cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depo-Provera and skeletal health: a survey of Florida obstetrics and gynecologist physicians.

Abstract Objective In November of 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning regarding skeletal health concerns with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) contraception. This FDA labeling change has the potential to impact how this contraceptive is used. Our goal was to assess the impact of the FDA decision on how Florida obstetrician-gynecologists prescribe DMPA. Methods A survey was conducted with questions and case scenarios regarding the use of DMPA before and after the black box warning. The survey was sent to all members of the Florida Obstetric and Gynecologic Society. Results Four hundred twenty-five surveys were mailed and 149 were returned — a 35% return rate. Forty-six percent of physicians surveyed indicated that they place a time limit on DMPA use, and 66% stated that this limit was based on the FDA black box warning. Sixty-five percent of respondents ordered bone mineral density (BMD) testing solely due to the use of DMPA, with 58% indicating that this decision was based on the black box warning. Eight (5.4%) of the respondents indicated they selectively prescribe bisphosphonates for patients based solely on the use of DMPA, while 33% of respondents state that they use estrogen supplementation. There was a trend towards fewer DMPA injections per week after the black box warning as compared to before; however, this trend was not statistically significant (p Conclusion Respondents may be writing fewer prescriptions for DMPA, are likely to institute a time limit on said prescription and are likely to order BMD testing, using the black box warning as justification. Continued education is necessary to prevent inappropriate restrictions on DMPA use and the performance and/or prescription of inappropriate tests and medications.
The importance of metastable transitions to oxygen impurity radiation in Tokamak plasmas

Abstract We have constructed a non-hydrodynamic modified coronal model for calculating line emission from several of the lower excited levels of the helium-like ionization stage of an oxygen impurity in a plasma discharge. We calculate optical emissions as a function of time for these levels at several electron densities assuming a specified variation of electron temperature with time. It is found that the metastable 1s2p( 3 P) level can contribute a significant fraction of the total impurity-line emission.
Regulation of the Glycophorin C-Protein 4.1 Membrane-to-Skeleton Bridge and Evaluation of Its Contribution to Erythrocyte Membrane Stability

The band 3-ankyrin-spectrin bridge and the glycophorin C-protein 4.1-spectrin/actin bridge constitute the two major tethers between the erythrocyte membrane and its spectrin skeleton. Although a structural requirement for the band 3-ankyrin bridge is well established, the contribution of the glycophorin C-protein 4.1 bridge to red cell function remains to be defined. In order to explore this latter bridge further, we have identified and/or characterized five stimuli that sever the linkage in intact erythrocytes and have examined the impact of this rupture on membrane mechanical properties. We report here that elevation of cytosolic 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate, an increase in intracellular Ca2+, removal of cell O2, a decrease in intracellular pH, and activation of erythrocyte protein kinase C all promote dissociation of protein 4.1 from glycophorin C, leading to reduced retention of glycophorin C in detergent-extracted spectrin/actin skeletons. Significantly, where mechanical studies could be performed, we also observe that rupture of the membrane-to-skeleton bridge has little or no impact on the mechanical properties of the cell, as assayed by ektacytometry and nickel mesh filtration. We, therefore, suggest that, although regulation of the glycophorin C-protein 4.1-spectrin/actin bridge likely occurs physiologically, the role of the tether and the associated regulatory changes remain to be established.
Loneliness at the bench. Is the PhD experience as emotionally taxing as it is mentally challenging

On the surface, the road to completing a PhD can be a lonely one, as PhD students are faced with a hefty workload—comprising both research and other professional activities—that often leaves little time for a life beyond academia. They watch as their undergraduate colleagues advance in their careers and begin families, whilst they themselves struggle to get by with a modest stipend, unforgiving hours and limited socializing. But is the PhD experience a lonely and stressful existence, or is this a story PhD graduates tell themselves when looking back with not exactly rose‐tinted glasses? Moreover, does a PhD have lasting physiological or psychological health effects? > No matter how much care and support is given to students, there comes a point when the student will have to get on with it himself or herself The answer, of course, is that ‘it depends’. For some, the PhD experience is a thrilling first foray into discovery and adventure; for others, it is a trial of misery and isolation; for most, it is somewhere in between. Many factors contribute to the emotional experience of the PhD, and although good practice, management and education—of students and mentors—can address many of the stresses and strains, at its heart, a PhD is not an easy undertaking. No matter how much care and support is given to students, there comes a point when the student will have to get on with it himself or herself. “Grad school is hard. Beyond the academics, it takes an emotional toll,” Jordan, a second‐year neuroscience PhD student at Penn State College of Medicine (USA), commented. Jordan is living alone whilst working on her PhD, a state away from ‘home’ and her boyfriend. “I came straight to my programme from a small, close‐knit college community,” she said, noting that she quickly saw a …
STUDIES ON ABSCISSION: THE INHIBITING EFFECT OF AUXIN

THE FIRST INDICATION that abscission of leaves is controlled by auxin was given by the work of Laibach (1933). He showed that pollinia of orchids, applied to the distal cut end of a petiole, inhibited abscission of the petiole. Orchid pollinia were known to contain auxin, and a few years later La Rue (1936) reported an experiment showing that synthetic auxin in the form of indoleacetic acid (IAA) was also very effective in delaying abscission, if it were applied in the dark or in shade. The first thorough investigation as to whether auxin was the factor which typically in nature controlled petiolar abscission was the work of Myers (1940a). Using Coleus as his experimental miaterial, he showed that those leaves which normally stayed longest on the plant were also those which gave the greatest amount of diffusible auxin; that removing the leaf blade greatly accelerated petiolar abscission; and that the presence of IAA on the debladed petiole inhibited abscission as well as did the presence of the leaf blade. The experiments cited above give a picture of abscission in which the speed with which any given petiole abscises is directly controlled by the amount of diffusible auxin coming down from the leaf blade. That is, so far as abscission is concerned, each leaf seems to act as a physiological entity. The experiments to be described below confirm and extend these earlier experiments, while the experiments in the second paper of this series (Rossetter and Jacobs, 1953) show that we must discard as being too simple the view that "with respect to abscission, each leaf is a physiological entity." METHODS. A clonal stock of Coleus blumei Benth. was grown in the greenhouse. The variety was the same as that used by Jacobs (1952), Rossetter and Jacobs (1953), and Jacobs and Bullwinkel (1953). Supplementary lighting was used during winter months to obtain faster growth. The plants were trained to a two-branched form by excising the main stem and allowing only two of the axillary branches to develop. All other axillary branches were removed. The terminology used in referring to parts of each shoot is the same as that used in Jacobs (1952) and is shown diagrammatically in fig. 1. A "spiral" pattern of deblading was used: that is, the leaf blade of one member of each leaf pair below the apical bud was excised, and the debladed petioles were arranged in a spiral on the stem (see fig. 1 of Rossetter and Jacobs, 1953). The intact leaf of each pair is listed as the control; the debladed petiole as the treated petiole. IAA and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were applied at 1 per cent concentrations in lanolin; 8
Toxinological and immunological studies of capillary electrophoresis fractionated Chrysaora quinquecirrha (Desor) fishing tentacle and Chironex fleckeri Southcott nematocyst venoms.

Abstract Repeated runs of capillary electrophoresis (CE) were used to study partially-purified jellyfish nematocyst venom protein in concentrations sufficient to perform toxinological assays. Nematocyst venoms from Chironex fleckeri ( Cf ) and Chysaora quinquecirrha were processed. The CE eluate was divided into quadrants by scanning protein content. The fourth fraction of both jellyfish venoms, contained proteins with the smallest molecular weight components, which were responsible for the highest hemolysins and the humoral and cell-mediated immunological activity. Cytotoxic Cf lethal factor activity against human liver cells was widely dispersed throughout both venoms but more prominent in fraction 4. A V β receptor human T-cell repertoire was not species-specific for either crude or fractionated jellyfish nematocyst venom.
Mixed-ligand binuclear copper(II) complex of 5-methylsalicylaldehyde and 2,2 -bipyridyl: Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA binding and nuclease activity

A new mixed-ligand binuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(MS)(bpy)]2.(ClO4)2, built of 5-methylsalicylaldehyde and 2,2′-bipyridyl has been synthesized and characterized by using elemental analysis, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Crystal structure of the complex shows that copper(II) ion lies in a square pyramidal coordination environment. The structure consists of two symmetrical half units in which the copper(II) ion of one half unit connected with the phenolate oxygen atom of other half unit along with one perchlorate anion in the crystal lattice as free molecule. Presence of uncoordinated perchlorate anion was also confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Absorption spectroscopy exhibits d-d transition at 628 nm, which further supports the square pyramidal geometry around the copper(II) ions. EPR spectrum of the copper(II) complex at room temperature shows a broad signal without any splitting pattern at g || = 2.26,g ⊥ = 2.03 and the magnetic moment (μ eff= 1.31 BM) obtained at room temperature indicate an antiferromagnetic interaction between the two copper(II) ions through phenoxide-bridge. Binding studies reveal that the complex possesses good binding propensity (K b = 5.2 ± 1.7 × 104 M−1) and bind to nitrogenous bases of DNA through intercalation. Nuclease activity of the complex with pBR322 DNA shows that the effect of hydrolytic cleavage is dose-dependent and the oxidative cleavage indicates the involvement of hydroxyl radical and singlet-oxygen as reactive oxygen species.
Size Effect on the Phase Transformation of In-21at%Tl Nanowires

In this work, the interaction between the size effect and the thermomechanically induced phase transformation for SMAs composed of Indium-Thallium (InTl) is analyzed. An In-21at%Tl alloy is first fabricated, from which In-21at%Tl nanowires are subsequently produced. Using the mechanical pressure injection system, the bulk alloy is pressed into pores of an Anodized Aluminum Oxide (AAO) template to fabricate the nanowires. The diameter of these nanowires can be altered by changing the anodization parameters of the AAO templates (≈20nm–750nm). The critical diameter for which nanowires show a similar phase transformation behavior to the bulk alloy is experimentally determined to lie between 280nm and 750nm.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Improvements in Quality of Life in Women after Resistance Training Are Not Associated With Age

Twenty-three women completed a resistance training program three or four days per week. At baseline and after eight weeks they completed the Vitality Plus Scale measuring exercise-related changes in quality of life. Greater scores indicated better quality of life. Significant improvements in quality of life (p < .001), upper body strength (p < .001), and lower body strength (p < .001) were observed despite training frequency. Age was not associated with quality of life or strength either pre- or posttraining. Resistance exercise three days a week improved quality of life in women, and these improvements were not influenced by age.
American elites' strategic thinking towards Korea: From Kennan to Brzezinski

America's foreign policy elites have made different assessments of South Korea's value as an alliance partner, largely depending on their strategic beliefs and visions. Balance‐of‐power realists like George Kennan have tended to let the regional problems be taken care of by the regional major powers, thus attaching less strategic value to such peripheral states as Korea. On the other hand, globalists like Paul Nitze have emphasized America's preponderant role in maintaining global stability, attaching greater importance to the US‐Korean alliance. This article investigates the American foreign policy elites’ strategic thinking toward Korea by reviewing the thoughts of Kennan, Nitze, Kissinger and Brzezinski. It then draws out implications for the future US defence commitment to Korea.
Ten-year trend in survival and resource utilization at a level I trauma center.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of increasing trauma center experience over time on survival and resource utilization. METHODS: The authors studied a retrospective cohort at a single level I trauma center over a 10-year period, from 1986 to 1995. Patients included all hospital admissions and emergency department deaths. The main outcome measures were the case-fatality rate adjusted for injury severity, hospital length of stay, and costs. RESULTS: A total of 25,979 patients were admitted or died. The number of patients per year increased, from 2063 in 1986 to 3313 in 1995. The proportion of patients transferred from another institution increased from 16.2% to 34.4%. Although mean length of stay declined by 28.4%, from 9.5 to 6.8 days, costs increased by 16.7%, from $14,174 to $16,547. The use of specific radiologic investigations increased; the frequency of operative procedures either remained unchanged (craniotomy, fracture fixation) or decreased (celiotomy). After adjusting for injury severity and demographic factors, the mortality rate decreased over 10 years. The improvement in survival was confined to patients with an injury severity score > or =16. CONCLUSION: Over a 10-year period, the case-fatality rate declined in patients with severe injuries. Overall acute care costs increased, partially because of the increased use of radiologic investigations. Even in otherwise established trauma centers, increasing cumulative experience results in improved survival rates in the most severely injured patients. These data suggest that experience contributes to a decrease in mortality rate after severe trauma and that developing trauma systems should consider this factor and limit the number of designated centers to maximize cumulative experience at individual centers.
The Geography of American Religion

OR as Geography without History seemeth a carkasse without motion so History without Geography wandereth as a Vagrant without a certaine habitation." So observed Captain John Smith in his Generall Historie of the Bermudas (1624).1 My purpose here is to suggest "certaine habitations" for American religion. So far as I know, the term "Bible Belt" is the only geographical designation applied in common parlance to American religion. But even that term does little to reduce the
Separation of ferritin labeled antibody from free antibody.

Abstract A procedure for the separation of ferritin—antibody conjugates from free antibody has been developed using isokinetic sucrose density gradient sedimentation. The gradient (5% w/w sucrose at the top to about 35% at the tube bottom) provides optimal separation of 7S free immunoglobulin from the ferritin (65S) and ferritin—antibody conjugate. Recovery of the conjugate band is simple and avoids problems of aggregation found by centrifugal pelleting and resuspension procedures. The method was tested by labeling human globulin and fractionating the gradient. Free antibody was detected at the top one-fifth of the gradient by immunodiffusion. Ferritin and the labeled antibody were found one-third to one-half of the way down the gradient. Immunoelectrophoresis was also used to demonstrate the separation of unconjugated ferritin and ferritin labeled antibody from free antibody.
Y chromosome microdeletion in a father and his four infertile sons

Microdeletions of Yq are associated with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. In general, men with deletions are infertile and therefore deletions are not transmitted to sons unless in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are performed. We report an unusual family characterized by multiple members with infertility and Yq microdeletion. Complete reproductive history, semen analyses and blood samples were elicited from relevant family members. DNA preparation and quantification were performed using commercial kits. A total of 27 pairs of sequence tagged sites based primer sets specific for the Y microdeletion region loci were used for screening. Southern blots using deleted in azoospermia (DAZ) and ribosomal binding motif (RBM) cDNAs were then analysed for confirmation. The proband, his three brothers and father were all found to be deleted for DAZ but not RBM. At the time of analysis, the proband's father was azoospermic whereas his four sons were either severely oligozoospermic or azoospermic. Unlike their father, the four sons are infertile and have no offspring, except for one of them who achieved a daughter only after IVF/ICSI treatment for infertility. Microdeletions of Yq involving the DAZ gene are associated with a variable phenotypic expression that can include evidently normal fertility.
Teaching Japanese: Consideration of learners’ affective variables

in U.S. schools has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Japanese was once perceived as an esoteric language that attracted only a limited number of students. That era is over now. According to the Fall 1990 Survey of Foreign Language Registrations in U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (Modem Language Association, 1990), Japanese is "the fifth most commonly taught" language. In addition, as one of the "less commonly taught" foreign languages, Japanese gained a 94.9 percent increase in registration between 1986 and 1990. Despite this increase in popularity, the attrition rate among students who take Japanese has been reported to be "as much as eighty percent" (Mills, Samuels, & Sherwood, 1987). One of the reasons cited is the perceived degree of "difficulty" of the Japanese language itself. Clearly, unlike "cognate" languages such as French, Spanish, and German, noncognate languages are more demanding for American students. According to the ETS (Educational Testing Service) Oral Proficiency Testing Manual (Liskin-Gasparro, 1982), under ideal conditions, it takes American students 720 hours of instruction to
Using Multiple Imputation to Integrate and Disseminate Confidential Microdata

Summary In data integration contexts, two statistical agencies seek to merge their separate databases into one file. The agencies also may seek to disseminate data to the public based on the integrated file. These goals may be complicated by the agencies' need to protect the confidentiality of database subjects, which could be at risk during the integration or dissemination stage. This article proposes several approaches based on multiple imputation for disclosure limitation, usually called synthetic data, that could be used to facilitate data integration and dissemination while protecting data confidentiality. It reviews existing methods for obtaining inferences from synthetic data and points out where new methods are needed to implement the data integration proposals. Resume Dans les contextes d'integration de donnees, deux agences statistiques cherchent a fusionner leurs bases de donnees separees en un fichier. Les agences peuvent aussi chercher a diffuser au public les donnees issues du fichier integre. Ces objectifs peuvent etre compliques par le besoin de proteger la confidentialite des objets de la base de donnees, qui pourrait etre menace pendant la phase d'integration et de diffusion. Cet article propose plusieurs approches basees sur l'imputation multiple pour limiter la divulgation, qu'on appelle habituellement donnees synthetiques, qui pourraient etre utilisees pour faciliter l'integration et la diffusion des donnees tout en protegeant leur confidentialite. Il passe en revue les methodes existantes pour obtenir des inferences a partir de donnees synthetiques et montre les cas ou l'on a besoin de nouvelles methodes pour mettre en œuvre les propositions d'integration de donnees.
MICROWAVE PERFORMANCE OF NONLINEAR OPTOELECTRONIC MICROSTRIP RING RESONATOR

Difference and sum frequency generation at frequencies from 0 to 14GHz has been obtained by mixing of a microwave local oscillator and a modulated optical carrier in a microstrip ring resonator with Schottky contacts on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate.
Bioaccessibility of arsenic(V) bound to ferrihydrite using a simulated gastrointestinal system.

The risk posed from incidental ingestion to humans of arsenic-contaminated soil may depend on sorption of arsenate (As(V)) to oxide surfaces in soil. Arsenate sorbed to ferrihydrite, a model soil mineral, was used to simulate possible effects on ingestion of soil contaminated with As(V) sorbed to Fe oxide surfaces. Arsenate sorbed to ferrihydrite was placed in a simulated gastrointestinal tract (in vitro) to ascertain the bioaccessibility of As(V) and changes in As(V) surface speciation caused by the gastrointestinal system. The speciation of As was determined using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). The As(V) adsorption maximum was found to be 93 mmol kg-1. The bioaccessible As(V) ranged from 0 to 5%, and surface speciation was determined to be binuclear bidentate with no changes in speciation observed post in vitro. Arsenate concentration in the intestine was not constant and varied from 0.001 to 0.53 mM for the 177 mmol kg-1 As...
Prediction of Arsenic in Bedrock Derived Stream Sediments at a Gold Mine Site Under Conditions of Sparse Data

Arsenic is often present in gold mining areas. The high sensitivity of arsenic to biogeochemical conditions may lead to catastrophic consequences through contamination of resources such as ground water. Therefore, it is critical to understand the spatial occurrence of arsenic across a given site. Previous studies using traditional pattern recognition techniques such as neural networks and kriging have not been entirely successful in predicting arsenic concentrations across a gold mining area. The methods used in this paper are the support vector machines (SVM) and robust least-square support vector machines (robust LS-SVM). The two techniques were used to predict arsenic concentrations in the sediments of Circle City, Alaska, using the gold concentration distribution present within the sediments. The analysis of the results shows an improved performance and better predictive capabilities of SVM and robust LS-SVM than that of the neural networks and kriging techniques. The robust LS-SVM performed better than the SVM. The performance of the SVM was affected by outliers. The removal of the outliers from the data set and application of SVM showed improved results.
Early–Middle Miocene (17–14 Ma) Antarctic ice dynamics reconstructed from the heavy mineral provenance in the AND-2A drill core, Ross Sea, Antarctica

Abstract The Miocene Climatic Optimum (17–15 Ma) and the rapid cooling of the Middle Miocene Climate Transition (15–13 Ma) together signal a major change in Earth's climate system. Here we examine the sediment provenance in the AND-2A drill core, located 10 km from the East Antarctic coastline, to significantly increase our understanding of Antarctic ice development, glacial erosion, and transport in the Ross embayment during this time. Heavy minerals are very diagnostic of source rock types and assemblages can be used to track changes in the areas of maximum erosion under the margin of an ice sheet. We used a combination of optical mineralogy and SEM-EDS analysis to characterize the heavy mineral fractions of diamictites and sandstones in the upper 650 m of AND-2A, which includes an expanded section dated between ~ 17 and 14 Ma. We find four diagnostic heavy mineral assemblages distributed in intervals throughout the core: I. (650–552 mbsf) elevated orthopyroxene, titanaugite, and carbonate contents; II. (552–308 mbsf) abundant diopside, pigeonite, and orthopyroxene, with sillimanite and kyanite; III. (308–250 mbsf) increasing contents of garnet and green hornblende; and IV. (250–20 mbsf) abundant green hornblende, titanaugite, green augite, and carbonate. Based on the heavy mineral analysis we demonstrate that (1) the ice sheet was grounded on the shelf at ~ 17.7–17.1 Ma, and it was eroding Cenozoic volcanic rocks to the south of the drillsite; (2) during the early part of the Miocene Climatic Optimum (~ 17.1–15.5 Ma) the East Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated landward into upland regions of the Transantarctic Mountains, where it eroded dolerite sills and high-grade metamorphic rocks; (3) immediately prior to the Middle Miocene Climate Transition (15.5–14.3 Ma), the East Antarctic ice advanced and eroded granitic and low-medium grade metamorphic basement rocks in the coastal sections of the Transantarctic Mountains; and (4) following this initial phase of ice growth, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet coalesced into a larger than modern (interglacial) Antarctic Ice Sheet prior to 14.3 Ma and eroded Cenozoic volcanic and low- to medium-grade metamorphic basement rocks to the south of the drillsite. Our results suggest that, although East Antarctica may have remained glaciated during the Miocene Climatic Optimum, ice extent was reduced to a configuration within the present interglacial extent, even during orbital-scale glacial maxima. Ice growth during the Middle Miocene Climate Transition commenced at ca. 15.5 Ma in the Ross Sea basin, which is slightly earlier than inferred from deep-sea stable isotope records, but in agreement with low-latitude sea-level reconstructions.
Acrylic intraocular lens damage after folding using a forceps insertion technique.

Purpose To analyze intraocular lens (IOL) surface abnormalities seen after folding using a forceps insertion technique. Setting Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. Methods Acrylic AcrySof MA60AC IOLs were examined using an Axio Imager microscope before and after they were folded using a forceps insertion technique. Differential interference contrast, brightfield reflected light, and darkfield reflected light imaging techniques were used as necessary. The effects of temperature, time, and ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) on optic surface abnormalities after folding were studied. Results All 17 IOLs examined had smooth, defect-free optic surfaces before folding. After folding, anterior optic surface depressions were observed in all IOLs; the depressions corresponded to the contact area of the titanium insertion forceps. Surface depressions were present up to 72 hours after folding, were more pronounced when an insertion forceps with a high degree of wear was used, and were greater when the IOL was warmed to 98°F before folding. Coating the IOL surface with OVD before grasping it with the insertion forceps prevented formation of depressions. Conclusions The anterior optic surface of the acrylic IOL was vulnerable to forceps-induced surface depressions. Surface abnormalities were prevented by coating the anterior optic surface with OVD before grasping it with a metal insertion forceps. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Effect of Lewis acids and low temperature initiators on the allyl transfer reaction involving phthalimido-N-oxyl radical

Abstract Previously, we reported allyl transfer reactions of allyl bromide and allyl phthalimido-N-oxyl substrates with hydrocarbons that result in C C bond formation. In both cases, efficient chain transfer processes along with high reaction yields were observed. Since PINO chemistry leads to an environmentally friendly method of hydrocarbon functionalization, additional studies were performed in order to improve the process. To expand the utility of this reaction, we carried out experiments to optimize reaction conditions and tested the effect of Lewis acids and low temperature initiators. Although allyl-PINO substrates reacted slightly slower than the bromides, the reactions were cleaner with little or no side products. The chain lengths for these reactions were compromised at lower temperatures, attributable to the high activation energy required for the hydrogen atom abstraction by PINO . The addition of a Lewis acid catalyst (AlCl3) improves the product yield and reaction rate, possibly due to the formation of a PINO /AlCl3 complex which lowers the activation energy for hydrogen abstraction step.
New discrete states of strings near a black hole

Abstract We find the physical spectrum for the “black hole” solution recently proposed by E. Witten as an exact string background with a 2-dimensional target space. The spectrum contains some of the states found in studies of d = 1 non-critical string theory but, in addition, has new states not previously found in the d = 1 non-critical string. Along the way we find a remarkable “stringy” symmetry of the spectrum relating massive states to massless ones.
Possible Origin of Magnetic Fields in Neutron Stars and Magnetic White Dwarfs

The evolutionary path from main sequence stars to neutron stars has not yet been definitively determined. The following seems, however, common to published models1,3 : (a) The pre-neutron star stage has a very dense carbon-oxygen core of mass Mc˜1.4 M⨀, surrounded by a more massive hydrogen and helium shell-burning envelope; the total stellar mass is ˜ 4 to 8 M⨀. The core is initially kept below the carbon ignition temperature by conventional neutrino emission processes.
The role of the endothelial cell in leukotriene biosynthesis

Endothelial cells do not contain 5-lipoxygenase and thus are unable to generate LTA4 from arachidonate. Nonetheless, endothelial cells may play an important role in leukotriene synthesis by virtue of their ability to metabolize LTA4 derived from activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and to modulate PMNL 5-lipoxygenase activity. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were found to metabolize exogenous LTA4 to LTC4, and under some conditions human umbilical vein endothelial cells have been found to generate LTB4. Production of LTB4 by these cells appears to be under poorly understood cellular control, and it remains a controversial area of research.Under physiologic conditions, endothelial cells are in constant contact with circulating PMNL, which are known to generate substantial amounts of LTA4. When these two cell types are coincubated in vitro, clear evidence of transcellular metabolism of PMNL-derived LTA4 to LTC4 by endothelial cells is found. Coincubations produce from two to greater than 10 times ...
A personal computer‐based data control interface for neutralization‐reionization and tandem mass spectrometry

An improved data-acquisition and management system interfaces an IBM-compatible personal computer to a tandem mass spectrometer. In addition to increased spectral resolution and storage, the control system measures the absolute abundance (peak areas) of product ions, and also that of the precursor; these are capabilities critical for collisional activation, metastable ion decomposition and neutralization-reionization mass spectra. Improved experimental control features include multiple mass range and repetitive scan selection, spurious transient rejection and comparative spectral display.
Cross-flow influence on slot cooling effectiveness

ENGINEERING NOTES are short manuscripts describing neudevelopments or important results of a preliminary nature. These Notes cannot exceed 6 manuscript pages and 3 figures; a page of text may be substituted for a figure and vice versa. After informal review by the editors, they may be published within a few months of the date of receipt. Style requirements are the same as for regular contributions (see inside back cover).
Estimating Broiler Supply and Demand as a Simultaneous System

Abstract The production and consumption of broiler meat varies seasonally and is accompanied by seasonally fluctuating prices. In addition to seasonal factors, the marketing process occurs in the short-run, giving rise to the need for a simultaneous model of supply and demand. Therefore, a two-equation simultaneous model was utilized which included zero-one (dummy) variables as monthly intercept shifters for both supply and demand. January represented the base intercept period for both equations. Ten monthly demand curves and eight monthly supply curves were estimated whereby the intercepts were significantly different from the January intercept value. The estimated coefficients indicate that as broiler quantity changes by one percent, price changes inversely by 1.66 percent. Pork price, price expectations (as measured by lagged broiler price), and consumer income have a direct influence on the demand (price) for broilers. Supply is directly influenced by price, whereby a one cent price change induces a corresponding quantity change of 73.47 million pounds. Supply is also positively influenced by pork price while changes in input costs, as reflected by farm value, has a negative influence on supply.
Abstract 2182: Epigenetic regulation and growth suppression by NDN, an imprinted tumor suppressor gene whose expression is decreased in epithelial ovarian cancers

NDN is a monoallelically expressed, maternally imprinted gene located on chromosome 15q11.2. Deletion and uniparental disomy of the NDN gene is causally associated with the Prader-Willi syndrome, a congenital neuro-developmental disorder. Studies of brain development suggest that NDN functions as a suppressor of neuronal growth. Recent studies have shown that NDN gene expression is downregulated in melanoma and urothelial cancers, indicating that it may also act as a tumor suppressor gene. We have now found that NDN gene expression is also downregulated in 50% of 14 ovarian tumors and 9 out of 10 ovarian cancer cell lines. Hypermethylation of 2 CpG sites in NDN promoter was detected in 5 out of 10 cell lines by pyrosequencing, and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment revived NDN expression at different levels, suggesting that DNA hypermethylation is one of the mechanisms of NDN downregulation. Re-expression of the NDN gene product Necdin in SKOv3 ovarian cancer cells significantly inhibited growth by clonogenic assays associated with upregulation of caspase-3 activity. Expression of Necdin did not induce autophagy. As SKOv3 cells are p53 null, the mechanism(s) by which Necdin induces cell death is independent of p53 activity. Our observations that Necdin expression is downregulated in majority of ovarian cancers and cancer cell lines and that re-expression of Necdin inhibited cancer cell growth support the notion that NDN is a tumor suppressor gene. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2182. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2182
Mass density perturbations from inflation with thermal dissipation

We study the power spectrum of the mass density perturbations in an inflation scenario that includes thermal dissipation. We show that the condition on which the thermal fluctuations dominate the primordial density perturbations can easily be realized even for weak dissipation, i.e., the rate of dissipation is less than the Hubble expansion. We find that our spectrum of primordial density perturbations follows a power law behavior, and exhibits a ``thermodynamical'' feature---the amplitude and power index of the spectrum depend mainly on the thermodynamical variable M, the inflation energy scale. Comparing this result with the observed temperature fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background, we find that both amplitude and index of the power spectrum can be fairly well fitted if $M\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{15}--{10}^{16} \mathrm{GeV}.$
Prognostic implication of sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous head and neck melanoma.

Background Current therapy for intermediate thickness melanoma involves wide local excision with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). SLNB provides important prognostic information and immediate regional lymphadenectomy for a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) may improve survival and identifies patients who are candidates for adjuvant therapy and/or clinical trials. The head and neck site is unique because of its complex lymphatic drainage pattern to multiple nodal basins and because of the risk of site-specific morbidity associated with regional lymphadenectomy when compared to other body sites. The goal of this study is to report the results of SLNB for head and neck cutaneous melanoma in locating the sentinel node and to report on the prognostic implications of SLNB for this cohort of patients. Methods A prospectively entered melanoma database was used to review consecutive patients with head and neck cutaneous melanoma undergoing SLNB at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1996 and 2007. The database, along with a retrospective chart review, was used to evaluate the success of SLNB at locating an SLN and the success rate of frozen section and permanent section analysis at diagnosing metastatic disease. Recurrence at all sites including the nodal basin and status at last follow-up was recorded. Characteristics of the patients' primary melanoma were included. Descriptive statistics along with univariate and multivariate survival analysis were performed. Results Between 1996 and 2007, 234 patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cutaneous melanoma underwent SLNB and had at least 1 month of follow-up. At least 1 SLN was identified in 218 of these patients (93%) by lymphoscintigraphy. In 16 patients, no SLN was found. These patients had a much shorter time to recurrence (4.75 months) than either the SLN-positive group (10.7 months) or the SLN-negative group (26.0 months). They had a disease-specific survival (DSS) in between the SLN-positive and SLN-negative group. Of the patients in whom an SLN was identified, 28 patients (12%) had at least 1 positive SLN. Of these, the SLNs of 14 patients (50%) were identified on frozen section; 14 (50%) could only be identified after further sectioning or immunohistochemical analysis postoperatively. Among 190 patients with a negative SLNB, 12 patients had recurrences in the nodal basin. This resulted in a sensitivity of 70%, a negative predictive value of 94%, and a false-negative rate of 30%. The 3-year disease-free survival for SLN-negative and SLN-positive patients was 84% (p < .031) and 58% (p < .102), respectively. The 3-year melanoma-specific survival was 98% (p < .012) and 75% (p < .201), respectively. Conclusion The SLN status is an important predictor of survival. The technique, performed in the head and neck is complex and associated with a high false-negative rate. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
Emerging technologies, military operations, and national security: Fundamental drivers for development and deployment of radical technologies

Throughout history, national security and power, military operations, and technological evolution have been linked to each other. Even when technological evolution is relatively quiescent, the relationship among these three domains, and the social and ethical issues that arise from that relationship, are quite complex. In an era of rapid and accelerating fundamental technological change, however, the challenges of managing the development and deployment of such technologies can be overwhelming, and the results of the evolutionary process counterintuitive and seemingly inexplicable. It is therefore worthwhile to understand some of the basic trends driving the evolution of these technologies.
Male Genital Tract Compartmentalization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV)

We present phylogenetic evidence supporting viral compartmentalization between the blood (peripheral blood mononuclear cells or plasma) and multiple genitourinary sites in HIV-infected men. Four of the five subjects evaluated demonstrated compartmentalization of viral sequences between urogenital tract specimens (tissue or fluid) and at least one blood category. HIV sequence migration from blood to urogenital tract was detected in four of five men, with migration from urogenital tract to blood in the fifth, and cross migration between both compartments noted in one man. These observations add 5 additional cases to the 27 total reported cases in which male urogenital tract compartmentalization has been studied, investigate surgical samples/specimens that have not been evaluated previously, and provide further evidence for restricted flow of HIV between the blood and the genital tract. As such, our study findings are important for understanding the long-term response to antiretroviral therapy, the design of vaccines, and the sexual transmission of HIV.
Nucleation of Sickle Hemoglobin Mixed with Hemoglobin A: Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Hybrid-Forming Mixtures

Sickle hemoglobin (HbS) is a point mutation of the two β subunits in normal Hb (HbA) that leads to nucleated polymerization and accompanying pathology. We measured the rates of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation of HbS in the presence of up to 50% HbA under conditions in which hybrid HbAS molecules will also form. The replacement of 50% of HbS by HbA slows polymerization by factors of ∼100 in the physiological range, which is substantially less than previously thought. To provide a theoretical description of these data, we extended the double nucleation model for HbS polymerization to conditions in which hybridized mixtures are present. Measurements of homogeneous nucleation and the theory agree only when at least one of the molecules in the nucleus is not a hybrid. We attribute this to the necessary presence in the nucleus of a molecule that utilizes both β-subunit mutation sites in intermolecular contacts, whereas the remaining molecules engage only one of the mutation sites. Heterogeneous nucleation appears to require an even greater number of nonhybrid molecules, presumably because of the need for the nucleus to attach to the polymer as well as to form internal bonds. These results also provide insights into the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, including the occasional severe events that strike persons in whom both HbS and HbA are expressed, a condition known as sickle trait. The studies reported here are necessary for understanding physiologically relevant polymerization in the presence of ligands as well as therapeutically relevant copolymerizing inhibitors.
Bioinformatics and computational systems biology: at the cross roads of biology, engineering and computation

Summary form only given. We are witnessing the emergence of the "data rich" era in biology. The myriad data in biology ranging from sequence strings to complex phenotypic and disease-relevant data pose a huge challenge to modern biology. The standard paradigm in biology that deals with hypothesis to experimentation (low throughput data) to models is being gradually replaced by data to hypothesis to models and experimentation to more data and models. And unlike data in physical sciences, that in biological sciences is almost guaranteed to be highly heterogeneous and incomplete. In order to make significant advances in this data rich era, it is essential that there be robust data repositories that allow interoperable navigation, query and analysis across diverse data, and a plug-and-play tools environment that will facilitate seamless interplay of tools and data. Further, the integrated data will enable the reconstruction and modeling of biological systems. This talk with address several of the challenges posed by enormous need for scientific data integration and modeling in biology with specific exemplars and possible strategies. The issues addressed will include: architecture of data and knowledge repositories; flat, relational and object-oriented databases ; ontologies in biology; reduction and analysis of data; legacy knowledge integration with data and systems level modeling in biology.
Radiographic assessment of ground-level falls in elderly patients: Is the "PAN-SCAN" overdoing it?

Introduction Routine, whole-body computed tomography imaging (PAN-SCAN) has been shown to identify unexpected injuries and alter the management of patients presenting with blunt trauma. We sought to characterize the changes in practice over time and the utility of PAN-SCAN imaging in elderly patients who fall and require admission to a trauma center. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis by using data derived from a Pennsylvania state-wide trauma registry (2007–2010). All hemodynamically stable patients (>65 years) who had a ground-level fall and were admitted for >24 hours were selected. Patients who underwent a combination of all three scans within 2 hours of arrival were considered to have underwent PAN-SCAN imaging. Clinical outcomes were compared across PAN-SCAN patients relative to less diagnostic imaging. Regression analysis was used to determine whether PAN-SCAN imaging was an independent determinate of mortality and resource use. Results Over the period of study, 13,043 patients met inclusion criteria. The annual rate of PAN-SCAN imaging after ground-level falls increased over time. After we controlled for important confounders, PAN-SCAN imaging was not associated with mortality (odds ratio 0.97, P = .74, 95% confidence interval 0.80–1.18). Despite greater injury severity, PAN-SCAN imaging was independently associated with significantly lesser intensive care unit requirements, step-down days, and a lesser overall duration of stay. Conclusion PAN-SCAN imaging has become more common over time in elderly patients having a ground-level fall. Although PAN-SCAN imaging during the initial trauma evaluation was not associated with an independent decrease in the risk of mortality, it was independently associated with lesser hospital resource use. These data suggest that whole-body computed tomography imaging may benefit trauma center resource use for patients with ground-level falls.
Long-term Culture of Lymph Node Tissue from a Patient with Lymphocytic Lymphoma

ATTEMPTS to grow normal lymphoid tissue for extended periods of time in a state of morphological and immunological differentiation have been met by failure1,2. An alternative procedure involves short-term incubation of lymph node or spleen cells from previously immunized donors3–7. A short time ago Ioachim8 reported successful long-term cultures of normal splenic tissue with continuous production of plasma cells from several mammalian species, including man. Simultaneous attempts with lymph node explants were unrewarding. On the other hand, continuous in vitro growth of mouse lymphomatous cells has been repeatedly accomplished9–11. Recently, Epstein et al.12 reported long-term cultivation of Burkitt lymphoma cells.