cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiquadrics—A scattered data approximation scheme with applications to computational fluid-dynamics—I surface approximations and partial derivative estimates

Abstract We present a powerful, enhanced multiquadrics (MQ) scheme developed for spatial approximations. MQ is a true scattered data, grid free scheme for representing surfaces and bodies in an arbitrary number of dimensions. It is continuously differentiable and integrable and is capable of representing functions with steep gradients with very high accuracy. Monotonicity and convexity are observed properties as a result of such high accuracy. Numerical results show that our modified MQ scheme is an excellent method not only for very accurate interpolation, but also for partial derivative estimates. MQ is applied to a higher order arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) rezoning. In the second paper of this series, MQ is applied to parabolic, hyperbolic and elliptic partial differential equations. The parabolic problem uses an implicit time-marching scheme whereas the hyperbolic problem uses an explicit time-marching scheme. We show that MQ is also exceptionally accurate and efficient. The theory of Madych and Nelson shows that the MQ interpolant belongs to a space of functions which minimizes a semi-norm and gived credence to our results.
Effects of halothane and fentanyl anesthesia on resistance to reabsorption of CSF

Using the technique of ventriculocisternal perfusion, resistance to reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid (Ra) was examined in dogs during anesthesia with halothane (0.8%) or fentanyl (3.0 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 for 20 minutes, followed by 0.2 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1, intravenously). Compared to normal Ra in dogs (220 to 224 cm H2O X ml-1 X min-1), halothane increased Ra to 245 +/- 2 cm H2O X ml-1 X min-1 (mean +/- standard error of the mean), and fentanyl decreased Ra to 114 +/- 1 cm H2O X ml-1 X min-1. Changes in Ra caused by halothane or fentanyl may contribute, in part, to changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) observed during prolonged anesthesia with these agents. Because decreased Ra improves spatial compensation by cerebrospinal fluid volume during increased ICP, fentanyl may be preferred over halothane in patients at risk because of increased ICP.
Studies on the mechanism of the synergistic interaction between 2'-deoxy-5-azacytidine and cisplatin.

2′-Deoxy-5-azacytidine (5-aza-CdR) and cisplatin interact to produce synergistic cytotoxicity against many human tumor cell lines. Preliminary experiments designed to explore the mechanism of this synergy suggested a poor correlation between synergy and the degree of genomic hypomethylation measured following exposure to 5-aza-CdR. Subsequent studies using plasmid DNA suggested that rather than DNA hypomethylation, incorporation of 5-aza-CdR into DNA mediated increased cisplatin binding to DNA and could therefore be essential to the synergistic interaction between these two agents. In this series of experiments, we evaluated the degree of synergy with cisplatin produced against two human melanoma cell lines by two additional antimetabolites that were chosen on the basis of their biochemical properties. In addition, we investigated the synergy between 5-aza-CdR and cisplatin in parental and 5-aza-CdR-resistant murine cell lines, which differed in their sensitivity to 5-aza-CdR and DNA methylation status but incorporated similar amounts of 5-aza-CdR into DNA when exposed to this antimetabolite. In the studies testing additional antimetabolites, cytosine arabinoside, which is incorporated into DNA but does not hypomethylate it, produced synergy with cisplatin that was similar or superior to that obtained using 5-aza-CdR. With 3-deaza-adenosine, which is not incorporated into DNA but produces DNA hypomethylation through inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, a primarily antagonistic interaction was observed in the two cell lines studied. In the 5-aza-CdR-sensitive and-resistant cell lines, a very similar synergistic interaction was documented for 5-aza-CdR and cisplatin despite the significant difference observed in DNA methylation levels. Taken as a whole, these data suggest that DNA hypomethylation was not critical to the synergistic cytotoxicity produced by 5-aza-CdR and cisplatin. This finding suggests additional strategies that could further modulate this interaction.
Effect of renin and plasma protein loading on albumin catabolism in the isolated perfused kidney.

SummaryUsing the isolated perfused rabbit kidney preparation, the relationship between proteinuria and albumin catabolism was studied in the absence of all other tissues and humoral substances of the body. The rate of breakdown of I131 screened rabbit albumin was studied in both the normal and the proteinuric perfused kidney. Proteinuria was produced in the normal perfused kidney by administration of renin or by elevation of the plasma protein concentration of the perfusion media. It was found that albumin catabolism was markedly increased in the perfused kidney during renin and protein loading proteinuria.
The geothermal heating of the abyssal subarctic Pacific Ocean

Abstract Recent deep CTD-O 2 measurements in the abyssal North Pacific along 175°W, 152°W, and 47°N indicate large-scale changes in the O-S characteristics in the deepest kilometer of the water column. Geothermal heat flux from the abyssal sediments can be invoked as the agent for causing large-scale modification of abyssal temperatures (but not salinities) in the subarctic Pacific Ocean. East-west and north-south thermal age differences of about 100 years are inferred using a spatially uniform geothermal heat flux of 5 x 10 -2 WrmW m -2 .
Measurement of Cross Sections for X-Ray Production by High-Energy Electrons

Using high-resolution semiconductor detectors, a study was made of the large $K$-ionization cross sections of atoms over a wide range of atomic numbers ($Z=29\ensuremath{-}83$) and of incident electron energies ($E=150\ensuremath{-}900$ MeV). For the higher-$Z$ elements ($Zg60$), the $L$ x-ray cross sections were also measured over the incident electron energy range. Ratios of the relative intensities of various distinct lines were determined and compared to recent low-energy work. The results of the $K$-ionization experiment are compared to the recent relativistic calculations of Kolbenstvedt. The experimental $K$-ionization cross sections for each incident electron energy appear to fit a power-law dependence on the atomic number. The Kolbenstvedt theory also exhibits a power-law dependence and is in good agreement with this experiment. All differential x-ray cross sections were found to be isotropic. The $L$ x-ray cross sections measured for four high-$Z$ elements increase with atomic number and incident electron energy. The $\frac{L\ensuremath{\beta}}{L\ensuremath{\alpha}}$, $\frac{L\ensuremath{\gamma}}{L\ensuremath{\alpha}}$, and $\frac{K}{L}$ intensity ratios are also given. A search for nuclear $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays produced by high-energy electron scattering was also undertaken in this work. No nuclear $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray lines were detected. Recent theoretical calculations show that the expected cross sections are below the minimum observable levels in these experiments. However, a 511-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ line was observed. This line was associated with positron annihilation and was apparently produced in the target.
The Use of Recombinant Factor VIIa in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplant

SUMMARY Liver transplantation is often associated with substantial blood loss and coagulopathy that requires the need for transfusion of large amounts of blood products with increased morbidity and mortality. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) was originally developed for the treatment of hemophilia patients with antibodies to factors VIII or IX. More recently rFVIIa has been studied as a prohemostatic agent in a variety of clinical and surgical conditions including liver transplantation. A review of the literature reveals a total of 96 cases of liver transplantation including recipient infants and adults. The doses of rFVIIa have been variable, as well as the results. The largest study was a randomized, double blind, parallel group placebo controlled trial with 83 patients who received a single dose of rFVIIa or placebo. No statistical correlation was seen between the use of rFVIIa and transfusion requirement. The overall incidence of adverse events has been low in all the reported cases. Further large controlled studies should be performed before the widespread use of rFVIIa in the surgical setting is advocated.
Substance-exposed newborns: Hospital and child protection responses

Abstract Recent federal legislation mandates that newborns identified as prenatally substance-exposed be reported to local child protective agencies. However, the legislation does not outline methods of identifying such newborns. A number of methods of identifying substance-exposed newborns exist, including maternal self-report, urine tests of either mother or newborn, and meconium testing, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Alcohol poses special challenges, as it is arguably as damaging to newborns as illegal substances, but it is treated differently by the medical profession and by child protective agencies than are illegal substances. There is inconsistency in the reporting by hospitals to child protective agencies, in terms of substances and maternal characteristics. This paper calls for hospitals to develop formal protocols for ascertaining prenatal substance exposure, including establishing objective criteria that both identifies a newborn as substance-exposed and dictates under what circumstances a newborn should be brought to the attention of child protective services. The child protective response is also seemingly inconsistent, and the system should develop appropriate responses for this population of newborns and their families.
Ventral surgical approaches to craniovertebral junction chordomas.

Background Chordomas are primarily malignant tumors encountered at either end of the neural axis; the craniovertebral junction and the sacrococcygeal junction. In this article, we discuss the surgical management of craniovertebral junction chordomas. Objective In this paper, we discuss the surgical management of craniovertebral junction chordomas. Results The following approaches are illustrated: transoral-transpalatopharyngeal approach, high anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach, endoscopic transoral approach, and endoscopic transnasal approach. No single operative approach can be used for all craniovertebral chordomas. Therefore, the location of the tumor dictates which approach or approaches should be used.
Stress invariance and exact relations in the mechanics of composite materials: Extensions of the CLM result – A review

We focus on the remarkable result in mechanics of composite materials which is due to Cherkaev, Lurie, and Milton [Cherkaev, A., Lurie, K., Milton, G.W., 1992. Invariant properties in the stress in plane elasticity and equivalence classes in composites. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 438, 519–529]. It pointed out the invariance in the stress field in planar linear elastic materials, subjected to tractions, under a shift in planar compliances and showed that the effective elastic compliances of such materials undergo the same shift. These findings give rise to the reduced parameter dependence and exact relations for this class of materials. We summarize this result in a unified way and review its extensions to other classes of materials which include multi-phase materials with perfectly bonded and slipping interfaces in the contexts of planar linear elasticity, and to the planar elasticity with body forces and eigenstrains, planar micropolar elasticity, planar piezoelectricity, and three-dimensional linear elasticity.
MONTE CARLO GO CAPTURING TACTIC SEARCH

This paper is an extended version of the authors' paper12 presented at JCIS 2007. Standard Monte Carlo UCT tree search algorithm is modified and extended to provide an efficient Go capturing problem solver. Experimental results show that this method outperforms traditional tree search methods to solve capturing problems in Go.
Electrophysiological effects of serotonin in the solitary tract nucleus of the rat

The nucleus tractus solitarius (nTS) is an important site for the integration of visceral information and its modification by afferent neural systems. One such afferent system arises from the raphe nuclei. This study investigated the electrophysiological effects of the primary transmitter of the raphe nuclei, serotonin (5-HT), on neurones in the nTS of the rat. Extracellular single unit recordings were made of the spontaneous activity of nTS neurones in isolated, superfused brainstem slices during bath-application of 5-HT (50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 nM). Twenty-seven of 46 neurones studied (≈90%) showed concentration-dependent decreases of firing rate, with a calculated EC50 of 261 nM. An additional 3 neurones displayed excitatory responses, while the remaining 16 were unaffected. The broad-spectrum 5-HT1 antagonist methysergide (200 nM) was highly effective in producing blockade of 5-HT-evoked depressions of neuronal activity (4 of 4), whereas the 5-HT1A receptor-selective antagonist spiroxatrine (5 nM) and the 5-HT2-selective antagonist mianserin (200 nM) were considerably less effective (1 of 5 and 2 of 5, respectively). Seven additional neurones were examined during exposure to the 5-HT1-selective agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) or the 5-HT2-selective agonist DOI. 5-CT depressed the activity of three of the four neurones tested, the remaining neurone being unresponsive at concentrations up to 50 nM. DOI at concentrations up to 100 nM failed to affect the activity of two of the three neurones tested, and depressed the activity of the third at a concentration of 50 nM. These data provide electrophysiological evidence of the presence of 5-HT, serotonergic receptors in the nTS, and suggest that 5-HT primarily has a depressent effect on the activity of individual neurones in the nTS.
Influence of fuel injection parameters on combustion-induced noise in a small diesel engine

In this paper, the effects of fuel injection parameters on combustion-induced noise in a small single-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine used in a generator set are described. A range of fuel ...
Rhesus monkey immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells generate alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells from circulating CD4+CD127-/lo T cells.

Background—Generation of non-human primate regulatory T cells (Treg) with alloantigen (alloAg) specificity would allow their testing in pre-clinical transplant models. Low recovery of Treg from peripheral blood limits their potential utility. In small animals and humans, conventional myeloid dendritic cells (DC) have been shown to select or induce alloAg-specific Treg. Methods—We combined enrichment of rhesus macaque blood CD4 + Treg based on IL-7Rα
Influence of earthworm middens on the distribution of soil microarthropods

Earthworm middens and non-midden soil were sampled for microarthropods in a mowed recreational field and and adjacent woodlot site. Samples were taken in fall 1983 and spring 1984. The earthworm middens of the mowed field supported a higher density of micrarthropods (especially Collembola and prostigmatid mites) than adjacent non-midden soil. This positive midden effect in the mowed field was more pronounced in the fall than in the spring. Woodlot earthworm middens examined in the fall had lower densities of microarthropods (especially oribatid mites) than adjacent non-midden soi, but in the spring woodlot middens supported greater densities of microarthropods (especially Collembola) than adjacent, non-midden soil.
Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of the Gregarious Hymenopteran Parasitoid Muscidifurax raptorellus in House Fly Pupae

Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) are gregarious parasitoids of stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) and house fly (Musca domestica L.) puparia. Strategic inundative releases of mass-reared M. raptorellus and other microhymenopteran parasitoids have been used in studies of biological control of pest and hemophagic dipterans that develop in livestock waste. Lack of an accurate and simple method to estimate pupal parasitism rates has limited the assessment of the utility of filth fly biological control by M. raptorellus and other parasitoids. Conventional estimates of parasitism rates are based on measurements of both the emergence of adult wasp parasitoids from puparia and the noneclosion of adult host flies (assuming parasitoid-induced pupal mortality). Microdissection of dipteran pupae for parasitoid presence is a difficult and tedious alternative method to estimate parasitism rates. In the present study, we produced polyclonal rabbit anti-M. raptorellus larvae serum antibodies, absorbed the antiserum with house fly puparia homogenates to remove muscoid host-reactive antibodies, and used the absorbed antiserum in a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect M. raptorellus larvae in parasitized house fly pupae. The ELISA accurately detected M. raptorellus parasitism of house fly pupae between 7 and 21 days poststing and detected parasitoids in nonemergent house fly pupae. Absorbed antiserum specificity for parasitoid antigens was confirmed by Western blots. This first report of muscoid pupal parasitoid detection by enzyme immunoassay suggests that this approach has potential as a research and surveillance tool for monitoring and quantifying the success of parasitoid releases for biological control of dipteran pests. © 2001 Academic Press
Segmental contribution to left ventricular systolic function at rest and stress: a quantitative real time three-dimensional echocardiographic study.

Objective: To assess the relative contribution of each myocardial segment to global systolic function during stress using real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). Background: During stress, global augmentation in contractility results in an increased stroke volume. The relative contribution of each myocardial segment to these volumetric changes is unknown. Methods: Full volume was acquired using RT3DE at rest and following peak exercise in 22 patients who had no ischemia and no systolic dyssynchrony on two-dimensional (2D) stress echocardiography. The following were calculated at rest and peak stress: end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), relative SV, and relative EF. Results: With stress, an increase in global EDV from 90.8 to 101.1 ml (P < 0.001), SV from 59 to 78.4 ml (P = 0.01), and EF from 65.6 to 78.4% (P = 0.001) was observed. ESV decreased from 31.8 to 22.7 ml (P < 0.001). Segmental analysis revealed significantly higher SV, relative SV, and relative EF for the basal anterior, basal anterolateral, and basal inferolateral segments compared with the apical septum and apical inferior segments at both rest and stress (P < 0.001). The SV, relative SV, and relative EF increased significantly from apex to mid to base at both rest and stress (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The relative volumetric contribution of each myocardial segment to global left ventricular systolic function at rest and stress is not uniform. The basal segments contribute more than the mid and apical segments. Specifically, the basal anterior, basal anterolateral, and basal inferolateral segments contribute the most to augmentation of left ventricular systolic function with exercise. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY 2010;27:167-173)
1194 MINOR HEMOGLOBINS IN DISORDERS OF CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM

The minor hemoglobins, Hb AIa+b, are less well characterized than Hb AIc (the glucose adduct), but are probably adducts of phosphorylated hexoses. Hb AIc has been shown to reflect the integrated plasma glucose level over previous weeks. Minor hemoglobins, Hb AIa+b and Hb AIc, were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in children and adults with insulin-dependent diabetes under variable control, glycogen storage diseases (I, IX) and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase deficiency. Elevation of Hb AIc, which was lowered by dialysis, was only found in the diabetics (p <.001). In contrast, subjects with Type I GSD and Fructose-1,6-D'Pase deficiency had elevated Hb AIa+b (p <0.001), which was not altered by dialysis. Since these latter disorders are often associated with lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia, glycolytic intermediates in the red blood cells are likely adducts. Analysis of the individual minor hemoglobins may serve in the screening and management of these disorders.
The Lincoln Propositions and the Spirit of Secession

Whether secession movements in Europe draw support from the disintegration of the Soviet Union into multiple units based on separate national identities or whether there are also independent centrifugal forces, the “right to secession” has emerged as a pressing question of democratic theory, one which is intertwined in complex ways with the current debate over the foundations of modern democratic society. This essay seeks to clarify the issue of right to secession through a critical examination of a single modern statesman: Abraham Lincoln.
Viva Viva? Women's Meanings Associated with Male Nudity in a 1970s “For Women” Magazine

Little research has been conducted with regard to how women view male nudity. The purpose of this analysis was to present an historical case study of Viva, a 1970s women's magazine geared toward the presentation of male nudity. Implicit in Viva's editorial direction was the assumption that women's sexuality is socially constructed and, thus, modifiable but also homologous to men's sexuality. Using sexual scripting theory as a sensitizing concept, a content analysis of women's letters to the editor was conducted. Letters justified inclusion of male nudity on the basis of principles of fairness and equality with men. In addition, letters tried to demarcate boundary conditions for what constituted acceptable male nudity in terms of the presence of erection, size, shape, and coloring of the penis, and whether inclusion of the penis was contextualized by other physical traits such as body musculature. Despite an early effort to modify cultural scripts on the basis of a constructivist world view, it was found that, ultimately, Viva advocated an essentialist viewpoint that reified existing conceptualizations of female sexuality as both static and uninterested in the visual representation of sexually related material. This study explored whether Viva's essentialist final position may have reflected financial exigencies rather than ideologies.
Outcome predictors for intracranial ependymoma radiosurgery.

OBJECTIVE To develop outcome predictors after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in patients with intracranial ependymomas who had received previous fractionated radiation therapy, we compared tumor control, survival, and complications with tumor grade, volume, age of patients, and imaging characteristics. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed records of 39 consecutive ependymoma patients who underwent SRS for 56 tumors. The median patient age was 22.8 years (range, 2.9-71.1 years). All patients had previous surgical resection of their ependymomas followed by radiotherapy, and 14 patients underwent previous chemotherapy. Twenty-five patients had low-grade ependymomas (34 tumors), and 14 patients had anaplastic ependymomas (22 tumors). The median radiosurgery target volume was 3.6 cm (range, 0.1-36.8 cm), and the median margin dose was 15.0 Gy (range, 10-22 Gy). RESULTS At a median of 23.5 months after SRS (range, 6.1-155.2 months), 25 patients died as a result of metastases (12 patients) or disease progression (13 patients). The overall survival rates after SRS were 60.1, 36.1, and 32.1% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The progression-free survival rates after SRS at 1, 3, and 5 years were 81.6, 45.8, and 45.8%, respectively, for all grades of ependymomas. Lower histological tumor grade was not significantly associated with better progression-free survival (P = 0.725). Factors associated with an improved progression-free survival included smaller tumor volume and homogeneous tumor contrast enhancement in low-grade ependymomas. CONCLUSION SRS provides another management option for patients with residual or recurrent ependymomas that have failed surgery and radiation therapy. Predictors of response include smaller volume and homogeneous contrast enhancement.
Synthesis of 4α-(2-propenyl)-5,6-secocholestan-3α-ol, a Novel B-ring Seco Analog of the Hypocholesterolemic Agent 4α-(2-propenyl)-5α-cholestan-3α-ol

Abstract 4α-(2-Propenyl)-5α-cholestan-3α-ol (LY295427) was previously identified from a CHO cell-based assay to be a potent LDL receptor up-regulator and had demonstrated to be an effective agent in lowering plasma cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. In order to investigate the effect of flexibility of the 3α-hydroxy-bearing A-ring on the activity, 4α-(2-propenyl)-5,6-secocholestan-3α-ol ( 11 ), a B-ring seco analog of LY295427, is thus synthesized from cholest-4-en-3-one. Test results indicate that 11 is not active in the CHO cell-based LDL receptor/luciferase assay at concentrations up to 20 μg/mL. The result underlines the importance of maintaining the A-B-C-D ring rigidity of the 3α-sterols in terms of binding to the putative oxysterol receptor.
Fluid-phase interaction between human plasma fibronectin and gelatin determined by fluorescence polarization assay

Previous studies of the binding properties of fibronectin (Fn) have utilized methods whereby one or the other macromolecule was immobilized on a solid phase. In order to examine the interaction between human plasma Fn and gelatin in solution, the latter was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) whose fluorescence polarization (P) served as a sensitive indicator of the formation of soluble complexes. Changes in P were detectable at Fn concentrations below 10(-9) M and continued up to concentrations above 10(-6) M at pH 7.3 and 25 degrees C. Fractionation of FITC-gelatin by exclusion chromatography and titration of selected fractions revealed a trend towards higher affinity with increasing size. A high-molecular-weight fraction comprised of beta and gamma components and a low-molecular-weight fraction comprised primarily of alpha chains exhibited sigmoidal increases in P (apparent positive cooperativity) with 50% saturation near 10(-9) and 10(-8) M Fn, respectively. By contrast, a 42-kDa chymotrypsin-generated Fn fragment which retains the ability to adhere to gelatin-Sepharose exhibited normal (noncooperative) binding to both gelatin fractions with Kd = 7 X 10(-7) M. In all cases, the increase in P could be reversed by addition of excess unlabeled gelatin or urea. The interaction of FN with FITC-gelatin provides the basis for a fast and sensitive determination of Fn levels in plasma and other fluids. Interference caused by other proteins such as albumin, which has an affinity for the fluorescein moiety, could be minimized by addition of 1.0 M NaCl which had no effect on the interaction between Fn and gelatin.
Religion and cooperation in a public goods experiment

Abstract We test whether religion affects adult subjects' decisions in a repeated public goods experiment. Contribution levels are not influenced by religious affiliation or participation. However, the decline with repetition is smaller among religious subjects, suggesting that religion may sustain cooperation.
The Prospect of Disease Control by Surgery Combined with Chemotherapy in Stage I and Stage II Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Ten patients with localized small cell carcinoma of the lung (clinical stages I and II) were treated by surgical resection more than 2 years ago; operation was followed by a course of intensive combination chemotherapy. Relapse of the disease has occurred in the central nervous system in 1 patient. One patient died of a surgical complication, and another died more than 4 years later of an unrelated malignancy. All others remain well, and 3 patients have survived longer than 5 years following resection.
Synthesis and reactivity investigation of iridium maleonitriledithiolate complexes. Redox studies and extended Hückel molecular orbital calculations on Cp∗ IrL(mnt) (where L = PMe3, PPh3, CN-t-Bu)

Abstract The reaction between the cyclopentadienyliridium complexes Cp∗ Ir(L)Cl2 (where L = PMe3, PPh3, CN-t-Bu) and disodium maleonitriledithiolate (Na2mnt) yields the corresponding mnt-substituted compounds Cp∗ Ir(PMe3)(mnt) (1), Cp∗ Cp∗ Ir(PPh3)(mnt) (2) and Cp∗ Ir(CN-t-Bu)(mnt) (3). All of these new compounds have been isolated in high yield and characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The solid state structures of 2 and 3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 with a = 10.4557(8) A , b = 10.630(1) A , c = 14.894(1) A , α = 91.382(8)°, β = 90.141(6)°, γ = 118.182(7)° , V = 1458.5(3) A 3 and Z = 2 . Full-matrix least-squares refinement yielded R = 0.0281 for 3425 (I > σ(I)) reflections. 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 8.9609(7) A , b = 20.343(1) A , c = 11.9115(9) A , β = 94.168(6)°, V = 2165.(6) A 3 and Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinement yielded R = 0.0245 for 2266 (I> 3 σ (I)) reflections. The redox properties of 1–3 have been explored by cyclic and rotating disc electrode voltammetric techniques in MeCN and CH2Cl2 solvents. Each of these compounds exhibit a well-defined one-electron oxidation wave that is assigned to the 0/ + 1 redox couple, along with a + 1/ + 2 redox wave, the reversibility of which is highly dependent on the nature of the ancillary two-electron donor ligand (L) and the solvent. Extended Huckel calculations have been performed on the model compounds CpIr(PH3)(mnt) and CpIr(CNH)(mnt), with the results used in a discussion of the nature of the HOMO and LUMO levels in 1–3.
Soluble Interleukin 2 Receptors Released from Mitogen Stimulated Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Bind Interleukin 2 and Inhibit IL2 Dependent Cell Proliferation

In this communication the binding characteristics and possible regulatory role of sIL2R were investigated. Soluble IL2R are released or secreted in high concentrations by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated human lymphoid cells. The addition of sIL2R, purified by gel filtration chromatography, to cultures of PHA stimulated lymphoblasts resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation that could be overcome by the addition of exogenous IL2. Scatchard analysis of IL2 binding demonstrated that the presence of sIL2R did not inhibit ligand interaction with the high affinity IL2R. Immunoprecipitation studies utilizing [125I]IL2 and the non-inhibitory anti-Tac protein antibody 7G7/B6 revealed that most of the 125I-labeled IL2 migrated with a protein of approximately 45-50 kDa on SDS/PAGE. Together, these results provide evidence that the sIL2R limits the availability of free IL2 to proliferating cells and down-regulates their response without directly affecting the number or function of the cell bound high affinity IL2R.
Targeting Accuracy of Image-Guided Radiosurgery for Intracranial Lesions: A Comparison Across Multiple Linear Accelerator Platforms.

Purpose:To evaluate the overall positioning accuracy of image-guided intracranial radiosurgery across multiple linear accelerator platforms.Methods:A computed tomography scan with a slice thickness of 1.0 mm was acquired of an anthropomorphic head phantom in a BrainLAB U-frame mask. The phantom was embedded with three 5-mm diameter tungsten ball bearings, simulating a central, a left, and an anterior cranial lesion. The ball bearings were positioned to radiation isocenter under ExacTrac X-ray or cone-beam computed tomography image guidance on 3 Linacs: (1) ExacTrac X-ray localization on a Novalis Tx; (2) cone-beam computed tomography localization on the Novalis Tx; (3) cone-beam computed tomography localization on a TrueBeam; and (4) cone-beam computed tomography localization on an Edge. Each ball bearing was positioned 5 times to the radiation isocenter with different initial setup error following the 4 image guidance procedures on the 3 Linacs, and the mean (µ) and one standard deviation (σ) of the resi...
The Behavioral Significance of Male Body Size in the Tarantula Hawk Wasp Hemipepsis ustulata (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)

Large males of the tarantula hawk wasp Hemipepsis ustulata appear to have an advantage in the competition for mates. Large males are more likely to acquire perch territories used to scan for incoming receptive females and territorial males appear more likely to mate than non-territorial males. In addition, among the males that do secure a mate, those that intercept a female on a territory are larger than those that do so elsewhere. Despite the mating advantages apparently enjoyed by larger males of this species, average male size has remained essentially constant over the last 25 yr. Moreover, larger males are not seen to employ certain competitive tactics that might otherwise enhance their reproductive success. Thus, larger males did not preferentially visit the most popular landmark territory compared to a site that attracted fewer visitors overall. Nor were larger males more likely to return to potential territories after marking, capture, and release, either immediately or on a subsequent day. Finally, although large males made up a significantly greater proportion of the males captured at two territories as the 2005 flight season progressed, over all the years of the study, receptive females have not been concentrated in the latter part of the flight seasons.
Highly specific alternative splicing of transcripts encoding BK channels in the chicken's cochlea is a minor determinant of the tonotopic gradient.

The frequency sensitivity of auditory hair cells in the inner ear varies with their longitudinal position in the sensory epithelium. Among the factors that determine the differential cellular response to sound is the resonance of a hair cell's transmembrane electrical potential, whose frequency correlates with the kinetic properties of the high-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels encoded by a Slo (kcnma1) gene. It has been proposed that the inclusion of specific alternative axons in the Slo transcripts along the cochlea underlies the gradient of BK-channel kinetics. By analyzing the complete sequences of chicken Slo gene (cSlo) cDNAs from the chicken's cochlea, we show that most transcripts lack alternative exons. Transcripts with more than one alternative exon constitute only 10% of the total. Although the fraction of transcripts containing alternative exons increases from the cochlear base to the apex, the combination of alternative exons is not regulated. There is also a clear increase in the expression of BK transcripts with long carboxyl termini toward the apex. When long and short BK transcripts are expressed in HEK-293 cells, the kinetics of single-channel currents differ only slightly, but they are substantially slowed when the channels are coexpressed with the auxiliary β subunit that occurs more widely at the apex. These results argue that the tonotopic gradient is not established by the selective inclusion of highly specific cSlo exons. Instead, a gradient in the expression of β subunits slows BK channels toward the low-frequency apex of the cochlea.
Feasibility of simultaneous emission and transmission scanning using short rod sources

The feasibility of simultaneously acquiring whole body Emission (Em) and Transmission (tx) scans using short or partially extended transmission rods was investigated. Count rate tests were performed on an ECAT HR+, where 3 rods filled with /sup 11/C were extended fully and partially into the FOV in the presence of an emission source (cylinder phantom 0.25 /spl mu/Ci/cc). Prompt and random coincidences were acquired separately with rod windowing to allow separation of Em and Tx counts. At a total rod strength of 0.5 mCi/cm the randoms in the Em and Tx data were reduced by 90% and 65%, respectively. The Em-NEC was improved by a factor of 4 by reducing the exposed length to 4 cm. In addition, the Tx count rate was improved by 32% due to reduced dead time. Using short (or partially extended) Tx rods, randoms rates and dead-time are significantly reduced, which should allow simultaneous Em and Tx scanning using conventional strength Tx sources without significantly degrading the Em images from increased randoms.
Effect of Whey on Calf Starter Palatability

Abstract Six experiments were to determine the effect of various percents of dried whey on palatability of different starter formulations fed to calves from birth to 6 wk of age. In each experiment, six calves were fed four rations containing variable percents of whey, in one instance as high as 40%. The rations were fed two at a time for 1 wk in a 6 (pairwise combinations) × 6 (weekly periods) Latin square design. Each square was replicated at least twice. Whey did not affect palatability uniformly fed in amounts up to 15% of the starter if mineral supplements were added. With no added mineral supplements, consumption tended to increase when the starters contained 10% whey. Thirty percent whey depressed consumption in three of four experiments.
A global transcriptional regulatory role for c-Myc in Burkitt's lymphoma cells

Overexpression of c-Myc is one of the most common alterations in human cancers, yet it is not clear how this transcription factor acts to promote malignant transformation. To understand the molecular targets of c-Myc function, we have used an unbiased genome-wide location-analysis approach to examine the genomic binding sites of c-Myc in Burkitt's lymphoma cells. We find that c-Myc together with its heterodimeric partner, Max, occupy >15% of gene promoters tested in these cancer cells. The DNA binding of c-Myc and Max correlates extensively with gene expression throughout the genome, a hallmark attribute of general transcription factors. The c-Myc/Max heterodimer complexes also colocalize with transcription factor IID in these cells, further supporting a general role for overexpressed c-Myc in global gene regulation. In addition, transcription of a majority of c-Myc target genes exhibits changes correlated with levels of c-myc mRNA in a diverse set of tissues and cell lines, supporting the conclusion that c-Myc regulates them. Taken together, these results suggest a general role for overexpressed c-Myc in global transcriptional regulation in some cancer cells and point toward molecular mechanisms for c-Myc function in malignant transformation.
Cardiac Vagal Tone, defensiveness, and motivational style

Cardiac Vagal Tone has been proposed as a stable biological marker for the ability to sustain attention and regulate emotion [Porges, Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development 59 (1994) 167-186]. Vagal tone is a physiological index of parasympathetic nervous system influence on the heart that has predicted a number of emotional behaviors and styles in infants, children, and adults. Little research, however, has sought to explore the link between vagal tone and established variables relating to personality and self-regulation. In this study, vagal tone was collected during 5-min baseline, stress, and recovery periods. Subjects (n = 98) also completed a short form of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the Behavioral Activation and Behavioral Inhibition Scales, the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Self-Consciousness Scale, and the Openness to Experience subscale of the Five Factor Personality Inventory. Poorer modulation for vagal tone was associated with greater social anxiety, while lower vagal tone across recording periods was associated with greater defensiveness and lower behavioral activation sensitivity.
Operationalizing sustainability: management and risk assessment of land‐derived nitrogen loads to estuaries

Sustainable coastal management requires that the goals and means of management be made operational and specific. We use Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, as a case study, to suggest a decision-making process that brings updated scientific results forward while incorporating stakeholder concerns. Land-derived nitrogen loading is the major agent of change for receiving estuaries in the Waquoit Bay estuarine complex, so control of nitrogen loading rates is a principal goal of land management plans. We can establish the relationships of land use pattern to nitrogen loading rates, and of loading rates to mean annual concentrations of nitrogen in the estuaries. The latter, in turn, can be related quantitatively to mean annual production and biomass of phytoplankton, macroalgae, and eelgrass. We propose that phytoplankton, macroalgal, and eelgrass production and biomass are suitable end point measures that can be made meaningful to stakeholders. We define the relationship of agent of change vs. end point measure, and ...
Filtering epitope alignments to improve protein surface prediction

In previous work, we developed a new algorithm to computationally predict the epitope, the antibody binding surface of a protein, based on aligning individual mimetic probe sequences derived from an experimental process called antibody imprinting for the protein of interest. A program called EPIMAP implements this algorithm and produces a list of the top-scoring alignment(s) of the probe to protein. Typically 50-100 probes sequences will be known experimentally and must be individually aligned using EPIMAP. The goal of the work reported in this paper is to select the most mutually compatible alignments (one for each probe used) in order to improve the accuracy of epitope prediction. We formalize this problem, show that it is NP-complete and describe an effective branch-and-bound search algorithm that works well in practice for inputs of interest. We show in our experimental results section that filtering alignments improves the accuracy the epitope prediction.
Évolution des pratiques médicales d’hypofractionnement dans la radiothérapie pour cancer du sein et impact économique

Resume Objectif de l’etude L’irradiation du sein apres tumorectomie est le standard pour le cancer du sein invasif. Des etudes randomisees montrent que la radiotherapie hypofractionnee est equivalente chez des patients selectionnes. Cette etude s’est interessee a l’evolution des pratiques dans un centre de lutte contre le cancer et analyse son impact economique. Materiel et methode Toutes les prescriptions pour cancer du sein invasif entre janvier 2010 et juin 2014 ont ete analysees. Les patientes d’au moins 60 ans, atteintes de cancer classe pN0, n’ayant pas ete irradiees dans les aires ganglionnaires, sans indication de boost, ont ete incluses dans l’etude economique. L’etude des pratiques a exclu celles incluses dans des essais cliniques, ou atteintes de tumeur de haut grade. Le cout des transports a ete estime grâce aux donnees de la Caisse primaire d’assurance maladie (CPAM) Resultats Deux mille trente et une patientes ont recu un traitement, 399 etaient eligibles pour l’etude economique (20 %) et 282 pour celle des pratiques (14 %). La proportion de traitement en 25 fractions a diminue de 90 % a 16 % au premier semestre 2014. A contrario, les traitements en 15 ou 16 fractions ont augmente de 6 % en 2010 a 68 % debut 2014. La proportion de traitements hypofractionnes est passee de 100 % de 42,5 Gy en 16 seances en 2010 a 100 % de 40 Gy en 15 seances en 2014, s’adaptant a l’actualisation des essais Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) britanniques. Le traitement en cinq seances etait stable autour de 7 % (4 a 16 %), reserve pour les patientes de plus de 80 ans (p Conclusion L’hypofractionnement peut concerner environ 20 % des patients. Cela permettrait de diminuer l’investissement personnel du patient dans son traitement et d’epargner 2327 € par traitement pour la societe.
Androgen Dependent Regulation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin Induced Interleukin-6 Expression in Human Transitional Carcinoma Cell Lines

ABSTRACTPurpose: Autocrine expression of interleukin (IL)-6 by transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) may have an important role in promoting BCG adherence to TCC and consequently in BCG treatment efficacy. IL-6 expression in response to BCG requires nuclear factor (NF)-κB mediated signal transduction. We evaluated the influence of androgens on BCG induced, NF-κB mediated IL-6 expression.Materials and Methods: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm androgen receptor expression in the human TCC lines 253J and T24. A reporter construct containing an androgen response element was used to establish the integrity of androgen mediated signal transduction. Subsequently the dose dependent effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on BCG induced IL-6 expression and NF-κB signaling was evaluated. Two pharmacological androgen receptor blockers were used to determine if receptor blockade inhibited the effect of DHT on activation of the androgen response ...
Overview of Randomized Clinical Trials in Acute Heart Failure Syndromes

Acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) are among the most frequent causes of hospitalizations in the United States and Europe. Despite current therapies, patients with AHFS have high readmission and mortality rates. The randomized, controlled clinical trial is the standard by which contemporary therapies are evaluated, yet this tool of clinical science only recently has been rigorously applied to the development of novel therapies for patients with AHFS. This review briefly discusses some of the challenges presented in designing a clinical trial of therapies for AHFS and to describe some of the recent trials with respect to these issues in established drugs (such as milrinone, dobutamine, nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, and nesiritide) that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Recent trials of current investigational agents, such as levosimendan (the Randomized Multicenter Evaluation of Intravenous Levosimendan Efficacy Versus Placebo in the Short-Term Treatment of Decompensated Heart Failure [REVIVE], the Calcium Sensitizer or Inotrope or None in Low-Output Heart Failure [CASINO] study, and the Survival of Patients with Acute Heart Failure in Need of Intravenous Inotropic Support [SURVIVE] trial), tezosentan (the Randomized Intravenous Tezosentan [RITZ] study and the Value of Endothelin Receptor Inhibition with Tezosentan in Acute Heart Failure Studies [VERITAS]), and tolvaptan (the Acute and Chronic Therapeutic Impact of a Vasopressin Antagonist in Congestive Heart Failure [ACTIV-CHF] study), are also discussed.
Sand Litter Temperatures During Brooding

SUMMARY Sand is being evaluated in broiler houses as a potential bedding material. A concern regarding sand temperature has arisen as a possible brooding problem. In this study, surface and subsurface temperatures of bedding materials were evaluated for sand and pine shavings (PS) when used as litter in broiler houses. Temperatures were evaluated for new and used sand compared to new and used PS. Sand and PS were placed into 61 × 61 cm (2 × 2 ft) plastic trays 7.62 cm (3 in) deep. Electric brooders wereplaced 38.10 cm (15in) above the beddingsurface and set at45°C. Maximum temperature and time to reach maximumtemperature were measured. Temperature measurements were taken on the surface and 7.62 cm below the surface with an electric temperature/logger. Results showed a significant maximum surface temperature difference (P < 0.05) only when new sandandnewPSwerecompared(38.0vs.43.5°C).Therewerenosignificantdifferencesinmaximum temperature at 3 in below the surface (33.0 vs. 32.7°C) for PS and sand. Time to reach maximum temperature for new PS and sand surfaces were also NS (9.1 vs. 7.6 h), along with the measurements at 7.62 cm below surface (11.6 vs. 9.7 h). No significant differences were found when comparing maximum temperature and time to maximum temperature between used sand and PS at surface or 7.62 cm deep. In conclusion, new sand does not require extra heating time before chick placement in warm weather. Due to a lower maximum temperature (5.5°C less than PS), new sand should be placed during summer months. Used sand with adequate organic matter was numerically, but not significantly, cooler than new or used PS.