cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Activity and Mechanism of Action of Methylenecyclopropane Analogs of Nucleosides against Herpesvirus Replication

We have reported previously that methylenecyclopropane analogs of nucleosides have excellent activity against certain members of the herpesvirus family. A second generation, the 2,2-bis-hydroxymethyl derivatives, were synthesized, and 18 compounds were tested for activity in vitro against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), human and murine cytomegalovirus (HCMV and MCMV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Selected analogs were also evaluated against human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-8. None of the 18 compounds had activity against HSV-1 or HSV-2, but four were active against VZV by plaque reduction (PR) assay at 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) levels of < or =50 microM. Six of the 18 compounds were active against HCMV by cytopathic effect or PR assays with EC(50)s of 0.5 to 44 microM, and all were active against MCMV by PR (0.3 to 54 microM). Four of the compounds were active against EBV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (<0.3 to 4.4 microM). Four compounds with CMV activity were also active against HHV-6A and HHV-6B (0.7 to 28 microM), and three compounds were active against HHV-8 (5.5 to 16 microM). One of these, ZSM-I-62, had particularly good activity against CMV, HHV-6, and HHV-8, with EC(50)s of 0.7 to 8 microM. Toxicity was evaluated in adherent and nonadherent cells, and minimal cytotoxicity was observed. Mechanism of action studies with HCMV suggested that these compounds are phosphorylated by the ppUL97 phosphotransferase and are potent inhibitors of viral DNA synthesis. These results indicate that at least one of these compounds may have potential for use in treating CMV and other herpesvirus infections in humans.
Location of plucked (pk) on chromosome 18 of the mouse

Plucked (pk), a recessive hair-type mutation in the mouse, has been assigned to chromosome 18 at a location between Tw and syfp. The Robertsonian translocation Rb(7.18)9Lub was found to suppress crossing over in the proximal half of this chromosome.
Evaluating High Performance Computing Systems at the Naval Research Laboratory

A leading edge center within the high performance computing modernization program (HPCMP), the Center for Computational Science (CCS) of the Naval Research Laboratory evaluates new high performance computing (HPC) assets. The center is currently evaluating two systems - an Altix 3700 running the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 10 operating systems and a Cray XD1. With respect to the Altix system, Naval Research Laboratory is looking at applications requiring large memory and testing the new Intel 10.0 compilers. For theXD1, we are examining the applicability of dual core processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to HPC applications.
Sequential Comparison of Exponential Survival Curves

Abstract A general approach is outlined to the problem of sequentially comparing exponential “survival” curves in a clinical trials setting. It entails applying sequential tests of hypotheses concerning the drift of a Wiener process to a particular discrete-time process generated from the survival data. Anderson's [1] modified sequential probability ratio test [SPRT) is used for illustration. Monte Carlo studies indicate that the method is valid for samples of moderate size and that it may result in considerable savings of observations compared with the widely used sequential sign test. Though the results are presented in the language of clinical trials, applications to life-testing and reliability problems may be envisaged.
Path planning for planar articulated robots using configuration spaces and compliant motion

This paper presents a path-planning algorithm for an articulated planar robot with a static obstacle. The algorithm selects a robot part, finds a path to its goal configuration by systematic configuration space search, drags the entire robot along the path using compliant motion, and repeats the cycle until every robot part reaches its goal. The planner is tested on 11 000 random problems, which span dozens of robot/obstacle geometries with up to 43 moving parts and with narrow channels. It solves every problem in seconds, whereas randomized algorithms appear to fail on all of them.
The Composition of Multigenerational Households that Include Elders

Using a new procedure to recode data from the 1980 U.S. census, the relationships within multigenerational households are examined from the perspective of the elder. Differences in the household co...
Effect of Linezolid on the 50% Lethal Dose and 50% Protective Dose in Treatment of Infections by Gram-Negative Pathogens in Naive and Immunosuppressed Mice and on the Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin in an Acute Murine Model of Septicemia

Murine models of infection were used to study the effect of linezolid on the virulence of Gram-negative bacteria and to assess potential pharmacodynamic interactions with ciprofloxacin in the treatment of these infections, prompted by observations from a recent clinical trial. Naive and immunosuppressed mice were challenged with Klebsiella pneumoniae 53A1109, K. pneumoniae GC6658, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa UC12120 in acute sepsis and pulmonary infection models, using different serial dilutions of these pathogens (groups of 8 animals each). Linezolid (100 mg/kg/dose) was administered orally at 0.5 and 4.0 h postchallenge in the sepsis model and at 4 h postchallenge followed by 2 days of twice-daily treatment in the pulmonary model. Further, ciprofloxacin alone and in combination with oral linezolid was investigated in the sepsis model. Survival was assessed for 4 and 10 days postchallenge in the systemic and respiratory models, respectively. The data were fitted to a nonlinear regression analysis to determine 50% lethal doses (LD(50)s) and 50% protective doses (PD(50)s). A clinically relevant, high-dose regimen of linezolid had no significant effect on LD(50) in these models. This lack of effect was independent of immune status. A combination of oral ciprofloxacin with linezolid yielded lower PD(50)s than oral ciprofloxacin alone (ciprofloxacin in combination, 8.4 to 32.7 mg/kg; oral ciprofloxacin, 39.4 to 88.3 mg/kg). Linezolid did not improve the efficacy of subcutaneous ciprofloxacin (ciprofloxacin in combination, 2.0 to 2.4 mg/kg; subcutaneous ciprofloxacin, 2.0 to 2.8 mg/kg). In conclusion, linezolid does not seem to potentiate infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens or to interact antagonistically with ciprofloxacin.
Effect of Biotic Elicitors on Enrichment of Antioxidant Properties and Induced Isoflavones in Soybean

The antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from soybean obtained with germination, wounding, and application of biotic elicitors were evaluated. Also, the relationship between observed antioxidant properties and compositional changes in isoflavone content was determined. The 2 biotic elicitors used in this study were the food-grade fungus Aspergillus sojae and A. sojae cell wall extract. Isoflavone content was determined by C(18) reverse phase high-performance chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and beta-carotene cooxidation in a linoleate system. Higher antioxidant activities were observed in wounded and elicitor-treated extracts when compared with nonwounded control extracts. In addition, the phenolic content was higher in extracts from wounded and elicitor-treated soybean. Germination for 3 d slightly decreased total isoflavone content (-4.3%); however, wounding increased total isoflavone content (25.8%). The soybean extracts from seeds treated with A. sojae biotic elicitors had the highest total isoflavone contents (9.8 to 11.6 mg/g extract) and displayed the highest antioxidant activities in both the DPPH and beta-carotene assays. Also identified in the wounded and elicitor-treated extracts were the induced isoflavones glyceollins that contributed to the higher isoflavone contents observed.
Development of ultrasonic techniques with buffer rod in molten aluminum

The development of ultrasonic techniques for imaging and measurements in molten aluminum (Al) using clad buffer rods operated at 10 MHz is presented. The ultrasonic image of a character "N", engraved on a stainless steel plate immersed in molten Al, has been observed at 780/spl deg/C using the focused probe. Inclusion detection experiments have been conducted in reflection configurations involving pitch-catch and pulse-echo modes. The backscattered ultrasonic signals from the silicon carbide particles with an averaged diameter of 50 /spl mu/m suspended in molten Al are successfully detected due to the high signal-to-noise ratio of the clad buffer rods.
Observations on the flow structures and transport in a simulated warm-core ring in the Gulf of Mexico

This study presents several new observations from the study of a numerically simulated warm-core ring (WCR) in the Gulf of Mexico based on the ECCO2 global ocean simulation. Using Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) techniques to investigate this flow reveals a pattern of transversely intersecting LCS in the mixed layer of the WCR which experiences consistent stretching behavior over a large region of space and time. A detailed analysis of this flow region leads to an analytical model of the velocity field which captures the essential elements that generate the transversely intersecting LCS. The model parameters are determined from the simulated WCR and the resulting LCS show excellent agreement with those observed in the WCR. The three-dimensional transport behavior that creates these structures relies on the small radial outflow that is present in the mixed layer and is not seen below the pycnocline, leading to a sharp change in the character of the LCS at the bottom of the mixed layer. The flow behavior revealed by the LCS limits fluid exchange between the WCR and the surrounding ocean, contributing to the long life of WCRs. Further study of these structures and their associated transport behavior may lead to further insights into the development and persistence of such geophysical vortices as well as their transport behavior.
Behavioural Syndromes in Urban and Rural Populations of Song Sparrows

Animals in urban habitats are often noticeably bold in the presence of humans. Such boldness may arise due to habituation, as urban animals learn, through repeated exposure, that passing humans do not represent a threat. However, there is growing research suggesting that: (1) inherent traits, as opposed to learned behaviour, influence which species invade urban habitats, and (2) individuals exhibit individual personality traits that limit behavioural flexibility, with the possible result that not all individuals would be able to demonstrate an appropriate level of boldness in urban environments. As a result, perhaps only birds with inherently bold personalities could successfully settle in an area of high human disturbance, and further, we might also expect to see the existence of behavioural syndromes, where boldness is correlated with variation in other behavioural traits such as aggression. In this study, we examined boldness and territorial aggression in urban and rural populations of song sparrows. We found that urban birds were bolder towards humans and that urban birds also showed higher levels of territorial aggression. We also found an overall correlation between boldness and territorial aggression, suggesting that urban boldness may be part of a behavioural syndrome. However, we see no correlation between boldness and aggression in the urban population, and thus, more work is needed to determine the mechanisms accounting for high levels of boldness and aggression urban song sparrows.
A low power GaAs MESFET monolithic downconverter for digital handheld telephone applications

A monolithic GaAs MESFET downconverter for 1.9-GHz digital handheld telephone applications has been designed and fabricated. The downconverter operates from a single supply, and uses no dual gate or series biased FETs, which allows operation at lower supply voltages. The circuit exhibits 22 dB of conversion gain and a 3.9-dB noise figure at a bias of 2.7 V and 5 mA, with an LO (local oscillator) drive of -10 dBm. For a supply voltage of 1.25 V and an LO drive level of -13 dBm, a conversion gain of 17.2 dB and a noise figure of 4.3 dB are obtained. >
Parallelism in the front-end

As processor back-ends get more aggressive, front-ends will have to scale as well. Although the back-ends of superscalar processors have continued to become more parallel, the front-ends remain sequential. This paper describes techniques for fetching and renaming multiple non-contiguous portions of the dynamic instruction stream in parallel using multiple fetch and rename units. It demonstrates that parallel front-ends are a viable alternative to high-performance sequential front-ends.Compared with an equivalently-sized trace cache, our technique increases cache bandwidth utilization by 17%, front-end throughput by 20%, and performance by 5%. Parallelism also enhances latency tolerance: a parallel front-end loses only 6% performance as the cache size is decreased from 128 KB to 8 KB, compared with a 50--65% performance loss for sequential fetch mechanisms.
Solid-state and solution studies of a tetrameric capsule and its guests.

Angew. Chem. 2002, 114, Nr. 20 1 2002 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH&Co. KGaA, Weinheim 0044-8249/02/11420-3947 $ 20.00+.50/0 3947 that a large accumulation of albumin had taken place (Figure 5c). Peroxidase and vitamin B2 have also been successfully encapsulated by employing this method. It has been shown that many water-soluble substances such as rhodamine, PAH, and dextran can spontaneously accumulate in the interior of the aged polyelectrolyte capsules templated on MF particles, forming filled capsules under ordinary conditions. The driving force for this phenomenon is attributed to the existence of a negatively charged complex (PSS/MF) within the capsule interior. The deposited material is in an aggregated or complexed form, rather than existing in its free state, which constrains the system so that the real concentration of the deposited substance within the interior of the capsule remains lower than in the bulk. By utilizing this effect, biomolecules such as albumin have been successfully encapsulated in large quantity by simple alteration of the pH value. In conclusion, we have shown herein that spontaneous and quantitative encapsulation of a drug can occur by deposition within the interior of a macromolecule, which specifically binds to it and initiates its precipitation. This process might in turn be useful in controlling the sustained release of water-soluble agents.
Mitral Regurgitation After Percutaneous Mitral Valvotomy

Mitral regurgitation (MR) after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMV) is commonly an end point and may be a significant complication. Some increase in MR occurs in more than half of patients undergoing PMV. An increase > 2 grades occurs in 3%–1.5% of patients, and < 5% have severe MR as a complication. MR is a significant predictor for late cardiac events and preexisting MR before PMV is also associated with poor late outcome. Mild increases in MR are due to stretching of the annulus, excess commissural tearing, or papillary muscle trauma. Mild MR frequently disappears at follow-up and rarely increases. Risk factors for development of MR have varied among multiple studies. Balloon oversizing and entrapment/tearing of chordae by the balloon(s) are mechanical factors. Most predictors are related to the pathologic anatomy of the mitral valve. Older age, a larger end-systolic volume index, and lower ejection fraction may be independent predictors of progression of MR. Subvalvular disease and valve thickening have also been identified as predictors. A recently described “scoring” system for predicting MR considers the distribution of anterior and posterior leaflet thickening, extent of commissural calcification/fibrosis, and degree of subvalvular disease. “Even” calcification/thickening produces a “lower” or “better” score than “uneven” distribution. Bicommissural calcification and thickening and shortening of chordae all predict bad outcome. Thus careful echocardio-graphic evaluation of mitral valve pathoanatomy pre-PMV can identify most predictors of the development of MR.
Three-Dimensional Navigation with Scanning Ladars: Concept & Initial Verification

This paper investigates the use of scanning laser radars (LADARs) for 3D navigation of autonomous vehicles in structured environments such as outdoor urban navigation scenarios. The navigation solution (position and orientation) is determined in unknown environments where no a priori map information is available. The navigation is based on the use of planar surfaces (planes) extracted from LADAR scan images. Changes in plane parameters between scans are applied to compute position and orientation changes. Feasibility of the algorithms developed is verified using simulation results and initial results of live data tests.
Mortality Among Tuberculosis Patients With Acquired Resistance to Second-line Antituberculosis Drugs—United States, 1993–2008

BACKGROUND Resistance to second-line antituberculosis drugs (SLDs) severely compromises treatment options of drug-resistant tuberculosis. We assessed the association between acquisition of resistance (AR) to second-line injectable drugs (SLIs) or fluoroquinolones (FQs) and mortality among tuberculosis cases confirmed by positive culture results with available initial and final drug susceptibility test (DST) results. METHODS We analyzed data from the US National Tuberculosis Surveillance System, 1993-2008. Acquired resistance was defined as drug susceptibility at initial DST but resistance to the same drug at final DST. We compared survival with Kaplan-Meier curves and analyzed the association between AR and mortality using a univariate extended Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age. RESULTS Of 2329 cases with both initial and final DSTs to SLIs, 49 (2.1%) acquired resistance; 13 of 49 (26.5%) had treatment terminated by death compared with 222 (10.0%) of those without AR to SLIs (P < .001). Of 1187 cases with both initial and final DSTs to FQs, 32 (2.8%) acquired resistance; 12 of 32 (37.5%) had treatment terminated by death compared with 121 (10.9%) of those without AR to FQs (P = .001). Controlling for age, mortality was significantly greater among cases with AR to SLDs than among cases without AR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] for SLIs: 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.4-5.4; aHR for FQ: 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0-3.5). Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis at treatment initiation, positive human immunodeficiency virus status, and extrapulmonary disease were also significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS Mortality was significantly greater among tuberculosis cases with AR to SLDs. Providers should consider AR to SLDs early in treatment, monitor DST results, and avoid premature deaths.
Anthropological Archaeology in 2013: The Search for Truth(s)

In 2013, we see a clear continuation of certain themes noted in previous reviews, including economy, mobility, human–environment interactions, social complexity, identity, and power. There is a greater emphasis on comparative approaches but also a general move away from reductionist, macrosystemic models in anthropological archaeology, with studies emphasizing diversity, multiple pathways or trajectories, and variability in local responses. The fallout of the so-called “postmodernist turn” continues to prompt lively debate, with methodological rigor being emphasized as well as the critical cross-examination of our Western modes of inquiry, with some scholars considering the possibility of multiple truths in their theoretical interpretations of the past.
Column leach study 1: Heavy metal dissolution characteristics from selected copper mine tailings

Mill tailings collected from seven copper mine mill sites in the western United States were examined by researchers from the Bureau of Mines for metal dissolution properties using a column leaching procedure involving a formulated “western rain” leachant. Studies investigated effects of height of waste column, wet/dry cycle, and maximum leachability of waste tailings. Further studies on selected samples indicated that treatment of acid-producing tailings with chemical stabilizers such as phosphates and carbonates did not greatly affect mobilization of heavy metals leached from these samples. Increased metal mobilization from unsaturated columns was often associated with decreased leachate pH and increased sulfate production, but was not observed in all samples examined. Results from these and other studies suggest that the driving force for metal dissolution and/or acid formation in unsaturated mine tailings is the oxidation of metal sulfides by atmospheric oxygen. The maintenance of tailings at or near saturation or the exclusion of atmospheric oxygen appear to produce leachates of nearly constant to slowly decreasing metal concentrations with each subsequent leaching.
Impact of activity on sentinel node detection in Tc99m filtered sulfur colloid breast lymphoscintigraphy

2524 Objectives Breast lymphoscintigraphy is a common pre-surgical Nuclear Medicine procedure used to detect sentinel lymph nodes to be surgically resected. A radiopharmaceutical is injected into the breast, with immediate post-injection imaging performed. Higher activity may benefit sentinel node detection by improving count statistics and image quality, and this possibility was investigated. Methods At our institution, breast lymphoscintigraphy with filtered sulfur colloid is done either on the morning of the surgery or the prior afternoon. For prior-afternoon studies, a higher activity (3.0 mCi versus 0.4 mCi) is used. Each patient is injected with a 3 syringes, each with a volume of approximately 1.5 ml, followed immediately by planar scintigraphy. 100 breast lymphoscintigraphy studies were retrospectively analyzed of which 51 were prior afternoon studies and 49 were same-morning studies. Statistical tests were applied to determine whether there were statistically significant differences in scintigraphic detection of sentinel nodes. Results Of the 49 patients that were injected on the morning of their surgery, 24 patients had sentinel nodes detected. 6 of these patients also had multiple sentinel nodes detected. Of the 51 patients that were injected on the day prior to their surgery, 39 patients had sentinel nodes detected. 12 of these patients also had multiple sentinel nodes detected. The sensitivity rate of sentinel node detection for morning patients is 49% compared to 76% for prior afternoon patients. The statistical comparison resulted in p Conclusions Sentinel lymph node detection in breast lymphoscintigraphy scans is more sensitive at detecting sentinel lymph nodes using a 3.0 mCi of Tc99m filtered sulfur colloid the prior afternoon than using 0.4 mCi Tc99m filtered sulfur colloid the morning of surgery.
The 'Circle of Assent' Doctrine and the Mandatory Pre-Dispute Arbitration Clause: When the Unconscionable Contract Analysis Just Won't Do

Is a mandatory arbitration clause that denies basic due process rights unconscionable? You would think so, but think again. The doctrine of unconscionability has technical elements that must be met. Courts around the country have held that the denial of a due process right doesn’t meet the test of substantive unconscionability analysis. Is this the end of the line or is there an alternative analysis that will address the unfairness of such a provision? This article urges that a little known doctrine, the Circle of Assent, found only in the state of Tennessee, is tailor made for disposing of such a term without regard for whether it is unconscionable. Rather than looking to the motivation of the draftsman, a premise that lies at the heart of an unconscionability analysis, the Circle of Assent analysis focuses on the consequences to the party against whom such a term is sought to be enforced and in doing so shifts the burden to the draftsman to establish that the term is in fact reasonable. The Circle of Assent doctrine provides a mechanism for policing terms that might not rise to the level of unconscionability but that are unfair and not worthy of enforcement, and by doing so insures that unfair mandatory arbitration clauses aren’t used to undermine the integrity of the alternative dispute resolution process.
Blowing the Same Trumpet? Pluralist Protest in Burkina Faso

AbstractProtesters employed a great variety of organizational forms in the cycles of popular contention that rocked the West African country of Burkina Faso from early 2011 through the overthrow of President Blaise Compaore in October 2014. While some actions appeared largely leaderless and unstructured, others were clearly better organized and under some central direction. The organizations ranged from very local and loosely linked networks of student and community activists to professional national structures, such as union federations and political parties. The latter may have been better at articulating grievances and directly confronting state power and policies. But the former exhibited considerable tenacity and could more quickly draw in wider sectors of the population. Activists did not necessarily see one form as superior to the other; they had different strengths and weaknesses, depending on the particular conjuncture and goal. The big challenge, many agreed, was how to better coordinate their s...
Checking the Success of Manipulations in Marketing Experiments

The authors discuss several issues in the timing, construction, and analysis of manipulation and confounding checks in marketing experiments. A review of 34 experiments involving latent independent...
Pathogenicity Mutants of ErwiniaAmylovora Caused by Tn5 Insertion

To study the genetics of pathogenicity of Erwinia amylovora, strains altered in pathogenicity through single-site mutations are needed. The transposon Tn5 (Kmr) was introduced into Ea322 with the suicidal plasmid vector pJB4JI. Among 11,000 prototrophic Kmr strains tested, 23 were altered in their pathogenic capabilities on apple and pear tissue. Three of these mutants also failed to induce a hypersensitive reaction when infiltrated into tobacco leaves. The location of the transposon in the genome was determined by Southern blot hybridization with Tn5. Ten mutants have single Tn5 insertions in chromosomal, rather than plasmid DNA. Thirteen mutants contain more than one DNA sequence that hybridized with Tn5. In three cases, two independent mutants were found with Tn5 insertions in the same EcoRI fragment. Among the 23 mutants, the transposon had inserted into at least eight different sites in chromosomal DNA, indicating that the mechanism for pathogenicity is complex. To confirm that the Tn5 was responsible for the mutations, parental wild-type genes were replaced with genes rendered nonfunctional through Tn5 insertion. Cotransfer of Kmr with the altered pathogenic phenotype was demonstrated. Complementation experiments are in progress in which cloned wild-type DNA fragments are transferred to Tn5-induced mutants of E. amylovora.
Effects and significance of myocardial infarction on myocardial key enzymes of energy metabolism in rats

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of energy metabolism of rat's cadio- cyte after myocardial infarction(MI)and provide a theoretical basis for its therapy.Methods Myocardial in- farction was induced in rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group,myocardial infarction group.Animals were sacrificed at 1 day,7days, 30days after operation and the left ventricular tissues of rats were isolated for determination of hexokinase (HK),carnitine-Racylcarnitine translocase(CACT),fatty acyl-RCoA synthetase(ACS),citrate synthase (CS),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)by ELISA.Results Compared to the control group,One day post-MI, the concentration and activity of these enzymes change obviously(P0.05).One month post-MI,the con- centration and activity of these enzymes had returned to normal levels.Conclusion In rats with acute phase of MI,the concentration and activity of the key enzymes in aerobic metabolism pathways were down-regulated and the key enzymes in anaerobic metabolism pathways were up-regulated.The results provide a theoretical basis for the therapy.
Induction of Tumor Cell Apoptosis by TRAIL Gene Therapy

Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily influence a variety of immunological functions, including cellular activation, proliferation, and death, upon interaction with a corresponding superfamily of receptors. Whereas interest in the apoptosis-inducing molecules TNF and Fas ligand has peaked because of their participation in events such as autoimmune disorders, activation-induced cell death, immune privilege, and tumor evasion from the immune system, another death-inducing family member, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), or Apo-2 ligand, has generated excitement because of its unique ability to induce apoptosis in a wide range of transformed cell lines but not in normal tissues. TRAIL is well tolerated when given to healthy animals, and no observable histological or functional changes have been observed in any of the tissues or organs examined. Moreover, multiple injections of soluble TRAIL into mice beginning the day after tumor implantation can significantly suppress the growth of the tumors, with many animals becoming tumor-free. One potential drawback to these findings is that large amounts of soluble TRAIL may be required to inhibit tumor formation, possibly because of the pharmacokinetic profile of soluble TRAIL that indicates that, after intravenous injection, the majority of the protein is rapidly cleared. Increasing the in vivo half-life of recombinant soluble TRAIL or developing an alternative means of delivery may increase the relative tumoricidal activity of TRAIL such that larger, more established tumors could be eradicated as efficiently as smaller tumors. The information presented here describes the production of an adenoviral vector engineered to carry the complementary DNA (cDNA) for murine TRAIL (hTRAIL).
Lp-Based Artificial Dependency for Probabilistic Etail Order Fulfillment

We consider an online multi-item retailer with multiple fulfillment facilities and finite inventory, with the objective of minimizing the expected shipping cost of fulfilling customer orders over a finite horizon. We approximate the stochastic dynamic programming formulation of the problem with an equivalent deterministic linear program, which we use to develop a probabilistic fulfillment heuristic that is provably optimal in the asymptotic sense. This first heuristic, however, relies on solving an LP that is exponential in the size of the input. Therefore, we subsequently provide another heuristic which solves an LP that is polynomial in the size of the input, and prove an upper bound on its asymptotic competitive ratio. This heuristic works by modifying the LP solution with artificial dependencies, with the resulting fractional variables used to probabilistically fulfill orders. A hardness result shows that asymptotically optimal policies that are computationally efficient cannot exist. Finally, we conduct numerical experiments that show that our heuristic's performance is very close to optimal for a range of parameters.
Abstract 30: Kras mediates amino acid metabolism during nutrient stress

Kras is a small GTPase that functions in the transmission of extracellular mitogenic stimuli, and is one of the most frequently mutated genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previously, Kras has been demonstrated to play a role in tumor metabolism in certain cell types and cancers, but this has yet to be analyzed in the context of NSCLC. We have analyzed how Kras changes metabolic gene expression by expressing a doxycycline-inducible hairpin against Kras in 4 NSCLC cell lines. One of the most regulated metabolism genes is asparagine synthetase (Asns), which transfers the γ-amino group of glutamine to aspartate, yielding glutamate and asparagine. We find elevated levels of Asns in Kras mutant tumors, and that expression of Asns correlates with poor patient outcome. Knockdown of Asns in the absence of exogenous asparagine in the media results in inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis that is rescued by addition of asparagine. Additionally, under conditions of low glutamine levels, knockdown of Asns sensitizes cells to apoptosis, and overexpression of Asns is protective under these conditions. We also find a role for the glutaminase-activity of Asns in glutamine-mediated anapleurosis of the TCA cycle. These observations suggest Asns may be an interesting therapeutic target for NSCLC tumors with mutations in Kras. Citation Format: Dana Gwinn, Alejandro Sweet-Cordero. Kras mediates amino acid metabolism during nutrient stress. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 30.
Bose-Einstein condensation of Sr 88 through sympathetic cooling with Sr 87

We report Bose-Einstein condensation of $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$, which has a small, negative $s$-wave scattering length (${a}_{88}=\ensuremath{-}2{a}_{0}$). We overcome the poor evaporative cooling characteristics of this isotope by sympathetic cooling with $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$ atoms. $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$ is effective in this role despite the fact that it is a fermion because of the large ground-state degeneracy arising from a nuclear spin of $I=9/2$, which reduces the impact of Pauli blocking of collisions. We observe a limited number of atoms in the condensate (${N}_{\mathrm{max}}\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{4}$) that is consistent with the value of ${a}_{88}$ and the optical dipole trap parameters.
The Yale – Columbia Southern Proper Motion Program

This program is the southern counterpart of the well-known Lick proper motion program. These programs are almost identical in design and execution, their chief feature being the use of faint extragalactic nebulae and QSO’s as stationary reference objects. The Lick program has been described by S. Vasilevskis on various occasions; it serves as an example to the Yale-Columbia work.
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) and Impaired Physical Function: The Rancho Bernardo Study.

Objectives Investigate associations of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) with self-reported and measured physical function in older adults. Design Cross-sectional analyses of data collected in 1992–96 from a longitudinal cohort. Setting: Research clinic within a community. Participants Community-dwelling men (n = 630) and women (n = 961), mean age 71.5 years (SD = 10.8), from the Rancho Bernardo Study. Measurements DISH assessed from lateral thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs; self-reported difficulty bending over to the floor, walking 2–3 level blocks, or climbing 1 flight of stairs; performance-based measures of grip strength and chair-stand testing (ability to stand up and sit down in a chair 5 times without using chair arms). Results DISH was present in 25.6% of men and 5.5% of women. In age and sex-adjusted models, those with DISH had 1.72-fold increased odds (95% CI: 1.13, 2.62) of self-reported difficulty bending; this remained significant after further adjustment for Cobb angle, weight, stroke, arthritis, and exercise, OR = 1.69, (95% CI: 1.07, 2.66). In fully adjusted multivariate models, those with DISH had worse grip strength, −1.08 kg, P = .01, but did not differ from those without DISH on walking or climbing stairs. In sex-stratified, fully adjusted models, among men only, those with DISH were 2.17-times (95% CI: 1.04, 4.52) more likely to be unable to complete 5 chair stands without using their arms. Conclusions DISH was less prevalent in women but affected almost one-quarter of older white men. People with DISH are more likely to experience physical functional impairment, suggesting that DISH has clinical correlations and is not an incidental radiographic finding.
Cancer costs and trends for newly diagnosed malignancies at an academic institution.

8Background: The financial cost of cancer is a large burden and continues to rise substantially. Expenditures can be divided into the initial phase after diagnosis, the continuing phase, and the la...
Novel optimal neurocontrol for a synchronous generator using radial basis function neural network

Abstract This paper presents the design of an infinite horizon optimal neurocontroller to replace the conventional controllers such as the automatic voltage regulator and governor for the control of a synchronous generator connected to an electric power grid. The neurocontroller design uses the dual heuristic programming (DHP) algorithm, which provides the most robust control capability among the adaptive critic designs (ACDs) family. The radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is used as the function approximator to implement the DHP. The performances of the proposed optimal neurocontroller are evaluated and its stability issue in real-time operation is analysed.
Community-based participatory research through virtual communities.

ABSTRACTOver the last quarter century many new cyberspace platforms have emerged that facilitate communication across time, geographical distance and now even language. Whereas brick-and-mortar communities are defined by geographically local characteristics, a virtual community is an online community of individuals who socialize and connect around a common interest or theme using the Internet. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a public health approach that requires equitable partnerships between community members and researchers. Virtual communities abound on the Internet today, yet their application to CBPR is rarely considered. We examine three case studies to explore the advantages and challenges of virtual communities for CBPR, as well as several of the online tools CBPR practitioners can use to facilitate virtual community participation. There is a potential utility of virtual communities in supporting CBPR efforts as they reduce the effects of geographical barriers, maximize the growt...
0462 A comparison of distal upper limb physical exposure quantification tools: the strain index, acgih tlv for hal, and the recently developed revised strain index

Introduction There are several questionnaires and observational measurement tools to quantify distal upper limb (DUL) physical exposures. Perhaps the most commonly used observational methods are the Strain Index (SI) and the ACGIH TLV for HAL. However, there is currently no ”gold standard” observational tool. Methods Data from recently conducted prospective cohort studies of DUL musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were used to compare the SI, TLV for HAL, and the newly developed Revised Strain Index (RSI). A total of 3647 tasks performed by 710 workers were evaluated. When a tool lacked specific guidance, generally accepted techniques (e.g., time-weighted-averaging) were used to handle task complexity and multi-task jobs. Results the SI, RSI, and TLV for HAL provide inconsistent estimates of physical exposure and predicted risk of DUL MSDs. Correlations and weighted kappa scores between the model’s ranged from poor to good (e.g., weighted-kappa range: 0.16 to 0.82). Conclusions Neither the TLV for HAL nor the SI were designed to assess multi-task jobs with complex tasks; whereas the RSI was. Assumptions made in order to use the SI and TLV for HAL for complex and multi-task analysis may contribute to the large differences between their physical exposure estimates. In this regard the RSI would appear to be a superior tool and one that has promising utility, at least for design and ergonomics intervention of complex and multi-task jobs. However, more research is needed to establish a ”gold standard” DUL observational measurement tool.
An Investigation of New String Programs Established in American Schools between 1999 and 2009

The purposes of this study were to identify string programs created between 1999 and 2009, compile a profile of those programs, and identify resources and strategies that were used to create them t...
Fatigue-crack-tip plastic strains by the stereoimaging technique

The stereoimaging technique is an accurate, high-resolution means of measuring the in-plane displacements resulting from the deformation of a specimen so that the corresponding components of the strain tensor can be computed independently of the stresses. The example used in this paper is a fatigue-cracked specimen of a microscopically homogeneous experimental powder-metallurgy aluminum alloy, analyzed to determine the displacement and strain fields accompanying the opening of the fatigue crack. The displacement measurements are processed by a computer program which compensates for measurement fluctuations in the displacement data by smoothing, and derives the strain magnitudes. The principal strains and the maximum shear strain are determined using Mohr's circle, and the latter strain is then used to estimate the plastic-zone size. The crack-opening mode may be inferred from the displacement map, and the state of stress (plane stress or plane strain) inferred by applying the in-plane compatibility equation.
To oophorectomy or not to oophorectomy: Practice patterns among urologists treating bladder cancer

Abstract Objectives Classically, radical cystectomy (RC) involves hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). Current understanding of ovarian cancer pathogenesis and effect of premature oophorectomy has lead to a shift within gynecology toward risk-reducing salpingectomy without oophorectomy in the absence of gynecologic malignancy. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge base and practice patterns of urologic oncologists with regard to management of the gynecological organs at the time of RC. Materials and methods An anonymous and voluntary electronic survey was distributed to members of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO). Demographic data, training, practice setting and duration, experience, rationale for BSO, and knowledge assessment of ovarian cancer pathogenesis/risks associated with BSO was collected. Results A total of 159/660 (24%) SUO members responded of whom 110 (69%) were academic urologists and 58 (36%) involved in training urologic oncology fellows. Of all, 75% had performed an ovarian-sparing RC. Furthermore, 14% were aware that salpingectomy alone reduces the risk of ovarian cancer, whereas 95%, 66%, and 26% were aware that BSO increases the risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality, respectively. Reasons for BSO at the time of RC included concern for urothelial carcinoma metastasis (54%), development of future gynecologic pathology (50%), and facilitation of pelvic lymph node dissection (36%). Conclusions Many urologic oncologists remain unaware of the benefits of risk-reducing salpingectomy and the risks associated with BSO, identifying a potential area for further education in the urologic community.
Construction of an Optimal System. Expected Value Principle

In Part 3, Bayesian analysis is applied to design optimal bonus-malus systems using the different models for claim number distributions presented in chapter 3. The decision problem is formulated in a game-theoretic framework. Several loss functions and premium calculation principles are applied to calculate optimal BMS.
An Educational Activity Promoting Cross-Cultural Awareness Using the Ancient Games of Chess and Go

Adult management students contrast Japanese and U.S. management by treating chess and go as metaphors for cultural differences. The instructor also uses the activity in another class to explore dif...
Properties of Co/B Fine Particles Made by the Microemulsion Technique

Extremely small Co/B particles were prepared by the microemulsion method in the ternary system H2O/AOT/isooctane under anaerobic conditions. SQUID measurements on the dried samples showed the magnetic moment per particle was 11.5μ B, the blocking temperature was 2K, and σ s= 134 emu/g at 1.7K (assuming the mass was Co2B). The moment and σs combined imply a particle size of about 6A. As the colloid was heated at 60 C in Ar for different periods of time, the optical absorption edge shifted to longer wavelength and a broad peak appeared near 270 nm to suggest particle growth. Magnetic measurement on the heat treated samples showed corresponding increases in the blocking temperature and the moment per particle.
Lineage Markers: Y Chromosome and mtDNA Testing

The Y chromosome (ChrY) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers discussed in this chapter represent lineage markers. They are passed down from generation to generation without changing. Maternal lineages can be traced with mitochondrial DNA sequence information, whereas paternal lineages can be followed with Y-chromosome markers. The human Y chromosome (ChrY) is the second smallest human chromosome. Y-chromosome DNA testing is important for a number of different applications of human genetics that are given in the chapter. The chapter discusses ChrY markers, Y-short tandem repeat (STR) kits, Y-STR haplotype databases, and interpretation of Y-STR results. The chapter reviews the characteristics of mitochondrial DNA, the steps involved in obtaining results in forensic casework, and issues important to interpreting mtDNA results. Population databases play an important role in estimating the expected frequency of mtDNA haplotypes that are observed in casework when a suspect's mtDNA sequence matches that of an evidentiary sample. Having high-quality information in the database is also important in order to make a reliable estimate of the frequency for a random match. The FBI Laboratory has compiled an mtDNA population database with 4839 mtDNA profiles from 14 different populations. The European forensic mtDNA sequencing community has been actively engaged for a number of years in developing new high-quality population databases for forensic and human identity testing applications. A Korean group from Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea) has created an on-line mtDNA searchable population database called mtDNAmanager. The X chromosome has potential forensic and human identity testing applications due to its inheritance pattern. More than 30 STR markers are characterized from the X chromosome, and population studies are performed with many of these X-STRs.
Optical characterization of two cyanobacteria genera, Aphanizomenon and Microcystis , with hyperspectral microscopy

Cyanobacterial blooms are a nuisance and a potential hazard in freshwater systems worldwide. Remote sensing has been used to detect cyanobacterial blooms, but few studies have distinguished among genera of cyanobacteria. Because some genera are more likely to be toxic than others, this is a useful distinction. Hyperspectral imaging reflectance microscopy was used to examine cyanobacteria from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, at high spatial and spectral resolution to determine if two species found commonly in the lake, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa, can be separated spectrally. Of the analytical methods applied, a spectral shape algorithm applied to the derivative was found to be most successful in classifying these species in microscope scenes. Further work is required to determine if the spectral characterization of cyanobacterial genera can be scaled up to remote sensing applications.
A new International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross has instituted a number of changes that seem to transform this old and widely respected organization. These changes involve an expanded role, a fuller r...