cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Establishment of human fetal intestinal organ cultures for growth of viruses.

The advent of modern techniques for the laboratory cultivation of whole organ explants has led to the establishment of cultures of a wide variety of organs from a number of different hosts [1]. The small intestine, however, has proven to be a notable exception. Previous attempts at intestinal and other organ cultures have utilized a variety of techniques [2-6]. Enders and his co-workers reported survival of fragments of human embryonic intestine for at least 17 days in a modified Maitland culture system [7], but viable human intestinal organ cultures, lasting more than 24 hr, have not been described. Stimulated by recent experience in the detection of occult respiratory viruses through the use of tracheal organ cultures [8, 9], we have established small intestinal organ cultures from human fetal material, as well as from chicken and rabbit embryos, and have maintained these cultures for up to 21 days. Hopefully, these organ cultures may offer a sensitive system for the replication and detection of heretofore occult viral
A GRASP for single machine scheduling with sequence dependent setup costs and linear delay penalties

Abstract The single machine scheduling (SMS) problem with sequence dependent setup costs and linear delay penalties is readily found in industrial environments. The problem is of interest in manufacturing because any increase in the efficiency of a heavily utilized machine translates directly into cost savings. However, finding good solutions to this NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem has challenged researchers for years in industry and academia. A novel methodology, Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP), is used in this paper to develop an efficient heuristic for the SMS problem. The empirical results of other researchers are used to validate the heuristic's performance. Previous exact approaches using dynamic programming (DP) with branch and bound provide optimal solutions to SMS instances with up to 20 jobs. A clever implementation of tabu search shows success for problems possessing up to 100 jobs. Our heuristic compares favorably to both the DP and tabu search methods with respect to the solution values obtained and the CPU times required.
DEVELOPMENT OF DESIGN VALUES FOR WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIALS

As the use of wood-plastic composite (WPC) materials extends to include more structural applications, there is an increasing need to determine design values appropriate for designing structural WPC elements. Depending on specific formulations, WPCs can have significantly different stress-strain relationships. Common, however, to WPCs is a highly nonlinear relationship. Due to both the variability and nonlinearity of the responses, a consistent method for deriving design values for WPCs is needed. Variability exists not only in the material response but, to a greater extent, in the mix designs themselves. This creates added complexity in predicting a design value for all WPCs based upon the ultimate strength of a particular mix. A method for deriving WPC design values is developed herein by examining the energy dissipation ability of the material rather than using traditional ultimate strength or deflection criteria. The design values are based upon an equivalent yield point in the material response, up to which a linear-elastic response would represent the actual-material response within some reasonable level of accuracy. By comparing the energy dissipated as assumed by this approximate material model to the actual energy dissipated by the material (i.e., utilizing the actual stress-strain relation), it is found that the approximate energy-based model provides an accurate representation of the material behavior and can be used consistently to derive design values for WPC materials.
Design Experience Using Software Tools in Undergraduate Engineering Mechanics Courses

Statics, Dynamics, and Mechanics of Materials form the basic sequence of engineering mechanics courses in engineering curricula. Traditionally, these courses have been designated as “engineering science” courses with significantly more emphasis in analysis to reinforce engineering fundamentals, and little to no importance to “engineering design”. With the outcome based approach to undergraduate engineering education adopted by Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology and the framework laid out by Engineering Criteria (EC 2000) significant reform efforts are underway to incorporate design experience throughout the engineering curricula. Most engineering programs across the nation have developed and implemented a freshman design course to introduce engineering design at the beginning of the college experience for engineering majors. To sustain the momentum, it therefore follows that subsequent courses should sustain the design emphasis in the freshman and sophomore years. Design, however, is a time consuming complex iterative process somewhat different from the convergent nature of engineering science. Modern software tools provide a time efficient and pedagogically effective way of integrating engineering design project with the engineering mechanics sequence without compromising the engineering science fundamentals. In this paper design projects that have been integrated in Statics, Dynamics, and Mechanics of Material courses offered by the author using software tools such as Working Model, MD-Solids, Pro-Engineer, Solid-works etc. supplemented by computational tools such as MATLAB and EXCEL are outlined. Discussion based on student feedback and relevance to ABET outcomes is also forwarded.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
What are cancer centers advertising to the public?: a content analysis.

Background Although critics have expressed concerns about cancer center advertising, the content of these advertisements has not been analyzed.
The Effect of Growth Hormone on Nutritional Markers in Enterally Fed Immobilized Trauma Patients

Background: Earlier clinical studies have demonstrated improved nitrogen balance in nonstressed patients receiving hypocaloric feedings and growth hormone (GH). This study investigates the effect of GH on nitrogen balance, on serum protein concentrations, and on other indices of nutrition when combined with enteral feeding in immobilized patients after closed-head injury or spinal cord injury. Methods: Sixteen patients who tolerated enteral feedings and remained nonseptic were randomized to receive either placebo or 0.2 mg/kg recombinant human GH for 7 to 13 days. Nitrogen balances were collected daily, and serum proteins were measured at study entrance and exit. Results: GH treatment resulted in higher GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations but did not improve nitrogen balance. GH treatment also resulted in increased transferrin and serum albumin levels and total lymphocyte count during the study period. Conclusions: Adjuvant recombinant human GH has no effect on nitrogen balance in highly st...
Divergent Plasticity of Prefrontal Cortex Networks

The ‘executive’ regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) such as the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) and its rodent equivalent medial PFC (mPFC) are thought to respond in concert with the ‘limbic’ regions of the PFC such as the orbitofrontal (OFC) cortex to orchestrate behavior that is consistent with context and expected outcome. Both groups of regions have been implicated in behavioral abnormalities associated with addiction and psychiatric disorders, in particular, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Theories about the pathophysiology of these disorders, however, incorporate abnormalities in discrete PFC regions independently of each other or assume they are one and the same and, thus, bunch them under umbrella of ‘PFC dysfunction.’ Emerging data from animal studies suggest that mPFC and OFC neurons display opposing patterns of plasticity during associative learning and in response to repeated exposure to psychostimulants. These data corroborate clinical studies reporting different patterns of activation in OFC versus dlPFC in individuals with schizophrenia or addictive disorders. These suggest that concomitant but divergent engagement of discrete PFC regions is critical for learning stimulus-outcome associations, and the execution of goal-directed behavior that is based on these associations. An atypical interplay between these regions may lead to abnormally high or low salience assigned to stimuli, resulting in symptoms that are fundamental to many psychiatric and addictive disorders, including attentional deficits, improper affective response to stimuli, and inflexible or impulsive behavior.
Littoral cells and harbor dredging along the California coast

Beach compartments or littoral cells form the framework for our understanding of the sources, transport, and sinks of sand in the nearshore zone. In general, along the California coast, beach sand is derived from rivers or clifferosion, moves alongshore under the influence of the prevailing waver conditions, and ultimately is lost either to a submarine canyon or a dune field. Marinas or harbors built either between or at the upcoast ends of beach compartments have been relatively maintenance-free, because of a lack of significant littoral drift at these locations. On the other hand, those harbors built in the middle reaches or at the downcoast ends of littoral cells have had expensive annual dredging problems, because of the interruption of large volumes of littoral drift. Although engineers have labored for years on various breakwater, jetty, or entrance channel configurations, the actual design utilized is of secondary importance. The critical factors are harbor location within a littoral cell and annual litoral drift volume.
Probable low-angle thrust earthquakes on the Juan de Fuca- North America plate boundary

In 2004, two clusters of earthquakes occurred in the central part of the Cascadia forearc, which displays several characteristics indicative of along-strike and downdip variations in plate coupling. Moment tensor analysis for the main shock in each cluster indicates that both events, which had magnitudes of 4.9 and 4.8, were compatible with low-angle thrust motion on fault planes dipping 6°–15° to the east, consistent with the plate boundary dip of ∼12°. By tracing rays through a high-resolution two-dimensional crustal velocity model to match arrival times of secondary arrivals (pP and PmP), we estimate that the source depth was 9–11 km for the M4.9 event and 15–17 km for the M4.8 event. We conclude that these earthquakes probably represent seismogenic thrust motion on the nominally locked or transitional part of the Cascadia megathrust, updip of where episodic tremor and slip (ETS) have been documented. Continued high-resolution observations of seismicity and improved crustal models are needed to confirm whether apparent temporal correlations between ETS and continued seismic activity in these clusters indicate stress transfer along the megathrust.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: LXXX. The Hyperbolic Structure of Eminence Updated, 1975—1986

Designations of major figures (max. = 3) were obtained in each of 1767 history-of-psychology publications (mostly journal articles) from 1975 to 1986. The distribution of these major-figure designations of psychologists was compared with the distribution of a measure of eminence that was developed by Zusne in 1985 and is based on the amount of textbook-page-space given to an individual. The two measures correlate significantly but are not equivalent. Those judged to be major figures in contemporary history-of-psychology journals overlap less than 20% with those designated eminent by virtue of large page-space coverage in history-of-psychology textbooks. Advantages and disadvantages of major-figure designations as an index of the importance or eminence of psychologists are discussed.
Depolarized light scattering from fluids

Abstract The spectra of depolarized light scattering from molecular fluids is calculated using the Selwyn-Oppenheim theory. The pertinent variables are the hydrodynamic variables, the spin and the anisotropic part of the polarizability densities. The resulting spectra fit the experimental results.
Antibacterial activity of amifloxacin (WIN 49, 375), a new quinolone agent.

The in vitro activity of amifloxacin, a quinolone antimicrobial agent was compared with those of ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Ninety percent of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Aeromonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter species, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, and Morganella morganii were inhibited by ≤0.5 µg/ml. Amifloxacin inhibited Branhamella, Haemophilus, and Neisseria at ≤0.25 µg/ml, and 90% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including gentamicinand carbenicillin-resistant isolates, at 4 ≤g/ml. It also inhibited staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant isolates, but was less active against streptococci and Bacteroides species. Amifloxacin had in vitro activity similar to enoxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin, but was less active than ciprofloxacin. Like other quinolones, it was less active at acid pH and in the presence of urine.
Long natural history of recurrent granulosa cell tumor of the ovary 23 years after initial diagnosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Background Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of the ovary are rare, hormonally active neoplasms characterized by endocrine manifestations, an indolent course, and late relapse. Case We report a case of a prolonged history of ovarian GCT managed primarily with repeat surgical resections. Conclusion This case illustrates the benefits of cytoreductive surgery for the management of recurrent disease, the use of serum tumor markers to help guide therapy, and the importance of extended follow-up.
The syntax and semantics of a domain-specific language for flow-network design

Flow networks are inductively defined, assembled from small components to produce arbitrarily large ones, with interchangeable functionally-equivalent parts. We carry out this induction formally using a domain-specific language (DSL). Associated with our DSL are a semantics and a typing theory. The latter gives rise to a system of formal annotations that enforce desirable properties of flow networks as invariants across their interfaces. A prerequisite for a typing theory is a formal semantics, i.e., a rigorous characterization of flows that are safe for the network (limited to the notion of feasible flows in this paper, unfeasible flows being considered unsafe). We give a detailed presentation of a denotational semantics only, but also point out the elements that an equivalent operational semantics must include.
The validity of self-report assessment of avoidance and distress

Both distress and behavioral avoidance have been implicated in the development and maintenance of many forms of psychopathology. However, it is still unclear whether these constructs can be distinguished, or whether both can independently explain comorbid psychopathology (CP) as they are normally assessed (via self-report methods). To help address these questions, we assessed distress and avoidance in relation to phobic situations via structured interview in a sample of college students (N=385) and a sample of psychiatric outpatients (N=288). Various types of psychopathology were also assessed. Structural equation modeling revealed that individuals do not readily distinguish between distress and avoidance, and that self-reported avoidance does not predict the severity of CP after distress associated with avoided situations has been taken into account. These data suggest that situational distress and avoidance cannot be clearly distinguished in self-reported assessments and raise questions concerning the common practice of relying on client report to measure avoidance. Hence, different methods are needed to obtain clinically useful ratings of avoidance.
Effect of tunicamycin on in vitro ripening of tomato pericarp tissue

Ripening of pericarp tissue from mature green, early breaker and late breaker stages of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Dombito) fruit development was inhibitied by tunicamycin. Ripening was evaluated by lycopene accumulation, chlorophyll degradation, rate of ethylene production and cell wall-bound polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) activity. Maximum inhibition of these ripening parameters occurred at a treatment of 240 μM tunicamycin for 2 h except for cell wall-bound polygalacturonase activity, which was greatly inhibited by concentrations of 12 μ tunicamycin or higher. Tunicamycin treatment at 120 μM for 2 h inhibited the incorporation of [3H]-mannose into macromolecules (about 70%) and pronase-sensitive material (about 65%) and the incorporation of [3H]-leucine into proteins (about 20%). Our results indicate that protein glycosylation plays an important role in the ripening of tomato pericarp tissue.
THE DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR mRNA IN TWO RAT TUMOR CELL LINES

Buffalo Rat Liver 3A (BRL) and 18, 54-SF cells are two rat tumor cell lines which have been maintained continuously in serum-free media. Both cell lines secrete rat IGF-II (>50ng/ml in three day conditioned media) and have no detectable rIGF-I peptide by RIA. The experimental design was to: 1) demonstrate that lack of rIGF-I production was due to absent transcription of rIGF-I mRNA, and 2) to compare BRL, 18, 54-SF and rat liver IGF-II RNA sizes and abundance patterns on Northern blots. RNA was prepared by the guainidine thiocyanate/LiCI technique. Polyadenylated RNA (A+) was separated from non-polyadenylated RNA (A−) by oligo dT cellulose chromatography, sized on formaldehyde-agarose gels and transferred to nylon membranes. IGF RNA sequences were detected either by hybridization to in vitro transcribed cRNA specific to each strand, or to in vitro hexamer primed DNA at a specific activity > 109 cpm/μg. Probes were to i) the carboxyl terminal E peptides and 3′ nontranslated regions which are highly specific for each of the two IGF species and ii) the 5′ region of IGF-I thus allowing detection of both IGF-I splicing variants. Non-specific binding was reduced by final washing in 0.1x SSC at 62C. IGF-I mRNA could not be detected in BRL nor 18, 54-SF cells but was easily detected in adult rat liver as 1800 and 660 base major species with ~6 intermediate forms. IGF-II mRNA was detected by the 3′ cDNA and 3′ anti-sense cRNA probes; no species were found to hybridize with the 3′ sense cRNA, indicating that all mRNAs are in the usual 5′ to 3′ sense orientation. The BRL and 18, 54-SF cells had multiple IGF-II forms (>10kb, 7.0kb, 5.8kb, 4.4kb, 3.5kb, 3.0kb, 2.7kb, 2.5kb, 1.8kb and 1.1kb). The most abundant form in BRL cells was 5.8kb in length and polyadenylated. The predominant form in 18,54-SF cells was 4.4kb in length and this was the most abundant A+ form; additionally an A- form at 1.1kb was observed. Adult rat liver had no detectable IGF-II RNA sequences. These data demonstrate that regulated expression occurs at the level of transcription. The presence of rIGF-I mRNA and peptide in the absence of rIGF-I mRNA and peptide, coupled with the ability to grow in serum free defined media support IGF-II as being a critical growth factor in these cell lines.
Effect of α-stable sorptive waiting times on microbial transport in microflow cells

The interaction of bacteria in the fluid phase with pore walls of a porous material involves a wide range of effective reaction times which obey a diversity of substrate-bacteria adhesion conditions, and adhesive mechanisms. For a transported species, this heterogeneity in sorption conditions occurs both in time and space. Modern experimental methods allow one to measure adhesive reaction times of individual bacteria. This detailed information may be incorporated into nonequilibrium transport-sorption models that capture the heterogeneity in reaction times caused by varying chemical conditions. We have carried out particle (Brownian dynamic) simulations of adhesive, self-motile bacteria convected between two infinite plates as a model for a microflow cell. The adhesive heterogeneity is included by introducing adhesive reaction time (understood as time spent at a solid boundary once the particle collides against it) as a random variable that can be infinite (irreversible sorption) or vary over a wide range of values. This is made possible by treating this reaction time random variable as having an alpha-stable probability distribution whose properties (e.g., infinite moments and long tails) are distinctive from the standard exponential distribution commonly used to model reversible sorption. In addition, the alpha-stable distribution is renormalizable and hence upscalable to complex porous media. Simulations are performed in a pressure-driven microflow cell. Bacteria motility (driven by an effective Brownian force) acts as a dispersive component in the convective field. Upon collision with the pore wall, bacteria attachment or detachment occurs. The time bacteria spend at the wall varies over a wide range of time scales. This model has the advantage of being parsimonious, that is, involving very few parameters to model complex irreversible or reversible adhesion in heterogeneous environments. It is shown that, as in Taylor dispersion, the ratio of the channel half width b to the Brownian bacteria motility coefficient (D0 or dispersion coefficient) t(b)=b(2)/D(0) controls the different adhesion regimes along with the value of alpha. Universal scalings (with respect to dimensionless time t(*)=t/t(b)) for the mean position, =V(*)(eff)t(theta)(*), and mean-square displacement, =D(*)(eff)t(gamma)(*) exist for long-time dispersion and the coefficients were obtained. The model can account for a great many sorptive processes including reversible and irreversible sorption, and sub- and superdispersive regimes with just a few parameters.
A theoretical note on exponential flow in the proximal part of the mammalian nephron

On the basis of the experiments of A. M. Walkeret al. (Am. J. Physiol.,134, 580–595, 1941), it is postulated that the fraction of glomerular filtrate reabsorbed up to a given point in the proximal tubule is independent of the rate of filtration. This, combined with the assumption that the proximal tubule is uniform from glomerular to distal end, implies that the volume of flow per unit of time past a given point in the proximal tubule decreases exponentially as a function of distance from the glomerulus. From this it is deduced that the rate of reabsorption of Na+ is proportional to the rate of formation of glomerular filtrate—a result established in clearance experiments. The analogy between a nephron and a catalytic flow reactor is indicated, and it is noted that, in both systems, reaction velocity can depend on the rate of flow.
The Importance of Weighted Regression Analysis in the Determination of Henry's Law Constants by Static Headspace Gas Chromatography

Henry's law constants, H, of volatile organic compounds are often determined using static headspace gas chromatography. From the methodology of this approach, the experimental data are expected to conform to a nonlinear function and can, accordingly, be analyzed by a nonlinear regression procedure. Alternatively, the data can be transformed to a linear function and subsequently analyzed by linear regression. A series of computer simulations was used to demonstrate the need to employ appropriate statistical weighting factors in carrying out regression analysis of experimental data. These simulations were based on error-dispersed, realistic data sets for a wide range of H input values, and were analyzed using unweighted and weighted, nonlinear and linear regression methods. For a given data set, nonlinear and linear regression analyses, when both unweighted, return different H values. This disparity is sharply reduced when weighted regression methods are used. The regression results for H (and standard devi...
Water Dynamics in Conifer Logs in Early Stages of Decay in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

Abstract Water dynamics in decaying conifer logs of four species (Abies amabilis [Pacific silver fir], Pseudotsuga menziesii [Douglas-fir], Thuja plicata [western red cedar], and Tsuga heterophylla [western hemlock]) were studied in the Coast Range of Oregon. Measurements were made of throughfall, leachate, runoff, and absorption for logs during their 6th through 8th year of decay. During this period 47–70% of the throughfall landing on the logs evaporated, 18–35% flowed through the log and leached out, 3–29% ran off the surface, and absorption accounted for 3–11%. Together absorption and evaporation intercepted 60% of the throughfall impacting the logs. Although the second year of the study had twice as much precipitation as the first, the partition of the fluxes was essentially identical. Direct measurement of the changes in log weight allowed calculation of water stores and the evaporative component; the latter proved to be the largest fraction of the water balance, with the majority of losses during t...
Synonymous substitution rates in Drosophila: Mitochondrial versus nuclear genes

Synonymous substitution rates in mitochondrial and nuclear genes of Drosophila were compared. To make accurate comparisons, we considered the following: (1) relative synonymous rates, which do not require divergence time estimates, should be used; (2) methods estimating divergence should take into account base composition; (3) only very closely related species should be used to avoid effects of saturation; (4) the heterogeneity of rates should be examined. We modified the methods estimating synonymous substitution numbers to account for base composition bias. By using these methods, we found that mitochondrial genes have 1.7—3.4 times higher synonymous substitution rates than the fastest nuclear genes or 4.5–9.0 times higher rates than the average nuclear genes. The average rate of synonymous transversions was 2.7 (estimated from the melanogaster species subgroup) or 2.9 (estimated from the obscura group) times higher in mitochondrial genes than in nuclear genes. Synonymous transversions in mitochondrial genes occurred at an approximately equivalent rate to those in the fastest nuclear genes. This last result is not consistent with the hypothesis that the difference in turnover rates between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes is the major factor determining higher synonymous substitution rates in mtDNA. We conclude that the difference in synonymous substitution rates is due to a combination of two factors: a higher transitional mutation rate in mtDNA and constraints on nuclear genes due to selection for codon usage.
Ethics in the transnational corporation; the “moral buck” stops where?

This paper addresses two issues. The first issue relates directly to transnational corporations, while the second issue is broader and relates to all diversely held companies. To address the first issue I cite three representative instances where wanton environmental damage has signalled a lack of moral judgment on the part of a transnational corporation. I conclude from these instances that ethical considerations are not given adequate weight in corporate investment decisions.
Use of a Glucose Algorithm to Direct Diabetes Therapy Improves A1C Outcomes and Defines an Approach to Assess Provider Behavior

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether an algorithm that recommended individualized changes in therapy would help providers to change therapy appropriately and improve glycemic control in their patients.MethodsThe algorithm recommended specific doses of oral agents and insulin based on a patient's medications and glucose or A1C levels at the time of the visit. The prospective observational study analyzed the effect of the algorithm on treatment decisions and A1C levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.ResultsThe study included 1250 patients seen in pairs of initial and follow-up visits during a 7-month baseline and/or a subsequent 7-month algorithm period. The patients had a mean age of 62 years, body mass index of 33 kg/m2, duration of diabetes of 10 years, were 94% African American and 71% female, and had average initial A1C level of 7.7%. When the algorithm was available, providers were 45% more likely to intensify therapy when indicated (P = .005) and increased therapy by a 20% grea...
Natural rock joint roughness quantification through fractal techniques

Accurate quantification of roughness is important in modeling hydro-mechanical behavior of rock joints. A highly refined variogram technique was used to investigate possible existence of anisotropy in natural rock joint roughness. Investigated natural rock joints showed randomly varying roughness anisotropy with the direction. A scale dependant fractal parameter, K v, seems to play a prominent role than the fractal dimension, D r1d, with respect to quantification of roughness of natural rock joints. Because the roughness varies randomly, it is impossible to predict the roughness variation of rock joint surfaces from measurements made in only two perpendicular directions on a particular sample. The parameter D r1d × K v seems to capture the overall roughness characteristics of natural rock joints well. The one-dimensional modified divider technique was extended to two dimensions to quantify the two-dimensional roughness of rock joints. The developed technique was validated by applying to a generated fractional Brownian surface with fractal dimension equal to 2.5. It was found that the calculated fractal parameters quantify the rock joint roughness well. A new technique is introduced to study the effect of scale on two-dimensional roughness variability and anisotropy. The roughness anisotropy and variability reduced with increasing scale.
Ectopic telomerase expression inhibits neuronal differentiation of NT2 neural progenitor cells.

There is significant interest in the potential use of telomerase-immortalized cells in transplantation to replace neurons lost to neurodegenerative diseases and other central nervous system injuries. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) transduced with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic component of telomerase, have the potential both to proliferate indefinitely in vitro and to respond to differentiation signals necessary for generating appropriate cells for transplantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differentiation of neurons from NT2 cells, a model NPC cell line, following hTERT transduction. RT-PCR and telomerase activity data demonstrated that persistent exogenous hTERT expression significantly inhibited the differentiation of neurons from NT2 cells. Following retinoic acid induced differentiation, hTERT-NT2 cells produced only one fourth of the neurons generated by parental and vector-control cells. A differentiation-inhibiting effect of constitutive telomerase activity has not been reported previously in other hTERT-transduced progenitor cell lines, implying a unique role for telomerase in the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs that have tumorigenic potential. Elucidating the mechanism responsible for this effect may aid in understanding the potential role of telomerase activity in the tumorigenecity of NPCs, as well as in optimizing the production of safe, telomerase-engineered, transplantable neurons.
Chromosome Changes in Human Cells induced by Herpes Simplex, Types 1 and 2

HERPES simplex virus (HSV) is of interest both as a common infectious agent and because of its putative role (type 2 virus) in carcinoma of the cervix1,2. The type 1 virus induces chromosome damage in both established and primary cell cultures of the Chinese hamster3–5, in cultured Syrian hamster cells6 and in cultured monkey kidney cells7. In human leucocytes Aya et al.8 have described HSV induced breaks, while Stich et al.5 described more extreme effects, including fragmentation, in human embryonic lung cells. But neither damage by HSV type 2 nor the full range of effects in human cells induced by either types 1 or 2 has been described. Here we describe various chromosome abnormalities produced by both forms of HSV, and point out similarities between some of these abnormalities and those which occur in human cancers, in permanent human leucocyte cell lines, and in human fibroblasts transformed by SV40.
Design as catalyst

Abstract This paper points out the need of the Universities to produce a new variety of professional training covering a broad spectrum of environmental studies which cut across many of the traditional boundaries. Specific recommendations are provided.
The influence of progestin and androgen on the fine structure of the male reproductive tract of the rat. II. Epididymis and sex accessory glands

Young adult male rats were administered medroxyprogesterone (Provera, Upjohn) alone and in combination with testosterone,as has been done to inhibit male fertility. The histology and the fine structure of several segments of the epididymis, the ventral prostate, and the seminal vesicle were studied at intervals after treatment for up to 16 weeks. The epididymides of treated animals weighed less than those of control rats. Microscopic alterations in the epididymis were similar in rats treated with Provera alone and in those animals that received Provera and testosterone, but the changes varied with the segment of the epididymis. In the middle segment in the caput epididymidis, the normally abundant luminal sperm were absent but the epithelium retained its normal ultrastructural features. In the terminal segment in the cauda epididymidis, different changes were observed in the proximal and distal portions. In the proximal cauda epididymidis, the lumen was small, irregular in outline, and virtually devoid of sperm. The light cells of the epididymal epithelium in the proximal cauda contained extremely large numbers of dense bodies resembling lysosomes, which occupied most of the supranuclear and basal cytoplasm. In contrast, in the distal part of the cauda epididymidis, the epithelium had a normal appearance but the lumen was filled with debris, sperm, and spherical masses of cytoplasm that were apparently derived from germ cells. It is suggested that the clearing of the lumen of the proximal cauda epididymidis may reflect the greater activity of light cells of the epididymal epithelium in that region. Although alterations in spermatogenesis may be most important in the antifertility effect of progestin and androgen, these alterations in epididymal sperm and epithelium may also play a role. The weights of the prostate and seminal vesicles of rats treated with Provera (1 mg/100 g/day) were greatly reduced compared to those of control rats. Although there was considerable variation, in many specimens treated with Provera alone the epithelium of the prostate showed a change from a columnar to a cuboidal or squamous shape, and there was a reduction in the size and abundance of organelles involved in the formation of secretions. The microscopic structure of the seminal vesicle of rats treated with Provera was less severely affected than the prostate. Although the seminal vesicle epithelium of Provera-treated rats was generally not as tall as in control animals, the cells possessed parallel cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, secretory vacuoles, and an active-appearing Golgi apparatus, suggesting that they continued to be able to form secretions in the presence of Provera. The weights of the sex accessory glands were maintained at control levels by the administration of testosterone, 100 mug/100 g/day, along with the Provera. A normal fine structure was present in the epithelium of both the prostate and seminal vesicle of rats administered this amount of testosterone in addition to Provera...
Serum bactericidal titer as a predictor of outcome in endocarditis.

A study was conducted in 89 rabbits with experimental aortic valve endocarditis caused by three different strains ofStaphylococcus aureusto determine whether there was a correlation between the peak serum bactericidal titer of the four drugs tested and the vegetation titer. After four days of therapy both the rabbits with and those without sterile vegetations had median peak bactericidal titers of 1∶8. The mean vegetation titers did not correlate with the mean bactericidal titers. The serum bactericidal test does not measure the relative rate of killing of the bacteria by the drugs. Although the test remains clinically useful for documentation of bactericidal activity, the minimum level of activity necessary for the test to serve as a predictor of outcome remains to be defined.
High weissenberg number boundary layers for the upper convected Maxwell fluid

Abstract We formulate and analyze equations to describe elastic boundary layers at walls, which arise in the high Weissenberg number flow of an upper convected Maxwell fluid.
Cat-scratch disease simulating lymphoma

Cat-scratch disease is the most common cause of benign lymphadenopathy in children and young adults. Rare cases of systemic involvement with deep adenopathy with or without hepatic and/or splenic involvement have been reported. We present an unusual case of cat-scratch disease with imaging findings indistinguishable from lymphoma. Cat-scratch disease should be considered as a possible benign etiology for adenopathy with hepatic or splenic nodules in a young patient, especially if the involved nodes are tender. 5 refs., 1 fig.
Studies in the System CaO-Al2O3-SiO2H2O: III, New Data on the Polymorphism of Ca2SiO2 and Its Stability in the System CaO-SiO2- H2O

The nature of the low-temperature inversions γ-α' and α'-β was investigated by various techniques: hydrothermal and “dry” quenching runs, differential thermal analysis at atmospheric and elevated nitrogen pressures, X-ray diffractometer patterns obtained at elevated temperatures, “static” pressure techniques, and infrared absorption spectrometry. A revised energy-temperature diagram is presented for Ca2SiO4, with the transition γ' to α' taking place at about 725°C. and the α'-β transition, although not reversible at an exact temperature, taking place at about 670° C. At low water pressures (2000 lb. per sq. in.) the inversion γ-α' was placed at 675°C. Attempts to extrapolate the value obtained at 2000 lb. per sq. in. to obtain a more accurate reversible inversion temperature at atmospheric pressure, although limited in accuracy by the reliability of heat-of-transition data, would indicate a temperature of about 725° C. at atmospheric pressure. Three new compounds, 8CaO.3SiO2 -3H2O (X), 6CaO 3SiO2.H2O (Y), and 9CaO-6SiO2 H2O (Z), were found to be stable above 700°C. at H2O pressures greater than 7500 lb. per sq. in.
The impact of primary tumor size, lymph node status, and other prognostic factors on the risk of cancer death

BACKGROUND: Although many prognostic factors are associated with differences in cancer lethality, it may not be obvious whether a factor truly makes an independent contribution to lethality or simply is correlated with tumor size. There is currently no method for integrating tumor size, lymph node status, and other prognostic information from a patient into a single risk of death estimate. METHODS: The SizeOnly equation, which captures the relation between tumor size and risk of death, makes it possible to determine whether a prognostic factor truly makes an independent contribution to cancer lethally or merely is associated with tumor size (SizeAssessment method). The magnitude of each factor's lethal contribution can be quantified by a parameter, g, inserted into the SizeOnly equation (PrognosticMeasurement method). A series of linked equations (the Size+Nodes+PrognosticFactors [SNAP] method) combines information on tumor size, lymph node status, and other prognostic factors from a patient into a single estimate of the risk of death. RESULTS: Nine prognostic factors were identified that made marked, independent contributions to breast carcinoma lethality: grade; mucinous, medullary, tubular, and scirrhous adenocarcinoma; male sex; inflammatory disease; Paget disease; and lymph node status. In addition, it was determined that lymph node status made an independent contribution to melanoma lethality. The SNAP method was able to accurately estimate the risk of death and to finely stratify patients by risk. CONCLUSIONS: The methods described provide a new framework for identifying and quantifying those factors that contribute to cancer lethality and provide a basis for web-based calculators (available at: http://www.CancerMath.net accessed July 29, 2009) that accurately estimate the risk of death for each patient. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Aberrant venous drainage pattern in a medial sphenoid wing dural arteriovenous fistula: a case report and review of the literature.

Background Sphenoid wing region dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are rare lesions that are typically fed by middle meningeal artery feeders and that drain via the sphenoparietal sinus or middle cerebral vein. We describe a unique case of a medial sphenoid wing fistula draining exclusively via the basal vein of Rosenthal. Methods A 55-year-old man presented with progressive right temporal homonymous hemianopsia. Cerebral angiography revealed a DAVF that rapidly filled into the deep venous system via the basal vein of Rosenthal with a large venous varix compressing the optic nerve. The sphenoid wing DAVF was not amenable to endovascular embolization due to direct ophthalmic artery feeders and was therefore treated with surgical obliteration. A right pterional craniotomy with orbitozygomatic osteotomy was performed. Results The fistula was clip ligated, and the venous varix was incised and drained. Intraoperative angiography demonstrated complete obliteration of the fistula. Conclusions Sphenoid wing DAVFs may drain via the deep venous system and have a complex arterial feeding network. Key features of the fistula, including deep venous drainage, presence of venous varices, and retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage, make this an aggressive lesion with a high risk of rupture based on the available natural history data.
Return Distributions and Improved Tests of Asset Pricing Models

We compare and contrast some existing ordinary least squares (OLS)- and generalized method of moments (GMM)-based tests of asset pricing models with a new more general test. This new test is valid under the assumption that returns are elliptically distributed, a necessary and sufficient assumption of the linear capital asset pricing model (CAPM). This new test fails to reject the CAPM on a dataset of stocks sorted by market valuations, whereas similar tests constructed from OLS and GMM estimation methods reject the linear CAPM. We also find that outliers reduce the OLS-estimated mispricing of the linear CAPM on monthly returns sorted by previous performance, that is, momentum. Monte Carlo evidence supports superior size and power properties of the new test relative to OLS- and GMM-based tests. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.
Data compression via pulse-to-pulse redundancy for radar emitter location

An effective method for geolocation of a radar emitter is to intercept its signal at multiple platforms and share the data to allow measurement of the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) and the frequency-difference-of-arrival (FDOA). This requires effective data compression. For radar location we show that it is possible to exploit pulse-to-pulse redundancy. A compression method is developed that exploits the singular value decomposition (SVD) to compress the intercepted radar pulse train. This method consists of five steps: (i) pulse gating, (ii) pulse alignment, (iii) matrix formation, (iv) SVD-based rank reduction, and (v) encoding. Matrix formation places aligned pulses into rows to form a matrix that has rank close to one and SVD truncation gives a low rank approximate matrix. We show that (i) compression is maximized if the matrix is made to have two-thirds as many rows as columns and (ii) truncation to a rank-one matrix is feasible. We interpret this as extracting a prototype pulse trainlet. The maximum compression ratio is expressed in terms of the number of pulses and the number of samples per pulse and point out a particularly interesting and important characteristic - the compression ratio increases as the total number of signal samples increases. Theoretical and simulation results show that this approach provides a compression ratio up to about 30:1 in practical signal scenarios.
Evidence Based Psychosocial Practices and Recovery from Schizophrenia

Pessimistic views about the course and outcome of schizophrenia have been replaced by a more hopeful perspective that emphasizes on providing opportunities for recovery. Recovery, from a provider perspective, means that priority is placed on providing access to treatments and community services that have been proven effective in both decreasing symptoms and assisting individuals to lead maximally productive and personally meaningful lives. In 2004, the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) published a consensus list of evidence-based practices (EBPs) that includes six psychosocial treatments. These psychosocial interventions in combination with access to pharmacotherapy are important components of comprehensive treatment programs for the seriously mentally ill. This paper summarizes and updates the research basis for the PORT psychosocial EBPs and discusses several additional issues and research topics to be considered in the future.
Cholesterol feeding induces cholesterol-rich VLDL in atherosclerosis-susceptible mice regardless of dietary fat content

Abstract We describe changes in the plasma lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) levels and composition of plasma lipoproteins from C57BL/6 mice fed low fat or high fat diets of differing fatty acid composition and cholesterol content. C57BL/6 mice were used because of their responsiveness, in terms of plasma lipid levels and atherosclerosis susceptibility, to diets rich in saturated fat and cholesterol. Mice were fed one of eight semi-synthetic diets for five weeks: low fat (22 g/kg corn oil) or high fat (cocoa butter, safflower oil, or salmon oil at 135 g/kg) and containing either 0.17 g/kg or 5 g/kg cholesterol. Both type of fat and cholesterol content influenced the concentrations of plasma lipids. In particular, the VLDL fraction of mice fed high cholesterol diets was enriched in cholesterol, regardless of dietary fat content. Atherogenesis in fat fed C57BL/6 mice is always accompanied by decreased HDL cholesterol levels. Because decreased HDL cholesterol levels were not observed here, we hypothesize that β-VLDL formation is not responsible for lesion formation in C57BL/6 mice.
Radiation safety system

The goal of this work is to provide an overview of a Radiation safety system (RSS) designed for protection from prompt radiation hazard at accelerator facilities. RSS design parameters, functional requirements and constraints are derived from hazard analysis and risk assessment undertaken in the design phase of the facility. The two main subsystems of a RSS are access control system (ACS) and radiation control system (RCS). In this text, a common approach to risk assessment, typical components of ACS and RCS, desirable features and general design principles applied to RSS are described.
The Effect of Housing and Strain on Exterior Shell Quality of Eggs Selected at Three Intervals During the Laying Period

Abstract Exterior egg shell quality as determined by candling was affected to some extent by strain. The effects of housing environment were highly significant (P