cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Everolimus plus bevacizumab is an effective first-line treatment for patients with advanced papillary variant renal cell carcinoma: Final results from a phase II trial

Background We previously reported on a phase 2 study of everolimus plus bevacizumab across various nonclear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) histologies and observed encouraging activity among patients with papillary RCC (pRCC) and unclassified RCC (uRCC) with a major papillary component. We subsequently expanded the study to enroll additional patients with pRCC variants. Methods Everolimus plus bevacizumab was administered at standard doses until disease progression or intolerance to therapy. The primary endpoint was the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate; secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Correlative analyses included next-generation sequencing (NGS) from tumor and germline across >341 genes of interest. Results In addition to 19 patients with pRCC variants in the original cohort, 20 patients with similar features were enrolled on the expansion cohort (uRCC with papillary features [n = 24], pRCC [n = 14], and translocation-associated RCC with papillary features [n = 1]). Among 37 evaluable patients, the 6-month PFS rate was 78%, the median PFS was 13.7 months (95% CI, 10.8-16.4 months), and the ORR was 35%. With a median follow-up of 17.6 months, the median OS was 33.9 months (95% CI, 23.3-71.9). Tolerance was consistent with prior reports for everolimus plus bevacizumab. NGS results (n = 33) identified responses in patients with a wide spectrum of genomic alterations, including ARID1A, FH, and MET mutations. Conclusion The expansion cohort results confirm robust activity of everolimus plus bevacizumab in metastatic pRCC variants, supporting this regimen as a standard option for this patient population.
There is Still a Problem of Consistent Incompatibility: a Response to Coren

This article responds to Daniel Coren’s very insightful critical discussion of Baumann (Acta Analytica 32, 489–490, 2017). It clarifies and defends the view that there is a problem of mutually consistent but necessarily incompatible desires. Distinguishing explicitly between semantic and syntactic consistency, one can show that the problem remains under each interpretation of “consistent.”
Performance of Operational Chemical Transport Models for Particulate Matter Concentrations in Bulgaria

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of some well-known and widely used operational air quality modelling systems (EMEP-MSC-W, and the models at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS)) for simulations of ground-level particulate matter in Bulgaria. The analysis is focused on two months—a summer one (August 2017) and a winter one (February 2019). The comparison of models to observations from regular air quality background stations is based on statistical indicators and various plots (box plots, kernel density estimations, and scatter plots). The EMEP and CAMS regional models underestimate the observed concentrations, on average by about 50% for PM10 and by about 22% for PM2.5. These models perform better at a rural remote (mountain) site than at urban background stations indicating that the outputs of the models could be used for indicative values of PM background concentrations. The model inter-comparison consists of an analysis of the spatial distribution of monthly mean concentrations and values for domain averaged model concentrations. The CAMS global model simulates in summer different spatial distribution due to the assimilation of satellite data providing information for dust storms and wildfires.
Diffuse Sovereignty in the Federalist Papers: A Schmittian Critique

As the conference chairs have noted, hard economic times typically trigger populist reactions. In the American polity, populists have frequently sought to legitimize popular sovereignty by reference to the views of the Founders. Contemporary Tea Party activists, motivated by perceived misuses of taxes to promote economic recovery, national health care, and other ameliorative aims of the federal government, likewise plead their case publicly by mobilizing claims that the Framers intended sovereignty to be an attribute primarily or entirely of the people of the United States. Yet the founding vision of sovereignty was substantially more complex than such claims reveal. This paper explores that complexity through a close textual analysis of the various uses of the term "sovereignty" in the text of the Federalist Papers. In so doing, it seeks to determine various meanings of that term as employed therein, while bringing to bear as well Carl Schmitt's functional definition of sovereignty as the power to decide upon and respond to exceptional circumstances (such as dire economic and financial crises). It seeks to demonstrate (contrary to populist claims) that both in Schmittian terms, and in the Publius authors' own understandings sovereignty was not primarily situated with the American people under the Constitution's framework. The paper also advances the more surprising finding that the Federalist Papers as a whole make radically inconsistent claims about sovereignty under the nascent constitutional scheme, locating it variously in the people, the states, and branches of the federal government. Further, it argues that the Framers saw the Constitution (and possibly the Federalist Papers themselves, in a subsidiary sense) as functionally sovereign. The paper argues that textual sovereignty, is, however deeply problematic under a Schmittian analysis. If valid, such analysis demonstrates that true sovereignty in the decisional sense cannot lie with either the people or governing texts, especially in hard times.
Differential Expression of Oestrogen Receptor α Following Reproductive Experience in Young and Middle‐Aged Female Rats

Reproductive experience (i.e. pregnancy and lactation) alters a number of physiological and behavioral endpoints, many of which are related to reproductive function and are regulated by oestrogen. For example, reproductive experience significantly attenuates the oestradiol-induced prolactin surge on the afternoon of proestrous and circulating oestradiol levels are reduced at this time. While parity-related effects on oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) have been observed within the anterior pituitary, there are currently no data regarding possible parity-induced alterations in ERα in the brain. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of parity on the expression of ERα in reproductively relevant brain regions. Moreover, because previous findings have demonstrated that the long-term effects of reproductive experience are often oestrous cycle dependent, ERα was examined at two stages of the oestrous cycle (diestrous and proestrous). Finally, as the expression of ERα is significantly influenced by age, both young and middle-aged females were included in the present study. ERα status was determined using immunohistochemistry in select brain regions involved in the regulation of reproductive behavior in age-matched, cycling primiparous (one pregnancy and lactation) and nulliparous females as well as in age-matched, non-cycling (persistent estrus) 12 month-old primiparous and nulliparous females. Significant shifts in ERα cell numbers were observed in the medial preoptic area and medial amygdala as a consequence of reproductive experience in an oestrous-dependent manner. These findings indicate that significant changes in ERα activity occur in the brain as a function of reproductive experience.
Simple ensemble-averaging model based on generalized regression neural network in financial forecasting problems

Introduces an ensemble-averaging model based on a GRNN (generalized regression neural network) for financial forecasting. The model trains all input individually using GRNNs and uses a simple ensemble-averaging committee machine to improve the accuracy performance. In a financial problem, there are many different factors that can effect the asset price movement at different times. An experiment is implemented in two different data sets, S&P 500 index and currency exchange rate. The predictive abilities of the model are evaluated on the basis of root mean squared error, standard deviation and percent direction correctness. The study shows a promising result of the model in both data sets.
A specific, high affinity binding protein for 1α,25 dihydroxy vitamin D in the chick oviduct shell gland

Summary A binding activity for the steroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D was observed in partially purified cytosol extracts of oviduct shell gland from vitamin D-deficient chicks. Binding is a saturable, high affinity (K D = 0.13 nM) process which is N-ethyl maleimide-sensitive and specific for 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D over 25-hydroxy vitamin D. The 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D-binding activity sediments at 3.7 S in sucrose density gradients and binds to DNA-cellulose columns, eluting as a single peak at 0.21 M KCl. These properties, along with a preferential localization of binding activity in the shell gland region of the oviduct, are consistent with the identification of this 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D-binding protein as a steroid hormone receptor involved in the regulation of egg shell calcification by vitamin D.
Grandparents Caregivers' Perceptions of Emotional Distress and Well-Being

Grandparents often become the primary caregivers for their grandchild(ren) with little or no prior notice. This familial change and added responsibility raises a number of concerns related to the overall emotional well-being for grandparent caregivers. Qualitative research using focus groups and face-to-face interviews with grandparent caregivers (N = 15) was conducted to better understand their perceptions of well-being in the context of raising grandchildren. Major themes identified included setting limits with adult children, responding to grandchildren's trauma, and resilience. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Cooperative work in mission operations: analysis and implications for computer support

This paper describes cooperative work in real-time flight operations in the SAMPEX Mission Operations Room at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This domain is an example of distributed supervisory control, where a team of human operators supervises a dynamic, complex, highly automated system. Such operational environments differ in important ways from artifact-centered collaboration (e.g., collaborative drawing, writing, design). This paper explores those differences and also articulates the need for activity management tools for dynamic control environments. Candidate models from the human-machine systems engineering literature are proposed to provide the underlying structure for such tools.
Free radicals in human skin before and after exposure to light

Human skin exhibited a stable electron spin resonance (ESR) signal before irradiation, only if the samples were pigmented. The single almost symmetrical absorption peak with g = 2.003 and a line width of 5–6 gauss at 77 °K is associated with melanin. It was also observed in pigmented human and guinea pig hair, melanosomes, and melanin granules obtained from B-16 mouse melanoma and DOPA-melanin. Irradiation with wavelengths greater than 320 mμ, including ruby laser (λ = 694 mμ) and incoherent 600–700 mμ light, at 77 °K enhanced the melanin signals in pigmented samples only. “White” skin gave no intrinsic melanin free-radical signal, and irradiation with similar wavelengths produced no detectable free radicals. Ultraviolet radiation (λ < 320 mμ) enhanced the melanin signal in pigmented samples and also produced other radicals with a line width of approximately 24 gauss in both “white” and pigmented skin. Radiation-induced free radicals were only detected at 77 °K and were unstable at 300°K. The photo-enhanced melanin free-radical signal was also unstable, but the intrinsic melanin signal was not destroyed by warming. Radical yields measured in “white” and pigmented skin as a function of ultraviolet exposure dose showed that fewer radicals were generated in pigmented skin. The significance of this observation in relation to the photoprotective function of melanin is discussed.
Peptide YY Inhibits Growth of Human Breast Cancerin Vitroandin Vivo

Background. Hormonal manipulation is important in the treatment of breast cancer. Gastrointestinal hormones may have antiproliferative effects on malignancies arising outside the gastrointestinal tract. Peptide YY (PYY) suppresses growth of, and levels of, intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We hypothesized that PYY would inhibit growth of breast cancer. Materials and methods. MCF-7 human breast infiltrative ductal carcinoma cells in 96-well plates were treated with PYY at 1.25 pmol/μl. Control wells received an equal volume of bovine serum albumin to mimic experimental conditions. In vitro survival was determined by MTT assays, which reflect cell viability by measuring mitochondrial NADH-dependent dehydrogenase activity. MCF-7 cells in six-well plates were treated with PYY or albumin as described above. Intracellular cAMP levels in cell lysates were determined with a tritiated cAMP assay. One million MCF-7 cells were injected into mammary fat pads of 20 female athymic nude mice. Pellets releasing PYY at 400 pmol/ kg/h were placed subcutaneously in 10 mice 24 h prior to cell inoculation. Tumors were harvested after 21 days, weighed, and measured with vernier calipers. Results. PYY reduced in vitro growth by 40% (P < 0.001). Intracellular cAMP levels in PYY-treated cells were 62.4% less than those of controls (P < 0.001). Tumors from control mice weighed twice as much as those from PYY-treated mice (P < 0.006); volume of PYY-exposed tumors was one-third that of controls (P < 0.005). Conclusions. PYY inhibits growth of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo and may be of benefit in the treatment of this malignancy. The reduction in intracellular cAMP levels may contribute to the observed suppression of cell proliferation.
Function and metabolic significance of penicillin and bacitracin in the chick.

Summary(1) The feeding of penicillin, but not of autoclaved penicillin, stimulated the growth of birds fed an all-vegetable protein diet. The injection of either penicillin or autoclaved penicillin similarly increased growth. (2) Bacitracin when administered orally or parenterally increased the rate of growth. (3) Under the conditions of the experiment reported herein the feeding of penicillin increased the penicillin and aureomycin resistant organisms and increased the yeast count. The parenteral administration of penicillin had no effect on the fecal microflora. Autoclaved penicillin had little effect upon the fecal microflora. Bacitracin when administered orally or parenterally failed to have any effect on the fecal microflora. (4) Since the parenteral administration of antibiotics and autoclaved penicillin increased the rate of growth and yet had little effect on the fecal aerobic microflora count it seems possible that the antibiotics may have stimulated growth by some other mechanism. Thus, it might...
Ecologies of Parental Engagement in Urban Education

What we know about parental involvement in schools cuts across two areas: how and why parental involvement is important and the structural barriers that impede parental participation. However, it has been difficult to construct an account of parental involvement, grounded in everyday practice that goes beyond a laundry list of things that good parents do for their children’s education. In this article we make a case for a new data-driven framework for understanding parental engagement in urban elementary schools, the Ecologies of Parental Engagement (EPE) framework. The EPE framework marks a fundamental shift in how we understand parents’ involvement in their children’s education—a shift from focusing primarily on what parents do to engage with their children’s schools and with other actors within those schools, to also considering how parents understand the hows and whys of their engagement, and how this engagement relates more broadly to parents’ experiences and actions both inside and out of the school...
An ethanolic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. regulates gene expression of ubiquitin–proteasome system enzymes in skeletal muscle: Potential role in the treatment of sarcopenic obesity

Abstract Objective Obesity is linked to insulin resistance, a primary component of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The problem of obesity-related insulin resistance is compounded when age-related skeletal muscle loss, called sarcopenia, occurs with obesity. Skeletal muscle loss results from elevated levels of protein degradation and prevention of obesity-related sarcopenic muscle loss will depend on strategies that target pathways involved in protein degradation. An extract from Artemisia dracunculus , termed PMI 5011, improves insulin signaling and increases skeletal muscle myofiber size in a rodent model of obesity-related insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of PMI 5011 on the ubiquitin–proteasome system, a central regulator of muscle protein degradation. Methods Gastrocnemius and vastus lateralis skeletal muscle was obtained from KK-A y obese diabetic mice fed a control or 1% (w/w) PMI 5011-supplemented diet. Regulation of genes encoding enzymes of the ubiquitin–proteasome system was determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Although MuRF-1 ubiquitin ligase gene expression is consistently down-regulated in skeletal muscle, atrogin-1, Fbxo40 , and Traf6 expression is differentially regulated by PMI 5011. Genes encoding other enzymes of the ubiquitin–proteasome system ranging from ubiquitin to ubiquitin-specific proteases are also regulated by PMI 5011. Additionally, expression of the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain 3 ( LC3 ), a ubiquitin-like protein pivotal to autophagy-mediated protein degradation, is down-regulated by PMI 5011 in the vastus lateralis. Conclusion PMI 5011 alters the gene expression of ubiquitin–proteasome system enzymes that are essential regulators of skeletal muscle mass. This suggests that PMI 5011 has therapeutic potential in the treatment of obesity-linked sarcopenia by regulating ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated protein degradation.
Clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality in acutely decompensated heart failure-piecing together the outcome puzzle.

The substantial public health impact of hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure, from an economic and clinical perspective, has generated substantial interest in understanding predictors of risk in this syndrome. Utilization of classification and regression tree (CART) analysis on the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) dataset has provided important risk stratification from readily available clinical variables. Increasingly, high-risk patients were identified by combination of blood urea nitrotgen level of 43 mg/dL, serum creatinine level of 2.75 mg/dL, and systolic blood pressure less than 115 mm Hg, which were all independent predictors of high risk for in-hospital mortality. On the basis of these 3 variables, acutely decompensated heart failure patients can be readily stratified into groups at low, intermediate, and high risk for in-hospital mortality, with mortality risks ranging from 2.1% to 21.9%. Although risk stratification alone cannot improve outcomes, identification of patients at high and low risk may improve resource utilization and better focus the intensity of care according to outcome.
New cosmid vectors for library construction, chromosome walking and restriction mapping in filamentous fungi.

Abstract New cosmid vectors were constructed for the ascomycete fungus, Magnaporthe grisea and the basidiomycete fungus, Ustilago maydis. These vectors are capable of transforming M. grisea at frequencies of up to 5 transformants/μg linear DNA and U. maydis at up to 25 transformants/μg circular DNA for integrative transformation. In addition, 2800 transformants/μg DNA are possible when using an autonomously replicating vector. Since the promoters used in these vectors function in other ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi, we anticipate that these vectors will be widely applicable.
The Divine Online: Civic Organizing, Identity Building, and Internet Fluency Among Different Religious Groups

The number of religious congregations with Web sites nearly tripled from 1998–2006, and each year another 10,000 congregations launch a Web site (Chaves & Anderson, 2008). Couple this with the fact that 79% of attendees are now in a congregation with a Web site. Scholars of media and religion know very little, however, about the content of these Web sites or what they tell us about the culture of different religious groups. The aim of this article, therefore, is to examine how congregations are constructing Web sites to advertise their identity, organize their followers to get involved in civic and political issues, and provide an interactive space for online participation in actual ministries. Extensive qualitative data were gathered from 600 individual congregation Web sites from nine denominations in 53 different cities across the United States. The results of the descriptive analysis of these data suggest that there is a strong correlation between the “off-line” characteristics of a particular congreg...
Familial influences on gambling behavior: an analysis of 3359 twin pairs.

ackground. Pathological gambling is becoming an increasing problem in the United States as the number of legalized gambling establishments grows. To examine vulnerability to pathological gambling, we estimated the familial contributions (i.e. inherited factors and/or experiences shared by twin siblings during childhood) to DSM-III-R pathological gambling symptoms and disorder. Methods. Data were obtained from a telephone interview performed in 1991-92 utilizing the Diagnostic Interview Schedule Version III-Revised. Interviews were administered to 6718 members of the nationally distributed Vietnam Era Twin Registry of male-male monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs who served in the military during the Vietnam era. Results. Inherited factors explain between 35% (95% CI: 28%, 42%) and 54% (95% CI: 39%, 67%) of the liability for the five individual symptoms of pathological gambling behavior that could be estimated statistically. In addition, familial factors explain 56% (95% CI: 36%, 71%) of the report of three or more symptoms of pathological gambling and 62% (95% CI: 40%, 79%) of the diagnosis of pathological gambling disorder (four or more symptoms). Conclusions. Familial factors have an important influence on risk for pathological gambling behavior. The increasing access to legalized gambling is likely to result in a higher prevalence of pathological gambling behavior among individuals who are more vulnerable because of familial factors.
Synthesis of N-BOC-D-diphenylalanine from L-serine methyl ester hydrochloride

Summary A convenient six step synthesis of N-BOC-D-diphenylalanine from L-serine methyl ester hydrochloride is described. The preparation of a novel chiral auxiliary, an oxazolidinone derived from D-diphenylalaninol, is also described.
Insulin receptors on chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells: Altered insulin binding to glycosylation mutants

We have identified and characterized insulin receptors on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Insulin binds in a time, temperature and pH dependent fashion and insulin analogues compete for 125I-insulin binding in order of their biological potencies. Furthermore, two CHO cell glycosylation mutants, B4-2-1, lacking high mannose containing glycoproteins, and Lec 1.3c, lacking complex carbohydrate containing glycoproteins, bind insulin with a much higher and lower affinity respectively than wild type cells. This is the first report of insulin receptors on CHO cells and the first to use glycosylation mutants to study the effects of abnormal carbohydrates on insulin binding.
ASSOCIATION OF INSULIN PUMP THERAPY WITH RAISED SERUM AMYLOID A IN TYPE I DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract Serum concentrations of serum amyloid A protein, the high-density-lipoprotein-associated tissue amyloid A precursor, were determined in 29 diabetic patients receiving insulin by subcutaneous injection and in 50 receiving subcutaneous infusion pump therapy. Insulin delivered by continuous subcutaneous pumps stimulated serum amyloid A production to levels nearly six times those in normal subjects, nearly twice as much as insulin given by subcutaneous injection. 85% of patients with serum amyloid A levels ≽10 4 ng/ml were being treated with insulin pump therapy. The relation between insulin aggregation and amyloid A in diabetes was evaluated in 1 patient; treatment with syringe-aggregated insulin resulted in a nearly 300% increase in serum amyloid A levels. The use of high-potency non-aggregating insulins in the pump treatment of type I diabetic patients may be necessary for optimum therapy.
An autoradiographic analysis of histogenesis in the mouse cerebellum.

Embryonic and young postnatal mice were exposed once to thymidine-H3, to label cells preparing for division. Histogenesis of cerebellum was studied in autoradiograms. Purkinje cells and neurons of roof nuclei form simultaneously in the primitive ependyma of the young embryo and migrate outward to reach their final positions. A transient external granular layer arises by proliferation of cells on the lateral caudal cerebellar surface lining the fourth ventricle. These cells migrate over the external cerebellar surface, and continue to proliferate abundantly until a few weeks after birth. The layer disappears in the third postnatal week. Most external granule cells divide a few times and then migrate inward past the Purkinje cells to become granule cell neurons. A smaller population of cells arises in the granule layer itself and is characterized by an unusually long interval between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis and mitosis. These cells migrate short distances and may assume positions around the perikarya of Purkinje cells; cells of this class are probably neuroglia. An hypothesis is presented which accounts for the extensive cell migrations during histogenesis as a means for attaining particular synaptic contacts.
Refrigerated storage and cryopreservation of sperm of red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus L.

To aid in artificial spawning of sciaenid fishes, the present authors developed techniques to collect, handle and cryopreserve sperm from red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus L. Sperm were collected by removing and slicing the testis, and adding Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) or NaCl solution (each at 200-400 mOsm kg−1) as an extender. Sperm were activated with 800 mOsm kg−1 artificial sea water (ASW) to characterize motility. Sperm reached maximum motility (highest percentage motility observed for that sample) within 8 ± 1 s (mean ± SD) and remained at maximum motility for 33 ± 4 s. Sperm were exposed to graded osmotic pressures of ASW (8-800 mOsm kg−1) to determine the range of osmolalities that elicited motility. Threshold activation (defined as ∼10% motility) occurred at 351 ± 4 mOsm kg−1 and complete activation occurred at 539 ± 2 mOsm kg−1. Sperm stored at 200 mOsm kg−1 retained motility for up to 13 days. Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) was used as a cryoprotectant at concentrations ranging from 7.5% to 15% (v:v) in HBSS (200 mOsm kg−1). There were no significant differences among post-thaw motilities of sperm cryopreserved at any concentration of DMSO. Sperm thawed on the benchtop at 21°C had lower post-thaw motility than did sperm thawed at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60°C in a water bath.
Magnetic Structure of Iron Monophosphide

Neutron-diffraction measurements have shown that FeP is magnetically ordered below 125 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The magnetic structure is a "double helix," propagating along the $c$ axis of the Pnma crystal structure with a period of 29.2 \AA{}. The magnetic structure allows two different sites for the iron atoms, with magnetic moments ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{1}=0.46{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{2}=0.37{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$. The form factor for iron is considerably more expanded than the calculated $3d$ free-atom form factor.
Effect of Pentoxifylline on the Flow of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Through a Model Capillary

Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative used to increase blood flow in peripheral atherosclerosis. Pentoxifylline is known to increase whole blood filtration rate, and recent evidence suggests that pentoxifylline increases the filtration rate of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The purpose of this study was to directly observe and quantitate the effect of pentoxifylline on the flow of individual PMNs into a model capillary. Short-term incubation of human PMNs with 10 mM pentoxifylline inhibited cell activation, as judged by a significant reduction in the number of neutrophils forming pseudopods. Furthermore, incubation of PMNs from 6 healthy men with 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mM pentoxifylline significantly decreased the time required for individual cells to be aspirated into a 4 microns pipet under constant pressure by 16 +/- 5%, 21 +/- 7%, and 41 +/- 8%, respectively (mean +/- SEM, p less than or equal to 0.05), compared with control. These experiments are the first direct demonstration of increased deformability in neutrophils treated with pentoxifylline. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the beneficial effect of pentoxifylline on microvascular perfusion is partly due to an inhibition of PMN stiffness and activation.
The rhetoric of cancer

Background Research involving the discovery of novel anticancer drugs and treatments hold precedence among the general public. However, investigating the etiology and epidemiology of malignancies can have a significant effect on reducing the prevalence of cancer in society. Understanding risk factors that drive neoplastic development can provide educated individuals the opportunity to avoid such catalysts.
Miniature photoacoustic chemical sensor using microelectromechanical structures

Photoacoustic spectroscopy is a useful monitoring technique that is well suited for trace gas detection. The technique also possesses favorable detection characteristics when the system dimensions are scaled to a micro-system design. The objective of present work is to incorporate two strengths of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and chemical and biological sensing into a monolithic MEMS photoacoustic trace gas sensor. A miniaturized macro-cell design was studied as a means to examine performance and design issues as the photoacoustics is scaled to a dimension approaching the MEMS level. Performance of the macro-cell was tested using standard organo-phosphate nerve gas simulants, Dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) and Diisoprpyl methyl phosphonate (DIMP). Current MEMS work centered on fabrication of a multi-layer cell subsystem to be incorporated in the full photoacoustic device. Preliminary results were very positive for the macro-cell sensitivity (ppb levels) and specificity indicating that the scaled cell maintains sensitivity. Several bonding schemes for a three-dimension MEMS photoacoustic cavity were investigated with initial results of a low temperature AuSn bond proving most feasible.
Droplet transport in a swirl-stabilized spray flame

Droplet transport processes that occur in fuel sprays and spray flames were examined using laser velocimetry, phase Doppler interferometry, and laser sheet beam photography. Droplet size and velocity (axial and radial) distributions were obtained in a swirl-stabilized, pressure-atomi zed kerosene spray under nonburning and burning conditions. The results show that the introduction of swirl to the combustion air (under nonburning conditions) significantly modifies the spray structure and leads to the transport of smaller size droplets from downstream positions of the spray to upstream near the nozzle exit. Time-based velocity data at different spatial locations of the spray indicated some intermittency in the spray and clustering of droplets. In the center of the spray, near the nozzle exit, most of the droplets are recirculated; near the spray boundary, bimodal velocity distributions indicate the presence of recirculated droplets and droplets that arrive directly from the injector. Combustion results in a significant increase in droplet velocities, especially near the spray boundary where the flame sheet resides. The size of the recirculation zone is much reduced with combustion; however, a number of smaller droplets are still transported upstream. The data demonstrate the important role droplet transport plays in providing a fuel vapor feedback mechanism for flame stability.
Calcium transport mechanism in the endolymph of the chinchilla

The Ca2+ transport mechanism between endolymph and perilymph was evaluated by the effects of vanadate and amiloride on the endocochlear potential (EP) and the Ca2+ concentration in endolymph using Ca2+-selective microelectrodes. Under normal conditions, the EP was 81.8 ± 0.9mV, and the Ca2+ concentrations in endolymph and perilymph were 16.6 ± 1.3μM and 1.85 ± 0.11 mM (N= 12), respectively. Therefore, the uphill electrochemical potential gradient for Ca2+ from perilymph to endolymph, 20.2 ± 2.0mV, indicates the existence of an active uptake of Ca2+ into endolymph. Vanadate, the inhibitor of Ca2+-ATPase, topically applied to the round window membrane caused biphasic changes of the EP and the endolymph Ca2+ concentration; the former in a transient increase followed by a consistent decrease and the latter in a slow decrease followed by a slow increase. Amiloride induced a slight EP depression and a concomittantly slight elevation of the Ca2+ concentration in endolymph. The electrochemical potential gradient for Ca2+ between endolymph and perilymph vanished with the use of vanadate but was not affected by amiloride. These results suggest that Ca2+-ATPase, sensitive to vanadate, maintained the bulk of active Ca2+ transport in the cochlea and that the participation of Na+-Ca2+ exchange is negligible.
Chemical control of metabolically-engineered voltage-gated K+ channels

Metabolic oligosaccharide engineering is a powerful approach for installing unnatural glycans with unique functional groups into the glycocalyx of living cells and animals. Using this approach, we showed that K+ channel complexes decorated with thiol-containing sialic acids were irreversibly inhibited with scorpion toxins bearing a pendant maleimide group. Irreversible inhibition required a glycosylated K+ channel subunit and was completely reversible with mild reductant when the tether connecting the toxin to the maleimide contained a disulfide bond. Cleavage of the disulfide bond not only restored function, but delivered a biotin moiety to the modified K+ channel subunit, providing a novel approach for preferentially labeling wild type K+ channel complexes functioning in cells.
Baiting blackbirds (Icteridae) in stubble grain fields during spring migration in South Dakota

Abstract Blackbirds (Icteridae) annually damage US$5–8 million of ripening sunflower in the northern Great Plains. Baiting blackbirds with avicide-treated rice during spring migration might reduce the regional breeding population. In March and April 1996–1997, we simulated a baiting program in eastern South Dakota to compare attractiveness of rice-baited plots placed in fields of corn and soybean stubble. Blackbirds used plots in corn stubble more often than plots in soybean stubble and chose rice-baited plots over unbaited reference plots. We conclude that blackbirds can be successfully baited with avicide-treated rice placed in corn stubble.
Defining a minimal motif required to prevent connexin oligomerization in the endoplasmic reticulum

In contrast to most multimeric transmembrane complexes that oligomerize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) oligomerizes in an aspect of the Golgi apparatus. The mechanisms that prevent oligomerization of Cx43 and related connexins in the ER are not well understood. Also, some studies suggest that connexins can oligomerize in the ER. We used connexin constructs containing a C-terminal dilysine-based ER retention/retrieval signal (HKKSL) transfected into HeLa cells to study early events in connexin oligomerization. Using this approach, Cx43-HKKSL was retained in the ER and prevented from oligomerization. However, another ER-retained HKKSL-tagged connexin, Cx32-HKKSL, had the capacity to oligomerize. Because this suggested that Cx43 contains a motif that prevented oligomerization in the ER, a series of HKKSL-tagged and untagged Cx32/Cx43 chimeras was screened to define this motif. The minimal motif, which prevented ER oligomerization, consisted of the complete third transmembrane domain and the second extracellular loop from Cx43 on a Cx32 backbone. We propose that charged residues present in Cx43 and related connexins help prevent ER oligomerization by stabilizing the third transmembrane domain in the membrane bilayer.
Automated screening for quality control using PAPNET: a study of 638 negative Pap smears.

To determine if the PAPNET screening system can be used for quality control to lower false-negative rates for Pap smears 638 manually screened. “negative” Pap smears were subjected retrospectively to the PAPNET screening system. Twenty-nine of the smears came from 18 patients who subsequently had biopsy-proven high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). The remaining 609 negative smears were arbitrarily selected as controls. One hundred twenty-eight (128) of the retrospectively reviewed smears (20%) were selected by PAPNET for microscopic referral because of potential abnormalities. Abnormalities were confirmed on 14 of these smears upon microscopic evaluation. Five of these 14 smears were from smears obtained from four of the 18 women with high-grade SIL. The incidence of manually screened false-negatives detected by PAPNET rescreening was 14/638 or 2.2% for the entire patient population in this study and 5/29 or 17.24% for the targeted patients known to have subsequently developed high-grade lesions. The 2.2% decrease in the false-negative rate in this experiment may be partly artificial as this study group was seeded with false-negative cases at high risk for containing missed abnormalities. The implementation of the PAPNET system for quality control may lower false-negative rates for Pap smears. Diagn Cytopathol 1996;14:316–320. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fiber Optic Mapping of the Xenopus Visual System: Shift in the Retinotectal Projection during Development

Two new techniques for assaying the retina to tectum connections in the lower vertebrate visual system are presented. These techniques allow defined regions of the retina to be stimulated, thus circumventing some of the difficulties of the more conventional retinotectal mapping techniques. Applying these techniques to the Xenopus visual system demonstrates that the retina-to-tectum projection shifts during development. The central part of the retinotectal projection moves medially and caudally about 150 μm (10% of the size of the tectum) in two weeks. The presence of such plasticity in a normal developing animal indicates that the plasticity previously observed in experimentally altered animals probably reflects a normal developmental process.
Veno-occlusive disease of the liver in right-sided Wilms’ tumours

Veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD) is an important complication in children with Wilms' tumour. Although in most patients this complication resolves uneventfully, fatal cases have been reported. Several observations strongly suggest that actinomycin-D is the likeliest cause of VOD in Wilms' tumour, but VOD seems to be rather uncommon in other malignancies treated with chemotherapy including actinomycin-D. The present case of VOD and the review of the literature stress the pathogenetic and clinical implications of VOD in the presence of a Wilms' tumour treated with actinomycin-D, originating in the right kidney. Greater awareness of this 'predisposing factor' may alert paediatricians to the presence of minimal signs of the syndrome.
Living The Discipline on a stem cell transplant unit: spiritual care outcomes among bone marrow transplant survivors.

SUMMARY An oncology chaplain details, using The Discipline for Pastoral Care Giving, common themes in the spiritual journeys of stem cell/bone marrow transplantation survivors, and helpful chaplain interventions.
Acoustics of the tenor high voice.

Frequency spectra of five standard vowels sung at high pitches (F4, G4, A4, and B4) were obtained from six tenors who were in vocal training at Westminster Choir College. Because of the variation of the spectra over the vibrato cycle, measurements were made at the peak, the trough, and the middle of the cycle. Stylized power spectra were generated from averages over the vibrato cycle. A power spectrum model was then used to determine the extent to which tenors ‘‘tune’’ formants to specific harmonics of the source. Results indicate that, aside from the high level of acoustic energy in the region of the singer’s formant, tenors get most of their vocal intensity from the second, third, and fourth harmonics. In some cases, F1 or F2 is specifically tuned to one of these lower harmonics; in other cases, however, the desire to create smooth transitions between vowels seems to favor a distribution of energy across several harmonics. Unlike what has been observed in the soprano high voice, the fundamental almost n...
Statistics of shear-induced rearrangements in a two-dimensional model foam.

Under steady shear, a foam relaxes stress through intermittent rearrangements of bubbles accompanied by sudden drops in the stored elastic energy. We use a simple model of foam that incorporates both elasticity and dissipation to study the statistics of bubble rearrangements in terms of energy drops, the number of nearest neighbor changes, and the rate of neighbor-switching $(T1)$ events. We do this for a two-dimensional system as a function of system size, shear rate, dissipation mechanism, and gas area fraction. We find that for dry foams, there is a well-defined quasistatic limit at low shear rates where localized rearrangements occur at a constant rate per unit strain, independent of both system size and dissipation mechanism. These results are in good qualitative agreement with experiments on two-dimensional and three-dimensional foams. In contrast, we find for progessively wetter foams that the event size distribution broadens into a power law that is cut off only by system size. This is consistent with criticality at the melting transition.
RSV Capsid Polymorphism Correlates with Polymerization Efficiency and Envelope Glycoprotein Content: Implications that Nucleation Controls Morphogenesis

We used cryo-electron tomography to visualize Rous sarcoma virus, the prototypic alpharetrovirus. Its polyprotein Gag assembles into spherical procapsids, concomitant with budding. In maturation, Gag is dissected into its matrix, capsid protein (CA), and nucleocapsid moieties. CA reassembles into cores housing the viral RNA and replication enzymes. Evidence suggests that a correctly formed core is essential for infectivity. The virions in our data set range from approximately 105 to approximately 175 nm in diameter. Their cores are highly polymorphic. We observe angular cores, including some that are distinctively "coffin-shaped" for which we propose a novel fullerene geometry; cores with continuous curvature including, rarely, fullerene cones; and tubular cores. Angular cores are the most voluminous and densely packed; tubes and some curved cores contain less material, suggesting incomplete packaging. From the tomograms, we measured the surface areas of cores and, hence, their contents of CA subunits. From the virion diameters, we estimated their original complements of Gag. We find that Rous sarcoma virus virions, like the human immunodeficiency virus, contain unassembled CA subunits and that the fraction of CA that is assembled correlates with core type; angular cores incorporate approximately 80% of the available subunits, and open-ended tubes, approximately 30%. The number of glycoprotein spikes is variable (approximately 0 to 118) and also correlates with core type; virions with angular cores average 82 spikes, whereas those with tubular cores average 14 spikes. These observations imply that initiation of CA assembly, in which interactions of spike endodomains with the Gag layer play a role, is a critical determinant of core morphology.
Interventions to Strengthen Noncustodial Father Involvement in the Lives of Their Children

Abstract This paper describes quantitative evaluation of a program designed to increase noncustodial fathers' visitation frequency and financial assistance to their children. The initial program objectives were to enhance parental skills and work opportunities for fathers. Discussion group data revealed that additional obstacles to father involvement included conflicts between parents and substance misuse and abuse. Communication skills, anger management, alternative methods of coping with stress and increased activities for families were added to the program components in response to these needs. Future plans for strengthening community connections to expand educational, training and employment opportunities as well as increased outreach to families were based on additional assessment of interventions needed for successful co-parenthood.
Baerveldt glaucoma implant in the management of refractory childhood glaucomas.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) in the management of pediatric glaucomas. Design Retrospective noncomparative case series. Participants Sixty-two children younger than 18 years who underwent Baerveldt GDI surgery. Main outcome measures Intraocular pressure (IOP), intraoperative and postoperative complications, number of glaucoma medications, and VA. Success was defined as IOP of Results Sixty-two eyes of 62 patients were identified. The mean patient age (± standard deviation) at time of Baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery was 6.5±5.6 years (range, 6 weeks–17 years). With an average follow-up of 23.4±21.7 months (range, 1–106), IOP was reduced from a mean of 35.0±8.7 mmHg (range, 17–54) preoperatively to 17.6±8.4 mmHg (range, 5–45) at last follow-up visit ( P P = 0.21). Conclusion Baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery seems to be an effective treatment for primary and secondary refractory glaucomas in children. There is a risk of retinal detachment that may be related to the implant or other ocular conditions.
"Playing possum:" differential diagnosis, work-up, and treatment of profound interpersonal withdrawal.

Patients who exhibit profound interpersonal withdrawal challenge clinicians in terms of diagnostic formulation, elucidation of the etiology or mechanism of disease, and treatment. Insufficient history provided directly by the patient leads to a greater reliance on the physical examination and a need for heightened recognition of consistencies and inconsistencies in presenting signs and symptoms. Strategies to establish the potential causes and to refine the appropriate work-up are crucial for clinicians who care for such complex patients. We present two case vignettes to highlight the differential diagnosis, the mechanisms of disease, and the potential treatments of patients who appear to be “playing possum” (a term that refers to the instinctive defense mechanism exhibited by the Virginia opossum [involving inertia, rigidity, drooling, and release of anal gland fluid] in the face of threat). 1