cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of hepatitis C and coinfection with HIV among United States veterans in the New York City metropolitan area.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its risk factors, as well as the prevalence of coinfection with HIV and its risk factors, among patients with confirmed HCV infection. METHODS: In a 1-day cross-sectional HCV survey at six Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the New York City metropolitan area, all 1943 patients undergoing phlebotomy for any reason were asked to be tested for HCV antibody by enzyme immumoassay (EIA). A total of 1098 patients (57%) agreed to HCV testing, 1016 of whom also completed a questionnaire on demographics and HCV risk factors. All HCV EIA(+) samples were confirmed by HCV RNA and HCV recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) antibody testing and were also tested for HCV viral load, HCV genotype, and antibodies to HIV in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: The prevalence of confirmed HCV infection was 10.6% (95% CI = 8.7–12.4%), and the prevalence of HCV viremia was 8.2% (95% CI = 6.6–9.8%). The rate of HCV viremia among anti-HCV(+) patients was 77.6%, and HCV genotype 1 was present in 87.5% of viremic patients. Independent risk factors for HCV infection were injection drug use (OR = 35.6, 95% CI = 16.9–75.2), blood exposure during combat (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.2–5.7), alcohol abuse (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.2–4.8), and service in the Vietnam era (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.0–4.5). Coinfection with HIV was present in 24.8% of anti-HCV(+) patients. The only independent risk factor for coinfection was age CONCLUSIONS: U.S. veterans who are receiving medical care at VA medical centers in the New York City metropolitan area have a much higher rate of chronic hepatitis C than the general population, with a high frequency of genotype 1. Coinfection with HIV is very common in patients with confirmed HCV infection, and these patients should routinely be offered HIV testing.
The mutagenic activity of ICR-170 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The mutagenic activity of the acridine mustard, 2-methoxy-6-chloro-9[3- (ethyl-2-chloroethyl)aminopropylamino]acridine·2 (ICR-170), was tested in several strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Starved, log-phase cells were more sensitive than stationary-phse cells to the single dose of ICR-70 employed, as evidenced by higher mutation frequencies and lower survival levels after treatment with the compound. This growth-phase effect could not be attributed to an unusually high frequency of mutations at a few sensitive loci. A single strain of S. cerevisiae (S288C) was examined for the presence of the above described growth-phase effect using three other chemical mutagens: nitrous acid, s-propiolactone, and N-methyl-N′-nitrosoguanide (NG). With each mutagen, log- and stationary-phase cells responded differently, but none of these agents gave the extreme differences produced by ICR-170. 18 ICR-170-induced auxotrophs of strain S288C were tested for reversion with ICR-170 and NG. A majority (14 out of 18) of the mutants clearly reverted with ICR-170 and only slightly, or nota all all, with NG. One mutant reverted only with NG, and 3 reverted clearly with both NG and ICR-170.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection in women. I. The effects of human immunodeficiency virus on pregnancy.

The clinical courses and initial neonatal outcomes of 50 patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection were followed on antepartum, intrapartum, and/or postpartum bases, between July 18, 1986, and December 27, 1987, at the University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. The mean age at the time of the most recent delivery was 27 years. Cases attributable to the single risk factor of heterosexual transmission acounted for 76% of the cumulative number. Twenty-eight, or 56%, of the total sample were of Haitian ancestry. The patients in this study group did experience several complications of pregnancy. Interestingly, more than one third of the pregnancy courses (34.6%) were complicated by preterm labor. Only 15.4% of the patients had premature rupture of membranes. A higher rate of infection of the genitourinary tract and an increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in women known to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus are suggested. Less clear is the contribution of genitourinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases to the risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus transmission. Although a total of 10 patients in the study group were known to have children infected with human immunodeficiency virus, only longitudinal studies of the children of the mothers in this group will shed light on the number of children who ultimately become infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Similarly, although the majority of patients in this report remained asymptornatic during the course of their pregnancies, a matched, controlled study is necessary to confirm that pregnancy does not accelerate the progression of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
TOWARDS AN ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY OF THE TRANSFER PRICING PROCESS.

Understanding the transfer pricing issue as it arises in large decentralized firms is important, because it represents a pervasive problem in the design of managerial accounting and control systems in complex organizations. This paper draws on the growing literature on the economics of internal organization to develop an understanding of the strategic, organizational and transactional conditions under which transfer pricing (and related control) issues arise, and the organizational processes used to implement intra-firm transfers of products and to determine transfer prices. The objective of the paper is to develop a theory of the transfer pricing process and to deduce hypotheses from the theory.
Case report: prolonged cure of extensive primary and recurrent cancers of the skin by aggressive cryosurgery.

. A prolonged cure of extensive primary and recurrent cancers of the skin by cryosurgery is reported. The patient had involvement of approximately 95 cm2 of her face with carcinomas, primarily of basal-cell type, which had been refractory to all previous x-ray and conventional surgical therapies rendered during a 6-year span. Aggressive cryosurgery utilizing six systematically designed “overlapping fields” of ice blocks was rendered to this entire area during a 1-month period as office surgical procedures under local anesthesia.
Clinical Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis

One of the most common causes of surgical abdominal pain among children is appendicitis. History of present illness and physical examination are important in distinguishing appendicitis from other etiologies of abdominal pain, and surgical decisions can be made sometimes on these findings alone. The addition of laboratory results and various imaging modalities can help in equivocal cases. Ultrasound and computed tomography, and more recently magnetic resonance imaging, are beneficial in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The use of clinical practice guidelines also can be helpful in the triage and treatment of children with abdominal pain. Patients who present with history or physical examination findings concerning for appendicitis should be managed in a stepwise fashion to facilitate timing of imaging studies and surgical consultation. Management should include early resuscitation, appropriate laboratory testing and imaging studies, serial examinations, and early consultation of the surgical team in suspicious cases.
Invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in Alaskan residents aged 10 years and older before and after infant vaccination programs.

ContextThe introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination of children has led to a decline in incidence of Hib disease in young Alaskan children. However, the impact of vaccination on unimmunized Alaskan adolescents and adults has not been studied.ObjectiveTo characterize trends in incidence of and mortality due to invasive H influenzae disease in Alaskan residents aged 10 years and older prior to and after the introduction of a statewide Hib infant vaccination program.Design and SettingPopulation-based, descriptive correlational study conducted 1980-1996 in Alaska.SubjectsOne hundred twenty-nine individuals (31 Alaska Natives and 98 nonnative Alaska residents) aged 10 years and older in whom H influenzae was cultured from a normally sterile site.Main Outcome MeasuresIncidence of H influenzae infection before (1980-1990) vs after (1991-1996) vaccination program initiation; serotype, biotype, and β-lactamase production of isolates.ResultsThe overall annual incidence of invasive H influenzae in those aged 10 years and older declined 33%, from 2.1 per 100,000 persons per year to 1.4 per 100,000 persons per year (P=.03) after initiation of statewide infant Hib vaccination programs in 1991. This reduction appeared to be the result of a decrease in serotype b disease (82%; P<.001). Infection with other H influenzae serotypes and nontypeable strains increased from 0.5 per 100,000 persons per year to 1.1 per 100,000 persons per year (P=.01). Incidence declined from 4.2 per 100,000 persons per year to 1.2 per 100,000 persons per year in Alaska Natives (P=.005) and from 1.7 per 100,000 persons per year to 1.4 per 100,000 persons per year in nonnative Alaska residents (P=.37). Pneumonia (43%), sepsis (26%), and meningitis (16%) were the most common clinical presentations. Alcohol/drug abuse was comorbid in 15% of patients, while 13% of patients were pregnant women. β-Lactamase production occurred in 35% of isolates and was stable throughout the surveillance. The overall case-fatality rate was 15%.ConclusionThe overall statewide incidence of invasive H influenzae infections in unimmunized persons aged 10 years and older decreased after the initiation of an infant Hib vaccine program, perhaps by decreasing Hib carriage in child reservoirs. An increase in non–serotype b strains was observed. This trend justifies the need for continued surveillance of invasive disease caused by H influenzae.
CC-1065/duocarmycin and bleomycin A2 hybrid agents: lack of enhancement of DNA alkylation by attachment to noncomplementary DNA binding subunits.

Hybrid agents 5-11 containing the C-terminus DNA binding domain of bleomycin A2 linked to the CBI analogue of the CC-1065 and duocarmycin DNA alkylation subunits were prepared and evaluated. The agents exhibited little or no enhancement of the DNA alkylation efficiency and in some cases the linkage resulted in diminished properties relative to the simple alkylation subunit itself. Moreover, the DNA alkylation selectivity (5'-AA > 5'-TA) of the resulting agents proved identical to that of simple derivatives of the CBI alkylation subunit, e.g. N-BOC-CBI. Thus, the linkage to the DNA binding domain of bleomycin A2 did not alter this inherent DNA alkylation selectivity to reflect a DNA binding or cleavage selectivity of bleomycin A2, nor did it reflect the greater 5- or 3.5-base-pair AT-rich selectivities observed with CC-1065 or the duocarmycins, respectively. Consistent with these observations, the cytotoxic properties of 5-11 were diminished relative to those of even simple derivatives of the CC-1065/duocarmycin alkylation subunits, e.g. N-BOC-CBI.
Pacemaker System Failure Secondary to Air Entrapment within the Pulse Generator Pocket: A Complication of Subclavian Venipuncture for Lead Placement

Air entrapment within the pulse generator pocket may produce pacemaker system malfunction if the anodal contact plate becomes insulated by the accumulation of air. Unipolar pulse generators are predisposed to this complication. We describe a pacemaker-dependent patient who, early after implantation, experienced pacemaker system failure as a complication of subclavian venipuncture. This patient had an unsuspected pneumothorax that progressed to subcutaneous air entrapment within the pulse generator pocket. Management of this previously unreported complication of subclavian venipuncture is rapid, noninvasive and effective. With the growing use of subclavian venipuncture technique for lead placement one should avoid the predisposing factors that can lead to subcutaneous air entrapment.
Abstract 1214: Effects of dovitinib on fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) expressing pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Introduction. FGF signaling has been implicated in pancreatic cancer (PC) tumorigenesis and tumor-stromal interactions. Dovitinib is a potent inhibitor of the FGF receptors. We examined the effect of dovitinib in pancreatic cancer in relation to tumor FGFR2 expression using cell lines and patient-derived primary PC models. Methods. FGFR2 expression in 6 PC cell lines (L3.6PL, Panc4.30, AsPC1, Panc2.13, SU86.86, Panc02.03) and 13 patient-derived primary PC tumors was assessed using immunoblotting and RT-PCR. Dovitinib efficacy was assessed in vitro following FGF2 stimulation (IC50 < 10 μM). Contribution by FGF signaling inhibition was evaluated by knockdown and constitutive activation of FRS2, Mcl-1 and Akt. Effects on downstream signaling pathways were evaluated by immunoblotting. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with dovitinib 40mg/kg (daily oral gavage) and tumor growth was measured. Effects of dovitinib in tumors were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (HE T/C=0 after 10 days) but not low expressing PC (SU86.86; T/C=0.8 after 28 days). We then selected a primary tumor with high FGFR2 mRNA expression (#12424), which dovitinib exerted anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects, causing significant growth inhibition (T/C=0.1 after 28 days), with reduced tumor-associated stroma and microvessel density at ≤ 20 mg/kg in a dose-dependent manner. Dovitinib caused only moderate tumor growth inhibition in #10978 (T/C= 0.78), a low FGFR2 mRNA expressing primary tumor. Conclusions. Dovitinib demonstrated significant anti-tumor efficacy that was mediated via the Akt/Mcl-1 pathway, and this effect was dependent on FGFR2 activity. We propose that FGFR2 mRNA level may be a predictive marker for efficacy of dovitinib in PC, and will be evaluated in an on-going clinical trial using a dovitinib-containing regimen. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1214. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1214
Proceedings: Scoliosis in paraplegia.

WITH the increasing instance of excellent medical care, more children with traumatic paraplegia and myelomeningocele with paraplegia live to adulthood. In these two groups of patients there is a high instance of scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis. Much attention in the past years has been placed on hips and feet but only in the last decade has there been much attention concentrated on the treatment of the spines of these patients. Most of this attention has been toward the patient with a traumatic paraplegia with development of scoliosis. Some attempts have been made at fusing the scoliotic spine of myelomeningo­ celes by Harrington Instrumentation but with a rather high instance of complica­ tions and failures. With the event of anterior instrumentation by Dr. Alan Dwyer of Sydney, Australia, the anterior approach to the spine is becoming widely accepted and very successfully used. This is especially valuable in the correction and fusion of the spine with no posterior elements from birth.
Statistically significant contrasts between EMG waveforms revealed using wavelet-based functional ANOVA.

We developed wavelet-based functional ANOVA (wfANOVA) as a novel approach for comparing neurophysiological signals that are functions of time. Temporal resolution is often sacrificed by analyzing s...
On physical layer security for cognitive radio networks

In this article we explore the security issues on physical layer for cognitive radio networks. First we give an overview on several existing security attacks to the physical layer in cognitive radio networks. We then discuss the related countermeasures on how to defend against these attacks. We further investigate one of the most important physical layer security parameters, the secrecy capacity of a cognitive radio network, and study the outage probability of secrecy capacity of a primary user from a theoretical point of view. Furthermore, we present performance results for secrecy capacity and outage probability between a node and its neighbors. Our work summarizes the current advances of the physical layer security and brings insights on physical layer security analysis in cognitive radio networks.
Effect of sex and time of sampling on selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity in tissues of mature rats.

Sprague-Dawley rats were used to investigate variations in measures of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and selenium (Se) concentration resulting from diurnal cycles and sex. Mature rats (equal numbers of males and females) were killed at 4 h intervals over a 48 h period (0200, 0600, 1000, 1800 and 2200 h each day). Selenium and GSH-Px were measured in plasma, erythrocytes, and liver and kidney cytosols. Selenium concentrations did not vary diurnally, but plasma GSH-Px activities were higher during the light than dark periods. Males had greater plasma GSH-Px activities and Se concentrations (42 EU and .45 mg/kg, respectively) than females (35 EU and .41 mg/kg respectively). GSH-Px activities were also higher in male kidney cytosols than females (117 and 76 EU, respectively). Selenium and GSH-Px activities, however, were lower in male liver cytosols (.48 mg/kg and 272 EU) than females (1.19 mg/kg and 795 EU, respectively). These data suggest that Se is distributed differently in male and female rats and the difference in Se distribution is accomplished by differences in GSH-Px activities.
Strain patterns in the horncores, cranial bones and sutures of goats (Capra hircus) during impact loading

The design of bovid horns and skulls for the function of head-to-head fighting has been well studied using mechanical and kinematic analyses, but actual strain measurements from the horncores, cranium and sutures during impact loading have never been made. During in vitro impact loading of one or both horns on the heads of female domestic goats, principal strains were measured from the surfaces of the horncore bases, frontal and parietal bones, and interfrontal and frontoparietal sutures. Impact produced a bending moment at the bases of the horncores, with compressive strains on the posterior surfaces more than doubling the anterior tensile strains. These ratios of compression to tension exceed our predictions (and those in the literature) based on curved beam theory. Principal strains in the cranial bones dropped by as much as 50% crossing the sutures, which acted like springs or hinges to allow cranial bone movement. Sutures also experienced very high strain magnitudes, being more than 10 times greater than those of the surrounding cranial bones. Sutural strains during impact loading of the horns also greatly exceeded the strain levels recorded during mastication in other studies. The decrease in strain between adjacent cranial bones across a suture and the large strains at the sutures indicate that the sutures function as shock absorbers during impact.
Calibration of the NBS 10-μm “space beads”

Abstract A summary of the procedures used to certify NBS Standard Reference Material 1960, nominal 10-μm “space beads,” is presented. Three independent micrometrology techniques were used, with the results agreeing to about 0.1%. Center distance finding, a method based on optical microscopy, gave a value of 9.89 ± 0.04 μm, which was chosen as the certified mean diameter. Two supporting measurements, made using metrology electron microscopy and resonance light scattering, yielded mean diameters of 9.886 ± 0.029 and 9.898 ± 0.029 μm, respectively. The main peak of the size distribution for this material is nearly Gaussian, with a certified standard deviation of 0.09 μm, excluding outlying particles. The SRM 1960 microspheres were grown in microgravity aboard the NASA space shuttle “Challenger,” making the material the first commercial product to be made in space.
Progress Towards an Optimization Methodology for Combustion-Driven Portable Thermoelectric Power Generation Systems

There is enormous military and commercial interest in developing quiet, lightweight, and compact thermoelectric (TE) power generation systems. This paper investigates design integration and analysis of an advanced TE power generation system implementing JP-8 fueled combustion and thermal recuperation. In the design and development of this portable TE power system using a JP-8 combustor as a high-temperature heat source, optimal process flows depend on efficient heat generation, transfer, and recovery within the system. The combustor performance and TE subsystem performance were coupled directly through combustor exhaust temperatures, fuel and air mass flow rates, heat exchanger performance, subsequent hot-side temperatures, and cold-side cooling techniques and temperatures. Systematic investigation and design optimization of this TE power system relied on accurate thermodynamic modeling of complex, high-temperature combustion processes concomitantly with detailed TE converter thermal/mechanical modeling. To this end, this paper reports integration of system-level process flow simulations using CHEMCAD™ commercial software with in-house TE converter and module optimization, and heat exchanger analyses using COMSOL™ software. High-performance, high-temperature TE materials and segmented TE element designs are incorporated in coupled design analyses to achieve predicted TE subsystem-level conversion efficiencies exceeding 10%. These TE advances are integrated with a high-performance microtechnology combustion reactor based on recent advances at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Predictions from this coupled simulation approach lead directly to system efficiency–power maps defining potentially available optimal system operating conditions and regimes. Further, it is shown that, for a given fuel flow rate, there exists a combination of recuperative effectiveness and hot-side heat exchanger effectiveness that provides a higher specific power output from the TE modules. This coupled simulation approach enables pathways for integrated use of high-performance combustor components, high-performance TE devices, and microtechnologies to produce a compact, lightweight, combustion-driven TE power system prototype that operates on common fuels.
Teaching virtually: going beyond the static web page text with virtual experiences

Computer based teaching has become common place as the demand for specialists continues to increase in view of continuously evolving remote sensing technologies. Moreover, content accessibility via the internet makes anytime, anywhere teaching possible while reaching a larger audience. The majority of computer based courses however, continue to use the static text model and present the student mainly with the same material found in a textbook. Student computer based learning experiences could be much more rewarding if the curriculum included more interaction and practice. It is with these goals in mind that the development of a virtual experiment and game were devised. Herschel's experiment was the first to show the existence of infrared (IR) light. This virtual experiment requires the student to set up the experiment and record data in order to prove the existence of IR light. The 'Field Experiment' game requires the student to plan and execute a field collection campaign with the use of a field spectrometer. These 'beyond the book' experiences hopefully encourage and stimulate students in the subject at hand as well as provide more 'practical' experience that is not available through viewing static text and graphics.
Abstract B37: EWS-ERG targets transcriptional co-factors in ERG-positive Ewing sarcoma.

Ewing sarcoma is a highly aggressive and malignant tumor that occurs in the bone or soft tissue. It affects children and adolescents with majority of incidence between the age of 10 and 20 and about 250 children and adolescents are diagnosed each year in US. There is a clear health disparity seen in Ewing sarcoma population. The overall survival rates for black and hispanic patients have shown to be significantly worse compared to white patients. Previously, Drs. Reddy and Rao have discovered ERG (ETS Related Gene) and several important members of ETS family genes and have shown that ERG gene encodes for sequence specific transcriptional activators. Ewing sarcoma is characterized by chromosomal translocations involving EWS gene and one of the ETS (Erythroblastosis virus E26 transformation–specific) families of transcription factors (ERG, FLI1, ETV1, ETV4, E1AF and FEV). Dr. Reddy's laboratory has demonstrated that EWS gene codes for RNA binding protein and the fusion protein (EWS-ERG) functions as transcriptional activator. Our results have shown that EWS-ERG also inhibits transcriptional activation properties of RXR. This suggests that the aberrant fusion protein (EWS-ERG) may target transcriptional co-factors and thereby regulate RXR transcriptional activity. To understand the molecular mechanism of action of how the fusion protein targets nuclear receptor function and to provide a clue for the cancer health disparity seen in Ewing Sarcoma, we hypothesized that the aberrant fusion protein EWS-ERG targets CBP and other members of the transcriptional machinery causing transcriptional repression of RXR activity. Methods: We propose to study the interaction of EWS-ERG and CBP by co-immunoprecipitation approach and also investigate whether this interaction has a role in the inhibition of RXR transcriptional activity by luciferase assays. Results: 1. EWS-ERG inhibits RXR transcriptional activity. 2. EWS-ERG interacts with CBP in Ewing Sarcoma cells. 3. Overexpression of dominant negative mutant of CBP relieves EWS-ERG inhibition of RXR transcriptional activity. Conclusion: The transcriptional co-factor (CBP) is sequestered by the aberrant fusion protein EWS-ERG which inhibits the binding of RXR with CBP and other members of the transcriptional machinery causing transcriptional repression of RXR activity. This study may provide a clue for the cancer health disparity seen in Ewing Sarcoma and may have a profound impact on prevention, management and treatment of many types of cancers. Citation Format: Shubhalaxmi P. Kayarthodi, Yasuo Fujimura, Kunchala Rungasrisuriyachai, Huali Xu, Jinbo Fang, Chunshu Yang, Veena N. Rao, E.Shyam P. Reddy. EWS-ERG targets transcriptional co-factors in ERG-positive Ewing sarcoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B37.
Geospatial Databases and Augmented Reality Visualization for Improving Safety in Urban Excavation Operations

The U.S. has more than 14 million miles of buried pipelines and utilities, many of which are in congested urban environments where several lines share the underground space. Errors in locating excavations for new installation or for repair/rehabilitation of existing utilities can result in significant costs, delays, loss of life, and damage to property (Sterling 2000). There is thus a clear need for new solutions to accurately locate buried infrastructure and improve excavation safety. This paper presents ongoing research being collaboratively conducted by the University of Michigan and DTE Energy (Michigan's largest electric and gas utility company) that is investigating the use of Real-Time Kinematic global positioning system (GPS), combined with Geospatial Databases of subsurface utilities to design a new visual excavator-utility collision avoidance technology. 3D models of buried utilities are created from available geospatial data, and then superimposed over an excavator's work space using geo-referenced Augmented Reality (AR) to provide the operator and the spotter(s) with visual information on the location and type of utilities that exist in the excavator's vicinity. This paper describes the overall methodology and the first results of the research.
Conductivity relaxation and spin lattice relaxation in lithium and mixed alkali borate glasses: Activation enthalpies, anomalous isotope-mass effect and mixed alkali effect

Abstract Many intriguing but general characteristics of relaxation due to ion motion in vitreous ionic conductors can be explained all at one time by the predictions of a coupling model of relaxations. Details are given for the alkali borate glasses.
Begle Revisited: Teacher Knowledge and Student Achievement in Algebra.

Begle (1972) investigated the extent to which a teacher's knowledge of algebra influences student performance. His results showed no educationally significant correlation between teacher knowledge and student performance. Moreover, Begle's findings were in accord with other studies (Copeland & Doyle, 1973; Hunkler, 1968; Hurst, 1967; Keeves, 1972; Norris, 1968; Rouse, 1967). Teacher-training programs are built on the assumption that teachers do influence student learning. Grading procedures, curriculum committees, and certifying agencies are just a few of the safeguards built into the system to ensure that teachers have measured up to a set of standards. Hence, there is a fundamental belief that teachers influence learning, but the studies above seem to indicate otherwise.
Solubilization and pharmacological characterization of a glucocorticoid membrane receptor from an amphibian brain

Physiological functions of steroid hormones involve activation of intracellular receptors as well as poorly understood membrane receptors. We report the pharmacological characterization of a solubilized corticosterone receptor from neuronal membranes. This receptor previously was shown to localize with plasma membrane subcellular fractions and to be involved in the modulation of courtship behaviors in the roughskin newt (Taricha granulosa). We describe procedures with non-ionic detergents that solubilize the receptor and maintain high affinity [3H]corticosterone binding. The pharmacology of the solubilized corticosterone receptor resembles that of the membrane receptor with high affinity for [3H]corticosterone and an identical rank-order potency for other steroid ligands (corticosterone>cortisol>aldosterone>dexamethasone). Unlike binding in membrane preparations, [3H]corticosterone binding to the solubilized receptor is insensitive to negative modulation by guanyl nucleotides and only modestly sensitive to the presence of Mg2+. We also identified two ligands that exhibit high affinity binding to the solubilized receptor and have the potential to be used in an affinity purification scheme. They are corticosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime (CORT-3-CMO), which may be covalently attached to a Sepharose resin, and a derivitized azide form of CORT-3-CMO which can be covalently coupled to the solubilized receptor itself. The stability of the solubilized [3H]corticosterone receptor in the detergent system will facilitate further purification and molecular characterization.
Diagnostic and Management Implications of Basic Science Advances in Barrett's Esophagus.

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a well-established premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a cancer that has increased in the Western world by nearly sixfold over the past three decades and is associated with a dismal 5-year survival rate (<20 %) especially when detected at a symptomatic state. Given the dramatic rise in EAC incidence and poor outcomes, much attention has focused on screening and surveillance in BE with a goal of identifying curable lesions and improving outcomes in patients with EAC. The limitations of current screening and surveillance strategies provide the necessary impetus to improve diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification of patients with BE. Biomarkers have the potential to predict risk of progression to cancer, identify patients most likely to respond to endoscopic eradication therapies, and ultimately influence patient management and outcomes. The goal of identifying such a biomarker or panel of biomarkers ready for clinical application remains elusive. This review highlights the recent advances in the field of biomarkers. It is increasingly being recognized that a single biomarker is suboptimal in accurate clinical risk stratification of individuals at highest risk for progression to cancer and an ideal risk stratification tool should include a panel of biomarkers in conjunction with clinical and endoscopic factors. Finally, we review advances in our screening strategies with use of Cytosponge, transnasal endoscopy, and tethered capsule endomicroscopy and surveillance strategies with use of advanced imaging techniques. Feasibility of these novel technologies for large population screening and surveillance needs to be assessed in future trials.
Valosin-containing protein, VCP, is a ubiquitous clathrin-binding protein

CLATHRIN is the structural protein of coated membranes involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis and aspects of Golgi sorting in eukaryotic cells. We have now detected a stoichiometric complex of clathrin with a novel protein of Mr ~100,000 (100K) in lysates of different mammalian cells. Formation of the complex, which also includes the 70K heat-shock protein HscTO, occurs within 15 min of synthesis. The 100K protein has been identified as valosin-containing protein (VCP; ref. 1), an early substrate for tyrosine phosphorylation on T-cell receptor activation2. Further, VCP is the mammalian homologue of yeast Cdc48p (ref. 3) and is a member of a larger gene family that includes putative ATP-binding proteins involved in vesicle transport and fusion4,5, 26S proteasome function6, regulation of the expression of human immunodeficiency virus7,8, and assembly of peroxisomes9. The association with clathrin and the morphological and catalytic similarity to the chaperonin proteins indicate that VCP may modulate protein-protein interactions in membrane transport processes.
Effect of ribonuclease and neuraminidase on the electrophoretic mobility of tissue culture cells in parasynchronous growth.

Cultured mammalian cells (RPMI no. 41) in parasynchronous growth were treated, at different stages of the mitotic cycle, with neuraminidase and ribonuclease, separately and sequentially, and their electrophoretic mobilities determined. Changes in the electrophoretic mobility of these cells are probably mainly due to variations in the density of negatively charged groups susceptible to neuraminidase, although variations in groups susceptible to ribonuclease may occur. It is suggested that the observed variations in electrophoretic mobility of different cells may be due to differences in the relative lengths of different life-cycle phases. Where G2 phase is relatively long or G1 relatively short the cell populations will hve higher mean electrophoretic mobilities.
A DRIS application to Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

Abstract A study developing a DRIS application to evaluate foliar nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P.), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) nutrition, was conducted on a 3‐year‐old Fraser fir [Abies fraseri(Pursh) Poir.] Christmas tree plantation in Watauga county, North Carolina. Preliminary DRIS norms and index equations were developed from premium grade Christmas trees for the five nutrients analyzed. In contrast to most crops where growth or yield are assessed. Fraser fir Christmas tree performance was evaluated by conventional grading procedures based on tree quality. Preliminary evaluation of DRIS performance on the 79‐tree data set suggested that assessments of nutritional balance as well as an examination of individual nutrient concentrations are needed to diagnose the nutrient status of Fraser Fir Christmas trees
Langmuir monolayers of gold nanoparticles: from ohmic to rectifying charge transfer

Abstract The lateral electrical/electronic conductivity of alkanethiolate-protected gold nanoparticles was evaluated at the air/water interface by using the Langmuir method. For particles with short protecting monolayers (C4Au and C5Au), the current–voltage profiles exhibited ohmic behaviors with conductivity several orders of magnitude smaller than that of bulk gold. The conductivity is found to decrease exponentially with increasing interparticle spacing. This is interpreted on the basis of electron tunneling/hopping between neighboring particles where the tunneling coefficient ( β ) is found around 0.5 A −1 . With longer alkyl protecting layers (C6 and above), the nanoparticle monolayers demonstrated rectifying charge-transfer characters. This transition from ohmic to diode-like responses can be attributable to the nanocomposite structure of the particle molecules, where the chemical nature of the core and the protecting monolayers, along with the interparticle environment and ordering, are found to play an important role in regulating the electrical/electronic properties of the nanoassemblies.
Fixation of heavy contaminants of a dirty bomb attack: Studies with uranium and metal simulants

Asphalt emulsions were evaluated as a means to immobilize radiological contaminants deposited on urban surfaces after a dirty bomb attack. Contaminated surfaces would be sprayed with thin coatings of asphalt emulsion to encapsulate the radioactive particles until the site can be safely remediated. This research investigated applications of an asphalt emulsion (Topein C, Encapco Technologies, LLC, Napa, CA) to treat (zero-valent) iron, lead, and uranium powders on various building material surfaces. Initial studies found that some of the building materials (limestone, concrete, and metal) reacted with the emulsion producing gas bubbles, which formed 0.001 to 1 cm vesicles in the cured asphalt emulsion. These vesicles, however, did not expose the building material surface, and the reaction appeared to aid in the setting of the emulsion. Powdered lead did not react with the asphalt emulsion, but iron powder and uranium did. Iron powder and the emulsion formed vesicles up to 0.5 mm (but not exposing the building material surface), while the uranium (U 3 O 8 ) had a moderate reaction when compared with to the lead and iron powders. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the lead powder formed nonreactive layers adjacent to the concrete surface while iron particles were evenly distributed in the asphalt matrix due to the reaction with the asphalt, indicating that the physical and chemical reactions between the iron metal particles, asphalt, and concrete affected particle distribution in the asphalt matrix. A vertical operation sediment tube was used to determine the flowing shear stress durability of the asphalt/metal/substrate complex. The asphalt treatment with iron had no loss at the shear range tested (0.1-2.5 Pa), while the asphalt stabilized powdered lead lost 8% asphalt and lead at 2.5 Pa mean shear stress applied for 5 h. The chemical reaction between asphalt emulsion and iron increased the resistance of the asphalt/metal/substrate complex to shear when compared with lead. Some hydrogen was formed in reactions with iron, but the amount formed was well below the lower flammability limit. Treatment of uranium indicated that the emulsion was effective at reducing leaching of the uranium 10 fold. These experiments indicate that asphalt emulsions may be a viable means for containing metallic or dense radiological contaminants on common building materials.
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC REFORMS IN POLAND

Using monthly surveys, the author examines the impact of aggregate economic conditions on the dynamic of support for the Polish program of economic reforms, the Balcerowicz Plan. To highlight the ambiguity of the standard retrospective model, the author analyzes the impact of subjective perceptions of economic conditions on postures toward the reform program, asking if people were extrapolating the past when forming predictions about the future. Then the effect of these predictions on the postures toward reform is studied. Finally, the author focuses on the distributional effects. Substantive conclusions concerning the impact of economic conditions on the support of economic reform programs under democracy close the article.
Reversible adsorption on a random site surface

Abstract We examine the reversible adsorption of hard spheres on a random site surface in which the adsorption sites are uniformly and randomly distributed on a plane. Each site can be occupied by one solute provided that the nearest occupied site is at least one diameter away. We use a numerical method to obtain the adsorption isotherm, i.e. the number of adsorbed particles as a function of the bulk activity. The maximum coverage is obtained in the limit of infinite activity and is known exactly in the limits of low and high site density. An approximate theory for the adsorption isotherms, valid at low site density, is developed by using a cluster expansion of the grand canonical partition function. This requires as input the number of clusters of adsorption sites of a given size. The theory is accurate for the entire range of activity as long as the site density is less than about 0.3 sites per particle area. We also discuss a connection between this model and the vertex cover problem.
Mixed convection over rotating bodies with blowing and suction

Abstract The non-similar boundary-layer analysis of steady laminar mixed convection heat transfer from an axisymmetric body is extended and unified. Velocity profiles and temperature distributions in the attached boundary layers are studied for the entire range from pure forced convection to pure free convection. The validated computer simulation model is successfully applied to the case of mixed thermal convection of arbitrary Prandtl number fluids past a sphere with optional body rotation, fluid suction or injection, surface heating or cooling mode, and isothermal or constant-flux wall condition.
Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition

There is a moment in Isaac Julien's 1995 intellectual and biographical portrait of Frantz Fanon, Frantz Fanon: Black Skin, White Mask, during which the Martinician psychiatrist, philosopher, and re...
Decoder-assisted frame synchronisation for turbo-coded systems

An improved frame synchronisation methodology is proposed for turbo-decoded packets using a list synchronisation technique, where a simple synchroniser generates a list of most probable packet starting positions, and the following synchroniser makes a refined decision. The second synchroniser is decoder-assisted, accepting soft-decision feedback from the decoder. The performance of the scheme is evaluated via simulation.
Is Routine Cholecystectomy Indicated for Asymptomatic Cholelithiasis in Patients Undergoing Gastric Bypass

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the natural history of patients undergoing Rouxen-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) with known asymptomatic cholelithiasis in whom prophylactic cholecystectomy was not performed at the time of surgery. Methods: The records of 144 consecutive patients from a single year experience in RYGBP surgery at the University of California, Davis Medical Center were reviewed. Patients undergoing RYGBP were routinely screened for cholelithiasis by ultrasound. Patients who did not have cholecystectomy were managed with ursodiol for 6 months postoperatively. Results: 13 males (9.0%) and 131 females (91%) underwent RYGBP. The mean age was 43 years (SD 8.55), and mean BMI was 46 kg/m 2 (SD 6.5). The comorbidities of our patient population included diabetes (14%), hypertension (48%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (50%), dyslipidemia (35%), obstructive sleep apnea (31%), and musculoskeletal complaints (69%). 22 patients were diagnosed with cholelithiasis by ultrasonography preoperatively. 9 of these patients (41%) were symptomatic and underwent concurrent cholecystectomy and RYGBP. The remaining 13 patients (59%) had asymptomatic cholelithiasis preoperatively but did not undergo cholecystectomy at the time of surgery. Only one of these asymptomatic patients eventually developed symptoms necessitating cholecystectomy at up to 1 year follow-up. Conclusions: Our data suggest that it may not be absolutely indicated to perform prophylactic cholecystectomy at the time of RYGBP surgery for asymptomatic cholelithiasis. We believe that this phenomenon needs to be further studied in a randomized trial.
"THE END OF HUMAN LIFE": BUDDHIST, PROCESS, AND OPEN THEIST PERSPECTIVES

A human life has an ending, a terminus. Many of us believe that human life also has a goal, an inherent telos. The conflation of the two notions in the expression, “the end of human life,” is possible because, according to both Buddhism and Christianity, the telos of human existence is fully achieved, if at all, only in the ending of a person’s life. Needless to say, however, the conceptions of this telos differ radically in the two faiths. The purpose of this essay is to explore these issues as they appear from the perspectives of Buddhism, process theism, and what has come to be called open theism. In each case we will begin with a brief discussion of the metaphysical nature postulated for human persons, followed by an account of the transition to the final state in which the telos is achieved, and of the value-perspectives inherent in the designation of such an “end” for human life. Of necessity, what is offered here is a pencil-sketch in bold strokes, leaving to one side the multiple pathways available in the various traditions, Even so, it is hoped that some insights of value may emerge.
The Stability of Cognitive Complexity in Construing Social Issues

The stability of the amount of cognitive differentiation involved in construing social issues was investigated. Using a common set of construct dimensions, three cognitive complexity instruments were built, each containing a different set of social issues. The three instruments were readministered one week later. The stability indices obtained here, on social issues, were comparable in magnitude to those reported in studies of interpersonal construing. During the second administration of the complexity instruments, there was an increase in the correlations across social issues and a decrease in complexity level.
Foraging under the risk of cannibalism leads to divergence in body size among tiger salamander larvae

Populations of plants and animals are almost always made up of individuals of different sizes. In populations where cannibalism is common, this size variation can influence rates of mortality and growth and affect population regulation. Size variation can be caused by a variety of mechanisms. One of these is due to size-specific responses to the threat of predation by potentially cannibalistic conspecifics. We investigated the role of anti-predator behavior in size structure development within single-aged cohorts of Arizona tiger salamander larvae. In a laboratory experiment, we show that size variation increases over time within groups of salamanders, even if they are fed in isolation. We also show that increasing the size of neighbors decreases the feeding rate of small salamander larvae. However, increasing density of neighbors did not have a significant effect on feeding rate. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that size variation among tiger salamander larvae is, in part, a result of size-specific responses to predation risk. We discuss the potential for feedback between size structure development, predation risk, and rates of cannibalism.