cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Groundwater Flow Cycling Between a Submarine Spring and an Inland Fresh Water Spring

Spring Creek Springs and Wakulla Springs are large first magnitude springs that derive water from the Upper Floridan Aquifer. The submarine Spring Creek Springs are located in a marine estuary and Wakulla Springs are located 18 km inland. Wakulla Springs has had a consistent increase in flow from the 1930s to the present. This increase is probably due to the rising sea level, which puts additional pressure head on the submarine Spring Creek Springs, reducing its fresh water flow and increasing flows in Wakulla Springs. To improve understanding of the complex relations between these springs, flow and salinity data were collected from June 25, 2007 to June 30, 2010. The flow in Spring Creek Springs was most sensitive to rainfall and salt water intrusion, and the flow in Wakulla Springs was most sensitive to rainfall and the flow in Spring Creek Springs. Flows from the springs were found to be connected, and composed of three repeating phases in a karst spring flow cycle: Phase 1 occurred during low rainfall periods and was characterized by salt water backflow into the Spring Creek Springs caves. The higher density salt water blocked fresh water flow and resulted in a higher equivalent fresh water head in Spring Creek Springs than in Wakulla Springs. The blocked fresh water was diverted to Wakulla Springs, approximately doubling its flow. Phase 2 occurred when heavy rainfall resulted in temporarily high creek flows to nearby sinkholes that purged the salt water from the Spring Creek Springs caves. Phase 3 occurred after streams returned to base flow. The Spring Creek Springs caves retained a lower equivalent fresh water head than Wakulla Springs, causing them to flow large amounts of fresh water while Wakulla Springs flow was reduced by about half.
Potentiation of growth inhibition and epigenetic modulation by combination of green tea polyphenol and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine in human breast cancer cells

Epigenetic therapy by DNA demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza 2′dC) is clinically effective in acute myeloid leukemia; however, it has shown limited results in treatment of breast cancer and has significant toxicity to normal cells. Green tea polyphenol (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has anti-cancer and DNA demethylating properties with no significant toxicity toward normal cells. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of non-toxic, low dose of 5-aza 2′ dC with EGCG, on growth inhibition of breast cancer cells. Human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB 231) and non-tumorigenic MCF-10A breast epithelial cells were treated with either 5-aza 2′ dC, EGCG, or their combination for 7 days. Cell growth inhibition was determined by cell count, cell viability, cell cycle, and soft agar assay, whereas genes expression changes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and/or Western blot analysis. Histone modifications and global DNA methylation changes were determined by Western blot and RAPD-PCR, respectively. The results revealed significantly greater inhibition of growth of breast cancer cells by co-treatment with 5-aza 2′ dC and EGCG compared to individual treatments, whereas it has no significant toxicity to MCF-10A cells. This was further confirmed by gene expression analysis. Changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications were also greater in cells with combination treatment. Findings of this study suggest that potentiation of growth inhibition of breast cancer cells by 5-aza 2′ dC and EGCG combination treatment, at least in part, is mediated by epigenetic mechanism.
CHILDHOOD SLEEP DISORDERS

Sleep problems in children may differ in various ways from analogous problems in the adult. This is less because of neurophysiologic differences between the two groups than it is because of the child's greater level of dependency. Young children make few decisions on their own and, as a result, parent-child interactions become connected intimately to the child's sleep process at bedtime and throughout the night. Parental desires and expectations are at least as important as those of the child in determining the pattern of sleep that follows. Such interactions are most important when it comes to understanding causes of sleeplessness in the young child, and only by appreciating these interactions can the clinician serve a useful role in helping the family to understand and improve a young child's problematic sleep patterns.
Fungal endophyte infection increases carbon sequestration potential of southeastern USA tall fescue stands

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceous (Schreb.)) is often infected with a common toxic fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) capable of producing alkaloids that affect grazing animal health, insect herbivory, plant production, and litter decomposition. The strength of these endophyte-associated effects is thought to depend on the abiotic and biotic conditions of a specific site. Prior work from Georgia, USA, has demonstrated that fungal endophyte infection can increase soil carbon pools of tall fescue pastures; however, for endophyte infection to contribute substantially to regional carbon sequestration, this result would have to hold true across the broad range of environmental conditions that support tall fescue growth. In this study, we evaluated whether endophyte infection consistently alters various soil parameters, including carbon storage, of tall fescue stands located throughout the southeastern United States. Soil samples were collected from nine sites with established paired high- and low- endophyte-infected tall fescue stands. These samples were analyzed for basic soil parameters, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), particulate and non-particulate organic matter-C and -N (POM, n-POM), C and N mineralization rates, and microbial biomass and community composition. Averaged across all sites, endophyte-infected tall fescue stands had 6% greater SOC and 5% greater TN pools in surface soil than adjacent endophyte-free stands. The lack of a significant interaction between site and endophyte infection status indicated that this result was relatively consistent across sites, despite differences in stand age, climate, and other environmental conditions. While POM C and POM N tended to be higher in endophyte-infected than endophyte-free stands, this result was not significant. However, greater pools of n-POM C and N were observed in endophyte-infected vs. endophyte-free stands when averaged across all the sites, suggesting increased retention of recalcitrant substrates occurred in response to fungal endophyte infection. Total microbial biomass, measured via phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, was greater in endophyte-infected than endophyte-free soils when averaged across sites, reflecting the trends observed with SOC and TN. Microbial community composition shifted somewhat in response to fungal endophyte infection: significantly higher fungal to bacterial ratios were observed in endophyte-free compared to endophyte-infected stands. However, ordinations of the PLFA data demonstrated only slight separation of endophyte-infected and endophyte-free microbial communities at some sites and no clear separation at others. Enhanced SOC, TN, recalcitrant n-POM C and N pools, and altered microbial biomass and communities suggest that this aboveground fungal endophyte symbiosis has widespread effects on soil biology and biochemistry, and that high prevalence of the aboveground endophyte increases C sequestration capacity of tall fescue stands throughout the southeastern USA.
Modes of Molecular Motion in Low Molecular Weight Polystyrene

The variations with temperature of the viscosity, η, and the relaxation times for various low molecular weight, unentangled polystyrenes (PS) are analyzed. We find that the temperature dependence of η does not directly reflect the behavior of the global chain modes. Depending on molecular weight and temperature, η can exhibit a stronger temperature dependence than even the local segmental modes. However, this is only a consequence of the strong temperature dependence of the recoverable compliance Js. The Rouse relaxation time, τ1, deduced from the product of the viscosity and the recoverable compliance, has the expected behavior. For example, this Rouse time for a PS of molecular weight equal to 2 kg/mol has the same temperature dependence as that for self-diffusion; hence, there is no enhancement of translational diffusion in the polymer. The same conclusion was reached by Urakawa et al. [Urakawa, O.; Swallen, S. F.; Ediger, M. D.; von Meerwall, E. D. Macromolecules 2004, 37, 1558], although the analysis...
Cyclic Changes in Plasma Progestins and Estrogens in Squirrel Monkeys

Plasma concentrations of progestin and estradiol-17beta were determined during the course of the breeding season in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Concentrations of both estradiol-17beta and progestins were considerably higher than those reported for other primate species. The peak values of estradiol were 503.4 + or - 57.5 pg/ml while those for progestins were 399.5 + or - 27.7 ng/ml. Generally peak concentrations of progestins occurred 3-4 days after the estradiol peak. Concentrations of each of the steroids exhibited cyclic fluctuations. Based on the interval between estradiol and progestin peaks the length of the reproductive cycle of this species was estimated to be approximately 9 days.
Laser photocatalytic isomerization and hydrogenation of olefins in the gas phase

We report the first observation of homogeneous organometallic photocatalysis in the gas phase. Gaseous mixtures of iron pentacarbonly with 1‐pentene and hydrogen for hydrogenation (with accompanying isomerization) are irradiated with the pulsed output of a N2 (337 nm) or XeF (351 nm) excimer laser. We observe quantum yields, calculated as number of conversions per photon absorbed, as high as 400 for isomerization and 18 for hydrogenation. Kinetic and spectroscopic evidence suggest that the photocatalytic mechanisms operating in the gas phase closely parallel those of the corresponding, better characterized liquid phase systems. (AIP)
Transmedian innervation of canine tooth pulp in cats.

Abstract The present study was designed to determine the extent to which the pulpal nerves of teeth in the cat receive a bilateral innervation from first order trigeminal afferent fibers. Bipolar electrodes were implanted into the predentin of upper and lower canine and premolar teeth on both sides of the jaw and into the left and right trigeminal nerves. Stimulation of the pulp of single canine teeth was found to evoke large-amplitude, short-latency responses in both the right and left trigeminal nerves. Conversely, stimulation of the trigeminal nerve on one side led to evoked responses in all canine teeth. The conduction velocities were similar for ipsilateral and contralateral responses. Bilateral responses were not observed when stimulating or recording from premolar teeth. These findings indicate the existence of an extensive transmedian innervation of the teeth in the cat; an innervation which extends at least as far laterally as the first premolar teeth and which is particularly dense in the canine teeth.
Association of methemoglobinemia and intravenous nitroglycerin administration.

Significant elevation of arterial methemoglobin levels has been reported with the administration of intravenous (i.v.) nitroglycerin (NTG). To determine the incidence and clinical significance of this side effect of i.v. NTG, serial arterial methemoglobin levels were determined in 50 consecutive patients receiving i.v. NTG for 48 hours or longer. The mean i.v. NTG infusion rate was 290 +/- 13 micrograms/min (4.1 +/- 0.2 micrograms/kg/min) and the mean duration of infusion was 7.1 +/- 0.5 days. The mean methemoglobin level for the 141 samples was 1.57 +/- 0.08%, which differs from the control mean value in our laboratory of 0.44 +/- 0.01%. Although no patient had clinical symptoms from methemoglobin, 20 patients had elevated (greater than 1%) levels on at least 1 measurement. Seventy-eight of the 141 samples analyzed were in the normal range; 63 determinations were between 2 and 5%. Patients with normal methemoglobin levels differed from those with abnormal levels in the dose of i.v. NTG (mean infusion rate 244 +/- 16 vs 351 +/- 17 micrograms/min; total cumulative dose 1,612 +/- 153 vs 3,398 +/- 308 mg). Age, weight, renal and hepatic function, and arterial oxygen saturation were not different between the groups. In conclusion, clinically significant methemoglobinemia is uncommon with i.v. NTG infusion; however, when large doses of NTG are administered, this complication is more likely.
The ethics of the death penalty

Clearly among the criminal justice faculty teaching about the death penalty, many find the use of capital punishment highly objectionable, and some of them will use their classrooms to convey their arguments against it. At academic conferences vocal advocates have passed resolutions against the death penalty, and held panels to criticize its continued use. Among the more important books in criminal justice ethics it is customary to give the arguments both for and against capital punishment, but the full range of pro‐execution arguments rarely appears, and the selected defenses often are the easiest “straw men” to bat down. Rarely are the social contract or religious bases adequately argued. As a supporter of limited use of capital punishment, the author presents some pro‐execution arguments either absent from or seriously understated in the prevailing literature. Support for executions as an ethical exercise of state power can be found in the moral and religious doctrines of the leading western religions ...
D-branes and Spinc structures

Abstract It was recently pointed out by E. Witten that for a D-brane to consistently wrap a submanifold of some manifold, the normal bundle must admit a Spin c structure. We examine this constraint in the case of type II string compactifications with vanishing cosmological constant, and argue that in all such cases, the normal bundle to a supersymmetric cycle is automatically Spin c .
An iterative finite element-integral technique for predicting sound radiation from turbofan inlets in steady flight

A new iterative solution technique for predicting the sound field radiated from a turbofan inlet in steady flight is presented. The sound field is divided into two regions: the sound field within and near the inlet which is computed using the finite element method and the radiation field beyond the inlet which is calculated using an integral solution technique. A continuous solution is obtained by matching the finite element and integral solutions at the interface between the two regions. The applicability of the iterative technique is demonstrated by comparison of experimental results with the theoretical results for several different inlet configurations with and without flow. These examples show that good agreement between experiment and theory is obtained within five iterations.
Self, identity and the naming question: Reflections on the language of disability

With all the emphasis on 'political correctness', it is especially important to delineate the functions of naming. People with disabilities are facing issues quite similar to minority groups which have preceded them in attempting to enter 'mainstream' America. Their similarities and differences with these groups are traced as well as their own unique path (with all its implications) and some possible analytic and political solutions.
The finite deformation of a pressurized circular tube for a class of compressible materials

This investigation is concerned with the problem of a hollow circular cylinder subjected to uniform internal and external pressure within the equilibrium theory of finite elasticity. The tube is composed of homogeneous, isotropic,compressible materials of special type, namely harmonic materials. Explicit closed-form solutions for the deformation and stress fields are obtained. The true stress distribution, expressed as a function of the undeformed coordinates, is shown to be essentially independent of material properties. The two cases of internal pressure only, and external pressure only, are examined in detail. In the former case, there is a critical value of the applied pressure at which the maximum hoop stress in the tube, occurring at the inner surface, becomes unbounded. Results appropriate for thin shells are also obtained. For the case of external pressure only, a critical value of the applied pressure exists for which closing of the cavity is predicted. For nearly solid cylinders, or equivalently, for a cavity in an unbounded medium, explicit results are provided for the corresponding stress concentration factor.
Synthesis of SiC nanorods from bleached wood pulp

Unbleached and bleached soft wood pulps have been used as templates and carbon precursors to produce SiC nanorods. Hydrolyzed tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), silicic acid was infiltrated into the pulps followed by a carbothermal reduction to form SiC nanorods at 1400 °C in Ar. Residual carbon formed along with SiC was removed by gasification at 700 °C in air. The SiC materials prepared from unbleached pulp were non-uniform SiC with a thick SiO2 coating, while the SiC nanorods prepared from the bleached pulp were uniform and straight with dimensions of 250 nm in diameter and 5.0 mm long. The formation of uniform camelback structure of SiC in the reaction between silica and bleached pulp is attributed to more silica deposited in the amorphous region of cellulose.
On Minimum Spanning Trees and Determinants

In the 1840's, Kirchhoff, while putting forth his defining work on circuit theory, was simultaneously pioneering the theory of graphs, a development which occupies a central place in circuit theory. Using algebraic methods, Kirchhoff [3] found a way to determine whether a set of edges in a connected graph was a spanning tree, that is, a tree containing all the vertices of the graph. In his setting, the spanning trees correspond to certain nonsingular submatrices of a matrix constructed from the incidence matrix of the graph. Over time, graphs came to be treated as discrete structures as well, consisting of finite sets of vertices and edges, without the algebraic structure that Kirchhoff used. Later in the century, attention was given to weighted graphs, graphs whose edges have been assigned real values. A classical problem in weighted graphs is this: Given a connected weighted graph, find all the spanning trees that have the minimum edge weight sum. These trees are called minimum spanning trees, and an algorithm for finding one was given as early as 1926 by Boruvka, whose work is discussed in [2]. In 1956 Kruskal [4] developed another algorithm for finding a minimum spanning tree; it is perhaps the most famous of all such algorithms. Minimum spanning trees have many applications; some of the most obvious ones deal with the minimizing of cost, such as the cost of building pipelines to connect storage facilities. We will begin by outlining the results of Kirchhoff and Kruskal. Although both approaches have to do with spanning trees in graphs, they appear to have little else in common. We show that there is indeed a more profound connection, which we develop here. In particular, we will develop an algorithm that uses Kirchhoff's determinants to generate the set of all minimum spanning trees in a weighted graph. In the process, the linear algebra and the discrete mathematics come together in a pleasing, intriguing, and accessible way, and it is hoped that students may be encouraged to follow this expository article with further exploration.
Serotonergic mechanisms in the night eating syndrome.

This review describes new findings regarding the Night Eating Syndrome (NES), a distinct disorder that is precipitated by stress most persons who suffer from it. It is manifested by a delayed circadian rhythm of food intake (evening hyperphagia, nighttime awakenings with ingestions and morning anorexia) with an intact circadian sleep rhythm. It is readily diagnosed by calibrated diagnostic instruments and has been widely reported in the medical literature. NES has genetic determinants and is more prevalent than the traditional eating disorders. New findings suggest that it represents a dysregulation of serotonin function. Thus, SPECT (single-positron-emission computerized tomography) has shown greatly elevated serotonin transporter binding in the midbrain of night eaters. This appears to impair postsynaptic serotonin transmission in areas mediating circadian rhythms and food intake. Restoration of serotonergic function with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) in four clinical trials has resulted in a great decrease in night eating behaviors and significant weight loss among overweight and obese night eaters.
Correspondence - Analysis of thickness vibrations of c-axis inclined zig-zag two-layered zinc oxide thin-film resonators

The free vibrations of a two-layered C-axis inclined zig-zag ZnO thin-film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) connected to external impedance are analyzed. The frequency equation and mode shape for this resonator are derived based on the linear piezoelectric theory. The impedance characteristics of the FBAR are derived and compared with previous experimental results.
Incidence of severe unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning differs across racial/ethnic categories.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the incidence of severe, acute, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning differs across racial/ethnic categories. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed medical records of all Washington State residents treated with hyperbaric oxygen for severe, acute, unintentional CO poisoning from December 1, 1987, through February 28, 1997. RESULTS: Among 586 Washington State residents treated with hyperbaric oxygen for severe, acute, unintentional CO poisoning, racial/ethnic designations could be determined from record review for 530 (90%). The black and Hispanic white populations of Washington State had higher relative risks for severe, acute, unintentional CO poisoning than the non-Hispanic white population. The most common sources of CO poisoning differed by racial/ethnic category. CONCLUSIONS: Members of certain groups in Washington State are at higher risk for severe, unintentional CO poisoning. Public education programs regarding CO exposure should be targeted to populations at risk. Language: en
Comparison of single and double balloon valvuloplasty in children with aortic stenosis

Abstract To compare the effectiveness of the single and double balloon techniques, the short-term results of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty were assessed in two consecutive groups of children with valvular aortic stenosis. In 16 children (aged 3 months to 17 years) the single balloon technique was utilized; the ratio of balloon diameter to valve anulus diameter was 0.96 ± 0.03 (mean ± SEM). In 11 children (aged 3 months to 21 years) the double balloon technique was utilized in which two balloons are positioned across the valve and inflated simultaneously; the ratio of the balloon diameter sum to valve anulus diameter was 1.32 ± 0.05. The groups were similar in age, weight, cardiac output, prevalvuloplasty gradient and valve anulus diameter. Overall, valvuloplasty reduced the peak systolic gradient by 53% from 80 ± 4 to 38 ± 3 mm Hg (p
Chromatic series for functions of slow growth

The theory of chromatic derivatives leads to chromatic series which replace Taylor's series for bandlimited functions. For such functions, these series have a global convergence property not shared by Taylor's series. In this work the theory is extended to bandlimited functions of slow growth. This includes many signals of practical importance such as polynomials, periodic functions and almost periodic functions. This extension also enables us to get improved local convergence results for chromatic series.
Update with longitudinal analysis of quality of life assessment after doxorubicin drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Purpose To investigate the effects on health-related quality of life after doxorubicin DEB TACE in patients with HCC Materials and Methods Single-center IRB-approved prospective health-related quality of life (HRQOL) study with analysis of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) assessment tool before and after DEB TACE. Scores prior to DEB TACE along with post-treatment, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up scores were obtained. Paired t-test was used to compare the score of each domain before and after treatment. Significance levels were set at .05 for all tests. The SAS statistical package v9.3 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) was used for all data management and analyses Results 114 patients with HCC (81 males, 33 females median age 60 years range 24-88) were enrolled into the study. 33 patients have completed 6-month follow-up surveys and 21 patients have completed 12-month follow-up surveys. Patients had decreased baseline scores within all eight domains of the SF-36 compared with healthy age-adjusted norms. There were positive trends in the role-emotional (46.96 vs 54.17, p=0.08), mental health (66.56 vs 68.1, p=0.49), and Social Functioning (58.26 vs 58.58, p=0.89) domains after therapy, although not statistically significant. There were no significant changes in the physical functioning (50.11 vs 48.23, p=0.38), pole-physical (35.49 vs 28.63, p=0.08), vitality (40.27 vs 38.58, p=0.27), bodilypPain (55.93 vs 53.71, p=0.39), and general health (44.92 vs 43.68, p=0.43) domains. There were no significant changes in any domain six months after therapy, although a positive trend in Bodily Pain (51.89 vs 59.85, p=0.06) almost reached significance. There were no significant changes in any domain twelve months after therapy. Longitudinal analysis revealed no significant changes when comparing short-term follow-up (1-3 month) with either 6 or 12-month scores, and no significant change between 6 and 12-month scores Conclusion Patients with HCC are not likely to perceive decreases in any of the HRQOL domains after treatment with DEB TACE
Linking genotype to phenotype with Bayesian network modeling of Chlamydia infection

Background Understanding the causal pathways that link genotypes with gene expression and higher order phenotypes, such as disease susceptibility, has been a recent goal of systems genetic studies. Pairwise correlations can select genes and phenotypes that are associated with a common genetic locus; however, the directions of these links are more difficult to determine. We propose a method in which Bayesian networks are used to establish causal pathways from genotype to gene expression to phenotype and apply it to mice infected with Chlamydia psittaci.
Lifetime measurements of states in 110Pd

Abstract Lifetimes of the 2+1, 4+1, 6+1, 2+2, 4+2, 0+2, 2+3 and 4+3 states in 110Pd have been measured using the recoil distance method. The measured lifetimes are compared with the E2 and M1 matrix elements measured in a separate Coulomb excitation experiment. The lifetime measurements agree, within the ≈5–10% experimental errors with the values obtained by Coulomb excitation. This agreement confirms the accuracy of the complicated analysis technique used to extract the matrix elements from the Coulomb excitation data. The measured E2 matrix elements can be understood within a macroscopic quadrupole collective model involving mixing of four quasi-rotational bands which have different shapes.
Democracy, Decentralization, and Clientelism: New Relationships and Old Practices

One of the objectives of decentralization is extending democracy by transforming the power relations between the state, the market, and civil society. The idea of democracy implied by this type of decentralization transcends the strictly procedural definition of democracy as a political system characterized by free elections based on universal suffrage, freedom of association, accountability, and civilian control of the military (Mainwaring, O'Donnell, and Valenzuela, 1992). Participatory democracy, which recognizes citizenship as a conflictive practice related to power, reflecting struggles about "who will define common problems and their solutions" (Jelin, 1993: 25), is the type of democracy that decentralization aims at. It transcends representative democracy in that it implies that the decision-making process results from negotiations directly established by the various sociopolitical actors to influence the agenda; furthermore, it subordinates decision making to the idea of social justice. Another objective of decentralization is optimizing efficiency so as not to reproduce the old practice of clientelism. In the long run, whether or not political and economic decentralization has participatory democracy as its primary objective, it still offers the possibility of new forms of relationships and negotiations between the state, the market, and civil society that have been characterized in the literature as client-patron relations, customer-supplier relations, consumer-producer relations, and citizenship, among others (Burns, Hambleton, and Hogget, 1994; Hirschman, 1970). Scott (1972) identifies three models of interaction in the relationship between the state and civil society: the primordial, based on the nexus of
Should children drink before discharge from day surgery

The ability to drink clear liquids without vomiting after anesthesia and surgery is a commonly used criteria for discharge of pediatric day surgery patients. We hypothesized that the ability to drink as a prerequisite for discharge would not affect the frequency of vomiting, delay discharge, or incr
Synchronous colon primaries have the same prognosis as solitary colon cancers

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the prognosis of patients with synchronous colon primary tumors. METHODS: An 18-year, multi-institutional database of 4,878 colon cancer patients was reviewed, and patients with synchronous tumors were identified. Survival for each group was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank analysis. RESULTS: There were 160 patients (3.3 percent) with 339 synchronous tumors. Eight percent of these patients had more than two tumors at the time of diagnosis. TNM staging of all synchronous tumors was 12 percent Stage 0, 41 percent Stage I, 21 percent Stage II, 16 percent Stage III, and 7 percent Stage IV. Based on highest stage lesion, 1 percent of patients were at Stage 0, 28 percent Stage I, 33 percent Stage II, 25 percent Stage III, and 11 percent Stage IV. Disease-specific five-year survival by highest stage was 87 percent for Stage O or I, 69 percent for Stage II, 50 percent for Stage III, and 14 percent for Stage IV (all differences significant by log-rank test). These “highest stage” survivals for patients with synchronous tumors were not significantly different from survival of patients with same stage solitary tumors in our database or from survival of patients with solitary colon cancer in national tumor databases. CONCLUSION: For patients with synchronous colon cancers, survival is the same as for patients with solitary colon tumors on a stage-for-stage basis, when highest stage synchronous tumor is considered.
Transcriptional repression by binding of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase to promoter sequences.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a DNA-binding enzyme that plays roles in response to DNA damage, apoptosis, and genetic stability. Recent evidence has implicated PARP in transcription of eukaryotic genes. However, the existing paradigm tying PARP function to the presence of DNA strand breaks does not provide a mechanism by which it may be recruited to gene-regulating domains in the absence of DNA damage. Here we report that PARP can bind to the DNA secondary structures (hairpins) in heteroduplex DNA in a DNA end-independent fashion and that automodification of PARP in the presence of NAD+ inhibited its hairpin binding activity. Atomic force microscopic images show that in vitro PARP protein has a preference for the promoter region of the PARP gene in superhelical DNA where the dyad symmetry elements likely form hairpins according to DNase probing. Using a chromatin cross-linking and immunoprecipitation assay we show that PARP protein binds to the chromosomal PARP promoter in vivo. Reporter gene assays have revealed that the transcriptional activity of the PARP promoter is 4–5-fold greater in PARP knockout cells than in wild type fibroblasts. Reintroduction of vectors expressing full-length PARP protein or its truncated mutant (DNA-binding domain retained but lacking catalytic activity) into PARP−/− cells has conferred transcriptional down-regulation of the PARP gene promoter. These data provide support for PARP protein as a potent regulator of transcription including down-regulation of its own promoter.
Altered movement trajectories and force control during object transport in Huntington's disease.

Individuals with Huntington's Disease (HD) have difficulty grasping and transporting objects, however, the extent to which specific impairments affect their performance is unknown. The present study examined the kinematics and force coordination during transport of an object in 12 subjects with HD and 12 age-matched controls. Subjects grasped an object between their thumb and index finger, transported it 25 cm forward, replaced and released it while their fingertip forces and the object's position were recorded. Five trials were performed with each of three weights (200 g, 400 g, and 800 g). While bradykinesia was evident in subjects with HD, this slowness was not consistently observed in all phases of the movement. The slowness of movement seen during the task appears to be due to impairments in sequencing and the movement strategies selected by the subjects. Compared to control subjects, subjects with HD produced highly curvilinear hand paths and more variable grip forces that were dependent on the weight of the object. Isometric force development and movement speed during transport were unaffected by the disease. The results suggest that prolonged task durations in subjects with HD are not necessarily due to slowness of movement, per se. These findings have clinical implications for understanding the task-specific nature of movement impairments in HD and developing effective intervention strategies.
Pain and disability: A challenge for patients and practitioners

(1997). Pain and disability: A challenge for patients and practitioners. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 1-2.
Genetic control of immunity to Heligmosomoides polygyrus: Presentation of promiscuous antigens to parasite-specific T cell hybridomas

SUMMARY The role of MHC class II in the presentation of Heligmosomoides polygyrus antigens has been investigated, using a number of T cell hybridomas produced in A and E positive and negative mice. By using fixed and irradiated antigen presenting cells (APC), further evidence has emerged, to support earlier data, that there can be differential processing requirements during the presentation of H. polygyrus antigens by A and E molecules. In concordance with these earlier observations, this work provides further evidence that individual T cells can respond to antigen when presented by more than one MHC molecule. Previously, this evidence has been restricted to individual MHC molecules of the same haplotype, hut these data show that H. polygyrus produces antigens which can he presented by both syngeneic and allogeneic MHC molecules. These antigens do not appear to be synonymous with the previously described H. polygyrus superantigen, as presentation is restricted to specific MHC haplotypes. It is proposed that H. polygyrus may produce these antigenic molecules as part of its strategy to manipulate the host immune system.
Contact area and pressure distribution changes of the equine third carpal bone during loading

Changes in contact area and pressure distribution with loading were evaluated on the proximal articulating surface of the equine third carpal bone using safranin-O dye staining and pressure sensitive film techniques. A significant increase in percentage contact area resulted as the applied load was increased from 3115 to 9000 N (54.93% +/- 7.99 vs 61.43% +/- 7.37 respectively, P = 0.016). The area in contact shifted towards the dorsal aspect of both the radial and intermediate facets of the third carpal bone. Changes were also detected in the mean pressure under the same loading conditions. There was a significant increase (P 0.05) in mean pressure with an increase in load from 3115 to 9000 N at the palmar aspect of either facet. The increase in contact area and mean pressure with loading in the most dorsal and dorsomedial aspect of the radial facet may explain the large amount of third carpal bone trauma seen in this location in racing horses.
Development and applications of an optical tweezer-based microrheometer: case studies of biomaterials and living cells

The investigation of mechanical properties of living biological cells and biomaterials is challenging because they are inhomogeneous and anisotropic at microscopic scales, and often time-dependent over a broad time scale. Through three case studies of biomaterials and living cells, we demonstrate that a novel, oscillating optical tweezer-based imaging microrheometer developed recently in our laboratory has overcome many technical barriers posed by the complexity of biological systems. In this paper, we present the working principle, system setup and calibration of the imaging microrheometer, and report the groundbreaking results of the three applications: gelation dynamics of cross-linkable hyaluronan acid (HA) hydrogels; Mechanical in-homogeneity and anisotropy in purified microtubule networks; and effects of drug treatment and temperature variation on the mechanical properties of in vitro human alveolar epithelial cells. In each case, micro beads inserted in the materials, or attached to the cell membrane were used as probes for optical trapping. The probe particle was set into a forced harmonic oscillation by oscillating optical tweezers. Position sensing optics and phase lock-in signal processing allow the determination of the amplitude and phase shift of the particle motion at high sensitivity. The complex mechanical modulus G* is then calculated from the amplitude and the phase shift. The rheometer system is capable of measuring dynamic local mechanical moduli in the broad frequency range of 1.3-1000 Hz at a sampling rate of 2 data point per second across a wide dynamic range (1~20,000 dyne/cm2). Integration of the rheometer system with spinning disk confocal microscopy enables the study of micromechanical properties and the microstructure of the sample simultaneously. Combination of dual-axis, piezo-electric activated mirror and 2-D position sensing detector gives the rheometer system the capability of investigating mechanical anisotropy in highly structured biological samples.
The inflationary experiences of six developing countries in Asia: an investigation of underlying determinants

This paper investigates major deteminats of the inflation rate in six Asian developing countries. The sample includes low and moderate-high inflation cases. For the investigation a monetarist model of the inflation rate adjusted to account for important external factors is used. The results show that the growth of the money stock was not a primary source of inflation in all countries. However, various factors that influence the public's willingness to hold money are behind inflationary pressures across countries. Among these, some are external factors stemming from changes in foreign interst rates and import prices. Overall, the evidence suggests that the success of domestic policy in fighting inflation is highly dependent on the unique inflationary experience of each country.
Teacher attitude towards inclusion practices and special needs students

This paper investigates the varying attitudes of regular (mainstream) education teachers towards the implementation of inclusion in elementary and secondary school classrooms. This paper tries to take into account the need for a better understanding of teacher attitude towards inclusion and how the inclusive environment can be improved. The present paper concentrates on examining whether there is a difference in attitude between elementary regular education teachers and secondary regular education teachers. The participants of this study were 73 teachers from three public elementary and secondary schools in rural, southeastern USA who completed the Scale of Teachers' Attitudes Towards Inclusive Classrooms (STATIC). The results indicated that most teachers support the practice of inclusion in regular education classrooms or possess a neutral consensus towards the practice of inclusion as it relates to teaching assignment. For example, grade level, subject area or type of inclusion practice (full or partial). Meaning that the results for this study were mixed.
Optical Properties of One-Dimensional Metal Nanostructures

We present a theoretical study of the optical properties of one-dimensional (1-D) metal nanostructures including nanorods and nanotubes. Although the optical properties of gold nanotubes are similar to that of gold nanorods, both the longitudinal and transverse plasmon resonances of gold nanotubes show much larger red-shifting and narrower. The E-field calculations indicate that the 1-D gold nanostructures, particularly gold nanotubes have great potential for applications to SERS.
Effects of prenatal X-irradiation on the ontogenesis of acetylcholinesterase and carbonic anhydrase in rat central nervous system

Summary Effects of prenatal X-irradiation on the ontogenesis of carbonic anhydrase and acetylcholinesterase in rat CNS have been studied. In both male and female offspring of irradiated mothers, development of AChE was impaired in the caudate nucleus. Ontogenesis of CA, on the other hand, was suppressed in the medulla and spinal cord of male rats while a slight stimulation was noted in the females. In the spinal cord, the stimulation was noted beyond 80 days of age. Approaches towards understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects and their possible functional significance are discussed.
Preventing Phagocytosis Takes More Than a Sweet Disposition

While a polysaccharide capsule is known to be important for preventing phagocytosis of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, other antiphagocytic pathways have been generally elusive. Now, a capsule-independent pathway has been identified that prevents macrophages from ingesting the fungus, contributing to evasion of the host immune response.
Møller–Plesset correlation energies in a localized orbital basis using a Laplace transform technique

In electronic structure calculations requiring the handling of large amounts of integrals, storage requirements can often be reduced through the use of localized orbitals which gives rise to sparse integral arrays. However, conventional Moller–Plesset perturbation theory is constrained to canonical orbitals due to the explicit use of orbital energies in the energy expressions, and it is therefore not straightforward to reduce the storage requirements through such orbital localization. This work shows how the constraint of canonical orbitals can be lifted using a Laplace transform technique, and investigates the reduction in storage requirement that can result from the localization of orbitals made possible by such an approach.
Domains, amino acid residues, and new isoforms of Caenorhabditis elegans diacylglycerol kinase 1 (DGK-1) important for terminating diacylglycerol signaling in vivo

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) inhibit diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling by phosphorylating DAG. DGK-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of human neuronal DGKθ, inhibits neurotransmission to control behavior. DGK-1, like DGKθ, has three cysteine-rich domains (CRDs), a pleckstrin homology domain, and a kinase domain. To identify DGK domains and amino acid residues critical for terminating DAG signaling in vivo, we analyzed 20 dgk-1 mutants defective in DGK-1-controlled behaviors. We found by sequencing that the mutations included nine amino acid substitutions and seven premature stop codons that impair the physiological functions of DGK-1. All nine amino acid substitutions are in the second CRD, the third CRD, or the kinase domain. Thus, these domains are important for the termination of DAG signaling by DGK-1 in vivo. Seven of the substituted amino acid residues are present in all human DGKs and likely define key residues required for the function of all DGKs. An ATP-binding site mutation expected to inactivate the kinase domain retained very little physiological function, but we found two stop codon mutants predicted to truncate DGK-1 before its kinase domain that retained significantly more function. We detected novel splice forms of dgk-1 that can reconcile this apparent conflict, as they skip exons containing the stop codons to produce DGK-1 isoforms that contain the kinase domain. Two of these isoforms lack an intact pleckstrin homology domain and yet appear to have significant function. Additional novel isoform(s) account for all of the DGK-1 function necessary for one behavior, dopamine response.
The effects of colony-level selection on the social organization of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies: colony-level components of pollen hoarding

Two-way selection for quantities of stored pollen resulted in the production of high and low pollen hoarding strains of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Strains differed in areas of stored pollen after a single generation of selection and, by the third generation, the high strain colonies stored an average 6 times more pollen than low strain colonies. Colony-level organizational components that potentially affect pollen stores were identified that varied genetically within and between these strains. Changes occurred in several of these components, in addition to changes in the selected trait. High strain colonies had a significantly higher proportion of foragers returning with loads of pollen, however, high and low strain colonies had equal total numbers of foragers Colony rates of intake of pollen and nectar were not independent. Selection resulted in an increase in the number of pollen collectors and a decrease in the number of nectar collectors in high strain colonies, while the reciprocal relationship occurred in the low strain. High and low strain colonies also demonstrated different diurnal foraging patterns as measured by the changing proportions of returning pollen foragers. High strain colonies of generation 3 contained significantly less brood than did low strain colonies, a consequence of a constraint on colony growth resulting from a fixed nest volume and large quantities of stored pollen. These components represent selectable colony-level traits on which natural selection can act and shape the social organization of honey bee colonies
Some properties of an esterase derived from preparations of the first component of complement.

Studies on an esterase derived from partially purified preparations of the first component of complement are described. The esterase hydrolyzed certain synthetic amino acid esters, among which N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester was most susceptible. This was hydrolyzed maximally between pH 7.5 and 8.2, and at 41°C. The esterase could not be identified with other previously described hydrolytic enzymes. An esterase with similar properties could also be eluted from antigen-antibody aggregates which had been treated with serum. Human serum contained a heat-labile inhibitor of the esterase which could not be identified with any of the known components of complement. The esterase was also inhibited by certain reducing agents. The experiments described support the early hypothesis that complement exerts its action enzymatically, but the physiological role of the esterase derived from preparations of complement is not yet clear.