cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomechanics of Human Joints

The biomechanics of human joints is complex and play a fundamental role in human locomotion, joint stability, and support. The human joint inherent structure and articulating cartilages surface are driven by muscles forces that react to the kinematics preserving stability by optimizing the power capacity needed to achieve a given task. For example, a description of the shoulder joint shows an articulating surface composed of the proximal humerus and the glenoid. The humeral head rotation is constrained by a structure composed of ligaments, tendons joining to form a capsule, the fibro cartilaginous labrum, which jointly provide the static-dynamic stability needed to the shoulder joint. The contribution of the rotator cuff muscles provides the mechanism and support to maintain natural motion to the joint providing a combined force effort to withstand torques, overload, and excursions of the muscles. Their location and orientation around the glenohumeral head form a mapping function into maintaining a certain work capacity that is optimum to the joint. Excess load, cyclic loading, and fatigue will increase the risk of tear and injury to the rotator cuff and connective ligaments around the joint. Any disruption to the joint connective structure causes restrictive motions to the joint often accompanied by pain. When and how the joint rotator cuff repair takes place requires measurable clinical outcomes which are still being investigated and evaluated as new biologics are making headways and research is providing an insight into new possibilities to help understand the shoulder joint complexity and its function.
Transcriptomic deconvolution reveals unique tumor microenvironmental interactions across intracranial meningioma WHO grades

Abstract Meningiomas are common tumors arising in the primary central nervous system. Although recent radiotherapy and surgical procedures have improved clinical outcomes, there remains a need for novel therapeutics to treat meningiomas resisting current approaches. To reveal putative therapeutic targets in meningioma, the present exploratory study inferred stromal and tumor compartment gene expression from bulk meningioma tumor RNA-sequencing data and revealed certain ligand-receptor interactions in tumor microenvironment which may direct future studies. Bulk tumor gene expression developed from 152 primary meningiomas encompassing WHO grades I-III were deconvolved into tumor and stromal compartment expression through non-negative linear regression using tumor purity estimates, ultimately revealing previously unknown features of tumor-stromal crosstalk in meningioma. It was found that fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 4 (HER4) was implicated in multiple tumor-stroma interactions. Specific chemokine receptors, such as CCR4 and CCR7, were frequently involved in stroma-stroma crosstalk. Additionally, genes reflecting immune-exhausted T cell responses also displayed distinct expression across the WHO grades. Taken together, the findings reveal potential therapeutic targets which should be investigated further.
Book Review: Healing Touch and Saving Word: Sacraments of Healing, Instruments of Grace:

Healing Touch and Saving Word: Sacraments of Healing, Instruments of Grace. By Linda M. Malia. Eugene, Ore.: Pickwick Publications, 2013. xx + 256 pp. $30.00 (paper).A recent flurry of books on rites with the sick have covered the topic from a plethora of approaches, but rarely have these publications brought together pastoral practicality and thoughtful contemporary sacramental theology. Linda Malia's book does that in a surprisingly effective way, making it an appealing text for a wide audience.Malia begins with a solid overview of sacramental theology, attentive to recent scholarship and presented in an accessible tripartite structure that builds on the relationships between sign, symbol, and sacrament. Adding to that the essential nature of liturgy for Anglicanism-"the Anglican community is established in ritual and worship" (p. 16)-Malia weaves in a brief overview of ritual, worship, the corrected etymology of "liturgy," and a balance between the essential divine action and human response. Then follows a conversation on the sacraments, turning finally specifically to rites of healing with a brief historical overview from the letter of James to "this scientific era of medicine" (p. 34). These first two chapters are worth the price of the book by themselves, especially with charts and prose defining the differences between "old school" and "new school" understandings of sacraments, grace, church, liturgical celebrations, sacramental effects, and the relation of Word and Sacrament. While this primer on the organic nature of traditional Anglican sacramental theology is almost half the book, it is both well done and particularly necessary to avoid the too-common Episcopal jump to the cookbook approach to healing ministry.Malia moves onto a review of specifically Anglican rites of healing, first comparing the 1549 Visitation of the Sick with that of the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer (with their attributes of "old school" understandings) and then the theologically differentiated new rites (here charted as the 1979 BCP "Ministration to the Sick," the 1991 Book of Occasional Services' "A Public Service of Healing," and the 2000 Enriching Our Worship 2 s "A Public Service of Healing") compared one with another. While a good portion of this third chapter is given over to this comparison, the changing understandings of sin and sickness and individual ritual and corporate rite are also briefly presented.It is in the substantial fourth chapter that Malia weaves together the lessons to be learned from her earlier general reflections on sacramental theology and the profound shifts in the theology of healing and the rituals which manifest those changes. …
The Role of Osmotic Therapy in Hemispheric Stroke

Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) can be lifesaving in hemispheric stroke complicated by cerebral edema. Conversely, osmotic agents have not been shown to improve survival, despite their widespread use. It is unknown whether medical measures can similarly confer survival in certain patient subgroups. We hypothesized that osmotic therapy (OT) without DHC may be associated with a greater likelihood of survival in particular populations depending on demographic, radiologic, or treatment characteristics. We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with large anterior circulation strokes with an NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) ≥10 who received OT. We compared clinical, radiologic, and treatment characteristics between two groups: (1) those who survived until discharge with only OT (medical management success) and (2) those who required either DHC or died (medical management failure). Thirty patients met eligibility criteria. Median NIHSS was 19 [interquartile range (IQR) 13–24], and median GCS was 10 [IQR 8–14]. Forty-seven percent of the medical management cohort survived to discharge. Demographic characteristics associated with medical management success included NIHSS (p = 0.009) and non-black race (p = 0.003). Of the various interventions, the administration of OT after 24 hours and a smaller hypertonic saline dose was also associated with survival to discharge (p = 0.038 and 0.031 respectively). Our results suggest that patients with moderate size hemispheric infarcts on presentation and those who do not require OT within the first 24 h of stroke may survive until discharge with medical management alone. Black race was also associated with conservative management failure, a finding that may reflect a cultural preference toward aggressive management. Further prospective studies are needed to better establish the utility of medical management of hemispheric edema in the setting of moderate size hemispheric infarcts.
Towards full predictions of temperature dynamics in McNary Dam forebay using OpenFOAM

Abstract Hydroelectric facilities impact water temperature; low velocities in a reservoir increase residence time and enhance heat exchange in surface layers. In this study, an unsteady three-dimensional model was developed to predict the temperature dynamics in the McNary Dam forebay. The model is based on the open-source code OpenFOAM. RANS equations with the Boussinesq approximation were used to solve the flow field. A realizable κ-e model that accounts for the production of wind turbulence was developed. Solar radiation and convective heat transfer at the free surface were included. The result of the model was compared with the field data collected on August 18, 2004. Changes in diurnal stratification were adequately predicted by the model. Observed vertical and lateral temperature distributions were accurately captured. Results indicate that the model can be used as a numerical tool to assess structural and operational alternatives to reduce the forebay temperature.
Hypothesis to explain poor outcomes in the ALLHAT and V-HeFT trials: decreased expression of heat shock proteins.

An explanation for the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and heart failure in the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) with doxazosin and the Vasodilator Heart Failure Trial (V-HeFT) with prazosin might be decreased expression of heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins help to protect cells from ischemic injury by decreasing oxidation, suppressing cytokine action, refolding damaged proteins, and decreasing apoptosis. I hypothesize that α-adrenergic blockade decreases heat shock protein levels, thus making the heart and vascular system vulnerable to injury from pathologic processes such as ischemia, hypertension, oxidation or inflammation. Similarly, poor cardiovascular outcomes with calcium-channel blockers might be due to decreased expression of heat shock proteins.
Learning and Experience

Effective management of knowledge and how an organization learns from its experiences have become increasingly relevant to most technology-effective and innovation management issues. Organizational learning has been identified in technology and innovation management research as critical to a firm achieving and sustaining a competitive advantage. We address this development by focusing on what is meant by knowledge, how individual knowledge leads to organizational learning, and the various ways firms learn. Keywords: diffusion; exploitation; exploration; improvisation; knowledge; learning; learning by doing; learning by scaling; organizational learning; trial and error
Estimation of Snow Extent and Snow Properties

Important advances have been made in the measurement of seasonal snow cover since the advent of satellite remote sensing in the mid 1960s. Data from the visible, near-infrared, infrared, and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum have proven useful for measuring different properties of snow. In terms of snow mapping, sensors employing visible and near-infrared wavelengths are now capable of accurately and reliably measuring snow-cover extent with a spatial resolution of up to 250 m on a daily basis, and even higher resolution for less-frequent coverage. Passive-microwave data, available since the 1970s, have been utilized for measuring snow extent, depth and snow-water equivalent (SWE), though at a coarse spatial resolution compared to visible data, while active-microwave sensors such as scatterometers, provide valuable information on snowpack ripening. Capabilities of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data for snow-cover studies are still being explored, however, bands on current satellite SAR sensors are not ideal for measuring snow cover. Remote sensing data of snow cover are now well suited for use in hydrologic and general-circulation models. Inclusion of remotely-sensed data significantly enhances our understanding of the Earth's weather and climate, and decadal-scale climate change. Future improvements include refinement of snow-cover extent measurements, minimizing SWE errors, and improving our ability to ingest remote sensing data of snow into models.
Drinking water quality and solar disinfection: effectiveness in peri-urban households in Nepal.

The study examined pH, turbidity and fecal contamination of drinking water from household water storage containers, wells and taps, and the Godawari River, and tested the effectiveness of solar disinfection (SODIS) in reducing levels of fecal contamination from household containers. The research was conducted in 40 households in a village 6km outside the capital city of Kathmandu, Nepal. Three rounds of data were collected: a baseline in March 2002 followed by training in solar disinfection, and follow-ups in June and July 2002. Untreated drinking water was found to have levels of contamination ranging from 0 to too numerous to count fecal coliform CFU 100ml - 1 . Source water was significantly more contaminated than water from the household storage containers. wells were less contaminated than taps. SODIS reduced the level of contamination under household conditions. Turbidity from taps was above 30 NTU in the rainy season, above the maximum for effective solar disinfection. SODIS was routinely adopted by only 10% of the participating households during the study.
A digital tuning algorithm for on-chip resistors

A digital tuning algorithm that achieves tight control over the value of on-chip resistors is described. The algorithm uses a single external resistor and does not require accurate reference voltage. Terminations for a high speed transceiver are implemented using the algorithm and measurement results show adequate performance across process, temperature, and supply voltage.
Stress Mis-programming of Mesenteric Arterial Smooth Muscle is Suppressed by a-adrenergic Receptor Blockade

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) programs rodent resistance artery smooth muscle (RASM) maturation from post-natal day (PND) 14-35. We hypothesized that stress hyper-activation of the SNS would cause developmental mis-programming of RASM resulting in a hyper-contractile smooth muscle phenotype and vascular dysfunction. Rats were stressed as neonates by maternal separation (MS) for 3hrs/day (PND2-14) and as adults by 1hr of restraint (RS). During MS, rat pups were injected IP with a1-adrenergic blocker Terazosin (0.5mg/kg) or Vehicle. Mesenteric arteries were isolated at PND21, 35 or 3-24hrs after RS. Smooth muscle contractile genes were measured by qPCR and correlated with functional studies by wire myography. MS accelerated the molecular maturation of RASM measured at PND21 with 2-4 fold increases in MLCK, myosin phosphatase subunits CPI-17 (inhibitory subunit) and smMHC as compared to un-stressed littermates (p<0.05). This correlated with increased force to the a-agonist phenylephrine and to calcium...
On time hybrid controlled Martingale problem

A time hybrid controlled martingale problem (THCMP) is defined. The THCMP extends the classical concept of the controlled martingale problem. The relevance of THCMP to time hybrid control problems, that incorporate both discrete and continuous time scales, is demonstrated. Bellman-type optimality equations and a verification theorem that extend, and unite, the classical optimality results of continuous time and discrete time control theories are provided. Some illustrative examples are also given.
Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the influence of common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation on multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in cases and controls part of an international consortium. Methods: We analyzed 115 high-quality mtDNA variants and common haplogroups from a previously published genome-wide association study among 7,391 cases from the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium and 14,568 controls from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2 project from 7 countries. Significant single nucleotide polymorphism and haplogroup associations were replicated in 3,720 cases and 879 controls from the University of California, San Francisco. Results: An elevated risk of MS was detected among haplogroup JT carriers from 7 pooled clinic sites (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–1.24, p = 0.0002) included in the discovery study. The increased risk of MS was observed for both haplogroup T (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.06–1.29, p = 0.002) and haplogroup J carriers (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01–1.22, p = 0.03). These haplogroup associations with MS were not replicated in the independent sample set. An elevated risk of primary progressive (PP) MS was detected for haplogroup J participants from 3 European discovery populations (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.10–2.01, p = 0.009). This elevated risk was borderline significant in the US replication population (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.99–2.08, p = 0.058) and remained significant in pooled analysis of discovery and replication studies (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.14–1.81, p = 0.002). No common individual mtDNA variants were associated with MS risk. Conclusions: Identification and validation of mitochondrial genetic variants associated with MS and PPMS may lead to new targets for treatment and diagnostic tests for identifying potential responders to interventions that target mitochondria.
Gerade Rydberg states of Xe2 probed by laser spectroscopy in the afterglow of a Xe microplasma: Ωg←a3Σu+(1u,Ou-) transitions in the near-infrared (675–800 nm)

Abstract Gerade Rydberg states of Xe2 lying 12 500–14 800 cm−1 above the a 3 Σ u + ( 1 u , O u - ) metastable levels of the dimer have been observed by laser spectroscopy in the afterglow of a Xe microplasma with a volume of ∼160 nL. Photoexcitation of Ω g ← a 3 Σ u + ( 1 u , O u - ) (Rydberg ← Rydberg) state transitions at small internuclear separations ( R ≃ R e ( Xe 2 + ) ) while monitoring the suppression of Xe 2 ( O u + → O g + ) spontaneous emission in the ultraviolet confirms the presence of an extensive series of red-degraded vibrational bands in the 675–800 nm region that are tentatively identified with an Ω = 1 upper state with a molecular ion core having predominantly B2Π3/2g character. Spectral simulations yield the following constants for the 1g state: R e ′ = 3.49 ± 0.1 A , Te = 12 980 ± 70 cm−1, ω e ′ = 122 ± 3 cm−1, ω e ′ x e ′ = 0.9 ± 0.2 cm−1, and D e ′ = 2250 ± 70 cm−1.
Public display of SMS: Beyond personal social networks and into the realm of public discourse

As ubiquitous personal communication devices, SMS enabled mobile phones have affordances to extend communication beyond the user's personal social network and into the realm of public discourse. The author developed an interaction project, entitled Write a Story, One Line at a Time, in which users collaborated to write an SMS narrative to be displayed in a public space. The system includes visuals, audio, and time-based typography to attract and engage users to participate. Based on an experiment on anonymous public messaging, the author defined the ideas of destructive and constructive messaging. The interaction project focuses on the frameworks for constructive messaging in public. Secondary research on linguistic, social, and psychological effects of SMS informed the development of a reflexive feature for users. Users were observed and briefly interviewed during the prototype demonstration in December of 2006 to gather qualitative user feedback. The paper includes information on hardware, software, and sensor components employed, as well as potential applications of the system.
The effects of surgery on pharyngeal deglutition

Airway defense during pharyngeal deglutition depends upon precise timing of the tongue, larynx and pharynx actions. After excision of cancer the surgeon must reconstruct the lingual-laryngeal-pharyngeal mechanism in such a way that the complex and precise coordination of swallowing is retained. New surgical reconstructive techniques facilitate retention or restoration of swallowing. The contribution of manofluorography to postoperative evaluation of swallowing is described.
The haploid syndrome in isogenic haploid frog embryos of Rana pipiens derived by nuclear transplantation

The majority of haploid frogs are non-viable and few survive past early larval stages. While animals vary with respect to specific abnormalities, they succumb to the variety of defects which collectively comprise the haploid syndrome. This poor viability has been ascribed to unmasked lethal and semi-lethal genes or to alterations in the nucleocytoplasmic ratio. This investigation was designed to test these hypotheses by determining the uniformity of anomalies in clones of isogenic haploid embryos. Animal hemisphere nuclei of stage 10 androgenetic haploids of Rana pipiens were transplanted into activated and enucleated eggs of uniform size. Haploid embryos were selected from eggs whose cleavage times coincided with those of the fertilized controls. Genetically identical haploid embryos displayed differences in the variety as well as the severity of abnormalities. Thus, specific lethal genes are not responsible for the variability in defects seen in the haploid syndrome. We ascribe haploid inviability and variations within isogenic clones to a lack of heterozygosity of the haploid nucleus with resultant inability of the haploid nucleus to function in a heterogeneous environment, i.e., the egg cytoplasm.
Dual-emitting biosensors for glucose and glutamine from genertically engineered E. coli binding proteins

Glucose is the major source of carbon, and glutamine is the major source of nitrogen in cell culture media. Thus, glucose and glutamine monitoring are important in maintaining optimal conditions in industrial bioprocesses. Here we report reagentless glucose and glutamine sensors using the E. coli glucose binding protein (GBP) and the glutamine binding protein (GlnBP). Both of these proteins are derived from the permease system of the gram-negative bacteria. The Q26C variant of GBP was labeled at the 26-position with anilino-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), while the S179C variant of GlnBP was labeled at the 179-position with acrylodan. The ANS and acrylodan emissions are quenched in the presence of glucose and glutamine, respectively. The acrylodan-labeled GlnBP was labeled at the N-terminal with ruthenium bis-(2,2’-bipyridyl)-1,10-phenanthroline-9-isothiocyanate. The ruthenium acts as a non-responsive long-lived reference. The apparent binding constant, Kd’, of 8.0 μM glucose was obtained from the decrease in intensity of ANS in GBP. The reliability of the method in monitoring glucose during yeast fermentation was determined by comparison with the YSI Biochemistry Analyzer. The apparent binding constant, Kd’, of 0.72 μM glutamine was calculated from the ratio of emission intensities of acrylodan and ruthenium (I515/I610) in GlnBP. The presence of the long-lived ruthenium allowed for modulation sensing at lower frequencies (1-10 MHz) approaching an accuracy of ± 0.02 μM. The conversion of the GBP into a similar ratiometric sensor was described.
Terminal Pleistocene and Early Holocene Occupations of Isla de Cedros, Baja California, Mexico

ABSTRACT Isla de Cedros is a high, rocky island located on the Pacific Coast of Baja California 685 km south of San Diego. Its arid but temperate marine climate provides excellent conditions of archaeological preservation and visibility. Over the last five years, the Proyecto Arqueologico Isla de Cedros has documented a diverse and rich archaeological record on the island. In addition to many more recent deposits, at least two coastal shell middens have been identified that were occupied during the Early Holocene and Terminal Pleistocene. Initial investigation of these sites, including 14C dating and limited excavations at the largest and most intact example (PAIC-44, Cerro Pedregoso), provides an opportunity to address issues related to the nature and antiquity of maritime adaptations along the eastern Pacific Rim, and potentially the peopling of the New World.
Cellular regulation of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors.

Abstract B. J. Ronnberg and J. L. Middlebrook . Cellular regulation of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors. Toxicon27, 1377–1388, 1989.—The cellular regulation of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors was studied. Treatment of Vero cells with cycloheximide reduced their diphtheria toxin binding capacity, while cells treated with actinomycin D did not lose their ability to bind diphtheria toxin. A non-toxic analogue of diptheria toxin, CRM 197, produced a dose-related depletion of cell surface diphtheria toxin binding capacity that was reversible upon washing the cells. Vero cells depleted of toxin receptors by CRM 197 did not restore their ability to bind diptheria toxin in the presence of cycloheximide. Phospholipase C treatment of Vero cells reduced their diphtheria toxin binding capacity in a dose-dependent manner. The loss of diphtheria toxin binding capacity was recovered within 2 hr after removal of the enzyme. Protein synthesis inhibition blocked this recovery while actinomycin D partially inhibited it. Receptors prebound with toxin were resistant to phospholipase C treatment, suggesting that the action of the enzyme was directly on the receptor. Inhibition of glycosylation with tunicamycin did not prevent reappearance of toxin receptors after CRM 197 or phospholipase C treatment. These data establish the requirement of a continuous protein synthesis for the maintenance of diphtheria toxin cell surface receptors and also suggest that these receptors do not recycle after binding ligand. A hypothesis is put forward that the diphtheria toxin receptor might be a lipid-linked cell surface protein.
Mothers’ Perceptions of Young Children, Parenting, and Young Children's Behavior Problems

Historically, research demonstrates that mothers’ attitudes and characteristics of their parenting are intertwined. More recently, mothers’ perceptions of their children are becoming a new focus of interest. To further understand the relationships among mothers’ perceptions of their young children, their parenting behaviors, and their ratings of their young children's behavior problems, this study examines the ratings of a diverse group of mothers who have young children. Correlational results of this study demonstrate that these variables are related in the anticipated directions. Further, results of regression analyses suggest that mothers’ positive and negative perceptions of their young children and their use of limit setting are important in predicting children's behavior problems. These findings suggest that interventions focusing on changing mothers’ perceptions of their young children as well as their parenting behaviors may be related to decreases in young children's behavior problems.
Never Settling Down: Frequent Changes in Sex Chromosomes

A new study reveals multiple dramatic changes in sex chromosome structure and identity in flies; such transitions are accompanied by a series of genomic events that affect chromosome biology, gene regulation, and sex determination. See the accompanying Research Article.
The quantification of geology: from abacus to Pentium: A chronicle of people, places, and phenomena

Abstract The geological profession has only recently become numerically literate but highly so in a relatively short time. Mathematics was applied to geological problems mostly in the fields of hydrology, engineering geology, and geophysics until the past few decades. Statistics were used by sedimentologists and paleontologists to describe populations with some univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics used by a few avant garde workers. Geocomputing really started in the 1960s but the slow start became an avalanche in the 1980s with the introduction of microcomputer [personal computer (PC)]. The trend towards increasing quantification of the discipline is noticeable, and in recent years, this trend has been accelerating. There is seemingly no limit to the information and communication revolution.
Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Xenografts and Cells during Prolonged Treatment with Aromatase Inhibitor Letrozole

Ovariectomized mice bearing tumor xenografts grown from aromatase-transfected estrogen receptor (ER)–positive human breast cancer cells (MCF-7Ca) were injected s.c. with 10 μg/d letrozole for up to 56 weeks. Western blot analysis of the tumors revealed that ERs (ERα) were increased at 4 weeks but decreased at weeks 28 and 56. Expression of erbB-2 and p-Shc increased throughout treatment, whereas growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2) increased only in tumors proliferating on letrozole (weeks 28 and 56). In cells isolated from tumors after 56 weeks and maintained as a cell line (LTLT-Ca) in 1 μmol/L letrozole, ERα was also decreased whereas erbB-2, adapter proteins (p-Shc and Grb2), and the signaling proteins in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade were increased compared with MCF-7Ca cells. Growth was inhibited in LTLT-Ca cells but not in MCF-7Ca cells treated with MAPK kinase 1/2 inhibitors U0126, and PD98059 (IC50 ∼25 μmol/L). PD98059 (5 μmol/L) also reduced MAPK activity and increased ERα to the levels in MCF-7Ca cells. Epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor, gefitinib (ZD1839) inhibited growth of LTLT-Ca cells (IC50 ∼10 μmol/L) and restored their sensitivity to tamoxifen and anastrozole. In xenografts, combined treatment with ER down-regulator fulvestrant and letrozole, prevented increases in erbB-2 and activation of MAPK and was highly effective in inhibiting tumor growth throughout 29 weeks of treatment. These results indicate that blocking both ER- and growth factor–mediated transcription resulted in the most effective inhibition of growth of ER-positive breast cancer cells.
P,P-Diphenyl-N-(1,1,2,2-tetra­phenyl-1λ5-diphosphanyl­idene)phosphinous amide

The title compound, C36H30NP3, a structural isomer of tris­(diphenyl­phosphino)amine, was unexpectedly isolated as the sole phospho­rus-containing product from the reaction of Mg[N(PPh2)2]2(THF)2 (THF is tetra­hydro­furan) with CO2. Its identity was confirmed by 31P NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The geometry at the two P(III) atoms is trigonal pyramidal, while the P(V) atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry.
The effects of chromium and titanium gettering on the operation of the advanced toroidal facility

Abstract Plasmas in the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF), an l = 2 torsatron with 12 field periods, are produced by 200–400 kW of electron cyclotron heating (ECH) and up to 1.5 MW of neutral-beam injection (NBI). The characteristics of the plasmas are sensitive to the type of wall conditioning employed. A progression of techniques, beginning with glow discharge cleaning and baking and evolving to gettering with chromium and titanium, has significantly reduced the low-Z impurity content, lowered the fraction of radiated power, and permitted improved control over the electron density. As a result, plasma-parameters and machine performance have been enhanced significantly. The maximum values achieved for stored energy, line-averaged density, and confinement times are 28 kJ, 1.2 × 1020m−3, and 25 ms. These parameters are comparable to those obtained in the ISX-B tokamak. In addition, with titanium gettering, quasisteady operation for 200 ms of neutral beam injection has been obtained without the collapses that characterized earlier periods of operation.
Bonding of metal hydrides in relation to the characteristics of hydrogen storage materials

Abstract The magnetic properties of hydrides of the lanthanide elements and intermetallic compounds involving the lanthanides and thorium are consistent with the concept that hydrogen acts as an electron acceptor. The behavior of hydrides of LaNi 5− x Cu x is interpreted using photoemission studies and recent augmented plane wave band structure calculations on LaNi 5 .
Echocardiography in stress cardiomyopathy and acute LVOT obstruction

Widespread use of echocardiography has contributed to more frequent recognition of takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy. Initial presentation is similar to acute coronary syndrome and the acute course can be complicated by heart failure, arrhythmias, dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, hypotension and death. We briefly review the clinical presentation and propose a unified diagnostic algorithm for cardiologists acutely managing this cardiac emergency. We highlight the central role of echocardiography and emphasize the nuances of this peculiar acute cardiomyopathy from an echocardiographers’ perspective.
The intrinsic conformational propensities of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids and reflection of these propensities in proteins

Here, we compare the distributions of main chain (Φ,Ψ) angles (i.e., Ramachandran maps) of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids in three contexts: (i) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Gly-Gly-X-Gly-Gly pentapeptides in water at 298 K with exhaustive sampling, where X = the amino acid in question; (ii) 188 independent protein simulations in water at 298 K from our Dynameomics Project; and (iii) static crystal and NMR structures from the Protein Data Bank. The GGXGG peptide series is often used as a model of the unstructured denatured state of proteins. The sampling in the peptide MD simulations is neither random nor uniform. Instead, individual amino acids show preferences for particular conformations, but the peptide is dynamic, and interconversion between conformers is facile. For a given amino acid, the (Φ,Ψ) distributions in the protein simulations and the Protein Data Bank are very similar and often distinct from those in the peptide simulations. Comparison between the peptide and protein simulations shows that packing constraints, solvation, and the tendency for particular amino acids to be used for specific structural motifs can overwhelm the “intrinsic propensities” of amino acids for particular (Φ,Ψ) conformations. We also compare our helical propensities with experimental consensus values using the host–guest method, which appear to be determined largely by context and not necessarily the intrinsic conformational propensities of the guest residues. These simulations represent an improved coil library free from contextual effects to better model intrinsic conformational propensities and provide a detailed view of conformations making up the “random coil” state.
VIII.—New fresh-water fishes from Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil

(1928). VIII.—New fresh-water fishes from Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 83-90.
Mental tests and fossils

This article investigates the origins of the intelligence test item known as the Ball and Field in Lewis M. Terman's Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale. The question was initially raised by the resemblance of paleontological ocean bed floor tracings left by ancient creatures to the responses produced by children given the Ball and Field Test. A version of the Ball and Field Test was invented by Clifton F. Hodge, one of Terman's graduate school instructors who devised it as a result of his observations about how birds and other animals navigated and found their way. He then tested how humans and children located hidden objects and found that, in many ways, animals and humans used similar strategies for getting home or finding objects.
Rhetoric of Hypocrisy: The Pardoner's Reproduction in His Critics

This article explores both recent scholarly receptions of Chaucer’s Pardoner and his reception amongst the Canterbury pilgrims. Contrary to readings which focus on the Pardoner’s “alterity” and outsider status in The Canterbury Tales , the Pardoner is read as occupying a central role in the pilgrims’ social arrangement. By reading the Pardoner in the context of both emerging Lollard debates surrounding institutional abuses in the Church and the orthodox notion of “hypocrisy,” it is shown that the Pardoner’s “con” succeeds precisely because of his institutional safe haven. Finally, the Pardoner’s confidence-game is shown to operate much like the elaborate confidence-game that is Chaucer’s own fiction, opening up discourses of pleasure that allow both author and reader to explore heterodox notions while remaining within an orthodox framework. However, the Pardoner’s hypocrisy also tends toward the erosion of the institutions which allow him to operate his confidence-game.
Evaluation of some mathematical models for tumor growth

A number of mathematical models for tumor growth have been proposed in the past to increase the understanding of the tumor growth process. This study evaluates the exponential, the Gompertz, the Bertalanffy and the logistic models. The data used for the evaluation of the models consists of: the untreated primary carcinoma of the human lung, and induced sarcoma in mice. The non-linear regression method was used for the analysis of the data. The logistic equation gave the best fit in the cases of all seven patients. However, the Bertalanffy equation was the best in seven out of 10 cases of mice. The models were also judged by comparing the percentage error in predicting the volume of a tumor.
A study of the bonded interactions in nitride molecules in terms of bond critical point properties and relative electronegativities

Bond critical point properties calculated for the MN bonds in a number of geometry optimized nitride molecules containing first- and second-row M cations are compared with those calculated for a number of oxide molecules. As reported for the oxides, the value of the electron density, ρ(r c ), at the bond critical points, r c , increases with decreasing bond length while for the more electronegative cations, the local energy density, H(r c ) decreases nonlinearly in value as the relative electronegativities of the M-cations, χ M , tend to increase. In the majority of cases, χM, |λ1|/λ3 and ∇2ρ(r c ) increase with decreasing minimum energy bond lengths. The bond lengths adopted by the molecules are indicated to be an important determinant of the critical point properties of the electron density distributions. The relative electronegativities derived from the electron density distributions of the nitrides agree with those derived for the oxides and Pauling’s electronegativities to within ∼5%, on average.
Lordosis-enhancing medial preoptic area lesions do not alter hypothalamic estrogen receptor- or progestin receptor-immunoreactivity in prepubertal female guinea pigs.

Female guinea pigs rarely display adult-typical lordosis responses to ovarian steroid hormones until 40–50 days of age. Behavioral hyporesponsiveness in prepubertal females may be due, in part, to deficiencies in hypothalamic estrogen receptors and/or estradiol-induced progestin receptors. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that bilateral medial preoptic area (MPOA) lesions, which enhance the display of progesterone-facilitated lordosis in juvenile females, increase levels of hypothalamic estrogen receptors and/or estradiol-induced progestin receptors. Hartley guinea pigs were ovariectomized at 11–12 days of age and at 14–15 days of age received bilateral electrolytic or sham lesions aimed at the MPOA. At approximately 3 weeks of age, lesioned and sham-lesioned animals were either tested for the display of progesterone-facilitated lordosis or perfused, and their hypothalamic tissue processed for estrogen receptor- or estradiol-induced progestin receptor-immunostaining. Although a significantly higher percentage of MPOA-lesioned than sham-lesioned guinea pigs displayed progesterone-facilitated lordosis (85.7% vs. 5.8%, respectively, p<0.05), there were no significant lesion-related differences in the number or staining intensity of cells containing estrogen receptor- or estradiol-induced progestin receptor-immunoreactivity in the ventrolateral hypothalamus or arcuate nucleus. These data do not support the hypothesis that the enhanced display of progesterone-facilitated lordosis in prepubertal guinea pigs following MPOA lesions is due to increased hypothalamic concentrations of estrogen receptors or estradiol-induced progestin receptors.
Sensory Analysis of Whole Wheat/Soy Flour Breads

ABSTRACT: Breads containing 0% to 40% defatted soy flour, 35% to 100% whole wheat flour, and 0% to 35% white bread flour were prepared. Beany or bitter flavor ratings for the yeast-leavened breads containing up to 30% soy flour were not significantly different from the control whole wheat bread. A high-quality yeast was the most important factor in reducing the beany taste of the bread. Addition of ascorbic acid significantly increased yeasty flavor, and there was a strong inverse correlation between beany and sweet flavors. These studies suggest that an appealing, nutritious bread containing up to 30% to 40% soy flour can be prepared in an easy and economical manner using equipment available in home or institutional kitchens.
Characteristics of pregnant adolescents receiving prenatal care at school-based or hospital-based clinics.

Abstract To assess ways to improve the health of perinatal adolescents and their infants, a self-administered descriptive survey was administered to 189 minority, inner-city adolescents at school-based and public hospital clinics. The association of demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics of mothers and their tobacco and alcohol behaviors by service setting were examined. The hospital population were more often school dropouts and academically poor students, married, living with a husband or in-laws, and depending on them for financial support. A large number of hospital adolescents came from out-of-state, Mexico, Central, or South America, and were Hispanics or white adolescents. The majority of Hispanic adolescents reported Spanish as the main language in their homes. In contrast, the school population were predominantly African-American, single, received financial support from parents or relatives, and lived with their mothers. Differences in tobacco and alcohol use and exposure to sm...
Reversal of ethanol induced body dehydration with prolonged consumption in rats

Ethanol induced negative water balance has been previously inferred from fluid turnover rates upon initial exposure followed by restored normal fluid balance with prolonged exposure. The first two experiments of the present investigation noted hypovolemia and carcass dehydration during the initial few days of forced choice maintenance on 10% ethanol with recovery to near normal levels of intravascular volume and carcass water after 2 months of forced consumption. A third experiment attempted to test whether the alcohol induced dehydration could be corrected with the administration of exogenous ADH.
Strategies and resources: Pathways to success?

Abstract Scholars hold that resource management comprises the foundation of sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) Wernerfelt, 1984 [Wernerfelt B. A resource-based view of the firm. Strat Manage J 1984; 5(2), 171–180.]. Morgan (2000) [Morgan RM. 2000. Relationship marketing and marketing strategy: the evolution of relationship strategy within the organization. In: Sheth J, Parvatiyar A, editors. Handbook of Relationship Marketing. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, pp. 481–504.] posits that superior resource management involves four sequential activities: (a) efficient acquisition of resources, (b) bundling/combining resources, (c) positioning resources, and (d) maintaining/protecting resources. The present study links firm strategy to Morgan's resource management tasks. Specifically, the authors suggest that managers at businesses emphasizing a low cost strategy should stress efficient acquisition and maintenance/protection of resources; managers at firms emphasizing a differentiation strategy should stress bundling/combining and positioning of resources. Regression analyses confirm that (a) managers link firm strategy and resource management and (b) firms benefit financially from this practice. However, these models have low explanatory power. Strategy and resource management activities, therefore, are perhaps not the major factor in business performance. Other factors must also play a major role in determining firm financial performance.
The mntH gene encodes the major Mn2+ transporter in Bradyrhizobium japonicum and is regulated by manganese via the Fur protein

The bacterial Nramp family protein MntH is a divalent metal transporter, but mntH mutants have little or no phenotype in organisms where it has been studied. Here, we identify the mntH homologue of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and demonstrate that it is essential for Mn(2+) transport and for maintenance of cellular manganese homeostasis. Transport activity was induced under manganese deficiency, and Fe(2+) did not compete with (54)Mn(2+) for uptake by cells. The steady-state level of mntH mRNA was negatively regulated by manganese, but was unaffected by iron. Control of mntH expression and Mn(2+) transport by manganese was lost in a fur strain, resulting in constitutively high activity. Fur protected a 35 bp region of the mntH promoter in DNase I footprinting analysis that includes three imperfect direct repeat hexamers that are needed for full occupancy. Mn(2+) increased the affinity of Fur for the mntH promoter by over 50-fold, with a K(d) value of 2.2 nM in the presence of metal. The findings identify MntH as the major Mn(2+) transporter in B. japonicum, and show that Fur is a manganese-responsive regulator in that organism. Furthermore, Fe(2+) is neither a substrate for MntH nor a regulator of mntH expression in vivo.
Implementation of the pyramid wavefront sensor as a direct phase detector for large amplitude aberrations

We investigate the non-modulating pyramid wave-front sensor's (P-WFS) implementation in the context of Lick Observatory's Villages visible light AO system on the Nickel 1-meter telescope. A complete adaptive optics correction, using a non-modulated P-WFS in slope sensing mode as a boot-strap to a regime in which the P-WFS can act as a direct phase sensor is explored. An iterative approach to reconstructing the wave-front phase, given the pyramid wave-front sensor's non-linear signal, is developed. Using Monte Carlo simulations, the iterative reconstruction method's photon noise propagation behavior is compared to both the pyramid sensor used in slope-sensing mode, and the traditional Shack Hartmann sensor's theoretical performance limits. We determine that bootstrapping using the P-WFS as a slope sensor does not offer enough correction to bring the phase residuals into a regime in which the iterative algorithm can provide much improvement in phase measurement. It is found that both the iterative phase reconstructor and the slope reconstruction methods offer an advantage in noise propagation over Shack Hartmann sensors.
PEGylation of yeast cytosine deaminase for pretargeting.

ABSTRACT: Yeast cytosine deaminase (yCD) was cloned, expressed, and purified by affinity chromatography. We have characterized the products resulting from covalent attachment of 2–4 PEG chains on yCD and determined the major and minor isomers for each respective conjugate. The results show that for non-covalently associated homodimers, it is possible to characterize and deduce PEGylation levels on individual subunits through the concurrent use of size exclusion chromatography (SEC), MALDI-TOF MS, and SDS–PAGE gels. The results also show that contrary to what we expected, attaching more than two PEG chains to yCD decreased its stability. Enzymatic activity studies revealed that the fusion of an N-terminus purification tag on yCD has no significant effect on 5-fluorocytosine or cytosine affinity, with apparent turnover rates remaining within 10 5 M −1 ·s −1 . Stability studies at 37°C revealed that t 1/2 =8–9h for yCD and 2mPEG 5K -yCD, whereas for 3-, 4mPEG 5K -yCD and yCD/BSA, t 1/2
Yeast fatty acid synthetase: a proposed binding site for coenzyme A with consequences for chain initiation and chain termination.

Abstract A binding site for coenzyme A on yeast fatty acid synthetase is postulated. This site provides a mechanism for understanding two apparent anomalies with the current model of synthetase action: (a) how chain initiation is prevented during the chain elongation sequence, and (b) the lack of requirement for added CoA although the terminal product is known to be a CoA derivative. The CoA binding site also is predicted to participate in chain termination, a function which is not completely understood in current models.