cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
24-hour blood pressure profiles in hypertensive patients administered ramipril or placebo once daily: Magnitude and duration of antihypertensive effects

Ramipril is a new, potent nonsulfhydryl inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme. The magnitude and duration of its antihypertensive effect were evaluated in a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial conducted in 100 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Ramipril significantly reduced both supine and standing blood pressures measured 24 h after dosing. Automated blood pressure monitoring showed that ramipril significantly reduced systolic and diastolic pressures for 24 h after dosing. The peak effect occurred between 3 and 6 h after dosing, with approximately 50% of this effect retained after 24 h. Ramipril was well tolerated; there was no significant difference between active drug and placebo in the overall incidence of side effects. Ramipril is an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive agent, which reduces both supine and standing blood pressure over the entire 24-h period after dosing.
Inhibition of cellular protein synthesis by vaccinia virus surface tubules.

Abstract The infection of HEp-2 cells with vaccinia virus results in a rapid and selective inhibition of cellular protein synthesis. This effect appears to be due to a structural component(s) of the infecting virion. Experiments investigating the nature of the inhibitory principle showed that a vaccinia virion component, the surface tubule (ST), inhibits protein synthesis in HEp-2 cells without affecting either RNA or DNA synthesis. Furthermore, ST added to a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system inhibited the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into acid-insoluble protein. ST inhibitory activity was destroyed by heat (56° for 60 min) and by prior incubation with specific anti-ST serum. A decrease in the polyribosome complement of cells exposed to purified ST, with a concomitant increase in the free ribosome pool, suggests that the main effect of tubules on cellular protein synthesis occurs at the level of polypeptide chain initiation.
Warm-up effects in free-operant avoidance in a shuttlebox

In a study of free-operant avoidance in rats with a shuttle response, Riess and Farrar (1972) obtained rapid acquisition and proficient performance showing no warm-up effects. This latter result is of interest because warm-up effects are ubiquitous in rats’ performances on other free-operant avoidance procedures. As part of an attempt to isolate variables that control the warm-up, two replications of Riess and Farrar’s procedure were undertaken. While rapid acquisition of avoidance was obtained, warm-up effects were evident in nearly all rats. Hence, warm-up in avoidance is not specific to the leverpress and wheel-turn responses, which are more commonly used for study of free-operant avoidance.
Cardiac glycosides correct aberrant splicing of IKBKAP-encoded mRNA in familial dysautonomia derived cells by suppressing expression of SRSF3.

The ability to modulate the production of the wild-type transcript in cells bearing the splice-altering familial dysautonomia (FD) causing mutation in the IKBKAP gene prompted a study of the impact of a panel of pharmaceuticals on the splicing of this transcript, which revealed the ability of the cardiac glycoside digoxin to increase the production of the wild-type, exon-20-containing, IKBKAP-encoded transcript and the full-length IκB-kinase-complex-associated protein in FD-derived cells. Characterization of the cis elements and trans factors involved in the digoxin-mediated effect on splicing reveals that this response is dependent on an SRSF3 binding site(s) located in the intron 5′ of the alternatively spliced exon and that digoxin mediates its effect by suppressing the level of the SRSF3 protein. Characterization of the digoxin-mediated effect on the RNA splicing process was facilitated by the identification of several RNA splicing events in which digoxin treatment mediates the enhanced inclusion of exonic sequence. Moreover, we demonstrate the ability of digoxin to impact the splicing process in neuronal cells, a cell type profoundly impacted by FD. This study represents the first demonstration that digoxin possesses splice-altering capabilities that are capable of reversing the impact of the FD-causing mutation. These findings support the clinical evaluation of the impact of digoxin on the FD patient population.
THERMAL NOISE LIMITATIONS ON MICROMECHANICAL EXPERIMENTS

Thermal motions of microscopic probes limit the possibilities of experiments that are designed to resolve single-macromolecule dynamics in aqueous conditions. We investigate theoretical strategies for maximizing sig- nal-to-noise ratios or resolution in typical situations, illus- trating our discussion with examples from optical tweez- ers and atomic force microscopy experiments. A central result is that the viscous drag on a micromechanical probe is more important than the compliance of the probe. Within limits, increased stiffness of an AFM cantilever or of an optical trap does not increase resolution, and decreased stiffness does not provide the possibility of less invasive measurements.
Evidence-based medicine training during residency: a randomized controlled trial of efficacy

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been widely integrated into residency curricula, although results of randomized controlled trials and long term outcomes of EBM educational interventions are lacking. We sought to determine if an EBM workshop improved internal medicine residents' EBM knowledge and skills and use of secondary evidence resources. This randomized controlled trial included 48 internal medicine residents at an academic medical center. Twenty-three residents were randomized to attend a 4-hour interactive workshop in their PGY-2 year. All residents completed a 25-item EBM knowledge and skills test and a self-reported survey of literature searching and resource usage in their PGY-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3 years. There was no difference in mean EBM test scores between the workshop and control groups at PGY-2 or PGY-3. However, mean EBM test scores significantly increased over time for both groups in PGY-2 and PGY-3. Literature searches, and resource usage also increased significantly in both groups after the PGY-1 year. We were unable to detect a difference in EBM knowledge between residents who did and did not participate in our workshop. Significant improvement over time in EBM scores, however, suggests EBM skills were learned during residency. Future rigorous studies should determine the best methods for improving residents' EBM skills as well as their ability to apply evidence during clinical practice.
Functional analysis of activation and repression domains of the rainbow trout aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (rtARNT) protein isoforms.

Abstract The aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) protein is involved in many signaling pathways. Rainbow trout express isoforms of ARNT protein that are divergent in their C-terminal domains due to alternative RNA splicing. Rainbow trout ARNT b (rtARNT b ) contains a C-terminal domain rich in glutamine and asparagine (QN), whereas the C-terminal domain of rtARNT a is rich in proline, serine, and threonine (PST). rtARNT b functions positively in AH receptor-mediated signaling, whereas rtARNT a functions negatively. Studies were performed to understand how changes in the C-terminal domains of the two rtARNT isoforms affect function. Deletion of the QN-rich C-terminal domain of rtARNT b did not affect function in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-mediated signaling, whereas deletion of the PST-rich domain of rtARNT a restored function. Expression of the PST-rich domain on truncated rtARNT b or mouse ARNT (mARNT) reduced function of this protein by 50–80%. Gel shift assays revealed that the PST-rich domain affected AHR-mediated signaling by inhibiting DNA binding of the AHR•ARNT heterodimer. Gal4 transactivation assays revealed a potent transactivation domain in the QN-rich domain of rtARNT b . In contrast, Gal4 proteins containing the PST-rich domain of rtARNT a did not transactivate because the proteins did not bind to DNA. Secondary structure analysis of the PST-rich domain revealed hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. Truncation of the hydrophobic domain that spanned the final 20–40 amino acids of the rtARNT a restored function to the protein, suggesting that repressor function was related to protein misfolding or masking of the basic DNA binding domain. Functional diversity within the C-terminal domain is consistent with other negatively acting transcription factors and illustrates a common biological theme.
Speech lateralization in deaf populations: evidence for a developmental critical period.

Abstract Cerebral lateralization for speech in right-handed normal hearing and deaf adolescents was assessed using the dual-task paradigm. Subjects with normal hearing and deafness acquired after 3 years of age displayed left hemispheric dominance for speech production, whereas both congenitally deaf and those with an early acquired deafness (onset 6–36 months) showed atypical, anomalous cerebral representation. These results suggest the presence of a developmental critical period for cerebral lateralization during which exposure to adequate environmental stimulation may be needed to activate left hemispheric dominance for speech.
Effects of local dispersion and kinetic sorption on evolution of concentration variance in a heterogeneous aquifer

A Eulerian stochastic method is applied to develop a theory of concentration variance for solute transport in a heterogeneous medium. The study focuses on the effects of kinetic sorption and local dispersion on solute dissipation. Spatial distribution of the concentration variance is obtained by scaling the zero local dispersion form of σc2. The scaling function resulting from the local dispersion and kinetic sorption is derived in a closed integral form. It satisfies the measurement of total concentration variance resulting from the Eulerian mass balance using spatially integrated concentration moments. The spatially integrated moments bypass the need for classical closures applied to joint moments between concentration and velocity fields. The study results indicate that kinetic sorption reduces the total development of concentration variance in comparison with non-reactive solute transport. Kinetic sorption acts as a reduction mechanism, but not as a dissipating mechanism like the local dispersion. Kinetic sorption and local dispersion are not additive processes and their effects on the concentration variance depend on the stage of transport time.
PARTICLE-LIKE OBJECTS IN A NONLINEAR FIELD THEORY.

We further discuss the field theory which we introduced in a previous paper. We find that it is possible for a component of the field to have a minimum at an arbitrary origin point as a consequence of the field equations.
New Regulators of Melanogenesis Are Associated with Purified Tyrosinase Isozymes

Three new regulatory factors in the melanogenesis pathway were recently described: dopachrome conversion factor accelerates the conversion of dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole; indole conversion factor accelerates the conversion of 5,6-dihydroxyindole into melanin; and indole blocking factor retards the conversion of 5,6-dihydroxyindole into melanin. Exposure of wild-type Cloudman melanoma cells in culture to melanotropin (MSH) removes blocking factor activity and increases indole conversion factor activity. The chemical nature of the factors has not yet been determined. In this report we demonstrate that highly purified isozymes of tyrosinase from C57B1/6N murine hair bulbs and B16 murine melanoma are closely associated with conversion and blocking factor activities. The soluble isozymes T1, T2, and T3 contain blocking factor activity, while isozyme T4, the major tyrosinase species found in melanosomes, contains activity that accelerates melanin formation from dopachrome. The results suggest that melanogenesis is regulated by the association of these different factors with the specific tyrosinase isozymes.
A comparison of selected pattern recognition functions

Abstract In this study computer simulation is used to compare selected pattern recognition functions. The Highleyman deck of 50 hand written characters provides one comparative data base. A second data base is derived from multispectral infrared sensor data taken over California's Imperial Valley. Emphasis is placed on comparing the classical minimum distance recognition functions with two new recognition functions introduced in a recent predecessor article.
Additional Examples of Cold Autoagglutinins with M Specificity

Examples of both anti-M and anti-N have been reported in patients possessing these antigens; however, in only two instances has anti-M been reported as an autoantibody. This paper describes two additional patients with auto anti-M. In each case the anti-M was shown to be an autoantibody by absorption and elution studies. Optimum reactivity was obtained at 4 C. Column chromatogaphy and 2-mercaptoethanol reduction indicated that the antibody was an IgM globulin. There was no evidence of autoimmune hemolysis in either of these patients. IT IS an extremely rare event for a cold autoagglutinin to manifest specificity other than anti-I. Recently, however, two cases of auto anti-M h ave been reported in the literature. Fletcher and Zmijewskil found an auto anti-M in the serum of a pregnant woman without evidence of hemolytic disease. Tegoli et n1.2 also reported an auto anti-M in a patient following liver transplantation. Two additional p atients with auto anti-M will be described.
Joint ventures for entry deterrence

The literature of joint ventures has not discussed whether joint ventures may be used to deter entry. This paper then addresses how joint ventures may be used strategically for this purpose. Under the assumptions of linear demand and linear cost, as well as Stackelberg-Cournot interactions between incumbents and their joint venture firms, it is found that the incumbents can deter entry by creating independent joint ventures. Furthermore, it is shown that the optimal number of the joint ventures for the deterrence and the optimal deterrence strategies are functions of the number of potential entrants. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Levels of 32S studied by the 31P(p, α0)28Si reaction

Abstract Differential cross sections have been measured for the 31P(p, α0)28Si reaction between Ep = 1 and 5.5 MeV. A total of 78 resonances was observed. Analysis of the angular distributions, measured at 36 of the lower energy resonances, has allowed unique spin and parity assignments to be given in 18 cases. Limits have been evaluated for the reduced proton and alpha particle widths for the above 36 resonances. The observed level densities are shown to be in good agreement with those predicted from theory.
Nietzsche and Epicurus

L'A. mesure l'influence philosophique de l'hedonisme d'Epicure sur la pensee de Nietzsche, a travers l'interpretation par Heidegger de la scene du convalescent dans «Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra». Au-dela du renversement des valeurs du platonisme considere comme forme preexistante du christianisme, Nietzsche reconnait dans le jardin d'Epicure l'experience de l'ataraxie devenue joie dionysiaque, joie du devenir et non plus terreur de l'etre fini
Which Teachers Choose a Defined Contribution Pension Plan? Evidence from the Florida Retirement System

AbstractSince 2002, public school teachers in Florida have been permitted to choose between a defined benefit (DB) and a defined contribution (DC) retirement plan. We exploit this unique policy environment to study new teachers’ revealed preferences over pension plan structures. Roughly 30 percent of teachers hired between 2003 and 2008 selected the DC plan, despite the fact that teachers not actively deciding within six months were defaulted into the DB plan. The share choosing the DC plan was higher among teachers with advanced degrees, math and science teachers, and teachers in charter schools. It was lower among special education teachers and especially among black and Hispanic teachers. There was only a slight relationship between plan choice and teacher value added to student achievement, with teachers in the bottom value-added quartile roughly 2 percentage points less likely to choose the DC option.
Treatment of Women Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Serious Mental Illness in an Inpatient Mental Health Treatment Setting: A Case Study

This article discusses the challenges of providing treatment for women with complex dual diagnostic mental health needs. In particular, the focus is on the intersections between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), serious mental illness (SMI), female gender, and veteran status. Utilizing a clinical case example, we focus our discussion on psychotherapy goals and interventions, including the advisability of engaging in trauma-focused therapy on an inpatient unit with a patient who carries an SMI diagnosis. We also address benefits and challenges of providing this type of treatment, provider reactions including burnout and diagnostic bias, and recommendations for future care for persons with similar presentations and needs.
A causal model of students' achievement in a college physics course

To explain students' achievement in the mechanics segment of a college physics course, a causal model is proposed whose variables are the three constructs: Newtonian physics, math ability, and science experience. Each variable specifies several variates, whose numerical values were measured and intercorrelations computed. The Factorial Modeling (FaM) procedure is applied to the data to estimate the coefficients of the proposed model's structural equations. The FaM results indicate that the model is plausible and that its first two variables account for approximately 34% of the variance in the criterion variate, students' mechanics achievement. The implications of the findings for physics instruction are discussed.
Stimulation of fibroblast proliferation by thrombospondin

Thrombospondin purified from human platelets was examined for its ability to promote proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts. The results show that thrombospondin could stimulate the incorporation of [3H]thymidine by quiescent fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner without stimulating protein or collagen synthesis. The effect was observed even in the total absence of serum, although the degree of stimulation was substantially lower than that in the presence of 0.4% fetal calf serum, but higher than that in the presence of 4% serum. The effect was specific and not due to contaminants as demonstrated by the ability of antibodies to thrombospondin to specifically inhibit this stimulation. Three monoclonal antibodies directed at different epitopes in the thrombospondin molecule were equally effective in inhibiting this effect. This stimulation of fibroblast proliferation by thrombospondin suggests a potential role for this matrix protein in the mesenchymal cell response in tissue injury and repair.
Distribution of Soluble 14C‐Labelled Assimilates as Related to Distribution of 14C‐Benzyladenine in Shoot Tips of Hedera helix

The relationship between benzyladenine and assimilate distributions in shoot tips of English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) was studied. Exogenous applications of benzyladenine resulted in small amounts of the hormone moving to the apical meristem. The large part of the recovered benzyladenine was found in the young leaves of the shoot tip. Benzyladenine increased the amount of 14C-labelled assimilates in the shoot tip, but the distribution pattern of those assimilates within the tip was like that of the untreated control.
Evaluation of Resistance as a Measure of Successful Tumor Ablation During Irreversible Electroporation of the Pancreas

Background Intraoperative evaluation of successful pancreatic tumor ablation using irreversible electroporation (IRE) is difficult secondary to lack of visual confirmation. The IRE generator provides feedback by reporting current (amperage), which can be used to calculate changes in tumor tissue resistance. The purpose of the study was to determine if resistance can be used to predict successful tumor ablation during IRE for pancreatic cancers. Study Design All patients undergoing pancreatic IRE from March 2010 to December 2012 were evaluated using a prospective database. Intraoperative information, including change in tumor resistance during ablation and slope of the resistance curve, were used to evaluate effectiveness of tumor ablation in terms of local failure or recurrence (LFR) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results A total of 65 patients underwent IRE for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Median follow-up was 23 months. Local failure or recurrence was seen in 17 patients at 3, 6, or 9 months post IRE. Change in tumor tissue resistance and the slope of the resistance curve were both significant in predicting LFR (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). The median local disease-free survival was 5.5 months in patients who had recurrence compared with 12.6 months in patients who did not recur (p = 0.03). Neither mean change in tumor tissue resistance nor the slope of the resistance curve significantly predicted overall DFS. Conclusions Mean change in tumor tissue resistance and the slope of the resistance curve could be used intraoperatively to assess successful tumor ablation during IRE. Larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to determine if these parameters can be used to predict DFS.
Thiocyanate Linkage Isomerism in a Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes have seen extensive use in solar energy applications. One of the most efficient dye-sensitized solar cells produced to date employs the dye-sensitizer N719, a ruthenium polypyridyl thiocyanate complex. Thiocyanate complexes are typically present as an inseparable mixture of N-bound and S-bound linkage isomers. Here we report the synthesis of a new complex, [Ru(terpy)(tbbpy)SCN][SbF6] (terpy = 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine, tbbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine), as a mixture of N-bound and S-bound thiocyanate linkage isomers that can be separated based on their relative solubility in ethanol. Both isomers have been characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. At elevated temperatures the isomers equilibrate, the product being significantly enriched in the more thermodynamically stable N-bound form. Density functional theory analysis supports our experimental observation that the N-bound isomer is thermodynamically preferred, and provides insight into the isom...
History, Historians, and Conservatism in Britain and America, From the Great War to Thatcher and Reagan

Reba N. Soffer. History, Historians, and Conservatism in Britain and America, From the Great War to Thatcher and Reagan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Pp. ix. 345. £64. Conservatism has al...
Understanding the Measurement of Change

The article discusses research design, organizational intervention, and measurement of detected change in evaluation criteria. An explanation is given for the three types of change which are alpha, beta, and gamma. The probable causes of change can be categorized as the intervention itself, internal invalidity, external invalidity, and statistical artifact. Rival hypotheses, or factors that could explain criteria changes for scoring organizational effectiveness and also affect validity, include eight sources of internal invalidity and four sources of external invalidity. Examples include five hypothetical cases where alpha and beta change is detected, the sources of internal and external invalidity, and the actual, ideal, and difference scores.
8.2: Factors Affecting Image Quality Preferences

quality plays a key role in consumer purchasing decisions. In this study we manipulated image quality of videos using a consumer product that enhances digital video images in real time. Videos were presented on two HDTVs, enhanced by varying amounts and subjects made pairwise comparisons. Our results showed two distinct preference groups ("Sharp" and "Smooth") in our study subjects. Preferences for enhancement depended on the video content, particularly the presence or absence of a human face. Our primary research interest is in developing tools to assess image enhancement preference and performance benefits for patients with visual impairments. While such tools will be useful for our work on image enhancement for low vision patients, it will also serve much wider needs in image compression and general image quality evaluation. In the current study we improved testing and analysis for measurement of video image quality preference. We found that normally-sighted individuals can be categorized into at least two different groups in terms of their preferences for image enhancement. Preferences varied greatly for one of the groups, based on the presence of human face content in the videos.
Novel Ligand Architectures for Metalloenzyme Modeling: Anthracene-Based Ligands for Synthetic Modeling of Mono-[Fe] Hydrogenase

Synthetic metalloenzyme modeling studies are pursued to identify the essential ligation components of the transition metal in the active site. Most metalloenzyme active sites utilize an array of amino acids serving as the scaffold that stabilizes the metal binding site and assists in the catalytic action of the enzyme. Mono-[Fe] hydrogenase catalyzes the heterolytic cleavage of H2, and its structure has been shown to exhibit an array of non-amino acid ligands bound to the metal center. This unique metal center features three coordinated organic ligands: thiolato-SCys, pyridone-N, and acyl-C, all arranged in a facial triad on the Fe(II) octahedron. For synthetic modeling of the facial ligation of the mono-[Fe] hydrogenase active site, anthracene has been identified as a promising scaffold architecture on which the ligands may be deployed.
Development of an accelerated GVF semi-automatic contouring algorithm for radiotherapy treatment planning

Fast contouring is important in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and adaptive radiation therapy (ART) where large computed tomography (CT) volumes have to be segmented. In this study, a modified active contour (also called snake) segmentation method based on a faster gradient-vector-flow (GVF) calculation algorithm is proposed. The accelerated method was tested on multiple organs, including lung, right ventricle, kidney and prostate. Compared to the original algorithm, the improved one reduced GVF calculation times to one-half or less without compromising contour accuracy.
Does the medical evidence justify robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy as the new gold standard for radical prostatectomy

Abstract Today, over 70% of radical prostatectomies (RP) are performed using the daVinci robot. The robot has been heavily promoted and marketed to both the urologic community and the lay public as a minimally invasive and superior alternative to open radical prostatectomy. The robot has also been heavily promoted to hospitals as a means to increase market share by advertising “cutting edge” technology. Web sites promoting this new technology have consistently failed to legitimize claims of superiority with credible medical evidence. The time has come to critically examine whose interests have been best served by the robot: the patients, the surgeons, or the health care delivery system? As physicians who have taken the Hippocratic oath, it is the interest of the patient we must pursue and defend.
Structure of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase : a journey of 96 A from substrate to product

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase catalyzes the production of carbamoyl phosphate from bicarbonate, glutamine, and two molecules of MgATP. As isolated from Escherichia coli, the enzyme has a total molecular weight of ∼160K and consists of two polypeptide chains referred to as the large and small subunits. Here we describe the X-ray crystal structure of this enzyme determined to 2.8 A resolution in the presence of ADP, Mn2+, phosphate, and ornithine. The small subunit is distinctly bilobal with the active site residues located in the interface formed by the NH2- and COOH-terminal domains. Interestingly, the structure of the COOH-terminal half is similar to that observed in the trpG-type amidotransferase family. The large subunit can be envisioned as two halves referred to as the carboxyphosphate and carbamoyl phosphate synthetic components. Each component contains four distinct domains. Strikingly, the two halves of the large subunit are related by a nearly exact 2-fold rotational axis, thus suggesting that t...
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy following extrapleural pneumonectomy for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma: clinical implementation.

Abstract Purpose: New insight into the extent of the target volume for the postoperative irradiation of malignant pleural mesothelioma as determined during surgery has indicated that standard conformal radiotherapy (IMRT) is not sufficient for curative treatment. We describe a novel technique for implementing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to deliver higher doses to treat the full extent of these complex target volumes. Methods and Materials: After extrapleural pneumonectomy, 7 patients underwent simulation, treatment planning, and treatment with IMRT to the involved hemithorax and adjacent abdomen. The target volumes encompassed the entire operative bed, including the ipsilateral mediastinum, anterior pleural reflection, and ipsilateral pericardium and the insertion of the diaphragm and crura. These were extensively marked during surgery with radiopaque markers to facilitate target delineation. Results: Setup uncertainty and respiratory-dependent motion were found to be small. Coverage of the planning target volume was very good, with the crus of the diaphragm the most difficult volume to irradiate. The radiation doses to normal structures were acceptable. Conclusion: IMRT for treatment of malignant mesothelioma after extrapleural pneumonectomy results in more potentially curative doses to large, complex target volumes with acceptable doses to normal tissues. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc.
Rapid mode-III crack propagation in a strip of viscoplastic work-hardening material

Abstract Steady-state dynamic fields of stress and deformation have been computed for rapid crack propagation in the mid-plane of a thick strip of a viscoplastic work-hardening material. The faces of the strip are subjected to prescribed anti-plane displacements. The system of governing equations has been solved numerically by a finite difference method with an iterative procedure in the time domain which is continued until a steady-state has been reached. The effects of viscoplastic material behavior have been exhibited by comparisons with the results for the corresponding perfectly elastic problem. Dynamic effects due to high crack-tip speeds have been investigated and dynamic results have been compared with results obtained on the basis of a quasi-static problem formulation.
Perception of recurrent stroke risk among black, white and Hispanic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack survivors: the SWIFT study.

Objectives: Risk modification through behavior change is critical for primary and secondary stroke prevention. Theories of health behavior identify perceived risk as an important component to facilitate behavior change; however, little is known about perceived risk of vascular events among stroke survivors. Methods: The SWIFT (Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment) study includes a prospective population-based ethnically diverse cohort of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack survivors. We investigate the baseline relationship between demographics, health beliefs, and knowledge on risk perception. Regression models examined predictors of inaccurate perception. Results: Only 20% accurately estimated risk, 10% of the participants underestimated risk, and 70% of the 817 study participants significantly overestimated their risk for a recurrent stroke. The mean perceived likelihood of recurrent ischemic stroke in the next 10 years was 51 ± 7%. We found no significant differences by race-ethnicity with regard to accurate estimation of risk. Inaccurate estimation of risk was associated with attitudes and beliefs [worry (p Conclusion: This paper provides a unique perspective on how factors such as belief systems influence risk perception in a diverse population at high stroke risk. There is a need for future research on how risk perception can inform primary and secondary stroke prevention.
Bioengineering Models of Cell Signaling

Strategies for rationally manipulating cell behavior in cell-based technologies and molecular therapeutics and understanding effects of environmental agents on physiological systems may be derived from a mechanistic understanding of underlying signaling mechanisms that regulate cell functions. Three crucial attributes of signal transduction necessitate modeling approaches for analyzing these systems: an ever-expanding plethora of signaling molecules and interactions, a highly interconnected biochemical scheme, and concurrent biophysical regulation. Because signal flow is tightly regulated with positive and negative feedbacks and is bidirectional with commands traveling both from outside-in and inside-out, dynamic models that couple biophysical and biochemical elements are required to consider information processing both during transient and steady-state conditions. Unique mathematical frameworks will be needed to obtain an integrated perspective on these complex systems, which operate over wide length and time scales. These may involve a two-level hierarchical approach wherein the overall signaling network is modeled in terms of effective "circuit" or "algorithm" modules, and then each module is correspondingly modeled with more detailed incorporation of its actual underlying biochemical/biophysical molecular interactions.
Human brain amyloidoses

Several diseases aVecting the central nervous system near future. (CNS) of humans result from the formation This review summarizes the salient clinical and of a substance, named amyloid. Amyloid currently pathological features of the brain amyloidoses with identifies aggregates of an insoluble protein which special emphasis on the data obtained by our group. (i) generally occupy the extracellular space, (ii) are Some of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis birefringent under polarized light, (iii) react with the of AD and prion disease are also briefly discussed. Congo red histological stain, (iv) have a s-pleated sheet secondary structure, (v) are fibrillary with an extensive antiparallel b-sheet strands quaternary structure, and (vi) are associated with other proteins pre- Brain amyloidomas sumed to be chaperones [1]. At least five biochemically distinct amyloids are known to aVect the human CNS Amyloid may deposit in the brain in the form of ( Table 1). The amyloidoses due to the aggregation of relatively large aggregates acting like space-occupying the amyloid b peptide (Ab), which include Alzheimer’s lesions, called amyloidomas [6‐16 ]. Twelve cases have disease (AD), Down’s syndrome (DS) and the been reported to date ( Table 2). The mean age at hereditary cerebral haemorrhage with amyloidosis presentation is 54 years (range 28‐76 years). The (HCHWA)-Dutch type, and the amyloidoses due to common clinical presentation is characterized by cogaggregation of the prion protein (PrP), which include nitive decline, seizures and signs of increased intracra+/ ++ + + ++ ++ +/ ’+ +/ ++ +/+ / ’’ ’ ’ +/ ++ + ++ +/++ + +/ ++ +/’ ++ + +/ ++ /+ ++/++ ++ ++ +/ ’+ + + +/++ +++/’
EVALUATION OF PERMANENT IMPLANTATION OF ELECTRODES WITHIN THE BRAIN

Abstract 1. 1. Techniques of construction and implantation of multilead electrodes in the brain of animals are described. Technical problems of implantation are examined. 2. 2. No operatory accidents occured, and no deficits were produced by electrode insertion. 3. 3. After several months of implantation, plate electrodes produced a small impression on the brain surface without histological alteration of the neurons. Damage of the brain resulting from needle electrodes was generally less than 1 mm. in diameter. Infections were rare. Electrocoagulation was more hazardous. 4. 4. Prolonged electrical stimulation of the brain did not cause any detectable local histological changes. 5. 5. Cerebral stimulation was possible in cats and monkeys which had freedom of movement. This permitted studies concerning behavior, sensory phenomena, correlations between clinical manifestations and electrical activity of the brain, and also psychological testing of the animals. 6. 6. Patterns of response evoked by electrical stimulation proved to be typical for each point, and reliable through time. 7. 7. Thresholds of electrical stimulation proved to be rather constant throughout the months of observation. 8. 8. “Spontaneous” electrical activity and patterns of evoked post discharges recorded by means of implanted electrodes were similar in recordings taken with weeks or months of interval. 9. 9. Conclusions 6, 7, and 8 indicate that the presence of electrodes disturbs the brain activity very little, or at least, that the experimental conditions do not change during the period of observation.
Effective endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of pediatric occult vesicoureteral reflux with intermediate to long-term follow-up

Abstract Purpose Recurrent febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs) in children with non-diagnostic voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) are challenging, as misdiagnosis can lead to renal damage and increased morbidity. We compared fUTI rates before and after endoscopic treatment of patients with suspected occult VUR. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2012, children with history of fUTI and non-diagnostic VCUG(s) underwent endoscopic ureteral hydrodistention (HD) and injection of dextranomer hyaluronic acid co-polymer (Dx/HA). fUTI rates before and after intervention were evaluated. Demographics, imaging and endoscopic findings were assessed. Results Thirty-four children (mean age 5.4 ± 2.8 years) underwent bilateral Dx/HA injection for occult VUR. Average follow-up was 28.8 months. Seventeen children had renal scarring. Mean ureteral HD grade was 2.2/3. HD grade for ureters associated with renal scarring was significantly (p Conclusions Incidence of fUTIs significantly decreased following treatment, supporting the use of Dx/HA injection in carefully selected children when the suspicion for occult VUR is high.
Race-ing with the Times: Theatrical Exigency and Performative Politics in Trevor Nunn's Othello (1989)

An almost beat-by-beat re-viewing and re-reading of the temptation scene in Trevor Nunn’s 1989 National Theatre production of Othello registered a need to query whether the director’s decision to cast a (black) opera singer rather than a (Shakespearean) actor in the demanding role of Othello had been misguided. This view presupposes that theatrical exigency – the development of a dramatic action and on-stage situation – would be highlighted over the contingency of performative politics, however vital contemporary attention to cultural matters of “inauthenticity” and “political correctness” may be regarded.
Where inequality lives in the body: teenage pregnancy, public pedagogies and individual lives

This paper is concerned with how inequality is lived in the body. I have written elsewhere about how teenage pregnancy-as both a public discourse and an individual experience—provides a compelling example of the ways that inequality is carried in bodies, minds, and hearts. The aim of this paper is to revisit my earlier analysis and consider more recent US media representations and political rhetoric about teenage pregnancy. I examine how two films—Juno and Precious—function as public pedagogies that orient young women to their bodies, sexuality, and maternal subjectivities in ways that continue to cultivate class and race inequality. I then consider an individual young woman's effort to make her pregnancy her own as a means to better understand the complex relationship between public discourse, culture, and subjective experience. By combining these two multiple levels of analysis, I wish to extend and complicate the way we conceptualize the formation of subjectivities.
What is the effect of circumcision on risk of urinary tract infection in boys with posterior urethral valves

Abstract Purpose Boys with posterior urethral valves (PUV) have increased risks of urinary tract infection (UTI) voiding dysfunction and ongoing renal damage. Circumcision has been shown epidemiologically to reduce UTIs, but no trial has yet confirmed this in PUV. Circumcision is not routinely performed in boys with PUV in our unit, but one quarter of our patients are circumcised for religious reasons. It may be hypothesized that circumcision reduces the risk of subsequent urinary tract infection in boys with PUV. This study aims to test this hypothesis by comparing the risk of UTI, and subsequent renal outcome, in PUV in uncircumcised boys with those who were circumcised. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional case note review of boys with PUV was performed, and the following were documented: age at presentation, method of diagnosis, method of treatment, initial renal status, and timing of treatment; use and timing of urinary tract diversion; timing of circumcision; and UTIs—date, organism, and treatment. Results Seventy-eight patients were identified, mean age 6.7 years (range, 1-18). These boys experienced 78 UTIs in the uncircumcised state. Subsequently, 27 were circumcised, experiencing 8 UTIs. Eighteen boys were diverted. The incidence of UTI was reduced from 0.50 ± 0.14 (mean ± SEM) UTIs annually uncircumcised to 0.09 ± 0.02 (mean ± SEM) circumcised ( P t test). Conclusion In PUV, circumcision reduces the incidence of UTI by 83%, every circumcision prevents 1 UTI on average. Early circumcision in all PUV is beneficial, but a larger randomised control trial should be considered to confirm this.
A Finger in Every Pie: The Expanding Role of Writing Centers in Writing Instruction

Though sometimes seen as remedial in nature, writing centers have pedagogical missions that are far broader in scope in most educational institutions. This reflection traces both the growth of writing centers since their origins in the early 1900s and their current points of intersection with other writing programs – first year composition, writing across the curriculum, and community literacy initiatives. In spite of the economic and administrative difficulties they will face in the future, writing centers will continue to thrive.
Short-term regional meal fat storage in nonobese humans is not a predictor of long-term regional fat gain

Although body fat distribution strongly predicts metabolic health outcomes related to excess weight, little is known about the factors an individual might exhibit that predict a particular fat dist...
FAULT-TOLERANT PARALLEL ALGORITHMS FOR ADAPTIVE MATCHED-FIELD PROCESSING ON DISTRIBUTED ARRAY SYSTEMS

Continuous innovations in adaptive matched-field processing (MFP) algorithms have presented significant increases in computational complexity and resource requirements that make development and use of advanced parallel processing techniques imperative. In real-time sonar systems operating in severe underwater environments, there is a high likelihood of some part of systems exhibiting defective behavior, resulting in loss of critical network, processor, and sensor elements, and degradation in beam power pattern. Such real-time sonar systems require high reliability to overcome these challenging problems. In this paper, efficient fault-tolerant parallel algorithms based on coarse-grained domain decomposition methods are developed in order to meet real-time and reliability requirements on distributed array systems in the presence of processor and sensor element failures. The performance of the fault-tolerant parallel algorithms is experimentally analyzed in terms of beamforming performance, computation time, speedup, and parallel efficiency on a distributed testbed. The performance results demonstrate that these fault-tolerant parallel algorithms can provide real-time, scalable, lightweight, and fault-tolerant implementations for adaptive MFP algorithms on distributed array systems.
Indirect Rule in the British Empire: The Foundations of the Residency System in India (1764–1858)

The British Empire established itself and expanded largely through its incorporation of existing indigenous political structures. A single British Resident or Political Agent, controlling a regional state through ‘advice’ given to the local prince or chief, became the norm for much of the Empire. India's princely states, where from the mid-eighteenth century the British first employed and developed this system of indirect rule, stood as the conscious model for later imperial administrators and politicians who wished to extend the Empire without the economic and political costs of direct annexation. In dealing with Malaya, East and West Africa from the mid-nineteenth century onward, officials in the field and notables in London sought to justify imperial expansion and to establish indirect rule efficiently by drawing upon the Indian example.Thus, during a century of empirical learning from relations with India'sprincely states, the British established a body of theory and policies about indirect rule which then spread throughout the rest of the Empire.
On the calculation of panel flutter boundaries.

Methods are described for the complete automation of flutter boundary calculations when the aerodynamic forces are derived from linear three-dimensional unsteady potential flow theory. The usual process of visual curve fairing in the mass ratio versus structural damping plane is replaced by numerical procedures for ordering the eigenvalues in such a way that the n-th eigenvalue is always associated with the same flutter boundary. The mass ratio versus structural damping curves are interpolated via parametric cubic spline functions to produce the desired plots in the stiffness-parameter/mass-ratio plane. The entire process is accomplished in a single computer run.
1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol Inhibits Apoptosis in C3H10T1/2 Murine Fibroblast Cells Through Activation of Nuclear Factor κB

1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] is important in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Previous results from our laboratory demonstrate that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) inhibits vitamin E succinate (VES) mediated apoptosis in untransformed C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblast cells. The current work investigated cell survival signaling pathways that may be activated by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), leading to protection from apoptosis. Results showed that nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) transcriptional activity was significantly increased 1.8-fold over vehicle controls by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) after 4 h of treatment. Protein kinase B/AKT, a downstream effector of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), was activated 4-fold and 8-fold at 2 and 4 h, respectively, after treatment with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Pretreatment with two PI3K inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin, abolished the activation of NFkappaB by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), suggesting that this pathway is essential for NFkappaB transcriptional activation. Additionally, the use of a p-21 activated kinase (PAK1) inhibitory construct (PAK(R299)) demonstrated that PAK1 was also required for NFkappaB transcriptional activation by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Inhibition of NFkappaB activity with transfection of the NFkappaB inhibitory construct (IkappaB(Ala32)) abolished the protective effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on VES-mediated apoptosis. In summary, NFkappaB transcriptional activation was essential to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) protection from VES-mediated apoptosis and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) regulated NFkappaB activity through PI3K and PAK pathways.