had the neonatal lupus syndrome and studies on their mothers revealed an association with antibodies to sicca syndrome antigens. From initial studies and a 2-year follow-up, there is evidence that indicates transplacental passage of autoantibodies directed against Sjogren's (sicca) syndrome-associated nuclear antigens from asymptomatic mothers to newborns who subsequently developed neonatal lupus. Besides the presence of antinuclear antibodies, the mothers of these infants also showed high rheumatoid factor titers, and two had evidence of mild decreasing tearing on ophthalmologic examination. On follow-up examination 2 to 3 years later, both infants and mothers lacked evidence of active disease, and only the mothers continued to demonstrate the serologic abnormalities seen initially. Based on our findings, we postulate newborns of mothers with serologic or clinical evidence of Sjogren's (sicca) syndrome may be at greater risk for developing neonatal lupus.
Mechanisms of Molecular Beam Epitaxial Growth on Reconstructed Si{100}: Thermal and Energized Beams

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed that examine the microscopic mechanisms of rearrangements of atoms on the Si{ 1001 surface due to deposition of gas phase atoms. For thermal energy deposition we find that the gas atoms initially attach to dangling bonds of the surface dimer atoms. The dimer ’unreconstruction’ is due to a diffusion event on the surface, thus is temperature activated. We also find that dimers may open in regions of the surface where there are several atoms not at lattice sites, thus a low temperature amorphous structure. For 5-10 eV deposition there are direct mechanisms of dimer opening that occur on the 50-100 fs timescale. For energies greater than 15-20 eV there is implantation of the silicon atoms which leads to subsurface damage.
The Effect of Advertising on Collusion in the U.S. Brewing Industry: A Trigger Strategy Approach

In response to a dramatic reduction in the number of firms and enormous advertising expenditures in the U.S. brewing industry, we explore the effect of advertising cooperativeness on the likelihood of collusion. With advertising and price as strategic variables, we analyze an infinitely repeated symmetric game and model the degree of collusion using the trigger strategy. We find that constructive advertising can decrease the critical discount factor above which collusion is sustainable by trigger strategies and thus can support collusion, while combative advertising is likely to break the collusion. The results may help fill the gap between empirical evidence and theoretical predictions regarding advertising and collusion. We perform an empirical illustration using firm level data from 1950 to 2001 of Anheuser-Busch and Miller, the two largest domestic beer producers. The evidence confirms our conjecture that the U.S. brewing industry exhibits collusion and that the firm advertising, especially that of Miller, is of the constructive type.
The (p, π±) reactions on 12,13C at 200 MeV

Abstract Angular distributions from the (p, π ± ) reactions have been measured at 200 MeV on 12 C and 13 C leading to discrete final states in the residual nuclei. A comparison of the cross sections is made between transitions to isobaric analog and non analog final states. Differences between the (p, π + ) and (p, π − ) reactions are found in the shape and magnitude of the differential cross section as well as in the energy variation.
Modulation of the effects of tumor therapeutic agents by vitamin C

Abstract In vitro and in vivo results suggest that sodium ascorbate (vitamin C) could be useful in the management of neoplasms provided it is used on a biological rationale. Vitamin C can exert multiple mechanisms of action depending upon the cell type and experimental conditions. Vitamin C may kill certain tumor cells, may increase the cell killing effect of certain tumor therapeutic agents and may stimulate the host's immune system against the residual tumor cells. In vitro data also suggest that the irrational use of vitamin C in the management of neoplasms could be ineffective and even harmful. Further study on the effects of vitamin C in combination with tumor therapeutic agents must be done, using animal tumor models before assaying its role in the management of human neoplasms.
Frequency and distribution of the brown rust resistance gene Bru1 and implications for the Louisiana sugarcane breeding programme

Brown rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia melanocephala, poses an increasing threat to sugarcane industries worldwide. Recently, markers R12H16 and 9020-F4 were developed for a major resistance gene Bru1 that contributes to a significant proportion of brown rust resistance in multiple sugarcane industries. Marker-assisted screening of Louisiana sugarcane germplasm showed a low frequency (4.3%, five out of 117 clones) of Bru1 among sugarcane cultivars and elite breeding clones. Likewise, among progeny of crosses involving wild/exotic germplasm, only 14 of 208 clones (6.7%) tested Bru1 positive. However, Bru1 frequency was higher (28.7%, 52 of 181 clones) in wild/exotic germplasm, which indicated that diverse genetic resources are available for Bru1 introgression. Commercial Bru1-positive cultivar, ‘L 01-299', was resistant to brown rust. However, Bru1-positive cultivar, ‘L 10-146’, was susceptible while Bru1-negative cultivars, such as ‘L 99-233’, showed resistance to brown rust. Bru1-negative clones with brown rust resistance offer an opportunity to identify alternate sources of resistance, which can be pyramided with Bru1 for effective and durable resistance in sugarcane against the changing pathogen.
Structural and functional studies with antibodies to the integrin β2 subunit

Abstract To establish a structure and function map of the β2 integrin subunit, we mapped the epitopes of a panel of β2 monoclonal antibodies including function-blocking, nonblocking, and activating antibodies using human/mouse β2 subunit chimeras. Activating antibodies recognize the C-terminal half of the cysteine-rich region, residues 522–612. Antibodies that do not affect ligand binding map to residues 1–98 and residues 344–521. Monoclonal antibodies to epitopes within a predicted I-like domain (residues 104–341) strongly inhibit LFA-1-dependent adhesion. These function-blocking monoclonal antibodies were mapped to specific residues with human → mouse knock-out or mouse → human knock-in mutations. Combinatorial epitopes involving residues distant in the sequence provide support for a specific alignment between the β-subunit and I domains that was used to construct a three-dimensional model. Antigenic residues 133, 332, and 339 are on the first and last predicted α-helices of the I-like domain, which are adjacent on its “front.” Other antigenic residues in β2 and in other integrin β subunits are present on the front. No antigenic residues are present on the “back” of the domain, which is predicted to be in an interface with other domains, such as the α subunit β-propeller domain. Most mutations in the β2 subunit in leukocyte adhesion deficiency are predicted to be buried in the β2 subunit I-like domain. Two long insertions are present relative to α-subunit I-domains. One is tied down to the back of the I-like domain by a disulfide bond. The other corresponds to the “specificity-determining loop” defined in β1 and β3 integrins and contains the antigenic residue Glu175 in a disulfide-bonded loop located near the “top” of the domain.
Educational experience and cognitive development 1 , 2

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between general educational experiences and cognitive development during the school years, kindergarten through high school, and also the effects of focused instruction on learning across short time intervals. Children appear to acquire concepts and other outcomes of learning in the cognitive domain gradually, rather than abruptly, although qualitatively different cognitive operations are presumed to emerge which make possible successively higher levels of concept attainment. The quality of “general education” of the kind experienced by American children under compulsory, universal education appears to influence both the rate of cognitive development and also the maximum level of development that is achieved. Focused instruction clearly aids students to attain concepts to successively higher levels during short time intervals and also to use their concepts in understanding principles and in solving problems. From these conclusions and the results of other stud...
A Dipolar Cycloaddition Approach Toward the Kopsifoline Alkaloid Framework.

Using a metal-catalyzed domino reaction as the key step, the heterocyclic skeleton of the kopsifoline alkaloid family was constructed by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide dipole derived from a Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of a diazo ketoester across the indole π-bond. Ring opening of the resulting 1,3-dipolar cycloadduct followed by a reductive dehydroxylation step resulted in the formation of a critical silyl enol ether necessary for the final F-ring closure of the kopsifoline skeleton.
Electrocardiographic studies after surgical operations on the heart

Abstract 1. 1. Electrocardiographic studies after twenty-four operations for chronic cardiac compression and twenty-one operations for coronary artery sclerosis are reported. 2. 2. In cardiac compression cases there is frequently a gradual increase in the amplitude of the deflections. The T-wave changes were inconstant and not uniform in serial records. 3. 3. Patients with coronary artery sclerosis show a constant pattern of RS-T elevation which gradually disappears and is followed by a sharp depression of T. 4. 4. The greater electrocardiographic changes in the coronary artery sclerosis cases are probably the result of more severe damage of the superficial myocardium.
Hepatitis A/B vaccine completion among homeless adults with history of incarceration

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination rates for incarcerated adults remain low despite their high risk for infection. This study determined predictors of vaccine completion in homeless adults (N= 297) who reported histories of incarceration and who participated in one of three nurse-led hepatitis programs of different intensity. Moreover time since release from incarceration was also considered. Just over half of the former prisoners completed the vaccine series. Older age (≥40), having a partner, and chronic homelessness were associated with vaccine completion. Recent research has documented the difficulty in providing vaccine services to younger homeless persons and homeless males at risk for HBV. Additional strategies are needed to achieve HBV vaccination completion rates greater than 50% for formerly incarcerated homeless men.
Effect of carbon dioxide on the selectivities obtained during the partial oxidation of methane and ethane over Li+/MgO catalysts

AtT ⩽ 650 °C carbon dioxide either formed during reaction or added to the system increases the selectivity for the desired hydrocarbon products during the oxidative coupling of methane and the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane reaction over Li+/MgO catalysts. Similarly, CO2 inhibits secondary reactions of CH3-radicals with the surface of the Li+/MgO. The improved selectivities are attributed to the poisoning effect that CO2 has on the secondary reactions of alkyl radicals with the surface.
Processing Components of College-Level Reading Comprehension.

The roles of basic reading processes and prior knowledge to comprehension of expository text were addressed in a study of college readers. According to their performance in the Nelson‐Denny Reading Comprehension Text, 34 college students were divided into groups of above‐average and average readers and had to complete tasks of word and pseudoword vocalization, sentence verification, probe discourse memory, text‐based word recognition and word prediction. Subjects also took a prior knowledge test, read an expository text, and answered comprehension questions that covered explicit and implicit text information. The data indicated that word identification and propositional encoding measures were closely related to individual differences in college‐level reading comprehension ability. Examining the relative contributions of basic reading and prior knowledge to comprehension, it was shown that knowledge played the major role in answering explicit questions, whereas probe discourse memory was relatively more im...
A Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Delinquency

The historically dominant and generally accepted view is that males are much more likely than females to commit delinquent acts, and that when females deviate their misconduct is significantly less...
Changes in prolapse surgery trends relative to FDA notifications regarding vaginal mesh.

Introduction and hypothesis In 2008 and 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released notifications regarding vaginal mesh. In describing prolapse surgery trends over time, we predicted vaginal mesh use would decrease and native tissue repairs would increase.
Active site labeling of the Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase: the determination of the pKa of the active site cysteine and the function of the conserved histidine 402.

In this report, we demonstrated that the Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) could be inactivated by the alkylating agent iodoacetate. The enzyme modification was selective, and the covalent attachment was stoichiometric. The residue that was labeled by iodoacetate was shown to be Cys403, which was the same catalytically essential residue identified by site-directed mutagenesis [Guan, K. L., & Dixon, J.E. (1990) Science 249, 553-556]. The rate of iodoacetate modification decreased as the ionic strength of the media increased. There was no significant D2O solvent isotope effect associated with the inactivation of the enzyme, suggesting that thiol anion of Cys403 reacted as a nucleophile. The Yersinia PTPase also displayed differential reactivity (940-fold) toward iodoacetate over iodoacetamide. This indicates that residues within the active site of the enzyme are positively charged. The pKa of the active site thiol group was determined to be 4.67. The low pKa value suggests that ionic interactions are important in stabilizing the thiolate anion. One candidate residue for this stabilization is the invariant histidine (His402) found in all PTPases. Substitutions of His402 with Asn or Ala altered the active site thiol pKa to 5.99 and 7.35, respectively. Interestingly, the active site thiol in the mutants also showed enhanced reactivity toward iodoacetate. The second-order rate constants for the inactivation of the wild-type enzyme, H402N, and H402A were 59.7, 3305, and 1763 M-1 min-1, respectively.
Two-Dimensional Vibration Spectroscopy of Rice Quality and Cooking

ABSTRACT Rice samples were taken from a study of rice milling properties that affect quality. The spectra of milled and cooked samples were taken in the near-infrared, mid-infrared, and Raman region. These spectra, two regions at a time, were regressed by a two-dimensional technique to develop contour maps that indicated the correlation of two spectral regions. These relationships demonstrate that it is possible to recognize the hydration effects caused by gelatinization (cooked samples vs. milled rice). Three water (O-H stretch) spectral bands (960, 1445, 1,930 nm) in the near-infrared (NIR) show marked differences between milled and cooked rice. The difference spectra indicated that there were additional phenomena occurring besides the addition of water. These differences are apparent in both C-O-H and N-H bands, which indicate that water is interacting with both starch and protein. The two-dimensional technique developed in this laboratory was used to get a better interpretation of what occurs during c...
Solid solution — aqueous solution equilibria as a function of pH

The equations relating element distribution and pH are derived for systems containing an ideal solid solution in equilibrium with an ideal aqueous solution, assuming no polymeric complexes form in the aqueous solution and the solid solution does not contain molecular units with multiple atoms of the substituting elements. These expressions demonstrate that the ratio of the partition coefficients describing element distribution for a system containing a multi-component solid solution is inversely proportional to the solubilities of the end member components at any given pH raised to the power equal to the ratio of the sum of the stoichiometric coefficients of the end-member salt to the stoichiometric coefficient of the substituting radical. The coefficient describing distribution between the aqueous phase and a two-component solid solution is equal to the inverse of the ratio of the end member solubilities raised to the above power. Element distribution between the two phases will be homogenous at any pH resulting in identical solubilities for the two end-member components, and a reversal in relative solubilities will result in a corresponding reversal in the element preferentially incorporated into the solid solution. Because of the dependence of element distribution on pH, a crystal could develop both zoning and reverse zoning as a result of changes in pH. The distribution coefficient could provide information regarding the pH of the aqueous solution at the time of mineral formation if independent evidence establishes the ratio of end-member components in the aqueous phase. The equations describing element distribution may be expressed in terms of the solubility products of the end-member components and the ionization constants of the substituting radicals. Based on the relative values of the ionization constants, pH intervals can be established in which only the concentration of a single complex for each substituting radical need be considered. Within such an interval, the curve of the log of the distribution coefficient vs. pH is linear with a slope equal to the difference in the charges of the two complexes. This approach to the examination of element distribution is developed in some detail for the geologically important case of a two component solid solution having composition (A2+, B2+) X2−.
GPS error modeling and OTF ambiguity resolution for high-accuracy GPS/INS integrated system

The Center for Mapping at The Ohio State University is currently developing a fully digital Airborne Integrated Mapping System (AIMS) for large-scale mapping and other precise positioning applications. AIMS, installed in an aerial platform, incorporates state-of-the-art positioning [differential Global Positioning System (GPS) integrated with an Inertial Navigation System (INS)] and imaging (Charge-Coupled Device) technologies. The project goal is to develop a low-cost hardware prototype that acquires position and orientation of an aerial platform with accuracy of 4–7 cm and below 10 arcsec, respectively, over long baselines, and performs essential processing of digital imagery in real-time and in post-processing mode. A tightly integrated GPS and high-accuracy INS provide orientation and position of the aerial platform. To the best of the authors' knowledge, AIMS is the first tightly integrated GPS/INS system whose existing prototype promises sub-decimeter accuracy in positioning, and below 10 arcsec in orientation, in the airborne scenario. However, the expected high performance still remains to be verified against the ground truth. The new GPS/INS tightly integrated system for high-precision airborne applications is described, with special emphasis on the GPS component of the system. The evaluation of the actual prototype and the airborne test results are discussed. A detailed description of the tight GPS/INS integration and Kalman filter implementation is presented elsewhere.
MATERNAL LIFESTYLES STUDY (MLS):THE EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY ON ACUTE INFANT OUTCOMES. † 1528

Reports of drug effects on infants and mothers exposed during pregnancy are limited by single site, small number studies. A large, multi-site cohort of infants exposed (EXP) to cocaine/opiates (C/O) was prospectively compared to a non-cocaine/opiate exposed (NON) group at birth and at discharge from their initial hospitalization. Exposure was defined as admitted use or confirmed C/O metabolites in meconium using a central GC/MS assay. Of 19,079 mothers screened from May, 1993 to May, 1995 at 4 clinical centers (Brown U, U of Miami, U of Tenn, Memphis and Wayne State U.), 11,810 eligible mothers consented to participate, and 1185 (10%) infants were identified as EXP. The EXP cohort was, on average; 1 week younger by Ballard gestational age; 449 grams birthweight lighter; 2.3 cm shorter; and 1.3 cm smaller head circumference (all p.values < 0.01). Nine systems which included 62 components were assessed during the newborn physical exam. Previously reported abnormalities in the GI, GU, and cardiac systems were not confirmed. However, CNS, 2.1[1.8-2.4]; autonomic 1.7[1.4-2.0], and respiratory 1.4[1.1-1.7] findings were greater in the EXP group, (Odds Ratios [± 95% confidence limits]). EXP infants had more syphilis 10.1[7.7-13.1]; were more often admitted to an ICU 1.4 [1.3-1.7], or Intermediate Care nursery 1.7[1.5-2.0]. EXP infants had more in-hospital referrals to Child Protective Services 45.4[39.6-52.0] and were more frequently identified as being boarder babies 30.8[25.6-37.1]. These data suggest that prenatal substance exposure has more impact on social rather than medical outcomes and that adverse medical outcomes are less common than have been previously reported.
Contentious Land Change in the Amazon's Arc of Deforestation

Land change in the Amazon is driven by numerous factors including fiscal incentives, infrastructure, transportation costs, migration, and household decision making. Largely missing from the story to date, however, is the role of contentious social processes, including contention over land resources. By employing a case study of land conflict over a largeholding in southeastern Para, Brazil, and a regional-scale statistical model, we describe contentious land change (C-LC) in an area with a long history of antagonism between largeholders and the rural poor. We fuse the conceptual frameworks of political ecology with the methodological approaches of land change science to show that deforestation in the area of study is enhanced due to the interaction of diverse and adversarial agents rather than the independent actions of isolated land managers deforesting according to the dictates of microeconomic optimization. C-LC is a process of global reach and must therefore be added to the topical range of land chang...
Micromechanics-based hyperelastic constitutive modeling of magnetostrictive particle-filled elastomers

Abstract An effective hyperelastic constitutive model is developed for particle-filled elastomer composites based on the microstructural deformation and physical mechanism of the magnetostrictive particles embedded in the hyperelastic elastomer matrix. Two types of loading conditions are considered––magnetic field and mechanical load. Magnetic eigenstrains are prescribed on the particles due to effect of magnetostriction. The effective constitutive relation of the composites during infinitesimal deformation can be established based on Eshelby's micromechanics approach. Since the elastomers normally exhibit finite hyperelastic deformation, the corresponding hyperelastic constitutive law of the composites is constructed in terms of the strain energy densities of the constituents.
The Growing Impact of Lung Transplant (LTX) on Survival for Patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

s S227 Results: We estimate there could be 50,000 lung donors from uDCDDs. Through experience attempting to recover lungs from uDCDDs over the last decade in the U.S., we learned that recovery of organs for transplant after sudden death is a novel disruptive innovative technology that involves these 6 key stakeholders: 1. EMS 2. Organ Procurement Organizations 3. Medical Examiners 4. Emergency Department physicians and staff 5. Law enforcement agencies 6. District Attorneys The key to engagement is effective communication and education directed at these diverse groups, to enable them to work together seamlessly. This will minimize ischemic time. Because of varied perspective and medical knowledge among these stakeholders, different knowledge gaps must be determined and addressed within each group; however ALL play a role in this process. Conclusion: Developing tools to accurately assess and address knowledge gaps about the potential for uDCDDs to solve the organ donor shortage among these stakeholders is necessary for successful recovery of lungs from uDCDDs. In turn, this has the potential to increase the number of lungs for transplant by 25-fold!
The Polymerase Chain Reaction and Branching Processes

ABSTRACT We construct a mathematical model for the polymerase chain reaction and its mutations using the theory of branching processes. Under this model we study the number of mutations in a random...
Towards the deregulation of satellites: An economic analysis of the FCC decision to allow the sale of satellite transponders

In 1982 the FCC authorized the sale of satellite transponders. This paper examines the economic effects of that decision through 1984, makes a short‐term projection to 1987, and concludes that the FCC has achieved its goals of stimulating the industry and increasing transponder supply. It is argued that there will be no adverse effects on important policy goals such as access, diversity of programming, and the public interest in a viable video infrastructure.
Genetic testing for colorectal carcinoma susceptibility: Focus group responses of individuals with colorectal carcinoma and first-degree relatives

BACKGROUND Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) may be the most frequent form of hereditary cancer. Genetic counseling and testing for heritable CRC is a promising approach for reducing the high incidence and mortality rates associated with the disease. Patients with CRC or those with at least one family member with the disease are the most likely persons to request or be offered genetic testing in the clinical or research setting. Currently, however, little is known about the behavioral, psychosocial, ethical, legal, and economic outcomes of CRC genetic counseling and testing. METHODS Eight focus group interviews, four for CRC patients (n = 28) and four for first-degree relatives (n = 33), were conducted to obtain insights into attitudes, beliefs, and informational needs about genetic testing for hereditary CRC. RESULTS Focus group interviews revealed a general lack of knowledge about cancer genetics and genetic testing; worry about confidentiality issues; strong concern for family members, particularly children; and a need for primary care providers to be informed about these issues. Major perceived advantages of genetic testing included improving health-related decisions, guiding physicians in making recommendations for surveillance, and informing relatives about risk potential. Disadvantages included potential discrimination, adverse psychologic effects, and financial costs associated with testing. CONCLUSIONS As knowledge and media coverage of genetics continue to expand, it becomes increasingly important to continue efforts on behalf of, and in partnership with, those individuals most affected by genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes. These findings provide data needed to develop and implement informational, educational, counseling, and research-oriented programs that are sensitive to individuals' concerns and preferences. Cancer 2001;91:57–65. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Compensation of the gas-cap attenuation with viscoacoustic wave-equation migration: a case study from west Africa

Summary The amplitude and frequency loss caused by attenuation through the gas cap of a reservoir (Res A) in offshore west Africa has been recovered using viscoacoustic waveequation migration (Q-migration) that enhances the seismic resolution beneath the gas cap. Amplitude and frequency attributes below the gas cap match those outside of the gas gap in the Q-migrated volumes. The Q-migration results are being used for well planning and to create a geologic model for reservoir characterization and simulation.
Effects of High Temperature on Semen Production and Fertility in the Domestic Fowl

Abstract THERE is considerable evidence that environmental temperature influences fertility and hatchability of eggs in the domestic fowl. Upp and Thompson (1927), Funk (1935) and Heywang (1944) reported that fertility and hatchability decreased during the hot summer months. Ota, McNally and Wilson (1955) found that fertility was reduced in a variable environment and that fertility and hatchability were improved by keeping the hens at a constant temperature of 65°F. Wilson (1949) showed that fertility in the female was not seriously affected by high temperatures. It has been demonstrated by others, however, that the fertilizing capacity of the cock declines during hot weather (Parker and McSpadden, 1943; Huston and Wheeler, 1949). Huston and Carmon (1958) found no statistically significant differences in fertility between cocks held at high (90°F.) temperatures and those held at normal variable temperatures. Since pooled semen samples were used, it is possible that two or three superior males in…
Tuning Fano resonances with graphene

We demonstrate strong electrical control of plasmonic Fano resonances in dolmen structures using tunable interband transitions in graphene. Such graphene-plasmonic hybrid devices can have applications in light modulation and sensing.
Effects of memory from vagal feedback on short-term potentiation of ventilation in conscious dogs.

1. We assessed short-term potentiation of ventilation in response to brief systemic normocapnic hypoxaemia in conscious dogs. Four recumbent dogs were exposed to Pa, O2 35-55 mmHg with Pa, CO2 maintained normocapnic for forty to fifty seconds and then abruptly returned to normoxia. Minute ventilation (VI) increased 4- to 5-fold during hypoxia due to both increased tidal volume (VT) and frequency (f). Several trials of hypoxic exposure with normoxic restoration were conducted with animals intact and following bilateral cold blockade of the cervical vagus nerves sufficient to block completely the Hering-Breuer reflex. 2. In the vagally intact dog, when normoxia was restored immediately following normocapnic hypoxia (PET, O2 = 40 Torr), expiratory time (TE) was prolonged to 190 +/- 68% of control (mean +/- S.E.M., range 53-350%) on the second or third breath and then returned slowly to control values on subsequent breaths. The prolongation of TE following removal of the hypoxic stimulus was positively correlated with the magnitude of the peak VT reached during hypoxic exposure. However, VT and VI remained significantly greater than control over a twenty second or four-breath period following hypoxia. 3. In the vagally blocked dog, no prolongation of TE was observed following isocapnic hypoxia; nor was TE following hypoxia correlated with the magnitude of the VT during hypoxia. The time constants of decay of VI, VT and f back to control, following hypoxia averaged 16, 19 and 9 s, respectively. 4. We conclude that short-term potentiation of ventilatory output following peripheral chemoreceptor hypoxic stimulation does exist in the awake dog, but the stimulatory after-effect is masked and TE is prolonged by a 'memory' of inhibitory vagal feedback. The magnitude of this inhibitory after-effect on TE prolongation increases in proportion to the increase in tidal volume achieved during the hypoxaemia. 5. This inhibitory effect of vagal memory may contribute to instability of breathing pattern and apnoea following transient disturbances in ventilatory output.
Potential synergism between wheat bran and psyllium: enhanced inhibition of colon cancer.

In this study we compared the influence of high fat (20% w/w) diets that combine low levels of calcium (0.18% w/w) and low (1% w/w), medium (4% w/w) and high (8% w/w) levels of dietary fiber from wheat bran (WB), with high (8% w/w) levels of dietary fiber from psyllium (PS) alone or in various combinations with WB, on the induction of colon tumors in Fischer-344 rats following exposure to azoxymethane (AOM). The rats were fed the experimental diets for 2 weeks, and then were given two s.c. injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body wt./week). Twenty-three weeks following the first injection of AOM, the incidence of colon tumors in the different dietary groups (12 rats/group) was compared. The results clearly showed that by increasing the dietary fiber concentration of WB from 1 to 8% significantly reduced the number of colon tumors/group. When the influence of 8% dietary fiber from WB on the development of colon tumors was compared with that of PS (WB:PS = 0:100), no significant difference was observed. However, combinations of WB and PS showed a greater protective effect than either WB or PS alone, at comparable levels of dietary fiber. The 50:50 combination of WB and PS showed maximum protection, while 25:75 and 75:25 combinations both produced intermediate effects. None of the diets showed any significant effect on the normal growth of rats. The results indicate that WB and PS fiber alone, and to a greater degree in combination, can offer protection against colon cancer promoted by high fat, low calcium diets. Diets that include wheat bran in combination with psyllium could be an effective means of reducing colon cancer risk in human populations addicted to high risk western diets.
Eczema in early life: genetics, the skin barrier, and lessons learned from birth cohort studies.

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin that affects up to 30% of children. It often afflicts infants in the first few months of life and can be the first indicator of the atopic march. Recent results from birth cohort studies have uncovered novel information regarding genetic and environmental factors that promote the development of eczema. Birth cohort studies provide an optimal study design to elucidate these associations and prospectively track longitudinal data including exposure assessment and health outcomes from birth into early life and childhood. This is especially relevant for eczema given the age specific emergence of this disease. In this review, we will provide a general overview of pediatric eczema and discuss the important findings in the literature with respect to genetics and environmental exposures, highlighting those derived from birth cohort studies. Additionally, we will review how these relate to the atopic march, the hygiene hypothesis and the integrity of the skin barrier.
Calibration Standards for Biodiesel Fuels

There are over 60 ASTM and other regulatory standards regarding the manufacture and sales of biodiesel fuels. These international standards require a number of calibration standards for evaluation of a biodiesel fuel. Some of the biodiesel testing are the same as required for petroleum based diesel fuel; however a number of these tests are unique to the biodiesel industry. This paper lists all the known standard procedures that biodiesel fuels must be evaluated against. It lists all the procedures where no calibration standards are required, those procedures that require calibration standards that are more or less common to the diesel industry, and those procedures that require calibration standards that are unique to the biodiesel industry (e.g., ASTM D6584, “Free and Total Glycerine”).
Traumatic uvulitis: a rare complication of upper GI endoscopy.

VOLUME 53, NO. 7, 2001 From the Division of Gastroenterology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. Reprint requests: Firas H. Al-Kawas, MD, Georgetown University Medical Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Main Hospital, Suite M2122, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW, Washington DC 200072197. Copyright © 2001 by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 0016-5107/2001/$35.00 + 0 37/54/114953 doi:10.1067/mge.2001.114953 Traumatic uvulitis: a rare complication of upper GI endoscopy
The embedded ion method: A new approach to the electrostatic description of crystal lattice effects in chemical shielding calculations

The nuclear magnetic shielding anisotropy of NMR active nuclei is highly sensitive to the nuclear electronic environment. Hence, measurements of the nuclear magnetic shielding anisotropy represent a powerful tool in the elucidation of molecular structure for a wide variety of materials. Quantum mechanical ab initio nuclear magnetic shielding calculations effectively complement the experimental NMR data by revealing additional structural information. The accuracy and capacity of these calculations has been improved considerably in recent years. However, the inherent problem of the limitation in the size of the systems that may be studied due to the relatively demanding computational requirements largely remains. Accordingly, ab initio shielding calculations have been performed predominantly on isolated molecules, neglecting the molecular environment. This approach is sufficient for neutral nonpolar systems, but leads to serious errors in the shielding calculations on polar and ionic systems. Conducting ab initio shielding calculations on clusters of molecules (i.e., including the nearest neighbor interactions) has improved the accuracy of the calculations in many cases. Other methods of simulating crystal lattice effects in shielding calculations that have been developed include the electrostatic representation of the crystal lattice using point charge arrays, full ab initio methods, ab initio methods under periodic boundary conditions, and hybrid ab initio/molecular dynamics methods. The embedded ion method (EIM) discussed here follows the electrostatic approach. The method mimics the intermolecular and interionic interactions experienced by a subject molecule or cluster in a given crystal in quantum mechanical shielding calculations with a large finite, periodic, and self-consistent array of point charges. The point charge arrays in the EIM are generated using the Ewald summation method and embed the molecule or ion of interest for which the ab initio shielding calculations are performed. The accuracy with which the EIM reproduces experimental nuclear magnetic shift tensor principal values, the sensitivity of the EIM to the parameters defining the point charge arrays, as well as the strengths and limitations of the EIM in comparison with other methods that include crystal lattice effects in chemical shielding calculations, are presented. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 28A: 347–368, 2006
Therapeutic interventions to prevent intracerebral hemorrhage in preterm infants.

Une hemorragie intracerebrale survient chez 40 a 50% des prematures pesant moins de 1500 g. La majorite s'installe dans les 24 1eres heures de la vie et toutes dans les 72 1eres heures. Aucune des modalites de prevention par l'administration de divers medicaments ne s'est averee jusque maintenant efficace mais les recherches doivent etre poursuivies
Measurement of Raman spectra of single airborne absorbing particles trapped by a single laser beam

We demonstrate a method for optical trapping and Raman spectroscopy of micron-sized, airborne absorbing particles using a single focused laser beam. A single Gaussian beam at 532 nm is used to trap and precisely manipulate absorbing airborne particles. The fluctuation of the position of the trapped particles is substantially reduced by controlling the power of the laser beam with a position-sensitive detector and a locking circuit. Raman spectra of the position-stabilized particles or clusters are then measured with an objective and CCD spectrograph.