cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth Elasticity of Poverty: Alternative Estimates and a Note of Caution

SUMMARY Estimates of the elasticity of headcount poverty with respect to income suggested in many influential studies appear too high and imply a more important role for income-growth in poverty-reduction than is appropriate. Direct estimates based on aggregate data for several different periods are much smaller at about −1, which (in absolute terms) is no larger than one-half of those suggested in the literature. Researchers and policymakers are urged to use the lower estimate for any real-world application in a global or cross-country context. In such contexts, when per capita income increases by X percent during any period, decline in headcount poverty during the period should be expected to be of the order of X percent, and not, as most influential studies suggest, 2X percent.
Dynamics of fine T-cell subsets during HIV disease and after thymic ablation by mediastinal irradiation

The T-cell compartment is considerably more complex than just CD4 and CD8 T cells. Indeed, we can identify dozens of functionally and phenotypically distinct subsets within the peripheral blood of humans. These subsets are differentially affected in diseases which may underly some of the functional defects attributable to the disease. In HIV disease, all thymic-derived T-cell populations are gradually lost at identical rates during late-stage disease progression, while unusual, perhaps extrathymically-derived T cells expand. This expansion may reflect an attempt on the part of the immune system to compensate for the significant insult of HIV infection to the host: the abrogation of normal thymopoiesis and T-cell homeostasis.
Time travel paradoxes, path integrals, and the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics

We consider two approaches to evading paradoxes in quantum mechanics with closed timelike curves. In a model similar to Politzer's, assuming pure states and using path integrals, we show that the problems of paradoxes and of unitarity violation are related; preserving unitarity avoids paradoxes by modifying the time evolution so that improbable events become certain. Deutsch has argued, using the density matrix, that paradoxes do not occur in the ``many worlds interpretation.'' We find that in this approach account must be taken of the resolution time of the device that detects objects emerging from a wormhole or other time machine. When this is done one finds that this approach is viable only if macroscopic objects traversing a wormhole interact with it so strongly that they are broken into microscopic fragments.
Comparison of thermal response of GMR sensor subjected to HBM and CDM transients

The thermal response of the GMR sensor during the ESD pulse is investigated using finite element model. The simulation compares the transient temperature rise in GMR sensor when they are subjected to the Human Body Model (HBM) and Charged-Device Model (CDM) waveforms. The results indicate that the ESD threshold damage for GMR head depends on both the thermal time constant and the ESD transient current.
Collecting Arizona-State of Mines, Legacy of Minerals

Edited by Terry Wallace. Lithographie, Denver, Colorado, USA. 2012, 366 pages, hardbound. $80.00 plus shipping and handling. ISBN 978-0-9836323-1-3. This extraordinary book is a chronological compilation of the discovery, exploitation, and recovery of minerals and mineral specimens in Arizona as
Steady-state kinetic mechanism of the proline:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity of proline utilization A (PutA) from Escherichia coli

The multifunctional proline utilization A (PutA) flavoenzyme from Escherichia coli performs the oxidation of proline to glutamate in two catalytic steps using separate proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) dehydrogenase domains. In the first reaction, the oxidation of proline is coupled to the reduction of ubiquinone (CoQ) by the PRODH domain, which has a β8α8-barrel structure that is conserved in bacterial and eukaryotic PRODH enzymes. The structural requirements of the benzoquinone moiety were examined by steady-state kinetics using CoQ analogs. PutA displayed activity with all the analogs tested; the highest kcat/Km was obtained with CoQ2. The kinetic mechanism of the PRODH reaction was investigated use a variety of steady-state approaches. Initial velocity patterns measured using proline and CoQ1, combined with dead-end and product inhibition studies, suggested a two-site ping-pong mechanism for PutA. The kinetic parameters for PutA were not strongly influenced by solvent viscosity suggesting that diffusive steps do not significantly limit the overall reaction rate. In summary, the kinetic data reported here, along with analysis of the crystal structure data for the PRODH domain, suggest that the proline:ubiquinone oxidoreductase reaction of PutA occurs via a rapid equilibrium ping-pong mechanism with proline and ubiquinone binding at two distinct sites.
Variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma brucei clone YTat1.1 contains a latent calmodulin-binding domain

Abstract Calmodulin affinity chromatography and chromatofocusing were used to purify calmodulin-binding proteins of 32–40-kDa from homogenates of Trypanosoma brucei clone YTat1.1. The trypanosome proteins associated with calmodulins from different sources and reversibly inhibited calmodulin-dependent bovine brain phosphodiesterase. Purified 32-kDa protein bound to calmodulin with an approximate K d of 1.3 nM. Polyclonal antibodies directed against purified 32-kDa protein and monoclonal antibody ECA6 recognized each of the 32–40-kDa proteins. Immunoprecipitation with biotinylated monoclonal antibody ECA6 (Bio-ECA6) or biotinylated calmodulin (Bio-CaM) identified the 32–40-kDa proteins in phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride-treated lysates of slender forms of YTat1.1, but not procyclic forms of YTat1.1 or slender forms of EATRO110. In the presence of leupeptin, lysates of slender YTat1.1 contained a single protein of 58 kDa that immunoprecipitated with Bio-ECA6. The 58-kDa protein was exposed to the extracellular space as demonstrated by immunolocalization and sensitivity to pronase treatment in intact cells. The protein was identified as variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) based upon immunolocalization, pattern of expression and cross-reactivity of ECA6 with authentic VSG. The amino-terminal 17 residues of 32-kDa protein were identical with the amino-terminus of YTat1.1 VSG. Putative calmodulin-binding domains were identified in other VSGs by computer modeling. The model was tested with CNBr fragments of VSG 117. The fragments reversibly inhibited calmodulin-dependent activation of phosphodiesterase with approximate K d of 11 nM. We conclude that endogenously generated proteolytic fragments of VSG from clone YTat1.1, and CNBr fragments of VSG 117 bind with high affinity to calmodulin.
Psychophysical determination of coordinate representation of human arm orientation

The coordinate representation of the sense of limb orientation was investigated psychophysically by asking subjects to match the orientation of the arm or of the forearm in several different coordinate representations. Movement of all degrees of freedom of one arm was permitted while movement of the other limb was restricted to the degree of freedom investigated in that particular experiment. Performance on the tasks was assessed by calculating the standard deviation of the difference in the angles of the two limbs. According to this criterion, we suggest that limb orientation is represented by the angular elevation of the limb and by the yaw angle, referred to a spatial reference frame.
Item Based Constructions and the Logical Problem

The logical problem of language is grounded on arguments from poverty of positive evidence and arguments from poverty of negative evidence. Careful analysis of child language corpora shows that, if one assumes that children learn through item-based constructions, there is an abundance of positive evidence. Arguments regarding the poverty of negative evidence can also be addressed by the mechanism of conservative item-based learning. When conservativism is abandoned, children can rely on competition, cue construction, monitoring and probabilistic identification to derive information from positive data to recover from overgeneralization.
Extending theory for user-centered information services: diagnosing and learning from error in complex statistical data

Utilization of complex statistical data has come at great cost to individual researchers, the information community, and to the national information infrastructure. Dissatisfaction with the traditional approach to information system design and information services provision, and by implication, the theoretical bases on which these systems and services have been developed, has led librarians and information scientists to propose that information is a user construct and therefore system designs should place greater emphasis on user-centered approaches. This article extends Dervin’s and Morris's theoretical framework for designing effective information services by synthesizing and integrating theory and research derived from multiple approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. These theoretical frameworks are applied to develop general design strategies and principles for information systems and services that rely on complex statistical data. The focus of this article is on factors that contribute to error in the production of high quality scientific output and on failures of communication during the process of data production and data utilization. Such insights provide useful frameworks to diagnose, communicate, and learn from error. Strategies to design systems that support communicative competence and cognitive competence emphasize the utilization of information systems in a user centered learning environment. This includes viewing cognition as a generative process and recognizing the continuing interdependence and active involvement of experts, novices, and technological gatekeepers.
A possible mechanism of anesthetic-induced myocardial depression.

Summary Evidence showing that anesthetic-induced myocardial depression is caused by direct interaction of the anesthetic with the tropomyosin-troponin complex is presented. A clinical concentration (1% v/v gas) of halothane, a general anesthetic, was found to depress ATPase activity of myofibrils prepared from cat heart. Depression was significant at low [Ca ++ ], but was antagonized by increasing [Ca ++ ]. The antagonism was proved to be competitive. Halothane sensitivity of ATPase was lost after the tropomyosin-troponin complex was removed from myofibrils with mild alkaline washing, but was restored by adding the complex back to the desensitized myofibrils.
Nursing student success in an associate degree program

Abstract As employment opportunities for associate degree nursing graduates become scarcer, it becomes more important than ever to ensure that nursing students are academically successful. This study examined factors that influence the academic success of associate degree nursing students. It was found that faculty support, general self-efficacy, affective commitment, and math self-concept, played key roles in academic success along with prenursing grade point average.
A computational framework for agglomeration in thermochemically reacting granular flows

A computational framework is developed which couples a series of models, each describing vastly different physical events, in order to characterize particle growth (agglomeration) in thermochemically reacting granular flows. The modelling is purposely simplified to expose the dominant mechanisms which control agglomeration. The overall system is comprised of relatively simple coupled submodels describing impact, heat production, bonding and fragmentation, each of which can be replaced by more elaborate descriptions, if and when they are available. Inverse problems, solved with a genetic algorithm, are then constructed to ascertain system parameters which maximize agglomeration likelihood within a range of admissible data.
On the nucleus of certain lie admissible rings

(1999). On the nucleus of certain lie admissible rings. Communications in Algebra: Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 1313-1320.
Studies on SAPO-5: synthesis with higher silicon contents

SAPO-5 is rapidly crystallized from gels containing high concentrations of silica. For gels with a silicon content of 40–60%, relative to total Si + Al + P, SAPO-5 is formed in less than 5 h of heating at 200 °C. SAPO-5 prepared in this manner (i) did not possess the elemental composition of the starting gel (silicon contents lower than the gel composition are obtained) and (ii) did not contain a homogeneous distribution of silicon (surface enrichment of silicon). At prolonged reaction times, SAPO-5 decomposes and ultimately yields SAPO-44. When gels contain less than 40% or greater than 60% silicon, SAPO-44 is exclusively obtained.
Physical Picture for High-Energy Diffraction Scattering

Recent theoretical results on high-energy scattering are extended. We give explicit rules to obtain the high-energy behavior of the sums of large classes of Feynman diagrams. This consideration suggests, for high-energy diffraction scattering, a physical picture which is simple and natural. We emphasize that this physical picture has the virtue of yielding correctly all the high-energy results of quantum electrodynamics.
Mnk Kinases in Cytokine Signaling and Regulation of Cytokine Responses

The kinases Mnk1 and Mnk2 are activated downstream of the p38 MAPK and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Extensive work over the years has shown that these kinases control phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and regulate engagement of other effector elements, including hnRNPA1 and PSF. Mnk kinases are ubiquitously expressed and play critical roles in signaling for various cytokine receptors, while there is emerging evidence that they have important functions as mediators of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In this review the mechanisms of activation of MNK pathways by cytokine receptors are addressed and their roles in diverse cytokine-dependent biological processes are reviewed. The clinical-translational implications of such work and the relevance of future development of specific MNK inhibitors for the treatment of malignancies and auto-immune disorders are discussed.
Oxygen isotope geochemistry of cherts from the Onverwacht Group (3.4 billion years), Transvaal, South Africa, with implications for secular variations in the isotopic composition of cherts

δ18O values for 87 chert samples from the 3.4-b.y.-old Onverwacht Group, South Africa, range from +9.4 to +22.1‰. δ-values for cherts representing early silicified carbonates and evaporites, and possible primary precipitates range from +16 to +22‰ and are distinctly richer in18O than silicified volcaniclastic debris and cherts of problematical origin. The lower δ-values for the latter two chert types are caused by isotopic impurities such as sericite and feldspar, and/or late silicification at elevated temperature during burial. Cherts with δ-values below +16‰ are thus not likely to yield geochemical data relevant to earth surface conditions. Fine-grained chert is less than 0.7‰ depleted in18O relative to coexisting coarse drusy quartz. Because coarse quartz preserves its isotopic composition with time, the maximum amount of post-depositional lowering of the δ-values of cherts by long-term isotopic exchange with meteoric groundwaters does not exceed 0.7‰ in 3.4 b.y. In response to metamorphism the δ-values of Onverwacht cherts appear to remain unchanged or to have increased by as much as 4‰. Neither metamorphism nor long-term isotopic exchange with groundwaters can explain why Onverwacht cherts are depleted in18O relative to their Phanerozoic counterparts. Meteoric waters with a δ18O range of at least 3‰ appear to have been involved in Onverwacht chert diagenesis. δ-values for possible primary cherts or cherts representing silicified carbonates and evaporites are compatible with the depositional and diagenetic environments deduced from field and petrographic evidence. Onverwacht cherts appear to have formed with δ-values at least 8‰ lower than Phanerozoic cherts. The new Onverwacht data combined with all published oxygen isotope data for cherts suggest a secular trend similar to that initially suggested by Perry (1967) in which younger cherts are progressively enriched in18O. However, Precambrian cherts appear to be richer in18O than Perry's original samples and can be reasonably interpreted in terms of declining climatic temperatures from ∼70°C at 3.4 b.y. to present-day values, as initially suggested by Knauth and Epstein (1976). This surface temperature history is compatible with existing geological, geochemical, and paleontological evidence.
Bilateral intraocular lens implantation in the pediatric population

Abstract Purpose To evaluate bilateral intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children. Design Retrospective, noncomparative case series Participants Thirty pediatric patients with bilateral IOL implants at one institution with more than 6 months of followup. Methods Retrospective chart review. Main outcome measures Complications, visual acuity, axial length, and refractive changes were recorded. Results Thirty patients (60 eyes) had an average followup of 31 months (range, 7–69 months). Average age at implantation was 73 months (range, 12 days–13 years). At last followup, 91% of eyes had vision better than or equal to 20/40. Patients in the youngest age group ( Conclusions Bilateral IOLs are safe and effective in pediatric aphakia.
Primary Therapy for Acromegaly with Somatostatin Analogs and a Discussion of Novel Peptide Analogs

Surgery, radiation therapy, and dopamine agonists were the only treatments available for acromegaly until the late 1980s. With those tools, and the fact that the majority of patients with acromegaly have tumors that were too large or invasive to be completely resected, the disease was curable or controllable in only a minority of patients. The introduction of the somatostatin analogs, octreotide and lanreotide, changed the face of acromegaly making it a disease that was controllable in up to 2/3 of cases. These analogs have the advantages of lowering growth hormone for longer periods of time (45×) and are also less potent than somatostatin inhibitors of insulin and other pancreatic hormones as compared to native somatostatin [1]. Both short acting and long acting octreotide lower growth hormone sufficiently to bring IGF-I into the normal age and gender matched norms in up to 65% of patients with acromegaly [2‐17]. Similar results are achieved with lanreotide [18‐23]. A number of studies have shown that significant reduction in GH [24‐26] and IGF-I [27] improves survival. In addition to improvement in biochemical abnormalities and survival, these medications also improve signs and symptoms. Because of a direct action on somatotrope SSTR2, they also shrink tumors [18, 28]. Tumor growth is rarely reported while patients are on medication. The one exception is a study in which acromegaly patients received at least 100 mcg of octreotide for at least 3 months prior to surgery (71% of them received 300 mcg daily). Tumor shrinkage was noted in 31% and tumor growth was reported in 6.7% of patients [29].
Method to predict CD variation caused by dynamic scanning focus errors

From 1970s IC industry has made dramatic progress due to the advancement of photo- lithography technology. At the beginning of the 21st century, photo- lithography technologies are still acting the major role of manufacturing the leading edge devices. The requirement for the higher resolution is pushing up the NA of the projection lens. As the result, DOF becomes shallower and the focus budget becomes tight. Close study for the focus error impact to CD variation becomes more and more important. A method to predict focus error induced CD variations resulting from dynamic wafer scanning has been developed. CD variations across an exposure image field are calculated from a CD lookup table that relates a CD value to the monitored focus error components.
Adenovirus Protein VII Condenses DNA, Represses Transcription, and Associates with Transcriptional Activator E1A

Adenovirus protein VII is the major protein component of the viral nucleoprotein core. It is highly basic, and an estimated 1070 copies associate with each viral genome, forming a tightly condensed DNA-protein complex. We have investigated DNA condensation, transcriptional repression, and specific protein binding by protein VII. Xenopus oocytes were microinjected with mRNA encoding HA-tagged protein VII and prepared for visualization of lampbrush chromosomes. Immunostaining revealed that protein VII associated in a uniform manner across entire chromosomes. Furthermore, the chromosomes were significantly condensed and transcriptionally silenced, as judged by the dramatic disappearance of transcription loops characteristic of lampbrush chromosomes. During infection, the protein VII-DNA complex may be the initial substrate for transcriptional activation by cellular factors and the viral E1A protein. To investigate this possibility, mRNAs encoding E1A and protein VII were comicroinjected into Xenopus oocytes. Interestingly, whereas E1A did not associate with chromosomes in the absence of protein VII, expression of both proteins together resulted in significant association of E1A with lampbrush chromosomes. Binding studies with proteins produced in bacteria or human cells or by in vitro translation showed that E1A and protein VII can interact in vitro. Structure-function analysis revealed that an N-terminal region of E1A is responsible for binding to protein VII. These studies define the in vivo functions of protein VII in DNA binding, condensation, and transcriptional repression and indicate a role in E1A-mediated transcriptional activation of viral genes.
Random Walk Design in Bio-Assay

Abstract Two estimators of the median based on sequentially obtained quantal response data are studied. The design is essentially the up-and-down method and consists of taking K observations per trial at sequentially determined levels until some fixed total sample size is obtained. The asymptotic distribution of the sample average, , of the levels is studied and an estimate of its variance is proposed. The bias and mean square error of , which have been numerically evaluated for the normal distribution, indicate there is often little loss in efficiency using K up to 5 instead of the conventional K = 1. The asymptotic properties of the Spearman-Karber estimator, , show that its large sample efficiency can decrease as the number of distinct levels increases. Small sample results using K = 1 indicate that is quite robust with respect to the choice of initial level and spacing between levels.
Humphreys's attenuated test of Spearman's hypothesis

Abstract Humphreys's test of Spearman's hypothesis (viz., that the size of the standardized black-white differences on various psychometric tests is positively related to the tests' loadings on g , the general intelligence factor) is methodologically weak. It is based on comparison of a fairly representative sample of the black population of U.S. school children with a highly selected sample of the white school population, representing the lowest 15 to 20% of whites in socio-economic status (SES). A fair test of the hypothesis requires that the black and white samples should not be selected on any g -correlated variable, such as SES. Selection attenuates and distorts the relationship between tests' g loadings and the magnitude of the standardized mean black-white differences on the tests. Other unorthodox conditions in Humphreys's study, such as performing factor analysis on the test-score means of various arbitrary demographic groups instead of on individual test scores inflates tests' g loadings and biases the test of Spearman's hypothesis by restriction of reliable variance in g loadings. Humphreys's study cannot be considered a proper replication of Jensen's examination of Spearman's hypothesis in 11 different studies comprising 74 different tests, which consistently bears out Spearman's hypothesis.
Statistical analysis of simulation output data

This paper is a tutorial paper on how to obtain point estimates and confidence intervals of steady state means of simulation output data. The methods of using replications, batch means, and regenerative cycles for obtaining these point and interval estimates are discussed in detail and are applied to a simple time-shared computer model to illustrate their use. A brief discussion is included on using time series methods to obtain these estimates. The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods are given, including specific recommendations as to when certain methods might be used.
Pentaerythritol propoxylate: a new crystallization agent and cryoprotectant induces crystal growth of 2-methylcitrate dehydratase.

In the search for macromolecular crystallization conditions, the precipitant is probably the most important variable, such that when problematic crystals are encountered there is always the question of whether an alternative precipitant might resolve the problem. During an effort to obtain high-quality crystals of several problematic proteins, two new agents, pentaerythritol propoxylate and pentaerythritol ethoxylate, yielded well ordered quality crystals where more traditional precipitants were unsuccessful. Pentaerythritol propoxylate and pentaerythritol ethoxylate contain a pentaerythritol backbone to which organic polymers are bound, forming a branched polymer. As such, they are larger than small organic precipitants such as low molecular-weight alcohols or 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, but behave differently to polyethylene glycols. These compounds have been used to crystallize an enzyme encoded by the Salmonella enterica prpD gene that catalyzes the dehydration of 2-methylcitrate to form 2-methyl-cis-aconitate. While the PrpD protein has crystallized readily under a number of conditions, the resultant crystals were unsuitable for a crystal structure determination. The new crystals obtained with 25–40% pentaerythritol propoxylate belong to the orthorhombic space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 73.2, b = 216.4, c = 214.3 A, and diffract beyond 2.0 A with synchrotron radiation. A further benefit of this precipitant for crystallization is its ability to function as a cryoprotectant, allowing the crystals to be transferred directly from the mother liquor to the nitrogen stream at 113 K.
Deltamethrin induced changes in choline transport and phosphorylation activities in synaptosomes from the optic lobe of squid, Loligo pealei.

Abstract 1. Deltamethrin, a powerful synthetic pyrethroid causes a significant change in choline transport in freshly prepared synaptosomes from squid optic lobes. 2. At resting state (nondepolarized) such an effect manifested as a reduction of 14 C-choline uptake in a short term (1 min) uptake experiment. 3. At depolarized state, or under conditions where synaptosomes are subjected to osmotic, aging and other stress conditions, deltamethrin caused stimulation of 14 C-choline uptake, resulting in elevation of the levels of total radiocarbons in synaptosomes. 4. Such changes are accompanied with changes in overall phosphorylation activities in synaptosomes.
Stable isotopic composition of meteoric calcites: Evidence for early mississippian climate change in the mission canyon formation, Montana

Abstract The Lower Mississippian Mission Canyon Formation of central to southwestern Montana was deposited under dominantly semiarid to arid climatic conditions during Osagean to early Meramecian times. Following deposition, a pronounced climatic shift to more humid conditions occurred during middle Meramecian times. This climatic change is indicated by extensive, post-depositional karst fabrics and in the stable isotopic composition of early, meteoric calcite cements and diagenetically altered sediments. Early meteoric calcite cement in Mission Canyon limestones is generally nonluminescent and fills intergranular and fenestral porosity. Petrographic data indicate that this cement formed during intermittent subaerial exposure of the Mission Canyon platform during Osagean times. This initial generation of meteoric calcite cement has δ18O values from −8.1 to −2.6%. PDB. These data, and the oxygen isotopic values from nonluminescent skeletal grains and micrite in host limestone indicate that Osagean meteoric water may have had δ18O values as low as −6.0%. SMOW. A second generation of petrographicalty similar, but isotopically distinct, calcite cement fills biomolds and porosity within solution-collapse breccias in the Mission Canyon Formation. This cement generation postdates earlier nonluminescent Osagean calcite cement and is volumetrically most abundant near the top of the Mission Canyon Formation. δ18O values from these cements and from nonluminescent lime mudstone clasts and matrix in solution collapse breccias range from − 13.8 to − 8.2%. PDB. These data indicate that Meramecian meteoric water may have had δ18O values as low as − 12.0%. However, a higher-temperature burial overprint on the δ18O values of the calcite cement cannot he ruled out. The more positive δ18O values of the Osagean calcite components probably indicate warm and arid conditions during short-term [104(?) yr] subaerial exposure along intraformational sequence and parasequence boundaries. The more negative δ18O values from Meramecian calcite components and the extensive karst associated with the post-Mission Canyon unconformity may have developed because of cooler and more humid climatic conditions and possible rain-out effects during middle Meramecian times. A dramatic shift towards cooler and more humid climatic conditions may be coincident with the onset of major continental glaciation in the Early Carboniferous. The post-Mission Canyon unconformity has been attributed to a major fall in sea level that may have glacio-eustatic origins. Growth of continental glaciers during a time of global cooling would have caused migration of polar fronts further toward the paleoequator. These polar fronts in turn, would have pushed moist, mid-latitude weather systems toward the paleoequator, resulting in cooler, more humid conditions in low-latitude settings during “icehouse” times.
Definitive radiotherapy in the management of isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial cancer.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess prognostic factors and overall survival after salvage radiotherapy for patients who had endometrial carcinoma and who experienced an isolated vaginal recurrence. Methods and Materials: We reviewed the records of 50 patients treated at our institution between 1967 and 2003 for an isolated vaginal recurrence of endometrial carcinoma. Initial treatment for endometrial carcinoma was definitive surgery in 49 patients and definitive radiotherapy in 1 patient. The median time from initial diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma to recurrence was 25 months (range, 4–179 months). Three patients (6%) received external-beam radiotherapy alone, 8 patients (16%) received brachytherapy only, and 39 patients (78%) received combined external-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Median dose of radiation to the recurrence was 60 Gy (range, 16–85 Gy). Overall survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Endpoints were measured from the date of diagnosis of the vaginal recurrence. Median follow-up of survivors after recurrence was 53 months (range, 8–159 months). Results: The 5-year and 10-year disease-free and overall survivals were 68% and 55%, and 53% and 40%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, age ( p = 0.0242), Grade 1 or 2 vs. Grade 3 tumor ( p = 0.002), and size of recurrence ( p Conclusions: Patients treated with radiotherapy for an isolated vaginal recurrence can be cured in over 50% the cases. Radiotherapy is well tolerated, with a low risk of complications. Factors predictive of overall survival include tumor grade, patient age at recurrence, and tumor size.
In Vitro Studies of Netilmicin, a New Aminoglycoside Antibiotic

Netilmicin, a semisynthetic derivative of sisomicin, was tested in vitro against 600 clinical bacterial isolates. At a concentration of 1.56 μg/ml, over 90% of gram-negative bacilli were inhibited. Netilmicin was substantially more active against isolates of Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter spp. than gentamicin, sisomicin, tobramycin, or amikacin. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (both penicillin G susceptible and resistant) were quite susceptible to netilmicin. Most isolates of Klebsiella spp. and Serratia spp. and some of the isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were resistant to gentamicin proved to be susceptible to netilmicin.
Orally disintegrating tablet of novel salt of antiepileptic drug: Formulation strategy and evaluation

The aim of present research was to design and evaluate orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) of novel lamotrigine-cyclamate salt. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was selected to design the optimized formulation. The independent factors selected were tablet hardness (X1), disintegrant (X2) and lubricant (X3) levels, and responses chosen were disintegration time (DT, Y1), friability (Y2), T50 (Y3), and T90 (Y4). The tablets were also characterized for drug uniformity by near infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI) and taste masking evaluation by electronic tongue. All the selected independent variables were statistically (p<0.05) effect the Y1 while Y2, Y3, and Y4 affected only by X2. The optimized ODT was found to meet the regulatory requirement of DT and friability specification. The NIR-CI images indicated uniform distribution of active and inactive ingredients within the tablets. The electronic tongue results were analyzed by principle component analysis (PCA). It indicated that novel salt of lamotrigine and its ODT formulation have a taste similar to cyclamic acid which is indicated by close proximity on PCA score plot, lower Euclidean distance, and high discrimination index values. Furthermore, these parameters were very close to ODT placebo formulation. On the other hand, lamotrigine, its ODT, and placebo formulation were far from each other. In summary, lamotrigine salt provides another avenue for pediatric friendly formulation for children and will enhance patience compliance.
Prognostic value of plasma interleukin-6 levels in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a B-cell growth and differentiation factor, which may promote the growth of B-cell neoplasms. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, IL-6 plasma levels increased in a stage-dependent manner, suggesting that IL-6 may be a useful prognostic marker. The purpose of this study is to fully assess the prognostic value of IL-6 in CLL patients. METHODS We measured the plasma levels of IL-6 in 100 CLL patients using an enzyme-linked immunoassay method. RESULTS Increasing levels of IL-6 significantly correlated with patient age, severity of anemia, Rai stage, white cell count, and β-2-microglobulin (β-2M). Although CLL patients did not differ significantly from the normal controls in the median IL-6 plasma level (P = 0.38), patients with advanced diseases (defined by Rai stage III/IV or β-2M > 3.5) had a significantly higher median IL-6 plasma level than the normal controls (P 3 pg/mL) had significantly shorter survival (P = 0.03). To conclude, IL-6 is a particularly useful predictor for survival in CLL patients with advanced diseases. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that patients with advanced-stage CLL as well as high IL-6 plasma levels may require aggressive therapeutic approaches and special consideration for experimental therapy. Cancer 2002;95:1071–5. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10772
Fecal incontinence and the menstrual cycle: a case report.

Urinary tract dysfunction influenced by the menstrual cycle has been described. This case demonstrates mensturation-influenced fecal incontinence. The patient had difficulty with stool control and rectal hygiene only during the week prior to her period. These symptoms had been present since she had discontinued oral birth control. Progestin levels and anal manometry were obtained during the secretory and luteal phases of her cycle and demonstrated a difference in resting anal tone between phases. Progestin smooth muscle relaxation is presumed to have uncovered an already weakened anal continence mechanism. With reinstitution of oral contraceptive pills the patient’s cyclic fecal incontinence resolved.
Impact of Temperature Elevation on Immunologic Defenses

Fever is a common response to infection and to other challenges to host defense. Temperature elevation has been associated with effects on the recognition, recruitment, and effector phases of the immune response. Specific immunologic responses are generally enhanced in the setting of temperature elevation within the physiologic range but not the supraphysiologic range. In contrast, natural immune responses may be unchanged or adversely affected. Temperature elevation appears to affect primarily the phase of recognition and sensitization or activation of mononuclear leukocytes. T lymphocyte responses (and/or the interactions of T lymphocytes with monocytes-macrophages) are enhanced for generation of effector cells. The activities of the effector cells, once generated, are usually not enhanced--or may even be depressed--by temperature elevation, but decreases are more than offset by increased T helper function. Overall, the data suggest that temperature elevations of the febrile response constitute a beneficial component of effective host defense.
Multicompartment micelles from polyester-containing ABC miktoarm star terpolymers

Well-defined μ-[poly(ethylethylene)][poly(ethylene oxide)][poly(γ-methyl-e-caprolactone)] (μ-EOC) miktoarm star terpolymers were prepared by a combination of two successive living anionic polymerizations and one controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP). A mid-hydroxyl-functionalized poly(ethylethylene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEE−PEO) diblock copolymer served as a macroinitiator for the aluminum-mediated ROP of γ-methyl-e-caprolactone (MCL), leading to a family of μ-EOC triblock copolymers having monomodal molecular weight distributions and controlled PMCL weight fractions. Micelle structures formed in water from μ-EOC containing various lengths of PMCL were examined by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and dynamic light scattering. Increasing the fraction of hydrophobic PMCL resulted in a transition from spherical to wormlike to approximately spherical micelles. Although the multicompartment cores of the μ-EOC micelles could not be directly resolved by cryo-TEM, small-angle X-...
Combining Multiple Feature Selection Methods for Text Categorization by Using Rank-Score Characteristics

Feature selection is an important method for improving the efficiency and accuracy of text categorization algorithmsby removing redundant and irrelevant terms from the corpus.Extensive researches have been done to improve the performance ofindividual feature selection methods, but not much on their combinations.In this paper, we propose a method of combining multiple feature selection methods by using the Combinatorial Fusion Analysis (CFA). A rank-score function and its graph, called rank-score graph,are adopted to measure the diversity of different feature selection methods.We have shown that a combination of multiple feature selection methods can outperform a single method only if each individual feature selection method has unique scoring behavior and relatively high performance. Moreover, it is shown that the rank-score function and rank-score graph are useful for the selection of a combination of feature selection methods.
Perception of Surgical Pain by Nurses and Patients

A descriptive study of postoperative patients was conducted to determine if there were any differences in the pain ratings of nurses and patients using a 10-centimeter graphic rating scale (GRS). T...
A prospective, open-label study of Aripiprazole mono- and adjunctive treatment in acute bipolar depression.

Abstract Objective To examine the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole treatment for acute bipolar depression. Methods A six-week prospective, nonrandomized, open label study was conducted in depressed bipolar outpatients (types I, II, and NOS), as diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria. Previous treatments were continued unchanged, and new treatments not permitted, except lorazepam up to 2 mg daily. Aripiprazole was dosed flexibly up to a maximum of 30 mg daily, based on tolerability and efficacy. Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Mania Rating Scale (MRS) scores were used to assess changes in mood symptoms. Side effect outcomes were measured. Data was analyzed using last observation carried forward methodology and Analysis of Variance. Results Twenty patients (15 men, 5 women) with bipolar disorder (10 type I, 7 type II, 3 type NOS) enrolled in the study. Mean endpoint dose was 13.6 mg/d ± 10.0 mg/d. Thirteen (65%) patients completed 6 weeks of treatment. MADRS and MRS scores significantly improved during treatment. 44% of patients who completed at least one week of treatment were considered responders, based on ≥ 50% decrease in MADRS scores from baseline. Side effect measures were mostly unchanged during treatment. Conclusion Depressive symptoms improved in bipolar patients treated with open-label aripiprazole.
A factor analytic study of leisure constraints in advanced adulthood

Abstract Leisure lifestyles in a person's later years are often constrained by forces such as inadequate money, lack of transportation, and lack of knowledge. A body of knowledge related to leisure constraints in old age has been growing. This study was designed to advance the work in this area by determining whether commonalities exist which permit the reduction of specific limiting forces identified in previous research into broader constraint factors. A list of 30 constraints, based on previous research, was developed for this study. One hundred and twenty‐five individuals (ranging in age from 45 to 93) were asked to rate the importance of each of these constraints in limiting their leisure involvement. A factor analysis of responses yielded five constraint factors: external resource; time; approval; ability/social; and, physical well‐being. To gain further insight into these factors, their relationship to age, health, education, income, sex, and life satisfaction was examined through correlational ana...
High performance bounded control

The high performance bounded (HPB) control methodology is based upon the idea of using progressively higher gains as the system approaches equilibrium to avoid actuator saturation and to improve performance. In this paper three new theoretical results are presented. The first provides a formal stability proof for the HPB control scheme. The second provides a method for dealing with asymmetric position constraints. The third allows for the incorporation of actuator rate constraints into the HPB methodology.
A Policy Transformed by Politics: The Case of the 1973 Australian Community Health Program

During an era of health policy reform in Australia, community health advocates believed that community health centers (CHCs) could form a solid foundation for a new system of health care delivery. Instead, a proposal for national health insurance (Medibank) emerged as the predominant structural reform. Community health proposals were not abandoned, however, and a policy designed to give federal grant assistance for the establishment of CHCs was implemented in 1973. The historical account of how the 1973 Australian Community Health Program (CHP) was developed in the early 1970s is relevant to dilemmas faced by contemporary policy makers. Specifically, how did the CHP "survive" even though government leaders had moved away from traditional direct service models, choosing to focus more attention on indirect insurance reimbursement?
A Method to Improve Prediction of Atmospheric Flow Transitions

Ensemble prediction has become an indispensable tool in weather forecasting. One of the issues in ensemble prediction is that, regardless of the method, the prediction error does not map well to the underlying physics (i.e., error estimates do not project strongly onto physical structures). This paper is driven by the hypothesis that prediction error includes a deterministic component, which can be isolated and then removed, and that removing the error would enable researchers and forecasters to better map the error to the physics and improve prediction of atmospheric transitions. Here, preliminary experimental evidence is provided that supports this hypothesis. This evidence is provided from results obtained from two loworder but highly chaotic systems, one of which incorporates atmospheric flow transitions. Using neural networks to probe the deterministic component of forecast error, it is shown that the error recovery relates to the underlying type of flow and that it can be used to better forecast transitions in the atmospheric flow using ensemble data. A discussion of methods to extend these ideas to more realistic forecast settings is provided.
Microfermentors for the rapid screening and analysis of biochemical processes

We report on a microfermentor fabricated from glass and poly(dimethylsiloxane) using techniques of soft lithography. Aeration of the bacterial culture is through a highly permeable membrane, and dissolved oxygen is monitored with the oxygen-sensitive, fluorescent compound Ru II tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline). Biomass within the microfermentor is monitored by measuring light transmission through the medium and relating this to the optical density. We present results on the fermentation of E. coli in this system.
Compartmentalization of the Broad-Range Phospholipase C Activity to the Spreading Vacuole Is Critical for Listeria monocytogenes Virulence

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen that multiplies in the cytosol of host cells and spreads directly from cell to cell by using an actin-based mechanism of motility. The broad-range phospholipase C (PC-PLC) of L. monocytogenes contributes to bacterial escape from vacuoles formed upon cell-to-cell spread. PC-PLC is made as an inactive proenzyme whose activation requires cleavage of an N-terminal propeptide. During infection, PC-PLC is activated specifically in acidified vacuoles. To assess the importance of compartmentalizing PC-PLC activity during infection, we created a mutant that makes constitutively active PC-PLC (the plcBDelta pro mutant). Results from intracellular growth and cell-to-cell spread assays showed that the plcBDelta pro mutant was sensitive to gentamicin, suggesting that unregulated PC-PLC activity causes damage to host cell membranes. This was confirmed by the observation of a twofold increase in staining of live infected cells by a non-membrane-permeant DNA fluorescent dye. However, membrane damage was not sufficient to cause cell lysis and was dependent on bacterial cell-to-cell spread, suggesting that damage was localized to bacterium-containing filopodia. Using an in vivo competitive infection assay, we observed that the plcBDelta pro mutant was outcompeted up to 200-fold by the wild-type strain in BALB/c mice. Virulence attenuation was greater when mice were infected orally than when they were infected intravenously, presumably because the plcBDelta pro mutant was initially outcompeted in the intestines, reducing the number of mutant bacteria reaching the liver and spleen. Together, these results emphasize the importance for L. monocytogenes virulence of compartmentalizing the activity of PC-PLC during infection.