cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protective association of aspirin/NSAIDs and esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background & Aims: Esophageal carcinomas have high fatality rates, making chemoprevention agents desirable. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies evaluating the association of aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and esophageal cancer. Methods: We evaluated the MEDLINE, BIOSIS, and Web of Science electronic databases (1980–2001); manually reviewed the literature; and consulted with experts. Studies were included if they: (1) evaluated exposure to NSAIDs, aspirin, or both; (2) evaluated esophageal cancer; and (3) reported relative risks or odds ratios or provided data for their calculation. Data were independently abstracted by 2 investigators. The primary and sensitivity analyses used both fixed and random-effects models. Results: Nine studies (2 cohort, 7 case control) containing 1813 cancer cases were identified. All primary summary estimates were homogeneous. Statistical pooling showed a protective association between any use of aspirin/NSAID and esophageal cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47–0.71). Both intermittent (OR = 0.82; CI, 0.67–0.99) and frequent medication use were protective (OR = 0.54; CI, 0.43–0.67), with greater protection with more frequent use. Stratified by medication type, aspirin use was protective (OR = 0.5; CI, 0.38–0.66), and NSAIDs had a borderline protective association (OR = 0.75; CI, 0.54–1.0). Any use was protective against both esophageal adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.67; CI, 0.51–0.87) and squamous cell carcinoma (OR = 0.58; CI, 0.43–0.78). Conclusions: Pooled results support a protective association between aspirin and NSAIDs and esophageal cancer (of both histological types) and provide evidence for a dose effect. These findings support evaluating these agents in clinical trials of high-risk patients. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2003;124:47-56
The Violated Female Body as Nation: Cultural, Familial, and Spiritual Identity in Nora Okja Keller's Comfort Woman

If gendered discourse is narrated by a woman, the female voice becomes a trope of identity and power—transgressing, dismantling, violating the law, and speaking her violation. By linking corporeal violence and linguistic, textual, and critical discursive violence engendered in representation, one inevitably confronts the body as the contested site of horrific memory, resistance, defiance of invisibility, and de-silencing. In Nora Okja Keller's poetically complex novel, Comfort Woman, the voice of a Korean comfort woman recounts her individual past and the past of her collective self. Akiko speaks of her body, abused by Japanese soldiers, as the broken nation of Korea, as a link to other violated women, as well as to her mother, grandmother, and daughter, who remain alive in her confused mind and spirit. At the same time, her daughter tries to lead a modern life in Hawaii but is powerfully drawn into her mother's past and current life and body. It is through the voiced violated female body that the cultura...
Cardiac pathology exceeds skeletal muscle pathology in two cases of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I†

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I (LGMD-2I) is caused by mutations in the fukutin-related protein gene (FKRP) that lead to abnormal glycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan in skeletal muscle. Heart involvement in LGMD-2I is common, but little is known about a underlying cardiac pathology. Herein we describe two patients with LGMD-2I (homozygous FKRP mutation c.826C>A, p.Leu276Ile) who developed severe congestive heart failure that required cardiac transplantation. The dystrophic pathology and impairment of alpha-dystroglycan glycosylation were severe in the heart but mild in skeletal muscle, underscoring the lack of correlation between cardiac and skeletal muscle involvement in some LGMD-2I patients.
Poly (A) and poly (U) in poliovirus double stranded RNA.

Poliovirus double stranded RNA (the “replicative form”) contains poly (A) at the 3′-end of the plus (genome-like) strand which is longer than poly (A) found in polio virion RNA. Digestion with 3′-exonuclease, hybridization to labelled poly (A) or poly (U) and affinity chromatography reveal that the minus strand contains 3′-terminal poly (U). These findings may imply that polio RNA replication proceeds through circular structures.
Stresses In Passivated Films

Although wafer curvature measurement provides a rapid and accurate determination of stress in a uniform thin film, the technique is not applicable to patterned films. To study the stress in metal lines, and the effect of passivation on that stress, it is necessary to use X-ray diffraction. To obtain the sensitivity and precision required, a generalized focusing diffractometer (GFD), that had been developed especially for work on thin films, was used in this study. The elastic strain tensors for aluminum and aluminum-silicon films and patterned lines were determined by X-ray diffraction. The corresponding stress tensors were calculated with the use of the known elastic constants of aluminum. The effect of various oxide and oxynitride passivations was investigated. Passivation over uniform metal films has very little effect, while passivation over patterned metal results in substantial triaxial tensile stress in the metal. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, high compressive stress in the passivation does not result in additional tensile stress in the metal. A possible explanation for the frequently observed deleterious effect (increased tendency for formation of cracks and voids) of highly compressive silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride passivations will be discussed.
Benchmarks in organism performance and their use in comparative analyses

Evaluating the response of organisms to stress assumes that functional benchmarks are available against which the response can be gauged, but this expectation remains unfulfilled for many taxa. As a result, attempts to describe the organismic effects of environmental degrada- tion and physiological stress can prove misleading. Func- tional benchmarks and the effects of stress are particularly germane to coral reefs that globally are exposed to sig- nificant environmental challenges, and in this study, we compiled data on scleractinian corals to describe a refer- ence against which stress responses can be gauged. Based on this construct, we tested the veracity of well-established contrasts--involving differences in physiological function among depths and families--to evaluate the capacity of available data to support synthetic analyses. Our analysis used 126 papers describing 37 genera, and at least 73 species, and described 13 traits, first independent of depth, and second, by depth. Data appropriate for these analyses were so sparse that depth- and family-level effects were inconspicuous, although the depth contrast revealed a decline in dark respiration and an increase in calcification (both normalized to area) in deeper water. Our analyses of scleractinian literature revealed limitations of the data available for synthetic analyses, as well for describing functional benchmarks within this taxon. We attribute some of these effects to differences in the physical envi- ronment under which measurements were made, and sus- pect that such problems are commonplace for other taxa. Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) models provide one means to overcome some of these problems, and they can be used for any taxon to quantitatively summarize data for com- parative analyses of stressor responses. The suitability of these models is illustrated for scleractinian corals by pre- dicting from first principles the ratio of Symbiodinium to holobiont carbon and the respiration.
Clinical usefulness of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme determinations.

1. We report on the clinical usefulness of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme determinations using a combined chemical inhibition method on 731 patient serum specimens exhibiting elevated (>350 U/L) alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity. 2. The relative percentages of the organ-specific alkaline phosphatase activities were computed on the basis of three independent assays: total activity, activity in the presence of 10 mMl-phenylalanine, and activity in the presence of 3.1 M urea. 3. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity assays were also performed on the same specimens. Using an upper reference limit of 30 U/L for GGT and comparing the GGT results with the percent liver AP, we found that the GGT results were 91% sensitive and 60% specific. 4. We conclude that AP isoenzyme determinations are very useful in identifying the organ source(s) responsible for elevated AP values. 5. The reference ranges for several age groups in relation to the adult population and their significance are presented.
The TESS database. Use in product safety assessment

The Toxic Exposure Surveillance System or TESS is a comprehensive poisoning surveillance database maintained by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. It now includes data on more than 20.3 million human poison exposures reported to US poison centres. TESS data are submitted by 67 of the 75 US poison control centres, covering 87% of the US population. Reports to US poison centres included in TESS originate both from the general public and from health professionals (12.9%) and include both patients managed at home or at the site of the exposure (73.6%) and those managed in hospitals, emergency departments, or other healthcare facilities (22.8%).
Safety and efficacy of glucomannan for weight loss in overweight and moderately obese adults.

Background. Few safe and effective dietary supplements are available to promote weight loss. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of glucomannan, a water-soluble fiber supplement, for achieving weight loss in overweight and moderately obese individuals consuming self-selected diets. Methods. Participants were randomly assigned to take 1.33 grams of glucomannan or identically looking placebo capsules with 236.6 mL (8 ounces) of water one hour before breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome was change in body weight after 8 weeks. Other efficacy outcomes were changes in body composition, hunger/fullness, and lipid and glucose concentrations. Safety outcomes included gastrointestinal symptoms/tolerance and serum liver enzymes and creatinine levels. Results. A total of 53 participants (18–65 years of age; BMI 25–35 kg/m2) were enrolled and randomized. The two groups did not differ with respect to baseline characteristics and compliance with the study supplement. At 8 weeks, there was no significant difference between the glucomannan and placebo groups in amount of weight loss ( and , resp.) or other efficacy outcomes or in any of the safety outcomes. Conclusions. Glucomannan supplements administered over 8 weeks were well tolerated but did not promote weight loss or significantly alter body composition, hunger/fullness, or lipid and glucose parameters. This trial is registered with NCT00613600.
Raising Flags: Applications of Chemical Marker Groups To Study Self-Assembly, Chirality, and Orientation of Interfacial Films by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

When used in conjunction with “chemical marker groups” (functionalities such as −Br and −COOH), scanning tunneling microscopy is a powerful tool for studying the properties of liquid−solid interfaces. Chemical markers serve as “flags” for the identification of interfacial structures, allowing, for example, the absolute chirality of optically active molecules self-assembling on a graphite surface to be determined. Subtle changes in the orientation of these chemical functionalities that affect the long-range order of interfacial films have also been observed and explored. Finally, alterations in self-assembly resulting from variations in adsorbate or substrate structure can be deduced by taking advantage of these STM “flags”.
On the Optimal Representation of Vector Location using Fixed-Width Multi-Precision Quantizers

Current generation geospatial applications primarily rely on location representations that were developed for the manipulation and display of planar maps of portions of the earth’s surface. The next generation of digital earth applications will require fundamentally new technological approaches to location representation. Improvements in the efficiency of the representation of vector location can result in substantial performance increases. We examine the advantages and limitations of the most common current approach: as tuples of fixed-width floating point representations of real numbers, and identify a list of desirable design features for an optimal replacement system. These include the use of explicitly discrete integer indexes, the use of an optimal quantification scheme, and the ability to represent point locations at multiple precisions, including the capability to exactly represent key point locations, and the ability to encode multi-precision quantizations. We describe a class of planar systems that meet these criteria, which we call Central Place Indexing (CPI) systems. We then extend these systems to the sphere to provide a class of optimal known fixed-width geospatial vector location representation systems we call CPI43 systems.
A NEW RAPTOR MIGRATION MONITORING SITE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS: COUNTS FROM 1999–2004

ABSTRACT The narrowing of the Florida Peninsula into the Florida Keys concentrates large flights of migrating raptors en route to southern wintering grounds each fall. Between 1999 and 2004, HawkWatch International (HWI) conducted standardized daily counts of migrant raptors from 15 September to 13 November at Curry Hammock State Park in the middle Keys. Average annual counts for the eight most common species were: Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus; 3893); Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus; 3300); American Kestrel (Falco sparverius; 2800); Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus; 1908); Osprey (Pandion haliaetus; 1171); Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus; 568); Merlin (F. columbarius; 554); and Cooper's Hawk (A. cooperii; 545). Counts were comparable to or greater than totals from each of nine sites representative of the major raptor migration corridors within the Nearctic-Neotropical migration system. Given the unique geographic position of the Florida Keys in the southeastern U.S. where no other major con...
Partition of rat liver cells in aqueous dextran-polyethylene glycol phase systems

Abstract Enzyme treatments change the surface charge of cells and thereby affect their partition in two-polymer aqueous phase systems. A mechanical dispersion method was therefore used for the preparation of normal and regenerating rat liver cells although changes in the surface properties of the cells so obtained may also occur. 1. 1. Dextran-polyethylene glycol phase system. The partition coefficient and electrophoretic mobility of regenerating liver cells is higher than that of normal liver cells. Countercurrent distribution of liver cells gives rise to two peaks: the left being larger than the right one for normal cells and the reverse holding for regenerating cells. Liver cells show a correlation between increasing electrophoretic mobilities and increasing partition coefficients through the bulk of the distribution curve. Incubation of liver cells (with 14C-valine) leads to distribution curves that are frequently shifted to the left and distorted but indications are that some separation of differently labeled cells occurs. 2. 2. Dextran-polyethylene glycol phase systems also containing a positively charged polymer. Countercurrent distribution of normal and regenerating liver cells results in single-peak curves. Liver cells from rats injected with india ink particles show a separation of hepatocytes from cells containing india ink particles (histiocytes). The latter are at the extreme right end of the distribution but have lower electrophoretic mobilities than the hepatocytes. Thus the histiocytes probably have a lower electrokinetic charge density than the hepatocytes but a higher charge density in the total peripheral zone (reflected by their partition). Mono- and bi-nucleated liver cells also appear to have different surface properties since their partial separation is effected by countercurrent distribution. Incubation of liver cells (with 14C-valine) does not affect their distribution curves; the more highly radioactively labeled cells are found under the right and left ends.
Leading among leaders: the dean in today's medical school.

The magnitude and pace of change in the health care environment demand that medical schools change. Leading in a time of great change is difficult, and it is ironic that just when stability in leadership is most needed, the average tenure of deans is dropping. Indeed, the path to leadership in academic medicine is strewn with inherent ironies, paradoxes, and idiosyncrasies. For example, few people who become leaders in academic medicine aspire to, plan for, or seek training for leadership, yet leadership skills are essential to meet today's complex institutional demands. Also, most medical school deans were once medical students, and were selected and trained to be assertive, independent physicians, not to collaborate. For faculty, the medical school environment traditionally values individual autonomy and rewards individual achievement, not behavior that supports a larger community interest. Yet today's deans must be skilled at collaborative behavior, since they must have a vision for their schools and find ways to offer direction to the faculty and others to realize that vision. The author offers ideas about leadership and its development, and stresses that good leaders must above all curtail their egos in order to do what is best for their institutions. What a dean does as an individual is not nearly as important as what a dean enables others to do. The author also provides a checklist of dean's characteristics and responsibilities to help deans-to-be understand the job and current deans to think about how to succeed and thrive. He concluded by reiterating that the culture of individual faculty success based on individual entrepreneurism is passe. To operate in the new collaborative culture, today's successful dean must meld persuasion with educational statesmanship, always informed by a vision of how the school can prosper and serve.
Production of dimethyl telluride and elemental tellurium by bacteria amended with tellurite or tellurate

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a facultative anaerobe, Pseudomonas fluorescens K27, would produce dimethyl telluride when anaerobic cultures were amended with differing concentrations of sodium tellurate and/or sodium tellurite and how that volatile organotellurium production varied over time. Batch bacterial bioreactor experiments were undertaken in order to observe the changes in the headspace of a growth medium solution inoculated with P. fluorescens and amended with tellurium salts. Gas samples were taken from the bioreactor every hour and were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography using fluorine-induced chemiluminescence detection to determine compounds in the headspace. Liquid samples were analyzed by spectrophotometer to determine optical densities, which were used as an indicator of cell growth. Verification of the identity of the dimethyl telluride produced in the bacterial headspace above a tellurate-amended culture was achieved by comparison with the chromatographic retention time of an authentic (CH3)2Te standard and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The time course production of dimethyl telluride varied with amendment salts' tellurium oxidation states and concentrations. Increasing tellurate concentrations caused slower bacterial growth, but those cultures reached the stationary phase sooner than cultures amended with tellurite concentrations 10 or 100 times less. Black elemental tellurium (Te0) was produced by live cultures amended with tellurium salts but not by sterile controls. The amount of tellurium in the solid phase (as Te0 and in/or on cells) harvested from replicate, anaerobic cultures of P. fluorescens sampled after 92 h of incubation was approximately 34%. Mixed tellurite/tellurate amendment experiments exhibited a synergistic toxic effect and yielded less final biomass and very little dimethyl telluride production compared with cultures amended with either tellurate or tellurite alone. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pushdown resistance as a measure of robustness in progressive collapse analysis

Abstract This paper presents a technique termed ‘pushdown analysis’ that can be used to investigate the robustness of building systems by computing residual capacity and establishing collapse modes of a damaged structure. The proposed method is inspired by the pushover method commonly used in earthquake engineering. Three variants of the technique, termed uniform pushdown, bay pushdown and incremental dynamic pushdown, are suggested and exercised using nonlinear analysis on 10-story steel moment frames designed for moderate and high levels of seismic risk. Simulation results show that the frame designed for high seismic risk is more robust than the corresponding one designed for moderate seismic risk. The improved performance is attributed to the influence of seismic detailing, specifically, the presence of reduced beam sections and stronger columns. It is shown that the dynamic impact factors associated with column removal are significantly lower than the commonly used value of 2.0 and are in line with lower values in the guidelines recently proposed by the US Department of Defense. The study suggests that seismic ‘fuses’ can play a role in the design for robustness and a discussion of the implications of this observation is provided.
Timing Is Everything: Regulation of Cdk1 and Aneuploidy

The spindle checkpoint ensures the proper partition of the chromosomal content of dividing cells, by controlling the transition from metaphase to anaphase. In a recent issue of Cancer Cell , Vecchione and coworkers report that the protein product of the tumor suppressor gene Lzts1 (Leucine zipper tumor suppressor-1) binds the Cdk1 phosphatase Cdc25C and stabilizes it by protecting it from proteasomal degradation (Vecchione et al., 2007). Partial or complete loss of Lzts1 downregulates Cdc25C and inhibits Cdk1 activity during mitosis, leading to premature transition from metaphase to anaphase.
The morphology and evolution of bipyramidal gold nanoparticles

We examine the growth and evolution with time of bipyramidal gold nanoparticles grown by a seed-mediated process. The nanoparticles are characterized both by their physical dimensions determined by transmission electron microscopy and by the wavelength position of their localized surface plasmon resonance. Each growth's physical dimensions correspond to particular initial conditions, and we observe two distinct modes of temporal evolution during growth. The effects of varying silver nitrate concentration and growth time are also explored. We observe a linear relationship between the tip radius of curvature and the wavelength of the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak. Critical parameters for synthesizing bipyramidal nanoparticles with sharp tips and correct length to width ratio are determined.
Self-energy of the bogoliubov quasi particle

Abstract The self-energy of the Bogoliubov quasi particle, a linear combination of a particle and a hole which is used in superconductivity and nuclear superfluidity, is obtained by using the Green's functions or propagators of field theory. The exact equation for the single quasi-particle propagator is an integral equation involving multiquasi-particle propagators. The equations for the multiquasiparticle entering the higher order propagators is uncorrelated with the others. These approximate propagators are then substituted into the equation for the single quasi-particle propagator. The single quasi-particle propagator is then composed of a Hartree-Fock type term, and terms representing exciton virtual emission and absorption processes. An exciton here is a collective excitation composed of a bound pair of quasi particles. The Dyson equation is used to obtain the self-energy. A simplified expression is obtained if the pairing interaction approximation is made. The exciton propagators are obtained by solving a pair of coupled integral equations.
Orthogonal decomposition of the currents in a 3-phase nonlinear asymmetrical circuit with a nonsinusoidal voltage source

The concept of orthogonal decomposition of the current in a nonlinear single-phase circuit, with a sinusoidal voltage source, into active, scattered, reactive, and generated components is extended to three-phase asymmetrical circuits. It is shown that the source current in such a circuit can be decomposed into five orthogonal components that depend on distinctively different phenomena. Four of them have the same meaning as in the single-phase circuit, with only a change in their mathematical characterization. An additional orthogonal component appears in the source current, because of the load asymmetry. >
Nanosecond Kinetics of Upconversion Process in EDF and its Effect on EDFA Performance

The experimental study of the dynamics of erbium ion interactions in EDFA is presented. The lifetime of the excited ion pairs/clusters is determined to be about 50 ns, much shorter than currently assumed in the literature.
"Drinking buddies" and alcohol dependence symptoms among African American men and women in Baltimore, MD

Abstract Background Social network characteristics have been found to be associated with a variety of risky behaviors, including alcohol consumption. This study assessed the relationships between the characteristics of drinking buddies and alcohol dependence symptoms among a sample of African American men and women. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using baseline data from 721 impoverished African American men and women participating in an HIV prevention study in Baltimore, MD. Alcohol dependence symptoms were assessed through the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and was defined as AUDIT score ≥ 13 for females and AUDIT score ≥ 15 for males. Logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations (GEE) using network member as the unit of analysis were conducted to assess the associations between the gender or relationship (i.e., kin, non-kin or sex partner) of the drinking buddies and the participants’ alcohol dependence symptoms. Results Approximately 22% of the participants had alcohol dependence symptoms. Among male participants, alcohol dependence symptoms were associated with having drinking buddies who were sex partners (AOR: 2.41; 95%CI: 1.32, 4.39) or who were female (AOR: 2.29; 95%CI: 1.29, 4.05). Among female participants, association between the presence of drinking buddy and alcohol dependence symptoms did not depend on the types of relationship or the gender of the drinking buddy. Conclusions Social network characteristics with respect to alcohol dependence symptoms vary according to the type of relationship or the gender of the drinking buddies, especially among men. Gender-specific norm-based interventions may be a useful strategy to decrease drink problems.
Staged endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms limits incidence and severity of spinal cord ischemia

Objective Neurologic dysfunction remains a persistent complication of extensive aortic repair owing to disruption of the spinal collateral network. We hypothesized that staged repair might mitigate the incidence and severity of this spinal cord ischemia (SCI). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing a Crawford type II repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm between January 2008 and July 2013. Baseline demographics, incidence of prior aortic surgery, comorbidities, and outcomes were prospectively recorded. Staged repair was defined as intentional completion of the endovascular repair as two temporally separate procedures, referred to as a two-stage repair. Extent of aortic cover was calculated by three-dimensional imaging and reported as the proportion of the aorta covered between the left subclavian artery and the aortic bifurcation. Primary outcome measures were incidence and severity of SCI and mortality. Results The study included 87 patients, divided into the following subgroups: single-stage repair (n = 32; repair in a single procedure, without prior aortic surgery), two-stage repair (n = 27; repair in two separate procedures, without prior aortic surgery), and unintentionally staged repair (n = 28; those with prior aortic surgery, without an intention to stage). Median time between stages was 5 months (range, 1-60 months). All groups were equivalent in terms of demographics and risk factors; however, the staged group had significantly greater proximal aortic cover ( P = .001). The overall rates of SCI in the nonstaged and staged groups were 37.5% (12 of 32) and 11.1% (3 of 27), respectively ( P = .03). Furthermore, all neurologic injuries in the staged group were temporary. The 30-day survival in the single-stage, two-stage, and unintentionally staged repairs was 18.8%, 0%, and 10.7%, respectively ( P = .52). Conclusions Staged repair appears both to protect against SCI and to enhance overall survival in extensive aortic repair.
Purification of human thyrotrophin.

Human thyroid-stimulating hormone (H-TSH) has been prepared from a side fraction, obtained during the isolation of human growth hormone, which contained thyroid-stimulating and gonadotrophic activity. After a preliminary equilibration step on Sephadex G-50, the thyrotrophin activity was adsorbed on carboxymethyl-cellulose (CM-C). Seventy-two per cent of the proteins were unadsorbed. The H-TSH was eluted and placed on a Sephadex G-100 column. These 2 steps gave a 35-fold purification. An additional 3-fold purification was achieved on diethylaminoethyl- cellulose (DEAE-C). The final potency of the preparation was 20 IU/mg. The behavior of the H-TSH, during disc electrophoresis and on the ion exchangers, DEAE-C and CM-C, suggests that the H-TSH is more acidic in nature than the bovine hormone. On G-100 the human and bovine hormone occupy the same position, from which it may be concluded that they have approximately the same molecular weight.
Phase equilibrium in electro-magnetic fields

Abstract In a recent paper Liu and Muller[1] have derived equilibrium constitutive equations for simple heat conducting fluids in an electro-magnetic field. These results are applied here to find the conditions of phase equilibrium between a liquid and a vapor. An approximate method is proposed for the evaluation of the exact conditions and a numerical example shows the magnitude of the effect the fields have on the phase boundary conditions. A van der Waals fluid is used for the illustration of some ideas.
Synthesis, Antiviral Activity, and Mechanism of Drug Resistance of d- and l-2‘,3‘-Didehydro-2‘,3‘-dideoxy-2‘-fluorocarbocyclic Nucleosides

Carbocyclic nucleosides have received much attention due to their interesting biological activity and metabolic stability. Among nucleoside analogues, a fluorine substitution on the carbohydrate moiety or introduction of a 2',3'-unsaturated structure motif has been proven to be successful in producing effective antiviral agents. By combining these structural features, both D- and L-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-2'-fluoro-carbocyclic nucleosides (D- and L-2'F-C-d4Ns) were synthesized as potential anti-HIV agents. The target D- and L-carbocyclic nucleosides were both stereospecifically synthesized from D-ribose. The structure-activity relationships of synthesized compounds against HIV-1 in activated human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells were studied, from which we found that the L-2',3'-dideoxy-2'3'-didehydro-2'-fluoroadenosine analogue (L-2'F-C-d4A) 46 showed potent anti-HIV activity (EC50 = 0.77 microM), although it is cross-resistant to the lamivudine-resistant variant (HIV-1M184V). Modeling studies demonstrated a good correlation between calculated relative binding energies and activity/resistance data. The modeling study also indicated that an additional hydrogen bond and a favorable van der Waals interaction contribute to the higher antiviral activity of L-2'F-C-d4A in comparison to its D-counterpart. Also, like other L-nucleosides, the unfavorable steric hindrance of the sugar moiety of L-2'F-C-d4A and the side chain of Val184 could explain the cross-resistance of L-2'F-C-d4A with the M184V mutant. The significant difference of antiviral activity between carbovir and its analogue L-2'F-C-d4G 25 may be due to distortion of the phenyl ring of Tyr115 in the L-2'F-C-d4G-TP/HIV-RT complex, which resulted in a poor pi-pi interaction.
Contact employees: Relationships among workplace fairness, job satisfaction and prosocial service behaviors

Abstract Contact employees deliver the promises of the firm, create an image for the firm and sell the firm 's services. Leading firms and scholars propose a possible relationship between the fair treatment of these employees and excellence in service delivery. This important proposition, however, lacks much more than anecdotal evidence. An empirical investigation is presented which offers support for positive relationships between contact employee fairness perceptions and their prosocial service behaviors (customer service behaviors and cooperation with fellow employees) and job satisfaction. Fairness of job supervision, pay and promotion rules and supervisor administration of these rules emerge as the key predictors of contact employee prosocial service behaviors and job satisfaction. The paper concludes with a discussion of research and managerial implications.
Social attitudes in southern Spain to shape EU agricultural policy

Abstract The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the most important European policies. Since its inception, the CAP has been reformed in response to high budgetary costs, international trade pressures and socio-economic changes. Despite the reforms, this policy did not always serve the best interests of farmers and provoked social criticisms. In anticipation of the post 2013 design, it is widely agreed that the forthcoming CAP should be more understandable to taxpayers. In this study, the social preferences towards the budgetary allocation of this policy, its equity, and its co-financing are investigated by means of the Choice experiment methodology to shed light on how to shape the future CAP to gain social legitimacy. Results reveal that the CAP post 2013 proposal is more in line with public preferences, although alternative measures are needed to tailor it effectively to regional needs.
Acute myelofibrosis: response to recombinant human interferon alpha-2a.

Abstract Acute myelofibrosis is a rare myeloproliferative syndrome characterized by bone marrow proliferation of atypical megakaryocytes, poor response to conventional leukemic therapy, and a fulminant clinical course. Because alpha interferon exhibits potent antiproliferative effects against megakaryocyte progenitors and human fibroblast cell lines, we treated two patients with acute myelofibrosis or the related syndrome of acute myelodysplasia with myelofibrosis with recombinant human interferon alpha-2a. Patient 1 received a 12-week course of interferon alpha(1–6 × 10 6 IU / d ) after failure of two cytarabine-based chemotherapy regimens. Interferon administration resulted in prompt improvement in symptoms, stabilization of leukocyte count, and a reduction in circulating blast forms. Primary treatment with interferon (1–3 × 10 6 IU / d × 4 weeks) in patient 2 produced complete hematologic recovery with restoration of marrow cellularity and reduced marrow fibrosis. Our findings suggest that interferon alpha may have significant activity in the treatment of patients with acute myelofibrosis.
Performance experiments for the performance course

This paper describes a newly instituted laboratory in the Computer Science Department at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The reasons for developing the laboratory are delineated. The equipment is then described. This is followed by a brief description of initial experience with the laboratory. A collection of experiments performed within the laboratory is delineated in detail. Finally some brief thoughts on the future use of the laboratory and the conclusions drawn at this point in the lab's history are presented.
T Cell-Produced Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Controls T Cell Tolerance and Regulates Th1- and Th17-Cell Differentiation

Summary TGF-β1 is a regulatory cytokine with a pleiotropic role in immune responses. TGF-β1 is widely expressed in leukocytes and stromal cells. However, the functions of TGF-β1 expressed by specific lineages of cells remain unknown in vivo. Here, we show that mice with a T cell-specific deletion of the Tgfb1 gene developed lethal immunopathology in multiple organs, and this development was associated with enhanced T cell proliferation, activation, and CD4 + T cell differentiation into T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells. TGF-β1 produced by Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells was required to inhibit Th1-cell differentiation and inflammatory-bowel disease in a transfer model. In addition, T cell-produced TGF-β1 promoted Th17-cell differentiation and was indispensable for the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These findings reveal essential roles for T cell-produced TGF-β1 in controlling differentiation of T helper cells and controlling inflammatory diseases.
Elective repeat cesarean delivery compared with spontaneous trial of labor after a prior cesarean delivery: a propensity score analysis

The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes, after the use of propensity score techniques, to create balanced groups according to whether a woman undergoes elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) or trial of labor (TOL).
The effect of Gram negative endotoxin on the calcium uptake activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from canine myocardium.

Abstract Gram negative endotoxin (Salmonella abortus equi) significantly inhibited the ATP dependent calcium uptake of canine myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The degree of inhibition was dependent upon the concentration of the endotoxin and its time of exposure to the SR. Significant inhibition was seen at endotoxin concentrations ranging between 0.024 mg/ml and 0.24 mg/ml. Inhibition, at a dose of 0.24 mg/ml, varied between 10.1 ± 0.1 percent with no preincubation to 61.0 ± 5.0 percent after fifteen minutes of preincubation. The relation between depression of the sarcotubular calcium pump and myocardial depression is discussed.
Testing gravity on Large Scales

We show how it is possible to test general relativity and di erent models of gravity via Redshift-Space Distortions using forthcoming cosmological galaxy surveys. However, the theoretical models currently used to interpret the data often rely on simpli- fications that make them not accurate enough for precise measurements. We will discuss improvements to the theoretical modeling at very large scales, including wide-angle and general relativistic corrections; we then show that for wide and deep surveys those cor- rections need to be taken into account if we want to measure the growth of structures at a few percent level, and so perform tests on gravity, without introducing systematic errors. Finally, we report the results of some recent cosmological model tests carried out using those precise models.
Inversion-free stabilization and regulation of systems with hysteresis using integral action

In this paper, we present analysis on the stabilization and regulation of the tracking error for an n-dimensional dynamic system with zero dynamics, which is preceded by a Prandtl-Ishlinskii hysteresis operator. A general controller structure is considered; however, we assume that an integral action is present. We treat this problem from the perspective of switched systems, where the state of the hysteresis operator defines the switching surfaces. The common Lyapunov function theorem is utilized together with an LMI condition to show that, under suitable conditions, the tracking error of the system goes to zero exponentially fast when a constant reference is considered. A key feature of this LMI condition is that it does not require the hysteresis effect to be small, meaning that hysteresis inversion is not required. We use this condition together with a periodicity assumption to prove that a servocompensator-based controller can stabilize a system with hysteresis without using hysteresis inversion. Finally, we conduct experiments using a servocompensator-based controller, where we verify the stability of the system and achieve a mean tracking error of 0.5% at 200 Hz using a sinusoidal reference.
A Cone Beam CT-Based Study for Clinical Target Definition Using Pelvic Anatomy During Postprostatectomy Radiotherapy

Purpose There are no accepted guidelines for target volume definition for online image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) after radical prostatectomy (RP). This study used cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging to generate information for use in post-RP IGRT. Methods and Materials The pelvic anatomy of 10 prostate cancer patients undergoing post-RP radiation therapy (RT) to 68.4 Gy was studied using CBCT images obtained immediately before treatment. Contoured bladder and rectal volumes on CBCT images were compared with planning CT (CTref) volumes from seminal vesicle stump (SVS) to bladder–urethral junction. This region was chosen to approximate the prostatic fossa (PF) during a course of post-RP RT. Anterior and posterior planning target volume margins were calculated using ICRU report 71 guidelines, accounting for systematic and random error based on bladder and rectal motion, respectively. Results A total of 176 CBCT study sets obtained 2 to 5 times weekly were analyzed. The rectal and bladder borders were reliably identified in 166 of 176 (94%) of CBCT images. Relative to CTref, mean posterior bladder wall position was anterior by 0.1 to 1.5 mm, and mean anterior rectum wall position was posterior by 1.6 to 2.7 mm. Calculated anterior margin as derived from bladder motion ranged from 5.9 to 7.1 mm. Calculated posterior margin as derived from rectal motion ranged from 8.6 to 10.2 mm. Conclusions Normal tissue anatomy was definable by CBCT imaging throughout the course of post-RP RT, and the interfraction anteroposterior motion of the bladder and rectum was studied. This information should be considered in devising post-RP RT techniques using image guidance.
Hypoxia and Cyanosis in Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency: Cirrhosis as an Unusual Etiologic Factor

A patient with type PiZZ α-1-antitrypsin deficiency was found to have severe hypoxia despite normal pulmonary function testing and a normal chest radiograph. A nuclear medicine ventilation-perfusion study revealed a right-to-left shunt. Computed tomography showed minimal bleb formation, no diffuse changes, and hepatic changes of cirrhosis with portal hypertension. No nodular pulmonary masses or enlarged peripheral pulmonary vessels were found. The diagnosis of diffuse intrapulmonic arteriovenous shunts (“pulmonary spiders of cirrhosis”) was suggested and then confirmed with a dynamic radionuclide flow study.
Interaction Between Atrial Pacing Lead and Epicardial Ventricular Wire Resulting in Unintended Ventricular Capture by Pacemaker Atrial Output

A 65-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in 1997 and 1998. He also received a permanent dual chamber pacemaker implantation during the second bypass surgery for complete heart block. He presented a year later to our pacemaker clinic for follow-up. Initial ECG showed ventricular capture by pacemaker atrial output (bottom tracings, left side). When the atrial output was decreased by 0.5V, normal atrial and ventricular pacemaker function was restored (bottom tracings, right side). A chest X-ray revealed an active fixation atrial lead implanted to the right atrium and a passive fixation lead to the ventricle. There was no apparent insulation failure of either lead by X-ray or by impedance measurements. An epicardial pacing lead implanted during bypass surgery for temporary postoperative pacing was not completely removed. The proximity between the retained epicardial wire and the screw of the active fixation atrial lead (arrow) support the hypothesis that the atrial output was conducted by the retained epicardial wire into the ventricles, resulting in unintended ventricular capture by the atrial output. However, we could not exclude the possibility that the atrial lead directly resulted in ventricular capture due to its proximity to the AV grove.
Simulating the Foreign Policy Decision-Making Process in the Undergraduate Classroom

A simulation of the foreign policy decision-making process, as described in this article, can assist an instructor in linking students' abstract understanding of complex political events, circumstances, and decision making to the real-world interplay of the multiple factors involved in decision making. It is this type of active learning that helps bring a student's abstract understanding into the concrete world. Instead of being passive learners relying on an instructor's knowledge, students are active participants in the learning process.
Should dairy be recommended as part of a healthy vegetarian diet? Counterpoint

A benefit-risk evaluation of the evidence for including dairy foods in the diet is presented. For many persons dairy products provide a substantial portion of essential nutrients, but especially calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Dietary supplements and fortified foods can be alternative sources of these nutrients, although other components of dairy foods such as amino acid composition and conjugated linoleic acid may be instrumental in the benefits associated with dairy product consumption for bone health and reduced risk of stroke, metabolic syndrome, and some cancers. Newer evidence shows that protein-induced calciuria does not have a detrimental effect on net calcium retention, and the concentrations of hormones in milk are not outside of the range of endogenous concentrations. Increased dietary protein, including from milk, can elevate serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I, which has an unknown relation to cancer. The concern over consumption of milk leading to increased risk of prostate cancer through reduction of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, a potent anti-prostate cancer hormone, has been resolved with new evidence that local production of this hormone is independent of diet. Overall, evidence suggests that being a lactovegetarian has greater health benefits and reduced health risks than being a vegan.
Brownian modulated optical nanoprobes

Brownian modulated optical nanoprobes (Brownian MOONs) are fluorescent micro- and nanoparticles that resemble moons: one hemisphere emits a bright fluorescent signal, while an opaque metal darkens the other hemisphere. Brownian motion causes the particles to tumble and blink erratically as they rotate literally through the phases of the moon. The fluctuating probe signals are separated from optical and electronic backgrounds using principal components analysis or images analysis. Brownian MOONs enable microrheological measurements on size scales and timescales that are difficult to study with other methods. Local chemical concentrations can be measured simultaneously, using spectral characteristics of indicator dyes embedded within the MOONs.