cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
bcl-2 and c-myc Expression, cell cycle kinetics and apoptosis during the progression of chronic myelogenous leukemia from diagnosis to blastic phase

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has a progressive course but little is known about the biologic characteristics of disease progression. This study was designed to assess the changes in cell proliferative characteristics, apoptosis, the expression of the bcl-2 and c-myc genes between the time of initial diagnosis and entrance into the blastic phase of the disease. We observed that the rate of cell proliferation decreased and the cell death rate did not significantly change as the disease accelerated. The level of bcl-2 expression was significantly higher in accelerated/blastic phase cells than in the chronic phase cells in the population as a whole, however, the bcl-2 expression level did not change in blast cell subpopulation. c-myc Expression was significantly higher in the blast cell subpopulation of accelerated/blastic phase than in that of earlier phases of the disease. In conclusion, the characteristics of CML cells, namely proliferation rate, c-myc and bcl-2 change during the course of the disease. It is possible that the change in c-myc expression plays a causative role in evolution of the blastic phase from the chronic phase.
Automated extraction of regular spot arrays from electron diffraction images

SUMMARY In order to analyse agglomerate particles, we have developed a computer method that automates the analysis of spots in electron diffraction patterns. The method isolates the zone axis diffraction pattern in a polycrystalline diffraction image by isolating the spots from other features of the image and then by selecting the spots that belong to a regular array. The method gives the basis vectors for the array which can then be used to identify the particle by comparison with standard diffraction data.
Radiation-driven Warping. II. Nonisothermal Disks

Recent work by Pringle and by Maloney, Begelman, & Pringle has shown that geometrically thin, optically thick, accretion disks are unstable to warping driven by radiation torque from the central source. This work was confined to isothermal (i.e., surface density Σ ∝ R-3/2) disks. In this paper we generalize the study of radiation-driven warping to include general power-law surface density distributions, Σ ∝ R-δ. We consider the range from δ = 3/2 (the isothermal case) to δ = -3/2, which corresponds to a radiation-pressure-supported disk; this spans the range of surface density distributions likely to be found in real astrophysical disks. In all cases there are an infinite number of zero-crossing solutions (i.e., solutions that cross the equator), which are the physically relevant modes if the outer boundary of the disk is required to lie in a specified plane. However, unlike the isothermal disk, which is the degenerate case, the frequency eigenvalues for δ ≠ 3/2 are all distinct. In all cases the location of the zero moves outward from the steady state (pure precession) value with increasing growth rate; thus, there is a critical minimum size for unstable disks. Modes with zeros at smaller radii are damped. The critical radius and the steady state precession rate depend only weakly on δ. An additional analytic solution has been found for δ = 1. The case δ = 1 divides the solutions into two qualitatively different regimes. For δ ≥ 1, the fastest growing modes have maximum warp amplitude, βmax, close to the disk outer edge, and the ratio of βmax to the warp amplitude at the disk inner edge, β0, is 1. For δ < 1, βmax/β0 1, and the warp maximum steadily approaches the origin as δ decreases. This implies that nonlinear effects must be important if the warp extends to the disk inner edge for δ ≥ 1, but for δ < 1 nonlinearity will be important only if the warp amplitude is large at the origin. Because of this qualitative difference in the shapes of the warps, the effects of shadowing of the central source by the warp will also be very different in the two regimes of δ. This has important implications for radiation-driven warping in X-ray binaries, for which the value of δ characterizing the disk is likely to be less than unity. In real accretion disks the outer boundary condition is likely to be different from the zero-crossing condition that we have assumed. In accretion disks around massive black holes in active galactic nuclei, the disk will probably become optically thin before the outer disk boundary is reached, whereas in X-ray binaries there will be an outer disk region (outside the circularization radius) in which the inflow velocity is zero but angular momentum is still transported. We show that in both these cases the solutions are similar to the zero-crossing eigenfunctions.
A possible technique for isolating genic DNA for quantitative traits in plants

Evidence is presented that qualitative and quantitative traits may be the result of different types of variation of genic DNA at the loci involved. At any given locus, variation of a minor nature may result in wild-type alleles responsible for gene products with different efficiencies (quantitative alleles) while major genic rearrangements or changes in the region of the gene essential for a normal functioning gene product may result in qualitative mutant alleles. If this relationship is valid, modern molecular genetic techniques, involving transposable DNA mutagenesis and other procedures available today, will permit the isolation of some of the quantitative genes for many traits.
Flow induced morphological instabilities: Stagnation-point flows

Abstract We consider a planar stagnation-point flow on a directionally-solidifying interface and determine its effects on its morphological instability. We find that when Schmidt numbers are large, two-dimensional long-wave disturbances are unstable for any degree of constitutional undercooling. These modes propagate against the basic-state flow and are destabilized by the component of this flow normal to the interface. Analogous results are given for the axi-symmetric stagnation-point flow subject to axi-symmetric disturbances. Comparisons are made of the two cases.
Micromechanical analysis of thermo-inelastic multiphase short-fiber composites

A micromechanical formulation is presented for the prediction of the overall thermo-inelastic behavior of multiphase composites which consist of short fibers. The analysis is an extension of the generalized method of cells that was previously derived for inelastic composites with continuous fibers, and the reliability of which was critically examined in several situations. The resulting three dimensional formulation is extremely general, wherein the analysis of thermo-inelastic composites with continuous fibers as well as particulate and porous inelastic materials are merely special cases.
Marital discord and children: Problems, strategies, methodologies, and results

The impact of marital discord on children's development is discussed in terms of models, methodology, results, and future required research.
Intramolecular C-H/C-D exchange in cofacially stacked polyfluorenes via electron-induced bond activation.

EPR studies in hexamethylphosphoramide, along with DFT studies, reveal that the one-electron reduction of π-stacked polyfluorenes containing two, three, and four fluorene units leads to the corresponding anion radicals where the odd electron is located exclusively on an outside fluorene moiety. These anion radicals disproportionate to form small concentrations of diamagnetic dianions, wherein there is a nonclassical pz overlap that crosses the C2 axis. The presence of the two extra electrons activates the C−H bonds in the ortho positions, and concomitant overlap of the p-orbitals involving adjacent fluorene moieties results in intramolecular hydrogen exchange at temperatures as low as 90 K.
How does gene expression clustering work

Clustering is often one of the first steps in gene expression analysis. How do clustering algorithms work, which ones should we use and what can we expect from them?
Significances of protein structure and dynamics in anesthetic action

Abstract The structure–function paradigm emphasizes the importance of structural changes in mediating protein functions. Can this paradigm ultimately offer a mechanistic understanding of the action of general anesthetics? We have combined structural and dynamical studies, both experimentally and computationally, to determine the effects of general anesthetics on the structures and dynamics of a broad range of proteins, including neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and glycine receptors (GlyRs) that have been recognized as the potential physiological targets for general anesthetics, and other model proteins, such as gramicidin A channel, whose structures have been well resolved. We have attempted to relate the detailed changes in the structures and dynamics of these proteins to the possible functional consequences upon interaction with volatile anesthetics. Our results discount the importance of structural fitting between anesthetic molecules and the “protein pockets”, and underscore the anesthetic effects on protein global dynamics in producing functional change in proteins.
Generalization gradients from “reaction time” or latencies of the white rat to visual brightness

Presentations of a light stimulus SD (milk-reinforced), interspersed with varying SΔ light stimuli (not reinforced), yielded generalization gradients of response latency (“reaction time”) for 2 albino rats. Gradients also appeared when “failure to respond” was used as the behavioral measure. The latter type of gradient changed with continued training, first in the direction of indicating increased discriminative sensitivity, and then toward less sensitivity.
Information technology and public commenting on agency regulations

In this research, we assess whether the number of public comments filed in response to proposed agency rules has dramatically increased as a result of the automation of the submission process. Specifically, we compare the volume of comment activity across two large sets of rules issued by the Department of Transportation, one that occurred before the launch of an agency-wide electronic docket system and another that occurred after this launch in 1998. Our analysis shows that, contrary to expectations held by many researchers and practitioners, the overall levels and patterns of stakeholder behavior showed a remarkable degree of similarity across the two periods. This finding implies that public involvement in rulemaking is not likely to become vastly more prevalent in the information age, confounding both hopes of democratization of the process and fears of costly and harmful mass participation.
Elementary categorial logic, predicates of variable degree, and theory of quantity

Developing some suggestions of Ramsey (1925), elementary logic is formulated with respect to an arbitrary categorial system rather than the categorial system of Logical Atomism which is retained in standard elementary logic. Among the many types of non-standard categorial systems allowed by this formalism, it is argued that elementary logic with predicates of variable degree occupies a distinguished position, both for formal reasons and because of its potential value for application of formal logic to natural language and natural science. This is illustrated by use of such a logic to construct a theory of quantity which is argued to be scientifically superior to existing theories of quantity based on standard categorial systems, since it yields realvalued scales without the need for unrealistic existence assumptions. This provides empirical evidence for the hypothesis that the categorial structure of the physical world itself is non-standard in this sense.
A monte carlo study of the friedman and conover tests in the single-factor repeated measures design

A Monte Carlo study was used to compare the Type I error rates and power of two nonparametric tests against the F test for the single-factor repeated measures model. The performance of the nonparametric Friedman and Conover tests was investigated for different distributions, numbers of blocks and numbers of repeated measures. The results indicated that the type of the distribution has little effect on the ability of the Friedman and Conover tests to control Type error rates. For power, the Friedman and Conover tests tended to agree in rejecting the same false hyporhesis when the design consisted of three repeated measures. However, the Conover test was more powerful than the Friedman test when the number of repeated measures was 4 or 5. Still, the F test is recommended for the single-factor repeated measures model because of its robustness to non-normality and its good power across a range of conditions.
Simultaneous ground-satellite observations of Pi 2 magnetic pulsations and their high frequency enhancement

Pi 2 magnetic pulsations are a frequent occurrence at the earth's surface and have been shown to be clearly correlated with substorm expansion onset. These pulsations are also observed in space at synchronous orbit at the same time as they are seen on the ground at the satellite conjugate point. This brief report describes three days in 1969 on which Pi 2 magnetic pulsations were simultaneously observed at the synchronous satellite ATS 1 and at Tungsten, N.W.T., Canada, near the foot of the ATS 1 magnetic field line. These Pi 2 bursts all exhibit the characteristic waveform and frequency, as well as an 0.3 Hz enhancement, at both locations. This high frequency enhancement appears to be an integral part of Pi 2 bursts both on the surface and at synchronous orbit and should be considered in the development of models of generation mechanisms.
Embossable grating couplers for planar waveguide optical sensors.

Planar optical waveguides are an attractive tool for use in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy. Although similar to fiber optics, planar waveguides have been slow to be commercially accepted due to the difficulty of coupling light into the guide. Generally, prism coupling is the method of choice in the laboratory, as efficiencies approaching 80% can be reached. However, prisms are impractical for routine use for several reasons: expensive positioning equipment is required, coupled power is sensitive to environmental fluctuations, and prism coupling prohibits the fabrication of a truly planar device. The use of thin gratings on the surface of the waveguide allows for a two-dimensional structure to be maintained, while providing enough efficiency to be useful as a sensor. Our research efforts focus on developing a technique to make inexpensive, reproducible gratings that are easy to fabricate. By chemically modifying the surface of a commercial grating with a suitable release agent, it is possible to em...
Exact and asymptotic expressions of the lift slope coefficient of anelliptic wing

Introduction A NEW analytical treatment has recently been presented for the classical lifting surface problem of an elliptic planform in incompressible steady and unsteady flow. Based on the expansion of the linearized acceleration potential in a series of ellipsoidal harmonics, the analysis led to very simple closed-form expressions for the aerodynamic coefficients in terms of the arbitrary aspect ratio. These exact expressions can be easily expanded into asymptotic forms to any order of the aspect ratio or its inverse for both high and low aspect ratios, respectively. The purpose of this Note is to obtain these asymptotic expressions and to compare them with other existing approximations.
Death Dressed As a Dancer: The Grotesque, Violence, and the Argentine Tango

Tango dancers in Buenos Aires milongas (dance clubs) create a mise-en-scene where intimacy and anonymity clash. Their tango and the rules of etiquette they practice share dissonant experiences of violence, exclusion, and trauma with an Argentine grotesque, the grotesco criollo.
Evaluation of viral-lysate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for detecting human immunodeficiency virus (type 1) infections using human sera standardized by quantitative western blotting.

Abstract The first generation of proprietary reagents for detecting antibodies to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used as antigen partially purified virus from cell culture lysates. These tests, which are still in use, may vary in their antibody measurement capabilities if different proportions of the viral polypeptides are present in the viral lysate mixtures. We determined the quantities of antibodies in the serum of persons infected with HIV-1 by dilution analysis using 3 ELISA kits: Abbott [A], Du Pont [D], Genetic Systems [G]. The proportionate antibody titres of each serum to p24gag and gp160 env 120 env were established by quantitative Western blotting. Serum antibody titres were high, frequently over 1:10 000, a result observed both by ELISA and Western blot. For Kit D, sera with high proportions of antibody to p24gag produced antibody titration curves with steep slopes whereas shallower slopes were found in sera with high proportions of antibody to gp160env. In contrast, Kit A gave steeper slopes with sera enriched for gp160env antibodies. Kit G gave results with slopes intermediate between Kits A and D. Serum antibody titres differed between kits depending upon the proportion and concentration of antibodies in a given serum to gp160env and p24gag. The findings that both the concentration and proportion of antibodies to specific viral polypeptides in human sera markedly affect the signal intensity produced by proprietary ELISAs suggest the need for several control sera which reflect the diversity of human serum responses. Standardization of human reference sera by quantitative Western blotting will assist in evaluation and quality control of ELISA tests.
The complete structure of the trifoliin a lectin-binding capsular polysaccharide of Rhizobium trifolii 843

Abstract The complete structure of the acidic, extracellular, capsular polysaccharide of Rhizobium trifolii 843 has been elucidated by a combination of chemical, enzymic, and spectroscopic methods, confirming an earlier proposed sugar sequence and assigning the locations of the acyl substituents. The polysaccharide was depolymerized by a lyase into octasaccharide units which were uniform in carbohydrate composition and linkage. These units also contained a uniform distribution of acetyl and pyruvic acetal [ O -(1-carboxyethylidene)] groups, and half of them were further acylated with d -3-hydroxybutanoyl groups. A much smaller proportion ( d -3-hydroxy-butanoyl group. The locations of the substituents were determined chemically and by J -correlated, 1 H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, proton nuclear Overhauser effect (n.O.e.)_ measurements, doubie-resonance 1 H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The composition and structure of the carbohydrate chain were determined by methylation analysis using g.l.c.-m.s. fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, and n.m.r. studies on the reduced, deacylated oligomer. Structural studies were supplemented by n.m.r. analyses on the original polymer. The oligosaccharides were found to be branched octasaccharides with four sugar residues in each branch, and the carbohydrate sequence agreed well with that expected from earlier work. In the abbreviated sequence and structure ( 1a ), the sugar residues are labelled “ a ” through “ h ”. The main chain ( a–d ) is composed of a 4-deoxy-α- l - threo -hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid group ( a ) that is linked to O-4 of a 3- O -acetyl- d -glucosyluronic acid residue ( b ) which is β-linked to O-4 of a d -glucosyl residue ( c ). Residue c is β-linked to O-4 of the branching d -linked to O-4 of a d -glucosyl residue ( d ). The side chain consists of a substituted d -galactosyl group ( h ) which is β-linked to O-3 of residue 9 of a β-(1→4)-linked d -glucose trisaccharide (fragment e–f–g ). The reducing end of the resulting tetrasaccharide ( e–f–g–h ) is β-linked to O-6 of the branching d -glucose residue ( d ). In the native polymer, this branching residue is α-linked to O-4 of the modified d -glucuronic acid residue ( a ) which is the unsaturated sugar in the oligomer. A small proportion of the O-2 atoms of the acetylated d -glucosyluronic acid residues is acetylated because of ester migration. The two terminal sugars ( g and h ) of the branch chain bear 4,6- O -(1-carboxyethylidene) groups. The d -galactosyl groups of half of the oligomers are acylated by d -3-hydroxybutanoyl groups at O-3. About 5% of the oligomers bear a second d -3-hydroxybutanoyl group at O-2 of the d -galactosyl group ( h ).
Activation of a tobacco glycine-rich protein gene by a fungal glucan preparation

A Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea cell wall glucan preparation was previously shown to protect tobacco plants against viral infection. Eleven plant defense-related genes were assayed for elevated mRNA accumulation levels in response to glucan treatment of tobacco plants. The expression of only one of these genes, a glycine-rich protein (GRP) gene, was induced by glucan application. Elevated GRP gene mRNA levels could be detected within 15 min of glucan treatment and reached maximum levels at 4 h post-treatment followed by a slow decline to 8 h. The maximum induction of the GRP gene was approximately ninefold above H2O-treated control plants. Northern blot analysis showed that a single mRNA species of 1.4 kb was responding to the glucan treatment. GRP genes occur in tobacco as members of a multigene family, but only one specific GRP gene was induced by the glucan treatment. A genomic copy of this responding GRP gene was cloned and sequenced. This tobacco GRP gene is homologous to the petunia ptGRP1 gene and the French bean GRP1.8-gene, but is not closely related to the French bean GRP1.0 gene. GRP gene expression has previously been associated with disease resistance in plants, but it remains to be determined whether beta-glucan activation of the tobacco GRP gene results in the observed resistance to virus.
Pneumoperitoneum in Preoperative Preparation for Total Gastrectomy

Summary and Conclusion1. Pneumoperitoneum produces (a) an intra-abdominal herniation of the lower end of the eosphagus (b) a ptosis of the stomach, liver, spleen and the root of the mesentery, displacing the first 3 structures from beneath the costal margin and therefore making them more accessible for surgical procedures. 2. Pneumoperitoneum employed in the dog, prior to total gastric resection, proved valuable. As a result of the intra abdominal herniation of the lower segment of the esophagus, the displacement of the cardia of the stomach to the level of the costal margin, and the mobility of the root of the mesentery, the stomach was readily resected and an esophagojejunostomy established.
Quantitative measurements of Ca2+/calmodulin binding and activation of myosin light chain kinase in cells

Abstract Myosin II regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation by Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is implicated in many cellular actin cytoskeletal functions. We examined MLCK activation quantitatively with a fluorescent biosensor MLCK where Ca2+-dependent increases in kinase activity were coincident with decreases in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in vitro. In cells stably transfected with CaM sensor MLCK, increasing [Ca2+]i increased MLCK activation and RLC phosphorylation coincidently. There was no evidence for CaM binding but not activating MLCK at low [Ca2+]i. At saturating [Ca2+]i MLCK was not fully activated probably due to limited availability of cellular Ca2+/CaM.
The LuxS-Dependent Quorum-Sensing System Regulates Early Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae Strain D39

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of death in children worldwide and forms highly organized biofilms in the nasopharynx, lungs, and middle ear mucosa. The luxS-controlled quorum-sensing (QS) system has recently been implicated in virulence and persistence in the nasopharynx, but its role in biofilms has not been studied. Here we show that this QS system plays a major role in the control of S. pneumoniae biofilm formation. Our results demonstrate that the luxS gene is contained by invasive isolates and normal-flora strains in a region that contains genes involved in division and cell wall biosynthesis. The luxS gene was maximally transcribed, as a monocistronic message, in the early mid-log phase of growth, and this coincides with the appearance of early biofilms. Demonstrating the role of the LuxS system in regulating S. pneumoniae biofilms, at 24 h postinoculation, two different D39ΔluxS mutants produced ∼80% less biofilm biomass than wild-type (WT) strain D39 did. Complementation of these strains with luxS, either in a plasmid or integrated as a single copy in the genome, restored their biofilm level to that of the WT. Moreover, a soluble factor secreted by WT strain D39 or purified AI-2 restored the biofilm phenotype of D39ΔluxS. Our results also demonstrate that during the early mid-log phase of growth, LuxS regulates the transcript levels of lytA, which encodes an autolysin previously implicated in biofilms, and also the transcript levels of ply, which encodes the pneumococcal pneumolysin. In conclusion, the luxS-controlled QS system is a key regulator of early biofilm formation by S. pneumoniae strain D39.
Advanced SQL modeling in RDBMS

Commercial relational database systems lack support for complex business modeling. ANSI SQL cannot treat relations as multidimensional arrays and define multiple, interrelated formulas over them, operations which are needed for business modeling. Relational OLAP (ROLAP) applications have to perform such tasks using joins, SQL Window Functions, complex CASE expressions, and the GROUP BY operator simulating the pivot operation. The designated place in SQL for calculations is the SELECT clause, which is extremely limiting and forces the user to generate queries with nested views, subqueries and complex joins. Furthermore, SQL query optimizers are preoccupied with determining efficient join orders and choosing optimal access methods and largely disregard optimization of multiple, interrelated formulas. Research into execution methods has thus far concentrated on efficient computation of data cubes and cube compression rather than on access structures for random, interrow calculations. This has created a gap that has been filled by spreadsheets and specialized MOLAP engines, which are good at specification of formulas for modeling but lack the formalism of the relational model, are difficult to coordinate across large user groups, exhibit scalability problems, and require replication of data between the tool and RDBMS. This article presents an SQL extension called SQL Spreadsheet, to provide array calculations over relations for complex modeling. We present optimizations, access structures, and execution models for processing them efficiently. Special attention is paid to compile time optimization for expensive operations like aggregation. Furthermore, ANSI SQL does not provide a good separation between data and computation and hence cannot support parameterization for SQL Spreadsheets models. We propose two parameterization methods for SQL. One parameterizes ANSI SQL view using subqueries and scalars, which allows passing data to SQL Spreadsheet. Another method presents parameterization of the SQL Spreadsheet formulas. This supports building stand-alone SQL Spreadsheet libraries. These models are then subject to the SQL Spreadsheet optimizations during model invocation time.
The distribution of chromium on three AP stars: evidence for depleted chromium at the magnetic equator

Doppler images of the chromium distribution on the magnetic Ap stars e Ursae Majoris, 45 Herculis, and ω Herculis are presented. All images are characterized by the presence of a depleted band and at least on depleted spot. e Ursae Majoris and ω Herculis also show several spots of enhanced chromium lying in a ring of radius 40°-50° and surrounding a depleted spot. 45 Herculis shows such a ring-like feature as well, although there is no depleted spot at its centre
Linear relaxation techniques for task management in uncertain settings

In this paper, we consider the problem of assisting a busy user in managing her workload of pending tasks. We assume that our user is typically oversubscribed, and is invariably juggling multiple concurrent streams of tasks (or work flows) of varying importance and urgency. There is uncertainty with respect to the duration of a pending task as well as the amount of follow-on work that may be generated as a result of executing the task. The user's goal is to be as productive as possible; i.e., to execute tasks that realize the maximum cumulative payoff. This is achieved by enabling the assistant to provide advice about where and how to shed load when all tasks cannot be done. A simple temporal problem with uncertainty and preferences (called an STPPU) provides a natural framework for representing the user's current set of tasks. However, current STPPU solution techniques are inadequate as a basis for generating advice in this context, since they are applicable only in the restrictive case where all pending tasks can be accomplished within time constraints and our principal concern is support in oversubscribed circumstances. We present two techniques that are based on linear relaxation for solving the this oversubscribed problem. Given an ordering of tasks, these algorithms identify which tasks to ignore, which to compress and by how much, to maximize quality. We show experimentally that our approaches perform significantly better than techniques adapted from prior research in oversubscribed scheduling.
Lessons learned from a study-group pilot program for medical students perceived to be ‘at risk’

Background: At the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM-SOM) we have noticed that some first year medical students have difficulty accurately assessing their academic skills and are often afraid to seek help. This leads to marginal performance and sometimes even failure. Therefore, we developed a preemptive intervention using peer-led study groups based on the personalized System of Instruction (PSI).Aim: The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate this approach for assisting students, interms of student success, and cast benefit.Methods: Thirteen first-year medical students considered to be ‘at risk’ of academic difficulty took part in a six-month pilot intervention. They participated in structured study groups that were facilitated by upper-level medical students. The groups met twice weekly for up to two hours each time. The at-risk students took short multiple-choice quizzes and discussed major concepts. If students did not achieve 80% or better on the quizzes, they were required to take ...
Determination of serum 5-fluorocytosine concentrations in the presence of ketoconazole

Because in-vitro antifungal synergism has been shown between the imidazoles and 5-fluorocytosine, we have evaluated the accuracy of a standard disc diffusion assay for serum 5-fluorocytosine levels in the presence of ketoconazole. In the usual clinical concentrations, ketoconazole does not interfere with the determination of serum 5-fluorocytosine levels by this standard test.
Energy dependence of vacuum-ultraviolet-induced radiation damage to electronic materials

Dielectric charging plays a key role in processing damage of semiconductor devices. VUV radiation with energies in the range of 4-30 eV can induce charge on electronic materials. Radiation charging of Si wafers coated with 3000A of Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ from synchrotron VUV exposure with photon fluxes in the range of 10/sup 9/-10/sup 13/ photons/sec cm/sup -2/ were measured with a Kelvin probe. The photoemission current and substrate voltage were monitored during each exposure. The integral of photoemission current was compared to the net charge measured with the Kelvin probe for VUV photon energies between 7-21 eV. The net charge induced on the dielectric results from both photoemission (which saturates for long exposure times) as well as from charge carriers generated within the dielectric. Since the threshold photon energy for photoemission is higher than that for electron-hole pair production, it is seen that photoemission can be minimized if the photon energies are below the threshold energy.
Tumor Necrosis Factor α Is Associated With Viral Control and Early Disease Progression in Patients With HIV Type 1 Infection

Inflammation in early human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression is not well characterized. Ninety patients with untreated primary HIV-1 infection were studied to determine associations of inflammatory proteins with early disease progression. High plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels (≥8.5 pg/mL) were significantly associated with an increased viral load set point and shorter times to reaching a CD4(+) T-cell count of <500 cells/mm(3) and initiating antiretroviral therapy. The increased risk of reaching a CD4(+) T-cell count of <500 cells/mm(3) in the group with high TNF-α levels was driven by viral load but was independent of concurrent CD4(+) T-cell count. Thus, TNF-α appears to be an important mediator of inflammation in patients with poor viral control and early HIV-1 disease progression.
Optical Visualization of Cathepsin K Activity in Atherosclerosis With a Novel, Protease-Activatable Fluorescence Sensor

Background— Cathepsin K (CatK), a potent elastinolytic and collagenolytic cysteine protease, likely participates in the evolution and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. To assess better the biology of CatK activity in vivo, we developed a novel near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) probe for imaging of CatK and evaluated it in mouse and human atherosclerosis. Methods and Results— The NIRF imaging agent consists of the CatK peptide substrate GHPGGPQGKC-NH2 linked to an activatable fluorogenic polymer. In vitro, CatK produced a 2- to 14-fold activation of the agent over other cysteine and matrix metalloproteinases (P 8-fold activation over a control imaging agent (P 100% NIRF signal increases in apolipoprotein E−/− mice in vivo (n=13; P<0.05, CatK imaging agent versus control agent) and in human carotid endarterectomy specimens ex vivo (n=14; P<0.05). Fluorescence microscopy of plaque sections demonstrated that enzymatically active Ca...
Prosocial Behavior following Transgression: Evidence for Intrapsychic and Interpersonal Motives

Abstract This experiment examined the notion that interpersonal, as well as intrapsychic motives, need to be considered when attempting to explain prosocial behavior following transgression. Ss (N = 51) were American college students. They received a tip-off concerning the answers on a test and later denied having such knowledge. For half the Ss the E revealed she had found out about the tip-off and excused the Ss' failure to admit their prior knowledge. Ss were asked to volunteer for another experiment under anonymous or public conditions. A control group did not receive the tip-off about the answers on the test and volunteered publicly. A significant interaction of the two independent variables was obtained. More Ss volunteered anonymously when they had not been excused than when they had been excused. Whether or not Ss had been excused made little difference in their willingness to volunteer publicly.
EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION OF THE GENETIC LOAD AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GENETIC BASIS OF INBREEDING DEPRESSION

The degree to which, and rapidity with which, inbreeding depression can be purged from a population has important implications for conservation biology, captive breeding practices, and invasive species biology. The degree and rate of purging also informs us regarding the genetic mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression. We examine the evolution of mean survival and inbreeding depression in survival following serial inbreeding in a seed-feeding beetle, Stator limbatus, which shows substantial inbreeding depression at all stages of development. We created two replicate serially inbred populations perpetuated by full-sib matings and paired with outbred controls. The genetic load for the probability that an egg produces an adult was purged at ∼0.45–0.50 lethal equivalents/generation, a reduction of more than half after only three generations of sib-mating. After serial inbreeding we outcrossed all beetles then measured (1) larval survival of outcrossed beetles and (2) inbreeding depression. Survival of outcrossed beetles evolved to be higher in the serially inbred populations for all periods of development. Inbreeding depression and the genetic load were significantly lower in the serially inbred than control populations. Inbreeding depression affecting larval survival of S. limbatus is largely due to recessive deleterious alleles of large effect that can be rapidly purged from a population by serial sib-mating. However, the effectiveness of purging varied among the periods of egg/larval survival and likely varies among other unstudied fitness components. This study presents novel results showing rapid and extensive purging of the genetic load, specifically a reduction of as much as 72% in only three generations of sib-mating. However, the high rate of extinction of inbred lines, despite the lines being reared in a benign laboratory environment, indicates that intentional purging of the genetic load of captive endangered species will not be practical due to high rates of subpopulation extinction.
Protecting children from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure: a critical review.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a significant public health burden. This review summarizes empirical evidence for reducing residential ETS exposure in youth in 19 studies published between 1987 and 2002. Most studies have investigated minimal contact, physician office-based interventions, although some have been conducted in homes and have been more intensive. Interventions are compared based on study design, type of intervention, sample characteristics (asthmatic or healthy), goals, and outcomes, including effect sizes. The average effect size (Cohen's d) was .34, with a range from -.14 to 1.04. The evidence suggests that interventions can be effective in reducing children's exposure. More rigorous study designs, interventions of greater intensity and duration, and those based on sound behavior change theory have yielded the most promising results. Challenges and limitations in this area of study are examined. A model for ETS interventions is proposed, and directions for future research are set forth.
Applying the New Accounting for Business Combinations and Intangible Assets to Partner Admissions

ABSTRACT: A long-standing partnership accounting issue is whether to recognize a bonus or goodwill (or other asset write-ups) upon a partner admission when the incoming partner's net asset contribution differs from his/her capital balance. Although extensively discussed in advanced accounting textbooks, that guidance is nonauthoritative, and the authoritative guidance in the FASB Codification makes almost no mention of partner admissions. This paper discusses how changes in GAAP since 2001 affect the accounting for partner admissions, especially the revised accounting for business combinations and intangible assets. It discusses the circumstances when partner admissions are business combinations. For most partner admissions that are business combinations, the partnership should recognize at fair value the net assets contributed by the incoming partner, including identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. For partner admissions that are reverse acquisitions, the partnership should revalue its own identif...
What an Archaeological Dig Can Tell Us About Macro- and Microcircuitry in Brains of Schizophrenia Subjects

This commentary on recent postmortem investigations suggests that schizophrenia may involve alterations of corticothalamic and temporolimbic regions of the brain. Although studies of this type are beginning to provide unique insights into the underlying pathophysiology of this disorder, all such investigations are generally hampered by the inability to differentiate between primary and secondary changes within complex macro- and microcircuitry. To overcome this basic epistomological problem, it will be necessary to develop novel strategies for determining how the communication between and within these various brain regions is decompensating, and later, compensating at different stages of the life cycle in schizophrenia.
The Genomes of All Angiosperms: A Call for a Coordinated Global Census

Recent advances in biological instrumentation and associated experimental technologies now permit an unprecedented efficiency and scale for the acquisition of genomic data, at ever-decreasing costs. Further advances, with accompanying decreases in cost, are expected in the very near term. It now becomes appropriate to discuss the best uses of these technologies in the context of the angiosperms. This white paper proposes a complete genomic census of the approximately 500,000 species of flowering plants, outlines the goals of this census and their value, and provides a road map towards achieving these goals in a timely manner.
Family and Genetic Influences on Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Objectives: This review focuses on genetic and other family influences on the development of fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and chronic widespread pain [CWP]. We first assess the evidence concerning aggregation of pain sensitivity and psychological distress among first-degree relatives of persons with FMS, as well as the validity of the affective spectrum disorder hypothesis. We also examine several prospective, population-based studies of factors that may contribute to the onset of CWP. We conclude by reviewing current evidence concerning the relationships between specific candidate genes, the onset of FMS or other affective spectrum disorders, and pain sensitivity among persons with these conditions.
A hybrid recursive multi-way number partitioning algorithm

The number partitioning problem is to divide a given set of n positive integers into k subsets, so that the sum of the numbers in each subset are as nearly equal as possible. While effective algorithms for two-way partitioning exist, multiway partitioning is much more challenging. We introduce an improved algorithm for optimal multiway partitioning, by combining several existing algorithms with some new extensions. We test our algorithm for partitioning 31-bit integers from three to ten ways, and demonstrate orders of magnitude speedup over the previous state of the art.
'Original' Means Old, 'Original' Means New: An 'Original' Look at What 'Originalists' Do

This article explores two different forms of Constitutional "originalism." One form (espoused by Justice Thomas in 2008) purports to embrace the intent of a specific oracular group while the other form (that of Justice Scalia) purports to embrace the original meaning of the Constitution’s text. Though originalism in either form may have initial common sense appeal, both forms of originalism founder upon analysis. Deconstructing such flawed doctrines proves useful in constructing a more sensible approach to Constitutional interpretation. This more sensible approach recognizes and respects, among other things, three levels of Constitutional meaning: purpose embodied in the Constitution's Preamble, the non-Preamble textual frame, and solutions to the issues framed. The landmark civil rights case of Lawrence v. Texas serves as a good example of such three-tiered analysis and demonstrates how “original” means both old and new in Constitutional interpretation.
A plea for clinical relevance in medical microbiology.

Laboratory costs have increased 229% over a recent five-year period. Public reaction to rising health care costs is resulting in legislative measures to constrain increases in hospital and clinical laboratory budgets. Under these conditions, continued annual increases in the volume of clinical microbiology will require higher productivity, or deterioration in quality will occur. Lack of automation in this area will place more emphasis on control of utilization. Performance evaluation programs and academicians often have construed that microbiologic examination of specimens be as complete as technology will allow. Not only is this costly, but it often results in reporting of clinically irrelevant and misleading information. Recommendations for criteria which will reduce unnecessary microbiologic effort in the evaluation of specimens received from throat, lower respiratory tract, urine, wounds, vagina and cervix, and anaerobic infections are presented.
Abstract 2571: Genetic variations in telomere maintenance pathway genes are associated with risk of esophageal cancer.

Many studies have shown the association of telomere dysfunction with aging and cancer development. We hypothesize that genetic variations in telomere maintenance genes may modulate esophageal cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we comprehensively assessed the association of 616 SNPs in 45 telomere maintenance pathway genes in 602 esophageal adenocarcinoma cases and 1,512 healthy controls. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) while adjusting for age, gender, and smoking status. In single SNP analysis, a total of 77 SNPs had P value − 5 , FDR = 0.020). Cumulative effects of SNPs were assessed by the number of unfavorable genotypes. Each subject was classified into low (zero unfavorable genotype), medium (one to three unfavorable genotypes), and high-risk groups (more than three unfavorable genotypes). Compared with the low-risk group, the OR was 1.58 (95% CI = 1.20-2.09) for the median-risk group and 2.57 (95% CI = 1.87-3.54) for the high-risk group. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was performed to identify genetic profiles that can classify individuals into differential risk of esophageal cancer. CART analysis identified 3 terminal nodes. Compared to terminal node 1, individuals in terminal nodes 2 and 3 had significantly increased risks of esophageal cancer with ORs of 1.43 (95% CI = 1.13-1.80) and 2.46 (95% CI = 1.81-3.34), respectively. We also performed gene-based analysis to determine the combined effect of SNPs within a gene region and identified four genes (TPP1, PINX1, TNKS, TERF1) significantly associated with the risk of esophageal cancer. In conclusion, our results suggest that genetic variants in telomere maintenance pathway genes may contribute to the altered risk of esophageal cancer, both individually and jointly. Citation Format: Yuanqing Ye, Jaffer Ajani, Xifeng Wu. Genetic variations in telomere maintenance pathway genes are associated with risk of esophageal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2571. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2571
An Inhibitor of Sexual Attraction of Male Codling Moths to a Synthetic Sex Pheromone and Virgin Females in Traps

In field tests, as little as 0.05 mg of ( E,E )-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol acetate inhibited 95–100% of the attraction of male codling moths, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.), to either 0.2 mg of the synthetic sex pheromone (( E,E )-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol) or to 10 virgin female moths. In laboratory tests of a group of normal alcohols, CnH2n+1OH ( n = 8,9,10…18), only undecanol showed significant inhibition. Undecanol also inhibited attraction in field tests, but required about 20 mg/trap.
C.-E.A. Winslow and the later years of public health at Yale, 1940-1945.

Abstract This paper is one of a series of papers in which I consider contemporary Yale medical education in general and the Yale Department of Epidemiology and Public Health in particular. It tells of the retirement in 1945 of C.-E.A. Winslow, Professor and Chairman of the Yale Department of Public Health since its inception in 1915; of the committees established by the dean of the School of Medicine and the president of the University, charged with determining the future direction of the department; and of the outcome, which, in 1945, proved favorable to Winslow's public health philosophy in contrast to the medical school's clinical needs and desires.