cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Marital and severe parent-to-adolescent physical aggression in clinic-referred families: mother and adolescent reports on co-occurrence and links to child behavior problems

This study examined the interplay of marital and severe parental physical aggression, and their links to child behavior problems, in 232 families of clinic-referred adolescents. Combined reports from mothers and adolescents indicated that two thirds of adolescents exposed to marital aggression in the past year had also experienced parental aggression. Mothers and fathers who used and/or were victims of marital aggression were both more likely to direct aggression toward their adolescent. Mother and youth reports of marital aggression were tied to each party's report of greater externalizing problems and to youth reports of greater internalizing problems. Severe parental aggression uniquely predicted maternal reports of both behavior problems, after controlling for marital aggression; the reverse was not true. Also, adolescents exposed to both types of family aggression did not display greater maladjustment than those subjected to only one type of family aggression.
An economic analysis of dose dense weekly paclitaxel plus carboplatin versus every-3-week paclitaxel plus carboplatin in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

Abstract Objective Compared with every-3-week paclitaxel (q3T) plus carboplatin, dose-dense weekly paclitaxel (ddT) plus carboplatin improved the survival of ovarian cancer patients. We performed a cost analysis comparing these two regimens. Methods Using a Markov decision model, an acceptable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per progression-free life-year saved (PFLYS) was estimated. Cost of drugs, growth colony-stimulating factors, and transfusions were derived from Medicare reimbursement data. Survival and rates of complications were estimated based on the clinical trial. Results Using a body weight and surface area of an average woman age 63, the estimated cost per cycle of ddT was $107 vs. $80 for q3T. The costs per cycle of combination chemotherapy including treatment administration were $873 for ddT and $535 for q3T. With a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 28months with ddT vs. 17.2months with q3T, the ICER was $5809 per PFLYS for ddT compared with q3T arm. Using a maximum ICER of $100,000 per LYS as cost-effective threshold, the ddT regimen was cost-effective. The ICER was most sensitive to the hazard rate for difference in PFS between the two regimens. A 4-month difference in PFS resulted in a $1200 change of ICER per PFLYS. The ICER was also sensitive to overall survival difference, rate of hematological toxicity, and rate of discontinuation. Conclusions In this economic model, dose-dense weekly paclitaxel is a cost-effective treatment option for advanced ovarian cancer.
A cloud model interpretation of jumping cirrus above storm top

[1] A dynamically driven mechanism occurring above severe thunderstorms is described, which can explain the jumping cirrus phenomenon. A three-dimensional, non-hydrostatic cloud model is used to perform numerical simulation of a supercell that occurred in Montana in 1981. The jumping cirrus phenomenon is reproduced in the simulated storm. Analysis of the model results shows that the jumping cirrus phenomenon is produced by the breaking of the gravity waves excited by the strong convection inside the storm. The wave breaking process causes some moisture to detach from the storm cloud and jump into the stratosphere. The apparent upstream motion of the jumping cirrus is true only relative to the storm. The jumping cirrus phenomenon represents an irreversible transport mechanism of materials from the troposphere to the stratosphere.
Systematic biases in brief self-ratings of vocational qualifications

Abstract College-bound high school juniors provided brief self-assessments of their qualifications employing worker trait concepts introduced in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles . When compared with standard measurements of aptitudes, achievements, and interests, their brief self-descriptions revealed (a) an uneven appreciation of preparation, e.g., too few students reported arithmetic competence and too many an ability to counsel people with serious problems; (b) ability claims which were based more upon interest and self-confidence than upon aptitude; and (c) heightened sex stereotyping of interests and mathematical ability. These results serve as a caution to the unquestioning use of brief self-assessments in career exploration.
Dummy fill optimization for enhanced manufacturability

This paper presents a router that minimizes the amount of dummy fill necessary to satisfy the requirements for chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). The algorithm uses a greedy strategy and effective cost functions to control the maximal effective pattern density during routing. On a standard set of benchmark circuits, our CMP-aware router can reduce the required dummy fill by 22.0% on average, and up to 41.5%, as compared to the CMP-unaware case. In comparison with another CMP-aware routing approach, our algorithm is demonstrated to reduce the amount of dummy fill by 14.1% on average, and up to 23.6%, over the benchmarks.
Role of Lysine and Arginine Residues of Cytochrome P450 in the Interaction between Cytochrome P4502B1 and NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Reductase

Abstract Chemical modification of cytochrome P450 was used to study the involvement of lysine and arginine residues in the interaction between cytochrome P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Acetylation of 2.2 and 8.5 mol of lysine/mole of P450 by acetic anhydride led to 38.7 and 95% reductions, respectively, in benzphetamine demethylation activity by NADPH-dependent reconstituted P450/reductase complex, while modification of up to 8.5 mol of lysine/mol of P450 did not inhibit cumene hydroperoxide-supported P450-dependent benzphetamine demethylation. Acetylation of lysine residues by acetic anhydride does not grossly disturb the P450 protein conformation as revealed by absolute, CO-difference and fluorescence spectral studies. Modification of P4502B1 by acetic anhydride did not affect its substrate binding ability either. Lysine residues of P4502B1 putatively involved in the interaction with reductase have been identified by radiolabeling of lysine residues with [14C]acetic anhydride followed by trypsin digestion, HPLC separation, and amino acid microsequencing. Radiolabeled lysines occur at positions 251, 384, 422, 433, and 473. Modification of arginine residues in P4502B1 with phenylglyoxal and 2,3-butanedione seemed to have no significant effect on the benzphetamine demethylation activity of P4502B1 either reconstituted with reductase and NADPH or supported by cumene hydroperoxide. Studies of incorporation of [14C]phenylglyoxal showed no concentration- or time-dependent incorporation of phenylglyoxal into the P4502B1. These results support the hypothesis of a predominant role of lysine residuesof P450 in the electrostatic interaction with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.
The Accuracy of Teacher Judgment of the Oral Proficiency of High School Foreign Language Students.

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of teacher judgment of the oral proficiency of pupils in French and Spanish high school classes. Does such teacher judgment differ significantly from standardized ratings of pupil oral proficiency on the ACTFL oral interview scale? Eight experienced teachers of French and Spanish who had had no previous proficiency assessment training served as subjects. Each teacher-subject was required to read the descriptions for each level of the ACTFL scale and then to predict the ACTFL rating of four students randomly selected from her class. Subsequently, 30 of these students were rated on the ACTFL oral interview by two certified testers. Actual ACTFL ratings for these pupils were compared with predicted ACTFL ratings of teachers. Results indicate that 1) teachers consistently overrate pupil performance and 2) the letter grade of a student in the foreign language class severely biases the accuracy of the teacher's judgment regardless of actual oral proficiency.
Adaptive attentional attunement: Perceptions of danger and attention to outgroup men

The way people perceive others is fundamentally shaped by motives designed to help people navigate the challenges of everyday social life. Those motives can lead goal-relevant social stimuli to capture attention at early stages of information processing. The authors present data suggesting a link between perceptions of danger and selective attention to outgroup males. Participants underwent a minimal group manipulation and then performed a dot probe task assessing attentional biases. People who perceived the outgroup as dangerous had their attention captured selectively by images of outgroup males. Danger perceptions were unassociated with attention to outgroup females and ingroup targets. These findings fit with recent evolutionary analyses suggesting that self-protective motives promote cognitive vigilance to outgroup men and that human perceptual systems have been shaped by a long ancestral history of intergroup conflict. More broadly, this research extends a growing literature suggesting that attentio...
Thermal Effects in Plasma Treatment of Patterned PDMS for Bonding Stacked Channels

This paper presents the results of a study to identify the effects of preheating for plasma oxidation (ashing) of patterned Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for Bio-MEMS applications. PDMS creates an irreversible seal to itself as well as strong seals with glass, silicon, and silicon nitride. This process activates the surface by producing hydroxyl groups that last for several minutes to allow bonding. Several channels can be stacked to create 3D systems for microfluidic applications using PDMS alone or in combination with other materials to develop hybrid systems. For PDMS, bonding temperatures typically occur at room temperature. This research investigates the effect of preheating the materials prior to ashing. The investigators successfully demonstrate good bonding of PDMS to slides with a work adhesion on the order of 100 mJm-2. Preheating the samples at 65°C results in significant increase in work adhesion depending on mixture. The effects of processing temperature and chemical components on bond quality and work of adhesion are reported.
Po-210 and Pb-210 as atmospheric tracers and global atmospheric Pb-210 fallout: A Review

Over the past ∼ 5 decades, the distribution of (222)Rn and its progenies (mainly (210)Pb, (210)Bi and (210)Po) have provided a wealth of information as tracers to quantify several atmospheric processes that include: i) source tracking and transport time scales of air masses; ii) the stability and vertical movement of air masses iii) removal rate constants and residence times of aerosols; iv) chemical behavior of analog species; and v) washout ratios and deposition velocities of aerosols. Most of these applications require that the sources and sink terms of these nuclides are well characterized. Utility of (210)Pb, (210)Bi and (210)Po as atmospheric tracers requires that data on the (222)Rn emanation rates is well documented. Due to low concentrations of (226)Ra in surface waters, the (222)Rn emanation rates from the continent is about two orders of magnitude higher than that of the ocean. This has led to distinctly higher (210)Pb concentrations in continental air masses compared to oceanic air masses. The highly varying concentrations of (210)Pb in air as well the depositional fluxes have yielded insight on the sources and transit times of aerosols. In an ideal enclosed air mass (closed system with respect to these nuclides), the residence times of aerosols obtained from the activity ratios of (210)Pb/(222)Rn, (210)Bi/(210)Pb, and (210)Po/(210)Pb are expected to agree with each other, but a large number of studies have indicated discordance between the residence times obtained from these three pairs. Recent results from the distribution of these nuclides in size-fractionated aerosols appear to yield consistent residence time in smaller-size aerosols, possibly suggesting that larger size aerosols are derived from resuspended dust. The residence times calculated from the (210)Pb/(222)Rn, (210)Bi/(210)Pb, and (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratios published from 1970's are compared to those data obtained in size-fractionated aerosols in this decade and possible reasons for the discordance is discussed with some key recommendations for future studies. The existing global atmospheric inventory data of (210)Pb is re-evaluated and a 'global curve' for the depositional fluxes of (210)Pb is established. A current global budget for atmospheric (210)Po and (210)Pb is also established. The relative importance of dry fallout of (210)Po and (210)Pb at different latitudes is evaluated. The global values for the deposition velocities of aerosols using (210)Po and (210)Pb are synthesized.
Federal-state cooperation under the social security act

Provisin for grants-in-aid in the social field, to be spent by states under federal supevision, will pave the way for greater cooperation between states and nation.
Optimization of bit hydraulic configurations

Measurements of flow field characteristics across the face of a stud-mounted PDC bit have been obtained in a new test facility which simulates downhole flow fields. This facility and the measurement techniques employed to obtain the data are described. Flow tracer tracking and cutter heat transfer coefficient measurements are shown to be valuable in determining flow field characteristics, whereas the utility of the dye injection system tested is low. Three hydraulic configurations for the bit have been tested to determine the effects of nozzle location on bottomhole crossflow velocities and cutter cooling rates. The configuration that provides higher velocities and cooling rates is determined to be the one that employs smaller nozzles located near the center of the bit.
Glucosamine promotes chondrogenic phenotype in both chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells and inhibits MMP-13 expression and matrix degradation

Summary Objectives Glucosamine (GlcN), a natural amino monosaccharide, is a constituent of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) found in hyaline cartilage. GlcN salts constitute a new class of nutraceutical components with putative chondroprotective activity, which may target chondrocytes as well as chondroprogenitors cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), during cartilage turnover and repair. In the present study, we examined the effects of GlcN on chondrogenesis of human MSCs (hMSCs) and the phenotype of normal and osteoarthritic human articular chondrocytes, using an in vitro pellet culture model maintained in a defined medium. Methods hMSCs and normal and osteoarthritic human chondrocytes grown as pellet cultures, stimulated or not with interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were treated with varying doses of GlcN. Expression of cartilage matrix genes and cartilage degrading enzymes was determined by semiquantitative and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and by histological staining of cartilage markers, as well as sulfated GAG (sGAG) analysis and Western blotting. Results Chondrocytes grown in the presence of serum for 11 days showed decreased expression of the cartilage matrix genes, collagen type II (collagen II) and aggrecan, as early as day 3, which was reversed with GlcN treatment by day 11. Both hMSCs and chondrocytes grown as pellet cultures in defined medium and treated with 100μM GlcN exhibited enhanced expression of collagen II and aggrecan as well as increased content of sGAG, when compared to control untreated pellets. However, high doses of GlcN (10–20mM) were inhibitory. GlcN treatment partially blocked IL-1β mediated downregulation of collagen II and aggrecan expression and inhibited expression of the matrix degrading enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), in both chondrocytes and hMSCs undergoing chondrogenesis. Conclusions These observations suggest that GlcN treatment enhances hMSC chondrogenesis and maintains cartilage matrix gene expression in chondrocytes, which may account for some of the reported chondroprotective properties of GlcN on cartilage.
Estimating physiological skin parameters from hyperspectral signatures

We describe an approach for estimating human skin parameters, such as melanosome concentration, collagen concentration, oxygen saturation, and blood volume, using hyperspectral radiometric measurements (signatures) obtained from in vivo skin. We use a computational model based on Kubelka-Munk theory and the Fresnel equations. This model forward maps the skin parameters to a corresponding multiband reflectance spectra. Machine-learning-based regression is used to generate the inverse map, and hence estimate skin parameters from hyperspectral signatures. We test our methods using synthetic and in vivo skin signatures obtained in the visible through the short wave infrared domains from 24 patients of both genders and Caucasian, Asian, and African American ethnicities. Performance validation shows promising results: good agreement with the ground truth and well-established physiological precepts. These methods have potential use in the characterization of skin abnormalities and in minimally-invasive prescreening of malignant skin cancers.
The significance of pleural effusion complicating otherwise operable bronchogenic carcinoma.

Twenty-one cases of bronchogenic carcinoma with pleural effusion occurring as the only manifestation of possible extrapulmonary involvement are reported. All were subjected to thoracotomy, but only one survived for more than two years. It is questioned whether thoracotomy is justified in these patients, even though malignant cells are not demonstrated in the pleural fluid.
Loss of the Histidine Kinase DhkD Results in Mobile Mounds during Development of Dictyostelium discoideum

Background Histidine kinases are receptors for sensing cellular and environmental signals, and in response to the appropriate cue they initiate phosphorelays that regulate the activity of response regulators. The Dictyostelium discoideum genome encodes 15 histidine kinases that function to regulate several processes during the multicellular developmental program, including the slug to culmination transition, osmoregulation, and spore differentiation. While there are many histidine kinases, there is only a single response regulator, RegA. Not surprisingly given the ubiquitous involvement of cAMP in numerous processes of development in Dictyostelium, RegA is a cAMP phosphodiesterase that is activated upon receiving phosphates through a phosphorelay. Hence, all of the histidine kinases characterized to date regulate developmental processes through modulating cAMP production. Here we investigate the function of the histidine kinase DhkD. Principal Findings The dhkD gene was disrupted, and the resulting cells when developed gave a novel phenotype. Upon aggregation, which occurred without streaming, the mounds were motile, a phenotype termed the pollywog stage. The pollywog phenotype was dependent on a functional RegA. After a period of random migration, the pollywogs attempted to form fingers but mostly generated aberrant structures with no tips. While prestalk and prespore cell differentiation occurred with normal timing, proper patterning did not occur. In contrast, wild type mounds are not motile, and the cAMP chemotactic movement of cells within the mound facilitates proper prestalk and prespore patterning, tip formation, and the vertical elongation of the mound into a finger. Conclusions We postulate that DhkD functions to ensure the proper cAMP distribution within mounds that in turn results in patterning, tip formation and the transition of mounds to fingers. In the absence of DhkD, aberrant cell movements in response to an altered cAMP distribution result in mound migration, a lack of proper patterning, and an inability to generate normal finger morphology.
The Meaning of the US Social Forum: A Reply to Whitaker and Bello's Debate on the Open Space

Th e achievements of the US Social Forum (USSF) contribute a great deal to debates concerning the future of the overall Social Forum process. In a recent exchange Walden Bello and Chico Whitaker, both representatives on the International Council of the World Social Forum (WSF), disagreed on the future of the Forum. Bello, the executive director of Focus on the Global South, argued that the Forum was now at a crossroads.1 While acknowledging that the WSF had contributed a great deal to the struggle for global justice, Bello suggested that the Forum’s open space methodology, which on principle, refuses to take a collective stand on any issues even on such evident concerns as the war on Iraq and the WTO, was now inhibiting decisive political agency. He argued that there was merit to the charge that the Forum was becoming a mechanism that was disengaged from actual struggle and thus more of a carnival than an organizational event. Th e article provocatively concluded by asking “is it time for the WSF to fold up its tent and give way to new modes of global organization of resistance and transformation?”2 Chico Whitaker, one of the founders of the WSF, replied to Bello, arguing that crossroads do not have to close roads.3 He noted that while the
Parameter studies for Markov random field models of early vision

Abstract We discuss parameter studies for Markov random field (MRF) models of early vision performed using a DAParray processor. A simple two-dimensional formulation for MRFs with coupled line processes on a rectangular gridis analyzed. Numerous experimental results are presented for real and synthetic intensity images. We empirically analyze the interrelationships between parameters controlling the degree of smoothness in the solution, thediscontinuity threshold, and the importance of input data. Trends are identified, especially with regard to methods for automatically setting parameters. In addition, a comparison of results across different resolutions ismade. 1 Introduction The objective of computer vision or image understanding is to develop systems that automatically reconstruct scenedescriptions from image input data and then use those descriptions to recognize and understand the visual scenein order to guide behaviors that lead to desired goals. Those goals might be as pedestrian as simply identifyingdefective parts in a manufacturing line or as incredible as autonomously navigating the uncharted surface of a distantplanet. Perhaps the ultimate goal of computer vision is to develop machines that closely mimic the human visualsystem.
Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and disease free survival after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D has been linked with prostate cancer risk in epidemiologic studies and has antiproliferative, prodifferentiation, and antimetastatic properties in experimental systems. Its hormonal activity is mediated by the vitamin D receptor. We investigated whether germ-line genetic variation in the vitamin D receptor impacts progression of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. METHODS We analyzed BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms using archived specimens from a large series of radical prostatectomy patients at a single institution. Our series included 428 white men (WM) and 310 African–American men (AAM) who were carefully and uniformly staged and followed for 5–10 years. RESULTS The distribution of polymorphisms varied between WM and AAM. There was little association between genotype and extent of disease at diagnosis, Gleason score, preoperative PSA, or recurrence overall. Among WM with locally advanced disease, however, the BsmI B allele protected against recurrence in models examining gene dose (P = 0.04) and dominant effects (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Overall vitamin D receptor polymorphisms did not predict pathologic features of prostate cancer but may impact on risk of recurrence among men in certain risk groups. Analysis of polymorphisms may provide clues about the mechanisms through which vitamin D exerts its inhibitory effects on prostate cancer in vivo in men. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inhibitory effect of the ovaries on neonatal androgen imprinting of growth hormone secretion in female rats.

The effect of neonatal androgen treatment on the GH secretory pattern was examined in intact and ovariectomized adult female rats. Neonatal ovariectomy or sham operation was performed at 1-2 days of age; thereafter, the animals were immediately given testosterone propionate (250 μg) or vehicle. Other rats, also treated neonatally with testosterone, were ovariectomized 15-22 days before blood sampling. Plasma GH was measured in blood samples obtained from indwelling intraatrial cannulae every 20 min for 8 h when the animals were 100-140 days old. Plasma GH secretory patterns were analyzed by a pulse analysis computer program (PULSAR). Neonatal testosterone treatment did not affect the GH secretory pattern of female rats with intact ovaries. In contrast, neonatal androgen treatment enhanced GH pulse height as well as mean GH concentration in neonatally ovariectomized female rats to levels comparable to those in intact male rats. Neonatal testosterone administration also significantly increased GH pulse heig...
First report of the natural occurrence of Beauveria bassiana (Moniliales: Moniliaceae) in Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae).

A survey for Beauveria bassiana infections in wild house fly ( Musca domestica L .) populations on New York State dairy farms during 1985 and 1988 demonstrated that house flies infected with B. bassiana were present on 12 of 15 dairy farms in three counties in central New York, overall prevalence of infection was 0.86% in 1985 ( n = 1,279) and 0.06% in 1988 ( n = 29,886), and infected house flies were found between August and November, with ≍85% found between 1 September and 7 October. No infected flies were collected between 31 May and 1 August during either year. Infection trials with B. bassiana isolated from wild house flies demonstrated that healthy laboratory-reared house fly adults were highly susceptible to infection, late third-instar M. domestica were susceptible and died in the pupal stage, and dry conidia stored at room temperature for 2 yr remained viable and infective to house fly adults.
The Reactions of Dominant Trout to Changes in Overhead Artificial Cover

Abstract A submerged tank at the Sagehen Creek Project of the University of California provides a facility for analysis of trout behavior under natural stream conditions. Here, studies were made to learn to what extent dominant trout will use shade provided by overhead artificial surface cover. Three overhead artificial surface covers of different size were constructed of 3/4-inch plywood. They were mounted on steel legs and painted black on the side in contact with the surface water. During each of three studies, these covers were permuted every two or three days with three different positions in the test area. Three dominant trout representative of the three common trout, brook, rainbow, and brown, were used in three separate tests. Several brook trout and rainbow trout occupied the test area simultaneously with each dominant trout. From 286 hours of observation it was learned that the rainbow trout showed the lowest use of shade produced by the overhead covers and the highest activity in movements from...
A MICROWAVE SCANNER FOR SOFT TISSUE TUMOR DETECTION

AbstractA scanning and imaging system utilizing 10 GHZ microwave beams for the detection of softtissue tumors is proposed. Detection of such tumors is based on the fact that the micro-wave attenuation coefficient in muscle tissue is a factor of 10 greater than in fat. Thusa tomographic image computed from the transmission of a beam of microwaves scanned in aplanar CT type raster through a body section should very easily identify areas of fattytissue and muscle tissue on the order of 0.5 cm or possibly smaller. Since ionizingradiation is not used, this non -carcinogenic microwave technique is of particular interestfor surveying and detecting tumors of the breast which are primarily muscle -like tissue ina fatty parenchema. The greatest risk results from the production of heat in the scannedtissue by the microwave beam, but it is shown to be negligible for the proposed scanner.An overall scanner design is discussed.IntroductionCurrent screening techniques for breast cancer include the use of x -rays. However, thisscreening has been the subject of sharp criticism because of the possible carcinogeniceffects of x -rays which can seriously affect the cost- benefit ratio.(1) This concern hasresulted in essentially banning the use of mammography for screening of women younger than50 years of age as well as resulting in a fair reduction in the number of women over 50voluntarily requesting mammography.We propose the use of microwaves instead of x -rays as a probing beam in a computerizedtomographic scanner
Abstract A37: Modulation of GSTP1 and NQO1 by plant-derived chemopreventive agents in human lung normal, immortalized, and malignant bronchial cells

A37 Modulation of GSTP1 and NQO1 by plant-derived chemopreventive agents in human lung normal, immortalized, and malignant bronchial cells Xiang-Lin Tan 1, 2 Shengli Xiong1, 2 Miao Shi1, Weiguo Han1, 2 Simon D. Spivack 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 1 Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 2 Laboratory of Human Toxicology and Molecular Epidemiology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 3 Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY 4 Department of Epidemiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 5 Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, Many phytochemicals possess putative cancer-preventive properties. However, none have yet demonstrated clear benefit for lung cancer prevention in clinical trials. In this study, we applied an in vitro system of assay to systematically investigate the influence of putative anti-mutagen, phase II metabolism inducing naturally-occurring mixtures and single compounds, including green tea extracts (GTE), broccoli sprout ITC extracts (ITCs), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), sulforaphane (SFN), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), for phase II enzymes GSTP1 and NQO1 in the mRNA and protein level. Primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE), immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC), and overtly malignant lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) were incubated with 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 µg/ml mixture or 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 µM single index compounds for 24h, 48h and 7 days, respectively. The proliferation of normal and malignant cells determined by MTT assay was significantly reduced by all studied agents, with relative activities of BITC > PEITC > ITCs > SFN > EGCG > GTE. We then determined the mRNA expression by RNA-specific quantitative RT-PCR previously developed in the laboratory, and the protein expression by conventional Western blot. Overall, the mixtures GTE and ITC increased GSTP1 and NQO1 mRNA levels up to two-fold (1ug/ml) to four-fold (5 ug/ml) increased. However, these mRNA levels were decreased by single compounds PEITC and BITC, in a time and dose dependent manner. EGCG and SFN did not show a consistent effect on the mRNA expression of both GSTP1 and NQO1 genes, although SFN showed two- to four-fold induction activity for NQO1 mRNA expression at 0.5-1.0 uM, uniquely for NHBE. The results were largely confirmed at the protein level, although there was some mRNA-protein discordance. Our results suggest that further in vitro and in vivo screening studies are needed to discover new, more potent phase II-inducing chemopreventive agents for lung cancer, along with mechanistic studies of gene regulation for these key upstream anti-carcinogenesis genes. Such studies are in process in the laboratory. 1 Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):A37.
Acquiring Knowledge by Foreign Partners from International Joint Ventures in a Transition Economy: Learning-by-Doing and Learning Myopia

This paper proposes and tests a model of how firms acquire knowledge from their international joint venturing experience. Based on survey responses from 73 Singapore and 89 Hong Kong firms with respect to their joint ventures set up in China, the results indicate that both overseeing effort and management involvement are significant channels of knowledge acquisition. The former channel is more important for firms with a great deal of operational experience in China and for parents of older joint ventures. This finding indicates that firms improve their skills of knowledge acquisition through learning-by-doing. Moreover, the strategic importance of the venture concerned, instead of the learning intent of the parent, is the driving force behind the allocation of resources to the two channels. This implies that firms mainly learn through managing their key joint ventures. Since a venture that provides novel and fruitful learning experience may not, and need not, be an operation of great strategic importance, this finding suggests the existence of learning myopia. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ego Depletion and Self-Control Failure: An Energy Model of the Self's Executive Function

The ability of the self to alter its own responses, including thoughts, emotions, impulsive behaviors, and performances, is powerfully adaptive, and failures of selfcontrol contribute to most personal and social problems. A program of laboratory studies suggests that self-control depends on a limited resource, akin to energy or strength. Acts of self-control and, more generally, of choice and volition deplete this resource, thereby impairing the self's ability to function. These effects appear after seemingly minor exertions because the self tries to conserve its remaining resources after any depletion. Rest and positive affect help restore the self's resources.
Factor V null mutation affecting the Roche LightCycler factor V Leiden assay.

Although the role of factor V as a coagulation factor is more familiar, it has an equally important alternative role as a cofactor for protein C. Activated protein C (APC) is important in a naturally occurring anticoagulant pathway in which it cleaves factor V, thereby controlling the concentrations of factor V. The factor V Leiden mutation (1), which has a frequency of ∼1% in Caucasian populations and accounts for most cases of (APC) resistance, makes factor V resistant to cleavage by APC. Heterozygosity for the factor V Leiden mutation confers an increased lifelong relative risk for venous thrombosis, whereas homozygosity for the factor V Leiden mutation confers an even greater increased lifelong risk. Because of its high prevalence and association with thrombophilic disorders, a variety of assays have been developed to detect the G→A mutation at nucleotide 1691, codon 506, of the factor V gene, including assays based on use of the LightCycler™ (2)(3). In this report we present a case of an anomalous result obtained with the Roche LightCycler assay for factor V Leiden and discuss its implications. Recently, a 52-year-old female was diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis at our institution. As part of her assessment, she underwent a routine work-up for hypercoagulation. Her partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were normal before she was treated with anticoagulants. Measurements of protein C, protein S, and anti-thrombin III were deferred until she was finished with coumadin. Meanwhile, results from molecular diagnostics testing included a negative result for the G→A mutation at nucleotide 20210 in the prothrombin gene. However, an assay for the factor V Leiden mutation performed on the LightCycler showed an abnormal melting …
Electrically caused vibrational frequency shifts and dipole moments in rare gas hydrogen bonded complexes

Abstract The Liu-Dykstra theory of electrical influence on vibrational potentials in hydrogen bonded complexes is shown to account very well for vibrational frequency shifts and induced dipoles in a series of rare gas complexes with hydrogen fluoride. The behavior of the electrical interaction energy and dipole moment are shown in detail for Ar-HF.
Predictions of the Worst-Case Crosstalk Including ISI Effect and the Worst-Case Eye Opening Including Crosstalk Effect for Electronic Packaging System Design

New methods for predicting the worst-case crosstalk caused by intersymbol interference and the worst-case eye opening including crosstalk effect are proposed. The new method for predicting the worst-case crosstalk is based on simulated or measured crosstalk caused by a single bit aggressor signal. By using the derived worst-case crosstalk and the no-crosstalk worst-case eye opening, we can get worst-case eye opening including crosstalk effect. The proposed methods are exactly valid for packaging component and system with linear I/O devices as the signal source and load. They can also be extended to some nonlinear I/O cases with approximations.
Space Allocation in the Award-Winning Adult ICUs of the Last Two Decades (1993–2012): An Exploratory Study:

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The original published version is available at http://her.sagepub.com/content/7/2/29.abstract.
Binding of Ni3+ to ATP : polarographic determination of equilibrium and rate constants

Abstract The binding constant of Ni 2+ to the first binding site of ATP was determined by measuring the reduction in diffusion currents of Ni 2+ at high negative polarizations. By this method, the apparent binding constant at pH 7 (maximal enzyme activity) σ 1 = (8±2) × 10 4 M −1 , is some-what lower than the binding constant of Ni 2+ to the fully dissociated ATP 4− . 1 The binding constant for the second Ni 2+ ion is too low to be determined from the reduction in the diffusion current. However, the interaction of the second bound Ni 2+ with the purine ligand gives rise to a catalytic current at potentials that are more positive than the U built1 2 of Ni 2+ . This enables the determination of the product of the binding constant, σ 2 , and the rate of binding coefficient, ζ 2 , in the form σ 2 3 ζ 2 = (1.5 ± 0.7) × 10 10 mol −3 s −1 . At potentials more negative than the U built1 2 of Ni 2+ , the current contributed by the first complex (ATPNi 2− , is determined by the rate of its dissociation which precedes reduction of Ni 2+ on the electrode. The association and the dissociation rate constants determined in this way are σ 1 ζ 1 = (24 ± 8) × 10 5 mol −1 s −1 and ζ = = 35 ± 5 s−1 .
Relationship between level of antibiotic use and resistance among Escherichia coli isolates from integrated multi-site cohorts of humans and swine

Abstract The objective of this longitudinal ecological study was to examine the relationship between the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant (AR) commensal Escherichia coli isolates from both monthly human wastewater and composite swine fecal samples and the concurrent aggregated monthly antibiotic use recorded within each host species in multi-site vertically integrated swine and human populations. In addition, human vocation (swine worker versus non-swine worker), swine production group, and season were examined as potential confounding variables. Human and swine E. coli isolates (n = 2469 human and 2310 swine, respectively) were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a commercial broth microdilution system. In the human population, among swine workers the relative odds of tetracycline resistance were increased significantly for tetracycline (class) drug use at the third quartile and above of mean monthly dosage (MMD) (OR = 1.8) as compared to the referent category (non-use). The relative odds of ciprofloxacin resistance were significantly increased for ciprofloxacin use in non-swine workers (OR = 5.5) as compared to the referent (non-use). The relative odds of tetracycline resistance were increased significantly for chlortetracycline use in medicated feed for the upper tertile of MMD category (OR = 2.9) as compared to the referent category (no use) across all swine production groups. While high variability among seasonal samples over the 3-year period was observed, no common seasonal trends relating to antibiotic use and prevalence of resistance over the 3-year period were apparent. The overall effects of concurrent human and swine antibiotic use on AR E. coli levels were inconsistent and modest in this study.
Food-motivated performance in rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions: Effects of body weight, deprivation, and preoperative training

The effects of body weight, level of deprivation, and preoperative training upon the performance of hyperphagic rats with ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions were investigated. In Expt 1, nonobese VMH rats responded at control levels on a VI 1-min food reinforcement schedule under deprived and nondeprived testing conditions, whereas obese VMH rats showed a performance decrement only under the deprived testing conditions. Although the effect of preoperative training failed to reach significance, the differences were in the predicted direction. In Expt 2, obese VMH rats displayed a greater finickiness to quinine-adulterated water than did nonobese VMH rats and control rats only during deprived testing conditions. There were no differences in quinine solution intakes among the groups under the nondeprived testing condition. It was concluded that VMH lesions per se do not produce a decrease in food-motivated performance, but that the performance deficits are a function of the body weight of the animal and the level of deprivation at the time of testing.
Aggressive care after a massive stroke in young patients: is that what they want?

Background The assumption is often made that aggressive care in the form of early decompressive hemicraniectomy is appropriate for young patients who suffer a massive stroke. However, neither their attitude toward aggressive treatment, nor their perception of acceptable quality of life after a stroke, has been adequately studied.
Measurement of intracellular Ca2+ in young and old human erythrocytes using 19F-NMR spectroscopy.

Elevated cell calcium has been implicated in functional changes with human erythrocyte aging. However, until recently it has been difficult to measure free ionic intracellular calcium in red cells. We have made use of a fluorinated calcium chelator probe (5,5'-difluoroBAPTA) and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (19F-NMR) techniques to measure changes of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) with cell aging. We have demonstrated in these studies that human erythrocyte [Ca2+]i is significantly elevated as a function of in-vivo aging. Young cells, the least dense fraction of density-separated erythrocytes, contained an average of 62 (+/- 4) nM Ca2+ (+/- S.E.), whereas the oldest, most dense cell fraction contained 221 nM Ca2+ (+/- 25). Mechanisms by which intracellular [Ca2+] increases with in-vivo aging are currently under investigation.
Generalized SAT-sweeping for post-mapping optimization

Modern synthesis flows apply a series of technology independent optimization steps followed by mapping algorithms which bind the optimized network to a specific technology library. As the exact solution of the mapping problem is computationally intractable, algorithms used in practice use heuristic, typically tree-based approaches. The application of these algorithms results in mapped but suboptimal networks. In this work, we present a novel, efficient, and effective optimization algorithm for mapped networks which can be considered a generalization of SAT-sweeping. Our algorithm searches for alternative, more efficient implementations of each net in the network. Candidate support nets for reimplementation are selected using simulation signatures and verified using Boolean satisfiability. We report experimental results on the quality of our algorithm obtained from an implementation of the approach using the logic synthesis system ABC.
Beware of q2

Validation is a crucial aspect of any quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling. This paper examines one of the most popular validation criteria, leave-one-out cross-validated R2 (LOO q2). Often, a high value of this statistical characteristic (q2 > 0.5) is considered as a proof of the high predictive ability of the model. In this paper, we show that this assumption is generally incorrect. In the case of 3D QSAR, the lack of the correlation between the high LOO q2 and the high predictive ability of a QSAR model has been established earlier [Pharm. Acta Helv. 70 (1995) 149; J. Chemomet. 10(1996)95; J. Med. Chem. 41 (1998) 2553]. In this paper, we use two-dimensional (2D) molecular descriptors and k nearest neighbors (kNN) QSAR method for the analysis of several datasets. No correlation between the values of q2 for the training set and predictive ability for the test set was found for any of the datasets. Thus, the high value of LOO q2 appears to be the necessary but not the sufficient condition for the model to have a high predictive power. We argue that this is the general property of QSAR models developed using LOO cross-validation. We emphasize that the external validation is the only way to establish a reliable QSAR model. We formulate a set of criteria for evaluation of predictive ability of QSAR models.
Studies on γ-glutamyl transferase in the housefly

Abstract Variation in γ-glutamyl transferase activity between developmental stages, body regions, sexes and strains of the housefly were determined. Enzyme activity increases during the early larval stages, decreases in the pupal stage and increases again in the adult housefly. The female has slightly higher γ-glutamyl transferase activity than the male, depending on age, and enzyme activity of body regions was found to decrease in the order: abdomen > head > thorax. No correlation was found between γ-glutamyl transferase activity and the resistance mechanism involving glutathione S- transferase in several susceptible and insecticide-resistant housefly strains.
Efficient user revocation for privacy-aware PKI

Privacy-aware Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) can maintain user access control and yet protect user privacy, which is envisioned as a promising technique in many emerging applications. To justify the applicability of privacy-aware PKI and optimize the performance, it is highly important to ensure the efficiency of handling user revocations. In practice, user revocation can be due to various predictable and unpredictable reasons, e.g., subscription expiration, network access policy violation, group changing, secret key exposure, etc. Both predictable and unpredictable reasons can happen concurrently, which makes the design of efficient user revocation mechanism challenging. In this paper, we study how to achieve optimized user revocation cost with respect to various revocation approaches. We also propose an advanced scheme Delta-RL that ensures an optimized overall performance in terms of communication, computation and storage, as justified by the extensive analysis.
Direct, Single Molecule, Cell-by-Cell Observation of Molecular Kinetics and Thermodynamics in Early Lymphocyte Signaling

T cells exhibit near-single-molecule sensitivity for agonist peptide fragments in a background of thousands of structurally-similar self peptides. Unraveling the physical mechanism of this extreme molecular sensitivity and specificity would inform our understanding of the immune system's role in disease and potentially reveal universal cell signaling processes. We study the T cell signaling pathway with a highly controlled supported lipid bilayer-live cell junction. Using this system and a multi-timescale imaging approach we report direct, single molecule observations of T cell receptor-peptide-MHC binding kinetics in living T cells. Direct, cell-by-cell measurements of binding kinetics yield unexpected values for dissociation constants and kinase recruitment to the membrane as a function of peptide density and quality.