cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Membrane Protein Changes in an L1210 Leukemia Cell Line with a Translocation Defect in the Methotrexate-Tetrahydrofolate Cofactor Transport Carrier

Abstract We report on membrane protein changes in an L1210 leukemia cell line with a highly specific defect in the function of the methotrexate (MTX)-tetrahydrofolate cofactor transport carrier. This clonal line, MTXrA, made 100-fold resistant to MTX, was derived in a single step and exhibited stable resistance over 120 generations in the absence of drug. The transport defect was associated with a 10-fold decrease in influx Vmax without a change in influx Km. There was no difference between the MTXrA and parent lines in the levels or affinities of specific cell surface binders for MTX nor in the labeling of the 44-kDa membrane protein upon treatment with the specific affinity label, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of tritiated MTX. Consistent with impaired carrier function was the observation that trans-stimulation of MTX influx by intracellular 5-formyltetrahydrofolate observed in the parent line was not demonstrated in the MTXrA line. The transport defect was highly specific for the MTX-tetrahydrofolate cofactor transport carrier. Initial uptake rates for 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine and 2-deoxyglucose were unchanged and influx and net transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid were, in fact, increased. There was no cross-resistance of this line to phenylalanine mustard or cytosine arabinoside, agents that utilize specific amino acid and nucleoside transport carriers, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified plasma membrane preparations stained with Coomassie Blue revealed several protein differences between the parental and MTXrA lines. Most prominent is a band at approximately 190 kDa which ran with slightly greater mobility than a lesser staining band in the parent line. [3H]Borohydride labeling of cells also identified a distinct protein peak in the MTXrA line at approximately 190 kDa eliminated by prior treatment of cells with neuraminidase. Absence of expression of protein or mRNA related to the multidrug resistance gene as well as lack of cross-resistance to daunorubicin or trimetrexate indicate that this mechanism of resistance to MTX is completely unrelated to the multidrug resistance phenomenon observed with high molecular weight heterocyclic compounds. These data represent the first demonstration of membrane protein differences in a highly resistant L1210 murine leukemia cell line with a marked unique defect in MTX transport which appears to be related to impaired mobility of the tetrahydrofolate-cofactor carrier. Further studies are now required to elucidate the possible role of one or more of these proteins in the transport defect.
Conexionistas y facilitadores: los agentes culturales acuñan

El acelerado ritmo de cambios sociales, economicos, politicos e identitarios en el siglo XXI nos obliga a innovar de muchas maneras, para entender las dinamicas y de alli participar en ellas. Con arte aprovechamos la inestabilidad para co-crear practicas equitativas que permitan el mayor desarrollo posible de derechos y recursos. Innovar requiere y genera nuevos conceptos y palabras; los neologismos no son puntos de partida, sino efectos posteriores al pensamiento creativo, plasmado en signos que concretizan una intuicion en herramienta de construccion. Por eso Kant celebraba el arte como el medio de comunicacion de percepciones o ideas tan nuevas e inseguras que todavia carecian de nombres. El arte es el medio que permite explorar lo novedoso que, al inventar o resignificar palabras, facilita la comunicacion de los nuevos conceptos.
Population Dynamics and Within-Plant Distribution of Frankliniella spp. Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Cotton

Thrips cause damage to seedling cotton, and they are associated with the spread of Fusarium hardlock, a serious disease affecting cotton bolls that reduces lint yield in the southern United States. The population dynamics and within-plant distribution of Frankliniella spp. thrips in cotton were determined in 2005, 2006, and 2007 in Quincy and in 2006 and 2007 in Marianna, FL. Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) was >98% of the adult thrips collected. The adults of F. bispinosa (Morgan), F. occidentalis (Pergande), and F. fusca (Hinds) also were collected. Populations of F. fusca inhabited the cotton leaves of vegetative-stage cotton. The other species were highly anthophilic, primarily inhabiting cotton during its reproductive growth stages. Densities of these species peaked during mid-season, which also coincided with peak bloom. The adult F. tritici and the thrips larvae were aggregated in the flowers over the other plant parts, with more collected in the upper than the lower canopies. These patterns of aggregation were observed at each location each year, and the numerical differences usually were significant (P < 0.05). Densities of adult F. tritici were low on the leaves, squares, and bolls. The population dynamics and with-plant distribution of individual thrips species has not previously been determined for cotton in the southern United States.
Implication versus Inference: Analyzing Writer and Reader Representations in Business Texts

The narrative concepts of the implied author and implied reader elucidate how business texts represent writers and readers. It is important, though, to distinguish carefully between writers’ implications and readers’ inferences. Instructors should contrast implied versus inferred writers and readers, provide multiple ways to comprehend these concepts, and illustrate them with examples (e.g., those provided in this article from Citigroup, Andersen, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia). The meaning-as-event analytical method, from reader-response narrative theory, reveals specific language features through which business texts manifest readers and writers. To help writers plan and readers analyze such texts, instructors may use the teaching suggestions, sample assignments, prewriting heuristics, and evaluation criteria provided in this article.
Downregulation of Nrf2 in Hela Cells by Self-Conditioned Media

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is critical in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis by promoting transcription of several antioxidant and cytoprotective genes. The Nrf2 signaling pathway has been implicated in malignancies, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent reports have shown that culture-conditioned media can selectively regulate Nrf2 expression in brain cells such as astrocytes and microglia; however, not much is known about how cells self-regulate their endogenous Nrf2 through secretory mechanisms. In our study, HeLa cells were cultured in media containing 0.5% FBS for 24 hours to produce conditioned media. Serum starved cells treated with conditioned media for 3 hours showed lower levels of Nrf2 expression in the nucleus compared to cells treated with unconditioned media. Increasing the proportion of conditioned media resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in Nrf2 expression, suggesting the presence of autocrine Nrf2-regulatory elements in the HeLa cell secretome. Exposure to conditioned media did not cause any change in Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1), the inhibitory binding partner of Nrf2. In summary, our data suggests the existence of a complicated autocrine regulatory mechanism of this pathway at endogenous levels.
A Viewer-Centric Editor for 3D Movies

A proposed mathematical framework is the basis for a viewer-centric digital editor for 3D movies that's driven by the audience's perception of the scene. The editing tool allows both shot planning and after-the-fact digital manipulation of the perceived scene shape.
Transnationalism among African immigrants in North America: The case of Ghanaians in Canada

This paper explores the types and strength of transnational ties between Ghanaian immigrants in Canada and their country of origin. The study finds that Ghanaians maintain various types of ties to Ghana including communication by telephone, repeat migration, cultural activities, and investments, especially in home ownership. The desire for home ownership in Ghana is related to the immigrants' intentions to return there permanently in the future. The immigrants also maintain collective ties to the homeland through a network of ethnic associations in Canada. These associations provide financial support for local economic development in Ghana. They also provide an organizational structure through which the immigrants seek to address their political needs in Ghana.
Prediction of Bulk Properties of Fischer−Tropsch Derived Liquids

Asymptotic behavior correlations (ABCs) based on the properties of pure n-paraffins are used to predict the bulk properties of liquid mixtures derived from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Comparisons are made with literature data for congealing point, density, specific heat, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and surface tension. Mixture property predictions are based on appropriate average carbon numbers and on a general property mixing rule. Both ideal and nonideal solution behavior are exhibited. For the nonideal properties, viscosity and surface tension, mixing rules are proposed and parameters regressed to obtain reasonable agreement with mixture data. Property estimates based on the appropriate average carbon number are probably sufficient for most engineering applications. Methods are outlined for estimating different carbon-number averages based on congealing- and melting-point, density, and the Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution when the carbon number distribution of the mixture is not available. The presence of other Fischer-Tropsch byproducts appears to have little effect on the accuracy of predictions made for high molecular weight mixtures.
Measurements of the surface resistance of high-T c superconductors at high RF fields

We report measurements of the r.f. surface resistance of a wide variety of high-Tc superconductors in bulk form and as films on silver substrates. Several apparatuses have been constructed and used for measurements at frequencies from 0.15 to 40 GHz and r.f. surface magnetic fields as high as 640 G. In every case in which the field dependence of the surface resistance was measured, the surface resistance increased monotonically with field amplitude through a transition region characterized by a strong field dependence. It then saturated at high field at a value of a few percent of the normal-state surface resistance just aboveTc. In the presence of this field dependence, the frequency dependence of the surface resistance changed from quadratic to less than linear.
Observations on the natural history of the Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de sotoi Vladykov 1955) in the Suwannee River, southeastern United States

From 1986 to 1994, we collected 3,098 Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de sotoi) during their spring migration from the Gulf of Mexico to the Suwannee River, Florida. We estimated population size and described migratory and seasonal growth patterns of sturgeon in the Suwannee River, using data from tag returns, movement of ultrasonic-lagged fish and weight records. Population size estimates for 3.0- to 81.0-kg Gulf of Mexico sturgeon in the Suwannee River ranged from 1,504 to 3,066 fish. Sturgeon migrated from the Gulf of Mexico into the Suwannee River from mid-February to early May. Fish moved upstream and remained within a 2-km upstreamdownstream “home” area. These sites were closely associated with undenvater springs that discharge into the river. Sturgeon migrated downstream and into the Gulf of Mexico in October and November. In the Gulf of Mexico, ultrasonic-tagged fish were located in the Suwannee Sound area just north of Cedar Key, Florida. On an annual basis, fish gained an average of 20% of their body weight while in the Gulf of Mexico and lost about 12% of their weight during their stay in the Suwannee River. We observed movement of tagged sturgeon between the Suwannee and Apalachicola Rivers.
Responding rapidly to service level violations using virtual appliances

One of the key goals in the data center today is providing storage services with service-level objectives (SLOs) for performance metrics such as latency and throughput. Meeting such SLOs is challenging due to the dynamism observed in these environments. In this position paper, we propose dynamic instantiation of virtual appliances, that is, virtual machines with storage functionality, as a mechanism to meet storage SLOs efficiently.In order for dynamic instantiation to be realistic for rapidlychanging environments, it should be automated. Therefore, an important goal of this paper is to show that such automation is feasible. We do so through a caching case study. Specifically, we build the automation framework for dynamically instantiating virtual caching appliances. This framework identifies sets of interfering workloads that can benefit from caching, determines the cache-size requirements of workloads, non-disruptively migrates the application to use the cache, and warms the cache to quickly return to acceptable service levels. We show through an experiment that this approach addresses SLO violations while using resources efficiently.
Thermal scale modeling - Why and why not?

Thermal scale modeling for space hardware development from managerial and engineering viewpoints
Ethnic group and gender differences in the relationship between personality and coping

Abstract Personality and coping responses, as well as the relationship between them, were examined among 259 European American, 147 Asian American and 105 Latino American college students. Using models of cultural differences in individualism-collectivism (Triandis, 1989) and self-construal (Markus&Kitayama, 1991), predictions about ethnic group differences were tested. European Americans showed higher scores on agreeableness and extraversion as well as lower avoidance coping scores than the two minority groups. Gender differences also occurred, as females scored higher than males on agreeableness and extraversion. Females coped by seeking social support more than males did. Ethnic group differences in personality-coping relationships were rare. Gender differences in the relationship between coping and personality occurred for females only, with neuroticism being positively related while agreeableness was inversely associated with avoidance. The results demonstrate the need to evaluate ethnicity and gende...
Modulation domain infrared target models

We compute joint AM-FM models that characterize infrared targets and backgrounds in the modulation domain. We consider spatially localized structures within an IR image as sums of nonstationary, quasi-sinusoidal functions admitting locally narrowband amplitude and frequency modulations. By quantitatively estimating the modulations that dominate the signal spectrum on a spatially local basis, we obtain a new modulation domain feature vector that can augment the more traditional pixel domain, Fourier spectrum, and multispectral color features that have been used in IR target detection and tracking systems for a long time. Our preliminary studies, based primarily on midwave and longwave missile approach sequences, suggest that IR targets and backgrounds do typically possess sufficient spatially local modulated structure (i.e., texture) for modulation domain techniques to be meaningfully applied. We also present qualitative results strongly indicating that the modulation domain feature vector is a powerful tool for discriminating infrared targets and backgrounds.
An integrated epigenetic and genetic approach to common human disease

Epigenetic information is heritable during cell division but is not contained within the DNA sequence itself. Despite increasing evidence for and interest in the role of epigenetics in human disease, particularly in cancer, virtually no epigenetic information is routinely or systematically measured at the genome level. The current population-based approach to common disease relates common DNA sequence variants to either disease status or incremental quantitative traits contributing to disease. Although this purely genetic approach is powerful and general, there is currently no conceptual framework to integrate epigenetic information. In this article, we propose an approach to common human disease that incorporates epigenetic variation into genetic studies. Epigenetic variation might also help to explain the late onset and progressive nature of most common diseases, the quantitative nature of complex traits and the role of environment in disease development, which a purely sequence-based approach might not.
Intramural left anterior descending coronary artery: Significance of the depth of the muscular tunnel

To establish whether an intramural left anterior descending coronary artery (LADA) is a simple anatomic or a singularly pathologic variant we studied 39 hearts, each with an intramural course of the LADA and no coronary artery disease, valvular derangement, cardiomyopathy, or congenital anomaly. Seventeen of the 39 hearts had no myocardial lesions, while 22 had gross and/or microscopic alterations in the myocardial territory supplied by the intramural LADA. The myocardial lesions consisted of one or more of the following: interstitial fibrosis, replacement fibrosis, contraction band necrosis, and/or increased vascular density in areas of focal fibrosis. The coronary anatomy of the 22 hearts with myocardial lesions (group 1) was compared with that of the 17 hearts without myocardial changes (group 2). Each of the group 1 hearts had an intramural LADA deeply placed within the ventricular wall and attenuation of potential collateral blood flow because of a co-existing intramural course of the posterior descending artery, other epicardial coronary arteries, and/or a diminutive right coronary artery. The myocardial changes in group 1 hearts and their absence in group 2 hearts suggest that the deep, intramural LADA of the group 1 hearts is abnormal rather than a simple anatomic variant of normal. Furthermore, the deep intramural LADA may be associated with sudden death since 13 of the 22 group 1 hearts were from sudden death victims. Six of these 13 persons died suddenly during vigorous exercise.
Hyperdeformation in the Cd isotopes: A microscopic analysis

A systematic search for the nuclei in which the observation of discrete hyperdeformed (HD) bands may be feasible with existing detector facilities has been performed in the Cd isotopes within the framework of cranked relativistic mean-field theory. It was found that the $^{96}\mathrm{Cd}$ nucleus is a doubly magic HD nucleus owing to large proton $Z=48$ and neutron $N=48$ HD shell gaps. The best candidate for an experimental search of discrete HD bands is the $^{107}\mathrm{Cd}$ nucleus characterized by the large energy gap between the yrast and excited HD bands, the size of which is only 15% smaller than the one in the doubly magic HD $^{96}\mathrm{Cd}$ nucleus.
Metaphors, Moral Imagination and the Healthy Business Organisation: A Manager’s Perspective

In this paper I outline an approach to managerial decision making that incorporates the important role that metaphors and moral imagination play in our moral reasoning coupled with an organisational moral concept I call the Health of the Organisation. I have used this concept in my managerial (and philosophical) career to interpret and evaluate potential, and actual, courses of action. I have concluded that this concept fits in nicely with Mark Johnson’s analysis of the metaphor of morality is health, which he argues is one of the central moral metaphors in the conceptual framework that we use to interpret and evaluate actions from a reasonable moral point of view. He argues that metaphors are the essential components in defining the rational mental framework utilised in interpreting, evaluating, predicting likely outcomes from various alternatives, and choosing morally acceptable courses of action. I argue that the metaphor morality is health explicated as the Health of the Organisation can serve as an antidote to the unimaginative moral decision making processes that Patricia Werhane has shown can result in bad moral decisions. I do this by demonstrating that a healthy organisation is one that is optimally functional. This means that the components that make up the organisation are so structured that there is no better possible organisational arrangement available for achieving the goals designed to ensure successful performance in the marketplace.
FDG PET/CT imaging of desmoplastic small round cell tumor: findings at staging, during treatment and at follow-up

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a very uncommon soft-tissue tumor of children and young adults. It has an aggressive course with generally poor survival. In general the assessment of tumor burden and response has relied upon CT or MRI. However these tumors are often metabolically active and can be evaluated using FDG PET/CT imaging. The purpose of this study was to determine the metabolic activity of desmoplastic small round cell tumors using FDG PET/CT imaging and the potential utility of FDG PET/CT in this disease. Eight patients (seven male, one female; ages 2–20 years, median 11 years) with confirmed DSRCT underwent 82 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans. PET/CT was used for initial staging (seven patients, eight scans), monitoring response to therapy (eight patients, 37 scans) and for surveillance of DSRCT recurrence (six patients, 37 scans). Each scan performed at diagnosis showed abnormally elevated uptake in the primary tumor. Five patients had abdominal pelvic involvement, and two of those also had thoracic disease. Six patients whose scans showed no abnormal sites of uptake at the end of therapy have had progression-free survivals of 2–10 years. One patient whose scan continued to show uptake during treatment died of disease 1.3 years from diagnosis. Another patient with persistent uptake remained in treatment 3 years after initial diagnosis. One surveillance scan identified recurrent disease. FDG PET/CT identified elevated metabolic activity in each patient studied. Despite our small sample size, FDG PET/CT scans appear useful for the management of patients with DSCRT. Patients whose studies become negative during or following treatment may have a prolonged remission.
Optimization of Anti-Pseudomonal Antibiotics for Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Exacerbations: III. Fluoroquinolones

This review is the third installment in a comprehensive State of the Art series and aims to evaluate the use of fluoroquinolones in the management of P. aeruginosa infection in both children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Oral and intravenous ciprofloxacin have been shown to be well-tolerated in the treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations (APE) secondary to P. aeruginosa. Older literature supports an oral dosing regimen of 40 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hr, up to 2 g/day, and intravenous (IV) ciprofloxacin 30 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hr, maximum 1.2 g/day in children, and 750 mg administered orally twice a day or 400 mg IV every 8 hr in adults. However, a recent pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling study shows that the literature, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) guideline dosing regimens may be suboptimal for the treatment of P. aeruginosa in APE. Further study is warranted to determine if higher doses of ciprofloxacin are needed. Limited pharmacokinetic (PK), PK/PD, and efficacy studies involving levofloxacin exist in adult patients with CF. No pediatric data exists for levofloxacin in CF patients. Further study is needed to determine the tolerability and efficacy of levofloxacin in APE. At this time, the routine use of levofloxacin in the treatment of APE in pediatric and adult patients cannot be recommended.
Intra-seasonal variability of rainfall and atmospheric energetics over northeast Brazil during the rainy season of 1979

As an extension to recent studies concerning interannual and seasonal variability of rainfall over northeast Brazil, this study looks at the atmosphere immediately over northeast Brazil on a daily basis. Intra-seasonal variability of rainfall, winds and thermodynamic energies are examined for the wet season (February through May) of 1979. A trend is observed in the temporal rainfall pattern, from short duration showers in the early season to longer and more vigorous systems in the later season. May is noted as a transitional month between the wet and dry seasons. Circulation changes associated with rainy days include an upper-level trough extending further northward, weakened low-level easterlies and an increased moist energy flux from the north. These findings agree well with earlier investigations. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1987.tb00288.x
Suggestions for Layout and Functional Behavior of Software-Based Voice Switch Keysets

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) provides communication services for a number of real time environments, including Space Shuttle Propulsion support and International Space Station (ISS) payload operations. In such settings, control team members speak with each other via multiple voice circuits or loops. Each loop has a particular purpose and constituency, and users are assigned listen and/or talk capabilities for a given loop based on their role in fulfilling the purpose. A voice switch is a given facility's hardware and software that supports such communication, and may be interconnected with other facilities switches to create a large network that, from an end user perspective, acts like a single system. Since users typically monitor and/or respond to several voice loops concurrently for hours on end and real time operations can be very dynamic and intense, it s vital that a control panel or keyset for interfacing with the voice switch be a servant that reduces stress, not a master that adds it. Implementing the visual interface on a computer screen provides tremendous flexibility and configurability, but there s a very real risk of overcomplication. (Remember how office automation made life easier, which led to a deluge of documents that made life harder?) This paper a) discusses some basic human factors considerations related to keysets implemented as application software windows, b) suggests what to standardize at the facility level and what to leave to the user's preference, and c) provides screen shot mockups for a robust but reasonably simple user experience. Concepts apply to keyset needs in almost any type of operations control or support center.
Expression of Humoral Autoimmunity is Related to Androgen Receptor CAG Repeat Length in Men with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

We sought to explore whether inherited differences in androgen sensitivity conferred by variation in the length of a CAG repeat in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene could be correlated with differing manifestations of humoral autoimmunity in men with lupus. In a sample of 15 men with lupus, AR CAG repeat length was linearly correlated with levels of antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens and with the number of diagnostic criteria for lupus. Protein microarrays were used to assess levels of 86 different IgG and IgM autoantibodies in the sera of these patients. IgG autoantibodies were more frequently observed in male lupus patients with longer AR CAG repeat length (>23), while IgM autoantibodies were more prevalent in subjects with shorter CAG repeat length (≤23). These data support a potential role for androgen signaling in the modulation of immunoglobulin class switching processes, with consequent impact on the autoimmune phenotype in men with lupus.
Simultaneous velocity and temperature measurements in gaseous flowfields using the vibrationally excited nitric oxide monitoring technique: a comprehensive study

The performance of the vibrationally excited nitric oxide monitoring (VENOM) technique for simultaneous velocity and temperature measurements in gaseous flowfields is presented. Two different schemes were investigated, employing different methods to “write” a transient NO grid in the flow using the 355 nm photolysis of NO2, which was subsequently probed by planar laser induced fluorescence imaging to extract velocity maps. We find that only one scheme provides full-frame temperature maps. The most accurate velocity measurement was attained by writing an NO pattern in the flow using a microlens array and then comparing the line displacement with respect to a reference image. The demonstrated uncertainty of this approach was 1.0%, corresponding to 7 m/s in a 705 m/s uniform flow. We found that the uncertainty associated with the instantaneous temperature measurements using the NO two-line thermometry technique was largely determined by the shot-to-shot power fluctuations of the probe lasers and, for the flows employed, were determined to range from 6% to 7% of the mean freestream temperature. Finally, simultaneous and local velocity/temperature measurements were performed in the wake of a cylinder in a uniform Mach 4.6 flowfield. The mean and fluctuation velocity and temperature maps were computed from 5000 single-shot measurements. The wake temperature and velocity fluctuations, with respect to the freestream values, were 15% to 30% and 5% to 20%, respectively. The spatial distributions agree with the results of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Our results suggest that the VENOM technique holds promise for interrogating high-speed unsteady flowfields.
Radiation therapy is associated with improved survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: results of a study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data.

BACKGROUND. The role of adjuvant radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer is controversial. For the current study, the authors evaluated the effect of preoperative and postoperative radiation therapy on survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS. The analysis included 3008 patients who were reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry of the National Cancer Institute from 1988 to 2002 who had adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and who underwent cancer-directed surgery. A retrospective analysis of overall survival and cancer-specific survival for these patients was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparative risks of mortality were evaluated by using multivariate-adjusted Cox regression models. RESULTS. Of 3008 patients, 1267 (42%) received radiation therapy. Overall survival improved significantly in patients who received radiation therapy, with a median survival of 17 months and a 5-year overall survival rate of 13% in patients who received radiation compared with 12 months and 9.7%, respectively, for patients who did not receive radiation therapy (P .05). Radiation therapy was associated with improvement in cause-specific survival in patients who had regional lymph node involvement (P .05). Differences in overall and cause-specific survival among patients who received preoperative versus postoperative radiation therapy did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS. Radiation therapy was associated with improved survival compared with cancer-directed surgery without radiation in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Diagenetic Relationships Between Inorganic Matrix and Kerogen in Wilcox Group, Southwest Texas: ABSTRACT

Eighteen core samples of shale from the Eocene Wilcox formation in the Gulf Coast of Texas were extracted in organic solvents and digested in hydrofluoric acid in order to examine the bitumen and kerogen fractions. The kerogen was found to be largely terrigenous in origin with stable carbon isotope values ranging between -26 and -29 ppt (PDB). Smectite dehydration in the area begins at less than 1 km depth (60°C). At the depths of initial petroleum generation (1.5 km and 85°C), expandable layers comprise only 30% of the illite-smectite clays. It therefore does not seem likely that water expelled during smectite dehydration can mobilize significant amounts of hydrocarbons. Geopressuring of pore fluids occurs toward the end of the main stage of petroleum generation, below 3 km. In the gas zone, hydrocarbon concentrations increase between 3.6 and 4.6 km from a low of 7 mg/gC to 15 mg/gC. Two samples in this region showed anomalously high concentrations of hydrocarbons (100 mg/gC). These observations may indicate subsurface migration of hydrocarbons, perhaps in a methane and carbon dioxide-rich fluid phase. In addition to facilitating hydrocarbon migration, carbon dioxide generated from kerogen may also be involved in the precipitation of ankerite cement in sandstones below 2.5 km. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1691------------
Enhanced hydrogen solubility in niobium films

The solubility of hydrogen in niobium films (100--3000 A\r{}) and multilayers of Nb and Pd (20--130 A\r{}) has been studied as a function of film thickness by resistivity and x-ray measurements. The H concentration in solid solution was observed to be greatly enhanced, by a factor of more than 40, as the Nb films were made thinner. This suggests a dependence of the phase diagram on film thickness, with a depression of the Nb-H critical temperature for films thinner than 1200 A\r{}, but approaching the bulk values for thick films (tg2200 A\r{}). Similar results were observed in Nb-Pd multilayers.
Fifteen-Year Follow-up of Transplantation of a Cadaveric Polycystic Kidney: A Case Report

Abstract Introduction Kidneys from donors affected by autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are in general considered unsuitable for transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, only 12 cases of ADPKD transplanted renal units have been reported in the English literature; most have only short-term follow-up. Methods We provide a review of these patients and share our experience with an ADPKD patient who received a 21-year-old deceased donor ADPKD-affected renal transplant and has been closely followed for 15 years. Based on the current literature, this report is the longest follow-up of a ADPKD donor transplant. Results Over the 15-year follow-up period, there have been no complications related to the ADPKD-affected donor kidney, including three kidney transplant biopsies. The graft continues to function well with the serum creatinine currently 1.2 mg/dL. Serial axial imaging has demonstrated that the cystic disease has slowly progressed in the donor renal unit, with the largest cyst having only increasing from 1.2 to 2.9 cm in diameter. Metachronous, bilateral laparoscopic nephrectomies of the native kidneys were performed owing to intractable pain from cystic enlargement. Conclusions Normal functioning deceased donor kidneys that show signs of early ADPKD should be considered acceptable for donation in select cases. These organs provide the recipient a safe, reasonable period of graft survival and have not been shown to cause adverse effects.
Distribution of bombesin binding sites in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract In an attempt to identify potential target sites for the satiety action of bombesin (BN), the distribution and pharmacological specificity of bombesin binding sites were examined in the rat gastrointestinal tract by in vitro autoradiography utilizing ( 125 I-Tyr 4 ) bombesin. Specific BN binding was localized to the circular muscle level of the gastric fundus and antrum, submucosal layer of the small intestine and longitudinal and circular muscle and submucosal layers of the colon. Pharmacological studies indicated that gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), Ac-GRP 20–27 and BN-like compounds, litorin and ranatensin, inhibited the binding of ( 125 I-Tyr 4 )BN with high affinity while compounds which lacked COOH-terminal homology with BN demonstrated a low affinity for BN binding sites. The wide distribution of BN binding sites in the gastrointestinal tract provides a number of potential sites for the mediation of the satiety action of BN.
Perception of the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone modulates agonistic interactions in Homarus americanus

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, becomes more aggressive just before moulting. This increased aggression is accompanied by an increase in the blood and urine titres of the moulting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE). During combats with conspecifics, lobsters urinate upon each other to signal their aggressive and/or sexual status. We videotaped staged combats between large intermoult nongravid female lobsters exposed to 20-HE, α-ecdysone or artificial sea water (ASW) and small nongravid female lobsters that could not smell. The nephropores of both combatants were plugged to prevent urine-release. Aggressive, defensive and avoidance behaviours were ranked according to aggressiveness in a rank of aggression hierarchy, which included opponent-directed and (nonopponent) redirected behaviours. Exposure to 20-HE increased the state of arousal of large lobsters: they performed more highly aggressive behaviours, more defensive and more avoidance behaviours than either α-ecdysone-exposed or ASW-exposed lobsters. The small opponents of large 20-HE-exposed lobsters performed more aggressive behaviours. The summed aggressive intensity of all behaviours of both lobsters in a fight was greater in 20-HE fights than in ASW or α-ecdysone fights. The difference in aggressive intensity of all behaviours between the 20-HE-exposed lobsters and their opponents was significantly smaller in 20-HE fights than in α-ecdysone or ASW fights. Our results indicate that 20-HE exposure alters the agonistic behaviour of a lobster, which then evokes an increase in the aggressive behaviour of an opponent lobster. The findings suggest that 20-HE acts as a pheromone modulating aggressive interactions in lobsters.
Flow of nuclear matter

Abstract The systems Nb + Nb and Au + Au have been measured at different energies at the Bevalac with the Plastic Ball spectrometer. Distributions of the flow angles as a function of charged particle multiplicity are presented. Also shown is a transverse momentum analysis for 400 MeV per nucleon Nb + Nb.
A study of training in clinical pharmacology of the elderly

Training of physicians in geriatrics is essential to improving health care for the elderly. Considering the frequent use, cost, and side effects of drugs in the elderly, knowledge in clinical pharmacology is an important component of that training. The present study surveyed 68 geriatric medicine, 27 geropsychiatry, and 46 clinical pharmacology fellowship programs in the United States for the clinical geropharmacology content of their programs. In geriatric medicine, 73% of the programs had formal didactic material, 58% had formal training in this area during clinical experiences, and 43% formally interacted with clinical pharmacology faculty or fellows. In geropsychiatry these numbers were 79%, 67%, and 31%, respectively. In clinical pharmacology, 34% of the programs had formal didactic content, 9% had clinical experience on a specific geriatrics unit, and 14% had clinical experiences in a long-term care facility. Although some training in clinical geropharmacology exists in fellowship training programs, clearly there is much room for expansion and improvement in this important area of health care of the elderly. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1987) 42, 693–695; doi:10.1038/clpt.1987.224
A DNA probe cloned in Escherichia coli for the identification of Brugia malayi

This report describes a specific and sensitive DNA probe for the identification of Brugia malayi. A genomic DNA library produced from subperiodic B. malayi microfilariae was screened to detect clones containing DNA sequences which are highly repeated within the parasite genome. Several clones were further analyzed to identify those which hybridize specifically with B. malayi DNA but not with DNA from B. pahangi and Dirofilaria immitis. From these, clone pBm15 was selected because it hybridized with high sensitivity to B. malayi DNA as detected by autoradiography. Clone pBm15 was sensitive enough to detect two infective larvae or five microfilariae or 300 pg of purified B. malayi microfilarial DNA. This study forms the basis for the development of a specific and sensitive DNA probe for the identification of B. malayi in field specimens.
Progression to established smoking: the influence of tobacco marketing.

Abstract Background: Recent studies have shown that tobacco advertising leads to the onset of smoking among adolescents. However, much more still remains to be learned about the impact of tobacco advertising in the later transitions, mainly from experimentation to established smoking. In this study, we focused on the influence of tobacco advertising and promotions on the transition from experimentation to established smoking. Methods: Data were derived from a longitudinal survey of adolescents in California. Adolescents who were classified as experimenters at baseline were included in the analyses (N=965). Receptivity to tobacco advertising and promotions refers to the development of a positive affective response to the communication (e.g., having a favorite tobacco advertisement or being willing to use a promotional item). Results: Approximately 32% of adolescents who were experimenters at baseline in 1993, progressed to established smoking by follow-up in 1996. Progression was higher among Caucasian (37.3%) than Hispanic (21.9%) or African-American (17.6%) adolescents. Adolescents who perceived that most of their peers smoked, had poor relationships with family members, and were exposed to smoking friends and family members were more likely to progress to established smoking at follow-up in 1996. In addition, adolescents who were receptive to advertising and believed that they could quit anytime were more likely to progress to established smoking than those who did not think they could quit anytime. Adolescents who were willing to use a promotional item and who believed that they could quit anytime had the highest rate of progression to established smoking (52%). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that receptivity to tobacco advertising and promotions is an important factor in progressing from experimentation to established smoking among adolescents. Because perceived ability to quit made adolescents more likely to progress, counter-tobacco marketing campaigns should incorporate messages about addiction and difficulties associated with quitting.
Lost in Translation? Nonstate Actors and the Transnational Movement of Procedural Law

n recent years U.S. legal norms and practices reconfigured important elements of how law is thought of and practiced in both common and civil law countries around the world. With specific focus on the spread of American procedural practices (class action and pretrial discovery), this article applies a transactional view of law that emphasizes the private practice of law and nonstate actors. Such an approach highlights important aspects of world politics overlooked by traditional analyses of international legalization, conventionally understood as the direct spread of law by and among states. We find that the movement of law is a dynamic process involving diffusion, translation, and the repeated transnational exchanges of legal actors. Through our examination of this process, we offer insights into how aspects of American law moved into unlikely jurisdictions to reshape legal theory, pedagogy, procedure, and the organizing structure of the legal profession.
Stresses in a thin centrally cracked circular disk

Abstract Full field solutions, based on small deformation three-dimensional finite element analysis of a center-cracked circular thin disk under mode I, and mixed mode I and II loadings have been performed. Under mode I loading, the solution for the stresses under small scale yielding has been compared with the HRR plane stress solution. The existence of a high triaxial state of stress at the near crack tip in the mid-plane of the disk has been possible due to the thickness effect. This is in contrast to the loss of triaxiality of stresses in the plane strain condition in the presence of a significant amount of compressive T-stress along the crack flanks [C. Betegon and J. W. Hancock, Two parameter characterization of elastic-plastic crack-tip fields. J. appl. Mech. 58, 104–110 (1991)]. The extent of the three-dimensional zone surrounding the crack front has been mapped and compared with the available experimental results of Chiang and Hareesh [Three dimensional crack tip deformation: an experimental study and comparison to HRR-field. Int. J. Fracture 36, 243–253 (1988)]. Under mixed mode I and II loading, the annular region surrounding the plastic zone in which the K-field dominates has been explored. This has been performed at a specific load level at which the fatigue crack extension experiment has been performed in the thin disk [T. K. Paul, Three-dimensional stress field near the crack front in a thin circular disk of elastic-plastic material (submitted for publication)]. The plastic zone shapes and sizes are quite different from the plane stress shape as obtained in the mode I analysis of a thin cracked sheet by Hom and McMeeking [Large crack tip opening in thin elastic-plastic sheet. Int. J. Fracture 103–122 (1990)] and plane stress mixed mode I and II by Shih [Elastic-plastic analysis of combined mode fracture problems, Ph.D. Dissertation, Harvard University (1973)].
On the signal-to-noise ratio enhancement of the Doppler process

Abstract The output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ultrasound Doppler process, with and without the commonly used sample and hold circuit, is calculated rigorously, and confirmed by experiment. On the basis of this result it is shown that the use of pulsed Doppler processing without increase of the transmitted power enhances the output SNR of a pulse-echo system observing moving particles by the factor f r T t , where f r is the repetition rate of the pulse echo and Doppler systems and T t is the transit time of the particles across the range cell. If nonlinear losses are significant, then changing to continuous Doppler operation and lowering the peak transmitted power to maintain the average power constant can produce additional improvement in SNR due to reduced non-linear losses in the transducer and the propagation medium, as well as reduced requirements for transducer damping.
Planar sliding with dry friction Part 2. Dynamics of motion

Abstract Some problems in the dynamics of sliding of planar rigid bodies are treated by geometric methods based on the limit surface description of friction (S. Goyal, A. Ruina and J. Papadopoulos, Wear, 143 (1991) 307–330). The problems we consider, where the normal force is known a priori , have unique solutions although the friction force (and torque) may be a discontinuous function of the direction of motion. When a freely sliding object comes to rest it always does so with one of several definite ratios of translation to rotation. These special generalized velocity directions, termed eigen-directions, depend on the friction law used, the contact pressure distribution and the mass distribution. The eigen-directions correspond to local extrema of the generalized frictional load ¦ P ¦ on the limit surface, i.e . to directions in load space where P is parallel to the generalized direction of motion q . For most objects, if the contact region is sufficiently smaller than the radius of gyration, final motion is always pure rotation about the center of mass; if the contact region is sufficiently spread out final motion is a pure translation. A simple model of a car with locked rear wheels shows the effect of speed and orientation on skid stability at finite speeds. Sliders have a propensity to rotate about points of support.