cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of student understanding of how kinetic data facilitates the determination of amino acid catalytic function through an alkaline phosphatase structure/mechanism bioinformatics exercise

Laboratory exercises, which utilize alkaline phosphatase as a model enzyme, have been developed and used extensively in undergraduate biochemistry courses to illustrate enzyme steady-state kinetics. A bioinformatics laboratory exercise for the biochemistry laboratory, which complements the traditional alkaline phosphatase kinetics exercise, was developed and implemented. In this exercise, students examine the structure of alkaline phosphatase using the free, on-line bioinformatics protein-modeling program Protein Explorer. Specifically, students examine the active site residues of alkaline phosphatase and propose functions for these residues. Furthermore, by examining the mechanism of alkaline phosphatase and by using the published kinetic data, students propose specific roles for several active-site residues. Paired t-test analysis of pre- versus postexercise assessment data shows that the completion of the exercise improves student's ability to use kinetic data correctly thereby determining a probable catalytic function for an active site amino acid.
CATSPAW: a model of animal behavior and learning

This paper describes a model and computer simulation of a cat-like animal in a “natural” environment. The model emphasizes evolutionary principles in which behavior is motivated and shaped by survival criteria but varies with age and experience as the model animal matures from a condition of having just been weaned, to adulthood. The behavior has both random and cognitive components and, although realized in an electro-mechanical device, demonstrates 15 well-defined and experimentally validated psychological behaviors of human and other animals, interacting in harmony to produce a set of movements that can be seen to foster survival and procreation. While there is only a restricted set of terrain features included due to practical considerations, the behavior will adapt equally well for any reasonable placement and shape of those features. The same program offers an indefinite number of trial experiments since each choice of random number seed will give rise to an unpredictable “fate” for the subject of that experiment. In addition, the experimenter can conveniently vary many parameters of the model, thereby adding to its generality and potential utility. While the present scheme is designed to mimic the behavior of a cat, a living system at the organism level, the program has been designed to be flexible and open to indefinite expansion so as, potentially, to include more, and more complex, forms of specialized behavior representative of more interesting species. The simulation includes a dynamic display of the behaving animal on a color (or monochrome) monitor for “real-time” study and evaluation of its performance. To further this end, the model produces characteristic sounds and text to communicate the animal's motivation and experience at each instant. The entire simulation is extremely transportable and will easily fit into and run on the IBM family of PC's as well as most other IBM-compatible PC's. The Turbo Pascal source program is available on disk; for those lacking Turbo but using MS-DOS, a compiled machine-language version is included.
Key Obama officials leave administration

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is one of the latest members of the Obama administration to announce that he is leaving his position near the start of President Obama's second term in office. Salazar, who has served as interior secretary since January 2009, intends to leave the department by the end of March, the department noted on 16 January. Salazar joins a number of other key officials who are planning to leave the administration. They include Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator Jane Lubchenco, and U.S. Geological Survey director Marcia McNutt.
Security Technology for Smart Grid Networks

There is virtually universal agreement that it is necessary to upgrade the electric grid to increase overall system efficiency and reliability. Much of the technology currently in use by the grid is outdated and in many cases unreliable. There have been three major blackouts in the past ten years. The reliance on old technology leads to inefficient systems, costing unnecessary money to the utilities, consumers, and taxpayers. To upgrade the grid, and to operate an improved grid, will require significant dependence on distributed intelligence and broadband communication capabilities. The access and communications capabilities require the latest in proven security technology for extremely large, wide-area communications networks. This paper discusses key security technologies for a smart grid system, including public key infrastructures and trusted computing.
Abstract 5192: MYC amplification and overexpression Is associated With metastasis and drug resistance in a mouse model of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive form of thyroid cancer. Despite a relatively low prevalence, it accounts for a disproportionate number of thyroid cancer-related deaths, due to its resistance to every therapeutic approach. We have generated a mouse model in which simultaneous selective activation of the PI3K pathway and inactivation of p53 in thyroid epithelial cells leads to the development of ATC. These tumors display all the typical features of their human counterpart and metastasize to the lungs in over 25% of cases (20 out of 76). Recent data have indicated that mammary tumors driven by PI3K activation quickly become resistant to PI3K inhibitors through mechanisms that include Myc amplification. We have used our model to test the hypothesis that Myc overexpression and/or amplification might contribute the aggressive features of PI3K-driven ATC. Analysis of 46 primary tumors developed by [Pten,p53] thyr-/ − mice using a high-sensitivity real-time PCR approach demonstrates that the Myc locus is amplified (copy number ≥4) in about 25% of cases. Conversely, none of 20 metastatic follicular thyroid carcinomas developed by Pten thyr-/ − mice displayed Myc amplification. More strikingly, Myc is amplified in almost 50% (7/15) of ATCs with distant metastases, suggesting that Myc amplification confers more aggressive features to PI3K-driven anaplastic tumors, even in the absence of drug mediated selective pressure. Furthermore, when injected in syngeneic mice, cell lines established from Myc-amplified tumors grow faster than cell lines derived from tumors without Myc amplification. Myc-amplified cell lines are more resistant than Myc-diploid cells to the PI3K inhibitor BKM120, as well as to paclitaxel and doxorubicin treatment, and this increased resistance can be abrogated by shRNA-mediated Myc downregulation. These data support a model in which Myc cooperates with PI3K activation to induce more aggressive features, including drug resistance and enhanced metastatic behavior, in advanced thyroid carcinomas. Furthermore, these data lay the basis for new studies aimed at increasing therapeutic efficacy by interfering with Myc and Myc-dependent pathways. Citation Format: Marika A. Russo, Antonio Di Cristofano. MYC amplification and overexpression Is associated With metastasis and drug resistance in a mouse model of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5192. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5192
Remote sensing of explosive related gases using cw CO2 DIAL Lidar

A cw CO2Laser differential absorption lidar system has been developed to test remote sensing of few specialized gases related to explosives. The concentration of several gases including SF6and TATP were measured.
Enterostatin affects cyclic AMP and ERK signaling pathways to regulate Agouti-related protein (AgRP) expression.

Enterostatin, a gut-brain peptide, inhibits dietary fat intake in rats. The purpose of this study was to identify the intracellular signaling pathways that are responsive to enterostatin and that modulate the effects of enterostatin on the expression of Agouti-related protein (AgRP). We used the hypothalamic GT1-7 neuronal cell line to identify the effects of enterostatin on cyclic AMP and ERK signaling using conventional immunoassays or Western blots to assay the activity of these pathways. Enterostatin enhanced the level of cyclic AMP, PKA(RIIbeta) and phospho-CREB and increased pERK levels in GT 1-7 cells. The effects on pERK were rapid (7.5 min) and dose-dependent. These signaling responses were blocked by an antibody to the enterostatin receptor (beta subunit of F1-ATPase), by the pERK inhibitor U0126 and by the P2Y receptor antagonist Suramin. Enterostatin showed a biphasic effect on AgRP mRNA, initially increasing but subsequently decreasing the levels. The cyclic AMP activator Sp-cAMP increased AgRP mRNA expression. Transfection of a wild type ERK construct reduced AgRP mRNA levels. Enterostatin inhibited expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a transcriptional regulator of AgRP. KLF4 gene expression was increased by Sp-cAMP but decreased by wild-type ERK expression. U0126 blocked the effect of enterostatin on KLF4 expression. We conclude that enterostatin binding to its receptor activates the pERK pathway to inhibit AgRP gene expression but may enhance AgRP expression through activation of the cyclic AMP pathway. These pathways probably mediate the enterostatin inhibition of dietary fat intake.
Correlates of credit card ownership in men and women

In a sample of 352 students, correlates of credit card ownership differed by sex. For both men and women, credit card ownership was predicted by their affective attitude toward credit cards. However, whereas for men concern with money as a tactic for gaining power predicted credit card ownership, for women feelings of insecurity about having sufficient money and having a conservative approach to money predicted credit card ownership.
Membrane Inlet for Mass Spectrometric Measurement of Catalysis by Enzymatic Decarboxylases

Membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) uses diffusion across a permeable membrane to detect in solution uncharged molecules of small molecular weight. We point out here the application of MIMS to determine catalytic properties of decarboxylases using as an example catalysis by oxalate decarboxylase (OxDC) from Bacillus subtilis. The decarboxylase activity generates carbon dioxide and formate from the nonoxidative reaction but is accompanied by a concomitant oxidase activity that consumes oxalate and oxygen and generates CO(2) and hydrogen peroxide. The application of MIMS in measuring catalysis by OxDC involves the real-time and continuous detection of oxygen and product CO(2) from the ion currents of their respective mass peaks. Steady-state catalytic constants for the decarboxylase activity obtained by measuring product CO(2) using MIMS are comparable to those acquired by the traditional endpoint assay based on the coupled reaction with formate dehydrogenase, and measuring consumption of O(2) using MIMS also estimates the oxidase activity. The use of isotope-labeled substrate ((13)C(2)-enriched oxalate) in MIMS provides a method to characterize the catalytic reaction in cell suspensions by detecting the mass peak for product (13)CO(2) (m/z 45), avoiding inaccuracies due to endogenous (12)CO(2).
Abstract 539: Downregulation of hnRNP A1 by miRNAs as a new mechanism of survival in ovarian cancer

Background. Posttranscriptional regulation is a critical control point for the expression of genes that promote or retard tumor growth. The mRNA-binding protein hnRNP A1 is required for the processing of miR-18a, an inhibitor of k-ras expression. In this study we hypothesized that downmodulation of hnRNP A1 by miR-25 and miR-15a controls the expression of miR-18a and k-ras by modulating nuclear and cytoplasmic miRNA processing at the posttranscriptional level. Methods. In this study, we determined the expression of hnRNP A1 at mRNA and protein levels in three parental ovarian cancer cells lines (Skov3ip1, HeyA8, and A2780) and their chemotherapy-resistant derivatives (Skov3-TR, HeyA8 MDR, and A2780 cp20). We also predicted in silico which miRNAS can target hnRNP A1 and confirmed the miRNA expression by real-time PCR. Moreover, we inhibited miR-25 and mir-15a to determine their tumorigenic potential in vitro. We also correlated the expression of miR-25 and miR-15a and/or miR-18a and k-ras expression in the TCGA data. Results. Downregulation of hnRNP A1 at the RNA and protein levels was observed in the taxane-resistant cell lines but not in the cisplatin-resistant cell line. Furthermore, we predicted in silico that miR-25and miR-15a can target hnRNP A1 and confirmed the overexpression of these microRNAs in SKOV3-TR (5- and 3-fold, respectively) and HeyA8 MDR (3-fold) by real-time PCR. We also analyzed overall survival, trying to find a correlation between k-ras and miR-15a (high 23.77, low 33.97 months), k-ras and miR-25 (high 16.95, low 35.21 months), and the combination of k-ras, miR-25, and miR18a (k-ras high, miR25 high, mir18a low, 20.73 months; k-ras low, miR25 low, mir18a high, 31.49 months). Comparison of these data with a validation set yielded similar results. Conclusion. These results underscore the importance of a previously uncharacterized circuit of posttranscriptional regulation between miR-25 or -15a and RNA-binding protein hnRNP A1 that regulates miR-18a and k-ras expression. This circuit represents a unique opportunity for novel therapeutics approaches. Citation Format: Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo, Paloma Monroig, Maria I. Almeida, Cristina Ivan, Vianey Gonzalez-Villasana, Maitri Y. Shah, Anil K. Sood, George Calin, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein. Downregulation of hnRNP A1 by miRNAs as a new mechanism of survival in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 539. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-539
Hexachlorobenzene uptake by fathead minnows and macroinvertebrates in recirculating sediment/water systems.

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), the worm,Lumbriculus variegatus, and the amphipodsHyalella azteca andGammarus lacustris were exposed to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in water with and without a bed of HCB-spiked sediment. Water HCB concentrations were maintained by recirculation through HCB-packed columns. Recirculating HCB-bound particulates and possibly eroded HCB particulates were an added source of HCB in addition to the sediment bed. Significant bioaccumulation of HCB in animal tissues was observed in water-only and water-sediment exposures. The presence of the HCB-spiked sediment did not result in a significant increase in the uptake of HCB by the organisms, but there was a substantial increase in sediment HCB levels over time. Higher tissue HCB levels in aquaria without sediment suggest that the sediment was a more efficient sink for HCB than the organisms.
Measuring the side effects of taxane therapy in oncology: the functional assesment of cancer therapy-taxane (FACT-taxane).

BACKGROUND Cancer chemotherapy with some of the taxane class of agents can be associated with significant neurotoxicity, arthralgias, myalgias, and skin changes that may offset the therapeutic benefits of taxane use. METHODS The authors developed and tested a set of questions to assess these important side effects of taxane therapy from the patient's perspective. The current study evaluated the taxane subscale of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) measurement system. Reliability, validity, and responsiveness to expected change were evaluated in the context of an ongoing clinical trial comparing four cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel with a strategy of carboplatin plus paclitaxel until disease progression in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). RESULTS The 16-item Taxane subscale score and the 11-item peripheral neuropathy subset both demonstrated excellent internal consistency and concurrent validity, and the scores worsened as one would predict during a 12-week treatment course of taxane therapy. Results of the psychometric analyses supported the use of this subscale for measuring the unwanted adverse consequences of effective cancer therapies. Measuring the patient perception of treatment side effects also allowed a preliminary exploration of the relative quality of life (QOL) impact of symptom relief and treatment toxicity. The results indicated that toxicity and symptom improvement may make relatively equivalent contributions to total QOL as measured by the summary score from a multidimensional QOL instrument, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General. However, symptom status and improvement appear to play a stronger role than taxane toxicity in patients' global rating of their QOL. CONCLUSIONS Future research might examine this question of competing benefits as a potential aid to decision-making regarding the administration of toxic therapies in the setting of advanced disease. Cancer 2003;98:822–31. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Human Leukaemic Cells contain Reverse Transcriptase associated with a High Molecular Weight Virus-related RNA

Complexes of 70S RNA and reverse transcriptase have been identified in the white blood cells of 95% of leukaemic patients examined. The DNA synthesized by these complexes hybridizes to the RNA of the Rauscher leukaemia virus. It does not anneal to the RNA of either the avian myeloblastosis virus or of the mouse mammary tumour virus.
Persuading users through counseling dialogue with a conversational agent

We present an empirical study of the effect of a computer agent designed to engage a user in a persuasive counseling dialogue on attitudes towards regular exercise. We used two manipulations: (1) how closely the agent simulated human conversation, using either an embodied conversational agent (ECA) or a text-only agent, and (2) whether the agent attempted to build a user-agent relationship through social dialogue. Participants demonstrated a significant increase in positive attitudes (persuasion) following the persuasive dialogue; however, this change was significantly smaller when the agent used social dialogue. Participants' perceptions of the dialogue were most positive for an ECA with social dialogue, or a text-only agent without.
A comparison of washing and brushing cytology and biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant disease of the esophagus, stomach, and colon☆

Cytology and biopsy are essential for accurate diagnosis of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. A combination of washing, brushing, and biopsy technics yielded positive diagnoses in 100% of cases of cancer of the esophagus, 93% in stomach cancer, and 100% in cancer of the colon. In the stomach, washing was superior, but in both the esophagus and colon, brushing technics were more accurate.
An energy-efficient querying framework in sensor networks for detecting node similarities

We propose an energy-efficient framework, called SAF, for approximate querying and clustering of nodes in a sensor network. SAF uses simple time series forecasting models to predict sensor readings. The idea is to build these local models at each node, transmit them to the root of the network (the "sink"), and use them to approximately answer user queries. Our approach dramatically reduces communication relative to previous approaches for querying sensor networks by exploiting properties of these local models, since each sensor communicates with the sink only when its local model varies due to changes in the underlying data distribution. In our experimental results performed on a trace of real data, we observed on average about 150 message transmissions from each sensor over a week (including the learning phase) to correctly predict temperatures to within +/- 0.5°C.SAF also provides a mechanism to detect data similarities between nodes and organize nodes into clusters at the sink at no additional communication cost. This is again achieved by exploiting properties of our local time series models, and by means of a novel definition of data similarity between nodes that is based not on raw data but on the prediction values. Our clustering algorithm is both very efficient and provably optimal in the number of clusters. Our clusters have several interesting features: first, they can capture similarity between far away nodes that are not geographically adjacent; second, cluster membership to variations in sensors' local models; third, nodes within a cluster are not required to track the membership of other nodes in the cluster. We present a number of simulation-based experimental results that demonstrate these properties of SAF.
Modeling Tape Cast Ceramics With Layers of Fugitive Phases

New fabrication methods for topologically complex monolithic ceramic components with accurate dimensions are being investigated. A common problem in the fabrication of precision ceramic components is controlling the forming process to attain uniform density in the green body; otherwise the tolerances achieved with green ceramics do not carry over to acceptable tolerances on the finished ceramic due to distortion and warping that occur during sintering. One of the fabrication methods under study is the fugitive phase approach in which a sacrificial material is used to form the desired channels and cavities. This paper is a continuation of previously presented work and examines the lamination step of the fugitive phase approach. In the lamination step, the green, pre-sintered, ceramic parts are layered with the sacrificial material parts and pressed together to remove air voids. During pressing uneven pressure distributions can be created in the green ceramic and the fugitive phase parts are slightly displaced or rotated. A computational model of the lamination process is used to examine how the material plasticity of the green ceramic, computational boundary conditions, and pressing duration affect the resulting geometry produced at the end of the lamination step prior to sintering. The resting stress, plastic strain, and deformed shapes are examined and compared. This information is used to complement experimental investigations of the fugitive phase approach.
NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase. Structural basis for hydride and electron transfer.

NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase catalyzes transfer of electrons from NADPH, via two flavin cofactors, to various cytochrome P450s. The crystal structure of the rat reductase complexed with NADP+ has revealed that nicotinamide access to FAD is blocked by an aromatic residue (Trp-677), which stacks against the re-face of the isoalloxazine ring of the flavin. To investigate the nature of interactions between the nicotinamide, FAD, and Trp-677 during the catalytic cycle, three mutant proteins were studied by crystallography. The first mutant, W677X, has the last two C-terminal residues, Trp-677 and Ser-678, removed; the second mutant, W677G, retains the C-terminal serine residue. The third mutant has the following three catalytic residues substituted: S457A, C630A, and D675N. In the W677X and W677G structures, the nicotinamide moiety of NADP+ lies against the FAD isoalloxazine ring with a tilt of ∼30° between the planes of the two rings. These results, together with the S457A/C630A/D675N structure, allow us to propose a mechanism for hydride transfer regulated by changes in hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions between the isoalloxazine ring and either the nicotinamide ring or Trp-677 indole ring. Superimposition of the mutant and wild-type structures shows significant mobility between the two flavin domains of the enzyme. This, together with the high degree of disorder observed in the FMN domain of all three mutant structures, suggests that conformational changes occur during catalysis.
Economics of mental illness

speciale. By Agostino Rubino. Price, 5,500 lire. Pp. 443. Casa Editrice V. Idelson di E. Gnocchi E. F., Naples, 1958. This volume on psychiatric syndromes follows one on psychiatric symptoms by the same author. Psychodynamics and therapeutics are considered outside the scope of this volume, which is limited to a detailed, classically nosological description of psychopathology according to a strictly organic, biological viewpoint. In the foreword, the 1957 International Congress of Zurich is hailed as endorsement for such an orientation. Consequently, hereditary, constitutional, somatic, physiological, and chemical factors
APPL1 Potentiates Insulin Sensitivity by Facilitating the Binding of IRS1/2 to the Insulin Receptor

Binding of insulin receptor substrate proteins 1 and 2 (IRS1/2) to the insulin receptor (IR) is essential for the regulation of insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis. However, the mechanism of IRS1/2 recruitment to the IR remains elusive. Here, we identify adaptor protein APPL1 as a critical molecule that promotes IRS1/2-IR interaction. APPL1 forms a complex with IRS1/2 under basal conditions, and this complex is then recruited to the IR in response to insulin or adiponectin stimulation. The interaction between APPL1 and IR depends on insulin- or adiponectin-stimulated APPL1 phosphorylation, which is greatly reduced in insulin target tissues in obese mice. appl1 deletion in mice consistently leads to systemic insulin resistance and a significant reduction in insulin-stimulated IRS1/2, but not IR, tyrosine phosphorylation, indicating that APPL1 sensitizes insulin signaling by acting at a site downstream of the IR. Our study uncovers a mechanism regulating insulin signaling and crosstalk between the insulin and adiponectin pathways.
Accruals Management, Investor Sophistication, and Equity Valuation: Evidence from 10–Q Filings

The release of the full set of financial statements in Form 10–Q provides investors with the data necessary to estimate the discretionary portion of earnings, thereby allowing them to better assess the integrity of reported quarterly earnings. We thus expect a negative association between unexpected discretionary accruals estimated using 10–Q disclosures and stock returns around 10–Q filing dates. Consistent with our expectations, we document a negative association between unexpected discretionary accruals and cumulative abnormal returns over a short window around the 10–Q filing date. Furthermore, this association varies systematically with investor sophistication. Finally, results from portfolio tests indicate that this association is economically as well as statistically significant. One interpretation of our findings is that accruals management has substantial valuation consequences, which are quickly impounded into stock prices.
Infantile narcissism and the active infant

Recent proposals to discard the concept of infantile narcissism as incompatible with currently available observations of infants pose a dilemma for psychoanalytic psychology because that concept has been of major importance in concurrent clinical investigations of borderline disorders. A reformulation of Freud's theory of infantile narcissism is proposed, based on Piaget's model of child development. It proposes that objectively the child is actively engaged with its environment from the beginning. Subjectively, however, in its own understanding, the infant does not recognize the world as external. Major phenomena of infantile narcissism are entailed by this model. Clinical illustrations are used to show its implications for the observed phenomena of borderline disorder in adults and children.
High gradient magnetic separation of yeast

High gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) is used to separate nonmagnetic microorganisms from solution by a technique known as seeding. Fine magnetic particles are adhered to the cells' surfaces, making them magnetic and amenable to magnetic separation. Attachment of the sub-micron, acicular γ-Fe2O3 seed to the yeast surface occurs irrespective of the solution pH and surface charge and is essentially irreversible. A model is developed to predict the separation of yeast in a high gradient magnetic separator. The effective capture radius is assumed to be proportional to the derived magnetic parameter γ for the case where the dominant competing force to magnetic attraction is the magnetic floc's inertia. Using this parameter, yeast separation in an HGMS unit is predicted. The measured separation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at differing magnetic seed concentrations and two flow rates supports the above model.
PET-CT detection of abdominal recurrence of ovarian cancer:radiologic–surgical correlation

The diagnosis of recurrent ovarian cancer can be difficult on cross-sectional imaging, and variable sensitivities and specificities have been reported for positron emission tomography (PET). Combined functional and anatomic imaging with PET plus computed tomography (CT) potentially allows for improved detection of tumor masses. We investigated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET-CT for the diagnosis of recurrent ovarian cancer. Sixteen women with previously treated ovarian cancer underwent imaging on a combined PET-CT scanner followed by surgery to assess for possible recurrent disease. The fused PET-CT images were retrospectively reviewed for recurrent disease, and the results of PET-CT were compared with the operative notes. Eleven of the 16 patients had recurrent disease at surgery. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET-CT for disease detection on a per-patient basis were 72.7%, 40%, and 62.5%, respectively. For cases of malignant adenopathy (n = 7), 100% were detected on PET-CT. For peritoneal lesions no larger than 1 cm (n = 23), 13% were detected on PET-CT. For peritoneal lesions larger than 1 cm (n = 8), 50% were detected on PET-CT. The sensitivity of PET-CT for recurrent ovarian cancer is moderate in patients with low volume disease. A trial involving a larger number of patients with a spectrum of disease volumes is necessary to determine the impact of PET-CT in clinical practice.
Two-Fraction Model of Initial Sediment Motion in Gravel-Bed Rivers

The prediction of sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers is essential to the management of land, water, and ecological resources in mountain regions. Dividing the bed sediment into two populations-sand and gravel-permits realistic and useful predictions of the onset of sediment transport. The critical flow initiating grain motion decreases rapidly with sand content over the transition from a gravel-framework bed to a sand-matrix bed. The two-fraction model provides a simple means of forecasting the movement of excess fine sediment supply. The model also helps to explain the development of the abrupt gravel-sand transition commonly observed in natural rivers.
On the interaction of cobra venom protein cardiotoxins with erythrocytes

Abstract The principally active hemolytic toxin (cardiotoxin) previously purified from the venom of the Thailand cobra, Naja naja siamensis , was shown to produce spontaneous twitching, contractures and membrane depolarization in sartorius muscles from the frog, Rana pipiens . Spontaneous twitching, observed at concentrations greater than 0.1 uM was completely abolished by addition of tetrodotoxin and not affected by d-tubocurarine. Dose and time dependent membrane depolarization of muscle fibers was observed to occur within 10–30 min at 0.2 to 1.0 uM concentrations of the toxin. These observations, taken together with an amino acid analysis characteristic of previously described cobra venom cardiotoxins, characterized this hemolytic toxin as a cardiotoxin. In the absence of EDTA the initial velocities of erythrocyte hemolysis for this toxin showed a sigmoidal concentration dependence which became hyperbolic in the presence of EDTA. The largest increases in hemolysis rates on addition of 1 mM EDTA were observed at low toxin concentrations. In the presence of EDTA extracellular and membrane associated divalent cations are complexed, thus alleviating their competition with toxin for binding to the membrane, a key and apparently rate-determining initial step which leads to hemolysis. In the presence of EDTA hemolysis rates increased linearly at low toxin concentration and reached an extrapolated maximum value at toxin concentrations at which, given its molecular dimensions, there are just sufficient toxin molecules to cover the entire membrane surface area provided by the erythrocytes.
Outcomes After Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage at Hospitals Offering Angioplasty for Cerebral Vasospasm: A National Level Analysis in the United States

Primary angioplasty has been introduced for the treatment of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The data regarding the therapeutic benefit of angioplasty in improving patient outcomes are limited, hence its utilization at hospitals remains controversial and currently is not reimbursed by Medicare or major insurance companies. We analyzed the data from Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a nationally representative dataset of all admissions in the United States from 2005 to 2007. We analyzed the prevalence of angioplasty procedure for cerebral vasospasm at the national level. In-hospital mortality, discharge status, length of stay, and cost of hospitalization were compared between hospitals performing angioplasty with those not performing angioplasty in multivariable model, adjusted for patient’s age, utilization of endovascular aneurysm obliteration, and disease severity. Of the 74,356 estimated patients with nontraumatic SAH, 47% (n = 35,172) were admitted to hospitals that perform angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm and only 1307 patients (3.8%) were treated with angioplasty for vasospasm. In multivariable analysis, after adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics, we found that patients admitted to hospitals performing angioplasty had higher rates of discharge to home without supervision (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.6). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality, length of stay, or cost of hospitalization. Our analysis suggests that the odds of a patient being discharged to home are better at hospitals performing angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm. Provision of angioplasty may be used as a surrogate marker of model of care in management of patients with SAH.
Process design and economic evaluation for the production of glucose from enzymatic hydrolysis of acid pretreated mixed hardwood

Abstract A basic process plant design is presented which has a production capacity of 1060 tons of glucose per day. The processing scheme for converting mixed hardwood to glucose consists of a mild acid hydrolysis pretreatment of the substrate in a continuous plug flow reactor, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis in a batch stirred reactor. As the slurry concentration varies from 10 to 20 percent in the enzymatic hydrolysis, the glucose yields change from 91.4 to 74 percent, respectively. The costs of producing glucose per pound in an aqueous solution with a substrate cost of 2¢/1b are given for each design and range from 13 to 16¢/1b. Since the concentration of glucose is different in each design, an additional cost of bringing each design to at least 10 percent glucose is given. A cost sensitivity study is presented. Also, the cost of straight acid hydrolysis with 56 percent glucose yield is compared to this 2-stage process.
Novel inorganic photoinitiators

Thin films composed of the copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate-ethyl acrylate and a cobalt(III)-am(m)ine tetraphenylborate salt undergo crosslinking upon deep-UV irradiation and subsequent heating. The mechanism of this process involves the efficient photoredox decomposition of the cobalt salt with the release of multiequivalents of Lewis base. In a thermally activated step, the base then crosslinks the copolymer via nucleophilic attack on the epoxide rings. Near-UV irradiation of Pt(acac)2 (acac is the acetylacetonate anion) and Ru(Cp)2 (Cp is the cyclopentadienide anion) dissolved in ethyl (alpha) -cyanoacrylate initiates rapid anionic polymerization of the acrylate monomer. The active initiating species is acac in the former system, while the radical anion of the monomer is a likely candidate in the latter system.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Initial Byzantine Reactions to the Arab Conquest

Numerous competent studies have appeared on Christian apologetics—both Byzantine and Western Medieval—against Islam. A significant gap, however, remains. The Byzantines, of course, first encountered Islam because of the Arab conquest in the second and third quarters of the seventh century. Yet the earliest known Byzantine apologist against Islam is Saint John Damascene in the eighth century. But what initial impression did the Arab conquest and Islam make upon seventh-century Byzantine contemporaries? The seventh-century Byzantine sources on Byzantine reactions to the Arab conquest are scarce, inconveniently located, and insufficiently studied. There is no known individual Byzantine tract of the seventh century devoted specifically to the problem of Islam and/or the Arab conquest. But even though seventh-century sources are relatively rare—on any subject—by a close reading of those which are available one can glean some interesting and, in my opinion, important indications concerning Byzantine reactions to the Arab conquest. Obviously such a major historical event as the loss of Egypt, Palestine and Syria would greatly have impressed the Byzantines and would have caused them to ponder its significance.
Photoinduced electron transfer in a triad that can be assembled/disassembled by two different external inputs. Toward molecular-level electrical extension cables.

We have designed, synthesized, and investigated a self-assembling supramolecular system which mimics, at a molecular level, the function performed by a macroscopic electrical extension cable. The system is made up of three components, 12+, 2-H3+, and 3. Component 12+ consists of two moieties: a [Ru(bpy)3]2+ unit, which plays the role of an electron donor under light excitation, and a DB24C8 crown ether, which fulfills the function of a socket. The wire-type component 2-H3+ is also composed of two moieties, a secondary dialkylammonium-ion center and a bipyridinium unit, which thread into the DB24C8 crown-ether socket of 12+ and the 1/5DN38C10 crown-ether socket 3, respectively. The photochemical, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of the three separated components, of the 12+ ⊃ 2-H3+ and 2-H3+ ⊂ 3 dyads, and of the 12+ ⊃ 2-H3+ ⊂ 3 triad have been investigated in CH2Cl2 solution containing 2% MeCN. Reversible connection/disconnection of the two plug/socket systems can be controlled independently...
A robust sketch interface for natural robot control

A fully probabilistic command interface for controlling robots using multi-stroke sketch commands is presented. Drawing from prior work in handwriting recognition, sketches are modeled as a variable duration hidden Markov model, where the distributions on the states and transitions are learned from training data. A forward search algorithm on the gesture, stroke, and stroke transition observations is used to find the most likely sketch, which is displayed to the user for confirmation. In cases where the most likely sketch is incorrect, the user can reject it, prompting the next most likely sketch to be displayed. Upon confirmation from the user, the robot executes the desired behaviors. A prototype sketch interface was implemented using a pen tablet; two sets of search-and-identify experiments were conducted using a single robot in an indoor environment to test the usability of the proposed framework. Even novice users were able to successfully complete the missions, including those on whom the algorithm was not trained. User surveys indicate that operators generally found the interface to be natural and easy to use.
Virginia Woolf as an example of a mental disorder and artistic creativity

This is an attempt to evaluate the mental disorder that the novelist Virginia Woolf suffered, and to determine the relationship between her creativity and her insanity. What mostly characterizes her illness is the presence of typical phases of severely impairing depression and significant hypomania, culminating in suicide at the age of 59. This is a convincing life history of a bipolar II disorder, although the "broad bipolar spectrum" is less easy to define operational than bipolar disorder I. She was moderately stable as well as exceptionally productive from 1915 until she committed suicide in 1941. Virginia Woolf created little or nothing while she was unwell, and was productive between attacks. A detailed analysis of her own creativity over the years shows that her illnesses were the source of material for her novels.
Effects of malathion on embryonic development and latent susceptibility to trematode parasites in ranid tadpoles.

We investigated the effects of embryonic exposure to the widely used organophosphate malathion (15-600 g/L) on the early development and latent susceptibility of pickerel frog (Rana palustris) tadpoles to the trematode parasite Echinostoma trivolvis. The latent effects of contaminant exposure are rarely examined but could have important implications for individual survival and population viability. Malathion decreased hatching success by 6.5% and viability rates by 17% at 600 g/L, which is a lower concentration than previously documented for anuran embryos. Incidence of malformations increased from 0.5% in controls to 11.2% in the 600-g/L malathion treatment. The primary malformations documented in the two highest pesticide concentrations were ventralization and axial shortening. After seven weeks of development in water with no malathion, tadpoles previously exposed as embryos for only 96 h to 60 and 600 g/L malathion suffered increased parasite encystment rates when compared to controls. Our research identifies embryonic development as a sensitive window for establishing latent susceptibility to infection in later developmental stages.
Biocorrosion Studies of Gold and Rhodium Ion Implanted Titanium and Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

Concern continues over the possible long-term biological effects of corrosion products released by degradation of metallic surgical implant materials in the human body. One approach to improve long-term biological performance involves surface modifications to significantly reduce degradation rates. Fundamentally, the elements with lowest driving forces (lowest ΔG functions) for corrosion in aqueous solutions over a wide pH range are the noble metals. With regard to surface-modifications, one of the most effective methods is through ion implantation. In the present on-going study, static in vitro corrosion properties of noble-metal ion-implanted surgical Ti-6Al-4V and commercially-pure(CP) Ti are being investigated in nonpassivating acid and passivating saline solutions. It was postulated that during the early stages of corrosion (or during a corrosion pretreatment) the implanted noble metal would enrich at the surface and significantly reduce subsequent corrosion rates. Thus far, the effects of ion-implanted Au and Rh have been studied, with mixed results. The Au implanted material yielded early benefits, but the enhanced corrosion resistance deteriorated with time, probably because the Au, during the enrichment stage, was not adequately adherent to the substrate. On the other hand, the observed behavior for the Rh implanted material appeared to follow the postulated mechanism, with both initial and time-dependent improvements in corrosion resistance.
Two dimensional AR modeling by autocorrelation fitting

The problem of two-dimensional AR (autoregressive) modeling of two-dimensional stationary random fields by fitting the estimated autocorrelation function with the model autocorrelation function is addressed. Both nonsymmetric half-plane and quarter-plane supports are used for modeling. Ekstrom-Woods (1976) two-dimensional spectral factorization is used to generate a stable and accurate initial estimate of the model coefficients and permits the determination of the model coefficients with the same support as the original autocorrelation data. Several experimental results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the method in two-dimensional artificial random field synthesis and spectral estimation. >
Notes from the Library

"De Re Metallica" by Albert O. Hayes: On March 6, 1940, while Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hoover were guests of President and Mrs. Clothier, they autographed for the Library a copy of their translation of the 1556 edition of Dc Re Metallica, by Georgius Agricola, the first great work ever written on mining and metallurgy. "Centenary of Soil Science" by Selman A. Waksman: 1940 marks the centenary of the publication of the first Report on the Geology of the State of New Jersey, under the title "Description of the Geology of the State of New Jersey, Being a Final Report," by Henry D. Rogers, State Geologist, and Professor of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Pennsylvania. "Deed of Hendrick Rutgers" by W. H. S. Demarest. "The Bucket" by Rudolf Kirk. A poem by Samuel Woodworth (1784-1842).
Syncope Management Guidelines at work: first steps towards assessing clinical utility.

This editorial refers to ‘Hospital admission of patients referred to the Emergency Department for syncope: a single-hospital prospective study based on the application of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on syncope’† by A. Bartoletti et al ., on page 83 and ‘A new management of syncope. Prospective systematic guideline-based evaluation of patients referred urgently to general hospitals’‡ by M. Brignole et al ., on page 76 Management of patients who present after an apparent transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) and who are suspected of having had true syncope remains a clinical challenge; one that is often first confronted by emergency department (ED) and hospital-based physicians. As a first step in assessment of these patients, it is essential that other conditions associated with real (e.g. seizures and concussion) or apparent (e.g. narcolepsy and certain psychogenic disturbances) TLOC, but that are not syncope, be excluded. Syncope refers specifically to TLOC caused by self-limited inadequacy of cerebral perfusion.1,2 Thereafter, attention must be directed towards establishing the most probable cause for syncope; only then can an appropriate treatment strategy be developed.1,3 In terms of TLOC in general, and ‘true syncope’ in particular, conventional diagnostic strategies have long been fraught with confusing terminology,2 incomplete history taking, and inappropriate reliance on excessive laboratory tests; the outcome has been costly with poor diagnostic yields.1,4,5 Clinical guidelines were clearly needed. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Syncope Task Force published the first set of guidelines on the management (diagnosis and treatment) of syncope in 2001, with the most recent update being issued in 2004.1 In addition, the task force published a succinct handbook designed to facilitate clinical application of the recommendations; the first edition was released in 2002 and a revised version is due … *Corresponding author. Tel: +1 612 625 4401; fax: +1 612 624 4937. E-mail address : bendi001{at}umn.edu