cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supralesional Ablation Volumes Are Feasible in the Posterior Fossa and May Provide Enhanced Symptomatic Relief.

Background Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for posterior fossa lesions remains rare as the small size of the infratentorial compartment, proximity to the brainstem, and thickness/angulation of the occipital bone creates barriers to procedural success. Furthermore, evaluation of the effect of ablation volume on outcomes is limited. Objective To analyze our institutional experience with LITT in the posterior fossa stratifying perioperative and long-term outcomes by ablation volumes. Methods Seventeen patients with posterior fossa lesions treated with LITT from 2013 to 2020 were identified. Local progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, steroid dependence, and edema reduction were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis grouped by ablation volume. Preoperative, postoperative, and last known Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) were compared using a matched paired t test. Results No differences in pathology, preoperative KPS, or preoperative lesion volume were found between patients with total (100%-200% increase in pre-LITT lesion volume) versus radical (>200% increase in pre-LITT lesion volume) ablations. Patients who underwent radical ablation had a higher postoperative KPS (93 vs 82, P = .02) and higher KPS (94 vs 87, P = .04) and greater reduction in perilesional edema at last follow-up (P = .01). Median follow-up was 80.8 wk. Conclusion Despite obvious anatomical challenges, our results demonstrate that radical ablations are both feasible and safe in the posterior fossa. Furthermore, radical ablations may lead to greater decreases in perilesional edema and improved functional status both immediately after surgery and at last follow-up. Thus, LITT should be considered for patients with otherwise unresectable or radioresistant posterior fossa lesions.
Genetic Engineering for Improved Crop Disease Resistance

As indicated in the preceding two chapters, improvements in crop disease resistance are of significant agronomic value. Since the dawn of agriculture, man has attempted to enrich his domesticated plant species with disease resistance. With ever-increasing intensity over the last century, thousands of researchers have pursued applied and basic studies in plant pathology. Surprisingly, despite all this effort, the molecular bases of parasite pathogenicity or host resistance have not been unambiguously ascertained in any but a few plant diseases. Most of the many models of pathogenicity and host resistance have been postulated from studies which are largely correlative.
Romantic Vision and Gothic Balladry: Anne Bannerman's Tales of Superstition and Chivalry

Like her women Romantic contemporaries Joanna Baillie and Anna Barbauld, the Scottish poet Anne Bannerman (1765–1829) took an interest in the imaginative possibilities conferred by the tradition of British visionary poetics, a longstanding mode of imaginative production engaged by authors such as Chaucer, Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton and many of the canonical Romantics, including William Blake, William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Evoking the style, conventions and disruptive objectives of Judeo-Christian scriptural prophecy, visionary poetics created an opportunity for authors to express unpopular and even radical ideas within culturally sanctioned literary frameworks such as dream narratives, portrayals of seers and imaginative accounts of mystical or otherworldly experiences. In her second published volume of poetry, 1802's Tales of Superstition and Chivalry, Bannerman makes use of several themes, images and tropes associated with visionary poetry in what appears at first glance to be a volume of Gothic ballads. That pieces such as ‘The Prophetess of the Oracle of Seam’ and ‘The Prophecy of Merlin’ place her Tales within the context of vatic literature becomes more compelling when we consider how Bannerman redraws certain conventions of the visionary subgenre and so transforms the Gothic idiom.
An Image Data Model

In this paper, we analyze the existing approaches to image data modeling and we propose an image data model and a particular image representation in the proposed model. This model establishes a taxonomy based on a systematization over existing approaches. The image layouts in the model are described in semantic hierarchies. The representation is applicable to a wide variety of image collections. An example for applying the model to a plant picture is given.
Handbook of Research on Asian Business. Edited by Henry Wai-chung Yeung

The article reviews the book "Handbook of Research on Asian Business," edited by Henry Wai-chung Yeung.
Bone marrow rejuvenation. An excellent potential therapy for age-related endothelial dysfunction.

Aging has been defined as “the sum of primary restrictions in regenerative mechanisms of multicellular organisms”.1 In other words, aging can also be described as a progressive functional decline; a gradual degeneration of physiological function; or the intrinsic, inevitable and irreversible time-related process of loss of viability and increase in disease vulnerability.2 As life expectancy rises, it has led to the rapid aging of populations. Aging is the key risk factor for major human chronic pathologies and has become a worldwide medical and social problem. The most common diseases of aging include Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disorders. Certainly, increasing age is also an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.3, 4 Aging is accompanied by endothelial cell senescence and the progressive decline of endothelial function.5 Endothelial dysfunction primarily contributes to impeded re-endothelialization and exacerbated neointima formation upon vascular pathological lesions. Thus, recovery from the decline of endothelial function helps to prevent age-related vascular disease. With increasing age and persistent reactive oxygen species production, the capacity of adjacent endothelial cells to repair endothelial injuries is limited, and vascular recovery becomes dependent on the incorporation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).6 Bone marrow-derived circulating EPCs play a significant role in vascular re-endothelialization and suppression of neointima formation after vascular injury.7 These cells can be mobilized under the modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and other factors to participate in repair of endothelial injury. Aging impairs EPC mobilization, migration and homing to sites of vascular injury (Fig. 1). Open in a separate window Figure 1 Age-related effects that impair the biological function of endothelial progenitor cells.
MutantX-S: scalable malware clustering based on static features

The current lack of automatic and speedy labeling of a large number (thousands) of malware samples seen everyday delays the generation of malware signatures and has become a major challenge for anti-virus industries. In this paper, we design, implement and evaluate a novel, scalable framework, called MutantX-S, that can efficiently cluster a large number of samples into families based on programs' static features, i.e., code instruction sequences. MutantX-S is a unique combination of several novel techniques to address the practical challenges of malware clustering. Specifically, it exploits the instruction format of ×86 architecture and represents a program as a sequence of opcodes, facilitating the extraction of N-gram features. It also exploits the hashing trick recently developed in the machine learning community to reduce the dimensionality of extracted feature vectors, thus significantly lowering the memory requirement and computation costs. Our comprehensive evaluation on a MutantX-S prototype using a database of more than 130,000 malware samples has shown its ability to correctly cluster over 80% of samples within 2 hours, achieving a good balance between accuracy and scalability. Applying MutantX-S on malware samples created at different times, we also demonstrate that MutantX-S achieves high accuracy in predicting labels for previously unknown malware.
High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Assay for α Hydroxylation of N-Nitrosopyrrolidine by Isolated Rat Liver Microsomes

A high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay for α hydroxylation of N -nitrosopyrrolidine by isolated hepatic microsomes was developed. Mixtures consisting of N -nitrosopyrrolidine, microsomes, and an NADPH-generating system were incubated at 37°. The major product of α hydroxylation of N -nitrosopyrrolidine, 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran, was trapped by the addition of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent to form 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. The latter was quantified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Under optimal conditions, as determined by varying protein and substrate concentrations, the α hydroxylation of N -nitrosopyrrolidine was linear for at least 90 min and showed characteristics typical of the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system, such as inhibition by CO and induction by pretreatment of male F-344 rats with Aroclor. N -Nitrosopyrrolidine exhibited type II spectral changes upon interaction with isolated hepatic microsomes. A close correspondence between binding affinity and α hydroxylation of N -nitrosopyrrolidine was observed.
Vasectomy and Reversible Vasocclusion

In vitro studies of vasectomized portions of vas deferens indicate that there is a probable role of sympathetic fibers in the control of mortility a fact which would have to be considered in vasovasotomy. The degree to which the lumen can distend shows a marked individual as well as proximal and distal variation which must be considered in work with plugs or reversible devices. Surgical techniques vary as does the method by which cut ends are occluded (cautery ensheathing in fascia doubling back). Research is needed to elucidate the physiological effects of vasectomy as well as the immunological effects. Psychological evaluations are inconclusive to date. Factors influencing reversibility include semen quality at the time of vasectomy techniques used interval fertility of the mate and follow-up care.
Experience, context, and the visual perception of human movement.

Why are human observers particularly sensitive to human movement?' Seven experiments examined the roles of visual experience and motor processes In human movement perception by comparing visual sensitivities to point-light displays of familiar. unusual, and impossible gaits across gait-speed and identity discrimination tasks. In both tasks, visual sensitivity to physically possible gaits was superior to visual sensitivity to physically impossible gaits, supporting perception-action coupling theories of human movement perception. Visual experience influenced walker-identity perception but not gait-speed discrimination. Thus. both motor experience and visual experience defile visual sensitivity to human movement. An ecological perspective can he used to define the conditions necessary for experience-dependent sensitivity to human movement.
A Mechanism for the Potent Inhibition of Eukaryotic Acetyl-Coenzyme A Carboxylase by Soraphen A, a Macrocyclic Polyketide Natural Product

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylases (ACCs) have crucial roles in fatty acid metabolism. Soraphen A, a macrocyclic polyketide natural product, is a nanomolar inhibitor against the biotin carboxylase (BC) domain of human, yeast, and other eukaryotic ACCs. Here we report the crystal structures of the yeast BC domain, alone and in complex with soraphen A. Soraphen has extensive interactions with an allosteric site, about 25 A from the active site. The specificity of soraphen is explained by large structural differences between the eukaryotic and prokaryotic BC in its binding site, confirmed by our studies on the effects of single-site mutations in this binding site. Unexpectedly, our structures suggest that soraphen may bind in the BC dimer interface and inhibit the BC activity by disrupting the oligomerization of this domain. Observations from native gel electrophoresis confirm this structural insight. The structural information provides a foundation for structure-based design of new inhibitors against these enzymes.
Optimal broadcast scheduling for random-loss channels

Virtually all known results of broadcast scheduling have assumed that channels are reliable without data corruption or loss. This assumption, however, is far from reality. In fact, data loss imposes severe impact on broadcast performance, as briefly shown in [9]. In this paper, we study how to systematically derive optimal broadcast schedules for random-loss channels. The key idea is to employ proper MDS codes in the schedules. We show that the proposed scheme can achieve optimal performance, in terms of expected delivery time, and is much more robust to variations of channel loss probabilities, compared to those not using codes. In addition, we study the effect of basic schedule unit and conclude that the impact is prominent when data loss presents
Temporal relations in profile comparisons

In these experiments, the standard alone consists of 21 equal‐amplitude components spaced at equal log‐frequency intervals between 200 to 5000 Hz, presented for 500 ms. The listener's task is to discriminate whether the 1000‐Hz (signal) component is at the same level as the 20 other components or slightly higher in level. Absolute level of the signal component is not a reliable cue because the overall level of the tones is chosen randomly on each presentation. The results show that the listener is very sensitive to the relative difference in the temporal onset of signal and standard. The threshold for an increment is smallest when the onsets are the same, but increases 15–20 dB if the signal component begins 50 ms before the onset of the standard. The results imply that the internal representation of intensity level is not a static quantity but a process having considerable dynamics. Unless the starting times in relevant channels are nearly the same, the channels are not coherent, and any cross‐channel co...
Analysis of spectral broadening of incoherent light in optical fibers with nonzero dispersion

Fiber dispersion plays a significant role in spectral broadening of incoherent continuous-wave light. We develop a self-consistent stochastic model for spectral broadening of incoherent continuous-wave light through nonlinear wave mixing and apply this model to numerical simulations of spectral broadening in a continuous-wave fiber Raman laser. The results of these numerical simulations agree very well with carefully conducted laboratory measurements. Under a wide range of operating conditions, these numerical simulations also exhibit striking features, such as damped oscillatory spectral broadening (during the initial stages of propagation) and eventual convergence to a stationary, steady-state spectral distribution at sufficiently long propagation distances. We analyze the important role of fiber dispersion in such phenomena. We also derive an analytical rate equation expression for spectral broadening, whose numerical evaluation is far less computationally intensive than the fully stochastic simulation, and a mathematical criterion for the applicability of this analytical expression.
Anger Regulation Style, Postoperative Pain, and Relationship to the A118G Mu Opioid Receptor Gene Polymorphism: A Preliminary Study

Greater trait anger-out is associated with elevated pain responsiveness. Previous work suggests this effect may be mediated by deficient endogenous opioid analgesia, possibly reflecting diminished opioid receptor sensitivity. The A118G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the mu opioid receptor gene influences both opioid receptor sensitivity and clinical responsiveness to opioid analgesics. Therefore, this study tested whether this SNP either mediated or moderated the effects of anger-out on postsurgical pain outcomes. Forty-eight patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery provided genetic samples, and completed measures of anger-out and postsurgical pain. Postsurgical opioid analgesic use was also recorded. Anger-out was positively associated with postsurgical pain ratings (p 0.10), suggesting the latter is unlikely to mediate anger-out's pain-related effects. A significant anger-out x A118G interaction was observed on analgesic use (p < 0.05), due to a much stronger positive relationship between anger-out and analgesic demands in patient with the A118G SNP (b = 0.53) than those with the wild-type receptor (b = 0.07). These results suggest that the A118G SNP may moderate but not mediate the effects of anger-out on postoperative pain responses.
Using pen-based computers across the computer science curriculum

This paper describes our use of pen-based electronic classrooms to enhance several computer science courses. After presenting our motivation for undertaking this work, and its relevance to the growing interest in using tablet PC's in the classroom, we present an overview of our use of this technology to engage students during class. Finally, we present the students' reaction to the approach as measured through attitude surveys and a focus group.
Lactational Performance of Adolescent Mothers Shows Preliminary Differences From That of Adult Women

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to characterize milk production, milk composition, and the lactational behavior of adolescent mothers, and to compare their lactational performance with that of adult females. Methods: Twenty-two lactating mothers, 11 adolescents and 11 adults, were studied at 6-week intervals between 6 and 24 weeks postpartum. Milk production was determined by the test-weighing procedure. Milk nutrient composition was determined by standard chemical analyses. Frequency and duration of nursing and the use of supplemental formula and complementary foods were recorded. Results: The amount of milk adolescents produced at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks postpartum ranged from 37–54% less ( P Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that milk production was reduced in adolescent mothers compared with adult females. Although behavioral strategies that increase the frequency of daytime nursing and reduce the frequency of supplemental feedings may enhance the milk production of adolescent mothers, other biological factors may account for their poorer lactational performance.
A Slave's Marriage: Dowry or Deposit

(1991). A Slave's Marriage: Dowry or deposit. The Journal of Legal History: Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 132-139.
Spectrophotometry of the small satellites of Saturn and their relationship to Iapetus, Phoebe, and Hyperion

Abstract We have obtained broadband spectrophotometric observations of four of the recently discovered small satellites of Saturn (Gladman et al., 2001, Nature 412, 163–166). The new data enable an understanding of the provenance, composition, and interrelationships among these satellites and the other satellites of Saturn, particularly Iapetus, Phoebe, and Hyperion. Temporal coverage of one satellite (S21 Tarvos) was sufficient to determine a partial rotational lightcurve. Our major findings include: (1) the satellites are red and similar in color, comparable to D-type asteroids, some KBOs, Iapetus, and Hyperion; (2) none of the satellites, including those from the “Phoebe Group” has any spectrophotometric relationship to Phoebe; and (3) S21 Tarvos exhibits a rotational lightcurve, although the data are not well-constrained and more observations are required to fit a definitive period. Dust created by meteoritic impacts and ejected from these satellites and additional undiscovered ones may be the source of the exogenous material deposited on the low-albedo side of Iapetus. Recent work which states that the small irregular satellites of Saturn have impacted Phoebe at least 6–7 times in the age of the Solar System (Nesvorny et al., 2003, Astron. J. 126, 398–429), suggests that such collisions may have propelled additional material from both Phoebe and the small irregular satellites toward Iapetus. The accretion of material from outer retrograde satellites may be a process that also occurs on Callisto and the uranian satellites.
An analysis of fossil enamel protein.

The amino-acid analysis of insoluble enamel protein from a mastodon tooth resembles that of fresh enamel. The residual protein contains a small but significant amount of hydroxy-proline and its overall composition is unlike dential collagen. The data indicate that hydroxy-proline is present in the insoluble enamel protein rather than as contamination from dentin.
Genetic effects of hatchery rearing in Atlantic salmon.

Abstract Six polymorphic enzyme loci were examined electrophoretically in a sample of wild Atalntic salmon smolts from the Burrishoole river in western Ireland and in samples of artificially-reared fry hatched in 1981 and parr hatched in 1979. These hatchery reared fish were the progeny of five generations of artificially reared sea ranched salmon which had originally come from the Burrishoole river. Selection for growth and disease resistance was practised and between ten and 30 females and similar numbers of males were used as parents in each generation. Gene frequencies differed significantly at a number of loci between the wild and the artificially reared samples. Erosion of genetic variability, as measured by mean heterozygosity and mean number of alleles over the six loci, was evident in both hatchery reared samples. It is argued that the observed genetic changes are caused by founder effects and genetic drift rather than selection by some aspects of the artificial rearing regime. The importance of using adequate numbers of parents in hatchery rearing is stressed, since it is shown that differences between wild and reared populations are as great as between natural populations from Irish rivers.
Take the Young Stranger by the Hand: Same-Sex Relations and the YMCA

The history of American gender and sexuality is examined here through a case study of the YMCA, the organization devoted to young men. The social history of the YMCA has been filled with strife, tragedy and irony, reflecting the struggle and shifting societal mores about masculine friendship and intimacy. In the 19th-century the YMCA was built on intense male friendships that involved economic as well as emotional independence. Some men found in the YMCA an alternative to mainstream patterns of heterosexual marriage and family life, choosing to live their lives as bachelors in community with other men. But with the turn of the century, social perceptions of gender and sexuality began to change and certain forms of male intimacy were regarded as deviant. The text argues that the YMCA grew more hostile to masculine love and sought to expand its control over the emotional and sexual lives of its members through programs in physical training, reinforcing new images of masculinity. Pointing out, ironically, that the YMCA's gymnasiums and dormitories became primary sites for illicit male sexual encounters.
Telomere length and iPSC re-programming: survival of the longest

A hallmark feature of pluripotent stem cells is the ability to proliferate indefinitely (immortal phenotype). Despite reactivation of telomerase during iPSC derivation, there exists considerable heterogeneity in telomere length amongst established iPSC cell lines. Both telomerase-dependent and -independent mechanisms have now been shown to be important for continuous self-renewal of iPSC via the maintenance or extension of telomere length.
Chronic antidepressant administration alters the subcellular distribution of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in rat frontal cortex

The influence of chronic administration of antidepressants on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was examined in rat frontal cortex. Chronic administration of imipramine, tranylcypromine, or electroconvulsive seizures decreased cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in soluble fractions by approximately 25%, whereas enzyme activity was increased in the particulate fractions by approximately 20%. In contrast, enzyme activity in crude homogenates was not altered. This effect appears to be specific to antidepressant drugs, because representatives of several other classes of psychotropic drugs-namely, haloperidol, morphine, and diazepam--failed to alter either soluble or particulate levels of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in this brain region following chronic administration. When the total particulate fraction was subfractionated, it was found that chronic imipramine treatment significantly increased the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in crude nuclear fractions but not in crude synaptosomal or microsomal fractions. Taken together, the data raise the possibility that chronic antidepressant treatments may stimulate the translocation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from the cytosol to the nucleus. This effect would represent a novel action of antidepressants that could contribute to the long-term adaptive changes in brain thought to be essential for the clinical actions of these treatments.
Seismic Response Modeling for Missouri River Highway Bridges

Three highway bridges spanning the Missouri River flood plain were selected for evaluation of seismic site response for moderate size earthquakes emanating from the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in the Midwestern United States. The NMSZ is known to be capable spawning earthquakes larger than magnitude (M) 7.0, four of which occurred in a three-month period between 1811 and 1812, and the Mw 6.0 earthquake of October 1895 centered near Charleston, Missouri. This study evaluated the likely impacts of long period motion of these historic earthquakes on three long-span highway bridges using geotechnical data obtained from recent investigations. Our results suggest site amplification between 6× and 9×, depending on the magnitude and epicentral distance. We believe that threshold magnitude for serious foundation failure and damage to these bridges is between Mw 6.5 and 6.6. Above these magnitudes widespread liquefaction is predicted, which would effect the peak horizontal acceleration and spectral accelerations...
Fatty acid and nutritive quality of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds and plant during growth

Abstract The fatty acid (FA) profile, chemical composition, gross energy and organic matter digestibility of chia ( Salvia hispanica L.) have been determined in the seed and in the plant collected at five progressive morphological stages from early vegetative to budding stage. The FA analyses disclosed quantitative differences between the plant stages that were characterised by a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which made up from 752 to 623 g/kg of the total FA of the plant during the growth cycle. The α-linolenic acid (ALA, C 18:3 n –3 ) decreased from 649 g/kg, at the early vegetative stage, to 499 g/kg of the total FA, at the budding stage, while all the other FAs increased with increasing growth stage. The chia seed FAs were also highly unsaturated, with their main components being ALA (641 g/kg of the total FA) and linoleic acid (LA, C 18:2 n –6 ; 188 g/kg of the total FA). The evolution of the quality of chia is closely related to the ageing of the plant. The chia plant provides a forage with a good nutritive value when harvested at a stage before the shooting period. After this, the nutritional quality of the plant considerably decreases with an increase in the fibrous fractions and a dramatical decrease of the crude protein content.
Osteomyelitis in the dog: microorganisms isolated and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.

In fifteen out of 17 (88%) radiographically diagnosed cases of osteomyelitis in the dog the lesion contained bacteria, the one most frequently isolated being Staphylococcus aureus. All bacteria isolated were tested to determine their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents. The results of two methods of measuring susceptibilities, standard disk diffusion and minimal inhibitory concentration, are presented.
Top ten ways to make formal methods for HPC practical

Almost all fundamental advances in science and engineering crucially depend on the availability of extremely capable high performance computing (HPC) systems. Future HPC systems will increasingly be based on heterogeneous multi-core CPUs, and their programming will involve multiple concurrency models, with the message passing interface (MPI) serving as the dominant model for many years. These developments can make concurrent programming and optimization of HPC platforms and applications very error-prone. Therefore, significant advances must occur in verification methods for HPC. We present ten important formal methods research thrusts that can accelerate these advances.
Preliminary transient heat flow model of the Rio Grande rift in southern New Mexico

Abstract A positive gravity anomaly, anomalous seismic structure, and abnormally high reduced heat flow occur in a possible extension of the Rio Grande rift in southern New Mexico. The reduced heat flux is explained by the transient effects of basaltic intrusions with dimensions based on interpretations from gravity and seismic data. Ages of volcanic activity in the rift area are used to determine times of thermal events. The effect of latent heat and sharp boundaries of the reduced heat flow anomaly also restrict modeling. The thermal model consists of three intrusions at the base of the crust at 35 m.y., 10 m.y. and 5 m.y. The initial temperatures of these intrusions would differ from those in the surrounding crust and upper mantle by about +800°C, +800°C, and +600°C, respectively. The 35-m.y. intrusion is consistent with Oligocene volcanism and tectonic activity in southwestern New Mexico. This mass also contributes to the Bouguer gravity high in the rift area, as do the intrusions at 10 and 5 m.y. The intrusions at 10 and 5 m.y. explain the excess reduced flux, with the 5-m.y. pulse accounting for most of the curvature in the sharp boundaries of the anomaly. The idealized model is consistent with late Tertiary andesites, the periods of little extrusive activity, and Pliocene-Quaternary basalts in the rift area.
A simplified method for determination of daunorubicin, adriamycin, and their chief fluorescent metabolites in human plasma by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

A simple method was developed for the routine monitoring of daunorubicin (DR) or adriamycin (ADR) and of their chief fluorescent metabolites in plasma of cancer patients. The plasma samples were treated with ethanol: hydrochloric acid mixture, following which the drug and its metabolites, released to the 40,000 g supernatant, were analyzed by HPLC. A μ-bondapak-phenyl column was used and an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile in 0.1 M ammonium-formate bufter at pH 4.0. Avarage recovery of all the tested compounds within the concentration range of 17–3,450 pmol/ml plasma was 108±5% (mean±SD).
Technique of Aortic Balloon Catheter Deployment with the Use of a Fogarty Catheter

Abstract The routine use of Fogarty catheters during removal of the intraaortic balloon catheter resulted in extraction of thrombotic material from the femoral artery in 4 out of 9 patients. The techniques of deployment, maintenance, and removal of the intraaortic device are described.
Toxicokinetics of Oxazepam in Rats and Mice

The comparative toxicokinetics of oxazepam were studied in F344 rats, B6C3F1 mice, and Swiss-Webster mice of both sexes after an iv dose of 20 mg/kg and oral gavage doses of 50, 200, and 400 mg/kg. In addition, the toxicokinetics of oxazepam in a 3-week dosed-feed study of male B6C3F1 mice at 125 and 2500 ppm were also investigated. Results indicated that the elimination of oxazepam from plasma after iv injection in both rats and mice were first-order and could be best described by a two-compartment model with a terminal elimination half-life of 4–5 h for rats and 5–7 h for mice. After oral gavage dosing the peak oxazepam plasma concentrations in most rodents were reached within 2–3.5 h. At all doses studied, female rodents had significantly higher plasma concentrations than males. Absorption of oxazepam was significantly extended at higher oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. At 50 mg/kg, the bioavailability of oxazepam in rats ( 80%). The bioavailability of oxazepam in both B6C3F1 and Swiss-Webster mice decreased with increasing dose. A dose proportionality of Cmax was not observed in rats and mice after gavage doses of 50, 200, and 400 mg/kg. Plasma concentrations of oxazepam in the dosed-feed study increased with the concentration of oxazepam in the feed, a quasi-steady-state of plasma concentrations of oxazepam was reached after approximately 4 days ad libitum exposure. In B6C3F1 mice, the estimated relative bioavailability of oxazepam from dosed feed (relative to gavage study at 50 mg/kg) was about 43%.
Biochemical changes in three-day-event horses at the beginning, middle and end of phase C and after phase D

Blood samples were collected 12-16 h before the Speed and Endurance test, immediately after steeplechase, midway through Phase C (4 km marker), at the end of Phase C and immediately after cross-country from 36 horses that completed a 3-day-event at the CCI* (n = 19) or CCI** (n = 17) level. Packed cell volume (PCV), plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, pH and lactate; and serum concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin, total calcium, alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose and creatinine were measured. No differences were noted in any biochemical measurements between the CCI* and CCI** horses at any sampling time, despite differences in speed and length of various phases of the Speed and Endurance test. For all horses (n = 36), biochemical parameters changed significantly over time (P < 0.01). The PCV, calcium, potassium, lactate, total protein and albumin concentrations were significantly increased over pre-exercise concentrations immediately after Phase B. During Phase C, these parameters decreased towards pre-exercise concentrations, thereby supporting the concept that Phase C is a recovery phase. In contrast, chloride concentration decreased, and the creatinine concentration and CK increased compared to pre-exercise concentrations from the end of Phase B to the end of Phase C. These changes probably resulted from fluid and electrolyte losses in sweat, reduced renal blood flow and continued muscular activity. Many parameters did not change significantly between the 4 km marker (midway point on Phase C) and the end of Phase C. However, there were a few notable exceptions: potassium, chloride, lactate and glucose concentrations decreased, whereas pH and creatinine concentrations increased significantly from the 4 km marker to the end of Phase C. The most significant benefit of the extra distance from the 4 km marker to the end of Phase C was that it facilitated further dissipation of lactate concentrations prior to the start of Phase D.
Rodney James Clifton

On the occasion of Rodney James Clifton’s 70th birthday, a symposium took place on June 8–9, 2007 in Annapolis, Maryland, to celebrate this milestone. Past students and associates attended the event and delivered presentations ranging from wave mechanics to nanomaterials to dislocation modeling to dynamic failure. This special issue, dedicated to Rod, is a compilation of work presented at the symposium.
Spectrophotofluorometric and Electron Microscopic Study of Lipofuscin Accumulation in the Testis of Aging Mice

Lipofuscin accumulation in the testis of C57BL/6J mice ranging in age from 4 to 39 mo. was investigated by spectrophotofluorometric and electron microscopic techniques. Chloroform-methanol extracts of the whole organ contained fluorescent substances which increased linearly until about 24 mo. Thereafter, no further increases could be observed. Electron microscopy showed spermatogonia which were completely free of lipofuscin, in striking contrast with both Sertoli and interstitial cells of Leydig, which, in old animals, had accumulated very large amounts of pigment. In the Sertoli cells, a process of mitochondrial vacuolation and densification was apparently linked with the genesis of lipofuscin. On the other hand, in the interstitial cells, densification of lipid droplets played a role in the formation of most pigment granules.
Application of CFD to aerothermal heating problems

Numerical solutions of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations by an alternating direction implicit scheme, applied to two experimental investigations are presented. The first is cooling by injection of a gas jet through the nose of an ogive-cone, and the second is the aerothermal environment in the gap formed by the wing and elevon section of a test model of the space shuttle. The simulations demonstrate that accurate pressure calculations are easily obtained on a coarse grid, while convergence is obtained after the residual reduces by four orders of magnitude. Accurate heating rates, however, require a fine grid solution, with convergence requiring at least a reduction of six orders of magnitude in the residual. The effect of artificial dissipation on numerical results is also assessed.
Internal funds and corporate investment in India

Abstract Several economists have argued that capital markets in less-developed countries are fragmented. Fragmented capital markets retard the efficient allocation of resources and force business firms to rely on internal sources of funds. Using firm-level data, the authors examine the importance of the accelerator, internal funds, and depreciation for investment by manufacturing firms in India. The results indicate that internal funds and depreciation have significant explanatory power in a sales accelerator model of investment and that there exists heterogeneity among firms in the link between internal funds and investment. In particular, internal funds are relatively more important for large firms and firms that produce luxury goods.
The influence of oceanographic processes on pelagic-benthic coupling in polar regions: A benthic perspective

Abstract Benthic community abundance and biomass in polar marine systems is directly influenced by food supply from the overlying water column. Variability in hydrographic regimes, ice coverage, light, water column temperature and pelagic food web structure limit the amount of organic carbon reaching the benthos. Data from the high Arctic and Antarctic indicate that a large percentage of surface-produced organic matter is consumed by both macro- and micro-zooplankton as well as recycled in the water column via the microbial loop. This results in food-limited regimes for the underlying benthos. The few exceptions are nearshore continental shelf systems, such as in the Bering and Chukchi Seas in the western Arctic and portions of the Canadian Archipelago and Barents Sea in the eastern Arctic, where high benthic abundance and biomass occurs due to a tight coupling between water column primary production and benthic secondary production. A major difference between the Antarctic and Arctic is that the nearshore deep Antarctic is characterized by relatively high benthic abundance and biomass despite low water column production, suggesting that stability, low disturbance levels and cold temperatures enable benthic organisms to grow larger than in the Arctic. Both physical and biological disturbance levels are high in the marginal seas of the Arctic may directly influence benthic productivity. The relationship between primary production and sedimentation of organic material to the benthos is nonlinear due to its dependence on the role of the pelagic food web. Therefore, in this review we will only discuss the pelagic system with respect to how it impacts the net food supply reachig the benthos. A major objective of this review paper is demonstrate the influence of oceanographic processes on pelagic-benthic coupling in polar regions from a “bottom-up” perspective, using benthic studies from various regions in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Similarities and differences in oceanographic processes, benthic abundance and biomass, and benthic carbon cycling within these polar marine systems are discussed and areas for further research identified.
Computations of adjusted rates and lifetime risks from occupational cohort data: a program package using FORTRAN and GLIM

Abstract A program package using FORTRAN and GLIM is presented to compute lifetime risks of dying from a particular cause of death for a worker subjected to specific risk exposures using death rates adjusted for selected covariates (risk foctors). Calculations of the exposure index and adjusted rates depend on several commonly used procedures. Tests of homogeneity and trend for adjusted rates are provided. Lifetime risks are calculated in two different ways: adjusting or ignoring competing causes of death.
Off-shell effects, form factors and electromagnetic operators in nuclei

Abstract We suggest that the nucleon is larger in nuclei than in vacuum. For the larger nucleons we have calculated modified electromagnetic form factors. Evidence for these modifications of nucleon properties may be obtained from the study of the EMC effect, the quenching of the longitudinal response, and the distribution of charge and matter in nuclei.
Removal of n-benzyl-and n-benzyloxymethyl substituents from substituted uracils with boron tribromide

N1,N3-Dibenzyl uracil derivatives have been successfully deblocked by using boron tribromide in refluxing xylene. Also N1, N3-dibenzyloxy methyl uracil derivatives can be easily converted to uracils by treatment with boron tribromide in benzene in the cold and subsequent boiling of the intermediate with water.
A possible role for dephosphorylation in glucocorticoid receptor transformation.

Abstract Addition of bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase to mouse AtT-20 cell cytosol increases the rate of glucocorticoid receptor transformation, as evidenced by a change in sedimentation rate from 9.1S to 5.2S. Acid phosphatases are completely ineffective in this regard. Alkaline phosphatase-promoted receptor transformation is both time- and dose-dependent. A variety of phosphatase inhibitors are effective in inhibiting this process, the most potent being transition metal oxyanions such as molybdate, tungstate, and arsenate. The ability of the various inhibitors to suppress alkaline phosphatase-promoted receptor transformation does not correspond well with their potencies for inhibiting para-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis. However, a better correspondence between the inhibition of endogenous receptor transformation and total cytosolic phosphatase activity is observed, and both sodium fluoride and glucose-1-phosphate inhibit endogenous receptor transformation. The protease inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and antipain have no effect on receptor transformation. Surprisingly, leupeptin is effective in inhibiting alkaline phosphatase-promoted receptor transformation. Although this raises the possibility of a contaminating protease activity in the alkaline phosphatase enzyme preparation, treatment of covalently affinity-labeled receptor with the enzyme shows no proteolysis of the receptor or any other non-specifically labeled cytosolic protein. Thus, it is possible that a novel action of leupeptin, unrelated to its protease-inhibitory activity, may be involved in the suppression of receptor transformation. The studies presented here suggest that dephosphorylation of some component in cytosol is involved in the destabilization of receptor subunit interactions, resulting in glucocorticoid receptor transformation.
Myelin gene activation : a glucose sensitive critical period in development

Glucose deprivation was employed to model caloric undernutrition in newborn rat mixed glial cultures. Six day-old cultures were placed in serum-free media containing glucose concentrations from 0.55 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml. The expression of the myelin PLP, BP, and MAG genes was determined by Northern blot analysis. The activation of the myelin genes began at approximately 6 day in vitro (DIV), and a period of rapid upregulation followed through 14 DIV. The gene activity was directly related to the glucose concentrat. The increase in glucose concentration from 0.55 to 1.5 mg/ml (which spans the physiological range) resulted in 2–3 fold increases in expression of the myelin genes, whereas further increases in glucose (2–10 mg/ml) produced only slight additional elevation in the gene activity. We used high glucose (5–6 mg/ml) as control, or low glucose (0.55 mg/ml) as deprived, to delineate possible critical periods of oligodendrocytic differentiation. Cultures were deprived for 4-day intervals, staggered from 6 to 22 DIV. Deprivation from 6 to 10 DIV produced an 80–90% suppression of the myelin gene upregulation at 22 DIV; deprivation from 10 to 14 DIV produced 60–70% suppression; whereas deprivation from 14 to 18 DIV was fully recoverable by 22 DIV. These results show that mixed glial cultures model the developmental pattern of myelin gene expression, as well as their vulnerability. Furthermore, the period of rapid upregulation of the myelin genes appears to be a critical period in development, during which glucose deprivation irreversibly alters oligodendrocyte differentiation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Promoting organ donation among high school students: an educational intervention.

Objective—To evaluate the impact of a high school education program to promote organ donation awareness. The primary outcomes were intention to discuss organ donation with family or friends and actual discussion behavior.Design—Longitudinal, observational study.Methods—665 high school students filled out evaluations at the beginning and at the end of a 1-hour education program. One month later, the students were asked to report whether they had discussed donation.Results—After the program, knowledge and attitude scores and the proportion of students who intended to discuss donation increased (P < .05). At 1-month follow-up, 48% of students reported actual discussion. Intention has a strong, positive relationship with discussion behavior (odds ratio, 8.27; 95% CI, 3.18-21.51). Ethnicity, sex, and attitude of the students were also predictors of donation discussion behavior.Conclusions—This program appears to be effective in prompting discussion of organ donation among high school students.
Microcontaminants in Pentachlorophenol Synthesis. 4. Effect of Nickel and Other Metal Powders

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are undesired byproducts that form as microcontaminants during the synthesis of pentachlorophenol. Adding small amounts (at least 100 ppm) of Ni powder to the reactor reduces the toxic equivalent (TEQ)) concentration in the product to about 70% of what it would be without Ni. By adding Ni powder at the start of the run and terminating the chlorine flow near the end of the run, pentachlorophenol with a TEQ concentration of about 0.4 ppm can be repeatedly synthesized in the laboratory. Co and Mn are about as effective as Ni in inhibiting the formation of toxic microcontaminants, but Mo, W, Ti, Cu, Fe, and Zn have no measurable effect on the TEQ concentration.